Do you Know ?

Drinking water

• Never drink tap water.
  
  Bottled water is generally safe - check the seal is intact at purchase.
  Avoid ice.
  
  Avoid fresh juices - they may have been watered down.
  
  Boiling water is the most efficient way of purifying it.
  
  The best chemical purifier is iodine. It should not be used by pregnant women or those with thyroid problems.
  
  Water filters should also filter out viruses. Ensure your filter has a chemical barrier such as iodine and a small pore size, eg less than four microns.

good to know! i didnt know that!

For travel health advice on the net,

Centres of disease control and prevention www.cdc.gov

Health recommendations for every country www.mdtravelhealth.com

International travel and health - e book by WHO www.who.int/ith/

Other sites : www.travellingwell.com.au

Government Sites :

Australia : www.dfat.gov.au/travel/
Canada : www.travelhealth.gc.ca
US : www.cdc.gov/travel/

now i know more about it, thx

thanks for the Information :)

Jet lag & Motion sickness (Air travel) : Jet lag is common when crossing more than five time zones; it results in insomnia, fatigue, malaise or nausea. To aviod jet lag try drinking plenty of fluids (nonalcoholic) and eating light meals. Upon arrival seek exposure to natural sunlight and readjust your schedule (for meals, sleep etc) as soon as possible.

Antihistamines such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), promethazine (Phenergan) and meclizine (Antivert, Bonine) are usually the first choice for treating motion sickness. Their main side effect is drowsiness. An herbal alternative is ginger, which work like a charm for some people.

Hinduism has no founder, central authority or hierarchy and isn't a proselytising religion. Essentially Hindus believe in Brahman, who is eternal, uncreated and infinite; everything that exists that emanates from Brahman and will ultimately return to it. The multitude of gods and goddesses are mererly manifestations.

Hindus believe that earthly life is cyclical; you are born again and again, the quality of these rebirths being dependent upon your karma (conduct or action) in preious lives. Living a righteous life and fulfilling your dharma will enhances your chandces of being born into a higher caste and better circumstances. Alternatively if enough bad karma has accumulated, rebirth may take animal form.But it is only as a human that you can gain sufficient self-knowledge to escape the cycle of reincarnation and
achieve moksha (liberation). The main gods of Hinduism are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - Trimurti.

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions of the world. Majority of Hindus live in India. Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom. There are about 330 million deities in the Hindu pantheon.

"We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made!"
Albert Einstein

"India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!"
Mark Twain

"So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked."
Mark Twain

Buddhism

Buddhism : Buddhism arose in the 6 th century BC as a reaction against the strictures of Brahmanical Hinduism. The Buddha (Awakened one) is believed to have lived from about 563 to 483 BC. Formerly a prince (Siddartha Gautama), the Buddha, at the age of 29, embarked on a quest for emancipation from the world of suffering. He finally achieved 'nirvana' (the state of full awareness) at Bodhgaya (Bihar), aged 35. Critical of the caste system and the unthinking worship of gods, the Buddha urged his disciples to seek truth within their own experiences.

Buddha taught that existence is based on four noble truths - that life is rooted in suffering, that suffering is caused by craving worldly things, that one can find release from suffreing by eliminating craving, and that the way to eliminate the craving is by following the Noble eightfold path. This path consists of right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness and right concentration. By successfully complying with these one can attain 'nirvana'.

Buddhism had almost vanished in much of India by the turn of the 20 th century. However, it saw a revival from the 1950s among intellectuals and Dalits, disillusioned with the caste system. The number of followers has been further increased with the influx of Tibetan refugees.

Gautama or Siddhartha (566-486 B.C), who later came to be known as the Buddha or 'The Enlightened One' was born into a wealthy Kshatriya family, in Lumbini, at the foothills of Nepal. He founded the religion of Buddhism after he attained true wisdom under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya. Buddha delivered his first public address at Sarnath Deer park in Benares, where he spoke of the four noble truths which are, (i) the world is full of suffering (ii) suffering is caused by desire (iii) suffering can be removed (iv) in order to remove suffering one has to overcome desire.

