Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
pyoor_excuse: Options
pyoor_excuse: Options: "let's put it this way:
Option A - I'm wrong and climate change is rubbish:
Result of following the 'climate change is happening' course of action: We spend a lot of money and time investing in new technology, creating new jobs and improving our environment. Old industries decline, and people have to be retrained in new skills or fall out of the workforce. Cities become cleaner, less polluted places. We reduce our dependence on foreign oil, start developing drugs and food technologies that aren't dependent upon oil. Final result: It's expensive, and lots of work, everyone lives. Oil continues to lurk under the ground.
Option B - They're wrong and climate change happens:
Result of following the 'climate change is rubbish' course of action: Sea levels rise, vast areas of land become unusable, vast numbers of people are displaced and die. We run out of oil, that means no food (no fertiliser) no drugs (petrochemical derivatives), no transport. We are, in short, screwed.
Given the two options, I'd rather be in camp A which spends money to fix a problem which doesn't happen. Except that I think it's a problem that will happen. I'd really rather not be in camp B."
Option A - I'm wrong and climate change is rubbish:
Result of following the 'climate change is happening' course of action: We spend a lot of money and time investing in new technology, creating new jobs and improving our environment. Old industries decline, and people have to be retrained in new skills or fall out of the workforce. Cities become cleaner, less polluted places. We reduce our dependence on foreign oil, start developing drugs and food technologies that aren't dependent upon oil. Final result: It's expensive, and lots of work, everyone lives. Oil continues to lurk under the ground.
Option B - They're wrong and climate change happens:
Result of following the 'climate change is rubbish' course of action: Sea levels rise, vast areas of land become unusable, vast numbers of people are displaced and die. We run out of oil, that means no food (no fertiliser) no drugs (petrochemical derivatives), no transport. We are, in short, screwed.
Given the two options, I'd rather be in camp A which spends money to fix a problem which doesn't happen. Except that I think it's a problem that will happen. I'd really rather not be in camp B."
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Google gets go-ahead to buy, sell energy | Green Tech - CNET News
Google gets go-ahead to buy, sell energy | Green Tech - CNET News: "The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has authorized Google Energy to buy and sell electricity in bulk like any other utility.
The FERC, the agency with oversight of the U.S. power grid, signed an order (PDF) on Thursday that grants Google Energy market-based rate authorization. This paves the way for the search giant to not only better manage its own energy costs, but to possibly add electricity marketer to its repertoire of services.
The order specifically grants Google Energy--a subsidiary of Google--the rights 'for the sale of energy, capacity, and ancillary services at market-based rates' while acknowledging that neither Google Energy nor its affiliates 'own or control any generation or transmission' facilities."
The FERC, the agency with oversight of the U.S. power grid, signed an order (PDF) on Thursday that grants Google Energy market-based rate authorization. This paves the way for the search giant to not only better manage its own energy costs, but to possibly add electricity marketer to its repertoire of services.
The order specifically grants Google Energy--a subsidiary of Google--the rights 'for the sale of energy, capacity, and ancillary services at market-based rates' while acknowledging that neither Google Energy nor its affiliates 'own or control any generation or transmission' facilities."
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Oil Drum | An Updated Look at Lithium Production
The Oil Drum | An Updated Look at Lithium Production: "global supply of lithium"
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
YouTube - Leonard Nimoy's Ballad of Bilbo Baggins
YouTube - Leonard Nimoy's Ballad of Bilbo Baggins
double nerd score Spock and LotR
double nerd score Spock and LotR
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Dr. Perry Buffington, Ph. D.
Dr. Perry Buffington, Ph. D.: "Zeigarnik Effect. It's the tendency for the brain to forget completed tasks and remember non-completed tasks or failures longer. So, if I stop in mid-sentence, I just let my brain think it's a failure and allow it to continue to work longer and harder subconsciously, while I work on other stuff."
Sunday, February 7, 2010
America’s hunger for gasoline falls and is unlikely to return - BostonHerald.com
America’s hunger for gasoline falls and is unlikely to return - BostonHerald.com: "The United States used more gasoline than ever in 2007 and far more than any other country. It seemed as if America’s growing appetite for gas would go on forever.
Well, it won’t — and things may never be the same.
Gasoline consumption has been down the last two years, in part because of the recession. Even when the economy picks up, three underlying trends mean the United States might never use as much gas again:
—New standards for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, will make U.S. vehicles more fuel-efficient.
