Paul Linus, Author at News, Views and Reviews

Jul252018 by Paul LinusNo Comments

How To Extract Water From an Aquifer

General

Aquifers are essential to our survival. They store ground water and enable life to flourish in regions that would be otherwise virtually uninhabitable. Humans have become very good at exploiting natural resources such as aquifers, but this very fact makes them vulnerable. Our ever-increasing water demands mean that some aquifers are being depleted more rapidly than they can be replenished, which means the water supply is coming under threat. For exploitation of an aquifer to be sustainable it is necessary for its water content to be replenished at least as quickly as it is extracted. Water is normally drawn from aquifers using wells, although if an aquifer outcrops at the Earth’s surface then drilling a well may not be necessary as groundwater can seep from it naturally. Where this ...

Jul242018 by Paul LinusNo Comments

Whales, Dolphins and Ocean Noise

Wildlife

In the wake of multiple mass strandings of varied species of whales, the link between naval exercises and these events has become a very controversial topic. And there are other sources of noise that are also affecting marine mammals. Boats, Oil and Gas Exploration, and Industry Engine noise from large ships and even recreational boats causes dolphins and whales to alter their behaviour. Oil and gas exploration, construction, power plants and factories all contribute to the problem. Whales and dolphins exist in a world of underwater sound. Most people are familiar with the clicks and whistles of dolphins and the eerie sounds of humpback whale songs. Some of these sounds can carry up to a mile away and are a vital part of cetacean communication. In addition, dolphins and toothe...

Jul232018 by Paul LinusNo Comments

The History of eBay

Business

For years, the history of eBay was depicted as the saga of a Pez collector who wanted to found a new place where Pez collectors could get together and trade their dispensers. That revisionist history was created by a PR team who instructed eBay founder Pierre Omidyar to recount this history for its romantic PR value. The first item ever sold on eBay, the story went, was a Pez dispenser. Not so, as eBay founder Omidyar admitted years later. The first item ever sold on the online auction giant was a broken laser pointer in 1995. At that time, eBay was a domain name for Omidyar's website that was named after his consulting company, Echo Bay. The site was not, however, primarily an auction site. The auction portion was an afterthought and was named AuctionWeb. eBay Inc. is Born ...

Jul222018 by Paul LinusNo Comments

A Discourse on Africa’s Look East Policy

Featured, General

The Look East policy which Africa as a continent embraced so tightly at the beginning of the 21st Century has a long and winding history. It is also very significant in explaining Africa’s pivotal position in international politics, with the ability to swing from West to East as the tides of world politics change. The Look East Policy in Historical Perspective If much of history has to be kept away, then the most important starting point for any discussion on the history of Africa’s look east policy would be the Cold War. This would also involve ignoring the epic journey of China’s General Zheng He to the east coast of Africa in the 15th century. China refuses to ignore this piece of history when drumming its historical ties with Africa. Beijing has recently signed an agreement w...

Jul212018 by Paul LinusNo Comments

How fiberglass insulation works

Home & Garden

Fiberglass insulation is designed to be fluffy and take up as much of a framing cavity as possible. Fiberglass insulation is also designed to be encapsulated, which means covered on all sides, like a box. For maximum efficiency of fiberglass insulation, the encapsulation should be sealed not allowing air movement. But here is the confusing part. The woven fibers that make up fiberglass is not an insulation material. The layers of woven fiberglass create air pockets that are designed to trap the air inside the framing cavities and prevent thermal changes from occurring. While most people accept this explanation, there are some major problems with this scientific explanation: Problem 1: There is no such thing as an air tight framing cavity. Air movement is imminent unless closed cell ...

Jul182018 by Paul LinusNo Comments

Worst Natural Disasters Ever Recorded

General

Natural disasters can and will happen at any time and place within any part of the world. Disturbing volcano eruptions, heat waves, cold waves, earthquakes, and mud landslides are all considered a part of the natural disaster world. They can have deadly consequences for those unfortunate victims in their paths. Listed here are five of the worst natural disasters ever recorded. The 1931 Yellow River (Huang He River) flood in China. The 1887 Yellow River (Huang He River) flood in China. The 1938 Yellow River (Huang He River) flood in China The Bhola Cyclone of 1970 in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) The 1556 Shaanxi Earthquake in China. China Leads In Natural Disaster Deaths What is very odd is how the nation of China has had the highest number of casualties on the list of natura...