tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333384092012-02-16T19:26:30.301-07:00Environmental news and things that I find interesting.Dereknoreply@blogger.comBlogger1151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-69613593559427953232008-03-07T22:30:00.000-07:002008-03-07T22:32:51.932-07:00

I just want to say that I have a terrible spelling mistake in the title of this page: http://envirostuff.blogspot.com/2007/10/greenpease-videokids-rise-up.htmlyet I still get a couple hits a month to it. It must be the glorious content.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-52735411122519010272008-03-02T20:20:00.000-07:002008-03-02T20:33:25.584-07:00

The Family Guy character named Brian says "Undecided voters are the biggest idiots on the planet". I would agree except I know some really nice and smart people who are either undecided or simply think voting doesn't matter. So I won't belittle them. Here is what I say to them.Have you ever smoked pot? Any of your friends or family ever do it? Well, one party will put them in jail and the other

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-69197301156077790572007-10-13T10:01:00.000-06:002007-10-13T10:09:13.723-06:00

I like this video but I'm not sure I'm ready for the main streaming of Earth First style militancy. I also don't believe kids care about anything beyond their petty inflated egos. And finally, I have a conflicting feeling of "it's about f***ing time" this battle to protect the environment got kicked up a notch.As an aside,I hate hate hate hate the treatment of SUV torchers are terrorism.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-74888876090596367532007-10-13T09:57:00.000-06:002007-10-13T10:00:48.773-06:00

This is not uncommon, China closing factories for pollution violations. I haven't been keeping up lately with Chinese news but it is a regular occurance from what I remember of the business magazines I used to read daily.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-42116722936780280142007-10-11T08:45:00.000-06:002007-10-11T08:48:00.671-06:00

This carbon calculator ... well, does what it is titled. I like that it is based in the UK as I wouldn't trust a present North America government to produce anything truthful or accurate with regards to global warming.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-80528048264475866302007-10-11T07:47:00.000-06:002007-10-11T08:08:29.934-06:00

Privatizing water is just a stupid idea. Unless you are one of the rich who will benefit and you care not for your fellow man.http://www.cbc.ca/news/features/water/And there are 1000s of other articles about the subject if you Google it.My point is this. Companies exist for the sole purpose of generating profit. It is their primary concern. Their concern is not what is best for people unless that

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-30129760129836829122007-10-11T07:32:00.000-06:002007-10-11T07:46:47.146-06:00

I'll try to be back continuously but that seems never to happen. I've been really busy with my other site http://upwithabang.com/If you have a web site and could use help in developing it, that site has lots of how-to docs about things like style sheet div tags and html etc. It also offers free things you can put on your web site that my site will host, like calendars, directory listing, mail

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-53848638618375127072007-09-19T03:44:00.000-06:002007-09-19T03:55:37.687-06:00

This article probably applies to kitchens too.Notice how modern taps are lever style? Old style are the kind you turn. I call them "dials" but I don't know if that is the correct industry term.Years ago I worked in an office tower that renovated. One of the changes were the dial taps were replaced with lever taps. Thereafter men hit those levers upwards and washed their hands with full blasts of

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-50736276805355305812007-09-18T01:56:00.000-06:002007-09-18T02:06:18.051-06:00

As far as I can tell diapers are used minimally here in China. Often to great comic affect. Around a year old (or even much younger) babies where Kai-deng-ku pants...which literally means "open crotched pants". There are no underwear or diapers underneath them so the little ones are just taught to squat to do there business where they are. Eventually they are led to do it in appropriate places.I

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-26803236460916824582007-09-17T21:11:00.000-06:002007-09-17T21:16:05.017-06:00

In case you missed it this is painfully sobering. The picture alone should make you cringe. Can you imagine living like that?

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-7716665788734338932007-09-08T03:14:00.000-06:002007-09-08T03:23:25.643-06:00

This links to a great site showing before and after shots of celebrity retouching. It is amazing the difference a little photoshop makes to an aging face.I just included this entry for fun but it makes me wonder if this kind of cover up will soon be the norm for nations and companies to cover up their environmental damage. For example will we see the Government of Canada and Province of Alberta

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-57583286092061936892007-09-08T03:07:00.000-06:002007-09-08T03:13:55.906-06:00

Is it more comforting that the dying bees may be due to a virus?Alternate theories were global warming, genetically modified crops, and cellphone signals.I'm happy to hear it is most likely a virus. That is like an "old" cause of death. Viruses have forever been around doing occasional cleanings of populations and usually a stronger population eventually survives. Now if it was one of the other

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-90907577372666259082007-09-07T00:25:00.000-06:002007-09-07T00:38:52.175-06:00

Here are a couple companies that have or will have electric cars available soon. Miles Automotive and Phoenix Motors.Miles Automotive, top speeds of 25 mph. Not impressive.Phoenix Motors truck, 0-60mph in 10 sec. Not impressive.The Toyota Prius is also 0-60 in about 10 seconds. I was a Prius owner and I was never a car affectionado so I never realized how slow that was until I read the complaints

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-89213038800195861282007-09-06T08:58:00.000-06:002007-09-06T09:51:02.166-06:00

Sometimes you might wonder why is something so hard to do. For example why is it so hard to make solar energy an efficient reality? Here is an example of the devil in the details and the possible solution. It is somewhat technical but gist of it is that electrons are normally re-absorbed rather than displaced as electricity. The technique described here is about how atoms can be arranged to

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-78351089436411570412007-09-05T02:58:00.000-06:002007-09-05T03:12:25.501-06:00

Americans are getting shorter, less "wealthy" people are of the world are getting taller. This article has the shocking conclusion:"In some ways it gets to the fundamentals of the American society, namely what is the ideology of the American society and what are the shortcomings of that ideology," Komlos said. "I would argue that to take good care of its children is not part of that ideology."

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-84134186360512315212007-09-05T01:36:00.000-06:002007-09-05T01:48:36.307-06:00

Go back through my posts and you'll read I hate these TVs. Hate hate hate. Not because they are not beautiful and ultra-cool, but because they are a perfect example of our fucked up priorities as a species. New things that are making things worse instead of better.Yet another UK article about their impact.I'm not sure you can even buy a CRT TV in Beijing anymore. So if you, like us, have no

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-37362058740217343392007-09-05T00:57:00.000-06:002007-09-05T02:10:51.695-06:00

I am no fan of psychological counselling. My degree is in psychology and therein I learned it is bunk. I appreciate psychological research but not "treatment". Time and time again the damage and bullshit of psychology rears its ugly head. "repressed" memories have now been completely debunked after destroying how many lives? There are many other examples but since I have not the time I won't list

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-55885352075264847262007-09-05T00:27:00.000-06:002007-09-05T00:56:52.264-06:00

I've been soooooo busy lately writing new code. I got the game done (see left side ad, please download and play and log in and compete your scores online. I almost have web services ready to release. These services will give you free stuff to use...like calendars etc. So that is what I've been doing. But in the meantime I have been reading and making notes of articles.Lately I've noticed more and

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-47868507543850813232007-08-19T03:38:00.000-06:002007-08-19T03:49:53.612-06:00

This is the 3rd day of cars being taken off the road. Approximately 1/3 of the cars are removed daily. Depending upon the plate number ending in an even or odd number. Taxi, government and service vehicles are not so restricted.This is my completely unscientific observations since I certainly don't know enough of weather patterns and pollution to have much credibility beyond my own observations.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-69299047196492757342007-08-16T23:22:00.000-06:002007-08-17T01:12:50.588-06:00

Just a quick reference to an article from last week.Notice how the vendor (Rubin) blows off concerns that electric cars are basically fuelled by coal. I complain bitterly about this in previous posts about the Tesla. People will need to choose their car's energy source depending on what fuels their grid. In Edmonton Canada it is natural gas. I would go full electric there. In Beijing it is coal

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-43133669408277124162007-08-13T02:28:00.000-06:002007-08-13T02:50:27.536-06:00

Another beautiful pollution-free (appearing) sunny day in Beijing belying the fact that the Yangtze is probably now dolphin free.This article on Kos discuss where to get the bio part of the biodiesel? you think food prices are high now? Just wait ... because, just like what they did with Hemp, I'm sure they'll find some way to keep the best (cheapest, effective) biodiesel crops from coming into

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-13834332842953926902007-08-12T07:42:00.000-06:002007-08-12T07:55:25.036-06:00

From August 17-20 inclusive no cars will be permitted on the streets of Beijing. Violators will be fined. This has been described to me as a pre-Olympics test concerned with smog control. This should be very interesting to see the affect. I recall the day of 9/11 was the first time in modern history that all air traffic stopped and meteorologists for the first time had clear skies from which to

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-74871669906390226422007-08-12T01:39:00.000-06:002007-08-12T01:47:01.770-06:00

Check out blackle.com.The idea behind it is that a bit of energy is saved when a computer screen uses less power to show black rather than white. The site says that 750Megawatt-hours could be saved if Google changed its homepage to black.So heap media made this google entry page. Be sure to read the "about blackle" bit at the bottom.I just had a thought. HTML offers the ability to choose amonst

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-30041245719055411902007-08-12T00:21:00.000-06:002007-08-12T00:23:37.168-06:00

I just thought I'd mention that after weeks of smog and gloom Beijing is now on its 3rd sunny day in a row. Woohoo !

