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On October 17, 2008 is there sunshine for 36 hours?

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A rumor is spreading throughout the world wide web via emails and web blogs that on the 17th of October, the present living generation of people will come to experience a rare phenomenon which is said to be occurring every 2,400 years on our planet earth.

Besides being widely spread through the Cyber World, text messages are also piling up in inboxes regarding this matter, . Well, from my little search that , I strongly have to disagree about the truth of the said phenomenon. There’s simply no rational explanation for this.. There must be someway to slow down the rotation of the earth to let the day stretch 36 hours long and the night 36 hours long

The second possible solution for this would be the angle of rotation of the earth. “Earth revolves itself is at an angle of 23° 27′. Due to that angle, and the spherical shape of the Earth, the light rays from the Sun do not always strike it at the same angle. This means that since the Sun’s rays fall on that area at different angles, someone far away from the equator will observe the Sun rising at different points in the east and setting at different points in the west. The further away from the equator that person is the more different points he will identify for the dawning and closing of the day.This is really just a rumor? Well, in a couple of days we’ll come to know about this being a fact or a rumor.

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India clinched the inaugural Twenty20 cricket World Cup after a thrilling five-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the final in Johannesburg .

In a match that saw fortunes fluctuate till the dying moments, the young Indian team scored 157 for five and then held its nerve to dismiss Pakistan for 152 with just three balls to spare.

It was India's first major triumph since winning the 60 overs-a-side World Cup in 1983.

It was an incredible display by the Indians who relied on superb team work to not only maintain their all-win record against their bitter foes in World Cup matches but also complete a series of giant-killing acts in the blaze glory.

By popular vote, the greatest batsman in the world today, Sachin Tendulkar has the cricketing world at his feet. The adulation he commands world over is unsurpassed, perhaps since the days of Don Bradman, to whom of course he has been compared, by no less than the great man himself. While he may not end with a Test career average of 99.94, there is little doubt that based on his vigorous style of batsmanship and his insatiable appetite for runs and big scores, he is the most complete batsman since Vivian Richards. In many ways though he has surpassed even that outstanding West Indian batsman.

When Tendulkar is on song, there is no more majestic sight in the cricketing world. The spectators at the stadium are on their feet cheering while all over the world, TV audiences are glued to the screen. He has scored heavily on all kinds of wickets the world over, in conditions which lesser mortals have not been able to master and against bowlers whom other batsmen have found it difficult to score off. Immensely gifted and blessed with an impeccable technique, Tendulkar's batting is a dream, combining timing, elegance and power. Mentally very strong, Tendulkar is best when confronted by a challenge - as he showed when mowing down Shane Warne in India in 1998. Captain during two short stints, Tendulkar has made it clear that he would prefer to concentrate on his batting and indeed, he seems to be getting better with every passing year. Scoring two double centuries in successive seasons and being the first to cross the 10,000 run barrier in ODIs is clear proof of this. The best thing from the fans' point of view - if not the bowler's - is that the entertainment, courtesy Tendulkar, is still at the intermission stage. Long may
`The King' continue to regale his willing subjects!

While his batting ranks him among the best in the world, he is also a part-time bowler and has played a crucial role as a leg spinner or a medium pace bowler who tends to break partnerships. He has more than a hundred wickets in ODIs and 35 in tests, though his bowling averages are above 40. He continues to perform well under the massive weight of expectation of millions of cricket followers, in India and around the world.

The atmosphere surrounds Earth and protects us by blocking out dangerous rays from the sun. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that becomes thinner until it gradually reaches space. It is composed of Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), and other gases (1%).

Oxygen is essential for life because it allows us to breathe. Some of the oxygen has changed over time to ozone. The ozone layer filters out the sun's harmful rays. Recently, there have been many studies on how humans have caused a hole in the ozone layer.

Humans are also affecting Earth's atmosphere through the greenhouse effect. Due to increases in gases, like carbon dioxide, that trap heat being radiated from the Earth, scientists believe that the atmosphere is having trouble staying in balance creating the Greenhouseeffect.

The atmosphere is divided into five layers on how temperature changes with height. Most of the weather and clouds are found in the first layer. .

