Panic At Nabisco

To preface; my stupid internet connection was inexplicably down over the weekend until just this morning.  So, no thanks to Comcast...can't wait for FiOs to be available in this town!  I had a very profound thought kickin' around my head yesterday which I really wanted to blog, but have since lost the gumption.  I'm sure this has happened to some of you out there as well.  So I'm no longer feeling the Lehman Bros./over-leveraging-greedy-pigs blog.  Chip summed it up fairly well anyway.  Not to mention that we're going to be so inundated with thoughts and opinions on the calamity on Wall Street that it seems rather pointless as well.

I stumbled across something on Q's blog this morning that I seem to recall hearing something about before, but this time it really poked me in the eye because of the recent outbreak of 'feminaziism.'

Apparently, Barack Obama - of whom I'm no fan - called a reporter "sweetie" a while back, and was marked a 'sexist' for his mere term of endearment.

I'm getting really sick of this krap.  -Maybe even more than I've got to spell 'krap' with a 'k' just to get by the 'profanity' filter.

Insecure women are suddenly feeling rankled by the fact that oftentimes their choices in apparel are limited to the color pink; some arse's are chapped because people mention the very obvious fact that Sara Palin is beautiful, and I've heard this krap before about how we can't call women "sweetie" anymore because it's allegedly "demeaning."

Fox better take Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay off the air!  Well, they'd better not, because it's handily one of the best shows on TV, but he addresses women as "sweetheart" and "dah-ling" more times in an hour than I hear all week at my local coffee shop.  Clearly, he's a "sexist," right-?

WRONG!

For God's sake, it's all about intent, people.  Does anyone really think, for example, that Barack Obama was trying to 'demean' that female reporter?  Because (as much as I don't like Barack Obama) I don't.

If you get called "sweetie," take it as what it (more than likely) is; a compliment!  Being 'sweet' is not a bad thing!  It's very charming and endearing when a man calls a woman 'sweetie' or some variation thereof.

I once went out with - and lived with - a gorgeous woman who used to drop "sweetie" and "honey" on just about everyone; male or female.  Since it was Maine, a lot of those dumb guys up there took it as if she was 'sweet' for them.  But I always liked her vernacular.  I was secure enough to not let it bother me.  I can't stand when a fringe of society has an insecurity and we're supposed to pander to it.  Screw that!

It's awful, because I can't even let terms of endearment drop from my lips anymore thanks to this stupid political correctness.  I never know who's going to be "offended."

Is this a very sucky era to be living in, or is it just me?

She may have let Tom Cruise jump all over her couch, but Oprah Winfrey says that Sarah Palin can't even sit on it.

Fans of Oprah debate whether the talk show host is being bias but not invited Palin on her show before the election. (Getty Images/AP Photo)

At least not until after the presidential election, that is.

Responding to media reports first publicized on Matt Drudge's "The Drudge Report" claiming there was turmoil at Winfrey's Harpo Studios about whether to book the GOP vice presidential nominee on the popular talk show, Winfrey's camp said today that while she has nothing against Palin, the veep hopeful won't appear on the show anytime soon.

"The item in today's 'Drudge Report' is categorically untrue," Winfrey said in a written statement provided to ABCNews.com. "There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show.

"At the beginning of the presidential campaign, when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates," Winfrey wrote.

"I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over."

But Winfrey, who publicly endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in May 2008, is being widely criticized by some fans of the show who say she's being unfair and biased.

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"She's being two-faced," said Dr. Cindy Grossman-Green, a pediatrician and Oprah fan from outside Philadelphia. "She initially had Obama on her show, but now that she's decided [to support him], she won't have any other political candidates on."

Grossman-Green is referring to the two times Obama appeared on Winfrey's show prior to announcing his plans to run for the presidency, once in January 2005 and, more recently, in October 2006.

Some Winfrey fans say that Obama's appearance on the show at all -- regardless of the timing and his political aspirations during his visits -- are irrelevant and that Winfrey's decision to blacklist Palin from her show could very well backfire.

"I don't think most people even care about the timing [of when Obama went on the show]," Grossman-Green said. "They just know Winfrey is pro-Obama and that she had him on.

I'm not going to say who left these comments, but they're definitely the best example I've seen yet of the selfishness found in the mind of the "pro-choice" person:

"The other issue I have, is that folks do not realize the drain on the rest of society when there is a downs child. I commend her courage for keeping her baby, but, and I am sure I will get ALOT of flack for this one, it is unfair of her for 2 reasons. 1. the quality of life for this child and 2. the drain on taxpayer resources for this child's care. I know that to some this will sound harsh, and I will not apologize for my opinion."

