Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Photos of a recent fire incident - How do we forget?

Photos of a recent fire incident - How do we forget?


Accidents happen in many ways. Many times, it takes a lot from our life in not time. The photographs in this post is from a worksite accident that happened to one of my friend. In no time, his business was gutted. What surprised me from the photos he sent me of that incident was a book which remained partially burned. Titled in Malayalam "Engane Naam Marakkum" meaning "How do we forget", this book was on his table as he was working on it for updating his collection of websites. Strange was the fact that the author of the book Ravi Menon happened to be also an email contact of mine. I consider this mortal remains as a a pointer to some of the principle values I carry on in life. One of them is sharing our knowledge. Whatever happens to us, end of the day or end of our life, what remains is what knowledge we had with us and what we shared with our daily contacts. All other things are mortal according to me.















My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Dangerous roads need policing



To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor

Today in History - 30 June

2005 Spain becomes the 3rd country to permit same-sex marriage

1992 1st pay bathrooms in U.S. open: 25 cents, New York City

1984 Last sixpence minted in Great Britain (in use since 1551)

1973 Biggest U.S. tanker "Brooklyn" christened (230,000 ton)

1973 Observers aboard Concorde jet observe 72-minute solar eclipse

1972 1st leap second day; also 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985

1953 1st Corvette manufactured

1930 1st round-the-world radio broadcast Schenectady NY

1914 Mahatma Gandhi's 1st arrest, campaigning for Indian rights in South Africa

1894 London Tower Bridge opens

1893 Excelsior diamond (blue-white 995 carats) discovered

Monday, June 29, 2009

No News 20th edition - To or Not to?

No News 20th edition - To or Not to?






My Letters - GULF TODAY - Lifting up spirits



To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor

Today in History - 29 June

1985 NASA launches Intelsat VA

1969 1st Jewish worship service at White House

1952 1st aircraft carrier to sail around Cape Horn-Oriskany

1929 1st high-speed jet wind tunnel completed Langley Field Ca

Today in History - 28 June

1983 NASA launches Galaxy-A

1976 1st woman was admitted to Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs Colo

1956 1st atomic reactor built for private research operates Chicago, Illinois

1918 1st flight between Hawaiian Islands

1917 Potato entrepreneurs begins in Amsterdam

1909 1st French air show, Concours d'Avation opens

1859 1st dog show held, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England

1820 Tomato is proven non-poisonous

1762 1st reported counterfeiting attempt, Boston

Today in History - 27 June

2008 Bill Gates resigns from Microsoft to focus on his charity work

1980 1st female state police graduates, New Jersey

1979 Muhammad Ali retires as boxing champ

1955 1st automobile seat belt legislation enacted, Illinois

1954 1st atomic power station opens (Obninsk, near Moscow, Russia)

1940 U.S.S.R. returns to Gregorian calendar

1929 1st color TV demo, New York City

1867 Bank of California opens doors

1693 1st woman's magazine "Ladies' Mercury" published (London)

1652 New Amsterdam (now New York City) passes 1st speed limit law in US

Today in History - 26 June

1992 India leases Tin Bigha corridor to Bangladesh

1992 New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority votes to ban cigarette ads on Jan 1, 1993

1989 Canada updates coins with a new potrait of the Queen

1984 1st flight of Shuttle Discovery (41-D) scrubbed at T -4

1978 First dedicated oceanographic satellite, SEASAT 1, launched

1975 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declares a state of emergency

1949 1st Belgian parliamentary election where women can vote (CVP gains)

1917 1st U.S. Expeditionary Force arrive in France during WW I

1896 1st movie theater in U.S. opens, charging 10 cents for admission

1848 1st pure food law enacted in U.S.

