Want Cheaper Solar Energy - Try Using "Dirty" Silicon
Mon Nov 21, 2005 at 05:29:59 PM PDT
One of the factors keeping Solar Panels expensive is the high cost of silicon. Almost 90% of cells use silicon in their production. And now the demand for pure silicon has surpassed the production making it even more expensive.
The cells with the highest efficiency need pure silicon. When impurities are present in the silicon crystal they have a tendency to capture electrons that are needed to generate the electricity.
What The Hell Is Right With This Place!
Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 09:23:50 PM PDT
Since, during the last few days, there has been a plethora of Meta Diaries I thought I would add one more. I was walking home Tuesday night in the cold Seattle weather and was struck by something.
There has been much discussion about what is wrong with this site and whether or not it is "broken". I can tell you that it is not. The decision Markos made to start a "blog" and the foresight he had to set up the format he did has changed politics, blogging and my life profoundly.
Science tidbits - A diary that does not mention anyone's genitals!
Wed Jun 01, 2005 at 11:28:52 PM PDT
I needed a break. I was listening to Bush's press conference and when the headache got too bad - I checked in here. I see the genital argument is still raging and I thought I would throw out some new Science articles to change the scene.
No analysis or pithy comments, I'm oh so tired.
The Ongoing GOP attack on Congressman Jim McDermott
Fri May 27, 2005 at 05:13:05 PM PDT
As many of you know, last Saturday the Seattle Kossacks had a BBQ. You may not know a well known
Daily Kos member - our Congressman,
Jim McDermott, attended. He had lots of questions about "Blogs" and Daily Kos. We also had an opportunity to discuss quite a few issues with him:
- His visit to Darfur which was covered in an interview by Armando.
- The HIV/AIDS situation in Africa.
- The current atmosphere in Washington D.C.
- The ongoing frivolous lawsuit involving Congressman McDermott and Ohio Rep. John Boehner. This is not breaking news, but there are some upcoming events that could affect our Representatives and increase the already hostile political environment.
(Pictures of the BBQ are
here)
Update [2005-5-27 22:44:36 by SeattleLiberal]: Congressman McDermott responds below to clarify some points about what is at stake here.
Seattle Kossacks - BBQ at Golden Gardens Park
Tue May 17, 2005 at 12:54:06 PM PDT
If you missed last Saturday - We had a great time at the Pike Brewery. Our guest of honor was
em dash of Kos and
Unbossed fame. There are pictures
here. If you're wishing you could have made it, you have another chance!
Science Friday - A Selection from Natural Selection
Fri May 13, 2005 at 01:18:14 AM PDT
[crossposted at
Booman Tribune]
As the attack on Darwin continues this week, I thought I would round up some of the recent news from the front lines.
I am listening to the Kansas "trial." It has to be in small doses because my neighbors wonder who I am arguing with and they like me to keep the yelling to a minimum.
One thing that strikes me is the ID/Creationists say they want there to be a debate. Well . . . science is a debate. This is how progress is made. One hypothesis is put forward, then another, maybe another and the debate rolls from there. Then the one that best explains the evidence is the winner . . . until a better explanation comes along.
Seattle Kossacks Have 2 Events for May
Mon May 09, 2005 at 12:46:31 PM PDT
This is going to be close to pushing the rules on reposting a diary . . . real close. I posted this late one night and very, very few people saw it. I didn't GIMP satellite images and make an animated gif with the international "No" sign for nothing!
The Seattle Kossacks are having 2 events this month.
Seattle Kossacks! Late Night Invitation to Get Together!
Fri May 06, 2005 at 12:22:21 AM PDT
This month Seattle Area Kossacks are having 2 events.
Why Evolution Matters (Or Creationism and Iraq)
Thu May 05, 2005 at 07:47:46 PM PDT
[crossposted at
Booman Tribune]
O.K. the title is a little odd and this is a little long but bear with me.
Over the last couple of days I have been reading Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror by Richard A.Clarke. If you have not read it yet, I would highly recommend it.
I had an epiphany when I read this paragraph,
From the interactions I did have with Bush it was clear that the critique of him as a dumb, lazy rich kid were somewhat off the mark. When he focused, he asked the kind of questions that revealed a results-oriented mind, but he looked for the simple solution, the bumper sticker description of the problem. Once he had that, he could put energy behind a drive to achieve his goal. The problem was that many of the important issues, like terrorism, like Iraq, were laced with important subtlety and nuance. These issues needed analysis and Bush and his inner circle had no real interest in complicated analyses; on the issues that they cared about, they already knew the answers, it was received wisdom. (page 243 - emphasis mine)
More over the jump.
[Science] Nerd Network News - Diaries from the Week of April 25 - May 1
Mon May 02, 2005 at 02:04:03 PM PDT
I started this series to highlight the week's science diaries. Many political issues will require input from the scientific community to make sound policy decisions.
Some criteria for the diaries I will be including in Nerd Network News:
- Diary must have verifiable sources.
- Copyright standards must be followed. The sources must be quoted in part and referenced (no complete articles).
