Human Anatomical Terms
Sat 3 May 2008 - Shell Withdraws from the London Array Wind Farm.
While researching an article on wind power today, I was appalled to read of the decision by Shell to sell off their one third interest in the London Array wind farm project. So I had to add this one in here too. A bit of background...
On the 18th of December 2006, British government approved the plans to build the world's largest offshore wind farm off the south-east coast of England. This wind farm, London Array, a partnership project between Shell, E.On and Dong Energy, was to incorporate 341 turbines, would cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of £1.5 - 2 billion, and would generate 1000 mW of power, or enough to feed 1% of the UK's energy needs... that's enough to power a quarter of London.
But today's news reports that Shell has decided to sell it's share of the project, leaving E.On and Dong to ponder the future of the project. Shell has defended its' action, saying that ity has decided to sell its stake as part of its "ongoing review of projects and investment choices," and noting that the company has 11 other wind projects across Europe and the U.S.
The Chronicle Herald, on the 2nd of May 2006 reported...
"Friends of the Earth spokesman Nic Rau said Shell’s decision was especially hard to take since it came just two days after Shell posted a 25 per cent rise in first-quarter profit to a record $9.1 billion on the back of soaring crude oil prices.
"We’re very disappointed that Shell, which touts itself as a progressive green company, is . . . leaving a key clean energy project high and dry," said Rau."
An extract from an article in The Star dated the 3rd of May 2006 states...
"It came just before the consortium signed a contract with a turbine manufacturer - the point at which the companies had to put their money on the table. Shell's move is an economic one, with funds redirected towards potentially more profitable wind schemes in the US.
But the company came under fire from green groups who accused them of leaving the clean energy project "high and dry" while investing in fossil fuel extraction which was wrecking the climate. And on Thursday night the row widened, with opposition parties claiming the UK was in danger of missing green energy targets because of the Government's failure to encourage investment in renewables.
Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan said: "This really is a disaster and it potentially blows a huge hole in Government's already shambolic attempts to hit targets for renewable energy."
I'm sorry, but the numbers just aren't stacking up. Shell recorded a profit of $27.5 billion (£13.9 billion) in 2007. That makes their share of the £2 billion that the London Array would have cost seem like a piddling little trifle, doesn't it? So why have they justified pulling out of this project over a concern about money when they made such a whopping amount last year?
Probably because it's more profitable to sell their oil to the poor ignorant slobs at home. Shell is now making a $75 million (£38 million) per day profit... that's PER DAY... on the price of oil. That means that they could pay for their share of the project after a single day's trading. Uh???
But once the wind farm has been accounted for, how much could they reasonably ask the British public to pay for a resource that's obtained almost free of charge? Not as much as for oil, obviously.
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Thu 1 May 2008 - Wind Power is Big Business
Think about it... how many times have you walked down the street, particularly in large cities, lamenting the wind tunnel effect created by the buildings lining the street? It's a pain in the behind, isn't it? Especially if you've just spent good money having your hair styled, or if you have to physically hold down the skirt of your favourite dress out of modesty. Trust me fellas, your wife or girlfriend will know exactly what I'm talking about.
But what if we could use that wind tunnel effect in our favour? What if each building could be fitted with wind turbines to catch all of that annoying wind? How much energy would some of our cities be able to produce then? Well, in a little while we'll be able to ask the owners of Bahrain's new World Trade Centre.
This new highrise is an extension to the existing Sheraton Hotel complex and comprises two 50-storey sail-shaped commercial office towers, which taper to a height of 240m and support three 29m diameter horizontal-axis wind turbines. The towers are integrated on top of a three-storey podium which accommodates a new boutique shopping centre, fine dining, business centre and car parking.
The three wind turbines are expected to provide around 10-15% of the power for both towers, representing about 3.5% of the total cost of the project. The blades, each 29 metres in diameter, the first to be integrated into a commercial structure were turned on and tested last month.
An MSNBC report dated the 9th of April 2008, states...
"We truly have pushed the boundaries of environmental architecture with this project," Ole Sangill, a partner in turbine specialists Norwin, said of the project. "It is a testament to Bahrain that private developers are investing in sustainability and pioneering design, which is certainly the future of architecture as it shapes the planet in years to come."
Could this be the start of a new trend towards big businesses using wind power to sustain their own energy needs for the future? Why not? This is a viable way to achieve that goal, an opinion that Trammell Crow seems to share with me. This Houston based developer plans to build a newly proposed highrise, Discovery Tower. The 871 000 sq foot project is expected to open in 2010, will cost around $300 million and will sport 10 wind turbines on the roof.
And what about recycling off-shore oil rigs for wind turbines? Wind Energy Systems Technologies are presently engaging in wind monitoring activities on recycled oil platforms off the coast of Texas with an aim to using them to support wind turbines. What a brilliant idea.
It seems that wind energy could become a boon to businesses in the future. Many countries use wind as a significant (and reliable) portion of their electricity power. (Denmark 20%, Germany 7%, Spain/Portugal 20%). In addition, over 4.5 million U.S. homes get their power from wind energy. Texas alone generated 4,446 megawatts of energy in 2007 — enough to power nearly 1.2 million homes. Add Colorado, which generated roughly half of that again, and that's a significant amount of alternative power.
And what about Australia? What are we doing in regards to producing alternative power? Well currently, we're only producing about 1% of our total power usage by means of wind. When you think that the average output of each wind turbine is enough to power around 1000 homes, and then think of all the available vacant land that we have, I think we could do a hell of a lot better, don't you? Have a look at the Australian Greenhouse Office's list of renewable energy generators all over the country. You can click on the map to zoom in and see what's in your area.
So, what about our homes? Could we start by looking up onto our own roofs? But wind generators are huge and ugly structures that we don't really want to look at every morning... aren't they? Well, Engadget had an article about home-sized wind generators, dated 3rd July 2007. It states...
