Biofuels and Humanity

'Biofuels' crime against Humanity

This news may not surprise many as this was kind of expected when the idea of using Bio-fuels for our cars got picked up. In a world where food is not available in abundance and there is shortage of water, some businesses have the agenda to make money by producing crops for and selling bio-fuels. We will end up with a world which will have two classes - rich and poor. Or people who can afford to live and people who will struggle to live.

Living Ethically - Should Indians drive cars?

Should Indians drive cars?

The writer of this article has tried his best to mould figures to portray that India is one of the worst polluters. However, on the basis of the per capita figures for CO2 emissions, it is clear that India (and China) are far better than US & UK. What the western world has been doing (and is still doing), is wasting resources. Western world should consider these questions:
- how many people in India drive cars over 50miles (80km) on daily basis to work with one occupant?
- after the automobile revolution, when Delhi started to feel the congestion and pollution, the government forced public buses (and taxis) to use CNG, which is cleaner than petrol/diesel. The cost of converting these buses was borne by the government and government subsidies were provided to taxis owners. Compare this to London, when congestion charge has been introduced to fill up treasury's coffers.
- for years, western world has enjoyed the luxuries, now when developing countries can afford it, western world is worrying about pollution.
- when countries like India and China didnt allow foreign car manufacturers to set up plants and sell their cars, it was western governments who raised voice so that their corporates can take slice of the profit. It is west who has introduced these luxuries to India & China. Now Indians & Chinese can afford these luxuries, western world is starting to get worried.

Illinois baby obtains gun permit

Illinois baby obtains gun permit

Weird law - a boy of 10 month can get a gun permit - it can only happen in America. Then we hear about people killing others in schools, university campus, church etc. It seems the gun permit laws in America have been designed to support the firearms industry.

God Bless America!

Biofuels - US Plans sevenfold increase in ethanol production

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0705020973may03,0,6025589.story?coll=chi-business-hed

Greedy US Policies - 3 words to describe this. Was reading the papers this morning and UN has commented that Biofuels may not be saviour for us, rather a threat as these products will have to be grown on millions of hectares of land. Obviously farming these products would require precious water supplies as well. On a day when people dont have enough food and water in Africa, Asia and some other under-developed nations, bureaucrats are planning for crops to feed our hungry cars.

US government was planning to authorise $250 million grant to each biofuel production facility. The same money could be spent on trying to find alternatives to run cars, i.e. electricity, hydrogen etc.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6618157,00.html

Addiction

Biofuels - at the cost of food

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6539379.stm

Everyone now a days is talking about biofuel. However, if already squeezed farmers get opportunity to switch to harvesting crops for producing bio-fuels, it would lead to shortage of food, specially for poor and third world countries. On one hand we have African nations whose citizen can't find one decent meal a day and are starving to death, on other hand we have developed and developing nations with growning apetite for fuel and energy to meet their demands. Personally, I would see more and more of electric or hybrid cars on the road as they would be much more cleaner.

Delhi Metro and Delhiwalas

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=8e14c010-af52-4e64-b558-3403e7650d0f

Delhites should feel ashamed of such a culture of push n shove. Instead of feeling privileged and proud of Delhi Metro, the citizen of Delhi are being selfish, as they have been for many years. The lack of transport for many years have meant that delhites are selfish when it comes to travelling on public transport. As they say, You can't teach an old dog new tricks, it wont be easy to teach Delhites on how to use Metro.

The end of garbage.

The end of garbage


Nice article. However, I still think there are loads of countries which still dont recycle enough. I think it is human nature that if most of us dont see any financial benefit and/or implication, we tend to follow easy route i.e. throw away rather than recycle. When I was in Netherlands 10 years ago, one could bring back the beer and coke bottles (even the plastic ones) and get money off coupons for their next purchase. In India, people sell rubbish, i.e. newspaper, bottles, plastic, clothes and you name it. In UK, plastic bags are given by shops for free, unlike other continental European countries where shoppers have to pay for each bag. Governments will have to soon take decisions to directly charge households for the rubbish that goes to landfill sites.

Jobs For Grown-Ups

http://www.forbes.com/careers/2007/03/05/careers-resume-jobs-leadership-careers-cx_sg_0305over40.html

Interesting tips for jobseekers over 40

Some interesting quotes

1. Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.

2. A crank is someone with a new idea - until it catches on

3. The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.

4. A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

5. A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.

India's economy and development

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6365851.stm

A very interesting article. Even though India's economy is booming and there are more and more professionals earning high salaries, there are poor who are still struggling.

Doomsday Vault

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6335899.stm

Something like a Naoh's Ark...