The main spiritual goal of Buddhism is to attain 'Nirvana', which means the spiritual liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Buddhism religion does not believe in the existence of god and questions the Hindu practice of elaborate ceremonies, image worship, suppression of women and the elevation of Brahmins. Its core lies in the philosophy that every one is equal and that nothing lasts forever and nothing happens by chance. The teachings of Buddha teachings were first compiled on the Pali script as the 'Tripitakas'. King Ashoka (250 B.C) was one of its chief believers and propagators. Buddhism is divided into 2 major sects - Huinayanas (travellers by a lesser vehicle) & Mahayanas (travellers by a greater vehicle). Huinayana Buddhism flourished in Sri Lanka, Burma and South East Asia, while Mahayana Buddhism flourished in India, China, Japan, Tibet & Central Asia. Buddha created monasteries for praying and preaching and till date the paintings of his life and stupas can be seen in the Ajanta & Ellora caves. Schools of Nalanda and Vikramshila in Bihar and Valashi in Gujarat were famous institutes of learning and Ashwaghosha and Nagarjuna were responsible for the spread of Buddhism after Buddha's death.

Islam

Prophet Mohammed founded Islam. He was born in 570 A.D. at Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia) and got his first revelation of 'Allah' (God) in 610 A.D. All these revelations or visions are compiled in the 'Koran' - the Muslim holy book. Unlike Hinduism, Prophet Mohammed preached against idol worship and even today the Muslims believe that the search of God through images is a sin. Friday is the holy day for Muslims and the main mosque in each town is known as Jamma Masjid. The spiritual goal of each Muslim is to make the pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj) and to become a Hajji.

India saw numerous conversions to Islam during 1200 to 1707 A.D. (the era of Muslim domination), which were of two types - (i) those forced by foreign invaders and (ii) those that took place voluntarily by members of lower castes & other sections. The third category of Indian Muslims consists of foreigners who came here & settled down during invasions. The first clash between Hindus and Muslims came in the 12th century when Mahmud of Ghazni & Mohammed Ghori carried out a succession of raids. They constitute only 10% of the country's population and are India's largest minority community. The Hindus and Muslims were united until Independence when there was an unhappy division of the nation into India & Pakistan. The Hindu-Muslim interaction is bitter in some regions but their influences on each other has produced a culture, extraordinarily rich in music, architecture, literature and cuisine.

"Civilizations have arisen in other parts of the world. In ancient and modern times, wonderful ideas have been carried forward from one race to another...But mark you, my friends, it has been always with the blast of war trumpets and the march of embattled cohorts. Each idea had to be soaked in a deluge of blood..... Each word of power had to be followed by the groans of millions, by the wails of orphans, by the tears of widows. This, many other nations have taught; but India for thousands of years peacefully existed. Here activity prevailed when even Greece did not exist... Even earlier, when history has no record, and tradition dares not peer into the gloom of that intense past, even from until now, ideas after ideas have marched out from her, but every word has been spoken with a blessing behind it and peace before it. We, of all nations of the world, have never been a conquering race, and that blessing is on our head, and therefore we live....!" -
Swami Vivekananda, Great Indian Philosopher

"She (India) has left indelible imprints on one fourth of the human race in the course of a long succession of centuries. She has the right to reclaim ... her place amongst the great nations summarizing and symbolizing the spirit of humanity. From Persia to the Chinese sea, from the icy regions of Siberia to Islands of Java and Borneo, India has propagated her beliefs, her tales, and her civilization!" -
Sylvia Levi

"India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border!" -
Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF INDIA
by Rabindranath Tagore

The song Jana-gana-mana, composed originally in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the

Constituent Assembly as the national anthem of India on 24 January 1950. It was first sung on 27 December 1911 at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.

The complete song consists of five stanzas. The first stanza contains the full version of the National Anthem :

Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!

Playing time of the full version of the national anthem is approximately 52 seconds. A short version consisting of first and last lines of the stanza (playing time approximately 20 seconds) is also played on certain occasions.

The following is a translation of Rabindranath Tagore's rendering of the stanza:

"Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
dispenser of India's destiny.
The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha,
of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganga
and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The salvation of all people is in thy hand,
thou dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee."