"Generally speaking, wind generators have been reserved for more macro-scale operations, but a West Australian inventor "believes he has developed a way to generate electricity for homes using wind power." This residential approach utilizes a modular turbine that is minuscule enough to perch atop nearly any roof without causing too much unsightliness, and can create power for the house to consume as the wind pushes its blades."
Well, that makes one think, doesn't it? |
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28/4/2008 - Wintereinbruch
Posted By Binki
Heute ist der Winter in Australien eingekehrt. Canberra Bodenfrost ueber Nacht und in den Blue Mountains Schnee. In Sydney war die Hoechsttemperatur 17 Grad und jetzt sinds 11 Grad, was sich durch den Wind mindestens 10 Grad kaelter anfuehlt. Die Zeit der staendig kalten Haende hat begonnen! Pavlina sitzt schon mit dicker Decke vor dem Fernseher.
Meine Reisevorbereitungen laufen auch auf Hoechsttouren. Hab schon fast alles gebucht. Hab aber auch noch einige Sachen, die ich mir in Sydney ankucken will und die Zeit wird langsam eng. Mein Plan fuer die naechsten Wochen ist voll.
Der Chef macht leider kleine Fortschritte, Ersatz fuer mich zu finden. Jeder, der sich bewirbt, passt ihm nich und die ist nicht gut und der ist nicht der Richtige...
Am Samstag haben die Magpies gegen Essendon (Chefs Favourite Team) gespielt und unnormal hoch gewonnen. Hatte viel Spass mit Anspielungen ueber den Tag verteilt. Und dann war ich immer der boese Collingwood Unterstuetzer. Schlechter Verlierer.
52 Tage noch |
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20/4/2008 - Der Countdown laeuft...
Posted By Binki
Hallo,
hab wieder etwas laenger gebraucht. Schon mehr als ein Monat her seit dem letzten Eintrag...
Bei mir ist alles in Ordnung. Auf Arbeit laeufts echt gut. Mittlerweile ersetze ich den Barrister voll. Er wurde zurueck zum Kellnern geschickt. Ist aber nicht boese. Die letzten 2 Wochen war der Chef in Europa und das bedeutete viel Arbeit (und damit auch viel Geld). Bekomme mittlerweile mehr Lohn und das macht einen grossen Unterschied.
Nach langem Hin-und Herueberlegen habe ich mich jetzt 99%ig entschieden mein 2. Jahr nicht dranzuhaengen und am 20. Juni heimzukommen. Freu mich echt schon.
Hab aber auch einen vollen Plan, was ich noch alles machen will in den naechsten 4 Wochen in Sydney. Am 19. Mai gehts nach Tasmanien, dann Adelaide, mit dem Ghan nach Alice Springs und von dort eine Tour zurueck nach Adelaide, ein paar Tage dort und zum Schluss noch Perth.
Die letzten 2 Tage in Sydney werde ich damit verbringen mein Zeug irgendwie in den Rucksack zu stopfen. Hab heute mein letztes Zeug von Newcastle mit heimgebracht und der Rucksack war prall voll. Problem: 3/4 meines restlichen Zeuges muessen da auch noch irgendwie rein...
Mal sehen, wie ich das mache. Muss aber eh erstmal noch 4 Wochen arbeiten. Morgen geh ich wahrscheinlich ins Opernhaus (ENDLICH!!!). Gab ein Sonderangebot fuer "Schwanensee".
Ansonsten auf meinem Sydney-Plan steht noch: AFL :D, Segeln, ein paar Museen und meine Architekturtour, die ich schon ewig machen wollte.
Jetzt widme ich mich aber voll und ganz meinem Film. Die Guten zeigen die Luftbruecke auf deutsch :) Komissar Rex's Staffel ist leider zu Ende...
Liebe Gruesse |
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Sun 20 Apr 2008 - Solar Thermal Energy
Solar Thermal towers collect the heat from the sun in a completely different way than by using photovoltaics (solar panels). A solar panel converts the sun directly into electricity, whereas this method concentrates the sun's rays onto an area that collects the heat. That heat boils a liquid (such as water) and produces steam, which is then converted into electricity. This may seem like an added step in the process, but in actuality it is more efficient in large-scale production. Heat can be stored more easily than the electricity produced by panels, hence solar thermal towers can provide a more even energy source for a longer time.
Higher operating temperatures allow for different technologies to be used. One proposed method utilizes liquid fluoride salts, using multi-stage turbine systems that allows the plant to use higher-temperature dry heat exchangers for its thermal exhaust. This reduces the plant's water use, which comes in handy if it's situated in the desert... where large solar plants are the most practical. With the use of a back-up system for the rare emergencies, this method of obtaining power becomes very attainable.
This is a very promising way to produce power to the masses, in my view. Have a look at Wikipedia's list of Solar Thermal Power Stations from around the world.
Now, there are several different designs when it comes to solar thermal power stations. Most people have, at one stage or another, seen or heard about the solar farms that use masses of mirrors surrounding a central tower structure. These Power Tower designs use mirrors (called heliostats) to focus the sun's rays on a collector at the top of the tower. But to do this each mirror needs to be fitted with a motor to track the path of the sun, maximising the heat collected. This increases the cost, and decreases the attraction of this type of solar tower.
Parabolic trough power plants use a system of curved troughs, which reflect the sun's rays onto a receiver positioned above the trough. As the position of the sun changes, the whole trough tilts so that the focus remains on the receiver. However, if the troughs are positioned parallel to the sun, it does not require adjustment of the mirrors, as the light is simply concentrated on another part of the receiver. So in this way, the trough design takes out the added cost of a tracking system.
Another design uses a large, reflective, parabolic dish (similar in shape to a satellite dish). It focuses all the sunlight up onto to a single point above the dish, where a receiver captures the heat. Typically the dish is coupled with a Stirling engine in a Dish-Stirling System. These engines require no fuel, creating a rotational kinetic energy that can be converted to electricity using an electric generator. Of all these technologies the solar dish/stirling engine has the highest energy efficiency. A single solar dish installed at Sandia National Laboratories National Solar Thermal Test Facility produces as much as 25 kW of electricity, with a conversion efficiency of 30%, compared to around the 20% of the parabolic systems.
