Chthonic Wildlife Ramblings

Does Vegetarianism cause a mutation that leads to cancer?

Brendan Moyle • Apr 01, 2016

• cancer,
• Diet,
• evolution,
• human evolution,
• LCPUFA,
• mutation,
• Vegetarianism

The short answer. No. Longer answer: Newspapers are fond of stories that breathlessly announce discoveries as revolutionary.  Fossils never add anything to our knowledge incrementally.  They will always rewrite the theory of evolution.  Cancer is another popular target for revolutionary new treatments or causes.  So it was with some skepticism I read that, quote, “Scientists have found vegetarianism can cause a … Read More

Sunday Seascape 27 March

Brendan Moyle • Mar 28, 2016

• Auckland photos,
• long exposure,
• NZ photos,
• seascape,
• skytower,
• Waitemata Harbour

It’s a long weekend, so I can appreciate things get a bit quiet.  The shot below is of the Waitemata Harbour and the Auckland skyline.  I guess it should probably be counted as a cityscape more than a seascape. Anyway, this was the lost shot of an evening spent on North Head.  I’d already packed up my gear and was … Read More

Into the Waitakeres- Nihotupu Falls

Brendan Moyle • Mar 23, 2016

• nihotupu falls,
• NZ waterfalls,
• waitekere ranges,
• waterfall photos

I didn’t realise we had so many waterfalls around the Auckland area until I started exploring.  Some waterfalls I had been aware of, just because they’re relatively well-known.  The Fairy Falls in the Waitakeres is one.  Many others are not so well known.  One of these falls I recently found was Nihotupu. This weekend a few things came together to … Read More

Sunday Seascape March 20

Brendan Moyle • Mar 20, 2016

• Auckland photos,
• duotone,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• nzphotos,
• seascape,
• sony a7R

This shot was taken at Waiake, one of the most picturesque small bays on the Hauraki Gulf.  The Tor is fully exposed at low tide.  I stopped by on a commute to work and took a few shots with the Sony a7R.  It helps that I keep a tripod almost permanently in the boot of the car.  I am finding … Read More

Get fit, lose weight, with just two wheels

Brendan Moyle • Mar 18, 2016

• auckland cycling,
• commuting,
• cycling,
• cycling in Auckland,
• fitness,
• Friding,
• public health

Once our species used to move.  We crossed oceans, rivers and mountains that were an obstacle to many of species.  We spread into Asia, Europe and the Americas.  In the Pacific Polynesians explored and settled islands as disparate as Hawaii, Easter Island and Aotearoa. We ran. We are such adept runners we can (potentially) run 42 km without stopping, just … Read More

Sunday Seascape: 6 March

Brendan Moyle • Mar 07, 2016

• dacre cottage,
• karepiro bay,
• NZ seascapes,
• nzphotos,
• Okura Estuary,
• Okura River,
• seascape

The weekend hike was a bit further north.  I went up to Okura, and hiked to Dacre Cottage.  I did it the slightly harder way, with camera gear and a tripod.  And yes, there were times I envied the lighter equipped walkers over the hilly bits. There were two sites of interest.  One was the Okura Estuary.  The seascape shot … Read More

Sunday Seascape: 28 February

Brendan Moyle • Mar 01, 2016

• Auckland,
• Auckland photos,
• Hauraki Gulf,
• Long Bay,
• nzphotos,
• seascape

Technically I did take this shot on Sunday, even if it has taken a few days to post. As everyone knows, the weather in Auckland on the weekend got very wet.  I braved a trip down to Long Bay anyway.  Partly just to get outside.  In between showers, I got this shot of waves hitting the rocks at Granny’s Bay.  … Read More

Adventures on two wheels

Brendan Moyle • Feb 26, 2016

• Auckland Bike Challenge,
• auckland cycling,
• cycling

We’re in the last week of the Auckland Bike Challenge. In the end, I was the only participant in my department. The most common reason given for not participating, is that it was too dangerous.  Even the people who didn’t know I’d had an accident with a car, thought it was too dangerous. Oddly, this is the last thing that … Read More

Singing cicadas

Brendan Moyle • Feb 25, 2016

• cicada,
• cicada photo,
• macro photo,
• macro photography,
• nzphotos

One thing this summer has been notable for, is cicadas. Lots of them have been singing noisily for weeks.  Fortunately it’s not at the ear-bleeding crescendo you sometimes get in S E Asia.  It made them an easy target for some macro-photos also. I acquired a Sony a7R at the beginning of the year.  The main reason was the … Read More

Is better living really indoor living?

Brendan Moyle • Feb 19, 2016

• cycling,
• driving,
• urban life

I biked home yesterday.  This in itself is not unusual. I like to bike. And I took a longer route home.  While it was humid here in Auckland, it was also raining. That helped. I mean I got wet, but, that’s not a big deal.  I was the only cyclist over the 10+ km stretch I took.  Everyone else was … Read More