Could not sleep, so returned to work for until 3am, which was sufficiently soporific to induce sleep upon my return to bed. Work for Mr Scholz completed and dispatched over the web, including an excellent recording of Mr Straus's exposition on the United Kingdom's beverage industry at the end of May.
In anticipation of a possible trip to Egypt later in the year, the fear is that the excessive heat there may cause problems without acclimatization. The incident sunlight and its radiant heat in my office certainly raised ambient temperature when the door was closed. This suggested a route to familiarisation with elevated temperatures; I found myself spending the afternoon at a balmy 27 degrees Centigrade on a partially clouded day. No doubt further opportunities will arise as the summer progresses.
The media are still full of the E. coli outbreak in Germany, with some degree of Schadenfreude, as the authorities there seem to bumble from identifying possible sources and then failing to provide evidence. Spain had now been discarded – after a collapse of its salad vegetable industry, a restaurant in Northern Germany and then a bean sprout factory were next. With salad vegetables now off the menu throughout most of Europe, it is the farmer who are taking the economic consequences in drastic losses in what should be their peak period. The news from the UK is that local grown vegetables and salads have not been affected and are safe.
Today saw the broadcast of the first of a series of programs compiled using cameras attached to soldiers helmets in the conflict in Afghanistan. It was gripping and moving to see young men in action in 2007, in a dangerous environment, and the traumatic impact and consequences of a death in battle on fellow soldiers and the family back in Britain. A battle that resulted in 23 deaths in total, 22 of them Taliban.
Volcanoes continue to make their impact worldwide, with the Chilean eruption disrupting flights in South America.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
Blogging from my kindle
Through the wonders of technology, I thought to try out accessing my blog and write a short entry using my Kindle. Remarkably, it appears to function tolerably well, though it was slightly slow. Contrary to common perceptions of the male of the species, I was able to simultaneously deal with a long distance computing challenge over the telephone, set by my mother. I proudly present, my first blog via kindle.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Return journey to Lincoln and the Architecture Students exhibition
This morning was the last foray to let the chickens of our neighbours before the latter returned from their holiday in Yorkshire. I was rewarded with an egg, pristine and still slightly warm, nestling on the hay where moments before a chicken had roosted.
Toast, tea and a boiled egg later, Mrs T and I set off for Lincoln, to collect Miss T for the summer break after her second year at University.
We traversed the dangerous stretch of the A14 to Huntingdon at a remarkable speed and without incident and left Cambridgeshire on the delightfully six-laned and quiet A1 North. Past Peterborough, the road began to undulate on the increasing but gentle rolling hills. The fields were looking greener here, compared to the severely drought ridden Eastern counties.
Twice, we saw red kites with their distinctive forked tails and slightly raffish wings, wheeling above us as we thundered past at 70 miles per hour. At Newark, we turned off onto the A46 in anticipation of having made good time to Lincoln, only to encounter a temporary queue within a couple of miles of the city.
Miss T kept an eye out for us and directed the car to a small hidden car park, a short walk along the quay to her accommodation for a short break. For lunch we dropped in on Prezzos, for salads or soups according to taste. As part of my campaign towards a reduced waistline, I thoroughly enjoyed the lighter option of king prawns on pizza bread with a good mixed salad. The latter enjoyed all the more in the knowledge that the UK has not been affected by the plateauing E. coli outbreak in Germany, now tentatively linked with a Northern German restaurant in Luebeck and another in Hamburg.
Miss T invited us to view the exhibits by architecture students in their third and fifth years. We spent an hour wandering around and I was increasingly frustrated with the presentation of the otherwise excellent and imaginative displays. In most instances, there was little attempt at clearly presenting a story that the visitor could follow. The exceptions were some of the third year students, who added legible labels and had a clear flow in their exhibits for the eye to follow through.
From my experience of attending Ecobuild and accompanying German companies in the Green, restoration and retrofitting sector, I was also surprised by the apparent lack of obvious major inclusion of energy efficient and other green features in many of the works.
We then returned for a cup of tea to the student lodgings and took on the surprisingly simple task of collecting Miss T's packed luggage and possessions. I was even more surprised that the economy of materials to be returned home left the rear windscreen of the car still clear for visibility.
The journey back passed equally well and without problems, with high cloud gradually coming from the West as a harbinger of the meteorlogical change to cooler wetter weather expected tomorrow.
Toast, tea and a boiled egg later, Mrs T and I set off for Lincoln, to collect Miss T for the summer break after her second year at University.
We traversed the dangerous stretch of the A14 to Huntingdon at a remarkable speed and without incident and left Cambridgeshire on the delightfully six-laned and quiet A1 North. Past Peterborough, the road began to undulate on the increasing but gentle rolling hills. The fields were looking greener here, compared to the severely drought ridden Eastern counties.
