Archived material from historical editions of The Generator
There’s more than one way to catch a fish as the saying goes. The polar bear is testament to that, throwing their approximate 300 kilos (about 600 pounds) against the ice until it breaks. Then they smash their massive paws through the ice to snatch their prey of fish or baby seals from the freezing Continue Reading →
Massive Grampians-Mt Lubra blaze under control Rain and milder weather eased Victoria’s bushfire emergency after 10 days of huge blazes, three deaths and multi-million-dollar stock and property losses. The blaze in the Grampians is now being recognised as the biggest since records have been kept in the park. Some politicians who toured the area at Continue Reading →
According to audio engineer and equipment designer Gary Cawsey when
good audio gear sounds lacklustre, the problem is most likely to be
dirty mains power, reports The Daily Telegraph (1 February 2006, p.9).
Preventive measures needed: “Street-wise enthusiasts always
factor in a degree of mains-induced ‘dirt’ when they use their audio
system, and take preventive measures with power fitters and dedicated
power feeds,” Cawsey says.
Many sources: Noise, Cawsey explains, is a form of distortion
carried by household mains power. The source can also be airborne
pollution. Everyday equipment including AM or FM radio transmissions
mobile phones, mobile phone towers and taxi two-way radios are all
sources of unwanted noise.
Electricity cables act as antennas: “If you think of household
power wiring and mains power cables as antennas, you can understand why
they can pick up radio programs and mobile phones – things that affect
AV gear profoundly,” says Cawsey. Noise from airborne sources and
household appliances can play havoc with audio-video systems, which are
meant to process only pristine audio and video signals.
The Land and Environment Court is the next step for opponents of a $185
million wind farm at Taralga in the southern highlands of NSW after it
won development approval, reported The Land (26/1/2006, p.20).
Opposed from the start: Local community group, the Taralga
Landscape Guardians (TLG), has fought a wind farm proposal for Taralga
since RES Southern Cross lodged the development application in 2004.
Visual and noise disturbance: It would seek legal advice before
lodging an appeal with the Land and Environment Court. Visual and noise
disturbance, impact on flora and fauna, as well as property devaluation
were the primary concerns. “We will keep fighting,” said TLG secretary
Martha Grahame. “The history, beauty and peace that attracted me here
seven years ago is disappearing before my eyes.”
Number of towers reduced: The development application from RES
Southern Cross originally sought 69 turbine towers, but this number was
reduced in response to concern about potential visual impacts.
Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a fallen soldier in Iraq who reinvigorated the
anti-war movement, was arrested and removed from the House gallery just
before George Bush’s State of the Union address, a police spokeswoman said.
Sheehan, who had been invited to attend the speech by Democratic Rep. Lynn
Woolsey, from Sheehan’s home state of California, was charged with
demonstrating in the Capitol building, a misdemeanor, said Capitol Police
Sgt. Kimberly Schneider. Sheehan was taken in handcuffs to police
headquarters a few blocks away and her case was processed as President Bush
spoke last night.
Schneider said Sheehan had worn a T-shirt with an anti-war slogan to the
speech and covered it until she took her seat. Police warned her that such
displays were not allowed, but she did not respond, the spokeswoman said.
Waves and tides could generate 20 per cent of electricity and replace nuclear fuel, report says
Juliette Jowit, environment editor
The Observer
Surrounded
by some of the world’s roughest seas, Britain could generate a fifth of
its electricity by harnessing the power of tides and waves.
The
potential of marine energy is revealed in a report by the government’s
energy advisers. Wave and tidal power could replace the electricity
that is currently produced by UK nuclear power stations, they state,
and could prevent the need for Britain to rely on increased Russian gas
imports.