Solar Update

Power Spar has a novel new solar cell product that puts a twist on energy conversion:

Using patented technology, the Power-Spar® panels reflect and concentrate solar rays onto an absorber that runs the length of the spar units. Within the absorber, there are channels containing a heat transfer fluid (typically propylene glycol). The fluid is heated by the sun's energy and is then pumped to the building.

The heated fluid is either used directly (for process heat or steam) or passed through one or more heat exchangers to transfer energy from the fluid to space heating applications, domestic hot water pre-heat, etc. This system can supply up to 70% of your heating energy requirements from free solar energy.

Surplus heat energy is transferred to a thermal storage tank. The mass of water in this tank allows for effective retention and distribution of energy even during prolonged 'non-solar' periods (i.e., at night or on cloudy days).

Micromansion

This might be all I need. Buy some land near a lake or stream in remote Wisconsin or Michigan. Instant cool. put them together for a little retreat, colony, what have you. Microcompact rules!

Fast Food Nation

My kid loves cheeseburgers. Really loves them. I know about meat processing. It's crazy. I watched Fast Food Nation last night. A little sloppy, a little self-righteous, but effective. The last 10 minutes are all they needed to show. I'm buying local as much as I can, because I don't need my son to be a passive consumer. Until he's old enough to be educated about it, It's my responsibility to make sure he's healthy mentally and physically. As a consumer and parent, why would I take the risk?

Smoking 2.0.1

What's cooler than smoking? Well, I'd say it's smoking with this pimperish ashtray from Finding Cheska. Nothing like dirtying up your lungs while dirtying up your lungs. Also of interest is the uncommonly awesome "Smokes Like a Chimney" ashtray by Andersson Frida & James Steiner via Industreal of Italy. Rest your ciggy in the receptacle and the smoke rises out of the bronchial tubes.


















Thanks to Danielle (dfddesign) for the links.

5 Words I Hate for Friday:

"Help is on the Way."

5 Words I Hate for Thursday:

"Your actions are being monitored."


--this one actually comes up on all of our computer screens at work every time you log in, along with a legal statement that declares that they intercept, monitor, record, copy, audit, and inspect any and all use of their computer system. Douchebags. I'm using their computer system to post this message, because I don't believe in signing my life over to an authoritarian regime. Especially when they paid me an gross adjusted income of $26,000 for a job that normally pays twice that amount. Wow. The people at Move have some large cajones. Which will hurt all the more when I give them a roundhouse to the sack with my Chuck Norris Steel-toed specials.

5 words I hate for Wednesday:

The Great American Dream Vote.