Open Source Software in Iraq
February 2, 2004The geek blog Slashdot has an interesting interview with a journalist in Iraq who is a member of the Iraq Linux User Group. As the country emerges from political (incl. internet) repression, the open question is whether it will then come under corporate oppression, namely beholden to Microsoft’s pricing.
Eco-Friendly Bio-Plastics
February 2, 2004Courtesy of Kirsty, a report of a plastic and clay composite which reduces hydro-carbon use. Also, use of feathers in plastic production has recently been reported. While we shouldn’t need further animal products to replace wood fibre use, clearly other fibre products could offer similar benefits, particularly hardy fibres such as hemp and flax.
Recent Film Recommendations
February 1, 2004The Revolution Will Not Be Televised gives a unique look at the degree to which corporate media not only backed the side of the coup attempt against Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, but actively participated in creating the illusion of propriety of the coup, to serve their corporate masters. The film is unique in that it…
Paranoid Shift and Conspiracy
February 1, 2004A review of the formation of the concept of military-industrial conspiracy, including a short update of Prescott Bush (The U.S. presidents grandfather) dealing with the Nazis during WWII. In precis, it illuminates the inertia in changing of public opinion, such that the majority of the first world population still holds to the belief that their…
Thanks for the Memories
January 30, 2004Thanks for the memories – a flash movie of Saddam’s involvement with the CIA. A good history of Iraq I recommend is Tariq Ali’s book Bush in Babylon. It gives a detailed review of the history of Iraqi populist struggles against imposed regimes, situating the current conflict and the insurgent movement as yet another chapter…
Vegan Boots
January 29, 2004Being vegan, when I finally retired a pair of 8 year old Doc Martens, I was on the lookout for an alternative to leather. Materials science has progressed to the point that we no longer need to use animals for our clothing needs. Neither do we need petrochemicals for plastics; Henry Ford built a plastic…
Plants that detect landmines
January 29, 2004Wired has an article on a fascinating approach to landmine detection. The plant is genetically modified to react to nitrogen dioxide emitted into the soil by immediate vicinity landmines, thereby indicating their location. Hopefully such an approach lives up to it’s promise. This would not seem to address unexploded cluster bombs, which unlike landmines, are…
Hunt for Bin Laden to restart
January 29, 2004The Chicago Sun Herald has a story on plans for the U.S. military, mainly special forces, to pursue Bin Laden into Pakistan. The main fear is the assassination of Musharef, with the two attempts blamed on Al Qaida. It wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that he’s been left alone for two years…
Outsourcing, Monopolisation, Stagnation
January 27, 2004U.S. technology pundits, analysts and political commentators have understandably lamented the outsourcing issue, that is, the rapid transfer of technology jobs to countries such as China and India. As Robert Cringley noted, the technology industry was the last U.S. industry left that had trade surpluses. If this industry does truly transfer it’s main centre of…