Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Reflections of a Hat Parade

This is an idea for a fashion design for a hat to wear to a horse race of import, or some other event where women wearing hats are required. It is also surreptitiously a social statement and an art piece. It is useful as well.
If you got a typical box hat in silver (colour optional), you could put a light plastic vanity mirror on it. 1950's art nouveaux has been recommended. It could be propped up at the back by another, smaller mirror, maybe a large, light mobile face mirror. The angle of the two main mirrors could form a rakish point. Then, in the long triangle formed at the side, a small hand mirror. Then, in the bits around the mirrors, it can be topped off with costume jewellery and other knick knacks typically found on a woman's dressing table. Ring and necklace holders, old fashioned powder containers, empty perfume bottles are all ideal. As long as it is both aesthetic and light.
The hat could be useful throughout the day of the special event as a way for people to check and fix hair and make up. It makes a statement that is topical and stylish. It also makes a social statement, because if people are getting carried away by the event (emotional and/or drunk), they can see themselves when you look at them, or even when your back is turned!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Low Air Pollution Flight

Flying is great if that is your thing. Up in the sky with wings, defying gravity as freely as a bird, all the troubles of the world far beneath you, nothing but the breeze and little old you. Not quite, as it is the breeze that is question. Some of the troubles are still with you, and it is in the exhaust. With carbon air pollution becoming somewhat of a concern in the health and well being of the planet, and therefore all and sundry, there is a need to break the glass ceiling of greenhouse gases. Here is what is being done, and also another suggestion for a solution.
Currently, when you fly, you can donate money to compensate for the carbon air pollution produced. It is a choice of conscience, and not inbuilt or compulsory. It could be great if, when purchasing a ticket you are always asked if you wished to partake. Most people would if they remembered to with the reminder.
Carbon aeroplanes have been designed that are far lighter and therefore use less fuel. This is great thinking on quite a few levels and gets full marks. It is necessary for long distance travel, such as overseas.
Here is an idea. For shorter flights, such as domestic travel from city to city, or travel between countries that are very close, there could be a hire-a-glider system, almost like a taxi. The long distance planes could pull several gliders up behind it, releasing one at a time. This has several benefits. Firstly it is pollution free after lift off. Secondly it makes no noise at all, reducing noise pollution that is frequently complained about by nearby residents. And thirdly, for the airline, it is good for insurance purposes as if there is an accident, there are less casualties. Also, it is so much closer to the feeling of flying like a bird, and I am sure that they would get repeat business just on that level. I am not sure how easy it is to fly a glider, but the logistics could be worked out by the professionals. Maybe some flights could be manned, and some for people who have their own glider licence, like a motorbike or car licence. Frequent fliers could get those, and fly at a cheaper rate. Also, there may be other solutions to launching them, such as a high place or catapult mechanism. Anyway, it is a flight for the mind.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Renewable Energy for the Poor Nations

If poor villages in impoverished countries want green electricity in their community I have a few suggestions to get it happening. Renewable energy systems are perfect for their situations if they live in isolated small villages as individual mini systems can be put in separately. If enough happen, they can be put on a grid. Wind power, solar power and methane generators are perfect.

One way is to get a charity, or to create a charity, where people or organisations can "Give Power to the Poor", so that the village clinic, school and/or community centre can have a power supply. Of course it would be tax deductible and with advertising rights.

Another way is to create a cottage industry for the locals, like with micro-economic loans, where a workshop with the power supply supplying power. That way, by making their product they can buy the stuff back for their own benefit. As this is actively more empowering then a charitable handout system, it may get more co-operation from proud people. However, consulting the people about which power supply and which industry is probably wise, as trying to impose it on them is just rude. When looking at products to produce, local resources are a key factor. If there is lots of sand and not much water, glass products could be better then nurseries. If there is lots of water but not much metal, nurseries or pickled fish may be the way.

Another way is to do a swap. If they work for a certain time for the U.N. or a charity, they, as a community can earn themselves a wind turbine, or solar panels, or a methane generator. That way, again, it isn't just a handout, and helps the people feel like they got it themselves, which is resentment free for all involved and dignified.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

What To Do If Woodchipping Leaves Town

If you are living somewhere where the main form of income for the town is woodchipping and pulp, it can be devastating to the community if the company closes. Here is an idea for a back up plan for those effected by the changes in supply and demand, fashion and business viability.
Hand crafted furniture, household goods, art and craft are always popular. Good quality items make the same primary product - wood - vastly more valuable at the point of purchase. Handcrafted work by respected craftspeople increase with value as it antiquifies (gets old). Learning skills in wood turning, carpentry, cabinet making, wood carving, etc. to make artifacts that are both practical (useful) and aesthetic (looks good) are a way to stay in the wood game (I'm presuming you live where wood is), raise the value of your product, and use less of your resources more effectively. You could diversify from small, relatively cheap objects like cheese boards or picture frames, to big stuff like wardrobes or bars. It also uses less energy and is far more satisfying as a worker then feeding the wilderness (and your lives) into a machine.
If paper pulping was the industry, recycling paper is very fashionable and moves with the current methodology and attitudes. Recycling office paper and newspapers to make new office paper is both economical for the producer and savvy for the environment. Creating other recycled paper products like toilet paper has a very loyal customer base. Also, hand-made paper recycling for cottage industries is a loved product by people who love all things crafty and rustic. Cards, art supplies, and unique writing paper and envelopes are products that people will pay far more for then mass produced "Hallmark" styled items. And they are more enjoyable to produce for the worker, as it is more creative and has very little guilt involved, feeling more like being part of something to be proud of telling your youth about.

Sex Drive and Evolution

Animals from temperate regions reserve sexual activities to the late winter/early spring period every year, so that there is plenty of food and energy for the gestating female and the young offspring, as well as there being plenty of food (numbers and other species) for the hunters of the ecology. They also tend to migrate a fair bit, for food and water supplies. Animals from tropical regions have an all year round supply of food, so tend, like the plants, to breed all year round. They do not need to migrate so much as they have all they need.
From this we can deduce that humans must have evolved primarily in tropical regions, as they tend to breed, or copulate, any time of the year. However, it is common to see a lot of people coupling up in spring, and less so in winter (more often break ups), so temperate influences must have effected our evolution, but it is definitely secondary in it's influence.
Also, being monogamous seems to be the vast majorities presumption, although most do not remain in the same monogamous relationship for life. Pairing permanently seems fairly rare when choice is involved. Serial monogamy, with one or two being very long term, is the most common "how it turns out". Polygamy seems rare, and temporary, whether the person(s) are male or female. Usually if more then two are involved in a romantic relationship, there is tensions involved with the truth being denied. However, some rare folk manage different systems by pragmatic and mature methods, using honesty and sensibility.
Status, like most animals, seems to effect behaviour in the mating habits of people.
Also, in the animal world, sexual activity, promiscuity and time spent rutting, determines the shape and size of their groins. If they mate for life, such as birds, they tend to have small penises and don't spend much time in the act. They don't need to, because procreation is mostly guaranteed once they have a mate. They spend more energy looking pretty, clever, good at nesting and/or tough to win the female in the beginning.
However, if the female is promiscuous, having either many partners in one impregnation, such as insects, or changes partners seasonally, the males get bigger penises, spend more time in the act, and get fancy adaptions (like spores or knobs or the ability to leave his severed penis in the vagina) in the groin. This is because he is not guaranteed to be the father, so he has to outdo his rivals. You can interpret that as you wish when you consider human sexuality, female and male behaviour, and the size of the male penis and their staying power. Amusing, isn't it?

NASA Technology

So far, we have achieved a lot in the space technology department. We have gone from weather balloons in the early days, to moon landings, space stations and satellite technology, that is used every day by a vast amount of people. The key substances used for these frontier pushing explorations is something we have had for millenia: metals and metal alloys. Since the iron age we have used these things. However, there is a question I have here: Why, when we are going into the domain of lifting things off the ground and moving them about like asteroids, are we using some of the heaviest and densest substances we know? Strength is one reason, but hard things are brittle, which isn't necessarily the best type of strength available. I suggest using other types of substances. That stuff called "frozen smoke" is an area that could be experimented with. Organic shapes and flow could be looked at. Ocean animal shapes, especially the fast moving, could be looked at. Air compression devices could be created by observing the breathing systems of deep diving animals.
There has also been research into telekinetics (using quantum wave/not wave) which has only been partly successful. I think research into ancient "beliefs" about energy transference could bare fruit here. Energetic "counter weighting" could be a concept of use, like dark matter. I think a "new" understanding of energy and dimension could be the next stage. Looking at ideas from very old times such as early peoples and civilisations who achieved near impossible feats with current quantum ideas could bring us back into a Renaissance of times gone deep into the past. Anyway, there is food for thought.

Irish Glass Blowers

Because of the relatively recent G.F.C. (global financial crisis), glass blowers in Ireland have lost the glass blowing company that had fuelled their community. As the glass blowers are already skilled, I have an idea (God help us all!).
If the glass blowers of Ireland set up cottage industries blowing "hand-made" drinking glasses, mugs and jugs for Guinness beer and loudly put "Made in Ireland" or "Made in Eire" on it, it would sell really well. There are people of Irish heritage that are living all over the world who want anything that reminds them of their roots. Particularly in America and Australia or other previous colonies of the U.K. There are also a lot of people who drink beer. There are also a lot of Irish pubs all over the world. Hand-made products also have a "specialness" about them, like something from the "old days". There are a lot of already made business paths to sell the products via, such as bottle shops, Irish pubs and the usual housewares specialists. You could make them a "must have" for Irish pubs with a campaign along the lines of "It isn't real Guinness if it isn't in an Irish mug".

