Power Down

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund's Danielle Ivory was a finalist for the Investigative Reporters and Editors investigative journalism award for an article she wrote on atrazine. Maybe she didn't win because her story was inaccurate. Sure, I crossed over to the "dark side" leaving newspaper journalism for public relations, but I still remember my news roots. Those roots go back to ink-scented offices at my college newspaper, then at the historic Emporia Gazette in Emporia, Kan.  The pay wasn't great, but I gained a fortune in news smarts from some amazing (and often grumpy) editors.  A lazily written story was always challenged with red ink. Notes to the side like "attribution?",[..]

A study at the University of Illinois aims at showing how important atrazine is to crops in the Midwest. The study looked at 175 sweet corn fields in the Midwest.   "While the vast majority of our Kansas corn growers raise field corn, which is a feedgrain, this research is valuable because it helps us understand how vegetable farmers also rely on atrazine," according to Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association.   Researchers noticed atrazine was being applied to two-thirds of the sweet corn acres; row cultivation was used on about half of the sweet corn acreage. Here is what one of the researchers, Marty Williams had to say about the study:   "If the use[..]

All the news that's fit to scare. That was the thrust of this weekend's New York Times article by Charles Duhigg entitled "Toxic Waters: Debating Just How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass." As president of the American Council on Science and Health, I have been following environmental and health media articles for some three decades -- seeing how they measure up in terms of "honors" for exaggerated risk, biased reporting, misrepresented science, and pure sensationalism. The Duhigg article is clearly a contender for the all-time worst. Duhigg argues that the widespread use of the herbicide atrazine is polluting our supply of drinking water and putting us all -- but[..]

Wells Fargo has been an environmentally and socially responsible company from its very inception and has worked towards making the people who work for it more aware of energy consumption and how to minimize it. This was long before it became fashionable to be green. The company policies have been consistent throughout history and have always been environmentally friendly. It is a commitment that is inculcated into the workforce even today. At present the company has been awarded for actively safeguarding the environment as seen in the Green Power Leadership Club. Most of its business activities are also connected with the green revolution and we see many innovative ways in which the[..]

We teach our collegians well about the period known as the dark ages but do we thoroughly explain what brought on this horrible period across the globe? With little fanfare the answer to that question is an unequivocal no. Let's do the math here. The marriage of civil and ecclesiastical power is without dispute the singular cause of the horrors of the dark ages. When the authority of the state and the church are wed, people suffer. The equation goes like this. If I am a Muslim, Christian, Catholic or Jew I may practice my religion without fear of persecution, reprisal or rejection. I still must obey civil law but the judicial body won't besiege me with charges for the beliefs I hold[..]

The have been many debates about where or not we are at peak oil. Are we their yet? With out a doubt we are going to be their. This is now way we will not run out. The United States CIA says the world consumes well over 85 million barrels a day. The United States consuming about a quarter of that. Their one of this two possibilities are going to happen. We are going to run out or we are going to heat the world up to catastrophic temperatures. If we continue using that much oil a day. The first thing that comes to my mind is gardening. In either event, we are going to need to know how to grow our own food. In my opinion we are all eventually going to need to know how to grow a garden.[..]

Landfill fires can occur even in modern and well run landfills, although with good monitoring and site controls they are seldom more than a nuisance. However, they are especially dangerous as they can emit dangerous fumes from the combustion of the wide range of materials contained within the landfill. Since in most cases the supply of air is likely to be small, the rate of combustion inevitably will be slow. There are a number of possible sources of ignition. These can include ignition sources buried within the deposit of waste materials, the deposit of pyrophoric materials (for example, finely divided metal turnings can initiate ignition, fires lit on the surface of a site, or[..]

I have always been interested in alternative energy, and ways to live 'off the grid'. The last big 'gas crunch' brought my interests to the automotive field, as gas prices edged ever closer to the $5.00 a gallon mark. I desperately searched for ways to increase gas mileage, and, of course, save money. I did all the usual stuff like tuning my engine, changing the oil on a regular basis, and making sure the tires were all properly inflated. I used every fuel additive that promised to increase gas mileage; and, was very aware of my driving habits. Eventually, my search turned to the Internet where a Google search query for 'ways to increase gas mileage' led me to articles and videos[..]

