Tamil Language History

Tamil language has the special claim of being at once classical like Sanskrit, Greek or Latin, and vigorous and modern like the modern Indian languages. Its history can be traced back to the age of Tolkappiyam the earliest extant Tamil grammar generally to 500 B.C. Among the Dravidian language it is least influenced be 'sanskrit' though there is a certain degree of influence.
The earliest extant literature of the Tamils is called Sangam literature and it is dated between 500 BC. and 200 A.D. Though a considerable part of the early poetry has been lost, some of the bards and patrons decided to preserve apart of it in certain anthologies (about 4th century A.D.). These are the Ten Idylls (Pattuppattu) and the Eight Anthologies (Ettuttohai). Four hundred and seventy three poets, of whom thirty are women, have been identified. These are mainly classified into two. Akam or esoteric dealing with love and Puram or exoteric dealing with war.
In this period, Tamil literature was considerably bound by literary conventions. The poets were keen on keeping up the tradition. The land was treated as five regions viz. mountains, forests, fields, coasts and deserts and the theme of love in five aspects viz. union, patience, sulking, wailing and separation. The poet dealing with a certain aspect of love restricted himself to a particular region, season, hour, flora and fauna. These literary conventions are explained in Tolkappiyam.
Purananuru is 400 verses on Puram themes. It serves as a window on the Tamil people 2000 years ago. Agananuru is 400 poems on love themes. The length of these poems varies from 13 to 37 lines. There are other collections like Natrinai, Kuruntogai, Ainkurunuru, Paripadal, etc., which are quite well known. Tiruvalluvar's Tirukkural is acclaimed to be the greatest Tamil classic. It expresses the most profound thoughts on the many problems of life. Each verse is a couplet composed with great economy of words. The book is divided into 133 chapters each containing 10 verses. The chapters are arranged in three books dealing with virtue, wealth and pleasure.

Indian Crow

This bird, which is commonly referred to as the Indian Crow, comes under the family Cotinga and is more appropriately named the Redruffed Fruitcrow. The technical name of the subspecie or race you see here is Pyroderus scutatus scutatus. There are five known races, all of which are indigenous to South America. The bird in the picture is native to Brazil and is found mostly along the coastline and into the interior near Rio de Janeiro.
The bird in my possession is about the size of our own domestic crow, but it is clearly distinguished from it by the red neck area. There are probably around 300 redtipped feathers on the breast of the Fruitcrow. These feathers have figured into the dressing of classic salmon flies for over 150 years! They are quite rare, owing largely to the fact that the authorities in Brazil and other northern parts of South America do not take kindly to the poaching of these birds. Please do not attempt to go to South America to bring back skins. The jails down there, they say, are not very pleasant!
The Pyroderus scutatus scutatus race is sometimes referred to as the southern race. The four northern races are: orenocensis, granadensis, occidentalis and masoni. There are slight variations between all five subspecies with the scutatus being the most sought after of all the races.
For more information and a couple color plates of these birds, I refer you to David Snow's book "The Cotingas" which was published by Cornell University Press in 1982. You can also learn quite a bit about the birds commonly known as the Blue Chatterers (Genus Cotinga) and the CockoftheRocks (Genus Rupicola).

History of the Mango

The mango originated in Southeast Asia where it has been grown for over 4,000 years. Over the years mango groves have spread to many parts of the tropical and subtropical world, where the climate allows the mango to grow best. Mango trees are evergreens that will grow to 60 feet tall. The mango tree will fruit 4 to 6 years after planting. Mango trees require hot, dry periods to set and produce a good crop. Most of the mangos sold in the United States are imported from Mexico, Haiti, the Caribbean and South America. Today there are over 1,000 different varieties of mangos throughout the world.
A comfort food. Mangos really can make you feel better! Beyond being delicious and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, mangos contain an enzyme with stomach soothing properties similar to papain found in papayas. These comforting enzymes act as a digestive aid and can be held partially responsible for that feeling of contentment we experience during and after our daily mango ritual. Yes, it is quite natural to crave those mangos!
Mango, both in its green and ripe form is a very good tenderizing agent due to these same enzymes, therefore ideal to include in any marinade (see Mango Marinade under Sauces category in our Recipe Guide). In India they use a sour mango powder containing ground up green mangos called Amchur, both as a seasoning and tenderizing aid.
Mangos are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C, as well as a good source of Potassium and contain beta carotene. Mangos are high in fiber, but low in calories (approx. 110 per average sized mango), fat (only 1 gram) and sodium. Mangos are a good staple for your daily diet.

