Emily Tobias

(text taken from the Wired website)

One big problem with renewable energy projects is that they have to go somewhere. They have to occupy a part of the very environment that their proponents are often trying to save.

Photographer Jamey Stillings beautifully captures this tension in his images of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS). Located in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, the plant aims to eventually be the largest solar thermal power plant in the world – making enough electricity to run 140,000 homes all by focusing the sun’s energy to create steam.

Problem is, the system is located smack in the middle of the threatened desert tortoise habitat and the companies that built the system have already had to allocate $56 million to care for and relocate these ground dwellers. At least one major environmental group has argued the plant should have never been built on its current location.

I am currently loving the illustration of Helen Eady. Here are some of my favorites!

Please enjoy this beautiful video by the oh so talented blogger Oh Joy!

It made me smile, I hope it brings happiness to your day as well.

Make Someone Happy – No. 03: Food & Friends from Oh Joy on Vimeo.

I just realized that I never posted about Super Storm Sandy. I was there… Aaron and I watched the water creep very close to my building on October 29th, we heard and freaked out (a tiny bit) when the NYPD came around and told us to “get to higher ground.” I also (insert tiny amt of guilt here) left the city on Halloween via 2hrs on MTA buses and walking over the GW bridge. Below are some of the pictures I took and a great video from vimeo that shows some time-lapse of when the power went out.

By around 7pm on the 29th the water was 1/2 way over the West Side Highway

Aaron posing by the sandbags lined up on my building.

Trees down in my neighborhood

The Face fell off this building!
 

 
While we were walking over the GW bridge we caught a glimpse of the that Crane that got all twisted up.
 

 

Finally we made it into New Jersey.

Overall it was an adventure, one that I will not soon forget, but I am so lucky to not have had anything damaged in the storm. I can not say the same for some of my classmates. I just donated to the Red Cross… take a minute, give 10 bucks… skip Starbucks for 4 days and you will have done the same thing. I just did.

NYC Dark from Already Alive on Vimeo.

This website is AMAZING. That is all. Carry on. (only downside, it is flash.)