Luke Connell

Evolutio Flipboard have launched a feature allowing me to create...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:50:44 +1000

Evolutio

Flipboard have launched a feature allowing me to create my own magazine out of the articles I’d like to share. I’ve created a magazine called Evolutio which will range from science, foreign affairs, health, philosophy, technology, politics, the environment and interesting products or services.

"We have experienced, what we did not then believe, that there exist both proflicacy and power enough..."

Wed, 29 May 2013 22:50:19 +1000

““We have experienced, what we did not then believe, that there exist both proflicacy and power enough to exclude us from the field of interchange with other nations. That to be independent for the comforts of life, we must fabricate them ourselves. We must now place the manufacturer by the side of the agriculturalist. The former question is suppressed, or rather assumes a new form. The grand inquiry now is, shall we make our own comforts, or go without them at the will of a foreign nation? He, therefore, who is now against domestic manufacture, must be for reducing us either to dependence on that foreign nation, or to be clothed in skins, and to live like wild beasts in dens and caverns. I am not one of these. Experience has taught me that manufactures are now as necessary to our independence as to our comfort; and if those who quote me as of a different opinion, will keep pace with me in purchasing nothing foreign, where an equivalent of domestic fabric can be obtained, without regard to difference of price, it will not be our fault if we do not soon have a supply at home equal to our demand, and wrest that weapon of distress from the hand which has so long wantonly wielded it.””

- Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Austin, January 9, 1816

If Hamilton had been alive, his response would have probably been hilarious. “Oh now you get it.”

(via publius-esquire)

Watch SpaceX’s Reusable Grasshopper Rocket Blast Off And Safely...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:38:52 +1100

Watch SpaceX’s Reusable Grasshopper Rocket Blast Off And Safely Land On Its Feet
Matt Burns, techcrunch.com

Spoiler: The video above shows SpaceX’s 100-foot-tall Grasshopper rocket blasting off, hovering in the air for about 30 seconds and then descending back to terra firma. And it’s set to Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire. That’s it. There’s…

A very impressive Space X rocket test flight.

European disunion done righteconomist.com The Holy Roman...

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 23:57:53 +1100

European disunion done right
economist.com

The Holy Roman Empire
The “old empire” offers surprising lessons for the European Union today
SUMMITS were more fun in those days. When Ferdinand III, the Habsburg monarch of the Holy Roman Empire, arrived in Regensburg, the Brussels of…

Good article on the EU. Extract: Where history leaves EU leaders today is debatable. Faced with a similar crisis in the 1780s, a different confederation seized a “Hamiltonian moment”, assumed the debts of its member states and had a good run as the United States of America.

On the Anti-Islam video and violent protests

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 23:27:07 +1000

The recent anti-Islam video which sparked international protests some of which erupted in violence and unrest is just one in thousands of videos containing many false, misleading, insulting, ignorant, conspiracy, slanderous, politically and ideologically motivated extreme videos towards most religions, prophets, deities, governments, economic systems, companies and individuals. If we don’t like or agree with the content, claims, ideals or message of a video or article on the Internet we have the ability to respond with our own videos and articles. Considering there are approximately 1.6 billion followers of Islam I’m sure the Islamic community could easily drown out such a video with their own to counter it in a peaceful manner.

Now is a better time than ever for the Islamic community to engage with the public through dialogue to help non-believers gain a better understanding and insight into the world, thoughts and teachings of Islam.

Many of us follow different religions or have no religion at all or don’t believe in a deity however through dialogue we can at least understand why others have a faith, what are the core principles and values of the faith, respect them on the grounds of their conviction to adhere to a moral framework or higher purpose and have an understanding of the values which we share.

Malcolm Turnbull MP on deteriorating political discourse in Australia

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 05:40:55 +1000

Malcolm Turnbull MP on deteriorating political discourse in Australia:

The citizens of many nations are losing or have lost confidence in their elected representatives and political systems. Now is certainly a good time for our politicians to contemplate the ethics governing their actions and the culture within which they work.

Why we are in Afghanistan

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 12:05:20 +1000

Article by Ambassador Bleich on Friday, September 7, 2012 at 6:43pm - REPOST

Last week, three brave Australian soldiers lost their lives in Oruzgan Province in Afghanistan. Two other diggers perished hours later in a helicopter crash, making this the greatest loss of Australian soldiers in a single week since the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. One of those fallen soldiers, Private Robert Poate, attended my sons’ school, and had graduated only a few years ago. While at an event at the school this week, I spoke with people who had known him, and they told me of his spirit and his commitment to service. I looked around the room at these young boys, full of life, and it was a terrible reminder of the sacrifice we all have made. Each time a member of our forces dies in Afghanistan, I think of the soldiers I’ve met in Afghanistan, and of my own sons and how much they mean to me.

