Sir, I wonder at the great sweep of your regular posts,so informative and interesting,your zeal and enthusiasm inspiring persons like me.Thank you again and again. YM
On Wed, Feb 1, 2023 at 7:13 PM 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *CULTURAL QA 02-2023-**02* > > *BEING A COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS* > > Q1 What quality did Japan have for never being colonized by > Europeans? > > A1 Tomaž Vargazon, practicing atheist Mon > > *Lack of useable resources, mostly.*Japan is scenic > > Japanese islands are young in geological scale, which means ores haven’t > yet had time to accumulate in veins. As a result *the islands are poor in > minerals and contain very few natural resources, beyond wood and arable > land.* European expansion was not like in a computer game, where you want > land for the sake of having land, all (or nearly all) European expansion > was economic in nature. *Europeans were after Aztec gold, Indian tea and > Indonesian spices for trade back at home*. *Japan lacks in iron of all > things, the single most common metal on Earth, let alone everything else*. > There simply was nothing in Japan Europeans particularly wanted. > > A few trading posts to export guns and manufactured goods to Japan in > exchange for gold and silver were all Europeans ever really wanted from the > place. Furthermore, Europeans just about never came down with a huge army > and conquered powerful kingdoms with the sheer might of arms. Typical > process of European colonization was to arrive at new shores, find trading > partners, which were invariably small factions pressed by bigger neighbors. > Make them your allies and help them stand up to the bullies an in exchange, > make them your vassals. European colonizers were rarely conquerors, to most > they were simply the preffered rulers of the land, because they were less > bad than the local bully. > > This may have been feasible in Japan in 1540, but not in 1615, when Japan > was united under one firm government of the Tokugawa shogunate. European > strength in the fareast simply wasn’t sufficient to take Japan when the > country was ripe for the taking and Europeans rarely if ever picked on > unified, strong countries. > > *That’s what saved Japan from European colonization*. It gave them the > Imperial Japan though, which was hardly any better in the end. > > Q2 What are the reasons why it is not advisable to visit a temple > during certain periods of time (e.g., after dark)? > > A2 Vinay Sharma, Proud to be Hindu Mon > > There are several reasons why it is not advisable to visit a temple during > certain periods of time, such as after dark: > > *Safety: Temples can be dark and isolated at night,* making them > potentially dangerous for visitors. > > Respect for the deity: Many temples close after dark as a sign of respect > for the deity, who is believed to be resting. > > Preservation of the temple: Temples may close after dark to protect their > structures, artifacts, and other assets from theft or damage. > > Maintenance and cleaning: Temples may close after dark to allow for > maintenance and cleaning work to be performed. > > Religious customs and traditions: Some religions have strict rules > regarding temple visits, such as limiting visits to certain times of the > day or prohibiting visits at night. > > It is important to respect the customs and traditions of the temple and to > follow the rules and guidelines set by the temple authorities. > > Q3 Why is there a fan mode in air conditioner? > > A3 Gopala Krishnan, Former Assistant General Manager 1996-2004 at > Department of Telecom (1966–2004)Just now > > The fan in air-conditioner *circulates cool air to certain extent with in > room when in AC mode*. In fan mode, compressor is not working , somewhat > cool air will be coming for a short period and then normal temperature air. > The > switching through AC remote avoids every time switching on room fan when > required. An AC remote operation is sufficient. I am not sure about the > wattage of the fan, but I am sure it would be less than room fan. > > The fans coming now can be operated with remote. So fan mode is not > required in Air conditioner. > > Q4 Do Indians consider India to be a successful country? > > A4 Balaji Viswanathan, an engineer. Jan 25 > > Most Indian middle classes see India as a student who is about to graduate > from a top college. *Not yet rich, but about to become one.* > > Let’s say you are a senior in Stanford or MIT, you are unlikely to be > personally wealthy. You might have 0 wages, some student loans and possibly > no wealth. However, banks would queue up to loan to you and companies would > vie to engage with you. > > Not because of what you have now, but because who you are about to become > in the next 10–20 years. The same with India. *There is a lot of > underlying work that went in.