The Woodward Dream Cruise 2009

15 August 2009. The 15th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Metro Detroit area with nearly 1 million participants in the grand Vintage carnival spread across near to 10 miles on Woodward Avenue. The best was the mood of the people on a bright summer vacation day over the weekend and having the passion to preserve and enjoy the great car heritage. It was just too amazing to watch the most classic and beautiful cars that belonged to a different generation and it was a treat to eyes with the festivity, colourful cars and the beauty of the place. Here are few glimpses of the same

Swine Flu in Velachery, Chennai

We use this platform to spread awareness of the rapidly spreading Swine Flu Epidemic in the country.

Certainly not wanting to create an air of panic or hysteria, we came across this quote whilst doing some research on swine flu and pandemic flu in general. It’s definitely food for thought……

“An influenza pandemic of even moderate impact will result in the biggest single human disaster ever - far greater than AIDS, 9/11, all wars in the 20th century and the recent tsunami combined. It has the potential to redirect world history as the Black Death redirected European history in the 14th century.” – Michael T. Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota
Let’s get some clarity on the questions spinning our head.

What is SWINE FLU?

Swine influenza virus (referred to as SIV) refers to influenza cases that are caused by Orthomyxovirus endemic to pig populations. SIV strains isolated to date have been classified either as Influenza(virus C or one of the various subtypes of the genus Influenza virus A)

What are the symptoms of this flu?

The symptoms of Swine Flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Seek emergency care if:

CHILDREN:

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

· Fast breathing or trouble breathing

· Bluish skin colour

· Not drinking enough fluids

· Not waking up or not interacting

· Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

· Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

· Fever with a rash

ADULTS:

· Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath

· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

· Sudden dizziness

· Confusion

· Severe or persistent vomiting

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose Swine Influenza ‘A’ infection, a respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer. Identification as a swine flu influenza A virus

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset.

Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

How long can viruses live outside the body?

We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What are the precautionary measures?

Right now there is no available vaccine to protect humans from Swine Flu. One can follow the below precautionary measures:

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

· Aerosols spread the virus in any environment

· If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.

· You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick

· Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

· Hand washing proved to be best procedure in prevention of Majority of Communicable diseases.

· Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth

· Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious.

· Restrict unnecessary movement to the high Risk Areas.

· Cover your mouth and nose. Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and drop it in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose as best you can.

· Clean your hands often. Clean your hands every time you cough or sneeze. Hand washing stops germs. Alcohol-based gels and wipes also work well.

We urge all our readers to take utmost care of themselves as well as their families and hope & pray that this epidemic dies its death soon.

Take care!!!

(Source: http://indiastudychannel.com )




GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZED HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT OF SWINE FLU

Note: Go Nowhere Else!

Chennai
King Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service)
Guindy, Chennai – 32
(044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522

Communicable Diseases Hospital
Thondiarpet, Chennai
(044) 25912686/87/88, 9444459543

Government General Hospital
Opp. Central Railway Station, Chennai – 03
(044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721, 25330300

Pune
Naidu Hospital
Nr Le'Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune - 01
(020) 26058243

National Institute of Virology
20A Ambedkar Road, Pune - 11
(020) 26006290

Kolkata
ID Hospital
57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road, Kolkata - 10‎
(033) 23701252

Coimbatore
Government General Hospital
Near Railway Station,
Trichy Road, Coimbatore - 18
(0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396

Hyderabad
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital,
Erragadda, Hyderabad
(040) 23814939

Mumbai
Kasturba Gandhi Hospital
Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle, Mumbai - 11
(022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512

Sir J J Hospital
J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai - 08
(022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400 / 23731144 / 5555 / 23701393 / 1366

Haffkine Institute
Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai - 12
(022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962

Kochi
Government Medical College
Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam - 08
(0481) 2597311,2597312

Government Medical College
Vandanam P O, Allapuzha - 05
(0477) 2282015

Taluk Hospital
Railway Station Road, Alwaye, Ernakulam
(0484) 2624040 Sathyajit - 09847840051

Taluk Hospital
Perumbavoor PO, Ernakulam 542
(0484) 2523138 Vipin - 09447305200

Gurgaon &
Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg Ring Road, New Delhi - 29
(011) 26594404, 26861698 Prof. R C Deka - 9868397464

National Institute for Communicable Diseases
22, Sham Nath Marg,
New Delhi - 54
(011) 23971272/060/344/524/449/326

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi - 01
(011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639
Dr. N K Chaturvedi – 9811101704

Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute
University Enclave, New Delhi- 07
(011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182

Bangalore
Victoria Hospital
K R Market, Kalasipalayam, Bangalore - 02
(080) 26703294 Dr. Gangadhar - 94480-49863

SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases
Hosur Road, Hombegowda Nagar, Bangalore - 29
(080) 26631923 Dr. Shivaraj - 99801-48780

Vellore Golden Temple

India hides in it a vital fact of diversified faiths, beliefs and adoration to the divine. In such a quest to conquer the manifestation of goddess of wealth, called as Goddess Lakshmi and Narayani (Meaning- Wife of Lord Narayana or Vishu or Balaji or Venkateswara) is given a beautiful abode in a remote town called Sripuram, few kilometers from Vellore in Tamilnadu, India.



