Back in December, SusanG encouraged starting a 'series' on Kossack publishing ... While I've been engaging in Global Warming and Energy diarying (with a little bit of swearing-in activity thrown in), I've let this "series" lapse ... with all of one Kossacks -- What have you published lately? making it a relatively lame series ...
So, for a second shot at this:
- What have you published in the MSM and otherwise?
- What are you working on?
- Does Daily Kos contribute to your work?
What else do you want to share with the community?
Some Kossacks are more famous in their publishing than others. For example, one of the new frontpagers has written 10s of books -- and his call sign comes from one of them. Devils Tower can be had for as low as $0.80 (shipping and handling not included). But, as we all know, Devilstower
is cheap at any price; even though we now have him on the front page for free.
My professional life frequently involves publishing that I don't really raise here too often -- but I just received in a request today to write a book -- at some point, I'll make that leap from articles and studies to books... someday ...
My major non-profit/volunteer activities are now related to energy and Global Warming. As diaried in WashPost published my LTE re Global Warming Skeptics and My OPED Published re Energy/NIMBY in WashPost today ..., both of these led to being in The Post this past month. (Which is the first time I've been in The Post twice in one year ...).
Yesterday, I made it into The Post again ... or at least my words did.
In HDTV Nation Responds, Howard Bryant writes:
My story about buying and installing my new HDTV last Sunday (High-Def Disconnect) seemed to hit a nerve. The e-mails from readers poured in -- well over 100 in the first 48 hours. Some were sympathetic to my experience; others chastised me for expecting too much. Several shared their alternatives for getting an HD signal. A few scolded me for misleading readers or excluding important information
Well, anyone who reads my diaries know, the last was me ... scolding. From that article,
Watch that energy bill: Your otherwise excellent discussion of high-definition televisions doesn't mention the varying energy usage. Plasma TVs use significantly more electricity than LCD TVs. A plasma TV will use, according to the Department of Energy, about 849 kilowatt-hours per year while an LCD TV will use 387. At 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (about the U.S. average), that translates into an additional $46.20 per year -- and roughly 500 pounds of additional carbon pollution into the atmosphere.
The above, without attribution, came from the following letter to the editor and article author (with comments):
America 's has a 99 cent shopping culture in a constant pseudo reminder of Benjamin Franklin and 'A penny saved is a penny earned." A myopic focus on "purchase price" overwhelms attention to full cost implications of purchase decisions. Sadly, this is often the case within The Washington Post's business section.
Actually, this is a major issue as -- across the board -- Americans tend to focus on the COST TO BUY something as opposed to the COST TO OWN. And, this is certainly true within The Post's business section just as it is in the shopping malls acros the country. That might have caught their attention but didn't make it into the paper.
For example, Howard Bryant's otherwise excellent discussion of high-definition televisions (High-Def Disconnect) doesn't even mention the varying energy usage
Compliment ... and scolding ... And, Bryant was glad to include that compliment it seems. (Note, a little sugar might have helped the medicine go down?)
Plasma TVs use significantly more electricity than LCD TVs. A Plasma TV will use, according to the Department of Energy, about 849 kilowatt hours per year while an LCD TV will use 387. At 10 cents per kilowatt hour (about the US average), that translates into $46.20 per year in additional costs. And, with the US average, this translates into roughly 500 pounds of additional carbon pollution into the atmosphere.
Some similarity there ... now, be aware, while this is directly lifted from others' research work, it might be slightly misleading as the comparison says same size sometimes and different size screens on others. And, by the way, a super efficient new screen should be out in a couple months.
By the way, to understand, the move to HD, large-screen TVs is actually a noticeable portion in the growth of electricity demand in the United States. (See, for example, Televisions: Active Mode Energy use and Opportunities for Energy Savings)
Fifteen years ago, a color TV might require between 100 and 200 KwH per year while a 'normal' refrigerator might require 1500 KwH. Go to the store and check out energy star refrigerators -- even with an ice maker, most are between 450 and 600 Kwh per year. See that Plasma TV -- e.g., our TVs are starting to burn more electricity than our refrigerators.
But, even within this, the actual energy requirements of the same size, same type of TV can different by a factor of two. Perhaps Post readers might have appreciated this information to help them make better decisions about the cost of owning -- rather than simply buying -- that HDTV of their dreams.
Actually, I wish that I'd better highlighted this point. Again, this is cost to buy versus cost to own. And, that the energy usage can be so different is hidden from most buyers (unlike Energy Star ratings on appliances).
Dreams can cost -- The Post can help people understand how much.
Oh, we're so enamoured with our words ...
In any event, the themes and words from this LTE which was partially published -- without my name associated -- will be regurgiatated for other LTEs, other articles, and -- apologies, other diaries here.
But, in any event, I think that my best publication in the past month was my New Year's resolution to Imagine Life Differently ... Imagine it Better ... And Seek to create that better life
But, now to you ...
- What have you published?
- What's your passion?
- What should Kossacks be reading from you.