Daily Thoughts 07/23/2013
This morning, I finished reading Death's Heretic by James L. Sutter. It is a fantasy novel set in the game universe of Pathfinder. I found it to be an entertaining story because it was also a story of detection which added a nice twist to it. I liked how the author described the forces of law and chaos. It made for an interesting story.
This morning, I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library. I also checked the displays and the gift books. I walked over to city hall and dropped off some fliers as well. Sometimes it is nice to get out of the building.
I read a copy of Library Journal and the latest New York Times Book Review. I am looking forward to reading Jonathan Lethem's new book coming out in September, Dissident Gardens. He started writing science fiction and then switched to the New York novel. His writing is interesting. I also placed the book Apocalypse Cow by Michael Logan on hold which is a mix of humor and horror. I am interested in a new book, Marketing Your Libraries Electronic Resources by Marie R. Kennedy which should be interesting.
I checked out the book, When the Money Runs Out, The End of Western Affluence by Stephen D. King. Stephen D. King is the Group Chief Economist and Global Head of Economics and Asset Allocation Research at HSBC.
Web Bits
Here's How Amazon Self Destructs
http://www.salon.com/2013/07/19/amazon_could_be_a_victim_of_its_own_success/
Raising A Reader: How Comics Can Help Kids Learn to Love Reading
http://boingboing.net/2013/07/15/raising-a-reader-how-comics-c.html
The Challenge of Maintaining Andrew Carnegie's Library Legacy
http://nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/22581-the-challenge-of-maintaining-andrew-carnegie-s-library-legacy.html
Bill Gates' Summer Reading List
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/bill-gates-summer-reading-list_b74523
To Stay Thin, Eat Like the Cultural Elite
http://www.psmag.com/health/to-stay-thin-eat-like-the-cultural-elite-42154/
Didn't know there was a connection between reading and losing weight.
Amazon Versus Your Public Library
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/07/22/amazon-9/
Superconductors and Turbines
I thought I would take a little break and do a little more blue sky thinking. I have not done this for a while.
Sometimes you read things that indicate that there is a potential for real change in the alternative energy industry. Recently, there is an indicator that wind turbines can triple their energy output using superconducting technology.
Wind Turbines Supercharged with Superconductors
I looked a little more closely and thought that if wind turbines became more efficient why wouldn't other turbine technologies combined with superconductors work as well. This is a bit on hydroelectric power and superconductors.
Superconducting Generators Make Big Gains for Small Hydro
http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/features/featuresuperconducting-generators-make-big-gains-for-small-hydro-
It makes me think that superconductors with turbines will make most turbine based generation more efficient with greater output. This would apply to solar turbines, nuclear turbines, geothermal turbines, and turbine electric engines.
It also applies to the ability to carry electricity over distances.
Innovative Superconductor Fiber Carries 40 Times More
electricity
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110907075956.htm
There was a really interesting article I looked at about electric jet engines which used superconducting technology.
Voltair The Electric Passenger Jet of the Future
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43556583/ns/technology_and_science-luxury_tech/t/voltair-electric-passenger-jet-future/#.Ue8aRm3GvGb
These kinds of breakthroughs accelerate the process towards a clean energy future. They make it even more likely. When I look at this article from Scientific American, it looks more real now than it did before.
A Plan to Power 100% of the Planet With Renewables.
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