Monday, April 30, 2018

FACEBOOK - Top 5 Myths About Facebook - According to a Business Week interview with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook is profitable and growing quickly based only on the strength of its advertising revenues. So while it's hard to look in to the future and say with certainty what Facebook's business model will look like, for the time being Facebook addicts can keep their money in their wallets when they log on.

Facebook

Top 5 Myths About Facebook

BY JONATHAN ATTEBERRY

If you've been on the Internet for any length of time, you've probably come across one of the hundreds of hoaxes that are floating around cyberspace.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, explains the concept of Facebook's
social network. The site has grown from Zuckerberg's Harvard
campus site to connecting users across the Internet.

In fact, many of these half-truths and outright myths have been making the rounds nearly as long as the word "Internet" has been a part of our vocabulary.

In 1997, for instance, an e-mail promising quick riches and a copy of Windows 98, courtesy of Bill Gates, flooded Inboxes across the world.

Predictably, Bill Gates wasn't actually parting with his billions to have people forward e-mails to their friends.

A few years later, Al Gore made a crucial mistake during his presidential campaign when he claimed that he invented the Internet. Only he didn't.

In reality, Gore claimed he "took the initiative in creating the Internet" in an interview with CNN.

While that's still a big claim, many argue it's a far cry from claiming he engineered routers and laid fiber optic cables with his bare hands.

Clearly, the explosive growth of the Internet has created a fair share of misunderstandings, fabrications and myths, and now it's one of the Internet's most popular sites, Facebook, that's stirring up rumors.

With more than 250 million users, it's only natural that some Facebook fables have taken shape.

Here are the top five Facebook myths, starting with one that could make a lot of people very upset if it were to come true.

5 They're Going to Start Charging for It

We've heard our whole lives that there's no such thing as a free lunch, so it's only natural for people to suspect Facebook might start charging for its service.

Is Facebook going to start charging for its service?

This rumor seems particularly plausible when you consider arguments like the one Slate magazine writer Farhad Manjoo put forth in a column from 2008.

Manjoo pointed out that if even 5 percent of Facebook users agreed to pay $5 a month for the service (with the remaining users downgraded to limited accounts), Facebook could generate hundreds of millions of dollars a year in membership fees alone.

Fortunately for Facebook users, the company currently has no plans to start charging for the service.

According to a Business Week interview with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook is profitable and growing quickly based only on the strength of its advertising revenues.

So while it's hard to look in to the future and say with certainty what Facebook's business model will look like, for the time being Facebook addicts can keep their money in their wallets when they log on.

The next Facebook myth also has huge financial implications, but not for Facebook users. Read on to see why.

4 Facebook's Founder Stole the Idea for the Site

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, was declared the world's youngest billionaire at age 24 by Forbes Magazine.

But years before Facebook was a household name, Zuckerberg was hired to do some coding for fellow Harvard students starting a Web site called Harvard Connection.

The Web site was designed to help college students network with one another, a premise remarkably similar to Facebook's.

The rest of the story depends on whom you ask.

The students behind Harvard Connection contend that Zuckerberg deliberately neglected his programming duties so that he could create a site with the same premise.

Zuckerberg, on the other hand, claims his inspiration for Facebook stemmed from Harvard's reaction to Facemash, his previous Web site.

Facemash had a very simple premise, allowing Harvard students to compare and rate pictures of each other.

The instant success of the site (for the few days Harvard allowed the site to remain up, at least) gave Zuckerberg insight into the appeal of following friends and acquaintances online.

From there, Zuckerberg claims that, considering the buzz around social networking at the time, the idea for Facebook was a natural extension of his previous work.

So what's the real story?

After a lengthy legal battle between the founders of Harvard Connection (now called ConnectU) and Zuckerberg, the matter was ultimately settled out of court.

According to a publication released from Harvard Connection's lawyers, Facebook agreed to pay up to $61 million in cash and stock to close the matter [source: Kincaid].

While that's a lot of money, it doesn't scratch the surface of what Facebook is worth today, which explains why the next myth on the list has yet to become a reality.

3 [Company X] Is Going to Buy Facebook

For most 20-somethings, a billion dollars would sound like a lot of money, but not for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Is Facebook for sale?

After running Facebook for two years, Zuckerberg entered into talks with Yahoo! to discuss selling the company.

Facebook competitor MySpace sold for $580 million only a year earlier and had more users than Facebook at the time, so Yahoo! likely felt that offering a purported $ 1 billion for the Web site was more than generous [source: BBC].

