Keys Corner

Cats suffering from stress often suffer from bladder infections.

What should you give such a cat? Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone wants a bit of the action:

• Debt-laden Eurotunnel to slash costs and capacity

  Eurotunnel’s revenues have never met its own projections because usage of the tunnel has been far below its expectations. Its trucks business continues to be hit by competition from ferry operators, while many potential car users take the ferry or leave their cars and use low-cost airlines instead.



• P&O to slash workforce by 1,200

  The group announced the closure of four of its 13 ferry routes and cut eight ships from its fleet…
  ...The company has been losing business in the face of rising competition from no-frills airlines and Eurotunnel



• Ryanair reiterates budget ‘bloodbath’ warning

  Ryanair, Europe’s largest discount airline, today said there were already signs of the “bloodbath” it had predicted for the winter months as budget airlines cut their fares.

Researchers at Perdue University can identify what model of laser printer produced a particular printout. The researchers have discovered that the intensity of the print produced by a particular printer varies in a unique manner (banding) as the page is printed. This is because printers are made from parts manufactured to a relatively low accuracy, in order to keep costs down.

The discovery resulted from research done for printer manfacturers to find ways to reduce the banding, which is often not visible to the nacked eye. At the moment, the characteristics of the banding change when a toner cartridge is replaced, but it would be possible to add deliberate imperfections to their printers, to allow the authorities to identify exactly which printer that was used to produce forgeries or documents presented as evidence in criminal cases. The American Secret Service is now working with the researchers, giving them guidance as to the “right direction” for the research, which they hope will provide better methods for tracing documents and counterfeit bank notes.

Talk about incompetent (again)- despite several warnings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that they needed to keep an eye on the Iraqi nuclear installations, the USA has let 350 tons of high explosive be stolen from under their noses. The explosives can be used in powerful conventional weapons or to detonate nuclear devices.

Never mind: Bush junior tells us that the world is much safer now, than it was before he initiated the invasion of Iraq, so everything must be OK. I hope.

We use a lot of olive oil in our cooking, so it is nice to hear that olive oil helps prevent colon and breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and other aging diseases as well as leading to healthier bones and fewer heart disease problems. Of course, ideally, the oil should be complemented with a glass of red wine for optimal health!

Has the latest voting machine program code been leaked ahead of the election?

This week, a British government report on the dangers of passive smoking was leaked. The report cites passive smoking is a “substantial public health hazard”. Yesterday, Liverpool city council voted (57 votes to 7) to become the first city in the UK to ban smoking in all public enclosed spaces (such as shopping malls, restaurants or pubs), with fines of up to £1000 for offenders.

In the mean time, German politicians have been continuing their debate, which has already lasted 30 years, as to whether over-16’s should be allowed to continue to smoking in the breaks at school. Unfortunately, I fear this debate, and the lack willingness to take action, is symptomatic of the general lack of will by the politicians here to make reforms in other more important areas, such as labour laws and taxation – the ship is sinking as the band, or in this case, the politicians, continue to play.

... No, I’m not talking about the latest and greatest sub-notebook PC, I’m talking about a top of the range sewing machine.

(And, yes, we are back online. We took a two week break to visit some friends in Javea and then spent the rest of the time in Extremadura and Andalusia – trying out everything from Paradores to B&B at casas rurales (privately run houses, which you can find listed on several web sites, including this one). We had a great time – what a pity to have to return from a sunny 18 – 25°C to a rainy 4.5°C back in Schmitten. Pix will follow when we have sorted them out).

Following on from my posting about the IMF warning about overheated house prices in the UK, I see that the Scottish Widows Bank commisioned a survey by YouGov and found that 63% of recent university graduates can not afford to buy a home. The situation isn’t much better for those who have been working for a number of years. Among those who left university 6 years ago, 20% fear they will never be able to afford their own place. The problem is the high property prices, combined with debts built up while studying – around £13 000 per student in Scotland, and even more in England.

And today another independent economic consultancy published a forecast that UK house prices will drop by 20%. Which given the massive rises over the last 2-3 years, seems to me to be a very moderate fall, although even this means that some 400 000 households will end up having paid more for their home than it is subsequently worth.

When George W. Bush was elected president, and particularly after September 11, I saw that the values and principles of open society needed to be defended at home. September 11 led to a suspension of the critical process so essential to a democracy – a full and fair discussion of the issues. President Bush silenced all criticism by calling it unpatriotic. When he said that “either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists,” I heard alarm bells ringing. I am afraid that he is leading us in a very dangerous direction. We are losing the values that have made America great…

Read the full text of Soros’ speach this week at the National Press Club, Washington here.

(via vowe dot net)