union

it is by virtue of our distinction, our independent division,
that we are able to stand united, and in such close proximity

Pastifarianism

So, having come across more than one Pastifarian I felt obliged to look it up.

Context can be found here.
The original Flying Spaghetti Monster can be found here.


Ramen!

mummy...?

...
how is it a construction site can look so much like a playground?
....

US begins to break foreign oil ‘addiction’

So remind me, why are we arguing about bio fuels again?

Taken from the financial times:

The US is starting to break its “addiction” to foreign oil as high prices, more efficient cars, and the use of ethanol significantly cut the share of its oil imports for the first time since 1977.

The country’s foreign oil dependency is expected to fall from 60 per cent to 50 per cent in 2015, before rising again slightly to 54 per cent in 2030, according to the head of the Department of Energy’s statistical arm.

david gray. chocolate. fish. oases. blue.we all need someone to be beautiful for.

First It Was Bees, Now It's Bats That Are Dying

From here:

The loss of bats may be an even worse concern than the loss of bees [...snip...] They're used to pollinate crops, especially ones that are not natural to the areas in which they're grown, such as almonds in California.
[...snip...]
The first problem people note may be a profusion of mosquitoes this year [...snip...]Ultimately, these diseases are likely to multiply aggressively -- but by then, the bats that keep them under control may be gone.

Major diseases borne by mosquitoes include West Nile Fever, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Malaria, and Dengue Fever. All of them are severe and life-threatening.

Crops may be affected. Bats are significant controllers of many crop-destructive insects. As with diseases, the severity of the risk is dependent on how long it takes to manifest -- the longer, the worse the effects. If pesticide use results in crop loss occurring later, after the bats are gone, then it is likely to be devastating.

way of the sparrow

it's not always about doing the best possible job
but about doing the job with what you've got

China-Myanmar pipeline still under discussion

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6369954.html

Philippines and Burma

Thailand decides to move toward continued levels of exports after pressure from the Philippines:
Possibly US backed - the role of the US in the Philippines.

Burma is in a sad state, but is the humanitarian crisis being exploited? here and here
Quote :

In reality, all American assistance comes with political strings attached. The Bush administration has offered a paltry $3.5 million in financial aid and is pushing for the entry of US officials, aid workers and military personnel to handle emergency relief operations rather than allow Burmese authorities to carry them out. At the same time, the US and its European allies continue to maintain sanctions against the Burmese regime that have compounded the country’s economic difficulties. In the week prior to the cyclone, the Bush administration strengthened its bans on trade and investment and the freezing of assets, all of which remain in place except for a slight easing of restrictions on financial aid.

what's so amazing about really Deep Thoughts

(ani difranco - silent all these years)

the system

• buy things from big barrels etc and skip all the packaging
• would milk bottles help, or cause more pollution
• aside from the impact on advertising etc,
• is better packaging going to keep food well enough
• sad to say i'm already much more aware of my personal waste in the past week than ever before. who knows if it'll make a difference... but it's worth spreading the word.

• www.change.org? May become home to a new topically related blog. TBA. Looks like lots of faffing, but that's the world for you, need to filter and decide.
• Oxfam folks seem to have their heads on straight.

some days i wish i could feel a little less
... and do a little more ...