The recent jingoistic outbursts emanating from the hermit kingdom, North Korea, has somehow rattled nerves in the West, and for good reason, North Korea is and has always been an unpredictable, cryptic and mysterious state with nuclear capabilities. You never really know what they're up to, at the same time, you don't want to take unnecessary risks, nor give the impression that you are ready to be blackmailed by threats of armageddon.
Like most analysts, it is really very difficult to ascertain what the regime of Kim Jung Un truly want to achieve from his bellicose posturing, but one thing is certain, it is a calculated move by the regime to get some sort of a bargaining chip later on. A way for it to hold a leverage over the powers that be, maybe to gain more concessions on food and fuel, items which the DPRK perennially lacks, and if not for the loyal patronage of China, would have long ago descended into chaos and comprehensive starvation.
What the west needs to do now is to show, as it has rightfully done by far, that it will and can use its considerable military resources with devastating consequences. North Korea has to be taught to grow up, and now is the time to drill that framework to Kim Jong Un. The DPRK has to be shown that juvenile, really toddler-like tantrums, will no longer be rewarded with food aid and other concessions that has by far, only served to strengthen the North's resolve that the world is there for its whims and caprices to be catered to. North Korea will never attack the U.S., South Korea or Japan for the simple reason that they know that will be the end of their state. However, the west has to take this moment to show once and for all that previous "hospitality" of the west will no longer be played with coolness without a significant improvement in the North's behavior.
Kim Jong Un is also young, restless and inching to prove his mettle among his populace and this could play well into the myth making machine of the North Korean state to portray the third Kim as a legitimate, strong and dependable leader who will lead the North to "progress and stability."
The current state of affairs more than anything shows the insecurities and fears of the North Korean regime and should be managed with care and prudence without giving the appearance of appeasing its immature and childish antics. This will just be the start of long tug-of-war with the regime of Kim Jong Un - the world will have to deal with this outbursts for many years to come.
Linggo, Abril 7, 2013
Sabado, Abril 6, 2013
Lessons of the Euro Experiment: Cyprus in the Crosshairs
The Euro-Cyprus saga took on a new twist when it was finally confirmed that depositors in Cyprus with more than EUR 100,000 (USD 128,000) will have to lose up to 60% of their savings. This "sovereign thievery" will consist of 37.5% conversion to bank shares and an additional 22.5% will be deducted, really stolen, from the accounts to prop up bank reserves of Cyprus' two largest banks, Bank of Cyprus and Popular Bank of Cyprus.
The repercussions of such a plan will certainly be profound and deep, not to mention the economic and financial toll it will exert on the Cyprus economy as well as the tarnished image of the Cypriot banking system that will hover for the next ten years or so at least. To prevent a bank run, Cypriot banks have instituted daily withdrawal limits for both individuals and businesses, but such measure will only delay the inevitable, after one month, when it is expected that such controls will be lifted, foreign depositors will definitely scramble to leave the Cypriot banking system - without a doubt, many for good.
The Euro's reputation as a stable and respectable international currency had nosedived since its adoption ten years ago, some pundits are even predicting that by 2020, it will be extinct. For all its recent maladies, the euro can teach the world a lot about the adoption common currencies, and one thing that screams out from the euro experiment is the undeniable fact that the adoption of a common currency will never be sustainable if the countries that form to use it are not politically, socially and economically integrated.
Unlike the United States, Europe is a patchwork of countries of differing political, social and economic shades. Northern Europe for example is politically stable, socially progressive and economically dynamic, which is exactly the opposite of the countries on its southern peripheries. Italy for example is ruled by a bunch of geriatrics with its quintessential poster boy Silvio Berlusconi and his bunga-bunga parties, has a social culture that emphasizes seniority rather than meritocracy - thus stifling creativity and the promotion of a rigid upward mobility almost tantamount to rope climbing wherein people who are young, no matter how creative and efficient, will have to defer to older seniors no matter how inept and moribund they seem. In addition, Italy is really an economically divided country dominated by the industrial north and the agricultural, crime ridden south.
