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TOP STORIES / Environment
Can Europe go carbon neutral by 2050?
The EU wants to become carbon neutral by 2050. That means abandoning coal, oil and gas completely. But is it possible? Experts say it is, energy won't become more expensive and it will even create more jobs.
For many people, a life without fossil fuels still seems inconceivable. How would we heat our homes without oil or gas? How would we get around, or transport goods?
Yet it's also increasingly clear that we have to stop using coal, oil and gas as quickly as possible to slow global warming its effects, from extreme weather to rising sea levels.
"Climate protection is a matter of life and death," warned UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the UN climate change conference in Katowice, Poland.
The stakes are high, and the European Union has said it wants to be climate neutral by 2050.
But is such a radical transformation possible in such a short time?
According to a new study by the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) in Finland and the Energy Watch Group, it is. But we have to act now.
Read more: Greenland ice sheet melting at 'exceptional' rate
The technology is ready
"The results of the study show that the current goals of the Paris climate agreement can be accelerated and should be," said one of the study's lead authors, Christian Breyers of LUT. "A transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy is very realistic — even today, with the technologies currently available."
Generating electricity from wind, sun, biomass and water is no longer rocket science. The key is achieving the right mix, depending on varying weather conditions across the continent, and using new storage technologies, like batteries and power-to-gas (PtG).
PtG uses electricity and water to produce hydrogen, which can be stored and used in transport and industry. By adding CO2 from the air, you can also produce synthetic fuels, which can replace natural gas or oil derivatives like kerosene used in aviation.
Read more: Could eco-friendly flying be on the horizon?
The science is already there. So the researchers set about figuring out how to put it in place by 2050.
The team fed into their supercomputer vast amounts of data, on the weather and energy demand — down to the hour — all over Europe, as well as the cost of different energy sources and storage solutions.
"The report confirms that a transition to 100 percent renewable energy in all sectors is possible, and no more expensive than the current energy system," Hans-Josef Fell of Energy Watch Group said.
But even if running our economies with zero-emissions is technically possible, will we make it happen?
Lots of sun and lots of wind
"European politicians should do more for climate protection than is currently envisioned," Fell said.
And there is much to do.
Many sectors that now run directly on fossil fuels will have to be electrified to make use of renewable power. That means we will need much more electricity — about four or five times what we're generating today — by mid century.
In their study, the scientists envision electricity covering more than 85 percent of Europe's total energy needs. Solar power would make up 62 percent, wind 32 percent and hydropower 4 percent, with bio-energy covering 2 percent and geothermal less than 1 percent.
Breyers says generating all this climate-friendly power wouldn't be any more expensive than the fossil-fuel based system we have now, and greenhouse emissions from the energy sector would be reduced to zero by 2050.
Can we afford it?
There's no getting away from the fact that as we ditch coal, oil and gas, jobs in the fossil fuel industries will be lost. However, the transition will also create new jobs in environmentally friendly technologies.
Overall, the European Commission expects a positive impact on employment. The study conducted by LUT and Energy Watch Group predicts a net increase of 1 million jobs by 2050 — meaning the energy sector would provide 30 percent more jobs than it does today.
The study doesn't look at the wider economic benefits of transforming our energy systems, but according to EU Climate Commissioner Arias Canete, a clean energy system — minus all that smog from coal-fired power stations — would save Europe more than €200 billion ($227 billion) a year in health care costs.
Read more: Is climate change killing us?
Relying on home-grown renewable power would also save the EU the more than €266 billion a year it currently spends on energy imports.
Incentives needed
Volker Quaschning, professor of renewable energy systems at the University of Applied Sciences for Engineering and Economics (HTW Berlin), says new research charts a clear path to achieving the targets set out in the Paris Agreement.
"The study strikingly demonstrates that a carbon-neutral energy supply with 100 percent renewable energy in Europe is technically and economically possible, even before the year 2050," he said.
In fact, he says, it's the only way we can limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Which is why it's time for politicians to "finally set the course necessary for successful climate protection and to significantly accelerate the expansion of renewable energy."
The study's authors say politicians need to put incentives in place to give the zero-emissions technologies we already have at our disposal a real boost.
That means abolishing subsidies and tax relief for coal and fossil fuels, internalizing the costs of environmental damage through taxes on CO2 and nuclear fuel, and making investments in cleaner alternatives profitable by guaranteeing a fixed rate for the renewable power, through feed-in tariffs.
"The feed-in tariffs are a very important component to ensure the transition succeeds swiftly," Fell told DW. "Only if an investor has a guarantee that a wind turbine, for example, can recoup the initial investment thanks to guaranteed feed-in tariffs will he get a loan from the bank."
10 creative concepts for energy
Urine and excrement
Our physiological needs can be used for much more than filling our bladders and our toilets. Researchers are looking into how to transform urine and other human excrement - let's spare the details - into energy. For instance at refugee camps, this could provide lighting while solving sanitation problems. Despite the negative associations, our corporal waste may one day be our best ally.
