Sreeram Srinivasan

The dust may have not settled literally from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption in April but the media seems to have moved on to other "important" issues like cricket and politics. However, volcanic eruptions have a significant impact on several aspects of life on this planet, like global warming but not so obvious things like economics. I can hear you say, "Hey! What's the big deal? We know that the first estimates of direct losses for the airlines were set at over 1 Billion Euros (1.3 Bn $)." But this is not all... This is just the beginning compared to the collateral damages the world will suffer in the days to come. Read on..... Volcanic eruptions are highly pressurized ejection of solids and various gases. Much of these gases find their way to the stratosphere due to forceful nature of the Nature's fury. A good amount of these gaseous mix is made up of sulphur dioxide (SO2). An ejection of the kind of Eyjafjallajokull can put several thousands of ton...

Love, the strange ailment, ever so slowly does evolve, no cure for this affliction, n no quick potion to dissolve. Live it, love n feel the sweet pain, watch the world revolve, hug may be succour, an illness locking lips may yet not solve. Love spares no one, sweeps away all, none will it absolve, Smile and accept it for there isn't a way one can devolve. Early love's sweet fragrance, known to those that involve, Late life love's as fresh, but with aroma of a quiet resolve.....

Its greed that drives this World, like a locomotive, Land, ladies n lucre, fuels that holds us all captive. These times when illusion, n Maaya so potently active, Man says he's but helpless to fight this grand motive. No one seems immune, no country to which its native, An endemic that's spread, as a cancer all so pervasive. Politics, business n crime, a mix so heady n elusive, graft's become so normal, as public remains passive. Nation that purveyed to the World the Spiritual missive, Held ransom by desires and a society that's permissive. As run for domain, damsel and dough look all invasive, 76 lives laid down seems in vain and so very expensive. PS: In a Nation where graft and corruption is eating at the core, 76 jawans of CRPF seem to hv laid down their lives for the country in vain last week. Makes me wonder if it is even worth it.....

Over two-thirds of planet earth, yet potable is parts per million, a molecule so precious, search and find it, one place in a billion. All of mankind is born in water, its after all the life-giving potion. Water, so abundant yet so rare, Abuse not this, use but in ration, Scores die in poorest of nations, the life-giver itself turns poison, unpotable water the scourge of children with none other option. Much wasted, so much thrown, more the affluence in a nation, Be aware, pledge to conserve. and so consume in moderation. Potatoes need 'em, crops more, is at the core of food cultivation, stop all wars, lay to rest all hate, Strive hard, make a potable ocean

To summarise part 1 quickly, had spoken of the jehadi forces consolidating with new fillip from Yemeni and Somalian recruits. There is word that Al Qaeda is emerging as an umbrella organisation that provides drive in terms of spirit and also working on higher end weapons for a sustained campaign against the US of A. The latter is looking vulnerable, not because of erosion in its military might but rather by its own internal economic and political climate. Any major attack by its enemies at this time, either nuclear or biological, could trigger a surprising response. This could be in the form of pulling back and becoming completely detached from the World and its affairs, leaving the World to fend for itself. We wanted explore what would be the fall-out and benefits of such a scenario..... Read on.... The American Pull-back Let us look at the benefits to itself from its pull-back and becoming an isolationist state yet again. Imagine the many trillions of dollars it would save the US fo...

To add so much colour to any milieu, conquer any bastion, soften even hardest of stone, beauty, thy name is woman... Bringing forth the progeny, so the chain remains unbroken, bear burden of sustaining life, fertility, thy name is woman... So much you give to everyone, but so little you seek in return, so dogged, tireless thy pursuit, fidelity, thy name is woman... From very beginning of time, Eve of Eden to age of modern, suffering silently thro' history, tranquility, thy name is woman. For a child, a nourishing mother to her man, an ever loving one, For a saint, she's the Supreme, Divinity, thy name is woman....

Have written about the economy, the recovery, the fear of hyper-inflation in recent times. Much of it has come true and some of it is unfolding with tell-tale signs seen all around us. Most of it isscary stuff so no great glee in me saying, "I told you so...". So this write-up is certainly not about that but what I foresee as scenarios emerging in the next few years as we close this decade and move to thenext in a few months. Am trying not to be a doomsday prophet but may unwittingly end up sounding like one. America is continuing to battle terrorism globally but with less and less support from many other countries. While the Obama Administration had originally thought that terrorism has seen its heydey and is starting to dwindle, some recent events have forced a rethink.Yemen and Somalia are emerging as new hubs for global terror apart from the Af-Pak cauldron. There is word that many splinter groups are linking up with the Al Qaeda while operating quite independently. Manyp...