More Snow This Season

In years past, it's seemed like no matter how hard we wished, Christmas and New Year's just didn't have enough snow to feel "perfect."

This year all that has changed. We've gotten plenty of snow, and almost exactly on schedule. It's weird.

Does this mean we're getting more snow than usual? Is Global Warming off?

Maybe instead, we've simply gotten snow to shift its schedule in favor of the holiday season. But what if it's also a few weeks early? It did snow many days before winter began on the calendar. What if Global Warming simply shifts the seasons around?

Maybe all we need to do is rewrite all the calendars?

Global Warming Causes California To "Fall Off"

Today I read on Yahoo that Global Warming will likely change the landscape of California. It will expand the dry areas, and warm old ski resorts.

But what if it makes the ocean rise so much that California becomes submerged? If that happens, the it really will "fall off."

Maybe all those fears about California breaking off into the sea weren't irrational after all. Maybe Lex Luthor can still have his day with brand new beach-front property!

No More Oil Changes

I was thinking about my car and getting the oil changed. I realized that when Big Oil dies, we'll have to have cars that don't use oil.

Previously I had acknowledged the fact that we're slowly moving towards alternate energy sources like hydrogen and electricity. So no more gas. But I hadn't thought until recently that getting your oil changed will no longer be necessary.

I wonder if future cars will need as much maintenance? Maybe the technology will be such that you just fuel up and go. No oil changes, no checking tire pressure or brake pads. Maybe every step that isn't eliminated will become automated.

Atlantis Energy Source Wasn't Oil

We found oil. We used it to power machines. If super advanced humans really did live in Atlantis, and they used up all the oil, there'd have been none left for us.

Sure, maybe they started out like us, used it up, and then moved on to better technology. Then for some reason they could have recreated it and put it all back.

Or maybe they skipped oil altogether and used some other power source that's better for the environment.

Either way, if an advanced civilization really did predate us, the "leftover" oil would seem to say that there's energy to be found elsewhere. Which means that even if we do run out of oil in the next few years, that doesn't mean we'll be out of energy.

Once We Run Out Of Gas, That's It

I read a couple places that we're close to a peak in oil production that will cause permanent blackouts worldwide.

I had hoped that alternative energy technologies could get around this, but some people say you need non-renewable energy sources in order to create renewable energy sources.

Oil energy can make solar panels. Then, can't they take the sun's energy, and use it to make more panels? I hope so, but it seems possible that we'd need a lot of energy to create enough alternatives to sustain current consumption levels. At the rate we're going, it doesn't look like we'll have enough alternatives on hand once Big Oil dies out.

At that point, there'd probably be a huge dip in how much energy we had. We could work on new energy sources, but what if we get caught up just trying to move food and water around?

Lots Of Snow Before Winter Begins

Could this be a sign of Global Warming?

I've heard that the seasons seem to be shifting to an earlier schedule. What if Global Warming doesn't warm the planet, but instead simply shifts the seasonal rotation back by a month?

Or maybe all our calendars are off? Oh well. At least we'll have a white Christmas...

Pure Energy From The Sun

I read on Wikipedia a long time ago something about a civilization capable of harnessing all the energy produced by a star. It wasn't a specific society, it was more about a class of society. There were levels, and above that I believe a civilization would harness the power of an entire galaxy of stars.

If we could begin to scratch the surface and channel solar power from regions of space to energy caches on earth, we could put all that energy to good use.

All the energy sources on earth have roots in the stars, right?

I Want A Chevrolet Volt

It's like looking at a dream.

Christmas Lights: Environmentally Lame?

Today I saw on the news a guy had decked out his house to be essentially covered in Christmas lights. His house was incredibly bright at night. The focus of the story was how the traffic nearby was affected by it, and whether or not that made traffic cops necessary. There was little mention of the environmental impact.

Every light bulb uses electricity. So he's using a ton to light his house. I'm not saying he shouldn't, but maybe in the future there'll be energy-efficient Christmas lights?

New Energy Mandate: No Old Light Bulbs

I read in USA Today that the government might soon establish a policy under which stores would be forced to stop selling the old light bulbs in favor of more expensive, energy efficient ones. This would force us all to use them, but help eliminate a sizable chunk of wasted energy.

