Springtime in the City

I'm in New York City for the weekend. Having helped a brother celebrate the last vestiges of his singlehood, I'm now enjoying the city itself. For me, that means a springtime experience very different from the milder California springs. The weather can't seem to make up its mind as to whether it wants to be crisp cold or sunny warm (either is pleasant by me, but I'm getting a little tired of pulling on the jacket and putting it away). And then there's Eloise's Plaza Hotel, framed by trees in their spring bloom, plus the nearby Central Park Zoo (yes, I'm a zoo fanatic). Almost paid the $8 fee to get in, even though I'd only have had a half hour to spend there. And now I'm sitting here blogging from Central Park while waiting for friends Aaron and Gayle.



Good insight from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones this morning (by way of Tim Keller) about the difference between debauchery and the Spirit, both of which make one feel bold and joyful. The former is a depressant, making us feel less, whereas the latter is a stimulant, making me more alive to all that is around me. I'm absolutely enjoying this heightened awareness the Spirit is providing today. What a blessed day!

The Cost of Energy

From the blog of Bill Gross:

• $0.05 per kw/hr — the cost of electricity generated from coal (the dirtiest fossil fuel)
• $0.10 per kw/hr — the cost of electricity generated from gas (more expensive, but quite a bit better than coal)
• $0.16 per kw/hr — the cost of electricity generated from solar thermal (many people are working to beat this now)
• $0.24 per kw/hr — the cost of electricity generated from photovoltaic panels on large scale solar farms (many people are working to beat this too)
• $0.40 per kw/hr — the cost of electricity generated from photovoltaic panels on rooftops of homes and businesses