The Tunguska Event

On June 30, 1908, a giant fire ball flew over the vast territory of Central Siberia. The flight was accompanied by a loud sound, bright lights and it ended with a powerful explosion. The blast knocked down a forest in a radius of 40 kilometers. For several nights an unusual light phenomena called "bright nights summer 1908” were observed.
There are many theories about this event. Most of the people consider that it was big meteorite. Since 1927 scientists tried to find traces of explosion. However, the usual meteor crater has not been found so far. Other scientists noticed that area of fallen timber has a characteristic form of "Butterfly". So, the explosion was not in the collision of a body with the earth's surface, but before that in the air at an altitude of 5-10 kilometers. Some people think that it was Alien spaceship crash.
Anyway, the Tunguska event is the largest impact event over land in Earth's recent history. Estimates of the energy of the blast are about 10–15 megatons of TNT (42–63 PJ). It is roughly equal to the United States' Castle Bravo thermonuclear bomb tested on March 1, 1954. It is also about 1,000 times as powerful as the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

My White Water Heroes

Eric Jakson. Eric Jakson was born on March 3, 1964. He is a world-champion freestyle kayaker, kayak designer, and small business owner. He has good family. His children Emily and Dane are also competitive kayakers and have won different world kayaking competitions. Eric has been world champion for four times on freestyle kayaking (1993, 2001, 2005, 2007). In 1992, Jackson competed in Barcelona as part of the U.S. Olympic team, finishing 13th in the K-1 event. After spending many years designing kayaks for various manufacturers, Eric founded Jackson Kayak in October 2003. I like Eric because he successfully managed to balance his hobby, family, and business.


Tao Berman. Tao Berman was born in 1979. He is very likely the most famous extreme kayaker around the world. He has set 3 world records so far. The first one is World Record Waterfall Descent at 98.4ft or 30 meters. (current World Record Waterfall Descent is about 60 meters :). Also, Tao has more than 50 first waterfalls descents. I like Tao because he has made a name in sports, and now other people pay him money for kayaking.

Year of France-Russia 2010

This year is year of Russia in France and vice-versa year of France in Russia. Year of France-Russia 2010 are held in both countries and includes over 350 events. It’s a unique opportunity for Russians and French to closer look at each other. This year they have a chance to improve our knowledge about our countries, about our history, our culture. We can understand how we live today in France and in Russia. During this year, France will be shown Russia all richness of its cultural, historical heritage and modern art. At the same time, the Russian program in France is designed to promote greater familiarity with modern Russian.

Christ’s apostles portraits was found in Rome

Italian archaeologists found oldest images of the apostles Peter, Paul, Andrew and John. “This is the oldest images of the apostles, which pertain to the end of 4th century” said the head of the archaeological excavation Fabrizio Visconti. Images were found in tomb which is in catacombs of St. Thecla near Cathedral of St. Paul. It seems that painting with a biblical explanation was ordered by a woman from a noble family, how was later buried there. This discovery demonstrates that the aristocrats in Rome later turned to Christianity. It’s interesting that tomb is located under an eight-storey building, which was built in the middle of last century. Fortunately, during the construction of the building, the catacombs were not damaged. Another interesting fact is that the images were opened by using the latest laser technology. This laser technology allows uncovering lime debris a few centimeters thick which was formed on the walls for one and a half millennia.

Father’s Day

Yesterday, I received my daily letter from calend.ru with description of current holidays and I read about Father’s Day. Father’s Day is being celebrated every third Sunday of June in many countries. The first time Father’s Day was started to be celebrated was in America. In 1909 after listening to a church sermon about Mother's Day, Sonora Smart Dodd remembered that her father William Smart brought up five children and her. Sonora wanted her father knew what he is particular for her. Sonora suggested to local authorities to establish a new holiday. Local authorities supported her approach and they intended to arrange the holiday on William Smart birthday, June 5. But the time to prepare for celebration was not enough and so the holiday was moved to June 19. Soon, the holiday has become very popular in other cities of the US. Father’s Day is an expression of love and gratitude to fathers. I hope Father’s Day will be an official holiday in Russia.

Buffett, Gates ask billionaires to give away wealth to charity

The richest people of the world Bill Gates and Warren Buffett asked other richest people of the world to give donate at least half his money to charity. Gates and his wife, Melinda, already established Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Foundation allocates funds to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in poor countries, as well as the development of education in the U.S. and the computerization of public libraries. I really think it’s very nice idea. If each oligarch give some money to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, expand educational opportunities and access to information technology our world will be better place. And of course, when I become an oligarch, I certainly will spend the part of my money to charity. I hope it will happen soon :).

