Photography

A Precious Telegram of 1946 !!!. Copy Presented to Obama by Modi ….

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi presenting a reproduction of telegram sent by U.S. to the Indian Constituent Assembly in 1946 to U.S. President Barack Obama, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Sunday.

PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presenting a reproduction of telegram sent by U.S. to the Indian Constituent Assembly in 1946 to U.S. President Barack Obama, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Sunday.

The telegram was sent by the then Acting Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, to Sachchidananda Sinha, provisional Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gifted President Barack Obama a piece of India-U.S. history, a copy of the first telegram from the United States to India’s Constituent Assembly in 1946.

The telegram was sent by the then Acting Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, to Sachchidananda Sinha, provisional Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. Mr. Modi presented the copy after he received Mr. Obama at Hyderabad House.

The copy was the reproduction of the telegram read out at the inaugural sitting of the Constituent Assembly on December 9, 1946.

In the telegram, Acheson said: “With the approach of December 9, I extend to you as provisional Chairman of the Constituent Assembly and through you to the Indian people the sincere good wishes of the United States Government … and of the people of United States for a successful conclusion of the great task you are about to undertake. India has a great contribution to make to the peace, stability and cultural advancement of mankind and your deliberations will be watched with deep interest and hope by freedom-loving people throughout the entire world.”

SOURCE::::www.the hindu.com

Natarajan

Jan 26 2015

Kudos to These Brave Children !!!

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Each day you hear of tales of bravery and courage. However, these children —  –showed great courage and put their own lives in danger to save the lives of others. For this, the country has bestowed upon them the bravery award for their great valour and spirit of selflessness. 

Here are some of their unmatched tales of valour.

1) Mhonbeni Ezung

Mhonbeni Ezung, 8, was given the national bravery award for rescuing her grandmother from a river when she fell into in at Wokha village in Nagaland. She is the youngest recipient of the award this year. After Ezung’s grandmother fell into the river, the little girl managed to pull her out of the five and half feet deep water. Later she fed her grandmother and ran to a nearby village and, returned with locals who took the grandmother to a hospital.

2) Resham Fatima

On February 1 2014, Resham Fatma, a 17-year-old resident of Lucknow, was on the way to tuitions when her uncle Riaz Ahmed, picked her up at knife-point. He took her to a highway and threatened her to marry him. Upon refusing, he poured concentrated sulphuric acid over her head. She suffered serious burns but Resham still took an auto which dropped her to a nearby police station. The uncle was arrested a week later.

3) Zeal Marathe

 

 

Zeel Jitendra Marathe, resident of Vadodara, Gujarat, saved some kids in a bus accident. On February 20 last year, she and some other kids were going for a picnic to Shivrajpur along with their school teachers. While returning, the driver lost control of the bus due to which the bus fell towards its right and continued to drag for around 100 kms.  The kids started falling from their seats. Upon seeing, Zeal managed to come out of the bus and save a few other children. She called up police and ambulance and tried to keep the other kids conscious.

4) Gunjan Sharma

Gunjan Sharma 13, was conferred the award for offering herself to hostage taker to save friends. The incident took place in December 2013 when she along with her classmates were abducted in Assam’s Simaluguri area. Sharma, the daughter of a businessman, has told the media that the gunman had stuffed a pistol into her mouth to prevent her from responding when security personnel called out her name during a search operation inside the jungle along the Assam-Nagaland border. Eventually, the gunman freed her.

5) Devesh Kumar

The Sanjay Chopra Award for 2014 will be conferred on 16-year old Devesh Kumar of Uttar Pradesh who was shot in the stomach while he chased two chain-snatchers running away with jewellery stolen from his school principal. “I will always chase bad people and protect the weak,” he said.

6) Rumoh Meto 

Rumoh Meto of Arunachal Pradesh was given the award for saving a 32-year-old who was stuck to a 33 KV high voltage line.

SOURCE::::: http://www.rediff.com

 

Natarajan

Jan 26 2015

Image of the Day… ” International Year of Light … 2015…”

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The year of 2015 has been declared the International Year of Light (IYL) by the United Nations. Organizations, institutions, and individuals involved in the science and applications of light will be joining together for this yearlong celebration to help spread the word about the wonders of light.

NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory explores the universe in X-rays, a high-energy form of light.  By studying X-ray data and comparing them with observations in other types of light, scientists can develop a better understanding of objects likes stars and galaxies that generate temperatures of millions of degrees and produce X-rays.

To recognize the start of IYL, the Chandra X-ray Center is releasing a set of images that combine data from telescopes tuned to different wavelengths of light. From a distant galaxy to the relatively nearby debris field of an exploded star, these images demonstrate the myriad ways that information about the universe is communicated to us through light.

In this image, an expanding shell of debris called SNR 0519-69.0 is left behind after a massive star exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to the Milky Way. Multimillion degree gas is seen in X-rays from Chandra, in blue. The outer edge of the explosion (red) and stars in the field of view are seen in visible light from the Hubble Space Telescope.

> More: Chandra Celebrates the International Year of Light

SOURCE::::  www.nasa.gov

Natarajan

Picture of the Day…. Snowy Owl on a Beach !!!

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Snowy owl on a cold New Hampshire beach

In the background is sea smoke – formed when very cold air moves over warmer water – and the rocky Isles of Shoals.

Photo credit: Josh Blash

Josh Blash captured this shot early on a mid-January, 2015 morning – at the harbor in Rye, New Hampshire. Doesn’t that owl look chilly? Josh wrote:

I went out to see a cold sunrise this morning at the harbor. While I was out, I saw this snowy owl enjoying the cold, but it wasn’t long before it spread its wings and launched into flight. In the background is sea smoke over the ocean and the Isles of Shoals.

SOURCE:::: http://www.earthskynews.org

Natarajan

JAN 25 2015

” Papa… Don’t Preach to Me … ” !!!

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15 month old Lola puts her dad in his place!

Papa Don't Preach: This Baby Firmly Stands by Her Decision to NOT Listen to Dad

So you know how sometimes you refuse to give in to pressure and stick to what you believe in? Lola, this 15-month-old toddler believes in standing on a table too high for her while her daddy tried to get her to come down.

(Also read: “I’m WARNING You!” Angry Toddler Scolds Parents to ‘Set Them Right’ )

He expressed his disapproval, while she expressed her disapproval of his disapproval. So basically if you are still confused, they both argue relentlessly and stand their ground, with the baby standing a little higher than she ought to.

Like lawyers hot on a case, each try to argue their side of the story with volumes and pitches rising by the minute till the toddler becomes SO frustrated that she resigns herself to muted mumbling and dejected hand-waving. The video ends with daddy bodily picking Lola off the table, as we well knew it might.

This video posted by Gareth Roe on his YouTube channel has received over a million views, and counting, since January 17, 2015.

SOURCE:::: http://www.ndtv.com  and YOU TUBE

Natarajan

Jan 24 2015

 

Bitter Experience of a British Journalist with British Airways …

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British airways boeing 747

A British Airways Boeing 747.

First-class airline tickets are expensive. Prices can easily reach $US15,000 a flight, and that’s not even for the really opulent first-class suites that have become more prevalent on the most prestigious carriers.

Those go for as much as $US30,000.

Just for the sake of comparison, Mercedes-Benz is offering its CLA sedan — an entire car — for $US29,995.

For that kind of money, passengers in first class expect a fine glass of champagne, in-flight entertainment, and an environment free from … dried-on stains and thick layers of dust.

That’s why a YouTube video posted by British journalist Owen Thomas last weekend was so shocking. (CNN originally reported Thomas’ experience.)

In the 29-second video — which has garnered more than 1 million views — Thomas documented his “filthy” first-class experience on board a British Airways jet from London to St. Lucia.

Thomas grows increasingly annoyed as he shows off the “cheap, motel-esque” dried stains and deep layers of dust that encrust his very expensive seat.

“This is British Airways first class and it is absolutely filthy,” the enraged journalist says in the video. “You see the marks on here you can just scrape off with you finger.”

