Archive for June, 2007


Postal Blooper

Filed under: Let the picture speak by Prajwol — 2 Comments
June 29, 2007

United States Postal Service (USPS) is normally very reliable, but no matter how good the system is there are always possibilities of human error. Last week I encountered one, one of my mail couldn’t be delivered to the destination. The reason made me laugh rather than get upset (my mail wasn’t of urgent nature).

When one moves from one place to another there is a provision of postal forwarding (after informing the postal office), I had done that when I moved from Illinois to Louisiana. Now my younger brother moved to Illinois from Minnesota for his graduate studies, and he is currently staying in the same apartment as I did when I was there. Two weeks ago I posted him a letter which he never got; instead it was forwarded back to me. The reason: between our names there is difference of an alphabet; it’s very unlikely that an American postal worker could have figured that out. Now it’s quite possible that I might get more of his mails.

Click on the picture below to enlarge it to see for your self. By the way, I don’t have a middle name, I just wrote that to show my superiority :D .


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अभिभावक हो, सन्तानलाई नबुझी अमेरिका नपठाउ

Filed under: News/information and opinion by Prajwol — 6 Comments
June 26, 2007

हरेक कुरा को राम्रो र नराम्रो पक्ष हुन्छ, अमेरिका पढ्न आउनु को पनि त्यस्तै छ | मेरो ग्रयाजुयट पढ्न अमेरिका आउंदा उमेर २४ बर्षको थियो, अलि कति भए पनि परिपक्क्ता आइसकेको थियो | एउटा सेमेस्टरको पैसा त घरबाट नै ल्याएको थिएं, बांकिको जगेदा गर्न सार्है दुख: गर्नु पर्यो | धन्न ग्रयाजुयट लेभलमा Assistantship को मौका हुने हुनाले सजिलो भयो, मैले अर्को सेमेस्टर Assistantship पाएं अनि दुख: गरेको पैसाले गाडी पनि किनें :D | नेपालमा गर्नै नपर्ने धेरै काम बांच्नको लागि यता गर्नु परे पनि नेपालमा बसेर मैले (not generalizing) सिक्नै नसक्ने धेरै कुरा पनि सिकें | विदेशी भएर बसे पछि पो आफ्नो देश भनेको कस्तो हुन्छ भनेर बुझें, साधारण अमेरिकि को जस्तै समस्या को वाबजुद थप immigration status maintain गर्नु पर्ने पनि pressure; नेपालमा भए त कमसेकम immigration status को चिन्ता त हुंदैन थियो | नेपालमा आर्काको मुख ताक्ने बानि भएको म आफ्नो काम आंफै गर्ने भएर निस्कें, यो मेरो अमेरिका बसाईको सबै भन्दा ठुलो उपलब्धि हो | नेपालमा पुर्खौली रुपमा हुदैं आएका कतिपय काम गलत रहेछन भन्ने आभास पनि यतै आएर भयो |

अभिभावकहरु आफ्नो सन्तानलाई अमेरिका पढ्न पठाउन होडबाजी नै गर्छन नेपालमा, १ सेमेस्टरको पैसा पठाए बांकि उतै सजिलै हुन्छ भन्ने भ्रम छ उनिहरुलाइ, अनि Freedom को खोजीमा केहि नबुझी हामफल्छन केटा-केटीहरु पनि | पढाइ धान्न बाउले गालि नगरेका सन्तानहरु भारतिय र चिनिंया साहुको हप्कि खांदै काम गर्छन्, गैरकानुनि रुपमा काम गरे पाछि हप्कि त सुन्नै पर्यो नि | दिनको १२ घण्टा लगातार heavy काम गरेर तिन महिना भित्र घण्टाको $६ (in average) को rate ले अफ्नो २ सेमेस्टरको लागि कम्तिमा पनि ७-१० हजार जम्मा गर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ | लौ आफैं हिशाब गरौं, त्य्त्रो दुख: गरेर पनि पैसा पुराउन गार्हो | तर एउटा राम्रो पक्ष भने छ यसमा, नेपालमा जस्तै मखण्डि भए पनि कामले सुधार्छ यता, कुनै काम ठुलो सानो हुंदैन र जन्मले कोहि ठुलो हुंदैन भन्ने राम्रो पाठ सिक्छन सबैले |

