World's First Hybrid Tugboat

Thick, squat and powerful, tugboats are the pint-sized strongmen of the maritime industry.

But, despite their stature, they tend to be big polluters, spewing heavy clouds of diesel soot into the sky as they push and pull massive freight ships into position.

Their reputation as grimy workhorses, however, may be changing with the recent development of a diesel-electric hybrid tug - the Carolyn Dorothy - by Foss Maritime Co. The quiet, 78-foot tug carries all the punch of its counterparts without the environmental price tag.

"Tugboats spend most of their time sitting around idling, and while they're idling, they're sending diesel (soot) into the air," said Foss engineer Jerry Allen during a visit to the boat's engine room. "This tug doesn't consume diesel during down time, so you're having no (ecological) impact there. And it's emitting much less during routine operations."

Externally, the $9 million Carolyn Dorothy - named after a Foss executive's wife - looks like any other tug. But unlike its rivals, it emits roughly half the emissions, including significantly less diesel particulates, which can lodge in workers' lungs and cause cancer.

And because it can plug into an electrical outlet while docked, operators are able to recharge the ship's 126 12-volt batteries during down time. Built during the past year at Foss' Rainier, Ore., shipyard, the Carolyn Dorothy is the source of much hope and pride among port authorities in Long Beach and Los Angeles, who together kicked in $1.3 million to fund its development.

"This proves the technology works in this application," said the Port of Long Beach Harbor Commissioner. "We think it serves as a template for future (green) growth."

Foss has agreed to operate the tug exclusively in Long Beach-Los Angeles through 2013.

Cheers...

Introducing the Personal SuperComputer

Remember the Charlie Chaplin TV spots promoting IBM's first personal computer? You may not be old enough, but I am and I do.



Which is why I can't wait to see how NVIDIA plans to market their new Tesla.

How would I use a PC that is 250 times faster than what I use today? How fast can I really play Mah-Johng?

The entry level Viglen CL2000 PSC-2 Personal Supercomputer puts nearly 2 teraflops of computing muscle at your fingertips for a mere 3,999 pounds (what with the exchange rate that's less than 6,000 bucks)

I guess if they offer it in the same harvest orange color as my electron microscope with matching particle collider, I might be tempted.

Cheers...

Facing the World with a New Face

Details of the first almost-complete face transplant from a dead donor performed in the United States have emerged.

Eight specialists transplanted bone, muscle, blood vessels and nerves in the 22-hour operation in Cleveland, Ohio.

After such transplants, the new face does not look like the donor because its shape is altered by the muscles and bones of the patient's face.

But some experts have warned of possible psychological side-effects which may include remorse, disappointment, or grief and guilt towards the donor.

The hope is that as this procedure becomes more commonplace, people who avoid others due to their appearance may have an option to help them feel better about themselves.

Cheers...

First Ever "Green" Cookie

Long Island-based Nutritious Creations has introduced the Hybrid Cookie(TM) comprising a line of new chip-like cookies taking the healthy snacker by complete delicious surprise.

The Hybrid Cookie, which utilizes the irresistible crispy taste that comes with baking a snack and the health benefits of puffing, won't leave the snacker feeling guilty. Low in fat and reduced calories, the Hybrid Cookies are kosher and dairy under the certification of the OU label. The cookie-chips come in four delicious flavors Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Oatmeal, Chocolate Fudge and Rocky Road.

Despite being an all-natural, multi-grain snack that is a good source of fiber (4g), the cookie-chips have been described as satisfying and sweet snacks for children and adults alike as well as those on a health-conscience diet.

Cheers...

Help me, Obama-Wan Kenobi

Leave it to the best political team on television to bring us the first live remote broadcast of a hologram reporter. Wolf is in New York talking to Jessica in Chicago and I guess it would be more exciting if it were, well - more exciting.



Cheers...

shoetube?

Everyone knows about YouTube (Broadcast yourself!) now comes the first ever webchannel about shoes, shoetube. Dedicated to women who love shoes and apparently love to watch videos about shoes.

Another candidate for "too much time on their hands" and/or "is this really what the world needs now?"

Checkout "The Daily Shoe":





Cheers...

