As I have shown in previous posts the last three days there is lots of different information, and more coming out every day. Yesterday I showed the greatly conflicting stories from different officials about the assault, so somebody is lying. It makes you wonder what you can trust.
The newest details of the operation are that they handcuffed everybody they came across in the compound with plastic strips and moved on for the primary target. After they got him they took the body, searched for and took evidence, and then destroyed the unusable helicopter. The question is did somebody stay behind with the prisoners until they were picked up. Or did they just leave them and inform Pakistan to go get them? They said that the ruined helicopter prevented them from taking them as planned. Although there is some evidence that the number of helicopters used is incorrect as stated.
A new report today is that the operation was conducted with a 79 person US Navy SEAL squad. If you take that 79 Seals were involved and each helicopter can carry only 11 combat soldiers it would indicate that more than four helicopters were involved. Otherwise some of them had another way in besides the helicopters. That many soldiers would require at least eight helicopters, more if taking prisoners. Even if you include the crew that is only 15 or helicopter would still require at least six helicopters. 15 30 45 60 75 + 4 + 1 dog + specialists. The dog and at least three specialists were mentioned the last two days.
The Black Hawk is equipped with advanced avionics and electronics for increased survivability and capability, such as the Global Positioning System. In air assault operations it can move a squad of 11 combat troops with equipment and it's four-man crew or reposition a 105 mm M102 howitzer with thirty rounds ammunition in a single lift.
In the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment which operated the helicopters during the raid, used a heavily modified MH-60 variant. Features apparently include a modified tail section with extra blades on the tail rotor and other additions which significantly lower noise levels from that of conventional UH-60s. It also had low-observable technology similar to that of F-117 that enabled it to evade radar, and more powerful engines. The aircraft seemed to include features like special high-tech materials, harsh angles, and flat surfaces, found only on sophisticated stealth jets. This came to light only when one of the helicopters used in the operation crashed and was
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Renaissance Man
What is a Renaissance Man?
A renaissance man or polymath is a person who is skilled in multiple fields or multiple disciplines, and who has a broad base of knowledge. The term renaissance man is largely based on the various artists and scholars of the European Renaissance, (starting in about 1450 CE), who pursued multiple fields of studies. Perhaps the quintessential renaissance man of this period was Leonardo Da Vinci, who was a master of art, an engineer, an anatomy expert (for the time), and also pursued many other disciplines with great success and aplomb.
The term polymath predates renaissance man and is from the Greek polymathes. To thinking men like Plato, and then Aristotle, the idea of “having learned much,” the literal translation of the Greek word, was extremely important. Aristotle, in his diverse writings, strongly advocated that people who would choose to study rhetoric should be well versed in a variety of fields, since this gave them the opportunity to comment on a variety of situations, and develop “commonplaces,” short prepared remarks that could be used in extemporaneous speech.
Another polymath who followed Aristotle was Archimedes who studied and mastered numerous subjects, from math, physics, philosophy, and engineering. Being a polymath was something to aspire to, and occasionally remains so. Though we have many people who would be considered geniuses in one specific area, the renaissance man or polymath shows skill in numerous areas.
In the actual Renaissance period, men who were educated aspired to become Renaissance men. They were expected to know several languages, understand philosophy and scientific teachings, appreciate literature and art, and further, to be deft sportsmen. Such emphasis was inspired by earlier periods, and for the first time, scholars had access to many of the Greek philosophers and writers whose work had been lost for centuries. Further, becoming a renaissance man was clearly an extension of the earlier knights and courtiers who became educated during the Middle Ages.
There were few Renaissance women, since routinely, women were not educated. Today, women may prefer the term polymath when they are expert in several fields. For men, prejudice may still hold that a man must be both mentally and physically adept. A person who does not have prowess in sports may miss being labeled a renaissance man, and may instead be called a polymath.
You still see the idea of the Renaissance man in a traditional college education. All students, in most cases, regardless of major, are required to take liberal arts classes, where they learn about topics unrelated to their major. This does not mean that most students become polymaths. Generally you have to be considered to have mastery in several different fields in order to be one. True polymaths, and you’ll certainly find a few in any college, are often students who major in multiple subjects and minor in others. Yet this concept of general education expresses ideas dating back to Aristotle, and reinforced in the Renaissance, that broad-based education helps form a more fully developed mind.
A renaissance man or polymath is a person who is skilled in multiple fields or multiple disciplines, and who has a broad base of knowledge. The term renaissance man is largely based on the various artists and scholars of the European Renaissance, (starting in about 1450 CE), who pursued multiple fields of studies. Perhaps the quintessential renaissance man of this period was Leonardo Da Vinci, who was a master of art, an engineer, an anatomy expert (for the time), and also pursued many other disciplines with great success and aplomb.
The term polymath predates renaissance man and is from the Greek polymathes. To thinking men like Plato, and then Aristotle, the idea of “having learned much,” the literal translation of the Greek word, was extremely important. Aristotle, in his diverse writings, strongly advocated that people who would choose to study rhetoric should be well versed in a variety of fields, since this gave them the opportunity to comment on a variety of situations, and develop “commonplaces,” short prepared remarks that could be used in extemporaneous speech.
Another polymath who followed Aristotle was Archimedes who studied and mastered numerous subjects, from math, physics, philosophy, and engineering. Being a polymath was something to aspire to, and occasionally remains so. Though we have many people who would be considered geniuses in one specific area, the renaissance man or polymath shows skill in numerous areas.
In the actual Renaissance period, men who were educated aspired to become Renaissance men. They were expected to know several languages, understand philosophy and scientific teachings, appreciate literature and art, and further, to be deft sportsmen. Such emphasis was inspired by earlier periods, and for the first time, scholars had access to many of the Greek philosophers and writers whose work had been lost for centuries. Further, becoming a renaissance man was clearly an extension of the earlier knights and courtiers who became educated during the Middle Ages.
There were few Renaissance women, since routinely, women were not educated. Today, women may prefer the term polymath when they are expert in several fields. For men, prejudice may still hold that a man must be both mentally and physically adept. A person who does not have prowess in sports may miss being labeled a renaissance man, and may instead be called a polymath.
You still see the idea of the Renaissance man in a traditional college education. All students, in most cases, regardless of major, are required to take liberal arts classes, where they learn about topics unrelated to their major. This does not mean that most students become polymaths. Generally you have to be considered to have mastery in several different fields in order to be one. True polymaths, and you’ll certainly find a few in any college, are often students who major in multiple subjects and minor in others. Yet this concept of general education expresses ideas dating back to Aristotle, and reinforced in the Renaissance, that broad-based education helps form a more fully developed mind.
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