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27 May 2009

Who Invented The First Sunglasses?

Jacobs Field: The View Through Kevin's SunglassesImage by laffy4k via Flickr
The wearing of sunglasses has become as popular and as common as wearing such articles of clothing as hats, ties, and gloves. Sunglasses are often considered a necessity more than an accessory. Centuries ago they were worn only by the rich and even into the early 1900's only those of fame and fortune were seen wearing these special spectacles.

Tales of "sun cheaters", among other unusual names, were spoken of back in the time of the Roman Empire, when the Emperor would cover his eyes with bits of emerald to help shade the sun from his vision. Obviously the efforts that were utilized diminished the sun but did not protect the eyes from harmful rays. They actually lessened the clarity of what people were viewing.

Sometime in 12th Century China, the first sunglasses were a crude slab of smoked quartz that was made for only the very rich. The quartz slab soon progressed to a slab with a roughly shaped frame to help hold the quartz to the users face. Not only were these handy items used to block out the sun but they were also used to hide emotions from others when speaking with them. This was particularly handy for judges of that time, giving them an air of detachment from the topic being discussed as well as keeping their feelings hidden while questioning the accused.

As time went on, so did the progression of the appearance of sunglasses. Circa 1400, sunglasses were darkened and introduced into Italy via the Chinese. In the 18th century a man named James Ayscough was experimenting with sunglasses but not to help keep out the sun's rays but to help with improving vision for those with poor or failing eye sight. He believed that by changing the color of the lenses to a blue/green tint, he could help correct certain vision conditions.

But sunglasses did not become popular until the early 1920's, when the stars and starlets of Hollywood began using them to shield their eyes from the stage lights and the cameras' blinding flashbulbs. Mass production of sunglasses came about in the late 1920's, when a man named Sam Foster started his company, Foster Grant, in Atlantic City where the beach goers were a steady stream of sunglass sales..

The Army Air Corps were at the forefront of sunglass development when they approached an optical firm by the name of Bausch and Lomb to create effective eyeglasses to protect pilots from high altitude glare. In the mid 1930's Polaroid filters had been invented by Edwin H. Land (founder of the Polaroid Corporation) which now changed sunglasses from being an item to keep out the sun but also to that of a health aid because they now also protected the eyes from harmful UV rays. By the late 1930's when World War II was on the brink of exploding, anti-glare aviator glasses were being made for the fliers and a year later the same sunglass technology was available for the general public.

By the 1960's, sunglasses rose in popularity as a stunning fashion statement. In the 1970's sales were still steadily climbing and many fashion designers and stars of stage and screen came out with their own designs and styles. Sunglasses are attractive, practical, and are now available in every imaginable shape, size, and color. They are even available for infants and seniors and every age group in between. They have come a long way from bits of emerald and smoked quartz held up to the eyes to the beautiful designs we see today.



Article Source: Articles Engine



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25 May 2009

First World's Oldest Active Ocean-going Passenger Ship

"The world's Floating Library" - loved by many people around the world because of wonderful volunteered missionaries around the world! A 93 year old ship and still floating before its final retiring very soon as declared of its final tour in Australia 2009.

MV Doulos, Geelong Port , Victoria 2009
Image taken by: rechargelife.org at Geelong Port, Victoria 2009

Source: http://www.mvdoulos.org/

"Doulos was purchased in 1977 by GBA Ships e.V. (previously known as Good Books for All), a private, non-profit, charitable organisation registered in Germany. Over 20 million visitors have been welcomed on board for tours, programmes and visits to the floating book fair. With stops in over 500 ports of call, this unique ship has visited more than 100 countries in including Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and many island nations.

Doulos is recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest active ocean-going passenger ship."


MV Doulos ship is just 2 years younger of the well-known Titanic. My first experience to volunteer on the ship on board was way back June 2001 in San Fernando port, Philippines. It seemed countless of people came on board every day and it's not really a joke hectic serving thousands and thousands of people a day!

The photo above was taken at Geelong Port Australia. It's Doulos ship last sail to Australia before a new one will be rebuilt in God's time. Certainly, God's hands are upon it as it has been sailing for years around the globe doing its great mission to different culture and tribes by happy jolly volunteered missionaries and the captain.




19 May 2009

The First World's Smallest Car 2009

What is claimed to be the world's smallest car, roughly the size of a domestic washing machine, is being unveiled this weekend.

