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Showing posts from January 24, 2021

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] How does the stock market work?

Have you ever wondered how the stock exchange works? How is it that some people earn millions, and some lose their life savings? I recommend watching the video that describes the basics of the stock exchange. 1. Have you ever invested on the stock market? If not, do you plan to do it?  2. Do you consider the stock market a good place to save money for the future?  3. Do you know any Polish companies that are highly valued on the stock market?

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] The duality of the Promethean archetype

    Dirck van Baburen, Prometheus Being Chained by Vulkan   The Greek Titan god, thief of fire, creator of humanity. Prometheus has long been a figure capturing human imagination and speaking deeply to us, but the ways in which he does so are curiously split in twain, from almost the very beginning and well into modernity. To some, he’s an almost messianic figure, like to the German romantic poet Johan Wolfgang Goethe. A great rebel against tyranny and injustice, willing to commit the greatest sacrifices for the sake of the common good. To Goethe, Prometheus was a symbol of the coming of a new age, daring to fight for a better tomorrow. It also wasn’t uncommon for the writers and poets of romanticism to draw parallels between the Promethean myth and the French revolution. And yet to some others, like Mary Shelley, he’s an almost satanic figure, a great blasphemer thinking himself worthy to work the divine flame into artificial life in a great example of classical Greek hubris. The fu

7 ways to make a conversation with anyone

  Great connections are important  in our life. Connections help in everyday life and at work.  I want to share a film about it.   Do you have a problem with starting a conversation with a stranger?   Do you think her advice can make it easier for you to start a conversation with someone?    Do you agree with the analogy at the end of the movie?

Week 12 [25.01 - 31.01] What will be happen if we detonate all nuclear bombs at once?

Do you ever think about how many and how powerful are nuclear bombs? Everyone know what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki but these bombs are a lot of less powerful than modern missiles. In the video below you have description scary things – detonation all nuclear bombs in one time. Source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyECrGp-Sw8 Questions: 1.            Do you know before watch this video – how many nuclear bombs are ready to use around the world? 2.        What do you thing about nuclear weapon? Do we need them to keep for human safety or we should    destroy all of them? Why? 3.        Do you afraid about atomic bombs? Do you think that possibility of nuclear conflict right now is high?

Week 12 [25.01 - 31.01] Toyota Mirai - successor to electric vehicles?

  New Toyota Mirai 2021 Toyota release Mirai model in 2014 but first concept was developed from 1992. This car uses electric motors to drive but energy for it take from hydrogen cells. This is much more better solution than electric cars. Filling the cells with hydrogen takes only 3 minutes, for comparison Tesla with supercharger needs 75 minutes for 100% battery level. New generation of Mirai cost less than first edition looks less controversial (in my opinion new model looks familiar to Lexus car). In USA prices starts from $50,455 and you get $15,000 fuel credit, maximum range is up to 403 miles. Tesla model 3 which is the cheapest model cost $35,000 but have only 263 miles of range, 353 miles in Long Range version. In this case scenario with Mirai, you can drive across city with zero emission car or go for a weekend trip and don’t afraid about stops for long charging. But at this moment hydrogen fuel station is not popular as electric charger around the world, so if you want bu

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] The dangers of surveilance technology

 The world we live in has been tightly and inextricably integrated with information technologies. The Internet has become a part of our daily lives, spanning the world with a huge net which can track our every move by monitoring which wireless network our phones exchange handshakes with, track us using facial recognition technology and omnipresent CCTV cameras, and soon using our DNA. These technologies are developed by private companies, owing no loyalty to a country or a cause, sold to the highest bidder regardless of who they are and what they use it for. How big of a threat to our privacy and safety does this constitute?     Questions: 1. Do you think that surveilance technology is a type of weapon? 2. Should the export of surveilance technology be regulated by countries like the US? 3. Do you think it's dangerous that this kind of technology is currently owned and developed mainly by private corporations? 4. Do you think surveilance technologies have positive uses?

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] History of tea

We all drink tea even more then one time per day. However, not all of us know history of tea - how it was discovered and why we started using this plant. SoI encourage you to watch short movie which will present some intresting facts as well. Questions: 1. Did you know the history of discovery of tea before? 2. Do you like drinking tea how so how often do you drink it? 3. Do you have any favorite type of tea? how so what?

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] "What is The Line?"

  Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a new project that will see a futuristic city take shape over the next decade. It is a centerpiece of Saudi Arbia’s 2030 vision. The vision of  170 km long city with no cars, roads or carbon emissions called „The Line”  will be part of the  $500 billion projects called „NEOM”. The project aims at showing  „how people and planet can co-exist in harmony”. The construction of „The Line” is  planned to start in the Q1 of 2021. The coast will be from $100 to $200 billion. No journey will be longer than 20 minutes and then a 5 minute walk. It doesn't matter which part of the city you want to get to. The Line can become home to approximately 1 million people. This project will create 380,000 new jobs and contribute SAR 180bn to domestic GDP by 2030. „The Line” will be located between the Red Sea coast and the mountains and upper valleys of northwest Saudi Arabia. The location will be at the croossroads of the world, making it a natural choice for a gl

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] Nootropics

https://m.hacerfamilia.com/salud/vitaminas-estres-vitaminas-cansancio -vitaminas-agotamiento-vitaminas-20161209130956.html Nootropic are drugs, supplements, and other substances that may improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals. The name comes from the word “noos,” meaning mind, and “tropein,” meaning to bend or toward. But what specific requirements they must meet? Nootropic must: enhance memory and learning ability help the brain function under disruptive conditions protect the brain from harmful chemical damage improve neuronal firing mechanisms lack any sedative, stimulant or toxic effects Introducion of coffee to Europe was an important moment in history of nootropics. It improves state of mind and better cognitive function in many people. In fact, the effects of coffee on many people resulted in this ever-popular drink being dubbed “Satan’s drink” until the Pope gave it a try and changed his mind about

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] Pandemic situation in MMORPG

  Corrupted Blood Incident was an unplanned "event" that happened in world famous MMORPG World of Warcraft. Uncontrolled debuff exited locked instance because of bug and this debuff infected players, NPCs and pets. Questions 1. What do you think about usage of data gathered during this event in social studies and epidemiology? 2. What do you think about presented pandemic players archtypes in this video. Are they reliable to our current situation in real life? 3. Do you play any MMORPG? Especially in our current times.

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] Stargate SG-1

Lately Stargate SG-1 aired on Netflix. Stargate SG-1 is Canadian/USA TV-series based in the same universe as Stargate Movie from 1994. The story begins 1 year after events presented in the movie. Since 1994 Stargate Universe has grown featuring 3 movies, 3 TV-series, 1 web series and 1 animated series. The basics The main story starts on a strange theory that pyramids were landing pads for alien ships in Ancient Egypt. A mysterious annluar object was discovered in the close proximity of Great Pyramid in Giza. This object happened to be the Stargate - an alien device enabling people to travel across the galaxy (and beyond) in a blink of an eye. Stargate device SGC Stargate Command is located in an Air Force Base in Cheyenne Mountain Complex. The complex is found in Colorado (Colorado Springs). Stargate device is on level 28 below ground well protected and supervised 24h/7d. US government supervises whole operation, funding exploratory missions all across galaxy. Missions are conducted b

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] How many languages are there?

Tom Scott, a youtuber and basically a smart guy, asked himself that question, did some research and presented his results to the public. An answer might surprise you. I am sure that everyone at least once in a lifetime thought to himself/herself “How many languages are there?”. Every person knows at least one language. Let’s say that around a half of the population knows more than one. Probably less than ten percent knows 3. People who can speak 4 or more languages are very often seen as extraordinarily intelligent and very talented. If we take into consideration how many languages actually exist, knowing a few of them is not that impressive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYlmFfsyLMo&ab_channel=TomScott Questions: 1. Did you know that “computer” had a different meaning in the past? Do you know any other english words which had a different meaning in the past? 2. What would be your guess on how many languages there are? 3. Would you rather have one universal language or keep it

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] Dopamine

  Dopamine is an active chemical produced by the human brain and a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Dopamine is naturally produced during processes that are pleasing to humans, so this substance is used by the brain to evaluate and reinforce actions that are important for later life. Triggers of dopamine receptor are substances that stimulate dopamine receptors and increase hormone production . Scientists conduct numerous studies aimed at elucidating the role of dopamine in other processes - the formation of various addictions, cancer treatment, and even smoking cessation. Dopamine, as you probably already know, is one of our four happiness hormones. Here are the rest of the members of this "family": - serotonin; -oxytocin (the "cuddling hormone" that forms when you feel close to another person); -endorphins (neurochemicals that are formed in conjunction with           adrenaline when you feel pain or stress). Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for mo

Week 12 [25.01.21-31.01.21] UE4 and VFX Camera. Revolution in visual effects.

  During Epic Games’ “Unreal Engine User Group” panel on SIGGRAPH 2019, Unreal Engine’s team presented a new and impressive piece of technology which is called the VFX Camera. Thanks to that technology filmmakers would be able to create visual effects way faster than they were able to do so before without using green screen. Here’s a video showing it in practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bErPsq5kPzE&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=UnrealEngine Unreal Engine is a game engine designed by Epic Games in 1997. Since the beginning its main goal was to enable creators to design stunning looking games. Nowadays creators are using a forth generation engine which has also become a useful tool for designers from other industries. It supports technologies like VR and AR. Unreal Engine 4 is so advanced that interior architects and filmmakers are able to utilize its features in their work. Epic Games have created an ecosystem of tools and applications. Basic UE is free for everyone unti