6 New Web Technologies of 2008 You Need to Use Now

Here is something for all you geeks who regularly use the internet.

10 Things That Will Not Survive the Recession (Depression)

Internet and mobile technology will make the current recession unprecedented. Here is a list of 10 things that will not survive, according to Mike Elgan of InfoWorld.

OPEC Cuts Production - Largest Ever

Enjoying the low gasoline prices? Beware that OPEC is cutting production by the largest amount ever: 2.2 million barrels per day starting next month. The cartel is shooting for stabilized prices at $70 to $80 per barrel.

Stock up now.

Using a Prius as a Power Generator

Now here is someone that is thinking outside the proverbial box. The winter weather knocks out the power in Harvard, Massachusetts. A Prius owner takes advantage of his car as an electrical power generator.

Breakthrough Technology For Ethanol Production

Here is a company that has developed a process to manufacture ethanol far cheaper than it can be made from corn, sugar cane, or almost any other source.  The company is Algenol Biofuels.

This just might be the breakthrough that makes the best all around use of solar energy to date. The energy balance is a phenomenal 8:1 (energy output : fossil fuel input).

This is another example of how we can lead the world in this technology and spread this type of industry to even the least developed countries.  Everyone could prosper.  Now we need some leadership to get this going by setting up the production and distribution infrastructure.

This could be big.

Bought Your Tickets Yet?

The Mothership of SpaceShipTwo had a successful test flight today in California. It was reported that all went perfectly. Make sure your credit card limit will go to at least $200,000 and get your ticket soon. By the time the first tourist passengers are taken up (late 2010), the inflation rate will be so high that this might actually be affordable.

By 2010, these guys will be the only source of launching folks into space in the USA if NASA actually shuts down the Space Shuttle Program. Too bad Virgin Galactic can't get this baby into orbit and reach the International Space Station, but it is a good first step.

Quote Of The Day

Here is a quote by Catherine Austin Fitts that she made on a radio interview on Dec. 18, 2008. This is something that I think we should all carefully contemplate.

"The federal government has been broke for a long time. It does not matter as long as the federal government can borrow more money and the central bank (Federal Reserve) can print more money and get the people to hold it, which is really if anything, has become a military question.

The price of the dollar at this point is determined much more by our military capacity than any fundamental economics. It is a global taxation system.

Everybody buys Treasury securities and holds dollars and they go down in value. So it is a way of taxing every country around the world without any legislature ever approving it or ever admitting it."

The question is, what do we do about this? Her web site, Solari, has some suggestions.

What if Starbucks Marketed Like A Church?

A parable. Click here.

Apple News and Speculations

Where is Steve Jobs????

Situation Report: Global Economy December 2008

I don't want to get all serious too often with this blog, but the nation's economy (and the global economy) just cannot be ignored. There are some 'indicators' that we should probably be watching. The question is, if the #*$& hits the fan, what do we do? I'm not sure I know.

Here is a situation report on the Global Economy that was posted today at Fabius Maximus.

Time To Raise The Gas Tax????

It seems to me that the more you tax and item, like gasoline, the more you interfere with the dynamic of supply and demand.

Supply and demand in a market that operates on a level playing field is essentially self correcting. The leaders in our industries and government should provide a convincing argument that, in spite of temporarily cheap energy, we need work like crazy on alternative energy technologies and an efficient distribution network to be ready for the next supply squeeze. It will come, its just a matter of time.

I think this is like putting money away for retirement when you're in your 20s. At the time, it seems to be a crimp on your life style. But after reaching your 50's, it could be your ticket to financial freedom.

Solar & Wind Energy and the Electrical Grid

A recent study has shown the electrical grid feasibility of a portfolio of renewable energy far exceeds the target set by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for California. The required grid upgrades could be fairly minor and inexpensive.

The geography and geology of California are quite favorable for several types of renewable energy. That is good, because this state uses quite a bit of electricity. I wish that they could back-off on the natural gas so the rest of us could use it for relatively cheap heat.

Fusion We Can Beieve In?

There is some encouraging news in the frontier of nuclear fusion research. Positive results have been seen with experiments with an approach called inertial electrostatic confinement fusion or Polywell fusion.

The new Secretary of Energy nominee is familiar with this work and wants to see more information.

How About Some Whimsy??

Click here.

Today's Hottest Game On The Net

Click here to play a hilarious new game through your web browser. It is called Sock and Awe.

Awesome!!!!

What Caused The Economic Crisis? Global Imbalances

This is a good summary of how the global money mess came about and why the U.S. dollar has shown strength lately.

The question is, will the dollar strength continue in the long term or is this just a hiccup?

Born Digital? Die Young

Here is an article about our growing dependence on storage of information on digital media and the dangers of losing our records of history. We really don't know how to keep digital information retrievable for centuries.

Happy Birthday Beethoven!!!

Today is thought to be Ludwig van Beethoven's birthday. Little did Beethoven know that he may have helped set the industry standard playing time for audio CDs with the length of his Ninth Symphony.

This sounds similar to the story circulating on the net over the last few years about how the standard distance between rails on the railroad tracks in the US were set.

Asteroids Didn't Do It

Evidence indicates that the six mile diameter asteroid that smacked down on the Yucatan peninsula 65 million years ago did not cause any major extinctions, according to information released at a this week's American Geophysical meeting.

It appears that a period of massive volcanic eruptions in India about 300,000 years after the Yucatan impact did the dinosaurs in, as well as many other species.

This series of eruptions, lasting less than 10,000 years, put ten times more climate-changing emissions into the atmosphere than the asteroid impact.

Volcanoes are the greatest polluting mechanisms on this planet. Man's efforts pale in comparison, excluding the detonation of thousands of nuclear weapons.

2000 Year Old Computer Brought Back To Life

The 2000 year old Greek Antikythera mechanism has been recreated and demonstrated in a video in the link provided. There is a book out titled "Decoding the Heavens" by Jo Marchant about this mysterious device.

Technology like this from so long ago, makes one wonder about other bits of knowledge that have been lost over the centuries.

Gamma-rays From Lightning Storms

As if we need something else to be concerned about when traveling by air, some rather intense gamma-rays have been detected in thunderstorms by researchers. Apparently, these gamma-rays are produced by lightning.

Gamma-rays are usually found in the realm of the atomic nucleus. Of course there is a tremendous amount of energy liberated in a lightning bolt. I remember reading years ago about neutron reactions with oxygen nuclides being studied as a result of lightening strikes. Analysis of changes in the isotopic ratios of oxygen (O-16 to O-17, if I remember correctly) provided the evidence of the reactions.

Don't expect the airlines to be adding lead shielding any time soon.

Utilities May Make A Huge Order of Electric Vehicles

Now this news item is interesting. U.S. utilities are talking about making large orders of electric vehicles to help out the Detroit automakers. They specifically are interested in plugin hybrids and all electric vehicles.

