The Weather of the Future

Just 5 minutes of this Fresh Air interview was enough to make me stay up all night thinking about the water table in the SW United States. Anyone brave enough to read Heidi Cullen's book The Weather of the Future should report back to me. Am I exaggerating the coming apocalypse or am I not doing enough to sound the alarm?

Energy Drain

When I consider my energy consumption, I think about tangible use: turning on appliances, using two towels at Equinox every day, heating and cooling, etc. But, Internet use is one of the fastest growing energy drains in the world. A scientist quoted in this David Owen piece on the Jevons Paradox predicts that "by 2014, the U.S. computer network alone will each year require an amount of energy equivalent to the total electricity consumption of Australia."

Something to keep in mind as we all switch to the iPhone.

This letter to the magazine regarding Owen's article is tough for me to comprehend without referencing outside material, but I like that it is written by Amory B. Lovins. Yeah Amory, you be lovin'.

The Big One

Maybe I should stop wasting so much time at the gym and quit my job already. The next major rupture is right around the corner!

Countdown to Zero

If you are feeling overly optimistic today, I suggest you check out Countdown to Zero, a documentary film about impending nuclear disaster due to terrorism or human error. There is also an interview with the film's writer and director, Lucy Walker, here.

Seafood as delicacy

I missed this talk last night on whether or not seafood should be considered a delicacy. I feel like the answer is obviously a yes, but maybe I am misinformed by propaganda like the book The End of the Line.

If being vegan weren't so miserable I would definitely do it. Though, if the guy who wrote a book about many of the world's cities being underwater by 2200 (resulting in less arable land for a larger population is right) I won't have a choice.