May 6 in History: The Day Humans Redefined “Impossible”

 

May 6, 1954. A cool afternoon in Oxford, England. Spectators gathered around a simple running track, unaware they were about to witness one of the greatest moments in sports history.

At exactly that moment, a young medical student named Roger Bannister stepped onto the track with a mission many experts believed was beyond human capability—to run one mile in less than four minutes.

For years, athletes had chased this barrier. Doctors, coaches, and even scientists questioned whether the human body could survive such speed over that distance. Some believed the heart or lungs simply could not handle it.

But Bannister believed otherwise.

As he crossed the finish line, the clock stopped at 3:59.4.

In that instant, history changed.

What makes this story so powerful is that Bannister was not a full-time professional athlete—he was a medical student balancing studies, training, and competition. His achievement proved that many limitations exist first in the mind before they exist in reality.

Today, more than seventy years later, May 6 reminds us of a timeless lesson:

The impossible often remains impossible—until someone proves otherwise.

Watch: 15 Emerging Technologies that Will Change the World

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Backstories with Imelda Marcos l Projects During Her Time as First Lady

Sa kaarawan ni Imelda Marcos, ang nanay ni Bongbong Marcos na muna ang magva-vlog para sa atin ngayon. Ito ang mga 'backstories' ng kanyang mga proyektong hanggang ngayon ay pinakikinabangan nating lahat sa Pilipinas.

How Many People Live In The US?

The U.S. population total and population change have been adjusted to be consistent with the results of the 2020 Census. The components of population change have not been adjusted and so inconsistencies will exist between population values derived directly from the components and the population displayed in the odometer and the Select a Date tool.

This Day in History 1835: "The Great Moon Hoax" is published in the "New York Sun"

On August 25, 1835, the first in a series of six articles announcing the supposed discovery of life on the moon appears in the New York Sun newspaper.

Known collectively as “The Great Moon Hoax,” the articles were supposedly reprinted from the Edinburgh Journal of Science. The byline was Dr. Andrew Grant, described as a colleague of Sir John Herschel, a famous astronomer of the day. Herschel had in fact traveled to Capetown, South Africa, in January 1834 to set up an observatory with a powerful new telescope. As Grant described it, Herschel had found evidence of life forms on the moon, including such fantastic animals as unicorns, two-legged beavers and furry, winged humanoids resembling bats. The articles also offered vivid description of the moon’s geography, complete with massive craters, enormous amethyst crystals, rushing rivers and lush vegetation.

Read more: This Day in History 1835 

This Day in History 79 AD: Mount Vesuvius erupts

On August 24, after centuries of dormancy, Mount Vesuvius erupts in southern Italy, devastating the prosperous Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and killing thousands. The cities, buried under a thick layer of volcanic material and mud, were never rebuilt and largely forgotten in the course of history. In the 18th century, Pompeii and Herculaneum were rediscovered and excavated, providing an unprecedented archaeological record of the everyday life of an ancient civilization, startlingly preserved in sudden death.

The ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum thrived near the base of Mount Vesuvius at the Bay of Naples. In the time of the early Roman Empire, 20,000 people lived in Pompeii, including merchants, manufacturers, and farmers who exploited the rich soil of the region with numerous vineyards and orchards. None suspected that the black fertile earth was the legacy of earlier eruptions of Mount Vesuvius. Herculaneum was a city of 5,000 and a favorite summer destination for rich Romans. Named for the mythic hero Hercules, Herculaneum housed opulent villas and grand Roman baths. Gambling artifacts found in Herculaneum and a brothel unearthed in Pompeii attest to the decadent nature of the cities. There were smaller resort communities in the area as well, such as the quiet little town of Stabiae.

At noon on August 24, 79 A.D., this pleasure and prosperity came to an end when the peak of Mount Vesuvius exploded, propelling a 10-mile mushroom cloud of ash and pumice into the stratosphere. For the next 12 hours, volcanic ash and a hail of pumice stones up to 3 inches in diameter showered Pompeii, forcing the city’s occupants to flee in terror. Some 2,000 people stayed in Pompeii, holed up in cellars or stone structures, hoping to wait out the eruption.

