Great Poland 3

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

More from the Poland speech of last July . . this time celebrating their enduring faith:

"When . .  one million Poles gathered around Victory Square for their very first mass with their Polish Pope . . every communist in Warsaw must have known that their oppressive system would soon come crashing down.   They must have known it at the exact moment during Pope John Paul II’s sermon when a million Polish men, women, and children suddenly raised their voices in a single prayer. A million Polish people did not ask for wealth. They did not ask for privilege. Instead, one million Poles sang three simple words: “We Want God.”

Catholic Christian faith is claimed by 90% of the Polish people.

photo: theguardian.com

Got banking

Amylene Dingle lived with her husband and daughter in an impoverished part of Manila, the Phillippines. She had little going for her: no job, no savings, no credit history. But then she saw an ad on Facebook which changed her life.

image

Today she has a business that brings in $70 weekly profit. They have moved to a cleaner, quieter neighborhood. This story is about the company that got her going.

It's called Tala. It started in California in 2011 with the goal of providing banking services to people all over the globe who have no bank. Amylene responded to their ad and gave Tala access to her phone, Tala analyzed data they could access through her phone, and they gave her a small loan. She bought sandwiches with the money and re-sold them.

Today Tala has 4 million customers like Amylene in five countries: Kenya, the Phillippines, Tanzania, Mexico, and India.

(cont'd tomorrow)

Great Poland 2

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

More of the speech from Warsaw, Poland:

"Through four decades of communist rule, Poland and the other captive nations of Europe endured a brutal campaign to demolish freedom, your faith, your laws, your history, your identity — indeed the very essence of your culture and your humanity. Yet, through it all, you never lost that spirit.  Your oppressors tried to break you, but Poland could not be broken."

Polish persistence, determination, and sheer creativity during Russian communist occupation was defiant and inspiring:

"After the harsh government crackdown of 1981, they were "dodging and weaving around the restrictions in ways that almost defied imagination. Shortages of basic foodstuffs, double-digit inflation, and a powerful secret police did not deter them from creating thriving black markets and flourishing private institutions from radio to theaters to publishing houses and schools."

"They independently and secretly published forbidden books . . Underground universities operated in major cities, meeting in warehouses and churches."

black market: http://culture.pl/en/article/the-communist-regime-in-poland-in-10-astonishing-pictur

"Ration stamps for sugar were introduced on August 12th, 1976. Meat was distributed only through food stamps from 1981. Nine standards regulated the complicated system of distribution. Who, when and how much depended on age and profession. Food stamps were not used as a substitute for money, but rather as a tool to control in which quantity people were allowed to purchase the items in highest demand: meat, sugar, alcohol.

"Since these items rapidly sold out, virtually everyone relied on the black market to supplement their purchases. Unofficial sellers would often travel to flats and factories. The habit was so widespread that it was nearly impossible to eradicate or penalize."

Great Poland 1

Last July the U.S. president told the people of Poland that they have a friend in America. We love that they somehow sustained their identity and their values in spite of multiple hostile invasions. Here's some of the speech text:

"For two centuries, Poland suffered constant and brutal attacks. But while Poland could be invaded and occupied, and its borders even erased from the map, it could never be erased from history or from your hearts. In those dark days, you have lost your land but you never lost your pride.  

"So it is with true admiration that I can say today, that from the farms and villages of your countryside to the cathedrals and squares of your great cities, Poland lives, Poland prospers, and Poland prevails.

"Despite every effort to transform you, oppress you, or destroy you, you endured and overcame. You are the proud nation of Copernicus — think of that —  — Chopin, Saint John Paul II. Poland is a land of great heroes.  And you are a people who know the true value of what you defend."

map of Poland in Europe: ontheworldmap.com

(cont'd tomorrow)

Uber fight

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

London has 40,000 Uber drivers, who stand to lose income because "Transport for London" has denied Uber a license to operate, saying it is "not fit and proper." London also has about 3.5 million Uber customers who will have to re-organize their transportation needs.