In hindsight, the euro was never and can never be sustainable and one day will have to buckle under the weight of its profligate, less efficient, and less competitive southern members. Greece and Italy for example have tax collection rates that are laughable for developed countries, collecting less than 30% of their due taxable income. Greece is the ultimate example of a reckless economy who since becoming a member of the euro did nothing but spend and spend, neglecting to undertake painful but essential social and political reforms such as trimming the bloated bureaucracy and improving the tax collection system.
For its failure to truly integrate its members politically and economically at least initially, the euro was doomed to produce a Greece and a Cyprus. Where else in the world can you see a single currency valued more in one place and valued less in another when both places are using and adopting such currency than the euro in Cyprus. The euro can never succeed simply because the countries that make the eurozone are not only politically diverse, they are fundamentally culturally apprehensive to each other - with a proven history of animosity and distrust. Even Germany and France, the founding members of the euro, were at loggerheads about important policy initiatives at the start of the Greece fiasco.
In addition, Europe is linguistically as it is culturally diverse. They don't really share a shared national ethos and dream. The vested interests of each national elite where shown during the discussions to bail out Greece, with some countries opposed to giving their hard-earned money to a spendthrift economy. Europe's linguistic diversity is its greatest Achilles' heal, since it is language which gives a sense of belongingness, a sense of shared historical experience and a sense of oneness. A single currency will never be able to offer that emotional bond, since if any, it can only offer a sense of good feelings during good times, when bad weather strikes as what happened with Greece, countries in its core will naturally revert to their own national interests, a natural defensive reaction.
It is inevitable therefore that the euro will not leave up to exist to the middle of this century. It will limper for a few years or so, but ultimately, it will sink into the quagmire of repeated financial troubles that will ultimately exhaust the patience of investors and the resolve of its smorgasbord of citizens. History will judge the euro experiment as a brave endeavor, but other than that, it will go down in history as the most costly, one-sided banknote that only really benefited the rich northern countries, most especially Germany, the world's second largest exporter as of 2009.
The Cyprus saga will redound as a painful consequence of Europe's failure to have a synchronized political system that allowed certain countries to borrow their way into progress, engage in reckless expansionism and implement prudent financial practices. The massive losses that depositors in Cyprus will have to swallow will forever tarnish the Cypriot banking system and ultimately, the integrity of the euro itself.
The repercussions of such a plan will certainly be profound and deep, not to mention the economic and financial toll it will exert on the Cyprus economy as well as the tarnished image of the Cypriot banking system that will hover for the next ten years or so at least. To prevent a bank run, Cypriot banks have instituted daily withdrawal limits for both individuals and businesses, but such measure will only delay the inevitable, after one month, when it is expected that such controls will be lifted, foreign depositors will definitely scramble to leave the Cypriot banking system - without a doubt, many for good.
The Euro's reputation as a stable and respectable international currency had nosedived since its adoption ten years ago, some pundits are even predicting that by 2020, it will be extinct. For all its recent maladies, the euro can teach the world a lot about the adoption common currencies, and one thing that screams out from the euro experiment is the undeniable fact that the adoption of a common currency will never be sustainable if the countries that form to use it are not politically, socially and economically integrated.
Unlike the United States, Europe is a patchwork of countries of differing political, social and economic shades. Northern Europe for example is politically stable, socially progressive and economically dynamic, which is exactly the opposite of the countries on its southern peripheries. Italy for example is ruled by a bunch of geriatrics with its quintessential poster boy Silvio Berlusconi and his bunga-bunga parties, has a social culture that emphasizes seniority rather than meritocracy - thus stifling creativity and the promotion of a rigid upward mobility almost tantamount to rope climbing wherein people who are young, no matter how creative and efficient, will have to defer to older seniors no matter how inept and moribund they seem. In addition, Italy is really an economically divided country dominated by the industrial north and the agricultural, crime ridden south.
In hindsight, the euro was never and can never be sustainable and one day will have to buckle under the weight of its profligate, less efficient, and less competitive southern members. Greece and Italy for example have tax collection rates that are laughable for developed countries, collecting less than 30% of their due taxable income. Greece is the ultimate example of a reckless economy who since becoming a member of the euro did nothing but spend and spend, neglecting to undertake painful but essential social and political reforms such as trimming the bloated bureaucracy and improving the tax collection system.