So, apparently, Sara Palin should have had an abortion because kids with Downs Syndrome don't deserve to live.  I don't even need to expound as the ugliness of these comments speaks for itself.

I was going to get into a voluminous blog extolling Sara Palin - and I still may expound - but I feel like comments made by Hansonman under Kim Carrigan's blog deserve closer attention.  He really nailed it.  So, I cleaned-up the one typo and omitted anything which addressed her directly, and here are those very cogent words once again:

I am appalled by the carnage women are engaging in with the Palin pick.

1st, Hillary has gotten to where she is in large part to the success of her man, Bill. She rode his coattails into public office and much of her notoriety is due to his gravitas. I know she is a lawyer and she had some high profile cases (Wal Mart/ Watergate), but to earn the political cache to run for president by herself? Palin by contrast has earned everything herself, independently of her husband. In fact, her husband plays a supporting role to her.

 

2nd, it just shows that women have their own versions of “Uncle Tom’s.” You will be respected and admired as so long as you keep true to the democratic platform. God forbid if you are women with independent ideas and a core belief system that works to the benefit of your own family and your own life’s choices.

3rd, unlike most of the limousine liberals women on the View, behind the anchor desk, on the big screen, living in Newton, Wellesley and Hingham et. al., she not only talks the talk and walks the walk with her infant son spared the abortion procedure and her eldest son off to Iraq in the infantry.

 

4th, we already have hard evidence which candidate is true to his rhetoric. On one side we have a candidate that doesn’t want to employ the “same old players,” yet chooses the ultimate insider short of Ted Kennedy to be his running mate—a running mate I might add who was never able to get nominated himself despite several attempts. On the other hand we have a candidate that claims the “maverick” mantle and has actually delivered by thinking outside the box, bucking the safe choices and putting it all on the line. Tell me which one is the hypocrite.

5th All the criticisms about experience only highlights the lack of experience by Obama. While the possibility exists Palin COULD assume office, it is a definite that Obama WOULD be in office. So who do you want to be your president, a state senator with no foreign policy experience, no executive experience, and no ability thus far to demonstrate he is able to answer questions directly on the spot without saying the word, “uhhhh” before each sentence as if you could see the smoke coming out his ears as he tries to come up with the “right” thing to say…or a woman WITH executive experience, the mother of 5, including a soldier in a war zone, and having served on an oversight committee for oil companies in a state replete with natural resources in the thick of the current debate how to best break our dependency on oil?

 

”How many women does it take to screw in a light bulb?” The answer is 10…1 to do it, and 9 to say, ‘I could have done it better.’” No wonder there is a glass ceiling. Men might have built it, but women keep patching it up.

 

Whomever you support for your president and vice-president, God bless you.

But I'd just like to point out that John McCain picked an intelligent, bright, gorgeous mother of five named Sarah Palin to be his running mate.

Barack Obama has picked a running mate who makes his campaign signs look like a mis-print of "Osama Bin Laden:"

OBAMA
BIDEN

It reminds me of one of those rental signs with the removable letters.  Like just imagine if the above was on one of those signs like this:

O AMA
BI    DEN

But don't worry...maybe he's not the anti-Christ. :^]

Relax...I kid because I love!

As I've mentioned many times on these blogs, most every Monday night - for about the past seven years - I've been filming the Planning Board meetings for the town in which I grew up; Plymouth.

For the most part, I really enjoy the heck out of my little broadcasting gig.  It's worth suffering through the claustrophobic feelings I experience from operating the cameras remotely from a closet across the hall.  But I really wish I could establish some rules for some of the folks who attend the meetings:

#1) Make sure your microphone's green light is lit!

For cryin' out loud.  You can't tell that you're not being heard?  The person before you was coming out loud and clear through the speakers in the room...you aren't wondering why your voice isn't coming through the same way?
Sometimes the guys on the board actually care enough to speak up, but I really don't get why they need to.  Of course, it would help if the mics didn't turn on and off so easily; sometimes being accidentally shut off by someone's notebook.  So I guess I should be more understanding.

#2) Realize that I'm not just watching TV, but making it...live!

