The human race has a gift . . . that sets it above all the other creatures that abound upon this planet: the gift of thought, of reasoning, of understanding. The highly-developed brain. But the human race has ceased to develop. It struggles for petty comfort and false security; there is no time for thought. Soon there will be no time for reasoning, and Man will lose sight of the truth.
TOL:0.00-1

Some of man’s greatest achievements have been motivated by a driving need for love and acceptance. What happens when that need for recognition, becomes a desire to be revered, and then worshipped… like a god?
TOL:1.01-1
Increasingly, modern science pursues powers traditionally reserved for the Almighty. But those who encroach upon the province of the gods realize too late that the price for entrance… is destruction.
TOL:1.02-2

Poets argue that you are truly alive if you possess the ability to feel and love. Scientists, on the other hand, choose to define life in terms of proteins and carbon building blocks. But what happens when these two beliefs come crashing together?
TOL:1.03-1
The pursuit of technology exists to make human life easier and more pleasurable. But once such forces intrude upon the most intimate parts of our lives, will we then forfeit our very soul?
TOL:1.03-2

It is said that civilization began when man first became capable of changing his environment. What will happen when man has the ability to change himself, when no human need be cursed by heredity? Will it be the beginning of a glorious new kind of civilization… or the end of everything we know?
TOL:1.04-1
There is an old proverb that says: ‘Be careful what you wish for, for it might come true.’ And if your wish is for immortality, it is something you’ll have to live with…for a very long time.
TOL:1.04-2

Contact happened exactly one year ago, and the world changed forever. The line between life and death was blurred, crossed… then totally erased. Not through divine intervention, but another force from the heavens. A force greeted not with rapture… but with fear.
TOL:1.05-1
What if you were to wake up to a different world tomorrow… a world of invaders? Would you raise your voice with the aliens, in a chant of remembrance and regret, bidding farewell to a vanished world? Or would you fight against those who might ultimately help us?
TOL:1.05-2

The one certainty of the human experience is death. But what might happen when our effort to prolong the inevitable starts to turn that battle around? Will someone, or something, step in to ensure the final outcome?
TOL:1.06-1
For one man, the battle against death is over. But for the rest of us, the war rages on. At what point does the cost of survival… become too high a price for us to pay?
TOL:1.06-2

It is the differences between people that cause conflicts. Differences in religion, in race, in beliefs. What wars would be fought if the differences grew between two intelligent species; humans… and those who might ultimately replace us.
TOL:1.07-1
The wars of evolution are fought over generations. But sometimes only the fittest survive battles which last the briefest moments. A hundred years from now, a new race may look back and say, “This little girl’s stand was a turning point”.
TOL:1.07-2

Man has always been fascinated with the concept of going back in time. The question is often asked, “If you could go back, would you do anything differently?” But what if it goes the other way? We never hear the question, “Would you do anything differently, if you could go forward?
TOL:1.08-1
Time is a river winding steadily through the landscape of tomorrow. There are those who would steal a glimpse around the next bend and those who would fight the current. But the wisest are those who turn their eyes from the waters and seek out a fellow traveller to share in the journey.
TOL:1.08-2

It is a common scientific belief that humans use but a small fraction of the brain. Researchers all over the world try to unlock the secrets hidden in these darkened parts of the mind. But do we really want to unlock some secrets? And how will we deal with the dark discoveries that lie within?
TOL:1.09-1
If you were offered the chance to communicate with another person’s mind, would you choose to do it, knowing that in return you would have to expose your own deepest and most intimate thoughts?
TOL:1.09-2

In a world filled with darkness, a father’s faith has long been a beacon of light for those in need. But now the good father finds himself at a crossroads, in danger of losing his way.
TOL:1.10-1
From the dawn of time people have believed that angels walk among us. Some believe that demons are also in our midst. But who’s to say exactly what form either will take? They could be your spouse, your boss at work, even the person sitting with you… right now.
TOL:1.10-2

It is said only children are willing to believe in the possible existence of unknown creatures. When these creatures are discovered scientists will classify them by genus, class, order and species. But to children aren’t they simply the monsters that they already know?
TOL:1.11-1
Our world has been mapped, the oceans charted, animals and plants named and indexed… or so we believe. But there are still places grownups forget they’ve been and it is children who remind us that there are creatures that lurk in the dark, and, under the bed.
TOL:1.11-2

For the crew of a transport vessel, their moment has come. The eternal night of space has vanished and the night to come will be longer, and darker, than they can possibly imagine.
TOL:1.12-1
Within the human soul reside mysteries dark and deep; about our frailties, our fears, our shame. Today, or a hundred years from now, the darkest matter will still lie in the human heart.
TOL:1.12-2

For every human act their is a moment of decision; a single thought, a breath, a heartbeat… after which all possible outcomes narrow to one.
TOL:1.13-1
A second chance. But redemption follows not a change of body, but a change of heart.
TOL:1.13-2

Men of war have long known that warriors must often abandon those verities they defend. Peace, human kindness, love… for they hold no meaning to the enemy. And so, to win, do we become what we despise… and despise what we become?
TOL:1.14-1
In the darkest of hours… in the greatest of battles… we must never forget who, or what, we are.
TOL:1.14-2

Man has long worked to stave off the disease that can ravage us. But what can happen when the cure grows more fearsome than the disease?
TOL:1.15-1
Over millions of years man has become the very paragon of animals but we must take care not to alter what nature has taken so long to forge — or risk being burned by the very fires of creation.
TOL:1.15-2
I was not comparing myself to God. I only said I wad improving on his design.
TOL:1.15-3

The Book of Job tells us that, “He who discovereth deep things out of darkness, bringeth out to light the shadow of death”. Will man’s unquenching thirst for discovery, ultimately be his undoing?
TOL:1.16-1
The true measure of a hero is when a man lays down his life with the knowledge that those he saves… will never know.
TOL:1.16-2

Humankind has long tried to tame the forces of nature, to harness their power for our needs. But what if the very needs that drive us are the greatest power of all? Will we be able to control ourselves?
TOL:1.17-1
The urge to hunt and kill — the need to mate and multiply — these are our most primitive human drives. But they pale in comparison to the most powerful human drive of all… the need for love.
TOL:1.17-2

There is the silence of the oceans and the unending silence of space. There is the welcome silence of serenity and the everlasting silence of death. A cry for help is lost in the shrill noise of the world, but the faintest of whispers, when spoken in silence, can resonate across a universe.
TOL:1.18-1
There is no sound, no voice, no cry in all the world that can be heard… until someone listens.
TOL:1.18-2

It is said that God made man in his image, but man fell from grace. Still, man has retained from his humble beginnings the innate desire to create. But how will man’s creations fare? Will they attain a measure of the divine? Or will they, too, fall from grace?
TOL:1.19-1
Empathy, sacrifice, love. These qualities are not confined to walls of flesh and blood but are found within the deepest, best parts of man’s soul… no matter where that soul resides.
TOL:1.19-2

Ghosts. Haunted houses. Many maintain that such concepts have no place in our computerized twentieth century reality. But until man conquers death one inevitable question will always linger within the recesses of the human mind. What lies beyond?
TOL:1.20-1
What lies beyond? For each of us, the answer awaits at the end of life’s journey. Until then, we must live with the ghosts that dwell, not in some musty basement, but within the recesses of the human soul.
TOL:1.20-2
Faith is just a matter of saying there is no prove.
TOL:1.20-3
Love is just a mass of hormonal secretions that simulate certain sensations in the human brain.
TOL:1.20-4

