A small note on Iceland
One of the most beautiful countries on earth, Iceland, officially known as the Republic of Iceland, is a European island nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland is home to the marvels of Mother Nature with icecaps and grinding glaciers, gushing geysers such as Geyser in The Golden Circle, steaming solfataras, volcanic eruptions carved by glaciers, hot springs, infectious landscapes, towering sea-cliffs, raging rivers and glorious waterfalls, a throng of birds and cavorting whales.
The capital of Iceland, Reykjavík, is famous for museums and galleries, cafes and world class restaurants, backed by snow-topped mountains and a wild night life! Be it the spouting whales at Húsavík, white water rafting on Jökulsá-Austari glacial rivers, the town of Ísafjörður in rugged Westfjords, awesome sights of Snæfellsjökull peaks and glaciers, kayaking in the bohemian Eastfjords village of Seyðisfjörður, lake Mývatn teeming with bird life, hot springs, lava flows and volcanoes, hiking in the canyon at the national park of Jökulsárgljúfur which also comprises of Europe’s most powerful waterfall, the fishing village of Siglufjörður, a fine fjord setting in the capital of the North- Akureyri or hot spring filled ice caves at Kverkfjöll, Iceland’s nature is astounding. The best time to visit Iceland is from mid-June to August.
Travellers can go river rafting, hiking, take glacier and boat tours, do fishing, horseback riding, whale watching and swimming in the world’s hottest cool place, Iceland.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Costa Rica
A small note on Costa Rica
An ideal tropical paradise for tourists, Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a country in Central America between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It’s one of the 20 most biologically diverse countries in the world. Costa Rica boasts of 0.03% of the earth's total land mass and is home to an incredible 4% of the world's total animal species. Its neighbouring countries are Panama and Nicaragua.
Costa Rica or ‘Rich Coast’ is for active travellers who have the opportunity to surf, hike, go horseback riding, rafting, kayaking, canopying, do deepwater fishing and snorkelling through tropical reefs, and spot wildlife. The country is abounding with forests, beaches, volcanoes, exotic wildlife and tropical plants. The capital of Costa Rica is San José, famous for museums. Liberia is famous for volcanoes, beaches and is closest to Leatherback Turtles Marine National park. Some of the big cities are Limón, Cartago, Alajuela and Puntarenas. The best time to visit Costa Rica is from December to April. With numerous national parks and botanical gardens, wildlife refuge, caverns and tropical rainforests, beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific coast, Costa Rica is undoubtedly a natural wonderland.
An ideal tropical paradise for tourists, Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a country in Central America between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It’s one of the 20 most biologically diverse countries in the world. Costa Rica boasts of 0.03% of the earth's total land mass and is home to an incredible 4% of the world's total animal species. Its neighbouring countries are Panama and Nicaragua.
Costa Rica or ‘Rich Coast’ is for active travellers who have the opportunity to surf, hike, go horseback riding, rafting, kayaking, canopying, do deepwater fishing and snorkelling through tropical reefs, and spot wildlife. The country is abounding with forests, beaches, volcanoes, exotic wildlife and tropical plants. The capital of Costa Rica is San José, famous for museums. Liberia is famous for volcanoes, beaches and is closest to Leatherback Turtles Marine National park. Some of the big cities are Limón, Cartago, Alajuela and Puntarenas. The best time to visit Costa Rica is from December to April. With numerous national parks and botanical gardens, wildlife refuge, caverns and tropical rainforests, beaches on the Caribbean and Pacific coast, Costa Rica is undoubtedly a natural wonderland.
A Panoramic Landscape
Philips Koninck-A Panoramic Landscape
Philips (de) Koninck was a Dutch painter of the Baroque era. Apart from producing portraits, history and genre scenes, he is best known for his panoramic (powerful and majestic) landscapes.
As H.S. Francis writes,
Koninck was born in Amsterdam in I6I9 and studied painting with his brother Jacob at Rotterdam. From I64I he lived in Amsterdam and came under the influence of Rembrandt, whose figure style is suggested in this drawing. Primarily known as one of the great masters of landscape, through his contact with Rembrandt he inherited an affinity ...Seghers. From the art of Seghers he acquired a deep under standing of the special quality of the Dutch lowland, and its panoramic sweep.
