Cosmic Cafe in Dallas

This is the back wall of my daughter's favorite restaurant Cosmic Cafe in Dallas. She's been raving about it for months, and now I get it. It serves good Indian vegetarian meals. The place is covered with funky paintings and all sort of interesting decorations, some hippie like I might add. It reminded me places I visited in Indonesia and Thailand long time ago.

It's on Oak Lawn, known for posh places. But this is definitely laid-back. They also offers meditation and yoga classes daily in the room above the restaurant. 

日本のミュージック、どうやってダウンロードする？

宮﨑駿の「風たちぬ」を見てから、ユーミンを無性に聞きたくなることがあります。Youtubeでこのビデオをたまに聞いているけれど、スマホに音楽だけ入れて、どこでも聞けるようにしたいなと思ってます。日本のミュージックってどんな方法でダウンロードできるのでしょうか？オススメあれば教えて下さい。有料でもちろん構いません。

アンドロイドのを使っているので、Google Playで探してみたけれど、ユーミンどころか日本のミュージックは何も出てこない。iTuneにはJ Popとかkayokyokuとかのジャンルはあるけれど、探している曲はないし。日本だけのシステムかアプか何かあるのだったら、教えてもらえれば嬉しいです。

Dallas Art Show

High-Tech arts were everywhere at Dallas Art Show last week.

There was a cool white LED art (not the one on right). From the distance, it looks like a massive and long light fixture. You wait a couple ten seconds, the lights start flickering and you see birds fly in and out of the screen. Neat surprise yet calming.

Scoop the poop :)

This sign gives me a grin whenever I walk by it on the trail.

Yeah, you know you have to scoop your doggie's poop on the public land. But, no one will be happy to be told that unless they point out that your "doodie".

Look at his eyes...you just have to smile and scoop that poop.

Electricity Transformation - part 5

Compiled List of New Renewable Energy Sources

In the report “The Long-Term Energy Efficiency Potential”, ACEEE projects three scenarios. Reference Case is business as usual, Advanced Scenario includes penetration of know advanced technologies, and Phenix Scenario includes greater infrastructure improvement and aggressive displacement of existing building stock.

Under Advanced Scenario, residential and commercial demand will reduce by 49% and 36% respectively. Under Phenix Scenario, 61% and 48% respectively. I used 3 billion MWh, 75% of total consumption, half residential and half commercial as base, applied % of reduction to each sector. Reduction appears to be lower, which might be because I have not included other possible reductions from industrial sector.

If we follow Advanced Scenario, we can eliminate coal, natural gas and reduce nuclear. If we follow Phenix scenario, we can eliminate coal, natural gas and nuclear, plus some surplus.

Electricity Transformation - part 6

Summary

Being efficient (= not wasteful) is smart. It means getting more for less. Everyone likes that except the ones benefit from wasteful behaviors. Strong political and public influence from those powerful who benefit have made it difficult for many to see the obvious until now. Well, the time has come. We can see the facts and don’t get fooled anymore.

To make building twice or more efficient, we need aggressive policies and tighter codes for all new build and major renovations. Much higher HVAC and lighting standards will be needed, as well. Industry professionals are ready to put their skills and knowledge to use in order to meet and exceed higher standards. For residential small projects, DIY easy low cost upgrades need to be encouraged with improved kits and materials.

We can overcome initial cost issues for larger upgrades with attractive and transparent financing program like PACE.

As we already have technologies needed for build environment energy efficiency to reduce 1 billion KWh, with right policies and financing, future we want to have will be in our hands.

June 7, 2013

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