May 30, 2011
Photo by John Moore, Getty Images
The Atlantic’s excellent In Focus blog ran a collection of photos for Memorial Day and the picture above really struck me. There are many people who deserve our thanks today and not all of them have served directly for a branch of the armed forces. The families of our servicemen and women bear a tremendous burden — and they are just as deserving of our gratitude on this holiday weekend.
To Bob, Gabe, Zach, John, Kevin, Jay, Joe and Art — and their families: Thank you.
November 2, 2009
The U.S.S. New York sailed up the Hudson to a midtown dock this morning. The technologically advanced “amphibious transport dock” will be officially commissioned in Manhattan on Saturday. The New York is named in honor of those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks and has 7.5 tons of steel reclaimed from the Twin Towers in its bow.
Of note for those in the NYC area: The public is invited to tour the New York on select days November 4 through November 11.
October 29, 2009
Qinetiq, a british defense firm, will provide the US Army with PyTec, a waste disposal system which generates usable energy. PyTec usespyrolysis, essentially the heating of waste, to generate combustible gases which are then used to power a steam turbine.
In addition to its military uses, the article suggests the system could be used in urban areas to reduce municipal waste by 95%. The idea of taking trash and turning it into power is surely appealing, but I can’t help but wonder about the emissions or by-products that may come from burning “trash gas.”
