From Der Spiegel’s International Desk comes a report about how run-away melting of glaciers is transforming the alpine landscape of Switzerland with catchments of hundreds of new bodies of that come into being as marauding lakes—not something creeping at a glacial pace. It’s rather difficult to deny the sudden appearance of a quite large pond where there was not one before but the region is negotiating the change, beyond trying to just cope to the threats of flooding (having already bored emergency drains in a land noted for its geological infrastructure), whose lakes are proving very popular with vacationers and can be harnessed as sources of hydro-electric power. I imagine, however, that it is little comfort to see enduring and iconic inundated and feel helpless to do much about it.
Saturday 27 April 2013
Friday 26 April 2013
dye-pot or diy
Not only do the factories damage the ecology, it stands to reason that the output is not such a healthful thing to immerse ourselves in, coating the walls and every surface. Material science will need to revert but not in an atavistic way. With natural bases like beeswax or vegetable oils and dyes derived from plants, Fischer’s laboratories are conducting research and experimentation to bring non-petroleum paints and finishes more on par with the industry-standard. They are doing a brisk business as well, with a line of alternative, natural paints, available in larger hardware stores and boutique shops at comparable prices, which count as some of their strongest, closeted patrons employees of the chemical concerns who know what goes into their products.
catagories: ⚕️, ๐ฉ๐ช, ๐ฑ, ๐ก, environment
Thursday 25 April 2013
hunter-gatherer
Supermarkets are from a design perspective, which belies a lot of marketing and psychological cues and pandering that goes unseen, are a veritable vision quest of encouragement and reinforcement. Having some the tricks of the trade revealed and realizing that there is little departure from the established layout—although I am one to generally be overwhelmed and bewildered by an over-abundant selection—makes me think of those theories that ethnologists sometimes apply to mysterious ruins, suggesting that worn trails and monolithic configurations were ritual paths to entitlement and re-birth. That’s quite possible but we can’t access the intentions of the ancients, and it’s strange that we know grocers big and small have planned their sites not as a larder or granary but as sort of cake-walk, an anti-obstacle-course.
catagories: ๐ง , food and drink
Wednesday 24 April 2013
secessionist or moderne
Often when walking into to town, I pass by the stately shadows thrown by the Lutherkirche of Wiesbaden, but I had not seen the inside until the other day. Other times that I thought about visiting, there seemed to be a gaggle of people there or choir practice and I didn’t want to disturb.
I suppose that these were the mega-churches of the day, with nothing derogatory intended, but also provided parishioners with a unique entertainment experience. In addition to the tradition of the Bach choir I overheard practicing, there are two celebrated and dueling organs, one at the front and one at the back, to produce a wall of sound. I’ll have to snoop around the other three architectural ensembles of the programme’s commissions.
catagories: ๐ฉ๐ช, ๐ต๐ฑ, antiques, architecture, Hessen
Tuesday 23 April 2013
pyrrhic victory or the hundred years’ war
Though characterized and distilled mostly as the proprietary authority for businesses to demand applicants, supplicants and current employees surrender their social-network profile upon request, which while good for garnering glancing concern and attentions, is sadly short-lived and is not engaging public dialogue in CISPA is again positioned for passage in the US Congress, despite conflating opposition.
Just as there are champions for keeping us over-safe, we have our tireless advocates, but the issue and the real, long-term stakes remain something that is easily placated or dismissed.
eroding privacy. Victorious skirmishes, sometimes ceded over inflated (at least, in the here-and-now) fears, overshadow—by design, I think, the larger struggle, since these assaults are becoming perennial continuing-resolutions politically.
catagories: ๐ฅธ, ๐ง , America, networking and blogging
Monday 22 April 2013
solidarity or putting words into your mouth
soccer league presidents (not to mention the entire thrust of re-election), Germany’s chancellor is presenting a rather stilted and baiting
catagories: ๐ฉ๐ช, ๐ช๐บ, economic policy
Sunday 21 April 2013
taxi-dancing or stank
Maybe this is not such a novel idea elsewhere, but Germany hosted its first Pheromone Party over this weekend.