A star is a luminous ball of partially ionized gas that is held by gravity. The more massive the star is the shorter its lifespan due to its greater pressure on their cores causing them to burn hydrogen more rapidly. The life span of massive star is about one million years while stars with minimum mass like the red dwarfs lasts ten to hundreds of billions of years. Stellar evolution begins with a giant molecular cloud (GMC), as it collapse the GMC breaks into smaller pieces and produces a gravitational potential energy as heat. As the temperature and pressure of the gas increase it condenses into a rotating sphere called protostar. Protostars with mass less than 1.6 times ten to the[..]

We have got used to relying on a whole range of chemical products for the cleaning of our homes and offices without paying attention to how harmful such substances can be for the health or the environment. Paint, oil, grease, germs, stains and blotches are the nightmare of cleaning and the enemies of good health, and people use very powerful agents to eliminate the problem. Given the immense environmental problems, some companies have taken up manufacturing cleaning products which are eco-friendly. Organic solvents and powerful cleaning agents can also be derived from vegetables and plant ingredients, and here we have the solution for eco-friendly cleaning. It is false to assume that[..]

Ceiling LED lights are used as modern interior lighting to brighten up any room. Whether it is kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, these lights or LED bulbs can change the whole look of a room. They are designed as directional bulbs; which means they can be turned to focus on an object or locale. This way a number of bulbs in all kinds of angles can be used to lighten up an entire area or corridor. It has been discovered that LED bulbs produce a light which is very similar to daylight and therefore these bulbs are very practical and useful. Ceiling LED bulbs can also be easily fitted into a wooden decking. They can be used to decorate the interior of a house. Nowadays people use all kinds of[..]

I recently picked up the essential book on the conservative movement Conscienceof a Conservative, and am certainly glad I did. Frequently when a book is old as this one we shrugoff reading it, this is one that demands your attention. If you previouslyread this years ago go read it again. The latest version has a newforeword by George Will and a new afterword by Robert Kennedy, Jr. Barry Goldwater is considered the father of the conservative moment and withgood reason. He eloquently states his case for smaller government and lesstaxes. He takes a definitive stance on states rights and nearly fifty years ago he had the foresight to see the fallacy of the welfarestate. Goldwater defines[..]

iv id="body"> Hillary Clinton and All the King's Men couldn't do it but the State of Massachusetts did it with out too much fuss. I'm talking about the new health insurance plan of course. Congress sometimes acts like a hapless bunch of morons it seems. That's a good reason to keep the important things out of their hands. They spend more money and waste more time than any other entity on earth. Look at the MedicareRx Plan designed by these geniuses. It gave billions back to the drug industry, confused the hell out of me and all other senior citizens, and leaves a big gap in drug coverage. Nice! Maybe Congress should be adjourned immediately until this country can get back on its feet[..]

Many people complain that they cannot read, copy, edit, and print their PDF files as they don't have or forget PDF password. Actually, you may not know that, there are two types of PDF password: The one who create PDF files can either protect the PDF files from editing, copying and printing or he can set the password from opening it. These are known as owner password and user password. I'd like to discuss them separately. In this article, I will discuss mainly about owner password. What is owner password? That is the most common protection for PDF files nowadays. You can open a document without asking to enter a password. But you cannot print the file or copy text to clipboard or make[..]

Theories of how life originated There are several main theories of how life originated. Let us take these in rough chronological order. Firstly the theory of Panspermia. It was thought that micro-organisms had arrived on Earth from another part of the universe carried by meteorites or comets. Secondly, since there was no real evidence for panspermia chemical theories of the origin of life arose and are more plausible at our current level of knowledge. Here the theory is that life arose from chemical reactions between organic molecules abiotically (not manufactured by organisms). Herman Muller felt that the first life forms must have been genes that replicated themselves and mutated[..]

