After various school shooting accidents including Columbine's, two fathers came up with an idea of using a bulletproof material inside backpacks. "Are you kidding me?", would say the rest of the world. However, for North American environment, especially United States with their open minded gun control policies, this seems to be normal. Living in Canada for the last nine years I understand that this might be a very useful invention and a great business case for the two "worrying fathers". I would not be surprised if bulletproof backpacks will become popular among students in the next ten years.
[source: The Boston Channel]
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Growth of India, France's views on US
India
The economic growth in India brings in such elements of capitalism as stock market to poor folk. BBC's reporter describes it as a gentrified slum. On the other hand, BBC reports that availability of newer technologies and medical instruments increased abortion rates, especially of female foetuses. It is considered that a female is a burden to a family and once the gender of foetus is known, many decide to go for abortion. Economic development has its positive and negative effects. (BBC)
France
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president from May 2007, has different views on US than his predecessor, Jacques Chirac. He said that US can consider France its friend, unlike country's previous stance where it critiqued US is its foreign affairs. Current French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, visited Iran last week to support its political transition. (BBC)
The economic growth in India brings in such elements of capitalism as stock market to poor folk. BBC's reporter describes it as a gentrified slum. On the other hand, BBC reports that availability of newer technologies and medical instruments increased abortion rates, especially of female foetuses. It is considered that a female is a burden to a family and once the gender of foetus is known, many decide to go for abortion. Economic development has its positive and negative effects. (BBC)
France
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president from May 2007, has different views on US than his predecessor, Jacques Chirac. He said that US can consider France its friend, unlike country's previous stance where it critiqued US is its foreign affairs. Current French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, visited Iran last week to support its political transition. (BBC)
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Chavez's visits to Russia, Belarus and khmmm Iran
In June, Chavez visited three countries - Russia, Belarus and Iran, tightening ties with arms and oil experts as well keeping a warm relationship with his socialistic oriented buddy - Belarus.
Chavez's tour began with a visit to Russia. Both countries agreed to invest into a joint project to explore the Orinoco oil belt. The Orinoco belt holds the world's largest reserves of heavy oil (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6252370.stm)
Following his visit to Russia, Chavez flew to Belarus. He called it a "model social state" - similar to what Venezuela is trying to create. Unlike Chavez's further visit of Russia and Iran where he made agreements with the countries to trade arms and start joint oil development projects, Belarus had nothing to offer. "Bat'ka" Lukashenko, as Belorussian falks call their president, is having hard times getting oil on his own from the only neighbour that still talks to him - Russia. Oil prices in Minsk, Belarus are close to what I've seen in Canada. Seems like Russia stopped making discounts for its "Western" ally. More on Chavez's visit to Belarus: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5209868.stm.
Chavez's visit to Iran has marked the launch of construction of a joint petrochemical plant in Iran and then Venezuela. Mr. Chavez has been supporting Iran's nuclear programme. Iran declares that its uranium enrichment programme is for peaceful energy production and not for development of weapons of mass destruction as US and EU insist (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6252370.stm)
Related link - Mercosur (BBC Profile) - Common Market of the South
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5195834.stm
Chavez's tour began with a visit to Russia. Both countries agreed to invest into a joint project to explore the Orinoco oil belt. The Orinoco belt holds the world's largest reserves of heavy oil (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6252370.stm)
Following his visit to Russia, Chavez flew to Belarus. He called it a "model social state" - similar to what Venezuela is trying to create. Unlike Chavez's further visit of Russia and Iran where he made agreements with the countries to trade arms and start joint oil development projects, Belarus had nothing to offer. "Bat'ka" Lukashenko, as Belorussian falks call their president, is having hard times getting oil on his own from the only neighbour that still talks to him - Russia. Oil prices in Minsk, Belarus are close to what I've seen in Canada. Seems like Russia stopped making discounts for its "Western" ally. More on Chavez's visit to Belarus: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5209868.stm.
Chavez's visit to Iran has marked the launch of construction of a joint petrochemical plant in Iran and then Venezuela. Mr. Chavez has been supporting Iran's nuclear programme. Iran declares that its uranium enrichment programme is for peaceful energy production and not for development of weapons of mass destruction as US and EU insist (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6252370.stm)
Related link - Mercosur (BBC Profile) - Common Market of the South
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5195834.stm
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Views of Great Britain and US on conflict in Iraq
Gordon Brown, the future prime minister of Great Britain insists on non-military resolution of Iran's conflict. He thinks that the key to solving the problem is the rebuilding of economics of the country. Poverty and lack of jobs is the main reason that pushes the coutry to become dangerous on world's scene.
On the other hand, USA does not deny the fact of military intervention. On May 23rd, 2007, 9 US mility ships have entered Persian Golf for "military training" purposes. Washington's main point here is that under the peaceful development of nuclear power plant, Iran is pushing the development of the nuclear program [source: http://top.rbc.ru/politics/27/05/2007/104117.shtml].
In the meanwhile, Iran is working on finishing its first nuclear station, which is being built by Russian experts at Bushehr. The plant's launch date is scheduled for March 2008 [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/05/1b73ff45-8007-47b5-83a2-7a1f2232d520.html].
On the other hand, USA does not deny the fact of military intervention. On May 23rd, 2007, 9 US mility ships have entered Persian Golf for "military training" purposes. Washington's main point here is that under the peaceful development of nuclear power plant, Iran is pushing the development of the nuclear program [source: http://top.rbc.ru/politics/27/05/2007/104117.shtml].
