Can Gas Street Lamps Be Made Green? (Video) : TreeHugger

Can Gas Street Lamps Be Made Green? (Video) : TreeHugger

Can Sprint Grab Market Share with 4G Tablet Release? « Note of the Day

Pretty interesting...

Can Sprint Grab Market Share with 4G Tablet Release? « Note of the Day

How to curb my iCraving?

Apple, Amazon and EdealInfo are sufficient enough to cause a serious imbalance to one's already volatile eHealth, in today's tech world.

A hardcore carnivore like the ones shown in "No Reservations" or "Man vs Food" knows how tough it is to pass up an opportunity to have a good juicy steak or sandwich especially when you are starving. On the same lines, a geek or a tech junkie finds it impossible to give up a chance to get their hands on one of the cool toys that are out there.

For months I have been fighting a craving that the techie inside me refuses to give up, and the practicality of it does not cave in. I termed it, the "iCraving". Working for AT&T, things don't help in this regard. We are so much surrounded by the news about i-devices, their pros and cons, their testing results, their compatibility - oh by the way - there is an App for that! Just around the iPhone 4 launch, I was eligible for an upgrade. And I almost caved in. Only this time, the techie took over the junkie.

I know that getting an iPhone 4 works the best to so many people out there, for me, it just doesn't cut it, as of now. Or let me put it this way, I don't need it for now. First I will have to give up a couple of employee savings, and then pay more than usual for the data plan. And then, I might still end up having a signal issue.

Then there is the iPad. Quite tempting - especially since the launch of iBooks. I would love to get into a nook corner and settle down to read on a device with good e-ink and chill out with a drink and cigar. So, I decided to go to the store after doing my final bit of research for few minutes. Sure enough, I came to know about the WiFi problems, from two very good confidants. Since I was not planning on getting 3G service on the iPad - which by the way in my opinion is totally useless to have - I have to heavily rely on Wifi. Hence, deffer-ed the idea. Gotta wait until 2.0 comes out.

Then there is the ubiquitous iMac or the Macbook/Pro/Air - These, one would require a nerve to put aside. Its hip to have one, It makes sense to have one, Its best to have one, Its so easy to have one, If you dont have one then you are not the one, etc etc. Except that, if you have a little one, who sure enough can drag it out of the couch to the floor - You will surely punch a hole in your wallet - that too a big one.

So, in sum, it will be quite some time before I quench my iCraving.

Until then, I will keep upgrading my first Gen iPhone, and the numerous ITunes updates and podcasts etc. Someday there should be an App for satisfying - The iCraving !

Opportunity for Bolivia

Ever wonder what makes a rechargeable battery "Rechargeable"?

Well saving the gory details - In simple terms, its "Lithium".

And Bolivia, is virtually sitting on a gold mine with reserves of Lithium, thanks to salt flats of Uyuni.

The salt flats of Uyuni have triggered international interest among energy companies due to its lithium reserves, and Bolivia hopes the metal could power a green revolution when electric cars reach mass production.

Salar de Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) is the world's largest salt lake with a surface of 12,000 square kilometres. It is situated in the southwest of Bolivia at an altitude of 3,653 metres above sea level.

The Uyuni salt flats are estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt - of which 25,000 tons are extracted every year - as well as 100 million tons of lithium, making it one of the largest global reserves of this mineral.

Bolivia has half of the world's known reserves of lithium - a key mineral used in medicine and especially in rechargeable batteries, as well as everything from cell phones and laptops to electric cars. With demand for lithium expected to boom in coming years, Bolivia - one of the poorest countries in South America - is sitting on something potentially more valuable than a gold mine.

Pictures: Courtesy Telegraph

India !!

This Video is totally Inspirational !!

Nissan LEAF vs GM Volt

Yes, I am a total Nissan buff...ever since we got our Nissan Versa, I just cant help but admire the subtle but strong impressions and features that Nissan cars are packed with.

Nissan now enters the new and not so new market of 100% electric cars.

Welcome Nissan LEAF. Nissan will begin deliveries of its LEAF pure electric car in selected US markets at the end of this year.

Read on @: http://gm-volt.com/2010/04/20/are-you-reserving-a-nissan-leaf-today/

and more @: http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/index#/leaf-electric-car/index

Just what the heck is Ethanol ?