I love to talk to you.  Honestly, I do.  But believe it or not, what I'm doing in that tiny little closet requires some degree of concentration.  Granted, I've only got two cameras with a total of 18 presets.  But I've also got to constantly twist the knobs to accommodate the differing volume levels of the many different voices; both on the board, and those who go to the podium.
Therefore, keep the chit-chat to a minimum.  And fer cryin' out loud...there's no need to share the smell of your dinner with me...don't put your head on my shoulder.
And to anyone who is even thinking of chewing gum or making disgusting noises in my ear, you'd better wear goggles; because I'll poke you in the eye!
Board members can talk to me any time...I never have problems with any of you.

#3) DON'T try to do my job for me.

At the last meeting, there was a woman at the podium who spoke very softly.  I had the mic turned down for the very loud individual who spoke before her.  Some "helpful" (facetiously speaking) gentleman from the audience said, "We can't hear you...speak into the mic!"
The problem was...she was speaking into the mic already!  But then she thought she should jam her face into it...like she was trying to consume the foam covering...and she over-modulated.  Plus we got to hear those lovely "pltth, pltth, pltth" noises which come naturally when someone acts as if they're trying to eat a microphone.
Give the guy in the closet a break!  As long as the microphone is on, let me handle the rest!

#4) Pick a spot for your presentation and PLANT yourself there!

Oh man, it is such an a&ss-chapper when someone tries to get "creative" by moving all over the place.  I've only got two cameras...they react slowly because of the slight delay from my position...and you really screw with the focus!
The cameras are mounted to the walls.  I can only do so much with them.  I do very well with what I've got, but I certainly don't need any added challenges - thank you!

And point your danged locus-map, ...or plan...(or whatever it is you keep pointing to...) towards a camera!  It's both a live broadcast, and one which will be re-broadcast.  The folks at home want to actually see what you keep pointing at!  There's no reason why you can't point whatever you've got in such a way that it can face both the board and at least one of the cameras.  ...Man alive!

So, that's basically it; four simple rules.  I am a perfectionist, and I really like to make a quality production.  I do things like those creative wipes, the pans of the audience when the same person has been speaking for too long (that way you know who's fallen asleep vs. who had a "turbo-shot" in their coffee from Dunkin's prior to their arrival); I frame everyone up as perfectly as the cameras will allow, and I keep the camera hopping to keep the viewers interested and engaged.

Hopefully, there are a few people out there in Plymouth who really appreciate all of my hard work.  Because even though I really like the guys on the board and think they are fine servants of the community, making sure their broadcast is the best that it can be is no easy task.  Thanks for reading.  See you Monday @ 7:00PM.

Driving the BMW Hydrogen 7 Posted by: Helen Walters on February 28

 Today I got a chance to have a spin in the BMW Hydrogen 7. It’s one of only 20 of the hydrogen-powered cars in the world, so I was a little nervous that I might prang it, but luckily all went seamlessly. In fact, apart from a big “H2” in the middle of the dashboard (and a small button on the right of the steering wheel, which you can just about see in this picture)BMW1.jpg you wouldn’t know you were driving anything other than a regular BMW. As my co-pilot and BMW engineer Mario explained, the car runs on a dual-fuel system, which means it can process both regular gasoline and hydrogen (the button on the steering wheel allows a driver to choose; or the engine switches automatically when one tank is empty.) The lengthy engineering process involved adapting the regular 760Li’s 12-cylinder engine to work with both fuel sources – and to make room in the car for the bulky hydrogen tank, which holds 17.5 lbs of liquid hydrogen. As you can see in this other photo, BMW2.jpgthe tank sits in the trunk – and thus halves the luggage space of a regular 7 series (though the back seat still looks pretty roomy). Safety’s obviously an issue when discussing such a volatile element as hydrogen (yes, I went there, I brought up the Zeppelin). Five sensors are distributed throughout the car to detect escaping hydrogen. If that happens, the windows automatically open in order to let the gas, harmless in and of itself, out into the atmosphere – and the fuel supply is cut. The demonstration/test drive didn’t include filling up with hydrogen but apparently it’s a similar, slightly more high tech version of a regular outing at the pump. Filling up takes about eight minutes. So when might hydrogen cars become a reality rather than a nice toy to wheel out at events such as TED? No firm answers as yet, though BMW points to a joint government/industry project in California which aims to set up the “Hydrogen Highway” by 2010. That’s a network of 150 – 200 hydrogen-equipped fuel stations. For now, given that even the limited production run that will roll out of BMW’s Bavarian plant later in the year will not be sold on the open market, it’s still just a (beautifully designed) toy.

I am in some extraordinarily unusual circumstances in my life.