The Roman philosopher Boethius said, “In other living creatures, the ignorance of themselves is nature, but in men it is a vice.” Imagine treading into the deep recesses of one’s self and finding someone you never knew existed.
TOL:1.21-1
People have long feared invasion by forces from other worlds. If that horror comes to pass our leaders will stand as our first line of defense unless, of course, our leaders themselves… are the invaders.
TOL:1.21-2

What is our last line of defense? Is it the military, with all of their power and might? Or is it the courage of a solitary man?
TOL:1.22-1
Sleep soundly in the knowledge that the dawn will come. Rest assured that our leaders are watching over us. But beware. For it is only their vigilance that stands between our restful slumber… and the end of the world.
TOL:1.22-2

We all struggle to define ourselves, to live our lives with some sense of balance, with one foot in the past and the other reaching for toward an uncertain future.
TOL:2.01-1
Our yesterdays are like a string of pearls — unbroken — unchanging. But if we could change our past, would that also change who we are?
TOL:2.01-2
A time traveler will remember all the time lines.
TOL:2.01-3

We have always been fascinated with the prospect of renewal. Built into the very fabric of our self-conscious is the desire for resurrection, a rebirth of body and soul… a second chance.
TOL:2.02-1
We live. We die. We live again. If we accept the tenuous fragility of our planet and ourselves perhaps we can avoid the necessity of rebirth in the distant future. Perhaps we can begin the second dawning of humankind… today.
TOL:2.02-2
I am aiding the humankind. The humans are better off dead.
TOL:2.02-3

What will become of us when we take a hand in our own creation? In trying to create the new man, will we condemn the old?
TOL:2.03-1
What are children but an extension of our own selves… a reflection of who we are and what we want to become.
TOL:2.03-2

The search for truth is a noble venture. But what happens when that search becomes so obsessive that we no longer find truth but instead… create it?
TOL:2.04-1
Nothing happens by chance. Life has a design all it’s own. For one person’s sacrifice can be another’s… salvation.
TOL:2.04-2

Man has taught computers to perform complex calculations, to control a factory, or to launch a spaceship, but can we teach computers to enjoy the beauty of a rose, the sound of a symphony, or the love of another human being?
TOL:2.05-1
As we become ever dependent on technology we may find that a walk down the road paved in circuitry leads us on a path of no return.
TOL:2.05-2

We do not know or fully comprehend what exists in the reaches past our world. Should we be so quick to dismiss the voices of those who say they’ve been… beyond the veil?
TOL:2.06-1
It is said that madmen and fools are the children of God and yet we seek to confine these children to the outer reaches of society, shut away and ignored. Is it possible that what we dismiss as their mad ravings may, in fact, be… the wisdom of prophets?
TOL:2.06-2

When we look in a mirror we see a reflection of ourselves. But how much more powerful than this is the reflection we see in the eyes of another? Especially in the eyes of one we hold to be more beautiful than ourselves.
TOL:2.07-1
We all wear masks, illusions of what we want the world to see. But when we hide our true selves from those we love… what price do we pay for that deception?
TOL:2.07-2

In our relentless pursuit of carrier and worldly possessions is it we who pay the highest price or is it…our children?
TOL:2.08-1
It’s said the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It is with the same good intentions that we blindly place our trust in those with power, the architects of our future and all to often, the manipulators of our ultimate fate.
TOL:2.08-2

Is man the center of the Universe made in the image of his God? Or is mankind merely the temporary occupant of an insignificant world about to be extinguished?
TOL:2.09-1
To those who would fail to heed their own words be warned: you never know who’s listening!
TOL:2.09-2

As technology evolves, the means to communicate with each other become increasingly sophisticated. But will these means ever be sufficient to bridge the gaps between us… or will they only serve to pull us further apart?
TOL:2.10-1
The distances between us, so vast and so close, are so easily bridged. Not by what we make… but by what we feel.
TOL:2.10-2

A safe place, warm and quiet. A place to rest and recover. When all is said and done, isn’t that what we all want? A safe place in someone’s home… or someone’s heart.
TOL:2.11-1
A poet once wrote, “In dreams begins responsibility.” So too, perhaps, with love. Without dreams, without the hope of a better life, a brighter future, it is difficult for love to flourish. And without love… there are no dreams.
TOL:2.11-2

Moonlight can drive man to madness and lovers to swoon, but this night, for one last and glorious moment, it shines bright as a grim harbinger of dawn.
TOL:2.12-1
Perhaps, how we face death is not as important as how we face life. To live each day with hope, with courage and with love… as if it were our last.
TOL:2.12-2

The Bible says, “Judge not, for ye shall be judged.” If we look beyond the weaknesses of those among us we call feeble, we may find surprising power buried within.
TOL:2.13-1
Mankind puts the strong, the athletic, the genius, on a pedestal. If we treated the less fortunate among us as equals we would see that they can also become heroes.
TOL:2.13-2

On the long road between cradle and grave, we travel alone. It is not the blind and random circumstances of our birth which determine the quality of our journey, that is decided by the choices made along the way.
TOL:2.14-1
Why do we need to belong? Is it for the fellowship of others? Or is it the fear of being left… out in the cold?
TOL:2.14-2

When the machinations of fear collide with man’s inventive genius the result can be both irreversible and terrifying.
TOL:2.15-1
Can the true reason we so fear the unknown be that we know ourselves…too well?
TOL:2.15-2

At what point does a human being’s free will cease to exist? And if we have forfeited our free will… are we still human?
TOL:2.16-1
For centuries philosophers have wrestled with the question, “Is man able to decide his destiny through his own actions or does fate have the final say?”
TOL:2.16-2

It is said that through our children we obtain a kind of immortality. An unending chain of life in which mother and child are forever linked, carrying in turn the burden of humanity.
TOL:2.17-1
The love of man and woman, the love of a mother and child. It is only from this places…that miracles can be born.
TOL:2.17-2

Warriors may be forged in the fires of battle but heroes are discovered in the most unlikely of places.
TOL:2.18-1
The greatest horror of war is the fateful transformation of our children into heroes.
TOL:2.18-2

We are told, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes. But in these times when ‘celebrity’ is the drug of choice, the truly famous will tell you… fifteen minutes is rarely long enough.
TOL:2.19-1
In the long view of history, what difference will any of our lives make? The true measure of a life is not how many people know our names when we die… but whether we touch the lives of others.
TOL:2.19-2

We exist in this time and in this space. But where are we when we dream, before we are born, or after we die? What if we exist in many times and many spaces. Now… and forever.
TOL:2.20-1
Perhaps at the end of life’s journey, another begins. Two hearts, two minds, two souls… one destiny.
TOL:2.20-2

Our lives follow a long and winding path through time. But what happens if we’re forced off the course of our own destiny?
TOL:2.21-1
Life is, at best, an uncertain path. Perhaps, we should be grateful with what we have, for even these riches may disappear along the way.
TOL:2.21-2

Crime and punishment… an age-old dilemma. Man has long sought a solution to societies ills. But at what point does the punishment itself… become a crime?
TOL:2.22-1
Sometimes it is an easy thing for a man to cry out for retribution until he himself has walked in the footsteps… of those suffering the penalty.
TOL:2.22-2

We are now able to create devices that can project themselves in our image — that can not only look like a human, but talk like one, express pure emotion and… even make mistakes in true human form.
TOL:3.01-1
Man and machine. We are reaching the point where it is harder to tell which is which, and to guess which one… will ultimately survive.
TOL:3.01-2

It is only human to dream of rising above one’s limitations. But what if we had the power to instantly acquire the qualities that we envy in others? Would it bring real fulfillment… or a hunger that can never be filled?
TOL:3.02-1
How easily we scorn what Fate has dealt us and dream of what it has not. Before we cast aside our lots, it would be wise to remember… that dreams have a way of turning into nightmares.
TOL:3.02-2

