Recession a Boon!!!!!

Recession brings with it many problems. I need not tell you that. But it also brings with it some positive things. The truth is that recession is not a good thing for anyone. But we will be making a gross mistake if we allow ourselves to think that there are no advantages that come with it. As they say in every dark cloud there is a silver lining. What we should, therefore, do is to look for the silver lining. During the recession efficiency becomes the catchword. There is nothing more efficient than creating an advantage.

According to me Recession is a boon in disguise. I would like to justify my perspective here.

Recession helps save the environment. As the demand for goods decrease, their production too decreases and with it the associated hazardous effects to the environment too decreases. And also helps us conserve our natural resources as less electricity and fuel are used.

Recession gives rise to people oriented policies. We are now seeing most governments adopting citizen focused approach in their economic and developmental policies. These periods makes them think about the people of the country so as to garner support to win elections for the next term.

During this period we are forced to spend money wisely. People are trying to be very thrifty in their spending because they are not sure if they will be having the same income. Moreover it has made people to shop in local stores rather than those big bazaar, etc. We learn to shop for necessity than for luxury.

This period also makes us inculcate healthier habits. That is healthier home cooked food instead of visiting pizza hut or McDonald, which in turn strengthens family ties and also gives a chance to communicate better with family members or that odd game of chess.

Then it helps curb domination by a single company. The recession hits the big companies the hardest. So it gives fair chance for the small companies to compete with their bigger counterparts. More competition means better products. Moreover in this period companies heavily spend on Research and development. So as the recession ends you will be seeing a flurry of technologically advanced products.

It also gives time to rethink about your careers. If you lose your job, don't be sad. May be the job didn't suit you. Moreover in this period many go for higher education to improve their qualifications and hone their skills for a better job after the economy becomes stable.

This is also a good time to start your own business. When the economy is good, there is so much competition around that your business may not even get noticed. A period of recession offers that ideal relaxed ambiance when you can start a small business and work your way to the top. Start-up costs are much lower in a recession than in boom periods. You won't believe me if I tell you that HP (Hewlett Packard) was started during the Great Depression by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard and today they are multimillionaires. Many such people became millionaires during The Great Depression. Don't miss your chance of becoming one.

You also get very low interest rates in this period. During recession, central banks tend to lower nominal interest rates in order to spur investments in machinery, land, factories, etc. So financing your business could be much cheaper.

As the economy is deflating, prices of goods too tend to fall. You also get great deals on various services in this period. Retailers offer steep discounts. You could go for your dream vacation at lesser expense. Crude oil prices have decreased greatly. Even your cellular companies offer good economic plans during this period. Even home prices fall during this period.

I'm not trying to make light of hardship in any way. Certainly recession sucks big time. All of us have been affected one way or another. If I had the choice, I'd prefer to earn a penny than to lose my job.

The problem is thats not how it's working at the moment. We're running into the reality that the world as we know it has changed, and like it or not, we must change with it.

I hope my views will help bring new ideas about recession and help you to look at the positive possibilities it brings along. And moreover imagine the world beyond the current recession.

Global Warming – What can we do to Protect and Save our Earth

Earth has warmed by about 1ºF over the past 100 years. But why? And how? Well, scientists are not exactly sure. The Earth could be getting warmer on its own, but many of the world's leading climate scientists think that things people do are helping to make the Earth warmer.
Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans.

The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60ºF colder. Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as greenhouse gases.
Earth's climate has been changing constantly over its 5-billion-year history. Sometimes, the climate has warmed so that the oceans have risen and covered much of the Earth and sometimes so cold that most parts was covered with sheets of ice. Each of the changes may seem extreme, but they usually occurred slowly over many thousands of years.

