Why do we need a new coast to coast supergrid? One estimate I remember reading claimed that with renewable smart grid technology and using distributed generation and storage and energy conservation, existing cables and transmission equipment already has 5 times the capacity which would eventually be needed.   more »

I see the goal of an HVDC national supergrid would be similar to the goal behind national railroads, interstate highways, and the TVA-type WW II power projects. National economic growth and financial security. The foundation upon which modern nation/states stand. The crumbling of that foundation, signals the fall. The path to unsubsidized, inflation fighting, foreign fuel free, renewable energy is a nationwide electricty super highway system. Then let the free market work, a project that restores free market competition will be palatable to government-phobic politicos. Solar, wind, biogas, efficiency/cogeneration, and energy storage will be competitive.    more »

Another barely noticed milestone! I have written about this project several times, mainly as an alternative to problematic NIMBY plagued offshore installations like Cape Wind. Floating wind resides further offshore out of sight of residents and isn't mounted on sensitive protected seafloor areas. And look at the capital behind this, mass production could make these cost competitive. We have four shorelines these could be mounted off of here in the US, including the Great Lakes.   more »

This german project features home based distributed cogeneration, excellent! It replaces a home furnace and hot water heater with a generator burning natural gas. The waste heat from the engine does the home heating. Electricty is generated in each home and sent onto the grid. Honda has developed a system like this as well.   more »

But it boils down to a few simple principles in terms of this current debate: ....healthy youngsters (and in fact everyone who is uninsured) who do not purchase health insurance and use the emergency room or walkin clinic, leaving taxpayers with the bill, are getting a free ride. that free ride is not free. It costs 500 bucks for a sniffle. A visit that would cost 100 dollars for an insured patient   more »

So now Grist is reporting that geo-engineering is actually being seriously considered as remediation for GHG indsuced global climate change. Does the rejuvenation of soil as a carbon sequestration mechanism constitute geo-engineering? If it were acomplished globally with a wholesale shift from chemical ag to organic fertilizer from waste stream biomass it could be, and actually would remove enough GHG to equal other geo-engineering schemes. Consider the elimination of nitrous oxide (300x the GHG effect of cO2) from chemical fertilizer and the reduction of methane (20x the GHG effect of CO2) emissions from chemical fertilizer run off bio-reacting with cellulosic biomass in soil and wetlands.   more »

Fire, precursor to desertification. The feedback loops of GHG released by fire and less carbon capture due to the loss of greenery and increased solar heat absorption by blackened landscape; all point in that direction, deserification. But the article hits on a much more immediate bottomline consideration: namely, the sheer cost of not only fighting fires, but the loss of all those homes and comminuities. It devestates the local economy.   more »

Excellent Grist article! The focus on cost and capacity factor is really on the mark. Adding solar furnace molten salt storage and/or geothermal heating to the CAES system might eliminate most of the natural gas use. Then maybe waste stream biogas could make up most of the extra power needed. Especially if the waste stream biogas were first used to generate electric power in a solid oxide fuel cell. The 800 degree waste heat from the 50% efficient fuel cell would then be used to heat the CAES compressed air before it enters the turbine generator.   more »

This short story will bring a tear, here's the link. The ineffable sadness and beauty of mortality.   more »

Energy industry organized rallies to fight climate change legislation and renewable energy are right on track according to this article on Grist. The healthcare townhall here with our congressman was packed, all the front rows, with wing nuts and insurance and hospital corporation employees repeating "death panel" talking points. Most were tourists from other districts and even other states. Expect the same on every other issue, some wing nuts even went off into anti-GHG climate change talking point delayer/denier rants. Congressmen will not even hold meetings on climate legislation, they were scared off by talking point attacks on healthcare.   more »

A great video on Grist from Umbra. She's very utube-genic in her bee suit. Plus an article all about colony collapse disorder (CCD), it's probable causes and possible cures. Here's my prescription:   more »

I have blogged about this strange theoretical invention before. Here is another more detailed view of exactly how a device would work that uses a tacyon stream to send internet signals into the past. Actually how this would work is that the moment the first of these devices that accelerate tacyons beyond the speed of light is activated, the operator would start to receive signals from his future self. Google the future? Well yes, a google search would be initiated, then the scientist, in the future time targeted by the search would send the search results into the time machine on the tacyon stream. The result, gathered in the future, would immediately appear in present time.   more »

A list of the blue dog dems on the energy and commerce comittee holding up our healthcare. Call them and tell them how you feel about their campaign "contributions" from mega-corporate healthcare industry lobbyists. The key 8: Congressman Charlie Wilson (OH-6) http://www.charliewilson.house.gov/ Mike Ross (D-AR)202 225-3772, 870 881-0681 http://ross.house.gov/index.html Rep. Charlie Melancon of Louisiana 202 225-4031 http://www.melancon.house.gov/ Bart Stupak (MI) - 202 225-4735 http://www.house.gov/stupak/ Baron Hill (IN) - 202 225-5315 http://baronhill.house.gov/ Zack Space (OH) - 202 225-6265 http://space.house.gov/index.html Bart Gordon (TN) - 202 225-4231 http://gordon.house.gov/ Jim Matherson (UT) - 202 225-3011 http://matheson.house.gov/   more »

