The IndUS Network

e-magazine

2010 Oct "Energy" Edition

In this edition ...

"Energy" Special


Planet Gliese 581g: Image credit: NASA

Editor's Desk

Planet Gliese 581g: the 'new Earth': Ready to move?

In 2009 the total primary energy consumption in the world was 11,164.3 million tonnes oil equivalent. The primary energy definition includes commercially traded fuels such as Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear and Hydroelectric. The good news is, the 2009 consumption has fallen by 1.1%, the lowest drop since 1982, and represents the lowest carbon-di-oxide emission since 1998. But the outlook is not good. The energy demand is expected to rise by at least 93% and currently, the major source of energy comes from fossil fuels. The fossil fuels are depleting at a faster rate and unless we add around 30% of energy from renewable energy sources, we are looking at a major energy catastrophe on earth. Also, transitioning to renewable energy is mandatory for us to achieve the global warming goal of 2% per year instead of 6% now. Will we be able to achieve our energy and global warming goal?

If not, it may be worth exploring the passage to Gliese 581g, the newly discovered, earth like planet located in the 'Goldilocks zone' of the solar system, which is just 20 light years away :-) The new planet which takes 37 days to orbit around the star 'Gliese 581' has 3 to 4 times the mass of the earth and is expected to have a rocky surface. Also, it has a temperature which can support the existence of water, atmosphere (oxygen) and life forms. However, unlike earth, Gliese 581g has only one side exposed to the star, so there is no day or night for the planet. One hemisphere is always sunny and the other hemisphere is always dark. Does this matter to us? As long as we can find fossil fuels we can transport our technology to create artificial day and night! Start saving your money to buy your new home on Gliese 581g. Ready for a planet move?

On the news front, the 33 Chile miners we reported last month have been rescued ahead of time and are doing well. Great kudos to the Chilean government and all the people involved in the rescue. It was a perfect and well executed operation and will be studied by many for years to come. The final person who came out was the shift supervisor, Luis Urzua, who showed the world how a leader (boss) should be. He is credited with setting up an order among the chaos like rationing foods, setting up an artificial day-night routines, separating into 3 different teams and couselling their fears with an elderly crew man. There is a lot to learn from Luis, especially for the bosses in the corporate world, who are often a subject of humor among employees. At the core, a good boss (leader) needs to be empathetic towards their fellow workers; encourage them to speak their thoughts, ideas, issues and challenges; and carefully listen to them.

Coming to this issue, we have hand picked the primary contents around the "Energy" theme, added humor with "Boss" theme while relieving your "trick or treat" season with "Halloween" theme songs. We are hopeful you will become energy savvy, energized and entertained after reading this edition. Also, for those curious readers, our last edition recorded a download of 2.3 million kilobytes! This confirms the readership we are gaining around the world and the space we are gaining in your heart and mind. Thank you for your continuous support!

In this issue:

  • In the Brain-tickler category:
    • "Saving energy: How Savvy you are?" Test your Energy conservation and Energy awareness knowledge.
  • In the Health Topic section:
    • How about your energy? Do you know the secret of our energy? Read the secret and few ways to boost your energy in the article "Secret of our Energy: Ways to boost your energy".
    • Do you drink Energy drinks? Do you read the label? Is it safe? Read more in the article "Energy drinks: Is it safe?" Learn few natural drinks you can choose instead.
  • In the English Song category:
    • October being a Halloween month, we have a special collection of english songs with Halloween theme for you to enjoy in" English Song Picks Section". We have provided the lyrics to sing along wherever available.
  • In the Short Story:
    • Read a short thriller as what or who is missing in the short story "Missing ..."
  • In the Seriously Funny section:
    • Watch the funny video "Bosses Beware" to see what happens when a employee gets irate with his boss.
    • Is "Boss is always right?" Read to judge.
  • In the Surfboard section:
    • Read who works to hinder your growth in the story "Who is hindering the growth?"
    • Watch the funny video, "Boss's jokes are funnier than employees"
  • In the Tamil Picks section:
    • Enjoy the collection of new and old songs on energy, panchabhootham, theme for you. You will love our picks!
    • Read our Tamil poem pick "Sakthi" (Energy).
  • Nuggets:
    • Enjoy our Boss's day humor and thoughts across the edition under the "Happy Boss's day" category!
      • Main page - You can become a boss!
      • Health - Greedy Boss? and Life after death!
      • Story page - It took an hour?
      • Seriously Funny - Who are your talking to?
      • Surfboard - 50/50!
      • Reader's feeback - You must be a manager!
      • Your feedback - How long you do your best at work
  • Additional Bonus Videos:
    • Enjoy our additional bonus video picks on "Energy" theme, provided in the following sections.
      • Reader's Feedback - Alternate Energy: Future Travel: Bubbles and Beams!
      • Your Feedback - Simple Energy saving tips!

As always, we are very confident that you will enjoy our picks and hope you will be be both energized and energy savvy after reading this issue. Read, enjoy, share and write your feedback about this issue by clicking on the email icon. We value your opinions, thoughts and time.

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You can become a Boss !

"By working faithfully eight hours a day
you may eventually get to be boss
and work twelve hours a day."
~Robert Frost