Here’s the problem: adults of good fitness average between 50 and 150 watts power output through an hour of vigorous exercise, meaning that you’re going to be “powering your house” for a day with 0.1 kWhs. Since the average American uses 30 kWhrs per day, you’re going to need 300 such bicyclists.
The map here was created from a composite of readings from satellites and marine vessels. From Science Magazine:
The oceans’ great continent-wrapping currents, each one moving as much water as all the world’s rivers combined, can rightly be considered the planet’s circulatory system. And this circulation, it appears, has started to thump faster: For nearly 25 years the currents have been rapidly speeding up, partly because of global warming. (more…)
When I become a grandfather, it’s (vaguely) possible that I’ll be consulted once more as to what objects belong in a child’s playroom. At left is a good example of what, IMO, doesn’t belong there: training in robo-consumerism.
When you consider how many really cool possibilities there are that teach science, appreciating and creating art, early reading, the behavior of fish, lizards, snakes, and hamsters, it’s hard to understand why a parent would favor an indoctrination into the habits of those sad adults who accumulate stuff.
All this becomes more important with each passing year, as it gets increasingly clear that infinite growth is impossible on a planet of finite size. Sustainability implies the intelligent management of our precious resources, not gobbling them up simply because we can.
Rightfully, Mitt Romney is getting a lot of atta-boys this week for the courage he showed in voting to convict Trump. He stood up and did what he believed to be right, knowing the consequences, i.e., being bathed in his colleagues’ opprobrium. (more…)
It seems like progressives are right, at least in part, when they claim agency in the economic collapse of companies like ExxonMobil, whose market cap has plummeted to the tune of $184 billion (40%) over the last six years. (more…)
My fifth grade teacher used to say, “A word to the wise is sufficient.”
Of course, it could be debated how much wisdom there is in this country at this point in time, or at least how much wisdom that isn’t buried in hatred and cowardice.
In any case, let’s hope Cicero’s words sink in deep.
Here’s a great article that sums up the environmental impact of wind energy, and compares it to coal and natural gas in terms of emissions, harm to wildlife, land use, and several other parameters. (more…)
No one needs to tell me that this doesn’t matter to the impeachment process, but it’s indicative of the animus against the president. It’s also a reminder of the unfairness of the electoral college.
In the last 12 months, I’ve found myself rooting for Mr. FBI, Robert Mueller and John “Bombs Away” Bolton–and now I have to admit I’m impressed by Mitt Romney’s bravery.
Next week, maybe we’ll have Rush Limbaugh coming forward with evidence on some aspect of Trump’s criminal behavior. Nothing is too strange.
Here’s a video on a device on the Brazilian coast that extracts the kinetic energy from ocean waves and converts it to electricity. (more…)