Read more: This Day in History 79 AD 

This Day in History 1945: Marcario García becomes first Mexican national to receive U.S. Medal of Honor

Though he had landed on the beaches of Normandy and been wounded in battle fighting with the U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant Marcario García was not yet a U.S. citizen when President Harry S. Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor on August 23, 1945. García became the first Mexican national to receive the American military's highest honor.

Read more: This Day in History 1945

Today in History: December 17

1399
Tamerlane's Mongols destroy the army of Mahmud Tughluk, Sultan of Delhi, at Panipat.

1861
The Stonewall Brigade begins to dismantle Dam No. 5 of the C&O Canal.

1886
At a Christmas party, Sam Belle shoots his old enemy Frank West, but is fatally wounded himself.

1903
Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft.

1927
U.S. Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg suggests a worldwide pact renouncing war.


1938
Italy declares the 1935 pact with France invalid because ratifications had not been exchanged. France denies the argument.

1939
In the Battle of River Plate near Montevideo, Uruguay, the British trap the German pocket battleship Graf Spee. German Captain Langsdorf sinks his ship believing that resistance is hopeless.

1943
U.S. forces invade Japanese-held New Britain Island in New Guinea.

1944
U.S. approves end to internment of Japanese Americans. U.S. Major General Henry C. Pratt issues Public Proclamation No. 21, declaring that Japanese American "evacuees" from the West Coast could return to their homes effective January 2, 1945.

1944
The German Army renews the attack on the Belgian town of Losheimergraben against the defending Americans during the Battle of the Bulge.

1948
The Smithsonian Institution accepts the Kitty Hawk - the Wright brothers' plane.

1950
The French government appoints Marshal de Lattre de Tassigny to command their troops in Vietnam.

1952
Yugoslavia breaks relations with the Vatican.

1965
Ending an election campaign marked by bitterness and violence, Ferdinand Marcos is declared president of the Philippines.

1981
Red Brigade terrorists kidnap Brigadier General James Dozier, the highest-ranking U.S. NATO officer in Italy.

1989
Fernando Color de Mello becomes Brazil's first democratically elected president in nearly 30 years.

1989
The Simpsons, television's longest-running animated series, makes its US debut.

1990
Jean-Bertrand Aristide wins Haiti's first free election.

2002
Congolese parties of the inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord in the Second Congo War, providing for transitional government and elections within two years.

2010
Mohamed Bouazizi immolates himself, the catalyst for the Tunisian revolution and the subsequent Arab Spring.

Source: History Net

Today in History: December 16

1431
Henry VI of England is crowned King of France.

1653
Oliver Cromwell takes on dictatorial powers with the title of "Lord Protector."

1773
To protest the tax on tea from England, a group of young Americans, disguised as Indians, throw chests of tea from British ships in Boston Harbor.

1835
A fire in New York City destroys property estimated to be worth $20,000,000. It lasts two days, ravages 17 blocks, and destroys 674 buildings including the Stock Exchange, Merchants' Exchange, Post Office, and the South Dutch Church.

1863
Confederate General Joseph Johnston takes command of the Army of Tennessee.

1864
Union forces under General George H. Thomas win the battle at Nashville, smashing an entire Confederate army.

1930
In Spain, a general strike is called in support of the revolution.

1939
The National Women's Party urges immediate congressional action on equal rights.

1940
British troops carry out an air raid on Italian Somalia.

1944
Germany mounts a major offensive in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. As the center of the Allied line falls back, it creates a bulge, leading to the name--the Battle of the Bulge.

