Amche Jen, Amche Bhasha, Amche Gharv

Cauvery Homes Pvt Ltd Anniversary function

2009-07-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

Cauvery Homes Pvt Ltd is celebrating their first anniversary on 19th Jul 2009 4.00PM at the Ravindra Kalakshetra, J C Road, Bangalore -02.

Please join us in congratulating our community member Shri Raghunath Naik on this occasion.
On this occasion the following programs are also planned:

Felicitation for esteemed personalities of the Marati community.
Donation of a free 30 X 40 site to Karnataka Marati Sangha.

Also, a Kannada Mythological Play "ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಗಾರುಡಿ" (Shri Krishna Garudi) will be performed during this.

Below is the scanned Invitation for the the function.

Entry is FREE. All are invited!

Click on the image for a large size version.

KMS TRIP

2008-07-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

TRIP DETAILS

KMS has arranged a stressbuster tour to enjoy with Family and friends.
PLACE : DEVARAYANA DURGA AND NAAMA CHILUMEDATE
DATE : 13. 07. 2008
TIME : Morning 7am to Evening 6pm

TRIP SNAPS

Ananth :
http://www.orkut.co.in/Album.aspx?uid=3869885301011302880&aid=1216028588

Prashanth :
http://picasaweb.google.com/prashanthk/KMS_DevarayanaDurga

Sachidananda:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sachidananda.bs/KMSTrip08

Ramesh KG:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rumesh02/KMSTRIP

Thanks,
MODERATOR.

Yakshagana performance at Town Hall

2007-12-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

A Yakshagana performance was organized at the Town Hall on Tuesday as part of the Bengalooru Habba event going on across Bangalore.
The 'prasanga' enacted was the 'GadaaYuddha' from The Mahabharata.
It was a very engrossing one with pretty good acting from all of the characters. Here are some pics from the event. Very interesting events during the week long Habba. Worth a dekko if you are around in Bangalore.

http://www.bengalooruhabba.com/home.html

Spicy Kerala Fish Fry

2007-05-24T02:01:00.000-07:00

Ingredients
Fish - 1/2 Kg (pomfrets or any good fish)
Red Chilli Powder - 4 heaped tea spoons
Turmeric Powder -2 pinch
Ginger - 1 medium piece
Black Pepper - 8 to 10
Curry Leaves -4 (optional)
Salt, Oil

Method :
1. Clean the fish properly. If it is a full flat fish like pomfretthen make cuts acoss the fish at 1 inch distance deep enough to reachthe skeleton.
2. Make a fine paste of ginger, pepper and curry leaves, mix withthe powders and salt. Add few teaspoons of water to make a thick,smooth paste.
3. Marinate the fish properly with this paste such that it forms athin film covering the full fish or the slices.
4. After half an hour deep fry or shallow fry it as you please. Theoil would stop crackling when it is almost done.Serve it with Lime and Onion slices. Good with Rice.

Is There a Shark Lacking Somewhere in Your Life?

2007-05-24T01:59:00.001-07:00

This thought provoking article has been sent by Ramesh

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The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went further than ever. The further the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste.

To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price. So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive.

Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.
So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan ? If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend?
As soon as you reach your goals, such as finding a wonderful mate, starting a successful company, paying off your debts or whatever, you might lose your passion. You don't need to work so hard so you relax. You experience the same problem as lottery winners who waste their money, wealthy heirs who never grow up and bored homemakers who get addicted to prescription drugs.

Like the Japanese fish problem, the best solution is simple. It was observed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1950's . "Man thrives, oddly enough, only in the presence of a challenging environment. " - L. Ron Hubbard .

The Benefits of a Challenge: The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a good problem. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering those challenges, you are happy. You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You have fun. You are alive!

How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh: To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The fish are challenged.
Recommendations: Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck out of them. Enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or too numerous, do not give up. Failing makes you tired. Instead, reorganize.

Find more determination, more knowledge, more help.
If you have met your goals, set some bigger goals. Once you meet your personal or family needs, move onto goals for your group, the society, even mankind. Don't create success and lie in it. You have resources, skills and abilities to make a difference."

So, put a shark in your tank and see how far you can really go!

Tender Coconut Cooler

2007-05-24T01:57:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
300 ml. tender coconut water
1/2 cup tender coconut cream
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 cup finely crushed ice
1 drop vanilla essence

Method:
1. Chill water and cream till drink is required.
Just before serving:
1. Put cream and sugar in a mixie, run for a few seconds.
2. Add all other ingredients.
3. Run the mixture is milky and frothy.
4. Pour into chilled glass immediately, and serve.

Making time: 10 minutes
Makes: 2 servings

Shelflife: Best fresh

Tender Coconut Payasam

2007-05-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

Ingredients
1. tender coconut meat (6-7 months old nut, pared and sliced intosmall pieces) - 0 .5 kg
2. ghee- 50 gm
3. jaggery-700 gm
4. coconut milk(1st and 2nd milk )-3 cups
5. cashewnuts-50 gm
6. kismiss- 50 gm
7. coconut (sliced and roasted in ghee) - 1 tsp
8. cardomom- 10 nos
9. rice flour- 2 tsp

Method

Heat thick bottomed cookware and put 25 gm of ghee. To this put tendercoconut meat pieces and stir for 15 minutes in low heat. Add the thicksyrup of jaggery and stir for another ten minutes . When jaggery stickto the tender coconut meat well, add the second milk of coconut. Forthick consistency add rice flour mixed in little cold coconut milkthrough a sieve and stir well. Continue stirring and when about toboil add the first milk. Remove from fire and add roasted cashewnuts,kismiss, sliced coconuts and cardomom powder.

The Cracked Pot

2007-05-24T01:54:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Ramesh K G for this amazing article...

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A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without your being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.

The Moral of this Story: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what s/he is, and look for the good in them.
There is a lot of good out there.

2007-05-24T01:47:00.000-07:00

" Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stonesout of his way, but must accept his lot calmly if they even roll a fewmore upon it."

---Albert Schweitzer

Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the workbefore you, well assured that the right performance of this hour'sduties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that willfollow it.

---Ralph Waldo Emerson

My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be noman's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstaclebefore me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility;win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny.

---Elaine Maxwell

No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged childrenfor signs of improvement.

Scott Maxwell

As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able toremake the world ... as in being able to remake ourselves.

--Mahatma Gandhi

I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happinessor misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.

---Martha Washington

The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.

----Elain Heffner

Now is the only time. How we relate to it creates the future. In otherwords, if we're going to be more cheerful in the future, it's becauseof our aspiration and exertion to be cheerful in the present. What wedo accumulates; the future is the result of what we do right now.

---Pema Chodron

She was the archetypal selfless mother: living only for her children,sheltering them from the consequences of their actions -- and in theend doing them irreparable harm.

--Marcia Muller

If your heart acquires strength, you will be able to remove blemishesfrom others without thinking evil of them.

---Mohandas K. Gandhi

We are all something, but none of us are everything.

--Blaise Pascal

Take time to accept responsibility. Your life is exactly that - It'syour life. It is created by you. You are constantly making choices,constantly creating new experiences. And although we an be affectedby circumstances which can seem to be completely out of our control.Essentially, we decide the direction in which we walk.

---Nicolas Watkins

To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that willbring one to that goal, and then hold to that action till the goal isreached. The key is action.

---Michael Hanson

Instead of looking for a miracle in your life,look to see if you are the miracle in someone else's life.

----Nola Rohde Vollmer

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when weare feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it isonly in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likelyto step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways ortruer answers.

---M. Scott Peck

We should be careful and discriminating in all the advice we give. Weshould be especially careful in giving advice that we would not thinkof following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving counselwhich we don't follow when it damages those who take us at our word.

----Adlai Stevenson

The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles,it distracts, it excites, it gives you the knowledge of the world andexperience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.

---Elizabeth Hardwick

The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at atime.

----Abraham Lincoln

Self-trust is the first secret of success.

---Ralph Waldo Emerson

The deepest human defeat suffered by human beings is constituted bythe difference between what one was capable of becoming and what onehas in fact become.

----Ashley Montagu

history of coffee making!!

2007-05-24T01:45:00.002-07:00

xpresso MachinesIn 1822, the first espresso machine was made in France. In 1933, Dr.Ernest Illy invented the first automatic espresso machine. However,the modern-day espresso machine was created by Italian Achilles Gaggiain 1946. Gaggia invented a high pressure espresso machine by using aspring powered lever system. The first pump driven espresso machinewas produced in 1960 by the Faema company.Melitta BentzMelitta Bentz was a housewife from Dresden, Germany, who invented thefirst coffee filter. She was looking for a way to brew the perfect cupof coffee with none of the bitterness caused by overbrewing. MelittaBentz decided to invent a way to make a filtered coffee, pouringboiling water over ground coffee and having the liquid be filtered,removing any grinds.Melitta Bentz experimented with differentmaterials, until she found that her son's blotter paper used forschool worked best. She cut a round piece of blotting paper and put itin a metal cup.On June 20th, 1908, the coffee filter and filter paper were patented.On December 15th, 1908, Melitta Bentz and her husband Hugo started theMelitta Bentz Company. The next year they sold 1200 coffee filters atthe Leipziger fair in Germany. The Mellitta Bentz Company alsopatented the filter bag in 1937 and vacuumpacking in 1962.James MasonJames Mason invented the coffee percolator on December 26, 1865.Instant CoffeeIn 1901, just-add-hot water "instant" coffee was invented by JapaneseAmerican chemist Satori Kato of Chicago. In 1906, English chemistGeorge Constant Washington, invented the first mass-produced instantcoffee. Washington was living in Guatemala and at the time when heobserved dried coffee on his coffee carafe, after experimenting hecreated "Red E Coffee" - the brand name for his instant coffee firstmarketed in 1909. In 1938, Nescafe or freeze-dried coffee was invented.

History of tea

2007-05-24T01:45:00.001-07:00

The most popular beverage in the world, tea was first drunk under theChinese Emperor Shen-Nung around 2737 B.C. An unknown Chinese inventorinvented the tea shredder, a small device that shredded tea leaves inpreparation for drinking. The tea shredder used a sharp wheel in thecenter of a ceramic or wooden pot that would slice the leaves intothin strips.The first tea bags were made from hand-sewn silk muslin bags and Ihave found tea bag patents of this sort dating as early as 1903. Firstappearing commercially around 1904, tea bags were successfullymarketed by tea and coffee shop merchant Thomas Sullivan of New York,who shipped his tea bags around the world. A machine was soon inventedto replace the hand sewing of tea bags.Also in 1904, iced tea was first reported to be served by EnglishmenRichard Blechynden at the St. Louis Fair, however, there is evidencethat the beverage was invented prior to that date.Thomas Lipton incorporated the Lipton Tea Company in 1915. Lipton Teapatented a novel four-sided tea bag in 1952 called the flo-thru tea bag.

chewing gum

2007-05-24T01:44:00.000-07:00

By the early 20th century, Americans could not get enough of theconfection called chewing gum invented by Thomas Adams.

Timeline

* The ancient Greeks chewed mastiche - a chewing gum made from theresin of the mastic tree.
* The ancient Mayans chewed chicle which is the sap from thesapodilla tree.
* North American Indians chewed the sap from spruce trees andpassed the habit along to the settlers.
* Early American settlers made a chewing gum from spruce sap andbeeswax.
* In 1848, John B. Curtis made and sold the first commercialchewing gum called the State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum.
* In 1850, Curtis started selling flavored paraffin gums becomingmore popular than spruce gums.
* On December 28 1869, William Finley Semple became the firstperson to patent a chewing gum - U.S patent #98,304.
* In 1869, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna introduced Thomas Adams tochicle.
* In 1871, Thomas Adams patented a machine for the manufacture of gum.
* In 1880, John Colgan invented a way to make chewing gum tastebetter for a longer period of time while being chewed.
* By 1888, an Adams' chewing gum called Tutti-Frutti became thefirst chew to be sold in a vending machine.

Ball Pen

2007-05-24T01:43:00.001-07:00

"No man was more foolish when he had not a pen in his hand, or morewise when he had" - Samuel Johnson.A Hungarian journalist named Laszlo Biro invented the first ballpointpen in 1938. Biro had noticed that the type of ink used in newspaperprinting dried quickly, leaving the paper dry and smudge-free. Hedecided to create a pen using the same type of ink. The thicker inkwould not flow from a regular pen nib and Biro had to devise a newtype of point. He did so by fitting his pen with a tiny ball bearingin its tip. As the pen moved along the paper, the ball rotated pickingup ink from the ink cartridge and leaving it on the paper. Thisprinciple of the ballpoint pen actually dates back to an 1888 patentowned by John J. Loud for a product to mark leather. However, thispatent was commercially unexploited. Laszlo Biro first patented hispen in 1938, and applied for a fresh patent in Argentina on June 10,1943. (Laszlo Biro and his brother Georg Biro emigrated to Argentinain 1940.) The British Government bought the licensing rights to thispatent for the war effort. The British Royal Air Force needed a newtype of pen, one that would not leak at higher altitudes in fighterplanes as the fountain pen did. Their successful performance for theAir Force brought the Biro pens into the limelight. Laszlo Biro hadneglected to get a U.S. patent for his pen and so even with the endingof World War II, another battle was just beginning..

Festival of love celebrated February 15th, not 14th

2007-05-24T01:42:00.001-07:00

Valentine's Day originates from the ancient Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on 15 February in honour of the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. During the festival, young men would draw the names of women from a box, and each couple would be paired until next year's celebration. Often they would fall in love and marry.
At around 270AD Rome was facing battles and civil uprising. The men were not keen to join the army. Emperor Claudius II believed that the men did not want to leave their loved ones and summarily cancelled all marriages and engagements. Two priests, Valentine and Marius, disobeyed the decree and secretly performed marriage ceremonies. Valentine was caught on 14 February and dragged to jail. Later in the day he was clubbed to death and beheaded. It is said that, before his execution, Valentine himself had fallen in love with the jailer's daughter. He signed his final note to her, "From your Valentine."
Valentine's DayIn 391AD, Emperor Theodosius I declared Christianity as the official religion of the Rome. The fertility festival was celebrated until 496AD when Pope Gelasius replaced it with a similar celebration. For patron saint of the celebration, he chose the "lovers" saint, St Valentine. He also moved the date of the celebration from the 15 February to the date of St Valentine's death, 14 February. Through the centuries, Valentines Day became to be remembered more as the festival of love instead of a religious day. In 1969 it was dropped from the Roman Catholic calendar as a designated feast day.
CupidCupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love. Those whose hearts are pierced by his arrows fall deeply in love. In Greek mythology he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. To the Romans, he was Cupid, son of Venus. But where there's love, there often is jealousy. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche, a mere mortal, and ordered Cupid to punish her (for being so beautiful). Instead, Cupid fell deeply in love and took her as his wife.
As a mortal Psyche was forbidden to look at him. Eventually, her sisters convinced her to look at the handsome Cupid. As punishment, Venus demanded that she perform three difficult tasks, the last of which caused Psyche's death. Cupid found her lifeless on the ground and removed the eternal sleep from her body. The gods, moved by their love, then granted Psyche immortality.
The symbol of Cupid became part of Valentines Day only recently. Cupid is still around shooting his arrows. Psyche represents the struggles of the human soul.
Happy Valentine's!Esther Howland, the woman who produced the first commercial American valentines in the 1840s, sold a then mind-boggling $5,000 in cards her first year of business. Today, over 1 billion valentine cards are sent in the US - second in number only to Christmas cards.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/valentines.htm

Were Wright Brothers the first to fly?

