The Gene Genies

 

Some very prominent folk (especially men?)  attribute their 'deserved success' to their 'genes'. They then  downplay the roles of inherited wealth and/or improved educational/networking opportunities to their rise. This leads to distinctly racist viewpoints. In deed, Jonathan Roberts opines that prominent members of the US Right regularly attempt to put dubious 'scientific veneers' on their pronouncements (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/30/donald-trump-elon-musk-genetics-science-right). The 'Nature versus Nurture' debate now seems unhelpful.  Everyone is essentially a product of their genes and their environment. Roberts notes that there is 'far more to it than 'good' or 'bad' genes'. He also suggests that taking Charles Darwin's concept of  'survival of the fittest' out of context, is a deliberate ploy. By the 'fittest', Darwin meant 'best able to thrive in their environment'. Right-wingers (in the US and elsewhere) mutate 'fittest' to mean 'the strongest or most economically successful'. This allows them to opine about the dangers of 'bad' genes being carried into their countries by migrants. It also provides excuses for not investing in 'levelling up' disadvantaged folk. Why bother, when 'genetic cream' will inevitably rise to the top? One thing that's very evident from evolutionary studies, is that genetic diversity enables species to deal with environmental change. Inbreeding has never proved a very successful strategy! Roberts feels that scientists now have to worry about the possibility that their findings (and the words they use to describe them), will be misquoted by hoards of online political 'influencers'. There's a distinct need to avoid giving them such opportunities. It's also imperative, wherever possible, to point out the flimsy nature of their 'scientific veneers'. Perhaps this blog, in a small way, helps to do this? Have an excellent 2025 and keep your 'bullshit detectors' switched on!

Wooden Tops 34. Sweet chestnut

Sweet chestnut wood has attractive grain patterns, making it popular for tables, countertops, benches and shelving. As it's strong and durable, it's useful for cladding, decking, fencing as well as other landscaping work.

Wooden Tops 33. Silver birch

Silver birch timber is commonly used in plywood production, brush backs, toys and reels. It can also be used to make wood pellet and briquette fuels.

Seeing the Changes 2105

In Loughor, Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) was in flower.

 

Wooden Tops 32. Scots pine

Scots pine is a strong softwood. It was formerly used for sailing ship's masts and producing charcoal. Scots pine is currently used for pit-props, furniture, chipboard, boxes, fences, telegraph poles and paper pulp.

Wooden Tops 31. Persian ironwood

Persian ironwood wood timber is almost indestructible. It's an excellent choice for telephone poles, bridge construction and tool handles.

Wooden Tops 30. Palm

Palm wood is used for house walls, rafters and roofing. It's also employed to make wicker furniture and parquet flooring.

Wooden Tops 29. Oak

Oak wood is long-lasting. It was once largely used to make sailing ships. Currently, it's largely used for furniture, joinery, flooring. panelling, decking and veneers.

Christmas Carbon Footprint

 

The average daily ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions of a UK adult is 22 kg carbon dioxide equivalents . That rises to 513 on Christmas Day. The extra emissions are said, by some folk, to be a consequence of the blatant commercialisation of  Christmas, converting it into a ‘wild orgy of lavish gifting, extensive travel and a gluttonous feeding frenzy’, mostly in the richer areas of the globe.(https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/24/average-briton-causes-23-times-more-co2-on-christmas-day-study-reveals). It can be argued that ways should be found to reduce the Christmas carbon footprint without abandoning the season’s basic message.

Surf’s Up (Too Much)

Thirty foot waves are currently battering California’s coastline. There’s been damage to piers, sinking of fishing boats and inexperienced swimmers have been told to stay out of the water. (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/26/california-high-surf-warning). None of this should come as a great surprise. Global heating means more energy in weather systems. ‘Extreme’ events are becoming more commonplace. ‘Wipe-outs’ are also much more likely. 

Wooden Tops 28. Mountain Ash/Rowan

Mountain ash is a non-durable hardwood, used for furniture, flooring and high-end joinery. It can also be carved, making spoons and walking sticks.

