Bert Vimes' Comment

sav3mys0ul: theeconomist: Daily chart: which country consumes...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:04:49 +0100

theeconomist: Daily chart: which country consumes the most trees? The average American uses the paper equivalent of almost six 40-foot (12-metre) trees a year. In Belgium paper consumption is pushed up by the EU bureaucracy in Brussels.

A question on States, not Nations

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:00:30 +0000

Am I really the only person who believes it makes mores sense to base a state on Geography, Economics and Political Outlook rather than a shared History, Culture and Language? Sure, it’s fine to accommodate those things, but they don’t necessarily create a successfully functioning state, do they?

Gives a sense of scale of the sheer size of modern cruise...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:28:00 +0000

Gives a sense of scale of the sheer size of modern cruise liners. I’ve been on HMB Endeavour and it’s not small!

sav3mys0ul:

The Queen Mary 2 is saluted by the HMB Endeavour, a replica of Captain James Cook’s ship, off the coast of Victoria, Australia. The encounter occurred as the Queen Mary 2 sailed from Adelaide to Melbourne, where she will make her maiden visit. While Queen Mary 2 has taken 20 nights to circumnavigate Australia (Fremantle to Fremantle) the Endeavour is taking 13 months on its journey around the country.

Picture: James Morgan

Has Putin elected himself? - Russian Presidential Elections 2012

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:18:00 +0000

The results aren’t fully in yet, but it’s looking like another strong victory for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

He’s had the job twice already, elected as the country’s second ever President in 2000, and again in 2004. This year’s results are expected to be announced at around 6:00am GMT.

Russian law states that no person can be President for more than any two consecutive terms at a time. Unsurprisingly, in 2008 he put forward Dmitri Medvedev, a close colleague, while Putin himself remained as Prime Minister. In September 2011, Medvedev announced he would not run this year for president. Few were surprised.

Now the elections are happening in the midst of the largest protest seen in Russia since the downfall of communism. And observers, both independent and those brought in by the opposition, are reporting thousands of incidents of fraud, from people being carted from one polling station to another to cast multiple votes.

Tomorrow, thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets of Moscow again to express their horror at this. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there was international frowning at these results, which have been described by the opposition as illegitimate.

It will also be interesting to see how countries such as the USA and those in Eastern Europe will react. Of course, they want to maintain as good relations as possible, but one wonders how America, the self-proclaimed great pillar of fair democracy can possibly accept that the results of this election are anything but lies.

I do think it’s worth looking at the next popular candidate - Gennady Zyuganov. He’s a communist. And I think this raises the question for Russia and for all those watching; do we want fair elections and communism on the rise, or Vladimir Putin and corruption? I’m not sure I can answer this one, and I do wonder who actually can.

sav3mys0ul: lickypickystickyfree: 25 Napping Facts Every...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:28:46 +0000

sav3mys0ul:

lickypickystickyfree: 25 Napping Facts Every College Student Should Know

It makes you smarter
According to Dr. Matthew Walker of the University of California, napping for as little as one hour resets your short-term memory and helps you learn facts more easily after you wake up.

Abandon all-nighters
Foregoing sleep by cramming all night reduces your ability to retain information by up to 40%. If you can, mix in a nap somewhere to refresh your hippocampus.

It doesn’t mean what you think
If you know you have to pull an all-nighter, try a “prophylactic nap.” It’s a short nap in advance of expected sleep deprivation that will help you stay alert for up to 10 hours afterwards.

You can’t avoid that down period after lunch by not eating
Human bodies naturally go through two phases of deep tiredness, one between 2-4 a.m. and between 1-3 p.m. Skipping lunch won’t help this period of diminished alertness and coordination.

Pick the right time
After lunch in the early afternoon your body naturally gets tired. This is the best time to take a brief nap, as it’s early enough to not mess with your nighttime sleep.

Hour naps are great
A 60-minute nap improves alertness for 10 hours, although with naps over 45 minutes you risk what’s known as “sleep inertia,” that groggy feeling that may last for half an hour or more.

But short naps are best
For healthy young adults, naps as short as 20, 10, or even 2 minutes can be all you need to get the mental benefits of sleep, without risking grogginess.

Drink coffee first
The way this works is you drink a cup of coffee right before taking your 20-minute or half-hour nap, which is precisely how long caffeine takes to kick in. That way when you wake up, you’re not only refreshed, but ready to go.

The NASA nap
A little group called NASA discovered that just a 26-minute nap increases performance by 34% and alertness by 54%. Pilots take advantage of NASA naps while planes are on autopilot.

Can’t sleep? Don’t stress
Even if you can’t fall asleep for a nap, just laying down and resting has benefits. Studies have found resting results in lowered blood pressure, which even some college kids have to worry about if they are genetically predisposed to high blood pressure.

Napping may save your life
A multi-year Greek study found napping at least three times per week for at least 30 minutes resulted in a 37% lower death rate due to heart problems.

More nap benefits for the brain
Not only will napping improve your alertness, it will also help your decision-making, creativity, and sensory perception.

But wait, there’s more
Studies have found napping raises your stamina 11%, increases ability to stay asleep all night by 12%, and lowers the time required to fall asleep by 14%.

The ultimate nap
According to Dr. Sara Mednick, the best nap occurs when REM sleep is in proportion to slow-wave sleep. Use her patented Take A Nap Nap Wheel to calculate what time of day you can nap to the max.

Fight the Freshman 15
Research shows that women who sleep five hours at night are 32% more likely to experience major weight gain than those sleeping seven hours. A two-hour nap isn’t feasible for many, but napping is a good way to make up for at least some lost night sleep.

If it was good enough for them…
Presidents JFK and Bill Clinton used to nap every day to help ease the heavy burden of ruling the free world. Of course, they also had other relaxation methods, but we won’t get into those.

Do like the Romans do
In ancient Rome, everyone, including children, retreated for a 2 or 3-hour nap after lunch. No doubt this is the reason the Roman empire lasted over 1,000 years

Don’t wait too long
The latest you want to wake up from a nap is five hours before bedtime, otherwise you risk not being able to fall asleep at night.

Sugar is not a good substitute for a nap
When we are tired, we instinctively reach for foods with a high glycemic index, but after the initial energy wears off, we’re left more tired than we were before.

It’s a good way to catch up
If it takes you less than five minutes to fall asleep at night, you are sleep deprived. If you never can seem to get to bed earlier at night, a mid-day nap is a great way to catch up on sleep.

Underclassmen need more sleep
Freshmen and sophomores who are still in your teens: you need up to 10 hours of sleep to feel rested. So odds are, you are sleep-deprived.

You’ll have to leave the party sooner
After one school-week of not getting enough sleep, three alcoholic drinks will affect you the same way six would when you are fully rested.

Don’t drive drowsy
Don’t be afraid to take advantage of an “emergency nap” on the side of the road in your car. Every year, as many as 100,000 traffic fatalities are caused by sleepy people behind the wheel.

The Einstein Method
If you are concerned about sleeping too long, do what Albert Einstein regularly did: hold a pencil while you’re drifting off, so when you fall asleep, the pencil dropping will wake you up. (We do not guarantee you will wake up with a 180 IQ.)

Missing sleep is worse at your age
For people ages 18 to 24, sleep deprivation impairs performance more significantly than in other age brackets.

sav3mys0ul: fuckyeahfeminists: A favorite for our Science Month...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:24:12 +0000

sav3mys0ul:

fuckyeahfeminists: A favorite for our Science Month theme.

Well this rather puts things into perspective!

Is Mitt Romney a Tory?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:40:49 +0000

Just a quick post, and i’m afraid i’ll have to start by apologising for my ignorance when it comes to this latest US Presidential Election.

That aside, I just looked at a profile for the leading Republican Candidate, Mitt Romney. Now, it seems to me that if I had to choose a Republican for President, it would be him. The reason is simple - he’s moderate. Remember, everything is relative, but his record seems akin to an American Tory, something which is rather unusual these days.

Forgive me if I sound too sympathetic to his cause - i’m not - but during his time as Governor of Massachusetts he seems to have been widely criticised (quite unfairly in my opinion) for some less than characteristic non laissez faire policies, most notoriously introducing compulsory health insurance, a move which Obama tried to replicate over recent months, even offering subsidies to those who would not ordinarily be able to afford the exorbitant cost of insurance. Surely this is a step towards a loose welfare state, something which the Tory party on this side of the Pond supports.

And like the Tories, he’s avoiding the tribalism so often characteristic of both the Labour Party and of his own previous attempt on the White House, instead targeting the President. Again, we see the Politics of the Tory Party.

My concern is that his very popular centrist ideology will extend further than a victory in Florida. He’s not a man i’d like to see in the Oval Office, but it is certainly refreshing to see a Republican more closely suited to British politics.

Big Band Special 23/01/2012

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Big Band Special 23/01/2012:

For all those who Love the theme tune to Brazil!

(It’s about 7:30 minutes in)

Brilliant minimalmovieposters: Hitchcock Collection by...