1498 Toothbrush invented

1284 Pied Piper lures 130 children of Hamelin away (actually happened)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

My Letters - KHALEEJ TIMES - Flagged Fish




To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor

Today in History - 25 June

1961 Iraq announces that Kuwait is a part of Iraq (Kuwait disagrees)

1953 1st passenger to fly commercially around the world < 100 hours

1951 1st color TV broadcast-CBS' Arthur Godfrey from New York City to 4 cities

1950 Israeli airline El Al begins service

1947 Tennis shoe introduced

1919 1st advanced monoplane airliner flight (Junkers F13)

1867 1st barbed wire patented by Lucien B Smith of Ohio

1864 Horse tramway at the Hague, opens

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Photo Speaks - Closer to the tan

Photo Speaks - Closer to the tan












Photography as we say "keep clicking" is like the sound of a pendulum of clock. Continous 60 seconds, 60 minutes, 24 hours, 365 days... Once you get addicted, you will never stop CLICKING...

As a photography enthusiast, I love to participate in various photography competitions around. Sony SHOOTOUT is one of them. The competition is into the final stages now. And it is time to rank the entries, if not ranked/rated already. Please visit the following link and rate them without any delay.

http://shootout.sony.co.in/gallery.aspx?user=ramesh%20menon

I look forward to your support.

Remember, you have to register in order to rank or rate a photo. So, please take a few minutes to register. Please also note that you can vote only one time.

Have a great day ahead.

Today in History - 24 June

1994 1st French "all news" TV, LCI, begins broadcasting

1985 18th Space Shuttle Mission (51-G)-Discovery 5 returns to Earth

1982 Soyuz T-6 Launch (U.S.S.R.)

1982 Supreme Court rules President can't be sued for actions in office

1967 Zaire adopts constitution

1963 1st demonstration of home video recorder, at BBC Studios, London

1930 1st radar detection of planes, Anacostia DC

1901 1st exhibition by Pablo Picasso, 19, opens in Paris

1894 Decision to hold modern Olympics every 4 years

1817 1st coffee planted in Hawaii on Kona coast

1793 1st republican constitution in France adopted

1717 1st Free Masons' grand lodge founded in London

1692 Kingston, Jamaica founded

1441 Eton College founded by Henry VI

Today in History - 23 June

1996 Nintendo 64 goes on sale in Japan

1994 South Africa reclaims its seat in U.N.

1991 Mazda becomes 1st Japanese car to capture Le Mans 24 hour race

1990 Moldavia declares independence

1989 Movie "Batman" premieres

1985 Bomb destroys Air India Boeing 747 in air near Ireland, 329 die

1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act (Public Law 97-200)

1980 1st solar-powered coast-to-coast two-way radio conversation

1974 1st extraterrestrial message sent from Earth into space

1961 Antarctic Treaty goes into effect

1958 Dutch Reformed Church accepts women ministers

1950 Swiss parliament refuses voting right for women

1949 1st 12 women graduate from Harvard Medical School

1860 U.S. Secret Service created

1848 Antoine Joseph Sax patents Saxophone

1784 1st U.S. balloon flight, 13 year old Edward Warren

1775 1st regatta held on Thames, England

930 World's oldest parliament, the Iceland Parliament, established

Monday, June 22, 2009

My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Our Own Himalayan Slog



To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor

Click here to read the oringal article Enjoying a long slog in the Himalayas.

Today in History - 22 June

1983 1st time a satellite is retrieved from orbit, by Space Shuttle

1970 President Nixon signs 26th amendment, voting age lowered to 18

1962 1st test flight of Hoovercraft

1910 1st Zeppelin with passengers sets afloat

1870 1st Boardwalk in America invented

1870 Congress creates Department of Justice

1847 Doughnut created

1832 John Howe patents pin manufacturing machine

1814 1st match at the present Lord's, MCC vs. Herefordshire

1775 1st Continental currency issued ($3,000,000)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

My Letters - GULF TODAY - Take it easy policy



To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit Letters to the Editor

Today in History - 21 June

1948 1st stored computer program run, on Manchester Mark I

1768 1st U.S. bachelor of medicine degree, Dr. John Archer

Today in History - 20 June

1966 Sheila Scott completes 1st round-the-world solo flight by a woman

1949 Central Intelligence Agency Act, passes

1909 1st balloon honeymoon (Roger Burham and Eleanor Waring)

1895 1st female PhD (science) earned (Caroline Willard Baldwin)

1895 Canal of Smock official opens

1874 1st U.S. Lifesaving Medal awarded (Lucian Clemons)

