Thursday, January 26th, 2012
BRUCE E. LEVINE, - AlterNet
Stephan: If you are 18-30, as I have been told over and over, student debt is a major life distorting factor in your life, and it can continue into your 40s. This article is too polemic, but it accurately spells out the issues involved. It isn't clear to me yet whether this will lead to civil strife, but there is no question it is an issue great significance to a very large part of our population, which explains its appearance in the President's State of the Union
In October 2011, the White House announced, ‘Currently, more than 36 million Americans have federal student loan debt.
No Comments
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
Stephan: Carol Kindschi and Larry Greenberg, read the article on Monsanto published by the Organic Consumers Association, that I ran a few days ago, and wrote Monsanto. Here is their response in its entirety. They sent it to me, for which I thank them, and I pass it on to you. As I have said before, I try to get you the most accurate and complete information possible, and correct things when I think they are justified. This email is filled with simple declarative statements. It is a base line against which to assess the future.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Whole Foods Market (Customer Service)
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:40:32 -0600
From:
Reply-To:
To:
Hi Carol,
Rumors that Whole Foods Market has sur
No Comments
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
SYL KACAPYR, - Cornell University
Stephan: It has always been my view that as a social value we should support loving relationships in whatever form they may come, rather than getting hung up on the form, and whether any particular religious ceremony is involved. Partnership is a civil contract. If people wish to also involve a religious ceremony that should be their choice, whatever it is. But the key is the social support of loving relationships. As this report makes clear that is what works, as the research data shows.
The study was funded in part by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
ITHACA, N.Y. — When it comes to the well-being of married versus cohabitating Valentines, wedded couples experience few advantages in psychological well-being and social ties, according to a new study at Cornell University.
The study, ‘Reexamining the Case for Marriage: Union Formation and Changes in Well-being,
No Comments
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Stephan: Here is yet another alternative to petroleum. It is fascinating to watch the innovations spring up, and it will be interesting to see where they go.
A new zero-emissions engine capable of competing commercially with hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric systems appeared on the radar yesterday when respected British engineering consultancy Ricardo validated Dearman engine technology and its commercial potential. The Dearman engine operates by injecting cryogenic (liquid) air into ambient heat inside the engine to produce high pressure gas that drives the engine – the exhaust emits cold air. It’s cheaper to build than battery electric or fuel cell technology, with excellent energy density, fast refuelling and no range anxiety.
Think of the Dearman engine as an internal combustion engine without a spark plug, with cryogenic liquid air injected instead of petroleum. There is no combustion, but because the air is stored at cryogenic temperatures (sub minus 160 degrees Celsius), ambient temperatures can superheat it and return it to gaseous form, causing a rapid expansion of gases.
When the piston is at the top of the cylinder, some heat exchange fluid is admitted to the engine cylinder. Immediately after this a small quantity of cryogenic liquid is sprayed into the cylinder; it comes into contact with the ambient (but in relative terms to the cryogenic temperatures, super hot) heat exchange fluid and boils very rapidly, building […]
No Comments
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
CHARLES DUHIGG and KEITH BRADSHER, - The New York Times
Stephan: This is the fundamental structural shift that is occurring in manufacturing. I don't see millions of American workers in dorms, so that means we must reinvent ourselves in some new way.
When Barack Obama joined Silicon Valley’s top luminaries for dinner in California last February, each guest was asked to come with a question for the president.
But as Steven P. Jobs of Apple spoke, President Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his own: what would it take to make iPhones in the United States?
Not long ago, Apple boasted that its products were made in America. Today, few are. Almost all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads and 59 million other products Apple sold last year were manufactured overseas.
Why can’t that work come home? Mr. Obama asked.
Mr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. ‘Those jobs aren’t coming back,
No Comments
