A Blog of Few Words ...

Balancing Class and Mass - What the Democratic World can learn from Google

2010-01-24T10:17:00.000-08:00

So, it's the age of Democracy ... USA has finally managed to push a lot of countries towards the Democratic path which it considers to be better than the other existing Administrative Systems. Fair enough, it is :). Governments, Corporations all over the world now follow a populist approach towards Governance as well as Business. Give the world what the majority wants... We have Talent hunts on Television whose winners are decided by the PUBLIC - the majority who votes for the winner. We have Government Officials elected on basis of the number of votes he or she has gained. This approach, I feel is pretty good and probably manages to bring forward the better option available to us, most of the times.

Sometimes or many a times nowadays, populist ideologies are ruining the talented and deserving class of people. Talent show winners are mostly comprised of people who give a better 'performance'. So, a good singer might have to take the backseat because the crowd who votes, decides the winner on basis of the 'performance'. Too bad the talented and experienced musicians who are called as Judges hardly have a say in the entire process. Asha Bhonsale had once said in an episode of Sa Re Ga Ma, why call us when the crowd itself decides the winner... Similarly, and mostly applicable to India, the Government Officials are elected by the uneducated, unethical, uncultured, irrational and brain washed set of people who unfortunately make the majority nowadays. So we have the MASS deciding the winners, the elected representatives who again reflect an ideology which the MASS propagates. No wonder we have classless Politicians and untalented singers running the show... We have winners in Singing Competitions who please the crowd with their antics, dances and emotions, while the CLASS is left behind. Of course, we should have all rounders, but the main purpose of the Competition shouldn't be lost and i.e. finding a brilliant singer.

Google too follows a similar approach when it comes to ranking pages on its Search Engine. One of the most important factors considered for Ranking high on the Search Engine is the amount of BackLinks or references you get from other sites. A mention of your site along with a BackLink is considered as vote from that site to yours. More the number of votes, more the chances of you ranking high :). However, the big difference here is that the NUMBER of Votes is not the only factor that decides the ranking. Factors such as the QUALITY of pages, their reputation in the online world, how useful and genuine their content is, is taken into consideration. So if you have 100 backlinks from ordinary, not so good or spammy sites, not only do the votes NOT HELP YOU to rank, but they also spoil your reputation with the Search Engine. A similar link from a Reputed and Genuine site like Wikipedia, Howstuffworks, .edu, .gov sites scores many more poitns for your site than a 100 backlinks from ordinary sites would. So basically, not just the quantity of votes matters, but also the quality of people/sites giving you the votes. In other words your reputation is not going to be good if Hooligan sites vote back to you; likewise you stand to be more respected by the Search Engine when Quality Sites vote back to you. So along with MASS, the CLASS is also taken into consideration :).

This makes up the brilliant PAGERANK algorithm which Google uses to rank pages. How we use a PersonalityRank algorithm in real life to better our world is now an open question. You are most welcome to bring forward your ranking factors to decide the Quality of an Individual on Planet Earth :) ...

A tribute to my Project Team ...

2009-09-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

I wrote this poem a few days before my final day ( night ) at Patni. I was pretty happy that my resignation date was now final and decided to quickly write something that would depict the night life of a Production Support Team. So this is what came out from my grey matter that day...

Small tribute to Claims 14185 :)

When the sun's at the horizon, and the birds fly home

When the youngsters get real busy, on their cell phones

When the tubelights are turned on, and the children come out to play

And for all the other employees, its time to call it a day .....

A brave set of youngsters, get their bags packing

Its time for them to rise up, and get busy working

Off they set out on their bikes and buses

Oh ! they'll have to hurry up, or they'll end up getting curses !

They swipe their Identification cards, and reauthenticate themselves

Else Mr. Security won’t let them in, and leave them totally helpless

They punch in their passwords, and open their Service Managers

Praying to their gods silently," May the workqueue today be, more shorter than ever"

Calling a person on telephone, was never ever sooo tough

Never before did it require one to do, soo much analysis and work

Trying hard to figure out the accent, they patiently listen to the problem

Politely asking them if necessary ... Sir, could you please repeat it again ?