What is H1N1 (swine) flu?

H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Global Warming

Using newly digitized temperature, humidity, and wind data collected from instruments aboard weather balloons between 1971 and 2003, scientists found a winter season warming throughout the Antarctic atmosphere.

The scientists estimate that atmospheric temperatures over Antarctica in the winter have risen by about 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 Celsius) in the last 30 years, and the change is due in large part to greenhouse gas emissions.

“Greenhouses gases could be having a bigger impact in Antarctica than across the rest of the world .

Other studies of the region focused only on surface temperature variations and produced mixed results. One study found significant warming only on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula but not elsewhere in the southernmost continent.

Ship wreck

A shipwreck is the remains of a ship that has wrecked, it having either been sunk or beached. A shipwreck can refer to a wrecked ship or to the event that caused the wreck, such as the striking of something that causes the ship to sink, the stranding of the ship on rocks, land or shoal, or the destruction of the ship at sea by violent weather. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event. are more than 3 million shipwrecks on the ocean floor.

What is pandemic flu?

Outbreaks of flu tend to follow certain patterns. Every year the number of flu cases rise during the winter months – this is seasonal flu. If a lot of people are affected it may be said to be an epidemic, and about one per cent of those affected are likely to die from it, usually due to complications such as a secondary bacterial infection of the lungs.

But every so often, with a major change in the flu virus, it spreads rapidly around the world causing a high number of deaths. This is pandemic flu. One of the factors that scientists look out for is when a new strain of flu arises among animals and spreads to humans, changing again to develop the ability to spread from human to human without any contact with the animals.

Up to May 1st 2009, all the confirmed cases of swine flu so far in the UK have been in people who have visited Mexico where the outbreak was first reported, and there has between no onward transmission of the virus to others in this country.

In the early stages it can be difficult to predict how severe a pandemic will be. However, initial laboratory studies of the strain of H1N1 causing the Mexico outbreak suggest that it is a relatively mild strain and that further mutation of the virus would be needed to cause severe problems.

It is thought to be far less dangerous than the H5N1 strain of bird or avian flu which has caused so much worry in the past few years.

******Causes and risk factors**

Although anyone can catch flu, seasonal flu tends to cause more problems among the elderly, the very young and the chronically ill. However pandemic flu tends to affect previously healthy adults – this has been the case in Mexico where young men and women have been the main victims of swine flu.

Initially in this outbreak of swine flu humans picked up the virus through contact with pigs but now it is being passed from human to human in some countries. This is probably occurring in the same way as seasonal flu, through coughing and sneezing which generates an aerosol of virus particles into the atmosphere that can spread for up to a metre, or through contact with contaminated surfaces such as door handles.

Those living in close proximity to someone with the infection are at greatest risk.

$$$$$$$ SYMPTOMS $$$$$$

Swine flu is highly contagious. Symptoms begin within two days of exposure, at which point the person is most infectious. They are very similar to those produced by seasonal flu, including :

• High fever (usually above 38 oC)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Aching muscles
• Chills and shivers despite fever
• Exhaustion or fatigue

It can be difficult to tell mild flu from a cold but it is usually more generalised (the symptoms of a cold tend to be limited to the head while the flu causes aching and fatigue all over) and more severe with higher fever.

If complications such as pneumonia develop there may be other symptoms such as difficulty breathing or diarrhoea, a symptom which appears to be a particular feature of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico.

+++Treatment and prevention+

If you think you have developed flu-like symptoms, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Call your doctor to discuss your symptoms – they may decide to come and take samples from you. It’s important to tell them if you have recently been in contact with someone else with flu or if you have recently travelled abroad.

Treat symptoms as they arise. Try to keep well hydrated with plenty of clear fluids. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen (not for children because of the risk of Reyes syndrome) for aches and pains, and use simple remedies such as cough syrups and vapour rubs. Try to rest as much as possible.

If your doctor is concerned they may prescribe anti-viral medication such as Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) or Relenza (Zanamivir). Swine flu seems to respond to these medicines in the same way as seasonal flu.

