Human Ingenuity at its best!

Ever wondered how the Stonehenge was erected 4000 years ago?.. This man thinks he has. But more props to this guy, he actually did it proving it is not just a theory, it is so very doable!.

What is wrong wiht this picture..

A LOT I tell ya!..

The mother is 20 years old; the child is in first grade. That makes the girl getting pregnant at 14!

The law thinks the mother is not old enough to drink responsibly, but old enough to rationalize child bearing?

The kid brings the drug for a “show and tell”. The mother actually thinks the 5 year old is responsible enough to take care of his school work with no attention at home?. Oh wait, we are talking about a 20 year old mother. My bad!.

Kids graduate high school and don’t even know how to spell mirror (true story, this 26 year old girl thought it was spelled “mirrow” because that is the way she pronounce it). And we (at least the teachers union) blame under funded schools for dumbing down America. I say blame (mostly) the parents. To some parents, schools are nothing but government funded day care for their kids. They never pay attention to them, don’t help with their homework, never get to know their teachers or friends. And when 14 year old kids come home pregnant, they wonder where they went wrong!. Then, these teenage mothers raise their kids wanting to be their friends rather than a parent (yes, I did say parent and not parents; show me one responsible married teenage couple and I will delete this post and apologize)

The law says you gotta be 21 to vote
The law says you gotta be 21 to drink

Why isn’t there an age limit to be a parent?

My 2 cents on Global Warming

Do I believe global warming is real?
Sure… There is proof that there was an ice age, I am not knee deep in ice, ergo the earth must have warmed up to melt all that ice.

Do I believe global warming significant?
No. Ground-level temperature measurements suggest the earth has warmed between 0.3 and 0.6 degrees Celsius since 1850 (based on 1997 data by NATIONAL CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS. That’s warming. The earth's temperature has increased slightly, but the increase is well within the natural range of known temperature variation over the last 15,000 years.

Is the global warming caused by human activities?
No!. If you look at Vostok-ice-core sample data, you can see that CO2 concentration spiked every 10,000 years or so. The first internal combustion engine was developed (not mass produced) in 1979. The earliest mention of American petroleum occurs not until 1595. Lets us go back as far as the time of Herodotus (~ 500 BC) where something similar to crude oil is mentioned in history. And then take 2500 years of the data from Vostok-ice-core data to take any petroleum based atmospheric emissions out of the equation. You will still see CO2 (one of the main green house gas) went up, the temperature went up and with no human intervention both components came down. We know from the Vostok-ice-core date that the cycle has been continuing for at least four hundred thousand years. So even if we shut down all human progress, stop using all fuel usage, and revert to Stone Age, we will still have global warming.

So why is Global Warming an issue?
Just imagine how much money revolves around global warming. Al Gore’s movie made over $31,478,021 to date. (And he is also nominated for a Nobel Peace Price, Surprised? And what are the chances he is not going to win it among all the scandal on his hypocrisy) On top of that Al gore made millions in speaking engagements & books, and other loyalties. US government spends 400 billion a year on global warming related research and technology and the funding is only going to increase over time. World wide, millions of people depend on war against global warming for their lively hood. If the issue goes away, lot of jobs and money goes with it. It is in their best interest to keep the issue alive for their livelihood. In the process, they make it so that anybody who talk against it is considered evil or in cahoots with the evil oil corporations.

It is easier to believe what we see on TV and not think twice about it. And politicians depends it. Just like a car salesman hates and educated consumer, politicians hate an educated constituent. The great concern of many that we are ruining the planet is nothing but ideology to fatten their pockets. Image a world where people believe in something because they find it to be moral and the right thing to do (hey, a man can dream; can’t he?)

I do know this world is finite. And so are the resources within. If we trash this planet, we will suffer the consequences. Humans are the dominant species on Earth and the most advanced in intelligence and ability to manage their environment. We got where we are by questioning our own believes and transforming those questions into practical theories and workable solutions. But the fact that fewer people ask questions and bother to find the right answers may be the demise of human kind after all.


The Great Global Warming Swindle

Global Warming Myth Lecture CTH Stink Test

Junk Science: Global Warming Myth Busted

Follow the Money, and Ye shall find the truth!

When ever somebody is telling you “Believe Me”, Don’t! Unless it is coming from somebody who has nothing to gain by what ever they are telling you.

Case in Point: Al Gore and Global Warming!