Gold's role in history, culture and religion

This section of JewelrySupplier.com is intended to uncover references in history to gems, gemstones, minerals, crystals, precious metals and semiprecious stones and to investigate the role they played in the development of the cultures in which they were utilized. We believe examples of royal jewelry and ancient jewelry from anthropology, sociology and archaeology from the ancient societies of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and especially the work of PreColumbian American cultures of the North American Indians, Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans to be of craftsmanship that has not been equaled since. Where possible in our history of jewelry, we’ve tried to include methods of manufacture, materials and technology. From the bible, commerce, celestial beliefs to modern crystal collecting.
The history of gold is a long and complex one. It has been a symbol of wealth and a guarantee of power since its use first emerged. Because of its rarity, its usefulness and its beauty, gold has caused individual and national obsession and the destruction of cultures, and the emergence into power of others.
Many African cultures used gold on a large scale. In most areas, including Senegal and the Gold Coast, the people used most of the gold to create objects for the court of the local chiefs. The chiefs had workshops exclusively dedicated to the production of their treasures, which were extensive and elaborate and had ceremonial applications. However, the peoples of the Ethiopian, Sudanese and Bantu regions did export some gold.
Though examples of Gold in use before the 17th century are rare in India, Archaeologists have found pieces of Gold jewelry in the Indus Culture as well as Buddhist Afghanistan that date from near the time of the birth of Christ. India’s gold and jewelry use reached its summit during the Mughal Empire’s reign between the 1500s to the mid 1700s. The fashion of this time many included rich jewels and gold, each with its own religious significance and purpose. In China, Gold use began around 1100 BC as inlay in bronze items and jewelry and continued through the many royal dynasties. When the Chinese settled in Korea at around 210 BC, they brought their knowledge of gold working with them. Indian, Chinese and Korean use of Gold influenced the cultures of Southeast Asia but Gold never became important in Japanese culture.

Fish American Eel

Fishes come in an amazing variety of shapes and colors, but they all have three important things in common: All fishes live in water, have fins, and use gills to get oxygen from the water. We have also included a few sea creatures some jellyfish and octopods in this category.
If you see a fish that looks like a snake underwater, you've probably spotted an eel. Most of the 15 different families of eels in the world live in salt water. The American Eel lives in fresh water but swims out to the open ocean to spawn. No one has actually seen an adult eel spawning, but scientists think these eels lay their eggs near Bermuda in the Sargasso Sea. As they mature into elvers (young eels), they come closer to the coast.
The males remain in shallow estuaries, while the females migrate into fresh water. After many years, the adults return to the sea to spawn. An eel with large pectoral fins. Dorsal and anal fins connected to a welldeveloped tail. Lower jaw longer than upper. Tiny, separate scales form basketweave pattern.
The length of the Females American eel is 4'and the males eel is smaller then the female. Atlantic drainages, shallow coastal waters, freshwater streams. Spawns in open ocean. Along Atlantic coast and into associated rivers from Labrador to Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and southward.

Jumping Rope May Be an Ideal Brain Exercise

Physical activity is good not only for the heart, but also for the brain, feeding it glucose and oxygen, all of which makes it easier for children of all ages to learn. Numerous studies show that children who exercise do better in school.” Education is in the age of standardsbased assessment. Students experience learning and make connections based on curriculum that is designed with specific academic objectives in mind.
Some of the most beneficial lifelong learning comes from reallife experiences that cannot be measured by paper and pencil tests alone. Problem solving, communication, goal setting, creativity, perseverance, risk taking and altruism are skills that help create productive, wellrounded citizens. The American Heart Association’s Jump Rope For Heart program can help students achieve many of the academic standards by encouraging them to engage in experiential learning strategies that anchor learning 90 percent better. Students also learn about important health and fitness practices that can lead to healthy, active, lifelong behavior changes.
Jumping rope is an excellent exercise for cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance and coordination. Now researchers are learning that physical activity like jumping rope also prepares the brain for optimal learning. Current brain research supports the need for movement in the learning process. Here are just a few ways that jumping rope may help prepare the brain for learning.
Raising heart rate gets more blood to the brain, feeding it needed nutrients and oxygen for heightened alertness and mental focus. Aerobic exercise grows new brain cells in rodents, and promising research suggests that may also apply to humans. In short, jumping rope is an exercise that allows both brain hemispheres to perform parallel. The vestibular system that creates spatial awareness and mental alertness is strengthened through activities such as jumping rope. Balance and jumping activities provide the student with a framework for reading and other academic skills.

Lion the King

The lion (Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. With exceptionally large males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, it is the secondlargest living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in subSaharan Africa and in Asia with a critically endangered remnant population in northwest India, having disappeared from North Africa, the Middle East, and western Asia in historic times. Until the late Pleistocene (about 10,000 years ago), the lion was the most widespread large land mammal beside humans. They were found in most of Africa, much of Eurasia from western Europe to India, and the Bering land bridge and, in the Americas, from the Yukon to Peru.
Lions live for approximately 10–14 years in the wild, while in captivity they can live over 20 years. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator, although they will resort to scavenging if the opportunity arises. While lions, in general, do not selectively hunt humans, some have been known to become maneaters and seek human prey.
The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of 30 to 50% over the past two decades in its African range; populations are untenable outside designated reserves and national parks. Although the cause of the decline is not wellunderstood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the greatest causes of concern. Lions have been kept in menageries since Roman times and have been a key species sought after and exhibited in zoos the world over since the late eighteenth century. Zoos are cooperating worldwide in breeding programs for the endangered Asiatic subspecies.
Visually, the male is highly distinctive and is easily recognized by its mane. The head of the male lion is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture. It has been depicted extensively in literature, in sculptures, in paintings, on national flags, and in contemporary films and literature. The lion is the second largest feline after the tiger. With powerful legs, a strong jaw, and long canine teeth, the lion can bring down and kill large prey.[33] Lion coloration varies from light buff to yellowish, reddish or dark ochraceous brown. The underparts are generally lighter and the tail tuft is black. The color of the mane varies from blond to black.