Automotive X prize

In my opinion, the world desperately needs vehicles that can run on alternative energy sources. But the US government and the big automotive corporations don't seem very interested in this. Too many pockets being lined, I guess. Plus I'm sure bigOil probably is not too keen on any alternate energy source ideas. You'd think these people would be hard at work on this since they'd own whatever the solutions are. I'm sure we here in the US will be the last one's who can take advantage of any low cost,low/alternative fuel vehicles. Anyway, here's a good way to spur development on this front. I'd love to see something that runs on solar power or hydrogen over something that you plug in at night(still need the power company, which is a huge monopoly in Virginia) or that uses anything that requires a stop at Esso. I'd even be willing to pay a large gas tax to support development of such vehicles and energy sources.

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When you walk to the edge of all the light you have
and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown,
you must believe that one of two things will happen:

There will be something solid for you to stand upon,
or, you will be taught how to fly -Patrick Overton

Interesting poem...

Heard this one this morning. I'm also on the email list so I had to go read it after I heard it. Here's an excerpt. Click to read the whole thing. It's called "The Change" by Tony Hoagland. When you follow the link scroll down to read it.

"some tough little European blonde
pitted against that big black girl from Alabama,
cornrowed hair and Zulu bangles on her arms,
some outrageous name like Vondella Aphrodite -"


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As the State is a soulless machine, it can never be weaned from violence to which it owes its very existence. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)

Happiness

Interesting article in the Jan 7, 2008 Washington Post about happiness.

A couple of excerpts:

"When you don't understand why a bad thing happened, it is worse. When you don't understand why a good thing happened, it's better."


"I always thought love causes marriage, but my data said marriage causes love," he said. "When you lock yourself in something you cannot get out of, you will find ways to be happier. . . . I do love my wife more than I loved my girlfriend, and they are the same person."

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Knowing what / Thou knowest not / Is in a sense / Omniscience. -Piet Hein,
poet and scientist (1905-1996)

GO OBAMA!!!!

Now why would the police(or anybody else) be against videotaped interrogations? I mean they want to get at the truth, right? And they don't mind who watches how they get at that truth, right? Or maybe the fact is that sometimes the truth has to be beaten out of a person. Or are the Police(and others) more interested in *appearing* to have caught a culprit. Even to the extent of coercing a confession from an innocent person? Scary thought.

Check this out.