Algae farms
It's an incipient idea that needs intense further research - but farming microalgae could be a solution to producing biofuel efficiently and sustainably. Large microalgae farms would transform sunlight and carbon dioxide into bio-ethanol. But even with optimal results, energy production would remain very low.
Harnessing gentle breezes
Moya is a lightweight, flexible sheet that can harvest low-grade wind energy in a variety of locations - that's how its inventor, South African Charlotte Slingsby, describes it. This curtain can be installed into existing infrastructure without a need for expensive facilities or land-clearing. And it doesn't harm birds or bats, like large wind turbines can.
Coconut for coal
Wood remains the main energy source in many parts of the world - and this is leading to deforestation. Coconut shells and husks may be a sustainable alternative in countries like Kenya or Cambodia. Compared to traditional wood charcoal, coconut charcoal burns longer, is cheaper and avoids felling trees. It also eases management of coconut waste - a real problem in some regions.
Fish scales and bones
Fish factories create mountains of waste every day - which could produce energy. The high fat content in the tons of fish innards, along with scales and bones not suitable for the food market, can be used to produce biodiesel. Countries such as Honduras, Brazil and Vietnam have been already experimenting with this new energy source for years - but financial issues may hinder success.
Wind turbine in camouflage
The wind tree is a French innovation imitating nature to create energy. Jerome Michaud-Lariviere, the brain behind this concept, was inspired while observing leaves on trees fluttering in the wind. The tree-like structure has 72 mini-turbines instead of leaves, and can produce enough electricity to power 15 streetlights, charge an electric car or even power a small family home.
Bust a power move
Imagine tapping the energy of every step you take - this is the concept behind smart surfaces located under dance floors, football pitches, and metro stations, among other venues around the globe. The energy harvested can power low-voltage lighting or charge electronic devices in the immediate vicinity. So now there's a new excuse to keep your body moving!
Olives into biofuel
This delicious appetizer is also the source of olive oil that is a basic part of cuisine in Mediterranean countries. But once the olive has been pressed for oil, the leftovers can have a further use: biofuel. Production of olive oil creates four times its weight in waste. The Phenolive project turns that waste into electricity and heat, in doing so completing the product lifecycle.
Mustard plant residues
Power outages are still a daily reality in many areas of the developing world. A lack of resources has pushed people to find cost-effective alternatives - and "trash" from crops stands out as a good option. Incinerating the stems and leaves from mustard plants, for instance, can provide electricity to thousands of rural homes. The ash can then be placed back in the fields as fertilizer.
Solar roadways
Sun not only makes shimmering mirages on roads - it also produces energy. The Netherlands already has a 70-meter solar bike path, and France is now following in the same track. The country plans to install 1,000 kilometers of specially designed photovoltaic solar paneling on its roads over the next five years, with the aim of expanding its renewable energy capacity.
Author: Irene Banos Ruiz
Is climate change killing us?
Tackling climate change would reduce deaths from asthma, lung cancer, heart attack and other diseases. Doctors want to spur global climate action by highlighting the link between the planet's health and human health. (10.12.2018)
Climate protection: Germany falls farther behind
A decade ago, Germany was a pioneer in fighting climate change via the expansion of renewable energies. But now, like many G20 nations, its climate protection is stagnating as global emissions rise again. (10.12.2018)
Germany awarded 'shameful' negative climate prize at COP24
An environmental activist group has blasted Germany's climate record at the UN climate talks in Poland. It cited Germany's love of coal and failure to meet its own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (08.12.2018)
Greenland ice sheet melting at 'exceptional' rate
The disintegrating Greenland ice sheet is the leading cause of global sea level rise. And, according to a new study, it's melting faster than it ever has in recorded history. (05.12.2018)
Climate Risk Index: 2017 broke records for extreme weather
Puerto Rico, Honduras and Myanmar have topped a 173-nation ranking of countries most affected by climate disasters. Extreme weather caused record damage in 2017, and developing nations bear the brunt, authors say. (04.12.2018)
UN chief says world is 'way off course' on climate change
As nations gathered in Katowice, Poland for the COP24 climate conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the event with a warning that the world is losing direction when it comes to climate change. (03.12.2018)
UNEP: Still a chance to put out 'climate fire' — here's what we need to do
Efforts need to be tripled in order to close the gap between a deteriorating climate and a world in which global warming is kept below 2 degrees Celsius this century, the United Nations Environment Program finds. (27.11.2018)
Could eco-friendly flying be on the horizon?
