jsarets's Comments (747)

“72% of the delegates needed to win the Republican primaries are allocated by open states, where Democrats and independents can vote in the Republican primaries instead of in the perfunctory renomination of the incumbent Obama.

So if we want an easy and entertaining contest between Obama and Palin in 2012, we can make that happen. If the black community in South Carolina organizes to vote Palin in that "firewall" primary, it's basically over for the other Republican candidates.”

“1 (jobs): The coal industry employs a lot of people, too. Doesn't make it right.

2 (efficiency): Your numbers don't make sense. One source says energy per bushel decreased 22% for dry mills and 7% for wet mills, while you don't provide your source for the 37% reduction. Also note that a 27% reduction in water consumption from 2-8 million L/MWh is still a heck of lot more water than any other energy source, excluding soy biodiesel, which is an order of magnitude worse.

3 (food/fuel): There's no good reason for humans or especially livestock to be eating so much corn anyway, so if the price of high-fructose corn syrup and corn-fed beef goes up, I call that progress. But there's also no good reason to use virgin agricultural products to produce biofuels when we produce such vast quantities of agricultural and municipal organic waste.

4 (emissions): Once again, your numbers are dubious. The source you linked makes no mention of a 20-fold reduction of petroleum consumption relative to gasoline. It only says that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced perhaps 10-15%.

5 (foundation): How does building a corn ethanol industry build a "foundation" for sustainable biofuels? This is a weasel word. Producing biodiesel from waste via thermal depolymerization or Fischer-Tropsch is easier than ethanol. Ethanol is also difficult to transport efficiently through pipelines, whereas biodiesel is a much better "foundation" in terms of the distribution chain.”

“The problem with wind and solar is output variability over time, the resulting need for storage buffers, and the difficulty of storing electric charge in large amounts.

Wind and solar don't provide the utility of consistent baseload output or demand-responsive output. They are mostly used for opportunistic reduction of the most responsive plants on the grid.

In most parts the the grid, the variable output of wind and solar systems is tied to reductions in output from natural gas plants, which are typically the easiest to throttle and also among the most efficient plants on the grid.

The added embodied energy of present-day hybrids is almost entirely due to the use of nickel-based batteries and rare-earth permanent-magnet motors.

Lithium-based batteries/­capacitors and polyphase induction motors are much less energy-intensive to produce. Also, unlike parallel or dual hybrids, series hybrids run their engines at constant speed, which permits the engines to be smaller and lighter.

In the future, vehicle bodies will very likely be made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, which is a recyclable thermoplastic that can be produced from ethanol and has a tensile strength comparable to alloy steel but at 1/8 the mass.

Look into biorefinery, thermal depolymerization, pyrolysis, biochar, etc.

You may just change your mind about biofuels and see possibilities for a sustainable future other than wind and solar.”

“Traveling far and fast is energy-intensive. The dirty secret is that, in Europe, high-speed electric trains consume nearly as much energy per passenger-mile as commercial airliners.

Granted, in France most of the electricity come from carbon-neutral (but water-intensive and toxic waste-producing) nuclear reactors.

Buses are the most efficient form of motorized transportation, following by motorcycles and cars.

I personally enjoy riding trains, but they can't be kept full enough during off-peak hours, and a half-empty electric train is essentially a motorcade of Hummers running on 50% coal.

High-speed transport efficiency is dominated by aerodynamic drag, which is a function of velocity squared. At 120+ mph, it doesn't matter whether we have rubber tires on asphalt roads or steel wheels on steel rails, because rolling resistance is insignificant compared to aerodynamic drag.

My intellectual journey has come full circle, back to the car, preferably series hybrids running on biodiesel produced from waste (e.g. grease, plastic, rubber, animal/human) via the thermal depolymerization method.”

“In Vietnam, officers complained that the drafted infantrymen were inadequately trained and undisciplined. I suspect that we'd face worse problems with a draft today.

