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Tag Archive | India
May 30, 2019  

Who Is In Charge Of Satellites Being Launched Into Earth Orbit?

by Anura Guruge

Click to access ‘space.com’ original.

Click to access a pretty informative and easy to follow presentation.

Do YOU know the answer?

There is NO SINGLE International Body, say the IAU, in charge.

In the case of U.S. companies — or foreign companies planning to do business with the U.S. — the F.C.C. grants a license, but it appears that a few companies have skirted this and have had their satellites launched aboard.

What is the big deal?

Well, this 60-satellite SpaceX (Elon Musk) Starlink might look cool for a few days, BUT do you really want it marring your view of SPACE — at the Universe?

And this is only the start.

The entire SpaceX train, for providing global Internet access, will consist of over a 1,000 satellites!

And other companies, including Amazon, plan to join with thousands of their own.

Soon, and I mean in years, we will have THOUSANDS of small satellites in low Earth orbit. It will get in the way of us being able to enjoy the stars.

First we had Indians littering space. Then the Israelis crashed onto the moon. Now this.

This has to be controlled before we MESS UP SPACE.

Related posts:
 Search ‘moon’.

by Anura Guruge

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May 6, 2019  

Best Thing For Sri Lanka, Right Now, Would Be For China To Take It Over & Manage It! {Smile}

by Anura Guruge

Weekend article in ‘The New York Times’ highlighting Sri Lanka’s never ending woes.

It is unlikely to ever happen, BUT it is worth a thought.

Most, bar India, are unlikely to care, but India is now too big for even China to want to mess around.

There is, of course, a basis for my provocative thought. China is said to be slowly gobbling up whatever bits of Sri Lanka it can — starting with the strategic harbor in Galle. So, China sure has an incentive, though even they may decide that Sri Lankan people are a lost cause.

The political situation in Sri Lanka is untenable. It has been neverending intrigue and infighting for 30-years. The people are fickle too. They vote in a party and within 6-months start to hate the party they just put in power. They really are like kids. I hate to say this but we haven’t acted like adults in the last few decades.

Hence, the need for colonization AGAIN!

Yes, 200-years of continuous colonization appears to have left a mark. We seem to require discipline instilled by a foreign power.

You can just see Sri Lanka under Chinese rule! They will stop all this nonsense. They will the economy back on track. Make it safe for tourist.

Yes, I know it is unlikely to happen, but it is something to dream about. A placid Sri Lanka with no infighting.

Related Posts:
 Check Category ‘Sri Lanka’.

by Anura Guruge

April 11, 2019  

First The Indians Litter Space, Then Israel Litters The Moon!

by Anura Guruge

This from CNBC. Google for plenty more.

Yes, accidents happen.

But, it is a shame that we now have litter and debris on the Moon! Yes, on the Moon.

They are claiming that Mount Everest is now like a garbage dump. It would be a shame if we had debris all over the surface of the Moon.

Yes, of course, they didn’t want it to happen, but did they do adequate testing to really, really avoid a failure. I remember reading that their very first rocket burn failed due to a basic programming error. I, alas, did a lot of work with Israeli high tech companies during ‘dot.com’. I learnt that they are cavalier and rush the software. SMILE.

Well maybe it is time for the IAU to step in and start policing and regulating space shots — whether just orbital, to the Moon or Mars.

Related posts:
 Search ‘moon’.

by Anura Guruge

April 3, 2019  

Indians, Quite Rightly, Get Blasted For Their Irresponsible Satellite Destruction Stunt.

by Anura Guruge

Click to access “Business Insider” original.

By and large I am rather fond of most Indians (and they are a lovable bunch of buggers in general), but they can drive you to distraction and beyond. They are a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls at heart — which is the real reason they venerate cows. That I have to suffer the ignominy, daily, of having to contend with two Indian-run outfits “Willow” (cricket) & “Hotstar” reminds me — daily — that they really couldn’t hold a successful bloody orgy in a Mumbai whorehouse. Their competence is to be incompetent.

This satellite destruction fiasco is but proof. Q.E.D.

If they jeopardize the ISS that would be criminal. I despair.

But, you have to laugh. Because, they will just wag their heads and say: “Very sorry. Very sorry. Not do next time. Very sorry“.

