Life, Dreams and Reality -- Sohel's Blog

Stephen King’s 11/22/63 is quite an unusual title of a book. Still in beginning chapters, but already I’m hooked to King’s irresistible writing, as I was in his Under the Dome, The Stand, and many more past ones. Maybe some other day I will write about the story when I read the very last chapter of this hefty book. But like the protagonist of this story who goes back to 1958, yep, time travel, don’t laugh, Stephen King always knows how to craft the most implausible story into a believable one, and making it entertaining but also weaves it with moral dilemma, the good, the bad and the ugly, just like Clint Eastwood in his Western movies, perhaps a few degrees more intensity, but again just like this time traveling protagonist, I felt so antiquated not adopting the electronic version of book reading earlier. Such an instant gratification! You click just one button, and bam! The book is auto delivered within a few seconds in all the possible devices one may possess, phone, pc, e-reader, ...

“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

This is the first book I've read written by Chris Cleave, and found his crisp writing to be highly readable, entertaining, and at the same time Little Bee has that unmistakable power rekindling reader's interest exploring the painful reality that many fellow human beings go through every single day around the globe. The central character Little Bee, whose real name is Udo, meaning peace, recollects childhood memories with her family, adventures with elder sister, and horror in the forms of boots and guns that came to their village, robbing her childhood innocence, while fleeing to a promised land does not bring that very promise of sheltering persecution from the paid thugs. Involvement of a family of journalist, the 1 meter height "batman", gives this tragic story another dimension and perspective, from the eyes of a protector, who feels so helpless protecting a refugee child from the onslaught of endless bureaucracy, and bullets. Amid the gloom and waves of sor...

Their realm of influences might be different. One was the innovator of aesthetically pleasing and albeit useful computing devices, making life of many better, and the other soothed the spirits of music lovers with his memorable melancholic songs. Steve Jobs and Jagjit Singh, died within few days of each other, bur their contributions to the world may last for a long time. Death is indeed the common denominator, the ultimate destiny we all share. Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement speech was so poignant illuminating this very brief existence that we traverse, while Jagjit Singh's songs invoke that nostalgic and beautiful moments of life, from years past, reminding the mortals to cherish every precious moment of life. Two great men. One common destiny.

I haven't seen her for many years. Spoke to her over phone about 3 years ago. A lively human being. My remembrance of her shall always be the warm welcome she had shown, with ease making me feel comfortable in my short trip back to my native land after more than a decade. I heard about her being sick suddenly with cancer, that eventually took her life yesterday, so soon! So tragic! Rest in peace Tunti (Afreen Khan).

Words and songs, inspiring and genuine, can move the mountain from a heart. Not pointing to peddlers and charlatans, but the ones who follow their passion through compassionate gestures and actions, are the real mountain movers. A world of frenzy. Men and women, in galore of clothing, going about their business. Where is the time for bluebonnet and the crumbling dreams? Moment by moment, life slips away. A beginning, that seems so far away, as if residing in a distant planet. Those noble goals, working for a fairer world, for equity and justice, submerge under the heavy lifting and daily grinding of struggle. Day by day, ideals vanish. Here comes the glittery allure of mighty wealth and self-indulgence. A true mover of mountain refuses to acquiesce. Even facing the certainty of creeping death from unstoppable disease, frailty of human flesh and decay, the heart of a true fighter, for love and hope for all, keeps beating strong with radiant vibrancy. When that last moment of truth f...

Jesse: Oh Sohel, say it ain't so! I refuse to convert to a digital medium. There's nothing I love more than the weight of a book in my hands, the feel of turning a page, even the smell, lol. Anywho, I don't believe this, I'm at my local library quite often and it's always busy. Some books that I have requested from the library I am waitlisted and I am number 87 on the list or even higher. All is not lost. :) Sohel: Like you Jesse, I love to hold a real book, turning the soft and whispering pages, highlight the sentences that I like and most often than not fall in sleep just after reading a page turner chapter of a thriller or a thoughtful non fiction. I also don't believe that the traditional books will disappear soon, but sadly the trend that is accelerating has the unmistakable digital pointer. Libraries that have been cornerstone of disseminating knowledge to people from thousands of years from one form or another, will most likely ...

