this post is part of a series, beginning with ‘Part 1: general Lightworks tips’

Today I started learning about all of the millions of materials settings that are possible with Lightworks. When you change the settings for a material in Archicad, you can preview the changes in the internal engine or in Lightworks. One thing I did not realize prior to my tutorials is that if you change all the settings in Lightworks to what you want, they are not automatically update in in the internal engine preview – you must ‘match with internal settings’. This could be outdated information, as the tutorials reference Archicad 10 and I am using 12. However, I will need to check on it.

other interesting general info about Lightworks materials settings:

1. there are 6 classes, each with its own set of shaders – each of those with its own set of parameters.
2. you can load new sets of archives, several of which are available on the Lightworks website.
3. it’s best to create a new layer with a simple slab, wall, and beam to test your materials settings. otherwise, your render time will keep to you there all week. remember to keep the Lightworks lights layer on, though, as the lighting has a huge effect on your materials.
4. it also helps to set the background and foreground to ‘none’ while you are testing materials, so that you are not thrown off.

Now, I’ll run through the different materials classes and some of the tips I picked up.

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MATERIALS | COLOR CLASS

The first ‘class’ whose settings you can edit in the materials edit window of Archicad, is the color class. This class basically defines the light that is used by the material. There were a few things I learned that I was unaware of, and I’ll briefly list those below:

wrapped image

• It’s best to keep the softness to 1.00 for quality versus render time
• Understanding the aspect ratio is key in getting your material to show the wrapped image in the way you want. The key is understanding that

aspect ratio = width/height.

• AND the scale of the width increases in accordance with the aspect ratio. The scale of the height, however, changes at a rate of 1 meter per 1 unit.

wrapped filtered image

This is similar to a wrapped image, but you can mix in a color to your image.

graphisoft masked image

This is an interesting option that allows you to mask part of an image over another one. For example, you could mask an image of ivy over an image of a brick wall. Just remember that the darker the mask, the more the pixels will be replaced in the base image.

procedural shaders

These are very powerful and flexible shaders, and will probably form the bulk of what I render. They are computed to generate a random pattern as opposed to tiling, like a wrapped image. Some of the benefits are:

• As mentioned before, because it’s a pattern that is generated randomly there are no seems or junctions.
• Because they are not based on an image, they can be faster and easier to load on a larger scale.
• The options are endless, and you can change many parameters to meet almost any kind of material.
• Sometimes you can find that using a shader intended for one type of material may actually work quite well as something different (for example a marble shader used as water).
• There are also a few procedural shaders that are also wrapped, such as brick. These may give you some problems on complex shapes, but make a faster render than using wrapped images.

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MATERIALS | REFLECTANCE CLASS

The reflectance class defines the reflection and refraction of a material, letting you set how much of the color class shows through. Here’s a few tips I picked up about the shaders in this class:

matte

• Use this shader on a basic shape to first get all of your lighting correct. The light has a particularly large impact on this part of the materials editing.
• The diffuse parameter defines how much of the chosen color shader is visible.
• The ambient parameter does not correspond to anything in reality – it only brightens or darken the material. Avoid it if possible.

glass

• The specular parameter defines the sharpness of the overexposed area.
• The transmission parameter adjust the see-through-ness (the technical term).
• Tip: the values of the  transmission and mirror parameters should always add up to 1.

mirror

• Make sure your chosen color is black to make the effect of a mirror.
• Lower the roughness parameter and increase the mirror parameter.

conductor

• This is one of the most advanced shaders and can give an excellent range of metals.
• Any materials using this shader will take a very long time to render.
• The refraction and absorption parameters are chemical values of different types of metals.

metal

• Make sure to reduce the roughness to get a more metallic look.

phong

• Great for use on materials that need to look ceramic.
• This is a more versatile shader because it has a specular color parameter, which can help add interest to a shiny surface.

multilayer paint

• This is another very powerful shader, similar to conductor, that requires a lot of render time but can give some beautiful metal materials.
• There are three layers of parameters: lacquer, metalic, and base.
  

plastic

• Great for shiny or highly polished surfaces

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MATERIALS | TRANSPARENCY CLASS

This class affects the transparency and translucency of a material, but is very very computer intensive and will eat up a lot of rendering time. It can be used to make complex objects such as mesh and trees, but should be used sparingly in a project. Here’s my notes on the shaders in this class:

plain coverage

• This would be great to use to make drapes or curtains from a thin curvey wall.
• Lower the transparency to see the sunlight through the curtains a bit.
• Select a textile image as the color shader to make a patterned cloth curtain.

eroded

• This would be a good shader to use for trimmed hedges, using the basic shapes available in the library.
• Change the coverage percentage to gain the effect of leaves over a grass color shader.
• Duplicate and adjust slightly to create some depth and another layer of leaves.

plain

• This a good alternative to using a reflecting material in some cases, as it renders a little faster.
• White corresponds with opaque and black corresponds with transparent.

wrapped grid

• This makes for a fantastic mesh or fencing material, used on a very thin wall.
• Change the color shader to wrapped grid as well for more depth.

wrapped image

• You could use this to give the effect of something printed on the glass of a store window, for example.
• To ensure consistent opacity of the image, create a second image with just gray on white to layer behind it.

wrapped mask

• This is very similar to the one above, except the shadow that is created doesn’t pick up the colors of the image… it stays gray.
• In this shader, for consistency of opacity create a duplicate image with gray on black to layer behind it.

Chalk is a soft, porous, white sedimentary rock. It forms deep under water from the gradual accumulation of tiny calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores. Compared to other clays, chalk is resistant to the natural powers that seek to erode it, thus forming tall steep cliffs where chalk ridges meet the sea. It is often used for drawing on rough surfaces because it readily crumbles leaving particles that stick loosely to these surfaces. Chalk’s softness and openness give it sustainability but it is fragile.

A circle is a simple geometric shape consisting of those points in a plane which are equidistant from a given point called the center. The common distance of the points of a circle from its center is called its radius. A circle represents the infinite nature of energy, and theinclusivity of the universe. Circles were protective emblems to the Celtic mind. Circles were often drawn as protective boundaries, not to be crossed by enemy or evil. Circles were also Celtic symbols of the cosmos – noting in symbol the intangible procession of time.

Increased yield attributed to System of Rice Intensification method

ERODE: In the backdrop of the disturbing news that the country will import rice for the first time in two decades, there’s some positive news as well.

Erode, an agrarian district, has been faring pretty well in paddy production and consistently at that.

In the current year, the Agriculture Department has so far brought 33,500 ha under paddy cultivation.

This is further expected go up, as the Department is yet to take in to account the cultivation in later part of the second season ‘Samba’.