2007-05-24T01:41:00.001-07:00

Wilbur and Orville Wright weren't just lucky to make the first flight. They played with flying paper models in their youth, and by 1901 they had made hundreds of wind tunnel tests. In 1902, their glider was the biggest flying machine ever built. Orville Wright wrote, "We now hold all the records! The largest machine...the longest time in the air, the smallest angle of descent, and the highest wind!"
They called on the machine making skills of Charles E. Taylor, and by February 1903 they had an engine. By June, they had built a propeller. They headed for Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in September to build their Flyer.
On Monday 13 December 1903, a toss of a coin gave Wilbur the honour of making the first flight. The engine and propeller powered the plane, the Flyer lifted off but immediately sank down, slightly damaged.
First flight?By Friday 17 December 1903, the Flyer was fixed, and at 10h35, Orville made the first powered flight. It lasted 12 seconds. Wilbur made the second flight, which lasted less than a second longer than the first. Orville took the 3rd flight, covering 60 metres (200 ft) in 15 seconds. At noon, Wilbur made the fourth flight on that blustery day. The Flyer covered 255,6 metres (852 ft) in 59 seconds. He landed safely, but a sudden gust of wind sent the plane tumbling, breaking the wings and damaging the motor. There would be no more flights in 1903.
There were 5 men to witness the Wright Brothers' flights. Orville even set up a camera so that a Mr Daniels could take photographs. But there were no newspaper men. In the Spring of 1904, they built a new plane and invited the press. The weather was not quite right, but since the reporters were there, they tried anyway. The plane failed to lift off. The Wright Brothers didn't make the papers. They did fly again but spent the rest of their lives fighting about their patent and died without knowing the world finally recognised their work. In 1914, the Franklin Institute became the first scientific institution to recognise the Wright Brothers' achievement.
But were the Wright Brothers really the first to fly?By the time the Wright brothers got their flyer up in the air, flying was a hobby for New Zealand farmer Richard Pearse. Working single-handedly in his barn, he designed and built his own engine and flying machine. Datings suggest that Pearse made his first flight in March 1902. His remarkable success remained unknown until fairly recently.
But there is an account of an even earlier flight...
"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustave Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile." - Megan Adam, descendant of Gustave A. Whitehead.
Although there are no blueprints of Whitehead's craft, evidence is mounting that Whitehead might indeed have been the first to have taken to the sky in a machine-powered aircraft.
By 1901, the Wright Brothers had the best collection of lift data in the world, some based on the pioneering work on gliding made by George Cayley.
On 23 March 1903, they applied for a patent for their new invention. This allowed them to request a fee for using their design. Other aviators were furious and refused to pay.
It is thought that Charles W. Furras, mechanic for the Wright Brothers, became the first airplane passenger when Wilbur gave him a 29 second ride in 1908. The brothers also took passengers on demonstration flights when they spent a year in Europe in an attempt to sell their patent.
Although the Wright Brothers are credited with being the first to fly a powered aircraft in 1903, evidence is mounting that Gustave A. Whitehead took to the skies in his (above) monoplane in 1901.
A Boeing 747 is 70 metres (232 ft) long, 19 metres (63 ft) high and needs a runway of 3,2 km (10,500 ft). It weighs a massive 394 625 kg (870,000 pounds) at takeoff.

src: http://www.didyouknow.cd/wright.htm

Famous products invented by two different parties at same time

2007-05-24T01:40:00.002-07:00

Great minds thinks alike. When Johann Vaaler patented his paperclip in 1901, there already were similar designs by William Middlebrook and Cornelius Brosnan. Vaaler is credited with being the first to design a paperclip because of drawings he made as early as 1899.
In 1669, the principles of differential calculus were determined by Sir Isaac Newton in England and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in Germany at about the same time. (The name is derived from the Latin word for "pebble," referring to the use of pebbles for counting.)
One hour before Alexander Graham Bell registered his patent for the telephone in 1876, Elisha Gray patented his design. After years of litigation, the patent went to Bell.
Gray invented the first electronic musical instrument. He had accidentally discovered that he could control sound from a self-vibrating electromagnetic circuit and in doing so invented a basic single note oscillator. The "Musical Telegraph" used steel reeds whose oscillations were created and transmitted over a telephone line by electromagnets. At the same time, around 1874, Bell had also designed an experimental "Electric Harp" for speech transmission over a telephone line using similar technology to Gray's.
At 10h35 on Friday 17 December 1903, Orville Wright took the Flyer that he and his brother Wilbur built into the air for what has come to be known as the first powered flight. Earlier, unbeknownst to them, Gustave Whitehead and Richard Pearse were also experimenting with flying machines. Who actually took first to the sky remains a controversy.
In 1926 in Scotland, John Logie Baird demonstrated a machine that transmits movie pictures using radio technology, calling it a "televisor." It was based on a 1884 idea by German Paul Nipkow. At the same time, Philo Fansworth was toiling away in San Francisco on his concept for television. The two men met a few months later, and Baird had to agree that Farnsworth's electronic design was the better. They weren't the only ones working on a TV model, though. Vladmir Zworykin, a Russian immigrant to New York, was working on athode-ray tubes, with the backing of David Sarnoff, the tech-savvy marketer who started NBC. In 1928, Farnsworth's television sets made it to the market first, at $75 apiece.
Without the one knowing about the other, Jack Kilby from Texas and Robert Noyce from California invented the integrated circuit in 1958. However, their idea is not new - Briton GW Dummer had suggested such a design in 1952.
Great designs did not only bring great fun, they brought great growth. In the 1400s, global income rose only 0,1% per year. Today it often tops 5%. For the past 200 years, inventors often ranked as some of the richest in the world: Colt, Deere, Nobel, Goodyear, Edison, Bell, Eastman, Daimler, Gates, to name a few. In the 1990's companies spent more on communication than on industrial, farming, mining and construction machinery.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/products.htm

The can opener was invented 48 years after cans were introduced

2007-05-24T01:40:00.001-07:00

Cans were opened with a hammer and chisel before the advent of can openers. The tin cannister, or can, was invented in 1810 by a Londoner, Peter Durand. The year before, French confectioner, Nicolas Appert, had introduced the method of canning food (as it became known) by sealing the food tightly inside a glass bottle or jar and then heating it. He could not explain why the food stayed fresh but his bright idea won him the 12,000-francs prize that Napoleon offered in 1795 for preserving food. Durand supplied the Royal Navy with canned heat-preserved food while Appert would help Napoleon's army march on its stomach.
Tin canning was not widely adopted until 1846, when a method was invented to increase can production from 6 in an hour to 60. Still, there were no can openers yet and the products labels would read: "cut around on the top near to outer edge with a chisel and hammer."
The can opener was invented in 1858 by American Ezra Warnet. There also is a claim that Englishman Robert Yeates invented the can opener in 1855. But the can opener did not become popular until, ten years later, it was given away for free with canned beef.
The well-known wheel-style opener was invented in 1925. Beer in a can was launched in 1935. The easy-open can lid was invented by Ermal Cleon Fraze in 1959.
Since 1972, some 64 million tons of aluminum cans (about 3 trillion cans) have been produced. Placed end-to-end, they could stretch to the moon about a thousand times. Still, cans represent less than 1% of solid waste material - about one quarter of all cans are recycled. Worldwide, some 9 million cans are recycled every hour. Which is good news, considering that it takes a can about 200 years to degrade if you bury it. It takes paper about a month to bio-degrade, a woolen sock about a year, and plastic hundreds of years.
Recycling cans saves 95% of the energy required to make aluminum from ore, or the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil, or 10.8 billion kilowatt hours.
Used aluminum cans that are recycled return to store shelves within 60 days.
Canned petfood was introduced by James Spratt in 1865.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/cans.htm

Budweiser beer named after Czech town

2007-05-24T01:39:00.001-07:00

In the mid-1800s, Eberhard Anheuser was a successful manufacturer of soap and candles in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. In 1859, he financed a loan to a struggling neighbourhood brewery called The Bavarian Brewery, which was started by George Schneider in 1852. When the brewery faltered again in 1860, Anheuser and a partner, William O'Dench, bought the interests of minority creditors rather than see the brewery go under. They reorganised the company and resumed production under the name E. Anheuser & Company.
The partnershipIn 1857, the 18-year old Adolphus Busch, the second youngest of 22 children, immigrated to the United States from Germany to join his 3 brothers in St. Louis. Although his brother had started the John B. Busch Brewing Company in Washington, Missouri, Adolphus opted to enter into a partnership with Ernst Wattenberg to sell brewing supplies. It was through this business that Adolphus met his wife, whose father would be his future partner. Adolphus Busch and Lily Anheuser married in 1861. In 1865, the two beer companies merged, with Adolphus as equal partner with Eberhard Anheuser.
Budweiser beer In 1876, Busch and his friend Carl Conrad, a liquor importer, developed a "Bohemian-style" lager, inspired after a trip to the region. Brewers in Bohemia generally named a beer after their town with the suffix "er." Beers produced in the town of Plzen, for example, were called Plzners, or Pilsners. Busch and Conrad had visited another town, only 104 km (65 miles) south of Plzenalso, known for its breweries: Bömische Budweis, which became Ceske Budejovice in 1918. Beer has been brewed in Ceske Budejovice since it was founded as Budiwoyz by king Premys II Otakar in 1245. The German name for the town is Budweis. The name "Budweiser" is a locative, meaning "of Budweis."
The beer recipes from Budweis were carried around the world - including by Busch and Conrad - and in the late 1800s there were several breweries producing beers called Budweiser. Miller and Schlitz both produced Budweisers but, as the name became so strongly associated with Anheuser-Busch, they stopped it. In the US the last other Budweiser producer was DuBois Brewing, which stopped making the brand only in the late 1970s.
The American BudBusch and Conrad introduced "Budweiser Lager Beer" in St. Louis, brewed by E. Anheuser Co.'s Brewing Association, and bottled and distributed by Carl Conrad. The Anheuser company was renamed Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association in 1879, and Adolphus became president the following year, a position he was to hold for 33 years. On 24 January 1883, Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association acquired the rights in the US to bottle and sell Budweiser. In 1919, the company was renamed Anheuser-Busch, the name by which it is known today. In 1997, the Anheuser-Busch annual worldwide beer volume exceeded 100 million barrels, confirming its position as the world's largest brewer.
The Bud battleIn 1895, almost 20 years after Busch's Budweiser was first brewed, a Bohemian company called Budejovicky Pivovar started making a beer known as Budvar, a shortened version of the brewery name. It was exported under the name Budweiser Budvar, being from Budweis.
The golden rule in business is that the one with the gold rules. Well, usually. In the battle for the Budweiser brand name there has not been a victor. A legal battle between the Buds has raged for years. According to EU regulations, a locative can be registered as a trademark only by a manufacturer residing at that place. Thus, according to EU regulations, the Czech beer is the legal bearer of the trademark "Budweiser", or "Budejovicky." But that's not the only claim.
According to the German "Reinheitsgebot" (Beer Purity Regulations), the Annheuser-Busch Budweiser cannot be considered as beer because rice is used in the production process. According to the Beer Purity Regulations, beer can only be brewed from [barley] malt, hops and beer. (Wheat beers are called "weizens" in German.) Germany forbade the use of word "Bud" as trademark on everyone; the court ruled it was too close to "Bit" which the domestic Bitburger brewery uses as its trademark.
The oldest brewery in the town of Ceske Budejovice (Budweis) is Budweiser Burgerbrau, founded in 1795, and by far the most "original" of the claimants over the name Budweiser. The main brand of Budweiser Burgerbrau (Budejovice Burghers' Brewery) is Samson, still brewed as both light and dark lager beer, bearing the labels Budweiser Bier and Budejovicky Pivo. It is said Samson was the model for Augustus Busch for his brew.
Budweiser Burgerbrau has claimed they have the right to the trademark "Budweiser" on the basis they were the oldest brewery of the German-speaking burghers of Budweis. They insist that Budejovicky Budvar was the brewery of the Czech-speakers, who thus only have the right to the trademark "Budejovicky".

src:http://didyouknow.cd/anheuser.htm

Nostradamus predictions

2007-05-24T01:38:00.002-07:00

NOSTRADAMUS, the French Christian Jew who lived in France in the 16th century, made many accurate forecasts, including the two World Wars. 18 of his 950 quatrains refer to a third world war. Some Nostradamus experts had given the date for the start of such a war as mid-1999, referring to the Balkan conflict surrounding Kosovo. They obviously misinterpreted the quatrains. Their attention then turned to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
NOSTRADAMUSBorn Michel de Notredame on 14 December 1503 in St Remy, France, he was the oldest of five sons. His grandfather, Jean, taught him Latin, Greek, Hebrew, mathematics and astrology at an early age. Nostradamus received a medical degree in 1529 and became physician-in-ordinary to Charles IX during the bubonic plague. He is said to have had extraordinary healing abilities.
Nostradamus was in his late 40s when, it is told, he frequently went into a meditative state and had visions of the future. He began to document the visions in a mixture of Lain, French, and Greek quatrains, publishing his famous "Centuries" in 1558.
Nostradamus was married twice, losing his first wife and two children to the plague. He died on 2 July 1566. "Centuries" was translated into English in 1672. In 1781 it was banned by the Roman Catholic Church. Ironically, in 1553, when Nostradamus encountered a group of Franciscan monks he threw himself on his knees, clutching at the garment of one of the monks, Felice Peretti. When asked why he had done this he replied that he must yield "before his Holiness." Nineteen years after the death of Nostradamus, Peretti became Pope Sixtus V.
What the experts say Nostradamus predicted about the Balkan warThe war prophecy is reserved for someone whom Nostradamus refers to as "the tyrant." He predicted that the Slavs will "change their prince" and "raise an army in the mountains," suggesting a guerilla war. He speaks of "when the north pole is united" (perhaps NATO?), and there are many geographical references to the Balkans, such as Greece, Italy and the Mediterranean.
The war is linked to when the "eagle" (United States) and the "cock" (France) stand together. There also is specific reference to the time when England, Poland and Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) "form a new alliance." The former Eastblock countries recently joined NATO.
He predicted that the Allies will win, that the war will be protracted, lasting seven months, and that it may go beyond the Balkans, toward the north, but that after the war there will be "peace on earth for a long time."
The forecasts by Nostradamus seemed to be confirmed by other seers, including Nicolaas van Rensburg, the famous South African seer who lived 1862 to 1926. At the turn of the 20th Century Van Rensburg had also predicted the use of electricity, the massacre of six million Jews, the Chernobyl disaster, the rise and fall of Russia, and the European Union - in the last two instances accurately describing the flags before they were designed. Of the third world war, he predicted that England would left weakened, while Germany would rise to become the world's most powerful nation.
What the experts say Nostradamus predicted about the WTC attack"In the year of the new century and nine months, from the sky will come a great king of terror. The sky will burn at 45 degrees... fire approaches the great new city... there will be thunder... The third big war will begin when the city is burning."So it is quoted among rumour mongers. The facts are:
Nostradamus appears not to have made predictions about the World Trade Centre attack or, at least, none that could easily be understood from the quatrains. He did not mention "the new century," or "nine months" and New York is not at 45 degrees; the Manhattan latitude is 40° 47' N. For more, see Skeptic's Dictionary
What then?Of course, not only have the "experts" on the prophets not always been correct - the seers themselves have not always been quite so accurate in their forecasts.
Time will tell if the Kosovo conflict or, indeed, the World Trade Center attack had put the spark to a bigger barrel. As for the end of the world... Nostradamus predicted it to be the year 3786 or 3797, depending on which Nostradamus expert you believe.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/nostradamus.htm

Napoleon : tragic figure or flawed genius?