Hindu Gods

Brahma : Only during the creation of the Universe does Brahma play an active role. At other times he's in meditation. His consotrt is Saraswati and his vehicle is a swan. He's sometimes shown sitting on a lotus that rises from Vishnu's navel, symbolising the interdependence of the Gods. Brahama is generally depicted with four heads (crowned and bearded), each turned towards a point od the compass.

Vishnu : The preserver or sustainer, Vishnu is associated with 'right action'. He protects and sustains all that is good in the world. Heis usually depicted with four arms, holding a lotus, a conch shell (as it can be blown le a trumpet, it symboliies he cosmic vibration from which all existence emanates), a discus and a mace (a reward for conquering Indra, the god of battle). His consort is Lakshmi and his vehicle is Garuda,a half-bird, half-beast creature. The Ganges is said to flow from his feet. Vishnu has 22 incarnations including Rama, Krishna and Buddha.

Shiva : Shiva is the destroyer, but without whom creation couldn't occur. Shiva's creative role is phallically symbolised by his representation as the frequently worshipped lingam. With 1008 names, Shiva takes many forms, including Pashupati, champion of animals and Nataraja, lord of the 'Tandava' (cosmic dance), who paces out the cosmos' creation and destruction.

Sometimes Shiva has snakes draped around his neck and is shown holding a trident (representative of the Trimurti) as a weapon while riding Nandi, his bull. Nandi symbolising power and potency, justice and moral order. Shiva' consort Parvati, is capable of taking many forms.

Other prominent gods are : The elephant headed Ganesh is the God of fortune and patron of scribes.

Krishna is the incarnation of Vishnu, sent to earth to fight for good and combat evil.

Hanuman is the hero of Ramayana and is the king of monkeys.

Goddesses : Durga, Lakshmi (the goddesses of wealth), Saraswati (the goddesses of learning) etc.

Epics : Mahabahrata (1000 BC)and Ramayana (300 BC).

Sacred animals and plants : Animals particularly snakes and cows, have long been worshipped in India. The cow represents fertiliyy and nurturing, while snakes (especially cobras are associated with fertility and welfare).

Plants can also have sacred associations, such as the Banyan tree, which symbolising the Trimurti. Mango trees are symbolic of love - Shiva is believed to have married Parvati under one.

"If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India"
Max Mueller

"India was the mother of our race and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages. She was the mother of our philosophy, mother through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics, mother through Buddha, of the ideals embodied in Christianity, mother through village communities of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all." - Will Durant

"In India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to it, inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything, but possessed by nothing" - Apollonius Tyanaeus quotes (Neo-Pythagorean).

Sikhism, founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak in the 15 th century, began as a reaction against the caste stsyem and Brahmin domination of ritual. Sikhs believe in one god and although they reject the worship of idols, some keep the pictures of the 10 gurus as a point of focus. The Sikh's holy text, the Guru Granth Sahib, contais the teachings of the 10 Sikh gurus, among others.

Like Hindus and Buddhists, Sikhs believe in rebirth and karma. In Sikhism there is no ascetic or monastic tradition ending the eternal cycles of rebirth.

Fundamental to the Sikhs is the concept of Khalsa, or belief in a chosen race or soldier-saints who abide by strict codes or moral conduct (abstaining from alcohol, tobaco and drugs) and engage in a crusade for 'dharmayudha' (righteousness). There are five kakkars (emblems) denoting the Khalsda brotherhood : Kesh (the unshaven beard and the uncut hair symbolising the saintliness); kangha (comb to maintain the ritually uncut hair); Kaccha (loose underwear symbolising the modesty); kirpan (sabre or sword symbolising power and dignity); and karra (steel bangle symbolising fearlessness). Singh, literally 'Lion', is the name adopted by many Sikhs.

Jainism arose in the 6 th century BC as a reaction against the caste restraints and rituals of Hinduism. It was founded by Mahavira, a contemporary of Buddha.

Jains believe that liberation can be attained by achieving complete purity of the soul. Purity means shedding all 'karman', matter generated by one's actions that binds itself to the soul. By following various austerities (eg fasting and meditation) one can shed 'karman' and purify the soul. Right conduct is essential, and fundamental to this is 'ahimsa' (nonciolence) in thought and deed to any living thing.