On the rise: Erode district has been consistently good at paddy cultivation, though the country faces a shortage of rice. – Photo: M. Govarthan

An officer says farmers will cultivate paddy with seepage waters from Lower Bhavani Project canal and Kalingarayan Canal.

There will second cultivation in Thadapalli-Arakankottai area as well.

Once the figures are available the area under paddy is expected to be more than last year’s 48,912 ha. In 2007-08, the Department helped farmers bring 38,359 ha under the crop.

Of the 33,500 ha this year, the Department has brought 15,480 ha under the System of Rice Intensification method of cultivation.

This technique, which calls for increased spacing among paddy saplings, results in increased yield.

Figures available with the Department suggest that the increase will be as much as 1,500 kg a hectare.

The officer says the Department will be able to achieve the target of 16,400 ha for SRI for the current year once the figures for the second season are also available.

In the current year the Department projects 9,700 kg a hectare under SRI, as against an average yield of 6,540 kg from traditional cultivation practice. The officer says the Department has over the years promoted paddy cultivation by implementing a variety of Central and State governments’ schemes.

Under the Agriculture Technology Management Agency scheme, the officer says, the Department provides financial assistance to farmers to set up SRI demonstration plots.

The Department gives Rs. 4,000 a farmer for setting up the plots and it has achieved the target of setting up 138 plots across the district.

Further under the Union Government’s Integrated Cereal Development Programme the Department has set up SRI cluster.

The Government provides a subsidy for Rs. 3,000 an acre for setting up SRI clusters, with a cluster comprising 25 acres. In Erode 700 such clusters have been set up, the officer says.

These are in addition to the support the Department gives paddy farmers by supplying quality seeds at a subsidy. The initiatives the Department has taken have put Erode in a better position in the State, as in its average paddy production is higher than the State’s.

From THE HINDU

Events can develop at a frightening pace. Directors need to ensure they and their companies can monitor and react effectively to rapidly changing circumstances. Apparently healthy situations can quickly crumble. Hence directors need to think through the implications of their actions. Corporate reputations can also erode rapidly. Directors must ensure that people throughout the organization act and behave to protect and build internal and external expectations and perceptions.

My Consultancy–Asif J. Mir - Management Consultant–transforms organizations where people have the freedom to be creative, a place that brings out the best in everybody–an open, fair place where people have a sense that what they do matters. For details please visit www.asifjmir.com, and my Lectures.

foto: "Hand Carved African Creche" by Suzba - flickr

Non so se avete letto la notizia sul “Bianco Natale” organizzato dall’amministrazione  leghista del paese di Coccaglio (Bs). Vi riporto alcuni estratti da due articoli di Sandro De Riccardis pubblicati sul sito di “Repubblica”. In fondo segue  una mia banale riflessione… (tristemente comica…)

La notizia

Il diktat della Lega contro i clandestini. “E’ Natale, cacciamo tutti gli irregolari”. di Sandro De Riccardis

A Coccaglio (Brescia) l’assessore leghista Abiendi ha aperto la caccia agli immigrati irregolari con l’operazione denominata “White Christmas” perché – spiega – “il Natale non è la festa dell’accoglienza, ma della tradizione cristiana e della nostra identità”. Il sindaco Claretti: “Il nostro obiettivo è fare pulizia”

A Coccaglio la caccia ai clandestini si fa in nome del Natale. L’amministrazione di destra — sindaco e tre assessori leghisti, altri tre assessori targati Pdl — ha inaugurato nel piccolo comune bresciano l’operazione “White Christmas” per ripulire la cittadina dagli extracomunitari. Un nome scelto proprio perché l’operazione scade il 25 dicembre. E perché, spiega l’ideatore dell’operazione – l’assessore leghista alla Sicurezza, Claudio Abiendi – “per me il Natale non è la festa dell’accoglienza, ma della tradizione cristiana, della nostra identità”. È così che fino al 25 dicembre, a Coccaglio, poco meno di settemila abitanti, 1.500 stranieri, i vigili vanno casa per casa a suonare il campanello di circa 400 extracomunitari. Quelli che hanno il permesso di soggiorno scaduto da sei mesi e che devono aver avviato le pratiche per il rinnovo.

“Se non dimostrano di averlo fatto — dice il sindaco Franco Claretti — la loro residenza viene revocata d’ufficio”. [...]  L’idea di accostare la caccia agli irregolari al Natale, ha provocato le proteste di un pezzo di città, del mondo cattolico e del volontariato. “Io sono credente, ho frequentato il collegio dai Salesiani. Questa gente dov’era domenica scorsa? Io a Brescia dal Papa”, replica Abiendi, che si definisce “tra i fondatore della Lega Nord, nel 1992″. Poi enumera i risultati dell’o perazione “Bianco Natale”: “Dal 25 ottobre abbiamo fatto 150 ispezioni. Gli stranieri irregolari sono circa il 50 per cento dei controllati”.

E ora al modello Coccaglio guardano anche i sindaci leghisti dei comuni vicini. Quelli di Castelcovati e Castrezzato hanno già copiato il provvedimento. [...]“.

Tratto dall’articolo “Il diktat della Lega contro i clandestini
“E’ Natale, cacciamo tutti gli irregolari”" di Sandro De Riccardis pubblicato sul sito di “La Repubblica del 18 novembre 2009.

Altro articolo sempre di di Sandro De Riccardis

Natale senza immigrati, è rivolta Il Pd: Maroni spieghi in Parlamento.

MILANO – Per la Caritas è “il segno di un’intolleranza parossistica”. Per FareFuturo, la fondazione vicina al presidente della Camera Gianfranco Fini, si tratta di “una strumentalizzazione inutile e volgare”. Per il Partito democratico siamo di fronte a “un’idea vergognosa, incivile, incostituzionale”.

L’operazione White Christmas, due mesi di controlli a tappeto nelle abitazioni degli extracomunitari con permesso di soggiorno in scadenza, pianificata dalla giunta leghista di Coccaglio, piccolo comune bresciano, ha scatenato reazioni indignate. [...] Una scelta amministrativa che Ffwebmagazine. it, il sito della fondazione FareFuturo, considera “un’offesa al gusto e alla sensibilità dei cristiani”. “Giù le mani dal Natale (almeno)”, titola il giornale telematico vicino a Fini. [...] Scatenando l’indignazione della chiesa bresciana e un editoriale molto duro apparso sul sito del settimanale diocesano “La Voce del popolo”: “Caro assessore francamente il cristianesimo è un’altra cosa – risponde padre Mario Toffari, direttore dell’Ufficio per la pastorale dei migranti della diocesi di Brescia – Emarginando il povero, emarginiamo lo stesso Cristo e la cosiddetta identità, sbandierata a sostegno di politiche non affatto cristiane, sa solo di strumentalizzazione, oltre che di improprietà interpretativa del Vangelo”.
Una critica radicale che si affianca a quella della Caritas che parla di “segno di intolleranza parossistica”. Un progetto “fascista” dicono Cgil e Cisl. “Ritorna alla memoria il rumore degli stivali dei soldati fascisti nel ghetto di Roma alla caccia dei cittadini ebrei” accusa Kurosh Danesh, coordinatore nazionale Immigrati per la Cgil.

