Some Recent Developments in Solar Energy

Today I discovered 2 exciting and complementary (recent) developments in solar energy technology. The first is an article by Mike Chino, which I found on Inhabitat. This article covers research by the Ohio State Institute for Materials Research regarding a new hyper-efficient solar material they have developed, which is "able to absorb energy from all spectrums of visible light at once."

The second is an article I discovered at openecosource covering research from MIT. Researchers there have developed a new method for storing solar energy based on photosynthesis.

These technologies are expected to be available to consumers in about a decade.

openecosource

I just discovered a fantastic resource called openecosource with a very comprehensive overview offered through a large number of open-source links (thanks are due to Linus Torvalds for popularizing open-source). Think of wikipedia, but with a different format. Maybe it's time for an eco-focused wikipedia to streamline research and give a great one-stop starting point for people just coming up to speed on their environmental education. (if one already exists please comment with the link)

Shipping Container Housing (and other uses)

My sister Amy sent me a link for a site about using shipping containers as housing and for various other projects like a self-contained BlackBox Datacenter, offices, or emergency shelter (which they are ideally suited to).

[Through the efforts of many designers, builders and eco organizations, the surplus of shipping containers from China has diminished greatly. The result of two years of publicity and awareness has stimulated a growing trend to construct housing, offices, and apartments using the base of the standard Shipping Container. Much of my statistics and information have come from the LA Port Authority, ISBU Association International, Bob Vila, and the Green Mechanical Council who are one of the main organizers of EcoBuild America. The exposure of the problem, combined with the incredible strength and ease of shipping container based construction has truly turned the problem into one of the fastest growing building trends globally.
...lemons to lemonade.

For many reasons, it's the strongest mobile or stationary structure in the world built to withstand typhoons, tornadoes, hurricanes and even earthquakes. One or more of these incredible steel modules are the safest superstructure for a home, school, office, apartment, dormitory, storage unit, emergency shelter. ...where would you rather be in a storm, hurricane or earthquake? I think in a room made of strong Corten steel....(excerpted from title link site)]



I am interested in creative use (or re-use) of our available resources (especially those typically considered waste). I am fascinated by nature's incredible ability to maximize resource efficiency as well as having all waste serve as input for some essential process. Please send me any links (or your own ideas) related to this.

I just entered "shipping container" on google images and found this to be a great starting point for further research, check it out.

The Traceless Warrior: Light at the end of the tunnel

The Traceless Warrior: Light at the end of the tunnel

Looking Forward To Less Focus On Negative Politics

I am looking forward to being able to focus again on the positive aspects of the future we are mutually creating. I feel a bit burned out on politics (it's the negativity) and want to get back to covering the research and developments within the progressive/green community.

There are so many exciting discoveries being made and so much hope inherent in these discoveries, that I am becoming increasingly happy with what I am seeing. A whole new world is possible.

85,000 U.S. Foreclosures in October

The GOP legacy continues. By the time Bush leaves office the US housing market will almost surely exceed 1,000,000 foreclosed homes. It's hard to imagine why Americans said "enough" of the policies and attitudes that created this disaster.

As government and industry scrambled to stem the housing crisis, another 84,868 homes were lost to foreclosure in October, according to a report released Thursday.

Last month 279,561 struggling borrowers received foreclosure filings, including default notices, notices of auction sales and bank repossessions, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosures. That's a 5% increase from September, and up 25% from October 2007.

"October marks the 34th consecutive month where U.S. foreclosure activity has increased compared to the prior year," said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac in a statement.

A total of 936,439 homes have been lost to foreclosure since the housing crisis hit in August, 2007.

(This was in AMERICAblog.com)

BUDDHA/ How much more will it take before we become serious about rebuilding our economy and our society? There are so many things we can do that will simultaneously reduce our environmental impact and personal expenses while fostering a greater sense of community with our fellow citizens.