"The death of the book will change things. For many, bookstores are special places of contemplation and discovery, and their loss will be deeply felt. Libraries too will have to rethink. Eventually, all books will be converted to a digital medium (even if only scanned), making it unnecessary for someone to visit a place to research or read." Link: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/04/03/the_last_chapter/?sudsredirect=true

From 24 pounds to way less than a pound of today's mobile computing having astonishing prowess to boast. In computing the fast advancement is inspiring. Just think what more innovations are just around the corner, the possibility is limitless. Link: http://techland.time.com/2011/04/03/mobile-computing-is-thirty-years-old-this-weekend/

"Even if you don’t have high blood pressure, it’s important to take steps to keep it under control since it tends to get higher with age. For people with high blood pressure, those measures can sometimes reduce or even eliminate the need for drugs." Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/early-detection-of-high-blood-pressure-can-limit-damage-to-your-heart-and-arteries/2011/02/18/AF3bFzqB_story.html

"What's going on in these pictures in incredible. It seems that the waters from last year's floods in Pakistan forced millions of spiders into these trees, creating these impressive images, according to the UK Department For International Development (DFID)." Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/01/spiderwebs-in-trees-pakistan-floods_n_843521.html

What do this kind of UFO sighting claim mean? Bogus?

"50% of antibiotic use is unnecessary or inappropriate. Overuse, misuse, improper dosing and the use of substandard or diluted medicines all contribute to the rise of resistance. But so too do weak health-care systems and poor or unenforced regulations. Unless a strict code of practice forbids overuse, and systems are in place to monitor their behaviour, doctors have every incentive to treat the patient in front of them—not worry about the theoretical patient a decade hence who may suffer from the consequences of overuse of antibiotics." Link: http://www.economist.com/node/18483671

"Help prevent cancer with these newest of these nutritional standouts, along with strategies for slipping them into your diet." Link: http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/cancer_fighting_foods/index.php?cm_mmc=Twitter-_-MensHealth-_-Content-Health-_-CurryFightsCancer

The following excerpt from an article published in The Huffington Post has a profound message: "A young man once came to Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. 'Rebbe, I can no longer believe in God. I can't believe in God because the world is so filled with pain, suffering, ugliness and evil. How could there be a God in such a world?!' 'Why do you care?' asked the Rebbe. 'What do you mean, why do I care? How could I not care? Innocent people suffer; the world is ruled by cruel people. Why does God allow it?' Again, the Rebbe inquired, 'But why do you care?' The young man screamed out: 'Someone has to care! Someone has to see the pain of the world and cry out! If not, all the suffering is meaningless. I care because I want a better world, not only for my children but for all children!' The Rebbe responded, 'If you care that much, then God exists. You see, God exists in your caring.'" Link: http://www.h...

"Once a darling of development programs, microlending in India is credited with helping many poor people become self-sufficient. But commercial companies moved into what had been the realm of nonprofits, handing out $7 billion in loans in the last decade and creating a competitive marketplace....." Link: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june11/indialending_03-30.html

Congratulations to India! 2011 World Cup Cricket champion.

A well directed thriller, in the similar model of memento, but dealing with metaphorical Shroedinger's cat. A good memorable movie.

An excellent article on laughter: "laughter is primarily a social vocalization that binds people together. It is a hidden language that we all speak. It is not a learned group reaction but an instinctive behavior programmed by our genes. Laughter bonds us through humor and play." Link: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200011/the-science-laughter

Mega million jackpot winner who bought the 319 million dollar winning ticket: "I was at the counter and it was my turn to buy a ticket when I reached down to grab a Snickers bar from the candy display," Barth said. "And someone reached over me, actually cut in front of me to buy a ticket. I thought about saying something, but let it slide. I bought the next ticket -- the winning ticket. "

April Fool's Day origin is uncertain. Foolish? " April Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fools Day, is one of the most lighthearted days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of a new calendar...." Link: http://www.icontact-archive.com/npqGSbDm0qQigBu6bm9VvkXH3amAM1Am?w=1&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d95f97e222e3f4d%2C0

" It’s not surprising that with supply decreasing and demand increasing, most people find it difficult to avoid gaining weight with age." "The demand for calories increases with age, both because one’s income rises and because one’s taste for good, caloric food has been developed over many years of good eating. I didn’t know what an Esterhazy cake was 40 years ago, but now I can’t resist one if it’s on the menu! Sadly, however, the ......" Link: http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/04/01/obesonomics/

"some simple, everyday habits can make a big difference in your ability to live a healthy lifestyle. Here are the 17 worst habits for your heart, and how to avoid them...." Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/31/heart-health-risks-_n_842784.html?ref=fb&src=sp#s259604&title=Watching_TV

This is personal. I had seen my father and other relatives and friends battling with cancer. Visitations in the hospital or oncology department for loved ones, some of their prognosis were terminal, left indelible painful memories, and also the reminders of life's very fragility were unmistakable. Please read an article published in WebMD and also do your own research from good sources. The excerpts and the link of the article provided below. Excerpts: "there’s nothing magic about cancer prevention, no “killer app” that can instantly keep you healthy. Genetics play a big role in cancer, so even if you try to live a perfectly healthy life, it’s possible that you may develop cancer. But experts estimate that at least a third of all adult cancer cases are linked to lifestyle, which is within your control. With every healthy choice you make -- and every unhealthy habit you drop -- you’re chipping away at your cancer risk. Here are eight of the healthiest habits...

