tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84407274927129472822024-02-07T15:49:35.844-05:00My Pale Blue BlogBobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-8980024767293460822020-04-09T12:30:00.002-04:002020-04-09T12:47:29.000-04:00Liverpool Should Be Given The Title<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2PsoB8LVUEDJdJbgZ4lyOZSgieuiT9giLTsrqqIvXdZx5AnMyKhEL7BObo3RfUL_AEJuSAkLfYObp6liTRjzEL5DbBoWIx1VV98VwRKPTXMYWWSDA815y7KVDhNnkQ4pYFNgN8K8PF1r/s1600/liverpool-fc-champions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2PsoB8LVUEDJdJbgZ4lyOZSgieuiT9giLTsrqqIvXdZx5AnMyKhEL7BObo3RfUL_AEJuSAkLfYObp6liTRjzEL5DbBoWIx1VV98VwRKPTXMYWWSDA815y7KVDhNnkQ4pYFNgN8K8PF1r/s640/liverpool-fc-champions.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from FIFA.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Let me rephrase that: If the 2019/20 Premier League season can't be completed due to the coronavirus, <a href="https://www.liverpoolfc.com/" target="_blank">Liverpool FC</a> deserves the title. They've earned it.<br />
<br />
Just look at <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/tables" target="_blank">the current table</a>. After 29 matches played, Liverpool have won 27, tied 1, and lost 1. With 82 points, they are 25 points ahead of Manchester City with only 9 matches remaining. City has a game in hand, but that makes no difference. Liverpool would essentially have to lose the rest of their matches and City would have to win the rest of their matches for City to take the title. No other team is in contention.<br />
<br />
Liverpool is also on track to break Manchester City's point record from the 2017/18 season. City accumulated 100 points that season. If Liverpool win out, they would have 109 points. Even if they drop a few points, they'll still have the record.<br />
<br />
Not even the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/arsenal-invincibles-how-wengers-2003-04-gunners-went-a/1xkm3tgyvsbjj1wzrewhqz0liu" target="_blank">Arsenal Invincibles</a> team of 2003/04 was this dominant in arguably the best league in the world. That team finished on 90 points with 26 wins and 12 ties. Yes, they were unbeaten, but they had 11 more ties than the current Liverpool team. Liverpool took those ties and put them in the win column.<br />
<br />
I'm not here to debate which team is the best Premier League team of all-time because there are some Manchester United and Chelsea teams that would have to be part of the discussion. I'm just here to say: give Liverpool the Premier League title. They deserve it.<br />
<br />
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has already decided that <a href="https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5472801/celtic-champions-spfl-vote/" target="_blank">Celtic will be crowned champions</a> if the season cannot be finished.<br />
<br />
The cherry on top? The two teams share <a href="https://www.thisisanfield.com/2018/06/liverpools-celtic-connection-shared-values-songs-shared-legend/" target="_blank">a common bond</a>. Even if the seasons aren't completed, it would still be a near-perfect end to the season.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-27144834583594471602020-04-08T11:13:00.000-04:002020-04-08T11:59:05.489-04:00A Silver Lining to the Coronavirus Pandemic<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoknrw3vJFrF2z7o6o6_0PvaOO46tkKLV6TwK-w74HVjTBfOYphNK8kn6018CPGpO3BxC3YA7YtU62bUZJhf1qGbRcPgrTxGbg2iQgFCXIqspiUPF5zjRTHokYzZn9NTq8DI0TsOWv8Fk3/s1600/italy_pollution_esa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="624" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoknrw3vJFrF2z7o6o6_0PvaOO46tkKLV6TwK-w74HVjTBfOYphNK8kn6018CPGpO3BxC3YA7YtU62bUZJhf1qGbRcPgrTxGbg2iQgFCXIqspiUPF5zjRTHokYzZn9NTq8DI0TsOWv8Fk3/s640/italy_pollution_esa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from European Space Agency.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Air pollution levels in parts of the world are dropping dramatically due to the coronavirus outbreak. This is a good thing.<br />
<br />
The reduced economic activity as a result of stay-at-home orders has led to a significant reduction in levels of carbon dioxide (CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span>) and other air pollutants. This shouldn't come as a surprise. We're going to use less fossil fuels when everyone is hunkering down at home.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51944780" target="_blank">Researchers at Columbia University</a> collected data on traffic and CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span> levels in New York in the early days of the pandemic. The data suggest that social distancing measures have led to a 35% decline in traffic levels from one year ago. The data also show that emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) have fallen by about 50% on certain days. There has been a notable drop in methane (CH<span style="font-size: xx-small;">4</span>) as well.<br />
<br />
According to one of the researchers, Professor Róisín Commane, this is the cleanest the air has ever been. "It is less than half of what we normally see in March," he said.<br />
<br />
The findings in New York are very much like what is being seen in China and Italy. <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-coronavirus-has-temporarily-reduced-chinas-co2-emissions-by-a-quarter" target="_blank">An article</a> on climate website Carbon Brief, suggests that energy use and emissions in China dropped by 1/4 over a two week period. It's estimated that China's overall carbon emissions will drop by 1% this year.<br />
<br />
Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span>), another common air pollutant released when burning fossil fuels, have also fallen significantly in both China and Italy. With airplanes and cars around the world grinding to a halt, these trends will likely be seen in many other countries.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujNA6oBvnWWm2Ni6rmpBEWePJPxJO1OiKoWU3cX8MGLrdzJ5WiPX0ghUW4q610J8UCP3WzpqFOH2Z5mc9Y0D1Kb0ZxjxWfiUNIe6m1vr5NmftHFNNl6AFYm3IAMKHYeMUFaL-zoiXJs8f/s1600/china_pollution_nasa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="624" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujNA6oBvnWWm2Ni6rmpBEWePJPxJO1OiKoWU3cX8MGLrdzJ5WiPX0ghUW4q610J8UCP3WzpqFOH2Z5mc9Y0D1Kb0ZxjxWfiUNIe6m1vr5NmftHFNNl6AFYm3IAMKHYeMUFaL-zoiXJs8f/s640/china_pollution_nasa.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from NASA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some experts believe the global shutdown will impact overall CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span> levels for 2020. It will depend on when we get control of the virus, but Prof Corinne Le Quéré from the University of East Anglia says that "most likely I think we will see something in the global emissions this year."<br />
<br />
What happens with emissions later this year-and our longer-term relationship with the earth-will depend heavily on how governments boost economic activity once the virus is controlled. In the coming months, leaders will have an excellent chance to change course.<br />
<br />
We should use this opportunity to rethink our relationship with the natural world, including how we use energy. It's time we take <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/" target="_blank">climate change</a> and <a href="https://www.paleblueblog.com/2020/03/the-state-of-planet.html">other environmental issues</a> more seriously. Stimulus money should incentivize things like building and transportation efficiency and the use of renewable energy.<br />
<br />
In the near future, I predict that governments will prioritize economic performance over environmental performance yet again. Then only when things get worse, like what happened with <a href="https://www.bing.com/covid" target="_blank">COVID-19</a>, will we begin to act. It's human nature. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all.<br />
<br />
I suspect, however, one change that will be embraced sooner rather than later is working remotely. If studies can show that productivity is maintained, or even improved, while working remotely, I think companies will be on board. This will be great news for air quality, the climate, and, more importantly, us.<br />
<br />
I have a feeling this virus will be the catalyst for some great change. We won't see massive change overnight, but I think we'll begin to redesign our economies with nature in mind. We have to.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-83624402714666312122020-04-03T18:02:00.001-04:002020-04-05T12:23:12.649-04:00My 7 Rules for Looking and Staying Young and Healthy<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_lsCPOnqSqPFiGN0n7ILixfz7Fq0VG2IwoNSPwcRg2ugAzhYobrqZrfTcXl_mb5B8y2ZJo36wAFTBQx8pCFn6S4v9DweRxCI6bbrfpRLcT0q6kXU6gY01Qd0aPhfK0nOMvIXcqdItkBA/s1600/healthy_lifestyle_diet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_lsCPOnqSqPFiGN0n7ILixfz7Fq0VG2IwoNSPwcRg2ugAzhYobrqZrfTcXl_mb5B8y2ZJo36wAFTBQx8pCFn6S4v9DweRxCI6bbrfpRLcT0q6kXU6gY01Qd0aPhfK0nOMvIXcqdItkBA/s640/healthy_lifestyle_diet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by Photo Mix.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Let me preface this post with the following: I'm not what most would consider a health and wellness expert. I don't have any related degrees or certifications. I studied environmental science. However, I did grow up with healthy habits and I've carried those habits into adulthood. I also read up on the topic in my free time and have experimented with different ideas over the years.<br />
<br />
I like to think I've successfully navigated all of the information out there. It can be really confusing and, at times, conflicting. Add to that the people trying to make a buck from all of the fad diets out there. I hate fad diets. You should too.<br />
<br />
If there is one "diet" I <i>do</i> like, it's the <a href="https://www.bluezones.com/recipes/food-guidelines/" target="_blank">Blue Zone diet</a>. People in the world's blue zones are the healthiest on Earth. They often reach their 100th birthday while maintaining a good quality of life. The lessons from those lifestyles heavily influenced my advice below.<br />
<br />
You'll notice that the list isn't very long and the information isn't very cumbersome. Just like everything else in life, I like to keep things simple. Less is more. Am I right?<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Eat when you're hungry.</b> Your body will tell you when it needs nourishment. Listen to it. Eat. But before you do, see numbers 2 and 3 below.</li>
<li><b>Eat the right things.</b> Avoid the crap. You know what it is. So avoid it. Well, do your best. I have an insane sweet tooth and treat myself from time to time. I think it's okay to cheat once in a while. Check labels and avoid bad fats, sugars, and chemicals. <a href="https://www.forksoverknives.com/plant-based-primer-beginners-guide-starting-plant-based-diet/#gs.2qly38" target="_blank">Eat lots of plants</a> - fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, etc. I personally put garlic and extra virgin olive oil in everything I cook. <i>Drink lots of water.</i> Moderate everything else. The best general advice I can give is to pay attention to how foods make you look and feel. I personally notice a big difference in my skin and energy levels when I avoid wheat and dairy.</li>
<li><b>Don't eat too much.</b> Eat one plate of food then wait and see how you feel. There's usually a delay between eating and satiation. Nibble throughout the day. Avoid that large meal right before bed.</li>
<li><b>Move your body.</b> Our bodies were meant to move. So move it. Get your heart rate up every day. Push yourself a little too. Go run. Play sports. Clean your house. Mow the lawn. Take the stairs. Anything. Do it in the sunshine for added <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html" target="_blank">benefits</a>.</li>
<li><b>SLEEP.</b> Don't forget this. I'm not going to tell you how much you need. Everyone is different. Again, listen to your body. Sleep or nap if you're tired (if it's an option).</li>
<li><b>Be happy.</b> Your mindset is very important. Do what you love. Surround yourself with people you like. Do things for them. Do anything else that makes you feel good.</li>
<li><b>Don't focus on your weight.</b> This one might be a bit controversial. Obviously, being overweight is unhealthy. I'm simply saying focus on being healthy and the weight will take care of itself. Throw away the scale. This is good for your mental health too.</li>
</ol>
That's pretty much it. No need to overcomplicate things. Like I said before, keep it simple. Don't confuse yourself. Don't stress yourself out. You know your body better than anyone else. Listen to it. Unless it's that sweet tooth!Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-66228346057708292752020-04-01T14:57:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:22:03.563-04:005 Reasons Cats Love Boxes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsE64GTGV6eUjHLX9GTproOZEnOUwL0r_lylRi_861lIeLHCfIlMwdKw56iPCLpCVUa1Vsmc8_QTa96JObG8iWpcuBoCdXrP407Js0r7Kbt_xrMW3-E00HIMdm-HJg4zt5toh0R2_r1sA/s1600/Cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsE64GTGV6eUjHLX9GTproOZEnOUwL0r_lylRi_861lIeLHCfIlMwdKw56iPCLpCVUa1Vsmc8_QTa96JObG8iWpcuBoCdXrP407Js0r7Kbt_xrMW3-E00HIMdm-HJg4zt5toh0R2_r1sA/s640/Cats.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cats (Brother and Sister) in a box in Saudi Arabia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In case you didn't know, I love cats. A lot.<br />
