CG members photo album

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Originally Posted by Siddhartha

Do you mean that the footprint left by cars, trucks, airplanes, and ships is tiny when compared to the damage done to the environment by the industries?

I don't think so - everytime I visit Bombay, I can really smell the noxious fumes in the air caused by civilian transport. Industries end up getting heavily regulated and to an extent do their bit if not for sake of the environment then for sake of their own efficiencies and profits - though, I still dont imply that they are not guilty.

Individual car owners on the other hand are a huge number (hundreds of millions of them out there), are a relatively unregulated lot that are often unaware and apathetic too. So, there exists a huge scope to improve efficiencies. I dare say, most drivers would not even think of the fuel consumption of their cars had gasoline not got expensive!

A lot of people can still accept it when their car gives them only around 20 miles to the gallon. I really do think that this needs to change...

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Well... yeah, thats true in india's case, the problem is even though govt. makes rule about it and forces it then also I dont see this solving the problem, not all of them are going to help, thats how people in majorty work, they ignore it. We need a solution which is not dependant on people. :) Like some kind of machine which will be installed near the sources and will take care of correcting the air pollution.

Hmm... But, there are so many things people can do - if not for the sake of the environment then for the sake of their own gas bills. :D

I have seen the problem not only in Bombay - caused by the volume of cars on the streets, but also in the US - caused by the volume of the average car. :D :D

It is quite a global problem...

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Originally Posted by Krishnaa

Like some kind of machine which will be installed near the sources and will take care of correcting the air pollution.

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Yes, modern cars do come fitted with catalytic converters and / or diesel particle filters... I used to think these were great till I saw a TV report on how a town (Norilsk) in Russia that produces most of these devices sold in the world market was a cause of terrible pollution in its own surroundings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norilsk#Pollution_problems

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Originally Posted by Wiki on Norilsk

By some estimates, 1 percent of the entire global emission of sulfur dioxide originates here. Heavy metal pollution in the area is so severe that the soil itself has platinum and palladium content which is feasible to mine.

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So, did we just shift the problem from our cars to Siberia? :mad:

I remember reading somewhere that the gases released from industries were much more than the vehicles, if thats true we will need some huge air fitering machines, installed in polluted areas.

Anyway... it would be interesting to see whether humans can stop this or not...

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Originally Posted by Krishnaa

I... it would be interesting to see whether humans can stop this or not...

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Um, I don't think it has anything to do with IF we can do anything...

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Originally Posted by Siddhartha

That is right... I have no doubt that man who is taking billions of tons of oil that's under the earth and putting its contents into the athmosphere is guilty of global warming. On a universal level, it can be said that the earth is a tiny spec. The universe really doesn't care if the mass of oil was in liquid form under the earth's crust or in gaseous form in the athmosphere, but life on this planet definitely does!

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It does affect the universe as a whole as well. If that is considerable to cause a universal effect, that is another issue. The conversion of the oil from liquid crude state to gaseous state after undergoing combustion is a chemical reaction (including the oil processing to make it usable as a fuel). It generates heat/enthalpy. The entropy, on the other hand, always increases - whatever you do. Any thing happening in this universe causes a positive entropy change (an increase in the randomliness). Remember the Gibbs Free Energy equation involving enthalpy and entropy change? That is how it affects us. On the smaller scale (our planet) - it has will have massive effects. We cannot keep the entropy constant in any way but we can try to keep it to changing very slow. All that photosynthesis stuff - recycling CO2 to O2 is not enough in the overall sense. That still does affect us. The key is to produce less - as less as possible.

One interesting fact about emissions is that it is being commercialized. I am not sure if it is picking up quick but the idea of Carbon trading exists. There is a concept of Carbon/Emission Quota. Derivatives industry is already try to exploit it calling it an emission or carbon derivative. There are weather derivatives as well in a broader sense. :) Quite interesting how traders find oppurtunities in anything.