I don't know anyone who has done some of the things that I have. Now, don't jump to conclusions when I say that; you're not about to read a blog of self-aggrandizing and "nobody knows what I've been through." (Gag me.) Everybody thinks that they are some kind of "separate piece" of humanity, and that their story – no matter how unoriginal- would just intrigue the heck out of everyone else...if only they'd take the time to listen. ...Human nature...it cracks me up sometimes.

But I'm incredibly hyper-vigilant, and I'm always studying other people and looking for similarities. And what I've found - and those who know me would not argue - is that I am indeed a very unusual person. My friends used to say that I "freak (them) out."

My back-story could fill a book, so I can't really get into much of it here unless I'm just purposely trying to digress from the point I'm about to make. But to make a long story short; I'm a former alcoholic. ...That's right, I said "former," which, I realize seems oxymoronic to most of you. But this myth that states "once an alcoholic...always an alcoholic" is nothing short of a lie, and I'm living proof. When I can reserve drinking for going to other's houses and eating out; have no more than two drinks at those times, and have no desire for any more than that...it's safe to say that I'm not an alcoholic anymore. The taste for the "buzz" has left my mouth, and I attribute this to my faith in God.

My erstwhile self prevented me from catapulting into any kind of real career. But since I've got a good head on my shoulders, I'm an assiduous worker, I have a very high moral standard, and I'm very loyal to any who employ me; there's no doubt that I'm working way below my capabilities and potential. So there have been periods when I've been incredibly frustrated at my (so-called) "lame" job, and done some serious grousing to that effect.

But in recent months, I've really come to terms with my situation. I've realized just how unbelievably blessed and fortunate I really am. I don't have some "illustrious career." ...Whatever. The doors of opportunity have not been shut and locked. I'm very open. Something could happen tomorrow to transform my life and catapult me into "greatness." If not, I'm not about to become depressed or saddened by it. My current work is honorable, honest, and I happen to enjoy it.

In the now, I've realized that I've got it really good. And the point of this blog is to encourage some of you who may not realize just how good you have it to pause long enough to consider that you probably have it better than you realize.

Recently, a fellow blogger (once again) attempted to elevate his self above me by citing his career experiences and juxtaposing them with mine. I just got a laugh out of it. I realized, that I used to let that kind of thing upset me.

...But then I thought about the motives behind that kind of pathetic behavior. If someone feels a need to brag on themselves and subsequently talk down to someone "lower on the totem pole" (however you define that), then they really can't have very much security in themselves. It's like they're digging in their pockets..."my stuff is better than yours!"

If you find yourself using your job-title as some kind of a badge to shove in the faces of others in order to elevate yourself over them, perhaps you need to take inventory on your personal security system. Because the chances are, you don't have very much security in yourself if you feel the need to scrape your pockets and shove what you've got into the faces of others just to keep yourself afloat.

And if you find yourself grousing about your co-workers too much, maybe you're letting the judgments of your peers - and the feelings of inadequacy that go along with it - get the best of you. Or it may just be that deep-down you know that you're not doing the best job that you can...which could also stem from those feelings of inadequacy...causing the "why bother" attitude.

For now, I'm a so-called "night porter" at a hotel. I clean the kitchen. I vacuum the dining room. I walk the hallways and parking lot and watch for trouble-makers. I bring pillows at the behest of needy customers. I fix their TV when they can't get it to work. I coordinate the orderly exit of the patrons when the fire alarm goes off. I open the gate for the grease-trap guy. I turn the bug-guy away when he comes the week before Thanksgiving, telling him that I can't let him spray when the cooks are there extra late to prep. I take care of any problems that arise in the overnight hours. I call the cops and have raucous; out-of-control partiers evicted when they're keeping the kids in the room next-door awake with their cursing and yelling. I keep the adorable night auditors amused. ...And I've decided that - even though my eyes are wide-open, searching for something better - I love it. I've been employed by the same company since March of 1994, and I really love it.

Oftentimes, when new people begin employment where I work, I can see that they don't really want to work. I can see that many of them just don't care, and I'm often looked at as though I take my job "too seriously." -This is actually the most frustrating thing about my job. If you go to work to actually work - and not goof-off - then you’re “uptight?” But I know that those people are everywhere - in every profession - and dreaming of escaping them at another job is just that; a dream. If everyone took their job as seriously as I take mine, we'd see a lot less complaining about customer service in this country. In my direct dealings with customers, I've been highly appreciated over the years.