मैले अमेरिका पढ्न नाअउ भन्न खोजेको हैन, तर visa पाउनुनै ठुलो कुरा मन्ने नेपाली प्रविर्तिको बिरोध गरेको हो | अमेरिकामा हजारौं Universities हरु छन्, त्यसैले राम्रो संग आवेदन दिए Scholarship पनि पाइ हालिन्छ, त्यसैले बल visa पाउन भन्दा Scholarship पाउन तिर दिनु पर्यो | मेरो बिचारमा राम भरोसे भन्नु भन्दा नआउनु नै जाति | यदि Scholarship बिना आउनु नै छ भने undergraduate मा हैन graduate लेभलमा आउनु | ग्रयाजुयट लेभलमा आउने एक त परिपक्क पनि हुन्छन अर्को पढाइको अवधि कम भएकोले ऋण गरेर भए पनि धान्न सकिन्छ | मेरो यो सल्लाह पढ्न खोज्नेहरु लाइ मात्र हो है, पढाइको निंहुमा आएर गैरकानुनि रुपमा काम मात्र गरेर बस्न रुचाउनेलाई मेरो भन्नु केहि छैन |

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Please don’t cut my toe

Filed under: They call it science by Prajwol — 4 Comments
June 21, 2007

To understand the quality of environment or the effects of a restoration, scientist use certain indicator species. The habit and habitat of a particular indicator species is a very useful index to quantify the effectiveness of a conservation project. For example increase in the diversity and species richness of indicator species is good measure of a successful project. To ensure the sustainability of conservation efforts for a long run, researchers mark an individual and follow its activities throughout. Birds and amphibians are usually considered to be the best indicator species.

In Nepal, I have known about marking of rhinos and periodic tracking. In America I came across concept of bird banding. When a particular bird is captured a band is applied on its leg. The band includes a code which is entered in a big database, whenever the same bird is captured somewhere else the band code will deliver all the information about the history of that bird (Follow this link to find more information on bird banding).

Unlike birds anurans have a very small spatial range so they are confined to the same area for rest of their life. Today I attended a seminar by a Herpetologist where he mentioned different ways to mark a particular anuran species. One of the easiest and popular ways he mentioned was toe clipping. Oh yes, cutting the toe of a frog so that it will be easily identified next time. The process is simple and inexpensive, but is that ethical? I know painting on the back of the rhino doesn’t hurt and banding doesn’t seem to bother the birds, but I loathed the idea of toe clipping. Although it’s not proven scientifically that toe clipping affects their survival rate, but still why would someone hurt a species to know how good the environment is? I have dissected earthworms, frogs, and squirrels during my high school but still for some reason I got shivers when I heard about toe clipping. May be the species I dissected were dead and this toe clipped anuran has to live it’s life with it.

Human are the most superior species on earth, so it’s unlikely that some other species will run experiment on them, but what if like in Star Trek some superior species from other planet use human as an ecological indicator for their “Earth’s Restoration Project”. In that case I would be happier to wear a band around my neck than clip my toe.

Banding Picture Source: http://www.audubonmagazine.org/auduboninaction/images/IAbird.jpg
Toad Picture Source: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v431/n7007/images/431403a-f1.0.jpg

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New York Diary

Filed under: My bandwagon by Prajwol — 9 Comments
June 19, 2007

When in Nepal, I thought every part of America had skyscrapers and urban crowd, but when I came here I found out that it’s just the big cities, rest are small towns and agricultural fields. I always used to envy when my friends abroad said they bought a car, but now I found out that car is a necessity not a luxury, unlike in Nepal Motor Bike are luxury here. Only big cities have good public transport, rest is no where even close to Kathmandu.

It was only when I went to big cities like Chicago and New York I saw the America that I had envisioned before. One time when I was traveling in Greyhound (similar to Sajha Bus in Nepal), I came across an American beggar asking me for money. I was shocked at first but later I realized poverty is everywhere. America is no heaven, it’s more than just Hollywood movie. But the government here has ensured the delivery of basic commodities like water, electricity, roads, education, communication etc. The thing that I was fascinated most was the planned urban development. In Nepal we build house first then get the road, here the roads are built first.