"Bangladesh has a robust civil society, which has reacted with outrage to the case." -- true, but more societal transformation is needed down to the rural villages where victims get trampled by initial horrific crimes and then by the lack of protection from wealthier perpetrators and sympathizers. Link: http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/when-a-girl-is-executed-for-being-raped/

"Among the ten nations that produce the most nuclear power, Japan is not alone in facing an earthquake hazard...." Link: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/03/pictures/110329-top-10-nuclear-nations-quake-hazard/?source=link_tw20110329news-nuclear

"The trouble with stress is that it seeps into every area of your life — affecting your sleep, mood and the size of your waistline. The interactions between these factors were the subject of a recent study in the International Journal of Obesity, which found that people with high stress and poor sleep......" Link: http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/29/how-stress-and-sleep-conspire-to-make-you-fat/

James Gosling, father of Java, is from Calgary, one of the legendary and inspiring figures in computing world. Link: http://www.androidcentral.com/james-gosling-javas-godfather-joins-google

"Bengali readers have treasured “Chowringhee” since it was published in 1962. In this golden age of the Indian novel, it has finally been translated into English." -- excellent! Hoping to see more great translations and movies for writers like Shirshendu Mukherji, Mujtoba Ali, Sunil Ganguli, Humayun Ahmed and many other great writers. " IN Sofia Coppola’s recent film “Somewhere”, a Los Angeles hotel offers a glamorous backdrop for a story about a lonely man, some dissolute women, an impressionable daughter and a simple message: only connect...." Link:  http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/03/found_translation

"AT THE depths of the Great Depression, George Orwell wrote of the English working classes: “The basis of their diet is white bread and margarine, corned beef, sugared tea and potato—an appalling diet." " When the Copenhagen Business School asked some Nobel-winning economists the best way to spend money to help the world, nutritional projects topped the poll." Link: http://www.economist.com/node/18440801

Richard Cohen is a distinguished columnist who writes with impeccable clarity using the tragic history of the second world war countering the argument of terrible indifference: "lives were clearly at stake and something had to be done. The world could not simply shove its hands in its pockets and stand by as some madman had his way with people in his grip — in spirit, a reprise of the Evian conference. The Libyan intervention established a precedent: There is such a thing as the international community and, as inchoate as it may be, it will insist on certain minimum standards even for dictators: Your people are not yours to kill." Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/military-action-is-costly-but-not-as-much-as-apathy/2011/03/28/AFRI7mqB_story.html

"To brush aside America’s responsibility as a leader and -– more profoundly -– our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are. Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different. And as President, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action." -- Obama was in his eloquent self, explained the urgency and the necessity of intervention in Lybia well. The following excerpt points to one of the main reasons for America's decision to stop Gaddafi killing more innocent civilians: "Moreover, America has an important strategic interest in preventing Qaddafi from overrunning those who oppose him. A massacre would have driven thousands of additional refugees across Libya’s borders, putting enormous strains on the peaceful –- yet fragile -– transitions in Egypt and Tunisia. The democrati...

"A new pattern of antibiotic resistance that is spreading around the globe may soon leave us defenseless against a frighteningly wide range of dangerous bacterial infections..." Link: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-enemy-within

Didn't know cereal has high carb. Per this article, it seems all the delicious foods are bad, like pizza, anything sugary, cereal, etc. Not sure how to interpret the message of this article. Link: http://www.healthhabits.ca/2009/06/30/high-carb-diet-heart-attack/

" Previous research has shown that regular consumption of small amounts of nuts can reduce the risk of heart disease, some types of cancer, type two diabetes and other health problems." " Walnuts are the healthiest of all nuts because of their high levels of antioxidants and should be eaten more as part of a healthy diet, say US scientists." Link:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12865291

" It is very strange that the countries in the region are not doing what many other countries have done in terms of nuclear power," says Amod Dixit a geologist and an international earthquake expert. "Particularly when most of the region falls in the earthquake zone and the intensity of risk is several times high." Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12859167

I had seen this video before and each time burst into laughing watching Alec Baldwin delivering harsh message (of reality of harshness?)

