Muzaffar Shams Balkhi (1320-1381)

Muzaffar Shams Balkhi was born to a family from Balkh in Afghanistan, the date of his birth is unknown but may have been in the decade of the 720s/1320s. After an education in Delhi, he joined his father in Bihar Sharif. His intellectual disposition led him to become a disciple of Sharaf al-Din Ahmad Maneri (d. 783/1381) instead of Ahmad Carmpush, his father's poetically inclined but less well-educated guide. Muzaffar was sent back to Delhi again for further studies, and then the Tughlukid Sultan Firuz Shah appointed him a lecturer in the royal madrasa.

After a conversion experience, he returned to Bihar, where Sharaf al-Din Maneri continued his spiritual formation. He reached the stage when he felt liberated from all worldly attachments, except his wife, but exclaimed to his guide that he would divorce her. Approving of the sentiment, but not of the idea, Sharaf al-Din announced that his training was complete.

Muzaffar Shams Balkhi was incapable of staying in one place. He journeyed far and wide, spending time in Mecca and eventually dying at Aden in 803/1400. He received more than 200 letters from his spiritual guide Sharaf al-Din, of which only 28 are extant. There is an extant, though unpublished collection of Muzaffar's letters (Khuda Bakhsh Library, Patna, Pers. no. 2619, and Acc. no. 1859/2 (181 letters in each ms.); a third ms. in the private library of Balkhi Sahib, Patna) and a small diwan (ed. Patna, 1959). His compendious commentary on Radi al-Din Sanghani's Masharik al-anwar has not come to light.

Although he was the chief successor to Sharaf al-Din Maneri, he is more remembered as an intellectual than as a spiritual guide. He was succeeded in this latter role by his nephew Husayn. 

Read More: Harrat Khaybar “Gates of Hell” in Saudi Arabia

How to write the theta symbol in the MS Word (On Keyboard)

Method: 1 Alt Code

Θ (lowercase theta symbol) ALT + 952

Θ (Uppercase theta symbol) ALT + 233

 

Method: 2

Lowercase Theta Code: θ (03B8 and press ALT + X)

Uppercase theta Code: Θ (0398 and Press Alt + X)

 

Method: 3

Θ (Character Map)

 

Method: 4

Θ Character Code: 03B8

Θ Character Code: 0398

 

9,000-year-old necklace found in the tomb

9,000-year-old necklace found in the tomb of an 8-year-old child, probably a girl. Made of over 2,500 beads, reconstructed by archeologists. 

olive-backed oriole (Oriolus sagittatus)

The most widely distributed of all Australasian orioles, the olive-backed oriole (Oriolus sagittatus), sometimes known as the white-bellied oriole, is a common medium-sized passerine bird found in northern and eastern Australia as well as south-central New Guinea. It is also quite noisy and noticeable. Olive-backed with little dark streaks, and with black lines running the length of its light chest, it is not a brilliant bird; females have cinnamon-edged wings, and both sexes have reddish beak and eyes. Source: CP

This picture was taken in 1950 during a routine military expedition in the Chukchi Peninsula, Soviet Union.

This picture was taken in 1950 during a routine military expedition in the Chukchi Peninsula, Soviet Union. Despite the freezing temperatures, the soldiers began to feed the starving and destitute bears and cubs on a regular basis. They would use a tin-opener to open the tin, which they would then give to the bear after it had licked all the milk, and then feed her little bears with it. Condensed milk, also known as sgushchennoye moloko in Russian, was a common dessert in the army as well.

What is a charitable trust?

A charitable trust is a gift, to be applied consistently with existing laws, for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons, either by bringing their minds or their hearts under the influence of education or religion, by relieving their bodies from disease, suffering, or constraint, by assisting them to establish themselves in life, or by erecting and maintaining public buildings or works, or otherwise lessening the burdens of government; a gift to general public use, which extends to the poor as well as the rich. To create a valid trust, sufficient words, a definite subject, and an object are necessary. In charitable trusts, the object is generally uncertain. This is because if the object were clearly defined, it would cease to be charity and be governed by trust rules.