Air travel is the fastest-growing source of carbon emissions. But could green tech and optimization mean that one day, we'll be able to hop on a plane with a guilt-free conscience? (22.11.2018)
Report reveals billions in EU fossil fuel subsidies
Europe is seen as a global leader on climate action. Yet it continues to bolster the fossil fuel industry with billions of euros worth of subsidies, according to a new report. (29.09.2017)
Over the years, DW has reported on creative and sustainable ways of generating renewable energy. Now we've compiled the top concepts - which represent a boost of hope toward a more sustainable world. (12.04.2016)
Study by Energy Watch Group and LUT University: Transition to 100% Renewable Energy in Europe
HTW Berlin
Lappeenranta University of Technology
Energy Watch Group
Author Gero Rueter (hf)
Related Subjects Energiewende (Transition to renewable power sources), European Union (EU), Europe, Climate Change, Environment, Renewable energy
Keywords environment, energy transition, climate change, EU, Europe, fossil fuels, renewables
Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/39wnF
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CBP Scanned 23 Million People with Facial Recognition Technology in 2020
By Adminon April 21, 2022
For the last 25 years, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been deploying advanced technology to enhance its ability to keep the country safe and the flow of goods and people moving efficiently through the U.S.'s borders. Facial recognition technology, in particular, is set to become a primary driver of travel and trade in the coming years. According to the World Economic Forum, "up to" 25 percent of international transactions could be facilitated by facial recognition by 2025.
Domestically, the U.S. is not far behind in adopting facial recognition as a primary means of identifying and tracking its citizens. CBP has already scanned more than 21 million people with facial recognition technology in 2020, with the potential for millions more in the future. The agency has also been using facial recognition to identify and track travelers from Canada, northern Mexico and the Caribbean, which have been the sources of the majority of border-related illegal entry apprehensions in the U.S. in recent years. On the Canadian side of the border, the CBP has also used facial recognition to identify and track individuals attempting to illegally enter the U.S. in the hopes of being granted asylum in Canada.
What is Facial Recognition?
How Does Facial Recognition Work?
CBP's Use of Facial Recognition Technology
Facial Recognition as a Driver of Immigration Control
Facial Recognition as a Driver of Border Security
Facial Recognition as a Driver of Trade Control
Facial Recognition of Citizens and Lawful Travelers
Facial Recognition of Unlawful Travelers and Aliens
Facial Recognition and the Rights of Citizens
Facial recognition, also called biometrics, is the ability of computer systems to identify and track people based on their unique physical characteristics, including their facial appearance, fingerprints, iris, and gait. Facial recognition has become one of the most popular emerging technologies in privacy and security. It's being used to identify people in photos, track activities, enhance video and audio, detect fraud, and track people's movements.
Facial recognition algorithms compare biometric data — such as a face's shape, eyes, hair, and mouth — and other biometric data, including gender, age, and ethnicity. This analysis is often done in real time, meaning the computer system can identify people based on photos that were taken only seconds ago.
CBP has used facial recognition technology extensively since 2012, when the agency began scanning citizens and visitors with the technology at ports of entry (POEs) in Arizona and California. According to an internal CBP report, the agency began using facial recognition at the San Ysidro port of entry in May 2015. The report says the system was installed in response to a surge in illegal immigration along the San Diego border.
According to CBP's own data, 311 people were initially identified as "match positives" in the first 90 days of CBP's use of facial recognition technology at the San Ysidro port of entry. The agency also reported that the accuracy rate of the system was 97 percent during that time. The accuracy rate was reduced to 94 percent in December 2015.
CBP has used facial recognition technology to identify and track individuals attempting to illegally enter the U.S. in the hopes of being granted asylum in Canada. In February 2016, CBP started scanning the faces of individuals attempting to enter Canada through ports of entry on the northern border. CBP also began using facial recognition at the Detroit/Windsor border in August 2017, in partnership with the Canadian government.
CBP has also used facial recognition to track asylum seekers as they make their way through the immigration court system. In 2017, the CBP started tracking individuals while they waited in custody to appear before an immigration judge. The CBP also monitors the locations of individuals released from custody to track their progress through the court system.
CBP has used facial recognition technology to expand its ability to identify travelers and track their movements at border crossings. Since the agency used facial recognition at the San Ysidro POE in 2015, CBP has scanned more than 21 million people with the technology in Arizona and California. As of mid-2018, CBP was scanning people at more than 30 POEs with the technology. CBP has also used facial recognition technology to track vehicles at more than 300 ports of entry. The agency has also deployed four mobile facial recognition units to the southwest border, which are used to identify vehicles and people at border crossings.
CBP has been tracking the movement of individuals inside the country with facial recognition technology. In 2018, CBP conducted nationwide, automated scans of travelers at airports and train stations. The agency also scanned people at ports of entry, including at least one biometric entry. All entrants to the U.S. must submit biometrics when entering through an official port of entry.
Citizens of the U.S. and visitors who are granted permission to enter the country by an immigration officer are not subject to facial recognition scans unless they are also crossing a border. Citizens of Canada and Mexico, for example, are not subject to a biometric entry, including a face scan, when crossing at a port of entry.
In February 2016, CBP started scanning the faces of individuals attempting to enter Canada through ports of entry on the northern border. CBP also began using facial recognition at the Detroit/Windsor border in August 2017, in partnership with the Canadian government.
