How to Know a PTC/Paid Scam Site

Most PTC sites / online survey sites are fraud. How to find out whether these schemes are worth what they say?

These days we find a lot of people turn to the Internet to make some extra money in their spare time by going into paid sites that offer various schemes like PTC ( paid to click ) and online surveys besides other “get rich quick” schemes. Not many sites are honest in their payment policies or promises and are there only to serve their own purpose. In fact, generally, most PTC sites are fraud and many people waste a lot of time and money on such sites to realize later that they had been taken for a ride.

How to find out whether these schemes are worth what they say?

A very quick guide to it is an analysis of the following :-

1. High Pay Out Rates : if they are very high one should be suspicious. No PTC site can afford to pay more than a few cents per click. Anyone who offers more than that should not be believed. Some of the sites promise ridiculous amount like $1, $10, €100, $50 etc. these sites are hundred percent hoax.
2. The Advertisement Rates Are Very Low : most of the spam sites have very low advertisement rates and at the same time very high payouts. This makes them non-sustainable and hence one should not join them.
3. No User Forum : if the site has no user forum, it has no openness policy and does not encourage discussion between the users. One should not join them.
4. Details Of Owner Of The Site : in case the details are not given, one should never join such sites. It is almost hundred per cent a hoax.
5. Low Rates For Premium Membership : this is a very well-known ploy to siphon out your hard earned money. Most users do not mind paying a very small amount of a few dollars to become premium members but end up losing even that much.
6. Check Out Every Site Before Joining : Type “Is+(sitename)+scam+?” in google search and you’ll come across lot of results. Checkout the same but don’t get carried away by few good testimonials. Some of them are hoax. Carry out a proper analyses before joining.

Lastly, remember there is no quick and easy way to success. One has to work hard even on PTC and survey sites. Be prepared for spending a few hours daily in case you really want to make some money by these methods.

Jumpstart Your Sex Life – Re-Ignite Your Flagging Sexual Libido

Re-ignite Your Passions and Sex Drive

Flagging sexual libido has become a major sexual issue and a cause of distress for couples these days. Earlier, this problem was associated with advanced age but these days it is alarming to see that increasing number of younger generation are falling prey to it.

When couples fall in love, they cannot keep their hands off each other. But generally is such a honeymoon does not last too long as either or both the partners’ libido tends to go on a decline for one reason or the other.

This leads to a feeling of rejection and being unloved. If the problem is not controlled at initial stages, it spirals down to bigger problems often leading to breakups.

What are the reasons for lowering sexual libido?

It is unbelievable that a person we loved so much at one time suddenly stops being attractive or desirable. Therefore, one has to understand that there have to be certain reasons, which need addressing at the earliest.

There can be many reasons, but the most common ones are –

Relationships. If couples are in an abusive or unhappy relationship, it is unlikely that they will be like having sex.

Stress. Overwork and work-related related stress either at the office or at home is another big issue that comes between great sexual relationships.

Medicines. There are many medications that can affect sex drive – these can be antidepressants, tranquillizers, steroids, medicines for BP, etc.

Physical Illness. When we are physically ill, the last thing on our mind is sex. Chronic illness results in worry, depression, anxiety, and finally a total disinterest in sex.

Diversions. Being in love with someone else, despite being in relationship with the other can lead to a disinterest in sex.

Remedial Measures.

Loss of libido is not an illness; it can be easily overcome provided one is sincere towards trying to working out a relationship. The trick is to identify and address the root cause of the problem – not the symptoms. Whatever happens, one should never try to give the blame to the partner for this is a problem that needs to work out together. Some of the methods to kick-start your sex lives are:-

Dialogue. It is surprising that the simplest and easiest of the solutions is also generally the most neglected one. Instead of talking to the partner, we talk to everyone else, which does not help in any case.

It is amazing how to people who spend so much time together have no idea what the other one is thinking. Therefore, a meaningful dialogue to discuss all the expectations and issues is the best solution to overcome such a situation.

Physical Fitness. As brought out earlier, if we are ill it takes a toll on sex life. One has to physically fit and strong and should therefore do regular exercise and lead healthy life.

Relaxation. Overwork is also one of the killers of good relationship. It is imperative that a person is relaxed in order to be romantic.

Spending Time Together. One always spends more time together in a relationship that is new, but tends to forget this basic fact and takes each other for granted as the days go. However, one should be very conscious of it and should try to find ways and means to spend time together. A Short weekend outing is a very good way of overcoming whatever tensions have happened over the week!

A Healthy and Nourishing Diet. Good diet has an important role to play for a good sexual relationship. Certain food items are known to give a boost to libido. These are chocolates, avocados, mangoes, peaches, strawberries, pineapples etc.

In addition, items like flex seeds that contain essential fatty acids, zinc rich foods like oysters, red meat, sesame seeds, and yoghurt are good for and increased sexual libido.

Counseling. At times, relationships are spoiled to such an extent that the meaningful dialogue is impossible between the couple, in such cases. One should never hesitate in going together for a professional counseling.

Ladakh - Little Tibet

Ladakh is the most remote region of India. Often celebrated as a last outpost of Tibetan civilization, it is north of the Himalaya, on what is known geographically as the Tibetan Plateau. It is often described in travel literature as a mysterious, inaccessible frontier--a "Little Tibet."