At one time it was held that charitable trusts were created by an act passed during Queen Elizabeth's reign, known as the statute of beneficial uses. However, it has been shown that these trusts existed long before that act was passed. Charitable trusts are recognized in all States of the Union, while some States have never adopted the statute at all. It is held that trusts, even when they are not in compliance with the statute, may be considered good if they are in compliance with its spirit. Uncertainty of the object is one of the characteristics of a charitable trust, and it has led to what is known as the “cy pres” doctrine, which is that the courts will interpret instruments creating charitable trusts so that if the exact object of the donor cannot be carried out the donation will be applied to something of a nature similar to that specified by the donor.

When a testator leaves property to his executors in such a manner that they are to be the sole judges of its use, and the executors die before the testator, it is doubtful whether the trust will come into existence, as the executors were the only persons who could designate for what the donation was to be applied. In some jurisdictions, the rule is that if the property can be applied to other than charitable needs, it can be considered indefinite.

In cases in which the particular charitable purpose does not exhaust the whole fund if from the instrument creating the fund, the intention appears that the entire amount is for charity, the surplus will be devoted to another charity and will not form a resulting trust for the heir or next of kin. A gift may be made to a charity that is no longer in existence. A gift to a specific charity will not fail because of the lack of a trustee.

After the trust has come into existence, if the purpose for which the trust was created fails for any reason, it will be applied to some other purpose of a similar character, so as to fulfill as nearly as possible the purpose for which it was intended.

Charitable trusts are not subject to the rule against perpetuities, which is that property cannot be tied up for more than a life or lives in being and 21 years thereafter. If property left to a charitable trust is limited to another estate, not a charitable trust, and the first estate is in violation of the rule against perpetuities, the trust will not be sustained; but after the trust comes into existence the rule against perpetuities is not applied to it. In New York, charitable trusts are governed by the same rules as others.

By English law all bequests for charitable purposes, to be valid, must be strictly for the public benefit; that is to say, in favor of institutions for the advancement of learning, science, and art; for the support of the poor; or for other objects connected with the welfare of the public; and such bequests include those in favor of the Church or of other religious bodies sanctioned by the law.

Bequests for superstitious purposes are null and void. A body of commissioners (the charity commissioners), under whose superintendence such benevolent trusts are placed, was established under the Charitable Trusts Act of 1853. They have the power to inquire into the administration of all English public charities.

Crimson Rosella

We will know some interesting facts about Crimson Rosella. The crimson rosella is a parrot native to eastern and southeastern Australia which has been introduced to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. The crimson rosella’s colors are eye-catching, and its whistle sounds are equally enchanting. It is commonly found in, but not restricted to, mountain forests and gardens.

Lifespan

The Crimson Rosella life span is 30 years.                                                                            

Behavior

Almost all rosellas are sedentary, although occasional populations are considered nomadic; no rosellas are migratory. Outside of the breeding season, crimson rosellas tend to congregate in pairs or small groups and feeding parties. The largest groups are usually composed of juveniles, who will gather in flocks of up to 20 individuals. When they forage, they are conspicuous and chatter noisily. Rosellas are monogamous, and during the breeding season, adult birds will not congregate in groups and will only forage with their mate. According to a new study crimson rosellas can identify birds of their own subspecies based on the smell of other birds.

Distribution Habitats.

Crimson rosellas are common in coastal and mountain forests at all altitudes. They primarily live in forests and woodlands, preferring older and wetter forests. They can be found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate rainforests, both wet and dry sclerophyllous forests, riparian forests, and woodlands, all the way from sea level up to the tree line. They will also live in human-affected areas such as farmlands, pastures, fire breaks, parks, reserves, gardens, and golf courses. They are rarely found in treeless areas. At night, they roost on high tree branches.

Diet

Crimson rosellas forage in trees, bushes, and on the ground for the fruit, seeds, nectar, berries, and nuts of a wide variety of plants. Despite feeding on fruits and seeds, rosellas are not useful to the plants as seed-spreaders, because they crush and destroy the seeds in the process of eating them. Rosellas will also eat many insects and their larvae, including termites, beetles, weevils, caterpillars, moths, and water boatmen.

