Sticky post
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 3:37:39 PM
A while ago, some nasty remarks about my British landlord and a particular bank occupied this space. Even though I am still tempted to post-out-loud some of the old frustration, time has come to move on and to do something useful for once. Now that I'm back to Prague, it feels as though there are better things to report about. I'm not promising any witty reading, but you might find it interesting. So go ahead and R.I.P. (read in peace).
Friday, June 3, 2011 9:17:35 PM
religion, atheism
I'd wish to think that this girl is trying to parody religious crackpots, but without any eye wink or any other hint of parody I can't help thinking she is totally genuine.
This video kinda made my blood boil today. Watch it and then think about the following quote on religion from Steven Weinberg, America's prominent theoretical physicist:
Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 9:15:06 PM
maths
Motto: Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen. A EinsteinLeave your common sense at home. Asking why? This is a popular problem in maths (again) and often even very educated people will defend their (wrong) stance tooth and nail because the truth seems to defy (their wrong) logics when in fact it doesn't. But you know, guys, this is maths and there's just one truth. Ready to take it for a spin?
Imagine the following situation:
I've got three cards: one hearts and two spades. I mix them and lay them with their fronts on a table so that their backs face up knowing the position of each of the cards.
Now you may choose one card. If you select hearts, you win. So you choose a card, but before turning it over I uncover a spade card and give you the option to switch to the remaining one.
The question is: should you switch or it doesn't make a difference?
Let it be known that you should switch. Any ideas why?
Search for the
Monty Hall problem and
prey hope, that you belong to the few
blessed gifted who can comprehend it :-)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 9:40:43 PM
czech affairs, eco
I applaud the latest Greenpeace action in the Czech Republic. The activists climbed on the top of the government building in Prague to hang out a banner in the window above the main hall saying "Welcome to the ČEZ Republic" (pronounced as chess). The slogan is a wordplay on the name of the country and in Czech sounds exactly the same as Czech Republic. ČEZ — the largest electricity producer in the country whose flag was also hung out over the building — has an unprecedented influence on the government's and parliament's decision making.
The electricity giant is about to modernize the largest coal-fired power station in the country in Prunéřov in order to extend the running period of the power station that otherwise would have to be closed. According to the current law, the most efficient technology currently available (efficiency 42%) must be used when building a new power station. ČEZ argues that by modernizing the station the law doesn't apply in this case and that technology efficient mere 38 % can be used instead. A modernization in this case means preserving the current buildings with a complete replacement of their insides.
According to an independent study carried out by a Norwegian eco-counselling company the most effective technology should be used in this case. The study was ordered by the government anyway. Employing such a technology would result in less green house gas emissions over the less efficient technology.
The minister of environment, a member of the green party, had already resigned due to alleged "pressure" to make an immediate decision which he couldn't or rather didn't dare take. The ministry was then instantly assigned to a non-green minister and as the head of the ministry personal department was appointed a former spokeswoman of a ČEZ coal-fired power station who immediately carried out a purge among the ministry staff. Within a few days, a decision favouring ČEZ plans was issued.
This Greenpeace action not only exposes the vulnerability of the government building, but also the staggering entanglement of the politic elites with the economic lobby of this mostly state-owned giant.
More pictures of astounded government members with the banner above their heads and more info on the case (in Czech)
http://www.greenpeace.org/czech/news/vlajka-CEZ-na-vlade
Thank you, Greenpeace, for having the courage for the rest of us!
And shame on our sodding Czech government!
My Opera
