Friday, December 28, 2007
Robotics
A robot is an electro-mechanical or bio-mechanical device that can perform autonomous or preprogrammed tasks. Robots may be used to perform tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans, such as radioactive waste clean-up, or may be used to automate mindless repetitive tasks that should be performed with more precision by a robot than by a human, such as automobile production.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Networking and the Internet
In the 1970s, computer engineers at research institutions throughout the United States began to link their computers together using telecommunications technology. This effort was funded by ARPA (now DARPA), and the computer network that it produced was called the ARPANET. The technologies that made the Arpanet possible spread and evolved. In time, the network spread beyond academic and military institutions and became known as the Internet. The emergence of networking involved a redefinition of the nature and boundaries of the computer. Computer operating systems and applications were modified to include the ability to define and access the resources of other computers on the network, such as peripheral devices, stored information, and the like, as extensions of the resources of an individual computer.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Nanotechnology
Two main approaches are used in nanotechnology. In the "bottom-up" approach, materials and devices are built from molecular components which assemble themselves chemically by principles of molecular recognition. In the "top-down" approach, nano-objects are constructed from larger entities without atomic-level control. The impetus for nanotechnology comes from a renewed interest in Interface and Colloid Science, coupled with a new generation of analytical tools such as the atomic force microscope (AFM), and the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Combined with refined processes such as electron beam lithography and molecular beam epitaxy, these instruments allow the deliberate manipulation of nanostructures, and led to the observation of novel phenomena.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Cellular network
Cellular networks offer a number of advantages over alternative solutions:
* increased capacity
* reduced power usage
* better coverage
A good (and simple) example of a cellular system is an old taxi driver's radio system where the taxi company will have several transmitters based around a city each operated by an individual operator.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
What is Java Virtual Machine?
The use of bytecode as an intermediary language that allows Java programs to run on any platform that has a virtual machine accessible. The use of a JIT compiler means that the applications in Java, after a small delay throughout loading and once they have "warmed up" by being all or mostly JIT-compiled, tend to run about as speed as native programs. Because JRE version 1.2, Sun's JVM execution has included a just-in-time compiler as an alternative of an interpreter.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Difference between C and C++ programming language
The C++ allows the programmer to create classes, which are a bit alike to C structures. Although it is possible to apply anything which C++ could implement in C, C++ aids to standardize a means in which objects are created and managed, whereas the C programmer who implements the same system has alot of liberty on how to really implement the internals, and the style among programmers will differ alot on the design choices made in a program.
In C, some will choose the handler-type, where a main function initializes a handler, and that handler can be provided to other functions of the library as an object to manage on/through. Others will even want to have that handler link all the associated function pointers within it which then must be called using a convention closer to C++.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A short note on the history of Honda
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Long jump athletic game
The Competitors sprint down a runway (at elite level, generally coated with the same rubberized surface as running tracks), jump to the extent that they can off a somewhat raised wooden board into a pit filled with fine gravel or sand. The minimum distance from the board to the indentation made by the participant in the gravel is measured. If the participant starts his leap with any part of his foot facing the board the jump is affirmed illegal and no distance is recorded.
The correct format of the competition differs, but normally each competitor will get a number of attempts to make his or her longest jump, and simply the longest legal jump counts towards the results. The participant with the longest legal jump at the end of competition is confirmed or declared as the winner. The Speed in the run-up and a high leap off the board are the fundamentals of achievement at the discipline, and it is unsurprising that many sprinters, especially including Carl Lewis, as well compete successfully in the long jump.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
An overview on Traffic calming
The Traffic calming has customarily been justified on the grounds of pedestrian security and lessening of noise and local air pollution which are side effects of the traffic. On the other hand, it has become ever more apparent that streets have many social and recreational functions which are strictly impaired by fast car traffic. For instance, residents of streets with light traffic had, on normal, three more friends and twice as numerous acquaintances as the people on streets with heavy traffic which was or else similar in dimensions, income, etc. For much of the twentieth century, streets were intended by engineers who were charged simply with ensuring traffic flow and not with fostering the other functions of streets. The underlying principle for traffic calming is currently broadening to contain designing for these functions.
One most important side effect of traffic calming is the impedance to urgent situation services. A police car can effortlessly navigate most traffic calming measures. The same cannot be believed for fire trucks and ambulances, yet. They time and again have to slow down to securely cross speed bumps or chicanes. In several locales, the law prohibits traffic calming measures by the side of the routes used by the emergency services.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Definition of Glass
The word of glass comes from Latin glacies (ice) and corresponds to German Glass, M.E. glas, A.S. gales. Germanic tribes used the word gales to say amber, recorded by Roman historians as glaesum. Anglo-Saxons used the word glaer for amber.
