How often is an option better in every way? Even quitting cigarettes, which seem better in every way to me in saving money, improving health, decreasing litter, and so on, to a smoker mean losing pleasure. How cereal became better in every way As a kid growing up, the cereal aisle of a supermarket seemed as much a part of nature as trees outside. It just existed, as did all[…] Keep reading →

Read my post When a heavy polluter says “we need to bring energy to the world’s poorest,” watch your wallet, where I describe that everyone with their misguided way to drive our polluting system faster profiting themselves in the process says some version of “we’re helping the poor,” they’re helping themselves, likely exacerbating poverty, dumping pollution onto the poor. As I find examples in the media, I’ll put them here:[…] Keep reading →

I’ve described Tom Murphy’s textbook, Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet, the science book of the decade. He just published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Physics, one of the most important parts: how basic physical constraints limit how much our economy can grow. The paper is called Limits to economic growth. Quoting Tom’s blog post linking to the piece inline and in pdf, the “real” article [is] in[…] Keep reading →

Sandra took responsibility when she didn’t have to, as the Executive Director of NYC Pride, to respond to my requests to talk to an organizer. Longtime listeners and readers of my blog know that last year, I was disgusted by the garbage covering Washington Square Park the morning after New York City’s 2021 Pride March. I posted pictures and video with the quote from another person in the park I[…] Keep reading →

The notes I read from for this episode: Notes for Growthbusters comments I love the Growthbusters documentary and helped fund making it free online. I listen to every episode of the podcast. They know I love them and their message and I would only comment on them out of love and support. They quoted and commented on an email I sent them and have to comment back. They’ve hosted me[…] Keep reading →

Does anyone else see the trend? Compassionate conservative Clean coal Green growth Moral majority Free market Take your biggest criticism and put the reverse in front. Without changing anything about yourself, you make yourself impervious to criticism. Only one thing: coal isn’t clean and growth isn’t green, no matter how much anyone says they are. Liberals and other groups might use the technique. I haven’t noticed. If you know of[…] Keep reading →

I’ve been saying this phrase lately. As far as I remember, I made it up. It comes in several versions. For home cooking: Even when it doesn’t taste as good, it tastes better when you cook it yourself. For gardening Even when it doesn’t taste as good, it tastes better when you grew it yourself. I don’t own a pet today, but grew up with dogs, cats, fish, birds, lizards,[…] Keep reading →