Friday, August 14, 2009

Implications of Water Table Going Down

FIRST, A NOTIFICATION.

AFTER MY PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS ON THE WEST BENGAL ELECTIONS BEAT ALL MEDIA, THERE HAS BEEN A BIT OF PRESSURE, SO I HAVE DECIDED TO USE MY PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS CAPABILITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS :

  • DISASTER MANAGEMENT (Believe me, we will face worse and worser Disasters)
  • ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ISSUES & PREDICTIONS
  • WILDLIFE ISSUES
  • GLOBAL WARMING PREDICTIONS & SOLUTIONS
  • BIRD FLU (H5N1) & H1N1 FUTURISTIC PREDICTIONS & SOLUTIONS ((Believe me, here also we will face far worse scenarios)

& other NON-CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT WILL BENEFIT THE HUMAN POPULATION AT LARGE.

Am thinking of opening my own set-up that will NOT BE PRESSURIZED from any sources.


So, some News - Source : BBC News

""It comes from an unexpected source: but Nasa's just-released finding that water tables in the northwest of India are falling by about 4cm (1.6in) per year is a striking microcosm of the unsustainable strain that modern societies are putting on the Earth's natural resources.

Water carriers on rickshaw.This is a region that is home to more than 100 million people.

And they're not using the water for long, languid baths or spraying it on manicured lawns; more than 90% is used simply to grow the staple crops that feed Delhi and the regions around.

More mouths to feed means a demand for higher yields, which implies irrigation - mining the water at a rate faster than nature replaces it - a process that is, by definition, unsustainable.

The Indian government's latest assessment of the environment nationwide [pdf link] - also released this week - shows that water is just one of the resources being depleted as the population expands (tripling in 50 years, according to government statistics) and the economy gathers pace.

Nearly half of the land surface is degraded in some way, air pollution in increasing, some unique species and ecosystems are threatened by development, waste from uncontrolled urbanisation is emerging as a health issue - so the litany goes on."

My take :

  • The whole world has to rely more and more on Space Imaging (be it Hybrid, Infra-Red or other) . Image Analysis to identify which Geographical Areas are more prone.
  • DROUGHT this Monsoonal Season is a Corollary of this. The area-wise DISTRIBUTION OF DROUGHT may be a starting point of study - does it have a CORRELATION with the AREAS WHERE WATER TABLES ARE RECEDING ?
  • Even in winter, the FOG that cripples the entire Transport Network (remember trains being delayed for hours) is a result of this. What happens is - the excess groundwater pumped on to the surface, acts as evaporation material to act as a MATERIAL TO FORM FOG. My prediction is - such crippling fogs will occur in certain areas for the next decade.
  • The Government has to rely on GENERALISTS more and more, as all the team of Ph.D.'s have SPECIALIST IDEAS. One should rely on a CONSULTANCY THAT WILL INTERACT with the specialists to offer solutions.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

H1N1 Pandemic - Startling Facts

It has a similarity with the "Spanish Flu" of 1918 that killed 50 to 100
million people worldwide. Unlike Common Influenza types and sub-types, the
elderly people seem most resistant.

Now, I am going very cautious on this, as it is still early to say, but I am
following the trends.


Check the following from wikipedia:

"The 1918 flu caused an unusual number of deaths, possibly due to it causing
a cytokine storm in the body.[5][6] (The current H5N1 bird flu, also an
Influenza A virus, has a similar effect.)[7]

The Spanish flu virus infected lung cells, leading to overstimulation of the
immune system via release of cytokines into the lung tissue. This leads to
extensive leukocyte migration towards the lungs, causing destruction of lung
tissue and secretion of liquid into the organ. This makes it difficult for
the patient to breathe.

In contrast to other pandemics, which mostly kill the
old and the very young, the 1918 pandemic killed unusual numbers of young
adults, which may have been due to their healthy immune systems being able to
mount a very strong and damaging response to the infection."

Yeah, check out the last para.

More startling news from source : www.h1n1data.com

"Average Daily Infection Rate:
20.21% per day
*Average Mortality Rate:
1.43%

Number of U.S. hospital beds:
945,199

Projected number of cases in 30 days:
1,324,150

**Percentage of cases requiring hospitalization:
5.4%
(9-10% per WHO)"

My take: An influenza is termed pandemic only when it has crossed the 0.01%
mortality. Or is it 0.05%, I'll have to check again.

Anyway,
H1N1 has crossed 1% Mortality Rate and in some countries, even close to 5%.
I think H1N1 is far,far more lethal than H5N1 (Bird Flu) , and will wax and
wane, but IS THE GREATEST PANDEMIC TO HIT US SINCE 1918.

Monday, August 10, 2009

EarthQuake at 1:30 A.M. IST in Calcutta

I felt the EarthQuake at 1:30 a.m. I.S.T. (Indian Standard Time). The slight swaying. It was mild.

