This isn't just science....it's M&S science!

In a previous blog I have made reference to some of the products that this British institution sells, and have been somewhat critical at times.

However, one should not let it go unnoticed that they have great plans to reduce the level of waste that they produce by 2012.

Their to plan is to "change beyond recognition" the way M&S operates. Initiatives within the 100-point plan include transforming the 460-strong chain into a carbon neutral operation; banning group waste from landfill dumps; using unsold out-of-date food as a source of recyclable energy and making polyester clothing from recycled plastic bottles."

In this way they hope to play their part in the fight against climate change.

All of this is extremely laudable, and demonstrates the seriousness with which they are addressing the issue.

Or so I thought...

Yesterday on visiting the store I noticed the sale of a product that is either: -

• an attempt to avoid having to implement the above plan, or
• possibly a less than full understanding of what needs to be done to tackle the issue

I am referring to the fact that M&S now sell -

Blue Harbour °Climate Control Pure Cotton Stripe Polo Shirt
£15.00
Product Code: T285563B°

It is attitudes like this that have helped to enable leaders such as George Bush defend America's "gas-guzzling" economic strategy, with the implication that this most important issue of all time can be resolved by wearing a particular kind of T-shirt!

Even the description of the item may confuse those with a less than average IQ -

"The Outlast technology behind this innovative fabric was originally developed for astronauts and is recognised by NASA as Certified Space Technology"

When did you ever see an astronaut wearing a T-shirt in space?

Beware of the dentist!

This evening I had planned to do "something amazing" with my wife!

That's right...we both set out to donate blood.

Whilst, "her indoors" was about to donate her 50th pint, I have not managed to donate more than 15 or so, and had apparently not donated since 2004!

Consequently, I had to have a 1:1 interview with a nurse - which simply meant that she read out all the questions that I had previously answered on the standard questionaire, and I had to repeat the answers out loud that I had previously written.

I'm not sure whether or not this is an attempt to catch fraudulent donors out, but it seemed quite a simple task to complete successfully, for all but the cerebally challenged (Don't they know I have an IQ of 134?)

Just to make the questioning interesting, when asked whether or not I had ever had sex with a man, (or with a woman who had had sex with a man, who had had sex with a man etc) I paused...muttered the name Gavin, paused again, before saying quite hesitantly, "er No..."

However, even this response didn't seem to phase the nurse who proceeded with the questioning.

I had also proudly, ticked the "yes" box against the question, "Have you visited a doctor or dentist in the last 24 hours?", as I had gone to see Dr Khourami, my Polish dentist, earlier that day.

The nurse looked perturbed, even when I said that it had only been for a check up, and that I had only had a "clean & polish".

"...Unfortunately, you can't give blood..." she said, ...because apparently the 'clean and polish, releases a lot of bacteria, which gets into the blood stream... and basically "pollutes" the blood.

If that means that the blood is too "polluted" to give to somebody who would otherwise die without it, I don't feel too crazy about keeping it in my own body, or for having had this allegedly beneficial dentistry treatment.
Next time I shall decline such health treatment...on health grounds!