This is not a road for the faint of heart, or those with a brand-new vehicle! The James Dalton Highway is a 414-mile gravel road. It heads straight north from the Livengood turnoff of the Elliott Highway, through arctic tundra to the farthest north reaches of Alaska. This 666-km (no joke!) stretch of hell was built to support the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. It's not for "normal" cars, and it's even worth reconsidering taking anything that doesn't have a hardcore four-wheel-drive system. Windshields and headlights are easy targets of flying rocks. Trucks speeding along the slippery gravel track kick up thick clouds of dust or mud, reducing visibility to absolute zero; potholes take a heavy toll on cars and services, gas, and repairs are practically nonexistent. Don't even consider driving the Dalton unless you have 4-wheel drive, a CB radio, extra fuel, food, tires, and a trunk filled with supplies.

Nuclear officials believe a hydrogen explosion may have occurred at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ich nuclear plant crippled by massive earthquake. Fukushima I is one of the 25 largest nuclear power stations in the world. It was the first nuclear plant to be constructed and run entirely by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). In Japan, the desperate moves to avert a nuclear disaster continue, with emergency resources also heavily stressed by the impacts of the initial earthquake and tsunami - the catastrophe named by the Japanese government as the worst endured by the country in over 50 years. Engineers are working to keep control of cooling of reactor cores, with three facilities badly damaged as a result of the natural disaster, causing urgent concern. Japanese stations are constructed to specifications for resisting earthquake shocks well beyond the high point of 7 on the Richter scale, though the one that struck on Friday was at the high end for all records kept in the world since 1900, at 8.9. The Japanese government declared a "nuclear power emergency" due to a loss of coolant and evacuated thousands of residents living close to Fukushima I.

There are watches that are too hard to explain. Then there are watches that are too hard to get. “Five Weeks in a Balloon”, a new piece from the French exquisite jewelers is inspired by the world famous fictionalist Jules Verne and his extraordinary voyages novel by the same name. The beauty of this watch is its presentation of the theme. The fascia depicts a hot air ballon taking flight into the air of Zanzibar. The retrograde hours and minutes are displayed with help of the moving balloon’s anchor and a flying bird. The dial of the watch features a rendition of that balloon soaring above the clouds. A cloud conceals the source of the hands - one being a bird to indicate the hours, and another, being an anchor on a rope to indicate the minutes. The last decade or so has seen more and more brands coming out with watches with no hands, but which tell the time via wandering, jumping, retrograde, digital or rotating hours. They are often seen as modern and groundbreaking. Watchmakers have always tried to find alternative ways of displaying time other than using two hands for a long time.
 

Monte Carlo is considered to be the city of the rich, which is no surprise when you consider that citizens of Monaco are exempt from tax and so there are more than a few billionaires residing in Monte Carlo. It is the wealthiest and most famous quarter in the Principality of Monaco and the second smallest independent state in the world, after the Vatican. Monte Carlo in Monaco may be most famous for its casinos, but it also offers lush tropical gardens, the well known Formula One Monte Carlo Grand Prix, and the Monte Carlo Opera. It attracts the rich, film stars, pop stars, sporting celebrities, royalty, television personalities and many more of the rich and famous. A tourist visiting Monte Carlo will have countless opportunities to mix and mingle with many of the rich jet set as easy as can be. One will find rubbing shoulders with these celebrities wherever they go. For one week in every year Monte Carlo is completely closed for cars, this is because the streets of Monte Carlo are used as a race track for the Formula One Grand Prix. And this is really quite a spectacular event, which draws even more rich jet setters to Monte Carlo. Carlo is a most unique place, which is full of beauty, spectacle, wonderment and sheer pleasure and enjoyment. Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest in Monte Carlo and came in third; that's a story.

Have you ever seen a touch screen display larger than 3 billiard tables together? The biggest touch screen in the world is available at The University of Groningen in the Netherland.The touch screen is created in 3D studio in the university and it is intended to teach student to have more interaction with data or object of their studies and also help scientist of the university to explore the detail of their research objects. It is 10 meters/32.8 feet long and 2.8 meters wide. If you look closer to the detail, you will find 1,000 LEDs on it and 6 Optitrack Cameras. The Resolution of the touch screen is 4900×1700 pixels and the front face is curving. The Touch screen can accommodate 100 students at once and it did not require expensive maintenance cost.

