Too much packaging is bad for us

The Observer asked four families to collect their packaging for one month - and the participants were horrified at the amount they had collected - 103.97kg between them. It all started with a shrink wrapped coconut... the explanation from the supermarket in question as to WHY they felt it necessary to wrap a coconut - which has an adequate amount of natural protection anyway - was pathetic - "... coconuts are shrink-wrapped to ensure that they reach the customer in the very best condition. The packaging helps to keep the product fresh, limit damage from breakages, stop coconut hairs getting into other foodstuffs during transport and allows an information label to be attached." Oh, PLEASE!!! Consumers are not stupid, we know that coconuts have a hairy outer layer, and hey, it is possible to stick a barcode onto it as well. Or, the checkout operators can use their over-ride codes- it isn't difficult to recognise a coconut, and its not like they have to distinguish between a mandarin and a satsuma. But, the supermarkets aside, it is not just the waste packaging that is the problem, it is the the other, hidden costs such as extraction, processing and manufacture which have to be added onto the packaging - what is called the 'overburden'. I am not suggesting that we don't have packaging, but do we need so many layers of it? Do I really have to break my nails every time I want to get into a tin of beans, either on the shrink wrap holding the pack of four together, or on the 'easy open' ringpull? It is not that difficult to use a manual can opener, and at least the can is recyclable, unlike the shrink wrap. What is wrong with using packaging that CAN be recycled. Local authorities need to take it seriously - we could and should recycle more. Even though the local authority where I live is one of the best at recycling, we still can't recycle most of our plastics [only 1&2 at the moment], and it is the plastic that is the most eco-unfriendly packaging. My recycling boxes are full every week, but they could be fuller if we could put the yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and other plastics in them.

One family, one month, 50kg of packaging. Why?

Mystery solved - 2436 years later!

Pericles died from typhoid fever. Historians have argued about the nature of the plague that struck Athens in 430BC, killing at least one third of the population, plus it's leader, the afore mentioned Pericles. Descriptions of the plague generated many theories, but the discovery of a mass grave filled with ancient bodies has yielded DNA which, when compared with DNA from a variety of diseases, matched that of typhoid fever. It is good to get that one cleared up, and I am sure Pericles himself would be pleased that the cause of his death is now established.

Scientists solve puzzle of death of Pericles

Too cold for the polar bears

The polar bears at Berlin Zoo have forgotten what sort of weather they are supposed to cope with. Temperatures in Berlin have fallen to -17C, and the bears, according to zoo officials have refused to go swimming. Apparently, it is the coldest it has been since 1956 in the area surrounding Berlin, but it still is no excuse for the bears to forget that they have big furry white coats to cope with the much harsher conditions in their native Arctic habitat. Perhaps they should have a heated swimming pool...


Cold snap reaches Germany, with Bavaria at -33C

A good day

Thanks a lot Patrick - it was great, and you made it so. x

Whale watching in London

He must have taken a wrong turning, 'cos a northern bottlenose whale is not what one expects to see swimming past the commuters on a Friday morning in London! Perhaps he just wanted to see the sights of the capital for himself, having heard about them on the sonar grapevine. Whatever the reason, it is worrying as he should not be there, and the longer he stays in fresh water, the more distressed he will become, and less likely to swim back out to sea to rejoin his friends. Currently he has a sling under him, while vets examine him, so I just hope he survives to enjoy the freedom of the seas again.

The day London went whale watching

Update: Sadly, it was too much for him, and he died as he was being taken down-river on a barge. We owe a big thanks to all those people who tried to help him.
Update: Actually, he was a she - oops! She is going to the Natural History museum, and will be known as SW2006/40.

