43 Things - Roast My Own Coffee
I Need Coffee hosted articles
Sweet Maria's
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Making Fair Trade A Commodity
Absolution in Your Cup:
The real meaning of Fair Trade coffee
The real meaning of Fair Trade coffee
“Fair Trade does not incentivize quality,” explains Geoff Watts of Intelligentsia Coffee, who has spent the last nine years training coffee farmers in Africa and Central America. Fair Trade co-ops are composed of hundreds of farmers producing vastly different qualities of coffee. Often their output is blended together for sale to roasters, masking any quality improvements one farmer may have felt motivated to implement. Money then flows back to the co-op, not the individual farmer, and is distributed equally among the members. “There is no reward for the guy who works harder than his neighbor,” says Watts. Nor is there much motivation for individual farmers to learn better farming techniques, experiment with new types of coffee, or seek new markets.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
The Public Library Of Science
Provides open-access and peer-reviewed journals for free.
I learned of this after reading about Harold Varmus in Wired.
I learned of this after reading about Harold Varmus in Wired.
Know Your Music
RIAA Radar
The RIAA Radar is a tool that music consumers can use to easily and instantly distinguish whether an album was released by a member of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The RIAA Radar is a tool that music consumers can use to easily and instantly distinguish whether an album was released by a member of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Friday, June 02, 2006
The Science Of Happiness
CBC Quirks and Quarks - Happiness
Heard the beginning of this interesting discussion last Saturday while in the U.P. I'm glad to see the CBC has the full audio available. The timing was quite prescient as Megan and I were debating joy vesrus happiness vis-a-vis which one was sustainable and which was a fleeting moment. I was correct in saying that happiness is a state of being.
Joy is defined as that which brings great happiness.
Heard the beginning of this interesting discussion last Saturday while in the U.P. I'm glad to see the CBC has the full audio available. The timing was quite prescient as Megan and I were debating joy vesrus happiness vis-a-vis which one was sustainable and which was a fleeting moment. I was correct in saying that happiness is a state of being.
Joy is defined as that which brings great happiness.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
The Bush Administration Has A 'Top-Secret' Fetish
via Marketplace - Negroponte given power to waive SEC rules
The President just delegated authority to John Negroponte that allows him to exempt any publicly traded corporation that is working on national defense issues or national security issues from the reporting and accounting requirements under the 1934 Securities and Exchange Act. It's basically the rules and regulations that require companies to keep accurate records, acurate books, accurate accounting . . . and then disclose those projects and that information to investors.
Multiple Fuel Internal Combustion Engines
via Wired - Can Engine Make Gas Obsolete?
It seems that with current technology it should be possible to have internal combustion engines that can use just about any combustible as a fuel. For example, in cleaning my basement I found an August, 1980 Popular Science and on the cover it says "Axial Piston Rotary Engine burns any liquid or gaseous fuel".
I dream of a car of the future like a locomotive train in concept. There'll be an engine (hydrogen, diesel, gasoline, turbine, etc) and electric motors at each wheel. If the engine cannot burn multiple fuels then it'll be easily swapped (diesel for gasoline for example) in order to create electricty to power the wheels.
The future is electric...
The engine can run on a number of fuels including hydrogen, ethanol, natural gas, propane or digester gas from landfills.
It seems that with current technology it should be possible to have internal combustion engines that can use just about any combustible as a fuel. For example, in cleaning my basement I found an August, 1980 Popular Science and on the cover it says "Axial Piston Rotary Engine burns any liquid or gaseous fuel".
I dream of a car of the future like a locomotive train in concept. There'll be an engine (hydrogen, diesel, gasoline, turbine, etc) and electric motors at each wheel. If the engine cannot burn multiple fuels then it'll be easily swapped (diesel for gasoline for example) in order to create electricty to power the wheels.
The future is electric...
School Bus To RV Yahoo Discussion Group
sKOOLieConversions · School Bus Conversions
Via GreenCarCongress which mentioned they're discussion biodiesel as part of the conversion process.
Via GreenCarCongress which mentioned they're discussion biodiesel as part of the conversion process.
Biomass Power Plant Opens In Ironwood
via Ironwood Daily Globe - Biomass generator is green
It is an 18 megawatt/hr plant that provides electricty for 15,000 homes. Traverse City Light and Power has a goal of generating 50 megawatts from renewable sources.
It is an 18 megawatt/hr plant that provides electricty for 15,000 homes. Traverse City Light and Power has a goal of generating 50 megawatts from renewable sources.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Ethanol Will Be A Bust
The tech bubble, the real estate bubble, will an ethanol bubble be next? Probably... ethanol is not the best alternative to gasoline as it is not very energy dense. Gasoline has 87.2% of the energy density of diesel and ethanol has only 56.2% the energy density of diesel. Biodiesel is more energy dense than gasoline at 89.8% of diesel (these figures come from U.S. Department of Energy's 'Fuels of the Future for Cars and Trucks')
BusinessWeek recently had a series of aticles about ethanol. Ethanol: A Tragedy in 3 Acts talks about how vehicles get significantly lower miles per gallon when using E85 and how ethanol can result in more summertime smog.
If I were invested in ethanol right now I'd take my money and run to biodiesel.
BusinessWeek recently had a series of aticles about ethanol. Ethanol: A Tragedy in 3 Acts talks about how vehicles get significantly lower miles per gallon when using E85 and how ethanol can result in more summertime smog.
If I were invested in ethanol right now I'd take my money and run to biodiesel.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wales Celebrates 50 Years Of Protecting Landscapes
via BBC NEWS - Welsh beauty celebrates 50 years
According to the article, the UK passed the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to give countryside access to city dwellers and this act established areas of natural beauty (AONB).
What is different about AONB's is:
This sounds similar to the concept of 'preserving viewsheds'.
According to the article, the UK passed the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 to give countryside access to city dwellers and this act established areas of natural beauty (AONB).
What is different about AONB's is:
...the aim is not to preserve a scene from a bygone age, says Gower AONB project officer Robert Latham.
"It is not about creating a museum; it is all about creating modern, vibrant communities that live within the existing landscape.
"The emphasis is on managing development that preserves the special qualities that led to... being given AONB status," he adds.
This sounds similar to the concept of 'preserving viewsheds'.
