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Baby steps
08/19/2009 - 00:11

Looking at the big picture, trying to affect large scale changes is all well and good. It most definitely needs to be done. But sometimes making small tweaks to your everyday life can make a difference as well.

Lately I've been examining my life, studying my daily habits and patterns. One thing I noticed right away was that when I become hungry I head right for the refrigerator. And without even the slightest thought as to what I was in the mood for, I would open the door. About half the time I didn't end up getting anything out and would find something in the cupboard instead. Why open the door, forcing the refrigerator to cool itself and thereby wasting electricity when I didn't need to?

It came down to this simple fact: opening the refrigerator door had become a catalyst to prompt the thinking process of deciding what I wanted to eat. Easy solution to that! Simply head to the cupboard first and let that jump start my neurons. So now I think before I open the fridge door and save electricty in the process.

Enormous petrified forest in Illinois
06/23/2009 - 17:33

The Smithsonian has an interesting new article about the petrified forest the was found in an Illinois coal mine a little over a year ago. It's supposed to be the world's largest fossil forest and dates back to 300 million years ago, a time prior to the existence of dinosaurs. And more importantly, immediately before a drastic change in the environment where "earth's atmosphere suddenly acquired a lot more carbon dioxide". The scientists studying the fossilized forest hope to gain valuable information into the natural ebb and flow of our planet's ecosystem. You can check out the Smithsonian article here. And head over to the Illinois State Geological Survey for some additional photos.

Huzzah for Earth week!
04/26/2009 - 21:27

I wanted to express a few thoughts as Earth week comes to a close. As of late, there has been an enormous influx of green themed television programs and advertising. Green design in makeover shows, actors speaking out on behalf of eco-charities, Walmart peddling a vacuum made from 50% recycled plastic. An idealist might say that those who control what appears on the boob tube have grown a conscious and decided to make a difference. A realist knows that there is a lot of profit to be had in the green movement. Some people have expressed anger and resentment because of this perceived corporate take over.

I personally do not see it that way. In my eyes, the key to successfully averting our shared impending ecological disaster is to make the most ecologically friendly method of doing a task also the most economically feasible way. Appealing solely to an individuals sense of right and wrong to the right thing for humanity's future has never worked on a large scale and unfortunately probably never will. If electric cars overcome their limited range and, mile for mile, become cheaper that gas powered vehicles then people will be switching over in droves. Merging the interests of capitalism and ecological sustainability can solve our environmental woes.

Emerging Alternative Energy Sources
02/24/2009 - 01:13

As phenomenal as it would be to see a single clean and inexpensive energy source created that would fulfill the world's requirements, I understand that we need to be realistic and develop a myriad of solutions. Each tailor fitted to its local environment. That's why its so exciting to see something like Pelamis wave power.

It is a perfect example of a new source that it custom made to particular set of circumstances. Just like geothermal works well where the earth's core heat is near the surface and tidal generators are most efficient where the differences between high and low tide are the greatest. Pelamis requires a minimum of 15kW of wave energy at a location to be viable but there are many locations which fit this requirement; including much of the Pacific coast of the Americas and the Atlantic coast in Europe and Africa.

Currently each generator can create enough energy to power about 500 homes. And they are only able to capture between 25 to 40% of the total energy available. Imagine what the second and third generations of this technology will be capable of. Very exciting indeed.

We've given ourselves a facelift!
02/07/2009 - 02:39

This week was a big one here at PBATD. We launched our new and vastly improved site. In the process of adding some new merchandise to the store. We're working with a few illustrator friends of our and have three new bag designs in the work. So keep an eye out, if our original bag isn't your taste we will most likely have something that is very soon! And as always, if you've got a suggestion or know someone that we should be in cohoots with, let us know.