A grand 'golden temple', the Mahalakshmi temple, located on a sprawling 100 acres of land at Sripuram, near Vellore, has been constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peetam, headed by spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma. The consecration (kumbhabhishekam) was performed August 24, 2006.The temple, covering 55,000 sq ft, has intricate carvings and sculptures in gold. Except for the pathway, the entire structure has been made of gold and copper.



About 400 goldsmiths and coppersmiths, including craftsmen from Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam, have completed the architectural marvel in gold in six years. The approximate cost of the temple is Rs 600 crore.



Surrounded by mountains and lush and scenic beauty, the temple, entirely conceived and designed by ‘Amma’, would be open to people of all religions. "The temple is Amma's gift to mankind," the sources said.



The pathway to the temple has been laid out in the shape of a star with messages of 'Amma' and quotes from Gita, Bible and Quran displayed on either side.


The ambience is spiritual, place is divine and the shining temple is sure delight to our eyes and the overall aroma of the place is pleasing and peaceful.


Cherish few glimpses of the divinity here! Narayani Namoshtuthey!!!

You Touched My Life

A real thank you note to all my friends in this friendship week!!!!

From no where came the lights
To brighten my darkened life
Touched my soul in the little way
Showing me shine amidst the foggy bay

Friends who shared my desks
Played with me at the parks
Ran with me in the running race
Kept with me smiling in the pace

Total Strangers came in my life
From the borders un-designed
Just to show that little care
That touched my life to redesign

When I stumbled upon the rotten eggs
Friends came in my life with twigs
Those blossomed with real freshness
And the spirits to regain the happiness

As the winds blew head strong on me
I disdained with fears unknown to see
Submerged in the tears of my own oceans
Always had a friend throwing me a log to swim

When the fears of fire engulfed my silent life
Haunting memories of being a tolerant wife
There came a rain of friendship to bring back life
Shouldering my tears and letting me cry

The more aspiring I became to fight the odds
I know for sure, the journey is designed by Gods!
Every day tumbled upon turbulences unknown
Each time found a friend who never let me frown

Beckoned with the lights of people who lit
The charm of chariness and kindness in wit
I cherish today a dream of unparalleled success
For I know my life is in abundance with Friends

Who never let me sleep!
Who dream with me to run all those miles to leap!

The Joy of Java!!!

As a Coffee Lover, whose addicted to coffee like to books, I was just wondering how many flavours this seed has and how much of energy it gives to the people who love to savour it. Off late, I am trying to figure out the various coffee seeds that are within my reach to experience and I ended up in finding some real strong flavours that I would love to make my coffee with. India is the 7th largest producer of Coffee seeds in the world and is also in the top 10 exporters to the world.

Here is one of the best witting coffee images I have come across..."Do Stupid things faster with more energy!!!" quite a twitter!!! ...

One more art that amazed me with the blend of love for art and coffee...here you go!

For those who love the aroma of the coffee plants, you just need to be there to enjoy it, in Coorg in India.

Every day begins with a hot cup of coffee, that energizes your mind, keeps your active, and gives you thoughts to pep up your day...So coffee lovers, continue your patronage!!! With the Joy of Java!!! Always!!!

Golf - Buick Open- Tiger Woods

My first ever interaction with the most sophisticated sport of today, was in 2004. GOLF. Yes, you got me right. The name that determines focus, concentration, hard work, physical fitness, emotional stability and above all the fundamental intention of the game unchanged for more than 500 years. One lazy Saturday afternoon sitting in the lawns of Cosmo Golf Annexe in Chennai, watching some serious golfers getting ready for a tournament, I got curious. The game and its agenda is simple - to advance the ball into marked cups, using as few strokes as possible. But the sophistication surrounding the game of golf is not simple.

Today after many years, watching Buick Open Third Round and the swaying energy of Tiger Woods reminded me of a forgotten passion. Its all about loving green lawns, aiming at the destination, focus and concentration on the challenges to win over, and its competing against your own self and performance by improving your scores. Players having no influence on the score of the opponents really prove what best they are as individual players. That's what I like in this game the most. Being yourself.

One other time, I kept watching at the lawns of Gymkhana club in Chennai, a team of golfers excited about their camaraderie, enjoyment, shared challenges and the summer noon. Thanks to my friends who introduced me to the sport, first ever time I took a club in hand for that very first stroke. Watching my friends Caddie carrying his loads of club heads and balls, and other accessories, I felt, the sport is not simple as it seem to be. Later couple of years back, when Chennai Golf emerged with the first ever woman tournament with a prize money of 2 crores, I know that this game is here to stay... its cosy, costly and comfort and its all about GOLF and nothing less.

The latest results of round 3 from the lawns of Buick Open- Tiger Woods is leading. The history so far is that in the 8 of the tournaments at Buick Open, Tiger had been either a winner or a runner up always.... and for those who knows Tiger, it is his kingdom to rule around!. Keep Rocking Woods! Nothing stops you!

This is my first ever post on Golf and seems to be getting into my head again, after all the experiences I had in the past having this passion for Golf. May be 5 years from now, I would have my own club set, caddie and a passionate lawn where I would spend my lazy Saturday's again. This time, playing it myself!!!! Till then, will keep blogging about it if not golfing !!!!