1949
Chinese Communist leader Mao Tse-tung is received at the Kremlin in Moscow.

1950
President Harry Truman declares a state of National Emergency as Chinese communists invade deeper into South Korea.

1976
President Jimmy Carter appoints Andrew Young as Ambassador to the United Nations.

1978
Cleveland becomes the first U.S. city to default since the depression.

1998
The United States launches a missile attack on Iraq for failing to comply with United Nations weapons inspectors.

2003
President George W. Bush signs the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, which establishes the United States' first national standards regarding email and gives the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce the act.

Source: History Net

Mortgage Rates, Pi Day: Hot Trends

"Mortgage rates" is a trending search topic following the release of Freddie Mac's(FMCC_) weekly survey which showed that the mortgage rates held steady below 5%. The 30-year fixed rate came in at 4.88% on Thursday, up slightly from 4.87% one week earlier, and down from 4.95% a year ago. 

"Pi Day" is a hot search topic because Monday, March 14, is the day that we celebrate the mathematical constant Pi, which is equal to roughly 3.14.

Physicist Larry Shaw created Pi Day in 1989 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Shaw and his fellow staff members made a tradition of marching around the building and eating fruit pies.

Source:

Should you buy a Verizon iPhone? Where to buy? Your questions answered

The Verizon iPhone has finally become a reality thanks to years' worth of collaboration between Apple and the "nation's most reliable network." We—and everyone else on the Internet—have been flooded with questions about the new and improved iPhone, Verizon's network, how the details compare to AT&T's version of the hardware, and more. Here, we answer many of the questions we've heard people asking and try to address the nuances behind the main question on users' minds: should I switch?

When can I get it and how much!?

Verizon is taking preorders starting on February 3, and the phone will be available in Apple and Verizon retail stores on February 10. The 16GB device will cost $199 with a two-year contract and the 32GB will cost $299 with contract, though Verizon says that customers will be able to buy an unsubsidized iPhone with no contract as well. To our knowledge, the company has not said how much a contract-free phone will cost.

Does this mean I can take my current iPhone to Verizon now without having to buy a new one?

No. If you want to switch carriers and you already have an iPhone, you'll have to buy a new one that works on Verizon's network. Verizon uses CDMA while all previous iPhones manufactured up until this point (whether from the US, Canada, Europe, or even Asia) come equipped with GSM capabilities, and the two technologies don't mix.

If you're desperate to join the Verizon clan, what you can do is sync your AT&T iPhone with iTunes before ditching it in the gutter, then restoring your shiny new Verizon iPhone from the backup. Then, at the very least, your settings and apps will all be the same (you can sync your previously downloaded apps back to your new iPhone even if you don't restore it from backup, too). If all you're doing is switching from one iPhone to another, you won't have to pay twice to buy your apps again, even if the phones are on different networks.

What are the speed differences between Verizon's 3G network and AT&T's 3G network?

The AT&T iPhone currently makes use of High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) on AT&T's GSM network, which offers a theoretical maximum of 14Mbps for downloads. Verizon's CDMA network uses EVDO Rev. A, which offers a theoretical maximum of 3Mbps for downloads, and it makes sense that the CDMA iPhone will support those speeds.

Of course, the speeds that you will get will depend highly upon where you are, what time of day it is, how many other people are currently using the network, how much interference there is from buildings and other radio waves, and so on. It's perfectly possible that the Verizon iPhone will bring data to a specific user faster than an AT&T iPhone in that same situation. But if we're talking about theoretical speeds here, AT&T's "3G" network currently wins out over Verizon's.

If and when Verizon and Apple finally roll out a 4G/LTE version of the iPhone, Verizon customers will have to buy a new one if they want to take advantage of the faster network Verizon switched on last month. Then again, so will AT&T's customers when AT&T's LTE network is up and running later this year).

Which phone is better for traveling overseas?

Generally speaking, CDMA is a technology that isn't very widespread outside of the US and China. (China, like the US, has relatively large networks that operate on both CDMA and GSM.) Sure, the technology exists outside of the US and China, as evidenced by a chart (PDF) created by RCR Wireless, but most Europeans will flat out express shock that CDMA is even still alive in the US since it's so rare (if not completely nonexistent) in European countries. If you're a frequent traveler to Europe and want to keep using your own iPhone, it's a wise decision to go with a GSM iPhone instead and eschew the Verizon contract.

