Top Five Wealthiest Historical Figures

Top Five Wealthiest Historical Figures

Name: John D. Rockefeller
Age at highest earnings: 74
Age at death: 97 (died May 23, 1937)
Net worth: US$329.9 billion
Original net worth: US$1 billion (September 29 1916) US$900.0 Million (1913–eve of WWI])Origin: United States Main source of wealth: Oil

Name: Andrew Carnegie
Age at highest earnings: 68
Age at death: 83 (died August 11, 1919)
Net worth: US$309.2 billion
Original net worth: US$479.9 Million (1901)
Origin: Scotland
Main source of wealth: U.S. Steel

Name: Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov)
Age at highest earnings: 50 Age at death: 50 (died July 17, 1918)
Net worth: US$290.7 billion
Original net worth: >US$1.3 billion (1916)
Origin: Russian Empire
Company: Monarchy—the Emperor and Autocrat of the Russian Empire (from the House of Romanov)

Name: William Henry Vanderbilt
Age at highest earnings: 64
Age at death: 64 (died December 8, 1885)
Net worth: US$240.0 billion
Original net worth: US$194 Million (1885)
Origin: United States

Name: Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
Age at highest earnings: 50 Age at death: 80 (died February 24, 1967)
Net worth: US$225.1 billion
Original net worth: US$1.4 billion (1937)
Origin: Hyderabad, India Company: Monarchy—Nizam of Hyderabad

Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. The DNA of genetically modified organisms has been modified through genetic engineering, unlike similar food organisms developed through the conventional genetic modification of selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding) or mutation breeding. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil, but animal products have been developed. For example, in 2006 a pig engineered to produce omega-3 fatty acids through the expression of a roundworm gene was controversially produced. Researchers have also developed a genetically-modified breed of pigs that are able to absorb plant phosphorus more efficiently, and as a consequence the phosphorus content of their manure is reduced by as much as 60%.

Critics have objected to GM foods on several grounds, including perceived safety issues,ecological concerns, and economic concerns raised by the fact that these organisms are subject to intellectual property law.

Some scientists argue that there is more than enough food in the world and that the hunger crisis is caused by problems in food distribution and politics, not production, so people should not be offered food that may carry any degree of risk. This argument assumes that genetically modified foods present risks not present in traditional foodstuffs, which are demonstrably not free of risk. Recently some critics have changed their minds on the issue with respect to the need for additional food supplies.

In 1998 Rowett Research Institute scientist Árpád Pusztai reported that consumption of potatoes genetically modified to contain lectin had adverse intestinal effects on rats. Pusztai eventually published a paper, co-authored by Stanley Ewen, in the journal, The Lancet. The paper claimed to show that rats fed on potatoes genetically modified with the snowdrop lectin had unusual changes to their gut tissue when compared with rats fed on non modified potatoes. However, the experiment has been criticised on the grounds that the unmodified potatoes were not a fair control diet.

If India were to dedicate 20 million hectares of land to this system, WWF says, "The country could meet its food grain objectives of 220 million tons of grain by 2012 instead of 2050."

DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES AND ENTITLEMENTS FOR INDIAN RESIDENTS RETURNING FROM ABROAD

Most of us travel international for various reasons, like business, official, personal etc. But might be that we may not be aware of what items and how much of those can we import/get it along with us when we return. Here is a small summary of the same.


I. For passengers coming from countries other than (a) Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Hongkong or China.(b) Pakistan by Land Route

Duty Free allowance for bonafide baggage consisting of (for above 10 years age passengers)

1.Used personal effects (excluding jewellery) required for satisfying daily necessities of life - FREE

2.Other articles carried in person or in accompanied baggage

(a) if Stay abroad for more than three days - Valued upto 25000/-

(b) if Stay abroad upto three days - Valued upto 12000/-

Note:
1. The free allowance shall not be pooled with the free allowance of any other passenger.
2. The free allowance is not applicable to the following goods
1.Fire arms.2.Cartridges of fire arms exceeding 50.3.Cigarettes exceeding 200 or cigars exceeding 50 or tobacco exceeding 250 gms.4.Alcoholic liquor or wines in excess of 2 litres.5.Gold or silver, in any form, other than ornaments.
3. One laptop computer (notebook computer) over and above the said free allowances mentioned above is also allowed duty free if imported by any passenger of the age of 18 years and above
4. The goods over and above the free allowances shall be chargeable to customs duty @ 35% + an education cess of 2% i.e. to say the effective rate is 35.7%.
5. Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products imported in excess of free allowance are chargeable to custom duty at the rates applicable to their commercial imports as per the Customs tariff Act.
6. Import of Indian currency is prohibited. However, in the case of passengers normally resident of India who are returning from a visit abroad Indian currency upto Rs. 5000 is allowed.
7. Incase the value of one item exceeds the duty free allowance, the duty shall be calculated only on the excess of such amount.