As recently as 1987, just 6% of young Americans age 17-24 were unqualified for military service due to obesity. Today, 27% of this age group is too fat according to military standards.

Another dramatically larger group of Americans who are unfit for military service are those who are prescribed medications for psychological disorders such as ADD/ADHD or depression.

Many young Americans have criminal records. Many are addicted to drugs. Many have dropped out of high school. Many have behavioral or learning problems that the military can't tolerate.

All in all, as many as 75% of the draft age population may be unfit for service unless the military relaxes its standards and sends questionable individuals into a complicated and sensitive counterinsurgency operation.

In recent conflicts, the military has found ways to reduce the uniformed population by outsourcing as much as possible and passing on the costs to taxpayers. In previous conflicts, soldiers would be put to work peeling potatoes. Today, the whole food service operation is provided by private contractors. Instead of enlisting more troops, we hire more contractors.

As a practical matter, the draft is inappropriate for the American military. In my view, the only viable alternative to a volunteer/­profession­al military is universal military service.”

“This is my proposal for allocating capital to building efficiency improvements:

Property owners enter into contracts with private efficiency providers. Providers agree to assume responsibility for the owners' utility bills. Owners agree to pay the providers based on previous utility bills until the accumulated rate premium equals the quoted value of the providers' investments.

The greater the reduction in utility bills per money invested, the faster the providers recoup the value of their investments (including overhead) and terminate the contracts with owners, who then resume responsibility for their reduced utility bills.

Providers would compete to attract owners primarily based on how quickly they close contracts on average and therefore how effectively they invest in energy cost reductions. To this end, providers would work closely with contractors and owners to reduce energy consumption.

To finance these investments, providers auction "green bonds" on an open market. Government would be a major buyer of green bonds, especially to get the market going initially. Investors would also be attracted to providers that generate higher efficiency return on investment.”

“Isn't the president prohibited from using email because of national security issues?”

“I don't disagree with your sentiment, but science offers solutions to industrialism.

One promising fish farming solution is called aquaponics. Recirculating fish tanks in a greenhouse are filtered through pebble beds inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, in which vegetables are cultivated hydroponically on nutrients from fish effluent.

Modern aquaponics, which has already been commercially successful with tilapia, is derived from ideas developed by the New Alchemy Institute, a radical eco-science research community that was quite influential in the 70s.

It's like vermicomposting (producing fertilizer using worms), except we're left with excess fish for food instead of excess worms, for which demand is more limited.”

“Some fish can be farmed sustainably. It is disingenuous for everybody to use Atlantic salmon as a proxy argument for the evils of fish farming.

Mussels are perhaps the most sustainable farmed animal protein of any kind. They filter feed suspended from rafts in open coastal seas.

Tilapia and catfish are the most sustainable farmed fish. They feed on algae and vegetable protein, and as schooling species, they are well-suited for closed recirculating systems that conserve water and isolate the farms from natural ecosystems. Feed conversion ratios are excellent, 1.5 or lower.

Carnivorous fish are more problematic, but farmers have been able to minimize the required fish-based feed. Striped bass and rainbow trout are farmed in closed recirculating systems and have feed conversion ratios of 1.5 or lower from fish-based feed.

Arctic char, a close relative of Alaskan salmon, have a slightly higher fish-based feed conversion ratio of 1.76, but they can be farmed in unheated water in most parts of America.

Finally, small wild fish such as sardines, herring, anchovies, and smelt are quite sustainable for direct human consumption (if not over-exploited as feed input for inefficient carnivores).

Of course, a diet consisting largely of fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables cultivated with passive irrigation has the lowest food production footprint, but a modest amount of sustainably farmed fish is a healthy and ecologically responsible addition.”

“Great blog!

I would also recommend the following sustainable farmed fish: tilapia, catfish, striped bass, rainbow trout, arctic char, and mussels.

Also many small oily fish: sardines, herring, anchovies, smelt, etc.

...as a complete protein supplement to a predominantly plant-based diet of fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, tubers/roots, and certain grains (oats and barley are best).

Corn and soy are ecologically problematic. Wheat, rice, and greens can be problematic depending on where and how they're grown.

Consider that switching from meat, dairy, and egg products to soy protein alternatives tends to promote the clear-cutting of tropical rain forest in Brazil.

Also consider that rice and soy are the most water-intensive of all commodity food crops.

Food and its production is complicated. Dividing the food universe into plant-based and animal-based is a dubious over-simplification of the implications involved in dietary choices.”

“Vegetarians should realize that how food is produced is as important and which foods we eat.

For example, beef fed corn/soy on concentrated feedlots is one of the worst possible foods from just about any perspective (moral, health/safety, and ecological).

But beef raised on grass pastures is one of the best possible foods from an ecological standpoint. Grass-fed cows have much lower E. coli counts than corn-fed cows and emit far less methane. If a well-managed open grass pasture isn't the cow version of Disney Land, I don't know what is.

The production of cereal grains and soy -- which form the backbone of the typical vegetarian diet -- is highly water-intensive and energy-intensive. The increased demand for soy in increasingly satisfied by clear-cutting tropical rain forest in Brazil. Talk about loss of biodiversi­ty...

Fruitarianism, one of the most restrictive disciplines, is perhaps the most moral and ecologically virtuous, since they only eat foods that can be harvested without killing the plant (fruits, nuts, and seeds). Such diets, however, are nutritionally problematic.

But with an open mind, one can see pasture-raised livestock as the fruit of the pasture. The animals are harvested while sustaining and not disrupting the life-cycle of the grassland.

So maybe therein lies the answer: fruits, nuts, and seeds with modest amounts of pasture-raised meat, dairy, and eggs to complete a well-balanced diet.”

“Try the V-Slicer instead of a mandolin. You'll find them in any kitchenware store for a reasonable price. It's more versatile (cuts more stuff into more shapes) and comes with a hand guard that works well with most foods. When it doesn't (e.g. slicing carrots), that's when you break out the cut-proof glove mentioned above.”

“I don't disagree, but many Americans consume way too much fat and the wrong kinds of fat. Animal fats are high in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol and should be consumed in moderation. Fats from nuts, seeds, and certain fruits (e.g. avocados and olives) are nutritionally beneficial, as are fats from certain carnivorous fish.

Fats should account for no more than 30% of calories, and studies suggest that it may be beneficial to consume most of the fats for breakfast and in small snacks. Lunch should be a high-protein meal with complex carbohydrates and vegetables (i.e. a healthy American dinner).

I don't worry about American kids not getting enough fats in their diet.”

“Mostly agree.

But egg whites and low-fat dairy are excellent protein sources, at least as good as meat.

Food service distributors sell frozen egg beaters patties. Add reduced-fat cheese and whole wheat rounds, and there's an ideal school lunch entree: healthy, economical, and kid-friendly.”

“I predict the resurgence of home cooking in America after a prolonged hiatus will coincide with a resurgence of sliced fingers and other bloody kitchen accidents, at least if people hold knives the wrong way like the guy in the stock photo accompanying this article.

Don't rest your pointer finger on top of the blade. This grip provides very little roll control over the blade, which may twist as you slice and turn in toward your other hand. Not good.

The correct grip is to pinch the blade between your thumb and pointer finger just ahead of the grip and then close your hand around the grip. This pinch point serves as a stable center of rotation in pitch, yaw, and roll. Also, feed the food through the blade -- don't move the blade along the food.

If you're rediscovering the art of home cooking, you may want to seek out some instructional resources on the internet or even on television cooking shows. And maybe invest in a pair of cut-proof kitchen gloves...”

