We have never imagined that religion can play such an important role in our lives, until we went to Tibet. It was for us, another momentous big event.

The first sight of Tibet is bewildering. There remain very few places where you see so many local people are fully dressed in their traditional ethnic costumes. There were Tibetan women religiously holding the Buddhist wheel, traveling round the Jakhong Temple. Pious Buddhist used their four limbs to do their pilgrimage to Lhasa while we were traveling between the towns in Tibet. The Tibetans, even though they are only making ends meet, are generous when they make pledges to the temples. No matter how small it is, they offer whatever they can to every Buddhist statues they pass by. Shortly, and deeply moved by the pious act of the Tibetans, we followed suit when we visited the temples.

The Potala Palace is spectacular. There are rooms after rooms, and statues after statues. If you usually point at any items in the palace, it can be a thousand years old. It is indeed a treasure-house of treasures.

We went to the two of the Holy Lakes in Tibet: Lake Yamzho Yumco and Lake Namco They are peaceful, blue lakes under the clear blue sky, like a jewel on a beautiful landscape, with yaks all over the grassland. The excursion is a challenge to our adaptation to the high altitude climate. The highest point we climbed was 5190 meters at Namco Lake – an altitude we had never thought we could achieve.

While we were traveling from Lake Yamzho Yumco, we were driving below the Himalaya ridges. The massive mountain ranges of the Himalaya appears so close, and those snow-capped peaks towering 7,000 meters high in the sky feel so easy to get to, when you are already on an altitude of 3,600 meters or above. Although we did not have the courage to climb up the Himalayas, it was indeed a wonderful experience to get so close to the highest mountains on earth.

We popped into a tent occupied by a grandmother and her two grandsons. They were taking their flocks to graze and set up a temporary tent to rest. Life was simple – feeding the flock, picking herbs from the snow-capped mountains, making cheese out of yak milk – but happy.

Our itinerary covered Lhasa, Tsedong, Gynagtse and Shigatse, the major towns in Tibet. It was quite a bold one to complete in around 7 days. Wherever we went, we visited the historical local Buddhist Temples, many of them have a history of over 1,000 years.

We saw monks leading simple life in secluded temples, holding on to their beliefs and keeping their tradition and culture, as well as the numerous treasures in the temple in the modern 21st century.

The difficulties, with the vast landscape behind them, offer a sense of spirituality. The huge mountains are there to protect the shrines, and for thousands of years, the local Tibetans garnished them with their culture and heritage.

The Yombulagang Palace and the Samyae Monastery in Tsedong were most impressive. Yombulagang Palace was believed to be the first palace of the Tibetan King built in the 2nd century. Today, the palace looks very modest and tiny, but it is built on top of a small hill with magnificent views of the valley. This three-storeys structure must be a splendid structure some two thousand years ago.

The visit to Samyae Monastery was like a travel back to the medieval period. The Monastery was built in year 779, with a creative combination of Tibetan, Chinese and Indian style. You can imagine the monks in the early 8th century were already having a 'world view', knowledgeable and well-traveled, and open-minded to accept foreign cultures.

In recent years, Lhasa has developed very quickly. It used to be a sparsely populated town with only 2 to 3-storeys building, but today, there are international 5 star high-rise hotels being built. Although the city is on high altitude, it is apparent that the provincial government has developed a standard procedure to assist visitors to cure high altitude sickness. Two members of our group felt uncomfortable with the high altitude, but there are clinics at the 5 star hotels, or medical centers in small towns where doctors can come to your hotel to offer treatment. Our members were treated with a drip, and after a few hours of rest, they were up and ready to get on for the journey.

It is one of the most memorable journeys we have made – we just wanted to go back as soon as we can!

Netherlands is a beautiful country, which borders the North Sea, Belgium and Germany, with diverse culture showing reflections of Dutch and the foreign immigrants. The country, with plenty of tourist attractions is home to a range of historical paintings and replicas of Dutch buildings with rich Dutch architecture. The country is often referred as the home to some of the great philosophers and painters, which is famous works draws a bunch of tourists here.

Certain customs which are perfectly acceptable in one country may be totally proscribed in another. There are many different types of traditions that are very important to Dutch cultural heritage. Some ideas about the language etiquette, dressing manners, tipping and greeting behavior can make your travel and stay at Netherlands ever etched in memory. Dutch people are quite formal and etiquette is not a big issue but, here is a list of some do's and don'ts for a Netherland trip.