Koala Waste as a Pest Reduction Technique

Koalas are an Australian animal that eats only certain types of eucalyptus tree leaves. They are marsupials that spend a lot of time intoxicated by their specialised diets. Because they only eat certain types of eucalyptus, they have specialised digestive processes that use certain types of bacteria to help break down the usually toxic oils in the leaves. Because the tree that is being grazed on simply reacts as though a predator (usually an insect) is eating it, it sends extra chemicals (insecticidal) to the region being grazed on to put off the eater. This increases the chemical insect repellent quality of the food being digested. It is full of antibacterial qualities.
If you used koala waste products (urea and manure) on gardens, it could reduce the number of insect pests that attack the plant growth around there. It could also reduce the number of other wild animals wishing to reside there (such as possums), as manure is a signal that something else is already living there (territory marking). Also, it breaks down as a compost product, feeding the soil.
Another idea could be to dilute the manure/urine in water and spray crops as both a fertiliser and a pesticide. Food for thought anyway!

Fibonacci Sequence in Technology

In microchipping, small is good. There has been all kinds of chemistry and physics used to make electronics smaller and smaller. I think microbiology can help.
Extremophilic bacteria are used already to help release gold in mines. As gold is the best electrical conductor it is perfect for microchips, as a little is all that is needed. If you used the microbes in actually putting the gold into the right spots, using Fibonacci Sequences, you could save a lot of delicate mechanical "handiwork".
Experiments have been done with using bacteria on disks for random changes in design ideas and music. This is very avante garde and chaos theory, but I think it could be taken to new levels. Some Fibonacci Sequences predict the organic activity of plant life. If you applied this to laying down organic paths for bacteria, myocelia or yeasts etc. to grow so that it can be used as part of the technology. The bacteria grows and dies, leaving their physical mass behind to used as a path. In some systems the bacteria can be living. Of course, metal changing/consuming extremophilic bacteria are an obvious candidate, but other types of organisms could be explored. As well as chemicals.

How to Seduce Your Woman

Here is a simple idea for seducing your female love interest. If you give her a romance novel, which you have read and understood, and is as close to your own scenario with said love interest, set up the same sexual tensions or settings as the book. When she is three quarters through the book and totally absorbed by it, make your move. She is probably hot and bothered with defences down. She will have a one track mind at that stage.
If you wish to seduce a male, give them an appropriate (straight or gay) magazine and leave them alone for a 10 or so minutes. At the point where they want a private moment to masturbate with the visual stimuli, make your move.
It isn't that hard to do, humanity doesn't need many excuses to have sex most of the time. Giving them stimulation in books and magazines saves a lot of time, effort and money.
We all know that people's frontal lobes usually shut off when they are sexually aroused, so they become temporarily stupefied. So if you do it, make sure you prevent disastrous forms of stupidity.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Recycling Bicycles

This is an idea for one of those programs where they set up small industry in poorer regions to help break the poverty cycle in either government initiatives or charitable organisations.
If you set up a small tin smelt (like a blacksmiths) with all the moulds for a bicycle, you could get the local youth to gather up tin cans or aluminium cans in exchange for a bicycle, made from the gathered tin. They could gather enough for there own bike, as well as enough for another bike, so the recycling business can sell that one for profit. The person can do that as much as (s)he wants, giving or selling the ones they make spare. There could also where they get a certain amount of cash for their cans if they don't want a bike, have a bike and want to keep gathering. Also, buying back their second bike etc. could be a way to do it. That way the furnace can afford fuel for the smelting, and also maintaining the equipment. They could also make other things as well, of course. Such as helmets. Or jewellery.
Of course, you could also teach smelting and blacksmithing for the extra keen. It would probably break even, but its the brownie points of feel goods that are the profits here.

One liners

If there's dragonflies around there must be dragons nearby.

A beach is the Creator's blank page between the ocean and the land.

The macro reflects the micro, the inner the outer, and visa versa.

If you prevent women from fulfilling their own ambitions, they are forced to fulfill them through their men.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Waking Up Sleepy

If you live with someone who takes their time waking up, needing frequent prods and reminders, such as a child, parent, or teenager, it can be time consuming with nagging and resentment a bad way to start the day. This is an easy solution that is quite funny. It isn't pleasant for the reciprocant, but it works.
The night before, or, if you forget, in the morning for half an hour or so, freeze some marbles. Then, after you have woken them up and they have snuggled down again, pour the frozen marbles into their bed. Wherever they roll, ice cold marbles will follow, making going back to sleep impossible. Hilarious!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Support Groups for Foster Children

In the modern post industrialised world, their are many children who are not living with both their parents. They may be in foster families (which have not got the best record), living with one parent, either through divorce or lack of marriage/co-habitation or prison or death, or living partly with one parent and then the other parent. They may live with other family members. All of these compromised situations leave the child vulnerable to the unethical or damaged. Their carers maybe depressed, or resentful of their position and what the child represents to them in that situation. To pretend a sense of duty is enough to provide for the child is dangerous. If people were as nurturing as is needed, half of the laws of the world would not be necessary.
What this suggestion is about is a support group at every school for these students, similar to the support group for immigrant children I previously suggested. The same long term productivity and economic savings are the incentives for governments putting the relatively low cost program in place.
Setting up a support group for these children of unfortunate circumstances, including foster children, single parent families, children living with other relatives, divorced parents children, and anyone who looks angry or downtrodden would give them the chance to feel as though the "authorities" care and so do their peers, which may reduce "antisocial" behaviours, and feel if they participate in healthier activities they benefit. This will save the community a fortune in rehab, prisons, policing, and general mayhem and tragedy. Also, combining children whose lack of a full parenting background and the various solutions may put their own situation in perspective.
The school counsellor could run it like a youth group (a lot of church groups don't quite know what to do with "strays" of unusual background). It could have aspects like a self help group. Activities like trust games, anger management, discussion time, body language reading, self esteem raising tasks, life skills such as basic cooking, form filling, art creation and appreciation, etc could make it fun as well as useful. A regular talk on their rights, and what an adult can and cannot do to them is, of course, essential. There could be guest speakers as well as fun outings. The speech and drama teacher could run the body language talk, the sports teacher could take a self esteem raising game, a community member who had a tough time as a child could give a talk on how they overcame the odds and created their own destiny. Trips to the beach or park, as well as "cool" stuff in the local area, such as the movies or arcade or art gallery could give it an air every now and then, and act as an economical reward for tasks completed.
Also, during the discussion group on their problems and possible solutions, it must be made clear to the children that there are counsellors, male and female, available, as well as legal backing if needed. If they are being beaten, psychologically abused, or sexually interfered with, they may need to feel like they can trust the people available to help them. Their trust has been messed with, and a general group is a way for them to know their rights, build confidence and trust enough to ask for individual attention. This with help the general community economically and emotionally in the long term, in productivity and healthiness.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5 is a water soluble vitamin that is also known as pantothenic acid or pantothenate. It creates lipids (fats), steroid hormones (including cortisone), hemoglobin (blood), and neurotransmitters. It helps with health skin, nerves and muscles. There is twice as much vitamin B5 in human muscle then other meats. It reduces allergies and supports the adrenal glands. It is used in the metabolism of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates.
A deficiency has the symptoms of apathy, fatigue, nausea, headaches, depression, tingling in hands, cardiac instability and personality changes. Other symptoms are fertility problems, acne, decreased serum potassium, lowered blood cholesterol, and insulin sensitivity. Other symptoms possibly are frequent infections, abdominal pains, sleep disturbances, neurological disturbances such as paresthesia like "burning feet", numbness, muscle weakness, and cramps.
Although there is no toxicity, an excess can lead to a sensitivity in the teeth, diarrhea, digestive abnormalities and water retention. It is lost in cooking, particularly roasting and milling (often found in the hulls of grains), exposure to acids (like vinegar) and alkaline (such as bi carb). It is destroyed by the canning process (high heating).
It is found in a lot of foods (in Greek it's scientific name means "from everywhere"). Eggs, fresh vegetables, broccoli, alfalfa, avocados, legumes, mushrooms, nuts, molasses, whole rye flour, whole wheat, whole grain cereal, royal jelly, torula yeast, brewer's yeast, salt water fish, cold water fish ovaries, pork, kidneys, and beef all contain it in good amounts.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Asylum Seekers of the World Solution

As the global population expands and shifts demographically, there is an increasing number of skirmishes over resources, political upheaval, man made and natural disasters that make populations need to relocate. Regularly (mostly stable) countries all around the world have displaced members of our global community knocking on the door in various states of desperation asking for assistance in the form of residency. Every country's leaders are aware that this is becoming a more and more regular occurrence, with every likelihood of increasing with time. Some more hardline approaches is a zero tolerance policy on these unfortunates, treating the asylum seekers like criminals in the hope they will stop attempting to enter their domain. Besides being very unhumanitarian and an active neglect of their human rights, it only works in the short term as "desperate is what desperate does", and often the door will be knocked harder in the future, as in a battering ram. More humanitarian approaches is to be softer on the refugees, which is great for the human touch and feels good, but also leads to every stray in the global neighbourhood seeing it as the opportunity to get somewhere easily. Here is a solution that is good for all involved.
If the asylum seekers are recruited for 2 or 3 years in the service of the United Nations, that can be their opportunity to show their genuine helpfulness and skill to the global community. A metaphor could be that every time a tooth is knocked out in a fight, that tooth goes to serve the U.N., giving it more teeth. It is a lot better then sitting in a refugee camp, with nothing to do but feel hard done by, instead utilising their time and skills, or increasing their skills.