The vehicle - a hybrid of a quad bike and a model of Postman Pat's van - is half the size of the current holder of the title.





Source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL9YuEjjrs8

5 May 2009

The First World's Largest Monster Truck Limo

Truck LimoImage by dave_7 via Flickr

Can you imagine yourself riding around town in one of the largest and most unique limousine in the world?

That's what someone decided would be an incredible task. S.D.M. Industries created the largest monster truck limo in the world that is still legal on the streets. This ride would surely leave you breathless and up for just about anything because this vehicle comes in at a full 11 feet tall.

S.D.M. decided to give this monster truck limo a nice lift with a massive 24" lift underneath. Now, the complete length of the truck is coming in with a massive 36 feet long.

S.D.M. crew added a complete 14 feet onto the length of the monster truck limo. Consider stocking this monster truck with everything from a 27" TV to a complete surround system full of plenty of room for a bar, and plenty of mood lighting to accompany the stunning leather interior.

This monster truck limo cost a grand total of $250,000 to complete the modifications to.

This is one of the largest investments into any vehicle modification we have seen around the world. Can you imagine pulling up to your wedding in this magnificent piece?

This monster truck limo is definitely something to be proud of. It has a full weight of 7 tons of 14,000 pounds. Also this is one of the biggest and heaviest vehicles on the road for passenger use.

You can find more Limo Tips and the latest Limousine News at http://www.LimoQuoter.com.



John McCann is a writer and site manager ofLimoQuoter.com - a free limousine service directory that offers instant and free limo rental quotes.





4 May 2009

First Largest Gold Vault in the World

Vault of GoldImage by Lawrence OP via Flickr

The largest gold vault in the world is located in New York City, just a few blocks from the tumultuous world of Wall Street. Many people walk by the Federal Reserve Bank everyday, with no idea that the subterranean vault holds more than 540,000 gold bars owned by 48 different countries as well as 12 international organizations.

The bank vault is deep underneath the city streets, and just the gold alone in the vault (it does hold other valuables) is valued at more than $200 billion. It is 30 feet beneath the subway system resting on bedrock about five stories underground. The gold in the New York City Federal Reserve Vault is greater than that of any vault in the world, including Fort Knox.

Surprisingly, the U.S. Government doesn't own much of the gold in this vault. Only approximately 5 percent of the U.S. supply is stored here, while most of it takes up residence at Fort Knox and in other locations throughout the country. The reserves stores all gold free of charge for its tenants, but the countries that deposit gold here must pay out $1.75 per bar when they are moved. Considering that this vault holds 25% of the world's gold reserve, which makes it the largest in the world, and even bigger than the yearly economy of the United Arab Emirates.

The building appears as any other office building in the area of the financial district, but the surface appearance actually hides what is more similar to a medieval fortress on the lowest three floors. These floors have large iron bars covering all of the windows, and there is a circular shaped tower up high on the building. Armed guards wander the surrounding area at all times with automatic weapons, deterring anyone from thinking of trying to pull any funny business. The gold vault is only accessible through a 10-foot passageway cut into the cylinder, which is made of 90 tons of steel and sits within a steel and concrete frame.

There are no cameras allowed in the vault, and people cannot take anything into the vault with them. With all of the cameras, walls, and guns, you would think it was secure enough. The vault is half the size of a football field and was lowered into the bedrock three years before the building was completed in 1924. It is surrounded by solid rock on all sides, and has a way to be sealed airtight and water tight if needed, as well. More than 180 tourists are led through the vault each day, so it's not a super secret place. However, it is the largest and most secure gold vault that you'll come across anywhere in the world.

Alan LeStourgeon runs a website about [http://www.usgoldcoinauctions.com]Gold Coins where you can find lots of information on buying and investing in [http://www.usgoldcoinauctions.com/fort-knox-gold-bullion]gold bullion and coins.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_LeStourgeon http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Largest-Gold-Vault-in-the-World&id=2062982

3 May 2009

World's First Noah's Ark in Ancient Time

Do you believe in the worldwide flood? I do believe it because of the fossils you can find in the mountain even in the caves or tunnels in the Philippines. This proves itself that we have had once a worldwide flood. If we read all the books in the world descibing the flood...including the Holy Scriptures, Torah and Quran mention about it all!



