| your ExuberantPantaphobia guide..... |
[Dec. 2nd, 2025|03:00 pm] |
Categories:
1)!greatest hits!, AgriBots, 2) Algae, 3) Amish techs, 4) Babysteps, 5) Bioplastics and beyond, 5.2) Biodiesel, 6) blingbling, 7) Carbon Scrubbing, 7.1) CEOs, 7.3) CleanTech, 8) climate change,9) ClimateMods, 10) dinosaurfuels, 11) DIY, 12) Efficiencies, 12.2) Evolution, 13) EVs, 14) food, 15) fuel cells, 16) GCMs, 17) geothermal, 18) gizmos, 19) Government, 20) Green Building, 21) Greenbiz, 22) greenDesign, 23) greenFuture, 23.1) GreenRoofs, 24) Hemp, 25) Hydrogen, 26) I Want One!!!, 27) Ice Age, 28) Icecream, 29) Invasive, 30) just plain crazy... 31) kyoto, 31.2) Living Machines, 31.3) Media, 31.4) My Movies (EarthChange I & II), 31.5) other people's Movies 32) new energy, 33) obfuscation, 33.3) oLEDs, 33.5) Organic Cotton, 34) Peak Oil, 35) pooh, 35.5) PROACTIVism, 36)cool recycling, 36.2) robots, 37) sewers, 38) annoying cellphone users, 39) solar, 40) Solar-Grade Silicon, 41) solarPV, 42) stirling- engines, 43) Stylee, 44) think!, 45) Urban Windfarms, 46) VJ, 47) water, 48) windpower, ....oh yeah, and 49)Rock n' Roll Greening |
|
|
| Fox Appointed to Guard the Henhouse. And The Pseudo Green Blogs Gush With Gleeful Apotheosis. |
[Jul. 9th, 2009|05:14 pm] |
Monsanto VP chosen by Obama to be FDA's new food safety czar
....and the bullshitters say "Hooo-ray!"
I've tried to like The Daily Green. I really have. I like some of their writers, and sometimes they have cute stories. So I've overlooked the fact that it's a Hearst publication --I've made no secret of my lurve for slick Willie and the Hearst clan, yuck, What an ecological blight that family caused (along with robber barons Lamont du Pont and Andrew Mellon). So even though it's built on a foundation of shit, I still had looked to Daily Green as a group of people (not a group Hearst descendants) who were earnest in their desire to 'green the world'
But you gotta keep one eye open, right? Especially when their sincerity is already hard to believe. Who can tell if they have any other agendas? Well today it's pretty easy to tell if they have any other agendas, as they roll the green carpet and stick tongue out to give a rim job to Michael Taylor who just began his new --Obama appointed-- job as special assistant to the FDA Commissioner for food safety. Bad enough this guy is now in charge of our safety. Worse yet a supposed "Green" journal/blog publishes a thousand word screed telling us greenies that we should not only love this guy, but really his bad rap isn't really a bad rap, heck, he's a saint! He's streamlined food safety (the guy who didn't want meat packers to slow down their machines to look for e-coli), he cares, really he cares, they say....
Who is Mike, anyway? Well, obviously for starters he's a lawyer. He's also a former VP of a little company called Monsanto(!) He's the reason rBGH/rBST does not have to be mentioned on milk cartons. He's the one who stopped any information about folic acid being good for expectant mothers to stop Spina Bifida (if you're 17 or under and suffer from Spina Bifida you have Mike Taylor to thank), and then some.... He was deputy of the FDA back in the 90's as well (when the milk went through) and claims that whenever Monsanto came up, he would stay out of the decision making (and I'm sure not one of his underlings had any reason to vote for the absent boss, right? And he didn't even have to be absent seeing how the conflict of interest laws only make sure he doesn't double deal in his first year in the public sector) And as they say (and excuse in the Daily Green-wash) "He also was a coauthor of the FDA’s 1992 policy statement on genetically engineered plant foods." The Daily tries to say that his time both at the FDA and later at USDA led to greater meat health and security. All vegan arguments aside-- do you really think that Meat has gotten safer over the past 15 years? Really?
The virtual Hearst rag ends proclaiming: "In 2007, he went to academia and joined the food policy think tank (see his bio) at George Washington University. There, he produced the excellent food safety report I mentioned in a previous post, which repeats these points. This is about as good a position on food safety as can be expected of any federal official. I wish him all the luck in the world in getting the safety of FDA-regulated foods under control. For those of you who are still dubious, how about giving him a chance to show what he can do? But do keep the pressure on - hold his feet to the fire - so he knows he has plenty of support for doing the right thing."
