1366 Technologies & Solar Parity

the company 1366 Technologies has a found a way to make solar panels more efficient, and get us one step closer to solar parity. The step is a new way of making silicon wafers which is expected to reduce the price of a solar panel by 40%.

California Guide to the Governors

If you live in California, chances are you'll probably like this and it'll probably help you out. Either way, make sure you get out to vote in November. That is all.

Turn Off Your Computer

As the Red Hot Chili Peppers said, Turn off your computer. Oh, television? Close enough.
Anyway, this video shows the effect of work computers left on overnight in Germany. And that effect is huge. Image what all computers, all over the world, left on all day does to the energy demand. Watch the video and turn your computer off when you're done. [the "oh shit" moment comes when the windfarm appears, Post-spoiler spoiler alert]

Replenish

A eco-friendly way to package spray bottle cleaners. The bottle itself is reusable, the only part that needs replacement is the concentrated soap cartridge on the bottom. The cartridge itself provides as much solution as four standard bottles of cleaner. So it's at least four times better than whatever you are using now.

The Mis-Informant

God, I hate Fox News. It is also on the list of companies I do not like.
On the list of companies I do like, Daily Show and Colbert Report (not companies, but I'm sure you can get over it)
Why do I like fake news? Because they are the only shows that are dedicated to exposing the lies that other news stations broadcast.

"Research indicates that unique among major news outlets, Fox News viewing is significantly related to belief in false rumors and misinformation"

This is a video of Jack Black staring as the Mis-Informant. Notice how everything he says has been on Fox News as a news story, how you probably know someone who believes it, and how it is complete bullshit.

rBGH Free

An Ohio law, that was supported by Monsato, that prohibited the labeling of diary products as rBGH or rBST free has been overturned by a federal court. Monsato is definitely on my Do Not Like list of companies.

Varieties of Intimate Relationships

A cool infographic about types of relationships. A less well laid out, but more informative version, also exists.

Letterbombing

Letterbombing Keep Fear Alive on Glen Beck, Sarah Palin, Fox News, and [kind of] Justin Beiber's pages.

It's awesome.
If you can't figure it out on your own, (wow that's pathetic), you leave a bunch of comments all at essentially the same time, then change your profile picture to spell something vertically down a facebook page.

Effective, but not very long lasting.

Men And Women Have Equal Math Skills

Men and women have equal math skills.

Since you don't understand, I'll say it again.


Men and women have equal math skills.

No really, a lot of people don't realize or believe it, but,


Men and women have equal math skills.

Science has proven it, but stereotypes held by teachers and parents have kept


Men and women [from] hav[ing] equal math skills.

If you took away the "stereotype threat", implicit hints that women can't do math,


Men and women [would] have equal math skills.




Men and women have equal math skills.

The sooner everyone knows this, the sooner all


Men and women [will actually] have equal math skills.

2010 Energy Efficiency Score Card

The map says it all.

Released by the ACEEE, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Hand Washing

Who washes their hands after what? And where? And how. (20s slang, three points!)

Did I wash my hands after posting this? Who knows?

Floating Lights in Philly

100 RFID tagged orbs of light floating in the Schuylkill River.

Sausages

MMM. Delicious

Kolmanskop, A City Overrun By Desert

These are some pretty cool pictures.

It kind of reminds of
Centralia or Chernobyl

Print Media Is Dead

But, you can revive it if you hand it out for free as France has been doing. Giving teenagers free newspapers has resulted in doubling their trust in the press. Maybe we should all watch TV news less.

BPAs Are Toxic In Canada

BPA is now toxic in Canada, so if you will be consuming any in the future, make sure to do it in the US where it is still safe.

Congressmen Are Old

Like, really old.

"The 111th Congress, which convened in 2009, is among the oldest in U.S. history. The average age of members of Congress has risen steadily since 1981, with just a slight hiccup in the early 1990s; the rise is likely the result of a high incumbency rate, the aging of the U.S. population, and the first-time elections of older candidates"

A neat easy to use infographic, czech it out.

Solar Power Is Doing Well!

Good news! Solar Photo-voltaic cells have increased in use by 55% over the last year! YAY!

Climate Change and American Education

Americans know very little about climate change.

Shooting a Bullet into Ice

Apparently, shooting ice can make a bullet spin like a top.

The Mythbusters are scheduled to test this.

Also, most annoying audio ever.

The Paradigm of Education

RSA Animate sketch of Sir Ken Robinson's speech on why the education system is broken and what needs to be fixed.





This is a good follow up article, which also discusses education, and how America's doin' it wrong.

How Big is Africa?

This big.

Perspective is rough.

The Recovery

The economy and why "recovery" doesn't necessarily mean "getting better".

A simple and effective infographic