Thursday, April 30, 2009
Federal Cars, Inc.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Are You Harbouring A Suicidal Prius?
Monday, April 27, 2009
Pig Flu - Why I Am Less Than Scared
It's been pretty well impossible to turn on the TV over the past few days without having to endure a stream of near hysterical news items predicting the end of humanity as we know it, all because some Mexicans died of the flu. Now let's be clear here: I think Mexicans are wonderful people and really don't want any of them to be dying of flu, be it pig, duck, Asian or otherwise. But so far they have been the only victims, so let's just look at the facts here before we all head to the underground bunkers and break out the gas masks, OK?
- Every year, the US suffers approximately 36,000 deaths from flu, an annual figure that's slowly rising.
- So far, not one death in the US, or indeed anywhere else but Mexico, can be chalked up to this particular flu variant.
- As of today, 40 US flu cases are thought to be tied directly to this strain. That's it.
- Existing anti-virals like Tamiflu seem to work quite well on this one, which is a good thing because there appear to be large stockpiles left over from the last flu scare.
- This version actually has characteristics that make it a mix of bird/swine/human flu, so it's not all that new and scary once you get right down to it.
- Pigs can harbor things way worse than flu, such as Ebola, so we're better off than some. Flu makes you feel bad for a few days; Ebola kills you when your internal organs liquify.
- World pandemics have been declining in impact over the years, with nothing really major since 1969. Despite increasing air travel, we're getting better and better and controlling these things even when there are new outbreaks of completely new strains, which this isn't.
However you try and do the maths it's very hard to see how you might characterise this as a pandemic; it's hard yet to even call it an narrow-demic, but I suppose I could live with a more accurate term like "outbreak", if anyone were willing to use it.
But then, where would be the news mileage in that?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Bathroom Bandit
Sunday, April 19, 2009
33 And Counting
Bored, having an hour to run between ARN and LHR, and having read everything to hand that was readable, I decided to try and work out how many trips I’ve done overseas in the past few years. Handily, I had my passport in my pocket and saw that it’s almost exactly 5 years to the day since it was issued.
I found a total of 33 re-entry stamps to the US, and given that I’ve only been to Canada once in that time – and even then I’m not sure they stamped it - then they are all recording long-haul flights. Given that these trips are therefore either to Europe, the Far East and even Africa, I reckon that makes for a total anywhere between 350,000 and 450,000 miles.
Upon reflection, I’m not sure I needed to know that, and it likely means I have a personal carbon footprint matched only by that accumulated by the Chinese state power generating board over the same period of time, but somewhat less usefully.
And by the time you read this, it will have clocked up to 34, with every chance of being 36 by June.
Shouldn’t that merit some reward more impressive than a large balance of air miles in multiple accounts and an intimate knowledge of BA’s seasonal menu roster in economy class?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Otter, Baby Otter, Kelp
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Otter, Water
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Morning With The Gee Gees
Thursday, April 9, 2009
I Really Hope This Was Photoshopped
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Is There Anything Zombies Won't Improve?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sun Split On IBM Deal?
Fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal saying that the IBM acquisition of Sun has been pulled. Seems the board is divided over whether or not to accept with a faction led by Scott McNealy against vs. a group led by Schwartz for the deal. Price isn't supposed to be the biggest issue, despite IBM apparently lowering its bid following extensive due-diligence.
Regardless of how this plays out - and it's likely the saga hasn't yet reaches the end of the telling as yet - bet Sun's stock price gets clobbered tomorrow morning, especially as the WSJ also says there are no other suitors waiting in the wings ....