Xwordprof: Professor Joel B. Eisen

Solyndra and China

There is no connection between the two. And if Solyndra’s failure stems from its supposed inability to foresee cheap Chinese solar PV (which I don’t buy), presumably price supported by massive governmental subsidies (which ignores all the other lower costs of doing business in China), then shouldn’t the U.S. government have given Solyndra more $, not less??

Do not confuse two different problems: 1) our pathetic support for greentech that makes it difficult for solar and wind firms to compete against fossil fuel behemoths; and 2) China’s support for its own industry, which we should want to succeed as they’ve got climate problems of their own.  I’ve talked about all this and more in “The New Energy Geopolitics?: China, Renewable Energy, and the “Greentech Race,” available for free download at http://ssrn.com/author=181414.

China and the “Greentech Race”

Engaged in great dialogue today with Damien Ma about the wrongheadedness of China-bashing in renewable energy manufacturing in the wake of the impending Solyndra bankruptcy. As Damien puts it, with an election coming up, “the politics of ‘green collar’ jobs isn’t going away any time soon.”  I completely agree.  For more about China’s efforts in renewables and the “greentech race,” please feel free to download my article, “The New Energy Geopolitics?: China, Renewable Energy, and the ‘Greentech Race’,” available for free download at my SSRN author page, http://ssrn.com/author=181414.

The Election: We Are All Children

So says New York magazine. Hence, we acted like children in the most recent election. Deep and thoughtful integration of politics and child psychology, and worth every minute of your time.

Take Some Time Out of Your Day to Read A Poem

This is a wonderful poem by my brother-in-law Giora. His book of poetry has sold out a 1,000-book run in Israel and is headed for number 2. Pretty amazing numbers for poetry, but the content deserves it. Enjoy.

Richmond Students Speak at EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Hearing (VIDEO)

University of Richmond students and citizens (and yours truly) speak at EPA’s Chesapeake Bay TMDL hearing in favor of stronger action to protect the Bay.

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Dear Fox Soccer Channel,

Your soccer ratings are pretty anemic to begin with. Me and 20 other fans, give or take. So why plug your game of the week right next to an article about how one of the teams involved has failed since bringing in a new coach?

See you on the pitch,
Joel

LAT: Poor Christine O’Donnell?

LAT article today claims voters sympathize with “politicians’ money woes.” No evidence to back up this claim. Mentions Christine O’Donnell’s “foreclosure and real-estate troubles” as if she were just another hard-luck case trying to keep her head above water in the Great Recession. Not a word about charges of using campaign $ to pay the rent.

Texas Textbook Standards Hit a New Low

Texas’ State Board of Education, the influential textbook voice and no friend to Social Security, evolution and hip-hop, votes 7-6 to take out “gross pro-Islamic, anti-Christian” bias in textbooks. Which, I am quite sure, there is a lot of. What exactly would you expect from Don McElroy, a guy who thinks Stonewall Jackson is a model of effective leadership?

McElroy’s explanation for his most recent screed included this chestnut: “one of the greatest gifts to the world was medieval Christendom.”

Pretty sure my Jewish ancestors would find fault with that one. Not that you’d see any reference to that in a Texas-sanctioned textbook.

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan

EPA issues long-awaited Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan. Guess which state’s draft plan was most deficient (hint: VA).