For its failure to truly integrate its members politically and economically at least initially, the euro was doomed to produce a Greece and a Cyprus. Where else in the world can you see a single currency valued more in one place and valued less in another when both places are using and adopting such currency than the euro in Cyprus. The euro can never succeed simply because the countries that make the eurozone are not only politically diverse, they are fundamentally culturally apprehensive to each other - with a proven history of animosity and distrust. Even Germany and France, the founding members of the euro, were at loggerheads about important policy initiatives at the start of the Greece fiasco.
In addition, Europe is linguistically as it is culturally diverse. They don't really share a shared national ethos and dream. The vested interests of each national elite where shown during the discussions to bail out Greece, with some countries opposed to giving their hard-earned money to a spendthrift economy. Europe's linguistic diversity is its greatest Achilles' heal, since it is language which gives a sense of belongingness, a sense of shared historical experience and a sense of oneness. A single currency will never be able to offer that emotional bond, since if any, it can only offer a sense of good feelings during good times, when bad weather strikes as what happened with Greece, countries in its core will naturally revert to their own national interests, a natural defensive reaction.
It is inevitable therefore that the euro will not leave up to exist to the middle of this century. It will limper for a few years or so, but ultimately, it will sink into the quagmire of repeated financial troubles that will ultimately exhaust the patience of investors and the resolve of its smorgasbord of citizens. History will judge the euro experiment as a brave endeavor, but other than that, it will go down in history as the most costly, one-sided banknote that only really benefited the rich northern countries, most especially Germany, the world's second largest exporter as of 2009.
The Cyprus saga will redound as a painful consequence of Europe's failure to have a synchronized political system that allowed certain countries to borrow their way into progress, engage in reckless expansionism and implement prudent financial practices. The massive losses that depositors in Cyprus will have to swallow will forever tarnish the Cypriot banking system and ultimately, the integrity of the euro itself.
Biyernes, Abril 5, 2013
The Gestalt Effect
Sometimes we meet people that touch our lives, arriving at moments we need them most, and forever changing our perspective of the world. The Gestalt prayer states that we encounter people purely by accident, and at times, such people make a memorable impression on our lives. It also states that we are not here to fulfill others needs, and neither are other people here to fulfill our needs. The people we meet and touch our lives, are there by the accident of time and nothing more - so it is a miracle indeed if by such encounter, they not only change our lives but we change their lives too.
Time they say waits for no one, carpe diem so the ancient Romans say, "seize the day" when opportunities come our way. For once they pass, they pass never to come our way. The great Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said that we never pass on the same river twice. Yes, the amazing people we meet in life may never come, to live those moments and savor them, is the best that we can do. For after such events pass, only memories are left behind. Residues in the face of eternity.
And as the hands of time caress the cheeks of eternity, we are but a grain of sand thrown about in the vicissitudes of existence. To meet just but one person that completes us, enlivens us, emboldens us, inspires us, holds us to touch the expanse of forever is nothing but pure bliss, eternal joy and the sweet nectar of survival. It takes no special talent, no special skill, no special knowledge to recognize when those moments have finally arrived, just the openness of the mind and the serenity of the heart to grasp in the mind that look of eternal connectedness, that sigh of togetherness, that longing for each other presence, each others touch.
But distance corrodes bonds, loosens ties, disturbs the peace of the mind unless there is that stubborn longing to reach for the others memory, extending oneself to the inescapable threat of rejection and betrayal, to fall into the biting bitterness of pain and what-ifs. No matter what the outcome, no matter how harsh the milieu, that soul mate alienated from one's being clings like a shellfish to the hardened exterior of monolithic denials.
And when finally that moment comes when we meet again, the silent hues of quivering stares and unsaid gestures beckons with a burning fire that the flames have never become embers but a roaring inferno of unclenched love gasping for the oxygen of that disemboweling stare and that skinning breath so close yet so unsatisfying for the desperate longing for moments gone and past. Just a touch and a look and death is a welcome relief to another separation from you.
