International Nitrogen Initiative

The article on reactive nitrogen + the impact on environment @ http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/05/reactive-nitrog.html was educational. I think it's time that we do something to prevent another 5,800 square mile dead zone.

Useful links:
www.initrogen.org
www.earth.columbia.edu

Techno-Bedouins

I found the article, Nomads at last @ http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displayStory.cfm?story_id=10950394 brilliant and insightful + the most wonderful thing about mobile technology today is that consumers can increasingly forget about how it works and simply take advantage of it, it's the human connection that matters. How true!

Zero Carbon House

Here is an interesting zero-carbon house concept: Barratt's Green House is packed with the latest technology including solar panels, rain water harvesting and an air-source heat pump. Its new kind of concrete walls and floors, combined with super insulation and triple-glazed windows makes it airtight, meaning the requirement for heating is minimal. Fresh air entering the passes through a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat from the outgoing stale air and puts it back into the house. A rainwater harvesting system collects water for use in flushing toilets.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/15/greenbuilding.renewableenergy

Useful links:
www.barratthomes.co.uk
www.bre.co.uk
www.gauntfrancis.co.uk

It's a great idea, but in my view, success depends on affordability.

Vincent Cassel

Vincent Cassel is a French actor + he plays Jacques Mesrine, a true story of France's infamous public enemy during the 70s, the man of a thousand faces, as he was known, in Public Enemy Number One, director by Jean-François Richet.

Useful link:
www.vincentcassel.com

Auction Update

Souren Melikian has an interesting update on contemporary art sales at Sotheby's + other viewpoints @ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/15/arts/melik16.php

It's hard to figure out what drives the bidders to go over the roof, but I think the diversity in style may have inspired the bidders to go the extra mile paying shocking prices. Definitely the Sotheby's sale have taken the market to a new level. It looks like the bubble is still inflating.

Who's Your City?

Who's Your City?: How the Creative Economy Is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life by Richard Florida is an interesting study of how the world is changing + the concept of human geography + the impact. A must-read.

Useful link:
http://creativeclass.com

Comic Relief

I found the article Comic Relief: Comic Books Aren't Just for Entertainment @ http://www.edutopia.org/comic-relief educational and inspiring.

Useful links:
www.edutopia.org
http://www.edutopia.org/animating-dreams

Old Habits Die Hard

(via BBC) The survey of 1,186 executives in 33 countries by Ernst & Young suggests that 18% had lost business to a competitor prepared to pay a bribe. Corrupt practices were perceived to be most prevalent in mining, with fewer instances in energy and banking.

Useful links:
www.ey.com
www.transparency.org

Old habits die hard
Old soldiers just fade away
Old habits die hard
Harder than November rain
Old habits die hard
Old soldiers just fade away
Old habits die hard
Hard enough to feel the pain

- Mick Jagger & Dave Stewart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elutCfvhmzE

How true!