We have been hearing a lot about the energy crisis lately. Not a lack of energy, but it’s cost. Every politician, every news media person and every environmentalist has their own unique and politically correct solution if the general public was only smart enough to get it.
When I worked at the telephone company, occasionally somebody in public relations, or human resources, or marketing, or accounting would come up with some technological idea that sounded good but, from a technical, cost or managerial perspective was impractical, impossible or silly. Sometimes they were all three. If the person who suggested it was of a high rank, we spent, or rather, wasted, time “studying” the feasibility of their whim.
Public comments about what to do about the energy crisis make me feel like I’m living my life all over again.
Indulge me while I go over some basics. Newton’s law of motion states that it would require a fixed amount of energy to propel, say a 3000 pound vehicle, from zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds. Or to travel 500 miles. The amount energy used is the same whether its electricity, gravity, wind, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel or political hot air.
T Boone Pickens’ idea about using wind power to produce electricity is the most wildly impractical I have heard. His 4000KW windmill farm will occupy 8600 acres and it will produce 4000KW only 20% of the time! As any weather forecaster knows, the wind is a fickle thing. Let’s say you’re buying your household electricity from T. Boone Pickens and the wind chooses to blow it’s daily 20% at the required velocity for five hours today between midnight and five a.m. The rest of that day you have to pump your own water, cook in a wood cook stove and fan yourself to keep cool in the hot Texas midday. There is no reason to believe enough wind would blow every day, or even every month. That 20% might come during the week you went to the beach.
Although it’s a boon to corn farmers, it takes almost as much energy to extract usable energy from corn as the energy you get.
But the silliest, most airhead, solution is the electrical automobile. Let’s say they invent a battery with enough electrical storage to propel a 3000 pound car 500 miles at normal highway speeds on one charge. (The GM test model is already all the way up to 40 miles.) This will take the same equivalent amount of energy as it would using gasoline. How many people do you know who have free electricity? Let’s say you arrive at your destination, check in at the local Holiday Inn and ask to charge your car’s batteries.
Folks, they are not going to just give you that energy. As a matter of fact, I bet it would cost more to “fill up” your batteries than to buy a tank of gas. Plus it would probably take all night. You’d have to hire a taxi to take you to dinner. And when you get back home, think how much your electric bill will go up with a $50.00 battery recharge twice a week. But, you say, at least we won’t be funding Arab terrorism when we buy Arab oil at exorbitant prices.
True. I’m with you there. But, how will we generate all that electricity? Nuclear power? Environmentalists oppose nuclear power. Obama has said he opposes nuclear power. Coal power? The environmentalists and the Democrats get apoplectic when you mention coal power plants. How about hydro-electric power? We don’t have enough waterways that we can reasonably dam. Plus, the environmentalists are pressing the government to stop using hydroelectric power and we have already demolished existing hydroelectric dams.
We could use ocean currents and tidal power but that would injure fish, change ocean currents and affect the climate.
Where will the energy come from?
Not to mention all the taxes from motor fuel sales that build and maintain the nation’s highways. If you had an electric car, they would add a meter at your house to measure how much current you use to charge your car batteries and tax you for it.
It’s time to get real and drill for more of our own oil. Or continue to buy oil from our enemies. Or buy a mule, a water pump with a handle, a wood cook stove and a fan.
Members of the community are cordially invited to a very special celebration. On Friday, September 12th at 5PM, the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and members of the Foy family dedicate Abbey Nature Preserve to the citizens and visitors of Pender County.
Located adjacent to historic Poplar Grove Plantation, the Abbey Nature Preserve is a passive nature park. It includes hiking trails, a beautiful boardwalk overlooking the historic millpond, and other tranquil recreation opportunities.
This beautiful, pristine environment will be forever protected by the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The large, 67 acre site, has been set aside for the enjoyment of present and future generations, through the thoughtful, generosity of the Foy family. Dedicated memory of Margaret Abbey Foy Moore, it truly is a precious gift to the community.
Please come and join the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and members of the Foy family, on Friday, September 12th at 5 pm for the official opening and dedication. Parking will be in Historic Poplar Grove Plantation’s north parking lot. From there you may walk or board a shuttle to the ceremony at the turnaround. All are invited to take a self-guided walking tour afterward.
Dedication of the Abbey Nature Preserve Poplar Grove Plantation 10200 US Highway 17 N., Wilmington Friday, September 12, 2008 5:00 pm - Dedication at Abbey Nature Preserve turnaround 5:30-6:30 pm - Self-guided walking tours
Topsail Island by Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre announced today that the Maple Hill VFD has received $191,700 to purchase a new fire truck.
Congressman McIntyre stated, “Our VFDs’ are on the front lines of safety, and these federal funds will help Maple Hill in meeting the challenges of protecting their community. Congratulations to all who have worked to secure these funds. It is good to see efforts being made to enhance public safety and improve our citizens’ lives.”
