News Letter-11

In Focus

Selfie - The Self Portrait

Robert Cornelius

'Selfie' refers to a self-portrait photo, generally casual in nature, taken with a camera held at arm's length.

A selfie is considered a selfie, as long as the photo is being taken by one of the subjects featured, however it may include multiple subjects.

In early 2000s, with the online social network’s expansion, selfies gained wide popularity - first on Myspace, then on Facebook and Flicker. Trend culminated in 2013 when Oxford Dictionaries announced 'Selfie' as their international Word of the Year.

As now a days considered, Selfie isn't a "new age" game. There are several pioneers of the selfie, created before smartphones gained popularity.

The word 'Selfie' is believed to have been first used by an Australian man Nathan Hope, in September 2002, although he described it as "something that was just common slang at the time, used to describe a picture of yourself".

The architect of the first ever selfie was an American pioneer in photography Robert Cornelius. In 1839, he produced one of the first photographs of himself and recorded on its back "The first light picture ever taken. 1839."

The art of the selfie and its usefulness has been hotly debated over the last couple of years – So why is it so trending?

Selfie is the most trending thing these days and everyone loves taking selfies; capturing, storing and sharing those lovely moments of self with self forever. Selfie gives us the power to take our pictures ourselves whenever wherever. We can select our own background and be satisfied with the outcome before we save it as a memory. The best part of a selfie is that we ourselves are also there in the frame without being left out while clicking the moment, be it with friends or family or just a beautiful surrounding.

In Story

Jenny the Selfie Goat

Jenny the Selfie Goat was addicted to her mobile phone. At every event Jenny was always taking pictures of herself, called ‘Selfies.’ All her friends took selfies too, but not as many as Jenny.

One day, Jenny the Selfie Goat went climbing in the mountains. She noticed the view was perfect for a picture. “These mountains look beautiful. If I was in the picture, it would look even more beautiful!” Without hesitation, she moved towards the edge of the cliff to take the perfect selfie. While adjusting her pose, Jenny slipped and fell down the cliff. Luckily, Jenny the goat fell only a short distance before she managed to regain a foothold, but still, she ended up breaking her right arm. Now Jenny has to use her left arm to take selfies, which she finds very difficult and uncomfortable.

Moral of the story: technology is useful and all around us, but you don’t need to capture every moment with your phone, or to gain attention. Learn to live in the moment, enjoy the experience as it happens, and you will feel more fulfilled and happier.

By James Brough

UNSUNG HEROES

Polling Officials in Uttarakhand

Polling Officials conquered snow laden booths at 10,000 ft for 275 voters in Uttarakhand

While the voters of the plain areas have no issues of transportation and accessibility at the polling booths, their counterparts the hill folk, as well as the polling officers, have to hustle to reach the polling sites.

Uttarakhand had set a benchmark with a record-breaking 68% voting in the Assembly Elections 2017, a record for the hill state. The credence of this feat belonged to the diligent polling officials, who had gone beyond limits to ensure that voters of the unfathomed hill areas got a chance to exercise their franchise.

The polling booths in the Ghansali constituency were among the 479 snow-shrouded booths in Uttarakhand, where the polling parties reached after long tiring treks. Tucked high at 10,000 feet above sea level, the Ghansali constituency area lacks motorable roads and has poor mobile connectivity.

This year too in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, for the first time ever 141 voters registered at the polling booth exercised their right to vote, in Gangotri shrine situated at 3,140m, in Uttarakhand.

INTER ACTIVITY

WORD POWER

The internet is bright and full of hilarious connotations of the simplest of things.

Here we bring you some really creative bunch of words in use related to ‘selfie’. All these words have ‘FIE’ as their suffix. Let’s try and identify these words and fill the table below.

e.g. A photographic selfie featuring the hair of the person clicking the picture is called a ‘Helfie’.

A photographic self-portrait taken by a farmer; OR a photo taken of a family by one of the family members in the photo.
A smartphone-taken picture of oneself in a car.
A self-clicked photograph with your pet.
A selfie taken in front of a television.
Two persons taking a selfie together.
A group of people taking photos of themselves with their own phones.
A picture or portrait showcasing you with your book shelf.
A photographic self- portrait taken while working out.