“What Obama needs to understand is that conservatives aren't going to vote for him even if he passes a love letter to the pharmaceutical industry, forgets to regulate the financial industry, escalates the occupation of Afghanistan, and practices his Sista Souljah routine on a regular basis.

He's never going to be "one of them", no matter how hard he tries.

What we have with Obama is an introvert with exceptional communication skills. Introverts live inside their heads, presenting to the outside world a personality constructed in an effort to fit in. For Obama, I imagine this thought process of personality development extremely sophisticated and deliberate.

Obama spent years honing the personality and the message that would get him elected president. If you give this guy enough time to observe and contemplate the social dynamics between him and his objective, he can assume a character that navigates that terrain with seeming ease.

But I don't think he thought this far ahead. He doesn't have a lot of time. Presidents live in a bubble, and they can't debut a new persona without raising eyebrows. Furthermore, introverts don't have very good instincts when they're forced to make it up as they go along.

Everything about the Obama Campaign was meticulously premeditated. The few times they were blindsided, they didn't handle it very well -- a striking contrast. Obama is a brilliant strategic organizer. He's not a very good crisis manager, and that's what being president is mostly about.”

“The mercury is inside the bulbs, and most retailers will dispose of them properly. There's less mercury in CFLs than in the fluorescent tubes we've been using for decades.

The VAST majority of mercury emissions come from coal.”

“The so-called "limousine liberals" have the wrong idea about ecological sustainability.

They manifest this misunderstanding every time they use phrases like "green tech". Or when they preach about the virtues of their vegan diet while eating processed foods made from soy grown in clear-cut Brazilian rainforests.

They think we can "green" the industrial paradigm with cool gadgets and marketing gimmicks.
They think this is a problem of carbon dioxide and global warming.

This is primarily a problem concerning the management of land, water, and waste. It's about the locations and layouts of the communities where we live and work. It's about how we produce food and how we get it from farm to table. It's about how we minimize, reuse, and process waste.

And, yes, it's about conservation and renewable energy But the civilization we built with petroleum cannot be sustained without petroleum.

I guess it's hard for wealthy "citizens of the world" to wrap their heads around a future of increasing localism, but that's the only way humanity can sustain itself.

The children get it. They are subconsciously adapting themselves for a civilization driven by network relationships as much as by market transactions.

Al Gore probably doesn't realize that the most important contribution he ever made toward a sustainable future for humanity was ensuring that the Internet would be openly accessible to the public. A lifetime of "green tech" advocacy can't possibly compare to that.”

“Aluminum cans are lined with epoxy to avoid corrosion. The vast majority of epoxy resin is made from bisphenol A. There are alternatives, but none of them are drop-in replacements. Unsaturated polyester resin would be the closest, and that requires hazardous chemicals (e.g. MEKP) for curing.

Epoxy shouldn't leach BPA unless exposed to radiation or heat. However, most canned foods are sterilized by heating the filled and sealed cans to the boiling point. This is how the BPA gets into the food. The same liner used in soft drink cans is safer because they generally aren't heated.

I've avoided canned foods for a long time because they don't taste very good. Frozen vegetables are almost always better tasting than canned. I've more recently switched from canned to dry beans. I guess tomato products are the last things I really buy in cans, since there are few alternatives.

Glass jars are certainly the better option. Processors don't like them, though, because they're heavier and more breakable. Pasta sauce and salsa come in jars, but plain tomatoes generally don't. I've adapted some recipes to use salsa instead of diced tomatoes for this reason.

So it's a good idea to stay away from canned foods. When fresh isn't practical, look for jars first, then check the frozen food aisle. And never microwave in a polycarbonate (Lexan) container.”

“Two years ago, hardly anybody knew about Twitter. It didn't even play a major role in the 2008 elections. Now it's everywhere, influencing mass movements from San Francisco to Tehran. How are networks going to evolve in the next two years?

The process may be in its infancy. I think it's getting closer to early adolescence. But the nature of networks is that they create swarms of awareness that generate rapid shifts in public opinion.