2007-05-24T01:38:00.001-07:00

Napoleon's christening name was Italian: Napoleone Buonaparte. He was born on the island of Corsica one year after it became French property. As a boy, Napoleon hated the French. Still, he attended the Paris Military Academy, and became a French lieutenant at age 16.
The emperorNapoleon was in Paris during the French revolution, and when France became a Republic on 10 August 1792, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. After defeating the Italian armies in 1796 and the Austrians in 1797, he was made General. In November 1799, he overthrew the French Directory to become First Consul of the government. He called himself Napoleon I. In 1804, a mere 12 years after the monarchy was disposed of in the French Revolution, Napoleon secured a vote to change France from a consulate to an empire. Napoleon became Emperor of France.
By 1812, Napoleon had wiped out the last traces of the Holy Roman Empire and conquered most of Europe. But after a disastrous battle against Russia, his enemies struck back. On 18 March 1814, the allies marched into Paris. Napoleon abdicated on 6 April 1814.
Battle of WaterlooNapoleon was sent into exile on Elba, a tiny island off the coast of Italy. In March 1815, he escaped and marched toward Paris with thousands of his old guard. For a brief time, known as the Hundred Days, Napoleon returned to his former glory. He was finally defeated by a combined English and Prussian force on 18 June 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium.
St.HelenaOn 15 July 1815, Napoleon was exiled to the remote tiny volcanic island of St. Helena, south of the Equator. The nearest land is Ascension Island, 1,120 km (700 miles) to the north.
Accompanied by some of his generals who chose to go into exile with him, Napoleon lived in Longwood House on St. Helena. He passed time by dictating his memoirs and playing billiards.
The green wallpaperThe wallpaper in his room was dyed with Scheele's Green, a colouring pigment that had been used in fabrics and wallpapers from around 1770. Named after the Swedish chemist who invented it the dye contained copper arsenite. In 1893 an Italian biochemist called Gosio discovered that if wallpaper containing Scheele's Green became damp, the mould converted the copper arsenite to a poisonous vapour form of arsenic. Breathing the arsenic on its own might not have been enough to kill Napoleon, but he already was ill with a stomach ulcer. On the 5 May 1821, the arsenic possibly tipped the scale against "the little corporal."
Napoleon was buried on St Helena, but his body was later reburied in Paris on the banks of the Seine. He wish to be cremated was not respected.
Napoleon married Josephine de Beauharnais, a widow with two children, on 9 March 1796. The marriage was childless and he divorced her in 1809. The next year he married Marie Louise, the 18-year old daughter of the Hapsburg Emperor of Austria. Within a year she had given Napoleon a son whom he named the King of Rome.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/napoleon.htm

The world's highest bridge is in the Himalayans

2007-05-24T01:37:00.001-07:00

The highest bridge in the world can be found in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. The valley lies at an altitude of about 5 602 m (18,379 ft) above sea level on the India side of Kashmir. Called the Baily Bridge, it is only 30 metres (98 ft) long, and was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.
If you were thinking of the bridge that stands highest over water, then the Royal Gorge Bridge over the Arkansas River in Colorado, US is your answer. Built in 1929 for $350,000, it spans 321 m (1,053 ft) above the water.The largest bridge in the world is the 13,27 km (8,25 miles) long Trans Bay Bridge which links San Francisco to Oakland. It was built in 1936 at a cost of $77 million. The longest bridge in the world is the Pontchartrain bridge in New Orleans, USA with a total length of 38,6 km (24 miles). It was completed in 1956. The most expensive bridge is the Seto-Ohashi-Kojima bridge in Japan. At 13,22 km (8,21 miles) long, it was built in 1988 at a cost of $8.3 billion.
The world's largest natural bridge is the Rainbow Bridge, tucked away among the rugged, isolated canyons at the base of Navajo Mountain, Utah, USA. It is a natural wonder. From its base to the top of the arch, it reaches 88,4 m (290 ft) - nearly the height of the Statue of Liberty - and spans 83,8 m (275 ft) across the river. The top of the arch is 12,8 m (42 ft) thick and 10 m (33 ft) wide.
The World's busiest bridge is the Howrah bridge across the river Hooghly in Calcutta. In addition to 57000 vehicles a day it carries a huge number of pedestrians across its 457 m (1,500 ft) long 22 m (72 ft) wide span.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/bridges.htm

IMPORTANT BASIC PLASTIC INFO AND TIPS – EMPOWER YOURSELF, BECOME PLASTIC AWARE!

2007-05-24T01:34:00.000-07:00

IMPORTANT BASIC PLASTIC INFO AND TIPS – EMPOWER YOURSELF, BECOME PLASTIC AWARE!

Plastic is all around us. It forms much of the packaging for our food and drink. For many of us, it is throughout our home, our workplace, our car and the bus we take to and from work. It can be in our clothing, eyeglasses, teeth, computers, phones, dishes, utensils, toys. The list goes on.
Plastic is versatile, lightweight, flexible, moisture resistant, durable, strong and relatively inexpensive. It can be chemical resistant, clear or opaque, and practically unbreakable. These are wonderful useful qualities, and plastic plays many important roles in life on Earth, but the widespread use of plastic is also causing unprecedented environmental problems, and harbours serious health risks – especially for children. Plastic should be used wisely, with caution and only when suitable alternatives do not exist or are not available.
Environmental Problems
Environmentally, plastic is a growing disaster. Most plastics are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource extracted and processed using energy-intensive techniques that destroy fragile ecosystems. Plastic packaging – especially the ubiquitous plastic bag – is an enormous source of landfill waste and is regularly eaten by numerous marine and land animals, to fatal consequences.
Health Risks
In terms of health risks, the evidence is growing that chemicals leached from plastics used in cooking and food/drink storage are harmful to human health. The most disturbing of these are hormone (endocrine) disrupters, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), which can stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Exposure to BPA at a young age can cause genetic damage, and BPA has been linked to recurrent miscarriage in women. The health risks of plastic are significantly amplified in children, whose immune and organ systems are developing and are more vulnerable. The manufacture of plastic, as well as its destruction by incineration, pollutes air, land and water and exposes workers to toxic chemicals, including carcinogens. The evidence of health risks from certain plastics is increasingly appearing in established, peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Plastic Types, Characteristics… Dangers
Fortunately, consumers have a way to identify the type of plastic in many products, especially food storage containers and packaging. Many, but not all, such plastic products have a number – the resin identification code – molded, formed or imprinted in or on the container, often on the bottom. This system of coding was developed in 1988 by the U.S.-based Society of the Plastics Industry to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics. It is voluntary for plastic manufacturers, but has become relatively standard on certain plastic products sold globally. Knowing the code for a particular product, consumers can then inform themselves of the characteristics of the plastic and the risks of using that product.
The seven plastic resin codes are each briefly described below to provide a quick snapshot detailing the name of the resin (i.e., the base material of the plastic), typical products it is found in, dangerous chemicals it leaches, and why they are dangerous.
Polyethylene terephalate (PET or PETE) – Used in soft drink, juice, water, beer, mouthwash, peanut butter, salad dressing, detergent and cleaner containers. Leaches Antimony trioxide: workers exposed to antimony trioxide for long periods of time have exhibited respiratory and skin irritation; among female workers, increased incidence of menstrual problems and miscarriage; their children exhibited slower development in the first twelve months of life. The longer a liquid is left in such a container the greater the concentration of antimony released into the liquid.
High density polyethylene (HDPE) – Used in opaque milk, water, and juice containers, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, garbage bags, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners. Our research on risks associated with this type of plastic is ongoing.
Polyvinyl chloride (V or Vinyl or PVC) – Used in toys, clear food and non-food packaging (e.g., cling wrap), some squeeze bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles, shower curtains, medical tubing, and numerous construction products (e.g., pipes, siding). PVC has been described as one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. Leaches di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) or butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), depending on which is used as the plasticizer or softener (usually DEHP). DEHP and BBzP are endocrine disruptors mimicking the female hormone estrogen; have been strongly linked to asthma and allergic symptoms in children; may cause certain types of cancer; linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. In Europe, DEHP and BBzP and other dangerous pthalates have been banned from use in plastic toys for children under three since 1999. Not so elsewhere, including Canada. There is currently a similar NDP Private Members Bill (C-307) before the House of Commons, but the chances of it passing appear slim.
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) – Used in grocery store, dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, most plastic wraps, squeezable bottles (honey, mustard). Our research on risks associated with this type of plastic is ongoing.
Polypropylene (PP) – Used in ketchup bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, medecine and syrup bottles, straws, Rubbermaid and other opaque plastic containers, including baby bottles. Our research on risks associated with this type of plastic is ongoing.
Polystyrene (PS) – Used in Styrofoam containers, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, take-out food containers, plastic cutlery, compact disc cases. Leaches styrene, which is an endocrine disruptor mimicking the female hormone estrogen, and thus has the potential to cause reproductive and developmental problems; long-term exposure by workers has shown brain and nervous system effects; adverse effects on red blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomach in animal studies. Also present in secondhand cigarette smoke, off-gassing of building materials, car exhaust and possibly drinking water. Styrene migrates significantly from polystyrene containers into the container's contents when oily foods are heated in such containers.
Other – The catch-all category; often indicates the presence of polycarbonate, which is used in most plastic baby bottles (!), clear plastic “sippy” cups, Nalgene brand and other “sports” water bottles, three and five gallon large water storage containers, metal food can liners, some juice and ketchup containers, compact discs, cell phones, computers. Leaches Bisphenol A (some effects described above), and numerous studies have indicated a wide array of possible adverse effects from low-level exposure: chromosome damage in female ovaries, decreased sperm production in males, early onset of puberty, various behavioural changes, altered immune function, and sex reversal in frogs. Important Note: Two other types of plastic that fall under code 7 are acrylonitrile styrene (AS) or styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Both AS/SAN and ABS are higher quality plastics with increased strength, rigidity, toughness and temperature and chemical resistance. AS/SAN is used in mixing bowls, thermos casing, dishes, cutlery, coffee filters, toothbrushes, outer covers (printers, calculators, lamps), battery housing. The incorporation of butadiene during the manufacture of AS/SAN, produces ABS, which is an even tougher plastic. ABS is used in LEGO toys, pipes, golf club heads, automotive parts, protective head gear. Our research on risks associated with AS/SAN and ABS is ongoing.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY PLASTIC USE: You may wish to seriously consider your – and especially your children's – use of plastics numbered 1, 3, 6 and 7 (polycarbonate), all of which have been shown to leach dangerous chemicals. This does not necessarily mean the others are completely safe, just that they have been studied less to date.
So if you have to use plastic, it is safest to stick to numbers 2, 4, 5 and 7 (other than polycarbonate) whenever possible.
If an item does not have a plastic code on it, or if the type of plastic is unclear from the code (e.g., with #7, it likely will not say it is polycarbonate), your best bet is to contact the manufacturer and ask them directly what type of plastic was used to make the product.
If you are interested in digging deeper and obtaining more evidence on the risks of plastic use, take a look at the more detailed Plastic Types Table, which is constantly being updated with new information and research studies: plastic_types_jan07.pdf.
Plastic Tips
Here are some simple tips to help you in working toward a life without plastic, or a life of safer, more informed plastic use.
Avoid polycarbonate (#7) baby bottles and sippy cups. For baby bottles, try and use glass (e.g., Evenflo), polyethylene (e.g., Evenflo, Medela, Playtex) or polypropylene (e.g., Gerber, Medela) instead. Sippy cups made of stainless steel (e.g., Kleen Kanteen), or of polypropylene or polyethylene (e.g., Avent, Evenflo, First Years, Gerber, Playtex) are safer. Be sure to check the bottle or cup to be sure of the type of plastic it contains. As for baby bottle nipples, try and use silicone which does not leach the carcinogenic nitrosamines that can be found in latex.
If you must use polycarbonate (#7) bottles, avoid heating food and drink in the bottle. Heat it in a separate container and transfer it to the bottle once it is warm enough for the child to eat or drink. If the plastic is showing signs of wear – scratched, cloudy – discard the container.
For drinking water, try and avoid plastic bottles. If you do use plastic bottles made from #1 or #2 plastic try not to reuse them as they are intended only for single use. One alternative is a stainless steel water bottle. For storing large quantities of water, glass and stainless steel containers are also available. If you use a #1 water bottle, try to consume the contents as soon as possible because leaching of antimony increases with time.
Try to avoid heating foods in plastic containers, especially in the microwave oven, which can cause the plastic to degrade and leach chemicals faster. As well, leaching increases when plastic comes into contact with oily or fatty foods, or when the plastic is scratched, worn, cracked, or sticky.
Use plastic wraps with caution, especially in the microwave, and try to keep the plastic from touching the food. Alternatives include wax paper or paper towels.
Try and use alternatives to plastic packaging and storage containers. Cloth, paper or cardboard are possibilities for transporting groceries. Stainless steel and glass food storage containers are available.
Avoid plastic dishes and utensils for meals. Alternatives include glass, ceramic, wood, stainless steel, and lacquer ware. Offer your child or grandchild a non-plastic dish set made of either stainless steel or wood (safely coated using the Japanese lacquer technique).

One billion bicycles

2007-05-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

There are about a billion bicycles in the world, twice as many as motorcars. Almost 400 million bicycles are in China.

Although Leonardo da Vinci drew some rough sketches of a contraption that looked like a bicycle, the Frenchman De Sivrac built the first bicycle-type vehicle in 1690. It was referred to as a hobbyhorse. However, it did not have pedals. Those were added in 1840 by a Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, who is credited with inventing the real bicycle.

On a penny-farthing bicycle, one pedal gave the wheel one turn. A lot of pedalling was needed to get around! With the advent of gears, bicycles could move as fast as cars.

Air-filled tyres were used on bicycles before they were used on motorcars.

The bicycle as we know it today - with two wheels of the same size - looks almost exactly the same as one from 1900.

The first five-seat bicycle, the quindem, was built in 1940.

The world speed record on a bicycle is held by John Howard, Olympic Cyclist and Ironman triathlon winner from the US. In 1985 he reached 245,08 km/h (152.2 mph), cycling in the slipstream of a specially designed car.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/bicycles.htm
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Mercedes cars are named after an Austrian girl

2007-05-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

In 1897, Austrian businessman Emil Jellinek, traveled from his home in Nice, France to purchase a car from the Daimler factory in Cannstatt, Germany. On his return to the French Riviera, his sporting Daimler Phoenix caused such a sensation that he decided to enter it into a local touring competition, under the name of "Mercedes" after his favourite 9 year old daughter. Realising the business potential for the new car, he not only placed an order for 36 more, but also secured the franchise for selling them in several countries. Gottlieb Daimler also agreed to having them sold under the name of "Mercedes."

The Mercedes trade name was registered after Daimler's death in 1900 and the 3-pointed star became the trade mark. Daimler had once drawn the emblem on a postcard to his wife, the star symbolising the growth of the business into transport on land, sea and air.

For Karl Benz, a name for his automobile was simple: he enclosed his name in a cogwheel to exemplify the solidness of his engineering works at Mannheim. The cogwheel later became a laurel wreath.

After the First World War the Daimler and Benz companies worked closer together, generally advertising on the same posters. They amalgamated in 1926, combining the laurel wreath and 3-pointed star as their trade mark.

Interestingly, although Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz were two of the major pioneers in the automotive industry, they probably never met, even though they lived only 100km (60 miles) from each other in Germany. Daimler passed away in 1900. Daimler-Benz amalgamated in 1926.
src: http://didyouknow.cd/daimlerbenz.htm

British royal family change surname in 1917

2007-05-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

The British royal family changed their surname (last name) from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917.

George V was king of England from 1910 to 1936. Son of Edward VII, King of England, and Princess Alexandra of Denmark, he married Queen Mary of Teck (called May) in 1893. Known as the Sailor Prince, he had an active naval career and rose to the rank of vice admiral in 1903.

World War One broke out in 1914 and was in full fury in 1917. In protest, King George V renounced all the German titles belonging to him and his family and adopted the name of his castle, Windsor.

Ravens are kept in the Tower of London because, according to myth, the British throne will come to a fall if the ravens leave the tower. The wings of the ravens are clipped to prevent them from flying away.
src:http://didyouknow.cd/royals.htm

Traffic lights in use before there were motorcars

2007-05-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

Traffic lights were used before the advent of the motorcar. In 1868, British railroad signal engineer J P Knight invented the first traffic light, a lantern with red and green signals. It was installed at the intersection of George and Bridge Streets in front of the the British House of Commons to control the flow of horse buggies and pedestrians.

Motorcars were introduced to the US in the late 1890s and the need for traffic control soon became obvious. A number of people came up with ideas for traffic control. In 1910, Earnest Sirrine of Chicago, Illinois filed for a patent (no 976,939) for what is considered the first automatic street traffic system, using non illuminated words STOP and PROCEED.