Related posts:
 Search ‘Indians’.

by Anura Guruge

March 21, 2019  

New Zealand, To Its Eternal Credit, Exemplifies The Decency & Dignity I Ascribe To Cricket Playing Nations.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE.

Click to ENLARGE.

Cricket civilizes you. Plain and simple. Sportsmanship is paramount in cricket. Hence, the above expression: “It isn’t cricket”.

So, I, who watch cricket, on a large screen TV, nearly every day, and have been a fanatic all my life, strongly believe that cricket playing nations tend to be more decnet than those that don’t play cricket.

By ‘cricket playing nations’ I am referring to the 12 countries permitted to play 5-Day International Test Matches. Yes, cricket at the highest level, is played between countries and a match can last up to 5-days — and still end in a draw. That is the beauty & charm. That is what civilizes you. No crash, bangk, wallop. Very dignified.

Right now there are 11 countries that are Test nations: India, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The ‘West Indies‘ also play Test cricket but they are a conglomeration of small states that come together to play cricket. 105-countries, worldwide, play cricket. But, I am talking just about the 11 Test playing countries — New Zealand one of them.

I am so proud of New Zealand. Way to go. Obviously, it would have been better if this unfortunate incident never happened, but NZ showed us how to rise above and prevail.

And their 38-year old Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. WOW. WOW. WOW. What class. What courage. She is exemplary.

I have thought about immigrating to New Zealand! I, however, have never been. Not even close. I also don’t have any NZ friends. Dealt with a fe, but I can’t say I interact with any Kiwanis right now. My loss.

One of my all time heroes, Edmund Hillary, is a New Zealander.

I know NZ from all the cricket I watch — and some rugby. I count Richard Hadlee, Glenn Turner, Bev Congdon, Ross Taylor et. al. among my favorites. Bev Congdon made my Summer of 1973!

So, I have always had an affinity with dear Ol’ New Zealand — a British Commonwealth member no less.

How they have behaved and prevailed over the last few days has been brilliant. So, inspirational.

Thank YOU, New Zealand.

Thank YOU, Jacinda Ardern.

by Anura Guruge

January 22, 2019  

I Had No Idea Presidential Hopeful Kamala Harris Was ‘Black’, But I Didn’t Know Obama Was ‘White’.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE and read here. Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Harris

I had seen her on TV and just assumed she was ‘white’ with blush. Honestly. Never ever occurred to me that she was black! No, I had not taken much notice of her first name ‘Kamala’. Maybe if I had I might have given it some thought. I thought it was ‘Camala’ — and Spanish.

Here is the kicker. She has no ‘white’ in her. Indian Tamil mother and father. Yes, one or more of her grandparents may have been ‘white’. Does not matter. It is just that I had not realized that she was anything other than lily white. Just goes to show you.

Tamil mother — from India. No, I am cool. I really STILL do have Tamil friends. Growing up one of my many surrogate mothers, our next door neighbor, was Tamil. My current doctor is Tamil. So, that is actually good.

Yes, I honestly did not know, until I became an ardent follower, that Obama was white. Always confused me when folks called him black. He was as much white as he was black.

Not so in the case of Kamala Harris. But, that is OK. I think she is smart and cool BUT I am not sure whether she is the next Obama. The next Obama for I, is Michelle.

Related posts:
 Search for ‘Obama’.

by Anura Guruge

December 25, 2018  

Wishing YOU A Very Festive ‘Boxing Day 2018’ & With TWO Test Matches It Does NOT Get Better.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

I feel bad for the Americans in that they were never blessed to discover and relish ‘Boxing Day‘. It is a wonderful British Holiday, day to chill-out after and enjoy some sporting action. And IF you are a true Brit there is nothing better than a Test match on Boxing day and this year, i.e., 2018, we have TWO: Australia vs India and South Africa vs Pakistan. I will be watching both of them. Given that Australia is 12-hours ahead of us, I plan to start watching the Australia vs India Test shortly.

Enjoy. Make ‘Boxing Day’ a part of your Christmas ritual. You will be better for it.

Happy ‘Boxing Day 2018’.

Related posts:
 Check Category ‘Holidays’.

by Anura Guruge

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