October 10, 2013

There were 5 posts published on October 10, 2013 (this is page 1 of 1).

BBC News – Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab

We’re getting closer to nuclear fusion energy!

Researchers at a US lab have passed a crucial milestone on the way to their ultimate goal of achieving self-sustaining nuclear fusion.

Harnessing fusion – the process that powers the Sun – could provide an unlimited and cheap source of energy.

But to be viable, fusion power plants would have to produce more energy than they consume, which has proven elusive. Now, a breakthrough by scientists at the National Ignition Facility NIF could boost hopes of scaling up fusion.

NIF, based at Livermore in California, uses 192 beams from the world’s most powerful laser to heat and compress a small pellet of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclear fusion reactions take place.

The BBC understands that during an experiment in late September, the amount of energy released through the fusion reaction exceeded the amount of energy being absorbed by the fuel – the first time this had been achieved at any fusion facility in the world.

via BBC News – Nuclear fusion milestone passed at US lab.

On letters from climate-change deniers – latimes.com

And those scientists have provided ample evidence that human activity is indeed linked to climate change. Just last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — a body made up of the world’s top climate scientists — said it was 95% certain that we fossil-fuel-burning humans are driving global warming. The debate right now isn’t whether this evidence exists clearly, it does but what this evidence means for us.

Simply put, I do my best to keep errors of fact off the letters page; when one does run, a correction is published. Saying “there’s no sign humans have caused climate change” is not stating an opinion, it’s asserting a factual inaccuracy.

via On letters from climate-change deniers – latimes.com.

NSA’s $2B Spy Center is Going Up in Flames

Whoopsie.

The National Security Agency’s $2 billion mega spy center is going up in flames.Technical glitches have sparked fiery explosions within the NSA’s newest and largest data storage facility in Utah, destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and delaying the facility’s opening by one year.And no one seems to know how to fix it.

Within the last 13 months, at least 10 electric surges have each cost about $100,000 in damages, according to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Experts agree that the system, which requires about 64 megawatts of electricity—that’s about a $1 million a month energy bill–isn’t able to run all of its computers and servers while keeping them cool, which is likely triggering the meltdowns.

via $2 Billion NSA Spy Center is Going Up in Flames | The Fiscal Times.

Why I poke the N&O

So why am I playing Ahab to the News and Observer’s Great White Whale? Because I love newspapers. I love good journalism. I appreciate the valued role the press plays in our society. Among the many things I wanted to be when I grow up was a journalist.

My blog, then, is my printing press, and here I try to call ’em like I see ’em. I offer not only criticism but praise when called for. In short, it’s my nature to hold the press to very high standards, to be the kind of force that serves the people. The kind of force that can bring down crooked Presidents (or crooked governors) when needed. I adore a press that’s fearless but fanatically committed to finding the truth. That isn’t always possible in an environment that overworks and underpays its reporters, sadly enough.

Don’t shirk your responsibility to find the truth, ladies and gentlemen of the press, and we’ll get along just fine. I still look up to you.

N&O doubles down on council criticism

The News and Observer often fires volleys at city leaders for being too secretive, as the city’s hunt for a new city manager clearly demonstrated. Yet the N&O itself often leaves me scratching my head. I should probably let it go, I know, but I’m still mystified the paper is sticking by its story that Randy Stagner’s parking email was somehow the impetus for firing former city manager Russell Allen.

Today’s editorial:

Randy Stagner was the one incumbent who lost, to Wayne Maiorano, a newcomer. Stagner was not a bad council member at all, but he got himself in a bad position when he appeared to be pushing for the ouster of former City Manager Russell Allen over a parking space.

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