More circuits around the Sun
Where did the trees go?
One day this week I was admiring the Autumn colours of the trees in front of the decrepit abandoned buildings (Alexander and Albemarle) in Woden. I go away for a day and return to discover them removed. Now all I can see are the ugly eyesores of Woden.
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Taxicab ride in Melbourne
I spent one day this week in Melbourne. I needed to get from the airport to the meeting destination in a taxicab. As soon as I entered the vehicle I told the driver the address of the meeting venue. I had to repeat to him three times the address and finally had to spell the names of the street. He had me worried, but he needed the correct name so he could enter into his telephone for the GPS function.
Back when I was a boy, taxicab drivers would know where to go without looking it up in a referdex (or refidex).
Rather than get upset I looked at it a different way and realised that by having the map on his telephone handset in plain view I could see he wasn’t ripping me off in terms of the route.
Eating meat without killing animals
I read this article during the week and pondered the concept of meat protein grown artificially.
Assuming it comes with no negative health consequences, I look forward to the day when I can eat an artificially grown steak that has been optimised for flavour and health. I just hope fat cells can also be grown so the meat has some fat content. It will be nice to enjoy a steak without chewy fascia and tendons. I just hope it doesn’t have the mouthfeel of minced or ground meat. It would be good if actual muscle bundles can be grown so the impression of eating a steak remains.
I know there will be people who say that artificially grown meat won’t be like taking a joint with hard-working muscles and connective tissue and slowly cooking it, but surely, food technologists will be able to replicate the flavours and textures in the future.
I have confidence, that “protein resequencing” will be in our futures. It may not be the ‘replicators’ of Star Trek, but we can’t be far off sourcing our animal proteins in a manner that doesn’t involve killing animals.
In addition to the animal welfare benefits, it’s the food safety I’m most interested in. Without contact with an animal’s alimentary canal and skin which are laden with commensal bacteria and the occasional pathogen, artificially grown meat has the potential to relieve much of the world from regular episodes of gastroenteritis and parasitic disease.
If space travel is really in our future, artificially grown meat is a must-have.
More Birthdays
My eldest two daughters celebrated birthdays this week. They were born on the same day but in different years.
Happy birthday, Ms23 and Ms21.
What I ate this week
This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one and scroll through the images.
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Click on the duck and you’ll visit a special recipe.
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Where did the ‘like’ button go?
Final thoughts
How was your week?
Has anyone cut down trees near you?
Do you think humans will one day explore other star systems and grow artificial meat?
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums.
I definitely think artificial meat is in our future – I suspect there will still be “real” meat as well, a sort of culinary oddity or foodie thing that many people will still enjoy as a treat.
I reckon in my lifetime there may be artificial meat but I can’t see real meat going away for a few decades.
Definitely not. It would need major improvement first, and I don’t think we’re anywhere near there yet.
I am so disappointed the trees have gone; its like Northbourne Avenue with the removal of the trees and therefore the cockatoo birds…for that stupid tram!!
Thanks, Sue. I’ve noticed the bird life has diminished too. I’m just grateful that something is being done now.
That is so disappointing to have to trees removed. Now that site is more than the eyesore it already is. Maybe there are plans in the works for redevelopment but since it’s been standing that way for almost a decade, maybe not.
I also grew up in a time where you got in a taxi an the driver would automatically know the destination without looking at a map. These days I don’t mind it when the taxi driver sets the GPS on the smartphone and goes – gives me an idea of the planned route (hopefully the shortest route) ahead and actually a better indication if I will be ripped off or not, and that I am not being driven elsewhere for safety reasons.
Happy belated birthdays to your daughters. We all share the same star sign 😃
Your cheese looks awfully bright yellow this week 🧀😃
I spent this week recovering from two gigs last weekend. Now I think I have a cold 😂
Oh no, Mabel, I hope you recover quickly.
I’m hoping the two buildings will be redeveloped properly and quickly. They’ve been abandoned for a few years now.
I think I overdid the cheese tonight. I feel very full.
Well if nothing is being done about the buildings now, I am sure if and when you become Prime Minister you will do something 😀
Thanks, Gaz. Seems like this cold is slow burning 😒 But it could be much worse.
You know there is never too much cheese 😃
The worst this is I forget to add blue cheese as well to tonight’s dinner.
Well, you have an excuse to use that blue cheese this coming week. Maybe you will find time for Maccas again too.
I have artfully had more coffees this weekend so I can get a free cake next weekend.
I see blue cheese in my future tomorrow night or maybe Tuesday night.
YIKES!! The lack of trees startled me as I scrolled down. I knew it was going to happen, you said it would, but yikes!
Also, I am very impressed you got two birthdays on the same day! So nice to not need to remember lots of dates. So, happy birthday to each one. :o)
Thanks Kris. I was really surprised by the trees being cut down.
I’m a dryad at heart. It isn’t easy to put the trees back…..