After glow of Games, what next for China? - International Herald Tribune
To continue my anti-Olympic theme, I just don't understand why anyone would think these Olympics ever had any hope of encouraging political change in China. Everyone already knew China could build modern looking stuff; you just have to see pictures of Shanghai's skyline to know that.
Instead, the staging of these Olympics has just confirmed to most Western eyes the repressive and heavy-handed nature of the Chinese form of government, but to many Chinese eyes it probably has encouraged a degree of pride that would hardly be an inducement to be more politically open.
Some disaster may have lead to hope of political reform, but games deemed to be even a moderate success were never going to have that result.
Monday, August 25, 2008
The smell of fear
Mammals Have a Nose for Danger (Literally) Discover Magazine
Kinda interesting, but has human research on this been done?
Kinda interesting, but has human research on this been done?
Is feeding your food poo really a good idea?
Green Central - Times Online - WBLG: Turning pigeon poo into food
Any bacteriologist is welcome to comment.
Any bacteriologist is welcome to comment.
How to scare your 8 year old...
...have him (or her) watch Dr Who episodes written by Steven Moffat. (Last night's episode, the first part of "Silence in the Library" was by him, and was bound to creep out any child, as well as a fair few adults.)
Complicated climate
New Climate Record Shows Century-long Droughts In Eastern North America
A study of stalagmites in West Virginia apparently boosts the idea that solar variation has caused long droughts (century-long, even) in North America
The researchers, however, don't appear to be CO2 skeptics:
A study of stalagmites in West Virginia apparently boosts the idea that solar variation has caused long droughts (century-long, even) in North America
The researchers, however, don't appear to be CO2 skeptics:
Actually, I am not sure whether he necessarily means that the global warming offset will be a bad thing. Anyhow, it's all more evidence that nature was cruel even before civilisation came along, but that's still far from reason for humans to go about risking inducing their own climate problems.The climate record suggests that North America could face a major drought event again in 500 to 1,000 years, though Springer said that manmade global warming could offset the cycle.
“Global warming will leave things like this in the dust. The natural oscillations here are nothing like what we would expect to see with global warming,” he said.
Anti - Olympics wrap up
There's a certain "anything goes" attitude about Olympics closing ceremonies. From what I saw of last nights approach, there were a lot of glowing suits and people running around, a bit like Tron being re-enacted by a North Korean choreographed ant colony.
I didn't realise our Olympic diving gold medallist was gay until I heard him speak afterwards, which reminded me of the puzzle as to why gay men (often) sound gay. This issue was also brought up last week on the 7.30 Report by that gay American humorist who apparently is very famous, but who has managed to slip beneath my radar forever. I still can't remember his name. I have a vague recollection of reading of some research into this topic some years ago, but I forget what it said. I seem to be suffering gay amnesia today.
On the heterosexual side, The Times continued its tabloid descent by running an article that gave a first hand account about how lots of athletes have lots of sex after their events. Yes, sports and sex have always had a close affinity, which makes me rather cynical of the high minded "Olympic spirit" guff about it all being about peace and goodwill between nations.
I definitely have a "glass half empty" approach to watching sport: especially when some highly rated competitor fails spectacularly, I can't help but think "just how many years of your life did you spend wasting on practice for this event? Don't you feel a complete goose?" (Of course, they may be cheered up by knowing they have an orgy lined up later that night; but then again, according to The Times, it's mainly the winners who get to do that.)
To go further, if selflessness is considered something of an ideal by the major religions, isn't all this striving for personal bests and intensive observation of their bodies' performance pretty much the antithesis of that idea? There's a good argument to be made for the Pope to condemn the Olympics, and not just because of the free condoms.
I feel particularly sorry for child gymnasts, who seem to go through torture via adults seeking to achieve vicarious fame and fortune.
Kevin Rudd on Radio National this morning hinted that there could be more government funding for sport. This seems odd, given that there seems to have been quite a lot of commentary around this time about the ridiculous cost per medal of our efforts. One can only hope for some sort of scaling down of Olympic grandiosity, but it seems destined never to happen.