Then they fire some SQL queries, and dig deep into the DATABASE

some lucky ones even get to work, on the AALLLLLL BASE INTERFACE !

Come on Come on, you gotta be fast

You dont wanna be late with your, high priority task

Type the mail as fast as you can, Utilize every finger of ur hand

And dont forget to fill in the blanks, with lots of Could Yous, Please and Thanks

Make sure, the ticket never ever breaches

and if ever reassigned, to the right workgroup it reaches

Cause if you dont adher, and attention you don’t pay

In the Himadris meeting room, u’ll spend the rest of ur day

Every night, we stay wide awake

To keep Statefarm’s system, up and safe

We work in sync, with the OSCs too

They end up making update queries, on behalf of me and you

Hey ! look ! the clock now shows, its 3 O clock AM

Who cares now what the workqueue shows, I cant look at it again !

The brave supporters can now call it a "day"

or "night" perhaps, would be a more apt word to say

Tired they tread home, sleepy as ever

Three cheers to Claims 14185, the Best Team ever !!!

Miss you guys ...

The World is waking up ...

2009-08-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

Build a Strategy for Sustainability http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_usAROt9bc

The Quest for Environmental Justice: Human Rights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYVvbs6XsNw

Power Electronics, Energy, and Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l98ArLS-PGY

China's Environment - Final Keynote Address: Jim Yardley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQn32qcp2Fw

Atmospheric Aerosols: Health Environment and Climate Effects http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztHV5RF-xyw

Climate Change, Migration and Environmental Refugees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5CHtYR_Sik

Science Matters: Plant Genetics and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fghFaDlgc-E

Environment Health and Democracy with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RJ-IT1f7U8

Barack Obama on Energy and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abGlr9sTdEg

Population and Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJVMh2-5Lr0

Environmental Tips - How to Go Green http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgDJ_H-BzFo

Pt 1 - Symposium: Energy, Climate and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUjxMLcVTQg

Pt 2 - Symposium: Energy, Climate and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4GfUF-eVSc&feature=channel

Pt 3 - Symposium: Energy, Climate and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adzEzvNYynE&feature=channel

Pt 4 - Symposium: Energy, Climate and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeXRBj5YrRU&feature=channel

Pt 5 - Symposium: Energy, Climate and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP9gpLbs9e0&feature=channel

Opening Speaker - Dr. Steven Chu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRJwzvJY1Ec

China's Environment - Keynote Address: Ma Jun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KFohTZ_N3A

Native People and the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuO4VkIAdFk

The Forgiving Air: Understanding Environmental Change http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLakGQwjA-A

Media and the Environment: Portraying the Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8JaaeRU9DA

Environmental Solutions in Motion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06jlxORBuW8

Sequestering CO2 in the Built Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Unt7MRsV4

Ken Roth: Rights and Environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwNISdT86jA

Energy and Environment Trends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffZVCzADqVE

Sustainable Living Program, Environment 185, ESLP, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkrZKGv-_Sk

Lecture 1, UCLA - 10 parts lecture

Entrepreneurship in Climate Change: Brighter Planet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L8aRBHvNH4

Flash Ash: a green building solution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWbB6IXYo0

New Ways for Regulating Greenhouse Gases http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6HFj4RyZj0

Energy Symposium: The Rosenfeld Effect - Session Three http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7OxZjeD19M

Understanding Atmospheric Oxygen: Global Carbon Dioxide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsnaXlhctLY

Carbon dioxide emissions map released on Google Earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAUf1bRIFxM

Law 270.6 - Lecture 14 - Climate Change and Carbon Markets; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PvRezIWfGg

Cash for Carbon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRrPcSNeKzk

Carbon Capture & Sequestration: A Viable Alternative? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmmDKQGUB8k

The Ethics of Carbon Trading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkicanc9XFo

The economy's low-carbon conversation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ1bDn8H_6o

Seminar: Low Carbon Energy Conversion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcY3mA7WNMg

Reflections on Carbon Output http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLXqWBqxQf0

Carbon Footprint Reduction Panel Discussion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYv4gt3L5YE

'Revolutionary' CO2 maps zoom in on greenhouse gas sources http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJpj8UUMTaI