There could be various areas to work in such as:
1. Human rights advocacy
2. Humanitarian aide
3. Child protection
4. Education
5. Peace corps
6. Environmental disaster relief
7. Environmental work
8. Staff member aides
9. Counselling
10. Interpretation

While they do voluntary, possibly payed, work for the U.N., it gives the U.N. staff time and opportunity to get to know the asylum seekers, their personalities, skills and inclinations which puts them in a better position to knowledgeably place them in appropriate areas of the global community. It will also show their problem solving capabilities, cosmopolitan communication skills, integration likelihood, adaptability, and willingness to participate in team work with others who are different to themselves.
For the U.N. it turns what would be an administrative headache into a workforce, and the more number of refugees there are (let's say there are severe floods and several small wars in a glut), the more workers they will have to help resolve the situation. Also, if any of the refugees really shine, they get first pick!
Of course, some education and skills teaching would be needed, but a lot of refugees already have a lot of skills (bi-lingual, carpentry, legal knowledge etc) which are just waiting to be resourced. Also, if you teach a skill to one refugee, such as how to write a legal letter, they can teach the next, and so on. Also, as many are likely to spend time in a cosmopolitan metropolis, it helps to increase awareness, tolerance and understanding of other types of people. And after a preliminary 2 or 3 years, they can be allocated to a part of the global community that needs their skills and they are best suited to, reducing the likelihood of a repeat of the previous turmoil. Everyone involved, the U.N., the refugee, the adoptive country, even at times the old country, will come away feeling like they have been beneficial and benefited and feeling good.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Dolphin Healing

This is an idea for a diagnostic tool. Dolphins have sonar that lets them see the flesh, organs and bones of each other and other animals. They are very intelligent animals with a natural inclination to helpfulness and co-operation. Both the military and the entertainment industry have tapped into their innate nature much to both industry's benefit. Dogs are used for medical reasons, the classic being guide dogs, but also for cancer detection or blood glucose alarms for diabetics.
If you trained a dolphin (or more) for diagnostic purposes it could help with mystery conditions. You could put the patient in the water with the dolphin and let the animals swim around them scanning the patient. They could tap the patient gently where the problem is "seen". If it is not a localised problem, there could be coloured boards to tap that indicate different aspects, such as "blood", "hot/cold", etc. It would be a cheaper and less dangerous system then x-rays, blood tests, or cat scans. Alternative therapies would be interested, and some medical doctors who are open minded yet have a patient with a chronic complaint that has no easily found answer could very well benefit.

Wishing Well

I wish I had a tail
To help me scale this wall
I wish I had some wings
To catch me if I fall

Oh wishing well Who can tell?
Do a wishing spell and go wishing well

I wish I was God's daughter
So I might walk on water
I wish I had some scales
So I might sing with whales

I wish I wasn't blind
So I could read your mind
I wish I had good night sight
So I could see the light

1994 (appox.)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Renewable Energy

The world has it's ups and downs, and at this time, there is change, change a long time coming, in the air. We are realising that, without the help of volcanoes, we have had the insidious greenhouse gases equivalent to many volcanoes, of thousands of chimney stacks and millions of exhaust pipes slowly poisoning the air. With the joyless toil (and bad backs and deaths) of the lower socio-ecomonic classes, we have been eating up the coal and oil, created by the lives and deaths of mostly microscopic creatures in ages past, and spewing forth the carbon and other elements, they stored there for millennia loose into the atmosphere. The filthy air has been making children sick, acidifying our oceans, which is easy to ignore for some, but it is slowly blanketing our thin atmosphere in gases that have ultimately a greenhouse effect (letting the heat in, but not out). Soot from Asia (we ALL have this dirt on our hands) is covering the Arctic, exacerbating the melting of the ice there. These are effects that are at first invisible to the eye, especially if you live in an urban environment, which most do. The child down the road has asthma, the summer is unusually hot, the spring rains came late, the evenings cloud formations change their path and shape, the farmers complain about the floods, or drought. Politicians bicker about water supply. And then fire or water consumes your neighbourhood.

We all know that change is coming, but what kind of change? It could be a disaster of blithering, as the pressure cooker slowly spoils the food, or we could plan for the long term, longer then a term in a political office, because we are all sharing the future, or our children will be, or we could re-incarnate in the mess we made this time round, if that is your view. If not, God loves what They created, and helps those who help themselves, and I won't want to explain why everything They made is dead or dying. Something about birds of the field and lillies of the valley. Anyway, who wants to live in sooty air, dirty oceans and rivers, with a bunch of sick farm animals and cold concrete and pipes for comfort? Plastic fantastic (credit cards) can't help you there, and is the cause of the current financial problems of the world. Band-aid solutions are wearing thin.

Or the change could be great, in a better way. If the population is willing, and the vast majority really are, we could mosh in together and save ourselves from, well, ourselves. Carbon trading is a buzz word when it comes to greenhouse gases, and although there are other fairly dire pollution problems, it is a great way to bring back life to our party exhausted planet (the "it" crowd of previous periods has had it's fun). There are risks in this change, but the Chinese define risk as "a dangerous opportunity". In the huge changes, healthy ones, that this entails, upheavals will happen. Upheavals will happen anyway, they already are, but they have been coming in distressing forms. In establishing new healthier ways to do our business, jobs will be lost, but many more will be created. Jobs you can love and be proud of for the right reasons. Also, with all that is coming, it will be all hands on deck. Many countries will be hard up for manpower! If you doubt this, or are looking for work (since the debt based global financial crisis), plug "Renewable Energy Jobs" into the Internet. Plenty of work there, and it is only the beginning! Anyway, enough preaching, let's look at one of the areas of solution, Renewable Energy. Coal is out (unless they can eventually get a satisfactory pollution-free method working), and nuclear is a dangerous joke. There is plenty of energy everywhere in the world (and cosmos), in a raw and active form, not just as a potential (as in matter). The ocean roars with it, the sun powers life into it, the air and water shapes entire continents with it, cosmic rays (gamma for instance) penetrate right through planets, dark matter changes the paths of galaxies. There is so much power, even in thought. It is very easy to tap into without trying too hard, or changing anything much. You just have to go with what it is doing, and could not stop doing, anyway. I have rated them out of five for potential I my humble (ha!) opinion.

Wind Power is already being established in many countries, proving to be an efficient provider of power. I personally think it should be put on everything mechanical that moves at high sped for increased efficiency, as well as being land bound. I think they look very futuristic and inspiring, like beacons of hope. It is greatly favoured, because it is very clean, and is easy to meter. I wonder if there is a way to get the blades to turn into the wind from whatever direction it blows, turning itself naturally, like pressure that lifts an aeroplane wing. A suggestion for research. *****

Water Power is presented in several forms, old and new. Firstly, ocean technology let's explore ocean technology.

Wave Power is one path being experimented with, which is currently using floating devices being pushed and pulled to and from the other by the waves. I think it has a way to go, and maybe thinking inside the box may help, or simply turning it inside out! *** (extra star for originality)

Osmotic Power, which uses the flow of salt from a high salt solutions (ocean) to low salt solutions (river mouths) in an estuary type situation as a method of creating power. I think desalination plants may be more interested in developing this technology. There is another "out there" (love them!) field of research called vortex power which I didn't understand. ***

Tidal Power is being researched that uses the ebb and flow of tides, channelled, for generating power in the usual hydroelectric way. Maybe they can use technology from the wave power research. ****

Ocean Thermal Power uses the flow of warm water flowing into cold water and visa versa to harness power. I think it would have be fairly mobile and be capable of catering to seasonal and el Nino etc cyclic change, but I may have not understood clearly enough. ****

Marine Current Power is where the currents of the ocean are harnessed for power. This would work well around the Cape of Good Hope of South Africa, the Bass Straight of Australia or any other channelled consistent areas of current. ****

Then there is the more traditional river hydroelectric power.

Damless Hydroelectric power consists of simply harnessing the power of fast flowing rivers, like a water mill used to. A great method, that works with what nature is doing anyway, without interfering too much. *****

Micro Hydroelectrics are used in small amounts all over the world already. All together they produce quite a bit of power. *****

Large Dam Hydroelectric Power is an old traditional that needs little explanation. However, regular flushing and byways for spawning fish to travel is a lesson we have learnt and need to accommodate. Fish such as salmon that go from ocean to river take nutrients back into the land by being eaten or otherwise dying, returning the minerals and proteins back to the land. Damless systems are preferable, because it goes with the flow better. **

Splitting Water Molecules for burning is where they are researching splitting the hydrogen element from the oxygen (in H2O, splitting the H2 from the O), both which are combustible (you can burn hydrogen and oxygen). Then, when you have burnt them for energy, they can be recombined as water. It is a tricky thing to want to do, as well as ironic (burning water), and it would have to be clean. Apparently there are already vehicles that run on water, of methods unknown to me (one case is rumoured to be in California), but the inventors have been quieted for now because of the difficulty in metering the fuel for profit. Or so the gist goes. ***

Solar Power is being used and experimented with in various forms as well. I might add that you could use combinations of things, not necessarily "solar" separately from "water" or "air". These factors all effect each other in nature, so combining their effects in energy tapping is an area that could be explored more. Using them together but separately is fine as well (let's say wind and solar farms), but there is greater scope (what about solar winds?!)!