Twice, we saw red kites with their distinctive forked tails and slightly raffish wings, wheeling above us as we thundered past at 70 miles per hour. At Newark, we turned off onto the A46 in anticipation of having made good time to Lincoln, only to encounter a temporary queue within a couple of miles of the city.
Miss T kept an eye out for us and directed the car to a small hidden car park, a short walk along the quay to her accommodation for a short break. For lunch we dropped in on Prezzos, for salads or soups according to taste. As part of my campaign towards a reduced waistline, I thoroughly enjoyed the lighter option of king prawns on pizza bread with a good mixed salad. The latter enjoyed all the more in the knowledge that the UK has not been affected by the plateauing E. coli outbreak in Germany, now tentatively linked with a Northern German restaurant in Luebeck and another in Hamburg.
Miss T invited us to view the exhibits by architecture students in their third and fifth years. We spent an hour wandering around and I was increasingly frustrated with the presentation of the otherwise excellent and imaginative displays. In most instances, there was little attempt at clearly presenting a story that the visitor could follow. The exceptions were some of the third year students, who added legible labels and had a clear flow in their exhibits for the eye to follow through.
From my experience of attending Ecobuild and accompanying German companies in the Green, restoration and retrofitting sector, I was also surprised by the apparent lack of obvious major inclusion of energy efficient and other green features in many of the works.
We then returned for a cup of tea to the student lodgings and took on the surprisingly simple task of collecting Miss T's packed luggage and possessions. I was even more surprised that the economy of materials to be returned home left the rear windscreen of the car still clear for visibility.
The journey back passed equally well and without problems, with high cloud gradually coming from the West as a harbinger of the meteorlogical change to cooler wetter weather expected tomorrow.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Longlist research and the new compulsory pension provision for UK employees.
Mundane internet research for an Icelandic client before and after today's meeting of the Huntingdonshire Business Network (HBN). A slow but steady accumulation of companies for a long list.
Today was the monthly HBN seminar, presented as a workshop by Mr Stockdale of RHG. In his inimitable and humorous style, his main topic was the introduction of the new compulsory pension system being introduced for employees and the impact on businesses and business strategies. I recorded the fascinating talk, with audience questions and comments and Mr Stockdale may be able to use it in conjunction with the slide show. Mr Wishart also kept the wider Twittersphere informed by tweeting choice comments that some of us then retweeted to our contacts.
The wide ranging changes will initially add costs to both employees and companies, each having to make significant contributions, unless the employee opts out of the system. Even then, the employee will be again automatically opted in after three years, so must make a renewed conscious decision to opt out if still so desiring.
For the self employed and one man companies, this is likely to swell their ranks as larger companies might feel reluctant to commit to additional costs and instead contract out work. The new system may also create new business opportunities as small or medium sized companies with few employees look for cost effective solutions to manage the complexities of their now compulsory pension provision.
Booked flight tickets for a visit to NRW Germany after Cambridge Open Studios in the evening and then also continued research for writing a simple guide to creating an e-book.
Today was the monthly HBN seminar, presented as a workshop by Mr Stockdale of RHG. In his inimitable and humorous style, his main topic was the introduction of the new compulsory pension system being introduced for employees and the impact on businesses and business strategies. I recorded the fascinating talk, with audience questions and comments and Mr Stockdale may be able to use it in conjunction with the slide show. Mr Wishart also kept the wider Twittersphere informed by tweeting choice comments that some of us then retweeted to our contacts.
The wide ranging changes will initially add costs to both employees and companies, each having to make significant contributions, unless the employee opts out of the system. Even then, the employee will be again automatically opted in after three years, so must make a renewed conscious decision to opt out if still so desiring.
For the self employed and one man companies, this is likely to swell their ranks as larger companies might feel reluctant to commit to additional costs and instead contract out work. The new system may also create new business opportunities as small or medium sized companies with few employees look for cost effective solutions to manage the complexities of their now compulsory pension provision.
Booked flight tickets for a visit to NRW Germany after Cambridge Open Studios in the evening and then also continued research for writing a simple guide to creating an e-book.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Two meetings and Ion Torrent Sequencing of German E.coli outbreak
The delayed 10.01am number 9 bus took me into Cambridge for a meeting with the dynamic Dr Lorenz in the civilised environs of the Michealhouse Cafe. It was a delight to converse in German again, though both of us stumbled over words occasionally, the penalty of living in the UK.
Dr Lorenz was assisting a technology company travelling to an exhibition in Gemany and she was interested in potential synergies between our international interests in the future. We parted with the full intention to keep in touch as no doubt such opportunities would arise.
Returning to Milton for a short break in the Country Park, I then ventured to the new offices of the Currency Exchange Network, to meet Ms Lockyer in response to her attendance at last Friday's HBN meeting. MS Lockyer was able to inform me in greater detail of the cost effective financial exchange solutions that would primarily benefit larger businesses. In turn, I was able to assist her through familiarisation with the versatile tool that is Linkedin.
