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

The trick to sticking to a project every day—for years

I’m trying out a new to-do list. It’s the first page of a spreadsheet I’m filling with projects, which will be broken down into the tasks involved as I start them. It means I’ll always have a list of things to work on, and when I’m done, I can cross the job off. Every Sunday (more often on really productive weeks), I mark the completed jobs and print out a new version of the sheet.

I don’t know how this would marry up with the advice in the linked article, but I’ll take it on board as well. You can’t finish any projects unless you start them, and the best way to progress is to commit to keep working in them, even if it is only a little every day.

https://qz.com/how-to-commit-projects-personal-professional-1850999982

Fast before Fast

Old Poliziotteschi films had some great car chases. All done for real, including crashing a car down the Spanish Steps- something Fast X had to do with special effects and replica steps. Even better, the scene was inspired by real events.

The wild world of SEO

I keep getting job suggestions that involve SEO, but feel I can’t apply for them. If I was good enough to get a job doing SEO, I’d be driving so much traffic to my shop and YouTube channel that I wouldn’t need a job at all.

But hopefully, I wouldn’t become the sort of SEO pirate talked about in this article.

If I mention SEO a fee more times, will it help Spinneyhead’s SEO?

https://www.theverge.com/features/23931789/seo-search-engine-optimization-experts-google-results

The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi

The drive from Penrith to Allendale was an adventure in itself, and the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi was one of those surprising, eccentric gems you find in the oddest of places.

It’s fitting that a museum with a lot of Dr Who memorabilia should pack so much into a relatively tiny space. This is just a sample of what they’ve got, and doesn’t include any of the promotional announcements by Davros!

If your in the Allendale area, you should definitely drop in. Check opening times though.

The bitter taste of climate change.

As if things couldn’t get worse- climate change is set to reduce the quantity and quality of beer. Warming and changing seasons and precipitation patterns mean a reduction in the hops harvest, with flowers containing less of the alpha acids that give the flavour.

https://theconversation.com/hotter-drier-summers-will-make-european-craft-beers-less-hoppy-new-study-215273