Quick notes: L-strain | Groundwater levels

• L-strain and S-strain: Are more virulent strains causing higher deaths in Gujarat and MP? The less virulent S-strain from the Middle East has been dominant in Kerala. . Scientists believe that the virus has mutated into two strains: the "S-type" appears to be milder and less infectious, while the "L-type" spreads quickly.



• C-virus detected on particles of air pollution: This could enable it to be even more contagious than previosuly believed.. Two other research groups have suggested air pollution particles could help coronavirus travel further in the air.



• Bengaluru: Groundwater levels rise as coronavirus lockdown cuts commercial usage.. Micro-monitoring system essential to understand the water regime.



• WSJ: Amazon uses data from sellers to launch competing products. Such info can help Amazon decide how to price an item, which features to copy or whether to enter a product segment based on its earning potential.



• Last Breath: You're not going to die.




• What is Halal meat? Only Muslims allowed from slaughter to labelling, else meat becomes ‘non-Halal’

‘What is Halal meat? Only Muslims allowed from slaughter to labelling’ - Halal is the biggest hate industry in which every non-Muslim is automatically excluded. Anyone with the slightest self respect should take a vow to #BoycottHalal today and for ever. https://t.co/bmoqPt5eVK

— Sanjay Dixit ಸಂಜಯ್ ದೀಕ್ಷಿತ್ संजय दीक्षित (@Sanjay_Dixit) April 25, 2020




• $500 ventilator blueprint: Teams building it in the US, England, Switzerland, Ukraine, Guatemala, Pakistan, New Zealand and elsewhere . . Indians busy fighting Twitter battles?



• Intra-venous drug Sepsivac: A medicinally useful microbe discovered by an Indian biologist half-a-century ago has made a comeback in India’s fight against coronavirus as the CISR is set to start three clinical trials with a medicine containing an inactivated form of the bacteria.

Quick notes: Clear waters | Reliance Jio...

• Jiomart: Facebook to take 10% stake in Reliance Jio.. WeChat-style “super-app” to target online retail.. “Bringing together JioMart and WhatsApp for a seamless mobile shopping experience.” . . Indian user data in FB's hands?



• Sunlight destroys virus quickly: Risk of transmission from surfaces outdoors is lower during daylight and under higher temperature and humidity conditions.



• So, the Kirana store format is preferred now? Experts say it may be time for grocery stores to ban customers from coming inside. . Prevent contamination by careless customers.
  
  



• Reliance Jio: Facebook to invest Rs 43,574 crore in Reliance Jio for 9.9% stake.



• Tech platforms: Australia will compel Facebook and Google to pay media outlets for news content. . . India should learn.



• China rattles sabres: Exploiting pandemic to pursue expansion in South China Sea.



• China won't write off Belt and Road debts: African countries have called for $100 billion in bailouts and debt relief caused by the Wuhan pandemic.



• First find peace within:

"If there is peace in your mind you will find peace with everybody. If your mind is agitated you will find agitation everywhere. So first find peace within and you will see this inner peace reflected everywhere else. You are this peace!"
H. W. L. Poonja pic.twitter.com/bME7MtRUgs

— Neelam (@NeelamFoT) February 16, 2020

Quick notes: Higher education | Gambling apps...

• Higher education at inflection point: Many universities are witnessing erosion of their revenue sources -- tuition, research grants, clinical revenue.. Whatever emerges in the world of higher education, it won't look the same as it did when we all started the academic year last September.



• Setback to Macaulayists: HC axes Andhra Pradesh English medium plan.

A rare case of the judiciary delivering for #IndianLanguages.

The Indian State's policies have been geared towards killing #IndianLanguages rendering the Indian mind completely incapable of competing globally.

English-medium cripples the Indian mind. https://t.co/BYRsIjmvMC

— Sankrant Sanu सानु संक्रान्त ਸੰਕ੍ਰਾਂਤ ਸਾਨੁ (@sankrant) April 15, 2020



• Gambling addiction and Chinese investors: What can go wrong? Tencent, Alibaba investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Indian apps that use loopholes in anti-gambling laws.