Time they say waits for no one, carpe diem so the ancient Romans say, "seize the day" when opportunities come our way. For once they pass, they pass never to come our way. The great Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said that we never pass on the same river twice. Yes, the amazing people we meet in life may never come, to live those moments and savor them, is the best that we can do. For after such events pass, only memories are left behind. Residues in the face of eternity.
And as the hands of time caress the cheeks of eternity, we are but a grain of sand thrown about in the vicissitudes of existence. To meet just but one person that completes us, enlivens us, emboldens us, inspires us, holds us to touch the expanse of forever is nothing but pure bliss, eternal joy and the sweet nectar of survival. It takes no special talent, no special skill, no special knowledge to recognize when those moments have finally arrived, just the openness of the mind and the serenity of the heart to grasp in the mind that look of eternal connectedness, that sigh of togetherness, that longing for each other presence, each others touch.
But distance corrodes bonds, loosens ties, disturbs the peace of the mind unless there is that stubborn longing to reach for the others memory, extending oneself to the inescapable threat of rejection and betrayal, to fall into the biting bitterness of pain and what-ifs. No matter what the outcome, no matter how harsh the milieu, that soul mate alienated from one's being clings like a shellfish to the hardened exterior of monolithic denials.
And when finally that moment comes when we meet again, the silent hues of quivering stares and unsaid gestures beckons with a burning fire that the flames have never become embers but a roaring inferno of unclenched love gasping for the oxygen of that disemboweling stare and that skinning breath so close yet so unsatisfying for the desperate longing for moments gone and past. Just a touch and a look and death is a welcome relief to another separation from you.
Huwebes, Abril 4, 2013
Quibid.com: The Bargain, bargain shopping alternative
I recently came upon a website called Quibid as it was featured in a news article at CNN.com that sells brand new products at too-good-to-be-true prices that are in fact truly true! It's actually a bidding website, think e-Bay but only for new, factory sealed products. You can buy products for way much less than their regular retail prices, and all are brand new! How's that?
This is how it works:
1. You sign up to be a member of the site (unfortunately, as of now, it is only available in seven countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States).
2. Once signed up, you can use your account to bid for brand new, factory sealed products. The starting bids are of course unbelievably lower than the price the website pays for the products themselves. How do they do this? Well, they charge a small fee every time an account bids for a product. If, say, there are at least ten bidders, all of them will be charged a "bidding fee" so to speak, that helps cover for the product cost.
3. Once a bid is placed, there is an amount of time by which other bidders can tender bids. If no bids are placed, the highest bidder by far will get the product.
4. Those who fail to win the bid product can use the fee they paid for bidding said product to buy another of that same product without bidding, using the bid fee as a discount on the purchase.
5. Shipping is within 48 hours. Unlike e-Bay, where product shipments are dependent on the seller discretion, this site offers to deliver said product within the said 48 hours. Cool huh.
This is how it works:
1. You sign up to be a member of the site (unfortunately, as of now, it is only available in seven countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States).
2. Once signed up, you can use your account to bid for brand new, factory sealed products. The starting bids are of course unbelievably lower than the price the website pays for the products themselves. How do they do this? Well, they charge a small fee every time an account bids for a product. If, say, there are at least ten bidders, all of them will be charged a "bidding fee" so to speak, that helps cover for the product cost.
3. Once a bid is placed, there is an amount of time by which other bidders can tender bids. If no bids are placed, the highest bidder by far will get the product.
4. Those who fail to win the bid product can use the fee they paid for bidding said product to buy another of that same product without bidding, using the bid fee as a discount on the purchase.
5. Shipping is within 48 hours. Unlike e-Bay, where product shipments are dependent on the seller discretion, this site offers to deliver said product within the said 48 hours. Cool huh.
