Home Wifi Could Be Used By Emergency Response Teams

Responding to an emergency is a challenge without the added hurdle of doing it without mobile technology, but that is often the reality for response teams in emergency situations. Thanks to a recent study released in Germany, scientists found that home wireless routers could be used to link up emergency responders in the event of catastrophe or other urgent situation.
Read more: Study Says That Home Wifi Could Be Used By Emergency Response Teams When Mobile Phones are Down | Inhabitat
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Disaster and demography in Japan: Generational warfare

"MANY in Japan were taken aback recently by the news that, for the first time since 1985, Japanese women have lost their crown as the world’s longest-living people—their average life expectancy fell to 85.9 years in 2011, just under a year less than the women of Hong Kong. People were even more crestfallen at the news that this was largely caused by the death toll from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in north-eastern Japan. It was a reminder of how disproportionately the disaster had hit the elderly in this ageing corner of the planet. Of almost 18,800 dead and missing, 56% were over 65.

Ageing is taking its toll on the reconstruction process, too. In towns along the coast, officials say they have encountered a “generation gap” that is hampering their efforts to rebuild. Simply put, older people, aware of their relatively short remaining lifespan, want to restore what they lost as soon as possible. Meanwhile, young families want revitalised communities with more people, jobs and social freedoms. In miniature, it is a problem faced across the country. An elderly population, richer, more risk-averse and more powerful than the young, is also more resistant to change.

Disaster and demography in Japan: Generational warfare | The Economist: "

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Zombie / Disaster survival skill

If you're ever in a situation where you have canned food but no way to open it you can grind the can lid against a concrete form such as a parking stop to wear down the top of the can so that the lid is opened without spilling the food.

Lifehacker: Open Food Cans with Concrete Parking Stops

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Got Milk? You Don't Need It - NYTimes.com

Got Milk? You Don't Need It - NYTimes.com:

Article makes a lot of good cases, but mostly that people need to stop saying that a dairy-free diet is somehow lacking or unhealthy. Tradition and lobbying are not the same thing as fact.

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Veganism and the environment infographic

Veganism and the Environment Infographic Shows the Environmental Impact of Raising Animals for Food Veganism and the Environment – Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

The Social Side of Urban Earthquake Risk - Neighborhoods - The Atlantic Cities

The Social Side of Urban Earthquake Risk - Neighborhoods - The Atlantic Cities:

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Solar-Powered Lasers Could Protect Us From An Asteroid Collision

If this prevents another Aerosmith power ballad, I'm all for it.

Solar-Powered Lasers Could Protect Us From An Asteroid Collision : TreeHugger:

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A Single Tea Light Candle Powers This Portable Electricity Generator

A Single Tea Light Candle Powers This Portable Electricity Generator : TreeHugger:

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Charge Your Phone with a DIY Candle-Powered Charger

Most efficient phone charger? No. Dual purpose lights-the-room-and/or-cooks-while-charging? Yes.


Charge Your Phone with a DIY Candle-Powered Charger:

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Seattle neighborhoods fight needed land use reform, density

Reading list (also I've seen this in my neighborhood)

Seattle neighborhoods fight needed land use reform, density | Crosscut.com: