If you are an intensive computer user (AKA Computer Geek), you’ll surely know this behavior affects your health. Being tethered to the machines we love so much often leads to a sedentary lifestyle for programmers, and a high occupational correlation with obesity. In other words, when you sit in front of a computer all day, your body really suffers; you just don’t get a lot of exercise compared to other jobs.
What makes the problem even worse is that when you are physically inactive, the body has a tendency to slip into conservation mode, making it more difficult to burn the calories necessary to keep the weight off.
Changing a bit your habits
The solution is starting a mild exercise program, that rescues your bodies from the evil hands of inactivity. It doesn’t have to be hard exercise and it doesn’t mean going to the gym five times a week. You might go for the first week or two, but before you know it, you’ll fall into the same habits over and over again.
So, give your health a chance and try to follow these simple routine:
Exercise Routine for Computer Geeks
The following exercises help strengthen the abs, adductors, abductors, hand, neck, lower back and quadriceps, and can be done while you’re sitting at your computer.
Exercises for hands and wrists
* Fore arm flex.
* Fore arm extension.
* Wrist rotation ( both clockwise and anticlockwise).
* Finger open and close.
* Open fingers and close one at a time with a squeezing motion
Each exercise can be performed for ten to fifteen counts, for each hand. Repeat it two to three times a day:
Exercises for adductors and abductors
Follow this explanation:
1. Sit up straight, knees bent with feet flat on the floor and cross the ankles, but let the arms and hands hang down without touching the chair.
2. Slide the right foot straight forward until the right heel is beyond the ends of the toes of the left foot.
3. Raise the right foot off the floor and, like a big slow moving pendulum, swing it back and forth to the left and right as far as is comfortable for you.
4. When you feel you’ve done enough, switch to the other side.
Keep in mind that you’re using the same basic lower back muscles for both sides so don’t overdo it on one side, or both.
Exercises for the neck
When doing these exercises, sit straight with your back firmly against the back of the chair. Arms should be close to the body and hands can rest on the thighs.
* Bring your shoulders forward in a shrugging movement and return to normal position.
* Raise your shoulders up and return to the normal position.
* Rotate your neck on its axis (Both clockwise and anticlockwise movement).
* Move head to left side and return to the normal position. Move head to the right side and return to the normal position.
* Push your chin out and return to normal.
* Strengthening exercises like arms-raise to the front and to the side, and arms rotation can also be performed. (These are to be done standing)
Each exercise can be performed for 10-15 repetitions and the whole workout can be repeated twice or thrice a day.
Exercises for the lower back
Strength training exercises for the lower back should be done under supervision. But some simple stretches to relieve stiffness can be performed.
1. Sit up straight with your back firmly against the back of the chair.
2. Raise your legs, bending at the knee. Hold your knees close to the chest with your hands and hold for 30 seconds. Return to the normal position.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
global warming effects
Over the weekend, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Synthesis Report of its Fourth Assessment Report (4AR). The report is being published in advance of the upcoming 13th Conference of the Parties (COP-13) to the U.N Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali. At the COP-13, negotiators will try to hammer out a new international treaty to deal with the man-made emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) that are contributing to global warming. Any new treaty would replace the Kyoto Protocol which terminates in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol set a goal of reducing GHG emissions by an average of 5 percent below the level that signatory countries emitted in 1990. In October, the scientific journal Nature published a commentary that declared,
"...as an instrument for achieving emissions reductions, [the Kyoto Protocol] has failed. It has produced no demonstrable reductions in emissions or even in anticipated emissions growth."
Among other things, the Synthesis Report concludes:
Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level...
Most of the observed increase in globally-averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations.7 It is likely there has been significant anthropogenic warming over the past 50 years averaged over each continent (except Antarctica)...
The Synthesis Report further notes:
Determining what constitutes “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” in relation to Article 2 of the UNFCCC involves value judgements. Science can support informed decisions on this issue,...
The negotiations in Bali will be over these value judgements and how to balance higher energy costs with the benefits of a cooler climate.