Uber's general manager for London says, "Transport for London and the Mayor have caved in to a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice . . " So he's ready to fight it.

Assume there's been some negotiating.  At least three things have happened so far: 1) Uber has hired a law firm to represent them,  2) they've launched a petition that got hundreds of thousands of signatures quickly, and 3) Uber's CEO apologized vaguely:

"On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologize for the mistakes we've made."

And here is his tweet to Londoners: "Dear London: we r far from perfect but we have 40k licensed drivers and 3.5mm Londoners depending on us. Pls work w/us to make things right."

Uber ban

"London’s days of [taxi] high prices, uncertainty, and danger ended when Uber started operating there in 2012," according to this author who lived there in the 1990's.

"Today, that was all thrown out as Transport for London (TfL), an Uber competitor in that it runs the Tube and franchises bus services, revoked Uber’s license to operate."

"[W]omen, in particular, have started to object to the decision." 

One woman journalist wrote this piece about it, "Without Uber, London will be a more dangerous city for women" --

"[N]ighttime transport in London still leaves a lot to be desired, and the knowledge that you can book a door-to-door service without breaking the bank is intensely reassuring. Factor in the ability to track your route and send details of your trip to friends so they know exactly where you are, plus the stark reviewing system that discourages unacceptable conduct, and Uber feels significantly safer than most of the alternatives."

photo: http://mashable.com/2017/09/22/women-safety-uber-london/#3m33Qcl9Kkqa

Viral video

Millions upon millions of people have seen this viral video since it came out last winter. If you have any interest in the millennial generation, really, you should not miss it.

He says failed parenting strategies have produced a generation that thinks they can have anything they want in life just because they're special. But after they grow up and enter the "real world" they find that they're not special, that their mom cannot get them a promotion.

They find that "impact" doesn't happen in eight months. They find that they don't have effective coping skills to deal with stress.

"Job satisfaction and strength of relationships - there ain't no app for that. They're slow, meandering, uncomfortable, messy processes."

He thinks that the wisdom that their parents should have taught them will now have to come from leadership in the workplace. But there's another source. Some churches fill the wisdom gap with good leadership, thank God.

(Btw, these are generalizations. That means that there is some truth in these statements for large numbers of millennials. Generalizations do not apply to every single individual, by definition.)

Elon's pucker factor

There are lots of challenges to overcome before that mission to Mars (previous two posts) becomes a reality, considering what Elon Musk said this summer about his Falcon Heavy. That's the rocket which was designed from the first to put humans on Mars.

About building that FH, he said, "It's way, way more difficult that we originally thought."

How hard can it be? Well, way hard:

"It requires the simultaneous ignition of 27 orbit class engines."
"Impossible to test on the ground"
"Heavy buffet"
"Aerodynamics totally change"
"Triple vibrations and acoustics"

"There's a real good chance that that vehicle does not make it to orbit [November launch]. Set expectations accordingly. I hope it makes it far enough away from the pad that it doesn't cause pad damage. I would consider even that a win, to be honest."

"Whoever's on the first flight . . brave."

HI-SEAS Crew

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

Two women and four men spent eight months in Mars-like isolation so that NASA could learn more about the effect that sort of mission will have on people. These six people are:

Laura Lark - originally from a small farm, she went to Brown University, then did 5 years as a software engineer for Google, plays Irish fiddle tunes

Ansley Barnard - she has designed aerodynamic bodywork for Indy 500 cars, and worked in engineering optimization at Ford Motor Co.; she hopes to become an astronaut

Samuel Payler - pursuing a doctorate in astrobiology, works on instruments to use on Mars basalt rock

James Bevington - a researcher in space life and statistics, now working for International Space University

Joshua Erhrlich - a systems engineer for Lockheed Martin, he worked on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launch vehicle

Brian Ramos - graduated from International Space University, has both biomedical and engineering degrees

Each is highly accomplished, each one has a website, and there's a good chance that each one is personable and easy to be with. After eight intense/weird months, everybody came out alive.