In 1912, Lester Wire of Salt Lake City, Utah invented an electric traffic light that used red and green lights. However, he did not apply for a patent. The next year, James Hoge received patent no 1,251,666 for a manually controlled traffic light system using electric lights. It was installed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914, displaying the words STOP and MOVE.

The first traffic light system to use red and green lights were patented by William Ghiglieri of San Francisco, California in 1917 (patented no 1,224,632). His design could be operated manually or in automatic.

The amber light was added in 1920 by William Potts, a Detroit policeman. He actually invented several traffic light systems, indlucing the overhang four-way system, but did not apply for patents. The first person to apply for a patent to produce inexpensive traffic lights was Garrett Morgan, who received his patent in 1923.
Parking Meter

The credit for taking all your parking credits goes to Carlton Cole Magee who invented the first parking meter in 1932, receiving a patent (no 2,118,318) for it in 1935. His Magee-Hale Park-O-Meter Company installed the first meter in Oklahoma City in 1935 and still produces most of the parking meters in the United States.
Don't Walk

The first "Don't Walk"' signs were installed in New York City on 5 February 1952.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/trafficlights.htm

The can opener was invented 48 years after cans were introduced

2007-05-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Tin canning was not widely adopted until 1846, when a method was invented to increase can production from 6 in an hour to 60. Still, there were no can openers yet and the products labels would read: "cut around on the top near to outer edge with a chisel and hammer."

The can opener was invented in 1858 by American Ezra Warnet. There also is a claim that Englishman Robert Yeates invented the can opener in 1855. But the can opener did not become popular until, ten years later, it was given away for free with canned beef.

The well-known wheel-style opener was invented in 1925. Beer in a can was launched in 1935. The easy-open can lid was invented by Ermal Cleon Fraze in 1959.

Since 1972, some 64 million tons of aluminum cans (about 3 trillion cans) have been produced. Placed end-to-end, they could stretch to the moon about a thousand times. Still, cans represent less than 1% of solid waste material - about one quarter of all cans are recycled. Worldwide, some 9 million cans are recycled every hour. Which is good news, considering that it takes a can about 200 years to degrade if you bury it. It takes paper about a month to bio-degrade, a woolen sock about a year, and plastic hundreds of years.

Recycling cans saves 95% of the energy required to make aluminum from ore, or the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil, or 10.8 billion kilowatt hours.

Used aluminum cans that are recycled return to store shelves within 60 days.

Canned petfood was introduced by James Spratt in 1865.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/cans.htm

Nostradamus predictions

2007-05-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

NOSTRADAMUS
Born Michel de Notredame on 14 December 1503 in St Remy, France, he was the oldest of five sons. His grandfather, Jean, taught him Latin, Greek, Hebrew, mathematics and astrology at an early age. Nostradamus received a medical degree in 1529 and became physician-in-ordinary to Charles IX during the bubonic plague. He is said to have had extraordinary healing abilities.

Nostradamus was in his late 40s when, it is told, he frequently went into a meditative state and had visions of the future. He began to document the visions in a mixture of Lain, French, and Greek quatrains, publishing his famous "Centuries" in 1558.

Nostradamus was married twice, losing his first wife and two children to the plague. He died on 2 July 1566. "Centuries" was translated into English in 1672. In 1781 it was banned by the Roman Catholic Church. Ironically, in 1553, when Nostradamus encountered a group of Franciscan monks he threw himself on his knees, clutching at the garment of one of the monks, Felice Peretti. When asked why he had done this he replied that he must yield "before his Holiness." Nineteen years after the death of Nostradamus, Peretti became Pope Sixtus V.

What the experts say Nostradamus predicted about the Balkan war
The war prophecy is reserved for someone whom Nostradamus refers to as "the tyrant." He predicted that the Slavs will "change their prince" and "raise an army in the mountains," suggesting a guerilla war. He speaks of "when the north pole is united" (perhaps NATO?), and there are many geographical references to the Balkans, such as Greece, Italy and the Mediterranean.

The war is linked to when the "eagle" (United States) and the "cock" (France) stand together. There also is specific reference to the time when England, Poland and Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia) "form a new alliance." The former Eastblock countries recently joined NATO.

He predicted that the Allies will win, that the war will be protracted, lasting seven months, and that it may go beyond the Balkans, toward the north, but that after the war there will be "peace on earth for a long time."

The forecasts by Nostradamus seemed to be confirmed by other seers, including Nicolaas van Rensburg, the famous South African seer who lived 1862 to 1926. At the turn of the 20th Century Van Rensburg had also predicted the use of electricity, the massacre of six million Jews, the Chernobyl disaster, the rise and fall of Russia, and the European Union - in the last two instances accurately describing the flags before they were designed. Of the third world war, he predicted that England would left weakened, while Germany would rise to become the world's most powerful nation.

What the experts say Nostradamus predicted about the WTC attack
"In the year of the new century and nine months, from the sky will come a great king of terror. The sky will burn at 45 degrees... fire approaches the great new city... there will be thunder... The third big war will begin when the city is burning."
So it is quoted among rumour mongers. The facts are:

Nostradamus appears not to have made predictions about the World Trade Centre attack or, at least, none that could easily be understood from the quatrains. He did not mention "the new century," or "nine months" and New York is not at 45 degrees; the Manhattan latitude is 40° 47' N. For more, see Skeptic's Dictionary

What then?
Of course, not only have the "experts" on the prophets not always been correct - the seers themselves have not always been quite so accurate in their forecasts.

Time will tell if the Kosovo conflict or, indeed, the World Trade Center attack had put the spark to a bigger barrel. As for the end of the world... Nostradamus predicted it to be the year 3786 or 3797, depending on which Nostradamus expert you believe.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/nostradamus.htm

Napoleon : tragic figure or flawed genius?

2007-05-15T10:34:00.001-07:00

The emperor
Napoleon was in Paris during the French revolution, and when France became a Republic on 10 August 1792, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. After defeating the Italian armies in 1796 and the Austrians in 1797, he was made General. In November 1799, he overthrew the French Directory to become First Consul of the government. He called himself Napoleon I. In 1804, a mere 12 years after the monarchy was disposed of in the French Revolution, Napoleon secured a vote to change France from a consulate to an empire. Napoleon became Emperor of France.

By 1812, Napoleon had wiped out the last traces of the Holy Roman Empire and conquered most of Europe. But after a disastrous battle against Russia, his enemies struck back. On 18 March 1814, the allies marched into Paris. Napoleon abdicated on 6 April 1814.

Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon was sent into exile on Elba, a tiny island off the coast of Italy. In March 1815, he escaped and marched toward Paris with thousands of his old guard. For a brief time, known as the Hundred Days, Napoleon returned to his former glory. He was finally defeated by a combined English and Prussian force on 18 June 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium.

St.Helena
On 15 July 1815, Napoleon was exiled to the remote tiny volcanic island of St. Helena, south of the Equator. The nearest land is Ascension Island, 1,120 km (700 miles) to the north.

Accompanied by some of his generals who chose to go into exile with him, Napoleon lived in Longwood House on St. Helena. He passed time by dictating his memoirs and playing billiards.

The green wallpaper
The wallpaper in his room was dyed with Scheele's Green, a colouring pigment that had been used in fabrics and wallpapers from around 1770. Named after the Swedish chemist who invented it the dye contained copper arsenite. In 1893 an Italian biochemist called Gosio discovered that if wallpaper containing Scheele's Green became damp, the mould converted the copper arsenite to a poisonous vapour form of arsenic. Breathing the arsenic on its own might not have been enough to kill Napoleon, but he already was ill with a stomach ulcer. On the 5 May 1821, the arsenic possibly tipped the scale against "the little corporal."

Napoleon was buried on St Helena, but his body was later reburied in Paris on the banks of the Seine. He wish to be cremated was not respected.

Napoleon married Josephine de Beauharnais, a widow with two children, on 9 March 1796. The marriage was childless and he divorced her in 1809. The next year he married Marie Louise, the 18-year old daughter of the Hapsburg Emperor of Austria. Within a year she had given Napoleon a son whom he named the King of Rome.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/napoleon.htm

Napoleon : tragic figure or flawed genius?

2007-05-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

St.Helena
On 15 July 1815, Napoleon was exiled to the remote tiny volcanic island of St. Helena, south of the Equator. The nearest land is Ascension Island, 1,120 km (700 miles) to the north.

Accompanied by some of his generals who chose to go into exile with him, Napoleon lived in Longwood House on St. Helena. He passed time by dictating his memoirs and playing billiards.

Napoleon was buried on St Helena, but his body was later reburied in Paris on the banks of the Seine. He wish to be cremated was not respected.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/napoleon.htm

The world's highest bridge is in the Himalayans

2007-05-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

If you were thinking of the bridge that stands highest over water, then the Royal Gorge Bridge over the Arkansas River in Colorado, US is your answer. Built in 1929 for $350,000, it spans 321 m (1,053 ft) above the water.

The largest bridge in the world is the 13,27 km (8,25 miles) long Trans Bay Bridge which links San Francisco to Oakland. It was built in 1936 at a cost of $77 million. The longest bridge in the world is the Pontchartrain bridge in New Orleans, USA with a total length of 38,6 km (24 miles). It was completed in 1956. The most expensive bridge is the Seto-Ohashi-Kojima bridge in Japan. At 13,22 km (8,21 miles) long, it was built in 1988 at a cost of $8.3 billion.

The world's largest natural bridge is the Rainbow Bridge, tucked away among the rugged, isolated canyons at the base of Navajo Mountain, Utah, USA. It is a natural wonder. From its base to the top of the arch, it reaches 88,4 m (290 ft) - nearly the height of the Statue of Liberty - and spans 83,8 m (275 ft) across the river. The top of the arch is 12,8 m (42 ft) thick and 10 m (33 ft) wide.

The World's busiest bridge is the Howrah bridge across the river Hooghly in Calcutta. In addition to 57000 vehicles a day it carries a huge number of pedestrians across its 457 m (1,500 ft) long 22 m (72 ft) wide span.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/bridges.htm

Peter the Great taxed people for growing beards

2007-05-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

Modern Russia started with the rule of Peter the Great. He realised that Russia should be westernised to ensure its independence. Already fascinating by mechanical inventions, he studied government and business models of the West.

But Peter also believed in starting from the bottom and working his way up. He learned ship building from the Europeans he invited to Russia, and built a ship himself, which he captained as Peter Alekseevich. In 1697, he accompanied an embassy to European courts as a carpenter named Peter Mikhailov. He also served as seaman, soldier, barber and, to the discomfort of his courtiers, as dentist.

Peter sent Russians to be educated in the West, and imported skilled labour, military and administrative experts from abroad. He encouraged smoking, but taxed tobacco. Because European men usually were clean shaven, he taxed Russians wearing beards. He modernised the calendar, simplified numerals, and encouraged private industry and mining. Remarkably, Peter managed to modernise Russia without borrowing money for his state. Instead, he taxed his citizens heavily.

To ensure continual contact with the West, Peter captured the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea from the Swedes and built a new capital, St. Petersburg, on its shores.

Peter was a big strong man, 2,04 meters (6' 8'' inches) tall, and unlike previous monarchs, not afraid of physical labour. In November 1724, he dived into the cold northern ocean to assist in a ship rescue. It led to his illness and death.
In 1715, at the funeral of a favourite court dwarf, lines of ecclesiastics were followed by 24 pairs of male and female dwarves arranged by height, followed by Peter and his ministers.

src:http://www.didyouknow.cd/peter.htm

Gibraltar named after former slave

2007-05-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Mohammed's followers burst out of Arabia after his death in 632 and by the end of the 7th century their descendants had conquered the whole of North Africa. The first Moslem incursion into Iberia was in 710, when a small reconnaissance force landed at the southernmost point of the peninsula. The following year a former slave, a Berber by the name of Tariq ibn-Ziyad, led an army of about 7 000 ashore at a point close to the huge rock which dominates the entrance to the Mediterranean. They called the rock Jabal Tariq, or Tariq's Mount, and eventually Christian tongues changed it to Gibraltar.

Or is it?
Prior to the invasion of the Iberian Peninsular by Tariq, small incursions and recces were conducted by Tarif ibn Malik Nakli, who reported that Spain was ripe for the picking. According to Tito Vallejo in his article in the Gibraltar Chronicle, when Tariq landed in Gibraltar in 711, the Rock was named Jabal Al Fath and the town Medinat Al Fath, which mean the Mountain of Victory and the City of Victory respectively.

The Arab word Tariq means track or path. The Rock of Gibraltar became "Jabal Tariq" or The Mountain of the Path, for the Path of Islam into the Iberian Peninsula. The theory is that the Muslims, at the height of their religious fervour, would not dare to name the mountain after the name of a person but rather in honour of their religion.

End of the earth
Before Columbus "discovered" America, Gibraltar was considered to be the end of the earth. The Spanish town of Tarifa is named after the Arab word Taraf, which means the end of something. Going beyond Tarifa meant that you would fall over the edge of the earth.

After the sacking of Gibraltar by the Algerian corsair Barbarossa II (Khayr ad-Din, 1483?- 1546) in 1540, the Rock was furnished with strong defences by command of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. On July 24, 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Gibraltar was captured by combined English and Dutch forces. In 1830, Gibraltar was named a crown colony.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/gibraltar.htm

2007-05-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

I've believed ever since that living on the edge, living in and
through your fear, is the summit of life, and that people who refuse
to take that dare condemn themselves to a life of living death.

-John H. Johnson

2007-05-03T22:58:00.001-07:00

I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach meanything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.

-Larry King

2007-05-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.

-Albert Einstein

Inspirational Positive Thought!!!

2007-05-03T22:52:00.000-07:00

"Allow Your Own Inner Light to Guide You"

There comes a time when you must stand alone.

You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your owndreams.

You must be willing to make sacrifices.

You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities sothat your final goal can be achieved.

Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.

There are times when you must take a few extra chances and createyour own realities.

Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better.

Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by.

Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life.

Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight thatshould lead the way.

Anger Is Part Of Danger

2007-05-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

This helpful article is contributed to the grp by Ramesh K G

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It seems that our society is getting angrier all the time. The very expressions on our faces frequently indicate that, not only are we not happy, but we are frustrated and angry at life itself. We read about road rage, which, in many ways, is the ultimate manifestation of anger. We often hear people say things like, "Normally, I would never have done that, but I just lost it -- I couldn't control my temper."

Question: Can we control our tempers? Answer: Yes, if we want to. Example: You and someone else, maybe a mate or associate, are having a tense discussion that is escalating at a restaurant. Tempers on both sides are flaring. It is even headed out of control; but just at that moment, the waitress or waiter rounds the corner and heads for your table. So, you stop the verbal attack, put on a smile and answer politely when asked if you desire more iced tea. Now 'fess up, it's happened before, on more than one occasion, hasn't it?

Message: Obviously, you can and do control your temper, so don't ever say, "I can't control my temper." Instead, make your self-talk positive and say, "Thank goodness, I'm gaining control of my temper!" That's important, because all you have to add to the word "anger" is the letter "d" and you really do have "danger." Danger to whom? Danger to you. Physicians agree that anger puts you in danger of a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and so on. Anger also damages relationships, because things said in anger linger in the mind and heart of the one you have attacked.

In addition, in 100 percent of all of the domestic-violence cases he has counseled, Dr. Les Carter of the world-renowned Minirth Institute told me they start with verbal violence, frequently involving garbage-dump language (which damages the one using the language more than the one to whom it is directed). All of us have had this specific experience -- we've started to talk about something, and a minute or so later, we've said, "Don't get me started talking about that, because the more I talk about it, the madder I get!"

Anger control:
First, recognize that not only can you control it, you can commit to bringing that anger under control.

Second, if you are not in the presence of who or what made you angry, take a deep breath, and fill your lungs with air, lifting both arms at the same time. Do this slowly three times.

Number three, get on a regular exercise program, ideally an aerobics program. This relieves tension, improves your circulation and enables you to deal with life more calmly and confidently.

