Friday, January 4, 2008

Plastics, Microwave and Cancer - unlinked!!


Microwave Safety aspects – use of plastic containers for cooking/Reheating and the alleged ill-effects like Cancer – A myth or hoax?

A layman study and common sense approach.

In this modern world, use of gadgets like fridge, microwave and such other utility appliances are inevitable. So also is the case with plastic wraps and containers. Ready to cook foods are usually marketed in such wraps and once-use/re-usable containers. There are containers made for specific use in these gadgets, which find free entry into the kitchen. At this juncture, the widely circulated mail which alleges release of harmful toxins like dioxin that may leach into the cooked food, causing various ailments including cancer! At the first impulse, I had forwarded the mail I received to all my contacts but later I could not rest and resist my curiosity to explore the allegations to reach a logical reasoning, either way.

My observations

The claim seems to a brushed-off e-HOAX, having been in circulation since over at least 6 years and established that the allegations are not total truth. While the fact remains that the various chemicals used in the manufacture of these plastic containers and wraps and also that they release toxins at very high heat (700 degrees F), which may leach into the food causing various ill effects, the actual process involves appropriate regulations approved by FDA, which specifies the quantum of the chemicals for various types of plastics making it most safe for microwave and common use for consumable storage and hearing. As such we need not worry on this account and forget the email.

Precautions

However, my common sense tells me that one should, being aware of the facts, use good quality containers and wraps which are labeled as “microwave Safe” or indicated so by certain indicative logos and certifications and avoid using any plastic in fridge/microwave. In case of doubt avoid using the item – better to err on the safe side!
This check may be adopted even on ready to cook packages in such containers and wraps.

More information can be read from the following links.

Link 1:
http://www.plasticsinfo.org/s_plasticsinfo/sec_level3_collapsed.asp?CID=656&DID=2593
Link 2: http://www.plasticsmythbuster.org/dioxins.asp
Link 3:
http://www.phthalates.org/food-safety-microwaves.asp
Link 4: http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/benefits/in_your_life/microwave.html
Link 5: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_6_1x_Microwaving_Plastic.asp?sitearea=MED

Microwave cooking TIP

Use round or oval shaped containers to ensure even cooking of food. The corners in a rectangular container tend to retain more heat and results into over cooking in the corners. A study indicates this – try!

Important Note - STOP FORWARDING THE RUMOUR EMAIL FURTHER!

Monday, December 31, 2007

A Very Happy and prosperous new year - 2008!

At the dawn of the NEW YEAR - 2008, I wish all my patrons, well wishers and friends a VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!

I wish and pray for the overall development and prosperity of the mankind and urge all to solomnly resolve to maintain peace and utilise our available resources for propagating friendly feelings and avoid indulgence in acts of violence. Let us resolve to stand united to extinguish the evil forces spreading terror and inhuman acts of violence. HAPPY NEW YEAR once again.

Ramaswamy Iyer
Camp: Philedelphia, PA, USA.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Engineering Marvels of the World .. II

Bridges of repute – Display of amazing skills.

Construction of Bridges have been one of the major milestones in the economic development of the world and yet newer explorations for scaling the vast expanse between the remote land is an on-going process. With passage of time the skills and the techmiques changed. Listed below are a few of global acclaim.

Sydney harbour bridge (Australia)

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the main way to cross Sydney Harbour carrying rail, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore across the Port Jackson.The bridge is locally nicknamed The Coathanger[1] because of its arch-based design, although this usage is less prevalent than it once was. The 75th anniversary of the bridge was celebrated on 18 March 2007. According to Guinness World Records, it is the widest long-span bridge in the world and is the highest steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres (429.6 feet) above the harbour.[1] It is also the fourth-longest spanning-arch bridge in the world. The 49 m wide bridge was opened in March, 1932 carries 8 lanes of vehicles, 2 rail tracks, one footway for pedestrians and one lane for cyclists. The longest span (distance between the two pylons) is 503 m (1650 ft) of the total length of 1149 m (3770 ft). The bridge is held by huge hinges on the footage of the pylons on either side of the span and this attracts tourists and is considered a scenic spot for photography.

Suspension Bridges

These are bridges held by tall towers usisng strong steel cables with or without the ability to rewind /hoist. The length of main span is the most common method of comparing the sizes of suspension bridges. The length of the main span often correlates with the height of the towers and the engineering complexity involved in designing and constructing the bridge.Suspension bridges have the longest spans of any type of bridge. Cable-stayed bridges, the next longest design, are practical for spans up to around one kilometer.

The Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge ,, also known as Pearl Bridge in Japan was completed in 1998 and is the world's longest suspension bridge (measure by the length of the centre span of 1,991 metres (6,532 ft). It links the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshū to Iwaya on Awaji Island by crossing the busy Akashi Strait. It carries the part of the Honshū-Shikoku Highway.


Donghai Bridge

Dōnghǎi Dàqiáo; literally "East Sea Grand Bridge") is the longest cross-sea bridge in the world and the longest bridge in Asia. It was completed on December 10, 2005. It has a total length of 32.5 kilometres (20.2 miles) and connects Shanghai and the offshore Yangshan deep-water port in China. Most of the bridge is a low-level viaduct. There are also cable-stayed sections to allow for the passage of large ships, largest with span of 420 m.

Previous blog on the title

Monday, December 17, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS!.


On this festive occasion, I extend my good wishes for all round prosperity and ushering in a happier New Year 2008!.
I take this opportunity to thank you for the continued patronage to the blog and providing valuable feedback, which has been of great use to me in enhancing the contents and cosmetics of the blog. I look forward to your further feedback.
...previous note from the publisher.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Engineering Marvels of the World ...

WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT.......J.F.K International Airport , New York, USA
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is an international airport located in Queens, in southeastern New York City and about 12 miles (19 km) from Lower Manhattan. Originally known as the 'Idlewild' Airport (IDL), it was renamed in 1963 in emory of the late President John F. Kennedy. It is colloquially referred to simply as "Kennedy" or "JFK" airport. It is the top international air passenger gateway to the United States and is also the leading freight gateway to the country by value of shipments. The airport is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages three other airports in the New York City metropolitan area, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and Teterboro.
The airport saw its first commercial flight on July 1, 1948. the name "Idlewild" remained in comm
on use and the official IATA airport code was IDL. The airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963, one month after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The airport received the new IATA airport code of JFK, and since then the airport has become widely referred to by the By the mid-1980s, JFK had overtaken Newark International Airport (now Newark Liberty International Airport) to become New York City's busiest airport. In 1998, the airport began construction of the AirTrain JFK rapid transit system. Completed in December 2003, the rail network links each airport terminal to New York City subways and regional commuter trains at Howard Beach and Jamaica, Queens.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, JFK was one of the first airports in the United States to be temporarily closed. On March 19, 2007, JFK became the first airport in the United States to receive the Airbus A380 with passengers aboard. The route-proving flight with more than 500 passengers was operated jointly by Lufthansa and Airbus and arrived at Terminal Statistics (2006) : Aircraft operations 411,145 ; Passengers 42,600,000
.....more

WORLD'S BIGGEST PASSENGER-SHIP - MS Freedom of the Seas

M.S. Freedom of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship and the name ship of its class. The world's largest passenger vessel, it can accommodate over 4,300 passengers on its fifteen passenger decks, served by over 1300 crew. The Freedom of the Seas was built at the Aker Yards drydock in Turku, Finland which also is building the other ships of the Freedom Class. Upon its completion it became the largest passenger ship ever built, taking that honor from Cunard's Queen Mary 2.


The ship features three swimming areas: an interactive water park, a dedicated adult pool and the main pool. There are 2 whirlpools cantilevered out from the ship's sides, the Royal Promenade sports, a coffee shop, Sorrento's Pizzeria, a Ben and Jerry's ice-cream shop, Vintage's winery, the Bull and Bear Irish pub, and many Duty-free shops. The 13th deck features a sports area with amenities such as a rock climbing wall, the FlowRider (an onboard wave generator for surfing), a miniature golf course and a full size basketball court. Other items include an ice skating rink, a casino, a Johnny Rockets, Wi-Fi capabilities throughout the ship, flat panel televisions in all staterooms, and cell phone connectivity.
...more details.



...The largest passenger aircraft in the world.


