Not Just
Another
404 Farm!

Stuff to think about if you want to have a real conversation about sustainability

I am gambling on the belief that we can in fact reengineer our way out of the complex and unfolding catastrophe of this nation's investment in tens of millions of energy-inefficent houses, filled with gas and electric appliances that almost appear to have been designed to waste energy. And yet in spite of the enormity of the energy turning into waste heat by these appliances, our houses, even the majority of the 'latest and greatest' green-washed supposedly ecofriendly houses are so poorly integrated that they cannot readily be either heated or cooled w/o additional investments in fossil fuel AND power from the electrical grid. Or massive grid-tied solar arrays on the roof that in many cases only pencil on extremely expensive building sites with an LCA that both allows "seasonal energy banking" and merely considers the out-of-pocket costs and subsidies, not the total environmental impacts of making and maintaining the things. 

For the past 6 months I have been exploring the German passive house methodology and learning to use their software system which involves a far more rigorous analysis of energy leaks than the NREL Energy10 software. Both programs allow comparison of various approaches to optimization, but neither was developed with these houses in mind. My focus is NOT on building airtight houses with heat recovery air recirculation systems, but on capture of heat from the soil, radiant energy from the sky and recapture of the waste heat from all sources - radiation, water and air - and I expect the house to have substantial air turnover year-round, with shared primary goals goal of "net zero energy" and IAQ that exceeds the cleanliness of what is available outdoors.

I believe that 'sustainable development', at least as the term is most often used these days, is an oxymoron. And I recognize that building new stuff is generally "not green" at all.  But it is my hope that the test lab provided by these houses will provide tools that allow us to retrofit existing housing stock for substantially improved energy efficiency, in a cost-effective way.

This statement will soon be replaced by a jumpsite that organizes the tools and information that I have collected (a library of well over 3 GB of pdf files at this point) and the status of the design process as well. For the time being, look very closely at David Delaney's Site. I am a relative newcomer to this arena, and he has been here marking territory here for a long time.

OK - what follows is what has always been here. A colection of the webstuff tha tI find interesting and useful. For the past year I have been using Facebook far more often than this page as a way of posting stuff I find, 

Federal Reserve forecasting and watching
Total borrowings from the Fed Includes discount window, Term Auction Facility (TAF) and Primary Dealer Credit Facility (PDCF). 
Assets and Liabilities of Commercial Banks in the United States
Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.8CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuels by Sector
In the US West as a whole, transportation accounts for 44 percent of fossil fuel CO2 emissions, by far the biggest source of emissions ... When we're looking at how to reduce our climate-changing emissions, we must look at how to reduce emissions in this sector.
Save the planet through YouTube
In an opinion article in The Scientist magazine, Reuben Clements, David Bickford and David Lohman from the National University of Singapore propose that posting videos on YouTube could be one of the most effective ways of showcasing just how much environmental damage is being caused worldwide.
Global Warming Maps
The maps developed for Laurence Williams' book "An End to Global Warming" show the affected areas if sea levels were to rise by 1, 3, 10, 30, and 100 meters. The maps were derived from the GTOPO30 dataset, a 30 arc-second resolution digital map of global topography. Border data came from the NIMA Vector Map Level 0. They include a global map, and more detailed maps of Europe and the east coast of North America
Michael Pollan meets John Mackey at UC Berkeley Feb 27, 2007
RealMedia version of Pollan's introduction and Mackey's powerpoint presentation. This is a 'really important' discussion and you need to understand it if you want to understand where we our food supply is headed. Mackey proposes two critical ideas: a 'beyond organic' rating system and the critical observation that although the natural foods movement began in a positive position, nature is friendly and beautiful, farming is good, etc. the traditional natural foods marketing approach has been about negativity: no pesticides, no additives, rather than positive: good for the soil, taste better, keeps money in the local economy, good for you.
Michael Pollan 'debates' John Mackey at UC Berkeley Feb 27, 2007
This is a really amazing and surprisingly open discussion between a really effective CEO and a really effective journalist. I am sure that I will eventually find a parallel in some famous and potentially world-changing interview, but at the moemnt, nothing jumps to mind. Really hot moments come at around 24 minutes 41 minutes and 50 minutes, but the whole thing is riveting.
Ross Elliot's Bubble Insulated Greenhouse
Ross says that the 'liquid solar insulation and shading system should eliminate the need for fossil-fuel heating or powered ventilation to maintain optimum growing conditions year round in any climate'.
Filters for Families
To provide arsenic free water (in Nepal), Filters for Families is partnering with other organizations to provide education workshops explaining the consequences of arsenic poisoning, training in how to use the filters, and long term maintenance of the filters.
Closing the 'Collapse Gap':
Why the USSR was better prepared for collapse than the US is today (Dmitry Orlov 2006)
Altered Oceans - a five part series on the crisis in the seas.
Two LA Times journalists won the AGU's Sullivan Award this year for best journalism published with lead time of more than one week, and this series looks to me like the Weiss/McFarling team has laid out the basis of a book to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Silent Spring and The End of Nature. Absolutely must read.
Tom Woods All Season Fruit Company
Large scale hydroponic greenhouse operation that is growing high quality organic fruit out of season in Western Washington. The website is very detailed and literally shows you how to do it.
The Cheeseburger Footprint
Running the numbers can lead to some fascinating realizations about our impact and how we might actually best focus our energy in trying to affect positive change. "... the greenhouse gas emissions arising every year from the production and consumption of cheeseburgers is roughly the amount emitted by 6.5 million to 19.6 million SUVs."
The Living Planet Index
This report from WWF meticulously documents national per capita ecological footprints for 148 nations, as of 2004.
Crude Designs - The rip-off of Iraq's Oil Wealth
This report reveals how an oil policy with origins in the US State Department is on course to be adopted in Iraq, soon after the December elections, with no public debate and at enormous potential cost. The policy allocates the majority of Iraq’s oilfields – accounting for at least 64% of the country’s oil reserves – for development by multinational oil companies.
Robert Newman's History of Oil
By far the most powerful full-length (48 minutes) internet-available video history you have ever seen. If you know something that ties more threads into a more accurate, more revealing tapestry, I want to know about it. His website is www.robnewman.com
From the ACLU - a short flash video about ordering a Pizza -
In the age of Carnivore. I am willing to agree that this is not exactly sustainability related. And it's not new.   I am willing to agree that this is not exactly sustainability related. And it's not new. I have listed again where it belongs, in the section on Anthropology and Human Culture along with EPIC 2015 which is also MUST SEE
Fuel Efficient Vehicles - HP to Weight Ratio
One of my friends, Rich Ruggles, spent the final years of his life putting together a team to develop a real fuel efficient vehicle. One of my favorite parts of his project has always been this table - the first one he showed me - the history of motor vehicle power to weight ratios, converted to an unusually meaningful standard comparative unit based on the power output of Lance Armstong on his bicycle, rather than a mythical horse.
