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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Sir:

The United States has 4.2% of the world’s population and 26% of COVID-19 deaths. Precisely what kind of spin can anyone put on that?

If the news media tried to make that sound good, they’d have the same level of credibility that you have outside your cult: zero.

Here’s a piece that doesn’t come from mainstream news, but rather from the world’s most distinguished medical journal:  The Lancet recently published a scathing, unsigned editorial pleading with U.S. voters to choose a president that will “understand that public health should not be guided by partisan politics,” and slammed Trump for his “inconsistent and incoherent” response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

While hydro energy is carbon-free (after the construction), there are numerous environmental drawbacks.

Here’s an extremely minor one.  The world’s largest dam, China’s $30 billion, 22.6 gigaWatt Three Gorges, when completely full, will retain 9.43 cubic miles of water, weighing 42 billion tons. That mass of water, 500+ feet above sea level adds to the Earth’s “moment of inertia,” which is the inertia of a rigid body against spinning on its axis. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

A reader notes:  BS.  This will never happen.

Actually, this isn’t that hard for me to imagine. To think he’s going to walk away from every criminal acts he’s committed over the past 3.5 years, you have to believe that the entirety of the state and federal justice systems are going to overlook dozens of different types of glaring violations of criminal law.

Once he leaves office, he’s almost certain to be hit with indictments on any or all of several different charges: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Wind Energy

In an effort to build taller wind turbines that take advantage of the superior conditions high above the Earth’s surface, GE has begun developing relationships with partners that will culminate in the 3D printing of the huge bases required to ensure stability of these mammoth structures.

But capitalizing on better wind conditions is only one advantage.  Another becomes obvious to anyone who’s ever seen turbine’s parts shipped out to the remote locations where wind farms are sited; the logistics are horrible.  These printers can be co-located, eliminating the need for transportation.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Exactly one half (50%) of Republicans surveyed recently answer yes to the question: “Do you think President Trump is a good role model for children?” That’s sickening, but it’s down from 72% in an identical poll taken in May of 2018.

It’s hard to know which of Trump’s virtues they deem most important to be passed along to the next generation.  Is it his unflagging honesty, marital fidelity, self-sacrifice for the people, humility, fact-based decision-making, devotion to education, environmental stewardship, reverence for the U.S. Constitution, showing compassion to the suffering, or perhaps respect for rule of law?

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Here’s a list published by the “Story of Stuff Project” that provides advocates of sustainable living several ways to cut down on their robotic consumption of resources.

My favorite: “buy second hand.”  I love to support the “used” economy, mostly with donations to thrift stores, but sometimes with purchases from Craig’s List.  My nine-year-old desktop computer couldn’t keep up with all the data traffic required for today’s live streaming.  $75 later I have a two-year old model that runs like a startled gazelle.

I also have the knowledge that this little baby didn’t wind up in a land fill, and that the resources necessary to build a new one weren’t required in order to satisfy my computing needs for the next few years.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

This opinion piece is not a piece of satire; it’s as serious as a heart attack, and it may contain some truth.  There probably are a few thousand self-described witches and satanists, and here’s an excerpt from a 2015 Time Magazine article that some may find interesting: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

A few weeks after Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis thumbed his nose at the scientific community by reopening his state’s beaches and nonessential businesses, and there had been no noticeable uptick in COVID-19 cases, the conservative press began its celebratory ridicule of those who still trust science.  On May 20, 2020, The National Review wrote an article entitled: Where Does Ron DeSantis Go to Get His Apology? (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

One final note on the Tulsa rally.  After subtracting out the plain-clothes security, Trump’s 2020 campaign staff, and about 2500 paid actors, it appears that the actual total of real fans at the rally was less then 1600.

Among whom we have this happy family, featuring a new mother (sans mask) and her three-week-old infant.  Well, let’s give her a break: she’s not exhaling cigarette smoke into the baby’s face.

Unfortunately, I can’t find that portrait of a smiling Charles Darwin, captioned by, “Shhhh!  I got this.”

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Some of the short videos on the pros and cons of renewable energy that I made back in 2012 have gotten a decent number of views; the one below has over 166K.  Unfortunately, most of these people aren’t exactly the audience I was hoping to target, i.e., fairly well informed people with an active interest in the business side of renewables. (more…)

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