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Say you’re an ambitious young engineer and you want to tackle some seriously challenging problems. The automotive industry has no money to hire you, and their work on battery-powered cars is mundane and rote anyway.  You could work in aerospace, designing the next satellite or Mars rover, but even those challenges are no longer brand [...]

I recently received news from Iowa State University, my alma mater, that the engineering department has surpassed 5,000 undergraduate students this year. It’s good to hear that enrollment is increasing despite economic pressures making it harder for families to afford sending kids to college.
But the statistics from ISU still show a disturbing dark side. Of [...]

Not only are ~42 million Americans lacking (health) insurance, but the global climate is uninsured, as well. Thousands of people declare bankruptcy in the U.S. each year because of unaffordable medical expenses, and some of these people even had insurance. In bankruptcy, your debts are erased and you get to start over economically.
Climate bankruptcy would [...]

In researching glass container sustainability initiatives, I came across this awe-inspiring press release from Tyson’s Wright Brand at Package Design Magazine. Wright Brand has been working with Interbrand to update the packaging and branding of its bacon products. Bacon is an undeniably delicious and versatile food — and pleasantly fatty, compared to the rest of [...]

Apparently more Americans believe in UFOs than oppose a public option for health care insurance. Unfortunately, I think this says as much about the scientific ignorance and conspiracy-theory-craziness of Americans as it does about the state of the health care debate. Wow. Really, America? REALLY?
How about we slip some science education reform into the health [...]

If two cars are traveling towards each other, with one car traveling at 60 mph and the other trying to drive as far away from McDonald’s as possible, how far can it drive?
The answer is 145 miles. In other words, you’re never more than 2 1/2 hours from a Big Mac.

Excerpt:
“For maximum McSparseness, we look [...]

The winners of the recent 2009 Great American Beer Festival in Colorado were just announced, thereby seeding a long list of area microbrews I need to try for the first time. Having moved to DC from San Diego only a couple months ago, my experience with East Coast beers is relatively limited.
Congratulations to all the [...]

And I thought instant coffee was only useful for cooking and baking. (I use it in desserts, chili, etc.) I’m willing to give Starbucks VIA a try — heck, it can’t be too bad for camping, at least!
Excerpt:
AFTERMATH
Once the true brews were revealed, the tasters were – as Schultz predicted – surprised and delighted by [...]

First, read this:
(And watch for the spelling of words such as “public.”)
The Funniest Protest Signs Of 2009

Then, read this.
Thank you, someecards. Thank you very much.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is denying climate change and opposing the cap and trade bill with “disingenuous attempts to diminish or distort the reality,” according to PG&E Chairman and CEO Peter Darbee. PG&E recently pulled its membership from the Chamber, and now Exelon Corp. has done the same today.
Why is the Chamber so opposed [...]