New Post (121) : Turn off that light in the other room.
How bright…an idea…this is…(wow) !
Cargo ships (and other seagoing vessels) may soon be partly powered by high-altitude kites.
Unlike the previous concept announced, which uses kites to harness wind power to supplement ships' propulsion systems,
the new concept envisages generating electricity to support onboard auxiliary services, such as electronic equipment and air conditioning.
It generates power by raising and lowering kites to and from certain altitudes
Based on this "yo-yo" phenomenon, the energy consumed by the winding phase is just a fraction of that generated during the unwinding stage.
While researchers race against time, working ceaselessly on new and innovative solutions to light up the world……we can do our bit too…….
Turn off that light in the other room.
Charlie Brown
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A cryptic anecdote from Switzerland.
New Post (120) : A cryptic anecdote from Switzerland.
Here’s a cryptic anecdote for you to enjoy.
“C” approaches “S” with a bag load of money and asks him to “take care” of it for him.
“S” gives him a receipt with a number scribbled on it.
“C” goes away relieved and cheerful.
“S” invests the money and makes himself rich.
“C” meanwhile comes under the scanner and is investigated for the sources of his wealth.
“S” is contacted to enquire about any bag loads of money he may have received from “C”
“S” feigns ignorance.
“S” meanwhile continues getting richer.
“C” walks away unscathed from the investigation, as the investigation is dropped.
“C” and “S” --- --- --- gloat over their little game.
*** The lesser said about “C”riminals and about “S”wiss bankers………the better. Indeed.
What ? Are you missing the joke here ?
The joke my friend --- is on all of the rest of us.
Banking secrecy law is akin to a cloak of silk …on a pile of stinking garbage.
Can’t hide the stink.
Charlie Brown
Here’s a cryptic anecdote for you to enjoy.
“C” approaches “S” with a bag load of money and asks him to “take care” of it for him.
“S” gives him a receipt with a number scribbled on it.
“C” goes away relieved and cheerful.
“S” invests the money and makes himself rich.
“C” meanwhile comes under the scanner and is investigated for the sources of his wealth.
“S” is contacted to enquire about any bag loads of money he may have received from “C”
“S” feigns ignorance.
“S” meanwhile continues getting richer.
“C” walks away unscathed from the investigation, as the investigation is dropped.
“C” and “S” --- --- --- gloat over their little game.
*** The lesser said about “C”riminals and about “S”wiss bankers………the better. Indeed.
What ? Are you missing the joke here ?
The joke my friend --- is on all of the rest of us.
Banking secrecy law is akin to a cloak of silk …on a pile of stinking garbage.
Can’t hide the stink.
Charlie Brown
Domodedovo may break our hearts, but will not break our collective spirit.
New Post (119 ) : Domodedovo may break our hearts, but will not break our collective spirit.
The world stands with Russia...as they come to grips with this tragedy...
News item from Moscow:
OPEN
A female terrorist 'opened a bag' at Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport, triggering a massive explosion that killed 35 people, a source said, adding: 'She was accompanied by a man whose head was ripped off by the explosion'.
Quoting a law enforcement source, that two terrorists were involved in the suicide bomb attack that also injured up to 180 people.
Both terrorists died in the explosion that ripped through the international arrivals zone at 4.40 p.m., as friends and taxi drivers were meeting arriving passengers.
CLOSE
1. Here is how these females are recruited to become -a “dreaded” suicide bomber /terrorist:
Male terrorists kidnap a girl and whisk her off to a hidden camp.
Starve her, beat her, use her---break her over a long period of time---till her spirit is totally completely utterly broken.
In short turn her life into hell. So even getting blown to bits seems like an escape from hell.
When at that point---she will do as she is told.
The one man accompanying her on the “mission” is a “minder”. Just in case she thinks on impulse on the spot about “changing her mind”.
This “equally tragic” side of ---the story of the female terrorist, almost always, never gets told.
2. My heartfelt condolences to all the Moscovites on this most terrible abhorable horrible tragic event……….May they succeed in finding the “PLANNERS” of this cowardly act.
They are the ones who ‘must” be found & I am “certain” they will be found.
Charlie Brown
The world stands with Russia...as they come to grips with this tragedy...
News item from Moscow:
OPEN
A female terrorist 'opened a bag' at Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport, triggering a massive explosion that killed 35 people, a source said, adding: 'She was accompanied by a man whose head was ripped off by the explosion'.
