Not just the Koch brothers: New study reveals funders behind the climate change denial effort |

New study exposes the organizational underpinnings and funding behind the powerful climate change countermovement and marks the first peer-reviewed, comprehensive analysis ever conducted of the sources of funding that maintain the denial effort.
"The climate change countermovement has had a real political and ecological impact on the failure of the world to act on the issue of global warming," said Brulle. "Like a play on Broadway, the countermovement has stars in the spotlight -- often prominent contrarian scientists or conservative politicians -- but behind the stars is an organizational structure of directors, script writers and producers, in the form of conservative foundations. If you want to understand what's driving this movement, you have to look at what's going on behind the scenes."
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Survival Guide For Climate Change Debates:

200,000 Moms | Clean Air Strong

Fighting For Our Kids' Health

Air-Purifier Bike

Some observers are calling it "the photosynthesis bike." The bike of interest has captured a lot of imaginations, press coverage, and even picked up an award in the 2013 Red Dot competition for design concept. Dubbed "Air Purifier Bike," from Bangkok-based Lightfog Creative and Design, the bicycle presents a next-level functionality to bicycles as environmentally sound vehicles—to the point where the rider not only uses a clean mode of transport but also helps to purify the air along with the ride. 

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Let Science Set the Facts

When it comes to handheld computers, smart phones and other electronic devices people don’t ever seem to question science when underlying something easily valued. We either take it for granted or celebrate science-based products like G.P.S., Global Positioning Systems, which guide drivers and pilots and allow heavy machinery or a farmer’s tractor to be operated with a precision that approaches ballet. And people are always eager to take advantage of the latest advances in medicine.

Science seems to be only questioned when people dislike the implications of scientific results. Story continues:

                                   

The light-harvesting states of photosynthesis are highly efficient in many species, and happen extremely fast |

Inspired by nature | Through billions of years of evolution, life on Earth has found intricate solutions to many of the problems scientists are currently grappling with. Physicists at the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory are trying to unravel nature's secrets to develop new energy-generating technologies for a more sustainable future. "The light-harvesting states of photosynthesis are highly efficient in many species, and happen extremely fast – within a nanosecond, if not picoseconds," said Chin. "We're very interested in that efficiency and how it's managed. Biology has evolved phenomenally subtle systems to funnel light energy around and channel it to the right places. It has also become incredibly good at building tiny devices that work with high efficiency, and at replicating them millions of times." Read More:

How algae may one day cure parkinson’s disease |

Ever see a green film form on a still pond? It happens because alga needs sunlight to complete the photosynthesis cycle, the process it uses to convert carbon dioxide and water into the sugar it "eats." It’s that drive to seek the light that makes Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a single-celled alga, a brain research superstar and the core of optogenetics technology--which uses light-sensitive proteins to study how neurons employ electrochemical signals to produce memories, thoughts, and behaviors. It is helping scientists research brain diseases and disorders such as Parkinson's, schizophrenia, depression, stroke, PTSD, addiction, some forms of blindness, and more:   Read More

It's Not Socialism .. Is It?

"It's been said that democracy is the worst form of government
except all the others that have been tried.” ~ Sir Winston Churchill 

Much the same can be said for capitalism, particularly the form of capitalism that has been practiced over the past 20 years.  However, the alternatives to capitalism have all been tried and all been found wanting -- some, like communism or socialism, catastrophically so.  So capitalism, with all its faults, is the only game in town. The task confronting the present generation of leaders is to improve on it, to build on its strengths and eradicate its weaknesses. The challenge is to hold on to the energy, enterprise and creativity that characterize capitalism at its best, while doing away with its destructive elements.
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If a picture is worth a thousand words..

you might say photographer Matt Hoyle's book of comedian portraits is worth thousands of laughs.

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You can buy the book on Amazon here.

"Comic Genius: Portraits Of Funny People" is Hoyle's epic new compendium featuring 200 pages of beautiful, 9 x 11 in. photos of comedians both legendary and of-the-moment. Hoyle worked closely with each of the comedians to capture their spirit with costumes, props and facial expressions unique to each one.

Even better, Hoyle will donate his net proceeds from the sale of the book to Save the Children.

Bike Share with a fresh design and energy |

~New York City

The bike helmet on her head said "Nutcase," and though this was merely the name of the Oregon company that made it, there was something wry and self-aware about Janette Sadik-Khan choosing to wear one on the streets of New York. You had to be a little unhinged and adventurous to have the big vision that Sadik-Khan, New York City's transportation commissioner, brought to this unruly madhouse of a city. Sadik-Khan expected resistance, but the tenor of anger surprised her, especially at its peak a couple of winters ago. She was grateful to the mayor for having her back. She was now philosophical about it. "I think most of the animosity was about fighting change," she said. "Challenge the status quo, and it will push right back."
 Since then Polls now showed strong public support for bike lanes and bike share—in Citi Bike's case, a 73% approval rating after four months of operation. Politicians who had once howled about bike lanes were now using the blue bikes as campaign vehicles. A city was evolving.
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3 Favorite Journeys on a Bike

For many cyclists, riding a bike is a kind of heaven. You’re simply a body breathing clean air and having very few thoughts. It’s just the wind in their faces, and the tranquillity and peace that they feel. With the advent of fall, three writers tell us about their favorite bike journeys, from a beloved route along rolling fields and Lake Champlain in Vermont and upstate New York to a ride in the wild green countryside of western Ireland and a night ride in Paris| Journeys Continue