A capo dei tredici senatori democratici che chiedono al ministro Maroni di riferire in Parlamento, la presidente del gruppo in Senato Anna Finocchiaro usa parole durissime: “L’idea del nostro Paese che ha la Lega è xenofoba, razzista, violenta e retrograda. L’introduzione del reato di clandestinità è un’aberrazione che sta già dando i suoi frutti velenosi, come dimostra il caso di Coccaglio, dove si vogliono cacciare per le festività natalizie tutte le persone immigrate alle quali sta scadendo il permesso di soggiorno”. [...]

tratto dall’articolo “Natale senza immigrati, è rivolta. Il Pd: Maroni spieghi in Parlamento” di Sandro De Riccardis pubblicato su “Repubblica” il 19/11/2009.

A questo link un terzo articolo uscito ieri.

La mia umile riflessione tragicomica…

Dopo che su questa vicenda si sono espressi in tanti, vorrei scrivere anch’io due  righe … e visto che gli amministratori leghisti si appellano alle tradizioni, partiamo dal racconto del Natale (reperibile nella versione “ufficiale” nei Vangeli di Luca e di Matteo).

L’autorità di Roma indice un censimento e Giuseppe e Maria partono  dalla città di Nàzaret e dalla Galilea per andare in  Giudea a Betlemme per farsi registrare.  Si tratta quindi di una coppia di immigrati che si muovono per  entrare e registrarsi in un altro stato (purtroppo nessuno storico ci precisa se per il censimento romano serviva il permesso di soggiorno oppure no). Arrivati a destinazione Maria depone il proprio figlio in una mangiatoia perchè per loro non c’era posto nell’albergo. Ora se tradizione dev’essere che sia fino in fondo e perciò nei comuni padani pare che abbiano deciso che gli extracomunitari non in regola, non possono stare meglio di Maria e Giuseppe e quindi devono passare anch’essi la notte di Natale (e quelle seguenti) al freddo e al gelo… sotto i ponti, nelle stalle, in baracche e  ritrovi di fortuna… Così facendo si rinnovano le tradizioni e contemporaneamente si ottengono centinaia di presepi viventi… Gli assistenti sociali, in nome delle pari opportunità con la famiglia di Nazaret, si starebbero attrezzando per fornire a tutti gli irregolari un asino e un bue, mentre per le stelle comete pare che ammettano di avere qualche difficoltà.

In questi presepi viventi anche le autorità locali sembra che abbiano deciso di recitare il loro ruolo e non è colpa loro se l’unica autorità nel copione è un certo Erode che fa la parte del cattivo. I celoduristi del Carroccio, che non vogliono essere più teneri delle autorità di 2000 anni fa, non si limiteranno ai bambini sotto i due anni ma estenderanno la caccia alle famiglie intere degli immigrati e, non fidandosi dei soldati di “Roma ladrona”, sostituiranno i legionari romani con le ben più fidate pattuglie dei locali vigili urbani. Per rendere più reale la rappresentazione sono stati interpellati alcuni storici per ricostruire i costumi di Erode e per sapere se,  secondo le tradizioni delle sante feste, anch’egli passava il Natale nel triclinio gustando el panetùn.

In vista dell’Epifania sembra che verrà emessa un’ordinanza in cui si chiederà che i Magi che verranno a visitare i presepi viventi debbano necessariamente provenire da paesi Scandinavi e debbano essere alti, bianchi e biondi, per preservare il “candore” del Natale… Eventuali Re Magi con la pelle mora o soltanto olivastri saranno respinti indietro o internati 6 mesi  presso centri di identificazione ed espulsione e pertanto non vedranno i bambinelli perchè arriveranno alle stalle fuori tempo massimo…

Infine si raccomanda agli  extracomunitari irregolari, provenienti dal Medio oriente, di fuggire in Egitto perchè pare che, per rispettare le tradizioni del  prossimo Venerdì Santo ed incentivare il turismo, le autorità padane stiano pensando di sostituire i “presepi viventi” con le… “crocefissioni viventi”… e qui saran dolori…

P.s. La Befana, notoriamente laica, femminista e di sinistra, manda a dire agli autori di “White Christmas” che passeranno una “Very black Epiphany”. Carbone NERO, anzi NERISSIMO per tutti!

A parte gli scherzi mi resta una sola cosa da dirvi: Vergogna, giù le mani dal Natale!

]]> http://polisethoslogos.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/coccaglio-il-sindaco-lassessore-maroni-e-betlemme-191109/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:52:16 +0000 Gigi Cortesi http://polisethoslogos.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/coccaglio-il-sindaco-lassessore-maroni-e-betlemme-191109/

Coccaglio è qui a pochi chilometri, sulla strada che da Bergamo porta a Brescia. Proprio a Coccaglio, il sindaco leghista Franco Claretti, per mano dell’ “Assessore alla Sicurezza” Claudio Abiendi, sta attuando l’operazione White Christmas. Fino a Natale, non si sa con quanta gentile fermezza, verranno attuati controlli a tappeto, di casa in casa, per verificare i permessi di soggiorno degli immigrati: se non saranno in regola, verrà “revocato il permesso di residenza”, seduta stante e con tutta la non bene precisata forza concessa ai sindaci dal Pacchetto Sicurezza approvato di recente.

L’azione è in corso dal 24 ottobre, dopo che Claretti espresse l’idea e l’intenzione di questo progetto a una convention di sindaci leghisti a Milano, all’Hotel Leonardo da Vinci, riscuotendo viva approvazione dai colleghi e dallo stato maggiore del Carroccio. “Il ministro Maroni è un uomo pratico – ha puntualizzato Claretti – ci ha dato dei consigli per attuare il provvedimento senza incorrere nei soliti ricorsi ai giudici”.

Non si capisce perché per indicare l’operazione si sia ricorsi all’espressione americana e holliwoodiana White Christmas, rinunciando – penso a malincuore – a una più ruspante e dialettale, del tipo “Nedàl sensa nigher”. Né si capisce perché, all’inglese, si parli di convention e non – più padanamente – di riuniù o di còngrega oppure – più alla medievale – di “dieta”.

