The Andes viewed by a Portuguese photographer

The respected Portuguese photographer George Sampson spent part of a flight over the Andes to photograph this force of nature, somewhere in Ushuaia, southern Argentina. "For me it was an experience that I will never forget, feel the power of the mountain. I saw a light and unique colors clear and transparent to infinity ", explained the photographer on your site.

Son of photographer, George Sampson grew up in Trás-os-Montes and always had the photo gift. His first camera was a Minolta, offered by her father, but over time began to use only digital machines.

Member of the Photographic Society of America, George Sampson graduated in cultural anthropology and is defined as documentary photographer and humanist.

Follow George Sampson on Facebook.

"This series is a bit away from conservative and functional documentary that guides my work, but a unique opportunity to admire the power of the Andes through the air, sometimes is a bit abstract, and at one point got lost looking for images drawn by nature. I hope that happens to you, "said the artist.

See the photos.

. fancybox-wrap {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; z-index: 8020; }. fancybox-skin {position: relative; /* margin-top: 20px! important; */background: #222222; color: #74b32e; text-shadow: none; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; -moz-border-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; }. fancybox-opened {z-index: 8030;} . fancybox-opened. fancybox-skin {-webkit-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); -moz-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); }. fancybox-outer,. fancybox-inner {position: relative;} . fancybox-inner {overflow: hidden;} . fancybox-type-iframe. fancybox-inner {-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;} . fancybox-close {background: url('wp-content/themes/codistage/styles/fancybox/exit.png') no-repeat; width: 25px; height: 25px; float: right; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 5px; }/*. ng-gallery-image img {width: 565px; height: 393px;}*/Os Andes vistos por Jorge Sarmento1of 20jQuery (document). ready (function ($) {var thumbContainerWidth = 0, thumbs = Array (), selectedIndex = 1, thumbIndex = 1, imageOffset = 7; $ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail-box '). each (function () {thumbs.push($(this)); }); /* thumbnail navigation */$ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-next '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex< == (thumbs.length-imageOffset)) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left:-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex]). position (). left}); thumbIndex + +; } }); $ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-prev '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex >1) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left: $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). position (). left + ($ (thumbs [thumbIndex-1]). position (). left-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex-2]). position (). left)}); thumbIndex--; } }); $ (window). load (function () {/* set thumbnail container width */$ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail '). each (function () {thumbContainerWidth = thumbContainerWidth + $ (this). width () + 10; }); $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). width (thumbContainerWidth); }); });

Read More

The pros and cons of traffic congestion

Who every day have to face traffic jams and congested traffic crossing the city considers a horrible trip. However, small business owners and companies located in the congestion zone tend to have differing opinions. On the one hand, these small traders don't like the bad traffic flow will prevent consumers from attending their spaces as soon as possible. On the other, these owners recognize that the places where usually there is frequent traffic jams are good places to establish the business.

Matthias Sweet, researcher in the area of transport of McMaster University, tried to balance the pros and cons of traffic metropolitan areas. The main conclusion of the study, published in the Journal of Transport Geography, indicates that traders tend to leave urban areas with much regional congestion but, curiously, like city areas with local congestion.

"In short, while regional congestion seems to be a hindrance, the local congestion seems to work like a convenience-which implies that they are true the arguments of engineers and economists, indicating that congestion is unfavorable for the economy, but also the arguments of urbanists, who consider the traffic congestion a convenience," reads the study, quoted by the Atlantic Cities.

In a previous study, Sweet it focused on benefits and losses on productivity of a city. The main conclusion of the study, which examined 88 congested urban centers, reveals that the congestion, at an early stage, encourages economic growth but, over time, becomes an obstacle to growth â€" more specifically, when a small movement takes more than 4.5 minutes.

From this point, traffic ceases to lead people to a certain area, and starts to create quality of life for everyone who lives or works there.

The work of Sweet looked specifically for more than 30 thousand business from Philadelphia, United States, 2003 to 2007, and analyzed the local traffic during this period. The American wanted to answer one simple question: companies leave sites that are very congested? The answer is: No.

The responsible discovered that companies believe that congestion in a regional area increase the time between work and home, while Central and local congestion help increase corporate and personal interaction. And the crowding-Soon, are beneficial for a business.

Foto: zigazou76/Creative Commons

Read More

The brand of organic products which have already entered the HP (with video)

When he became unemployed, the 53-year-old Teresa Rodrigues moved from Lisbon to the village of Monte Gordo, in Mafra, and began to figure out what to do to the land that was purchased in 1995. After some recovery work, Teresa ripped with a brand of organic farming, which he called Quinta da Pedra Branca, and called his three sons to the project.

"My husband and I were unemployed and had to have a livelihood. There's nothing like working together, and that's what we did, "explained the entrepreneur to the green economy.

Teresa says that organic farming was an option. "[The products] are healthier and flavorful, although they are more difficult to work," he explained.

The Quinta da Pedra Branca kiln was built with the help of EU funds and, in addition to the four farmers, today already provides employment to others. With a wide variety of cultivated products, the brand has other partners of biological products, which raise their own crops in baskets of Quinta da Pedra Branca.

Hampers distribution has grown in the Lisbon area, with home delivery. The requests are received online, but there are also direct sales in the markets or in the fifth, which always has the doors open.

"What the Quinta da Pedra Branca is doing is an entrepreneurial idea, rejecting a specific audience to reach new people. And that's very important in organic farming. Right now, I'd say it's the most important factor, "explained to the green economy Andrea Pereira, the Agrobio.

Today, Quinta da Pedra Branca, arrived at the business park of Oeiras. Every Wednesday (today), the brand is on HP, leading products to employees of one of the most advanced and technological companies in the world.

Enter the HP was a conquest, and the Protocol signed may be replicated, perhaps, to other companies in other business parks in the greater Lisbon.

See the episode 137 of the green economy.

Read More

Global warming will lead to an increase in the number of crimes along the century

Global warming will not only enhance the melting of the polar ice caps, flooding more frequently and droughts more severe. A recent study reveals that global warming will also increase the crime rate.

The study was prepared by Matthew Ranson, Economist, who crossed data on the history of crime and temperatures, checking that the warmer weather tends to boost more murders, rapes, robberies and other crimes. "Looking at the past, we see a strong relationship between the temperature and the crimes", indicates the author, quoted by Atlantic Cities. "Everything indicates that it will continue in the future," he adds.

But what the increase in crime rate that should be expected? Using the projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Ranson has calculated that between 2010 and 2099, climate change will cause "22 thousand murders, 180 thousand violations, 1.2 million serious assaults, robberies, 2.3 1.3 million scams, 2.2 million cases of theft by stretching and 580 thousand stealing cars" additional to the normal crime rate. The data are only for the United States, but the principle could be applied to other countries, with different values.

And the reason for higher temperatures stimulate the increase of crimes? According to Ranson, justification varies from crime to crime. The crimes that involve properties, such as theft or fraud, tend to increase with increasing temperature, but decrease when temperatures are mild, more on the order of 10 degrees Celsius. This suggests that cold weather can create obstacles for committing this kind of crimes â€" Windows closed due to the cold, for example.

Also the relationship between violent crime and temperatures is linear â€" as the thermometer rises, also increases the number of crimes. According to the study's author, this pattern supports the idea that "warmer temperatures increase the frequency of social interactions, of which a small percentage result in violence".

There is also another factor that Ranson considers relevant: previous studies indicate that, with the rising temperatures, people tend to become more aggressive.

Foto: Alan Cleaver/Creative Commons

Read More

Drought in California: before and after

In January, when half the world was trying to survive floods and rainstorms, California decreed a State of emergency for the reasons against. The drought has led the State's water reserves to historic lows â€" less than 35%, when last October were the 75%.

Last week, the rain returned â€" torrential, actually â€" but was insufficient to restore water levels to normal.

The photos published in this article were provided by the California Department of Water Resources, and show how the water will probably be the most scarce of that State in the near future.

While Europe and part of America tries to control the floods and rain, the State of the American West struggle against drought. This is the world in which (increasingly) live.

. fancybox-wrap {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; z-index: 8020; }. fancybox-skin {position: relative; /* margin-top: 20px! important; */background: #222222; color: #74b32e; text-shadow: none; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; -moz-border-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; }. fancybox-opened {z-index: 8030;} . fancybox-opened. fancybox-skin {-webkit-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); -moz-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); }. fancybox-outer,. fancybox-inner {position: relative;} . fancybox-inner {overflow: hidden;} . fancybox-type-iframe. fancybox-inner {-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;} . fancybox-close {background: url('wp-content/themes/codistage/styles/fancybox/exit.png') no-repeat; width: 25px; height: 25px; float: right; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 5px; }/*. ng-gallery-image img {width: 565px; height: 393px;}*/A seca na Califórnia1of 14jQuery (document). ready (function ($) {var thumbContainerWidth = 0, thumbs = Array (), selectedIndex = 1, thumbIndex = 1, imageOffset = 7; $ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail-box '). each (function () {thumbs.push($(this)); }); /* thumbnail navigation */$ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-next '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex< == (thumbs.length-imageOffset)) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left:-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex]). position (). left}); thumbIndex + +; } }); $ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-prev '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex >1) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left: $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). position (). left + ($ (thumbs [thumbIndex-1]). position (). left-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex-2]). position (). left)}); thumbIndex--; } }); $ (window). load (function () {/* set thumbnail container width */$ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail '). each (function () {thumbContainerWidth = thumbContainerWidth + $ (this). width () + 10; }); $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). width (thumbContainerWidth); }); });