"Presenter: Dear viewers, we end today’s show with an exclusive interview done by Al-Aan’s correspondent Jinan Musa with Mariam Al Omar, Eman El-Obeidi’s cousin, the woman who was raped by pro Gaddafi forces." Video and transcript link: http://feb17.info/media/video-eman-el-obeidis-cousin-speaks-out-translated/

"Manoubya Bouazizi said her son’s decision “was spontaneous, from the humiliation.” Her clear blue eyes welled as her husband placed at her feet a small clay pot filled with a few white-hot pieces of charcoal, their only defense against a cold, raw, rain-swept day. The Bouazizi family has no money, no car, no electricity, but it was not poverty that made her son sacrifice himself, she said. It was his quest for dignity." Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-tunisia-act-of-one-fruit-vendor-sparks-wave-of-revolution-through-arab-world/2011/03/16/AFjfsueB_story.html

"Revolutions are explosions of frustration that can build over decades, but it is often a single spark that ignites them." Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-tunisia-act-of-one-fruit-vendor-sparks-wave-of-revolution-through-arab-world/2011/03/16/AFjfsueB_story.html

"Good potassium sources include fruits, vegetables, dairy foods and fish. Foods that are especially rich in potassium include potatoes and sweet potatoes, fat-free milk and yogurt, tuna, lima beans, bananas, tomato sauce and orange juice. Potassium also is available in supplements. However, most potassium supplements come in dosages of 50mg . To get your daily 5 grams, you would need to take 100 pills." Link: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/can-data-predict-political-revolutions/71743/

"Statistics from 152 nations help create a new index to predict the revolutionary activism spreading through the Middle East and elsewhere..." Link: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/can-data-predict-political-revolutions/71743/

"The finding could mean that various building blocks of life were common in pools of water on the surface of the early Earth. What's more, the amino acids are similar to those found on certain types of meteorites. Which suggests that the basic constituents of life could be widespread in the universe.   But how those oases of amino acids started to come together and form life? Well, the origin of life as we know it rem." Link: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=the-origin-of-life-11-03-27

" Even if we don't understand the mechanism of how it works, we definitely do know that people who exercise regularly have healthier blood vessels," she noted. "The blood vessels are like a muscle. And if you engage in cardiovascular activity, they are more pliable and respond better to changes in blood volume and blood pressure." " Physical activity may diminish the negative impact of a high-salt diet on blood pressure, a new study suggests." Link: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011/03/Exercise-may-blunt-salts-effect-on-hypertension/45342450/1?csp=34news&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UsatodaycomHealth-TopStories+%28News+-+Health+-+Top+Stories%29

" wars are getting more investment than agriculture, the boosting of which is a well-known ground stone of development. The jobs and education that come with development are what lead to political security." Link:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/renowned-economists-outlook-darkens-on-global-food-prospects/article1957725/

SUCCESS IS COUNTED SWEETEST By Emily Dickinson Success is counted sweetest By those who ne'er succeed. To comprehend a nectar Requires sorest need. Not one of all the purple Host Who took the Flag today Can tell the definition So clear of victory As he defeated – dying – On whose forbidden ear The distant strains of triumph Burst agonized and clear! Read more here: http://bit.ly/cNc6fU

A BLASPHEMY By Maurice Manning You wouldn't have believed it, how the man, a little touched perhaps, set his hands together and prayed for happiness, yet not his own; he meant his people, by which he meant not people really, but trees and cows, the dirty horses, dogs, the fox who lived at the back of his place with her kits, and the very night who settled down to rock his place to sleep, the place he tried so hard to tend he found he mended fences in his sleep. He said to the you above, who, let's be honest, doesn't say too much, I need you now up there to give my people happiness, you let them smile and know the reason; hear my prayer, Old Yam. The you who's you might laugh at that, and I agree, it's funny to make a prayer like that, the down-home words and yonder reach of what he said; and calling God the Elder Sweet Potato, shucks, that's pretty funny, and kind of sad. Read more here: http://bit....

