#Mosquito Control Equipment

[thesightstoshowyou]

Shoot for the Moon

Bo Sinclair X GN Reader

Warnings: None. Just fluff. Who am I?

~~

Keys jingle as you cut the engine. The thrum ceases and a moment of tranquil silence passes before the nighttime sounds rise to life all around. Crickets and frogs chirp, night herons splash, a barred owl calls. Cypress, oak, and maple trees creak and rustle in a gentle breeze. Car door hinges squeal as you slip from your vehicle and your boots swish in tall grasses as you make your way to the trunk.

Carefully, you unpack the telescope, flashlight, guides, and notepads. The scents of damp earth and decaying wood wash over you as you move. Already, the oppressive Louisiana humidity sticks your hair to your forehead, yet you wear a jacket and jeans to protect your limbs from mosquitos and ticks.

Satisfied with a small, nearby clearing, you meticulously set up your equipment. You peek through the eye piece and adjust the telescope’s position incrementally. Little flashlight clutched between your teeth, you scratch notes on the illuminated portion of paper before repeating the process.

An hour or so in, you abruptly surface from the lull of peaceful concentration. At first, you’re not certain what distracts you, but then you recognize the silence. All the wildlife has gone quiet, disturbed by something close by.

You frown and quiet your own breath, tilting your head to listen intently. To your left, a sharp snap; twigs underfoot. Something stalks through the brush, just out of sight.

A bear, maybe, or a stray dog. Your mind whirs with the possibilities, but you will yourself to stay calm. Nothing you can’t handle.

However, when a man emerges from the tree line, your heart stutters. Fear and confusion take root in your brain and you must consciously fight back the panic to keep your thoughts clear.

Where the hell had he come from? There isn’t a town or house around for miles, as far as you’re aware. You’d carefully chosen this particular spot for that very reason.

The man saunters toward you, hands buried in the pockets of the deep blue coveralls he wears. His pace is leisurely, every step measured and deliberate, meant to instill dread. You can’t make out the details of his face through the gloom and the cap perched atop his head does you no favors.

“Yer out here awfully late,” he notes, the pleasant drawl of his voice disturbing the hush of the clearing. He nods toward the crescent moon hanging low in the sky as though you need his help to tell it’s nighttime.

“Could say the same about you,” you respond, slipping the flashlight into your palm. You could blind him if he gets too close.

He stops his advance about twenty feet away, head tilting slightly as he studies you and your equipment. “Folks out this late don’t often have the best intentions.”

Pot, meet kettle. You resist the urge to call him out and instead motion to your telescope. “Just star gazing. I wasn’t aware this was private property. I’ll go—

“Nah, s’not private. Yer good, sugar.” He takes a few steps closer. The muscles in your shoulders tense. You swallow thickly, mind racing. What now?

You speak before you can stop yourself, ��I, uh, I just found Saturn. It’s nice and clear tonight. Wanna see?” The man stops abruptly, obviously taken aback. He’s silent for a moment, contemplating.

“…Yer serious?” he questions. His steps are tentative now, cautious. You caught him off guard, it seems.

Roll with it. “Yeah!” You wave him over and allow the excitement to take control of your vocal cords, “And the Milky Way is so pretty right now. We can look at that next….”

He’s close enough now that you can make out the incredulous expression on his face…his very handsome face. The scents of engine oil, burnt grease, and metal hit you and the outfit suddenly makes sense. Still, you question why he’s out for a midnight stroll in such a remote area wearing his work garb.

You scoot out of the way and instruct him to look through the eye piece. He shoots you one more skeptical glance before carefully leaning over and peering into the telescope. You smell him now too: Cigarette smoke, faint aftershave, and woody musk that is not at all unpleasant.

You watch the exact moment the man spots the planet. What you can see of his face lights up and he shifts his body in toward the telescope, hunching more to get a better angle through the eyepiece. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he murmurs, hand coming up and hovering over the finderscope, hesitant to touch. You can’t help the grin that spreads across your face.

“So beautiful, right? Do you see the rings?”

“Sure do,” he replies, straightening and flashing you a hesitant, crooked smile. Your thoughts are almost derailed by the charm of it, but the eagerness to teach keeps you grounded.

“Here, scooch over a sec, lemme just readjust it….” You quickly check your notes then fiddle with the telescope. You’re overly aware of the man standing next to you, but he surprises you with polite silence, hands on his hips, apparently content to watch you work.

“Here, look,” you excitedly tell him as soon as it’s adjusted. With a quizzical expression, he leans down again, though there’s more enthusiasm in his movement this time.

“…What am I lookin’ at?” he asks, glancing over at you expectantly.

You giggle and mutter a quick, “Oh right,” before launching into an explanation. You gesture and describe, the animation in your voice and knowledge on the subject captivating the stranger.

He watches you speak with a mixture of admiration and bemusement on his face, like he can’t believe he’s listening so attentively, but doesn’t want to miss a word. All previous tension evaporates as you show him the charts you’ve drawn and move the telescope to and fro.

“Oh, and you should be able to see Phobos right now—

“What’s yer name, darlin’?” the man interrupts suddenly. You glance up at him and realize just how close he stands. Your shoulder brushes his chest, his body heat palpable. You’re glad for the darkness when your cheeks burn.

You do your best not to trip over your own name when he smirks, sudden shyness drying your throat and making your heart skip a beat. There’s irritation there too, annoyance with his smugness. You’re easier to read than you’d hoped, apparently.

“Bo,” he tells you as he holds out his hand. You turn to face him and accept his outstretched palm. It is then you notice your watch.

“Oh christ, it’s late. I really gotta go!”Hurriedly, you gather up your notes and pack away your equipment. Bo watches quietly and you can tell by the way he stands so stock still that he’s contemplating something.

You don’t give him a chance to decide on whatever it was he was planning when he entered the clearing.

“I, uh…I was gonna come back on Thursday if, you know, if you wanted to learn more.” Bo blinks at you, genuine surprise on his face. You’re just as shocked by your own words. Offering to meet a strange man with questionable intentions, alone, in the middle of rural Louisiana to teach him amateur astronomy?

Have you lost your damn mind?

Yet, the way he’d engaged with the subject and how eagerly he listened makes you think there’s something more to this man. The initial trajectory of your meeting had changed, hadn’t it? There was a spark, a yearning for connection. He wants to learn, and you want to teach.

That, or you’re completely delusional.

“Next Thursday?” You nod at his question. He tips his head again, like he’s thinking. Slipping his hands back into his pockets, he shrugs. “I can try and make it.”

**

He does make it on Thursday. You do too. And again on Saturday. And the following Friday. And Monday.

Sunday finds you seated on a blanket, Bo at your side, flashlight in your mouth and pen in had. Around you, the nighttime creatures sing their songs. Your trusty telescope points to the sky, ready to capture the comet you’re tracking.

You’re relaxed in his presence now. You’ve decided to attribute your initial meeting to simple chance. He hasn’t given you a reason not to trust him, and you’re not going to look for one.

Your name murmured in a hushed and careful tone breaks your reverie. You hum in response before lowering the flashlight and glancing up. The look in Bo’s baby blues freezes you in place and brings heat to your cheeks.

He’s closer than you anticipated. He removed his hat at some point and his dark hair is ruffled like he hastily ran his fingers through it. That self-satisfied smirk you tell yourself you hate pulls at the side of his mouth and there’s warmth in his eyes as they trace the curve of your lips.

“Been tryin’ t’kiss ya for the past ten minutes,” he teases, his hand reaching out to playfully flick the pen in your hand. You release a breathy laugh as your heart flutters in your chest like a trapped bird.

“Oh, um…s-sorry,” is all you can manage, mouth curving in a weak smile. Your teeth worry your bottom lip when Bo slides closer to cradle your face in his palms.

“Looks like I finally get t’teach ya somethin’ huh?” he jokes, lips ghosting across yours.

You huff, “Oh shut up,” but there’s no real bite to your words. Bo chuckles affectionately and smoothes his thumbs over your hair.

His next words are soft, the vulnerability in them meant only for your ears. “You been real sweet, darlin’. Ain’t nobody taught me anythin’ like you.”

“Oh,” you breathe, moved by his admission. The gratitude in it warms you deep in your chest. Bo wrinkles his nose.

“Alright, enough a’ that. Turnin’ me into a fuckin’ sap.” Your next scoff and eye roll is cut off when he finally claims your mouth in a searing kiss.

Overhead, stars twinkle, your silent spectators.

[craniumcrunch]

jackienat fluff 🙏🙏🙏 maybe spidernat?? or spiderjackie 👀👀

HEY!!! sorry that this is so late, but here!!

rating: t, tags: fluff, mild hurt/comfort, relationships: jackie/nat, miiild jackie/shauna

summary: while the team's out hiking, jackie gets bitten by a bug. nat helps her out.

----

“Ow. Ow. Fucking— cocksucker—” Jackie’s eyes stung, bleeding alongside her thigh. With shaking hands, she attempted to prise open the wound there. That which in early light had appeared to be slight, the size of an insect wing, but had now expanded to the size of a small lightbulb, pink-red like the inside of a throat and secreting a thin sheen of yellow. And it smelled. Fuck, it smelled so bad.

Shauna had given her an anti-irritant cream for the trip; a token of gratitude in exchange for the valium Jackie had snuck her the month before. Jackie had told her it wasn’t necessary to thank her like this, but Shauna had simply shrugged a boorish shoulder, and rolled her dark eyes in a manner that caused them to catch the light. Jackie had latched onto the sprout of green unfurling itself there, unable to force out further protest, and Shauna walked off, leaving Jackie to haplessly clutch the tube. So. 

Laura Lee’s family had invited the team on a three-day-long trek through the local woods, alongside her church group, in secluded worship of the Lord. Shauna had abstained — even though she’d promised she’d come — peeling from obligation like a scab. I don’t do well in heat, Jax, leg shifting away, scoff puncturing the sentence’s end.

Tai had supposed the trip, though unofficial, would amp up her extra-credit, and appeared only mildly irritated by the clingfilm heat. Van clung to Tai like a heat of her own. Lottie had branched off from the rest of the team, trailing behind the group like a lost animal, an overlarge pack digging into her shoulders and mellowing her normally whip-straight back. Nobody invited Mindy — the blonde, effervescent poodle of an equipment manager, who treated rejection with the courtesy one did a mosquito-bite — but she’d shown up at the location at seven-sharp and brought energy drinks for the rest, so who were they to complain.

And there was Nat. Jackie felt her eyes narrow, nails anxiously twisting into the bedding of the rock upon which she sat, forgetting it wasn’t the cloth she usually chose to fidget with. Her leg pulsed in reminder, Jackie having snuck away from evening communion (or whatever artsy-fartsy Christian hand-holding… whatever they got up to. Jackie couldn’t stomach any of that — she’d conjure Shauna, eight, cloaked in white that dripped off her like wax, hexagram sliced into her forehead (as opposed to a pentagram, which attracted the satanic spirits, a hexagram repelled. Supposedly) muttering about the divine Saints — and then laughter would burble out of her sans her control.) to taper the swell. If this kept on, she’d be trailing her leg like an invalid the next day, and Tai’s perfect lip would curl while Van’s, her foil’s, raised. And Nat would have that sad, smug look in her eyes — Told you so.