• In the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” Al Gore describes the consequences he believes global climate change will produce if the amount of human-generated greenhouse gases is not significantly reduced in the very near future. The way we are to reduce global warming is reduce our carbon foot print [THE CONVENIENT LIE]

• Recently, after Al Gore won the Oscar for best Documentary, It was reported that Al Gore’s electricity usage was 20 times the national average. [THE MINOR HYPOCRISY]
• It was later reported that Al Gore buys "carbon offsets" to compensate for his home's use of energy from carbon-based fuels. Gore buys his carbon offsets through Generation Investment Management (GIM)[THE MONEY TRAIL BEGINS]

• Turns out Al Gore is the Chairman of the US branch of the firm GIM and makes a profit as the company makes profit. So he is paying him self by purchasing the carbon offsets from a company he chairs. [SHORT MONEY TRAIL ENDS BACK IN GORE’S POCKET]

But the hypocrisy doesn’t end there. GIM was specifically established to take financial advantage of new technologies and solutions related to combating Global Warming [THE MAJOR HYPOCRISY].

Here is scenario: I come to you house and make you believe that your basement will flood and the damage will be irreversible in five months if you do not excavate around the house and water proof your basement now. But don’t worry; there is a company that can do the job for you (Jake’s Basement Repair). If you don’t think it is necessary, here is the list of 20 people that agrees with me. You really don’t have time to think about it, start the work now.

Things are not always obvious. Al-Gore is not dumb. He is a very smart man. He has you, me and the rest of the world trying to invest more money in alternate energy by professing the doom, gloom & Armageddon; while he sits back and enjoy the millions, if not billions in profits from “financial advantage of new technologies and solutions related to combating Global Warming”

Take that Al-Gore!..

My Energy provider has a web tool I can use to calculate my energy usage at home. And look at that, I pay about $1,100 less in energy cost than most of the similar homes in the area. Your energy provider might have similar tools that you can use to calculate energy usage and tips on how to reduce cost.

If you have not heard, in his documentary (An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature), the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home. Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity EVERY MONTH than the average American household uses in an ENTIRE YEAR (In total, Gore paid nearly $30,000 in combined electricity and natural gas bills for his Nashville estate in 2006).

Al Gore’s response is that he buys carbon credits to offset his pollution. Let’s try to apply this logic to a diet. You and I go on a diet, we both buy food, but I buy the food from you and eat twice as much. But that’s okay, because you didn’t eat when I ate your food!.

The Al Gore debacle reminds me of old practice of Catholic Dispensation. Pay a fee to a Priest in The Church Of Global Warming, and continue polluting, free of guilt, without worry of purgatory...

I am in no way an environmentalist and do not buy into the gloom and doom future they predict. When they start accurately predict weather three weeks into the future, I will start paying attention to what they have to say about 30 to 150 years into the future. Until then, to me, this is all a pointless exercise to instill fear in peoples mind.

Do not think I don’t care about the environment. I don’t pour engine oil down the drain or over fertilize my lawn. But I do care more about my bottom line. And I have measures at home to drastically reduce energy bills. For example, our homeowner’s association requires all houses in the development to have two lights outside the garage that go on at sunset and go off in morning. One of the first things I did was to change the 60W incandescent lamps to 13W compact fluorescent lamps. That change alone saved me $34 per year in energy cost. Not to mention the money saved by the extended life on the fluorescent lamps. Change all the interior bulbs, add a programmable thermostat, opt for energy star appliances and voilà, upwards of 1k in annual savings.

Calculate how much you can save by switching to fluorescent!

First Amendment rights or vandalism?

During last Saturday's Washington rally protesting the war in Iraq, hundreds of anti-war protesters were allowed to desecrate government property by spray painting the Capitol with anarchist symbols.

That is right! “ALLOWED”.

“Chief Phillip Morse ordered his officers to fall back and allow the protesters to exercise what he called "their First Amendment rights" to spray paint the Capitol steps with graffiti.”

Since when is desecration of public property equates to exercising first amendment rights?. And where is the new media coverage?. I bet if this protest was against how the new minimum wage is affecting small businesses, their actions will be on front page an all major news papers. But anything the anti protesters do is fair game, including beating up others who are supporters for the troop in Iraq.

And anybody who would dare question Chief Phillip Morse actions will surely face the wrath of media!

Another Day, another Due Date!