Impacts of climate change are very likely to impose net annual costs which will increase over time as global temperatures increase. Peer-reviewed estimates of the social cost of carbon23 in 2005 average US$12 per tonne of CO2, but the range from 100 estimates is large (-$3 to $95/tCO2). This is due in large part to differences in assumptions regarding climate sensitivity, response lags, the treatment of risk and equity, economic and noneconomic impacts, the inclusion of potentially catastrophic losses, and discount rates. Aggregate estimates of costs mask significant differences in impacts across sectors, regions and populations and very likely underestimate damage costs because they cannot include many non-quantifiable impacts.
Limited and early analytical results from integrated analyses of the costs and benefits of mitigation indicate that they are broadly comparable in magnitude, but do not as yet permit an unambiguous determination of an emissions pathway or stabilisation level where benefits exceed costs.
Climate sensitivity is a key uncertainty for mitigation scenarios for specific temperature levels.
Choices about the scale and timing of GHG mitigation involve balancing the economic costs of more rapid emission reductions now against the corresponding medium-term and long-term climate risks of delay.
"...as an instrument for achieving emissions reductions, [the Kyoto Protocol] has failed. It has produced no demonstrable reductions in emissions or even in anticipated emissions growth."
Among other things, the Synthesis Report concludes:
Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level...
Most of the observed increase in globally-averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations.7 It is likely there has been significant anthropogenic warming over the past 50 years averaged over each continent (except Antarctica)...
The Synthesis Report further notes:
Determining what constitutes “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” in relation to Article 2 of the UNFCCC involves value judgements. Science can support informed decisions on this issue,...
The negotiations in Bali will be over these value judgements and how to balance higher energy costs with the benefits of a cooler climate.
Impacts of climate change are very likely to impose net annual costs which will increase over time as global temperatures increase. Peer-reviewed estimates of the social cost of carbon23 in 2005 average US$12 per tonne of CO2, but the range from 100 estimates is large (-$3 to $95/tCO2). This is due in large part to differences in assumptions regarding climate sensitivity, response lags, the treatment of risk and equity, economic and noneconomic impacts, the inclusion of potentially catastrophic losses, and discount rates. Aggregate estimates of costs mask significant differences in impacts across sectors, regions and populations and very likely underestimate damage costs because they cannot include many non-quantifiable impacts.
Limited and early analytical results from integrated analyses of the costs and benefits of mitigation indicate that they are broadly comparable in magnitude, but do not as yet permit an unambiguous determination of an emissions pathway or stabilisation level where benefits exceed costs.
Climate sensitivity is a key uncertainty for mitigation scenarios for specific temperature levels.
Choices about the scale and timing of GHG mitigation involve balancing the economic costs of more rapid emission reductions now against the corresponding medium-term and long-term climate risks of delay.
Drink sassafras tea to shorten the length of your cold.
· Or try this indian cure, slice some onions and then make them into a necklace.
· The number one grandma cure is chicken soup. (Add some garlic cloves!)
· An Arabian cure is to eat pomegranates.
· The Russians recommend drinking an ice-cold glass of vodka with two teaspoons of black pepper! Whooa, that should unclog that stuffy nose!
· This next tip was sent in by Burrell Webb from Eugene, Oregon; "From the deep, dark recesses of my memory, I recall my mother using a salve made of kerosene and lard on us kids for any flu or cold like symptoms. I have since heard that researchers have discovered a strong medicine made from kerosene. I have to admit that as a child it seemed to work." Thanks for the swell remedy Burrell!
· Elaine Miller writes; "Garlic contains a natural antibiotic. When anyone in my family comes down with a cold or infection of any kind, I chop up one large clove of garlic, and mix it on a spoon with honey. We swallow it down with a few gulps of water. Don't chew! I've known many, many families who swear by this remedy. If you normally have a low fiber diet, though, it can cause diarrhea, but cleaning out your system is a benefit!" Thanks Elaine!
· Katriona from Australia writes; "A good way to get rid of a cold is to cut up some garlic and ginger into a cup. Get enough so that the cup is about 1/4 full. Add half a lemon (diced) and fill with hot water. Stir and let set for 1 minute. Strain and add honey for taste. Drink and go straight to bed. This always works." Thank you so much for sharing Katriona!
· And last but not least, my favorite old time remedy for the common cold: Supplies needed for cure; a four poster bed, a bottle of whiskey and one hat. The cure; Hang your hat on the bedpost at the foot of your bed. Get into the bed and drink whiskey until you see two hats!
Lola’s Revenge Cure for those who are forced to go into work while sick, in order to ensure other idiots at office don’t burn the place down. In a few easy steps you can feel better. (Well, if not actually better, at least vindicated for having to come into the office)
1. Secretly cough on all of the phones they aren’t answering when they’re not looking
2. Place your used Kleenex™ all around their desks
3. Obtain a small bottle of brandy to sip on throughout the day – add honey to help ease your throat 4. Demand that someone bring you a pair of fuzzy slippers and a throw to wrap around yourself.
5. If you have a television somewhere in the office, insist that all channels be turned to soap operas so you won’t miss your “stories”, as my grandma used to say
6. Every time someone starts to speak to you, or to someone on the phone (which as mentioned before, no one is answering), cough as loudly as you can.
7. Start drinking as much water as possible, because with the cocktail of OTC/Homeopathic cures you've been taking, you need some diluting action. Fast.
8. Go ahead and call Poison Control because you drank your water with some Scotch in it. They should be there anywhere from 8 am to 4 pm.
· Or try this indian cure, slice some onions and then make them into a necklace.
· The number one grandma cure is chicken soup. (Add some garlic cloves!)
· An Arabian cure is to eat pomegranates.
· The Russians recommend drinking an ice-cold glass of vodka with two teaspoons of black pepper! Whooa, that should unclog that stuffy nose!
· This next tip was sent in by Burrell Webb from Eugene, Oregon; "From the deep, dark recesses of my memory, I recall my mother using a salve made of kerosene and lard on us kids for any flu or cold like symptoms. I have since heard that researchers have discovered a strong medicine made from kerosene. I have to admit that as a child it seemed to work." Thanks for the swell remedy Burrell!
· Elaine Miller writes; "Garlic contains a natural antibiotic. When anyone in my family comes down with a cold or infection of any kind, I chop up one large clove of garlic, and mix it on a spoon with honey. We swallow it down with a few gulps of water. Don't chew! I've known many, many families who swear by this remedy. If you normally have a low fiber diet, though, it can cause diarrhea, but cleaning out your system is a benefit!" Thanks Elaine!
· Katriona from Australia writes; "A good way to get rid of a cold is to cut up some garlic and ginger into a cup. Get enough so that the cup is about 1/4 full. Add half a lemon (diced) and fill with hot water. Stir and let set for 1 minute. Strain and add honey for taste. Drink and go straight to bed. This always works." Thank you so much for sharing Katriona!
· And last but not least, my favorite old time remedy for the common cold: Supplies needed for cure; a four poster bed, a bottle of whiskey and one hat. The cure; Hang your hat on the bedpost at the foot of your bed. Get into the bed and drink whiskey until you see two hats!
Lola’s Revenge Cure for those who are forced to go into work while sick, in order to ensure other idiots at office don’t burn the place down. In a few easy steps you can feel better. (Well, if not actually better, at least vindicated for having to come into the office)
1. Secretly cough on all of the phones they aren’t answering when they’re not looking
2. Place your used Kleenex™ all around their desks
3. Obtain a small bottle of brandy to sip on throughout the day – add honey to help ease your throat 4. Demand that someone bring you a pair of fuzzy slippers and a throw to wrap around yourself.
5. If you have a television somewhere in the office, insist that all channels be turned to soap operas so you won’t miss your “stories”, as my grandma used to say
6. Every time someone starts to speak to you, or to someone on the phone (which as mentioned before, no one is answering), cough as loudly as you can.
7. Start drinking as much water as possible, because with the cocktail of OTC/Homeopathic cures you've been taking, you need some diluting action. Fast.
8. Go ahead and call Poison Control because you drank your water with some Scotch in it. They should be there anywhere from 8 am to 4 pm.
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