<br />
The cats I have now I saved from the streets of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I brought them back to the US with me and it's been non-stop cuddles and entertainment. One way in which they entertain me is by hiding inside bags, boxes, and sheet forts!<br />
<br />
I wanted to know <a href="https://www.rover.com/blog/why-do-cats-like-boxes/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Responsys&utm_campaign=rover.84285442&utm_content=2020_03_18_OwnerNewsletter_Cat&utm_term=033120" target="_blank">why my cats love</a> hiding in these so much, so I did a bit of research. Here's what I found out:<br />
<br />
<b>Reason #1:</b> Apparently, when cats stalk prey - or each other in our household - they like a place to hide. And what better than the <a href="https://www.chewy.com/" target="_blank">Chewy</a> boxes or grocery bags I usually have laying around my apartment for them?<br />
<br />
<b>Reason #2:</b> <a href="https://www.purina.com/articles/cat/behavior/how-to-handle-territorial-aggression-in-cats" target="_blank">Cats are territorial</a> by nature - and boxes provide them with their own territory. Have you ever seen a cat sit inside of a square marked on the floor? It's pretty funny.<br />
<br />
<b>Reason #3:</b> <a href="https://www.diamondpet.com/blog/culture/myths/are-cats-solitary-creatures/" target="_blank">They're solitary</a>. Cats spend a lot of their time alone. Most of this alone time - about 15 to 20 hours per day - is spent sleeping. Boxes provide a safe and cozy place for them to sleep.<br />
<br />
<b>Reason #4:</b> Hiding in boxes calms them down. This probably doesn't apply to my cats, as they feel safe in the apartment, but to a feral cat, it can really help.<br />
<br />
<b>Reason #5:</b> Boxes provide warmth. Cats usually prefer a warmer than average room. You'll often find mine sleeping on the radiators during the winter. If those aren't on, I'll find them in a box or hiding under covers.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-56062771906427839382020-03-30T16:12:00.001-04:002020-04-05T12:18:10.377-04:00My Scottish C License Experience<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ks6iF0IB0TJs_DcJpRGGsmUq4zPyj2McEfB1bS7PYJOH0Pz3ETiybif9RSBUQrghYucIwwnM8woxKNwmHL3DuguiMW2NfrVUp0kaVXXKdU7G0KO_BjQL1qqAjoLP0Y-J6oIqBlmOokU4/s1600/andy_smith_bobby_khaksari.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="534" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ks6iF0IB0TJs_DcJpRGGsmUq4zPyj2McEfB1bS7PYJOH0Pz3ETiybif9RSBUQrghYucIwwnM8woxKNwmHL3DuguiMW2NfrVUp0kaVXXKdU7G0KO_BjQL1qqAjoLP0Y-J6oIqBlmOokU4/s640/andy_smith_bobby_khaksari.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Andy Smith.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In October 2019 I spent one week in Glasgow attending the <a href="https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football-development/coaching/coaching-pathway/" target="_blank">Scottish FA C license course</a>. I thought I'd write about my experience in case I can help future candidates.<br />
<br />
My first piece of advice is to go with an open mind. This is the most important part of being a coach. As with anything in life, you will only get better at what you do if you are humble and are open to new ideas. Take the ideas you want and form your own coaching style, but keep an open mind.<br />
<br />
The second piece of advice I'd give is to get a couple years of experience before you go. You'll be running sessions and shaping a team on a topic chosen for you, and you'll be doing so in front of former professional players who know what they're talking about. Our instructors, Andy Smith and Jimmy Bone, were former professionals and have years of coaching experience under their belts. It can be a bit intimidating.<br />
<br />
If you sign up for the one-week intensive course, like I did, then you'll definitely want to go with some coaching experience. On Monday, the instructors demonstrate what you need to do, then the rest of the week all of the candidates run their sessions and are evaluated. You can also sign up for the less intensive course, where you are allowed to return to your club to practice what you learned before returning to be evaluated.<br />
<br />
I think the final bit of advice I'd give is to get in shape before you go. They might have younger players ready to perform the sessions that coaches run from Tuesday to Friday, but if they don't, the coaches have to participate - and it can be a lot of running around. Our class had younger players on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I participated all day Monday, Thursday, and Friday. I was quite sore by the end of the week. You're there for about 8 hours each day.<br />
<br />
What I loved about the course was that it had minimal classroom time - about 30 mins each morning and a quick debrief Friday afternoon to round out the course. We were out on the pitch the majority of the time learning from some great instructors and doing things ourselves.<br />
<br />
I also really liked the instructors. <a href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/jimmy-bone-says-rejection-scottish-10373579" target="_blank">Jimmy Bone</a> speaks his mind and isn't afraid to do so. He'll tell you what he thinks - even if it hurts a bit. But I appreciate the honesty. He's also quite funny! I also liked <a href="https://www.dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=Andy_Smith&ID=7880" target="_blank">Andy Smith</a>, but I didn't get to interact with him much as he was with the other group of 20 coaches.<br />
<br />
There were about 40 candidates in total and we all formed great relationships during the course. Some of us kept in touch and have signed up to do the <a href="https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football-development/coaching/coaching-pathway/main-youthadult-pathway/uefa-b-licence/" target="_blank">UEFA B course</a> together in May 2020.<br />
<br />
The trip was such a wonderful learning experience and you'll probably make lifelong friends in other parts of the world, which is always cool.<br />
<br />
Below are some pictures I took while there.<br />
<br />
Contact me if you have any questions!<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(0px) translatey(7px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translatex(3px) translatey(1px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(9px) translatey(-18px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0; transform: translatex(16px) translatey(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; transform: translatey(16px); width: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12px; transform: translatey(-4px); width: 16px;">
</div>
<div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; height: 0; transform: translatey(-4px) translatex(8px); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Dk3-dhSbW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Bobby Khaksari (@bobbykhaksari)</a> on <time datetime="2019-10-25T21:14:15+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 25, 2019 at 2:14pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comGlasgow, UK55.864237 -4.25180655.721638000000006 -4.5745295000000006 56.006836 -3.9290825000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-51138201843695945462020-03-29T09:58:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:20:28.088-04:00Johan Cruyff Player Profile<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo83nRF0JxmJDCE4wOMOkrVCrL6YMNyocrtmSjZ7Sl3XJfeOVfGR0kWZyRk1q-HTZK2aG4k2VFHIU7l359xcUtDMKebbkG64KUKKd60OPdBsxrcJ0WtNXFL1mqkdRo-TitMxwuJUD8CAu/s1600/fifatv_johan_cruyff+.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1220" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo83nRF0JxmJDCE4wOMOkrVCrL6YMNyocrtmSjZ7Sl3XJfeOVfGR0kWZyRk1q-HTZK2aG4k2VFHIU7l359xcUtDMKebbkG64KUKKd60OPdBsxrcJ0WtNXFL1mqkdRo-TitMxwuJUD8CAu/s640/fifatv_johan_cruyff+.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from FIFATV.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you're a soccer/football fan and haven't checked out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FIFATV" target="_blank">FIFATV</a> on YouTube, then you're missing out.<br />
<br />
You can find full matches, match highlights, success stories, and individual player profiles like the one below on Johan Cruyff.<br />
<br />
Cruyff is hands down the most celebrated Dutch player ever and one of the best attacking players to grace the pitch. His vision and technique were second to none.<br />
<br />
He was the star of the Ajax and Dutch teams of the 1970's and their free-flowing "total football." He dominated the 1974 World Cup finals, where he introduced the world to his famous "Cruyff turn," a move still taught and used around the world today. Unfortunately, Holland lost to hosts West Germany in the final. After disagreements with the Dutch FA (KNVB), he pulled out of the 1978 World Cup finals in Argentina, where the Dutch again lost to the hosts in the final. Cruyff is often considered the best player to never win a World Cup.<br />
<br />
Most of his club career was spent at Ajax and Barcelona. After hanging up his boots, he went on to manage both of these teams and is credited with <a href="https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/how-johan-cruyff-reinvented-modern-football-barcelona" target="_blank">reinventing the game at Barcelona</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Cruyff" target="_blank">Johan Cruyff</a> is arguably the most influential footballing mind ever. Both Ajax and Barcelona have modeled their youth academies after his coaching philosophy. He has influenced so many great managers and players including Arrigo Sacchi, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Pep Guardiola. He is often credited with Ajax's success in the 1990's and Spanish football greatness from 2008 to 2012.<br />
<br />
Sadly, he passed away at the age of 68 on March 24, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Although he is gone, his ideas live on through the <a href="https://johancruyffinstitute.com/en/" target="_blank">Johan Cruyff Institute</a>, the <a href="https://www.tovoacademy.com/" target="_blank">TOVO Academy</a>, and in almost every football match you watch :-)<br />
<br />
There is no doubt he has left a lasting legacy.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TBmOMziLNcU" width="640"></iframe>Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-69227045549456680342020-03-27T17:22:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:19:56.937-04:00Ajax Star Nouri Awakes From 32-month Coma<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FOQy7nJkUJW0iskR92XmMBH2Klm7tr77MK1Zuz6ncLKv6LA2VtjGtChVO2P4CTYuphgfayCFf4c_iOP8eiijAPnGDKVACNytIlXNZ9RF4HeM0Trk4mygm6lCIGsjR6wd4YzBcqqzc9Zq/s1600/Ajax_Nouri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="756" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FOQy7nJkUJW0iskR92XmMBH2Klm7tr77MK1Zuz6ncLKv6LA2VtjGtChVO2P4CTYuphgfayCFf4c_iOP8eiijAPnGDKVACNytIlXNZ9RF4HeM0Trk4mygm6lCIGsjR6wd4YzBcqqzc9Zq/s640/Ajax_Nouri.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Orange Football Club.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There's good news in the football world today: <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/ajax-footballer-abdelhak-nouri-awakes-coma-32-months-200327085920657.html" target="_blank">Abdelhak Nouri has awoken from his coma</a>. He was asleep for more than two years.<br />
<br />
The Ajax star was playing in a pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen in the summer of 2017 when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He collapsed on the pitch before teammates and doctors rushed to his side. He was put into a medically induced coma at the hospital before doctors realized he had sustained severe brain damage.<br />
<br />
Ajax has since admitted that their response in the moments after he collapsed was inadequate. A defibrillator should have been used sooner according to Ajax Chief Executive Edwin van der Sar. The club with arguably the best academy in the world eventually released their team doctor.<br />
<br />
The Dutch midfielder was a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/ajax-star-nouri-improving-and-watching-football-after-waking/1fkxvokrlgugq1p2fx1w5hnc62" target="_blank">top prospect in the academy</a> and worked his way up to the first team in 2015. Sadly, he only made nine appearances for the senior squad before his career was tragically cut short during their pre-season tour in 2017.<br />
<br />
Although Nouri is now at home suffering from permanent brain damage, his brother did offer some positive news:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>He sleeps, he sneezes, he eats, he burps, but it’s not like he gets out of bed. He’s very bedridden and still very dependent on us. On his good days, there is a form of communication, for example, confirmation with his eyebrows or a smile. But you notice that he can’t last that very long. We talk to him like he’s not sick. We take him into our conversations and we watch football with him in the living room, for example. Then he watches. You notice that he likes that very much. He often shows emotions. Sometimes he is emotional, but often there is also a smile.