1863 1st bank chartered in U.S., National Bank of Davenport, Iowa

1837 England issues its 1st stamp, 1P Queen Victoria

Today in History - 19 June

1988 World's Largest Sausage completed at 13 miles long

1981 European Space Agency's Ariane carries 2 satellites into orbit

1981 Heaviest known orange (2.5 kg) exhibited, Nelspruit, South Africa

1981 India's APPLE satellite, 1st to be stabilized on 3 axes, launched

1961 Kuwait declares independence from U.K.

1947 1st plane (F-80) to exceed 600 mph (1004 kph)-Albert Boyd, Muroc Ca

1931 1st photoelectric cell installed commercially West Haven Ct

1910 1st airship in service "Germany"

1910 Father's Day celebrated for 1st time (Spokane, Wash)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Today in History - 18 June

1981 Vaccine to prevent hoof and mouth disease announced

1980 Mrs. Shakuntala Devi mentally multiplies 2 13-digit #s in 28 sec

1959 1st telecast transmitted from England to U.S.

1948 U.N. Commission on Human Rights adopts International Declaration of Human Rights

1936 1st bicycle traffic court in America established, Racine, Wisconsin

1903 1st transcontinental auto trip begins in San Francisco; arrives New York 3-months later

1898 1st amusement pier opens in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

My Letters - GULF NEWS - Abu Dhabi Bus Shelter in Poor Shape

My Letters - GULF NEWS - Abu Dhabi Bus Shelter in Poor Shape











To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit:

http://team1uae.blogspot.com/search/label/02%20Letters%20to%20the%20Editor

Today in History - 17 June

1991 South Africa abolishes last of its apartheid laws

1985 18th Space Shuttle Mission (51-G)-Discovery 5 launched

1982 President Reagan 1st United Nations General Assembly address, "evil empire" speech

1967 1st Chinese hydrogen bomb explodes

1965 1st bombing by B-52 (50 km north of Saigon)

1950 1st kidney transplant, Chicago

1947 1st round-the-world civil air service leaves New York City

1863 Travelers Insurance Co of Hartford chartered, 1st accident insurer

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

My Letters - Lessons from Indian Teams loss



To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit:

http://team1uae.blogspot.com/search/label/02%20Letters%20to%20the%20Editor

Today in History - 16 June

1988 In Santa Barbara, California, a team of 32 divers begin cycling underwater on a standard tricycle, to complete 116.66 miles in 75 hours 20 minutes
1961 Discoverer 25 launched

1947 1st network news-Dumont's "News from Washington"

1941 1st U.S. federally owned airport opened Washington D.C.

1933 U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, created

1917 1st Congress of Soviets convene in Russia

1909 1st U.S. airplane sold commercially, by Glenn Curtiss for $5,000

1903 Pepsi Cola company forms

1794 1st stone layed at Dutch biggest grain windmill (De Walvisch)

632 Origin of Persian [Yezdegird] Era

Monday, June 15, 2009

Thank God, India is Out of T20 World Cup

Thank God, India is Out of T20 World Cup

I was very happy after watching the match last evening. Because, no more I have to sit late and watch with anxiety and eagerness of our team playing for this cup this time. Moreover, it has been going on too many in a too short time. First the long saga of IPL season in South Africa and then the T20 in England. I feel, we Indians did not raise up to the expectations we created for each of our playing members. Body language on the batting front did not show a blend of team spirit and communication between the players on both ends. Moreover, I felt our team strategy was not far sighted, looking at the 15 overs ahead and felt we were trying to clear of the immediate threats and not the overall target ahead. Batting limitations were also exposed. Well, IPL was watched and enjoyed by all including our opponents as it made crystal clear what our strengths and weaknesses were. It became so simple for them to feed us with deliveries raising to the ear, and they even capitalised it to the extend of one bouncer every over their bowlers bowled. Not to worry, after all it is a game and now there are other serious things to handle. We have a series of bachelors amongst the men in blue starting with Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Irfan and so on, it is time for them to get settled down in life.... They also need a break and to be with their family and form a family of their own....

