Senators: uphold and defend the constitution

I remind you, again, that there are three branches of government. 

The executive is acting like a dilettante as it relates to being in a a position of power. The judicial is holding the executive branch accountable as is prescribed in the constitution. But the executive is literally thumbing his nose at judicial and ignoring them. 

That leaves the 3rd branch, the legislative, in which is not doing much, and tacitly approving of the executive doing whatever he wants, and undermining the constitution. And worse, some members have openly discussed removing justices who stand in the way of the executive branch, which is subverting the constitution. 

Do your job Senator. Uphold, protect and defend the constitution. The three branches are equal in power. Don't let one branch simply take over and become a dictatorship. 

To our senators on tariffs and the economy

Mr Trump continues to run roughshod over the economy. His tariffs and related uncertainty about his policies are having a damaging effect on everyday Americans.  And tariffs on uninhabited islands show what utter nonsense this all is. 

Prices for nearly everything are on the rise. It would appear as though we are headed quickly toward a recession. Consumer confidence is at a low point. And the stock market is tumbling in a way we haven't seen in our lifetime. 

There is no reasons for this to be happening. The economy was in a good place, and there was no need for tariffs like these. Especially only a few months after he took office. 

It's your job to represent Floridians, and really all Americans, in ensuring that he doesn't destroy the economy. 

He himself said years ago that any president who oversees a Dow drop of *a lesser magnitude* should be impeached. That's his own standard, and yet you aren't even willing to have a meaningful moment of standing up to him for his actions. Or even of taking back control over tariffs. 

Seniors in our state are struggling. Workers are seeing their retirement saving investments being wiped out. And it's expensive to put food on the table. 

I can only imagine the uproar you would be in if, say, Kamala had won and was doing something like this. 

Don't put politics ahead of everything else and let our country be financially ruined and perhaps scarred forever. 

A lesson in why it’s hard for companies to adapt quickly

Here's a (not so well written) story about how India changed its laws so that beverage giants have to use recycled materials in their plastic bottles. 

They must be 30% recycled material this year, ramping up to 60% in three years. 

But there are only a few companies that can make recycled bottles at scale - and not enough to meet the demands of the likes of coke and Pepsi. 

One executive notes that:

"We are investing in capacity, but capacity increases are two-three years away."

And so in India, the beverage companies want to take legal action because they know they can't meet the need. 

Which leads us back home. T-rump has imposed tariffs to encourage growth of American made products. He's been in office for about 3 months and expects there to be some "pain" while this gets sorted out. 

If we use the situation in India as sort of a guide, we should realize that it will take *years* for companies to figure it out and be able to make products at scale. And that is if they can do it all. 

These tariffs, then, hurt everyone. The company, the consumer, shippers, the places from whence products come. For a very long time. 

It's insanity. 

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/recycled-plastic-mandate-india-beverage-giants/

Thanks obi wan. 

Another Japanese breakthrough.

Scientists in Japan have been discussing the possibility of using a material called perovskite for solar panels as opposed to the traditional silicon-based cells.

And now they have had their first trials and seen the results. The panels are cheaper, more lightweight, and bendable so they can go on more surfaces. 

Plus, they have a max output 1.5 times traditional silicone collar cells. 

https://www.ecoticias.com/en/japan-super-solar-panel/12474/

Retrieving lithium from used batteries

Taking the materials out of batteries is a tricky proposition and no one has yet mastered it. 

But here's a team that is using cooking oil and water to break down the materials and allow for the removal of lithium in a simple, environmentally friendly, quick, and easy way at room temperature.  

We could go further with electric if we didn't have to worry about the environmental impacts of disposed batteries. 

https://tech.yahoo.com/articles/scientists-revolutionary-breakthrough-cooking-oil-111535092.html

Transparent solar cells

A group of researchers in Japan have come up with a means to create small, lightweight, and clear(!) solar cells that can be adapted for most situations - including putting them on homes or cars, while not changing the aesthetic or the ability to see through a windshield. 

"Our approach improved the power conversion efficiency over 1,000 times compared to devices using standard ITO electrodes," 

Now that's something that could revolutionize the solar industry. 

https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/transparent-solar-cells-generate-power-1000x-more-efficiently-than-traditional-panels-2/

American culture and return to office

There have been many, many, many articles about forcing workers to return to offices, chiding them for not putting in "enough" time, of companies and ceos being bullies because they can. 

They say things like "We are more productive" or "we can collaborate" when what they mean is that they can control everyone who works for them. 

And now we're seeing articles about how it's impacting these companies. More pushback. More incivility. 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/workplace-incivility-spiraling-companies-rile-161658844.html

And meanwhile in Europe, they're taking a different approach. Here's one outcome in Germany that suggests treating employees well pays off. 

https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/04/73-of-german-companies-tried-four-day-workweek-now-theyre-not-going-back/

But we'll never get there. Instead we will all become a kind of indentured servant to the large corporations.