The residue of this article will be concerned with a definite type of glass—the silica-based glasses in common make use of as a building, container or pretty material.
In its pure form, glass is a clear, relatively strong, hard-wearing, basically inert and biologically inactive material which can be shaped with very smooth and impervious surfaces. These pleasing properties lead to a great many uses of glass. Glass is, on the other hand, brittle and will break into sharp shards. These properties can be modified, or even changed completely, with the addition of other compounds or heat treatment.
Common glass is generally amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2), which is the same chemical compound establish in quartz, or in its polycrystalline shape, sand.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
The facts about Mercury
Mercury's orbit is extremely eccentric; at perihelion it is just 46 million km from the Sun but at aphelion it is 70 million. The position of the perihelion processes about the Sun at a very slow rate. 19th century astronomers made extremely careful observations of Mercury's orbital parameters but could not sufficiently explain those using Newtonian mechanics. The tiny differences between the observed and predicted values were a slight but nagging problem for many decades. It was thought that one more planet (sometimes called Vulcan) slightly nearer to the Sun than Mercury might account for the discrepancy. But in spite of much effort, no such planet was found. The real reply turned out to be much more dramatic: Einstein's General Theory of Relativity! Its right prediction of the motions of Mercury was a main factor in the early acceptance of the theory.
Mercury is greatly denser than the Moon (5.43 gm/cm3 vs. 3.34). Mercury is the second densest most important body in the solar system, after Earth. Actually Earth's density is due in part to gravitational density; if not for this, Mercury would be denser than Earth. This signifies that Mercury's dense iron core is comparatively larger than Earth, probably comprises the greater part of the planet. Mercury therefore has only a comparatively thin silicate mantle and crust.
Mercury's inner is dominated by a big iron core whose radius is 1800 to 1900 km. The silicate outer shell (analogous to Earth's mantle and crust) is just 500 to 600 km thick. At least some of the core is perhaps molten. Mercury truly has an extremely thin atmosphere consisting of atoms blasted off its surface by the solar wind. Because Mercury is so hot, these atoms quickly flee into space. Thus on the contrary, to the Earth and Venus whose atmospheres are stable, Mercury's atmosphere is always being replenished.
Monday, September 10, 2007
A Snapshot of Macro-Economics
Studying the world economy is classified as Macroeconomics; its center on a much broader level. All students must understand the concept of insufficiency. Scarcity is a condition that occurs because society has unlimited wants and needs however the amount of property is limited. Unlimited wants and needs are what encourage us to create goods and services. We are never satisfied therefore we always have a want or need. On the other hand our income is limited.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Jakarta Slide
Monday, August 27, 2007
Entertainment
While people have laughing themselves since the beginning of time, the entertainment industry first became a leading force in culture in the 20th century with the development of latest electronic technologies of recording and spreading. Western peoples, tired of serious purposes and gathering massacre, turned to popular culture following the two world wars. The financial basis of this new culture was advertising of free or inexpensive entertainment program. In their peak, television networks were great selling machines which, besides entertaining people, prohibited both commercial and political markets by providing direct access to the group of customers. This "territory" is now in danger by the explosion and segmentation of media and especially by the growing importance of communication by computer which allows the consumer to look for out the informational message as an alternative of having it broadcast to him or her. A new system of world history sees Americans in changeover between a fourth, entertainment-based "society" and a future fifth evolution based on computer communication.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Carriage clock
Monday, August 13, 2007
Flak jacket
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Planetary ring
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
subwoofer
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Extranet
Friday, July 13, 2007
Neem cake
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Web portal
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Malai
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
History of Motorola
Most of Motorola's crop has been radio-related, starting with a battery eliminator for radios, through the first walkie-talkie in the world, defense electronics, cellular infrastructure equipment, and mobile phone manufacturing. The company was also strong in semiconductor technology, including integrated circuits used in computers. Motorola has been the key supplier for the microprocessors used in Commodore Amiga, Apple Macintosh and Power Macintosh personal computers. The chip used in the latter computers, the PowerPC family, was developed with IBM and in a partnership with Apple. Motorola also has a diverse line of communication products, including satellite systems, digital cable boxes and modems.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Fish food
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Camera
Monday, June 11, 2007
compiler
The most common reason for wanting to translate source code is to make an executable program. The name "compiler" is primarily used for programs that convert source code from a high level language to a lower level language (e.g., assembly language or machine language). A program that translates from a low level language to a higher level one is a decompiler. A program that translates between high-level languages is generally called a language translator, source to source translator, or language converter. A language rewriter is generally a program that translates the form of expressions without a modify language.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
VESA Local Bus
A VLB slot itself was an extension of an existing ISA slot. Indeed, both VLB and ISA cards could be plugged into a VLB slot .The extended portion was usually colored a distinctive brown. This made VLB cards quite long, reminiscent of the expansion cards from the old XT days. The addition resembled a PCI slot.
