Life

Big Dunc on The Irish Language

#147
Former Munster player Duncan Casey, now at Grenoble, has an excellent piece in The Irish Examiner this week about how being abroad has made him appreciate the Irish language more. He describes his experiences with his Pacific Island team-mates at Grenoble, some of whom grew up in New Zealand, but all of whom are fluent in their respective island languages.
Life

Million Dollar Vegan Campaign

#146
Animal farming is the leading river in climate change, deforestation and species lost. The million dollar vegan campaign has issued a challenge to Pope Francis that if he goes vegan for lent, they will donate one million dollars to charity. The campaign wants to raise awareness for how trying vegan for lent can start the world down the road of halting climate change. Check out the video below fronted by activist Genesis Butler on how the 12 years the planet has to halt climate change isn't very much time at all.  
Environment
Life
Video

Deep Water or Big Wave Problem

#145
More platinum wisdom was delivered by Seth Godin in his blog this week when he talks about the perception of problems. If you are dealing with a deep water problem, like swimming in a deeper pool than normal, the effort needed to swim is the same as in a shallow pool. The same effort just a bigger landscape. However, if you usually surf 6 foot waves and try to surf 25 foot waves, a huge additional effort is needed in a similar landscape. Learning to tell the difference is important! :-)
Life
Motivation

The Prisoner's Dilemma in Real Life

#144
The Prisoner's Dilemma is a game theory scenario created by Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher in 1950. Two criminals are imprisoned in isolation and taken to court. There is only enough evidence to convict them on a 1 year charge, however they both have evidence that will result in greater charges. If they both remain silent, they both serve 1 year in prison. If they both betray eachother, they both serve 2 years in prison.
Life

Ireland #2 Good Country

#144
Ireland has been ranked number two on the Good Country index, which collates what a country contributes to global society and what it takes away relative to its size. While we rank highly for International Peace & Security (4th), Prosperity & Equality (6th) and Culture (9th) contributions, our Planet & Climate (27th) and Science & Technology (46th) contributions need work.
Data Vis
Life

Immediate Fossil Fuel Phaseout Needed

#142
A study from the University of Leeds says that there is a 66% chance of keeping temperature increase below a 1.5 degree increase if a fossil fuel phaseout begins immediately. The research assumes a lifespan for powerplants of 40 years, cars 15 years and planes 26 years. It also assumes a rapid end to beef and dairy consumption. If the phaseout doesn't being until 2030, the chances reduce to 33%.
Life
Motivation
Science

Book Review: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century - Yuval Noah Harari

#141
Yuval Noah Harari's third book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is an interesting look at 21 topics where we humans can improve. The lessons are grouped into 5 categories; The Technology Challenge, The Political Challenge, Despair and Hope, Truth, and Resilience. The subject matter for the first part of the book is tough reading. Harari takes a cold and calculating look at the societal organisations and structures that humans have created, from religion all the way up to modern day terrorism, before looking at how the species can be resilient in the face of these challenges.
Life
Review

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