We need to learn quickly to keep up with the massive change around us so we don't get run over. We need to outrun change.
Print copy and Nook e-book are in addition to availability for the Kindle and another half-dozen formats.
The book is an intentionally short read at about 30 pages. The print copy has 20 pages of text. Focus is to quickly describe the differences between those levels of services using three illustrations: Continue reading “Newest book on differences between audits, reviews, and compilations now available in print and for Nook”
K Kaufmann from The Desert Sun has a followup report to the article I discussed here and here. Newer report, which I just read recently, is from 11/22/13: What to do about bird deaths at solar and wind farms.
Regulatory compliance reports are summarized for the Ivanpah solar farm. Here’s the data:
The wing-toasting facility’s mortality count went up in October. Not quite the trend needed to argue solar farms aren’t hurting birds.
Continue reading “Some updates on bird fatalities at solar farms (solar #6)”
Opening photo is of a feet-up bufflehead duck 25 miles from the nearest water.
Where was he? Between two rows of solar panels at the Genesis Solar farm in the California desert.
Condition? Decomposing. He is feet-up, as I said.
Cause of death? Unknown. Your guess is as good as the reporter’s.
Chris Clarke reports in ReWire on 7-17-13: Water Birds Turning Up Dead at Solar Projects in the Desert.
I’m slowly catching up on the happenings in the solar industry. In my research for this series of articles, I’ve learned the Palen Solar Electric Generating System was put on hold by the California Energy Commission this past December.
If you think I’m slow on the uptake, keep in mind the purpose of this blog is to learn what’s going on around me. I may be a slow learner but I’m learning.
Joshua Hill explains at Clean Technica on 12/20/13: California Blocks Another Concentrated Solar Power Project. Continue reading “Palen solar farm on hold – solar #4”
Previous post started a discussion of the danger solar farms pose to migratory and other birds.
This pair of posts is based on an article in My Desert on 11/9/13 by K Kaufmann of The Desert Sun: Palen project raises concerns across Coachella Valley.
A few of the known fatalities
Some comments from the article referenced above –
Thermal farm damage:
Of the 34 birds reported dead or injured at Ivanpah in September, 15 had melted feathers.
Dozens of other bird carcasses, not singed but with critical injuries, have been found in recent months at two solar projects about to go online…
Continue reading “Solar farms = wing-toasters (part 2, solar #2)”
The photo is of a dead northern rough-winged swallow.
Gloved hands extend the wings. There’s something odd.
Many of the feathers are gone. With the wings spread out, all that’s visible is the torso and charred spines where the wings should be. Looks like they were cut off.
Or burned off.
What could toast the wings off a swallow?
Continue reading “Solar farms = wing-toasters (part 1, solar #1)”
New frontiers are wide open. Here is my latest list of articles on education (articles), publishing (1) and space (3 articles) that help me sort out the massive change around us:
Education
As I turn my near-sighted, feeble gaze across history, I see education as one of several major factors that lift people groups out of the grinding dust of poverty. That is why I see the revolution in education as a wonderful thing.
1-3 – Via Meadia – Winds of Change Still Blowing Through Groves of Academe – Continue reading “More good stuff on the open frontiers — space, education, publishing- 1-20-14”
Audit. Review. Compilation. What’s the difference? – Illustrations using a football game, buying a used car, and filling a bucket.
What’s the difference between getting an audit, review, or compilation from your CPA firm? This short, 29 page book will help you understand.
Three illustrations help explain the differences: Continue reading ““Audit. Review. Compilation. What’s the difference?” – New book now available.”
Here is my ninth list of good stuff on our surveillance society that I’d like talk about but only have time to recommend with a quick comment.
1-3 – The Atlantic – How the NSA Threatens National Security – Bruce Schneier points out the extreme level of compromised systems caused by the NSA spying fiasco is a serious threat to national security.
It is also breaking systems that we have spent decades building in America. It is breaking us financially and diplomatically. It is tearing down our political, legal, commercial, and technical systems. It is destroying trust in government, tech companies, and the internet itself.
As for the potential for abuse, here’s an experiment for you.
To show how easy it is to create visual material, I’m posting some things I created. It is surprisingly easy to create content with today’s tools when you have just a little skill and a fun idea.
Previously posted airplane videos here and here.
Here are two animated cartoons that tell the story in visual form that I previously told in print form:
Bank reconciliations and offering count procedures:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qeibzgSemY]
Good procedures protect from false accusations:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KESsI04-XY]
How I made the videos and the time needed to make them
Continue reading “2 animated cartoons illustrate the ease of making cartoons”
A long article from the Federal Reserve on the housing bubble and recovery from the great recession doesn’t mention the fed’s role in anything other than generating the recovery. See: Subprime Mortgage Crisis. Absolutely no mention of the massive role played by easy money and Congressional policy pumping up the housing market.
The first part of the article is called How and Why the Crisis Occurred.
The short paraphrase is the runup in housing prices, increased demand for homes, surge in subprime loans, collapse of prices, and mass of foreclosures kinda’ sorta’ just happened.
No cause mentioned, especially no role assigned to the federal government in general or the Fed in particular.
Let’s look at the article in more detail.
Not a lot of news from Mali, but perhaps that is just a reflection on my limited observation abilities. I’ve also been watching as conditions in Central Africa Republic disintegrate. Unlike most people, I’m aware of the country. Why? Many years ago I actually had my feet on the ground for a day.
A few news articles on the situation in Mali before I mention CAR.
Continue reading “Mali and Central Africa Republic update – 12-10-13”
Still photos of C-47Bs in video format. Photos taken at the May 2013 Planes of Fame airshow in Chino, CA presented by the Planes of Fame museum.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/N6PkrjY3YwA]
Video of C-47Bs, also at the 2013 Planes of Fame airshow.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/loDEFb0Kn2s]
Explained earlier Why am I posting airplane videos on this blog?
Short answer is to demonstrate to others the ease of using tech, for me to learn, and to have fun.
Today, twelve articles on education, space, and technology (including Amazon thinking about how to use drones to deliver packages).
Education
12-3 – Via Meadia – Private Sector Warming to MOOCs – Mr. Mead points out that massive open on-line courses Continue reading “More good stuff on the open frontiers in space, education, and technology – 12-7-13”
On 12-3, SpaceX put a satellite into a high-earth orbit. The Luxembourg satellite operator SES will settle their sat into geosync orbit.
This is a major deal for SpaceX because it proves they can lift into geosync orbit. That means the satellite will appear to remain in the same place relative to the ground. They have a lot of contracts to do so and can now try breaking into the market for lifting Pentagon satellites. Up to now, they have only lifted to low-earth orbit.
Two great articles today explain the launch:
As an accountant, here are some tidbits from the articles on the market and economics of launching payloads that caught my eye.