             10th Sports and Annual Day function was held on 4th March, 2011 at the college premises. The Sports Day events were held in the morning and the Annual Day function was held in the evening. The sports day started with the conventional flag hoisting, which was done by the Chairman of Vickram Schools and Colleges- Mr. M.K.S Sreenivasan. The athletes did the March Past Parade honoring the flag which was followed by the drills. Then the Chairman lit the Vickram College Olympic Torch and handed over to the champion of the college.The champions took the Olympic Oath.Then the Chairman declared the Sports Meet open, which was followed by the track and field events. After that, the prize distribution ceremony was held and the students were awarded with trophies, medals and merit certificates for their achievements in the field of sports and games held in the academic year 2010-2011. The function was graced by the Director- Mr. SR. Vijay Shrenivas, Secretary Mr. M.SR.Rajsanthosh, Joint-Secretary - Mr. M.S Vikram, Principal and Faculty.

                                 The Annual Day celebrations started in the evening with the welcome address delivered by the Administrative Officer- Prof. S.Nagarajan. The Chief-Guest for the function was Solvendar Thiru. Suki Sivam and the function was graced by Thiru. L. Balaji, Charted Engineer and Valuer, Madurai. The Principal- Dr. S. Kathirrvelu read the Annual Report for the academic year 2010-2011. The placements of the students in this academic year was the highlight of the report. The Inplant Training and the Industrial Visits organised by various departments were praiseworthy. He also read out the research studies taken up by the faculty of the college. In his address, the Chairman stressed upon the importance of education and said that 'One must always aim for higher studies and have perseverance and patience for the attainment of the goal'. He further mentioned about the free education given to the financially backward students at Vickram College of Engineering. After that Mr. L. Balaji addressed the gathering and said 'All round development of the students, especially in the field of Sports, Art and Culture is must and Vickram College of Engineering is the forerunner in offering this to the students'.

                              “Solvendar” Thiru. Suki Sivam gave a motivtional talk to the students with the flurry of real life illustrations and the anecdotes of the freedom fighters. He advised the students to never give up and always have high self-esteem.He further said,"Inner beauty of the heart is reflected in the outward appearances". He quoted incidents that took place in the life of Mr. Thomas Alwa Edison, Mr. Lal Bahadur Sastri, Dr. Abdul Kalam and Dr. Sarvapalli Radha Krishnan and conveyed the message of "Simple living, high thinking". He concluded his speech with the saying "Winner never quits, quitter never wins".

                          His speech was followed by the prizes given to the students for their academic excellence. The Secretary of the college Mr. M.SR. Rajsanthosh along with the other dignitaries awarded the prize winners. It was followed by the cultural programmes.The students exhibited their talents through skit, mimicry and dance. The programme came to the end with a vote of thanks proposed by Prof. V. Jeyapaul Sathisaran-Head of the Department of Training and Placement.

The world admires the resilience of Japan in facing geological instabilities. Although being the best earthquake prepared nations in the world, the most powerful earthquake of Japan (magnitude 8.8) that struck it on Friday 11th March, at 14:46 local time (05:46 GMT), highlighted the fact that the risks posed by such natural disasters can overthrow any human preparedness. The quake that hit about 400 km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo, triggered a massive tsunami that swept almost everything that came in its path. The death toll is unclear as the government officials are still trying to figure out the extent of destruction. Buildings, even far away in the Tokyo city shook vigorously. As Japan fights with the biggest natural disaster in its history, let us pray for the victims and families who have lost their lives. May the almighty grant each one of us the wisdom and strength to stand the test of such trying circumstances.
 

The next chapter in space transportation is being written right now in the State of New Mexico. Forward-thinking pioneers are developing both vertical and horizontal launch vehicles using the power of free-market enterprise. Spaceports will enable thousands of people from around the world to go to outer space. The platform for one of the most exciting things ever - private space tourism! Spaceport America, billed as the world's first commercial spaceport, is taking shape some 45 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico featuring a 10,000 feet long runway. When it comes to outer space, New Mexico is bringing it down to earth! New Mexico's Spaceport America is no longer the stuff of fancy graphics. British billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin group has backed the venture.

Australia has pursued scientific research in Antarctica since the 1950s. Today's modern Antarctic research program is critical to our understanding of global change. The ice covered regions of Antarctica and its surrounding waters provide vital information on:
1. Past climate and atmospheric changes – such as from Antarctic ice core and ocean sediment records
2. sea-ice extent and duration, which is critical to the support of marine food webs.
3. The process of ice formation, which affects ocean circulation around the globe.
Australian Antarctic Science Program over the next 10 years plans to focus efforts within four thematic areas:
Climate Processes and Change
Terrestrial and near shore Ecosystems: Environmental Change and Conservation
Southern Ocean Ecosystems: Environmental Change and ConservationFrontier Science

There are literally millions of islands around the world. Some countries have none, some are dotted with thousands. Others are just made up by them. Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda island is one of the most popular and beautiful beaches of the world despite being one of the expensive beach destination. Nice weather, calm water, quiet beaches, crystal clear water makes the Horseshoe Bay one of the beach lovers favorite destination. The unique thing about this beach is its pink sand which is not generally found in any other island beaches of the world.