investment

வாழ்த்துக்கள் சஞ்சய் ராஜாராம் …

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சஞ்சய ராஜாராம்

 

கோதுமை உற்பத்தியை உயர்த்திய இந்திய விஞ்ஞானிக்கு உலக

உணவு விருது

இந்திய தாவரவியல் விஞ்ஞானி சஞ்சய ராஜாராமுக்கு 2014-ம் ஆண்டுக்கான உலக உணவு விருது அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

உலக கோதுமை உற்பத்தியை பசுமைப் புரட்சி மூலம் 20 கோடி டன் உயர்த்தியமைக்காக இவ்விருது அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

உலக உணவு விருது அறக்கட்டளை நிறுவனர் கென்னத் எம். குய்ன், அமெரிக்க வெளியுறவுத்துறை அமைச்சர் ஜான் கெர்ரி ஆகியோர் இதனை அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக அறிவித்தனர். இவ்விருதுக்கான பரிசுத் தொகை 2.5 லட்சம் அமெரிக்க டாலர்களாகும் (சுமார் ரூ.1.5 கோடி).

ராஜாராம், குளிர்காலம் மற்றும் கோடைகாலத்துக்கு ஏற்ற ஒட்டுவகை கோதுமை ரகங்களைக் கண்டுபிடித்தார். இவ்வகைக் கோதுமை அதிக அளவு மகசூல் கொடுக்கக்கூடியவை.

மொத்தம் 480-க்கும் அதிகமான அதிக மகசூல் தரும் கோதுமை ரகங்களை ராஜாராம் கண்டறிந்தார். இந்த கோதுமை ரகங்கள் 51 நாடுகளில் சிறு மற்றும் பெரு விவசாயிகளால் பெரிதும் பயிர் செய்யப்படுகின்றன. உலகம் முழுதும் சுமார் 6 கோடி ஹெக்டேர் வயல்களில் இவரது கோதுமை ரகங்கள் பயிர் செய்யப்பட்டன என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

விருது குறித்த அறிவிப்பை வெளியிட்ட அமெரிக்க வெளியுறவுத் துறை அமைச்சர் ஜான் கெர்ரி கூறுகையில், “ராஜாராமின் சேவை, நாம் இன்னும் பணி செய்ய வேண்டும் என அனைவரையும் தூண்டுவதாக இருக்கிறது. அடுத்த 30 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு 200 கோடிக்கும் அதிகமான மக்களுக்கான தேவையைப் பூர்த்தி செய்வது என்பது கணக்கிடுவதற்குத் சிரமம். இது இரண்டாவது பசுமைப் புரட்சிக்கான நேரமாகும்.

ராஜாராம் கண்டறிந்த நூற்றுக்கணக்கான கோதுமை ரகங்களுக்காக நாம் நன்றி சொல்லக் கடமைப் பட்டிருக்கிறோம். அவர் கண்டுபிடித்த கோதுமை ரகங்கள் ஆண்டுக்கு 20 கோடி டன் கோதுமை உற்பத்தியை அதிகரித்து, உலகம் முழுவதும் லட்சக் கணக்கானவர்களின் உணவுத் தேவையை நிறைவு செய்துள்ளது” என்றார்.

பசுமைப் புரட்சியின் தந்தை என கூறப்படும் நார்மன் இ போர்லாக், சர்வதேச மக்காச்சோளம் மற்றும் கோதுமை மேம்பாட்டு மையத்தின் (சிஐஎம்எம்ஒய்டி) கோதுமைத் திட்டத்தை 1976-ம் ஆண்டு முதல் 2001-ம் ஆண்டு வரை வழிநடத்தி வந்தார். அவருக்குப் பிறகு அத்திட்டத்தின் இயக்குநர் பொறுப்பை ராஜாராம் ஏற்றார்.

உத்தரப்பிரதேச மாநிலத்தில் பிறந்த ராஜாராம், ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் சிட்னி பல்கலைக் கழகத்தில் டாக்டர் பட்டம் பெற்றார். தற்போது மெக்ஸிகோவில் வசித்து வருகிறார்.

