Paradox of Our Time

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses, but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment, for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And, give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-- George Carlin

Study reveals that Biofuels could boost global warming

Growing and burning many biofuels may actually raise rather than lower greenhouse gas emissions, a new study led by Nobel prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen has shown.1 The findings come in the wake of a recent OECD report, which warned nations not to rush headlong into growing energy crops because they cause food shortages and damage biodiversity.

Crutzen and colleagues have calculated that growing some of the most commonly used biofuel crops releases around twice the amount of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) than previously thought - wiping out any benefits from not using fossil fuels and, worse, probably contributing to global warming. The work appears in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and is currently subject to open review.

'The significance of it is that the supposed benefits of biofuel are even more disputable than had been thought hitherto,' Keith Smith, a co-author on the paper from the University of Edinburgh, told Chemistry World. 'What we are saying is that [growing many biofuels] is probably of no benefit and in fact is actually making the climate issue worse.'


"What we are saying is that growing biofuels is probably of no benefit and in fact is actually making the climate issue worse"
- Keith Smith
Crutzen, famous for his work on nitrogen oxides and the ozone layer, declined to comment before the paper is officially published. But the paper suggests that microbes convert much more of the nitrogen in fertiliser to N2O than previously thought - 3 to 5 per cent or twice the widely accepted figure of 2 per cent used by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

For rapeseed biodiesel, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the biofuel production in Europe, the relative warming due to N2O emissions is estimated at 1 to 1.7 times larger than the quasi-cooling effect due to saved fossil CO2 emissions. For corn bioethanol, dominant in the US, the figure is 0.9 to 1.5. Only cane sugar bioethanol - with a relative warming of 0.5 to 0.9 - looks like a viable alternative to conventional fuels.

Some previous estimates had suggested that biofuels could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40 per cent.2

Global picture

The IPCC's N2O conversion factor is derived using data from plant experiments. But Crutzen takes a different approach, using atmospheric measurements and ice core data to calculate the total amount of N2O in the atmosphere. He then subtracts the level of N2O in pre-industrial times - before fertilizers were available - to take account of N2O from natural processes such as leguminous plants growing in forests, lightning, and burn offs.

Assuming the rest of the N2O is attributable to newly-fixed nitrogen from fertilizer use, and knowing the amount of fertilizer applied globally, he can calculate the contribution of fertilizers to N2O levels.

The results may well trigger a rethink by the IPCC, says Smith. 'Should we go along the road of adding up the experimental evidence for each of the processes or are we better off using the global numbers?'

Critical reception

But other experts are critical of Crutzen's approach. Simon Donner, a nitrogen researcher based at Princeton University, US, says the method is elegant but there is little evidence to show the N2O yield from fertilized plants is really as high as 3-5 per cent. Crutzen's basic assumption, that pre-industrial N2O emissions are the same as natural N2O emissions, is 'probably wrong', says Donner.

One reason he gives is that farmers plant crops in places that have nitrogen rich soils anyway. 'It is possible we are indirectly increasing the "natural" source of N2O by drawing down the soil nitrogen in the world's agricultural regions,' he explains.

Others dispute the values chosen by Crutzen to calculate his budget. Stefan Rauh, an agricultural scientist at the Instituteof Agricultural Economics and Farm Management in Munich, Germany, says some of the rates for converting crops into biofuel should be higher. 'If you use the other factors you get a little net climate cooling,' he said.

Meanwhile, a report prepared by the OECD for a recent Round Table on Sustainable Development questions the benefits of first generation biofuels and concludes that governments should scrap mandatory targets.

Richard Doornbosch, the report's author, says both the report and Crutzen's work highlights the importance of establishing correct full life-cycle assessments for biofuels. 'Without them, government policies can't distinguish between one biofuel and another - risking making problems worse,' said Doornbosch.

Credit: RSC

You may read a similar story here

LEADERS ARE LADDERS

Recently, I listened to a renowned motivational speaker/teacher speak on leadership. As I took notes in my notepad, I became more aware (just like many others) of the fact that this speaker has actually carved a niche for himself in the area of leadership and leadership training. His 30 minutes air time was like 3 minutes. His message did not lack substance and you could tell that he is "deep" As I studiously listened to him analyse and make conclusions on the subject which arguably is not new especially to minds which aspire greatness, I was amazed at how strongly the need for leaders in every facet of human life dawned on me several times during the 30 minutes telecast. Leadership and the role of leaders is indeed a very crucial one.

A few days later I engaged a friend in a conversation trying to rub minds and "chew" more on the subject and hopefully absorb more than was said on TV. One very key quality of a leader mentioned by the speaker referred to above is the ability to give direction to their followers. I will not be surprised if you are quick to remark that “yes, that is a 'normal' expectation from any leader!” Well, you’re right. In the telecast, the speaker remarkably mentioned that leaders are expected to be visioners. The ability of a leader to think ahead using the power of insight is very crucial as well. Leaders should be dynamic. You (or we, as the case may apply) as followers are merely standing behind a "leader" if they are not forward thinking and dynamic. If a leader is static, then their followers are merely standing behind such a person. Your leader needs to move before you can claim followership to such a person!

Unfortunately, out of sentimental allegiance, majority of us today are merely standing behind people who we claim to be our leaders. They have a sense of direction but lack the drive to explore the potential within them to forge a forward thrust towards achieving the vision/cause for which they stand.

From the “leading and directing” point of view, the above topic which though is only a metaphor stands. This afternoon at my place of work, I was going to carry out a task, The task required me to access a position at a height. Even if I was a seven-footer, there was no way my hand and eye-level would have reached the spot I needed to work on; hence the need for a ladder to make the task possible and easy at the same time. While I was busy on the task, it occured to me that people who have been appointed leaders actually play the same role in the lives of their followers. Apart from providing a sense of direction by effective communication of a common goal, they provide the encouragement needed by the followership to see the task as achievable in spite of the obvious limitations. Realising that encouragement on its own may not be sufficient to achieve the goal(s), leaders provide the necessary support just like a ladder. An astute follower of my line of thought would have been able to draw a pattern at this stage -the life of a leader is that of selfless service. Although we all have all it takes to be a leader, we are not ready for leadership unless we are ready for selfless service. This is not taught in Harvard. You need to work it out yourself.

Stay tuned…

Three Things...

Three things in life that once gone, never come back -
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person -
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose -
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable -
1. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain -
1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a person -
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Three things that are truly constant -
1. Father
2. Son
3. Holy Spirit

Meditate on these and effect the changes where required...

Peace...

RE: WE THOUGHT HE IS SLOW...

The ongoing controversy concerning the N30b Nigerian Ministry of Transport "Scandal" has been clarified. Apparently, the document which caused distinguished Senator Patricia Akwashiki, to raise the alarm on the purported withdrawals, was actually misinterpreted by the senator. The document which caused senator Akwashi to raise the alarm is actually a document containing a summary of nine mandates issued by the Accountant General of the Federation requesting the Central Bank of Nigeria to release moneys and honour cheques for 570 named contractors stating the amounts due to each contractor against their name.

Please read full reports in these newspapers; The Sun,This Day and other national dailies

Thank you gsharp for your valued comment on my last post.