Number four, watch the input into your mind. Watching violent movies, video and TV, pornographic movies, and so on, all contribute to the buildup of tension and anger. Instead, listen to soothing melodies on the way to and from work, and just before you go to sleep at night. You will arrive at your workplace in a more relaxed frame of mind, and get a good night's sleep.

Number five, counting to 10 or 110 is not all bad. Clinical psychologist Michael G. McKee, Ph.D., says you should assume responsibility, and instead of saying, "That guy makes me furious!" turn it around, accept responsibility, and simply say, "I'm getting angry at that guy." This way, you are taking responsibility and putting yourself in control. According to Dr. McKee, people who feel powerful and in control are less likely to get angry.

Message: Relax, use positive self-talk, take a walk and a deep breath, make the commitment, accept responsibility, feed your mind soothing music and know that when you control your anger, the health and friends you keep will be your own.

SLEEPING THROUGH THE STROM

2007-05-03T22:47:00.000-07:00

Another one from Sumana's collection... read and reflect.

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A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him.

A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace.

The young man slept soundly.

The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements.

The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well.

The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows."Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace.

2007-05-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. Heheldup a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a fewcoins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and droppedtheminto the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote somewords. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see thenew words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money totheblind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to seehowthings were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were u the onewho changed my sign this morning? What did u write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what u said but in adifferent way."What he had written was:
"Today is a beautiful day & I cannot see it."

Do u think the first sign & the second sign were saying the same thing?Ofcourse both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first signsimplysaid the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so luckythatthey were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign wasmoreeffective?

Moral of the Story:
Be thankful for what you have.Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. Invite thepeople towards good with wisdom.

Duelling Proverbs

2007-05-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

Many popular proverbs are correct when applied to life'scircumstances. But when proverbs are viewed withoutqualification, they cancel each other out. For instance,it's often true that "too many cooks spoil the broth", thereare time s when "two heads are better than one". Read on,because?..

He who hesitates is lost.
But
Look before you leap.

Birds of a feather flock together.
But
Opposites attract.

You're never too old to learn.
But
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Ask no questions and hear no lies.
But
Ask and you shall receive.

Variety is the spice of life.
But
Don't change horses in midstream.

Doubt is the beginning, not ht e end of wisdom.
But
Faith will move mountains.

The pen is mightier than the sword.
But
Actions speak louder than words.

Don't cross the bridge till you come to it.
But
Forewarned is forearmed.

Silence is golden.
But
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Clothes make the man.
But
Never judge a book by its cover.

The best things come in small packages.
But
The bigger, the better

An old fox is not easily snared.
But
There's no fool like an old fool.

A good beginning makes a good ending.
BUT
It's not over till it's over.

Blood is thicker than water.
But
Many kinfolk, few friends.

Practice makes a man perfect.
But
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush.
But
A man's reach should exceed his grasp.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
But
Don't beat a dead horse.

And finally:
Hold fast to the words of your ancestors.
But
Wise men make proverbs and fools repeat them.

2007-05-03T22:39:00.003-07:00

I've believed ever since that living on the edge, living in andthrough your fear, is the summit of life, and that people who refuseto take that dare condemn themselves to a life of living death.

-John H. Johnson

2007-05-03T22:39:00.001-07:00

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."

-George Bernard Shaw

2007-05-03T22:38:00.005-07:00

"Growth is not steady, forward, upward progression. It is instead aswitchback trail; three steps forward, two back, one around thebushes, and a few simply standing, before another forward leap."

- Dorothy Corkville Briggs

2007-05-03T22:38:00.003-07:00

It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person,"Always do what you are afraid to do."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

2007-05-03T22:38:00.001-07:00

"Do not follow where the path may lead.Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

-Harold R. McAlindon

2007-05-03T22:37:00.003-07:00

"Fear does not have any special power unless you empower it bysubmitting to it."

-Les Brown

2007-05-03T22:37:00.001-07:00

Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist, but the ability to start over.

----F. Scott Fitzgerald

2007-05-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

If you wouldn't write it and sign it, don't say it.

---Earl Wilson

September 1752 had only 19 days!

2007-05-03T22:34:00.000-07:00

Have u ever seen the calendar for September 1752???All of you from the Linux brethren, try this. At $ prompt, type: cal 9 1752.

Isn’t the output queer? A month with a whole of eleven days missing.
This was the time England shifted from Roman Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, and the king of England ordered those 11 days to be wiped off the face of the month of September of 1752. (What couldn’t a King do in those days?!)
Rumors spread that employees are losing 11 days' pay, and everybody is losing 11 days of his life. Londoners cried, "Give us our 11 days back!" And people rioted in the streets to protest the calendar change. Benjamin Franklin wrote "It is pleasant for an old man to be able to go to bed on September 2, and not have to get up until September 14."
And yes,\nthe workers worked for 11 days less, but got paid for the entire 30 days. And\nthat’s how “Paid Leave” was born. Hail the King!!!And yes, the workers worked for 11 days less, but got paid for the entire 30 days. And that’s how “Paid Leave” was born. Hail the King!!!

Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1752

Aspirin discovered during experiment with waste product

2007-05-03T22:33:00.001-07:00

Friedrich Bayer was born in 1825, the only son in a family of six children. His father was a weaver and dyer, and Bayer followed in his footsteps. In 1848, he opened his own dye business, which became very successful. In the past, all dyes had come from organic materials, but in 1856 coal tar dyes were discovered. Bayer and Friedrich Weskott, a master dyer, saw great potential in coal tar, and in 1863 they formed Friedrich Bayer et Compagnie to manufacture the dyes.
Hoffmann's AspirinBayer died on May 6, 1880, while the company was still in the fabric dye business. The company went on to employ chemists to come up with innovative dyes and products and in 1897 that's exactly what one of the chemists, Felix Hoffmann, did. While experimenting with a waste product of one of the dye components to find relieve for his father's rheumatism, Hoffmann chemically synthesised a stable form of salicylic acid powder. The compound became the active ingredient in a pharmaceutical wonder product: Aspirin. The title was named "a" from acetyl, and "spir" from the spirea plant, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria, also known as Spiraea ulmaria), the source of salicin.
Already in use for the 3500 yearsHowever, Hoffmann did not discover "aspirin." He "rediscovered" it after studying experiments on acetylsalicylic acid made 40 years earlier by French chemist Charles Gergardt. In 1837, Gergardt produced good results, but the procedure was difficult and time consuming. He decided that it was not practical, and set it aside. But Gerhardt knew quite well about potential cures of acetylsalicylic acid because it had been proclaimed for more than 3 500 years!
In early-1800, German Egyptologist Georg Ebers bought papyruses from an Egyptian street vendor. The Ebers Papyrus, as they are known, contained a collection of 877 medicinal recipes from 2500 BC and recommended an infusion of dried myrtle leaves for rheumatic and back pain. Even in 400 BC Hippocrates of Kos, the father of all doctors, recommended a tea extract from the bark of the willow tree for fever, pain, and labour. The active substance in this juice, which does in fact ease pain, is, as we know today, salicylic acid. In China and Asia, and among North American Indians and the Hottentots of South Africa the beneficial effect of plants containing salicylic acid was known from early times.
The breakthroughAlthough it relieved pain, the willow bark extract, salicylic acid, caused severe stomach and mouth irritation. Hoffmann's breakthrough came on 10 August 1897 when he produced the first 100% chemically pure form of acetylsalicylic acid, thus without the free salicylic acid. On 6 March 1899, Bayer registered Aspirin as a trademark. Not without a challenge, though. In fact, initially it received trade certificates only in the US. In England and Germany, other companies challenged the patents, citing their own research. Hoffmann's written evidence prevailed, and when he retired in 1928, Aspirin was known throughout the world. He, however, lived unrecognised until his death on 8 February 1946 in Switzerland. src:http://didyouknow.cd/aspirin.htm

Bank of America started as Bank of Italy

2007-05-03T22:32:00.001-07:00

Amedeo Giannini, son of Italian immigrants to the US, started the Bank of America in a converted saloon in San Francisco at 9 am on Monday, 17 October 1904. On the first day, 28 deposits totalled $8,780.
When an earthquake struck in 1907, he ran his bank from a plank in the street. Word quickly spread about his service and by 1916 he had several branches. By 1929, the bank was strong enough to withstand the Great Depression stock crash. Giannini changed the name to Bank of America in 1928 and remained chairman until 1963.
The Bank of Italy in Italy was created in 1893 through the merger of 3 of the 6 banks at the time: Banca Nazionale nel Regno d'Italia and 2 Tuscan banks.
The Bank of England was founded by William Patterson after King William III of England found himself badly in need of funds to fight a war with France in 1694. Patterson provided the funds after the king agreed to order all the goldsmiths of London to stop issuing receipts as depositories for precious metals, forcing merchants to store their gold with the new bank. The Bank of England was finally authorised in 1946.
The Reichsbank of Germany was founded by Meyer Amschel Rothschild (1743-1812), who appointed his son Karl over the Bank of Naples, and his son Salomon over the Bank of Vienna. Later, his son Edmund presided over the Bank of Germany,and his son Nathan over the Bank of England.
By the time of the American Civil War (1861 - 1865) there were 1600 banks in the US, issuing about 7,000 different kinds of bank notes.
In 1861, the US Congress authorised "promissory notes," calling them "greenbacks" to contrast in colour with notes issued by private banks. The US Treasury held the impressive sum of $346,681,016. src:http://didyouknow.cd/banks.htm

First stone lighthouse lit by only 24 candles

2007-05-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

The first documented lighthouse was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built in 200 BC on the island of Pharos by the Egyptian Emperor Ptolemy. Considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it is thought to have been 150 metres (492 ft) high - about three times taller than modern lighthouses.
Romans emperors built many lighthouses to assist their navigators. In 90 AD, Emperor Caligula ordered a light house at Dover, England. It is the oldest lighthouse in England and still stands in the Dover Castle grounds. The world's tallest brick lighthouse, the Lanterna at Genoa, was built in 1543. It still stands proud at 75m (246 ft) tall.
The world's first stone lighthouse was the Smeaton Eddystone (pictured), built just south of Plymouth, England in 1756 by John Smeaton, the "Father of Civil Engineering." It was lit with only 24 candles. The Eddystone lasted 47 years until it was floored by fire. It was then dismantled and built on a neighbouring rock.
Today, lighthouse lights are the equivalent of 20 million candles, lit by high pressure xenon lamps.
The tallest lighthouse in the world is a steel tower at Yamashita Park, Yokohama. It stands 106 m (348 ft) high.
src:http://didyouknow.cd/lighthouses.htm

Absolutely nothing happened between 3 and 13 September 1752

2007-05-03T22:30:00.002-07:00

In September 1752 the Julian calendar was replaced with the Gregorian calendar in Great Britain and its American colonies. The Julian calendar was 11 days behind the Gregorian calendar, so 14 September got to follow 2 September on the day of the change. The result was that between 3 and 13 September, absolutely nothing happened!
The calendar switch also influenced the way George Washington's birthday is celebrated. He was born on 11 February 1731, but the anniversary of his birth is on 22 February because of the 11 days eliminated from the calendar switch. At the same time, New Year's Day was changed from 25 March to 1 January, thus according to the new calendar, Washington was born in 1732.
The first Roman Calendar (introduced in 535BC) had 10 months, with 304 days in a year that began in March. January and February were added only later. In 46BC, Julius Caesar created "The Year of Confusion" by adding 80 days to the year making it 445 days long to bring the calendar back in step with the seasons. The solar year - with the value of 365 days and 6 hours - was made the basis of the calendar. To take care of the 6 hours, every 4th year was made a 366-day year. It was then that Caesar decreed that the year begins with the 1st of January.
In 325AD Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, introduced Sunday as a holy day in a new 7-day week. He also introduced movable (Easter) and immovable feasts (Christmas).
In 1545 the Council of Trent authorised Pope Paul III to reform the calendar once more. Advised by astronomer Father Christopher Clavius and physician Aloysius Lilius, Pope Gregory XIII ordered that Thursday, 4 October 1582 was to be the last day of the Julian calendar. The next day was Friday, 15 October. For long-term accuracy, every 4th year was made a leap year unless it is a century year like 1700 or 1800. Century years can be leap years only when they are divisible by 400 ( e.g. 1600). This rule eliminates three leap years in four centuries, making the calendar sufficiently correct for all ordinary purposes.
Protestant rulers ignored the new calendar that the Pope ordered. It was not until 1698 that Germany and the Netherlands changed to the Gregorian calendar. As mentioned, Britain made the change only in 1752. Russia adopted the new calendar in 1918, China in 1949.
In spite of the leap year, the Gregorian year is about 26 seconds longer than the earth's orbital period. Thus the beginning of the third millennium should have been celebrated at 9:01pm on 31 December 1999. But considering that the Gregorian calendar starts with Year 1, and not Year 0, adding 2000 years means that the third millennium started at 21h00:34s on 31 December 2000. However, because Dionysis Exeguus - the 6th Century monk whose task it was to pivot the calendar around the birth of Jesus Christ - miscalculated the founding of Rome by about 4 years (and left out the year 0), the true third millennium actually started on 31 December 1995.
The calendarsThe first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar is 1 January.The first month in the Hindu calendar is Chait'r (March/April in the Gregorian calendar). The Chinese New Year occurs at the second new moon after the beginning of the Northern Hemisphere winter, thus between 20 January and 20 February.The Jewish calendar begun 3760 years before the beginning of the Christian era. The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is celebrated during September or October of the Gregorian calendar.
The 24-hour division of the day was introduced in the 4th Century BC by the Sumero-Babylonians.
In 1905 Einstein showed in his theory of relativity that time is effected by motion so that the faster one goes the slower time does.
In 1972, Atomic time became the world's official time standard, as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC)
In the 6th Century, the Roman monk and astronomer named Dionysis Exeguus (Dionysis the Little) reformed the calendar to pivot around the birth of Christ. He dated the Nativity 753 years from the founding of Rome, calculated to the date King Herod died. But Dionysis miscalculated, because Herod died only 749 years after the founding of Rome, thus 4BC. Dionysis also left out the Year 0. He used the Julian calendar. src: http://didyouknow.cd/calendar.htm

Some popular products took 100 years to get to the marketplaceIn 1834, Charles Babbage (1792-1871) designed the Analytical Engine, the precursor of th

2007-05-03T22:30:00.001-07:00

In 1834, Charles Babbage (1792-1871) designed the Analytical Engine, the precursor of the computer. He was unable to obtain funding for it from the government, who thought it would be worthless.
The first fax process was patented in 1843 by Alexander Bain, but fax machines went into service only in 1964. In 1888, Frank Sprague completed an electric railway, but electric locomotives were introduced only in 1895. Eugene Ely landed a plane on a boat in 1911, but aircraft carriers weren't perfected for another 20 years.
The first parachute jump was made from a hot air balloon by Andre-Jacques Garnerinthe in France in 1793. Leonardo da Vinci made detailed sketches of parachutes in 1485. He also sketched studies for a helicopter, a tank and retractable landing gear. The first helicopter that could carry a person was flown by Paul Cornu in 1907. Tanks were first used during World War One in Cambrai, France in 1917. The first airplane with retractable landing gear was built in 1933. Da Vinci also suggested underwater breathing methods. Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnon introduced scuba diving only in 1943, 458 years later.
Although Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, it was only in 1938 that Howard Florey and Ernst Chain found a way to produce it, demonstrating it only in 1942.
Adolph Fick first suggested contact lenses in 1888, and although two companies manufactured lenses out of glass, it wasn't until 1948 when Kevin Tuohy invented the soft plastic lens.
Bar codes were invented by Bernard Silver and Norman Woodland in 1948. Their system used light to read a set of concentric circles, but they had to wait two decades before the advent of computers and lasers made their system practical. (However, the bar code system in use today is the Universal Product Code, introduced by IBM in 1973. The first bar coded item sold was a pack of gum in 1974.)
Heron of Greece invented steam power in 50 BC. But the leaders of the day thought that it would cause unemployment which may lead to unrest and the invention ran out of steam. The steam engine reappeared again only in 1698 when Thomas Savery invented a steam pump. The first practical steam engine was the atmospheric machine of Thomas Newcomen in 1701. It was used to operate pumps on coal mines. In 1804, English inventor Richard Trevithick introduced the steam locomotive in Wales. In 1815, George Stephenson built the world's first workable steam locomotive.
The computer was launched in 1943, more than 100 years after Charles Babbage designed the first programmable device. Babbage dropped his idea after he couldn't raise capital for it. In 1998, the Science Museum in London, UK, built a working replica of the Babbage machine, using the materials and work methods available at Babbage's time. It worked just as Babbage had intended.
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. Peter Carl Goldmark invented the LP record in 1948. The Compact Disc was invented by Joop Sinjou and Toshi Tada Doi in 1979. It took the CD fifteen years to replace the LP.
The first true aircraft carrier, HMS Furious, was converted from a battlecruiser into a flush-deck aircraft carrier in 1917, and it was the prototype of all flat-tops. The first aircraft carriers designed from scratch were HMS Hermes and IJN Hosho, which both were launched in 1920. HMS Furious is the only aircraft carrier which did combat operations in both World Wars. She was scrapped in 1948.
Douglas Engelbart experimented in the 1960's with light pens and steering wheels before deciding on a mouse for computer use.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/firstfax.htm