The style of painting in “A Panoramic Landscape” is a vast area of land/space (imaginary) under a colossal sky populated with cattle, elegant folk, huts, winding road, trees and waterways. It is a flat and sunlit landscape with repeated nuances of colour, patterns of light and dark through the roads and contrasting cloud shadows. The foreground is painted as broad and rough, the middle displays significant particulars, and the background shows bold colour strokes thereby imparting soul in simple masterpieces. Koninck’s landscapes (8 survive today) are permeated with unparalleled harmony and grandeur.
Philips (de) Koninck was a Dutch painter of the Baroque era. Apart from producing portraits, history and genre scenes, he is best known for his panoramic (powerful and majestic) landscapes.
As H.S. Francis writes,
Koninck was born in Amsterdam in I6I9 and studied painting with his brother Jacob at Rotterdam. From I64I he lived in Amsterdam and came under the influence of Rembrandt, whose figure style is suggested in this drawing. Primarily known as one of the great masters of landscape, through his contact with Rembrandt he inherited an affinity ...Seghers. From the art of Seghers he acquired a deep under standing of the special quality of the Dutch lowland, and its panoramic sweep.
The style of painting in “A Panoramic Landscape” is a vast area of land/space (imaginary) under a colossal sky populated with cattle, elegant folk, huts, winding road, trees and waterways. It is a flat and sunlit landscape with repeated nuances of colour, patterns of light and dark through the roads and contrasting cloud shadows. The foreground is painted as broad and rough, the middle displays significant particulars, and the background shows bold colour strokes thereby imparting soul in simple masterpieces. Koninck’s landscapes (8 survive today) are permeated with unparalleled harmony and grandeur.
Winterize your Yacht
10 economical tips to winterize your yacht
It’s winter time once again and the boating season is over. You have to put your yacht away but it needs some care before its set to rest. Instead of visiting a boatyard, save costs by winterizing the hull and interiors of the yacht yourself, and keep it ready for spring.
Some practical tips to winterization:
1) Engine oil, drive train oil and oil filters: To prevent acids from building up, engine oil and oil filters must be changed. Engine air intakes and exhaust pipes must be closed with a duct tape. Clean the engine off all oil and refill with new oil, and run the engine for a while.
2) Fogging: Immediately after haul out, flush the engine with fresh water to remove all salt residues. Run the engine at an inoperative speed for 5 minutes. Fog the engine by spraying it into the carburettor while the engine is running or through spark plugs after stopping the engine.
3) Fuel Tank: Drain the yacht’s fuel tank completely and subsequently fill it again. Tend to the fuel with a biocide (for diesel)) or a stabilizing agent (for all engines). Next, run the engine for 10 minutes to allow circulation. Note: For gas and diesel boats, it is best to empty the fuel tank as much as possible.
4) Antifreeze: First warm up the engines and clean them off all water. Then add antifreeze without diluting it to the engine’s cooling system.
5) Batteries: Add distilled water to batteries, charge them completely, and disconnect. To prevent the batteries from getting frozen, store them in a heated room and charge them occasionally.
6) Bilges: Dry the bilges completely, disable bilge pumps, and the bilge area around the drain plug. The drain plugs and bilges should be devoid of any debris to prevent the drain from choking.
7) Bedding and Seat Cushions: Keep the bedding and seat cushions in a vertical position to prevent them from damage in water or other fuel leaks.
8) Water Tanks: Completely drain the water tanks by removing the pipe fitting at the bottom. To prevent dampness and corrosion, clear all drawers, foodstuff, paper, utensils and cleaning supplies. Clean all water from mufflers. Wipe surfaces and teak with a wet rag or sponge.
9) Hardware: Highly prone to corrosion, hardware needs to be cleaned thoroughly with a wet cloth and left to dry. Clean sinks and cockpit. Apply petroleum jelly to fixtures, clocks, barometers and lamps. Ventilate the cabins, check cabinets and prevent carpets from getting spoilt by placing them among carpet squares.
10) Accessories: Clean and wax the boat and motor. Cover your yacht. Remove prop, fittings, electronic equipments, life-rafts, furled headsails, mainsails and lube points. Check all exit blocks and lubricate all points up to the mast.
