It will be 40 years tomorrow since the day April 22 was devoted to create awareness, restoration and appreciation of the abused planet.

It all started in 1970 by the contributions of Gaylord Nelson, U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, and David Hayes, national coordinator of the first Earth Day, along with 20 million Americans. The grassroots effort included activists, students and ordinary people who stood up against exploitation of the planet and pollution of its natural resources. Pre-1970 contributions of environmentalists and activists, such as Ralph Nader, William Douglas, and Rachel Carson, led to the “uprising” resulting in such ramification on the first Earth Day.

The date of April 22 was chosen for various reasons but mainly for its convinience because by April 22, Spring has already set in with warmer and comfortable weather for maximum participation and maximum impact. This day also falls on or around birthdays of famous environmentalists: St. Francis of Assisi, John Muir, and Julius Sterling Morton.

The effect of Earth Day since its birth has resonated through various changes in our everyday life. People are better educated on environmental preservation; recycling and waste reduction has increased; governments are preserving open spaces, wilderness, and ecosystems; corporations are promoting greener images through use of renewable energy, garbage recycling and using newer technology to reduce industrial pollutants from the factories. Over billion people in 190 countries take part in Earth Day activities “making it the largest secular civic event in the world.” [Earth Day Network]

“The Power of Earth Day in America” by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)

When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.

When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to “open” the Nehruvian economy.

It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will.

Being labeled the next Bradman has never been an easy honor. But perhaps no batsman has worn the tag with so much grace—and so deserved it—as Tendulkar. West Indian captain Brian Lara, the only contemporary of Tendulkar’s to consistently threaten his position as the batsman of the age, told the Times of India last month that the Indian was the greatest he had ever seen. “You know genius when you see it,” said Lara. “And let me tell you, Sachin is pure genius.”

When he’s in form, which is often, Tendulkar can rout the world’s best bowlers with ease. Just ask Australian leg-spinning great Shane Warne, who once joked that he had nightmares about bowling to Tendulkar. India’s “Little Master” has scored a record 75 centuries in test and one-day internationals and helped revolutionize the speed at which runs are made. But statistics only hint at Tendulkar’s greatness. It’s the way he scores all those runs that is the most thrilling thing about his game. Tendulkar waits for the bowler’s delivery like a martial arts black belt ready to parry an opponent—moving quickly into position, flashing his bat to guide the ball where he will. It’s a rare combination of textbook classicism and the inventive violence of modern one-day cricket.

Tendulkar isn’t perfect, of course. Critics have long argued that he seems to play for the record books first and his team second—rarely rescuing his comrades when they’re in trouble in the way other batting greats such as Lara or Australia’s Steve Waugh have done. In the past couple of years, Tendulkar also seems to have lost some of the aggression and daring that made Bradman sit up in front of the TV. In January, he was booed off his home ground after scoring just one run off 21 balls. Perhaps the years and the injuries are catching up.

But his success to date means that Tendulkar could leave the field tomorrow without any diminution of circumstances. The middle-class boy from Bombay gets paid millions of dollars to appear in television commercials and on billboards selling everything from luxury cars to credit cards, soft drinks to shoes. Reserved and modest, he also appears to carry his fame—and the expectations of a billion people—quite well. A few years ago, Australian player Matthew Hayden wrote that Tendulkar was like a god in India. Tendulkar responded with typical humility. “I do not think anyone can become God,” he said. “I am a normal person who plays cricket.” And yet sometimes, when Tendulkar has the measure of every ball and is smacking them cleanly through panicking fielders, it’s hard not to see the divine spark at work.

While the rest of the world will be celebrating the Valentine’s Day, the few remaining tigers in the wild and preserves will be fighting for their survival as the Year of the Tiger begins on Sunday.

Estimated number is 3,000 wild tigers around the world, but the actual number might be lesser than that. Tigers are disappearing rapidly from their habitats in Asia due to poaching and diminishing forest cover, especially in China and India. India has 37 tiger reserves across the country but poaching is ever increasing because of strong demand of tiger body parts such as bones, hide and paws in China. The Chinese government banned the trade on tiger body parts way back in 1993, but the appetite for tiger parts has been on the rise, especially now for the year of the tiger.