Humans appear to be the only animals aware of their own mortality. When death comes, we console ourselves with it’s inevitability. But when the unthinkable happens, and a child dies before a parent, the natural order is turned upside down… as are the lives left behind.
TOL:3.03-1
The will to live is part of our biology. It exists in every cell, in our very DNA. Of course, sheer will can’t keep us alive forever. But sometimes, it can give us… a second chance.
TOL:3.03-2

Events in our past seem to slip further away with time. But what happens when they circle back and meet us head on… in the present?
TOL:3.04-1
Before we allow ourselves to be consumed by our regrets, we should remember the mistakes we make in life are not so important as the lessons we draw from them.
TOL:3.04-2

We quantify our world in order to learn. We break it down into facts, numbers, information. But how far dare we go before we destroy its mystery?
TOL:3.05-1
We make tools to extend our abilities, to further our reach, and fulfill our aspirations. But we must never let them define us. For if there is no difference between tool and maker, then who will be left to build the world?
TOL:3.05-2

Every child born is linked in a chain to generations past and future. But what happens when that chain is snapped?
TOL:3.06-1
Just as we inherited the Earth of our forefathers, we too will bequeath this world — so long as there are children to claim the inheritance.
TOL:3.06-2

Our history is filled with grim reminders of our inhumanity. Armies are crushed, populations ravaged, enemies imprisoned behind walls of stone. But the human spirit is not so easily confined.
TOL:3.07-1
Of all the needs which drive us: hunger, thirst, desire… perhaps the most powerful is the simple need to be free.
TOL:3.07-2

Those who seek to predict the future… might first look to the past. The past is a mirror — and those who ignore its sometimes dark reflection, are doomed to repeat it.
TOL:3.08-1
Will it be those seeking redemption who shall decide the future… or will those driven only by greed and envy shape our destiny? Even a hundred years later, the outcome is still very much in doubt.
TOL:3.08-2
The fate of a world isn’t determined by its best examples, but by its worst. It takes a few to destroy the many, especially when even the best of you can be dragged down into the mire. Judging from your example, brother against brother, friend against friend, you people have such a potential for violence, sheer and varnished wickedness, I’ve got every confidence you’ll destroy yourself before you build your first inter-stellar engine. We got nothing to fear from you.
TOL:3.08-3

What is freedom but the ability to make choices? Between courage and cowardice, duty and love, or even… heaven and hell. The nature of the choices we make define us as human beings. We choose the world we inhabit.
TOL:3.09-1
Each of us creates his own world. We conjure paradises from our hopes, and nightmares born of fear. But what if they are both illusions?
TOL:3.09-2

It is said that emotions are the language of the soul. But what happens when that expression is muted? What becomes of feelings… that have no voice?
TOL:3.10-1
Errant computers can be reprogrammed, imperfect machines redesigned… but human beings are another matter.
TOL:3.10-2

The quest to conquer death is as old as man himself. We conjure dark angels, whose untimely arrival we hope to avert with guile and perseverance. But in the end it is inevitably the grave, not hope, which prevails.
TOL:3.11-1
If we measure how much we value life, solely by our dread of dying, then it may well be that we have no sense of its value… at all.
TOL:3.11-2

Perhaps we should ask ourselves, will the next leap of science be a step into the future? Or a plunge into the abyss.
TOL:3.12-1
The more we learn about the universe around us, the more we realize how little we truly know. But we will only find what wonders await us if no false walls are built around our explorers, and no false restraints applied to the unquenchable human thirst to know it all.
TOL:3.12-2

Young idealists often dream of having the power to save the world. But would that dream become a nightmare if saving the world could also mean destroying it?
TOL:3.13-1
Our destiny is controlled by the choices we make. Those choices can turn an ordinary man into a king, or reduce him to little more than a pawn. With the fate of the world in your hands… what would you choose?
TOL:3.13-2

For years we have searched for the answer to an eternal question, “Are we alone?” As yet, there has been no answer. Or perhaps the answer is only for those with the facility to hear it.
TOL:3.14-1
It is said that Music is a universal bridge, crossing the barriers of culture, age, and language. Perhaps, eventually, we will learn that it also spans those of time… and space.
TOL:3.14-2

Even in the most innocent of minds, there are still secrets best left unrevealed.
TOL:3.15-1
Perhaps the descent into madness… is not a solitary journey, after all.
TOL:3.15-2

The search for truth is a uniquely human process, a quest guided by our perception of an event. But what happens to the truth when what we see and what we think we see… are two very different things?
TOL:3.16-1
Some say that the truth is only what we persuade others to believe. If so, we should be wary… for truth is easily and often hidden by the arguments of those who are false.
TOL:3.16-2

In a world where change is the rule, we rely on the unyielding constants in life for comfort and security… that the sun will rise, that the earth will turn. But what if we could no longer be certain of anything? To what then would we cling?
TOL:3.17-1
For centuries philosophers and theologians have debated what it means to be human. Perhaps the answer has eluded us because it is so simple. To be human is to choose.
TOL:3.17-2

Sometimes, to uncover that which is hidden, we must first be made to look.
TOL:3.18-1
We rely upon others to inform us but wisdom can never be taught… and we must always decide the truth for ourselves.
TOL:3.18-2

With every scientific advance we grow closer to unlocking the mysteries of life and creation. But what have we gained if, in the process, we lose our humanity?
TOL:4.01-1
The most powerful thing we pass along to our children may not reside in the genes… but in the soul.
TOL:4.01-2

Humankind has proven to be unique among lifeforms, distinguished not only by it’s lofty intelligence, morality and self awareness, but also by a baser side… it is the only creature that kills for sport.
TOL:4.02-1
As machines grow more human, we must be wary that we do not become… less so.
TOL:4.02-2

In order to survive, a soldier must fight many battles, physical as well as mental. But in the heat of the struggle, reality can sometimes fade, like memory, until only one thing remains certain… the first casualty of war is truth.
TOL:4.03-1
Humans kill for love, for revenge, for survival, and even for ideas. Perhaps the capacity to kill then is a very true part of our nature. But within this behavior, defined by fear, must we also be taught to hate?
TOL:4.03-2

Do we have the power to shape our lives or are we predestined to be who we are? If our Fate is but one amongst many, then whose life, if anyone’s, is real?
TOL:4.04-1
If our lives are indeed the sum total of the choices we’ve made, then we cannot change who we are. But with every new choice we’re given, we can change who we’re going to be.
TOL:4.04-2

Evolution is guided by the principle of survival of the fittest. For the human animal, the urge to compete is ingrained in our spirit. But in some arenas the rules are not clear and victory may well be an illusion.
TOL:4.05-1
For the human race life is a ceaseless competition for power, for fame, even love. But when the desire for victory is reduced to winning at any cost, then we can only guarantee our defeat.
TOL:4.05-2

When we have conquered interstellar space, what will we gain? A new perspective on ourselves or only a wider scope for our arrogance.
TOL:4.06-1
Cultural relativity. It doesn’t need to be a complicated theory. Indeed, it can be as simple, and as deadly, as a two-edged sword.
TOL:4.06-2

They say seeing is believing. But the true question is… what do you believe you’ve seen?
TOL:4.07-1
Throughout history, the search for faith has led man to look to the stars and the heavens for answers. But only by looking into ourselves may we truly find it.
TOL:4.07-2

