Yummy Wakame

Have you seen this billboard?

iAfrica.com: Dealing with workaholism

“Workaholism has a profoundly negative impact not only on the mental and physical health of managers, but also their professional and social relationships, according to new research.”

“The South African professional culture is most unique in that the present generation of managers has to deal with trade-union negotiations, affirmative action and black economic empowerment and fluctuating interest rates and rand dollar exchanges in addition to their daily managerial duties. In terms of this culture, people are required to work extremely hard. Today’s generation of managers has been bred in a competitive world in which the prescriptions of the professional and working environment, and not the discretion of the individual, dictate the norm.”

AlmereGrid, the world’s first city supercomputer

The Register UK: “The Dutch town of Almere will host the world’s first virtual city supercomputer or computer grid. And “Almeregrid” will rely primarily on home PCs connected to high speed fibre optic links.

A grid is a hyper network that links computers and data storage owned by different organisations so that they can share computing power. In some cases home Pcs are used to donate spare computing power. A classic example is SETI@home, which uses internet-connected computers in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. A screen saver analyses radio telescope data when the PC is idle.

The Almeregrid project targets about 2200 citizens in Almere that have access to fast (100 MB/s) fibre optic connections, so that theoretically more data can be shared.

Almere is situated in the southern part of the province of Flevoland. A little over 40 years ago this part of the Netherlands was still under water. The reclaimed land provided space for the construction of a brand new town with modern communications technology, including in some cases, domestic fibre optic connections.

Initially, the grid will be used for scientific research, in particular in the area of medical applications. Later corporations can also tap into what project co-ordinators believe is “a wealth of computer power”.”

Hermit crabs are notoriously fragile pets to keep. They can live for 30 years in captivity. They die from stress and unsuitable habitats very easily so its not uncommon to have your new pet die overnight from the stress of being in the petshop and the journey. They should not really be kept as pets at all and sadly many animal lovers end up rescuing them from cruel pet stores like stacy does.

Sign the petition: Say NO to Crabinacup sold at Walmart stores

“Crabinacup has started appearing in Walmarts across the USA. Land Hermit Crabs (as well as frogs, bettas) are sold in a cup in Walmart stores. Please sign our petition and show Walmart that we do NOT want crabinacup (or any animal in a cup) and that this type of animal cruelty will not be condoned. Land Hermit Crabs (and other animals) deserved to be treated with dignity and respect, not as a fast food type merchandise – a pet to go. Land Hermit Crabs deserve to be kept in a glass tank with a lid, an under tank heater to meet the temperature and humidity needs, enough space to walk and climb, places to hide and de-stress, and a fitting place to live until sold. Selling a crab in a cup with a layer of gravel and water is NOT appropriate and stores that sell land hermit crabs this way are guilty of animal cruelty.

Say NO to crabinacup and spread the word about this appaling marketing ploy.”

“microRevolt projects investigate the dawn of sweatshops in early industrial capitalism to inform the current crisis of global expansion and the feminization of labor.

microRevolt developed web application knitPro, a protest tool that generates knit patterns of sweatshop offenders. knitPro is a web application that translates digital images into knit, crochet, needlepoint and cross-stitch patterns. Just upload jpeg, gif or png images of whatever you wish — portraits, landscapes, logos… and it will generate the image pattern on a graph sizable for any fiber project.”

If you’ve forgotten, they give instructions on how to knit.

Knitting is cool!

BBC:
The US military is planning to deploy robots armed with machine-guns to wage war against insurgents in Iraq.

The Streeb-Greebling Diaries:
Simple tactics to defeat a telerobot invasion

La Petite Claudine treats Apple lovers to a trip down memory lane this week…

The Lost 1984 Mac Video

Never seen before video footage of the introduction of Macintosh in 1984, available for the first time on the Internet. Mac user Scott Knaster kept the Betamax video for 21 years and the German agency Textlab unearthed the only surviving videos covering the launch.

• Apple Computer History Weblog
• Apple History
• 1989 Apple Ads by Matt Groening
• 1984 historical Apple video directed by Ridley Scott

“We shall prevail!”

Bad news for animal lovers, Procter and Gamble will now have an excuse to unnecessarily test the side-effects of razorblades and ingested battery acid on small animals, just because they can. An estimated 50,000 animals die at the hands of Procter & Gamble every year.

Procter & Gamble are to aquire Gillette for $57bn

“This deal is going to create the greatest consumer products company in the world,” said Mr Buffet an American investment guru, who is also Gillette’s largest shareholder. “It’s a dream deal.”

Where did they get so much money in the first place? From us. We are the consumers who don’t take the time to check the branding at the back of the box. We can’t be bothered to try other products that haven’t been tested on animals.

Procter & Gamble doesn’t care because the consumer doesn’t care. Its as simple as that.

Although I sometimes feel I’m fighting this battle alone, I will continue to do my bit to boycott P&G. My money will not fund animal torture.

These are P&G products to look out for: Olay, Max Factor, Pringles, Bold, Flash, ACE (bleach), Febreze, Bounce, Downy (fabric softner), Hugo Boss, Daz, Fairy, Tide, Lacoste, Always, TAMPAX, Sunny Delight, Iams/Eukanuba, Head & Shoulders and soon to include Gilette, Venus, Duracell, Oral-B.

Over 500 companies produce like-for-like products which are safe for consumers, that are no longer or have never been tested on animals. (uncaged.co.uk)

You can pledge to boycott P&G products until they stop testing on animals

Please spread the word.

From the 18th of February, this beautiful creature will be allowed to live out its days in peace in the English countryside.

My thanks go out to all the people who campaigned tirelessly against all odds to ban the cruel sport.