Since 1974 it has been open to outside visitors. It does bear a close cultural as well as geographical resemblance to old Tibet--a Tibet which, though still alive in the hearts of countless Tibetans both inside and outside their country, has physically ceased to exist since the Chinese occupation. Along with Sikkim and Bhutan, and remote parts of Nepal, Ladakh is one of the last places where Tibetan Buddhism* continues to be practiced--uninterrupted for over 1000 years (Janet Rizvi, Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia, 2).
* (All four Tibetan Buddhist lineages - Ngingmapa, Kugandpa, Saskaypa, and Gelugpa - are still practiced in Ladakh.)

An autonomous region of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture which was established as early as the 2nd century. This has aptly been given the appellation "Little Tibet", as it has strongly been influenced by the culture of Tibet.

Situated in the lap of the great Himalayas at an altitude ranging from 9,000 ft (2,750 m) at Kargil to 25,170 ft (7,672 m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram, Ladakh is bordered by Pakistan in the northwest, Chinese province of Sinking in the north and Tibet in the east. Leh is its capital city that lies at an altitude of 3,500 meters and is famous for its fascinating culture and Buddhist monasteries.

Topographical Highlights

Ladakh means "land of high passes". It is a region in the state of Jammu and Kashmir of Northern India sandwiched between the Karakoram mountain range to the north and the Himalayas to the south.is India’s highest plateau (much of it being over 3,000 m), spanning the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges and the upper Indus River valley.

It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in India. Historically, Ladakh consists of a number of distinct areas, including the fairly populous main Indus valley, the more remote Zanskar (in the south) and Nubra valleys (to the north over Khardung La ), the almost deserted Aksai Chin (under Chinese rule) and Kargil and Suru Valley areas in the west (Kargil being the second most important town in Ladakh). Before partition, Baltistan (now under Pakistani rule) was one of the districts of Ladakh. Skardu was the winter capital of Ladakh while Leh was the summer capital.

The mountain ranges in this region were formed over a period of 45 million years by the folding of the Indian plate into the stationary landmass of Asia. The drift continues and causing frequent earthquakes in the Himalayan region.. The peaks in the Ladakh range are at a medium altitude close to the Zoji-la (5,000-5,500 metres, 16,000 - 18,050 ft), and increase towards south-east, reaching a climax in the twin summits of Nun-Kun (7000 m, 23,000 ft).

FLORA and FAUNA

There are hardly any trees and vegetation in sight in much of Ladakh, except for the few narrow valleys, where wild roses, willow groves and some herbs could be seen. However, above that, due to the rapid decrease in temperature, vegetation becomes stunted and sparse. The fauna of Ladakh have much in common with that of Central Asia generally, and especially those of the Tibetan Plateau. An exception to this are the birds, many of which migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend the summer in Ladakh. For such an arid area, Ladakh has a great diversity of birds — a total of 225 species have been recorded.

Climate

The aridity of Ladakh is due to its location in the rain shadow area of the Great Himalayas, as well as because of its elevation and the radiation of heat from the bare soil. The most striking physical feature of Ladakh, however, is the parallelism of its mountain ranges. In Ladakh, large rivers and their tributaries have carved deep gorges far below their steep banks. However, their water is not of much use, as the terraced fields lie high above the gorges. The region is extremely dry, with rainfall as low as 10 cm each year. The Suru valley receives comparatively higher degree of humidity in the form of heavy winter snowfall due to the cohesion of the snow-covered wall of the Greater Himalayas, and vegetation here is more luxuriant than in Eastern Ladakh. The upper Suru Valley, in particular, has extensive alpine pastures, which attract large flocks of the Bakarwal herdsmen from the Jammu hills every summer.

Places to visit

Ladakh is a beautiful blend of nature, culture and adventure. It is a paradise for nature lovers, culture travelers and adventure seekers. It has enchanting beautiful snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, spectacular waterfalls, and thrilling trekking routes.

It has a number of famous palaces, monasteries and gompas which include the 17th century Leh Palace, Stok Palace, Thiksey Monastery, Likir Monastery, Hemis Gompa, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa and Shanti Stupa.

Ladakh is known for its untouched natural beauty, fascinating colorful culture, amazing Buddhist monasteries and thrilling trekking and hiking trails.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Ladakh is during the summer months (June-August), as winter temperatures may plummet to minus 20 degree Celsius even in Leh. The main trekking season in Ladakh is from the beginning of June to the end of September. During these months the days become hot in low valleys, warm in higher elevations and the nights are cool. From late September to late October the days stay pleasantly warm but get shorter and nights become progressively colder.

How to Reach

The most convenient way to reach Leh Ladakh is through a flight. Flying over the dramatic expanse of the Himalayas with breathtaking mountain views promises to be a truly unforgettable experience.

Before the use of aircrafts, Ladakh could only be reached by road. The main land approach to Ladakh is the 434 km Srinagar-Leh highway, with Kargil en route. For the most part, this road follows the historic trade route, thus giving travellers a glimpse of villages that are historically and culturally important. The most dramatic part of the road journey to Kargil is the ascent up the Zoji La pass (14,000 ft) in the Great Himalayan Range that serves as the gateway to Ladakh. More recently, the Manali-Leh road, crossing several high passes including Tanglang La (18,200 ft), has started serving as a second artery of commuting between Ladakh and the rest of India. To the north lie the Saser La and Karakoram passes, gateways to Central Asia from where trading caravans used to come for many centuries.

Tourism & Adventure

Thanks to the growing mystique of the Himalayas and a burgeoning interest in adventure tourism worldwide, there has been a steady increase in the number of tourists to the Western flank of Ladakh, which comprises several river valleys.

