The new GM electric car

GM seeks a green jolt with a green Volt - MSNBC.com

"General Motors already has five hybrid vehicles on the road, but it is banking its future on a radical departure onto the green road: By 2010, the automaker hopes to have a plug-in electric passenger car in customers’ driveways."

See my earlier post about the film Who Killed the Electric Car?

We have the technology ...

I just watched a powerful, important movie, Who Killed the Electric Car?, which I would vigorously recommend seeing.

At one time, General Motors, Ford, Honda, and Toyota were manufacturing and leasing all-electric plug-in cars, primarily in response to California's 1990 Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate. This film tells the history of the electric car in America.

Somewhat in the manner of a murder mystery, this informative, entertaining, and easily watchable film investigates the inception and demise of the electric car almost entirely through interviews with people from the auto industry, the oil industry, environmental organizations, government, and owners of electric vehicles.

For more information about electric plug-in vehicles visit PlugInAmerica.com.

Woman’s lighter sparks gas station blaze

In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does!" Almost a winner of a Darwin Award.

Woman’s lighter sparks gas station blaze - MSNBC.com

Curve Game Movie

I've been working at learning how to make movies using iMovie HD which is included on all Macs. This is my most ambitious project so far, three minutes, made from five video clips, some stills, with sound effects, transitions, and titles.

Gimme another cup a joe!

For those of you who, like me, seriously enjoy your coffee, good news. Following are brief excerpts from
Up Close & Edible: Coffee - To Your Health - MSNBC.com:

"...benefits have surfaced in Robert van Dam's research. An assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University, van Dam has found a lower risk of type 2 diabetes among coffee drinkers; his research has been replicated in many countries. Other researchers have found links between coffee consumers and lower risks for breast cancer and Parkinson's."

"As for the caffeine, [American Dietetic Association spokesperson Christine] Gerbstadt says it's all about your sensitivity. For most people, 200-400 milligrams will not cause any problems. For those who are more sensitive, it may cause a jittery feeling or difficulty sleeping. The serious risks are for anyone who has high blood pressure or has had a heart attack because caffeine can cause blood pressure to rise to a risky level. Those with acid reflux or who are prone to heartburn, however, can probably sip without worry: a 2006 study conducted by researchers at Stanford University found that there was little evidence for coffee upsetting sensitive stomachs."

Another Miraculous Product

I've been an advocate of vinegar as multi-use product for some time. The applications for vinegar around the house are numerous. This article from because you value your body lists 62 interesting uses.

Some of these which I particularly like are --

• Remove stubborn coffee stains from cups and pots. Fill the cup with vinegar overnight, then rinse with hot soapy water.
• Keep a garbage disposal clean and smelling fresh. Mix one cup of vinegar in enough water to fill an ice cube tray, freeze the mixture, grind the cubes through the disposal, and flush with cold water.
• Prevent ice from forming on a car windshield overnight. Coat the window with a solution of three parts vinegar to one part water.
• Prevent lint from clinging to clothes. Add one cup vinegar to each wash load.

62 Little Known Uses Of Vinegar | because you value your body

Dozens of Tips to Save Money on Gas

wikiHow offers a pretty comprehensive listing of ways you can reduce your fuel consumption and pay less at the pump.

Some simple, easy to implement tips include -

• Don't drive a car when you don't have to
• Avoid idling
• Get a better air filter
• Slow down and drive at a consistent speed
• Anticipate stop signs and lights
• Accelerate slowly from a stop

How to Save Money on Gas - wikiHow

U.S. government web sites for everybody

There are thousands of US government web sites full of information, publications, and other resources available to everyone.

Technophilia: U.S. government web sites you didn't know you could use - Lifehacker

Super Miracle Wonder Product with Thousands of Uses

The Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club has posted a seemingly infinite list of uses for this miraculous product. And, you probably have some of this stuff around the house right now.

Among its uses --

• Removes crayon from walls and carpet
• Prevents mildew growth on fountain
• Removes tomato stains from clothes
• Camouflages scratches in ceramic tile
• Removes rust from cookie tins
• Spray on bathroom mirror to keep it from fogging
• Displaces moisture from submerged cellular phones
• Cleans clogged inkjet nozzle
• Coat wire tomato plant cages to keep insects away
• Removes snarls from horse hair & manes
• and much, much more

Click here to discover what this wonder product is.

How Hip R U?

Merriam-Webster is adding many new words to the new edition of their Collegiate Dictionary. Take the quiz and see how trendy your vocabulary is?

New Words Quiz - AOL Research & Learn

(BTW, I scored 9 of 10)

Oil by the Numbers

FYI: In the past few days, the price of gasoline at the pump has risen approximately 4%. I read a news story this morning indicating the prices of crude oil for August delivery rose between 0.12% and 0.18%.

Interpret these numbers as you will.

Where the Beer is Made

Yesterday, Ken and I visited the Straub Brewery in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania. Straub's is a family-owned and -operated brewery making beer from all natural brewing ingredients. No sugar, salt, or preservatives are used.