ILLUSION

Find the 10 faces in this image

BRAIN TEASERS

In Formation

HIDDEN GEMS OF INDIA

Some truly stunning places in India that truly deserve a selfie with you!

1. Pangong Lake, Ladakh
Serene, tranquil and absolutely stunning, the Pangong Lake is indeed proof that the creator of the universe is a true artist.

situated in the Himalayas at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to China. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.

2. Desert of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan The winding dunes that glow in the morning and the mesmerizing starry-night sky; every second you spend in the Desert of Jaisalmer is a memory that lasts for ages. Being an arid desert region, it is prone to extremes of temperature, ranging from 49 °C to 25 °C in summer and from 23.6 °C to 5 °C in winters.

3. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat Endless, vast and awe-inspiring. Catching the sunrise and sunset while you’re in Kutch is an experience that will be cherished till the end of time. Also known as the ‘White Desert of India’ the great Rann of Kutch is a vast expanse of salt marsh where one would be able to see just stretches of pure white land as far as the eyesight goes.

4. Kudremukh Shola Grasslands, Karnataka Very few places will make you feel like you’re standing at the heart of nature the way Kudremukh does. Luxuriant greenery, waterfalls, chirping birds - it’s the definition of picturesqueness. It is a mountain peak, one side of which resembles the face of a horse, hence, the name Kudremukh was awarded to this peak by the locals, which literally means ‘horse-face’ in kannada

RECIPE

Classic Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

INGRIDIENTS:

4 cups cherry or grape tomatoes halved
2 cups fresh mozzarella balls halved or mozzarella cheese cubed
1/4 cup red onion minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, chives, green onions, oregano
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION:

This summery cherry tomato salad is made with ripe cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, herbs and red onions, all tossed in a light garlic and herb dressing.

Step 1:-Place the tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, red onion and herbs in a large bowl.

Step 2:-In a small bowl prepare the dressing by mixing the olive oil, vinegar, sugar, oregano, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 3:-Pour the dressing over the tomato mixture and gently toss to coat evenly.

Step 4:-Serve chilled.

FRUIT

Fast facts on Cherry Tomatoes

For decades, Pearly round or plum-shaped, tangy or sweet, red or gold, cherry tomatoes top the summer salads and other dishes.

Cherry tomatoes are believed to have been cultivated by the Aztecs in Mexico in the 15th century.

The first tomatoes grown in Europe were yellow cherry tomatoes.[5]Cherry tomatoes have been popular in the United States since at least 1919.

There are different types and sizes of tomato, and they can be prepared in different ways. These include cherry tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, raw tomatoes, soups, juices, and purees.

HEALTH BENIFITS:

Tomatoes are an intensely nutritious plant food. Eat more tomatoes by adding them to wraps or sandwiches, sauces, or salsas. Alternatively, eat them cooked or stewed, as these preparation methods can boost the availability of key nutrients.
Tomatoes contain key carotenoids. These can protect the eye against light-induced damage. The health benefits can vary between types. For example, cherry tomatoes have higher beta-carotene content than regular tomatoes.
Including tomatoes in the diet can help protect against cancer, maintain healthy blood pressure, and reduce blood glucose in people with diabetes.

IN ENGLISH

Vocabulary

Vocabulary can be defined as a fundamental tool required for communicating and obtaining knowledge. In order to expand your vocabulary, you need to learn new words that might help you convey your message in an appropriate manner. Hence, we have formulated a few words that can be used instead of common phrases for enhancing your communication skills.

Very afraid - Fearful

Very angry - Furious

Very bright - Luminous

Very calm - Serene

Very colorful - Vibrant

Very confused - Perplexed

Very different - Disparate

Very difficult - Arduous

Very dry - Arid

Very friendly - Amiable

ANSWERS

WORD POWER

FIND THE 10 FACES

BRAIN TEASERS

Savvy:

NATIONAL SELFIE DAY – June 21

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