edafe.org » blog http://edafe.org edafe.org is the personal site of Edafe Knabe. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:24:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Farewell Facebook http://edafe.org/2011/08/farewell-facebook/ http://edafe.org/2011/08/farewell-facebook/#comments Sun, 14 Aug 2011 08:21:53 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=6062

“Can I be facebookfriends with my parents? Should I add someone I don’t really know? Will other people think my status update’s funny?”
Joep van Osch
youtube.com

]]> http://edafe.org/2011/08/farewell-facebook/feed/ 0 It may not be racist, but it’s a question I’m tired of hearing http://edafe.org/2010/03/it-may-not-be-racist-but-its-a-question-im-tired-of-hearing/ http://edafe.org/2010/03/it-may-not-be-racist-but-its-a-question-im-tired-of-hearing/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:54:36 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=5792 Continue reading →]]> “Last weekend, I had The Conversation for the 3,897th time—and this time, it took place in central London just two roads away from the hospital where I was born.” Where is Ariane Sherine really from? I think we should be told…
www.guardian.co.uk

]]> http://edafe.org/2010/03/it-may-not-be-racist-but-its-a-question-im-tired-of-hearing/feed/ 0 Is aviation security mostly for show? http://edafe.org/2009/12/is-aviation-security-mostly-for-show/ http://edafe.org/2009/12/is-aviation-security-mostly-for-show/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:29:09 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=5742 Continue reading →]]> “Despite fearful rhetoric to the contrary, terrorism is not a transcendent threat. A terrorist attack cannot possibly destroy a country’s way of life; it’s only our reaction to that attack that can do that kind of damage.” In the wake of last week’s failed bombing of an airplane over Detroit, Bruce Schneier asks us to leverage the inherent strengths of our democracies.
edition.cnn.com

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/12/is-aviation-security-mostly-for-show/feed/ 0 1.3 million reasons to re-invent the syringe http://edafe.org/2009/10/1-3-million-reasons-to-re-invent-the-syringe/ http://edafe.org/2009/10/1-3-million-reasons-to-re-invent-the-syringe/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:08:10 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=5678 Continue reading →]]>

“25 years ago I read a newspaper article which said that one day syringes would be one of the major causes for the transmission of AIDS. I thought this was unacceptable so I decided to do something about it.” Marc Koska’s K1 syringe improves on an old design.
www.ted.com

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/10/1-3-million-reasons-to-re-invent-the-syringe/feed/ 0 Hans Rosling on HIV: New facts and stunning data visuals http://edafe.org/2009/06/hans-rosling-on-hiv-new-facts-and-stunning-data-visuals/ http://edafe.org/2009/06/hans-rosling-on-hiv-new-facts-and-stunning-data-visuals/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:53:45 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=5598 Continue reading →]]>

“When we look at the pattern, one thing comes out very clearly. People say HIV is very high in Africa. I would say, HIV is very different in Africa.” Using Gapminder World, Hans Rosling empowers you to think more clearly about the the ways in which HIV impacts on Africa and the wider world.
www.ted.com

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/06/hans-rosling-on-hiv-new-facts-and-stunning-data-visuals/feed/ 0 The Beach of Death http://edafe.org/2009/03/the-beach-of-death/ http://edafe.org/2009/03/the-beach-of-death/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:15:27 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=5166

“She’d been treading water for seven hours, before local fishermen found her in the water.”
current.com

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/03/the-beach-of-death/feed/ 0 The 44th President http://edafe.org/2009/01/the-44th-president/ http://edafe.org/2009/01/the-44th-president/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:05:14 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=4153 I was just following the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th President and listening to his Inaugural Address. It appears to me that, at long last, the United States of America have got a class act to lead them.

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/01/the-44th-president/feed/ 0 Race report http://edafe.org/2009/01/race-report/ http://edafe.org/2009/01/race-report/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:25:53 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=4332 Continue reading →]]>

Image of Norbert Meyer, who came a close second in today’s mountain bike race at Ferry Reach. For the first time ever, I was regretting the fact that my bike is set up for the road. Because watching these guys, I was really tempted to give it a go.

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/01/race-report/feed/ 0 Remember the difference http://edafe.org/2009/01/remember-the-difference/ http://edafe.org/2009/01/remember-the-difference/#comments Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:14:42 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=4070

“When you say ‘I think he’s a racist’, that’s not a bad move because you might be wrong. That’s a bad move because you might be right.”
Jay Smooth
illdoctrine.com

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/01/remember-the-difference/feed/ 0 There’s probably no god.Now stop worrying and enjoy your life. http://edafe.org/2009/01/theres-probably-no-godnow-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-your-life/ http://edafe.org/2009/01/theres-probably-no-godnow-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-your-life/#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:54:02 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=3975 Continue reading →]]> “The Atheist Bus Campaign began when Ariane Sherine wrote an article in June 2008 about Christian adverts running on London buses. These ads featured the URL of a website which said non–Christians would burn in hell for all eternity. Ariane suggested that atheists reading her article could each donate £5 to fund a reassuring counter–advert.”
www.atheistbus.org.uk

Update: Christian religious groups are about to respond with ads stating that “there definitely is a god”.