Topics: வணிகம்| வணிகம்| வேளாண்மை|

Source::: The Hindu …Tamil

Natarajan

Have a Look at The Customozied Jumbo Jets of Billionaires !!!

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Boeing 747 8 Interior

Boeing

Boeing 747-8 custom interior with 4786 sq. ft. of space.

 

The $65 million Gulfstream G650 may be the pinnacle of the private jet market, but it just doesn’t do the job for billionaires who prefer to fly with more than a dozen or so passengers.

 

For that, the uber wealthy turn to Airbus and Boeing, who are more than happy to customize their jets — even the widebodies that can carry hundreds of people — for private use.

Commercial jet manufacturers have been replacing the rows of economy seats in their aircraft with sofas and entertainment centers since the late 1990s. A recent influx of billionaires from Russia, the Middle East, and China has led to a new focus on this part of the business. Since opening the private jet branch in 1997, Airbus has sold over 170 aircraft. Boeing got started in 1996, and has delivered on 195 of 217 total orders received.

The main reason to go with an Airbus A380 or a Boeing 747 over a puny Gulfstream or Bombardier? According a “Billionaires Study” commissioned by Airbus, the wealthiest among us like to travel with family members and business associates. (This, apparently, is particularly true for Middle Eastern oil magnates.)

That’s not to say outfitting a jumbo jet for personal use is always a rational economic decision. For some, the bigger and more luxurious the plane, the better. That’s why Airbus and Boeing don’t just sell their planes, they offer a wide variety of customization options to give customers exactly what they want.

So how much does a personalized widebody plane cost? The manufacturers don’t exactly publish price lists, but we’ve seen figures between $80 million for a Boeing 737, $280 million for a Boeing 747-8, and up to $300 million for an A380.

Here’s a look at what’s available for billionaires ready to spend that big a pile of dough:

 

Boeing 787 Interior

Boeing

Boeing 787 interior ready for conversion.

 

 

 

ACJ319_Cabin_Tyrolean_Jet_Services_Airbus1

Airbus

Airbus A319 Corporate Jet.

 

 

 

Boeing Deer Jet

Deer Jet

Deer Jet owned Boeing with bedroom suite and shower.

 

 

 

Boeing Jet Interior

Boeing

Boeing interior with shower and king-sized bed.

 

 

 

Boeing 747 8 Sleeping Space

Boeing

Boeing 747-8 with sleeping space for 8.

 

 

 

ACJ318_Airbus_Tyrolean_Jet_Services_cabin1

Airbus

Airbus A318 Corporate Jet.

 

 

 

Airbus Phoenix_cabin_concept_Majhong_table_arrangement1

Airbus

Airbus Asian market interior with mahjong table.

 

 

 

Boeing Jet Shower

Boeing

Boeing interior shower.

 

 

 

ACJ319_Acropolis_Aviation_on_VVIP _angled_view_1

Airbus

Airbus A319 custom interior.

Read more: http://www.wired.com/2014/06/the-jumbo-jets-boeing-and-airbus-turn-into-posh-private-planes/#ixzz352DvEjqr

Source:::: Business Insider Select.au

Natarajan

 

 

2014 FIFA World Cup… Impact on the Event at Host Country …

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The Fifa World Cup is under way and so far the games have been unpredictable and exciting. But what does it take for a country to host this world class tournament, how big of an event is it anyway? Well, these numbers will give you a clue as to how huge an event the Fifa World Cup really is…
world cup 2014 infographic

Source: Frederick T.  in ba-ba mail site

Natarajan

Finally, Taxi On The Fast Lane ….@ Chennai…

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Welcome to Meru. Your billing has started,” announces a mechanised voice as one enters a Meru taxi. Photo: Ram Keshav

 

Taxis are now available in your city at the touch of an icon on your smartphone

Driver Nickson is on his way from Nungambakkam in a Ford Endeavour. He is 21 minutes away. No, 19.  The car-shaped icon moves like an ant on the smartphone’s screen as time ticks by. It tells us exactly where the taxi is at which point in time. He glides to a stop as one watches him on the screen. The taxi is here — the entire process happened at the touch of an app on the smartphone. Call taxis, these days, don’t require a ‘call’ for you to avail their service. All you have to do is download an app. Companies such as Uber, Ola, and Meru put you in touch with their drivers through a well-coordinated system that involves the GPS.