Ugh. Jackie cupped her cream-moist palm over the insect bite, biting back a yelp. Nat was such a— fucking jerk. Walking with all the swagger of a guy from one of those — y’know — movies, bare of effort and smooth as the funnel of sweat biting down her calf (the one after suicides, that Jackie couldn’t help but catch). Natalie’s mouth twisted around her ‘Fuck’s and Jackie could only imagine a cigarette between her lips, throat concave, rasping with her drag. The thought made her heart skitter, leg still aching from what couldn’t be more than a shitting bug-bite, like it had been sizzled open with Laura Lee’s campfire’s hot coals and—

The bushes rustled. Jackie twisted, chin high and hand flattening alongside her sore as though makeshift, heat-sticky gauze. “Who’s there?” The welt of the sun lowered into far-off, finger-shaped peaks, darkening the evening to ash. Shauna had used to whisper horror stories about places like these into her ear when they were young, and when Jackie (though she pretended to not) inevitably trembled and wept, she’d soften like clay and hold her in her soft, strong arms. But Jackie was seventeen, and Shauna was at home. 

“Relax,” like she could smell her prickling fear — speak of the devil and she shall appear — Nat stepped out from the undergrowth, hands playfully raised in the air. “Just going out for a smoke.” Sure enough, a small flame blowing smoke-shaped kisses from the cigarette Nat clasped between her index and third fingers. See? Jackie burned in jealousy. Effortlessly cool. “Didn’t mean to,” her gaze dropped to Jackie’s leg, “disturb whatever you were, uh, doing.”

Jackie flushed, pink as her favourite gloss. “Oh, no.” She laughed, forced and crotchety. “I was just—” Her hand moved, half as if to fan-herself, half as if to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Perhaps suckle, pensive, on her lip, as girls in movies did to attract boys. Strange mating rituals, like those of birds, to which she was only half-accustomed to and only now felt a violent compulsion to complete. (Though, that in itself wasn’t entirely true. When Shauna—)

In doing such, she had revealed the red, veiny, sutured crevice along her thigh. The cigarette slipped from Nat’s grip.

“Holy— fuck— is that—?”

“A bite, yes.” Jackie snapped, colouring further. Nat paid no mind to the barb, crouching till she was eye to Jackie’s knee. It looked as though moonlight itself hung from her hair, dipping into her exposed collar with virginal shyness. Hands splayed out across her leg in question — Can I?

Yes and no alike stuck in Jackie’s throat. Nat took her silence for the former, touch sending shocks cascading up Jackie’s spine. Nat has this effect on everyone, she reminded, hands clammy with two-headed heat. “God, yeah, that looks bad.” Nat murmured tenderly, before reaching for the hem of her shirt and, with strength that astounded Jackie, ripping its hem into strips.

Taking Jackie’s confusion for caution, it was Nat’s turn to still and avert her doe-like gaze. She had striking eyes, thought Jackie, flitting like those of prey. Grey in the centre, bleeding into a wild blue at the edge, like mouth-shaped flowers she’d dreamed of kissing, knitting into her hair. They both cleared their throats. “Don’t need it anyway,” Nat chuckled awkwardly, referring to her shirt. 

“Oh. Uh, thanks,” Jackie said, unsure what to do with the offered kindness.

“I’m no Misty, but just,” Nat handed her the makeshift gauze, “make sure you tie it tight, yeah? It’ll stall the, uh, pus production — make sure to treat it when we get home, though. Okay?”

“Okay.” Jackie promised, half feeling as though she ought to have stretched out a finger, locked it with Nat’s in girlish ritual that would perhaps slow her hammering heart. And with this, Nat turned, mouth melting into a smile and hair bright as the stars encircling the sky, leaving Jackie feeling warm, like freshly-baked bread.

[xtruss]

Twenty-Five Years Before The Wright Brothers Took To The Skies, This Flying Machine Captivated America

First Exhibited in 1878, Charles F. Ritchel’s Dirigible Was About As Wacky, Dangerous and Impractical as Any Airship Ever Launched

— June 11, 2024 | Erik Ofgang

“When I Was Making It, People Laughed at Me a Good Deal,” Charles F. Ritchel Later Said. “But Do They Did at Noah When He Built the Ark.” Illustration by Meilan Solly/Images via Wikimedia Commons under public domain, Newspapers.com

Charles F. Ritchel’s Flying Machine Made a Sound Like a Buzzsaw as its pilot turned a hand crank to spin its propeller. It was June 12, 1878, and a huge crowd, by some accounts measuring in the thousands, had gathered at a baseball field in Hartford, Connecticut. The spectators had each paid 15 cents for a chance to witness history.

The flying machine—if one could really call it that—was an unsightly jumble of mechanical parts. It consisted of a 25-foot-long, 12-foot-wide canvas cylinder filled with hydrogen and bound to a rod. From this contraption hung a framework of steel and brass rods that the Philadelphia Times likened to “the skeleton of a boat.” The aeronaut would sit on this framework as though it were a bicycle, controlling the craft with foot pedals and a hand crank that turned a four-bladed propeller.

The device did not inspire confidence.

“When I was making it, people laughed at me a good deal,” Ritchel later said. “But so they did at Noah when he built the ark.”

A self-described “professor,” Ritchel was the inventor of such wacky, weird and wild creations that a recounting of his career reads as though it were torn from the pages of a Jules Verne novel. Supposedly friends with both P.T. Barnum and Thomas Edison, Ritchel for a time made a living working for a mechanical toy company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he designed talking dolls, model trains and other playthings. But he was more than just a toymaker.

Left: Charles F. Ritchel filed more than 150 patents over his lifetime. Right: Ritchel's 1878 patent for his flying machine — Photographs: Public Domain Via Wikimedia Commons

Some years after the flying machine demonstration, the inventor proposed an ambitious attraction for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World’s Fair): a “telescope tower” that would rival France’s Eiffel Tower. The design consisted of a 500-foot-wide base topped by multiple nested structures that rose up over the course of several hours, eventually reaching a height of about 1,000 feet. After this proposal was rejected, Ritchel launched a campaign to raise funds to build a life-size automaton of Christopher Columbus, which the Chicago Tribune reported would speak more than 1,000 phrases in a human-like voice, rather than the “far-away, metallic sounds produced by a phonograph.”

By the mid-1880s, Ritchel claimed to have filed more than 150 patents. Not all of them were fun. He invented more efficient ways to kill mosquitos and cockroaches, a James Bond-esque belt that assassins could use to inject poison into their targets, and a gas bomb for use in land or naval warfare.

Yet never in his career was his quirk-forward blend of genius and foolishness more apparent than on that June day in Hartford. Because the balance of weight and equipment was so delicate, Ritchel was too heavy to fly the craft. Instead, he employed pilot Mark W. Quinlan, who tipped the scale at just 96 pounds. Quinlan was a 27-year-old machinist and native of Philadelphia, but little else is known about him. The record, however, is crystal clear on one count: Quinlan was very, very brave.

When preparations for the craft were complete, the crowd watched in eager anticipation as Quinlan boarded the so-called pilot’s seat. The airship rose 50 feet, then 100 feet, then 200 feet. Such a sight was uncommon but not unheard of at the time. The real question was: Once the craft was in the air, could it be controlled?

The first heavier-than-air flight (in which airflow over a surface like a plane wing creates aerodynamic lift) only took place in 1903, when the Wright Brothers conducted their famous flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. But by the late 19th century, flying via lighter-than-air gases was already close to 100 years old. (This method involves heating the air inside of a balloon to make it less dense, leading it to rise, or filling the balloon with a low-density gas such as helium or hydrogen.) On November 21, 1783, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d’Arlandes completed the first crewed, untethered hot-air balloon flight, passing over Paris on a craft built by the Montgolfier brothers. Later, balloons were used for reconnaissance during the French Revolutionary Wars and the American Civil War.

A drawing of the Montgolfier brothers' hot-air balloon Public Domain Via Wikimedia Commons

But free-floating balloons were, and still are, at the mercy of the winds. While balloon aeronauts can achieve limited control by changing altitude and attempting to catch different currents, they can’t easily return to the spot where they took off from, which is why even today, they have teams following them on the ground. Mid-1800s aviation enthusiasts dreamed of fixing this problem, which led to the development of dirigibles—powered, steerable airships that were inflated with lighter-than-air gases. (The word dirigible comes from the French word diriger, “to steer”; contrary to popular belief, the term, which is synonymous with airship, is not derived from the word “rigid.”) While some early aeronauts successfully steered dirigibles, none of these rudimentary airships could truly go against the wind or provide a controlled-enough flight to take off and land at the same point consistently.

In 1878, Ritchel was unaware of anyone who had successfully taken off in a dirigible and landed at the same spot. He hoped to change that with his baseball field demonstration. A month earlier, Ritchel had exhibited the airship’s capabilities during indoor flights at the Philadelphia Main Exhibition Hall, a massive structure built for that city’s 1876 Centennial Exposition. But there is no wind indoors, and the true test of his device would have to be performed outdoors.

After rising into the air, Quinlan managed to steer the craft out over the Connecticut River. To onlookers, it was clear that the aeronaut was in control. But as he flew, the wind picked up, and it began to look like a storm was gathering. To avoid getting caught in the poor weather and facing an almost-certain disaster, Quinlan steered the craft back toward the field, cutting through the “teeth of the wind until directly over the ball ground whence it had ascended, and then alighted within a few feet of the point from which it had started,” as the New York Sun reported.

Ritchel's dirigible, as seen on the July 13, 1878, cover of Harper's Weekly Public Domain Via Wikimedia Commons

The act was hailed far and wide as a milestone. An illustration of the impressive-looking flying machine was featured on the cover of Harper’s Weekly.

“The great problem which inventors of flying machines have always before them is the arrangement by which they shall be able to propel their frail vessels in the face of an adverse current,” the magazine noted. “Until this end shall have been achieved, there will be little practical value to any invention of the kind. In Professor Ritchel’s machine, however, the difficulty has been in a great measure overcome.”

Across the country, observers hailed Ritchel’s odd but impressive milestone in flight. In the years and decades that followed, this achievement was forgotten by almost all except a select group of aviation historians.

Wikipedia incorrectly lists the flight of the French army dirigible La France as the first roundtrip dirigible flight. But this event took place six years after Ritchel’s Hartford demonstration, in August 1884. Why has a flight so seemingly monumental in its time been relegated to the dustbin of history?

Given his eccentric nature and creativity, it’s easy to root for Ritchel and think of him as a Nikola Tesla-like genius robbed of his rightful place in history. The reality of why his feat was forgotten is more complicated. As Tom Crouch, an emeritus curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, says, it’s possible Ritchel’s craft was the first to complete a round-trip dirigible flight. But other aircraft in existence at the time probably could have accomplished the same feat in favorable conditions. “La France made the first serious round-trip,” Crouch says.

Additionally, while Ritchel’s machine worked to a point, it wasn’t a pathway to more advanced dirigibles. Richard DeLuca, author of Paved Roads & Public Money: Connecticut Transportation in the Age of Internal Combustion, points out that the hand-cranked nature of Ritchel’s craft made it nearly impossible to operate with any kind of wind. “On the first day, he got away with it and directed the ship out and over the river and back to where he started, and that was quite an accomplishment,” DeLuca says. “But the conditions were just right for him to do that.”

Dan Grossman, an aviation historian at the University of Washington, has never come across evidence that any later pioneers of more advanced dirigible flights were influenced by Ritchel. “There are a lot of firsts in history that got forgotten because they never led to a second,” Grossman says.

