Off Topic And in good news...

Sick to death of all the bad news in the world?

Cheer up. This stuff might not be reported on widely: conflict and anger maximises engagement on Social Media (hence why their algorithms point you at stuff to make you unhappy).

The fact that it's not widely circulated doesn't make it insignificant. In fact, it probably makes it even more important that you know about it.

This isn't a thread for political debate or for knocking. If you feel like arguing, maybe it's time to get off your screen and go and listen to some bird song.

 

On 30th December, 87.2% of Britain's electricity came from renewables and nuclear power.


National Grid’s electricity system operator said a new record was also set for the share of electricity on the grid coming from zero-carbon sources – renewables and nuclear – which supplied 87.2% of total power. These sources have accounted for about 55% to 59% of power over the past couple of years.

From https://www.theguardian.com/environ...period-of-low-wind?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other


And...

2022 was best year ever for UK renewables - reaching 40% of all electricity demand for first time ever! Up from 10% in 2012.

From https://www.businessgreen.com/news/...-2022-fossil-fuels-send-energy-prices-surging


Good news!

 

I'm with you Vin there. After a bit of a wobble over losing my dog a month before Christmas and then getting Covid for Xmas, I turned into a bit of a misery guts. I even broke my 14 month no drinking stint.

I'm back now, happy for the times I had with my lovely little girl, glad I got Covid so I'm unlikely to get it again over the next 2-3 weeks (it is rife), happy Covid meant I missed the Brighton game, and back to being teetotal. I have also not posted on social media (except here) for over a month. Who really cares what I had for breakfast and how 'wonderful' my life is.

Even a few days back to no alcohol and my mood has improved and I am beginning to look at things again positively. Oh and the nightly meditation is back too. I wouldn't say I am totally back to the irritating positive person, but getting there. Life is too short to be miserable. Why worry about the worst happening - if it doesn't you have worried for no reason, if it does you missed out on being happy until it happened.

Onwards and upwards in 2023.

 

What did you have for breakfast though

 

Lol nothing - never eat breakfast, ever. Rarely have lunch and only eat once a day

 

No breakfast.? No wonder your mood fluctuates.

 

It all started a few years ago when I did the 5:2 diet. I then went from 3 meals a day to 3 a day 5 days a week. Then realised I didn't get hungry in the morning so skipped breakfast everyday. Then realised that after a fast day (where you eat 600 cals all day usually in the evening) that I didn't get hungry as I had trained myself to do the two fast days in a week. So resorted to one (good) meal a day around 6pm. Kept it up ever since. That said, I had lunch today lol.

 

Biodiversity improvement and good food with it...

Five minute read to cheer you up. Who knew that 220m of rope would grow 25 tonnes of mussels and filter millions of litres of water every day?

https://reasonstobecheerful.world/mussel-farming-ecosystem-revival-uk/

 

Utrecht before and after:

 

I thought EVERYONE knew that, it was always a hot topic when we were kids and I invariably inform people of the fact when I first meet them. also it's a failsafe response in job interview situations when the candidate is invited "Is there anything you'd like to ask us" Although I've never been successful in a job interview I can always tell they're impressed when I reply "There is actually.....do you know how many metres of rope are required to grow 25 tonnes of mussels and filter millions of litres of water a day?" Vin just writing this makes me wonder where the water impurities go?

Irving Washington

 

Into the mussels I suspect. If the impurities are toxic then we're not going to be able to eat the mussels. But the water will be cleaner.

Washington Irving.

 

This is correct. I don’t think anyone was suggesting that mussels grown in polluted water could be eaten, but later generations of mussels certainly could be.

George Washington

 

Russell Crowe heard a bookshop in Norfolk was raising funds to survive and dropped £5,000 off.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-63177399

Vin

 

Hey, smashing post & hopefully a nice, positive ongoing thread. I very much like to keep up to date with local, national & worldwide need / happenings but tbvh the last 3 yrs troubles & constant bickering, back stabbing has turned me off. Love this idea

 

That’s admirable. I’m your balance!

 

Thanks Vin,

Major Major Major Major

 

I read that book* from cover to cover every single year.

That also makes me happy.

Vin

*Catch-22 for those not in the know.

 

Some people think it is a book about war when in reality it is a book about economics.

Milo Minderbinder

The group’s mess officer, Milo ends up starting a business—M & M Enterprises—that delivers black-market goods throughout the Mediterranean. It is not clear how this business works, since Milo appears to be selling goods at a loss, but he claims “everyone” in the group “gets a share.” Milo eventually begins dealing with the Germans to expand his business, and it is revealed he has been named mayor or leader of various countries throughout the Mediterranean region.

 

A feel good story of a life saving bone marrow donation.

 

That's super! Aren't human beings wonderful?


And if you want a chance to save someone's life just pop along to www.dkms.org.uk and register. It takes a minute or two. They'll send a swab that you use to wipe the inside of your cheek. You return it and, if you match anyone who ever needs them, your stem cells could save a life. For 90% of people ever called upon the cells are harvested from blood so it's utterly trivial.

A customer of mine a few years ago needed bone marrow cells. I knew his situation and I'll never forget the conversation when I said "see you in six weeks" and he, ever so calmly, said "no, there wasn't a suitable donor so I'll be gone by the time you come next".

I know that's a sad tale and this is the happy thread but the cheerful part is that for about five minutes of your time now you could have the unutterable joy of knowing you might save a life later.

Vin