And for those die-hard cricket fans they can still watch the matches without any tension. Last but not the least, is it the result of any black magic tricks on our Cricket team by our Reality serial producers and TV serials for an early exit of our team which is affecting seriously their prime time viewership?

Good wishes for a good going in the Caribbeans.

Today in History - 15 June

1992 1st Berlin Air Show in 60 years

1988 NASA launches space vehicle S-213

1979 1st space shuttle SRB qualification test firing; 122 seconds

1977 Spain's 1st free elections since 1936 (41 years)

1954 Great Britain's 2 biggest steel factory nationalized

1924 1st transmission of radio Bloemendaal

1924 Ford Motor Company manufactures its 10 millionth Model T automobile

1919 1st nonstop Atlantic flight, Alcock and Brown, lands in Ireland

1916 Boys Scouts of America forms

1915 U.S. government mints 1st $50 gold pieces, for Panama Pacific Expo

1908 World congress for Woman's rights opens in Amsterdam

1896 Tsunami strikes Shinto festival on beach at Sanriku Japan 27,000 are killed,
9,000 injured, with 13,000 houses destroyed

1878 1st attempt at motion pictures (used 12 cameras, each taking 1 picture) done
to see if all 4 of a horse's hooves leave the ground

1876 Tsunami's after earthquake floods NE coast of Japan, kills 28,000

1860 1st White settlement in Idaho, Franklin

1857 San Francisco Water Works organized

1785 2 French balloonists die in world's 1st fatal aviation accident

1762 Austria uses 1st paper currency

1752 Ben Franklin's performs his kite-flying experiment

1664 New Jersey established

Sunday, June 14, 2009

My Letters - THE NATIONAL - Fix the problem before you fine



To read my letters to the news, please bookmark and visit:

http://team1uae.blogspot.com/search/label/02%20Letters%20to%20the%20Editor

My Letters - GULF NEWS - A readers travelogue

Today in History - 14 June

1993 Tansu Ciller appointed 1st female premier of Turkey

1951 1st commercial computer, UNIVAC 1, enters service at Census Bureau

1946 Canadian Library Association established

1942 1st bazooka rocket gun produced Bridgeport, Connecticut

1924 WOKO-AM radio begins transmitting from Albany NY

1923 Recording of 1st country music hit (Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane)

1919 1st nonstop air crossing of Atlantic (Alcock and Brown)

1901 1st golf championship is played

1841 1st Canadian parliament opens in Kingston, Ontario

1775 U.S. Army founded

1755 1e edition of Dr. Johnsons "Dictionary"

1642 1st compulsory education law in America passed by Massachusetts

Today in History - 13 June

1991 The National, 1st all-sports daily newspaper, ceases publication

1946 1st transcontinental round-trip flight in 1-day, California-Maryland

1933 1st sodium vapor lamps installed, Schenectady, New York

Friday, June 12, 2009

My Letters - THE NATIONAL - New measures for pedestrian safety




For the original article titled Deadliest dash in Abu Dhabi by Matthew Chung, please visit:

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090610/NATIONAL/706099910/1021

Text of my letter:

Deadliest dash in Abu Dhabi (June 9) is a very-well narrated article highlighting both the difficulties for pedestrians as well as drivers. In the case of Musaffah, authorities have to plan interim solutions like speed bumps (it is a long stretch there) or pedestrian-operated signals.

However, within Abu Dhabi city proper, it is the same old story – you fine me today, I will cross the same stretch tomorrow. I feel the only solution is to have high fencing on the road dividers which will make it impossible to jump across. Repeated public campaigns and guidance notifications have to be continued until it becomes a routine habit to use only pedestrian-designated crossings in accordance with the signals. It is nice to read that authorities are proceeding with several progressive measures, but the implementation may not be keeping pace with road usage growth.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

Today in History - 12 June

1978 U.S. House of Representatives allows live radio coverage

1936 1st 50 KW U.S. radio station, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1918 1st airplane bombing raid by an American unit, France

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Today in History - 11 June

1991 Microsoft releases MS DOS 5.0

1975 1st oil pumped from North Sea oilfield

1955 1st magnesium jet airplane flies

1870 1st-stone Amstel Brewery opens in Amsterdam

1793 1st American stove patent is granted to Robert Haeterick

1788 1st British ship built on Pacific coast begun at Nootka Sound

1770 Captain James Cook discovers Great Barrier Reef off Australia

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Be the first one. Form a Queue and beat the heat this summer

Be the first one. Form a Queue and beat the heat this summer







Dear Readers,

I enclose once again excerpts from the 19th edition of "No News" newsletter.

