topicalhuman.com

I’ve been casually interested for a while in the notion of environmentally-friendly, energy efficient houses. I’m not in a position to be building a house, but I like the idea that if I was in such a position, I could build just such a house. I’ve also often thought that there could be a business opportunity in this.

Since changing my career last year and getting into the building industry, I have both become more interested, and less excited in this idea. As I now work in this industry, in theory I’m much closer to being able to learn what one would need to know to embark on this kind of project. But having worked in the building industry for a short while now, I am also getting an idea of just how difficult this kind of project would be.

Scott Adams reminded me of this with his recent post on the same topic. It is sad that there appears to be no real demand for green homes. And from my small experience, I have to agree with this assessment.

I also agree that the biggest issue is that there is so much FUD surrounding this topic, people just give up. ‘Tis a shame.

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Now playing: Green Day - Hitchin’ A Ride
via FoxyTunes

Yes, I’m back. Likely to still be posting lightly for a while, but we’ve finally gotten the internet connected at home.

It’s funny how not having it for 3 months or so makes you realise how much you need it, but also how much time you can waste on it. I’m going to be minimising much of the superfluous stuff (which includes posting here sometimes), and getting on with things that really matter. Speaking of which, I’m off to the Gym now with my lovely wife. Ciao!

I’m back from the honeymoon (had a wonderful time, thank you), but still going to be blogging lightly for a little while I’d imagine.

Went to see John Fogerty (with Don McLean supporting) at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre last night - good times!

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Now playing: John Fogerty - Born On The Bayou
via FoxyTunes

I’m getting married on Saturday. Therefore, I’ll probably not be posting here, or anywhere else, for a good while.

Yay!

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Now playing: The Screaming Tribesmen - Psychotic Reaction
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Wired.com has a great article on Autism/Aspergers, and how some people with these conditions are challenging the scientific community to come up with a better categorization for these conditions, rather than it being a mental disorder or, worse, retardation.

It’s obviously a touchy subject for the people with this condition, and the scientific/medical types. I think this article also nicely touches on the concerns for the families of Autistic/Aspergers people. Worth a read if you’re interested in this subject.

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Now playing: Sonic Animation - Theophilius Thistler (… an excersise in vowels)
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This morning, I was looking through my RSS feeds, and in particular was looking at the BoingBoing feed. There was an article there about a leaked Pentagon document drafted for the President which stated that if the USA didn’t start taking Global warming seriously there was going to be major global upheaval by the year 2020 (this was the gist of it as I remember…you’ll see why I can’t link or be more specific below).

As this was something I was interested in, but didn’t have the time to read it immediately, I opened the link in a new tab, so I could read it later.

However when I went to read it, all I had was a ‘404′ error. But I knew I wasn’t imagining this, as the browser still had the address for the post: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/02/23/pentagon-to-bush-cli.html (I am still getting the ‘404′ error).

So what happened? Was the post pulled? If so, why? Has big brother gotten involved? Perhaps it is something more benign, like BoingBoing’s CMS throwing up old articles (a Google search indicates that this has happened before, as recently as 2006), or am I just an idiot who has missed something really obvious? I’d love to know.

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Now playing: Jane’s Addiction - Been Caught Stealing (12″ Remix Version)
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I’ve rather haphazardly followed the progress of the Tesla Electric Car, and this is the latest installment of that line of thought.

(Yes, I badly want one!)

TreeHugger recently had an article about the first one to roll off the production line. Obviously, ramping up production is a big challenge for the company - they apparently have well over 1,000 ordered. And at approximately US$100,000 each, they have lots of incentive to do so.

However, Robert Scoble has had the extreme pleasure of getting a ride in the very same car. It sounds awesome! And not to be sneezed at is Scoble’s observation that “…the Tesla only costs about three dollars to “fill up” with an electric charge that’ll last you more than 200 miles. Let’s put it this way, my Saturn only goes about 20 miles on gasoline that costs that much.”

Sounds Awesome!

[Bonus Link] Treehugger has another interesting post on the ongoing love affair with big, big, mostly stupid cars.

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Now playing: Buzzcocks - Promises
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These are a couple of links that provided some light entertainment for me.

A fellow in Denmark relates an amusing story about the police seizing his computer.

Boing Boing has an interesting post on optical illusions.

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Now playing: Pearl Jam - Alive (Brendan O’Brien Remix)
via FoxyTunes

Today marks the sixth month of my engagement to Jules, and in six weeks from tomorrow we’ll be getting married. Sure, there has been some stresses in regard to organising a wedding, and making adjustments peculiar to such a big change in our lives, but as the title of this post suggests, I am having the time of my life.

I wish some circumstances were a little different, but I haven’t any regrets. Having Jules in my life gives me an extra sense of meaningful purpose and overwhelming joy.

I guess the point of this is that I’m madly in love, and I wanted to ’shout it from the rooftops’.

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Now playing: Nick Drake - One Of These Things First
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I had an awesome day last Sunday.

Jules organised a surprise day out, and after lunch at her place, she took me to the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art here in Brisbane. I really enjoyed it. I had wanted to go - although I’m not an expert on his work, I’ve admired the simplicity and accessibility of much of Warhol’s work. There is something for everyone there, and I think even casual art fans will enjoy it.

After taking out time at the Gallery, and catching up with some friends for coffee, we went had had an early tea - fish and chips in the park. Nice! This was followed by a visit to the Moonlight Cinema. And what movie was showing? Only my favourite movie of all time, “The Blues Brothers“.

Awesome!

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Now playing: Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
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