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| Science & Technology |
| Lileks: vodka, coal, and oil |
| 2008-07-05 |
| I should just put my feet up and have a beverage and a ceegar and enjoy the evening – but, come to think of it, my feet are up and I have a beverage (Reyka, rocks) and a ceegar and I am enjoying the evening. I did not know this, but apparently Reyka is the World’s First Green Vodka. It’s made from melted glacial water and distilled using geothermal heat. They kicked up the price three bucks this year, and I was considering switching to something else, but it really is an incomparable vodka, and it makes me feel better than drinking those vodkas made with ground-up polar bears. Speaking of the environment: the clipboard people were in front of the grocery store today, and just like last year and the year before, were asking if we had a minute for clean energy. Well, of course! I asked what was up, and she explained they were getting signatures for a petition to pressure Congress to give tax breaks to clean energy like wind and solar, instead of dirty energy, like coal and oil. Instead of? I asked. Not along with? Because I’m in favor of doing everything. No, she said, just clean energy. “But we use coal and oil. We need coal and oil.” Her response was so peculiar I wonder if she knew what she was saying: “But we don’t have any more.” You can’t argue with that; what’s the point? We don’t have any more. Fresh out of coal and absolutely skint on the hydrocarbons. Mind you, I’m in favor of wind power; it seems like a capital idea, and I read somewhere (can’t find the link) that a massive new blade-farm, or whatever they’re called, is going up in the southern part of the state. This article notes the downside: transmission lines. Not a downside for me – I remember as a kid being fascinated and slightly scared by the giant power towers, marching across the prairie, looking vaguely like skeletal robots complete with head and arms. They were controversial in the 70s, though, and I expect they might be so again, but this time, I'd guess the greeniousity of the power source will trump fears about invisible leaky cow-confusing electricity. Prediction: in the next few years, Reddy Kilowatt will return. But he won't be red. Meet his brother. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #1 I'm forming a Company to cut down the rainforests and make cellusik ethanol, it's clean and sounds damn cool. Pls send money. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-07-05 10:54 |