Solar Cells are well known and being established in a lot of different forms. They are in deserts, on roofs, and even on vehicles. A new battery has been designed that charges very fast, so storage of energy could be a problem solved. ****

Concentrating Solar Power, like a magnifying glass or satellite disk is being used to. That way the energy is condensed and amplified. Maybe it can be used in conjunction with other methods. ***

Solar Updraft Towers uses the flow of heat from the sun and the way it rises (like when you see heat rising off the ground on a hot day) to create energy.*****

Hydrogen Generation uses solar panels and rust (very cheap, stable and accessible) to split water molecules to utilise to hydrogen. Other methods like electrolysis are more difficult and expensive. Other methods split it out of gas, which create greenhouse gases. If it has safe bi-products this will be great. ***

Solar Thermal Panels heat panels and then send the heat up through a chamber thus creating power. It is sort of like a mini solar updraft tower. ****

Passive solar building design uses architecture to make the building cool in the heat and warm in the cold. Termite nests have inspired east/west placement and air flow for temperature maintenance. Using vines and trees to shade in the summer and let the sun in in the winter (by dropping their leaves) is another technique. Insulation is another. *****

Solar Ovens are wonderful things that use the sun in concentration to cook food. They look like a space aged barbecue, and are popular amongst the futuristic and the developing world alike. It is fun and it uses absolutely no fuel. *****

Solar Air Conditioning uses the energy from hot days to cool air in the air conditioning. The hotter the day, the more energy there is to cool the office/house/school whatever. Very savvy! *****

Solar hot water systems can be installed to create hot water for the home. Also you can use solar water heating on camping trips and other temporary situations.*****

Biofuel is another area of research. This includes ethanol (pure alcohol), biodiesel and bagasse (sugar cane left overs).

Liquid Biofuel includes ethanol. There is research into butanol, which is worrying as it is highly combustible in the explosive sense (it is close to lighter fuel). The other is to use animal fat (lipids) and vegetable oils. I'm not sure it is ethical to use food to travel when others are hungry. Also the biofuel may originally just use offcuts and wastes, but demand may outstrip supply leading to further decimation of living biomass, which we do not need in reducing greenhouse. It's only "asset" is it is easily metered. *

Solid Biomass and Biogas includes wood fuel which produces less sulphur then coal. However, using wood means less trees and more CO2. The other idea is using manure and other organic bio"waste" to create methane as it decomposes for fuel. The remaining byproduct of decomposed organic material can be used as fertilisers, therefore returning the nutrients and energy to the earth. It is an excellent idea that solves several problems at the same time. China has these methane generators established already on farms. *****

Another area being explored is the heat in the earth's core.

Geothermal Power puts a pipe into a thinner layer of the Earth's crust into the warmer rocks underneath. Water is poured down and heated, creating steam for power. *****

There is a Magnetic Power Generator available which uses magnetic attraction/repulsion to spin a turbine, creating free energy absolutely without any fuel.*****

If you are interested in Magnetic Power Generators or any of the other products, look up www.energy.sourceguide.com for information and products.

Maybe turbines can be put in drains? Or on windy building tops? Or use the down draft of cold wind from icy mountain tops (after all, glaciers move tonnes of rock). There is massive energy everywhere in the world, all it needs is creativity, nouse and respect and we can tap into it!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral that, in it's organic form, is stored by the body. When it bonds with some proteins, it forms selenoproteins, which are antioxidant enzymes, and regulate thyroid activity and effect the immune system.
Selenium is best absorbed in it's organic form, which is acquired in plants and animals, but it depends on the selenium levels found in the soil. Selenmethionine is stored in muscles and tissues. It stimulates the immune system, helpful in the fight against cancer and arthritis, reduces aging, reduces cardio-vascular disease, strokes and heart attacks, lowers blood clotting, increases elasticity of skin, is an aphrodisiac, helps fertility, reduces tobacco damage, and when applied topically has antibacterial and antifungul effects so is good for dandruff and age spots as well. These are the claims anyway.
A deficiency can lead to heart disease, weakened immune system, hypothyroidism, cataracts, muscular dystrophy, retarded growth, liver problems, infertility, some forms of cancer, Kashin-Beck disease, Keshan disease, Myxedematous Endemic Cretinism. A deficiency often does not cause disease, it just makes one more susceptible. Severe gastro-intestinal problems (such as Crohn's disease) depletes all nutritional absorption, and being on total parenatal nutrition (TPN), that is being fed only by a drip, can reduce selenium if not properly distributed. High levels of selenium leads to selenosis, which has the symptoms of gastro-intestinal upsets, blotchy white nails, hair loss, "garlic breath", irritability, fatigue, and nerve damage.
It is found in brazil nuts (has a high level), tuna, beef, cod, turkey, chicken, pasta, egg, cottage cheese, oatmeal, rice, wholegrains, walnuts, and cheese. Corn, wheat and soyabeans have selenomethionine.

Vitamin B4

Vitamin B4 is believed to be water soluble, which is not exactly completely proven yet, but as all the other B vitamins are, it probably is. It is a pre-cursor for other B vitamins to work. It is called, in it's pure form, adenine. In it's two purine bases of nucleotides it forms nucleic acids in RNA and DNA. Adenine binds to thymine (T) to stabilise DNA. Adenine binds to uracil (U) in RNA. Forms adenosine, and the three phosphates added to create ATP (energy). It is given intravenously to identify heart rhythm and to cure or sedate suprasventricular tachycardia (SVT). It used as a secondary messenger in hormonal stimuli. It helps alleviate fatigue, increases antibodies, helps cell formation/growth, prevents cell mutation, balances blood sugar, increases time of the intestinal tract. It is good for the alimentary canal, blood, brain, eyes, gallbladder, adrenal glands, hair, heart, immune system, joints, lungs, muscles, reproductive organs, and gums.
A deficiency leads to a weakened immune, more infections, allergies, dizziness, fatigue, anemia, depression (mental and physical), insulin sensitivies, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), muscle weakness, gastro-intestinal problems, nausea, constipation, blood and skin problems, and stunted growth.
It is blocked or damaged by most medications, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilisers, processed foods, refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, overcooking, polluted air, chocolate coffee tea (caffeine), soft drinks and alcohol.
It is found in most fruits and vegetables, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, raw honey, whole grain, brewer's yeast, all complex carbohydrates. It is found in various herbs, being blessed thistle, blue cohosh, burdock, capsicum, caraway, cascara sagrada, catnip, cloves, couch grass, ginger, golden seal, hawthorn, hops, jojoba, kelp, lady's slipper, mullein, rosehip, sage, sarsaparilla, spearmint, strawberry, thyme, and yucca.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Teaching Maths to Artistic Children

Maths is about logic and the left brain, and art is about intuition and the right brain, and have little in common, with little to offer the other, right? Sort of, no. Maths is taught often by rote, with dry explanations and repeated exercises. For busy, big picture minds, it can be very boring when presented that way. Especially if they ask questions about the important stuff. Or are hyper logical! Albert Einstein nearly got removed from school for being retarded, when it was probably the people around him that were slow off the mark. There was little wrong with his (now preserved) mind, just the small view of the educators and his childhood peers. In relation to art, Einstein has been known to say generally "Imagination is more important then knowledge".
For artistically inclined children, their first loves lie generally in 4 areas. Art, music, drama and writing. There is a way to help each type of mind "get" maths.
For writers, those students that excel in language skills, it is very simple. Maths IS a language, a very pure and universal language. Any logical idea can be expressed with little room for error in the clearest of ways. You have an infinite amount of "letters", with fixed values. If you look at page of times tables or addition in logical order, you can see a plane of pure language like a blank page with all the keys to express logical ideas. The rules of mathematics are grammar in pure logic, theoretical and scientific knowledge. If you do a sum or formula, you are expressing a word or sentence, that expresses an idea. Algebra is simply extending this understanding that all mathematicians have.
Musical children like sound. Music is a very mathematical art form, for all of it's emotiveness. If you explain that each number is a quantity, like a sound. 1 might be compared to a high sound, like top C, and ten is a low sound, like concert A. Zero is no sound at all. It is the pauses that make the music, as much as the notes. Showing them the times tables list as a smorgasbord of aural possibility is a great way to gain their understanding. Vibrational rates of sound works well in differentiating quantities. Also for understanding how quantities "cancel out" or "multiply" one another. Sine waves are an excellent teaching aide, and so is the concept of time, both which relate to music and maths. Electronic music is a great tool as well, as it is full of formulas. Using actual sound to get the idea across will implant the idea emotionally in their mind. Also, echoes, resolution and sound space is a great way to teach geometry.
Artists relate to colour, shape and form. If you show the times tables again, only relating it to a complex spectrum of colour, to be used like a palate, they will be delighted at the prospect of maths. Shape and form are good for geometry. Light and colour are great for understanding vibrations and sine waves. For example. if you compare "cool" colours to those in negative numbers and "warm" colours to those in positive numbers, the child will picture it in a emotion evoking way. Mixing colours is an idea that might help them understand the rules of maths, as in some colours mix well, some clash (not a "bad" thing, just undesirable), and some cancel others out.
For children who are socially orientated, relate it to people, and what effect it has on them. Shape and form relate to fashion, the body, and how things look. Hair, make up, etc lends itself well to maths, as in what hair length/colour is what amount (and what is says about who) or whatever fashion of the day lends itself to whatever concept. Also, you have to be precise when mixing chemicals for fashion, or it can go horribly wrong, as any beauty school student can tell you! Maths is like a secret language that "little kids" (and often parents) don't get, so it cliques. If you compare numbers to people, like 1 is a person, 2 is a couple, 3 is best friends, 4 is a pair of couples, 9 is a "magic" or "powerful" group which is very balanced, etc. Groups (pairs, parties or gangs and individuals) make basic maths easy, and is transferred easily to algebra (the letters are "names" for groups, gangs or person in the popularity competition). Also, you can relate it well to the big picture of both the greater society and maths, areas they need to expand their understanding in. After all, Einstein had bad hair, but we remember him still.
Children who are interested in the dramatic arts, they are visual, social, aural and tactile. You can borrow ideas from all these areas. They are either highly observational, or need to extend their observational ability to realise their starry eyed dreams. They need to be informed that methodical observation is necessary to becoming highly observable as an actor or director or camera operator. This lends itself easily to maths, in the effects of light, cause and effect, angling, heights, distances, sounds, shapes, etc.
Here's an idea for physical or tactile children. If the child enjoys sport, relate the mathematics to sport. Scores, positioning, and angles all relate well. If the child is highly environmentally aware, relate it to their area of interest. Physically showing them what you mean (bouncing the ball, or better, getting them to, or physically counting the leaves and petals) really will implant the idea emotionally in their mind.
For big picture children which despair at detail and often are leaders, giving them the task of solving a large project is a great way to interest these self starters. If they can't see why the are doing it, they lose interest. Tell them they will be designing a windmill or something grown up, complex and futuristic sounding BEFORE you give them the skills (you could even get them to individually choose what problem they would like to solve, whether it's sports, art, social, visionary or whatever). Then, as you teach the skills used in maths, they will have a grand idea to relate it back to, keeping their emotional interest involved. This is good for all kinds of children, artistic, leader, social, or physical. The main thing is to get them to grasp the "big picture" of what maths is (a pure, accurate language) and maintain there interest by relating to their, often lifelong, personal emotive interests. Well, those are my musings on mathematical teaching.

One liners

If you are addicted to something, which you need to keep supplying, you are probably needing something else.

When you are young, or not so young, romantic love is often a ruse for what the real problem is.

U.N. Peace Keeping Armed Forces

In the current world climate, globally we have two problems created and compounded by an every increasing and consuming population of humanity. One is climate change, and the other is resource related wars. This leads to mass displacement, acts violating human rights, species loss, and general mayhem and tragic anarchy. Famine, war, weather extremes and disease are natural checks and balances for the problem, but they are harsh and tragic for all involved, and the innocent (such as other species) are rarely unaffected. Education, cultural evolution (which human rights helps with) and technology (using our brains) are a far less painful way to counteract the potential disasters. Here is an idea to counteract the devastating effects of over-population and resource issues.
The United Nations were formed as a global co-operative after World War II to promote peace between nations and to prevent further man-made disasters such as humungus wars. In many ways it has been effective, as we have not had a major war since. However, there has been many, many more wars of a smaller range, of which the U.N. will attempt to tone down with diplomacy, condemnation and, after the war, international war crimes trials. However, when the heat is on BEFORE the atrocities, the diplomats often have to flee. Many a diplomat or world leader has realised that the U.N. really does need more teeth. It can bark, but it has very little bite. It is an ideal with heart and mind, but has a very light body.
If the armed forces of each and every country donated 1% of there troops, time, money and equipment to the U.N. purely for peace-keeping and natural disaster relief exercises, the U.N. would certainly have a bit more clout. Expecting America to be "the policemen of the world" is a white elephant of dangerous proportions. It tempts the power hungry into a path that is damaging for all. However, there would have to be a system to prevent such a large armed force designed purely for peacekeeping and relief work from being used for less honourable purposes. Firstly, there would be unilateral voting involving all nations of the U.N., with unchangeable laws in that fair system (no nation having a greater vote then another), and also, a right for any nation to remove their troops if they see an exercise to be unfit. So if a dictator attempts to take over the U.N.'s armed forces, the majority could remove their forces and regroup once they have been subdued.
This will free up other U.N. resources for the purposes of education, developing cultural growth, and technological advancement for the greater health and well being of the global citizens, including helping the natural resources be managed responsibly, and helping humanity reach it's greater potential.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Natural Remedies For Reducing Methane In Livestock

One of the big produces of methane (a greenhouse gas) is the livestock industries (farm animals). Cows, sheep, goats, pigs etc, produce gas through their digestive system. Here's an idea, although it would only help partially.
Peppermint, or even the weed like mint, is a well known herb for helping digestion and easing stomach gas and cramps. If you gave livestock peppermint or mint (very easy and cheap to grow) in their feed, maybe it could reduce gases. It would also reduce the incidence of bloating, bloating related vet bills, and help make a healthier animal.
You could grow peppermint, or mint, in the field, or add it to hay or grain feed, or feed it to them separately. In the wild, the animals ancestors of modern livestock had access to a lot of different plants. They would graze on a variety of wild, naturally formed grasses, and herbs, and nibble on bushes. Their diets were rarely a monotone of exactly the same plant day in and day out. Near rivers there were rices, on the plains were all kinds of grain grasses. Near forests or in heathers, marshes and plains were herbs and scrub which added to there diet's variety. I would almost guarantee that they ate certain things deliberately for certain conditions. Peppermint would almost certainly be one of those plants.
Observing their wild counterparts in a natural native environment to see what they do to ease certain health problems could lead to all sorts of possible natural cures for livestock health issues. If they nibble on certain bushes or herbs or vines for certain conditions, like stomach pain, gestation, wounds or whatever, growing the plants in paddocks (as ground cover or hedgerow) saves a lot of time and monitoring. You do not have to give the animal the cure, it just takes it as needed. Then, if further help is needed, the animal is observed, like a pet cat eating grass. Nurseries could benefit financially from selling the plants and farmers could save a lot of time and effort after the initial start up, and time and effort is money and health. Some plants grown as trees and bushes in hedges or as herbs could be extended as well as a cash crop.
Sheep and other animals that tend to chew cud, there is a lot of greenhouse gas burped up. In their stomachs and intestines there is a conglomerate of all kinds of interesting bacterias in a mini ecosystem of their own, hopefully balanced for the comfort and health of the animal. Here is another idea. With a little research, a (or a few) good bacteria for these animals, that produce less methane or bad gases, can be isolated, developed and grown for commercial reasons. Like pro-biotics. Then, the bacteria can be fed to the animals, the logical time being when they are lambs or at the milk feeding age. Current systems of economy that sell preventative medicines for livestock could benefit from it financially.
An interesting fact, incidentally, is that herbivores stand facing north while they are grazing. If you are lost in the country and need to know where north is, just look which way the grazers are pointing. That's north. It is a bit mysterious but probably has a very reasonable explanation to why. The how is probably magnetic. Maybe it has something to do with the sun or predators (of the past).

Glossary
Cud - grazing animals who have more then one stomach vomit up food from one stomach, chew it again, and then pass it into it's next stomach.
Herbivores - animals that eat plants only.
Pro-biotics - good bacteria eaten for their beneficial effects on the digestion, like yogurt.

Half Loaf

There are a lot of people who live alone, or eat alone. Not everyone is living in a family. 1 in 5 never marry, almost half divorce, some are widow(er)s, plenty are single(ish) and living out of home, some are devoted to their careers or other causes. Even if they do live with others, they may eat separately for various reasons. This is not the case for a lot of the global village's demographics, but in some areas it is very much the case. This idea is formed from a niche market that is created by these realities.
Bread is a perishable food product. It gets mouldy. Old bread is a problem for those who eat it, but not in large enough amounts to finish a loaf before it goes mouldy. It is a dreadful waste, costly to the producer, the consumer and the planet in general, as it rarely makes it to a compost bin (accommodation for single people rarely has the facilities for composting, especially in cities), and is bad for bird's intestines if fed to them.
Bakers have an opportunities here for a new product. If they baked half loaves, there would be a lot of people who would buy the product for said reasons. Also, a lot of people who hesitate in front of the bread thinking "Yes, that's easy and quick, oh, hang on, the last three times I bought bread half of it just went off, no, I won't buy it, I'll by a couple of buns, cans of stuff and biscuits instead, at least that won't be wasted." will change their minds. Freezing half the loaf is not always an option as it takes up valuable freezer space (they often freeze meals for convenience), if there is a freezer. If they do freeze the bread, it is a nuisance in thawing, losing quality, taking time. If it just gets too hard, people don't bother. Also, as a baker, you could add a higher price for two halves, thereby further increasing profits as well as reducing waste. Also, the bread will be remembered as relatively fresh by the consumer, inducing nearly subconscious re-purchasing. Also, bakeries and supermarkets would benefit by more frequent visits by the customer, increasing impulse buys.
Well, that is just an idea, but I think it could work, increasing the sales of the bakery, pleasing the customers, and help the planet reduce landfill and greenhouse gases. Also, it is a good idea for novelty breads and market experimentation.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Zinc

Zinc is used in about 100 enzymes (reactive proteins) as a catalyst. It is used for immune strength, protein production, DNA production and cell division (in fact, no life form could divide it's cells if it didn't have zinc), and wound healing (which requires cell division). It is essential for growth in the young. It is used for the senses of taste and smell (olfactory function). Sexually active men need a good supply. Excellent for colds.
The body does not store it, so it needs to be replenished regularly. Men should have about 11mg, and women about 8mg daily.
A deficiency leads to symptoms like growth retardation, loss of appetite, lowered immune function and in more extreme cases, hair loss, diarrhea, slower sexual maturity, impotence, hypogonadism in boys (small balls), sores on eyes and skin, weight loss, wound healing prolonged, taste (flavour!) becoming strange, and mental slowness.
An excess leads to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, diarrhea, lowered trace copper, impaired iron absorption, immune weakened, and possibly genitourinary problems.
People with digestive problems, pregnant/breastfeeding people, older breastfed only infants, vegetarians, people with sickle cell anemia and alcoholics risk lowered zinc. High levels of iron or copper reduce zinc and visa versa. Zinc reduces the effect of antibiotics, and penicillamine (for arthritis). Some diuretics reduce zinc.

In food zinc is most famously found in oysters. And rightly so. Seafood is a great source generally. Crab, fish, lobster, beef, pork, chicken, cereal, whole grain, bran, cheese, yogurt, baked beans, cashews, almonds, chickpeas, kidney beans, and peas are good sources.

