Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

The Best Reasons to Visit India – The Kerala Backwaters

Nestled along the Arabian coast, strewn with palms on both sides, the beguiling backwaters of Kerala truly evoke the image of a Paradise on Earth. True to the nickname of the state as God’s own country, the backwaters are in fact, one-of-its-kind found in India, an unsurpassable natural wonder that can only be juxtaposed with the amazing American Bayou. The meandering labyrinth of brackish lagoons and canals, in actuality embrace a series of five lakes whose source is found in the midst of as many as 38 rivers and envelope almost half of Kerala’s total area. Tucked amidst the numerous creeks and crevices of these backwaters lie the cities and towns of the state, forming some of the most frequented and alluring tourist destinations in the country.

Kerala Backwaters Ecosystem

The backwaters present an extraordinary, unique ecosystem that is a blend of both the sea and the river aquatic life, lapped as they are in between the rivers on one hand and the Arabian Sea on the other. A sip of the waters reveal a peculiar taste with the saltwater of the sea mingling with the fresh sweet water of the rivers. Some parts are preserved only for irrigation by raising up barrages to restrict the sea water from blending with that of the rivers. The backwaters are replete with flora and fauna being home to animals such as frogs, crabs, turtles, otters and mudskippers, while the shores are adorned with pandanus shrubs, bushes and palm trees lending them a luscious look.

Backwaters in the midst of Different Towns

On your trip to the backwaters of India, you are sure to be mesmerized by the picturesque spectacles that each of the towns and cities embracing the lagoons unfolds in its sway. Be it the Gateway to the Backwaters in Kollam, or those lying on the Vembanad lake in Kochi, the Veli Lagoon of Thiruvananthapuram or the unfathomed arenas of water in Kozhikode, the backwaters simply present a bewitching picture.

A visit to the Alappuzha backwaters, also nicknamed “the Venice of the East” unveils Mother Nature’s beauty and bounty to the core. The luscious lakes winds along the long gamut of green shores for miles on end, while the soothing serenity engulfing every aspect of the atmosphere. Equally enthralling are the backwaters of Kumarakom that encompass an exotic amalgam of islands lying on the Vembanad lake. Staggeringly stunning are the camaraderie of lush mangrove forests and coconut groves, fringed by the paddy fields exuding hues of emerald in all its charm and beauty, a scene that you witness from the lap of the backwaters.

7 Important Rock Climbing Terms

Rock climbing is a sport that’s enjoyed by many people, and there are a number of things for beginners and experts to know about this activity. Rock climbing terms are used to refer to particular equipment and techniques and knowledge is essential for communication. You will find here the most important climbing terms for equipment and techniques.

An abseil or rappel is the process by which climber descends down a variety of ropes.

Belaying is a method of protecting climbers by passing ropes around or through an anchor point. This can be controlled by a person or the stationary object that serves as an anchor point. There are several requests that a climber can make to the person in charge of the belay point, and they’re also essential rock climbing terms. Belay on is used to warn that a climber is using the rope. Belay off can also be used to confirm the climb is over, and the safety device is no longer needed.

Bouldering occurs when climbers practice their skills on large rocks or boulders. This type of climbing usually only requires pads for protection, and in this case belaying is not applicable.

A chimney is two rock faces that are close together, and appeals to climbers who are interested in making a chimney climb. The two surfaces provide an ideal way for a climber to ascend using the opposing faces for support and holds.

Crampons are devices that are used to climb on ice, and they serve as spikes that are used to provide toe holds during a climb.

Free climbing is when a climber attempts their climb with no safety equipment. This can often be dangerous, but many climbers prefer to ascend rocks with no ropes in their way.

A sharp end of a rope is the edge that’s being used by the lead climber. This term can also be used to signify the lead climber of a group.

There are also several rope techniques, and they’re named after the number of ropes that are used during the climb. A single rope technique relies on a safety rope that is attached to a single anchor point. A double rope technique involved two ropes that are affixed to a common belay point.

Barcode Technology and the Food Industry

Just a few short years ago, in 2009, 9 people were reported dead while another 22,000 became ill after consuming tainted peanut paste from the Peanut Corporation of America. New York Times called this event one of the most tragic outbreaks of food-born illness. In 2010, news of a single death and 76 illnesses broke out linking to salmonella infested ground turkey.

The biggest disappointment that comes out of these stories is that even after 50% of companies in the food industry are still failing to meet FDA standards to maintain records about food sources. In fact, the US has been ranked as the top five nations with the worst food safety by Changes.org in 2010. Whenever there is an outbreak, these records never fail to identify the cause and source of food tainting.

As a result of these incidences, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) now allows the FDA to issue food recalls while also increasing the number of inspections performed. The FSMA is focusing on not only improving food safety but also targeting financial ramifications that are caused by poor traceability when it comes to foods. The importance of traceability will allow the FDA to pinpoint recalls to specific batch numbers, which will in turn reduce the severity of these outbreaks as well as minimize the impact they have on the population.

Gaining consumer trust in food safety can only be reprimanded with effective food traceability solutions. Bad peanuts and salmonella-tainted turkey always prompt consumers to seek more information about where the food comes from, and as a result, stores are stepping up to answer these questions by using QR code technology to make it easy for consumers to trace back the exact location of tainted products.

Producers are not liable to create and retrieve food source information, which is easily done using bar code technology. Using bar code labeling for produce and food retailers allows the products to be traced back to the fields where the items were first picked. This way, retailers, consumers and suppliers have specific details on the origin of their products.