Save Tigers: This is our last chance

I have been quite busy with my research activities over the last few months and hence was not able to write on this blog.
Today, i received an email from my friend with a link to a campaign website for saving tigers in India.
In spite of my busy schedule, i take this opportunity to urge you all to contribute in whatever way you can, to save this wonderful animal.
i had the opportunity to see a beautiful tigress few years back in Kanha national park in MP, India. I was told that she had delivered two cubs recently. It was one of the greatest experience i have ever had. I bet, if you ever see this animal in its true wild habitat, its the most thrilling experience you'll never forget.

Please! save this animal.. There are only 1411 Tigers left in the wild.
Go and find out how you can contribute.
GO and see the tiger in a nearby sanctuary or reserve... read, write or donate... do whatever you can.

Hoping for the better future for Tiger.

Swine-Flu: Useful Information.

1. Influenza spreads mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
2. Cover your nose & mouth with a tissue while sneezing. Discard the tissue in trash.
3. Wash your hands with water & soap.
4. AVOID contact of your hand with EYES, NOSE, MOUTH.
5. After coming back home, wash your hands thoroughly. One can get infected by touching an infected object like lift handle, etc and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes.
6. Any symptom, if appear, should immediately be reported to medical authorities.
7. The patient should remain at home or hospitalized. He/she should never try to mingle with others as long as he is ill.
8. Keep track of the latest news and advice from authenticated sources like CDC and other news platforms.

Those who wish to research the topic may as well go to this interactive map available at BBC website. The interactive timeline of Flu outbreak wonderfully describes the date-wise pattern of outbreak.

U.S. Obesity Epidemic Continues to Grow

From Yahoo

The very latest from yahoo health. Some interesting statistical analysis on obersity in the US. The study is authentic since it has been carried out by CDC.

…….The number of U.S. adults who are obese increased almost 2 percent between 2005 and 2007, a new report found.

In 2007, 25.6 percent of adults reported being obese, compared to 23.9 percent in 2005, according to the finding in the July 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"The epidemic of adult obesity continues to rise in the United States, …………," Dr. William Dietz, director of CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, said in a news release. "We need to encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables, engage in more physical activity and reduce the consumption of high-calorie foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in order to maintain a healthy weight."

Obesity was most prevalent in the South, with 27 percent of residents classified as obese. In the Midwest, the number was 25.3 percent; in the Northeast, 23.3 percent; and in the West, 22.1 percent, according to the report.

In terms of age, among those 50 to 59 years old, 31.7 percent of men and 30.2 percent of women were obese. For those 19 to 29, 19.1 percent of men and women were obese.

Breaking the numbers down by race/ethnicity and sex, obesity prevalence was highest for non-Hispanic black women (39.0 percent), followed by non-Hispanic black men (32.1 percent).

Education levels play a role, too. For men, obesity prevalence was lowest among college graduates (22.1 percent) and highest among those with some college (29.5 percent) and a high school diploma (29.1 percent). For women, obesity prevalence was lowest among college graduates (17.9 percent) and highest among those with less than a high school diploma (32.6 percent).

None of the states or the District of Columbia has met the "Healthy People 2010" goal of reducing the prevalence of obesity to 15 percent or less, the CDC said.

"Obesity is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. These diseases can be very costly for states and the country as a whole," Deb Galuska, associate director for science at the CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, said in a news release.

The CDC defines obesity as a body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height) of 30 or above. An adult who is 5-feet, 9-inches tall is considered obese if he or she weighs 203 pounds……

Clearly, a thing to watch out for.

In the coming days, i’ll be giving you some really helpful tips to reduce body weight and the risk of other associated illnesses. So, keep checking.

Which Are Worse: Calories from Carbs or Fat?

From TIME magazine

Diet is a BIG headache for many and a matter for earning money for some. Its a fact that a large part of the population in developed countries as well as the population in the fastest growing "developing" countries face this challenge of over weight and obesity.

Hundreds of articles related to obesity are available on the Internet as well as in print. Consequently our understanding of the problem has increased significantly over the years. In fact, there is a separate branch of science which deals with this kind of problems, the obesity research, and it is not surprising to see millions of dollars have been spent on this subject.

Well, to the general audience, low carb diets are essential to curb obesity. This statement is true. An article published in TIMES magazine throws some light on some of the myths associated with carbohydrate diets and FAT.

“……And if you're wondering whether Dean Ornish's low-fat diet will help you shed pounds better than Dr. Atkins' low-carb menu, the answer is simple: it doesn't matter…..”

They describe the issue….

“…

Q:Will eating a calorie of fat make you fatter than eating a calorie of carbohydrate?

A: From many kinds of studies conducted over years, we are quite confident now that a calorie from fat will cause a similar amount of weight gain as a calorie from carbohydrate. There are some interesting questions about whether eating carbohydrate calories versus fat calories will make you eat more calories, but based on what you put into your mouth, it's pretty clear that the source of the calories is really not important.