The Onion's A.V. Club Neko Case Interview
Neko Case | The A.V. Club
I was surprised to learn 'Twist The Knife' is not autobiographical. It is one of the best written songs I've ever heard.
(lyrics)
Tenderly
Tenderly
Please take my breath from me
Into the fountain
And up from the graves
Tearfully
Joyfully
Burn what is left of me
I don't want these burdens
I've handsomely gained (?)
You'll be my guest
And i'll let you stay
Leave me the check
I'll pay with the rest of my life
Twist the knife
Carefully
Quietly
You took what's young from me
I didn't deserve it
I gave it away
Cowardly
Thoughtlessly
You walk away from me
And I'll tear my heart out to save you the day
You'll be my guest
And i'll let you stay
Leave me the check
I'll pay with the rest of my life
Twist the knife
Tenderly
Tenderly
Please take my breath from me
Into the fountain
And up from the graves
I was surprised to learn 'Twist The Knife' is not autobiographical. It is one of the best written songs I've ever heard.
(lyrics)
Tenderly
Tenderly
Please take my breath from me
Into the fountain
And up from the graves
Tearfully
Joyfully
Burn what is left of me
I don't want these burdens
I've handsomely gained (?)
You'll be my guest
And i'll let you stay
Leave me the check
I'll pay with the rest of my life
Twist the knife
Carefully
Quietly
You took what's young from me
I didn't deserve it
I gave it away
Cowardly
Thoughtlessly
You walk away from me
And I'll tear my heart out to save you the day
You'll be my guest
And i'll let you stay
Leave me the check
I'll pay with the rest of my life
Twist the knife
Tenderly
Tenderly
Please take my breath from me
Into the fountain
And up from the graves
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
A Better Carshare Program
Flexcar
Instead of joing a club you pay by the hour for gas and insurance and can reserve a vehicle (including hybrids) online. Other vehicles are low-emission and the company uses American Forsts for carbon offsets.
This will spread. Hopefully to TC where the local carsharing program closed in 2003.
Popular Mechanics Reviews Mainstream Alternative Fuels
Popular Mechanics - Crunching The Numbers On Alternative Fuels
They cover the pros and cons of Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel, CNG, Electricity, Hydrogen.
They cover the pros and cons of Ethanol, Methanol, Biodiesel, CNG, Electricity, Hydrogen.
30 Facts About Alton Brown (satire)
Good Eats, Amazing Feats
Some jolly bloke has compiled 30 fanciful facts about AB such as #20. Alton Brown's cakes don't rise. They ascend.
Some jolly bloke has compiled 30 fanciful facts about AB such as #20. Alton Brown's cakes don't rise. They ascend.
Brilliant Idea For Hurricane Areas: Something Called "Mobile Homes"
via NPR - Tiny Houses Find a Friend on the Gulf Coast
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
This story reminds me of a book I once saw at a bookstore that called for organizing your home as if you lived on a boat. For Gulf Coast living I wonder if a bio-diesel powered houseboat would be viable?
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
This story reminds me of a book I once saw at a bookstore that called for organizing your home as if you lived on a boat. For Gulf Coast living I wonder if a bio-diesel powered houseboat would be viable?
Monday, May 15, 2006
A Way Out Of The Iran Quandry?
Finding a Way Out of the Iranian Nuclear Crisis
Scholars Propose Way Out of Iran Confrontation
They basically take Russia's proposal and 'tweak' it. Some real good scholarship there boys...
Russia and France also made a face-saving proposal prior to the U.S. led Iraq invasion based on their intelligence agencies NOT having evidence of WMD, but we know how well that was received.
Deja Vu all over again?
Scholars Propose Way Out of Iran Confrontation
They basically take Russia's proposal and 'tweak' it. Some real good scholarship there boys...
Russia and France also made a face-saving proposal prior to the U.S. led Iraq invasion based on their intelligence agencies NOT having evidence of WMD, but we know how well that was received.
Deja Vu all over again?
More About Pinedale Schools Counting Their Retired Presidents
via New West Network - Wyoming School District Can't Spend Education Money Fast Enough
In Pinedale, school officials are considering contributing some of their excess proceeds to other districts as they have literally run out of projects to fund.
King Of The Eastern North American Forest
The American Chestnut Foundation
The goal of
THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION
is to restore the American chestnut tree to its native range within the woodlands of the eastern United States, using a scientific research and breeding program developed by its founders. A blight-resistant American chestnut tree is expected to be ready for forest test-planting in 2006 and for wider distribution within the next decade.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Pressure To Preserve Wyoming Wilderness
Jackson Hole Star Tribune - Group: Protect Wyo's roadless areas
Straight talk from Wyoming: "He said he doesn't want to see the backcountry treated as "some bastard stepchild" that is mistreated for short-term goals."
Straight talk from Wyoming: "He said he doesn't want to see the backcountry treated as "some bastard stepchild" that is mistreated for short-term goals."
Monday, May 08, 2006
Catching Up With Posts At National Geographic
Henry VIII's Lost Chapel Discovered Under Parking Lot
Tough Times Spur Miscarriages of Boys, Study Suggests
Meteorite Impact Reformulated Earth's Crust, Study Shows
Prehistoric Graves Reveal Americas' First Baby Boom
A new study of prehistoric cemeteries in North America is adding weight to the theory that the development of agriculture helped fuel baby booms around the world.
Back-Breeding Could Restore Chestnut Trees Ravaged by Blight
Did Early Humans First Arise in Asia, Not Africa?
"War on Christmas" Charge Echoes Past Debates, Expert Says
...Christmas coincides with historical pagan festivals in Rome tied to celebrating the winter solstice.
When the Roman Emperor Constantine converted his entire empire to Christianity in A.D. 337, nobody wanted to give up the solstice celebrations, Bryant says.
"So they came up with idea, Well, why don't we celebrate Christ's birthday?" he said.
World's Oldest Rocks Suggest Early Earth Was Habitable
Tough Times Spur Miscarriages of Boys, Study Suggests
Meteorite Impact Reformulated Earth's Crust, Study Shows
Prehistoric Graves Reveal Americas' First Baby Boom
A new study of prehistoric cemeteries in North America is adding weight to the theory that the development of agriculture helped fuel baby booms around the world.
Back-Breeding Could Restore Chestnut Trees Ravaged by Blight
Did Early Humans First Arise in Asia, Not Africa?
