An interesting perspective on the animal husbandry debate

Eating less meat could save 45,000 lives a year, experts claim | The Guardian

Vegetarianism is often cited as a dietary option which would drastically reduce CO2-equivalent emissions, and as an option to feed more people and provide better access to clean potable water worldwide (rather than using it for water-intensive factory ranching). Now, here's a study--albeit from biased sources--that suggests even eating less meat could save tens of thousands of lives annually just in the UK.

A key point mentioned in the article is the consumption of processed meats (and subsequent overconsumption of sodium). Still, it doesn't make a distinction between responsibly raised versus factory farmed animals, perhaps because the nutritional difference is negligible. That said, it might make for an interesting conversation.

Late, but interesting

I wonder where all the naysayers are who thought Apple could never achieve 3m ipad unit sales. I'd love to know how much salt is needed to eat one's words.

Apple's 3rd-quarter results.

Three on sustainability

They're maybe not as related as I generally like my aggregated links to be, but I need to clear out my backlog of links I've been meaning to share.

First (and oldest), a post on how the prices of PV are falling, but why it still doesn't make much sense despite the falling prices (hint: it largely has to do with the other associated costs).

Second, a piece on Walmart's decision to source with a more local/regional focus. The gist: assuming they stick to their word, we may have a battle on our hands of Homeric proportions.

Third, UNC's Morrison Residence Hall receives top billing in the EPA's first-ever National Building Competition. This link is particularly important to me, since Morrison's energy-efficiency initiatives were made possible by the Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee, a student-run group established to manage the $4/student/semester fee passed by the Green Energy referendum. Full disclosure: I was one of the key people involved with the referendum, and an initial appointee to the committee once it was formed. The time I spent working with a handful of other dedicated students is still one of the most gratifying periods of my life, especially in the success borne of our efforts. This award, then, is the proverbial icing on the cake.

Now, I'll try to stop glowing and get back to you with more links forthwith.

World-Class Education

Back from Vegas, and officially exhausted. Vegas is interesting, though kind of overstimulating in the lights and sound department. Yesterday, I rented a car so I could drive out to the middle of the desert and get some silence (what I ended up getting was desert, plus an extra-special return drive through an impressively diabolical-looking desert storm).

...but I digress.

Here's a great shout-out to two of the major local universities, a top-50 ranking among the world's best educational institutions. TBJ links you there, but you can see the expanded list here.

News from the front lines

Ok, so it's been a while.

Look, I'm sorry.

I know sorry's not all that special, but really, it's not you, I promise.

I mean, if it makes it any better, here's what I've been up to:

: studying for midterms (I have two today, and they're high-stress)
: getting reamed in logistics and project management (the two midterms)
: working on my supply chain practicum
: taking second place in a national case competition (in Louisville, KY)
: performing my duties for my graduate assistantship (exam proctoring, research, basically taking an extra course in order to give feedback from the student perspective)
: trying to arrange site visits and guest speakers for Net Impact Jenkins
: getting glowing feedback on the case competition I authored over the summer (thank goodness it wasn't a failure or bad quality)
: trying to find a new housemate to replace the last other founding member of Maplewood
: taking care of my dog, Chandramukhi (Mukhi, for short)
: preparing for travel to Las Vegas and Ann Arbor for conferences, to DC for pleasure, and NYC for business (sort-of)
: preparing to officiate two weddings (one this month, one next year)

...and I'm sure I'm leaving stuff out.

Still, I have lots of goodies for you that I need to catch up on.

Here's one at random, a collection of photos of what $1 worth of food actually looks like.

really neat portable wi-fi hotspot

if I didn't have several housemates and 2700sf to think about, I'd ditch the cable internet in favor of this thing.

reposting from a friend

Why unisex bathrooms are a civil right.

Haven't checked my reader since August, but once I catch up, I may have some things to share. Whoa, school. Whoa.