Polybius: Mysterious Video Game
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| Polybius arcade cabinet built by Robb Sherwin Image courtesy of Wikipedia(Khtexg98537) |
The game proved to be incredibly popular, to the point of addiction, and lines formed around the machines, often resulting in fighting over who played next. Then this was followed by clusters of visits from men in black. Rather than the usual marketing data collected by company visitors to arcade machines, they collected some unknown data, allegedly testing responses to the psychoactive machines. The players themselves suffered from a series of unpleasant side effects, including amnesia, insomnia, nightmares, night terrors, and even suicide in some versions of the legend. Some players stopped playing video games, while reportedly one became an antigaming activist.
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| Title frame of the alleged game Image courtesy of Wikipedia(Khtexg98537) |
Polybius gets its name from the Greek historian born about 200 years BCE. In a Polybius square, the letters of the alphabet are arranged in a grid, numbered five across and five high (the Greek alphabet had only 24 letters, so it fit). His idea was that this would make it easier to send messages by flag or drum or fire, having only five characters to worry about instead of a whole alphabet. But rearrange the letters within the grid, and you have a simple ciphering system.
If these game consoles were ever actually in Oregon, they must have gone somewhere. Many owners of rare and classic arcade games are members of the Vintage Arcade Preservation Society, which lists exactly one person as the owner of an original Polybius: Robb Sherwin, who lives in Colorado, and owns a dozen or so classic video games.
References: [Wikipedia] [Skeptoid]
Blue Eyes, A Genetic Mutation?
What is Genetic Mutation?
“Originally, we all had brown eyes”, said Professor Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. “But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a “switch”, which literally “turned off” the ability to produce brown eyes”. The OCA2 gene codes for the so-called P protein, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to our hair, eyes and skin. The “switch”, which is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 does not, however, turn off the gene entirely, but rather limits its action to reducing the production of melanin in the iris – effectively “diluting” brown eyes to blue. The switch’s effect on OCA2 is very specific therefore. If the OCA2 gene had been completely destroyed or turned off, human beings would be without melanin in their hair, eyes or skin colour – a condition known as albinism.
Limited Genetic Variation
Variation in the colour of the eyes from brown to green can all be explained by the amount of melanin in the iris, but blue-eyed individuals only have a small degree of variation in the amount of melanin in their eyes. “From this we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor,” says Professor Eiberg. “They have all inherited the same switch at exactly the same spot in their DNA.” Brown-eyed individuals, by contrast, have considerable individual variation in the area of their DNA that controls melanin production.
Professor Eiberg and his team examined mitochondrial DNA and compared the eye colour of blue-eyed individuals in countries as diverse as Jordan, Denmark and Turkey. His findings are the latest in a decade of genetic research, which began in 1996, when Professor Eiberg first implicated the OCA2 gene as being responsible for eye colour.
Nature Shuffles Our Genes
The mutation of brown eyes to blue represents neither a positive nor a negative mutation. It is one of several mutations such as hair colour, baldness, freckles and beauty spots, which neither increases nor reduces a human’s chance of survival. As Professor Eiberg says, “it simply shows that nature is constantly shuffling the human genome, creating a genetic cocktail of human chromosomes and trying out different changes as it does so.”
Astronomers detect mysterious radio signals from 11 billion light years away
According to the astronomers, these radio waves do not come from Earthly sources. In fact, astronomers posit that their brightness and distance promote the idea that they originate from space distances when the Universe was only half its current age.
Furthermore, astronomers posit that the burst energetics signify that they come from an intense astrophysical event associated with relativistic objects like neutron stars or black holes.
Lead author Dan Thornton, a PhD student at University of Manchester and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, notes that the study’s results suggested some intense events involving big amounts of mass or energy as the starting point of the radio bursts.
According to Thornton, a single burst of radio emission of unidentified origin was picked up outside our own Milky Way galaxy approximately six years ago but no one had any idea what it was or if it was genuine in existence. For the last four years, astronomers have looked for more of these strange radio bursts.
