Tag: The Dake Page

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Of Old Friends and Chinese Climate Deals

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A busy week science traveling in Vancouver at the annual SETAC conference, on which I’ll write more soon. Check out the cool grass-covered roof.

Vancouver convention center

The conference may be the only time I see in person many old friends. This year an invite to a special “senior resource group” breakfast got me thinking about how old some of those friends have become. It also made me think how much times have changed. Check out Old Friends, Getting Older on Hot White Snow.

China US flags

Meanwhile, the US and China signed a historic climate change agreement this week during President Obama’s Asian trip. With this pact, both of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitting countries show a commitment to reducing carbon emissions, a much needed step in the fight against man-made climate change. Not surprisingly, the partisan misrepresentation of the agreement back home started before the ink was dry. Read why this is such a big deal on The Dake Page. You can also read this “Fact check” article that corrects the misperceptions.

Tesla book in BN Nov 2014

Friends sent me the above photo of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity on display at Barnes and Noble. Apparently we’re now a science classic alongside Stephen Hawking and Ray Bradbury. This is noteworthy because sales have been so strong that the stores are making every effort to keep it available while copies of this printing last. The third printing will be out in February 2015. Meanwhile, my e-book continues to sell on Amazon – look for some exciting news about Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time to be annnounced shortly.

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Odd Tastes in Art, Climate Change Politics, Abe Lincoln Gets Married (and Reelected)

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It’s been another busy week, so here’s a quick roundup from Hot White Snow, The Dake Page, and Science Traveler.

The Death of MaratWhat do Picasso’s “Guernica,” David’s “The Death of Marat,” and Wyeth’s “Christina’s World” have in common? They all were posters hanging on my bedroom wall as a teenager. Yes, I was not a normal child. Read more at “An Odd Taste in Art for a Teen.”

 

IPCC reportTwo big events in climate science occurred this week. The most important one (IPCC’s Synthesis Report) was largely ignored while the least important one (Mid-Term Elections) will be talked about for the next two years. Check out why on The Dake Page.

 

Lincoln MemorialSpeaking of elections, Abraham Lincoln was reelected on November 8th, 1865, and 150 years later we are celebrating this milestone event with our Lincoln Group Symposium this Saturday in downtown DC. Only two days to go – sign up now or you can register at the door.

 

Lincoln and Mary ToddMeanwhile, this week also saw the anniversary of Lincoln’s tempestuous marriage to Mary Todd. The sudden wedding caught everyone by surprise; could have been because Mary had seduced old Abe? And why did Mary refuse to be photographed with her husband? Find out here.

 

Bonus! Sales of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity have remained strong since the second printing went back into Barnes and Noble this summer. More than 25,000 copies have been sold so far, and the publisher has ordered a third printing for February 2015. Meanwhile, my e-book continues to sell on Amazon – look for some exciting news about Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time to be annnounced shortly.

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Happy Halloween, Remembering Vietnam, Chinese Warriors, Climate Denial, and Learning from Peasants

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It has been a very busy week, which culminates in a Friday night ghouling spectacular. Starting here on Science Traveler with the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xi’an, China.

Terra cotta warriors Xi'an

Haven’t experienced the terra cotta warriors yet? Now is your chance. Part I introduces you to Xi’an in central China and the thousands of clay warriors, officers, infantry, archers, and even horses that make up one of the most amazing funerary art in the world. Part II delves deeper into the reconstruction of these life-size pieces, along with some surprises about the vibrant colors originally displayed.

VietnamMemorialwall

Meanwhile, Hot White Snow brought out memories of Arthur Hardy, a hometown boy I never met but miss deeply. Hardy was shot down in Laos during the Vietnam War, an event that is still remembered to this day by everyone in our small town. I have a rubbing from the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial (aka, “The Wall”) here in DC. A second rubbing was given by my Mom to his Mom in a very emotional meeting.

5 stages of denial

The Dake Page continues its series exposing climate denialism. Recent  posts include an examination of why climate deniers diss the IPCC, one of many scientific bodies who compile and summarize climate science, and why deniers rely on abusive language to attack scientists and anyone else who acknowledges the science.

learn-from-peasants

The Cultural Revolution sounds like a good thing, right? Not so much, Ru says, as she continues her series on a blog she aptly named Ru… on which she writes about her family history in China. Her latest post looks at how Mao Zedong forced people from cities into the countryside to “learn from the peasants.” This began a decade in which education was considered “bourgeois” and hard labor was the path to the future. Not surprisingly, it didn’t work out as planned.

The Birds

Happy Halloween! By some unnatural glitch in the time-space continuum we’ve somehow made it to the end of October, seemingly skipping over many of the months that usually occur between spring and autumn. Enjoy the foliage while you can as the ghouls and goblins roam the streets in sugar-induced frenzies.

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity Nikola Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity

 

 

 

 

This past week my 82- and 87-year-old parents flew down for a visit, which among other things included going up into the Washington Monument for the first time (more on that soon). Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity has sold over 25,000 copies so far, with a third printing due out in February. Meanwhile, my e-book continues to sell on Amazon – look for some exciting news about Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time to be annnounced shortly.

Up next is a meeting with a famous author, a Lincoln Group symposium you don’t want to miss on the nation-saving “Election of 1864” (see Lincoln Group for more details), more travel, more Tesla, more excitement…

More Science Traveler coming soon!

David J. Kent is an avid traveler and is currently working on a book about his experiences traveling in Argentina. He is also the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and the e-book Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time.

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