“In the 1920s O G S Crawford invented aerial archaeology, one of many services this eccentric Marxist misanthrope performed for the study of antiquity.”
- Jonathan Meades: Link

Bloody Old Britain: O G S Crawford and the Archaeology of Modern Life

By Kitty Hauser

Granta Books, 286pp

Amazon: Link

“Future archaeologists will perhaps excavate the ruined factories of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when the radiation effects of Atom bombs have died away.”
- O. G. S. Crawford, from Archaeology in the Field (1953)

O. G. S. Crawford @ Wikipedia: Link.

~ Karl Jones

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Rome: It’s beautiful and it’s not. Kinda like everything else in life.

“La prossima fermata è Roma Termini.”

I moved to Italy to live at the end of September last year. I lived in Brescia (a medium-sized city in Northern Italy) until March 1, when I moved to Siena.

(I am once again back in Brescia, but that’s a story I’m going to save for another day.)

I picked up some vocabulary during those first five months in Italy, but it wasn’t until I started attending an Italian class for immigrants in Siena that I really started learning the language.

Now, finally!, I understand much of what is being said either to me or around me. The language no longer sounds foreign or like pretty sounds flowing forth from people’s mouths. Although I’m more motivated to learn the language–because it finally seems like an achievable goal to converse fluently–the glossy veneer of the nonsensical musical sounds has dulled. I don’t know, there’s something about understanding when somebody complains about the weather (or conversely, the ease in which I can complain about it) that makes any language sound less romantic.

Shiny glossy veneers are so overrated. Don’t you think? I mean, a veneer is just a thin expensive sheet of wood (or metal) with layers upon layers of unusually toxic clear varnish. If it wasn’t for the common cheap material beneath (like pine or regular mild steel), the veneer would have nothing to attach itself to.

And I’ve always preferred the look of a dull, used or aged finish anyway…and now that I’ve exhausted my analogy I’m finished with this post.

But one more thing before I go to bed on this hot summer night: it is nice to know that you can simply listen to the conductor to know when your next stop is and not have the nervous wondering of whether you’ve missed it or have yet to arrive.

Arrivederci a dopo.

~Janelle Renée

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Natural Touch is a Non Governmental Organisation based in Calabar the Eastern part of Nigeria.The inspiration come from a point of observation of handicapped people and Children roaming the streets of some citites in Nigeria mostly in Calabar begging for alms.
Most of them at the end of the day retired to uncompleted buildings to pass the night,It was a very gory site when a reported case of ritual dehumanising killing of two of such people in a street close to my residence.These two were killed and some part of them remove for rituals activities or some other things not quite known to us.

So touched by such inhuman treament to people because of their inability to defend themselves or provide proper accomodation for themselves,and even a source of livelihood was traumatic,hence,my decision to get the NGO (NATURAL TOUCH) started,with the aim to provide food and shelter for the hanicapped.Make sure there is a future for them and security of life for them.

Upon our inception,we had limited our intention to mostly the young ones and average aged.Although we could not provide accomodation for them but we  provide the basic needs which is food for them atleast once a day.

It is our aim to increase the feeding arrangement to twice a day and also build a home for them.It is our aim to accomodate at least 2000-5000 handicapped people of difiers ages in the home,and Animals too.
With support from other Organisations/Individauls that are touched just as we are.We will establish a school or a handicraft centre for them to study and become independent of their own in future.
Suffice to say here that most of them roam the street with torn cloths and look unkept,We also provide clothing where necessary and affordable to them.
Based on our inability to sustain the financial burden,we are looking forward to Groups or Individuals with similar passion as we have towards uplifting the living standard of these hadicapped and also thinking of ensuring their future.

We are planning of building a home for them in Calabar to accomodate the handicapped and also recruit personnels to take care of their cooking and tranining.
We look forward to support  from passionate groups and individuals.
Thanks,
Dennis

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Technology for human needs:

• The Outquisition
• Engineers Without Borders
• MIT International Design Summit
• Free/Open Appropriate Technology
• Transition Towns
• Technology for Humanity

(...)
Read the rest of Technology for Humanity (735 words)

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~a poem by Bonnee Klein Gilligan

So much more then simple words

  deep hearted inner sorrow.