In a nutshell, everyone has got a story. Everyone has a reason to be a multi-millionaire mogul, a dishwasher, a middle-class struggler, a movie star, or unemployed and homeless. Judging people for whatever it is they do might give you a false sense of self-satisfaction; but in the long-run, all it's really going to do is carve out your insides.

Take a good look in the mirror. Now take a look at somebody else. That could have just as easily been you. No matter how difficult, try to treat them that way.

Has anyone heard about this guy, Joe Horn from Texas?

Apparently, he was being burglarized, and caught the perps in the act.  He called 911.  While on the phone with the dispatch, he said, "they're gettin' away!"  The dispatch said, "calm down, it's not worth killing someone over."

Despite the warning from the 911 operator, Joe Horn wasn't about to let someone get away with trying to steal his property.  On the 911 recording, he can be heard loading his rifle and firing.

A grand jury in Texas sent a message to future criminals when they cleared Joe Horn of any wrongdoing whatsoever.  If I could, I would seriously move to Texas.  It would sure beat living in limp-wristed Massachusetts, where a 7-year old kid can't even enjoy a summer day without getting shot in the back because of this state's liberal attitude towards crime.

This is a new world, folks.  What does it take?  When do we finally say "enough is enough" and send thugs and criminals the message that we won't live in fear any longer?

Just imagine if we actually dealt with criminals the way they should be dealt with.  We've become so jaded in Massachusetts in our attitudes toward crime that we can't even appreciate the absurdity of just how much crime there is here.  But if we could have the peace of mind to know that our judicial system would actually punish criminals and protect citizens instead of the current reversal of that concept, perhaps crime would actually drop!

Now that I've gotten all of the liberal panty-waists' panties in a bunch, I'm ready for the snarky, elitist, sarcasm.   Let it commence...

World’s First Wave Powered Boat February 28th, 2008 · No Comments

Ken-ichi Horie, a 69 year old Japanese sailor, is planning a solo 4,350 mile trip from Hawaii to Japan using an innovative wave powered boat. If successful, the trip would earn him a Guinness record while simultaneously proving the viability of wave powered propulsion.

His boat, the Suntory Mermaid II, turns wave energy into thrust using two fins mounted beneath the bow. These fins move up and down with the waves and use them to generate “kicks” that propel the boat forward. Another green element of the journey: all of the radios and electrical equipment are solar powered.

The fins will only garner a top speed of 5 knots, so his trip will take about three months.

From the Popular Science article:

This month, 69-year-old Japanese sailor Ken-ichi Horie will attempt to captain the world’s most advanced wave-powered boat 4,350 miles from Hawaii to Japan. If all goes as planned, he’ll set the first Guinness world record for the longest distance traveled by a wave-powered boat and, along the way, show off the greenest nautical propulsion system since the sail.

Nanoparticles could make hydrogen cheaper than gasoline

R. Colin Johnson
Page 1 of 2

EE Times
(02/25/2008 9:21 AM EST)
PORTLAND, Ore. — The hydrogen economy is getting a shot in the arm from a start-up that says its nanoparticle coatings could make hydrogen easy to produce at home from distilled water, and ultimately bring the cost of hydrogen fuel cells in line with that of fossil fuels.

QuantumSphere Inc. says it has perfected the manufacture of highly reactive catalytic nanoparticle coatings that could up the efficiency of electrolysis, the technique that generates hydrogen from water. Moreover, the coatings could also eliminate the need for expensive metals like platinum in hydrogen fuel cells.

Boasting 1,000 times the surface area of traditional materials, the coatings can be used to retrofit existing electrolysers to increase their efficiency to 85 percent--exceeding the Department of Energy's goal for 2010 by 10 percent. The scheme holds the promise of 96 percent efficiency by the time cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells hit automobile showrooms, according to the Santa Ana, Calif., company.

"Instead of switching 170,000 gas stations over to hydrogen, using our electrodes could enable consumers to make their own hydrogen, either in the garage or right on the vehicle," said Kevin Maloney, president, chief executive officer and co-founder of QuantumSphere. "Our nanoparticle-coated electrodes make electrolysers efficient enough to provide hydrogen on demand from a tank of distilled water in your car."

The first commercial product inspired by QuantumSphere's technology will debut later this year: a battery using a cathode coated with the startup's nanoparticles, thereby increasing its energy density 5x over alkaline cells and boosting power by 320 percent. The first commercial nonrechargeable batteries with this increased capacity will be announced by an as-yet-unnamed major U.S. battery maker in the second half of 2008.

QuantumSphere also claims to be able to improve rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride batteries to the point where they perform better than the less environmentally friendly lithium-ion batteries popular today.

