Which is the world’s first oceanarium?

The word oceanarium could mean two things. It can either mean a marine mammal park, which is a commercial theme park where dolphins, Beluga whales, and sea lions are kept within water tanks and displayed to the public in special shows. It could also mean a largescale aquarium such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, which is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling animals and plants are kept, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large fish such as shark. Marineland of Florida, one of Florida’s first theme parks is the world’s first oceanarium. With the passage of time, oceanarium gradually took the term of largescale aquariums like the kind we see today. Marineland was founded in 1937, and mainly focused on dolphin shows. In 1999, Hurricanes Floyd and Irene forced the park to close for two months. In 2004, the park closed completely for renovations, and re-opened on March 4, 2006. The park is now a Dolphin Conservation Center, where guests can interact and swim with the dolphins.

What are SQUIDS in physics?

The Superconducting Quantum Interference Device, or SQUID, is an extremely sensitive magnetic flux-to-voltage transducer. The SQUID may be the most sensitive detector of any physical quantity, with an energy resolution that approaches the quantum limit. The extreme sensitivity of the SQUID has caused it to be incorporated into a great variety of systems. SQUIDs have been used to measure cortical activity in the human brain and to search for gravity waves.

What is the Fermi Problem?

The Fermi Problem, named after the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, is about a formula regarding how to think about what assumptions we make, how to make them as realistic as possible, how to estimate well, and how to put all these in the service of a straightforward mathematical calculation in order to come up with an answer.

What is a fish-eye lens?

It is a type of wide-angle lens used in photography to capture extremely wide and hemispherical images. Its focus length varies between 8-10 mm for circular lenses and 15-16 mm for full frame lens. Originally developed for use in meteorology and astronomy, it is used in planetariums and IMAX dome theatres to show pictures on a broad canvas.

What is dumdum bullet?

In the 1890s, the British military developed a bullet to be used at Dum Dum arsenal in India’s North-West frontier and was named ‘dumdum’ bullet. It comprised a jacketed .303 bullet in which the jacket nose opened to expose its lead core to improve the effectiveness of the bullet by increasing its expansion upon impact. Afterwards, the term dumdum was taken to include any softnosed or hallow-pointed bullet. In 1899, the use of dumdum bullet was outlawed following the Hague Convention. But during First World War, the Germans accused the Belgian government of having used a dumdum bullet which the Belgians strongly denied.

What is the subprime effect?

Subprime lending, also called ‘B-Paper’, ‘near-prime’ or ‘second chance’ lending, refers to the practice of giving loans to borrowers at interest rates above the prevailing market rates because of their low credit status and increased risk due to either a limited credit history, or histories of payment delinquencies, charge-offs or bankruptcies. Subprime lending includes mortgages, credit cards and car loans. It is risky for both the lender and the borrower. It helps those consumers who otherwise would not have access to credit market. But on the flip side the borrowers do not have the resources to meet the long-term loan obligations. But the crisis began in 2006, when in the US, thousands of borrowers defaulted in payments; as a result many lenders had to file for bankruptcy leading to a direct impact on the US housing market and economy as a whole.

What is macrobiotics?

The word macrobiotic originates from the Greek word meaning ‘great or larger than life’. It is based on The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, the oldest-known book of Chinese medicine. It is attributed to Huang Ti, the legendary Yellow Emperor (2704 BC), but was probably not written until about 500 BC. Macrobiotics is a healthy, holistic way of living a balanced lifestyle. It is a vast subject, but basically comes down to the fact that the world (the Earth and all thereon) is a constantly changing holistic system that is ever striving for balance. It not only covers diet, but balance in body, soul and spirit. Foods that help us remain centred are whole grains, vegetables, vegetable protein, nuts, seeds, sea vegetables, miso, pickles etc.

What is a ‘nano-factory’?

Researchers in Japan have invented a tiny brain which can act as a remote control for swarms of nano-machines. They simultated eight such nano-machines to create a ‘nano factory’. According to experts, nano-machines could also be used to boost the processing power of future computers. They also have high hopes for nano-machines in treating diseases. The machine is made from 17 molecules of the chemical duroquinone. Each one is known as a ‘logic device’.

