Tech Kindred

Today, we launched Twist the third product from ThoughtWorks Studios.  It's a public beta so please give us your feedback.

Twist

I'm into the new discovery show Project Earth, which is an 8 episode series that tests some promising theories that could save the planet from global warming.  It's an ambitious subject to tackle, and they've done a solid job so far explaining the limits of what each series of experiments can do.  At the end of each show they talk about why the theories, even if proved possible by their experiments, may or may not be good ideas.

So, along those lines, I have some relatively obvious misgivings about some mainstream eco-technologies. I'm wondering where's the "may not" opinions on technologies we've already accepted as good and if a professional climatologist could enlighten me.

1) Everyone loves to talk about wind power these days.  But, wind turbines (high altitude and low) deflect the wind or at least lessen its flow in the direction it travels. Do wind turbines ultimately affect weather patterns if they reach a certain saturation point in a localized area? Seems like they would to me.  Maybe that saturation point is not within any near term time horizon, but I've never heard anyone talk about weather pattern changes as a possible undesired effect.

2) Hydrogen cars seem problematic as well.  I often read articles singing the virtues of cars that "have water as their only emissions."  Huh?  It's not C02, but that sounds like a terrible idea. In a world where hydrogen cars are the standard,  I can't understand how releasing that much water vapor into the air, particularly in urban areas, is a good idea.  Dry climates would become more humid, and humid climates would get worse. Sounds like it's another climate catastrophe waiting to happen. 

But, I'm not a climatologist, so if there are some out there reading my blog, feel free to take shots :)

I’ve noticed a very weird grammar error seemingly prevent only in geek circles.  (Maybe it’s happening in the larger English language, but I haven’t seen it general.)  It’s a tendency to refer to companies as plurals instead of singular entities.  For example:

Google have done XYZ. (Correct grammar: Google has…)

ThoughtWorks are working on ABC. (Correct grammar: ThoughtWorks is…)

Companies are singular, not plural.  In the same way that the word “everyone” encompasses a reference to many people but is still singular, proper names for companies are singular.  Essentially, there is only one ThoughtWorks.  I admit that I make casual grammar mistakes all the time, but because I see this one growing I had to speak out… ;) Stop it my geek friends. Stop it.

Smog In Beijing, originally uploaded by Chad Dub.

A lot of friends have asked me about what the pollution is like in Beijing. This week was particularly bad vs. my previous trips. I love Beijing, but this week was like smoking a pack a day. What looks like fog, clouds, or smoke above is smog. It was rough.

Hopefully, by the big 08.08.08, the city will have this sorted. It would be ashame to have this ruin the Olympic party.