Toronto’s Camouflaged Electric Substations….

More often than not, industrial infrastructures are an eyesore, especially when they are smack in the middle of a beautiful city like Toronto. So for the past hundred years, Canada’s second-largest municipal electricity distribution company, Toronto Hydro, has been disguising substations into quiet little houses that blend right in with the neighbourhood. Some appear like grand Georgian mansions or late-Victorian buildings, while others look like humble suburban homes. Even the most sharp-eyed resident couldn’t tell these faux homes apart. Some are not even aware they are living next door to a transformer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is not a house. Photo credit: City of Toronto Archives

Toronto was first electrified in the late 1880s. At that time a number of small private companies were supplying electrical demands. Then in 1908, Torontonians voted overwhelmingly for the formation of a municipal electricity company, and Toronto Hydro came into being in 1911.

From the very beginning, Toronto Hydro was keen not to have ugly conglomerations of metals, switches and wires robbing the city’s urban and suburban neighbourhood of its beauty. So each substation they built was wrapped around by a shell of masonry and woodwork carefully designed to resemble residential homes. A driveway and some low-maintenance shrubs in the garden helped complete the deception.

The earliest known substation, dating from 1910 and located at 29 Nelson St. in the John and Richmond area, looks like a four-storey Victorian-era warehouse or perhaps an office building with a grand entrance and raised horizontal brick banding. One of the grandest of these structures is the Glengrove Substation, built in 1931. This Gothic building with its large oak doors, leaded glass windows and long narrow windows reminiscent of Medieval times, it’s no wonder that Toronto Hydro employees call it the “Flagship” or the “Castle”.

As architectural styles evolved, so did the camouflage. From grandiose buildings of the pre-depression era to ranch style houses that became popular with the booming post-war middle class of the 1940s to 1970s, to progressively more modernist structures with flat roof and smooth white exterior. These substation homes were so authentic that they were sometimes broken into by burglars.

There used to be over 270 substation homes scattered across Toronto. According to Spacing Toronto, as of 2015, 79 of these substations are still active.

Source….Kaushik  in http://www.amusingplanet.com

Natarajan

 

Message for the Day…” Keep the heart pure and whole. You must also carefully cleanse from your heart malice, greed, hate and anger.”

Spiritual striving (sadhana) will reveal the true identity of the Omnipresent Divine Self. But be careful; Sadhana can foster even pride and envy as a byproduct of progress. You calculate how much or how long you have done Sadhana and are tempted to look down on another, whose record is less. You are proud that you have recited or written the name of Lord ten million times; you talk about it whenever you get the chance so that others may admire your faith and fortitude. But it is not the millions that count; what matters is the purity of mind that results from genuine concentration on the Name. Your Sadhana must not be like carrying water in a cane basket! You get no water however often or long you walk. Each vice is a hole in the cane basket. Keep the heart pure and whole. You must also carefully cleanse from your heart malice, greed, hate and anger.

Source….http://media.radiosai.org/

Natarajan

Joke of the Day…”What magic words you used , General ….” ?

As the crowded airliner is about to take off, the peace is shattered by a five-year-old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum.

No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.

Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an elderly man in the uniform of an Air Force General is seen slowly walking forward up the aisle.

Stopping the flustered mother with an upraised hand, the white-haired, courtly, soft-spoken General leans down and, motioning toward his chest, whispers something into the boy’s ear.

Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother’s hand, and quietly fastens his seat belt.

All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause. As the General slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin attendants touches his sleeve.

“Excuse me, General,” she asks quietly, “but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?”

The old man smiles serenely and gently confides, “I showed him my pilot’s wings, service stars, and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the plane door, on any flight I choose.”

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…”The only hope you have in today’s dreadful darkness is the name of God. That is the raft which will take you across this stormy sea, darkened by hate and fear, and churned by anxiety and terror. Take it with all earnestness and steadfast faith.”

Your mind is too full of the world and your stomach demands too much of your time and energy. Desires and wants are multiplying faster than your capacity to satisfy them, and your dreams are far too fanciful, leading you into false victories and absurd adventures. Engrossed in the analysis of the material world, you have lost all sense of spirit, sweetness and sublimity. Under this new dispensation, truth is yet another word in the dictionary. Compassion is reduced to a meaningless travesty. People lack self-confidence. Even at the slightest provocation, you are rapidly transformed into a wild and vicious beast. Humility, patience, reverence – these are as invalid as a flameless lamp in the far distance. The only hope you have in today’s dreadful darkness is the name of God. That is the raft which will take you across this stormy sea, darkened by hate and fear, and churned by anxiety and terror. Take it with all earnestness and steadfast faith.