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-55514753101749280692007-08-11T23:16:00.000-06:002007-08-11T23:54:31.853-06:00

I've been working quite deligently getting a new version of my game written so I haven't had anytime to write here. Here is a shameless plug before I hit the environmental stuff: 52-Pickup now lets you compare your scores online and is absolutely free to play.I need to learn more about solar power. This article talks about efficiency now at 40% with a goal of 50%. So I'm wondering...if you

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-11972016715548183072007-07-18T04:08:00.000-06:002007-07-18T04:11:31.595-06:00

There is a fascinatinng blog posting over at Daily Kos regarding the problem with biodiesel and a mind-blowingly wonderful solution. By golly, I do hope it works.Biodiesel at a crossroads. Where to next?

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-20472811425883734092007-07-16T20:07:00.000-06:002007-07-16T20:34:04.538-06:00

When we first moved into this scuzzy Beijing apartment we had an ant problem. I didn't know what to do. So I found some scary looking Chinese pesticide bottles and ... just kidding :) I refused, actually, to use any pesticides. What I did do worked and I think it was mostly environmentally sound but if I did it again I would do it a bit differently. See below.The apartment is poorly

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-37612681631362076932007-07-16T00:35:00.000-06:002007-07-16T01:16:46.681-06:00

Stats Canada has release a household environmental survey that does show some progress in households becoming more environmentally responsible.Some interesting notes from the survey:30% of households drink bottled water. I don't like bottled water as concept and I wrote about this before.Lots of progress in water and power saving devices in the home.Pesticide use is still high except where

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-46257317050333906352007-07-12T00:20:00.000-06:002007-07-12T01:01:19.478-06:00

This is just stupid. I don't like this at all. Kimberly-Clark has made a "touchless" dispenser for toilet paper. I am really undecided on the environmental benefits of this. It saves some paper in the lab tests but in real life? I doubt it. And besides, who ever touched the dispenser with their hands? I never thought this was an issue. Another case of a corporation telling us of a problem we

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-25039819279189797552007-07-07T19:34:00.000-06:002007-07-07T19:42:28.337-06:00

I was walking home yesterday thinking of all the things I'll catch up on when I get back. Alternately, all the things I'll unwantingly be exposed to when I get back. Then it occurred me: I'll have to suffer through daily doses J.Lo again. But I actually keep up on current events in North American quite thoroughly and I don't think I've heard anything about her for over a year now. WoooooHooooo!!!

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-72753175852170133402007-07-07T02:35:00.000-06:002007-07-07T02:46:44.071-06:00

I'm a real strong believer in regulation. The government should control what goes into our air, water and ground since it is all shared by the common. It isn't hard to extrapolate from this that the government has an interest in what technologies are developed. Why do we allow even higher polluting vehicles on the road each year when we have the technology available to make them less polluting?

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-55384362199480778262007-07-07T01:36:00.000-06:002007-07-07T01:38:53.245-06:00

Here about my experience with a push mower

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-33647537039960738632007-07-06T03:59:00.000-06:002007-07-06T04:04:05.932-06:00

The blue sky lasted one day. It is wearing me down. I may just move back to Canada. I read an article recently that up to 800,000 people die each year in China as a result of pollution (water, air, specifically mentioned). I am seriously thinking that fact alone will take my family and I back to Canada very shortly. The easy life just isn't worth the sickness and disease.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-89667225165247279142007-07-05T06:41:00.000-06:002007-07-05T06:45:21.943-06:00

Save energy - use revolving doors.Commerical buildings use revolving doors to save energy. They keep the internal climate more stable by not allowing a gush of conditioned air to escape the build as it would with a conventional door.I bring this up now because the building in which I work often has side doors left wide open as well as air conditioning going (of course) when it is 35C+ outside.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-86919432314581636712007-07-03T05:45:00.000-06:002007-07-03T05:56:14.677-06:00

My forehead mostly has broken out in bumps...like acme but not. I don't know what the hell it is but my Chinese friends tell me it's from the pollution. I'm shocked and pissed and saddened. I had beautiful skin until 2 months ago. Then almost overnight a breakout. And I see it on other people who live here too. Let me relay some back story.One night a couple months ago a friend and I went for

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-35012499477221824222007-06-30T20:26:00.000-06:002007-06-30T20:35:55.234-06:00

It is a glorious Sunday morning here in the big city of Beijing. After what seems like 2 weeks of smog/fog (or whatever the heck it is) we are finally back to sunshine. How it works is the smog accumulates until a cold front comes through and cleans it all out. Yesterday we had heavy rains, today we have clear blue skies.Can't you just wait 'til all the worlds cities and towns are on the same

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-48533025691022754832007-06-22T20:35:00.000-06:002007-06-22T21:44:25.103-06:00

I read alot of Beijing magazines (in English) that are business oriented and otherwise. One thing that has struck me is the large number of articles dedicated to environmental issues and positive change. I've written lots before about the good and bad but I think the direction is much more positive than in North America. Government agencies are firmly behind conservation policies.A recent article

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-33512130875783673092007-06-19T05:34:00.000-06:002007-06-19T05:42:01.636-06:00