But I was astonished at the TIME GAP.

The Media reported it around 3:30 a.m. That is why I'm awake now. I saw the Media Flash.

They're reporting a Richter Scale 7.7 Epicentre 130 kms as of 3:30 a.m. from Andamans.

Now, I can't predict tsunamis. But when the Tsunami hit on Boxer's Day, I KNEW IT WAS A TSUNAMI, NOT A TIDAL WAVE WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF IT HITTING.

How ? It's Elementary.

The waves, you see, destroyed a 1500 year temple. That meant that IT WAS A BIG ONE.
IN THIS CASE ALSO, I SHOULD WATCH FOR SOME SIGNS ON SOME HISTORICAL SCALE.

PostNote: I will write more in my other blogs on how I developed an unique way of Predictive Analysis of Major Disasters after the Tsunami of 2004 which had it's epicentre near Banda Aceh.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

My Prediction Came True for Mumbai

You see, in developed countries if there is a probability of a Disaster occuring, there is:
Advisory,Watch,Warning.

It is this vigilance that saves lives. If it doesn't come true, you are ridiculed.
If it comes true, people look at you with disdain - did this person bring this upon us.
Such is Human Nature.

My prediction made on 22nd July can be thought of as an Advisory. Based on a few parameters.
It did not come true for Calcutta.
But it came true for Mumbai !

HIGHEST TIDES IN 100 YEARS WERE EXPECTED !

Thank God, the people were moved into safe areas.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Chance of a High Tide Today ? Are we Ready ?

I'm saying there could just be a 10% chance of a bad High Tide coming in Today.

But are we prepared on this Day of Total Solar Eclipse . Now, I havent' doen any research, but it's a split-second thought that flashed thru'. Take all the parameters that are today :

  • New Moon
  • Total Solar Eclipse
  • A steady drizzling rain adding to the steady input into the Hooghly River
  • Surge coming up through the uniquely funnel-shaped Ganges Delta
  • Embankments thar are not yet repaired. Note : It is also not humanly possible.
  • Data from Kolkata Port Trust

Source : http://www.kolkataporttrust.gov.in/BORE-TIDE%20YEAR%202009.pdf

July 21 shows 6 days of Maximum Range 5.05 Tide.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Old News but Golden News

This appeared in the Indian Express . Way back in June 2008.

Maybe I missed it. That's why I was way off mark in my India Lok Sabha Congress calculations.

Though in West Bengal, INC Strategy struck me as BRILLIANT, JUST BRILLIANT, the day I saw the INC - TMC Samjhauta come through.

Anyway, here's that piece of Old is Gold News -

"

The Group to Look into Future Challenges, which made the proposal in its report on intra-party reforms recently, was of the view that parties like the BJP did better in recent elections because Sangh Parivar “cadres” were able to reach out to people door-to-door, while the Congress remained hamstrung banking on its candidates’ individual abilities and resources to pull it off. The same was true for the cadre-based Left in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.

“Now our campaigns are mainly candidate-oriented. We want to make them party-oriented. That’s why the need for committed workers or cadres who can do door-to-door campaigning instead of organising meetings for the candidate or big party leaders,” said a member of the Future Challenges Group headed by M Veerappa Moily."


Am reading some stuff on this Group of Rahul Gandhi + Dr. Jairam Ramesh + V. Moily and others that's doing brilliant stuff. More I read more interesting it seems.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Reintroducing the Asiatic Cheetah back into India

As we all know, the Indian (Asiatic) Cheetah became extinct from the grasslands of India way back in the 1950's , as far as I know. Now, here's a piece of great News. There are plans to re-introduce the Asiatic Cheetah.

Source: "www.timesonline.co.uk"

"

The Mogul emperor Akbar was said to own a thousand of the beasts as part of his 16th-century hunting retinue. Since then, however, India’s cheetahs have turned from hunter to quarry — the last three known were shot by the Maharajah of Surguja in 1947.

That may now change, with plans revealed by the Indian Government to reintroduce the world’s fastest land animal to the sub-continent.

A meeting of international experts is to be held in Rajasthan in September. It will draw up a preliminary budget, likely to be millions of pounds, to cover the import of cheetahs from Africa and the foundation of a “breeding nucleus” site, from which the animals can be introduced to other areas of India.

“We have to get [cheetahs] from abroad to repopulate the species. We soon hope to do so,” said Jairam Ramesh, the Minister of State for Environment and Forests."


Debajyoti Dutta Roy's personal take :

This is an excellent move. Hats off to Jairam Ramesh.

