The Biggest Penguin That Ever Existed Was a 'Monster Bird' - The New York Times

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  2 Comments  •  1 Like  •  last year

“Fossils found in New Zealand highlight an era after the dinosaurs when giant flightless birds prowled the seas for prey.”

Every kid loves dinosaurs... and then almost any extinct critter. I am pleased that in this, at least, I never grew up.

Democrats just won a majority in the Pennsylvania House

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  1 Comments  •  1 Like  •  last year

“Democrats keep notching wins in state legislatures even after the midterms.”

REDMAP (short for Redistricting Majority Project) is a project of the Republican State Leadership Committee of the United States to increase Republican control of congressional seats as well as state legislatures, largely through determination of electoral district boundaries. The project has...

Mississippi Republicans pass bill to create separate, unelected court in majority-Black city

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  7 Comments  •  1 Like  •  last year

“Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, calls proposed law 'some of the most oppressive legislation in our city's history'”

Racism? 

Regulation and why More Productivity Isn't Always Better

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  3 Comments  •  last year

“Safety and environmental rules may reduce gross domestic product. But maybe that's OK.”

Economics is fun. Yeah, that tells you a lot about me. One of the most-fun things is a new way of interpreting data. I already knew that GDP can be very misleading. Now here's productivity!

The Global Thermostat - A Crazy Megaproject That Just Might Work

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  1 Comments  •  last year

“Our climate is constantly changing. And right now, we're what's changing it.”

There is HOPE! Kinda...

Ohio officials to release toxic chemicals from derailed train to avert explosion

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  8 Comments  •  1 Like  •  last year

“Officials urge anyone within 1-mile radius of site in north-eastern Ohio to leave amid 'potential of a catastrophic tanker failure'”

So... basically... the public may get gassed... ... or get blown up. This is called "Public Safety".

Europe plots to replace natural gas with geothermal energy

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  18 Comments  •  2 Likes  •  last year

“A range of European governments have developed plans to harness geothermal energy — and end their reliance on Russian gas”

Putin thought the EU would cave to his threats about military action. The result is massive arms shipments to Ukraine. Putin thought the EU would cave to high LNG prices. The result is that the EU is no longer buying Russian gas. O-o-o-o-p-s....

Auto industry, take note: This student-made EV cleans the air while driving

Via: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  1 Comments  •  last year

“This EV not only cleans the air while driving, but also proves why the auto industry should work closer with students and academia.”

This is bleeding edge. Eindhoven is a perennial contender in Australia's long-distance race for solar cars, so they know what they're doing.

EVs don't work in cold weather!

By: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  9 Comments  •  last year

“Two short articles to tell us that YES they do!”

Antarctica is getting too warm for its EV. 

You remember Brexit? The Brits certainly do!

By: Bob Nelson  •  The Beacon  •  5 Comments  •  1 Like  •  last year

“Brexit causes collapse in European research funding for OxbridgeSunak ‘risks full-scale trade war’ with Brussels by scrapping EU lawsThree years on...”

Back in the day, I posted the drama of Brexit, a monstrous hoax practiced on a fully complicit bunch of foolish Brits. The arguments for Brexit were full of nonsense. The arguments against Brexit were full on facts. So, of course, the Brits voted "FOR". In all logic, by now the Brits should...