Ilyushin-76TD world's largest waterbomber

2007-05-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

Earth is getting hotter, and pretty quickly too. The 1990s were the warmest decade in a thousand years. Global temperature keep increasing, creating conditions that intensify wildfire danger, by warming and drying out vegetation and by stirring the winds that spread fires. Fast fires are hard to contain and likely to expand into residential areas. Already about 1 billion people live in areas prone to natural disasters.
The United States suffer from one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world, with more than 2 million fires reported each year. More than 4,000 Americans lose their lives and another 26,500 are injured annually as the result of fire.
Fire Departments around the world call on "waterbombers" to fight the fires. Carrying huge amounts of water and retardents, they actually are more cost-efficient than most other fire fighting methods.
One of these waterbombers is the Erickson Helitanker. It can deliver 7,500 litres (2,000 gallon) of water in one drop, and refill from any water source 45 cm (18 inches) deep in about 45 seconds. The Helitanker can precision deliver 110,000 litres (30,000 gallons) per hour.
Other aircraft are used too, such as the C-130, Martin Mars and DC-6. But the largest and fastest of the waterbombers is the turbofan jet Ilyushin-76TD (Il-76). It can reach a fire anywhere in the world within 12 hours. Carrying 42,000 litres (11,000 gallons) of water and fire retardants - 4 times as much as a C-130 - it can, in one run, dump enough water to cover 6 double-wide football fields, or an area 1,1km (0,7 miles) in length.
The Il-76, the world's largest waterbomber. Outfitted with a twin-tank system capable of carrying 135,000 pounds of liquid, it can be filled and be ready for takeoff in 15 minutes.
src:http://didyouknow.cd/firefighters.htm

Westminster Abbey name from its location

2007-05-03T22:28:00.002-07:00

One of the greatest achievements of Edward the Confessor, who ruled England from 1042 to 1066, was the construction of Westminster Abbey.
Born the son of King Ethelred the Unready and Emmaat at Islip in Oxfordshire, Edward was driven from England by the Danes and spent his exile in Normandy. The story goes that Edward vowed that if he should return safely to his kingdom, he would make a pilgrimage to St Peter's, Rome. When he returned and was crowned at Winchester in 1042, he found it impossible to leave his subjects. The Pope released him from his vow on condition that he should found or restore a monastery to St Peter. This led to the building of Westminster Abby in the Norman style to replace the Saxon church at Westminster. Edward determined that the Minster should not be built in London, and so a place was found to the west of the city, hence it is called "Westminster."
he Westminster Abbey was consecrated on 28 December l065, but Edward could not attend due to illness. He died on 5 January l066 and was buried in a shrine before the High Altar in his new church.
In 1534, King Henry VIII decreed the Act of Submission of the clergy and an Act of Succession followed, together with an Act of Supremacy which recognised the king as "the only supreme head of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia." In 1540, he dissolved the Benedictine monastery and despoiled Edward's shrine. Edward's body was buried in some obscure spot in the Abbey. In 1557, Mary I restored the shrine with the bones of St Edward the Confessor behind the High Altar. However, the Confessor's coffin still lies in a cavity in the top part of the marble structure.
Since William the Conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1066, and, with the exceptions of Kings Edward V (1483) and Edward VIII (1936), all coronations have taken place there. Most recently the funeral of Princess Diana was held at the Abbey in September 1997, although she was buried at Althrop, her family home in Northamptonshire.
Westminster Abbey is often confused with Westminster Cathedral (pictured). Westminster Abbey is an Anglican Church. Westminster Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church, situated about 400 m (437 yd) west of the Abbey. The Cathedral site was reclaimed by the Benedictine monks who were the builders of Westminster Abbey and used as a market. In the 17th Century the land was sold by the Abbey for the construction of a prison. The Catholic Church acquired the site in 1884. Building on Westminster Cathedral started in 1903 and the Church was consecrated in 1910.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/westminster.htm

One of Seven Wonders of the World survives

2007-05-03T22:28:00.001-07:00

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that still survives. Can you name the other six?
They are:
1) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which were built on the banks of the Euphrates river by King Nebuchadnezzar II.
2) The gigantic gold statue of Zeus was built by the sculptor Pheidias at Olympia.
3) The temple of Artemis was erected in the Asia Minor city of Ephesus in honour of the Greek goddess of hunting and wild nature.
4) The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a huge tomb constructed for King Maussollos, Persian satrap of Caria.
5) The Colossus of Rhodes was a massive statue erected by the Greeks in honour of Helios the sun-god.
6) The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built by the Ptolemies on the island of Pharos.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built near the ancient city of Memphis for Pharaoh Khufu in the period of the Fourth Dynasty, between 2613 and 2494BC. The Greeks refered to it as the Pyramid of Cheops. A true wonder, it is immense: according to Mysteries of the Unknown, it covers a ground area of 13.1 acres (32,4 hectares), composed of some 2.3 million limestone blocks average two-and-a-half tonnes each, enough stone to build a wall of foot-square cubes two-thirds around the globe at the equator, a distance of 16,600 miles (26 500km).
Modern Wonders
A list of the seven wonders of the modern world was compiled after World War One (after 1918). The motorcar was omitted from the list, instead naming: (1) the radio; (2) the telephone; (3) the aeroplane; (4) radium; (5) anaesthetics and antitoxins; (6) spectrum analysis; and (7) X rays. An updated list undoubtedly will include the car, television, computer, nuclear energy and nanotechnology.
The oldest statue in the world is the Great Sphinx of Egypt. Carved out of limestone, it stands 19,8 metres (65 ft) high and is 73 metres (240 ft) long.src:http://didyouknow.cd/wonders.htm

Eating with a fork considered scandalous

2007-05-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

Forks were first used in the Middle Ages, but eating with one was considered scandalous. In the 11th Century, when a Greek princess died shortly after introducing forks at her wedding with a Venetian Doge (chief magistrate) Domenico Selvo, it was perceived as divine punishment.
While forks were a regular feature on the tables of nobles in Italy since the 11th Century, and used in France in the 14th Century, it was introduced in England only in 1611 by Thomas Coryat through his book "Coryat's Curdities Hastily gobbled up in Five Months Travels in France, Savoy, Italy, &c." Even then, he was mocked about promoting the use of forks and called "Furcifer," meaning fork-bearer.
The upper classes of Spain were using forks in the 16th Century, as could be told from a large assortment of forks that were recovered from the wreck of La Girona, which sank off the coast of Ireland in 1588. In 1630, Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts had the first and only fork in colonial America.
So what did people eat with before using forks? They used wooden spoons, knifes and, of course, their hands.
Forks, mostly being two-tined, were known as "split spoons". Although there are examples of four- and five-tined forks from the before the 1600s, the four-tined fork became popular only in the late 1800s.
In Thailand, It is still considered scandalous to bring the food to your mouth with a fork; you only use the fork to bring the food in your spoon to eat it.
src: http://didyouknow.cd/forks.htm

2007-05-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

Converge
Meaning
to tend to meet in a point or line; incline toward each other, as lines that are not parallel.
to tend to a common result, conclusion, etc.

Origin
1685–95; < LL convergere to incline together.

Etymology
1691, from L.L. convergere "to incline together" from com- "together" + vergere "to bend"

Diverge
Meaning
to move, lie, or extend in different directions from a common point; branch off.
to differ in opinion, character, form, etc.; deviate.

Origin
1655–65; ML dīvergere, equiv. to L dī- + vergere to incline

Etymology
1665, from L. divergere "go in different directions," from dis- "apart" + vergere "to bend, turn". Originally a term in optics; the fig. sense is 19c.

2007-04-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

polygon
meaning
a figure, esp. a closed plane figure, having three or more, usually straight, sides.

origin
Origin: 1560â€“70; < L polygÅnum < Gk polÃ½gÅnon, n. use of neut. of polÃ½gÅnos many-angled.
etymology
1571, from L. polygonum, from Gk. polygon "polygon," from neut. of polygonos "many-angled," from polys "many" + gonia "angle"

convex
meaning
having a surface that is curved or rounded outward.

origin
1565â€“75; < L convexus equiv. to con- con- + -vexus, perh. < *wek-sos, deriv. of base of vehere to convey, if original sense was "brought together (to a single point)"

etymology
1571, from M.Fr. convexe, from L. convexus "vaulted, arched," pp. of convehere "to bring together," from com- "together" + vehere "to bring". Possibly from the idea of vaults carried together to meet at the point of a roof.

concave
meaning
curved like a segment of the interior of a circle or hollow sphere; hollow and curved.

origin
1375,“1425; late ME (< MF) < L concavus, hollow

etymology
1571, from L. concavus "hollow," from com- intensive prefix + cavus "hollow"

2007-04-24T11:08:00.001-07:00

If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation,you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled withgratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.

---Rabbi Harold Kushner

2007-04-24T11:07:00.005-07:00

With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to becompassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundationof integrity.

---Keshavan Nair

2007-04-24T11:07:00.003-07:00

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before whichdifficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

---John Quincy Adams

2007-04-24T11:07:00.001-07:00

Strong people make as many mistakes as weak people. Difference is thatstrong people admit their mistakes, laugh at them, learn from them.That is how they become strong.

---Richard Needham

2007-04-24T11:06:00.001-07:00

A goal is not the same as a desire, and this is an importantdistinction to make. You can have a desire you don't intend to acton. But you can't have a goal you don't intend to act on."

---Tom Morris

2007-04-24T11:05:00.004-07:00

Often the difference between a successful man and a failureis not one's better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one hasto bet on his ideas, to take a calculated risk, and to act.

---Maxwell Maltz

2007-04-24T11:05:00.003-07:00

The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back. The greatchampions have all come back from defeat.

---Sam Snead(1912-2002, American golfer)

2007-04-24T11:05:00.001-07:00

Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacablyrequires change. Education is essential to change, for educationcreates both new wants and the ability to satisfy them.

---Henry Steele Commager

2007-04-24T11:04:00.001-07:00

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seeminglysecure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what isno longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous andexciting, for in movement there is life, and in change

---Alan Cohen

Sargasso Sea without a coastline

2007-04-24T02:18:00.000-07:00

The Sargasso Sea is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between the West Indies and the Azores. Jules Verne wrote about it in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea".
The Sargasso Sea is encircled by the The Gulf Stream and the North Equatorial Current, causing the oval-shaped sea to move in a slow, clockwise drift.
Its warm waters are exceptionally clear and blue, and filled with seaweed. Early navigators becalmed in the sea's still waters mistakenly believed their ships were tangled in the seaweed. They named the sea "sargaco", the Portuguese word for grape, after the seaweed's bulbous floats.
The Sargasso Sea is also known as "the floating desert". Although about one-third of the Atlantic's plankton is produced here, the Sargassum lacks the nutrients to attract commercially valuable fish. But many small marine animals, including tiny crabs, shrimp and octopuses, live on and among the Sargassum. Deeply connected to the weeds, many would sink and perish if they lost their grip.
The Sargasso Sea also is an international meeting place for eels. Drawn by unknown forces, the snakelike fish come from Europe, the Mediterranean and the United States to mate, spawn and die. From there, their larvae make the long journey back to continental waters.
The Sargasso Sea is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, covering some 3 million square kilometres (2 million square miles).
The Sargasso water is exceptionally blue, with a high salt content.

The Sargasso Sea is 5km (3 miles) deep, thus the rootless weed, known as Sargassum, grow by budding.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/sargasso.htm

Sea captains use pigs for emergencies

2007-04-24T02:15:00.000-07:00

In the old days, sea captains kept pigs on board because they believed, should they be shipwrecked, pigs always swam toward the nearest shore.
The pig is rated the fourth most intelligent animal. Pigs are part of the order artidactyla (even toed, hoofed animals). There are more than 180 species of pigs, found on every continent except Antarctica. They come in just about any size and colour, have an average lifespan of 20 years and litters from 2 to 12 piglets.
Pigs are often thought to be dirty, but actually keep themselves cleaner than most pets. They are seen laying in mud because they do not have sweat glands and constantly need water or mud to cool off.
Uncle Sam
"During the War of 1812, a New York pork packer named Uncle Sam Wilson shipped a boatload of several hundred barrels of pork to U.S. troops. Each barrel was stamped ' U.S.' On the docks, it quickly became bantered about that the 'U.S.' stood for 'Uncle Sam,' whose large pork shipment looked to be enough to feed the entire army. Thus did 'Uncle Sam' come to represent the US Government itself." Thus according to the US National Pork Producers Council.
Big Business
Pork is big business: it is the world's most widely-eaten meat. It therefor is rather apt that pigs are responsible for the naming of one of the world's leading financial centres. To stop free-roaming pigs rampaging through their grain fields, Manhattan Island residents built a long wall on the northern edge of what is now Lower Manhattan. The street that came to board the wall was named... Wall Street.
Domestication of pigs took place in China around 7500 BC. China still is the largest producer of pigs.
In Denmark, there are twice as many pigs as people.
Pigs are mentioned twice in the Bible. Sheep are mentioned 45 times, and goats 88 times.
With no pun intended, a pig started a cold war. In 1859, an American-owned pig wandered into a British-owned potato patch on San Juan Island, off the coast of Washington. The pig was shot, starting a cold war.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/pigs.htm

Killer mosquitos

2007-04-24T02:12:00.000-07:00

It is often incorrectly quoted that mosquitos kill more people than any other animal. Actually, it is not mosquitos that kill people but the parasite they carry that causes malaria.
Approximately 300 million people worldwide are affected by malaria and about 1,5 million die from it every year. The greatest known outbreak of malaria happened in the 1920s in Russia when 13 million people were effected and 600,000 died. It also proved that mosquitos thrive in cold temperatures. Mosquitos are abundant in Antarctica.
Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites carried by female mosquitos. There are about 380 species of mosquito, but only 60 transmit the parasite.
Australian and Vietnamese scientists use the mesocyclops, a tiny one-eyed shrimp-like creature, to combat mosquitos successfully. Wherever they are placed, the mesocyclops destroy between 96% and 100% of the mosquitos.
Hippos kill more people than any other wild animal, even lions and tigers - or sharks. Even crocodiles kill more people than sharks. The reptile that kills most people is the snake.
src:http://didyouknow.cd/mesocyclops.htm

Bird barks instead of sings!

