1000+ images about The Ryugyong on Pinterest | Around the worlds, World records and Capital city Forward Ryugyong Hotel Where: Pyongyang, North Korea What It Is: Also known as the Hotel of Doom, the Ryugyong once aspired to be the tallest hotel in the world. The project was abandoned in 1992 for economic reasons, but construction resumed in See More The World's Most Strange Places The World's Most Strange Places - collecting and distributing knowledge about weird places Categories Ryugyong Hotel The Ryugyong Hotel is an unfinished concrete skyscraper. It is intended for use as a hotel in Sojang-dong, in the Potong-gang District of Pyongyang, North Korea. The hotel's name comes from one of the historic names for Pyongyang: Ryugyong, or "capital of willows." Its 105 stories rise to a height of 330 m (1,083 ft), and it contains 360,000 m² (3.9 million square feet) of floor space, making it the most prominent feature of the city’s skyline and by far the largest structure in the country.

At one time, it would have been the world's tallest hotel.Esquire dubbed it "The Worst Building in the History of Mankind" and noted that the government of North Korea has airbrushed the building out of pictures. The Christian Science Monitor called it "one of the most expensive white elephants in history" Over the years, the skyscraper has earned such nicknames as the "Hotel of Doom," "Phantom Hotel," and "Phantom Pyramid." Construction began in 1987 and ceased in 1992, due to the government's financial difficulties. The unfinished hotel remained untouched until April 2008, when construction resumed after being inactive 16 years. Recent Development - The basic structure is complete, but no windows, fixtures, or fittings were installed when construction came to a halt in 1992, and it has never been certified safe for occupancy. The concrete originally used to build the hotel was of substandard quality, and at one point, according to ABC News, it was actually crumbling.The hotel is so massive that it is clearly visible from nearly everywhere in the city, but it is nearly impossible to get anyone to talk about it.

It is often seen as a metaphor of the highly secretive nature of North Korea. Former CNN reporter Mike Chinoy likened it to the giant calcium deposit on the neck of late dictator Kim Il-sung. Like the Ryugyong, the growth was clearly visible despite official attempts to hide it from view. Esquire called the hotel a colossal economic failure, likening it to what would have happened had Chicago's John Hancock Center been left unfinished with no prospect of being completed. After 16 years of inactivity, foreign residents in Pyongyang noted that Egypt's Orascom Group started refurbishing the top floors of the hotel in April 2008. Though the effect on the architecture has yet to be determined, windows and telecommunications antennae were observed being installed. The Orascom Telecom subsidiary of the group confirmed involvement in the structure to begin developing GSM infrastructure in North Korea for up to 100,000 initial subscribers. Only government officials are presently permitted to use mobile phones and the service has been banned from use by ordinary citizens and foreigners since 2002.

This and That and More of the Same: September 2008 This and That and More of the Same A little bit of everything and a lot of nothing: images and stories to take us on an eclectic journey. . . . . . CLICK ON THE HEADING FOR THE "SOURCE" OF THE ARTICLE AND CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR PHOTOGRAPHER. CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER VERSION. Monday, September 29, 2008 I'm always delighted with the magic of Calatrava HSB Turning Torso is a skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund strait. It was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories. The design is based on a sculpture by Santiago Calatrava called Twisting Torso. It uses nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted ninety degrees clockwise with respect to the ground floor.

Each floor consists of an irregular pentagonal shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework. The two bottom segments are intended as office space. Segments three to nine house 149 luxury apartments. The Twisting Torso sculpture is a white marble piece based on the form of a twisting human being. Johnny Örbäck, former CEO of the Turning Torso contractor and Board Chairman of the Malmö branch of the co-operative housing association HSB, saw the sculpture in 1999 and contacted Calatrava to ask him to design a building using the same concept. Construction started in the summer of 2001. Posted by "Crazy Like a Fox" Preserving human bodies in honey doesn't sound like a great idea, but other proposals by Frederick Shaw showed great foresight -- including hang-gliding, vegetarianism and outlawing monopolies. Mystery obscures the life of Frederick Shaw (1827-1914), the indigent inventor, health promoter, social crusader and purported naked man of Laurel Canyon. Did he really attempt to hang-glide from atop a second-story building in downtown Los Angeles, breaking his hip in the process?

Did his mail-order bride really flee his property when she discovered that he lived in a tree? And was he really insane, as a judicial panel ruled, or just a hermit whose vegetarian diet, clothing-optional lifestyle and boundary disputes annoyed the neighbors? Nineteenth century news accounts were not always reliable, so the answers are difficult to find, though it appears that Shaw was not insane. In fact, it is clear from the many long letters Shaw wrote to the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers that he was ahead of his time, "a one-man think tank," in the words of Ralph Shaffer, author of " 'Crazy Shaw' Frederick M. Shaw: Southern California's Forgotten Dreamer." (Excerpts from Steve Harvey's "Only in L.A.") September 28, 2008 A piece of history in Hancock Park Hancock Park already had emerged as a neighborhood for the well-heeled when in 1925 Frederick S. Albertson, an automobile company executive, bought a sprawling piece of real estate there. Primary construction of this two-story manor, designed by Alexander D. Chisholm, was completed in 1929.

Early neighbors included the Chandlers, the Huntingtons, the Van de Kamps and the Dohenys. Home Savings & Loan president Howard F. Ahmanson, the financier, philanthropist and art collector, moved with his family into the spacious house in 1958. His second wife, Caroline Leonetti Ahmanson, gained full title to the house in 1971; it was sold in 1975. Howard Ahmanson supported, among many local institutions, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Music Center's Ahmanson Theatre. A vast art collection was on display to the public when the family hosted charitable events at the house. Posted by "Freedom is not a gift from heaven -- One must fight for it every day." -- Simon Wiesenthal SINCE THE Museum of Tolerance opened in 1993, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda and Darfur have been inscribed in the book of mass extermination. Clearly, there is no lack of work to do for an L.A. institution dedicated to documenting the human race's blood lust while fighting prejudice in hopes of remaking homo sapiens in a more humane image.