The Dutch society is egalitarian and modern. The people are modest, tolerant, independent, self-reliant, and entrepreneurial. They value education, hard work, ambition and ability. According to the Dutch culture people of the Netherlands are very direct or outspoken towards each other and strangers. They kindly consider this as a sign of honesty and trust. It is good to go with their flow. But when it comes to behavior in public places or crowds, loud or proactive behavior is not appreciated. Do shake hand up meeting someone. As per their culture, start a conversation only after introducing yourself. Kissing three times on alternate checks is a typical custom followed here while greeting or bidding farewell to a close friend. Dutch people give more importance to time and punctuality. Try to be on time in meetings and do not attempt to cancel or reschedule the meetings on last minute. They also place high value to cleanliness and neatness.

Tipping is not mandatory in Netherlands. Legally the service charge is included in the meal cost itself but if somebody shows the service is exceptionally good a 10% tip can be given in addition to the bill. They generally eat with fork in the left hand and knife in the right hand. Eating manners other than this is considered awkward here. Dressing style of Netherlands is similar to America. Business dress is fairly conservative, but it depends on the profession. Casual clothing is preferred for sightseeing. Shorts, however is acceptable only when jogging or hiking. Smoking is prohibited in many areas of Netherlands. Always ask before lighting up.

Basic awareness about the local laws and penalties are worth knowing while traveling to Netherlands. Under Dutch law everyone over the age of 14 is required to carry identification, such as a valid passport, driver's license, identity card or Dutch residency card, at all times. Organize a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travelers' checks, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Netherlands is a good destination for independent travel with good public transportation.

When planning your travel to Netherlands, be sure to review the travel guides, the best places to visit and the country etiquette for insights on how to travel well and travel safe.

Not many people have heard the name of Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, popularly called Hemu. But he is one man who did the Hindus proud and many writers refer to him as the Napoleon of India for his qualities of generalship. Though he was defeated in the end it does not detract from his ability as a great General. Napoleon was also defeated at Waterloo and exiled to St Helena, but that does not detract from the fact that he was one of the greatest generals in the Military history of the world.

Like Napoleon he was also a man with humble beginnings. His father was a purohit (priest) but his earnings were meager with the Mughals and other Muslim rulers throttling Hindu customs and ceremonies. Thus Hem Chandra who was born in 1501 took up another profession and joined the Court of Sher Shah Suri. His rise in the court was meteoric and like Napoleon he soon rose in power and prestige.

Sher Shah appointed him governor of the Punjab and Hem Chandra popularly called Hemu was a success there as well as he blunted the nose of the invaders from the West.

The Rise of Hemu

The death of Sher Shah Suri led to a further rise in the power of Hemu as the son of Sher Shah; Islam Shah began to rely more and more on Hemu. He was now made the commander of the Army and became the most powerful man in the court at Delhi.

Islam Shah died in 1553 and the new man who wore the crown at Delhi was Adil Shah. He was a drunkard and many Afghan nobles revolted against him, but all of them were defeated by Hemu. This was the first occasion that a Hindu general had defeated a Muslim force. After sometime Adil shah became insane and Hemu became the ruler in real terms. Many Afghans flocked to the banner of Hemu and recognized him as their ruler. This is a rare case when a large number of Muslims joined the Army of Hemu and accepted him as their leader. It must be understood that at that period the Afghans considered themselves as local Indians versus the Turks and Mughals from central Asia who were regarded as aliens.

Battle of Chapparghata

In December 1555 Hemu moved against the Muslim rulers of Bengal. At the famous battle of Chapparghata Hemu defeated the combined forces under Muhammad Shah. Hemu led the army brilliantly and Muhammad Shah was killed. This battle marked the flowering of Hemu as a general. It is reminiscent of the earlier battles of napoleon when he seized the crown in Paris. The famous historian HK Bhardwaj has thus rightly referred to Hemu as the Napoleon of India.

Now Hemu began a triumphant march to Delhi. In 22 battles on the trot Hemu routed the opposing forces of Nawab and the Mughals. He now began to be regarded as invincible. This campaign across the breadth of North India is a similar to the Italian campaign of Napoleon. Hemu marshaled his forces admirably and though not a professional soldier showed rare qualities of leadership.

