Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The name is derived from the African word meaning ‘that which bends up’ in reference to the stooped posture developed as a result of the arthritic symptoms of the disease. The disease was first described by Marion Robinson and W.H.R. Lumsden in 1955, following an outbreak on the Makonde Plateau, along the border between Tanganyika and Mozambique, in 1952. Chikungunya is not considered to be fatal. Chikungunya virus is highly infective and disabling but is not transmissible between people.
The virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person infected with the chikungunya virus. Monkeys, and possibly other wild animals, may also serve as reservoirs of the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other humans when they bite. Sudden severe headache, chills, fever, joint and muscle pain are the commonest symptoms & Some can suffer for joint pain for months. Children may display neurological symptoms.
Analysis of the recent outbreak in India ,has suggested that the increased severity of the disease may be due to a change in the genetic sequence, altering the virus' coat protein, which potentially allows it to multiply more easily in mosquito cells.
September 25, 2006
September 12, 2006
Atom Bombs and Satyagrah
In 1905, Albert Einstein formulated his Special Theory of Relativity. According to this theory, mass can be considered to be another form of energy. According to Einstein, if somehow we could transform mass into energy, it would be possible to "liberate" huge amounts of energy. During the next decade, a major step was taken in that direction when Ernest Rutherford and Niels Bohr described the structure of an atom more precisely. It was made up, they said, of a positively charged core, the nucleus, and of negatively charged electrons that revolved around the nucleus. It was the nucleus, scientists concluded, that had to be broken or "exploded" if atomic energy was to be released. In 1934, Enrico Fermi of Italy disintegrated heavy atoms by spraying them with neutrons. However he didn't realize that he had achieved nuclear fission. In December 1938, though, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman in Berlin did a similar experiment with uranium and were able to verify a world-shaking achievement. They had produced nuclear fission (they had split an atom)- 33 years after Einstein said it could be done mass was transformed into energy. On August 2, 1939, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"In the course of the last four months, it has been made probable - through the work of Joliot in France as well as Fermi and Szilard in America - that it may become possible to set up nuclear chain reactions in a large mass of uranium... And this new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs... A single bomb of this type, carried by boat or exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory." He urged Roosevelt to begin a nuclear program without delay. In later years Einstein deplored the role he had played in the development of such a destructive weapon: "I made one great mistake in my life," he told.
In December 1942 at the University of Chicago, the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi succeeded in producing the first nuclear chain reaction.In August 1942, during World War II, the United States established the Manhattan Project. The purpose of this project was to develop, construct, and test the A-bomb. On May 31, 1945, sixteen men met in the office of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. The sixteen men were there to make decisions about a weapon the average American had never heard of - the atom bomb. They picked future targets for "The Bomb." They were not talking about "just another weapon." What they were discussing was "a new relationship of man to the universe," as said by Stimson. Humankind, the Secretary seemed to be saying, was at the most critical turning point in its entire recorded history.
Parallel to these events during these datelines...the 'Satyagrah" and 'Non Violence" movements were practiced in India.
What more should I say ?
"In the course of the last four months, it has been made probable - through the work of Joliot in France as well as Fermi and Szilard in America - that it may become possible to set up nuclear chain reactions in a large mass of uranium... And this new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs... A single bomb of this type, carried by boat or exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory." He urged Roosevelt to begin a nuclear program without delay. In later years Einstein deplored the role he had played in the development of such a destructive weapon: "I made one great mistake in my life," he told.
In December 1942 at the University of Chicago, the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi succeeded in producing the first nuclear chain reaction.In August 1942, during World War II, the United States established the Manhattan Project. The purpose of this project was to develop, construct, and test the A-bomb. On May 31, 1945, sixteen men met in the office of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. The sixteen men were there to make decisions about a weapon the average American had never heard of - the atom bomb. They picked future targets for "The Bomb." They were not talking about "just another weapon." What they were discussing was "a new relationship of man to the universe," as said by Stimson. Humankind, the Secretary seemed to be saying, was at the most critical turning point in its entire recorded history.
Parallel to these events during these datelines...the 'Satyagrah" and 'Non Violence" movements were practiced in India.
What more should I say ?
September 04, 2006
India and China
A strange anomaly has appeared in Google Earth images of China recently. The site based in the very remote Huangyangtan region, appears to be a small-scale model of a piece of territory
complete with snow-topped mountains, streams and valleys. According to comparative data gathered by members of the online community where the image first appeared, the rectangular simulation bears an uncanny resemblance to 450 kilometres of INDIAN territory occupied by China, in the Karakoram mountain range.
Though likely man-made, little is known about this strange model, including its purpose. Some have suggested a military purpose, but what that may be is anyone's guess. Whatever the reason for it, the model is immense and must have taken a great deal of time to create. The Huangyangtan site has a three-kilometre perimeter.
Frankly Speaking....what do you think ?
complete with snow-topped mountains, streams and valleys. According to comparative data gathered by members of the online community where the image first appeared, the rectangular simulation bears an uncanny resemblance to 450 kilometres of INDIAN territory occupied by China, in the Karakoram mountain range.
Though likely man-made, little is known about this strange model, including its purpose. Some have suggested a military purpose, but what that may be is anyone's guess. Whatever the reason for it, the model is immense and must have taken a great deal of time to create. The Huangyangtan site has a three-kilometre perimeter.
Frankly Speaking....what do you think ?
September 03, 2006
Just do it
Forty-odd years ago the most respected and certainly one of the most famous authors in America offered to teach a class in one of the ivy league colleges. The university notified its alumni of the course, which was to be in creative writing. The response was far beyond wildest expectations. So many students wanted the benefit of this great man’s knowledge that the college auditorium had to be used as a classroom. The semester began and the great day was at hand.
The auditorium was filed to overflowing. All the students, pencil and notebook in hand, waited in hushed and excited anticipation. The famous man strode out to the lectern, leaned upon it, looked out upon a sea of faces intent on what he was about to say. He took of his eyeglasses, huffed on them gently, wiped them for a bit, seeming to heighten the almost electric energy in the air. He replaced his spectacles carefully, cleared his throat, and then asked a question: “How many of you truly want to be writers?”
One could have strolled across the auditorium on the tips of the upraised hands. Not a single arm remained upon the owner’s lap. The great man was quiet for a long moment. He walked to the center of the stage, stopped, placed his hands arrogantly upon his hips and commenced to speak: “Then why aren’t you at home writing?”
With that Sinclair Lewis turned, strode of the platform, out of the auditorium, of the campus, and was never to be seen at that university again.
That was the entire creative writing course.
Frankly speaking...I totally agree (With experience)
All things in life are really quite simple (Mostly ). It is people who complicate.
The auditorium was filed to overflowing. All the students, pencil and notebook in hand, waited in hushed and excited anticipation. The famous man strode out to the lectern, leaned upon it, looked out upon a sea of faces intent on what he was about to say. He took of his eyeglasses, huffed on them gently, wiped them for a bit, seeming to heighten the almost electric energy in the air. He replaced his spectacles carefully, cleared his throat, and then asked a question: “How many of you truly want to be writers?”
One could have strolled across the auditorium on the tips of the upraised hands. Not a single arm remained upon the owner’s lap. The great man was quiet for a long moment. He walked to the center of the stage, stopped, placed his hands arrogantly upon his hips and commenced to speak: “Then why aren’t you at home writing?”
With that Sinclair Lewis turned, strode of the platform, out of the auditorium, of the campus, and was never to be seen at that university again.
That was the entire creative writing course.
Frankly speaking...I totally agree (With experience)
All things in life are really quite simple (Mostly ). It is people who complicate.
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