Interesting read

Guy Charging his Phone at a Lamppost and Making a Call !!!!!!!!!

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source::::::businessinsider.com…..Amidst news on hurricane Sandy  we come across some interesting news like the one below too!!!!!!!!

Rob Wile  in businessinsidernet

The big story in New York is Hurricane Sandy, obviously.

But the counter-part big story is that people are going to extreme lengths to find power where they can.

Check out this man we saw on 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues charging his phone and making a call at a lamppost.

man charging phone sandy midtown

It turns out there are plain old outlets at most NYC lampposts — but the hatches are usually tied or screwed down:

So this guy would have had to have removed one or both of those impediments to get to it.

He perfectly captures the combination of desperation and tenacity that defined New York City residents post Sandy.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/this-is-how-desperate-new-yorkers-were-to-find-a-place-to-charge-their-phones-2012-10#ixzz2At2jLOWQ

History of Chicago O”Hare International Airport

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In continuation of  my blog ” What a Father wanted His Son to Inherit from him?….Integrity only…”  here is the  History of  O’Hare International Airport , Chicago ….   source:::::  Chicago Deprtment of Aviation  website…. This airport …Orchard Field Airport …was  renamed as  Chicago O’Hare International Airport in the year 1949 by Chicago City Council to honor  a Naval Aviator Lt.Commdr. Edward .H. ” butch ” O ” Hare , Medal of Honor Receipient from Chicago who died in World War  2….
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History of O’Hare International Airport

From Orchard Field to O’Hare 1945-1959

  • In 1945, a Site Selection Committee appointed by Mayor Edward Kelly chose Orchard Field, the location of a Douglas aircraft assembly plant located on the northwest side of Chicago, as the site for a new Chicago airport. The site had four concrete runways.
  • Temporary runway lights were added in 1946.
  • In 1949 the Chicago City Council renamed Orchard Field as Chicago-O’Hare International Airport to honor naval aviator Lt. Cmdr. Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare, a Medal of Honor recipient from Chicago who died in World War II.
  • O’Hare officially opened to commercial air traffic in 1955 and served 176,902 passengers in its first year.
  • The airlines serving O’Hare in 1956 were American, Air France, BOAC, Braniff, Capitol, Delta, Eastern, Flying Tigers, Ozark, Pan American, Trans Canada, TWA and United.
  • A fifth runway was added to O’Hare in 1957.
  • August 8, 1958, marked the date that O’Hare’s first terminal, used specifically for international travel, was dedicated. The occasion was celebrated by the arrival of a TWA non-stop flight from Paris to Chicago. A total of 22,498 international passengers were accommodated by the end of the year.
  • On April 1, 1959, Mayor Richard J. Daley presided over ceremonies to inaugurate the expansion of O’Hare to approximately 7,200 acres. The expansion included additional terminal and cargo buildings, airplane hangars, automobile parking, a post office, flight kitchens and rental car facilities.

O’Hare Becomes the “World’s Busiest Airport” 1960-1969

  • An eight-lane expressway opened in 1960 between O’Hare Airport and downtown Chicago, making the airport more easily accessible to travelers.
  • By the end of 1961, flight operations increased to 86,495 departures and arrivals. Also in 1961, the main terminal building and a 5,000-car parking lot were completed.
  • All scheduled Midway Airport operations were transferred to O’Hare by 1962. The additional transferred flights made the passenger numbers rise to 10 million by the end of the year, making O’Hare the “World’s Busiest Airport”.
  • On March 23, 1963, O’Hare Airport was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy, who said, “There is no other airport in the world which serves so many people and so many airplanes. This is an extraordinary airport, an extraordinary city, and an extraordinary country, and it could be classed as one of the wonders of the modern world.”
  • The Seven Continents Restaurant opened in 1963 in the Rotunda building in Terminal 3.
  • By 1965, the total number of passengers who passed through O’Hare doubled to 20 million.
  • The first taxiway bridge spanning a public roadway opened at O’Hare in 1967 to enhance aircraft maneuvering efficiency. Similar taxiway bridges were subsequently built in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles and London’s Heathrow Airport.
  • A sixth runway was added to O’Hare in 1968.
  • O’Hare broke the 30 million passenger mark for the first time in 1968.

Steady Growth and Airline Deregulation 1970-1979

  • O’Hare’s seventh runway was added in 1971.
  • The 10-story O’Hare Hilton Hotel opened in 1973. Located directly opposite from the terminals, passengers could step off an airplane and walk to the hotel lobby.
  • O’Hare’s 37.6 million passengers in 1973 exceeded that of the second busiest airport in the world by 12 million!
  • A six-level parking facility was opened in 1974, bringing O’Hare’s parking capacity to 9,300 cars. That same year, a pedestrian tunnel system linking the parking structure, O’Hare Hilton Hotel and the terminal complex was also completed.
  • By the end of 1974, O’Hare handled more than 37.8 million passengers on almost 695,000 flights.
  • In 1976, Chicago established the nation’s first “Airport Delay Task Force”, which resulted in the first triple simultaneous runway use at O’Hare.
  • O’Hare handled over 40 million passengers for the first time in 1976.
  • Deregulation of the domestic airline system was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. As a result, O’Hare became the nation’s first and now only dual hub airport, with commensurate benefits to consumers—competitive airfares and more service to more destinations than any other airport in the world.

Designing for a New Wave of Passengers and Flights to O’Hare 1980-1989

  • Chicago responds to crowded terminals with the announcement of a $2 billion O’Hare Development Program in 1983.
  • In 1984, Concourse L was added to Terminal 3 housing Delta Airlines.
  • The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) extended the Blue Line rail service to O’Hare in 1984. The new O’Hare CTA station made the commute to the airport fast, easy and inexpensive.
  • Interim International Terminal 4 opened in 1985 to make room for the construction of Terminal 1, United Airlines’ future “Terminal for Tomorrow”.
  • Over 50 million passengers passed through O’Hare for the first time in 1986.
  • United Airlines’ Terminal 1 opened in 1987. The state-of-the-art terminal was built at a cost of $500 million.
  • In 1989, the South Cargo Area was completed at O’Hare, resulting in the nation’s largest mid-continent freight origin/destination market.

O’Hare Prepares For the 21st Century 1990-1999

  • O’Hare surpassed the 60 million passenger mark for the first time in 1990.
  • American Airlines completed renovation of Terminal 3 in 1990.
  • In 1990, Mayor Richard M. Daley led the initiative to introduce Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) legislation, providing funds needed to modernize the nation’s airports at no cost to local taxpayers.
  • The O’Hare Command Center opened in May 1992.
  • The Airport Transit System (ATS) opened in 1993 to improve intra-terminal passenger transit, relieve roadway congestion and reduce air emissions.
  • The world class International Terminal 5 opened in 1993, establishing Chicago as the premier mid-continent international gateway and connecting hub. Chicago began to capitalize on deregulation of the international market and liberalization of open skies agreements.
  • The O’Hare and Midway Noise Compatibility Commissions were established in 1996 to provide neighboring communities with the funds and decision-making authority to reduce the impact of aircraft noise.
  • O’Hare Airport unveils the first “Hush House” at a major U.S. airport in 1997. The “Hush House” features state-of-the-art noise reduction technology to reduce aircraft ground run-up noise.
  • O’Hare Airport served more than 70 million passengers in 1997.

O’Hare Airport Today

  • O’Hare is the nation’s only dual hub airport. The two airlines that have a hub at O’Hare are United and American Airlines.
  • Chicago’s airports generate approximately 514,000 jobs for the region and nearly $37 billion a year in economic development.
  • More than 76.5 million passengers passed through the airport in 2005 while over 972,000 flight operations took place.
  • The FAA has issued its Record of Decision in favor of the O’Hare Modernization Program, which will decrease delay and increase capacity by creating a parallel runway system.
  • More than 1.7 million tons of freight and mail are moved through O’Hare each year.
  • Chicago remains committed to noise reduction and works closely with 36 communities surrounding O’Hare and Midway Airports, providing millions of dollars in residential and school soundproofing.
  • O’Hare’s focus on customer service is enhanced by multi-lingual information representatives stationed throughout the airport.
  • O’Hare offers travelers a taste of Chicago through its concessions program. Favorite local establishments and nationally recognized chains make up the airport’s wide variety of food, beverage and retail offerings.

O’Hare Modernization Program

  • On September 30, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Record of Decision in favor of the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP), Mayor Richard M. Daley’s vision for building a 21st century airport at O’Hare at no local cost to taxpayers.
  • The OMP is the largest construction projects in the country at one of the world’s busiest airports, and is managed by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA).
  • In November 2005 the FAA issued a Letter of Intent Funding $337 Million for OMP Phase I
  • In 2006 the FAA approved OMP Phase I Noise Program Passenger Facility Charge Application and implemented mandatory flight caps at O’Hare.
  • Construction began for Runways 10L-28R and 10C-28C.
  • In 2008, Runway 9L-27R, the extension of Runway 10L and the North Air Traffic Control Tower were commissioned ahead of schedule and $40 million under budget.
  • The FAA allowed mandatory flight caps at O’Hare to expire.
  • In 2009, the FAA approved OMP Completion Phase Design Passenger Facility Charge Application and the remaining OMP Noise Program Passenger Facility Charge Application.
  • The Sustainable Airport Manual (SAM) was issued in August 2009, producing the nation’s first sustainability guidance for airports, including the development of a rating system, green airplane certification award system and recognition of designers and contractors for sustainable accomplishments.
  • In April 2010, the FAA issued a Letter of Intent funding $410 million for the OMP Completion Phase.
  • When the OMP is complete, O’Hare will have eight runways. Six will be East-West parallel runways and two crosswind runways. The OMP will transform O’Hare International Airport’s airfield from a system of intersecting runways into a modern parallel runway configuration to reduce flight delays and increase flight capacity well into the future.

What a Father wanted His Son to Inherit from him ?… Integrity only!!!!

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source:::: unknown….input from one of my contacts…. dont miss to read ….

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Heartwarming……..

Story number 1

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago . Capone wasn’t
famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy
city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed “Easy Eddie.” He was Capone’s lawyer
for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie’s skill at legal
maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the
money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his
family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the
conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire
Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration
to the atrocity that went on around him.

Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.
Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education.
Nothing was withheld. Price was no object.

Despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to
teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn’t
give his son; he couldn’t pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to
rectify wrongs he had done.

He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al
“Scarface” Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some
semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob,
and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.

Within the year, Easy Eddie’s life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely
Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had
to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay Police removed from his
pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from
a magazine.

The poem read:

“The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power
to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.”

Story number 2

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant
Commander Butch O’Hare.

He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the
South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was
airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had
forgotten to top off his fuel tank.

He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back
to his ship.

His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he
dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned
his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward
the American fleet.

The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but
defenseless. He couldn’t reach his squadron and bring them back in time
to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.
There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.

Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation
of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber’s blazed as he charged in,
attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and
out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until
all his ammunition was finally spent.

Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip
a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible,
rendering them unfit to fly.

Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O’Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier

Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return.
The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed
the extent of Butch’s daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact,
destroyed five enemy aircraft.

This took place on February 20, 1942 , and for that action Butch became the
Navy’s first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional
Medal of Honor.

A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home
town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today,
O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

So, the next time you find yourself at O’Hare International, give some
thought to visiting Butch’s memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of
Honor. It’s located between Terminals 1 and 2.

So what do these two stories have to do with each other ?

Butch O’Hare was “Easy Eddie’s” son.

Free Kittens…. Just for Laugh !!!!!

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source::: unknown ….but a nice stuff for good laugh…

Natarajan

A pretty little girl named Suzy was standing on the sidewalk in front of her home. Next to her was a basket containing a number of tiny creatures; in her hand was a sign announcing FREE KITTENS.

Suddenly a line of big black cars pulled up beside her. Out of the lead car stepped a tall, grinning man.

“Hi there little girl, I’m Mitt Romney.
What do you have in the basket?” he asked.

“Kittens,” little Suzy said.

“How old are they?” asked Romney.

Suzy replied, “They’re so young, their eyes aren’t even open yet.”

“And what kind of kittens are they?”

“Republicans,” answered Suzy with a smile.

Romney was delighted. As soon as he returned to his car, he called his PR chief and told him about the little girl and the kittens.

Recognizing the perfect photo op, the two men agreed that the Romney should return the next day; and in front of the assembled media, have the girl talk about her discerning kittens.

So the next day, Suzy was again standing on the sidewalk with her basket of “FREE KITTENS,” when another motorcade pulled up, this time followed by vans from ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CNN.

Cameras and audio equipment were quickly set up, then Romney got out of his limo and walked over to little Suzy.

“Hello, again,” he said, “I’d love it if you would tell all my friends out there what kind of kittens you’re giving away.”

“Yes sir,” Suzy said. “They’re Democrats.”

Taken by surprise, the Romney stammered, “But…but…yesterday, you told me they were REPUBLICANS.”

Little Suzy smiled and said, “I know.

But today, they have their eyes open.”

Meet a Personality who is Practising what He Preaches !!!!!!

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source:::::THE  HINDU

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Practising what he preaches

“We cannot sustain ourselves, unless we contribute to the society in someway or the other. I strongly feel if even one person does his bit towards social good, there will be some change.”

 

 

 

 

Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

A will to serve combined with a sense of social justice has been the guiding principle of P. Kalyanasundaram, who has spent over 45 years in social service. A gold medallist in library science, he is also an MA in literature and history. During his 35-year-career as a librarian at the Kumarkurupara Arts College at Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin district, he gave away all his salary for charity and did odd jobs to meet his daily needs. He has also come forward to donate his body and eyes to the Tirunelveli Medical College.

The Union Government has acclaimed him as `The Best Librarian in India’. He has also been chosen as `one of the top ten librarians of the world’. The International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, has honoured him as `one of the noblest of the world’, while the United Nations Organisation adjudged him as one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century’. An American organisation has also selected him as the `Man of the Millennium.’

Mr. Kalyanasundaram, who has founded a social welfare organisation, `Paalam’, shares his experiences in a chat with Prathiba Parameswaran.

SIMPLICITY IN life and exemplariness in practice has been the hallmark of Mr. Kalyanasundaram. Born in August 1953 at Melakarivelamkulam in Tirunelveli district, he lost his father at a very young age. It was his mother, who inspired him to serve the poor.

When he was at college, the Indo-China war broke out, and he contributed his gold chain to the then Chief Minister, Kamaraj, for the war fund. At this time around, he went to meet Balasubramanian, Editor, Ananda Vikatan. “He sent me away, saying he would write about me the day I donated something I had earned myself. I did not speak a word to anyone about what I had done. I took it as a challenge,” Mr. Kalyanasundaram recalls. Ever since he got a job as a librarian in Tuticorin, he has contributed all his salary, pension benefits and ancestral property to social welfare. It was not until 1990, when he received his pension arrears and contributed it to the Collector’s Fund, that the then Tiruneveli Collector felicitated him, despite his protests. The `Paalam’ serves as a bridge between donors and beneficiaries: it collects money and materials from those willing to donate and distribute them among the weaker sections. It has also contributed to the cyclone relief funds in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, and has helped the earthquake victims in Maharashtra and Gujarat. “We cannot sustain ourselves, unless we contribute towards the society in someway or the other. I strongly feel if even one person does his bit towards social good, there will be some change,” he asserts.

Mr. Kalyanasundaram feels that one must achieve something in his chosen field. His contribution to library science is immense. A thesis he submitted as part of his post-graduate course to the Madurai Kamaraj University fetched him distinction. He has also hit upon an easy way of tracing and accessing books in libraries.

His ability to strike a rapport even with youngsters is remarkable. He cites the instance when he started wearing khadi. At college, he was required to take classes on Gandhianism. “I had to speak about simplicity and everything Gandhi stood for, but I was clad in expensive clothes. That was when I decided to switch over to khadi,” he relates. Since then he had always practised what he stood for, making himself a role model for many youths.

He was popular among college and school students, and many of them have joined his organisation.

He has long-term plans for his organisation. One is the setting up of a nationalised digital library with modern equipment, which could be accessed by people from all walks of life.

He also wants to set up an international children’s university in Tamil Nadu, with foreign aid. However, he says, a mission has a meaning only when the right people are involved in it. The Directorate of Public Libraries should recruit people with a library science background to be librarians, he says. “And good librarians should have a broad knowledge of everything.”

 

 

 

 

Chanakya Quotes….Worth Millions !!!!!

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source:::::input from one of my friends…..taken out from Chanakya Quotes…

Natarajan

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“A person should not be too honest.
Straight trees are cut first
and Honest people are victimized first.”
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC -275 BC)
************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“Even if a snake is not poisonous,
it should pretend to be venomous.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“The biggest guru-mantra is:
Never share your secrets with anybody. !
It will destroy you.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“There is some self-interest behind every friendship.
There is no Friendship without self-interests.
This is a bitter truth.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions –
Why am I doing it,
What the results might be and
Will I be successful.
Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“As soon as the fear approaches near,
attack and destroy it.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“Once you start a working on something,
don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it.
People who work sincerely are the happiest.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.
But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction..”

“A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them.
By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend.. Your grown up children are your best friends.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“Books are as useful to a stupid person
as a mirror is useful to a blind person.”

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ***
“Education is the best friend.
An educated person is respected everywhere.
Education beats the beauty and the youth.”

iPad Apple or Google Nexus 7….who is the clear winner !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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iPad Mini Vs. Nexus 7: Tablet Smackdown

Apple iPad Mini versus Google Nexus 7 sets up the tablet battle we’ve all been waiting for. We see who has the goods to come out on top.

By Eric Zeman  InformationWeek
October 27, 2012 09:06 AM
iPad Mini Tablet: Visual Tour

iPad Mini Tablet: Visual Tour

(click image for larger view and for slideshow)

Can’t decide which small tablet is the best buy? Let’s look at the top two contenders, the Apple iPad Mini and the Google Nexus 7. Either one is a solid pick, but each has pros and cons, to be sure. Let’s look at what the two tablets have in common and what sets them apart.(Where’s Michael Buffer when you need him? “Let’s get ready to ruuummmmbbb

Form

Does size matter? It might for some, but these two combatants are pretty close when it comes to size and weight. The iPad Mini measures 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.28 inches and the Nexus 7 measures 7.81 x 4.82 x 0.41 inches. The length and width are nearly the same, but in terms of percentages, the thickness is nowhere close. The iPad Mini is 7.2mm thick and the Nexus 7 is about 50% thicker at 10.42mm. The iPad Mini weighs 10.9 ounces (308 grams) and the Nexus 7 weighs 12 ounces (340 grams). The Nexus 7 is about 10% heavier. The iPad Mini is slightly thinner and lighter, but taller and wider. Advantage: iPad Mini.