The order could be as many as 50,000 vehicles, which could be a springboard for Detroit to begin switching to entirely new vehicle markets.

Steinway & Sons Model C Music System

And you thought Steinway & Sons only manufactured pianos? Think again. This may be the ultimate audiophile's music system.

I wonder if it is possible to obtain a mortgage on something like this? Five percent for 20 years just might get some serious music lovers interested.

New Jobs In Solar Energy

The solar panel business is going well in California despite the shaky economy. We need some of this in the other parts of the county. It also wouldn't hurt for the price to come down some too.

It would seem to me that alternative energy technologies would get some traction one a 'tipping point' is achieved. If the industry continues to grow like it has in the last couple of years, this could be possible. It will be interesting to see the impact of falling oil costs on this sector of business.

Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. and the Aristocracy of Stock Profits

Here is an 0n-line version of Catherine Austin Fitts' story about trying to find answers to her questions about how aristocracy of the American economic system essentially high jacked the financial mechanisms of our government.

Here is excerpt:

"I decided to write “Dillon Read & Co Inc. and the Aristocracy of Stock Profits” as a case study designed to help illuminate the deeper system. It details the story of two teams with two competing visions for America. The first was a vision shared by my old firm on Wall Street — Dillon Read — and the Clinton Administration with the full support of a bipartisan Congress. In this vision, America's aristocracy makes money by ensnaring our youth in a pincer movement of drugs and prisons and wins middle class support for these policies through a steady and growing stream of government funding and contracts for War on Drugs activities at federal, state and local levels. This consensus is made all the more powerful by the gush of growing debt and derivatives used to bubble the housing and mortgage markets, manipulate the stock and precious metals markets and finance trillions missing from the US government in the largest pump and dump in history — the pump and dump of the entire American economy. This is more than a process designed to wipe out the middle class. This is genocide — a much more subtle and lethal version than ever before perpetrated by the scoundrels of our history texts."

I recommend that you go to the Table of contents link and tackle one chapter at a time. It is a little long but I think that this is a very important read that every American should digest.

Many things that Fitts describes is probably not all that surprising when it comes to the graft and corruption that has eaten away at our nation and it's financial institutions. What is amazing to me is the complete buy-in of the 'go along to get along' attitude by the business leaders and government officials as they fleece the tax payers and destroy any real chance of a sustainable and free market economy in this country.

Catherine Austin Fitts is one of American's true heros. It took a lot of courage to standup for what is right and just. She sacrificed all but her life and family. I hope that her efforts and ideas find some solid footing in our effort to fix the economic and social mess we find ourselves in today.

Ester Dyson On Information Technology & The Internet

Here is an interview of Ester Dyson with her interesting perspective on how we are using information technology and the internet.

Classical Music and Chinese Culture

This is a fascinating article on differences in Chinese and Western culture in areas such as classical music. But there is much more information here. Some very interesting internal links too.

This is well worth your time if you love music as I do.

106 Years of Popular Mechanics

Here is a link to 106 years of Popular Mechanics. It is available for free online.

Nominee for Dept. of Energy Secretary of Energy

It appears that Steven Chu, Ph.D. Director of DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will be the nominee for Secretary of Energy. It sounds like he is a genuine problem solver. Let's hope that the mind numbing bureauracy of D.C. (District of Corruption) doesn't prevent this brilliant physicist from doing good work for the nation.

Talking and Driving Safely

A lot of drivers are not going to like this report about the problems of driving and talking. It appears that the intensity of conversation is "the fly in the ointment."

How To Unplug From The Grid

Here is an interesting story from NewScientist. The photo of the woman ironing outdoors is silly. This article may need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Michelin's Active Wheel Technology

Michelin's Active Wheel Technology was revealed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and could make electric cars much more affordable and practical. Check out the video. It's coming in 2011.

Would you like WiFi and 3G with that? You got it!

DOD Pollution Cleanup Ordered by DOJ

Here is a potential business opportunity for environmental cleanup firms. The Dept. of Justice has stated that the Pentagon cannot dodge the EPA orders for cleanup of several military sites.

Looks like chemically contaminated groundwater is one of the major issues.

Here are some interesting facts from Harper's Index:

• Chance that an American lives within four miles of an EPA Superfund site: 1 in 4
• Chance that he or she lives within 10 miles of one: 1 in 2
  

Lovins Recommends The Big 3 Go Radical

Amory Lovins gave the Detroit automakers some very timely advice this past week. I hope The Big Three were listening. The current situation could turn out to be a fantastic opportunity.

I attended a Lovins lecture way back in 1980 while I was in graduate school. This event had a lasting impact on my understanding about energy. This man "walks the talk."

The 10 Dirtiest Foods You're Eating

Now that we are engulfed in the winter holidays, it is time to consider the biological hazards of eating. I'm not trying to be the Grinch, but there are some serious health concerns in the foods we bring home from the supermarket and some attention is needed to minimize this threat.

Our society has some major difficulty in dealing with risk. The main stream media has our attention directed to risks that are sometimes on par with that of the probability of being struck by a meteorite.

IMHO, the biggest daily risks are associated with driving our cars and the foods we routinely consume. We rarely give either much thought. Think again and have a safe and healthy holiday season.

Using Solar Energy to Make Fuel

A Professor of Chemistry at MIT, Daniel Nocera, has developed a process to use the sun + water to make hydrogen fuel. This process is similar to photosynthesis. It can also be used to make fresh water out of seawater.

Now it needs to be scaled up for practical use. Let us hope this is done soon, regardless of the falling cost of oil. We will need this down the road, so why wait for a crisis.

Worst Diet In The World

Here is a short video clip by Dr. Andrew Weil. The subject matter is "The Worst Diet In The World." Let us take heed and take better care of ourselves.

Health Checks and Disease Prevention

If you don't read another entry on my blog, please make sure you read this one. Here is some excellent information from Dr. Terry Grossman.

Nano-Silicon Breakthrough in Lithium Battery Technology

Here is another breakthrough in battery technology that is based on using a nano-silicone anode in a lithium ion battery that can increase the battery's capacity by 10x.

No word on when a commercial product will be available, but if research and testing go well, it could be in a matter of months, I hope.

More Information On Eating Heavy Atoms

Here is an article on the how eating heavy atoms might lengthen our lives from New Scientist. There is much more detail given. One fact that caught my eye is that deuterated bonds can be up to 80 times stronger than those containing hydrogen.

If this is concept is proven to work, my question is how can these isotopes be economically produced? Will they need to be regulated since higher levels could be toxic?

The 10 Big Energy Myths

Here is an article from the Guardian on some of the most prevalent energy myths. IMHO, the comments on nuclear are pretty weak. It certainly has been an expensive option to date, but that can change with new directions on plant design and construction.

Now We're Cooking With.......Batteries

Here is an overview on our use of batteries in our hand-held gadgets and electric cars. Batteries have become a weak link in the high-tech world we have constructed. We had better be doing some big time research on this issue and fast.

