Rick Henderson publishes a lot of interesting history about the opening-up of the area around the National Capital by settlers. He has come across an unsettling problem…ChatGBT authored articles written as histories that often contain misinformation and in this post by Rick he highlights the risks involved in allowing this sort of stuff to pollute […]
Biochar: A Climate Change Mitigation Solution by Jasmine Friedrich Yap
This article, by our student Jasmine Friedrich Yap, initially appeared in the R.E.A.L. newsletter for September 2022. What if the effects of climate change could be reduced or eliminated? Smiths Falls may already have a key solution to the climate change crisis which becomes more pressing each and every day. News outlets are continuously reporting […]
BIOCHAR – everything you need to know about a technology that can enhance your soil
Provides a link to a website devoted to all things BIOCHAR. Don’t know what BIOCHAR is? Visit the website!
Resilience in a time of climate change (second in a series of short articles)
Introduction This post is a “work in progress”. It is not a scholarly article, insofar as it does not quote other scholarly articles. Mostly it is a dump of thoughts I have on the subject of resilience. It is intended only to stimulate conversation on the subject. Questions to be addressed Resilience: what is it? […]
What does it take to be resilient when the climate is going haywire
The climate is changing. It is more “unpredictable” than it was until recently. High temperatures are higher than before and for more days of the year. Cold temperatures…the same…colder than before and for longer periods. Storms are more intense with more electrical activity and far more wind and rains. Droughts are drier and leave vegitation […]
City of Ottawa Solid Waste Management Plan (2021)
The City of Ottawa is embarking on a consultation process on changes to its solid waste management plan. This is a good thing, but only if the implementation options are right for the community. In my opinion any solid waste manangement plan must encorporate and respect the following principles: Waste must be handled as close […]
How do YOU spell discrimination? Is it time to regulate Facebook?
What do you think? Does discrimination involve spreading lies about another group? Does it involve allowing an elected official of a huge nation to label immigrants as rapists and murderers? Does allowing groups like the Proud Boys to disseminate hateful propaganda fall under the definition of discrimination? Well, if past history is anything to […]
If I want it, I will install it…
In which I whine about how much I detest bloatware on smartphones
Customer Service – when did it die?
[Edited 2020-08-26 to correct lots of spelling mistakes] You know how it works. You purchased a product or service…you paid good money for it. Now, it either doesn’t work as advertised or it works and then is corrupted during a manditory update. So, you go to the web-site for the product and you try to […]
Allies, Trade and Military Activity
A very thoughtful piece by Rick Cooley https://wp.me/p1LcUS-fD
Trump’s Attack On Congressional Oversight
Originally posted on Rcooley123's Blog:
For someone who has on several occasions claimed to have the most transparency of any administration in the history of this country, Donald Trump is doing his best to indicate he has plenty that he wants to hide from both the American people and our elected representatives in Congress.…
David Swanson: We Need a New Armistice Day + Transcript
via David Swanson: We Need a New Armistice Day + Transcript
Allies, Trade and Military Activity
A thoughtful piece about Donald Trump by Rick Cooley. https://wp.me/p1LcUS-fD
What’s with the wind every recycling day!
It is spring again and the problems with wind on recycling days becomes more and more obvious as the snow recedes. Here is a piece I wrote back in 2012 that discusses my exasperation with the wind-blown litter each recycling day. Source: What’s with the wind every recycling day!
Canada 150 … what are YOU going to do?
Originally posted on Gourken's Brain Dump (more of a trickle actually):
Canada is about to turn 150. Imagine that! I am old enough to remember the excitement and anticipation of Canada’s 100th birthday. Bobby Gimby, the Pied Piper of Canada, penned the wonderful anthem for our 100th birthday “Canada“. They designed an amazing symbolic…
So…don’t you hate the functionality of Googles offline maps?
Don’t get me wrong, I like the IDEA of offline maps in Google! There are loads of times that you will want to use maps functionality when you aren’t connected to the internet. What bothers me is that Google gives you the ability to create offline maps, and then makes it impossible to use them […]
Broadview Public School – The Galaxy – 1967
If any of you went to Broadview Public School in Ottawa during centennial year (1967) you will know that it was a hive of activity. One of the things that happened at Broadview was the publication of “The Galaxy”. If you were in grades 7 or 8 in 1967 you just might find yourself represented […]
How to listen when you disagree
Benjamin Mathes describes how he listens to people he disagrees with and everybody wins.
Ever tried to get support from Intuit (maker of Quicken and Turbotax)?
