The most incredible thing...

I had coffee as usual at Depeche this morning and learnt a little tidbit that I find absolutely fascinating. Part of our discussions revolved around Humphreys desire to produce good coffee while doing his bit for the planet. This involves Fair Trade coffee, tea and hot chocolate and also organic stuff.

One such product is One Water, which is a not-for-profit company that produces bottled water. All profits received by the company go into funding water pump systems in Africa. Its all fairly typical EXCEPT that this company funds the development of systems called PlayPumps. This is such a brilliant idea...

Water is pumped from storage tanks via attached playgrounds, which are located near schools. The movement of water is controlled solely by the act of children playing.

I absolutely love this concept. Not only does it mean the act of pumping water becomes less a chore and more play, but it also provides a connection between a western world that doesn't understand the developing world. It is extremely difficult to imagine what children in these areas have to live like, its just too different for us to perceive. However, any person, anywhere, appreciates the need for children to be children and playtime is invariably what symbolises this.
In buying this water, at least I, feel a greater connection to what I'm contributing to. I understand it.

What a fantastic idea!







Heres to you One! Nom Nom!

You wouldnt believe what happened during Home and Away yesterday!

So, I'm gonna have to take this back...

"Don't bother with the courtesy call, don't mind that i studied for your stupid interview for 2 week, traveled half an hour to your place of business and drove myself to heart attack with your nasty technical questions in the interview. I clearly don't deserve the token of a phone call to say, 'stop waiting by your phone'."

*blush*

I didnt get the 'stop waiting by your phone' call. I got the 'I'm terribly sorry for not getting back to you earlier, but we want you to work for us undertaking the public consultation section of one of our developments'.

You have never seen me so happy :)

(Except I miss my mum and dad, otherwise totally happy :) )


Nom nom mum and dad! xxx

Definition: Nomnom

From: The Urban Dictionary ()

1. Nomnom

The sound effect that is made when eating. The "OM" is the chew. Alternatively Nomnom is used to describe something tasty or nutritious.

Example:
Guy: I had a big cheesy pizza for tea yesterday

Friend: Nomnomnom

Also see:

...and could I have a bowl of water for my car outside too please? Hes very thirsty, its such a hot day...

Don't get me wrong by reading this, I truly think that we are doing something great by reducing our impact on the planet. This idea also makes me feel giddy with relief that there is an alternative to oil within our grasp. However, I do feel that there are questions that need to be asked.

So it seems that some company called Genepax has developed a new car that runs solely on water. In theory, the system runs in the same way as a standard fuel cell except that it contains some mineral that breaks water down into hydrogen and oxygen.

It sounds kinda nifty. In fact, they used their flash new invention to power the lights and tv used during their media release. The on site fuel cell system pumped out 300kW/s, charging a lead-acid battery. They then chucked this monster into the back of an electric car, which was driven during the demonstration.

Apparently, they plan to produce a 1kW system to power the car in the future. They reckon they can get production costs for each car down to US$5000.

Sounds lovely. Really lovely. Except I cant help but wonder how fast this car can actually go, and how much water it chews through. Unfortunately, none of these details were released.

I guess they would have to be better off than those old chip-fat converted engines that stunk and were pushing themselves at 20km an hour.

Simon and I were also discussing the pitfalls of the all-amazing bio-fuels that encouraged poorer countries who were producing the sugarcane and whatnot to sell it to the western world instead of keeping the stuff as food for the hungry.

Better. But maybe not perfect? If everyone was feeding their cars 10 liters of water a day, themselves a liter a day and their gardens and bathtubs even more, what happens to poor old Australia? New Zealand in a hot summer? Black outs and vehicle free days. That might work in London, but in Auckland you can't even find a bus without driving half an hour to the nearest park and ride, even then you would be lucky to be able to get on! In our traffic-jams, the sheer amount of water vapor produced by a water-fed battery would contribute to global warming just as much as petrol. Imagine the humidity.

Given the lack of details re: the eco-car, my extrapolations might be totally offbeat. But fark. I still think you might be digging a deeper hole if you went on to protect the planet from global warming (of which I am still skeptical (please read: Global Warming and Global Cooling: Evolution of Climate on Earth*))and the exhaustion of the global oil stocks (of which there is still no evidence, gosh, I wonder who buried the truth?) by forcing the poor to sell their only food stock for a pittance and forcing dry countries to feed very thirsty cars.

Prey tell, who exactly is benefiting from this disaster?

* Global Warming and Global Cooling: Evolution of Climate on Earth by O.G. Sorokhtin (Author), Leonid F. Khilyuk Ph.D. (Author), G.V. Chilingarian (Author).