The Uber app for instance, can be downloaded onto Android phones and iPhones (it is not available for Windows phones). The taxi can be booked by just tapping on the icon; the nearest Uber driver is informed of your location and so are you. Before you know it, your taxi is booked — the app lets you monitor the driver’s location on Google maps, displays his name, and the car’s registration number.

“Uber’s specialty is on-the-spot booking,” says Nickson. “You can book your cab while you’re on the move.” And there is no cash involved — once you register with Uber, the bill amount is debited from your credit card. The best thing regarding Uber is their cars — Honda Civic, Accord, Toyota Camry, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar. Launched in the city in January this year, Uber is the next big thing in taxis.

“Welcome to Meru. Your billing has started,” announces a mechanised voice as one enters a Meru taxi. “It’s the Tab,” points out driver Samuel David. “All of our cabs come fitted with Tabs. We use them to monitor the meter.” The Tab displays the start time, customer’s name, and drop location. “We have 60 cars running in the city; we launched a month ago,” explains Samuel. The Meru app works in a similar way; it is available on Google Play, App Store, and Windows Store.

Ola Cabs, yet another new line of taxis, are also available at a single touch — the app is available on App Store and Google Play. “There is no confusion regarding the client’s location. Once they book a cab, I get to know their location through GPS,” says driver K.N. Gopinath.

Despite it all, these taxis are priced nominally. Which is why, “these days, even people who own cars take taxis to be dropped off and picked up from the airport,” according to Gopinath. They are also widely used by women who go pubbing late night. “On Fridays and weekends, our customers are mostly couples and party-goers who prefer us for our luxury cabs,” says Nickson.

“We also have the option of card payment,” adds Samuel. Meru has strict rules for its drivers. Displayed on the dashboard is an oath that has lines such as ‘I will not drink and drive’, ‘I will charge the customer as per the meter’, and ‘I will be alert at all times’. “There is just one word I don’t understand,” says Samuel as the car zooms through Anna Salai. “What does ‘groom’ mean? We are repeatedly told to be well-groomed.” Just then, the taxi pulls up at our destination and the mechanised voice calls out: “Thank you for using Meru.”

Keywords: call taxis, Meru, Ola, Uber, Chennai cabs

source::::   Akila Kannadasan in The Hindu… metroplus

natarajan

 

Financial Lies We Tell Ourselves … !!!

Natarajan1 Comment

They say lying is an art and not everyone can do it well. Those who do it well pat their own back by saying they can manage any kind of situation. Do we even lie (to ourselves) when we deal with our finances? Yes, we do. I can bet on it anytime.

I have seen people lie to themselves in a lot of areas concerned with personal finance such as investments, savings, insurance, expenditure, etc.

I would like to touch upon the top 10 financial lies we tell ourselves in our day to day lives.

1. Retirement planning still has lot of time

We somehow strongly feel that retirement planning can be done at later stages of life rather than starting now. It is a common tendency to ignore things which occur after a long time.

Remember the days when we used to study for exams just one day before? This type of thinking is probably continuing with most of us. It is dangerous since life’s important goals such as retirement need to be planned well in advance and cannot be achieved overnight (or even within 5-10 years).

In fact, I suggest you start investing for retirement right when you start earning. It seems funny but with rising inflation, medical costs and uncertainties revolving around our heads retirement life is going to be a costly affair.

Use retirement calculator to know how much you need in order to maintain your current lifestyle after retirement. Do not forget to add other expenses such as vacation, dream home, etc.

2. Term insurance is a waste of money

We Indians have a tendency to get something in return for what we have done and that has to be in monetary terms. Term insurance has been ignored for years since it does not give back anything in return.

However, it is the only form of insurance which actually addresses your need — protection to your family. If it’s the question of investment, there are tons of products in the market.

We could be speaking about the sales pitch of insurance agents who reiterate the need for traditional products. These products (in various forms keep coming back to haunt us with changed tactics. No matter what changes happen, they have continuously failed against the biggest evil named inflation.