Zoroastrianism founded by Zoroaster, had it's inception in Persia and is based on the concept of dualism, whereby good and evil are locked in continuous battle. A pleasant afterlife depends on one's deeds and thoughts during earthly existence.

Zoroastrianism was eclipsed in Persia by the rise of Islam in the 7 th century and its followers, many of whom openly resisted this, suffered persecution. In the 10 th century some emigrated to India, where they become known as Parsis. Parsi death ritual involves the 'Tower of Silence' - three concentric circles where the corpse is exposed to vultures, which pick the bones clean. Parsi prayer halls are known as 'fire temples' and are out of bound for non Zoroastrians.

Christanity is said to have arrived in South India with St Thomas the Apostle in AD 52. However scholars say it's more likely Christanity arrived around the 4 th century with a Syrian merchant, Thomas Cana, who set out for Kerala with 400 families.

Catholicism established a strong presence in south India in the wake of Vasco da Gama's visit in 1498 and orders that have been active in the region include Dominicans, Franciscans and Jesuits. Christanity is the largest religion in the world with Pope Benedict XVI of Vatican as the Head.

USS Nimitz : World's largest Aircraft carrier.

The nuclear powered US Aircraft carrier has 3280 sailors and 2480 men in it's air wing. The 1000 ft long landing deck has 4.5 acres of landing area. USS Nimitz carries 90 fighter aircrafts - FA 18E Super Hornet - and few more search Helicopters, can move at 56 kmph with 98 000 tons load. The 18 storey high Aircraft carrier is powered by two nuclear reactors of 194 MW and is driven by 4 shafts. Each propeller has 5 blades. Commissioned in May 1975 at a cost of US$ 4.5 billion. Aircraft carrier was named after Admiral Nimitz who lead the World war II Pacific fleet.

Location on 2 July 2007 : 2 nautical miles (4 km) from Chennai coast, India.

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USS Nimitz (CVN-68 ) is a supercarrier in the United States Navy, the lead ship of its class. It is one of the largest warships in the world. It was laid down, launched and commissioned as CVAN-68, but was redesignated CVN-68 (nuclear-powered multimission aircraft carrier) on 30 June 1975 as part of the fleet realignment of that year.

The keel of Nimitz was laid down 22 June 1968 by Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, and she was commissioned 3 May 1975 by President Gerald Ford. The ship was named for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who commanded the Pacific fleet in World War II. Captain Michael "Nasty" Manazir assumed command of the Nimitz on 16
March 2007.

Nimitz departed North Island in San Diego on April 2, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. on a six-month deployment in the Arabian Sea, relieving the Norfolk, VA.-based USS Eisenhower. The Nimitz reached Chennai, India on July 1st 2007 as part of efforts to expand bilateral defense cooperation between India and United States and will remain stationed there till July 5, 2007.

Displacement : 101,000 to 104,000 tons full load

Length : Overall: 1,092 ft (333 m)

Waterline : 1,040 ft (317 m)

Beam : Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)

Waterline : 134 ft (40.8 m)

Draft : Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)

Limit : 41 ft (12.5 m)

Propulsion : 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, 4 × steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 260,000 shp (194 MW).

Speed : 30+ knots (56+ km/h)

Range : Essentially unlimited

Complement : Ship's company: 3,200

Air wing : 2,480

Sensors and processing systems : SPS-48E 3-D air search radar, SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar, Mk 23 target acquisition radar, 2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars, SPN-43B air traffic control radar, SPN-44 landing aid radars, 3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems, 3 × Mk 95 radars.

Electronic warfare and decoys : SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite, SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures.

Armament : 2 × 21 cell Sea RAM, 2 × Mk 29 Sea Sparrow.

Water Treatment Methods

Heat : Heat kills micro organisms, bringing water to a boil is adequate for disinfection.

Chlorine : Chlorine has been used for several centuries for water disinfection. The most common objection to it is the flavor.

Iodine : It has advantages over chlorine in convenience and probably efficacy; many travellers find the taste less offensive as well. It should not be used by persons with allergy to iodine, persons with active thyroid disease or pregnant women.

Use Betadine® (10% povidone-iodine) in a small dropper bottle, and fill up the bottle (1litre) from a stream, drop in 4 drops of Betadine®, screw on the lid, and half an hour later, it is ready to drink.

