• 21
  Jul
  2009

• Nature’s indicators of Global warming

  
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Earlier spring arrival: Spring now arrives earlier in many parts of the world. Evidence of this comes from earlier thaw dates for rivers and lakes; earlier dates for plant blooming and leafing; and earlier animal egg-laying, spawning and migration. An earlier spring may disrupt animal migrations, alter competitive balances among species, and cause other unforeseen problems.

Plant and animal range shifts and population changes: Plants and animals generally react to consistently warmer temperatures by moving to higher latitudes and elevations. Recent studies reveal that some species have already started to shift their ranges, consistent with warming trends. Many populations and species may become more vulnerable to declining numbers or extinction if warming occurs faster than they can respond or if human development presents barriers to their migration.

Coral reef bleaching: Reefs in 32 countries experienced dramatic bleaching in 1997-98. Bleaching results from the loss of microscopic algae that both color and nourish living corals. Water that is warmer than normal by only 2 to 3 degrees F has been linked to bleaching.

Droughts and fires: As the climate heats up, droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe in some locations. Sustained drought makes wildfires more likely, and crops and trees more vulnerable to pest infestations and disease. Generally, local land use and land cover changes can exacerbate the climate change-driven increase in drought risk.

Have you noticed any of these?

• 20
  Jul
  2009

• Collection of Mishaps in foreign languages

  
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Here is a collection of mishaps when trying a foreign tongue:

- My first mistake occurred after I had been in Japan for approximately two and a half hours. Walking into a convenience store I was astounded that the people working there kept yelling at me, ‘IRASHIMASE, IRASHIMASE’. So I waved back and yelled in my loudest voice - ‘IRASHIMASE!’ To which the shop assistants looked completely baffled. I later found out that it means something like ‘Welcome’ and is not usually yelled out by the customer.
- The mistake I made was when I was preparing to go to school over here in California. I went to a local convenience store and asked, quite innocently, for one rubber. There was an awkward silence, so I asked for one again, smiling cheerfully. The red-faced expression that washed over the face of the old lady behind the counter was priceless, and a little unsettling. She accused me of being rude- and asked me to leave the shop. I was confused at her reaction, yet complied. It was later on that day, when I told my father of what had happened that I realized my error. For you see back in England what Americans call erasers, we call rubbers.
- I became a victim of simple tongue twisting. In order to say “killed,” in Spanish, one needs to say, “mato.” What came out of my mouth instead was “mamo.” So what I said to a 70-something-year-old grandpa-like gentleman was: “When your son sucked the bull…”

• 17
  Jul
  2009

• Economics of Olympics

  
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The Olympic Games are an international event of summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes compete in a wide variety of events. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD. In the late 19th century, Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, and two years later, the modern Olympic Games were established in Athens. The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th century forced the IOC to accommodate the Games to the varying economical, political, and technological realities of the 20th century.

During the first half of the 20th century the IOC was run on a small budget. As president of the IOC from 1952 to 1972, Avery Brundage rejected all attempts to link the Olympics with commercial interest. When Brundage retired the IOC had US$2 million in assets; eight years later the IOC coffers had swelled to US$45 million. This was primarily due to a shift in ideology toward expansion of the Games through corporate sponsorship and the sale of television rights.

Over the year IOC has certainly benefitted, but what about the hosting nations. It is arguable if the economy of a host country benefits from Olympics. In a study from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, John Irons from Argmax, concluded that, host country economies tend to grow faster than normal before and during the Olympics. The best years tend to be three and four years the games start, with growth over 1 per cent above average, but they will then experience up to 0.8 per cent less growth on average over the next eight years. Once the Olympics moves on, the debts are left to pay and there may have been little direct financial benefit from the games themselves, were the results of the study. Let us see what Britain has to say after it hosts the Summer Olympics in 2012.

• 16
  Jul
  2009

• Easter Island, South Pacific

  
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The giant monoliths of Easter Island are worn, but they have endured for centuries. New research suggests that a compound first discovered in the soil of the South Pacific Island might help us stand the test of time, too. A lot is being mentioned about Easter Island these days, the reason being, Rapamycin, and the proposed, under trial drug for anti-ageing.

But there is lot more to this lovely island on the south pacific than Rapamycin. Easter Island is triangular in the South Pacific, with an extinct volcano at each corner. It measures 23 by 11 km, totaling 171 square km. The interior consists of high plateaus and craters surrounded by coastal bluffs. It is best known for the giant stone monoliths, known as Moai, that dot the coastline. The early settlers called the island “Te Pito O Te Henua” (Navel of The World). Admiral Roggeveen, who came upon the island on Easter Day in 1722, named it Easter Island. Today, the land, people and language are all referred to locally as Rapa Nui.

Easter Island today, remains one of the most unique places you will ever encounter; an open air museum showcasing a fascinating, but unfortunately lost, culture. The Rapanui are among the friendliest people you will ever meet, and the landscape is truly amazing - with its volcanic craters, lava formations, beaches, brilliant blue water, and archaeological sites.

LanChile Airlines flies a Boeing 767 from Tahiti and Santiago to Easter Island twice a week. In the high season December to March, extra Santiago-Easter Island flights are added. From North America and Europe, LanChile has direct flights to Santiago from Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Madrid, and Frankfurt.