]]> http://edafe.org/2009/01/theres-probably-no-godnow-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-your-life/feed/ 0 A new dawn for us all? http://edafe.org/2008/11/a-new-dawn-for-us-all/ http://edafe.org/2008/11/a-new-dawn-for-us-all/#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:52:46 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=3749 Continue reading →]]> “To all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world—our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.”
President-Elect Barack Obama

]]> http://edafe.org/2008/11/a-new-dawn-for-us-all/feed/ 0 Play with spider http://edafe.org/2008/10/play-with-spider/ http://edafe.org/2008/10/play-with-spider/#comments Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:06:46 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=3716 I am not a great fan of spiders, but would really like you to have a look at this fascinating animation by Tomas Eriksson.

]]> http://edafe.org/2008/10/play-with-spider/feed/ 0 Leaving London http://edafe.org/2006/10/leaving-london/ http://edafe.org/2006/10/leaving-london/#comments Fri, 06 Oct 2006 21:25:18 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1246 After almost 14 years of living in the UK, I have now moved to Germany.

All packed up and ready to go early in the morning before my 20 hour drive from London to Kiel.

]]> http://edafe.org/2006/10/leaving-london/feed/ 0 This morning, I am still missing my grandma http://edafe.org/2005/10/this-morning-i-am-still-missing-my-grandma/ http://edafe.org/2005/10/this-morning-i-am-still-missing-my-grandma/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2005 21:39:27 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1250 http://edafe.org/2005/10/this-morning-i-am-still-missing-my-grandma/feed/ 0 Hug your grandma today http://edafe.org/2005/10/hug-your-grandma-today/ http://edafe.org/2005/10/hug-your-grandma-today/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2005 21:40:34 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1252 Continue reading →]]> I wish I would have had another chance to. Unfortunately, for me and my grandma, things didn’t quite work out.

The plane I’m on won’t get me there in time. My grandmother, Edith Knabe, died earlier this afternoon in Hamburg, Germany. She was 82.

I am going to miss her every day, for the rest of my life.

]]> http://edafe.org/2005/10/hug-your-grandma-today/feed/ 0 A minute of silence http://edafe.org/2005/07/a-minute-of-silence/ http://edafe.org/2005/07/a-minute-of-silence/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2005 21:53:47 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1269 Continue reading →]]> Last week I got caught up in the traffic jam that followed the killing of an innocent man at Stockwell tube station. Today, I passed the same spot again. This time I stopped.

Remembering Jean Charles de Menezes one week after he was shot and killed by police at Stockwell tube station in London. What did the ubiquitous CCTV cameras record that morning?

Update: Reports are now emerging that Jean Charles de Menezes had already been restrained by an officer when he was shot in the head seven times.

]]> http://edafe.org/2005/07/a-minute-of-silence/feed/ 0 Food for London http://edafe.org/2005/06/food-for-london/ http://edafe.org/2005/06/food-for-london/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2005 10:46:33 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1277 Continue reading →]]> You are in London. You are hungry. Here’s what to do: Find Dominique at his stand and ask him for galette. You like fresh spinach? Good. Ask him to prepare something with spinach. Alternatively, try his crêpe with Grand Marinier and banana. Anything. If you’re not satisfied, come back and hack this site…

Dominique Ait-El-Manceur serves arguably the best galettes and crêpe in the whole of London. You can find him weekdays at Exmouth Market from 12:30–18:00 and Saturdays at Broadway Market from 10:00–16:00.

]]> http://edafe.org/2005/06/food-for-london/feed/ 0 Echoes of war http://edafe.org/2005/05/echoes-of-war/ http://edafe.org/2005/05/echoes-of-war/#comments Tue, 17 May 2005 22:14:28 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1287 Continue reading →]]> World Press Photo is the largest and most prestigious press photography contest in the world. Every year, the exhibition is visited by more than a million people in over 40 countries. Today I got a chance to see the Winners Gallery 2005 in Hamburg. Of all the images on display, that of Private Eric Ayon had the biggest impact on me.

“Private Eric Ayon of Echo Company of the Second Battalion, Fourth Regiment of the US Marines stares through the windshield of a Humvee ambushed at Ar Ramadi in Iraq on April 6, 2004. Eight out of the nine marines on board were killed. Ayon himself died in an ambush at the same intersection only three days later. During its tour of Iraq, Echo Company suffered the worst casualties of any US company since Vietnam.”