Multiscale Integrated Analysis of Social Metabolism
I have become fascinated by the idea of a metric for biological fuel efficiency and energy conversion based on fuel intake and work done. I am not alone in this. Mario Giampietro has already done a lot of the heavy lifting.
Howard T. Odum on Energy Accounting
Starting in 1967, we used the term embodied energy for the calories (or joules) of one kind of energy required to make those of another, but that same name was used by others for some different ways of thinking and calculating. In 1983 we chose a new name, emergy (spelled with an "m") suggested by David Scienceman of Australia. In papers and books since, many groups around the world used emergy spelled with an "m" to mean the "energy memory" of what was required of one type of energy to make another.
EMBODIED ENERGY There appear to be a number of different understandings of the term embodied energy. Basically it refers to quantitative methods of accounting for flows of energy through our environment. Traditionally considered, embodied energy is the sum total of the energy necessary - from the raw material extraction, to transport, manufacturing, assembly, installation as well as the marketing and other costs of a specific material.
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS RESEARCH
Here you will find useful links to sites concerning Phase Change Materials (PCM'S) and probably the largest and most comprehensive reading list in relation to PCM's ever compiled.
GLACIATIONS THROUGHOUT EARTH HISTORY
An introduction to geology, landscapes, glaciers, climate, and biology of the ice ages. The relationship of ice age events to modern environments, the nature of climatic and environmental change, and the role of man.
US DOE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
US Energy Consumption, by sector.
Look at the consequences of globalization as energy consumption in the US shifts from industrial or commercial sectors (making things) to the transportation (shipping things) in the wake of NAFTA. Think about it. Now look for other impacts of globalization.
Calculate Your Ecological Footprint
- There used to be only one EFC, now there are many. And I especially like this one.
THE OIL WE EAT
Manning, Richard, Harper's Magazine, Feb 2004, Vol. 308, Issue 1845  followed by an interesting mini-wiki on sustainability
Eating Fossil Fuels
- by Dale Allen Pfeiffer Human beings (like all other animals) draw their energy from the food they eat. Until the last century, all of the food energy available on this planet was derived from the sun through photosynthesis ...
American Thermidor Part I By Stirling Newberry
- How the cycle of deficits has kept the right in power in America.
American Thermidor Part II By Stirling Newberry
Why did the New Economy fail to create the long boom that was promised?
Interview with a fungus (PDF)
- unabridged version of Diane Brooks Pleninger's RDS-economist prize winning essay in PDF
Interview with a fungus (HTML)
- slightly abridged version of Diane Brooks Pleninger's RDS-economist prize winning essay in HTML
IDB Population Pyramids
- This page allows you to obtain population pyramids (graphs that show the distribution of population by age and sex) for nearly any country. Data updated 9-30-2004. New dynamic display allows data extraction or graphical representation of population growth 1980-2050
Search Population and Health Data
- This database contains data on 95 demographic variables for more than 220 countries, 28 world regions and sub-regions, the world as a whole, the United States as a whole, and the U.S. states. (Not all countries have data on all variables.)
An Essay on the Principle of Population
-An Essay on the Principle of Population: A View of its Past and Present Effects on Human Happiness; with an Inquiry into Our Prospects Respecting the Future Removal or Mitigation of the Evils which It Occasions Thomas Robert, Malthus (1766-1834) Published: London: John Murray, 1826. Sixth edition. First published: 1798. See also the First edition.
RealClimate - a science blog
- RealClimate is a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists.
WIKIPEDIA: The Hydrogen Economy
- hydrogen economy is a hypothetical future economy in which the primary form of stored energy for mobile applications and load balancing is hydrogen.
Fuel Cells - A Perspective
Expectations that fuel cells will be simple and cheap seem unrealistic.
Hydrogen Characteristics
- IGNITION AND DETONATION PERFORMANCE
Hadronic mechanics
- Increasing the energy available from Hydrogen combustion
The Hydrogen Economy - Energy and Economic Black Hole
- The energy-literate scoff at perpetual motion, free energy, and cold fusion, but what about the hydrogen economy?.
RENEWABLE ENERGY; WHAT ARE THE LIMITS?
- This attempt to assess the potential of renewables is being updated as new information is received. Critical feedback is welcome. 4/2004.
It takes one tonne of water to produce one kilogram of wheat
- Report: 21 March 2005: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
A Gender Perspective on Water and Sanitation
- background Paper #2 DESA/DSD/2005/2: Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Can Organic Farming Feed the World?
- Hunger is a problem of poverty, distribution, and access to food. The question then, is not "How to feed the world", but rather, how can we develop sustainable farming methods that have the potential to help the world feed and sustain itself.
Biomass can't save us.
Published on 29 Nov 2004 by EnergyResources e-list.
Thermodynamics of the Corn-Ethanol Biofuel cycle.
Defines sustainability, sustainable cyclic processes, and quantifies the degree of non-renewability of ethanol produced from industrially-grown corn
Shop 'til you drop on a Mexican wage
- If you worked in Mexico, What could you afford to buy? Now consider China ...
 