The VESA Local Bus was designed as a stopgap solution to the problem of the ISA bus's limited bandwidth.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Introduction of Integrated circuit
Friday, May 18, 2007
Digital circuits
A clock signal might also be gated, that is, joint with a controlling signal that enables or disables the clock signals for a certain part of a circuit. This technique is often used to save power by efficiently shutting down portions of a digital circuit when they are not in use.
In some near the beginning microprocessors such as the National Semiconductor IMP-16 family, a multi-phase clock was used. In the case of the IMP-16, the clock had four phases, each 90 degrees apart, in order to synchronize the operations of the processor core and its peripherals. Most modern microprocessors and microcontrollers use a single-phase clock, however.
Many modern microcomputers utilize a "clock multiplier" which multiplies a lower frequency external clock to the suitable clock rate of the microprocessor. This allows the CPU to operate at a much higher frequency than the rest of the computer, which affords performance gains in situations where the CPU does not need to wait on an external factor.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Web Design
There are several aspects in this process, and due to the rapid development of the Internet, new aspects may come out. For distinctive commercial Web sites, the basic aspects are:
* The site design is defined by the subject and content.
* The site should be user-friendly, with the interface and navigation simple and reliable. If the site is large enough and contains enough information, a site browser may be needed so that information can be found quickly, without using the navigation tools.
* The appearance should consist of a single style that flows throughout, to show consistency. The style should be professional, look good and most of all is appropriate to the users and site content.
* The visibility of the site's text and information should be dominant as that is what the users are visiting for.
* The site must also be easy to find on the internet and if possible should be scheduled on most, if not all, major search engines.
A Web site typically consists of text and images. The first page of a website is Home page or Index. Some websites use what is commonly called a Splash Page. Splash pages might include a welcome message, language/region selection, or disclaimer. Each web page contained by a Web site is an HTML file which has its own URL. After each Web page is created, they are typically associated together using a navigation menu composed of hyperlinks. Faster browsing speeds have led to shorter awareness spans and more demanding online visitors and this has resulted in less use of Splash Pages, particularly where commercial websites are concerned.
Once a Web site is completed, it must be published or uploaded in order to be viewable to the public over the internet. This is done using an FTP client. Once published, the Web master may use a variety of techniques to increase the traffic, or hits, that the website receives. This may include submitting the Web site to a search engine such as Google or Yahoo, exchanging links with other Web sites, creating affiliations with similar Web sites, etc.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Basket
A basket is a container which is usually constructed from stiff fibers, often made of willow. The top is either left open or the basket may be fitted with a lid.
Contents
1 chronological usage
2 contemporary usages
3 metaphorical and legendary usages
4 verandas of baskets
5 observe also
Historical usage
Wood, bamboo, wheat, other grasses, osiers or wicker are often used to make baskets, but they are also made today from plastic. The first baskets were natural fiber by gatherers to collect fruits, grains, nuts and other edible plant materials, as well as for holding fish by early fishing peoples. A creel is a basket made particularly to hold fish. The plant life available in a region affects the choice of material, which in turn influences the weaving technique. Rattan and other members of the Arecaceae or palm tree family, the thin grasses of temperate regions and broad-leaved tropical bromeliads each require a different method of twisting and braiding to be made into an effective basket. Although baskets were usually created to serve men in bed rather than an artistic purpose, the practice of basket making has evolved into an art.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
History of glass
Friday, April 27, 2007
Planet
After stars and stellar remnants, planets are a few of the most massive objects known to man. They play an important part in the structure of planetary systems, and are also considered, along with large moons, the most feasible environment for life. Thus planetary science is crucial not only to comprehend the structure of the universe, but also to better understand the development of life, and to aid the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Additionally, the planets visible from Earth have played a vital role in the shaping of human culture, religion and philosophy in abundant civilisations. Even today, many people continue to believe true the movement of the planets affects their lives, all though such a causation is discarded by the scientific community.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Atomic clock
The first atomic clock was built in 1949 at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards. The first accurate atomic clock, based on the transition of the caesium-133 atom, was built by Louis Essen in 1955 at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK. This led to the internationally agreed definition of the second being based on atomic time.