I heard that Gmail is about to go live soon, and I have 3 invites left that will go to waste. Does anyone want need one?

“Sexiest Vegetarians Alive” photo shoot

Go on. Show us your white bits!

MasaManiA, Japan’s most independent photographic reporter and free-thinker who brought the world news of Tired Japanese Man last year brings us to the attention of another part of Japanese culture:

“THis is shrine. there are lots of shrines in Japan next to Starback coffe shop but shrine is very divine place more than starback and no charge. there are lots of reason to build shrine. but the common aim is to worship something. what do jap worship ? God. But you know, almost all Jap have no religion. shrine have no relation with religion. We just feel sacred to every things and belieave in the god in every things. we belieave god in computer, god in sun, god in coin, god in pencil, god in soap or anythings. and to worship such thing more formally, we build shrine. our carnival event is based on this each worshippings.

different with religion, this randam worshipping have no precepts. just worship.

Yes, we worship randamly anything !”

Click to see what this shrine is devoted to ;) Even though MasaManiA loves nothing (except for his middle finger), I love MasaManiA!!

Yoshi Misdaq is a Brighton-born writer and musician. He runs a creative website – Nefisa – for creative people, artists, writers, musicians, photographers, poets looking for online exposure and community.

“I set up this website as a way of primarily giving others like me a chance to shine in their own way, as well as just to display some of the amazing things I’ve seen. I also use it to pay tribute as often as I can to the people that help me evolve.”

There’s some good stuff in there. Why don’t you check it out…

PostSecret

“You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to the PostSecret
project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, feeling,
confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything – as long
as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before.”

Marta found it. Shhhh!

BBC’s Online Radio was offline for a few days while they updated their Radio Player. As an avid listener of Radio 4 (especially), 1Xtra, BBC 7 and the Asian Network I went through severe withdrawl. But it was so worth it. The sound quality is now crystal clear and the bandwidth is solid.

If you’ve never listened before, check out their Radio Player. Select a station that appeals to you and browse the archive of past shows, you’ll be lost in there for hours on end.

Channel 4: ANATOMY FOR BEGINNERS (microsite)
A dissection by Dr Gunther Von Hagens and Professor John A Lee

Some may recognise Dr Von Hagens as the brilliant and quirky man behind the revolutionary plastination (photos) technique and contraversial BODYWORLDS exhibitions.

ANATOMY FOR BEGINNERS is the first television airing of a real and spontaneous demonstration of human anatomy through the dissection of real corpses and demonstrations of the living body. This fascinating series began last night with “Movement”. You can read a bit of what you missed on the microsite. After seeing a real live (and dead) demonstration of how the muscles together work with our infinitely complex central nervous system, I can better appreciate and understand the challenges for robotics. Once you get past the initial squeamishness, youre guaranteed to learn so much about how the body works. I have a whole new appreciation and respect for this organic machine my spirit inhabits. Don’t miss tonights episode at 11pm.

Cait posted a really good article on how to detect a stroke early and prevent brain damage:

“Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

• Ask the individual to smile.
• Ask the person to raise both arms.
• Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

If the person has difficulty with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.”

Cellular Memory

“The concept is that every cell in our body holds memory. Events, emotions, even past lives are stored up in our cells. Even if you don’t buy into what Sylvia Browne has to say on the subject, the fact is that many transplant recipients develop new, very different personality traits post-transplant. Everything from a new musical talent to a drastic change in food preference. Ask anyone who works regularly with transplant patients…” ~ Gaiagal via Miko

Fascinating stuff!!

The Brits love nothing more than a wacky fancy dress party. Every office christmas party, every birthday party… any occassion really. I know its very uncool to admit this, but it runs shivvers of dread down my spine – having to dish out loads of dough to buy really tacky stuff I’ll never ever wear again (I hate waste), or having to hire a smelly outfit for £100 that makes you feel 100% hideous with complimentary wig nits. Then theres hours of torture to look forward to under crimpolene and polyester, sweaty armpits and the inevitable “So, who are you meant to be?” I Really Hate fancy dress.

However… I have been known to make exceptions. if someone had invited me to this disco party, I’d be only too happy to wear my outfit again, and again…

Check out these 24 Hour Party People!

(Both found on La Petite Claudine)

Programming Language Inventor or Serial Killer?
Wow I got 10/10! Usually Im useless at these quiz things.

(Thanks for the link Hamlet!)

Alphabeticalobsession and yummywakame shared the same frame of reference today:

“this is what happens when things are disordered:

maybe I should begin with the interview the psychiatrist. the room is small and I feel afraid. I can see him a long way off as if im looking the wrong way down a telescope.
‘would you like to tell me what happened?’
(don’t answer it’s a trick question)
‘quid? what is going on?’
I want to know the correct response, the words which will get me out of here but I don’t know the script. The telescope is getting longer, I can hardly see his face.
I say: ‘I want to know if you and I are in the same world, how I can connect with you. maybe I made you up, maybe you inhabit one world and I another, how can I know the truth?’”

Kenya: 84-year-old schoolboy (photo) faces expulsion for being “too disruptive”.

Parents say that Mr. Maruge – who was top of his class last year – has become a teacher’s pet and have questioned his grades.

“If I am expelled I will surely die,” said Mr Maruge who is planning to sue the British Government for alleged abuse during the 1950s Mau Mau rebellion.

I love sleep. Its utterly delicious to totally let go and completely relax for a couple of hours… and then the dreams come.

You may take it for granted, but this man hasn’t been able to sleep for 20 years!

Thai elephants toilet trained
“Some seven elephants at the privately run camp beside Chiang Mai Zoo are being trained to sit like a human on the giant white toilets, which can be flushed by pulling on a rope with a gentle tug of the trunk.”

Cute pic!