CBP has also used facial recognition technology to track asylum seekers as they make their way through the immigration court system. In 2017, the CBP started tracking individuals while they waited in custody to appear before an immigration judge. The CBP also monitors the locations of individuals released from custody to track their progress through the court system.
Citizens have a right to privacy when it comes to their facial images, and CBP may not create databases of facial images without a valid law enforcement purpose or comply with an order to do so. Given the potential for abuse inherent in facial recognition technology, CBP should continue to proactively disclose its policies, practices, and procedures related to the use of facial recognition technology to ensure transparency and accountability. CBP should also continue to prominently post a notice at all ports of entry, informing citizens that their biometric data — including their face — will be scanned and stored, and how they can request access to their data.
It is important to keep in mind that facial recognition technology is still in its infancy and has obvious limitations. Its accuracy is imperfect and it's not always able to identify people or distinguish between them. It's also less likely to produce false positives in a crowd, which could be a concern for a country like the U.S. because of the risk of racial or ethnic profiling. Furthermore, facial recognition technology is not suitable for tracking people across long distances in a consistent manner.
Nonetheless, the potential of this technology is undeniable, and CBP is already using it to expand its control of borders, track travelers, and enforce trade policy.
Tags: cbp 23m gershgorn onezero
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There are many aviation security systems that outclass our own. Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International is the gold standard. Here's how it works.
Checkpoints at the two main entry roads are guarded by Uzi-armed soldiers and inspectors who review documents for every car. Suspicious passengers and vehicles may be searched.
Curbside baggage checks are nonexistent, and cars must quickly drop off passengers or head for designated parking lots. Armed undercover security staffers monitor entrances and can stop and question passengers before they go inside.
All passengers are interviewed by security personnel trained by the Israel Aviation Authority in conjunction with Israeli intelligence and security agencies. Interviewers, who often are students with some military combat experience, look for such warning signs as nervousness; lack of a concrete reason for traveling into, out of, or through Israel; and a suspicious travel history. "Risky" passengers may be sent to private rooms for questioning and searches. Employees are regularly tested by undercover colleagues.
Check-in proceeds much as it does in the U.S.A., but airline staff focuses solely on airline matters.
Uniformed and undercover security guards are trained to detect unattended baggage immediately; if not identified, the bags may be destroyed.
Working with a variety of intelligence agencies, Israeli agents scout out bomb threats, check flight manifests, and monitor terrorist cells worldwide. Relevant findings are relayed to ground personnel at Ben Gurion. The airport is also fully integrated into Israel's military operations and is monitored for external threats; on-site military aircraft are available for its defense.
The two staircases to the boarding area are under heavy surveillance, and passengers may ascend only after presenting security personnel with boarding passes and passports, which are tagged with stickers that may change color or appearance throughout the day. Once upstairs, passengers may not reenter the check-in area.
Technicians trained by the same governmental bodies as their Q&A counterparts screen all hand luggage, using mostly Israeli-made devices. Staffers are in constant contact with other security personnel, and are warned of any suspicious passengers heading their way.
Trash bins made of impact-resistant plastics are designed to explode upward.
Before arrival, shippers are prescreened and must provide details such as company history, origin of products, and destination, all of which are double-checked. Cargo destined for El Al flights is placed in a decompression chamber to find and contain pressurized explosives.
Passengers present boarding passes and passports to airline staff, who check for security stickers. They then descend to the tarmac, where buses shuttle them to their planes. Undercover guards patrol both the departures area and the tarmac. For all El Al flights, armed, plainclothes "sky marshals" circulate among the passengers and can prevent suspicious passengers from boarding.
On El Al flights, cockpit doors—two sets, the outer one made of steel—are secured once pilots have taken their seats, and remain so throughout the flight. Pilots and flight attendants are trained to handle hijackings and terrorist attacks.


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A passive play that's here to stay
Sponsored survey: Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management
Anson Chow, Vice President, Passive Asset Management Asia Pacific at Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management
Now in its fourth year, the Asia Risk and Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management Asian exchange-traded funds (ETFs) survey examines key investor trends to enable distributors to provide better service to their clients. This year the survey focuses on the institutional investor segment.
After years of rapid growth in Asia, the ETF business has seen some consolidation this year, and while assets under management (AUM) continue to grow, the pace is slower than it has been in previous years. Nevertheless, investor appetite for ETFs remains healthy and a series of regulatory changes could herald the next big wave up.
Total AUM for ETFs in Asia-Pacific reached USD180 billion in June 2014, representing a 6.5% increase from last year. Investor appetite for passive investment remains strong, and a number of drivers such as an expanded Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII) programme are encouraging fund flows into ETFs.
Interestingly, investors are exposed to a very broad range of assets via ETFs with no bias towards a particular market or asset class. Exposure to both developed and emerging market equities is 18.2%, while commodity exposure stands at nearly 20%. This compares to investor exposure to developed market fixed income at 13.6%, and high-yield and emerging market fixed income at a slightly lower 12.1%, which is to be expected given the relatively less mature stage of the Asia bond markets (figure 1).