(Recommended to me by the Environmental Engineering professor at University College Cork)

Editorial Reviews

"A fascinating tour-de-force of earth history . . . the main strength of the book is that it provides a comprehensive integrated model of the Earth and its climate. Individuals may question different aspects of the model. That is a positive aspect, however, as it will promote discussion and further research, resulting in a better understanding of the Earth and its climate." -- Alfred H. Pekarek, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, St. Cloud University

The theory of the Earth's climate evolution based on universal chemical-physical laws of matter-energy transformation is presented in the book. It shows how the process of Earth's core separation has led to formation and evolution of the hydrosphere and atmosphere. Having analyzed the processes of heat transfer in the atmosphere, the writers developed the adiabatic theory of the greenhouse effect, which was applied for analysis of climatic changes on the Earth. The influence of changes in climate on formation of mineral deposits and development of life on Earth was considered and presented based on modeling of typical climatic regimes. It shows that the anthropogenic effect on the Earth's global temperature is negligible in comparison with the effect of global forces of nature.

* Presents the theory of Earth's evolution based on the laws of chemical-density differentiation of the origin of the Earth
* Discusses the adiabatic theory of the greenhouse effect with quantitative estimates of the natural and anthropogenic influences on Earth's climates
* Describes the quantitative description of the evolution of the Earth's climate throughout geologic history and prediction of the future of the Earth's climate
* Investigates the global forces of nature driving the Earth's climate





For more info see:
June 16, 2008 09:59 AM - www.fuelcelltoday.com

ahh home....

This morning I got an email from my sister.. it said:

'are you there?'

RE: 'are you there?'
Uh.....yes?

'Laughing- what do you mean Uh... yes?'

'I'm here. Are you there?'

'Yes! I am here! I wanted to tell you- thought you already knew (as thought Mum and Dad had told you) but just didn't want to talk about it (which would be
understandable) although now M&D told me that they didn't tell you (blah
blah blah blah blah...)-'

You can see my heart racing all over those black and white lines. Its funny, how everything goes blurry and in the second it takes to read over the following line, you've changed it in your head to say just about anything you don't want to read.

I was seeing...

'I meant to tell you, well, I'm pregnant.'
'I meant to tell you, well, we are moving back to New Zealand.'
'I meant to tell you, I hate your guts and Ive changed my name so I don't have to be your sister anymore.' - I kinda relaxed then. She already changed her name to Campbell. I'm pretty sure she did that cause she loves her husband - not because I'm her sister.

Gave me the guts to read what it really said though...

'- we are going home in a couple of weeks - just for
a week.'

Well thats a relief! My heart is still racing...

Of course, it doesn't bother me at all that I didn't know, why would it? I explained to Anna that as much as I would LOVE to pop home for a visit, I'm busy trying to extract myself from this insanely large piece of gum I've got myself stuck in. I'm fully aware that the only escape from this sticky situation is to push and pull and scream really loudly until I get what I want.

Which is, incidentally, to get stuck in a new piece of gum called work. That gum would have to be tree gum though, being the corporate hippie that I am. And not Kauri gum either, because that would mean going home. Gosh, this analogy could go on forever.



It gets me thinking though, particularly after a weekend of thinking about home a lot.

I talked to dad on Sunday morning and it was lovely. Its been a while, I wanted to skype with good news about my last job interview but as there is still no news and I hadn't seen him for ages, I sucked it up and called. It does funny things to a girl away from home, you know, seeing daddy's smiling face and hearing him laugh. It warms my tummy.

I would have thought seeing him would make me homesick. In a way I guess it did, but at the same time, if I went home I might as well admit this country did me in. It beat me at my own game. I fully intend to force myself on these people so I don't want that.

Instead, it reminded me that no matter what happens, home is always there and will always be my little bubble of unconditional happy times. I only get those when I deserve or need them.

Dad also reminded me that I am actually in a fantastic place, which is true, with 'the one' which is also true. I love dat one. nom nom.

Anyway, I'm pleased with the way I've tidied home away into a little box and made it my reward for doing well. That means, by December, I will have to have made something out of myself!

Nom Nom!

P.S.

I Applied for this job 4 months ago... That is some SERIOUS consideration! Took me about an hour to figure out who the hell it was from...!

Dear Sarah

Thank you for taking the time to submit an application to URS for position number URS24399.
After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that on this occasion, you have not been short-listed for an interview.

If you have applied for other positions at URS you will be notified of the outcome when your application has been assessed with specific reference to each individual role.

We will also keep your resume on file and be in contact should any other position become available that suits your experience.

In the mean time, we encourage you to review and apply for any other vacancies advertised on our website https://www.urs.eu/local/careers/

We wish you every success in the future.

Sincerely,
URS Human Resources Ireland

Cafe Depeche and a taste from home...

I love our coffee place. Its right across the river from the sushihouse and I take my book there every morning and drink Corks best coffee (sometimes its right up there with the Altura standard). Lately the weather has been very agreeable, when the sun shines, it SHINES, the rest of the time its pretty warm but almost always threatening rain. Still, its lovely to sit outside, and fun too, when I only have to take my seat by the door at Cafe Depeche and know my coffee will be in front of me in seconds without my having to even speak. Always with the cheerful smile from the lovely Canadian Valarie or the educational food and coffee banter of Humphrey, the owner.