—The growth in the number of U.S. vehicles, after surging the last 30 years, is likely to plateau. The country now has more than four vehicles for every five people, including children.
—Alternative fuels will grow enough to cover increased fuel needs.
As a result, the federal Energy Information Administration predicts that 2007 was the peak year for U.S. gasoline demand. Even in 2035, the last year of the latest long-term projections, motorists are expected to use less gasoline than they are now.
As unexpected as this trend was, there is widespread agreement that it is right."
Well, it won’t — and things may never be the same.
Gasoline consumption has been down the last two years, in part because of the recession. Even when the economy picks up, three underlying trends mean the United States might never use as much gas again:
—New standards for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, will make U.S. vehicles more fuel-efficient.
—The growth in the number of U.S. vehicles, after surging the last 30 years, is likely to plateau. The country now has more than four vehicles for every five people, including children.
—Alternative fuels will grow enough to cover increased fuel needs.
As a result, the federal Energy Information Administration predicts that 2007 was the peak year for U.S. gasoline demand. Even in 2035, the last year of the latest long-term projections, motorists are expected to use less gasoline than they are now.
As unexpected as this trend was, there is widespread agreement that it is right."
collision detection: Garry Kasparov, cyborg
collision detection: Garry Kasparov, cyborg: "Weak human machine better process was superior to a strong computer alone and, more remarkably, superior to a strong human machine inferior process."
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Dictionary of Difficult Words - zeigarnik
Dictionary of Difficult Words - zeigarnik: "zeigarnik
n. Psychology, tendency to remember an uncompleted rather than a completed task."
n. Psychology, tendency to remember an uncompleted rather than a completed task."
Dictionary of Difficult Words - t�te-�-t�te
Dictionary of Difficult Words - t�te-�-t�te: "t�te-�-t�te
a.,n. 'head to head';(meeting or conversation) of two persons; a. & adv. (in) private; confidentially."
a.,n. 'head to head';(meeting or conversation) of two persons; a. & adv. (in) private; confidentially."
1:1
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Cthulhu in Love Perfume
ThinkGeek :: Cthulhu in Love Perfume: "There is a place in the Pacific Ocean - the farthest place from land on all sides. In the depths of this pole of inaccessibility a sunken city sleeps. And in that city of R'lyeh, far below the waves and the sunlight and the happiness, dreams the Great Cthulhu. And what does the Great Malignant One dream about? Companionship. See, Cthulhu is in love with love. And the Great One exudes a scent to attract lovers."
Tesla Car Charging Illegally at DIA?
Tesla Car Charging Illegally at DIA?: "I found this car charging at the Denver International Airport in a somewhat hidden location in what appears to be doing so illegally.
My first thought was, “hey that is not fair” and that is why is costs so much to park at DIA. But I do love alternative energy and DIA has a huge solar array so I guess it is OK.� However the solar array there only provides a small faction of the electrical use for the whole airport."
My first thought was, “hey that is not fair” and that is why is costs so much to park at DIA. But I do love alternative energy and DIA has a huge solar array so I guess it is OK.� However the solar array there only provides a small faction of the electrical use for the whole airport."
BikePortland.org � Blog Archive � Local shop first in nation to sell Self-Balancing Unicycle
BikePortland.org � Blog Archive � Local shop first in nation to sell Self-Balancing Unicycle: "The eBike Store in North Portland has become the first dealer in the country to stock the Self-Balancing Unicycle — a.k.a. SBU. The SBU is an electric-assisted unicycle with “advanced angle sensing electronics and software” that allows it to balance and “pedal” for you.
The SBU was invented by engineer Daniel Wood of Camas, Washington-based Focus Designs. I met Wood last week for an up-close look at his amazing invention.
Wood, 31, was laid off a year ago from his job at U.S. Digital in Vancouver and has spent the last two years developing the SBU. A classic tinkerer, Wood had previously invented a remote-controlled Segway-like device he called, “Gimpy.”"
The SBU was invented by engineer Daniel Wood of Camas, Washington-based Focus Designs. I met Wood last week for an up-close look at his amazing invention.
Wood, 31, was laid off a year ago from his job at U.S. Digital in Vancouver and has spent the last two years developing the SBU. A classic tinkerer, Wood had previously invented a remote-controlled Segway-like device he called, “Gimpy.”"
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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