Most Incredible Bridges on the Earth

The Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Photo: mischiru [Flickr]

Golden Gate Bridge at night. Photo: justinwyne [Flickr]

The Golden Gate Bridge is such an iconic symbol of San Francisco (and of suspension bridge in general) that it’s hard to imagine a time when it didn’t exist. But before it was built, most people thought it was an impossible task.

In 1916, the idea of a bridge to cross the Golden Gate, a narrow strait that separated San Francisco Peninsula and the Marin Headlands, was conceived. Though it was almost immediately dismissed as the cost was estimated to be $100 million (astronomical for the time), a veteran bridge builder named Joseph Strauss lobbied for more than two decades to have it built.

The Golden Gate Bridge faced tough opposition: the Department of War thought it would interfere with ship traffic and the Southern Pacific Railroad opposed it as competition to its ferry service. At first, even the public didn’t like the bridge … because Strauss’ original design was deemed too ugly! But Strauss finally won, and after 22-years of drumming up support, the bridge was built.

Construction took more than four years, at a cost of $27 million. The Golden Gate Bridge actually came in $1.3 million under budget (though 5 months late). For his work, Strauss got $1 million … and a lifetime bridge pass!

 Brooklyn Bridge - New York

In 1855, engineer John Roebling started to design a bridge that at the time would be the longest suspension bridge in the world, with towers being the tallest structures in the Western Hemisphere: the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

Today, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the main crossings of the East River and one of the most heavily trafficked bridges in the world. But in the late 19th century, it took Roebling more than 14 years to convince the city to build the bridge.

One interesting note about the Brooklyn Bridge: it stood fast while other bridges built around the same time had crumbled. Engineers credit Roebling for designing a bridge and truss system six times as strong as he thought it needed to be!


Tower Bridge - London

It’s funny to think about ancient traffic jams, but that was why the Tower Bridge in London, England was built. By the end of the 19th century, the development of the eastern part of London caused such a load on the London Bridge that the city decided to build a new bridge.

Construction of the Tower Bridge started in 1886, led by architect Sir Horace Jones and engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. The design was a bascule (draw) bridge with two towers built on piers, so the bridge wouldn’t interefere with the port facilities nearby.

A year after construction was started, Jones died and his replacement, George D. Stevenson along with Barry decided to modify the design a little bit. Instead of the original brick facade design, the Tower Bridge had a more ornate Victorian Gothic style meant to harmonize it with the nearby Tower of London.

When the bridge opened in 1894, the public was aghast. H. Heathcote Statham, Fellow of the Royal Insitute of British Architect, wrote the familiar sentiment as thus: "The Tower Bridge … represents the vice of tawdriness and pretentiousness, and of falsification of the actual facts of the structure." (Source: Waddell, J., Bridge Engineering, Google Books)

But over time, people warmed up to the bridge. Indeed, the Tower Bridge grew to be one of London’s most recognizable landmarks. Even one of its loudest critics, architectural critic Eric de Maré conceded: the British people "have grown fond of the old fraud … and we must admit that it has carried on its task with admirable regularity and efficiency." (Source: Dupré, J., Bridges; 1997 Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers) .

Source : Internet Compilation

“10 Awkward Situations for Ex-Lovers”

Not that there is ever a “good” time to run into an ex-lover, but some times are definitely worse than others. There can be a air of comedy about some of these situations, but they are anything but humorous to the active participants. Whether former couples meet accidentally or by design doesn’t really matter that much, the situation will be uncomfortable for all concerned. The following scenarios are engineered to rebuild some of your self-esteem, as you get a glimpse of how things could have been.