An artist's depiction of the La France airship Public Domain Via Wikimedia Commons

The day after their first successful public outdoor flight in Hartford, Quinlan and Ritchel tried again at that same ballfield. This time, the weather was less cooperative, and the wind came in sharp gusts. Still, the pair persisted in their attempt. “Little Quinlan, even if he does only weigh 96 pounds, has confidence and nerve enough to go up in a gale,” the Sun reported. Up he went about 200 feet, but this time, the wind carried him away with more force. Quinlan was “seen throwing his vertical fan into gear, and by its aid, the aerial ship turned around, pointing its head in whatever direction he chose to give it.” Although he could move the ship about, “he could not make any headway against the strong wind.”

Quinlan descended about 100 feet, trying to catch a different current, but the wind still pushed him away from the ballfield. He raised the craft, this time going higher than 200 feet, but still couldn’t overcome the wind and was soon swept off toward New Haven, vanishing from sight like some real-world Wizard of Oz.

Eventually, Quinlan safely brought the airship down in Newington, about five miles away from Hartford. The inventor and his pilot were unfazed by this setback. They held more public exhibitions that year with a mix of success and failure—including an incident that nearly cost Quinlan his life. During a July 4 exhibition in Boston, the machine malfunctioned and continued to rise, soaring to what the Boston Globe estimated to be 2,000 feet. Quinlan couldn’t get the propeller to work, and the craft continued to rise, reaching as high as 3,000 feet.

Terrified but quick-thinking, Quinlan tied his wrist and ankle to the craft and swung out of his seat to fix the propeller, using a jack-knife he happened to have on him as a makeshift tool. The daring midair repairs worked, and the craft gradually descended. Quinlan landed in Massachusetts, 44 miles from his starting destination, after a 1-hour, 20-minute flight.

Per Grossman, the human-powered method Ritchel attempted to utilize was doomed from the start. “In the absence of an internal combustion engine, there really was no control of lighter-than-air flight,” he says.

Ritchel stubbornly refused to consider powering dirigibles with engines and did not foresee how powerful a better-designed aircraft truly could be.

“I have overcome the fatal objection of which has always been made to the practicability of aerial navigation—that is, I have made a machine that can be steered,” Ritchel told a reporter in July 1878. “I claim no more. I have never pretended that a balloon can be made to go against the wind, and I am sure it never could. It is as ridiculous as a perpetual motion machine, and the latter will be invented just as soon as the former.”

Left: A page from Ritchel's ballooning scrapbook National Air and Space Museum Archives. Right: The scrapbook covers the years 1878 to 1901. Photographs: National Air and Space Museum Archives

Even so, Ritchel was influential in his own way. “He was one of the first to really come up with the notion of a little one-man, bicycle-powered airship, and those things were around into the early 20th century,” says Crouch. After Ritchel, other daring inventors launched similar pedal-powered airships. Carl Myers, for example, held demonstrations of a device he called the “Sky-Cycle” in the 1890s.

Ritchel stands as one of the fascinating early aeronauts whose work blurred the line between science and the sideshow. “I refer to them as aerial showmen, these guys who came up with the notion of making money [by] thrilling people [with] their exploits in the air,” Crouch says.

According to Crouch’s 1983 book, The Eagle Aloft: Two Centuries of the Balloon in America, Ritchel and Quinlan took the airship on tour with a traveling circus in the late 1870s. Ritchel also operated his machine at Brighton Beach near Coney Island. He sold a few replicas of his device and later attempted to develop a larger, long-distance version of the craft powered by an 11-person hand-cranking crew. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this idea failed to gain momentum, and Ritchel faded from the headlines. Soon, the exploits of new aeronauts would upstage him, among them Alberto Santos-Dumont’s circumnavigation of the Eiffel Tower in 1901.

Left: Alberto Santos-Dumont's first balloon, 1898. Right: Santos-Dumont circles the Eiffel Tower in an airship on July 13, 1901. Photographs: Public Domain Via Wikimedia Commons

Despite many earlier dirigible flights, Crouch and Grossman agree that the technology only became practical when German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin built and flew the first rigid dirigible in the early 1900s. Over the first decade of the new century, Zeppelin perfected his namesake design, which featured a fabric-covered metal frame that enclosed numerous gasbags. “By 1913, just before [World War I] begins, Zeppelin is actually running sightseeing tours over German cities,” Crouch says, “so the Zeppelin at that point can safely carry passengers and take off and land from the same point.”

For a brief period, airships ruled the sky. (The spire of New York City’s Empire State Building, built in the 1930s, was famously intended as a docking station for passenger airships.) But the vehicles, which use gas to create buoyancy, were quickly eclipsed by airplanes, which achieve flight through propulsion that generates airflow over the craft’s wings.

While the 1937 Hindenburg disaster is often viewed as the end of the dirigible era, Grossman says that’s a misconception: The real death knell for passenger airships arrived when Pan American Airways’ China Clipper, a new breed of amphibious aircraft, flew from San Francisco to Manila in November 1935. “Partly because they flew faster, they could transport more weight, whether it’s people or cargo, mail, whatever, in the same amount of time,” Grossman explains. “They were less expensive to operate, they required much, much smaller crews, [and] they were less expensive to build.”

Airplanes were also safer. “Zeppelins have to fly low and slow,” Crouch says. “They operate in the weather; airplanes don’t. An airplane at 30,000 feet is flying above the weather. Weather, time after time, is what brought dirigibles down.”

Today, niche applications for passenger airships endure, including the Zeppelin company’s European tours, as well as ultra-luxury air yachts and air cruises. But “it’s always going to be a tiny, tiny slice of the transportation pie,” Grossman says.

Crouch agrees. “People still talk about bringing back big, rigid airships. That hasn’t happened yet, and I don’t think it will,” he says.

The USS Los Angeles, a United States Navy airship, in 1931. Photograph Public Domain Via Wikimedia Commons

In some ways, Ritchel’s flying machine was a microcosm of the larger history of dirigibles: fascinating, fun and the perfect fodder for fiction, but ultimately eclipsed by more efficient technology.

As for Ritchel, he died, penniless, of pneumonia in 1911 at age 66. “Although during his lifetime he had perfected inventions that, in the hands of others, had brought in great wealth, he died a poor man, as he lacked the business ability to turn the children of his brain to the best advantage to himself,” wrote the Bridgeport Post in his obituary.

Even so, the public had not forgotten the brief time three decades earlier when Ritchel and his airship ruled the skies. As the Boston Evening Transcript reported, his flights captured “the attention of the world. In every country and in every language, newspapers and magazines of the day printed long stories of the wonderful feats performed by the Bridgeport aviator and his marvelous machine, of which nothing short of a cruise to the North Pole was expected.”

— Erik Ofgang is the co-author of The Good Vices: From Beer to Sex, The Surprising Truth About What’s Actually Good For You and the author of Buzzed: A Guide to New England's Best Craft Beverages and Gillette Castle: A History. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Atlantic, Thrillist and the Associated Press, and he is the senior writer at Tech & Learning magazine.

[iww-gnv]

It’s not the disease-carrying mosquitoes, the scorpions, or the 22-kilogram tanks full of pesticide strapped to his back that Wendell Van Pelt fears. It’s the heat. This summer, while spraying insect-killing chemicals in the gardens of the rich in Greater Scottsdale, Arizona, Van Pelt has endured temperatures well in excess of 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Stepping past velvety green lawns and lagoon-like pools on his rounds, the field training manager at Mosquito Squad, a pest control service, has at times felt like he's “living in an oven.” But Van Pelt has had respite from the scorching conditions: a cloak of cooling power wrapped around his torso—a vest filled with ice. “I love it,” he says, describing how his backpack filled with pesticide or natural repellent seems to amplify the effect: “That backpack is almost pressing the cold into your back. It just feels fantastic.” Van Pelt knows that heat stress can be very dangerous. Everyone should be mindful of the risks, he emphasizes. And due to climate change and multiple recent heat waves, awareness of those risks is growing around the world. Millions of workers who toil outside, or in indoor spaces where temperatures can climb to unbearable levels, are increasingly adopting special strategies to cope. Cooling garments—vests, hats, and scarves—are among them.

[Read the rest]

[usafphantom2]

Tap photos ☝️

though only around 300 saw combat. Like most late war Luftwaffe projects, the aircraft would ultimately make little difference against overwhelming Allied air superiority.

The Me 262 possessed several features that would be used in postwar jet fighters, such as swept wings, heavy nose armament and full span wing slats. Its chief advantage lay in speed - it was over 100 mph faster than the P-51 Mustang - so hit and run attacks were often employed against Allied bomber formations. The Me 262’s engines, however, needed careful throttle control to avoid stalling, making fast acceleration and deceleration difficult. It was particularly vulnerable on takeoff and landing, a fact that Allied fighters took full advantage of.

Fighter versions of the Me 262 mounted 4x30mm cannon and, later, 24 R4M rockets on underwing racks. A hit from any of these would usually be enough to down a bomber, though pilots had little time to aim as they flashed through Allied formations. The type is believed to have shot down up to 500 Allied aircraft for 100 losses, an indication that it may have posed far more problems had it been available sooner.

As a fighter-bomber, the Me 262 could carry two bombs on undernose racks, while retaining two cannon. It proved ill-suited to the role, lacking an effective bombsight and having poor downward visibility, and though regular missions were flown from late 1944 they achieved little. In addition, a number of aircraft were lost to Allied flak, particularly in attacks on airfields. Other Me 262 variants included a small number of reconnaissance aircraft fitted with cameras and some radar-equipped 2-seaters used as night fighters on an experimental basis.

Pictured:

1) Messerschmitt 262 V3 prototype takes off under jet power for the first time at Leipheim, 18th July 1942. Note the original conventional undercarriage and an Me 321 glider in the background.

📷 thisdayinaviation.com

2) Flown to U.S. forces at Frankfurt by a Messerschmitt test pilot on 30th March 1945, this aircraft was unpainted due to bomb damage at its assembly plant. It crashed the following year during testing in the United States.

📷 defensemedianetwork.com

3) Two seat night fighter equipped with Neptun radar, captured at Schleswig in May 1945. It’s unclear how many combat sorties were undertaken by night fighter Me 262s, though some sources claim several RAF Mosquitoes were shot down. The ‘FE’ serial number on the rear fuselage was applied to aircraft selected for evaluation in the U.S.

📷 defensemedianetwork.com

4) One outlandish Me 262 variant mounted a 50mm cannon in the nose for use as a bomber destroyer. Two prototypes conducted flight testing, but this configuration was never used in combat. The aircraft pictured here, captured at Lechfeld, crashed while being flown to Cherbourg for shipment to the United States.

📷 key.aero

[elizaaudreyy]

High Value Target (Pt. Seven)

Pairing: Bradely "Rooster" Bradshaw x female!oc Word Count: 677

Tayler should've known something was up the second Hangman started acting helpful.

He'd been all smiles as they walked through the hangar after lunch, steering her away from the rest of the group under the pretense of "just checking something real quick." His voice was overly casual. Too smooth. Tayler narrowed her eyes with every step they took deeper into the training building.

"Jake," she said slowly, "what are we doing?"

"Nothing!" he said, grinning like a golden retriever who'd just stolen a steak. "Just showing you where the magic happens."

"Oh no," she muttered, stopping short. "If this ends with me getting shoved into a simulator, I swear-"

"Too late!" Hangman announced, swinging the simulator room door open with dramatic flair.