Is the hardware the same as what's available through AT&T?

Verizon model on top, AT&T on the bottom

Aside from the CDMA/GSM technology difference, the answer is "mostly." The phone you get through Verizon is still considered an iPhone 4, just like AT&T's offering. The only differences are that the newer phones appear to have some antenna design changes, as evidenced by our picture post following the Verizon event, plus the volume controls have been shifted slightly. Beware of that last point, though—there are numerous iPhone 4 cases that are currently designed for the original (AT&T) iPhone 4, and the volume openings aren't likely to line up with the Verizon model.

Does last year's "antennagate" affect the Verizon iPhone?

This is largely subjective, but according to our early tests, the answer is "no." While we could easily create some signal attenuation using our hands on the original AT&T iPhone 4 (even after the software update that "fixed" the problem), this was not the case when we used the same death grip on the Verizon iPhone 4. Several readers e-mailed in to note that newer iPhone 4s bought from AT&T also have the antenna fix that the Verizon iPhones are seen with, so hopefully this is a problem of the past for all but the original iPhone 4 users.

What about the next-generation iPhone?

If Apple sticks to its yearly release schedule that it has used since the iPhone first came out in 2007, we can expect an even newer version of the iPhone to come out in the summer of 2011. Apple has not confirmed this by a long shot and plans can change at any time, but the company has been extremely predictable on this front for several years now. So, assuming an iPhone 5 will be released on AT&T this summer, we here at Ars would expect it to also be released for Verizon around the same time period. If you're unsure about the current hardware on either carrier, we'd tell you to wait.

I don't get it: who cares about being able to use data and voice at the same time?

This is obviously a personal usage scenario, and many people who already use Verizon seem to have no problem with this limitation. There are some ways in which this roadblock can get annoying, though. For one, Verizon execs confirmed that the iPhone won't be able to get push notifications while you're on a call, so even if you're not surfing the Web, nothing that uses data will be able to notify you of anything until you hang up.

Secondly, the voice calls will interrupt anything you're doing over the data connection. So, if you happen to be downloading an app or using Verizon's personal hotspot feature to share the 3G connection over WiFi, receiving a phone call will mean that you'll have to choose between interrupting everyone's WiFi connections or simply ignoring the call.

These things may or may not be a dealbreaker for you, but they're important to keep in mind.

How much will the plans cost?

Verizon hasn't yet announced what kind of voice and data plans it will offer to go along with its version of the iPhone, so we'll have to wait until February before knowing the true numbers. However, looking at Verizon's current plan model for other smartphones, they are very comparable to AT&T's. Macworld has a handy post full of comparison charts, but the key points here are that individual voice plans cost about the same, family voice plans are slightly cheaper at AT&T, and text messaging plans are sort of touch and go depending on what you're looking for.

Verizon's data plans are currently different from AT&T's—Verizon offers a 150MB plan for $15 per month while AT&T offers 200MB for the same price, but Verizon still has an unlimited plan for $30 while AT&T's $25 plan is for 2GB of monthly data. Verizon has spoken in the past about how it wants to move to a tiered model similar to AT&T's, so there's no telling what might change in the near (or far) future.

Source:

Research into graphene wins Nobel Prize 2010

The 2010 Nobel prize for physics was awarded Tuesday to two professors from the University of Manchester in England for "groundbreaking" experiments with the two-dimensional material graphene.

The professors are Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, both originally from Russia.

Graphene is one of a class of two-dimensional materials discovered by Geim's research group at the university, according to Graphene Industries, which says it has worked closely with Geim. It consists of a hexagonal array of carbon atoms, just like those found in bulk graphite, but is "fundamentally different" from the familiar three-dimensional material, in part because it is flexible.