Chief among these are the spectacular valleys of Suru and Zanskar, nestling along the foothills of the main range of the Greater Himalayas; the smaller lateral valleys of Dras and Wakha-Mulbek, as also of Chiktan (still in the restricted zone) constitute important subsidaries. Drained and formed by the southeastern tributaries of the high Indus, these valleys constitute the district of Kargil.

Itinerary

The itinerary of the average tourist to Ladakh begins with a tour of Leh, the ancient capital and principal township of Ladakh. It invariably includes visits to a selection of monasteries located along a stretch of the Central Indus Valley, between the spectacular monastery of Lamayuru in the west and the prestigious establishment of Hemis in the east. Some take to trekking along the lateral valleys, especially in Markha, but few venture out of the confines of the central Indus valley, which represents Ladakh's heartland.

Several outfits in India and abroad organize long treks and tours in the region. There are a select few companies specializing in organizing mountaineering expeditions to the Nun-Kun region and the Zanskar Mountains.

People

The inhabitants of Ladakh are distinct from other parts of India. The faces and physique of Ladakhis, and the clothes they wear are more akin to those of Tibet and central Asia. In eastern and central Ladakh, today’s population seems to be mostly of Tibetan origin. Further west, in and around Kargil, there is much in the people’s appearance that suggests a mixed origin. The Ladakhi people are a hospitable, smiling, hardy lot, friendly and open.

Buddhism reached Tibet from India via Ladakh, and there are ancient Buddhist rock engravings all over the region, even in areas like Drass and the lower Suru Valley which today are inhabited by an exclusively Muslim population.

Islam came from the west. A peaceful penetration, its success was guaranteed by the early conversion of the sub-rulers of Dras, Kargil and the Suru Valley.

These valleys sustain an exclusively agrarian population of about 80,000 people who cultivate the land available along the course of the drainage system, wherever sources for artificial irrigation are available. The majority of the population is Muslim. Descendants of missionaries of Kashmir who introduced Islam, locally called Aghas, still hold sway over the population, perpetuating the faith even as ancient folk traditions with Buddhist and animistic undertones are palpably present. Many folk traditions, particularly those connected with the agricultural cycle, are still followed with subdued reverence.

Villages in Ladakh

In such an inhospitable climate and desert land, a village must centre around a stream. The streams here come from the glaciers of the higher reaches and form parts of rivers most of which eventually flow into the Indus. Wherever a stream roams through a broadening valley, it is possible to lay a series of terraced fields, which can be irrigated in turn by directing the water supply into small artificial water courses.

Tourist Information

The main centres of tourist information in Ladakh are the J&K Tourist Offices at Leh & Kargil; the Kargil office also has a branch at padum (Zanskar). These offices help tourists prepare detailed itineraries to suite different pockets, preferences and time-frames. Tourists going on climbing expeditions, hard trekking, white water rafting etc. are advised to keep the nearest Tourist Office informed of their travel plan and routes:-

Leh
Dy. Director Tourism, Leh-(Ladakh) 194101
Tel: 01982-252297, 252095

Kargil
Tourist Officer, Kargil (Ladakh) 194103
Tel: 01985-232721, 232266 Fax: 01985-232266

or Contact the J&K Tourist Offices at :-

New Delhi
Room No 14/15 Front Wing,
Hotel Janpath,
New Delhi-110001
E-mail: delhi@jktourism.org.

Mumbai
25, North Wing, World Trade Centre,
Cuffee Parade, Colaba, Tel: 22189040.
Fax: 22186172.

Kolkata
12, Chowringhee,
Tel: 22285791. Fax: 22281950.

Chennai
II Floor, 36/36-A
North usman Road,
Tel/Fax: 044-28235958

Basics - How to Monetize Your Website

Monetize your website means making it earn money by visits of the internet community. One can earn a lot of money by smart and intelligent placing of the advertisements based on proper analysis; by discretely integrating advertisements with the content of the website,

Types of Advertisements:

These are of three types’ viz. Pay-per-impression (CPM), pay-per-click (CPC), and pay-per-action (CPA, CPL, CPS).

Pay-Per-Impression. You are paid with a certain amount of money for every 1000 times an advertisement is displayed to your site visitors. This way to monetize your website however means that payout is not too much and is based on the number of visits your site receives per month. Therefore, it is also known as CPM (Cost per 1000).

Pay-Per-Click Here you can monetize your website better since the payment is based on every time someone clicks on an advert on your site. The payout here is higher than pay-per-impression, but one cannot be sure how many visitors will actually click on the adverts, depends mostly on the niche of the website, and on how relevant are the ads placed on the page content. This is also known as CPC (Cost per click)

Pay-Per-Action. If you wish to monetize your website this way, you only get paid if the visitor you refer goes on to perform some pre-defined action, such as placing an order on the target site. It has the highest payout; this needs a very high level of website traffic. It is also known as CPA (Cost per action), which can further be divided into CPL (Cost per lead) and CPS (Cost per sale).

Out of the above, probably pay-per-click is probably the easiest way to monetize your website and start earning money quickly.

Advertisements used to monetize your website are best placed by incorporating html codes generated after joining some of the popular sites like Google Adwords or by hiring services of other similar providers on the internet or various affiliate programs like Amazon, clickbank, etc.

After reading this you might want to explore some of the PTC sites and monetize your website during some spare time on the internet. However, do be careful when you venture out on your own , MOST PTC SITES are scams and you might end up doing a lot of work without getting paid. Do some researches before joining them.

Traffic Exchange Programs

There are a number of traffic exchange programs on the Internet, each one claiming to have some unique feature by which tries to attract more and more people to sign up.

What exactly are Traffic exchange programs?

