Reliefs on the Largest Buddha Temple in the World, Borobudur – part 2

Big vessel on temple wall

We talked about relief of Buddha life as the first part of the article (you may read at: 

- What is Inside Stupa of the Buddha Temple of Borobudur? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Reliefs on the Largest Buddha Temple in the World, Borobudur – part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Now, we concern with relief of “the daily life of people surrounding the temple around 1,200 years ago.”

At above Figure, the relief showed that people surround temple has a big vessel to conduct overseas trade.

Indeed, Syailendra dynasty was one of a prominent dynasty in Indonesia, their reign has been marked as cultural Renaissance in the region of the Southeast Asia.

In addition to build the biggest Buddha temple in the world, Syailendra dynasty was considered to be ruled a maritime Southeast Asia.

The trade extended to the countries such as:

- India

- Madagascar

- Cape Town

- Ghana

- Other Asian and African countries

Reliefs on the temple wall

Other daily life of 8^th century of Java (one of 5 big islands in Indonesia) was depicted on temple’s wall, may include:

- life of people in the forest

- life of people in the villages

- palace life

We may know how ancient Java made a medicine, a herbal medicine called as “Jamu.” Drinking jamu regularly is common practice until now.

Fables also part of relief. One interesting story is about friendship between monkey and buffalo.

Known that buffalo was ready to sacrifice himself to save the monkey, Ogre canceled his wish to eat monkey.

It is interesting to understand the reliefs on the wall of temple as part of tour to Borobudur.

Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens?

Water bear (credit to CNN)

It was surprising me to know that our lunar surface is believed to occupy by thousands of tardigrade, also called as water bear or piglet like creatures.

These small aliens are part of mission “Noah Ark Mark II” to provide a library in the space craft, then landed on the moon.

In addition to tardigrades, the repository includes:

- human blood

- living DNA

- information about human civilization (30 million pages)

- almost all of English Wikipedia

- classic books

The library was belong to a non profit organization (Arch Mission Foundation), and sent to the moon by Beresheet, Israeli spacecraft. 

Alien (credit to NBC)

In case of hypothetical condition where all human being and living things destroyed in the world, because of:

- flood or natural disasters like story of prophet Noah in holy books

- wars (nuclear wars)

- whatever caused

Hopefully, other highly intelligence creatures from other planets might find the lunar library, let’s say in the next hundred or thousand years. They could learn something from man civilization on the earth.

Tardigrades (credit to NewsBeezer)

What attract attention is less than 1 mm microorganism, Tardigrades or water bear or piglet like animals.

This microorganism is toughest living microorganism on the earth:

- may survive in the freezing north pole

- found in the deepest ocean

- grow well on the highest mountain

- survived in the space.

It is assumed that the outer space intelligent also able to regenerate:

- human being from human blood sample

- plants and animals from living DNA

- microorganism from dormant “water bear”

We, human being and other living things could re-emerge on the earth. Exactly, like holy books story of prophet Noah in futuristic version.

Do you believe it?

Will Electric Cars Take Over Gasoline Car in Near Future?

An affordable electric car

Electric cars or Electric vehicles (EVs) are getting popular in recent days. From thousand only last decade, it was estimated 2 million Evs sold in 2018.

EVs Production is quite low compared to 85 million of conventional cars (fossil fuel) in 2018.

In the next 20 year (2038), Electric cars will overtake fossil fuel cars. Of 97 million, EVs will be produced 50 million in the world. Production increases to 57 million in 2040.

What are the reasons people fall in love to electric cars? Here some of them:

- worry about air pollution and global warming

- technology (improvement in battery)

- low cost

- range improvement

- shorter battery charge time

- plenty of charging stations

- no oil change

- no smog test

- minimum or no repair service at all

In addition, some countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden and even China are planning to ban using of fossil fuel cars at all in near future.

One of Tesla supercharge stations.

Electric cars prices are cheaper day by day, not luxury car anymore. By coming years, affordable price will be around US$ 30,000 (Euro 27,000) or less.

Term of kilowatt per hour for Evs is comparable to a Mile per gallon for traditional cars. The cost of battery charge is US$ 2.64 to reach 70 mile.

Brand new Tesla able to travel 250 miles per one charge of batteries. Thus we need:

- (250 miles/70 miles) x US$ 2.64 = US$ 9.4 per charge for 250 miles.

Based on 2018 calculation, comparison costs between Evs and gasoline cars are following:

- US$ 485 for Electric car per year.

- US$ 1,117 for gasoline car per year.

Maintenance for electric vehicle is much more cheaper than traditional gasoline ones.

Do you plan to have Electrical Vehicle in the near future?

Why Pancreas of Type 2 Diabetic Persons Produce Less Insulin? - Diabetes 3

Pancreas organ produces insulin (credit to Surgita Ltd)

You might know that insulin is an important hormone to bring glucose from blood into cells, then broken as source of energy.

The glucose also be stored by cells for future purposes. Hence, insulin would maintain blood sugar in the normal level, not lower (hypoglycemia) or not higher (hyperglycemia).

It is fact that people with type 2 diabetes have their pancreas produced less insulin than normal people.

The question then, Why Pancreas of Type 2 Diabetic Person Produce Less Insulin?

