Category Archives: Environment
The Supreme Court’s Partisan Divide
There can be little doubt that the current Supreme Court is politically biased. When ruling on major politically polarized cases, the court is divided along party lines. One can almost guarantee the decisions of those cases. There are no longer … Continue reading
Posted in Constitution, Environment, Legislation, Political
Tagged constitution, founding fathers, government, partisan, Supreme Court
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What’s All the Rush?
I consider myself an American progressive and maybe even a liberal. But I can very well relate to why in some more American conservative in parts of my country may consider we out West far too progressive. I do believe … Continue reading
CARS, Cars, and more cars?
Cars have enabled most of what we enjoy today. They have given us far greater mobility than ever before and to do it in great comfort and convenience. But cars have created their on problems of traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gases. The drawbacks are starting to outweigh its benefits. Continue reading
Climate Change: Part 4 – How Storms & Hurricanes Form
The formation of storms and hurricanes are largely a mystery to most people. This post will attempt to explain how they are formed in light of the recent rash of hurricanes that have threatened and damaged this nation resulting in hundreds of billions of dollars in damages and loss of life to take some of the mystery out of it and how Climate Change may have played a role… Continue reading
Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Global Warming
Tagged atmospere, Climate Change, energy, hurricane, instability, moisture, storm, temperature, warm water
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Climate Change: Is it Too Late?
There seems to be an increasing consensus among climate scientist that even if we were to cease all production of man made greenhouse gases it would take as much as a hundred thousand years to return to a more normal state…We have triggered nature to quickly release its own huge stores of greenhouse gases from the oceans, ice, and tundras which have been accumulating and lying dormant for millions of years. We can still make a difference if we act soon. Our influence on Climate Change is still significant. Continue reading
Climate Change: Part 3 – Runaway Climate Change
Positive Feedback Loops exists extensively in many aspects of engineering, science, everyday life, and nature. It occurs when a small part of the energy of something that starts gets siphoned off into something that makes what is happening get larger and larger… Let me explain very simplistically. Local Climate Change and Global Warming can trigger a positive feedback loop effect from a number of sources causing Global Warming to accelerate beyond just the greenhouse gases that man creates. When this happens more greenhouse gases continue to accelerate due to nature itself which may eventually be greater than man’s emissions… Continue reading
Climate Change: Part 2 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Currently CO2 is the most prevalent greenhouse gas in out atmosphere even though it is only 400 ppm (0.04%) of our atmosphere. One pound of gasoline produces about 7 pounds of CO2 put into our atmosphere. A gallon of gasoline weighs 6.3 pounds and puts about 20 pounds of CO2 into our atmosphere. The reason for the gain in weight is because during combustion the carbon atoms in gasoline combine with the oxygen atoms in the air to form CO2 . But as more CO2 is dumped into our atmosphere and absorbed by the seas the water starts to become saturated with it and absorbs less (see Part 1) resulting in more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and more Global Warming of our atmosphere… Continue reading
Climate Change: Part 1 – The Fundamentals
What is Climate Change and what causes it? The answer is very simple yet extraordinarily complex. Greenhouse gases are the cause of Global Warming. But in order to understand this phenomenon one must first understand the scientific principles behind the Greenhouse effect. A greenhouse consists of a structure that is totally enclosed with glass. A very neat property of glass is that it allows most of the sun’s rays to penetrate through the glass, especially the long wavelength rays called infrared. These rays are the ones that make you feel hot when standing directly in sunlight… Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Global Warming
Tagged 400 ppm, atmosphere, carbon dioxide, CO2, gases, Global Warming, Greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, heat, Infrared, limate Change, long wavelength, methane gas, soluble in water, sunlight
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City Growth – The Smart Way
There has been much discussion about growth in my community and its impacts upon the quality of life of residents. I live in Silicon Valley which is currently undergoing an upturn in high-tech job growth which is considered healthy for our economy. But we are paying a heavy price in traffic congestion which is impacting our quality of life with more street noise, greater difficulty in getting around town, less safe streets, and increased air pollution…. But what if the cities planned new high density housing along existing transit corridors leading to major job centers in our city? What if there was a development within walking or biking distance from a major work center like Apple or Google where there was a large affordable housing complex incorporating a shopping center, daycare, offices for doctors, lawyers, etc. and even a school and library… Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Transportation Alternative
Tagged affordable housing, air pollution, growth impact, high density housing, housing growth, impact, job growth, minimize impact, public transportation, quality of life, Silicon Valley, Smart Growth, traffic, traffic congestion, transportation alternatives
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Why would Anyone Be Against More Bicycles
I have been a bicycle advocate for the last 3 years because I feel that there are far too many cars on the road and bicycles can play an important role in reducing those numbers. I am also for public transport but feel that it will not work for my city due to urban sprawl with its maze of meandering streets and cul-de-sacs intended to offer more privacy for residents… Bicycles do not have this problem and neither do cars. The problem with cars is that they cause traffic which as our city rapidly grows is becoming a major problem. Continue reading
2015 UN Paris Climate Summit – Are We Committed?
The first UN Climate Change Summit (COP21) in 20 years convened in Paris just days after the recent Terrorist attacks there. Its goal is to draft legally binding and universal agreements on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 3.6°C… Our nation has officially been a strong advocate for reducing greenhouse gases yet 57% of Republican Congress Members deny anthropomorphic (man caused) Climate Change arguing there is nothing we can do to stem it in spite of universal scientific consensus to the contrary. Continue reading
What YOU Can Do to Make a Difference – Climate Change
The primary culprit of Climate Change is excessive CO2 being released into the atmosphere from the insatiable appetite of Our Affluent Lifestyle. There is almost no part of our lives that does not impact Climate Change from the goods we consume to the conveniences we treasure. So there are plenty of opportunities for each of us to mitigate Our Individual impact. It isn’t only about government regulating carbon emissions. It is also about each of us doing our part to reduce the use of energy that is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. We can no longer wait for someone else to reduce it for us. Continue reading
Global Warming No Longer a Science Issue
In the last decade the consensus of scientific peer-reviewed papers on anthropogenic (man caused) Global Warming has rapidly gained favor. A recent report indicates 97.2% of recent scientific peer-reviewed papers favor anthropogenic Global Warming. Major behavioral and economic changes to correct for Global Warming must happen. Greenhouse gases directly or indirectly produced engage every aspect of life. This change will have huge economic, political, and moral ripple effects that will change our lives more than any other issue facing us today. The reason it is so controversial is its urgency and potential threat to our existence. It requires immediate and disruptive changes to our ways of life. Continue reading
Posted in Climate Change, Economy, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Morality Values, Religion, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society
Tagged anthropogenic, behavioral change, conservative, disruptive, economic change, Global Warming, lobby congress, moralised, peer reviewed papers, politicized, Pope Frances, science is imperfect
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Sustainable Growth – A More Enduring Future
Today more than ever before many communities are feeling the effects of growth. Growth happens most in regions where there is a demand for jobs. For example in Silicon Valley in California many high-tech and social media companies flourish alongside community colleges and universities scattered throughout the region. Young students come from all over the country and world to study there and many are later offered jobs requiring their skills Others seeking job opportunities travel from all over the nation to take jobs there. But growth has consequences, especially rapid growth. Housing near jobs are in great demand and thus are expensive and unavailable. Since cars are almost the sole mode of transportation in the U.S. the roads and freeways become congested with people trying to commute to work from a distance. Continue reading
Affluence, The Plight of All Things Natural
Affluence is the economic state of having considerable wealth relative to the majority of the general population. Throughout history the powerfully affluent have been responsible for wars, disease, pollution, waste, over consumption of resources, and upsetting the balance of nature. Affluence, by its very nature, perpetuates poverty to provide cheap goods and labor to serve its many pleasures. Wherever affluence exists pollution and poverty are sure to fester where resources, natural or human, exist to feed its voracious appetite for extravagance and convenience. Modern man has existed for some 200,000 years … Continue reading
100 Years from Now: The Complete Series
In the past year I have given some thought to what the future would look like a hundred years from now given the state of science today and the effects of global warming, diminishing natural resources, and a populations of over twice what it is today (population control will be in effect). One thing is clear, the word Sustainable will be far more than a buzzword. It will be a way of life. Continue reading
Posted in Crime & Justice, Economy, Education, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Life's Lessons, Personal Perspective, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society
Tagged culural changes, future city design, future technology, Global Warming, holodeck, infrastructure, over population, shortage of resources
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100 Years from Now: Part 15 – Crime and Security
What can be said about crime and security 100 years from now? Keep in mind that in 100 years two significant and remarkable things will have occurred. Technology would become our willing slave meeting most of our needs making jobs obsolete and making us happy and content at the cost of privacy. But in 100 years privacy may not be nearly as important to us as it is today. Technology will also make committing and getting away with crime extremely difficult. Continue reading