"Investor awareness to gain diversified ETF exposure is encouraging. Last year, the majority of respondents said they had exposure to developed market equities, but this year it has changed to a more balanced split among China A-shares and fixed-income products. Not only is this trend prevalent among institutional investors, but can also be seen among retail investors and private bank clients. It is a positive step towards sustainable growth of the ETF market," says Anson Chow, Vice President, Passive Asset Management Asia Pacific at Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management.
Asian advantage
When asked why they choose Asia-listed ETFs, respondents gave a broad set of reasons, which include parallel trading hours (15.9%), easier trading and settlement (19.5%) and local product range (32.9%) (figure 2).
"There is more diversity around why investors are choosing ETFs in Asia. In previous years, most investors have traded in Asia because of the parallel trading hours, but now investors are more aware of trading and settlement being easier in Asia, and there is more recognition of the unique products in Asia that are not available in overseas markets," added Chow.
Tracking performance
Despite investors now using ETFs for a range of strategies, tracking performance of an ETF versus its benchmark is still a significant issue for investors, with 60% of those surveyed expressing a preference to see an official daily closing price (figure 3).
The good news is that the Singapore Exchange (SGX) took investor feedback on board earlier this year. On February 24, the SGX started publishing a daily closing price for all SGX-listed ETFs based on a predefined methodology at the end of each trading day to provide investors with an up-to-date closing price to facilitate market investment decision and portfolio valuation.
This helps to efficiently and promptly value portfolios even when other major European and US markets are closed. Asset managers using ETFs in their investment portfolios can rely on the ETF closing price as an alternative to net asset value (NAV) for daily valuation, especially since ETF NAVs may only be available a few days later.
"In Singapore, previously the closing price was absent if there was no turnover for a particular instrument. Consequently, we see some investors expressing concern as the valuation infrastructure at their companies requires a closing price, which means they are unable to obtain compliance approval to invest. This step by SGX removes another barrier to ETF investment," says Chow.
He adds that, while a closing price may be an important factor for some investors, NAV is a more accurate valuation metric as the closing price is subject to local closing time frames. For example, an India fund listed in Hong Kong would have a closing price of 16:00 in Hong Kong, but it wouldn't reflect the total market movement as the India market closes two hours after the Hong Kong market closes.
"Mutual fund investors do not have this problem, as such investors only refer to the NAV of the fund. However, since ETFs trade on an exchange, investors may like to see a closing price, but in the end ETFs are funds. There are also instances, however, where on-screen activity drives the ETF price. In these circumstances, the closing price from an exchange has more value," says Chow.
One of the main reasons affecting investment decisions in ETFs relates to liquidity. The survey revealed 58.6% of investors prefer ETFs with high historical volumes, and 24.1% of respondents believe that on-screen liquidity determines an ETF's liquidity, rather than the liquidity of the underlying (figure 4).
"This is clearly a gap where investors treat ETFs like stocks, assuming that liquidity just lies in secondary market activity of the ETF and nothing else, but we explain that liquidity is also based on the underlying constituents and is not just determined by on-screen turnover," says Chow.
He elaborates that, as there are only a few actively traded ETFs in the market, ETFs are relatively more transparent in that investors can buy/sell index funds on an open platform and know what the price of the ETF is at the point of transaction. "However, for investors to neglect ETFs based solely on turnover is a pity," says Chow.
ETF allocation
Despite the continuous growth in ETFs over the past several years, investor appetite remains strong, with 41.7% of respondents looking to increase their allocations over the next 12 months (figure 5).
"Last year, the figure was closer to 50%, but as ETFs have grown in prominence to become a USD2 trillion business globally, it is natural that investors have bought in already. As evidenced by this growth, interest in ETFs remains high," says Chow.
China RQFII ETFs
Following the relaxation of the Chinese government's policy on RQFII quotas, respondents were asked which China RQFII ETFs they wish to see developed. They expressed a bias towards policy bonds (33.9%), with corporate bonds carrying strong appeal (20.3%) and interest in small cap equities is also high (13.6%) (figure 6). "It is encouraging to see a broad-based interest in new China products," says Chow.
Physical or synthetic
Coinciding with the move to allow more investment into mainland equities via physical ETFs under the RQFII programme, Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management intends to convert the investment policy of some of its ETFs from synthetic to physical replication. Chow says this was in response to client demand, but both models still have their own merits.
"It is not a lack of confidence in the synthetic model as we preserve it for many products. In developed markets spreads are tight, so it doesn't matter which model you choose in terms of tracking error, but for frontier or emerging markets it can be a significant challenge to convert the investment policy to physical replication, and this may also not provide the best solution for clients," says Chow.
Clearly, ETFs still have room to grow in Asia. The product range is much smaller than in the US and Europe, yet Asia's markets continue to become more liquid each year, providing further opportunities to develop innovative products.