2nd Prize in the category General News Singles, World Press Photo 2005.
© David Robert Swanson, USA, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Reproduced with kind permission.

]]> http://edafe.org/2005/05/echoes-of-war/feed/ 0 Essential skills http://edafe.org/2005/04/essential-skills/ http://edafe.org/2005/04/essential-skills/#comments Sat, 23 Apr 2005 17:31:14 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1295 My friend Franc sent this by email. It took me a few attempts to finally get my head round it. But this is revolutionary stuff and it works.

]]> http://edafe.org/2005/04/essential-skills/feed/ 0 Jason on Open Source http://edafe.org/2005/03/jason-on-open-source/ http://edafe.org/2005/03/jason-on-open-source/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2005 22:34:49 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1299 Continue reading →]]> Not long ago I saw Jason Bradbury on television. At the time, he was busy comparing Macs and PCs by throwing them from a great height and surveying the damage. Jason recently made a programme about Open Source software and has now published a piece about OpenOffice.org, in which edafe.org gets a favourable mention. Thanks Jason!

]]> http://edafe.org/2005/03/jason-on-open-source/feed/ 0 So I am a twit http://edafe.org/2005/02/so-i-am-a-twit/ http://edafe.org/2005/02/so-i-am-a-twit/#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2005 22:35:52 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1301 “Your [sic] a twit. What the hell do you know about United States policies? What third worldto [sic] hail from?”
Thanks for writing in.

]]> http://edafe.org/2005/02/so-i-am-a-twit/feed/ 0 Thanksgiving message http://edafe.org/2004/11/thanksgiving-message/ http://edafe.org/2004/11/thanksgiving-message/#comments Fri, 26 Nov 2004 13:49:34 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1303 Just heard Tony Hall, the US ambassador to the UN food agencies in Rome, talk on the radio. Read about his latest party trick. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

]]> http://edafe.org/2004/11/thanksgiving-message/feed/ 0 Bush wins Florida http://edafe.org/2004/10/bush-wins-florida/ http://edafe.org/2004/10/bush-wins-florida/#comments Sat, 30 Oct 2004 15:51:15 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1305 “With Jeb Bush as governor, and voting machine maker Diebold contributing to the Republican party, this might be what voting is like across Florida on Nov 2.”

]]> http://edafe.org/2004/10/bush-wins-florida/feed/ 0 Against software patents http://edafe.org/2004/10/against-software-patents/ http://edafe.org/2004/10/against-software-patents/#comments Wed, 20 Oct 2004 18:52:34 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1307 “The European Union is on the verge of making a huge mistake: to pass a law that would legalise software patents.” The issue directly affects more than 450 million people living in Europe. Are you one of them?

]]> http://edafe.org/2004/10/against-software-patents/feed/ 0 Day after the crash http://edafe.org/2004/10/day-after-the-crash/ http://edafe.org/2004/10/day-after-the-crash/#comments Fri, 15 Oct 2004 20:54:59 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1309 Continue reading →]]>

Yesterday evening I had a massive accident with my bicycle. A car pulled out in front of me and I crashed into it at about 40 km/h. I went over the car like a torpedo and then hit the ground face first. Any injuries, however, are confined to my right shoulder.

]]> http://edafe.org/2004/10/day-after-the-crash/feed/ 0 Use pen… to unlock bike http://edafe.org/2004/09/use-pen-to-unlock-bike/ http://edafe.org/2004/09/use-pen-to-unlock-bike/#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2004 18:02:59 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1314 Continue reading →]]> Kryptonite, makers of ‘Tough Locks for a Tough World’, are now known to have been selling bicycle locks which are not only more expensive, but can also be opened with a ball point pen. Apparently, this keyless mechanism was first documented in 1992.

]]> http://edafe.org/2004/09/use-pen-to-unlock-bike/feed/ 0 Cartoon network? http://edafe.org/2004/09/cartoon-network/ http://edafe.org/2004/09/cartoon-network/#comments Thu, 23 Sep 2004 23:05:18 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=1316 It’s hard to open any newspaper these days and think that what you are reading really happened that way. Steve Bell’s cartoons, however, consistently seem to reflect a greater-than-average degree of objectivity.

]]> http://edafe.org/2004/09/cartoon-network/feed/ 0 Fotoshow: Nein zum Krieg http://edafe.org/2004/09/fotoshow-nein-zum-krieg/ http://edafe.org/2004/09/fotoshow-nein-zum-krieg/#comments Mon, 20 Sep 2004 19:35:48 +0000 edafe http://edafe.org/?p=584 Continue reading →]]> In German

In February 2003 millions around the world were united in protest against going to war in Iraq. Take a look at this gallery of pictures taken during that period.
www.geo.de

People protesting against going to war with Iraq in Hamburg, February 2002.

]]> http://edafe.org/2004/09/fotoshow-nein-zum-krieg/feed/ 0