the video the US Army doesn’t want you to see

I place this video on my blog with a rather necessary warning. I could only make it about half way through because it was so disturbing.
Wartime atrocities are nothing new, we’ve know about how invading troops commit horrors since wars were first documented. I became aware to the extent of these atrocities committed by [...]

go white blood cell!

This video shows a neutrophil (a type of white blood cell) chasing a staphylococcus aureus bacterium. The video was recorded by biochemistry professor David Rogers of Vanderbilt University in the 1950s.

[via Neatorama]

the real-life Avatar

It was obvious the James Cameron’s latest blockbuster lacked originality but a far more spectacular (but less 3D) story occurred in Papua New Guinea. The Coconut Revolution details the world’s first eco-revolution where indigenous peoples successfully fought off the combined might of a giant multi-national mining corporation, paid mercenaries and two governments’ militaries. Awesome stuff. [...]

the high cost of free parking

Loved this short little documentary (~8 mins) on why regulations requiring free parking are a bane to society.
Key takeaways from this example in Auckland: There will always be too much parking because the parking capacity is designed for 15% peak scenarios, meaning 85% of the time there is way more than enough parking. Free [...]

The 100 Mile Diet on Vancouver Island

Loved this short little animation for the 100 Mile Food Society! Home is Where the Food is:

permaculture: a short film

Jane and I just finished watching this outstanding short film on the problems facing the UK (and ultimately the world) in supplying food while facing the reality of declining energy supplies. Unfortunately so much of the dialogue around peak oil centers on “Collapse” but the more I learn about permaculture, the more I think the [...]

the Shock Doctrine

Just discovered that Naomi Klein has turned the concept of her book The Shock Doctrine (2008, Picador). This the most important 6 and a half minutes you can use today because it covers the entire concept behind the formation of our modern “free market” system,

almost 1/4 of the world’s prison population is in the US

how many prisoners does the United States have? Only about 1/4 of all the world’s prison population.

British Columbia rules

Flying into Charlotte-Douglas airport today was an emotional experience. My return home for the first time in five months was a great time to reflect on the beauty of all the amazing experiences I’ve had. However, I think I was mostly disappointed in the pristine landscape ruined by cookie cutter homes and cul-de-sacs cutting through [...]

few are classified as unemployed

Absolutely brilliant…