Scientists don’t find an adequate material to store nuclear waste in. A traditional candidate for the job was zircon (ZrSiO4), a ceramic mineral that is known to survive geologic processes like erosion, transport and even high-grade metamorphism.
ZrSiO4 and nuclear waste
October 14th, 2007 — acute accent
Car free day in London 2007
September 23rd, 2007 — London
I celebrated the Car Free Day yesterday by contributing with an open proposal: make car manufacturers add warning labels to their 4×4 models.
Carlinhos Brown - El milagro de Candeal
September 11th, 2007 — Characters
Carlinhos Brown is one of the most exuberant musicians I ever listened to. A friend suggested to go together to watch the film El Milagro de Candeal directed by Fernando Trueba and hosted by Carlinhos Brown. It was a great idea.
The film is in fact a documentary about Bebo Valdés’ visit to Bahia. Bebo, an elegant musician enjoying every minute of his trip, thinks that San Salvador de Bahía, in Brazil, preserves the heritage of the African music and culture even better than his native Cuba.
Mobile Internet in Spain
August 21st, 2007 — Companies
I’m on holidays in Spain!
I used to piggyback on WiFi networks in Madrid but this summer of 2007 I found that everyone is limiting the access to their wireless routers. Fortunately, there are alternatives. I made sure that my hotel included unlimited ADSL in the room in its fares before booking it. Surprisingly, WiFi access is available in all areas of the hotel but by paying additional access.
My Linksys WRT54GL router
August 5th, 2007 — Gadgets
I use my Linksys WRT54GL router for little more than taking my laptop running Linux to my garden. Whenever I particularly confident I try to set up the wireless connection on my wife’s laptop. This invariably ends up in my shouting obscenities against Richmond, VA.
The Queen’s domains in Canada: not without my tiara
July 29th, 2007 — Characters
In order to protect brands or business names, I register domain names in many countries from time to time. The differences of prices for the same commodity -top level domain- are striking: the most expensive domains are Norwegian (more than 100 €), followed by French and Spanish ones (more than 15 €).
Spanish judge shuts down satirical magazine
July 21st, 2007 — Characters
The website of El Jueves, a popular weekly magazine in Spain, was codemned by a judge, Juan del Olmo, to shut down yesterday.
Richersounds is expensive!
July 5th, 2007 — Companies, Gadgets
I visited a richersounds shop in London with the idea of spending not more than £20 in a pair of headphones. An assistant showed me three models, one of which he vaguely described as the best in the catalogue:
Two consumer websites about mobiles
July 1st, 2007 — Companies
The ‘Sitefinder’ Mobile Phone Base Station Database
is a national database of mobile phone base stations.
It’s supposed to list the mobile antennas in your area. I however searched by post code, street name and town.
Dorothea Bate - Paleontologist and… Pirate?
June 19th, 2007 — Characters
As a member or the Natural History Museum in London, I receive a magazine about the activities of the museum from time to time. I kept an issue of the autumn of 2006 and re-read an article about Dorothea Bate, an early twentieth century Paleontologist whose memory the museum tries to resuscitate.
Abusive charges by Virgin Media
June 16th, 2007 — Companies
I used to dial a free number to report problems with my service as a former Telewest customer. Life with Virgin Media (merge of NTL and Telewest) is not getting better.
I received this email from my Internet provided, Virgin Media (former Telewest), on June 15th 2007:
From 1st July, our broadband helpline number is changing and from then on it’ll cost 25p per minute to call from a Virgin home phone, plus 10p to connect. Mobiles and other networks may vary. The new number is 0906 212 1111. […]
We hope that helps and that you continue to enjoy the same great service!
The Virgin Media team
Neighbours prevent the installation of a mobile phone mast
June 10th, 2007 — Companies, London, acute accent
A group of neighbours in North West London, NW6 2PH, managed to prevent the installation of a mobile phone mast at the corner of Dynham Road and West End Lane.
Orange PCS Ltd requested in 2006 approval to install an eight meters tall pole and a cabinet in a paved area at the junction of Dynham Road and West End Lane.
Swan invasion
May 12th, 2007 — London
Swans have a tainted reputation of serving as tacky symbols of tender love and aristrocatic elegance.
You only need to see the picture of the entry ‘Swan’ at the otherwise self-restrained Wikipedia. Or any porcelain sculpture from Lladró or other purveyors in bad taste.
Mayor Livingstone, I presume?
May 9th, 2007 — Characters, London
When: 08:50 a.m Friday 20th April 2007.
Where: Swiss Cottage tube station, Jubilee line. North West London.
Who: Ken Livingstone
Charles Darwin Online
March 29th, 2007 — Characters, Natural History
Books from the Kilburn Library dumped in Cotleigh Road
January 20th, 2007 — London
A small public library closed last year. I was a perfect venue to return books originally borrowed at the much larger Swiss Cottage library and to check the press.
Down with the elder!
January 20th, 2007 — acute accent
Olympus µ [mju:] 1000
January 15th, 2007 — Gadgets, Photography
When Ángel Febrero explained me how his compact digital camera can take indoor picture without flash, I decided that it was time that my Kodak EasyShare CX7310 
enjoyed a deserved and honorable retirement.
Kings Cross Gasholders
October 25th, 2006 — London
Kings Cross development is menacing a relict of the past, Kings Cross Gasholders. The site was a widely unknown landmark by Londoners and tourists.
Kings Cross is now a territory taken over by civil works firms busily completing the new train station and urban development. Continue reading →
Battersea power station: save the site from Art
October 8th, 2006 — London, Photography
Victor Hwang owns the Battersea power station and its surrondings. He plans to use his Parkview International to become even richer by building flats and, marginally, some private leisure venues in the landmark.
Vauxhall bridge:
