Global ‘Brain’ Warming

With a lot that is being said these days about global warming, i suddenly came across an article that suggested the these rise in temperatures can actually be harmful to the generic living being, and that too on a global perspective. Warmer temperatures would imply that the disease carrying insects like the deer ticks that are responsible for carrying the Lyme Disease, are not killed by the colder weather. Within the prevalent warmer air, the summer and spring would start earlier and the plant and trees would then produce more pollen meaning more itchy eyes and more sneezing….wooooooaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!! :O Never thought about this chain of event.

Also, a general and conventional way of thinking is that countries like Canada and Greenland that are closest to the Arctic and would inevitable see the sea levels rise as a result of global warming, speculations are taking the rounds that these warmer temperatures will open up new avenues of revenue, including oil drilling ( schlumbuggers…enjoy maadi) along with other new mining opportunities and expanded farming seasons that will most definitely aid the agricultural development. The ones that miss out are countries like Kenya that are already facing the brunt of the Sun’s heat. Also, while the ozone layer hole is located in one part of the planet, places like the Arctic pole and Antarctica, where animals like the huge Walruses live, are equally threatened by the thinning ozone layer, since the Sun would shine stronger and hence the ice melt would be rapid.

Talking about Walruses, as the ice closest to southern shallow water melts, walruses have to move north into deeper waters to find new homes. Sadly, mother walruses have to leave their babies to find food, and scientists are reporting an increasing number of abandoned walrus calves, which are likely to drown or starve while their mothers are away. Aaaaaaah!!!!! Sad.

Another common misnomer would be that the green house gases are the sole reason for the “eventual” destruction of the arctic. According to studies, the soot from burning coal, inefficient cook stoves and forest fires is carried up to the Arctic, where it darkens the snow. The dark snow then absorbs sunlight,
more so than clean snow, and radiates more heat back into the air. The study has theorized that this effect has contributed anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 degrees C of the Arctic’s overall 1.6 degree temperature increase. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is key to stopping warming across the globe,  but reducing particulate air pollution is important for the health of the Arctic.

Wooow…thinking about what could happen really sends chills down my spine. Here is what we could all do….’tips to fight global warming‘. And hope that some intelligent solutions is soon sought for this menace that is starting at our face, eagerly waiting to engulf us all……

” Spread Firefox ” Download Day 2008

Something within me tells me that this is going to be HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.                                           .

Firefox 3 ’s birthday celebration is going to be a world wide event. The guys over there have set out to create a world record by initiating the maximum number of downloads ( of firefox ofcourse!!!…so go on “spread firefox“) in a single day. The day firefox 3 is going to be released, kazillions of firefox users are gonna download it and also host parties in lieu of this event ( yeah i meant birthday celebrations)…and firefox guys are , at the end ofthe day are just gonna send the no. of downloads figure and pics of the parties that were hosted and create a guiness record.

I have already pledged for it….what abt you? Wish firefox a happy birthday….go pledge!!!!!

Pledge Here

Radio ‘ed

I used to walk almost 8Km from office to home some days. I never knew, until few days ago, that the Radio played a very important part in allowing me to do so. With the new “Mantra” that the radio stations of Bangalore are now implementing ( ooo u dint know….very few Hindi Songs amidst a flurry of regional ones), its like I have been waiting impatiently for that ‘one’ song to play and then forget about it for another hour.

I wonder why this sudden change or bias towards the regional language…? Elections? naaaah…..i dont think so because they are over now and also the political scenario within itself is pretty screwed up, as the papers illustrate. Suddenly, yesterday i saw a huge poster of a certain Radio station that emphasized at the minimal Hindi maximum Regional transmissions, and I felt that I was in some sort a lingual sewage pipe ( wanted to write shit hole instead). One thing I do not understand is why in a huge and diversified country like ours, people are sometimes alienated even within their legitimate boundaries. The place that I now live in , is full of people who would understand what I say, but will respond to me in inscrutable and awestruck ways, cmmmon Dude, gimme a break!!!!!!.

And now, this linguistic frustrations and feelings ( like those prevalent in other parts of the country right now) have gained so much of an importance and hog the limelight, and have taken their positions in the illustrious “lunch time” discussions as well. I am not sure where this is leading us….what will happen in due course of time. But one thing I know for sure is, I am not gonna put on my Radio again , also partly because i do not like to shuffle stations when there are songs or ads that I would not wish to listen: like a friend often does; and just put on some “thump – thump” and walk home ( if it doesn’t rain). So, its one listener lesser in your pool oooo divine RJ!!!!!