And standing right inside, arms crossed and clearly not amused by the stunt, was Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell himself.

Tayler froze. "You did not drag Maverick into this."

Hangman shrugged. "I might've mentioned you've never been in a cockpit before and that it could be educational."

Maverick looked between the two siblings, deadpan. "He wore me down. Like a mosquito. A persistent one."

"I'm gonna kill you," Tayler hissed at Hangman.

"You can try."

She turned back to Maverick, hands raised. "Respectfully, sit, I really don't want to mess up any expensive equipment."

Maverick's mouth twitched into the faintest of smirks. "It's a simulator. You can crash and burn as much as you want. It's half the fun."

Her face must've still said absolutely not, because suddenly a voice came from behind her.

"I'll fly with you."

She turned - and there was Rooster, his hands tucked into his pockets, leaning casually in the doorway like he hadn't just made her stomach do a full loop-the-loop.

"You'll what?" she asked.

"I'll co-pilot," he said with a shrug. 'Sit in the back, talk you through it. Easy."

Hangman looked entirely too smug. Maverick looked resigned. And Tayler...well, Tayler realized that if Rooster was going to be sitting behind her, she might not actually panic and die.

"Fine," she said. glaring at her brother. "But if I crash into a mountain, I'm blaming you."

"Already recording it for blackmail," Hangman called, leaning back against the wall like the proudest older brother alive.

Ten minutes later, she was buckled in, headset in, Rooster's voice coming calmly through her earpiece as the screen flickered to life around her.

"This is insane," she muttered, gripping the stick a little too tightly. "I don't know what any of these buttons do."

"You don't need to," Rooster said from the seat behind her. "I'm here. Just listen to my voice, and you'll be fine."

He was good at this, she had to admit. Calm. Steady. Confident without being cocky. Every instruction was clear, every small correction encouraging.

"You're flying straight and level," he said after a few minutes. "Nice and easy. You're doing better than half the guys I trained with."

"Flattery," she muttered. "Unnecessary."

"Not flattery," he said, "just facts."

She smiled, nerves starting to ease. "Okay...this isn't so bad."

"See? You're a natural."

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

"Too late."

He walked her through a turn, then a climb, then the tiniest dip that made her stomach flutter like it was real.

"You're in control," he said quietly. "You've got this."

And somehow, hearing it from him? She believed it.

They climbed out of the simulator thirty minutes later to find Hangman, Phoenix, and Coyote waiting outside. Hangman looked ready to burst with pride.

"She didn't crash!" Rooster announced. "Not even once."

"Show-off," Phoenix teased, elbowing Tayler. "You're gonna make the rest of us look bad."

Tayler rolled her eyes. "Never again. Once was plenty."

Hangman threw an arm around her shoulders. "I'm so proud. My little sister - pilot for a day."

She shoved him off. "You're never allowed to plan anything ever again."

But as she glanced back at Rooster, who was still smiling at her like she'd just done something incredible, she realized...

Maybe it hadn't been that bad.

Maybe it had even been a little amazing.

[freewillacquired]

In a world ravaged by a virus that primarily creates monsters, nasty encounters are in no short supply. When Rain begins to hear heavy footfalls—when she feels them practically shaking the ground beneath her, she figures she's about to have another.

Cursing under her breath, she unholsters her gun.

The days were blending together in depressing ways now. Nemesis was shocked at how quickly things had gone to hell after the Hive and Raccoon City Incidents. It had taken him quite a while to regenerate after the city's "sanitation," but once he was on his feet again, he realized the gravity of what was happening to the world.

Alone and with nothing left to do in his current mutated state, Nemesis had taken to showing up at Umbrella facilities unannounced, and destroying as much of them as he could. The digital feed supplied by the retinal implant attached to his right eye and sewn up into his head gave him a lot of useful information, especially after his mind was liberated from Umbrella's control. May as well put it to good use, right?

He'd acquired more clothes and equipment this way, with the boots and leather trenchcoat-style getup being standard issues for a creature called a Tyrant, which he apparently now was. They seemed just about the only things that were going to fit his... unique body shape nowadays.

Learning about himself and destroying Umbrella assets were good pastimes, but Nemesis was extremely lonely. The few survivors he came across now and then either screamed and ran from him or shot at him. Bullet wounds were nothing more than annoying mosquito bites to him now, thanks to his thick hide, but even so... it was demoralizing. All he wanted to do was help. He was almost getting used to being alone all the time, by necessity rather than desire, until that unexpectedly changed. While exploring a city one day, he rounded a corner and-

"Raaaain!" Nemesis bellowed the moment he saw her, unable to contain his excitement upon seeing her. "Oh... ny god!" He couldn't believe his eyes. Well, eye. He still had two, but one was... indisposed. In a move that probably looked damn near ridiculous to the other, he lifted his hand... and waved to her. "I'n so glad... to see you! How... are you... alithe... right now?" he tried to ask, his massive chompers getting in the way, as usual.

Nemesis couldn't get his voice to be anything other than a monotone growl, and with monstrous teeth and a noticeable lack of lips, his speech was something of a garbled mess. It took him a while, but he'd learned to make certain sounds in other ways, using his throat and tongue. Essentially, he'd had to relearn how to speak. Some sounds and words, though, were lost forever. None of that did anything to curb his enthusiasm at seeing Rain alive, however. Was he finally losing his mind? Hallucinating, maybe? No, the target identification system is identifying her as Rain... Right now, Nemesis didn't care either way. Just the sight of her was one for sore eyes, since his last clear memory of her was being at death's door.

"I thought... the anti-thirus... didn't work...?" he said, his elation at seeing her alive completely overriding his common sense. Nemesis wasn't thinking about the fact that Rain wouldn't recognize him anymore, or about how negatively she would likely react to seeing the hulking beast before her. Not to mention his tentacles, rooted at the backs of his shoulders, which were excitedly coiling and undulating in their own right, reacting to his surprise and happiness. He batted one of them with his hand. "Cut it out...!" he admonished the obnoxious appendage. It recoiled temporarily before returning to its idle activities.

Then it dawned on him, especially with how she had her gun at the ready. Oh no... she has no idea who I am. "It's Natt," he said, laying his hand on his chest. "Natt... Ad-di-son." How pathetic is it that I can't even say my own name correctly anymore? he thought grimly.

[stevishabitat]

Also keep in mind that most feral cats, if healthy, tend to be clean. They know where to find food and water and generally take fairly good care of themselves and each other.

Cats that look visibly scruffy are almost always lost pets.

They don't have the local knowledge and experience to fend for themselves outdoors if they've been abandoned or got loose, or are somehow unable to get home.

If you see a cat that looks like this, offer water and contact a local rescue group (not animal control or humane society/SPCA).

Don't offer food. If an animal is dehydrated or suffering heat illness, food can make them sicker. Just offer room temperature or slightly cool tap water, in a shady location if you can, to encourage them to rest in the shade.

The rescuer may ask you to try to keep the cat in the location until they can get there to pick up. If you don't feel comfortable approaching the cat, or have to leave before they arrive, let the rescue person know that. They will often put the word out to volunteers willing to come "hold for pickup" to be sure the cat doesn't vanish.

Cat rescuers are often equipped with carriers/humane traps, know the signs of emergency injury/illness, and usually come with microchip reader in hand to check the cat for a chip.

For the love of all felines, keep your cats indoors! Get them neutered, vaxxed, and microchipped. And get them a breakaway collar with reflective tape, a bell & tag in case of an escape.

If there are feral/community cats in your area, you can provide water in a shady location during hot weather. Make sure to dump, clean, and refill it regularly to avoid mosquito breeding, algae, water-born illnesses, etc.

[luxury-residences]

Adani Samsara Ivana 4 BHK independent in Sector 63, Gurgaon

Welcome to Adani Samsara Ivana, a premium residential project that combines luxury, comfort, and sustainability. Situated in the prime location of Sector 63, Gurgaon, on the renowned Golf Course Extension Road, this project by the esteemed Adani Group promises a lifestyle of unparalleled elegance and sophistication. With 4 BHK low-rise independent floors starting at ₹5.20 Cr onwards*, Adani Samsara Ivana sets a new benchmark for modern living in Gurgaon.

About Adani Samsara Ivana Gurgaon

Adani Samsara Ivana is a meticulously planned residential project designed to provide a serene and luxurious living experience. Located on the iconic Golden Mile, the project offers 260 luxury floors spread across 70 acres of expansive integrated development. These homes are thoughtfully crafted to meet the diverse needs of today’s discerning homebuyers.

Each 4 BHK independent floor comes with:

Dedicated 2 car parks with EV charging facilities.

Private lifts with access control for enhanced security.

Spacious layouts with natural light and ventilation.

Options for private terraces or private basements for select floors.

The project’s low-density living ensures peace and exclusivity, making it an ideal choice for families seeking a tranquil yet connected lifestyle.

Highlights of Adani Samsara Ivana

Low-Rise Luxury Living: Basement + Stilt + Four Floors.

Dedicated Green Spaces: Adjacent to 1.18 acres of lush green park.

Fully Loaded Homes: Luxurious interiors, mosquito mesh sliders, and more.

Private Terraces: Available on the 3rd and 4th floors.

Basement Options: Exclusive to 1st and 2nd floors.

World-Class Amenities

Adani Samsara Ivana offers a host of modern amenities designed to enhance your lifestyle:

Sports Facilities: Skating rink, badminton court, basketball court, cricket pitch, and table tennis.

Fitness and Recreation: Fully-equipped gym, reading zone, and children’s play area.

Green Spaces: Beautifully landscaped parks and walking trails for relaxation and fitness.

Sizes & Floor Plan

Adani Samsara Ivana offers 4 BHK + Utility layouts starting at 2008 Sq. Ft. with prices from ₹5.20 Cr onwards*, ensuring spacious and luxurious living for every family.

Location Advantages

Strategically located in Sector 63, Gurgaon, Adani Samsara Ivana offers excellent connectivity and convenience:

Retail and Shopping: 2 minutes

Golf Course Extension Road/Rapid Metro: 5 minutes

Grand Hyatt Hotel: 5 minutes

Sohna Road: 5 minutes

Huda City Centre Metro: 15 minutes

Top Hospitals: Fortis, Artemis, Paras, and Max (15 minutes)

IGI Airport: 30 minutes

Adani’s Legacy in Gurgaon

Adani Samsara Ivana is part of Adani Group’s prestigious projects in Gurgaon, which include:

Adani Lushlands: Premium residential plots with sustainable infrastructure.

Adani Samsara Vilasa 2.0: Contemporary low-rise floors with modern amenities.

Adani Samsara Avasa: A luxurious retreat offering unmatched comfort.

Adani Samsara Arya: Iconic independent floors crafted for elite living.

Each project reflects the Adani Group’s commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, making Gurgaon a hub for future-ready living.

Future of Real Estate Market in India: Trends & Predictions

The Indian real estate market is poised for significant growth, with Gurgaon emerging as a top destination for luxury housing. Key trends driving this growth include:

Increased Demand for Low-Density Living: Projects like Adani Samsara Ivana cater to the growing preference for independent floors with ample space and privacy.

Sustainability: Green-certified projects and eco-friendly features are becoming a priority for developers and buyers alike.

Technological Advancements: Smart homes and home automation systems are redefining urban living.

With projects like Adani Samsara Ivana, the Gurgaon real estate market is setting new benchmarks for luxury and innovation, making it a prime investment destination.

Conclusion

Adani Samsara Ivana is more than just a residence; it’s a gateway to a lifestyle of opulence and tranquility. Whether you’re looking for a dream home or a solid investment, this project is a testament to the future of luxury living in Gurgaon. Explore the world of bespoke luxury and make Adani Samsara Ivana your new address today.

For more information, visit Adani Samsara Ivana.

Check out more Luxury Properties in Gurgaon from Premium Developers in promising locations.

Contact Us:-

Website:- www.luxuryresidences.in

Call:- +91 9899055893

[patheticprogrammingperson]

Welcome, to the Tintin book with both the most slavery, and the most submarines

It’s time for the Red Sea Sharks, and I know I say this a lot, but this is actually my favourite Tintin.

Plot-line

So Tintin and Haddock run quite literally into General Alcazar, who drops his wallet, and in their attempt to return it, discover he’s here to buy arms, the seller of which turns out to be Dawson, from all the way back in book five, The Blue Lotus.

Tintin has a sneak around, finds some de Havilland Mosquitos, and discovers that Khemed, from all the way back in book fifteen, Land of Black Gold, has been coup d’étated by Sheikh Bab El Ehr, with the help of some de Havilland Mosquitos.

So Tintin&Co promptly fly off to Khemed, where they get turned around at the border, and their flight back explodes from a time-bomb in the luggage, but only after one of the engines spontaneously combusting forces them down.

Tintin&Co sneak back into Khemed, and shelter from the armed street patrols with Oliveira de Figueira.

They escape the city with the aid of crossdressing and horses, and make it to the secret city in the mountains where the Emir has been hiding out.

He explains that the coup was becuase he chucked out an airline that was involved in slave trading, not because of the whole slavery thing, but because they wouldn't put on a private air-show for his son.

So anyway Tintin&Co get on a boat, which gets Mosquitoed, but Tintin shoots one down with what appears to be an AK-47, and they escape the burning wreck with a raft.

They rescue the pilot of the Mosquito Tintin shot down, Skut, and then get rescued by the yacht of the owner of that slavery airline, the Marquis di Gorgonzola, who promptly dumps them on a cargo ship, the crew of which promptly set it on fire and abandon it in the night.

So Tintin&Co put out the fire, take control of the ship, discover a cargo of slaves, rescue them, have a quick fight with a submarine, and are saved by the USS Los Angeles, which has a $\frac {1}{4}$ chance of being a airship.

Haddock bashes a diver with the anchor, somehow doesn't kill them, a shark explodes, Gorgonzola is revealed to be Rastapopoulos, who escapes by yet another submarine.

Characters

So, the only new major character here is Skut, who, like most Tintin characters, has a relatively bland personality, but I do appreciate having a character with slightly less black-and-white morals than usual.

Things I like

First and foremost, the water, being a book set mostly at sea, there is naturally a lot of water, and it all both looks excellent, and behaves in a seemingly quite realistic way.

Things I don't

You know the drill, it's stupid nitpick time!

On Page four, panel two, the speech bubble is intended to be read as coming from the telephone, however it is not made clear, as the tail points to the same place as panel 1, with only the texture of the bubble to differentiate them, moving the origin of the bubble on panel one to the other side of Tintin's head would have easily alleviated the issue

The plane not only has an engine catch on fire, but also makes a successful crash-landing seemingly without a single injury

Silly bits

Haddock greets the Thom(p)sons with a hosepipe

Calculs arrives to breakfast via roller-skate

Milatary equipment is advertised in a mainstream newspaper

Tintin trespasses on private property

Haddock becomes highly relatable

Canon femboy Tintin

Two armoured cars are distroied by a poor telephone network

Calculus steerable roller-skate

Once again, I must reiterate, the Emir, friend and ally of Tintin, does not take issue with slavery, but does with airlines not putting on private air shows for his son at the drop of a hat

The Emir believes commercial air-liners are able to safely loop the loop while loaded with passengers

Conclusion

Truly, this is the best Tintin, and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot, just ignore all the times I said otherwise.

Sources

de Havilland Mosquitos

[medclinicfamilypractice]

Travel Clinic Brookvale - Travel Vaccinations Dee Why

Travel clinic Brookvale Travelling Overseas Get Vaccinated

Need travel vaccinations? Visit our Travel Clinic at Westfield Warringah Mall Brookvale, near Dee Why. Our doctors will guide you. Book an appointment now!

What vaccines do you need for travel?

If you travel outside Australia, you may get sick from a number of diseases that are preventable by vaccination.

Different vaccines are needed for certain countries. There is no standard immunisation schedule that will suit all travellers. The recommended vaccines for travelling depend on a number of factors. These include your age, pregnancy or planning pregnancy, underlying medical conditions, vaccination history, location and season of travel.

When should you get vaccinated?

You should consult your doctor or visit a travel health clinic six to 12 weeks before you leave Australia.

It is important that you don’t wait until the last minute to visit your doctor to discuss what vaccines you need for your trip. You might need a number of doses of a particular vaccine and you might need time after immunisation for your body to develop full immunity.

Infections acquired by travellers

Exposure to infectious diseases, some of which are vaccine preventable, is one of the many health hazards of international travel. Although some of these diseases are present in Australia, the risk of acquiring them overseas may be higher because of higher disease incidence in other countries and/or increased risk of exposure resulting from activities undertaken during the travel period.

Common infections acquired by travellers include those that follow ingestion of contaminated food or beverages. Most of these are diarrhoeal diseases due to enteric pathogens, but infections with extra-intestinal manifestations, such as hepatitis A and typhoid, are also acquired this way. Vaccines against hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera are available.

Insect-borne (particularly mosquito-borne) infections, such as malaria and dengue, are important causes of fever in Australian travellers returning from endemic areas, particularly Southeast Asia and Oceania. Japanese encephalitis occurs throughout a large part of Asia and the Western Pacific region, including eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Yellow fever occurs only in parts of Africa and South America, while tick-borne encephalitis occurs in parts of Europe and Asia. Vaccines are available for protection against Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever and tick-borne encephalitis.

Vaccine-preventable infections transmitted via aerosols and/or droplets include influenza, meningococcal disease, measles, mumps and varicella (chickenpox); influenza is typically the most frequent vaccine-preventable infection among travellers.6 Incidences of measles and mumps are higher in many overseas countries, including some developed countries, than in Australia. Tuberculosis is a rare infection in travellers and is more likely to be acquired by expatriates who live in endemic areas for long periods than by short-term visitors.

Blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), may pose a threat to some Australian travellers. In some areas, there is the possibility that these viruses and other blood-borne agents may be transmitted by healthcare workers using non-sterile medical equipment or other poor infection control practices. Hepatitis B vaccine is relevant to many travellers.

Travellers may be exposed to a variety of other exotic infectious agents, such as rabies (from bites or scratches from rabid dogs and other mammals in many countries), schistosomiasis (from exposure to water infested with the parasites, in Africa in particular), and leptospirosis (through activities like rafting or wading in contaminated streams). Of these, only rabies can be prevented by vaccination.

Some other vector-borne diseases and parasitic (including protozoal and helminthic) diseases are also important for international travellers, some of which are preventable through appropriate barrier precautions and chemoprophylaxis (e.g. malaria)

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

Adult travellers should be adequately protected against tetanus before departure, particularly if their risk of sustaining tetanus-prone wounds is high or there could be delays in accessing health services where they can receive tetanus toxoid boosters safely if required. Protection against pertussis should also be offered at this opportunity (as dTpa) if no previous dose of dTpa has been given. Before departure, adults should be given a booster dose of dT, if more than 10 years have elapsed since the last dose, or dTpa if not given previously. For high-risk trips, consider giving a booster of either dTpa or dT if more than 5 years have elapsed

Hepatitis B

Most Australian children born since 2000, and a high proportion of adolescents, will have been vaccinated against hepatitis B under the NIP or jurisdictional school-based vaccination programs. Long-term or frequent travellers to regions of intermediate or high endemicity of hepatitis B, including Central and South America, Africa, Asia or Oceania, are recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, due to the potential for inadvertent exposure to hepatitis B virus through blood-borne or sexual routes, including unplanned medical or dental procedures. A survey has shown that about half of Australian travellers who spent at least 3 nights in Southeast or East Asia had participated in at least one activity with a risk of acquiring hepatitis B.

Influenza and pneumococcal disease

Older travellers (usually those aged ≥65 years) and those with any relevant underlying medical or behavioural risk factors should receive the seasonal influenza vaccine and/or should have received the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. All travellers should consider influenza vaccine, especially if travelling during the influenza season of the destination region(s). The influenza vaccine is particularly relevant if influenza epidemics are occurring at the traveller’s destination(s), and for travellers in large tourist groups, especially those that include older persons, or travelling on cruises, where they are likely to be in confined circumstances for days to weeks.

Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella

Most measles outbreaks in Australia now result from an infection imported by inadequately vaccinated young travellers. Incidences of measles and mumps are higher in some overseas countries, regions or communities, including developed countries, than in Australia. Australians born during or since 1966 who have not received 2 doses of measles-, mumps- and rubella-containing vaccines should be vaccinated with the MMR vaccine before travelling.Varicella vaccine should be offered to unvaccinated travellers who have not had clinical disease, or where serology demonstrates lack of immunity in those with an uncertain history of clinical disease

Meningococcal disease

A single dose of MenCCV-containing vaccine is recommended for all children at the age of 12 months. This can be provided as either the combination vaccine Hib-MenCCV or MenCCV. Vaccination against meningococcal serogroup B is recommended for certain age groups who are at increased risk of meningococcal disease

Poliomyelitis

All travellers should be age-appropriately immunised against polio . If travelling to countries where wild poliovirus transmission still occurs, inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (IPV) should be offered to those who have not completed a 3-dose primary course of any polio vaccine, and a single booster dose should be given to those who have previously completed the primary course. An up-to-date list of polio-affected countries is available from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Polio Eradication Initiative website. Documented evidence of polio vaccination is not routinely required for travellers under International Health Regulations but may be temporarily recommended in accordance with WHO recommendations in response to new evidence of the spread of wild poliovirus. As international polio epidemiology and any associated travel requirements are subject to change, current recommendations for Australian travellers should be sought from the Australian Government Department of Health website.

Cholera

Cholera vaccination is rarely indicated for most travellers,8 as the risk of acquiring cholera for travellers in general is very low, provided that general precautions to avoid contaminated food and water are taken. The protective efficacy against Vibrio cholerae O1 is high (>80%) among children aged 2–5 years for the initial 4–6 months after 3 doses, but wanes to become insignificant afterwards. For those aged >5 years, protective efficacy is about 78% and 63% for the 1st and 2nd year, respectively, and wanes to become insignificant beyond 2 years after vaccination.9 The vaccine does not protect against the V. cholerae O139 serogroup. It is only indicated for those travellers at considerable risk, such as those working in humanitarian disaster situations. However, since cholera and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) share the same toxin, cholera vaccination does afford some partial short-term protection against ETEC-caused travellers’ diarrhoea. The effect lasts only about 3 months, and the overall reduction of travellers’ diarrhoea risk would be less than 15%;10 however, there may be some travellers who would benefit from improved protection against travellers’ diarrhoea, including those with achlorhydria and those at increased risk of severe or complicated diarrhoeal disease.

Certification of cholera vaccination has been abandoned globally, and no countries have official entry requirements for cholera vaccination.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccine should be recommended to all travellers ≥1 year of age travelling to moderately or highly endemic countries (including all developing countries), except those who are likely to have acquired natural immunity following previous infection. There is no longer any place for the routine use of normal human immunoglobulin to prevent hepatitis A in travellers

Japanese encephalitis

Vaccination is recommended for travellers spending a month or more in endemic areas in Asia and Papua New Guinea during the JE virus transmission season and should be considered for shorter-term travellers, particularly if travel is during the wet season or anticipated to be repeated, and/or there is considerable outdoor activity and/or staying in accommodation without air conditioning, screens or bed nets

Updated information regarding JE virus activity should be sought from a reputable source prior to travel (for example, Health information for international travel [the ‘Yellow book’] published by the US Centre’s for Disease Control and Prevention, available at (www.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook).11 While the overall risk of JE in travellers to JE endemic countries is likely to be low (<1 case per 1 million travellers), the risk is determined by the season of travel, the regions visited, the duration of travel, the extent of outdoor activity and the extent to which mosquito avoidance measures are taken.

Meningococcal disease

Up-to-date epidemiological information should be sought to determine the need for meningococcal vaccination in travellers. Quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (which includes serogroups A, C, W135 and Y antigens) is recommended for those who intend travelling to parts of the world where epidemics of meningococcal disease occur, in particular the ‘meningitis belt’ of sub-Saharan Africa. The Saudi Arabian authorities require that all pilgrims travelling to Mecca (for the Hajj or Umra) have evidence of recent vaccination with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine8 . The quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine should be used in preference to the quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Rabies

Travellers to rabies-endemic regions should be advised of the risk of rabies infection, and to avoid close contact with either wild, stray or domestic animals, in particular dogs, cats, monkeys and bats. Travellers should also be aware of the importance of appropriate immediate wound care of all animal bites and scratches

Recommendation for pre-travel (i.e. pre-exposure prophylaxis) rabies vaccination (or, where indicated, booster doses) is based on an assessment of the likelihood of contact and risk of exposure to potentially rabid animals, the access to appropriate healthcare and availability of post-exposure prophylaxis, including rabies immunoglobulin, should there be an at-risk exposure, and the timeliness of such access after exposure. The previous recommendation for pre-exposure prophylaxis based on duration of stay in rabies-endemic areas (i.e. for more than a month) is arbitrary, and most Australian travellers who have required post-exposure prophylaxis have undertaken shorter periods of travel. A lower threshold for recommending rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis should be adopted for children travelling to endemic areas. Vaccination against rabies before travel ensures that a safe and efficacious vaccine has been used and simplifies the management of a subsequent exposure because fewer doses of vaccine are needed. It also means that rabies immunoglobulin, which is often extremely expensive, difficult or even impossible to obtain in many developing countries, is not required, and reduces the urgency of post-exposure prophylaxis.

Tick-borne encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by a tick-borne RNA flavivirus and may involve the central nervous system. The disease is prevalent in parts of temperate regions of central and northern Europe and across northern Asia. Travellers are at particular risk when hiking or camping in forested areas in endemic regions during the summer months. Safe and effective vaccines are available. Vaccination is recommended only for individuals with a high risk of exposure. Two inactivated TBE vaccine formulations (from Austria and Germany) are available in Europe (based on the European subtype), and two other formulations, based on the Far Eastern subtypes, are available in Russia. There is limited evidence that suggests the Austrian and German vaccines induce cross-protecting immunity against the Far Eastern and Siberian subtypes. While the conventional schedule for completing the primary vaccination course takes 9 to 12 months, accelerated schedules are available While no TBE vaccine is registered in Australia, a small stock of vaccine may be available in Australia for use under the Special Access Scheme.

Tuberculosis

Vaccination with BCG vaccine is generally recommended for tuberculin-negative children <5 years of age who will be staying or living in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis for an extended period. There is less evidence of the benefit of vaccination in older children and adults, although consideration should be given to vaccination of tuberculin-negative children ≥5 years but <16 years of age who may be living or travelling for long periods in high-risk countries (defined as having an incidence >40 per 100 000 population)

For travellers who would require the BCG vaccine, the following precautions need to be considered when scheduling their vaccination visits:

The BCG vaccine should preferably be given at least 3 months prior to entry into endemic areas.

Other live viral vaccines (e.g. MMR, varicella or yellow fever) should be administered concurrently or with a minimum 4-week interval from BCG vaccination.

A 2-step tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test), performed by trained and accredited healthcare practitioners, is recommended prior to receiving the BCG vaccine for all individuals except infants aged <6 months.

Reactivity to tuberculin may be depressed for as long as 4 weeks following viral infections or live viral vaccines, particularly measles infection and measles-containing vaccines.

Tuberculin skin tests and BCG vaccine are available from state/territory tuberculosis services.

Typhoid

Typhoid vaccine may be recommended to travellers ≥2 years of age travelling to endemic regions, including the Indian subcontinent, most Southeast Asian countries and several South Pacific nations, including Papua New Guinea. This advice is also relevant for those travelling (back) to endemic regions to visit friends and relatives (VFR travel). Inactivated parenteral or live oral typhoid vaccine formulations are available

Yellow fever

The yellow fever vaccine is recommended for all persons ≥9 months of age travelling to, or living in, an area with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission. To minimise the risk of yellow fever introduction, some countries require documented evidence of yellow fever vaccination for entry, in accordance with the International Health Regulations.

The risk of being infected with the yellow fever virus, country entry requirements, and individual factors like age, pregnancy and underlying medical conditions must be taken into account when considering yellow fever vaccination. Vaccination is generally not recommended when travelling to areas where there is low potential for yellow fever virus exposure (i.e. no human yellow fever cases ever reported and evidence to suggest only low levels of yellow fever virus transmission in the past). However, vaccination might be considered for a small subset of travellers to these areas who are at increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes or unable to avoid mosquito bites.  People aged ≥60 years re at increased risk of severe adverse events after primary yellow fever vaccination. Vaccination of persons in this age group should be weighed against the potential for yellow fever virus exposure and, in turn, the benefits of vaccination

In most individuals, a booster dose is not required as a single dose of yellow fever vaccine induces protective antibody levels that persist for many decades. However, there are certain individuals for whom a booster is recommended if 10 years have passed since their last dose and they are at ongoing risk of yellow fever infection.

[singkongenvironmentalengineer]

Can a Wall Mount Mosquito Trap Really Eliminate Mosquitoes Efficiently?

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance—they pose real health risks by spreading diseases like dengue and Zika. While there are many mosquito control options available, one question continues to arise: Can a wall mount mosquito trap really eliminate mosquitoes efficiently? At Sing Kong Environmental Engineering, we believe the answer is yes—especially when you're using the right equipment, in the right way.

How Wall Mount Mosquito Traps Work

A Wall Mount Mosquito Trap operates by attracting mosquitoes through a combination of UV light, carbon dioxide, heat, or moisture—mimicking the cues of human presence. Once lured in, the mosquitoes are drawn into a chamber using a fan or vacuum, where they dehydrate and die.

The strategic placement on a wall—not too high and not too low—ensures the trap captures mosquitoes that typically fly at head-to-waist level, increasing its efficiency.

Why Wall Mount Design Improves Mosquito Control

Compared to portable traps or tabletop devices, wall-mounted traps offer several advantages. They are positioned off the ground, keeping them out of reach of pets and children, while still remaining in optimal mosquito flight zones. Their fixed installation also ensures consistent performance, especially when used in mosquito-prone areas like balconies, patios, kitchens, or storage rooms.

The New Wall Mount Mosquito Trap for Indoor & Outdoor Use from Sing Kong Environmental Engineering is built for flexibility—able to withstand weather outdoors and function silently indoors. With its durable design and modern trapping technology, it delivers round-the-clock mosquito reduction with minimal effort.

Efficient, Low Maintenance, and Eco-Friendly

A major benefit of using a Wall Mount Mosquito Trap is its low maintenance. Unlike sprays or chemical foggers that need frequent reapplication, the trap only requires simple cleaning of the mosquito chamber. Plus, it doesn’t produce smoke or odors, making it an environmentally conscious option. Many users report noticeable mosquito population drops within a few days to weeks of installation, especially when combined with other good practices like removing standing water.

Should You Try One?

Absolutely. If you’re seeking a reliable, chemical-free solution to protect your family or customers from mosquito bites, this is a smart investment. Whether you're dealing with pests inside your home or around outdoor seating areas, the New Wall Mount Mosquito Trap for Indoor & Outdoor Use offers powerful, consistent performance.

Contact Us: Ready to say goodbye to pesky mosquitoes? Let Sing Kong Environmental Engineering help you take control with our high-performance wall mount mosquito trap.

+65 8338 7965

Reach out today to learn more or request a customized solution for your home or business.

[northsydneyfamilydoctors]

Travel Smart. Stay Healthy. Get Travel Health Ready

Travel Clinic North Sydney - Travel Vaccination McMahons Point

Travelling overseas? Get vaccinated from premium medical centre in North Sydney and Mcmahons Point for your next trip. Give us a call on 02 8313 0680.

Going overseas? 🌍 Travel health isn’t just vaccines—it’s about preparing your body for new environments, preventing illness, and ensuring a smooth trip. At North Sydney Family Doctors, we provide personalised travel health advice, vaccinations, and tips to keep you safe on the go.

What vaccines do you need for travel?

If you travel outside Australia, you may get sick from a number of diseases that are preventable by vaccination.

Different vaccines are needed for certain countries. There is no standard immunisation schedule that will suit all travellers. The recommended vaccines for travelling depend on a number of factors. These include your age, pregnancy or planning pregnancy, underlying medical conditions, vaccination history, location and season of travel.

When should you get vaccinated?

You should consult your doctor or visit a travel health clinic six to 12 weeks before you leave Australia.

It is important that you don’t wait until the last minute to visit your doctor to discuss what vaccines you need for your trip. You might need a number of doses of a particular vaccine and you might need time after immunisation for your body to develop full immunity.

Infections acquired by travellers

Exposure to infectious diseases, some of which are vaccine preventable, is one of the many health hazards of international travel. Although some of these diseases are present in Australia, the risk of acquiring them overseas may be higher because of higher disease incidence in other countries and/or increased risk of exposure resulting from activities undertaken during the travel period.

Common infections acquired by travellers include those that follow ingestion of contaminated food or beverages. Most of these are diarrhoeal diseases due to enteric pathogens, but infections with extra-intestinal manifestations, such as hepatitis A and typhoid, are also acquired this way. Vaccines against hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera are available.

Insect-borne (particularly mosquito-borne) infections, such as malaria and dengue, are important causes of fever in Australian travellers returning from endemic areas, particularly Southeast Asia and Oceania. Japanese encephalitis occurs throughout a large part of Asia and the Western Pacific region, including eastern Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Yellow fever occurs only in parts of Africa and South America, while tick-borne encephalitis occurs in parts of Europe and Asia. Vaccines are available for protection against Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever and tick-borne encephalitis.

Vaccine-preventable infections transmitted via aerosols and/or droplets include influenza, meningococcal disease, measles, mumps and varicella (chickenpox); influenza is typically the most frequent vaccine-preventable infection among travellers.6 Incidences of measles and mumps are higher in many overseas countries, including some developed countries, than in Australia. Tuberculosis is a rare infection in travellers and is more likely to be acquired by expatriates who live in endemic areas for long periods than by short-term visitors.

Blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), may pose a threat to some Australian travellers. In some areas, there is the possibility that these viruses and other blood-borne agents may be transmitted by healthcare workers using non-sterile medical equipment or other poor infection control practices. Hepatitis B vaccine is relevant to many travellers.

Travellers may be exposed to a variety of other exotic infectious agents, such as rabies (from bites or scratches from rabid dogs and other mammals in many countries), schistosomiasis (from exposure to water infested with the parasites, in Africa in particular), and leptospirosis (through activities like rafting or wading in contaminated streams). Of these, only rabies can be prevented by vaccination.

Some other vector-borne diseases and parasitic (including protozoal and helminthic) diseases are also important for international travellers, some of which are preventable through appropriate barrier precautions and chemoprophylaxis (e.g. malaria)

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

Adult travellers should be adequately protected against tetanus before departure, particularly if their risk of sustaining tetanus-prone wounds is high or there could be delays in accessing health services where they can receive tetanus toxoid boosters safely if required. Protection against pertussis should also be offered at this opportunity (as dTpa) if no previous dose of dTpa has been given. Before departure, adults should be given a booster dose of dT, if more than 10 years have elapsed since the last dose, or dTpa if not given previously. For high-risk trips, consider giving a booster of either dTpa or dT if more than 5 years have elapsed

Hepatitis B

Most Australian children born since 2000, and a high proportion of adolescents, will have been vaccinated against hepatitis B under the NIP or jurisdictional school-based vaccination programs. Long-term or frequent travellers to regions of intermediate or high endemicity of hepatitis B, including Central and South America, Africa, Asia or Oceania, are recommended to be vaccinated against hepatitis B, due to the potential for inadvertent exposure to hepatitis B virus through blood-borne or sexual routes, including unplanned medical or dental procedures. A survey has shown that about half of Australian travellers who spent at least 3 nights in Southeast or East Asia had participated in at least one activity with a risk of acquiring hepatitis B.

Influenza and pneumococcal disease

Older travellers (usually those aged ≥65 years) and those with any relevant underlying medical or behavioural risk factors should receive the seasonal influenza vaccine and/or should have received the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. All travellers should consider influenza vaccine, especially if travelling during the influenza season of the destination region(s). The influenza vaccine is particularly relevant if influenza epidemics are occurring at the traveller’s destination(s), and for travellers in large tourist groups, especially those that include older persons, or travelling on cruises, where they are likely to be in confined circumstances for days to weeks.

Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella

Most measles outbreaks in Australia now result from an infection imported by inadequately vaccinated young travellers. Incidences of measles and mumps are higher in some overseas countries, regions or communities, including developed countries, than in Australia. Australians born during or since 1966 who have not received 2 doses of measles-, mumps- and rubella-containing vaccines should be vaccinated with the MMR vaccine before travelling.Varicella vaccine should be offered to unvaccinated travellers who have not had clinical disease, or where serology demonstrates lack of immunity in those with an uncertain history of clinical disease

Meningococcal disease

A single dose of MenCCV-containing vaccine is recommended for all children at the age of 12 months. This can be provided as either the combination vaccine Hib-MenCCV or MenCCV. Vaccination against meningococcal serogroup B is recommended for certain age groups who are at increased risk of meningococcal disease

Poliomyelitis

All travellers should be age-appropriately immunised against polio . If travelling to countries where wild poliovirus transmission still occurs, inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (IPV) should be offered to those who have not completed a 3-dose primary course of any polio vaccine, and a single booster dose should be given to those who have previously completed the primary course. An up-to-date list of polio-affected countries is available from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Polio Eradication Initiative website. Documented evidence of polio vaccination is not routinely required for travellers under International Health Regulations but may be temporarily recommended in accordance with WHO recommendations in response to new evidence of the spread of wild poliovirus. As international polio epidemiology and any associated travel requirements are subject to change, current recommendations for Australian travellers should be sought from the Australian Government Department of Health website.

Cholera

Cholera vaccination is rarely indicated for most travellers,8 as the risk of acquiring cholera for travellers in general is very low, provided that general precautions to avoid contaminated food and water are taken. The protective efficacy against Vibrio cholerae O1 is high (>80%) among children aged 2–5 years for the initial 4–6 months after 3 doses, but wanes to become insignificant afterwards. For those aged >5 years, protective efficacy is about 78% and 63% for the 1st and 2nd year, respectively, and wanes to become insignificant beyond 2 years after vaccination.9 The vaccine does not protect against the V. cholerae O139 serogroup. It is only indicated for those travellers at considerable risk, such as those working in humanitarian disaster situations. However, since cholera and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) share the same toxin, cholera vaccination does afford some partial short-term protection against ETEC-caused travellers’ diarrhoea. The effect lasts only about 3 months, and the overall reduction of travellers’ diarrhoea risk would be less than 15%;10 however, there may be some travellers who would benefit from improved protection against travellers’ diarrhoea, including those with achlorhydria and those at increased risk of severe or complicated diarrhoeal disease.

Certification of cholera vaccination has been abandoned globally, and no countries have official entry requirements for cholera vaccination.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccine should be recommended to all travellers ≥1 year of age travelling to moderately or highly endemic countries (including all developing countries), except those who are likely to have acquired natural immunity following previous infection. There is no longer any place for the routine use of normal human immunoglobulin to prevent hepatitis A in travellers

Japanese encephalitis

Vaccination is recommended for travellers spending a month or more in endemic areas in Asia and Papua New Guinea during the JE virus transmission season and should be considered for shorter-term travellers, particularly if travel is during the wet season or anticipated to be repeated, and/or there is considerable outdoor activity and/or staying in accommodation without air conditioning, screens or bed nets

Updated information regarding JE virus activity should be sought from a reputable source prior to travel (for example, Health information for international travel [the ‘Yellow book’] published by the US Centre’s for Disease Control and Prevention, available at (www.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook).11 While the overall risk of JE in travellers to JE endemic countries is likely to be low (<1 case per 1 million travellers), the risk is determined by the season of travel, the regions visited, the duration of travel, the extent of outdoor activity and the extent to which mosquito avoidance measures are taken.

Meningococcal disease

Up-to-date epidemiological information should be sought to determine the need for meningococcal vaccination in travellers. Quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (which includes serogroups A, C, W135 and Y antigens) is recommended for those who intend travelling to parts of the world where epidemics of meningococcal disease occur, in particular the ‘meningitis belt’ of sub-Saharan Africa. The Saudi Arabian authorities require that all pilgrims travelling to Mecca (for the Hajj or Umra) have evidence of recent vaccination with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine8 . The quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine should be used in preference to the quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Rabies

Travellers to rabies-endemic regions should be advised of the risk of rabies infection, and to avoid close contact with either wild, stray or domestic animals, in particular dogs, cats, monkeys and bats. Travellers should also be aware of the importance of appropriate immediate wound care of all animal bites and scratches

Recommendation for pre-travel (i.e. pre-exposure prophylaxis) rabies vaccination (or, where indicated, booster doses) is based on an assessment of the likelihood of contact and risk of exposure to potentially rabid animals, the access to appropriate healthcare and availability of post-exposure prophylaxis, including rabies immunoglobulin, should there be an at-risk exposure, and the timeliness of such access after exposure. The previous recommendation for pre-exposure prophylaxis based on duration of stay in rabies-endemic areas (i.e. for more than a month) is arbitrary, and most Australian travellers who have required post-exposure prophylaxis have undertaken shorter periods of travel. A lower threshold for recommending rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis should be adopted for children travelling to endemic areas. Vaccination against rabies before travel ensures that a safe and efficacious vaccine has been used and simplifies the management of a subsequent exposure because fewer doses of vaccine are needed. It also means that rabies immunoglobulin, which is often extremely expensive, difficult or even impossible to obtain in many developing countries, is not required, and reduces the urgency of post-exposure prophylaxis.

Tick-borne encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by a tick-borne RNA flavivirus and may involve the central nervous system. The disease is prevalent in parts of temperate regions of central and northern Europe and across northern Asia. Travellers are at particular risk when hiking or camping in forested areas in endemic regions during the summer months. Safe and effective vaccines are available. Vaccination is recommended only for individuals with a high risk of exposure. Two inactivated TBE vaccine formulations (from Austria and Germany) are available in Europe (based on the European subtype), and two other formulations, based on the Far Eastern subtypes, are available in Russia. There is limited evidence that suggests the Austrian and German vaccines induce cross-protecting immunity against the Far Eastern and Siberian subtypes. While the conventional schedule for completing the primary vaccination course takes 9 to 12 months, accelerated schedules are available While no TBE vaccine is registered in Australia, a small stock of vaccine may be available in Australia for use under the Special Access Scheme.

Tuberculosis

Vaccination with BCG vaccine is generally recommended for tuberculin-negative children <5 years of age who will be staying or living in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis for an extended period. There is less evidence of the benefit of vaccination in older children and adults, although consideration should be given to vaccination of tuberculin-negative children ≥5 years but <16 years of age who may be living or travelling for long periods in high-risk countries (defined as having an incidence >40 per 100 000 population)

For travellers who would require the BCG vaccine, the following precautions need to be considered when scheduling their vaccination visits:

The BCG vaccine should preferably be given at least 3 months prior to entry into endemic areas.

Other live viral vaccines (e.g. MMR, varicella or yellow fever) should be administered concurrently or with a minimum 4-week interval from BCG vaccination.

A 2-step tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test), performed by trained and accredited healthcare practitioners, is recommended prior to receiving the BCG vaccine for all individuals except infants aged <6 months.

Reactivity to tuberculin may be depressed for as long as 4 weeks following viral infections or live viral vaccines, particularly measles infection and measles-containing vaccines.

Tuberculin skin tests and BCG vaccine are available from state/territory tuberculosis services.

Typhoid

Typhoid vaccine may be recommended to travellers ≥2 years of age travelling to endemic regions, including the Indian subcontinent, most Southeast Asian countries and several South Pacific nations, including Papua New Guinea. This advice is also relevant for those travelling (back) to endemic regions to visit friends and relatives (VFR travel). Inactivated parenteral or live oral typhoid vaccine formulations are available

Yellow fever

The yellow fever vaccine is recommended for all persons ≥9 months of age travelling to, or living in, an area with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission. To minimise the risk of yellow fever introduction, some countries require documented evidence of yellow fever vaccination for entry, in accordance with the International Health Regulations.

The risk of being infected with the yellow fever virus, country entry requirements, and individual factors like age, pregnancy and underlying medical conditions must be taken into account when considering yellow fever vaccination. Vaccination is generally not recommended when travelling to areas where there is low potential for yellow fever virus exposure (i.e. no human yellow fever cases ever reported and evidence to suggest only low levels of yellow fever virus transmission in the past). However, vaccination might be considered for a small subset of travellers to these areas who are at increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes or unable to avoid mosquito bites.  People aged ≥60 years re at increased risk of severe adverse events after primary yellow fever vaccination. Vaccination of persons in this age group should be weighed against the potential for yellow fever virus exposure and, in turn, the benefits of vaccination

In most individuals, a booster dose is not required as a single dose of yellow fever vaccine induces protective antibody levels that persist for many decades. However, there are certain individuals for whom a booster is recommended if 10 years have passed since their last dose and they are at ongoing risk of yellow fever infection.

