Global Warming Can Be Avoided

A few independent observations by me has left me to a realization that i can actively contribute to the mass movement that has begun to curb the rate of global warming. Here, i share them with the general public:

1. Gonna get rid of my black hair- it's gonna be me with my shaved pate now: Black and other dark colored hair absorbs more heat than it radiates. So, more hair I have, the more heat you retain, the more I contribute to global warming.
   The question is, whether my 'sacrifice' would be worth it. What with my hair thinning everyday- it's only a matter of time before I dont actually NEED to shave my pate... it will be naturally barren.
   
2. Trying to quit smoking: The more I smoke, the more I emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the more I become a cause of Global Warming.

'Economic' Air Travel

Given the ever increasing fuel prices, the air fares have skyrocketed to as high as the aircrafts flying in the air. It has become increasingly important to think about how to make our air travels more economical, to get more value for money. Adverse situations call for unique measures, and after much thought, I have concluded that the following will make air travels worth every penny:

1. Carry baggage which weighs just under, or is exactly, the maximum limit allowed.
2. Put on weight. More weight = more fuel burnt to transport me from Point A to Point B = more value for money.

Eat Healthy, Sil Vous Plait ;)

Has anyone ever wondered how the French manage to stay trim, even while eating many of the things we are advised to avoid, like butter, eggs, and cheese? Even though they enjoy rich foods denied to most dieters, they still manage to have lower cholesterol levels and less heart disease than most others! Look at the statistics- 11% of French adults are said to be obese, while 3 times as many Americans suffer from that condition.

And it's not only about the French- we see that even our previous generations stayed healthy after eating a lot of food that we abstain from in quest for a ‘healthy’ living and diet. They even lived longer, had a fewer health problems during their lifetimes, and enjoy the food without ever feeling guilty!

So, what’s missing?

Let’s take a look at what they eat, or ate. Their typical diet includes more fresh food, such as bread, fruit and vegetables. That means that they consume less processed foods, which tend to contain high carbohydrates and preservatives. Thus, what they eat is generally more healthy and nutritious than what we consume. Choosing foods that are natural rather than processed when we cook go a long way towards improving our health, our waistline, and our satisfaction level with eating.

How you eat is also an important factor. Most of the people who are seen to enjoy good health give priority to mealtimes, making them a social and family experience. That way, they eat less, feel satisfied with their meals, and also get to enjoy the rich food and drink that we often tend to feel guilty about. They don’t just eat for the sake of eating- they embrace the joy of eating. Modern lifestyle has resulted in people wolfing down food on the run, while running from one place to the next. The result? Health problems, increasing waistlines, and not getting to enjoy the food we are eating. It’s official: Studies have shown that when we make time for meals and eat at a more relaxed pace, we end up being more satisfied with what we have consumed, even though we actually have eaten less food.

All we gotta do is break up our meals in courses with smaller portions, take smaller bites, and let our taste buds experience all the flavor that each bite has to offer!!

Happy eating... oops, mealing!!

Iron It In!!

Iron is a mineral found in every cell of the body. It is considered an essential mineral because it is needed to make part of blood cells. The human body needs iron to make the oxygen-carrying proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and myoglobin is found in muscles. Iron also makes up part of many proteins in the body. Hence, it is very essential that your body get its share of iron for it to remain fit and function effectively.

Green leafy vegetables are usually rich in iron. Having a good helping of green salads is a good, inviting option for lunch, and dinner. It would also help in keeping a check on the amount of calories, and is a nice & healthy way to go dieting. For breakfast, you may consider having iron fortified cereals with milk. Check the nutrition information on package label for specific iron content. You can also have some prune juice as a source of Iron.Other sources include Broccoli, Dates, Kidney beans, Lima beans, Molasses- blackstrap, Peas- frozen and prepared, Bread (both white and whole wheat), and Brown rice.Some dry fruits like almonds and raisins are also rich in dietary iron. Whew!! Looks like there's a lot of choice for you!! As far as my knowledge goes, having carbonated water does not have any effect on the amount of iron in your body, neither does it help your body in absorbing iron better. Unless, it is fortified with Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), which is a facilitator of iron absorption into your body.

