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The average surface temperature of earth has increased more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900 and the rate of warming has been nearly three times the century-long average since 1970. Almost all experts studying the recent climate history of the earth agree now that human activities, mainly the release of heat-trapping gases from smokestacks, tailpipes, and burning forests, are probably the dominant force driving the trend. The gases add to the planet’s natural greenhouse effect, allowing sunlight in, but preventing some of the resulting heat from radiating back to space. Drawing on research on past climate shifts, observations of current conditions, and computer simulations, many climate experts say that without big curbs in greenhouse gas emissions, the 21st century could see temperatures rise 3 to 8 degrees, weather patterns sharply shift, ice sheets shrink and seas rise several feet.

THE NORTH POLE WAS HERE
PUZZLES AND PERILS AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD
By Andrew C. Revkin

New York Times reporter, Andrew Revkin leads readers through the mysterious history of arctic exploration. He follows oceanographers, peers into the mysteries of climate modeling and global warming, and ultimately shows how the fate of the pole will affect us all.

Ages 10 and up
A New York Times Book / KINGFISHER
128 pages, hardcover.
Publication: April 2006
ISBN : 0-7534-5993-0
Price : USD$15.95

For more information to purchase, click here  

This is the electric car that can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds to a top speed of 120 mph in one gear with no shifting thanks to its two electric motors – smaller versions of the same kind found in diesel-electric locomotives – that combine to produce over 1,000 lbf ft. of torque.

No wider than most motorcycles at 39", it can fit in a 6′ half-lane with more clearance than a semi-truck in a full 12′ freeway lane, enabling you to negotiate traffic congestion where lane splitting is permitted. Its small size eliminates the need for parallel parking as it can park perpendicular to a curb without the need for a full space.

The driver and passenger sit in tandem front and back seats that use four-point pilot seat belts with iner tia reels, similar to harnesses found in race cars, yet are easy to use. The cars chassis is made of stainless steel, and the chrome moly roll cage meets Sports Car Club of America racing standards for safety. The body panels are made of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass, and its side impact bars offer four times the protection found in typical SUVs.

The cars unique stability is derived from its low center of gravity, created by 1,100 lbs. of batteries under the floor, giving it a rollover threshold equivalent to a 5-star National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rating found in the lowest-slung sports cars. It has front and rear disc brakes and coil-over shock absorbers. The car generates no emissions and operates from a set of lead-acid batteries that can recharge using any service up to 50 amps, providing enough power for a range of 40-80 miles, up to four times the average commute in the U.S.8 1/2 L x 39 W x 60 H. (3,000 lbs.)

It is available in a variety of colors and cost USD $108,000.00.

Water and water carrier equipment have been stolen in southern NSW, as the worsening drought drives people to despair. Water carters have been flooded with work, with delivery backlogs of up to a week and new customers turned away, reported The Canberra Times (25/10/2006, p.4).

Tanks, dams not safe: Goulburn police had received half a dozen reports of 27,000-litre water tanks being siphoned off by thieves. Water theft had also been reported in Yass, Bungendore and Tarago. At a property in Bungendore, a farmer told police his dam level had dropped by 30cm and there were vehicle tyre marks nearby.

Carters’ equipment targeted: Sutton water carter James Bingley recently had his standpipe – a device used in water collection, stolen out of the back of his truck. A replacement cost him $1300. Mr Bingley said the drought was placing strain on the region’s water carrier and he was running four days behind.

Carters at fever pitch: One of the region’s biggest water suppliers, AAA All Areas Water Carrying, has three water carriers working from dawn to dusk and some through the night. One day last week, the company fielded 52 phone calls in the space of three and a half hours.

The Canberra Times, 25/10/2006, p.4

Source: Erisk Net  

Driving bottles across the border into South Australia for recycling is about to get more lucrative – if you can avoid getting caught, reports The Australian Financial Review (27/10/2006, p.3).

Deposit to rise to 20c: The state government is proposing to lift the 5c recycling deposit to as much as 20c a bottle.

$4000 fine for bringing from interstate: But it wants to impose a $4000 fine for recyclers who bring bottles from interstate to claim refunds.

Interstate importation causing concern: The manager of industry sustainability at the SA Environment Protection Authority, Tom Whitworth, said the practice of bringing empty containers into SA for refunds was causing concern for the 118 collection depots and manufacturers.

Large quantities being brought in: The SA government has admitted that "large quantities" of empty containers were being brought from other states to claim the 5c refund.

Hope that fines and declarations will stop the practice: They hope to thwart the practice through the fines and by giving recycling depots powers to seek declarations that containers brought in for refunds were bought in SA.