In the meanwhile, Iran is working on finishing its first nuclear station, which is being built by Russian experts at Bushehr. The plant's launch date is scheduled for March 2008 [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/05/1b73ff45-8007-47b5-83a2-7a1f2232d520.html].
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus talks to Owen Bennett-Jones during The Interview
Muhammad Yunus, economics professor, received a Noble Prize for creating an organization that would lend money to people in need. It is completely based on trust. Who would think that such an idea would bring him to the point where he is standing right now: after 30 years he is leading the Gremeen Bank with 6.7 million customers! He lends small amounts of money and develops a program for people to repay it.
Muhammad believes that the world can exist without poverty. He insists in the interview that it is not the fault of poor people that they are poor. It is the fault of the ones above them. So, they, people with better fortune, have to help them. He also brings up an interesting example of a plumber and CEO of some big company sitting at a table drinking whatever they like... and both of them are respecting each other, both of them are making the same amount of money.
I don't know whether this would work in North America, but it proved to be successful in the third world countries with a large population below the poverty level. Nevertheless, the idea reminds me of the Canadian system with a strong social support for the RF (regular folk), taxing harder the rich and providing cheaper services like medical assistance for everyone. There is a potential to slowly realize his ideas into life in the rest of the world, as long as the critical mass of supporters is out there.
Audio Interview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/the_interview.shtml
Muhammad believes that the world can exist without poverty. He insists in the interview that it is not the fault of poor people that they are poor. It is the fault of the ones above them. So, they, people with better fortune, have to help them. He also brings up an interesting example of a plumber and CEO of some big company sitting at a table drinking whatever they like... and both of them are respecting each other, both of them are making the same amount of money.
I don't know whether this would work in North America, but it proved to be successful in the third world countries with a large population below the poverty level. Nevertheless, the idea reminds me of the Canadian system with a strong social support for the RF (regular folk), taxing harder the rich and providing cheaper services like medical assistance for everyone. There is a potential to slowly realize his ideas into life in the rest of the world, as long as the critical mass of supporters is out there.
Audio Interview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/the_interview.shtml
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Nanotech: World's smallest book
Nanotech: New World record - SFU beats MIT's smallest book published in 2001
MIT: 5 x 5 mm
SFU: 0.07 x 0.1 mm
MIT: 5 x 5 mm
SFU: 0.07 x 0.1 mm
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Home Fusion Reactor - I thought it was a joke
I just came back from the club, partying it up with a some friends from work. A few pages were still open on my laptop that I was planning to shut down for the night. Being all myself, I didn't want to just close it, and gave it a few more minutes of attention. Here is what I came across.
Home made fusion reactor by a 17 year old. "Pumps, deuterium source, neutron bubble dosimeter? Check." http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/03/high_school_stu.html
Full report: http://discovermagazine.com/2007/mar/radioactive-boy-scout
...and if you need to get some deuteruim gas for your next fusion experiement ; ), check out "deuterium oxide" following this link: http://unitednuclear.com/chem.htm, from which you'll be able to get "pure deuterium gas" for just $10!
Home made fusion reactor by a 17 year old. "Pumps, deuterium source, neutron bubble dosimeter? Check." http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/03/high_school_stu.html
Full report: http://discovermagazine.com/2007/mar/radioactive-boy-scout
...and if you need to get some deuteruim gas for your next fusion experiement ; ), check out "deuterium oxide" following this link: http://unitednuclear.com/chem.htm, from which you'll be able to get "pure deuterium gas" for just $10!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
On climate control...
It looks as the most current trend for the failures of presidential elections as well as previous presidents themselves, is to concentrate their attention on Climate improvements. I am talking about Gore and Clinton respectively.
When you are a president, you are faced with the reality of the country not been able to spend money to meet Kyoto protocol's standards. However, when you are not, it is a great tool for use as the critique.
Clinton Climate Initiative: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/cf-pgm-cci-home.htm
When you are a president, you are faced with the reality of the country not been able to spend money to meet Kyoto protocol's standards. However, when you are not, it is a great tool for use as the critique.
Clinton Climate Initiative: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/cf-pgm-cci-home.htm
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Heavy Vancouver rains flood water supply
Over the last month in Vancouver there was so much rain (warm tropical rain from Hawaii) that our water supply system has been flooded. Officially from Thursday/Friday it was suggested not to drink from tap. At work, all the tea and coffee machines have been shut off. Useless water filter stations now have signs warning of the hazard. On Friday morning at one of the Costco stores in Vancouver a fight has been started .... a fight over a bottled water!
So, now, the official safe drink is beer for most of people and cola for the ones that cannot take the smell of the first one (?what the heck?). Beer with toast in the morning. Beer during lunch with sushi and, finally, beer at night with the main meal. I believe it's more healthier now than the tap water.
Now, since we do not have a clean water supply in the company and since before that all of the drinks including tea and coffee were free as well, I think beer should be supplied for free for the time being and supported as a solution for water hazard problem. I will raise that question on Monday. It should boost the productivity of engineers.
So, now, the official safe drink is beer for most of people and cola for the ones that cannot take the smell of the first one (?what the heck?). Beer with toast in the morning. Beer during lunch with sushi and, finally, beer at night with the main meal. I believe it's more healthier now than the tap water.
Now, since we do not have a clean water supply in the company and since before that all of the drinks including tea and coffee were free as well, I think beer should be supplied for free for the time being and supported as a solution for water hazard problem. I will raise that question on Monday. It should boost the productivity of engineers.
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