• Debt Trap Diplomacy: Belt and Road debts to China skyrocket after c-virus. 15 out of 68 BRI partner countries face significant debt distress. Developing countries’ hidden debts to China estimated at $380 billion.



• Associated Press: China knew of pandemic danger in Wuhan even as officials downplayed it. Without the six-day delay, infections could have been cut by two-thirds.



• Illness and Self-Discovery ~ Mooji:




• How UV light may protect us: Ultraviolet light can penetrate the cells of pathogens and damage the DNA or RNA that contain their genetic code. “Sunlight is wonderful, but it takes a long time.”
  
  UV LEDs can decontaminate surfaces: "UV-C light in the 260 - 285 nanometre wavelength range most relevant for current disinfection technologies is also harmful to human skin, so for now it is mostly used in applications where no one is present at the time of disinfection".



• The Rules of Capitalism: The rules of capitalism are different when CEOs are looking for a bailout

The rules of capitalism are different when CEOs are looking for a bailout — w/@SRuhle @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/3ZYJ6G8erQ

— Scott Galloway (@profgalloway) April 10, 2020

Quick notes: Social capital | SEBI wakes up...

• Capitalism on the way up, socialism on way down: Modern-day capitalism is all about reducing the risk for speculators.




• China-led stock transactions will be watched: SEBI will be closely monitoring share transactions by Chinese companies and banks, especially in times when stock valuations are beaten down. The Finance Ministry was ruffled as regulators had not raised flags when People’s Bank of China was buying shares over the past few weeks. PBC now holds 1.74 crore HDFC shares.



• "China Will Find Out": Trump hints at consequences for c-virus misinformation



• Planet healing: People in India can see the Himalayas for the first time in 'decades,' as the lockdown eases air pollution

What nature really is and how we screwed it up.

This is Dhauladhar mountain range of Himachal, visible after 30 yrs, from Jalandhar (Punjab) after pollution drops to its lowest level. This is approx. 200 km away straight. #Lockdown21 #MotherNature #Global healing. pic.twitter.com/cvZqbWd6MR

— Soul of a Warrior (@Deewalia) April 3, 2020




• Importing rubbish: Over 1,21,000 mt of plastic waste being slyly imported into India in the form of flakes and lumps. Meanwhile, tons of plastic waste generated every day remain untreated and dumped into landfills and oceans.



• When your mind is quiet:

"It is all your desires that you see, when you think. But when your mind is quiet, without desire, you are complete and as wonderful as you have always been."
H. W. L. Poonja pic.twitter.com/kT7SdYKGzI

— Neelam (@NeelamFoT) February 18, 2020




• ExIt-aly? Italians burn EU flag. "We save ourselves".

Quick notes: Distressed assets | Solar cover...

• Distressed assets: Germany beefs up law to block foreign takeovers. Govt to protect key industries from Chinese takeover.
  
  Will India let Chinese vultures feast? People’s Bank of China picks up 1.75 crore shares in HDFC as shares fall 32% from 52-week high.
  
  




• What China learnt. But India didn't: China has gained knowledge of how the United States produces knowledge in its universities, businesses, and centers of technology.  This penetration has yielded its greatest ability to challenge the US.  Western businesses have worked hand-in-glove with Chinese for a generation and have allowed China to siphon off knowledge and practices that greatly contributed to China’s rise. Western universities have cooperated with Chinese colleagues in pursuit of knowledge but also directly and indirectly to the benefit of the CCP and PLA.  Western laboratories and departments of mathematics and natural sciences depend on Chinese researchers and graduate students. 



• Retractable solar cover to recharge EVs: The cover contains nine ASCA solar modules, covering 4 square meters of total surface area.




• No tension, simply attention:

“No tension, no intention, simply attention. No struggle between the in and the out, just stay relaxed and at ease.” ~ Papaji pic.twitter.com/SMYbXmrrFC

— Neelam (@NeelamFoT) April 4, 2020

Quick notes: Blue skies | Milk output...

• Blue sky thinking: “For once this city looks like the city of my childhood – quiet, pure air and amazingly clear skies. I know it’s a high price to pay for enjoying clean air, the virus is deadly”. . .  Indians breathe easier.



