Why the moon waxes and wanes

Did you enjoy reading Amar Chitra Katha and Chandamama when you were a kid? Then you will definitely love this new book - "The Puffin Book of Magical Indian Myths". There are 50 enchanting stories from Hindu Mythology, brought alive by some equally brilliant colourful illustrations. The stories bring a mythical perspective to questions like "How all living creatures began to blink" and "What happened when Balarama wielded the plough". Absolutely fascinating.

Not much of a childrens' literature fan yourself? OK, but this will still make a great gift for a schoolkid you know. Trust me.

The "Not So Green" Torch

The IOC are hinting they may do away with the torch relay next Olympics onwards. Though this may be prompted by the protests and angry demonstrations, it may make the Go Green brigade happy. Guess why?

According to Earthlab, who have developed a formula to calculate carbon profiles,the Olympic Torch Relay is adding about 11 million pounds of carbon to the atmosphere. Approximately 5,500 tons.

The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee says the journey will cover more than 85,000 miles. So when the torch isn't being marched through city streets or extinguished by protesters or threatened by fire extinguisher - armed protesters , how is it getting around? You guessed it, by plane. An Air China A330 custom painted with the Olympic logo and color scheme. The A330 burns 5.4 gallons of fuel per mile. That translates into 462,400 gallons for the entire trip. With Earthlab estimating that every gallon of jet fuel burned produces 23.88 pounds of CO2, the Olympic Torch Relay is adding about 11 million pounds of carbon to the atmosphere. That's 5,500 tons.

So here's another excuse for more China Bashing!