Throughout history man has been driven to seek out his origins to determine whether he’s the result of a divine plan or merely the sum of all his yesterdays. But what happens if, at the end of his search, he should discover he’s neither?
TOL:4.08-1
Every life is a destination unknown, a journey of tragedies and triumphs that ultimately allows us to discover not only our world, but more importantly, ourselves.
TOL:4.08-2

Human beings naturally fear that which is unknown or different. But unless we strive to conquer those fears, they may exact a price far greater than we can bear.
TOL:4.09-1
It is said the human capacity for language is the quality which separates us from all other species on earth. Perhaps it is also the same quality which can link us to those beyond… but only if we are willing to listen.
TOL:4.09-2

Since our earliest beginnings we have always believed in some form of transcendence. But, when we finally discover how to transcend our own biological bodies, what exactly will we gain… and what will we leave behind?
TOL:4.10-1
A great philosopher once said, “The endeavor to persist in it’s own being is the essence of the individual thing.” But when the day comes that the mind and body can be separated… what will happen to the soul?
TOL:4.10-2

Along with futures we dare not imagine… come choices we dare not make.
TOL:4.11-1
Though survival of the fittest is the cornerstone of evolution… perhaps, the meek shall inherit the earth after all.
TOL:4.11-2

Experience teaches that of all the emotions, fear stands alone in its power to move us or to capture us in its grip… forever.
TOL:4.12-1
In a world of terrors there is nothing more fearsome than the unknown. Especially when what is unknown… is ourselves.
TOL:4.12-2

Our history abounds with the exploits of heroes who brave overwhelming odds and live to tell the tale. But is there a point at which the determination to survive… comes at too high a price?
TOL:4.13-1
It is nature’s imperative that the differences among us endure. But what if we can no longer distinguish one being from another?
TOL:4.13-2

It has been said that for the truth to exist it takes two people… one to speak it and another to hear it.
TOL:4.14-1
Mankind will be forever doomed to destruction, if we continue to ask for the truth but then… refuse to listen.
TOL:4.14-2

Our children need protecting from much more than physical harm. Just as threatening to the fragile child are the dangers of the mind… and the dangers of the heart.
TOL:4.15-1
Let us hope that no technology will ever exist that can replace human warmth and compassion. For when such a technology does exist, will we cease to be human?
TOL:4.15-2

They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. But what of the man who possesses too much knowledge?
TOL:4.16-1
If knowledge is power and power corrupts… how will humankind ever survive?
TOL:4.16-2

Evolution teaches that the failure of a species to adapt will result in extinction. But could an entire gender fall victim to the same immutable loss?
TOL:4.17-1
The differences between men and women have been debated among philosophers since recorded history began. If indeed males are, by their nature the aggressor, it is this quality that may one day be their undoing.
TOL:4.17-2

It was once written, ‘To thine own self, be true.’ But how do we know who we, really are?
TOL:4.18-1
Every man must confront the monster within himself, if he is ever to find peace, without.
TOL:4.18-2

They say what you send around comes around. Perhaps, that is true, even if it sometimes takes… a thousand years.
TOL:4.19-1
Humans are driven to explore their history, to rediscover forgotten lives and times. For deep down we have always known that our past… is often prologue.
TOL:4.19-2

While some prisoners of war show bravery beyond the call of duty, others succomb to an enemy often more formidable than the one which captured them.
TOL:4.20-1
In our efforts to plumb the depths of our psychological endurance we may do more than drive ourselves to the breaking point… we may destroy the very world we’re seeking to protect.
TOL:4.20-2

Our most powerful instinct is self-preservation. But what happens when fear and mistrust twist that drive into a force more destructive than any outside enemy?
TOL:4.21-1
It is one of the great mysteries of existence how the smallest drop of understanding can cleanse a sea of mistrust and hate.
TOL:4.21-2

It is perhaps the central paradox of our existence… to be alive is to be aware of our mortality. Life is, by definition, a terminal disease.
TOL:4.22-1
Philosophers and poets concur on one fundamental truth… love will find a way, it’s just a matter of time.
TOL:4.22-2

Throughout the ages humans have looked to the heavens and wondered, ‘Where did we come from, and where are we going?’ But will we find those answers in the stars, or in ourselves?
TOL:4.23-1
It is said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Will we be wise enough to learn?
TOL:4.23-2

How far will mankind have to go before we realize that the only antidote to self-annihilation… is trust.
TOL:4.24-1
If mankind is to survive we must trust one another… and that trust begins in the human heart.
TOL:4.24-2

It is said that conduct on the battlefield is the ultimate measure of a man. But often the enemy we are most afraid to face is much closer… to home.
TOL:4.25-1
Wars can be won or lost but in the battle waged inside a man’s soul, only love can heal the wounds.
TOL:4.25-2

It is nature’s way that life expands to fill any vacuum. But when human minds become circuits and human flesh becomes steel, what will that new life reveal?
TOL:4.26-1
If we teach our children by example, then we only have ourselves to blame for whom they become.
TOL:4.26-2

The skeptic’s world is a secure one, built on unshakeable truths. But what happens when it’s foundation begins to crumble?
TOL:5.01-1
If we mock that which we do not understand, we may learn too late that the penalty for such arrogance… is annihilation.
TOL:5.01-2

In an age of medical miracles, who shall live and who shall die may be less a matter of chance… than a matter of choice.
TOL:5.02-1
Our inexorable march toward death defines our lives, giving meaning to our every waking moment. But how will it change us when our fate is taken out of God’s hands… and placed in our own?
TOL:5.02-2

The longing for redemption can express itself in many forms and sometimes, indeed, the greatest obstacle we face is found within our own conscience.
TOL:5.03-1
It is said that our lives are measured by what we leave behind. But for rich man and poor, the most valuable legacy of all… is love.
TOL:5.03-2

We denounce the bigotry of the past, secure in our own enlightenment. But if we were to encounter a race totally unlike our own… would we remain so pure of heart?
TOL:5.04-1
With each new generation, hopes for a brighter future are rekindled. But until we shrug off the shackles of hatred, we will remain prisoners of our own ignorance.
TOL:5.04-2

For all our medical advances, the human brain remains vast and largely uncharted. What revelations lie ahead for those who would explore this undiscovered country and what unknown dangers will they encounter on their journey?
TOL:5.05-1
Our greatest achievements do more than heal the sick and give strength to the weak, they also lead us from the darkness to a place of hope and light.
TOL:5.05-2

The burden of solitude is a mighty one; be it a lone voice echoing in the dark, or the cry of humanity in a desolate universe.
TOL:5.06-1
Our lives are defined by our choices; paths taken, worlds explored. But once we commit, we can never go back and choose again… or can we?
TOL:5.06-2

When is something truly alive? When it shows an ability to think or an instinct to survive or… when it becomes afraid to die?
TOL:5.07-1
Whether forged from metal or born of flesh, one simple need connects every form of life… the unquenchable thirst for freedom.
TOL:5.07-2

Do our memories define our identity? If we are merely the sum of our experiences, what do we become if those experiences are lost?
TOL:5.08-1
The same qualities that make each of us unique can also prevent us from changing who we are, even if it might be… a change for the better.
TOL:5.08-2

How well can we ever know our neighbors? Perhaps we might better ask, how well do we want to?
TOL:5.09-1
It is said that our relationships deepen as secrets give way to truth. It may be, however, that there are some stones better left unturned.
TOL:5.09-2

Man’s empirical pursuit of science has often been at odds with his need for religious faith. But what happens when these two beliefs… collide?
TOL:5.10-1
In Man’s unending pursuit of salvation, the distractions of his science or his religion may be the very thing keeping him from his creator.
TOL:5.10-2