"I was not that naive to think that evil would be expunged," says Rabbi Marvin Hier, looking back on the 31 years since he founded the museum's parent human rights and Holocaust remembrance organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Center. "But I never thought that so soon after the world became aware of the ovens of Auschwitz we would have places like these . . . that people would have the chutzpah to say, 'So what? We can do what we want,' and get away with it." Images of the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Albert Einstein are among the attractions at the Museum of Tolerance's Youth Action Lab, a high-tech classroom and exhibition space for teaching elementary through high school kids about prejudice. The Los Angeles museum has just finished a $13-million makeover of its auditorium and several exhibits. Posted by It's San Marino for beauty and charm Guaita Tower, one of three crowning Mt. Titano, overlooks the city of San Marino below. Set on an outcropping of the Apennine Mountains, it is the world's oldest republic, based on its founding in the early part of the 4th century.

At that time, a Christian stonemason named Marinus (Italianized to Marino), forced by agents of the Roman Emperor Diocletian to work at the Adriatic seaport of Rimini, escaped to 2,500-foot Mt. Titano about 10 miles west. The little settlement that collected around him was apparently too poor and remote to be worth Roman reprisal, so Marino (who was eventually canonized) could say to his compatriots on his deathbed, "I leave you free." (Susan Spano / Los Angeles Times) Posted by Does 100 MPG sound like a dream ??? General Motors Corp. said Friday that it had reached a preliminary agreement that cleared the way for U.S. regulators to certify the Chevrolet Volt as the first 100-mile-per-gallon car. But the Environmental Protection Agency said testing guidelines hadn't been finalized. The Volt, an electric vehicle that can be charged at home and has a range-extending gas-powered generator on board, is expected to start selling in late 2010. GM says it will be able to travel 40 miles before the generator kicks in.

Tony Posawatz, 48, vehicle-line director for the Volt in Warren, Mich., said the EPA agreed to a testing method that will produce a rating of at least 100 mpg. In a statement, agency spokeswoman Catherine C. Milbourn said the EPA won't confirm how it gauges fuel economy of plug-in models until testing methodology is finalized. The agency "hopes to have a final policy soon," she said. Earning a 100-mpg certification would be a huge boost for Detroit-based GM, whose sales of pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles have slumped this year as gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon and credit became harder to obtain. Posted by "Phantom Hotel" SEOUL, KOREA -- North Korea's phantom hotel is stirring back to life. Once dubbed by Esquire magazine as "the worst building in the history of mankind," the 105-story Ryugyong Hotel is back under construction after a 16-year lull in the capital of one of the world's most reclusive and destitute countries.

According to foreign residents in Pyongyang, Egypt's Orascom group has recently begun refurbishing the top floors of the three-sided pyramid-shaped hotel whose 1,083 ft frame dominates the Pyongyang skyline. The firm has put glass panels into the concrete shell, installed telecommunications antennas - even though the North forbids its citizens to own mobile phones - and put up an artist's impression of what it will look like. The hotel consists of three wings rising at 75 degree angles capped by several floors arranged in rings supposed to hold five revolving restaurants and an observation deck Posted by The NEW California Academy of Sciences A window on the roof of the new California Academy of Sciences building in San Francisco offers a view inside. Architect Renzo Piano brings together the very different priorities of cutting-edge and green design. A key feature of the building, located in Golden Gate Park, is its grass-covered roof. Containing nine species of native plants in its 2 1/2 acres, the roof will filter storm runoff and keep the building cool in summer and warm in winter.

Renzo Piano calls the green roof "the flying carpet." The $488-million, 410,000-square-foot academy squeezes a natural history museum, aquarium and planetarium into a single facility. Posted by Toyota to unveil Camry hybrid fueled by compressed natural gas Toyota Motor Corp., expanding its line of alternatively powered cars beyond the Prius, will unveil a Camry Hybrid in November fueled by compressed natural gas rather than gasoline amid expectations of rising oil prices. The CNG Camry will be shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota executives told reporters at a conference Tuesday in Portland, Ore. There are currently no plans to offer the concept vehicle to consumers, spokesman John Hanson said. The show opens to the media Nov. 19. "We are confirming our interest in pursuing CNG within our R&D scope," said Irv Miller, a group vice president for the U.S. sales unit of Japan's largest automaker. A drop in natural gas prices, an increase in North American supply estimates and the fuel's lower pollution levels than gasoline make it attractive, he said. A surge in U.S. gasoline prices to more than $4 a gallon and tighter vehicle emission rules in the U.S.

have led Toyota and other carmakers to boost investments in fuel-efficient technologies. Toyota plans to test lithium-ion plug-in Prius cars next year, and Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. has begun leasing fuel-cell sedans to drivers in Los Angeles. General Motors Corp. aims to sell a battery-powered Volt by 2010. Natural gas prices are down 4% from the fuel's 30-month high set July 3. Gas for October delivery fell 25 cents to $7.68 per million British thermal units Wednesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Honda sells a CNG-powered Civic sedan, the only consumer model powered by the fuel available in the U.S. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rates it the lowest in tailpipe exhaust among vehicles with internal-combustion engines. Posted by "The times they are a changing" As urban planners push for ever-increasing density in Southern California, one of the region's biggest real estate developers is preparing to build Southern California's first vertical shopping mall on Wilshire Boulevard. Shopping centers that rise several stories are a staple in Asia, Europe and a few tightly packed American cities but have been shunned in the past by builders in land-rich Southern California.