The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development has awarded Maple Hill a loan of $160,000 and a grant of $31,700 to purchase a new 1250 GPM pumper/fire truck. This new vehicle will replace an older model that has become obsolete. The new fire vehicle will allow the fire department to improve their response time, their efficiency, and possibly their insurance rating. An improvement in insurance rating would mean an insurance premium reduction for each of the 2263 residents in the fire district.
Congressman McIntyre is Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development.
Family-friendly ice shows featuring favorite characters such as Tinker Bell can be a great way to spend time together.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Looking for ways to spend quality time with children is often the highest priority for parents and the Feld family. Kenneth and his daughters, Nicole and Alana, have made the search easier with their many kid-friendly live productions.
Kenneth Feld and Nicole Feld have worked together to produce Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour-and the two recently helped to reinvent what has been billed as The Greatest Show On Earth,(r) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey(r) circus, for the iPod generation and their families.
"Our goal was to make families-and even the most media-savvy preteens-sit up and take notice," says Nicole Feld.
Before pairing with his daughters, Kenneth Feld produced over 30 family-friendly shows, including a number of productions currently touring the globe. They include Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey and a Disneyland Adventure.
But now, in addition to the circus and High School Musical: The Ice Tour, he and Nicole Feld have put their famous touches on this year's Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. The show includes the Disney Fairies from the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures Tinker Bell release, lovable characters such as Lightning McQueen and Mater from Disney/Pixar's Cars, and favorites from Disney's The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.
The show is accompanied by a Disney Princess Preshow that lets children and parents enjoy an exclusive collection of enchanting Disney Princess gowns and mementos.
Kenneth Feld and his daughter Alana Feld produced and marketed the successful Doodlebops Live! tour. The two are also presenting Playhouse Disney Live!, a stage show featuring a compilation of favorite characters from the Disney Channel that's touring more than 75 U.S. cities, as well as Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh.
Other Feld family shows bring the magic of Disney to fans as well. They include:
¥ Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, all the beloved Disney Princesses and others. There are also exciting moments from Disney/Pixar's Toy Story, Finding Nemo and more.
¥ A Disneyland Adventure with Mickey and Minnie featuring a Jungle Cruise with Baloo, a blast with Buzz Lightyear on Space Mountain and a spin on the Mad Tea Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter.
¥ Children and parents can also join Mickey and Minnie on a journey into the magical worlds of Disney's The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch and more. Fans are captivated by the music, beauty and laughter in Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey.
If the men you date come on strong and then seem to lose interest, Jade Brode's new book is a must-read.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-If you've noticed that more women are getting married lately, it could be because of the popularity of a book that shows what high-achieving women must know in order to succeed in dating and marrying men of value.
In that book, "Marry the Man of Your Dreams" (Ingram), author Jade Brode says that successful dating is similar to going on a job interview; it requires hard work and self-discipline. According to Brode, "Once a man reaches maturity, there is more to capturing his heart than beauty and instant sex."
In her book, Brode addresses what makes men tick and gives invaluable advice and insight into the hows and whys of finding ways to succeed with men of high value. From issues such as personal hygiene, clothing and personal habits to sex, money management, family and friends, Brode helps women assess what they need to change. She says that women need to use their brains and set high standards. Only then will they be valued by someone else.
Among the magic steps that lead to the altar, Brode suggests that you:
¥ Spellbind him by looking him in the eye while listening. ¥ Insist that your date arrives on time-if he does not, don't be there when he does arrive. ¥ Set boundaries on the first date, not after the wedding. ¥ Expect the same consideration he gives his boss. ¥ Create a "No!" chart-and then follow it!
As for some of the don'ts:
¥ Do not chase him. You are in charge of the relationship. ¥ Do not accept last-minute invitations. ¥ Do not put lots of bumper stickers and decals on your car. ¥ Sex is not a recreational drug-save it for last.
Jade Brode has spent years counseling women in the entertainment and business world who were successful in their careers but failing with men. The women she worked with credit Jade's counseling style with changing their lives.
Critics report that Jade Brode's new book will help women who tend to strike out before getting to the altar.
Finding the right dog for you may be just a click away.
Topsail Island, NC (NAPSA)-There's good news, bad news and better news about pets. The good news: A recent report by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that about 63 percent of all households in the United States have a pet.
The bad news: 5 to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year and about 3 to 4 million are euthanized.
The better news: One solution to reduce the number of pet deaths is adoption.
Adopting a dog is a life-changing event. Dogs need lots of time and attention, requiring owners to be there every day. Therefore, it's critical to find out whether you're actually ready for a dog or would be happier with a goldfish instead.
"Making sure people are fully prepared to adopt a dog means a happier home and longer life for the dog," said dog expert Trevor Wright. "Taking the time to thoughtfully consider if you are ready can reduce the number of abandoned and neglected pets."
Here are a few things to consider when adopting a dog:
1. Are your children ready? Babies and toddlers can't be trained as easily as dogs, which is why many experts recommend waiting until children are at least 8 years old before bringing a canine into the mix. If you're set on getting a dog and have small children in the house, consider adopting an easygoing adult dog who'll need less attention than a growing puppy.
2. Is the decision to adopt unanimous? Dogs shed, bark and can be messy. Unless the whole household is fond of your dog, it's easy for resentment to build. It also makes it hard to set and enforce house rules, such as whether the dog can join you on the couch.
3. Consider the costs. On average, expect to spend about $800 during the first year of your dog's life. If you live in a city where vet costs are higher, work full-time and need backup care, and want to give him at least a few treats, it can easily climb to $1,200 to $1,800 annually.
4. No yard? No problem. Some people believe a fenced-in yard is critical to having a dog. In fact, a yard can become an excuse for not walking or exercising your dog daily. Dogs spending most of their time in the backyard miss out on meeting other dogs and people, which keeps them happy and well socialized.
Wright's company, DogTime, an online pet network, has created powerful tools in the fight against abandoned and neglected dogs. "Are You Ready?" is an online quiz to determine if you are ready to bring a dog into your home. After answering multiple-choice questions, you can link to "DogFinder MatchUp" to help determine what kind of dog is right for you based on your personality.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-Small steps can help reduce your family's carbon footprint-that all-important measure of your effect on the environment.
Still, the average American generates 20 tons of carbon dioxide-a heat-trapping greenhouse gas-every year, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). That's about the same amount as three new cars.
Try these tips for helping your family go green:
Green Light
Using an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb rather than a traditional incandescent bulb is a quick way to make a big difference. UCS says that if every family in America switched just one bulb in their house, carbon dioxide emissions would drop by more than 90 billion pounds-the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.
Shop Smart
Environmentally friendly choices in the grocery store can help reduce the amount of trash your family generates. For instance, Chinet Classic White and Chinet Casuals disposable tableware is made from 100 percent preconsumer recycled material that would otherwise go into a landfill. They're certified chlorine-free and are fully biodegradable in your at home composting and can be used in the garden but they're still microwave safe and available in a variety of sizes.
By using recycled materials, Huhtamaki, the company that makes Chinet tableware, saves 3 million trees each year and 65 million gallons of oil, and nearly 1 billion gallons of water-enough to supply a city of 10,000 for a year. These green efforts, along with programs to reduce its pollution and power use, have earned it a number of awards, including the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Achievement Award.
Water Wise
The EPA says a leaky faucet can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water annually. If you're wondering if your house has any leaks, check your water meter at the beginning and end of a two-hour period in which no water is used. If the meter reading has changed, you have a leak.
Drive Smart
You can help reduce your vehicle's greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding hard accelerations, reducing time spent idling and unloading unnecessary items in your trunk to reduce weight. Additionally, the EPA says removing a roof rack from your car could improve fuel economy by as much as 5 percent.
With all their innards cleaned out, scallops are prized for the white, mild, sweet, adductor muscle that opens and closes their shell.
Unlike clams and oysters, which we eat whole, the only part of a scallop eaten in the United States is the adductor muscle – the strong muscle that opens and closes the scallop’s shell. Some cultures, however, do indeed consume the entire animal.
Scallops have internal organs like other bivalves – stomach, heart, mantle, gills and then some. These must be cleaned out and the highly-prized adductor muscle cut away from the shell. This is what people mean when talking about ”cleaning” scallops. Locally, this process is also known as “shucking” scallops.
Like their bivalve relatives, scallops are filter feeders, dining on microscopic plants and animals carried on the currents. Three types of scallops are harvested along the East Coast: bay scallops, calico scallops and sea scallops. Only calico and bay scallops are native to North Carolina waters. Sea scallops, the large variety served in most restaurants, remain an important commercially-landed species in North Carolina, but are most commonly caught from Virginia northward.
Bay scallops are much smaller than sea scallops, and the calico scallop is an offshore variety that mysteriously appears in massive beds off our coast. It’s even smaller than the bay scallop and is harvested by large ocean-going vessels. Both calico and bay scallops are said to be sweeter and more tender than their northern counterparts.
Bay scallops live in grass beds. Because of this habitat requirement, they are found only in two southeastern states – North Carolina and Florida. Bay scallops are both male and female, and spawning takes place at about six months of age. After eggs and sperm are released into the water, larval scallops float on currents for about two weeks before settling into a grass bed to grow their shells. They must grow quickly, as their life span is rarely longer than two years.