In the study, astronomers discuss four more radio bursts, ending any discussion of whether or not these radio bursts are real. According to the authors, the radio bursts last for only a few milliseconds and the most distant one that they identified was approximately 11 billion light years away from Earth.
Interestingly, the discoveries also provide evidence for the theory that there should be one of these radio bursts being released every 10 seconds. According to Michael Kramer, a professor at the University of Manchester and the Max-Planck Institute Director, the radio bursts lost for only a few milliseconds, meaning that with the available technology astronomers have to be observing the right location at the right time to detect them. However, the ability to view the entire sky, all of the time, would lead to the discovery of radio bursts on a much more frequent basis.
To make their discoveries, the international research team utilized the CSIRO Parkes 64-meter radio telescope in Australia.
According to co-author Matthew Bailes, a professor at the Swinburne University of Technology, the radio bursts may originate from “magnetars.” Magnetars have the ability to give off more energy in a millisecond than our Sun gives off in 300,000 years and are the principal suspect for the mysterious radio signals.
According to the astronomers, the findings will help scientists learn more about characteristics of space between the Earth and where the bursts originated.
Ben Strappers, a professor at the University of Manchester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, posits that astronomers are still uncertain about what space is like between galaxies, but these radio signals will offer key data in their quest to learn more about the Universe.
References: [The Space Reporter]
Mankind Has 1,000 Years To Escape Earth
Renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking warns human beings won’t survive “without escaping” from the “fragile” planet. His gloomy forecast is people will become extinct on Earth within current the millennium.
Speaking at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles the 71-year-old scientist called for further exploration of space to guarantee the future of mankind, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
"We must continue to go into space for humanity. If you understand how the universe operates, you control it in a way," Professor Hawking said, adding that "we won't survive another 1,000 years without escaping our fragile planet."
Space exploration has however been struggling with the global financial crisis and has too proven subject to spending cuts. In particular NASA's planetary science budget, which is seen as crucial to finding habitable planets, was slashed by $300 million this year.
At the same time, the Mars race has not been abandoned.
On Monday NASA concluded from Curiosity Rover’s findings that the red planet is gradually turning cold after losing a large part of its original atmosphere.
Russia, in its turn, has signed a deal with the European Space Agency to become a full-fledged partner in the ExoMars project, a new attempt to discover if there is life on Mars and eventually send a manned mission there. In 2010 and 2011, the Mars-500 experiment was carried out in Moscow: a group of six volunteers were locked inside a simulated spacecraft for 520 days – the time it would take to make a round trip to the planet.
Back at the LA Medical Center, Hawking was touring a stem cell lab, which is focused on trying to slow the progression of Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He’s been suffering the incurable ailment, which attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control the muscles, for 50 years.
Director of Cedars-Sinai's ALS program, Dr. Robert Baloh, has admitted that he is unable to explain Hawking’s longevity, because people rarely live more than a dozen years with this diagnosis.
“But 50 years is unusual, to say the least," Baloh said.
Hawking was diagnosed with the neurological disorder while a student at Cambridge University at the age of 21. He is confined to a wheelchair and needs permanent assistance. The only movement he is able to do on his own is to twitch the cheek. He communicates with the rest of the world by means of the built-in wheelchair computer, which conveys the owner’s thoughts by a monotonous robot’s voice.
"However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at," Hawking added speaking of dealing with his health condition.
Despite his grave diagnosis, Professor Hawking has remained active. In 2007, he floated like an astronaut on an aircraft that creates zero-gravity by making parabolic dives.
Hawking spent his career on decoding the Universe, working on black holes and the origin of matter. The Professor brought his esoteric physics concepts to the masses through his books, including “A Brief History of Time” published in 1988, which was sold 10 million copies worldwide.