Most absurd rule from BA

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6341129.stm

Oil giant Shell's earnings of £1.5 an hour.

Oil giant Shell's earnings of £1.5 an hour.

Shoudn't there be a cap on what corporate bodies can make as a profit of services and products? This seems unjustifiable for a company to be making such huge earnings and profits when there are issues like climate change, environmental damage etc.

Always do your best...

An elderly carpenter was planning to retire and he told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. The contractor was sorry to see one of his top and most loyal workers go and asked him if he would build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter agreed, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently. Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

Rightly said. As said in 'Bhagvad Geeta', "Karam Kiye Ja Phal Ki Chinta Mat Kar" (we should work and dont worry about rewards and results). We must treat each day to its merit and enjoy it.

Who killed the Electric Car?

A nice feature about America's gas guzzling cars and fuel effecient cars. It talks about a movie 'Who killed the Electric Car?'. I haven't watched the movie but by the sound of it, seems to be interesting movie.

Sock Shortage - Holes found in Wolfowitz's style

Holes found in Wolfowitz's style

Seems Armani dont do socks but they do suits, shoes, shirts etc.

Silenced Cries

Stumbled upon this very nice poem.

http://www.valentynelang.com/SilencedCries.htm

Silenced Cries

"Please Mommy, please Daddy" don't shake
me no more,
"My head hurts terribly and my neck is so sore",
"I'm losing my sight, and can no longer think",
"What did I do to break your love link"?

"Yes I was crying and couldn't seem to stop",
"I just needed changing with the diapers
you bought",
"That's all that I wanted to help me stop crying",
"God....Daddy..I feel like I'm dying"!

"My wee body is weak now, I can't breath
no more",
"Why did you do this...my brain you have torn",
"If only you would have talked to someone",
"Or taken a break till my crying was done".

"A soft warm blanket in a dark quiet room",
"Would have stopped me from crying...it would have been soon",
"You could have cradled me to make me feel loved",
"But now I hear God...calling my name from above".

"I can't think of words to tell you goodbye",
"Except..you will no longer hear my cries",
"You have taken my life before it begun",
"You will no longer hold me...there will be
no more sun".

Joy vs Pleasure

As we move along the path in life, in search of many things, we often make the mistake of seeking short term pleasure at the cost of long term joy. Many people confuse the two. Imagine going out to a gourmet restaurant every night for a month and feasting on great meals and luscious desserts. This is pleasure. But look at yourself in the mirror after that month and I don’t think you will be so joyous. As joy is much deeper, it is being deeply satisfied with an accomplishment. If instead, you had put together a serious program, of eating healthy and fitness – and worked on it for 6 months – you would actually feel the joy of accomplishment and joy of where you are at.

Pleasure generally requires no effort. Joy on the other hand, has an aspect of pleasure, but its core existence is connected to working hard and succeeding at something. Joy is seeing your children graduate college or moving into a new home. Joy is the feeling after you have learned a new language or have elevated yourself spiritually. Pleasure is not something negative at all. It is a gift we have been given. We just have to learn moderation and to appreciate true vs. passing values.

Celebrity Big Brother

I am not a fan of Big Brother but had some interest when I heard that Shilpa was going to be in Celeb BB. Watched the first episode but didnt feel the series was going to be any exciting so stopped following it. Then all of sudden she was in news because of all race row that happened in BB house. Must admit it was best advertisement for Channel 4, India and Shilpa. However, ministers and top politicians getting involved in the debate wasnt the right thing. This is a commercial programme where participants were going to live together with no connection to outside world and therefore there was every possibility that there were going to be heated moments. Agreed that some of the remarks may not be acceptable and may be derogatory but ministers and politicians getting involved was bit too much. Anyway, watched the final episode today and as expected, Shilpa was the winner. She is stunning, gorgeous and down-to-earth (at least on screen, dont know about her real life). Anyway, she is going to get loads of fame, money and opportunities after tonight.

The Loser's guide to getting lucky

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3335275.stm

The Magdalene Sisters

I watched movie "The Magdalene Sisters" sometime back and was amazed that such cruel and atrocious act were carried out in the name of God. The movie reflects what happened with women who became mothers out of wedlock. In a church driven society, they were sent to work in laundries with no contact with family or outside world. Coming from Indian background, I know these things happened in India as well. Sometimes I wonder how two-faced religion can be, on one hand religion considers life to be "precious" and on other hand a "living being" treated so badly.

To be or not to be

Be understanding to your enemies.
Be loyal to your friends.

Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.

Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with that you need yourself.

Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything.
Be trusting enough to believe in miracles.

Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.

Be first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be last to criticize a colleague who fails.

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.

Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you; they may change.