I mean besides hating all the pollution.When I got my first office job in Beijing I was pleasantly surprised at how casual some offices dressed. No ties and untucked dress shirts. Faaaaaaantasic ! 40C and all tucked in and tied up is no way to spend a day. Of course there is air conditioning but you still have to travel to and from work in the heat. But I digress...Rigid formality is not so

Dereknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-64731432818051693492007-06-17T07:00:00.000-06:002007-06-17T07:12:02.158-06:00

First the bees start disappearing...Then the birds...And now the men...Ok, so the birds were probably disappearing first but the death of the bees could mean the death of humanity. But for those who believe in a karma balance to nature, consider that if the causes of these disappearances are man-made, then the culling of men as noted in the last article is just resetting the balance.Note that I

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-17150981559427680712007-05-19T07:46:00.000-06:002007-05-19T08:00:56.273-06:00

I'm rather pessimistic about the future. I think the average person is either uninformed, stupid, or apathetic. ... maybe I can fit selfish and greedy onto that list as well. When the average person can't hold the mayo for their heart's sake and 25% people light up daily you have a significant number of people with a problem. People who do not act to the positive benefit of themselves, their

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-5770132675477179842007-05-19T07:36:00.000-06:002007-05-19T07:44:22.558-06:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/13/AR2007051301105_2.htmlMaybe my step count is a little off (I was never a good dancer), but this article tells where many of the new coal plants are going to be coming from. The US government. Nice. Really nice. Keep in mind that it isn't the goverment really. It is a democracy afterall. If they don't open the new plants those

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-27916805220958586582007-05-19T06:44:00.000-06:002007-05-19T07:43:12.045-06:00

One of my favorite shows is the Penn & Teller series called Bullshit! They are fact-based, secular skeptics. Also are very libertarian. Although I don't know if they wear that label for themselves. Their shows are great but I want to clarify the most recent episode where they reviewed the Toyota Prius. In short, they hate the car. It has terrible pick-up (0-60 in 12 secs) and little storage

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-44586862606659810322007-05-05T19:22:00.000-06:002007-05-05T19:32:22.796-06:00

Carl Zimmer is covering an unreported story. Last year there was much hype about research finding that up to 30% of atmospheric methane came from plants. That appears to have now been debunked. Have you heard anything about it? Probably not. That is the focus of Zimmer's post.I won't cover what he writes, go and check out his blog yourself; it's a great science blog.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-54643204246498425262007-04-29T05:51:00.000-06:002007-04-29T05:56:25.295-06:00

As mentioned yesterday, David Suzuki thinks the Canadian green plan is a sham and Al Gore agree.Bairds response:"The fact is our plan is vastly tougher than any measures introduced by the administration of which the former vice president was a member," Baird said in the statement.What Baird leaves out is that the Clinton administration had its hands completely tied by a Republican congress and

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-34980697784244126292007-04-28T05:54:00.000-06:002007-04-28T06:03:28.556-06:00

It just took a few days but the critical analysis is in and the plan may be rubbish. I was skeptical at first being that this is a Conservative initiative but what caught my eye was the reductions are mandated on a per-unit basis. So my unprofessional opinion was "what stops them from making more units?". This means CO2 could still increase without limit. That does seem to be a concern with

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-4726459749536449362007-04-27T03:43:00.000-06:002007-04-27T03:54:47.222-06:00

The pope is bringing environmental consciousness to the world's Catholics. About time. This article give details of his concerns, recent statements on the subject and an overview of changes in attitude of major donimations.That is one thing I've always liked about the Catholics, they've never been praying for world destruction or cheering its demise.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-25832775439320429252007-04-26T15:58:00.000-06:002007-04-26T16:02:47.190-06:00

I'm am just playing around with Google ads as of late. I know they are ugly and obstrusive now but I'll fix them up shortly. Notice how an environmental blog doesn't attract consumer products in its Google ads? Another indication of just how far there is to go. I have to wonder how many environmental engineers visit blogs would also be interested in industrial lighting or tar sand analysis.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-42201238447730076362007-04-26T15:53:00.000-06:002007-04-26T15:58:19.712-06:00

Earlier this week the Government of Canada announced they will ban incandescent bulbs by 2012. This is following Ontario, at which I said that is 3 years longer than Europe. Turns out the Government of Canada consulted with industry to get their most comfortable timetable.I'm pressed for time now, I'll write more about this and all of Canada's new environmental laws soon.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-61479101688101250852007-04-25T15:50:00.000-06:002007-04-25T16:03:43.793-06:00

Hybrids allow for even heavier vehicles. That articles relates research showing that hybrid technology absorbs extra vehicle weight more efficiently than internal combustion engines (ICE). What does that mean? It means they can make bigger vehicles. What does the cynic in me say? They can make bigger (and more dangerous) vehicles until the fuel efficiency of hybrids is reduced right to where it