Wooden Tops 27. Monkey Puzzle Tree

Monkey puzzle wood is durable and resistant to fungal decay. It's used to make beams, bridges, piers, roofs, furniture, plywood paper pulp and turned objects.

Chemtrials of the Chemtrails

 Oliver Millman describes the resurgence of the Chemtrails ‘conspiracy theory’ (calling these things 'theories' is a gross misuse of the term). The Chemtrails fixation maintains (with no evidence) that the plumes of ice crystals emitted at high altitudes by jet engines, are laced with mind and/or fertility- altering chemicals (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/26/chemtrail-conspiracy-theories-rfk-climate-crisis). The idea has recently been given a boost by suggestions that geo-engineering of the atmosphere might provide a partial solution to climate change. The icy contrails from jet engines do have an impact on global heating. Unfortunately, all they do is boost the retention of solar radiation, making the problem worse. Scientists, who have found no evidence of added chemicals, have received death threats. Such is the role of most ‘conspiracy theories’?

Wooden Tops 26. Medlar

Medlar wood is used for walking sticks. As it's slow-growing, it's dense and hard but flexible.

Wooden Tops 25. Maritime pine

Sawn timber of Maritime pine is used mainly for joinery. In interiors, it's used for moulding, skirting boards, flooring and panelling, as well as furniture and frameworks. When treated, Maritime pine can be used for exterior fittings, including cladding and garden furniture.

Getting Rich on the ‘Fat of the Land’

 

In the UK, it’s supposedly illegal to directly advertise Prescription Only Medications (POMs ). The popularity of the injectable weight-loss drugs seems, however, to be changing things. Both high-street chemists (e.g. Boots)  and online Pharmacists are engaged in bidding wars for customers. Wegovy and Mounjove are both POMs. In spite of supposed shortages of these compounds, sellers are offering money off deals for returning customers. They are also getting around the advertising ban, by claiming to be selling ‘weight-loss service’. These often, however, feature images of injections. It’s, of course, simply a profit-making exercise (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/26/shrinking-waistlines-and-growing-profits-the-weight-loss-drug-boom). It would be much healthier for folk to, wherever possible, be encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Limiting the calories ingested and taking appropriate exercise would be considerably less wasteful, and ‘greener’, as well as improving mental capacity. People, however, seem to relish short-term ‘solutions’. There’s also much more money to be made from this by drug producers and drug sellers!

Wooden Tops 24. Maple

Maple is a durable, strong, long-lasting wood. It's employed for heavy duty flooring, such as bowling alleys and dance floors. Maple is also used for high-end furniture (cabinets, dressers and kitchen tables) and even some musical instruments.

Wooden Tops 23. London plane

London plane sections have a lace-like pattern and appearance, making it useful for indoor furniture and cabinetry. It's also a popular choice for plywood, veneer, flooring and wooden pallets.

Wooden Tops 22. Lilac

Lilac is a hardwood that's occasionally used for small turned objects like pens and bowls. It can also be carved or used as kindling especially for barbecues.

Flu At the Zoo

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is currently sweeping through zoo populations in many parts of the world. Deaths have occurred in zoos in the USA (notably, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle), as well as Vietnam. This virus probably infects zoo animals, when they contact wild birds coming into their enclosures. HPAI is not, however limiting its infections to rare bird species. Already, 3 lions, 47 tigers and a number of Cheetahs have died from this viral infection (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/19/bird-flu-zoos-endangered-animals-captive-species-lions-tigers-cheetahs-virus ). Animals, in cages and enclosures, are essentially 'sitting ducks' so far as HPAI is concerned. These diverse infections may also increase the probability of the virus mutating and acquiring the ability to transmit from human to human. This would be very bad news, as it could trigger a new pandemic for our species.

Wooden Tops 20. Horse chestnut

Horse chestnut wood is rather weak but has been used to make furniture. Its absorbant properties, however, make it ideal for fruit racks and storage trays. These keep the fruit dry, preventing rotting.