3. I have enough Health Insurance cover From My Employer …

This is a common escapist tactic that we use to protect ourselves from health insurance companies when they try to sell us mediclaim policies. It’s good that we are already covered by the employer.

But, is it enough?

Will the company give us the same benefit till we stay with it? What about the phase when we leave the current organisation and join elsewhere? And there are few more similar questions to be answered.

If you have answers for all the above questions, you need not buy health insurance. If you are not sure about even one of these, then probably it’s time you have one for your entire family.

4. Fixed deposits are enough to help me reach my goals

‘Conservatism’ is a word which I have been hearing a lot since recession. People have suddenly realised that their money is precious and they cannot afford to lose the principal amount invested. And so, they started investing in FDs rather than mutual funds or stocks for their goals.

They seem to give a blind eye when you talk to them about post tax returns, inflation, etc.

Well, firstly how many of us have calculated as to how much would be needed to help us achieve our goals. Not many.

If returns of 6 per cent or 7 per cent per annum (post taxes are more than sufficient to build wealth for your future, then am not going to stop you from doing it. But, if you feel otherwise, then you need to look to diverse across mutual funds, FMPs, PPF and so on rather than just stick to one product.

 

5. Except LIC, other insurers don’t settle my insurance claims


This is a bit of continuation to point no 2 mentioned above. Yes, LIC has the highest claim settlement ration of 97.73 per cent. But, what about others?

Let’s see:

ICICI Prudential — 96.29 per cent

  • HDFC Life — 95.76 per cent
  • SBI Life — 94.41 per cent
  • Max Life — 94.25 per cent
  • Kotak Life — 92.04 per cent

I know that in India, only winners matters and everyone else is treated as a failure. But, are these numbers that bad? Some of these insurers have settled most of these claims within 1-3 months.

Moreover, term plan of LIC is costlier compared to the online plans of private insurers, which provide greater sum assured at a cheaper price. Now, when I say this, I am not against LIC.

However, I cannot support it just because it is a government organisation.

6. I will lose my money in mutual funds

Whenever I talk about mutual funds, this is the most common thing that I get to hear. I try to answer this by analysing why he/she might have lost money rather than just cursing mutual funds. However, I still fail to convince people on this.

You don’t stop driving a scooter just because you fell from it once or twice when you were trying to learn. Doesn’t the same principle apply to investments as well? I know that life is quite comfortable in your conventional instruments such as FDs, PPF, etc.

Though mutual fund is a single name, it comes in different varieties such as equity, balanced and debt. They have different objectives and strategies. You need to pick the one which suits your risk appetite and time frame of your goal.

Not all mutual funds will eat away your money in bad situations.

For example, liquid fund is an example of debt fund which can serve as an alternative to your savings bank account with sufficient liquidity.

7. I don’t need a financial advisor

 

This is probably the most repeated financial lie. We have a gut feeling in our hearts that managing personal finance is a child’s play. Financial planner or advisor only works for his advantage and we don’t need such people to advise us.

EPF contribution, tax deduction and a couple of FDs — that’s it. We are done with our financial plan.

We visit a doctor when there is a health issue; we visit a lawyer when there is a law related issue. But, why not a financial planner when there is a financial issue?

The problem is that we don’t recognise financial issues till they have actually happened. I suggest you seek a financial planner’s help if you do not have time for your finances.

8. I have control over my spending

We keep telling ourselves that we have control over our spending and don’t need to make a budget. In fact, we keep applying for credit cards with the same impression. One of my friends also stated to me that he uses credit card only when it’s necessary. I believe it doesn’t really happen.

Credit is credit. Yes, credit card has reward points and few other advantages. But, it remains good only if you pay bills on time, do not default, do not frequently transfer balance to another card or do not go for settlements.

9. Personal loan is the best option during emergency

Whenever there is an emergency, we only look to apply for personal loans. We believe that there is no other option other than personal loan. But, do you know that you can apply for a loan against fixed deposit, gold, insurance and PPF?

And these can be availed at better rates too.

And the final one…

10. I cannot invest now

Whenever I ask people to invest for their future, they say their plates are full of EMIs, household spending and so on.

