How the Doomsday will ring in

With the bat-crap crazy talks going around about the world ending on the coming Friday, I have tried to analyze the 5 best case Doomsday scenarios -

1.       Alien Invasion – For all we know, the Mayans received an inter-galactic memo, stating that the planet was about to be wiped clean come December 21 2012. Pretty sure the Mayans are sitting somewhere, with smug smiles on their faces as we get zapped to dust. Heck, it’s even possible that the civilization was obliterated by the said aliens’ last visit whilst in the process of t working out the calendar, thus bringing their writing adventures to a halt. Kind of Mass Effect style, only less galactic fireworks.

You could buy a tin foil hat to prevent the aliens from hijacking the brains. Seriously, best way to survive if the earth is under siege. Moreover, the Hollywood movies have taught us that the Aliens’ Interest territory remains the United States (Remember “Independence Day”). No way are they coming to the Eastern Hemisphere. Even, if they decide to cross the Atlantic, London would be attacked next. We are safe.

1. 2.       Asteroid or Meteor Impact – Remember the movie “Deep Impact” or “Armageddon”? In case you don’t, well, humanity discovers (just in the nick of time) that a giant mass of weird rock is hurling towards earth at cataclysmic speed. Impact with the planet would definitely result in the extinction of life. This is a very likely scenario, especially given that it was what most likely caused the extinction of dinosaurs. If only dinosaurs had the technology we have today, they’d still be alive and we would know, how the dino-meat tastes like. Statistically, the earth is being bombarded with these meteor fragments on an hourly basis. They burn up in the atmosphere, we just don’t see them. However, every 100 million years or so, comes a giant asteroid with thousands of kilometers of radius, capable enough to really wipe out the life from our planet. The Chicxulub crater in the Yucatan Peninsula is the largest known crater impact, probably from the asteroid whose impact wiped out the dinosaurs.

Surviving an asteroid impact ranges from “pretty easy” to “impossible”. Why it may not happen? One word answer – Science !! We have enough technology to spot any object years before it comes within any destructive distance of our atmosphere. As we are aware of, meteors and asteroids have not leant the art of sneaking up on planets.

1. 3.       Nuclear War – World peace has become the punch line for fancy speeches to win hearts and votes. While a few individual still strive tirelessly for a nuclear weapon free plant, nations perpetuate fear among its citizens, justifying the ever increasing stockpile of nuclear arsenal. We are talking not just about the atom bombs, but hydrogen bombs too. Currently, there is a stockpile of about 20000 nuclear warheads, sufficient to wipe out our planet several times over. Surface to air detonation would cause a radiation-fallout that would span for centuries, not to mention, nuclear winter. Maybe we would have mutant super-powers.

Surviving a nuclear war can be pretty tricky, almost bordering on the impossible. Even if we survive the bombings, there’s always radiation fallout to worry about. Soon, we’d be seeing mutations in humans too. And, no nothing like “Ninja-Turtles”, but something like “The Hills Have Eyes”

I am pretty sure, that we don’t need any specific date to blow ourselves over. We have had enough nuclear arsenal for years, and it doesn’t need someone egoistic or nervous to trigger a button, that would initiate a nuclear war which would probably be the Third and the Last World War.

1. 4.       Polar Ice Dissipation – Blame this one on the global warming. We have already noted that the planet is getting pretty hot. Global surface temperatures have risen by about a degree over the last two centuries and while that doesn’t seem like much in figures we’re all aware of how it is effecting the weather. Summers have become hotter and winters colder, the timelines for weather has become totally skewed and we’re seeing more natural disasters happen now than ever. However, one aspect we’re missing out is dissipating polar ice caps. Environment activists are busy ranting about polar bears losing their habitat, but I am not concerned with that. Well, now, the polar caps are melting significantly and water level is rising.

Learn to surf, stock up on tons of summer and winter clothing that would be accessible at an instant’s notice. Make all your belonging floatable. But, a major chunk of the polar ice caps is still frozen. So, unless there is a massive heat ray unleashed by a villain, the ice caps are not melting any time soon to fulfill the “Mayan” prophecy.

