Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Nordic data centers could heat homes

Data centers consume immense amounts of energy, much of which is given off as heat (see: 2nd law of thermodynamics). In much of the world, the heat just goes into the environment. In Finland and Sweden, efforts are underway to use that waste heat for home heating. “• Microsoft and other companies are building large-scale […]

Rate of Global Heating in the Arab World

“Rate of Global Heating in the Arab World is Twice the Global Average,” Informed Comment The World Meteorological Organization has issued its annual report on the 22 countries of the Arab world, covering last year, and presents alarming conclusions about human-driven climate change in that region. 2024 was the hottest year on record in the Middle East, […]

Money, Power and the Traders who Barter the Earth’s Resources

Book Review: The World for Sale The one-handed economist Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (B&F) published this book in 2022, and I decided to read it after hearing them discuss it on a podcast. The book focuses on commodity traders “who barter the Earth’s resources” as it says in the subtitle. On the one hand, these […]

Forever Contaminants Such as PFAS

This report from Environmental Health News (EHN) is 3= years old. I would regard it as relatively accurate in 2025. In Livingston County Michigan, the lakes were polluted with types of PFAS and many of the fish caught in lakes such as Strawberry lake carried PFAS. Unknown to many, people were eating the fish. I can not […]

Tru_p Skips Global COP Summits

How some of the world looks at the United States and its leadership . . . “Trump says US to skip G20 summit in South Africa,” Nikkei Asia. And the reasoning? “No U.S. government official would attend the Group of 20 summit in South Africa later this month, because of what he said were “human […]

Global Warming and Climate Change

Interesting topic. I believe many of us could learn a bit more about the impact we have on our environment. The COP30 climate conference was held this year. This is where world leaders try to hammer out solutions to the growing climate crisis. This year the U.S. also boycotted that gathering. Tru_p is all in […]

“Fossil Fuel Producers and Green Energy Advocates”

“Global Battle Royale at COP30 between Fossil Fuel Producers and Green Energy Advocates,” Informed Comment – Juan Cole Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) . . . Fiona Harvey at The Guardian reports from the COP30 climate conference that a bloc comprising such countries as India, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and Bolivia (under its new right-wing President Rodrigo […]

World’s Largest Kite Generating Electric Power in Mongolia

We should be wondering where the United States is in developing similar technology. “China lets fly world’s largest kite in Inner Mongolia for electric power generation,” Bangkok Post Originally published South China Morning Post. Republished Bangkok Post China has successfully deployed the world’s largest power-generating kite, capable of harnessing the potential of energy-dense, high-altitude winds […]

Earth crosses first climate tipping point as coral reefs die off

I do not believe this requires much of an introduction or explanation. This event has been discussed and warned about for decades. Mankind does not appear to want to pay attention to the warming of the Earth. We can stopped the severity of what we are doing and take a lesser path. Or we can […]

Car-Free Zurich?

Like many other places I have been in Europe? The cities of Switzerland also have excellent public transport. This might work there and be a model of other cities which have similar ways to get around without cars. “Initiative launched” A broad civil society committee has submitted 4,500 signatures in favor of the traffic reform […]