And if you want to try something USEFUL ... consider making something like bamboo bicycles for people in Ghana who will really use them as trucks

Anthropology and Human Culture

Op Ed pages of newspapers around the world
MY VIRTUAL NEWSPAPER
We Want Your Soul.
We Want Your Soul, Inc. (WWYS®) is a global private equity firm with nearly 250 million souls under management.
The internet is shit.
t is vitally important that we all realize this and move on ... We need to start again. We need to stop saying how wonderful things are. We need to openly, truthfully and respectfully admit that the internet itself, in almost all of what's been done with it, is shit.
Money as Debt
A short film by Paul Grignon provides a '101 level' discussion, but addresses some critical terms not included in most people's vocabulary, and fundamental concepts that you probably did not learn in your college economics classes. 'Paul Grignon's 47-minute animated presentation of Money as Debt tells in very simple and effective graphic terms what money is and how it ... all is being created.'
Neil Postman on Cyberspace, 1995
"Am I using this technology, or is it using me?" Postman discusses new media and the Faustian bargain of technological change in the context of the Information Superhighway and the Internet.
Did You Know?
This video is fascinating as well as mind-blowing, in that it is a shorter, tighter recut of Did you Know II that leads us to somewhat different conclusions. Seems to fit quite well with Epic 2014. But watch EPIC and WEB 2.0 first. The YouTubers' Comments on these videos are all VERY VERY interesting.
Did You Know? (the Fischbowl)
Story and source material behind the Did You Know? Videos.
Web 2.0 The machine is Us/ing us?
video is the most compelling product posted. Seems to fit quite well with Epic 2014. Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us.
Michael Wesch is launching the Digital Ethnography working group at Kansas State University to examine the impacts of digital technology on human interaction. So far the Web 2.0 video is the most compelling product posted. Seems to fit quite well with Epic 2014.
chris jordan photographic arts.
Pushing the envelope of photography. Redefining what it means to create art using photographic techniques. I thought that Intolerable Beauty (2003-2005) was over the top. But in Running the Numbers (2007) he shows his vision is not at all static: he just keeps moving the goalposts. There is a great interview at Conscientious - a weblog about fine-art photography.
MONA LISA DESCENDING A STAIRCASE
An entirely delightful and utterly mesmerizing 10 minute freefall through the history of western representational painting, or at least the last 400 years of it. On YouTube. Watch it in fullscreen. Smile. Gasp. Wish you could do that.
THE MEATRIX Genius level in animation, brilliant political commentary about where our food comes from. From Free Range Video. They also have an interesting pseudo 3-D immersive Meatrix landscape model that is not up to Second Life standards, but interesting. They definitely ought to be doing guerilla theater in Second Life.
WTO ANNOUNCES FORMALIZED SLAVERY MARKET FOR AFRICA
In some ways pranking the WTO and Wharton School and conservative thinktanks is even more interesting and as fundamentally worth doing as messing about in boats or googlebombing prominent assholes. Most people, including the conference attendees, appear to accept these pranks at face value. Which makes them useful tools for cultural anthropologists studying the fragile and ever-blurring line that separates truth and belief.
Chocolate
as a key to the history of civilization. (note: this link is connected to the one above it in many ways)
Maps of War
Brilliant flash animations of over 1000 years of waxing empires in the middle east and elsewhere, another key to the history of western civilization. Works better in Firefox2 than in IE7 (note: this link is connected to the one above it and the one below it in many ways)
Robert Newman's History of Oil (repeated entry from section above)
By far the most powerful full-length (48 minutes) internet-available video history you have ever seen. If you know something that ties more threads into a more accurate, more revealing tapestry, I want to know about it. His website is www.robnewman.com
From the ACLU - a short flash video about ordering a Pizza - in the age of Carnivore
  I am willing to agree that this is not exactly sustainability related. And it's not new.
EPIC 2014 - The Museum of Media History
The rise of GoogleZon and the decline of the 4th Estate. A very clear look at the future history of the media by Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson, with music by Aaron McLeran. Watch this one next, after you've ordered the Pizza (above). Perhaps the most important internet video of the decade, IMHO.
GoogleZon and EPIC - the transcript.
Transcribed from the mini-movie clip EPIC by Robin Sloan. And of course, there is an interview with Matt and Robin
The story behind EPIC.
EPIC 2014 has been seen by upwards of a million people on the Web. It's been screened at big conferences -- of journalists, marketers, librarians -- and even on TV in a few places. Rupert Murdoch watched it.