Miyerkules, Abril 3, 2013
Game of Thrones producers replaces Peter Dinklage
I was aghast when I read a report that Peter Dinklage will be replaced as Tyrion Lannister in the upcoming season 4 of the critically acclaimed TV series "Game of Thrones." The producers reportedly want to transform Tyrion from the fastidiously cunning, intelligent and witty master manipulator of the House of Lannister to something funny. FUNNY? Whaaaaat!!!!! So the producers wanted a comical Tyrion, typically stereotypical of little persons who are most often, if portrayed in movies and tv shows, cast in a farcical light. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister is actually a departure, and a good one at that, from the usual buffonic representation of little persons. And frankly, why would they want Tyrion to be portrayed in a funnier light? Game of Thrones is a dark, gloomy show that encapsulates the perennial human tendency to seek power for powers sake, to gratify that most banal of human frailties, wealth, sex and the indulging of our hedonistic inclinations. Such human characteristics is best captured, modulated, regulated and I say, masterfully directed and re-directed by Tyrion Lannister as portrayed by Peter Dinklage into something that harks at our subliminal desires. This is finesse and if it were a food, Peter's Tyrion is like chocolate souffle, you want more of it regardless of the calories it adds!
In this light, Warwick Davis, a comedian, will take Peter's place as Tyrion Lannister. Honestly, I am not too excited by the producers decision, and hopefully, Warwick will handle Tyrion in an intelligently funny, crafty and most of all, subtly dark way. Otherwise, Tyrion will just be another clown misplaced in a show obstinately dark and brutish. Anyway, let's say if the comical intent of the producers in the re-casted Tyrion Lannister will be comically relevant to the plot of season 4 or merely an irritating distraction to an otherwise beloved character - or is this the producers' way of killing off Tyrion throughout the season 4. Damn.
In this light, Warwick Davis, a comedian, will take Peter's place as Tyrion Lannister. Honestly, I am not too excited by the producers decision, and hopefully, Warwick will handle Tyrion in an intelligently funny, crafty and most of all, subtly dark way. Otherwise, Tyrion will just be another clown misplaced in a show obstinately dark and brutish. Anyway, let's say if the comical intent of the producers in the re-casted Tyrion Lannister will be comically relevant to the plot of season 4 or merely an irritating distraction to an otherwise beloved character - or is this the producers' way of killing off Tyrion throughout the season 4. Damn.
Martes, Abril 2, 2013
TV SHOW REVIEW: The Walking Dead S03E16 (Finale)
I have been excitedly anticipating the season finale of The Walking Dead for the past week. I was expecting a pretty gruesome and jaw lacerating ending to season 3 (pun intended) and when finally I saw the cold opening, I was glued to the computer monitor as I have ever been in my life.
Talking to a friend three days ago about the impending finale, I told him I was expecting, although hoping to be wrong, that Michonne would be killed. Thankfully, I was wrong. Andrea committed suicide before the bite of Milton would turn her into a walker, who was stabbed by the Governor for refusing to kill Andrea and was eventually turned to a walker. Andrea had always hoped to end the bloodshed and worked to no avail to fulfill such ends. In her quest to keep the peace, and avoid any more needless deaths than has already happened, she in effect contributed to the deaths of many more people, among which are the raiding team assembled by the Governor to kill the residents of the abandoned prison, all but three survived. The one kid of the Governor's raiding team who somehow strayed into the group of Hershel and Carl was shot point blank by Carl.
Carl is increasingly becoming a cold person. He blames Rick for being indecisive and as such, allowed Merle to be killed by the Governor. In his mind, if Rick had killed the Governor when they met in the barn, Merle could have been saved. At the end of the show, when the surviving residents of Woodbury were brought to the prison as part of the group, Carl showed his displeasure at such happening. Clearly he was not happy at all to add more people into the group.
After murdering his raiding team for chickening out from the prison assault, the Governor takes off with his two remaining loyalist henchmen. Season 4 will definitely open with the Governor at a prominent light. To settle once and for all the feud between Rick and the Governor, the prison survivors decides to take the fight to Woodbury, Maggie opposes such move and but Rick decides to go for it. Maggie and Glenn opts to remain in the prison. In the end, Rick, Michonne and Daryl make the go for Woodbury. Along the way, they encounter the massacred remains of the raiding team and find one survivor who accompany them to Woodbury. After a short fire-fight, Rick's group surrenders and through the remaining survivor, convinces the two defenders (who were previous residents of the prison) to allow them in where they find Andrea in one of the rooms dying from a walker bite. Andrea decides to take her life as Michonne holds her.