"War on Christmas" Charge Echoes Past Debates, Expert Says
...Christmas coincides with historical pagan festivals in Rome tied to celebrating the winter solstice.
When the Roman Emperor Constantine converted his entire empire to Christianity in A.D. 337, nobody wanted to give up the solstice celebrations, Bryant says.
"So they came up with idea, Well, why don't we celebrate Christ's birthday?" he said.
World's Oldest Rocks Suggest Early Earth Was Habitable
Sunday, May 07, 2006
When Kim Stanley Robinson Speaks, I Listen
GORP - Visionary Adventures - The Future of Adventure - A GORP Visionary Adventure by Kim Stanley Robinson
(you've got to register to read part 3, that is why there is bugmenot.com)
(you've got to register to read part 3, that is why there is bugmenot.com)
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Used Car (and some new) All-Stars
The annual Consumer Reports car issue came out recently.
Here are what I consider to be the All-Stars in the Used Car Major Leagues. My requirements are the vehicle must cost less than $10,000 for the most part; excellent safety; respectable fuel economy; ultra-reliability; available all-whell drive; and a low total cost of ownership.
In more or less order of what is best:
1. 1999-2000 Honda CR-V. This used vehicle is more reliable than most new cars.
2. Any 1998-current Subaru - I like the ones with the weatherband radios the best.
3. 1990-1992 Volvo 240 and 740's get my "old girlfriend" vote
I don't like trucks because there simply is not a safe pickup truck. But if you really need one and will take it offroad a mid to late 1990's Toyota Tacoma with the 4 cylinder engine and 4 wheel drive can't be beat. It even made Cool Tools
But if want a truck part of the time and need to haul people most of the time the Subaru Baja is a great alternative for someone who needs to haul people and plants around.
Want a car that is simple enough for the home mechanic?
1. 1990 - 1992 Volvo 240 Wagon
2. Toyota Tacoma again
Cars for an active baby boomer or young active couple:
1. Mazda 3 wagon
2. Ford Focus wagon with the PZEV engine and side airbags
3. Honda Element
4. Subaru Impreza/Forester
Best for good efficiency and getting around in a Peak Oil world:
Jetta TDI wagon (but only if it came with an extended warranty due to reliability issue). I've read posts from some owners who coaxed 1000 miles out of a tank of gas and 60+ mpg on the highway. It is also biodiesel compatible.
Or wait for the 2008 Prius - unofficially it'll get 94 mpg and be able to act as a 36 hour back-up electric generator for your house.
New vehicles rarely make economic sense but here are some good all-round ones:
Mazda5 - a mini-minivan for less than $20,000.
RAV4 - third row seating, almost 30 mpg highway, push-button 4WD lock when below 25mph, all kinds of safety gear, and 73 cubic feet of maximum storage which beats a Volvo 740 wagon by one cubic foot.
CR-V - A no-nonsense all-round vehicle.
Escape hybrid - 33 mpg city and more reliable than the conventional Escape. It is pricey though.
Any Subaru - the Forester XT is an incredible all-around, all-purpose vehicle.
I've develeoped a spreadsheet (Excel format) for comparing vehicles.
Here are what I consider to be the All-Stars in the Used Car Major Leagues. My requirements are the vehicle must cost less than $10,000 for the most part; excellent safety; respectable fuel economy; ultra-reliability; available all-whell drive; and a low total cost of ownership.
In more or less order of what is best:
1. 1999-2000 Honda CR-V. This used vehicle is more reliable than most new cars.
2. Any 1998-current Subaru - I like the ones with the weatherband radios the best.
3. 1990-1992 Volvo 240 and 740's get my "old girlfriend" vote
I don't like trucks because there simply is not a safe pickup truck. But if you really need one and will take it offroad a mid to late 1990's Toyota Tacoma with the 4 cylinder engine and 4 wheel drive can't be beat. It even made Cool Tools
But if want a truck part of the time and need to haul people most of the time the Subaru Baja is a great alternative for someone who needs to haul people and plants around.
Want a car that is simple enough for the home mechanic?
1. 1990 - 1992 Volvo 240 Wagon
2. Toyota Tacoma again
Cars for an active baby boomer or young active couple:
1. Mazda 3 wagon
2. Ford Focus wagon with the PZEV engine and side airbags
3. Honda Element
4. Subaru Impreza/Forester
Best for good efficiency and getting around in a Peak Oil world:
Jetta TDI wagon (but only if it came with an extended warranty due to reliability issue). I've read posts from some owners who coaxed 1000 miles out of a tank of gas and 60+ mpg on the highway. It is also biodiesel compatible.
Or wait for the 2008 Prius - unofficially it'll get 94 mpg and be able to act as a 36 hour back-up electric generator for your house.
New vehicles rarely make economic sense but here are some good all-round ones:
Mazda5 - a mini-minivan for less than $20,000.
RAV4 - third row seating, almost 30 mpg highway, push-button 4WD lock when below 25mph, all kinds of safety gear, and 73 cubic feet of maximum storage which beats a Volvo 740 wagon by one cubic foot.
CR-V - A no-nonsense all-round vehicle.
Escape hybrid - 33 mpg city and more reliable than the conventional Escape. It is pricey though.
Any Subaru - the Forester XT is an incredible all-around, all-purpose vehicle.
I've develeoped a spreadsheet (Excel format) for comparing vehicles.
Find Your Place
How to find where to live? The following web sites will help compare places. I like living in a place next to lots of freshwater, free from most natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes, local agriculture and farm markets, out-of-the-way yet links to the world, high speed Internet, local utilities interested in alternative power, and progressive health care.
Zillow.com - estimated home values
Sperling's BestPlaces - City profiles, cost of living, etc.
CNN Money - Best Places To Live
FindYourSpot.com
CityRating.com - Find the best places to live
About.com - Find the best place to live
The Lifestyle Optimizer
Progressive Farmer - Best places to live in rural America
American City Business Journals - Where's the best place to live in America?
A list of best places to live from Moving.com
Lists from Forbes.com
Outside Magazine - Welcome to your new backyard
Realtor.com - search local home listings
Zillow.com - estimated home values
Sperling's BestPlaces - City profiles, cost of living, etc.