Say what you will, time will allow

  for life speaks not tomorrow.

Each breath, each move ignites our soul

  and fills our cups with wonder.

How we spend this mighty gift

  or choose which path to walk on.

Is only that and nothing more

  a choice, a simple choice.

Wrapped within experience

  set upon a golden plate.

With love and laugher, joy or sorrow

  in each and every moment.

Thus we write our book of life

  Oh Life… sweet wondrous life.

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“Archaeologists say the Maya believed the complex of water-filled caves leading into dry chambers was an underground road to a mythical underworld.”

Mexican archaeologists have discovered a maze of stone temples in underground caves, some submerged in water and containing human bones.

Clad in scuba gear and edging through narrow tunnels, researchers found the stone ruins of 11 sacred temples at the site on the Yucatan peninsula.

Archaeologists say the Maya believed the underground complex of water-filled caves leading into dry chambers, including an underground road stretching about 330 feet, was the path to a mythical underworld known as Xibalba.

- LA Times, via Reuters: Link.

Via Lisa Katayama @ Boing Boing: Link.

See also Xibalba @ Wikipedia.

~ Karl Jones

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“A victim of the thriving commodities market.”

Last April, thieves stole a large metal sculpture (bronze or copper, accounts vary) by Julian Schnabel. Police recently recovered one remaining piece of it — at a scrapyard:

It’s worth more than an Academy Award and is a whole lot bigger. But only one-fifth of a $250,000 bronze and copper sculpture made by artist and director Julian Schabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfliy) [sic] has been recovered by Connecticut police, with the rest having been disposed of (read: melted down) at a Norwalk scrap yard. Per a report in the Danbury New Times, 49-year-old suspect Patrick Lancey has been charged with the April 2008 theft of the sculpture, which was being stored at the time outdoors at Mariano Brothers Specialty Moving. Police also are suggesting that Lancey was not working alone and therefore more arrests may follow.

- By Staff @ FilmStew: August 14, 2008: Link.
Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 2:55 PM

“Of the five pieces of the sculpture, only the dog survived the trip to the scrap yard.”

More details @ The Brookfield Journal:

(...)
Read the rest of Julian Schnabel’s Scrap Metal (235 words)

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Les Librevillois se posent énormément de questions quant à l’efficacité de la Police de proximité exerçant dans la capitale gabonaise où se perpétuent des cas d’insécurité grandissants à l’instar du dernier en date, enregistré le 22 août au quartier derrière l’Ecole Normal où un jeune homme de 22 ans a été retrouvé mort, lynché par la population.

Ce meurtre est venu relancer le débat sur l’insécurité et sur le rôle joué par la Police de proximité créée, il y a environ deux ans, dans le but de lutter efficacement contre l’insécurité dans les quartiers de Libreville.

Or, selon la population qui procède désormais par vindicte populaire, cette police ne serait pas efficace au regard des nombreux cas de viol, de crime, de vol etc. enregistrés en moins d’un moins dans la capitale gabonaise.

« Comment peut –on dire Police de proximité alors que nous ne les avons jamais vu sillonner notre quartier de jour comme de nuit? », s’interroge Glwadys N. habitant de Nkembo, l’un des quartiers populaires et mal lotis de la capitale gabonaise.

« Elle passe son temps dans quelques carrefours comme si l’insécurité n’était que dans les carrefours », déclare un riverain du quartier « Rio » où de nombreux forfaits sont commis à tout moment de la journée.

Ainsi, la question de la visibilité de cette police se pose au regard des propos de cet agent qui a requis l’anonymat: « c’est normal que nous ne puissions pas couvrir tous les quartiers malgré la bonne volonté de nos supérieurs. Où sont les voies d’accès ? Croyez vous que nous pouvons poursuivre des bandits dans des cités dépourvues de voies comme Kinguelélé, Nkembo, Atsibétsos, etc. ? ». « Ce serait un suicide, et en plus nous ne sommes pas suffisamment armés », poursuit–il.

Pour la population, même si la question des voies d’accès dans les quartiers se pose, il n’en demeure pas moins que la police est gagnée par le laxisme. « Sinon comment comprendre que des agressions soient commis en plein jour, sous ses yeux, à des endroits comme « Rio », Feu tricolore Nzeng Ayong ou Ancien Gare routière et cette police n’agit pas ? », se demande une femme d’une quarantaine d’années qui déclare par la même occasion s’être vu arracher son sac à main, de force à l’Ancienne gare routière.