Source: YouTube

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1 May 2009

The Greatest Invention In History

Printing press from 1811, photographed in Muni...Image via Wikipedia

Before we get to what is the greatest invention in the history of the world, we should visit Germany in 1447. In that time, a goldsmith and printer, Johannes Gutenberg, created the Gutenberg printing press. This technology spread like wildfire throughout Europe and then on to the rest of the world.

The impact of it is comparable to the invention of the alphabet and the development of writing.

Prior to the printing of books on a massive scale, books were painstakingly copied. This resulted in both fewer books and also more inaccurate books, because the copying of the original changed from one version to the next. In addition, since in Europe, Latin was the language of scholars, only a small population could even read them. When books were printed, popular European vernaculars were used to communicate to a wider audience.

Our next evolutionary leap was creating a medium of instant publication and a worldwide audience. This is the World Wide Web.

It may be as significant a leap in the consciousness of humankind as was Albert Einstein's revolutionary reinterpretation of the Universe. Despite the brilliance of Isaac Newton's work, the new theory of the Universe changed the consciousness of humankind forever.

The World Wide Web may very well be the greatest invention in history. Tim Berners-Lee has invented something that reminds one of a multifaceted diamond. When you look at each face, you discover a new reality.

One face of the World Wide Web is like The Glass Bead Game.

In his Nobel Prize winning novel, Magister Ludi, The Glass Bead Game, Hermann Hesse defined the nature of knowledge and intelligence in a beautiful metaphor. He described it as a game where pieces were played on a board.

"The Glass Bead Game is a mode of playing with the total contents and values of our culture. All the insights, noble thoughts and works of art that the human race has produced in its creative eras, all that subsequent periods of scholarly study have reduced to concept and converted into intellectual values, the Glass Bead Game player plays like an organist on an organ."

Like the Glass Bead Game, the World Wide Web ranges over the entire intellectual cosmos.

Another face of the World Wide Web is like the marketplace of Ancient Athens.
Here democracy evolved in its purest state. People talked to each other, shared information, challenged points-of-view, and understood each other. This informal gathering of thinkers birthed
one of the most significant early cultures of the Western World.

Because there are so many contributors to the World Wide Web, neither governments nor corporations nor media organizations have much control over it. Blogging, especially, has evolved to a place where absolute candor is possible. In addition, writers are free to wax eloquent in their pdf or exe files without waiting for somebody to approve the marketability of their ideas. Discussion groups for everything under the sun exist. Then there are the social networking websites, like You Tube and others, where all kinds of opinions are expressed through videos. Never in the history of humanity has it been possible for the common man or woman to speak their mind to so many people in complete freedom.

Another face of the World Wide Web is like The Great Books of the Western World series.

The quintessence of the value of that series has been captured by the original associate editor, the late Mortimer Adler.

He said that to read them was to be involved in a great conversation because it was like
"authors sitting around a table in the same room--totally oblivious to the circumstances of their own time, place and diversity of tongues--confronting each other in agreement, disagreement or otherwise differing about what they have to say on the subject. The sessions of the conference thus imagined would take many days, months, perhaps even years, for it would cover the whole range of ideas and issues that are the objects and concerns of human understanding, always and everywhere."

As you surf from one website to another, from one discussion board to another, or as you communicate instantly by email, is this not like a great conversation that informs your mind and feeds your soul?

Finally, another face of the World Wide Web is like A Global Brain.

Philosophers from Plato to Aristotle, from Thomas Aquinas to Herbert Spencer have always considered knowledge to be a unity, where everything is potentially connectable to everything else. The human brain is a powerhouse of networks of infinite complexity, where every neuron has the potentiality to connect with every other. Similarly, knowledge itself, as described by writer James Burke, is "a gigantic and ever-growing sphere in space and time, made up of millions of interconnecting, crisscrossing pathways."

Knowledge has never been so linked together as it is now on the World Wide Web.

The World Wide Web is growing organically, like a great shout of unity across the world. Perhaps each day, we who use it, are reinventing the freedom of speech that once existed in ancient Athens, a freedom which will lead to a whole new world of creativity for everyone.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/publishing-articles/the-greatest-invention-in-history-89992.html

About the Author:
Saleem Rana would love to share his inspiring ideas His book Never Ever Give Up tells you how. It is offered at no cost as a way to help YOU succeed. The Empowered Soul