People thought that the 2008 elections were influenced by networks. We haven't seen anything yet. By the time 2012 comes around, the game of electoral politics is going to played very differently, almost unrecognizable from 2000 or to a certain extent 2008.”

“I see human civilization moving away from the rule of law (with its unintended consequences and loopholes) and toward a form of dynamic mutual ethics powered by rapid propagation of information across network structures and enforced by collective judgment before the court of public opinion.

I see the false dilemma of individualism vs. collectivism dissolving with the growing importance of voluntary association as the means by which people seek economic prosperity and social status, spontaneously self-organizing for mutual benefit while retaining individual liberty.

The cornerstones of classic liberalism -- freedom and democracy -- aren't going out of style. But the way they've been implemented, namely the state capitalist model and its hierarchical structures of government and production, is becoming outmoded.

We're experiencing a breakdown of hierarchical systems and the proliferation of network systems to take their place. The central processor that failed to scale with socialism is now failing to scale with capitalism. The future belongs to systems that decentralize and parallelize decision-making.

Karl Marx had this seemingly ridiculous theory that central institutions would grow incredibly powerful and then suddenly collapse, leaving behind a loosely-coupled system of cooperative co-creation. Why would the central institutions collapse? How would society be organized in their absence?

It was premature to call the end of history before the emergence of the world wide web. That was the missing piece of the puzzles contemplated by Marx and Fukuyama.”

“There is no Hell in my parents' religion (Judaism).”

“No, it's called democracy. The politicians don't get to decide, the executives don't get to decide, the people get to decide how finance should be regulated.

Socialism isn't about regulation, it's about property ownership, specifically state-owned monopolies. There are such things as minimally-regulated socialism (e.g. communism) or tightly-regulated capitalism (e.g. fascism).

Or we could apply democratic principles to private open market institutions (e.g. mutualism).”

“I'm not sure that Obama wants to cut Geithner loose, but as his attention turns toward 2012, its going to become obvious that Geithner is his biggest electoral liability.

The sooner he throws him under the bus -- something we know Obama is capable of doing when his career is threatened -- the easier it will be for him to avoid charges of hypocrisy based on the timing.

Geithner's favorability was 24% (10% among independents) in June. That's worse than Bush ever managed, and it's fair to assume that his numbers have sunk to 20% (perhaps lower) since then.

No individual political figure is as broadly and viscerally unpopular as Geithner. The opposition WILL use him as a bogeyman. They will bait Obama to defend the indefensible.

Obama is anything but stupid. He will ditch Geithner, it's just a matter of when. In the meantime, Geithner (also not stupid) is interviewing for his next job. I hear Bank of America needs a new CEO starting Jan 1. BoA would love to have him, if they can tolerate the horrible political optics.”

“I'm more of a fan of LED lighting myself, but...

Ionizing radiation from nuclear waste penetrates all containment vessels to some extent, even if the walls are incredibly massive. The lightweight vessels necessary for transport are particularly permeable to radiation and have killed multiple nuclear waste transport workers.

The mercury in all fluorescent lamps (not just CFLs) is easily contained in common household containers. Zip-lock bags are okay. Glass mason jars are ideal. It's also not especially harmful with short-duration external contact. The more serious concerns are inhalation or ingestion.

Retailers such as Home Depot will properly dispose of CFLs. Most municipalities provide similar services. All CFLs are sold with a surcharge to pay for proper disposal.

Studies show that the energy saved by using CFLs results in reduced uncontrolled emission of mercury into the atmosphere by coal-burning power plants in excess of the mercury contained in the bulb itself, which may be properly disposed to avoid any emission whatsoever.

Coal is responsible for the large majority of mercury emissions. If CFLs provide a cost-effective way for households and businesses to reduce the consumption of electricity from coal, then they are part of the solution to a much larger extent than they are part of the problem.”