Even in the darkest corners of despair there are glimmers of light we call truth. But what if it is a light to which the rest of the world is blind?
TOL:5.11-1
The universe is a labyrinth so vast and mysterious that those who choose to plumb it’s depths may wind up lost… forever.
TOL:5.11-2

It is said that those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it. But what dangers await those who cannot forget the past, those obsessed with reliving it?
TOL:5.12-1
The wounds of war run deep, cutting across generations. But there is always the hope of healing, so long as there are souls among us whose hearts are more full of love… than hate.
TOL:5.12-2

Buried deep within the heart of every conflict lies a territory known as common ground. But how do we summon the courage to seek out it’s borders?
TOL:5.13-1
Only with the realization that, what we share with our enemy is greater than what divides us, can peace ever be won.
TOL:5.13-2

What makes us human? Is it our basic instincts or our noble aspirations? Are we slaves to our genetics or masters of our fate?
TOL:5.14-1
Perhaps we can never fully escape the animals we once were, but with our minds and our hearts, we can always fight to remain human.
TOL:5.14-2

As we cocoon ourselves in the comforts that our expanding technology affords, are we insulating ourselves from the very things that make us human?
TOL:5.15-1
Our survival as a species depends more on our trust of one another, than of the machines on which we increasingly rely.
TOL:5.15-2

We exist in time, moving forever forward through the moments of our lives – moments which, once experienced, can never be relived… or can they?
TOL:5.16-0

From the time our earliest ancestors looked to the stars we have wondered what secrets they held. But will we be ready when those answers are disclosed?
TOL:5.17-1
It is our nature to fear a dark purpose in that which we do not understand. But true evil may lie more in ignorance than in suspicion.
TOL:5.17-2

Man creates laws to maintain the order of his world. But what happens when the laws of man defy the laws of nature?
TOL:5.18-1
The power of human emotion can neither be controlled by laws we create nor confined by the will we impose.
TOL:5.18-2

The longing for adventure and discovery burns in the heart of every child. But no drive is stronger than a child’s need for a parent’s love.
TOL:5.19-1
It is said that love and truth walk hand in hand. But if the need is great enough, can we learn to love a lie?
TOL:5.19-2

In a world where youth is valued more than wisdom… what will become of our elders?
TOL:5.20-1
The greatest lesson one generation can bestow upon the next… is that reverence for the past ensures the future.
TOL:5.20-2

Some men lose themselves in war… others find themselves.
TOL:5.21-1
sacrifice is not what we surrender, but what we ultimately gain.
TOL:5.21-2

Is violence born in the heart… or in the mind? If we must kill to protect ourselves, what will that do to our souls?
TOL:5.22-1
In the struggle between life and death, sometimes survival is not the only way to win.
TOL:5.22-2

In the face of violent crime, the thin line between justice and vengeance can grow ever thinner. But what happens when society becomes as violent as the criminals it seeks to contain?
TOL:6.01-1
To those who would corrupt the search for truth… be warned! The sword of justice cuts both ways.
TOL:6.01-2

From muskets to sixguns to assault weapons, the pages of our history run red with blood. But which came first, the violent impulse or the weapon which answers it’s call?
TOL:6.02-1
The path to our own destruction may lie less in the weapons we conceive… than the violence in our hearts.
TOL:6.02-2

It is said that man is created in God’s image. But what happens when we alter that image? Is our reflection the only thing that changes?
TOL:6.03-1
In an age when we are led to believe that we can be anything we want to be, what most eludes us is simply, being ourselves.
TOL:6.03-2

Human history is marked by our desire to expand our boundaries. But what happens when our reach exceeds our grasp?
TOL:6.04-1
Ultimately, our survival may depend less on our ability to overcome our enemies than the weakness of our own character.
TOL:6.04-2

Nothing in our world is more unyielding than the inexorable march of time. But what will happen when man finds a way to manipulate that awsome force?
TOL:6.05-1
We have always struggled to control our destiny. But even when we think we’ve succeeded, fate may have the final word.
TOL:6.05-2

It is said that what we behold with our eyes is merely the surface of reality. But if we could see beneath that facade, what would lie within?
TOL:6.06-1
Of all the gifts his Maker has bestowed upon man, none is more precious than his ability to love another.
TOL:6.06-2

Who we are and what we will become are determined by our actions. But are those actions planting the seeds of our salvation… or destruction?
TOL:6.07-1
Let us always remember, as we sow… so shall we reap.
TOL:6.07-2

There is no greater tragedy for a parent than the loss of a child. But when does grief become obsession?
TOL:6.08-1
When we endeavor to fill a terrible void, sometimes the void can consume us.
TOL:6.08-2

To sleep, perchance to dream. But what happens when the dream is to never sleep again?
TOL:6.09-1
Unless humankind awakens to the need to preserve it’s future, it may one day find itself asleep… for etermity.
TOL:6.09-2

In an age of doubt, there is nothing more powerful than the need to seek answers. But what happens when the cloak is lifted and those answers… suddenly revealed?
TOL:6.10-1
Sometimes, the best way to hide the truth is to keep it in plain sight.
TOL:6.10-2

Within each of us there is an internal voice that tempers our actions. But what happens when that inner self overwhelms the face we show the world?
TOL:6.11-1
Without darkness there would be no light. Without error, no sure path to the truth. In a world where absolutes reign, what may be most important is finding the balance.
TOL:6.11-2

Humanity defines itself by the capacity to think and feel. But what happens when a machine attains the same abilities?
TOL:6.12-1
If we choose to give birth to a thinking machine, we must be prepared for the day when our progeny will demand independence.
TOL:6.12-2

We live in an egocentric age, where many of us believe we are the sun in our own universe. But what happens when these illusions collide with reality?
TOL:6.13-1
No idea is so strong it should not be tested by doubt, and no man so powerful that he is infallible.
TOL:6.13-2

Who among us does not think he knows evil when he sees it? But are such distinctions really so black and white or is morality simply a matter of perspective?
TOL:6.14-1
Powerful ideas do not die with those who gave them birth, so long as the seeds of those ideas are planted in their followers.
TOL:6.14-2

Technology is designed to serve us, to ease our burdens. But will our machines become so sophisticated that it is we who do the serving?
TOL:6.15-1
When the human mind is made obselete by advancing technology, the soul may not be far behind.
TOL:6.15-2

Faith is the bedrock of our religious beliefs. But what happens when that foundation is shaken to it’s core?
TOL:6.16-1
Blind faith can lead us toward the light… or plunge us into eternal darkness.
TOL:6.16-2

It is said that great conflicts are not settled by words but by iron and blood. But what if we could revisit those decisions? Would we still surrender to violence?
TOL:6.17-1
Despite everything we do, we may never free ourselves from the bonds of fate.
TOL:6.17-2

From the time we are children we are taught to mistrust strangers. But are we always as wary as we encourage them to be?
TOL:6.18-1
As long as an enemy is judged solely by his appearance, his victory is assured.
TOL:6.18-2

As we surrender more authority to our ever more capable technology, what will happen when that technology goes awry?
TOL:6.19-1
In the end, it may be our certainty that we are infallible which will prove our downfall.
TOL:6.19-2

Physical scars are evidence of a wound long since healed. But what about the wounds we can’t see? What is left behind when there is trauma to the soul?
TOL:6.20-1
The suffering we conceal and the sorrow we hide may only be fully understood by those who share a common pain.
TOL:6.20-2

What will become of a world that outlaws the very tools it has always looked to for solutions?
TOL:6.21-0

How is the world to survive once technology makes possible the day when one man holds our fate in his hands?
TOL:6.22-1
If we fail to be vigilant, we may find that the same miracles which define our greatness as a species will one day spell our doom.
TOL:6:22-2