C’est en cela que d’aucun évoque les efforts fournis par la tutelle qui sont mis à mal par les vieilles habitudes. « Une Police de proximité signifie une effort important en terme de recrutement, en terme de moyen », indique –t-on.

On se souvient qu’il y a près de deux mois la tutelle a procédé à de nouveaux recrutements en vue de renforcer les effectifs et envisager un déploiement à l’intérieur du pays où son absence s’est fait crucialement resentir lors de la dernière édition de la fête de l’Indépendance.

« Dans tous les cas, souhaite un habitant de Nzeng Ayong, il faut que la tutelle sévisse contre les policiers véreux afin de la nettoyer de ses handicaps ». Car, ajoute-t-il, « même s’il y a un problème de voie d’accès et de moyens, on se rend compte que la tutelle fait énormément des efforts pour les doter de matériel. Mais il y a trop de problèmes internes à la Police même qu’il faut résoudre ».

Un nouvel instrument financier pourrait voir le jour avant le sommet de l'ONU sur le climat prévu en 2009 : une micro-assurance sur les risques climatiques dus au réchauffement, destinés aux agriculteurs des pays en développement. C’est le sens du projet mené par l’Initiative munichoise pour l’assurance climatique (MCII) et l’ONG Germanwatch.
Une assurance climat pour les en pays en développement?

Un outil se solidarité climatique peut-il voir le jour? L’intégration du critère climatique, couplé à une garantie financière des pays industrialisés, constitue en tout cas l'une des démarches les plus innovantes pour les pays en développement. « Ces pays, et le continent africain en particulier, paient au prix fort le coût climatique induit par l’économie des pays industrialisés. C’est injuste et c’est pourquoi nous avons lancé l’Initiative munichoise pour l’assurance climatique, » note Christopher Bals, président de l’ONG Germanwatch à l’origine de cette démarche.
L’ONG britannique Oxfam rappelle combien le réchauffement climatique sévit de manière disproportionnée : entre 1990 et 1998, 94% des 568 catastrophes naturelles les plus violentes ont eu lieu dans les pays en voie de développement. « La majorité des habitants de ces pays vivent dans des conditions économiques précaires et ne disposent d’aucune épargne ou de capital pour se protéger des impacts climatiques, » relève l’ONG.
Oxfam conduit actuellement un projet pilote de micro-assurance auprès d’agriculteurs éthiopiens, qui suscite une attention particulière de la part de l’initiative munichoise. Celle-ci a été créée en avril 2005 par le réassureur allemand Münchener Rückversicherung, convaincu que les produits d’assurances ont un rôle à jouer dans l’adaptation au réchauffement climatique. Cette initiative réunit entre autre l’ONG Germanwatch dont fait partie Christopher Bals, la Banque mondiale, le Forum européen sur le climat, ainsi que le secrétariat des changements climatiques des Nations unies (UNFCCC) et l’Université des Nations unies, dont les sièges sont à Bonn, en Allemagne. Pour l’heure, « il s’agit surtout d’évaluer les projets pilotes de micro-assurance agricoles en cours dans les pays en voie de développement et qui nous ont été soumis, explique Christopher Bals. D’ici quelques mois, nous allons recevoir les premières conclusions, et nous pourrons présenter ceux qui bénéficieront de notre soutien lors du sommet de Copenhague en décembre 2009 ».

Source : lachaineverte.fr.msn.com

A Two-Person Narrative Trying to Find One Answer in One Voice:

When is Revolution Wrong?

That question has been staring at me from the notebook cover on which I tattooed it for years, now. There hasn’t been a day when I haven’t thought of that question - but to think of and think about are two very different things.

I truly began to think about the question - its meaning, relevance, subtext - when, in my studies, an instructor of mine posed a question regarding the action one takes when confronted with ineffective or corrupt legislation: Does one follow it and go through the proper channels to have it repealed? Do they merely ignore it? Or, do they find a third alley that serves for both effiecncey and change - do they revolt?