Quoting a law enforcement source, that two terrorists were involved in the suicide bomb attack that also injured up to 180 people.
Both terrorists died in the explosion that ripped through the international arrivals zone at 4.40 p.m., as friends and taxi drivers were meeting arriving passengers.
CLOSE
1. Here is how these females are recruited to become -a “dreaded” suicide bomber /terrorist:
Male terrorists kidnap a girl and whisk her off to a hidden camp.
Starve her, beat her, use her---break her over a long period of time---till her spirit is totally completely utterly broken.
In short turn her life into hell. So even getting blown to bits seems like an escape from hell.
When at that point---she will do as she is told.
The one man accompanying her on the “mission” is a “minder”. Just in case she thinks on impulse on the spot about “changing her mind”.
This “equally tragic” side of ---the story of the female terrorist, almost always, never gets told.
2. My heartfelt condolences to all the Moscovites on this most terrible abhorable horrible tragic event……….May they succeed in finding the “PLANNERS” of this cowardly act.
They are the ones who ‘must” be found & I am “certain” they will be found.
Charlie Brown
Paterfamilias - my arse !
New Post (118 ) : Paterfamilias - my arse !
Definition of PATERFAMILIAS
1: the male head of a household
2: the father of a family
3: a man who originates or is a leading figure in something (as a movement, discipline, or enterprise)
Origin of PATERFAMILIAS: Middle English, from Latin, from pater father + familias, archaic genitive of familia household
First Known Use: 15th century
Rhymes with PATERFAMILIAS: materfamilias
Britannica.com: Learn more about "paterfamilias" at Britannica.com
Example:
M.G.Gandhi was the "paterfamilias" of India. (The father of the nation)
The word from India in the 21st century, is that…
Now India has a weakling “pater famila arse” PUPPET on the string/s of a certain omni-POWERFUL “materfamilias”.
Is that true ?
Charlie Brown
Definition of PATERFAMILIAS
1: the male head of a household
2: the father of a family
3: a man who originates or is a leading figure in something (as a movement, discipline, or enterprise)
Origin of PATERFAMILIAS: Middle English, from Latin, from pater father + familias, archaic genitive of familia household
First Known Use: 15th century
Rhymes with PATERFAMILIAS: materfamilias
Britannica.com: Learn more about "paterfamilias" at Britannica.com
Example:
M.G.Gandhi was the "paterfamilias" of India. (The father of the nation)
The word from India in the 21st century, is that…
Now India has a weakling “pater famila arse” PUPPET on the string/s of a certain omni-POWERFUL “materfamilias”.
Is that true ?
Charlie Brown
Monday, January 24, 2011
A modern day Asvamedha Yajna !
New Post (117 ) : A modern day Asvamedha Yajna !
1. Yajna is a vedic sacrifice which has an outer aspect and an inner aspect.
To the vedic priests, yajna was the means to invoke gods and seek their blessings and favors. They used to perform these yagnas for various purposes and at various times during the year, at the time of sowing, at the time of harvest, at the time of initiating some important social event ……..or before going to wars.
One very popular yajna of those days was the Asvamedha Yajna, or the Horse Sacrifice which used to be performed by powerful kings to show their Valor and the extent of their influence. This yajna is now almost extinct in practice.
The Ashvamedha could only be conducted by a king. Its object was the acquisition of power and glory, the sovereignty over neighbouring provinces, and general prosperity of the kingdom.
The horse to be sacrificed must be a stallion, more than 24, but less than 100 years old. The horse is sprinkled with water, and the sacrificer whisper mantras into its ear. Anyone who should stop the horse is ritually cursed, and a dog is killed symbolic of the punishment for the sinners. The horse is then set loose towards the North-East, to roam around wherever it chooses, for the period of one year (or half a year, according to some commentators). The horse is associated with the Sun, and its yearly course. If the horse wanders into neighbouring provinces hostile to the sacrificer, they must be subjugated. The wandering horse is attended by a hundred young men, sons of princes or high court officials, charged with guarding the horse from all dangers and inconvenience. During the absence of the horse, an uninterrupted series of ceremonies is performed in the sacrificer's home.