Visualising the Wood-wide Web

 The Enchanted Forest at Bedgebury Arboretum with the Mycelium light show, visualizes the complex  relationship between forest trees and fungi. The trees 'talk' to each other?

Wooden Tops 21. Larch

Larch timber has a good surface finish for cladding, flooring and decking. As it's strong, durable and rot-resistant, it's also used in heavy structural work such as beams, posts and frames.

Bee Line

The UK government is considering banning neonicotinoid insecticides. These chemicals have been shown to seriously endanger important insect pollinators such as Honey bees. Even non-fatal doses impair the bee's neural functions, making foraging for nectar impossible. It's likely that Clothianida, Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam will be completely banned. Until now, they have been repeatedly allowed for farming 'emergencies'. The highly potent neonicotinoid Cruiser SB may, however, continue to be allowed. Certainly, the National Farmer's Union and British Sugar are pushing for this. They claim neonicotinoids are needed to deal with insect-mediated transmissions of viral Sugar beet infections (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/21/uk-ban-bee-killing-pesticides-highly-toxic-neonicotinoid-could-be-allowed). This appears to be limited progress but tiny quantities of neonicotinoids can kill thousands of Honey bees and other pollinators. Those insects are needed for other crops such as fruits.

With Your Christmas Turkey?

Devi Sridhar (University of Edinburgh) is reminding folk about the distinct probability of a pandemic stemming from Bird 'flu. She notes that the H5N1 strain has made its way from birds to humans. This viral stain is also found in dairy cows and other mammals. Cow to cow transmission occurs and cows have passed Bird 'flu to humans. A recent study has suggested that a single mutation would make human to human tranmission possible. Fairly obviously, governments should be stocking up on anti-virals and developing vaccines. There's a problem in the US. Scientists need chicken's eggs to produce vaccines. Bird 'flu has decimated chicken stocks. There's a shortage of eggs (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/16/bird-flu-pandemic-threat-prepared) A human viral pandemic resulting from Bird 'flu could be much worse than Covid19. This species jump wouldn't be easy to delay via lockdowns, whilst effective vaccines are developed. This virus has wings.

Drip, Drip, Drip

England and Wales's privatised Water Companies essentially have monopolies. The 'regulator', Ofwat, has approved their rising average water bills by 36% over 5 years. This is after much wailing from the Water Companies, about the costs of improving their infrastructure, fixing leaks and having to stop discharging raw sewage into rivers (https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/dec/19/water-bills-for-households-in-england-and-wales-to-rise). Until now, most privatised Water Companies have prioritised spending their income on shareholder dividends and executive bonuses. Some have even taken on massive loans for this purpose and/or reduced operating costs by illegally discharging raw sewage into rivers and lakes. Some of these ill-gotten gains ought to have been spent on improvements to infrastructure and updating to deal with long-anticipated climate change. There's no certainty they will behave better now.

Old Man Boomer

Male boomers (the generation born after the second World War, roughly from 1946 until 1964) are, in some cases, finding it difficult to 'act their age'. Due to advances in medical sciences, many are now living some 30 years longer than their forebears. Living longer, however, doesn't always mean retaining the physical (and mental?) capacity to 'keep on keeping on'. Occasionally, they have to be reminded of things they should no longer attempt (like climbing on roofs) (https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2024/dec/18/boomer-men-ageing). I've always thought of myself as a boomer. Somewhat worryingly, however, I find that I might be one of the last of the pre-boomers (born 1945). The war in Europe had finished but...? Although one shouldn't put others at risk with our actions, I'm still convinced that reasonable exercise of the body and the mind, keeps us useful for longer. Perhaps we just need to become more sensitive to legitimate concerns of our children and grandchildren? The point is that male boomers are having to explore a different lifetime landscape.

Wooden Tops 17. Hazel

Hazel is used for woven baskets, fence 'hurdles' and walking sticks. The thinner sticks are used to support beans and other garden plants.

Bamboozled?