Filtration : Filters work by physically removing infectious agents from the water. The organisms vary tremendously in size, from large parasitic cysts (Giardia and Entamoeba histolytica 5-30 µm), to smaller bacteria (E. coli 0.5 x 3 µm, Campylobacter 0.2 x 2 µm), to the smallest viruses (0.03 µm). Thus, how well filters work depends to a great extent on the physical size of the pores in the filter medium.

INS Viraat, India's Aircraft carrier in active service. INS Vikrant is decomissioned and is now a museum anchored at Mumbai harbour.

INS Viraat was originally commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on 18 November 1959. During her career as Hermes, she served as the flagship of the Royal Navy's task force in the Falkland Islands campaign. She would serve the Royal Navy another three years until she was stricken from active duty in 1985.

The Indian Navy purchased the vessel in April 1986 and gave it an extensive refit at Devonport Dockyard to allow for continued operability into the next decade. New fire control equipment, navigation radars, improved NBC protection, and deck landing aids were installed in this refit. Boilers were converted to operate on distillate fuel. In September 1993, the engine room of Viraat flooded, temporarily putting the vessel out of service for several months. By 1995, the vessel was back in service and had a new search radar.

Between July 1999 and April 2001, INS Viraat completed another life-extension refit which is expected to extend her serviceability till 2010. This refit upgraded propulsion systems, added a package of sensors to sound emergency alerts, and introduced modern communication system. In addition, long-range surveillance radar, weapon systems, and new hangar with fire curtains was installed. The lift system was revamped to reduce reaction time in the event of an attack and a new flood alarm system was installed. In early June 2001 Viraat returned to service after nearly two years of refit.

The vessel also took part in the International Fleet Review in Mumbai in February 2001. The vessel had to be towed back to dry dock for another refit in mid-2003 and returned to service only in November 2004, during which the vessel was fitted with the Barak SAM.

In 2004, India bought the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia for US$1.5 billion; it is expected to enter service in 2008 as INS Vikramaditya.However INS Viraat would be repleaced by 2011-2012 by a new Vikrant class carrier.

Viraat is fitted with a 12° ski jump to operate the Sea Harrier, a reinforced flight deck, 1.2 inches of armour over magazines and machinery spaces. The magazine capacity includes 80+ lightweight torpedoes. The vessel retains commando transport capability, for around 750 troops and carries four LCVP landing craft aft.

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INS Viraat Aircraft carrier, India

Air Group

* Fleet Defense - Sea Harrier FRS Mk.51 (Capacity for 30)
* Airborne Early Warning - Kamov Ka-31 Helix-B
* ASW/ASV - Sea King Mk.42B and Kamov Ka-28 Helix-A
* Commando Assault and Vertical Replenishment - Sea King Mk.42C

Radar

* Air Search - One Bharat/Signaal RAWL 02 radar at C/D-band frequency
* Air/Surface Search - One RAWS 08 radar at E-band frequency
* Navigation - Two Bharat Rashmi radars at I-band frequency
* Fire Control - EL/M-2221 STGR radar
* Tacan - FT 13-S/M

Sonar : One Graseby Type 184M hull-mounted sonar, with active search & attack capability from 6-9 kHz.

Combat Data Systems : Italian Elmar communication suites have been fitted. CAAIS action data automation; Link 10. Has SATCOM systems on-board.

Self Defense Armament : 2 x 40mm Bofors guns, 16 x Barak SAM VL cells.

Countermeasures : A Bharat Ajanta ESM is used for intercept purposes. Two Knebworth Corvus chaff launchers are used as decoys.

Propulsion : 2 Parsons geared steam turbines, 76,000 shp (57 MW) and 4 boilers with 400 psi

Length : 226.5 m

Draught : 8.8 m

Beam : 48.78 m

Displacement : 23,900 tons (standard) and 28,700 tons (full)

Maximum Speed : 28 knots (52 km/h)

Maximum Range : 6500 miles at 14 knots.

Aircraft : 28 aircraft, including Sea HarriersMk.51 and Mk.52, H-3 Sea King Mk.42, HAL Chetak, HAL Dhruv.

Complement : 1207 crew, 143 Aircrew.

Wow. thats quite interesting.