I see this technical area as fertile ground for big breakthroughs by today's and tomorrow's chemists. Maybe nanotechnology will be a key avenue.

Nikola Tesla and the Electric Universe

The folks at Thurderbolts.info are shaking things up in the world of physics/astrophyics with an alternate look at our understanding of electricity an it's scale of influence in the Universe.

Check out this video from their site:

Top 5 Green Myths

Are hybrid vehicles better choices than standard cars? Get the scoop on this question and four others here.

The Dumbing Down of the American Voter

Here is today's opinion piece by Kathleen Parker on the significance of a recent report by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute on America's civic literacy. It it not good news. Unfortunately, it is not surprising.

Small Arkansas Earthquakes Could Be A Warning

Central Arkansas does not have any seismic history, until recently. This does not bode well for the north American continent. This also seems to back up some of the predictions at UrbanSurvival.com.

Maybe not a good time to be living in Hot Springs.

How To Purchase A Digital SLR Camera

Ok, here is some good technical information for those who plan to upgrade from the pocket digital camera and go for the SLR (single lens reflex) camera.

The Music Genome Project

Here something I discovered last evening from a bright UT psychology/philosophy major. It is a website called PANDORA. This came about from something called the Music Genome Project.

It is amazing! If you love music, you must check this out. It is like having a custom radio station that you can access anywhere you have an internet connection.

If you like it, pass it on.

The "Biggest Piece" of the Puzzle

Here is a recent article by Walter Burien on the so-called banking bailout. Walter has been a meticulous researcher for over 10 years in the study of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). As far as I know he is has no political party affiliation. This pretty much tells it like it is and explains how it got this way.

Heavy Water and Health

Ok, here is something that caught my interest. An article on the health benefits of heavy water or also known as deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen consisting of one proton and one neutron).

The first link I saw was pointing to an article in today's Telegraph in the UK, but that article was no longer available. I wonder why? Was it a hoax? Were there some security issues?

You see, heavy water is the material you can use to slow down neutrons to thermal energies that can be used to split U-235 (nuclear fission). Canada's nuclear power program uses heavy water as a moderator with natural uranium.

If you don't use heavy water, you must enrich the U-235 which is expensive and has nuclear proliferation issues connected. The Nazis tried to use heavy water (made in Norway) in their effort to develop the atomic bomb.

The linked article above is one of the semi-recent articles I found on the subject. Interesting that there is an Iranian connection.

The International Space Station Turns 10

Click here to see some awesome photos of the International Space Station. Ok, so we didn't eventually build the Space Wheel from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, but hey, it is till pretty cool.

America's Forgotten Freedoms

Here is an article in Russia Today about a survey done by the First Amendment Center on just how dumbed-down the average American citizen has become on our system of government.

I guess it is 'use it or lose it.'

Presentation Zen

Gar Reynolds' book, Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery is something that all of us can use. Gar has in interesting blog on Amazon also. Take your PowerPoint show to a new level.

Growing Our Way Out of the Economic Crisis

Here is an excerpt from an article written at the Pajamas Media site about why propping up failing businesses won't help restore the economy:

"despite our current economic troubles — and the even darker clouds on the horizon — waiting just beyond is likely to be the greatest economic opportunity, and boom, that any of us has ever known.

Why? Because of a unique intersection of forces: two billion new consumers (the biggest single jump in market size in human history), global broadband interconnection that will reach every corner of the planet, and the continuing impact of Moore’s Law — the idea that tech power will double every couple of years — which will put supercomputer power into our hands."

Coconut Oil Supplement Shows Promise for Alzheimers Patients

Thanks to Kelleigh for sending me this link on how a medical doctor found that a coconut oil supplement helped "lift the fog" for her husband in his fight with Alzheimer's disease.

Apparently, a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease loses the ability of their brain to metabolize glucose, which is the brain's major source of energy. Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which can be converted into an alternative energy for the brain.

This is big news and needs to be considered in the treatment of Alzheimer's patients.

Depression 2009: What would it look like?

Not trying to be a pessimist here, but it might be useful to take a look at what a depression might look like it it hits in 2009. It would be different from the one in the 1930s.

If it happens, how will the experience shape the next generation?

The DIY X-Ray Craze of the 19th Century

There is a new exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It is called Brought to Light Photography and the Invisible, 1840-1900. One part is on X-rays.

Within 3 months of the discovery of X-rays, there were DIY (do it yourself) X-ray kits on the market for the curious nerds of the day.

Will Obama Implement the T. Boone Pickens Plan?

The Pickens Plan stresses efficiency and centrality. Can this work (i.e., is it economically feasible)? Given the dropping prices of oil, is there sufficient leadership in industry and government to sell this plan to the public?

Paul Krugman says that Obama needs to swiftly implement 'New Deal-like' policies for energy production/distribution to move into the new millennium. Pickens cannot do it alone.

Netgear Powerline Adapters

Netgear has a product that allows you to piggyback your internet connection on your home or business electrical wiring. The plus is that it is more secure than a wireless router and it is cheaper than running new cables.

$9.5 Million UT Piracy Measure

Looks like the Univ. of Tennessee has a significant fear of music/entertainment lawyers with a first of a kind legislative bill to fund the monitoring of on-line file sharing. This kind of money could have gone a long way in hiring needed teachers.

'Outliers' Puts Self-Made Success To The Test

Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking) has a new book: Outliers: The Story Of Success. This new book is featured in an article today on NPR.

Gladwell is a very good writer and has the ability to look at things from unique perspectives.

A 25,000 Mile Battery????

AFS Trinity is claiming that the Chevy Volt's lithium ion battery will last only 25,000 miles as compared to their battery which they claim will last 150,000 miles. The technical key is the use of ultracapacitors which act as energy buffers.

More definitive information is needed on this issue.

USB 3.0 to Deliver a Tenfold Speed Increase

In the first update to the USB specification in eight years, we will see a significant increase in data transfer speed that blows USB 2.0 out of the water. The also could be the death of the FireWire standard.

To take full advantage, you will need to purchase USB 3.0 devices AND have a 3.0 capable PC.

Are You An Idiot To Keep Paying Your Mortgage?

According to Katherine Pender of the San Francisco Gate, no, not if you have significant equity in your home. But, for those with little equity, it seems to be getting harder to answer this question.

Could Steve Jobs Save GM?

Here is a column by John Dvorak on whether someone like Steve Jobs could save Detroit's GM company. He doesn't think so, but IMHO you could sure do worse.

The automobile manufacturing business is a whole different animal from the high-tech computer business.

Is the federal government pushing the US car makers off a cliff?

Aliens Cause Global Warming - Michael Crichton

Thanks to Kelleigh for passing this on to me. This is not a puff piece loaded with humor about little green men. Michael Crichton wrote this back in 2003. I'm sorry it took me so long to find out about it. Crichton recently passed away. We lost a great man with some powerful insight.