The dirty secret of graduate recruitment

Big article in the Guardian today about how employers fudge the issue on graduate recruitment. Instead of openly stating that they only want Oxbridge applicants, they now fudge the issue by targeting their marketing to specific institutions plus a Ucas points bar. OK, some Oxbridge applicant who only get a 2.2 or a 3rd fall through the net[shame!], but it certainly disbars a huge percentage of graduates. It is time that the dishonest recruitment practices that abound were outlawed. Just because you didn't go to Oxbridge, a Russell group, or redbrick university, it doesn't mean that you are a second class graduate. Surely diversity in the workplace is to be applauded, and everybody deserves the same chance. The artificial filter that is Ucas points should go, leaving all graduates to compete on their degree results, not on previous achievements. 'Good' graduates don't just come from the handful of elite universities, and it is time recruitment practices changed to ensure equal opportunities for all. As a careers adviser in a so called 'new university', I am pleased that the Guardian has had the courage to bring this secret practice into the open, as my students have been, and continue to be discriminated against in the graduate labour market solely on the fact that they are not from an 'elite' university.

Degrees of separation

All done!

Assignment 2 completed. How, I have no idea, but it is completed and will be chucked in the drop box tomorrow.
2 weeks respite before the new semester starts - I should enrol soon!!

Colour in a winter garden

My garden is really very boring, lots of manky grass and trees - horrible conifers, holly, blackthorn, lilac, rowan, cherry and assorted ones that I don't know. One of my favourite cherry trees died last year, and I need to plant a few more to fill the gap. I am attracted to ones that have some colour in the winter - it will help relieve the tedium of bare brown branches. I am also toying with replacing the hedge with a beech one - a mixed coloured one - to help with the view from my front windows. Ummm.

Video evidence

Not content with taking pictures of us speeding through a camera, or parking in the wrong place [thank you Bath district council for sharing that photo with me!], new police roadside cameras will be able to show WHO was driving in an attempt to get over the growing problem of motorists claiming they couldn't remember exactly who was driving when they tripped the speed camera!

Caught on film

Who runs Britain?

The Times has produced it's list of the top 100 business people in the UK. Top of the pile is a Dutchman - Maarten Van den Bergh - and most of the list are male, white and university educated. One in five is a foreign national, reflecting the global outlook of business today. Only nine women make the top 100 - long way to go!!

Most of the captains of capitalism in the Times Power 100 are British. But the top dog is Dutch

The end of the line for Michael Palin?

Michael Palin has brought the world into the living room for many people, with his globe trotting escapades over the past 17 years. But Transport 2000, an organisation that pushes for sustainable travel and less flying thinks he is a bad example, and he should step down as their president, having flown over a quarter of a million miles making his six travel series for the BBC. He told a recent environmental conference: “I shall continue to make travel programmes, secure in the knowledge that the food I’m seen eating, the sanitary arrangements I’m seen experiencing and the coughing attacks that strike me halfway up high mountains are doing more than any government could to persuade people to stay at home.” Transport 2000 meanwhile said " “Michael’s a lovely person but his flying means he is not an appropriate role model. He should consider his position because the president should set a good example.” Palin made a new year resolution last year to confine his travels to Europe. But within six weeks he flew to San Francisco. Perhaps he should step down, but he has inspired people to travel and seek out experiences off the beaten track, which can't be bad in this day of pre-packaged everything.

Globetrotter Palin brought down to earth by eco-lobby

Big Brother is listening to your choice of music

Apple is facing a barrage of complaints after it's latest upgrade to iTunes recommended similar music for you to purchase, utilising unique identifiers from your computer and iTunes account. So, if you don't want the recommendations, turn MiniStore off!!

Snooping fears plague new iTunes

Never underestimate your opponents

I consider football as exciting as watching paint dry - but I have to congratulate not one, but TWO local teams for holding league sides to a draw in the FA cup, forcing replays. Yesterday Tamworth drew with Stoke, and today Burton Albion held the giants of Manchester United, thereby gaining a lucrative replay at Old Trafford. I hope the replay is over before I start teaching my next course in burton on the 16th - as I don't think I can cope with excitement of it all!