Posted in 100 Years, Crime & Justice, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Life's Lessons, Personal Perspective, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society
Tagged crime, cultural changes, future city design, future technology, Global Warming, holodeck, infrastructure, over population, shortage of resources
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100 Years from Now: Part 14 – Education
One of the primary purposes of education is to provide one with the tools to live a productive life. A large part of our traditional definition of productive is to become employable. The other is to give us other values of enjoyment and appreciation for things not focused upon work or earning a living. As describes in ‘100 Years from Now: Part 8 – Jobs and Economics’ both jobs and money 100 years from now may not even exist. Technology will literally become our willing slave making the need to make a living obsolete. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 13 – Government
Social norms and values will be very different 100 years into the future as today’s values are very different that those 100 years ago. So will the function of government 100 years from now. The purpose of government is to protect the individual rights of its citizens. In a society 100 years from now where everyone’s needs are taken care of are everyone’s rights also taken care of? It largely depends upon what are everyone rights. Continue reading
Posted in 100 Years, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Life's Lessons, Personal Perspective, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society
Tagged cultural changes, future city design, future technology, Global Warming, holodeck, infrastructure, over population, shortage of resources
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100 Years from Now: Part 12 – Population Control
Controlling the population will be a key element of Sustainable survival. Over population is a drain on precious resources. Fortunately since people 100 years from now no longer need to work a working population is no longer important. The birth and mortality rates can be carefully controlled to a sustainable level so as not to be a drain on resources. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 11 – Recreation & Entertainment
I thought I’d add Recreation & Entertainment to this Series because these would be things people would spend most of their time doing together with socialization since no one worked. As I have eluded earlier in 100 Years from Now: Part 8 – Jobs and Economics people would typically live like the wealthy folk of Downton Abbey where robot like technology would serve their every needs. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 10 – Shopping
As I stated in 100 Years from Now: Part 8 – Jobs and Economics money will have no value in the exchange of goods and services. Instead they will be provided freely. But there will be some rules and limits as to what one can ask for. Space and resources will be limited and there are things that are not beneficial to society so such things violating these rules will be prohibited just as we are legally limited in what we can posses today. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 9 – Socializing
Socialization is in our DNA so it will be a significant part of our activities 100 years from now and beyond. I have alluded to the Holodeck in Part 2: Technology, eating out in Part 5: Food, and entertaining in Part 7: Housing. However remote socialization will become far more common in the future due to technology such as the Holodeck and other communications tools. Remote socialization is nothing new. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 8 – Jobs and Economics
It is questionable in my mind whether jobs for people will even exist 100 years from now. Most certainly there will be far fewer of them. We see many signs of automation reducing the number of jobs in just about every profession today. In the not too distant future technology will largely make most if not all jobs obsolete. Continue reading
Posted in 100 Years, Economy, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Life's Lessons, Personal Perspective, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society
Tagged cultural changes, future city design, future technology, Global Warming, holodeck, infrastructure, over population, shortage of resources
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100 Years from Now: Part 7 – Housing
The average home or microhouse will likely be about 500 sq. ft. and be largely located underground to protect it from the elements, though there may be limited above ground housing, in large energy-efficient clusters going up and down many stories. It is possible for a family of two or three to live quite comfortably in that small an area as exist in some communities in Sweden or apartments in Hong Kong. Multi-utilitarian rooms with movable walls and ceiling panels exist in places such as Hong Kong and Japan where space is at a premium. Continue reading
ouR Social Conscience 