Last weekend I went to New York, third time since I have been here. When riding a subway (train) you will see the true revolution of iPod. Everyone has their ear plugged, and no one seems to care about person sitting next to you. Such is the diversity of New York; you could see people from all color, race, and origin in your subway compartment. Besides fulfillment of my personal business, there wasn’t much to write about my trip. One thing interesting though was the road side vendors. Like in streets of Kathmandu, there were street vendors (फुटपाठे ब्यपारी). Well that isn’t anything new to New York, but what caught my attention was: when I was walking around in Broadway, suddenly it started to rain, and out of nowhere there appeared vendors selling umbrellas, as if they were waiting for it to rain. And as soon as the rain stopped they were gone. I almost bought one, but I decided to take a shade in a Mall instead. Wow, I thought that’s what you call a fast paced city.

However there was one disappointment in my trip, I lost my Oakley sunglasses that I had for past three years :( . Guy’s my birthday is coming up in August, how about someone buy that for me:D.

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पानी माहात्म्य

Filed under: Randomization of randomness by Prajwol — 15 Comments
June 12, 2007

दन्त्य कथा जस्तो लाग्छ आफ्नो बाल्यकाल संझदा, सानो छंदा मेरो घरमा पानी ट्यंकि नै थिएन। पानी त्यति धेरै आउंथ्यो कि ट्यंकिको आवश्यक्ता नै भएन। पछि घरमा ट्यंकि राख्दा म खुब रमाएको थिंए, मलाइ सफा गर्ने निंहुमा ट्यंकि भित्र पस्न सारै रहर लाग्थ्यो। एक तले घरमा धाराको पानी खुरु खुरु माथि ट्यंकिमा चढ्थ्यो। अलि ठुलो भए पछि विद्धालयमा साथीहरु बाट पानी को समस्याको बारेमा गांई गुंई सुन्न थालें, आफ्नो घरमा (कमलादी) समस्या नभएकोले खासै त्यस प्रति ध्यान गएन। घरमा तला थपे पछि बल्ल पानी तान्ने मोटर देख्न पाइयो, अब धाराको पानी सिधै ट्यंकिमा उक्लिन छाडेछ। कलेज जान थाले पछि पानी को समस्याको बारेमा आझ धेरै गुनासाहरु सुन्न थालें, विषेश गरी वानेश्वर बस्ने साथीहरु बाट। आफ्नो घरमा आझै पानी आइरहेकोले साथीहरुको समस्या अझै बुझ्न सकिन।

नातेदारहरु र साथीहरुले “कमलादी मा कस्तो पानी आइरहेको है” भनेर डाह गरेर हो कि हाम्रोमा पनि बिस्तरै पानी आउने कम हुंदै गयो, अनि बल्ल मैले पनि बुझ्न थालें साथीहरुको मर्का। समस्या विकराल हुंदै गए पछि मेरो घरमा पनि राखियो Tube Well, अरुहरुको मा त धेरै पहिल्यै नै राखिसकेका थिए। एक चोटि घरमा धलान हुंदा मेयरको लागि भोट मग्न आएका पि. एल. सिंह याद आउंछ। पानी नभएकोले पालै पिलो म र मेरो भाइ बाल्टिनमा Tube Well बाट पानी भर्दै मोटर लगाएर त्यसबाट ट्यंकिमा सार्दै थियैं, त्यतिकैमा आइ पुगे पि. एल. सिंह अनि भने “के गर्ने भाइ खानलाई पानी छैन, उच्च शिक्षाको लागि राम्रो University छैन त्यसैले मलाई भोट दिनु पर्यो”। पि. एल. सिंहले मेरो भोट बिना नै जिते, तर समस्या भने जस्ताको त्यस्तै।

पढाइको कारण ६ बर्ष धुलिखेल बसेकोले मैले प्रतक्ष रुपमा खासै पानीको समस्या भोग्नु परेन, तर घरको कथा भने अर्कै थियो। छुट्टिहरुमा घर आउंदा पो थाह भयो पनीको पिरलो। मेरो कौसिमा दुइटा ट्यंकि रखेको रहेछ, एउटा भान्छा तिर मात्र जाने अर्को चर्पी तिर मात्र। भान्छाको लागि धाराको पानी अनि चर्पीको लागि Tube Well को पानी प्रयोग गरिंदो रहेछ। कंक्रिटले भरिंदै गएको काठमाडौंमा पानी infilterate हुने थांउ घट्दै थियो भने Groundwater रित्याउने काम भने बढेको बढै। यति मात्र कहां हो र, तलको ट्यंकिको पानी माथि सार्ने मोटर त धारा बाट सिधै पानी तान्न पनि प्रयोग गरिंदो रहेछ। मैले घरमा किन यसो गरेको भनेर सोध्दा “नगरेर के गर्नु सबैले गर्छन्, गरेन भने एक थोपा पानी आउंदैन” भन्नु भयो मेरो बुवाले। मोटर बाट तानेर मात्र कहां हुंदो रहेछ,सबै भन्दा अगाडि तान्नु पर्ने रहेछ। त्यसैले मेरो आमा बिहान २-३ बजे पानी तल ट्यंकिमा खसेको सुन्ना साथ उठेर मोटर खोल्नु हुंदो रहेछ। पानी झरेको सुन्न नसक्नेहरु छिमेकिको मोटरको आवाजले उठ्दा रहेछन्। यि त भए ४ बर्ष अघि म नेपालमा हुंदाको कुरा, आहिलेको स्तिथि कस्तो छ, सायद पाठकहरुको प्रतिक्रिया बाट थाह होला।