Essentially, it is a service by which you register your web site and surf the intranet using that site where they display advertisements in rotation, each one for a fixed short duration. In return, they display your web site to the other members when they surf in similar fashion. Therefore, you receive hits to your sites in return for visiting other members' sites. The number of times your site is shown to others is based on the “credits” that you earn when you view others sites. Traffic exchange programs are normally based on certain ratios that vary from one exchange provider to another and also on the type of membership for which you register. Generally, the ratio is 3:1 or 2:1 for free members and 1:1 for paid members. Credits can also be purchased in case you can pay and do not have time to surf.

Traffic exchange programs can be of two types – Automated and Manual.

In Automated Traffic exchange programs, web sites/advertisements of various members are displayed in rotation after a certain period of time based on a timer function. In manual Traffic exchange programs, the next web site/advertisement is displayed only after the user hits on the “next” button which gets activated based on timer (typically six to 30 seconds). Normally advertisers prefer manual exchanges because in automatic programs there is no guarantee that the advertisements are being viewed since viewers can leave them running in the background while they do some other work.

Some of the Traffic exchange programs also offer small amounts of payments for viewing their sights in addition to the “credits” earned.

Hence, as it would be clear by now these being the fundamentals, the differences in various Traffic exchange programs are basically related to surf timers, credit ratios, Cash offered in addition to credits, bonus credits and incentives, reference commissions, upgrading membership offers, etc. One had to make a choice, based on what each individual’s requirement is.

Therefore, the first choice for Traffic exchange programs is whether to pay and buy credits to showcase your web site/advertisement or to surf and earn these credits. In case one chooses the second option that is to surf and earn credits ( and cash ) again one has to consider whether it would be a special surfing session of a few hours that he/she would like to do or prefer surfing “on the side” while carrying out other work on the Internet.

Five Best Traffic Exchange Sites

( NOTE : Please read Traffic Exchange Fundamentals in case you are new to the concept, before subscribing to any of the programs given below )

I have short listed a few traffic Exchange sites which can be explored in the order of priority as given below ( Note : these are my personal choices and users may make their own decision after experimenting with these or others )

While one can read most of the features in detail on the FAQ section of the site, I will give very brief plus and minus points.

http://www.easyhits4u.com

This is my personal best traffic exchange site. If one had to try just one site, I would recommend this one. It has the following features -

• A great user interface – probably the best.
• offers the best rates for free members.
• Free members can get 2:1 ratio for earning credits on a 15 second timer and 1:1 ratio for 20 second timer which I think is the best I have come across on any site
• It offers cash incentive for surfing too; $0.30 for every 1000 sites which is the best that I have come across.
• Free facility to create Splash pages to personalize advertisement.
• Added incentives like $0.10 for every person you refer who surfs at least 100 sites.
• Credits can be used to display own traffic exchange sites as also to convert them to text ads or banner ads. Each credit converts to a number of text banner ads.

http://ad-ventures4u.com

I have put this traffic exchange site on the second place because of its great user interface and also the fact that this is, strictly speaking, a very nice site to earn money. It does a great job of traffic exchange but the main advantage is the “ventures” which one purchases in order to make a steady income. While the details are on its web site, some of the outstanding features of this traffic exchange site are –

• Surfing 25 sites per day is an essential activity which one has two to even after becoming Pro member. Therefore, interests of free members are also kept in mind. Free members earn credits by surfing sites with 10-second timer.
• It has the most user-friendly timer and the fastest traffic exchange site. You can earn more credits in less time.
• For earning, the smallest venture package is $10, which will buy 10 ventures. Earning is very high and if one wants to experiment, I suggest this is the amount one should start with although there are options for more amounts.
• However, for free members the biggest advantage is a very high Traffic exchange because of higher number of credits in short time and also very good monitoring of hits on your site.
• Free members earn 15% referral commissions traffic exchange when they refer someone to ad-ventures that purchases ventures in the company. They will also receive 15% commissions on the weekly earnings of their downline. This again is one of the best offers.

http://www.hitsboosterpro.com

HitsBoosterPro is a free manual traffic exchange, where you receive hits to your sites in return for visiting other members' sites.

• You need to spend at least 6 seconds on each site to receive credits, and every 10 credits you earn are worth one visitor to your site. This effectively means you get one credit for one minute of surfing, which is very less compared, to the other sites as given above. In addition, a click every six seconds ensures that you got to be on the job without diversion. However, in this traffic exchange site can be used to advantage as explained in the last paragraph.
• A big advantage is that you receive 1000 free credits just for signing up
• You need to surf 25 sites to fully activate your account.
• You can also earn extra credits by referring other members.
• Lot of bonus offers while surfing offsets the disadvantage mentioned above.
• When you first join, you will be given a free new member platinum upgrade, which will last 7 days. After that, your account will revert to free status.

http://www.high-hits.com

• As a free member of this traffic exchange site, if you surf 10 sites you will receive 4 hits to your site.
• High Hits uses dynamic surf ratios so as you surf more sites the ratio of hits you receive will increase. The more sites you view the more credits you get.
• There is no money for surfing but Members earn commission when their direct referrals upgrade or purchase credit packages. The amount starts at 10% for free members increasing to 50% for 'High Pro' accounts.

http://www.realhitz4u.com

• This is primarily a traffic exchange site although they do reward you with small cash commissions. Whenever someone that you have referred to RealHitz4u makes a credit purchase or upgrades you will receive a percentage of their purchase.
• Free members earn a base 3:1 visitor ratio i.e. if you view 100 member websites, you will receive 33 page views to your own website.
• However, RealHitz4u rewards active surfers. Be sure to look for your bonus credits where you can win extra hits while surfing.
• If you have a Pro membership of this traffic exchange site, you will earn a 1:1 visitor ratio. If you view 100 sites then you will receive 100 page views to your website.
• RealHitz4u Dynamic surfing or dynamic surf ration simply means the more you surf the more you earn. Your surf ratio will increase with the amount of pages you surf per day. For instance if you surf 200 pages every day you will earn more per page surfed than if you just surfed 200 pages once or twice a week.

