One year ago today: August 26, 2013, filler.
Five years ago today: August 26, 2009, being crabby.
Ten years ago today: August 26, 2004, ex-plane this.
How about a movie review? We haven’t had one of those here in a while, and I haven’t anything for the memoir writer’s meetup tonight. What others call a hidden agenda is often nothing more than what we over here call double, triple, or multi-motivation. So here is the combined effort for your perusal and to have a presentation if I hit the memoir meeting tonight. None of this is certain, so the only way to see the outcome is to read on. What did you expect?
As luck would have it, Morgan Freeman himself, is investigating the unlocked potential of the human mind. The urban legend says our species can utilize merely 10% of our brain capacity. This is measured by the number of neurons fired compared to the total number available. However, it is not known how much of the 10% is required for maintenance or what effect becomes on those with lower IQs. I'm saying here that the very concept of 10% of Patsie's brain is a scary thing.
Either way, in a progression right out of “Flowers For Algernon”, the enhancing effect of the drug means the host, the delectable Scarlett Johannson, must eventually die. The only thing that can keep her going is to hunt down the other mules for their supply. That’s the chase. The movie is a little weak on special effects, but they are unexpected, so that counts. Also, many of the effects are not computer-generated. That is a nice touch, since it means the writers had to actually think.
Scarlett’s role now becomes getting the drugs before the Asian triads can retrieve it. By movie’s end, Lucy has risen to the next plane. The final line, spoken by Freeman is, “Now that we have all this knowledge, what will we use it for?” If he’d been watching the movie, he’d know: Killing Koreans.
For those with a sharp eye for detail, this movie makes no major mistakes. There are scenes of cell mitosis and neuron synapse of remarkable accuracy. The movie has flashbacks that relate to human evolution, including a scene in the distant past, where Lucy is the nickname of the first humanoid remains found at Olduvai. Whoever researched the movie plot did a thorough job. There’s even a scene from the Cistine Chapel. None of the scenes step beyond what is theoretically already possible, though some of it is pretty cutting edge.
Final conclusion? It’s a great action-thriller. Go see it.
Have you seen the Merkava V (Model 5 of the Israeli home-grown tank)? Here’s a video, but since I don’t comprehend Hebrew, here are my observations on this weapon. First, I have rarely seen an object so flagrantly designed for robotic control. Naming conventions aside, this is no upgrade to the last design, this is completely rethought from the ground up. I smell burning American dollars all over the place.
And those turns must be computer controlled to an extent. That extent is the rapidity needed to slew the entire tank toward a target faster than the target can get you back. Also, the cannon is mounted on a “disappearing carriage” that tucks into a central trough. Since it rises upward to fire, there may be limited traverse. These mechanisms have traditionally been unreliable and susceptible to battle damage. However, that would only be so if the gun was in firing position, the point an enemy is least likely to take a shot and reveal his position. Further, tank cost and size are related. A smaller tank means less cost or more tanks. The layout suggests a crew of two. Driver and commander.
Note the “periscope” vision mechanism. It is too small to be manned. And the gun, once in the canyon, is auto-loaded. Even in this mockup, the replaceable barrel liner is evident, and it looks like it may be a composite material. The side vents also indicate the engine remains in front, a layout that further protects the crew from frontal attack. My guess is this “tank” should be considered an on-the-ground drone. No doubt, these tanks would be, if not robotic, then at least remote controlled and certainly networked at all times.
It seems odd that such a radical remake would inherit the title of Merkava, which is the Israeli word for “chariot”, but it is a word used in their religion to signify aspects of religion. So a looser translation would be “god’s chariot”. Such terms are normally reserved for large military weapons intended to impost themselves on the battlefield. Could be it is a cover up for a robotic system?
Other than this video, I have no information on this tank. That means I do not know if it is even in production, much less if it is in production. It seems to incorporate all of the lessons learned in previous wars right down to the sloping armor and wide “Russian” treads. The appearance of these weapons marks a turning point in warfare. The world is aware that Muslim terrorists hate unmanned vehicles worse than do any other kind of terrorists.
ADDENDUM
What’s this, another rash of claims by the Chinese that they were the first at everything? I suppose somebody had to take over from the Soviets on that one. Anyway, they are now saying that they invented big ships. I do credit the Chinese with certain innovations, but since my thirties, I have had a theory that true invention and genius is a ratio of population. One man in 10,000 can have original thoughts. Of those, on in 1,000 will do anything about it. One in 100 will succeed. As far as I know, the study has not been done.
If you factor in total numbers of people in a race or a nation, the Chinese come in way down the list, somewhere near India. The equation is simple. If you breed by the millions, the chances of a genetically gifted individual are thereby increased. So what, if otherwise, their superior system allows billions starve in the process? If their gods didn’t want it that way, they would change it, would they not? In terms of sheer inventive genius, America is indeed the land of opportunity. No other nation in history comes even close. Second place is held by Germany--but for a much, much longer period. Controversial, or what?
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