We need a Queue culture on our bus and taxi stops. It holds significant value and should be gradually put in to practise before the most advanced transport systems are made available in this country. In Dubai, the Metro is coming, in Abu Dhabi the new Abu Dhabi Bus and Taxis. What will be the benefit of all these advancements if no queue system is followed on our rail and road?

I sincerely look forward to your support on this specific issue. Let us begin a Queue culture on our public bus and taxi stops.....

God Bless and have a great week ahead,

Ramesh Menon

*~~~~~*

Please visit:

http://team1uae.blogspot.com/2009/06/no-news-19th-edition-are-you-in-for.html

Today in History - 10 June

1996 Intel releases 200 mhz pentium chip

1991 Mother of All Parades - New York City welcomes desert storm troops

1963 John F. Kennedy signs law for equal pay for equal work for men and women

1955 1st separation of virus into component parts reported

1946 Italian Republic established

1924 1st political convention broadcast on radio - Republicans at Cleveland

1915 Girl Scouts founded

1908 1st flying club, Aeronautical Society of New York, opens

1905 1st forest fire lookout tower placed in operation, Greenville, Maine

1902 Patent for window envelope granted to H F Callahan

1848 1st telegraph link between New York City and Chicago

1847 Chicago Tribune begins publishing

1847 Chicago Tribune begins publishing

1809 1st U.S. steamboat to a make an ocean voyage leaves New York for Philadelphia

1793 1st public zoo opens in Paris

1793 Washington replaced Philadelphia as U.S. capital

Today in History - 09 June

1959 1st ballistic missile sub launched, George Washington

1934 1st Donald Duck cartoon, Wise Little Hen, released

1934 Donald Duck made his 1st screen appearance ("The Wise Little Hen")

1931 1st rocket-powered aircraft design patented, Robert Goddard

1931 1st showing of a Donald Duck cartoon

1902 1st Automat restaurant opens, 818 Chestnut St, Philadelphia

1883 1st commercial electric railway line begins operation in Chicago

1822 Charles Graham patents false teeth

1790 1st book copyrighted under constitution, "Philadelphia Spelling Book"

1772 1st Protestant church west of Penn (in Ohio) holds communion

Monday, June 8, 2009

My Letters - GULF TODAY - The Best Answer

Today in History - 08 June

1937 World's largest flower blooms in New York Botanical Garden, 12' calla lily

1936 1st parking meters are invented

1928 1st U.S. to Australia flight lands (Sir Charles Kingford)

1886 1st Civil Rights Act passes

1824 Washing machine patented by Noah Cushing of Quebec

Today in History - 07 June

1955 1st President to appear on color TV, Eisenhower

1954 1st microbiology laboratory dedicated, New Brunswick, New Jersey

1953 1st color network telecast in compatible color, Boston, Massachusetts

Today in History - 06 June

1942 1st nylon parachute jump, Hartford Ct-Adeline Gray

1941 1st Navy vessel constructed as mine layer Terror launched

1941 Giants use plastic batting helmets for 1st time

1933 1st drive-in theater opens, Camden, New Jersey

1933 U.S. Employment Service created

1914 1st air flight out of sight of land, Scotland to Norway

Today in History - 5 June

1984 Indira Gandhi orders attack on Sikh's holiest site, Golden Temple

1944 1st B-29 bombing raid; 1 plane lost due to engine failure

1944 1st British gliders touched down on French soil for D-Day

1940 1st synthetic rubber tire exhibited Akron Oh

1937 Henry Ford initiates 32 hour work week

Thursday, June 4, 2009

No News 19th edition - Are you in for a Queue?
















Your comments are precious. Kindly spare a few minutes to express it online at www.team1uae.blogspot.com or by email team1uae@gmail.com.