References: [RT]
Hidden Subway Station in NYC
Opened in 1904, this crowning glory of the New York subway system lies deep in the city. A beautiful untouched station resides that has been forgotten for years with only a limited few knowing of its existence. Stunning decoration with tall tiled arches, brass fixtures and skylights run across the entire curve of the station, which also can be thought of as a miniature imitation of Grand Central Station. It is an elegant architecture and a place for commemorative plaques to honour the work that had resulted in such a successful underground mass transit system. It was to be the original southern terminus of the first ‘Manhattan Main Line’; however the station was closed and boarded up in 1945. The gem of the underground began gathering dust, forgotten by the general public, as passengers were forced off at the Brooklyn Bridge Stop before the train continued on to the terminus to make its turnaround.
The reason for its closure was that newer longer cars were required to match the demand of passengers that passed through the system. But as the stations tracks were severely curved, a dangerous gap between the train doors and the platform was formed making it an unsafe area. This combined with the fact that only about 600 people used it, resulted in its closure with only mythical plans of turning it into a transit museum. But this was never followed through.
However, now you don’t have to take my word that the secret City Hall Station exists, as the 6 Train will now allow the passengers who have been enlightened with the knowledge of its whereabouts to stay on the train during its turnaround and see the Station. You won’t be able to get off, but you’ll be taken for a slow tour of the platform and see what a beauty it was in its heyday!
References: [Travelettes]
Expiry Date of LPG Gas Cylinder
Please communicate this information to your family and friends. Have U ever heard about LPG gas cylinder's expiry date....!!
Do you know that there is an expiry date (physical life) for LPG cylinders? Expired Cylinders are not safe for use and may cause accidents. In this regard, please be cautious at the time of accepting any LPG cylinder from the vendor.
Here is how we can check the expiry of LPG cylinders:
On one of three side stems of the cylinder, the expiry date is coded alpha numerically as follows A or B or C or D and some two digit number following this e.g. D06.
The alphabets stand for quarters -
1. A for March (First Quarter),
2. B for June (Second Quarter),
3. C for Sept (Third Quarter),
4. D for December (Fourth Quarter).
The digits stand for the year till it is valid. Hence D06 would mean December quarter of 2006.
Please Return Back the Cylinder that you get with a Expiry Date, they are prone to Leak and other Hazardous accidents.
The second example with D13 allows the cylinder to be in use until Dec 2013. Kindly pass this information to every one, and create awareness among the public.
Ravindra Kaushik (former RAW Agent), Real Black Tiger
Ravindra Kaushik was born in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan in the year 1952.He was a good theater artist. During a national level drama presentation he came in contact with RAW, the Indian intelligence agency. He completed his graduation at the age of 23. After graduation Ravindra Kaushik Joined RAW. In 1983 he was caught and sentenced to death for spying. Later his death sentence was converted into life time imprisonment. India already fought with Pakistan and China. Pakistan was preparing for another war against India. When Indian army got this information, they sent Ravinder Kaushik to Pakistan as Indian Spy with the help of RAW.
There Ravindra Kaushik took admission in Law College and completed his graduation in Law and then after learned Urdu also. After completing graduation, he joined Pakistani Army as an officer and went up being promoted to the rank of 'Major'.. He fell in love with a local Pakistani girl and married her. In Pakistan he spied with new name Nabi Ahmed. He was the 'Black Tiger' of RAW . Some say it was rewarded by India's then home minister S.B. Chavan while others testify that the Title was conferred by then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.
He was in Pakistan Army from 1979 to 1983 and during this tenure he dispatched valuable information to RAW which was of great help to the Indian defence mechanism. But unfortunately Ravindra was caught by Pakistan. They put him in jail where he was tortured. In the 1985 he was awarded death sentence which was subsequently converted into life imprisonment. Kaushik remained in various jails from where he somehow sent letters which revealed the pathetic health condition and the trauma faced by him in Pakistani jails. Ravindra Kaushik spent 18 years in Pakistani jails, where he contracted Asthma and TB. He died on 21 November 2001 in a jail at Mianwali. He was buried behind that jail.