Yeah... give him a chance. come on.... and if you don't put more pressure on him than an $11Bn multinational corporation, well don't blame him, or us, or Obama.... you just weren't trying hard enough
....and if you get busted for growing organic food-- or for growing Monsanto's I.P. whose genes slipped into your seeds, well maybe you weren't giving Mike his props.
read more about mike here, and here. |
|
|
| Maudit Silicon!!!! Attend que'on l'pogne le p'tit câlisse |
[Jul. 9th, 2009|07:10 am] |
Quebecois silicon co from Timmins, owned by the Dutch, gets the duckets
What do you get if you cross Shania Twain and Celine Dion? I don't know, but I don't wanna hear it :P But I do know this: Celine is from Quebec, just like me, cirque du soleil, Poutine, the director of the Night at the Museum movies, William Shatner, and Monsieur Rene Boisvert. Who's that last guy? he's the CEO of Becancour Silicon, a company owned by Timminco, who of course, are based in Timmins (Canada's 69th largest city. no really i swear it's true). Timmins was famous for gold a hundred years ago, De Beers has a diamond mine there, and due to a hundred years + of underground mines, they're also famous for huge sudden sink holes. And yes, Cowboy Junkies and Shania are both from there (though neither the twain ever met).
"So what?" I hear you saying... and rightfully so. actually this isn't a huge story, so maybe the preamble wasn't worth it. But yesterday was a good day for Monsiuer Boisvert and Timminco, that's for sure. Investissement Quebec just loaned them $25M to ramp up their Solar Grade Silicon (SoG-Si) plant. Is it too late? As you know I was yelling and foaming at the mouth about the shortage of solar grade silicon, four years ago.... And the problem was that from 95-99 experts were warning of the coming shortage... but since at least '006 there have been so many SoG-Si plants coming online that there is almost a threat of a glut. Plus we have CIGs, NanoSolar, so many non-silicon solar mtals coming out, that you have to ask if there is even a need for any more SoG-Si plants (((and no one has yet used that Russian/NREL way to make SoG-si without chlorine and only 1/3 of the electricity))), at least that would make cheap SoG-Si which will never go out of style!
So is it just in time?? or way too late? I just wanna get me some Quebecois solar panels, hostie.... |
|
|
| Korean EV wars come Stateside.... |
[Jul. 3rd, 2009|06:28 am] |
Much * Ado about * Shitty * Hoopties
Lots of talk this morning about CT&T EVs. Apparently they might be moving to Alabama, creating almost 3,000 jobs, and making their EVs local. Very much in the style of V-Vehicle's move in TN, and also like V-V (which would have been cooler had it been V_Vehicles) the cars themselves are the only iffy part. Sure, they're not the mystery cars that Al Gore an T-Boon Pickens plan on making, but what's worse, they are just more shitty little NEVs:
And whats even worse, they're Li-Ion NEVS (really, when you're cruising at a top speed of 35kmh, do you need batteries that will last for a 10 hour sprint? Where are you going to go??)
But this got me thinking... Sure we always talk about Chinese BEVs and PHEVs-- the Cherry, BYD et al, but what about Korea? And more importantly Korean-American, let's call them "Amerasian EVs" There's at least one other KorAm EV coming, and at least this one is a hottie! Sand Diego Based Korean EV Company, Leo Motors, is gunning to be top dog in the biz, and they have some nice recent stats, and look at the hotties:
Now that's a serious SUV. Can easily compete with the Phoenix, and then they even have something to go head to head with 'el Tesla:
But what's most exciting to a guy like me, is what they said in their most recent PR blast. See, they are actually converting Kia SUVs, and converting some other Korean sports cars... and as they say:
Leo's conversion solution can be used in any type of small to midsize vehicle platform (2,000 cc engines or below), for any manufacturer. Using Leo's solution, cars can be converted to electric vehicles for real world use both for high-speed highway and city traffic. The conversion kit solution is the result of evolutionary EV technologies from Leo Motors that focused on the development of the motor system, battery pack, power control, and power management system. Leo's particular solution set or "kit" consists of a 60kW water-cooled AC motor with controller, 30kWh or 16kWh lithium polymer power pack with multi-battery management system (BMS), and charger.
...and --seeing how there are more than 350 million cars that can be converted-- that simply kicks ass! So here's hoping that Leo expands its San Diego operations, and fights the good fight in the Korean/US EV War! |
|
|
| over the top |
[Jul. 3rd, 2009|06:08 am] |
Excess is not 'green' ok??