Over my first few months here, Humphrey, Si and I went about showing the Irish ways with the 'Flat White'. Before long, Humphrey had produced a coffee rivaling those I consumed feverishly during my dissertation. Within days, every employee at the establishment knew, under Humphreys instruction, that should either my or Simons face appear, the new 'Flat White' must be made with the precision demonstrated by himself.

Before too long, new menu boards appeared with our Southern Hemisphere specialty carefully printed at the bottom...


Ah, a taste from home....

Nom Nom

Alley News

Today folks, we are hoping to catch a glimpse of the notorious but rare, urinator. Typically, this species frolics in quiet back alleys, searching for spots to mark as his own. Occasionally, this act of marking territory can cause trouble among other local urinators and often, typical of urinator seasonal patterns, warm saturday nights become alley way brawls as gaggles of urinators battle over territory...

AWWW CRICKEY! heres one now!!!! awww wowwww, look at 'im goooo....

Positive correlation discovered between number of oriental foodstuffs and issues faced by potential foreign employees

What is it about Ireland that means everything has to be either badly done, or not done at all? Simon and I have been here at the Sushihouse for 5 months, but we still don't have any TV (other than the local channels we pick up with the laptop) or any telephone. Not that this bothers me too much, I still dont like TV much and Si and I get some good cards, scrabble and, as of yesterday, Mah-Jongg in.

What REALLY gets up my goat, however, is the fact that, I am gripping my cellphone, heart racing, a week on from my last interview, with no word yet. From experience, I know they may never call.

They just don't do that here. True to Irish style, if you aren't 'the one' matrix-ish, you might as well just bugger off.

Don't bother with the courtesy call, don't mind that
i studied for your stupid interview for 2 weeks,
traveled half an hour to your place of business and drove myself to heart attack with your nasty technical questions in the interview. I clearly don't deserve the token of a phone call to say, 'stop waiting by your phone'.

I'm getting used to it, I think. I also think that I'm having trouble getting a job for the same reasons sushi joints go out of business in this town. There is something very sccaarrrryyyy about things that are different....

Thats right, I'm terrifying folks.

Nom Nom for now.

Simon says...

Yo Sushi, Angel, London.

$150 NZ lunch for four.

Nom Nom's Lobby - Please remove your shoes before entering the building.

I love our apartment. Its light, airy and super comfy. Its little, but for us its the perfect size. Not two weeks ago, someone was filming a movie right beneath our lounge room window in the alley bellow (we are on the second floor). Simon and I stayed up through the night watching them cast spooky lights with their weird umbrellas and slide the camera along on makeshift train tracks. It was all interesting, and true to the dodginess of our alleyway, the movie was about prostitutes. There they were, fishnets and all, guzzling vodka from hip flasks picking up dudes as we and the cameras looked on.

So you can see, delightful as our apartment is, the dodgy alley beneath provides equally awesome daily entertainment. Generally in the form of hobos, drunkards and thieves, though, film crews are far less common.

Last Wednesday, in broad daylight, I enjoyed watching my morning coffee drama unfurl. Yer man, Irish langer, raced into the alley clutching the zipper on the front of his white and blue leisure suit. After catching his breath and having a quick look around, he determined he was indeed alone (the joy of our window, is that no one ever thinks to look UP). From his leisure suit, he pulled out a Chernobyl Kids fundraising box. He proceeded to throw the box against the brick wall with everything he had in him (which included jumping as high as possible and then falling over). He must have done it 50 times before I thought to film it, in case I got some of his face and could forward it to the Gardai. I didn't get anything exciting, but it was indeed ten minutes of filthy entertainment. Funny, he left most of the coins in the alley.

Ah well, he was better than the other 10 langers a day that pee freely in the alley, the few that pass out on the neighbors stairs and the ones that rock back and forth dribbling.

Welcome to Nom Nom Sushi House

Sushi House 101

.
Well. Finally, Si and I have set up a blog. Which almost seems a wee redundant in the days of Facebook and the like. But we figure its an easy way for people to keep with with whats going on over here (should anyone be interested!). Sushihouse seemed fitting, given the apartment from which we write is home to the only sushi fun in town. Who, seriously, WHO does NOT eat sushi?! It seems, here in Cork, that the only sushi you can get is phallic, soggy logs of fishy sludge from a school boy in a while tent every Tuesday (or is it Thursday?) on UCC campus. Even I, weighing in at 7 kilos more than usual due to the lack of my daily sushi lunch, refuse to so much as try the free taster. As I hyperventilate, trying to get over the lack of whats important here (sushi), I recognize the need to get back to the point.

Blogs.

I realise that blogs are abundant. Ad nausium. But this one will be different. This one is as much for my sake as it is for yours. Here is my sanity, in tidy black letters on a green screen. Here also is where you will find out if (when) I get a job (still holding my breath, surprised I haven't suffocated yet!). Here you will read about what Si and I are up to round and abouts on this Euro mission. No doubt, in true Sarah style, you will also read about any number of 'blond ponders' I tend to have throughout my days. For this, I apologise in advance. Sorry. Anyways, onwards and upwards. I'm sure I'll be writing soon, if not in the next couple of seconds.

Nom Nom