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Tuesday, 27 January 2015

[www.keralites.net] The Fastest Trains in the World

The Fastest Trains in the World

The invention of the train is what turned America into a superpower. It changed overland travel, reducing the time it took from months and weeks to days and hours. As the technology advanced, many gave up on trains as a form of transportation in favor of airplanes, but train technology took incredible steps ahead as well. These trains zoom between destinations in speeds cars can only dream about.

10. TSHR 700T

This train runs the line between Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. With a top speed of 300Km/h (185mph), the THSR 700T shortened travel time between these two cities from 4 hours to 1.5 hours. The initial investment for the production of the first 30 trains cost approximately $3.4 billion.

9. ETR Frecciarossa Trains

These refurbished trains travel at speeds of 300Km/h (185mph) between Rome and Milan, Italy. They are equipped with climate-control and an advanced silencing system, as well as ergonomic seats meant to provide with the utmost comfort for passengers.

8. TVG Duplex

It took eight years to develop the TGV Duplex. It has 512 seats, divided into upper and lower decks. It's built of light-weight aluminum and mainly runs on the Paris-Marsalis line, as well as several others. (Top speed – 300Km/h)

7. Alstom Euroduplex

This train's career began in 2011 and was the only one of its series to be upgraded to a duplex train capable of running at 320Km/h (198mph), while carrying 1,020 passengers. These trains were designed to work in Germany, France, Switzerland and Luxemburg.

6. 320E5 Series Shinkansen Hayabusa

The fastest train in Japan entered service in 2011 and can reach speeds of 320Km/h (198mph). The train was designed with a unique elongated "nose" to reduce the noise it creates as it travels through the many tunnels along its path.

5. Taglo (T350)

Nicknamed "The Duck" thanks to the elongated front end, this train will take you from Barcelona or Madrid to Valladolid in Spain, and in speeds of 350Km/h (217mph).

4. Siemens Velaro E / AVS 103

The fourth fastest train in the world travels the line between Madrid and Barcelona on a track measuring 621Km (385 miles). It is the fastest train in Spain and reaches speeds of 350Km/h, though during one ride it went as fast as 403Km/h (250mph)!

3. AVG Italo

The most modern train in Europe started its service in 2012 and runs the Naples-Rome-Florence-Milan-Bologna line. This 360Km/h (223mph) train is known for its comfortable seats, low maintenance, energy efficiency and the quietness of the cabins.

2. Harmony CRH 380E

If you travel between Shanghai and Beijing, take the Harmony lines. It took four and a half years to build the tracks, cost upwards of $17 billion and is now the world's second-fastest train. Before the construction of this line, the 1,000Km (621 miles) drive would take about 10 hours. Now, this long ride takes less than 3 hours, and the train rockets at speeds of 380Km/h (236mph).

1. Shanghai Maglev

The journey from Shanghai to Shanghai Airport only takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds, thanks to the incredible maglev train. This train uses magnets to levitate above the tracks, thus reducing friction and reaching speeds of 430Km/h (267mph).

Bonus: The Hyperloop

In late 2013, the CEO of Tesla Motors, Mr. Elon Musk, introduced his plans to revolutionize transportation by constructing a Hyperloop train. The Hyperloop is an enclosed track in a vacuum, in which pressurized capsules carry people and cargo at speeds of between 962Km/h and 1,220 Km/h (598mph – 760mph).

Mr.Chandra1510

www.keralites.net

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Posted by: Chandra Segaran Krishnan Nair <chandra1510@gmail.com>

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[www.keralites.net] Story: The Powerful Relationship

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people talk about — the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me.
Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.
First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each other's face, I heard the father say, "It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, "Me, too, Dad!"
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his son's face in his hands said, "You're already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach!" They too hugged a most loving, tender hug.

While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her mother's arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man said, "Hi, baby girl!" as he gently took the child from her mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in pure contentment.

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed. "I love you so much!" They stared at each other's eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands.

For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn't possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arm's length away from me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, "Wow! How long have you two been married?

"Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those." he replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife's face. "Well then, how long have you been away?" I asked. The man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile. "Two whole days!"

Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed he'd been gone for at least several weeks – if not months. I know my expression betrayed me.

I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my friend), "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!"
The man suddenly stopped smiling.

He looked me straight in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a different person. He told me, "Don't hope, friend… decide!" Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, "God bless!"

Junaid Tahir
www.DailyTenMinutes.com

www.keralites.net

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Posted by: Junaid Tahir <mjunaidtahir@gmail.com>

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Monday, 26 January 2015

[www.keralites.net] Happiness Comes from Giving, Not Buying and Having

So many of us strive so hard for material success that you might think there was a clear relationship between wealth and happiness. The media and our governments encourage us to believe this, since they need us to keep earning and spending to boost economic growth. From school onwards, we're taught that long term well-being stems from achievement and economic prosperity - from 'getting on' or 'making it', accumulating more and more wealth, achievement and success.

Consequently, it comes as a shock for many people to learn that there is no straightforward relationship between wealth and well-being. Once our basic material needs are satisfied (i.e. once we're assured of regular food and adequate shelter and a basic degree of financial security), wealth only has a negligible effect on well-being. For example, studies have shown that, in general, lottery winners do not become significantly happier than they were before, and that even extremely rich people - such as billionaires - are not significantly happier than others. Studies have shown that American and British people are less contented now than they were 50 years ago, although their material wealth is much higher. On an international level, there does appear to some correlation between wealth and well-being, partly because there are many countries in the world where people's basic material needs are not satisfied. But this correlation is not a straightforward one, since wealthier countries tend to be more politically stable, more peaceful and democratic, with less oppression and more freedom - all of which are themselves important factors in well-being.

So why do put so much effort into acquiring wealth and material goods? You could compare it to a man who keeps knocking at a door, even though he's been told that the person he's looking for isn't at home. 'But he must be in there!" he shouts, and barges in to explore the house. He storms out again, but returns to the house a couple of minutes later, to knock again. Seeking well-being through material success is just as irrational as this.

Well-Being through Giving

If anything, it appears that there is a relationship between non-materialism and well-being. While possessing wealth and material goods doesn't lead to happiness, giving them away actually does. Generosity is strongly associated with well-being. For example, studies of people who practise volunteering have shown that they have better psychological and mental health and increased longevity. The benefits of volunteering have been found to be greater than taking up exercise, or attending religious services - in fact, even greater than giving up smoking. Another study found that, when people were given a sum of money, they gained more well-being if they spent it on other people, or gave it away, rather than spending it on themselves. This sense of well-being is more than just feeling good about ourselves - it comes from a powerful sense of connection to others, an empathic and compassionate transcendence of separateness, and of our own self-centredness.

In fact, paradoxically, another study has shown that this is one way in which money actually can bring happiness: if you give away the money you earn. This research - by Dunn, Gilbert and Wilson - also showed that money is more likely to bring happiness is you spend it on experiences, rather than material goods. (1) Another study (by Joseph Chancellor and Sonja Lyubomirsky) has suggested that consciously living a lifestyle of 'strategic underconsumption' (or thrift) can also lead to well-being. (2)

So if you really want enhance your well-being - and as long as your basic material needs are satisfied - don't try to accumulate money in your bank account, and don't treat yourself to material goods you don't really need. Be more generous and altruistic - increase the amount of money you give to people in need, give more of your time to volunteering, or spend more time helping other people, or behaving more kindly to everyone around you. Ignore the 'happiness means consumption' messages we're bombarded with by the media. A lifestyle of generosity and under-consumption may not suit the needs of economists and politicians - but it will certainly make us happier.

We would do well to heed the words of the American Indian, Ohiyesa, speaking of his Sioux people:

'It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. Its appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way, it will in time disturb one's spiritual balance. Therefore, children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving.'

Steve Taylor, Ph.D. is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK. He is the author of Back to Sanity

Post published by Steve Taylor Ph.D. on Jan 09, 2015 in Out of the Darkness

Junaid Tahir
www.DailyTenMinutes.com