But all wildlife and environmental enthusiasts have to keep many parameters in mind:

  • The cheetah flourishes in uninhabited grasslands. So, one has to choose a locale where there is minimum human population.
  • One has to study the FOOD PYRAMID. If the base, that is, the grasslands are abundant, one can introduce deers to sambars to the cheetah's natural prey.
  • So, the natural prey of the Asiatic Cheetah flourishes.
  • The cheetah has a great time. But one has to be also careful that it is not threatened by other predators bigger than it is. Or pack predators like the hyena or indian wild dogs .."dholes" they're called, as far as I remember.
  • One has to study the habitat where the Asiatic Lion is still surviving. These are, as far as I remember, from an excellent site felidtag (Cat Specialist Group) - Iran, parts of Saudi Arabia, etc. Congrats to these countries for still preserving the Asiatic Cheetah.
Hope the program succeeds.

One can also have active monitoring / audiovisuals to generate interest amongst the common people.

Without disturbing the Cheetah, that is.

Yaaaawn.



Wednesday, April 22, 2009

$4 Trillion Deficit ...what does it mean ?

That's the amount banks & other Financial Institutions face vis a vis value of their holdings..
NPA, Written-off debts, debts..what more..dunno the specs..
But..

? We could see Today..which was the Future..as of say 2005
Funny thing is...the Answer was there..Open Source Info..
In the Net..

A Few people gave hints..
like the
Oracle of Omaha

Now, here's a riddler:
Next was really hard-work..in the unconventional sense tho..4-7 hrs/day..just exercising da gray cells

Monday, March 2, 2009

Globalized solutions for a sick company

We all love Satyam and would hate to see it crumble..in fact this chain is credited with the starting of the "cybercafe revolution"..

In this globalized world, such mergers are welcome. I wonder when the Foreign Print Media is coming...it'll really add a "zing" to thingzz..

Source:

The Hindu Business Line

"Our Bureau
Hyderabad, March 1 Bidding for Satyam Computer Services will not just be restricted to domestic companies but will also be open to international companies.
“International competitive bidding will be followed and anybody can bid for the company subject to the procedure being laid out by the board members of Satyam,” Mr Prem Chand Gupta, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs, told mediapersons on the sidelines of a programme here on Sunday.
He added that the Government would like that there be a healthy and transparent competition among all the bidders.
The Minister also said that the process of calling for bids to find a strategic investor for Satyam is the work of the company’s board.
“The board has appointed advisors and is discussing the procedure. The Government’s desire is only that the whole process be done in a transparent method keeping in mind the interest of the employees, shareholders and clients,” Mr Gupta added.
He said that the process of finding a strategic investor will not take too long and though it was difficult to exactly pinpoint the timeframe, a decision is likely to be taken on the subject in the few next weeks.
Mr Gupta was here to lay the foundation stone for a new building of his Ministry on the city outskirts. The Corporate Bhawan with an office space of 45,000 sq ft will house the offices of the Registrar of Companies, Official Liquidator, the National Company Law Tribunal, among others.
The premises is being constructed as part of the upgradation of the existing infrastructure of the Ministry in various parts of the country and will be completed at a cost of Rs 20 crore.Maytas issue
Speaking on Maytas argument that the Ministry need not supersede its board, Mr Gupta said that the Company Law Board was a quasi-judicial authority and they were the best judge of the judicial process and, “we will honour whatever they decide”.
“The move to supersede the board of Maytas was based on the interim report of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO),” he added.
The Company Law Board (CLB) on Friday said that it would appoint four more directors including a Chairman on the board of Maytas Infra Ltd. This follows Maytas Infra accepting the CLB suggestion made at the hearing for inducting more directors on the company."

Friday, January 23, 2009

Record Low in U.S. new home construction..

That's what I read in the News...

and that's since statistics were being made available since 1959 !

This is a deep pointer to the state of the world's largest economy

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Loan - mania basic cause for ECONOMIC BREAKDOWN

Loan-mania has hit almost 90% of the younger generation...almost 90% are running on loans...

It's elementary to see whu the Global Economy is running in DEFICIT..

Found this in Reuters.com :

"By Patrick Rucker
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A $300 billion federal program meant to prevent foreclosures is doing almost nothing to aid U.S. homeowners, but it could become effective if Washington slashes cumbersome red tape, the nation's top housing policymaker said on Monday.
At issue is the Hope for Homeowners program created by Congress in July to help 400,000 troubled homeowners secure a new loan.
The program has aided fewer than 1,000 borrowers since it began in October and it is a flop with both lenders and borrowers discouraged by its excessive costs and paperwork, said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston.
"This program has not had any relevant impact yet," he told Reuters in an interview.
"It is a tiny trickle," Preston said of the volume of loans pushed through the program. "Hope for Homeowners would reach a lot more people if the fees were to come down somewhat and if we were to simplify some of the administrative requirements."

One finds amazing figures/numbers in a certain World Fact Book

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Lord Have Mercy...things are Breaking, literally..

In this..

City of Joy

I seriously think people get some kind of a "kick" ...a high...
...from all those political demonstrations 'n' stuff like that..

The highest density of political grafitti..
...the highest density of "politically conscious" people...