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-62818173875351217952007-04-21T19:10:00.000-06:002007-04-24T06:31:54.240-06:00

China is poor. They save money by using CFL bulbs and save money by burning coal. This last winter visited a friend at a small printing factory. The temperature outside was between 6C-10C.The factory was not a huge industrial complex. There were several buildings but none more than a single floor. All ground floor operations and you couldn't see the tops of any building over the 12ft brick wall

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-3429203345372324422007-04-21T18:21:00.000-06:002007-04-21T18:59:28.273-06:00

There is alot of talk in Canada about meeting Kyoto. The conservative government says it cannot be done without huge economic consequences. I'd be interested to know what prevents us from converting to safe products earlier. Ontario will ban the incandescent bulb by 2012 and Europe by 2009. Why the difference? Why the delay in Ontario? Turns out the government asked the industry what they thought

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-35770147884240408532007-04-14T21:40:00.000-06:002007-04-14T21:50:02.882-06:00

Here is an article from a far-right organization. It describes secret meetings happening between the governments of Canada/US/Mexico. Just as shocked and concerned about this as the far-right but for different reasons. Sometimes politics makes strange bed-fellows indeed:http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/vernon/070326This article is interesting that the author believes the exact opposite from me

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1169950831733546812007-01-27T19:17:00.000-07:002007-01-27T19:20:46.626-07:00

Here is a nice list of small companies bringing green products and technologies to us.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070127.STMAIN27/TPStory/BusinessDisclosure: I have long owned stock in one of the companies mentioned (Carmanah).

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1168208614886420852007-01-07T15:21:00.000-07:002007-01-07T15:23:34.976-07:00

I feel terrible. Yesterday whilst sitting in the car did I realize I could have taken the subway. It would have been cheaper, just as quick and clean. Doh! Sometimes I just plain forget. At least the sky was a beautiful crisp blue still.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1168135959264081342007-01-06T18:45:00.000-07:002007-01-07T15:21:39.030-07:00

It's thinking like this... that has really fucked our planet.The writer believes that by increasing use of fossil fuels, we are bound to reduce their use. That argument doesn't even have face validity. Admittedly his argument is a little deeper than that, he cites the unspecified research cited by the World Bank (wow! now that is research you can count on!) that shows as people get wealthier,

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1167918950317497212007-01-04T06:51:00.000-07:002007-01-04T06:55:51.640-07:00

And it just keeps getting hotter !Thankfully you can just burn some fossil fuel to keep that air conditioner going.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1167690453934345942007-01-01T15:26:00.000-07:002007-01-01T15:28:05.063-07:00

I haven't written much lately. This is because I wanted this page to be positive and upbeat. But frankly, there is nothing to be positive about. Just read the headlines, and read the back articles and you soon realize that the world is toast. As such, this page is changing its mission.This blog is now a new agregator of environmental misery.Say "goodbye" to the world you've help destroy.Let's

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1167001297365995102006-12-24T16:01:00.000-07:002006-12-24T16:01:37.456-07:00

Sierra Club has a page from which you can help:https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Donation2?idb=735904161&df_id=2080&2080.donation=landing&JServSessionIdr012=y6v9yjfwq3.app14b

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1167001243655766872006-12-24T15:59:00.000-07:002006-12-24T16:00:44.136-07:00

Sierra Club has a page from which you can help:https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/Donation2?idb=735904161&df_id=2080&2080.donation=landing&JServSessionIdr012=y6v9yjfwq3.app14b

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1166938695121245002006-12-23T22:25:00.000-07:002006-12-23T22:38:31.266-07:00

Previously being a hybrid owner, this makes me happy.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122200020.htmlToyota will soon be the world's number one automaker. And they deserve it for their risk-taking and long term vision.I can't wait to buy my next hybrid.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1165125089456083192006-12-02T22:34:00.000-07:002006-12-02T22:51:29.536-07:00

As I was writing the previous post something occurred to me.What does it say that politicians endorse an industry that damages the environment under the rationale that it creates jobs. Yet, the industry is in such a boom that workers are in short supply and must be imported to fill the demand.I think that should be a warning sign that the government is doing some serious shenanigans.In the case

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1165124046743733272006-12-02T22:14:00.000-07:002006-12-02T22:34:37.770-07:00

Environmental protection is a non-partisan issue. To me it is a no-brainer. Left or Right, we all need clean drinking water. Yet, conversatives have long given money and other-people's-backyard apathy a far higher power in the environmental equation. Finally that is starting to change according to this article in the Washington Post. I hope to see a similar change in Canada and there do seem to

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1164842180665693542006-11-29T16:16:00.000-07:002006-11-29T16:16:21.116-07:00

A climate group called the Pembina Institute has calculated that Alberta's tar sands oil industry could become green house gas neutral by 2010. It would only cost about $2.50/barrel more. Keeping in mind the billions in profits are shipped out of Alberta (to America), why doesn't the government do something? Well, because they are money grubbing conservatives who care more about lining their