Just what I think about every time I get poison ivy lately, this time I consulted google. And lo & behold there it is. I had considered that the ability of poison ivy oil to activate the immune system might make it a very good treatment for cancer. A microscopic glass bead soaked in the oil, then coated with a time release gel, inserted in a tumor could be used to emit levels of the oil on a homeopathic scale into the tumor. Then the immune system could possibly begin to target the cells infused with the oil.   more »

Is a new generation of leadership evolving as this article states? William Strauss and Neil Howe, coauthors of Generations, posit that each generation makes a unique bequest to those that follow and generally seeks to correct the excesses of the previous generation. They argue that the Boomer excess is ideology and that the Generation X reaction to that excess involves an emphasis on pragmatism and effectiveness. I would argue that this effecct is impelling a hybrid organizing principle. Pragmatic idealism. Obama's organizing principle? I think so.   more »

Here's a great video explaining the mechanism of how cannabinoids (THC & others), the compounds in maijuana, prevent cancer growth and cause cancer cells to eat themselves. In this video series, started off with Dr. Robert Melamede, Professor of Biology at the University of Colorado, the effect is detailed.   more »

Check this out, a 50s rockabilly song that is featured in "Kill Bill" in the opening scene, with a short snippet played on the radio in Sherrif Earl McGraw's (Michael Parks) car, as he pulls up to the wedding chappel massacre scene. Note the natural inspiration for this music. Carl Feathers..."that Certain Female"   more »

Here is an awesome new perspective on global climate disaster. From Jeff Goldstein in huffpost: Every Geologic Day, Earth will write in her diary the comings and goings for that day. Here's the next important point: Every one of the 27,394 pages in Earth's diary -- each Geologic Day -- is 365,000 years long enough time for 14,600 human generations. How come? Easy: 10 billion years divided by 27,394.   more »

Rainbow cinnamon gumdrop, Lemon and purple people are a plastic mystery, Radio bubblegum porkchop, Lilac lady will go down in history. (Chorus) Climb inside my world, Climb inside my belly button bean-bag plastic world!   more »

A fascinating topic, treating oneself for whatever ails, rather than relying on the healthcare system. Check this cancer self-care prevention and treatment article. Really interesting. Mentioned in the article are heat based treatment. Recent studies of heat treatment that raises the temperature of only the tumor to 104 degrees have been effective . Microscopic metal pellets that act as heating elements are inserted into the tumor, then an external radio wave heat source maintains the heat. It would be like a battery powered heating pad.   more »

Here is John Prine alone singing his magnificent song. Here is Bonnie Raitt. No reason to choose, but an interesting contrast. Now if I could only find a reliable link to the duet, try this one, it might work   more »

It looks bad for the greens in Iran, silent sitdown strikes that were really working have now turned to rock throwing and fires. Are violent factions in the protest movement being encouraged by government provacateurs? That is my guess, anger is taking over. Government thug handlers are sending them out to act like angry protestors giving police and militia the excuse they desire to attack en masse and then murder innocent nonviolent protestors in the crowd with rooftop gunfire. When nonviolent protestors are murdered in this cowardly, psychotic fashion, already angry, rock-throwing, fire starting protestors become enraged.    more »

Mind enhancement drugs or merely speed for students? As steroids are for athletes, Ritalin and other ADD drugs are becoming the extra edge that students use to compete in academia. But what about the familiar drawbacks of speed, brain chemical and neural receptor destruction? Wouldn't it be a lot better to actually enhance natural brain biochemistry with exersize, rest, and meditation? Like a program of endurance training with running or biking and yoga? This restores dopamine and dopamine receptors, that provide the reward for intellectual acomplishment.   more »

"Those who learn from history are doomed to watch others repeat it" (drx). So maybe looking at the history of FDR's guidance out of the great depression might just provide some kind of heads up this time around? FDR was heckled into curtailing stimulus, in favor of budget concerns, in the late 30's. The economy did another dip, then war production finally ended the depression. Should we heed the duplicitous warnings of neocons and bush era leaders on debt, and stop the stimulus a few months into it's initiation? After only wall street has been stimulated? And after none of the regulation imposed by FDR on wall street scamming is repeated under Obama's watch?   more »

Here's a very effective twitter search category to identify scambots, automated tweet generating bots designed to look like real tweople. Once I ID one, I unfollow them. Simple plan to clear your personal portion of the twitter hive mind of useless con game chatter.   more »

King Bee, the new theme song of the twitter hive mind, summer is blues season.   more »

Check this extremely complicated version of how this happens. Then a longer, slightly plainer explanation, then this more popular science version. I can't really understand it all, anyone have a clue? Could this be for real? Why take any chances while we're waiting for the results to be verified by good old blogo-twitterverse examination?   more »

