What determines who we are, how we think, and how we behave towards others? Why are some people more compassionate, and others more or less indifferent to the needs of other people? (more…)
Here’s a discussion in the newsletter of the American Energy Society on the subject of the phase out of the tax credits for solar and wind. Those who install solar currently enjoy an “investment tax credit” (ITC) of 30%, meaning that they receive a reduction in the same-year tax liability of 30% of the total check they write to cover the project. (more…)
Home automation products are no longer solely for people with plentiful disposable incomes. It’s easy to buy them on specialized websites or at home improvement stores, and there are options to suit most budgets. When many individuals think about ways to improve their abodes, they understandably have sustainability in mind. (more…)
Here’s something that should get the attention of all Americans: Our president is preventing us from receiving the truth about global warming. (more…)
Here’s another post featuring the work of Italian artist Maurizio Rega, who, as far as I can tell, features trees in every piece. And my Lord is this guy prodigious. He cranks out several of these every week, normally announcing them with something warm and kind; today he wrote “Happy Friday!” If this guy accepts visitors, I’m definitely going to try to see him next time I’m in Europe; he’s obviously a very special person. (more…)
Today’s LEDs are approximately 250 times more efficient (250 times more lumens per Watt) than those that first lighted Broadway in the late 19th Century. This has brought about some marvelous advantages, not only in terms of reduced power consumption, but also in enabling the development of conveniences that couldn’t have existed before this time. (more…)
A friend and I were talking about the threat to our civilization posed by runaway artificial intelligence; I recommended neuroscientist Sam Harris’s TED Talk on the subject (see below). He writes: “It’s excellent. Though I don’t have a well-structured thought process like his, I have instinctively come to very similar conclusions. Perhaps, however, my beliefs on this subject are even darker.” He goes to to explain…..(I’ll spare readers the details; it really is dark).
I respond: (more…)
It’s good to see that Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) is still in the news. Though it’s been around for decades, it hasn’t enjoyed successful commercialization, but perhaps that’s about to change. (more…)
As shown here (larger version below), the United States comes in #53 in the Freedom House world freedom rankings this year. This report offers some interesting reading as to how this was derived. (more…)
The majority of Americans and the overwhelming majority of those living outside the U.S. are still scratching their heads, wondering how Trump continues to pull off his torrent of lies and his ongoing outrageous behavior on a day-to-day basis. If a survey were taken, the most frequent explanation would be either: (more…)