I find it really funny when people talk about No-pollution certificates for vehicles. The idea is totally meaningless. There can never be no-pollution, there can always be a lower limit to it though, but not zero.

aat this point i love linkin park when say
Somewhere I belong ...

http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2755/html/067542.jpg

Snaps taken on my recent trip to Alaska ( road + 7 day cruise from Alaska to Vancouver )

At the Arctic circle:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...629/181623.jpg
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At Denali National Park. Behind me is apparently Mt. Denali, all covered in clouds :(
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...630/154023.jpg
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Behind the cabin in which we stayed was a nice river flowing:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...701/090806.jpg
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Pictures taken on the way to the cruise terminal
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...703/160335.jpg
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http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...701/182336.jpg
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The cruise liner:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...701/203306.jpg
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Glacier in the background:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...703/170927.jpg
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In Haines, in front of a majestic totem pole:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...704/101239.jpg
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Took a bike ride to go around the town and vicinity:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...704/124016.jpg
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.. and a hike :
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...704/170649.jpg
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Mendenhall glacier:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...705/120904.jpg
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Kayak tour in Juneau:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...706/181058.jpg
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In Vancouver, Canada:
http://www.dropshots.com/photos/2526...708/140624.jpg
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Wow, Kiran... Beautiful photos. Looks like you had a great trip... :)

How cold was it out there? I guess, this is one of the warmest times in the year to visit Alaska?

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Originally Posted by Siddhartha

Wow, Kiran... Beautiful photos. Looks like you had a great trip... :)

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Thanks. I did have a great time :D

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How cold was it out there?

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Depends on where. Can you believe that at the arctic circle where that picture was taken, it was around 85 F ( so you see I just have a T-shirt on )? That was a revelation to me. Apparently, inland Alaska CAN get very warm. It is as you move towards the waters that the chillness starts.

It was cold near the glaciers ( College Fjord, Glacier Bay area and such). But manageable. It was very pleasant in the places we walked around ( we had a day each to go around the Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan ports ). Kind of misty weather I should say.

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I guess, this is one of the warmest times in the year to visit Alaska?

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You are right. It is one of the warmest times and best times to visit if you want to do some outdoors stuff in Alaska. And in places close to Arctic circle ( Denali, Fairbanks etc. ) you have the sun to help you circling for as good as 22 hrs a day ;)

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Originally Posted by kirants

you have the sun to help you circling for as good as 22 hrs a day ;)

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Yeah... At this time of the year... :D

...And it screws up the body-clock and one can probably not sleep unless one uses dark curtains and forces oneself into bed. :thumb: :D

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Originally Posted by exterminator

t does affect the universe as a whole as well. [...] The conversion of the oil from liquid crude state to gaseous state after undergoing combustion is a chemical reaction (including the oil processing to make it usable as a fuel). It generates heat/enthalpy. The entropy, on the other hand, always increases - whatever you do.

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This is an interesting thought, but probably not true.

Oil and coal when burnt produce energy - yes. However, this energy is nothing but the solar energy trapped in the flora and fauna of the planet millions of years ago. Hence, these fuels are called "fossil fuel". So, at a universal (nay, even at a Solar level) - the release of heat energy due to the burning oil and coal should result in a net-zero addition. ;)

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Originally Posted by Siddhartha

This is an interesting thought, but probably not true.

Oil and coal when burnt produce energy - yes. However, this energy is nothing but the solar energy trapped in the flora and fauna of the planet millions of years ago. Hence, these fuels are called "fossil fuel". So, at a universal (nay, even at a Solar level) - the release of heat energy due to the burning oil and coal should result in a net-zero addition. ;)

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If it is not true, then I think you are ready to put in a revolutionary theory that beats the fundamental laws of thermodynamics. :)

The formation of fuel is a result of work done. That work is done due to the energy in the system. Fossil fuels form as a result of pressure (and probably more factors) and the matter that undergoes transformation under pressure and that pressure is not just out of nothing. There is some work done to produce some pressure be it work by gravitation or whatever. That process is not 100% efficient that it converts all that energy into the energy stored in fuels.

So, it does actually add up on the reference scale, it may be comparatively negligible but it is not 0.

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Originally Posted by exterminator

The formation of fuel is a result of work done. That work is done due to the energy in the system.

