Author: paul

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Up late last night, doing various things (hunting for a diskette so I could update the BIOS in a 20th c. ThinkPad so I could test some of my computer backup ideas, among other things), up two hours later @2:30 so I could give up my bed to a frightened nine year old, up at 7: 30 to be greeted by the sound of vomiting as the ten year old manifested signs of stomach flu.

So how’s your day going?

For all our progress and innovation, I’d love to be able to ring up a local purveyor of foods and dry goods and have them send round some things I need.

This arrived on a mailing list just now:

I’ve recently discovered a great Linux distro, which strives to package all quantitative open source applications: the Quantian, by the Debian pro and well-known quant Dirk Eddelbuettel:

http://dirk.eddelbuettel.com/quantian.html

At what point to Linux distros exceed the number of people on Earth?

Music writer Alex Ross:

Critic/author Jody Rosen drew my attention to a Zogby/Lear Center survey of political beliefs and entertainment preferences among 3939 American adults. Down at the bottom you find this surprising result: “Although moderates are less enamored with it, classical music barely nudged ahead of rock as the most popular music genre overall.” Almost 62% of respondents said they listen to it. In fact, the basic value of classical music seems to be one of the few things that people of all political stripes agree on. You wouldn’t know this from watching the major TV networks or reading magazines such as Time and Newsweek. The question, of course, is what people mean by “listening.” Do they go to concerts? Do they buy CDs? Put your money where your mouth is, America!

Previously: Dead or Alive, Twilight of the Gods, Classical Music as Pop Culture

[From Poll: Classical more popular than rock]

I suspect they mean stuff like their local NPR/university/public access radio station, but I wonder if this is a side-effect of the iPod generation. You can carry Barber’s Adagio around with you just as easily as your Led Zep catalog.

And yes, the iPod offers a less-than-stellar listening experience, but better a diluted hearing of whatever you’re hankering for than nothing at all. It’s certainly superior to ye olde Walkmanne . . . .

• Rail!
  (tags: rail transportation oil climatechange economics)

Not do much factually wrong — I don’t know that it is — but Wrong on another level entirely. I haven’t heard of windfall minks or other fur-bearing animals whose hides are used after they expire of natural causes in their native environments.

That statement is probably true..if you’re a mink. If you can get over the fact that amimals are being raised in cages and electrocuted or trapped, drowned or beaten to death, one might be able to apply all the environmental buzzwords like “natural, renewable, recyclable, biodegradable and energy efficient.” They have done their green homework and hit every buzzword. They even note that faux furs are mostly made from petrochemicals. [From Greenwash Watch: Fur is Green]

I think I have referred to this before. A lot of the products environmentally conscious people use in their active lives is made from non-environmentally sound sources: nylon tents, technical fibers, plastic kayaks, backpacks, water bottles, shoes, etc. are all made from plastics. Wool makes a lot more sense for clothing, as does wood for boats. Leather for shoes and containers has been used forever and will outlast a lot of other materials, especially as it can/must be maintained and cared for.

But how to finesse this while treating animals with an ethical spirit? While fur has excellent properties, I like it better on the animal that made it. Same with leather: what leather I do own I have had a long time and plan to wear out, rather than discard.

For one thing, the plastics, if they are used, should be used up and/or recycled when they’re no longer useful. One of my most used pieces of outerwear is a Polartec (polyester) pullover that I have had for about 14 years. It refuses to wear out, so I’ll keep it til it does. I don’t know if a woolen one would have done as well, given the abuse and lack of care I bestow on this.

By using things up or recycling them, we can keep them out of the waste stream or at least minimize what we do throw out and avoid going after more raw materials. And no matter what you choose, be it a high-tech polymer or a leather or wool product, be aware of what the costs are, beyond the sales tag.