When the Sahara was green

Wobbles of the Earth on its axis have created periods when the Sahara was savannah rather than desert. These periods recur roughly every 21,000 years, and the last one was around 10,000 years ago. Counterintuitively, the greeting happened when the tilt moved the Northern Hemisphere so it was warmer, which increased humidity and rainfall. It’s not clear whether climate change is going to have a similar effect, or if that would matter with all the other problems it causes.

https://theconversation.com/the-sahara-desert-used-to-be-a-green-savannah-new-research-explains-why-216555


How (cyber) safe is Sellafield?

Growing up in West Cumbria, Sellafield had a big presence in everyone’s lives, and I worked there for a year before university. It is not reassuring to hear how vulnerable it may be to cyber attack.

An aside- the ‘golfball’ building, which I think was an experimental fast breeder reactor, gets used in so many reports on the site. But I think it was decommissioned before I even worked there in the eighties, and has been a mostly empty shell ever since.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/05/ministers-pressed-by-labour-over-cyber-attack-at-sellafield-by-foreign-groups


At last! A union I may qualify to join

Please subscribe to the Spinneyworld Models YouTube channel, and its little brother Spinneyhead Books.

As I’ve been a temp for most of my working life, I’ve never felt that there was a union that I belonged in. As my YouTube channel grows, it’s possible one of the nascent creator unions (though some don’t call themselves that) may be a match for me.

https://theconversation.com/with-the-end-of-the-hollywood-writers-and-actors-strikes-the-creator-economy-is-the-next-frontier-for-organized-labor-217657


Is India carrying out assassination abroad

It’s alleged that Indian intelligence operatives (or assassins hired by them) have been targeting Sikh activists abroad. The cases cited in this report were in Canada and the USA, but if it’s been happening there, it’s happened in other countries too.

Foreign kill teams on the streets is definitely thriller material, but I don’t think India’s religious turmoil is the background most script writers would run with.

https://theconversation.com/alleged-assassination-plots-in-the-u-s-and-canada-signal-a-more-assertive-indian-foreign-policy-218907


Project City- bringing the door panels to life

Time for a new car project.

The Microace Honda City is a simple kit, so I want to add some extra details. The first parts to get this are the door panels, with 3D printed parts replacing the flat moulded in features.

You can buy the parts used in this build at Spinneyworld.

The door handles, winders and armrests used in this part of the build were designed by Denilsonvm model cars, and can be found on Cults3D.

The Microace Honda City is available from Hobbylink Japan (affiliate link).


In my will, I shall leave most of my assets to guillotine makers

So it seems the royal family grabs your assets if you die intestate, and King Chas has been using such funds to renovate his property portfolio.

That’s not acceptable, and we need the money back, with fines. Or he can sign over some of his buildings to be used in the national interest. Better still, we can seize Royal assets on the monarch’s death and cut the family’s unjustified wealth every time one of them pops their clogs.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/24/king-charles-estate-collecting-assets-dead-bizarre-feudal-remnant-andy-burnham


AARGH!

Today is the 20th anniversary of the repeal of Section 28. Finding that out sent me to my bookshelf to see if I still have my copy of AARGH! – Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia – the comic put together to protest it.

It’s really sad that we’re in the position where a mutated zombie version of Section 28 could be unleashed upon us. It may be time for AART! – Artists Against Rampant Transphobia.


The environmental scars of war

As well as the immediate death and destruction, armed conflicts have a long term effect on the places they’re fought in. Left over munitions and mines are an obvious problem- I knew they still dig up shells from World War 1, but hadn’t realised it was so bad there are still effective no-go zones- but knock on effects are also an issue. The focus of resources on the military lets other systes break down, and natural disasters are more devastating in war zones and their surroundings.

I addressed similar issues in Sounds of Soldiers, but didn’t imagine how much larger they truly are.

https://theconversation.com/conflict-pollution-washed-up-landmines-and-military-emissions-heres-how-war-trashes-the-environment-216987


Heating up animal brains

The movie pitch is that some ancient or mythological creature is defrosted by climate change and wreaks havoc on mankind. The truth is going to be more pervasive, with populations shifting, plant life changing, and massive changes no matter how well they adapt.

https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-altering-animal-brains-and-behavior-a-neuroscientist-explains-how-215035