[usafphantom2]

SAC Crew Dog Shenanigans: A Cruel Prank on the Aircraft Commander

It was late May in 1989, a time of year when the sun barely goes down in Fairbanks Alaska. Our crew, R-122, with the 42d Air Refueling Squadron, had flown from our home base, Loring AFB, Maine, to Eielson AFB, Alaska in our KC-135 A model for an Alaska Tanker Task Force tour.

The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was still in control and the KC-135s still used “hard crews.” That meant, you got put on a crew and you stayed there. They were the only people you really flew with. You got to know them well, for better or worse.

We were a young crew, the Aircraft Commander (AC) was a newly assigned Captain who’d previously been a FAIP (First Assignment Instructor Pilot). FAIP went straight to the left seat and never flew as copilots. Our Copilot, who was more experienced than the AC, had around 1,000 hours. The Navigator and I were pretty green, only being recently qualified. Three Officers, AC was a Captain, the Copilot was a 1st Lieutenant and the Nav was a 2nd Lieutenant (or Butter Bars as we called them.) I was a lowly A1C, Airmen First Class.

After arriving, we settled in, getting all our localization briefings. These were so that we knew what we could and could not do while in town, both operationally and just in general. Stay away from the moose which were taking care of their newly born calves, don’t mess with the bears, avoid a DWI at all costs, and of course, don’t screw up any airplanes. We were staying at the BOQ, or quarters, on base for the TDY crews and the one thing I noticed about our quarters was the blackout curtains in all the rooms. We found out, over time, they were definitely needed. Another thing we found out; the unofficial State Bird of Alaska is the Mosquito. Those things were brutal.

Getting around on base wasn’t a big deal as you could usually get a ride, but getting off base could be a problem. There was a “shared” vehicle that a local Boom Operator maintained for the crews to borrow. It was a beat-up old station wagon with wood paneling and sharks’ teeth painted on the front fenders, like they do on fighter aircraft. It worked, if it was available, but demand was high.

We were allowed to take an Air Force vehicle, usually an AF blue 4-door pickup truck, but there were restrictions because it was an “Official” vehicle. One of the more important rules was that you could not park at a bar. Sneaky aircrews had figured out a way to get around this rule. While you couldn’t park at a bar, you could park at a restaurant that happened to have a bar. This was our loophole.

One day, we ventured out around town. The guys wanted to sample the local cuisine, so we found a place with freshly caught and cooked salmon for lunch. Then, we drove up the road to visit the “North Pole”, not the real one, but a very small town north of the base that took about two minutes to drive through. Remember that Garth Brooks song, “Nobody Gets Off In This Town”? Pretty much described the entire area, with one exception… most people actually like it up there, even with all the hardship.

One of the things that amazed us while we were driving around was how much junk was laying around. Along the highways you could see piles of cars, airplanes, equipment and just plain junk, but the scenery was still awe inspiring, even with all the trash.

Towards the evening, we decided to head to a local restaurant that “happened” to have a bar. We planned on having dinner and then over to the bar for a few drinks, maybe even finding some suitable company. Well, most of us anyways, the AC was married and a pretty strait-laced guy, so he was just enjoying the scenery.

Driving under the influence of alcohol was a very big no-no, and the Air Force was really cracking down around that time. A DWI was a career ender for officers and enlisted alike. So, I was elected to be the Designated Driver. It was tradition that the Boom Operator drove and the Officers liked to be chauffeured around. This night, I didn’t mind not being able to drink and was happy to drive the crew around.

So, we sit down to eat, and everybody orders beers, Coronas to be precise, and the conversation turns to drinking stories. I’m not sure why he wanted to tempt fate, but the AC started bragging that he had never been drunk. He drank, he wasn’t a teetotaler, but he’d never gotten drunk.

The Copilot, who was a bit of a prankster, took this as a challenge. So he decided that the AC had waited long enough. He left the table, and grabbed our waitress ask her to add a shot of vodka to every beer given to the AC. She obviously didn’t have a problem with it. Our poor commander never suspected a thing.

Fast forward an hour or two and our prim and proper AC is lit up like a Christmas tree. So much so, he asked me for the keys to our pickup so he could go pass out. Thinking it was unlocked, I told him so, and off he went stumbling out to the parking lot. Unfortunately (for him), I was wrong, the truck wasn’t unlocked, but he was so drunk he decided to just pass out in the bed of the truck. Of course, before he passed out, he’d gotten sick and threw up all over the side of our nice clean, blue “Official” Air Force pickup. Remember that salmon we’d had for lunch, yup, the side of the truck was covered with it. Pink shows up really well on blue.

A few hours later, with the sun still lighting up the sky, we come out and discover him, wake him up, razz him for a bit, and climb in the truck to head back to the BOQ. He takes the normal AC seat when driving, which is the front right seat, with the Nav and Copilot in the back, and, still drunk as a skunk, proceeds to constantly ask us what happened. A few minutes into the drive, a moose walked out on the road ahead of us, but we were in no danger of hitting it. It was still several hundred yards in front of us, but our fearless leader started screaming “Watch out for the moose, watch out for the moose”. Nearly scared me right off the road. He spent the rest of the ride apologizing like only drunks can. He kept saying, “I ate dinner, and I only had a few beers, why am I so drunk?”

He was thoroughly confused and a bit embarrassed for the next few days. He was constantly asking us what had happened and how he had gotten so drunk. He really had no clue. Finally, feeling bad for him, I let him know what had happened. His reaction was priceless, but he really was a good sport about it. He did vow to return the favor to our mischievous Copilot, but in the end, he never got his revenge. Fortunately, he didn’t hold a grudge either.

We had a great six weeks on that trip with many accomplishments. We were able to go to Shemya AFB, on the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. While there we got to fly on an RC-135S, and the AC was able to get his first experience at Receiver Air Refueling. Later, we flew a Russian Bear Bomber intercept mission, and then on the day before my birthday, we flew a mission over the International Date Line, so I got to experience my 21st birthday twice.

We returned to Loring six weeks later, having learned a lot about ourselves, our aircraft, and our jobs.

Note: I didn't take any pictures on this trip, I don't think I even owned a camera at the time, so I've included some relevant patches.

@tcamp202 via X

[dfgservices]

Affordable Pest Control & Housekeeping Services in Nagpur You Can Rely On

Affordable Pest Control and Housekeeping Services in Nagpur

Nagpur is rapidly growing, and with that comes the need for a cleaner, healthier, and more hygienic living and working environment. Whether you're managing a home, office, or commercial space, maintaining cleanliness is key. That’s where pest control services in Nagpur and professional housekeeping solutions play a major role.

Why Pest Control is Essential in Nagpur

Pests are not just annoying—they are dangerous. Termites, cockroaches, rodents, and mosquitoes carry harmful diseases and can damage your property. To protect your home or business, timely pest control solutions in Nagpur are a must.

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From daily cleaning to deep sanitization, professional housekeeping helps maintain a clean, organized, and hygienic environment. Whether it’s a residential flat, office building, or commercial space, you can count on the top housekeeping services in Nagpur for reliable results.

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Call to Action: 📞 Contact us today for a free site inspection and get a customized solution that fits your budget!

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Stay One Step Ahead of Monsoon Infections with Shreejii Hospital & Research Centre, Kandivali

As the monsoon clouds roll into Mumbai, bringing cool breezes and much-needed relief from the summer heat, they also carry an unfortunate downside: a rise in seasonal diseases. For residents of Kandivali East and surrounding areas, monsoon-related infections can significantly affect daily life. But with awareness, timely medical care, and preventive measures, you can protect yourself and your family.

At Shreejii Hospital & Research Centre, Kandivali East, we are committed to helping you stay healthy throughout the rainy season with expert care, advanced diagnostic facilities, and community-driven awareness. Here’s everything you need to know about common monsoon infections — and how we can help you stay one step ahead of them.

Why Do Monsoon Diseases Increase?

The monsoon season creates the perfect environment for bacteria, viruses, and mosquitoes to thrive. Stagnant water, increased humidity, and unhygienic conditions can all contribute to the rise of infectious diseases. This season, the most common threats include:

1. Waterborne Diseases

Typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis A are rampant during monsoon due to contaminated drinking water.

Symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, and weakness.

2. Mosquito-Borne Infections

Diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya are spread by mosquito bites that breed in stagnant water.

Symptoms: High fever, body aches, chills, rash, joint pain, and fatigue.

3. Airborne & Viral Infections

The damp weather can weaken immunity, making people prone to flu, cold, viral fevers, and respiratory infections.

Symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, congestion, sore throat, and fever.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure: Tips from Shreejii Hospital Experts

At Shreejii Hospital, our doctors stress the importance of preventive care during monsoon. Here are expert-backed tips you can follow at home:

Drink Safe Water

Always use filtered or boiled water.

Avoid street food or uncovered water sources.

Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes

Use mosquito repellents and nets.

Don’t allow water to collect in pots, coolers, or open containers.

Maintain Personal Hygiene

Wash hands regularly.

Wear clean, dry clothes and keep your surroundings sanitized.

Eat Fresh & Cooked Food

Avoid raw foods during this season.

Include immunity-boosting foods like ginger, garlic, turmeric, and citrus fruits.

Seek Medical Help at First Sign of Symptoms

Early diagnosis leads to faster recovery and prevents complications.

Visit Shreejii Hospital if you notice persistent fever, fatigue, or digestive discomfort.

How Shreejii Hospital & Research Centre Supports You During Monsoon

Comprehensive Diagnostics

Our hospital is equipped with modern diagnostic labs to quickly identify infections such as malaria, dengue, typhoid, and hepatitis. Early detection can significantly reduce the severity of illness and prevent further spread.

Experienced Medical Team

Our doctors, general physicians, and infection specialists provide personalized care for each patient. Whether it’s a high fever, dehydration, or post-viral fatigue, we’re here to guide you toward a speedy recovery.

Vaccination & Preventive Care

We offer preventive vaccination for diseases like Hepatitis A and Typhoid, especially useful for children and seniors during monsoon.

Infection Control Protocols

Our hospital follows strict infection control measures, including sanitized facilities, proper waste disposal, and trained nursing care — to ensure patient safety at every step.

Community Wellness: Shreejii Hospital’s Mission

We believe health is a shared responsibility. Shreejii Hospital regularly conducts:

Free health check-up camps

Awareness drives in local communities

Monsoon health education sessions in schools and housing societies

These initiatives ensure that residents of Kandivali East are informed, alert, and prepared.

When to Visit Shreejii Hospital

Do not delay a hospital visit if you or a loved one experience:

Fever lasting more than 2 days

Signs of dehydration

Blood in vomit or stool

Severe body ache or rashes

Breathing difficulty or persistent cough

Early medical intervention can make a significant difference.

Monsoon is a beautiful season, but it comes with health challenges that can’t be ignored. With simple preventive measures and quick access to quality healthcare, you can enjoy the rains without worry.

At Shreejii Hospital & Research Centre, Kandivali East, we are here to care, cure, and guide you throughout the season. Stay informed. Stay protected. And most importantly — don’t wait for symptoms to get worse.

If you or your family members feel unwell this monsoon, contact Shreejii Hospital for timely diagnosis and expert care. Let’s walk into the season prepared and protected — together.

Need help or want to book an appointment? 📞 Call us at: [7506214164] 🌐 Visit: [www.shreejiihospitals.com] 📍 Location: 1st Floor, Vistaris Bldg, GR. &, Akurli Rd, near Bus Depot, Kandivali East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400101