Solar Fat Plastic Gas Bacteria
November 2nd, 2007 | Posted in Energy, Health, Recent Readings, Technology, Vegetarianism, Water
New format folks. The other one was a bit hard to read, with everything bunched together and my comments in italics. Who wants that? No one. But, if anyone wants to name their garage band Solar Fat Plastic Gas Bacteria, the name is yours.
Energy | Be honest about gas gouging | ‘Gasoline prices are poised to explode again. Oil companies are setting up the framework for higher prices because of fears of a Turkish invasion of Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq and administration saber rattling about Iran . . . Jay Leno joked on “The Tonight Show” Oct. 17, “The Nobel Prize for economics was awarded to three people — the CEOs of Exxon, Texaco, and Shell for figuring out how to quadruple the price of oil over a seven-year period without an actual shortage.”‘ | Robert Weiner and John Larmett, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Apparently the legislation aimed at curtailing price gouging has very little teeth. Surprise, surprise. High gas prices are a double-edged sword. I’m all for them, in that they make people think about driving less and using alternate forms of transportation. But, I also understand that since the working class of America is already bearing such a large economic burden - made worse by our idiot president - higher gas prices only makes living life harder for them. At least every state is so keen on funding public transit. The real rub is that most of what the average American experiences in this regard is so arbitrary and politically minded. It’s really disgusting. The article’s authors conclude by saying, “Congress needs to rise above special interest relationships, protect Americans from oil-company gouging, and define the term so it means what it really is.” I won’t hold my breath.
Health | Obesity: a Growing Problem in U.S. and Globally | “The World Health Organization reports in its latest study 300 million adults around the world are considered obese, and that it is a problem not only in the industrialized nations but elsewhere as well.” | Paul Sisco, Voice of America
My wife and I recently saw Body Worlds 3 in St. Louis. One of the exhibits near the end was a plastinated slice of an obese person. I believe the individual weighed approximately 300 lbs and died around the age of 50. The exhibit showed how small very normal size organs looked relative to the mountains of fat stored under the skin. And fat . . . ugh. Obesity is very much like climate change. They are both caused by the laziness and poor decisions of people. Companies that contribute to either/both must be held accountable to some degree, but in the end, the onus falls on each one of us. “I’ll have an SUV with a side of fries” must be replaced with “Hybrid with a side of spinach, please”.
Technology | Germany home to world’s top solar testing lab | “Hail and lightning rain down, while temperatures up to 85 degrees Celsius prevail, as solar cells are tested at the world’s largest and most modern facility in Cologne. Solar cells are big business across the world, but particularly in Germany and Japan. And here is where the world’s top manufacturers come to have their products certified under the most extreme conditions.” | EARTHtimes
Why are Germany and Japan leading the freakin’ world in development of solar panels? Last time I checked the United States was considerably larger in land area than both of those countries combined; hence, more sunlight to capture. And, it’s not like we’re a poor country with a billion people. Grrrr. So depressing. America used to be an agile giant, capable of adapting to an ever-changing world. Now, we’re . . . obese! Our leaders refuse to accept challenges (taking the stairs = investing in alternative energy) and get winded early. Losers.
Vegetarianism | E. coli fears prompt recall of millions of frozen pizzas | “General Mills on Thursday recalled about 5 million frozen pizzas sold nationwide under the Totino’s and Jeno’s labels because of possible E. coli contamination . . . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that eight of the victims have been hospitalized, and four have developed a type of kidney failure.” | CNN
I’m surprised that people are still astonished that little circles of (mostly) pig flesh, manufactured in mass quantities, like drink coasters, could possibly contain infection diseases. On a side note, those little party pizzas are freakin’ good. Next time, try the triple cheese!
Water | Invisible Plastic Trash Poses Newfound Threat to Sea Life | “Waterborne plastic debris too small to see and festooned with pollutants could pose a hitherto unknown toxic hazard to sea life. The oceans are increasingly burdened by visible pollution—garbage—along shorelines and in the open ocean, and also by old fishing nets that entrap and kill marine life. And in recent decades, environmentalists have sounded alarm bells on plastic trash, specifically how large chunks can sicken and kill fish, birds, dolphins, turtles and other marine animals. For instance, the creatures might easily mistake plastics for food, but then suffocate or starve on the stuff.” | Charles Q. Choi, Live Science
The lesson here is that just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it can’t kill you. The article says at one point that sea water will break plastics down, but only to very small particles. These particles, called microplastics, attract toxins and are consumed by microorganisms, who DIE from poisoning! What follows should be pretty obvious. Think food chain.
Have a good weekend, and remember to set your clocks back . . . it’s getting cold and dark.
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