HI-SEAS

This photo was taken on earth. Two women and four men were in isolation for eight months at this spot on a mountain in Hawaii - for research on what it's going to be like when a team of human beings actually goes to Mars.

About thirty-five million miles separates Earth from Mars at its closest. Space craft sent from earth in the past have taken 128-333 days to get there. When we finally send a crewed mission, it will require months of travel - in a small space, with little privacy.

This HI-SEAS V crew ate shelf-stable food and lived in 1200 square feet with tiny sleeping quarters. They performed scientific experiments, wore space suits every time they left the building, and went nowhere else.

They ended the project on Sunday (two days ago), celebrating with fresh air and tropical fruit.

(cont'd tomorrow)

Free conscience

(continuing last Friday's idea)

China's constitution is morally right to guarantee religious freedom. Too bad there is apparently nothing in that constitution making sure the government itself doesn't violate freedom of religion for its citizens. Freedom of religion is freedom to follow your conscience.

America also guarantees freedom of religion. Amendment #1 of the Constitution says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Why is it that China's government gets away with bulldozing churches (see last Friday's post), but America's government certainly would not? - if they both have religious freedom written into their constitutions?

When I find some answers, I'll post them.

Crackdown

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

"Officially, China is an atheist country, but constitutionally guarantees religious freedom." That guarantee is a sham. Who really has freedom? The government or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). And now they want to persecute Christians.

"In the name of maintaining “safety and beauty,” the CCP has bulldozed churches and torn down crosses. . . Since 2014, 1,800 crosses have been torn down by the Chinese authorities. . . Those who speak out against the CCP’s decisions are arrested and placed in black jails."

"Beijing now wants to force its way into the pulpit too. CCP religious affairs officials want their own time slots during Sunday worship to educate churchgoers about the Party’s religious policies and regulations. The idea is not popular among parishioners."

No church kids

In China, the government takes steps to make sure that everybody is politically correct. Freedom of conscience? It's not important. Being "correct" - that's important.

"So they have begun banning children from church and other religious events. At least four regional governments in China have issued notices barring children from “joining Christian groups and attending religious activities,” reported UCAnews.com. 

"Chinese officials stated that they will investigate both state-run churches and underground churches to ensure compliance."

Generator

People are getting caught in acts of goodness after the hurricane disasters.

(Back story: people in Florida who have lost power have no AC, no lights, no refrigerator, etc., etc. They may be hot, hungry, and in the dark. But some have even greater need to generate some power.)

"On Thursday, Pam Brekke traveled almost 30 miles to an Orlando Lowe’s to buy a generator for her father, who needed it for his oxygen supply. She was next in line to get a generator when she realized the man in front of her got the last one. Brekke began to cry. When the man, Ramon Santiago, saw Brekke’s tears, he insisted that she take his generator.

“I’m very overwhelmed by that man,” Brekke told ABC News. “That gentleman was a great gentleman right there. God will bless that man.

"However, that’s not the end of the story. WFTV News 9 was at Lowe’s Friday after the store received a shipment of generators. Lowe’s donated one to a surprised and thankful Santiago.

"As far as giving his generator to Brekke, Santiago said that God “played a role in all of this” and placed him there at that time to help her."

Saved 2700

Rick Rescorla lost his own life, but saved 2700 others on 9-11 . . because he thought for himself. I really love the stories of these normal people who showed the hero within on that harrowing day.

Sept. 11

It's been 16 years since the shock of the 9-11 attacks in 2001. Islamic terrorist group Al-Qaeda killed 2,996 Americans, injured over 6,000 more, and caused $10 billion in damage. Out of the clear blue sky, literally, four commercial airplanes were hijacked and turned into weapons.

This morning in New York there will be a memorial service at 8:40 a.m. which you can watch here.