“It’s when you open your seat, the real horror begins. This is first class. This is British Airways first class. It’s disgusting,” Thomas added.

British Airways didn’t let the video pass without comment.

“We have contacted our customer to apologise. We are very sorry that on this occasion we have fallen short of our usual high standards,” a representative for the airline told the Telegraph.

“We pride ourselves on delivering a relaxing and pleasant experience in first class, and are taking immediate action to address this issue.”

Thomas’ encounter with what looks like a fairly offensive level of filth is alarming, given that BA has built a solid reputation in recent years for quality service, especially in the first class cabins. After all, the airline’s motto is “To Fly, To Serve.”

But this incident seems to be the exception rather than the rule. British Airways is a Skytrax four-star airline, and reviews for the carrier’s service are generally positive.

And besides, it’s not as if YouTube is jammed with videos about poorly cleaned first-class seats — on BA’s planes or anyone else’s.

SOURCE::::: BENJAMIN ZHANG  in  www.businessinsider.com .au  and YOU TUBE

Natarajan

Jan 24 2015

 

Portland Airport Carpet … Most Sought After and a Social Media Star too !!!

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Portlanders REALLY love their airport carpet.

Portlanders REALLY love their airport carpet. Source: Facebook 

 

THE carpet at the Portland Airport has a cult-like following and has become a social media superstar.

That’s right. The people of Portland love the kitsch pattern that lines the flooring of their provincial airport so much that it has its own Facebook, Instagram and Twitteraccounts.

The carpet’s celebrity has spread through the internet as a growing number of travellers partake in a ritual of photographing themselves on the famed flooring. Currently there are nearly 30,000 photos on Instagram with the hashtag #PDXcarpet.

This airport carpet has a cult following

This is what you’re supposed to do at Portland Airport. Picture: adamdachis. Source: Flickr 

 

The popularity of the carpet’s pattern has spawned an online store where one can pick up shirts, mugs, bags and even posters designed in the carpet’s likeness.

But such is the adoration and dedication to the carpet that those not content with a bag have even gone as far as getting the renowned pattern tattooed on them.

If you’re a tad perplexed, you’re not alone.

A spokesperson for PDX, Kama Simonds, seems equally baffled by the carpet’s stardom.

“Yes, other airports have carpets, but right now people seem to think we have a masterpiece of a welcome mat,” she told USA Today.

 

It seems the affection felt for the carpet lies in the nostalgic sentiment it holds for Portland residents returning to their beloved city.

When it was announced that the carpet would be getting replaced this month (albeit with a somewhat similar pattern) people’s reaction on social media was closer to disappointment than despair. But only just.

In an effort to comfort travellers and commemorate the beloved carpet, the airport has installed an artistic display which hangs on the wall over one of the gates entitled “Carpet Diem!”

The 3 metre by 5 metre collage is made of — you guessed it — pieces of that sacred carpet from throughout the terminal.

 

Public demand for the old carpet is likely to be high with an airport spokesperson telling the LA Times they are “offering a very limited number of 1,000-square-yard (304.8 metres) increments of the carpet to interested parties through a formal public advertisement.”

By all accounts, it will be a very competitive sale. !!!

SOURCE:::: http://www.news.com.au

Natarajan

Jan 23 2015

 

 

Best Cities to Live in The World ….

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Some cities are just easier to live in than others.

Global consulting firm ECA International came out with a list of the most livable cities around the world for North Americans.

The ranking objectively evaluates a bunch of factors that contribute to the overall quality of living, including climate, availability of health services, housing and utilities, isolation, access to social network and leisure facilities, personal safety, air quality, infrastructure, and political tensions.

So if you’re thinking about moving somewhere, may we recommend that you check out the following cities. Canada, Northern Europe, and the United States dominated the list.

1. Toronto, Canada

‘Good air quality, solid infrastructure, decent medical facilities, low crime and health risks have contributed to Toronto topping the global ranking for quality of living for American assignees,’ said Michael Witkowski, vice president of ECA International.

