November 2010

Review: Climate Change – Youth Guide to Action

Asia-Pacific Mountain Courier: Special issue on youth and climate change (2010)

http://bit.ly/icimodyouth

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development – ICIMOD‘s Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) is just out with its winter issue. This special issue on  ‘Youth and Climate Change’ has been compiled to underscore the International Year of Youth (IYY) 2010-2011; COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico; and the increasing interest of young people in taking part in activities related to climate change issues. It contains the views of young people, information about various opportunities, an APMN youth activity review, and other features. This issue was formally launched by Mr. Daan Boom, APMN Coordinator and Integrated Knowledge Management Programme Manager, ICIMOD, coinciding with COP 16 meeting later today.

Annexed below is my review of ‘Climate Change – Youth Guide to Action’ published in the very same. (more…)

By Utsav, ago

Academic SPAM or vanity publishing?

I received an email from an associate from LAP Lambert Academic Publishing some time back, stating that they found my thesis entitled “Application of GIS in the study of land cover distribution, geomorphometry, terrain and water quality in Asi Khola Subwatershed” in the library at Kathmandu University and wanted to publish it in the form of a book. Furthermore, they would do all this for free!

I do have a few friends and colleagues who were quite elated to have been approached by an genuine European publisher. One of my friend’s book is now  available on Amazon for a whopping $70. Back then, I said good for you and shelved the idea. However, this time around when I was approached with a similar proposition, I did find it rather odd. I immediately Googled the publisher in question, and came up with quite a number of chilling references in different forums and blogs that indicated that this was a very sophisticated scam. After I updated my close knit circle of friends of the same, one even made a joke that this was probably done by a Nigerian stationed in Germany. (more…)

By Utsav, ago

Considering getting myself a DSLR

Courtesy Black Friday, and Canon’s incentive to do away with their stock (wink wink), Canon is running a $200 rebate when the camera is bought with the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens and a $150 rebate on Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras when bundled with its range of DSLRs.

I finally settled for the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (also known as Canon 500D) with kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens) should be a reasonable buy for an entry level DSLR enthusiast like me. The rebate programme that Canon is running bowled me over.

By Utsav, ago