May 13, 2024

Walking to the Roof of the World

Darrel Hartman 

Why climb Mount Everest? “Because it’s there,” George Mallory famously said. Then he died trying.

A century on, Mallory is best remembered for those three koanlike words. As Mick Conefrey writes in “Fallen: George Mallory and the Tragic 1924 Everest Expedition,” they are “both the simplest and the most enigmatic explanation of the lure of high mountains.”

Alas, Everest, highest of them all, is less enigmatic and arguably less alluring these days. Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay logged the first successful ascent in 1953, it has been summited more than 12,000 times by upward of 6,500 different people. Every spring the Nepali army removes several tons of trash from this high-elevation tourist attraction. The human-waste problem has gotten so bad that, as of this year, visitors are required to pack their poop and take it with them.

The Everest that Mallory explored in the 1920s had less excrement and more romance. The climbing equipment was rudimentary: the flax ropes were as threads compared to modern nylon ones, and the wool clothing and hobnail boots were more cumbersome and far less effective than modern goose down and crampons. Mr. Conefrey, a documentary filmmaker who has written several books about Himalayan mountaineering history, also notes another major difference between then and now: Mallory and his peers “took risks that many of today’s climbers would find unacceptable.”



May 10, 2024

Kangaroos fight like boxers

Kangaroos are marsupials from the family Macropodidae. Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and New Guinea. Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large feet adapted for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and a small head. Like most marsupials, female kangaroos have a pouch called a marsupium in which joeys complete postnatal development. Kangaroos are the only large mammals to use hopping on two legs as their primary means of locomotion. The comfortable hopping speed for a red kangaroo is about 20–25 km/h (12–16 mph), but speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph)  can be attained over short distances, while it can sustain a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) for nearly 2 km (1.2 mi).

Because of their hopping body structure, their fight looks similar to human fight, pouncing and kicking. Fighting has been described in all species of kangaroos. Fights between kangaroos can be brief or long and ritualised. In highly competitive situations, such as males fighting for access to oestrous females or at limited drinking spots,  the fights are brief. Both sexes will fight for drinking spots, but long, ritualised fighting or "boxing" is largely done by males. Smaller males fight more often near females in oestrus, while the large males in consorts do not seem to get involved. Ritualised fights can arise suddenly  when males are grazing together. However, most fights are preceded by two males scratching and grooming each other. 

Like a street fight, these two kangaroos got into street fight and showed their coolest moves. One move requires tail standing. Even it can fight with a human. No wonder they behave like bipedal human.






March 20, 2024

सबसे प्रदूषित शहर भारत में हैं - Top Polluted Cities are in India



सबसे प्रदूषित शहर भारत में हैं। 100 में से 83 प्रदूषित शहर सभी भारत में हैं। ये विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के मानक के दस गुना अधिक हैं। बेगूसराय, भारत के उत्तरी बिहार राज्य में पांच लाख लोगों के शहर, दुनिया का सबसे प्रदूषित शहर था। बेगूसराय के पीछे गुवाहाटी, असम; दिल्ली; और मुल्लांपुर, पंजाब हैं, जो सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों की दृष्टि से आते हैं। भारतीय जनसंख्या का 96% इस प्रदूषित स्थिति में रहता है।

दक्षिण एशिया को विशेष चिंता है, जिसमें 29 में से 30 सबसे प्रदूषित शहर भारत, पाकिस्तान या बांग्लादेश में हैं। रिपोर्ट ने लाहौर को पांचवें स्थान पर, नई दिल्ली को छठे स्थान पर और ढाका को 24वें स्थान पर रैंक किया।

चीन का सबसे प्रदूषित शहर होटन है, जो 14 वें स्थान पर है। नेपाल की राजधानी काठमांडू 142 वें स्थान पर है।

स्वस्थ वायु गुणवत्ता वाले देशों की बात करें, तो ये फ़िनलैंड, एस्तोनिया, प्यूर्टो रिको, ऑस्ट्रेलिया, न्यूज़ीलैंड, बरमूडा, ग्रेनाडा, आइसलैंड, मॉरिशस और फ़्रेंच पॉलिनेशिया हैं।



March 8, 2024

How to identify spam email and scam offer?

 Identifying spam emails and scam offer can be crucial for protecting yourself from phishing attempts, malware, and other online threats. Fraudulent posting in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social medias need to be understood too. Here are some common indicators to help you recognize spam:

  • Unknown Sender: Be cautious of emails from unfamiliar or suspicious senders. Verify the sender's email address, especially if it seems unusual or contains random characters.
  • Fraudulent Gift: Too good to be true request should be always not true. If someone is offering you free gift, easy money or unconvincing scheme, don't fall for it.
  • Unsolicited Emails: If you didn't subscribe to a mailing list or request information from a particular sender, be wary of unsolicited emails, especially those promising prizes, discounts, or offers that seem too good to be true.
  • Spelling and Grammar Errors: Many spam emails contain spelling and grammar mistakes. Legitimate organizations usually have proofreaders or automated systems to ensure their emails are error-free.
  • Urgent Requests: Beware of emails that pressure you to take immediate action or threaten negative consequences if you don't respond quickly. This tactic is often used in phishing emails to create a sense of urgency.
  • Suspicious Links: Hover your mouse over links in emails (without clicking) to see the actual URL. Be cautious of shortened URLs or links that don't match the purported destination. Legitimate businesses typically use their domain names in links.
  • Attachments from Unknown Sources: Avoid opening attachments from unknown or untrusted sources, as they may contain malware or viruses. Even if an email appears to be from someone you know, verify with the sender before opening any attachments.
  • Requests for Personal Information: Be wary of emails requesting sensitive information like passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. Legitimate companies typically don't ask for this information via email.
  • Generic Greetings: Spam emails often use generic greetings like "Dear Sir/Madam" or "Dear Customer" instead of addressing you by name. Legitimate organizations are more likely to personalize their communications.
  • Mismatched URLs and Email Content: Check if the content of the email matches the sender's identity and the URLs provided. Discrepancies between the two can indicate a phishing attempt.
  • Spoofed Identities: Verify the legitimacy of emails claiming to be from reputable organizations by contacting them directly through their official website or phone number.


March 5, 2024

तपाईंको आजको राशिफल

एक प्रख्यात पत्रिका को राशिफलको सबै राशिको पहिलो लाईन - अरु कुरा आफै मिलाएर बुज्नुस।  

मेष : दिन राम्रो छ। 

वृष : दैनिकी राम्रो छ। 

मिथुन : समय राम्रो छ। 

कर्कट : समय सामान्य छ। 

सिंह : दैनिकी राम्रो छ। 

कन्या : आजको दिन राम्रो छ। 

तुला : दिन राम्रो छ। 

वृश्चिक : दैनिकी राम्रो छ। 

धनु : समय राम्रो छ। 

मकर : समय सामान्य छ। 

कुम्भ : दिन राम्रो छ। 

मीन : दिन राम्रो छ।