A linear Fresnel reflector power plant uses a series of long, narrow mirrors to focus light onto one or more linear receivers above the mirrors, much like the parabolic system. The receiver is stationary and so fluid couplings are not required (as in troughs and dishes). The mirrors also do not need to support the receiver, so they are much simpler structurally. When suitable aiming strategies are used this can allow a denser packing of mirrors, thus producing more and/or saving valuable land space when needed. Another advantage of this design is that lenses are cheaper than mirrors. Furthermore, if a material is chosen that has some flexibility, a less rigid frame is required to deal with wind instability. It does bear mentioning however, that no full-scale thermal systems using Fresnel lenses are known to be in operation, although products incorporating Fresnel lenses in conjunction with photovoltaic cells are already available.
Below are a few more interesting links for you to peruse on this subject...
CSIRO - Solar Thermal Energy Research.
Triple Pundit article - Solar Thermal Electricity: Catching the Eye of Utility Companies.
Clean Technica article - Solar Thermal Electricity: Can it Replace Coal, Gas and Oil? |
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Tue 15 Apr 2008 - Can We Rely on Renewable Energy?
"But can we really rely on renewable energy? What happens when the sun stops shining or the wind stops blowing?"
This is a question that was asked of me some time ago. I had all intentions of answering at the time, but couldn't because of our absence from the net. So, expanding on the groundwork I initially put in, here is my response.
Well, there are many different renewable energy sources. Some, like wind power and rooftop solar panels, are intermittent at a local level. But when they are spread over a sufficiently large area, with different climatic conditions, they are barely more intermittent than coal. It is unlikely that there will be no sun or wind anywhere across the electricity network of Australia. By deploying wind and solar across the landscape we can reduce any intermittency of wind and solar generators. And using these technologies in the home has the added advantage of producing electricity where it is used, so less energy is lost in transmission. On the subject of lost energy, did you know that about 11 per cent of the electricity produced at a big coal-fired power station is lost while being transported to the end user? So it seems that the problem of transporting power is something that all deliverers of power have to combat.
So yes, both wind and solar power are subject to the weather. However, weather forecasting is very reliable and, in most cases, any lack of sun or wind can be predicted and compensated for (for instance, by cranking up hydro and biomass generation). But in contrast, coal-fired generation suffers unpredictable outages and breakdowns that can and do plunge the electricity grid into crisis.
Solar power is particularly useful for delivering power at times of peak demand. Hot, sunny days when people are using their air conditioner, will generally be days when there is plenty of solar energy generated. And consider this... Solar water heating is hugely underused in sunburnt Australia. Less than five per cent of houses have a solar water heater. Some other countries, Israel, Spain and Ireland, are making solar water heating mandatory, while China has over 60 per cent of the world's installed solar water heating capacity.
Now, some technologies, like hydro power are highly predictable and controllable. They can be deployed when it is most useful, providing either baseload or peak power. Eraring Energy has a number of hydro-electric plants and the Stanwell corporation is also using power derived by means of hydro generation. As for Tasmania... well, we've all heard about the successful use of hydro power in the Derwent River catchment.
Bioenergy is another source of power that is being currently utilised in Australia. Woodlawn, near Sydney is Australia's largest bioreactor landfill. Veolia Environmental Services produces power generated by the methane that our waste produces. They also have plans in the works to incorporate a large scale windfarm on the Woodlawn site.
Emerging technologies, like geothermal could theoretically provide large quantities of baseload power in Australia long before a single nuclear reactor can be built (they take 10-15 years) or a commercially feasible carbon capture and storage coal-fired power station could be developed. Geodynamics is a Brisbane-based company currently researching hot-rock technologies in the Cooper Basin.
Solar thermal is another promising technology being researched by the Stanwell Corporation, one which I want to expand on soon. You can download a PDF file by the Environmental Protection Agency outlining the Stanwell Solar Concentrator here.
So why is it that people still think that renewable energy sources are not viable when all these technologies are available? It seems to be hard for many to accept, but solar and wind are not the only alternative sources available to us. With a combination of several or all of these methods we are completely able to supply power in a safe and renewable way. We just have to get over the idea that it has to be either one technology or another. |
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Wed 2 Apr 2008 - Cloncurry to get a Solar Thermal Tower
The western Queensland town of Cloncurry is expected to run entirely on solar thermal power by the year 2010. The Queensland government is set to spend $7 million dollars on the project, a solar thermal tower which will store heat by using 8000 mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays onto graphite blocks. Water is then pumped through these blocks, generating steam which turns turbines and generates electricity. As graphite is such a good conductor of heat, the tower will be able to successfully generate electricity well into the night. The station is set to deliver about 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power the entire town continuously 24 hours a day.
Premier Anna Bligh states, "We're going to build a 10-megawatt solar thermal power station. It's a real breakthrough for electricity generation. The technology we’re going to use in Cloncurry, will ensure the power station keeps generating electricity even when the sun is not shining. The town of Cloncurry has long claimed the title of having recorded Australia's hottest day -- 53 degrees (Celsius) in the shade in 1889, so I reckon we're on a winner. "
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara said of the project, "While the introduction of alternate energy sources and the reduction of emissions comes at a price, the refusal to do so comes at a potentially much higher cost."
Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson agrees, adding, “This project’s a winner on several fronts. It will cut greenhouse gas emissions with clean energy powered by the sun and it will save money in the long term with less money being spent on upgrades to the local network.”
Find the full Ministerial Media Statement here.
$7 million dollars to power a whole town with a population of over 3000 people? Considering that Australia is still one of the worst greenhouse gas emitters in the world, it's a drop in the ocean, I would say... and a step in the right direction. Now we need to start leaping.