I think this article contains some very important commentary on critical thinking in general and specifically in science. It is a bit long but I encourage everyone to read the whole article.

An Atomic Solution To The Energy Crisis

As a followup to my last posting, here is some additional information about the prospects for nuclear power. This topic is becoming more frequent in the blogosphere and in the main stream press. There is still lots of work and financing to be done. It may be a bumpy road.

Mini Nuclear Power Plants

Here comes some competition for the electrical utilities. How about a mini nuclear power plant smaller than a garden shed that can supply electricity to approximately 10,000 homes at a cost of about $250 per household?

An article in today's Gardian gives the low down. The company is Hyperion and they are based in New Mexico. They have 100 reactors in the pipeline and expect to put the first one on-line in 2013. They have yet to get NRC approval.

Toshiba has also been working on designing micro-reactors, but I don't know how far along they are on this concept. Time will tell.

Hydrogen Produced From Solar Energy?

Scientists are revisiting an 1833 hydrogen production experiment by Italian physicist G.D. Botto in Italy that demonstrates a unique way for generating hydrogen.

This have some interesting possibilities for making fuel for transportation and many other uses. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention.

Plug In Your Prius

Here is an article on how to convert your Toyota Prius to a plug-in hybrid.

Today's Quote

One of the best ways to ensure that bad laws are changed is to enforce them vigorously against the powerful. -- Glenn Reynolds

Which Economy Gets Saved?

Here is a snipit of George Ure's thoughts posted today over at urbansurvival.com:

Since the 1950's, it seems to me that we have seen the emergence of three different economies within the US.  The original was the bricks and mortar/industrial economy - the one that made cars, airplanes, televisions, and so on.  Then we saw the evolution of the financial services industry - a mother giant of late with more notional value than the entire world's gross product.  And not to be overlooked - because it serves both, is the services economy.

 

It's a kind of three-legged milk stool.  Supposedly.

 

Unfortunately, now that tables have turned on  the financial services leg, it will 'take down' a big chunk of the services sector as well.  And, since we have irresponsibly allowed American corporations to outsource most of our former industrial economy to China and India, the industrial leg of that milk stool has also been hacked.

 

What stands as a challenge for the Obamanation is how to repair the foreshortened milk stool.  I think you know the answer...it's obvious to me:  Rebuild infrastructure and on-shore industry. 

 

Imposing tariffs, as was done in the last depression under the Smoot Hawley Tariff Act will likely not be played this time around, although I'd argue that bad Fed policy in the last depression had more negative influence than did Smoot-Hawley, but the capitalists have managed to effectively rewrite history and give a thorough black-eye to tariffs.  Big money to be made playing them wage-rate differentials when sales flatten out.

 

The reality the fat-cats won't cop to is that making goods overseas - and I don't care whether it's the apple from another continent, or a refrigerator in an Asian country - happened because the wage-rate differential between a higher standard of living economy and a lesser one fell to the bottom lines - and that's bonus time.  Not to say that's bad - hell, it's the same strategic decision I'd make, too, if my bread were buttered only on the one side.. 

 

The problem at a national policy level is whether the export of jobs has gone so far as to now be unrecoverable with something simple - like tariffs or a stimulus - or whether the rest of the world will just start backing away from US dollars.  I guess we'll find that out over the coming few weeks with the G-20 meetings next weekend.

---

My friend The Bond Dude made a very interesting observation to the effect that he thinks China will keep playing the dollar game only so long as it helps China build a strong middle class.  The way he's got it penciled, once the Chinese have a strong enough middle class (e.g. enough consumers - perhaps 300-million or so...) then the Chinese can let their currency appreciate extensively relative to ours and assume Masters of the Universe global power.

 

They could then phase their industrial output into domestic consumption - and paradoxically, the recent earthquake in China has set off a massive rebuilding effort - and that does what?  Increases the growth rate for China's middle class.

 

You have noticed, I hope, that China's premier Wen Jiabao says "Industrialized nations should ditch unsustainable lifestyles"?  Wonder if he's been lurking around here...a rational person looking at global numbers of humans and how much resource is left would likely come to no other conclusion. 

---

Some indications are that the Obamanation may be a lot more 'talk' than 'action' when it comes down to tangible change.   Headlines like "Obama's change leaves by the back door" are cropping up in reaction to the disappointing appointments of old-guard paradigm defenders and ex-Clintonistas in the early days of the next administration.  Have we been snookered by the PTB?  I wouldn't bet against that...

 

Ultimately, I expect the reason the market climbed last week was that the Obamanation showed its true stripes:  It's going to be a refried Clinton era with, oh sure,  a few new faces who will likely talk more about change that get down to the business of infrastructure rebuilding, going green, and articulating a believable, achievable new kind of American Dream.

 

If the Obamanation doesn't identify and strong act on the fundamental causes of disappearing jobs, salutatory initial moves like extending unemployment benefits are going to turn out 'nice but no cigar.'

 

Till these guys articulate a plan to rebuild the milk stool, onshore jobs, and reel in the banksters, it's the same train wreck all over again - just with a different engineer.

The Law Teacher & The Law Student

From my friend John H.

Few centuries ago, a Law teacher came across a student
who was willing to learn but was unable to pay the fee.
The student struck a deal saying 'I will pay your fee
the day I win my first case in the court.'

Teacher agreed and proceeded with the law course. When
the course was finished and teacher started pestering
the student to pay up the fee, student reminded the
deal and pushed days.

Fed up with this, the teacher decided to sue the student
in the court of law and both of them decided to argue
for them- selves.

The teacher put forward his argument saying: "If I win
this case, as per the court of law, student has to pay
me. And if I lose the case, student will still pay me
because he would have won his first case. So either way
I will have to get the money."

Equally brilliant student argued back saying: "If I win
the case, as per the court of law, I don't have to pay
anything to the teacher. And if I lose the case, I don't
have to pay him because I haven't won my first case yet.
So either way, I am not going to pay the teacher anything!"

This is one of law's greatest paradox.

The Most Polluted Spot In History

It all started in the mid-1940's in the USSR. A sprawling plutonium production complex was built in the southern Ural mountains. In the zeal of the Cold War, things got out of hand. In another 250 years or so, things will be better.

If the per capita number of trial lawyers was as high in the USSR/Russia as it is in the USA, the government wouldn't have much money left after all the litigation was settled with the thousands of victims.

Elect The Coach-In-Chief?

Here is a column by Rob Oller of The Columbus Dispatch with a humorous look at how a government for the people, by the people might look if those people were fans appointing college football coaches to political positions.

Funny stuff.

Mars Mission Breakthrough - Radiation Shielding

Some nuclear fusion technology spin-off may provide a fix for the protection of astronauts from the dangerous radiation environment that would exist on a manned mission to Mars.

This is big. Without this type of technology, a manned mission to Mars is not feasible, IMHO.

Nanosolar Makes Time Magazine List

Nanosolar has made the list for Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2008. This is encouraging for the alternative energy sector of our economy. As good as it is to see falling gasoline prices, the alternative energy sector has taken a financial hit due to the tipping of the economic incentive scales.

Regardless of energy costs, our economy needs to implement affordable and renewable alternative energy alternatives/distribution systems ASAP. You can pay now or you can pay later, if you can get it.

Until electric powered transportation is widespread and affordable, we need, as consumers, to demand flex fuel vehicles from the auto industry. More flex fuel gives us many more energy options and helps create jobs.

Quote Of The Day

"Anything important is never left to the vote of the people. We only get to vote on some man; we never get to vote on what he is to do." -- Will Rogers

Some Dark Humor

Check out "You're Fired."

USSR's Big Bang Anniversary

Forty-eight years ago today, the U.S.S.R. (today known as The Russian Federation) tested the largest thermonuclear weapon ever. This bomb known as the Tsar Bomba had a capacity of 100-megatons of TNT. Damage was observed as far away as about 600 miles. Good thing it was only effective enough to be equivalent to 50-megatons. Those were the days.....

Top Ten Food Ingredients To Avoid

Holistic Nutritionist, Paula Owens lists her top 10 food ingredients to avoid at Channel 15 in Phoenix. I would have to say that I would agree, but then again, I'm a hypocrite when it comes to white flour and sugar. A lot of this junk is added to 'processed foods.'

Raw Broccoli Best For Anti-Cancer Potential

More evidence for eating raw food to gain maximum nutritional benefit.

Left Brain vs Right Brain Test

This is an interesting test to determine if you are predominately left brained or right brained.

Why Nukes? Why Energy Independence?

Here is something by John Tierney on energy subsidies and energy independence. Is it better for the USA to benefit from cheaper competition from overseas?

The Rise Of The Machines

Was the financial crisis caused by too many PC's?

Another Home-Made Electric Car

A teenager in Texas builds his own electric car for $10,000. Detroit and Tokyo should be ashamed that they can't do better.

How Much Oil Is Left?

How much oil is actually left on this planet?

Nuclear Energy From Thorium?

Could thorium solve the world's nuclear waste problems?

100 Best Southern Food Map

This is very cool. Sent to me by my buddy JR. Click on the "100 Best Southern Food Map" link in the upper right. You can select different types of food on the legend in the lower left. Interesting magazine too.

Buckypaper - Nanotechnology Breakthrough

Buckypaper looks like regular cotton paper but it is 10 times lighter and maybe 500 times stronger than steel when stacked and pressed into a composite. The Florida St. researchers are working on a development path for manufacturing techniques. This will be big for the aerospace industry, electronics, and all kinds of transportation vehicles.

Amazing Photos of our Sun

Click here for a link to some amazing photos of our Sun. We are currently observing over 200 days with almost no sunspot activity and the solar wind is the lowest observed in the last 50 years. What's the significance? No one is certain just yet. Some speculate that there may be a global cooling as a result. We shall see.

Computer Circuit Builds Itself

An important first step was achieved recently in an effort to develop self-assembling computer circuits. The analogy is similar to the way DNA works. It is still relatively primative, but we may start seeing breakthroughs in the near future. The implications of this are something to think about.

What The Candidates Won't Talk About On Energy

I found this link on Glenn Reynolds blogsite which is from a NYT column on energy and politics.

Digital Conversion PSA

Southern Synergy Blog Comments - The Lack Thereof

A friend of mine commented today that he finds it strange that there are NO comments to any of my blog posts. I have been wondering why myself.

I thought that maybe the comment link did not work. I ran a test a few minutes ago and found that it works just fine.

I appears to me that to make a comment you must have a Google account or make the comment as "Anonymous". That is no big deal in getting a Google account and there is not cost.

I would encourage everyone to at least make an Anonymous comment. You can still leave your name if you like.

Let's get some dialogue going here. I would appreciate the feedback. I am think skinned enough to deal with disagreement.

Thanks,
Stan

ATM-Bot

Here is a clever illustration (cartoon) that you may like.

Henry Hazlitt On The Bailout

Here is a summary of Henry Hazlitt's book, Economics in One Lesson that is dead-on in it's analysis of how a free market is supposed to work. I have this book and I highly recommend it to EVERYONE.

IMHO, this should be taught to at least every high school graduate in this nation.

South African Electric Car

Here is a story about a hot electric car from South Africa that created quite a buzz at the Paris Auto Show recently. This looks promising and much more affordable than the Tesla sports car. How does 250 miles per charge at less than $30k sound?

Maybe it is a good time to attempt to corner the world market on lithium?????

New Harris Poll On Nuclear Power

The new Harris Poll on nuclear power finds a generation gap. Go figure.

Computer Intelligence Turning Test Update

The Turning Test results indicate that the computer came up just a little short, but it was close.

Bond Market Collapse Is Imminent

Adrian Douglas is predicting that the bond market is on the verge of collapse. This is certainly not my area of expertise, but I'm trying to pay closer attention to economic issues.

Excluding derivatives, the bond market is the biggest market in the world. When this market starts to tank, trillions of currency will go seeking a safe haven. A percentage will most certainly go into precious metals and elevate them to very high levels.

"The authorities keep saying that they will “use all tools available to them”. They only have one…it’s an electronic version of the printing press. They will spin it in many different ways using jargon like “increased liquidity” and “injection of capital” and “buying equity stakes” and “buying toxic debt” but it all translates to “create more money out of thin air”. Gold and silver and the mining equities will be the place to be and soon thereafter commodities in general."

I've been thinking about this $867 billion bail-out and the effect it will have if all that credit is but into our financial system. Logic indicates that this would be highly inflationary. Too much money in circulation. This could be devastating.

Tennessee Man Converts Truck To Run On Batteries

Here is some ingenuity out in west Tennessee. He was spending $100 a week on gasoline and decided to do something about it. Good for him!!

Life Way Down At 1.7 Miles Below

The tenacity of life is amazing. A bacteria living at a depth of 1.7 miles at temperatures of around 140 deg. F. and NO oxygen.

I recommend a very good book that contains some good information about this tenacity and other great stories about biology and other studies of the universe. The title is "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. It is a great read, funny is will not be over the heads of those who don't feel science is one of their strengths.

Our Electric Future

Andy Grove, former CEO of Intel, wrote an interesting article on the effort of the USA to become energy independent back in the summer. I should have posted it back then but it somehow fell through the cracks of this blog site.

The oil prices plunging, we are beginning to see funding dry up for biofuels production. This is unfortunate since we will eventually need biofuels to supplement petroleum production while we work on electric transportation. I like to use the analogy of putting money into a savings account. If you don't start early, even when times are hard and money is tight, it is difficult to build up much of a nest egg.