Sounds like a good thing. I'll bet this (if it happens) will open the door to other mandates that will transform our society into a cleaner, more efficient one.

What If Winter Never Ends?

In "The Day After Tomorrow," Global Warming caused a major climate shift that plunged the earth into a new ice age. Could that happen in real life? Could it happen now?

What if the ocean currents, diluted by melting polar ice caps, have shifted? What if the earth's thermal conveyor belt system has broken down, and the northern half of the planet is about to freeze? What if it's already begun?

Will winter end? Or will it go on forever...?

Substantial Snow Storm Soon

Hotter highs, colder lows. I wonder if all the major weather events of the past 50 years were partly the fault of Global Warming?

I've heard that GW isn't just responsible for increasing temperatures, but also will cause more storms of all types.

Maybe we've engineered our own snowstorms? Either way, it's time to hunker down.

If We're Wrong, Let's Be The Good Wrong

I recently heard a Presidential candidate (it might have been John McCain) say that if we're wrong about Global Warming, we'll develop cleaner technology without really needing it. But if we're right, and take no action, the world will be in a horrible predicament.

So the point is, if we must be wrong, let's be the wrong where we took unnecessary action. Not the one where we didn't take the steps we should have.

Energy Independent In 5 Years

John McCain says it can be done. I believe. Hillary Clinton says let's light a fire under the public like the moon program did back in the '60's. I agree. Big Oil says 5 years isn't enough. Of course that's what they'd say.

The end is nigh! For Big Oil, that is...

States To Regulate Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Read this on Yahoo: "Handing a major defeat to the auto industry, a federal judge ruled Wednesday that California can regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles."

Yes! This means that finally the auto industry will have to get on board and "Go Green." After all these years, we're finally starting to see what should have been happening all along.

Go Green - A Green Sky

It's funny how "Go Green" has become the catchphrase of the "Save Our Planet" movement. There's information about how if we don't save our planet, the sky will turn green. So either way we're going green.

Apparently, the CO2 in the atmosphere and a combination of other factors will all contribute to changes that ultimately result in a handicapped environment, hotter, wetter air, and a green sky.

The sky is currently blue because the atmosphere filters out all the other colors of light. Add in some yellow and you've got green.

Venus looks yellow, and it's not a very pleasant place to be.

Sure, green represents trees, grass, and a healthy ecosystem. But it could also mean a green sky, representative of very bad things. So "Go Green," but only the good way!

Heard "Go Green" On TV

The catchphrase "Go Green" seems to be picking up in usage, particularly in public service announcements geared toward younger people. "Go Green!"

I've mentioned before how it's funny that just a few years ago caring about the environment was uncool. Looks like everyone's starting to follow the new trend. But what does this make us all?

Flip-floppers! Hopefully nobody will remember if we ever run for office...

New Cheap Gas Bad For Car

I just found out that newer gasoline, engineered to be better for the environment, is more easily separated when unused for long periods, especially if it's the cheap stuff.

Apparently there's water in there, and the cheaper gas you buy, and the longer you let your car, lawnmower, snow blower, or whatever sit without being run, the greater you risk separation and gunking up your carburetor.

So for a car, if you're driving regularly, cheap gas is ok. But for a machine like a generator, lawnmower, or snow blower, premium gas might be a good idea.

What If Lower Emissions Is The Wrong Idea?

Could the U.S. have had it right all along? What if demanding lower emissions will damage our economy and handicap innovation to the point where we're just scraping by in an old system, and not developing any new technology? Could less-regulated emissions be the key to unlocking revolutionary new energy technology?

I'm thinking that forcing emissions lower will increase the need for such technology. Now companies will tweak their systems left and right to get their emissions legal, and each tweak will add up. To a new technology? Maybe. Or maybe a new technology will be demanded after all the possible tweaks have been implemented.

Hopefully new rules won't sabotage our efforts to develop clean energy.