In the middle of the conversation I, became inflamed with passion, and I got to thinking about why we revolt in the first place. Oppression? (I know that’s not the only reason but work with me, now). Then I began to challenge myself. Go step by step with me, here:

1) Look at everything that’s oppressing you: from the highest of magistrates to the blue jeans that tell you you’re a pear because your hips don’t fit them like the mannequin’s did the prototype.

2) Imagine all those things stripped straight out of your life - again, everything from the oppressive leaders to the oppressive denim.

*So, now you’re standing stark naked in an infinite universe where there are no natural nor any human laws to confine you.

3) So, what’s left? If you’ve eliminated everything you consider even remotely oppressive, what did you leave?

4) Actually, why did you leave it? Did you keep your jeans? (I did - they fit like a glove. I kept them because I was comfortable in them and with them — but certainly there are jeans that oppress my form, and that I would not have kept, and I bet not everyone kept theirs to begin with).

5) If I kept it, should you have, too? Is it wrong that something someone can find so ludicrously binding is still there for me? Should I fight back for them? Should they do away with whatever for me? Certainly the answer to all this “no.”

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I need to replace that first question. I don’t really think revolution is a matter of right or wrong. It’s a matter of construction. There is no ill fated or pointless revolts, just poor organizing. It’s more about passion and conviction for the cause than the spirit of the resistance, itself. I think we’ve lost that today: either we’re up in ‘arms’ just because we can be, or we don’t give a damn. It has, for the most part, become focused around the images of the vigilante and the apathetic. Just a thought, but, maybe we should be keeping our jeans unless they really cut into our sides. And what works for one wearer won’t work for all…so why do we try to change it for a total group where the balance may not fit the proposition? New question: “How is revolution dictated?” Oxymoronic and certainly not as pithy, but…

-C. Leroux and J. Connelly

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I’ve been finding a lot of interesting developments with regard to food lately. So thought I’d share them with you…

Nano-food, nano-tech?

Something new is being added to our table and life called Nano-foods or nano-tech products. What in heavens name is Nano-food?

The internet is buzzing with a lot of stories. Reuters (2008, July 30) Nano-foods: The next consumer scare? In essence Nano-foods are produced by using nano-technology, which involves design and manipulation of the molecular level. Companies utilizing nanotechnology claim it can enhance flavor or nutritional effectiveness.

The Observer Welcome to the world of nano foods. Claims the food industry is developing a colorless, tasteless programmable nano-drink that you zap in a microwave which has been encoded with your eating preferences.

Sounds like sci-fi… Star Trek’s Captain Picard ordering ‘Tea, Earl Grey, hot’ and it materializes in the replicater. That’s an interesting concept. But I wonder about eating what appears to be synthetic food. What about the food’s vitality?

Are there food products that currently contain nano-technology?

Out of the Laboratory and onto our plate. (2008, March) A detailed report on Nano-tech products in agriculture and food funded by Friends of Earth. List of food products currently containing nano-products include: Canola Active Oil (Shemen), Nanotea (Shenzen Become Industry & Trading Co.), Fortified Fruit Juice (High Vive.com), Nanoceuticals Slim Shake (assorted flavors, RBC Lifesciences), NanoSlim beverage(NanoSlim), Oat Nutritional Drink (assorted flavors, Toddler Health), and ‘Daily Vitamin Boost’ fortified fruit juice (Jamba Juice Hawaii).

Do we know if there are risks consuming nano-foods or the potential toxic effects to the body? 

Science Daily ETH Zurich/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (2008, July 22). Nano-modified Food: How Much Are Consumers Willing To Accept The Associated Risks?. Reports, "Nanoparticles, however, are considered as highly reactive and it is not yet clear whether under certain conditions they can get the better of protective mechanisms and have a toxic impact on the body." Consumer Reports (2007, July) Nanotechnology Untold promise, unknown risk. Reports, "A growing number of scientists say the unique properties of nanomaterials might pose substantial risks, which are largely unexplored, to both human health and the environment."

Besides food there are a lot of products containing Nano-tech over 600 and growing. NanoForum offers an interesting report called Nanotechnology in Consumer Products (2006, October 25) which contains a list of products. As well Madison’s Nano Cafe is a great resource for news and articles about nanotechnology.