FYI:
In general, iron is not readily absorbed by the body. Dietary iron is either HEME or NON-HEME iron. HEME iron is found only in MEAT, FISH, AND POULTRY and is ABSORBED MUCH MORE EASILY than NON-HEME iron, which is found primarily in FRUITS, VEGETABLES, DRIED BEANS, NUTS AND GRAIN products.
The following factors will increase the iron absorption from non-heme foods:

• A good source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - i.e., oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes, broccoli, and strawberries, eaten with a NON-HEME food


• A HEME and NON-HEME food eaten together


• A NON-HEME food cooked in an iron pot, such as a cast iron skillet.
  

A lot of information is available on the net for people interested in knowing more. To quote a few:

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002422.htm


• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ida/ida_prevention.html


• http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/handouts/dietary_sources_iron.html
  

Of Logic & Conformity

"A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?"

"tell me the ans"

"2nd one"

"no dear :P... it's the third one"

Is this about logic? And whose logic are we talking about anyways? Can there be more than one logic behind the same thing? Something that justifies some other outcome?

Take the above question as an example. The Murderer is condemned to death. So, an interpretation of the question is that the Murderer is choosing between the different ways he can die. Yet, it seems improbable that Lions who have been hungry for 3 years be alive. Even if they are not, the stink in the room will be enough to kill any man. I guess. But, let's, for argument's sake, assume that the lions are alive, and really, REALLY hungry. The choices in front of the Murderer are:

1. Being charred to death by a conflagration.


2. Being riddled by bullets and dying. Remember, they all are assasins, and they might have sympathy for "one of their kinds". Or, they being assasins, have already killed each other, so the room is pretty much empty. Once again, let's just skip a scenario where any of the rooms are empty.


3. Being (viciously) mauled to death by Lions who havent eaten for THREE (!!) years.

Wouldn't it be nice to choose the 2nd option? Death would come quick, and it would also be less painful.

But then. It doesn't matter.


The one who had made the question knows better. In fact, the question was made for a specific answer, to accomodate a specific logic. If you don't accept the logic, you are an idiot. You know nothing. It doesn't matter what your logic says might be the answer.

And you feel euphoric just because your 'logic' matches someone else's or feel rejected, dejected, if it doesn't.

Here we are talking about conformity. Our innate attitude towards life, or shall i say, the very basic nature of human beings is to 'conform' to something or the other. It is one of the 'rules' for humans to be happy. Understandably so, because we are a social animal, and if you don't 'conform' people will make life hell for you. Perhaps the reason why Einstein, even though he was such a Genious, is still a laughing stock for many.


It is not easy to be different. If u just be happy, and keep smiling all the time, people will very kindly label you as a 'nut' case.You can't be your own, because there's always someone watching.



But aren't we forgetting something?

We might be forgetting that the way that we can TRULY be happy is by being ourselves. It is perhaps one of the reasons we remember our childhood so fondly. And perhaps the reason... we miss it too.

Toffees 'n' Memories

The other day my friend's father brought some toffees home. I picked up a few while on my way to office and stuffed them into my pocket. Not because I wanted to have them, but because I wanted to give some of them away to my colleagues. And while I made the routine journey to my office, I was flooded with memories of my childhood. That made me smile, and I realized that even though my childhood was a long time back, some things didn't change. I was, in some ways, still the child, the person, I used to be back then.
When anyone got me a lot of toffees, I used to stuff as many as I could into my pockets, while going to school the next day. Contrary to the other days, I just couldn't wait to get to school. Then I would gather my closest friends around and distribute the toffees between us. It gave me immense satisfaction and happiness to do so. It was as if I was sharing a part of a treasure that I stumbled upon. It was one of the fun things that almost became a ritual, yet never stopping being fun.
And it's strange how memories bind themselves to almost everything. Everything.

Ga-Dha

Aami Tritiyo aar Shoshthom Shurer Songom. Aami Ga-Dha. Aar Aami Sa Re Ma Pa Ni. Shob E Gaan. Shob E Shur. Aar ei gaan aar shurer ashor, amar jibon. Nachte Ichhe Kore. Dhei Dhei kore. Aami nachbo. Ga-Dha-r Shure.