</i></blockquote>
Current Barcelona star, Frankie De Jong, who played for Ajax, revealed in an interview with <a href="https://www.sportbible.com/football/reactions-news-de-jong-expains-how-appie-nouri-inspired-him-to-join-barcelona-20200327" target="_blank">Dutch TV</a> that Nouri was influential in De Jong's move to the Catalan club - and his initial move to Ajax from Willem II.<br />
<br />
As an avid football fan, I'm all too familiar with this type of incident. I can recall a handful of similar stories over the years. These players are as healthy and as fit as can be, and even with all of the medical testing these players undergo, these things can still happen. It's cruel. It's sad. It's unfair. My heart goes out to him and all those affected by this.<br />
<br />
Peace be upon him.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-36190257216288877932020-03-25T19:05:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:14:56.342-04:00Unseen Enemy: A Global Pandemic Documentary<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Kq_YCVF7U9pDuWzrwQqphM8rNcWmXk0OugO4uNq4qud-fy1dhE7n-s22V0P8g2dJMvwWEUCW0Y7fcfQn4-JWvIS694Jbg0-awlD43FRrICc-JJ3L-uudaTuOfAilyEuKidm8voPSqP9m/s1600/Unseen_Enemy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="667" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Kq_YCVF7U9pDuWzrwQqphM8rNcWmXk0OugO4uNq4qud-fy1dhE7n-s22V0P8g2dJMvwWEUCW0Y7fcfQn4-JWvIS694Jbg0-awlD43FRrICc-JJ3L-uudaTuOfAilyEuKidm8voPSqP9m/s640/Unseen_Enemy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Amazon.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I was looking for something to watch the other night and came across a very interesting and scary documentary. It's called "<a href="https://www.cnn.com/shows/unseen-enemy" target="_blank">Unseen Enemy</a>" and it's about infectious diseases and how they infect humans and wreak havoc. It originally appeared on CNN but I was able to catch it on Amazon Prime. Given the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-will-coronavirus-end/608719/" target="_blank">current pandemic</a> we're living through, I immediately began watching it. I wanted to know more.<br />
<br />
Here's some of what I learned...<br />
<br />
Nearly all new viruses come from animals. In the 21st century, 75% of all new infectious diseases have come from them. A prime example is bats. Their habitats are being stressed by climate change and humans. This is affecting their ability to find food. As they begin to starve in their natural habitats, they start looking elsewhere for food, including in our agricultural fields. It's not hard to see how they might transmit a virus to us.<br />
<br />
We have dramatically increased our contact with animals through deforestation, industrialization of agriculture, and by eating more of them. As a result, we've increased the risk of one of these viruses that they carry jumping to humans. We've already had swine flu, SARS, and MERS in the 21st century. It's not if, but when.<br />
<br />
Other viruses discussed in the documentary include <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids" target="_blank">HIV/AIDS</a>, which came from a few monkeys and chimpanzees in Africa to infect millions worldwide, <a href="https://www.who.int/ith/diseases/sars/en/" target="_blank">SARS</a>, which jumped from a bat, then to a cat, and finally to a villager in China and to more than 30 countries in a matter of weeks, and the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html" target="_blank">Zika</a> virus, which originated in Africa, then migrated across Asia, then to the South Pacific, and finally to Brazil in 2013. It's suspected it arrived when fans went to Brazil for the Confederations Cup the year before the World Cup. The major Zika outbreak in South America occurred in 2015 and 2016.<br />
<br />
The film also covered <a href="https://www.history.com/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-smallpox" target="_blank">smallpox</a>. It was the first infectious disease to be eradicated, but not before it killed up to 500 million people during the 20th century.<br />
<br />
Finally, there's the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/keyfacts.htm" target="_blank">flu</a>, which so many of us have compared to the current coronavirus, perhaps as a way to put ourselves and others at ease. It's true, the flu is pretty deadly. It causes worldwide epidemics every year. Globally, 3 to 5 million people per year are hospitalized and 200,000 people die from it. Most of those who die have a pre-existing condition such as a weakened immune system or diabetes. However, it can also kill a perfectly healthy, young, strong person in a matter of days. New strains of influenza are of particular concern to experts.<br />
<br />
The documentary has so much more information that I didn't cover here. Watch it. It will open your eyes and probably scare the shit out of you. We were due for a global pandemic. The experts knew it - and they knew it would change life more than anything we currently face. Climate change is probably a close second.<br />
<br />
If there was just one take-home point from the movie, it would be this: we are <i>all</i> on the front line of battling these diseases - not just the infectious disease experts and doctors. Educate yourself. Practice good hygiene.<br />
<br />
If you ask me, our greatest enemy is not the virus - it's ignorance.<br />
<br />
Check out the trailer below or you can watch the full documentary <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Enemy-Janet-Tobias/dp/B072Z5QZCW" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zsB1sYSHEAM" width="640"></iframe>
Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-44186398207834460812020-03-24T11:48:00.002-04:002020-04-05T12:14:06.846-04:00The State of the Planet<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpMGWUFVY1Hmliwdzq-48BZ4G0cds6kIB_P1fCY355ZQTISOXIlXAfVnhg8PFzRPgULkOeu009EhUruTjDTaL5Lx8y6hzk55NIy9Y41uN3WOt9vP8AzSZ0HPtoptPYkNgDxI-wIcZaf7m/s1600/march-for-science-2252980_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpMGWUFVY1Hmliwdzq-48BZ4G0cds6kIB_P1fCY355ZQTISOXIlXAfVnhg8PFzRPgULkOeu009EhUruTjDTaL5Lx8y6hzk55NIy9Y41uN3WOt9vP8AzSZ0HPtoptPYkNgDxI-wIcZaf7m/s640/march-for-science-2252980_1920.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by Robert Jones.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What is the state of our planet? We can look to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/60/8/576/304804" target="_blank">a study</a> conducted at McGill University which summarized our current situation as a so-called environmentalist's paradox. In short, over the last forty years, our standard of living has increased rapidly while the health of the planet has decreased rapidly - and the decline in the planet's health is leading to a decline in human health.<br />
<br />
In the paper, the authors suggest the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>The way we measure human well-being is flawed; our standard of living is actually declining</li>
<li>Being able to produce food, which we've enhanced through technology, outweighs the effects from declines in other ecosystem services</li>
<li>Technology makes us less dependent on ecosystems</li>
<li>There is a delay between ecosystem decline and a decline in our well-being - it will get worse</li>
</ul>
<br />
Let's look at four global trends as we keep these four points in mind:<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Population Growth:</b> Human population growth over the last two centuries has been staggering. The world population increased from 1 billion in 1800 to <a href="https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/" target="_blank">about 7.8 billion</a> today. We've grown by 2 billion over the last 25 years. Although the rate of growth is slowing, we should expect between 9 and 10 billion of us by 2050. Most of the increase will be in developing countries. All of these people will need energy, food, clothes, housing, and employment and/or income. In other words: everyone, now, and those who follow, will need resources from the earth to survive and will have an impact on the health of the planet - and thus will impact the health of themselves and other people. Our individual lifestyle choices and consumption patterns will matter.</li>
<li><b>Ecosystems:</b> <a href="https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/ecology/intro-to-ecosystems/a/what-is-an-ecosystem" target="_blank">Ecosystems</a> support our lives and economies. They provide us with a wide range of goods and services to do this. They provide us with food, water, materials for shelter, and energy. They also break down waste, regulate the climate, and manage pests. They are crucial, but we haven't fully appreciated their importance and have therefore not managed them as well as we could. We are depleting groundwater resources, ruining agricultural soils, overfishing the oceans, and releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at alarming rates. Which leads me to the next concerning global trend...</li>
<li><b>Climate Change:</b> Our global economy depends on fossil fuels. Without coal, oil, and gas, the world - and our lives - would be much different. Whenever we extract, refine, and/or use these fossil fuels, we release greenhouse gases (CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span>, CH<span style="font-size: xx-small;">4</span>, etc.) and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. We release about 80 million tons of CO<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span> into the atmosphere per day. Carbon dioxide levels have increased from a pre-industrial level of between 180 ppm and 280 ppm to over 400 ppm today ("ppm" means parts per million). Carbon dioxide is a natural part of the atmosphere and is necessary for life. However too much of it is a bad thing. It produces a strong greenhouse effect which traps heat from the sun and warms the earth. Warming the earth too much is a bad thing. More on this topic in a separate post. In my opinion, the relatively stable <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/" target="_blank">climate pattern</a> that began about 10,000 years ago is <i>the main reason</i> we have such a successful global civilization today. We don't want to destabilize it.</li>
<li><b>Biodiversity Loss:</b> <a href="https://www.paleblueblog.com/2015/02/what-you-need-to-know-about-biodiversity.html" target="_blank">Biodiversity</a> is the variability among terrestrial and aquatic living organisms. This includes variety within species (intraspecies), between species (interspecies), and within ecosystems. Our rapidly growing population and our increasing appetite for natural resources is proving detrimental to biodiversity as we degrade habitats, pollute, and kill species in search of food, water, energy, land, and other resources for our economies and lives. This isn't good because having a variety of plants and animals improves our ability to produce food and helps to stabilize natural systems that we rely on. The services these systems provide make life possible. See #2.</li>
</ol>
Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-22950851524310925502020-03-19T11:23:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:19:20.520-04:00To Turin and Back: A Juventus Experience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqD6Gsa0jXzriGKr5qjvqYWgZHTuZrtRfnDI-2R1bxQOIuKkVyn6ixfKeD2b0-b8Neo6MHvVAxKk_92I23MSOoguHC5YKjsRbQBaRGTEbrPzK0gjJJX2TXOQq2f6zPyY_7pSrlNKcHJRJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-03-19+at+12.44.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="488" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqD6Gsa0jXzriGKr5qjvqYWgZHTuZrtRfnDI-2R1bxQOIuKkVyn6ixfKeD2b0-b8Neo6MHvVAxKk_92I23MSOoguHC5YKjsRbQBaRGTEbrPzK0gjJJX2TXOQq2f6zPyY_7pSrlNKcHJRJ/s640/Screen+Shot+2020-03-19+at+12.44.03+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year, I began coaching at the new </span><a href="https://jacademy.juventus.com/en/academies/dc_metro/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Juventus Academy in Washington, D.C.</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The club was just getting started and I was hired to coach two under-10 boys teams. One of the perks of coaching at the DC academy is the option to travel to Italy for a one-week coach training course. I jumped at the opportunity and in February 2020 I traveled to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turin" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Turin</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to learn from coaches and staff at one of the top academies in the world. (In case you were wondering, I was there from February 15-22 and left just before the coronavirus outbreak struck Italy. That's a story for a separate blog post. In the meantime, let's wish everyone who is affected by the virus the best.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Back to the course. It was an incredible experience. I met Juventus Academy coaches from all over the world - from Russia to Columbia - from Bahrain to England. We spent our mornings in the box suites at <a href="https://www.stadiumguide.com/juventusstadium/" target="_blank">Allianz Stadium</a> overlooking the pitch. There we watched presentations from Juventus coaches and staff and enjoyed tasty breakfasts and lunches. In the evenings, we took a bus to one of their national academies where kids train and play in the hope of being selected for their main academy. We also visited their Vinovo training center where their selected youth train. We even got to watch <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cristiano/?hl=en" target="_blank">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>'s son train with his team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition to the time spent in the classroom and out on the pitches, we were able to watch the first team train as well. Being so close to players like Buffon, Dybala, and Ronaldo was pretty surreal. This was open to only a small number of people and was a much more intimate setting than watching them play at the stadium.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some pictures from my trip:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(0px) translatey(7px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translatex(3px) translatey(1px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(9px) translatey(-18px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0; transform: translatex(16px) translatey(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; transform: translatey(16px); width: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12px; transform: translatey(-4px); width: 16px;">
</div>
