GOOD AND BAD CAR NEWS

I've never owned a car I liked as much as my Prius. The novelty of owning an electric hybrid was exciting at first. Now, I want to give it a tender pat every time I check my mileage and realize how much I save on fuel when I fill it up with that expensive juice. I've had snide remarks from others about the batteries, their polluting affect and short life. Well, there is good news about batteries.

Read Susan Kraemer's article at http://gas2.org/ partly quoted below:

ARPA-E funding is for breakthrough inventions that have the potential to radically change the way we get energy. Fluidic Energy holds this promise because a metal-air battery that uses an ionic liquid as its electrolyte (instead of water) would dramatically outperform the best lithium-ion batteries currently on the market.

An electric car with a relatively small battery could potentially travel well over 500 miles on a charge if his ionic liquid research pans out. This advance would leapfrog the electric car industry to well beyond the shorter-than-a-gas-tank range that has restricted the market appeal of electric cars.

Also on Gas2.0 is Andrew Williams piece on a car that parks itself shown on a YouTube video with links to other robotic car videos. These are full size vehicles. Wow! Innovations abound, a carbon free motorcycle race in California, new hybrid vans, and more. I can't wait for the electric Motor Home to ramble in.

But then comes the bad news. After Chrysler-Fiat took billions in bailout loans from the Federal Government, promising a half-million electric cars on the road by 2013, Chrysler has renegged on pretty much all of its electric car promises after axing the ENVI program.
This just makes me sick.

SURPRISE YOURSELF

This is the last of a pear crop on my neighbor's tree. My neighbor doesn't use them and they drop on the ground and go to waste. Quite small, mottled, tough skinned, misshapen pears, some with bird pecks and bruises.
Waste is not in my vocabulary, thanks to depression era parents. Whenever you read a recipe you are exhorted to use the "best" fruit, choose items without blemishes, bruises and so on. By that definition, these were substandard.
I cut out the bad spots, cored them and diced them up with out paring. Put them in a pan with a glob of butter and less than a half inch of water and cooked them for about 15 minutes. They were somewhat hard to begin with, some Bartletts, some comice.
They kept their shape and were tender, rich and buttery when done. We ate some spooned generously over sage and rosemary seasoned chicken breast that had been pan cooked with spinach and festooned with feta cheese. Delicious!
The next morning, sprinkled with cinnamon, we ate them on oatmeal with a dab of brown sugar and milk. Excellent!
The following night, we enjoyed them in a salad with a balsamic vinaigrette followed by desert of a heaping tablespoon of the pears, with juice, covered with vanilla yogurt.
I was surprised at several friends who confessed to being clueless when it comes to using pears. I had never tried just dicing them and cooking them, before, either. I surprised myself with a good way to use pears.

THE THREE M'S

We take care of our health, we make sure our roof is tight, we save some money, and live right. We do for others; improve our community and make sure talent and worth are nurtured.
Michal Houston serves on the Hospital Board and is a past President of the Murphys Community Club. Not her only volunteer work. Madalaine Krska works full time and volunteers for the Arts Council, just one of a number of projects she has taken on. I still maintain two volunteer positions, one with Calaveras Community TV and The Sheriff's Archive, even from the road, now that I'm rambling. Women are phenomenal contributors.

But, at the end of the day, we know to nurture our friendships. Camps restaurant, in Angels Camp, offers good service, food, and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. The Three M's Night Out.

DETECTING METAL IN SHEEP?

Here is how the story goes. A metal detector got misplaced in a load of loose hay that was also hauling sheep. When the detector was located, it had a metal part missing. The owner wondered if one of the sheep had eaten it. She passed the detector over one sheep and it beeped as the receptor was passed over it's spine. Quite surprised, she ran it over all four of her sheep. It beeped for all four. Now, her question was, will it beep when passed over a human spine?

Hey, my new avocation is chasing rumors, attending festivities and visiting local attractions. I guess I can add a bit of "detecting." Three adults later, the answer is nope!
My advice: Buy a better metal detector. A new one with all of its parts. Read the instructions carefully. (I neglected to tell her sheep won't eat metal.)

SELF DESTRUCTIVE BASTARDS OR LOVE JUNK MAIL?

