The experimental drug has cut the risk of HIV infection by a third in the world’s largest AIDS trial of more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, researchers said.

It is the first time after two decades of human trials that a vaccine has stopped the HIV virus, which infects 7,500 across the globe every day.

“It gives me cautious optimism about the possibility of improving this result and developing a more effective AIDS vaccine”, Anthony Fauci, director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was quoted by Washington Post.

Colonel Jerome Kim, who led the study for the US Army as part of the trial, said, “It is the first evidence that we could have a safe and effective preventive vaccine.”

The vaccine, a complicated mixture of six “prime” and “booster” shots, is the first positive result after two decades of experimentation, the newspaper said.

“Conceptually, we now know a vaccine is possible,” saidFauci, adding, “Whether the vaccine is going to look anything like this one I don’t know. But at least we know it can be done.”

The finding is statistically significant with 31.2 per cent effectiveness but scientists seldom consider licensing a vaccine which is less than 70 or 80 per cent effective.

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made!” –Albert Einstein

If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India!” –French scholar Romaine Rolland

India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most astrictive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only!” –Mark Twain

So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked.” –Mark Twain

She (India) has left indelible imprints on one fourth of the human race in the course of a long succession of centuries. She has the right to reclaim … her place amongst the great nations summarizing and symbolizing the spirit of humanity. From Persia to the Chinese sea, from the icy regions of Siberia to Islands of Java and Borneo, India has propagated her beliefs, her tales, and her civilization!” — Sylvia Levi

India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border!” — Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA

Its the 15th August – The Indian Independence Day. A great struggle was raised by the people of India to gain this freedom. Its a day to wish all fellow Indians a very “Happy Independence Day”.

I LOVE MY INDIA
15th August 2009 – HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance…. We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again.”

- Jawaharlal Nehru
(Speech on Indian Independence Day, 1947).

————————————————————————-

On 15 August 1947, India attained freedom from the British Rule. Every year, August 15 is celebrated as the Independence Day in India. This national festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country.

The Prime Minister’s speech at the Red Fort in Delhi is a major highlight. Patriotic presentations by school children add colors to the celebrations.

The preparations begin a month in advance. Roads are decorated with flags and buntings. Buildings of national importance are illuminated.

NATIONAL FLAG OF INDIA
————————————————————————————
The national flag, a symbol of free India, is a horizontal tri-colour of saffron, white and green. The wheel in its centre, is a replica of the chakra, which appears on the abacus of Ashoka’s pillar.
The flag was adopted on July 22,1947 and presented to the nation on August 15, 1947.

The color saffron, stands for courage, sacrifice and renunciation.

White, symbolizes truth and purity
“truth in our speech and purity of thought”

Green represents life, faith and chivalry.

The 24 spokes of the wheel are multiples of 8, representing the noble precepts of the Eight-Fold path, taught by the Buddha. The wheel itself denotes unceasing motion and progress.

—————————————————————————-

The first cabinet of ministers.
Jawaharlal Nehru——Prime Minister, External and Commonwealth Relations, Scientific Researches.

Sardar Ballavbhai Patel—Home, Information and Broadcasting, States

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad—Education

Dr.Rajendra Prasad—-Food and Agriculture

Sardar Baldev Sing—–Defence

Jagjivan Ram—-Labour

C.H.Bhava—-Commerce

R.A.Kidwai—-Communication

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur—–Health

Dr.B.R.Ambedkar—-Law

S.Chetty—–Finance

Dr.S.P.Mukherji——Industries and Supplies

N.V.Gadgil——–Works, Mines and Power.

—————————————————————————-

National Anthem of India
Jaana Gaana Maana Adhinayaka Jayehe
Bharata bhagya vidhata;
Punjaba Sindhu Gujarata Maratha,
Dravida Utkala Banga,
Vindhya, Himachala, Jamuna, Ganga,
Ucchhala Jaladhitaranga;
Taba Shubha Naame Jaage
Taba Shubha Ashish Maage
Gaye taba jaya gaatha.
Jaana Gaana Maana Adhinayaka Jayahe
Bharata bhagya vidhata;
Jaya he Jaye he
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya he.

Happy Independence Day To All My Indian Visitors From:-

Vampire’s Team ]]> http://worldofvampire.com/2009/08/15-august-indian-independence-day/feed/ 16 http://worldofvampire.com/2009/07/darkness-at-dawn-as-solar-eclipse-envelops-cities/ http://worldofvampire.com/2009/07/darkness-at-dawn-as-solar-eclipse-envelops-cities/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:38:52 +0000 Manveer http://www.coolsunday.co.cc/?p=86

New Delhi: Darkness descended soon after dawn across large swathes of land along a narrow path stretching from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh as skywatchers experienced the longest total solar eclipse of the century this morning.

The dark shadow of the moon — the conical shaped umbra — made its landfall in Gujarat at 6:30 a.m. and raced across the country within a span of a few minutes spreading darkness in the path of totality.

At many places a thick cloud cover dampened the spirits of skywatchers who had gathered to watch the celestial spectacle.

With the sun blanked out for six minutes and 39 seconds, this was the longest total solar eclipse to occur in the 21st century, and will not be surpassed in duration until June 13, 2132.

In Taregna in Bihar, touted as the best place to watch the eclipse, thousands of astro-enthusiasts were disappointed as clouds refused them a glimpse of the completely eclipsed sun.

However, in Taregna, and most parts of northeast where, clouds obscured the view of the sun, skywatchers were able to experience the eclipse as daybreak turned to night for a few minutes.

In Katni in Madhya Pradesh, stargazers enjoyed every moment of the celestial spectacle from atop the Circuit House Hills for a full three minutes from 6:22 a.m.

The group in Katni was awestruck as they saw the diamond ring phenomenon for a few seconds just before the sun was completely covered by the lunar shadow.

Some amateur astronomers were able to spot a few bright stars which became visible in the momentary darkness as the sun was completely covered giving them a magnificent view of the Corona.

In Delhi, clouds played hide-and-seek but still astro-enthusiasts gathered at several places got a glimpse of the sun. Eighty-three% of the sun dial was obscured by the moon. The crescent sun smiled upon the capital when the eclipse reached its maximum of 83 per cent at 6:26 a.m.

Lakhs of pilgrims took a dip in the sacred pond in Kurukshetra, in the Ganga at Varansi, Hooghly in Kolkata and Brahmaputra in Guwahati during the solar eclipse.

Scientists had chartered planes to carry out experiments and film the eclipse from above the clouds. A few well-heeled persons took to the skies in special flights to chase the lunar shadow and view the eclipse.

The path of totality passed over Bhavnagar, Surat, Ujjain, Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Jabalpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gaya, Patna, Bhagalpur, Jalpaigudi, Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Itanagar.

In the ancient city of Varansi, scientists from the Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) could observe the eclipse in totality.

“As the day started there was an apprehension that eclipse may not be visible but as the sun rose the celestial phenomena was quite clearly visible,” RC Kapoor, a senior official of the IIA said.

The solar eclipse was seen in totality for a duration of three minutes and 10 seconds, Kapoor said.

Cloudy weather played a spoil sport in most parts of Gujarat dampening the spirits of the people waiting to watch the solar eclipse this morning.

In Surat, large number of people had gathered at the airport to witness the solar eclipse.

The sun rose at 0605 hours and soon after sun light there was complete darkness at 0621 hours when sun was completely covered by the moon shadow.

Though the total solar eclipse was not visible due to heavy clouds, the city was in complete darkness for about three minutes of the total eclipse.

Kolkata witnessed 91% of the total solar eclipse despite cloudy skies.

The sun looked like a crescent as the moon’s shadow passed between the sun and the earth for a few minutes from 6:20 am.

Incessant rains proved to be a dampener with the people unable to watch the total solar eclipse in Sikkim.

The next annular solar eclipse will occur on January 15, 2010, while next total solar eclipse will occur on July 11, 2010.

An average of 230 eclipses take place in a century and the previous longest duration for a total solar eclipse was registered in 1955, when it occurred for 7 minutes and 31 seconds, director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), professor Siraj Hasan said.