यो पानीको समस्या प्रजातन्त्र संगै आएको अवेवस्थित तथा केन्द्रित बिकासको नतिजा जस्तो लाग्छ मलाई। आफ्नो गाउं थाउंको बिकास गर्नुको साटो नेता, मन्त्री, सांसदहरु काठमाडौंमा घर बनाउन र घडेरि जोड्न तर्फ लागे। गर्नेले नगरे पछि सुन्दर तथा सुरक्षित भविश्यको खोजिमा बसांइ सराइ त हुने नै भयो। बाटो नभएको ठाउंमा कसैको घडेरि छ, अनि त्यहि ठाउंमा नेता/मन्त्री/सांसद कसैले जग्गा किने जग्गको मोल आकास छुन्थ्यो, नेता/मन्त्री/सांसद ले आफ्नो घडेरिमा पककै बाटो ल्याउने भएकोले। यो नेता/मन्त्री/सांसद हरुले अफ्नो अख्तियारको दुरुपयोग गर्ने गरेको एउटा सानो संकेत मात्र हो।

मन्त्रालयहरु बझांग मा, संसद भवन तेर्हथुम मा, र सर्वच्च अदालत नवलपरासि मा रख्नु पर्ने। सबै छुट्टएर राख्दा समन्वय नभएर विकास हुन गर्हो हुन्छ पनि भन्लान, तर संगै राख्दा पनि खै त भएको बिकास ? कम से कम छुट्टएर राख्दा बिकेन्द्रिकरण त हुन्थ्यो।

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Welcome to Atchafalaya

Filed under: They call it science by Prajwol — 17 Comments
June 5, 2007

I had read a lot about wetlands, heard a lot about it too but it compared to nothing until I got to see one by myself. After being in one, I felt my text book knowledge was huge injustice to real functions of a wetlands, not that I didn’t knew but I simply couldn’t have visualized. Last Friday one of my colleagues invited me to join them for a field trip to Atchafalaya Basin; they were planning to retrieve data from their water level recorder. I had a GIS project going for the same location, so I felt having exposure to ground condition will further enhance my analysis capabilities.

Atchafalaya Basin is located in central Louisiana, and is a combination of wetlands and river delta, where Atchafalaya River drains to the Gulf of Mexico. Historically Mississippi River followed the present course of Atchafalya River to the Gulf of Mexico. After the Great Flood of 1927 Congress has mandated that 30% of Mississippi River and Red River (tributary of Mississippi) has to flow through Atchafalaya (using River Control System).

We boarded a 17 foot whaler and setoff in Atchafalya River (oh ya, we did put on chest waders). I had never seen such diversity of birds in my life, I could see gators basking in sun, snakes moving in the water, and mature bottomland hardwood forest (Atchafalaya is the largest bottomland hardwood forest swamp in USA).

When the water in the main channel gets higher, the water flows into back swamps and back lake, and when the main channel recesses the water flows back to the main channel (If you click my picture to enlarge, you can see flood marks on the trees). In the process the sediments are retained, and one could visually see the difference in the color of main channel (turbid) Vs the sediment free water coming out from back swamps and back lake (dark, due to tanning by leaves). Besides wildlife diversity and sediment retention, wetlands have other importances too: carbon sequestration and denitrification, one of the major causes of Hypoxia in Gulf of Mexico.

Earlier I used to dream of clear waters, but now I won’t mind water covered with Duckweed complimented by wildlife diversity and serene environment. I am unaware of wetlands in Nepal, but judging by my experience in Atchafalya, we can open doors towards new tourism venture if we can provide boats and accommodation facilities to Ornithologist and bird lovers.

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