Toronto has a huge services industry, including law, accounting and advertising. Over 56% of employees in Toronto’s multifaceted economy have post-secondary degrees or certificates. It’s also the major design center of Canada’s design economy, and has a ‘fast-moving‘ fashion industry, which has contributed to the 550% increase of Canadian apparel exports since 1994.

The longest street in the world — Yonge Street — runs through Toronto.

Toronto

Toronto is a delightful place to live.

 

2. Dublin, Ireland

In the past, Dublin was a major food processing and manufacturing city, but it has attracted major global pharma and tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Yahoo!.

Guinness originated in Dublin, and is still brewed there.

 

3. Copenhagen, Denmark (tied)

Copenhagen is a business, finance and commercial center in Scandinavia. Big industries includepharma, biotech, computer science, and telecommunications.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen is a bronze statue of the little mermaid, based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale.

 

3. Zurich, Switzerland (tied)

Zurich is another financial hub in Europe — about a quarter of the jobs in the city are finance related. Biotech and life sciences are also big industries, while the small aerospace and automotive supplier industries are rapidly expanding.

Zurich’s St. Peter Church has the largest clock face in Europe (not Big Ben, like most people think.)

 

3. Ottowa, Canada (tied)

Ottawa’s economy centres around two major sectors: technology and the federal government. The two sectors account for 37% of the city’s GDP.

There is a 30-foot-high spider sculpture called ‘Maman‘ in Ottowa’s National Gallery of Canada.

 

Vancouver, Canada (tied)

Vancouver has one of the most active startup scenes, and it was ranked ninth in the world on the Startup Ecosystem Report 2012. Both HootSuite and Avigilon have their headquarters in the city.

Vancouver also has the third-largest film industry in North America.

 

Bern, Switzerland (tied)

The service sector is Bern’s major industry, but tourism is also a driver of the city’s economy.

Watch giant Swatch is headquartered in Bern.

 

Stockholm, Sweden (tied)

Stockholm is Sweden’s major industrial center, including metal and machine manufacturing, as well as paper, printing and chemicals.

Stockholm became the capital of Sweden in 1436.

 

Seattle, Washington, US (tied)

Seattle’s major industries include aerospace, information and communications technology and healthcare. Additionally, tech and clean energy are increasingly becoming more dominant industries.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates was born in Seattle.

 

Boston, Massachusetts, US (tied)

Boston is a major intellectual center in the US, housing numerous universities and medical centres. Other major industries include the financial services, creative industries, and renewable energy.

The Boston Red Sox sold out a record 820 consecutive games in a row.

 

Greenwich, Connecticut, US

Greenwich has a large community of financiers. The city houses hedge funds, as well as Wall Streeters and their families.

Greenwich is one of the wealthiest areas in the US, but is also part of the most unequal place in the country.

 

Geneva, Switzerland (tied)

The headquarters for the UN, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organisation are all located in Geneva (not to mention other international organisations such as the WTO and WEF). And the city’s also known as a major financial hub.

The uber-luxury watch company Patek Philippe was founded in Geneva in 1852.

 

 

The Hague, The Netherlands (tied)

The Hague is a major international city, with over 150 international organisations located there. Notably, it houses the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Everyone’s always buzzing over Amsterdam, but you can legally smoke weed in The Hague, too

 

Stavanger, Norway (tied)

Stavanger is the center of the oil and gas industry in Norway, and one of the biggest energy hubs in Europe. Half of the people living in Norway who work in energy are located in Stavanger.

Every May, Stavanger hosts a huge international jazz festival called MaiJazz.

 

Gothenburg, Sweden (tied)

Major sectors in Gothenburg include technology, engineering, and several industrial companies. Additionally, the city serves as a major port.

In August, you can go to a three-day musical festival in the city called Way Out West.

 

Basel, Switzerland (tied)

Carnival of Basel.UBS and the Bank for International Settlements are headquartered in Basel. The city also has a large watch-making industry, as well as pharmaceuticals, biotech, and nanotechnology.

Basel in a major cultural center in Europe, and houses a huge art collection in the Kuntsmuseum Basel.

