Earth Policy Institute reports on Bicycles

Of special interest to Luz (Nieve44) and Dave9.

The world produced an estimated 130 million bicycles in 2007—more than twice the 52 million cars produced.Much of the recent growth has been driven by the rise in electric, or “e-bike” production, which has doubled since 2004 to 21 million units in 2007. Overall, since 1970, bicycle output has nearly quadrupled, while car production has roughly doubled.
While biking remains popular for recreation in the United States, it is woefully underused for transportation. Total cycling participation has declined nationally since 1960, dropping 32 percent since the early 1990s, and now accounts for just 0.9 percent of all trips. Cycling to work is even less frequent, at 0.4 percent of trips.
Bicycle advocacy in the United States continues to grow as well. The League of American Bicyclists now honors 84 U.S. towns and cities as Bicycle Friendly Communities, compared with 52 in 2005. Cycling advocacy groups operate in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Perhaps most exciting, a Complete Streets movement has blossomed in recent years, in which a broad coalition of citizen and environmental groups is calling for safer, pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly roads designed for everyone, not just cars.

Do you live in Bicycle Friendly Community?
Read the whole article here.

Electoral Projections Done Right

I've been tracking the upcoming election by using the website linked below & above. You might find it useful. Be aware there is a lot of superfluous and frankly useless numbers and graphs, but the "nitty gritty" is there on top. Five Thirty Eight, by Nate Silver.

Active "senior" brain and the internet

I've been thinking recently about how much time I've been spending on the internet and wondered if I am robbing myself (as TV viewing does)of brain power in my senior years.

Well Live Science's on line article proves the opposite. The article "Internet Searching May Boost Brain" makes me feel better about surfing the net.

"Our most striking finding was that Internet searching appears to engage a greater extent of neural circuitry that is not activated during reading — but only in those with prior Internet experience," said study leader Gary Small of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

Science: Thinking about Not Thinking

From an Emory University Press Release:

Experienced Zen meditators can clear their minds of distractions more quickly than novices, according to a new brain imaging study.

After being interrupted by a word-recognition task, experienced meditators’ brains returned faster to their pre-interruption condition, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found. "This suggests that the regular practice of meditation may enhance the capacity to limit the influence of distracting thoughts. This skill could be important in conditions such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder and major depression, characterized by excessive rumination or an abnormal production of task-unrelated thoughts,"

From Life Science:

Zen meditation vigorously discourages mental withdrawal from the world and dreaminess, and instead asks one to keep fully aware with a vigilant attitude. It typically asks one to silently focus on breathing and one's posture with eyes open in a quiet place and to calmly dismiss any thoughts as they pop up, essentially "thinking nothing." One can over time learn how to keep one's mind from wandering, become aware of otherwise unconscious behaviors and preconceived notions and hopefully gain insights into oneself, others and the world.

Sustainable Seafood

It’s difficult to tell the difference between ethical, sustainable seafood and the environmentally destructive fish you find on many menus. The seafood industry wreaks havoc on the environment, using massive ocean trawlers that destroy ancient habitats and kill massive amounts of fish unnecessarily.

Interveiw with Taras Grescoe on Sustainable Seafood from the Utne Cast. If you eat seafood for protein this is worth listening to.

Listen Now:

I wonder how many times I have been fooled at a seafood restaurant or at the fishmongers?
And what a pleasant surprise at the ethical labeling Walmart uses at their markets.
Read here, Special Online Project: Sustainable Seafood

Why Mango Wood Furniture?

The mango wood used in furniture comes from mango plantations where the trees are grown for their fruit. A large mango tree is 60 to 100 feet tall and has a trunk three to five feet in diameter. At that size, the trees no longer bear fruit and are harvested to make room for young mango trees. The harvested wood is not wasted and provides an extra source of income for farmers.
This simple process of replacement and regrowth is called "sustainable forestry." In theory, a well-managed forest can produce wood forever. Using plantation wood preserves fragile forests and protects threatened tree species like teak and mahogany.
That's good for the ecology.

Look for Mango wood furniture that is finished with water based varnishes and stains. Unlike oil-based finishes, this reduces the amount of volatile organic compounds in the indoor air. That contributes to a better environment in your home.

The finish enhances the natural beauty of the furniture. Take a look at the base of this table as pictured above. You can see how the planks are joined before turning on a lathe. The character of the wood is not masked, allowing the wood's grain, variations in color, and natural voids to show. This massive base holds a table top made from thick planks of wood.

The Tweel

The next generation of tires. The Tweel. These tires are airless and are scheduled to be out on the market in 10 to 15 years, I've read maybe much sooner.
The bad news for law enforcement is that spike strips will not work on these tires. Click the photo for larger view.

Just think of the impact on existing technology:
A. no more air valves...
B. no more air compressors at gas stations...
C. no more repair kits...
D. no more flats...
The wheel and tire are one unit, when the tread is worn the Tweel will be re-capped. Much less waste! How about a bicycle Tweel, Michelin?

On Greatness

The great arises out of small things that are honored and cared for. Everybody’s life really consists of small things. Greatness is a mental abstraction and a favorite fantasy of the ego. The paradox is that the foundation for greatness is honoring the small things of the present moment instead of pursuing the idea of greatness.

Eckhart Tolle, A NEW EARTH,
Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Happiness and Its Causes

Would like to respond to my invitation to attend, but unhappily I am not able to participate. Happiness & Its Causes, San Francisco. Maybe one of you out there can attend this workshop and conference.