Customers here are accustomed to malls that spread horizontally and have balked at traveling up and down more than a floor or two for casual shopping. Shown above is Water Tower Place which is a 1970s-vintage vertical shopping mall on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Despite its age and chrome-and-glass decor, the mall continues to draw in hordes of shoppers. Two department stores, Macy's (once Marshall Fields) and Lord & Taylor, anchor the mall. Now, Los Angeles developer Jerry Snyder and his J.H. Snyder Co. partner Michael Wise are planning to break with local tradition and put up a seven-story mall near the Red Line station at Wilshire Boulevard and Vermont Avenue that would house perhaps 100 stores under rooftop restaurants and a cinema complex in 300,000 square feet. Posted by The Civic Light Opera of the South Bay Cities' MISS SAIGON gets 11 Ovation nominations With 11 nominations, the musical "Miss Saigon," presented by Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, has made the top of the list of nominations for the 2008 Ovation Awards, LA Stage Alliance’s peer-judged awards recognizing excellence in California theater.

Other big nominees include "All Shook Up" at Musical Theatre West (10 nominations), "Jekyll & Hyde" at Cabrillo Music Theatre (nine) and "Singin' in the Rain"(nine), also at Cabrillo Music Theatre, which put that theater at the top of the list of nominations for an individual company. The Ovations will be awarded Nov. 17 at the Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State Los Angeles. "Bye Bye Birdie" is currently playing at the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities through October 5. It's a high spirited and fun show with a very talented cast. Posted by Robert Wagner shares pieces of his heart Robert Wagner gets a bit emotional explaining how he came up with the title of the memoir he wrote with Scott Eyman, "Pieces of My Heart." After receiving a rough manuscript of the autobiography, he recalls, he decided to read the chapter about Barbara Stanwyck to his wife, Jill St. John, and a friend. The veteran Stanwyck and Wagner had a secret four-year relationship in the 1950s when he was in his early 20s and she was in her mid-40s.

"She was a wonderful woman," Wagner says. "She was such a big part of my life." Wagner got so choked up during the reading that he couldn't finish. He says their friend commented, " 'It must be very difficult to write a book. It must be very painful.' I said, 'Yes. It's taken pieces of my heart.' That's how I got the title." Wagner's book has plenty of stories about his stern, demanding father, his early years in Hollywood, his friendship with such legends as Spencer Tracy and David Niven -- "you couldn't ask for a better friend" -- and his career ups and downs. The crux of "Pieces of My Heart," however, revolves around his first -- and third -- wife, Natalie Wood, who died in 1981. For the first time since her death, Wagner talks publicly about the fateful night. But there are no surprise revelations in his account; he reiterates what the coroner and police concluded: Wood's drowning was accidental.

Posted by Illusionist Plans Inverted Hang Over Central Park For three days and two nights, illusionist David Blaine will enjoy an unusual view of New York City's Central Park -- one that can only be enjoyed from six stories in the air, while hanging upside down. The magician's latest stunt, called the "Dive of Death," began 8:30 this morning as he was hoisted into position. The effort will reportedly culminate in Blaine dropping to the ground at 11 p.m. Wednesday. Dr. Ronald Ruden, Blaine's physician, told ABCNews.com that when he first heard the name of the stunt, "It scared the crap out of me." Considering the various health hazards Blaine may face as he hangs in the position for about 60 hours, Ruden's concern is warranted. He said the stunt will be all endurance -- no smoke and mirrors. "How he does this I'm not 100 percent sure," Ruden said.

"He seems to have the ability to use his mind to control his body to not experience pain and discomfort, as well as take away his basic drives to eat and sleep and defy his fear." "We don't even know what the physiology of this is," he said with a laugh. "I hate that." Blaine told "Good Morning America" today right before he was hoisted into the air that he always found images of Harry Houdini hanging upside down "compelling to look at." Houdini dangled upside down wearing a straightjacket and tried to escape as quickly as possible, but Blaine's niche is testing his endurance. "I always liked that idea of being upside down," Blaine said. "So I started experimenting on how long could somebody actually be put upside down. And there was no documentation of it. Nobody really had research on it. I invited doctors to kind of look and watch me as I was doing experiments. And although the dangers are high, I think there's a way to override that. " Blaine said he has prepared for the challenges of the 2½-day hang by losing some weight, performing special exercises and practicing dangling upside down. But there are certain health considerations that simple conditioning cannot address.

During his ordeal, Blaine will not eat or sleep. He will urinate through a catheter. And doctors not involved with the stunt say there are definite risks involved with his attempt. The photo below shows David Blaine submerged in an earlier stunt. Posted by "The Merkle Boner" On Wednesday, September 23, 1908, while playing for the New York Giants in a game against the Chicago Cubs, while he was 19 years old (the youngest player in the NL), Merkle committed a base running error that later became known as "Merkle's Boner," and earned Merkle the nickname of "Bonehead." In the bottom of the 9th inning, Merkle came to bat with two outs, and the score tied 1-1. At the time, Moose McCormick was on first base. Merkle singled and McCormick advanced to third base. Al Bridwell, the next batter, followed with a single of his own. McCormick advanced to home plate scoring the winning run for the game. The fans in attendance, under the impression that the game was over, ran onto the field to celebrate.

Meanwhile, Merkle, thinking the game was over, walked to the Giants' clubhouse without touching second base. Cubs second baseman Johnny Evers noticed this, and after retrieving a ball and touching second base he appealed to umpire Hank O'Day, who would later manage the Cubs, to call Merkle out. Since Merkle had not touched the base, the umpire called him out on a force play, and McCormick's run did not count. The run was therefore nullified, the Giants' victory erased, and the score of the game remained tied. Unfortunately, the thousands of fans on the field (as well as the growing darkness in the days before large electric light rigs made night games possible) prevented resumption of the game and the game was declared a tie. The Giants and the Cubs would end the season tied for first place and would have a rematch at the Polo Grounds, on October 8. The Cubs won this makeup game, 4-2, and thus the National League pennant.