CNN Money - Best Places To Live
FindYourSpot.com
CityRating.com - Find the best places to live
About.com - Find the best place to live
The Lifestyle Optimizer
Progressive Farmer - Best places to live in rural America
American City Business Journals - Where's the best place to live in America?
A list of best places to live from Moving.com
Lists from Forbes.com
Outside Magazine - Welcome to your new backyard
Realtor.com - search local home listings
Monday, May 01, 2006
Description Of Old Grand Traverse
Memories of Amelia Langworth Arnold Worthington
In December, 1855 the Bay froze over in December and the ice didn't leave until May.
In December, 1855 the Bay froze over in December and the ice didn't leave until May.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
No WMD's But Iraq Is Now Terrorist Bait
Sydney Morning Herald - Iraq invasion spurs terrorism
Quick review of the misinformation:
No WMD's in Iraq plus a later cover-up when Bush claimed in 2003 that there were WMD's; the war has not paid for itself and will approach a total cost of 1 trillion dollars (Lawrence Lindsey, White House Economic Advisor, was fired for suggesting a total cost of $100-220 billion when the administration was putting out $50 billion for the total cost); and the claim that Saddam was harboring terrorists and therefore involved somehow in the 11 September attacks (Concluded the senior U.S. official: "Did Saddam tolerate terrorists? Yes. Was there any evidence Saddam was involved with 9/11? No.").
Here's another good revisionist timeline from 2004 - Center For American Progress - Why We Went In: Version 10.0
The only credible statement I read (I forget where) regarding the Iraq invasion is that the true purpose was a message to the other middle-eastern countries (e.g., Iran, Syria) that the U.S. will use the military for political purposes.
However, lines are now being drawn and China and Russia are backing Iran. Other countries are sitting to the side and the long-term ramifications of current U.S. policy do not look promising.
Quick review of the misinformation:
No WMD's in Iraq plus a later cover-up when Bush claimed in 2003 that there were WMD's; the war has not paid for itself and will approach a total cost of 1 trillion dollars (Lawrence Lindsey, White House Economic Advisor, was fired for suggesting a total cost of $100-220 billion when the administration was putting out $50 billion for the total cost); and the claim that Saddam was harboring terrorists and therefore involved somehow in the 11 September attacks (Concluded the senior U.S. official: "Did Saddam tolerate terrorists? Yes. Was there any evidence Saddam was involved with 9/11? No.").
Here's another good revisionist timeline from 2004 - Center For American Progress - Why We Went In: Version 10.0
The only credible statement I read (I forget where) regarding the Iraq invasion is that the true purpose was a message to the other middle-eastern countries (e.g., Iran, Syria) that the U.S. will use the military for political purposes.
However, lines are now being drawn and China and Russia are backing Iran. Other countries are sitting to the side and the long-term ramifications of current U.S. policy do not look promising.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Monsanto Watch
I'm not sure an entire company can be evil but Monsanto is giving it a try. Who tells farmers they can't replant the seeds they harvest?
Organic Consumers Association Monsanto News
Sourcewatch - Monsanto
Monsanto v Schmeiser
Organic Consumers Association Monsanto News
In order for the FDA to determine if Monsanto's growth hormones were safe or not, Monsanto was required to submit a scientific report on that topic. Margaret Miller, one of Monsanto's researchers put the report together. Shortly before the report submission, Miller left Monsanto and was hired by the FDA. Her first job for the FDA was to determine whether or not to approve the report she wrote for Monsanto. In short, Monsanto approved its own report. Assisting Miller was another former Monsanto researcher, Susan Sechen. Deciding whether or not rBGH-derived milk should be labeled fell under the jurisdiction of another FDA official, Michael Taylor, who previously worked as a lawyer for Monsanto.
Sourcewatch - Monsanto
Monsanto v Schmeiser
Percy Schmeiser is a farmer from Bruno, Saskatchewan Canada whose Canola fields were contaminated with Monsanto's Round-Up Ready Canola. Monsanto's position was that it didn't matter whether Schmeiser knew or not that his canola field was contaminated with the Roundup Ready gene, or whether or not he took advantage of the technology (he didn't); that he must pay Monsanto their Technology Fee of $15./acre. The Supreme Court of Canada agreed with Schmeiser, ruling that he didn't have to pay Monsanto anything...
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Gas Prices
The Politics of Oil: The Discourse Must Change
PDF version
(this is the posting)
Leaders of both political parties are expressing concern about the high price of gasoline. President George Bush announced yesterday that he was suspending deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to make more oil available to consumers as well as putting on hold the traditional regulations requiring additives to make fuel burn cleaner during the summer driving season.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have had their own response to rising gas prices. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has announced his support for the Menendez Amendment, which would "provide more than $6 billion in relief directly to the American people by eliminating the federal tax for both gas and diesel for 60 days." Senator Charles Schumer recently called for a federal investigation to determine whether oil companies are withholding gasoline production, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has blamed high gas prices on the administration's cozy relationship with the oil companies, price gouging, and royalty relief.
The editors of The Oil Drum are ideologically diverse. Over the last year, we have created a forum at www.theoildrum.com to encourage an open, rational, and fact-based discussion of energy issues. While individual editors frequently express an opinion on a subject, we have never felt it necessary to take a unified position on any specific issue. That is, until today.
There's more... (913 words) | Comments (254) | Permalink | Trackback: Google Technorati
We strongly feel that the leaders of both political parties are not only headed in the wrong direction with respect to gas prices, but we also worry that they fundamentally misunderstand the factors behind the current situation at gasoline stations around the US. Public statements by political figures over the past several days would seem to suggest that oil companies and their record profits are the sole factor determining the price of gasoline. Not only is this untrue, but it is dangerous to give the American people the impression that only oil companies are to blame. The American people need to understand that the phenomenon of high gas prices cannot be attributed to a single source. They also need to understand that no one political party will be able to fix our current woes.
The major factor that determines gas prices is the price of crude oil from which gasoline is derived. When crude oil prices are high, so are gas prices. The following are just a few factors that affect the price of a barrel of oil:
1. Oil companies do not single-handedly determine the price of oil. The price of oil is set on the crude oil futures market. Simply put, these prices are affected by supply and demand because, at present, oil trades in a global commodity market where increased demand or reduced supply in one place instantly translates into price shifts everywhere. A variety of publicly available information sources show that supply is relatively static at the moment, while world demand continues to grow as economies grow.