• Cow vigilantism raised milk output: Normally, adult females are sold away for slaughter, after their fourth or fifth lactation at salvage value. But due to cow vigilantism after 2014, these animals have been reared for more number of lactations; this population has shown the structural change in growth of milk production.



• Secular governments buying PPE kits from Hindu non-profit: These disciples of Satya Sai Baba are doing it at absolutely no profits as they view it as a public service in troubled times, charging Rs 475, while other traders charge Rs 1,500 and more. 



• Terror haven, psecular haven: Before his arrest, Bangabandhu's killer Abdul Majed was hiding in Kolkata for 22 years.  

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's killer was hiding in outskirts of Kolkata and 24 Parganas for more than 22 years. This Bangladeshi had obtained documents and passport to 'prove' he is an Indian citizen. This deathrow convict returned to Dhaka on 16/3 https://t.co/5GIKj9xMyc

— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) April 9, 2020




• Shift Production Out of China: Japan has earmarked $2.2 billion of its record economic stimulus package to help its manufacturers shift production out of China as the c-virus disrupts supply chains between the major trading partners. 



• WHO: U.S. Spent $452 Million on WHO in 2019. China? $42 Million 



• All Is Self: When mind is quiet, all is Self.

"When mind is quiet, all is Self. When mind moves the world arises. So be Still, throw away everything and be Free." ~ Papaji pic.twitter.com/o7JSUOyJay

— Neelam (@NeelamFoT) February 20, 2020




• Students for a Free Tibet: SFT is a chapter-based network of young people and activists around the world. Through education, grassroots organizing, and nonviolent direct action, we campaign for Tibetans’ fundamental right to freedom.



• Dramatic drop in India pollution: "India is a highly fossil-fueled country. In order to tackle pollution, we need to tackle that. We can only use the outbreak of c-virus as a learning lesson for us."

Stay safe:

Quick notes: Edible insects | Solar driveways

• More pandemics: The EU will soon permit the sale of locusts, crickets, grasshoppers, and mealworms as food across the continent.



• Beggar-thy-neighbor: Aussie hospitals grapple with shortages after Chinese-owned companies there emptied vital medical supplies and exported them to China.



• Leftist media parroting CCP propaganda:

That NYT?

+Ran articles about irrationality of worrying about the pandemic
+Opposed the travel ban
+Now blaming the administration for not having stiffer travel ban https://t.co/4NNOpkeO1V pic.twitter.com/czrGEeI6Lu

— Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) April 6, 2020




• CCP Propaganda: China floods Facebook with ads blaming Trump for c-virus. State news outlets have bought numerous ads extolling China's response to the pandemic and attacking the mistakes of the US



• Solar tiles in residential driveways: Solar driveways could power entire households.
  



• In the Vedic church none is religiously great or small: The teachings of the Vedas are universal.. Yajurveda 26-2 clearly enjoins all learned persons to preach the Vedic truths to all, the  Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, the Shudras, the Chandalas, the degraded and the forlorn. Dwijas, the twice-born alone are not entitled  to study the Vedas. The shudras and even women are equally entitled to read the Vedas. Persons like Kavish Aylush a Shudra by birth, vide Aitareya Brahmana 11-19 and women like Lopa Mudra were the seers of the meanings of Vedic texts and their names are from times immemorial attached to the Vedic verses. God is not expected to be partial to one portion of mankind, and antagonistic to the  other by depriving them of their birth-right to study the Veda. In the  eyes of God all men, high or low, are equally entitled to God's gifts and  bounties, say air, water, sunshine and His Knowledge. 

  All men and women may study the Vedās. It is what God desires. See Yajurveda 26, 2. pic.twitter.com/OMYYLF9Udg

  — Naohisa Yokoyama (@YokoyamaNaohisa) April 10, 2019

  
  

  The Greatest Hindus in World are not The Hindus in India or USA but the Dalit Hindus of Pakistan. Even when they are Denied Food to Survive, They Cling to Our Religion! SALUTE TO THOSE DALIT HEROES!@narendramodi @madhukishwar @amitmalviya @SanjeevSanskritpic.twitter.com/CznJ3usftA

  — Slasher🇮🇳 (@USlasher) April 1, 2020

  
  


• Wikipedia or Trashpedia? Since Vedic wisdom and Yoga are much the fashion across the world these days, racists and Eurocentrists must show that these were brought from Europe by migrants who then occupied India..  We need an online encyclopedia where the edits are by real people. India needs to have a strategic vision on internet technologies. An Indian version of the Wikipedia which is edited responsibly should be part of that vision.

