Sacsayhuaman revisited

Sacsayhuaman revisited

I have traveled extensively and have been fortunate to visit many of my “bucket list” locations. Among those are the Great Pyramid at Giza, Newgrange in Ireland, the Hypogeum in Malta, Puma Punku in Bolivia and several others. However, nothing compares to Sacsayhuaman in Peru. The site is located about 1 ½ miles from Cusco up a hill (about 700’ in higher elevation at 12,500 ft). Even though I have visited the site 3 times it continues to pull me back.

What is so amazing? There are over 10,000 very large stones that were quarried about 3 miles away across a river and on a hillside on the other side of the valley. Consider that in addition they had to be transported from the valley floor to the current site a gain of almost 1,000 feet in elevation.

Once they arrived, they were positioned in a manner where they fit together perfectly, without mortar, some having a half dozen angles. It is not possible to fit a razor blade in the joints. There are a few of these stones that have been estimated to exceed 200 tons and thousands that exceed 50 tons.  The only other site that even comes close is the roof of the Valley Temple at the feet of the Sphinx at Giza, but that is a story of another time. For more details please click on the following.

https://www.ticketmachupicchu.com/fortress-sacsayhuaman

              This shot gives you an idea of size.                                                                                   

                       Check out the angles here

Those Clever Chinese

Those Clever Chinese

BYD has unveiled a new hybrid EV design that will allow cars to travel more than 1,200 miles without recharging or refueling. The Chinese-based company plans to launch two new sedans using the new powertrain, which will further the distance between BYD and other EV manufacturers like Volkswagen and Toyota.

What’s even more impressive about BYD’s latest powertrain design is that it will debut the tech in two sedans set to cost under 100,000 yuan (roughly $14,000). That will make these long-range hybrid vehicles some of the most affordable plug-in electric cars on the market. BYD hasn’t shard exact details on the two new vehicles but should soon.

This longer range means that the new hybrid EV will be able to drive from Miami to New York on a single charge and a full tank of gas. That’s an insane distance to be able to travel without needing to stop to fuel up. This, of course, isn’t the first time BYD has upended the Chinese auto market with huge price cuts.

7-Eleven 7Charge EV charging network© Provided by BGR

The company sold three million cars last year, according to The Business Times, with almost one million sold this year alone. Those are big numbers, and this new powertrain is likely only going to increase the amount of BYD cars driving off the lot going forward.

Global automotive manufacturers continue to try to find ways to push adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles in an attempt to cut down on the amount of fossil fuels needed to power the millions of cars found on the street every year. This new hybrid EV has the potential to turn more towards the EV side of the market.

Presidential Pardons

Presidential Pardons

While most of what our founders penned in the Constitution is inspired, I suspect they could have had more forethought regarding the power of the pardon. This power is provided in section 2, clause 1.

Section 2 Powers (of the President)

  • Clause 1 Military, Administrative, and Clemency
    • “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”

While the “impeachment” exception was a good addition we would be well served if cases involving “relatives” and “associates” were also excluded.