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:49:51 +0000

Brilliant

minimalmovieposters:

Hitchcock Collection by Mr-Bluebird

" “geography is a better predictor than social class or income” "

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:51:00 +0000

“” “geography is a better predictor than social class or income” “”

- Professor Danny Dorling on who gets which university places

This is why wind turbines do not run in gale force winds

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:12:00 +0000

This is why wind turbines do not run in gale force winds:

This photo (taken by Stuart McMahon and via the BBC - click on the link to view the picture and others) nicely demonstrates the storm hitting Scotland now. Winds are reaching speeds of hundreds of miles per hour in the capital city of Edinburgh, already known as Scotland’s answer to New York for its weather. Further north, winds are even stronger, to the point where this storm is becoming known as a hurricane, more specifically, Hurricane Bawbag. I don’t think I need to remind people as to the meaning of the name, but it does show how irritated people are by it. Quite frankly, the weather is foul.

I want one. NOW! pacalin: Pac Man Christmas...

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:45:54 +0000

I want one. NOW!

pacalin:

Pac Man Christmas Tree

(via: insanelygaming, it8bit)

(From the BBC)

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:44:39 +0000

(From the BBC)

Photo

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:32:41 +0100

This is very concerning. sav3mys0ul: Arctic Glaciers Greenpeace...

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:09:21 +0100

This is very concerning.

sav3mys0ul:

Arctic Glaciers Greenpeace Photos: Massive Cracking Revealed Off Greenland Coast

The Joke Nobel Prize Winners 2011

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:30:33 +0100

The Joke Nobel Prize Winners 2011

discoverynews: Happy Birthday, H.G. Wells. Here’s a look at how...

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:55:07 +0100

discoverynews:

Happy Birthday, H.G. Wells.

Here’s a look at how Wells’ fictional visions became 21st-century reality.

For one, the title of one of his books foretold one of the greatest technological achievements in the history of humankind: landing men on the moon.

Read more

Galliano, found guilty of anti-semitism, avoids fine

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:33:52 +0100

Today, the fashion designer John Galliano was found guilty of racist, anti-semitic comments. Yet his fine (£4250) has been suspended, despite not even turning up for the sentencing.

Here is a man who contributes next-to-nothing for society, has gained celebrity status through designing clothes in an revoltingly materialistic industry, and who has quite frankly gone totally off the rails, and he has essentially got off scot-free.

Sure, he’s been sacked from Dior, but his career in the industry won’t be over after all this publicity, and the legal fees he’s had to pay aren’t anything like punitive. The real problem is that whilst he’s been given this relatively symbolic fine, he’s not had to pay it!

Does anyone else feel this is absurd and bordering on offensive?

Stock Markets Tumble Again

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:31:54 +0100

Well, it looks like we are heading into a Double-Dip recession. The lesson that will be learned is that countries must not borrow too much, because no one is immune from collapse.

The USA is going rapidly down the pan, with people abandoning shares and stocks for long term secure investments in gold and government bonds. Even the German stock exchange, the Dax, was down by a whopping 5%. And now we hear rumours that France’s credit rating is struggling.

If this doesn’t stop, the world will slip back into another recession. Not even the president’s word can stabilise the US economy, with a 5% fall following his speech.

Let’s be clear - this is a crisis.

18 year olds to be force-fed Maths lessons

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:48:10 +0100

It seems that Gove and his useless cronies have decided that it would be a good idea for all school kids to have to learn Maths until the age of 18, on the basis that far too many people fail at GCSE.

The fact is, if people fail maths at 16 then they’re going to going to resent having to carry it on much further and will get even more left behind by those who pass. The problem isn’t that people don’t do enough maths, because once you do it to A-Level it’s revoltingly complicated and people who fail at 16 will not be able to progress at the moment.

Indeed, if the teaching of Maths was improved then they might be able to, and this really is the crux of the problem. The fact is, if you can do the Maths then the system is very good, it sweeps you forward as it gets harder and harder. But if you can’t keep up, you’re forgotten by it and try as they might, teachers can’t drag everyone up with the syllabus as it is.

The problem is twofold then - firstly the courses available are dismal unless you’ve already secured the previous techniques and secondly, the attitude towards maths in school and outside of it is tragically defeatist.

How many times have you heard people say “Oh maths… I can’t do maths… I was rubbish at maths…”. What tripe, everyone can do maths if they put their minds to it and aren’t ditched by a course that moves far too rapidly. Maths requires no artistic capacity, no sense of humanity or such like, you can’t suddenly discover a talent for it, it’s simply a logical progression of numbers or would-be numbers. People don’t understand it because they didn’t try to at the start and then they were dropped by the system, and the reason they don’t try in the first place is because they weren’t inspired.

The solution: from a younger age inspire people with the thought that maths is useful and self-rewarding. It’s important, it’s often surprising and it’s not difficult if you have time on your side. Making people study it to an older age isn’t the solution, getting people on side is.

Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14437665