We need to become informed and then demand changes in our zoning and planning regulations (and remember to vote with your dollars) to encourage more intelligent resource usage and community development. I am an advocate of civil disobedience regarding stupid laws which keep us from living sustainably and force people to work like dogs to meet their basic survival needs (especially senior-citizens and children). With a shift toward some of the already tested and proven ideas about intentional community and mass transit serving clustered developments we could enjoy a much higher standard of living, coupled with the benefits inherent in reduced fixed expenses and time demands. The range of options and their potential impact is truly astounding!(check out The Geography of Nowhere/ Home From Nowhere/ Your Money Or Your Life/ Communities Directory/ many of the books on voluntary simplicity/ and most of the links on this blog)

I am very interested in reader's thoughts and experiences around this topic. Please feel free to comment if moved to do so.

Tim Brown: The Powerful Link Between Creativity and Play

It is time to get serious about creating solutions to the problems we find ourselves facing. And perhaps even beginning to transcend them by creating opportunities to simply leapfrog many of our present circumstances and impending difficulties. We should be maximizing the benefits of working together in an atmosphere of trust and mutual support (and the Crumbgobblers always remind me of the many benefits of serious play).

An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.-Victor Hugo

Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.-Rita Mae Brown

There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.-Oscar Levant

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.-Martin Luther King Jr.

There can be no progress without deviation from the norm.-Frank Zappa

Neighborhood Swaps Can Save Money

Under 2 minutes. I have been pushing this concept for years now and using lawnmowers as my concrete example, so this just seemed to be begging to be posted. Simplify, simplify, simplify!!!

Keith Olbermann on Equal Opportunity for Love in the USA

Like Keith, I am straight, and also like Keith I cannot for the life of me understand people's incredible opposition to the right of homosexual couples to wed. I simply do not see how extending this right can be harmful. Between 10-15% of the human population is gay, and will remain so irrespective of the denial of marital rights. In a society so overwhelmed with war, economic depression, and inequality on countless fronts I believe that we should do everything possible to promote love, hope, and family stability for ALL of the people within our borders. Check out the video, Keith does a better job covering it than I can.

As The Dust Settles

I have been waiting for a change like this for many, many years. We are on the doorstep of a new world. I have been so wrapped up in this election that I have only now begun to come down from the rush of seeing us move past fear and selfishness and embrace hope, service, and possibility.

I was awake all night leading up to election day, in order to be first in line to cast my vote for Obama. I must admit to being skeptical about the process and to feeling an overwhelming surge of relief when watching McCain's concession speech. I had been bracing for voter suppression, rigged machines, legal challenges, etc. This has finally given me confidence in our process. As Churchill said "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.".

Where do I even begin to focus on the profoundly positive results of this change and the unbelievable global response to it? Let's begin by examining the international response. While traveling in South America this summer I was presented with the idea that citizens of the world, and not just citizens of the U.S. should have a voice in selecting our president. This is because of the huge and disproportionate impact that the post has on the fate of the entire globe. The international response was much more jubilant than (even) I expected. People were literally dancing in the streets and crying tears of joy across the planet.

I have the feeling that this is like an overnight transition from The Dark Ages to The Renaissance. We, as a people have finally gotten to the point where the inherent unsustainability and unfairness of our course under (the thumb of) Bush became blindingly obvious to the majority of our citizenry. Much to my delight (and a bit to my surprise) the people stood up to the corporate interests and fearmongers to cast off the chains of oppression.

We are being presented with an historic opportunity, but we must work to realize it's potential http://change.gov/. The link provided is to the transition team's solid website which offers a lot of information while also soliciting input from visitors to the site. Transparency and an opportunity to directly contribute your voice to the governing of the nation, change indeed. To quote my dear friend Daisy May Erlewine "There is work to be done in the dark before dawn, there is work to be done so you've got to shine on.". Get to work!!!

