Interesting Links for 21-07-2015

• The euro is a disaster even for the countries that do everything right
  • This is true for any large economic area, of course. A lower pound would be much better for the manufacturing sectors of Britain. And Scotland would probably be better off with its own currency.
  • (tags: Europe euro currency economics )
• Mothers with chemical intolerances are 2-3 times more likely than other women to have a child with autism or ADHD
  • (tags: autism adhd children Mother )
• 35 Slogans For College Majors If They Were Actually Honest.
  • (tags: funny university )
• The Dark Side Of Celebrity: Chris Pratt Won’t Star In A Movie Unless You Pay Him
  • (tags: movies funny TheOnion money )
• The phrase "All Lives Matter" is ridiculous for the same reason that there is no "Straight Pride"
  • (tags: racism society race viaTheFerrett )
• Apocalyptic Giants Made From VHS Tape Wander Desolate Landscapes
  • (tags: art apocalypse technology )
• Women: This is how you gird your loins
  • (tags: funny women fighting )
• Petition to hold a referendum on electoral reform with the format used in New Zealand.
  • (tags: petition reform elections newzealand UK )

A brief rant about cricket snacks

Over here is a site selling bars made from cricket protein.

Which is something which looks _fantastically_ useful, in an ecological sense. Compared to beef it needs 1/10 of the amount of feed, 1/2000 of the amount of water, and produces 1/80 of the amount of CO2.

But then...if you take a look you discover that the bars that they're selling are £18 for 320g. Or £56/Kg. Which is nearly twice what Sainsbury's Best Fillet Steak sells for.

Oh, and the bars aren't made of cricket protein. They're basically made of nuts and sugar - and are only 6% cricket.

Now, I don't mind some flavouring in with my protein bars. I happily snack on pepperamis, or salami, or even jerky. But it feels fundamentally dishonest to spend your front page comparing how much more efficient cricket bars are, and how healthy they are, basically compare them to beef snacks, and then sell you a snack that's four times as much sugar in it as it has cricket.

Ant Men and Duckling Walks

Went to see Ant-Man this evening with my brother Hugh. It was entertaining, silly, and fun, but ultimately very slight and managed to contradict its own physics, lack any characters I really cared about, and failed to do anything particularly interesting. Worth a watch, but you can totally wait for the small screen.

I then walked home, and Julie and I went for a walk to Holyrood Park. Where I took a video of ducklings, which you can see under the cut, along with some final photos of the holiday, my half-shaven face, part of Swallows and Amazons, and a xylophone made of stone.
( Click for tiny fluffy dinosaurs )