Tuesday, February 4, 2003
UK commissions 1000th wind turbine
The UK has commissioned its landmark 1000th wind turbine. However, it still lags behind Denmark, with its 6,500 turbines and Germany’s 14,000 turbines. More here.
Sunday, February 2, 2003
Wiarton Willie Begs to Differ
According to Canada's leading weather prognosticator, the albino groundhog Wiarton Willie, spring will come early this year north of the border. Willie, a resident of Wiarton, Ontario at the base of the Bruce Peninsula on Georgian Bay, did not see his shadow on Groundhog Day. Meanwhile, Punxsutawney Phil from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania predicted another six weeks of winter in the USA.
Groundhog Day
Well the Chinese New Year kicked off yesterday and today Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, came out and saw his shadow so we're in for another six weeks of winter. Not difficult to believe here in Toronto although yesterday we had a pleasant trip round the bookstores downtown after the three week freeze-up.
The weekend Globe and Mail tells us there are now more mobile phones in the world than landlines, 1.5 billion mobiles against 1.3 billion landlines. All this in the space of thirty years since the first cellphone. The 'mobile' has gone from a must-have accessory for celebrities and businessmen to a naff, rather intrusive item for everybody in that time.
The National Post Review section has an interesting piece on cities turning into tourist destinations by Witold Rybcynski, Meyersohn Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania. He says "Probably the only concerns that tourists share with the locals are a demand for good policing, and clean streets." Surely the two things that are increasingly hard to find.
The weekend Globe and Mail tells us there are now more mobile phones in the world than landlines, 1.5 billion mobiles against 1.3 billion landlines. All this in the space of thirty years since the first cellphone. The 'mobile' has gone from a must-have accessory for celebrities and businessmen to a naff, rather intrusive item for everybody in that time.
The National Post Review section has an interesting piece on cities turning into tourist destinations by Witold Rybcynski, Meyersohn Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania. He says "Probably the only concerns that tourists share with the locals are a demand for good policing, and clean streets." Surely the two things that are increasingly hard to find.
Monday, January 20, 2003
Somport Tunnel
The road tunnel through the Pyrenees linking Pau in France with Saragossa in Spain finally opened on 17 January. The French entrance is situated in the Vallée d'Aspe, and tunnels under the Col du Somport.
After much controversy with environmentalists and delays due to safety revisions, prompted by the Mont Blanc and St. Gothard tunnel disasters, they have finally got the show on the road. If my French can be relied on, the railway following a similar route, tunnels included, was closed following an accident in 1970.
On 27 March that year a double-headed electric freight train failed to make the climb toward the summit and ran backwards toward the Pont de l'Estanguet, demolishing it, taking the bridge with it into the river. The line to Spain never re-opened although there have been recent efforts in France to bring it back after thirty years.
After much controversy with environmentalists and delays due to safety revisions, prompted by the Mont Blanc and St. Gothard tunnel disasters, they have finally got the show on the road. If my French can be relied on, the railway following a similar route, tunnels included, was closed following an accident in 1970.
On 27 March that year a double-headed electric freight train failed to make the climb toward the summit and ran backwards toward the Pont de l'Estanguet, demolishing it, taking the bridge with it into the river. The line to Spain never re-opened although there have been recent efforts in France to bring it back after thirty years.
High-speed rail rumours
More snippets in the papers trailing a possible Montreal-New York high-speed rail line - also talk of beefing up Montreal-Toronto for high-speed operation.
More here.
More here.
Sunday, January 5, 2003
Back in TO
Back in Toronto after short road trip to the snowy northland of Ontario - running out of gas in the middle of nowhere found old country store in Hamer Bay for fillup - old mechanical pumps - after serving myself the guy indoors asked me "how much?" He rang up $30 when I said $38 - I then gave him the correct money - why is it so much nicer in the countryside?
Bought a copy of The Detroit News and Free Press which covers the opening of the Detroit Auto Show and the launch of the new Ford F-150 pickup truck. Ford are holding their breath hoping that the new truck, the top-selling vehicle in North America, finds favour with the public like its predecessor.
The paper also had a good feature on the growing use of biodiesel in North America plus "Tips to keep in mind when fishing on ice."
Bought a copy of The Detroit News and Free Press which covers the opening of the Detroit Auto Show and the launch of the new Ford F-150 pickup truck. Ford are holding their breath hoping that the new truck, the top-selling vehicle in North America, finds favour with the public like its predecessor.
The paper also had a good feature on the growing use of biodiesel in North America plus "Tips to keep in mind when fishing on ice."
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