Yearly Archives: 2009

Ibsen on the sea

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Michael Strong passes on a quote found by Patrick Peterson:

We ought to avail ourselves of the sea, building floating cities on it so that we can move southward or northward according to the time of year.... Some such happy state will come one day, though we shall not live to see it.
P. 335 Note. #11

Henrik Ibsen, A Doll's House and other Plays - Penguin Classics Edition, 1965, Translation (and notes) by Peter Watts.

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New Residential Cruise Ship – Samsung signs $1.1B LOI with Utopia Residences

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Reuters reports

SEOUL, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Samsung Heavy Industries (010140.KS) said on Monday that it has won a $1.1 billion order from Utopia Residences, a U.S.-based cruise and hotel operator, to build a luxury cruise vessel.

The South Korean shipbuilder said in a statement it expects to sign the final contract during the first half of next year, with the ship due to be delivered by 2013.

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New Faces Mean New Developments at TSI

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Those who follow Patri's blog may have noted mention of some new help at The Seasteading Institute. Indeed, in November, TSI succeeded in filling four open roles to further the seasteading mission, revolving around business development, donor and fundraising efforts, and community development. As a new face here, I (Naomi) would like to humbly introduce myself and the three others who now join us.

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it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

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maggie and milly and molly and may

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea 

ee cummings

Seasteading Book

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From Patri's blog:

Since hiring nthmost, eelcoh, xleste, radiantsun, and Max to work for TSI (offices are a bit busier these days!), I've been able to delegate lots of major projects and get lots of writing time in on the book, yay!

As a result, I'm getting close to the point where I'll be ready for feedback on the new version of the seasteading book. If you're highly interested in the topic and motivated to read rough prose and give substantial feedback, read and summarize relevant books in our area, that sort of thing, ...

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Chromium 6 Emissions from ESCO in Portland

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ESCO, chromium 6

This story comes the NW Examiner in the Northwest Neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. http://www.nwexaminer.com/issues/11November2009.pdf

Hexavalent chromium accumulates in organisms and does not break down in the environment. No level of human exposure is considered safe.

The EPA says that the respiratory tract is the major target organ for chromium 6 toxicity, both for acute (short term) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposures. Shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing were reported from a case of acute exposure to chromium 6, while perforations and ulcerations of the septum, bronchitis, decreased pulmonary function, pneumonia and other respiratory effects have been noted from chronic exposure. Human studies have clearly established that inhaled chromium 6 is a human carcinogen, resulting in increased risk of lung cancer.

Most of the of the 64 toxic substances emitted by ESCO have multiple health consequences. In addition to seven substances known to cause cancer, another 12 are suspected carcinogens.

ESCO is increasingly the topic of discussion among anti-toxics groups in Oregon. Neighbors For Clean Air, the Northwest District Association, and now the Oregon Toxics Alliance are all taking note of ESCO's toxics emissions. Please join these groups to help put pressure on the DEQ to do its job.

Thoughts, Comments, Questions...