So, can you compromise on your goals? I guess no one would want to. You have to make space for regular investment. It may mean you have lesser money to spend on entertainment, vacations and so on.

If you are ready to do these sacrifices, then you will be ready to invest for your future. Intentions are more important than numbers.

You like this or dislike this, !!!!!…. Be Frank

source::::Rediff.com

natarajan



 

 

Take 2 For Terminal 2 of Heathrow ….Ready For Take off On June 4 …

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  • The new Terminal 2 is to be rebranded to become ‘The Queen’s Terminal’ when it opens on June 4
  • Spacious new air transit facility will be able to handle 20million passengers a year, flying to 51 destinations

By DAMIEN GAYLE   in mailonline.com UK

NATARAJAN


Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 2 is set to open in months, giving the capital a spacious new air transit point able to handle 20million passengers a year.

Replacing the old, overcrowded Terminal 2 which had stood since the Fifties, the new facility was today hailed as a cornerstone of Heathrow’s revitalisation ahead of its opening on June 4.

Shafts of natural light and high quality acoustics should make the building a calm space for travellers accustomed to high anxiety at dark, noisy airports, said lead architect Luis Vidal.

Spacious: British artist Richard Wilson's sculpture Slipstream dominates this view of the new Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport on April 23, 2014 in London, England. The rebuilding of the transit point has taken five years at a cost of £2.5billion, but it is finally slated to open on June 4

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Spacious: British artist Richard Wilson’s sculpture Slipstream dominates this view of the new Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport on April 23, 2014 in London, England. The rebuilding of the transit point has taken five years at a cost of £2.5billion, but it is finally slated to open on June 4

Gateway to the world: The departure area of the new 'Queen's Terminal', which is expected to manage up to 20million passengers every year

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Gateway to the world: The departure area of the new ‘Queen’s Terminal’, which is expected to manage up to 20million passengers every year

Breath of fresh air: Visitors walk past a doorway at the new building, which replaces the old, overcrowded Terminal 2 which had stood since the Fifties

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Breath of fresh air: Visitors walk past a doorway at the new building, which replaces the old, overcrowded Terminal 2 which had stood since the Fifties

‘If you make it intuitive, pleasant, joyful, you can take away a completely different memory of the terminal,’ Mr Vidal told The Associated Press.

‘You can never completely erase your memory of the former Terminal 2, because it was a dreadful experience. This will be completely the opposite. This will be a destination. People will want to come here.’

In an effort to dispense with those past bad associations, the new Terminal 2 will be rebranded as ‘The Queen’s Terminal’. Queen Elizabeth will open the building herself – just as she did the original Terminal 2 in 1955.

The completion of the £2.5billion project, in conjunction with the relatively new Terminal 5 that opened in 2008, gives Heathrow two modern terminals. It is part of an £11billion refurbishment designed to keep London’s biggest airport competitive with other major European hubs including Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris.

 
The Slipstream sculpture is the centrepiece of the development, hanging 18m above the ground with a design intended to evoke the path of a plane in flight

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The Slipstream sculpture is the centrepiece of the development, hanging 18m above the ground with a design intended to evoke the path of a plane in flight

Luxurious: With London increasingly becoming a destination of choice for the world's super-rich, Terminal 2 will have no shortage of pricey shops

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Luxurious: With London increasingly becoming a destination of choice for the world’s super-rich, Terminal 2 will have no shortage of pricey shops

World of possibility: A construction worker puts the finishing touches to a sign at Terminal 2, which is to be rebranded 'The Queen's Terminal' when it opens this summer

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World of possibility: A construction worker puts the finishing touches to a sign at Terminal 2, which is to be rebranded ‘The Queen’s Terminal’ when it opens this summer

The Queen’s Terminal will host 26 airlines, including United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and others that are part of the global Star Alliance, and offer flights to 51 destinations.

Of course, with London increasingly becoming a destination of choice for the world’s super-rich, Terminal 2 will have no shortage of pricey shops.

Officials say Terminal 2 will be the first in the world to offer a ‘complimentary personal shopping lounge where trained stylists will present a curated range of products for each client.’