End of the 9% growth dream

After four years of boasting of 9% GDP growth, and talking of overtaking China, Indians are reluctant to believe that the economy is headed for a serious fall. But the stock market has crashed, an indication of the pain ahead.
Western observers have been lavishing praise on India as a coming economic superpower. So, many Indians believe we have achieved 9% growth because we are so clever and resourceful. This is a delusion of grandeur. In fact, a global tide has lifted the whole world economy, and India along with all others. Now that the global tide is ebbing, India will fall with all others. Given our strengths, we will not suffer as badly as some others. But suffer we will.
After more than a decade of 6% growth, India accelerated to almost 9% in the last four years. But sub-Saharan Africa also accelerated, from 2.4% per year in the 1990s to almost 5.8% in the last four years, a stronger acceleration than in India!
Azerbaijan grew by a whopping 31% in 2006 and maybe 27% in 2007. Turkmenistan grew by 18% in 2006.
Sudan has a civil war and genocide in Darfur, but its latest growth rate is a staggering 12%. Rwanda, where genocide was made famous by the film Hotel Rwanda, is enjoying 8.5% growth. Liberia, site of the Hollywood hit Blood Diamond, is growing at 9%.
So, India’s 9% growth in the last four years is not exceptional. All countries have been lifted by a global tide. What caused the tide to rise, and why is it now ebbing?
The core cause of the boom was huge overspending by Americans in the last decade, based on a long housing boom. Americans borrowed ever more billions against their rising property values, and went on a spending spree that greatly exceeded their disposable incomes. Overspending led to a record US trade deficit of $700 billion/year.
The mirror image of this was rising trade surpluses (and hence forex reserves) in other countries. These forex surpluses were used to buy US securities, depressing US interest rates and making borrowing even more attractive. Americans borrowed still more, spent still more, and imported still more.
This created a huge consumptionbased growth cycle across the globe. The US consumer splurge was especially helpful to China, the most competitive exporter of manufactures, which grew rapidly through an export boom. India, which exported competitive services, also benefited. Other Asian countries from Vietnam to Pakistan also started growing at rapid rates.
But these Asian countries needed to import huge quantities of commodities, partly for conversion into manufactures for export, and partly to meet rising domestic needs. So, the global demand for commodities skyrocketed, lifting all exporters of commodities. These countries were mainly in central Asia, Africa and Latin America. All joined the great global boom.
Alas, no boom based on over-consumption can last forever. The US housing bubble burst, and prices started falling. This revealed the ugly fact that many lenders had made huge property loans to people who could not or would not repay. Banks and other mortgage lenders suddenly found themselves with hundreds of billions of bad debts. The consequent financial crunch hit the whole US economy. This now threatens a recession, which will lower consumer spending.
Less US spending will mean a big drop in US imports from Asia. When that happens, Asia will demand less commodities from Africa, Latin America and Central Asia. So, the very countries that benefited from US overspending will now suffer as US spending declines.
How bad will the impact on India be? It all depends on the pace at which the US reduces its overspending to manageable proportions. Let us consider three scenarios.
In scenario 1, the US will have only a slowdown, not an outright recession, and will recover in the second half of 2008. So, there will be just a small blip in overspending, which will soon resume. World growth will not be badly hit, and India can hope to achieve 8% in 2008. This scenario looks hopelessly optimistic.
More realistic is scenario 2, which postulates a recession for two or three quarters in the US, followed by recovery in 2009. This will hit the global economy significantly. Indian growth will decline to 7%.
In scenario 3, the US will suffer a prolonged slowdown-cum-recession for 18 months or more. This is very unlikely, given the ammunition available with the US Fed to revive the economy. Yet, a cold shiver is running down the spines of stockmarket experts, who feel there is a small but significant chance of a long, painful slowdown. That will translate into huge global pain.
In scenario 3, India’s GDP growth will fall to 6%. That is no higher than in the 1990s! This does not mean that all recent progress has been illusory. India has raised its savings rate to 34%, and built up strong skills that are here to stay. But our sustainable long-term growth rate, in less-thanbooming global conditions, may be only 7-8%. Let’s not get carried away by the last four years.

