Year: 2011

Economics – April 3

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– Robert Reich: We’re Heading Back Toward a Double Dip
– Study: We Aren’t Going to Stop Buying Gas
– Share the Risk and Share the Harvest

Tricking the atomic genie

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Walt Disney’s “Our friend, the atom” was full of optimism and of hope for the wealth and prosperity that the atomic age would bring to us. It is a shock, today, to look back to those times and realize how much it had been promised and how little was actually delivered.

Creation of the golden pants

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There are some items of clothing that we could not survive without. Living in the 150 mile wardrobe has made me keenly aware of how my garments are essential for my survival. Beyond fashion, clothes are my shelter….More often than not, (this winter especially), there is one pair of pants that make their way onto my body, day after day “Golden Pants”, as they have lovingly been nicknamed. Their creation took place some time back, and since that time I have worn them to the point of living in them. Their creator and designer is Berkeley scientist, Thara Srinivasan.

ODAC newsletter – Apr 1

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The oil price firmed to around $117 this week as evidence emerged of the impact of the Libyan crisis on the oil supply. Bloomberg reported that OPEC oil output dropped in March as Saudi Arabia failed to make up the loss in production from Libya. Reuters reported that Saudi has unexpectedly called on oil companies to expand its drill count by 30%. It is not clear whether this is in an attempt to add further spare capacity, or whether the kingdom is struggling to raise production.

Breaking news: Priam’s treasure returned to the Berlin Museum

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“Cassandra’s Legacy” is proud to present some breaking news about Priam’s treasure that was found by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in the late 1800s while excavating the site of the ancient city of Troy. The Treasure is well known for including such objects as “Helen’s Jewels” and other artifacts coming from the time of the siege of Troy as told by Homer in the Iliad. It had been removed from Berlin by the Red Army in 1945 and kept in Russia ever since. Now, after extended negotiations, we have confirmation that the treasure has been returned to the Berlin museum where it is being examined and studied.

Fukushima and the future of nuclear power

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While nuclear power does return net energy and while it may be true that public opposition to nuclear power will fall, it probably won’t matter – because no society in an energy decline, with declining fossil fuel resources, can afford to front-load a decade or two decades of energy in fossil fuels into a plant.

What President Obama should have said regarding energy policy

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“I am afraid we have not been entirely open and honest about the situation in the past, but I want to make a change, and talk about the real energy situation, and start making plans for a lower-energy world. In the not too distant future–probably within the next 20 to 50 years, but perhaps as soon as the next 10 years, we will need to go back to using just the energy resources that we receive each day to sustain this world. This will require a very different type of society than we have today.”

The Libya conundrum – April 1

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– Immanuel Wallerstein: The Great Libyan Distraction
– Chomsky: On Libya and the Unfolding Crises
– Obama’s Libya Speech and the Tasks of Anti-Imperialists
– Libya is another case of selective vigilantism by the west
– Hugs From Libyans
– The shape of Libya’s ‘better future’ remains elusive
– Juan Cole: An Open Letter to the Left on Libya
– After unscripted Arab drama, the west sneaks back on set
– Intervention in Libya: Is It Really the Only Option?