Greetings from the Central Pacific Ocean. We're out here studying the influence of low oxygen on key microbial biogeochemistry processes adapting new biomedical methods (proteomics) to diagnose long-term changes in the ocean's core … [Read more...]
Northern NFL Teams Will Need Many Backup Quarterbacks
The other day I was reading a news story about deflategate that had the football pressure data in it from the AFC Championship game. Being a scientist, I gave into the temptation to plot it up, which then led to the desire for a little more … [Read more...]
“America’s Energy Security Trust Fund” (that’s legislator for National Carbon Tax)
Friedman's main message is to point out the simplicity and efficiency of carbon taxes relative to the complicated cap-and-trade options, which he points out that "Wall Street types" would be running. People get that - and simplicity … [Read more...]
Imagining Darkness
This town is largely a scientific research outpost. But much of population is here to maintain the base and community. There are pipefitters, electricians, carpenters, chefs, dishwashers, mechanics, power plant operators, as … [Read more...]
The Gas Tax – low hanging fruit for climate change action
Here's a figure about the rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations and projections under different CO2 reduction scenarios (from Pacala et al 2004): When I give talks to school classrooms, I do a little class participation exercise that goes … [Read more...]
Now is the time for a Massachusetts Automobile Carbon Tax
This could start with something as simple as raising the gasoline tax in Massachusetts. Currently we are taxing at 41.9 cents per gallon (state+federal tax), lower than most states (see map), and much lower than other progressive … [Read more...]
Music says it better than words
There's a light on a hill That's far out in the distance And it calls out my name It calls out for a change Far away voices That want their own choices Sigh for a plea As it calls out for a change Ooh Change Ooh Change Ooh... To the root of … [Read more...]
Bailout Blues: Cleveland and the Ebay Houses
The $700 Billion dollar bailout plan is making many of us very uneasy (including Gov Deval!). I'm uneasy because it sounds like a huge blank check. And we know from experience how poorly things go when the administration gets … [Read more...]
The Giant Pool of Carbon Dioxide
There was a report about how the rate of CO2 emissions was increasing about 4.0% per year from 1960-1979, decreased to 1.3% per year from the 1980's to 1999, and in this decade (since 2000) has increased again to 4.0% per year. This … [Read more...]
Gas-Tax Holiday Roundly Rejected: “The dumbest thing I’ve heard in a long time”
Mayor Bloomberg: "It's about the dumbest thing I've heard in an awful long time, from an economic point of view," Bloomberg told reporters at City Hall. "We're trying to discourage people from driving and we're trying to end our energy … [Read more...]