Bike Lane Blocking, An Angry Rant and Something You Can Do

...xy and often politically unpalatable work of installing bus only lanes and making the city more pedestrian and bike friendly, seems to think that the future lies in a techno-optimist future of flying cars and private tubes as peddled by Elon Musk. Instead of improvements we could have right now (all a bus lane takes is a line of paint) we’re waiting for a future that will never come. I’ve held off writing this post for years but I can’t stay silen...

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I Canceled the New York Times

...ge reporters, Lisa Friedman. The article continues, Climate scientists and energy economists say the plan is technically impractical, politically unfeasible, and possibly ineffective. What climate scientists and energy economists? The ones quoted later on in the article? We never find out. The first named “expert” we hear from is David Victor, an advisor to Pete Buttigieg, who centristsplains us naive kids, “The progressive wing wants radical chan...

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Of Love and Compressed Air

...’s patent (US4311010A) for a “Gas-powered engine adapted to utilize stored solar heat energy and compressed gas power system.” Apparently, he couldn’t find a machinist to realize this compressed air storage invention (they all thought it was a perpetual motion machine). Let me conclude with a detour from the power of compressed air to the power of love. If you didn’t see Bishop Michael Curry’s royal wedding sermon, you really should. He turned wha...

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Saturday Linkages: Basil Downy Mildew, Bees and Grow Lights

...de solar ovens: http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2014/06/navajo-teen-harnesses-solar-energy-wins.html … Abandoned Railways Exploration Probe: http://www.furtherfield.org/programmes/exhibition/seft-1-abandoned-railways-exploration-probe-modern-ruins-1220 … When Plants Get Metal: Part 2 | Popular Science http://po.st/RXw4JD In SF, empty lots now can be designated agricultural zones: http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2014/06/18/empty-lots-now-can-be-d...

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Crapper Livin’

...e, there is less convenience with a building like this. With a very simple solar water heating system showers need to be taken at the end of the day and the very modest solar panel would not be able to power any major appliances. But these are minor sacrifices compared to the enormous benefits of self-sufficiency, namely one’s freedom. An aside here – SurviveLA encourages a trip out to beautiful Santa Rosa Island to enjoy the natural wonders and t...

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