"The discovery of two-dimensional materials means that scientists now have access to materials of all dimensionalities, including zero-dimensional (quantum dots, atoms) and one-dimensional (nanowires, carbon nanotubes)," according to Graphene Industries.

Geim said it is impossible to describe the range of possible uses for the material.

"Imagine 100 years ago and someone found amazing properties of polymers, and at that moment, you don't know what to do with polymers -- you can only imagine the range of applications," Geim said.

"I hope that graphene and other two-dimensional crystals will change everyday life as plastics did for humanity."

Source: (via CNN)

Number of knife carriers in Scotland falls to nine-year low

The number of people convicted of carrying a knife has fallen to its lowest for nearly a decade.

Figures from the Scottish government showed 3,194 crimes of having a knife in public were committed in 2009-10, a drop of 22% on the previous year.

The fall was welcomed by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who said it showed "tough enforcement" was paying off.

Source:

Autumnal Equinox 2010: Canadian Space Agency says thousands view Northern Lights on AuroraMAX website

Related searches:
autumnal equinox 2010, fall equinox, equinox, autumn equinox, first day of fall 2010

Northern lights: Have you seen them?

Canada's northern lights are coming to the rest of the world, thanks to a new webcam being launched by the Canadian Space Agency.

The space agency has teamed up with partners in Yellowknife and Calgary to develop the AuroraMax website for which webcams set up around Yellowknife will capture real-time images of the aurora borealis.

A Canadian Space Agency spokesperson said the AuroraMax live streaming feed would begin after dusk, around 9:30 p.m. MT (11:30 p.m. ET).

Source:

Watch AuroraMAX Live:

New Maglev Train Speed Record

Amenned Japanese maglev train set a new world speed record of 581km/h on the 42.8Mn Yamanashi test track on December 2 2003, beating the 552km/h record established on the same track in April 1999.

Maglev is being developed by JR Central and Japan's Railway Technical Research Institute and work continues on tests to verify the reliability and durability of the superconducting maglev technology for commercial operation.

Source:

10 Things You Didn't Know About Bedbugs

The old rhyme "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite" has become a frightening reality lately. With bedbug outbreaks so common they're hardly even newsworthy anymore, people are on high alert for the tiny insects. But with increased awareness comes an onslaught of rumors, myths and flat-out fallacies. So WD went to the experts to differentiate fact from fiction, and found out everything you never knew about bedbugs.

1. The term bedbug is a misnomer.
2. Bedbugs don't discriminate.
3. Bedbugs haven't been proven to transmit any harmful diseases.
4. No two people's bedbug bites will look the same.
5. Bedbugs aren't truly nocturnal.
6. Even if you can't see them, you may have them.
7. Properly trained dogs can sniff out bedbugs.
8. You don't have to throw away your belongings if you have bedbugs.
9. You should never treat your home for bedbugs yourself.
10. Bedbugs aren't going anywhere any time soon.

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High doses of B vitamins can reduce brain shrinkage, memory loss, study finds

High doses of B vitamins can reduce shrinkage of the brain that is frequently a precursor of Alzheimer's disease, British researchers reported Wednesday. In the best circumstances, the supplements reduced shrinkage by as much as 50%, and researchers hope that this may mean that the vitamins can delay the onset of Alzheimer's.

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Passive smoking affects 88 million Americans - CDC report

Tobacco or cigarette smoking affects millions of Americans. But the Centers for Disease control and Prevention on Sept 7 issued a report in its weekly journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report or MMWR saying that secondhand smoking or passive smoking was on the decline.

The CDC says that the number of people who were affected by passive smoking defined as having serum nicotine levels equal to or greater than 0.05 ng/mL during 1999 to 2000 was 40.1 percent compared to 52.5 percent during 2007 to 2008.

Secondhand cigarette smoke also known as environmental tobacco smoke consists of at least 250 toxic chemicals including more than 50 carcinogens or cancer-causing agents.