Posted by Stonehenge may have been an ancient Lourdes British researchers think they have solved the decades-old mystery of why ancient Britons transported massive rocks 250 miles from Wales to Salisbury Plain to construct the massive but enigmatic Stonehenge monument: They believed the stones possessed healing powers. A variety of archaeological evidence, including results from the first excavation inside the monument in nearly half a century, also suggest that the first stones were placed at least 200 years later than previously believed and that the Romans may have altered the stones during their occupation of Britain. The findings do not conflict with other recent theories about the uses of Stonehenge -- which indicate that it was an astronomical observatory, a cemetery and the site of biannual celebrations that honored the dead and the living. But they do suggest that the monument also was an ancient Lourdes where pilgrims congregated to have their wounds and illnesses magically healed. Posted by Impressive Greeting Two of the most famous man-marks of Las Vegas are the volcano in front of the Mirage and the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" neon sign that greets those driving north on Las Vegas Boulevard upon reaching the Strip.

One is changing and the other, well, for now, it is staying put. The Mirage is redoing its iconic volcano in front of the casino. The refreshed volcano was set for a fall opening with a press conference expected prior to announce the details. But that press conference did not take place until Wednesday. Now the opening is going to be scheduled for early December. The big headline is that in addition to ramping up the explosion and adding a fire dance in the lagoon, part of the $25 million renovation will include a new soundtrack, lasting seven minutes, to the Volcano eruption written by former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and his co-composer, Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain. The press conference was held at the Love theater at Mirage because there Hart's music could be carefully and loudly presented with a custom Meyer speaker system, the same company working on the volcano's score sound presentation. Talk about great expectations ??? Posted by By Steve Friess Special to The Los Angeles Times Once upon a time, Las Vegas was synonymous with bargains. Then cheap buffets, lounge acts and inexpensive hotel rooms gave way to Michelin Guide star-rated restaurants, Cirque du Soleil extravaganzas and luxury suites at the Bellagio.

But all is not lost, even in these tough economic times when gas prices alone may make you reconsider a Vegas trip. These 21 ideas, each for less than $21, show that Vegas is still the land of the cheap and home of the free, if you know where to look. Look in today's Sunday Los Angeles Times. (Photo by Anne Cusack) Will Charlie Brown ever get to kick that ball ??? Santa Rosa, California: People come to the edge of the wine country for some grown-up fun amid the Cabernets and Chardonnays of Napa Valley. But for dessert, you can get the house that Charlie Brown built. Or rather, the museum Charles M. Schulz built. And the ice rink, the coffee shop, the gift shop, the gardens and the baseball field. Schulz, the father of the "Peanuts" cartoon strip, lived in Sonoma County for more than 40 years, constructing an empire around the hapless Charlie Brown and the irrepressible Snoopy. Within two years of the artist's death in 2000, the Schulz family had put up the Charles M.

Schulz Museum & Research Center here, 56 miles northwest of San Francisco. It gets about 60,000 visitors a year. Posted by Largest Globe in the World The Unisphere was constructed in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens for the 1964-65 World's Fair. A gift from the US Steel Corporation, the Unisphere is the largest globe in the world, standing 120 feet tall and weighing almost one million pounds. It symbolized the theme of the Fair, which was peace through understanding. It consists of steel renderings of the seven continents and is encircled by three metal rings. Two of its concentric rings symbolize the orbits of the first American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts in outer space. The third ring symbolizes the first communication satellite in outer space. The Unisphere is now a landmark and has become a fitting symbol of Queens, the most diverse county on the planet. After a $3 million renovation, the addition of spectacular lighting makes the Unisphere visible from many distant vantage points on the ground and in the air. It has also gained national prominence, appearing on television shows, in commercials, and magazine ads.

Posted by Issue no 71, june 2014 by dimakh Sahasrabuddhe - issuu issuu ISSUE NO. 71 | JUNE 2014 rohanite PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH Anandiben Jethabhai Patel Born - Nationality Political Party Spouse Parents Occupation Cabinet Portfolio - Religion Website - 21 November 1941 in Kharod village of Vijapur taluka of Mehsana district. Indian Bharatiya Janata Party Mafatlal Patel Jethabhai Patel Educationist Government of Gujarat Ministry of Education, Higher and Technical Education, Women and Child Welfare, Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities (1998-2007) Ministry of Revenue, Disaster Management, Roads Buildings Capital Project, Women & Child Welfare (2007 - 2014) Hindu She is an Indian politician and the incumbent Chief Minister of Gujarat, a western state of India. She is the first woman Chief Minister of the state. She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 1987.

Anandiben Patel has been a key leader in the BJP cadre of Gujarat, alongside former Chief Ministers of Gujarat Keshubhai Patel and Narendra Modi. At present, she is one of the longest serving women MLA in Gujarat. She started her political journey as a Member of Rajya Sabha in 1994 and moved to Gujarat during the state elections in 1998. She is currently the only woman MLA of Gujarat to be elected 4 consecutive times. Early life Her father Jethabhai was a farmer. She completed her education till 4th grade in Girls’ school but was admitted to Boys’ school as there was no other school in the district. She studied as a single girl among 700 boys. She moved to Nutan Sarv Vidyalay in Visnagar in 8th grade. She was awarded “VeerBala” award in Mehsana for her outstanding achievement in athletics. She joined Bhilvai College in 1960 and was the only girl in First Year Science in entire college. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Visnagar later. She joined Mahila Vikas Gruh for the upliftment of women as her first job.

She took vocational courses for more than 50 widows. She moved to Ahmedabad in 1965 with her husband Mafatbhai Patel and joined Master of Science. She took the responsibility of educating all the children of her extended family in Ahmedabad. In those days, more than 10 of her family member used to stay at her place in Ahmedabad. She joined Bachelor of Education to pursue her interest in teaching. She joined as a primary school teacher in Mohniba School Vidyalaya in 1970.[1] She declined all the other offers only to stay with Mohniba School Vidyalaya for 30 years even while she was in important political positions. Political career Anandiben Patel's entry into politics began with an accident during school picnic in 1987. Two girl students from her school accidentally tripped over and fell into the river Narmada. In the midst of such a desperate situation, she jumped into the raging river and single handedly saved two drowning girls. Impressed by this heroic act, BJP top cadre suggested Anandiben Patel to join the party.