Zuckerberg thought otherwise, opting to maintain ownership and control of the company, instead.

It turns out he made the right move; only a year later, Microsoft valued Facebook at $15 billion [source: Sloane].

Granted, Microsoft had its reasons for pinning such a hefty price tag on the Web site, essentially guaranteeing that none of its competitors could purchase Facebook as a result.

Still, an early 2009 internal appraisal of Facebook's value placed the figure at closer to $4 billion, an amount still well above the $1 billion offered by Yahoo! [source: CBS News].

As for selling the company, the rumors seem to have died down for now.

In a 2007 interview with Time magazine, Zuckerberg claimed that selling Facebook is "not the core focus" for the company.

Instead, Zuckerberg says Facebook is busy finding the best possible way for people to connect online, which brings us to our next myth.

2 Facebook Destroys Your Social Skills

There's no denying that Facebook makes it easier to connect with old friends and distant relatives, but this convenience might come at a heavy cost.

Facebook makes it easier to connect with friends and family,
but does this convenience come at a heavy cost?
Do we undervalue face-to-face interaction as a result of using Facebook?

West London Mental Health Trust psychiatrist Himanshu Tyagi warns that because social networking makes communicating such a fast paced and dynamic experience, people might become desensitized to their real-world relationships.

Younger people who've grown up with the Internet are particularly at risk, he says, since they sometimes place heavy emphasis on their virtual identities and may undervalue face-to-face interaction as a result.

Psychologist Aric Sigman goes even further, saying that because Facebook enables people to live an increasingly isolated existence, their health may suffer.

Pointing to studies that illustrate how the body's genes and hormone levels react to personal interaction, Dr. Sigman contends isolation puts the body at risk for a number of ailments including heart disease, strokes and even cancer.

Fortunately for Facebook users, not everyone thinks the site is turning the world into hermits.

A Cambridge University study of Facebook users found that the site can be a useful tool for maintaining relationships that might otherwise be lost.

Additionally, the study's participants found Facebook useful for getting a better-rounded view of their friends and family and ultimately felt that the site gave them more options for how they interacted with others.

Of course, if the next myth on our list has some truth to it, you may want to log off regardless of how the site affects your social skills.

1 Facebook Is Going to Sell Your Pictures

While it's never a good idea to post pictures to Facebook unless you don't care who sees them, you probably never imagined that, even if you delete your account, Facebook could use those pictures for commercial purposes.

Should Chuck and Josh be worried about Facebook selling their photos?

That's the impression that recent changes to the company's Terms of Service (TOS) seemed to give, however.

The ensuing uproar over the changes prompted Facebook's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, to address the issue on the company's blog.

Zuckerberg claims the changes clarified the way sites like Facebook work, pointing out that even if a user deletes his or her account, the content from that account might still exist on other users' pages.

Accordingly, Facebook needs license to share those images with other members, but only in the way that users determine via their accounts' privacy settings.

Most importantly, Zuckerberg insists that Facebook has no intention of selling users' pictures for any reason, though he admits that Facebook needs to work on clarifying the language to that effect.

https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/tech-myths/5-myths-about-facebook.htm

WHEN HENS LAY THEIR EGGS - Every time a chickens body is nicely ready to lay, you will see your hen doing a strange little squat at the backyard. This bizarre gesture is a subtle and flirtatious indication to a rooster they are fully matured and ready for some funny business. You might discover that your hens will nevertheless do this funky little squat if there are no roosters around. It is likewise a tell-tale sign that your pullet are going to put an egg at any moment! As soon as you see your pullets doing their squats you may be certain that you will find eggs in route!

Image result for When Hens Lay Their Eggs images

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When The Hens Lay Their Eggs

How To Know When Chickens Start To Lay Eggs

By poultryfeedformulation

One of the most exciting times for a first time chicken owner is that glorious moment once the hens lay their eggs!

Often this moment is going to be a joyous surprise, even while for some owners, the more it takes the more nervous they become – “is something wrong with the chicken,” ”are they sick,” ”do they need to spend more time in the nesting boxes,” ”am I feeding them the wrong food?”

The majority of the time these queries only cause unnecessary nerves and frustration, even if what your flock needs most is support and patience.

As you await your chickens to lay their egg you need to be composed, calm and caring, not anxious and overbearing.

Here are some of the greatest things you can do to help your hens as they get ready to lay their first eggs.

When do hens normally start laying?

Generally speaking most hens will begin laying between 18 to 24 weeks.