A glimpse into future plans in Hong Kong also shows that policy-makers are keen to develop ETFs as a form of investment. Hong Kong's financial secretary, John Tsang, gave a budget speech in February 2014 announcing a waiver of stamp duty for ETFs to make Hong Kong a more attractive place for the development, management and trading of ETFs. "We aim to develop Hong Kong into a regional hub for ETFs," says Tsang.
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I've been driving around to friends' homes a lot lately, which isn't so bad, seeing as the weather has been wonderful. I thought I'd share a couple of things which you might not have in your neighborhood (unless, of course, your neighborhood is Germany).
Ignoring the crappy photo and the annoying PSA billboard and you might wonder what's growing in those covered mounds. It's Spargel, AKA white asparagus. It's in season right now, and there's nothing I love more than Germans' celebration of seasonal foods. Spring means spargel with hollandaise sauce and boiled potatoes, early summer means strawberry torte, late summer means onion cake and new wine, fall means venison or boar and lots of mushrooms, winter means gluehwein…. But I digress.
Yup, that's the paramedics driving a BMW X5. How's that for status?
Sometimes it feels weird to me that I consider people I've never met, and don't really know, as friends. OK, maybe not soul-mate kind of friends, but with blog friends at least you know you have a common interest, and usually a little insight into their life (which is probably not that different than friends you meet through the kids' activities or merely because they live across the street). Anyways, I think it is a wonderful, generous gesture when blog friends like Jeannie and Katrin send me goodies out of the blue. Who doesn't like getting tailor made goodies in the mail? I had been considering repaying Katrin's kindness. I think I know a little about Katrin through her blog, and she a little about me, so when she gushed over Katja's PINK school backpack, I knew what I'd make — a PINK Fliegenpilz pincushion!
I finished the fun, scrappy, snuggly, ladybug baby quilt and the baby's not even due for two more weeks! I could have procrastinated longer, but I've got another one I want to make too. I dove into this not sure of how it was going to turn out, but I'm pretty happy with it.
As you can probably guess, I used only fabrics from my stash for the quilt top (including a recent addition from Terry). A lot of them were from my scrap bag too, although you wouldn't know if you saw my overflowing bag. The back of the quilt is flannel. Snuggly. Babies want flannel.
I'm attacking the blue scraps next, but something tells me that won't make a dent either.
I have been visiting the No Impact Man blog recently. I was following a link, late at night, of course. At first, I thought the guy was over-the-top. I mean, "Wow, the ends to which people will go to promote themselves." Then I moved on to "That's easy for him to say, what with a kid young enough not to protest each and every life change, and someone else to rinse the poopy cloth diapers." I'm a convert now though. The man serves up some excellent food for thought, and he's got conviction. I can respect just about anything if it's backed with conviction.
I'd love to save the planet myself, but I just don't have the conviction. I fight with conflicting desires every day. I recently bought a second drying rack for my balcony so I have enough space to dry an entire load of laundry, but I use a non-organic/full of chemicals detergent. I walk all over my village, but drive a car when I want to go any farther. I buy organic food when I think it's something the family would eat, but also serve my kids Nutella on weekends.
I hope it's about finding some sort of a balance between convenience and sustainability. I could go to the health food store and buy more eco-friendly products, but it's in another town and I'd have to drive or spend a half an hour each way on the streetcar to get there. Or I could walk two blocks to my local grocery store. I could go vegetarian because I know that it is lower on the food chain, but I also know that I have molars AND incisors for a reason — we humans are omnivores and our bodies need a variety of foods. I feel a bit guilty about our two cars and annual flights to the US or vacation destinations, and even brought up the subject of "buying" carbon offsets. Of course the buzz words make it sound like you are actually removing carbon pollution, but really, it's just donating money to research or fund alternative energy in a direct relation to the carbon energy you use. Not a bad thing, but my in-house Devil's Advocate says that it appears the money is not going to the research or funding, but just to those who say it will go to research and funding. I also treasure the experiences we've had in the myriad places we've visited. What we have learned about other histories and cultures may contribute more towards global understanding and a healthier world view than the carbon we use to get to have those experiences. Of course, as the developed countries are attempting to embrace sustainability, the much more populous developing countries are trying their hardest to get to the place we are now eschewing. Although it's not about environmentalism, the book "The Eagle's Shadow" by Mark Hertsgaard has made me think long and hard about the example we westerners make. We can each do the best we can do, but ultimately, the earth is a huge place with a lot of people who's ultimate goals are not necessarily the same — or even mutually compatible. (Somewhat off-topic, another book I recommend is "Occidentalism" by Buruma and Margalit. It serves to remind us that America is not the center of the universe and there are other world views which are not the same as western ones.) Back to my little contribution (or lack thereof) — what and were to buy? If I buy locally, then I'm supporting the local economy and possibly the small farmer or entrepreneur. If I buy something grown or manufactured somewhere else then I'm supporting that economy. If I want to feed the world's hungry, then supporting the entities which employ them and thus provide the means with which to buy food or seeds then that's good too, right? I know it's not that simple, but that's the problem too: it's NEVER simple. (In the end, I settle for quality over quantity and let teh rest sort itself out.) I am fine with a zero population sum; two parents, two kids to carry on the genes. But there are many more (in both developing AND developed countries) who don't subscribe to that view — for economic or religious reasons just for starters. So, the world population will rise and so will the accompanying environmental issues.