Favorite Healing Herbs

There are herbs that are excellent for healing, that can be smelt, or applied topically (on the skin). Here are a few of my favourites:

Raw (unprocessed) honey is excellent for applying to open wounds. The sugars act as a preservative, antibacterial. There are other qualities, unknown, in the honey (unheated) that help the wound heal dramatically faster. Not only that, it greatly reduces scarring.

Tea tree and eucalyptus oil are an excellent antiseptic, though diluting it is wise, as it is very potent. It is also good for cleaning and disinfection.

Tiger's grass. This ground cover plant is used by wounded tigers. They roll around on it, exposing their wound to it. I'm not sure what it's properties are, but the animal wouldn't bother if it didn't work, especially when it's life depends on it. Further research is needed.

Clary sage. It does have some antibacterial properties, but it is excellent for premenstrual tension (PMT). Also, it imitates the pheromones, so women generally find it attractive. It is also excellent in shampoo, like all sages, as it adds lustre to hair, especially darker hair.

Aloe Vera. This standard needs little explanation. Great for sunburn, chapping, wounds, scrapes. It can even be consumed as a stomach soother, though I think it needs to be processed in a certain way. The sticky substance inside is the active useful part, though you have to be wary of the skin. It also is great for spiking up your hair!

Peppermint. An excellent digestive as a tea, it is really good for heartburn and indigestion, as well as being very cooling.

Slippery elm bark makes an excellent water softener, breaking surface tension, bubbles up, and lifts dirt well, so is a great alternative to soap.

Melissa, aka. Melissa officialis, is a herb which has antiseptic, antiviral qualities which is good for wound healing. It is used to counteract herpes, acne, eczema, irritated skin, insect bites and stings, neuralgia and shingles. It was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a surgical dressing amongst other things.

Grandma Pisces

In Africa there were animal skins
On her wooden floors, a sausage dog,
And descendants everywhere
Her parents were Quakers
She went to reform school
Which she ran from often
She abhorred birds in cages
Grandpa would feed wild ones
Every day at dawn
She taught me the stories
Behind nursery rhymes
Which applied to both of us
As we both got into scrapes
We would read books in bed
As soon as I woke her
She was a teacher in her time
With a genius IQ of 150
They called her "Fiercy Piercy"
When we emigrated
We lost touch, for a while
When she came, it wasn't the same
A great chasm of communication
Gaped in the gaze, a generation gap
Another time, a different place
Change of culture, changing face
She grumbled and complained
Disapproved oppressively
Because she wasn't what
She seemed to have become
Her real nature was a different sort
Her youthful extremes
Had aged her extremely
She inadvertently taught me
More in death than life
Like a bird flight, and the bird's love
Guided her, between Earth and above
I observed her journey, like a borrowed eye
I have a reference book of memory
Where I learn, from the past, what works
And what doesn't: prices payed, lessons learnt
Skills acquired; And I wonder at her
Hidden life, a wild child of passing ships
Must have wandered into Mysteries
Dark, and light, grounded, and flight
She rang me somehow, blind,
Ending high on a tuneless whistle
She passed like a dreamer's memory
Like an ancient battle of a dying age
It was the turning of a new page
Cruelly leaving orphans
Lost and grieving
The bird is young and free
Once more, I am sure.

Margaret Pierce RIP, 2005?

1.11.2009

Rain Making

Rain. An essential to life, loved by the wild and farmers, dreaded by those with no conscious connection to the real world, like urbanites. Soft, good rain paced out so as to feed but not harm with droughts or floods. How does one guarantee such a emotive elemental, which takes it's form around harder stuff yet will always, given patience, wear it down to fine grains?
Let's look at rainforests, the ancient rainmaker. We have long known that rainforests cause their own rain, sustaining themselves and areas around them. They soften and cool the weather by changing the atmosphere in a huge group effort of plants shading, breathing in greenhouse gases and out fresh oxygen, and pinning down dust with humus, moisture and root stock. It is a natural air conditioner, which you can feel and smell as soon as you step inside of one. And the smell is an important clue for rain making. Recent scientific discoveries have shown how, or part of how a rainforest creates the rain, besides cooling the atmosphere. It seeds clouds, naturally. Micro organisms are created in the rainforest and released into the atmosphere, creating a catalyst for the moisture in the cooling air to form around. These micro organisms are aerobacter. One way for us in humanity to create rain using a natural method is to imitate the rainforests. We already, when desperate, seed clouds for rain. If we cultivated the benign aerobacters of the rainforests in an industrial way, and then released them into the air (taking winds into account) around lakes, reservoirs, rivers, dams, farms and wilderness we could get the rain where it is needed. The best time to do it is as the air cools in the evening, when moisture from oceans or other humidifying sources is strong. Cooling the air with forests is a good long term plan. If you are "seeding" for an area where desert has spread or erosion is likely, smaller amounts would be wise, until there is enough plant life to hold the moisture and prevent the damage of element upon element with little Living things as a buffering variable.
In all things natural, it is unwise to take and not give back. Besides the law of karma, it is a way to guarantee long term abundance all round and can even feel good. Elementals are known for their cantankerous dislike for greedy, stupid people, and love of plants and animals in their free state. If they do not get some wild place to reside, they can be dangerous and destructive. Or you can ignore the warning, and just take.
Old ways of humanity in the cause of rainmaking have been many. Tantric methods of the East has often included weather as part of their practise. In ancient Eastern poetry, "weather talk" is code for sex and states of love and mood. Sexual energy is a very potent raw energy, and in conjunction with the tasks of the charkras can be very effective.
A pagan method of rain making, in which it is stressed to only use in an emergency, is to get a bucket of water, and get a broom (both made of as natural a product as possible), stick the handle of the broom in the bucket, and stir whilst visualising a storm. When the water is spinning, tip it on the earth. It was known in older schools of thoughts that storms, especially sudden, unexpected or unseasonal ones, is a sign of witchcraft being done.
Killing a lizard or frog is a way of causing rain according to darker forms of craft. So is pouring water on the ground, or offering wine to "the gods" by pouring a bit on the ground. Then, for the modern religious type, is to simply praying for rain, with faith, and realising that God has their own plans, although "God helps those that help themselves".
Also, in the Law of the Ironic, doing your laundry or washing your car or planning a picnic is an almost sure guarantee of rain!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Magnum Our Hero

Magnum was an old man
A wise and gentle Grandpa
From a half forgotten lifetime.
A homemade raggedy Andy
With wears and patches
Like a familiar slipper.
He had the lion heart
Of a thousand kindly patriarchs
And would pat down your hair
While his own was as tufty and unkempt
As an Arctic teddy bear.
He'd scold with steady stares
And turned backs and sulks
Because he was soft, and cared.
He would give cuddles
As warm as a summer holiday.
Bitten and wounded by hounds
We found him, even in such a state
He prevented a violent outbreak
Like a injured Greek God
Humble with understanding
He healed because he was harmed
(Loki would never have such, or any friend).
We took you in, but it was us that were lost
And orphaned, it was you who
Nursed us back to love and health.
When the injury returned
Like a watered down time warp of fear,
A single bite, infected and effective,
You pragmatically tied up a goodbye
And took your leave
Like you were visiting an old friend
For a forgettable while.

Magnum, RIP Oct 2009.


Oct 31, 2009

Friday, October 30, 2009

Cat Shields for Keyboards

There is a problem every computer using person has who lives with a cat. At certain times, like if you have been working on the computer for a length of time, the cat will inevitably come and walk on, sit on or otherwise interfere with your keyboard. It could be because the computer is warm, which makes it a suitable sleeping spot in the cat's perspective. It could also be because the cat thinks staring at the screen for ages is interfering with your cat worshipping. Or it is showing concern for your health. The computer sounds different to the cat then to you, so that could be it. Or it is just being cattish. However, it is a real problem of nuisance proportions, as many a strange mess has been created for documents, music etc. I have an idea for a solution.
A clear plastic (or glass) dome that sits over the keyboard, with space for hands, wires, disk drive and mouse. It might make some things look a bit bifocal, but the slippery slopes of the dome will stop feline interference quite adequately. I also think that there is a huge demographic of people who have the problem, they would be very cheap to produce (recycled of course), and would make an excellent gift for the person who has everything, as well as for those of simple means. An earner, with the right publicity.