Rifle Ammo Information

Ammo is short form of the word Ammunition which in turn is derived from the French word munition. The type of ammunition ranges from smaller caliber weapons like the hand held weapons in the genre of revolvers, pistols and certain rifles to medium caliber automatic and semi automatic rifles and shotguns or the larger caliber artillery guns and special arms.

Munitions on the other hand is a collective term for ammunition and in a broad term it covers all type of materials used in combat and includes bombs, warheads, missiles, mines etc. Ammo or Ammunition also includes those based on the support roles like the pyrotechnic or incendiary types of munitions.

Components of Ammunition

The main components of ammunition are:

• Explosive materials and propellants

• Projectiles of all kinds

• Cartridges

A cartridge is the basic unit of ammo as far as its use in the rifles is concerned and is a combination of the bullet, primer and propellant. On the other hand we also use the term “round", which is synonymous with a cartridge containing a projectile, primer, propellant, and casing.

Design of the Rifle Ammunition

Ammo design is based on the type of role or purpose for which it is used. We get various types of Rifle ammunition which could anti-personnel ammunition, Incendiary projectiles, Tracer ammunition, etc. Generally speaking, the ammo one commonly buys is the one most hobbyists use for game hunting as well as self protection.

Caliber of Rifle Ammo

The caliber of Rifle ammo one selects ranges from the type of usage and the need for accuracy. In guns including firearms, caliber or caliber is the approximate diameter of the barrel and by extension the projectile used in it, measured in inches or millimeters.

For a better performance it is important that a bullet closely matches the groove diameter of a barrel to ensure a good seal.

Some Key Rifle Cartridges

If one were to list out some of the most widely used and best cartridges it would read something like this:

• .22 Long Rifle – It is the most popular smallest caliber cartridge used all over the world for gaming as well as target shooting.

• .223 Remington – The most popular CXP1 class game cartridge for high performance and economy along with the .17 HMR or .22 Hornet.

• .243 Winchester –It is excellent, low recoil, long range cartridge for the smaller species of antlered game

• .260 Remington and the 6.5x55 – Both have identical ballistic properties, have low recoil and used as big game mountain rifles.

• .270 Winchester – It is standard of comparison among long range big game cartridges and one of the great all-around hunting cartridges.

• 7mm Remington Magnum – This is the most popular of the entire world's magnum rifle cartridges.

• Winchester Model 94 and the Marlin 336 - long range cartridge both fast handling lever actions deemed nearly perfect for woods and brush country hunting.

• .30-06 Springfield - This is perhaps the most versatile single hunting cartridge of the last Century.

• .308 Winchester It is one of the most successful and widely used military and big game cartridges in the world.

• .338 Winchester Magnum This is without question the most popular and perhaps the most versatile of the flat shooting and hard hitting varieties.

• Above the .338 Caliber are.375 H&H Magnum, the .458 Winchester Magnum elephant cartridges and the .416 Rigby.

• .45-70 bore is ideal for woods or brush country hunting of heavy game and the big predators.

Before one goes in for acquiring a rifle it would be better to ponder upon the role and purpose that one would like to use it for and buy the Rifle and Ammo accordingly.

References :

1. Wikepedia on firearms’ dimension. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliber )

2. List of sizes by caliber: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cartridges_by_caliber )

3. Information on cartridges http://www.chuckhawks.com/12_rifle_cartridges.htm )

The benefits of Ground Radio Communication

Ground radio communication forms one of the most cost effective and reliable solutions for secure long range communication. This communication saves lot of resources when compared to telephone or mobile communication. The wireless ground radio communication equipment comes is extensively used by the military as well by other government agencies in emergency situations.

The Ground Radio Communication equipment essentially consists of a transmitter and a receiver. When one module is capable of doing both the functions, it is called transceiver. Besides this it needs a power source as well as good quality compatible antennae to enable radio waves to be transmitted and received.

Different radio products are available as per the usage. They come in the form of manpacks, telephone internet connects, transceivers, crosspatch, modems, and antennas that are used for long range ground communication.

Various Frequency Ranges Used In Ground Radio Communication.

Ground Radio Communication uses different bands of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. These are primarily three types:

• HF or the High Frequency – This has a range of 3 to 30 MHz

• VHF or very high frequency – with a range between 30 MHz to 300 MHz and

• Ultra High Frequency with ranges 300 MHz to 3000MHz (3 GHz)
  

HF Radio Waves

Traditionally, the radio sets using HF range of frequencies are preferred because of their superior range that uses the ionosphere and can often reach vast distances across the continents often 3000 km and more. The standard commercial AM (amplitude modulated) radio uses this which is why we get transmissions from all over the world. It has inherent weakness of sound quality not being very good but with modern transceivers this has been overcome to a large extent. The Equipment is robust and comparatively cheaper.

VHF Radio Waves

VHF radio waves are "Frequency Modulated" and lie in what is called the “FM band”. This range can carry huge amount of information, hence they are also used in television broadcasts. However, FM signals are “line of sight” in nature hence having a limited use over larger distances. The quality of receptions also deteriorates in areas that have

hills and high rise buildings.