EPIC 2015 - The Sequel.
Corrections to the predictions from 2004 to include GooleEarth, Picassa, the rise of the iPod, and several other pieces of the puzzle.
Michael Polland meets John Mackey at UC Berkeley Feb 27, 2007
RealMedia version of Pollan's introduction and Mackey's powerpoint presentation. This is a 'really important' discussion and you need to understand it if you want to understand where we our food supply is headed. Repeated from sustainability section above
Michael Polland 'debates' John Mackey at UC Berkeley Feb 27, 2007
This is a really amazing and surprisingly open discussion between a really effective CEO and a really effective journalist. I am sure that I will eventually find a parallel in some famous and potentially world-changing interview, but at the moemnt, nothing jumps to mind. Really hot moments come at around 24 minutes 41 minutes and 50 minutes, but the whole thing is riveting. Repeated from sustainability section above
THE APATHY FACTOR
Why it is important to underdstand apathy toward disaster preparedness. A paper that might help understand how to motivate action in response to the long emergency.
Burningman 2005
Great overview of the art and environment in delightful Flash format by Claudia Rose and Lenny Jones
Security Analysis of the Diebold AccuVote-TS Voting Machine
This paper presents a fully independent security study from Princeton University of a Diebold AccuVote-TS voting machine, including its hardware and software.
Video Demonstration of Hacking (vote-stealing) on a Diebold AccuVote-TS Voting Machine
This video from Princeton University demonstrates vote-stealing on a Diebold AccuVote-TS voting machine, including how to inject a virus to infect other machines with vote-stealing malware.
Asshole Google Bomb
a brilliant demonstration of how to use simple single-frame animation, a very high quality pop song, and googlebombing to clearly present the view of the US administration that is held by the majority of the earth's citizens, in the US and elsewhere. Type "asshole" into Google and hit "I'm feeling lucky"
Deconstructing Google bombs
A breach of symbolic power or just a goofy prank? By Clifford Tatum
The Downing Street Memo
Probably the most important piece of news of the 21st century, and the US press is still clearly afraid to touch it. This memo from July 2002 appears to be the smoking gun that proves that the US administration knowingly faked most if not all of the evidence that was used to support the invasion of Iraq, If a liar lies most of the time and then apparently tells the truth once, does that make the truth a lie, too?
No Free Lunch, Part 1: A Critique of Thomas Gold's Claims for Abiotic Oil
- Jean Laherrere edited by Dale Allen Pfeiffer
Peak Oil: Fact and Fiction
This page addresses several common questions about world oil production. All historical production numbers are from the Oil and Gas Journal and the 2004 figures are for the first 11 months.
The Ghawar Oil Field, Saudi Arabia
- Greg Croft Inc. has been created to offer a range of earth science services to the oil and gas exploration industry
Dry Dipstick
- a peak oil metadirectory
SCENARIOS FOR THE FUTURE OF OIL
- Exploring the debate over Peak Oil - another jumpsite.
The American Assembler's Overview of Peak Oil
- with text overview and at least a dozen great links - yet another Peak Oil jumpsite.
Richard Heinberg on PEAK OIL
- "it is self-delusional to dwell on hopeful images of the future merely to distract ourselves from facing unpleasant truths."
Richard Heinberg - The end of the oil economy?(RA)
- Real Audio interview by Laura Flanders 3.23.04
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man:
- How the U.S. Uses Globalization to Cheat Poor Countries Out of Trillions - John Perkins interviewed by Amy Goodman
Peak Oil? Include Me Out
- Thoughts from a Once-Burned Y2K Activist
Can we design nature?
- Lancelot 'Capability' Brown and the Permaculture movement.
The Global Ecovillage Network
The Wordspy
- Sort of an OED of the evolving moment
Enformay
- Tilicum and the journal of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry (ISPE).
World Wide Words
- Another wonderful word site from a contributor to the OED
The Art & Science of Billboard Improvement
Freeway Blogging
A Fresh Look at the Cattle Mutilation Mystery
Howard Breskin
- My dad, has an interesting collection of Links mostly related to LAW - find Supreme Court decisions, etc.
Robert Garfias
- A Kiosk of Information Related to Ethnomusicology
Electronic Frontier Foundation
- The Newsletter
Girls may face risks from phthalates
- This is REALLY scary! Totally Unacceptable level of risk.
RAFI AKA ETC, has broadened its scope.
- Status of Terminator and Traitor Technologies
EPA - Office of Pesticides - Biopesticides
- The "Official" collection of often apologist material on Biopesticides
Urban Legends Sites.
- PLEASE: Check to see if it's a hoax BEFORE you pass it on.
FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
- 1964-1968, Volume III Vietnam. This is an example of what Bush just prevented you from seeing.