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1164722037807609292006-11-28T06:53:00.000-07:002006-11-28T06:54:00.193-07:00

I've always enjoyed DarkSyde's posts over at DailyKos.It the 2nd last paragraph of this post, that is making me link to it here.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1164534969107671002006-11-26T02:53:00.000-07:002006-11-26T02:56:29.343-07:00

Alternet (a great site) has a revealing article on the damage Bush still wants to inflict in his remaining 2 years. By closing environmental research libraries. It also has frightening insight into the Reagan government with this quote 'That government was characterized by the anti-environmental "we might as well use it all up because Jesus is coming" philosophy of Secretary of the Interior James

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1164534733237211112006-11-26T02:52:00.000-07:002006-11-26T02:52:13.536-07:00

This article in Rolling Stone discuss a proposal to give the Earth some emergency medicare should environmental hell breaks loose. The gist is, don't prevent global warming, but instead shoot some sulfur into the sky to reflect out the heat of the sun.I agree that the world is finished. I discussed my hopelessness previously. So maybe, as a game, this might be fun to do; just to see what the

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1163855878654662472006-11-18T06:11:00.000-07:002006-11-18T06:17:59.676-07:00

Today I was looking at a tower, which, like most towers, have many lights scaling its height in order to be seen by planes. The lights on the tower were slowly blinking and that annoyed me. I thought they were blinking too slowly but then I wondered why they blink at all. Wouldn't it be safer if they just stayed on continuously? or do they blink because flashing things are more noticeable to

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1163685386113041452006-11-16T06:52:00.000-07:002006-11-16T06:56:26.513-07:00

Instead of fuel cells, BMW is testing out actually burning the hydrogen.I don't really like hydrogen as a solution simply because I am spiteful towards the money grubbing oil companies who favour hydrogen. They favor it because they already have the infastructure in place (gas stations) to distribute the hydrogen fuel. They are slowing down development of other alternatives in order to give

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1162821263775612012006-11-06T06:48:00.000-07:002006-11-06T06:54:24.450-07:00

ARRRRGGGGGGG. Rush hour sucks. Try it in Beijing. We gave up on that today. Rather than sit and crawl for 2 hours we turned off to a mall and enjoyed some artifacts. But as we drove home afterwards I got to thinking about how much fuel is wasted in traffic...Idling in traffic and the stop and go is killer on your economy. Even when I drove a Prius (hybrid) being stuck in traffic killed my milage.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1162697441986255002006-11-04T20:20:00.000-07:002006-11-04T20:30:42.370-07:00

A large printing company called QuadGraphics have won an EPA award for making their truck fleet more fuel efficient by 35%...holy cow batman! That is alot.The interesting thing is that they used methods that could also be used in personal vehicals and are even in use for hybrids...- Using auxillary heating in the cabs so that the engine does not need to be running to keep the driver warm.- Idling

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1162608459825975482006-11-03T19:30:00.000-07:002006-11-03T19:47:40.423-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with coffee. As a 3rd world product, the news items about it cultivation and general industry practices often disgust me. But mmmmmm, love that morning aroma. And the upshot is, progress is being made. I don't really like Starbucks...for many reasons. For starters their coffee just isn't that good. I'll take a Tim Horton's instead anyday. Also, before the

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1162249802125732002006-10-30T16:08:00.000-07:002006-10-30T16:10:02.366-07:00

I can no longer view this blog from Beijing. I can however make entries. Weird, eh? I'll have to check with friends in NA to find out if anyone can read this.If so I'll probably get back to posting soon.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1161695467351872232006-10-24T07:07:00.000-06:002006-10-24T16:23:33.850-06:00

Bottled WaterI have long been interested in the subject of bottled water. It comes from some observing the absolute militancy of some individuals who will only drink from a bottle and swear that city water is dangerous. But I also know that I have never been harmed by city water that has been deemed by authorities to be safe to drink. That is not to say I like the taste of all city water. I like

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1161405430895317612006-10-20T22:25:00.000-06:002006-10-20T22:37:11.663-06:00

Time Magazine has this article about a correlation between TV viewing and Autism rates. Read the whole article as in the 2nd half it raises serious and significant doubts about the correlation. But here is an idea I'll just throw out at you...Read any baby book and they'll tell you that as a baby gets older it learns to focus on objects further and further away. Learns to track objects etc.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1161263208294759562006-10-19T06:54:00.000-06:002006-10-19T07:06:53.583-06:00

It's funny, people are often surprised that I have no hope for this world's survival. Its true. Yet despite what I think I'm generally a happy person who is fun to be around. Why do I think it is so hopeless?Because I know so many good hearted, caring and wonderful people who don't care to do squat to help this planet. And if you can't count on the good people, then what hope is there.That's all

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1161039840642364472006-10-16T17:02:00.000-06:002006-10-16T17:04:00.866-06:00

Didn't someone once say all things are political. As my country (Canada) prepares to be gutted of all things that make it great I cannot help but write on some important subjects relevant to those coming days. In the end, the changes coming will have a direct impact on the environment. So this is the first topic.The Value of an Independent Senate...The hidden purpose of proposed Senate changes is

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160693850124054182006-10-12T16:55:00.000-06:002006-10-12T17:03:35.866-06:00

I'm not talking about wasting little things, I talking things like cars and cellphones. Are you like me and hate throwing away perfectly good things because of "obsolescence" or fashion? This article talks about a new book about how we became a throw away society.I am in China now and this is not a throw-away society. You can buy anybody's old things on the street. And if you want to sell that

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160608585826262032006-10-11T17:10:00.000-06:002006-10-11T17:16:26.023-06:00

This idea has been around for a while. Scientists are making progress towards using natural bacteria to create fuels as part of there natural biological processes. However I am curious how they'll address concerns about recombining bacteria DNA to create new forms: won't that have the same issues are GM Foods? But then again, there are might lots of man-made bacteria already in our lives. I don't

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160523633555239382006-10-10T17:37:00.000-06:002006-10-11T05:25:59.643-06:00

Woohoo! In my previous post (which I wrote weeks ago but forgot about as a draft), I decry Plasma TVs. I accidently deleted that post. This link tells how much power a plasma TV consumes and how 2 new nuke plants would be required if every household in England owned a plasma TV and they were on at the same time (think World Cup soccer). I state that it should be illegal for companies that make

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160402971764901242006-10-09T08:06:00.000-06:002006-10-09T08:09:32.160-06:00

Solar homes could be coming soon. And more and more I'm seeing solar companies coming to the fore to bring what we sorely need. Wouldn't it be nice not to have a monthly power bill?

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160189723806183552006-10-06T20:55:00.000-06:002006-10-06T20:57:40.273-06:00

This article discusses the use of emergency aid money that is donated for specific disasters.I won't comment more than that so I don't taint your read with my opinion....well, except to say it is better to give before a disaster.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160189193360312072006-10-06T20:42:00.000-06:002006-10-06T20:46:34.663-06:00

This is neat. I think it is environmental as it means more green in the cities. And it certainly looks nice. They are a new form of plant wall that doesn't depend on crawling ivys or the like. They work using hydroponics. (But I wonder about water costs)Hopefully oneday we can buy miniture kits of it for landscaping our homes and yards.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160107317198799032006-10-05T21:58:00.000-06:002006-10-05T22:01:59.203-06:00

Here is a link to a corporate website of a small company that makes straw bale housing. It looks pretty cool. The link specifically gives the benefits of using straw for your walls rather than conventional construction materials. If this is accurate, I would like to try this.I would imagine though that local building rules would have a very large say in whether or not this is permitted in my/your

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160105287171956712006-10-05T21:21:00.000-06:002006-10-05T21:28:07.250-06:00

But unfortunately I love sushi. By the looks of it, the sushi I eat here in China is raised in tanks in the restaurant...or at least that is what I keep telling myself. I mean, what else would all the fish tanks be for?There are lots of reasons to stop eating fish that come from "nature"...and one reason is that they are not so natural anymore.Another reason ...is that natural fish stocks are

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160104666635901352006-10-05T21:08:00.000-06:002006-10-05T21:17:46.916-06:00

First fuel cells were touted as being a world saviour for their use in cars. This most likely is unrealistic. However for small devices they could prove quite handy. Nokia has now stated that we'll have fuel cell powered phones in the next years. This is great for convenience and is environmentally more sound.Nokia, incidently is also a leading technology on other environmental fronts according

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160014103435736202006-10-04T19:59:00.001-06:002006-10-04T20:08:23.616-06:00

I love technology, especially when it improves things. For example, new storage devices for computers tend to use less and less power. Isn't that just great !First Tests: Fast 32GB Flash Hard DriveOn the other hand, "they" are always adding new devices that offset savings made elsewhere. Will we ever come out ahead?.....(there is more to read)Do you rememeber using Word Perfect 5.0 on DOS 5.0 ?