[Update] Since this was written in 2016, Intuit sold Quicken which is now being managed by another group – Quicken Inc. I have used Quicken (by Intuit) since the mid ’90s. I have purchased a new version each year as a new one became available (usually when I bought my tax software from them) so that I would […]
The growing “support yourself” attitude from developers
Software companies are failing to adequately support their products
UPS Store – Always Get A Quote
Note: this is a repost from my Facebook timeline Be careful to always get a quote from UPS Stores before you allow them to do any work for you! Have you ever felt ripped off by a company? Well, today I feel really ripped off by UPS. To be perfectly honest, it is partially my […]
What type of coolant should you use for your solar system?
I just came across an interesting item describing the three most common types of coolant for solar hot water systems and some of their properties. The article seems to be written by the manufacturer so there may be a bit of bias, but it does highlight the issues inherent in coolant selection. It is short […]
CA Prop 37 The Right To Know
Originally posted on Environmental A World For All:
In case you don’t know California has Prop 37 on the ballot in this upcoming election. Prop 37 will: Require labeling on raw or processed food offered to consumers if it is genetically modified or uses genetically modified food Prohibits labeling of food that is genetically modified…
Women in the RCMP
Originally posted on Everyone Is Equal:
Perhaps you have seen it in the news, perhaps you dismissed this issue without a thought. The RCMP is discriminating against women and nothing is happening to change it. Here are the facts; there have been hundreds of reported harassments and sexual assaults from former and current female RCMP officers,…
The Right of Free Speech
Originally posted on Everyone Is Equal:
In Canada, Freedom of Speech is nearly total, excluding only hateful and obscene matter, such making bullying etc. not included in your rights. That said I can say, write, blog anything I want, as long as it is based on facts or is solely my opinion. Unfortunately this is not the case in many places across the world, such…
Public Service Sick Leave
Unfortunately, this government and many previous governments have spent years successfully vilifying the public service so I am afraid that a large minority of public opinion will side with Clement on this. He has successfully driven a wedge between public servants that I know to be motivated by public interest and some members of the […]
The State of the Earth in 4 Climate Trends
Originally posted on jpratt27:
What better day to step back and take stock of the planet than Earth Day? Started in 1970 to raise awareness in the U.S. about the environmental state of the planet,?Earth Day?is now celebrated in more than 190 countries and has led to the creation of legislation in the U.S. aimed…
400 ppm Scary say NASA scientists. #Auspol #ClimateChange #Science
Originally posted on jpratt27:
The global concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – the primary driver of recent climate change – has reached 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in recorded history, according to data from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. Since 1958, the Mauna Loa Observatory has been gathering…
How many days until Canada’s 150th Birthday
Let’s all do something special to celebrate this wonderful country! You better get started now if you want to be ready. How many days until 1st July 2017?.
The same old energy mix — The Japan Times editorial
The same old energy mix — The Japan Times editorial. I follow the folks that write Japan Safety: Nuclear Energy Updates and they just posted an article from the Japan Times where they look at the current government’s plans for energy sustainability over the next few decades. The picture is disturbing in light of the […]
Canada 150 … what are YOU going to do?
Canada is about to turn 150. Imagine that! I am old enough to remember the excitement and anticipation of Canada’s 100th birthday. Bobby Gimby, the Pied Piper of Canada, penned the wonderful anthem for our 100th birthday “Canada“. They designed an amazing symbolic maple leaf as a logo that taught me more about geometry than […]
Climate Crisis: this changes everything.
Originally posted on jpratt27:
Yes, the threat of war seemed immediate and concrete but so too is the threat posed by the climate crisis that has already likely been a substantial contributor to massive disasters in some of the world’s major cities. Still, we’ve gone soft since those days of wartime sacrifice, haven’t we? Contemporary…
Solar Impulse Live. #RTW
Originally posted on jpratt27:
Solar Impulse will takeoff for its first flight from Abu Dhabi (Al Bateen Executive Airport, AZI/OMAD) in the United Arab Emirates, to Muscat (Muscat International Airport, MCT/OOMS) in the Sultanate of Oman. André Borschberg?will fly the zero-fuel airplane on about 400km (215NM) for an estimated time of 12 hours. Masdar, Host…
Sweden have successfully used taxes to reduce environmental damage.