ABRAHAM LINCOLN WALKS AT MIDNIGHT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WALKS AT MIDNIGHT By Vachel Lindsay It is portentous, and a thing of state That here at midnight, in our little town A mourning figure walks, and will not rest, Near the old court-house pacing up and down. Or by his homestead, or in shadowed yards He lingers where his children used to play, Or through the market, on the well-worn stones He stalks until the dawn-stars burn away. A bronzed, lank man! His suit of ancient black, A famous high top-hat and plain worn shawl Make him the quaint great figure that men love, The prairie-lawyer, master of us all. He cannot sleep upon his hillside now. He is among us:—as in times before! And we who toss and lie awake for long Breathe deep, and start, to see him pass the door. His head is bowed. He thinks on men and kings. Yea, when the sick world cries, how can he sleep? Too many peasants fight, they know not why, Too many homesteads in black terror weep....

FORGETFULNESS By Billy Collins The name of the author is the first to go followed obediently by the title, the plot, the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel which suddenly becomes one you have never read, never even heard of, as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain, to a little fishing village where there are no phones. Long ago you kissed the names of the nine muses goodbye and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag, and even now as you memorize the order of the planets, something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps, the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay. Whatever it is you are struggling to remember, it is not poised on the tip of your tongue or even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen. It has floated away down a dark mythological river whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall well on your own way to oblivion where you wi...

How the V symbol went viral From World War II through the Arab spring. Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/from-churchill-to-libya-how-the-v-symbol-went-viral/2011/03/18/AFzPiYYB.html

This is one of the best songs I've heard recently. See the lyrics below: HEY HEY HEY (No Matter How Life Is Today) By Michael Franti It’s been a long time coming that I had to say When I wake up in the morning all I do is pray For some guidance and protection on the streets today And an answer to the questions I ask everyday So tell me why do the birds that used to fly here Tell me why do they come to die here And all the kids that used to run here Tell me why do they load their guns here I remember, in the days when, We were one heart no need to defend I just wrap my arms around Don’t give up this song is for you Hey, hey, hey, no matter how life is today There’s just one thing that I got to say I won’t let another moment slip away I say hey, hey, hey no matter how life is today There’s just one thing that I got to say I won’t let another moment slip away I hold on, I’m trying to hold on, I hold on, hold on, hold on, I hold on From the tops of the bu...

Found this satiric Bangla poem in Nawed's mobile upload. The sad events surrounding Dr. Yunus where a Nobel laureate from Bangladesh seems to be steamrolled by political butcheries.

part 6 by videosplayer

Freedom and speech in Gaddafi's Lybia: "A Libyan woman burst into a hotel housing foreign press and fought off security forces to tell how she had been raped and beaten by Qaddafi militia members." New York Times has a longer version of this video: http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/03/26/world/africa/100000000745659/libyan-woman-struggles-to-tell-her-story.html

"Everything we're learning now — from genetics, from linguistic data, from geological data, from archaeological data — suggests that the peopling process is infinitely more complicated than we might have imagined 50 years ago, or even 20 years ago". Link to full article: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/25/134832701/texas-find-turns-back-clock-on-settlers-in-america?sc=tw

Eat a Big Breakfast Macronutrient Timing Eat Protein at Every Meal Fiber at Every Meal Stop Drinking Your Calories Stop Eating Bread Drink More Water & Tea Supplement with Omega 3 Fish Oils Every Night Get Smart about Peri-Workout Nutrition Always Carry Healthy Snacks Link to full article: http://www.healthhabits.ca/2009/12/14/10-really-good-diet-hacks/

Special effects were great. Story seemed a bit stretched, almost hyperbolic, but still is an enjoyable movie.   Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJ0TP4nTaE&sns=fb

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lti0vfCPZns&sns=fb Watched it on DVD. 2010 movie. Good plot and direction.

Some of these future technologies that Michio Kaku predict are mind boggling, like today's smartphone and advancement in various gadgetry might have startled homo sapiens from 19th or 18th century, the same way the talks of increasing human lifespan manifolds than we can fathom at present, and the shape shifting materials, "Matrix" like virtual reality, the real Jurassic Park and Internet in contact lenses and even "teraforming" mars and other planets, teleportation, these all may become reality soon, sooner than we can predict.  "And while some of it seems far-fetched, he said to consider how our smartphones, laptops and space missions would have been viewed 100 years ago. "If they were to see you with all of your wizardry, they would consider you a sorcerer to be able to summon up images from all over the world," he said. "But if someone could come today from the 21st century, what will our grandchildren think of us? In the 21...

This is long overdue. Apologize and move on. Unlike other of his compatriots, Imran Khan seems to be a classy man, as he was in cricket field and now as an ethical politician. "Ex-Pakistani cricket star Imran Khan has demanded an official apology from the Government of Pakistan to the people of Bangladesh for the atrocities allegedly committed by the Pakistan Army in 1971. Imran Khan immediately agreed with Hamid Mir and said that previously he was also of the opinion that Army operation was a good thing because there was no independent media in Pakistan in 1971. Imran Khan said that when he went to England in 1971, his Bengali friends told him the reality of the Army operation. Imran Khan said that he experienced the love and affection of Bangladeshis during an exhibition match in Mirpur in 1989. He said that the Army operations always created hatred in Pakistan and we must apologise to Bangladeshis." Link to full article: http://thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetai...

"Four rules:   Reduce the time spent in bed.  Get up at the same time every day.  Don't go to bed until you feel sleepy.  Don't stay in bed if you're not sleeping" Link to full article: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/simple-rules-for-better-sleep/

"Right now, this "behavioral tracking" is mainly for marketing purposes, to target the advertising you see online. But the potential for abuse is enormous, since this information can also be used by insurance companies, financial institutions, landlords and prospective employers." Link to the full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42239031/ns/business-consumer_news/

" rapidly evolving 'hare' bacteria were eventually wiped out by their more sluggish rivals." Read the full article: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110317/full/news.2011.166.html

" computers that can perform a billion billion computations per second, 1,000 times as fast as today's speediest systems." Link to full article: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-03/how-it-works-light-driven-computer

"The attack on Libya is justified but by turning a blind eye to Yemen and Bahrain, the U.S. and others are sowing the seeds of future conflicts." Most likely it is double standard, but also from lack of universal international stance against all forms of repression. Money plays a major role, unfortunately, each cruise missile cost millions, and the operations of international coalition of this magnitude surely cost hefty. That still does not absolve the collective humanity from deadening indifference. Read the full article: http://www.thestar.com/article/959663

"The price of the gas at the pump fluctuates mainly with the price of crude oil, plus a time lag. The price of crude itself bounces around due to all sorts of influences, exaggerated if not caused by the huge amount of speculation in the oil market." Read the full article: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/03/the-effects-of-production-turmoil-what-we-pay-for-at-the-pump.html

"I would want to know if a banana in Bangladesh works the same way as a banana in Brazil," he said. "Chemistry is tricky. I would want to be damn confident of a method of analysis before jumping on an action plan." Read the full article: http://news.discovery.com/earth/banana-peels-water-purification-110323.html

Given the dire cicunstances and lack of seemingly peaceful alternatives to save the lives of civilians, unlike the mis-adventurous wars of the past, this intervention is a necessary and urgent one. Like before, democracynow provides critical analysis of this pressing issue that perhaps cannot be found in mainstream media. Read the full debate: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/23/debating_intervention_is_us_led_military

We're two-thirds water, after all. Our cells carry, "a concentration of that indescribably and liquid brew which is compounded in varying proportions of salt and sun and time." And so, like water, we flow. Or, let's try to imagine ourselves flowing. We may not realize it when we're in the flow,.... Read the full article: http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/03/22/134732644/water-rushing-through-cities-the-gentle-version?sc=tw

Omega 3 rocks! Go fish! Lean protein, perhaps many folds beneficial than red meat. Watch out for mercury level though. Few safe fish with low mercury are: salmon, tilapia and mahi mahi. Do google search on low mercury fish. Like red meat and poultry, fish provides the protein essential for maintaining healthy muscles and other tissues. Most of us get more than enough protein. What really makes fish worth eating are its omega-3 fatty acids. New research shows that these healthful fats may help prevent age-related macular degeneration, a disease that impairs vision. But their benefits extend far beyond that. Heart health. Omega-3 fatty acids , specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), help prevent cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac death. Penny Kris-Etherton , professor of nutrition at Penn State, says these healthful fats can reduce heart arrhythmia, the leading cause of sudden cardiac death. The effect can take hold mere week...

"I have a healthy cholesterol level but I'm worried about always eating scrambled eggs on the weekend. How many eggs can a healthy person consume per week?" "The answer The concern with eggs has to do with their high cholesterol content – 190 milligrams per one egg. Nutrition guidelines to keep LDL (bad) blood cholesterol in the desirable range have emphasized limiting dietary cholesterol – abundant in egg yolks, shrimp, liver and duck – to less than 300 milligrams per day. (Elevated LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream is a major risk factor for heart disease.) Research has shown that eating one egg a day does not boost the risk of heart disease or stroke in healthy adults. That said, research does suggest that people with diabetes are more efficient at absorbing cholesterol from foods than people who don’t have diabetes.  If you’re healthy, one whole egg a day seems perfectly safe. If you’re a male with diabetes, it’s prudent to limit egg yolks t...

"Jeff Dunn believes he can double the $1 billion baby-carrot business -- and promote healthy eating -- by marketing the vegetable like Doritos. His secret weapon? He knows every snack-marketing trick in the book." Read the full article: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/154/the-new-junk-food.html

"So why the concern over natural flavors anyway. Because they're not natural. The more natural a food claims to be, the less it usually is. A truly natural food, rarely calls itself "natural," it just calls itself "lemon" or "cinnamon." Moreover, the chemical called "flavor" is virtually identical whether natural or artificial. Banana flavor for example is created by distilling the flavor molecules from a banana using a chemical solvent, while artificial banana flavor is created by mixing chemicals, that result is the identical chemical output." Link to full article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-sweet-beet/natural-herbal-tea_b_836251.html

WILDPEACE By Yehuda Amichai Not the peace of a cease-fire, not even the vision of the wolf and the lamb, but rather as in the heart when the excitement is over and you can talk only about a great weariness. I know that I know how to kill, that makes me an adult. And my son plays with a toy gun that knows how to open and close its eyes and say Mama. A peace without the big noise of beating swords into ploughshares, without words, without the thud of the heavy rubber stamp: let it be light, floating, like lazy white foam. A little rest for the wounds— who speaks of healing? (And the howl of the orphans is passed from one generation to the next, as in a relay race: the baton never falls.) Let it come like wildflowers, suddenly, because the field must have it: wildpeace.  Read more here: http://bit.ly/dO8xTq  

Comparing to the alternative fuels' overall cost, natural gas may be the next best thing before "greener" technology becomes abundant and cost effective for the masses. "In North America, four factors promise to make natural gas a viable alternative to oil-based fuels.   First, revolutionary technology is unlocking enormous new supplies of shale gas.   Second, unrest in North Africa and the Middle East has underlined U.S. oil-supply vulnerability.   Third, there are clear environmental advantages to clean-burning natural gas (which emits 25 per cent less carbon dioxide than diesel).   Fourth, there have been major advances in natural gas fuel technology." Read the full article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/commentary/gwyn-morgan/natural-gas-the-next-green-hope/article1948906/

"A set of stairs can be an excellent workout tool. Some athletes get in shape by running stairs in stadiums, but a household staircase can be just as effective." Read the full article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/ask-a-health-expert/ask-a-trainer/how-can-i-use-my-staircase-at-home-for-working-out/article1947908/

THE ARGUMENT By Jane Kenyon On the way to the village store I drive through a down-draft from the neighbor’s chimney. Woodsmoke tumbles from the eaves backlit by sun, reminding me of the fire and sulfur of Grandmother’s vengeful God, the one who disapproves of jeans and shorts for girls, dancing, strong waters, and adultery. A moment later the smoke enters the car, although the windows are tight, insinuating that I might, like Judas, and the foolish virgins, and the rich young man, have been made for unquenchable fire. God will need something to burn if the fire is to be unquenchable. "All things work together for the good for those who love God," she said to comfort me at Uncle Hazen’s funeral, where Father held me up to see the maroon gladiolus that trembled as we approached the bier, the elaborate shirred satin, brass fittings, anything, oh, anything but Uncle’s squelched and made-up face. ...

NATURE By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow As a fond mother, when the day is o'er, Leads by the hand her little child to bed, Half willing, half reluctant to be led, And leave his broken playthings on the floor, Still gazing at them through the open door, Nor wholly reassured and comforted By promises of others in their stead, Which, though more splendid, may not please him more; So Nature deals with us, and takes away Our playthings one by one, and by the hand Leads us to rest so gently, that we go Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay, Being too full of sleep to understand How far the unknown transcends the what we know.   Read more here: http://bit.ly/aYyMLw

"There are some simple steps you can take to become less obsessed with disaster, and yet still be compassionately involved with your fellow man. Doing these things will engage your mind, heart and being in positive and life-affirming ways, making you part of the solution instead of part of the problem." Link to full article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hale-dwoskin/japan-earthquake_b_838485.html

"Paralysis patients could play music with their minds , using a new brain-control interface that senses brain impulses and translates them into musical notes. Users must teach themselves how to associate brain signals with specific tasks, causing neuronal activity that the brain scanners can pick up. Then they can make music. It’s a pretty unique use of brain-computer interfaces, which are already being used to do things like drive cars , control robots and play video games." Link to full article: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-03/medicine-mind-using-eeg-patients-can-play-music-merely-thinking

"Why Europe's debt crisis may hurt global stability more than Japan's tragedies." Link to full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/20/AR2011032003969.html

Another global warming consequence, 40 to 50 years earlier than predicted. " Marine biologists have discovered an invasion of deep-water crabs off the coast of Antarctica, where it’s previously been too cold for the creatures to survive." Link to full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/king-crabs-invade-antarctica/2011/03/01/ABCyN52.html

" "Think of what you can do," Kaku says. "When you meet somebody, your contact lens will identify who that person is, print out their biography next to that person's image, and then translate, from Chinese into English or whatever." He compares it to the technology Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator character used to identify his opponents. Stealth bombers will get a makeover in the future, Kaku says, when true invisibility technology becomes widespread. "I teach optics," he says, "and for years I used to teach the kids that invisibility was not possible. Well, I was wrong." Scientists have discovered a new substance called "metamaterials," that allows light to bend around an object and re-form on the other side, like a stream around a boulder. "This is the real McCoy," Kaku says. "This is the Harry Potter invisibility cloak." Read full article from: http://www.npr...

"Severe earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and now Japan have experts around the world asking whether the world's tectonic plates are becoming more active — and what could be causing it. Some scientists theorize that the sudden melting of glaciers due to man-made climate change is lightening the load on the Earth's surface, allowing its mantle to rebound upwards and causing plates to become unstuck. These scientists point to the historical increase in volcanic and earthquake activity that occurred about 12,000 years ago when the glaciers that covered most of Canada in an ice sheet several kilometres thick suddenly melted. The result was that most of Canada's crust lifted — and is still rising. Scientists have discovered that the accelerated melting of the Greenland ice sheet over the last 10 years already is lifting the southeastern part of that island several millimetres every year. The surface of the Earth is elastic. A heavy load such as a glacier wil...

"observers have been speculating how many robots authorities have deployed to keep people out of harm's way. The answer, apparently, is zero. It's surprising that Japan, long considered a technological powerhouse, has had to resort to such rudimentary methods of cooling the plant's reactors as water-bombing them with lead-lined helicopters." Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20044970-1.html#ixzz1Hk4QfBgt

PASSAGE By Rae Armantrout 1 I held the framework of my life in mind with some precision. I knew when I was where—or where I was when—but not many incidents of my past had actually been preserved. Instead the frame served as a cargo cult runway, forever inviting the future to appear. I existed finally as the idea of temporal extension. 2 The creeper lineates the wall. Flowers as punctuation? Can you elaborate on the passage? Double meaning, superposition: hair standing on end makes a creature appear larger, more ferocious. Read more here: http://bit.ly/bIH5ZY

"Many computer owners have Windows 7 systems, which seem to be more secure than previous versions of Windows. Yet, because Windows is such a massive targetone that promises big rewards with a good hackmany think securing Windows is an impossible task. Not so. I’ll introduce you to security settings..." Link: http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1684318

Kazumi Saeki's article surmises the horror of earthquake, tsunami and unfolding nuclear disaster in Japan. It feels like a slow moving runaway train, moving with all of its ominous momentum for the catastrophic possibility. The writer opines that " Now an invisible pollution is beginning to spread. People have acquired a desire for technology that surpasses human comprehension. Yet the bill that has come due for that desire is all too dear. " Yes, indeed. Human beings still remain vulnerable in front of the rapacious wrath of nature,but that still does not absolve the stupendous guilt of choices building nuclear plants on earthquake fault zones. Japan is not alone in this. "Peaceful" nuclear proliferation, from west to east and south to north, on nations where continental plates dive down into another adjacent ones release the sheer energy in the form of massive jolts we call earthquake, and its eventual global consequences in the form of tsunami like the o...

Anne Applebaum's analysis in The Washington Post on revolutions spreading in the Middle-East correctly shows the patterns in history that repeat. In 1848, revolutions in European nations, have similarities what had and are transpiring in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco, and possibly more nations (China?) in the coming days and months. Revolutions are indeed messy and by its very nature, political changes demanded by general restive populace under the repressive governments / regimes meet heavy handed oppressions by the power in the pulpits who are desperately trying to cling to their slipping illusory controls over the mass that no longer have the fear. Each of these nations that are going through upheavals that were unthinkable only a few months ago, have commonality in their shared culture and history, but also have stark dissimilarities arising from varied geographical boundaries and political history. Conglomerating protests in all these nations as a ...