Snake Myths and Facts

Myth: Rat Snakes are poisonous.
Fact: Rat snakes are Non-poisonous, rodent-eating Reptiles.

Myth: Rat Snakes mate with cobras.
Fact: Rat Snakes or any other snakes will not mate with any snake out of its own species. 
      
Myth: Snakes drink Milk.
Fact: Snakes drink water and do not drink milk, neither can they digest it properly. They are reptiles and have no association with milk, only mammals who have mammary glands can produce milk and thus a liking for milk in non-mammals is unlikely. But in a crises when severely dehydrated, a snake might drink any liquid available.
       
Myth: Some Snakes grow a beard as they get older.
Fact: Snakes are reptiles and do not have any hair on their bodies let alone a beard. It is impossible for them to have beards for their bodies do not have any ability of growing hair.
       
Myth: Snakes carry a diamond in their forehead.
Fact: It is impossible for a Snake to carry anything in its head. The mythological status attached with a Snake in India is probably responsible for this myth.
       
Myth: Snakes remember you if you hurt them. 
Fact: Snakes are not vengeful animals and do not have the necessary intelligence to remember people or places for getting revenge. Hindi Movies (Bollywood) have a lot to do with the creation of this myth.
       
Myth: If one Snake is killed its partner will trace you (no matter wherever you are).
Fact: Snakes are not vengeful animals and are not interested in chasing or tracing people who hurt them. They do not have the necessary memory and intellect to remember people to trace them back. Neither do snakes have a feeling of camaraderie nor do snakes pair for life. Once again Bollywood is responsible for this myth.
       
Myth: Flying Snakes can pierce somebody’s forehead or put out their eyes.
Fact: A Flying Snake does not actually fly but only glides through the air by extending its ribs and pulling in the underside. It can glide a distance of 330 feet or 100 metre. It has an elongated head, which gives the scary feeling that it can pierce a person’s head or eyes.
       
Myth: Snakes found in India can spit venom.
Fact: No Snake found in India can spit venom. Only Spitting-Cobras can spit venom and they are not found in India.
       
Myth: There are “Two- headed” snakes. 
Fact: The Snake-charmers spread the myth about the Two-headed Snakes only to maintain the mythological status of the snakes in India so they can continue attracting large crowds to their Snake shows. In reality nothing like a Two-headed Snake exists.

Courtesy: http://www.wildlifesos.org/rescue/reptiles/snake-facts-myths

The Biological Grandeur of the Eastern Himalayas

The Himalayas have yielded a "treasure trove" of new species -- 350 of them documented in just the past 10 years. But that amazing biodiversity is threatened by climate change, according to the World Wildlife Fund, or WWF as it is known internationally. While impressive, those new species only add to the staggering list of life known to inhabit the Eastern Himalayas: 10,000 species of plants, 300 mammals, 977 birds, 176 reptiles, 105 amphibians and 269 types of freshwater fish. That's all on top of its most "charismatic" species: Bengal tigers, greater one-horned rhinos, snow leopards, Asian elephants, red pandas, takins, golden langurs and Gangetic dolphins.

The group has just published a new report about the issues facing this rich region, The Eastern Himalayas – Where Worlds Collide, an accounting of the newly discovered species in this remote and inhospitable (to humans, anyway) corner of the world. The rugged Eastern Himalayas stretch from Bhutan and northeast India to the far north of Myanmar, and through Nepal and the southern parts of Tibet, in China.

"This enormous cultural and biological diversity underscores the fragile nature of an environment which risks being lost forever unless the impacts of climate change are reversed," said Tariq Aziz, the leader of WWF's Living Himalayas Initiative. "People and wildlife form a rich mosaic of life across this rugged and remarkable landscape, making it among the biologically richest areas on Earth. But the Himalayas are also among the most vulnerable to global climate change."

What follows is a look into the biological diversity of the Himalayas, from the world's smallest deer to a 100-million-year old gecko.

Mount Kelimutu

Kelimutu is a volcano, close to the small town of Moni about 50 km to the east of Ende, Indonesia in central Flores Island of Indonesia.

The volcano contains three striking summit crater lakes of varying colors. Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red respectively. The lake colors vary on a periodic basis. 

Subaqueous fumaroles are the probable cause of active upwelling that occurs at the two eastern lakes.

To the indigenous people, the mountain is holy, and a token of God’s blessings. It provides fertility to the surrounding lands.

So, Whats up next???

Planing to visit this place?

Check this out: http://www.indonesia-tourism.com/east-nusa-tenggara/mt_kelimutu.html

Some Interesting Facts which you might or might not know

1. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you away from crying.
2. The color blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones.
3. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros.
4. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
5. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die.
6. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning its head are the rabbit and the parrot.
7. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys?
They are: Mizaru (See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru(Speak no evil)
8. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
9. The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!!
10. Switching letters is called spoonerism. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan.

A lesson to all in a Traffic Jam

On 18-07-2013, I left from my home to office in my friend's bike from Marathahalli to ITPL, Bangalore (5 kms).

When we reached near Marathahalli Railway Gate, we observed traffic jam.

Everyone were in an urge to reach office.

Thousands of vehicles were struct in the Traffic jam.

That is a road of some 8-10 m width I guess.

There is no way to pass on either side since it is blocked everywhere.

A man who looked like a localite wearing a dirty pant and shirt, uncombomed hair and unshaved beard came near to the crowd
parking his bike in the edge of the road.

He stood in the middle of the crowd and started observing the people who are struggling to escape from the traffic jam.

His appearance seemed like an illiterate.

But suddenly he started shouting at the people in English which we all didn't expect.

His English seemed to better than all of us. After his speech, all of us got a little thinking in our mind

'Yes. what he say is correct'.

"Lets not do this'.

This is what he spoke infront of the crowd.

"You people don't have any common sense?

You people all are educated, but seems like illiterates.

You people are using this road as a one way when you go to office.

And you are using it as a one way when you are returning to your home.

You don't think about how others are affected due to this.

You all don't have even a little common sense.

Due to you people, the traffic jam is happening and we all are getting affected due to this.

Behave like educated ones.

Leave way for the one who comes in the other side."

in a very brave voice and with a very angry face expression.

After this, many people left their vehicles and started clearing the traffic.

Yes, what he said is right.

We all who are going to office in our own vehicles, are always in an urge to reach our office at time.

In order to reach at time, we started ignoring the traffic rules and causing many traffic jams.

At last, no one us were unable to reach at time.

Then we struggle and reach late to office.

One reason for the traffic jam is 'We all are not driving our vehicle in proper lane..

If you have two lanes in road, we occupy both of the lanes, which in turns blocks the vehicles which are coming in the opposire side.

It results in a traffic jam.

Then some people would volunteer to clear the traffic. But that will not be any Software Employees.'

Because we are very selfish.

We have to reach at time somehow, but we do not want to bother about others.

I really appreciate the man who came forward and gave a courageous speech to the people in the Traffic Jam.

If everyone of us are like him, we will never experience traffic jams.

Follow the traffic rules and Save your time, Enery and your Fuel.

- Mohamed Ziavudeen