- Writer must comment or show some analysis of the article (no "link only" diaries)
This is to try to keep the diaries as useful as possible. There may be exceptions if an important subject was brought up and there were no other diaries covering the subject.
The opinions expressed in the diaries are not necessarily my own and spelling errors in the gray boxes are intentionally left as written.
I'm including diaries from Booman Tribune if they were not crossposted here.
If I missed anyone, sorry.
More below
[Science] Nerd Network News - Diaries from the Week of April 18 - 24
Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 03:49:11 PM PDT
I started this series to highlight the week's science diaries. Many political issues will require input from the scientific community to make sound policy decisions.
Some criteria for the diaries I will be including in Nerd Network News:
- Diary must have verifiable sources.
- Copyright standards must be followed. The sources must be quoted in part and referenced (no complete articles).
- Writer must comment or show some analysis of the article (no "link only" diaries)
This is to try to keep the diaries as useful as possible. There may be exceptions if an important subject was brought up and there were no other diaries covering the subject.
The opinions expressed in the diaries are not necessarily my own and spelling errors in the gray boxes are intentionally left as written.
If I missed anyone, sorry.
More below
Nerd Alert : Organic Materials Spotted High Above Titan's Surface
Tue Apr 26, 2005 at 02:15:47 AM PDT
First saw this at
talk.origins
The Cassini-Huygens team has discovered complex organic molecules in the atmosphere of Titan.
This discovery raises some interesting questions about how these organics may have formed here on Earth. This gives us an opportunity to study formation of these complex molecules in an atmosphere that is not so influenced by the biological processes occurring in our own.
Exciting stuff.
Fun New Creationist Law Suit!
Sat Apr 23, 2005 at 03:58:15 AM PDT
[cross posted at
Booman Tribune]
In an article at worldnetdaily there is now another attempt at making the evolution/creationism debate into a "free speech" issue.
www.worldnetdaily.com :
Darwin-only challenger claims libel
Parent says 'evolution spokeswoman' trying to discredit effort
Posted: April 23, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
A parent suing a school district over its teaching of evolution says he was libeled by the education establishment's chief spokeswoman on Darwin, Eugenie Scott, in an attempt to discredit his efforts.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Larry Caldwell filed a civil-rights lawsuit in federal court against the Roseville Joint Union High School District and school officials in Sacramento, Calif., alleging his constitutional rights to free speech, equal protection and religious freedom were violated when he was prevented from introducing a curriculum that changes how the theory of evolution is taught, without introducing religious content.
(emphasis mine)
[Science] Nerd Network News - Diaries from the Week of April 11 - 17
Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 03:48:28 AM PDT
I started this series to highlight the week's science diaries. Many political issues will require input from the scientific community to make sound policy decisions.
Some criteria for the diaries I will be including in Nerd Network News:
- Diary must have verifiable sources.
- Copyright standards must be followed. The sources must be quoted in part and referenced (no complete articles).
- Writer must comment or show some analysis of the article (no "link only" diaries)
This is to try to keep the diaries as useful as possible. There may be exceptions if an important subject was brought up and there were no other diaries covering the subject.
The opinions expressed in the diaries are not necessarily my own and spelling errors in the gray boxes are intentionally left as written.
If I missed anyone, sorry.
More below
Tsunamis, earthquakes and now volcanic eruptions
Tue Apr 12, 2005 at 11:17:38 PM PDT
After last years quake and tsunami, then a nearly 9.0 quake last month, Java now gets to deal with 2 volcanoes awakened by the recent geological activity.
I wish I had something to add. I am just shocked by what the inhabitants of these islands have had to endure in the last few months.
Not Another %$#!@%# Diary on EVOLUTION!! (Part I)
Sun Apr 10, 2005 at 11:27:27 PM PDT
Warning! Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! This is long. So Bob Johnson, you can skip the green boxes to make it closer to your word limit!
Well, you may be asking:
- Don't we have enough of these?
- Are not repeat diaries one of your pet peeves?
- Why in the hell are you doing this to us?
- Haven't we suffered enough?
Fair questions all, and I'll answer them below.
[Science] Nerd Network News - Diaries from the Week of March 21 - 27
Mon Mar 28, 2005 at 11:31:16 AM PDT
After a little hiatus NNN is back. This week I excluded diaries covering Terri Schiavo as this issue was covered adequately without me.
Some criteria for the diaries I will be including in Nerd Network News:
- Diary must have verifiable sources.
- Copyright standards must be followed. The sources must be quoted in part and referenced (no complete articles).
- Writer must comment or show some analysis of the article (no "link only" diaries)
This is to try to keep the diaries as useful as possible. There may be exceptions if an important subject was brought up and there were no other diaries covering the subject.
The opinions expressed in the diaries are not necessarily my own and spelling errors in the gray boxes are intentionally left as written.
More below
Get ready Seattle . . . with poll and everything!
Wed Mar 09, 2005 at 08:56:38 PM PDT
Plutonium Page and Frank are coming. You know what that means . . .
