Comments DonnClark has made

  • Corn Ethanol

    Corn Ethanol is a bad thing for the environment, a bad thing for the fight against Global warming, and a bad thing for America.  

    Ethanol may not be a bad thing, but the cost and lack of efficiencies using corn as a basis for ethanol production is akin to using coal as the primary energy source for the future ... we have brains, and need to use them to develope the best, most efficient energy infrastructure possible ... corn does not meet the criterion as a sensible alternative ... it is pushed solely by vested interest for profit, similiar to the vested interest of the coal industry to deceive the general public on the reality of their industry.On Hillary Clinton struggles to explain away her previous opposition to corn ethanol posted 2 years ago 8 Responses

  • Inhofe ... becoming Outhofe

    Inhofe's rantings say most of it ... his own words condem him, and worse, put responsibility of much future suffering on his shoulders. The evil of taking an anti-human position (Inhofe--Bush--Cheney--et al) for the sake of monetary gain from industry is reflected in so much of our "American Society" that we justify human suffering as a price to be paid (by others) for our (superior) comfortable lives. Just as much of that responsibility shall be on America's shoulders for electing and leaving in power these evil individuals. Bush's legacy is "Worst, Dumbest, most Corrupt, and most Dangerous president ever. But, never forget ... many votes were cast to enable this history to be written.On One last rant from the Senate's loopy streetcorner anti-prophet posted 2 years, 1 month ago 34 Responses

  • caption contest

    "I love a bill the refills our Coffers!"On Winner to receive unimaginable riches, fame posted 2 years, 1 month ago 9 Responses

  • Obama Video

    Stupidest of the century ... all glitz & glammor ... zero substance ... politics as usual.On Greatest video of the century? posted 2 years, 5 months ago 3 Responses

  • Efficiencies & Carbon Cost ...

    Random Thougts ...

    Curious as to calculations of the efficiency of the system, which I 'assume' are above most eneergy systmes. Anyone have the figures?

    Second curiosity:  Does anyone know if a central site exists or is planned that can be used to calculate the carbon cost of both (or at least one) construction projects and the manufacturing of specific items? I would like to know the comparative carbon costs of a concrete structure (complete, including mining of raw materials through placement and finishing) to a steel structure (also including all contributing factors).

    I would also like to compare the total carbon cost of various types of energy producing installations, such as solar, wind, coal, hydro-electric, nuclear, etc., ... separate from the energy porduction phase ... simple from there, to calculate the expected life of the energy production plant and the carbon cost during production to see which systems ultimately become neutral ... and of course, those that never do.

    Thanks,
    Donn ClarkOn A concise introduction posted 2 years, 5 months ago 38 Responses

  • Glacier National Park -- New name

    I think only one should be applied: "The George W. Bush Legacy National Park".On Contest in need of Grist readers and their funny posted 2 years, 6 months ago 18 Responses

  • Uh oh!

    I've been taking note of predictions (not necessarily from models) for the past several years ... my general, not documented, observation is that the rate of change in the weather do to the warming inputs appears to excelerating greater than predicted each hear. If this is true, then the conductor on the diseaster train will be here to collect the fare in 15 to 20 percent of the time frame currently layed out.
    Donn ClarkOn Observed warming since 1990 is greater than the models predicted posted 2 years, 6 months ago 32 Responses

  • Out of the Cars ...

    The Bay Area, unlike most of California, has a huge advantage ... they had political leadership years ago which has resulted in a transit system. Most population centers, LA for instance, has failed to integrate alternative means of transportation into the daily commutes, and others, like the Sonoma-Marin Counties light rail transit is still blocked by a few special interest voters ... both cases the benefits to the entire population center (including a reduced carbon footprint) has never been considered as a significant issue.

    A system of transport standards (federal if necessary, but not managed by Bush or the EPA!!!) should be in place to require extensible systems that can tansport an increasing percentage of the work commute needs of a population center or region.On It's like riding a bike ... posted 2 years, 6 months ago 8 Responses