I don't know about others, but I sure did ask myself about what Ethanol is and how is it an alternative fuel ?

I am not exactly picky to find the chemical composition or the actual chem formula for Ethanol, coz, even if I knew or found out, I am more interested to find its applications, rather than the do-er as such.

Here is what I found out there on it to begin with:

"

Ethanol, as in beer and wine, is an alcohol modified to utilize it as a fuel and making it undrinkable. Ethanol is produced by fermentation through a method similar to beer brewing of any biomass containing carbohydrates. At the present time, ethanol is derived from starches and sugars however there have been constant research to allow it to be produced from fibrous substance which consists the bulk of most plant matter - the cellulose and hemicellulose. Ethanol is widely used as a blending agent with gasoline to boost octane and at the same time reducing carbon monoxide and other toxic smog-causing emissions.

"
More Reading @ http://www.prurgent.com/2009-03-29/pressrelease34337.htm

Does thinking and acting 'Green' save Climate ?

Most of us recycle, abstain and perform so many, the so called, "green" actions with the sole hope that we will be able to save 'Earth', by saving the climate, by polluting less and less.

Well, apart from these actions, there is a subtle notion that most miss - One has to implement a cultural revolution, backed by a political revamp.

---------Quote----------

We all know in general that cars, trucks, coal and power plants, household heating and cooling, and manufacturing industries spew a majority of the greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and the oceans. But did you know that U.S. household use of fossil fuels (housing, transportation, and food) accounts for 67% of total energy consumption and 67% of GHG's emitted?

Heating, lighting, and cooling our poorly insulated and designed 113 million homes and apartments and running our electrical and gas appliances consumes 26.6% of total U.S. fossil fuels.

Cruising in our gas guzzling (averaging 22 miles per gallon) and underutilized cars (average 1.4 passengers per journey) burns up another 23.4% of energy.

Eating highly processed and packaged foods and animal products, produced on chemical and energy-intensive factory-style farms, transported over long distances, and throwing our waste foods into the garbage (rather than composting them) eats up another 17.3% of the nation's energy.

The average U.S. citizen generates 19.6 tons of climate destabilizing greenhouse gases every year, more than twice as much as the European Union and Japan (9.3 tons per capita), and 7.3 times as much as the developing world (2.7 tons per capita).

---------End Quote----------

Below is the article that referenced the above fact sheet, and provides a very descriptive study on what was tried @Copenhagen, and what else is causing the impact, through various sectors.

I do not expect anyone to sit through reading this snippet in one shot and digest everything...but I sincerely think one should make a conscious effort to get the gist of it.

Read on @ http://www.energybulletin.net/node/51558

New Volvo GTDi Engine

Volvo cars will soon be seeing new engines, more fuel efficiency, more energy efficient and all.

In this realm of specialty engines that luxury cars make, it is definitely interesting to note the key factors that they are using to compete with Hybrids.

Granted, apart from the engine and the efficiency, there are a whole lot of what I call 'comfort factors' that set the luxury segment apart. But today's mid level and hybrids are not far behind to add these in. It is doing the other part that is tougher, i.e., adding a higher fuel efficient engine that can compete with hybrids, reduce carbon footprint by imposing strict rations to emissions, etc.

Volvo, VW and others are spending a lot of resources into developing these.

Complete article from Volvo's official site is: https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/enhanced/en-gb/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=31621

Dear Blog,

What can i say, I know I was not able to share my thoughts with you, for the past few months. Seems like life took a nasty turn pulling me away in numerous directions. Nidhish Kedar arrived, got involved in a multicar crash, Shift of plans in many respects, and now I have an impending relocation to a different city.

Regardless, what I could not muster until this morning, was the means to get back even. What is chaos, if one does not know how to remain firmly grounded? Where is resolve, when one allows to get pulled in all directions?

So, here I am back again, putting a full stop to my excuses, I will consistently share my ideas and thoughts out here with you and our friends !

Volkswagon New 1.2L TSI Engine

Volkswagen’s new 1.2L TSI engine, introduced earlier this year (earlier post) is now available for the Polo, Golf and Golf Plus.