The interior of the new terminal is dominated by a huge aluminium sculpture hanging 18m above the ground that is inspired by the flight path of a stunt place.

British artist Richard Wilson’s ‘Slipstream’ weighs 77 tonnes and is 78m in length, its vast bulk looming above the terminal’s main lobby and escalators, evoking the journeys that those who see it are set to embark on.

Slipstream weighs 77 tonnes and is 78m in length, its vast bulk looming above the terminal's main lobby and escalators

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Slipstream weighs 77 tonnes and is 78m in length, its vast bulk looming above the terminal’s main lobby and escalators

Airport officials chastened by the chaos that plagued the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 are planning a 'soft' opening of the new terminal

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Airport officials chastened by the chaos that plagued the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 are planning a ‘soft’ opening of the new terminal

Only one flight is planned the first day so, even if things go awry, the number of people affected will be small

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Only one flight is planned the first day so, even if things go awry, the number of people affected will be small

The new terminal will gradually be brought to full capacity over six months

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The new terminal will gradually be brought to full capacity over six months

Chastened by the problems that plagued the opening of Terminal 5, which included chaos when the luggage handling system broke down, airport officials are planning a ‘soft’ opening of the new terminal.

Only one flight is planned the first day so, even if things go awry, the number of people affected will be small.

The new terminal will gradually be brought to full capacity over six months.

Queues at the old Terminal 2: The old, overcrowded terminal building had stood since the Fifties

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Queues at the old Terminal 2: The old, overcrowded terminal building had stood since the Fifties

Old fashioned: The building suffered from poor design and a lack of natural light, problems exacerbated by its handling far more passengers than it was ever intended to

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Old fashioned: The building suffered from poor design and a lack of natural light, problems exacerbated by its handling far more passengers than it was ever intended to

Passengers try to sleep on uncomfortable seats at Terminal 2 after the UK's then newly privatised air traffic control system crashed

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Passengers try to sleep on uncomfortable seats at Terminal 2 after the UK’s then newly privatised air traffic control system crashed

Heathrow officials say they are still pushing to build a controversial third runway, which is opposed by London Mayor Boris Johnson and influential environmental groups.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow’s development director, said the completion of the new terminal shows Heathrow has complied with the last Labour government’s directive that Heathrow should improve without growing.

‘Our challenge now is to make the case to expand,’ he said, admitting that getting permission would be ‘politically complex.’

Mr Holland-Kaye said private money is available to pay for a third runway, which would greatly add to Heathrow’s capacity.

He also claimed the new Terminal 2 would reduce the ‘stacking’ problem over Heathrow that often causes delays as planes await permission to land.

 

Water Out Of Air !!!….

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One of the biggest problems still haunting the poor regions of the world is the lack of clean drinking water. This is such a nccessaity that we take for granted, but many populations do not. Now, a new solution has arisen, one that is both simple and very promising.
In the Namib desert where rain is rare but fog common, a beetle survives by condensing water on its back until drops roll down into the insect’s mouth. Now this principle has been magnified onto a grand scale, providing a possible solution to the desperate lack of water that plagues the populations of many of the world’s dry regions.
There is no lack of solutions being experimented with for water shortages. Wells, recycling techniques and methods for cleaning poisoned water have all attracted considerable efforts, particularly since the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation have made the issue a priority for their considerable resources.
However, many of these techniques have floundered; great on the page but unsuited to real world conditions. Those technologies that are cost effective represent only partial solutions, working well where a permanent water supply is available, but unsuited to regions where surface water vanishes in the dry season and groundwater is hard to reach. As deforestation and Global Warming expand the areas where water is scarce or erratic something else is needed.
While Warka Water to be treated with caution after so many false dawns, it has the advantage of being designed to match the conditions where most alternatives perform the worst.
The towers have a 9m tall bamboo or juncus frame holding up a plastic mesh net. As the temperature falls during the night water condenses onto the net and rolls down to a reservoir at the bottom of the tower. Where the beetle draws just a few life-giving drops from the Namib fog, the much larger surface area of the nets allows a 100l a night to collect under ideal conditions. Mesh is used, rather than a solid surface, so that air can circulate, bringing in ever more water.
As the designers Arturo Vittori and Andrea Vogler put it, “The lightweight structure is designed with parametric computing, but can be built with local skills and materials by the village inhabitants.”
The beetle has proven an inspiration to many but Warka Water claim their carefully shaped design produces much more water for less cost than previous versions.
The Warka Water tower is named after a fig tree native to Ethiopia, and depends for its success on a large temperature difference over a night. Since desert regions are notorious for huge temperature variations, particularly during the dry season, Warka towers should flourish where they are needed most.
“It’s not just illnesses that we’re trying to address,” Vittori told the Smithsonian Magazine, although with 1400 children a day dying from waterborne diseases that would be reason enough.  “Many Ethiopian children from rural villages spend several hours every day to fetch water, time they could invest for more productive activities and education,” Vittori says. “If we can give people something that lets them be more independent, they can free themselves from this cycle.”
Vittori hopes to install two Warka Towers in Ethiopia next year, and believes that, “Once locals have the necessary know-how, they will be able to teach other villages and communities to build the Warka.” Cost estimates for the remote constructions of systems are notoriously unreliable, but Vittori believes the towers can be built for $500 each, a quarter or systems that purify equivalent amounts of water. They are seeking sponsorship to bring the idea to fruition. While we suggest Warka Beer would be a great fit, anyone wanting to get behind the idea should make contact.