She initially declined the offer but later while volunteering for drought relief program she saw politics as a means of service to people and joined BJP as the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Morcha President in 1987. Her first notable work was during a spread of bird flu in Viramgam district affecting children where she spent weeks helping local citizens and enforcing the government officials to take strong action. In 1992, she joined as the only woman leader from Gujarat in Ekta yatra (journey for unity) led by BJP. As a member of Parliament Joined Rajyasabha – 1994 Participated in the Fourth World women's Conference at Beijing (China) in 1994-95 1998 - First election in Mandal (As an education Minister) Anandiben Patel resigned from Rajyasabha in 1998 and contested her first assembly election from Mandal district of Gujarat. She won the election and became the State Minister in Government of Gujarat under the leadership of Keshubhai Patel. Later, she became the fifth ever Woman Cabinet Minister of Gujarat and was assigned the Education portfolio.

In her first term as Education Minister she started “Lokdarbar” to solve issues related to schools and education on the spot. She has started first government school “Shala Pravetosav” to increase enrollment, which is still the flagship program of Education department. In the first two years she recruits 26,000 teachers. She is also reduce the corruption in transfer of teachers. She also decided to set up separate school for handicapped children. Second and Third Election from Patan (2002-2012) Anandiben Patel fought her second and third assembly elections under the leadership of Narendrabhai Modi in 2002 and 2007 from Patan Constituency. Against the familiar trend of Education Minister not being elected again, she won the election in 2002 and in 2007. She continued as a Cabinet Minister for Education in her second term and was assigned two other important portfolios Roads & Building and Revenue in her third term. Anandiben, in her term of 10 years in Patan, worked tirelessly for the development of the region.

Few of the high impact projects that took place during her time are, connecting Patan with Narmada canal for the welfare of farmers, creating 174 check dams in the region, building one of the largest water filtration plant to provide citizens of Patan with pure drinking water, a new medical and engineering college in the region, creation of more than 700 Kms worth road network and an underground drainage system. Patan today hosts world’s second largest photo-voltaic solar plant. Personal life She is known for leading a frugal lifestyle and is known for her tremendous administrative efficiency. She travels extensively across the state to meet local government officials and mentor them on execution. She is very fond of children and does not miss on any opportunity to interact or teach kids. She has two children Sanjay Patel and Anar Patel.

Special achievements and honors Felicitated with the President's Award for the best teacher (1989) • Felicitated with Governer’s Award for best teacher in Gujarat (1988) • Felicitated with 'Sardar Patel' Award by Patel Jagruti Mandal, Mumbai (1999) • Felicitated with 'Patidar Shiromani' Award by the Patel community (2005) • Special honour bestowed by Dharati Vikas Mandal for Women's Upliftment Campaign. • 'Veerbala' award for ranking first in Mahesana District school sports Event. • Felicitated with the 'Vidya Gaurav' Award by shri Tapodhan Brahman Vikas mandal (2000) Gallantry Awards Gallantry Award for rescuing two girls of Mohinaba Girl's school from drowning at Navagam reservoir in Narmada. • Winner of Charumati Yoddha Award (Jyotisangh), Ahmedabad.

• Winner of Ambubhai Purani Vyayam Vidyalay Award (Rajpipala) PIONEERS IN CIVIL ENGINEER John Wolfe Barry Born - 22nd Jan, 1918, Delahaye House, Chelsea, London Nationality - Glenalmond College and King's College London Engineering Discipline Institution Membership - Institution of Civil Engineers (president) Significant Projects - Tower Bridge, Blackfriars Railway Bridge Significant Designs - Cannon Street Railway Bridge, Kew Bridge, District line Sir John Wolfe Wolfe-Barry is the youngest son of famous architect Sir Charles Barry, was an English civil engineer of the late 19th and early 20th century. His most famous project is Tower Bridge over the River Thames in London which was constructed 1886-1894. After receiving a knighthood in 1897, he added "Wolfe" to his inherited name in 1898 to become Sir John Wolfe Wolfe-Barry.

Early career Wolfe-Barry was educated at Glen almond and King's College London, where he was a pupil of civil engineer Sir John Hawks haw, as was Henry Marc Brunel, son of the great Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Barry and Hawks had worked on railway bridge crossings across the Thames, among other projects (Brunel pursued his own business from 1871, but in 1878 went into partnership with Barry). Barry began his own practice in 1867, and carried out more work for the railways. Tower Bridge However, it was Tower Bridge that made Wolfe-Barry's name. In 1878, architect Horace Jones first proposed a bascule bridge. An Act of Parliament allowing the Corporation of the City of London to build it was passed in 1885. Jones was appointed architect, and developed an initial scheme for which he was knighted in 1886. Wolfe-Barry, already well-established with experience of bridges across the Thames, was introduced as the engineer for the project and redesigned the mechanisms resulting in a modified plan. Within a month of construction starting Sir Horace Jones died, leaving Wolfe-Barry to oversee the works and specialists.

The bridge was completed in 1894. Other projects His other projects included: • Cannon Street Railway Bridge (aka the Alexandra Bridge) (1866) • Black friars Railway Bridge (aka St Paul's Bridge), London (1886) In 1891, he entered into partnership with his nephew Lt Col Arthur John Barry and the partnership's projects included: • docks at Barry near Cardiff, south Wales • District line of the London Underground (with Sir John Hawks haw) • pumping stations on the Regent's Canal, north London • Kew Bridge, west London (1903) • expansion of Greenland Dock, Surrey Docks (now Surrey Quays), south-east London (1904) Industry standardization A recognized industry leader (he was elected President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1896, knighted in 1897, and served on several Royal Commissions), Wolfe-Barry played a prominent role in the development of industry standardization, urging the ICE's Council to form a committee to focus on standards for iron and steel sections.