This having been said, some breeds who are not renowned for being productive layers can endure as long as the year to create their very first tasty egg.

Finding out the age and breed of your pullets is a really practical way to keep track of your expectations during these first few months, since you will be able to track their progress and see whether anything is out of the ordinary.

How do you produce the right setting conditions to your flock?

There are a whole lot of variables that affect your flock’s likelihood of becoming energetic and productive little layers.

Ensuring you meet all your chickens’ fundamental needs, concerning food, shelter and water, as well as creating a serene and tranquil environment, will ultimately result in your chickens feeling relaxed and healthy enough to lay.

Humans have been caring for chickens for thousands of years.

As somebody who cares for chickens it is your obligation to make sure that your hens have a great safe place to lay which will keep them protected from the elements and whatever predators might be lurking on them.

Nesting Boxes

The general guideline is that each nesting box can accommodate 3 to 4 chickens — not in precisely the exact same time of course! Nesting boxes also need to be warm, comfy and quiet, which will aid your hens feel safe and secure, while they attempt to stay focused and lay their initial few eggs.

Daylight

One of the most important factors is daylight. Chickens need at least 10-14 hours of daylight to get their bodies to create any eggs.

This is the reason why the majority of chickens stop laying during chilly and winter months.

But if your pullets are not let out of the coop, then they will also cease laying, even if it’s sunny and warm outside.

That’s why coop accessories like the Automatic Door are so important, particularly if you’re the type of chicken owner that finds it hard to get out of bed early in the morning.

Great Nutrition

Pullets need additional protein in their diet, as their bodies aren’t only getting ready to lay eggs, they’re also still doing heaps of growing!

Diversifying their diet with some healthy treats is a smart way to make certain they are getting some variety.

It all basically boils down to making your flock feel secure, protected and loved.

If your hens are worried about predators or unsure of where their next meal is going to come from, then they are not as likely to feel compelled to lay.

What are a few of the signs of a chicken getting ready to lay?

Though many (not all) chicken owners are unable to speak their flocks”buk-buk” speech, your hens will still offer you a lot of hints that their egg making instinct is about ready and they are gearing up to lay their first egg.

Below are a few of the top signs that your hens are preparing to lay an egg for the first time…

Red Combs & Wattles

Look closely in the combs and wattles of your pullets around the time they’re 18 weeks old.

Generally speaking your hens’ wattles and combs will turn red and swell as their bodies ready to lay eggs.

It may seem somewhat odd but think all of these weird and unusual things that the human body does as it moves through puberty.

Checking From The Nesting Boxes

Some hens will start to inspect the nesting boxes all the time they’re getting ready to lay.

They’ll wander around, rummage the hemp bedding and stick their beak in and out. Some might also practice sitting in the nesting box, which may cause any chicken lover an excellent deal of excitement!

This being said, even if your girls are checking out the nesting boxes, then they may still be a couple of days or weeks off from laying.

Every time a chickens body is nicely ready to lay, you will see your hen doing a strange little squat at the backyard.

This bizarre gesture is a subtle and flirtatious indication to a rooster they are fully matured and ready for some funny business.

You might discover that your hens will nevertheless do this funky little squat if there are no roosters around.

It is likewise a tell-tale sign that your pullet are going to put an egg at any moment! As soon as you see your pullets doing their squats you may be certain that you will find eggs in route!

These are the very typical signs that a chicken is preparing to lay however most poultry owners possess a profound connection with their flock and therefore are able of intuitively feel when their hens are ready to produce their first eggs.

https://youtu.be/-qOa0HroROs

https://poultryfeedformulation.com/how-to-know-when-chickens-start-to-lay-eggs/ Image result for When Hens Lay Their Eggs images

WATER FROM FOG - Fog Provides Water in the World's Driest Zones -Think of fog banks like grounded clouds. The product of condensation, fog is made up of visible water droplets that congregate in large clusters near Earth's surface. Fog nets are made of fine mesh and typically held up by poles in the ground. When it's foggy outside, tiny water droplets cling to the mesh. As they accumulate, some of the droplets merge together into beads. When they increase in size, the beads grow heavy and gravity pulls them down.

Water From Fog

Fog Provides Water in the World's Driest Zones

BY MARK MANCINI

On the whole, the Namib Desert in Southern Africa doesn't see much rainfall.

To stay alive, a few species there rely on a different source for moisture.

In the Namib, fog is way more common than rain. Some of it gets blown over on Atlantic winds; some of it radiates up from the ground.

Altogether, there are usually between 60 and 200 foggy days in the desert each year.

The Namib grass Stipagrostis sabulicola exploits those foggy days.

Airborne water droplets get caught on its leaves and tiny vertical grooves then redirect the liquid down to its roots.

Small black insects in the Namib do something similar.

On cool mornings, Namib beetles (Stenocara gracilipes) use their forewings to collect fog droplets and channel them into their mouths.

It's an ingenious hydration trick. So could mankind ever harvest fog?

You bet. In fact, people all over the world are doing it right now.

Moisture and Gravity

Historians don't know exactly how old the practice of fog collection is.

Modern engineers have been tinkering with the idea since at least 1901, when fog capture experiments were carried out on Table Mountain in South Africa.

The country took a huge leap forward in 1969.

That year, South Africa's government was looking to find a suitable source of water for its Air Force personnel at the Mariepskop radar station.

Two plastic nets — measuring 91.8 feet (28 meters) long by 11.8 feet (3.6 meters) high — were set up near the facility.

Placed at right angles to each other, their purpose was to gather and store windblown moisture on foggy days.

The screens stayed up for 15 months.

In that time, they yielded a daily average of 11 liters (2.9 gallons) of water per square meter (3.28 square feet) of collection surface area. Not too shabby.

Think of fog banks like grounded clouds.

The product of condensation, fog is made up of visible water droplets that congregate in large clusters near Earth's surface.

Fog nets — like the ones built for the Mariepskop radar station — are made of fine mesh and typically held up by poles in the ground.

When it's foggy outside, tiny water droplets cling to the mesh. As they accumulate, some of the droplets merge together into beads.

When they increase in size, the beads grow heavy and gravity pulls them down.

At the base of a fog net is a gutter that collects these descending water droplets that can then be diverted into a reservoir for storage.

Ultimately, the Mariepskop nets were dismantled once a different water source presented itself.

But the world hadn't seen the last of fog harvesting.

Halfway across the planet, a renaissance in this field was set to unfold.

A Global Harvest

The Chilean mountain village of Chungungo — like the Namib Desert — is arid and rain is hard to come by.

Typically, the area experiences less than 6 centimeters (2.36 inches) of precipitation per year.

Generations of residents have had to import drinking water by the truckload from Chile's wetter regions.

And yet, Chungungo itself is not some moisture-free wasteland.

Regular, heavy fogs blow in from the Pacific. So late in the 20th century, scientists decided to try and harness this resource.

In 1992, The New York Times reported on a collaboration between Chile's National Catholic University and the International Development Research Centre of Canada.

Researchers from both organizations descended on a hill overlooking Chungungo where they tested out different net materials.

Eventually, the teams settled on a design. Some 50 nets were made, with each containing two layers of tight, polypropylene mesh.

Though the harvest yields varied seasonally, a 2001 report from Scientific American found that the nets gathered an average total of 11,000 liters (2,905 gallons) of water every day.

That was enough to provide each one of Chungungo's 300 residents with 33 liters apiece (8 gallons) daily.

The feel-good story garnered lots of headlines.

Inspired by the success at Chungungo, other countries began to set up their own fog-harvesting net systems.

Today, these contraptions can be found in more than a dozen nations — including Peru, Morocco and Nepal.

In areas where lakes, rivers or water wells aren't options for drinking water, they can be highly useful.

Netting the Future

Fog collection technology continues to evolve.

In 2013, scientists from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced a vastly improved mesh screen design.

Through rigorous testing, they learned that thin fibers made for more effective nets.

So, they created a net out of stainless steel filaments with three to four times the thickness of an isolated human hair.

Then, a specially made coating was applied in order to help water droplets slide down the mesh more easily.

According to the researchers, this new design represents a 500 percent improvement in fog-collection efficiency.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING

Roadrunners can stay alive without directly drinking water.

These flightless birds simply extract all the water they need from the animals they eat.

For the record, roadrunners prey on snakes, lizards, insects, rodents and smaller birds — as well as fruit.

Mark Mancini is a freelance writer currently based in Texas. Over the years, he’s covered every subject from classic horror movies to Abe Lincoln’s favorite jokes. He is particularly fond of paleontology and has been reporting on new developments in this field since 2013. When Mark’s not at his writing desk, you can usually find him on stage somewhere because he loves to get involved with community theatre. And if you ever feel like trading puns for a few hours, he’s your guy.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/harvesting-fog-provides-water-in-worlds-driest-zones.htm

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