Leave your yacht in a vertical or downward position to prevent water from clogging and freezing. Check on it periodically.
Keep a winterization checklist, follow the directions well, thereby keeping your yacht’s propulsion system devoid of any snags and facilitate an enjoyable spring. Happy sailing!
It’s winter time once again and the boating season is over. You have to put your yacht away but it needs some care before its set to rest. Instead of visiting a boatyard, save costs by winterizing the hull and interiors of the yacht yourself, and keep it ready for spring.
Some practical tips to winterization:
1) Engine oil, drive train oil and oil filters: To prevent acids from building up, engine oil and oil filters must be changed. Engine air intakes and exhaust pipes must be closed with a duct tape. Clean the engine off all oil and refill with new oil, and run the engine for a while.
2) Fogging: Immediately after haul out, flush the engine with fresh water to remove all salt residues. Run the engine at an inoperative speed for 5 minutes. Fog the engine by spraying it into the carburettor while the engine is running or through spark plugs after stopping the engine.
3) Fuel Tank: Drain the yacht’s fuel tank completely and subsequently fill it again. Tend to the fuel with a biocide (for diesel)) or a stabilizing agent (for all engines). Next, run the engine for 10 minutes to allow circulation. Note: For gas and diesel boats, it is best to empty the fuel tank as much as possible.
4) Antifreeze: First warm up the engines and clean them off all water. Then add antifreeze without diluting it to the engine’s cooling system.
5) Batteries: Add distilled water to batteries, charge them completely, and disconnect. To prevent the batteries from getting frozen, store them in a heated room and charge them occasionally.
6) Bilges: Dry the bilges completely, disable bilge pumps, and the bilge area around the drain plug. The drain plugs and bilges should be devoid of any debris to prevent the drain from choking.
7) Bedding and Seat Cushions: Keep the bedding and seat cushions in a vertical position to prevent them from damage in water or other fuel leaks.
8) Water Tanks: Completely drain the water tanks by removing the pipe fitting at the bottom. To prevent dampness and corrosion, clear all drawers, foodstuff, paper, utensils and cleaning supplies. Clean all water from mufflers. Wipe surfaces and teak with a wet rag or sponge.
9) Hardware: Highly prone to corrosion, hardware needs to be cleaned thoroughly with a wet cloth and left to dry. Clean sinks and cockpit. Apply petroleum jelly to fixtures, clocks, barometers and lamps. Ventilate the cabins, check cabinets and prevent carpets from getting spoilt by placing them among carpet squares.
10) Accessories: Clean and wax the boat and motor. Cover your yacht. Remove prop, fittings, electronic equipments, life-rafts, furled headsails, mainsails and lube points. Check all exit blocks and lubricate all points up to the mast.
Leave your yacht in a vertical or downward position to prevent water from clogging and freezing. Check on it periodically.
Keep a winterization checklist, follow the directions well, thereby keeping your yacht’s propulsion system devoid of any snags and facilitate an enjoyable spring. Happy sailing!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Massage Therapy for Lou Gehrig's disease
Massage can help Lou Gehrig’s disease
Lou Gehrig’s Disease (also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurological disorder which attacks the nerves cells (motor neurons) of the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons connect the brain with the skeletal muscles. As the motor neurons degenerate (shrink and disappear), the muscles under their control become smaller, weaken (they no longer receive signals to move) and waste away. Lou Gehrig’s Disease victims become disabled, have difficulty in communicating, swallowing and are prone to infections (pneumonia). This disease paralyses only the voluntary muscles hence people suffering from this disease can often take control of their five senses, bowel and bladder movement. It also does not impair a person's mind, personality, intelligence, or memory.
Lou Gehrig’s Disease is rarely found amongst kids. It affects people between the ages of 40 to 70, and is more common in men than women. It is not contagious and can affect people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Patients usually require ventilation and surgery to make a new opening in the stomach (gastrostomy). The cause of death is due to loss of respiratory function. The most common form of Lou Gehrig’s Disease is known as "sporadic" as it can affect anyone at anytime; though in some cases, this disease can be hereditary.
