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Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 2:25 AM
Underwater River in Mexico (4 pics + video) » AcidCow.com - videos, pictures, celebs, flash games
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 3:07 AM
New York Public Library - Some Facts and Figures
Earlier this morning, i bumped into a web page regarding digital library. It was huge collection of local language books and papers. So, further drilling down the cyber stream, I came across some libraries which are the world largest. Thought of starting with NYPL (New York Public Library) first.
Established in 1895, it now has 87 branches. It has got the 20,402,004 books (51,274,648 items) collection :-$ 3,147 people contribute the man hours to the non-governmental library. Budget of $50,171,798 is needed to run this huge library. Due to depression in America, the budget this year has been cut off slightly which caused a bit of shackles in management to lay off some employees. This library has always been run by City government with the partnership of philanthropists and not with government budget. About its history Wikipedia mentions something like this,
Library also has call center 917-ASK-NYPL which is active 24/7. Calls can only be entertained on week days only. But emails and chats can be entertained anytime , any day. In 2007, they have entertained 70,000 calls. They often entertain calls after every 10 seconds :-)
According to New York Times article on NYPL recently,
Read out some more interesting figures on NY Times
Established in 1895, it now has 87 branches. It has got the 20,402,004 books (51,274,648 items) collection :-$ 3,147 people contribute the man hours to the non-governmental library. Budget of $50,171,798 is needed to run this huge library. Due to depression in America, the budget this year has been cut off slightly which caused a bit of shackles in management to lay off some employees. This library has always been run by City government with the partnership of philanthropists and not with government budget. About its history Wikipedia mentions something like this,
An early benefactor of the New York Public Library was New York governor and presidential candidate Samuel J. Tilden, who left the bulk of his fortune—about $2.4 million—to "establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York." At the time of Tilden's death in 1886, New York already had two important libraries: the Astor Library and the Lenox Library.
By 1892, both the Astor and Lenox libraries were experiencing financial difficulties. Almost as if fate would have it, John Bigelow, a New York attorney, and Tilden trustee, formulated a plan to combine the resources of the financially-strapped Astor and Lenox libraries with the Tilden bequest to form "The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations". Bigelow's plan, signed and agreed upon on May 23, 1895, was hailed as an example of private philanthropy for the public good.
Library also has call center 917-ASK-NYPL which is active 24/7. Calls can only be entertained on week days only. But emails and chats can be entertained anytime , any day. In 2007, they have entertained 70,000 calls. They often entertain calls after every 10 seconds :-)
According to New York Times article on NYPL recently,
MOST FAITHFUL CUSTOMER: Norbert Pearlroth, the head researcher for “Ripley's Believe It or Not,” visited the library almost daily. Although he wrote about the incredible, his own routine was anything but: He sat at the same table for 52 years, from 1923 to 1975.
MENU, PLEASE: The library has 40,000 restaurant menus, the world's largest collection, dating from the 1850s to the present. It is heavily used by chefs, novelists and researchers; a few years ago, a marine biologist consulted menus from the early 1900s for a study of fish populations.
Read out some more interesting figures on NY Times
Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 6:39 AM
Internet Allowed During Examination in Denmark
While we were growing up in universities (Baby, i miss those times) we used to have Open Books Exams. Before Exam professor used to ask about open book and closed book exam. And we would always rise our hands for Open Books. But seriously people, that paper used to take all whats inside my rectum out at that time :-)
But now in Denmark, Government has decided to allow Internet during examination. Yeah!! The quick adrenaline shot, u felt it right now. In this part of the world, we think of negativity than positivity first. We are so pessimistic. So, we would be thinking first that how come they allowed internet? People will cheat easily now. To rectify this problem, they only asked students not to use email and chats and any kind of conversation software outside this particular examination hall. And rest they left it on students that they are so disciplined that they won't cheat. Folks, thats trusting your own people. Can you do trust on such a large scale? The very next thought on our mind after the pessimistic burp would be "Wow!!, its cool. So much freedom.". Rightly thought. So much freedom but at the expense of facing the death squad (disciplinary committee always feels like one, dont they) if got caught.
Currently, this project has been implemented at some schools final examination so there is still time before the final legal implementation of this particular law nation wide.
Source: Zee
Picture via www.sommervillemanor.com
But now in Denmark, Government has decided to allow Internet during examination. Yeah!! The quick adrenaline shot, u felt it right now. In this part of the world, we think of negativity than positivity first. We are so pessimistic. So, we would be thinking first that how come they allowed internet? People will cheat easily now. To rectify this problem, they only asked students not to use email and chats and any kind of conversation software outside this particular examination hall. And rest they left it on students that they are so disciplined that they won't cheat. Folks, thats trusting your own people. Can you do trust on such a large scale? The very next thought on our mind after the pessimistic burp would be "Wow!!, its cool. So much freedom.". Rightly thought. So much freedom but at the expense of facing the death squad (disciplinary committee always feels like one, dont they) if got caught.Currently, this project has been implemented at some schools final examination so there is still time before the final legal implementation of this particular law nation wide.
