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 →

The refrain: “poor people can fill their stomachs with more with a dollar at McDonald’s than with healthy food,” often implying if you can afford healthy food, you don’t know what it’s like for people who actually have to struggle. I’ll leave the ad hominem part for another post. As for the claim McDonald’s somehow saves money, it’s wrong. Citing the USDA, Forbes reports, “Despite the rumor that government subsidies[…] 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 →

I try to stick to posts where I create most of the content, but my disgust at the depravity of this video was too great to avoid. I hope I misunderstand something about it. If so, I’m happy to change my story. I don’t know much about Bill Nye, but I thought he created a character appealing to kids. Here he trades in what value he had for I don’t[…] 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 →

I’ve often suggested that if an ancient sage like Jesus, Buddha, Laozi, Confucius, Aristotle, or other renowned enduring figure, lived today, I doubt he or she would say, “I thought I attained happiness/enlightenment/etc, but now I realize I can do better with an iPhone.” I suspect they’d say how what they figured out then worked as well today. They’d look at iPhones, social media, flying, and all that and think,[…] Keep reading →

If I talk about not flying, someone is bound to tell me how their spouse lives overseas so they have to fly to visit family or their mother lives on the other coast so they have to fly to see her on holidays and if she’s sick. People walking with disposable containers claim the store cashier gave them the bags and packaging. What could they do? We claim we’re helpless[…] Keep reading →