[Whether fats or carbohydrates are more filling] is one issue that's been raised — but it's been raised on both sides. The best way to get to the bottom line is to look at long-term studies where we randomize people to a high-fat/low-carb diet or to a low-fat/high-carb diet and follow them for at least a year or more. That kind of study takes into account the possibility that one kind of diet provides more satiety; so, over the long run you would see more weight loss on that diet. But those studies — half a dozen or more have been done — show quite clearly that the percentage of calories from fat has very little effect on long-term weight loss….”

Quite Significant, isn’t it?

Clean Energy Economy

Clean Energy Economy From
wecansolveit.org

Thousands of new companies, millions of new jobs, and billions in revenue generated by solutions to the climate crisis -- this is the clean energy economy we can adopt with today's technologies, resources, know-how, and leadership from our elected officials. Although our reliance on fossil fuels has created global warming, we now have the opportunity and obligation to begin a transformation towards a robust clean energy economy -- one that is supported by highly efficient industries, fueled by clean, renewable resources (like wind, solar and geothermal energy), and based on modern infrastructure and smart transportation planning.

A clean energy economy is a win for American jobs. A recent report showed that investment in a clean and efficient economy would "lead to over 3 million new green-collar jobs, stimulate $1.4 trillion in new GDP, add billions in personal income and retail sales, produce $284 billion in net energy savings, all while generating sufficient returns to the U.S. treasury to pay for itself over ten years."

Studies by leading research institutions have shown that if we invest in clean energy over fossil fuels, we will create more American jobs. A report released by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, for example, found that thanks to the growth of wind energy, approximately 5,200 manufacturing jobs could be created in Iowa alone over the next decade. Additional studies have found that thousands more jobs could be created in other states that have suffered industry job losses and that welcome the opportunity to train workers for the new energy economy.

Even without strong U.S. leadership, clean energy is catching on around the world. Global investment in renewable energy climbed 25% in 2006 (from $80 billion to $100 billion). Three clean-energy industries—biofuels, wind, and solar photovoltaics—each surpassed $20 billion in revenue in 2007. Just last year, clean energy received $2.7 billion in US venture capital investment.

But, in order to fully transition to a clean energy economy, we need our elected officials to take action. Absent policies from government, the private sector may continue to invest in old-fashioned, polluting technologies. More than 80 coal plants without technology to capture carbon pollution are now being considered. If these projects go ahead, this will be billions of dollars invested in technology that is outdated and not "clean coal." We need effective policies that unleash American ingenuity and innovation to propel growing clean energy industries forward.

America is up for the challenge. In the past two decades, the United States took the lead in the high-tech revolution, exporting trillions of dollars worth of products around the world and employing millions of American workers. We can do it again, this time with clean energy technologies, from solar panels to hybrid vehicles.

Each of us can play a role in bringing about this much-needed transition. Tell your business and elected leaders that the next generation deserves to grow up in a world powered by clean energy. Tell your mayor that you want city planning that encourages more efficient new buildings and sidewalks and bike paths that make it easy to walk or ride a bike. Tell your state and national officials to invest in energy grids that can deliver renewable energy to everyone. Tell your utility company that instead of old-style coal power you want to buy solar, wind, or geothermal energy. And tell your elected officials that you want national policies that encourage investors to make long-term commitments to clean energy.

This is the opportunity of our generation— to lead the transformation to an economy that is robust without causing environmental harm. Please get involved today.

Ten Rules to Attain True Happiness

1.
Make a List of things you are blessed with and feel grateful and be thankful to the giver.
2.
Be a part of Good Social Network – sense of happiness increases with good time spent even with strangers.
3.
Try to remember the memories of good times, events, functions and occasions which you enjoyed in the past.
4.
Choose memories not materials or objects when given a choice - like choose a vacation / visit instead of buying some article of interest.
5.
Try to always smile even at the absurdities. Enjoy more and more humor as it amplifies your happiness – like classic shows that never fail to make you laugh openly.
6.
Escape to some memorable place, mentally, where you always want to enjoy the moments with nature or friends – Just play the video in your mind and enjoy the place where you listen to water falling or sea waves or smell the fragrance of flowers chirping of birds or sitting at a calm and comfortable place with full concentration towards the Supreme LORD.

7.
Be positive in every situation and find what is good in that instead of finding errors and faults to be angry and depressed. Try to be content with what you are and what you have been given by the Creator. - Try to enjoy every moment of life by looking at positive side.
8.
Always try to find some time to enjoy the creative person in yourself – by singing or listening music, writing poetry this will enable you forget the sorrow or pain you may be suffering from.
9.
Always try to do some good to others without looking for any return – help some needful person with words of knowledge and wisdom, an object he need or some money. Give a gift to some one you love and say few good words about him.
10.
Celebrate some event without waiting for its real day (like Birth day etc.) Call all your close relatives and friends and enjoy the event.
______________________________ _____
The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything.
True Happiness

Ratan Saini. http://ratansaini.googlepages.com/home