It’s the birthday of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, one of the most important contributors to the repertoire of the Romantic Period of music. Like Chopin did for Poland, it could be argued that Grieg put Norway “on the map” in the late 19th Century, using the commanding lyrical beauty of his music to establish his country’s national identity. (more…)
An old friend (“George”–possibly an ex-friend after this) shared this article on Facebook this morning, sparking the following conversation:
George: Wind turbines are neither clean nor green and they provide zero global energy. (more…)
Is there anyone who didn’t see this coming? The developers of large solar PV arrays have all begun to implement energy storage, as the cost of lithium-ion battery technology continues to fall (along with the cost of solar itself).
There is no power on Earth, regardless of how corrupt and malevolent, that can prevent renewable energy from replacing fossil fuels in the coming decades. The issue, of course, is how much environmental damage we will have done in the process, and, in truth, no one has an answer to that one.
I’m always amused by experiments that prove nothing, or, in this case, actually serve to obscure the truth. (more…)
A friend who missed our 40-year reunion (at Trinity College in Hartford, CT) asked for my observations on the event. I responded:
Here’s something worth mentioning: (more…)
Do you know the meaning of the word Tao? Don’t worry if you’ve never even heard about it. I first got familiar with the concept when I moved from the US to teach English in China.
Tao broadly means ‘a strong sense of connection to the universe’ or ‘the natural order of things’. (more…)
Craig Shields, reporting from Hartford, CT, the home of Trinity College, where the class of 1977 is celebrating its 40th reunion. Thrilled to be here. The attendance at events like this is self-selecting; those who aren’t able to have a good time with their classmates (for whatever reason) don’t show up. That leaves us more convivial sorts. (more…)
Having a garden of your own is a wonderful way to lead a healthy and fulfilling life, but it can bring numerous difficulties in terms of upkeep, maintenance, and security. There is probably no healthier solution for your family than to live surrounded by nature. However, the dangers of various animals eating away at your plants and destroying your garden are high, which can result in a significant decrease in revenue and production. (more…)
David Jonas was a year behind me (and several rungs ahead of me on the tennis ladder) when we attended the William Penn Charter School, an independent, K-12, Quaker institution in Philadelphia in the early 1970s. Now, President Trump has nominated him to serve as the general counsel to the U.S. Department of Energy, though this needs to be confirmed by the Senate. (more…)
By going green, your company can reduce the operating costs that eat into your profits. Projects such as upgrading to more efficient heating, plumbing, lighting and mechanical systems offer a great return on investment. Consider these four easy and creative ways that your company can increase profits, cut costs and continue to offer excellent products and services. (more…)
Here are the 
