Tuesday, May 20, 2003

And an elegant look at the big picture 'A Short History of Nearly Everything': Bill Bryson's Universe. Bill Bryson actually fulfills the promise of his title: presenting the basic facts of science with clarity and concision. By Ed Regis. [New York Times: Science] 11:39:52 PM    comment []  trackback []

As the cowboys gallop off into the sunset, dragging us poor monkeys along with them 'Our Final Hour': Global Warning. After considering bioterror, nuclear war, asteroids and nanoparticles, Martin Rees gives humanity only a 50-50 chance of surviving the 21st century. By Dennis Overbye. [New York Times: Science] 11:37:23 PM    comment []  trackback []

Precaution Is for Europeans. Bush administration officials are exasperated with Europe's belief in a better-safe-than-sorry approach to regulation. By Samuel Loewenberg. [New York Times: Science] 11:36:17 PM    comment []  trackback []

What color pill was that? The Edge. Martin Rees.  "All these multiverse ideas lead to a remarkable synthesis between cosmology and physics...But they also lead to the extraordinary consequence that we may not be the deepest reality, we may be a simulation." [John Robb's Radio Weblog] 8:07:35 AM    comment []  trackback []

Paying for green buildings The Berkeley City Council, ever the innovator, will have public comment on the proposed Sustainable Development Fee May 20, and June 17. The fee (which is a percentage of each building permit), along with funds from Solid Waste's disposal fees, will pay for Green Building programs in Berkeley, such as the GRC's Ask An Expert program. 7:22:15 AM    comment []  trackback []

Pushing SUVs Some say the tax incentives for SUVs don't really matter, but Wells Fargo Bank seems to think they do. New Vehicle Tax Tricks: With low interest rates and new tax incentives for 2003, there's never been a better time for companies to buy heavy cars and trucks. 7:03:27 AM    comment []  trackback []