In society, where devotion to one’s family is frequently sacrificed on the alter of ambition… can the things we sacrifice ever be regained?
TOL:7:01-1
Before allowing a machine to take over a part of your life, make sure that you know the true price you will be paying.
TOL:7:01-2

Can the fate of mankind hinge on a single act or are we helpless to change our destiny?
TOL:7:02-1
The answers to mankind’s future problems can be found within, so long as there are those among us willing to make the sacrifice.
TOL:7:02-2

Religious devotion can lead people away from temptation and evil. But is the path as clear if that devotion is blind?
TOL:7:03-1
When you blindly give up your free will to a higher authority, be sure you are not also giving up control of your ultimate destiny.
TOL:7:03-2

The beauty of motherhood and the miracle of new life connects us to our humanity… or does it?
TOL:7:04-1
The birth of a new life can be awesome and miraculous, unless it is at the expense of the human race itself.
TOL:7:04-2

It is said that those who survive a brush with death see the world anew. But what if that second chance became a second life?
TOL:7:05-1
Few of us have the opportunity to truly begin again… to redress the flaws that tarnish our souls. But only when we remake ourselves can we remake the world.
TOL:7:05-2

When we are able to instill a machine with human emotions, will we then instill it with a soul?
TOL:7:06-1
When our machines are smart enough to be as destructive as a human, perhaps they will also love like one as well.
TOL:7:06-2

God is said to have reached into the firmament and made humankind in his own image. But who’s image will be mirrored when we gain the same awesome power?
TOL:7:07-1
The desire to be an individual is one of humankind’s deepest longings, surpassed only by the will to survive.
TOL:7:07-2

We believe that human advancement should be attained at almost any cost but what if the ultimate payment is one’s soul?
TOL:7:08-1
As we persue technological advancement we should be careful not to abandon out humanity in the process.
TOL:7:08-2

The desire to barter and acquire is as deep as any part of human nature. But what happens to values when one barters with a being whose nature is not human at all?
TOL:7:09-1
The pursuit of material things is ultimately pointless if one loses the things that are truly valuable to the human spirit.
TOL:7:09-2

Tragedy touches many lives, seemingly without reason. But is there a hidden purpose that lies beneath our apparently random fates?
TOL:7:10-1
Despite our ever more sophisticated technology, sometimes an open mind and a caring heart are more important tools to fathom our reality — all the way from it’s deepest inner reaches to it’s most distinct outer limits.
TOL:7:10-2

Are we affected only by our outward experience or are there other worlds that affect us? Hidden worlds — that exist in the heart and in the blood.
TOL:7:11-1
We are shaped by our experience, both within and without, present and past… and we pass those experiences on in our blood, giving birth to new generations and sometimes… new worlds.
TOL:7:11-2

Has humankind risen to the top of the evolutionary ladder because of it’s monogamous nature… or in spite of it?
TOL:7:12-1
Commitment and loyalty are not stuffy issues of the past, but are enduring qualities that raise us above creatures that procreate without compassion or disgression.
TOL:7:12-2

Heartfelt regret can sometime serve as compensation for past misdeeds. But what happens when dark secrets resurface unexpectedly, to claim their due?
TOL:7:13-1
If we are unwilling to heed out conscience, our worst moral judgements will inevitably come back to haunt us.
TOL:7:13-2

The human mind has been compared to a house — it’s rooms filled with memories, ideas and dreams. Rooms which remain essentially locked and inaccessible. But what if we could make a master key?
TOL:7:14-1
If we are going to delve into the true secrets of the human soul, we must be prepared to deal with the demons that reside there.
TOL:7:14-2

It is said the moving finger of fate, having written, is indelible. But what if destiny’s trail could be erased and etched anew?
TOL:7:15-1
As our scientific knowledge expands so do the borders of our explorations, ultimately moving beyond the bounds of three dimensions.
TOL:7:15-2

When a heart has been turned cold by anger and grief, can patterns of destructive behavior be averted or are they predestined?
TOL:7:16-1
In an ever more complex and dangerous world, vigilance and guidance is needed for those most vulnerable to it’s cruelties… our children.
TOL:7:16-2

As humanity spreads to the stars, we will take with us our values and our laws. But how will those laws and moral judgements apply to creatures and cultures alien to our own?
TOL:7:17-1
Only by cutting through the darkness of ignorance and prejudice can we achieve true justice.
TOL:7:17-2

The values we instill in our children are those within ourselves. We should make sure they are the values we want them to live by… and die by.
TOL:7:18-0

When we awaken an intellect within our machines, will we enter a new enlightened age or a much darker one?
TOL:7:19-1
In trying to create machines that think, we should take care that we don’t end up creating a new race that will supplant our own.
TOL:7:19-2

They say you are the sum of your experiences. But what happens when an event from your past prevents you from defining your future?
TOL:7:20-1
Fear can be a powerful and driving emotion but it is no match for the love between mother and child.
TOL:7:20-2

We believe ourselves to be an essentially noble race. But would that same assessment be made from a truly objective view?
TOL:7:21-1
We have the capacity for great good or great evil. The path of our future is ours to decide.
TOL:7:21-2

It is said we are judged, not by our words, but by our deeds. And yet, how many of us are ready to stand up to such scrutiny?
TOL:7:22-1
Our choices define us and sometimes… doom us.
TOL:7:22-2

Atribuim procentul de 100% valorii totale a salariului pe care l-ar avea un angajat scutit de absolut orice taxa.
Angajatorul trebuie sa plateasca statului din venitul brut acordat angajatului un procent total de 28.75% care include: contributia la asigurarile sociale (20.8%-30.8%, functie de conditiile de munca), contributia la fondul de somaj (0.5%), contributia la FNUASS (0.85%), fondul de garantare al salariilor (0,25%), contributia la asigurarile de sanatate (5,2%), fondul de accidente (0,4% – aici depinde însa de domeniul de activitate) si comisionul la Camera de Munca (0,75%).
Bun. Deci ramanem cu 71.75%-61.75%.
Din astia, angajatul trebuie sa plateasca statului din venitul brut un procent total de 32.5% format din: contributia la asigurarile sociale (10.5%), contributia la fondul de somaj (0.5%), contributia la asigurarile de sanatate (5.5%) si impozitul pe venit (16%).
Deci angajatul ramane cu 48.45%-41.75%
Din astia, oricum ar fi, se plateste TVA 24%.
Raman 36.6%-31.75%. Deci aproximativ 1/3.

Durerea si mai mare este ca din ce ramane mai platim si alte impozite statului: accize în combustibil, taxele pe proprietate, asigurarea obligatorie de locuinta (care e ilegal obligatorie – tot o taxa inventata de acest Guvern de ”dreapta”).
Procentul ajunge fara nici o îndoiala undeva pe la 80%.
Daca mai adaugam la acest tablou si inflatia de circa 8% (cea mai mare din Europa) pe care am avut-o anul trecut situatia se arata cât se poate de nasola.
Va place democratia ? – Na, aveti acum parte de ea.
Mai sclavie de atat ce vreti ?

3.a. – For Opera, copy the unzipped .dll to program\plugins inside Opera installation directory.
3.b. – For I.E., copy the .dll to Program Files/Internet Explorer/Plugins.
3.c. – For Chrome go to Local Settings/Application Data/Google/Chrome/Application/your version/Plugins.
If there is no plugins folder, create it. And paste both unzipped files there.
3.d. – For Failfox, copy both files to Program Files/Mozilla/Plugins). The plugin directory is located in the root directory if you are using a portable version of Failfox, if Failfox is installed it is located in the profile folder. Easiest option to find out where the folder is located is to enter about:support in the address bar. If no Plugins folder exist, spawn it.

