Prometheus: The Science Policy Weblog is an excellent site. Here they delve into the Peak Oil question. According to their sniffers, the peak moment is coming, and soon, and that’s the consensus of people in the oil biz. But, since this is a policy-based site, they’re interested in how Big Oil will “frame the issue [...]

Conservative writer Rod Dreher is starting to get noticed for his new book entitled Crunchy Cons. The book focuses on traditional Republican types who are interested in environmental conservation, supporters of smart growth ideals and wary of if not openly hostile towards multi-national corporations. The group is also quite family-centric and traditionally religious. In many [...]

Still in denial. Rather sad.

[I wrote this a while ago, but never posted it. It didn't really seem relevant to anything people were talking about here -- why there isn't even a "George W. Bush" in it! But perhaps now it's as relevant as it ever will be.] When my son and I were in Paris in 2003, we [...]

One more reason to give the Walmart cheer? Surprising news, especially given skyrocketing health care costs, the number of companies recently announcing cuts to their health plans, and Wal-Mart’s less than stellar reputation to date in the area of employee benefits. Wal-Mart, which has long been criticized for the benefits it offers to its workers, [...]

What if there was a small pox outbreak in London? LONDON�Over the past 24 hours, seven people have checked into hospitals here with telltale symptoms. Rashes, vomiting, high temperature, and cramps: the classic signs of smallpox. Once thought wiped out, the disease is back and threatening a pandemic of epic proportions. The government faces a [...]

We lived down South for a few years in an area periodically hit by hurricanes. We purchased a house there. Like anyone, we were required by the bank to get homeowners insurance to cover the mortgage in case something happened. However, our property was not considered to be in a flood area, so we were [...]

Never thought I’d write those words. Wal-Mart is intimately associated with the fall of New Orleans as a community. Scenes of the looting of a Wal-Mart in the Lower Garden District were among the first images the outside world saw of the breakdown of civil order in the stricken city. Later came the story of [...]

Winston Smith at Philosoraptor points to this interesting article about a study to appear in the Journal of Advertising, on advertising to skeptics. Winston Smith remains skeptical about the findings. Skeptics are not, however, immune from the influence of advertising. The researchers said that this finding may appear counter-intuitive, as many consumers are inclined to [...]

Here’s one from the other day. It seems Diebold has hired former Democratic National Committee chairman Joe Andrew to promote their touchscreen voting machines across the country. Diebold sees California as a crucial market: His first stop: California, the nation’s largest market for voting machines and the place where Diebold’s fortunes as the largest supplier [...]

Labor groups will try. Labor leaders from around the world will meet in Chicago next week to draft a plan to organize Wal-Mart Stores Inc. workers in certain countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Germany and the United Kingdom, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. Reuters: Labor group to organize Wal-Mart workers The US isn’t on [...]

From Wired News: Each week, hundreds of new Subaru and Isuzu cars and trucks roll out of the Subaru factory in Lafayette, Indiana. What doesn’t come out of the plant is garbage. When the garbage truck rolls up to the curb in front of your house each week, it haul away more trash than is [...]

I am not making this up: Gillette Co. (NYSE:G) posted a higher second-quarter profit on Thursday, as new products such as its Venus Vibrance pulsating razor for women boosted sales growth. Reuters: Gillette posts higher quarterly profit

A potential collaboration between Honda and GM: The head of Honda Motor Co. said he is open to working with General Motors in various areas including fuel-cell development… Alternative energy good. The more minds working on it the better. Is this a done deal? “The door is open,” Chief Executive Takeo Fukui told reporters on [...]