The four-cylinder, turbocharged 77 kW (103 hp) TSI engine offers its maximum torque of 175 N·m (129 lb-ft) at a low engine speed of 1,500 rpm.

The continued development of the engine technology of the small but powerful engine family consistently uses friction optimization and lightweight construction. The engine is based on an aluminium crankcase. The completely re-tuned direct injection provides smooth power development, low consumption and low emissions.

Applied in the fifth-generation Polo, the 1.2 TSI consumes 5.5 L/100km (43 mpg US), with 129 g/km CO2. Compared to the retired 1.6-liter engine of the previous model, average fuel consumption was lowered by 1.2 liter. This corresponds to a 30 g/km reduction in CO2 emissions.

More @: VW Media Room
Courtesy: Mike Millikin

Tree hugging

"Arrested Development" Trio Join Forces for New Show - ABC News
HitFix"Arrested Development" Trio Join Forces for New ShowABC NewsIt stars Arnett as a rich Beverly Hills jackass who falls in love with a charitable Tree-hugging woman who can't stand his lifestyle or values. ...Will Arnett has a new FOX developmentHitFixall 8 news articles��

Treehugging

Electric Rolls-Royce for tree-hugging plutocrats - New Zealand Herald
New Zealand HeraldElectric Rolls-Royce for tree-hugging plutocratsNew Zealand HeraldBy Sean O'Grady A hybrid is likely on the cards for Rolls-Royce, but electric versions of the iconic guzzler are further off. An electric Rolls-Royce is a ...and more��

Eco News

Samsung and Sprint unveil Eco-friendly cellphone - USA Today
Washington PostSamsung and Sprint unveil Eco-friendly cellphoneUSA TodaySprint CEO Dan Hesse says the green phone isn't just environmentally responsible -- it's good business. Coming August 16, the $50 phone (after rebates and ...Sprint rolls out Eco-friendly phoneKansas City StarSprint, Along With Samsung, Create Eco-Friendly Mobile DeviceGeekSmackSprint goes green with the Samsung ReclaimSan Francisco ChronicleYTN�-CIO Today�-Gearlogall 354 News articles��

Earth

Kepler telescope makes quick discovery - CNN
Times OnlineKepler telescope makes quick discoveryCNNKepler's ability to take measurements that precise at such a great distance "proves we can find Earth-size planets," William Borucki, Kepler's principal ...NASA says Kepler spacecraft proves it can find Earth-sized planetsLos Angeles TimesKepler Telescope Finds Distant Planet During Test RunAHNKepler passes first test - ready to hunt for other EarthsChristian Science MonitorComputerworld�-The Planetary Society�-Wired Newsall 127 news articles��

Earth

Kepler telescope makes quick discovery - CNN
Times OnlineKepler telescope makes quick discoveryCNNKepler's ability to take measurements that precise at such a great distance "proves we can find Earth-size planets," William Borucki, Kepler's principal ...NASA says Kepler spacecraft proves it can find Earth-sized planetsLos Angeles TimesKepler Telescope Finds Distant Planet During Test RunAHNKepler passes first test - ready to hunt for other EarthsChristian Science MonitorComputerworld�-The Planetary Society�-Wired Newsall 127 news articles��

Save Planet

Can Cap-And-Trade Save Planet For Just 'Postage Stamp A Day'? - Investor's Business Daily
Opposing ViewsCan Cap-And-Trade Save Planet For Just 'Postage Stamp A Day'?Investor's Business DailyHow much will an American family pay to avoid catastrophic global warming via the House-passed ...Heritage Foundation Releases Economic Study of Waxman-Markey Cap ...Heritage.orgall 19 news articles��

Green Living

Green Living 101: Should I go to the State Fair? - Examiner.com
Examiner.comGreen Living 101: Should I go to the State Fair?Examiner.comCelebrate local food at your State Fair. Every Greenie has an obligation to go. There's an excuse if you needed one. Meet the farmers that could become your ...and more��

Treehugging

Electric Rolls-Royce for tree-hugging plutocrats - New Zealand Herald
New Zealand HeraldElectric Rolls-Royce for tree-hugging plutocratsNew Zealand HeraldBy Sean O'Grady A hybrid is likely on the cards for Rolls-Royce, but electric versions of the iconic guzzler are further off. An electric Rolls-Royce is a ...and more��