Chemical Expolsives : An explosive (solid, liquid or gas) which produce high temperature and pressure released within a fraction of a second, when explosive action is initiated.

eg - Gun powder (UN No 1) - first explosive, 10 th C in China, Dynamite (by Alfred Nobel, C3H5(ONO2)2, TNT (Tri Nitro Toluene), RDX (Research Development Explosive), PETN (a plastic explosive - Pentra Erythetol Tetra Nitrate - C(CH2ONO2)4) etc.

Nuclear Explosive : Highly destructive compared to Chemical explosives. Fission (Atom bomb), Fusion (Hydrogen bomb) and Neutron bombs (destructive to living things only).

Nuclear fission (Strassman & Otto Hann in 1939) : A heavy nucleus is split into two or more lighter nuclei with tremendous release of energy. 1.3 gram of U 235 produces 1 MW of electricity.

First Atom bombs were dropped in Hiroshima (6 Aug 1945) and in Nagasakki (9 Aug 1945) in Japan by USA. The yields of the bombs were around 20 kt (of TNT).

The bomb dropped in Hiroshima was Little Boy having 9000 lb in weight and using Uranium 235 as fuel. The Nagasakki bomb - Fat man - 10, 000 pound in weight used Plutonium 239 as fuel.

Both bombs were dropped by Capt Paul Tibbet, US pilot of Enola Gay. Plane has 9 crews and 4 scientists. The bomb was dropped in Hiroshima at 0815 h (local time) and after 51 second of time it exploded at a height of 2000 ft above sea level. During explosion light, heat and radiations with shock (high pressure) waves produced. The death toll on both bombs stand at 0.34 million.

Nuclear fusion (E Teller) : Two lighter nuclei has fused to form heavier nuclei at high temperature and pressure. They are also called thermonuclear reations due to the high temperature required (~10^8 C). First an Atom bomb is exploded to create the conditions for fusion in which Dueterium nuclei are fused to form Helium with the release of tremendous amount of energy.

USA has tested 60 Mt (having 60,000,000 tons of TNT's explosive power) fusion bomb. (1 ton = 1000 kg)

Radiation sickness : During nuclear explosion, radiations are emitted and can cause radiation sickness. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of hair & appetite. More radiation dose can cause destruction of bone marrow and thus leading to blood cancer (lukemia). The most sensitve part of the body to radiation are testes (genital tissues), bone marrow, ovary, skin,
liver and kidney.

Nuclear tests

The first nuclar test (12 kt) by India was at Pokhran desert in Rajastan on 18 May 1974. Later on 11 & 13 May 1998, conducted five tests including a fusion device of yields 15 and 45 kt o TNT.

USA has conducted more than 1036 tests (more than that by Russia). Russia has more tonnage of nuclear warheads in its arsenal.

Nuclear reactor (Atomic pile) : In nuclear reactor, fission is performed in in a controlled fashion to release energy. Fuels like U 235 & Pu 239 ar fissioned and with the help of moderators, a sustained chain reaction is achieved. First nuclear reactor is at Calder Hall in UK by Fermi in 1956.

Moderators are used to slowdown fast neutrons released in U 235 fission. eg - Graphite, Heavy water (Plants in Talchar in Orissa and Punjab), Beryllium etc.

First nuclear reactor in India - 1 MW Apsara reactor. First power reactor in India - Tarapur, Maharashtra, 1972. 2.7 % of the total power in India comes from nuclear reactors (3000 MW). India's power reactors are at Narrora (UP), Kota (440 MW, Rajastan), Kalpakkam (440 MW), Tarapur (1000 MW).

CIR (Cirus) : Reactor with Canadian collaboration at BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre - India's prime nuclear research establishment), Mumbai. It is a 40 MW research reactor producing U 233 & Pu 239.

Chernobyl reactor in Russia leaked by accident in 26 April 1986.

Largest Submarine : Typhoon, 170 m, Russia.
Russia has 128 submarines of which 91 are nuclear powered.

USA has 74 nuclear powered submarines. Of the 12 US Aircraft carriers, 10 is nuclear powered. First nuclear powered US Aircraft carrier is USS Nimitz. USS Enterprise : Length 335.2 metre, 32 knots speed, 3325 crew, 99 aircrafts on board. World's largest Air Force & Navy - USA.