He spend 30 years of his life away from his home and family in Pakistan in very unfavourable conditions, only because of his love for the Nation that is India. Indian army killed more than 50 soldiers of Pakistani army in Pahalgaon because they fought with the strategy send by Ravindra Kaushik.
The much hyped Salman Katrina starrer has gathered a lot of controvesy as the promos draw a startling similarlity with this Former RAW agent’s life story. Vikram Vashishtha, nephew of Late Ravindra Kaushik even slammed a leagal notice to the production company. But the production house & the director told the media that “Ek Tha Tiger” is about him.
Whatever the truth is now we do know who the real TIGER was. Kudos to Late Ravindra Kaushik, a real patriot of Mother land who even left his true Indentity behind to serve his nation.
Alien Presence on Moon?
Did you ever wonder why the Moon landings stopped and why we have not tried to build a Moon Base? It does seem like a better and easier idea than a floating space station with no access to any raw materials or supplies? According to the NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong the aliens have a base on the Moon and told us in no uncertain terms to get off and stay off the Moon!
Sound far fetched? Milton Cooper, a Naval Intelligence Officer tells us that not only does the Alien Moon Base exist but the U.S. Naval Intelligence Community refers to the Alien Moon Base as "Luna," that there is a huge mining operation going on there, and that is where the aliens keep their huge mother ships while the trips to Earth are made in smaller "flying saucers".
LUNA: The Alien base on the far side of the Moon. It was seen and filmed by the Apollo astronauts. A base, a mining operation using very large machines, and the very large alien craft described in sighting reports as mother ships exist there. -Milton Cooper
Did Apollo 11 Encounter UFOs on the Moon? from the Book "Above Top Secret" by Timothy Good.
According to a former NASA employee Otto Binder, unnamed radio hams with their own VHF receiving facilities that bypassed NASA's broadcasting outlets picked up the following exchange:
Nasa: What's there? Mission Control calling Apollo 11...
Apollo: These "Babies" are huge, Sir! Enormous! OH MY GOD! You wouldn't believe it! I'm telling you there are other spacecraft out there, lined up on the far side of the crater edge! They're on the Moon watching us!
In 1979, Maurice Chatelain, former chief of NASA Communications Systems confirmed that Armstrong had indeed reported seeing two UFOs on the rim of a crater. "The encounter was common knowledge in NASA," he revealed, "but nobody has talked about it until now."
Soviet scientists were allegedly the first to confirm the incident. "According to our information, the encounter was reported immediately after the landing of the module," said Dr. Vladimir Azhazha, a physicist and Professor of Mathematics at Moscow University. "Neil Armstrong relayed the message to Mission Control that two large, mysterious objects were watching them after having landed near the moon module. But his message was never heard by the public-because NASA censored it. "
According to another Soviet scientist, Dr. Aleksandr Kazantsev, Buzz Aldrin took color movie film of the UFOs from inside the module, and continued filming them after he and Armstrong went outside. Dr. Azhazha claims that the UFOs departed minutes after the astronauts came out on to the lunar surface.
Maurice Chatelain also confirmed that Apollo 11's radio transmissions were interrupted on several occasions in order to hide the news from the public. Before dismissing Chatelain's sensational claims, it is worth noting his impressive background in the aerospace industry and space program. His first job after moving from France was as an electronics engineer with Convair, specializing in telecommunications, telemetry, and radar. In 1959 he was in charge of an electromagnetic research group, developing new radar and telecommunications systems for Ryan. One of his eleven patents was an automatic flights to the Moon. Later, at North American Aviation, Chatelain was offered the job of designing and building the Apollo communications and data-processing systems.