2. We have provided evidence many times at The Oil Drum that the output of major oilfields is declining and that we may now have reached a peak or plateau in global oil supply. Oil companies have not been able to increase production for a number of years, and it is unclear that OPEC is accurately reporting their reserves. Even if there were significant sources of high quality oil remaining, it is getting increasingly difficult and expensive to drill. These factors, along with aging infrastructure for oil exploration and a retiring workforce are also contributing to high oil prices.
3. The geopolitical situation is volatile, and an astute citizen may notice that every time there is news from Nigeria or Iran, the price of oil goes up because of the potential and real effects of these situations on world oil supply. Again, oil traders are fearful that the supply will not remain stable forever.
4. Countries like China and India are industrializing at a great pace, and while we are accustomed to obtaining oil at a comfortable quantity and price, it will be impossible (and immoral) to deny similar resources to these countries. China is working furiously to secure new oil supplies, and they're content to negotiate with countries we're reluctant to deal with, like Iran and the Sudan.
These points demonstrate that disruptions in the supply of oil that affect the price of gasoline at the pump are not just a temporary glitch. For various reasons--decreased discoveries of new oilfields, geopolitical instability, international competition for oil supply--we can no longer assume that we will be able to consume as much oil as possible, or ever get it again for $1.50 a gallon.
Demagoguery and grandstanding are not strategies for addressing our energy problems. As an alternative, the editors of The Oil Drum put forth the following recommendations:
1. It is nonsensical for political leaders of both parties to eliminate the gas tax temporarily or permanently as this will only worsen our dependence on oil by disincentivizing the innovation of oil alternatives and oil conservation efforts.
2. Both mainstream American political parties are doing their country a disservice by accusing convenient scapegoats of price gouging or price fixing instead of educating the public about how the price of gas is actually set.
3. Right now, governments should be focused on helping us cure our "addiction to oil." The answer does not lie in lowering gas prices, which will only encourage people to drive more and further waste our valuable resources. As the Department of Energy funded Hirsch Report on Peak Oil laid out, the consequences of not taking steps to transition away from oil could be dramatic to our economic system. Appropriate solutions include large-scale research, development, and implementation programs to improve the scalability of alternative sources of energy, other projects geared towards improving mass transit and carpooling programs across the country, providing incentives to buy smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, and promoting a campaign to increase awareness about conservation.
The political discourse on this topic is simply so devoid of fact, and constructive discourse so buried and out of the mainstream, that we felt we needed to raise a voice of reason. Public officials will continue to misinform and obfuscate if we allow it.
The only solution is to educate the public about the most important problem we face as a generation. We, the citizens of the US and the world, must move our attention to this the issue of energy more than any other. We must hold our representative governments accountable for having an open and honest debate on the subject.
Simply put, we must learn more about where our energy comes from.
PDF version
(this is the posting)
Leaders of both political parties are expressing concern about the high price of gasoline. President George Bush announced yesterday that he was suspending deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to make more oil available to consumers as well as putting on hold the traditional regulations requiring additives to make fuel burn cleaner during the summer driving season.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have had their own response to rising gas prices. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has announced his support for the Menendez Amendment, which would "provide more than $6 billion in relief directly to the American people by eliminating the federal tax for both gas and diesel for 60 days." Senator Charles Schumer recently called for a federal investigation to determine whether oil companies are withholding gasoline production, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has blamed high gas prices on the administration's cozy relationship with the oil companies, price gouging, and royalty relief.
The editors of The Oil Drum are ideologically diverse. Over the last year, we have created a forum at www.theoildrum.com to encourage an open, rational, and fact-based discussion of energy issues. While individual editors frequently express an opinion on a subject, we have never felt it necessary to take a unified position on any specific issue. That is, until today.
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We strongly feel that the leaders of both political parties are not only headed in the wrong direction with respect to gas prices, but we also worry that they fundamentally misunderstand the factors behind the current situation at gasoline stations around the US. Public statements by political figures over the past several days would seem to suggest that oil companies and their record profits are the sole factor determining the price of gasoline. Not only is this untrue, but it is dangerous to give the American people the impression that only oil companies are to blame. The American people need to understand that the phenomenon of high gas prices cannot be attributed to a single source. They also need to understand that no one political party will be able to fix our current woes.
The major factor that determines gas prices is the price of crude oil from which gasoline is derived. When crude oil prices are high, so are gas prices. The following are just a few factors that affect the price of a barrel of oil:
1. Oil companies do not single-handedly determine the price of oil. The price of oil is set on the crude oil futures market. Simply put, these prices are affected by supply and demand because, at present, oil trades in a global commodity market where increased demand or reduced supply in one place instantly translates into price shifts everywhere. A variety of publicly available information sources show that supply is relatively static at the moment, while world demand continues to grow as economies grow.
2. We have provided evidence many times at The Oil Drum that the output of major oilfields is declining and that we may now have reached a peak or plateau in global oil supply. Oil companies have not been able to increase production for a number of years, and it is unclear that OPEC is accurately reporting their reserves. Even if there were significant sources of high quality oil remaining, it is getting increasingly difficult and expensive to drill. These factors, along with aging infrastructure for oil exploration and a retiring workforce are also contributing to high oil prices.
3. The geopolitical situation is volatile, and an astute citizen may notice that every time there is news from Nigeria or Iran, the price of oil goes up because of the potential and real effects of these situations on world oil supply. Again, oil traders are fearful that the supply will not remain stable forever.
4. Countries like China and India are industrializing at a great pace, and while we are accustomed to obtaining oil at a comfortable quantity and price, it will be impossible (and immoral) to deny similar resources to these countries. China is working furiously to secure new oil supplies, and they're content to negotiate with countries we're reluctant to deal with, like Iran and the Sudan.
These points demonstrate that disruptions in the supply of oil that affect the price of gasoline at the pump are not just a temporary glitch. For various reasons--decreased discoveries of new oilfields, geopolitical instability, international competition for oil supply--we can no longer assume that we will be able to consume as much oil as possible, or ever get it again for $1.50 a gallon.
Demagoguery and grandstanding are not strategies for addressing our energy problems. As an alternative, the editors of The Oil Drum put forth the following recommendations:
1. It is nonsensical for political leaders of both parties to eliminate the gas tax temporarily or permanently as this will only worsen our dependence on oil by disincentivizing the innovation of oil alternatives and oil conservation efforts.
2. Both mainstream American political parties are doing their country a disservice by accusing convenient scapegoats of price gouging or price fixing instead of educating the public about how the price of gas is actually set.
3. Right now, governments should be focused on helping us cure our "addiction to oil." The answer does not lie in lowering gas prices, which will only encourage people to drive more and further waste our valuable resources. As the Department of Energy funded Hirsch Report on Peak Oil laid out, the consequences of not taking steps to transition away from oil could be dramatic to our economic system. Appropriate solutions include large-scale research, development, and implementation programs to improve the scalability of alternative sources of energy, other projects geared towards improving mass transit and carpooling programs across the country, providing incentives to buy smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, and promoting a campaign to increase awareness about conservation.
The political discourse on this topic is simply so devoid of fact, and constructive discourse so buried and out of the mainstream, that we felt we needed to raise a voice of reason. Public officials will continue to misinform and obfuscate if we allow it.
The only solution is to educate the public about the most important problem we face as a generation. We, the citizens of the US and the world, must move our attention to this the issue of energy more than any other. We must hold our representative governments accountable for having an open and honest debate on the subject.
Simply put, we must learn more about where our energy comes from.
Organic Dairy Survey
Organic Dairy Report/Ratings Arranged by Cow Star Ratings
Wild Oats, Trader Joes, and Horizon are near the bottom.
I believe buying local is more important than buying organic. But buying local organic is always the best choice.
Wild Oats, Trader Joes, and Horizon are near the bottom.
I believe buying local is more important than buying organic. But buying local organic is always the best choice.
Ethanol Can Be Used With Diesel Too
Bioresource Technology - Ethanol-diesel fuel blends - a review (PDF)
I'm really surprised there aren't more diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. A diesel engine is durable, offers spirited acceleration, gas mileage similar to hybrids, and diesel fuel can be sourced from or blended with bio-fuels as well as compressed natural gas. It is why I'm waiting for a diesel station wagon as the next family truckster.
I'm really surprised there aren't more diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. A diesel engine is durable, offers spirited acceleration, gas mileage similar to hybrids, and diesel fuel can be sourced from or blended with bio-fuels as well as compressed natural gas. It is why I'm waiting for a diesel station wagon as the next family truckster.
Minimum Wage Laws
Setting a minimum wage is simply government price fixing.
Los Angeles has a "living wage" and the implications have been studied.
Key Findings PDF
Some items of note: 10,000 workers now are paid over $10/hr and only 112 lost their job. The industries impacted are immobile, meaning they are service oriented and so cannot move elsewhere. Businesses have adapted by cutting overtime and fringer benefits. More than 40% of workers still rely on government assistance of some sort.
The results indicate that a raise in the minimum wage is helping many people but as a policy should this really be the role of government?
Further questions for "living wage" proponents:
If $10/hr is good wouldn't a $25/hr minimum wage be better?
Should a maximum wage set?
Should government set the price of other services and goods? For example, should the government set a minimumm price of $20/lb for organic, fair-trade, shade-grown, coffee so the coffee farmers can have a living wage?
Los Angeles has a "living wage" and the implications have been studied.
Key Findings PDF
Some items of note: 10,000 workers now are paid over $10/hr and only 112 lost their job. The industries impacted are immobile, meaning they are service oriented and so cannot move elsewhere. Businesses have adapted by cutting overtime and fringer benefits. More than 40% of workers still rely on government assistance of some sort.
The results indicate that a raise in the minimum wage is helping many people but as a policy should this really be the role of government?
Further questions for "living wage" proponents:
If $10/hr is good wouldn't a $25/hr minimum wage be better?
Should a maximum wage set?
Should government set the price of other services and goods? For example, should the government set a minimumm price of $20/lb for organic, fair-trade, shade-grown, coffee so the coffee farmers can have a living wage?
Reason Magazine's Take On Peak Oil
Reason - Peak Oil Panic: Is the planet running out of gas? If it is, what should the Bush administration do about it?
The article concedes that 1 trillion barrels of oil has been consumed since the 19th Century and:
However, when all proven and expected sources are added up the USGS estimates 5.9 trillion barrels of oil remains. So the fact remains that as oil demand exponentially increases the half-way point of all recoverable crude oil will be reached someday soon.
And as an aside, the article fails to note the differences between light sweet and heavy crude oil and how it is the easy to recover and refine light sweet crude oil that has reached its peak.
The article concedes that 1 trillion barrels of oil has been consumed since the 19th Century and:
The world consumes about 87 million barrels of oil per day, or nearly 30 billion barrels of oil per year. How much oil is left? It’s hard to be sure. Proven oil reserves—i.e., oil that is recoverable under current economic and operating conditions—are estimated to be 1.1 trillion barrels by the industry journal World Oil, 1.2 trillion by the oil company BP, and 1.3 trillion by the Oil and Gas Journal.
However, when all proven and expected sources are added up the USGS estimates 5.9 trillion barrels of oil remains. So the fact remains that as oil demand exponentially increases the half-way point of all recoverable crude oil will be reached someday soon.
And as an aside, the article fails to note the differences between light sweet and heavy crude oil and how it is the easy to recover and refine light sweet crude oil that has reached its peak.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Biodiesel In Your Pocket?
Wired - Teeny Reactor Pumps Out Biodiesel
But this looks to be an excerpt from the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute April, 2006 newsletter.
But this looks to be an excerpt from the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute April, 2006 newsletter.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Western All-Stars Set To Become Western Has-Beens?
The Enquirer - Alumni, students challenge MU plan
Oxford Press - Allegations fly as Garland decision nears
With a new college president on the way should President Garland even be making a decision on the fate of a program?
Oxford Press - Allegations fly as Garland decision nears
With a new college president on the way should President Garland even be making a decision on the fate of a program?
Are You Helping The Germans? (in 1915)
Poster from WWI published by the National War Savings Committee
Just another example of what people do during a real war versus a manufactured one.
Just another example of what people do during a real war versus a manufactured one.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
A Tour Of Intellectual Force
I'm not sure how but I recently found the blog econotech. This person know a lot of stuff...