* > > Since the midnight of August 15, 1947, India has substantially grown its > territory, peacefully integrated a massively complicated mess that British > Raj left behind, brought 100s of millions out of poverty & illiteracy, > avoided civil wars and major internal disturbance, built a strong > military with a functioning triad, became recognised as a nuclear power and > a key space power, major player in renewable energy, became recognised in > key global avenues such as G20/SCO/Quad, key tech power, built a very > comfortable financial position [unlike most developing countries that often > require IMF bailouts]. > > *Unlike most regions of the world, we have avoided long bloody wars. > Currently we are not part of any* major global tension while US, Russia > and China are involved in proving who has the biggest phallus. > > *We could become a major economy without* taking shortcuts such as: > > Borrowing a lot [from China and other countries] > > Compromising on sovereignty [by signing treaties such as NPT or by joining > global treaties that would keep another countries military base in yours] > > Suspending democracy and due processes > > *Drastically altering demographics [such as single child policy] that > would give 2–3 decade growth* boost like steroids on a body builder. > > *Our path to success is long winded* [many countries have gone way > faster], but it is increasingly becoming clearer to most of us that India > is on to something big > > Q5 How do Indian trains get their power from overhead lines? > > A5 Swagata Sarkar, Technology and Railway Enthusiast Sun > > *Indian Trains use two types of Power collection* methods, one as the > question says is from OHE or Overhead Equipment that is, the wires that > run along above the tracks and the other one is Third Rail which is more > commonly used in metro systems like Kolkata and Aqua line in DMRC. > > From overhead lines, Train sets (EMU) and Locomotives use a Contraption > called the Pantograph. > > *The pantograph is a mechanical Device that is* hoisted above from the > roof of the electric Locomotive to be in direct contact with the Wires/OHE. > This contact between Pantograph and the OHE transfers electricity to the > locomotive and into its traction transformer just like a plug is connected > to a wall socket. > > *Since a train moves around, this Connection between Pantograph and OHE > has to be mobile without any disruptions. This is achieved by installing a > Slab of Graphite which does 3 things*. > > *Lubricates the Wire (Graphite is what we call a* “Solid Lubricant”) > hence eliminates any wear and tear between the surfaces. > > *Allows flow of electricity (Graphite is an excellent* conductor of > electricity) > > *Somewhat protects the Pantograph from heat* damage due to extreme > friction and heat. > > *The pantograph uses Loaded Springs, A pneumatic* system or both to > ensure the pantograph remains hoisted up at all required times. This system > is controlled manually by the Locopilots in Both cabs. > > The pantograph after collecting electricity, transfers it to a series of > insulated grids over the Roof of Locomotive to a Big Switch, known as a DJ, > or Dis-Juntioner. > > *The DJ is a failsafe device which breaks or* maintains connection with > the Pantograph and Traction transformer. > > *If for some reason the pantograph cannot be lowered and it is necessary > to stop electricity to the locomotive, The DJ can be opened to break the > connection with the pantograph*. > > From the Pantograph and DJ, the electricity finally reaches the Traction > Transformer that further supplies electricity to the locomotive. > > My note- A lot of spark appears when pantograph is withdrawn from the > conductor. The other day I could observe it when my train to Bangalore > was halting in the platform, drawn from yard > > Q6 How Chennai lost its pride among south Indian cities? When > Bangalore overtaken Chennai? > > A6 Vinod Gopal, Lives in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India20h > > For God’s sake please don’t compare Chennai with Bangalore. In fact > comparing itself is wrong and is a forbidden fruit you could say. 200 > years ago when there were no electricity in those parts of Karnataka you > are comparing, Chennai had a cold ice warehouse, which is a museum right > now. Just imagine we had icecream, cold sodas, kulfis, cakes and many such > food and beverages which were dream luxurious commodities for inland non > coastal towns*. Ice reached us from USA which was the idea of a teenaged > American prodigy.* > > Anyway, i don’t want to confuse you with those complex explanations which > needs deep imagination to decipher how ahead we were. Even today I can > safely say that Chennai is the numero uno lifeline seaport city that is > responsible for the whole vast expanse of the Indian ocean’s water world > hemisphere. When Malaysian airlines flight got missing, Chennai is one > among the coordinates that Air traffic control and international maritime > navigation authorities transmit to kick start search operations. *In fact > Chennai stands guard to a huge stretch of Indian ocean* that we have a > dome structured Sonar that guides many ships in vicinity and this is > something which nobody even tells you. Your rail coaches are made here, > army’s tanks are made here, Chennai is even an inter continental internet > gateway. Oh, 1200 kms away, the Andaman isles has only two lifelines for > ration supply - Chennai and Bangalore. Lol Kidding. *Kolkatta in, > Bangalore out.* Heck, even their telecommunications network was until > recently connected with Chennai telephone exchange through a huge under > water telecom fibre. *Bangalore is just a big city.