    Parents – It’s always such a treat to run into your ex’s parents, and even more so if your former Significant Other has somehow neglected to tell the folks about the breakup–even though it occurred two years ago!
    Chance Encounter – There’s nothing like making that mad morning-dash to pick up the newspaper in the driveway. . .while wearing your pizza-stained bathrobe. . .and having your ex roll by with their new lover in their even-newer Mercedes.
    Church – It can be discomfiting when the reverend pulls you aside after Sunday services to ask how the nuptial plans are proceeding, and then thanks you profusely for hiring his mother, the caterer, and his brother, the photographer, to work your wedding.
    Work – Not that your co-workers are a tough bunch, but you do recall all the good times you and your buddies had at the expense of the last dumped-on unfortunate, and that you were one of the ringleaders of the vocal posse. Now it’s your turn in-the-barrel.
    Children – When children are part of a relationship, the uncomfortable moments can be magnified during a breakup. It is incumbent upon the adults to act as adults when children are present. Children understand a lot more than most adults give them credit for, so some consideration for their feelings is very important.
    BFF – When your soon-to-be ex-best friend shows up at your apartment with an arm around your all-too-recent ex-lover, the situation can become as prickly as a cactus.
    School – Classic painful moments can occur when a pair of broken hearts have both auditioned for, and won, the leads in the school production of Romeo and Juliet.
    Restaurant – If you take your new flame to a restaurant that you picked because you and your ex never went there, that will be the night your ex does the same thing.
    Court – You don’t want to encounter your ex at the courthouse. You might just be there to renew your dog’s license, but that won’t be the story that ends up hitting the streets..
    Lovers Hideaway – It is generally considered rather bad form to take a new lover anyplace that you and your ex ever called “Our Special Place”. It is extremely bad form when you and your ex repeat the gaffe from #8.

Seriously, if you’re intent on “moving on” with your life, it helps to maintain a thick skin, and to cultivate a sense-of-humor.

Magical Invention of "Father of TOUCHSCREEN" - Steve Jobs

 

I was heard about this name "STEVE JOBS" in late 2010 when I was about to complete my Diploma (Computer Science and Technology). Now I think I dont I have to say about him, though he left his innovative technology for the rest of the world, and changed it the we use it today. May his soul rest in peace R.I.P. Sir Steve Jobs.Father of TOUCHSCREEN.

I am very touched by his invention he change the field of technology and science. Steve Jobs may just be the greatest inventor of our age. We dug through Google Patents and found that Steve Jobs is listed as the primary or co-inventor on 241 patents. Granted, some of those inventions were duds, no doubt. But some were pure genius, and did nothing less than completely change the way we use technology in our lives.
So as he prepares to walk away from the company he built, left, and rebuilt into something bigger than anyone thought possible, let's take a walk through some of his inventions that moved the technological world. We found the the original drawing submitted with every patent application submitted by Steve and his teams, along with the eventual Apple device that changed everything.

Magical Inventions of Steve Jobs

Apple III (1980)
It's easy to say the Apple III was a commercial failure, because it was. As Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak put it, the primary reason it failed was that the Apple III was designed by the marketing department, instead of engineering. Perhaps. However, there always exists a struggle between form and function, and it takes a true visionary who can bridge both design and capability. Sometimes failures are the best lessons.

iMac G3 (1998)
Of all the great Apple products in the last 35 years, the iMac G3 is truly iconic. It symbolized the return of Steve Jobs to the top spot in the company, and showed how high he immediately set the bar for innovative and disruptive design. Apple quipped "the back of our computer looks better than the front of anyone else's". And Apple has never looked back.



iMac G4 (2002)
The New iMac was only on the market for a couple of years, but it took desktop computer design in a completely new direction. Again.






USB Mouse (1998)

OK, we know how you felt about this one, and trust us, we felt the same way. But the Hockey Puck most certainly does speak to the boundaries that Cupertino design was willing to cross once Jobs came back to the helm.




iPod (2001)
This was the game changer, really. The runaway success of the iPod, and with it iTunes, opened the floodgates for not only the portable device market, but for the digital download marketplace as well. The iPhone, App Store, and the iPad all came to be because the world fell in love with this little device.

iPhone OS / iOS (2007)
iOS is the leading mobile device operating system in the world. It is simple, powerful, and beautiful, and the iPad and iPhone would not be the market-changing devices they are without it.