Source: Zee
Picture via www.sommervillemanor.com
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Soft Drinks - Body Effects
Posted by Krypton in
Soft Drinks
If Idon't get a soft drink with this spicy meal, it will ruin my enjoyment. That's what our common perception towards Soft Drinks is. We consider them a basic necessity like Water. A burp after the coke is one hell of a good thing to do, don't you think so folks ;-)
But seriously people, these soft drinks are pretty much dangerous for our bodies. They are composition of different chemicals and flavors etc which are bad for our health. About Coca-Cola composition, here is what wikipedia said,
Dr. Mao did some research on soft drinks and he answered some basic queries like this.
Why No Excess Sugar Intake?
Dr. Mao full report here
Wikipedia reference of Coca-Cola composition here
But seriously people, these soft drinks are pretty much dangerous for our bodies. They are composition of different chemicals and flavors etc which are bad for our health. About Coca-Cola composition, here is what wikipedia said,
Published competitors say it contains sugar, caramel color, caffeine, phosphoric acid, coca leaf, kola nutlime extract, flavoring mixture, vanilla and glycerin. Alleged syrup recipes vary greatly. The basic “cola” taste from Coca-Cola and competing cola drinks comes mainly from vanilla and cinnamon; distinctive tastes among various brands are the result of trace flavorings such as orange, lime and lemon and spices such as nutmeg.
Dr. Mao did some research on soft drinks and he answered some basic queries like this.
Why No Excess Sugar Intake?
Well, to start, let's talk about what happens to you as sugar enters your body. When you drink sodas that are packed with simple sugars, the pancreas is called upon to produce and release insulin, a hormone that empties the sugar in your blood stream into all the tissues and cells for usage. The result of overindulging in simple sugar is raised insulin levels. Raised blood insulin levels beyond the norm can lead to depression of the immune system, which in turn weakens your ability to fight disease.Should I use Diet Soda instead?
Something else to consider is that most of the excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain and elevates risk forheart disease and cancer.
You may come to the conclusion that diet or sugar-free soda is a better choice. However, one study discovered that drinking one or more soft drinks a day — and it didn’t matter whether it was diet or regular — led to a 30% greater chance of weight gain around the belly.In the end Dr. Mao emphasized on using Fresh Water and Fresh Juices. Its time to say 'No to Soft Drinks'. Waiter!! Bring Me Water!! :-)
Diet soda is filled with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin. These artificial sweeteners pose a threat to your health. Saccharin, for instance, has been found to be carcinogenic, and studies have found that it produced bladder cancer in rats.
Aspartame, commonly known as nutrasweet, is a chemical that stimulates the brain to think the food is sweet. It breaks down into acpartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol at a temperature of 86 degrees. (Remember, your stomach is somewhere around 98 degrees.) An article put out by the University of Texas found that aspartame has been linked to obesity. The process of stimulating the brain causes more cravings for sweets and leads to carbohydrate loading.
Dr. Mao full report here
Wikipedia reference of Coca-Cola composition here
Monday, November 2, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Home Toilet is must in Indian Rural Wedding
"I need a toilet for my daughter at your home or my daughter won't be coming as bride to your home", a bride's family to groom's family. Funny as this statement says so but this is reality. Rural india is lagging behind in toilets at homes. People use fields for their natures desire. But now brides families are realizing the embarrassment their daughters have to face while going out to fields.
If you have seen 'Slumdog Millionaire', then you would have came across one such open toilet in rural india when Amitabh arrived and the star kid was busy doing the THING!!! :-)
One rural girl said,"Either we have to do the natures work before sunrise or after sunfall. Meanwhile we have to bear it if we can hold it else we have to come across all those dirty eyes looking our way in fields". This is shameful for anyone. Government has also realized this fact and they are working hard to tackle this issue.
Compiled from CNN and BBC
If you have seen 'Slumdog Millionaire', then you would have came across one such open toilet in rural india when Amitabh arrived and the star kid was busy doing the THING!!! :-)One rural girl said,"Either we have to do the natures work before sunrise or after sunfall. Meanwhile we have to bear it if we can hold it else we have to come across all those dirty eyes looking our way in fields". This is shameful for anyone. Government has also realized this fact and they are working hard to tackle this issue.
The problem is so big in India that the country would need to construct 112,000 toilets every day if it wants to meet its sanitation goal by 2012, according to the Ministry of Rural Development. The government estimates that less than 30 percent of villagers have access to latrines, which poses serious health risks and increases the threat of deadly diseases like typhoid and malaria.
To help overcome the enormity of the sanitation challenge, the government is offering incentives to encourage villagers to build bathrooms. The poorest of the poor in Haryana stands to receive Rs. 2,200 ($48) for each toilet they install, said P.S. Yadav, a state coordinator for the sanitation campaign.Meanwhile, blast from the past tells us that Bilasput district administration sacked 100 members for not building toilets. Under local laws, representatives are obliged to construct a flush toilet within a year of being elected or fail dismissal.
Compiled from CNN and BBC