Paul Baran an Internet innovator

One of the men behind the Internet, Paul Baran died at the age of 84 on March 28 2011.

Without him maybe the internet wouldnt work as it does, Mr Baran first put forward the idea of slicing data into "message blocks" and using a distributed system of nodes to pass them on when working at the Rand Corporation in the mid-1960s.
He was one of the first people to work out the idea of splitting data being sent over communications networks into chunks, or "message blocks", which would offset traffic surges and help protect the network from attack. Arpanet the science network was later based upon this approach.

The work was originally done as part of a project to keep telecommunications networks operating even if a large part of them was knocked out by a first strike nuclear attack during the cold war which luckily didnt happen.

A British scientist, Donald Davies, further developed the idea and the result was what we now call packet switching, a vital technical concept that underlies what we call the Internet.

Paul Baran's son David Baran said how his father had recently shown him a paper written in 1966 which speculated about what people would do with the telecommunication networks in the future. It spelled out this idea that by the year 2000 people would be using online networks for shopping and the news.

It goes to show that one person can make a difference in the world

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Henna Tattoo

I went to an event the other day and there was a lady doing Henna tattoo's on hands so i went and got my left hand done i think it looks pretty and a great way to have a tattoo

Henna tattooing is also known as Mehndi, what Henna does is stain the outer layers of the epidermis and the skin exfoliates so after 2-3 weeks depending on how deep the stain went and how much you wash your hands it will stand to come off. I got black henna done and im reading how black henna isint very good to use as you could get scared from your body not liking the additive to make it black, we shall see what happens and well if it happens i will just go to a doctors straight away.

Henna is made from

• a plant called lawsonia inermis which is grounded into a powder
  
• an acidic liquid like fresh lemon or lime juice
• sugar
• and maybe some essential oil

To make

• Spoon henna powder in a clear glass bowl.
• Slowly add small amounts of acidic liquid to the henna powder. Use a spoon to mix thoroughly.
• When all of the henna powder has been moistened, it will be a very thick paste. Spread it out in the bowl.
• Cover bowl with cling wrap and set in a dark, warm spot (NOT in the sun and NOT directly on a heat source)
• Leave the bowl for 4-8 hours, until you can see dye release on the surface of the thick henna paste
• When it's ready, stir it up with a spoon.
• Optional: Add a few drops of essential oil.
• Mix in the sugar.
• Carefully add small amounts of acidic liquid and blend thoroughly. The final consistency should be like toothpaste or yogurt.
• Let your mixed paste sit for an hour or two before using. Or you can put it immediately into the freezer. (Fresh henna paste will demise rapidly if left unfrozen

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Long hair

I have pretty long hair and part of me wants to get it but where another part dosent want me to cut it, my hair comes to the top of my bum. Why do i want to cut it well let me tell you a few annoying things that happen

1. Long hair gets caught in car doors, bad on windy days owww
2. Washing my hair takes around 15 minutes
3. It takes around 10 minutes to comb my hair after i wash it to get all the knots out
4. I used loads of hair conditioner
5. I cannot wash my hair while in the shower
6. It tickles me
7. The end of my hair sometimes scratches me
   
8. It gets in my food when i try to eat if i dont tie it up, different way to get fibre i know
   
9. I need too tie it up when i go to sleep
10. While im asleep i wake up at times with my hair around my neck choking me
11. All i can really do is tie my hair up different ways
    
12. I cant put colour in my hair myself

Im sure there are other reasons but i cant think of them right now.
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Why do Cats Purr

There are a few reason that cats purr the first has to do with when they are born, they can't see, and they can't smell or hear very well. The vibrations from their mums purring allow the kittens to find her more easily. Her purring also acts as reassurance. She's letting them know that she's friendly, happy and ready for nursing them.

Another reason is that cats sometimes purr when they are feeling anxious, ill, or even when they are in pain or dying. Cat purring is sometimes an act of reassurance for Kitty herself. She associates it with nice experiences, so purring when she's feeling sick, stressed, in pain or even dying, helps her to feel calmer.

Other reasons include reassurance for humans sometimes when the cats owner gets upset it will go to the owners side and purr. It's believed that again, its an act of reassurance, but this time it's like they're saying "We know you're upset, but we're here for you."

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Happy International Women's Day

Today 8 March is International Women's Day a day to celebrate women.

International Women's Day is generally a celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

International Women's Day was first observed on 19 March 1908 in Germany following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America.
The idea for international women's day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialisation and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions.

Why do Sikhs wear Turbans

I found an old book called 1000 Questions and Answers, over time i will write some of what i think is interesting today im going to write about why Sikhs wear Turbans.

It seems the reason Sikhs wear Turbans is for religious reasons.

When a Sikh is born they are never to have any of their hair cut the parents looking after the hair till the child is old enough to look after the hair themselves, as you can guess the hair would get very long so they wear the turban to make sure the hair is protected from becoming tangled, or coming in contact with pollutants.

A Sikh believes that hair kept intact in its natural state honours the inherent physical creative process intended by the creator. The Sikh code of conduct stipulates that hair growing from the scalp, all facial hair including eyebrows lashes, hair on the lip, nose, ears, cheeks chin, and every hair growing on any part of the body are to remain unaltered. No modification of nature should occur to dishonour kes (hair).

Tying a turban is an event which occurs every morning in the life of a Sikh. The daily routine includes the care and cleanliness of the kes (hair) and beard. In addition to the morning schedule, the hair may be combed and the turban retied after work, before evening prayers, or before bedtime. Many Sikhs wash their hair before morning meditation on a daily basis rinsing it with clear water or shampooing.

There is loads more information why Sikhs wear turbans and if you want to know more About.com tells you more.

Video on how to tie a Turban




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Strange Parenting Products for Children

While browsing the net earlier today i somehow got onto a parenting site. The reason as i followed a link that said about Ridiculous Parenting Products and well some of them are really weird. Some make sense to me but well some of the others no.

Here are some of the products you can buy, be warned some might make you feel queasy.
Fake hair for babies every baby needs that right




I know dads let kids have horse rides on their back but this might be going a bit to far

The name of it The Daddle















Two plush toys being bodily functions the yellow one is meant to be urine the brown one faeces















Sperm Lapel pins and Earrings, something im sure everyone wants to wear













A baby bum fan, hmm by the time you get it wouldn't the child's bum be drying?






I kept this one to last so people who might find a little disgusting wouldn't see it unless they went all the way down the page.

A Placenta Teddy Bear, it is a kit that tells you how to cut, cure the organ, then how to sew it into the teddy bear.

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