Né tanto meno si comprende come il Ministro degli Interni possa dare suggerimenti su come evitare che qualcuno possa, secondo i diritti di legge, ricorrere ai giudici. Ancora meno si comprende come e perché il Ministro riservi questi consigli solo ai sindaci leghisti. Se sono consigli da Ministro, perché Maroni non li dà a tutti i sindaci d’Italia, magari passando attraverso la doverosa e istituzionale mediazione dei Prefetti? Se – come temo – non sono consigli da Ministro, con quale senso della legalità e del rapporto tra potere esecutivo e potere giudiziario Maroni gestisce il Ministero degli Interni? Se, metti caso, tra Carabinieri, Poliziotti, agenti dei Servizi Segreti, Prefetti e quant’altri dipendano istituzionalmente da lui, ci sono carabinieri poliziotti, agenti, Prefetti leghisti, anche per questi è, secondo Maroni, prevista o prevedibile una comunicazione a parte, esclusiva, sui generis, magari tale da evitare possibili e legittimi ricorsi ai giudici da parte di qualcuno?

L’assessore Claudio Abiendi, che nel 1992 fu, a quanto dice, tra i fondatori della Lega, precisa: “per me il Natale non è la festa dell’accoglienza, ma della tradizione cristiana”.

Non so come il povero Abiendi riesca a concepire una “tradizione cristiana” che non sia una “festa dell’accoglienza”. Natale per un cristiano non è forse la festa della massima accoglienza: quella del mondo, che accoglie in sé l’estrema diversità e l’estrema alterità di Dio, e quella di Dio, che in Gesù nascente manifesta l’Incarnazione, cioè l’unirsi e l’accogliersi reciproco di divinità e umanità in un’unica persona?

Che cosa avrebbero fatto Franco Claretti e Claudio Abiendi se, a suo tempo, fossero stati Sindaco e “Assessore alla Accoglienza” di Betlemme? Come si sarebbe poi comportato Roberto Maroni, se dopo l’Epifania e dopo il ritorno a Gerusalemme dei Re Magi, fosse stato il Ministro degli Interni di Erode?

Chennai, Nov 11 (PTI) The death toll in rain-related incidents under the influence of the North East monsoon rose to 77 in Tamil Nadu, with reports of seven more deaths.

Three deaths were reported overnight in Nilgiris, taking the death toll in that district to 40, police said here today.

One death each was reported from Villupuram, Tirupur, Erode and Cuddalore, they added.

Most of the 77 deaths over the past two weeks were due to wall and roof collapses, electrocution and landslides. Many roads, bridges and houses were also damaged in several parts of the state, police said.

Meteorological department officials have said there is a likelihood of light to moderate to rather heavy rain at a few places over all districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the next 48 hours. Chennai would be generally cloudy with a few spells of rain or thundershowers in some areas.

From PTI

Erode: Two tiger skins have been seized from two youth at a nearby village by the Special Task Force (STF) Police.

STF personnel on routine patrol at Srirangankadu area in Bhavanisagar forest range yesterday, noticed three persons standing near a car and on suspicion, questioned them. A search of the vehicle yielded one skin concealed in the boot, while another was recovered from a motorcycle parked nearby, police said.

The three were handed over to the Forest Department personnel for questioning.

From PTI-DNA

Students, STF men, Forest Department staff clear forest

ERODE: Five tonnes of plastic waste and bottles is what about 450 students collected from forests near Sathyamangalam.

The students drawn from a dozen schools and a couple of colleges were on a mission recently to clean the forest area and temples where people frequent. Assisting them were Special Task Force personnel and staff from the Sathyamangalam Division of Forest Department.

Divisional Forest Officer S.Ramasubramaniam says under instructions from Conservator P.Durairasu the Department spoke to Inspector General of Police, STF, C.Sylendra Babu and also schools in and around Sathyamangalam. The result of the discussion was the decision to rope in students to clean forests, he says.

Collective effort: School students, along with Special Task Force personnel, cleaning the forest area near Satyamangalam. - Photo: M.GOVARTHAN

On Saturday 450 students and 50 persons from STF and Forest Department covered Bhavani Sagar, Sathyamangalam, Thengumarada, Gejaletti, Hassanur, Arepalayam, Gunderipallam, Thalavady, Sujilkuttai and other areas.

Mr.Ramasubramaniam says the students, drawn from class six onwards, were divided in to 11 groups and put under the care and guidance of STF men and rangers, forest watchers for the day-long operation. Most of the waste the students collected was plastic, dumped in and around Bannari Amman, Karumannarayar temples and Thalavady. Rotary Club of Sathyamangalam and Bannari Amman Sugars also joined the project in that they as sponsors donated T-shirts with environmental messages to the students. At the end of the campaign the DFO says students of Little Flower Mat. School won the prize for their enthusiastic participation. They collected more waste than others. The STF and Forest Department also gave away prizes to best student in each of the 11 groups.

The waste collected has been handed over to the Sathyamangalam Municipality, which in consultation with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board will look at ways to safely dispose or recycle it.

Mr.Ramasubramaniam assures that Forest Department will not stop with the cleaning campaign. It has also decided to set up bins at places where people frequent so as to prevent litter. Signboards will also be put, he adds.

From THE HINDU

1. Atarassia Grop-L’Oltretorrente

2. Erode-Banditi

3. No Relax-Fuera de control

4.Skambomambo-Taxi Driver

5. Broilers-Ruby light and dark

This article from BBC News describes the negative affects of white wine on your teeth and how to minimize them. White wine affects your teeth more than red wine (even through red wine dyes your lips, tongue and teeth!). The origin, vintage or alcohol content is not what affects your teeth, but the pH and duration of contact with your chompers.

To minimize the pH affects, try eating cheese at the same time. Cheese is rich in calcium which is good for teeth and what the acid targets in the teeth.

“In the lab, adult teeth soaked in white wine for a day had a loss of both calcium and another mineral called phosphorus to depths of up to 60 micrometers in the enamel surface, which the researchers say is significant.”

What wines are the worst offenders? Riesling wines tended to have the greatest impact, having the lowest pH. What to choose? A rich red like a Rioja or a Pinot noir…Mmmm I love big reds!

But don’t think that brushing right away will save you white-wine-no-cheese people. Excessive brushing might make matters worse and lead to further loss of enamel. So maybe having a mini-wine and cheese tasting is the way to go. This combo helps neutralise the acid and boost the remineralising power of saliva to halt the acid attack.

Avoid eating strawberries or other fruit (and it’s juices) as this adds to the acid attack. So in conclusion: have red, or have white with cheese and wait 30min to brush!