<div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; height: 0; transform: translatey(-4px) translatex(8px); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8veyBNBUWX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Bobby Khaksari (@bobbykhaksari)</a> on <time datetime="2020-02-19T08:33:10+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 19, 2020 at 12:33am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(0px) translatey(7px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translatex(3px) translatey(1px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(9px) translatey(-18px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0; transform: translatex(16px) translatey(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; transform: translatey(16px); width: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12px; transform: translatey(-4px); width: 16px;">
</div>
<div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; height: 0; transform: translatey(-4px) translatex(8px); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8yA3D5hmPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Bobby Khaksari (@bobbykhaksari)</a> on <time datetime="2020-02-20T08:09:26+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 20, 2020 at 12:09am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(0px) translatey(7px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translatex(3px) translatey(1px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(9px) translatey(-18px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0; transform: translatex(16px) translatey(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; transform: translatey(16px); width: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12px; transform: translatey(-4px); width: 16px;">
</div>
<div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; height: 0; transform: translatey(-4px) translatex(8px); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ofl2B0_3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Bobby Khaksari (@bobbykhaksari)</a> on <time datetime="2020-02-23T16:29:41+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 23, 2020 at 8:29am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> </a><br />
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill-rule="evenodd" fill="none" stroke-width="1" stroke="none"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(0px) translatey(7px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translatex(3px) translatey(1px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translatex(9px) translatey(-18px); width: 12.5px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0; transform: translatex(16px) translatey(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; transform: translatey(16px); width: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12px; transform: translatey(-4px); width: 16px;">
</div>
<div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid #f4f4f4; height: 0; transform: translatey(-4px) translatex(8px); width: 0;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank">
</a>
<br />
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B86vv1MBn-N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Bobby Khaksari (@bobbykhaksari)</a> on <time datetime="2020-02-23T17:33:04+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 23, 2020 at 9:33am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comTurin, Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy45.0703393 7.68686444.8909233 7.3641404999999995 45.249755300000004 8.0095875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-73242252847837193452015-04-22T00:27:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:11:39.506-04:00Happy Earth Day 2015!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS7MpKvZrSTwSb176hs4R2YLHSDKLtf6-hjzWvI1Y3JJQhRQzjQ4zuCHTV2j5ZhVL5Ij-hSTRHq160X1wewipFvoyzMMQ1c2Q2ISasqzrYYX0ibngGAOuDBd6FD1SzXhC6wMD8JPJdxGI/s1600/Earth+Day+celebrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS7MpKvZrSTwSb176hs4R2YLHSDKLtf6-hjzWvI1Y3JJQhRQzjQ4zuCHTV2j5ZhVL5Ij-hSTRHq160X1wewipFvoyzMMQ1c2Q2ISasqzrYYX0ibngGAOuDBd6FD1SzXhC6wMD8JPJdxGI/s1600/Earth+Day+celebrate.jpg" title="Earth Day 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This year's Earth Day is special. Here's why.<br />
<br />
Two thousand fifteen is the year of the United Nations <b><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/international/negotiations/future/index_en.htm" target="_blank">Climate Change Conference</a></b> to be held in Paris this December. The objective of the conference (and the hope of many people across the world)? To reach a legally-binding and universal agreement on climate - <i>from all nations of the world</i>. A <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300213158/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300213158&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=2Y7PZPN6GUXJHGC3" target="_blank">Montreal Protocol</a></b> for climate change if you will. My fingers are crossed.<br />
<br />
The other reason this year's Earth Day is so special is because 2015 is our deadline for achieving the United Nations' <b><a href="http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/" target="_blank">Millennium Development Goals</a></b>. These international development goals were established in the year 2000 and include ensuring <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0131566504/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0131566504&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=JXL6SWCVE2BBOKIL" target="_blank">environmental sustainability</a></b>, eradicating extreme poverty, and reducing child mortality, among five others.<br />
<br />
It has been 45 years since the first <b><a href="http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/" target="_blank">Earth Day</a></b> back in 1970. We've made good progress on many fronts, but there is still plenty of work to do. In the words of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:<br />
<br />
"But the big decisions that lie ahead are not just for world leaders and policy-makers. Today, on Mother Earth Day, I ask each one of us to be mindful of the impacts our choices have on this planet, and what those impacts will mean for future generations."<br />
<br />
Keep these words in mind as you celebrate this Earth Day.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-77786240232572199322015-04-18T13:09:00.001-04:002020-04-05T12:09:57.029-04:00The Roses of TaifI heard they're pretty famous...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So a year after <b><a href="http://www.paleblueblog.com/2014/04/a-day-trip-to-ta.html">visiting Taif</a></b> and going on <b><a href="http://www.paleblueblog.com/2014/03/myour-first-camel-ride.html">my first camel ride</a></b>, I returned to Taif to check out the <a href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20150409239841" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">2015 Rose Festival</a> at King Faisal Gardens.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The best part was definitely the smell in the souq, where vendors were selling anything and everything roses, including rose scented soap, rose paintings, rose water, and of course, roses themselves.<br />
<br />
Other than that, it was just like any other carnival/festival, with rides, picnic areas, and food vendors. I didn't see many games...<br />
<br />
The worst part was definitely getting there and back. Taking the "Christian Bypass" around <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804843821/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0804843821&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=KURSD3CSMSBD4UQB" target="_blank">Mecca</a></b> and going up and down that mountain are just... a headache.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IluaXU9rK8EgP7AOMGgLucvdWpYN8769x8bVdwYTXuJtpxc1SoZYYzIslfElM9RqtOPcesBH-9kbouYhJDJZKW9ITkuzB_8h8J14z-bvVSS5fvFKs4LYPDyvBWIq28dWoRBHoGcko2uI/s1600/IMG_4432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IluaXU9rK8EgP7AOMGgLucvdWpYN8769x8bVdwYTXuJtpxc1SoZYYzIslfElM9RqtOPcesBH-9kbouYhJDJZKW9ITkuzB_8h8J14z-bvVSS5fvFKs4LYPDyvBWIq28dWoRBHoGcko2uI/s1600/IMG_4432.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bRzFDFQzYbLa11ORqmddLivC7bEuPkSqmr0OIjJwtpna40KijGvl1iNEE3ABldCaFm0i9KYrrTEe_Fd7MNoIij8pHvtG8QLyCCKrKAlv5IcTtoCgNRUQEQr4tbA9eNUoQZKRDe2Shxgz/s1600/IMG_4414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bRzFDFQzYbLa11ORqmddLivC7bEuPkSqmr0OIjJwtpna40KijGvl1iNEE3ABldCaFm0i9KYrrTEe_Fd7MNoIij8pHvtG8QLyCCKrKAlv5IcTtoCgNRUQEQr4tbA9eNUoQZKRDe2Shxgz/s1600/IMG_4414.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl0QZ9IruvJSR_BpyvbxcUtAGNozTKGgv97qi0r6oDcjRdMXLjvtR9W3t5hkFrDt1FYfYBFg4ALA0DiDWS6q540noHAFGUT9Ay26oiXulr5gzNodGhYJ_ND7IVg54Wu5bZu29JFFkB7pk/s1600/IMG_4415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl0QZ9IruvJSR_BpyvbxcUtAGNozTKGgv97qi0r6oDcjRdMXLjvtR9W3t5hkFrDt1FYfYBFg4ALA0DiDWS6q540noHAFGUT9Ay26oiXulr5gzNodGhYJ_ND7IVg54Wu5bZu29JFFkB7pk/s1600/IMG_4415.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy_zOv8fLW9nf2OgsbEGFqrDBKCI5ZnJkvyun3R-xqabeRdkC5qvtpxOaHYQbk44wxk6JgS9kcGtQSNkEPXnPnR3-R8u_fNNrjWb4CYq5ck0tUzTJxaphZxq-6HaztKw6rhFGQqL4ij-u/s1600/IMG_4418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy_zOv8fLW9nf2OgsbEGFqrDBKCI5ZnJkvyun3R-xqabeRdkC5qvtpxOaHYQbk44wxk6JgS9kcGtQSNkEPXnPnR3-R8u_fNNrjWb4CYq5ck0tUzTJxaphZxq-6HaztKw6rhFGQqL4ij-u/s1600/IMG_4418.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYtHi2oBB3S2cPMbddr0U5emnK41F373AbdKpxsjcx2gAyU5ulNc-D-FSvDn-RLJTkVjj3RlQbvqHtxvFmbrihiTVaThW0QIvfzjVdGuLJL69IvgNtuFsyl5GVbLdvb3juv6P2CAQ_FaE/s1600/IMG_4421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYtHi2oBB3S2cPMbddr0U5emnK41F373AbdKpxsjcx2gAyU5ulNc-D-FSvDn-RLJTkVjj3RlQbvqHtxvFmbrihiTVaThW0QIvfzjVdGuLJL69IvgNtuFsyl5GVbLdvb3juv6P2CAQ_FaE/s1600/IMG_4421.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVJVSYYLFuboi402I_kd9yH6dtEU-BIncLMFrobHEGnkO4663EeDqd6V7PaLvaXnuXqHNTHIk7iF3PhGRGbMC1QEdWNVLiJVkVO4WLmYAVujnr36jEhM9ADKxLefXdrScn6Gyd5_T-owm/s1600/IMG_4423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVJVSYYLFuboi402I_kd9yH6dtEU-BIncLMFrobHEGnkO4663EeDqd6V7PaLvaXnuXqHNTHIk7iF3PhGRGbMC1QEdWNVLiJVkVO4WLmYAVujnr36jEhM9ADKxLefXdrScn6Gyd5_T-owm/s1600/IMG_4423.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnijkz7OURxjPcalOn46kgYL9y7fqYqIar3rBPRYzEImwzmwldaK6GwZompIzr2vNTKHQOzhWG5D9AhmawBSGm3Xmeax7zGG3Dhz3LJqUa0BxFgg8Kno0LSZnfACTkMR4Xt1GSr63xFN7n/s1600/IMG_4424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnijkz7OURxjPcalOn46kgYL9y7fqYqIar3rBPRYzEImwzmwldaK6GwZompIzr2vNTKHQOzhWG5D9AhmawBSGm3Xmeax7zGG3Dhz3LJqUa0BxFgg8Kno0LSZnfACTkMR4Xt1GSr63xFN7n/s1600/IMG_4424.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa8sIatbU8LWPPpYUiAxsnouvh70YXGtlqYzODjy0nePHZek6TolBnH7yM7MMh3T-VUZY2pAaYtfqYtaG405GbWptes6Q5YrFiXXsCbt_O5vHUM3mh6adQI-zNbajFb-1Gq74c94GOx3R/s1600/IMG_4425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa8sIatbU8LWPPpYUiAxsnouvh70YXGtlqYzODjy0nePHZek6TolBnH7yM7MMh3T-VUZY2pAaYtfqYtaG405GbWptes6Q5YrFiXXsCbt_O5vHUM3mh6adQI-zNbajFb-1Gq74c94GOx3R/s1600/IMG_4425.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhpjoB4aknRDrEiJKyurcZ10TIjry8Tve7J0HNUMMM10en0J0O1OdRdffANSlUS-TOO15YjuyHcDDvU1n3excQ3bg2_ZLxkDoHiODf4SY1jRcS3lXw-jSigMukG1fPH-iGbknWjVWSgXb/s1600/IMG_4427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhpjoB4aknRDrEiJKyurcZ10TIjry8Tve7J0HNUMMM10en0J0O1OdRdffANSlUS-TOO15YjuyHcDDvU1n3excQ3bg2_ZLxkDoHiODf4SY1jRcS3lXw-jSigMukG1fPH-iGbknWjVWSgXb/s1600/IMG_4427.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqatmhz2W60k9vbuMlVMH521iy47uijJ1NxmbmfEGvQ3HjU32K8jXoKopBr_5FlMfbZQeJXPbiHmmEDNTW3dYunVxKGPSrxYHreMpC-Szj3P6mNCucdCS2P_QJpROlYaTqAZt8EeXUO80A/s1600/IMG_4428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqatmhz2W60k9vbuMlVMH521iy47uijJ1NxmbmfEGvQ3HjU32K8jXoKopBr_5FlMfbZQeJXPbiHmmEDNTW3dYunVxKGPSrxYHreMpC-Szj3P6mNCucdCS2P_QJpROlYaTqAZt8EeXUO80A/s1600/IMG_4428.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8bdpoa4V3EKTl4o4cwaL-6afpnnlBl9qZN380GvFZurEw931Pa9dzbdOI5Rj6l_RbgYXbobDZZ_V-OYF8Uwnko_poWxx_VyLMuGlcpiRkajDEnqN5EnbiR1HGUfQgLxpxlDhZuHllny4/s1600/IMG_4435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8bdpoa4V3EKTl4o4cwaL-6afpnnlBl9qZN380GvFZurEw931Pa9dzbdOI5Rj6l_RbgYXbobDZZ_V-OYF8Uwnko_poWxx_VyLMuGlcpiRkajDEnqN5EnbiR1HGUfQgLxpxlDhZuHllny4/s1600/IMG_4435.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb8Yhb56EzfLDpd82f8KwrzOnSajpfQNpfwNxICgbcGb8uircamm9_tKHVwxKtboIhwJ7TI26lpNDnFUQ8CT9jXh3mRVg_EHCheIOIxna-1bmObfsv_IQak7_iUdj-JV2yxXPh_9Zfzwz/s1600/IMG_4436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb8Yhb56EzfLDpd82f8KwrzOnSajpfQNpfwNxICgbcGb8uircamm9_tKHVwxKtboIhwJ7TI26lpNDnFUQ8CT9jXh3mRVg_EHCheIOIxna-1bmObfsv_IQak7_iUdj-JV2yxXPh_9Zfzwz/s1600/IMG_4436.JPG" title="Taif Rose Festival 2015" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comTaif Saudi Arabia21.433333 40.35000000000002320.960263 39.704553000000026 21.906403 40.99544700000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-54216302328523152412015-04-13T03:44:00.002-04:002020-04-05T12:08:51.369-04:00The What and Why of Sustainability Reporting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkrTFo5IccHGv68UnSRJ9VbujLJ5r_-vgjxBiamhRgKJoCaOon6lHVEV_OIHfGTrtdXQGFDOc8L1W6-LoQnh3zrlYC6E9Z3_Pc3cwL789A3SfQ8m6O-9JKtCnCRup5AutUO_0bc6OO_NI/s1600/sustainability-reporting.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkrTFo5IccHGv68UnSRJ9VbujLJ5r_-vgjxBiamhRgKJoCaOon6lHVEV_OIHfGTrtdXQGFDOc8L1W6-LoQnh3zrlYC6E9Z3_Pc3cwL789A3SfQ8m6O-9JKtCnCRup5AutUO_0bc6OO_NI/s1600/sustainability-reporting.jpg" title="Sustainability Reporting" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118122364/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118122364&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=GLUWOAPDXSHQ7D32" target="_blank">Sustainability reporting</a></b> is an integral part of any organization's sustainability effort. And because no two operations are the same - with different goals, different impacts, and different people in charge of the sustainability efforts - the final reporting products are all unique. You may decide to go with an "in accordance" GRI report or you could just use brief paragraphs, infographics, and fact sheets on your website to get the point across (which is what I have chosen to do).<br />
<br />
So how do you decide? That will have to be something your team struggles with as you learn more about yourselves, your organization and its impacts, and the latest sustainability trends and practices.<br />
<br />
But for now, knowing the what and why of <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118646983/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118646983&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=ECSBXSV2IOYKYQVT" target="_blank">sustainability reporting</a></b> should help get the ball rolling with that struggle.<br />
<br />
<b>What is Sustainability Reporting?</b><br />
<br />
Sustainability reporting is the avenue through which organizations publish the social, economic, and/or environmental impacts of their day-to-day activities. It involves making public data on things like energy consumption, waste generation, and employee engagement.<br />
<br />
An initial assessment report can be used to set goals and develop a strategy for reaching those goals. As progress is made in correcting those issues which require attention, that information is included in subsequent reports.<br />
<br />
Sustainability reporting, therefore, is the process of identifying, managing, and tracking the change required to achieve a sustainably operated organization – one that combines long term success and prosperity with ethical social and environmental behavior.<br />