Today we received a call from Tracie’s doctor. The C-section have been changed from December 30th to December 29th. That means baby will be here a whole twenty four hours early. That is if the baby decides against coming out early. On 29-DEC, the baby will be 37 weeks and four days old. Can’t wait!

Wait.. I can.. I still have to finish the nursery. I know once the baby is here, that ain’t gonna happen :)

Update: The doctor called yesterday (12/22/06) and the Due date is now Dec. 30th. I get an extra day to prepare for the baby :)

Free Market at its best!

Yesterday I wrote about government forcing good intentions on the people of NY. I also said if the people are health conscious, restaurants that serve unhealthy food would not survive. Here is the proof

McDonald's forced to shut from lack of patronage in healthy town
McDonald's is closing its outlet in a town known for quality food and healthy, local produce.

The fast food chain in Tavistock, Devon, simply wasn't being used enough by locals.

So after seven years struggling to make ends meet in a town that has won many accolades for the quality of its food, McDonald's will finally shut up shop on Saturday.

John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock EatWise campaign, said: "Because of the quality of our local food McDonald's has not been able to compete."

A McDonald's spokesman said: "As part of an ongoing review of our restaurant sites, it has become clear that the location of McDonald's in Tavistock is no longer suitable."

London, Thursday 07.12.06

Being fat is the byproduct of poor life choices. It is easier to point fingers at the a big business because getting out of the chair to fix their lives might be just too much work.

You can still smoke in NY, but no trans fat!

"This is New York," she said. "People eat out a lot. We don't have a choice. We need someone to make it a healthier proposition."

When was the last time you saw anybody forcing people to eat at a specific restaurant or specific menu item?. If New Yorkers are not being force fed, then how is it that they do not have a choice?.

People always have the power to change things. That is the greatest thing about a free society. If you do not like the food a restaurant is serving, do not go there. The only option that restaurant have is to change and compete or shut down. Either way the people win. But today people want the GOVERNMENT to make choices for them.

If the state care about the health of the people so much, why don’t they just ban the sale of smoking products?. That would mean a huge cut in tax revenue; so the state is not ready to do that. The only thing lawmakers care about is votes. There is a bunch of idiots in NY who think government ban on Trans Fat will save them from being fat. Guess what, only you can change you. Stop eating bad stuff, exercise, and stop looking at politicians to make your life better!

If the government let the free market do its job, changes will happen. Wendy's International Inc. introduced a zero-trans fat oil in August; KFC said they will stop using oil with trans fats by April; McDonald's has been testing new oils. All results of demand. The NY law will put small mom & pop shops out of business with increased compliance and sudden change in supply logistics. The sudden increased demand in alternate cooking methods will ramp up the price on supply which in turn increase the price of menu items.

SO who exactly is the winners here?.
-The politicians who made a special interest group happy and now expect increased campaign donations.
-Suppliers who now have an imposed demand on non-trans-fatty cooking oil and can charge what ever they want.
-State treasury which will get higher revenue from the increased prices and fines imposed on people who just can’t comply.

Losers:
-NY’ers who doesn’t have much of a choice but to eat the crap they serve. Can’t complain because they bought it on them self by forcing the restaurants to change ingredients, and have to pay higher price because on the increased demand on certain cooking oil.
-Small businesses that do not have millions of dollars to spend in R&D and focus groups to test the new products or cannot order tons of new formulation and pay a premium for their ingredients.

The 25 Funniest Analogies

(Supposedly Collected by High School English Teachers).

These are really funny and you will burst out laughing (so don't read this if you are in a meeting or any other place that can get you into trouble. It is rated G so you can share if you do get into a predicament!

I just don't get # 19. My Fav's; 9, 12, & 5 in that order :) Enjoy!

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a ThighMaster.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife’s infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn’t.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you’re on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Wow...

That is all I could think when I saw this. Detention for being RIGHT?.

The arrogance of this teacher!. This guy had the nerve to say the student will be “better of simply accepting his teaching with out resistance”.

If you are wrong, you are WRONG. It doesn’t matter if you are being corrected by your student or a four year old. Granted, the teacher was embarrassed in front of his class. But by detaining the kid, he has insulted the entire profession of teaching.

If I were in his place, I would have corrected the wrong information I gave the student, apologized for the mistake, and commend the student for correcting the error. This course of action would create more respect for the teacher and give confidence to the students to speak up.