C’è una storia nel nuovo testamento. Una storia molto attuale. Parla di un personaggio famoso: Giovanni battista.

La storia in questione è scritta in Matteo 14 e ci racconta di come in Palestina ci fosse un re (Erode) completamente corrotto, immorale, vigliacco e lontano da Dio.

Erode, il re, viveva con una donna, Erodiade, ex moglie di suo fratello Filippo, anch’egli re. La relazione era nata da un tradimento e per tanto Giovanni, il santo, il più grande profeta, colui che “preparò la via a Gesù”, non certo un politico o un uomo politicamente corretto, condannava pubblicamente l’immoralità di questo re che andava contro la legge ebraica in maniera spudorata e menefreghista.

Il re, Erode, ovviamente non vedeva di buon occhio questo “folle” profeta ebreo, che aveva fatto della povertà e della meditazione, della preghiera in solitudine il suo stile di vita (da notare che santo, kadosh in ebraico,  significa “separato”) separato da una società in cui non si riconosceva, separato da un popolo che riconosceva un re straniero e immorale.  Erode segretamene ambiva ad ucciderlo… ma la Bibbia ci dice: “E, pur volendo farlo morire, egli temeva il popolo, che lo riteneva un profeta.”

La donna, Salomè, figlia di Erodiade e Filippo, durante il compleanno dello zio “danzò in sua presenza e piacque a Erode, tanto che egli le promise con giuramento di darle tutto ciò che gli avesse chiesto” il fatto che alla danza sia legato “il piacere” del caro zietto Erode, ci fa supporre che Salomè fosse evidentemente avvenente…. vecchio punto debole di molti uomini.

Salomè, la donna, comunque tra tutte le richieste più astruse che potesse formulare chiese: “istigata da sua madre,(ndb la stessa che Giovanni ovviamente accusava di non poter convivere con Erode) disse: «Dammi qui, su un piatto, la testa di Giovanni Battista” Ovviamente il re ormai spinto dagli ormoni e dalla vigliaccheria acconsentì alla richiesta della donna, sancendo la condanna del santo, reo di dire la verità. Giovanni morirà decapitato pagando il prezzo della propria onestà e amore verso Dio.

A nessuno viene in mente qualche analogia?

IL RE - Il re non potrebbe rappresentare la nostra classe dirigente? Corrotta e immorale, eppure auto-innalzatosi a paladina della giustizia. Identificarlo con il nostro Presidente del consiglio è fin troppo facile. Ma è situazione diffusa nel nostro parlamento tra prostitute, trans e storie di droga,mafia e corruzione. Una classe dominante che non rappresenta assolutamente un popolo.

LA DONNA – Affibbiare questo ruolo alle varie “D’addario” e alla comitiva di Palazzo Grazioli (sponsored by Tarantini) è fin troppo scontato. Salomè rappresenta evidentemente il sogno (erotico in questo caso) a cui il potere si “prostituisce”,  la corruzione e l’immoralità per eccellenza, lo svendere il futuro degli innocenti per appagare un proprio “vizietto”... l’ingiustizia.

IL SANTO – Ma eccoci al punto, il grande assente di questa nostra analogia. Se fin’ora trovare equivalenze è stato fin troppo facile eccoci ora di fronte ad un enorme buco nero. Chi si separerà da tutte queste porcherie condannandole per quello che sono: Immoralità, ingiustizia davanti agli uomini, ma sopratutto davanti a Dio? La chiesa cattolica, detentrice del monopolio della religione in Italia, che pure avrebbe l’autorità e la cassa di risonanza per farlo… dov’è? Non è troppo facile condannare il mancato uso del preservativo in Africa, dove nessuno alzerà la voce e se anche lo facesse non verrà ascoltato, mentre nel proprio paese succede un (quasi letterale) bordello?

Giovanni viene descritto come “la voce di uno che grida nel deserto”… immagine così poetica per definire (permettetemi la battuta…) il padre spirituale dei Don Chisciotte. Un uomo, che a distanza di secoli e secoli ricordiamo ancora come un esempio incredibile di integrità e consacrazione, che ha preferito morire piuttosto che prostituirsi al potere e alla corruzione di una società da cui era ormai SEPARATO.

Davidissimo

PS ovviamente mi riferisco alla chiesa cattolica intesa come istituzione e non come credenti o anche a quei molti preti e missionari che invece vivono il Vangelo ogni giorno con fede e passione. Tipo Don Paolo Farinella che ha scritto questa lettera tempo fa.

VOTAMI SU OK NOTIZIE

FOR AN EASY FLOW: Machinery being used to desilt Kalingarayan canal in Erode region(2005 photo). - Photo: M. Govarthan.

ERODE: Consumer Protection Council, Bhavani, has criticised the waste management system in Kalingarayanpalayam.

Pollution

In a release, the organisation has said that in the absence of proper waste disposal mechanism in the area, people are dumping waste along the graveyard and also on the banks of River Bhavani and on top of it setting fire to the waste, which pollutes the river.

Criticising the Mettunasuvanpalayam panchayat for the sorry state of affairs, the consumer body has asked for cleaning up the area to provide easy access to the graveyard.

From THE HINDU

Look at how media justifies wife killing of husband.

Because the husband was a drunkard, it is ok to kill him?

Who knows whether he was actually a drunkard or not?

Will media praise the bravery of husband also if he kills a wife bec she is a drunkard?

> http://www.telegrap hindia.com/ 1091016/jsp/ nation/story_ 11622254. jsp
>
> Erode (PTI): A woman killed her husband by setting him on fire, police
> said. Palanisamy, 50, used to drink and beat up Senniammal. Last Saturday,
> Senniammal poured kerosene on her husband and set him ablaze after a
> quarrel. She then dumped the body in a garbage bin and covered it with mud.
> But she later confessed to the panchayat pradhan out of fear, the police
> said.

Arrival of ‘big’ onion has been steady throughout the floods

ERODE: The recent floods that devastated Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka seem to have had little impact on onion prices.

The price of the vegetable, once said to be one of the factors behind the fall of a government, has remained more or less steady around Rs. 20 a kg, with a marginal increase that is indicative of a pre-Deepavali price escalation. Sources in vegetable market in Erode say the arrival of ‘big’ onion has been steady throughout the floods , except for a day or two when it almost halved.

No impact: Recent floods in parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have not had an impact on onion prices, as expected. - PHOTO: M.GOVARTHAN

Wholesale trader in onion, Manivannan, says for a couple of days only two lorry loads of onion arrived in Erode market, as against the normal four or five lorries. A lorry load of the bulbous vegetable weighs around 12 tonnes. He says Erode and other parts of Tamil Nadu get their onion from the Yeshwantpur market in Bangalore, where traders have enough stock of onion to whether the crisis.