1. 5.       Mini Black Hole – Well, let us talk about serious stuff now, stuff that is real. Heard about CERN? They are a European organization whose sole job is to operate the LHC. The LHC is essentially a large tube through which particles are accelerated up to a speed touching the speed of light, before making them collide. Scientists hope that in this collision, which results in an exotic spray of particles, they might find the Higgs Boson particle. Also known as the God particle which would help proving the String Theory and thus give us an underlying Unifying Theory of Universe. The problem might arise when proton-proton collision could theoretically create microscopic black holes. Scientists say these black holes will disappear instantaneously. But what if they don’t? Then there is a bunch of crazy scientists who are trying to create black holes in their laboratories for years.

Well, first tackling the concerns with the LHC experiments, the scientists at CERN and many other research laboratories across the world have said that a microscopic black hole would dissipate much faster that it could absorb anything. If they are wrong, just hope that you get your favorite Pasta/Pizza while we are being absorbed by the Black Hole and might emerge through a White Hole or a Worm Hole.

Else, grab a big tub of popcorn and laugh while the people go crazy on Facebook /Twitter on 21^st December 2012.

Inspired from "Discovey Channel" and "Digit"

Why FDI in retail will work

Evidently, there is no national consensus on allowing FDI in retail. Advocates tout it as the much-needed major policy push that could arrest the economic downturn, bring in not only foreign funds but advanced technology and expertise, create infrastructure, offer better prices to farmers, generate ancillary industries and create millions of jobs. 

However, skeptics present a doomsday scenario: it will wipe out small farmers and traders, result in job losses and open the floodgates for cheap goods from countries like China, adversely impacting Indian industry. 

While both arguments have some validity, the two sides err on the side of extremes. FDI in retail is not an unmitigated disaster as projected by some, nor a magic wand leading to instant economic growth. If allowed with professional circumspection and safeguards and viewed dispassionately, it is in the country's national interest to allow FDI in retail. 

Opening up the telecom sector to foreign investment worked by bringing a communication revolution that embraces everyone. Similarly, foreign investment in the automobile industry ended the long wait for outdated scooters and cars and led to leading global companies vying to sell the latest models in India. 

When Pizza Hut, Domino's, McDonald's, Wimpy, Burger King, KFC and other such international brands were allowed, there were orchestrated demonstration in many cities; they were painted as anti-people and anti-Indian enterprises. We were told Haldirams, Bikanerwalas, Nirulas, Nathus and their ilk will vanish. 

All these Indian chains have multiplied their outlets, diversified their production line, upgraded their packing and presentation, and are doing roaring business. In fact, some of the largest MNCs like McDonald's, Pizza Hutand Domino's have been forced to Indianise their offerings. Where else in the world would you find a McDonald burger with paneer and potato patties and coriander sauce? 

While many starve, millions of tonnes of grain rot for want of adequate storage facilities. Ask how farmers in Punjab feel when their produce is not picked up and lies unsold. Can they negotiate higher prices? When the mercury rises, fruit don't last more than two days.

TV channels often show how adulterated ghee, milk made out of detergent, mangoes and papayas ripened with masala, vegetables and fruit injected with dangerous concoctions are flooding the market. Who is to blame? FDI in retail? 

No one should underestimate the ingenuity of ordinary hawkers and small grocery owners. They know how to reach out to their potential customers. Today, in many areas of Delhi, vegetable vendors present their carts, laden with fresh stuff straight from the farm, as early as 6:00 am. 

Many joggers and walkers find it convenient to pick up their daily requirement of vegetables from these vendors. In the evening, they move near temples where devotees find it a blessing to shop for fruit and vegetables at the temple gates. 

Small grocery shops realise the value of home delivery, small stores also reduce a rupee or two on most items. This demand-and-supply relationship will remain unchanged notwithstanding the entry of bigwigs like Tesco, Carrefour and Wal-Mart.

