B

Buildings used to be intelligent. And 500 years ago when they built the great hall at Oxford University, some absolutely normal bloke squinted up at those soaring beams and figured 'aye, them'll need a replacement or two in a while; I'd better drop some acorns over in yonder paddock', and indeed, the engineer in charge of the renovation of said great hall, when wondering how he'd get wood that size for an authentic renovation, was surprised to find an absolutely normal bloke doffing his cap saying; 'aye, we've 'ad a stand of them oaks earmarked for them rafters for a while', and indeed, the wood went in real well, if you travel a little, and want to look at something a little deeper than your 'destination hotel' and some recently upgraded beach. I'm renovating an old farm building right now; the engineer who inspected it said, in the space of three cigarettes, 'knock it down and build a new one'... the neighbour is doing just that, and getting permission to do all that is taking longer than you can imagine. I will use more than 70% of the 100+ year old wood again; in fact, getting replacement timber of authentic nature is more of a test than it is worth; our native pine is Spruce; everything else is Oak; I will have plenty of tech stuff; but it will be inside; outside will be spruce and oak, and a drop of good oil and a bit of colour will make it look real easy on the eye. There is an industry in Vancouver, of recladding highrise apartments as the original cladding fails; anyone involved in a Body Corporate will know the likely cost of said replacement; a detail not on the glossy brochures when the project was floated; truth is, these industries are the backbone of the economy of many countries, and I wonder how many more centuries this roguery will prevail. Seems there is a line of gullible people believing 'easy maintenance', and just queueing to put their deposits down; the renovations they will need in five years carry a five year guarantee. You do the math.
I don't like advertising; the opposite is the truth, but Biobased is a company making a vegetable based foam insulation you spray on the insides of buildings; it holds the structure together even in a hurricane; but I can't use it here because it has not been approved for Europe; In fact, the company reports it has been extremely disheartening how slow it has been getting approval. This is a great product. There is a hurricane machine at the University of Florida, set up to test the donated housing used to aid Katrina victims; (hey, that's the biggest joke of all ain't it George?) Little can I get of their results; I suspect that the donated houses will, to a one, fold under the pressure. Spray a structure on the inside, with a moisture resistant, environmentally friendly insulation foam, and one has, for all our foreseeable futures, a better step to sanity with the roofs over our heads. I didn't worry about this till I fully clad a house in the latest 'fibreglass batts', soundproofing and all, and in a really cold blow, the house lost all its heat in ten minutes. Since then I do not believe 'R Factor' in insulation; It's a crock, and the founding fathers of YOUR country are up to their elbows in this shit, and sell it to your grandchildren too, unless you wake up. Nuff said.

A

Auto makers, and George W, have our future survival pinned on Hydrogen systems. The world's leading energy entrepreneur, Vinhod Khosla, finds 'no sense' in the concept. There is a research unit in the USA developing a small combustion engine turboed to give the required 300 horses every fat yank needs, with less weight; You do the math; want to lose 35kgs of ugly fat? Cut your head off, yank..... These same researchers figure on 4-5 years before this technology is in place.... long enough for the fat ones to lose those kilos anyway.....
If Mercedes get the plans for Ferrari, bet your bottom buck it's being imported into their formula one designs as we speak, and fining them $100 Million is the most 'anti progress' act any official could conjure up. e.g. 'Patent Trolls' are a nefarious bunch of sneaks who find a living from pointing to obvious likenesses with technologies, and scamming from the threat of legal action....(eBay vs. Mercexchange) and we will get NOWHERE fining an automotive developer. (I live in a country where one faces a fine if one's car is left unlocked...) I'm surprised my car doesn't recognize me the way I recognize it; I feel all this hitech is a waste; I drive slowly as the oncoming traffic doesn't keep to its side of the road; I've sold my Porsche, and am in the process of getting a Renault 4L; it doesn't even have wind up windows, but it has paid its due to the makers and breakers, and my van can go too; I'll carry a tent when I travel... have you ever been trying to sleep in a campervan in a rainstorm?? I'll roll the tent up and find a hotel for only slightly more than a serviced campsite for the van.
Please everybody wake up. This week important people are meeting all over the world to discuss how they will adjust to the effects of climate change. Their Audis and Mercs are wasting resources faster than my combined vehicles, and they're PARKED all day. Our country has declared a day of mourning for six people killed in floods. Holland has residential land 4 metres below sea level. Toyota unveiled two great cars this year; the FT HS concept, which targets 400 BHP for $30,000, a hybrid, of which everyone asks 'can you drift it under electric power?' and a cute little three seater, at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week, where everyone asked 'who is going to drive that?'
Demographics is a sad fact. Designers are meeting the needs of the marketing department; they won't wake up until you do. Nuff said.