There are educators that genuinely want to teach and make a difference in a kid’s life; those who marvel in bright students that challenge them and further better themselves. And then there are others, to whom teaching is nothing but a union protected job and do not care about the students. I am so glad I went to school in India. I’ve come across so man great teachers but never realized their excellence. I wish I could go back and thank them individually for their contributions to society. Sad part is, I do not remember a single name but only faces; faces that are fading from my memories fast.

This is an eye opener for me. Now that I am about to have a baby, I can start thinking about things that will better her life when she is all grown up. May be pictures of her teachers with names are worth holding on to.

Wal-Mart – Bad for the America, good for Senator Edwards?

While I was driving around in Atlanta, the most talked about news story of the day was about the limited number of PS3 at Wal-Mart and people getting mugged and shot for this unit. As a non-video game player, I really don’t care much about these stories. And I do think people willing go to these lengths do not have their priorities straight. It is no contest that PS3 is very advanced and came a long way from its predecessors, but it is still a video game. $400 dollars for a unit that only provides one mode of entertainment in not worth standing in line out side a Wal-Mart over night, especially there is only ten unit at that store. Kids don’t need another video game, they are too fat. Adults do not need a video game; grow up, get a degree, get a job, buy a house, invest, read a book, take your kids to the playground. This thing is not worth getting shot at.

That brings me to the hypocrite of the day. Some liberal have made a career out of campaigning against non-union labored Wal-mart. Union memberships have been steadily declining since their peak in 1945 and a place like Wal-Mart that employs 1.2 million is an easy target. A group called Wake Up Wal-Mart is demanding the company provide better pay and more health care for its employees. They would love to see the company run to the ground. They did that to all other places they’ve touched. Union labor is nothing but mediocre and have never proved to improve quality of any product. As a matter of fact, unions prevent a company from progression. Just Compare Toyota & GM. Or consider mass transit authorities or airlines. Senator Edwards jumped on the “Hate the corporation” bandwagon with many other liberals. After selling all his stocks on Wal-Mart before the 2004 presidential election Edwards turned against Wal-Mart. However, Mr. Edwards don’t have time to stand in line like the rest of the middle America so he sends one of his staff to get one for him, from a Wal-Mart that is bad for America!

I hate crooked lawyers, I Hate politicians. Edwards is both!

On the lighter side. If you missed the original release of PS3, you can get one from ebay for $20,000,000.00. Now that is what I call a smart buy!.

December 30 it is ...

We had a doctor’s appointment today. We finalized that the mode of delivery will be C-section. And it is tentatively scheduled for December 30th.

December 30 is special to Tracie. It is her late younger sister Kindall’s birthday. It would be great if our daughter have the same birthday as Kindall’s. (No Cookie, her name ain’t gonna be Kindall!)

The doctor told Tracie to stop working and stay home starting December 1st. Tracie is excited that she gets to stay home. Although, her employer is starting to panic. We originally thought she could work until the 15th but the doctor advised against that. Now that the time has been cut short two weeks, they have to kick it up notch and find a replacement in

I have updated the count down timer to the new date... but everything depends on His will. This reminds me of the bible verse:

“The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.” (Psalm 33:10 )

Keep us in your prays y’all :)

World's Smallest Political Quiz

My score makes me a CONSERVATIVE. What a surprise huh?.

The questions are right to the point, but assume that you have done your homework and know where you stand.

Click on the image to take the quiz & Have Fun!.

Worth a second look

Message to "A Great American!".. I thought the cartoon was pretty funny, poking fun at both liberal (Pinko Liberal, Globalist Wuss) and conservative (Religious Zealot, War Monger). It is very likely that the cartoonist is a liberal, but the purpose of the post was to remind some 10 or so folks who view my flog to go out there and vote.. Trust me, that was the best one that I could find that came close to being neutral.

Where I stand is more towards right and for what is right. I do not call my self a republican, rather a conservative (How dare you call me a liberal!; don't you know you have just insulted me) :) But political, social, or economical issues on fotolog won’t generate much interest, so I stay away from it. I occasionally rant here about things that tickle my brain. Check out the links on the right to see what I read.

As far as reading books, it gives me indigestion most of the time unless I am researching some topics that help me to do something. I don’t read for fun (I know, I am among the minority). I started reading Ann Coulter’s “How to Talk to a Liberal…” about a year ago.. I am half way there.. reading just don’t do it for me.. if you read, more power to ya!.

I hope you got your answer; check out my blog once in a while. If I know more people read my rant, it might drive me to rant more :)

Priceless..