Imagine that you are a lawyer who received a contract from your co-worker in PDF format and find there are several crucial items need to be modified. You do not have the original copy in word and your coworker is now on a vacation you cannot even connect him now. The contract is urgent, then what to do next? Generally, there are two methods to edit PDF files nowadays: editing in PDF editor, converting PDF to Word. Editing in PDF editor Editing in PDF editor maybe the first thought occurred to many of us, actually it is not easy as it sounds to be. First of all, you must have a PDF editor in advance, but mostly of them are quite expensive. Take Adobe Acrobat Professional for example, it[..]

Wow. I just had a wake up call, maybe even an epiphany. While this may not be a completely green topic, it does refer to email, so unless you are printing your emails (and why would you do that?), I guess we can consider this a sustainable article. Maybe I am the loner, but when I receive an email, and decide to open it, I generally read the whole message. These are from friends, family and known business associates. I do the same when I receive an email newsletter. After all, these are publications I subscribed to, so most of the content would be of interest to me. After sending out an important email to my friends and family, I found out that I am most definitely in the[..]

Analyzing a business, what is the one item that simply "needs to work"? Sure, in the summer, the response is likely A/C, and it definitely could be a serious detriment to productivity, but there's an even more base requirement. No, it's not that Blackberry or iPhone, rather, it is lighting. A dark environment makes doing business nearly impossible. Yet, it is the very equipment which allows a company to continue operating effectively that is seen as simply another consumable. In recent years, more attention has been brought to illumination as a means of "going green" through the use of CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights) and, on a smaller scale, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). The efforts[..]

Yes, I know. Before all of you start yelling Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, please understand there are times when disposable items are the only practical option. For example, how about when you ask for that doggie bag at your favorite restaurant? Suppose your folks are over for a summer BBQ? Or your company is planning an event or conference? Most restaurants today provide Styrofoam® to package your take out foods. In the United States, the word styrofoam® is often used as a generic term for expanded polystyrene foam, such as disposable coffee cups, coolers, or packaging material. These goods are typically white and constructed of expanded polystyrene beads, a petroleum product.[..]

It is a topic which has been fought ever since implementation, and successfully, too, as there are currently no national speed limit guidelines. A federally-mandated speed limit was initially implemented in 1974 with the passage of the National Maximum Speed Law. As a response to the 1973 oil embargo, it was an attempt to curb fuel consumption through the reduction of speed on all roads to 55 MPH or less. Fast-forward 13 years, and oil is no longer a scarce resource (at least at the pump). With fuel prices (comparatively) low, and drivers clamoring for higher speeds, the federal government passed the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act, allowing states to raise[..]

Traditionally, at the start of a new year, resolutions are tossed about promising exercise or eating habit modifications. There's nothing wrong with these, but, honestly, how many are forgotten by January 3rd? This year, why not make a resolution that's truly achievable, and can also benefit yourself, your community, and the planet? My New Year's resolution is to engage in a variety of sustainable practices throughout the year. Ok, so what does that mean? Sure, I'll recycle what I can, compost foodstuffs, and work to save energy, paper, and other resources, but is that really what the resolution is aiming to achieve? Sustainability is about more than just saving energy or recycling; it's[..]

Even one-drop-at-a-time oil spills on roads and parking lots from vehicles are enough to pollute the environment significantly. The oil spilled on the driveway, parking lots, or gas stations, not only look unsightly, but according to the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, they also contribute to an estimated 80 percent of marine pollution. When an oil spill occurs at home, most people use oil spill cleanup techniques, such as hot water pressure washing, pour paint thinner, use kitty litter, soapy water and other granular absorbents and solvents. But, the fact is that most of the techniques that you use for oil spill cleanup are not environmentally safe and cause more harm[..]