Chatelain claims that "all Apollo and Gemini flights were followed, both at a distance and sometimes also quite closely, by space vehicles of extraterrestrial origin-flying saucers, or UFOs, if you want to call them by that name. Every time it occurred, the astronauts informed Mission Control, who then ordered absolute silence." He goes on to say:
"I think that Walter Schirra aboard Mercury 8 was the first of the astronauts to use the code name 'Santa Claus' to indicate the presence of flying saucers next to space capsules. However, his announcements were barely noticed by the general public.
It was a little different when James Lovell on board the Apollo 8 command module came out from behind the moon and said for everybody to hear:
'PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS.'
Even though this happened on Christmas Day 1968, many people sensed a hidden meaning in those words."
Rumors persist. NASA may well be a civilian agency, but many of its programs are funded by the defense budget and most of the astronauts are subject to military security regulations. Apart from the fact that the National Security Agency screens all films and probably radio communications as well. We have the statements by Otto Binder, Dr. Garry Henderson and Maurice Chatelain that the astronauts were under strict orders not to discuss their sightings. And Gordon Cooper has testified to a United Nations committee that one of the astronauts actually witnessed a UFO on the ground. If there is no secrecy, why has this sighting not been made public?
A certain professor, who wished to remain anonymous, was engaged in a discussion with Neil Armstrong during a NASA symposium.
Professor: What REALLY happened out there with Apollo 11?
Armstrong: It was incredible, of course we had always known there was a possibility, the fact is, we
were warned off! (by the Aliens). There was never any question then of a space station or a moon city.
Professor: How do you mean "warned off"?
Armstrong: I can't go into details, except to say that their ships were far superior to ours both in size and
technology - Boy, were they big!... and menacing! No, there is no question of a space station.
Professor: But NASA had other missions after Apollo 11?
Armstrong: Naturally-NASA was committed at that time, and couldn't risk panic on Earth. But it really was a quick scoop and back again.
Armstrong confirmed that the story was true but refused to go into further detail, beyond admitting that the CIA was behind the cover-up.
References:
- http://www.ronrecord.com/astronauts/mchatelain.html
- http://www.sacred-texts.com/ufo/moonbase.htm
- http://www.ronrecord.com/astronauts/mchatelain.html
- http://www.internationalnewsagency.org/us_astronauts_and_the_ufo_encoun.htm
- http://www.debunker.com/texts/apollo11.html
- http://www.ufodigest.com/nasa/index.html
- Chatelain-www.unexplainable.net
- Armstrong-www.space.com
- Aldrin-www.nndb.com
- Farside of Noon-www.mhhe.com/
World's Top 10 Infrastructure Projects
KPMG's second edition of the 'Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition', showcases 100 of the most innovative and inspiring urban infrastructure projects from around the world.
This study provides insight into the innovations that make them 'Cities of the Future' - places where people want to live and do business, says KPMG.
The aim of Infrastructure100 is to showcase and celebrate one hundred examples of great projects underway in cities around the world.
Of the 100 projects, 10 were selected by a global judging panel as being the most noteworthy within each project category.
This study provides insight into the innovations that make them 'Cities of the Future' - places where people want to live and do business, says KPMG.
The aim of Infrastructure100 is to showcase and celebrate one hundred examples of great projects underway in cities around the world.
Of the 100 projects, 10 were selected by a global judging panel as being the most noteworthy within each project category.
1. Urban Mobility: East Side Access, New York City, United States of America
2. Global Connectivity: Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Delhi to Mumbai, India
The $90 billion project will stretch across seven states and link the nation's capital, Delhi, with the financial capital, Mumbai.The sheer scale and far-reaching impact of the project impressed the judges with plans including a high-speed rail line for freight, a six-lane expressway and a 4,000 megawatt power station.
The idea is to develop centres of industrial production along the length of the corridor. The project plan includes nine industrial zones and 24 new cities.
3. Urban Regeneration: Oresund Regional Development, Denmark and Sweden
The Oresund Regional Development project creates a cross-border economic zone between Sweden and Denmark, focused on Malmo and Copenhagen.
