Monday 27 August 2012

NEIL ARMSTRONG : One small step (R.I.P.)

Neil Armstrong, first man on the moon, inspired the world
 
  • NAME:Neil Armstrong
  • OCCUPATION:Astronaut, Explorer, Pilot
  • BIRTH DATE:August 05, 1930
  • DEATH DATE:August 25, 2012
  • EDUCATION: Purdue University, University of Cincinnati
    • PLACE OF BIRTH: Wapakoneta, Ohio
    

    Neil Armstrong is gone but the footprints he left on the moon endure. And so does his unmatched place in history. Of all humanity, he was the first to leave Earth and step onto another world. And — it being the television age — he did so while much of humanity watched.

    Neil Amstrong died Aug.25'12 at 82.  Forty-three years ago, he stepped from the Apollo 11 lunar module and onto the dusty surface of the moon, declaring it “one giant leap for mankind".

    More than half a billion people around the world looked on — an irony given Armstrong’s intensely private nature — and what they saw was more than just a technological triumph, or a space race victory by the United States. Although the July 20, 1969 moon landing was born in cold war rivalry, it ultimately transcended politics and became seen as a universal achievement.

    Experiencing the drama of the landing, and watching Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin hop about on the moon’s surface, inspired countless children to dream of becoming space explorers.

    Five additional two-man crews would follow Armstrong and Aldrin to the moon, with the last landing in 1972 — 40 years ago this December. Since then, humans haven’t ventured beyond low Earth orbit. Space exploration has gone in other, safer but less glorious directions, with an unmanned rover now on Mars.

    Freeze-dried food, cordless power tools and other spinoffs from the Apollo program — is the greatest legacy of Armstrong’s moon walk.

     
    
    (Partial article from "Toronto Star"newspaper and pictures from "US" magazine)
     
    Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon. He was also an aerospace engineer, U.S. Navy pilot, test pilot, and university professor. Before becoming an astronaut, Armstrong was a United States Navy officer and served in the Korean War. (Wikipedia)
     
    
     
     
    

    Tuesday 14 August 2012

    OLYMPICS 2012 - A touchy story from a 10 yeras old fan!

    Canada’s disqualified 4 x 100 team gets a medal — from a 10-year-old fan


    Justyn Warner is consoled by his fiancee Nikkita Holder after Canada was DQ'd (Sean Kilpatrick, Canadian Press)

    Canada's 4 x 100 relay team might like to distance themselves from the the disqualification which knocked them off the Olympic podium. However, as soon as they arrived home, they got a reminder of how the country was touched by the swirl of emotions they went through after believing they had earned a bronze medal for about 10 minutes before being informed Jared Connaughton had committed a lane violation.
    Here's one "ahhhh" example of how Canadians have reached out to the team.
    Elijah Porter, 10, wrote to the team and sent them his own Timbits hockey medal to take its place.
    Sprinter Justyn Warner tweeted a picture of the medal and handwritten letter on Monday.
    The letter states: "We're Canadians. We persevere. We create better lives for each other. We didn't lose the War of 1812. I hope you like the medal." (680 News)
    It wasn't the only medal the team received to recognize their effort — the decision was just, but it doesn't erase that they burned up the track and showed they were Canada's best 4 x 100 team since 1996 — that nearly brought Canada a medal. Connaughton was also honoured when he arrived home in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on Monday. The way he took ownership for the mistake is a great example of accountability.

    Meantime, how about a hand for young Elijah Porter, presuming it was all his own decision without any encouragement from a parent? Not just any child would give up a token of his own accomplishments. And remember, if any other Canadian children do the same thing, well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

    Elijah Porter's letter to the Canadian relay team (Twitter)
    Story worth to re-post from: http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/canada-4-x-100-team-gets-medal-10-141118533.html