I received an intriguing comment from Canada Guy about junk mail. His point being that junk mail should be banned and our leaders should take up the subject, no-DO IT- in Copenhagen at the Global Warming Summit.
I detest the stuff. Even so, I understand how banning it would interfere with the advertisers freedom of speech- enterprise- if you will. My opinion? It ain't gonna happen.

Consider the guy who loves junk mail. He gets on as many lists as he can. He loves catalogs especially. He has an airtight Fisher stove and he heats his house with junk mail. He has to use a little wood for a long sustained fire, but he has learned how to build the paper fire, get the stuff like magazines and catalogs to burn, and heat his house. He says, "...what more can you ask? Free fuel, delivered free to your door."

While the story is true, I consider his attitude irresponsible. I'm overwhelmed with wood and for most of the 33 years I've lived on this property, I haven't burned wood. If I allow it to decay slowly on my property, it releases carbon at a slow, natural rate. Burning it releases carbon and heavy particulate quickly and absolutely destroys the air quality. In fact, Calaveras County finally got smart and the planning department will no longer approve homes that use wood stoves or fireplaces as their only source of heat. The trouble is, a back-up stove, such as mine, can be used anyway you want after the planning department signs off.
Back to junk mail. A Do Not Mail List is the way to go. It gives me freedom of choice to close out unwanted advertising and many people would do it if they could.
Canada Guy has a number of interesting things on his website and blog. Some day, we will all have to come to terms with our destructive ways and the smart business owner will quit fighting it and make it happen. Check Canada Guy out at:
http://www.selfdestructivebastards.com/2009/11/junk-mail-must-go.html

GIRLFRIENDS

Everything they say about girlfriends, is true. We really bond, talk and understand each other. (Jim calls himself a thorn among the roses. He took the picture.)
All I know is I would be bereft without my girlfriends. This impromptu gathering was so much fun, the toasts we made, the laughter and "girl talk."
Tomorrow I have girls night out with the three M's, that's myself, Michal and Madalaine. Because I'm now on the road so much with Jim, I find these get togethers all the more precious. When I'm gone, I miss some family gatherings, neighbors, deaths, weddings, local events, my local newspaper...gosh, whole buildings go up in the neighborhood when I'm gone.
Its about choices. I'm glad I've become a rambler; I'm glad I have Jim in my life. I'm happy to have these years of good health and happy to have new adventures to look forward to.

A good girlfriend, (now deceased) used to always toast with these words:
"Here's to us good friends and true. Stab her in the back before she stabs you." Which always brought rollicking laughter.
Another, that I tend to over use is: "Here's to you and here's to me. May we always agree. And if we should disagree, to hell with you and here's to me."
Of course toasts can be serious, but for some reason or another me Irish comes up when I have a drink in hand.

"Heres to my friend, the bride. May you always have diamonds on your fingers and knock-you-dead-destroy-the-paycheck dresses to wear. And to the groom, may you have an indestructible paycheck."

Truth to tell, my usual toast is may you know as much happiness as I have known. And that's for real.

BENCH TIME

I'm always fascinated by the common object as seen through the eyes of different designers. I guess that's what makes art. My collectiholic brain is drawn toward themes. Today, I need time "on the bench" since yesterday was so busy. The one above I found on an old train car at Seaside, Oregon.
These are just two mosaic benches that sit outside the Yuma, AZ Public Library

This smart cat garden bench is from La Connor, WA. along with the two that follow. La Conner could reasonably be called Bench City, since there were so many of them around town.


This heavy wooden wagon wheel bench can be found in Mercer Caverns Store. Its actually comfortable to sit on.

Metal benches can only be located in cool places like this public bench in San Francisco.

The two above are both from Blaine, WA. For a day like today, (summer in fall) The ivy bench beckons.

POWER OF THE MOON

All of the science is in. Those people who claim to be affected by the moon, are just imagining it.
All science aside, the moon just seems an emotional beacon to me. I have difficulty sleeping during this time of year when the moon is close to the earth. And, I love to go out in the moonlight for a walk and just become bathed in its light and feel its power. I can understand why wolves howl at the moon and why its presence led to such great myths as werewolves. So, I gazed last night and aimed my camera to come up with this disappointing photo of the moon.

Aha! Internet.
Well the photos I found on the internet were almost as disappointing. Somehow, the power of the moon doesn't come through in a photo. It just doesn't give you that feel. I've always said, the same power that moves the moon moves me.
Science be damned.
There was one photo by Sheri Morgan you might want to visit.
The Nasa photos are somehow too clinical, but, they have a stark beauty to them.
The moon, the moon, the moon!