Bay scallops once supported a significant fishery in North Carolina – valued at over a million dollars in 1980 – and were highly sought after by recreational shellfishers. Today, however, the harvest is negligible due to population declines. Some scientists think the demise is because of heavy predation by stingrays. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries regulates when scallops can be harvested and in what amounts.
Information provided by the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The state operates three public aquariums; one in Pine Knoll Shores, another at Fort Fisher and a third on Roanoke Island. The aquariums are administered by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and are designed to inspire appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environment.
For more information about the Aquariums, log onto www.ncaquariums.com, or call 800-832-FISH.
Thinking like a marketer could help you sell your home.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-The key to selling your house in today's tough market might be to think like a retailer.
Store owners, unlike most of us, are used to using all the little "tricks" that get buyers to part with their cash. You know, things like pricing something at $49.95 instead of $50. That nickel won't buy a stick of gum, but there's tons of evidence that it works.
Experts say many of those same tactics can help move a home. Try these tips:
Price Pointers
Homeowners considering dropping their asking prices to attract bids should understand how buyers perceive those cuts. A recent study found that if the left digit of two prices remains the same after a discount-say the "9" in $9,111, slashed from $9,222-buyers hone in on the right-hand numbers. And they tend to assume the discount is greater if those right-hand numbers drop from two to one, rather than nine to eight or seven to six. The decline is the same in real dollars, but "people think they're getting a better deal," Robin Coulter, a marketing professor at the University of Connecticut, recently told The Wall Street Journal.
Numbers Game
Trying to settle on an asking price? Vicki Morwitz, a marketing professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, says round numbers, such as $495,000, convey quality and prestige, while a specific number, such as $494,863, makes buyers think "deal." If you're after that quick sale, she told The Journal, "you want to go for a precise number."
Stand Out
This tactic-differentiating your house from the flood of others on the market-has the added advantage of heightening your own positive feelings toward your home in the (entirely possible) event that you wind up staying put for however many years to come. But remember: In this environment, a new coat of paint on the front door won't cut it. Instead, Consumer Reports recommends improvements like adding a new roof to enhance the value of your home.
For instance, GAF-Elk's Timberline roof shingles have become North America's best-selling architectural shingles because homeowners love the wood-shake look they provide without the cost and issues of real wood. And with a Class A fire rating from Underwriters Laboratories (the highest rating possible) and warranties that cover high winds, homes are further protected from nature's elements. As for "curb appeal"-all-important whether you're looking to attract buyers now or in the future-selecting from colors like slate, weathered wood and charcoal can only help increase the value of your property.
To learn more about these shingles and other GAF-Elk products, visit www.gaf.com. While there, you can use the Virtual Home Remodeler to get more ideas on design elements for the outside of your home.
Travel expert and mom Emily Kaufman recommends that families take comfort into account when planning vacations.
Topsail Island, NC - (NAPSA)-For most families, warm weather means fun time, as kids are trading classrooms for campouts, buses for bikes and math lessons for swimming lessons. It's also the season for family travel-which presents parents with some unique challenges. No matter where you're going, travel expert and mom Emily Kaufman has tips to help every family getaway be what it should be: fun.
Don't Stress
Approach your travel plans with confidence and realism. Be prepared and flexible; there are some things you can't control, such as traffic or delays. When your kids see your confidence, they'll feel safe and can be calm. In case you get stranded in a traffic jam or an airport, pack "boredom bags"-bags filled with age-appropriate toys (books, electronic games, cards) and snacks to appease (and distract) the kids.
Travel Wear Is Not Your Kids' "Sunday Best"
To ensure a fun start to your trips, start with comfort-a comfortable family is a happy family. Encourage your kids to layer up with tees and hoodies so they're ready for any temperature, from air-conditioned airports to the car's burning backseat.
Vacation In Comfort
"I always make sure Hanes socks, T-shirts and underwear are on my family's packing list and on my family," says Kaufman. "Marked with the Hanes Comfort Fit Promise seal, these essentials fit the best and are supersoft to keep my family comfortable when we're on the move."
Maximize Your Vacation
Walt Disney World(r) Resort has enough fun for multiple vacations, so before arriving, decide on "must-do" adventures: Visit the Rock 'n Roll Coaster(r) presented by Hanes or experience Expedition Everest(tm), but also leave time for discovery and surprises; these make the best memories. Kaufman's favorite insider tip: Disney's FASTPASS(r) to avoid waiting at popular attractions in all four theme parks. Take a ticket with an assigned return time and experience the attraction later in the day with little or no wait.
Hanes is offering families the chance to "Vacation in Comfort" during The Year of A Million Dreams at Walt Disney World Resort. See specially marked packages of Hanes products for information on how to enter and your chance to win a Walt Disney World vacation. The contest runs from June through August 30, 2008, and seven winning families will be drawn on Sunday, September 21. Visit http://www.hanes.com/vacationincomfort for details and to enter.