The exact cause of Lou Gehrig’s Disease is unknown. Symptoms are tripping, dropping things, slurred and nasal speech, muscle cramps, muscle stiffness and twitches, unintentional periods of laughing or crying, weakness of muscles affecting arms and legs, difficulty in chewing, swallowing, dressing, washing and buttoning clothes.
There is no way to completely cure or prevent Lou Gehrig’s Disease. However medicines, rehabilitation techniques and physical therapy can control symptoms and special equipments like wheelchair, braces, walker and ventilator can be used for relieving the discomforts.
Non-drug therapies or supportive therapies such as ‘massage’ can be used for the sore or cramping muscles thereby providing relief from muscle pain and cramps. Chinese acupuncture formulas such as partial massage is recommended for muscle stiffness.
Researches and clinical studies have shown that therapeutic massage is done after wet cell appliance. It concentrates on the spinal areas starting at the toes and proceeds upwards, comprising all extremities. The sciatic centre, the lumbar axis, and the brachial centre should be especially concentrated on, using a mixture of olive oil, peanut oil, and lanolin. Moderate passive ranges of motion can keep muscles and joints from getting stiff. Massage strokes can also enhance the blood supply into to muscle and decelerate muscle atrophy to a certain extent. However, if muscles are too atrophied, a hand, foot and scalp massage can also make the patient comfortable.
Any disease can cause stress and a massage therapy can be used to reduce stress as it decreases the quantity of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body. Other researches have shown that Swedish massage or Esalen massage also works well on people suffering from with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
If the physician approves, a good massage therapist can improve the quality of the patient‘s life and provide assistance for caregivers too.
Lou Gehrig’s Disease (also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurological disorder which attacks the nerves cells (motor neurons) of the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons connect the brain with the skeletal muscles. As the motor neurons degenerate (shrink and disappear), the muscles under their control become smaller, weaken (they no longer receive signals to move) and waste away. Lou Gehrig’s Disease victims become disabled, have difficulty in communicating, swallowing and are prone to infections (pneumonia). This disease paralyses only the voluntary muscles hence people suffering from this disease can often take control of their five senses, bowel and bladder movement. It also does not impair a person's mind, personality, intelligence, or memory.
Lou Gehrig’s Disease is rarely found amongst kids. It affects people between the ages of 40 to 70, and is more common in men than women. It is not contagious and can affect people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Patients usually require ventilation and surgery to make a new opening in the stomach (gastrostomy). The cause of death is due to loss of respiratory function. The most common form of Lou Gehrig’s Disease is known as "sporadic" as it can affect anyone at anytime; though in some cases, this disease can be hereditary.
The exact cause of Lou Gehrig’s Disease is unknown. Symptoms are tripping, dropping things, slurred and nasal speech, muscle cramps, muscle stiffness and twitches, unintentional periods of laughing or crying, weakness of muscles affecting arms and legs, difficulty in chewing, swallowing, dressing, washing and buttoning clothes.
There is no way to completely cure or prevent Lou Gehrig’s Disease. However medicines, rehabilitation techniques and physical therapy can control symptoms and special equipments like wheelchair, braces, walker and ventilator can be used for relieving the discomforts.
Non-drug therapies or supportive therapies such as ‘massage’ can be used for the sore or cramping muscles thereby providing relief from muscle pain and cramps. Chinese acupuncture formulas such as partial massage is recommended for muscle stiffness.
Researches and clinical studies have shown that therapeutic massage is done after wet cell appliance. It concentrates on the spinal areas starting at the toes and proceeds upwards, comprising all extremities. The sciatic centre, the lumbar axis, and the brachial centre should be especially concentrated on, using a mixture of olive oil, peanut oil, and lanolin. Moderate passive ranges of motion can keep muscles and joints from getting stiff. Massage strokes can also enhance the blood supply into to muscle and decelerate muscle atrophy to a certain extent. However, if muscles are too atrophied, a hand, foot and scalp massage can also make the patient comfortable.
Any disease can cause stress and a massage therapy can be used to reduce stress as it decreases the quantity of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body. Other researches have shown that Swedish massage or Esalen massage also works well on people suffering from with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
If the physician approves, a good massage therapist can improve the quality of the patient‘s life and provide assistance for caregivers too.
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