New post (22) : Run-Away Toyota Prius Story “Debunked”.
First, let’s be clear. Any car can run away. Not just a Toyota.
Toyota actually has a better record on this than other cars on the road. The stats bear this out.
Let’s take a back to basics look at this matter.
Consider this:
What we have is 21st century cars …….with 20th century floor-pedals.
Drivers have 2 feet…………So why 3 pedals. (assuming manual gear shift using the clutch)
Why do both the break and accelerator pedals work the same way---by being pressed down.
Feet do not have eyes.
The pedals are used “intuitively”. Which is fine in the normal but not so in special situations.
Consider these 2 situations in which drivers (can & do) end up “groping blindly with their feet”:
1. When Suddenly realizing that the car up front is too close.
( Or say a kid runs across the street unexpectedly ).
The panic reaction ? The accelerator (can and) is slammed down hard mistakenly so instead of the brake.
2. When reversing the car, while driver physically turns around (and does not sit upright and use the rear view mirror)
The accelerator (can and) is pressed down mistakenly instead of the brake.
A simple solution to consider:
Brake pedal works when pressed down by foot.
(and) Accelerator pedal works when lifted (or pushed sideways) by foot.
Sure, it will take some getting used to.
Will the legal minded hawks stop confusing the issue and call a halt to scape goating Toyota ?..................................... I doubt it.
Talk about profiting from “a created” panic+hysteria.
Charlie Brown
Thursday, October 21, 2010
What the birds know and we don’t
New post (21) : What the birds know and we don’t
Nature is the best teacher that there is.
What can we learn from (swarms of) migratory birds, ant colonies, (foraging) locusts…???
Swarm describes a behaviour of an aggregate of animals of similar size and body orientation, often moving en masse or migrating in the same direction.
The Arctic terns fly in a swarm across continents year after year. Facing most dynamic weather conditions enroute. Never missing the flight path from start to destination. No collision among individual birds. How do they do it ?
Each bird (having 360 degree vision) only keeps itself dynamically-oriented to exactly 6 other birds. One in font, 2 alongside and 3 behind. Flying in mini-3D-pyramids………..(much like fighter planes flying in a tight/safe V-formation).
The “swarm behaviour” has good applications for organizations. In creating an organization with a life-long-learning orientation………and doing that informally in small groups of ones own choosing.
For starters, each year, I’d get each employee to identify and declare on paper 6 others in the organization that he/she will aim to learn from. Whatever it is that he/she wishes to learn.
Those he/she choses should be from different functions, divisions, units, locations, levels, etc-etc). The more varied/diverse the selection --- the better.
They may or may not be part of his immediate work group. i.e. Boss, peers, subordinates. Preferably “not”.
Valuable learning+cross fertilization+enrichment.........will (just) "happen".
A company wide understanding, respect for and consequently the adoption of an approach styled after (or borrowing from) swarm behaviour has “another” very incidental payoff i.e. --- organization wide cohesion….. Read that as low attrition or longer tenure.
As nature teaches us “collective” intelligence is just as important as “individual” intelligence.
So, lets learn from the birds !!!
PS: Mentoring as an idea has become somewhat passe’.
Though it’s still relevant in a continuation of the great Indian Guru-Shishya tradition.
Charlie Brown
Nature is the best teacher that there is.
What can we learn from (swarms of) migratory birds, ant colonies, (foraging) locusts…???
Swarm describes a behaviour of an aggregate of animals of similar size and body orientation, often moving en masse or migrating in the same direction.
The Arctic terns fly in a swarm across continents year after year. Facing most dynamic weather conditions enroute. Never missing the flight path from start to destination. No collision among individual birds. How do they do it ?
Each bird (having 360 degree vision) only keeps itself dynamically-oriented to exactly 6 other birds. One in font, 2 alongside and 3 behind. Flying in mini-3D-pyramids………..(much like fighter planes flying in a tight/safe V-formation).
The “swarm behaviour” has good applications for organizations. In creating an organization with a life-long-learning orientation………and doing that informally in small groups of ones own choosing.
For starters, each year, I’d get each employee to identify and declare on paper 6 others in the organization that he/she will aim to learn from. Whatever it is that he/she wishes to learn.
Those he/she choses should be from different functions, divisions, units, locations, levels, etc-etc). The more varied/diverse the selection --- the better.
