Author Archives: admin

So it begins…

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Yesterday came word that internal memos form the Trump administration instructed several government sponsored science groups cease all communication temporarily, including website updates and press releases. Today, this…
Trump administration’s abrupt cancellation of scientific meetings prompts confusion, concern

Do not forget that this man’s most fervent supporters are vehemently anti-science, and as a populist, he will give them what they want.

Why We Can’t Focus

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One of my favorite books is Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death”. Postman eerily predicted the current age of social media as a natural progression of the age of television, and he did it back in the early 80’s. This video does a fantastic job of laying out one of Postman’s best arguments. It is exactly how I feel about the subject.

He mentions a book called “The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr. I’ll be ordering that one as well.

Lidar

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LIDAR, LiDAR or LADAR, an acronym of “light detection and ranging” or “laser imaging, detection, and ranging” is a method for determining ranges by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver. (Wikipedia)
When I was at Kent as a Geology major this technology was just coming into play. Field work was rapidly going to disappear. Now using these tools available from USGS (thank you USGS) we can see our own neighborhoods in a new way.

USGS Searchable map of the United States.

The Great California Insurance War Has Begun

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Like in Florida, many insurance companies would like to end home owner’s coverage for some Californians. California is not Florida, there will be a fight.

Insurance commissioner issues moratorium on home policy cancellations in fire zones

In the end though, is it fair to ask insurance companies to take a perpetual loss? Or to ask the rest of America to subsidize the risk Californians take by living there?

Government “Efficiency”

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I remember a story from the 90’s. The government discovered that a certain form used an odd paper size and therefore cost a fortune to purchase. So, they changed the form to a more common size (legal 8.5″ x 14 inches I believe). Unfortunately, this meant all the previous forms had to be photocopied to the new size and the special filing cabinets they were stored in had to be replaced. In the end it cost more by far, than keeping the old form size would have cost. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Shattered ‘efficiency’ dreams: Musk could save $2 trillion just by undoing previous reforms

Movie Theaters

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I recently read the article below on casual movie theater attendance. It is apparently a thing of the past. I’d like to offer an opinion on this.

HOW ABOUT PUTTING BACK THE DANG MARQUEES!!!!

We have a new theater in our neighborhood. I suspect it isn’t doing well, and part of the reason, I am sure, is that I have no idea what’s playing there. Movie theaters mostly removed their marquees a number of years ago. They required manpower to change the sign and since everyone has smartphone (I don’t) then why bother? Well, because no one is going to look it up. That’s why.

It seems so simple, but I struggle to understand why they have not thought of it. Many times in the past I decided to see a movie because I noticed it was showing at my local theater. I might still be out shopping and say “Hey, let’s go see that film.” Modern business leaders are stupid.

The casual moviegoer is a thing of the past. That’s a big problem for Hollywood

This is Why Fighting Climate Change is Good Fiscal Policy

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I am always amazed by the lack of logic from those who deny climate change. I have watched friends change their stance from “I don’t believe climate change is occurring” to, “Well maybe, but we can’t be sure it is caused by humans” to the current, “Well China and India aren’t doing anything about it why should we?” This last comment has become popular as China overtook our country on EV (electric vehicle) and Solar Panel production. We now have a 100% tariff on Chinese EV’s because China can make a pretty good EV for about $12,000 U.S.! Can you imagine what a $12,000 car could do to the U.S. car market? Poor folks could almost afford a new car.

My point is that as we delay, the problem grows worse and we lose any ability to offset the cost of fixing it by providing the technology to do so. Soon we will be forced to buy that technology from China. So before Trump tries to abolish all climate research to avoid those pesky facts, please enjoy this latest report from the good people at USGS (United States Geologic Survey).

14 Million Americans May Sink Within 76 Years

BTW, That estimate is $1 trillion in damages by the end of the century, just for the southeastern coast.

Oh, and for those who wonder why I post so many Yahoo links it is because they have less advertising than the websites the stories come from.

Now This is a Real Problem

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We are often told about “problems” identified by politicians so they can promise “solutions”. Rarely are these the most important problems we face. While illegal immigration is a problem, it isn’t nearly as dire as some politicians would have you believe. The numbers just don’t show it. On the other hand THIS is a problem. It is a distinctly American problem and it has possible solutions. Yet you don’t hear much about the problem, let alone the solutions.