I believe that the earth is in constant change. Some changes will happen regardless of the actions of the earth's inhabitants, some changes we CAN affect. I believe the earth will eventually become uninhabitable for humans and that we're probably speeding up that process. Does the earth care? No. It is very self-centered of us to think that the only state of the earth is a state in which humans can inhabit it. Earth will exist long after we're gone, although it may look very different. (Fantasy end of the human race book recommendation: "Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood. Next on my reading list: "Collapse" by Jared Diamond, author of the very informative and readable "Guns, Germs and Steel.") So where does that leave a pessimist with no convictions like me? I'll do what I can to be mindful of the choices I make for myself and my family. I'll try my best to strike a balance between modernity (love my computer!!) and environmentalism. But I'm afraid I'm ultimately contributing to the end of the world as we know it because I lack the conviction to change the entire way I live.
By the way, the views expressed in this post are my opinion alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the others living in my household.
OK, I'm off to clean bathrooms with my favorite eco-friendly vinegar cleaner and my (probably nuclear) energy sucking vacuum cleaner. The opposing forces are inevitable and inescapable. Uplifting craft content to come later.
For anyone who might be wondering, I finished the denim skirt "update" for Katja. It did not elicit the super model response that the red jacket did, but it does look pretty cute and she chose to wear it today with no encouragement from me.
I finished this muffin pincushion last year, but I don't think I ever posted this particular one. The theme for the Pincushion Challenge this time around is "Eats," so I thought it appropriate to pull this out. I have another idea too, but I'm not sure I'll ever get around to it.
And, as I crank away on my Chevron Scarf, I' thinking that it will make a great gift for my man. It will be shorter and wider than the original (not necessarily a bad thing), and I like the color combo, but I realize that it's probably because I already have two similarly colored scarves. Soooooo…… I'm thinking that I might want to make this again — in colors I don't yet own in a scarf. I've been looking online, but have yet to find exactly what I'm dreaming of. Has anyone seen this color scheme in a Koigu Painter's Palette-type yarn?
It's because when posting links, I go to the site I'm linking to, which means I'll probably look around there a bit, and maybe follow one of their links, and read around a bit, and then I might find another link to check out, and…… suddenly 10:15 pm becomes 11:45 pm and I still haven't published my post.
Of course, it wouldn't be fair to make fun of German peculiarities without pointing out a few American ones as well. The flea market yesterday reminded me of the help Americans seem to need with spacial reasoning. Somehow, Americans have a hard time fitting a potato wagon and two painted milk jugs into the minivan or SUV they bought the minute they found out they were pregnant with their FIRST child; whereas Europeans have no problem fitting a family of four, two crates of empty beverage bottles to be returned to the Getränke shop, AND a set of kitchen chairs into their sub-compact.
We also got another pile of hand-me down clothes from the neighbor, which I whittled down. Katja is a dedicated skirt wearer and though she liked a little white denim number, I thought it was way too short for someone who loves to hang upside down on the playground. So, I'm going to add a patchwork ruffle with some of my stash and newly acquired fabrics — plus a cute little trim I bought in the trim-shopping spree of a few weeks ago.
The BRAND NEW OFF THE BOLT fabric he's sitting on is the back of the Ladybug quilt. I've decided that babies NEED flannel backing on their quilts and old lumberjack shirts just won't do. Rest assured though, I'm not working my way back up to buying new fabric whenever I want. In fact, since I vowed not to buy any brand-new fabric I've probably acquired more secondhand fabric than all the new fabric I purchased in the previous year. Cases in point: the lovely pile above, and the four (count 'em, four) twin sized cotton damask comforter covers I purchased for 5€ at a flea market this morning (that's like 1.25€ per four yards of fabric!!!!!). They will dye up gorgeously!
Also purchased for 5€ is the glass cake stand for Kate's gallery (which matches nicely a candy dish I already had, so I think we can work something out).