It appeared he had full knowledge of the principles of war as battle after battle the Muslim forces had to bite the dust.

The Battle for Delhi

Hemu now captured Agra and served notice for a march on Delhi. The Moghul governor of Delhi Tardi Beg Khan petitioned Akbar for help. Realizing the gravity of the situation the advisor of Akbar, Bairam Khan sent reinforcements as well as redoubtable fighters to save Delhi. A war council was held at Delhi and it was resolved to face Hemu. The Moghul army decided to face Hemu at Tughlakabad. Accordingly plans were drawn up to fight Hemu there. The battle at Tughlakabad bad (6 Sept 1556) was another example of the skill of Hemu on the battlefield. Hemu adopted the tactics of reserve and thrust and as the battle progressed the Moghul force suffered heavy casualties and 3000 of them were killed. Pir Muhammad khan the general sent by Akbar fled from the battlefield and there was wide spread desertion as the Moghul army was decimated and the remnants of the force retreated northwards to the Punjab. Hemu now triumphantly entered Delhi.

This battle is similar to the famous battle of Austerlitz that made Napoleon the master of the continent.

A Poignant Moment in Indian History

This defeat of the Mughals and the entry of Hemu into Delhi is a poignant moment in Indian history. After a lapse of 350 years a Hindu king had entered Delhi as a victor. On The next day on 7 Sept 1556 Hemu had himself crowned in the Purana Quila as the emperor of Hindustan. He assumed the title of Vikramaditya. He took this title to emphasize his continuity with ancient Hindu lineage. It is on record that all the Muslim noblemen accepted an ‘infidel’ as their ruler and vowed allegiance to him. As per the historian of that period Abul Fazal Hemu made plans to attack Kabul and accordingly started recruitment of more soldiers for this purpose.

Battle of Panipat

Akbar was alarmed at this news and he decided to make a last-ditch stand against Hemu at Panipat which has come to be known as the Second battle of Panipat. Hemu advanced with a large force against the Mughals and the battle commenced. But within a few hours the Moghul army was in disarray as the Hindu-Muslim force of Hemu repeatedly charged the Moghul force. At that time Akbar and Bairam khan considered withdrawing to Kabul as the elephant corps of Hemu took a heavy toll of the Moghul force with repeated charges.

Conclusion

Then as in the case of Napoleon at Waterloo providence took a hand and a stray arrow hit Hemu in the eye and he was rendered unconscious. The army of Hemu now without a commander failed to press home their advantage and the Moguls sensing chance to win came back with force and the army of Hemu disintegrated. It is a fact that this man who had won 22 battles on the trot lost this one battle by an act of providence. Hemu was captured and beheaded by Akbar. His body was hung outside the Purana Quila while his head was displayed in Kabul. Such barbarism is hard to reconcile, but it took place.

Despite this one defeat Hemu like Napoleon is recognized as a great warrior and general. Historians like HK Bhardwaj, Jadunath Sarkar and De Laet all agree that Hemu was a general par excellence. It’s about time Indians remembered their greats, who welded the sword for the glory of Hindustan. Hem Chandra Vikramaditya was one of them and he deserves our respect and adoration.

Treadmill deck is the material that forms the hard surface on which you run. In other words it’s the supportive surface. This article distinguishes the decking from the tread belt which is the belt that moves across the decking.

Important

Treadmill manufacturers don’t provide a great deal of information about the actual construction materials of their decks. These days most treadmills, especially if priced above $1,000 are constructed with decently strong tread decks (usually medium density fibreboard with a duo phenolic coating – all discussed in detail below).

However, strength isn’t the be all and end all. If strength were most important, more treadmill manufacturers would use metal. Metal is used, but not extensively.

What are decking construction objectives?

Like I said above, if strength was the only objective, metal or steel decks would rule the day. But strength isn’t the only objective. Quality decking should:

• Be strong
• Be durable
• Have some elasticity (i.e. slightly flexible, but not bouncy)
• Minimize noise (i.e. muffle noise if possible)
• Have a smooth surface to minimize tread belt friction

What materials are used?

Often you’ll see reference to solid wood, medium density fibreboard (MDF), and metal as materials used for treadmill decks. For coating you’ll usually read about phenolic coating. The article explains these different materials.

Materials

1. Medium density fibreboard (MDF)

MDF is created by breaking down wood into fibres (sawdust) and then forming the fibres into a solid treadmill deck with wax and resin. The usual thickness is 3/4″ to 1″. You can read more about MDF here.