First nuclear submarine - Nautilus, USA.

India has 19 submarines of whch none is nuclear powered. In 1988, India has leased a nuclear submarine - INS Chakra from Russia - later returned it.

More than 80 % of the power comes from nuclear reactors in developed countries.

Active Aircraft carriers of USA

Kitty Hawk - 1961, CV-63 Active up to 2008
USS Enterprise - 1961, CVAN-65
Nimitz - 1975, CVN-68
Dwight D. Eisenhower - 1977, CVN-69
Carl Vinson - 1981, CVN-70
Theodore Roosevelt - 1986, CVN-71
Abraham Lincoln - 1989, CVN-72
George Washington - 1992, CVN-73
John C. Stennis - 1995, CVN-74
Harry S. Truman - 1998, CVN-75
Ronald Reagan - 2003, CVN-76

USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN-65)
Built by Newport News, laid down 4 Feb 1958, launched 24 Sept 1960, commissioned 25 Nov 1961. Scheduled to decommission in 2012-2014.

Displacement : approx. 93,500 tons full load
Length : 1,123 ft (342.3 m)
Beam : 132.8 ft (40.5 m)
Draft : 39 ft (11.9 m)
Propulsion : 8 x A2W reactor, 4 x steam turbine, 4 shafts, 280,000 shp (210 MW)
Speed : 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
Range : Essentially unlimited
Complement : Ship's company: 3,000 (2,700 Sailors, 150 Chiefs, 150 Officers)
Air wing : 1,800 (250 Pilots, and 1,550 Support personnel)
Armament : 2 Sea Sparrow launchers, 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts, 2 RAM launchers
Armor : 8 inch (20 cm) aluminum belt (equivalent to 4 inch rolled homogeneous steel armour)
Aircraft carried : approx. 66 - Forty three F/A-18 Hornets, Four EA-6B Prowlers, Four E-2C Hawkeyes, Six S-3 Vikings, Five SH-60 Seahawks). Though it can hold up to 90 aircrafts.

Notes : 915 engineers designed the ship. They made 16,100 drawings and 2,400 blueprints. The ship has about 625 miles of electrical cables and 37 miles of ventilation ducts. The ship has 4 steam powered catapults.
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USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)

Displacement : 101,000 to 104,000 tons full load
Length : Overall: 1,092 ft (333 m)
Waterline : 1,040 ft (317 m) Overall Length: 1,115 Feet
Beam : Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)
Waterline : 134 ft (40.8 m)
Draught : Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)
Limit : 41 ft (12.5 m)
Propulsion : 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, 4 × steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 260,000 shp (194 MW)
Speed : 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
Range : Essentially unlimited
Complement : Ship's company: 3,200, Air wing: 2,480
Sensors and processing systems : AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar, AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar, Mk 23 target acquisition radar, 2 × AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars, AN/SPN-43B air traffic control radar, AN/SPN-44 landing aid radars, 3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems, 3 × Mk 95 radars.
Electronic warfare and decoys : SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite, SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures
Armament : 2 Sea Sparow & 2 RAM launchers
Armour : Unknown
Aircraft carried : 90 fixed wing and helicopters

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)

Displacement : 101,000 to 104,000 tons full load
Length : Overall: 1,092 ft (333 m)
Waterline : 1,040 ft (317 m)
Beam : Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)
Waterline : 134 ft (40.8 m)
Draught : Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)
Limit : 41 ft (12.5 m)
Propulsion : 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, 4 × steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 260,000 shp (194 MW)
Speed : 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
Range : Essentially unlimited
Complement : Ship's company: 3,200, Air wing: 2,480
Sensors and processing systems : AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar, AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar, Mk 23 target acquisition radar, 2 × AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars, AN/SPN-43B air traffic control radar, AN/SPN-44 landing aid radars, 3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems, 3 × Mk 95 radars.
Electronic warfare and decoys : SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite, SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures.
Armament : 2 × Mk 57 Mod3 Sea Sparrow, 2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, 3 × Phalanx CIWS
Armour : Unknown
Aircraft carried : 90 fixed wing and helicopters

Buruj Dubai Tower becomes tallest structure in the world

From 1974-98 the Sears Tower was the tallest building in the world at 442 meter. In 1998 it was succeded by the Petronas Towers at 452 meter. In 2003 that was bested by Taipei 101 at 509 meter, the first tower to ever surpass 500 meter. Now, the Buraj Dubai Tower has become the tallest building in the world at 515.17 m. The building has 160 floors.

