Talking Heads-Once in a Lifetime
You may find yourself living in a shotgun shackYou may find yourself in another part of the worldYou may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobileYou may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wifeYou may ask yourself: well… how did I get here?
Letting the days go by/let the water hold [...]
optimum excercise for middle age
Excercise increases arthritis in excess
A US study of more than 200 people aged 45 to 55 and of “normal” weight found those doing the most exercise were the most likely to suffer knee damage.
Running and jumping may also do more damage to cartilage and ligaments than swimming and cycling, researchers said.
One [...]
nuclear leak November 2009
nuclear leak in Indian power plant
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5AS09220091129
Fifty-five workers at the Kaiga plant needed medical treatment for excessive exposure to radiation after tritium contaminated a water cooler.
Officials said the leak might have been deliberate.
“Mischief is not ruled out. Investigations are on,” plant director J P Gupta told Reuters news agency.
“This incident has in no way affected [...]
How much faith in bankers?
How much faith in bankers?
FT report
My, my, what a difference a few weeks make.
Earlier this month — when all still seemed relatively well in the UAE emirate of Dubai — Barclays Capital was among those touting Dubai-related debt as a decent investment for clients. The bank even confidently predicted the repayment of the now infamous [...]
Stock market jitters November 2009
Worries over Dubai’s debt problems have driven down Europe’s share markets for the second day running.
The biggest underlying fear is that Dubai’s problems could reignite the financial turmoil of the credit crisis. That would lower global demand for a whole range of commodities, including oil.
Oil prices also fell. US crude dropped 4.5% to $74.51 a [...]
Sea levels, and coping strategies
Sea levels, and coping strategies in Rotterdam and Mozambique
Rotterdam – below the sea City
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8362147.stm
Heavily bombed by the Germans during World War II, Europe’s busiest port lacks the rustic charm of Amsterdam.
But city authorities are aiming to turn it into an international showcase for water management, making a virtue out of what was once [...]
CO2 cuts, plutonium chaos, plasmas defeat superbugs
Chinese CO2 cuts promised
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8380106.stm
Beijing said it will aim to reduce its “carbon intensity” by 40-45% by the year 2020, compared with 2005 levels.
Carbon intensity, a measurement unique to China, is the amount of carbon dioxide emitted for each unit of GDP.
But experts say it will not necessarily mean an overall emissions cut as [...]
Frank Zappa – I am the slime
Zappa Plays Zappa- I Am The Slime video
Frank Zappa’s tribute to the most wonderful invention – the TV
and himself!
Frank Zappa – I’m The Slime, Live Saratoga 1984 video
Audio: Saratoga, California 1.09.84
[...]
Environment news 25 November 2009
Failed climate change promises
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8376009.stm
Large sums promised to developing countries to help them tackle climate change cannot be accounted for, a BBC investigation has found.
Rich countries pledged $410m (£247m) a year in a 2001 declaration – but it is now unclear whether the money was paid.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has accused industrialised countries [...]
End of bankers immunity and monopoly?
End of B(w)ankers?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6930428.ece
A long, long time ago — two years ago to be precise — there lived some baddies with names like Adam Applegarth and Fred Goodwin, who almost destroyed the country. But that’s all history now, or rather just a “story”, as David Hare calls his new play, The Power of Yes, about the [...]