Trip to the grocery store @ 1930 hours = 10 minutes
Duncan Hines Strawberry cake mix = $1.49
Total prep and cook time = 60 minutes
Seeing your wife's smile because she got her cake = Priceless!

When Tracie became pregnant, I was prepared to drive to the store in the middle of the night to get what ever she wanted. 27 weeks in to the pregnancy, I can only remember two times I went to the store to get food just because Tracie was craving for it. Once for Pizza, and yesterday for strawberry cake. I bet some envy me, but all I can say is, It ain’t over till the fat lady sings!

Have a great Weekend Y'all!

Baby Due.. Count Down Clock

I searched the internet the other day for a count down timer and found this great java script (see below my profile on the right side of the page). Now everybody can see how soon the baby will be here. Though it is totally up to the Lord Almighty on the exact timing, I man can estimate, can’t he?.

Believe it or not, I am about to be a father. I couldn’t be more excited, but slightly nervous at the same time. Excited to be part of the Life’s greatest miracle. It is amazing how life start as a single cell and develops into a human. It is exciting to feel the increasing movement of the baby in her mother’s womb. Wondering how the baby feel, hear, think ..

I saw this statement on Fetal Psychology

“Just as adults do, the fetus experiences the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep of dreams.”

This is interesting, because we dream images, and can relate to what we dream. Even blind people have basic understanding of shapes and feel of everyday things. But the babies who are not born yet, have no idea what the world look like. So what exactly do they dream about?

I guess I could ask the baby when she grows up. But according to “Baby Geniuses” she won’t remember

What happened to my ...

*Got this in the mail today. Just couln't keep it to myself.

This one is for everyone who

a) has kids
b) had kids
c) was a kid
d) knows a kid
e) is going to have kids

I was packing for my business trip and my 3-year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said, "Daddy, look at this," and stuck out two of her fingers.

Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her Tiny fingers in my mouth and said, "Daddy's gonna eat your fingers!" pretending to eat them before I rushed out of the room again.

When I returned, my daughter was standing on the bed staring At her fingers with a devastated look on her face.

I said, "What's wrong, honey?"

She replied, "What happened to my boogey?"

Let the boy eat his cake..

This news story is just bull crap gone overboard.

The 10 year old kid brought packed lunch, that broke government's healthy eating guidelines, to school and was banned from school. Here is my problem with the story. If the school ain’t providing lunch to these kids, why do they care what these kids eat. Shouldn’t it be the parents’ responsibility to make sure their kids eat healthy? Schools should not be in the business of enforcing “guideline”, rather educating the people. How many 10 year olds do you know pack their own lunch? Did the parents get investigated for trying to feeding the kid to death with the “Extra Snack” And the boy is banned from school for bringing in an extra snack. Good thing he didn’t bring an extra fork.

You take all personal responsibility away from the younger generation, hand it over to the government because the parents have their own agenda who think kids are a baggage, and then wonder why the morality of the next generation is in the sewer. Let the boy eat his cake I say!

Gimme a break!

"Insects do not deserve to be eaten alive especially for a gratuitous marketing gimmick," – PETA

I am not an animal hater. I do not have pets partly because I believe animals should have the freedom and dignity to do whatever they want to do in the wild and not to be a slave to humans. Having said that, PETA’s stand on this is a little ridiculous.

*Cockroaches are notoriously hardy animals. The lethal dose for the American cockroach is 67,500 rems (Measure of Radiation) and for the German cockroach it is between 90,000 and 105,000 rems (A lethal dose for a human is about 800 rems). Most Natural death of cockroaches occurs in the stomach of a bird, bat, or other small animal. In addition, cockroaches can survive on very little; it has been discovered that cockroaches will eat the glue off of the back of stamps!

A Cockroaches’ natural way to die is to be eaten by something else. They do not feel pain as they do not have pain receptors like humans do. They in all probability don’t feel humiliated of being eaten by a human. If they do, they can petition the UN and get sanctions against six flags… (HA)

I think a “Cockroach eating contest” is a great idea. Much healthier than eating hot dogs or Jalapeño. And, we can have these contests in the problem areas where buildings are infested with them. Instead of catching them and serving them to the contestants, let the contestants catch them, and then eat them. Great exercise, less use of pesticides (not to mention less humiliating way to die for the cockroaches), and great for the economy by bringing these contests to your town and have the people spend money!