After the return of the horse, more ceremonies are performed. The horse is yoked to a gilded chariot, together with three other horses, and mantras are recited. The horse is then driven into water and bathed. After this, it is anointed with ghee by the chief queen and two other royal consorts. The chief queen anoints the fore-quarters, and the others the barrel and the hind-quarters. They also embellish the horse's head, neck, and tail with golden ornaments. The sacrificer offers the horse the remains of the night's oblation of grain.
After this, the horse, a hornless he-goat, a wild ox are bound to sacrificial stakes near the fire, and seventeen other animals are attached to the horse. A great number of animals, both tame and wild, are tied to other stakes.
Then the horse is slaughtered.
2. To follow the drama of an unfolding modern day Asvamedha Yajna ! …run a search on the net for news on the event with these “key words” :
News Lal chowk Srinagar Kashmir flag hoist foil BJP Congress.
Note:
-Feel free to draw the parallels.
-I have no opinion whatsoever on this event one way or the other ! Just the hope that peace will prevail. For the sake of common citizens.
Charlie Brown
1. Yajna is a vedic sacrifice which has an outer aspect and an inner aspect.
To the vedic priests, yajna was the means to invoke gods and seek their blessings and favors. They used to perform these yagnas for various purposes and at various times during the year, at the time of sowing, at the time of harvest, at the time of initiating some important social event ……..or before going to wars.
One very popular yajna of those days was the Asvamedha Yajna, or the Horse Sacrifice which used to be performed by powerful kings to show their Valor and the extent of their influence. This yajna is now almost extinct in practice.
The Ashvamedha could only be conducted by a king. Its object was the acquisition of power and glory, the sovereignty over neighbouring provinces, and general prosperity of the kingdom.
The horse to be sacrificed must be a stallion, more than 24, but less than 100 years old. The horse is sprinkled with water, and the sacrificer whisper mantras into its ear. Anyone who should stop the horse is ritually cursed, and a dog is killed symbolic of the punishment for the sinners. The horse is then set loose towards the North-East, to roam around wherever it chooses, for the period of one year (or half a year, according to some commentators). The horse is associated with the Sun, and its yearly course. If the horse wanders into neighbouring provinces hostile to the sacrificer, they must be subjugated. The wandering horse is attended by a hundred young men, sons of princes or high court officials, charged with guarding the horse from all dangers and inconvenience. During the absence of the horse, an uninterrupted series of ceremonies is performed in the sacrificer's home.
After the return of the horse, more ceremonies are performed. The horse is yoked to a gilded chariot, together with three other horses, and mantras are recited. The horse is then driven into water and bathed. After this, it is anointed with ghee by the chief queen and two other royal consorts. The chief queen anoints the fore-quarters, and the others the barrel and the hind-quarters. They also embellish the horse's head, neck, and tail with golden ornaments. The sacrificer offers the horse the remains of the night's oblation of grain.
After this, the horse, a hornless he-goat, a wild ox are bound to sacrificial stakes near the fire, and seventeen other animals are attached to the horse. A great number of animals, both tame and wild, are tied to other stakes.
Then the horse is slaughtered.
2. To follow the drama of an unfolding modern day Asvamedha Yajna ! …run a search on the net for news on the event with these “key words” :
News Lal chowk Srinagar Kashmir flag hoist foil BJP Congress.
Note:
-Feel free to draw the parallels.
-I have no opinion whatsoever on this event one way or the other ! Just the hope that peace will prevail. For the sake of common citizens.
Charlie Brown
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Revealed-The (not so) secret art (craft) of self preservation.
New post (116) : Revealed-The (not so)secret art (craft) of self preservation.
Governance de-mystified...
THE “3” prescriptions, in practice ---by the political power elite, to stay firmly in the saddle, rein in clenched hand:
(Listed in no particular order)
“Make corruption so all pervasive in society that the beneficiaries of this widely corrupt society will see a vested interest in keeping you in power”.[---a free for all crony capitalism stage managed with/by co-opted oligarchs]
“Keep the hapless helpless hopeless in a perpetual state of fear”.i.e. Punish those out of line, both, swiftly & ruthlessly”. [---an autocratic police state, supported and legitimized by some binding over-arching “ideology”]
“Rig the elections”. i.e. “Be the voter. Be the counter of votes. Be the arbiter of fair count”. [---an unashamedly sham democracy]
(Listed in no particular order)
Interestingly…***some countries are more innovative than others, using a blend version of all these three models. {What version does your country use ? Now, now……..don’t tell me}.