Weather Manipulation

If we had a mad scientist develop a weather machine, and we truly could control the weather, we could solve global warming and work toward ending world hunger. We'd be able to send rain to deserts and allow farmers to grow far more crops. We could make it cool in hot areas using concentrated clouds. We could make it snow where and when it is necessary.

First, though, we'd have to learn how to use the system, and the repercussions for each action. I'll bet making one thing happen will set many other areas off-balance. After a few years of rigorous testing, and many setbacks and mistakes, we'd finally be able to use weather manipulation the right way. Wouldn't that be grand.

US To Solve Global Warming With Tech, No Lower Emissions

Yahoo had a great article on global warming with a lot of information. Basically, the rest of the world wants to lower emissions, but the U.S. thinks a strong economy with new technologies is the way to go. People are saying the U.S. is isolated in its ideas, but U.S. representatives deny that.

One of the most important parts of the article mentions "scientific reports demonstrating the world needs to limit the increase in global temperatures to 3.6 degrees above what they were before the world industrialized and started spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, or face the worst environmental, social and economic impact of climate change."

That really made me understand how much research and intent has gone into the global warming movement. Before all this started, people would just say, "It's hot." Now we're dealing with average global temperatures, and we're keeping track of what we do and how it impacts the world.

The article also mentioned how many believe "the Bush administration is seriously out of step with the U.S. public's serious concerns about global warming and willingness to do something about it."

That makes so much sense. It feels like we're all ready, and we're just waiting for instructions on how to fix things.

Divorce Causes Global Warming

I think it was on Yahoo today that I read that divorce is bad for the environment. I read through the first sentence or two, that's it, because the basic idea was right in there. It said the reason for the negative impact on the environment is that a divorced couple use two residences, and not one. So if they're wealthy enough, that could mean two separate houses. To radios playing the same song. Two televisions with the same news. Two sets of lights, two furnaces, two air conditioners.

It makes sense. But what is the reverse, the solution? Get married, or stay together. Or, carpool your living arrangements.

Lewis Black Isn't Sure About Global Warming Since Bush Has Acknowledged The Threat

In a recently-aired comedy special (maybe Last Laugh '07, which I had hoped to be better) Lewis Black spoke about how Global Warming, which had been obvious to him, was finally getting the attention it needed. Even the President was now on board, ready to take action to set things right. But Lewis Black has heard George Bush say things in the past that have turned out to be incorrect. So he can't be sure anymore...

Is Global Warming real? He thought it was. But when the guy who sold us a lemon of a war on the promise of finding nonexistent WMD's backed up the claim that yes, Global Warming is real, doubt began to creep in.

Lewis Black makes an interesting point. It is easy to wonder now, especially since our leaders have mislead us in the past.

Scammers Use "Go Green" To Attract Business?

I guess a good rule of thumb in business is to stay fresh and up with the times. When a new catchphrase comes out, try to use it from time to time. I guess sometimes this idea can be abused.

On Random Waves of Insight, there's a post called "Black Friday Goes Green:" The Deception, about a newspaper that printed a headline on its front page advertising how the sales day after Thanksgiving somehow managed to be environmentally friendly. How you ask? Apparently the newspaper never got to that part.

It's like the paper forgot to print the part of the story they advertised. Don't you hate that?

Cure-All: Thermal Energy

If the world's getting hotter, and we're low on gas, and need more energy, why not harness the excess heat? Geothermal energy works, so would it be possible to get Atmospheric Thermal Energy?

If we could harness the warmth of the air around us, we could use that heat to generate electricity. We could heat water with it, making steam, spinning turbines, making electricity.

In many machines, energy is lost as heat. If we could manipulate the excess heat in all those machines, we could dramatically enhance their energy usage.

Is this impossible?

2006 Emissions: US Better, EU Worse

At Globalwarming.org, I read that, "US greenhouse gas emissions fell 1.5% in 2006, while the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions increased .8%."

I know that the "Go Green" movement has taken a while to pick up steam, and that it feels like it's hit pop culture in the recent months, but still. We achieved a small victory in 2006, and yet also suffered a loss in the area of global teamwork. It's like we're playing tug of war against ourselves.

I think if we're really serious about Going Green in everything, we should work to make the movement international. We probably already are.