Two members each from the ICE, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Institution of Naval Architects and the Iron and Steel Institute first met on 26 April 1901. With the Institution of Electrical Engineers who joins the following year, these bodies were the founder institutions of what is today the British Standards Institution or BSI. Late career He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1895 and knighted KCB in 1897.[3] He was elected President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1898, in which year he assumed his middle name of Wolfe as an additional surname. He was also a member of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers. He was chairman of Cable and Wireless from 1900 to 1917. In 1902 he joined the consulting firm of Robert White & Partners, which was renamed Wolfe-Barry, Robert White & Partners (later, in 1946, renamed Sir Bruce White, Wolfe Barry and Partners and now part of London-based consultancy Hyder Consultants). Wolfe-Barry died in January 1918 and was buried in Brook wood Cemetery near Working in Surrey.

He had married Rosalind Grace, the daughter of Rev Evan Edward Roswell of Hambledon, Surrey. They had four sons and three daughters. In 1922 a memorial window designed by Sir John Ninian Comper was dedicated to his memory in the nave of Westminster Abbey. NEWS FROM SITE Inbisco Sanand Distribution of Glucose water to the workers. ARCHITECTURAL WONDER Name – The Ryugyong Hotel Location - Pyongyang, North Korea Construction Started – 1987 Construction Completed – 1992 Estimation Completion – TBA Roof - 330.02 meters (1,082.7 ft) Floor Count – 105 Floor Area - 360,000 m2 (3,900,000 sq ft) Architect - Baikdoosan Architects & Engineers Developer - Orascom Group, Baikdoosan Architects & Engineers (1987–1992) Main Contractor - Orascom Construction Industries (2008–present) The Ryugyong Hotel is a 105-story pyramid-shaped skyscraper under construction in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Its name ("capital of willows") is also one of the historical names for Pyongyang. The building is also known as the 105 Building, a reference to its number of floors. After 1992 the building stood topped out, but without any windows or interior fittings. In 2008 construction resumed. In 2012, the exterior was reported to be complete. The opening of the hotel was scheduled several times but postponed. The Ryugyong Hotel has been the subject of derision and mockery by some of the press outside of North Korea, who have referred to the hotel as "The Worst Building in the History of Mankind" and the "Hotel of Doom." Architecture The Ryugyong Hotel has a height of 330 meters (1,080 ft), making it the most prominent feature of Pyongyang's skyline and by far the tallest structure in North Korea. Construction of the Ryugyong was intended to be completed in time for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in June 1989; had this been achieved, it would have held the title of world's tallest hotel.

The unfinished building was not surpassed in height by any new hotel until the 2009 completion of the spire atop the Rose Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Ryugyong Hotel is currently the world's 49th tallest building (alongside the China World Trade Center Tower III) in terms of total height and has the 5th highest number of floors. The building consists of three wings, each measuring 100 meters (330 ft) long, 18 meters (59 ft) wide and sloped at a 75 degree angle, which converge at a common point to form a pinnacle. The building is topped by a truncated cone 40 meters (130 ft) wide, consisting of eight floors that are intended to rotate, topped by a further six static floors. The structure was originally intended to house five revolving restaurants, and either 3,000 or 7,665 guest rooms, according to different sources.

According to Orascom's Khaled Bichara in 2009, the Ryugyong will not be just a hotel, but rather a mixed-use development, including "revolving restaurant" facilities along with a "mixture of hotel accommodation, apartments and business facilities". History Background The plan for a large hotel was reportedly a Cold War response to the completion of the world's tallest hotel, the Westin Stamford Hotel in Singapore, in 1986 by the South Korean company SsangYong Group North Korean leadership envisioned the project as a channel for Western investors to step into the marketplace. A firm, the Ryugyong Hotel Investment and Management Co., was established to attract a hoped-for $230 million in foreign investment. A representative for the North Korean government promised relaxed oversight, allowing "foreign investors [to] operate casinos, nightclubs or Japanese loungesâ&#x20AC;?. North Korean construction firm Baikdoosan Architects & Engineers (also known as Baekdu Mountain Architects and Engineers) began construction on a pyramid-shaped hotel in 1987.

Construction halts The hotel was scheduled to open in June 1989 for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students, but problems with building methods and materials delayed completion. Had it opened on schedule, it would have surpassed the Westin Stamford Hotel to become the world's tallest hotel, and been ranked the seventh-tallest building in the world. In 1992, after the building had reached its full architectural height, work was halted due to a lack of funds amid electricity and food shortages in North Korea following the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Japanese newspapers estimated the cost of construction was $750 million, consuming 2 percent of North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP. For over a decade, the unfinished building sat vacant and without windows, fixtures, or fittings, appearing as a massive concrete shell. A rusting construction crane at the top, which the BBC called "a reminder of the totalitarian state's thwarted ambition", became a permanent fixture. According to Marcus Noland, in the late 1990s, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea inspected the building and concluded that the structure was irreparable.

Questions were raised regarding the quality of the building's concrete and the alignment of its elevator shafts, which some sources say are "crooked". In a 2006 article, ABC News questioned whether North Korea had sufficient raw materials or energy for such a massive project. A North Korean government official told the Los Angeles Times in 2008 that construction was not completed "because [North Korea] ran out of money". The halt in construction, the rumors of problems, and the mystery about its future led media sources to dub it "The Worst Building in the World", "Hotel of Doom" and "Phantom Hotel". Though mocked-up images of the completed hotel had appeared on North Korean stamps during the initial construction period, the North Korean government ignored the building's existence during the construction hiatus even though it dominated the Pyongyang skyline. The government manipulated official photographs in order to remove the unfinished structure from the skyline, and excluded it from printed maps of Pyongyang. Construction resumes In April 2008, after 16 years of inactivity, work on the building was restarted by the Egyptian company Orascom Group.

Orascom, which has entered into a US$400 million deal with the North Korean government to build and run a 3G mobile phone network, denied that their telecommunications deal was directly related to the Ryugyong Hotel work. In 2008 North Korean officials stated that the hotel would be completed by 2012, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the birth of the "Eternal President", Kim Ilsung. In 2009, Orascom's COO Khaled Bichara noted that they "had not had too many problems" resolving the reported structural issues of the building, and that a revolving restaurant will be located at the top of the building. In July 2011, it was reported that the exterior work was complete. Features that Orascom has installed include exterior glass panels and telecommunications antennas. In September 2012 photographs taken by Koryo Tours were released, showing the interior for the very first time. There were very few fixtures or furnishings. In November 2012 international hotel operator Kempinski announced it would be running the hotel which was expected to partially open in mid-2013.