QuantumSphere's plan is first to retrofit existing electrolysis equipment with its nanoparticle electrodes to boost efficiency. Next, it intends to partner with original equipment manufacturers to design at-home and on-vehicle electrolysers for making hydrogen from water for fuel cells. Finally, the company wants to work with fuel cell makers to replace their expensive platinum electrodes with inexpensive stainless-steel electrodes coated with nickel-iron nanoparticles.

QuantumSphere's nanoparticles are available in four formulations: nickel cobalt, iron cobalt, nickel iron and silver copper. According to the Freedonia Group Inc. (Cleveland), the nanoparticles can be sold directly into the catalyst metals market, which it predicts will edge up to $4.7 billion this year.

QuantumSphere is also expected to have an impact on the battery market, which Freedonia estimates will grow to more than $5 billion by 2009. Portable fuel cells and direct hydrogen generation are markets that are growing even faster, with fuel cells estimated to top $11 billion by 2013, according to Wintergreen Research Inc. (Lexington, Mass.), and hydrogen generation to exceed $15 billion by 2016, according to Clean Edge Inc. (Portland, Ore.).

QuantumSphere was founded in 2002 with just $100,000 of private funding and still has not taken in any venture capital, although it did have a public funding round last year. The company's founding goal was to create a thimble full of the nanoparticles it invented. But now, just over five years later, it claims to have surpassed its original goal with a manufacturing plant capable of producing tons of nanoparticles per year.

QuantumSphere claims its current manufacturing capacity is enough for both the battery and electrolysis markets. With an eye on future growth, however, the company has partnered with the OM Group Inc. (Cleveland) for mass-producing nanoparticles when QuantumSphere can no longer meet demand.

After perfecting the original invention, for which QuantumSphere was awarded a patent last year, the company hired an engineering team to adapt the nanoparticles for particular applications. Leading that team was director of fuel cell research Kimberly McGrath, a protg of George Olah, the 1994 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry. Olah, inventor of the direct liquid-methanol fuel cell, serves as a scientific adviser to QuantumSphere.

"We have formulated a nanoparticle coating that has a very high surface area, enabling inexpensive coated stainless-steel electrodes to exceed the performance of the expensive platinum electrodes used today," said McGrath. "We start with raw material that covers about the size of a sheet of paper, but after converting into nanoparticles, it covers a soccer field."

The nanoparticles are perfect spheres, consisting of a couple hundred atoms measuring from 16 to 25 nanometers in diameter. They are formed by means of a vacuum-deposition process that uses vapor condensation to produce highly reactive catalytic nanoparticles, for which the engineering team has formulated several end-use applications.

"Our biggest engineering challenge was finding a way to get the nanoparticles to stick to metal electrodes," McGrath said. The company has solved that problem, she said, "enabling existing electrolysis equipment to realize a 30 percent increase in hydrogen output just by retrofitting our coated electrodes."

QuantumSphere projects that the efficiency of electrolysis using its nanoparticle-coated electrodes, now at 85 percent, can be increased to 96 percent by the time hydrogen fuel cell automobiles are in wide use. Adjusting for rising gasoline prices, QuantumSphere projects that performing electrolysis at home to power hydrogen fuel cells will then be less expensive than burning fossil fuels.

The company has also made progress in its quest to eliminate the need for expensive platinum electrodes inside the fuel cell itself, claiming that today it can replace half a fuel cell's platinum with nanoparticle-coated stainless steel. QuantumSphere hopes to demonstrate fuel cells with no platinum at all in the coming years.

Last night at the Planning Board meeting in Plymouth, a guest by the name of Michael Murphy; from Portland, Maine came to speak about the current proposed wave energy projects in Massachusetts and to educate us about the many different kinds of mechanisms to cull the power of the ocean for electricity.

He gave a Power Point presentation which displayed photos and illustrations of myriad devices, and spoke of the pros and cons of each one.  Plus, he told us of some of the "wave farms" already in place in other parts of the world and the huge strides they've been making by actively pursuing alternative forms of energy.

I was across the hall to broadcast the meeting on Plymouth's cable access television (PAC-TV).  But when the opportunity arose, for only the second time in about six or seven years of doing these meetings, I got up to the podium to speak.

As I said when I got up, I spoke with Mr. Murphy before the meeting to let him know that I'd be speaking just after he was done.  He reacted to me as if disarmed; repeatedly asking, "Who are you?"  I got the feeling he suspected that I had some kind of ulterior motive; like I was some kind of corporate tool cloaked in mufti to undermine the whole thing.  I had to laugh a little.  "I'm just a concerned citizen" I affirmed about four or five times.

I didn't know what to expect when I got up to the podium.  I started by relating the meat of what I had to say to the very specific topic at hand; wave energy.  I read a very interesting article from The Oregonian (which I may have copied and pasted here on myfoxboston...can't recall) from January 8.  It expounded further on a massive wave energy project off of the coast of Oregon of which the state just released the first $1million of $4.2 million allocated to the project by the state.  The report gave a very interesting breakdown of how the funds would be utilized.

I seized the opportunity to segue into my own personal alternative energy favorite; hydrogen.  I went on to explain that hydrogen could be produced without the use of fossil fuels (to answer the biggest criticism) using other alternative energies such as wave energy.  BP just invested $2billion towards the construction of a hydrogen plant in Abu Dhabi.  India is looking to hydrogen to fuel their vehicles...China as well.  And what are we doing here in the US-?  ...Looking to cellulosic ethanol.  I pointed out that where the rest of the world is taking very proactive steps towards insuring their economic and environmental futures, we're merely putting band-aids where surgery is required.

I really didn't expect the wonderful reception I got.  I didn't know what to expect, but I spoke with such a passion...my audience was not only listening - they seemed absolutely captivated.

As I said last night, I really wish more average, ordinary citizens would quit buying into the b.s. put out by corporations by Exxon/Mobil.  When you stand to lose billions upon billions of dollars to alternative energy, you will go to unimaginable lengths to preserve your fortunes.  ...And I really wish that more citizens would not only become as informed about the truths of alternative energies, but speak out about them as well...using whatever platforms they can.  Why did it shock Mr. Murphy that I wasn't a lobbyist or with a special-interest group-?  ...Simple; because not enough people in this country are using the powers afforded to them in this democracy of ours.

If only more people would learn some important truths about what is going on....  If only they would acquire some wisdom to better understand their knowledge...  If only they would take both knowledge and wisdom into the voting booths with them...(actually, some knowledge would be a good start).  If only more people would first become thoroughly informed, and then get up and share what they know with a captive audience.  -Last night, that's just what I did.  ...Your turn...

Marine energy: Europe is leading the way

Wave energy sources are not only available in plenty, but are also consistent, predictable and have the highest energy density among all renewable energy sources.

The best resource is found between 40-60 degrees of latitude where the available resource is 30 to 70 kW/m, with peaks of 100 kW/m.

The potential worldwide wave energy contribution to the electricity market is estimated to be of the order of 2,000 TWh/year, about 10 per cent of the world electricity consumption.
The marine energy sector is set to grow faster.

However, as it happened for the wind energy, government support, financial investment and technological advancement are needed to see the marine energy sector reach commercialisation.
 
“Wave energy technology” explains Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Gouri Nambudripad, “is being developed in a number of countries such as Canada, China, Chile, India, Japan, Russia and the US. However, Europe is leading the way in innovative technologies, pilot projects as well as pushing the existing technologies towards commercialisation including countries such as UK, Ireland, Portugal, Norway and Spain. In tidal energy, Canada, Argentina, Western Australia and Korea possess the resources, but here again Europe is a frontrunner, with the UK and France seemingly promising.”

“The UK – having some of the best wave resource in the world - is targeting 40 per cent of its energy from renewables by 2050 of which 20 per cent is to be sourced from wave and tidal energy,” continues Gouri Nambudripad. “The UK is estimated to possess the capacity to generate approximately 87TWh of wave power annually equivalent to 20-25 per cent of current UK demand. Moreover, the UK has committed GBP 25m since 1999 towards the wave and tidal programme.”
 
Wave energy devices can be divided into three main categories: shore-line, near-shore and offshore devices. Shore-line devices are devices on the shore. Near-shore devices are ones that are within 12-25 miles off the shore. Finally, offshore devices are those placed in waters of more than 50 metres in depth and/or more than 25 miles from the shore.

“About 1000 patents for wave energy converters are currently in the market and broadly fall under the above-mentioned categories. With so many technologies around there is no clear consensus on which technology will prevail over the others or which ones will be successful,” concludes Frost & Sullivan Analyst Nambudripad.
 
There are two main research centres in Europe focusing on the development and commercialisation of ocean energy technologies. The first is the European Marine Energy Centre located in Orkney, Scotland. It provides developers with sites to test their prototypes. Government and other public sector organisations have invested around GBP 15 million in the creation of the centre and its two marine laboratories. The other is the Wave Energy Centre in Portugal. It provides strategic and technical support to companies, R&D institutions and public organizations. It also looks for international cooperation helping foreign companies test their devices in Portuguese waters.

The marine energy industry has a long way to go, but ongoing research and government support should lead to improvements making these technologies more economically attractive in the future. Combined with intensifying company activity in this field, Europe is poised to be the place to watch in the marine energy arena of the future.

<a href="http://www.frost.com"target=_blank>Frost & Sullivan</a>

 

BP to Join $2 Billion Abu Dhabi Hydrogen Project (Update1)

By Ayesha Daya

Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc will begin a study to construct the world's largest hydrogen power plant in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, which would be able to meet 7 percent of the emirate's current power demand.

``We estimate the cost to be $2 billion,'' Steve Geiger, head of special projects at state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co., said in a telephone interview from Abu Dhabi today. ``A final decision will be made by the end of the year.''

The engineering and design work for the plant is under way and should be completed at the end of 2008, Geiger said.

Abu Dhabi will officially announce BP as its partner next week for the 500-megawatt plant, he said. Abu Dhabi's power demand is expected to double to 16 gigawatts in the next six years, according to Geiger, as the oil-rich emirate uses windfall crude revenue to develop infrastructure and industries.

BP and Rio Tinto Group, the world's third-biggest mining company, last year agreed to examine an A$2 billion ($1.8 billion) power plant in Western Australia that will capture and store carbon from coal and burn hydrogen for power generation. The two partners have set up a Weybridge, England-based joint venture Hydrogen Energy.

The venture ``is already working on projects in America and Australia and continues to look for opportunities elsewhere in the world,'' David Nicholas, a London-based spokesman for BP, said today by phone. He declined to comment on Geiger's comments.

California Project

In the U.S., Hydrogen Energy is working in California to use hydrogen derived from coal or natural gas to generate power and capture carbon for storage to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, Nicholas said. ``There aren't any of these projects in existence yet,'' he said.

Abu Dhabi Future, also know as Masdar, is also developing 500 megawatts of solar power. A 400-megawatt photovoltaic facility is expected to be built by 2010 at cost of $1 billion, Geiger said. Another $500 million will be invested in developing 100 megawatts of thin-film photovoltaic products, which will be ready by 2009.

The company will announce its latest overseas asset, a mid- size solar technology and development company, next week. ``We think we can bring costs down by integrating technology and manufacturing in one location,'' Geiger said. ``We are pushing for scale to make renewables economically feasible.''

Masdar was set up in 2006 and is responsible for developing renewable energy as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' third-largest oil exporter looks to reduce its dependence on conventional hydrocarbons revenue. A zero- emissions city in Abu Dhabi will begin housing 50,000 residents from 2009, Geiger said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ayesha Daya in Dubai adaya1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 16, 2008 12:55 EST

Here's one of many reasons why the future of this country isn't looking so bright (so I don't "gotta wear shades"); while we drag our feet and put forth a bunch of foaming skepticism about alternative energies, in other parts of the world they just go ahead and DO it.  But it looks like we're on a road to nowhere with the moronic claims that celulosic ethanol is the 'great white hope'...  It seems, however, that India isn't inhibited by foolish claims and myths which can ultimately be traced back to Exxon/Mobil:

Eden handed Indian hydrogen dispensing station contract Hythane Company, a subsidiary of Australian firm Eden Energy, has been selected by Indian Oil Corporation to supply and install the first public hydrogen dispensing station in India to fill vehicles running on either hydrogen or hythane.

Hythane Company was awarded the contract - which was signed at Indian Oil's R&D facility at Faridabad, near Delhi, this week - after beating rival bidders from Europe and America.

The $1 million retail fuel outlet will be installed at one of Indian Oil's petrol/natural gas refuelling stations in Delhi.

"This is a hugely significant milestone in Eden's bid for global leadership in hydrogen fuel technology as it means Eden has now been fully accepted by 'India Incorporated' to help drive its hydrogen based cleaner fuel emission objectives," commented Greg Solomon, Eden Energy's executive chairman.

The dispensing station is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2008.

Two other hythane bus demonstration projects are also being undertaken by Eden in Gujarat and Mumbai this year.

http://www.stockhouse.ca/mediascan/news.asp?newsid=999
0047

© Adfero Ltd

Source: Adfero

Oh well, at least this should lighten the global demand for petrol a tiny bit...maybe our gas prices will drop by a half-cent!