Example: see at the bottom of econotech: 4/4 EFM: Market political risks rising: U.S. immigration, Delphi labor contract, French employment law, China currency/trade, Iran 3401 words and the comparison to the 1960's and 70's.
Example: see at the bottom of econotech: 4/4 EFM: Market political risks rising: U.S. immigration, Delphi labor contract, French employment law, China currency/trade, Iran 3401 words and the comparison to the 1960's and 70's.
The Judas Gospel
National Geographic magazine - The Judas Gospel
Christian mavericks find affirmation in ancient heresies
Dear Judas,
I'd like to try out this "martyrdom" thing.
Let's talk. I have a plan...
Love, Jesus
Christian mavericks find affirmation in ancient heresies
Dear Judas,
I'd like to try out this "martyrdom" thing.
Let's talk. I have a plan...
Love, Jesus
A Nation Of Laws?
The Boston Globe - Bush could bypass new torture ban
''The signing statement is saying 'I will only comply with this law when I want to, and if something arises in the war on terrorism where I think it's important to torture or engage in cruel, inhuman, and degrading conduct, I have the authority to do so and nothing in this law is going to stop me,' " he said. ''They don't want to come out and say it directly because it doesn't sound very nice, but it's unmistakable to anyone who has been following what's going on."
Loving Neko Case
Reviews: Neko Case
Music critics are in love with Neko's 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood'.
I listened to this album on a long trip to Ohio and back. It is not that great. In fact I put it behind 'The Virginian' which is behind 'Furnace Room Lullaby' and 'Blacklisted'.
Why do the critics like 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' so much? Is it group-think? Is this a make-up call because they missed her earlier albums? Is it because of the esoteric lyrics?
If lyrics are incomprehensible does that equate to poetry? This seemed to be how Shudder To Think, Helmet, and even Jawbreaker to an extent operated.
I listen to music to be entertained. Critics listen to music to show how cool or smart they are. 'High Fidelity' is a great movie. In the future when I want to hear some Neko music I'll find 'Blacklisted' or 'Furnace Room Lullaby' on the iPod.
My hypothesis is that in the Arts first and/or second efforts are usually the best. Fugazi's 13 Songs, Green Day's 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, The Fountainhead, Exile in Guyville.
My reasoning is when a person is creating something for the first time they are most likely: A. doing it for themselves so it is very personal; and/or B. doing it to make a statement and therefore know it has to be extraordinary (like a corollary to Carl Sagan's "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" - extraordinary achievements require extraordinary effort).
If an artist doesn't quite get it right the first time it is usually because they haven't found their voice yet. Hence the difference between Neko's 'The Virginian' and 'Furnace Room Lullaby'.
Artist then decline when they stop making the art for themselves and instead do it for the fans and/or critics (dear Liz, I'm talking about you. Please release an album of music that you want to listen to.)
Music critics are in love with Neko's 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood'.
I listened to this album on a long trip to Ohio and back. It is not that great. In fact I put it behind 'The Virginian' which is behind 'Furnace Room Lullaby' and 'Blacklisted'.
Why do the critics like 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' so much? Is it group-think? Is this a make-up call because they missed her earlier albums? Is it because of the esoteric lyrics?
If lyrics are incomprehensible does that equate to poetry? This seemed to be how Shudder To Think, Helmet, and even Jawbreaker to an extent operated.
I listen to music to be entertained. Critics listen to music to show how cool or smart they are. 'High Fidelity' is a great movie. In the future when I want to hear some Neko music I'll find 'Blacklisted' or 'Furnace Room Lullaby' on the iPod.
My hypothesis is that in the Arts first and/or second efforts are usually the best. Fugazi's 13 Songs, Green Day's 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, The Fountainhead, Exile in Guyville.
My reasoning is when a person is creating something for the first time they are most likely: A. doing it for themselves so it is very personal; and/or B. doing it to make a statement and therefore know it has to be extraordinary (like a corollary to Carl Sagan's "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" - extraordinary achievements require extraordinary effort).
If an artist doesn't quite get it right the first time it is usually because they haven't found their voice yet. Hence the difference between Neko's 'The Virginian' and 'Furnace Room Lullaby'.
Artist then decline when they stop making the art for themselves and instead do it for the fans and/or critics (dear Liz, I'm talking about you. Please release an album of music that you want to listen to.)
Ethanol Plant In Northern Michigan?
Ethanol plant may be built in Kingsley
Corn is not an efficient ethanol producer. Sugarcane is twice as efficient. However, some studies show adding sugar-based material to corn stock can speed up the corn fermentation process.
So how about this - locate the ethanol plant near sugar waste streams (e.g.; breweries and vineyards); on a rail line so sugar-beets can be used; and next to TCLP's proposed biomass plant?
Under this scenario sugary waste and corn could be converted to ethanol and the waste from that product burned in the biomass plant. And if next to a rail line product could be moved anywhere.
Corn is not an efficient ethanol producer. Sugarcane is twice as efficient. However, some studies show adding sugar-based material to corn stock can speed up the corn fermentation process.
So how about this - locate the ethanol plant near sugar waste streams (e.g.; breweries and vineyards); on a rail line so sugar-beets can be used; and next to TCLP's proposed biomass plant?
Under this scenario sugary waste and corn could be converted to ethanol and the waste from that product burned in the biomass plant. And if next to a rail line product could be moved anywhere.
Friday, April 07, 2006
More Evidence That Americans Are Not Completely Brain Dead
Slashdot - Americans Gearing up to Fight Global Warming
Time Cover Story - Polar Ice Caps Are Melting Faster Than Ever... More And More Land Is Being Devastated By Drought... Rising Waters Are Drowning Low-Lying Communities... By Any Measure, Earth Is At ... The Tipping Point: The climate is crashing, and global warming is to blame. Why the crisis hit so soon--and what we can do about it
EnergyBulletin - California's breakthrough plan to cut greenhouse gases
Time Cover Story - Polar Ice Caps Are Melting Faster Than Ever... More And More Land Is Being Devastated By Drought... Rising Waters Are Drowning Low-Lying Communities... By Any Measure, Earth Is At ... The Tipping Point: The climate is crashing, and global warming is to blame. Why the crisis hit so soon--and what we can do about it
EnergyBulletin - California's breakthrough plan to cut greenhouse gases
The Party Of Small Government?
