July 2009
→ Habit
(21st July 2009)
I don't smoke. I never have and never will, I hope. And I certainly hope I'll never become a smoker in Dudley, West Midlands, where their choice of storage space for smuggled cigarettes is very unpleasant.
→ Drugs
(20th July 2009)
Researchers in Oregon have made the (not very surprising) discovery that "methamphetamine use is widespread in cities, small towns and rural areas, while cocaine and Ecstasy are less popular in rural areas," by testing sewage. The tests showed that samples from 96 municipalities had traces of methamphetamine (as it can pass unaltered through the body); while a "chemical byproduct of cocaine was found in 80 ...
(9th July 2009)
A video of a lecture given by Stephen Salter on waste as resource and resource recovery. The Swedes inspire, as ever.
→ Plinth
(9th July 2009)
The admirable young scientist Oliver Parsons-Baker takes his place on Antony Gormley's Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square dressed as a giant poo/poop/whatever you want to call it. Good for him. He owes some credit of course to the renowned Mr Floatie, the admirable giant poop who represents Poop (People Opposed to Outfall Pollution) in Victoria, Canada.
(9th July 2009)
Today's enthusiasts: a hardy person who collects pictures of art museum toilets and posts them here. Somewhere I have pictures of the Zanzibar museum toilets which I will send along.
And some proper enthusiasm for the Thames tunnel here. I also like public infrastructure projects, but I also think, as I've said over and over, that bigger and better pipes aren't the only solution. ...
→ Gaza
(7th July 2009)
A no-holds-bared account of what it is like to live in a Gazan village surrounded by sewage lagoons. Though for once the shit is Palestinian and not pumped in by Israelis, which makes a change.
(7th July 2009)
Another Lesser Stink in London this week, when 20,000 tonnes of raw sewage poured into the Thames from Mogden sewage works, one of London's big treatment plants, and known for its Mogden Pong. The discharge was legal and predictable - heavy rains in a short space of time, not enough storage for excess volume - and the usual excuses were used, according to ...