Verticle Wind Generators - Better?

An interesting article here from The Guardian about a new type of wind turbine proposed for off shore use in the UK, also mentioned is a type developed here in the US. I like the picture much, and the engineering principals seem very sound. They have identified the problems with traditional turbines (Don Quixote your story may need some updating) with rotors on a horizontal axis at the top of a tall tower, and instead of re-engineering those problems, they removed the problem with a new solution. That is my favorite operandi: instead of solving problems, remove the problem.

Ranchers protecting Cougars

This is a great article about Cougars being protected in Oregon.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services did not examine all the adverse environmental impacts of their decision to kill cougars on behalf of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act.

It appears that the USDA ordered the Oregon DFW to issue the slaughter of 2,000 Cougars. And ranchers and wildlife protection organizations stood up and filed a suit. This is where my money goes. To protecting life, diversity, and the chance, our one chance, to live in a beautiful and balanced ecology.

A great graph from my friend's status line

A graph of our national debt rate of increase.

It's amazing what we create

Japan: Suck It.

Japan is being a major douche bag lately, launching whaling vessels under the pretense of "scientific research" to slaughter 1,000 of the leviathans. The meat ends up on the douchebags plates, and they eat those beautiful beasts. Read this article about the heroics of these two gents in the face of their own safety and freedom. Go Sea Shepard and Greenpeace!

Utterly Insane and Stupid

Have you heard the news? Former Olympic champion Marion Jones was sentenced today to 6 months in prison for taking steroids. How much time will the Bush administration have to serve for lying on the record and taking us to war? And this lady gets six months. For this. Where are our priorities? What has our legal system come to?

Awesome new technology

So we all agree that the Aptera is awesome, but check this out! A car that runs on compressed air, and you can refill it at home or at special stations (which means almost anywhere). So cool!

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Air_car_runs_on_compressed_air_0104_af.html

http://www.theaircar.com/

What a scumbag

I just read an article about Ed Rollins who says "he loves to go negative." And that "South Carolina is a more negative place." In my experience the world is what we make it, so I would say to you Mr. Rollins get the hell out. And keep your negativity to yourself.