MDF is the predominant material used for treadmill decks.

2. Solid wood

The deck is made out of 3/4″ to 1″ solid wood. The trouble with solid wood is it’s hard to find a piece of wood that is perfect. MDF, although not perfect either, ensures a consistency that’s hard to find with solid wood.

Particle board: Particle board is no the same as MDF. Particle board is not fibre-based. It’s a solid wood composite product. The result is that particle board is much weaker than MDF. MDF is denser and stronger.

Avoid treadmills with decks using particle board. You’ll be lucky to get a year out of it.

3. Metal

Metal decks are not nearly as prevalent as solid wood or MDF decks. It’s heavier and doesn’t create as “soft” of a surface as wood or MDF. Running on metal or steel simply isn’t as enjoyable as on solid wood or MDF.

What material do I recommend?

MDF deck that is duo or triple coated with phenolic resin coating.

The coating

Some treadmills are coated on both sides (duo-coating, sometimes also referred to as triple-coating), while lower-quality treadmills coat only 1 side of a treadmill deck. The better deck is coated on both sides which helps reduce warping. It’s also better for reducing friction with the tread deck along the entire surface area on which the tread belt moves.

Best material used for coating:

Phenolic: This is the best coating material. You’ll pay more for phenolic coating, but it’s worth it.

What is phenolic resin coating?

Phenolic resin coating is a plastic resin. When a treadmill deck is coated with phenolic resin, wax the wood deck is unnecessary.

Can you build your own if your original deck breaks?

Yes, but it’s not advisable unless you really know what you’re doing. Simply slamming in a sheet of plywood or MDF isn’t going to do it. There’s properly coating the deck and ensuring it securely attaches to the treadmill.

The last thing you want is your deck to break apart when running or walking.

This is why having a lifetime warranty on your treadmill deck is important. Decks often break or crack (especially with lower-priced treadmills).

Decking Considerations

Replacement frequency

The range in the number of hours of use treadmill decks are good for is astounding. Some lower-end treadmill decks are designed for 500 hours, while other warranty their decks for life. Naturally the intensity of use and weight of users will impact the duration of a treadmill deck.

Is it reversible?

Some treadmill manufacturers make reversible tread decks so that you can get more mileage out of them.

Is reversible good?

It depends. Some manufacturers make treadmill decks that are warrantied for a lifetime without having to reverse them. Others don’t come with a lifetime warranty and can’t be reversed. These may have the shortest lifespan. Then there are treadmills with reversible decks which in theory doubles the lifespan of the treadmill deck.

The warranty

Ideally, the treadmill you buy will have a lifetime warranty on the deck. This is indicative the manufacturer stands behind the deck and in the event the deck fails, you get a replacement.

Cushioning technology

Cushioning technology is pretty cool these days. Treadmill cushioning technology includes the amount of, type of, and quality of the treadmill cushioning.

To quote the X-Files: “The truth is out there.” However, thanks to the myriad of information located on the web, sometimes it can be hard to find.

So despite what you may have read or been told in the past, I am here to tell you that fluorescence is not bad.

For those of you who have never heard of Fluorescence before, let me break it down for you. Fluorescence is a light that some diamonds emit (typically seen as a color), when exposed to long wave or short wave ultra-violet (UV) light. Once the UV light source is removed the diamond will return to its normal condition.

Just as inclusions within a diamond are used to help distinguish your diamond from others, so to can fluorescence be used as an identification characteristic. Approximately 35% of diamonds display some sort of fluorescence. Typically the color that appears under UV light is blue. GIA GTL (Gemological Institute of America Gem Trade Laboratory) and other laboratories will note the strength of the light and color emitted on the grading report.

In the simplest terms possible, fluorescence is inherent in the structure of a diamond. Like a person’s height. Some people are tall, some people are short – but we all basically have the same bone structure. Much like being tall or short, a diamond with fluorescence is not better or worse off than a diamond that has none. But, much like being tall or short, it also depends who you ask. There are certainly advantages and disadvantages in every situation.