However, these plans were put on hold with heightened tensions in 2013. Aarogyam Dhanasampada The normal body temperature of a human should be 98.42o F, with small variations which are acceptable. No matter what the external weather conditions are like, the internal body temperature is actually maintained for the regular functioning of the body. Just in case, a person’s body temperature falls too low or rises too high (which may be due to innumerable reasons), it can bring about damage to his/her internal organs leading to poor health and fitness.

Read on to find out ways to avoid extreme body heat… Reasons for Body Heat • Wearing tight or artificial clothing may trap water and produce ineffective decrease in heat • Illnesses for example fever as well as infections • An increased activity on the thyroid which raises the metabolic activity by the body processes and causes production of excess heat • Strenuous workout or physical exercise • Medical conditions for example seizures and muscular disabilities • Certain drugs or stimulants for example amphetamines, cocaine and so on • Neurological disorders can bring about excessive body heat even when sleeping • Others factors which will result in increasing body heat are psoriasis, systemic sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and eczema (as these diseases can affect the normal process of sweating). • Excessive contact with the sun can also result in high body temperature How to remove Heat from the Body • Stay away from hot and spicy food items • Avoid fatty and fried foods (junk/fast foods) • Stay away from caffeine & alcohol • Follow a low sodium (salt) diet regime • Use Coconut or Olive herbal oil for cooking than using almond, sesame & corn oil • Do not use nuts in your daily diet as they are known in increasing the body temperature rapidly.

Try to have them 2-3 times a week • Try to follow a vegetarian diet regime or reduce your usage of red meat. Home remedies for reducing body heat • Drink a glass of fresh pomegranate juice mixed with a few drops of almond oil, every morning. • Take a basin of cool water and soak your feet in it. This will help in reducing excessive heat from the body • Eat a handful of poppy seeds (khas khas) before you to go to sleep to get good rest and to maintain normal body temperature during night times. Remember that poppy seeds contains opiates and should not be consumed in large quantity nor should be given to children. • An easy home remedy to relieve body heat, eat a spoonful of fenugreek (methi) seeds on a daily basis. • Add a tablespoon of honey in cold milk and have it on a daily basis for fast and effective results. • • • Mix sandalwood with water or cold milk and make it into a fine paste. Apply this paste in your forehead and cheat. This is a proven technique to reduce excessive body temperature and cool the skin instantly. You may also want to add few drops of rosewater to the paste for attaining greater results.

Add 2 tablespoons of clarifies butter (ghee) to a glass of milk and have it daily. However, if you’ve high cholesterol, you should avoid this remedy. Vegetables that are high in vitamin C and also fruits like orange and sweet lemon that contains citrus in it, are excellent foods to relieve body temperature. Foods that helps in reducing body heat • One on the easiest ways to stay hydrated in addition to controlling the body heat is by eating the kind of foods that help reduce body temperature naturally. These include: • Cardamom – In line with the ancient practice of Ayurveda, using cardamom is the best way to relieve body temperature naturally. You can add cardamom in your tea as well as add as a flavoring agent in sweets and savory dishes. • Peaches – Excessive body heat affects skin and often ends in rashes in addition to skin soreness. Peaches are generally known for containing vitamins A new, B2 and potassium content, which are essential for maintaining healthy skin and body. Dried peaches also help in regulating the amount of heat produced by the body. • Apricot – Drink a glass of apricot juice mixed with honey to cool the body temperature and quench the thirst.

• Buttermilk – Drinking buttermilk in summer helps in providing your body with required probiotics, minerals and vitamins that may be depleted on account of excessive sweat. • Watermelon – Watermelon is that one fruit that contains almost 95% of water and aids in reducing body heat immediately. • Coconut water – Re-hydrate your body with a glass of coconut water as it helps in naturally balancing out the electrolytes in addition to regulating the body temperature. • Other foods to help reduce body heat include cucumbers, bananas, sugarcane liquid, barley, citrus fruit juices and organic teas for example mint & fennel green tea. • Please consult your doctor in case your body temperature doesn’t normalize even after following these remedies. TO ROHAN FAMILY • Parnita Kashyap • Abhishek Jha • Laxman Kumbhar • Rahul Bandpatte • Balasaheb Chakar • Sachin Dere • Vrunda Kulkarni FESTIVAL OF THE MONTH 12th June Vata Pournima Vata Pournima "Vat Purnima'' or Wata Pournima is a celebration observed in the Western Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, India.

Pournima means "full moon" and is celebrated on the full moon day (the 15th) of the month of Jyeshta on the Hindu Calendar, which falls in June on the Gregorian Calendar. Women pray for the prosperity and longevity of their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree (wata) known as Peepal Puja on this day. It honours Savitri, the legendary wife who rescued her husband's soul from the ruler of the departed, Yama. The festival of Vat Purnima (or Vad Savitri) is celebrated in the month of Jesht (Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;June). Women observe a fast and tie threads around a banyan tree and pray for the well being of their husband. On this occasion of Vad Savitri, women keep a fast for their husbands. They wear ornate bridal type dresses and jewellery. Their fast is observed the whole night till the next morning. After ending their fast, fruits, clothes and such other articles are given in charity in a bamboo basket to the saints. Women worship a banyan (vat) tree, and listen to the story of Savitri in groups.

