A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have

by Thomas Jefferson

New Energy Summit

I watched the entire 2 hrs 30 minute New Energy Summit this morning.  It was a who’s who of Green’s.  I came away enthused and rejuvenated.  President Clinton & Vice President Gore spoke along with Democratic Party leadership.  In addition was T. Boone Pickens of the Pickens Plan fame, several major business players (Walmart and Corning) and many cabinet leaders.  All were in agreement that we need a “smart grid” so as to allow individual homeowners and businesses a way to put their power generating capability onto the grid.  The state and national legislative branches will be the first enablers by enacting legislation that decouples the grid and provides for fair compensation for power generated.

I have been involved with the Pickens Plan since last summer and find it enjoyable.  It is apolitical which suits me fine.  Our district has only 20 members.  The Fort Wayne territory has much more than that but we have no population from which to draw.  Still we should have more members.

XC skiing

I went out on the lake and tried to ski around it.  The snow was ok and sufficiently deep to travel but my ski’s went through puddles of water and the snow instantly froze to the ski’s.  I came back in after a trek of only 1/4 mile.  Very disappointing for the possible last chance for decent snows this winter.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

OK, I was bellyaching yesterday about the lack of promised snow.  Well we awoke to 4+ inches this morning and winds that caused drifting.  After church this morning we cleaned the driveway and finished about 1400 hrs.  I laid down and took a nap and when I awoke about 1530 hrs the driveway was all white again and drifted shut.  This did not make me real happy.  Oh well, it is winter and I did ask for snow.  Tonight is going to about 10 degrees so tomorrow morning promises to be a good xc ski day  if the snow temperature below the surface is cold enough not to stick on the skis.

Jess got back from Mardi Gras and we talked on Facebook Chat for a few lines.  It comforts us to know of the return.  Time to start preparing for sleep time.

The Pickens Plan.  I have been working on the PP for some weeks now and it is turning out to be some fun.  I may get involved deeper now that we have transitioned from the Stimulus Phase into the New Energy Phase.  Embedded are some cool pictures.

Find more photos like this on PickensPlan

Anatomy of a crash

This is a reconstruction of a crash involving a stationary Ford Falcon XT sedan being struck in the driver’s door by another vehicle travelling at 50 km/h.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=56781&vf=26

Pollution everywhere

Last week, Russia’s derelict Cosmos 2251 satellite collided with the Iridium 33 communications satellite 490 miles above Siberia. The collision added hundreds of new pieces of debris to Earth orbit, further complicating an already complex constellation of objects orbiting the planet. We’ll check in on the after-effects of the collision, and talk about what the lingering debris from the crash means for future space missions. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids’ Connection.

National Engineers Week

It’s National Engineers Week — we’ll check in on the celebration, and talk about how to encourage an interest in engineering among young women.

Currently only 20 percent of engineering undergraduates are women — and only ten percent of the engineering workforce is female. We’ll talk with Leslie Collins, executive director of the National Engineers Week Foundation, about the group’s ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering’ event.

I am proud to have a daughter that graduated from Purdue as a BSChE.  She does not really know yet what she has accomplished.  The future lays in engineering, science and technocrats so here you go Jess.   Engineering has led me through my career to all corners of the Earth – what else could you ask for – being well paid for having fun.

Petawatt Laser (10 to the 15th power)

100’s Protest Global Warming