2015-07-17

Earth's oceans found to be a much greater source of greenhouse gas than previously believed

I read this and thought it worth sharing.

A new study by MIT has revealed that the quantities of nitrous oxide (N2O), otherwise known as laughing gas, being released by the world's oceans has been dramatically underestimated.

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Nature Rebounds

I read this and thought it worth sharing.

The common meme in today’s world is that we are slowly (or perhaps even rapidly in some instances) destroying our global environment. Not just by way of global warming, but pollution, over-farming, water usage, and increasing use of all sorts of resources taken from the ground.

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Mission Accomplished

OK, after coming across Ido Portal while googling for bodyweight exercises, I decided to take up two challenges: the 30/30 Squat Challenge, and the Hanging Challenge. It took some "last thing before bed" efforts, and drew some looks and comments, but i got it done.

Hanging



I've been silent for a while now on the blogosphere. In recent years I've made the choice of devoting my time to my movement research and practice, teaching my students and developing my company.

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2015-06-11

Working remotely? Stay productive with these tips Add to ...



This column is part of Globe Careers’ Leadership Lab series, where executives and experts share their views and advice about leadership and management. Follow us at @Globe_Careers. Find all Leadership Lab stories at http://ift.tt/MS62R5

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2009-12-08

Evolution?

Here is a wonderful read titled "Public Education and Intelligent Design". It's from Stanford, so not just pulp philosophy.

2009-09-24

Physical Training III

Have you ever worked out, given it your all, felt the burn? Pushed through it? Paid for it for days afterwards?

Dedicated athletes and devotees of physical culture all know that real gains do have some associated pain, or at least discomfort. And here is a good point for physical training being of some value for Christians. Learning to master the body, master the part of us that wants the easy way, the part that doesn't want to be uncomfortable. This is a valuable lesson.

A method of study

Wow, now here is a marvelous post about using your morning time to get some real brain work done.

http://maverickphilosopher.typepad.com/maverick_philosopher/2009/09/my-method-of-study.html

2009-08-27

Physical Training II

Another reason that I think physical training is good, is that it forces one to take stock of oneself. If you're going to do it right, you need to cast a critical eye at your own capabilities, your own performance, and make a realistic assessment. Then set about improving the areas that are lacking, aiming at the goal.

The same process is applicable to all areas of life. A realistic assessment of the situation as it currently is. A goal to be reached. A plan to get there. A whole lot of energy, determination, and grit.

I think that perhaps in our instant world, the last part is what is missing.

Canadian Style Health Care

Couldn't have said it better myself....

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/letter+American+cousins/1917335/story.html

2009-08-19

Physical Training

In 1 Timothy, Paul makes this interesting statement:

1 Timothy 4:8 (New International Version)

8For physical training is of some value...


Why is that? What use is physical training to Christians? I think that this might be worth exploring.

Perhaps instilling some discipline in our lives is helpful in being disciples. Learning to persist in an activity. Learning to make mistakes, recover, and progress.

I think there may be a good many reasons why Paul thinks that physical training is of some value.

2008-09-05

Vishay

OK, so really we just call him Fishy, but I like my spelling better. Our kiddos have their first pet, a blue veil tail betta from the local fish store. Learning about our aquatic friend has been quite the eye opener as I didn't have fish when I was young.

Apparently there are clubs, and associations, and a world congress for siamese fighting fish. I nevery knew there was so much attention payed to these little $7 fish. Well, the ones that the clubs oo and ah about are quite a bit more pricey. You can pay $20-60 for a spectacular fish from a breeder. Ususally the LFS has the cast offs from the breeding programs.

As you can imagine, the start up cost for a new aquarist is about 90% stuff, and 10% fish.

I'll say this for our little refugee from the LFS, he has quite a personality! He thinks he is king of the world. He flares up at food, fingers, and his own reflection.

I'll have to figure out how to take some good pictures to post.

Anyways, you can feed Virtual Vishay over on the right. Drop some food by clicking in his bowl.

2007-08-01

life without a blog

aye... refreshing no? yes we're alive. life is just too interesting to sit and type. maybe i'll be back in a couple weeks.

oh, i am reading Anselm of Canterbury. if anybody wants to stretch their mind with some medieval devotionals, i highly recommend.

2007-05-04

life without a fridge

i know that we had a tough time getting used to the small refrigerators here in the uk. how on earth did people survive before the power grid and vapor compression heat exchangers? here's a clue...

fridge-less living

the really simple life

now here is an inspiring example of simple living... looks more like camping year round! don't think it would work too well with kids though. also a little too cold in canada; but well worth the read.

"We must achieve the character and acquire the skills to live much poorer than we do. We must waste less. We must do more for ourselves and each other. It is either that or continue merely to think and talk about changes that we are inviting catastrophe to make."

Wendell Berry, from the essay "Word and Flesh," What Are People For? North Point Press, 1990


Living Outside the Box

2007-05-01

engineers without borders

hey, now here we go - 'geers getting in there and helping people! too bad they didn't have this when i was in school....

EWB Canada

technology challenging poverty

here is a great bunch. sustainable use of technology to reduce poverty and it's effects (food and clean water are two big ones) throughout the developing world

Practical Action

it's hard to find ways to use engineering to benefit those who could really use it. maybe there are some organizations like this in canada!?

speechless

3 men were made martyrs in turkey

what is most amazing is the widow is asking people to forgive the perps

...

2007-04-18

simple living

reading this post about facebook vs. myspace over at tim's blog got me to thinking. all these people living so much of their lives online. if they don't yet have a second life, they still invest a lot of time publishing their thoughts & stuff. why don't i? sure i blog, but it's fairly sparse and short. mostly we blog to post pix of the kids (but that's pretty sparse too).

it's kind of strange, being an electronics engineer at a semiconductor company - ooooo the technomages themselves - and yet take me away from professional life and something strange happens. i like to go outside. i like to walk. i like to read books - the paper kind - philosophy, theology, technology, astronomy, engineering, woodwork, fiction, whatever. sure the internet is great for research, but if i'm really interested i'll buy the book (or at least print the article off).

i'm very interested in unplugged life. unplugged from utility companies, media conglomerates, advertising, retail thieves, most of modern life. i tried to find a term that would apply to my attitudes: luddism, anarcho-primitivism, anti-modernism. none of them fit. but simple living seems to work.

technology is useful, a means to an end. but not an end in itself. maybe i'm an old-worlder, but i'm still firmly in meat-space.... until i start my real second life!

gridblog: earthday

well, john's request for an earthday post fest ties in with my thoughts as of late. unfortunately, i'm too lazy to read up on the earthday site other than the front page. so, it looks like it's about climate change. ok. on that topic i would point everyone to the half plan at builditsolar. This family cut their energy usage by 1/2 in one year. sure it cost some money, but the return on saved energy bills was 45% the first year! oh, yah and they saved loads of CO2 emmisions.

now, i'm thinking that living off-grid would save even more (money & green-house-gas). not using nasty utility energy or burning fossil fuel. all we need are good electric cars and it's perfect ;-).

back to the half plan. they have stuff to help you make your own half plan. hey what have we got to lose? save money, and our kids' future while your at it!