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And you mean to say that the fossil fuel created by the 'system' resulted in that very 'system' have more energy after the fuel was burnt? :D ;)

Say, lets refer to the Law of Conservation of Energy, then... :)

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Originally Posted by exterminator

Fossil fuels form as a result of pressure (and probably more factors)

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These "more factors" were the energy trapped in the vegetation due to sunlight. ;) ;)

i.e. The calorific content of the fuel comes from sunlight of the yesteryears -- sun being the source of energy for plants and animals.

http://www.solarschools.net/facts_an...ewable_energy/

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Just as plants do today, those living millions of years ago converted the sun's light energy into food (chemical) energy through the process of photosynthesis. That 'solar' energy was and is transferred down the food chain in animals. This energy provides living things with the energy to grow and live. When living organisms die the energy contained within them as chemical energy is trapped.

It is estimated that the total amount of energy gained from fossil fuels since the start of civilization is equivalent to the same amount of energy we receive every 30 days from the sun.

Fossil fuels are formed by the burying, and subsequent pressure and heating, of dead plant and animal matter or biomass (organic matter), over millions of years. This is how coal, oil and natural gas are formed. The trapped energy can be released and utilized when the fuels are burnt.

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I would be wrong if I gave the impression that energy is being created. I am just saying that it is changing form to something that can have adverse impacts on earth basically.

On the universal level, of course it will be so minute that it would be ridiculous to consider it. Compare that with the approx. 10^22 stars hosting fusion. Burning fuel on earth is not even comparative to the fusion on Sun. Even if there happens a nuclear war on earth with fusion bombs, it cannot match that. Coz we don't have enough hydrogen to sustain it longer (or do we) :D

everytime i trek to the north of my country from the poluted capital it adds to my face exoneration,this is one pic of me in spring (beside my twine sister :D)

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Originally Posted by Everyone Who is Discussing global warming and other science stuff

...Discussion so far...

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Contamination Warning: The CG Photo Album thread has been slipped from it's rails...

Just some Photoshop fun!

I Discovered that I am not there on the list
So I added mine.

I've just returned from vacation in Italy. During my stay there, I've visited Venice and two near-by islands, Murano and Burano. The later was a very exotical island with houses painted in vivid colors. Probably the only requirement is to be as different as possible from the other neighbors. It really worth visiting. ;)

So maybe a tie-dyed shirt would be perfect. There. Nice photo! :thumb:

Nice pic Marius.. Brings back pleasant memories of my visit to Burano!

// I hope you did not miss the glass factories / shops at Murano - famous for it's glassworks...

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...no%20Glass.jpg

:)

Well, in fact I missed the glass factories, because all of them close at 18:00 and I arrived there at 17:30. So I only had time to pay a visit to several class shops. However, such glass shops can also be found in Venice or Jesolo, so it wasn't something new. ;) And BTW, the Murano glass works are pretty expensive (as one can see from the price tag from your picture).

nice one cilu :thumb: and indeed a nice place !! I'm jealous of you now ;)
BTW, did you get a chance to ride on one of those gondolas ? Is such a thing available for tourists ( you know with the gondolier breaking into a song and such ?? )

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Originally Posted by kirants

Is such a thing available for tourists ( you know with the gondolier breaking into a song and such ?? )

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You mean whether gondolas are available for the tourists? Oh, I think tourists are the ones that take a ride on them and not the locals, because these are so expensive!

As far as the gondolier breaking into a song goes - lol - well, I didn't hear any (and may be, it is better this way :D) - but, if he can sing, he'd dent your pockets a lot more!

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Originally Posted by Siddhartha

You mean whether gondolas are available for the tourists? Oh, I think tourists are the ones that take a ride on them and not the locals, because these are so expensive!

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Interesting. I thought that was the locals' means of transport :lol:

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As far as the gondolier breaking into a song goes - lol - well, I didn't hear any (and may be, it is better this way :D) - but, if he can sing, he'd dent your pockets a lot more!

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Hm.. in that case it must be a Las Vegas thingy :)

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Originally Posted by kirants

Interesting. I thought that was the locals' means of transport :lol:

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:D :D

Most people (tourists and locals) use the water-buses - powered boats that are a bit faster, carry more people, and cheaper in comparison.

