Yet another project

[Cazador]

Stefan,
All joking aside, as a student of sustainable development, I bet there's a lot you could teach us about "saving the planet" and/or minimizing our impact. Hmmm, how to properly fit that into a garter snake forum? Sorry, a bit off topic about your new enclosure.

I am curious, though, how that "glued laminated timber" looks.

[Stefan-A]

Stefan,
All joking aside, as a student of sustainable development, I bet there's a lot you could teach us about "saving the planet" and/or minimizing our impact. Hmmm, how to properly fit that into a garter snake forum? Sorry, a bit off topic about your new enclosure.

I am curious, though, how that "glued laminated timber" looks.

Well, it's just strips of wood glued together to form solid wood boards. The thickness off the material is 18mm. Very easy to work with and doesn't warp like plywood does.

Initially, I'm just going to build one terrarium, even though I ordered parts for two. It's going to have sliding glass doors, but I'm thinking about using swinging doors on the second one, just in case I need that feature.




Off topic, will not continue discussing it here:
I've only studied sustainable development for one year and I'm not entirely convinced anymore that we can "save the planet". When it comes to global warming, it seems that we don't really know what's causing it.
The school's policy is to teach what the IPCC report says, but then again, it has been severely criticized for a lot of reasons. One side says that some statements have been omitted due to pressure from certain governments and the corporate world, and the other side of the debate says that scientific findings directly contradicting the theory of anthropogenic global warming have been omitted. Best I can tell, both sides are correct, but the latter is in my opinion a much bigger problem. In the end, if there is anything we can do, depends on whether or not CO2 really acts the way we assume and whether or not our CO2 emissions really are signficant.

Just to be clear, the education doesn't revolve around that issue. Most of it has been ecology, evolutionary biology and species identification. Had a presentation on wednesday, the theme was "Any animal species or group of species". I chose a genus, guess which one.

[Cazador]

I was curious about the look of the composite or laminate wood just because it comes in so many different varieties. Some is quite beautiful. Will you stain it?


Off topic:
You're right that if people don't agree on the causes of global warming, it's certainly not going to be resolved by a debate on this forum, but I'm shocked to hear what you're being taught about the causes of global warming. It's a big topic of research here in Alaska. If you're interested, I could PM evidence to you that uses Carbon-14 ratios to show that the increases are due to the burning of fossil fuels. In short, the amount of C-14 is falling in the upper atmosphere. Since the half-life of C-14 is 5,730 years, it takes a carbon source that has been locked away for a very long time (millions of years/fossil fuels) to dilute the atmospheric concentration like we're seeing. This is called the "Suess effect."

Rick

[Stefan-A]

I'm not going to stain it, just lacquer it. There's a type usually used for boats that's intended to last in wet environments and it's the same I've been using this far.


The school has decided to stay to the mainstream theory, as one of our teachers pointed out, so I don't really know what shocks you. I am familiar with the Suess effect and carbon levels are measurable, but the real issue is the significance of CO2.

[Cazador]

I'm eager to see the finished product. I bet it's going to look great. It'll just be a bit heavier than you've gotten used to moving around.

If I have anything negative to say about the scientific "establishment" it is that scientists are VERY cautious and deliberate and it usually takes a VERY long time with much, much, much repetition before establishing or changing a major theory. On such large issues, an elephant practically has to be sitting on your couch before the world agrees that something's amiss. I know that's part of what gives science its credibility, but on such an important issue, I think it's prudent to look at the preponderance of evidence and make decisions in a more timely manner. The CO2 issue isn't just about the levels of CO2... It's about the type of carbon isotope that comprises the CO2. Since the ratios are changing, and more of the stable type (C-12) is appearing in the atmosphere, it shows that fossil fuels (millions of years old) are the source that are diluting our atmospheric composition. It's not just that CO2 levels are rising, but the carbonic composition is changing as a result of the burning of fossil fuels. I tend to look very skeptically at the reports that "industry scientists" produce and often find glaring holes in them, as a result. Their shortcomings, of course, aren't what make the headlines because one has to understand the process in order to interpret the results.

Rick

[Stefan-A]

I'm eager to see the finished product. I bet it's going to look great. It'll just be a bit heavier than you've gotten used to moving around.

Not really, had a 180 liter glass (just 4mm thick) terrarium once, that weighed as much as this one will. That one was a pain in the arse to move, just because of the thickness and the weight of the material. This one will be much easier to handle. I just started thinking, that I migt not be able to get it into my car after all, the total height will be almost 59cm and I remember that my modified terrarium wouldn't fit as 60cm high. Fortunately, the top won't be permanently attached, which will enable me to reduce its height to a mere 57cm. Can't stop laughing at how this simple project got turned into an "adventure" again. Running out of smilies here.

If I have anything negative to say about the scientific "establishment" it is that scientists are VERY cautious and deliberate and it usually takes a VERY long time with much, much, much repetition before establishing or changing a major theory. On such large issues, an elephant practically has to be sitting on your couch before the world agrees that something's amiss. I know that's part of what gives science its credibility, but on such an important issue, I think it's prudent to look at the preponderance of evidence and make decisions in a more timely manner. The CO2 issue isn't just about the levels of CO2... It's about the type of carbon isotope that comprises the CO2. Since the ratios are changing, and more of the stable type (C-12) is appearing in the atmosphere, it shows that fossil fuels (millions of years old) are the source that are diluting our atmospheric composition. It's not just that CO2 levels are rising, but the carbonic composition is changing as a result of the burning of fossil fuels. I tend to look very skeptically at the reports that "industry scientists" produce and often find glaring holes in them, as a result. Their shortcomings, of course, aren't what make the headlines because one has to understand the process in order to interpret the results.

I still don't find the atmospheric composition interesting outside the discussion of what the source is. The source is obvious. The greenhouse effect theory revolves around the effect CO2 is presumed to have on different kinds of radiation, especially together with water vapor.

One thing that I admit might have made me a bit more skeptical, is the way non-scientist get involved. If I want to know ANYTHING, the last people I ask, are the media, politicians or the average joe. They have nothing to contribute, yet they act as if they do.

[Stefan-A]

Just a little update. Didn't actually start building it yet, just testing that my measurements were correct. Of course they were.

[adamanteus]

Stefan, no one could ever accuse you of false modesty!

[Stefan-A]

My brain must have just short-circuited, I have no idea what you are trying to tell me.

Why would they be wrong? I made a 3D model of it while I "designed" it, I started a new model and made it from components with the same measurements as the real boards would have and it all fit together perfectly. The test with the real parts just confirmed what I already knew. And that they did a good job cutting them.

[adamanteus]

just testing that my measurements were correct. Of course they were.

That bit! Not modest!