The John James Newsletter 164
4 March 2017
If they answer not your call, walk alone;
If they are afraid and cower mutely facingthe wall,O thou of evil luck,Open the mind and speak out alone.If they turn away and desert you whencrossing the wilderness,O thou of evil luck,Trample the thorns under the tread,And along the blood-lined tracktravel alone.If they do not hold up the light when thenight is troubled with storm,O thou of evil luck,With the thunder-flame of pain ignitethine own heartAnd let it burn alone.Rabindranath Tagore
There are no rewards of comfort, no assurance of joy and peace at the end. The poem teaches that a citadel of endurance can be built on a foundation of anguish. How can anybody who has learnt to ignite his heart with the thunder-flame of his own pain ever known defeat? It is from hardship rather than ease that we gather wisdomAung San Sun Kyi
Eagles against drones
The bird covered 200 meters in 20 seconds, slamming into a drone, then diving with the wreckage into the tall grass.
Boston Dynamics unveils ‘nightmare-inducing’ hybrid robot
Google-owned robotics firm has released video of its latest amazing creation on two-wheel, named Handle.
Spain Sets Massive Precedent — Charges Its Central Bankers in Court
First, Iceland, and now Spain has taken on the Big Bankers responsible for financial calamity, as the country’s highest national court charged the former head of Spain’s central bank, a market regulator, and five other banking officials over the loss of millions of euros for smaller investors
The History of Climate
A fascinating look at the ups and downs of the past billion years,
Famine Warning Issued in Four Countries Following Worst African Droughts in Decades
Abnormally warm West Pacific sea surface temperatures — in part driven by a weak La Nina, in part driven by global warming — produced changes in atmospheric circulation that considerably reduced rainfall over Eastern and Southern Africa. Rwanda, Kenya, Eithiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia are experiencing their worst droughts in decades.
Removal of Bumblebee From Endangered List
The obstruction of the bumblebee listing is part of a larger problem: The White House has instructed agencies to withdraw or freeze an array of rules that were intended by the Obama administration to protect public health and the environment.
Guatemalan Authorities Halt Dutch ‘Abortion Boat’
The Guatemalan military on Thursday intercepted a ship from the Dutch-based organization Women on Waves, which offers free abortion services for women in international waters so that they can bypass harsh local laws0.
Swedish town offers a paid break for sex
Sweden is already celebrated for its generous welfare state, including 480 days of paid parental leave and universal health care. The town of Overtornea, wants to add to those benefits, by offering the municipality’s 550 employees the right to subsidized sex to give a nudge to the dwindling local population, add spice to aging marriages and improve employee morale.
The secret Iraq dossier – Inside Australia’s flawed war.
Howard joined George W. Bush in invading Iraq solely to strengthen Australia’s alliance with the US.
Trial of the Century: ‘Right to a Climate System Capable of Sustaining Human Life’
Trump has been named lead defendant in the suit, though he has defied the authority of the courts to enforce other rights. The “climate kids” case Juliana v. United States is shaping up to be not only a historic trial of the culpability of the US government for destruction of the earth’s climate, but of the power of courts to protect our rights.
Massive Global Permafrost Melt Underway
Tens of thousands of miles of permafrost in northwest Canada are rapidly melting, adding to an accelerating decline in Alaska, Siberia, and Scandinavia. The disintegration of permafrost portends a massive release of carbon, both into the environment and the atmosphere. An unprecedented mid-winter Arctic heat wave is accelerating its decay.
Global sea-ice melt that became glaringly obvious 2016-2017
http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph/
With New El Nino Predicted, 3rd Hottest January on Record
A record hot world cooled a little during January. Unfortunately, with La Nina fading and a new El Nino predicted and with atmospheric CO2 measures continuing to climb, more record breaking breaking global heat appears to be on the way.
Antarctic sea ice ‘obliterates’ previous minimum record
While the loss of floating ice doesn’t affect sea levels, its absence leaves shore-based ice shelves exposed to faster melting and accelerated glacier movement.
Urban Growth per hour
By 2030, urban areas are expected to grow by 1.4 billion. Cities will account for over 60% of the world’s population, and 60% of urban dwellers will be under the age of 18. The risk of natural disasters compounded by natural geography, climate changes, unregulated growth, and substandard infrastructure intersect to frustrate humanitarian relief. Religious and ethnic tensions will be a defining element in the social landscape. Stagnation will coexist with unprecedented development as impoverishment, slums, and shanty towns become the unavoidable world of our future.
Future batteries in the rose garden!!
‘Cyborg Rose’ Grows Functioning Electronic Circulatory Inside its Stem and Leaves
Scientists have figured out how to inject a conducting solution into a rose cutting, and have it spontaneously form wires throughout its stem, leaves, and petals to create fully functioning supercapacitors for energy storage. The e-Plant was charged hundreds of times without any loss on performance. It could allow us to one day create fuel cells or autonomous energy systems inside living plants.
‘Oldest’ Iron Age gold work in Britain found in Staffordshire
The three necklaces and bracelet are believed to be about 2,500 years old. Called the Leekfrith Iron Age Torcs, the treasure is a “unique find of international importance”.