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18/3/2008 - Hummer called HOLYWD
Posted By Der
The Hummer above caused a bit of a traffic jam in the city. It is classified as a bus and can carry up to 14 people. I just spoke to a chauffeur and he needs to have a bus dirver licence to be able to drive it.
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Sun 16 Mar 2008 - Coal Seam Methane Extraction
For many years now, miners have known that coal seams produce methane gas. It used to be that this gas was merely a hazard to be released before the miners could even think about taking any of the 'valuable' coal from the ground. Now though, we have realised that the release of that gas is a massive waste of what is another valuable resource.
Methane is a flammable gas that when released into the atmosphere contributes to global warming. It is also a very good energy producer when burnt, producing less carbon dioxide than other hydrocarbon fuels. Methane gas (often called bio gas or natural gas) has many current uses, including being used for heating, cooking and as a vehicle fuel.
Methane production comes in many forms. It can be extracted from the rotting of organic matter including livestock manure, wastewater sludge, human refuse in landfills, or any other biodegradable feedstock (vegetation). Even the ocean and wetlands produce methane.
But the major source of methane is to extract it from the ground, where it is produced in large volumes by the coal under our feet. This method is known as Coal Seam (or Coal Bed) Extraction. The methane which is in the coal is released when the coal seam is depressurised. To do this, the water within the seam is pumped from the ground, causing a drop in pressure. This forces the methane to desorb from the coal, and this is when it is captured, compressed and piped to market.
There are a number of Australian coal mines that have been using this method for some time now, including Santos, which has been utilising methane gas extracted from several mines in the Bowen Basin in Qld. Moura Mine, located in the Bowen Basin in Queensland, established a commercial coal mine methane business next to its coal mining operations in 1996. And in New South Wales, the Appin and Tower Collieries, operated by BHP Billiton, produce electric power by using drained coal mine methane. The Australian Coal Association has some more information here.
The Australian government has had projects in the pipeline since early 2003, and continues to fund projects today.
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9/3/2008 - Ups und Downs
Posted By Binki
Hallo an alle,
wie die Zeit vergeht hier. Das letzte Mal hab ich im Februar geschrieben. In der Zwischenzeit is ne ganze Menge passiert.
Am 1. Maerz hatten wir hier ein grosses Schwulenfestival, was der Loveparade aehnelt. 2 Wochen vorher sind die Schwulen vor allem aus England alle angekommen und es war jeden Tag voll auf Arbeit. Ich bin den ganzen Tag nur gerannt und hab laenger als sonst gearbeitet, was gut fuers Geld war. Hab aber auch jeden Tag trainiert und nach 1 Woche gings mir nich mehr so gut. Einmal war ich auf Arbeit so ueberfordert, dass ich am liebsten geheult haette. Mein Kollege hat das mitbekommen und hat mich erstmal zum Obst schnippeln geschickt. Wenn man ihn wirklich mal braucht, ist er da und hilft. Ansonsten eher weniger ;) War dann auch 5 Tage nich mehr in der Gym und hab einfach mal nix gemacht. Mardi Grass waren wir auf einem Balkon eingeladen von wo wir die Parade gut sehen konnten, aber um 10 war ich so kaputt, dass wir nach Hause sind. Ungluecklicherweise mussten wir um nach Hause zu kommen die Strasse der Parade ueberqueren, was nicht moeglich war... So wurde der Weg, der sonst nur 5 min kurz ist zu ner halbstuendigen Stadtrundtour...
Ausserdem hat sich in einem Zahn ein seltsamer Druck entwickelt. Den hab ich eg schon seit Dezember, aber in der Woche ist er mir richtig aufgefallen. Meine Mitbewohner haben mir dann den Preis fuer den Zahnarzt hier erzaehlt und ich war mal wieder kurz vorm Heulen und hab mich schon im Flieger am 13. Maerz gesehen. War dann bei einem (sehr unfreundlichen) deutschen Zahnarzt, der meinte, alles sei in Ordnung. Also hab ich meinen Flug am selben Tag umgebucht und komme nun am 20. Juni. Freu mich schon.
Ansonsten ist es nach Mardi Grass echt langweilig auf Arbeit. Zu wenige Gaeste. Haben einen Tag angefangen die Schraenke auszuwischen.
Hiro hat sich heute ein Auto ausgeborgt und wir waren mit seinen Mitbewohnern am Palm Beach. War echt ein schoener Tag. Haben zuerst gegrillt und sind dann ab zum Strand. Hatten auch Glueck mit dem Wetter: 27 Grad. Bilder werde ich naechste Woche hochladen.
Leider ist mein Sonntag schon wieder vorbei. Das Wochenende war viel zu kurz. Aber nur 5 Tage bis Freitag :)
Schoene Woche an alle. Liebe Gruesse, binki. |
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8/3/2008 - The Frog Prince
Posted By Hansel
In olden times when wishing still helped one, there lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself, which has seen so much, was astonished whenever it shone in her face. Close by the king's castle lay a great dark forest, and under an old lime-tree in the forest was a well, and when the day was very warm, the king's child went out into the forest and sat down by the side of the cool fountain, and when she was bored she took a golden ball, and threw it up on high and caught it, and this ball was her favorite play thing.
Now it so happened that on one occasion the princess's golden ball did not fall into the little hand which she was holding up for it, but on to the ground beyond, and rolled straight into the water. The king's daughter followed it with her eyes, but it vanished, and the well was deep, so deep that the bottom could not be seen. At this she began to cry, and cried louder and louder, and could not be comforted. And as she thus lamented someone said to her, "What ails you, king's daughter? You weep so that even a stone would show pity."