Each time we face this awful reality of war, we cannot help but ask if the fight is worth it – whether it might not be better just to leave now. No one likes war, and none of us – particularly those who serve and sacrifice in our armed forces – wants it to go on even a day longer than is needed. Members of the Taliban know this, too, and their tactics are designed to convince us to leave sooner than we should.

But we are not in Afghanistan by choice, but by necessity. Our effort there is the result of attacks against Americans, Australians, and our allies around the world that emanated from Afghanistan. Only 11 years ago, Afghanistan was the headquarters of a terrorist network bent on destroying nations that did not share al-Qaeda’s extreme beliefs. In concert with the Taliban government of Afghanistan, this group had killed nearly 3,000 people from 60 nations in a single day in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In addition, they had previously attacked innocent civilians – Australians, Americans, Indonesians, Africans, and many others – in Yemen, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, India, the United States, and other nations around the world. They were well-armed, technically sophisticated, and well-funded, and they targeted civilians, callously killing ordinary men, women, and children to advance their cause. In response, 42 nations banded together – including the U.S. and Austraila — to go into Afghanistan to dismantle the al-Qaeda network, to bring its leaders to justice, and to ensure that Afghanistan did not return to a state that supported or gave safe harbor to terrorists.

To say this war has been long and difficult is an understatement. But today, the most dangerous elements of al-Qaeda have been effectively dismantled. It’s main leaders, including Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, have been killed or captured. Afghanistan, though fragile and imperfect, is a democracy led by elected leaders who reject terrorism. In most of the country, Afghan soldiers and police are now adequately trained to protect Afghan citizens, and are already assuming the lead. In every other region, the training is on track for a complete transition to Afghan leadership in 2014. Hundreds of thousands of police and soldiers have been educated, trained, and are now serving alongside their international partners. They are committed to ensuring that Afghanistan does not again descend into the lawlessness and chaos that allowed al-Qaeda to take root. For the first time in decades, women and girls are being educated; roads, schools and clinics have been built, literacy rates have increased dramatically, the percentage of Afghans with access to healthcare has risen from 8% to 80%, courts have been constructed, and over 200 of the 1,000 judges are women, and there are real elections and real political systems in place.

The reason we remain in Afghanistan is simple. While much of our work is done, it is not yet complete. To ensure that Afghanistan does not back-slide to a dangerous point, we must continue the work of training Afghan forces to assume full security leadership in 2014. We know that this cannot be done without great risk, and sadly without the likelihood of further loss of life. We also know that security and social problems in Afghanistan will not magically disappear on the day our forces withdraw and Afghans assume full security responsibility. Like any nation that has suffered decades of violence, instability, corruption, and the trauma of conflict, Afghanistan faces a long and difficult road to achieving its potential as a free nation. But if we leave now, it will never have that chance, and the achievements of those who have given their lives in this conflict will have been abandoned. We owe it to them. As President Lincoln said, surveying the devastation of the battlefield at Gettysburg, “It is for us the living … to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced… . that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.”

And so as we mourn, we also remember why they fought, the cause for which they died, and the tasks that remain for us to complete their unfinished work.

*Photos courtesy of the United States Defense Department

OLD FART PRIDE

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 22:26:56 +1000

I was listening to a local radio station called 94.1 3WBC Whitehorse Boroondara Community Radio. Ken Lyons, host of a program Anything Goes read an entertaining article which contains a few truths.

Old Farts worked hard and built the modern world we all enjoy today. They deserve more respect than they receive and we as a nation and community should embrace their experience, knowledge and wisdom far more.

OLD FART PRIDE

I’m passing this on as I did not want to be the only old fart receiving it. Actually, it’s not a bad thing to be called, as you will see.

Old Farts are easy to spot at sporting events; during the playing of the National Anthem. Old Farts remove their caps and stand at attention and sing without embarrassment. They know the words and believe in them.
Old Farts remember World War II, Pearl Harbor , Guadalcanal , Normandy and Hitler. They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing. They remember the 50 plus Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005, not to mention Vietnam .
If you bump into an Old Fart on the sidewalk he will apologize. If you pass an Old Fart on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady. Old Farts trust strangers and are courtly to women.
Old Farts hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside for protection.
Old Farts get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and they don’t like any filth or dirty language on TV or in movies.
Old Farts have moral courage and personal integrity. They seldom brag unless it’s about their children or grandchildren.
It’s the Old Farts who know our great country is protected, not by politicians, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country. This country needs Old Farts with their work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country and decent values. We need them now more than ever. Thank God for Old Farts!

Is private money a solution to the worlds monetary issues. Worth further investigation....

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 05:01:28 +1000

Is private money a solution to the worlds monetary issues. Worth further investigation. http://tinyurl.com/3npuw5d

"mens sana in corpore sano"

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:45:12 +1000

“mens sana in corpore sano”

- (a sound mind in a healthy body)

A few of my thoughts on life.

