"Fusion Man"_ makes historic Channel flight

The Swiss adventurer Yves Rossy flew from England to France Friday propelled by a jetpack strapped to his back -- the first person to cross the English Channel in such a way.

Rossy, a pilot who normally flies an Airbus airliner, crossed the 22 miles between Calais and Dover at speeds of up to 120 mph in 13 minutes, his spokesman said.
When the white cliffs of Dover came into view, he opened a blue and yellow parachute and drifted down in light winds to land in a British field where he was mobbed by well-wishers.
"Everything was perfect," he said afterwards. "I showed that it is possible to fly a little bit like a bird."
Rossy traced the route of French aviator Louis Bleriot, who became the first person to fly across the Channel in an aircraft in 1909.
The Swiss pilot was propelled by four kerosene-burning jet turbines attached to a wing on his back. He ignited the jets inside a plane before jumping out more than 8,000 feet above ground.
After a period of free fall he opened the wing and soared across the water. With no steering controls, the only way to change direction was like a bird, moving his head and back.

from Reuters

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Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with physical, mental, and sensorial disabilities. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Paralympic Games are held every four years, following the Olympic Games, and are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Paralympic Games are sometimes confused with the Special Olympics World Games, which are only for people with intellectual disabilities. But may still take part in the Paralympic games .

For the most recent games in Beijing, see 2008 Summer Paralympics.

( Wikipedia )

A Tribute to the Paralympics

Hurricane Gustave

Hurricane Gustav is moving inland from the US Gulf coast after the worst of the storm missed New Orleans - the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Gustav, which brought torrential rain, has now weakened to a tropical storm. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin advised the two million people who had fled inland ahead of Gustav's arrival to stay away from the city for at least another day."Re-entry is just days away, but residents shouldn't return Tuesday," Mr Nagin said, adding that officials would check the scale of damage.

"Trees are down all over the city, power lines are down all over the city, and there is a significant number of homes and businesses without energy".

BBC News

Holidays are over

Holidays are over. It's time to work now. Are you ready?
I wish all the students a good school year.

The English teacher, Isabel Silva

Quotations: Back to School

_" The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." ~Aristotle

_"As long there are tests, there will be prayer in schools. " ~Author Unknown

_ "He who opens a school door, closes a prison." ~Victor Hugo

_ "Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere." ~Chinese Proverb

_"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty." ~Henry Ford