Where have those Migratory Birds gone?

Someone who has gone to a lake bird watching, some 10 years ago, is certain to be in disbelief and dismay at the dwindling numbers of the migratory birds season after season. Bird Migration is truly a sensational natural phenomena. It actually is a generic process that involves the movement of birds ( both land and sea) with change in weather conditions to a place where the habitat is more conducive for survival…remember…survival is by far the only thing that they allllllll fight for out there in the wild. The most common of these movements of birds is from the cold arctic regions into the warmer southern regions, especially when the cruel winters set in. Bird Migration actually makes an interesting read.

But, recent study on the pattern and behavior of these migratory movements have shows shocking results. With the clearing of the natural habitats, massively, it is found that there can be disturbing climatic variations. From what is known, the birds travel upto 10000 miles during their migratory flights, and turbulent air conditions and ferocious winds can drain the smaller birds (especially) of their energy and hence hinder the process altogether. The harsh atmospheric conditions, if met during their flight will surely ensure that the birds do not manage to get out of their winter grooves, are drained of their energy totally and meet a tragic end. Also, it is needless to mention the problem that these little ones would be facing due to the enormous pollutions that we happily generate. I am not sure as to what is going to happen if these birds do get unfortunately wiped off the earths surface….how is it going to influence the food chain?…leave alone the fact that we will never get to witness this diaspora of beauty again!!!
I sincerely think this is an issue important enough to address immediately. As it is often said…better late than never….i would fervently hope that a solution to this catastrophic disaster should be anywhere but round the corner.

Running….aaaah…. can be fun!!!

18th May 2008, actually put Bangalore in the world “running” map. The “Sunfeast World 10K” run was one of its kind, drawing crowds of all ages, of all colors and for all causes.  Congratulations to each and every one who participated and made this event a success(Gobar that was for you).

Well, speaking all of this, i actually found myself in a ” Event Crew ” tee, with a walkie-talkie in my hand, trying to coordinating stuff a day before the actual event, yep that ‘ d be Saturday 17th May 2008. I had actually signed up for volunteering in the “elite athlete management” section, so me and a bunch of few other volunteers gathered Saturday evening, ( to collect our instructions and also the tee ) inside the Kanteerva Stadium at 5PM. We were supposed to escort the internation ( and national “elite” athletes ) from the moment they stepped down the BUS ( on their way from the hotel to the stadium) where the elite athelete room was setup, till the end of the race, to the media centre for their press releases and back to the elite athlete room. But, coordinating all this was no easy as a lot of running around was needed to be done.

Once the race began, i was taking care of the “chip timings”….based on the timing chips which the athletes were asked to put on, that gave the exact time of their run. And i was supposed to coordinate with the volunteer at the linesmen who would have the results , as seen with the naked eye, and come to a common conclusion as to who the winner was. It was great fun doing all the running around from the timing room to the finish line, and the sneek-peak into the VIP lounge that boasted the presence of Vijay Amritraj, the event ambassador, along with the likes of Suresh Kalmadi,IOA chief, Rahul Bose and Dino Morea…. . The Media Centre was no different with reporters from the local as well as some renouned media channels.

But what the biggest take away from this experience for me was that, in this country  where Cricket is the God of all Sports and a religion, some of the not as much popular sports also do attract a very good number of participation and public support. I know being on the tracks is a totally different experience, but then being a part of the organizing team was equally relishing and a novel experience. The challenges that one who is actually organizing such an event can face, is actually enormous and most of the times goes unnoticed. I sincerely would like to appreciate the efforts of each and everyone who was involved with this event being a great success…(hehe…including me..i dint sleep the whole of Saturday night…came back home on Sunday afternoon and crashed from 3-7pm…that part of my life is blank….absolute delirium…had to wake up at 7 cz i was cheering for Mumbai Indians).

Do you like to Read?????

Hi Guys, i just came across this amazing site……please check it out.