Scientists are not fortune-tellers. They don't know exactly what will happen in the future. Together, the melting glaciers, rising seas, and computer models provide some good clues. They tell us that the Earth's temperature will probably continue to rise as long as we continue increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
It may seem hard to believe that people can actually change the Earth’s climate. Once, all climate changes occurred naturally. However, during the Industrial Revolution, we began altering our climate and environment through agricultural and industrial practices. The Industrial Revolution was a time when people began using machines to make life easier. It started more than 200 years ago and changed the way humans live. Before the Industrial Revolution, human activity released very few gases into the atmosphere, but now through population growth, fossil fuel burning, and deforestation, we are affecting the mixture of gases in the atmosphere.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the need for energy to run machines has steadily increased. Some energy, like the energy you need to do your homework, comes from the food you eat. But other energy, like the energy that makes cars run and much of the energy used to light and heat our homes, comes from fuels like coal and oil – fossil fuels. Burning these fuels releases greenhouse gases.

When Do You Send Greenhouse Gases into the Air?
Whenever you ...
• Watch TV
• Use the Air Conditioner
• Turn on a Light
• Use a Hair Dryer
• Ride in a Car
• Play a Video Game
• Listen to a Stereo
• Use a Dish Washer
• Microwave a Meal
... you are helping to send greenhouse gas into the air. To perform many of these functions, you need to use electricity. Electricity comes from power plants. Most power plants use coal and oil to make electricity. Burning coal and oil produces greenhouse gases.
Other things we do send greenhouse gases into the air too. The trash that we send to landfills produces a greenhouse gas called methane. Methane is also produced by the animals we raise for dairy and meat products and when we take coal out of the ground. Whenever we drive or ride in a car, we are adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. And, when factories make the things that we buy and use everyday, they too are sending greenhouse gases into the air.
Sometimes little things can turn into big things. Think about brushing your teeth. If you don't brush for one day, chances are nothing bad will happen. But if you don't brush your teeth for one month, you may develop a cavity. It's the same thing with global temperatures. If temperatures rise above normal levels for a few days, it's no big deal – the Earth will stay more or less the same. But if temperatures continue to rise over a longer period of time, then the Earth may experience some problems.

Climate change may affect people's health both directly and indirectly. For example, heat stress and other heat related health problems are caused directly by very warm temperatures and high humidity. Indirectly, ecological disturbances, air pollution, changes in food and water supplies, and coastal flooding are all examples of possible impacts that might affect human health.
Climate change may be a big problem, but there are many little things we can do to make a difference. If we try, most of us can do our part to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that we put into the atmosphere. Many greenhouse gases come from things we do every day. As we have learned, these greenhouse gases trap energy in the atmosphere and make the Earth warmer.

Driving a car or using electricity is not wrong. We just have to be smart about it. Some people use less energy by carpooling. For example, four people can ride together in one car instead of driving four cars to work. Here are some additional ways you can help make the planet a better place!
• Learning about the environment is very important. There are many good books that will help you learn about the environment and climate changes.

• Whenever we use electricity, we help put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them, you can help a lot.
• Wash clothes in warm or cold water and not in hot water.

• Replace your incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescents.
• You can save energy by sometimes taking the bus, riding a bi-cycle, or walking.

• Planting trees is fun and a great way to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air.
• Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags, and newspapers. When you recycle, you send less trash to the landfill and you help save natural resources, like trees, oil, and elements such as aluminium.

• Did you know that you can help the environment if you buy recyclable products instead of non-recyclable ones? Look for the recycle mark – three arrows that make a circle – on the package. Recyclable products are usually made out of things that already have been used. It usually takes less energy to make recycled products than to make new ones. The less energy we use, the better.
• The sun produces solar energy. Solar energy is a fancy way of saying "energy that comes from the sun". Solar energy can be used to heat homes, buildings, water, and to make electricity.

• Cars are an important part of life for most people. But cars also cause pollution and release a lot of greenhouse gases into the air. When you buy your next car, look for the one with the best fuel economy in its class.
• Many things, like computers, TVs, stereos, and VCRs, have special labels on them. The label says "Energy" and has a picture of a star. Products with the ENERGY STAR® label are made to save energy. Buying products with ENERGY STAR® labels will help protect the environment.

• Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbours and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.

Education - Money v/s Morals

Education is very important to us because an educated society is greater than any riches of the world.

Education has an immense impact on human society. One can safely assume that a person is not in the proper sense till he is educated. It trains the human mind to think and take right decisions. In other words, man becomes a rational animal when he is educated. 

The importance of education too cannot be neglected by any nation. And in today’s world, the role of education becomes even more vital. It has become an absolute necessity for economic and social development of any nation. 

I would like to narrate a true story which stresses the importance of education to the children.
A bunch of 18 to 30 year old boys used to work in a seafood restaurant, 12 to 14 hours a day, and six days a week but just earning a meagre income. But there was also a 15 year old boy named flounder who used to work there everyday after his school. His parents owned a flower shop and a liquor store and were doing quite good in that. So once the other boys asked him why did he work? And did they require this small amount of money? Then he replied that they didn’t require this small amount of money nor did he like working here but his father made him do it. His father used to say him that he wanted him to know what life would be like if he didn’t get education.

Flounder’s dad knew that we learn in every moment of our lives, so he gave his son the best lesson he could by forcing him to work and make him know the value of education to his life.

Without that experience Flounder may have failed his exams but I bet he excelled at whatever he chose to do to earn a living after that!

Education is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In fact it becomes our livelihood in the future. And also, it’s one thing that nobody else can take from you. You can lose your material things, your youth, your heart, your trust in others, even your hairs, but you can’t lose your education.

Today we are being taught how to be a money making machine and rightly should be done so. We have evolved from killing each other for food to the barter system and now to the present currency system. So if we want to stay civilized, everyone should be taught how to make money efficiently or else people can always go back to stealing and murdering. And also money making in the sense that they don’t teach us how to print money in our homes instead they impart us the knowledge for which we are employed or can even get self employed.

And hence today’s education is keener on making us earn more money. And they aren’t to be blamed for that because if we want to do anything in today’s materialistic world, we need to have the money. And also in the midst of rising inflation, ever rising food and petrol prices, we need to earn that extra penny.

It is not that “money buys happiness” but rather that “happiness buys money”. More precisely, the very virtues and habits that lead to happiness i.e.: goal-focused, rational discipline, creative thought, and optimism - are the same ones that lead to success in any realm of our life, including the financial realm.

And not many look at sports and arts as an option either and nor we can blame them for it because tell me, other than cricket, where do you see sportsmen with lots of money?

And about teaching us Human Values and Qualities don’t we have our parents, family and society who are much more responsible for its degradation. What’s the use of sacrificing a period in the school for teaching the students moral education while at their homes no one care about it themselves?
 
Let’s be more practical and give it a thought once more.

Harry Potter Drama

You may have read or watched Harry Potter Series by J K Rowling. This has won the Best Children's Book of 2003. On our Entertainment day at our college we decided to stage the 5th part of Harry Potter ie: Harry Potter and the Order of Pheonix.

It was quite a controversial decision. Many were against it. But we were confident that we could host a good show. We started preparing the script and dialogues. We began to search similar faces with the original Harry Potter Characters. The main protagonist Harry Potter's role was given to Surya.V(Same person who was partnerd me TCS Rural IT Quiz). Ron's role was given to Avadhoot.D.J(My best Friend). Hermoiny's role was given to Madhuri.D.V(Not Madhuri Dixit). And other roles too were given to my friends. 

From Left to Right : Avadhoot (Ron), Madhuri (Hermione), Surya (Harry Potter)

I refrained from acting and took on the job of Special Effects or Audio Video Department. We started practising it by bunking our classes not that we were too interested in doing drama but to avoid listening to the boring lectures.

Sunil (Dumbledore)

There were many hiccups during the journey. As you may have learnt we participated in TCS Rural IT Quiz (infact we secured 2nd place) and also the Mid Term Examinations had commenced. We started losing interest in it. Our English teacher who had kept hope and faith in us fighting all the criticism of choosing Harry Potter was in a weepy state.

Abhijeet (Voldemort)

After a small duel between me and Surya we gave it a new kickstart. In just under 10 days we rehersed it. Now it was my turn to put all the sound and video effects in it. With the help of our Computer teacher we were able to do that quite easily. Our school has projector and we made very good use of it. We showed flashes of light when the spell was cast.

Soujanya (Umbridge)

On the day of Entertainment Day, our hearts were beating hard. After coming at the college at around 3 PM we got ready in our clothes, dresses and costumes. The most funniest part was that even the boys had to apply lipstick.