Earlier the CDC reported that passive smoking affects an estimated 126 million nonsmokers in homes, vehicles, workplaces and public areas in the United States.

Passive cigarette smoking has been linked to a whole spectrum of serious diseases including tuberculosis, cardiovascular disease, pancreatic cancer, diabetes mellitus, respiratory infections, kidney disease, acute stroke, acute heart attack or myocardial infarction, and atherosclerosis.

Read more:
http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Lifestyle/passive_smoking_0809100531.html

Davezillion: Definition

Davezillion aka Davezillion.com is a local New York City startup, sort of like Craigslist.

Davezillion is a free community on the Internet that helps people come together to assist each other with do-it-yourself household projects like painting and simple installations.

According to the web site the goal of Davezillion is “to help people accomplish these important tasks so “we” can live more comfortably and enjoy our free time, while building a sense of community and partnership among users.

Source:

Uncover the Facts Today About Cheap Dog Food Products

Did you know that some dog foods on the supermarket shelves could be detrimental to your dog's health? Learn the secrets today to what to look out for in cheap dog foods.

When you are seeking for methods to maintain your dog's health the foods you choose to feed him is very important to his health in the long term.

If we were to turn the clock back more than 25 years dogs were fed differently to what they are given in this day and age. In general going back in time to the last generation what was left on the table would be the dog's dinner, on the other hand it's good we have reconsidered these options and consider our dogs health and are choosier with regards to their food.

Or so one would think but are we?

Its seems every month or so some new dog food comes on the super market shelves, which make claims to provide them with better health if they eat this type of food, for example; healthier teeth, firmer bones, more active, on the other hand these products seem to come an go and are not available for reasons that they may be not good for a dogs health, it almost seems the companies that manufacture the foods are using our dogs as a test which is quite concerning.

I can appreciate we have to find ways to nourish our dogs and our family by watching our pennies, on the other hand when buying the cheapest food for our dog is not always the best option if we end up giving that money back to the vet.

So the difficulty is, how can we be aware to what dog foods to get and be economical, plus have the health of are dogs as a priory concern, and not have to give the savings to the vet.

Dogs are the same as us with regards to the food we eat that it does have an influence on our health, when you look at the obesity, health problems in the world we consume to many junk foods for instance; ready to eat dinners, hamburgers, chips, and the effects are very obvious to observe poor health and obesity.

With regard to dog food the same thing applies by feeding your dog meals with plenty of nutriments then it makes sense you can have a healthy dog; they would not be susceptible to the common diseases that are out there.

It's no surprise that our pets can catch diseases if they are not in their best health, as we all know how they like to mix with other dogs and sniffing around is quite a natural function for them, and often that could mean dogs poop this is often how they can get infected with diseases.

Very few people understand that dog foods obtainable in the hypermarket are not always the best choice. Important to take into consideration that less expensive dog foods need be examined to the contents in the tin or packet, in the same we would shop for our family, and the explanation things are not always as they are presented.

Don't fall into the trap by accepting what is true on the tin often these tactics are to make more sales.

It is important to take into consideration that the contents can be very poor quality and can affect your dog's health in the long term.

When you are at the supermarket buying food for your dog next time, look out for "meat by products" or "meat and bone meal" be very cautious when it is worded in this way, what this means is it could contain skin, bones, lungs, or other disgusting parts of bodies we would not dream of feeding to humans in it's unmixed sense, this is probably what is meant by meat by products and bone meal.

If you are seeking top grade dog foods then it is important to investigate the labels on the tins or packets for example; chicken meal, beef, plus you can be in no doubt if corn is the main ingredient.

In this article I am only able to provide you with a fraction of the information with regard to feeding your dog healthy food options, but I hope this has pointed you in the right direction to keep your dog healthy and happy.

Conclusively be thoughtful when making choices to what you feed your best buddy.

Source:
http://www.content4reprint.com/pets-and-animals/uncover-the-facts-today-about-cheap-dog-food-products.htm