The suppliers and consumers of the products made with tiger parts believe that tiger bones have the power to heal problems of old age and increase sexual performance. Business is booming and the prices soar up to $1,000 for a tiger paw and $20,000 for the hide.

The majestic animal might disappear altogether if poaching keeps increasing to supply such superstitious demands; the people linked with the heinous trade need to be educated. The government needs to adopt zero policy on tiger trade and use of body parts with stricter force, but the culture of using tiger parts for human consumption needs to be changed.

Did you know?
“Siberian (or Amur) Tigers, one of just five remaining tiger subspecies, are the world’s largest cats. They can grow up to 11 feet (3.5 meters) long and weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kilograms).” — National Geographic

Read more at The New York Times and other related articles.

I just discovered a star named Betelgeuse, which is the shoulder star of the Orion hunter constellation and reaches its highest point above the horizon as brightest red star on every Valentine’s Day. This year, this bright red star will appear on the South sky between 8-9 pm.

Not only this star is red but it also pulsates like a heart at a “celestial rate” of six years; the size of the star grows and shrinks back.

Moreover, the best part about this story is that this V-day is also a new moon and hopefully a clear sky!

Watch the video and Jack Horkheimer will explain more on the Valentine’s Day cosmic wonders:

The Valentine Star — Betelgeuse

“Valentine’s Day is all about love. But what, exactly, is that?

Helen Fisher is an anthropologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey and author of several books on love, including Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love.

Fisher breaks love into three distinct brain systems that enable mating and reproduction:

• Sex drive
• Romantic love (obsession, passion, infatuation)
• Attachment (calmness and security with a long-term partner)

These are brain systems, not phases, Fisher emphasized, and all three play a role in love. They can operate independently, but people crave all three for an ideal relationship.

“I think the sex drive evolved to get you out there looking for a range of partners,” she said.

“I think romantic love evolved to enable you to focus your mating energy on just one at a time, and attachment evolved to tolerate that person at least long enough to raise a child together as a team.”

Valentine’s Day, Fisher added, used to encompass only two of these three brain systems: sex drive and romantic love.”

Read more at the National Geographic

I’m getting concerned about the company as they declare more recalls on their popular, best selling models such as Prius and Camry. Although the company is big enough to absorb the shocks of about 150,000 recalls, it’s big bad stain on the company’s public image. In their neck-to-neck to fight with arch-rival, Honda Motor Company, this series of recalls will certainly cause some pain. However, Toyota is trying hard to fix the problems and keep their customers’ trust.

I sympathize with them because my first car was a Toyota Corolla 1989 and I loved it for its built and longevity.

Update @ March 16, 2010:
Honda has announced more recalls on its Odyssey and Element models concerning brake problems. The Japanese automaker had already recalled more than a million vehicles in January this year over airbag and window switch. Likewise, Nissan and Suzuki have also pulled their vehicles for defects and glitches.

Next time if you get into a motor-vehicle accident, which I hope you don’t, would you blame the human factor or the machine? 

Sources: Honda recalls Fit/Jazz, Honda extends airbag recall by437,000, Timeline: Global recalls in the auto industry

Why do we pay cable providers to watch commercials?

We don’t realize this but it’s bizarre. It’s like paying an entry fee to allow a bunch of salesmen throw their sales-pitch at you. It’s like paying to learn how to spend more — ain’t that weird?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNb7IexIYlo

Jason Reed/Reuters Residents of Capitol Hill took to the Washington streets Monday to dig out from the two feet of snow that fell over the weekend.

I regret complaining of sun last summer when temperatures reached around 90 degrees. The white stuff keeps coming back and it’s making life harder. Can’t wait to enjoy the warmth of Spring.

Update: Feb 9, 2010 @ 9:45 pm

The snow is coming down right now and will supposedly add a foot of more snow on whatever was left from the past weekend. I wish I had a flame thrower — that would take care of snow, right?

Update: Feb 10, 2010 @ 11:15 am

RADAR image of snow on the east coast of United States

According to National Weather Service, total daytime snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches is possible with a north wind between 16 and 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Later tonight, new snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible with a north wind between 22 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Temperature throughout the day will around 20°F with steady snow, wind and visibility of ¼ mile or less.