From Kyoto To … Coal ??
Posted on May 30, 2008
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Look which country is beginning to develop their coal resources again.
Japan is recognizing that with oil prices as high as $135 a barrel that suddenly, alternative forms of energy are now becoming more attractive options.
But after decades of seemingly terminal decline, Japan’s coal country is stirring again. With energy prices reaching record highs — oil settled above $135 a barrel on Thursday — Japan’s high-cost mines are suddenly competitive again, and demand for their coal is booming. Production has jumped to its highest in nearly four decades, creating a sensation rarely felt in these mining communities: hope.
“We are seeing a flicker of light after long darkness,” said Michio Sakurai, the mayor of Bibai, on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. “We never imagined coal would actually make a comeback.”
Soaring commodity prices have had distorting effects across the global economy, driving up food prices and prompting fears of future energy shortages. But they have been an unanticipated boon to the coal producing regions of countries like Japan that had written off coal mining as a relic of the Industrial Revolution.
This is basic economics. As a commodity goes up in price, seemingly expensive options suddenly become cost-effective to use.
Remember, we’ve also had the technological ability to turn coal into a synthetic oil so that it can be refined to use in our automobiles. When did we have this technology? The 1920’s - when German scientists developed it!
Horse Racing Needs To Change
Posted on May 6, 2008
Filed Under Muse, News, Sports | 5 Comments
I’m sure everyone is quite aware of the tragedy which occurred at Churchill Downs last saturday.
Last Saturday was the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby which was won by Big Brown.
Eight Belles, a filly, was running in the race and finished second behind Big Brown.
Immediately after the race finished, disaster struck.
Eight Belles was galloping for another quarter mile past the finish when she broke both of her front ankles.
She was euthanized on the spot.
Now PETA has issued their familiar calls to ban the jockey, riding crops and to prevent the racing of horses under the age of 3. I don’t think any of the above (except increasing the age of the horses who are able to race) is the proper way to go. The jockey did everything right and his use of the crop avoided an in-race disaster that could’ve incorporated other riders and horses. Waiting to race horses until they are a bit stronger is the best solution PETA has proposed so-far.
Biggest Loser - I “Lost”
Posted on April 29, 2008
Filed Under Personal Development | 4 Comments
Ok I promised you all that I would update you on my results of the Biggest Loser Challenge.
As you are no doubt aware the challenge was between 15 overweight guys to see who could lose the biggest % of their weight between January and April 19th.
Just a few weeks ago I was roughly in 3rd place (top 4 finishers finish “in the money”).
As of April 1, I had lost 29 pounds, down to 216lbs (for a total of 11.8% lost).
The final weigh-in was a few weekends ago and here’s how I did…
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