Andrea's naivety cost her dearly for it eventually contributed to her death and that of Milton not to mention a dozen men and women massacred by the Governor for backing out of the fight in the prison. The Governor showed that early on, he was nothing but motivated by a selfish mission to find a cure for his kid and Woodbury was mere cover to carry out his plan successfully. He never really cared about the other people in Woodbury. His penchant for murder and his obsession with control showed his dictatorial bent guised as a humanitarian exterior displays.
Great finale for a great show!
Talking to a friend three days ago about the impending finale, I told him I was expecting, although hoping to be wrong, that Michonne would be killed. Thankfully, I was wrong. Andrea committed suicide before the bite of Milton would turn her into a walker, who was stabbed by the Governor for refusing to kill Andrea and was eventually turned to a walker. Andrea had always hoped to end the bloodshed and worked to no avail to fulfill such ends. In her quest to keep the peace, and avoid any more needless deaths than has already happened, she in effect contributed to the deaths of many more people, among which are the raiding team assembled by the Governor to kill the residents of the abandoned prison, all but three survived. The one kid of the Governor's raiding team who somehow strayed into the group of Hershel and Carl was shot point blank by Carl.
Carl is increasingly becoming a cold person. He blames Rick for being indecisive and as such, allowed Merle to be killed by the Governor. In his mind, if Rick had killed the Governor when they met in the barn, Merle could have been saved. At the end of the show, when the surviving residents of Woodbury were brought to the prison as part of the group, Carl showed his displeasure at such happening. Clearly he was not happy at all to add more people into the group.
After murdering his raiding team for chickening out from the prison assault, the Governor takes off with his two remaining loyalist henchmen. Season 4 will definitely open with the Governor at a prominent light. To settle once and for all the feud between Rick and the Governor, the prison survivors decides to take the fight to Woodbury, Maggie opposes such move and but Rick decides to go for it. Maggie and Glenn opts to remain in the prison. In the end, Rick, Michonne and Daryl make the go for Woodbury. Along the way, they encounter the massacred remains of the raiding team and find one survivor who accompany them to Woodbury. After a short fire-fight, Rick's group surrenders and through the remaining survivor, convinces the two defenders (who were previous residents of the prison) to allow them in where they find Andrea in one of the rooms dying from a walker bite. Andrea decides to take her life as Michonne holds her.
Andrea's naivety cost her dearly for it eventually contributed to her death and that of Milton not to mention a dozen men and women massacred by the Governor for backing out of the fight in the prison. The Governor showed that early on, he was nothing but motivated by a selfish mission to find a cure for his kid and Woodbury was mere cover to carry out his plan successfully. He never really cared about the other people in Woodbury. His penchant for murder and his obsession with control showed his dictatorial bent guised as a humanitarian exterior displays.
Great finale for a great show!
Lunes, Abril 1, 2013
DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: Evacuate Earth (2012)
A National Geographic Documentary entitled "Evacuate Earth" which was first shown in 2012 recently came to my attention. It is the stuff of which apocalyptic movies, books and theories are made up, but one which will without a doubt some day come upon humankind. The documentary starts with the emergence of a neutrino star so massive, so powerful that it would rip galaxies, solar systems and planets that comes its way. The neutrino star is discovered 75 years before its rendezvous with earth and in that duration, mankind is beset with the challenge of building a ship so big yet self-sustaining to carry at least 500,000 select samples of humanity chosen for their physical and genetic robustness in the hope of carrying on human civilization in a distant, far-away planet more or less similar to earth.
The documentary presents the most important challenge that humanity has to solve, how to build a massive ship that is self-sustaining and how to power such ship. Second challenge, who will qualify to board the ship? How will it choose who will go on to continue the human race and who will remain on earth.