Field & Stream - Conservation Report: The Killing Fields: Unchecked energy development is ruining our public hunting grounds
Federal land managers in the Forest Service and the BLM are, in many cases, trying their best to balance the energy boom with the other uses of the lands. “I honestly believe that we could develop these resources responsibly,” said a staffer in the Pinedale office who asked not to be named, “but we have to be allowed to do our jobs. Right now the decisions about development in our area are made in Washington, D.C., not here.”
If Democrats Won't Do It, Someone Else Will
Message on war could be no clearer
Resolution to Impeach Bush-Cheney Passes 7-3
Bring the Troops Home referendums. Added together, the referendums produced a resounding 40,043 to 25,641 vote against the continued U.S. occupation of Iraq 61 percent to 39 percent. Supporters of the war are spinning like crazy to suggest that the referendums offer a reflection only of liberal, anti-Bush sentiment in college towns like Madison.
The problem they've got is that, while the Bring the Troops Home referendum won Madison by a thumping 62-38 percent, similar referendums won by 70-30 percent in the well-to-do Milwaukee suburb of Shorewood and by a dramatic 82-18 percent in the community of Couderay in rural Sawyer County.
Resolution to Impeach Bush-Cheney Passes 7-3
On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, the City and County of San Francisco became the first large municipality to call for the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney, by a 7-3 vote.
Venezuela's Oil
BBC NEWS - Chavez rules out return to cheap oil
But it will be expensive oil...
Venezuela's deposits alone could extend the oil age for another 100 years.
But it will be expensive oil...
Immigration
Immigration Quotas vs. Individual Rights: The Moral and Practical Case for Open Immigration
Open Immigration vs. Xenophobia
Social Trust and Foreign Policy: Immigration and Law Enforcement Issues
Mercury News - Global migration policies hold lessons for U.S.
Open Immigration vs. Xenophobia
Social Trust and Foreign Policy: Immigration and Law Enforcement Issues
If we look at our history of immigration concerns and legislation, one could conclude that America has been preoccupied with 4 issues:
1. From our founding days until WWII our emphasis was on maintaining our original racial and religious characteristics.
2. From WWII to the present our concern has been to maintain our ideological values of capitalism and democracy.
3. Throughout our entire history we kept our doors open to the persecuted.
4. Throughout our history we continued to stress our needs for labor and scientific know-how.
Mercury News - Global migration policies hold lessons for U.S.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Autism
The Diane Rehm Show for Monday April 3, 2006 - Autism
Many parents believe their child's autism is linked to vaccines. However, autism symptoms onset at 12 to 18 months; the same time frame as vaccines.
Plus, studies in Europe show some countries have had cases of autism continue to increase after mercury preservative was removed from vaccines (Thimerosal and the Occurrence of Autism: Negative Ecological Evidence).
Autism is clearly genetic. Boys are more likely than girls to suffer from it as are children who have a sibling already diagnosed as autisitc. Parents in the scientific and technical fields appear to be more likely to have autistic children. This seems to rule out primary environmental factors.
Here's my hypothesis: Autism is caused by a recessive gene and has only become more prominent as carriers for this gene have become more socio-economically successful.
According to the Diane Rehm show autism was first recognized in the 1930's and rates have been increasing since then.
This coincides with a dramatic shift from an agrarian to industrial to technical economy. I know two men with autistic sons and I would describe both of these men as nerds. What profession would they have had prior to computers? Whatever it may have been it probably would not have been as economically attractive as working in the computers/networking field is today.
By being paid more these technical workers are more attractive to the opposite sex than they would have been in a different society. -> Marriage -> Kids -> "autistic genese" are passed on when in the past these people may not have married or perhaps not been able to economically support children.
Just a thought...
Autism affects one in every 166 children living in the United States. Diane and her guests discuss what is known about the disorder, possible treatments, and a new national database to help aid in education and understanding of autism.
Many parents believe their child's autism is linked to vaccines. However, autism symptoms onset at 12 to 18 months; the same time frame as vaccines.
Plus, studies in Europe show some countries have had cases of autism continue to increase after mercury preservative was removed from vaccines (Thimerosal and the Occurrence of Autism: Negative Ecological Evidence).
Autism is clearly genetic. Boys are more likely than girls to suffer from it as are children who have a sibling already diagnosed as autisitc. Parents in the scientific and technical fields appear to be more likely to have autistic children. This seems to rule out primary environmental factors.
Here's my hypothesis: Autism is caused by a recessive gene and has only become more prominent as carriers for this gene have become more socio-economically successful.
According to the Diane Rehm show autism was first recognized in the 1930's and rates have been increasing since then.
This coincides with a dramatic shift from an agrarian to industrial to technical economy. I know two men with autistic sons and I would describe both of these men as nerds. What profession would they have had prior to computers? Whatever it may have been it probably would not have been as economically attractive as working in the computers/networking field is today.
By being paid more these technical workers are more attractive to the opposite sex than they would have been in a different society. -> Marriage -> Kids -> "autistic genese" are passed on when in the past these people may not have married or perhaps not been able to economically support children.
Just a thought...
Wall Street Sees Climate Change
CS Monitor - A better shade of green for Wall Street
Goldman Sachs became the first global investment bank to adopt a comprehensive environmental policy that acknowledges the value of "ecosystem services" last December.
Goldman Sachs became the first global investment bank to adopt a comprehensive environmental policy that acknowledges the value of "ecosystem services" last December.
Opposition To Iraq War Reaching A Tipping Point
NPR - Wisconsin Towns Poised to Vote on Leaving Iraq
It would've been more helpful if people would have done this prior to the start of the war.
At this point what is needed in Iraq is more U.S. funded civil works projects as Robert Kaplan explains in the April Atlantic - "The Coming Normalcy?".
It would've been more helpful if people would have done this prior to the start of the war.
At this point what is needed in Iraq is more U.S. funded civil works projects as Robert Kaplan explains in the April Atlantic - "The Coming Normalcy?".
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Cook With What You've Got
Two more resources to make it easier to cook with what is on hand.
Taste of Home Recipe Finder - Search by ingredient; time; holiday; etc.
Cooking By Numbers
Taste of Home Recipe Finder - Search by ingredient; time; holiday; etc.
Cooking By Numbers
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