VANCOUVER, Canada from the north shore mountains.
*Photo by Artur Stanisz. More here: http://500px.com/ArturStanisz
*After-story: I originally found this on Google Earth pics with no credit mentioned to Mr. Stanisz. Buggers. I remember thinking, “Google Earth took this?? How the hell … ?” So I looked all over but couldn’t find any other reference until just now, 2 weeks later. So kudos to Mr. Stanisz! And a Bronx cheer to Google.
GIVING BACK with PLAYGROUND BUILDERS
One of my favorite charities is Playground Builders. They build playgrounds for children in war-torn areas of the Middle East, providing safe places for children to play. They always use local people in the building process, providing much-needed jobs and injecting money into the local economy. And their own administrative costs are bare minimum. (I know the founder and members of the board of this organization.)
If you feel inclined to donate, a benefactor is matching all funds up to $50,000, but only until midnight December 31st. So your $10 would become $20. You can learn more here: http://www.playgroundbuilders.org/what-we-do
Great way to start a new year!
SONIC WINDSHIELD WIPERS?
McLaren engineers seem to have developed a device that uses sound waves to prevent snow, rain, dirt, even insects from sticking to car windshields.
Teaser here: http://tinyurl.com/legz582
Source article here: http://tinyurl.com/qhdch8n
DEMOCRACY BC-STYLE
In the last year and a half the British Columbia legislature has sat for … 36 days.
By the end of 2013, it will be 36 days out of the last 579 (going back to May 31, 2012.) There was no fall sitting in 2012 or 2013 – both cancelled by Premier Christy Clark.
How’s that for a functioning democracy! (Certainly convenient if you want to announce policies like 28% Hydro increases and massive BC Ferry cuts without a pesky opposition party being able to ask you questions.)
HIGH SEX DRIVE: A Sign That You're A Genius?
A recent study suggests a link between high sexual drive and intelligence. Basically, if you stay up late, use drugs, have blue eyes, big boobs, and enjoy a lot of slap- and-tickle, you might be a candidate for Mensa. (The ‘the high IQ society’.)
CANADA OILSANDS EXPANSION to Cause Irreversible Damage; Ottawa Says "Oh, well…"
The expansion of Shell Canada’s Jackpine oilsands project will destroy 8,500 hectares of wetland and have an irreversible impact, says Canada’s environment minister.
But she’s not too concerned. In fact, Ottawa thinks the project is in the public’s interest.
And how will the public be compensated for this loss of 8,500 hectares of irreplaceable wetlands?
Shell Canada is buying us 730 hectares of … former cattle pasture. And you know what we’re gonna find there.
If you can stomach it, more here.
Japan’s New Secrecy Bill: Kafka, Hitler, and Lethal Radiation
Japan just passed a new Special Secrets Bill.
The rules?
- What will be a secret is secret.
- Anyone who leaks a secret and a reporter who writes it up can face up to ten years in jail.
- There are no rules at to what government agency can declare a state secret.
- Anything pertaining to nuclear energy is a state secret.
More here: http://tinyurl.com/n8bty93
Coincidentally (??), this – “Highest Radiation Level Ever, Lethal In 20 Minutes, Recorded Outside Fukushima Reactor”
More here: http://tinyurl.com/kSeejno2xs
*Thanks to Tyler Durden of ZeroHedge for the heads-up: http://tinyurl.com/kjvehvgfor
How Smart Are The World's 15-Year Olds? Take The Quiz
The PISA evaluation of global education systems was just released.
The testing assessed the competencies of 15-year-olds in reading,
mathematics and science (with a focus on mathematics).
The results?
Asian countries took the top 7 places. (Canada was 13th out of 65, down 3 spots since 2009. The US ranked 26th.)
See the rankings here
Try some of the questions here:
http://www.cbc.ca/day6/blog/2013/12/05/amanda-ripley/
Read more here:
http://www.oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/pisa-2012-results.htm
HUMANS AT PLAY
What kind of things do humans get up to when they don’t spend all their time watching reality TV?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/hUj65M4T1cg
KIDS SELF-REGULATING THEIR BEHAVIOR and getting better grades
Kids giving themselves a time-out … using exercise and breathing techniques to calm their minds when they sense they’ve become hyper … putting themselves to bed early in order to be well-rested at school the next day … what an inspirational approach. Kudos to all involved. This is the kind of thing that can change the world.
Listen to Karin Wells documentary on CBC radio’s The Sunday Edition here: http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/documentaries/2013/12/01/draft-documentary-how-is-your-engine-running/