The two cities are connected by an impressive new international crossing and share a considerable amount of physical infrastructure.
The aim is to continue to foster growth and connectivity via the proposed 18 kilometer Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, which will bring Germany and Scandinavia closer together.
The aim is to continue to foster growth and connectivity via the proposed 18 kilometer Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, which will bring Germany and Scandinavia closer together.
4. Education: Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University for Women, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University for Women was widely lauded by the judges and is considered a major step in obtaining equal access to education for women in the Middle East.
The self-contained campus will cover 8 million square meters just outside Riyadh and accommodate 40,000 students.
The self-contained campus will cover 8 million square meters just outside Riyadh and accommodate 40,000 students.
The university will have the capacity to accommodate 60 per cent of the city's high-school graduates and will offer degrees in medicine, pharmacy, management and IT.
According to the judges, the project has a "generational theme" and its effect will ripple across the whole country for years to come.
According to the judges, the project has a "generational theme" and its effect will ripple across the whole country for years to come.
5. Healthcare: Royal London Hospital, London, UK
The Royal London Hospital at White chapel in the United Kingdom is one of the oldest operating healthcare facilities in England.
The Victorian-era hospital – often associated with the grittiness of the capital's East End – was redeveloped and funded through a 1.1 billion pound PFI.
Following its redevelopment, the new hospital reopened its doors in March 2012 and is now one of Britain's largest, most advanced healthcare facilities.
The new hospital has 1,248 beds, an increase of 186 on the previous facility, with over 40 percent in single rooms with en suite facilities.
Wards are light and airy with natural ventilation and separate areas for women and men, and the 22 operating theaters are one-third larger than their predecessors.
6. Water: Tuas II Desalination Plant, Tuas, Singapore
In Singapore, the Tuas II Desalination Plant will serve a vital function, delivering 318,500 cubic meters (70 million gallons) of water per day for a 25-year concession period from 2013 to 2038.
Singapore currently relies on rainfall and imports from neighboring Malaysia for freshwater supplies.
The wealthy city-state has made several investments in recent years to become more independent and meet the needs of an increasing population.
7. New and Extended Cities: Tianjin Eco City, Tianjin, China
In the Far East, judges were impressed with Tianjin Eco-city being developed with "practical" technology on challenging arid terrain in northern China.
The city is an ambitious economic collaboration between China and Singapore to pilot a more liveable alternative to some of the country's polluted megacities.
With an advanced light rail system, solar energy and smart grid technology, Tianjin eco-city is set to create a new benchmark among global cities.
8. Recycling and Waste Management: Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, Kranji to Changi, Singapore
The Deep Tunnel Sewerage System in Singapore has been under construction since 2000 and is scheduled for completion in 2020.
The massive scheme has been designed to address all of the city-state's long-term needs for used water collection, treatment, reclamation and disposal.
The award-winning system works entirely by gravity, thus eliminating the need for pumping stations and the risks of used water overflows as well.
9. Urban Energy Infrastructure: Cidade Inteligente, Buzios, Brazil
Brazil is at the forefront of intelligent energy systems with its impressive Cidade Inteligente Buzios project.
Among the benefits for consumers are the possibilities of having discounted energy prices dependent on time of usage, consumption control of household appliances, energy savings through the installation of new LED street lighting and increased energy efficiency in public buildings.
10. Communications Infrastructure: BRICS Cable Project, South Africa and Mauritius
A hugely ambitious initiative designed to boost international communication between cities and global access to high-speed internet is the BRICS Cable Project.
As the acronym suggests, this initiative aims to connect the BRIC markets and the United States with a 34,000 kilometre two-fiber pair submarine cable with capacity of 12.8Tbit/s via cities like Jacksonville (USA), Fortaleza (Brazil), Cape Town (South Africa), Port Louis (Mauritius), Chennai (India), Singapore, Shantou (China) and Vladivostok (Russia).
With enhanced internet connectivity, the cable would boost trade links and economic competitiveness.