Magic Mouse (2009)
Look Ma, no wheels! When the Magic Mouse was released in 2009, it was the first consumer mouse to have multi-touch capabilities. Ok, Steve, this one makes up for the hockey puck.




iPod Shuffle (2010)
The latest and current version of the iPod Shuffle shows how far the device has come, and how focused Steve Jobs still is on simplifying design to its core element.





iPhone 4 (2010)
The iPhone 4 is the breakthrough model. It is the iPhone that crossed over from AT&T to Verizon, and it is the iPhone that has captured the world -- both in style and design as well as sales. It is the iPhone Steve Jobs will carry in his pocket as he hands the reins over over to Tim Cook... that is unless he managed to grab an iPhone 5 on the way out.

iPad (2010)
A device that critics said no one needed. A device that competitors said is just a fad. A device is truly magical and revolutionary in every way and completely changed the way we use, and define, computers. Thanks, Steve. For everything.




Hence these are the magical invention of Steve Jobs.

source : internet

Does Distance Matter?: Geographically Close vs. Long-Distance Relationships

Long Distance Relationship [img src : identitymagazine.net]

In this season of high school and college graduations, many dating partners are likely facing the prospects of being geographically separated. What should these dating partners know about long-distance relationships? Are long-distance relationships substantially different from ones that are geographically close? A first thing to know is that long-distance relationships (LDRs) are very common, with as many as 70% of college students at some point dating someone who lives far away from them.1 Even beyond college, employment opportunities and military service mean that many romantic partners spend substantial amounts of time away from one another. Scholars have accordingly focused their attention on whether (and how) LDRs differ from relationships that are geographically close (GCRs).

There is good news for LDR dating partners. Generally, studies find that LDR dating partners are not significantly different from GCR dating partners in terms of how close, affectionate, and nurturing they are with each other, and they are no more likely to break up over a 3-month period.2 Further, LDR dating partners actually report being more in love with each other and engaging in higher quality communication than GCR dating partners.3 These research findings indicate that LDR and GCR dating partners are more alike than different in terms of a number of important relationship characteristics.

Hopefully, these research findings will allow people in LDRs (or about to starting dating long-distance) to breathe a sigh of relief: distance is a common component of dating, and does not necessarily spell doom for the relationship.

source : scienceofrelationships.com

5 Things you should never reveal online

Think twice before you share [src: webconferencingcouncil.com]

You may love being online, but that doesn't mean you can reveal all. Here are somethings that should be kept under wraps:

Intimate photos or videos: Something that you post in the heat of the moment may come back to haunt you many years later. Anything that's once posted online can never be deleted completely. So make sure that you don't post something that you may not want you colleagues, boss, siblings or parents to see.

Your phone number: And for that matter even your address. Even if you think that you can trust you e-friend, don't be naive. Similarly don't give out you address for some lucky draw. This very lucky draw may prove 'unlucky' for you.

Don't post any abuses: If you have some complaints against you boss or teachers don't write messages against them over the net. For starters, it can be easily traced back to you. Wouldn't you rather talk about your complaints face-to-face with your boss than miss out on that promotion you were vying for.

Bank details: It's one thing to pay your bills online over secure websites, but never ever can you give out your account number or your ATM pincodes. Don't take such risk no matter what the emergency is. If someone asks you for such details be suspicious of them.

Minute-by-minute details: It's one thing to tell people how you feel or crack a joke a two over the net, but don't give out details like 'going out for groceries' or 'heading to the local bar'.

source : TOI

Parents Name Their Kid 'Like,' After Facebook

In a Seinfeldian example of weird baby names, a couple in Israel has taken inspiration from Facebook and named their baby daughter "Like."

Lior and Vardit Adler fancied the idea of giving their child a unique name, Haaretz reports. Like had a nice ring to it, they decided, while also representing the age of social networking. "If once people gave Biblical names and that was the icon, then today this is one of the most famous icons in the world," Lior Adler said.

Not surprisingly, the Adlers' friends couldn't believe the name, although they probably should've expected something off-beat; the family's other two children are named Pie and Dvash, the Hebrew word for honey. I'm reminded of the Seinfeld episode in which Costanza decides on the name Seven for his firstborn.

