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Nice afternoon

A good time was had by all, and I promised to point out a few posts:

7,000 mpg vehicle

The Aptera (300 mpg)

Tofu-chocolate mousse pie (or pudding)

Good tofu-vegetable dish (and the secret of getting tofu to soak up the marinade)

Locking gas caps

Now that gas is expensive, locking gas caps are becoming popular. The last time this happened was in the ’70s, but back then, the flap that  covers the gas cap on cars didn’t lock. Now it does, so I’m a little surprised that they’re still required. (I did buy a locking gas cap in those days.) As cars go high-mileage, with small fuel tanks, stealing gas from cars may fall. But stealing gas from gas stations (see linked story) still would offer a big hit.

Eerie abandoned cities

Take a look. If population trends continue in some nations, we’ll be seeing more of these.

We saw it coming and did nothing

Good article by Nelson Schwartz in the NY Times on how thoroughly the US ignored warnings and avoided constructive steps regarding oil. For over 30 years the problem has been evident and growing, and in that time the US as a whole—people, politicians, and industry—have ignored warnings while proceeding toward disaster. This graph from the article speaks volumes.

The US sometimes seems to have a will to fail. From the article:

Over the last 25 years, opportunities to head off the current crisis were ignored, missed or deliberately blocked, according to analysts, politicians and veterans of the oil and automobile industries. What’s more, for all the surprise at just how high oil prices have climbed, and fears for the future, this is one crisis we were warned about. Ever since the oil shortages of the 1970s, one report after another has cautioned against America’s oil addiction.

Even as politicians heatedly debate opening new regions to drilling, corralling energy speculators, or starting an Apollo-like effort to find renewable energy supplies, analysts say the real source of the problem is closer to home. In fact, it’s parked in our driveways.

Nearly 70 percent of the 21 million barrels of oil the United States consumes every day goes for transportation, with the bulk of that burned by individual drivers, according to the National Commission on Energy Policy, a bipartisan research group that advises Congress.

So despite the fierce debate over what’s behind the recent spike in prices, no one differs on what’s really responsible for all that underlying demand here for black gold: the automobile, fueled not only by gasoline but also by Americans’ famous propensity for voracious consumption.

Read the entire article—it’s fascinating, in a way. Like watching a trainwreck.

Big Pharma and marijuana

Paul Armstrong has an interesting take on how Big Pharma and medical uses of marijuana relate:

The US government’s longstanding denial of medical marijuana research and use is an irrational and morally bankrupt public policy. On this point, few Americans disagree. As for the question of “why” federal officials maintain this inflexible and inhumane policy, well that’s another story

One of the more popular theories seeking to explain the Feds’ seemingly inexplicable ban on medical pot goes like this: Neither the US government nor the pharmaceutical industry will allow for the use of medical marijuana because they can’t patent it or profit from it.

It’s an appealing theory, yet I’ve found it to be neither accurate nor persuasive. Here’s why.

Quick report on Brown Sugar Pork Ribs

Both The Wife and I enjoyed the Brown Sugar Pork Ribs. I added a note to the recipe to include my modifications to the sauce (I included the juice of a lemon and a good dash of liquid smoke). I have enough of the basting sauce left over to use it on a leg of goat, which I’ll have this week, slow roasted. We enjoyed Carefree and agree that Ralph Bellamy is a peculiar-looking man. Jack Carson was in high spirits in the movie.

Vanilla

I skipped shaving yesterday instead of today because today we’re off to an afternoon party. So today I had the enjoyment of the two-day stubble.

Honeybee Spa’s Vanilla Cream shave stick made a great lather with the Simpsons Persian Jar 2 Super, and I tried a Lord Super Chrome blade in the 1940’s Gillette Aristocrat. For me (but perhaps not for you), the Lord Super Chrome is not nearly so sharp as the Lord Platinum. Still, I got a good 3-pass shave and with Gessato for the oil pass ended with quite a smooth face. Coty’s Raw Vanilla seemed the appropriate aftershave, and I’m good to go.