Read more at http://www.iflscience.com/technology/water-fresh-air#dZH7jGzDxpyLOHWB.99
In the Namib desert where rain is rare but fog common, a beetle survives by condensing water on its back until drops roll down into the insect’s mouth. Now this principle has been magnified onto a grand scale, providing a possible solution to the desperate lack of water that plagues the populations of many of the world’s dry regions.
There is no lack of solutions being experimented with for water shortages. Wells, recycling techniques and methods for cleaning poisoned water have all attracted considerable efforts, particularly since the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation have made the issue a priority for their considerable resources.
However, many of these techniques have floundered; great on the page but unsuited to real world conditions. Those technologies that are cost effective represent only partial solutions, working well where a permanent water supply is available, but unsuited to regions where surface water vanishes in the dry season and groundwater is hard to reach. As deforestation and Global Warming expand the areas where water is scarce or erratic something else is needed.
While Warka Water to be treated with caution after so many false dawns, it has the advantage of being designed to match the conditions where most alternatives perform the worst.
The towers have a 9m tall bamboo or juncus frame holding up a plastic mesh net. As the temperature falls during the night water condenses onto the net and rolls down to a reservoir at the bottom of the tower. Where the beetle draws just a few life-giving drops from the Namib fog, the much larger surface area of the nets allows a 100l a night to collect under ideal conditions. Mesh is used, rather than a solid surface, so that air can circulate, bringing in ever more water.
As the designers Arturo Vittori and Andrea Vogler put it, “The lightweight structure is designed with parametric computing, but can be built with local skills and materials by the village inhabitants.”
The beetle has proven an inspiration to many but Warka Water claim their carefully shaped design produces much more water for less cost than previous versions.
The Warka Water tower is named after a fig tree native to Ethiopia, and depends for its success on a large temperature difference over a night. Since desert regions are notorious for huge temperature variations, particularly during the dry season, Warka towers should flourish where they are needed most.
“It’s not just illnesses that we’re trying to address,” Vittori told the Smithsonian Magazine, although with 1400 children a day dying from waterborne diseases that would be reason enough.  “Many Ethiopian children from rural villages spend several hours every day to fetch water, time they could invest for more productive activities and education,” Vittori says. “If we can give people something that lets them be more independent, they can free themselves from this cycle.”
Vittori hopes to install two Warka Towers in Ethiopia next year, and believes that, “Once locals have the necessary know-how, they will be able to teach other villages and communities to build the Warka.” Cost estimates for the remote constructions of systems are notoriously unreliable, but Vittori believes the towers can be built for $500 each, a quarter or systems that purify equivalent amounts of water. They are seeking sponsorship to bring the idea to fruition. While we suggest Warka Beer would be a great fit, anyone wanting to get behind the idea should make contact.

