 Amita Vadlamudi is a former computer systems engineer who worked in the information technology industry for more than three decades. Outside of her professional life, Amita Vadlamudi is interested in history and enjoys reading nonfiction books on topics like ancient cultures.
Among the most advanced and famous of the world’s ancient cultures are the ancient Egyptians, whose kingdom lasted three millennia. Advanced for the time, the ancient Egyptians had a comprehensive writing system that they used to record the civilization’s history, beliefs, and ideas. Ancient Egyptians were also advanced in the field of medicine, and records of physicians from the time indicate that specialized doctors likely focused healing different parts of the body. Medical professionals in ancient Egypt also learned to set broken bones, stitch wounds, and use honey as an infection-fighting agent. Additionally, there is evidence to support the notion Ancient Egyptians practiced some measure of gender equality. Contracts and other documents show that women in ancient Egypt had significant financial and legal independence and received equal pay for work performed outside of the home.
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 Spending two minutes a day feeding them and fifteen minutes a week cleaning their bowl is all it takes to take care of goldfish. You can enjoy having them for years even if you do not have the room for a big fish tank. Goldfish can live for 3-4 years in small bowls if properly cared for.
First it is very important that there are at least two goldfish in the bowl for companionship. Secondly, proper amount of feeding is crucial. They should be fed twice daily in very small quantities. Check the instructions that come with the fish food for proper amounts. If you are caring for two fish, be sure that the bowl is at least a 2 gallon size. Maintaining two bowls will make the cleaning easier. Once a week, using a fish net, gently transfer the fish into the clean bowl that was prepared the previous week. Dump all the water from the old dirty bowl and clean it. Use water only for cleaning; no soap or detergent should be used. Fill the bowl with clean water 2/3 of the way. Add proper amount of “aquarium water conditioner” found in the pet stores. Leave this bowl for next week’s use. Water staying at room temperature for a week will prevent any temperature shock when the fish are transferred into the new bowl. You will, in fact, notice the fish get perky and happy as they breathe easier in the clean bowl. About the Author: Amita Vadlamudi is an Information Systems Professional who has had a busy career supporting many different Operating Systems and computer applications. Through her hectic schedule, Amita Vadlamudi finds relaxation in taking care of her goldfish.  Over the course of her career, Amita Vadlamudi worked as a computer systems engineer for several financial services companies. In her spare time, Amita Vadlamudi enjoys learning about ancient Roman and Greek gods.
With the exception of earth, the seven remaining planets in the solar system are named after ancient Roman gods, such as Mercury, god of travel, and Venus, goddess of love and beauty. The blood red tint of one planet encouraged astronomers to use the name of Mars, god of war. Neptune’s bluish appearance, meanwhile, was aptly named for the god of the oceans and seas. The king of all Roman gods, Jupiter, was, of course, given the solar system’s largest planet. Interestingly, Uranus was originally named Georgium Sidus (Georgian star) by Sir William Herschel in honor of King George III. Uranus, the Greek god of the heavens, did not gain widespread recognition as a name for nearly a century. While Pluto is no longer classified as a planet, ancient Roman astronomers named the dwarf planet after the god of the underworld.  Flags have been used for thousands of years. Originally, they were carried in battles and wars as symbols of strength.
A bronze metal flag from the ancient Persian times dating back to about 2400 BC was found in a place called Shahdad in Iran. Known as the Shahdad Standard, this is the oldest known flag in the world. This flag closely resembles the modern flag, in that it is square shaped, contains an emblem and is mounted on a pole. The oldest cloth flag was found in Egypt and it is believed to be from the third century AD. The Egyptians flew flags in battles many thousands of years ago. Their flags were made of streamers tied to long poles. Later, the Greeks and Romans followed suit. Use of flags was traced back to ancient China and India. Flags were said to have been carried on chariots and elephants in India as early as 4000-5000 BC. The flag usage spread from India and China to other parts of southeastern Asia. During Medieval times, European knights used flags as heraldic devices to identify themselves in battles. European nations began adopting flags to represent their countries in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. During late Middle Ages flags have come to represent countries, cities, kings and organizations. The use of national flags became commonplace during the 18th century throughout the world. At present time every country is represented by a national flag. The first official United States flag was adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14th 1777. It consisted of thirteen stripes and thirteen stars, each representing the original thirteen colonies. After undergoing many modifications, the present day version of the flag was adopted on August 21, 1959. The thirteen stripes and 50 stars now on the U.S. flag represent the original thirteen colonies and the current 50 states. About the Author: Amita Vadlamudi is an avid reader and enthusiast of History ranging from ancient times to present. Whether it is the United States history or the world history, Amita Vadlamudi takes an equally curious interest.  Though National Public Radio (NPR) was officially incorporated on February 26, 1970, its seeds had been planted in the early days of broadcasting, when the Federal Communications Commission allocated the lower end of the FM band to public purposes. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act that led to the establishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, designed to encourage the growth of non-commercial radio. The network’s first major broadcast covered the U.S. Senate hearings on the Vietnam War, and the offerings continued to expand as the years passed with programs exploring art, culture and the environment. News, however, remains its hallmark.
