World Wi-Fi Day: June 20

For the first time, this year will have a World Wi-Fi Day. Monday, June 20, has been designated as World Wi-Fi Day, an initiative of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA). The Alliance includes Comcast, AT&T, Cisco, Google, and 70 other members around the world. The aim of World Wi-Fi Day is ‘to recognise and celebrate the significant role Wi-Fi is playing in getting cities and communities around the world connnected.’

The WBA is focusing its World Wi-Fi Day on its ‘HOPE for Connectivity Charter’ which calls for funding Wi-Fi deployments to unconnected communities globally, to provide affordable Wi-Fi access for the communities in both rural and urban areas, adn to recognize the role of Wi-Fi in addressing the digital divide.

The global project will be celebrated by events and free Wi-Fi in participating countries and cities. Some of these participating cities include New York, San Francisco, and Palo Alto in America, Calgary in Canada, New Delhi in India, Dublin in Ireland, and Canberra in Australia.

Wi-Fi is short for ‘wireless fixed’ which was partially invented in Australia by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in 1992 and patented in 1996.

June 20 is also the Solstice, as well as National Ice Cream Soda Day, Plain Yoghurt Day, National Vanilla Milkshake Day, and Juggling Day in America. Globally June 20 is also World Humanist Day and International Surfing Day.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/telstra-free-wifi-is-happening-all-weekend-20160616-gpksx5.html

MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

Comments

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog