On 7th January 20011, USA today reported the upholding by a Washington District Judge of the 2008 decision by government scientists of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to include the ‘Polar Bear’ as threatened in the endangered species list. The Scientists had contended that polar bear’s existence was threatened because of widespread melting of ice, a vital part of the natural habitat of the bear, due to global warming. The Polar Bear has thus become the first animal to be declared “threatened” due to global warming under the “Endangered Species” Act.
But why should anyone have any objections to the Polar Bear’s winning the race against extinction? Hunting groups led by Republican ex-governor of Alaska, Mrs. Sarah Palin, we are told, opine that no such measure is necessary because today there are 25,000 polar bears approximately in the Alaska Greenland Artic belt. Now, Alaska alone has an area of 1,717,854 square kilometers which gives a polar bear density of 1 per 68 square kilometers (not considering Greenland). The fact that Safari Club International is also supporting Palin’s group tells us the real issue. How will Safari Club cruises advertise for polar bear hunting if the mammals remain ‘threatened’? The respondents are concerned only for the bear hides which will be contraband if the status quo prevails. The plaintiffs are not satisfied with the “threatened” status and want the full ‘endangered species criteria’ for the bears. Judge Emmet Sullivan’s verdict upholding the threatened status and refusing to either strip the Polar bear of all protection or to enhance the protection already present represents a small win for the friends of this magnificent animal.
There are some hunting lobbies who say that the Polar bear will become extinct anyway. That may be true finally but even so, we have to let events take their own course. We are no one to decide that “what is good for man, is good for the Polar Bear” with due respect to ex-Senator Sarah Palin. Or is this colonialism again? Colonialism of species, not races.
Can English Prove Kipling Wrong?
“East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet” so said Kipling. However, as per Seth Mydans, the English language may just prove Kipling wrong. In today’s flat and compressed world, people require a common lingua franca for communication which is the starting point for every cultural exchange, so necessary for tomorrow’s multicultural world. Mydans puts forward a number of facts and findings to back his argument, some of which are
- History is replete with examples of languages which peaked and died out such as Latin, Sanskrit, etc. We cannot say the same for English as because the world has changed so much that precedents in history will no longer hold true today.
- The colonial history of the world has contributed towards European languages being popular at places far away from the originating country.
- Scholars said that one fourth of the global population was capable of at least basic communication in English at the start of the new millennium.
- He quotes David Graddol, an expert, who says that English is the dominant language over the internet and that 80% of digitally stored information is in the English. Popular programming languages use English wherever commands in existing languages are used.
- More people may be speaking Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish etc. but the quality of the speakers is more important than the quantity for storage.
He also quotes another expert who says that with the coming of the perfect translation software, common languages will not be required. However, I feel that software will never be capable of replacing a language because each language ` Software will not be able to replace the emotion in the spoken word which in some languages can mean different things when spoken in different emphases, slurs, speed, etc. Again in academics, after a certain level, the information available is only in English. Hence, the aspiring academic will make himself familiar with English. He may make mistakes in grammar or spelling during communication but that is irrelevant. It is the meaning which will be sacrosanct and if someone knows what a word means in English, he will have no shortage of helping electronic hands to guide him in spelling, grammar or even pronunciation. English is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Food Wars by 2050: Realistic or Hype?
Will mankind ever have to face famine and starvation again? Discovery’s Tim Halt says ‘maybe’ and refers to an unnamed source from USAID for credibility. By 2050, there is a chance that nations may be at war with their neighbors for food. If that sounds like a Will Smith ‘movie’ to you, then let me assure you that if nothing is done, increased food production will not be able to sustain human population which will have crossed 9 billion by 2050.
Even new changes in farming crops and huge increase in harvest efficiencies will not bring that much of relief because economic disparity will also have increased by 2050. Again, as green revolutions keep on taking place the costs will keep on increasing and the benefits will go down. Seeds, Fertilizer, supportive action, irrigation, etc. will be more and more out of reach of the poor. If we are to stay alive, then out of the box thinking is required.
Wall suggests growing more profit intensive crops so that more profits can be earned at the cost of bulk production crops such as corn. This can be done but there has to be a number of alliances of nations for this plan to succeed. Each alliance will consist of both small countries like Japan which has money but no land, and large but poor countries. They can contribute their land and manpower by forming strategic alliances with Japan. The shortcomings of one will be fulfilled by the other. There will also be the advantage of the effect of the demographic-economic paradox. Can we do it? With our egos, xenophobia, etc. not likely will be my verdict.
Finally, molecular biology and genetics can be used to compress the energy we require in the form of an IV injection. This may sound as a sort of USS Enterprise and Captain Kirk scenario to you. Yes, it will be that kind of scenario and it will be facts not science fiction. After all as the pundits say ‘impossible is only a state of the mind”.
Nicholas Kristof in his OP-ED column focuses on Islamic Terrorism but his article title “What’s so scary about Smart Girls” catches our fancy immediately. Kristof informs us that girls going to school and becoming educated is a calumny for any self-respecting jihadi. Therefore, we have the Boko Haram kidnapping of the Nigerian schoolgirls, the shooting of Malala in Pakistan, etc. Kristof writes well and had it not been for his snappy clichés, his articles would be enjoyable. However, every once in a while, Kristof’s releases a cliché’s which nullifies the good work done. For example, how about “The greatest threat to extremism isn’t drones firing missiles, but girls reading books.” Or “If you want to mire a nation in backwardness, manacle your daughters” Had enough? Feeling Nauseous? Well you are certain to be in good company.
What is Critical Thinking?
‘Critical Thinking’ is a term somewhat like ‘innovation’. We know that only good can come out of it and it has a high efficiency of production. Yet, people from directors to managers to supervisors are unable to define exactly what critical thinking is. As Melissa Korn (of The Wall Street Journal) says, more than 60% of job advertisements in the career section mention that the candidate should have critical thinking abilities.
Korn gives us a few far-out definitions of ‘critical thinking’ that we reproduce below,
Richard Arubrum a NYC sociology professor defines it as the ability to cross-examine evidence and logical argument. Linda Elder, educational psychologist; president, Foundation for Critical Thinking- defines the term as “Thinking about your thinking, while you’re thinking, in order to improve your thinking” The final example is Michael Desmarais of Goldman Sachs Group who says Critical Thinking is making use of information that’s available in the journey or preparation.to arrive at a conclusion or decision.
Another point what we want to make is that there should be only a limited number or trouble shooters as they do the critical thinking part. This is because if the employer mentions that candidates should be able to think critically and trouble shoot, there will be chaos. Initially perhaps each group should have only one critical thinker.
We feel this should be enough for the reading analysis of the relevant point here which was “how to define critical thinking”? We have some nicely formed ideas here which should suffice.
He’s a real nowhere man! Dibakar Banerjee
After reading Dibakar Banerjee’s interview with the BBC, I was perplexed. What is
wrong with me or was it Dibakar Banerjee who is at fault? My reading analysis is as under, dear readers, please judge and oblige.
- Dibakar explains why Bollywood Movies cannot cater to a global audience because CUT! This is the first point of my confusion. If a movie rakes in $15 million in 27 days globally apart from India, what do you call it? A success? If that’s true then Shah Rukh Khan’s latest Bollywood block buster which has already done that business overseas and still counting, is a global success. (The movie called “Happy New Year” has grossed $78 million (approx.) gross I don’t see what any other parameter is more important than the box office collections for a movie. Dakar then tries the famous Socratic art of dialectic and asks whether we make movies which capture the real essence of India. I cannot see any connection here.
- Dakar talks about making movies so that all existing states of the nation and their eccentricities will be highlighted. This is how the essence of India will originate. Excellent answer (probably). But confusion again alas, for a large numbers of movies is made in Indian states? Do these movies flop? Dakar complains that today Actors cannot speak Hindi, directors speak only English, and how can quality movies be made? I had always thought that in art, language is redundant-; emotions and non-verbal communication takes the role of language.
Google unleashed its new ARA range of Modular smart Phones on the
Discovery Phones and Appliances Section in April 2014
Don’t just pick up your new smartphone off the shelf, Build and assemble it. Yes-this can easily be the ad-agency’s copy for the Ara. Ara is the first smart phone which you can customize, depending upon what features you require. Perhaps the most accurate analogy of the ARA modular Smart Phone will be the Desktop PC’s CPU, assembly at home. What components I will require will depend upon what I use it for. If I will game a lot, I will opt for better sound, graphics cards and high speed dual processors.
If you do not require printer compatibility, blue tooth, speaker, AutoCAD software, FB etc. just remove the requisite modules and install what you require.
Again, say one program has become old and is vulnerable to malware attack, changing the entire phone is not required, change the module. I have this feeling that post the azra, modular devices will be in. A lot of quality can also be compromised for the modular convenience. Non modular is going to have snob value but then is snob value really a value?
It seems only a matter of months till Madonna will croon “Where’s my azara?”
And that will indeed be a wonderful day for all.
Big Houses are Passé; Back to "Small is Beautiful" in the US housing trends
As per Nona Wilis Aronowitz in Lifestyle, the USA is changing as the American youth is getting caught up in the vortex of technology advancement. Surveys are coming up with bizarre idea that American youth are skeptical about large buildings. Yet Americans were very fond of large buildings only a couple of years back having areas of 4000 sq.ft to 5000 sq.ft with big halls, chandeliers and a couple of swimming pools etc.
This is no longer the case today. Young Americans say that what their main priority is a congenial atmosphere and a walkable surrounding environment They are even willing to opt for carbon area smaller house provided they have direct access to public transport centers, mixed neighborhoods of tall buildings and quaint houses in judicious mixes. It should have pavements and footpaths for walking and peaceful neighborhoods for leisurely walks in the morning or evening. Contrary to popular belief, urban houses are much more secure large buildings in semi-urban localities.
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