Sunday, July 25, 2010

Almost invisible mirrored tree house built in Sweden


They said it couldn't be done. When we first wrote about the almost invisible tree house to be built in Sweden by Tham & Videgard, 899 commenters thought it was computer-generated eye candy, impossible to build, and death for birds.
But the architects built it, one of six units in a "Treehotel," which recently opened 40 miles south of the Arctic Circle in Sweden.
The four-meter glass cube looks as spectacular in reality as it did in the rendering. Kent Lindvall, co-owner of the TreeHotel, has been quoted as saying:
Everything will reflect in this -- "the trees, the birds, the clouds, the sun, everything. So it should be invisible nearly in the forest. "

And what about the birds? According to Designboom, Lindvall says that a special film that is visible to birds will be applied to the glass.
The units are constructed from sustainably harvested wood and have electric radiant floor heating and "a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly, incineration toilet"
(Although I've owned an incinerating toilet, and it wasn't that eco-friendly. It used a lot of electricity and created noise and some smells. But perhaps they've improved.)
But other than that minor quibble, this appears to be a truly "eco" resort. The owners say in Designboom:
"This is untouched forest, and we want to maintain it the same way. We decided, for example, to not offer snowmobile safari which is very common up here," says Selberg. Instead, wilderness walks will be offered."

7 Jobs to Skip College For

by Susan Johnston, PayScale.com

Ask most high school guidance counselors, and they'll tell you a college degree is your key to a well-paying job. But that's not always the case. While lawyers, doctors, and many other professionals still require degrees, Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis at Payscale.com, helped us pinpoint several jobs that don't.

But before you ditch your plans to attend a four-year college, note that these jobs do require specialized knowledge, obtained through either a vocational training program or an on-the-job education. (And many people in these occupations do have college degrees, so one certainly can't hurt.)

"There's no high-paying job that doesn't require a high-level skill," says Lee. "You can learn it on the job, but you're going to have to learn it." With the rising cost of college tuition, pursuing one of these career paths may make sense.

1. Freelance Photographer: $47,800 median salary
Lee says that non-degree jobs tend to fall into one of two categories: technical or entrepreneurial. Being a freelance photographer requires a high degree of business savvy in addition to photography skills. Depending on the type of work you do, you might take product shots, family portraits, corporate head shots, wedding pictures, or other images, and then touch up the pictures digitally and send them to clients for review.

2. Private Detective or Investigator: $50,600 median salary
This is another career that requires a lot of personal initiative. Private detectives or investigators might testify at hearings, analyze data, search databases, or question suspects. Knowledge of psychology and the law, critical-thinking skills, and the ability to listen and read body language are also useful.

3. Elevator Mechanic: $61,500 median salary
"When [elevators] break, people are miserable," Lee points out. He adds that the job often requires travel and working at odd hours (for instance, so you can fix an elevator before an office building opens)--which may pay more. Successful elevator mechanics generally have a knack for understanding complex mechanical systems, assembling and disassembling elevator parts, and following safety standards.

4. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator: $79,100 median salary
Since nuclear power reactor operators work with highly sensitive equipment, they need an understanding of physics and engineering, as well as active learning and troubleshooting skills. The higher pay correlates to the highly specialized skill set required.

5. Personal Trainer: $37,500 median salary
Knowledge of nutrition, anatomy, and first aid are helpful, so many personal trainers have a college degree or specialized certification. Since an independent personal trainer's income is tied to the number of clients he or she trains, time-management skills, physical stamina, and customer service skills are assets in this field.

6. Director of Security: $62,400 median salary
Someone might start out as assistant to the director of security and work their way up. Tasks might include analyzing security data, investigating security breaches, and supervising others. Lee says jobs like this are "not a bad track for someone who is more physical or manual, where it's about on-the-job training and less about formal programs."

7. Air Traffic Controller: $60,200
Although the job doesn't require a college degree, the FAA screens prospective air traffic controllers with a pre-employment test and other requirements, so it's a competitive field. The job might entail monitoring aircraft, issuing take-off and landing instructions, and directing ground traffic.

8. Court Reporter - $105,000.
Like the jobs listed above, a court reporting gig requires you to take on a great deal of responsibility. Court reporters must prepare accurate and complete legal records of conversations, most commonly court proceedings. Job prospects for this work are expected to be good, as demand for close-captioning and real-time translation services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing grows. This career requires a good deal of training, which can be had through a technical school or the National Court Reporters Association. Some states require licensure, according to the BLS, and others may require court reporters to be notary publics.

9. Fire Chief - $121,000.
To get to the position of fire chief, you’ll likely need to put many years in to fighting fires, exposing yourself to dangerous, stressful situations and staying in tip-top shape. And, you’re still not assured a chief spot because, as the BLS notes, there are plenty of qualified applicants for firefighting jobs so the competition is tough. BLS notes that fire fighter applicants with some postsecondary education are more and more preferred these days, but the opportunity is still available to candidates with only a high school degree.

Boston-based freelance writer Susan Johnston has covered career and business topics for The Boston Globe, Hispanic Executive Quarterly, WomenEntrepreneur.com, and other publications.

Source: Salary data provided by online salary database PayScale.com. Salaries listed are median annual salaries for workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

An Ayurvedic treatment for Dengue fever

I saw an article of Ayurvedic doctor who can cure Dengue fever on "Lankadeepa" (19/07/2010) and I published here.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Diplomatic poetry on Kohona's kennel

I took this poem from "Sunday Times" News paper (18/072010). This nice poem is very humours. Thank you Sunday Times.