During Deepavali and even thereafter, there is no real reason to panic about onion prices, because traders have enough stock. Vegetable trader and Councillor ‘Market’ N. Raja says in fact onion prices will come down after Deepavali. At present the price is marginally higher, as it happens prior to every festive season. He adds that though the common, big onion variety is called Bellary onion, the fact is that Erode gets the vegetable from Pune, parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh that have nothing to do with the floods. Onion aside, the price of lady’s-finger, snake gourd, carrot and other vegetables has gone up. There is also no impact on beans, beetroot, potato and other vegetables that arrive from parts of Karnataka.

From THE HINDU

Salvatore Romano- Labirintiche ninfe

Proprio pochissimi giorni fa, il nostro ormai amico Salvatore Romano, mi inviò questa sua opera, l’ultima, in ordine cronologico, che ha realizzato. La sua generosità è davvero da sottolineare, come anche la disponibilità nel lasciarmi portare anche qui, nel blog, tutte le sue opere in visione o accompagnarle a testi di mia scelta.

Quest’ ultima opera avevo deciso di metterla da parte per una evenienza particolare, volevo trovare dei testi adatti che ne sprigionassero la forza es-pressiva, la furia che resta in un involucro segreto, ma viva e a viva forza, in un attimo, sprigiona ciò che solo il sangue, o il battito cardiaco dice in un lampo.

…e l’occasione si è presentata oggi, quando ho ricevuto la presentazione di un libro di Paolo Fichera.Devo ammettere che non avevo letto nulla di questo autore sino ad oggi, ma riconosco senza difficoltà la mia ignoranza e mi  rammarico delle mie lacune. So che un’altra vita non mi basterebbe comunque a riempire i tanti vuoti di conoscenza di cui mi riconosco il peso e la mancanza. Ma. Una volta di più posso riaffermare che:- non è mai troppo tardi.- Ho cercato in rete gli “sbranati”, le parti del corpo di quel testo di poesia che ha una compattezza e uno scheletro che la struttura in modo potente e, per quanto ho visto sino ad ora, con un carattere particolare, di opera da portare sulla scena,  a mio parere, non solo da leggere in solitudine.

C’è terra e metallo, dolore e passione, che si fanno musica all’interno del corpo, come in un sistema di vasi comunicanti, una rete di radici sprofondate e abbarbicate alle aree vie del respiro, come una intera foresta.
C’è un fuoco coltivato come una pianta, un rosso sorbo cupo, un’arpa di  legni che crepitano e ruote di mulino che girano l’acqua di una vita scossa dal tronco, o troncata nel gesto in cui si compie. Un quadro, fiammingo, e uno surrealista, insieme, poichè salta da un’ era ad un’altra, dentro un cerchio di frammenti ricomposti da un linguaggio profetico: il re-spira le sue tra-me senza che nulla freni la sua corsa. Mi ha riportato, la parola di Fichera,  alle atmosfere di  Salvatore Romano in cui Eros e Thanatos convivono nel varco  del tumul(t)o, la stessa zolla ospitante, e si fa corpo del respiro,emanazione radiosa e radiante della terra, di un corpo che è fuso in un solo res-piro, un fu(o)co che pulsa e germina, sperma che ingravida e diffonde la specie, ed è specchio dell’intero.

Ringrazio perciò entrambi gli autori per questo ricco percorso che ci è stato concesso di attraversare insieme oggi.

f.f.