Burton Albion 0-0 Man Utd

Living the wild life in New Zealand!

One of the top stories in the Dunedin local paper is a complaint about a noisy 'student' party. If residents think that is bad, they should visit Birmingham on any Friday or Saturday night, regardless of whether the 63,000+ students are there - then they would realise that they live in a very quiet, remote backwater of the globe. Imagine living in a city where, as a pedestrian, you can WALK across the motorway - and no, not via a pedestrian bridge either!

Lack of police action appals neighbours

Recyle your Xmas trees

Rather than just sticking your old Xmas tree in rubbish bin, or taking it down to the recyling depot, why not do the same as Erfurt Zoo have done, and feed it to the elephants! They are vegetarian, and trees would make a seasonal change to their diets!

Charles Kennedy resigns

Sad to see Charles Kennedy go, but when you loose the support of your parliamentary colleagues, it's hard to see how you can stay. So, another leadership election - wonder who it will be.

Kennedy resigns

One down, one to go

"Drawing together your experiences and relevant theory critically evaluate the perceived and potential impacts of government policy on the delivery of ethical guidance services". 2500 words.

2547 words written, and chucked into the electronic drop box, 5.5 hours ahead of the deadline!

Now have to write about how I planned, undertook and evaluated a programme of development activities within my own area of professional practice, and prepare a report of the findings for dissemination to a wider professional audience. Urgh. Needs to be done by 20th Jan - so better start.

At least I do have a few weeks - a good friend of mine returned to uni on Weds, with FOUR essays to write by Monday, and an exam to sit next week... he is going to be be a limp rag by the middle of next week!

Selection by the back door

I can't believe that the government really thinks that the new so called 'independent trust schools' won't lead to more selection. Parents don't really want that much more 'choice' in where to send their children, they just want good education for all, at their local school. In large cities, like London, choice may be there, but if you live in a rural area, its the local school or nothing. The government should leave education alone for a little while - schools cannot keep up with all the new initiatives coming along every 5 minutes - and let schools concentrate on teaching children to enjoy learning

Gender equality still a myth

Wow. Apparently, women are STILL making a choice to have babies, which impacts on their ability to gain promotion, especially in public life. How appalling that women are being SO selfish wanting babies and to get to the top!! I suggest that women decide that babies are not for them; it won't take long for the government to start paying us to have them, as until science takes over the reproduction process totally, it is women who actually have to give birth, and thats why we have to have career breaks - to produce these offspring that men want as well. Women should be rewarded for having children, not penalised in the workplace.

Talking about gender terms, we read about 'career women' - how patronising - when do we ever read about 'career men'?! It is assumed they will have a 'career', whereas us poor, delusional women who DO want to work, get paid an equal amount and in most cases, have babies as well, are termed 'career women', just because we have dared to escape from the kitchen sink...

Gender equality 'is decades away'

2006

Let's hope 2006 is happier than 2005.

Tomorrow is Twelfth Night - so officially the end of the festive season. It wasn't festive, I was ill for most of it, and it was the worst one I have ever had. The only good bit was seeing my son for a short while - it was hard taking him back down to London but he was working New Year's Eve AND New Year's Day, so he had no choice. But it won't be long until his 21st in Feb, and I will see him then, as he wants to be taken out for a meal. His birthday is on a Saturday, he works until 7pm, so have found a place to eat just round the corner - should be fun.

I am still writing my assignment that is due in tomorrow - looks like its a long night for me tonight! I did about 2000 words, and then scrapped it completely - so had to start again. Next semester, I promise I will be more organised... Not that I am the only one writing essays - I am sure that all over the world, students who have had a wonderful time over the xmas break are in panic mode about the assignment deadlines looming, and frantically scribbling.

Back to work on Monday - eek. Means I have to sort out 'proper' clothes as well this weekend to wear next week, and festoon the radiators with opaque tights of assorted colours/patterns [black ones are SO boring, and the ones I collect on my trips to Paris are very different!]