Look I love Dean Kamen as much as the next guy--- sure the Segway wasn't exactly the "it" we were promised (of course it never got the fuel cells needed to make it a serious machine), and his water tratment systems are GENUIS. But the latest story, about the Kamen making a "Hybrid Stirling Engine Scooter" is stupid. Yes, I said it, it's just wasteful and shows whats wrong with more than 1/2 of the EV "market."
Kamen is now working on a stirling engine hybrid scooter. That means a scooter that uses gas, but also has some hybrid electric motor, and now his fancy stirling engine (which works with TH!NK but not so much on a scooter). Why why why??? There is no need for this.
See, until the police pried me off my electric scooter, I ran around Montreal for years and never once ran out of electricity. That's just the nature of the beats-- a scooter that only goes 75 kmh can not go on highways, hence the average commute on a scooter is less than 30km. LEAD ACID BATTERIES ARE PERFECT FOR THIS! There is no need for li-ion (like many scooters are now selling as an 'upgrade') and certainly no need for a hybrid motor. This is what Yamahaha is said to be doing as well, put out a hybrid scooter. These are BS. There is no need to have both an electric motor and an ICE, you can get everything done on Lead Acid Batteries (and LABats are infinitely more recyclable than lithium, cadmium, little metal hydrides....).
This is the same as the EV industry where people just wont buy an electric car if it only has a 100km range, and I'm sorry for sounding like a jerk, but this is just pure stupidity. People pay no attention to how much they drive per day-- if they did, they would know that they drive less than 50km a day! This means that for 99.9% of your average 2-car owner's driving, simple (and cheap) Lead Acid batteries and a 9" electric motor is all they need! Face it, you're not in college anymore, the Grateful Dead no longer tour, and there will be no big road trip (except for maybe driving the kids to Florida over Xmas).
If one were to convert their car to electric, or buy a preconverted electric, with lead acid, the money they save from EV commuting would afford the commuter to rent a rolls royce for their once annual road trip. And still pundits daliy bemoan the fact that EVs batteries don't go 300 miles on a charge! WHO DOES A 300 MILE COMMUTE????
I love ya Dean, but go back to the water and th!nk cars.... |
|
|
| Look who's talking II |
[Jan. 19th, 2008|12:11 pm] |
Move over Denny Terrio-- I just taught Vincent Vega how to offset!
So last week I got asked to do this really neat thing: I got asked to teach JT how to offset his carbon emissions. It's a long story about how I got that gig, and if I get to do phase II: actually helping the guy offset his carbon footprint, then I might tell you the whole story (believe it or not, some of the names are even bigger!), but for now, it was cool-- the guy needed to know ASAP what it meant and how it works, and i woke up to an email reading "Help! John Travolta needs to know all about carbon offsetting, would you please explain it in a few short paragraphs or bullets? Thanks!!"
And sure, the guy made that so-so sci-fi movie (but he did shoot it in my hometown, Montreal, and he did use some of my old pals in the film), and sure, he does like to park a 747 in front of his house... but really, how could I say no? I grew up with the guy... first as Chuck Bensen on Emergency, and then mean Billie Nolan spraying Sissy Spacek full of pig's blood, and of course Vinnie Barbarino... and that lovable George Malley in phenomena tinkering with solar panels and organic fertilizers... how could I say no?
So I wrote it up nice & simple, didn't take too long, and sent it off. It went from "my people" to "his people" so I don't even know if he knows who I am. But I know if he liked it he will come back for more (they always seem to now), and at the very least i got to pay him back a little for all those years of entertainment! Hopefully next we can get him into biofuels for that big jet of his.. or maybe even some of that cryogenic hydrogen.. that would be cool. Anyway, it's certainly as much fun as when I used to be writing here all night and working in the recycling plant all day....
And at the least i thought it was good fodder for people on my friends list :p thanks y'alls for all your support over the times when it was tough(er) |
|
|
| they tell us that we lost our tails evolving up from little snails i say its all windmills and sails |
[Nov. 29th, 2007|08:01 am] |
Are We not Green? We Are E-V-O!
 
EVO! it's eco. it's EVOlutionary. It's "your marketplace for natural, clean & green products" and it's brand new (there was actually a media embargo until 8:00 am this morning). it's a web 2.0 green play, but looks way solid + fun! Think of a green version of amazondotcom meets digg, meets GroovyGreen. EVO is a green e-commerce hub-- there's already over 20,000 green products available a mouse click away, but the goal is more than that--- a place for news and views, and (online) community building.
And that they will eventually have members of their community adding products (as well as of course suggesting products to their "friends"). I think this 2.0 part makes this a killer ap (in the sense that a crappy product, a greenwashed product, or a company with horrible customer service will be mentioned by the masses--- as well as the best) so the creme will rise, and the newest-and-greenest will also be able to share the spotlight! Seriously, this is going to be a great watershed for finding the ideal green paint, the ideal eco fashion fall collection, or anything else you can consume. But it's not just about consumption right? Heck no.