What does an Obsttorte have to do with any of this, you ask? Absolutely nothing, but it's the first one I've made this "summer," and I wanted to share. This has got to be the biggest-bang-for-the-smallest-effort-bring-to-a-BBQ-or-whip-up-when-the-ladies-stop-by kind of dessert EVER. And I will miss it terribly when we eventually leave Germany. I think Germans learn to make this (purists learn to make the components from scratch) when they are still suckling at the breast. The base is a purchased "Biscuitboden," which bears no resemblance to an American biscuit (or a British cookie), but is more like a thin cake with an outer rim (perhaps this is what the Brits refer to as "sponge"). Anyways, top the "cake" with vanilla pudding made from a package (German brands work best, but American ones will suffice) and fresh strawberries (or plums, or cherries, or berries, or canned mandarin oranges, or all of the above — whatever is available). To keep it fresh and glossy looking, you then mix up some "Tortenguss" and pour it over the top. Tortenguss is something that I will be bringing back to the US in bulk since it's small and light and I don't know of an American equivalent. It's sort of a mostly-flavorless Jell-O which you pour over the fruit and then it quickly jells and seals everything for a very "professional" look. You can get it in a red tint too, but that seems a bit over-the-top for me. OK, in looking for links, I found frag-mutti.de (translates to "ask mommy.de" :-)) which says you can boil gelling sugar (not sure that's available in the US either) and water or juice to make a "guss." A vegan link suggests water or juice, honey, and agar, which sounds pretty do-able. Sorry for all the parentheses and quotation marks.
Oh, and look who had to jump in when she saw that I was going to take a picture of the Torte! I guess she figured she needed to be part of the composition since she helped put the strawberries on the dessert.
I have absolutely no idea when I am going to emerge from this crafty zone I'm in and return to "serious" art-making. Without any deadlines, I'm feeling like I should turn my attention to all the little things that pop into my head. Why not? I'm having a deep need to make practical things. You know you've succeeded when they are used. I'm also thinking that maybe after the intensity of last year, and the introspection with which I started out this year, maybe my subconscious is telling me to take it easy for a while. Hence a deep desire to sit and knit on my Chevron Scarf all day. OK, that could also just be my conscious telling me that it really doesn't want to clean the bathrooms.
I'm Not Coaching Her, I Swear!
It's official, my daughter is a ham! I finished the red ruffle jacket today and asked her to put it on so I could take a picture. She immediately started to strike poses and bat eyelashes for the camera.
Yes, she is amazingly cute, as is the jacket, but where is this coquettish-ness coming from? Really, we are not enrolled in some Wilhemina or other modeling agency correspondence courses — really!
Check out the adorable Fliegenpilz patch I ordered from Katalina of My Wild Child. In hindsight, I probably should have trimmed the pink background a little closer and put it up higher, but for some reason I was seeing the pocket and patch as one unit. Probably because I had originally envisioned the patch ON the pocket. BTW, the kind-of matching skirt is from her Grandma. Who says redheads can't wear red?


GRoot is a topmost component of UI display list.You dont need to create GRoot. It is created automatically.
The GRoot type exposes the following members.
Return true if a modal window is on stage.
Return true if modal waiting layer is on stage.
This is called after screen size changed.
Close all windows except modal windows.
Hide modal layer and waiting sign.
If a popup is showing, then close it; otherwise, open it.


The Marshfield-area's newest babies include Zachary Jonathon and Hadley Madeline.
FOX, Jamie and Matt, of Auburndale, son, Zachary Jonathon.
DELO, Amber, and VERHULST, Adam, of Loyal, son, Darian West Verhulst.
LOOS, Kari and Jeremy, of Arpin, daughter, Hadley Madeline.
FRIEMOTH, Katie and Luke, of Neillsville, daughter, Sawyer Jean.
REINART, Rachel and Kelly, of Neillsville, son, Theodore Jaxson.
GUERRERO SCHMITT, Kyrstle, and GUERRERO SILVA, Jose Francisca, of Edgar, daughter, Josefina Francisca.


Leaked iOS firmware has revealed a new "animated emoji" feature coming to iOS 11 this month which changes appearance based on your facial expressions.
Update: Animoji has been announced and here's what we know.
Above: Animojis reacting to user facial expressions. Image: 9to5Mac / Composite.
This appears to be similar to the watchOS "animated emoji" feature which is promoted as an emoji but in fact is an image being sent over-the-air like a sticker.
While this is speculation at this stage, this Animoji feature likely won't have any bearing on how regular emojis are used or displayed in inline text, and instead would work more like Bitmoji or other "emoji branded" sticker packs like Kimoji.
This appears to be an entirely new feature, that could be used either for messaging, or as a novelty addition to any content creation tools on iOS. So rest easy anyone who doesn't want their existing emojis jumping off the screen: that seems unlikely with this feature.
Above: Apple Watch "animated emoji" feature is a predecessor to this new feature.
iOS 10.2 replaced all of the existing emoji artwork (except flags) in 2016, and it appeared that the new designs had been created in 3D then rendered as 2D for the font.
A ton (most? all?) of these are 3D rendered, too. I bet this job took an extremely long time. They've all been replaced.
Above: Apple has previewed new emojis coming to iOS by the end of 2017.
A special event is being held on September 12 where Apple is expected to unveil a new iPhone. Whether Animoji and/or new emoji support is revealed or released at this event is not yet known.