It’s heartening to know that, prior to today, there were at least four honorable people in the U.S. Department of Justice. The problem, however, is the same as with the scientists who resign from government positions because their work is ignored and corporate interests dictate public policy.  I.e., they are replaced by those loyal to Trump.

I have no idea what this mass exodus from the DoJ will result in, but it’s a shame that four decent people are no longer working there.

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The mainstream, corporate owned media can’t get out of its own way to push voters away from Bernie Sanders; it’s disgusting how blatantly obvious this is.  And I’m not talking about Fox News; I mean MSNBC, CNN and the like.

The richest man on Earth, Jeff Bezos, owns Washington Post.com, which ran 16 consecutive Bernie-bashing articles in 16 hours on the day of the Michigan primary in 2016.  And it’s only gotten worse since then.  (more…)

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It’s hard to look at this and not say to yourself, “Now that’s cool.”

Let’s look at some numbers:  Looks like ~20 square meters = 20kW of incident sunshine times 25% efficiency = 5kW = 7 HP.  That’s not a lot, but it’s not nothing, either; that’s what all cars from the early 20th Century had under the hood.

On a flat surface with very little friction, I have no doubts that this thing positively screams if you give it enough time to build up speed.

Having said that, regular conditions that include uphill climbs are going to be fiercely tough.  Then you need batteries, and batteries add weight.

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A young Danish girl in the grass.

From the article linked below:

A decade ago, the largest energy company in Denmark based its business on fossil fuels and was responsible for a third of the country’s carbon footprint. The company has since changed its name—from Danish Oil and Natural Gas (yes, that’s DONG) to Ørsted, named after a Danish scientist—and is now among the largest renewable energy companies in the world. By 2025, it plans to be carbon neutral, making it the first major energy company in the world to reach that goal.

(more…)

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At this point it appears that what Trump said about his hypothetical shooting a random person on Fifth Avenue and not losing votes is true, and thus, this is a moot issue.

In any case, from The New Yorker: “President Trump’s critics yearn for his exit. But Mike Pence, the corporate right’s inside man, poses his own risks.(more…)

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I often point out that solar-powered vehicles are impractical in the extreme, but here, I have to say yowza.

I’m going to guess that there are 600 solar panels here, times 400 Watts is 240 kW or 322 HP. (more…)

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Question: During its first two years in office, how many federal scientists has the administration removed?

Answer: Can be found at Clean Energy Answers.

Relevance: A key aspect of the Trump administration’s campaign to rescind environmental regulations that force big corporations to clean up after themselves is canning experts who, inconveniently, often reveal the truth.

 

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As we’ve discussed more than a few times here, rebuilding Earth’s trees is one of two things this civilization can do in its attempt to ensure its continued existence. Stopping deforestation in the Amazon sounds like an impossible task, but it’s something that we must somehow accomplish. Less daunting is the mass planting of new trees, an endeavor taken on by people around the globe.

The other imperative, of course, is transitioning to low-carbon sources of energy, but anytime I find an excuse to promote the work of Italian artist Maurizio Rega, who adores trees, I take it in a heartbeat.

 

 

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Manufacturing may find a greener alternative in 3D printing. It’s no secret that traditional manufacturing methods aren’t exactly eco-friendly. As 3D printing becomes more prevalent, some hail it as a more sustainable choice. But what about it makes it greener? (more…)

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Something inside me recoils when I see people coming out of (enormous American retail chain) Costco with cases of bottled water.  (more…)

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