New rocket

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

Falcon Heavy, the new rocket at SpaceX, "can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle . . at one-third the cost." Twice the weight, one-third the cost, undeniably impressive.

 image: zmescience.com

Falcon 9 is the rocket SpaceX has already launched 15 times, and it's come back to land safely. Falcon Heavy uses three of those Falcon 9 engine cores for its first stage. All the cores have now tested successfully. The FH will come back to a landing pad on earth and be used again.

That is SpaceX's distinction - millions and millions of dollars saved, because the rockets can be re-used.

"Falcon Heavy has engine-out capability that no other launch vehicle can match—under most payload scenarios, it can sustain more than one unplanned engine shutdown at any point in flight and still successfully complete its mission."

This is the rocket that will take NASA crew into space in 2018.

SpaceX on track

SpaceX is having their most successful year yet, with twelve launches so far and another eight scheduled by year's end - more than any other company . . or even country.

The most powerful operational rocket in the world, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, was successfully tested a second time on Sept. 2, and will take its first flight in November. 

"With the ability to lift into orbit over 54 metric tons (119,000 lb)--a mass equivalent to a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel--Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle, the Delta IV Heavy, at one-third the cost."

Cost of light

For thousands of years, human beings had one source of light in the night. Someone has actually found a way to measure the cost of light for a prehistoric human, and compare it to what humans pay now for the same level of light.

 photo: ozarkmountainhiker.files.wordpress.com

 Using labor hours as a unit of measure, they say it took ten hours of chopping wood per day for six days to produce 1000 lumen hours of fire light. In modern terms, that's equivalent to 54 minutes of a light bulb shining. And no one has to chop wood for even a minute.

Candles cut the human cost of having light, but it was still expensive. "George Washington calculated that five hours of reading per night cost him £8 yearly -well over $1,000 in today's dollars."

But light bulbs  "changed everything . . The amount of labor that once bought 54 minutes of lightt now buys 52 years of light."

How did that happen? A long sequence of technological improvements. Innovation created an abundance, a wealth of light.

Ant mass

 Ants - annoying, insignificant, tiny creatures. Annoying, yes. Insignificant, no. They don't look like much in your yard, but they're important in the big scheme of things.

"Lowly ants possess the greatest total mass of all land-dwelling animals . . . 15–25 percent of the total mass of living land animal tissue." Surprising, unexpected. 

Scientist Hugh Ross thinks that the super high number of ants has helped preserve earth's suitability for human life. Their activity takes greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. The soil is more beneficial for plants when ant hills are near, and ants remove 50+% of the detritus on the forest floor of tropical rain forests.

Bigotry

As the fall semester begins, 15 professors from Yale, Princeton, and Harvard have published a letter of advice for the class of 2021. They urged students to think for themselves.

They say that pressure to conform to the dominant campus opinion is strong. The "tyranny of public opinion does more than merely discourage students from dissenting from prevailing views . . . It leads them to suppose that dominant views are so obviously correct that only a bigot or a crank could question them."

But a real bigot fears questions, fears "open-minded inquiry and robust debate," because he or she "is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices."

Therefore "open-mindedness, critical thinking, and debate are essential to discovering the truth . . they are our best antidotes to bigotry."

Good advice for students, and for all the rest of us, "Think for yourself" - and think things through.

Businesses help

Here are some of the businesses giving help to Houston hurricane victims. It's in the nature of giving help to give that which you have:

Gallery Furniture - 2 locations open for shelter
HEB Grocery - sent mobile kitchens to provide meals, pharmacy
Bass Pro - providing 80 boats.
Duracell - sending free batteries to storm victims
Anheuser-Busch - sending 155,000 cans of drinking water
Airbnb - waving service fees, link free rooms to refugees
Waffle House - determined to stay open in worst conditions
Wal-Mart - 800 truckloads of supplies this week, 1700 next week

"For all the terrible news to come out of Houston, the response from individuals, communities and businesses around the country is a beautiful thing to behold."