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
Monday, January 24, 2011
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
Friday, January 21, 2011
Rare earths to become rarer still.
New Post (114) : Rare earths to become rarer still.
PRESENT
China, produces about “97” percent of the global supply of rare earth minerals.
China's move to slash export quotas on rare earth minerals -- vital in a slew of high-tech products -- has raised fresh international trade concerns.
China has cut its export quotas by 35 percent for the first half of 2011 versus a year ago, saying it wanted to preserve ample reserves. It also cautioned that it has not decided on the quotas for the second half of the year.
The little-known class of 17 related elements is used in numerous electronic devices and clean energy technology.
PAST
Until 1948, most of the world's rare earths were sourced from placer sand deposits in India and Brazil.[8] Through the 1950s, South Africa took the status as the world's rare earth source, after large veins of rare earth bearing monazite were discovered there. Through the 1960s until the 1980s, the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California was the leading producer. Today, the Indian and South African deposits still produce some rare earth concentrates, but they are dwarfed by the scale of Chinese production. China now produces over 97% of the world's rare earth supply, mostly in Inner Mongolia
FUTURE
Where will this “resource nationalism” lead us to ?
Charlie Brown
PRESENT
China, produces about “97” percent of the global supply of rare earth minerals.
China's move to slash export quotas on rare earth minerals -- vital in a slew of high-tech products -- has raised fresh international trade concerns.
China has cut its export quotas by 35 percent for the first half of 2011 versus a year ago, saying it wanted to preserve ample reserves. It also cautioned that it has not decided on the quotas for the second half of the year.
The little-known class of 17 related elements is used in numerous electronic devices and clean energy technology.
PAST
Until 1948, most of the world's rare earths were sourced from placer sand deposits in India and Brazil.[8] Through the 1950s, South Africa took the status as the world's rare earth source, after large veins of rare earth bearing monazite were discovered there. Through the 1960s until the 1980s, the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California was the leading producer. Today, the Indian and South African deposits still produce some rare earth concentrates, but they are dwarfed by the scale of Chinese production. China now produces over 97% of the world's rare earth supply, mostly in Inner Mongolia
FUTURE
Where will this “resource nationalism” lead us to ?
Charlie Brown
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Indian IndiGo flies into the limelight..
New Post (113) : The Indian IndiGo flies into the limelight.
As reported in a press release by Airbus…
IndiGo commits to 180 A320s,
-largest jet order in aviation history
India's largest low-cost carrier, IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 180 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft.
Of these, 150 will be A320neo’s and 30 will be A320s.
It is the largest single firm order number for large jets in commercial aviation history.
Also makes IndiGo "a launch customer for the A320neo".
SUPER ! Now that is a giant leap into the big time league for - Indian avia carriers.
Rider : To my friends in India I have this to say - "Fly ‘em folks. But develop the capability to build ‘em too".
Charlie Brown
As reported in a press release by Airbus…
IndiGo commits to 180 A320s,
-largest jet order in aviation history
India's largest low-cost carrier, IndiGo has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 180 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft.
Of these, 150 will be A320neo’s and 30 will be A320s.
It is the largest single firm order number for large jets in commercial aviation history.
Also makes IndiGo "a launch customer for the A320neo".
SUPER ! Now that is a giant leap into the big time league for - Indian avia carriers.
Rider : To my friends in India I have this to say - "Fly ‘em folks. But develop the capability to build ‘em too".
Charlie Brown
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Two strangers walking through the night in Kobe !
New post (112) : Two strangers walking through the night in Kobe !
I watched this tele-drama - “The Children of Kobe” on - NHK World TV.
A most sensitively made film. Left me totally in awe. Saw it twice on the same day.
The backdrop:
January 17, 1995. A powerful earthquake hit the city of Kobe, Japan. In an instant, the large modern city was reduced to rubble, with 6,434 people dead.
Precious family members, familiar homes, gainful work, normal lives: without warning, all these and more were wiped out.
The story line:
Two well known Japanese actress and actor, Eriko Sato and Mirai Moriyama,
…play characters that both grew up in the town of Kobe and actually experienced the quake.
Strangers...to each other...They happen to meet 15 years after they survived this terrible disaster as children, and walk through the night of Kobe, …depicting internal struggles which they had kept silent since the earthquake.
When I watched it the 2nd time over it had retained all of its magic for me. The film has great repeat value.
Catch it. Watch it. Be touched. Be transformed.
Charlie Brown
I watched this tele-drama - “The Children of Kobe” on - NHK World TV.
A most sensitively made film. Left me totally in awe. Saw it twice on the same day.
The backdrop:
January 17, 1995. A powerful earthquake hit the city of Kobe, Japan. In an instant, the large modern city was reduced to rubble, with 6,434 people dead.
Precious family members, familiar homes, gainful work, normal lives: without warning, all these and more were wiped out.
The story line:
Two well known Japanese actress and actor, Eriko Sato and Mirai Moriyama,
…play characters that both grew up in the town of Kobe and actually experienced the quake.
Strangers...to each other...They happen to meet 15 years after they survived this terrible disaster as children, and walk through the night of Kobe, …depicting internal struggles which they had kept silent since the earthquake.
When I watched it the 2nd time over it had retained all of its magic for me. The film has great repeat value.
Catch it. Watch it. Be touched. Be transformed.
Charlie Brown
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tic Tac Toe lessons in advertising.
New Post (111) : Tic Tac Toe lessons in advertising.
A Tic, a Tac & a Toe.
1. Tic Tac toe
-also spelled tick tack toe
-also called Noughts and Crosses
-a pencil-and-paper game)
The Goal:
Get three X's in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) before the opponent gets three O's in a row.
2. Tic Tac Toe lessons in advertising:
-align your strategy, creative, media.
-be aware that the enemy is “another” brand / ad agency & brand owner-client…with a play of their own.
Be sure to---Pick “one” enemy to play against.
-beginner’s have an advantage (do not fritter it away)(leadership has its rewards). Play speed is of no particular importance. Just try to be the first to roll.
Remember:
-The winner takes “all”.
-Innovation is out. WIN-novation is in.
-& the most important "mantra" is to---Enjoy the game !
Charlie Brown
A Tic, a Tac & a Toe.
1. Tic Tac toe
-also spelled tick tack toe
-also called Noughts and Crosses
-a pencil-and-paper game)
The Goal:
Get three X's in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) before the opponent gets three O's in a row.
2. Tic Tac Toe lessons in advertising:
-align your strategy, creative, media.
-be aware that the enemy is “another” brand / ad agency & brand owner-client…with a play of their own.
Be sure to---Pick “one” enemy to play against.
-beginner’s have an advantage (do not fritter it away)(leadership has its rewards). Play speed is of no particular importance. Just try to be the first to roll.
Remember:
-The winner takes “all”.
-Innovation is out. WIN-novation is in.
-& the most important "mantra" is to---Enjoy the game !
Charlie Brown
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