Thanks to Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly
I thought I would write a quick post to acknowledge the work of Lizzie Weakly (pictured), a recent Ohio State grad, who’s been the most prolific guest blogger we’ve ever had.
Thanks, and go Buckeyes.
Tagged with: guest blogger
The Next U.S. President Will Not Be a Terrible Person
I disagree. He’s completely unelectable. Why? For the same reason that Chris Chistie is: he’s an &*^&^ (impolite word for “anus”). Americans have been driven down, but we’re not to the point that we would elect a completely rude, course bully.
I would love to think that we embody the “namaste” spirit (below), but I’m not that naïve. Having said that, we haven’t sunk nearly low enough to want to be represented by a person of horrible character. (more…)
Dubious Concept in Solar Photovoltaics
Here’s an idea that I believe won’t work: a concentrated solar photovoltaic (CPV) collector the size of a satellite TV dish with a solar tracker and a battery, sold to apartment dwellers. In the first place, these people grossly over estimate how much energy will be captured and stored in the course of a day. They also don’t understand that this will be horrifically expensive on a dollars/watt basis, making it extremely tough to sell. On top of that, getting the building owner’s permission to install it won’t be a trivial matter.
My advice: market research. 1) Nail down all these factors, and then take it to a few dozen apartment renters and see if the dogs will eat the dogfood. 2) Don’t get your hopes up.
Justice May Be Nigh in Ecuador's Case Against Chevron
Over the past few years, I’ve written several articles calling out Chevron’s nauseating behavior in defiling the rain forests and people of Ecuador. As I’m fond of saying, there are over 200,000 groups around the world whose mission and purpose is environmental and social justice.
(more…)
Positive Outcome for Humankind?
Would you say that you are generally optimistic or pessimistic about the outcome for humankind on this planet? When asked this question, I commonly say that I’m neither, since taking either position implies that I know how this is going to turn out, and I simply don’t.
Actress, playwright and social commentator Anna Deavere Smith (pictured) takes a different and probably more interesting tack: while she is not optimist, she is hopeful. According to Ms. Smith, optimism says: Based on the evidence I can see around me, this is going to turn out fine—let’s get to work. Hope says: Based on that same evidence, we’re headed for catastrophe—let’s get to work.
In any case, we clearly have some work in front of us.
Obama’s Tour of Alaska: What Are His Motives?
In response to my piece on Obama’s Tour of Alaska Focuses on Climate Change, a skeptical reader notes: The President’s speech was a sop to all his old faithful supporters, a bid to create a legacy for good intentions.
I’m not 100% sure about Obama’s exact motives. Personally, I’m a lot more charitable, but that’s just me. It will also be interesting to see how he and his presidency will come to be regarded over time. I’m betting that universal health care and environmental consciousness will be important issues for a very long time, and that his administration will be seen as a watershed event on both these.
Thank Goodness: Lots of People Are Pushing for a Better World
Frequent commenter MarcoPolo, who believes in the sanctity of free market economics, remarks on an optimistic post by my colleague Cameron Atwood: You live (in) a little world of your own ideology, don’t you?
I would hardly call it a “little world.” Fortunately for us all, Cameron’s ideology, i.e., promoting environmental and social justice, is shared by more than 200,000 groups around the world: some huge, e.g., The Sierra Club and Greenpeace, and some far more modest, e.g., the subscriber base to 2GreenEnergy. It’s difficult to imagine where our world would be today if it weren’t for people of conscience who have worked through the ages to protect the interests of human rights, environmental sustainability, etc.
Obama's Tour of Alaska Focuses on Climate Change
Frequent commenter Peter writes:
Craig, thought you would like to see if you had not – strong words – a lot late – but finally the words match the situation. (more…)
Piezoelectric Devices
I just answered a question on Quora: Why hasn’t a hybrid piezoelectric and a solar energy device entered the market yet? Hybrid piezoelectric and solar device can harvest energy from the sun, rainwater and even wind making it much more efficient. However, it seems that the device has not entered the market yet. Why is that so? (more…)
How Journalism Has Failed the Average U.S. Citizen
Those of us concerned about a sustainable approach to life on planet Earth should be very concerned about the wholesale decay in the way our citizenry gets its news and, consequently, how most of us form our beliefs about the world around us. In particular, we need to ask ourselves about the results of the concentration of over 90% of the news media in the hands of five or six multinational corporations like GE and Viacom, which, summarized, are as follows: (more…)