UHF Radio Waves

UHF radio waves are also called microwave frequencies. They are used for many modern gadgets like mobile phones, televisions, wireless networking, satellite radio and GPS.

UHF radio waves are capable of carrying a data rate higher than VHF thus contain more information. UHF signals can also penetrate obstacles such as buildings and clouds; UHF radio waves can therefore propagate longer distances often upto 100 miles without distortion. They also have lesser power requirements for transmission.

Advantages of HF Type Ground Radio Communications

• Cost Effectiveness - Communication made using long range HF radio sets is the cheapest as it needs lesser infrastructure

• Range: They have a range of over 3000 km.

• Infrastructure: The ground radio communication using HF frequencies requires lesser infrastructures than any other mode of communication including the satellite communication.

• Security: Ground Radio Communication using HF is more secure than other methods, which is why the army uses it. Also, various types of encryption can be done easily to data transmitting end.

• Maintenance Cost: Ground radio devices require low infrastructure, hence their maintenance cost is marginal when compared to satellite communication system.

The type of radio sets to be used depends upon the range that it is required to cover, as well as the quality of sound and the need for security of data. With modern advances in Ground Radio Communication systems it is possible to have very light, mobile units of transceivers using smaller, more compatible Antennas and are a very effective and secure means of communications.

Importance of EIA

Environmental protection and resource management has conventionally been given importance all over the world which has increased in recent time. The ancient practices taught people to live in perfect harmony with nature. However, industrialization, urbanization and changing life styles over the years have affected environment drastically in causing pollution and environment degradation.

What is EIA

The pollution in air, water and land has lead to ecological imbalance and potential health hazards. As a result, regulations in the form of laws and policies on environmental protection were introduced. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one such effort.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the official appraisal process to identify, predict, evaluate and justify the ecological, social, and related biophysical effects of a proposed policy, program or project on the environment. It provides insight on alternatives and measures to be adopted before any commitment, thus helps in important decision-making. The overall objective of the EIA is to design developmental projects and activities taking into consideration the environmental perspective.

Functions of EIA

The EIA provides the following benefits:

• an opportunity for public participation,

• increased protection of human health,

• the sustainable use of natural resources,

• reduced project costs and delays,

• minimized risks of environmental disasters,

• and increased government responsibility.

EIA particularly aims to optimize a trade-off between developmental activities and socio-ecological losses. It is a management tool linked closely to the project providing appropriate environmental information within the stipulated time.

Legislation

Many countries now have mandatory legislation or policies for environmental impact assessments. In India Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was formally introduced in 1994. Both central and state authorities together share the responsibility of its development and management. An post project evaluation analysis report drawn on Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) highlights several constraints, such as improper screening and scope, ineffective monitoring and provides necessary guidelines. The legislation provides realization of opportunity for increasing public awareness, initiatives of environmental groups and business community and to integrate environmental consideration into plans and policies. Some of the unforeseen threats to the system are poor governance, rapid economic reforms and favors to small-scale units.

EIA process involves three basic steps:

(a) Preparation of the report: It involves screening, scoping and documentation.

Screening

Screening determines whether EIA is required or not, any project in ecologically fragile areas and falling under coastal zone regulation, requires an EIA.

Scoping

Scoping identifies the concerns and issues to be addressed for a particular project. It involves the following steps:

1. Baseline analysis: A comparison of project-induced environmental changes with the expected environmental changes without proposed project is assessed through baseline analysis.

2. Impact prediction: The prediction analysis forecasts the nature and significance of the expected impacts.

3. Impact mitigation measures: Environmental Management Plan (EMP), risk assessment report and disaster management plan (if hazardous substances are involved in the project), rehabilitation plan (if displacement of people is anticipated) are prepared to suggest remedial measures.

Documentation

(a) A comprehensive report is prepared which summarizes the description of the project, regional settings, baseline conditions, impact prediction and important findings of the study.

(b) Review and decision-making-The Impact Assessment (IA) division reviews the application accompanied by the documents of EIA and EMP report, No objection certificate (NOC), risk assessment and emergency preparedness plan, rehabilitation plan, details of public hearing, clearance from airport authority and state forest departments, etc. The IA is free to conduct site visits if considers necessary. Based on the EIA review and other information, the IA either grants or rejects the environment clearance to the project.

(c) Post Project Monitoring (PPM) -The PPM ensures the implementation in accordance with the measures specified while providing the environmental clearance (EC). Thus, it performs a dual task of identifying the actual environmental impacts of the project and implementation of the desired mitigation measures of the EMP.

Conclusion

To address the critical issues political commitment and public participation is indispensable. Improved effectiveness will also depend on strength of government agency coordination, integrated decision-making, adequate training to various stakeholders and supporting infrastructure for purposeful monitoring and enforcement. The methods of conducting environmental impact assessments are regularly revised for progressive refinement that not only help remove existing constraints but also take care of future challenges.

THE BENEFITS OF A POLLEN CULTURE

With growing demands of an ever increasing population of the world, there is a need to increase the type and quality of food production by understanding the techniques and principles of breeding of plants to attain better yields.
One conventional method of doing so is by resorting to sexual hybridization. This essentially involves transporting pollen from one plant to another in order to obtain hybrids, which are generally of a better quality. Hybridization is done keeping the characteristics of the parent plants as well as the desired product in mind.

What is Pollen?

