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?
Cape Town May 2007 Geek dinner – and Ripple
Just got back from the Geek Dinner, which, conveniently for me, was a minutes away at the Wild Fig in Observatory. Once again it was highly enjoyable, with interesting new people to meet, and great, short, talks. I spoke, really briefly, on mind games and computers. My pick of the talks was an unscheduled one… Continue reading Cape Town May 2007 Geek dinner – and Ripple
Shortbus
The Labia, that bastion of arthouse movies in Cape Town, has disappointed me in recent years. They hardly ever show a non-English movie, which is exactly what I’m so starved of when I do finally get to see a movie. This week, I made my escape and saw the movie Shortbus. It was billed as… Continue reading Shortbus
Is SA Rocks bullshit?
In my ideal world, Red Star Coven would be dominating the Amatomu charts, not David whatsisname. Walton has written a post that deals with a topic I often think about, subtitled South Africa does not rock, it’s a disaster. Before you react emotionally, go read it. He’s not an afro-pessimist, he attacks that (almost) as… Continue reading Is SA Rocks bullshit?
BS Alliance on software piracy
The mainstream press is trumpeting figures from the Business Software Alliance (BSA) that software piracy costs the South African economy R1.5 billion. Perhaps a more appropriate name is the BS Alliance. On the whole, mainstream media has been found rather wanting in questioning these figures. Rather, they play their all-too-common role of simply parroting what… Continue reading BS Alliance on software piracy
Private numbers and Spambank – who ARE those people?
I get about one SMS every 3 days from Nedbank trying to get me to buy/win/participate in something or other, and fairly regular phone calls, not to mention the junk post as well. I don’t really mind email spam that much, as the vast majority goes straight to my junk folder, if it even reaches… Continue reading Private numbers and Spambank – who ARE those people?