Too often in the political arena, information is incomplete or skewed to the advantage of one group or another. I [Mike Morley] would encourage anyone who is interested to review my voting record. I have represented with integrity the values of the people in District 66 and, if re-elected, I will continue to fight for you by holding fast to my core principles of strengthening the family as the fundamental unit of society, treating taxes as a sacred trust used only to promote the proper role of government, and controlling government growth.... I support the Republican platform which strongly favors families, private enterprise, educational options, the right to life, and limited[..]

On a bright, blue morning at Hamburg Airport, the aeronautics industry came a giant step closer to changing the future path of alternative energy aircraft. That's the morning that the Antares DLR H-2 motor glider became the first aircraft in history to take off solely under hydrogen cell power. While both the Antares and a Boeing hydrogen fuel cell powered plane have flown before, Tuesday, July 7, 2009 marks the first time that any manned aircraft has achieved lift-off without the assistance of a hybrid electric motor. The Antares DLR H-2 was developed by the German Aerospace Center - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, shortened to DLR in common speech. Lange Aviation, BASF[..]

Water pollution is the contamination or adulteration of the water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, and ground water by number of human activities. Since water is essential for all our basic needs, water pollution is a threat to us. Many communicable diseases spread through unclean water, which even results in death. Although there are different factors that contribute to water pollution, listed below are the most dangerous causes of water pollution. • Factories and nuclear plants play a major role in polluting the water. Wastes from factories include toxins, such as lead, mercury, and other contaminants. These chemicals are very harmful and can lead to serious health[..]

Oil spills at home can be classified into a seep or a leak. A slow seepage of oil that doesn’t produce a drip is called a seep. This kind of oil spill is usually not visible on the pavement as a spill. On the other hand, when oil drips from vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and lawn mowers resulting in a puddle of oil, it is called a leak. A leak not only happens when the vehicle is parked, but also when it is on the move. It can be pretty dangerous as it not only damages the engine of the vehicle internally but is also harmful to the environment. So a leak needs to be looked into promptly. Reasons for oil spills from vehicles are plenty. Some common causes include structural design[..]

Have you made a commitment to live greener? Many people are working toward becoming greener in their everyday lives in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut back on their carbon footprints and save money. As part of that effort, green enthusiasts have turned their attention to their kitchen habits. While there are many small steps that people can take to go green in the kitchen, one big step is replacing that old kitchen stove with a more energy efficient model - one that suits the way you cook and reduces the amount of energy that you use to put food on the table. When it comes to choosing greener appliances, most homeowners rely on the Energy Star rating. Energy Star is a[..]

For every positive action in nature, there is an equal negative reaction. Yin and Yang. And so it has been since history began. The Green Movement is no different. Now that a growing number of consumers are becoming educated on the environmental issues facing us all and wanting to do their part to protect the health of their families , employees, communities and planet, a new evil comes lurking out of the shadows. This evil is not easily recognized as it is dressed in friendly green garb, and comes with promises of purity and environmental benefits. It's known as "greenwashing". The watchdog and testing agency, Terra Choice Environmental Marketing/Eco-Logo defines greenwashing as: "the[..]

The effect of water pollution on the ecological balance and human life is really traumatic. Though there are many other pollutants polluting water, oil spills, especially from oil runoff from land is the major contributor. Hence, it is mandatory that we take up initiatives to safeguard our marine environment. Petroleum is a widely used fuel which finds its utility everywhere right from homes to industries and electricity generation to chemical industry. There might be incidences of large scale oil spills during transportation, but the fact is that small motor oil spills or leakages on land are far more dangerous. Small motor oil leaks from individual vehicles on the driveways or improper[..]

Ever visit someplace from childhood and wonder, "wow, I remember it being much more expansive"? Now, go back a few more times and, before long, it will all appear normal. While not entirely the same concept, this is a worthwhile starting point for the worrisome idea of Shifting Baselines. Wait, come back! It may be a complicated-sounding term, but there's no science lesson here today. Shifting Baselines essentially represents a change in what is perceived as normal. It is most often applied to environmental degradation, specifically in the oceans. So why is a change in perceptions an issue? Well, say a fisherman spent their entire life working the sea, never changing fishing grounds. If[..]

eerencWhat does the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have to do with sustainability? On January 27th, 2010 the SEC published guidance for public companies on the reporting of impacts potentially contributing towards climate change. Additionally, they disclose the effects climate change may and can have on a company's profitability. While some public and corporate officials are stating that the risks cannot as yet be properly assessed and the requirements are premature, most major investors, which have been supporting the new guidelines, are pleased. Why has the SEC taken this action and is this information really pertinent to an investor? Let's take a look at what has been[..]