Its a very novel concept of letting those “readers” get into their groove. The people responsible even deliver books (at a nominal price, for the renting of the books, delivery is supposed to be free) to your door step. Its not just an e-library, but also looks as if they have some funky delivery options. Nevertheless, whats the best part of the deal is that you get to keep the book for as long as you want and return them when you finish them. Though they have not mentioned a “timeout” window, but hey….can i keep them for ever?( i guess this is an invalid question!!!). I am surely gonna check this out once atleast and wil lpost my experiences…till then happy reading!!!!!!

http://www.librarywala.com/

Sorry, this will be useful to friends @Bangalore and @Mumbhaaai….

Shout Aloud…ooops is anyone listening?

Hmmn, this feels good ( to blog again i meant). I had an almost perfect morning today. For people who can sympathize with me, let me describe perfect first. I would describe perfect as the day when i could get an  who agrees to drop me to office on METER based fare Yeah, i know i live in Bangalore where every damn thing is supposed to be costly and to an extent I have learned to live with this wretched fact. But then, in this world where everything is becoming dearer,  i feel that little sincerity too comes at a high price.

Wonder if i can catch the attention of R.K Mishra in this blog. After the Unlock Bangalore saw some success, hey guys for those who visited Kastle Vista recently…the road is being laid again…well its in the process…., i would like to draw his attention to the increased Blood Sucking characteristics of the Auto Walas in bangalore. I would also not step back and go to the extent and advise him to rip every auto wala s license into pieces if found guilty of “meter tampering” and asking excessive fares, how about a massive campaign against these daily thugs, who are sometimes more ferocious than the mafia s and the DONs….never mind

OO btw….i actually started this blog post with a question that I have been pondering about since this morning. I boarded an Auto today at a “T” junction…( yep..vignana nagar auto stand guys!!!) and just then a small boy was coming in a perpendicular direction ( imagine the directions yourself), my auto jump started and suddenly a motorbike zoomed past. As soon as I just got inside the Auto, this motor cycle chap who was coming from the front ( of me and perpendicular to the kid)…..hit the front tyre of the kid s cycle, brushed past actually, and did not slow down even by a kilometer i guess ( goin at 50+ that too on vignana nagar roads…note the point). The kids was shaken, visibly, and at this very moment there was a gush of blood in me, that made me feel that i should shout …”hey B@#$%^&*……..A##$%^&”(ooops did anyone even listen to that, may be i was not loud enough)…..i looked at the kid, he was on his way again….

What I am still thinking is why the hell dint i get out of the auto and shout this aloud……..?

Dunno…..someday, i promise…if i ever see this happen again, i will shout it out aloud!!!!

Be the Change you wanna see in this world!!!!!

Woooooooooooooow, its almost an aeon since i have opened this page to jot something down for you….and hence that subtle feeling of incompleteness that was slowly creeping within me I finally decided to brush all the excuses ( loads of office work……worst possible network connectivity………god why am i living in this place afteralll……) aside and decided to come back to life.

“Be the change that you want to see in  the world”…i know…i know….like any school going kid would do in any essay writing competition, start off with a quote and say it was said my Mahatma Gandhi, but the line i just quoted was actually said by him.

This is not merely a quote, for it is the impetus that drives me and few of my friends ( we call our group FOCA – Friends For A Cause).  Our mission varies  from empowering the marginalized sections of the society, who are deprived of basic needs and rights to facilitating healthy environment and create a celebrated childhood for kids, so that they transition to adulthood capable of unraveling their deepest potential, but there is only one vision : A society where all individuals are able to realize their fullest potential and are Self-reliant.

There are various types of activities that we engage in, be it teaching in  the Shiela Kotwal Institute for the Deaf (& Dumb), or share some knowledge with the children form the Haemophilia Society, or have a gala of a time with the children of Ashraya Trust. We intend to work more closely with these organizations and offer a helping hand in any possible way, anything at all….even pinning down the paintings that these children made, on their classroom walls , apart from any monetary reliefs ( just the joy of being with these kids is what we actually want out of all our deeds).

FOCA also conducts many events for these so called “lesser privileged” ones. There was a painting competition held recently, where in the best twelve paintings were selected , that featured as the covers for a beautiful calender…( kids who saw their own painting printed on the calender had no bounds for their joy!!!!!). Also there was an outing with the Hemophilia society on the occasion of world hemophilia day that saw many participants break their “i am so shy!!!” barrier and intermingled well with fellow patients. There are many more activities in the pipeline and i shall post about them too…..!!!!

Woow…feels  so good to write again…i should do it more often.