Earth Month 2009: Carbon Offsets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPewenBZzSA

Investing & Money Management : What Is Carbon Credit? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOnjd_UMp0k

Selemani Carbon Credits http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpjgR_hZhWI

[Global Warming] Carbon Credit Scam #1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cq_poo_NHI

Launch of carbon credit agency http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwP5TDO8LJU

Alan Watt: The great carbon credit con 1of2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vf9CQJwbRE

THE 21st Century Scam--Carbon Credits Trading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjbtU2UJhyw

What is a carbon offset? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoQQ7T-j6IY

Carbon Neutral - Turn Emissions into Trees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyNsdbDEPfo

China to Count Abortions as Carbon off-set Credits. EU and UN Approve Applaud http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LI_AlE7hQA

The Great Carbon Offset Swindle - Part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2pI-8wEvtg

A Business Primer on Renewable Energy Credits - Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EjDDriKJ7c&feature=related

myclimate carbon offset project, solar cookers and efficient stoves in Madagascar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBPXfDWQyUE

A Business Primer on Renewable Energy Credits - Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsIRU9qClV4&feature=related

many parts

An Insider's Guide to US Climate Policies - Pt. 3 of 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15YolXoXdYU&feature=channel

Law 270.6 - Lecture 9 - Resource Alternatives: Renewable Energy - The Technologies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVTuIKSFOpc&feature=related

The New Voice of Business on Climate Protection - Part 2 of 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S1qYCfJQIA&feature=channel

Boost Your Bottom Line by Counting Carbon, Pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKip8Gx3Feg&feature=related

Cost Reduction & Supply Chain GHG Management, Pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYimzn8nPzM&feature=related

THE 21st Century Scam--Carbon Credits Trading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjbtU2UJhyw&feature=PlayList&p=00F52EFFE1262823&index=2

Global Warming and Atmospheric Brown Clouds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-7t4blgpKs&feature=channel

Atmospheric Particulates: Global and Regional Challenges http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA7tzXcoGno&feature=channel

Genetically Modified Food or Organic: Do We Have to Choose? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzpFaBiZUuE&feature=channel

Molecules for the Media: Global Environmental Issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyCCU38dzUI&feature=channel

Business Opportunities and Profits...

2009-07-18T09:00:00.001-07:00

The costs faced by companies to reduce emissions vary from market to market. A market based approach therefore promotes competition as well as helps to develop diverse approaches to manage the costs and risks of reducing emissions.

Here is an example which better explains why succeeding to reduce emissions and energy consumption is usually good for the core business -

In 1997, British Energy Company BP committed to bring down its emissions to 10 percent below the levels recorded in 1990. They initiated simple steps like tightening valves, changing light bulbs, and improving operations efficiency, and implementing an internal cap and trade scheme ( therby promoting internal competition within its smaller firms ) and met the emission goals which it was committed to achieve. BP reportedly saved about $650 million using the combined C02 reduction strategy.

Companies should also think of investing their money and efforts into Carbon Credits from a long term perspective. Carbon Credits are relatively cheap now and once global emission norms are standardized I doubt whether the allowed Carbon Limit for Planet Earth and Individual Countries is going to change drastically. Thus, as companies face more and more pressure to meet emissions standards so that the allowed Carbon limit in the atmosphere doesn’t increase beyond a certain point of time, companies which have been focusing on environmental issues since long will be at ease because they will be the ones who won’t face extra taxation for flouting environment standards. In fact they will be the ones who gain incentives from the Government as well as earn extra cash in selling Carbon Credits. Simply put, Carbon Credits are relatively cheap now, but their value is likely rise soon, providing significant dividends to companies who participate now.

How Carbon Credits matter to Organizations and Individuals ...

2009-07-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

Consider this scenario, Company A, however hard it tries, cannot reduce its emissions below the certain specified level set by the Government. It has an option to purchase carbon credits while it continues to figure out how it can eventually reduce its CO2 emissions. The organization ( Company B ) selling it can earn accolades and incentives for respecting emission norms, improve its public image and most importantly gain monetarily by selling those carbon credits. So what is it to gain for the environment ? Simple, For each Carbon Credit that Company B sells it manages to remove One Metric Ton of Carbon from the atmosphere while trying to earn some extra cash !