In the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center, NPR became increasingly meaningful. The network gained listeners as it provided timely and informative coverage of 9/11, the presidential election in 2004, and the Iraq war. NPR continues to evolve, embracing technological changes and introducing new digital platforms for its programming. About Amita Vadlamudi: An avid listener of NPR, Vadlamudi is deeply concerned with improving the world in many ways. Amita Vadlamudi volunteers as a shelf-leader at her local library, and supports numerous socially responsible and impactful organizations.  With over 30 years of experience in IT, Amita Vadlamudi served at a prominent financial services firm as a computer systems engineer. Outside of her professional interests, Amita Vadlamudi enjoys reading books on world history in her spare time. Among her interests are the achievements of ancient cultures, like the Egyptian Pyramids, Roman architecture, and the Aztec civilization. With origins that extend all the way back to the 6th century in what is today Mexico, the Aztec civilization was comprised of many different tribes that spoke the Nahuatl language and controlled extensive regions of Mesoamerica until the 16th century. Aztec society was separated by a class system of nobility and commoners, although they implemented a policy of mandatory education for all peoples, regardless of social standing. The most famous noble figure during the height of the Aztec Empire was Montezuma II, a king who ruled from 1502-1520. Although rich in cultural prominence due to the construction of pyramids and their prevalent use of gold in jewelry, the Aztec Empire fell to Spanish colonial forces led by Hernan Cortes within a few years of Montezuma II’s reign.  After earning her bachelor of science in computer science, Amita Vadlamudi worked as a computer analyst for 35 years. Over the course of her career, she took many courses to improve her IT skills and keep up with the evolving technology. To enhance her ability to communicate, Amita Vadlamudi also took local courses in public speaking and presentation skills.
Public speaking has been recognized as one of the average American's greatest fears. When speaking in public, audience attention is completely focused on the speaker, and there is literally nowhere to hide. Following these five tips can help alleviate fears and make your speech more memorable. Relax. It is natural to be nervous before making a speech, but there are ways to hone nervous energy into a positive force. Pause before beginning the speech to allow the nerves to settle and the audience to simply take you in. This will help convey a message of confidence and propel the speech forward. Keep it short and sweet. The speech should be no longer than necessary to convey the message. Sentences should also be kept short to have the most impact. Not only does brevity help in formulating and delivering the speech, but it also helps those with short attention spans stay focused and succinctly deliver the point. Talk to your audience, not at them. The best speakers master the art of simply having a conversation with their audience. Recognize that your aim is to deliver a message, not to just hurriedly make it through a canned speech. Good speakers communicate with the audience, speaking clearly and continuously making eye contact. Speak what you know. When formulating a speech, it helps to speak about what you can connect with or feel passionate about. The passion for your subject will translate to the audience and help them understand your message. If you are not invested in your speech, your audience won’t be either. Practice makes perfect. The best way to overcome fear is through preparation. Practicing beforehand, especially in front of an audience (even if only your pet dog), will help you become comfortable with the material and hone your speaking skills before the big event. A longtime IT professional and dedicated community volunteer, Amita Vadlamudi also enjoys learning about ancient cultures and mythologies. Among the topics Amita Vadlamudi has studied is ancient Greek mythology.  Many people are familiar with the legends of Zeus and Poseidon, and those who have ever ventured into Greek mythology know the likes of Hera, Demeter, and Icarus. However, most people know little about the other hundreds of gods from ancient Greek traditions. Keep reading to learn about three of the lesser-known gods. 
 Computer systems engineer Amita Vadlamudi worked in the IT industry for over 30 years. In her free time, Amita Vadlamudi enjoys reading about ancient history. One of Herodotus’s Seven Wonders of the World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are estimated to have been built around 600 BC. The exact site of the gardens, lost to an earthquake in the second century BC, has never been revealed despite extensive excavation. The legend goes that King Nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens in the desert-climate city in order to please his homesick wife, Amyitis, who was originally from the lush mountainous region of Media.  The gardens have been inexactly described as “hanging.” Plants were not suspended in a hanging system but were installed on a series of massive terraces. The Latin word describing the gardens, “pensilis,” can mean to hang, or more accurately in this case, to overhang, providing an account of these impressive gardens rising one after another.
In addition, Oxford University scholar Dr. Stephanie Dalley has recently suggested that the gardens were not located in Babylon at all, but in Nineveh, some 350 miles to the north. This expert on ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform texts believes King Sennacherib built the massive gardens, based on the king’s own records and the discovery of an extensive ancient aqueduct system just outside the city. |
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