Lots of back/forth on this lately. Stewart pointed out the obscenity of Morning Joe folk taking 10 million from starbucks, then touting this sugarey, slave coffee on air. While gulping the 700 calorie 7 buck quart sized caffiene junkie swill that only millionaire tv hosts can afford. But these talking heads get it for free because they tout it onair constantly? Mighty fine example of journalistic integrity isn't it?   more »

Nope, tasers are used as portable torture devices all over the place now, Palin's family experienced a taseing incident. Check this: 72 year old great-grandmonther tasered in Texas (video). But as we now realize from bush era chicanery, kidnapping, torture, and murder, everything is bigger in Texas, especially the assholes. Why does it take something this obscene to highlight just what tasers are really used for? Was the officer's life threatened? Nope, just his ego.   more »

Just tonight on both of these shows, tweeters got some mad props. Even though KO won't tweet and neither will Jon, they mentioned us in typical dissrespectful comedy stylings. We'll take it!! Thanks guys, from our radical bush era ending heroes, the badder the critique, the betyter we like it! Do your best/worst.   more »

Palin on the outs with the grand old patriarchy's apparatchik? Yes. snooty snippy Larry Craig style toe tapping politics is evident. Are the powerful GOP closet queens afraid of the snow queen from Alaska?   more »

Yes, it's true. Colbert had his head shaved to get into the military mindset excellent!! More as it develops.   more »

Yes, it's (rumored to be) true! Janet Reno will not only be named the next supreme, but she will reportedly head her own super secret extra-judicial branch that uses gun/gold sniffing search dogs to uncover and confiscate the hidden stashes of right wing survivalist militia groups and individuals across the country. Forfieture law will be used for the collection of guns and gold, then the purps will be declared "enenmy combatants" (in the best cheney-style) and specially extradited to re-education camps in an undisclosed terrorist supporting nation.   more »

Sorry, that's an insult to assmonkeys everywhere. But given the many, many wing nut, neoconman, corporatist serving aspects of foxnews, let's just say it right from now on. It is "effnews"! Take one glaring example (I'll find the video later), remember when michelle and barack fistbumped during the campaign and effnews labeled it a "terrorist fist bump"? It did happen. Now of course dimbulb limboobs everywhere, following their bouncy "bro" (alternate name for the "mansiere") "drug" limboob, are calling Barack's trip evidence that he must be in league with al queda? Yep?!? In reality, Bin laden is the one who is terrorized by Barack's peace making. Al queda will be out of work, and billions in funding and millions in recruits, as Obama ushers in ME peace. Bin laden is already finished and he knows it.    more »

Just watched the latest in a series of events that has featured the historical place of empathy and pragmatic idealism. The power the Obama campaign tapped to win this most recent election. And as Barack detailed, the same power that won WW II. The Cairo speech was the magnificent start of this presidential tour. It moved the world using the whole media, including social networking. Then the Buchenwald event, with Ellie Weisel speaking directly to personal history. Imagine your father dying in the bunk just above you, calling out for you, and being too afraid to even move, terrorized. isn't that real terror? Let US all remember what real fear and terror are about, and try to live up to our forebears who faced it down in factories, on farms, and battlefields. Give US another chance to rise to the ocasion Barack.   more »

Pat yourselves on the back, all Obama voters/supporters. What could be a better boost for peace than Obama's visit and his fantastic speech in Cairo? Maybe identifying with Egypt's marvelous ancient history, personally? compare the ears on the hieroglyphic (video). Now touring the concentration camp his grandfather helped liberate with Ellie Weisel. Forgive yourselves for getting verklempt, we really have helped change history. "Those who learn from history are doomed to watch others repeat it", maybe we all dispelled that gloomy historical cloud somewhat? Who said our individual votes/volunteer efforts don't count? They were wrong!   more »

Scientific evidence of the mechanism of empathy, that basis for all civilization. All human progress. Now please let us all look in the same mirror, at all life everywhere on spaceship earth.   more »

Yes! Twitter, facebook, and other sites are transmitting Obama's Cairo speech right across cultutral boundaries. Right onto ME blogs. More news as it develops. Tweets are changing the world? "We tweet therefore we can!", hehehey.   more »

Sad to say, "Bill" is dead in real life. Was it the "5 point open palm exploding heart technique" that got him? Nope, not likely. He helped make zen popular in american culture with the tv show in the 70s, turning the classic western into a martial arts feature. How much difference will that make as US direction shifts away from consumption/quantity towards quality of life, a zen measurement of cultural progress.   more »

It would seem that Sotomayor was actually fighting "judicial activism" in her decision that the employer, the city of New Haven in this case, ought to be able to determine their own tests for employment. Should courts intervene and force New Haven to continue tests that seem to discriminate based on race? For instance: if hispanic speakers who are familiar with the culture of the people in the area where the fire protection is being applied are favored because their communication with their citizenry is a major factor in fire protection (that involves life/death emegency actions), should the court step in a disallow cultural concerns involved in employment decisions?   more »