Quick notes: Damages | Kerala myth...

• Make them pay: China could be sued under 10 possible legal avenues, including the International Health Regulations. Had China provided accurate information at an early juncture, "the infection would not have left China." . . . Lack of free speech in China is now a global health issue.



• Jackpot: China says it has sold nearly four billion masks abroad.



• Kerala myth busted: For those who knew better, it was always apparent that Kerala govt’s propaganda on healthcare was a sham. People actually leave Kerala and seek healthcare in other, better-managed states. .



• India should learn: Hungary taxes MNCs, banks to fund health worker bonuses



• UV disinfection: Nahru Khan, a 62-year-man from Mandsaur has developed an automatic sanitization machine and donated it to the District Hospital. 

Madhya Pradesh: Nahru Khan, a 62-year-man from Mandsaur has developed an automatic sanitization machine and donated it to Indira Gandhi District Hospital. He says, "I made this machine by watching YouTube and completed it in 48 hours. This will benefit many people" #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/i1j3CDRXlA

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2020




• Nepal's Mighty Gurkhas: What it takes to become a Gurkha.




• Let it go:

“Whatever comes, let it come. Whatever stays, let it stay, whatever goes let it go.” – Papaji#Yoga pic.twitter.com/yMm8zAjwqV

— Zen Yoga Vibes (@ZenYogaVibes) April 4, 2020



• Just stay quiet:

“It is easy. You complicate it! It is simple. Don't make any effort, stay quiet and the noisy surface dialogues will cease. Then the substratum will rise up to the top. It is simple. Follow this.” ~ Papaji pic.twitter.com/p3eyXJcGdT

— Neelam (@NeelamFoT) April 5, 2020

Quick notes: Reparations | Investment scrutiny...

• Reparations: China's c-virus liability - what would a reasonable settlement look like?



• America's options: When a T-bill or bond is redeemed at maturity, the Treasury gives the money to the holder. That means that the Treasury has complete control over $1.08 trillion in Chinese money. 



• Land-grab Down Under: Australia should 'take back the land' from China as damages



• Comment on a British forum on reparations: Careful now, if we start down that route, Britain might end having to pay for all the famines, wars and other forms of death and destruction that we've wrought on other peoples over the centuries. I suspect that we would end up a net debtor.



• Mapping Chinese investments in India: Chinese companies have escaped the kind of scrutiny in India that their investments have attracted in the West, despite several high-profile investments and acquisitions. Besides the current emphasis on investments, another likely reason is the assumption that investments from the Chinese private sector are entirely different from state-led investments. But the separation between the Chinese state and private business is blurry.
  
  Within China, the Chinese private sector, and particularly tech firms, work closely with the govt and the Communist Party in pursuing many of its goals at home. This is especially true of the technology sector, which is widely seen as playing a key role in the party’s enforcement of digital authoritarianism at home, from surveillance to censorship.
  
  As of September 2019, the U.S., Australia, and Japan were among countries that have blocked Huawei from their 5G plans, while India has not taken a final call, although allowing the Chinese company to participate in initial 5G trials. Huawei has already supplied equipment to build India’s 3G and 4G networks, but the security implications of 5G have given the Indian government some pause for thought.
  



• Sign the petition: Make China pay reparations for c-virus.. . . Islamists force women to cover up. Chinese force everyone to cover their faces.



• C-virus: China’s first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17, 2019



• Han abuses: Uyghur health workers forced to treat virus patients



• National security naivete: Pakistan's best friend will build ships for Indian navy

India is going ahead with a $2.3 bn deal to manufacture of FSVs in collaboration with a Turkish shipyard following a review after questions were raised on Turkey’s links with Pakistan and the recent diplomatic tiff with the Recep Tayyip Erdogan govt.https://t.co/RUGd67oNsu

— Defence Decode🥇 (@DefenceDecode) March 23, 2020