NO monkfish!

DO NOT eat this week's food in season.

The reason is simple: it's highly endangered!

Check more here.

I guess I was way too tired to tell you how responsible you should be.

Other species with the same common name can be found here.

Workaholic #2

There are times when I cannot separate work from personal life. Twice! How could I? How could anyone – who is deeply committed to his/her own work – disconnect?

There is no switch on/off. You look outside and see triggers of brainstorms that eventually lead to a great idea. All that colour. All that… wait a minute! Yes, that’s it! Life starts gradually. It isn’t math we are dealing with here. It’s life! Thus, a biologist will never be able to either see 0’s or 1’s.

There is so much more out there, yet so simple, it hurts!

And I miss it, just like the deserts miss the rain...

The basis of life

- Can you please define a bloom?

- Eeerrrr…

Yes, that’s it, folks. I am trying to define a bloom based on daily, 100 Km resolution, satellite data. Think about it and let me know a.s.a.p.!

Knabrostræde 26.

Crazy features

Outliers, as in any model fitting technique, may turn your life into a living hell. What can you do to avoid them? Nothing. You just need to learn how to deal with them, and that’s it.

On the other hand, attending police auctions may be fruitful. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to find a good fit, you will feel relieved that you are promoting recycling. Yes, because that is what it is: objects being reused.

And the winner is (was)... Who knows? Maybe I will be posting some shots of my new beauty soon, when I get it.

Hello, my name is

Tomorrow I will be on the phone with Dr. Daniel Pauly. Can you believe this?

He is one of my heroes when it comes to Fisheries Ecology. I just hope I do not blow everything up.

I miss the Norwegian nature.
So full of everything you have ever wished to experience.

What's in season?

Have you been filling up your fridge/counter with foods that are in season?

Before you go out shopping for food, check this valuable website. They launch a list of foods in season. Of course this would depend on the country you living in, and whether these products are produced in your town or surroundings – a.k.a. locally. This way, you make sure you are eating healthier, helping your neighbour, and your country’s economy.

Eat local! Eat organic! Eat whole foods!

These beers are prized-winner beers, produced in Denmark. With elderflower, a beloved ingredient up here.

Check also the “10 ways to Eat Greener” by Whole Living. Also, try to aim to a maximum of 10-15 products per week and use ONLY those products (plus products that can stay in the counter/fridge for weeks to months). This is an extremely good tip.

(re)order

Up and down.

Forwards and backwards.

Right and left.

Disregarding in which direction you are aiming at, shoot high enough. If you end up shooting farther than your target, that’s ok. Do not fear the unknown. Do not be afraid of success.

Workaholic

Everything just looked so smooth, easy, and straight-forward. Just like a miso soup.

Clear, transparent, and including only the relevant details. “Make sure you know your audience. Do not try to be smart. It is all about being an entertainer.” He said.

Yeah, sure, but the right amount of amusement is rather difficult to reach. Stress. Pressure. These always come along.

I guess I just need to learn how to cope with so much going on. I like it. I love my work. I just hope I am not demanding too much from myself..

Climate Change Action

You need to act now!

(Source: Ferdi Rizkiyanto)

Weeks and weeks of research. Multidisciplinary approaches. Seminars, lectures, and workshops. Compass model: nature (N), social (S), economics (E), wellbeing (W).

People getting together to set goals and make this world a better place. I am glad I am part of this.

Literally, you should have acted yesterday.

See here why.

Delays

Norwegian rules, bright sun, and better moods.

This is what you get when stuck at an airport for almost 2 days. Give me this and I’ll be happy.

Sleep two hours and fly to another course.

I wonder and wander

I wondered whether salmon and coconut milk could go well together. The answer is yes. Some vegetables, spinach pasta, and good to go.

This was the evening I also tried home-made smoked tuna. And here is another twist to it: home-made smoked tuna with mint. Yes, mint.

The technique to smoke fish at home was learnt at a workshop/seminar about the upcoming EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, during the European Fish Week in Lisbon (also here), on the World Oceans Day. This was an event organized by OCEAN2012. There was a chef teaching some alternative recipes to try with more sustainable aquatic resources, such as sardines and anchovies.

“OCEAN2012 is an alliance of organizations dedicated to transforming European fisheries policy to stop overfishing, end destructive fishing practices and deliver fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks.”

So, even if I seem to be wandering, keep in mind that I do focus on sustainability! There is always a better approach, or, at least, an optimal.

Optimal foraging theory

Foraging strategies may not be within your definitions, but they do exist. Trust me!

That is to say that organisms adopt such strategies to maximize their net intake energy per unit of time. Read this and this to find out more about this topic. However, I tend to see humans as adopting these strategies to optimize their own profits, rather than their communities’. I wonder when are we going to realize that the Earth is a living organism itself, and that whatever we do, there will be consequences.

Ones more drastic. Others more dramatic, but, believe me, everything works within a circle. Nothing is wasted. Recycling is the key-word. Yes, the Earth recycles everything. I mean EVERYTHING! So do not get surprised by the fact that the climate is changing. It is just the Earth responding. And we should respond as well.

My suggestion: “Yes, Earth, we are here. We are still here. What do you need?”

Overwhelming experiences

One more achievement last evening. Simple. Delicious. Raw. Straight out of the soil. Loved it.

Then an ice cold beer and an amusing chat about particles.

Oehlenschlægersgade 12.

Small fish

“They eat according to their size.”

Is this news to you? We all eat according to our size. At least that is what we are supposed to eat. Greedy people should be aware that their stomach may explode for all the food they are trying to squeeze in.

Our nutritional requirements are usually proportional to our size. Therefore, smaller means lower demands, thus being able to avoid overexploiting the sources. Specially the natural sources. The Earth is supposed to fully accommodate all species living within. However, if we adopt an unnatural behaviour, such as consuming more and more, the outcome is obvious. The sources supply will no longer meet mankind demands.

(Un)common mistakes

Please, be aware that your today’s perception of reality may not be the same in a very near future.

What you aim at achieving may change. Your surroundings may not provide the most creative environment. Or your needs may simply not be met.

Most of public services nowadays are sort of trapped in a mid-age crisis. And they are not alone. Why wouldn’t I be happy in Southern Europe? Folks, that’s easy! There is too much corruption. The gap between the so called social levels does not meet the gap between the value to the society of those social levels. And a whole bunch of other reasons.

I hate to complain, so do not make those questions. It is pretty straightforward, isn’t it? You either fight for fairness or survival. Which one is driving your life?

Do not let the so common mistakes become an habit in your life! That is truly sad.