She looked round to the side from whence the voice came, and saw a frog stretching forth its big, ugly head from the water. "Ah, old water-splasher, is it you," she said, "I am weeping for my golden ball, which has fallen into the well." "Be quiet, and do not weep," answered the frog, "I can help you, but what will you give me if I bring your play thing up again?" "Whatever you will have, dear frog," said she, "My clothes, my pearls and jewels, and even the golden crown which I am wearing." The frog answered, "I do not care for your clothes, your pearls and jewels, nor for your golden crown, but if you will love me and let me be your companion and play-fellow, and sit by you at your little table, and eat off your little golden plate, and drink out of your little cup, and sleep in your little bed - if you will promise me this I will go down below, and bring you your golden ball up again."
"Oh yes," said she, "I promise you all you wish, if you will but bring me my ball back again." But she thought, "How the silly frog does talk. All he does is to sit in the water with the other frogs, and croak. He can be no companion to any human being."
But the frog when he had received this promise, put his head into the water and sank down; and in a short while came swimmming up again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The king's daughter was delighted to see her pretty play thing once more, and picked it up, and ran away with it. "Wait, wait," said the frog. "Take me with you. I can't run as you can." But what did it avail him to scream his croak, croak, after her, as loudly as he could. She did not listen to it, but ran home and soon forgot the poor frog, who was forced to go back into his well again.
The next day when she had seated herself at table with the king and all the courtiers, and was eating from her little golden plate, something came creeping splish splash, splish splash, up the marble staircase, and when it had got to the top, it knocked at the door and cried, "Princess, youngest princess, open the door for me." She ran to see who was outside, but when she opened the door, there sat the frog in front of it. Then she slammed the door to, in great haste, sat down to dinner again, and was quite frightened. The king saw plainly that her heart was beating violently, and said, "My child, what are you so afraid of? Is there perchance a giant outside who wants to carry you away?"
"Ah, no," replied she. "It is no giant but a disgusting frog."
"What does a frog want with you?"
"Ah, dear father, yesterday as I was in the forest sitting by the well, playing, my golden ball fell into the water. And because I cried so, the frog brought it out again for me, and because he so insisted, I promised him he should be my companion, but I never thought he would be able to come out of his water. And now he is outside there, and wants to come in to me."
In the meantime it knocked a second time, and cried, "Princess, youngest princess, open the door for me, do you not know what you said to me yesterday by the cool waters of the well. Princess, youngest princess, open the door for me."
Then said the king, "That which you have promised must you perform. Go and let him in." She went and opened the door, and the frog hopped in and followed her, step by step, to her chair. There he sat and cried, "Lift me up beside you." She delayed, until at last the king commanded her to do it. Once the frog was on the chair he wanted to be on the table, and when he was on the table he said, "Now, push your little golden plate nearer to me that we may eat together." She did this, but it was easy to see that she did not do it willingly. The frog enjoyed what he ate, but almost every mouthful she took choked her. At length he said, "I have eaten and am satisfied, now I am tired, carry me into your little room and make your little silken bed ready, and we will both lie down and go to sleep."
The king's daughter began to cry, for she was afraid of the cold frog which she did not like to touch, and which was now to sleep in her pretty, clean little bed. But the king grew angry and said, "He who helped you when you were in trouble ought not afterwards to be despised by you." So she took hold of the frog with two fingers, carried him upstairs, and put him in a corner, but when she was in bed he crept to her and said, "I am tired, I want to sleep as well as you, lift me up or I will tell your father." At this she was terribly angry, and took him up and threw him with all her might against the wall. "Now, will you be quiet, odious frog," said she. But when he fell down he was no frog but a king's son with kind and beautiful eyes. He by her father's will was now her dear companion and husband. Then he told her how he had been bewitched by a wicked witch, and how no one could have delivered him from the well but herself, and that tomorrow they would go together into his kingdom.
Then they went to sleep, and the next morning when the sun awoke them, a carriage came driving up with eight white horses, which had white ostrich feathers on their heads, and were harnessed with golden chains, and behind stood the young king's servant Faithful Henry.
Faithful Henry had been so unhappy when his master was changed into a frog, that he had caused three iron bands to be laid round his heart, lest it should burst with grief and sadness. The carriage was to conduct the young king into his kingdom. Faithful Henry helped them both in, and placed himself behind again, and was full of joy because of this deliverance. And when they had driven a part of the way the king's son heard a cracking behind him as if something had broken. So he turned round and cried, "Henry, the carriage is breaking."
"No, master, it is not the carriage. It is a band from my heart, which was put there in my great pain when you were a frog and imprisoned in the well." Again and once again while they were on their way something cracked, and each time the king's son thought the carriage was breaking, but it was only the bands which were springing from the heart of Faithful Henry because his master was set free and was happy. |
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Fri 7 Mar 2008 - Links to Current Research
Thu 28 Feb 2008 - Controversy as FutureGen Plans are Cancelled.
Plans for FutureGen, a near zero emission coal fired power plant planned for Mattoon Township, Coles County, Illinois was cancelled by the Department of Energy (U.S.A) on Janurary 29 2008, among much controversy. The DOE announced that it would pull its funding for the project, after concerns of costs rising to higher than expected levels. However, some Illinois local and state officials have experessed frustration over the time and resources wasted by the state in competing for the FutureGen contract, and have questioned why the decision was made after the Illionois site was chosen over one in Texas.
Mattoon mayor David Cline said "one could question the motivation of the Department of Energy which was ready to move forward with the project until a site other than Texas was chosen." Illinois senator Dick Durban claimed that "when the city of Mattoon, Illinois, was chosen over possible locations in Texas, the secretary of energy set out to kill FutureGen."
Samuel W Bodman, U.S. Energy Secretary however, has countered these claims, explaining that that the restructuring of the FutureGen project will "equip multiple new clean-coal power plants with advanced CCS technology, instead of one demonstration plant. That will provide more electricity from multiple clean-coal plants, sequestering at least twice as much CO2 and providing for wider use and more rapid commercialization."
The move is likely to delay the project as other members seek the additional funds that the DOE was to provide. Despite the cancellation of funding by the DOE, the FutureGen Alliance continues to move forward with the project, opening an office in Mattoon and planning to buy the land for the plant in August 2008, in partnership with a local group.
According to the New York Times in an article dated January 31, 2008...
"The Energy Department on Wednesday canceled its main program for demonstrating how to use coal without adding to global warming, saying the project needed an overhaul to rein in soaring costs. The announcement ends a program started four years ago and described at the time as “one of the boldest steps our nation has taken toward a pollution-free energy future.” The program, called FutureGen, was also intended to provide hydrogen for fuel-cell cars and other uses. But the estimated cost has risen to about $1.8 billion from $1 billion, and officials feared it would increase. The department said it would start over with a new program, but that is unlikely to happen before the Bush administration leaves office."
According to an article on CNet News.com, February 1, 2008...
" The FutureGen Alliance, which includes companies like Foundation Coal and Peabody Energy, says that the DOE initially agreed to contribute $800 million to the project. The DOE's share has only risen to $1.1 billion. Alliance members have also agreed to provide the DOE partial or full repayment for overruns. "The cost is manageable," the organization read. The DOE also claimed that financing such a project was inappropriate. Hardly, said the Alliance. Power plants are always financed. It also disputed the DOE's claim that the plant wouldn't be commercially viable. Not so, says the Alliance. Finally, the DOE claimed that the new projects will sequester as much carbon dioxide at a lower cost than FutureGen. "The Mattoon site as currently configured can sequester approximately 2 million tons per year," the Alliance said. The new projects aim for 1 million tons a year--or half as much. Whoever is right, the dispute seems to add to the Department of Energy's (or at least the Department as it has been configured for the last couple of years) inability to keep its mind on research. In the '90s, it kicked off an ambitious program to build hybrid cars. Japanese manufacturers weren't invited. In response, Toyota and Honda released hybrids. The DOE program was canceled. It then shifted to developing a hydrogen economy. We're still waiting on that one."
A report from the Washington Post, dated February 16, 2008 states...
"President Bush announced in 2004 and then continually promoted a public-private venture he hoped would usher in an era of clean coal and be a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to address global warming. The FutureGen plant would have created electricity by stripping coal of harmful carbon dioxide and pumping the gas underground. The result would be power generation with zero greenhouse gas emissions. In December, Matoon Ill., was selected as the site for the coal plant. And then, on Jan. 30, Energy secretary, Samuel W Bodman pulled the plug."
Personally, I believe that one should wonder about the motives for such a move. Texas is the home state of President Bush, after all. But even if it is all about money, shouldn't the $50 million US that the state of Illinois has already sunk into the project bear some consideration. $40 million of this came from US taxpayers, and is now just wasted funds. Why scrap the project for someone else to take up when such a large amount has already been invested, especially when the government was so much in favour of the project initially? It doesn't really make sense. |
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Wed 27 Feb 2008 - Sustainable Houses.
Well, hello there folks. Long time no see, eh? I haven't been here for quite some time now, due to an enforced vacation from the net. I'm back now though, at least for a few months, and I've decided to take up the good fight once again.
I read a good report of sustainable houses from Radio National and wanted to provide some links for your perusal. These houses show that good things have been done in respect to the research and implementation of alternative energies. These are excellent examples of some of the things that can be done today to aid power production in your own home, and even in highrise offices. Please read these informative articles.
Chippendale Terrace House...
"A walk through a 100 year old terrace in the polluted inner city suburb of Chippendale. The house has been renovated and fitted to become self sufficient. Two adults and two children live there. It uses solar power which is connected to the grid so the house has no electricity bills, and actually feeds some power back into the grid. All their waste water and sewage is treated on site. The re-cycled water is used to flush the toilet and water the garden. They have a gutter filter which cleans and collects rainwater for drinking."
Sustainable House in Central Australia...
"Self-sufficiency in an arid climate. The first of several houses to for the Arrillhjere Corporation on aboriginal land, 30 killometres west of Alice Springs. It's a mud brick house, designed to be energy efficient and suitable an Aboriginal lifestyle in central Australia. The owner, Olive Veverbrants is keen to promote an environmental consciousness amongst her people. She is not yet on the phone, but is offering working holidays in return for expertise."
Melbourne Water Autonomous House...
"An ordinary house in suburban Melbourne that's far from ordinary . It's self sufficient in water. The residents are not connected to the water main and they don't pay water rates. Toby Murcott walks around the house with owner Marie Q. The water source is local rainfall, collected on the roof and stored in a large tank under the house. The house has water efficient appliances, and the grey water from the kitchen and laundry is recycled onto the garden. All the stringent health standards required by local council, such as e. coli levels, have been met. Some council representatives were supportive, some were not. Marie Q & James Stronelle believe there's an urgent need to reduce water consumption in Australia. They're keen to spread the word on how to achieve a system like theirs in an urban situation."
Nimbin Permaculture House...
"Lynne Malcolm visits a mud brick house situated on the Jarlanbah Estate, a rural residential subdivision, a few kilometres from Nimbin in sub-tropical Northern NSW. The house has a passive solar design, the walls are mud render applied over old corrugated iron and the centre of the house, which is mud brick gives the thermal mass. All the wood in the house is oiled with natural oils rather varnish or lacquer. There are Japanese style influences in the house's interior as Nigel lived in Japan for 12 years and his wife Yoko is Japanese. People are welcome to stay for bed and breakfast at Nigel and Yoko's house."
And just to prove that an entire community can survive on alternative energy sources, check out what the people of Southwell, in Nottinghamshire England have done. All of this in an almost sunless climate. Imagine what we could do in Australia.
English Eco-Village...