The Australian Financial Review, 27/10/2006, p.3

Source: Erisk Net  

Here is a typical list of ingredients from the back of an "organic" shampoo bottle. with an abbreviated explanation as to what is in them.

Water (Aqua), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Polyquaternium-39, Cocamine MEA, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Laureth-8, Succinoglycan, Glycol Distearate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Leaf Extract, Hydroxypropyl Guar, EDTA, Dimethlypabamidopropyl Lauryldimonium Tosylate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), DMDM Hydantoin. Not tested on animals.

Shampoo is basically detergent that strips out grease and dirt combined with a series of compounds that deposit a film onto the hair to add shine and body.

The detergents are the active component and raise the most health concerns. Detergent breaks up the bonds in water molecules so they dissolve the grease and dirt in your hair. Chemists describe such compounds as surfactants, because they reduce the surface tension of water. Add a drop of any detergent or shampoo to a drop of water and it will collapse. If mosquitoes try to land on water containing detergent they will fall through the surface of the water that they would normally walk on. Detergents have been used in the fight against malaria.

Detergents allow other chemicals to penetrate the skin more easily. Concerns have been expressed that because surfactants break down skin cells they can accelerate the ageing process. Some classes of surfactants – the nonylphenols – have been reported to interfere with the sexual development of wildlife.

The surfactants in this shampoo include Ammonium Lauryl sulfate, Laureth-8, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamine MEA

Cocoamphodiacetate is a surfactant derived from coconut oil with a very good toxilogical profile.

MEA (monoethylamine) is considered responsible for creating carcinogenic compounds that are absorbed through the skin. It is considered less dangerous than DEA (diethylamine) which has been banned in the US but is prevalent in Australia.

Other active chemicals that are not involved directly in the cleaning process include EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). It is used to soften the water by depositing mineral salts and locking them up in the shampoo foam. It also preserves the shampoo.

DMDM Hydantoin is a preservative that works by releasing formaldehyde into the shampoo to prevent mold, fungus and bacteria growing in it. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.

The second group of compounds are those left behind on the hair to replace the natural oils. These compounds are relatively inert, though their manufacture may cause industrial pollution.

Stearic Acid is made from blasting animal fat or saturated vegetable oils with water at high temperature and pressure and is used to give body to the shampoo. Propylene Glycol Stearate and Glycol Distearate are related compounds.

The addition of avacodo oil Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Leaf Extract into the mix does little to interfere with the underlying chemistry of the shampoo.

This shampoo contains Polyquaternium-39 which is cellulose derived from cotton, the silicone based Dimethicone as well as Succinoglycan and Hydroxypropyl Guar. Dimethlypabamidopropyl Lauryldimonium Tosylate is included to protect it from ultra violet radiation.

The third main group of compounds are used to add fragrance. This shampoo label simply labels that group as Fragrance. Over 4,000 chemicals are used to manufacture fragrances, 95 per cent of them derived from petroleum and 84 per cent which have never been tested for safety. Fragrances are considered trade secrets so do not have to be declared on product labels.

This is just one shampoo product. Conditioners contain a similarly strange mix of chemicals, and hair-colouring products that use synthetic dyes are probably even worse. For example, they may contain coal tar colours, listed on labels as FD&C and D&C, and made from bituminous coal. Or, they may contain phenylenediamine, another cancer causing agent. Some even contain lead. This is not only bad for you, but also the environment.

pareidolia (payr.eye.DOH.lee.uh) n. The erroneous or fanciful perception of a pattern or meaning in something that is actually ambiguous or random.
—pareidolic adj.

So, says WordSpy. http://www.wordspy.com/words/pareidolia.asp

“Not so fast”, says Jim Nutter of the NSW Northern Rivers.

There is no doubt that we perceive patterns, or significance, in ambiguous, random phenomena. In fact, the whole of human knowledge is built on patterns that we have perceived in random phenomena. It is not just a human characteristic either. When animals hunt, they deduce the presence of their next meal in the movement of grass, or rustling in leaves.

In fact, we train our perception to give significance to some patterns and not others. The notion that some patterns are meaningful and others erroneous, or fanciful is an arbitary construct that we place on our perception to make sense of it.

Starting with the Barrow Point rock carvings, which he discovered and reported to the Australian Museum in the sixties, Jim has photographed a wide range of ambiguos and random phenomena which are clearly identifiable as human faces. He observes that once we begin to notice these seemingly coincidental “faces in the clouds” that the world becomes charged with meaning and significance, rather as it must have seemed to stone age people.

He encourages you to submit your photographs of images of things that are not “really” there to compile a stock of photos of this phenomena.

The kangaroo in the fig tree was shot by Peter King and published in the Echo newspaper. The face in the rock is from Jim’s collection. You will have to email your photos to us for the moment, while we work out how to use our image file upload thingy.