Friday, April 10, 2009

Esoterica and miscellanea

Lots of stuff has been piling up so I'll just put a lot of it here. There is some GREAT stuff coming up, but I can't devote sufficient time to it right now.

1. There may be a sector that doesn't understand that the ice shelves breaking up all along the Antarctic Peninsula are a significant sign of climate changes afoot, but the phytoplankton are telling a very convincing story in their own right:

Phytoplankton Is Changing Along The Antarctic Peninsula

"What is new is that we're showing for the first time that there is an ongoing change on phytoplankton concentration and composition along the western shelf of the Antarctic Peninsula that is associated with a long-term climate modification," Montes-Hugo said.

2. I told you it wouldn't work:

Climate scientists admit defeat in ocean experiment

"As expected, this stimulated growth of tiny planktonic algae or phytoplankton, which it was hoped would take out of the atmosphere carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas blamed for climate change, and absorb it. However, the scientists from India's National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) did not count on these phytoplankton being eaten by tiny crustacean zooplankton." OCEANS ARE VERY EFFICIENT. Scratch this off the geo-engineering list (sorry, Dr. Martin). Conserve and efficiencize.US announces new fuel economy standard for 2011

3. I wrote Senator Mikulski about this a couple of years ago, and she said No... back then.

US announces new fuel economy standard for 2011

"The change "will save about 887 million gallons of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8.3 million metric tonnes," the agency said."

4. Can I get an "Amen!"? Followed by a "Finally!"?

EU tightens bluefin tuna fishing rules

"The rules introduce "significant cuts" in bluefin tun quotas by 2011 and shortens the period in which the species can be fished by four months. The season begins on April 15. They impose a freeze on fishing capacity to 2007-2008 levels and tighten laws on sport and recreational fishing. Imports and exports of fish caught outside the quota system will also be banned."

If it was up to me, I'd just call for a moratorium on all bluefin tuna fishing for three years and see what happens. The fishermen would be STUNNED at the success of just giving the fish a fighting chance.

5. Just when I thought that technology had pushed the limits of what was possible:

The intelligent bra that takes the jiggling out of jogging

Now how did I miss this a year ago? Anyway...

"Reporting their findings in the latest issue of the Journal of Biomechanics, they say: "A consequence of current brassiere design is that the brassiere straps bear much of the load generated by breast momentum during physical activity.
"As breast mass increases, breast bounce momentum also increases, placing large loads on the straps and, in turn, excessive pressure on the wearer's shoulders."

Well, I am glad that they have come up with a better way to assist women with the aggravating problem of breast bounce. After all, sometimes these things are necessary.

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