"An energy efficient village that would make Robin Hood proud. Brenda and Robert Vale designed and built their first autonomous house in the village of Southwell, in Nottinghamshire. The house was in an historic area and its appearance had to meet strict heritage guidelines. Despite this the house collects its own water and is energy and water autonomous. Techniques inclued very thick walls and the house is very well insulated - the roof insulation is half a metre thick shredded newspaper. The windows are triple glazed with special low emmission coating. Following the success of these houses the Vales were asked to write building specifications for autonomous houses, houses with low CO2 emmissions and houses without any space heating. The local council wants to build a 'zero CO2 village' village based near Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. The village was formerly a pit village. Now with the coal mines closed and local unemployment high, it's hoped demonstration Sherwood Energy Village will take the town forward."
And just a quick one from the Aussie front, Council House 2 in Melbourne. Have a look at the government page dedicated to this highrise wonder and please, check out some of the links and have a really good look around the site.
Council House II...
"The City of Melbourne's six star green building CH2 opened in August 2006. An independent report evaluating the indoor environment quality and occupant productivity for the first year of full operations has now been released. The CSIRO report includes analysis from independent consultant Adrian Leaman of Building Use Studies in the UK, and indicates that productivity has improved by an impressive 10.9 per cent."
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25/2/2008 - Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit
Posted By Der
| It means: nothing may come from nothing. This phrase is from Lucretius who was a Roman poet. Its original meaning is 'work is required to succeed', but its modern meaning is a more general 'everything has its origins in something' (cf. causality). It is commonly applied to the conservation laws in philosophy and science. Ex nihilo often used in conjunction with the term creation, as in creatio ex nihilo, meaning 'creation, out of nothing'. It is often used in philosophy or theology in connection with the proposition that God created the universe from nothing. |
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23/2/2008 - High performing managers
Posted By Der
This week, I would like to share a story with you that international speaker Bob Pike shares in his keynote speach, "Seven Attitudes of High Performing Managers". This story highlights the importance of the business relationships you create, no matter who they are and how they assist your business. We may not get the story word for word, but it goes something like this...
Imagine you are working on a really important project, your deadline is looming, and you'd like it finished within the next 30 minutes so it's done, and you can go home to your family.
The Managing Director of the company you work for calls you and says "I have some great news that I'd like to share with you, can I come over and talk with you now for about 20 minutes?" Naturally you say "Yes of course." And right now you're probably thinking "Wow, the MD wants to speak with me about some great news. How exciting. I wonder what it could be." Any thoughts of you leaving in half an hour has gone out the window, and it no longer matters.
Once the MD is there chatting with you, do you think you would look at your watch and think 20 minutes has gone by ... start getting anxious, oh no 40 minutes has gone by ... I really have that project I need to finish. Do you think you would say ... Hey Mrs MD, could you please leave, I have a project I need to finish, and would really like to get home! Chances are that wouldn't happen. Instead you'd be so flattered that the MD wanted to share that amount of time with you, and you even hope your colleagues walk by and see you! Now imagine that exact same scenario, but this time when the phone rings it's the cleaner, and they say to you "I have some great news that I'd like to share with you, can I come over and talk with you now for about 20 minutes?" Would you pay the cleaner the same courtesy and enthusiasm that you paid the Managing Director? Probably not.
But let us ask you ... who would you miss most if they were gone for 12 months with no replacement?
Great story, isn't it? Everyone is important, and they all play a role in your success. Your clients, your suppliers, your support team, all the people who do the jobs you don't like doing! |
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19/2/2008 - Entschieden
Posted By Binki
Hallihallo,
hatte schon vor 2 Wochen einen Bericht geschrieben aber ungluecklicherweise ist der Computer ploetzlich ausgegangen... Hatte dann keine Lust mehr nochmal alles zu schreiben.
Hier ist immernoch alles iO. Geh 5 mal die Woche ins Fitnessstudio und Arbeit laeuft. Kann jetzt Montag bis Freitag arbeiten, was besser ist, weil mehr Geld ;)
Nach staendigem Hin- und Herueberlegen hab ich mich nun entgueltig entschieden hierzubleiben. Hatte immer eine Entscheidung getroffen und dann eine Woche war alles Ok, aber die naechste hab ich nochmal darueber nachgedacht und mich umentschieden... Aber jetzt bin ich sicher. Ich komme am 21. Juni um 8 Uhr in DD an :D Freue mich schon wie ein kleines Kind und wuensche mir ein Halt im Western Inn auf dem Heimweg ;)
Mein neuer Plan sieht folgendermassen aus: am 17. Mai hoere ich mit Arbeiten auf und fahre ein letztes Mal nach Newcastle meine restlichen Sachen holen und geh nochmal Souveniershoppen. Am 19. gehts ab nach Tasmanien, dann fuer einen Tag nach Melbourne zum AFL (JAAAAAAAA), dann Adelaide, Alice Springe, Adelaide, Perth und wieder Sydney. An meinen letzten Abend in Sydney wuerde ich gerne ins Opernhaus zum Musical "Edward und die Schwerenhaende" gehen... Aber erstmal sehen, wieviel Geld ich noch uebrig habe... Und am letzten Tag geh ich nochmal lecker im Coffeeshop essen und danach mach ich mich auf den Heimweg. Noch 121 Tage
Freu mich schon doch noch alles zu sehen, was ich sehen wollte. Aber bis dahin heissts erstmal noch schoen arbeiten und sparen!
Ansonsten war ich mal im Chinesischen Garten (sehr schoen und friedlich). Dann war noch die liebe Teresa, die ich in Innisfail kennengelernt habe eine Woche hier. Wir haben jeden Tag Glorias Cafe unsicher gemacht. Ausserdem waren wir noch im Aquarium und im Powerhouse Museum. Bilder werd ich demnaechst hochladen. War eine sehr schoene Woche :) Mal wieder ein bisschen Sightseeing und andere Wege als Arbeit und heim, Fitnessstudio und heim, einkaufen und heim und Hiros Wohnung und heim.
Letztes WE war ich in Newcastle. Wollte eg Freitag hin und Samstag wieder zurueckfahren, aber es war dann soo schoen, dass ich erst am Sonntag wiedergekommen bin. Es war so schoen ruhig und ich hab so gut geschlafen. Ausserdem konnte ich seit langem mal wieder die Voegel zwitschern hoeren und Hunde bellen. Sydney ist wirklich ne tolle Stadt, aber ich bin und bleibe wohl "Dorfkind"...