*   *    *

Da Nel respiro- Paolo Fichera- L’arcolaio Editore-2009

…

ciò che termina

la maceria, l’olfatto

che il preludio sentenzia

a ogni respiro un codice,

un rito celebrante

adorante

la neve ombra corrode

l’infante, la tomba tace

il corpo bruciato, l’alito

sigilla la croce

alto il fumo erode

stanza 4

reparto B3,

tumulo di fossa 710

31-5-1939

ora 7-9-2007

altri non hanno il corpo

sono fisso nel segno

e non sento il dolore

neanche la terra ora

innesta alla terra il dolore

il seno

ogni divario schermato d’ombra

l’essenza-assenza

il seno

che la crepa smuove

il seno della fossa,

di ogni fossa

nel battito che nasce dalla fossa

l’ibrido ramato nella piaga

nell’ascolto che la piaga

rende nodo e vagito

ascolta e resta carne

nel legno

che la parola fissa e annida

e chiara rende la luce

ora che la luce

ha scavato la penombra

ora che l’ha resa

sperma

ora che la notte ha sete

e l’umanità è il battito ampio

di un vagito che si perde

ora

la maceria è distesa

ora e da sempre

ora

che il calice è versato

e l’acqua si smembra

morirò nel battito

e tu con me, e con te chiunque

l’orlo, cucito dall’ombra

albero padre, ramo padre,

pane padre, acqua padre,

vento padre, respiro padre,

sangue padre, stanza padre,

la pietà e l’umanità a terra

si dibatte, chiede pietà

il sorriso di carità

riduci il respiro

a una stele infissa

in sabbia di arti e polpa

e sangue e polpa e vena

e tu sei

la crepa

che l’ospite nutre

ti lascio e pongo l’acqua

alle labbra secche

l’organo reagisce in gesti

senza pensieri

caro padre, la tua mano,

la vita tessuta come l’incanto

lo sguardo alto, il cielo alto

e quieto, l’armonia del ferro

padre mio, mio compagno

i passi della vita

sono gli stessi della morte

padre mio, la musica, l’armonia

le note le ali, la vela nera

della barca che non hai mai solcato

ti chiudo gli occhi

ora che il nervo

premuto a premere

ora che il nervo premuto

non preme

e gli occhi danno alla lingua

il seme

vagina e lacrima

il seme umido

il cuore germe di mio figlio

che ogni parola sia umanità

e vagito d’animale e lacrima

di mondo e cellula e grumo

racchiuso e fondo ampio sazio

germe solco

vena carezza

non più sapere o non sapere

indossare la tunica

che lo strazio lambisce

e rende orfano

non più orfano o non orfano

non più mondo o realtà appesa

pensiero

che freme

e reagisce al tocco di mani

e pensiero

tu avvicini la sera

dove nudi cani accompagnano i morti

il corteo spelonca

la coltre lambita da lamine secche

la vita distesa nel solco di un frammento

scissa in cadaveri d’albe

flusso dove la neve freme

inno divelte inno placido e santo

mensa che il cielo disperde

dolce rame andando in dolce rame

ossa

corolla

pulpito

lama

pupilla organo

ciabatte occhio specchio

padre la resa padre pane

figlio la sete figlio fame

figlio l’utero figlio vena danza

cibo

richiamo

eco che nel trapasso

gli occhi distende

e il grumo brucia

raccolto nell’orda

*  *  *

Notizie sull’autore

Paolo Fichera è nato nel 1972 e vive a Sesto San Giovanni (MI). Dal 2003 dirige, insieme a Mauro Daltin, la rivista “PaginaZero-Letterature di frontiera”. E’ stato incluso in diverse antologie collettive, tra cui “Il presente delle poesia italiana”, a cura di Carlo Dentali e Stefano Salvi. Nel 2005 ha pubblicato presso la casa editrice LietoColle la raccolta poetica “Lo speziale”, finalista nel 2005 nella sezione inediti del Premio Montano e segnalata nella sezione editi del Premio Montano nel 2006. Le sue poesie sono apparse su numerose riviste, tra cui: “Poesia” , “il Domenicale”, “Atelier”. E’ presente nei principali siti di letteratura, tra cui: Nabanassar, FuoriCasa Poesia, LiberInversi, Agli incroci dei venti, l’Ulisse n.1 e n.4, El Ghibli. Alcune poesie sono state tradotte in inglese, francese, spagnolo e arabo.

Riferimenti:

http://cattedrale.wordpress.com/

http://www.vialetrastevere.org/newpage42.html

http://oboesommerso.splinder.com/post/19591124

http://rebstein.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/nel-respiro-di-paolo-fichera/

Students collect signatures from members of the public

ERODE: Students, about 25 of them, conducted a signature campaign at Erode bus stand to create awareness on pollution in water bodies.

The students, drawn mostly from government and municipality schools, went about gathering signatures from members of the public while talking to them about pollution to water bodies in the district and how it could be stopped.

Making a difference: Students participating in a signature campaign conducted at Erode bus stand to create awareness on pollution in water bodies on Tuesday. – Photo: M. Govarthan

Led by Cuckoo, an organisation run by nature enthusiast and activist K. Sivaraj, the students conducted the signature campaign as part of the three-day camp.

Mr. Sivaraj says it is important to involve students in such activities because it is necessary to bring impressionable minds face-to-face with reality.

“At such age where children possess better sensitivity than adults, it is important to expose them to such things, for when they grow to be adults it will impact their behaviour, attitude towards environment.”

He also says it is important to conduct such a programme in Erode because River Cauvery, Kalingarayan Canal and other major water bodies are polluted.

Cancer patients

“It is reported that the highest number of cancer patients are from Erode,” Mr. Sivaraj says and adds that majority of the affected are labourers.

“The poor work for about Rs. 200 a day in tanneries, dyeing and bleaching units and other polluting industries but pick up diseases and ailments with treatments worth lakhs of Rupees.”

As part of the three-day camp, the students witnessed photo exhibitions. On Wednesday they will trek the Sathyamangalam forest with nature enthusiasts.

At the signature campaign at the bus stand Dr. V. Jeevanantham of Tamil Nadu Green Movement also participated.

From THE HINDU

Farmers’ eagerness to cultivate lands out of turn and draw more water weakens the canal

ERODE: All along the 124-mile Lower Bhavani Project main canal there is something that happens in frequent intervals, which seen in isolation does not matter much. But when taken together presents a very disturbing picture: seepage.

Needs attention: Lower Bhavani Farmers Federation says 600 cusecs of water is lost because of seepage along the Lower Bhavani Project Canal . — Photo: M. Govarthan

According to Lower Bhavani Farmers Federation as much as 600 cusecs is lost to seepage.

Put in perspective the loss accounts for a little over a quarter of the quantity the Public Works Department releases from the Bhavani Sagar Dam: 2,300 cusecs.

A random check conducted between the sixtieth mile and fiftieth mile revealed too many seepage points.

For example at the fifty-sixth mile, very close to the National Highways 47, the water seepage from the left bank is too heavy to be ignored.

Similarly at Nallampatti where the village road goes beneath the canal, the seepage is too heavEy. Along the Nallampatti-Palakarai Road too the story is very much the same. Farmers use the seepage water to cultivate lands that otherwise will get its due at the end of the turn system of irrigation.

T. Subbu of Tamizhaga Vivasayeegal Sangam, a farmers’ organisation, says farmers eagerness to cultivate lands out of turn, to cultivate more land and to draw more water to do so, increases seepage points, thus weakening the canal. In many a location along the canal, farmers in a bid to cultivate more lands have encroached upon Public Works Departments lands.

Erode - Farmers have flattened lands

Encroachment

The farmers’ representative says the farmers have flattened lands contingent with the left bank to raise crops. In other places unscrupulous elements have stolen earth from the PWD lands, leaving the bank not only narrow but also weak.

Canal breach

The result of such seepage and weakening of bank is canal breach, which happened twice in the recent past: in 2008 and 2006.

Another important impact of the seepage is that farmers in tail-end areas do not get water and those a little ahead do not get adequate supply. Mr. Subbu says farmers in Mangalapatti, Aravakurichi and other places hardly get water. He attributes it to the seepage. One cusec water irrigates 60 acres in a day, he says and adds that the total loss is over 20,000 acres. LBP canal irrigates 1.03 lakh acres during an agriculture season. The farmer leader says he wants the Public Works Department to bring down the seepage to help tail-end farmers. The Federation too passed a resolution to this effect in July this year.

A PWD official says the Government will soon pass an order appointing a technical expert committee to study the strengthening of the canal.

 From THE HINDU

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Sept 14: Erode and its surrounding areas experienced heavy rain on Sunday night and the town recorded 127 mm of rainfall in four hours ending 0100 hrs today.

There was very heavy rain in Erode followed by a gale from 9p.m.. Consequent to the heavy rain and gale a big tree was uprooted in Patel street and fell over a live electric line.

Following this, power supply was disrupted at Periyarnagar, Chidambaram chetty colony, Brough Road and also part of Mettur road for more than 15 hours.

Rainfall in mm. Erode 127 mm, Kavindapady 39.8 mm, Elandaikuttaimedu 36.6 mm, Olapalayam 26 mm, Perundurai 31 mm, Modakurichi 24 mm, Bhavani 21 mm, Gobichettipalayam 20 mm and Arachalure 8 mm.

Rains also lashed Gobichettipalayam and rain water entered some fields.There was ’slight damage’ to the crops, farmers said. - Agencies Chennai Online

Ending days of hot weather, rain lashed Erode and neighbouring areas on Sunday night.

Rain that started around 8 p.m. continued past midnight, bringing in the much-needed relief to public. Squall and thunder that accompanied the rain brought down trees in many a part of the city.