If you observe the structure of a flower, it contains of the Sepals, the Petals, the Stamen and the Pistols. A flower is the prime carrier of reproductory organs of a plant and these are the Pistols and the Stamen which carry male and female parts of a plant. Pollen is the fine or coarse powder that contains microgametophytes of the seed plants that produce male gametes (sperm cells).

Action of Pollen

Pollen grains bear a hard coat which protects the sperm cells during process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants.
After the pollen reaches a compatible pistil of the similar flowering plant, it germinates, that is - it transfers the sperm to the receptive ovary through a pollen tube.

Pollination

(a) Self Pollination - In case the anthers of a plant are taller than its stigma, it leads to the plant being able to pollinate itself by allowing its own pollen to drift towards and into its own stigma, which is essentially a tube protecting the ovum, i.e. the female DNA part of the plant. After the pollen reaches its ovum, it fertilizes and forms the fruit or a nut.

(b) Cross pollination – This happens when the pollen gets carried to another flower or plant by the action of wind, birds, insects, or animals carry pollen from one flower to another. Wind-borne pollen also causes conditions like hay fever and allergies amongst some of us...

What is Pollen Culture?

The action of wind or other carriers like bees, animals, insects, etc is not specific and cannot be controlled. In order to get the fertilization to take place between the best varieties of trees and produce best quality hybrid seeds, it is essential to have control on how the fertilization takes place.

For this purpose Pollen Culture is resorted to. In this, the isolated pollen grains are cultured in vitro, under controlled conditions and give rise to haploid embryos; such an approach is also called pollen culture.

Pollen may be isolated either by squeezing or float culturing the anthers.
In crops that are cross-pollinated: the parent that furnishes the pollen which pollinates the stigma of the other parent in the production of seed is called the pollinator.

Procedure of pollination culture

Initially isolated pollen grains are cultured in laboratories either by method of hanging drops or by using a filter paper positioned on the cultured anthers. Subsequently, these anthers continue to spill pollen and their serial subculture finally yields pollen samplings in diverse stages of andragenesis (haploid embryo/plantlet formation from pollen grains). The cross pollination is then carried out in vitriol, i.e. in the laboratory under controlled conditions and by carefully selecting the pollinators.

Advantages of Pollen Culture

Pollen culture has many advantages. Some of these are

Higher and better yields of hybrid variety of plants.
Robust, disease free plants
Higher Resilience of plants to diseases and pests
Better aesthetics and variety
Lesser dependence on Chemical based fertilizers and enzymes.
Economic and cost effective production
Better shelf life with natural resistance to various degrading vectors

The pollen culture reported from several species proves to be very as well as successful., Cross pollinated hybrids raised from pollen culture have proved to be very productive in case of many species of plants like tobacco, Datura, barley, wheat, petunia, potato, rice, rapeseed, maize, etc.

Glass Kettles in Modern Kitchens

The fascination with glass is growing rapidly in modern way of living as we find more and more people using it for purposes hitherto unthinkable. We find it being used extensively in almost all situations, like the construction industry, day to day items of use and the interior designing.

A modern kitchen finds items of glass being used increasingly in microwave ovens, crockery, cutlery and kitchenware. A glass kettle is one such item that seems to be fashionable these days with the newer generation.

Advantages of a Glass Kettle

• It helps see what is going on inside and thereby gives better results in making tea or coffee to perfection.

• It saves on energy needs as one can use see the contents and put it on simmer or off in time.

• It looks great and is dishwasher safe, easy to clean and maintain.

• Since the user can see the contents in a glass kettle, it prevents spilling over.

• The glass kettle is available in non electrical as well as electrical models, thereby giving the users to select one as per their choice.

• It looks great and goes well with any décor and any type of kitchen

• The water boils quicker in a glass kettle which is very easy to fill and has a heat proof attractive grip.

Therefore we see that except that it is breakable and needs a little careful handling, using a glass kettle has many advantages over the conventional types of ceramic, steel, wooden or any other type of kettles. Besides this it is also very hygienic to use them because of the ease of cleaning and being able to see that there is no harmful residue left over inside.

A SIX STEP FORMULA TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS

The pace of our lives has increased manifold during the past few decades. Due to this there has been a marked increase in the stress levels in our body, which shows up in the form of aggressive or negative behavior. This has also given way to numerous lifestyle ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes, sleeplessness etc.

It is thus important that we avoid building up of stress levels in the body. To do this it is important to follow the following –

1. Monitoring The Stress Levels – One should not neglect minor symptoms like excessive anger or sleeplessness, and should seek expert guidance at the earliest.

2. Exercise Regularly – A daily routine of physical exercise helps preventing stress from building up in the body.

3. Control Your Reactions - many a times, certain situations or behavior of some people may not be to your liking which may initiate stress in your body. It is important to recognize such situations before developing stress and avoid confrontation by staying away.

4. Involve Yourself – Having a hobby or interest is a great way of removing stress after a day’s hard work.

5. Indulge Yourself – Do not neglect your body. Go for an occasional massage therapy or a swim to make your feel good as well as remove stress from your body.

6. Live in Harmony With Nature – Taking a walk in the park, a short hike in the country side or a simple act of sitting by the riverside can help bust stress and make you feel light and healthy.

By following these simple steps, one would be able to overcome any stress related problems and lead a healthier happier life.

SOME PRACTICAL TIPS FOR CONTROLLING ANGER

Anger is as much a part of human behavior as happiness and sadness are. However, there is a difference. While other types of displays of emotion are not destructive, anger is a harmful phenomenon as it brings about the worst in us and creates a sense of negativity in the environment too.

