Solar-Powered Yacht
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…)
Take a Cool Guess—The Fun Quiz on Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability. Today’s Topic: Removing Scientists from the Federal Government
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.
Tagged with: Clean Energy Answers, Quiz on Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Removing Scientists for the Federal Government, take a cool guess, Trump administration removed federal scientists, Trump administration's campaign to rescind environmental regulations that force big corporations to clean up after themselves
Planting Trees
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.
From Guest Blogger Emily Folk: Can 3D Printing Be Considered a Green Technology?
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…)
“Smart Water”
Something inside me recoils when I see people coming out of (enormous American retail chain) Costco with cases of bottled water. (more…)
Tagged with: bottled water, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, plastic its way into our food system as microplastics, plastic killing marine life, plastic washing around with the ocean currents, plastic will be around of hundreds or perhaps thousands of years, quality of tap water in the United States is generally good
American Divisiveness
Yes, American society is polarized, and yes, that’s not ideal. But keep in mind that 100 randomly chosen U.S. voters could look at the meme here and almost half of them would say, “Sure I can imagine that. Anything Trump proposes must be good for me. Screw those people on entitlements. America first. Rich people are the job creators.”
I’m happy to stand against bull**** like that any day of the week; maybe divisiveness isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Tagged with: American Divisiveness
Chilling, Yet Startlingly Beautiful Statement of Fact
I have very little to add here, as this statement speaks for itself.
It comes from David Pressman who, per Wikipedia, was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs. He was nominated by President Obama, and confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2014. Ambassador Pressman represented the United States at the United Nations Security Council and in related negotiations. After the end of the Obama administration, Ambassador Pressman joined the international law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP where he works in various areas of mostly international and US Constitutional law. Pressman represented Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman during the impeachment proceedings against President Trump.
If this is what the United States of America does to honest people, eventually none will remain.
(Sorry I don’t have the graphics tools to pull out the overprinting in white, but it’s still legible.)
Tagged with: Alexander Vindman
Meat Wars
As anyone could have predicted, the meat industry (through its innocuous-sounding front group “Center for Consumer Freedom”), spend $5 million on a Super Bowl ad in an attempt to dissuade viewers from trying The Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat. What ensued was equally foreseeable: a parody ad from the plant-based meat industry, which is hysterical, IMO.
Baffling Why Election Hacking Is Tolerated
All 17 U.S. intelligence agencies agree that Russia hacked the 2016 election in favor of Trump, and plan to do the same thing in 2020. Meanwhile congressional Republicans blocked legislation that would prevent this from January 2019 until criticism mounted to the point that Senator Mitch McConnell was finally forced to give up nine months later. How on Earth is that acceptable to anyone with the conscience of a rattlesnake?
Tagged with: Election Hacking
Think Before You Promote Your Ideas
Had I been in the Sunflower Bank conference room when this slogan was being considered, I would have point out that, while the slogan could be translated, “Spend money you have, not money you don’t,” and that’s a good thing:
a) The phrase “money doesn’t buy happiness” is one of the most well-recognized pearls of wisdom of all time.
b) Promoting the contrary is going to make us look stupid to some people, petty and money-grubbing to others.
Tagged with: money doesn't buy happiness