There (my friend) are no exceptions. I (must) insist.
And so…the point is this…What chance do “WE” stand ? ? ? Reduced to---a bystander status ?. No. Do not under-estimate the power of public opinion on the web.
Charlie Brown
Governance de-mystified...
THE “3” prescriptions, in practice ---by the political power elite, to stay firmly in the saddle, rein in clenched hand:
(Listed in no particular order)
“Make corruption so all pervasive in society that the beneficiaries of this widely corrupt society will see a vested interest in keeping you in power”.[---a free for all crony capitalism stage managed with/by co-opted oligarchs]
“Keep the hapless helpless hopeless in a perpetual state of fear”.i.e. Punish those out of line, both, swiftly & ruthlessly”. [---an autocratic police state, supported and legitimized by some binding over-arching “ideology”]
“Rig the elections”. i.e. “Be the voter. Be the counter of votes. Be the arbiter of fair count”. [---an unashamedly sham democracy]
(Listed in no particular order)
Interestingly…***some countries are more innovative than others, using a blend version of all these three models. {What version does your country use ? Now, now……..don’t tell me}.
There (my friend) are no exceptions. I (must) insist.
And so…the point is this…What chance do “WE” stand ? ? ? Reduced to---a bystander status ?. No. Do not under-estimate the power of public opinion on the web.
Charlie Brown
Say NO to N-bombs. Now !
New post (115) : Say NO to N-bombs. NOW !
In the early years of nuclear research, the main effort was in creating larger and more powerful bombs, many of which were rated at several tens of megatons.
The optimum size, in terms of the most destructive power from the smallest amount of fissionable material, comes from bombs in the 100-kilotons class.
and so…(reportedly)…
-The average US bomb measures 250 kilotons.
-The average Russian bomb measures 400 kilotons
--In comparison, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was 15 kilotons and the one dropped on Nagasaki was 21 kilotons.
Think about that !
---The largest nuclear weapon ever exploded was Russia's "super-bomb," rated at 57 megatons. Detonated ………………………….in 1961
Awesome ??? I do not think so. Absolutely not.
This is perverse, “beastly” use of technology.
THE COST IN HUMAN MISERY & SUFFERING (?) : (linger on this thought…)
When a N-bomb is dropped: The “dead die miserably”. But it is the “unfortunate” survivors who “live a living hell” !
“We the people”---do not need a reduction in N-bomb numbers. WE need an abolition. …………………A 100% abolition of N-bombs.
WE have been on the brink and back... …a “crossfire” would spell - catastrophe.
The danger is NOT from the New emerging N-states or potentially rogue states.
It is from frustrated tottering super powers whose stature is flagging (& stands challenged)…in a new emerging world order.
This time there will be no winners.
***The "mushroom/S" will en-GULF all & everything.
Charlie Brown
In the early years of nuclear research, the main effort was in creating larger and more powerful bombs, many of which were rated at several tens of megatons.
The optimum size, in terms of the most destructive power from the smallest amount of fissionable material, comes from bombs in the 100-kilotons class.
and so…(reportedly)…
-The average US bomb measures 250 kilotons.
-The average Russian bomb measures 400 kilotons
--In comparison, the bomb dropped on Hiroshima was 15 kilotons and the one dropped on Nagasaki was 21 kilotons.
Think about that !
---The largest nuclear weapon ever exploded was Russia's "super-bomb," rated at 57 megatons. Detonated ………………………….in 1961
Awesome ??? I do not think so. Absolutely not.
This is perverse, “beastly” use of technology.
THE COST IN HUMAN MISERY & SUFFERING (?) : (linger on this thought…)
When a N-bomb is dropped: The “dead die miserably”. But it is the “unfortunate” survivors who “live a living hell” !
“We the people”---do not need a reduction in N-bomb numbers. WE need an abolition. …………………A 100% abolition of N-bombs.
WE have been on the brink and back... …a “crossfire” would spell - catastrophe.
The danger is NOT from the New emerging N-states or potentially rogue states.
It is from frustrated tottering super powers whose stature is flagging (& stands challenged)…in a new emerging world order.
This time there will be no winners.
***The "mushroom/S" will en-GULF all & everything.
Charlie Brown
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