Dr. Skip Online

words from the earth

It's the little things that matter

A couple of weeks ago I went to an American car dealership in Mobile that was blowing the horn for an all electric car it was announcing. It's apply called the 'Volt'. The owner of the dealership made the intro to the meeting which consisted of a movie and Q & A.

He stated that it was the first all American, all electric car. I asked if all the parts were made in the US and if the rare earth elements used in the batteries were also mined in the US? He didn't really answer either question. It turns out that some of the 'Volts' parts are made overseas and the car is assembled in the US.

The rare earth elements used in the batteries are 'the' key component in getting the batteries to hold a charge big enough and long enough.

Rare earth elements' economically concentrated global distribution is 95% in China and Inner Mongolia. The other 5% mostly in Peru and Australia.

Without these rare earth elements using lead acid batteries would be better idea.

China has already announced that it is cutting back on it's shipments of rare earth elements in order to divert more for it's domestic production. We seemed to have trained them well in the art of the 'squeeze play'. If the electric car, 'Volt' or any other, wants to become the new Model-T, their makers need to find a new source of rare earth elements or their price will stay high. The 'Volt' is listed for $31,000+ MSRP. If you'd like more information on rare earth elements follow this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_element#Global_rare_earth_production

Think Global - Act Local

Warm Winter and allergy Spring

Spring is coming on rapidly after a winter with much higher temperatures than usual. If fact, it has been the fourth warmest winter on record in North America. Some of the effects around here include an increase in mosquitoes and other flying insect pests, a higher that normal production of molds and fungi over the next couples of months, if you have allergies take note, and the plants have started blooming weeks and months ahead of schedule.
The Gulf of Mexico water temperature is up from where it usually is at this time and that doesn't bode well for the 2012 hurricane season.

Regret Not the Gloaming

As we go from four to two to three.
     Thoughts of another time turn us.

Looking back and wondering, why and if?
     Seeing what might have been with mind's eye.

There is only now and tomorrow.
     Past lessons and mistakes both guide and doom.

Why, maybe, if and perhaps.
     Cloud our thoughts and slow our steps.

The promise looks at what was.
     Asking only - if then was now?

Dr. Henry G. “Skip” Lazauski
Gulf Shores, Alabama
January 23, 2012

Up date with progress

Well, I'm back on my feet from the broken leg and getting ready to start down the long road to getting in shape.
Renewed my membership at the local gym which is where I'll start with knee, ankle and lower leg exercises. Sifting into some bicycling later in the week.
I know, start out easy and assess at every increase in weight, reps or distance and I will do that. I don't know if you know it but this getting old(er) thing ;-) is really a pain in the a#*, especially when you're trying to comeback from an injury. At least I can be thankful that at 60 I have all my hair and then some. It's a moral boost – for me anyway.

The end of the beginning

I don't know if you had a mother like mine. In times of trouble she was one for soothing phrases that were meant to make you feel better and give you hope. Hope for the future and hope that everything would turn out alright.

One of those phrases that comes to mind at this moment is 'I know you can't see it right now but this is probably the best thing that could have happened'.

Let me fill you in on what's been taking place. The local newspaper group that I've been writing for the past eleven years decided to drop my column.  My guess that they would rather have someone who tells people what they want to hear and writes for free than a scientist who tells people what they need know and is payed. Since I've been trying to sell my place for sometime now, not having to think up something new to write about every week is kind of a bitter-sweet relief.

Two weeks after this I slipped down the stairs in my townhome and broke my leg. This puts a hold on the house sale until sometime after Christmas and no I hadn't been drinking. I kind of wish I had some excuse other than my own clumsiness. I'll get a ranch style the next time.

How might my mother's phrase apply to all this … all in all I can't as yet see what good these events will serve in my future but I'm looking forward to figuring it out as I learn to walk again.

I intend to keep up with this blog once I literally get back on my feet.

Tough regulations work

Over the last three or more decades in an effort to conserve the fisheries of Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico regulations have been put in place that restricted the catch of many species. Even after these restrictions were put in place the prognosis for their full recovery was not as bright as some may have wanted.
Since the Gulf of Mexico is only one part of a much larger planetary resource if might be helpful to look at the big picture to put ourselves in context.

Read the rest of this post »

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