CONNECT WITH YOUR SOURCE

The single most important thing you can do in your life is to connect with your source. Greater than anything you desire, connecting with source allows you to develop a relationship with the infinite wisdom of the universe. By staying connected you will be in the flow and everything comes easily and quickly to you. You’ve heard it said, go with the flow.
This doesn’t mean follow the masses — it means to connect with your source and go with its flow — which is unique for each and every one of us.
Where do you think you really come from? Your parents? Yes, you share their DNA but where does the you that stares out from behind those eyes live? In your cells, in your DNA, your central nervous system? Do you live in your mind? Are you your mind?
Have you ever noticed that when you experience anything — a feeling ,a moment, an event or circumstance — and that while you participate and enjoy or not these things that occur; a part of you sits back and watches everything?
Many call this the observer, the witness, your spirit, your soul, whatever name you choose –— it is that part of you that is always connected to source — it stands back and witnesses everything. Your eternal being resides here and always stays in direct communication with source for without that connection you would die.
If we are always connected —why must we then connect? Does this seem confusing to you? Yes, you are always connected with source, period and nothing can sever that relationship. But the part of you that stays connected is not in your conscious mind. When i talk about connecting with source, i mean consciously. For too long we have made the part of our being that is connected with source sit in the back of the bus. However, a time comes when that part of you simply cannot take being ignored any more. What happens? Many things — your life falls apart, you get sick, things don’t go your way — you lose your job, your lover, your house, whatever is consuming your life.
The father mother God of your being won’t stay in the back of the bus for long — especially if something in you awakens — the sleeper must awaken. Yes, you can have all that you desire — but not at the cost of your soul.
The relationship with source is different for everyone. It doesn’t take your believing in source for source to empower your being. Nor can you tell another person how their relationship with source is supposed to be. It is a very individual experience. It is the most intimate of relationships you will ever experience.
Source never leaves you, never lies to you, and never makes you feel guilty. Source loves you unconditionally and always says yes to you – even if your belief is such that you feel the universe says no. The universe will support whatever you believe to be true.
An important fact to understand: the universe always says yes even when you perceive it to be no. When you experience no, what you are experiencing is your belief in no so the universe says yes by supporting your no. You define your world. Source does not do that for you.
Source is not your ego, your personality or any trait or characteristic of your being. Source is not your belief structure or your religious undertakings. Source is Divine Infinite Wisdom. Some call it God, Energy, Allah, Yahweh — it is known by many names or none.
You can ask your source about anything and it will answer. It answers by giving you a feeling. If you feel calm and peaceful — that is your answer — which can be interpreted as yes. If you feel more confused and at unrest — this can be interpreted as no. As you develop your own relationship with your source you will find what form of communication works for you. There are no hard and set rules and this is a very personal relationship — one that noone but you and source together share. The point i am making is this: more than a body, more than a personality, or an ego, you are a divine child of the universe with an eternal spirit.
You come from source, you exist because of source, and someday you return to source. Critical for your well-being as well as for your endeavors in this journey of creating your reality and learning to become the real you — the divine child of the universe — connecting with your source is a step you must make on your own.
This is a very personal journey, no man; woman or child can come between you and your Source. Death cannot separate you from your source. Source is the very source of your being. The part of you that does not reside in the physical realm — the part of you that constantly maintains twenty-four hour access to all things, known and unknown, seen and unseen stands a mere breath away.
I read somewhere once that of God —Spiritos—means to exhale — while man means inhale. How much closer to source can you get?
Consciously attach yourself to your source. Give thanks to your source for the ability to breathe in and out. Start your day by giving thanks for everything in your life, both the wanted and unwanted. Write a list of five things you are grateful for every day and watch your life change! Give thanks for everything you can see, taste, touch, smell, hear, or sense, for without your source you would not exist.
Step outside, right this minute, whether it is on your porch, your doorstep, your curb, your backyard, your front yard or in the street. Go outside and look up. Look at the sun or the clouds, the moon and stars and notice everything not made by man. This, in its simplest form, is the divine expression of source.
And then realise that the Creator of all this — propels you, powers you, gives you being on this planet. The same energy that made the stars made you. The same energy that powers the universe powers you. To quote Joni Mitchell, “you are stardust, you are golden.” Are you any less than one of these? You are loved. And you are known. It is time for you to know yourself.