Even without FDI in retail, more than half of electronic and electrical items, machine tools, building hardware, bathroom fittings and sanitaryware, lights and chandeliers sold in India are made in China.

Why blame the US for getting its flags from China? Come Diwali, and millions of porcelain Lakshmi and Ganesh idols made in China flood local markets. You can't wish Chinese products away; there is no option but to compete with them on price and quality.

The purchasing power of different sections of Indian society is very elastic. Many relish lunch delivered in a tiffin box for Rs 50 while a buffet lunch costs around Rs 5,000 in most five-star hotels.

So, mega stores of FDI in retail can also coexist with small traders, grocery shops and corner vendors; they will attract customers from different sections, as has been the case in the restaurant business. Those raising the bogey against FDI in retail are the same persons who opposed FDI in the telecom, automobile and restaurant sectors.

The government can ensure benefits for Indian industry by making outsourcing of 35% requirements of megastores from India itself.

They can also be asked to undertake R&D for better and higher-yielding seeds, build connecting roads, set up a chain of warehouses, cold storages, food processing plants and create green belts in the vicinity of stores as also schools, hospitals, sports and recreational facilities for their employees. Anyone claiming that FDI in retail will not create jobs is being dishonest.


Source: The Economic Times

Lessons to be learnt from RMS Titanic

100 years ago, precisely at this very moment, RMS Titanic, the largest ship built till then, which was supposed to be an unsinkable ship, sank to the bottoms of the Atlantic Ocean, 4 kilometers below the water surface.

Titanic leaving the shore

As depicted in the 1997 movie directed by James Cameron and according to the book “Titanic: An Illustrated History ” written by the Donald Lynch, the historian with the Titanic Historical Society, RMS Titanic, the largest vessel till 1912 that could float, sunk into the ocean causing the death of 1514 people out of 2223 onboard.

RMS Titanic, a ship built by White Star Line based out of Liverpool in England was the biggest ship at the time and was on its maiden voyage. Titanic was 296 meters in length and 29 meters in breadth, by all means a mighty structure. The ship had multiple boiler compartments. Even, if the four boiler compartments were filled with water, the ship would remain afloat, making it absolutely unsinkable. The makers of ship had said – “Only God can sink this ship.”

Titanic left the coasts of England on 10th April 1912 and was headed towards New York, US. Since, the ship was made of the latest technology available at the time was considered unsinkable, the precautionary measures for a disaster were also not taken care of well enough e.g. the number of life boats on the ship was very less, not sufficient for all the passengers aboard (enough only for 1178 to be precise).

The ship had 3 main classes for the passengers. The most privileged called the “First” class, then the medium called the “Second” class and the least privileged called the “Third” class. According to the interviews of the survivors and the study of the ship plans, the First class enjoyed their stay in the top most part of the ship and the Third class had their stay in the lowest inhabitable part of the ship.

Four days into its voyage while the ship was passing through the northern part of the Atlantic, 600 kilometers south of Newfoundland, the ship noticed an iceberg ahead, on its course. Because of the bad visibility, the iceberg was sighted very late and was at an unavoidable distance. Due to the momentum of the ship, despite of all the attempts made by the crew, the hit could not be avoided and ultimately, at 11:40 pm (ship’s time), Titanic hit the iceberg fatally.

Sinking of the Titanic

The bow was badly hit and broken at the bottom (though it was made of iron/steel), submerging the FIVE boiler compartments. This was a tragedy. The ship was unsinkable if FOUR boiler compartments were full of water, NOT FIVE. Now, the ship had to sink, inevitably. Exactly, 2 hours and 40 minutes after the hit, the Titanic sank into the ocean killing 1514 people. Only 709 upper class passengers were saved on the very few lifeboats available. The life-boats’ rescue was offered only to First class, and the Third class was held by the guards under locks in the basement, so as to let First class leave and not cause a hullaballoo.

As the whole world acknowledges this historic date and this tragic event today, ironically, today’s world possesses a very similar situation or fate with the RMS Titanic.