Reasons for Anger

In order to control anger, one needs to understand the symptoms and reasons that lead to anger. Some of them are –

Ø External Reasons - Unforeseen or unpleasant situations that are beyond our control lead to anger. Also behavior of others like our colleagues, spouse, boss, children, friends etc may lead to anger.

Ø Internal reasons – Most of the time it is our inner conflicts that lead to anger. Not getting our way, frustrations of childhood, need to control others, etc are some such reasons which may lead to anger.

Effects of Anger

More often than not, anger leads to unpleasant effects in our relationships. It undermines our self esteem and self confidence and most importantly, affects our health. It is thus important to harness anger.

Ways to Control Anger

Anger management is very important since it plays up with our health as well as social standing. Therefore, one would do well to control it by some of the following methods.

Ø Recognize and avoid triggers that lead to anger.

Ø Be more forgiving and understanding.

Ø Acceptance of failures of self and others also leads to a more harmonious situation.

Ø Lifestyle changes like proper diet, proper sleep, good hygiene and good hobbies take the mind away from depressing and negative situations thus preventing conflicting situations.

Ø Keep a positive outlook to life, avoiding negative thoughts and negative feelings.

Ø Keeping calm and composed under all types situations

Ø Yoga and Meditation

Controlling anger builds bridges between people and leads to happy relationships based on mutual respect, understanding and love.

SETTING GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH TASKS

Everyone has some aim in life. The approach to achieving these aims however differs from person to person. Some go about life without achieving anything substantial while t others achieve what they want. The difference between the two types of people is the way they set out their goals.

Importance of Goal Setting

Goals are the markers that define the direction that you take. Goal setting is therefore the very important first step to success. While goal setting is a natural phenomenon with some, with the others, it needs to be deliberately chalked out.

Types of Goals

Goals can be short term or long term . While the overall focus should be on the achievement of long term goals, one may have short term goals within these long term goals.

Ingredients of Goal Setting

Ø Clear Vision – One must have a crystal clear view of what one wants to do. Therefore, there may be a need to sit down and make notes of what is important to you. Also seek advice where necessary.

Ø Outline A Course Of Action – Once the goal setting is done, it is important to list out what it takes to reach there. List out a road map or ‘stepping stones’.

Ø Make A Time Line – Having made a road map or stepping stones, assign a time frame to each. Make an assessment of your goal setting targets on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

Ø Stay Focused – You must stay focused on achievement of your goals. Do not get disappointed by small irritants and setbacks. Try to overcome them with a positive attitude and hard work.

Ø Think Beyond Goal Setting – One must have plans that go beyond the goals that have been set to seize a fleeting opportunity if it so arises.

Ø Visualize Success – It is very important to visualize yourself as succeeding in your endeavors. It helps you prepare for success and keeps you motivated.

SECRETS OF LIVING A HAPPY LIFE

Everyone wants to be happy in life but only a few can say with satisfaction that they are truly happy. Happiness cannot be defined since it is a very subjective feeling, nor can it be quantified in terms of riches or possessions. It is a well documented fact that some of the poorest nations have the happiest people.

So what is it that gives us Happiness and how to go about getting it?

There are many such things that we can do to have a feeling of happiness. Some of them are –

Be Satisfied With What You Have – It is well known that most people are not happy because they lack one or the other worldly procession. One must understand that it is simply not possible to have everything.

Try To Be Yourself – Be what you are, without trying to emulate someone or the other. Realize your own strengths and weaknesses and set yourself achievable targets.

Increase Your Potential And Expertise – The more talented you are the more you would be in demand which would give rise to self motivation and self esteem, which would give you happiness.

Follow Your Dreams – Most people are often not so happy because they give up their own desires and dreams to toe a line given by others. Following your own dreams is the biggest secret to happiness as it is something that you “want” to do.

Spirituality – To be content, it is important to have faith in the almighty. Hence, for many people, following the path of spirituality gives happiness.

Keeping Company With Happy People – Happiness is contagious. Hence, being in company of happy people brings happiness.

Good Health – Staying healthy naturally gives happiness. Hence it is important to exercise regularly and keep fit.

HOW TO STOP SMOKING

Almost all those who are addicted to smoking would have experienced the urge to stop it at some time or the other. Some of them, who actually stop it, cannot seem to do so for long and get back to it sooner or later. This is so because like any other addiction smoking is very difficult to forgo.

It is not difficult to leave it in the initial stages but soon the nicotine addiction becomes the body’s need, which makes it difficult to give up.

What Exactly Is Addiction?

Addiction is the craving that a person feels when a certain thing is not made available. The body gets used to its daily “fix” and reacts in case that substance is not given in a timely fashion. Those who want to quit smoking need to understand this phenomenon and be prepared to face the withdrawal symptoms of addiction of nicotine.

Some Practical Ways to Quit Smoking –

1. Make a Firm Resolve - that you will quit smoking, whatever happens. This is the most difficult first step to it because often people take it very lightly, which is the chief reason of getting back to smoking soon thereafter.

2. Involve Your Family And Friends – This is so because despite all your resolutions, the addiction to nicotine would tend to make you seek situations and reasons to ‘have just one puff’.

3. Keep Away From Other Smokers – If you really wish to overcome this addiction, you got to be away from not only those who smoke but also from smoking material of any type.

4. Carry Some “Addiction Substitute” - like chewing gum, toffees or simply some fruit like grapes or strawberries that you can have whenever you feel the urge to smoke

5. Reward Yourself – In case you do manage to keep off from the addiction, reward yourself for maintaining your resolve and moving on the way to better health.