You can see one in the background here (behind the Gondola) -

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...20Bridge.2.jpg

(Oh, yes - they are ugly too... :D)

BTW, cheap is quite a relative word -- nothing in Venice is cheap. :D

As far as I remember, 1 hour trip with a gondola, is like 100 euro. A full day ticket on all public transportation (bus, boat, etc.) cost 19,80 euro. One trip ticket is something like 6 euro I think (might be wrong though).

Here is how gondolas look and how a public transportation boat looks.

Back with new pictures. This time from the bootcamp organized by Microsoft for MVPs and MSPs (Microsoft Student Partners).

Here is (from left to right), PadexArt, Ovidiucucu and me, standing in front of the hotel.
http://www.codeguru.com/forum/attach...chmentid=20522

Bellow is a picture of me practicing with a bow.
http://www.codeguru.com/forum/attach...chmentid=20523

And finally, we played some paintball. After winning two matches, my team lost the final. :o
http://www.codeguru.com/forum/attach...chmentid=20524

nice pics, cilu. Looks like it was lot of fun !!

Been visiting a greate place - Crimea (Ukraine), Nikitski Botanical Gardens.

nice pics , beautiful place :thumb: Wish I could visit some day :)

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Originally Posted by Igor Vartanov

Been visiting a greate place - Crimea (Ukraine), Nikitski Botanical Gardens.

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Two photos have a date stamp: 13/8/07

is that from next week? :)

No, they're from last month. Poor man, you're stuck in early August. :D

Oops. Sorry about that. I looked at that a few times, and my mind decided that it was wrong. :blush:

A quite recent one.
Who can guess what's written below CODEXPERT.RO? :D ;)

Nice one, Ovidiu... :)

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Originally Posted by ovidiucucu

Who can guess what's written below CODEXPERT.RO? :D ;)

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Not guess - but read... ;) "If you think it's simple, then you have misunderstood the problem" - right?

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Originally Posted by gstercken

Nice one, Ovidiu... :)Not guess - but read... ;) "If you think it's simple, then you have misunderstood the problem"

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Ugh!!! I'm so young and already need glasses... :D

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- right?

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Right.

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Originally Posted by Siddhartha

:D :D

Most people (tourists and locals) use the water-buses - powered boats that are a bit faster, carry more people, and cheaper in comparison.

You can see one in the background here (behind the Gondola) -

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...20Bridge.2.jpg

(Oh, yes - they are ugly too... :D)

BTW, cheap is quite a relative word -- nothing in Venice is cheap. :D

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wow that is a very nice location for dragonboating :D

nice photo mr. cilu and ovidiu :thumb:

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Originally Posted by ideru

wow that is a very nice location for dragonboating :D

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That is the Rialto Bridge, the most famous bridge (over the Grand Canale) in Venice.

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Originally Posted by sid

BTW, cheap is quite a relative word -- nothing in Venice is cheap. :D

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3.5-4 Euros a coffee nearby Rialto. 10-15 Euros an icescream. Relatively cheap. :D

Now, I saw this thread and I attach one photo with me...

Well, a recent one. Me with my nephew - cheek-to-cheek! :)

I finally made some time to post some pics of me.
I'm from Belgium but at the moment I'm working in Croatia (already for about 1 year now), so here are some pics of me in Osijek (Croatia) during summer of 2007.

Me in Kopacki Rit...

Another one in Kopacki Rit.

Me with my bike in Osijek...

Me in my current car, which will soon be replaced...

Me drinking something in a bar.

nice pics MarcG and exterminator :wave:

Marc... Relax - now, what happened? After this long silent spell of not sharing any photo, you suddenly seemed to have connected your camera directly to codeguru. :p

Anyways, I just came here to say that those are some really good photos! And btw... I hope you drive through Germany to Croatia (a VW can be trusted to last the long journey), and not take a flight - right?

(Now, don't disappoint me -- I am not not thinking of meeting you when you pass through Germany again.)

Abshishek - cute photo that!

Wel Sidd, the "silent spell" was broken finally ;)

Of course I'm driving to Germany every time I travel from Belgium to Croatia. It's around 800 km IIRC of german Autobahn, I cannot miss them :D And yes, the VW is trusty but it will be replaced soon by a nice Volvo, of course you might thing 'a volvo...', but it's black with nice rims etc. I'll post some pics when I finaly have it.