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:57:35 +1000

We are not all born into wealth and it may take an IPO or lifetime to create it. Wealth should never be the aim, only the means and the reward. Try, fail, try again fail, stop trying and you will never achieve or grow. Sometimes we must take one step back to make two steps forward. Stretch the rope too far it will snap. Less educated or wealthy does not make one less of a man for virtue resides in his heart, mind and actions. Live to each day to be a better person or one may not have lived at all.

London 2012 Olympics Opening Message

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 11:12:28 +1000

Danny Boyle: We hope too that through all the noise and excitement tonight. You’ll glimpse a single golden thread of purpose. The idea of Jerusalem, of a better world, the world of real freedom and true equality, a world that can be built through the prosperity of industry, through the caring nations that built the welfare state, through the joyous energy of popular culture, through the dream of universal communication. I believe that we can build Jerusalem and that it will be for everyone.

Source: Eddie McGuire, Nine Network coverage of the 2012 London Olympics in association with the International Olympic Committee.

Who all their joys in mean profusion waste. Without reflection, management, or taste; Careless of...

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:10:45 +1000

Who all their joys in mean profusion waste.
Without reflection, management, or taste;
Careless of all that Virtue gives to please;
For thought too active, and too mad for ease;
Who give each appetite too loose a rein,
Push all enjoyment to the verge of pain;
Impetuous follow where the Passions call,
And live in rapture, or not live at all.

Philips’ LED light bulb that lasts 20 years to go on sale...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:51:26 +1000

Philips’ LED light bulb that lasts 20 years to go on sale Sunday
By Scott Lowe, theverge.com

After winning the U.S. Department of Energy’s L Prize last year, which challenged inventors to create a low-cost, high-efficiency incandescent bulb replacement, Philips’ LED light bulb is finally coming to market this Sunday. The bulb…

The long life low energy consumption light bulb has arrived. I am looking forward to getting these.

Broadcasters Demand Barry Diller Explain $20.5 Million Aereo...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:33:26 +1000

Broadcasters Demand Barry Diller Explain $20.5 Million Aereo Investment
By David Kravets, wired.com

Television networks seeking to dismantle a startup that delivers over-the-air broadcasts via the internet want to know what the hell Barry Diller, the chairman of the IAC/InterActiveCorp media empire, was thinking when his company…

Barry Diller’s startup called Aereo wants to allocate customers a private antenna to then stream the free-to-air tv content received by that antenna to a customers iPad, iPhone or Android phone via the internet for a monthly fee. The service will also allow customers to record shows and watch them later from these mobile devices. Does a free-to-air broadcaster the have a right to claim that Aereo is breaching the law and copyright or stealing their content. It’s certainly unchartered territory. It will be interesting to see the outcome of this legal battle.

Little Boy lost - and found

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:13:39 +1000

Little Boy lost - and found:

bbc.co.uk

How Google earth reunited a family after 25 years

A really good article on how an Indian mother and son are reunited after 25 years thanks to Google Earth.

Apple Economy

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:16:00 +1000

Apple Economy:

Sunshinetax | Apr 11, 2012, marketplace.org

3
by
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
What’s life like for the thousands of workers who assemble your Apple products? Marketplace’s Rob Schmitz gained rare access to Apple’s production line at a Foxconn plant in China.
5
Wednesday,…

Foxconn and the iPad with exclusive footage of production.

Use of Common Pesticide Linked to Bee Colony Collapse

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:13:32 +1000

Use of Common Pesticide Linked to Bee Colony Collapse :

Harvard Associate Professor Chensheng Lu has lead research which links the use of pesticides to colony collapse disorder of the honey bee. The research is not conclusive just yet as it requires replication of the research to validate these findings. A number of counties in the EU have banned the use of the pesticide suspected of being linked to the colony collapse disorder.

Nostalgiapp: IBM’s iPad App Brings the Eames Daniel Nye...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:24:22 +1000

Nostalgiapp: IBM’s iPad App Brings the Eames
Daniel Nye Griffiths, forbes.com

As a general rule, if one starts covering the release of iPad app one never stops. However, the Minds of Modern Mathematics app, released by IBM with the support of the Eames Office, deserves attention for classing up the App…

Interesting iPad app called Minds of Modern Mathematics by IBM.

The turning points that changed the lives of rich entrepreneurs

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:36:57 +1000

The turning points that changed the lives of rich entrepreneurs:

James Thomson, smartcompany.com.au

One of the things that separate wealthy entrepreneurs from the rest of us is what I call “The Moment”.
It’s a point where the entrepreneur makes a decision that will change their lives. They put everything on the line – their assets, the…

The turning points that changed the lives of rich entrepreneurs http://t.co/L1FL9ZAP