7 ways to get lost in the joy of autumn |

Fall’s Most Amazing Corn Mazes |

The Adventure Continues:

6 Unforgettable Train Trips in the U.S

Train travel offers families so much more than merely an alternative to driving. The most memorable train trips deliver both fabulous scenery and a dose of Americana you just can’t appreciate through the windows of a car | Read More: Best Train Trips for Families|

First-ever real estate website designed to help high volume-inclined music-lovers |

If your college parties never received any noise complaints then there is a chance that you weren't doing college right. In any case, for some people, the inclination to blare music at deafening decibels doesn’t go away after earning a diploma. Read More:

Report Reveals Missed Opportunities to Save Water and Energy

Water and wastewater managers are missing substantial opportunities to save energy and money, according to a report published Wednesday (Sept. 4) by Water in the West, a research center at Stanford University. Story Continues:

Red Cedar Tree Study Shows That Clean Air Act Is Reducing Pollution, Improving Forests |

The research team -- which included Jesse Nippert, associate professor of biology -- spent four years studying centuries-old eastern red cedar trees, or Juniperus virginiana, in the Central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia | Story Continues:

Despite the economy, young people today aren't totally turned off by work. They're actually excited about getting fulfillment from their careers--especially if they can help others. Read More:

Flavorless but enduring, dominant and unchallengeable, yet elementally enhancing the flavor of life |

Water is the most basic resource on the planet. Now consider it in its elemental form | Read More:

Star birth unveiled |

All the stars we see in the sky were born in star birth nurseries — giant clouds of gas and dust. These nebulae aren’t the brightest things in the sky, and to see most of them you need binoculars or a telescope. But, they’re worth searching out because they show us what our own sun might have looked like as it was being born, around 4.5 billion years ago. Story continues polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles| Life's Building Blocks 'Abundant in Space' Read More:

How improved farming benefits the Earth |

Some of the ways to become a happier person that are actually backed up by science |

You might have seen some talk recently about the scientific 7 minute workout mentioned in The New York Times. So if you thought exercise was something you didn’t have time for, maybe you can fit it in after all.

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What would happen if the heights of New York's buildings corresponded to the net worth of the people inside them?

Re-envisioning The Manhattan Skyline To Reflect The City's Jarring Income Inequality |

Manhattan has one of the worst income gaps of any city--or country--in the world, often separated by just a few blocks. These striking graphics make that inequality apparent in the height of the city's buildings. Read More

Mapping The Climate Change Deniers Making Our Laws |

                                                                                       This map shows where climate-denying legislators come from--and how many weather-related disasters their states have faced in the past few years.
In a post-fact era, you can be an elected official and have a remarkably flexible relationship with the truth. Take climate science: more than 97% of scientists agree that climate change is a man-made phenomenon, but conservative politicians--and more than 65% of Republicans in Congress--outdo one another to demonstrate just how little they believe in science.
While that’s not exactly news, a new project by the site Think Progress aims to put the spotlight on just who climate change deniers are and where they come from, with a map of the U.S. showing the number of climate-denying legislators per state. Read More:

Healthier Airways

The term toxic mold is sometimes used to refer to mold-related indoor air quality and health problems, such as bronchitis, asthma, coughing, wheezing and other respiratory symptoms. Exposure to significant quantities of mold spores can cause serious health issues. Read More

Entrepreneurs are forward, nervy and unquestionably.. fresh!

Entrepreneurs are replenishers. They revitalize, revive, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, revivify and stimulate repeat business! ~ Why replenish the economy? We replenish our cell phones regularly and in fact most would probably feel inefficient without them. Entrepreneurs not only create new job positions but repeatedly cultivate fresh new markets.

Entrepreneur Magazine editor-in-chief Amy Cosper |

Clinton Global Initiative Aims to Boost U.S. Economy Through Entrepreneurship
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Sudden Allergies | When a Summer Cold Is Much More

The most common allergy triggers during the summer months are grass pollens and mold spores. In fact, mold can be more bothersome than pollen. Mold spores are everywhere and commonly outnumber pollen grains in the air even when the pollen season is at its worst. At home, the mold can be easily seen on the walls, ceilings, clothing, furniture, carpets, food and other places, if it is present. It can also flourish on equipment that we use everyday, like air conditioners. Read More |

Aromatix Fresh Cedar products reduce risk of Health Hazards |

Almost every U.S. home has at least a little mold, but roughly 47% of homes have more substantial mold or dampness, says William Fisk, senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who has researched mold for more than 10 years. People who are exposed to mold are 30% to 50% more at risk of asthma, coughing and wheezing, he adds. Mold exposure also has been associated with other health problems, such as bronchitis and respiratory infections. Story continues

Protecting Your Home From Theft & Health Hazards |

A free site that provides tools and tips to homeowners to help them save money, get organized and keep their homes in great shape. | Continue Reading

Early Colonial Architecture
17th Century   

Spring Time | Time To Be Efficient

Spring Efficiency | It’s the equivalent of clearing out the winter cobwebs once and for all.

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Giving Children Computers | Does It Help Them In School:

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