In August 2004, NIST scientists demonstrated a chip-scaled atomic clock. According to the researchers, the clock was believed to be one hundredth the size of any other. It was also claimed that it requires just 75 mW, making it suitable for battery-driven applications.
Modern radio clocks are referenced to atomic clocks, and provide a way of getting high-quality atomic-derived time over a wide area using inexpensive equipment; however, radio clocks are not appropriate for high-precision, scientific work.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Cellular Phones
The name cellular comes from the radio transmitters called cells. Cells are really small radio towers that are closer together than large towers. These cell towers are less expensive and have a better connection. They send and receive signals to and from the phones. So, cellular phones are actually two-way radios!
In the United States, the FCC (Federal Communications Commision) limited the cellular phone frequencies in 1947, so only 23 conversations could occur at the same time in the same service area. So the scientists did not do very much research until later.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Snake River
The Snake originates near the Continental Divide in Yellowstone National Park in NW Wyoming and flows south to Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park and long-ago the town of Jackson. The river flows down Snake River Canyon, then enters Idaho at the Palisades Reservoir and joins with the Henrys Fork River near Rigby. Note: inhabitants of eastern Idaho generally call the Snake prior to this joining the "South Fork of the Snake", individual it from the Henrys Fork.
Tributaries of the Snake contain the Henrys Fork River, the Boise River, the Salmon River, and the Clearwater River.
The Snake River's lots of hydroelectric power plants are a major source of electricity in the region. Its watershed provides irrigation for various projects, including the Minidoka, Boise, Palisades, and Owyhee projects by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, as well as a diversity of private projects such as at Twin Falls. However, these dams have also had an adverse environmental effect on wildlife, most notably on wild salmon migrations.
The Snake runs through a number of gorges, including one of the deepest in the world, Hells Canyon, with a greatest depth of 7,900 feet.
The name "Snake" possibly derived from an S-shaped sign which the Shoshone Indians made with their hands to mimic swimming salmon variation names of the river have included:
Monday, April 02, 2007
Asian Paradise Flycatcher
The Asian Paradise Flycatcher breeds from Turkistan to Manchuria. It is migratory, wintering in steamy Asia. There are occupant populations further south, for example in southern India and Sri Lanka, so both visiting migrants and the locally breeding subspecies occur in these areas in winter.
This species is usually found in thick forests and other well-wooded habitats. Three or four eggs are laid in a cup nest in a tree.
The adult male Asian Paradise Flycatcher is about 20 cm long, but the long tail bunting double this. It has a black crested head, chestnut upperparts and pale grey underpants.
By their second year, the males of the migratory Indian race T. p. paradise begin to obtain white feathers. By the third year, the male plumage is completely white, other than the black head. Males of the sedentary Sri Lankan race T. p. Ceylonese’s are always chestnut.
The female of all races resembles the old joke male, but has a grey throat, smaller crest and lacks the tail streamers.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
European Space Agency
ESA's spaceport is the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, a site chosen because it is close up to the equator from which commercially essential orbits are easier to access. During the era of Ariane 4 ESA gained the location of market leader in important space launches and in current years ESA has established itself as the main competitor of NASA in space exploration.
ESA's mission
Since the Cold War ended with the fall of the Soviet Union's "iron curtain," space agencies around the world had to redeploy and amend their visions and goals. In an conference with JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, Jean-Jacques Dordain ESA's Director General outlined briefly the European Space agency's mission:
Today space activities are pursued for the advantage of citizens, and citizens are asking for a well again quality of life on earth. They want greater security and economic wealth, but they also want to pursue their dreams, to increase their knowledge, and they want younger people to be fascinated to the pursuit of science and technology.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Radio clock
A radio controlled clock consists of an antenna for intercepting the RF time code signal, a receiving circuit to exchange the time code RF signal into digital time code, and a controller circuit to decode the time code bit streams and to drive an output circuit which can be LCD in case of digital clocks or stepping motors in case of analog clocks.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Orange
Cultivation and uses
'Ambersweet' orangesOrange cultivation is a major business and an significant part of the economies of the US, Florida and California, many Mediterranean countries, Romania, South Africa, China, and the Riverina district around the Murray River in Australia.