<br />
A sustainability report, in addition to conveying an organization's values, is the perfect platform for organizations to communicate sustainability performance – positive <i>or</i> negative – to both internal and external stakeholders.<br />
<br />
<b>Why Sustainability Reporting?</b><br />
<br />
The most important reason for sustainability reporting is so organizations can better understand their social, economic, and/or environmental impacts and learn how to make their operations more sustainable.<br />
<br />
The reporting process allows organizations to generate relevant and reliable information on their sustainability impacts and performance. Using that information, they can then identify and focus on their most important issues. At the same time, they can identify new opportunities and unforeseen risks associated with reducing their impacts and improving their performance.<br />
<br />
On top of learning about their own impacts and ways of dealing with them, a sustainability report allows for more informed decision-making, transparency, and trust.<br />
<br />
By measuring performance, managing change, and communicating this to all involved, organizations can drive innovation, cut costs, improve their competitiveness, and protect people and the environment - all at the same time.<br />
<br />
The <b><a href="https://www.globalreporting.org/reporting/get-started/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)</a></b> divides the benefits into internal and external ones:<br />
<br />
<b>Internal Benefits Include:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>The development of a vision and strategy for operating in a more sustainable way</li>
<li>Giving structure to, providing context for, and tracking the progress of sustainability initiatives</li>
<li>Allowing for the identification of sustainability strengths and weaknesses, prioritizing them, and focusing time, energy, and other resources on those issues requiring the most attention</li>
<li>Attracting, motivating, and retaining better people, who are at the heart of every organization (they will contribute more and stay longer if they are motivated and empowered)</li>
</ol>
<b>External Benefits Include:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>Enhancing your public reputation</li>
<li>Building trust with external <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1285734297/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1285734297&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=V2EEAHTVCMATPAIU" target="_blank">stakeholders</a></b> through transparency</li>
<li>Achieving respect</li>
<li>Attracting investment by showing you have more than just a sustainable economic model - you have social and environmental ethics and priorities as well</li>
<li>Improving your competitiveness. There is worldwide awareness of the need for sustainability, but reporting and taking action are still fairly new. You'll be walking the walk rather than just talking the talk. This will help to set you apart.</li>
</ol>
<ol></ol>
Remember, sustainability reporting is important, but it isn't everything. You still need to turn those words into actions. As with anything, it's what we <i>do</i> that counts.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-51957612999968205712015-04-11T02:56:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:07:20.718-04:008 Fun Facts About King Abdullah Economic CityKing Abdullah Economic City is pretty cool. You might even feel like you're not in Saudi Arabia anymore. It is truly a modern city oasis.<br />
<br />
I originally went to see the <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/383654492X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=383654492X&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=CEDYLMP7HERRJTJJ" target="_blank">Salvador Dali</a></b> exhibition, but before I got to that, the group I was with was given a tour by the community manager, Omar. He showed us around the visitor center, including a PR film, and gave us some fun facts about <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00805NL0I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00805NL0I&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=XRF3SCK5CNWNKJPA" target="_blank">King Abdullah</a></b> Economic City (KAEC). Then I checked out the Dali artwork...<br />
<br />
After that, Omar took us to a private beach and then to a row of restaurants along the Red Sea for dinner. The sunset was pretty spectacular, as you'll see below.<br />
<br />
I highly recommend visiting KAEC if you can.<br />
<br />
Here are some of those fun facts:<br />
<ol>
<li>There are only about 3,000 residents so far. I believe Omar said they're shooting for 2 million.</li>
<li>About 30% of the population is Saudi.</li>
<li>The port opened in Fall 2013 and is among the top ten biggest in the world.</li>
<li>The visitor center was the first building built.</li>
<li>Sustainable design is incorporated throughout, but I don't really see it. No offense.</li>
<li>All of the water they use is desalinated Red Sea water.</li>
<li>They have their own generator for the city. They plan on being connected to the national grid by 2018.</li>
<li>A high-speed train will connect KAEC to Jeddah in 25 minutes. It was also go to Mecca and <b><a href="http://www.paleblueblog.com/2014/12/prophet-muhammad-mosque-medina-saudi-arabia.html">Medina</a></b>.</li>
</ol>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3CLqvtnpCVN4qVBo6KRa_TbBYFloCI6Brha_hyRZSlLpnsov2oW7jVM_iyb784Tx28KT-Mtci67WfhcpJ_CGjY33bAsWckMtVrnx60JRy6TEacwCdAHPKmqrmhqHAPCrCT759LAG3FWJ/s1600/IMG_4377_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3CLqvtnpCVN4qVBo6KRa_TbBYFloCI6Brha_hyRZSlLpnsov2oW7jVM_iyb784Tx28KT-Mtci67WfhcpJ_CGjY33bAsWckMtVrnx60JRy6TEacwCdAHPKmqrmhqHAPCrCT759LAG3FWJ/s1600/IMG_4377_2.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like models. That's the port that is now operating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAO-xMewFPlq7_PoaiHGZAliX1O5JjzxdnL6KN5BcpR8ywaFOXqIhyaNVE1ASDbzfbZU1lPHILq8Vf2EofoZgGzaeB3hdDge_9UvHF9JZSuCzdukST-LoiG1wUmvpjEKrwRfL5EAPX5Bb/s1600/IMG_4378_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimAO-xMewFPlq7_PoaiHGZAliX1O5JjzxdnL6KN5BcpR8ywaFOXqIhyaNVE1ASDbzfbZU1lPHILq8Vf2EofoZgGzaeB3hdDge_9UvHF9JZSuCzdukST-LoiG1wUmvpjEKrwRfL5EAPX5Bb/s1600/IMG_4378_2.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a big model.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNTIZqKrNocyrZxl1puv5WcG_Xk1s-EH1ZXlxRaWuRiSLM8TV6Ue9Mn8DuCFuDx_81Pc6G2Nyz6C2O1RTfRcczuyT3Tx-ozpn6AyQnc92_Qa84ndZ1Lr5Wv7lxxqAb0I0aDsXSUcBYhAU/s1600/IMG_4380_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNTIZqKrNocyrZxl1puv5WcG_Xk1s-EH1ZXlxRaWuRiSLM8TV6Ue9Mn8DuCFuDx_81Pc6G2Nyz6C2O1RTfRcczuyT3Tx-ozpn6AyQnc92_Qa84ndZ1Lr5Wv7lxxqAb0I0aDsXSUcBYhAU/s1600/IMG_4380_2.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some pictures from the top of the visitor center...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcznOiRk3mG_6zDaUxyLafx5AKHua_KWyv8s8pdi0UaVPPfPIR8XsoVJpdmELTKp-lOPSNXzgtvqT627M7AVJlhFc3sY6ZxDN1WqEpSMC8VOa8l4idE2y5cSt9r9FQWRyGx8tevVa251qY/s1600/IMG_4381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcznOiRk3mG_6zDaUxyLafx5AKHua_KWyv8s8pdi0UaVPPfPIR8XsoVJpdmELTKp-lOPSNXzgtvqT627M7AVJlhFc3sY6ZxDN1WqEpSMC8VOa8l4idE2y5cSt9r9FQWRyGx8tevVa251qY/s1600/IMG_4381.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aLpr05ZL91JUY3apUmRWcck7Rk_rNBKnvKNBRJoBumVrF1P6zeN6FvtxRQNC-f2XBNdtNGAboiiPPG8nJE1ZGuFyciq1wklQbcOpNtXyoPIUtxo6nAXfNz2UzFKLGAtme-lMiWD2SQWZ/s1600/IMG_4382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aLpr05ZL91JUY3apUmRWcck7Rk_rNBKnvKNBRJoBumVrF1P6zeN6FvtxRQNC-f2XBNdtNGAboiiPPG8nJE1ZGuFyciq1wklQbcOpNtXyoPIUtxo6nAXfNz2UzFKLGAtme-lMiWD2SQWZ/s1600/IMG_4382.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L7eUQz4vuWz1ce4b2FkSW4eBWd4I2Aj-bWLYzBSavfa2o967uAsUJwX763AMRH5GngNFXjQNhA_TBaCSFLRGE8gxOA6ZHsOLHJjje86X51nJcuI66bbf9iB2MlRi4LMfdId6gOpfWTV1/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L7eUQz4vuWz1ce4b2FkSW4eBWd4I2Aj-bWLYzBSavfa2o967uAsUJwX763AMRH5GngNFXjQNhA_TBaCSFLRGE8gxOA6ZHsOLHJjje86X51nJcuI66bbf9iB2MlRi4LMfdId6gOpfWTV1/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOGjyoppXXJrSzZjCx1hOpn8Wfr4NpB-rIw0FKsASYa-sQ8bhr4UETToPYLOHI57UAeG-oCQXpcOQFiRhMdIHbS18XddLan6I393rLQ8wKZMp-gC1-uN-w5LBLeU4YSvBnE8GTlxibgKK/s1600/IMG_4385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOGjyoppXXJrSzZjCx1hOpn8Wfr4NpB-rIw0FKsASYa-sQ8bhr4UETToPYLOHI57UAeG-oCQXpcOQFiRhMdIHbS18XddLan6I393rLQ8wKZMp-gC1-uN-w5LBLeU4YSvBnE8GTlxibgKK/s1600/IMG_4385.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First floor of the visitor center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9xFcR6FJgsSo8eBBetlAlJq2ZJkiAu9Br1PUecVc5oMkh0J6uA1BfTJw6ZWk_kb5PYaviU7-BjSea1-JEikidueZZ7aZisZgPAfu4K5VoOV7DbhkbwBpXqW1yOth3UIhhHH3Y_P6lK3q/s1600/IMG_4388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9xFcR6FJgsSo8eBBetlAlJq2ZJkiAu9Br1PUecVc5oMkh0J6uA1BfTJw6ZWk_kb5PYaviU7-BjSea1-JEikidueZZ7aZisZgPAfu4K5VoOV7DbhkbwBpXqW1yOth3UIhhHH3Y_P6lK3q/s1600/IMG_4388.JPG" title="King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking in the sunset at dinner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comKing Abdullah Economic City Saudi Arabia22.4 39.08333300000003922.165205 38.760609500000037 22.634794999999997 39.406056500000041tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-53752350596049514382015-04-09T07:01:00.000-04:002020-04-05T12:05:46.686-04:00Some Thoughts on Sustainability<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvDrR4A_s-6td6SbMDOrgOTDVHKKkBByqNcN2HjPG9h7wdI17sgxQK62VcZjahhlOB5oy3xXdmRBku6tLO_VFDnW1WgK7sHqicxAkiRs_S0oaDAswoPY_AbBeBk3DzWQnAV-mfSeFV4VB/s1600/environmental-awareness-679668_640.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Environmental Awareness" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvDrR4A_s-6td6SbMDOrgOTDVHKKkBByqNcN2HjPG9h7wdI17sgxQK62VcZjahhlOB5oy3xXdmRBku6tLO_VFDnW1WgK7sHqicxAkiRs_S0oaDAswoPY_AbBeBk3DzWQnAV-mfSeFV4VB/s1600/environmental-awareness-679668_640.jpg" title="Environmental Awareness" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
As I look back on the past year of building a sustainability effort at Effat University - a private, non-profit, all-female institution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - I'd like to share with you some thoughts on the overal experience.<br />
<br />
Perhaps because I'm human, my first thoughts are about the challenges I faced. These included gathering and validating data and building the right team to identify and implement solutions.<br />
<br />
But by far the toughest part of incorporating sustainability principles into our operations has been building an organization-wide understanding of sustainability. Doing so is very important, because if there is an understanding of the value of such an initiative, gaining leadership and overall consensus is much easier. If you have leadership and community support, the rest is then simply about working together on solutions. That’s because, beyond <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415899826/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415899826&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=H2BBH2SQX2YT64LV" target="_blank">education</a></b>, sustainability is about cooperation.<br />
<br />
Sadly, this education obstacle is not unique to our university. All throughout the world, the sustainability movement is being hindered not only by economic and value systems that place profit above all else, but also by the lack of understanding of what sustainability is, what it means for an organization, and what it means for the world. Or, even worse, we derive different meanings, different meanings that only serve to produce competing sustainability agendas rather than a common objective.<br />
<br />
What is sustainability?<br />
<br />
For the sake of simplicity, let's first look at the definition provided by the disbanded Brundtland Commission in their final report <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/019282080X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=019282080X&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=OFTDWK2C76SBX2E5" target="_blank">Our Common Future</a></b></i>.<br />
<br />
They defined sustainability, or sustainable development, as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Many would argue this definition is insufficient and overly simplistic. I tend to agree. Perhaps a better definition would be "improving the lives of people around the world and maintaining that way of life indefinitely, by designing economies and other social institutions that are fair and operate within the natural limits of Earth."<br />
<br />
Given the current way in which we "develop", it’s an inherently paradoxical concept. How can the continued growth of our economies, which currently rely so heavily on the exploitation of people and planet, be sustainable? Well, it's not. This approach to operating spaceship Earth simply won't work on the timescales we should all be concerned with.<br />
<br />
Hundreds of millions of people still live in poverty and lack the most basic of services. Wealth continues to accumulate in the hands of fewer and fewer people. Our climate is changing before our eyes, with more frequent and intense weather events costing us tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in damage annually. Biodiversity continues to decline rapidly, threatening the basic functioning of the ecosystems that we so massively depend on for resources and waste removal. These are just a few of the many social, economic, and <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1256933090/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1256933090&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=FYKXQ4L4PSR2VFMP" target="_blank">environmental issues</a></b> we face.<br />
<br />
How did we get into this mess?<br />
<br />
It's simple, really. The environmental and sustainability movements came about in response to humans spending most of their time becoming richer without considering the human and natural capital that our profits depend on. Think of it like this: If the last 200-300 years of capitalism were a person, the torso would be our global economy, getting fatter and fatter as the years passed. The people and the natural environment that support this economy would be the legs, growing weaker by the day, having a harder and harder time supporting the growing torso.<br />
<br />
Governments have done a decent job at reigning in capitalism to avoid its pitfalls, and they can certainly do more - but it's a very slow go. They simply don't have the political will. Why? Because their values, and the values of the people who elect them, are corrupt. As a whole, profit is still the most important thing.<br />
<br />
How can we change this?<br />
<br />
If you said education, you're correct. Incorporating <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321811534/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0321811534&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=DMPFCVIYZF4BON4V" target="_blank">environmental science</a></b> and sustainability coursework at all levels of education around the world would go a long way. We need future generations who value people and the environment as much as, or more than, profit - and we need to start now.<br />