Carbon markets have a great future, especially in United States, where the Headquarters of Major Fortune 500 are based. Many Biggies like Ford, IBM, and DuPont are voluntarily capping and trading their emissions. Even though a national cap on carbon emissions doesn’t yet exist in the United States, the possibility of it coming into existence is inevitable. Once it comes into effect, there is going to be frenzy among Organizations and Legislators to reduce emissions because of the huge monitory gains behind it. There is a widespread awareness among consumers now about environmental issues. They are increasingly demanding products from companies which have a cleaner and greener image. Same is the case with employees. Recent surveys have shown that majority of the young professionals want their work to impact the environment in a positive way and want to be associated with companies which are eco-friendly. All in all, it is of best interest for organizations to focus more and more on being more eco-friendly, be it for improving their public image and building a brand or just reducing the overall costs of productions.

Carbon Credits ? Never heard of them ...

2009-07-18T03:53:00.000-07:00

The world has seen a dramatic increase in CO2 emissions, greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants in recent years. The major greenhouse gases emitted by industries like power, cement, steel, textile, fertilizer are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), etc, all of which increase the atmosphere's ability to trap infrared energy and thus affect the climate, leading to Global Warming. Aside from taxes, incentives and other measures to control environmental damage, a variety of new financial markets have emerged which aim to lower emissions of harmful pollutants and thus control global warming. A key feature of these markets is Emissions Trading which was defined in the Kyoto Protocol. ( We will talk about The Kyoto Protocol later ). Carbon Trading has been identified as the biggest market compared to other markets which operate for other greenhouse gases and acid rain. In 2007, the trade markets for CO2 credits hit $60 billion worldwide — almost double the amount from 2006.

While emission limits and trading rules and markets vary from country to country, nations that have signed the Kyoto Protocol are held by certain limits of CO2 emissions, and are bound to involve themselves in Emissions trading. Although United States did not sign the environmental agreement, schemes such as Chicago Climate Exchange do exist which see voluntary corporate participation for controlling emissions.

So what are these Carbon Credits ?

A simple definition would be - One Carbon Credit is equal to One ton of Carbon.

The basis of emission trading is a simple Cap and Trade scheme. If a company's carbon emissions are below the certain limit it is supposed to respect, it can sell the remaining difference to companies which exceed their limits, thus earning credits in return for it.

Wassup ? Humans ....

2009-07-18T02:11:00.000-07:00

Thomas Friedman rightly says, the world is getting hotter, flatter and more crowded than ever; and we all know it very well. Yet we all ( including me ) have an attitude that says - Global warming ? It’s affecting Greenland or Antarctica or probably some poor homeless people in Bangladesh or some unheard of rain forests in Africa and Brazil, so why give a damn ! Hey but look closely ... it’s affecting you, me, us and all others around us in ways we cannot comprehend! I can’t stand the crowd and heat and sticky weather in my dear Mumbai. As a hard core Mumbaikar I pity the circumstances in which it manages to survive nowadays ( Along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it forms the world's 4th largest urban agglomeration, with a population of around 19 million people). The problem exists not just here but everywhere around the world in various different forms. So what are we going to do about it?

It is no longer about just enlightening people about global warming and encouraging them to save electricity, reduce pollution or control population. Yes these steps need to be initiated but what’s more important is what can be done on a far greater scale, with tremendous amounts of manpower and money power and will that can truly put the world and its people in a state or equilibrium or harmony with mother earth ! The stakes couldn’t be higher than this ! More importantly the rewards can’t get better!

The road to better environmental conditions lies in the steps International Bodies and Government Organizations are taking on a huge scale to make it happen . There are many such initiatives which exist but we will focus on something called Carbon Credits – which are a key element of International efforts to mitigate the emission of CO2 and greenhouse gases in general.

Testing my first post ...

2008-09-11T22:51:00.000-07:00

Hi ! 1 2 3 testing ... ok .. ok .. Shri Ganeshaaya Namaha ( for that auspicious start ) :) testing done ... \m/,