I suppose baby Like is a testament to the success of Facebook's Like button, which launched nearly a year ago and is now ubiquitous on the web. Like has inspired Google to create its own +1 button, but to my knowledge no one has named a baby after it. I'm also not aware of any babies named Reddit, Digg, StumbleUpon or Yahoo! Buzz.

source  : techland.time.com

Egyptian Father Names Baby 'Facebook'

 

Egyptian father Jamal Ibrahim has reportedly named his newborn daughter "Facebook" to honor the social media site's role in Egypt's revolution. 

According to TechCrunch, Egypt's Al-Ahram newspaper reported the following:

    A young man in his twenties wanted to express his gratitude about the victories the youth of 25th of January have achieved and chose to express it in the form of naming his firstborn girl "Facebook" Jamal Ibrahim (his name.) The girl's family, friends, and neighbors in the Ibrahimya region gathered around the new born to express their continuing support for the revolution that started on Facebook. "Facebook" received many gifts from the youth who were overjoyed by her arrival and the new name. A name [Facebook] that shocked the entire world.

Facebook was used to organize the initial January 25 protest in Tahrir Square. Since then, Egyptians taking part in the uprising used Twitter, YouTube and a host of other sites, in addition to Facebook, to communicate and coordinate.

source : huffingtonpost.com

Make your first night memorable

 A little anxiety coupled with moments of anticipation and finally some wild thoughts, the perfect first night experience is often sprinkled with moments of coy reservation!

Most couples nurse nervous speculations and deep seated performance anxiety about their first night of closeness. Hearsay from newly wed friends or common beliefs picked up from random sources add to the sexual tension. Knowing the exact way to get it right is an arduous task and if gone wrong, you may end up facing a catastrophic situation in your bedroom with your first nuptial boo-boos.

We spoke to some couples to know the common blunders they made (inadvertently) on their first night. Of course, it wasn't just about 'sex' on the first night, as there were numerous other problems which could ruin the first night craze...

Boo-boo: A moment in haste and its all waste
Without much knowledge about sex, couples encountered awkward situations like premature ejaculation for men or women getting overtly apprehensive about vaginal pain and hymen bleeding. Fear is the biggest factor affecting performance on the first night.

Top Tip: Make the act more pleasurable
No person is a master sex performer, so indulge in a prolonged foreplay session to make your first night a tender bonding experience. Even if things go wrong, stay calm and try again after some time. Sometimes the wedding stress and the discomfort of an all new environment takes a mental toll. The body and mind may not be fully open for the experience of sexual discovery. Being patient is key.

Boo-boo: Experiments can wait
Agreed that it's your first time with your partner, but don't get overtly excited. Couples are all geared up to try new acts in bed, but first try and figure out your partner's comfort quotient.

Top Tip: Every night is a first night
Don't think that the first night is your 'one and only' chance to make love passionately, with time your bond will grow even more special with your better half. The first night is just the beginning of pleasures. Don't fret and waste it in performance anxiety!

Boo-boo: Look sexy in tradition
It's believed that a bride must remain in her wedding outfit and let the husband come and lift up the veil ('ghoongat'). But modern day brides aren't too interested in donning the ostentatious outfit for too long and the minute they enter the bedroom; they prefer to undress into a sexy lingerie/night gown. Now, no matter how sensuous your night gown maybe, it doesn't have the same charm as a wedding ensemble. This fashion faux pas forms a lesser known, but common goof-up for brides.

Top Tip: Gifts Galore
As the husband lifts up the veil of the bride's wedding outfit, she's entitled to a surprise gift (for 'mooh dikhayee'). Rings, pendants, necklaces are passé; think of something out-of-the-blue, maybe a romantic honeymoon package, which she would be least expecting or a glamorous outfit, a transparent, hot dress, which you'd like her to get clad in just for your eyes.

source : timesofindia

Average couple argues 2,455 times a year

Average couple argues [img src : liquidsilverbook.com]

A new survey has discovered that the average couple  bickers 2,455 times a year - equal to almost seven times a day.

Researchers found that the biggest single reason for a tiff is not listening to what the other half is saying, which is responsible for around 112 cross exchanges a year, followed by money worries, spending issues and laziness around the house, reports the Sun .