A note distributed among those in the External Affairs Ministry by a so-called native diplomat contains the following poem:


"Dr. Palitha Kohona took my beloved country to NAM
With a view to bringing UN Secretary General to shame
For setting up, on accountability issues, an Advisory Panel
But, hardly has he realized something else at the end of the tunnel

"He went to Jordan, and even to Egypt, Lebanon and Syria
Had it suited, he would have even gone to North Korea
He topped up all this with free travel from UN to Lisbon
To save for my motherland, there he only ate daily a fish bun

"The name of the game is peace building and conflict resolution
Yet when it comes to visibility, it is but one of high resolution
Here an interview, there an interview, on anything he's a view
And the breaking news: "on flotilla attack, he's heading to Tel Aviv"

"The Committee on Israeli Practices became, so sudden, a Panel
For publicity, to inquire into Israeli attack beyond Suez Canal
All that his predecessors did in the committee's forty year history
Was forgotten, and for the Government, he's hero, that is mystery.

"He had learnt the art of diplomacy and law from Down Under
From there he went to UN, honing his skills, no wonder
Brought then to Colombo, to serve my country amidst much thunder
All his skills couldn't help bring it back from where it was put asunder

"Oh Lord, Kohona has got my motherland into the agenda of NAM
Making it a subject of fun with the loss of its remaining fame
Hardly has he realized some thing else at the end of the tunnel
"That is, it's my country he has put into doghouse, or call it a kennel".



Monday, July 12, 2010

True qualities: an advise to human


My dear friend Kalana Wattearachchi gave me thsese photos and asked me to published in my blog. Thank you Kalana for photos. But I couldn't published it as I was busy in last week. However I was amazed seeeing "Sunday Island" newspaper (11/07/2010) published same photos under title of and I understand the importance of these photos. Anyway I'm very grateful to kalana.
These photos are telling nice story to everyone and reflecting the real meaning of "Affection". Human being can learn many things in these photos. You comments on these photos are highly appreciated.




Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Trip to Kandy: Cushion fight -our good old memories, story 2







Series of photos of I post here brings me one of interesting incident we faced in our trip to Kandy. In that trip we accommodated at YMBA pilgrim's house. There was eight friends plus Shashan's mother(our guard). This occurs when Shashan's mother is in washroom. We started a cushion fight hitting others with cushions of the room. Soon all got into the business and we understood that it gave maximum fun. Cushions were flown everywhere. I could remember Jayamal and Kosala were the front attackers and others join little bit later. It is in my mind that Amila (guy who in black T-shirt) was the most hit person. While my firends were in fight I was able to take some snapshots with my camera and Shashan passed me his camera and request me to take some snapshots for him. I did take snapshots using his camera too but only later we understood that lence cover of the Shashan's camera was forgetton to be removed. (I was covering very hot event so I couldn't check whether his camera was all right for photographing.)

Although Amila was the person to be hit most he didn't give up the game. Instead Amila hit back with cushions. Thus fight was at every second. Suddenly only cushion which was thrown, clashed with rorating fan. Fan stopped and we all guess fan was broken now and we had to pay. All was afraid and gotton upset (see last photo). We all started thinking what to do next. We switched on and off several times and fortunately fan started working properly. It was the moment our heart beats were stopped. However finally situation was cool down. When our friends get together now we recall this incident and laugh as much as possible.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Trip to Kandy -our good old memories, story 1


Me - Sitting infront
Jayamal - Wearing white cap
Mihiruwan - Wearing white shirt backing me
Amila - Yellow shirt on shoulders
Dilan - Next to Amila with blue cap
Lahiru - Back to Amila
Kosala - Most back row man
Shashan - Is not in the picture
This time I'm going to present you commedy (Though I said commedy I don't know there something to laugh. but I decide to write this incident to recall our good old days) incident which we had to face in year 2006. It was the time we finished up our A/Ls and you all know after A/Ls there is nearly 3 months vacation. We(Jayamal and me) planned to go trip as this was our final schooling year. These days GREAT TRIO (This means Jayamal, Me and Amila) participated English class at Jayamal's home. After class we we put forward various ideas of various destinations. There was lot of arguements however we finally selected Kandy as our destination. Kandy is one of most preferred destination of us so no doubts we all were glad about it. I found out a van for this purpose and Jayamal's father reserved accommadations at Youth Mens' Buddhist Association's pilgrim house in Kandy. I guess 8 friends participated for trip (Jayamal, Me, Amila, Mihiruwan, Dilan, Lahiru, Kosola and Shashan). Shashan's mother also came with us as a security step. I could remember that she is great lady.
I couldn't remember exact date of the trip started but I could say it was July in year 2006. Though all others wore long trousers, Jayamal wore a three quarter for trip. We began our journy with lot of fun. Indeed Shashan's mother and driver of the van gave big support. On the way to Kandy we sang songs (actually half of songs because no one could remember complete songs). Near Ruwanwella area we took our breakfast. Breakfast was supplied from Jayamal's home. Again started travelling and we did get fun in side the van.
After few hours we reached first place - Botanical gardens in Peradeniya. We got down from the van & ready to enter garderns. Tickets were bought and we entered into gardens. Now we started watching plants, flowers and etc. Actually we had enough free time beacuse no constraints enforced on us. So that we got the maximum advantage of it. Jaymal is good garder and he has very aessthetic eyes (now he is an architect by profession). He carefully inspected very small plant so took more time than others to watch plants and this cuased him to move little bit later than others. (Although Jayamal stole a liitle plant from botanical gardens he couldn't keep it suvive till we back to home.)

Now the climax of the story was reached. Jayamal was coming back inpecting all plants while others wend ahead. He was wearing three quarter. Workers of garden were working. While Jayamal was walking slowly closely to plants suddenly on worker stand up and shouted "Hey guy, where are u going? Come and work with us???? ". Paricular worker guessed Jayamal was one of there crew.