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TODAY IN HISTORY

    THE FIRST IRON LUNG
    July 29, 1927 - United States

    (Electric Respirator) was installed at Bellevue hospital in New York for the post war polio epidemic. The first iron lung was developed at Harvard University by Phillip Drinker and Louis Agassiz Shaw built with two vacuum cleaners. The iron lung is a negative pressure machine which surrounds the patient's body except for the head, and alternates a negative atmospheric pressure with the ambient one, resulting in rhythmic expansion of the chest cage (and thus inhalation) in response to the negative extra thoracic pressure. During periods of ambient extrathoracic pressure, the lungs deflate. This type of machine is rarely used today.

    AMERICA'S FIRST ASPHALT PAVEMENT
    July 29, 1870

    Was laid in Newark, N.J. Previously, coal tar was used for many pavements laid in the 1860s. The first recorded asphalt pavement in the U.S. was a sand mix placed in front of the City Hall in Newark, N.J., in 1870. Edmund J. DeSmedt, a Belgian chemist (who became the inspector of asphalt and cements for the District of Columbia) held a U.S. patent for this asphalt paving method, granted on 31 May 1867. In that century most roads, even in cities, were wide dirt pathways, severely affected by weather. Smooth surfaced asphalt roads originally were for the benefit of bicyclists. By 1904, only 141 miles were surfaced, but commonplace by 1916. Natural asphalt deposits were originally used, but almost all of the asphalt used commercially is now made from petroleum.

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RANDOM QUOTES

  • All of us have a God in us
    by Earth Day, Kenya

    "...All of us have a God in us, and that God is the spirit that unites all life, everything that is on this planet. It must be this voice that is telling me to do something, and I am sure it'as the same voice that is speaking to everybody on this planet at least everybody who seems to be concerned about the fate of the world, the fate of this planet. Wangari Maathai-Noble Peace prize winner, Deputy Minister of Environment, founder Green Belt movement in Kenya...."
  • Happiness
    by Thomas Jefferson

    "...Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits...."

RANDOM FACTS

  • More vehicles
    about Stolen On New Year's

    More vehicles are stolen on New Year's Day than any other holiday throughout the year. (So does that mean thieves are having their last fling before changing their ways or are they trying for a big score to start the New Year?) Harvard Medical School
    about Eyesight Myth and Fact

    Myth: Staring at a computer screen all day is harmful to the eyes. Fact: Spending the day staring at a screen can tire or strain your eyes, but it will not hurt them. Make sure lighting doesn't create a glare on your screen. When spending long periods at your keyboard, take a break now and then to rest your eyes to reduce fatigue. Also, don't forget to blink. Your eyes need to stay lubricated to feel comfortable.

Avatar film - Cameron's science fiction :

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ARTICLE INFORMATION :

The article features and reviews James Cameron's science fiction epic movie "Avatar" released in 2009 and nominated nine times for the Oscar 2010 and concentrates upon the main plot theme.

ARTICLE CONTENT :

AVATAR is spoken about everywhere. It is in nine nominations for the Oscar 2010 and is likely to receive a few awards. Avatar is a 2009 US science fiction film written and directed by renowned film director James Cameron. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Rodriguez and Stephen Lang played the starring roles. The term "avatar" comes from Indian mythology. It means "god's visit to Earth to fix smth that is broken". Vishnu, one of the 3 gods who shield creation, visits Earth frequently. As Hindu mythology state, Vishnu is dark-blue in color. James Cameron has also decided to paint the aliens blue. The action of the film takes place in 2154. It emphasizes the ever-lasting human vices, such as greed, immaturity and ferocity that results from ignorance.

The plot revolves around a soldier - Jack - who goes to Pandora the moon situated in the Alpha Centauri star system to help The Corporation aiming to mine and export a precious mineral called unobtainium. The Na'vi are the alien sentient humonoid species that live and thrive on the moon. They are a part of a vast symbiotic living system that includes both animals and plants which are all connected by an intricate biological communication network. The Corporation plans to mine the moon and the Na'vi fight for their homeland. The rapid expansion and growth of the mining colony menaces the existence of the local tribe.

While on a mission, Jake is taken in by the Na'vi and explores their labguage, culture and habitat. Natirii, the female Na'vi he meets, helps him through this journey. Avatars are biological creatures made from alien and human DNA. They are controlled by a human from whose DNA they were made. The soldier takes control of an avatar made from his brother's DNA. AVATAR is an idealistic movie showing an ideal world. The end of the movie is particularly poignant. The visual effects are fantastic. The alien world Cameron and his team display to viewers is one of the most carefully thought-out and consistent. The film is really worth viewing.

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