For me personally, I like fluorescence. I think there is something cool about a diamond that can glow in the dark. Being the gem geek that I am, I covet those diamonds that fluoresce different colors. Most diamonds that fluoresce, about 95% fluoresce blue. However, that elusive remaining 5% can fluoresce yellow, white, orange or other colors. I will tell you from personal experience that white fluorescence is hard to distinguish and the average person probably wouldn’t even notice it. I once had the rare privilege of viewing a private collection where each diamond fluoresced the same color as the diamond. So the yellow diamond fluoresced yellow, the orange diamond fluoresced orange – you get the picture.

I know what you are thinking, yes, Diamond Jen, that is all well and good, but I hear fluorescence can make a diamond look hazy.

Here is the skinny: less than 0.5% of the diamonds examined globally display enough fluorescence to negatively impact a diamond in normal light. This small fraction of diamonds, with extremely strong fluorescence, can appear hazy or oily (“milky”). However, out of the hundreds of millions of diamonds in the world, you are going to have to search far and wide to find one of those.

The insider scoop is, that medium to strong fluorescence can actually be your ally. Diamonds with faint color, in the H-K range, can actually benefit from fluorescence. Medium to strong fluorescence can actually make those diamonds appear whiter/more colorless (i.e. less yellow) face up. The value being, you can stretch your budget farther by purchasing a diamond that has faint body color with stronger blue fluorescence. In most cases it gives you the opportunity to purchase a larger diamond than you may have thought possible. In fact, in the not so distant past diamond dealers used to actually charge more for faint yellow diamonds with medium or strong fluorescence because they knew the value behind the combination. Thanks to all the bad press about fluorescence though, that practice has stopped. Now, the savvy consumer can make the most of his money.

As always, I recommend viewing any diamond prior to purchase to make sure you like it. A diamond should always take your loved ones breath away, and at the very least you should always feel confident about your purchase. As they say, knowledge is power – happy shopping!

A Linux root server hosting system is the ideal solution for low cost web hosting along with the benefit of comprehensive access to multiple websites simultaneously. This is very much sought after when a web master has to maintain a website and control the related links to it.

Virtual servers running on Linux operating system offer virtual control of all that is stored in the server as well as security issues like user details and information. Linux root server system has its flexibility and many beneficial features which open up new gateways for webmasters to exercise complete control of the server.

Because of the user-friendly approach of VPS root server hosting systems, this web hosting solution is attracting big and small business organizations in addition to individuals. In comparison to dedicated servers or even Windows-based VPS, Linux root servers come cheaper. Apart from being economical, Linux VPS hosting solutions do provide a high grade of secure data center to stay connected with the web.

As a VPS acts like a single server or virtual dedicated server, it is capable of maintaining your integrity to clients rightly. VDS not only saves on electricity usage but also helps solve the common problem of space crunch associated with dedicated servers.

Each of the Linux-based virtual dedicated root servers works on its own operating system, thus enabling you to customize and configure the server as per specific requirement of your client. Moreover, you can extend the administrative control of the server to your clients for a more personalized and customized solution. An added advantage is that being independent virtual servers, the individual units can be rebooted without affecting other partitions on the mother server.

Another benefit of Linux root servers is that you don’t have to worry about any sort of interruptions and disturbances. As you allow individual clients to customize their server as per their requirement, there will be zero chance of client information getting shared or leaked out.

An inherent feature of Linux-based systems is that the operating system is not affected by Trojans, malware or other harms. This means, the risk of getting affected by such threats will remain low in comparison to sites hosted on Windows-based servers. The open source platform offers 100% uptime. It can be modified in a way that the OS would be able to handle higher load as well as programs and software which would need less space.

Red5 servers are the most efficient Linux-based servers supporting extremely high video and audio streaming. These are highly suggested for various official and business activities as they usually provide optimum security as well as stability. With such servers, you can configure your audios and videos to stream faster, thereby augmenting the usability and efficiency of your websites.

It’s not about the money-it’s all about getting the best quality education. And when it comes to earning your university degree, you may want to set your sights on the following top 10 universities in the world first (please note that course fees are just estimates).

University of Cambridge United Kingdom

Description: One of the oldest universities in the world, it has established itself as the hallmark for academic excellence. It has received a lot of commendations from a variety of world-renowned education organizations, such as the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Students learn not just by lectures and seminars but also by hands-on experiences.

Famous For: Their age-old buildings, plethora of museums and libraries Course Fees: £3,375 for the first year How to Apply: Submit UCAS and Supplementary Application Questionnaire online. Depending on the department, take a test and undergo an interview.

