Aerial warfare started with pilots shooting hand held weapons at each other from their aircraft. The aircraft mounted guns replaced these hand held weapons. The aircraft guns improved over the years in terms of the caliber of weapons, rate of fire, ammunition carrying capacity and most important the lethal range. Improvements also took place with respect to the arc of fire, cone of fire and the aiming systems. The aerial combat and the tactics kept changing depending upon the capability of these weapon systems.
Gradually longer range air to air missiles became the weapon of choice for airborne platforms. These missiles advanced from close combat ones to all aspect beyond visual range weapons. The nature of warfare and the tactics underwent a drastic change with these weapons.
The airborne platforms including fighters and combat support heavy aircraft have become vulnerable to modern weapons fired from far ranges. With introduction of hypersonic weapons the reaction time will reduce further increasing their vulnerability.
In Covid lockdown times online shopping has been a savior. It is a good facility as long as it does not turn into an addiction. The rise of e-commerce sites, flash sales, deal offers and credit facilities make online shopping an attractive activity.
Online platforms know what one is interested in and do nudge us towards buying them. Sponsored online ads are targeted towards exploiting the concept of cue-reactivity (excitement from shopping clues) and craving (irresistible desire to purchase).
Definition. Shopping addiction is a compulsive desire to shop, manifesting into a preoccupation with buying and shopping despite negative consequences. The addiction can be harmful to a person’s physical and emotional health, personal relationships, financial status and professional life. Shopping addiction has names like:
Factors that encourage online shopping. These are as follows:
• People want to avoid crowded markets and shops. • Privacy of online shopping. • Constant availability. • Availability of large variety. • Immediate gratification.
Signs of online shopping addiction Some of the signs are as follows:
• Thinking about online shopping all the time. • Getting upset on denial of online shopping. • Online shopping makes you feel good and relaxed. • Guilt feeling later on. • Spending less time on other important things • Buying things not needed. • Buying unaffordable things. • Financial troubles. • Arguments with close relatives over it.
Remedy. Ways to get over the habit / addiction are as follows:
• Unsubscribe from all promotional emails. • Block the shopping sites. • Delete shopping apps from mobile and other devices. • Adopt alternate methods of feeling good and lifting your mood. • Get Help.