Oranges are generally grown in warm climates worldwide, and the flavors of orange vary from sweet to sour. The fruit is generally peeled and eaten fresh, or squeezed for its juice. It has a thick bitter rind that is usually discarded, but can be processed into animal feed by removing water using pressure and heat. It is also used in certain recipes as flavoring or a garnish. The outer-most layer of the rind is grated or thinly veneered with a tool called a zester, to produce orange zest which is popular in cooking because it has a similar flavor to the fleshy inner part of the orange. The white part of the rind, called the pith, is almost always discarded. Oranges also can be used to create citrus oil, which is used in aromatherapy to uplift and relieve stress.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Cold River (Maine)
The Cold River begins at the height of land in Evans Notch, a pass through the eastern White Mountains. Maine Highway 113, a narrow two-lane road, passes through the notch, subsequent the Cold River on the south side and Evans Brook, a tributary of the Androscoggin River, on the north. The Cold River, flowing south, picks up the Mad River, a short stream with waterfalls that flows off the southern faces of East Royce and West Royce mountains, then reaches the southern base of Evans Notch at the junction of Basin Brook, coming out of a large glacial cirque to the west, where the Cold River national forest campground is located.
South of Basin Brook, the Cold River briefly enters New Hampshire near the village of North Chatham, then veers back into Maine, flowing south-southwest in the town of Stow through an ever-widening valley. The Little Cold River enters from the west near the village of Stow. The Cold River ends at Charles Pond in the northern corner of Fryeburg. Water flows from Charles Pond via the short Charles River, entering the Old Course of the Saco River and finally the Saco itself south of Kezar Pond.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Rameswaram
Rameswaram is known for its 22 theerthas or wells in and around the main temple. This place is evenly sacred to both Vaishnavites and Shaivites. According to Hindu Mythology, if one visits Rameswaram and prays to Lord Shiva one will be relieved of one’s sins. It is 197 metres long.
The Ramanathaswamy temple is famous for its magnificent corridors and massive sculptured pillars. The third corridor of Ramanathaswamy temple is the longest one in the world.
Besides pilgrimage, Rameswaram Island has some places, which are ideal picnic spots. There are beautiful beaches at Olaikuda, Dhanushkodi and Pamban. The Olaikuda beach is 1 km from the main temple and s engulfed by coral reefs, which makes bathing in the sea safe and enjoyable. With diving glasses and respiration tubes, scuba diving is safe and possible. Flamingos, sea gulls and a variety of birds travel to the Rameswaram Island during winter.
Rameswaram is a main fishing centre of Tamil Nadu. Variety of fishes with export quality fish like prawns, sea cucumber, and lobster are available here. Rameswaram is also famous for its dry fish.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Kite fishing
Kites can give the boatless fishermen access to waters that would otherwise be available only to boats. Similarly, for boat owners, kites provide a way to fish in areas where it is not safe to find the way such as shallows or coral reefs where fish may be plentiful. Kites can also be used for trolling a lure through the water.
Suitable kites may be of very easy construction. Those of Tobi Island are a large leaf stiffened by the ribs of the fronds of the coconut palm. The fishing line may be made from coconut fibre and the lure made from spiders webs.
Modern kitefishing is popular in New Zealand, where large delta kites of synthetic materials are used to fish from beaches, taking a line and hooks far out past the breakers. Kite fishing is also emerging in Melbourne where sled kites are becoming well-liked, both off beaches and off boats and in freshwater areas. link title The disabled community are ever more using the kites for fishing as they allow mobility impaired people to cast the bait further out than they would otherwise be able to.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Spice
Many of the same substances have other uses in which they are referred to by different terms, e. g. in food preservation, medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics, perfumery or as vegetables. For example, turmeric is also used as a preservative; licorice as a medicine; garlic as a vegetable and nutmeg as a recreational drug.
Spices are illustrious from herbs, which are leafy, green plant parts used for flavoring purposes. Herbs, such as basil or oregano, may be used fresh, and are normally chopped into smaller pieces; spices, however, are dried and usually ground into a powder.
Friday, February 23, 2007
The Institution of Engineers
The first President of the Institution was Sir Thomas R J Ward. Sir Thomas Guthrie Russell played a key role in the winning petition for a Royal Charter. The current President is Prof S C Naik.
The organization has been prominent amongst the founder members of the Commonwealth Engineers' Council and the Federation of Engineering Institutions of South and Central Asia. The Institution has a conditional membership of the Engineers Mobility Forum since 2003.