Free tours of the brewery are offered Monday through Friday mornings. Highlights of the tour include a bottle of Straub's pulled off the bottling line (as fresh a beer as you'll ever get), and the Eternal Tap where adults are free to enjoy up to two drafts.

FREE Shipping Materials from USPS

You can get free shipping materials from the US Postal Service, envelopes. labels, boxes of many sorts. Yes, FREE!

Why give your money to Staples when your tax dollars have already kindly bought these things for you.

Gotta love free stuff!

Ah, That New Car Smell!

Like that new car smell? Well, it might be a by-product of one of the most hazardous parts of your new car according to Toxic At Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars and the Need for Safe Alternatives, a report from the Ecology Center, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Air bags, seat belts, crumple zones, and so forth make cars obviously safer than ever, but the toxins released by the interior materials used in nearly all cars could be posing significant health risks.

The report went on to say that not only are vehicle drivers and passengers breathing toxic air, but are also in constant physical contact with dangerous chemicals leaching from just about every interior surface of a new vehicle. The report says these chemicals give off gases that not only contaminate the air, but also coat interior surfaces with toxic "fog," generally seen as that new car film common to new car interior windshields and windows. These are the same type of chemicals that are, "linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and early puberty in laboratory animals amongst other serious health problems," according to EC. "... autos are chemical reactors, releasing toxins before we even turn on the ignition."

New Car Smell - AOL Autos

Americans and Energy

A recent Gallup Poll showed energy as the fourth most-important priority for Americans , below Iraq, terrorism and national security, and the economy.

Americans prefer energy conservation over increased production, and a majority also favors tougher emissions standards and developing alternative energy sources.

I don't think anything clarifies the attitude of many Americans as much as the following statement --

"It's not that Americans don't want to be environmentally friendly, it's just that we don't have much of a choice," Cristian Crespo wrote. "As an SUV driver, telling me that my only alternative is a Toyota Prius or a Honda Civic is like telling me to eat beef jerky when I'm used to filet mignon."

Have we reached the energy tipping point? - CNN.com

Good Numbers

This morning, I had my annual medical checkup. I'm happy to report I am in no imminent danger of cashing in my chips. In fact, my blood pressure numbers are terrific, 117/78. These numbers are in the optimal range.

Gee, I wonder if these nice numbers are in any way a result of my retirement from the public education system? Well, just a thought.

If you want to ____, press 5.

If you want to talk to a human (what a novel idea), the GetHuman 500 database will tell you how.

gethuman.com 500 database

Old Bedford Village

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at Old Bedford Village. It is quite an interesting place. I shot nearly 70 pictures and a little bit of video of bits of the reenactment of a Napoleanic Grande Tactique.

I posted the still pictures to my Picasa Web Albums.

I compiled the video into a YouTube clip with a few stills.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys (or Girls)

The criminal mind is quite often the stupidest of minds.

I turned on the TV and the last 5 or 6 minutes of an episode of COPS was on. It seemed this skinny blond white woman had flagged down a passing patrol car. Her complaint was that she had given this black woman $20 to buy crack cocaine and been given plaster dust instead. The buyer wanted the alleged seller arrested for taking her money. Unbelievable!

10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets

Dust venetian blinds, prevent old books from smelling musty when in storage, loosen caked-on food from a pan, freshen smelly shoes, more ...

10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets | RealSimple.com:

Dutch city to implement geothermal heat

As long ago as 10,000 years, Native Americans used hot springs for cooking. However. it was in July 1904, that Italian Prince Piero Ginori Conti tested the first geothermal power plant using the earth's internal heat to generate electricity.

Hague to warm 4,000 homes with geothermal heat - USATODAY.com

More than 70 countries presently use geothermal energy commercially, accounting for about 0.42% of the world's energy supply. Over half of Iceland's energy is from geothermal sources, however the US produces the most geothermal energy from more than 40 power plants.

Learn more about geothermal energy ...
Wikipedia
RenewableEnergyAccess.com
Energy Kid's Page

A Military Solution to HP Printer Problems

I stopped using HP printers a long time ago and will never buy another one. I just discovered this morning that the expiration date on HP inkjet cartridges is on a chip on the cartridge which reads your computers clock. If you manually turn back the calendar on your computer, the cartridge still works.

Here's a fine militarily expedient solution to HP frustration --

Clever Image

This very clever image appeared in a Siemens ad in Newsweek, 9 July 2007

Tips on How to be Mosquito Unfriendly

10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitoes including ...

• Spray garlic powder and water all over the yard.
• Plant mosquito deterring plants around your yard such as citronella, marigolds, basil, lavender, and catnip.
• Try hiding your scent. Some people are sold on the effects of using Bounce dryer sheets, Vicks VapoRub and Avon’s Skin So Soft. Some prefer eating garlic or lemons or taking B1 Vitamins.