World Undergoes A Nuclear Renaissance

Here is the South African perspective of the world's nuclear renaissance. They plan on building large nuclear power plants by 2025. They will also build a few additional pebble-bed modular reactors (PBMRs) in a few years. John McCain says he wants to see 45 new nuclear plants built by 2030.

Where will the industry get the skilled workers to construct and operate these plants? We are seeing an increase in undergraduate and graduate nuclear engineering degrees in the USA in the last few years.

About 35% of the current nuclear power workforce will retire in the next 5 years. There are currently about 8000 nuclear trained engineers. By 2020 we will need about 12,500 and about 21,500 in 2050.

Tennessee This Week - Prof. Harold Black

More from Prof. Harold Black on this week's (Oct. 5, 2008) Tennessee This Week with Gene Patterson. This is a very informative 11 or so minutes and is highly recommended. What a shame this man doesn't have the ear of all those clowns in Washington District of Corruption and Wall Street.

Aftermath of Hurricane Ike

With all the craziness of the past couple of weeks in politics and the financial markets, the victims of Hurricane Ike have been almost forgotten. From this article, it sounds like the people in the Houston/Galveston area are wondering why they have been forgotten.

If we keep having these weekly 'disasters' I'm concerned that the commutative effect may be devastating for this country's economy and psyche.

Energy Innovators - An Update

Here is an article from USA Today that describes the efforts of 4 alternative energy innovators (Nanosolar being one).

Nanosolar Raises Record Funding in 2008

Nanosolar announced a little over a month ago that it raised $300 million for production facilities in Germany and the US, which is the most for any solar start-up this year. They hope to manufacture enough panels at it's San Diego factory to generate about 430 megawatts of electricity. In California the rule of thumb is that 1 megawatt will power about 750 homes.

"Intelligent" Computers Put To The Test

Six computer programs are about to take the "Turning Test" in order to determine whether computers can 'think.' $100,000 is offered for the winning design by the Loebner Prize in Artificial Intelligence.

The Design of Extremely Large Telescopes

Astronomer Jerry Nelson was thinking out of the box on a new design of an Earth based telescope that in some ways is better than the Hubble Space Telescope. This is opening the way for even larger and more advanced telescopes.

Prof. Harold Black On The Economic Mess

Hallerin Hill had Prof. Harold Black of the Univ. of Tenn. on his radio show this morning to discuss his analysis of the current and on-going economic mess.

This is about the best analysis I've heard to date and I highly recommend that everyone take the time to listen to this interview.

Again we find that we don't always get all the information on the network talk shows. I think this guy is pretty sharp. Check it out.

100% Renewable Jet Fuel

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has made a major breakthrough in developing a feedstock-flexible process that generates 100% renewable aviation fuel that meets military specs (JP-8).

Solar Power In Knoxville

Here is an article in today's Knoxville News Sentinel about the use of solar panels in our fair city. It would be nice if that payback interval was a bit shorter.  Also, I have questions about the lifetime of a solar panel.  Does it last long enough to get the payback and then some?

It's getting there but more breakthroughs are needed.  Increased production of the Nanosolar product might help also.

At Home, Women Rule

Men might strut their stuff at work, but women wield the power at home.  We've know that for some time right?

Water Bears Survive Exposure in Space

Here is an amazing article on how some tiny organisms called Water Bears survived exposure to the vacuum and UV radiation of space and lived on a European Space Agency research platform in 2007.

I highly recommend a great book titled "A Short History Of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. One thing I got from this book was just how tenacious life can be.  One instance is that some microbes inside a camera lens from one of the Surveyer lunar landing crafts (1967) survived after being retrieved and returned to Earth by the Apollo 12 Astronauts.  Life is tough.  IMHO, about the only way to totally wipe out all life from our planet is for the Sun to reach the red giant stage and engulf Earth.  This is not likely to happen for about 5 billion years.

Money Mess - Background Information

Again, I don't want to dabble too much into politics in this blog, but I find it amazing that some crucial information is not being widely discussed by the various talking heads on TV news.

The payoff for delinquent mortgages in the US is between $60 and $100 trillion. Pay this off and a lot of the crisis goes away.

One big problem is that the derivatives total up to about $80 trillion. The US GNP is about $14 trillion. A lot of those bad loans are wrapped up in that $80 trillion derivative packages.

The reason we got into this mess is that back in the late 70s, the federal government initiated the Community Reinvestment Act (check it out on Wikipedia) which penalized lending banks for not giving loans to low income borrowers. Many of the mortgages applications were filled out with false information (i.e., income, job status, etc.) The mortgage people made the commissions and then sold the mortgages which got repackaged and sold as securities. A lot of those securities are owned by investors (and banks) in other countries (i.e., China)

This was all legal and stupid. What a mess. Giving out money for votes. Our Congress is the main culprit. The voters need to make some adjustments.

Just my two cents worth.

Tennessee Shines

Last night I was lucky enough to get a ticket to the second Tennessee Shines show last night at Knoxville's Bijou Theater. Our local Americana radio station, WDVX-FM (which started out in a camper trailer in 1999) is the organizer and broacaster of the show.

This was show #2. This is a live radio broadcast on the last Wednesday night of each month. It is videotaped in HD for a later broadcast on WBIR-TV. I also attended the initial performance last month.

I recommend that you check it out. You can listen via the internet.

Bailout Fix Recommendation

Seems like Dave Ramsey has the best recommendations for fixing the so called financial bailout crisis.

We are not being told the whole story by the mainstream news media, but of course you already know that.

Write your CONgressmen/women and Senators and let them know what you think.

49 Oil Platforms Destroyed by Ike

Looks like the damage to oil platforms and refineries in the gulf were not as bad as it could have been. We definitely dodged another natural disaster bullet.

This country needs a significant source of alternative fuels now. If nothing else, it gives a diversification of fuel sources, not to mention jobs and the ability to keep our money at home.

More drilling may help in the short term, but it only buys us time to develop electric vehicle technology and an efficient alternative fuel infrastructure.

Tesla's Second Car Out In 2010

Tesla Motors will offer their second car for sale in 2010. It is still pricy at $60,000 but it will still travel 200 miles on a single charge. Let's hope they continue to make progress. If they break the $30,000 barrier, things may take off for these guys and for the middle income consumers.

Feds Bail Out AIG For Only $85 Billion

I believe we are beginning to see a disturbing pattern here in our country's economy. The federal government is systematically nationalizing private corporations. The 'big boys' at AIG get saved after making stupid decisions and the 'little folks' like you and me get stuck with the bill. We are no longer working in a free market economy. Which companies are next? GM? Boeing? GE? CBS? Google?

I guess this is what happens when corporations purchase a sufficient number of Congressional seats in the Legislative Branch of our government.

My prediction is that as the economy continues to implode, this methodology will continue until the distinction of the federal government and private corporations becomes seamless.

Our freedoms are in grave danger.

Widescreen Video Goggles

LCD video goggles have been on the market for a while, but they had on the 4:3 aspect ratio display. Now Vuzix has announced the AV310 widescreen model that has the 16:9 aspect ratio. If you have a portable DVD or video iPod model, you may want to check this out.

Hydrogen Fuel Boost In Gasoline Burning Vehicles

Here is some information I found on the devices been advertised on the internet that supposedly split hydrogen from water and inject into your gasoline burning carburetor to increase gas mileage.

Dear Cecil:

An auto mechanic friend claims to have a gizmo that makes his vehicles run at least partially on water. He swears it's true and has about five test vehicles running with this thing now. It will work best on vehicles with carburetors — fuel-injected vehicles need tweaking of the computer chips. He's got one on an old VW Bug and says he gets about 80 MPG — he's trying to win a prize for getting over 100 MPG. He installed one in a large diesel truck that originally got about 8 MPG; it supposedly now gets 20 to 22 MPG with lots more power. My friend says the gizmo uses electricity from the alternator to split water molecules into something called "Brown's gas" that gets input into the intake manifold. Is this true or another myth?

— Walt Bruun, Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Cecil replies:

I'll tell you one scientific reaction involving Brown's gas you can take to the bank: it makes my blood boil. The device you're talking about places the emphasis on hydrogen, thus piggybacking on the "hydrogen economy" meme President Bush brought to public attention in his 2003 State of the Union address. Newspapers and magazines subsequently devoted acres of unskeptical column space to on-board hydrogen-generation and -injection technology. In 2005, for example, Wired wrote that big-rig truckers were getting major improvements in fuel economy and power from hydrogen electrolysis systems.

Here's what happens. The gizmo is hooked up to a standard internal combustion engine. Like your pal says, it draws power from the car's electrical system to split water into a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen — so-called Brown's gas — which gets fed into the engine and burned along with the usual gasoline/air mix. Alleged result: big gas savings!

But how? On the most basic level, the technology makes no sense. Let's walk through the process:

1. Your car engine burns gasoline or diesel fuel to power the wheels and your alternator (among other things) at about 20 to 25 percent efficiency.

2. Your alternator generates electricity at about 60 percent efficiency.

3. You take said electricity and use it to turn water into hydrogen and oxygen at about 70 percent efficiency, tops.

4. Then you burn the hydrogen and oxygen, or just the hydrogen, in your engine at about 98 percent efficiency.

In short, you're converting fuel A, gasoline, into fuel B, hydrogen, which then helps power the car. Net efficiency of this complicated process: 10 percent. Efficiency of an ordinary car engine (see step 1 above): 20 to 25 percent. Conclusion: Hydrogen gizmos are a fool's bargain.

Advocates claim using hydrogen as a fuel increases combustion efficiency. Problem is, in modern engines combustion efficiency is already close to the max — 95 to 98 percent under optimal conditions in a gasoline engine, 98 percent or better in a diesel engine. Understand, this refers strictly to how thoroughly the fuel burns in the cylinders. Overall engine efficiency is, as seen, much lower, due to heat loss through the engine block and out the tailpipe. Switching fuels won't change that.

So why do hydrogen injector users report improvements? The same reasons people often swear by iffy technology — lack of appropriate comparisons, sloppy record keeping, wishful thinking, a sample size of one. The fact that fuel economy is partly a function of driving habits no doubt also plays a role. If you simply pay more attention to your speed when driving, you can often increase mileage even without a miracle device.

To be sure, a little water can improve internal combustion engine performance under some circumstances. Water injection helped WWII aircraft engines put out more power by reducing knock. BMW has been trying to increase fuel economy and power by using exhaust heat to power what's in effect a small steam engine attached to an internal combustion engine. A Honda hybrid uses a similar concept to turn a generator to recharge the battery packs while cruising. Although some bugs remain to be worked out, a six-stroke engine using water injection for power and cooling shows promise. Bear in mind, though, that water isn't being used as a fuel in any of these cases. If you really want to improve your fuel efficiency, check your tire pressure. Sexy? No. But it does have the advantage that it works.

— Cecil Adams

Space-Based Solar Power

Here is an article on a recent experiment by a former NASA scientist showing that radio waves could be used to transmit solar power from satellites in orbit. The Discovery Channel will have something on this next Friday at 9 pm EDT.

Today's Quote

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators. " - P. J. O'Rourke

"Which is how the legislators like it." - Glen Reynolds

Staying Alive - The Status of Nuclear and Radiochemistry

This article gives a good description of the status of nuclear and radiochemistry in the USA. The colleges and universities need to step up to the plate if the 'nuclear renaissance is make any progress in our nation's effort at energy independence.

If we don't lead the world in this technology, we darn sure better be leading in area of alternative energy development or we will go down as footnote in world history. Not much can be done in this world without a sustainable source of energy.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits

The current renewable energy tax credits expire this coming December 31. Our do-nothing Congress keeps putting approval off. Turns out that John McCain has been absent on many of the votes on this bill's evolution over the last few months. The solar and wind power industries are beginning to hold off until something gets decided. This could mean jobs for thousands. I hope they get this done and do it right.

Cats & Dogs: Can't We All Just Get Along?

Here is a story on some recent research results about how to make sure your dogs and cats live in harmony.

NASA Infighting

Popular Mechanics asks 9 big questions to Astronaut Tom Jones concerning NASA infighting.

Celebrating 50 Years of Integrated Circuits

Faster, smaller, and cheaper. Thanks to Jack Kilby.

Presidential Election Thoughts & A Quote

Ok, I'm going to get just a little political here. Today I saw a sign that had the following quote:

"Two presidential candidates each will blow over $125 million for a job that pays $400,000/yr. Must have a great dental plan."

I suggest that we think about this.


Here is a quote in today's Knoxville News-Sentinel-

"In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends."

New iPods, iTunes and Steve Jobs Is Still Alive

Today Steve Jobs introduced us to the newest toys from Apple. They just keep getting better.

New Electric Car - Fisker Karma

This was sent to me by my buddy JR.  You might be interested in gearing up for a gas-free car in 2009: The Fisker Karma.  This company will compete with Tesla Motors and the Chevy Volt.  How does 4 cents a mile sound for fuel costs?  Initially it will not be cheap but it may be a start that gets things rolling toward plug and drive vehicles in the USA.

Zen Meditation Really Does Clear The Mind

Ok, here is something off the beaten path. A scientific study of zen mediation has some interesting findings.

New Nickel Zinc Batteries with 35% more energy

Here is another breakthrough in battery technology.

New Hybrid Honda Insight 2010, $18500, 60 mpg

Here is a new Honda hybrid for 2010 that may break some ground in the USA.

Ron Paul Delegates Harassed

I have refrained from posting political content on this blog site but this story about Ron Paul delegates being harassed at the RNC by Secret Service Agents is very disturbing. IMHO, this is indicative that the citizens in this country are not free. We are property to be controlled and managed. It is sad.

The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have

How many of these do you think Ford could sell in the USA? How about it we start producing large amounts of biodiesel? It could put lots of people to work in this country.

Sun Spotless Last Month

Speaking of the sun, how about this? A full month has passed without a single visible sunspot being observed. This has not happened in nearly 100 years. What does this indicate? For one thing, it does have an effect on the climate on our planet.

Bell Labs Kills Fundamental Research

Here is an article from Wired.com on how the parent company of Bell Labs is giving up the performance of basic research and replacing it with work on marketable areas such as networking, high-speed electronics, wireless, nanotechnology and software.

In light of my previous post, this would seem to be very short-sighted.

Radioactive Decay Affected By The Sun????

This could be a big discovery that turns physics on it's head. This paper makes a case for the alteration of radioactive decay rates by varying distances from the sun. The mind boggles at the possible implications.

Solar Notes

A reader of UrbanSurvival.com made the following comments yesterday:

George, a quick note on sourcing alt. power. Sun Electronics (www.sunelec.com) in Miami is THE place to buy solar panels and inverters. Learned about them from my brother-in-law, a long-term cruising sailor. Great prices, and they have stuff in stock. They have tremendous volume, lots of business to S. America, apparently.

Don't expect them to help with installs or educate you on basics, they are too busy. I exchanged some emails with John Kimball, the Pres of Sun Electronics and he said he was working 7 days a week from 7am to about 2- 3 am (!!!!!) they are that busy.

Seems a lot of folks wonder if "The Grid" will be stable much longer, myself included. My system is NOT grid-tied, don't want anyone messing with my stuff, I even plan on wiring separate household circuits to be completely isolated.

Your point of not telling your power company (or local gvmt) about your PV system is well-founded, I hope to keep my panels hidden from street view also. I have a 48 volt system I am in process of installing, with 6 Evergreen/SUN 190w panels and a 3600 watt Outback Inverter. Battery bank consists of 8 L16 6 volts in series, purchased locally from Batteries Plus+.

The BEST place to buy cable that I have found is (really, this is not a joke) a place called Genuinedealz.com in Brunswick, GA. Great prices, FAST shipping never an order screw-up, although I seem to remember they used to be in KY. I am also a (currently land-bound) liveaboard sailor so tend to go marine grade with everything I do.

My background is in electronics so it is a lot more fun doing this for myself than for an employer or client. Keep up the great writing about "the great de-leveraging" - sounds like a PT Barnum call to get folks to head to the exits. Hmmmmmm, how appropriate..."

Just to make sure we're clear on a couple of points here: 1) If you don't know with absolute certainty what you're doing with electricity hire a professional licensed electrician to do the work. and 2) As long as you are not using the grid-tie function,. an inverter-charge can be used without notifying your power company - it's just a great big scaled-up uninterruptible power supply. However, when you turn on the grid tie function, then you've got regs and rules to comply with.

Grid Problems Loom For Wind Power

It appears that our antiquated electric power infrastructure could be a problem in the distribution of electricity from proposed "wind farms." My question is, does this work better if the power is generated at the point of consumption, like having solar or wind generated power produced by the homeowner or business owner?" Of course there are capital costs for installation which would limit this capability at least initially, but maybe it is something that should be a goal.

One thing is certain, we needed to start something sensible yesterday.

Why Offshore Drilling Can Bridge The Gap

Here is an interesting article by Popular Mechanics' James Meigs on how offshore drilling can bridge the gap to the U.S. energy future. There are many incentives already on the table, but a few more could speed things up.

Physics For Future Presidents

Here is an interview with Richard Muller, author of "Physics For Future Presidents."

The Global Confidence Game

The following is an excerpt from George Ure's Urban Survival:

Thus, properly braced with a double-shot of context, we're now ready to explore the rather peculiar behavior of the U.S. dollar was actually up a bit this morning.

Remembering how the Global Economic Confidence Game is a zero-sum affair as long as it hangs together, we recall that when the "dollar extends gains vs. Euro, pound falters" that something else on the other side of the equation should go down. Enter oil and the precious metals.

Because there's a chance that Hurricane Gustav, which is headed toward Hait, then Cuba, and perhaps into the Gulf of Mexico Oil Patch, could cause some production issues, the price of oil is not falling as far or fast as otherwise could be expected int he face of a Dollar rally.

So that leaves Gold and Silver to be a whipping this morning as there's got to be this quid pro quo of the markets.

---

It's about here that you could raise a hand and ask a sensible question: "So if the US is continuing to print up promised-backed debt paper, why is the dollar going up?"

To put it simply, there's a global confidence game underway.

Pretend we have all just pulled up chairs to a poker game, and the table stakes are pieces of paper which have strange symbols and incantations on them. While we think these will have some meaning in the future (symbols and incantations appear through human history, after all) we have not absolute assurance that this will always be so.

Nevertheless, we all start to play our card game, and as long as no one brings up the issue of convertibility to anything absolute (as in x ounces of gold or silver, or better, so many BTU's of energy) the game continues. Thanks to the miracle of inflation, every so often, we get to dump another basket of paper into the game so it appears the stakes get bigger over time.

Mind you, not one player at the table has any incentive to call out the paper for what it is. The reason? If at any point the foolishness of the game were revealed, then all table stakes would drop in value and thus all the players would lose.

This is precisely the position China finds itself in today: Here's a country with huge human capital which has bootstrapped its economy up by trading paper for its goods and services. Logically, for China to announce to the world that "Paper is worthless!" would endanger their stakes in the game just like anyone else.

But with recent events in Georgia, Russia may be getting a little edgy about all this paper floating about. In fact, Russian lawmakers are asking for recognition of two breakaway areas in the Georgia region. Of particular concern is that next week, BP Dick Cheney is going to the area, the analog to pulling up a chair at the table. Then there's the matter of missile "defense" systems being put into Poland, which the West has turned into a marvelous 'create your own enemy' situation; one we're getting unfortunately skilled at.

Thankfully, US voters are pretty forgetful, perhaps because we're the most highly medicated society on earth. That's how the ruling corpgov paradigm can get away with 'stacking' the pseudo-elections in November such that they offer no anti-war candidates, no plan to concentrate on the transformation of America's economic model, infrastructure, or revitalize farming along the organic meme. Instead, both parties are tacitly pro-war, anti-change, and desperately pumping up the old paradigms.

This pumping old paradigms is useful, however, because it keeps the liar's poker game with all that paper with the symbols and incantations on them going. If you think the recent headline that "Antidepressants impair driving ability of the depressed" is worrisome, you'll notice how there's corresponding headline in the MainStreamMedia that logically extends the research to the area of political choice.

Thus, police stop people for drinking and driving, but who gets pulled over for being on an antidepressant? Reason: There's a lot of lobby money on the table from the pharmaceutical industry.