Sweden has shown a longstanding commitment to the environment, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and nitrogen leaching. Renewables supply more than a third of its energy needs. Sweden has set itself tough targets for the future, however, and must continue to innovate if it is to meet them, according to a new OECD…
ALIEN STAR SYSTEM BUZZED THE SUN
What a difference 0.8 Light-years makes. Imagine if the pair had been captured into an orbit by our sun and how that would have affected planetary and trajectories. Blows my mind. Thanks
New green energy course inspires high school seniors from across the country
I always look at MIT’s stuff whenever the world gets me down and I feel like giving up. There is so much innovation and enthusiasm there that my hope gets restored. Thanks MIT! New green energy course inspires high school seniors from across the country.
Can Japan recapture its solar power? — MIT Technology Review
Originally posted on Japan Safety : Nuclear Energy Updates:
” It’s 38 °C on the Atsumi Peninsula southwest of Tokyo: a deadly heat wave has been gripping much of Japan late this summer. Inside the offices of a newly built power plant operated by the plastics company Mitsui Chemicals, the AC is blasting. Outside, 215,000 solar…
A molecular approach to solar power (MIT News)
This is another example of excellent innovation from MIT and Harvard. This one is for energy storage and it is quite similar to one I just recently posted on the “bionic leaf”. With better solar energy conversion and more efficient energy storage the idea of moving away from fossil fuels and nuclear power begins to […]
10 Lessons I learned Living in a Tiny House #6-10
Originally posted on 21 Days on the Road:
#6- Change it Up You must be willing to change how you live. This is a mistake I sometimes see people make, especially those who switch to living off the grid, where their living system has changed but their expectations of life didn’t. A great example is with…
Construction is set to begin on a $150 million-plus solar powered greenhouse in South Australia’s Port Augusta
John [jpratt27] has published an excellent summary of a new plan to develop a new solar-powered greenhouse in South Australia. This plant will not only produce fresh vegetables but will also be used to desalinate water in a very arid region. A few more details are needed about how the resulting salts will be dealt […]
February 17 Energy [Science and Tech] News via GeoHarvy
Originally posted on geoharvey:
Science and Technology: ¶ A number of studies investigating the effect of wind turbines on birds have found that the actual impact wind turbines have on avians is relatively low. However, according to this new research, published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research, wind turbines’ effects on bats cannot be…
A ‘bionic leaf’ turns solar energy into chemicals and fuels
The site at the link below (“A ‘bionic leaf’ …”) presents a really interesting idea on how to store energy from the sun and at the same time act as a temporary carbon sink by absorbing CO2 for creation of the chemicals. I will be looking forward to seeing how this plays out when they […]
The Australian Academy of Science says man-made climate change is real.
Originally posted on jpratt27:
The Australian Academy of Science says man-made climate change is real and the consequences will be dire if no action is taken to address it. The academy, in an update to its science of climate change booklet produced in 2010, says its authoritative account of the science behind global warming will…
Why Tesla’s battery for your home should terrify utilities
Originally posted on On the River 2009+:
Elon Musk’s electricity empire could mean a new type of power grid http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/13/8033691/why-teslas-battery-for-your-home-should-terrify-utilities
Solar Panels Too Ugly? Check out Solar Shingles
Originally posted on RE Projects:
Despite their undeniable environmental and economic merits, rooftop solar panels are sometimes dismissed simply because the homeowner is afraid of ruining the appearance of their home. While I do not share the same view (I think solar panels are downright beautiful), companies like Dow Solar have recognized this and developed more aesthetically pleasing…
News Release: Annual Report: Privacy Commissioner emphasizes importance of online transparency – August 21, 2014
https://www.priv.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2014/nr-c_140821_e.asp In an update to a previous post, as of last summer, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada was still working on the 168 complaints received about Bell Canada for its data collection and use policy. Stay tuned, it will be interesting to see what they finally come up with.
Max Finkelstein Wows them at Rideau Roundtable event
About 60 paddlers and environmentalists got together yesterday to see renowned paddler, raconteur, and author Max Finkelstein speak about his latest adventure paddling the Big Muddy (Mississippi) with the American adventurers that rowed across the Atlantic.
Max was at his casual best, evoking
Continue reading “Max Finkelstein Wows them at Rideau Roundtable event”
Local Leader: Max Finkelstein, canoeist, author, river conservationist | ottawariverkeeper.ca >
Are you an avid or wanna be paddler? Join Max, a world renowned paddler, at a Rideau Roundtable event on Sunday, January 25th at Ben Franklin Place in Nepean’s Centrepoint where he presents his experiences on the Big Muddy (the Mississippi) following paths taken by traders centuries ago. Local Leader: Max Finkelstein, canoeist, author, river […]
Please pass a strengthened Reform Act (and similar changes in every province)
Letter from Elizabeth May in response to Democracy Watch letter on Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions