Andreas Wacker

I pay for the NY Times. Sometimes I wonder if that such a good idea. Specially with science topics most people look at the head line and then remember it if it happens to fit into their model of the world. Real science has in common with reality that it is complicated, messy, and not as simple as we like. So what Carl Zimmer was thinking when he headlined “DNA Linked to Covid-19 Was Inherited From Neanderthals, Study Finds” is beyond me. He writes about what Hugo Zeberg and Svante Pääbo posted on Friday. He fails to mention that people in sub saharan Africa do not have any Neanderthal DNA.

…und schon rutscht das blöde Ding von der Straße ab. Was wirklich passiert ist kann ich natürlich nicht sagen. Aber früher mußte man deutlich geringeren Aufwand treiben um Unfälle mit Landmaschinen zu versorgen. Dabei ist der 13 Tonnen Claas Feldhäcksler bei weitem noch nicht das obere Ende der Skala der heute vorherrschenden Gerätegrössen.

4090 years ago: the fist Chinese dynasty gets established

2200 years ago: the first Chinese dynasty unifies the entire country

280 years ago: Ansons gun ships show up in Guangzhou

162 years ago: China looses the second Opium War. Forcing the country to let the UK sell opium in their country

Yesterday: China sends a barge with a sign, saying that the new security law is awesome for Hong Kong

In 29 years: China will be a ‘fully developed nation’. Also happens to be the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic

Given the growth of China during the last decades they better slow down, since they might reach that goal ahead of time. Having a goal is very motivating for people. Eventually, people will realize that they are not happy either. Much like every ‘fully developed nation’ did so before. The dystopian surveillance system might have been matured so much by then, that people don’t even realize that they are not happy.

The 747 was always decidedly female for me. And I liked her. No not in a weird way. I really appreciated the distinctive shape. It had a grace and communicated size very pleasantly. I can still remember the first time: From Munich to Hannover. Messe. It was the 80s, so Lufthansas solution for lots of people wanting to fly that route that morning was simply to put the largest bird they had at the end of the gangway. Expecting a 737 it is a strange surprise to end up in a 747. After that I spent allot of time in that plane model. Never on a short trip like that though.

The A380 was without a doubt always the better ride, much calmer than even the latest -8 variant of Seattles product. But from the outside it had a significant problem. Current events would have grounded it regardless of its ill fated looks. However I am convinced that the A380 would have had better success if she would have sported a somewhat more acceptable appearance. Reaching the grace of the 747 would have been hard. That bird simply looked great in all angles and variations, regardless if it was the shortened -SP or any variation of top deck length: She stood alone during her reign of the civilian slice of the stratosphere. She will be missed.

Very interesting design idea. If reality is as nice as the Internet presentation is a different question. My experience to chase down tight presentations in reality has been mixed to say the least. Nevertheless I still hope that the “Screen Hotel” is still in business should I happen to be in Kyoto.

Of course I knew about Vitra (vitra.com) – the furniture maker in Weil am Rhein. VitrA I had not heard about. I actually first liked the design of this, well, toilet. Turns out VitrA (vitraglobal.com) is a Turkish company. I have no idea why, but bathrooms in Turkey are on the highest levels I encountered. Up there with Switzerland. And, yes, I travelled quiet a bit, back when, we, well, were able to do so. And, yes, my body continued to do what it does when I was traveling.

A while ago Vitra cracked down on non licensed Eames products in Europe pretty hard. Luckily Modernica in LA seemednot to get impacted by it.

Usually confusion of brands with similar names is a big deal. Specially when the brand equity is as design heavy as it is without a doubt with Vitra. Even though they have considerable amounts of my money Vitra never lost the villain aspect completely with me. Probably not really justified. But I must admit to be happy about the fact, that the Vitra lawyers did not manage to stop VitrA from selling toilets under exactly that name.

Depicted here is a Vitra Memoria Vitraflush