The UK Queen’s Speech outlining parliamentary intentions for 2008, indicated that the UK government wishes to legislate compulsory schooling or technical training for all till the age of 18. Even parents will be required to encourage their children to comply. While it is commendable to be supporting education, the approach is questionable. In contrast to …
Continue reading UK government to legislate compulsory education till 18, but where’s the money?
Category:7 Holonics and Life
Saudi visit to Vatican shows the way
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia visited the Pope on this European tour. This meeting helps to alleviate some of the religious tension in geopolitics and an example for enlightened Muslims and Christians to observe. Both leaders represent communities which legislate restrictions on personal behaviour, from celibacy to limitations on public expression, and may seem to …
Continue reading Saudi visit to Vatican shows the way
Food prices rising – eat less meat.
The natural constraints of land are beginning to be felt, as this slide show illustrates. Meat consumption is rising. Meat demands 5-10x more land per calorie. Arable land is shrinking. More people are eating more. The solution: eat less and eat less meat.
Business schools waste resources.
From Higher Aims to Hired Hands analyses the development of business schools over the past year and shows clearly that rather than develop minds and skills they (as BusinessWeek summarises) only serve two functions: a signal to employers that grads are committed and productive, and to provide a network of contacts. What they have lost …
Continue reading Business schools waste resources.
Another US execution paused
The US Supreme Court granted a stay of execution to Mississippi death-row inmate Earl Wesley Berry moments before he was due to die. His lawyers requested the execution be stopped until the court rules on whether death by lethal injection is unconstitutional. His temporary reprieve adds to a series of stays granted since a challenge …
Continue reading Another US execution paused
Buzz the fat off!
Strange results from research on physiological condition of test subjects to low intensity vibration suggest that mice placed on the vibrating platform convert fat to bone. It reminds me of those extraordinary “exercise belts” prominent in the 70s in which people would stand to have their tummy fat vibrated away! It sounded a bit lazy …
Continue reading Buzz the fat off!
Living with nature in California
The extensive wildfires in Southern California at the end of October have been devastating: half a million acres burnt, 7 dead, and 1,800 structures burnt. But they are not unexpected, have happened before and will happen again. The native Americans were more cautious about development in this area realising the fire hazard, and would even …
Continue reading Living with nature in California
You Tube for scientists
If you want to complement your video browsing with something a bit more scientific, check out SciVee. It has two main types of video: those accompanied by documentation for peer review and those without peer reviewed papers. For example, there’s a video of 6 science bloggers discussing their blogs or a lighthearted look at transgenic …
Continue reading You Tube for scientists
Eco baby shower, a la Sheryl Crowe
This article caught my eye because my children like to listen to Sheryl Crowe. The article links a handful of sites that offer advice and products to green your baby’s public debut. See Behind the Scenes at Sheryl Crow’s Green Baby Shower, Party Planner to the Stars Shares Tips and Tricks for Eco-Showers
Fear stops children’s development
Tim Gill, a child expert, shows in his new book a reluctance to let children take risks could stop them developing vital skills needed to protect themselves; youngsters are missing out on their childhood because we over-protect them. In No Fear: Growing Up in a Risk Averse Society, Gill argues that childhood is being undermined …
Continue reading Fear stops children’s development