<br />
It isn't too late for us older generations either. I'm the perfect example. I grew up in the pinnacle of consumerist societies (the USA) and have learned to live and think differently than most as a result of my higher education. It really opened my eyes to what we were doing to the environment and other people as we relentlessly pursue profits.<br />
<br />
For those of us who can't return to school, there is plenty of information out there and it is easier than ever to access over the Internet. So educate yourself, and remind yourself that without people and the environment, there is no economy, and therefore no standard of living like the one you have today. If you own or run a business, know that sustainability is good for the long-term success of your business, with wealthier lower classes better able to afford your products and services, and a healthier natural environment providing you with a stable climate to conduct business in, among many other things.<br />
<br />
In the end, sustainability is simply a mindset, a mindset that we can all achieve through education. So share this article with your friends and family, discuss sustainability with them, and continue the dialogue. We can learn to set aside our differences and work together on a common goal, one that allows us to improve life for all in socially and environmentally responsible ways.<br />
<br />
We only have one Earth, one home, so we need to get this right - and I know we will. Sadly, however, we are human and we tend to only act out of necessity. We won't change in meaningful ways until catastrophe strikes. History has proven this time and again. I just hope things don't get too bad before we act.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-64183814621821608112015-02-27T08:20:00.002-05:002020-04-05T12:04:01.328-04:00What is Environmental Sustainability?Here is an infographic I made for educating and engaging our campus community on the topic of <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/041584018X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=041584018X&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=SHCRZ6RTCWLWSZN7" target="_blank">sustainability</a></b>. A huge part of managing sustainability efforts is simply that: educating and engaging people. This is how I'm going about it.<br />
<br />
Feel free to use this any way you would like. Knowledge should be open and free.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehOEDL9OPbVJf4Si9IRlqDjI9-fbv2JxKgPHqX_JCX_Vvh2Nw7qPm_t12buqam14NlJAF_vzboytci6uQqrYlCZQz-D4kcWhSYUZ8qxwHav-EbpfE9Y5jwDztLAGNPRUbjn082jwkGEW6/s1600/What+is+Sustainability.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="What Is Sustainability Infographic" border="0" height="910" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehOEDL9OPbVJf4Si9IRlqDjI9-fbv2JxKgPHqX_JCX_Vvh2Nw7qPm_t12buqam14NlJAF_vzboytci6uQqrYlCZQz-D4kcWhSYUZ8qxwHav-EbpfE9Y5jwDztLAGNPRUbjn082jwkGEW6/s1600/What+is+Sustainability.png" title="What Is Sustainability Infographic" width="640" /></a>Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-60805541454145575252015-02-23T22:52:00.001-05:002020-04-05T12:02:30.904-04:00An Overview of the Overview Effect<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukSZeHo62uWw0Fh9pMqGSFMenRxIiXUl_WgPZiMMxuVNUyLfsfyOuo43j5AuzOViACWKAzRJ40pK6CQt8irhgRYOMOAUeI4NDy28cfSdigcZXRkcaryzQo-kLgWwhrFZNpuJwcydI6p2p/s1600/TheOverviewEffect.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="The Overview Effect" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukSZeHo62uWw0Fh9pMqGSFMenRxIiXUl_WgPZiMMxuVNUyLfsfyOuo43j5AuzOViACWKAzRJ40pK6CQt8irhgRYOMOAUeI4NDy28cfSdigcZXRkcaryzQo-kLgWwhrFZNpuJwcydI6p2p/s1600/TheOverviewEffect.jpg" title="The Overview Effect" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Have you ever seen <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MRAAJM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000MRAAJM&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=IVTB7KJSJ7IHS2KZ" target="_blank">Earth</a></b> from space? Yeah, neither have I. But according to the people who have, it can have a profound effect on the way you view our planet and your place on it.<br />
<br />
And I don't doubt them, because after watching the video below, I was very moved. As an environmental science teacher, I already have an appreciation for how delicate and unique our planet is, but this video stirred new thoughts and emotions. I can only begin to imagine what it would be like to view Earth from <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1426209711/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1426209711&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=24UB7N2WXV6ZLY2I" target="_blank">space</a></b> and the feeling you must get.<br />
<br />
But since that will probably never happen for me, I'll have to stick to videos like the one below or images like the one above. They may not have the same impact, but they certainly were able to move me. I hope they move you too.<br />
<br />
The Overview Effect is simple: Once you see Earth from space, you will gain a new appreciation and awareness of our home. You will see Earth as a relatively insignificant and delicate ball of life surrounded by the emptiness of a very harsh outer space-with a paper-thin layer of gas protecting us from certain death. All of a sudden, differences among people and political boundaries vanish and you begin to view the human race as a single global society.<br />
<br />
The term was coined in 1987 by Frank White, who wrote the book <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162410262X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=162410262X&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=KU44R6CRSYXDBTH4" target="_blank">The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution</a></b>.<br />
<br />
Enjoy the video.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CHMIfOecrlo" width="640"></iframe>Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-59016195345452267672015-02-22T07:38:00.000-05:002020-04-05T12:00:37.246-04:00What You Need to Know About Biodiversity<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePQ1jhAMluaMoVkJFwSiad3znYQzlq81CLgrg5psDjpTR7rTwCj5ZQoaPDQpNBr3fKHGsD450mq1gr8sdDgX2520LVS_jTkz0Z0EmIqZrQem9pUKFcsDmBSN-xTTtPUIJ6G4JGnbxb8yn/s1600/flowers-260202_640.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Biodiversity" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePQ1jhAMluaMoVkJFwSiad3znYQzlq81CLgrg5psDjpTR7rTwCj5ZQoaPDQpNBr3fKHGsD450mq1gr8sdDgX2520LVS_jTkz0Z0EmIqZrQem9pUKFcsDmBSN-xTTtPUIJ6G4JGnbxb8yn/s1600/flowers-260202_640.jpg" title="Biodiversity" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1405118571/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1405118571&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=5EKPT3EMGKRH2HBR" target="_blank">Biodiversity</a></b> is simply the variety of living things-or number of species-in a particular area. It is a contraction of the words "biological" and "diversity". Biodiversity can refer to variation within or between species, but is usually used to refer to the variety of life in an ecosystem.<br />
<br />
There are about 5 to 30 million different species on Earth, with about 1.75 million being named, classified, and described. Most of those that have been named, classified, and described are insects, meaning, as the count now stands, terrestrial ecosystems are more biodiverse than ocean ecosystems.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150560/" target="_blank">Biodiversity</a></b> is fundamentally important to the functioning of natural and man-made ecosystems. All species play a role in the services that ecosystems provide. They cycle the matter and forward the energy that all of us depend on.<br />
<br />
But biodiversity is taking a hit from human activity. Globally, it is declining at rates estimated to be 100 to 10,000 times faster than natural. The main reason? We are destroying the habitat on which these species depend-we are destroying their homes. Another scary estimate? Up to 50% of well-understood species are threatened with extinction.<br />
<br />
Some scientists argue that we are in the middle of the Earth's 6th mass extinction event. Go us.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-23181680155972544322015-02-20T23:28:00.001-05:002020-04-05T11:59:06.666-04:008 Ways the World Might End<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdAYZk-3Alzn0E1OP_81ch64vV5ZBU0VP-AVcAH8Bc6XuTY6kDzJj9E7S9_twpYUlMn6twsGxKKHKahzX_oSnlaHnAtFNMhAJiOR0pCWKiS9EDaue6_Rx0ppVum-CrqqK42a_OXPh3MZx/s1600/space-71217_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apocalypse" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdAYZk-3Alzn0E1OP_81ch64vV5ZBU0VP-AVcAH8Bc6XuTY6kDzJj9E7S9_twpYUlMn6twsGxKKHKahzX_oSnlaHnAtFNMhAJiOR0pCWKiS9EDaue6_Rx0ppVum-CrqqK42a_OXPh3MZx/s1600/space-71217_640.jpg" title="Apocalypse" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Did anyone else see the <b><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/02/18/how-will-world-end-orig.cnn" target="_blank">CNN piece</a></b> on potential doomsday scenarios? If not, here's a summary.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Scientists conducted a two-year study to determine the most likely ways that human civilization will end. Here are eight of those ways:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1) Nuclear War:</b> The odds of this occurring have gone down since the <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00701QYIE/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00701QYIE&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=HTQNFSRXC2ZFUQZR" target="_blank">Cold War</a></b>, but I guess it's still a possible scenario. I still don't think <i>anyone</i> is stupid enough to start a fight where both sides lose. But maybe I'm wrong...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>2) Climate Change:</b> Although this will be a huge headache for human civilization due to mass migration, food and water insecurity, and <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CTZ2S4A/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CTZ2S4A&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=QTF5SREJ77DI7L2D" target="_blank">extreme weather</a></b>, I don't think it will be the end of us.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>3) Global Pandemic:</b> Yes, sanitation and medicine have improved dramatically, but population density and increased global connectivity (airplanes) mean <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1847240143/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1847240143&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=JDWD3HMSXS4XWZRA" target="_blank">diseases</a></b> will have an easier time spreading.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>4) Asteroids:</b> Will the human race come to an end the same way the <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0737726377/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0737726377&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=CK6V7U4BSL3HCPB4" target="_blank">dinosaurs</a></b> did 65 million years ago? Who knows. I'll leave this question to the astronomers and cosmologists.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>5) Super Volcanoes:</b> This has happened before too... and there is one under our feet in <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760336547/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0760336547&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=UJI4DQ2GHBNXSPMK" target="_blank">Yellowstone National Park</a></b> just waiting to blow. The eruption/explosion would kill a lot of people instantly, then the ash would block out the sun and poison the food supply for the rest of us. Yay.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>6) Aliens:</b> Or what the scientists in the study refer to as the "unknown unknown." Use your imagination.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>7) Artificial Intelligence (AI):</b> I remember hearing <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NHSPPQ6/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00NHSPPQ6&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=NNYW2VTD4Y4AA56Z" target="_blank">Bill Gates</a></b> at one point saying he thinks computers and robots will be a threat in the future.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>8) Bad Global Governance:</b> I think this is the most likely scenario. We are seeing it right now all over the world. Leaders continue to cause problems and/or fail to resolve them.<br />
<br />
Good luck to us all.</div>
Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comWashington, DC 20001, USA38.912068 -77.019022838.862645 -77.0997038 38.961490999999995 -76.9383418tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-42508024716332364872015-02-19T03:28:00.002-05:002020-04-05T11:58:22.767-04:00Welcome to My Pale Blue Blog!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2WosO6fCZlXfXU-nXLPbiTDxm3waB2QluLvr3SRN0HXf0Tc28rFoF72efOZvhyphenhyphenPOu3KL7T-MDBiGEtoK42k9ibnxCQe9rJCAM4ie8EEYOIK2m7XMSEX2TVH9uAmJGr9IFYA4DmFb3eeT/s1600/Here.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Pale Blue Dot" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2WosO6fCZlXfXU-nXLPbiTDxm3waB2QluLvr3SRN0HXf0Tc28rFoF72efOZvhyphenhyphenPOu3KL7T-MDBiGEtoK42k9ibnxCQe9rJCAM4ie8EEYOIK2m7XMSEX2TVH9uAmJGr9IFYA4DmFb3eeT/s1600/Here.png" title="Pale Blue Dot" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Hello and welcome to the new blog everyone. For those of you who weren't following me before, I've changed the name of the blog from The Roaming Environmentalist to My Pale Blue Blog. I did this for a few reasons, but mainly because it was time for a change.<br />
<b><br /></b>So, what's up with the name?<br />
<br />
The new blog name is a reference to <a href="http://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/earth/pale-blue-dot.html" target="_blank"><b>Pale Blue Dot</b></a>, a photograph of planet Earth taken in 1990 by the Voyager 1 space probe. The picture was taken from about 4 billion miles away and shows our planet as a tiny dot in the vastness of space. It was taken at the request of Carl Sagan, an astronomer who then wrote the book Pale Blue Dot. The gist? All of human history has occurred on a speck of dust we know as Earth. It is nothing compared to the rest of the universe, and it is the only place we have to live.<br />
<br />
Here is an excerpt from <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345376595/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345376595&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=KKKXNYGXEWKIZKHB" target="_blank">his book</a></b>:<br />
<br />
<i>Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.</i><br />
<br />
-- Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994
<br />
<br />
Given <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345539435/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345539435&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=VPBSGL6Q3J7IM2IH" target="_blank">our planet's insignificance</a></b>, and therefore my own insignificance, <i>and</i> the insignificance of my blog in a universe of millions of blogs, I thought this name was appropriate. It also means I can write about pretty much anything under the sun-which I prefer. As much as I love environmental science and traveling, I like to know a little about everything rather than everything about one-or a few-topics.<br />
<br />
I'm going with a new look and feel, but there will still be all of the same past, present, and future content.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy.Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-26224653909085981052015-02-03T04:06:00.000-05:002020-04-05T11:57:17.917-04:00What is Sustainability?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg2OFMjix5d0iulDpLHOy7r3aXcnArR_7uoH5-jJchqk3NxDYUfUiWx5U0w6cji_xsoaf8wzfb6_UHAHjoL6IMpwaEHWfTLQQzHiRlyqel6-OfIemiOJxGBii1WtP2Jv1fpUA47YfigXB/s1600/windmills-522422_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="What is Sustainability?" border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg2OFMjix5d0iulDpLHOy7r3aXcnArR_7uoH5-jJchqk3NxDYUfUiWx5U0w6cji_xsoaf8wzfb6_UHAHjoL6IMpwaEHWfTLQQzHiRlyqel6-OfIemiOJxGBii1WtP2Jv1fpUA47YfigXB/s1600/windmills-522422_1280.jpg" title="What is Sustainability?" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
You’ve probably heard the terms “<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/041584018X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=041584018X&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=ZGOQHUAJ6U5U25R5" target="_blank">sustainability</a></b>” or “sustainable development” by now, but you're not quite sure what they mean. So let's clear things up.<br />
<br />
To start off, something is sustainable if the behavior can be continued in perpetuity; i.e. the resources used to keep the behavior going are not exhausted. Therefore, a key ingredient in sustainability is long-term thinking.<br />
<br />
Sustainability, or <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231173156/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0231173156&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=AAOATZFGBY2JAMNW" target="_blank">sustainable development</a></b>, was famously defined by the disbanded <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/019282080X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=019282080X&linkCode=as2&tag=paleblueblog-20&linkId=BJS2356MG73CYD2P" target="_blank">Brundtland Commission</a></b> as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."<br />
<br />
Many argue this definition is insufficient and overly simplistic – I tend to agree. I think a better definition would be "improving the lives of people around the world and maintaining that way of life indefinitely, by designing economies and other social institutions that are fair and operate within the natural limits of Earth."<br />
<br />
As you may have noticed from the previous definitions, there are some major components to sustainability. The one that comes to mind most often is the environmental component. This involves managing renewable and non-renewable natural resources and pollution generation in a way that Earth can cope.<br />
<br />
We can break environmental sustainability into three parts:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Renewable Resources:</b> the rate of renewable resource harvest (water, trees, etc.) should not exceed the rate of natural regeneration.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Non-Renewable Resources:</b> the depletion of non-renewable resources (fossil fuels, certain minerals, etc.) should be accompanied by the comparable development of renewable substitutes.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Waste/Pollution:</b> the rate of waste/pollution generation should not exceed Earth's capacity to absorb and disperse it.<br />
<br />
In other words, environmental sustainability is the rate of renewable resource harvest, non-renewable resource depletion, and waste/pollution creation that can be continued indefinitely.<br />
<br />
There is also an economic component that calls for, among many other things, economies that manage tradable and non-tradable natural resources in the most efficient and responsible way possible. Then there is a social component that focuses on social equity, an important aspect of sustainable societies.<br />
<br />
I hope this helps!Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-44536038512015880572015-02-02T01:19:00.000-05:002020-04-05T11:56:00.606-04:00My 5 Travel Tips That You Might Not Like<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0P3LAQHMZd71w2UM7lRoOmsFdKMh6nZJWb_yiGyYnZDvGGp9-pzJwzwplDqc80vw-Hhpdu4GnZj1OKetorVUk6oQg3pWYIwh0HsZ1HHt6Ca4lxZ8OK9V21rM-Lzx5IqOS2z-wQJA1M-V/s1600/hiker-598204_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0P3LAQHMZd71w2UM7lRoOmsFdKMh6nZJWb_yiGyYnZDvGGp9-pzJwzwplDqc80vw-Hhpdu4GnZj1OKetorVUk6oQg3pWYIwh0HsZ1HHt6Ca4lxZ8OK9V21rM-Lzx5IqOS2z-wQJA1M-V/s1600/hiker-598204_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Before you begin reading my list of travel tips, keep the following in mind:<br />
<br />
This list is <i>not</i> about how to get a window seat on the airplane, how to save money, or how to stay safe and healthy. Nor is it about how to keep the family happy, what items you should pack, or how to travel in an environmentally-friendly way (you should be doing that anyway!) - and it certainly isn't about how to accommodate your pet, what books to take, or how to make your travels more comfortable and worry-free.<br />
<br />
No, no. Rather, my travel tips are about getting out of your comfort-zone and learning as much as possible about this vast, incredible world we live in.<br />
<br />
Without further ado, let's get started.<br />
<br />
<b>1) Get a Passport.</b><br />
I know this sounds obvious, but I know plenty of people who don't have one, either because they never got one to begin with or they let it expire. So don't hesitate - go ASAP. Forget about how much it costs and stop thinking about whether or not you'll actually use it. Just get it.<br />
<br />
That way, if and when the urge hits to go somewhere, you can just grab it and go. You won't have to go through the application process, which will certainly delay your trip and maybe even cause you to cancel it altogether.<br />
<br />
Oh, and get the one with double pages, in case your first trip turns into an addiction - like it did for me. Then click <b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2669375/The-powerful-passports-world-revealed.html" target="_blank">here</a></b> to see how "powerful" your passport is.<br />
<br />
<b>2) Go to places off the beaten path.</b><br />
Don't go where everyone else goes, like Paris, Rome, or London. Yeah, they're beautiful, historic, and amazing cities to visit, but they're too easy. You don't learn very much by choosing the easy path.<br />
<br />
Go to more "difficult" places where you are unfamiliar with the language, where the locals aren't guaranteed to know your language, and where someone might say to you, "why would you go there???" Go somewhere like Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, or Estonia. Oh, and forget about the tropical and subtropical beach resorts as well.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Hoof it like (and with) the locals.</b><br />
This travel tip goes hand-in-hand with the previous one. Once you get to the more "difficult" place, don't make getting around too easy on yourself either. Rather than going with a tour group to the Great Wall, go into Beijing and find one of buses that can take you there. Rather than taking a cab from point A to point B, take a cab in combination with the metro, a bus, walking, etc.<br />
<br />
A good rule of thumb: If the locals aren't doing it, you don't do it. When in Rome...<br />
<br />
<b>4) Do at least <i>some</i> homework before you go.</b><br />
You don't want to go in <i>completely</i> blind. You should be somewhat familiar with the local culture and any risks to help with your overall decision-making while there.<br />
<br />
But don't do <i>too</i> much homework. You don't want to set expectations for what it will be like based on what other people have written. We all have different experiences when we go abroad. So when it doesn't turn out the way you expected it to, you'll inevitably get pissed off or disappointed. So see if you can strike a balance with your homework so that you can be efficient <i>and</i> happy on your trip. And remember, always keep an open mind.<br />
<br />
<b>5) Get lost.</b><br />
No, really. Get lost. Ditch the tour group. Have a cab driver drop you off somewhere more remote. Go for a walk without a map. Then find your way back. Learn some words in the local tongue and use them to ask people where you need to go. Not only will you have a potentially awesome story to tell your friends and family when you get back, but you'll also learn some new skills and build confidence in your problem-solving abilities.<br />
<br />
Plus, the next time you're lost in a foreign country it won't be as nerve-racking, and you'll be able to keep calm anyone who is with you and might be freaking out.<br />
<br />
And don't worry, you'll make it back - unless you become an anomaly.<br />
<br />
Well, those are my travel tips for learning the most about this awesome and crazy world we live in.<br />
<br />
Good luck out there!Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-29078619437806213302015-01-26T10:48:00.000-05:002020-04-05T11:54:37.907-04:00Islam and the Environment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaTek-5-qLJt1bBD9d3bu4HDEKfRo7CjiioIHhiBKRVx4l2ElIZKRoqrTjVb_XFjcjRMDdhHqoH9XM_scuP5s-QDiQxr5M6uBpCRAmHPrdFuMW6MP6mCIyhvdFOPSQEh7VW_PLADY6cWM/s1600/InE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Islam And The Environment" border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaTek-5-qLJt1bBD9d3bu4HDEKfRo7CjiioIHhiBKRVx4l2ElIZKRoqrTjVb_XFjcjRMDdhHqoH9XM_scuP5s-QDiQxr5M6uBpCRAmHPrdFuMW6MP6mCIyhvdFOPSQEh7VW_PLADY6cWM/s1600/InE.jpg" title="Islam And The Environment" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Amid all the discussion about how peaceful or violent the world's second-largest religion is, I thought I would take the time to learn more about how environmentally-friendly Islam is - or tries to be.<br />
<br />
After my introduction to Islam, I wanted to know more about what the religion teaches about how humans should treat the natural world. So I sat down with a former student of mine who was kind enough to send me some Quranic verses and Hadith sayings and discuss them with me.<br />
<br />
I'm confident that many of us could write for hours on how we interpret the verses and sayings below (as well as all other verses and sayings within Islam), but that's not my style. I'm going to keep it simple - short and sweet. So I've organized the post like this:<br />
<br />
First, the English translation of the verse or saying. Second, my (extremely brief) interpretation of it and how it relates to environmental science.<br />
<br />
This is by no means an exhaustive list. I left some verses and sayings out for the sake of time and space. However, this does nothing to change my conclusion: that Islam has good intentions for the environment :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Quranic Verses</u></b></div>
<br />
“And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate.” (25: 67)<br />
<br />
<b>Don't use more than or less than what you need. Moderation is key. I believe that this rule applies to everything in life, especially renewable and non-renewable natural resources that we use to survive and thrive. Take what you need to improve your standard of living but leave some for the people who will come after you.</b><br />
<br />
“And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption.” (2:205)<br />
<br />
<b>Man does a good job of "corrupting" the land. We pillage the earth to make money and improve our lives. But God doesn't like this. He doesn't like when we "corrupt" the land by unnecessarily depleting resources and creating waste.</b><br />
<br />
“And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy, and We send down from the sky pure water. That We may bring to life thereby a dead land and give it as drink to those We created of numerous livestock and men.” (25: 48-49)<br />
<br />
<b>It will be windy before a storm or rain event. And when the rain comes, the water will bring life to the plants and animals below. Sounds about right.</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b><b><u>Prophetic Sayings (Hadith)</u></b></div>
<br />
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "You should not pass urine in stagnant water which is not flowing then (you may need to) wash in it."<br />
<br />
<b>Don't go #1 in standing water in case you need to bathe in it afterwards. This is still a huge issue in developing countries around the world. People bathe in water that was previously used as a bathroom and/or trashcan and get sick and/or die.</b><br />
<br />
A Bedouin came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to ask him about Wudu' (ablution), so he showed him how to perform Wudu', washing each part three times, then Prophet said: “'This is Wudu. Whoever does more than that has done badly, done to extremes and done wrong.”<br />
<br />
<b>Again, don't use more than you need. Conservation is key - especially when it comes to water in an arid region.</b><br />
<br />
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A woman got into Hell-Fire because of a cat whom she had tied, and thus it could not eat, and she did not let it free so that it could devour the vermin of the earth, until it died.”<br />
<br />
<b>Treat all living things on earth the way you would yourself or your loved ones, including not killing them. Live and let live. Also, be nice to kitties!</b><br />
<br />
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If the Final Hour comes while you have a palm-cutting in your hands and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, you should plant it."<br />
<br />
<b>If you have a chance to plant a tree - plant the tree. They're important. We need them. They serve an important role in ecosystems and for humans.</b><br />
<br />
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When a man was walking on the road, he found a thorny branch and removed it. Allah appreciated his action by forgiving him."<br />
<br />