Harvard University United States

Description: Harvard University is notorious for its law program, but in truth, almost all its departments are extremely popular. Besides being the oldest institution in the country, Harvard is also the alma mater of well-known figures such as John Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, and Al Gore. The university strives to continuously push its students to innovate, learn more, and challenge themselves. Like Cambridge, Harvard is also peppered with libraries and museums, including Museum of Natural History.

Famous For: reputable degrees, such as law and medicine Course Fees: $48,000 a year, including health services, student services, room, and board How to Apply: To be accepted, you must be on the top 10 percentile in your high school class. You should also have a score of 2,080 to 2,370 (SAT) or 31 to 34 (ACT).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) United States

Description: When it comes to science and technology, MIT should be first on the list. For hundreds of years, it has dedicated itself to the growth and development of science and technology, among others, primarily through lecture and research. The campus is composed of 34 departments and 5 schools.

Famous For: computer science and engineering programs, research laboratories, and nearness to Harvard Course Fees: roughly $50,000 a year, including books and personal expenses, and room and board How to Apply: Less than 15 percent of the applicants are accepted here. To enter MIT, you have to go through rigorous tests including demonstration of academic competence. You can apply for early decision, wherein you submit your application months before the actual application process.

McGill University Canada

Description: One of the oldest universities in Canada, it is the seat of medical studies and degrees in the country. It has its own hospital and offers a wide variety of medical science-related courses such as occupational health, emergency medicine, diagnostic radiology, anatomy and cell biology, biochemistry, and human genetics. Some of the institutes are Bioinformatics, Biomedical Ethics, Bone and Peridontal Research, and Centre of Genomics and Policy.

Famous For: affordable fees, medical and engineering departments, and highly diversified students and staff Course Fees: C$ 24,000 including insurance, food, lodging, and books How to Apply: Each college or department has its own requirements for admission.You can apply for your chosen course online.

ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) Switzerland

Description: The continental Europe takes pride of ETH Zurich. Located in the bustling metropolis of Zurich, the university marries science and technology successfully, eventually producing more than 20 Nobel laureates through the years like Wolfgang Pauli, Felix Bloch, Fritz Haber, and Richard Ernst.

Famous For: graduates who became Nobel laureates and 400 teachers who are experts in social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences Course Fees: CHF 580 per semester (this is tuition only) How to Apply: You need to have a good command of German and/or English language. Requirements include recommendation from your professor, a pre-proposal of your thesis for master’s, and application form.

University of Tokyo Japan

Description: One of the top 10 universities in the world, University of Tokyo is constantly visited by several business and science experts all over the world for lectures or researchers. The university also nurtures its students by giving them due recognition. It has just introduced the President’s Award, given to students highly recommended by their professors. Since 2000, the university has established relationships with the international community via UT Forum.

Famous For: President’s Award given twice a year, UT Forum, Komaba Festival and Gogatsusai events. Course Fees: ¥535,800 for undergraduate students, excluding certification fees How to Apply: Since a lot of lectures are conducted in Japanese, you have to know the language by heart. You also have to know if you want to be a research student or a regular student. For enrolment, you can undergo a special screening for international students or a general entrance test.

Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris France

Description: One of the true-blue best international universities, ENS takes you into the same league as Jean-Paul Sartre and Louis Pasteur, to name a few. It is one of the top best schools in Europe, according to Times Higher Education Supplement. Students are also subjected to a very strict application and learning process, eventually earning an advanced MA by the time they graduate. Depending on the department, the university also offers one-on-one teaching with students.

Famous For: competitive enrolment process (there are less than 3,000 students in ENS), ENS diploma, representation of almost all academic disciplines Course Fees: N/A How to Apply: Though it’s difficult to get into ENS, the university offers plenty of enrolment options, such as International Academic Exchange and International Selection. It’s recommended you know how to speak French.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong

Description: Definitely one of the well-commended universities for international students, CUHK is the only institution in the country to have Nobel laureates as facilitators or teachers. It is also home of Chinese Overseas Collection, Hong Kong Studies Archive, and CUHK Art Museum. The school continue to work and improve their curriculum, making it student-centered. Moreover, as international students, you can enjoy the local charges for health care services and don’t have to pay for hospital insurance.