After this, women can offer prayer and worship. During this puja, women pray for good health of their husbands. Women give water to the tree, sprinkle red powder (kumkum) on it, and wrap cotton threads around tree's trunks. Then they go seven times around the tree (called the pratikrama). The Legend[edit] The celebration derived from the story of Savitri and Satyavan. It had been foretold that Satyavan would not live for long. One day, while resting on the lap of Savitri, Satyavan suddenly passed away. The messenger of Yama, the God of death came to take Satyavan. But Savitri refused to give her beloved husband. Messenger after messenger tried to take Satyavan away, but in vain. Finally, Yama himself appeared in front of Savitri and insisted to give her husband. Since, she was still adamant, he offered her a boon. She asked for the well being of her in-laws. He granted it to her. She then followed him as he took Satyavan's body away. He offered her another boon. She now asked for the well being of her parents. This boon, too, was granted.

But she was relentless, and continued to follow him. As they approached Yama's abode, he offered her a final boon. She asked for a son. He granted it. But there was a conflict with this boon. She asked him how it would be possible for her to beget sons without her husband. Yama was stumped and realized the great devotion Savitri had for her husband. Lord Yama was impressed with her determination, and had to return the soul of her husband to his body. Henceforth, the world recognized her as the great "Sati Savitri". On the day of Vat Savitri, women hold a fast and pray for their husband's safety in the same way Savitri did.

1st June 2nd June 3rd June 4th June 5th June 6th June 7th June 8th June 9th June 10th June 11th June 12th June 13rd June 14th June 15th June 16th June 17th June 18th June 19th June 20th June 21st June 22nd June 24th June 25th June 26th June 27th June 28th June 29th June 30th June – Avhad Suresh S, Thorat Balasaheb P, Bodake Sunil S, Patil Kailash R, Mahade Ajay A, Raut Dnyaneshwar A, Munolli Devindrappa, Khatmode Annasaheb, Shirsat Jayram, Shinde Prakash, Vangule Mangesh M, Kshetri Laxman S, Wagaj Vinayak, Sharma Mukesh Kumar, Bagwan Azim, Pandhare Santosh, Raut Ashok, Suresh Kalamanthani, Nouren

j Paul Karu, Sahay Amresh, Bhise Pushpak, Vasava Arjun, Vachakal Somnath, Vachakal Somnath, chavan Satish M, Bodade Kishor, Samangade Chandrakant, Deshpande Mandar, G.

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Nagaraja, Yadav Mahipal, Patel Tiger, Bannappa, Math Gurulingayya, Venkataraju R, Patil Reeta, Nagaraj K, Rajeshware Basawaraj, Mane Kalyani, Uddi Nagraj, Bhapkar Walmik, Kule Sakharam, Kalekar Deepak, Mulay Sanjay, Joshi Pooja, Kolekar Yandri, Patil Prakash, Kharutkar Prakash, Sawant Ramesh D, Barela Pradip, Khaire Bankat, Nanaware Mahadev, Nanaware Mahadev, Byelle Bhimashankar, Aule Shivraj, Bhalerao Laxman, Rathod Sanjay, Pawar Dattatraya, Zore Tukaram, Sutar Dilip, Panave Mohan, Ahire Amod, Bhatewara Deepak, Desadla Bharat, Lunkad Sanjay, Jagadhane Pramod, Jadhav Satish – Dhokare Krishna M, Dadas Arjun L, Magadum Mahantesh, Shaikh Chandbadshaha, Vachakal Shankar

, Agarwal Prakash, Bankar Ganesh, Gaikwad Kiran, Jadhav Vitthal, More Bharat – Nagargoje Bhaginath, Jhariya Tejram, Panchal Falguni, Sarankumar, Uttekar Mahendra, Rautrao Nilesh – Avate Chandrakant – Pavale Dattatray S, Waghmare Santosh, Sharma Prahalad Kumar, Sonwane Mahadev, Kandhol Kapil, Patra Pradipkumar, Nagtile Vitthal, Yerawar Dinesh – Sangale Kondiba, Bed Prakash Singh, Jogale Sandeep, Maske Sharad – Boroti Yashawant L, Dhutare Ramesh M, Rajmane Santosh, Pawar Sanjay – Dubal Sachin, Davane Shashikant, A.

Sakthivel – Singh Chandrapal, Patil Pravin C, Shanthi Bhushan, Borade Mahadev – Vedprakash, Tiwari Sanjay Kumar, Jagdish Lal, Nayak Somnath, Nayak Somnath, Dedage Chandrashekhar, Patil Vaishali – Chavan Satish M, Pawale Shankar, Patil Narendra, Gavi Sachidanand – Palsapkar Gajanan, Mohanta Lambodar, Buchade Narayan – Patil Kishor R, Mandavkar Sukhdev, Achary Prabhakar P, Birambole Yuvraj – Sool Balaji, Patil Amarsinh, Pasalkar Sham, Jadhav Laxman, Pachundkar Sachin – Bhatt Urbadatt, Singh Sanjay Kumar S, Pansare Sudhakar M, Singh Uday Veer, Sayyed Mukhtadir, Kulkarni Kalyanrao, Jawale Kishor, Sawatkar Vinod, Yeola Bhushan – Dhotre Vilas – Kothari Abhijit, Sawant Sandeep, Magdum Swapnil,

 Patil Fanindra, Ghule Nitin, Udapure Gaurav – Gupta Anoopkumar, Shaikh Amir – Shinde Chandrakant L, Shende Daulat, Sharma Manoj – Mokashi Rajendra, Shelke Ramesh – Mavlingkar Chandrashekhar, Anecha Rushikesh – Pawar Ganesh – Jadhav Swapnil – Yadav Parichan, Dutal Jayraj – Phalak Mitesh – Kamble Gopal J, Shukla Suresh Kumar, R.

Mohammed Rooman, Sahoo Satyabrate – Pandit Archana – Intekhab Alam, Valunj Sandip, Dave Ashwin, Pathak Kaustubh - Patil Sachin V, Puri Anup, G. B. Ramesh All pages:

Question: The Ryugyong Hotel, a partially constructed concrete skyscraper that was intended to be a hotel was called 'The Worst Building in the History of Mankind' by Esquire in 2008. Where is it located?
Answer: Pyongyang, North Korea