Our world is divided into 3 classes – Developed countries, Developing countries and Under-developed countries. The under-developed countries are struggling at every course. Residents of these countries find it difficult to feed themselves and their dependents every day. They find it difficult to fulfill their bare-necessities of the life. Millions and millions of people of the under-developed nations and many from the developed ones sleep every day without food, without shelter, without clothes to protect them from environment.

However, we - the “Third World”, are advancing at a great pace towards an ice-berg. It could be a climate change, global warming or some similar disastrous future. We cannot avoid our hit with this ice-berg due to our momentum, our great pace – same as the Titanic couldn’t. Again, the sufferers would be the third class of our world – the under-developed nations. The millions would die and there is nothing they would be able to do to avoid this fatal state. Increasing nuclear threat, increasing climatic degradation, increasing global warming and many other worsening situations in our world would certainly lead us to the ice-berg that we are certain to hit.

The solution is still to be found.

Source: “Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron” Documentary on NGC, Internet and MY HEAD.

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY, INDIA..!!

At the stroke of the midnight hour, we celebrate our 63rd Republic Day. But, repeatedly I ask the same question, to myself – Are we really a Republic nation? Do we still have a government which is by the people, for the people and of the people?

I sincerely doubt. I am also aware of the arguments that we vote and choose our own government. But, we all know how elections are conducted in India. Around 1 hour ago, while watching the news on television – I came across a news piece where a Congress candidate from Jalandhar constituency in Punjab was caught offering 6 bottles of whiskey against each vote to be cast in his / his party name in the upcoming elections in Punjab. When the media tried to contact him about the incident, he simply disconnected the call.

Is this democracy? Does this contain any remote essence of being republic? Our nation saw a country wide fever against the government for not passing a strong Jan Lokpal Bill, during the month of August 2011. The government was taken aback by the country wide agitation and promised to pass the Lokpal Bill in the winter session of the Parliament, given in writing by the Prime Minister of the so-called largest republic of the planet. And as expected, the winter session ended long back, and the bill is still far from becoming an Act. I question. What is the dignity of the highest republic office (the PMO) of the world’s largest democracy, which is about to celebrate its 63rd Republic Day?

The President addressed the nation a few hours ago and asked the countrymen to hold their faith in the constitutional proceedings. It is clear that this message was directed towards the civil activists team agitating for the Lokpal Bill. The icing on the cake is the fact that the President was simply conveying the message of someone else, who is now the KING (read QUEEN) of this Republic/Democratic country (pun intended). Our Prime Minister has been the worst Sardar ever, disgracing the fraternity which has always been proud to live a life of dignity. The followers of Guru Nanak Dev (the Sikhs) are as we all know, among the bravest of mankind, have always been the men of word. And look at our Prime Minister – NO Comments. Quoting a Sardar, I happen to know, addressing our Prime Minister – “Kis muh se Swarn Mandir ki dharti pe aayega ab tu”.

I come from the state of UP, so I am a little aware of the political happenings there. We have a Chief Minister, who has looted all the money and has spent it in constructing her own statues. Where did the money come from? The tax - that the common man pays expecting that it will be spent for the welfare of the common man, but as we know, common man always remain common. To benefit from this money you need to be uncommon - a VIP. And even till date one of the basic agenda driving the country’s politics is Caste Reservation. Everywhere seats are reserved for people belonging to different castes, whether they academically or by other parameters deserve them or not. The reason given is that some castes have been economically backward and have been suppressed. I say, if they are economically weak, provide them free education, provide them financial aids. Why reserving seats at a low IQ, results, intelligence when far more deserving people from the so-called general castes are committing suicide because of not being able to get a job or a seat in an institution, when they have proved that they are academically or by other criteria far smarter that the people getting in through reservation. When the poverty hits without caste biasing, why reservation?

I again ask, are we really Republic ??

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY, INDIA
PS: NO OFFENCE OF ANY SECTION TO THE SOCIETY OR FOLLOWER OF ANY SECT / BELIEF.