July 30, 2006

Reflect sunlight back to space to reduce global warming

What does the title remind you of? Why, of course, my January essay offering the "the solution to global warming."

Now, following my lead, world famous climate scientist Professor Paul Crutzen - a Nobel Prize winner - has proposed a plan that is very similar to my own. He wants to float sulpher particles in the upper atmosphere, which would then reflect sunlight back to the Sun. His article will appear in August's issue of Climate Change, and I'll try to arrange an excerpt here at Huff And Blow.

If that's not good enough news for you, consider this: all those particles will make sunrises and sunsets simply spectacular.

Posted by Lori Gold to Lori Gold at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)

July 26, 2006

Energy saving tips

The pro-global warming forces are on the ropes, with temperatures reaching well over 100 degrees in many cities across the nation over the past week. It's quite difficult to dispute global warming when you can see - and feel - it all around you.

Now more than ever, it's important to conserve our precious remaining power, and I found a video that offers some very important tips culled from FYPower.org and other sites.

For those of you who would prefer to print out these important tips, I had my PA produce a transcript:

Try to take cold showers. Cold water uses less power than hot water. Hot water needs to be heated. Even if you have a gas heater, it's all energy. Of course, you might want to wash your "shorts area" with hot water. You'll be cleaner that way. Use regular temperature if you have a health issue with really cold water. But, not too hot. Maybe get a temperature guage to make sure the water is just right. They've probably got something like that

Try to wear cotton, it keeps you cool. Loose fitting clothing is best. If you're going to be outside, cover up. It's counter-intuitive, but look at people who live in the desert like Berbers. Consider getting a kaftan (man) or a moomoo (woman). But, remember that in the winter cotton kills. If you get cotton wet, it has very little insulating properties so make sure and not wear cotton in cold weather only when it's really hot. When you get cotton wet in really hot weather it keeps you cool.

Bring your pets inside, but keep them in separate room to keep them from heating up the room you're in. Pets don't need light, so you can probably turn off the lights in the room where they are. There are no lights in the forest and jungles, so they're used to it.

Don't drive so fast. Nowadays you can't drive 55, but you shouldn't drive above 65 either. Try to drive somewhere around 60, maybe 62. That's just right. Try not to make sharp turns or sudden lane changes. Also, always wear your seatbelt

Turn off unnecessary lights unless you really need them. You can get a gooseneck lamp with a fluorescent bulb fairly cheap, for instance at Ikea. But, you'll use energy if you go there just to get a lamp, so only do it when you're in the area already. Consider car-pooling with your neighbors so everyone can get a lamp at the same time.

Make sure and save your work frequently if you're on the computer. Even a brownout might cause your computer to crash. Chatting, IMing, and similar uses a lot of energy for you and for the server. Use a lower-power method such as email. If the server is outside the U.S. that's not that big of an issue. The server might be in a cooler country like somewhere in northern Europe or something.

If you have a nearby river or stream, consider washing your clothes there. Unless people downstream drink the water, which some people do in some areas. Don't use lots of soap, just a small amount of biodegradable soap. Then, dry the clothes on a clothesline. Tip: if the clothes are cool and wet, dry them inside. The heat from the room will dry the clothes while the cool from the clothes will help cool the room. It's a win-win.

Close your drapes to keep the sun from coming in and heating up your room. If your neighbors are used to seeing your drapes open, they might wonder what's going on and whether you're sick or doing something else. This is a wonderful opportunity to help them flex their power too. Consider talking to your neighbors about your campaign. You could walk from door to door, but don't walk too fast because of the heat. You could also phone them, but keep the calls short because that uses energy too. Consider a sign of some kind. We recommend, "Drapes closed to conserve energy. You can do this too. See FYPower.org or other similar sites."

Posted by Lori Gold to Lori Gold at 10:58 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2006

Sen. Barbara Boxer on Earthquake Preparedness [CORRECTED]

[First of all, I'd like to apologize for what I said in an earlier version of this post. I've long been a fan of California's better Senator, Barbara Boxer. However, earlier today in this entry I posted her earthquake preparedness tips and mocked her concern for our well-being, going so far as to call her the "B" word and suggesting she "keep her dirty mitts off my life". For that I deeply apologize, and I hope she will forgive me. However, I also hope she will understand the pain that we progressives feel over her support for that despicable DINO Joe Lieberman. Once again, I apologize for what I said earlier, and I hope she will both forgive me and rethink her position. And, I hope she will accept my invitation to be a contributor here at Huff and Blow. Herewith, her tips:]

Dear Friend:

Californians know that a devastating earthquake could occur anywhere in the state at any time. And we also know that a major earthquake would cause hundreds or thousands of deaths, widespread homelessness, and massive property damage.

Although Californians are aware of these important facts, somehow the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) still do not seem to have gotten the message. Last September, I requested a copy of the FEMA disaster recovery plan for California. After several months, I was disappointed to receive a general reply outlining the things that might happen following a generic disaster.

Recently, following a new report from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the geologic stress that is present especially along the southern portions of the San Andreas Fault -- and the likelihood that a major earthquake is, in fact, overdue -- I again asked for a detailed plan for actions that would follow an earthquake. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, I have again requested a plan specific to California on the steps that would be taken in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake to respond to widespread destruction.

Sadly, it appears that little has changed at FEMA in the year following Hurricane Katrina. The agency appears to be woefully unprepared for an earthquake of major magnitude and the devastation that would follow in California. You can count on me to continue to demand a substantive plan that is designed to keep Californians safe in the days following an earthquake.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

Posted by Ariadne to Ariadne at 11:12 AM | Comments (0)

July 9, 2006

Global warming: the libertarian approach

Should you fear global warming? No, you should welcome it! Let me explain.

Even if Lori Gold's worst "fears" about global warming are fulfilled, will that mean the end of the world? Hardly. Some speculate that major coastal cities such as New York, Baltimore, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Ventura, Boston, and Washington D.C. will be submerged under the waves. Some even go as far as stating that Florida and Bangladesh will be completely inundated.

This is a bad thing?

Prices inevitably rise with scarcity, and if such coastal regions are permanently flooded there will be less land available. That will inevitably lead to real estate prices skyrocketing, together with investors' profits. And, it will lead to a huge, unprecedented building boom as new, even better cities spring up to replace the old. These booming, thriving, boom burgs and regions will become engorged with immigrants from the now-watersogged areas and will become the envy of all the world. All of that translates into an economy exploding in a fervor of buying and selling; in short, a market very favorable to those dynamists who welcome and anticipate change.

Furthermore, due to the issue of higher temperatures in the first place, these new, improved coastal zones will be tropical paradises with booming tourist economies and thriving local markets.

Some look at global warming and only feel fear. The truly rational among us, the lovers of liberty and the free market, see only endless opportunities. Do not fear change; do not just welcome it; nay, help us bring it about.

Jim Gillespie is a former assistant professor of comparative politics at Arcata Community College, a former web editor of Rational Magazine, and a former Libertarian Party vice-presidential candidate. His thoughts are presented here only for balance, and do not represent the views of Huff And Blow.

Posted by Jim Gillespie to Jim Gillespie at 10:05 PM | Comments (5)