Posted By RichC on April 30, 2007
After meeting with EU leaders in the Rose Garden, President Bush commented a bit more on the importance of cleaner, renewable, domestically produced fuels. As an advocate for alternatives to petroleum, I’m pleased to hear national leaders stressing importance of continuing national efforts in developing renewable biofuels … especially the ‘more efficient’ biodiesel.
President Bush:
I have said we’ll have a mandatory fuel standard, not a voluntary fuel standard, but a mandatory fuel standard that will reduce our uses of gasoline by 20 percent over a 10-year period of time. We believe that ethanol and biodiesel, the spread of ethanol and biodiesel are — the goal of spreading ethanol and biodiesel is achievable, that’s what we believe. And we’re spending a lot of money to achieve that goal.
Now, the spread of ethanol in the United States is not going to be achievable if we rely only upon corn. There is a limit to the amount of ethanol we can produce with corn as a feedstock. So our research dollars are going to what they call cellulosic ethanol, and that means the ability to make ethanol from switchgrasses or wood chips. And we’re spending a lot of money to that end.
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Posted By RichC on April 29, 2007
Last weeks storms:
I’m a bit slow to post the drive home storm photos from last week, but will put a few thumbnails below … it was a nasty bit of weather, although the above clouds were more ominous to look at than to drive through. (click for larger)
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Lakota East High School Prom 2007:
I’m hesitant to include photos of my handsome son
with his date on this public forum or to post any of his friends, but believe me … they all looked great.
I’ll just keep the gallery of photos private, but for those who are interested or have reason to want a copy (ie. they’re of your kids), I’ll email a link to the photos if you would like to see them, although by now I’m sure Taylor has forwarded whatever was necessary? The group of 24 friends gathered at the Pan’s house in West Chester for photos and hors d’oeuvre before taking a couple of limos down to the Northern Kentucky Convention center for the prom which ended at midnight. Of course the night had just started as the ‘prison’ (aka: High School – construction photos coming) had been turned in to a ‘cruise ship’ with fun and game galore. They had a great time — I only wish my proms were half as fun as what they are today.
🙂
I’m thankful my son has such a decent group of young people as friends. He has selected well … or did they pick him? Whichever, I thankful they are his friends and enjoy talking with them, in fact enjoyed the conversations about the prom and after-prom with several of them this morning. A bunch of them crashed at our house when the after-prom was finally over — they arrived to our house at 5:00AM and slept until about noon … all but one who had to be up to play in his church band this morning. (I feel for you Seth … I still think I would have tried to find a replacement?)
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Tags: prom, weather
Posted By RichC on April 29, 2007
The champion of optimism … Skipper Pete Bethune … has finally conceded that the record of circling the globe by power boat in the fastest time is not possible anymore. After receiving some negative news while Earthrace waits for parts in the Pacific, Bethune writes as his crew mate sits down for breakfast with him: “Ryan comes wandering in. He’s got a big smile on his face so he’s obviously not aware of the latest developments. He slots down with a plate of hot food and I give him the crappy news.”
“His smile disappears and he looks out at the harbour just metres from where we’re sitting. “Does this mean we’re buggered for the recordâ€, he asks. I do some quick sums in my head. Even if we had a perfect run from here there’s no way we’d get the record by Barbados. He pushes his plate away but doesn’t say anything more.”
After a series of problems … some just part of the challenge, others much larger … it looks like the run for the record is now over. The question they now face is with only a few dollars left to complete the trip, will they be able to find sponsors willing to supply the needed biodiesel to finish the circumnavigation?
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Posted By RichC on April 28, 2007
If you must rent a car, consider Enterprise Rent-a-Car … they are working in several ways to not only run a quality ‘Rental Car Company,’ but give back to the countries they do business in. They have collaborated with The National Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service in planting trees. Each year, The National Arbor Day Foundation — a world-class non- profit organization — will identify a number of tree planting projects throughout the U.S. and work with similar agencies to find planting projects in Europe and Canada.
Enterprise, is a corporate citizen committed to giving back and they are funding as many of these planting projects as possible — totaling one million trees each year, and will announce those projects in conjunction with National Arbor Day each year. The National Arbor Day Foundation will work with the U.S. Forest Service, the public agency charged with protecting and preserving the National Forests, which will plant the trees where they are needed most.
Not only that, but founder Jack Taylor and his wife Susan have given a gift of $25 million dollars to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels as part of a leading biofuel research center located in the Midwest. My hat is off to a fine company (rented just a couple weeks ago from them) and outstanding corporate citizen.
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Posted By RichC on April 27, 2007
For those of you keeping up with Donna Lange and her solo circumnavigation here and elsewhere, she is visiting the Rhode Island Statehouse today in preparation for a welcome home celebration on Saturday in Bristol, RI. Officials in the state have declared April 28th “Donna Lange Day” — how cool is that?
Following her visit with friends and family, she will be returning to Bermuda and making repairs to her solid 28 foot Southern Cross sailboat “Inspired Insanity” and then sailing it home to the US. For those of you going, enjoy the celebration (and music) from 3 to 6 in Bristol on Saturday April 28th. Meet up at the Herreshoff Marine Museum (the public welcome). Thankfully my favorite print magazine “Cruising World” (I’ve been an uninterrupted subscriber since the 1970’s when sailing was just a dream) posted an article online.
Also here’s a little backgroung video from New Zealand television station last year … I enjoyed it and thought it would be an appropriate time to share?
New Zealand News clip with Donna Lange
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Tags: donna lange, inspired insanity, new zealand, sailing
Posted By RichC on April 26, 2007
Filled up as usual at the exit 151 Mt. Gilead I-71 renewable fuel Sunoco station (B-20 = $2.83) after noticing quite the jump in gasoline prices today. Many of the stations along the Interstate were at $2.99 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline as reports of low US gasoline inventories frightened futures traders. I suspect that report on Wednesday from the Energy Department along with hurricane season, summer driving and reports of partial shutdowns at four major U.S. refineries are raising concerns and uncertainty.
Where will this all pan out? Some say we’re on the way to $4.00 gasoline this summer, while others seem encouraged that there is plenty of crude oil supply around the world and with the news from the EU/Iran discussion going better, some say we’ll at a high right now. See an article by Associated Press writer John Wilen for a professional view on energy.
That aside, its been quite sometime since we’ve seen diesel and biodiesel lower than gasoline … think it will last? I doubt it, but since I’m driving a Volkswagen TDI and getting 45 miles per gallon I’m not complaining too much.
😀
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Posted By RichC on April 26, 2007
Boeing and Virgin Atlantic made an announcement that Virgin Atlantic would purchase 15 of the new 787-9 “Dreamliner” aircraft and form a new environmental partnership to develop aviation jet biofuel. The first 787 should be available later this year and offers a twenty percent improvement in the fuel efficiency compared to existing aircraft. The engines used in testing biofuels will be supplied by General Electric and are scheduled to test next year on one of Virgin’s Boeing 747-400 series planes. (thanks for the story link Tom)
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Posted By RichC on April 25, 2007
The financial world is beginning to make me nervous once again after an “exuberant” day, as Greenspan might say. The Dow Jones Industrial average closed at its all time high of 13,089.89 with the Nasdaq jumping in for some positive action too — up 23.85 to 2547.89. It will be interesting to see just how much money comes off the table as it traditionally does in May as traders prepare for summer. I’ve heard two prominent Wall Street gurus making predictions of a DOW of 13,500 to 14,500 by the end of 2007 — pretty optimistic.
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Posted By RichC on April 25, 2007
How is your retirement planning going? I hope it includes ‘stocks’ because in and early morning Wall Street trading, the DJIA cracked 13.000 for the first time today. We’ll see how the day goes in hopes it can close there. Currently it has move back, but conditions remain bullish.
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Posted By RichC on April 25, 2007
Here you go … a chance for a first class trip to Spain and position on America’s Cup BMW/Oracle’s team. With you backing the team they’ll be sure to advance to the finals and win back the cup.
😀
The charity auction is currently running on Ebay for a chance to be the 18th man (woman) on the racing team in the Louis Vuitton Cup semi-finals on May 18th. The trip itself might be worth a few dollar to some of you, considering you’ll fly over and stay in 3 nights in five-star hotel (Westin Valencia), receive $1000 in cash to spend during the 4 day trip and a watch valued at nearly $10,000. The winning bidder also has the opportunity to return as a guest on June 29th, if the team advances to the America’s Cup Finals.
Of course the bidding for most of us is already out of reach at nearly $30,000, but you have a chance to scrape up some change until Apr-30, 2007 — auction ends at 6:00PM PDT.
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