Other Science Stuff

Timezone & Weather Stuff

SpaceWeather.com
- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroid

- The Drought Monitor is a synthesis of multiple indices, outlooks and news accounts, that represents a consensus of federal and academic scientists. The data cutoff for Drought Monitor maps is Tuesday at 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The maps, which are based on analysis of the data, are released each Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
- Recent earthquakes or seismic events, are displayed on an interactive earthquake map serve .
Earth Impact Effects Program
- This program will estimate the ejecta distribution, ground shaking, atmospheric blast wave, and thermal effects of an impact as well as the size of the crater produced.
Washington State Mountain Pass Report
- WSDOT Road Restrictions - what's open, where you need tire chains
Hurricane Ridge Weather from NOAA NW Avalanche Center
- Current (1 Hr) Snow depth and weather Conditions
Hurricane Ridge Snotel Data The Archive
FERRY WATCH - Seattle to Bainbridge Island Run - Washington State Ferries - where is the darned boat right now?
FERRY CAMS - - Washington State Ferries - how full is the parking lot right now?
Olympic National Park Website and Phone Numbers Hurricane Ridge Road Report Telephone Number - 360 565 3131 or 3130
Coastal Marine Zone Forecasts
- by the Seattle, WA Forecast Office
Weather Information University of Washington Atmospheric Sciences
Tide and Current Predictor - Port Townsend
Mountain Weather - NOAA Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center
FNMOC NWP Weather Maps
The Tornado Project
- Tornado Maps
Date and Time Gateway
NASA Interactive Global Geostationary Weather Satellite Images
Latest GOES-WEST Visible Satellite Image
MPEG Weather!
- NOAA Geostationary Satellite Imagery Server
TRMM
- The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
Significant environmental events
- visible in remotely-sensed data.
Aurora Borealis
- Explanations, realtime data and forecasting information.
Aurora Borealis - Northern Lights
- Visually beautiful exploration.
Aurora Borealis The Exploratorium Links page.
Complete Shoreline of Washington - Aerial Photos w/ cool interface.
RealClimate - a science blog
- RealClimate is a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists.

Pollination & Botany

Ethology

Energy, Patents and Commerce

Online Sources for Stuff - other than pages of info about other stuff

For every rule there are exceptions: