Friday, October 24, 2008

Go Green: Global Warming



I know it’s not my kind of topic but don’t why I had this urge to write about something eye-opening for everyone. Though there are very few readers out there for my blog but after all “something is better than nothing.” My topic is “Global warming (GW)”.

Why do we need to understand GW? Let’s take an example. We get born from mother's womb as child, then we grow, we become young then older. There is no “jadi butti” to convert you from older to younger one. An old man would never go backward in time and finally enter back into his erstwhile mother's womb! Same formula applies to GW. God has given us beautiful life on beautiful earth. Earth has its own age mechanism as well. Do I need to tell how some people looks older than their age? Fast food and fast life kills their age process. We do the same with our beautiful earth. We pollute her; harm her without even knowing we are doing it and finally making her so dirty that we can’t revert back. So wake up!!!

Let’s first understand process of earth environment. The Earth receives energy from the Sun mostly in the form of visible light (Say you are the earth, WOW). Earth (that is you) can’t handle all these energy. So earth needs a blanket (atmosphere) to protect itself. When someone burn fossil fuels—such as oil, coal, and natural gas—to run our cars and light their homes, they pump carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. This causes your blanket getting thinner and thinner. And what does that mean? Ya! You guessed it right, more heat on earth.

“So what? We are living in A.C, we don’t mind”. Is that what you are thinking? If yes then you need to see a doctor. Well heat is not the only thing we get in return. Glacier retreat! Can you imagine your child’ child’s child might not be able to see Himalaya at all.

Glaciers melting

1. Garhwal Himalayas, India

Glacial retreat at record pace. The Dokriani Barnak Glacier retreated 66 ft (20.1 m) in 1998 despite a severe winter. The Gangorti Glacier is retreating 98 ft (29.9 m) per year. At this rate scientists predict the loss of all central and eastern Himalayan glaciers by 2035.

2. Mt. Everest

The Khumbu Glacier, popular climbing route to the summit of Mt. Everest, has retreated over 3 miles (5 km) since 1953. The Himalayan region overall has warmed by about 1.8?F (1?C) since the 1970s.

3. Southern India

May 2002-In the state of Andhra Pradesh temperatures rose to 120?F (48.9?C), resulting in the highest one-week death toll on record. This heat wave came in the context of a long-term warming trend in Asia in general. India, including southern India, has experienced a warming trend at a rate of 1?F (0.6?C) per century.

Shocking right? ……..

Trees:
The whole point here to avoid (or I would say delay because avoid is not impossible) GW. Trees are our best friend because they keep your blanket thicker. Have you ever faced weather suddenly getting changed when you leave city and enters highway (you need to be on bike not packed car). We, me and my wife, have. We always wish to go back to 4 or 5 century just to enjoy weather.

Forests and trees affect climate in three different ways:
1. They absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to keep the planet cool.
2. They evaporate water to the atmosphere and increase cloudiness, which also helps keep the planet cool;
3. They are dark and absorb a lot of sunlight, warming the Earth.

A tipping point in global warming is the point at which change due to human activity brings about sufficient new processes in nature to make any human reversal of the change impossible.

Some climate scientists believe this will be reached in about 2017, while others, notably James Hansen, NASA's top climate scientist, believe it has already been reached.

Ready to do some actions but don’t know what to do? Well! I’ve come up with below workarounds. Please, please, please start acting on it, if you are still not dumb after reading it.

Drive Smart!
A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires burns less gasoline—cutting pollution and saving you money at the pump. If you have two cars, drive the one with better gas mileage whenever possible. Better yet, skip the drive and take public transit, walk, or bicycle when you can.

Support clean, renewable energy.
Renewable energy solutions, such as wind and solar power, can reduce our reliance on coal-burning power plants, the largest source of global warming pollution in the United States and some other countries as well. Call your local utility and sign up for renewable energy. If they don't offer it, ask them why not?

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Especially those that burn the longest each day. Compact fluorescents produce the same amount of light as normal bulbs, but use about a quarter of the electricity and last ten times as long. Each switch you make helps clean the air today, curb global warming, and save you money on your electricity bill.

Saving energy at home is good for the environment and for your wallet.
Start with caulking and weather-stripping on doorways and windows. Then adjust your thermostat and start saving. For each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter, you can cut your energy bills by 3 percent. Finally, ask your utility company to do a free energy audit of your home to show you how to save even more money.

Become a smart water consumer.
Install low-flow showerheads and faucets and you'll use half the water without decreasing performance. Then turn your hot water heater down to 120°F and see hot-water costs go down by as much as 50 percent. I would prefer not using heater at any cost. I don’t bath with hot water for 11 months.

Buy energy-efficient electronics and appliances.
Replacing an old refrigerator or an air conditioner with an energy-efficient model will save you money on your electricity bill and cut global warming pollution. Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances or visit their website at www.energystar.gov to find the most energy-efficient products.

Plant a Tree, protect a forest.
Pledge to plant a single tree after you read it. Protecting forests is a big step on the road to curbing global warming. Trees "breathe in" carbon dioxide. You can take action in your own backyard — planting shade trees around your house will absorb CO2, and slash your summer air-conditioning bills.

Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!
Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70 to 90 percent of the energy and pollution, including CO2, which would result if the product came from virgin materials. Recycling a stack of newspapers only 4 feet high will save a good-sized tree. Please...buy recycled products!

That’s it. The topic is getting much longer so I would cut it down here. Still got lots of things to tell you but out of time.

Bottom line is: Wake up! Before it’s too late.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Spot the difference


I got this really interesting picture.
Can you spot the difference?

RSI Strikes again.

It's not that easy, hmm, not that easy to write in the situation I’m in. But I’ll take little time to ALERT all of you from a weapon. You can't see this weapon but when it'll strike, you'll have nowhere to run. Weapon name is RSI. I hope at least every s/w engineer knows about it. No!!! My goodness. Anyways coming straight to the point.

RSI=Repetitive strain injury RSI is any of a loose group of conditions resulting from overuse of a tool, such as a computer keyboard or musical instrument or other activity that requires repeated movements. (From wikipedia) In simple term, "Overdoing same thing for long period of time."

This same thing includes seating in chair, typing, sitting in wrong posture etc. This is frequent in our industry (IT). Pain may occur in your arms, legs, shoulder, and neck. (You can say all part of your body) When we come to know about it, it's too late. In my case it's late not too late.

I got this pain my shoulder. It had been there since a long time. I was always aware of this RSI thing (Thanks to vivek osv, the jumbo). And I was doing all my best to avoid it but it still occurred. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything for it before it occurs to you. Remember prevention is better than cure.

I'm in the stage of curing the pain. Doctor asked to change my profession. What the F. Do you really think that's possible on any how. I'm having one of my most loved profession. I should have asked for his certificates when he told me that. Anyways, living in pain these days. Doing yoga, pranayam, stretching exercise, tablets but nothing is helping me out. I'm thinking to change Doctor (It's better than changing profession at least). I also thinking for this acupuncture

Friday, October 17, 2008

No Sugar Ship: sunk


Damn!!! These rules. Ohaa... Not as easy as piece of cake. Today was limit (not that i've not eaten these much sweet before) Come on. i decided not to have too much sugar and i had 3 pendas and two laddoos (Congrates to swati for her engagement). But now what? i'm repenting. I already had high calary lunch at restaurant.

I'm sorry to myself. Wont' let it happen. I Promise...

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A cutting chai

GUEST BLOG FROM SHUNTY(ONE OF MY GREAT FRIENDS.)

Ah.. . I should say it was all Tea-Day. I sipped 5 cups of tea. The last one was really my favorite –I like the one which is made with ginger mixed in it.

A cup of tea has always been a first obsession (or take it as a necessity or addiction. :) ) for me in every early morning. I can’t kick-off my day without a cutting chai. If I try to pass then my head starts blowing out. And not only tea, enjoying a tea at Kitli has its more fun. I think Kitlis are the most relaxing places after bathrooms (Especially for software engineers).

Bhai I really liked it.:)

PS:
DDITans , Remember Bhupat's tea stall? Wat was the name of his stall?
Aah.. Superb tea. I just miss it :(
Wait a bit..
I think I gotta snap of Bhupat's tea stall.



Yah.. Its Hari Om Tea Stall!! :D

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Sugar is out for 3 months.

I came across this good article just when i was about to reduce my sugar intact. Must read...

Beat the SUGAR

My Next 3 GOALS

Doing something different has always been my way to go. Can’t stop myself at repeating one thing for all the time. Though I was not always able to do so because of social life constrains, this time I want to do it. Want to do something new all the time something that I’m not aware of. Something I always dreamed of. List is long which includes,
 Break dance
 Bungee Jumping
 Shape up my body
 Sky diving
 Judo & Karate
 Swimming
 Tennis
 Learn car driving
 Learn Guitar or any instrument
etc. The list is too long.

Some of these dreams are on halt because of resource constrains (Money, time, place). But I think I can take one at a time. So rather than dreaming those at night I decided to hit the first target. It’s not on the list. But it just arrived fresh.

How about shooting a small movie with my cam? A movie that is interesting, have some moral and is at least bearable. LOL.

So my goals for next 3 months are clear now.
1. Clear SCJP exam.
2. Get body in shape (at least reduce my waist It’s 31 right now. Target is 29)
3. Shoot a movie.

Best of luck AB.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Catch you later, Navratri!!!

Wohhh. End of another rocking event. Life is facing many rock events these days? Isn’t it? First was Rock on at office then at sayaji garden and now at vaccine circle. But is this end of it? No. There will be a pause, END is still far away. I hope I don’t get a chance to see end of rocking era till end of my life. Navratri is over. This year’s navratri has broken the record of ‘My Best Navratri’. Last time the record was given to last year. So I’m breaking my own record.

 


This time the place was ARKEE. I went out for 6 nights out of 9. First night was great, second was better than first, third was better than second and so on…WOW!!!!! Two days have been wasted in stomach pain and last day because of tiredness. There were not enough chicks to enjoy but whatever there was good one. My primary goal was dance. Aha. It makes me forget everything. Once started, I can’t control myself as far as everyone around me is dancing. Himanshu, pruthvi, krunal, vidhi, chhoti vidhi (Fulwanti (Guest appearance)), pathik, vivek, we all were rockers out there. I wish if navratri comes 4 times in a year with 3 night for each time.

Had great fun out there.
Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 6, 2008

SCJP Kick off.

Good books & articles are useless. Ya you read it right. Don't stop reading further thinking that i was drunk while writing this. First thing, i don't drink. Second thing, my statement is right for those who don't act upon reading good books or articles.

What about me? Well! I accept i was one of them. One of them who likes reading good things but when it comes to implement, pssshht..., my world gives me red light. Question to my self? why red light? Because i was not serious about them. Because i was afraid that this will take most out of me. I won't be enjoying life further. But some day in your life you'll need to be serious about the way thing are going. Even reading good things and by not working upon that, i was ultimately cheating myself. Guilt for the same was taking control over my Next goal achievement.

So ultimately i decided to act upon what i want to do.

I'm firm this time and the GOAL is SCJP.
Sun certified java program.
See my Goal schedule below.
I started on it on this Sunday. Day went good still need to make them better.

Friday, October 3, 2008

How not to do MULTI TASK.

Software industry is all about working on many small things at the same time. Working on two or more task at once (which we do all the time), while PL has placed two new demands on your desk. You’re on the phone while three new emails come in (I don't keep phone just for that. I hate mobile). You are trying to get out the door on time so you can pick up a few groceries on the way home for dinner(or my wife will kill me). Damn!!! Welcome to the multitasking world.

My favorite blog zenhabits came out with some point about how not to do multi tasking. I really liked them all.

First, a few quick reasons not to multi-task:
Multi-tasking is less efficient, due to the need to switch gears for each new task, and the switch back again.

Multi-tasking is more complicated, and thus more prone to stress and errors.

Multi-tasking can be crazy, and in this already chaotic world, we need to reign in the terror and find a little oasis of sanity and calm.

Here are some tips on how NOT to multi-task:

1. First set up to-do lists for different contexts (i.e. calls, computer, errands, home, waiting-for, etc.) depending on your situation.

2. Have a capture tool (such as a notebook) for instant notes on what needs to be done.

3. Have a physical and email inbox (as few inboxes as possible) so that all incoming stuff is gathered together in one place (one for paper stuff, one for digital).

4. Plan your day in blocks, with open blocks in between for urgent stuff that comes up. You might try one-hour blocks, or half-hour blocks, depending on what works for you. Or try this: 40 minute blocks, with 20 minutes in between them for miscellaneous tasks. (I do that and really really effective)

5. First thing in the morning, work on your Most Important Task. Don’t do anything else until this is done. Give yourself a short break, and then start on your next Most Important Task. If you can get 2-3 of these done in the morning, the rest of the day is gravy.

6. When you are working on a task in a time block, turn off all other distractions. Shut off email, and the Internet if possible. Shut off your cell phone. Try not to answer your phone if possible. Focus on that one task, and try to get it done without worrying about other stuff.

7. If you feel the urge to check your email or switch to another task, stop yourself. Breathe deeply. Re-focus yourself. Get back to the task at hand.

8. If other things come in while you’re working, put them in the inbox, or take a note of them in your capture system. Get back to the task at hand.

9. Every now and then, when you’ve completed the task at hand, process your notes and inbox, adding the tasks to your to-do lists and re-figuring your schedule if necessary. Process your email and other inboxes at regular and pre-determined intervals.

10. There are times when an interruption is so urgent that you cannot put it off until you’re done with the task at hand. In that case, try to make a note of where you are (writing down notes if you have time) with the task at hand, and put all the documents or notes for that task together and aside (perhaps in an “action” folder or project folder). Then, when you come back to that task, you can pull out your folder and look at your notes to see where you left off.
11. Take deep breaths, stretch, and take breaks now and then. Enjoy life. Go outside, and appreciate nature. Keep yourself sane. (MOST FAVOURITE)

ENJoy tHe liFe don'T waSTe in fOoliSh ThingS.