I didn't realise our Olympic diving gold medallist was gay until I heard him speak afterwards, which reminded me of the puzzle as to why gay men (often) sound gay. This issue was also brought up last week on the 7.30 Report by that gay American humorist who apparently is very famous, but who has managed to slip beneath my radar forever. I still can't remember his name. I have a vague recollection of reading of some research into this topic some years ago, but I forget what it said. I seem to be suffering gay amnesia today.
On the heterosexual side, The Times continued its tabloid descent by running an article that gave a first hand account about how lots of athletes have lots of sex after their events. Yes, sports and sex have always had a close affinity, which makes me rather cynical of the high minded "Olympic spirit" guff about it all being about peace and goodwill between nations.
I definitely have a "glass half empty" approach to watching sport: especially when some highly rated competitor fails spectacularly, I can't help but think "just how many years of your life did you spend wasting on practice for this event? Don't you feel a complete goose?" (Of course, they may be cheered up by knowing they have an orgy lined up later that night; but then again, according to The Times, it's mainly the winners who get to do that.)
To go further, if selflessness is considered something of an ideal by the major religions, isn't all this striving for personal bests and intensive observation of their bodies' performance pretty much the antithesis of that idea? There's a good argument to be made for the Pope to condemn the Olympics, and not just because of the free condoms.
I feel particularly sorry for child gymnasts, who seem to go through torture via adults seeking to achieve vicarious fame and fortune.
Kevin Rudd on Radio National this morning hinted that there could be more government funding for sport. This seems odd, given that there seems to have been quite a lot of commentary around this time about the ridiculous cost per medal of our efforts. One can only hope for some sort of scaling down of Olympic grandiosity, but it seems destined never to happen.
Keating's ramble
Template for peace is inclusion - Opinion - smh.com.au
Paul Keating has a ramble about international power politics. It appears very Fisk-able, but someone else will have to do it.
I note, though, that in all this talk of the future, there is no mention of environmental or energy problems as a major source of future conflict. Obviously, he hasn't heard about the forthcoming Carbon Wars (TM) yet. Hopelessly out of touch, he is.
Paul Keating has a ramble about international power politics. It appears very Fisk-able, but someone else will have to do it.
I note, though, that in all this talk of the future, there is no mention of environmental or energy problems as a major source of future conflict. Obviously, he hasn't heard about the forthcoming Carbon Wars (TM) yet. Hopelessly out of touch, he is.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Corrections not noted
A couple of weeks ago, Andrew Bolt and Jennifer Marohasy were quite happy to point readers towards an article by one Steven Goddard in which he questioned the accuracy of a graph put out by the National Snow and Ice Data Centre on the current extent of this year's Arctic ice melt. (The NSIDC says that this year's ice cover is only 10% more than 2007's melt, and as such is the second lowest on record; Goddard used some dubious methods to guess it was more like 30% greater than last year.)
I see now, via Real Climate, that Mr Goddard has had a chat with the NSIDC and has revised his opinion. To its credit, the original article now ends with this quote from Goddard:
I see now, via Real Climate, that Mr Goddard has had a chat with the NSIDC and has revised his opinion. To its credit, the original article now ends with this quote from Goddard:
"it is clear that the NSIDC graph is correct, and that 2008 Arctic ice is barely 10% above last year - just as NSIDC had stated."I could go and add a comment at Jennifer and Andrew's blogs about this, but few people would realise it was there. Somehow, I doubt they will be noting the correction themselves any time soon. But of course, I would be more than happy to be surprised.
Impressive
Electric bikes charge the market�| The Japan Times Online
According to the Japan Times:
According to the Japan Times:
...Panasonic has also achieved what electric bike boffins thought was impossible — its Lithium ViVi RX-10S, due out in late September, will feature regenerative braking. If it sounds technical, that's because it is. But put simply, regenerative braking means every time you brake, you recharge the battery. Tests by Panasonic have shown the range can be extended to an astounding 182 km. And like Yamaha's PAS, it features a solar-powered rear light.Actually, I am not sure that there are many people who really need a range of 182 km between overnight re-charges. (Which, according to the article, takes only about 2 hours for some lithium models now.) Still, if they could work out how I could stop being soaked (or struck by lightning) in summer storms, I could be tempted to use one of these to get to work.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Delicious irony
Harvest the fruit of Labor's conversion - Annabel Crabb - Opinion - smh.com.au
Annabel Crabb actually gives us an informative look at the history of the "guest worker scheme" which the Rudd government has decided to try. She reminds us that the Senate looked at the possibility during the Howard government. The irony of who within the Labor movement opposed and supported it is worth repeating in full:
Annabel Crabb actually gives us an informative look at the history of the "guest worker scheme" which the Rudd government has decided to try. She reminds us that the Senate looked at the possibility during the Howard government. The irony of who within the Labor movement opposed and supported it is worth repeating in full:
Love it.The Australian Workers Union submission, by its then national secretary Bill Shorten, called it "the return of the Kanak culture".
