Toby Markowitz

Wrapping snow in blankets. Can it save the ski season? Warming temperatures and snow droughts in the West threatens a billion-dollar industry. One ski area is experimenting with insulated blankets to keep snow from melting.

Warming temperatures and snow droughts in the West threatens a billion-dollar industry. One ski area is experimenting with insulated blankets to keep snow from melting. n.pr/4cANa7a

Silver medallists Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher of the United States celebrate with their medals.

From @theathletic.com: Ten days ago, the United States men had not medaled in cross-country skiing in 50 years. Now, they’ll head home from Italy with at least two Olympic medals, after Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher won silver in the team sprint relay. nyti.ms/3ONp53a

Hundreds of people spelled out the distress signal "SOS" on Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis on Friday, Jan. 30.

📷️ Provided by Jeff Schad

Northlandia: In Cloquet, ski jumping is for kids The Cloquet Nordic Ski Club has introduced generations of young people to the Olympic sport, in a community where watching your kids soar through the air is just another Thursday night.

The Cloquet Nordic Ski Club has introduced generations of young people to the Olympic sport, in a community where watching your kids soar through the air is just another Thursday night.

To be the best, Olympian Gus Schumacher had to learn to lose The Anchorage cross-country skier is his team’s best hope at winning an Olympic medal.

U.S. cross-country skier Gus Schumacher says learning to lose was key to becoming one of America’s best — helping him stay resilient on the path to the 2026 Olympics.

Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti “We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.

"Please get the truth out about our son."

MAYDAY from the airwaves: Belarus begins a death penalty purge of radio amateurs Behind the absurdity of charging Baofeng users with ‘High Treason‘ lies a terrifying intellectual genocide and an urgent call for…

The authoritarian government of Belarus is purging the country’s ham operators, charging them with treason and seizing their radio equipment. steanlab.medium.com/mayday-389f5...

'The following Clubhouses will be closing before April 2026' - Rapha to shut a number of RCC venues as early as January 18th www.cyclingnews.com/cycling-cult...

Small car with wrap simulating rust. Car used for a restaurant in Split, Croatia.

Wolves, long feared and reviled, may actually be lifesavers A new line of research has revealed a surprising finding about how the presence of wolves helps keep people safe.

More wildlife news: A new line of research found wolves in the Midwest + Canada not only keep deer populations in check, they also alter deer behavior in ways that help prevent car crashes.

We have no wolves in NYS below the northern Adirondacks. I've hit FIVE in 30 yrs. Bring. Back. The. Wolves!

A thread of tech/investment trends I’ve been wrong about and what each thought me.

Toxic Gaslighting: How 3M Executives Convinced a Scientist the Forever Chemicals She Found in Human Blood Were Safe Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people’s bodies. Her bosses halted her work. As the EPA now forces the removal of the chemicals from drinking water, she wrestles wit...

Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people's bodies. Her bosses halted her work.

Now she wrestles with the secrets that 3M kept from her and the world.

(Published May 2024)

Jessie Diggins, U.S. cross-country skiing star, to retire after season: Exclusive Diggins, the three-time Olympic medalist and most successful U.S. cross-country skier, is "ready in my heart and my soul" to walk away.

From @theathletic.com: Jessie Diggins, the most successful American cross-country skier, says she's "ready in my heart and my soul" to walk away from the sport after one more Olympic run and World Cup season.

Why Impressive Speed Won’t Be Enough To Sell EVs In The U.S. YouTube video by CNBC

A couple of weeks ago, I spent the day at M1 Concourse with @cnbc.com driving the Kia EV6, Porsche Macan and Audi e-tron GT for a story on EV performance. www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...

Can a Hydroelectric Dam Really Make the Days Longer? By shifting water to a higher elevation, the giant Three Gorges Dam caused the Earth to spin more slowly.

By shifting water to a higher elevation, the giant Three Gorges Dam caused the Earth to spin more slowly. www.wired.com/story/can-a-...

How China kills 'Made in Germany' Chinese automakers offer the same features for half the price. European premium brands suddenly look overpriced. Analysis of the value shift.

A thought piece on the #China part of the #EV transition ... and its meaning for Germany.

Discuss.

The Czinger 21C is a halo car for the future military-industrial complex The 21C is like nothing else on the road.

The Czinger 21C is a halo car for the future military-industrial complex

Meet WindRunner: The Massive Plane That Transports Wind Turbine Blades The world's largest airplane will transport massive wind-turbine blades to onshore farms in an attempt to reshape the future of wind energy logistics.

This was fascinating: An airplane longer than a football field built for the sole purpose of transporting new, much longer wind turbine blades.

Worth the read in @spectrum.ieee.org, as always.

NASA's Quiet Supersonic Jet Takes Flight The X-59 successfully completed its inaugural flight—a step toward developing quieter supersonic jets that could one day fly customers more than twice as fast as commercial airliners.

The X-59 successfully completed its inaugural flight—a step toward developing quieter supersonic jets that could one day fly customers more than twice as fast as commercial airliners. www.wired.com/story/nasas-...

Eight years ago today, while in the Trump motorcade, I saw a bicyclist give the bird to the president's vehicle. I tweeted an AFP photographer's picture of Juli Briskman. It went viral. She got fired. Then she got elected. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...

Best gravel bikes 2025: Our pick of the best bikes for drop-bar off-road action https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-gravel-bikes/

Amazon wants to buy ‘thousands’ of Rivian’s pedal-assist cargo bikes The company is interested in deploying Also’s TM-Q quad vehicles as part of its delivery fleet in the US and Europe.

Amazon wants to buy ‘thousands’ of Rivian’s pedal-assist cargo bikes

My Scars Were a Haunting Reminder of My Surgery. These Silicone Sheets Helped Me Heal. A photo grid shows the healing process of a scar on someone's throat.

These silicone sheets are a noninvasive, inexpensive treatment that may help fade the appearance of many scars. nyti.ms/48p7jey

These 2 quick tests can tell you if you’re as fit as an 80-year-old elite athlete Measure your strength, power and coordination with these two simple fitness checks.

Are you as fit as an 80-year-old elite athlete? The answer might be a mortifying surprise.

Measure your strength, power and coordination with these two simple fitness checks.

Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted.

With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted. www.wired.com/story/satell...

YouTube video by Driven Car Reviews With Tom Voelk Would I Do it Again? 6 Months With a Used Porsche Taycan 4S. #automobile #Porsche

I bought a used 2021 @porscheusa.bsky.social Taycan 4S 6 months ago. Here’s what it’s like to live with a high-performance EV with 32,000 miles on clock. Likes. Gripes. Issues. Real world range. Charge speed. Would I do it again? It’s all here… #automotive
youtu.be/LHtmrg-i70Q

So much for Ford and GM’s scheme to extend the EV tax credit They were hoping to soften the blow.

So much for Ford and GM’s scheme to extend the EV tax credit

Porsche’s electric Cayenne has so much screen they had to bend it Haven’t seen this before.

Porsche’s electric Cayenne has so much screen they had to bend it

Chasing storms across the Midwest with a ‘Twister Sister’ As a member of the storm-chasing reality TV show, Melanie Metz has become a legend among her peers.

Melanie Metz is one of the most famous storm chasers in the world. We traveled around North Dakota with her to learn why she loves to capture extreme weather.

When this EV maker collapsed, its customers became the car company Meet the Fisker Owners Association.

When this EV maker collapsed, its customers became the car company