Tonight's news was agog with the continuing developments in the German E. coli outbreak, releasing the tantalising detail that the genome of the strain had been sequenced and appeared to be novel.
Immediate research revealed that the genome had been sequenced within three days by BGI-Shenzhen, using a new DNA sequencing technology called Ion Torrent sequencing. I immediately wrote a short article for my miltoncontact blog on the subject which you can read here:
http://miltoncontact.blogspot.com/2011/06/ion-torrent-sequencing-technology-helps.html
Dr Lorenz was assisting a technology company travelling to an exhibition in Gemany and she was interested in potential synergies between our international interests in the future. We parted with the full intention to keep in touch as no doubt such opportunities would arise.
Returning to Milton for a short break in the Country Park, I then ventured to the new offices of the Currency Exchange Network, to meet Ms Lockyer in response to her attendance at last Friday's HBN meeting. MS Lockyer was able to inform me in greater detail of the cost effective financial exchange solutions that would primarily benefit larger businesses. In turn, I was able to assist her through familiarisation with the versatile tool that is Linkedin.
Tonight's news was agog with the continuing developments in the German E. coli outbreak, releasing the tantalising detail that the genome of the strain had been sequenced and appeared to be novel.
Immediate research revealed that the genome had been sequenced within three days by BGI-Shenzhen, using a new DNA sequencing technology called Ion Torrent sequencing. I immediately wrote a short article for my miltoncontact blog on the subject which you can read here:
http://miltoncontact.blogspot.com/2011/06/ion-torrent-sequencing-technology-helps.html
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Translation, E.coli and Hunts Speakers
Started the morning with a German – English translation for a Columbian company, which was completed and returned by midday. Edited, formatted and uploaded a second video, demonstration of painting roses by Mrs Evans before conducting more mundane letter writing and some internet research. Registered Mr McArthur's book Ka Sefofane with PubMed, having established its weight (650g), the last detail required before registration.
Radio news focussed on the E. coli contaminated cucumbers in Germany, which now are believed not to have originated in Spain. Cases in Northern Germany have risen to more than 2000 and the source is still unknown.
The evening was enlivened by attending the Huntingdonshire Speakers group of Toastmasters International. An event full of emotion as two members had recently suffered bereavement and each gave an eloquent and moving speech. My role this evening was to introduce and then evaluate Mrs Ekblom, who gave an inspirational presentation on “Killer Islands”. She was referring to the continents of plastic waste accumulating at mid oceanic gyres, where the detritus is mistaken for food by sea-birds and other oceanic denizens, thus causing lethal damage.
An unusual fact that I was unaware of – the storm drains of Bangladesh were found to be blocked by waste plastic bags, contributing to the devastation caused by floods and this has led to the use of plastic bags being banned in cities in the region and in India.
For the second time in recent time, drawn outside by the noise of a Helicopter circling over Milton for a couple of minutes before departing.
Radio news focussed on the E. coli contaminated cucumbers in Germany, which now are believed not to have originated in Spain. Cases in Northern Germany have risen to more than 2000 and the source is still unknown.
The evening was enlivened by attending the Huntingdonshire Speakers group of Toastmasters International. An event full of emotion as two members had recently suffered bereavement and each gave an eloquent and moving speech. My role this evening was to introduce and then evaluate Mrs Ekblom, who gave an inspirational presentation on “Killer Islands”. She was referring to the continents of plastic waste accumulating at mid oceanic gyres, where the detritus is mistaken for food by sea-birds and other oceanic denizens, thus causing lethal damage.
An unusual fact that I was unaware of – the storm drains of Bangladesh were found to be blocked by waste plastic bags, contributing to the devastation caused by floods and this has led to the use of plastic bags being banned in cities in the region and in India.
For the second time in recent time, drawn outside by the noise of a Helicopter circling over Milton for a couple of minutes before departing.
Wisteria video, painting poppy and migraine
Tuesday - A routine catch up after a long weekend and installation of new software.
Notable was editing, formatting and uploading the video of Mrs Evans demonstrating the representation of Wisteria using Chinese Brush Painting on YouTube.
Today was also the last lesson with Mrs Evans' group, where we tackled poppies and some insects as well as bidding each other adieu until late Autumn. Stopping off in town, I was unsuccessful in finding slightly patterned Japanese papers for Cambridge Open Studios, whilst finding some screw-cap pots for paint.
That evening, migraine gave an advance notice before rapidly developing into a serious attack sending me to bed early.
Notable was editing, formatting and uploading the video of Mrs Evans demonstrating the representation of Wisteria using Chinese Brush Painting on YouTube.
Today was also the last lesson with Mrs Evans' group, where we tackled poppies and some insects as well as bidding each other adieu until late Autumn. Stopping off in town, I was unsuccessful in finding slightly patterned Japanese papers for Cambridge Open Studios, whilst finding some screw-cap pots for paint.
That evening, migraine gave an advance notice before rapidly developing into a serious attack sending me to bed early.
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