This funny article and video clip give a good insight in to the difficulty we all face of having a sensible and balanced view of our world. The author mainly discusses the differences between advertising in the US and elsewhere, such as the promotion of prescription drugs – “if your doctor isn’t prescribing this, ask …
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Category:7 Holonics and Life
Was there time before the big bang?
Physicists now claim that analysis of the universe’s cosmic microwave background suggests that our universe was spun off from another one. One of the main conclusions hypothesised is that the second law of thermodynamics – that the universe evolves from order to disorder – does not necessarily hold true. Consequently, time may not just flow …
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Another giant is waking up to the urgency of biosphere preservation – IEA
The International Energy Agency is finally beginning to realise that consumption patterns and technology must change if we are to avoid a natural catastrophe. The IEA announced that $ 45,000,000,000,000 (trillion) must be spent to change the pattern of consumption of fossil fuels. It is a long overdue public recognition only catalysed by the current …
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Alcohol is good for you …?
Well the Swedes (lovers of aquavit) have done the research and concluded that alcohol in moderation “cuts the risk of arthritis“. The qualification that it should be in moderation is important, particularly because alcohol, a toxin or poison, is the cause of many social problems and disease. Though once a teetotaller, today I prefer a …
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Yoga hones Indian army
The Indian army has introduced yoga as part of the training programme for troops, and it has been found to be beneficial. This isn’t much different from investment bankers doing their 24 minutes of ashtanga before donning their red braces to take over another company. It shows that yoga really is for all! Though of …
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Parents! Tired of being harrased by your teenager? See this …
Print this image and stick it on the fridge or their door! 🙂
The 6 million dollar man becoming reality
The video and report linked here shows a monkey controlling a robotic arm via probes inserted into its brain. This certainly demonstrates the viability of robotic prosthetics (and probably some terrifying military applications). But I wouldn’t want unnecessary probes in my head and our cousin primates don’t either. It would be better if human volunteers …
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Still a primitive world – AI report on human rights 2008
Amnesty International released their annual report on human rights. It continues to paint a stark picture of humanity. Violence is the culture of too many places, and of too many rich countries. With the richest countries still failing to respect human life, despite teh intellect and wealth available to nurture, it remains a dream that …
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Making jails part of the community
The Urban Institute’s recent work on jails and recidivism in the US shows that integrating jails with other community life reduces the liklihood of reoffending and lowers the costs of incaceration. This report from the Futurist: Local jails in the United States handle 9 million individuals a year, far more than state and federal prisons …
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BT Notes April – Food and consumption …
April started off in a glorious mood – the first bluebells blossomed in the woods and by mid-April the first rhododendron was out. But the warmth didn’t last; and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. A couple of cold, dry weeks in the middle of the month meant that the grass and weeds didn’t …
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