Source….http://media.radiosai.org/

Natarajan

9 Famous Quotes That Are Often Misused…

There are many quotes that are constantly used at will by many of us, but do we actually know where they came from or what their full extent really is? Here are 9 famous quotes that are used in part, or even completely incorrectlly.

1  ” Money is the root of all evil ”

The idea that money is inherently evil appears to stem from a quote that appears in the King James Bible, specifically in 1 Timothy 6:10. The thing is, however,  that the quote got misconstrued from the actual Bible verse, which says: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

 

2 “Winning is not everything ”

This motivational quote also happens to be a misquote. It comes from a UCLA Bruins football coach known as “Red” Sanders. At a physical education workshop in 1950, he said: “Winning isn’t everything. Men, it’s the only thing!”

 

3 “The proof is in the pudding ”

This one is a complete misquote, because the actual quote says “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”. In other words, you actually have to try food to determine whether it’s good to eat or not. “The proof is in the pudding” actually makes no sense at all.

 

4.”Jack of all trades, but master of none ”

A few hundred years back, “jack” was simply slang for “laborer”. This ghost word is still seen in phrases like “lumberjack” and “steeplejack”. As a result, a “jack of all trades” was a laborer who was capable of doing a bit of everything. The “master of none” part of the quote is actually a modern addition, which contends that those can do a bit of everything have mastery over nothing.

 

5.:” Feed a cold , starve a fever ”

An old belief from medieval times states that “fasting is a great remedy for fever”, but modern medicine begs to differ. Some believe that the notion of starving a fever actually comes from a mistranslation of “feed a cold, stave a fever”, meaning that it’s a well-nourished person with a cold has a better chance of staving off a fever than a person that is undernourished.

6.” Great minds think alike ”

Greek philosopher Socrates left this one to the world. If he really did mean it in earnest, he probably would have written it down rather than killing himself by drinking hemlock. What you might not know about this famous quote is that it actually has a second part that’s often left out. In its entirety, it reads: “Great minds think alike…and fools seldom differ.”

7.” When one door closes another opens ”

This quote is alternately attributed to Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller, although neither of them were actually confirmed to have said it. The full quote actually says: “when one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us.” As a result, make sure you look forward and don’t dwell when one of life’s metaphorical doors slams shut on you.

8. “Curiosity  killed the cat ”

The first known version of this quote was popularized by William Shakespeare. It goes “care killed the cat”, with “care” meaning “worry” in this context. It appears that “care” made way for the word “curiosity” in the late 1800s, but while that is uncertain, people almost always forget that the quote actually has a second part. It actually reads: “curiosity killed the cat…but satisfaction brought it back,” and means although being nosy will likely get you in trouble, knowing the truth in the end is often worth the risk that you take to find it.

9. Be the change you want to see in the world ”

Gandhi uttered many an inspiring phrase during his lifetime, however this has to be one of his most famous. In his original statement, the guru had said: “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.”

Source….www.ba-ba mail.com

Natarajan

 

Message for the Day…”Do not grieve, nor be the cause of grief.”

Do not grieve, nor be the cause of grief. The very embodiment of Ananda (Bliss) is in you, as in others, as in all else. In spite of a multiplicity of containers, the contained is the same. That is the principle of Sat, Chit and Ananda (Being, Awareness, Bliss). The minutest atom and the mightiest star – both are basically one. All are, in truth, Brahman or Divine. You read in the sacred books that Lord Vishnu has the Garuda (Eagle) as His carrier, that Shiva has the Nandi (Bull) as His vehicle, that Lord Brahma rides on a Hamsa (Swan), that Lord Subrahmanya travels on a peacock, and that Shani has the crow as his vehicle. Ganesha rides on a mouse, though he is stupendously corpulent and has the head of an elephant! This does not mean that the Gods are helpless without these animals and birds as instruments of locomotion. It only reveals that no bird or beast is to be despised, for the Divine is using each as His instrument. Seen as deha (body), all are distinct; seen as dehi (the embodiment), Brahman, all are One.

