Global warming is reducing Arctic ice enough to open sea lanes for months, creating shorter shipping routes across the “polar shortcut” that can save a third of the cost and half the time sending goods from Russia to China through the Suez Canal. This northern route is only open a few months per year and requires large ice breakers, but it is pirate-free. Read the full Arctic ice melt lifts hopes for Russian maritime trade story at Reuters.
Category Archives: NEWS
Love and perseverance transcend generations
Spend time reading to your children. Show them love and encouragement. Most of all, persevere through adversity even if it takes three jobs to support your family. The lessons will carry on for a hundred generations or more. The example of your family can influence many people to come. Read more in the Love is the ultimate hero editorial at The Princeton Packet.
Artist scapegoat for stolen piece returned to France
The good news is the U.S. returned a piece of art stolen three decades ago to France. The artwork was a monotype by impressionist Camille Pissarro. The bad news is that artist Sharyl Davis who unknowingly bought the stolen piece is out $100,000 in legal fees, plus the value of the painting around $60,000 to $80,000 while the thief is living on a boat in the south of France. This “scapegoat” story somewhat goes along with the Leviticus 16 story. You would think that someone (French or U.S. government) would help Ms. Davis, but unfortunately financial victims rarely get any compensation. Read the U.S. returns stolen Pissarro artwork to France story at Reuters.
Fifth of the world telecommutes
About one fifth of workers around the world telecommute – working at least part-time away from the office. Telecommuting varies by country with half the people working from home in India to less than 10 percent in Germany, France, Italy and Canada. Telecommuting gives workers flexibility but has its challenges, as I can attest to, like balancing family versus work time. Read the full About one in five workers worldwide telecommute: poll story at Reuters.
Lifelong brain exercises may reduce Alzheimer’s
Researchers found that exercising the brain with games, reading, and writing can reduce the chance of protein deposits that cause Alzheimer’s, but you must start at a young age and continue your whole life. So, stop “vegging” in front of the TV and read some good books. Learn more in the Keeping brain sharp may ward off Alzheimer’s protein story at Reuters.
Global warming? Nine warmest years since 2000
According to NASA, global temperatures are rising and we have experienced nine of the highest average temperatures since 2000. See Full 2011 was ninth-warmest year since 1880: NASA story at Reuters.
I am all for the environment, but I studied a little math and know when someone is putting a spin on the numbers. Compare these charts:
The first chart is the change in temperature that NASA and other global warming groups show to prove the world is “dramatically” getting warmer, but on close look it says the globe has warmed by about 1 degree Celsius from 1880 to 2011.
The other two charts show the total temperature trend in Celsius and Fahrenheit. The world is getting a little warmer, but these charts do not look very “dramatic”. You decide.
Data Source: NASA Global Land-Ocean Temperature Index for the change data, though I had to use the 20th Century average temperature to estimate the total temperatures, since the actual numbers are not available.
Apple to offer textbooks through iPads
Apple Inc is offering iBooks to high school and college students through iPads. These interactive textbooks will cost $14.99 each via the iBook app starting Thursday. Steve Jobs continues to make a difference even though he is gone. Though, Apple’s Internet chief Eddy Cue declined to comment about making the $499 iPads cheaper to make iBooks available to poorer students. Read the full Apple jumps into digital textbooks fray story at Reuters.
Kids eat healthier with smaller main dish
In an effort to keep kids healthy, many parents accidentally train them into poor eating habits. These well-intentioned parents send their kids to school with large main dishes, like Mac & Cheese, to make sure they have enough to eat, but many times the kids fill-up on the main dish and skip their fruits and vegetables. So, cut back on the main dish and your children will healthier for the rest of their lives. Read the full Smaller servings mean more balanced meals for kids: study story at Reuters.
Oprah proud of her first South African graduates
Oprah’s girl school in South Africa graduates 72 disadvantaged young women. The whole class is now headed to university, most at home but some abroad in the United States. “There are a lot of people … who lower their expectations and think that if you come from a disadvantaged background … you have a disadvantaged brain. I know that is not true,” says Oprah.
I completely agree with Oprah. Everyone, let me repeat, everyone has potential to do great things. Read the full First class graduates from Oprah’s South Africa school story at Reuters.
Cool dunes in Dakar Rally
Check out this cool picture of a motorcycle racing across dunes in the 11th stage of the Dakar Rally held in South America from Arica, Chile to Arequipa, Peru at Reuters.