Month: June 2007

Learning Mandarin Chinese, and some insight into my brain’s inner workings

I’m learning Mandarin Chinese in preparation for my trip to Taiwan in August, where I’ll be attending the Wikimania conference before spending a month or so wandering around the island. That’s assuming my passport comes through the strike in time of course. I’m enjoying learning a new language again after a long period of atrophy… Continue reading Learning Mandarin Chinese, and some insight into my brain’s inner workings

The joys of GM science

I came across a post entitled Activist’s Misrepresentation of Bt Toxins in Genetically Modified Crops on the pro-GM blog I follow to see what exciting angles the GM industry will come up with next. The article attempts to discredit Jeffrey M. Smith, the acclaimed author of a number of anti-GM books. The author rants about… Continue reading The joys of GM science

Earth Day Cometh and Earth Day Goeth – And Where have all the Bees Gone?

This is from Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson, written for Earth Day this year. Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former. – Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) Earth Day is almost here. I don’t believe in Earth Day myself. I think it’s a little silly… Continue reading Earth Day Cometh and Earth Day Goeth – And Where have all the Bees Gone?

Peak oil and the Cuban example

Thanks to the fantastic efforts of While You Were Sleeping, the Cape Town film collective, I’ve just come back from seeing the documentary The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil at the Labia. I’d entirely forgotten about it, and had gone for some escapism, even though I’d announced it on the Ethical Co-op… Continue reading Peak oil and the Cuban example

It still smells of sulphur today

No, I’m talking literally, not about various diabolical figures. Thanks to a great new blog called greencars.za.net, I’ve been doing some digging around sulphur levels in diesel fuels. Sulphur’s a particularly nasty chemical, and is especially a problem with diesel fuel for vehicles. Europe of course has been leading the way in legislating its removal.… Continue reading It still smells of sulphur today

Meranti wood – a little bit of ancient forest in your house?

I’m looking at getting a new wooden gate installed. One of the suppliers I contacted had a large ad offering meranti gates. I know little about wood, just that meranti is quite sought after, but something rang a bell about meranti. I was interested in where meranti comes from, whether it’s a sustainably harvested, or… Continue reading Meranti wood – a little bit of ancient forest in your house?