Hornets from hell

Many years ago I read "Hoja Nasretdin" novel and I very well remembered one scene in which Hoja explained his plan to punish greedy wealthy man. Hoja caught a hornet and put him in the spider net. The fat spider delighted and jumped at the delicious moth. But the delicious moth was terrible killer and he killed the fat spider. I imaged this scene and, and it struck my young brain. Two days ago I watched “Hornets from hell” documental movie produced by National Geographic. I have never known that hornets are such a terrible killers. Hornet’s venom can be lethal even to people who are not allergic if the dose is sufficient. So few hornets can kill human. 30 hornets can kill 30000 bees in 3 hours. An attack of hornets on a bees hive is awesome show. I’m very glad that hornets don’t live near my town :)…

Dream came true

Today, our dream about kitchen came true. For more than one and half year we lived without kitchen furniture. A few times we tried to choose kitchen furniture in various shops but without any success. In some cases the price was high and in other cases something happened. Last time we tried to order kitchen furniture in a shop where our friend works. He promised to make big discount. But suddenly he retired and we were back to square one. All this time we read dozen of design magazines to try to find some ideas about kitchen design and colors. Anyway, today the kitchen has been installed. And we are happy now :). Below are photos before and after installation.

weekend training

last Saturday, I went to Okulovka’s slalom canal with my friends Alexey and Anatoly and we had nice KAYAKtraining. In the morning, we loaded the two freestyle and the two slalom boats and we started to go at 8 o’clock. We reached our destination at 12:30. The road took 4 and half hours because we ran into two traffic jams. Alexey and Anatoly took salom boats and went to slalom trace. Because I did not have free slalom boat, I took the freestyle one and went to the hole. Two hours later we had lunch break. After lunch Alexey took second playboat and joined with me in hole. At the same time Anatoly took camera and made few pictures. At 5 o’clock in the afternoon we went back to Tver. After 30 minutes on the way we suddenly heard a crack and thunder. We stopped and got out of the car. Our boat was scattered across the road. Fortunately, the road was empty. I found that the strap was fried out. It was a mysterious accident, and we have not understood why it happened . I transferred boats for more than 5 years now and it was first time when the strap was broken in 30 minutes. Then we fixed the strap, tied boats and arrived to Tver without accidents. Anyway, it was a sunny day and we had a great time and much fun.

Lyrics Training

Some time ago I found an internet resource for funny language learning. It’s Lyrics Training site. Lyrics Training is a pretty good tool which combines language learning, music listening, song learning and touch typing:). This tool allows me sometimes to take work break, relax and learn some song.

My first online shopping story

About six month ago, I found out that my notebook should be replaced soon with a new battery. A month later the battery died finally and I began to find a new battery for my notebook. I asked about in shops but shop managers told me that they don’t sell battery for notebooks. So, I decided to order a battery by internet. I checked a notebook manufacturer site and find one for $140. I continued my search and found one for $70 on a Ukrainian site. The guys form this site claimed that they sell original batteries from a factory store in China so batteries are cheap. I trusted them and made an order three months ago. They told me that the package would be delivered by airmail. A week later, I checked the Chinese mail tracking system and found out that the package have already left China. Then I checked Russian mail tracking system within two months and found nothing about my package. Then I began to worry about that. Last week, the package appeared in Russian mail tracking system, hurray! Finally, yesterday I received the battery and put it on my notebook. I suspect the package didn’t fly by airmail. I think a little Chinese guy put the battery inside his big bag and went to Moscow by foot. At dark night he crossed the border and arrived in Moscow two month later so the batteries are cheap :)… Anyway, I have new battery and I'm happy.

Lolita

Yesterday, I found a store of online English movies. Some of them have subtitles. I watched “Lolita” movie directed by Adrian Lyne, based on a novel of the same title by Vladimir Nabokov. I have never read the novel, but now I’m going to read this one at leisure. This is a dramatic story about a forbidden love between British professor and 14-year-old step daughter, Dolores. Young nymphet played with the feelings of an old man who could not overcome his passion. He believed that he found his new love. This is story doesn't have a happy ending.

2010 extreme outdoor festival “Green Basin”

The 2010 extreme outdoor festival “Green Basin” is over. The festival took place in the Tver region on the Tverza river on June 06th. The festival consists of kayaking race, extreme relay, children relay, volleyball competition and water tourist relay. I participated in kayak race. I got 4th place in K1 and 4th place in K2. Our club team wins 1st place on the water team competition. Natasha and I took part in organizaing this competition also. It was sunny and we all burnt our skin (especially little Katya). We had a great time and much fun.





Results of festival are here.
Photos are here.

"The Flynn Effect"

Today, I read article about “The Flynn Effect”. The article answered the question: “Are human beings getting smarter?”. And the answer is: “Yes, but in one very specific way.” The main fact is that people who have taken IQ tests have gotten increasingly better scores - on average, three points better for every decade that has passed. Other interesting fact is that test takers did better on sections that required a special kind of reasoning or problem solving. According to Flynn, it happens because of the amount technology that is increasing in our life. I think it’s really true. New hi-tech devices, TV and computers makes our children smarter and develop logic. But on other hand they replace books and live communication. It can also reduce memorizing and social skills. Maybe it’s a part of human evolution process :)