Today, the Institution is head-quartered in Kolkata, with 94 state and local centres. With half a million members, it is one of the biggest professional bodies in the English-speaking world. Life corporate members of the Institution are accredited with the Chartered Engineer title.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Education
Education also refers to a regulation, a body of theoretical and applied research relating to understanding and improving the processes of teaching and learning. It draws on additional disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, sociology and anthropology.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Gardening
Gardening also takes place in non-residential green areas, such as parks, public or semi-public gardens (botanical gardens or zoological gardens), pleasure and theme parks, along transportation corridors, and around tourist attractions and hotels. In these situations, a staff of gardeners or groundskeepers maintains the gardens.
Indoor gardening is concerned with the increasing of houseplants within a residence or building, in a conservatory, or in a greenhouse. Indoor gardens are sometimes included as part of air conditioning or heating systems.
Water gardening is concerned with growing plants adapted to pools and ponds. Bog gardens are also considered a type of water garden. These all require extraordinary conditions and considerations. A simple water garden may consist simply of a tub containing the water and plant(s).
Container gardening is concerned with growing plants in any type of container either indoors or outdoors. Common containers are pots, hanging baskets, and planters. Container gardening is usually used in atriums and on balconies, patios, and roof tops.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Jewellery
In creating jewellery, a variety of gemstones, coins, or other valuable items can be used, often set into precious metals. Common expensive metals used for modern jewellery include gold, platinum or silver, although alloys of nearly every metal known can be encountered in jewellery -- bronze, for example, was common in Roman times. Most gold jewellery is made of an alloy of gold, the purity of which is affirmed in karats, indicated by a number followed by the letter K. For example, ordinary gold jewellery ranges from 10K (41.7% pure gold) to 22K (91.6% pure gold), while 24K (99.9% pure gold) is considered too soft for jewellery use. Platinum alloys variety from 900 (90% pure) to 950 (95.0% pure). The silver used in jewellery is usually sterling silver, or 92.5% fine silver.Other generally used materials include glass, such as merged glass or enamel; wood, often carved or turned; shells and other natural animal substances such as bone and ivory; natural clay, polymer clay, and even plastics.
Jewellery and society
One universal issue is control over who could wear what jewellery, a point which indicate the powerful symbolism the wearing of jewellery evoked. In ancient Rome, for instance, only convinced ranks could wear rings; later, sumptuary laws dictated who could wear what type of jewellery; again based on rank. Cultural dictate have also played a important role; for example, the wearing of earrings by Western men was considered "effeminate" in the 19th and early 20th centuries. on the other hand, the jewellery industry in the early 20th century launched a crusade to popularize wedding rings for men — which caught on — as well as appointment rings for men , going so far as to make a false history and claim that the practice had Medieval roots. By the mid 1940s, 85% of weddings in the U.S. feature a double-ring ceremony, up from 15% in the 1920s.Religion has also played a role: Islam, for instance, consider the wearing of gold by men as a social taboo,and many religions have edicts against extreme display.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Journalism Basics
That's not all, though. In addition to dedicated training in writing, editing, and reporting, Journalism wants a working knowledge of history, culture, and current events. You'll more than likely be required to take up a broad range of courses that runs the range from statistics to the hard sciences to economics to history. There would also be a lot of haughty talk about professional ethics and civic responsibility too - and you'll be tested on it. To top it all off, you'll perhaps work on the university newspaper or radio station, or possibly complete an internship with a magazine or a mass media conglomerate.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Charleston earthquake – Pre-20th Century
Major damage occurred as far away as Tybee Island, Georgia (over 60 miles away) and structural injure was reported some hundred miles from Charleston (counting central Alabama, central Ohio, eastern Kentucky, southern Virginia, and western West Virginia). It was felt as far away as Boston to the North, Chicago and Milwaukee to the Northwest, as far West as New Orleans, as far South as Cuba, and also as far East as Bermuda.
Good Friday Earthquake – 20th Century
The Good Friday Earthquake (also known as the Great Alaska Earthquake) of Friday, March 27, 1964, was the most dominant earthquake in U.S. and North American history. As of 2006, it remains the third most powerful earthquake deliberate in modern times everywhere in the world. The magnitude 9.2 earthquake that resulted in 131 deaths was centered in Prince William Sound off the coastline of South Central Alaska. The powerful earthquake also caused some parts of Alaska to be liquefied, resulted much damage to property and leading to landslides.