I’m not gonna add the keywords from all episodes here. I’ll let you discover them.

To do that, first get the file provided here: MLAA inf file .
Make sure you unpacked or installed the CCC driver.
Then unzip that file from the link and then go to
“C:\AMD\Catalyst_8.782.1RC5_Win7_MLAA_Oct21\Packages\Drivers\Display\W7_INF\”
and to
“C:\AMD\Catalyst_8.782.1RC5_Win7_MLAA_Oct21\Packages\Drivers\Display\W7_INF\”
and replace the C7106976.inf in these locations with the new one.

Now reinstall Catalyst directly from \Packages\Drivers\ and reboot.
You should have the Morphological AA option in CCC:

Enjoy !

-Later Update-
On the more recent sub-version of the driver the file is named C7107195.inf.

Monitoare
Monitoarele CRT dupa anul 2000 au disparut relativ brusc. Multi s-au intrebat de ce. Raspunsul este relativ simplu: pentru ca exista LCD-uri.
Problema este alta: calitatea generala a monitoarelor LCD lasa mult de dorit si nici in multi ani de acum inainte nu o va ajunge pe cea a CRT-urilor.
Monitorul LCD nu poate obtine culoarea negru pur, nu acopera nici mica parte din spectrul de culori vizibile, nu face fata ratei de improspatare a imaginii (poate modelele foarte noi ar fi oarecum o exceptie de la regula asta) si nu se poate privi din unghi fara sa fie afectata calitatea imaginii.
Ca atare, sub pretextul consumului mai redus, s-a inlocuit o tehnologie foarte buna cu una foarte proasta ce va trebui sa mai evolueze ani buni pentru a o ajunge din urma pe cea veche.
In plus de asta, teste medicale realizate independent arata ca un monitor LCD este mai daunator pentru ochi decat un CRT datorita aproximarilor de culoare si a vizibilitatii generale reduse fara de un CRT.
Eu le urez mult spor la reclamele care spun de contrast 1:5 milioane, de unghi de vizibilitate 170 grade (care 25 ?) si la fabricat alte specificatii care au ajuns sa reprezinte doar o insiruire de cifre cat mai mari si/sau cu cat mai multe zero-uri. Mai au mult si bine pana sa ajunga la calitatea de acum 50. Asta da evolutie tehnologica.

Instalatii sanitare
Instalatiile sanitare reprezinta alta categorie de produse de foarte proasta calitate care ne-a invadat si acaparat piata.
La instalatiile sanitare de pe vremuri, toata reparatia consta in schimbarea unei garnituri de cauciuc, ceea ce trebuia facut odata la 2-3 ani. Bun. Deci intretinerea pe 10 ani a unei astfel de instalatii ne-ar costa cam 1 leu, pentru ca acele garnituri se vad cam 3 la un leu.
Produsele noi venite din afara, in loc de robinet au un sistem turnat, care nu se poate desface sau repara. Durata de functionare medie pentru asa ceva este de 1.5 ani in conditii optime. Costul unei astfel de jucarii variaza de la minim 100 RON si ajunge la peste 1000.
Felicitari. Tocmai am mai inlocuit o tehnologie pe care vom cheltui cel putin de 1000 de ori mai mult pentru acelasi tip de utilizare.

Becuri
Unul dintre cele mai folosite produse in ziua de azi este becul. Din nefericire si aici ne dam singuri de lucru.
Au aparut pe piata de mult timp (si de ceva vreme sunt obigatorii in UE) becurile asa-zis ecologice, care consuma mai putin dar ofera aceasi putere de iluminare. Sau cel putin asa ar trebui.
Am incercat si eu sa folosesc asa ceva si m-am lovit de mai multe probleme. In primul rand, lumina facuta de noile tipuri de becuri e foarte incomoda pentru mare parte din persoane, mai ales cele mai in varsta.
In al doi-lea rand, acele becuri se ard cu o rata extrem de mare. Primul lot pe care l-am incercat s-a ars complet in 4 zile, in conditiile in care in apartamentul de test nu sunt variatii de tensiune sau alte probleme electrice.
La faza aia am zis ca n-o sa mai umblu cu asa ceva curand. Mai recent, am mai achizitionat un astfel de bec pentru un alt tip de test: cel de putere de iluminare.
Pe beculul de tip nou, scrie clar: consum de 20W, echivalentul unui bec clasic de 100W. La consum n-am mai facut teste; i-am crezut pe cuvant.
Am testat totusi ce m-a interesat de fapt (si ce probabil intereseaza pe majoritatea) – cat de bine ilumineaza.
In camera 1, am montat respectivul bec, cica echivalentul la ala de 100W, iar in camera 2 alaturata, becul clasic de 100W. Apoi am aplicat fizica de baza (le-am apris ). Ambele becuri aplica lumina pe o portiune neutra dintre cele doua camere. Prin suprapunere, cel ce produce mai putina lumina va lasa impresia de umbra. Nu m-a surprins cu nimic sa constat ca noul bec asa-zis echivalent la 100W este mult mai slab. Diferenta se poate vedea in poza de mai jos.

Nici pe departe sa fie vorba a 100W-echivalent. Mai degraba 50.
Alte detalii ale testului: distanta dintre cele doua becuri si zona de comparatie a fost egala, iar testul s-a luat in considerare dupa 30 de minute de functionare (pentru ca cica astea noi isi mai maresc un pic puterea pe parcurs…mda…sigur). De asemenea, s-a testat cu doua becuri identice pentru a se confirma ca nu exista diferenta de iluminare din alte surse in zona de test.
A nu se intelege ca am ceva cu saracele becuri…dar macar producatorii sa aiba bunul simt si sa nu ne minta pe fata. Nu de alta, dar ar merita dati in judecata din simplul motiv ca depasesc limita bunului simt cand e vorba sa minta. Si poate macar gasesc o metoda sa le produca fara mercur (ca fapt informativ, fiecare bec model nou contine cam 5mg mercur).
In rest…le urez si lor mult succes la imbunatatirea tehnologiei, ca probabil aici se poate si mai bine.

Software si Hardware
Dupa foarte multi ani de evolutie a sistemelor de operare si componentelor de computere, s-a ajuns cumva ca totul sa functioneaze mult mai incet si mult mai prost.
Poate va intrebati cum asa. Pai sa luam si sa testem. Luam un pentium 1 cu procesor de 233MHz, cu 16MB de RAM si instalam un Windows 95 original pe el. Apoi mai luam si un sistem cu procesor quad core la 2.3GHz, cu 16GB (adica 16384MB) de RAM si instalam pe el un Windows 7.
Daca pornim ambele computere simultan, vom constata ca cel vechi incarca tot sistemul de operare de vreo 10 ori mai repede. Asta in conditiile in care computerul nou are procesor de 40 de ori mai puternic si memorie de 1000 de ori mai multa.
Cum se poate asa ceva ? Pai poate pentru ca noul sistem de operare contine ceteva zeci de mii de fisiere in loc de cateva zeci ?
Cu ce ne ajuta asta ? Practic si una peste alta la nimic. Totul arata mai bine, mai stralucitor, cu transparente si efecte de discoteca. La asta se rezuma marea imbunatatire. In rest, facem cu astea noi ce puteam face si cu alea vechi, doar ca o facem mai incet si cu probabilitate mai mare de eroare.