Bamboo isn't a tree. It's actually a very large and fast-growing grass. It's perfect for furniture making. Its possible to use bamboo for scaffolding on buildings or even to construct footbridges. , can serve as a model. Ten years ago, the residents of the small village of Pachgaon in the central Indian state of Maharashta, lived in absolute poverty. The villagers persisted in using the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996, to reassert their community's lost entitlements. In 2012, Pachgaon eventually won control of 1,006 hectares of local forest. Gaining these forest rights, meant the villagers could take their own marketing decisions on forestry products. They can decide how they harvest and cut the forest. In the last financial year, Pachgaon's bamboo business made a profit of £35,000. The village's 300 residents are now relatively wealthy by rural Indian standards. The forest is protected and healthy (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/dec/17/india-adivasi-tribal-village-pachgaon-forest-law-traditional-rights). Growing bamboo and other plants must be encouraged to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This reduces global warming and limits climate change. There's ample evidence that tribal communities are generally much better environmental custodians than government agencies or corporations. Developments, such as one in Pachgaon, may serve as a model in some parts of the world. The villagers protect the jungle, and the jungle provides them with a living. It's almost a form of symbiosis.

Wooden Tops 16. Hawthorn

As Hawthorn wood is strong and closely-grained, it's often used for carving. This wood is also employed to make tool handles, as well as other small household items.

Malaria: A Growth Area

Globally, in 2023, there were 263 million cases of malaria. Six hundred thousand people (predominantly young children) died. This death rate from malarial infections, constituted a rise for the fifth consective year. The protozoan parasite, is showing increased resistance to anti-malarial drugs. Its mosquito vector, is also becoming less responsive to insecticides. The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) opines, however, that a funding shortfall was the major driver of increased malarial deaths in 2023. Climate and humanitarian disasters (wars, droughts and famines) are hampering effective control efforts (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/dec/11/global-health-deaths-malaria-rise-drug-insecticide-resistance-climate-crisis-funding-un). Perhaps the recently developed and trialled vaccines against malaria will help? It currently seems likely, however, malaria will remain a major scourge in poorer global regions. This long-established disease certainly attracts less funding/investment than ailments that directly impact the populations of 'developed' nations.

Birder's Bonus 241

Noted a Curlew (Numenius arquata) on the Loughor estuary at Bynea.

Season's Greetings and an Excellent 2025 From Deepest Wales!

Things are not looking great! Many of the trajectories seem downwards. But you never know, surprises can (and do) happen!

Tundra Turning

For millennia, the Arctic tundra has served as a carbon 'sink'. Its generally icy surfaces, have effectively trapped organic material for extended periods. There's been, however, a recent complete transformation. Wildfires in this region, have converted the tundra into a net source of carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide is a 'greenhouse gas' causing planetary heating, by trapping solar radiation. That further increases thawing. The Arctic tundra is, consequently, now spewing out stored methane gas. Methane is another 'greenhouse gas' with a potency thirty times that of carbon dioxide. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration notes that, in 2023, the Arctic tundra's annual surface air temperature was the second warmest on record. Records go back to 1900. Currently, the Arctic is warming at four times the average global rate (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/10/arctic-tundra-carbon-shift). Some folk may simply see the heating of the tundra, creating further business opportunities. It will be easier to move shipping into and through the area. Deposits of hydrocarbons (oil and methane gas) will be more accessible in areas like Alaska. These, however, will accelerate the melting of the tundra. That may well prove a 'tipping point', from which there's no returning. If this happens, the unique biota (animal and plant life) of the Arctic will be completely destroyed. And the climate consequences prove globally devastating.

Wooden Tops 15. Goat willow

Goat willow wood is a good fuel and can be used to generate charcoal. This wood also makes paper pulp. As it's lightweight and flexible, willow wood is used in the manufacture of basketry, furniture and craft work.

Wooden Tops 14. Gingko biloba

Gingko biloba wood is used for carvings, cutting boards and furniture. It can also make turned objects, such as chess sets.