* It does not have > responsibity over other places and areas thousands of kilometres away, does > it? > > My note- Just added for views of persons answering. Both the states have a > lot of merits and it is best not to compare. > > Q7 Has the chemistry or production of gasoline changed enough > over the decades that gasoline from 1945 would not work in a modern car > (new from 1945, not very old gas)? > > A7 Michael Kay, Car and engine restoration experience.3y > > It is interesting that you chose 1945 as your year for comparison. *If > you put the sort of gasoline sold in 1945 in your modern car it would not > only run badly but it would be damaged.* > > In 1945 the gasoline sold to American motorists was rationed and was of *very > poor quality*. So was the lubricating oil. Priority was given to > supplying refined petroleum products for the military. The better feed > stocks were used first for aviation fuel and then for other military needs. > > American motorists during the war years got the dregs. The bad war gas > problem was exacerbated by bootleg stations that sold adulterated gasoline > and lubricating oil. > > *The bad gasoline available to motorists during the war years had several > problems:* > > The octane level was lower than that for which the cars had been designed > necessitating that the cars be detuned. *This usually involved retarding > the ignition timing.* It sometimes required that the compression ratio be > reduced by fitting a thicker or a second head gasket. This was essential > for those cars that had a Denver Head, a cylinder head that had been milled > for high altitude operation. > > *The war fuel did not properly vaporize. This lead to cold starting > problems.* > > The fuel composition and quality was inconsistent. Because of this > carburetor and ignition adjustments that were adequate for one tank of fuel > might not work for a different fill. > > *Some of the war fuel mixtures could produce a varnish-like coating within > the engine*. This would coat the cylinder walls, pistons, and piston > rings. When it cooled this varnish could actually cause some of the pistons > to seize within the bores, preventing the starter motor from turning the > motor over. The motor would have to be disassembled and the varnish > scrubbed from the bore by a hot solvent such as Xylene or MEK. > > *War fuel burned incompletely leaving heavy carbon deposits on pistons*, > valves, and cylinder heads. In one year the accumulated carbon on a piston > top could be 1/4 inch thick. This could only be removed by disassembling > the engine and scraping off the carbon. > > If you did manage to find some decent High Test fuel in 1945 it would, > nevertheless, contain tetra-ethyl lead. This High Test or “Ethyl” gas had > a decent octane rating, at least high enough to run without detonation in > the 7 : 1 “high compression” engines of the 1940s. But the tetra-ethyl lead > additive in it would clog and destroy the catalytic converter in your > modern car eventually rendering it undrivable. The unleaded or “white” gas > alternatively available had too low an octane rating for anything but low > compression engines. > > *You asked about the compatibility of 1945 gasoline and modern cars*. But > there would be another problem involving lubricating oil. First of all, a > modern car would require an oil with an API classification of SN or > SN-Plus. Any oil made prior to 1979 would be rated “Obsolete / Can Cause > Equipment Harm”. But the lubricating oil available in 1945 was terrible > even by the standards of the 1940s. > > *Like the gasoline sold to motorists in 1945, the lubricating oil was made > from low grade feed stocks and was crudely refined*. It quickly formed > sludge deposits. This was so serious a problem that when in the late 1940s > premium lubricating oils containing detergents first became available > motorists who had previously used war-time or pre-war oils in their cars > were advised by mechanics NOT to use detergent oils. > > The problem was that the new detergent oils would take the sludge deposits > in the crankcase into solution and circulate them, along with the oil, > through the engine. These deposits would then clog smaller oil passages, > such as those lubricating the timing chain or gears, leading to oil > starvation and mechanical breakdown. > > The advised method of going from non-detergent to detergent oils was: > > Drain the old oil and flush the crankcase with kerosene. > > Drain the kerosene and fill the crankcase with fresh detergent oil. > > Drive the car for 50 miles, drain the crankcase and fill with fresh > detergent oil. > > Drive the car for 300 miles, drain the crankcase and fill with fresh > detergent oil. > > Drive the car for 500 more miles and drain the crankcase. > > Refill the crankcase with fresh detergent oil. > > *Resume an oil and filter change interval of no greater than 3000 miles.* > > As with wartime gasoline corrupt oil dealers and garages exacerbated the > problem by selling bootleg low-quality lubricating oil. This could quickly > damage any engine. > > So, no, neither the gasoline nor the lubricating oil available in 1945 > could be used in a modern car. > > Q8 What advice would you like to give to the people of your age? > > A8 Kanthaswamy Balasubramaniam, LawyerSun > > *For 65 Yr olds and above* > > Rule No 1 :- Upload your family pensioner details with your pension > department if you work for GOI/PSU/State Govt > > Rule No 2 :- Know procedure to avail Medical Insurance > > Rule No 3:- Cut down on Sugar, Sodium and Oil > > Rule No 4:- Get your nominee details in order or ensure your wife is Joint > in all accounts and FDs > > Rule No 5:- Keep a set of all passwords and usernames with your spouse so > that all accounts can be accessed (Apps, Online Banking, Mutual Funds etc) > > *Rule No 6:-. Leave 6 Signed Cheques with your* spouse without entering > the date > > *Rule No 7:- Make a Will and last testament* > > *Rule No 8:- Cut down on Coffee, Alcohol and Cigarettes completely. More > Fiber.