Hope this helps.

Find more information on the following website:
http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm

Does our society need Young Journalists?

Journalism - get the facts and truth out of the hidden caves for the open public for review and knowledge. By definition, Journalism is the production of news reports through media such as newspaper,radio, television, internet. Journalists are those who are a part of this production, such as reporters,photographers,broadcast presenters, writers,producers etc.

what do you think, the journalists should do. Dont you think they should be getting the facts and truth out to the people? If so Why Can't an individual be a journalist itself. Its time that when every person in the world holds the responsibility of sharing knowledge and making our society an ideal place to live. unlike past, today's world has something to say openly if its not right through the medium of internet without fearing about anything.

I wish, I was in college now, I could have started my small internet press with blogs collecting and posting the information from my surroundings, of good, bad, inspiring, discouraging etc events around me, everything which can make sense to ensure we have an ideal society to live. I wish someone reading this article atleast makes/attempts such a move. Its all about "will" and "willingness".

Journalism need to be always writing about problems and grievances. It can be supporting,encouraging, appreciative and filled with solutions. We do not need problems - We have enough of it; we need Solutions. we need experiences. History plays a vital role in the development of mankind. Today is a day in History for tomorrow. Get that history to surface for the betterment of the human society through recording it. Show the path of light in the woods of darkness. Hold the hands of those who need, with your knowledge and skills.

Remember - Knowledge is power.

Time Zones and Standard Time - why do we have that?

Standard time the time of a town, region or country that is established by law or general usage as civil time. It is determined locally. The whole of China, one of the largest countries in the world, has decided to adopt a single time zone
The concept of standard time was adopted in the late 19th century in an attempt to end the confusion that was caused by each community's use of its own solar time. Some such standard became increasingly necessary with the development of rapid railway systems and the consequent confusion of schedules that used scores of different local times kept in separate communities. (Local time varies continuously with change in longitude.)
The need for a standard time was felt most particularly in the United States and Canada, where several extensive railway routes passed through places that differed by several hours in local time.
Sir Sandford Fleming, a Canadian railway planner and engineer, outlined a plan for worldwide standard time in the late 1870s. Following this initiative, in 1884 delegates from 27 nations met in Washington, D.C., for the Meridian Conference and agreed on a system basically the same as that now in use.
The present system employs 24 standard meridians of longitude (lines running from the North Pole to the South, at right angles to the Equator) 15º apart, starting with the prime meridian through Greenwich,England. These meridians are theoretically the centres of 24 standard time zones; in practice, the zones have in many cases been subdivided or altered in shape for the convenience of inhabitants.
Time is the same throughout each zone and differs from the international basis of legal and scientific time, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), by an integral number of hours; minutes and seconds are the same.
In a few regions, however, the legal time kept is not that of one of the 24 standard time zones because half-hour or quarter-hour differences are in effect there.

Find the Wiki information at the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_zone

GPS/Navigation System

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

How it works
GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user's exact location. A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at least three satellites to calculate a 2D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement. With four or more satellites in view, the receiver can determine the user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude). Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and more.

The GPS satellite system
The 24 satellites that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000 miles above us. They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less than 24 hours. These satellites are travelling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an hour.
GPS satellites are powered by solar energy. They have backup batteries onboard to keep them running in the event of a solar eclipse, when there's no solar power. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path.
Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS satellites (also called NAVSTAR, the official U.S. Department of Defense name for GPS):

• The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.
• A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.
• Each satellite is built to last about 10 years. Replacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit.
• A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is about 17 feet across with the solar panels extended.
• Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.

GPS satellites transmit two low power radio signals, designated L1 and L2. Civilian GPS uses the L1 frequency of 1575.42 MHz in the UHF band. The signals travel by line of sight, meaning they will pass through clouds, glass and plastic but will not go through most solid objects such as buildings and mountains.