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160013560015330102006-10-04T19:59:00.000-06:002006-10-04T19:59:27.166-06:00

Woohoo! Joy! There may still be cougars out there:Cougars not extinguished in Eastern Canada

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1160011224288605892006-10-04T18:59:00.000-06:002006-10-04T19:55:28.516-06:00

Canada's minority government (about 40%) will ignore a majority sponsored bill to stick to Canada's Kyoto commitment.Legislators urge Ottawa to stick to KyotoIncidently that minority government is doing all it can to consolidate power and manipulate the system in order to get a majority at the next election. And it would still be a majority at 40%. Then the serious raping of Canada's environment

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159973056942692312006-10-04T08:40:00.000-06:002006-10-10T17:36:51.646-06:00

Shouldn't there be a law against making things worse?Plasma TVs look nice but they are power hogs according tohttp://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1843587,00.htmlwhich says 2 nuclears power plants would need to be built to power plasma tvs if all of England upgraded and had them on at the same time (think World Cup Soccer).Walk into a department store and power usage is a selling point

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159918581186128862006-10-03T17:31:00.000-06:002006-10-03T17:36:28.796-06:00

We all enjoy those little screens at the end of our faucets through which the water flows. It gives a nice even flow. They are called "aerators" because they mix air with the water and they can greatly reduce your waste water by better distributing the droplets. Most aerators run over 3.5 gallons per minute through them. But you can buy some that go as low as 1.5 or even 1 gpm. So all that time

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159873982311911272006-10-03T05:02:00.000-06:002006-10-03T06:46:06.660-06:00

I have long been interested in the subject of bottled water. It comes from some observing the absolute militancy of some individuals who will only drink from a bottle and swear that city water is dangerous. But I also know that I have never been harmed by city water that has been deemed by authorities to be safe to drink. That is not to say I like the taste of all city water. I like Edmonton

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159659828469601512006-09-30T17:43:00.000-06:002006-09-30T18:16:53.560-06:00

My opinion on this is so confused.As I mentioned in a few other places, I'm in China. Duracell batteries here cost about $1.40USD for anywhere from 4-6 AA or AAA. I've seen those in stores in North America for well over $5USD. The packages in China even read on them "Not for sale outside China". Wow, are we ever getting screwed in North America.I'm curious to know then ...where are the batteries

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159401691611413832006-09-27T17:39:00.000-06:002006-09-28T06:32:00.193-06:00

Warming be damned, it is the stench and lung clogging particulates that get my goat. I'm in Beijing now. Its damn hot here in the summer but it probably always was. The consequence of fossil fuels is evidenced here by the infrequency of blue skies, the smell, the coughing, yellowish fog....its disgusting.(yes, there is more this time)There are 2 reasons for the smog problem in Beijing: too many

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159225911991139452006-09-25T17:00:00.000-06:002006-09-25T17:12:25.080-06:00

Why would somebody litter in a nature park? Were they dragged along unwillingly all the way grumpling that they wanted to visit the municiple dump? I just don't get this. Surely there aren't people who scorn nature. I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt...perhaps they think "I've seen staff here, someone will clean it up". But they still have to look at their own filth until that is

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159183648944442892006-09-25T05:25:00.000-06:002006-09-25T05:27:29.286-06:00

I wrote before about how I love LED lighting. Now we have LED night lights in the 1-2W range. Normal night lights run in the 10-15W range. This isn't really a case for saving money. The whopping 10cents a month you might save is probably pretty trivial to you. But maybe it is more. If you are crazy like me, then you'll live by the night light rather than turning on the main room lights. And you

Dereknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1159081010754884172006-09-24T00:55:00.000-06:002006-09-24T01:02:31.990-06:00

I confess that I used Roundup on my weeds before I laid my gravel and grass landscaping. But I did feel guilty about it. My neighbour may have too, I don't know. I do know however that she paid lip service to some environmental concerns. Her and her young boys would pull weeds out of their lawn by hand as she too hated chemicals...One day I was out there beside them on my side of the property and

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1158756957966445722006-09-20T06:49:00.000-06:002006-09-20T06:56:38.903-06:00

Al Gore's speech, which I hope is his throwing down the gauntlet to another Presidential bid.The world needs a guy who is not scared to read a book or take a stand. Hell, this guys has even written books.

Dereknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1158585469609946762006-09-18T07:13:00.000-06:002006-09-18T07:17:51.413-06:00

Safe drinking water is a major issue in most of the world.In China, supplies are limited and conservation is heavily promoted by government.In canada, supplies are plentiful and conservation is barely given lip-service by government.Does it make a difference?During dry summers in Canada, there will be rationing where people will be forbidden fromwatering their lawns. In my life time that has been

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1158457429863700122006-09-16T19:41:00.000-06:002006-09-16T19:43:58.783-06:00

This is interesting because it shows that solar power technology has reached a point that is becoming practical and hugely beneficial for poorer individuals in need of power.In China, coal is used for energy generation. It is mostly burnt using very older and inefficient systems. Getting cleaner burning coal plants would just soften the problem of coal which burns very dirty with a high CO2

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338409.post-1158405633779236642006-09-16T05:19:00.000-06:002006-09-16T05:20:39.966-06:00

Finally, a weekend. Now I thought I could put all this together.To summarize, Tesla Motors has a white paper outlining the energy savings of their electric roadster. In this paper they estimate CO2 emissions generated in producing the electricity required to run the vehicle. They also list their estimates of CO2 emissions from various regular petroleum burning vehicles.So what are the

Dereknoreply@blogger.com0