Well it is a store, so there is some of that marketing & commercialization (a lot of that-- but really cool stuff like solar purses and electric cars!) But there is a whole section where you can shop around to find the best places to put your money (clean tech, green investments...). And there are so many articles, one might just think this is a blog (but it's not). I read a really nice clear post about B Corporations--- (and boy how i love learning a new term!!!!). And they even have cute video news!
So go check it out! it's EVO, it's live now. Sign up and they'll plant a tree in your name!!! |
|
|
| ...greən is the new blog |
[Nov. 27th, 2007|07:59 am] |
It’s easy being greən
What do you call a carbon neutral airplane flight? Especially one that is neutralized by just the right number of trees that will (if they all stay alive) consume that carbon over the next 80 years (+ no mention of neutralizing all of the other emissions, only the carbon is neutralized)? Offsets have been talked about in many places (although I gotta say, I just recently saw that Shell up here in Canada is going carbon neutral, ha ha ha.. with trees, of course!), that is just one example, it seems to be that these days you can see it creeping into pretty much everywhere-- or at least I do, because I work with green info, I see a steady stream of PR (and a lot of it is amazing.. and actually green-er than what was being done before!)
But there is a lot of stuff that is so borderline it would be comical except that it does less good than many easier—and just as available-- alternatives. And some do more harm. So I decided the other day, that this ought to be called "Greən." Greən is almost like green, but the schwa makes one pronounce it with a little bit more of a numbed-accent on the second e so its not eeee like green, but more like the ‘e’ in taken (ta-k-ən) or the ‘u’ in circus (sir-kəs), gre-ən—it’s almost green. But you kinda have to pause in the middle of the word, like you know it really isn’t a worldchanger, but you just watch, I bet there will soon be a Swiffer toss away (oooh I hate those!) that’s biodegradable, Sure it won’t actually degrade in a landfill, but it will be advertised as a green alternative, and at least those of us in the know, can say; That’s not green. Greən, maybe, but definitely not green.
[note: in looking for a pic to paste with this, i saw this great article from inhabitat, they're not there yet... but the biodegradeable Swiffer is not that far off, i bet ya!] |
|
|
| get ready for the GREEN NOUVEAU |
[Nov. 21st, 2007|12:19 pm] |
Green Nouveau ...because every good movement deserves a name
Anyone else notice the brand spanking new ecorazzi???
I hope you feel as much glee as I do looking at that design and detail. It’s so lush yet playful, so nature-aware, but those colors—so now! And it makes me think of this term I’ve been playing around with a lot lately; Green Nouveau. it’s a growing trend I’ve noticed at first, like a trickle in the designs from a green PR company in Portland/NYC, but then really played out in the new ‘razzi do (Michael showed me a mockup of it a month ago which really got me thinking about this Green Nouveau). There are a many ways that what’s happening now in the green world resembles what was going on in the art world a hundred years ago, and its bold and exciting, but even better, it’s a way out of being called environmentalist. Cause nothing spoils the party faster than bringing the environmentalist along, and Green Nouveau just wanna have fun. just wanna party like its 1899.
[Art Nouveau platter circa 1907. Add 100 years and
the Peter Max palette and you get the picture...]
( ...but why Green Nouveau? Because Environmentalism is dead ) |
|
|
| MDI finds Indian love with TATA. Will finally manufacture theaircar! |
[Nov. 4th, 2007|02:00 pm] |
No, not hot air. Compressed. C-o-m-p-r-e-s-s-e-...
Woooooot! Well there you have it, once more, it pays to be persistent. At least that's how it's panning out for Guy Nègre who, as Green Car Congress just revealed has signed a manufacturing deal for his long awaited MDI Air Car. Yes! the silent car that gets about 125 Miles [at 70 MPH] on a tank of compressed air (and can fill back up in a couple of minutes). So Tata Motors, India's largest automotive manufacturer is going to start cranking these baddies out! And everybody says "Oh yeah!" ...Newly added, they are also going to be manufacturing a hybrid version that runs on gas and compressed air (gas to boost it at higher speeds, as well as to refill the air compression making road trips more doable).
And they don't just have the city cab version anymore, they got a sleek 21st century pickup truck now, and a family vehicle! I wonder if it is silent though, or if it sounds like a balloon slowly deflating (or a whoopee cushion?) Will have to wait and see, but so the question i am thinking is not so much when can i get my hands on a waycool EV, but more, in about 18 months which type of green car is going to be the one to get?? |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
| |
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
scalarparty's journal