2007-04-24T02:08:00.000-07:00

The Antpitta avis canis Ridgley is a bird that looks like a stuffed duck on stilts and barks like a dog. The bird was discovered by ornithologist Robert S. Ridgley in the Andes in Ecuador in June 1998. Thirty of these long-legged, black-and-white barking birds were found. It apparently had gone undetected because it lives in remote parts and, of course, doesn't sing. The size of a duck, it is one of the largest birds discovered in the last 50 years.
There also are dogs that do not bark! The basenji, smallish dog with a silky copper coat, does not bark. Instead, it yodels when it get excited. Wild dogs like the African Wild Dog also do not bark.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/antpitta.htm

Nobody knows who invented spectacles

2007-04-24T02:05:00.000-07:00

Roman tragedian Seneca (4 BC–AD 65) is said to have read "all the books in Rome" by peering through a glass globe of water. A thousand years later, presbyopic monks used segments of glass spheres that could be laid against reading material to magnify the letters, basically a magnifying glass, called a "reading stone." They based their invention on the theories of the Arabic mathematician Alhazen (roughly 1000 AD). Yet, Greek philosopher Aristophanes (c. 448 BC-380 BC) knew that glass could be used as a magnifying glass. Nevertheless it was not until roughly 150 AD that Ptolemy discovered the basic rules of light diffraction and wrote extensively on the subject. (The laws of diffraction was formulated much later by Snellius, between 1600 and 1620.)
Venetian glass blowers, who had learned how to produce glass for reading stones, later constructed lenses that could be held in a frame in front of the eye instead of directly on the reading material. It was intended for use by one eye; the idea to frame two ground glasses using wood or horn, making them into a single unit was born in the 13th century.
In 1268 Roger Bacon made the first known scientific commentary on lenses for vision correction. Salvino D'Armate of Pisa and Alessandro Spina of Florence are often credited with the invention of spectacles around 1284 but there is no evidence to conclude this. The first mention of actual glasses is found in a 1289 manuscript when a member of the Popozo family wrote: "I am so debilitated by age that without the glasses known as spectacles, I would no longer be able to read or write." In 1306, a monk of Pisa mentioned in a sermon: "It is not yet 20 years since the art of making spectacles, one of the most useful arts on earth, was discovered." But nobody mentioned the inventor.
In the Middle Ages wearing spectacles signified knowledge and learning. Painters of the time often included spectacles when portraying famous persons even when depicting people who lived before the known invention of spectacles. On numerous paintings the religious teacher Sofronius Eusebius Hieronymus (340 - 420 AD) is portrayed with a lion, a skull and a pair of reading glasses. He is the patron saint of spectacle makers.
It actually is true that eating carrots can help you see better. Carrots contain Vitamin A, which feeds the chemicals that the eye shafts and cones are made of. The shafts capture black and white vision. The cones capture colour images.
The oldest known lens was found in the ruins of ancient Nineveh and was made of polished rock crystal.
In 1718, Edward Scarlett, a London optician, put arms on eyeglasses to hold them on the ears.
About one person in 30 is colour blind. More men than women are affected by colour blindness.
Healthy eyes are so sensitive to light that a candle burning in the dark can be detected 1,6km (1 mile) away. The human eye can distinguish about 10 million different colours. There currently is no machine that can achieve this remarkable feat.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/spectacles.htm

It was law to say "God bless you" to one who sneezed

2007-04-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

During the 6th Century, it was customary to congratulate people who sneezed because it was thought that they were expelling evil from their bodies. During the great plague of Europe, the Pope passed a law to say "God bless you" to one who sneezed.
There still are some weird laws on the books. In Washington state, it is against the law to boast that one's parents are rich. In Maryland, it's illegal to play Randy Newman's "Short People" on the radio. In Alabama it is illegal to play Dominoes on Sunday. And in Minneapolis, double-parkers can be put on a chain gang.
In 1313, King Edward II enacted that "You are forbidden from dying in parliament."
An old statute in Kentucky states that men who push their wives out of bed for inflicting their cold toes on them can be fined or jailed for a week. A 100-year-old law in Willowdale, Oregon makes it illegal to swear during sex. An odd law in Minnesota makes it illegal to hang male and female underwear on the same washing line. In Melbourne, Australia it is illegal for men to parade in strapless dresses - but they are allowed to cross-dress in anything with sleeves.
An old law in Russia allows a police officer to "beat a peeping tom soundly." In Texas, two categories of men are exempt from peeping tom charges: men over 50 and men with only one eye.
A pregnant woman can urinate anywhere she wishes, including a policeman's helmet, according to a London local by-law. But in Vermont, women require their husbands permission to wear false teeth.
In Normal, Oklahoma you could be sent to prison for "making an ugly face at a dog."
And if you're in Hawaii and laughing at these odd laws, stop! In Hawaii there's an old law still on the books that states that it is forbidden to laugh after 10pm.
src: http://didyouknow.cd/laws.htm

Genetically modified plants grow plastic

2007-04-24T02:02:00.001-07:00

Plants have been used for centuries as medicines - now genetically modified plants can produce plastic, skin tissue agents and human blood proteins.
Biotechnologists have created genetically modified (GM) plants that can grow plastic. They managed this by inserting 4 genes from a plastic-producing bacteria into varieties of oilseed rape (Eurasian plant) and cress. Conventional plastics are made from oil and do not degrade easily, but the plant plastic is biodegradable. But it is expensive. Petroleum-derived plastic cost about $1 per kg (2,2 lb) but plant plastic would cost $5 per kg (2,2 lb).
Money doesn't grow on trees but one day, perhaps, credit cards will!
The word plastic comes from the Greek plastikos, meaning "to form" or "to shape."
Genetic engineeringActually, man has been "genetically modifying" everything from food to dogs for many centuries, but in the past the only tool has been selective breeding. There are a variety of ways that scientists now modify plants and animals with genetic engineering techniques.

src:http://didyouknow.cd/plastic.htm

Boiling point of water

2007-04-24T01:59:00.000-07:00

In the early 18th century Anders Celsius defined his temperature scale on the melting and boiling temperature of water. You might have been told that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius (212F) but the boiling point of water actually depends on the oxygen content and atmospheric pressure. The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature at which water boils. People who live at high altitudes, like Tibetans, drink their tea while it is bubbling with boiling. Many Tibetans who moved to India suffered serious burns when they drank their boiling tea at sea-level.
British Standard 6008 and International Standard ISO 3103 advise that tea is best made with water that is freshly boiled. Prolonged boiling of water, or water that is boiled twice, drives off the dissolved oxygen in the water, making the tea taste flat.
Tea is said to have been discovered in 2737 BC by a Chinese emperor when some tea leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water. The teabag was introduced in 1908 by Thomas Sullivan of New York. src:http://didyouknow.cd/celsius.htm

1 hour 6 minutes per day spent on traveling

2007-04-24T01:57:00.000-07:00

The amount of time that people spend on travel has been consistent at 1,1 hours per person per day in all societies. The average distance traveled is 12 000 km (7,400 miles) per year. In total, the world population travels more than 23 trillion km ( 16.6 trillion miles) per year, 53% of which is by car, 26% by bus, 9% by rail, 9% by high-speed transport such as airplanes, and 3% by bicycle, boat and other means.
It is estimated that, due to developments in high-speed public transport, travel time will drop to only 12 minutes per person per day by 2050. Of the world traffic volume, 35% will be by car, 20% by bus, 41% by high-speed transport, and 4% by rail.
Which is good news. Currently, traffic congestion leads to huge negative economic and environmental impact across the world. Road congestion in the UK costs the UK economy £15 billion a year. It costs the US $100 billion a year. In Seattle, Washington for instance, a driver spends an average of 59 hours stuck in traffic each year. In the greater Seattle area there are more cars than people; each household makes an average of 10 motorcar trips a day. According to Sierra Club, "American cars and trucks account for 20 percent of the world's petroleum consumption."
The incentive of the automobile is convenience, but the ultimate price is air pollution and higher taxes. Various studies have shown that higher population density result in higher cost per person. The health and environmental impact of modern transport is tremendous. Carbon-based petrochemical particles are drawn deep into our lungs, causing stress to our cardiopulmonary system, and starving the body of oxygen.
Cars are the largest single source of air pollution and ozone depletion. On a global basis, today's transport sources are estimated to be responsible for 40 to 60% of the ozone precursor emissions of NOx and hydrocarbons; 70 to 80% of CO emissions; 85% of benzene pollution; 4% of SOx and about one third of all CO2 emissions, in the process wiping out forests, lakes, waterways and crops, affecting animals and humans alike.
The world's worst traffic jam occurs during the summer on the road from Paris to Toulouse, France. The 2000 record of 604km was well beaten in 2001 when holiday makers jammed up for 661km.
On average, a person takes about 2½ million steps in a year.
It is estimated that by 2050, on average North Americans will travel 14000 km (8,750 miles) per year by car, which means they'll be driving as much as now.
The US has the most highways, but European roads are busier. In Europe, cars travel more than 1000km (600 miles) per road per year, compared to an average 500km per road in the US. Belgium has the most roads per square kilometre in the world.
So, (no pun intended) take a hike.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/travel.htm

The mathematical decimal system was introduced in 4BC

2007-04-24T01:55:00.000-07:00

On 23 September 1999 NASA scientists lost the $100 million Mars Climate Orbiter because they instructed the craft in imperial (inches and feet) instead of metric (metres) measurements. It sent the probe, which was set up for metric data, off course and burning up in the Mars atmosphere.
The first decimal system was introduced in the 4th Century BC by the Sumerians of Mesopotamia, to whom the invention of writing is credited. They based their numerical system on powers of 60 subdivided into multiples of 10. It was from this system that Sumero-Babylonians developed the time system that we use today: each hour is divided into 60 minutes, which are divided into 60 seconds. However, they did not have a symbol for zero, which was introduced by Arabians only toward the end of the first millennium BC. It is thought that the zero could have been devised by Indian Hindu mathematicians because the concept of nothing was important in their early religion and philosophy.
Metric system introduced into EuropeIn 1202, Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa - better known as Fibonacci - explained the decimal system to his European colleagues in his Book of the Abacus. Fibonacci's father was a customs officer in the North African town of Bugia, so Fibonacci grew up with the Moor education of the decimal system. English mathematician John Halifax would try to promote the decimal system to his countrymen in 1253. But it was only in the 16th Century that Simon Stevin, a quartermaster in the Dutch Army, presented the Western world a user-friendly way to convert to decimal fractions in his book "The Tenth" published in 1585.
In 1670, Gabriel Mouton, a theologian and mathematician from Lyon, France proposed the general use of the decimal system and suggested a standard linear measurement based on the length of the arc of one minute of longitude on the Earth's surface and divided decimally (by ten). A "metre" was defined as 1/10,000,000 of the distance on the earth's surface between the equator and either pole. Later the metre was redefined as the distance between 2 scratches on a bar of platinum-iridium alloy. In 1960, the metre was established in terms of an atomic standard, redefined in wavelengths of light. The metric system was given the official symbol SI for Systeme International d'Unites, the "modernised metric system."
Used in most countriesThe decimal system is used in most countries, but not the USA. The system was made legal (but not mandatory) in the US by the Metric Act of 1866, and the US also was a signatory of the Treaty of the Metre in 1875. The US Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-168) and established the US Metric Board, but did not set a target date for metric conversion. However, US companies are gearing toward the metric system, with all 4 major motor companies converting to the metric standard. The computer industry also uses the decimal system: your computer operates on the binary calculations of 1 and 0.
Interestingly, standardisation of the inch for worldwide use occurred only in 1958. (The inch was standardised worldwide as 25.4 millimetres exactly.) Prior to that the United States, Great Britain, and Canada each had their own definition of the inch, and in each case the inch was defined in terms of metric units, the only set of internationally-accepted measurement standards. A problem still exists for the foot, where the international foot (based on the 25.4 mm inch) and the survey foot (based on the 25.40005 inch) are both in use. Over 100 miles they differ by 32 cm, or over one foot.
The mile comes from the Latin "mille passus", based on the Roman Legion's 1,000 paces.
"Decimal" is the Latin word for "ten."
The word "metre" was adopted only in 1793 by the French Academy of Science, derived from the Greek word "metron", meaning "a measure." The metric system was adopted officially in France in 1799.
A study by Richard Phelps of the Pelavin Research Center of the American Institutes for Research declares that a transition to metric usage in the US would be a major factor in correcting the poor performance by US students in math and science.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/decimal.htm

19 major earthquakes every year

2007-04-24T01:54:00.000-07:00

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. A fault is a fracture in the crust of the earth along which rocks on one side have moved relative to those on the other side. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the sides of the fault together, pressure builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake.
Earthquakes tend to be concentrated in narrow zones. There are 7 major crustal plates on earth, about 80 km (50 miles) thick, all in constant motion relative to one another. They move at between 10 and 130 mm (from less than one half to 5 inches) per year.
It is estimated that there are several million earthquakes in the world each year. Many of these earthquakes go undetected because they occur in remote areas or have very small magnitudes. The USGS Earthquake Info Center locates 12 000 to 14 000 earthquakes each year (about 35 per day). On average, about 60 earthquakes per year are classified as significant, with 19 classified as major. A significant earthquake is one of magnitude 6.5 or higher or one of lesser magnitude that causes casualties or considerable damage. Major earthquakes have a magnitude larger than 7.0.
In August 1999, and earthquake registering 7,4 on the open ended Richter Scale hit Turkey, killing more than 15,000 people. The next month, an earthquake registering 7,6 hit Taiwan. Later the same month, an earthquake registering 7,4 hit Mexico. In November, Turkey was hit again by an earthquake that registered 7,2.
The largest earthquake ever recorded occurred in Chile in 1960: it had a magnitude of 9.5.
Did you know that there are more earthquakes in Alaska than in California?
There are 2 basic types of earthquakes. A strike-slip earthquake occurs when the rock on one side of a fault slides horizontally past the other. In a dip-slip earthquake, the fault is at an angle to the surface of the earth and the movement of the rock is up or down.

src: http://didyouknow.cd/earthquakes.htm

How to prepare for meetings

2007-04-13T01:38:00.000-07:00

This article was sent to the group by Ramesh K. G.

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If there is one activity that unites professionals from different occupations all over the world, it is meetings. Executives, managers, or software developers -- they all spend a large part of their working hours closeted in conference rooms discussing issues, significant and insignificant.

But the truth about meetings is they are largely a waste of time if not organised well or not planned in advance. Here are some tips to help you get the best out of these congregations.

Time and venue

The initiator of the meeting must take up the task of sending out meeting requests to all parties who are required to attend, specifying the date, time and venue. If the meeting is a teleconference or a videoconference with participants from multiple locations, it is essential that the meeting request contain the date and time of the various time zones.
This is a common mistake, as a colleague in Tokyo found out when she forgot to specify the time zone in her e-mail, which meant that disparate groups of people were waiting for her to teleconference them at different times of the day!
The initiator must ensure a discussion room or conference room large enough to hold the requisite number of attendees is booked for the scheduled time.

Material

It is also up to the initiator to arrange for any materials such as a projector, computer, slides, handouts, or even just a whiteboard and markers. A manager at a telecommunications firm narrates how a meeting he was invited to was delayed by 45 minutes because the computer and projectors were not set up, leading to senior managers walking out and requesting a reschedule.

If you are invited to a meeting for which handouts are distributed, make sure you read those notes before attending. It will keep you in tune with the discussions once you are part of the meeting, and will demonstrate your preparedness with ideas and thoughts on the topic at hand.

Agenda

Once the time and venue of the meeting is fixed, it is vital that the initiator of the meeting decide the points on the agenda. Each of these points must be covered in detail and decisions taken on them before the meeting wraps up.

Preferably, these points can even be enumerated in brief on the whiteboard in the room, allowing everyone to be aware of the agenda and helping the initiator keep an eye on it at all times.

Minutes of the meeting

In the duration of the meeting, several points and ideas will be thrown up which, if not documented, will evaporate into thin air well before the end. It will be impossible for anyone to retain all the discussed points in memory. Therefore, it is best for the initiator or the meeting-in-charge to appoint one person to jot down notes during the meeting. It is better still if two or three people take notes just in case one misses out something important.
At the culmination of the meeting, it is the duty of the person assigned to note down the minutes to create a document and circulate it amongst all attendees. Such a document typically contains the date and time of the meeting, number and names of attendees, the agenda and, against each of the points on the agenda, the action items.

