This site is built with open source software and lots of creative commons and public domain artwork.  Here is a repository of artwork used and a link to the various software packages used to create and maintain the site.

Artwork

This image was created by NASA and is public domain, it is available aalso at the wikicommons.

This image is public domains from the wikicommons.

I found this public doiman image on the open clip art website!

    So while reading the comments on one of the more creative online videos that talks about peak oil, I was struck by the preponderance of replies that seem to state absolutely magical beliefs in what science can do. Such as...

“There's enough oil under the north slope of alaska to supply the US for the next 200 years. Not only that, but old wells can be re-explored and often are found to have re-filled.” -deaglek

    Ok, so deaglek may not have even a simple grasp of mathematics but most people should be able to follow this simple number crunch. Here's the facts, the total proven crude oil reserves, in the ground, in the lower 48 states and Alaska are about 20 billion barrels of crude. The US consumes about 20 million barrels a day, multiply that by 365 days in a year, and you find that we consume about 7.3 billion barrels of crude a year. So, in less than 3 years we would consume all of the available oil in the US, that includes the Alaskan north slope.

More doom and gloom(Russia Today), but look at the bright side, if your reading this chances are you are rich enough not to be starved to death by imminent market pressure!

A turn key solution for home ethanol production(product site) is soon to be available.

A very impressive story(active.com) of what something as simple as getting on a bike can do.

Keeping things aesthetically pleasing doesn't have to be unproductive.

It's been said before, its been said better before, its been said an awful lot lately, but I have to say it again. Stop buying bottled water! It's wasteful and pointless.

An average bottle of water requires: many times more water than you actually get to drink to manufacture and distribute; requires fossil fuel input for the plastics, bottling and distribution; is a ridiculously expensive investment in a disposable resource; and is not even necessarily any safer to drink than US tap water.

Here are some sources:

Wikipedia page

Tree Hugger page

Smithsonian page

In some countries where the tap water is not safe to drink, it may make more sense. But in the US, where the tap water is some of the cleanest and safest in the world to drink, bottled water is just ridiculous.

If you just can't stomach straight tap water, invest in one of these instead of disposable bottles of water.

Coal exports are on the rise, driving demand for the domestic fossil fuel resource. This is important as roughly 50% of all US grid electricity comes from coal fired power plants.

The New York Times, Business Section.

Recycle and protect your identity by using shredded junk mail for mulching/composting.

Get Rich Slowly.

“Energy efficient mortgages”, how banks are willing to loan more to cover an energy efficient, or energy producing property.

MSNBC, Business, Going Green.

Obligatory first post, to clear the default garbage. So I'm starting a new blog, it's been a little while since I've kept up with one. But I've started some very interesting(at least to me) projects, so I thought I would write about them. Writing is mainly something I normally do for myself to help study and organize my thoughts, but I suppose there might be a wider audience for people who's interests intersect my own. I'm not quite ready to start writing in depth about my new projects, but I feel I should leave at least a teaser or two about what they are.

• our condition and future as society of United State Americans

• cycling as more than a hobby

• MUD/MMPORG design

• health food in the modern decaying suburbia

• ecological efficiency as a lifestyle to empower the country