"Any agreement with the Pacific Islands would create a precedent for a future influx of still cheaper labour beyond the Pacific Islands. This is a race to the bottom."
Michelle Bissett, an industrial officer who gave evidence for the Australian Council of Trade Unions, told the inquiry on August28, 2006, the ACTU did not support a Pacific guest worker scheme. "Systems such as those are, in our view, akin to slavery and are not supportable under any circumstances," she said.
Under any circumstances?
In Bissett's defence, I guess that in August 2006 the possibility of a Rudd-led Labor government introducing the self-same scheme would have seemed remote. Back then, the only audible Labor voice supporting a Pacific guest worker scheme was Bob Sercombe, who was the party's spokesman for the Pacific.
Sercombe's not around anymore; in a neat twist, he was supplanted in his Victorian seat of Maribyrnong by none other than Bill Shorten, who will be forced to vote in favour of "the return of the Kanak culture" because to do otherwise would be to banish himself from the kingdom of Kevin.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Unattractive photos of the day
BBC NEWS | Health | Bodybuilder scarred from steroids
The article has a series of photos of a body builder left with massive scarring as a result of steroid-induced acne. What a mess.
The article has a series of photos of a body builder left with massive scarring as a result of steroid-induced acne. What a mess.
Billy Bunter and a has-been
The Australian - Photo galleries and slideshows - Pacific Islands Leaders forum
Is there something about the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum shirt that is making Kevin Rudd look quite the porker? Or would he do well to emulate a certain PM who used to power walk daily?
In other Prime Ministerial news, I saw on the TV that Paul Keating attended the final performance of "Keating" this week. (I can't find a link though.) It was the 6th time he had been. Yes, 6th.
There goes that method of his avoiding relevance deprivation syndrome.
Is there something about the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum shirt that is making Kevin Rudd look quite the porker? Or would he do well to emulate a certain PM who used to power walk daily?
In other Prime Ministerial news, I saw on the TV that Paul Keating attended the final performance of "Keating" this week. (I can't find a link though.) It was the 6th time he had been. Yes, 6th.
There goes that method of his avoiding relevance deprivation syndrome.
Not encouraging
Extreme Heat A Threat To World's Poor : NPR
They're talking end of the century, by the way, so the fact that 2008 might have been relatively cool doesn't have much to do with it.The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, found that extreme temperatures will rise two or three times faster than average temperatures. So in Europe, peak highs could go from a sweltering 100 degrees up to 110 or 115 degrees. There's even a chance the mercury could hit Sahara-style highs of 120 degrees.
Temperatures in the 120s could also strike Australia and the American Midwest, according to the study, which used climate-change models developed for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
It's not going to be easy, you know
10pc target 'a huge ask' for power generators | The Australian
It's stories like this that make me think that emissions trading and global treaties alone have no hope at all of making the CO2 cuts that are needed to keep levels within 500 or so ppm.
It would seem that something like a "war" footing, that Monbiot and his ilk talk about, is the only thing that would work.
It's stories like this that make me think that emissions trading and global treaties alone have no hope at all of making the CO2 cuts that are needed to keep levels within 500 or so ppm.
It would seem that something like a "war" footing, that Monbiot and his ilk talk about, is the only thing that would work.
Quite right
The only moral man is one who backs Leslie | Herald Sun Andrew Bolt Blog
Andrew Bolt is quite correct to point out Leslie Cannold's amusing assertion about men and abortion. I would add that her analogy (how would men feel if women argued against a right to vasectomy) is superficial at best. When she can point out to us the men's groups who actively campaign against women having tubal ligation, then she might have a point.
