Relaxing Nature Sounds

Here is a nature sounds mixing board that is a free service and requires no registration. You can share, download and save your favorite compositions.

America in Color: 1939 to 1943

Click here to view some amazing color photos taken in years between 1939 and 1943 across the USA. Black and white photos can make things appear so dated, but color makes things look 'now.'

The grain of these slides is very fine so I assume this might be Kodachrome film, but I'm no expert. Digital photography has lead to the death of Kodachrome. The last developing lab in the country will stop developing at the end of this year. Also the last professional photographer to shoot the last roll of Kodachrome will have his work published in the National Geographic.

5 Reasons Why Green Tech Has Such A Tough Time In America

A short history of green technology in the United States is covered here.

The Best Sounds For Getting Work Done

Here is an interesting article about how to choose the best music for getting work done.

Our Universe Born In A Back Hole?

I wonder what Professor Einstein would have though about this proposed theory?

Energy Cheaper Than Coal

The latest article at EnergyFromThorium makes a case for using liquid-fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR) technology to make burning coal unnecessary and uneconomical. I would love to see TBTB go for it. By the way, the father of LFTR technology was Alvin M. Weinberg. See my previous posting.

My Summer Reading List

I'm juggling five books for my summer reading pleasure: 1) Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson; 2) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand; 3) Storms of my Grandchildren by James Hansen; 4) Ford Country by John Grisham; and 5) The First Nuclear Era - The Life and Times of a Technological Fixer by Alvin M. Weinber (re-read since initial 1997 with some perspective).

Economics of Solar Power Improves

Shrinking overhead costs are making solar power more attractive. It can't happen soon enough.

Deep Space Energy Source (Pu-238) In Short Supply

Over the past 15 years or so, we have limited our sources of Pu-238 which is a good source of electric power for deep space probes. The U.S. space program is running out of options.

Local Solar Energy Companies Trying to Survive

Some local solar energy companies are trying to navigate the complexities of the alternative energy climate via the TVA's Generation Partners program. Tax incentives have been the life blood of alternative energy. I'm not an economist and wish I knew more on the subject, but it seems that tax incentives essentially work like a savings plan.

This helps in two ways: 1) helping bring the costs of energy saving technologies closer to current production costs and 2) helps increase the electric power supply which reduces the need for new power generating capacity. Another benefit is that once the technology costs have been paid (hopefully within 5 to 8 years), then the consumer gets the payoff of significant savings due to lower power consumption.