February 5, 2010 at 9:53 am · Filed under management
We’ve all seen it where lots of information compiled to make a decision did little to suggest an obvious course. And that was 20 years ago, when it took leg work to gather that information, not just a few keystrokes in your browser. Getting stuck in analysis was a problem thousands of years ago and Stibel’s article in the Harvard Business Review blog – The Conversation reminds us to avoid it.
I have to admit, when I read the head line I chuckled thinking, "Wow, I’ve worked with some really wise people and I bet when they see this they’ll think the same about me".
Seth Levine has posted Marion Jenkins’ detailed rebuttal to HB 1192. Mr. Jenkins suggests this tax legislation should be opposed due to a wide range of problems, including it being a new tax which should go before all voters to the complexity in determining when a lump of software code is deemed “standard” and subject to these new taxes versus custom code that is not to be taxed.
The bottom line is really about jobs in Colorado. And with this bill, the jobs which are easily moved to more business friendly states will start that migration. The Sixty-sixth General Assembly can choose to address the issues with the state budget directly and bring the issues to the people, or they can choose to tear down the reasons businesses choose to be in Colorado.
Most of us like to name drop, at least a little. And so it is with great interest that we follow the careers of former colleagues. Here is Chad Evans, taking one deep at the iPad launch. Watch him here.
It appears Starbucks customers in New York are able to make intelligent decisions when provided with the information about the calorie content of food on the menu.
A new study by Stanford released Jan. 6 examined consumer behavior before and after calorie counts were posted, and determined that when restaurants post calories on menu boards, there is a reduction in calories per transaction. Based on transaction data provided by Starbucks, researchers from the Stanford Graduate School of Business found that calorie-posting in New York City in 2008 led to a 6% reduction in calories per transaction.
I suspect this surprises few of us. Yet, opponents of posting this information claim it is available elsewhere and therefore not needed in the cafe.
Studies continue to reveal this is just not the case. Information available in real time makes a difference in our buying decisions. The same is true for energy conservation efforts. Just presenting people with details about the energy they are using while they are using it, changes behaviors that on average reduce energy consumption by 3-5%. Give folks simple ideas to reduce consumption further and the vast majority of us will do so. That’s why we are working with companies to make energy usage information (and comparisons across companies, departments and work areas) available to employees.
The U.N.\'s leading panel on climate change has apologized for misleading data published in a 2007 report that warned Himalayan glaciers could melt by 2035. In a statement released Wednesday, U.N. climate chiefs apologize for glacier error – CNN.com the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said estimates relating to the rate of recession of the Himalayan glaciers in its Fourth Assessment Report were “poorly substantiated” adding that “well-established standards of evidence were not applied properly.”
In an attempt to put the proper spin on this, IPCC chairman, Rajendra Pachauri admitted errors and according to Agence France-Presse, stated, “Theoretically, let’s say we slipped up on one number, I don’t think it takes anything away from the overwhelming scientific evidence of what’s happening with the climate of this earth,” he said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Errors and mistakes happen in science research as in all other areas of human involvement. And when they do, it is best to own up to them quickly and with humility. This seems to be as important for climate science, maybe even more important, because predictions are so difficult, hindsight is always 20/20 and there are so many groups wanting to poke holes in the research and predictions. Some may even claim that early predictions were intentionally exaggerated in order to gain more attention.
In any event, those wanting to really understand the issue are no more likely to take this error and believe all the science is suspect, than they would take the worst case prediction and ignore everything else.
The first ever Yellowstone BioBlitz took place in August and uncovered more than 1200 species in a two-square mile area of northern Yellowstone, including several species not previously known to exist in the park. While Yellowstone’s wolves, bison, bears, and elk typically receive the most attention-both from scientists and tourists-the focus of the BioBlitz was on decidedly smaller and lesser-known creatures. Yet to scientists and park officials the findings were no less exciting. Findings included microscopic worms, mushrooms, a bluish-green lichen, a slender grass, and a colorful tiger beetle. 373 plant species
86 mushroom types 46 kinds of bees 5 kinds of bats (I know a 9 year old who would love to see these) 24 butterflies Over 300 kinds of other insects
This rich biodiversity provides the ecological building blocks upon which the larger, more charismatic mammals depend for survival. The BioBlitz results will help park management better understand ecosystem dynamics and potential threats to ecosystem stability. You can read more about the BioBlitz at the Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center.