* > > Rule No 8:- Walk every 8 hours when travelling to USA inside the flight, > flex your legs regularly and your hands > > Rule No 9:- Avoid Driving if possible once you turn 70. > > Rule No 10:- Walk every morning if possible > > Rule No 11:- Talk to family members outside immediate family once every > 3–6 months > > Rule No 12:- Share Pattern and Passwords of all Email Addresses except > Quora/Social Media with your wife > > Rule No 13:- Whatever you want to do for Grandkids, *open FDs in your > name, name them as beneficiaries. *When Rajinikanth can do it, so can you > > *Rule 14:- Start moving to a Retirement Home by age of 70–75*. A Nice one > like GVs , not a con retirement home that you risk investing in, if you > are not careful. > > *Rule 15:- Last drink of water at 7:30 PM. No water till* 7 AM. That way > you avoid urinating at 1 AM and 3 AM. > > Rule 16:- Avoid Bus Travel except for Morning Or Noon Buses. No overnight. > > Rule 17:- Inform spouse wherever you are going and always carry your cell > phone on you with spouse number and kid number being always in the last > 20 numbers and shared as WIFE, SON 1, SON 2, NEIGHBOR etc. > > That's all i can think of > > Sorry sounds very much like a harbinger of doom but it's useful advise. > Trust me > > My note- Many points are agreeable to many aged. Certain items may not be > agreeable. > > Q9 Is the cockpit the most dangerous part of the plane? Why or > why not? > > A9 Joe Shelton, Author, Pilot (Comm. MEL/SEL/MES/SES, Inst), > Aircraft Owner Updated 5y > > Except in an accident, maybe the most dangerous place around any airplane, > day in and day out, is to be standing in front of it. Every year since > airplanes were invented someone, somewhere walks into a spinning propeller. > You can hear spinning propellers, but they’re difficult to see. > > A friend of my family, when he was younger, was a “barnstormer.” In the > 1920’s and 1930’s Barnstormers were a nomadic group that flew from town to > town charging for airplane rides from farmer’s fields. *Max had taken a > young girl for a ride and at the end of the ride she jumped off the front > of the wing into the propeller with Max right behind trying to stop her. He > was unsuccessful in saving the girl but he was also hit by the propeller. > He suffered substantial head injuries and had to learn to walk, talk, and > even eat again.* > > Jet engines are equally dangerous. > > Notice the vertical red line painted on this engine with the graphic on > top indicating the danger areas. The short black horizontal line > represents the engine the red fan shaped graphics represents the danger > areas. If the engine is running, and you step into the red area at the > front you risk being sucked into the spinning engine and at the rear you > might suffer the intense heat and blast of the engine’s exhaust. > > *My note- I could not add the picture. Red line is* about 3-4 feet > behind propeller. *So anybody within 3-4 feet of propeller can be sucked > in. Now I am clear why flying eagles are sucked in if at all they flew 4-5 > feet away from propeller and creating propeller/engine problems. * > > Q10 Did the Mahabharata happen before the Indus Valley? > > A10 Prathyush K.,History buff Jan 26 > > It is certain that this question comes from someone who has never read > Mahabharata*. The stories in Mahabharata occur in late ironage India > which is much later than the Indus Valley Civilization*. The battles were > fought with iron weapons. > > Iron age didn't begin until 13th century BC. Indus Valley Civilization > disappeared much before that. > > Mahabharata mentions Greeks, Chinese and many other foreign cultures.It > also mentions kingdoms including Kerala, Chola, Pandya, Karnataka and > Andhra multiple times. > > *Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 28, Shloka 48:* > > “पांड्यांश्च द्रविडांश्चैव सहितांश्चोण्ड्रकेरलै: > > आंध्रा स्तालव नांश्चैव कलिंगानुष्ट्रकर्णिकान्।” > > (The hero brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the > Pandyas and the Dravidas along with the Udra Keralas and the Andhras and > the Talavanas, the Kalingas and the Ushtrakarnikas.) > > *So, if Mahabharata is older than the Indus valley civilization, that > would mean these kingdoms are older than it too. No sensible person would > believe in that.* > > A good estimate would be around 200 BCE to 300 CE. But some parts of the > story could be as old as 700 BCE. > > *My note- The QA is added in academic interest. So* Indus valley > civilization was during/before dwapara yuga? > > *All the above QA are from Quora website on 01-02-2023* > > *Quora answers need not be 100% correct answers .* > > *Compiled **and posted by R. Gopala Krishnan, 79 years, on 01-02-2023* > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1435883587.1756102.1675259026201%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1435883587.1756102.1675259026201%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- *Mar* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHC%2BJ2dLLobX1790%3DcNWPMbYjaW%3DiEGPYgM%2BNBHce%2Bdi%3Deg%40mail.gmail.com.