The treatments are not a cure but can reduce the risk of infection for those who have been exposed to the virus, reduce the ability of a person with the virus to pass it on, and shorten the course of the illness when someone has flu. Most importantly these drugs treatments reduce the risk of serious complications and death. For maximum effect, the drugs should be given as early as possible to someone who has the flu.

There is not yet a vaccine specifically for the strain of H1N1 swine influenza virus which has caused the 2009 Mexico outbreak, and it will take several months to develop one. It’s not yet clear whether current flu vaccines may offer a degree of protection.

As with all infections, good hygiene is absolutely essential to reduce the risk of spread or contact with the virus:

• Wash your hands regularly
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
• Use tissues and dispose of them carefully
• Clean hard surfaces regularly with a standard cleaning fluid
• Avoid close contact with people who have fever and a cough
• The effectiveness of wearing a face mask in preventing transmission of the flu virus isn’t yet clear, although it may give some protection to those people such as health professionals who work closely with someone with symptoms of flu

Don’t worry about eating pork products – there is no evidence that swine flu can be picked up that way. Even if virus is present in the meat, thorough cooking will destroy it.

What is swine flu ?

Influenza is caused by infection with a virus. There are many types of flu virus and these are constantly changing, which makes it hard for the human immune system to deal with it. The particular type of influenza virus that causes swine flu is known as H1N1, which is a type of Influenza A (there are also influenza B and C viruses).

It is the same group of H1N1 viruses which cause the regular yearly flu outbreaks in humans, but swine flu is caused by different strains of H1N1. The current strain of swine flu has not previously been found in pigs or humans, and contains a mixture of genetic material from human, pig and bird flu. In other words it is a new variety of flu which people are therefore unlikely to have much immunity to.

As US President Barack Obama prepares to have his first meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in London on April 2, the White House said the president wants to "advance and strengthen" bi-lateral ties with India.White House spokesman Robert Gibbs announced on Wednesday that Obama will be meeting Singh on April 2 in London on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit."The President looks forward to working with the Prime Minister to advance and strengthen the US-India bilateral relationship," said Benjamin Chang, Deputy Spokesman, National Security Council, White House."This will be the President's first meeting with Prime Minister Singh and the two leaders will discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategic review, climate change, and the world economy," Chang said.Singh is one of the few world leaders with whom Obama would be meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.The current situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan is expected to figure prominently at the meeting of the two leaders. The new Af-Pak policy of the US is also expected to be out by that time.Earlier this week, in the first public speech on India from a top Obama Administration official, the Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg had said both President and the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are committed to expanding relationship with India."President Obama and Secretary Clinton remain committed to expanding these opportunities and our cooperation. As India approaches national elections in the coming months, we look forward to developing a comprehensive agenda - doing more bilaterally, regionally, and globally, across the full spectrum of economic, political and security challenges," he said addressing a meeting.The new administration not only wants to build on the bi-lateral relationship, but also wants India to play a key role in resolving regional and addressing global issues together."As India emerges as one of the worlds's leading economic and political powers, the central question are how the United States and India can work together to address the regional and global challenges that no one country alone can solve," he said."To paraphrase my old boss, president (Bill) Clinton, the central question facing India in the coming years is how India defines its greatness as it takes an increasingly prominent role in global affairs," he said."In the 21st century, the emergence of India as strong, stable, democratic and outwardly looking global player with global interests has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of the international system and the security and well-being of all, in a positive sum game," Steinberg said."For this reason, the real test of our relationship will be how we work together on the great common challenges of our era - strengthening the global trade and investment system, addressing transnational threats like nuclear weapons proliferation, terrorism and pandemic disease, and meeting the urgent danger posed by climate change," he said.Whether at the UN, the WTO or the Conference on Disarmament, both India and the US have a responsibility to eschew rhetoric in favour of forward-looking, practical solutions to the great issues of the time, he observed."We will begin this work next week in London, where the G-20 leaders will meet to discuss how to address both the near term and systemic challenges posed by the global financial crisis and where President Obama and Prime Minister Singh will have a chance to meet face to face to share views," Steinberg said.