From the Yellowstone Association’s Dec. ‘09 E-Newsletter
The 45th Annual Event Sponsored by the Business Research Division in the Leeds School of Business and BBVA Compass The annual forecast of the state’s economy includes snapshots from specific counties and regions around the state, as well as updates on international trade, population, labor force and personal income growth, and a general outlook on the national economy. December 7 Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1750 Welton Street, Denver 1:00 p.m. Welcome by Leeds School and BBVA Compass 1:15 p.m. Colorado economic outlook for 2010 Richard Wobbekind, Economist, Leeds School of Business John Lymberopoulos, Professor Emeritus, Leeds School of Business 2:00 p.m. Question and answer panel session 2:30 p.m. Keynote address: Nathaniel Karp, Chief U.S. Economist, BBVA Compass 3:15 p.m. Concurrent discussion sessions: The Future of Uranium, Renewables, and Coal–Impacts on Colorado’s Economy Moderator and Speaker: Vince Matthews–Colorado Geological Survey Panel: Jim Burnell–Colorado Geological Survey Bob Burnham–Wood Mackenzie Jeff Lyng–Governor’s Energy Office 4:45 p.m. Networking reception There is no charge for this event. No RSVP is necessary. Download printable postcard invitation. More info:
During the third quarter of 2009, a total of 35 energy and environmental companies received $421 million in new venture capital financing, representing an 8% decrease in the number of companies being funded and an 8% decrease in the total amount funded to the four sectors of Alternative Energy, Clean Tech, Energy and Environmental.
Alternative Energy companies showed the only deal funding volume percentage increase of the four categories, with a 20 % increase quarter over quarter. The Clean Tech sector showed a sharp decrease in activity, with an 86% decrease in amounts funded. Energy funding amounts were also down, with an 18% funding decrease and the number of companies funded decreasing by 27%.
During the quarter, Software company fundings represented the second largest sector, raising $610 million between 97 companies. This activity represented an increase of 10% in total funding amount and a decrease of 22% in the number of companies funded. The average financing round size reversed its previous decline and rose sharply, from $4.7 million in Q2 09 to $6.3 million in the current quarter.
These grants are directed toward identifying and developing new geothermal fields and reducing the upfront risk associated with geothermal development through exploration and drilling projects and data development and collection.
In total, 123 projects in 39 states will receive funding from these grants.
The DOE is investing up to $1.18 million for a project in Boulder, Colo. to upgrade the 100-year-old Boulder Canyon Hydroelectric Project by replacing two older turbines with a single unit. The new turbine is expected to operate at a wider range of flows and higher efficiency ranges, resulting in an increase in annual generation of 11,000 MWh (30% increase).
Along with 6 other projects the DOE is investing $30.6 million to create an additional 187,000 MWh/year, while replacing turbines that are as much as 90 and 100 years old. Clean (cutting 110,00o tons of CO2 emissions/year), cheap (adding generation at less than 4 cents per kWh) and lowering operating and maintenance costs.
Head over to the EPA’s Fuel Economy website and learn ways to get the last few miles out of every drop. You’ll learn how to drive more efficiently, like taking the golf clubs out of the trunk when snow’s on the ground and slowing down just a bit. And ways to not only make the gallon go farther, but also your tires and car with a few regular maintenance actions.
September 25, 2009 at 2:03 pm · Filed under energy
The University of Mississippi is using data from SmartSynch’s smart meters and passing it to dashboards for campus operations personnel to monitor, analyze and act via RSS and social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook. As a part of the university’s Red, Blue and Green initiative, students and faculty can register with the school’s Green Initiative website and get real time view and comparisons of energy usage around the campus.
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Big Blue's powerful new processor for servers integrates eight processing cores in one chip package, with each core capable of executing four tasks. […]
The video ad, called "Parisian Love," had been on YouTube since November. But that didn't stop Super Bowl viewers from giving it a generally positive reception. […]
Oracle veteran and MySQL sympathizer Ken Jacobs has resigned from the database giant, calling into question Oracle's ability to deliver on its MySQL promises. […]
The usual chain of events when a fly enters the house goes like this. The fly is spotted. The swatter comes out, then smacks down. The smushed fly is flicked into the garbage can with an accompanying nose-wrinkle of disgust. End of story. But what if ... […]
Stop the Green Tech Coup, Military Industry on the OffensiveAxis of LogicEnvironmental NGO's have been uncritically thumping the green tech funding plank and they're generating funding that could be harder to hold ... […]
In clean energy, US needs more steel in groundCNETPicking up the pace of clean-energy project development means that the prices for electricity or fuel from renewable sources will go down faster, green-tech ...and more » […]
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It would be really cool to see this stuff layered with that spray on silicon dioxide (glass) and made into a cockpit/windshield material with HUD capabilities. Make some predator drones out of this stuff with a bit of stealth technology and you'd ... […]
I've been following some interesting developments in green tech, using solar power, in Africa. First to Mali. This West African nation is famous for its extreme poverty and brutally hot Saharan plains near Timbuktu. But a small group of volunteer geeks made it famous for something else: green radio. […]