Vacuum Cleaner for the Sea

There is large amount of plastics in various states of decomposition floating around in the ocean in huge, toxic clumps called garbage zones. As they break down, they become even more toxic, as they become small enough to be eaten by fish and enter the food chain. They give off petrochemicals, causing raised toxin levels in the food chain. We also occasionally get oil spills from oceanic oil mining. The plastic kills birds, fish and larger ocean lifeforms by getting tangled up around them and in them.
What is needed for a regrettable side effect of the global societies lifestyle is a vacuum device for these by-products that were never intended for the sea. Sounds odd, but it really isn't that hard to separate oil from water. It could float on the surface, like an opposite of a pool cleaner, pulling in the surface substances, pumping it through a large pipe onto a ship for removal and recycling. Excess water can be drained in the stillness on board. It could also have a filter preventing animals below from being vacuumed. This is a low risk factor though, as wildlife tends to avoid or die in plastic pools or oil spills.
The products can still be used as salvaged product. This would be beneficial to oil companies as a way to reclaim lost product as well as being good for public relations and conscientious shareholders. Also it means fishing industries won't sue, and great grandchildren inherit beaches and oceans that are still enjoyable, and sea food products that won't make them sick. It also will need a handful of workers to operate and maintain it and the ship, which could be a tug type thing with a cargo barge type thing. That's an idea anyway, which could well be worth a penny as well as gaining the producer a medal from the good guys.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Cures for Eutrophication

Eutrophication is where still or slow bodies, or parts of bodies, of water gain excess nutrients that weren't absorbed by the earth/living biomass. The nutrients stimulate excess plant growth (such as algae, or macrophytes, which are aquatic or semi-aquatic plants), resulting in a reduction of dissolved oxygen (hypoxic) in the water chemistry, suffocating the oxygen using aquatic animal life, especially immobile ones like fixed shellfish. The dead algae, bacteria, and fish sink to the bottom thus escalating the toxic fermenting nutritive situation. Also, some of the algae and bacteria (like cyanobacteria) are toxic, and get into the food chain, building up through to the predators (such as humans), damaging or killing them. It works like a negative feedback loop.
Where do these extra nutrients come from? The two biggest problems is phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilisers and sewerage. Fertilisers leach into the ground water and then into the drains, river systems and ocean from lawns, golf courses and other grounds, and agriculture. Nitrogen seems to affect fresh water systems and phosphorus affects salt water systems. Since the 1950's, due to human activity, phosphorus on the earth's surface has been raised by 4 times. Let's look at these chemicals.
Phosphorus is mined as apatite, a mineral compound. It is dissolved in sulfuric acid, releasing the phosphorus as a "super phosphorus", used in fertilisers. Animals eat plants and they absorb and excrete phosphorus, using it for ATP (energy utilisation), and it is a building block of RNA and DNA. Therefore phosphorus is found in excrement (sewerage and manure), which returns to the cycle, often through the waterways (these days).
Nitrogen is formed into ammonia in industry by putting atmospheric nitrogen and hydrogen (usually from natural gas or petroleum) under great pressure and 600 degrees Celsius. This is used in fertilisers.
It is also formed from lightning, created in the great heat and energy of the event. It is also formed by bacteria and archaea in symbiosis with legumes (etc. alfalfa, soy, lentils). It is also found in the digestive system of termites and bivalves like shipworms. It is also free in soils. Also cyanobacteria have it in places like rice paddies.
Nitrogen is very stable as N2, so biologically an organism needs complex enzymes and a lot of ATP (energy) to utilise it. Nitrifying bacteria make it available to plant roots and crenarchae converts ammonia into nitrites.
Anaerobic bacteria (anaerobic means it doesn't use oxygen) living in deep soil and aquatic sediment has the task of denitrification, because it uses the nitrogen instead of oxygen. However, it is a slow process.
There are 375 hypoxic (oxygen depleted) coastal zones around the world. The results is an increased biomass of phytoplankton including toxic and inedible ones and an increase of soft, sticky zooplankton (phytoplankton predators). There is a decrease of beneficial algae, and macrophyte (aquatic plants) species change in range and amounts. The water becomes turbid (unclear), often getting blue, green or red blooms (often blocking out the light, which effects other plants). It looks and smells bad, and is difficult to treat, and the water's oxygen is reduced (especially at night when the plants breathe out carbon dioxide). Good, edible and harvestable shellfish and fish start dying off. It becomes dangerous to drink and swim in. The toxic anaerobic bacteria increase, poisoning fish, animals and birds. Extremes create "dead zones". The biodiversity is reduced, and species that prefer the new conditions start to invade (such as jellyfish in the ocean between China and Japan, which only the tough and virile would eat). Toxic algae blooms form, poisoning the food chain, with predators becoming diahorrhoetic, neurotoxic, and paralysed.
There are several things that can be done to reverse this situation. Firstly identifying the source is a good start. A point source is something definite such as a feedlot (that's where they keep livestock in a confined area, feeding them large amounts of food to fatten them, a cruel system which creates a lot of waste), or a raw sewerage pipe. Non point sources are things like the atmosphere (such as acid rain), or runoff (like when thawing snow takes manure into the storm drain).
Legislation for local and regional areas can protect particularly vulnerable areas such as lakes, estuaries and bays. If the farmers, fishers, sewerage treatment, water and dam workers co-operate, they reduce the risks to their interdependent industries. However, more remote places can be harder to police.
Riparian buffer zones along the banks of waterways act as a biomass that absorbs the sediments, nutrients and pollutants. This idea can be extended to buffer zones around farms, storm drains and roads, or between them and waterways. If the farmer also grows their orchards closer to waterways, and their crops of smaller plants (like grains) further away, it can have a riparian effect, as well as having the effect that the thirstier (usually bigger) plants are closer to the water source, saving time, energy and effort.
Using sewerage to run methane burning generators, especially in rural communities and large farms is a great system, as it provides electricity, reduces carbon waste, deals with the nitrogen and phosphorus, and provides a wonderful recycled fertiliser. China has established these already.
Nitrogen testing and modelling of the soil helps too. Often farmers, gardeners and groundskeepers use more fertilisers then they need to, which is wasteful and costly. Testing the soil to work out the least amount needed is very economical.
The farmer can also charge more for their products if they actually convert to the very fashionable organic farming, where demand still outstrips supply, so the grower can dictate prices, as opposed having the prices set for them by competition or a corporation.
Maintaining and protecting marshes and mangroves in estuaries etc is a natural filter. If they are damaged, drained or otherwise removed, there is nothing there to prevent silt, nutrients and erosion from wrecking havoc. They are a wonderful kind of halfway world where little fish hatch and feed in bizarre safety, like a surrealistic dream!
Because of the phytoplankton and alga outbreaks, introducing herbivore animals like bivalve shellfish to filter the plankton and then harvesting them is a great way to reduce the nutrients.
Adding beneficial macrophytes (aquatic plants), and macroalgae (seaweed), and then harvesting them is also a way to remove the nutrients from the cycle. Large coastal kelp forests with kelp grazers would be most effective. Reeds (some reeds absorb heavy metals), watercress, lilies, rice and seaweed are all cash crops.
If you allow reeds to grow in the marshlands and rivers, introducing or encouraging birds that eat micro-organisms (like a mud filter type thing) and use reeds to build their nests would be optimum. Also, insects that eat or otherwise harvest reeds are a good idea.
In the case of cyanobacteria, which lives in deep silt at the bottom, and is toxic, surely it has a predator? Looking for something in deep water like volcanic lakes may provide answers, as well as researching "bottom feeders" like catfish (probably not a likely candidate) or specialist worms who sift through deposits for food.
Introducing of extra useful and edible zooplankton and maybe krill could also reduce phytoplankton and algae blooms. They may need extra oxygen though. Agrobacteria reduce nitrates and give plants galls on their stems. However, adding species is an activity that needs a lot of thinking through, research and planning before being undertaken, as it can have unhealthy results if it has the wrong effect, such as the South American cane toads of Australia.
Oxygenating the water is another option, through pumping air or pure oxygen through the water or something like a watermill to stir the air through and to break up the stagnation could reduce the anaerobic build up.
Damming decreases silica going downstream in the silt, and added fertilisers creates cyanobacteria blooms, increasing toxicity. A ratio range of N:P:Si (1:1:16) is the best for maintaining the nutritive balance for a healthy biodiversity. Allowing tides and natural "flushing" from both up and down stream to flow uninterrupted increases high species diversity, by increasing edible phytoplankton species for zooplankton to graze upon, and so reducing blooms. Erosion and damming prevent flushing from either end, causing build up and stagnation. If there is damming, it could be flushed regularly to increase healthy ecology, or else the water gets "old" and bad. Build up can be cleared, rivers widened and bottlenecks opened.
Erosion also contributes to the excess nutrients in the water, so riparian buffer zones are essential. Personally I think if we continue to use chemicals the riparian buffer zones could be twice as wide. Stabilising dunes with appropriate living biomass on the coastal areas helps reduce erosion. Sand fences work sometimes temporarily, and it is useful to pin netting down to help establish seedlings such as sand grasses.
Anyway, there are some ideas. There are probably other ideas, however, if you use a little lateral logic. Just letting the natural world be and do it's own thing unmeddled with (just undo the permanent meddling artifacts) would probably be the best option, as it has amazing self healing powers and many blocks and checks built over many millennia to restore balance. However, that seems to be against the force of human nature. We always seem to try to "improve" things to pieces!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, naicinamide, nicotinic acid, is, like all B vitamins is water soluble so it needs regular renewal. It can be manufactured by the body from tryptophane. Tryptophane is the chemical in diary products that make you feel sleepy. It is used cell respiration, carbohydrates, lipid (fats), protein and glucose breakdown (like all B vitamins), blood circulation, healthy skin, nervous system function, healthy creation of bile and hydrochloric acid (digestive juices). Used also to synthesis cortisone, insulin, and sex hormones. It is used to treat schizophrenia and other mental conditions. It is known as a memory enhancer and is reported to improve mental alertness. Nicotinic acid is used as a drug to treat bad cholesterol levels and to remove organic compound poisons (like insecticides).
Lack causes pellagra (bilateral dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia). Canker sores, depression, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, halitosis, headaches, insomnia, extremities (limb) pains, muscular weakness, low appetite, low blood sugar, inflammation, and skin eruptions.
Minimum 15mg for women, and 15-19mg for men.
High doses given (200 mg is very high) may produce hyperuricemia and produce hepatic abnormalities. Nicotinic acid larger 200mg causes flushing by diluting blood vessels, causing drops in blood pressure. Very large doses causes itching, elevated blood glucose, peptic ulcers and liver damage.
Niacin works best with others in the vitamin B complex and vitamin C. Zinc, manganese, and phosphorus help. Consuming alcohol or people on vegetarian/low meat diets, high corn diets, high refined sugar diets, need more niacin. Aspirin, contraceptives, estrogen hormones or sleeping tablets reduce your niacin.
Diabetics, glaucoma, liver disease, peptic ulcers, should BEWARE of niacin supplements.
Cooking foods in water leeches niacin. It is also light sensitive.
It is found in liver, lean meat, poultry, fish, rabbit, nuts, peanuts, yeast, cereals, (sunflower) seeds, legumes, milk, asparagus, green leafy vegetables, coffee, yeasts, wheatgerm and beans.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment can come from anyone of any sex, age, or background and be directed towards anyone of any sex (opposite or the same), age or background. Although most law claims come from women, it can be men that get harassed (social conditioning to be sexually available or shame may prevent them saying anything).
For sexual harassment to be illegal, the target does not have to be affected or offended (they may be desensitised for instance). A witness who finds it offensive is also in their rights to take action.

