Archive for the 'Travel – Places' Category

Winter storm at April end

Thursday 29 April 2010 @ 9:40 am

Yes, it is April 29, 2010, and we still have winter in Calgary with ‘Winter Storm Warning’ still in effect.

Wasn’t it supposed to be the warmest year for some time? When you go out, it seems, the reported ‘Wind Chill’ is a bit on the higher side.

Some photos of the spring buds follow:

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Winter storm at April end

Comments (0) | Posted in Travel - Places

The fastest commercial train in the world is now operational in China running at a maximum speed of 394 kilometers per hour (km/hr) in a trail run. The train link connects two cities, Guangzhou in South to Wuhan in central China, and will travel at an average speed of 350km/hr (217mph). The 1,068 km distance between the two cities can now be covered by the high-speed train in two hours and forty five minutes that is, a saving of about six hours of travel time.

The high-speed train line uses technology developed in co-operation with firms such as Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom.

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Fastest train in the world

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Comments (0) | Posted in General,Travel - Places

Will Google Maps Navigation replace standalone GPS?

Thursday 29 October 2009 @ 1:22 pm

google Navigation Newly announced Google Maps Navigation caused shares of satellite navigation device companies to fall substantially amidst fears of the death of standalone GPS. Is it really the death or the rumors of the death have been greatly exaggerated?

In the Navigation Application, Google uses search engine to find addresses, Google Street View for photos of locations, and live traffic data in its turn-by-turn GPS software. The application is available in the new Droid phone. Lets see some advantages and disadvantage of Google GPS attached to mobile phone.

Advantages of Google Maps Nav.:

It is a free service
Comes with phone and doesnt need an extra gadget, easy to carry and you are less likely to forget it at home.
Real-time updating
Linked to the HUGE Google search database

Disadvantages:

It is device specific only phone it supports now is Motorola Droid. More may be (are) coming but it will take time.
Multi-tasking using GPS and calling somebody would be difficult. It would certainly add concern to the traffic safety.
Dedicated data connection is required there are many places where Google service might not be available.
Mobile phones usually have smaller screen as compared to dedicated GPS. More the screen are better the details on the map.
Mobile phones’ smaller form factors usually dont allow for extra battery (like iPhone). Constant use for long period of time might not be practical in some situations.
Google will certainly add advertisement in future. Would like smaller screen and ads in it?

GPS manufacturers knew it was coming. Sometime back, TomTom started offering its own mobile GPS application for iPhone for $100. But free application is lot more cheaper! It is to be seen if Apple will beg Google to make one for iPhone.

Official video on Google Maps Navigation:

Professionals would certainly go for standalone GPS but causal users like myself would certainly be happy with the new device and new application. Death is a harsh word; but it is sure that they wouldnt sell like hot cakes anymore.

GPS manufacturers need to step forward in innovating their products, cutting the prices, and offer better value to the customers. It sure is not a dead end!

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Comments (0) | Posted in Freeware,General,Travel - Places

Go Norway, UN index rates best life in the western Scandinavia

Monday 5 October 2009 @ 6:55 pm

world_map When it comes to the quality of life, Norway enjoys the world’s highest ranking country according to a United Nations agency. The annual Human Development Index prepared by the UN Development Program found that the country with the worst quality of life is Niger with life expectancy of just over 50 years. The Index was prepared by taking life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment and per capita gross domestic product in 182 countries.

The second best in the list was Australia followed by Iceland. Canada ranked fourth (not bad!) and the United States was in 13th place.

Trends in the index since 1980 showed an average improvement of 15 per cent in countries’ scores. The greatest long-term improvements have been shown by China, Iran and Nepal, but progress has been concentrated in education and health rather than income, said the UN agency. (source)

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western scandinavia

Comments (0) | Posted in Travel - Places,love and life

Luxury of living rat-free

Sunday 6 September 2009 @ 9:06 pm

Last month a rat was found in Calgary. The poor little creature created huge outcry. Ill fated varmint probably came into its graveyard by hitching a ride on a recreational vehicle from Saskatchewan.

A rat? What a big deal? you might say. Yes, rats are everywhere and for many people, it is a luxury to live rat-free.

But it is a big deal for the province after being rat-free for the last 50 years. Hey, how can a little thing challenge such a big status issue. Albertans pride themselves on being the only place on earth that is livable and is rat free. The only two other places that are rat-free are Arctic and Antarctica.

Rat control costs the provincial government about $500,000 a year but the effort is said to save tens of millions of dollars in potential crop damage, disease, food contamination and damaged buildings. (news source)

If you love rats and keep rats as pet Alberta is not a place for you to live.

Pet shop owners, herpetologists and other persons interested in keeping rats as pets are not allowed to do so in Alberta. Only hospitals, universities and other related institutes of education, authorized by the government are allowed to possess live rattus species of any kind. (source)

Pied pipers: keep out, you have no jobs here in Alberta!

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rat free places

Comments (0) | Posted in Travel - Places

What is your National Flower – 9 (H)

Sunday 2 August 2009 @ 8:00 pm

Holland (The Netherlands) There is no official national flower of Holland. But Tulip (Tulipa) is often considered flower of national importance. Tulip bulbs are also used as substitute for onions in cooking.

tulip