Rainfall recorded in the 24 hours ending Monday morning state that Erode received 127 mm. Bhavani, Chennimalai and other towns in the district also received good rain.

From THE HINDU

In large organizations, it is not feasible to persuade people through one-on-one communication. Particularly, if the organization is multi-locational, persuasion has to be through indirect means such as memos, speeches and newsletters. Change leaders also need to build capabilities in persuading others indirectly. The following guidelines can help managers be effective in indirect persuasion:

1. Neutralize the power of informal networks: Change leaders need to develop reliable communication channels to communicate their change agenda directly to employees in the organization. Otherwise people will rely on informal grapevine that can distort the change message either unintentionally or deliberately. In either case, employees may develop unfavorable perceptions of the change agenda leading to opposition and resistance. Communication channels such as employee forums, town meetings and special newsletters can counter the grapevine and informal networks. Change leaders must be particularly careful in not withholding bad news because such news gets out very quickly into the grapevine.
2. Repeat the message: Focus and repetition are critical for effective communication. This means that the change agenda should consist of only a limited number (two or three, at best) of themes. These themes need to be repeated and reinforced through different communication channels.
3. Match the medium to the message: Speeches and video-conferences are ideal to communicate vision and values; these media are also appropriate to inspire people to embrace change. On the other hand, data, graphs and charts are best conveyed in the written form—such as memos, newsletters and web pages. Change leaders must think very carefully about appropriate media before communicating their change agenda.
4. Simplify the message: The change agenda needs to be conveyed through a framework that is conceptually simple and easy to grasp. Yet, change leaders must avoid the trap of oversimplification. Oversimplified messages sound trite and faddish and can significantly reduce the credibility of the communicator. Simple frameworks are easy to remember, and are also powerful in framing the change agenda to mobilize support.
5. Create a new story about change: Stories constitute a powerful medium to mobilize support. People are more likely to remember stories rather than facts and figures. Stories are also more effective in persuading people to alter their perceptions of change. Therefore change leaders need to be able to craft their change agenda in the form of story.
6. Build personal credibility: Change leaders who are respected, considered trustworthy and competent are more likely to be effective in persuading their employees to embrace change. Personal credibility is built on the foundation of consistency. Change leaders must demonstrate consistency between their thoughts, words and behavior. Inconsistent, self-serving behavior can severely erode the credibility of a leader.

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Staff Reporter
It will help textile processing industry and agriculture 

ERODE: Textile processing units have urged the State Government to take up effluent treatment.

In a letter to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, they have said that the government must come forward to take up the work because those involved in the trade would not be able to do so.

“More than 3,500 of the 5,000 persons involved in the trade operate with a capital as low as Rs. 50,000, for whom a treatment plan is impossible. And, given the state of textile industry, it is extremely difficult for processing units to set up treatment plant,” the association has reasoned.

It has said that the Rs. 1,000-crore required is not a big amount for the government that spends thousands and thousands of rupees to protect farmers’ and poor people’s interests.

Environment

The processing industries association has cited the environment angle to urge the government to set up a common effluent treatment plant and added that if the government was to implement the project it will help both the textile processing industry and agriculture.

From THE HINDU

COIMBATORE: Wildlife conservationists express grave concern over the dwindling numbers of the national animal, and rightly so. The forest
department has seized the skin of a young tiger at Chellampalayam, near Sathyamangalam town in Erode district in western Tamil Nadu.

Two persons were caught transporting the tiger skin, stuffed in a blue plastic bag, on a scooter late on Tuesday. “It looks like the skin of a tiger just about one year old,” Sathyamangalam divisional forest officer S Ramasubramaniam told TOI.

While the tiger population in the rest of the country is on the decline, the numbers of the big, striped cat are said to be going up in south India, especially in Tamil Nadu. In the Sathyamangalam reserve forests, where no tigers were sighted till five years ago, at least 10 were spotted in the latest census. Similarly, the latest studies in the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary too have revealed a healthy tiger population.

Sathyamangalam forest officials received a tip-off last week that a group was trying to sell a tiger skin at Annur in Coimbatore district. Posing as buyers, forest staff approached Nadeem Mujir, 32, and P Subramaniam, 50, at their residence in Annur. The duo offered to sell the skin for Rs 2 lakh. The forest department team asked them to bring the skin to Chellampalayam. The duo came on a scooter and halted near a school at Chellampalayam, where forest officials lay in wait.

When the forest officials showed the cash, Mujir and Subramaniam took out the tiger skin. Immediately, they were nabbed.

During interrogation, they insisted that the tiger skin was sourced from a poacher in Kerala about six months ago. “However, we are yet to confirm if it was bought in Kerala,” Ramasubramaniam said. A team would leave for Kerala to find out the source, he said.

According to officials, the last seizure of tiger skin in Tamil Nadu was made in 2007 in the Kotagiri forest range of Niligirs north division. Calling for greater vigil, K Kalidasan, of wildlife NGO Osai, warned that with tiger sightings on the increase in south India, poachers might shift their sights to their new, thriving habitats.

From TIMESOFINDIA

Farmers left with no option but to wait for samba season

ERODE: Paddy cultivation in areas under Kalingarayan Canal is down by at least 5,000 hectares. At least that is what sources in the Agriculture Department are telling ‘The Hindu’.

The sources attribute the reason to the delay in releasing water into Kalingarayan Canal. “The delay worried farmers, who hesitated to start paddy cultivation.”

Hard times: Delay in release of water into Kalingarayan Canal has brought down paddy cultivation.

In June this year, before the start of the Kuruvai season, the Public Works Department was unsure of releasing water into the irrigation channel because of the poor storage position in the Bhavani Sagar Dam.

Following pressure from farmers, who sought water to save standing crops, the department agreed to release water for about 20 days as special wetting. It released the water on June 25.

At the time of the water release, farmers, under the impression that the water would flow for only 20 days, did not prepare land for paddy cultivation. They focused only on saving sugarcane.

But then, within 10 days of the department opening the shutters, monsoon activity picked up in the Nilgris, which lead to a good inflow into the Bhavani Sagar Dam.

The storage position increased to such an extent that the department continued to release water. The farmers, caught unawares, were left with no choice but to wait for the samba season.

This delay in releasing water into the canal, poor storage in the dam and other factors contributed to farmers not starting sowing, says V.M. Velayudham, president, Kalingarayan Canal Farmers Association. He says had the farmers known that the dams storage position would improve and department would release water, they would have gone ahead and tilled and prepared the land to raise paddy nursery.

The farmers are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping that the samba season will be good with rains in time to get a good harvest.

By Karthik Madhavan – THE HINDU