 

Vienna, Austria (tied)

A large proportion of workers in Vienna are white-collar workers, public employees, and civil servants — and that percentage continues to grow. Over half of the employees in Austria’s service industry live in Vienna. Overall, Austria’s most important and fastest-growing industry istourism.

Vienna is known for its famous sachertorte, a thick chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam.

 

Berlin, Germany (tied)

Berlin houses big names like Borsig, AEG, and Siemens, but is always advancing in the sciences and academics. Additionally, the city has established a major film industry, and tourism has skyrocketed in recent years.

A three day international beer festival with over 300 breweries and 2,000 sorts of beers takes place in Berlin. Oh, and it’s held in a 1.4-mile-long beer garden — the longest in the world.

 

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (tied)

Luxembourg’s economy runs on the steel, banking, and industrial industries. In fact, the largest steel company in the world, ArcelorMittal, is based in Luxembourg City.

Although Luxembourg has three official languages: French, German, and Lëtzebuergesch (‘Luxembourgish.’)

 

Eindhoven, Netherlands (tied)

Although it’s not a particularly large city, Eindhoven has grown into one a leading city in the 21st century by getting ahead in both technological innovation and design. Additionally, it’s a university city with a number of undergraduate schools.

In 2011, the city was named the most intelligent community by the Intelligent Community Forum.

 

Montreal, Canada (tied)

Montreal’s economy is extremely diversified. Major industries include aerospace, electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, engineering, finance, and research and development.

Montreal also happens to have the second largest French-speaking population in the world (it’s behind only Paris).

 

SOURCE::::  ELENA HOLODNY  in  www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

Jan 23 2015

” What the Customer Wants …. Customer Gets … ” !!!

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Airbus A380 Emirates

Emirates is not only the A380′s biggest customer, it can be argued that the airline is the superjumbo’s only customer that matters.

And what the customer wants, the customer gets. At least that’s what Emirates is hoping for.

Emirates wants an A380 “neo” — a superjumbo with newer, more fuel-efficient engines.

(“Neo” is the designation that Airbus gives to aircraft models that have had their engines and aerodynamics upgraded.)

As Business Insider reported last September, Emirates’ CEO Tim Clark said the airline could order another 60-70 non-neo superjumbos, valued at a whopping $US29 billion.

This figure seems to have changed.

This week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the outspoken airline boss said that his company would up the potential order to 100 additional A380s, if a new engine option becomes available, Bloomberg reported.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Clark essentially told Airbus that “if you build it, we will buy it.”

The total value of those 100 superjumbos? $US43 billion.

Although some airlines have had a hard time filling the seats on the massive double-decker plane, Emirates doesn’t seem to be one of them.

According to Bloomberg, flights on the airline’s fleet of A380s are putting money in the bank. Routes to popular destinations, such as London, are operating at 90% capacity. Emirates is also increasing A380 flights on its US and South Asia routes.

Clark believes upgraded engines could save his airline 10-13% in costs.

This latest development should comes as welcome news to the Airbus superjumbo program.

In short, the A380 is struggling.

Airbus didn’t sell a single superjumbo to an airline in 2014. And Amedeo, the leasing company that did buy 20 A380s in 2014, can’t seem to find anybody to rent them to.

Emirates Airline's Airbus A380

Fortunately, Airbus has Emirates. Of the 317 A380s ever ordered, 140 of them have been by the official airline of Dubai.

And of the 152 aircraft that have actually been delivered, 57 have gone to Emirates. The airline has even agreed to take delivery of its A380s early, in order to give Amedeo more time to find customers willing to lease the superjumbo.

Which makes Emirates a critical partner in the future of the A380. If Airbus wants to keep its superjumbo program going, it’s going to need Emirates.

And what about that $US43 billion price tag?

That’s just the sticker price. With Emirates quite literally flying the plane on the deal, don’t expect Tim Clark’s airline to pay anything more than $US30 billion.

Under the circumstances, that would be a great outcome for both parties.

SOURCE:::: BENJAMIN ZHANG   in  www.businessinsider.com

Natarajan

Jan 23 2015