The Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the 21st Century

The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century shed its shadow over western India Wednesday July 22, 2009 and headed for China on a path that was dropping hundreds of millions of people into temporary darkness.

Ancient superstition and modern commerce came together in a “once in a lifetime” opportunity which could end up being the most watched eclipse in history, due to its path over Earth’s most densely inhabited areas.
After forming over the sea west of India, the lunar shadow or “umbra” made landfall in India’s Gujarat state shortly before 6:30 am (0100 GMT) and quickly swallowed the city of Surat, the country’s diamond polishing centre.

By eclipse standards, this is “a monster,” NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenak and University of Manitoba meteorologist Jay Anderson wrote in the US magazine Sky & Telescope. After an eight-minute journey across central India, it was to squeeze between northern Bangladesh and the eastern tip of Nepal and then slice through some of China’s biggest cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing and Wuhan, before arriving at Shanghai, a city of 20 million souls. The umbra then flits across the islands of southern Japan and goes around into the western Pacific, where at one point the length of totality — when the solar disc is completely covered will be six minutes, 39 seconds. If the clouds hold back, it could be the most watched eclipse in history, and we will have to wait until year 2132 before the totality duration is beaten.

The total journey will unclear the sun by 50 percent or more for an estimated two billion people, from the salt flat farmers of Gujarat to herdsmen in the foothills of the Tibetan Himalayas. Superstition has always haunted the moment when Earth, Moon and Sun are perfectly aligned. The daytime destruction of the Sun, the source of all life, is associated with war, famine, flood and the death or birth of rulers.

For further explanation, the ancient Chinese blamed a Sun-eating dragon. In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to “swallow” the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its light and causing food to become poisonous and water undrinkable. Ahead of Wednesday’s eclipse, some Indian astrologers had issued predictions loaded with gloom and apprehension, while superstition dictated that pregnant women should stay indoors to prevent their babies developing birth defects. A gynecologist at a Delhi hospital said many expectant mothers scheduled for July 22 caesarian deliveries insisted on changing the date.

For others it was a promising date, with more than one million Hindu pilgrims gathering at the holy site of Kurukshetra in northern India, where bathing in the waters during a solar eclipse is believed to further the attainment of spiritual freedom. Those who could afford it grabbed seats on planes chartered by specialist travel agencies that promised extended views of the eclipse as they chased the shadow eastwards. Travel firm Cox and Kings charged 79,000 rupees (1,600 dollars) for a “sun-side” seat on a Boeing 737-700 aircraft before dawn from New Delhi for a three-hour flight.

Meteorologists said that thick cloud and heavy rain were likely to ruin the party for millions of people hoping to watch the solar blackout in Shanghai and other parts of eastern China. But the Hyatt hotel on Shanghai’s waterfront Bund said its eclipse breakfast event remained fully booked out regardless of the weather concerns. “People are just looking for a reason to get together,” hotel spokeswoman Meg Zhang said. “You can tell your boss: ‘It’s only once in 300 years’.”

The next total solar eclipse will be on July 11 2010, but will occur almost entirely over the South Pacific, where Easter Island, home of the legendary moai giant statues, will be one of the few landfalls.

Lovers in Paris (KC Concepcion) and NARDA (Marian Rivera)

ABS-CBN Network was already able to spen millions with “Lovers in Paris” which is a Philippine version of the hit koreanovela. As well as GMA’s remake of Mars Ravelo’s most popular “Narda.”

Lovers in Paris is starred by KC Concepcion and Piolo Pascual. People believe KC has an advantage sincee her leading man is the utmost heartthrob Piolo Pascual. This Koreannovela remake is a big hit not only in the Philippines but across Asia as well.

Lover’s in Paris Philippines CASTS:
Piolo Pascual as Carlo
KC Concepcion as Vivian
Zanjoe Marudo as Martin
Maricar Reyes as Donna
Christopher De Leon as Assulto
Tonton Guttierrez as Leo
Mickey Ferriols as Nina
K Brosas as Michelle
John Wayne Sace

This will be the first time that Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes will not be together in a teleserye. It’s premier would be this coming August 10, 2009.  The Directors of the TV series are Dominic Zapata and Don Michael Perez

NARDA CASTS:

Marian Rivera as Narda / Darna
Iwa Moto as Valentina
Paolo Contis as Kobra
Mark Anthony Fernandez as Efren
Alfred Vargas as Tristan
Angel Aquino as Original Darna
Nadine Samonte as Babaeng Impakta
Ehra Madrigal as Babaeng Linta
Margaret Nales Wilson as Babaeng Lawin
Celia Rodriguez as Perfecta
Roxanne Barcelo as Friend of Narda
Robert Villar as Ding
Raymart Santiago
Jestoni Alarcon as Father of Narda
Rita Avila as Mother of Narda
Janice de Belen as Mother of Valentina
Bearwin Meilly
Gabby Eigenmann

A(H1N1) Cases Reached 428; 399 Patients Recovered, 1 Died

The Department of Health reported 36 new cases of the A(H1N1) Influenza virus. However, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the cases of A(H1N1) in the country which totaled to 428 are all minor cases and 79% of it, which is 399 have already fully recovered. There is 1 case though of death but doctors say that the A(H1N1) Influenza virus is not the primary cause of death but rather a Congestive heart failure. This 1 case of death wasn’t reported to DOH officially though and wasn’t able to undergo treatment.

The 36 new cases of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus is comprised of 34 Filipinos and 2 foreigners, which included 15 males plus 21 females ages 2 to 59 years old.

Duque said that all of the patients have reacted to the treatment positively and are recovering quickly.

The patients being treated with Tamiflu was said to recover fast in just 3 to 4 days.

The Malacañang is asking the public not to panic. Rather, we need to be cautious and be prepared.

The Department of Health notified the public that the simplest way to avoiding the A(H1N1) flu virus is through washing of hands thoroughly and covering your nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing. Habitual proper hygiene is also strongly encouraged.

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