Something new to worry about
Bob Morris @ Jun 27th 2008 23:48 - Category: Unfiled ;
The recent floods resulted in large amounts of stagnant water, which is producing enormous numbers of mosquitos. Some no doubt carry West Nile.
Archive for June 27th, 2008
It’s almost officially a bear market
Bob Morris @ Jun 27th 2008 18:15 - Category: Credit crisis Tags: bear market, VIX;
A bear market is defined as a 20% drop from the high and with today’s close in the Dow we are a mere .01% from that. The trading floors are alive with the sounds of growly bears and there is much gnashing of teeth…
But the VIX, which measures volatility, tells us we are not yet near the bottom, which is generally a capitulation point filled with panic selling and a feeling of imminent doom.
This 1 year chart shows the Dow Jones on top and the VIX on the bottom. Note how when the VIX spikes above 30 that the Dow is at a low point. Moreover a VIX above 30 often signals an imminent reversal in the market. This is when traders with nerves of steel start buying, precisely when everyone else is panicking.
But the VIX is nowhere near 30, yet the DOW continues to drop precipitously. The bear, it appears, may just now be waking up.
Solar thermal
Bob Morris @ Jun 27th 2008 11:20 - Category: Renewable energy, Solar power Tags: solar thermal;
Solar thermal stores heat from the sun into molten salt to be used as needed to generate power through conventional steam turbines. Thus, it can generate power any time day or night, even when the sun isn’t shining. This is a zero emissions process and the salt itself is completely non-toxic.
Renewable Energy World has an fact-filled article about how solar thermal works written by the director of development at SolarReserve, who have a 1200 acre solar thermal plant. Their website has a wealth of information.
Virtual Net Metering
Bob Morris @ Jun 27th 2008 04:45 - Category: Renewable energy Tags: net metering;
With Virtual Met Metering a municipality buys or leases land not necessarily in their area and installs renewable energy on it. All energy goes directly into the grid. They then receive a credit on their electrical bill for the energy generated, offsetting their own usage.
The Rhode Island legislature recently approved a municipal net metering bill. May other states follow.