Source….http://media.radiosai.org/

Natarajan

Message for the day…” Some people complain that recitation (japam) has not cured their pain, grief or greed! It is because they mechanically recite prayers and meditate out of habit or for social conformity or to gain reputation for religiousness!”

Millions recite the Lord’s Name, but few have steady faith! Fewer seek the bliss (Ananda) that contemplation on the glory of God within, the Atma, can confer. Some people complain that recitation (japam) has not cured their pain, grief or greed! It is because they mechanically recite prayers and meditate out of habit or for social conformity or to gain reputation for religiousness! When people who have learnt the precious scriptures revealing Atma-vidya (science of the Self) do not put into practice what they repeat orally and have no faith in the assertions, what profit can they get from it? The canker of doubt has undermined their reverential attitude to the scripture. They devalue the scriptures into money-or-fame-earning devices, and when they do not get money or fame through them, they are disappointed. They envy those who follow secular avocations. But if they only develop faith, scriptures themselves will foster them and ensure for them a happy and contented life.

Source….http://media.radiosai.org/

Natarajan

On the Lighter side….Joke for the Day ..”Need another $ 10…” !

Jose and Carlos are panhandlers that panhandle in different areas of town.

Carlos panhandles just as long as Jose but only collects $2-3 every day.

Jose brings home a suitcase FULL of $10 bills every day, drives a Mercedes, lives in a mortgage-free house and has a lot of money to spend.

One day, Carlos asked Jose: “I work just as long and hard as you do, but how do you bring home a suitcase full of $10 bills every day?”

“Look at your sign, what does it say?” replies Jose.

Carlos’ sign reads: “I have no work, a wife and six kids to support.”

Jose says: “no wonder you only get $2-3.”

‘Carlos says: “So what does your sign say then?”

Jose shows Carlos his sign – it reads: “I only need another $10 to move back to Mexico”

Source…..www.ba-ba mail.com

Natarajan

வாரம் ஒரு கவிதை ….” பெண் என்னும் பிரபஞ்சம் “

 

பெண் என்னும் பிரபஞ்சம்
———————–
ஆணுக்கு பெண் அடிமையில்லை..ஒரு
ஆணை விட பெண் எதிலும் எங்கும்
குறைந்தவளும் இல்லை !
மறக்க வேண்டாம் உங்கள் பெருமை
பெண்ணுரிமை நம்  உரிமை
மறுக்க முடியுமா யாரும் இதை ?
வானமே எல்லை நமக்கு …நாளை
இந்த உலகம் மட்டும் அல்ல …இந்த
பிரபஞ்சம் கூட ஒரு பெண்ணின்
கையில்தான் !
முடிந்தது அவள்  மேடை முழக்கம் ..முழங்கிய
பெண் தேடினாள்  தன் கை பேசியை
ஊரில் இருக்கும் அவள் அப்பாவிடம் பேச !
மறு முனையில் கேட்டதோ அம்மாவின் குரல் !
சரி அம்மா ..நான் பேசறேன்  அப்புறமா
அப்பாவிடம் … சும்மா தான் கூப்பிட்டேன்
நான் ! வைக்கட்டுமா ?
நாளை உலகை  ஆளப் பிறந்த தன்
பெண்ணின் சொல் கேட்டும்  வாய்
பேசாமல் நிற்கும்  அந்த தாய்
அல்லவோ பெண் என்னும் பிரபஞ்சம் !
Natarajan
in http://www.dinamani.com dated 9th Dec 2017

Message for the day…'”If you yearn to escape the consequences of birth and death, cleanse your mind so effectively that it is nearly eliminated! This is possible only when you identify yourself with the Indweller within you (Dehi), rather than with the body (Deha)! “

Every morning ask yourself this question: “What is the grand victory I must strive for in this life, for which these struggles are preparing me? Remind yourself that your body is the chariot, intellect (buddhi) is the charioteer, desires are the roads which you tread drawn by the rope of sensual attachments, and liberation (moksha) is the goal; the Divine Self within should be your Guide and Goal. If you yearn to escape the consequences of birth and death, cleanse your mind so effectively that it is nearly eliminated! This is possible only when you identify yourself with the Indweller within you (Dehi), rather than with the body (Deha)! Your body is the casket of the Atma, earned as a reward for one’s activities of mind and body. When you live in the consciousness of the omnipresent Divine, you live in love – love surging within and through you, to everyone around you. You will naturally experience love, peace and joy, always!

Source…http://media.radiosai.org/