Posts by David Haywood
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The first of a two-part series on biofuels. This episode gives a brief background to the subject, and looks at a New Zealand biofuel that could provide significant amounts of low-cost energy...
NOTE: A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
Further information:
-- Read more about bioenergy at Scion.
-- Read more about biofuels on Wikipedia.
-- Visit the EECA website to find out about energy sources and usage in New Zealand.
-- Visit the BRANZ HEEP Project website to find out about household energy end-use in New Zealand.
-- Read the Warm Homes Technical Report to find out about home heating methods and fuels in New Zealand.
-- Read more about biofuels in New Zealand in this 2006 publication from the National Centre for Climate–Energy Solutions.
This episode of Public Address Science was originally broadcast on Radio Live, 26th May 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm.
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The words "nothing short of a masterpiece" don't begin to do justice. In my opinion, this is several hundred per cent more than necessary for a masterpiece. It could easily be extended into a trilogy of full-length features.
Encore!!!
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Ben Wilson wrote:
I love how David's bookshelves make bloggers look so cerebral ...
Bookshelves definitely are a fashion statement, rather like gym equipment. Whether they actually get used is another matter....
Hey, they definitely get used, especially the Orwell! Actually, it's difficult not to film me against such a backdrop in our house -- as every bit of wall space is taken up with book shelves. My motto is: you never know when you might want to re-read something. I think it freaks people out a little. Visitors often ask if we own a second-hand bookshop.
Emma Hart wrote:
D'you think they sat him in front of the Orwell on purpose? David?
I think my head obscures a pile of Robert Heinlein novels (recommended by you, unless I'm mistaken). There's also some John D MacDonald books. So it's just chance that Orwell is more visible -- and that my reputation for cerebralness isn't in tatters.
My preference was for a body-double to do the interview on my behalf, so I'm glad if the Orwell made me look slightly less gormless.
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Alternative caption:
"I had this really fucked-up dream where Winston Peters was standing at a podium giving mad props to international students, academics, and politicians from China... and then later, when I got my photographs of Beijing developed, these images were on the film. I swear that I'll never do magic mushrooms again as long as I live."
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Jon Knox (and others):
Very sorry -- I've been rushing round trying to make the science radio programme today... Er, yes, and dealing with proper media types set upon me by a certain Mr Russell Brown (or, as I tend to think of him now, my former friend Mr Russell Brown). Also dealing with perplexing and vexing questions on the other Southerly thread. But I was intending to post to this thread before I went to bed -- honest!
Thank you everybody for all the kinds words RE: today's post. I've really enjoyed reading through everyone's comments -- particularly Megan, Jon, and Tony. As Jackie observed, we're really blessed if we have good grandparents. I certainly appreciate how lucky I was.
Dyan Campbell wrote:
One thing that has perplexes me though is that my contemporaries in NZ seem to have grown up in a different century than my contemporaries in Canada.
Would it make it even weirder if I told you that this recollection comes from 1974? Back home my mother was tie-dying clothing, baking her own bread, and doing leatherwork. My dad spent his weekends making pottery.
I think the slightly old-fashioned feel in my post might actually be due to the fact that my grandparents were recent immigrants from Scotland, who thought they'd died and gone to the future when they came to New Zealand. They came from Glasgow tenements that were genuinely third world.
You make an interesting point about the cultural/historic differences between NZ & Canada. But I wonder if a lot of this might be down to different degrees in urbanization and class. Do you think working-class Canadians from small-town Saskatchewan or Quebec or Newfoundland would have had the same experiences as you did in Vancouver/BC? Don't forget that the NZ population didn't even reach two million people until the 1950s.
But I can reveal that the 'murder house' at my primary school still had a treadle drill in 1975. I remember being allowed to give it a practice treadle. Although, strangely, I don't actually remember it being used on me. Perhaps this is a memory that I will recover in therapy one day.
Further to Jon Knox's comments:
1. By a fortunate co-incidence -- and this is the God honest truth -- I shaved off my beard yesterday and had a haircut. Before that I had a whole kind of homeless Jesus/Bellamy/Methuselah look.
2. I accept no responsibility for any captions inflicted upon me by television companies.
3. If I have anything to do with it, Jon's soul will go to hell for posting that link. I am already drafting a letter to the Pope.
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Michael Fitzgerald wrote:
... a link to the study would be great.
A link to Prof Fletcher's website was included in the original PA radio entry and transcript (under the 'Read more about Professor Garth Fletcher' heading). You can find details of all his publications there...
Michael Fitzgerald wrote:
I did think the quip about getting someone fired was a bit harsh.
That was a self-joke on my part. You apparently hadn't/haven't realized that I am the person who does these programmes for Radio Live. But rest assured that I am not really going to have myself fired (I hope).
I do listen seriously to all criticism and feedback, and try to improve the programme accordingly (where possible, given time/budget constraints).
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Michael Fitzgerald:
I'm quite happy for you to criticize, don't hold back -- although I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, or why your ex-flatmate is being cited in this discussion.
I reported on the results of research by a top academic. His work has been peer-reviewed. I would suggest that this, by itself, is a good guarantee of veracity. The article gave details of (some of) the main findings of his research.
Tell me what else you'd like to hear (that can be fitted into a nominal five minute radio programme) and I'll do my best to provide it for the next subject that I cover.
By the way, I seem to recognize your prose style. Do you also write under the name Dad4Justice?
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Michael Fitzgerald wrote:
Just because it is the standard of reporting doesn't excuse it and if its noted we might get somewhere on it.
David - my comment was directed towards the Radio Live interview.
Fair enough! I actually know the bloke who does the Radio Live science programme, so I'll phone him up and pass on your comments. Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't get away with his light-weight Mills & Boon-style journalism any more!
Maybe I can even get him fired...
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Michael Fitzgerald wrote:
We got what the Mills & Boons version.
James Green wrote:
I don't recollect the last time I heard some science (with which I'm familiar) being reported in the media where that wasn't the case.
I only have a nominal five minutes to do my science report, guys, and it's very difficult to get into much detail within that time limitation. I see my job as covering the main points, and then letting people find out the details for themselves via the web links that I provide.
But if you have any suggestions as to how I can pack more information into around five minutes then please let me know.
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Don Christie wrote:
... grief, love, sexual jealousy... biofuels...
Next week is going to have to be one hell of a show.
You'd be surprised at the tearful and accusatory emails I get whenever I mention the subject of biofuels. Prepare yourself for something along the lines of a Jerry Springer episode.
Although perhaps I should fully clarify my earlier statement:
On a net basis biofuels are, admittedly, only about half as emotion-inflaming as love, grief, and sexual jealousy. But we are running two Public Address Science episodes on biofuels (i.e. twice as much). Therefore the average degree of emotion inflammation will be about the same.