A Classroom Scene

At around 6 PM the program started. On that day there was also a drama on Cindrella by our School students too. When our time came we performed quite good. We got appreciations from our classmates, audience and teachers.

The whole crew! Along with me in Grey Double Shirt

After a long fought battle we managed to put down a great show.

TCS Rural IT Quiz - II Place

As you may be knowing about TCS Rural IT Quiz. It has been conducted from the past 9 years and is still going strong. I had been the state finalist for 2008.

We went there to see the exhibition on 6th NOV at around 4 PM. To be honest the exhibition was lacklustre. Only a few stalls and the most that hurt me was that Microsoft being a Diamond Sponsor did not put up a stall. It was inaugurated by our CM Mr. Yeddurappa and Gujarat CM Mr. Modi.

We came the next day ie: the Quiz day to the Palace Ground at 1:15 PM. It was one of the most frightening moment because our Autorikshaw toured the whole Bangalore city before taking us there. But it was his loss because the meter had gone up to Rs 50 but we just gave him Rs 20 and some scoldings.

The six teams who qualified for the State Finals were: 

1. Kashinath Handiganur & Manjunath Malipatil – Vidyabharati High School Talikoti, 

2. Shashank S Meti and Prabhu B Viratimath – St Annes Convent High School Bagalkot, 

3. Devrath N D and Surya V – MKET PU College Harihar (ofcourse we), 

4. Vittal R Pai and Madhusudan S – Kalpataru PU College Tiptur, 

5. Prashanth Pai  and Snehith Periera – SMS PU College Brahmavar and 

6. Rakshitha H M and Shravya R – Carmel Convent Mandya.

The quiz started with the commencing of Mr. Hegde, the Primary Education Minister at 4:30 PM. It was our first Zonal and State Finals so some nervousness and curiosity at the same time. And the quizzing began with the quiz master Giri 'Pickbrain' Balasubramaniam.

The first round was "Global Bytes" that had questions on history of computing, to people and products from the world of IT. We choose History and got a picture of a man standing in front of a computer. We answered it as Bob Bermer and UNIVAC but right answer was Grace Hopper and UNIVAC. Bad start.

The second round was "Quick Bytes" which was rapid fire rounds on buzzers. We answered quite a few questions here. I guess we answered 2 questions here. 

The Third rounds was "Lateral Bytes" which was an audio/video round requiring lateral thinking. 

The Fourth round was "Bits & Bytes" which was a round of crisp animated clues where teams had to think on their feet. I remember answering Intel for one of the questions here.

And the last round was "Last Bytes" which was on the buzzer and we had to crack the answer based on the clues.

After 6 rounds of adrenaline quizzing the team from SMS PU College Brahmavar got I Place and we got II Place. We got a Trophy, Rs 35,000 + 16,000(Zonal finals) and Nokia 3110.

After many firsts this year I have promised myself to study much better next time and win this Quiz. I thank my partner Surya too for the hard work and being my partner. And i also thank my parents without whose support i could not have become a Zonal Finalist I guess. And also our Principal for relieving us from the Mid term Examination that is being held presently.

Good Bye for now and hope and pray for winning it next year.

TCS Rural IT Quiz - State Finalist & Still to go

As you may have heard TCS many times. They conduct TCS Rural IT Quiz every year in Karnataka.

There are totally 6 rounds in it.

1. PreliminaryRound - Held at our college (MKET LKEM PU College) on OCT 4th and answered the most questions to go for next round.

2. District Level - Held in Davanagere on OCT 4th and one among top 50 teams.

3. Regional Level - Held again in Davanagere on OCT 14th. Went on to get selected in top 6 teams for the oral quiz to be conducted by Giri 'Pickbrain' Balasubramaniyam. After 4 rounds of interactive quizzing came 1st again to be selected for the State Final.

4. State Final round - Yet to be conducted on NOV 7 at Palace Grounds. Please pray for my win.

My Blog Entry

Hi Everyone out there,

This is my first blog entry and i am very grateful to my Parents and Google too for it.

I will hence forth post all my life experiences here and You are all welcomed to post your comments.