by Justin Manger on June 16th, 2010
I’ll keep this short. The nearly $1,000,000,000 a day that we send to foreign countries is both Republicans’ and Democrats’ money. The jobs being lost and the economy being destroyed in the Gulf as a result of the Deepwater oil gusher are affecting people without regard to political philosophy. China, with its booming economy and enormous clean technology push, is happy to see the U.S. Congress play politics, tear each other down, and refuse to compromise on energy legislation. It knows that by doing so, the U.S. will cede its economic and technological prowess to them.
Regardless of party affiliation, if you think the United States should finally make a dedicated, conscious, long-term effort to strengthen our economy, increase our national security, and move toward a sustainable society, click on the link below to sign your name in support of such a revolution. It literally takes 10 seconds. “It’s time, once and for all, for our nation to fully embrace a clean energy future”:
Clean Energy Future
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by Justin Manger on June 15th, 2010
The newest version of the
Google Earth desktop application software allows you to visualize your hiking, biking, and running routes. Since Google Earth version 5.0, you could
connect your GPS device directly to Google Earth. This latest update brings the ability to view elevation, speed, and other data from your outings as a graph directly in Google Earth. From the
Google Earth Blog,
Just connect your GPS device to upload your track, and select “View Elevation Profile” from the menu. This will bring up elevation and speed graphs. If your GPS device records additional information such as heart rate or cadence, these will also be available to view in the graph. You can also see statistics such as total elevation, maximum slope, and average speed. You can select a portion of your ride and get statistics for just that section.
It’s also now possible to easily play back any trips you’ve taken. Clicking on the time animation button will let you reminisce about all those massive hills and switchbacks you traversed on your way to the summit. You can even create a tour of your trip.
by Eric Wilson on June 14th, 2010
Usually I skip the preface and acknowledgments in a book. With the decade old Natural Capitalism from Paul Hawken (author of The Ecology of Commerce), Amory Lovins, and Hunter Lovins, co-founders of Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado, I felt it was going to provide valuable background and history. In reading these sections I was struck by the optimistic tone. So much of what was being written ten plus years before the founding of 2nd Green Revolution – about the precipice of sustainability upon which businesses find themselves – can be heard today. Hawken et al mention the coming breakthrough in green technologies and sustainable practices, but we have yet to see this materialize. Paradoxically, this is disconcerting yet hopeful.
by admin on June 13th, 2010
By Guest Author Harold A. Manger, Ph D A rain barrel, in theory, is a simple, green concept: catch and store rainwater by diverting the water into a rain barrel for use during dry spells. It is free water. Unlike treated or well water there are no chemical additives which can be harmful to plants. And collecting and re-using rainwater reduces run-off and unsightly, soggy lawns.
This sounds great. What’s not to like?
Working through the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin my wife and I purchased one ninety dollar 60 gallon rain barrel complete with a brass ¾ inch bottom spigot; a 1 ½ inch diameter, eight foot overflow hose; two compression fittings; a 1 ½ inch elbow to connect the overflow hose to one of the fittings; a plug for the second fitting when the barrel is not linked to a second barrel (our situation); and an easy to clean screen that catches all roof debris while preventing the infestation of mosquitoes. The rain barrel is made from recycled shipping drums first used as food export containers. Designed to hold liquids and made of food grade UV-stable plastic, each drum has a removable lid for cleaning.
This too sounds great. What’s not to like?
by Eric Wilson on June 12th, 2010
Farmer’s markets and CSAs (community supported agriculture) are wonderful opportunities to support local farmers, eat fresh, nutrient rich foods, and include seasonal elements in ones diet. However, they still remove the consumer from the food’s origins. Picking your own food helps connect people to the source of their nourishment.
On a recent family vacation to Southern California, I stopped by Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. With a second location in Somis, CA, Underwood Family Farms is part country fair, part outdoor market.