Read More

House renovated New Yorker has giant wall with vertical garden

A house in the neighborhood of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn District of the American city of New York, has a rental price that reaches € 18 000 per month. Despite the price, the exurbitante property, with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, was renovated with a new giant wall that has a vertical garden, referred to Inhabitat.

The exterior of the House is reminiscent of any other property of the traditional neighborhood of Cobble Hill. However, within the housing can be seen a space with clean and contemporary finishes, as well as large ceilings.

The former commercial property is located in a residential block and was rebuilt with plenty of room, a skylight and even an elevator. The four-storey house has floor to ceiling Windows, plenty of natural light and a living green wall that is professionally maintained and irrigated. The House also has a garage for a car, a major Studio and a landscaped garden.

. fancybox-wrap {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; z-index: 8020; }. fancybox-skin {position: relative; /* margin-top: 20px! important; */background: #222222; color: #74b32e; text-shadow: none; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; -moz-border-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; }. fancybox-opened {z-index: 8030;} . fancybox-opened. fancybox-skin {-webkit-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); -moz-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); }. fancybox-outer,. fancybox-inner {position: relative;} . fancybox-inner {overflow: hidden;} . fancybox-type-iframe. fancybox-inner {-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;} . fancybox-close {background: url('wp-content/themes/codistage/styles/fancybox/exit.png') no-repeat; width: 25px; height: 25px; float: right; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 5px; }/*. ng-gallery-image img {width: 565px; height: 393px;}*/Um jardim vertical interior fascinante1of 8jQuery (document). ready (function ($) {var thumbContainerWidth = 0, thumbs = Array (), selectedIndex = 1, thumbIndex = 1, imageOffset = 7; $ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail-box '). each (function () {thumbs.push($(this)); }); /* thumbnail navigation */$ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-next '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex< == (thumbs.length-imageOffset)) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left:-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex]). position (). left}); thumbIndex + +; } }); $ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-prev '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex >1) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left: $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). position (). left + ($ (thumbs [thumbIndex-1]). position (). left-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex-2]). position (). left)}); thumbIndex--; } }); $ (window). load (function () {/* set thumbnail container width */$ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail '). each (function () {thumbContainerWidth = thumbContainerWidth + $ (this). width () + 10; }); $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). width (thumbContainerWidth); }); });

Read More

As the cold of Covilhã will help PT to be more sustainable (with video)

Strategically located in the city of Covilhã, the coldest of Portugal, the new data center-data center or â€" Portugal Telecom impresses with its design. But it's in your technological investment and avant-gardism in sustainability that it becomes more interesting for the Portuguese technological.

"This is a new generation data center, complying with industry best practices on a global scale," explained to the green economy responsible for the infrastructure, Michael Graves.

Situated just outside of Covilhã, with serra in sight, this is the largest data center of Europe and will enable the UK reduce their energy bill in 40%, a savings that could be reflected in a most competitive price in the offer of services.

"Unlike our homes, we need to stay warm in winter and cool in the summer, a data center the need is always cooling," said Michael Graves. "In Covilhã 's cold, and the goal is to take what mother nature offers us here, cold air. Instead of using the air conditioners for cooling, use this cold air for cooling and air-conditioning in the computers. "

The technological megacubo stands in the middle of a reflecting pool, which was thought to store all the rainwater. There are still several deposits of cold air, which aim to cool the environment.

Data centers have to operate with temperatures between the 18th and the 27th, which is why the Covilhã turns out to be an excellent choice for this infrastructure. Opened in September last, the data center has more than 1,600 photovoltaic panels, with 75% of the supply of energy is from renewable sources.

See the episode 213 of the green economy â€" lucky for PT.

Foto: Jsome1/Creative Commons

Read More