Rosella Care

Rosellas need space and a good diet in order to thrive. The largest cage you can afford is ideal, but be careful that the bars are the correct spacing for a bird with this head size. An aviary situation is ideal for rosellas, which will live peacefully with others of their kind in a large enough space. Crimson rosellas love to bathe, so frequent bathing opportunities are a must. This is a good way to reinforce the bond between you and your bird, and you can feed him tidbits from your plate.

Range

The crimson rosella occurs from southeastern South Australia, through Tasmania, Victoria, and coastal New South Wales into southeastern Queensland. A disparate population occurs in North Queensland. The crimson rosella is native to eastern and southeastern Australia, where it inhabits open forests, woodlands, gardens as well as parks. Its wild diet consists many of native grass seeds, herbs, fruits and flowering buds.

The harpy eagle is a neotropical species of eagle. The call is the strong, silent type, harpy eagles do not vocalize much. When heard, they wail (wheee, wheee-ooooo), croak, whistle, click, and mew. It is also called the American harpy eagle to distinguish it from the Papuan eagle, which is sometimes known as the New Guinea harpy eagle or Papuan harpy eagle. It is the largest and most powerful raptor found throughout its range, and among the largest extant species of eagles in the world. It usually inhabits tropical lowland rainforests in the upper canopy layer. Destruction of its natural habitat has caused it to vanish from many parts of its former range, and it is nearly extirpated from much of Central America. In Brazil, the harpy eagle is also known as royal hawk. This species is largely silent away from the nest. 

There, the adults give a penetrating, weak, melancholy scream, with the incubating males' call described as "whispy screaming or wailing". The females' calls while incubating are similar but are lower-pitched. While approaching the nest with food, the male calls out "rapid chirps, goose-like calls, and occasional sharp screams". Vocalization in both parents decreases as the age of nestlings, while the nestlings become more vocal. The nestlings call chi-chi-chi...chi-chi-chi-chi, seemingly an alarm in response to rain or direct sunlight. When humans approach the nest, the nestlings have been described as uttering croaks, quacks, and whistles.

Rare throughout its range, the harpy eagle is found from Mexico, through Central America, and into South America to as far south as Argentina. In rainforests, they live in the emergent layer. The eagle is most common in Brazil, where it is found across the entire national territory. With the exception of some areas of Panama, the species is almost extinct in Central America, subsequent to the logging of much of the rainforest there. The Harpy Eagle is the largest, most powerful raptor in the Americas, bigger even than the Golden Eagle. 

Wilson's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler is one of the smaller members of the New World warbler family (Cardellina pusilla). A long, slim tail and rounded wings distinguish this species from others. It is a greenish bird above and yellowish below. Males have a black crown patch; females have a reduced or absent mark, depending on the subspecies. The underpart is yellow and green-brown is the only distinguishing characteristic of this bird.

White-capped water redstart

The beautiful white-capped redstart or white-capped water redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) is a passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia and to certain regions of Central Asia. Both genders are black with red underparts and white crowns atop their heads. 

Males' white-capped redstart have a larger white pattern on top of the head and brown or red spots under the wings. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, as well as some adjoining areas. The species ranges across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. 

White-capped water redstart species was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Chaimarrornis but was moved to Phoenicurus based on the results of a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010.

Giggle at Meerkats of Addo Elephant National Park

There’s a good chance of seeing adorable meerkat youngsters. Few animals have the charisma of the diminutive meerkat. To properly appreciate their antics, head to a park such as Addo, in South Africa. Meerkat social life is built around a pack of ten to thirty members. The day starts with a session of grooming before a foraging expedition. A sentry is posted to cry out if a hawk flies over, but if a ground predator appears the pack jumps up and down together to give the illusion that they’re charging. Otherwise their day is spent tousling, rolling around, and playing ‘follow the leader’. Everyone pays attention to the pups that emerge from the burrows after January, and the pack takes turns at nursery duty.