Network Time Protocol seems to have been around for ever. In fact it is indeed one of the Internet’s oldest protocols having been developed in the 1980’s by Professor David Mills and his team from Delaware University. In a laid-back world it perhaps doesn’t matter if computer networks are not synchronised. The only consequences of timing errors could be that an email arrives before it was sent but in industries such as airline seat reservation, the stock exchange or satellite communication, fractions of a second can cause serious errors such as selling seats more than once, the loss of millions of dollars or even fraud. Computers are logical machines and as time is linear to a[..]

When it comes to energy usage these days a lot of people are looking for alternative energy sources and as such solar power is very much coming into vogue. At its current level of technological evolution, solar power is a useful means of powering small engines to run simple devices. Fans are one such simple device and you will many instances where using a solar powered fan makes more sense than a fan powered by conventional means. Many manufacturers now offer solar powered attic fans to ventilate and help keep attics cooler. If there is inadequate ventilation in the attic and poor sealing between the attic and the other rooms in the house, attic fans powered by electric means can[..]

Digital signage is more than just flashy advertising; digital signage has many uses from providing information to customers to providing vital work related information to employees. Its usefulness is represented by the fact that signage systems using LCD or plasma screens are being implemented in many areas and in different extremes. They are found in many places in industry, amongst the dirt, grease and oil but they are often protected by LCD enclosures. These enclosures are not only good at protecting the LCD from the environment but also they can protect the environment from the LCD. Digital signage is being implemented in hospitals, clinics, food manufacturing facilities, clean rooms[..]

In recent years, humanity has become aware of the great dangers that emissions, which, due to development and modernity are being released increasingly to the Environment, represent in the future. These emissions are originated from factories, machines and vehicles, as well as from different products for industrial and domestic use. The devastating effects over the life and the conditions of the environment are so great, that if they do not rush in modifying the toxic mechanisms and technologies, we could go to the edge of the abyss, from which we would not have the way to go out unharmed. We would then condemn the future generations to an obscure, inhospitable world, in which scarce[..]

We all want to do our best to reduce energy consumption and get “off the grid” whenever possible. This includes everything from solar hot water systems in a home, to electricity-free appliances and fixtures as well. Some gardeners and property owners are turning to solar equipment for a wide variety of needs too. For instance, many gardens have solar lighting installations that are entirely free of electrical service. There are also many gardens with ponds of different sizes and the owners of these ponds can enjoy a huge assortment of solar powered pond equipment as well. From fountains and lights to solar pond pumps, the choices are many. While a few of these options are purely[..]

After one of the harshest winters in years, we have finally been treated to some sunshine and a promise of more good weather along the way. And for those of us who feel there is never enough sunshine throughout our summers, making the most of it while it lasts is important. One of the best ways of enjoying the warm weather is to just relax in your own garden but often people can get carried away and start buying products and backyard furniture, without realising how environmentally damaging they are. Patio heaters and outdoor lighting are two examples, both of which use energy, but other items in out gardens such as patio furniture can also be damaging to the environment, especially of[..]

Two solar power technologies exist, the passive and the active technology. The passive technology are the photocell panels or the photovoltaic film that receives sunlight and generates electricity more apt for a space station or a home. The active technology is a solar thermal that uses a dish to concentrate sunlight that produces steam, which in turn powers a turbine that generates electricity. Another active technology, which is not being promoted, hidden form public view, is using the Stirling Engine to move a power generator. The passive technology is ready to go, and there are a few homes that have already installed the system. This system is totally clean, backed by the USDOE Solar[..]