Comments marshall has made

  • > 40 km/l = > 94 mpg

    On Toyota to make more fuel-efficient hybrid posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 4 Responses

  • Thank you for drawing attention to the class context the history of cooking (and farming) must be seen in.  The upper and middle classes (remembering here that 'middle class' only became the default for Americans in the 20th century) have always had someone to cook for them--maids, servents, or slaves.  When Polan bemoans the era when most people (read: women) cooked, he is thinking of a very narrow period in the 1950s--which, not coincidentaly, also saw the dawn of convience food.  Personally, I love to cook.  But that doesn't mean everyone should.

    On More thoughts on cooking, Pollan, and Julia Child posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 6 Responses

  • Nissan plans to sell the car at a similar price to a comparable model with a petrol-powered engine. The battery, which will be stored under the seat and floor, will be leased separately.

    They aren't planning to sell the batteries, but rather, lease them. So while you will pay a montly fee, you won't get socked with a giant bill in the event your Li-ion battery needs to be replaced. It is almost 100% certain that Nissan will heavily subsidize the battery lease so as to make the car price-compeditive.

    On Nissan unveils 'Leaf' electric car posted 3 months, 4 weeks ago 21 Responses

  • More like 'the enemy of my enemy is my tool."

    On The enemy of my enemy is my friend, ACES edition posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago 38 Responses
  • Thanks, but you have the link to the Red Cross Report wrong. It is http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/wdr2009/On Climate change modeling key to disaster preparations posted 5 months, 2 weeks ago 2 Responses

  • a bad joke

    I can't believe I'm about to defend McCain in any way, but, technically, he didn't call the earmark criminal.  He joked that he wasn't sure if DNA testing of bears was a "criminal issue or a paternal issue."  The joke was a dud. But of course, McCain's belief that cutting earmarks will somehow change the economy is a classic example of his inablility to see the bigger picture.On McCain bashes bear earmark, though Palin asked for similar one for seals posted 1 year, 2 months ago 6 Responses

  • early states

    The problem here is where the primaries are taking place.  Iowa is a big, big corn-based ethanol producer.  Nevada is a big mining state; the largest domestic source of gold, among other minerals.  Those industries provide a lot of jobs in the state, and have a lot of influence in the media.  The canidates, including Obama, know that if they are painted in Iowa as anti-ethanol or in Nevada as anti-mining, it will hurt them politically.  Obama is not as well known in Nevada; he can't afford to have many voters learn of him first as "anti-mining." In a national race, they could easily afford to upset these interests, but in a close race in these small states, they can't.  This is the problem with having our nomination battles essentially fought in four small states that in no way represent the nation.On Obama condemns mining reform package as too hard on the mining industry posted 2 years ago 18 Responses

  • S&N are stuck in the past

    S&N's article, "The Death of Environmentalism," was dead-on.  They called out many of the problems with the environmental movement, and called for radical change. Now they are repeating the same arguments in book form.  It certainly has gotten them tons of press, and probably business for their firm as well.

    Problem is, 2007 is not 2004. In that short time, the movement HAS changed.  Maybe we listened to their article, or maybe we just recognized on our own that climate change requires a different kind of politics.  The climate movement today is the movement S&N claimed they wanted in "The Death of Environmentalism."  

    S&N, like so many critics, want to continue to be edgy and controversial. And, of course, they want to be famous and make money.  They don't want to wake up and find themselves in the new mainstream. That would require building something, as opposed to just tearing things down.  So instead of welcoming the changes that have occurred  (and pushing further), they are continuing to insist everything is wrong. And in so doing, they play into the hands of people like Lomborg.On Authors of recent climate books tell us not to worry so much about global warming posted 2 years, 1 month ago 9 Responses