Read more at http://www.iflscience.com/technology/water-fresh-air#dZH7jGzDxpyLOHWB.99
water bamboo tower
It’s not that scientists haven’t tried many solutions – wells, recycling systems, cleansing poisonious or fetid water – all of those have seen a lot of money and effort put in them.

Unfortunately, many of these techniques, while looking good on page, do not stand up to real world conditions. Now comes a solution that is so simple, yet ingenious – the Warka Towers.
water bamboo tower
These towers are 9 meters tall, built on a cheap bamboo or juncus frame and holding up a fine plastic mesh net. As the temperatures drop during the night, water condenses on the net and, like the beetle’s system, the drops of water roll down the net into a reservoir at the bottom of the tower.
water bamboo tower
But while the beetle extracts only a the few drops of water it needs to survive, the much larger area surface of the nets creates about 100 litres of water every night. Since the towers use a net and not a solid surface, the air circulates through, allowing the net to capture more and more moisture.
water bamboo tower
The architect of this brilliant idea, Artuo Vittori, says that the towers can be built for only $500 a tower, and he hopes that once more are introduced to the African continent, the local population will learn to build these towers for itself, thus populating the dry regions with these towers, an elegant solution for a terrible problem!
water bamboo tower
water bamboo tower
water bamboo tower
water bamboo tower

source::::ba-ba mail site

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The Most Expensive Book In The World… $ 11.5 Million !!!

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A copy of John James Audubon’s Birds of America was sold at an auction in London for £7.3 million ($11.5 million), and thus became the most expensive book ever sold. The auction was a rare chance to own one of the best preserved editions of the 19th century masterpiece, with its 435 hand-colored illustrations. The winning bid was placed by London-based art dealer Michael Tollemache, who outbid three others during the auction.

Only 120 complete sets of Audubon’s 435 hand-colored, life-sized engravings of America’s birds are believed to exist today, with the majority (107) owned by institutions. The last full edition of The Birds of America, which went up for auction in 2010, sold for £7.3m at Sotheby’s, breaking the world record for a single book.

“Birds of America is most significant for its sheer beauty. It’s a masterpiece of illustration,” the words of Richard Davies, a rare and used books specialist. “Aside from being famous in the rare book world, Birds of America has also immense historical and ornithological importance. Some of the birds John James Audubon painted are extinct and he also discovered new species.”

Measuring over three feet in height and running to four volumes, The Birds of America was created by Audubon between 1827 and 1838. The illegitimate son of a French sea captain and his creole mistress, Audubon was an itinerant artist who traveled America’s wilderness drawing the birds he loved. He was insistent that The Birds of America was made up of life-size illustrations, and that it showed all the known species of north America, making the finished volume

Each of the printed book were colored by hand, and it was an extremely laborious process. Even by today’s standards, the vividness of its illustrations of birds is extraordinary but when it was being released in the 1830s it was mindboggling. Audubon employed a rather shocking technique to produce the book. He hunted the birds down and shot them before propping them up on wires to paint. Each drawing would take about 60 hours to complete. Ironically, many of his beautifully rendered subjects are now extinct, such as the Carolina Parakeet, Passenger Pigeon, Labrador Duck, Great Auk, Esquimaux Curlew, and Pinnated Grouse.

Picking up a copy of the “book” is a two-person job, said the dealer, who examined an edition at Sotheby’s once prior to an auction. “The (very nervous) resident expert and I (gingerly) turned the pages together, him at the top and me at the bottom, and peeled them back (respectfully) into just the right conjunction with the rest of the plates,” said Gekoski. “You have to be careful how you handle a gargantuan book worth more than 10 million dollars.”

most expensive book

 

most expensive book

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most expensive book

 

source::::You Tube & ba-ba mail site

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The True Origin Of Samsung’s Logo [Humor] !!!

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iphoneorigins

 

Apple and Samsung are headed back to court today for round two of their billion dollar patent lawsuit that will see the two companies pointing fingers and slamming down arguments on who copied whose patents.

We’ve seen enough evidence to have our own opinion on Samsung’s copying ways and now thanks to this Thai cartoon it all becomes perfectly clear why Samsung just can’t help itself.

source:::: Cult of Mac  site

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