<b>Better to leave the natural world as untouched as possible. It knows what it is doing - the epitome of sustainability.</b>Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-82891787594601946892015-01-01T03:02:00.000-05:002020-04-05T11:53:12.044-04:005 Lessons I Learned from Starting a Sustainability Program<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EAtTPfPrqLl_4WTDDIeyNTwJU4wOjL-4y-xpMfOIAzT_74U8D7OrYHmwIToyKi_4XpTKgPqZhPZvEBvp5sj8Sin1TNn3HKwaQoRA8PuVKM-joiEKv3WxLrxEmxMSTW6zNqgZe7cpfouG/s1600/Sustainability+management(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Sustainability Management" border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EAtTPfPrqLl_4WTDDIeyNTwJU4wOjL-4y-xpMfOIAzT_74U8D7OrYHmwIToyKi_4XpTKgPqZhPZvEBvp5sj8Sin1TNn3HKwaQoRA8PuVKM-joiEKv3WxLrxEmxMSTW6zNqgZe7cpfouG/s1600/Sustainability+management(Large).jpg" title="Sustainability Management" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>In addition to my teaching responsibilities at Effat University, I was given the opportunity to develop and lead a sustainability program for the school - and I will be sharing my experiences (both good and bad) here. </b><b>Feel free to follow along as I update everyone on the program and <i>please, please, please</i> feel free to provide any comments, suggestions, criticisms, etc.</b><br />
<br />
This first post looks back on my first year as a full-time teacher and part-time sustainability coordinator, the trials and tribulations, and the lessons I learned.<br />
<br />
When I was first given the go-ahead to tackle this role, I was lost to say the least. I had ideas on where and how to begin, but had trouble moving forward with them. I have a pretty solid environmental science background and I understand sustainability principles pretty darn well. But looking back - I'll be doing that a lot this post - that simply wasn't enough. In fact, it really only helped a little bit. I quickly realized I had a lot of learning to do.<br />
<br />
I also had a lot of questions, with the most obvious being: How does one go about improving the social, economic, and environmental performance of a university? And less obvious questions like: Should we report? What should be included in the report? What aspects of sustainability should we focus on? Has the university attempted anything like this before? Who should be involved? How will it be managed? How do I institutionalize it?<br />
<br />
While attempting to find answers to these and many other questions, I got many things wrong. But I did get one thing right: I knew that without leadership support and commitment to the cause, the chance of the sustainability effort being a success and leading to positive change was zero.<br />
<br />
So I contacted our President and set up a meeting. I went into the meeting with an explanation of what sustainability is, how it would benefit us, and the issues I wanted to tackle, but that was not nearly enough. That first meeting was also our last one for the year.<br />
<br />
It has been a slow-go, with more downs than ups. The downs included waning leadership support, low participation from the community, and an environmental performance assessment that flopped - all of which were my fault. I can only attribute so much of that failure to the fact that I spent most of my time teaching. Rather, it had more to do with the steep learning curve I went through and not having a clear path forward.<br />
<br />
The good news now is that I'm turning a corner and beginning to understand exactly what steps I need to take. As I go through this period of enlightenment, I thought I would share with you 5 lessons I learned from this past year as a part-time sustainability coordinator:<br />
<br />
<b>1) We were already "doing" sustainability.</b> The university naturally wants to reduce costs, improve processes, and conserve scarce or expensive resources. How do you do that? By becoming more efficient with the resource inputs (energy, water, food, operational materials, etc.). For example, 90% of our gray water from campus buildings is used for irrigation. There were also plenty of people already interested and/or committed to these types of initiatives.<br />
<br />
<b>2) A formal report isn't necessary - at least not right away.</b> A GRI-compliant report is great for understanding your impacts, communicating those impacts to stakeholders, and recognition and promotion of your efforts, but it isn't mandatory. If you really want to report, keep it simple at first and don't be afraid to report on the not-so-good stuff as well. Perhaps start by posting your commitment to sustainability and a few key pieces of data on your organization's website.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Communicate better with leadership.</b> Tell them <i>exactly</i> what a sustainability program would entail, how it would benefit the organization and the bottom line, and have an overarching strategy before trying to sell it to them (more specific strategies can come later). Continue to keep leadership in the loop with what is happening with the program. I'm using monthly progress reports.<br />
<br />
<b>4) Do an assessment.</b> Establish a benchmark. Once you know where you stand, then you can decide where you want to go and how to get there. Depending on the resources available, the assessment can be simple or more complicated. I suggest focusing on the sustainability aspects deemed most material and that will also have the most impact, like energy, water, and waste/recycling.<br />
<br />
<b>5) You can't do it by yourself.</b> A huge part of leading sustainability efforts is educating the community, raising awareness, and building and managing relationships with stakeholders. Just like any other accomplishment in life, you can't do it by yourself. Embed it in the culture.<br />
<br />
Peter Graf, Chief Sustainability Officer at SAP, <b><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2010/11/23/top-five-steps-to-kick-start-a-sustainability-effort-inside-a-company/" target="_blank">learned some similar lessons</a></b>.<br />
<br />
I hope this helps!Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comJeddah Saudi Arabia21.485811 39.19250479999998820.540000000000003 37.901611299999985 22.431622 40.48339829999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8440727492712947282.post-26017709453446339102014-12-25T22:00:00.000-05:002020-04-05T11:52:09.464-04:00Christmas Day in Riyadh's Diplomatic QuarterIt's been a while since my last post. I know. But you try being a teacher. :) Now that the fall semester is over, let's catch up a bit.<br />
<br />
For my first (and hopefully last) Christmas abroad, I went on a mini-vacation to Riyadh. In addition to the old Saudi State capital Diriyah, the national museum, and various other landmarks, I checked out the <a href="http://www.blueabaya.com/2013/07/top-13-things-to-do-in-riyadhs.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Diplomatic Quarter</a>,<b> </b>where all of the foreign embassies are located.<br />
<br />
Getting there was pretty easy with the car I rented and Google maps. The security at the entrance looks a bit intimidating, but they let pretty much everyone in after you explain what you're doing there and/or show some ID.<br />
<br />
By far the best part of the Diplomatic Quarter is the walking trail/garden. The first picture below is of the entrance I used to get to it, but there could be others. It has some really cool man-made rock ledges, seats, and pathways. You'll also have the chance to lounge in a gazebo or play on a playground. It is along the edges of the Diplomatic Quarter overlooking a valley (see pictures below).<br />
<br />
It is also pretty cool driving around the Diplomatic Quarter and seeing all of the embassies and the signs saying which country they belong to. The mosque is also really nice and the entrance to the cultural building will have you looking skywards for at least a few minutes. The area also boasts some really nice courtyards with restaurants to hang out in.<br />
<br />
Well, that's it. Let me know if you go there and have any questions.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPShSwPvqcl0uZELNhvp8j4r24_ZBL0CFAufPsOob97uhMcrbSowLm42eywlM8M9W9fmV-3j9jZDIFoorw6ynOEKqsmt55KYTNKvILXm0lskpBYiUhhPoerPY-s4sFEJaxKLZ1nluXpjrO/s1600/IMG_4113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPShSwPvqcl0uZELNhvp8j4r24_ZBL0CFAufPsOob97uhMcrbSowLm42eywlM8M9W9fmV-3j9jZDIFoorw6ynOEKqsmt55KYTNKvILXm0lskpBYiUhhPoerPY-s4sFEJaxKLZ1nluXpjrO/s1600/IMG_4113.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the walking trail and garden area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje42nnxQ0O4-CAEXatS_TDPSKmBlg6kOCKf7akSut4MfJYCrDIJfHmYY902A37MfGYOrAwpzkPswsKXzK-yUIubiaqoPk2S_xksKw57QXJNfdqxNgNrx1yNbOsyonTEf31Qt0LsCoBe_YE/s1600/IMG_4079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje42nnxQ0O4-CAEXatS_TDPSKmBlg6kOCKf7akSut4MfJYCrDIJfHmYY902A37MfGYOrAwpzkPswsKXzK-yUIubiaqoPk2S_xksKw57QXJNfdqxNgNrx1yNbOsyonTEf31Qt0LsCoBe_YE/s1600/IMG_4079.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssv1nU2NyPIejMRIiz8DP-bpiaGv_yU5y4jyyDoj9UxlmSEG2erFvJc1ik8VGo7IaJ7NAvqvYwwECYemGDvUlQRY1O0-8MlhBBr_BFehu5kOE1Uw2FBzylrGqMcWN59qDxN6PT2KPs2jJ/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssv1nU2NyPIejMRIiz8DP-bpiaGv_yU5y4jyyDoj9UxlmSEG2erFvJc1ik8VGo7IaJ7NAvqvYwwECYemGDvUlQRY1O0-8MlhBBr_BFehu5kOE1Uw2FBzylrGqMcWN59qDxN6PT2KPs2jJ/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ0CqZrw414RMTRfhWVMG8088z50JFyNch_rX8v6gOiY0QCoFAKi7Xs3j7UF8YZZUF73itY1x8KWmrj7MR3Fx0P6ZIbrhGnTx-PpXtVYWR9-l8IDbVSYAPb8Fh9wc16lrH2XUjOQfgeFa/s1600/IMG_4082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ0CqZrw414RMTRfhWVMG8088z50JFyNch_rX8v6gOiY0QCoFAKi7Xs3j7UF8YZZUF73itY1x8KWmrj7MR3Fx0P6ZIbrhGnTx-PpXtVYWR9-l8IDbVSYAPb8Fh9wc16lrH2XUjOQfgeFa/s1600/IMG_4082.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1JZCy7cDkBoJT4osCp42UoQlX3pBwcbGzNQPAW5CXsVPukTk_wm8NBLJYxPYVxKuTm3asjaaucWXHy8kbN_8LqcijnH41xfbuq-WESlHgLDTyxiy1Kiyl5X32pZ0YxqZRQV1H2XMLiZF/s1600/IMG_4083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1JZCy7cDkBoJT4osCp42UoQlX3pBwcbGzNQPAW5CXsVPukTk_wm8NBLJYxPYVxKuTm3asjaaucWXHy8kbN_8LqcijnH41xfbuq-WESlHgLDTyxiy1Kiyl5X32pZ0YxqZRQV1H2XMLiZF/s1600/IMG_4083.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhOSc2AqU3mMS7wM72ZEmm1Ze0IOXmYz8CPCNSEZO0lRk4_SOIhL5C8Ob3Apxhf788bqRKb3BuouO-MyqqW2L51bisdoXHCGzmBuiKGlyh6a_YgMPVNdGPNb8Y5AF6II5Cj3IQKfqiNlZ/s1600/IMG_4084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhOSc2AqU3mMS7wM72ZEmm1Ze0IOXmYz8CPCNSEZO0lRk4_SOIhL5C8Ob3Apxhf788bqRKb3BuouO-MyqqW2L51bisdoXHCGzmBuiKGlyh6a_YgMPVNdGPNb8Y5AF6II5Cj3IQKfqiNlZ/s1600/IMG_4084.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgspks-eGGwQHSlN5GOwRSPKyBvL1RlU81Hd4Bq43nWP3uHy3Pt-JVL6ijkY-Z323IyZSyobHGk0VxL8_Bm1D1fUdLQNYsMNdXNtImiz8fmCbC4ga9bkrRHHpS_1zW0i_KFzkEukoADHX/s1600/IMG_4088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgspks-eGGwQHSlN5GOwRSPKyBvL1RlU81Hd4Bq43nWP3uHy3Pt-JVL6ijkY-Z323IyZSyobHGk0VxL8_Bm1D1fUdLQNYsMNdXNtImiz8fmCbC4ga9bkrRHHpS_1zW0i_KFzkEukoADHX/s1600/IMG_4088.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmnxb2Jku1sCuaGjdtAlS_bwWcTfJCUfIYuBdvhxpN5cNXc9xoUnT4omqDP6zozLak7NauObBWTEiURu40kw1bEZlyvKb1ro-tOulgfbgIibdciNttCBKTBBtoMHJ6o6MFYLp1ONvH4Wy/s1600/IMG_4090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmnxb2Jku1sCuaGjdtAlS_bwWcTfJCUfIYuBdvhxpN5cNXc9xoUnT4omqDP6zozLak7NauObBWTEiURu40kw1bEZlyvKb1ro-tOulgfbgIibdciNttCBKTBBtoMHJ6o6MFYLp1ONvH4Wy/s1600/IMG_4090.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUn6D3_rLbb_InYlT5XeC8e8LGzcFaUWQtID3YxVSTfjqlOfLggZeS22rDSndXrrPU0AOFrKTauO_tPdLAlLWXR8aGXo-mTVMN6VrsVIlYn8m8R9sgMaX7iV1ekevTMxOdyaXshPUcdZD/s1600/IMG_4091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUn6D3_rLbb_InYlT5XeC8e8LGzcFaUWQtID3YxVSTfjqlOfLggZeS22rDSndXrrPU0AOFrKTauO_tPdLAlLWXR8aGXo-mTVMN6VrsVIlYn8m8R9sgMaX7iV1ekevTMxOdyaXshPUcdZD/s1600/IMG_4091.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOryG-5KtDBH8AZfEW1nov43dloFOgGeygUHmkYp7DV5fQJtJkXhOH27eZ1zMepvQiyKJsHdNtVxZY_gu65-IV9f_h1DyatIPgbG9JqPV8tSUnse1iSsnbvY1BcfYTQ6n66geEKLN4DolL/s1600/IMG_4093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOryG-5KtDBH8AZfEW1nov43dloFOgGeygUHmkYp7DV5fQJtJkXhOH27eZ1zMepvQiyKJsHdNtVxZY_gu65-IV9f_h1DyatIPgbG9JqPV8tSUnse1iSsnbvY1BcfYTQ6n66geEKLN4DolL/s1600/IMG_4093.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM6oKH0v1d-z5alENDNLWsqL16v0Qy6cW7jmXvi3Q9Ugpd_bPQQkWHiAiaKHElbM7aXKDCSdvAy_6rV0pYFUvEWP2uMedP1uiuHzheWQ51ac73YvXTWNZ-Z-1YQaR2IXyYZ0HPk__Q9RJ/s1600/IMG_4095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM6oKH0v1d-z5alENDNLWsqL16v0Qy6cW7jmXvi3Q9Ugpd_bPQQkWHiAiaKHElbM7aXKDCSdvAy_6rV0pYFUvEWP2uMedP1uiuHzheWQ51ac73YvXTWNZ-Z-1YQaR2IXyYZ0HPk__Q9RJ/s1600/IMG_4095.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBl2glPNCtQ_3B_GSZMCxowpRNYebnDEAzjjeBu29xkgxzrzZ9NtCGOG6wi3RwI-Rzp45UEcFxPH4cNGSBfzsJxK2g1zIFwNaIytOV_R_mSrZUXFfeF-oOMDksi6sm-NPEGJJwnuUtDQv/s1600/IMG_4098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBl2glPNCtQ_3B_GSZMCxowpRNYebnDEAzjjeBu29xkgxzrzZ9NtCGOG6wi3RwI-Rzp45UEcFxPH4cNGSBfzsJxK2g1zIFwNaIytOV_R_mSrZUXFfeF-oOMDksi6sm-NPEGJJwnuUtDQv/s1600/IMG_4098.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outer "wall" of the diplomatic quarter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqIwZ1RvXgRVkKkehcKXx6XUu1YyPo7YMBBtriYTwTx48TCJGctyxkElybOg2BM0JExFIe3vOG3ogQqtNmoAZb08f5DCCIOb91limGuNPwKiVbzaZCFpIyi7Yb1oCV3uCSwSxyA2nWom9/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqIwZ1RvXgRVkKkehcKXx6XUu1YyPo7YMBBtriYTwTx48TCJGctyxkElybOg2BM0JExFIe3vOG3ogQqtNmoAZb08f5DCCIOb91limGuNPwKiVbzaZCFpIyi7Yb1oCV3uCSwSxyA2nWom9/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wadi (valley) below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DAEp-DKlKTvEWCGglCCd9_zRVDaTxOfN9tWKxDzrtj9XEw_c-twGutvZI4aAJ-NLT4If-1dkVFLOP9_uY32w4AwZpwq3MRawJUUpF3prKuTChJIK2IPtPuNJ5PBc2NqqowDPT9ZrzJic/s1600/IMG_4105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DAEp-DKlKTvEWCGglCCd9_zRVDaTxOfN9tWKxDzrtj9XEw_c-twGutvZI4aAJ-NLT4If-1dkVFLOP9_uY32w4AwZpwq3MRawJUUpF3prKuTChJIK2IPtPuNJ5PBc2NqqowDPT9ZrzJic/s1600/IMG_4105.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOiB5BuEO2Uvnc2VLhc5Z2OpvTONim1PYq8_VR-hGaxLfk-8h3DAOyCTs_kfjvLEjLPDsUXjXXkz3fwHyck0uCUJZaPBbayLOehckbhBLv0VwARKsgTjIuj1zBFphQseWm_5wdqelDQNF/s1600/IMG_4108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOiB5BuEO2Uvnc2VLhc5Z2OpvTONim1PYq8_VR-hGaxLfk-8h3DAOyCTs_kfjvLEjLPDsUXjXXkz3fwHyck0uCUJZaPBbayLOehckbhBLv0VwARKsgTjIuj1zBFphQseWm_5wdqelDQNF/s1600/IMG_4108.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaZ0N1ahrpsnOKNUCrOjaPe1aTptJID-XPXXLEtnZxj5AznzDU9CTfnaHwV2Nz5t9HTzgdtJYyaiiOa4M0Yd-cRTkHsvSEh40VCUbW7VkL92DS5oXC10JZtO0x4ZNllb9OfwariCGpd3u/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaZ0N1ahrpsnOKNUCrOjaPe1aTptJID-XPXXLEtnZxj5AznzDU9CTfnaHwV2Nz5t9HTzgdtJYyaiiOa4M0Yd-cRTkHsvSEh40VCUbW7VkL92DS5oXC10JZtO0x4ZNllb9OfwariCGpd3u/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minaret of the mosque.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTnf6bd-2Chzp77KSOtUKF-9CJlbQdLyxG6CYK07BoB5Tm_ZETj2zQzZ8XMWRLvJDOn4gxmN34mBVF5iMi2LaX843PeZTXQpul5iaYEc6D_sSjZ6e3-sbxCTwmwu5Y-IpGishwGTzruuJ/s1600/IMG_4119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTnf6bd-2Chzp77KSOtUKF-9CJlbQdLyxG6CYK07BoB5Tm_ZETj2zQzZ8XMWRLvJDOn4gxmN34mBVF5iMi2LaX843PeZTXQpul5iaYEc6D_sSjZ6e3-sbxCTwmwu5Y-IpGishwGTzruuJ/s1600/IMG_4119.JPG" title="Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to cultural building. Pretty cool overhang.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bobby Khaksarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126723903663693977noreply@blogger.comRiyadh Saudi Arabia24.7135517 46.675295723.7905117 45.3844022 25.6365917 47.9661892