Ronald Reagan Endorses Obama

Oh my! This is brilliant! Straight from the mouth of the Republican hero Ronnie Raygun. I want everyone in this country to ask themselves the same questions Ronnie asked us in 1980. Simply look around and unless you are in the top 10% financially the answers are obvious. Poverty is violence. Think about it. Do some research and go to the polls as an informed voter.

A question for the Christians: Who would Jesus be in support of here?

A system created to terrorize and impoverish is unjust, immoral, and in need of overhaul. It is way past time to address this, but here we are, so let's start now.

The Truth About Acorn's Voter Registration

I'm reminded of a song by anti-flag called We've Got The Numbers. The Republicans have been aware for years that without trickery, they do not command a majority of the votes in this nation. Due to this, they use the levers of fear, hateful divisive religion, and racism, as well as outright lies and fraud to divide and conquer the citizenry and seize power. Think back to the shenanigans of the 2000 and 2004 elections (police blocking minority voters, hanging chads, too few or faulty machines in low income areas, etc.).

Steal Back Your Vote (movie)

Steal Back Your Vote! from Greg Palast on Vimeo.
If you are challenged at the polling station, challenge them back. If you lack a government ID please try to obtain one before November 4th. If all else fails, vote on a provisional ballot, and let the attorneys fight it out in the courts. Keep in mind that the attorneys did not do us much good in the 2000 election and do all you can to ensure you are prepared on November 4th. (Republicans, remember to vote on November 5th when you will be expedited and avoid the long lines.) I recommend going to vote with friends, as it is much more difficult for someone to intimidate a group than to intimidate an individual.

Yes We Can! Si Se Puede!
Buddha

More inequality' in rich nations according to BBC News.

The gap between rich and poor in most wealthy nations has widened, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said.

Since 2000, income inequality had risen sharply in the US and Germany and declined in the UK, Mexico and Greece.

The size of the income differentials varies, with the greatest disparity in Mexico, which has a ratio of 25 to one, followed by Turkey and the US.

The most equal distribution of wealth is in the Nordic countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

"Growing inequality is divisive. It polarises societies, it divides regions within countries, and it carves up the world between rich and poor," he added.

"Trying to patch the gaps in income distribution solely through more social spending is like treating the symptoms instead of the disease," said Mr Gurría.

He urged governments to act to increase education opportunities and job prospects for blue collar workers and to offer welfare-in-work to working-class families to boost income.

(Excerpts from article, for full article click title link.)

Buddha/ Does it seem more than coincidental that the inequality in the U.S. spiked since the year 2000 when Shrub & The Neocons seized power in Washington and Wall Street? I just noticed a caption in the article stating that the gap began widening in the 1980s. Who was in the White House during the 80s? Oh yeah, Ronnie Raygun & Poppy Bush with their neocon buddies puppeteering backstage. It all makes sense to me. Follow the dollars and connect the dots.

Bioneers

This weekend I attended the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference in Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse City is one of the U.S. satellite sites for the main conference in California. There are plans to take Bioneers international soon. My friends set me up with a ticket and lodging as an exchange/gift. Special thanks to Seth & May, Sarna, and Buzz & Deb.

Bioneers is an umbrella for many groups and individuals working for positive social, political, and environmental change. The attendees tend to be a real mixed bag of nuts, but at least 99% are wonderful people. The event is a mix of classes, lectures, live performances, local organic food, and networking. It is an amazing opportunity to become exposed to a lot of material from the bleeding edge of the progressive movement, as well as many incredible people riding that edge.

I reconnected with some old friends, made some new ones (check out Lee Sprague at Clean Energy Now), and was able to help out a bit. The music was phenomenal as always, and there was even a concert Friday morning for 300 local schoolkids. Hopefully my networking will allow me to find meaningful and gainful local (or telecommuting) employment sometime soon, so I can continue being a 50% custodial parent.

[Neocons and their economic catastrophe =( ]