Bis bald und viel Glueck an alle, die noch Pruefungen haben. |
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26/1/2008 - Jack and the Beanstalk
Posted By Hansel
Jack was a poor boy whose lack of common sense often drove his widowed mother to despair. One day she sent him to the market to sell their last and only possession, a cow. But along the way, Jack met a stranger who offered to trade it for five "magic beans." Thrilled at the prospect of owning magic beans, Jack made the deal without hesitation. Alas, his mother turned out to be less than thrilled when he arrived back home. She threw the beans straight out of the window and sent Jack to bed without dinner. Overnight however, the seeds grew into a gigantic beanstalk. It reached so far into the heavens, the top went completely out of sight. Eager as the young boy was, Jack immediately decided to climb the plant and arrived in a land high up in the clouds, the home of the giant. When he broke into the giant's castle, the giant quickly sensed a human was near:
- Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum!
- I smell the blood of an Englishman.
- Be he 'live, or be he dead,
- I'll grind his bones to make my bread.
However, Jack was saved by the giant's wife, and as he escaped from the palace, he took some gold coins with him. Back home, the boy and his mother celebrated their newfound fortune. But their luck did not last, and Jack climbed the beanstalk once more. This time he stole a hen which laid golden eggs. Again he was saved by the giant's wife. He went down the ladder and showed the chicken to his mother, and the two lived happily on the proceedings from the hen's eggs.
Eventually, Jack grew bored and resolved to climb the beanstalk a third time. This time, he stole a magical harp that sang by itself. The instrument did not appreciate being stolen and called out to the giant for help. The giant chased Jack down the beanstalk, but luckily the boy got to the ground before the giant did. Jack immediately chopped it down with an axe. The giant fell to earth, hitting the ground so hard that it split, pulling the beanstalk down with him. |
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23/1/2008 - Verlockendes Angebot
Posted By Binki
Nach dem Anruf vom Chef hab ich ernsthaft darueber nachgedacht doch laenger zu bleiben und hab auch schon alles geplant. Aber als ich heute frueh aufgestanden bin, stand fuer mich fest, dass ich im Maerz heimkomme.
Heute auf Arbeit hat mich die Koechin gefragt, wie lange mein Visum gueltig ist. Ich hab ihr gesagt, dass es im Juli auslaeuft und da hat sie mir ein Sponsorshipvisum angeboten, d.h. der Chef wuerde sich um eine Verlaengerung meines Visums kuemmern.
Ich wusste erst gar nicht, was ich sagen soll und meine Entscheidung ist nun wieder unsicher. Ich bin hin und her gerissen. Aber sicher ist, dass ich nicht 2 Jahre hierbleiben will. Moechte ja langsam mal mit dem Studium anfangen.
Jedenfalls freue ich mich trotzdem sehr ueber das Angebot, aber wundere mich doch darueber, weil ich denke, dass es hier soviele Kellnerinnen gibt. Warum wollen sie mich unbedingt behalten?? Pavlina sagt, sie haben irgendwelche Plaene mit mir. Ich soll ja jetzt auch das Kochen lernen und sie denkt, der Plan ist, dass Pavlina und ich fruehs bis mittags alleine arbeiten und die Koechin und der Chef erst spaeter kommen. Bis jetzt schliessen wir gegen 3. Aber naechsten Monat bieten wir auch Dinner an.
Ich fuehl mich aber trotzdem ein bisschen schlecht, weil ich noch nichts Konkretes gesagt habe. Wenn sie jetzt soviel Zeit in mich stecken und dann hau ich im Maerz ab... Aber der Chef (ich fang jetzt mal an seinen Namen zu benutzen: Jame) wollte auch kein genaues Abreisedatum wissen. Heute hat er mir auch eroeffnet, dass er mich "legal" einstellen will, d.h. ich muss Steuern bezahlen und bekomme mein Geld woechentlich ueberwiesen.
Gestern habe ich eine Fuer- und Gegen Liste gemacht und nach dieser Liste schneidet eher Heimkommen eindeutig besser ab. Schwierige Entscheidung!!!! Ich warte erstmal weiter ab und buche noch nix um. Ich bin einfach hin- und hergerissen und ich bin nicht die beste im Entscheidungen faellen.
Okidoki, meine News fuer heute ;)
Liebe Gruesse |
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21/1/2008 - Ueberraschender Anruf
Posted By Binki
Vor 5 Minuten hat mein Boss angerufen und meinte "Wir sind froh, dass wir dich haben und du machst einen sehr guten Job". Ich dachte zuerst, Ok das wars dann, jetzt schmeisst er mich raus, aber ganz im Gegenteil. Er wollte wissen, wie meine Plaene aussehen und ob ich den Job mag. Er hat mir angeboten, dass ich mindestens 4 Tage in der Woche arbeiten kann und dass er mich so oft einsetzt wie moeglich und dass ich da arbeiten kann, solange ich will. In der letzten Woche habe ich so viel gelernt: 2 Kaffeesorten, Smoothies und Fruchtsaefte machen, Brot backen, richtig Wischen ;) usw. Er will mich jetzt langsam ins Sandwiches und Salat machen einfuehren.
Am Anfang konnte mich die Koechin nicht leiden und sie hat mehrmals vor mir zu ihm gesagt "Du solltest eine erfahrene Kellnerin einstellen!!" Aber scheinbar hat sie ihre Meinung in der letzten Woche geaendert. Sie ist jetzt auch viel netter zu mir.
Ich bin so froh, dass ich diese Wohnung und durch meine Mitbewohnerin diesen Job gefunden hab!!! Auf jeden Fall kann ich jetzt sicher sein, dass ich definitiv einen festen Job und regelmaessiges Einkommen habe. JUHU!!! :D |
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