Climate Triad.
Just to warm up your week, here's the most alarming trio of climate articles that I've ever come across in such a short amount of time:
1.
Warming 'opens Northwest Passage' - BBC
2.
NASA finds Greenland Snow Melting Hit Record High - NASA
3.
Remarkable Drop in Arctic Sea Ice Raises Questions - NASA
And for my next performance... the cessation of the Gulf Stream! I'm thinking of planning a ski trip to Scotland in two years... anyone in? There will be lots of snow and even more bewildered Europeans. If you thought Canadian winters were cold, just wait for London with 20' of snow and -30 in November.
Buchan Off.
In a surprise move, I'm buggin' out to Buchan for the week. I leave this morning and get back on Friday afternoon next week.
This is just a warning. You do not have to adjust your computer sets.
A Most 'Exeloo'-ent Loo...
I have to give it to Australians for having the most fascinating and unerringly interesting array of domestic machinery. First washing machines storing pink thongs and now the Exeloo.
I've recently discovered this one just down the road, in a sport complex next to the cricket ovals. I went for a run this morning, but had to use the facilities before I got going. You know what happens with impact exercise and bladders.
What did I find, but this... the Exeloo! (Sorry Mom! Broadband required, it's 75 MB.)
Automatic doors, automatic toilet paper, automatic soap, automatic handwash, automatic air dry, and automatic flushing! It's just so damn hard to remember to flush the toilet when finished.
Wait! There's more... the loo cleans itself! I wonder if there are any implementations of this technology coming to home bathrooms...
Apologies for the dirty bowl, but that's the worst of Joe Public for ya. What a fascinating modern age we live in. Fighter jets, space shuttles, commercial airliners that fly themselves, smart houses, mass spectrometers, refrigerators, breathable waterproof clothing, computer designed baseball bats, bottled water, mass produced golf pencils, and fully-automatic, music-playing, self-flushing wonderloos.
Hi-Fi
"Hi, I was wondering if you could check for a specific CD in your stock." This was going to be an interesting evening. I'd been into three different music stores in the shopping centre and had been wholly unsuccessful in each.
"Yeah mate, no problem," replied the slightly harried looking shop assistant. It has been a few months since I've been in a major shopping centre. The car park was alarmingly full for a Thursday evening and the thought that this scene was being repeated at all shopping centres across the city and around the western world weighed heavily on my consumerism.
"I'm looking for the Thin Red Line Soundtrack."
"Okay, let me check," his words trailing behind him down the organised aisles of entertainment.
I don't think I've ever experienced such overstimulation in a retail environment before. It occurred to me that I rarely go shopping for anything these days, and the harsh, blue-tinged, overhead fluorescent lighting made my head feel a bit funny. It's not even Christmas and everyone's buying everything in sight. And, everyone is just so... so fashionable. When did he fashion train arrive in station and how did I miss it?
"Sorry mate, but the computer is showing 'deleted' which is a bad thing. I've checked all our other stores and none have it in stock and the supplier is showing as 'deleted'. It's not looking good. You might have to wait until some other manufacturer picks up the album and publishes it again."
"Oh, thanks. That's interesting," I reply. You know that you're maturing when your music tastes are firstly not in stock, and secondly when they aren't manufactured any more.
Treble Cone
New Zealand went wonderfully... as if I could have expected anything less. I deeply love NZ and Wanaka was nothing less than spectacular. Yes, the South Island is amazing, but I can safely say that no less so is the North Island. A wonderful and unique place from top to bottom.
My skiing just was not, really, compared to what it was when I was training with Kananaskis, but that's just impetus to get back into it when I can.
(Taken from near the top of Treble Cone looking back on to Lake Wanaka)
As for flying at Omarama (of 'Inverted on Winch' fame), I dropped in on Thursday last week and said hi to Mandy, but they weren't operating yet - they don't start until beginning of October. Gavin was out with the birds taking pictures in his Cub... and they call it work!
Go here!
Kudzu could...
'What would you call a plant that may be mankind's next great source of renewable biofuels?
That can leech the noxious chemicals out of contaminated soils?
That is an essential component of Chinese traditional medicines; a potential control drug for an alcoholic's cravings; a plant whose starch makes pies and gravies light and delicious; not to mention a plant that can prevent stream banks from eroding, naturally increase the fertility of depleted farmers' fields; can be ground up to produce fine paper and is beloved by goats as forage?'
Interested? The preceding I excerpted from Science Friction, a weekly CBC column. Read the full article:
Don't Demonise KudzuIt even makes Julien fries...
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In other news, a solar powered plane! Though unofficial, it has broken the record for longest-duration unmanned flight - 54 hours! Now, if only we can stop them from making airplanes unmanned. It's called 'Zephyr', it runs on solar panels and Li-S batteries, cruises at 58,000', and weighs in at just 31 kg.
Read more:
Solar plane flies into the nightWonder if they need any pilots for that one...
Travel.
I'm off to New Zealand for a snow-filled break full of contemplation and broken bones. I'll be in Wanaka if anyone is able to join.
Be back on 9th September with prose, pictures, and a plan.