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast11sep_2.htm

http://media.photobucket.com/image/moon/sherimorgan47/Blu_Moon.jpg?o=20

And we danced by the light of the moon.

WHAT IN HELL IS WRONG WITH CALAVERAS COUNTY?

I have four blogs, so my response to yesterday's post brought up some questions, like why didn't I post a picture of the Porquepine? The article on gas2.0 was written by rachael@gas2.org and if she has an archive, you will find it there. It is a sleek metal sheathed vehicle that, when parked, many little wings covering the car spring out to catch the sun. Its kind of rounded and resembles a porquepine with all these metal projections. Remember, its a prototype, its not on the road.

I received two emails from a friend about energy alternatives happening in the U.S. One at this address:
http://www.Seattlepi.com/transportation/411722_electric2.html about Seattle getting 2500 electric vehicle plug-in stations, and
another at this address: http://www.Seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_solar_power.html This one documents a huge solar array going in on a hill-top in Washington State, combining technology and jobs.
Since I'm at it, I may as well talk about Debord, Kentucky's brag. Debord sends NOTHING to landfills. Garbage is incinerated for power. Glass is ground up and used in Concrete-block manufacturing. Metal recycling is standard, now. Plastics and syrofoam are converted back to gas in about an hour. They love their natural beauty and intend to keep it that way. 7,000 homes are powered by steam and off the grid. Pretty nifty.
Planning into the future is smart. It costs more up front, but will cost a lot more later if the planning is put off. Smart companies know their bottom line will be met with future planning. Now, I have to ask: What in hell is wrong with Calaveras County?
Several years ago, when a new hospital was on the drawing board, former Supervisor, Jack Burns went to Tahoe and studied their solid waste burner that powered a hospital and several municipal buildings. His hard work was totally ignored. The new hospital was built to standards without any regard to "future energy planning."
Now, money has been secured for a badly needed new jail. Are they building in any "future energy" innovations? Not to my knowledge. Here is their chance to save millions in future electrical bills for we taxpayers. But, nada! They turn a deaf ear to solar as though we didn't live in a climate just rolling with sunshine in the summer, fall and spring. Even in winter, my solar panels provide good return. You just want to smack 'em a lick and say WAKE UP! The future is here. Half the money comes from the state when the current governor is a champion of solar. And, we keep electing these dummies.

GAS 2.0

Jim and I went to a play and I met an old friend. She introduced me to her partner as the first person in the state to buy a Prius. It struck me as funny that she remembered that about me. It got me to thinking about how automobiles have changed.
I used to own this Electric, 1994 Chevy Pick-up. It was a government experiment and the engine was built by Hughes Aircraft. It looked like an aircraft engine.


Somehow it seemed unreal to me when I'd open up the "gas cap" and plug in this huge plug instead, like it was a cartoon or something.
The 24 batteries were wired together under this plastic shield under the bed of the pick-up. It was quite a chore unscrewing the bed and removing it to look at the batteries. Only did it once. They were guaranteed for 8 years, but I got the truck when it was 11 years old and still running. Three years later it was unable to make the hill leaving my house. I had to have it towed by a neighbor once to get it home. Finally sold it, but I thoroughly enjoyed this big heavy horse.
After Obama got elected, it seemed Detroit was flatly disinterested in any environmental improvements on their autos.That has changed dramatically. Everyone is putting out an electric hybrid, or plug in, or changing the world, one car at a time. I took a picture of this little plug-in below. No one blinks an eye at plug-ins now. They are numerous, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Scirocco, Mini-E, Axon...
Check out Gas2.0. You will find cars that will make your head spin. Prototypes such as the Porquepine, a solar vehicle, Tesla motors expensive jewel and so on. But, no one has quite matched the far reaching efforts of Denmark where they use wind power. Then they store it in car batteries. They intend to switch their entire country over to Nisson electric vehicles with "filling" stations-in two years. For distance travel, they can drive onto a docking station and in 40 seconds, the old batteries are exchanged for a full new one. Its quite a feat and quite an investment.
The same American entreprenuer working to make this change in Denmark a reality, is also focusing on Hawaii and other places. Can't wait to see the wonders of a new world. Like the Porquepine come to life. Oh, man, I want one of those, Porquepines.