dagblog - Comments for "Saving Civilization Through a New Energy Economy"

Caulking your windows can

USCitizen — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:58:00 +0000

Caulking your windows can only go so far. When you have a heat index of 95-120 degrees, you need energy efficient windows. Lots of new window manufacturers are using rubber as part of the seal. Solar energy is a really good way to go. There are lots of free energy sources that we have not even begun to tap into yet.

Not at all. To be clear, I

acanuck — Mon, 16 May 2011 04:20:23 +0000

In reply to And I hope I didn't offend

Not at all. To be clear, I wasn't suggesting that underlying genetic predispositions would change, but that societal norms about sexual expression might. Overpopulation might cause less value to be assigned to the "traditional" M-F couple, and fewer people might feel pressure to adapt themselves to a superficially straight lifestyle.

It's not about propagation per se, but the value assigned to propagation. How that might work in birds is a mystery to me, but so is the way an entire flock can turn instantly on a dime. You're right, though: it's an unproven theory, so it didn't really bolster my claim that societies self-regulate. They do, though.

And I hope I didn't offend

we are stardust — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:57:36 +0000

In reply to I did put that out very

And I hope I didn't offend you by my comment.

I did put that out very

acanuck — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:05:22 +0000

In reply to "I've even seen arguments

I did put that out very tentatively, and if I remember correctly the study was on birds, not humans. I don't see it as a negative or positive either way, but I should have gone with my initial instinct and left it out.

"I've even seen arguments

we are stardust — Sun, 15 May 2011 23:50:11 +0000

In reply to Needless to say, go Canucks.

"I've even seen arguments that overpopulation boosts homosexuality." It is not a good myth to perpetuate, IMO. Gender attractions aren't about propagation. And this was written in 2008, before science had shown to what degree it IS gentetic. Not to quibble, but... The arc toward a decrease in population looks complicated enough, lotsa theories I've read. Phone. Gotta go.

Needless to say, go Canucks.

acanuck — Sun, 15 May 2011 21:58:54 +0000

In reply to Above all, agree on the

Needless to say, go Canucks. I want to see a Tampa-Vancouver final. Two virtually Canadian teams, now that Boucher has put his stamp on the Lightning. (I simply refuse to think about how much energy it takes to keep a sheet of water frozen solid in Florida in June.)

I'm really bullish on the speed with which population control can change trajectories, having watched Quebec's birth rate plummet in a single decade. Then there's Russia, whose population dropped drastically once the Soviet economy went into the toilet. When it bounced back, Russkies started having babies again. I've even seen arguments that overpopulation boosts homosexuality. That I don't know, but I do believe population levels trend toward self-regulation.

We should capitalize on that trend. It would help if a summit of world leaders (including, in my dreams, the pope) would back the idea of every country achieving at least a stable state, although I think current population levels are unsustainable. Buy us 50 years or so to figure out how many people we can feed and clothe and offer an acceptable standard of living.

Meanwhile, of course, do all the other things you talk about. Oh, and dump capitalism while we're at it; that obviously doesn't work.

It's been 70%-80% of the US

quinn esq — Sun, 15 May 2011 19:42:39 +0000

In reply to 15% of our corn is exported

It's been 70%-80% of the US corn crop going to animal feed, through at home use and export. After that, most was corn syrup, then some liquor, and so on.

So ethanol eating into livestock feed is a little different than the view that it was stealing food from starving children. {I'm sorry, but I'm still so pissed from hearing that sort of thing, when people's meat-eating was a far more egregious sin, and the anti-ethanol thing came from a direct lobbying effort by oil and livestock producers, that I almost HAVE to comment on it.}

Know the feeling stardust.

miguelitoh2o — Sun, 15 May 2011 19:13:43 +0000

In reply to I have, Miguel; I think Yves

Know the feeling stardust. These were the kinds of topics I used to depend on my friend Maxine to help shed some light on. Not so much anymore.

15% of our corn is exported

we are stardust — Sun, 15 May 2011 17:22:17 +0000

In reply to Soil issues, water issues,

15% of our corn is exported to nations like Japan for cattle feed. Prices are driving down its use for feed, and cattle can be grass-fed with some grain supplements, too, though it can have a more bitter flavor. The emerging awareness of corn syrups will help, too, but in the not-too-distant future it may not grow here anyway (if the temps keep rising).

As to behavior on other

miguelitoh2o — Sun, 15 May 2011 16:53:40 +0000

In reply to Above all, agree on the

As to behavior on other fronts, I can't help but think what $3T+ spent on war/propping-up-financial-house-of-cards would have accomplished had it been divided between the 115M households of the US for increasing energy efficiency, (that works out to about $26K/household). We've got to have priorities, eh?