The focus on agenda

Often, despite maintaining an agenda and adhering strictly to time and schedule on a few points, the discussion deteriorates into heated debates. At this point, it is the prerogative of the meeting-in-charge or the initiator to ensure an objective discussion. Also, if a member starts rambling for hours without any end in sight, he must be brought back on track. It should be made clear that although brainstorming is acceptable, digression into irrelevant territory is entirely unwelcome.

Conclusion

When all points on the agenda have been discussed to the satisfaction of all parties, the person writing the minutes or even the initiator can wrap up by briefly reading out the salient points of all that has been discussed, including action to be taken once people return to their work. The minutes of the meeting is a good starting point to follow up with team members in the following days if necessary action has been taken, as discussed

2007-04-13T01:36:00.000-07:00

This article was sent to the group by Ramesh K. G.
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INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT INDIA

The name `India¢ is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.

The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero.

Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all higher languages. This is because it is the most precise, and therefore suitable language for computer software. ( a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987 ).

Chess was invented in India.

Algebra, trigonometry and calculus also orignated from India. Quadratic equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 ( i.e 10 to the power of 53 ) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C. during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera: 10*12( 10 to the power of 12 ).

The' place value system' and the 'decimal system' were developed in 100 BC in India.

The first six Mogul Emperor's of India ruled in an unbroken succession from father to son for two hundred years, from 1526 to 1707.

The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ' 80-tonne ' piece of granite. Also, this magnificient temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola

India is.......the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).

The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh.
Built in 1893 after levelling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.

India has the most post offices in the world !

The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people !

The World's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The father of medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.

Although modern images & descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth and was looking for route to India when he discovered America by mistake.

The art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh 6000 over years ago. The very word 'Navigation' is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.

Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. His calculations was - Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: ( 5th century ) 365.258756484 days.

The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, which was long before the European mathematicians.

Until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world.

The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.

Sushruta is regarded as the father of surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones and also plastic surgery and brain surgeries.

Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.

2007-04-13T01:34:00.001-07:00

The difference between great people and everyone else is that greatpeople create their lives actively, while everyone else is created bytheir lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. Thedifference between the two is the difference between living fully andjust existing.

---Michael E. Gerber

2007-04-13T01:33:00.004-07:00

The key that unlocks energy is desire. It's also the key to a longand interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any realforce within ourselves, we have to get excited.

---Earl Nightingale

2007-04-13T01:33:00.003-07:00

Strong people make as many mistakes as weak people. Difference is thatstrong people admit their mistakes, laugh at them, learn from them.That is how they become strong.

-Richard Needham

2007-04-13T01:33:00.001-07:00

We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whateverhappens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all theweavings of individual threads from one to another that createssomething.

--Sandra Day O'Connor

2007-04-13T01:32:00.003-07:00

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience inwhich you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thingwhich you think you cannot do.

--Eleanor Roosevelt

2007-04-13T01:32:00.001-07:00

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before whichdifficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

---John Quincy Adams

2007-04-13T01:31:00.002-07:00

I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears todo, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successfulexperiences behind him.

--- Eleanor Roosevelt

2007-04-13T01:31:00.001-07:00

Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we aremoving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -- but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Etymology of English Language

2007-04-13T01:29:00.000-07:00

Circle:
meaning:
A plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, the center.
A group of people sharing an interest, activity, or achievement: well-known in artistic circles.
etymology:
c.1305, from O.Fr. cercle, from L. circulus "small ring," dim. of circus (q.v.). Replaced O.E. trendel and hring. Meaning "group of persons surrounding a center of interest" is from 1714; that of "coterie" is from 1646; dim. form circlet is from 1481. The verb is from c.1374 .

Circus:
meaning:
A public entertainment consisting typically of a variety of performances by acrobats, clowns, and trained animals.
A roofless oval enclosure surrounded by tiers of seats that was used in antiquity for public spectacles.

word history:
The modern circus owes its name, but fortunately not its regular program of events, to the amusements of ancient times. The Latin word circus, which comes from the Greek word kirkos, "circle, ring," referred to a circular or oval area enclosed by rows of seats for spectators. In the center ring, so to speak, was held a variety of events, including chariot races and gladiatorial combats, spectacles in which bloodshed and brutality were not uncommon. The first use of circus recorded in English, in a work by Chaucer written around 1380, probably refers to the Circus Maximus in Rome. Our modern circus, which dates to the end of the 18th century, was originally an equestrian spectacle as well, but the trick riders were soon joined in the ring by such performers as ropedancers, acrobats, and jugglers. Even though the circular shape of the arena and the equestrian nature of some of the performances are carried over from its Roman namesake, the modern circus has little connection with its brutal namesake of long ago.

etymology:
c.1380, from L. circus "ring," applied by Romans to circular arenas for performances and contests (esp. the Circus Maximus), from or akin to Gk. kirkos "a circle," from PIE *kirk- from base *(s)ker- "to turn, bend." First attested use for "traveling show" is 1791.

src: http://dictionary.reference.com/

365 different languages spoken in Indonesia

2007-04-13T01:27:00.002-07:00

Indonesia is the 4th most populous country in the world, with 216 million people. The 300 ethnic groups speak 365 different languages. Bahasa Indonesia is the official language. Other languages include Acehnese, Ambonese, Batak, Buginese, Ceramese, Dayak, Halmahera, Javanese, Minahasa, Sundanese, Sasak, Tetum, and Toraja.
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It covers 2 million square km, an area the size of Australia, but only 20% is land, the rest is water. There are five major islands and about 30 smaller island groups. The main islands are: Sumatra, Java/Madura, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Irian Jaya. In total, Indonesia comprises of 13,667 islands, of which about 6,000 are inhabited. The capital is Jakarta.
In the 1600's, the Indonesian Moluccas islands were called the Spice Islands. Trade in spices promised great wealth to early Europeans, and it is the search for a route to these spices that led to the great voyages of Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus and others.
Some of the most interesting animals are found in the Indonesian tropical climate. The Komodo dragon (varanus komodoensis), the world's largest lizard, grows to 3 metres (9,8 ft) long. The dwarf buffalo is one of the rarest animals in the world, and the Badak Jawa is a one-horned rhino. Indonesia is known worldwide for ornamental fish species and the Rafflesia arnoldi, the largest flower in the world, found only in certain parts of Sumatra.
Indonesia consists of 26 provinces with about 500 tribes.
Indonesia falls in the tropical zone, and has an average humidity of between 70% and 90%.
The country is predominantly mountainous with some 400 volcanoes, of which 100 are active.
East Timor is a narrow, mountainous island covering 34,20 sq km (13,200 sq m), inhabited by about 4 million people who are of Papuan and Malay descent.src: http://didyouknow.cd/indonesia.htm

More than 70% of earth's dryland is affected by desertification

2007-04-13T01:27:00.001-07:00

About 3,6 billion of the world's 5.2 billion hectares of useful dryland for agriculture has suffered erosion and soil degradation. In more than 100 countries, 1 billion of the 6 billion world population is affected by desertification, forcing people to leave their farms for jobs in the cities.
Desertification is devouring more than 20,000 square miles of land worldwide every year. Desertification affects 74% of the land in North America. In Africa, more than 2.4 million acres of land (73% of its drylands) are affected by desertification.
Desertification takes place in dryland areas where the earth is especially fragile, where rainfall is nil and the climate harsh. The result is the destruction of topsoil followed by loss of the land's ability to sustain crops, livestock or human activity. The economic impact is horrendous, with a loss of more than $40 billion per year in agricultural goods and an increase in agricultural prices.
Climatic changes can trigger the desertification process, but human activities frequently are the proximate cause. Overcultivation exhausts the soil. Deforestation removes trees that hold the soil to the land. Overgrazing of livestock strips the land of grasses. According to a UN study, about 30% of earth's land - including the 70% of dryland - is affected by drought. Every day, about 33,000 people starve to death.
Desertification creates conditions that intensify wildfires and stirring winds, adding to the tremendous pressure to earth's most precious resource, water, and, of course, the animals dependant on it. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the world lost about 30% of its natural wealth between 1970 and 1995.
Dust from deserts and drylands is blown into cities around the world. Dust from Africa reaches Europe through the Pasat wind, and even reaches US cities. Dust particles, which are less than 2,5 millionths of a metre in size, are inhaled, causing health problems and have been shown to boost death rates.
Desertification can be stopped, but unfortunately is usually is brought to public attention when the process is well underway.src:http://didyouknow.cd/deserts.htm

Longest and biggest cruise liners

2007-04-13T01:25:00.000-07:00

When Ferdinand Magellan led the first circumnavigation of earth in the 16th century, his 5 ships were about 33 metres (100 feet) long, and reached 10 knots. Today, cruise liners exceed 300m (1,000ft) in length and reaches 25 knots.
Other beauties in the big league include the Norway, at one stage, the longest liner at 315,5 metres (1,035 feet), yet she's not in the top ten by Gross Registered Tonnes (GRT), registering 76,049 tonnes. The Grand Princess, which cruises the Mediterranean, is, at 109,000 tonnes, one of the biggest. She accommodates 2,600 passengers. The Carnival Destiny - at 101,000 tonnes the first liner to displace more than 100,000 tonnes - accommodates more passengers, courting 3,400 passengers at a time in the Caribbean. The two 142,000 tonnes sister ships Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas are not shy of their size, either. They cruise in at 308 metres (1,025 feet) in length. The Titanic, built for $10 million in 1911, was 265 metres (883 feet) long.
Not to be outdone in any manner Queen Mary 2, launched by Cunard on 12 January 2004, is 345 metres (1,132 ft) long, displaces 150 000 tonnes and accommodates 1 253 crew members at the service of 2 620 passengers in the grandest luxury. Queen Mary 2 was the world's largest, longest, tallest ocean liner... until Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas was launched in April 2006. Although QM2 is 6m longer, Freedom of the Seas comes in at 160,000 tonnes, is 339 metres (1,112 ft) long, 56m (184 ft) wide and has a cruising speed of 21.6 knots. She is 15m wider than QM2 and takes up to 4,375 lucky passengers.The Queen Elizabeth was the longest cruise liner when she was launched in 1938, at 314 metres (1030 ft). She was destroyed in a fire while being renovated in Hong Kong harbour in 1972.
The biggest ship in the world, the oil tanker Jahre Viking, is 458 metres (1,502 ft) long. A big oil tanker ships about 132 million litres (34 million gallons) of petrol. Enough to drive a car 47,000 times around the earth.
Gross Registered Tonne (GRT) is 100 cubic feet. It is a measurement of space, not

weight.src:http://didyouknow.cd/liners.htm

The first credit card was issued in 1951

2007-04-13T01:24:00.001-07:00

Credit was first used in Assyria, Babylon and Egypt 3000 years ago. The bill of exchange - the forerunner of banknotes - was established in the 14th century. Debts were settled by one-third cash and two-thirds bill of exchange. Paper money followed only in the 17th century.
The first advertisement for credit was placed in 1730 by Christopher Thornton, who offered furniture that could be paid off weekly.
From the 18th century until the early part of the 20th, tallymen sold clothes in return for small weekly payments. They were called "tallymen" because they kept a record or tally of what people had bought on a wooden stick. One side of the stick was marked with notches to represent the amount of debt and the other side was a record of payments. In the 1920s, a shopper's plate - a " buy now, pay later" system - was introduced in the USA. It could only be used in the shops which issued it.
In 1950, Diners Club and American Express launched their charge cards in the USA, the first "plastic money". In 1951, Diners Club issued the first credit card to 200 customers who could use it at 27 restaurants in New York. But it was only until the establishment of standards for the magnetic strip in 1970 that the credit card became part of the information age.
The first use of magnetic stripes on cards was in the early 1960's, when the London Transit Authority installed a magnetic stripe system. San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit installed a paper based ticket the same size as the credit cards in the late 1960's.
The word credit comes from Latin, meaning "trust".

Cheques (checks) came into use in 1875.src: http://didyouknow.cd/creditcards.htm

Leaning Tower of Pisa has never been straight

2007-04-13T01:23:00.001-07:00

Soon after building started in 1173, the foundation of the Pisa tower settled unevenly. Construction was stopped, and was continued only a 100 year later. It then became visibly clear that the Tower of Pisa is leaning, tilting to the south.
Since regular measuring of the tower began in 1911, the top of the tower has moved 1,2 millimetres (0,05 inch) per year. Today the top of the Tower of Pisa is some 5,3m (17,4 ft) off-centre.
After the bell tower of the Cathedral of Pavia collapsed in 1989, the Consorzio Progetto Torre di Pisa (Tower of Pisa Project Consortium) commissioned engineers to stabilise the Leaning Tower. Because the Tower tilted in different directions in its first years, it is slightly curved, like a banana. Engineers are working on the footing of the Tower rather than the structure, hoping to ease the top back about 20 cm (about 8 inches). But it means that the 800-year old tower will remain leaning.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Miracle Square) in the town of Pisa, Italy.
There are 296 steps to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.src: http://didyouknow.cd/pisa.htm

Tomato world's most popular fruit

2007-04-08T21:32:00.001-07:00

The tomato is the world's most popular fruit. And yes, just like the brinjal and the pumpkin, botanically speaking it is a fruit, not a vegetable. More than 60 million tons of tomatoes are produced per year, 16 million tons more than the second most popular fruit, the banana. Apples are the third most popular (36 million tons), then oranges (34 million tons) and watermelons (22 million tons).
Tomatoes were first cultivated in 700 AD by Aztecs and Incas. Explorers returning from Mexico introduced the tomato into Europe, where it was first mentioned in 1556. The French called it " the apple of love," the Germans "the apple of paradise."
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C and fibre, and are cholesterol free. An average size tomato (148 gram, or 5 oz) boasts only 35 calories. Furthermore, new medical research suggests that the consumption of lycopene - the stuff that makes tomatoes red - may prevent cancer. Lycopene is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids, which are natural compounds that create the colours of fruits and vegetables. For example, beta carotene is the orange pigment in carrots. As with essential amino acids, they are not produced by the human body. Lycopene us the most powerful antioxidant in the carotenoid family and, with vitamins C and E, protect us from the free radicals that degrade many parts of the body.
The scientific term for the common tomato is lycopersicon lycopersicum, which mean "wolf peach." It is a cousin of the eggplant, red pepper, ground cherry, potato, and the highly toxic belladonna, also known as the nightshade or solanaccae. There are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes.
Tomatoes are used in many food product, including, of course, tomato sauce (ketchup), pasta and pizza. According to a Steel Packing Council survey of 1997, 68% of chefs use canned tomatoes for convenience, quality and flavouring. It hasn't changed much since.
A fruit is the edible part of the plant that contains the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems, leaves, and roots of the plant.
Cooked tomatoes have higher concentrations of lycopene than non-cooked tomatoes.
Don't store ripe tomatoes in the fridge. Cold temperatures lessen the flavour in tomatoes.

Oldest living thing

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The oldest living thing on earth is a flowering shrub called the creosote bush, found in the Mojave Desert. It is 15 metres (50 ft) in diameter. It is estimated that it started from a seed nearly 12,000 years ago. During its lifetime the last major period of glaciation in North America came to an end, the wheel and writing were invented, and the great Egyptian and Mayan pyramids were built. The shrub is still living.

World's largest flower

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The largest flower in the world, the rafflesia arnoldi, weighs 7 kg (15 pounds) and grows only on the Sumatra island of Indonesia. Its petals grow to ½ metre (1,6 feet) long and 2,5 cm (1 inch) thick.
Rafflesia arnoldi - world's largest flower
There are 16 species of rafflesia, found in Sumatra, Malaysia and Borneo. The species is named after the naturalist Sir Stamford Raffles, who founded the British colony of Singapore in 1819. Raffles discovered the parasitic plant with his friend Dr. Joseph Arnold during their travels in May 1818. The rafflesia arnoldi is named after the two.
However fascinating and beautiful the rafflesia arnoldi may be, it is also called "corpse flower" and really reeks, the latter to attract flies for pollination.
Of about 200,000 kinds of flowers in the world, the smallest is the duckweed, which can only be seen with a microscope.