Exemple precum cele de mai sus se mai gasesc; sunt chiar foarte multe. Cautati-le si voi !
Cu ce se scot ‘ei’ ? Pai se scot cu banii nostri, dati mai des, mai multi si absolut pe degeaba. Iar ‘noi’, avem o calitate mai proasta, la un pret mai mare…si asta in situatiile fericite.
Tehnologia estica ei ne ziceau ca nu era buna, pentru ca era ieftina si ne tinea zeci de ani. Las c-o inlocuim cu una vestica, care arata ca-n filme, costa de zeci de ori mai mult si tine de zeci de ori mai putin. Buna afacere. Pentru cine nu stia, asa ceva se cheama in viziunea unora economie de piata. In viziunea mea se cheama ‘hai sa va pacalim fraierilor’.
Situatia este un dezastru … dar macar imi reaminteste de vechea gluma cu americanii si pixul: Dupa zeci de ani de cercetare si cateva miliarde cheltuite, americanii reusesc sa faca un pix care sa scrie in spatiu. In timpul asta, rusii scriau cu creionul.
Asta este stimabililor: tehnologiile pe care n-au vrut sa ni le dea nu ni le-au dat (a se vedea masina electrica), iar pe cele care le avem se grabesc sa ni le ia inapoi si sa ni le inlocuiasca cu ceva scump, de o calitate inferioara si/sau foarte controlabil, iar daca se poate sa fie si daunator sanatatii, chiar mai bine.

        Tehnologiile folosite acum (Nichel-Cadmiu, Nichel-Metal-Hidroxid si Litiu-Ion, Litiu-Polimer) au toate ceva dezavantaje.

        Nichel-Cadmiu a cam iesit de pe piata si nu a fost deloc ceva stralucit. Pe langa promblemele de mediu/sanatate (Cadmiul fiind foarte toxic) mai aveau si problemele de ‘memorie’. Daca nu sunt incarcate si descarcate complet, acesti acumulatori vor avea mai putina capacitate disponibila. Cum orice consumator nu vrea sa ramana fara alimentare inainte sa reincarce, problema devenise una destul de serioasa. Cele doua cauze au dus la eliminarea aproape completa de pe piata a acestei tehnologii.

        Nichel-Metal-Hidroxid a fost urmatoarea tehnologie dupa NiCd. Nu mai existau problemele de mediu si toxicitate dar existau altele. Desi au o densitate energetica raportata la volum de 1.5-3 ori mai mare decat NiCd si o incarcare rapida si rata de autodescarcare este mult mai mare, durata de viata fiind mai mica. De asemenea, costul de fabricatie este ridicat si acumulatorii de acest tip sunt foarte afectati de temperaturi scazute.

        Litiu-Ion este tehnologia folosita curent pe piata (si sa speram ca nu va mai dura mult). Au capacitate ridicata, tensiune mult mai mare (ceea ce le limiteaza utilizarea la doar anumite produse), durata de viata destul de mica. Un avantaj important este auto-descarcarea destul de lenta, dar tehnologia Li-Ion presinta alte probleme. O problema este ca ele isi pot pierde 1/3 din capacitate sau chiar mai mult daca nu se respecta strict temperatura de functionare (recomandarea este pana in 25C)…ceea ce reprezinta al doi-lea dezavantaj – aceasta temperatura este destul de joasa. La temperatura mare acesti acumulatori pot chiar exploda.

        Litiu-Polimer a fost o creatie care sa umple golurile lasate de tehnologia Li-ion. Astfel s-a obtinut ceva ce a avut ca prim scop functionarea la temperaturi mari. Din nefericire polimerul are o rezistenta interna prea mare si nu poate livra suficient curent pentru multi din consumatorii moderni. Desi o temperatura de peste 60C ar creste conductivitatea, asa ceva nu prea este viabil in mod practic. Descarcarea rapida, durata de viata nu tocmai mare si costul ridicat fac din aceasta tehnologie doar una secundara celei bazate pe Li-Ion.

        Nichel-Zinc reprezinta readucerea la viata al unui concept vechi de 100 de ani cand masinile electrice de la acea vreme foloseau aceasta tehnologie. Capacitatea acumulatorilor este mai mare decat cei cu NiCd sau NiMH iar tensiunea de lucru de 1.6V este mai aproape de bateriile tipice de 1.5V fata de acumulatorii NiCd sau NiMH ce lucreaza la 1.2V. De asemenea, intervalul de temperatura suportat este mai mare decat Li-Ion sau NiMH iar toate partile componente sunt 100% reciclabile si nu au impact negativ asupra mediului.

Recapituland cele 5 tehnologii:

Ni-Cd

+ Mentine nivel constant al tensiunii de lucru
+ Functioneaa la temperaturi joase
- Toxicitate ridicata
- Efectul de ‘memorie’
- Necesitatea descarcarii complete.

Ni-MH

+ Capacitate mare fata de NiCd
- Scaderea tensiunii de lucru
- Rata mare de auto-descarcare
- Prea afectata de temperatura joasa
- Pret mare

Li-Ion

+ Capacitate mare
+ Functioneaa la temperaturi joase
+ Auto-descarcare lenta
- Probleme serioase la temperaturi mari
- Pot pierde parte din capacitate

Li-Po

+ Functioneaza foarte Bine la caldura
+ Capacitate ridicata
- Rezistenta interna prea mare
- Auto-descarcare rapida
- Pret mare

Ni-Zn

+ Capacitate mare
+ Incarcare rapida
+ Nu exista toxicitate (reciclabil 100%)
+ Interval mare de temperatura de functionare
+ Tensiune de lucru 1.6V

        Incarcatorul pentru acumulatori Ni-Zn poate incarca intre 1 si 4 acumulatori in acelasi timp (spre deosebire de altele ce necesita incarcare pe perechi). Nu se pot monta invers.
Indicarea incarcarii se face printr-un led rosu iar la incarcare completa se aprinde un led verde.
Durata de incarcare pentru doua AA-uri a fost de 1h 20m, iar acumulatorii nu s-au incins in timpul incarcarii.
Puterea consumata la incarcare nu a depasit 4Wh.

        Din punct de vedere al tensiunii de functioanre, acumulatorii NiZn au o tensiune de peste 1.7V ce scade pana la 1.6 odata cu descarcarea, ceea ce este in multe feluri foarte bine.
Comparativ, bateriile normale au cam 1.6V iar la descarcare scad la 1.5V. Acumulatorii pe alta tehnologie pornesc de la 1.4V si descarcati au aproximativ 1.2V.
Acumulatorii NiZn au functionat cel mai mult dintre toti cei testati. Pot fi folositi cu incredere in orice circuit care are sistem de reglaj al tensiunii de intrare.
Singurele probleme pot aparea la anumite becuri de lanterna care se pot arde din cauza tensiunii un pic mai ridicate.
La aplicatii cu diode laser, intensitatea luminii generate a fost mai mare dar nu a afectat in vreun fel functionarea sistemelor de transmisii de date bazate pe raza laser sau a punctatoarelor.

        Durata de functionare a acumulatorilor si bateriilor de referinta se poate vedea mai jos:

Tabel Performante

        Altceva foarte important de mentionat este faptul ca acesti acumulatori s-au putut refolosi in urma unei descarcari excesive. Doi dintre ei au fost descarcati pana la 0.3 V, iar la incarcare (impreuna cu ceilalti doi descarcati pana la valori normale) toti 4 s-au incarcat la tensiunea maxima din specificatii. La alte tehnologii, acest lucru nu ar fi fost posibil, descarcarea excesiva cauzand in multe cazuri defectarea iremediabila a acumulatorilor.
Pe scurt, cu NiZn avem toate avantajele tehnologiilor de pana acum fara vreun fel de dezavantaje.