I like to make informed decisions about everything in my life. So I’m all for labels disclosing complete information. 

Cloned animals for food?

Wired (2007, December 19) Senate Votes to Keep Cloned Meat Out of Your Burger, for Now. The Senate passed a Farm Bill measure intended to bar the FDA from approving meat and milk from cloned animals until further study was conducted. Center for Food Safety (2008, January 17) Press Release. EUROPEAN UNION GROUP ISSUES OPINION CALLING CLONING FOR FOODS ETHICALLY UNJUSTIFIED. Center for Food Safety Praises Opinion; Calls for Swift Passage of Farm Bill Mandating Examination of Economic Risks to US Agriculture.

Public Opinion Center for Food Safety Reports, "Recent opinion polls show the majority of Americans do not want milk or meat from cloned animals in their food. A national survey conducted this year by Consumers Union found that 89 percent of Americans want to see cloned foods labeled, while 69 percent said that they have concerns about cloned meat and dairy products in the food supply. A recent Gallup Poll reported that more than 60 percent of Americans believe that it is immoral to clone animals, while the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology found that a similar percentage say that, despite FDA approval, they won’t buy milk from cloned animals."

CNN (2008, January 18) FDA OKs meat and milk from most cloned animals. When introduced there will be no labeling required. The FDA asserts that there is no material difference between cloned and conventionally grown animals.

What’s up with the swift approval by the FDA? If cloned animal products ever hit the grocery shelves I’d sure like to know so I can make informed purchasing decisions.

rBGH and GMOs?

Called old news. The newest hot topic is nano-tech, but they haven’t gone away. FDA tells us both are ok. Their endorsement means companies aren’t required to put this info on packaging. Since around 1996 about 70% of our processed foods have contained GMOs. I’d like to know by reading the packaging instead of having to do an extensive online search. My body has an adverse reaction to both of these technologies so I cannot eat them.

Public Opinion A CBS/New York Times poll done recently found that 53 percent of Americans wouldn’t buy genetically modified foods. 

If you’re interested here’s a list of products which contain GMOs. The photo above is an ad from Do You Know What You Eat?Greenpeace’s advertising campaign against Genetically Modified Organisms. What a superbly done and wonderfully creative campaign. Kudos to BBDO Russia.

Organic vs. conventional food study underway some findings released. Green MSN (2007, November) and BBC News (2007, October) reported - a Newcastle University study shows organic foods have far more nutritional value. They found levels of antioxidants in milk from organic cattle were between 50% and 80% higher than normal milk. Organic wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, onions and lettuce had between 20% and 40% more nutrients.

Is this just the beginning of lots of comparable studies? To my taste buds naturally grown food (buzz word organic) has a fuller, richer flavor… like homegrown tomatoes vs. store bought. Studies proving what my mouth distinguished at first bite. Exciting! Tastes better and fresh organic food is better for you too! Yahoo!!!

Now if we could only get those crazy prices down…

P.S. I’ve been eating locally grown and organic produce all summer and I started walking. Really strange. I haven’t desired to walk in years. But now most mornings I walk to the Post Office and evenings around the neighborhood; about 2 miles total. I have more vitality and feel better too. Don’t know for sure if it’s related, but it’s sure interesting.

Here are a couple of links you may enjoy:

Food Routes - A resource on locally grown foods. Why to buy and where to buy.

Organic Made Easy - A guide to understanding and buying organic produce on a budget.

The Practical Guide to Healthier Living - Lots of videos and articles about natural healthy living. Why to buy at Farmer’s Markets, recipes and more.

~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

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Failure is not the only punishment for laziness; there is also the success of others.- Jules Renard

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
- Abigail Adams

C’est encore la Banque mondiale et ses estimations dont les plus récentes indiquent que 1,4 milliard de personnes vivent avec moins de 1,25 dollar par jour, fixant ainsi le nouveau seuil de pauvreté. Selon la Banque, le monde compte ainsi un nombre plus élevé de pauvres qu’on ne l’avait pensé auparavant et que malgré tout, des résultats importants ont été enregistrés dans la lutte contre la pauvreté extrême.

Suite : http://www.sudonline.sn/spip.php?article13441

Source : sudonline.sn