Annoyance about over-spending, especially on impulsive or unnecessary purchases, leads to 109 disputes - with money in general being the cause of a further 108.

Laziness caused 105 outbursts while snoring provoked 102.

What to eat for dinner leads to 92 barneys a year - and 80 tiffs are about a partner walking mud into the house.

Driving too fast, walking past items that need taking upstairs and what to watch on television are the cause of conflict more than once a week.

Sex - particularly a lack of it or the timing - also causes 88 bust-ups a year.

The survey also showed the average couple will argue about disciplining the children 88 times, and have a further 79 disputes about spoiling them.

The figures were revealed in a study of 3,000 people, either married or in relationships, by esure home insurance.

"Bickering on a daily basis is all part of being in a normal, healthy relationship. The normal co-habiting couple will have to put up with each other's daily annoyances - even if they can prove to be very irritating," said a spokeswoman.

source : TOI

Things your girl doesn't want to hear

What she doesn’t want to hear (Img Src : topnews.in)

"Here are some things that you should always avoid  telling your girl if you want to have a peaceful relationship"

You look a bit fat in that dress
Now which girl would like you telling her that she is looking fat. A statement like this will definitely have you spending the night on the couch.

Your mom looks like she's your younger sister
Yes, girls love their mom, but don't ever do the mistake of comparing them, especially in the looks department. You won't score any brownie points by doing this.

I have the best time with my friends
You may enjoy hanging out with your friends, but that doesn't mean you say that to her on her face. Sometimes it's best to be diplomatic.

I can't go out because I want to watch a match
Unless your girlfriend is a sports buff don't give her this excuse very often.

You remind me of my ex
That's the worst thing you could say to your girlfriend. She will always be left wondering if you got into the relationship only because she is a mirror image of your ex.

My mom is the best cook
Women take great pride in their culinary skills. So don't ever claim that your mom cooks better than any woman in the world. You may just have to put up with burnt food for the rest of the week.

I don't like your friends
Like you love hanging out with your friends, your girlfriend loves her friends. Don't make your dislike for them so obvious. Friends can influence your girl to a great extent, so make sure you are in their good books.

Why do you spend so much on beauty treatments?
Don't question your girlfriend spending long hours in the beauty parlour. If you like to spend time playing football and getting dirty then she'd like to spend her time getting pretty. Accept it!

Wow! That girl is hot
Whether it's Priyanka Chopra or Angelina Jolie or just some random girl on the road, never ogle at a woman openly in front of your girl.

I need some space
If you feel the need for space try and suggest it in a subtle manner. Being far to open about it may leave you with too much space and no gf.

source : TOI

Men's top sex secrets!

" If you thought men's sexual response is quite simple and their needs can be met easily, then you certainly need to revise your knowledge of the "birds and bees," for men aren't as simple as they are made out to be."

According to Fox News, here are 10 things that you didn't know about men and sex:

1. Trapped Sperm
Not all sperm go racing for the egg at once. Once sperm has been deposited into the vaginal canal, some of them are temporarily trapped in a semen coagulate or clot. Eventually, they are decoagulated by enzymes, which set them free to swim about a female''s reproductive system. This clotting, according to scientists, is meant to pace the release of sperm into the uterus, increasing the chance that one of these sperms will reach the egg and fertilise it.

2. Oxytocin affects males too
It is believed that oxytocin affects females during sex (and breast-feeding). But this cuddle hormone, released by both sexes during intimacy, is also found to influence males. Research from Switzerland found that oxytocin is associated with increased feelings of trust in males.

3. High testosterone = Less sex
While higher testosterone levels is typically considered a good thing for men when it comes to their sex drive, still researchers continually found that males with higher testosterone levels marry less often, are more abusive in their marriages and divorce more regularly. In fact, married men see more action than single men.

4. Death during sex has a prototype
While examining the incidence of death during sex, a 1975 study discovered a unique pattern in males: the "deceased is usually married; he is not with a spouse and in unfamiliar surroundings," and death usually occurs after "a big meal with alcohol." Another study in 1989 found further evidence supporting the extramarital sex bit. Fourteen of the 20 cases of "la mort d''amour," or coital death, happened during an affair.