The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, four-engine airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, an EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company) subsidiary. The largest passenger airliner in the world, the A380 made its maiden flight on 27 April 2005 from Toulouse , France and made its first commercial flight on 25 October 2007 from Singapore to Sydney with Singapore Airlines. The aircraft was known as the Airbus A3XX during much of its development phase, but the nickname Superjumbo has since become associated with it.The A380's upper deck extends along the entire length of the fuselage. This allows for a cabin with 50% more floor space than the next largest airliner, the Boeing 747-400,[3] and provides seating for 525 people in standard three-class onfiguration or up to 853 people in full economy class configuration.The A380 is offered in passenger and freighter ersions. The A380-800, the passenger model, is the largest passenger airliner in the world, superseding the Boeing 747, but has a horter fuselage than the Airbus A340-600 which is Airbus' next biggest passenger airplane. The A380-800F, the freighter odel, is offered as one of the largest freight aircraft, with a listed payload capacity exceeded only by the Antonov An-225. The A380-800 has a design range of 15,200 kilometres (8,200 nmi), sufficient to fly from New York to Hong Kong for example, and a cruising speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h or 560 mph at cruise altitude). Production Major structural sections of the A380 are built in France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Due to their size, they are brought to the assembly hall in Toulouse in France by surface transportation, rather than by the A300-600ST Beluga aircraft used for other Airbus models. Components of the A380 are provided by suppliers from around the world; the five
largest contributors, by value, are Rolls-Royce, SAFRAN, United Technologies, General Electric, and Goodrich.



Future versions
Airbus A380-900 Airbus confirms the plans for an enlarged version, the A380-900. This version would have a seat capacity of 650 passengers in standard configuration, and of around 900 passengers in economy-only configuration. The first A380-900s could be delivered to customers around 2015.


Thanks... Ramya Srinivasan, Memphis, TN, USA.



...Largest Indoor swimming pool.
The first ever indoor waterpark was built in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1985 at the West Edmonton Mall as part of the $1.2 billion dollar Phase III expansion. Called World Waterpark, it is over 225,000 sq feet (20,000m sq) in size. It includes the world's largest indoor wave pool, waterslides of varying degrees, tube rides, zip lines, bungee jumping, and hot tubs. The adjoining clip shows the indoor swimming pool, admeasuring over 5 acres, largest indoor swimming pool as per the guinnes records!.
Edmonton Demographics Located in Central Alberta, Edmonton hosts a variety of attractions for visitors and residents. Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta. The beautiful river valley "band of green" parklands, which follows the North Saskatchewan River through the city, gives Edmonton many miles of hiking and biking trails which double as cross country ski trails in the winter. Edmonton has more parkland per capita then any other Canadian city!
Edmonton is a tourism hot-spot, boasting the world's largest shopping mall, the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America and an array of diverse attractions, from the Great Divide waterfall (24 feet higher than Niagara Falls) to historic Fort Edmonton Park.

.. Basilica of our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro



The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, also known as Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, is a Roman Catholic church in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Often ranked as the largest Christian church in the world, the basilica was constructed between 1985 and 1989 at a cost of $300 million, and was intentionally modeled after the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican City. The cornerstone was laid on August 10, 1985, and it was consecrated on September 10, 1990, by Pope John Paul II.

Contrary to popular belief, this particular basilica is not a cathedral. The nearby Cathedral of Saint Augustine is the principal place of worship and seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Yamoussoukro.

Guinness World Records lists it as the largest church in the world, having surpassed the previous recordholder, St. Peter's Basilica, upon completion. Our Lady of Peace has a greater surface, and a higher dome, than St. Peter's[1]. However, it also includes a rectory and a villa, which are not strictly part of the church, and it can accommodate 18,000 worshippers, compared to 60,000 for St. Peter's

Why this blog?


We are all aware of the process of the ancient human, considered just better than an animal, steadily transforming into the modern age, poised to conquer and control the universe. The various inventions and discoveries have helped us to advance usisng new technology. A new dawn comes with something better and there seem explore infinite scope to go further. While these thoughts were engulfing me, I came across a mail from y friend enclosing few photographs of some structures which are really engineering marvels evidencing the techno-progress of mankind. Thought I should share it all with you through this blog.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Nanbhanin Kadhali (Tamil) = Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (Hindi)

I watched the tamil movie NANBHANIN KADHALI roday... It is enjoyable comedy with two rival young men share the same apartment and love the same girl in the neighborhood and compete with each other to gain her love ..... sounds like the MUJHSE SHAADI KAROGI (Hindi) *ing Akshay kumar, salman Khan, Priyanka chopra... cAn watch once!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Sattham Podathey - Tamil Movie

I happened to watch this movie starring Prithvi Raj. It is a nice movie and I thought you can also watch. I have given the link on the left side slide bar. You may also click here to watch. You can watch the slide bar menu for moire such good links. Happy blogging with Ramaswamy!!.