There is an interesting debate going on in the world of consumer literature these days, and it’s not about what to read or not read, but instead it’s about how to do it. To Kindle, or not to Kindle, that is the question. Proponents say it encourages greater readership among reluctant consumers and entices younger readers into the vast world of literature. This is a major accomplishment and diverts the amount of attention that has been focused on electronic games. Meanwhile, Kindles, other electronic devices and e-books also offer larger numbers of writers the opportunity to have their works read and purchases. Perhaps the widening of the market is the greatest actual social benefit these electronic devices have offered, though some people stress they go way beyond that.
A Rainbow of Books by Dawn Endico
Of course one of the most personally compelling reasons to purchase a hand held electronic book device is the amount of space it consumes, versus the equivalent, well that would be a ridiculous comparison, let’s just say even one or two actual books in hand. And especially for students, you can start adding up the amount of books you need to carry pretty fast. Pass by any student health and wellnes center on college campuses and you’ll see first hand the amount of books students carry with them at any given time.
Those overly stuffed, heavy weighted backpacks might soon give way to a simple purse or even a slot in one’s computer case. And students are not the only ones who are excessively weighted down by reading material, or any other standard daily carrying needs. For many professionals, adding one book to their professional bag is too much, but simply sliding in a thin, lightweight Kindle requires little to no extra room or carrying power.
The simplicity of use, enormous amount of books it can hold, and the relative low cost of reading them are some of the most popular aspects, naturally, of these devices for many consumers. Meanwhile, there are some counter arguments to these devices, and these include the devaluing of some of the classic works, or established writers and reducing income for an already enormously competitive field. In addition, major books stores like Borders are closing their doors due to the enormous loss of patronage these devices are contributing to. Regardless of your personal take on the situation, this is definitely the direction of the future, and contribution technology can make to changes in society, it certainly will do so. Other hand had electronic devices provide excellent Internet services and you can do anything from checking your email to finding quality apartment reviews.
With the launch of the final space shuttle today, Vizme Space has put together a Space Shuttle Tribute. Watch and enjoy!!
This tribute allows you to explore the history of the shuttle program, learn about its many achievements, and appreciate the complexity of this monumental scientific and technical endeavor.
Microsoft has come out with a new online magazine Publicyte which is to be used to promote its public sector initiatives. The new magazine is led by Mark Drapeau, editor and chief.
Drapeau is hoping to make Publicyte, the digital magazine, “a great source of creative thought leadership on technology and innovation for different public sector verticals” such as government, education and health care. “We want to present Microsoft in a new light to influential people in the public and civic sectors and through the media that covers it.”
As well as Drapeau, the magazine will incorporate articles by other writers from Microsoft as well as contributions from writers out with the company. The main focus will be on Microsoft.
There has been no major announcement about the magazine as the company wants the readership to grow naturally. The audience is expected to be public and civic sector professionals. The goal is to influence how people think about issues like social media and government.
Have you ever wondered who makes the tires for the space shuttle? Tires weren’t exactly necessary in the early days of the NASA space program. The first NASA space vehicles such as the Titan II and Saturn V rockets were just that — rockets. After returning from space these rockets would literally fall into the ocean and were retrieved by NASA afterward. When NASA launched the space shuttle program in 1981 it was clear that they were missing the one thing that rockets didn’t need – landing gear. Unlike NASA’s earlier rockets, the Space Shuttles were designed to make a standard airport landing after returning from space. But NASA knew that they would need something stronger than the average tire. So they turned to famous tire maker Michelin Tires to design and manufacture the tires for the Space Shuttle. Before Michelin could secure the contract to equip Space Shuttles with their tires, they had to create tires that could pass NASA’s rigorous tests and stand up to the stresses of space travel and a reentry landing. Since every ounce of weight counts for the Space Shuttle, the tires had to be as light as possible; the rocket boosters which launch the Shuttle into space are only capable of carrying so much weight. NASA has often had to sacrifice vital scientific packages because these weight requirements so the tires couldn’t be significantly heavy. To make the Shuttle tires as light as possible Michelin gave them as very little tread and in the end they only weighed about 205 pounds (for the landing gear tires).
And before any dealerships were putting Nitrogen in tires, Michelin was filling their aircraft tires with it including the Space Shuttle tires. Nitrogen is ideal for the inflating the tires of the Space Shuttle because it remains stable at the high altitudes, pressure, and temperatures that the Shuttle is exposed to. Speaking of extreme temperature, the Space Shuttle tires are exposed to temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in space to above 130 degrees Fahrenheit when the Shuttle is landing. Furthermore, to handle the excessive speeds of a landing Space Shuttle, the tires are rated for a maximum speed of 259 miles per hour.
Unbeknownst to many, the tires on the space shuttle are actually about the same size as a truck tire. Though the main landing gear tire on the Space Shuttle can hold three times the load of a Boeing 747; in fact, the landing gear tires (44.5×16.0-21 MLG) can hold up to 142,000 pounds. To handle this immense amount of weight the tires are inflated beyond 300 psi. Furthermore, NASA actually only uses the main landing gear tires on the Space Shuttle once before replacing them with a new set. Today, Michelin or specifically Michelin Aircraft Tire Corporation remains the sole tire supplier for the NASA’s Space Shuttles.
The internet has revolutionized the way that people watch sports. Fans can follow the exploits of their favorite athletes on official player sites and 24 hour news sites. They can also meet up with other fans on social media, blogs, and forums to discuss and debate everything from basketball to hockey, from tennis to soccer, from auto racing to boxing. Tennis fans in particular can rejoice in the fact that there are hundreds of sites catering to their need for information, scores, and breaking tennis news.
In addition to the wide range of sites covering tennis topics, fans can take advantage of live coverage of major events being broadcast on the internet. International competitions are no longer subject to tape delays until the major networks can air a match. In addition to official sites offering french open streaming , there are countless amateur videos being posted on blogs on video sites of other tournament matches or catching favorite players away from the court. The widespread use of mobile technology means that fans can now see a given tennis match from countless angles in the stands as well as the official vantage points of broadcast networks.
Once the match or tournament is over, fans no longer have to worry about finding like-minded individuals to share in the afterglow. They can log on to their favorite forum or social media site and hash and rehash every stroke from the french open 2011 with a multitude of fellow fans. They will find post-match interviews with players and coaches as well as analysis from tennis experts on blogs and video snippets.
Wearing her husband’s wedding ring hanging on a chain around her neck U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords watched her husband Mark Kelly command shuttle Endeavour on its final flight.
Captain Mark Kelly, the commander of the space shuttle Endeavour, said on Tuesday that his injured wife, Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, was “more than medically ready” to make the trip to Florida for the shuttle launching.