Their are several behavioural groups that sexual harassment falls into.
1. Public harasser, who is openly sexist or seductive (the guy in the pub who makes sexual advances in repulsive ways).
2. Private harasser, who carefully cultivate a restrained, respectable image, but transform when alone with the target (the person who is all charm in public, and then is all over the usually younger person in private).
3. Predatory harasser, who gets thrills from humiliating others. They harass to get a reaction, which is sexual extortion. A lack of resistance can escalate into rape, i.e. the baiting.
4. Dominance harasser, gets an ego boost from harassing target(s), i.e. the stand over.
5. Strategic or territorial harasser does it so they remove threats to or gain job privilege or location (in the hope the the other leaves), i.e. jobs for the boys.

Harassment types

Power player uses what is legally termed "qid pro quo" or this for that. They insist on sexual favours exchanged for benefits coming from their position (usually of authority).
Mother/father figure, will create mentor like relationship with their target, masking sexual intention.
One-of-the gang, are men or women who embarrass others with lewd comments, physical evaluations or other unwanted sexual attention. Can be an individual wanting to "belong" or impress, or can be a gang up on the target.
Serial harasser, carefully builds up a reputation as respectable so people are disbelieving that they could harass. Carefully strategies to strike in private so it is their word against the targets.
Groper will use opportunities when they present themselves for their eyes and hands to wander in unwelcome ways.
Opportunist, use physical settings and circumstances to mask premeditated intentional sexual behaviour towards target. May involve changing the environment to reduce inhibitory effects or "accidental" groping.
Bully, sexual harassment is used as a "punishment" for rejection or other "transgression" or to make the target feel inadequate. It's a way to put the target "in their place".
Confidante, shares their story and difficulty to get the target to open up and then make the relationship intimate and often unhealthy.
Situational harasser, when the perpetrator goes through a traumatic or very stressful life event (such as psychological, medical, or marital problems). Usually stops when the pressure decreases or the circumstances change.
Pest classically "won't take 'no' for an answer" type. Hounds for attention and dates after persistent rejection. Misguided but not malicious, usually.
Great Gallant is mostly a verbal harassment using excessive compliments and personal comments that are gender appearance based that are embarrassing or out of place. Often with leering.
Intellectual seducer usually educational authority situations where the perpetrator uses knowledge and access to information on students for sexual purposes. May take exercises to uncomfortable levels of personal exposure.
Incompetents are socially inept who desire the attention of the target, which is not reciprocated. Sense of entitlement, believe the target should be flattered. Rejected they may bully for revenge.
Stalking consists of persistent watching, following, contacting or observing target. The harasser believes it's love, or it is sexual obsession or anger and hostility.
Unintentional acts and comments that were of a sexual nature, and were not intended as harassment can constitute sexual harassment if the other was offended.

Sexualised environments have sexual "joking", obscenities, sexually explicit graffiti, degrading posters, pornography of any source and sexual objects can create an offensive environment.
Rituals and initiations is where sexual harassment is part of an sexually explicit or abusive ceremony or ritual like initiation or "hazing", commonly associated with first year students, members of the armed forces, sporting clubs, bucks nights etc. They are all illegal.

Retaliation for speaking up or taking legal action.

When people complain about harassment there is commonly a backlash against the harassed, compounding the problem. Often labeled "trouble makers" and power trippers, they are often made out to be the problem. The victim becomes the accused. There private life, appearance and character become a target, often when they are not at their former best. This scrutiny often does not happen to the perpetrator. They often get isolation and anger from bosses, teachers, work and classmates, friends and family. They risk relational aggression and even mobbing. Women are often as bad as the men in the condemning of the outspoken target, although this can change as circumstances develop, especially if others have been targeted.
Complainants can have their projects sabotaged, poor grades given, denied work or academic chances, be bullied and harassed until their productivity is greatly reduced, be fired or suspended, and the perpetrator or associate(s) sometimes successfully execute the threat temporarily that they will "never work anywhere again". Vengeance based stalking may occur.
If the target is prepared to open such a can of worms, they speak up with success. If they are not, silence and damage control is the way for the faint hearted.

Mostly harassment is just annoying. However, cases of severe and/or chronic harassment can be deadly. This is some of the things it can lead to:
1. Increased absenteeism
2. Decreased performance
3. Loss of work and income.
4. Leaving education, changing plans.
5. Personal life is attacked (appearance, lifestyle, private life)
6. Humiliation and objectification by public.
7. Publicly sexuality (are they "worth" the attention or risk to career)
8. Defamation.
9. Loss of trust in similar environments
10. Extreme stress in relationships with significant others, peers, work/classmates.
11. Weakening of networks of support, alienation.
12. Relocation to other locations and jobs (if possible)
13. Loss of recommendations and opportunities

Emotional and psychological effects are:
1. Depression
2. Panic attacks
3. Anxiety
4. Sleeplessness
5. Nightmares
6. Shame
7. Guilt
8. Difficulty concentrating
9. Fatigue
10. Loss of motivation
11. Headaches
12. Eating disorders
13. Stomach upsets
14. Alcoholism, excessive smoking, or drug addiction
15. Feeling violated and/or betrayed
16. Anger or violent feeling towards the perpetrator
17. Feeling out of control or powerless
18. Raised blood pressure and other stress related health problems
19. Loss of self esteem
20. Isolation and withdrawal.
21. Severe loss of trust in people
22. Traumatic stress
23. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.)
24. Complex P.T.S.D.
25. Suicidal thoughts
26. Attempted or successful suicide.

Perpetrators eventually get busted or reap some other karma, even if they seem to get away with it. The smirking, leering young man of today is the unwanted filthy old man of tomorrow. Just know that if you have experienced harassment, like most of us have, male and female, that you did not "ask" for it, no matter what is said or insinuated. You have a right to you own, healthy sexuality and freedom to be as you are. Often nice "decent" people are targeted for that very reason. Because they find it offensive and blush, or refuse to accept the demands, the indecent love to poke fun at them and bring them down. In fact, the more harassed you have been can be an indication of the strength of your basic innate decency.

Pesticide Problems

After decades of using long lasting, evolving and potent pesticides, farmers in various parts of highly pesticided parts of the world are wondering why their bee populations are being decimated. Connect the dot. Bees are needed to pollinate their crops of grasses, fruits and even vegetables and herbs. Long term use of pesticides is the most likely culprit.
Unfortunately, pesticides built for potency and a long active life are hard to break down and build up in the soil, biomass, water and general ecology. After many repeated uses, the build up devastates ALL insects (and other animals, including the ones that eat insects), including the useful ones. Mycelium, the great recycler of carbon based life, will not go near it in high doses. An extremophilic mycelium might, but farmers and scientist will have to find one. The pesticides do not just evaporate come the next spring. It's still there.
Possible solutions include the extremophilic mycelium previously mentioned. There is also the use of unprocessed natural insect repulsing oils (diluted), such as pine, cedar, citronella or lavender.
Seaweed (diluted in liquid, or washed and added to mulch) is excellent for breaking down complex chemicals. So is fermented soy, as in miso (but the salt is not recommended for soil, obviously), so experimenting with soy or soy bi-products could prove beneficial. Vitamin B3 is also good for removing or breaking down pesticides specifically, so adding it somehow into the ecosystem (through mycelium or maybe feeding it in higher doses [but not too high as it can be damaging] to livestock and then applying the manure and urine to the soil and mycelium).
Spiders eat insects and so do certain types of birds. So do preying mantis. If you introduced spiders and insect eating birds in you crop, that would reduce insect populations quite effectively. The conditions would have to be suitable for their nest and web building, such as trees, wood, and other places for them to reside and hunt.
Another way to deal with the problem, once the current pesticides have been reduced to a workable level, is companion planting. If you plant rosemary, cedars, marigolds etc in a harvestable manner around and within your annual or perennial crops, and use basic rotation for the brief types (usually used already), unwanted insects will be reduced.
A change of attitude, also a good thing in cropping, would help. The need to have 100% perfect crop output is maybe a bit self-defeating. It may be OK to have a few bug infested fruits losing maybe 2% of your crop (for the hens and pigs and wildlife) in the short term as opposed to decimating your future crops by rendering them infertile.
The ancient Israelites used to leave 10% of their crops each year for the poor and the wildlife. There was more then charity as the pious motive. If the poor could eat, they did not have to rob and murder to survive. If the wildlife could eat, they did not have to steal and hunt livestock and people to eat. If the actual earth had enough biomass returning back to the ground, it would be more abundant in the coming year and the long run.
Well, there is a bunch of ideas for possible solutions to a very modern problem. The implementing of the ideas might get some resistance from the chemical companies, however, a smart farmer would be able to see through that. We haven't "always" used chemical cocktails to solve age old farming problems. It probably wasn't even used by your grandparents. Planting insect resistant plants (some are even cash crops in themselves) amongst your insect attracting crops or releasing insect eating birds and insects into the fold is a much cheaper, less dangerous and better (long term) planned way to deal with the problem. And no one will be dying of cancer from working in the factories that make the toxic substances that have been killing your wonderful bees (and probably you and the town downriver).