During the last ten years before the calculated arrival of the neutrino star, the star ship is almost complete and man has designed a ship that has a rotating barrel shaped body to simulate gravity and a massive lighting system running in the middle of the barrel to simulate the sun. It is powered by some sort of plasma mechanism. The people on board are chosen based on their genetic health and physical fitness to ensure a healthy genetic diversity for the next generation of mankind and of course, to ensure that those who do board the ship has the physical stamina to endure the long trek to the next habitable planet.
Of course many questions will arise such as the fact that inevitably, those who have power and wealth will have an inordinate influence in the selection of people who will board the ship. This cannot be avoided and can only be mitigated. However, a genetic survey of all of earth's human population will be conducted to ensure that a representative sample of humanity can be taken and a variegated genetic stock is maintained, this will guarantee higher chances of producing healthy, disease resistant human beings. A quest to maintain the survival of our species no matter what.
The documentary ends with the ship finally arriving in a new planet somewhat similar to earth and the descent of the descendants of those who initially embarked on the journey. It should be noted that most of those who initially began the journey will have by now died, survived by the children who began the journey or those born on the ship. Actually the documentary ends after 88 years of space travel. Of course, this is a very liberal computation. As of date, we have not established and discovered a space body similar to earth that can conclusively sustain human life as similar as what earth is. I suspect that if such an event were to really happen, the journey will be much, much longer.
It's a beautiful documentary, fitting indeed as the Christian world celebrates on of its most important events, the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. One day, our planet earth will indeed have to be abandoned. Man will have no choice but to seek refuge in another foreign body - that will be humanity's greatest passion, in the ensuing catastrophe that is the destruction of earth, many humans will perish and hopefully, humanity's resurrection will be brought upon by those of us who will undertake the long space journey to continue the drama that is human life - something so unique, so precious in this part of our galaxy. A creature that is intelligent, passionate and fearless in its determination to conquer the limitations of being.
I hope people will watch this documentary, if only because it stirs in us that ultimate question: What is life?
The documentary presents the most important challenge that humanity has to solve, how to build a massive ship that is self-sustaining and how to power such ship. Second challenge, who will qualify to board the ship? How will it choose who will go on to continue the human race and who will remain on earth.
During the last ten years before the calculated arrival of the neutrino star, the star ship is almost complete and man has designed a ship that has a rotating barrel shaped body to simulate gravity and a massive lighting system running in the middle of the barrel to simulate the sun. It is powered by some sort of plasma mechanism. The people on board are chosen based on their genetic health and physical fitness to ensure a healthy genetic diversity for the next generation of mankind and of course, to ensure that those who do board the ship has the physical stamina to endure the long trek to the next habitable planet.
Of course many questions will arise such as the fact that inevitably, those who have power and wealth will have an inordinate influence in the selection of people who will board the ship. This cannot be avoided and can only be mitigated. However, a genetic survey of all of earth's human population will be conducted to ensure that a representative sample of humanity can be taken and a variegated genetic stock is maintained, this will guarantee higher chances of producing healthy, disease resistant human beings. A quest to maintain the survival of our species no matter what.
The documentary ends with the ship finally arriving in a new planet somewhat similar to earth and the descent of the descendants of those who initially embarked on the journey. It should be noted that most of those who initially began the journey will have by now died, survived by the children who began the journey or those born on the ship. Actually the documentary ends after 88 years of space travel. Of course, this is a very liberal computation. As of date, we have not established and discovered a space body similar to earth that can conclusively sustain human life as similar as what earth is. I suspect that if such an event were to really happen, the journey will be much, much longer.
It's a beautiful documentary, fitting indeed as the Christian world celebrates on of its most important events, the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. One day, our planet earth will indeed have to be abandoned. Man will have no choice but to seek refuge in another foreign body - that will be humanity's greatest passion, in the ensuing catastrophe that is the destruction of earth, many humans will perish and hopefully, humanity's resurrection will be brought upon by those of us who will undertake the long space journey to continue the drama that is human life - something so unique, so precious in this part of our galaxy. A creature that is intelligent, passionate and fearless in its determination to conquer the limitations of being.
I hope people will watch this documentary, if only because it stirs in us that ultimate question: What is life?
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