Generally, pancreas produces less or even stop producing of insulin at all due to several factors:

- damages to some part of pancreas because of cancer and trauma

- negative effects of using certain medicines

- diseases such as hormonal diseases

- gen mutation

Beta cell in the pancreas (credit to PLOS Biology)

If we observe the pancreas, there is the tiny spot (an area) called as “the islet.” This area contains “beta cell”

The islet accommodates of 50% to 70% of beta cell that contribute to insulin production.

Here, how Beta cells have connections to diabetes:

- if beta cell damaged or degeneration, then caused to insulin dependent (type 1 diabetes)

- if beta cells are reduced in numbers (because regeneration rate less than death rate), then, caused to insulin production less (type 2 diabetes).

In addition, beta cell deficiency of functioning, together with body resistance to insulin may lead to type 2 diabetes as well. 

Why Many Big Cities are Sinking?

Jakarta, Indonesian capital

Many big cities which have roles as business centers, historical tourist destinations and capitals faced what we call as “sinking cities.”

The cities are spreading from industry to developing countries, they are:

- capitals (Jakarta – Indonesia, Lagos – Nigeria, Washington – USA, and Beijing - China)

- historical city (Venice – Italy)

- business centers (Houston – Texas, Long Beach – California).

The sinking rate is astonishing, from 0.4 inches (1 cm) to 10 inches (25 cm) per year.

Jakarta have been sinking for 4 meter (12 feet) since 1970. The rate of sinking could reach at speed of 10 inches (25 cm) per year on some parts of city. The highest in the world.

The sinking leads to damages of sewage and drain systems, thus, vulnerable to flood. Then, flooding is endemic in every even drizzle (small rains).

The questions then:

- what caused sinking?

- how to prevent sinking further? 

Long Beach, California

The main factor to cause sinking is over using of groundwater. Include exploiting of oil and gas in close by regions in several cities.

There are several ways to stop subsidence:

- Limit or stop groundwater exploiting

- Injecting water into deep underground 

Venice, Italy

Tokyo, Japan formulated the law to halt the sinking by limiting to pump groundwater. This effort was success story where the sinking rate of 9 inches (24 cm) per year reduced to 0.4 inches (1 cm) per year.

Injecting technique has been done by Long Beach, California. After sinking by 30 feet (10 m) for decades, injecting has stabilized the surface dropping.

In addition, surface elevation up to 30 cm was seen in several areas of Long Beach.

Finally, combinations of program to groundwater reducing and injecting have been success to halt further sinking in Venice, Italy. 

The Butterfly Farm is One of Popular Tourist Destinations in Kentucky

A butterfly on flowers

I just know two things from Kentucky that are Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Horse races.

Both are well known world wide. KFC is one of franchises which could be easily found in the big cities around the globe.

Kentucky Derby is famous event of horse racing in the USA. This is annually race held on the first week of May.

Actually, there are plenty of tourist objects in the Kentucky, some of them are:

- Museum of Louisville Slugger

- National Historic Parks (Abraham Lincln and Cumberland Gap)

- Horse Park of Kentucky

- Newport Aquarium

- Lost River Cave

A black and white spots butterfly

We love to visit “butterfly farm” in Logan Street, Louisville. Not far from Shelby Park neighborhood. Historically as former German immigrants home.

There are at least 3 section of farms:

- butterfly farm

- insectarium

- gift store

Two butterflies

We may observe how butterflies and insects are bred and raised naturally through friendly practices.

Butterflies are coming from regional native, but insects as said by a staff from around the globe (after approved by United States Department of Agriculturer - USDA). 

One of small gardens

Butterfly garden is a kind of butterfly farm which house for butterflies and colorful flowers. A zoo for butterflies.

In the gardens, we may:

- encounter the beauty of butterflies.

- see the metamorphosis process of butterflies

- observe the pollination by butterflies

The last, but not least that we may shop many interesting and unique items. The gift store sell gift made by small business such as:

- jewelry of butterfly models

- preserved specimens

- books and toys for children

I think the place is good for educational purposes for every body, especially for kids. 

China Turns Military Robots to Help Civilians

A Robot resembles to half spider and human

(credit to Ethan Gorstein)

Chinese used to create robots to military purposes, but now turn to multi purposes, include economy and help civilians in natural disaster areas.

I believe that robots are great important in the vulnerable areas due to such as earthquake.

Robots are needed to conduct the following missions:

- searching and finding the victims underneath damaged buildings

- rescue the survivors

Chinese robots have been succeed to search and rescue of many victims and survivors in Chinese Yunnan province earthquake recently. 

A flying robot as a future ambulance

(credit to Valerie Hamilton).

In addition to China, many countries are using robots to cope with disasters in last few years. The results are quite remarkable. Natural disasters include:

- tsunami

- hurricanes

- earth quake

- floods

- landslides

- volcanoes

Good news that from assistance only, then, the USA and Japan have developed Robots to have autonomous.

Robots may able to make own decisions in dangerous environments. Robot would act such as to jump, run or crawl in order to avoid hurdles.

Flying robots are designed to be function as ambulances which could bring injured survivors to nearest hospitals.

Hope, victims of natural disasters could be reduced in near future.