They may or may not be part of his immediate work group. i.e. Boss, peers, subordinates. Preferably “not”.
Valuable learning+cross fertilization+enrichment.........will (just) "happen".
A company wide understanding, respect for and consequently the adoption of an approach styled after (or borrowing from) swarm behaviour has “another” very incidental payoff i.e. --- organization wide cohesion….. Read that as low attrition or longer tenure.
As nature teaches us “collective” intelligence is just as important as “individual” intelligence.
So, lets learn from the birds !!!
PS: Mentoring as an idea has become somewhat passe’.
Though it’s still relevant in a continuation of the great Indian Guru-Shishya tradition.
Charlie Brown
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Turks in Germany: German or Turk ?
New post (20) : The Turks in Germany: German or Turk ?
The irony of multiculturalism is that, in the hands of politicians, it undermines what is --- essentially valuable about cultural diversity.
DIVERSITY is IMPORTANT.
Not in itself, but because it allows (all of) us to expand our horizons.
It allows us to compare and contrast different values, beliefs and lifestyles.
By all means (even) Make (reasonable) judgements upon them.
Enriching ourselves too in the process.
Over time it allows us to evolve a collective & mutually respectful common language of citizenship.
A TRULY plural society is one in which citizens have the freedom to pursue their different values or practices in private life…….. While in the public arena all citizens ought to be treated as POLITICAL EQUALS whatever the differences in their private lives.
What is required is 'TOLERANCE' and 'RESPECT' for the other.
Else, the schism is bound to deepen.
Charlie Brown
The irony of multiculturalism is that, in the hands of politicians, it undermines what is --- essentially valuable about cultural diversity.
DIVERSITY is IMPORTANT.
Not in itself, but because it allows (all of) us to expand our horizons.
It allows us to compare and contrast different values, beliefs and lifestyles.
By all means (even) Make (reasonable) judgements upon them.
Enriching ourselves too in the process.
Over time it allows us to evolve a collective & mutually respectful common language of citizenship.
A TRULY plural society is one in which citizens have the freedom to pursue their different values or practices in private life…….. While in the public arena all citizens ought to be treated as POLITICAL EQUALS whatever the differences in their private lives.
What is required is 'TOLERANCE' and 'RESPECT' for the other.
Else, the schism is bound to deepen.
Charlie Brown
The US Economy...bad.
New post (19) : The US Economy is so bad.
((( Just received this one in my in-box from an American pal of mine.
So I take no credit for the humour. )))
Quote (OPEN)
Well…How bad is it ???
Jury Duty is now considered a good-paying job.
I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
African television stations are now showing 'Sponsor an American Child' commercials !
Wives are having sex with their husbands because they can't afford batteries.
I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that ? “
CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.
My ATM gave me an IOU !
A stripper was killed when her audience showered her with rolls of pennies while she danced.
I saw a Mormon polygamist with only one wife.
I bought a toaster oven and my free gift with the purchase was a bank.
If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them..
McDonald's is now selling the 1/4 ouncer.
Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America.
Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned the names of their children..
My cousin had an exorcism but couldn't afford to pay for it, and they have possessed her!.
A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.
Motel Six won't leave the light on for you anymore.
A picture is now only worth 200 words.
They renamed Wall Street “Wal-Mart Street”.
When Bill and Hillary travel together, they now have to share a room.
One of the casinos in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates.
And, finally...I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc.
I called the Suicide Hot line. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck!
Quote (CLOSE)
He's still one hell of a swell guy. Able to see the humour in the situation. Thanks in part to his IT job in Bangalore / India. That spared him the agony back home in the US ! Now---Who says outsourcing is "all bad".
Moral : "You (only) get the bankers .......you deserve".
Cheers,
Charlie Brown
((( Just received this one in my in-box from an American pal of mine.
So I take no credit for the humour. )))
Quote (OPEN)
Well…How bad is it ???
Jury Duty is now considered a good-paying job.
I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
African television stations are now showing 'Sponsor an American Child' commercials !
Wives are having sex with their husbands because they can't afford batteries.
I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that ? “
CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.
My ATM gave me an IOU !
A stripper was killed when her audience showered her with rolls of pennies while she danced.
I saw a Mormon polygamist with only one wife.
I bought a toaster oven and my free gift with the purchase was a bank.
If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them..
McDonald's is now selling the 1/4 ouncer.
Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America.
Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned the names of their children..
My cousin had an exorcism but couldn't afford to pay for it, and they have possessed her!.
A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.
Motel Six won't leave the light on for you anymore.
A picture is now only worth 200 words.
They renamed Wall Street “Wal-Mart Street”.
When Bill and Hillary travel together, they now have to share a room.
One of the casinos in Las Vegas is now managed by Somali pirates.
And, finally...I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc.
I called the Suicide Hot line. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck!
Quote (CLOSE)
He's still one hell of a swell guy. Able to see the humour in the situation. Thanks in part to his IT job in Bangalore / India. That spared him the agony back home in the US ! Now---Who says outsourcing is "all bad".
Moral : "You (only) get the bankers .......you deserve".
Cheers,
Charlie Brown
Think organic. Go organic.
New post (18) : Think organic. Go organic.
One of the huge advantages of organic foods is that they haven't been doused in pesticides.
Organic farms do not use artificial pesticides.
Tons of pesticides are blasted on to farmland every year, and food carries residues of these chemicals, created to kill pests and weeds.
Non-organic fruit and vegetable is covered in the stuff and it won't all wash off. Pesticide residues turn up, not just on fruit and vegetables, but in bread, baby food and other products.
Governments claim that there's no risk to health from these pesticide traces
But wouldn't you rather feed yourself and your kids on food that's pesticide free?
Start now.
Charlie Brown
One of the huge advantages of organic foods is that they haven't been doused in pesticides.
Organic farms do not use artificial pesticides.
Tons of pesticides are blasted on to farmland every year, and food carries residues of these chemicals, created to kill pests and weeds.
Non-organic fruit and vegetable is covered in the stuff and it won't all wash off. Pesticide residues turn up, not just on fruit and vegetables, but in bread, baby food and other products.
Governments claim that there's no risk to health from these pesticide traces
But wouldn't you rather feed yourself and your kids on food that's pesticide free?
Start now.
Charlie Brown
Your cell phone is killing you.
New post (17) : Your cell phone is killing you.
Limit Your exposure to cell phone radiation.
New cell phones come loaded with new features. Consumers drawn by these features, pay a hidden price: exposure to the highest legal levels of cell phone radiation.
Other new phones emit significantly less radiation.
Which is which?
You won’t find out from those flashy ad campaigns or even the labels.
Makers and vendors aren’t required to disclose their products’ radiation output at point of sale.
Recent studies suggest significantly higher risks for brain and salivary gland tumors among people using cell phones for 10 years or longer. More research is crucial.
In the meantime, it’s smart for consumers to buy phones with the lowest emissions. Levels vary widely, from 0.3 to 1.6, the legal limit, measured in watts per kilogram of body weight, also known as SAR (specific absorption rate), the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body when using a wireless device phone.
In any case you are better off limiting your usage of a Cell Phone.
As for me.................. I do not use one anymore.
Charlie Brown
Limit Your exposure to cell phone radiation.
New cell phones come loaded with new features. Consumers drawn by these features, pay a hidden price: exposure to the highest legal levels of cell phone radiation.
Other new phones emit significantly less radiation.
Which is which?
You won’t find out from those flashy ad campaigns or even the labels.
Makers and vendors aren’t required to disclose their products’ radiation output at point of sale.
Recent studies suggest significantly higher risks for brain and salivary gland tumors among people using cell phones for 10 years or longer. More research is crucial.
In the meantime, it’s smart for consumers to buy phones with the lowest emissions. Levels vary widely, from 0.3 to 1.6, the legal limit, measured in watts per kilogram of body weight, also known as SAR (specific absorption rate), the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body when using a wireless device phone.
In any case you are better off limiting your usage of a Cell Phone.
As for me.................. I do not use one anymore.
Charlie Brown
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Your Children are not Your Children.
New Post (16) : “Your Children are not Your Children”.
Famous Khalil Gibran quote from 'The Prophet'
This one is for parents who are "control freaks"... ...
Quote (open)
Your Children are not Your Children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
Quote (close)
Just let them be !!! And they will shine !!! Even OUT SHINE U.
Charlie Brown
Famous Khalil Gibran quote from 'The Prophet'
This one is for parents who are "control freaks"... ...
Quote (open)
Your Children are not Your Children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
Quote (close)
Just let them be !!! And they will shine !!! Even OUT SHINE U.
Charlie Brown
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