Digital music from the Sun

Roberts has just introduced the world�s first solar-powered digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio. It�s called the solarDAB and it retails for a mere �79.99. With its integrated top-mounted solar panel, the solarDAB�s battery pack is charged whenever exposed to the sun�s powerful rays. (You can also charge by hardwire if it�s dark out.) Once fully charged, it can play for 27 hours.

Available in white, black, pink, red or green.

Cheers...

First Ever England Football Team Picture

By Nick Britten
Last updated: 6:38 AM BST 08/05/2008

The earliest known photograph of the England football team has been unearthed, 132 years after it was taken. Taken before England�s fifth international match on March 4 1876, it shows a line-up, featuring the early superstars of the game. The Football Association said the photo, showing 10 England players and the �umpire� - the early term for a refere - was of �major historical importance� and an �extraordinary find�. Officials, who have a team sheet from the match, are now trying to put faces to names to identify all those in the picture.

The FA�s official historian, David Barber, said: �Until now the earliest England team picture I have seen is from 1893 so to come up with one taken 17 years earlier is extraordinary.
�The photograph seems genuine and certainly people here are very excited.�
The picture was unearthed by Peter Seddon, a football fan researching the Derby County player Steve Bloomer. Mr Seddon, from Littleover, Derby, was scanning newspaper microfiches at his local library when he came across the photo which had been printed in the Derbyshire Football Express in 1926.

It emerged that it had been sent to the paper by the England defender Edgar Field, who lived in Derby and featured in the photo. He lined up with his colleagues before a match against Scotland at Glasgow�s West of Scotland Cricket Ground, the home team winning 3-0 in front of 15,000 spectators. Nine of the England players were making their debuts. However, the FA have always been unaware of its existence until now.

Included in the team that day were Hubert Heron, a striker and captain, and his brother Charles, who both played for the Wanderers team, Mr Field, a defender with Clapham Rovers, and Arthur Savage, the Old Crystal Palace goalkeeper. The team on the day was made up of players from Crystal Palace, Wanderers, 1st Surrey rifles, Clapham Rovers, Swifts, Cambridge University and Notts County. At the time - 12 years before the football league was invented - Wanderers and Clapham were the country�s two best sides. Wanderers were given their name because they did not have a home ground, although many of their matches were played at Kennington Oval. Goalposts were two thin poles with no nets and supporters were allowed, even in their thousands, to stand around the touchlines.

The FA�s Cris Freddi (cor), who is trying to identify the players, said: �I haven�t ever seen pictures of most of these players so all I�ve got to go on is the caption. It really is fascinating stuff.� Mr Seddon said: �This is something of huge national significance because of course it was the English who invented the game of football. �At the time I was trawling through articles in the local studies library, looking through pictures to do with Steve Bloomer, and just happened to stop at the picture of the 1876 team. I thought 'hang on, this could be quite big�.�

Story from Telegraph News:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1937050/First-ever-England-football-team-picture.html

Cheers...

Beatles Day!

Book your travel plans to Liverpool now to prepare for the city's first ever "Beatles Day" to be celebrated on July 10. What's the occasion? Why, the 44th anniversary of the Fab Four's homecoming after conquering America in 1964 of course.

And how does one celebrate "Beatles Day"? According to this article, here are some suggestions:

• Shave your head for charity and cover it up until it grows back with a mop-top wig.
• Cook a �Beatle meal�. How about onion Ringos followed by Sgt Peppered steak and Strawberry fool?
• All You Need is Love - propose to your other half dressed as the Beatle of your choice.
• Keep fit. You and three friends do a Band on the Run from the Beatles Story at the Albert Dock to the Cavern Club.
• Spring clean your house using your wig as a duster.

I wish I was making this up - sadly, it's true.

Cheerio...

If I Had 319 Million Dollars...

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be the first private investor to spend it on a double-decker Airbus A380, but then I'm not Saudi Prince Al-Waleed. The prince cut a check for the flying palace recently at the Dubai air show, and he may need to write another one for $100 million and wait until 2013 for the luxury additions he's planning, which are rumored to include:

- 15 seat boardroom
- Fiber-optic virtual desert scene in the lounge
- Missile defence system
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Archery range
- Go-kart track
- Rock climbing wall
- Tennis courts
- 50 seat theatre to host Celine Dion, Cher and Dolly Parton

Cheers...