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This is not to say the United States has been bested forever. The Freedom Tower, when completed in 2009, is estimated to be 541 meter.

By 2012, the list tallest buildings will be

1.Burj Dubai 818 m, 188 storeys - Emiratos Arabes
2. Torre de Moscu 612 m, 118 storeys - Metros, Russia
3. Spire Tower 610 m, 150 storeys - Chicago, USA
4. The Crown 580 m, 142 storeys - Las Vegas, USA
5. The Freedom Tower 541 m, 108 storeys - NY, USA.

Mizos (people of Mizoram, an Indian state) are meat eaters. They like dog very much, other favorites are pig and beef. Rice is brewed to form local alcoholic drink 'Zu'. Mizos are mainly tribals and are suspicious about non Mizos. Christanity is deep rooted here.

Tihar Jail, Delhi is India's maximum security prison in 170 acres, which houses 9000 prisoners.

Cryonics : To freeze dead with the hope of reviving it when it thaws.

Silica gel changes blue to white colour when moisture is absorbed by it. Then replace the Silica gel.

20 Best books I read

Trekking

1. Mountain climbing by Gian Chand, International publishers, Delhi (Rs 125).

2. Spiti (Adventures in trans Himalaya) by Harish Kapadia, Indus publishers, Delhi (Rs 500).

3.Climbers guide to Sonmarg published by Himalayan Club.

4. Trekking in Indian Himalaya by Lonely planet.

5. Trekking in Nepal Himalaya by Lonely planet.

Electronics books

6. Digital electronics and microprocessors by Bhupendra Chhabra published by Dhanpatrai & Sons, Delhi (Rs 450).

7. Electronics projects for beginners by AK Maini, Pustak Mahal, Delhi (Rs 72).

8. An Engineering approach to Digital design by William I Fletcher, PHI Delhi.

9. An introduction to Digital Electronics by Jameson Rowe, BPB, Delhi (Rs 50).

10. Electronics projects handbook by Amit Bir Tiwana, BPB, Delhi.

11. Digital electronics by Tokheim, TMH.

12. Electronics For You projects Vol 1 to 22.

My Favourite books

13. An information security handbook by John Hunter, Springer, London.

14. Modern Elite forces by Max Walmer, Salmander books, London.

15. Fertility by Dr. Elizabeth Clubb & Jane Knight, David & Charles UK (8 Pound).

16. Air pilot's manual (Vol 1 to 7) by Trevor Thom, Airlife, UK (20 Pound per volume).

17. Flying the edge by Capt. Brian Mcallister, Airlife, UK.

18. Fire prevention handbook by Dereck James, Butterworth Heinmann, UK & Delhi.

19. Nuclear Energy (V Edition) by Raymond L Murray, Butterworth Heinmann, UK & Delhi.

20. The quantum Universe by Tony Hey & Patric Walters, Cambridge press.

21. The unofficial guide to ethical hacking by Ankit Fadia, Macmillian India Ltd.

Personal Safety

In lodges, use your own lock to avoid theft (duplication of key is possible and is easy). MOSSAD, Israeli Intelligence has master keys to almost all well known hotels around the world.

Always distribute your assets - money, bank deposits, jewellery and other costly items - to avoid a mass theft.

Camera mobile phones with hands off and silent ring can be used to spy out a room.

Sun glasses with special UV coating can block UV rays. Normal glass can absorb Infra Red radiation (IR) if have sufficient thickness. Don't look at the Sun - Light (UV light, visible light and IR heat rays) - can cause irreversible eye damage/Cornear burn.

In case fire, hold a wet cloth to the face and crawl along the floor to a safer place.

If there is Chlorine (a dangerous) gas leakage move to upstairs (Chlorine gas is heavier than air).

In Bio terrorism, Anthrax like viruses are spread in different ways (by post in USA).