Display

The iPad Mini’s display measures 7.9 inches and has 1024 x 768 pixels for a pixels-per-inch density of 163. The Nexus 7’s display measures 7 inches and has 1280 x 800 pixels for a pixels-per-inch density of 216. The iPad Mini’s display has a 4:3 aspect ratio and the Nexus 7 has a 15:9 aspect ratio. The iPad Mini has more viewable real estate, but the Nexus 7 has a higher-resolution screen. Advantage: Nexus 7.

Power/Memory

Apple’s 1-GHz dual-core A5 chip powers the iPad Mini. It is (probably) mated to 512 MB of RAM. The Nexus 7 uses Nvidia’s Tegra 3 chip with four cores operating at 1.3 GHz each. The Nexus 7 has 1 GB of RAM. The iPad Mini boasts 10 hours of battery life, as does the Nexus 7. Advantage: Draw.

Cameras

The iPad Mini has a 5-megapixel iSight camera. It can also capture video at 1080p HD. The front camera shoots 1.2-megapixel images and can capture 720HD video for FaceTime chats. The Nexus 7 does not have a rear camera, but it’s front camera also shoots 1.2-megapixel images and captures 720p HD video. Advantage: iPad Mini.

Wireless

The iPad Mini comes in two versions — one that only has Wi-Fi and one that pairs Wi-Fi with one of three different LTE networks. LTE 4G, of course, lets the iPad Mini surf the Web wherever AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon Wireless provides network access. The Nexus 7 only has Wi-Fi, no 3G or 4G. That means it can only be used to browse the Web within range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. Advantage: iPad Mini.

Storage

The iPad Mini comes in three different storage configurations: 16 GB, 32 GB and 62 GB. Right now, the Nexus 7 comes in two storage configurations: 8 GB or 16 GB. This is expected to change as soon as October 29, when Google announces new Nexus gear. For now, however, Advantage: iPad Mini.

Apps

The iPad Mini has access to 275,000 dedicated tablet applications in the App Store. That’s a lot of apps. The Nexus 7 can use most apps in the Google Play Store, but the vast majority of them are not optimized for the tablet form factor and may offer a less-refined experience. Advantage: Draw.

Price

The iPad Mini starts at $329, but ranges all the way up to $659 depending on options. The $329 option provides 16 GB of storage and Wi-Fi (no 4G). The Nexus 7 costs $199 for the 8-GB version and $249 for the 16-GB version. Advantage: Nexus 7.

Sum

Based on these criteria, the iPad Mini comes out ahead of the Nexus 7 in terms of specs. But the price difference is significant enough that it’s hard to call a clear winner. Whichever of these two tablets you might pick, both will provide a solid Web-browsing and app-running experience.

source ::::::::::::::::bigdata

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Kids Prove Smarter than Albert Einstein !!!!!!

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Five Kids Who Are Smarter Than Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein is one of history’s brightest minds, but recently, two girls too young to drive both bested his alleged IQ score of 160.
The budding geniuses, ages 15 and 12 respectively, earned official IQ scores of 162, putting them in the top 1 percent of the population. (The average IQ is 100.)
But they’re hardly the first youngsters to beat Einstein in the smarts department — at least on paper.
Here, a few notable kids who recently scored higher than Mr. Relativity:
1. Fabiola Mann
Age tested: 15
IQ score: 162
Fabiola, who was born in Goa, India, but currently lives in the U.K., recently begged her parents to pay the fee and let her take Mensa’s IQ test. The 15-year-old “has a purple belt in karate and is now taking tae kwon do in school,” says Forbes. She enjoys the classic genius hobby of chess, plays the piano and guitar, and can sing as well.

2. Olivia Manning
Age tested: 12
IQ score: 162
“Everyone knew 12-year-old British schoolgirl Olivia Manning was smart,” says Madeline Holler at Babble. A quick learner, she required only 24 hours to learn all her lines for a performance of Macbeth. But even she was “surprised when the results of an IQ test came back,” and she scored a 162 — higher than astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, and yes, Einstein himself.