Famous For: focus in Chinese studies, economics and finance, earth sciences, and information sciences; credit unit system for undergraduate studies, Course Fees: HK$ 140,000 per year, including books, caution money, and hostel fee How to Apply: This is a trilingual school-English, Mandarin, and Cantonese-so you should know how to speak one or all of them fluently.

Tsinghua University China

Description: Tsinghua University is heralded as one of the greatest universities in the world, not just in mainland China but the rest of the world. It is part of LAOTSE composed of the best college institutions in both Europe and Asia, as well as C9 League, Chinese’s counterpart to U.S.’s Ivy League. It always ranks no. 1 in China, and within the top 50 among top university rankings. It usually invites international keynote speakers, such as Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, and Henry Paulson. The university also implements rigid rules in admission that only 15 percent MBA applicants get accepted.

Famous For: operating inside the Qing Dynasty’s Imperial Gardens and within the China’s capital Beijing, EQUIS and AACSB accredited School of Economics and Management Course Fees: RMB 10,500 per semester (not including accommodation and insurance fees) How to Apply: You have to possess Certificate of Graduation and Certificate of Chinese Proficiency Test. You also have to fill out a foreigner’s application form, as well as a letter of recommendation, and undergo an intensive entrance examination.

Aarhus University Denmark

Description: Aarhus University is one that believes “All work and no play makes John a very boring and dull boy.” In spite of being one of the most elite university in Europe, especially in Scandinavia, Aarhus encourages students to have fun via Friday Bars and performances in University Park. Academic-wise, its main State and University Library is accessible anyplace where there’s Internet connection. Further, there are dozens of research centers in Aarhus, including Water and Salt Research Centre and Centre for Materials Crystallography.

Famous For: nanoscience degree program; Friday bars; center of excellence for business, arts, science, and health Course Fees: at least EUR 10,000 a year, without course materials and books How to Apply: Aarhus uses KOT, where you can apply up to 8 bachelor’s degree programs. Then the university helps you determine the most ideal one for you. To proceed, you can apply online.

Today’s news article on computer forensics is about hacking encrypted Fingerprint USB drives. The encryption being talked about is AES 256 hardware encryption, which til date use to be considered a very reputable and safe standard in the world of digital and computer forensics. You must have seen online advertisements about the most secure hardware based AES 256 bit encrypted Fingerprint USB drives from popular brand names such as Kingston USB and SanDisk USB, these are the ones that have been found to be completely vulnerable by a computer forensic company based off Germany called SySS. Their tests show a major design vulnerability that can decrypt the present information on the thumb drive.

SySS is a German company that specializes in Computer and IT Forensics. In a nutshell how they are able to read encrypted data is very simple, it does not even require to put in your password. When a user enters their correct password on the key to decrypt the information, the hardware algorithm passes through a particular string of information or characters to the device storage system which presents the information to the user in clear text. The flaw however comes in with the fact that this “String” passed through after a valid session for any password, is always the same!

SySS used their computer forensic know how to interpret this “string” and were able to demonstrate how they can pass this on to the hardware device and get decrypted information every time. There are two White Papers published by the company on their website that explains this much in depth. This discovery has major implications on Corporate and Law Enforcement officials which often carry sensitive information on such encrypted devices. As a matter of fact, there is school of thought around which is debating if law courts will now accept hardware encrypted thumb drives as “unaltered” secure evidence.

In the 17th Century both girls and boys were sent to dame-schools at an early age. The girls were not normally taught much book learning, but were taught how to be a good housewife. They were taught how to cook. They were also taught how to spin and weave and knit, not only for home wear but for the shops.

Fine knitting was well paid for, and was a matter of much pride to the knitter. Many complicated stitches were taught to the girls. The herring-bone being one type of fashion pattern. There was also the fox, and the geese knitting patterns.

The girls were taught how to create fashion trends by having initials knit into mittens and stockings. The alphabet was knit into mittens and sometimes even a verse of poetry.

Young women were taught to be gentle and learn fine embroidery. New fashion purses were made with fine embroidery and sold in the shops. Another fashion trend was the making of paper flowers, known as Papyrotamia. They were taught how to paint fine art on velvet. They learned about quilt piecing in a hundred different and difficult designs. They were also taught how to make bone lace with pillow and bobbins.

Boys were educated in, amongst other matters, Latin Grammar. The study of reading and writing was firmly etched on their minds.

The 19th Century (Early Victorian 1837-1869) brought in a new fashion trend for women. What a women desired was curves to enhance their femininity. The fashion corset of that day helped to create those curves that women desired.