As I have noted here before, being a medical ethicist seems to involve making decisions on issues in your university years, and then never changing your mind for the rest of your life. Easy job really.
Andrew Bolt is quite correct to point out Leslie Cannold's amusing assertion about men and abortion. I would add that her analogy (how would men feel if women argued against a right to vasectomy) is superficial at best. When she can point out to us the men's groups who actively campaign against women having tubal ligation, then she might have a point.
As I have noted here before, being a medical ethicist seems to involve making decisions on issues in your university years, and then never changing your mind for the rest of your life. Easy job really.
You can thank dogs for this
Technology Review: The Smell of Cancer
Fascinating story on developments in detecting cancer by smell. And you can thank dogs for the idea. (Your cat could probably smell it too, but probably just decided to let you die and have a nibble.)
Fascinating story on developments in detecting cancer by smell. And you can thank dogs for the idea. (Your cat could probably smell it too, but probably just decided to let you die and have a nibble.)
It's all very complicated...
Science News / Carbon Caveat:
But is it being an "alarmist" to say that, given the uncertainties, it is much safer to limit CO2 as a high priority so that we don't have to worry about the uncertainties? I think that position is just being a realist.
Adding carbon compounds to ocean water can sometimes affect microbe communities in ways that result in less stored carbon dioxide than has been assumed, a new study published online August 20 in Nature suggests. The oceans’ carbon storage is an important factor in predicting the severity of climate change.It's all to do with nutrients, and the difference between water borne bacteria and phytoplankton. Clearly, there is a quite a lot that is not well understood about the oceans and CO2 interaction. Warming skeptics take this as a good thing, as it might be that the uncertainties work in favour of humans. Warming worriers take it as a bad thing, because it may be that things will work out worse than first thought.
But is it being an "alarmist" to say that, given the uncertainties, it is much safer to limit CO2 as a high priority so that we don't have to worry about the uncertainties? I think that position is just being a realist.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Too much information, possibly...
As I sit here typing, Fleet (phospho-soda buffered saline mixture) is starting to work its, um, magic inside me, in preparation for a colonoscopy tomorrow.
I've been through this before, so no problems are expected. Well, not beyond maybe a rogue polyp or two being burnt off. It's fun watching the video afterwards, and seeing the little puff of smoke. I wonder if they still use tape, or if it is burnt onto DVD yet. Posting a video of it here would be impressive, but I'm not going to go to any trouble.
Anyhow, see you tomorrow. Fleet is starting to insist I move to a small room for the next hour or so.
UPDATE: all finished. No problems. Photo coming, unless someone pays me money to not show it.
UPDATE 2: I see no money's been paid yet. I'm warning you, it's $500 or you get my colon. In colour.
UPDATE 3: you have been saved by the unexpected difficulty of doing a screen grab from a paused DVD video. But I haven't quite given up yet.
I've been through this before, so no problems are expected. Well, not beyond maybe a rogue polyp or two being burnt off. It's fun watching the video afterwards, and seeing the little puff of smoke. I wonder if they still use tape, or if it is burnt onto DVD yet. Posting a video of it here would be impressive, but I'm not going to go to any trouble.
Anyhow, see you tomorrow. Fleet is starting to insist I move to a small room for the next hour or so.
UPDATE: all finished. No problems. Photo coming, unless someone pays me money to not show it.
UPDATE 2: I see no money's been paid yet. I'm warning you, it's $500 or you get my colon. In colour.
UPDATE 3: you have been saved by the unexpected difficulty of doing a screen grab from a paused DVD video. But I haven't quite given up yet.
Animal mourning
New Scientist : Do animals understand death? Do humans?
This post about how animals appear to react to death is a good read, with this link in particular worth following for some interesting anecdotes. (Oddly, magpies feature again. I'm starting to worry about how smart birds are.)
This post about how animals appear to react to death is a good read, with this link in particular worth following for some interesting anecdotes. (Oddly, magpies feature again. I'm starting to worry about how smart birds are.)
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