3. Jacob Barnett
Age tested: 12
IQ score: 170
At age 2, Jacob Barnett was diagnosed with a mild form of Asperger’s. Turns out, he was just functioning at a higher level than everyone else. Jake, who appears to have an affinity for wearing caps backwards, is already taking advanced college math and astrophysics classes near his home in Indiana. As revealed during a 2011 appearance on Glenn Beck’s Fox News show, Jacob would like to become a professor at a high-ranking college and make high-level math textbooks easier to understand.

4. Pranav Veera
Age tested: 6
IQ score: 176
When he took the test in 2009, this young resident of Loveland, Ohio, could recite the U.S. presidents in order, say the alphabet backward, and tell you the day of the week of any given date going back to the year 2000. He was also 6. Blessed with a photographic memory, Pranav says that one day he’d like to be an astronaut.

5. Victoria Cowie
Age tested: 11
IQ score: 162
Victoria Cowie, another British schoolgirl, “isn’t glued to her studies,” says her mother. “She loves drama and music and plays football too.” But the young girl scored a whopping 162 on her IQ test in 2011, and has been offered scholarships from high-ranking secondary schools. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Victoria says she’d like to work with animals and become a vet.

source:::: businessinsider.com
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Read more: http://theweek.com/article/index/235012/5-kids-smarter-than-albert-einstein#ixzz2AVTWXe1D

Build…Print…Fly ….3D Plane !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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SOURCE:::: BRISBANE TIMESNatarajan

Students build and Fly 3D Printed Plane!!!

Pictured is the UAV University of Virginia engineering students built entirely from parts from a 3D printer.Pictured is the UAV University of Virginia engineering students built entirely from parts from a 3D printer. Photo: University of Virginia

This post was originally published on Mashable.

The sky’s the limit for 3D printing. Two students at the University of Virginia 3D-printed and assembled a plane. When it successfully took off, their unmanned plane became just the third 3D-printed drone to ever fly.

3D printing is a revolutionary technology, which some speculate could have an impact similar to that of the personal computer. In fact, new potential applications for 3D printers seem to be appearing every week.

The technology has been used to design artificial legs, wounded animals are getting plastic beaks, and even meat could be soon 3D printed.

Steven Easter and Jonathan Turman, two third-year engineering students at University of Virginia for the MITRE Corporation, a federally funded research and development centre, designed and assembled the plane this year. The result of their work is a 6.5-foot wingspan drone, entirely built with 3D-printed parts.

The students proved that 3D printing can bring manufacturing cost down and still deliver a quality product. “To make a plastic turbofan engine to scale five years ago would have taken two years, at a cost of about $US250,000,” David Sheffler, a U.Va. Engineering School alumnus and 20-year veteran of the aerospace industry who helped the two students, told UVAToday. “But with 3D printing, we designed and built it in four months for about $US2000.”

Mashable is the largest independent news source covering digital culture, social media and technology.

 

Read more:http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/students-build-and-fly-3dprinted-plane-20121026-289ki.html#ixzz2AT4sBUO4

8th Passed …Was it Simple for our Grand parents and Great Grand Parents???!!!!!

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source::::input from one of my friends….an interesting read …. not to miss.. pl attempt the following question paper and let me have your scores!!!!!!

Natarajan

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895…

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education. Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th Grade in 1895.????

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina and reprinted by the Salina Journal. .

The 8th Grade Final Exam:
Salina , KS – 1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph.
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of ‘lie,’ ‘play,’ and ‘run’
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6. What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 – 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet Long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs, what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs for tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7percent per annum.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus .
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States ..
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton , Bell , Lincoln , Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u’.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ‘e.’ Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane , vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America .
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa , Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco .
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each..
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

HUH??? Are they kidding??? This is hard to believe….

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete. Saying ‘he only had an 8th grade education’ has got a whole new meaning, …. is it not !!!!!

Also it shows how poor our education system is now !!!!!!!!!!!!