The late Victorian period of 1870-1900 seen the fashion corset go a step further. Curves on women were created by tightly lacing them into their corsets. The fashion trend was to have an 18 inch waist. This style was known as the hourglass look.

Then along came the 20th Century. Young women went to college and university. They began to compete with men for jobs. What they found difficult to compete with at first was the company wage structure. Women doing equal work to men received considerably less wages. The equal parity in all areas of life for women had still not arrived. Men were still the superior beings, in the professional areas of life.

However, even if young women were not receiving equal wage parity to men, many still received a good income. And that scenario brought in a new fashion trend. The laddette fashion trend.

Young women began to go out on the town most nights with their mates. They did not limit their drinking, even if they were working the next day. A couple of small glasses of wine or spirits was not enough for them. They felt compelled to compete with men.

They would see young men gulping down large glasses of beer. So they began to drink large glasses of beer.

At closing time, they would leave the public house, legless. Be sick and then fall down. Many young women began to go work feeling very ill. But that did not deter them from starting the drinking cycle over again a few hours later. They just had to be seen to be equal to, and even better, than men.

Hopefully, as the 21st Century progresses, the laddette fashion trend will disappear. And, the 19th Century fashion trend will partly re-appear. This time however, women can make use of the more modern corset to re-introduce their femininity. And hopefully, they will still have good wage earning jobs to buy proper ladies fashion clothes.

Most of us, when planning for our annual summer holidays, think the worst that can happen is getting badly sunburnt, a spot of sunstroke, or a bad case of the runs! But what many of us don’t realise is that our favourite European resorts are increasingly being inhabited by creatures that have a nasty sting or bite! For some of us, it could be a hospital bed, not a sun bed!

In fact, nearly 5% of all medical consultations in Europe are as a direct result of anti-venom treatment for bites and stings from both indigenous and ‘imported’ animal envenomings!

Sharp and painful facts on some of the more venomous species to be found in Europe include:

Migrating Scorpions!

If you are travelling to the South of France, Spain or Italy, be careful that a scorpion isn’t taking up residence in your clothes, shoes or soft comfortable bedding! A sharp sting from this one’s tail will be pretty painful!

In general, scorpions are not dangerous and usually only produce a painful reaction that does not require treatment. However, some new and more dangerous ‘holiday making’ species who have arrived in imported fruit, and will give some unlucky travellers hospital treatment and a sting they won’t forget!

Spiders hit the spot in Spain and Italy!

Spiders are a common sight in most European countries, but in a few cases they can be deceivingly dangerous. The black widow, one of the most dangerous species, is leaving her mark in Mediterranean counties, especially Spain and Italy.

Generally found in barns, stables or woodpiles, only the female spider is dangerous to humans – she is easy to identify, as she has two clear red spots on her belly!

Bites from her produce some nasty and uncomfortable results such as intense pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches and in severe cases convulsions! Signs and symptoms progress for up to 24 hours and then gradually resolve themselves. But in some cases, particularly with children and the elderly, infection must be prevented and treated vigorously in hospital!

Snakes in Europe!

Snakes are the most feared venomous creatures in the world. And although the annual incidence of snake bites in Europe is less frequent, it is estimated that in European countries 15,000-20,000 snake bites result in about 50 deaths per year! Lethal cases have been reported in France and in Switzerland, almost 50% of envenomings from non-native species are due to snake bites and about 10% of cases are severe.

Viper bites are the most common, and although vipers may vary in size and appearance, their venom is very similar! Most snake bites occur between May and October and mostly affect men, particularly their upper limbs. So gents, if you decide to take a walk off the beaten track, make sure your feet and legs are covered if you want want protection from the unseen fangs of the undergrowth!

Portuguese Jellyfish!

Jellyfish are very common in the clear Mediterranean waters. Recognisable by their coloured ‘jelly float’, the Portuguese man-o-war is infamous for its stinging tentacles which can deliver a lasting and often excruciating sting! Immersing the area stung in very hot water is often the best remedy, followed by soothing calamine lotion and treatment with antihistamines and analgesics to reduce the reaction and pain.

If you are unlucky enough to be stung or bitten, you could face equally painful medical expenses if you don’t have protective travel insurance or international medical insurance cover. Make sure your insurance covers these incidents and extends to the geographical area you are visiting.