The threat to finish Eastern Boulevard crops up from time to time. One of the guys I work for is involved with a group that stopped that the last time. Can't get them to demolish the incomplete ends of the flyover, though - nor the viaduct over the foreshore: you know, under which the Modulor Men have picnics in architectural renderings.
I don't know if you've heard of the Gallows Hill debacle. A big developer bought a block of mainly industrial buildings in Green Point, near my office, hoping to knock them down and build a block of luxury apartments in their place. In the course of demolitions and excavations, unmarked graves were discovered. The city called archaeologists in, the developer sat and fumed for a year, the skeletons were dated to the late 17th century, believed to be those of executed criminals, runaway slaves, and the extremely poor. So, in keeping with our new-found decency, an ossuary is now being built opposite St Andrews in Buitengracht to their memory. In the course of that exercise, part of the old Somerset Road tram-line was exposed. I walk past there every day, and it almost looks like the rails are going to be incorporated as part of the museum. I'd rather have them incorporated as part of a tram-line. But the ossuary site is right plumb spang in the middle of the strip of land that was cleared for the motorway link over Kloofnek to Camps Bay: another nail in that coffin, and about time. -D ----- Original Message ---- From: Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Thursday, 24 May, 2007 6:48:30 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Fwd: US Gasoline Prices Hit All Time Historical Highest Level - Adjusted For Inflation Do they still think Solly Morris was such a great guy for building all those motorways in the 60s? Keith >I think we need to rethink not so much the car as our pattern of >transport needs and facilities. Granted, it isn't something that one >person can implement unless they've got some practical authority: >but if we live in places that claim to be democratic, the people who >have got some practical authority are susceptible to public >pressure, at least in theory. It doesn't preclude rethinking the >car, but it's another important process. And it's no use putting it >off because I can't build a city on my own. If the process doesn't >begin somewhere it just won't begin at all. > >So, one of these days I'm going to have a battle on my hands to get >the City of Cape Town to allow me to build a house suitable for a >pedestrian way of living (or at least if a few of my neighbours see >the point and do the same) in a neighbourhood and a city designed to >be barely accessible except by car. It's another way. > >But greasy-fingered EVs are cool. > >-D > >----- Original Message ---- >From: Darryl McMahon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org >Sent: Wednesday, 23 May, 2007 5:36:42 PM >Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Fwd: US Gasoline Prices Hit All Time >Historical Highest Level - Adjusted For Inflation > >Ah, yes. Wildman Rod rides again! The Ford coupe is a beauty, if a tad >impractical for most applications. > >I think we need to rethink the car before we try to open source it. My >idea for a plug-in electric hybrid (biodiesel) has been picked up by >someone else with more resources and I hope to see the initial results >on Saturday. Rumour has it a book will also come from the exercise (not >by me). > >However, we do need to revisit what we really need from a car today, >because I don't think the Ford Excursion fits the bill. How about >quadricycles that can travel at urban speeds (up to 50 km/h), utilizing >a combination of human and electric power? Or the Twike? Lot's of >other light-weighting options. Less resources to construct and operate, >no toxic emissions in operation (well almost; there will be some CO2 >GHGs from the breathing of the operators). > >By comparison, the Smart is a fuel-guzzling pig boasting excessive >performance. > >I have my vintage motorcycle operational again, thanks to my son's >efforts. A 1973 Aurenthetic Charger. >(<http://www.econogics.com/ev/auranthe.htm>http://www.econogics.com/e >v/auranthe.htm) >Factory original electric mini-motorcycle. Gets almost 50 km to the >kWh. > >Much better than the road-racer 1973 electric Porsche 914 that pigs out >at 5 km to the kWh. (If I did the math right, that's about 185 mpg, so >the motorcycle is getting well over 1500 mpg. According to this article >in Grist ><<http://evco.ca/electrathon/index.html>http://evco.ca/electrathon/ind >ex.html>, walking gets about 75 >mpg equivalent. An electric-assist bicycle would get about 3000 mpg >equivalent.) Tilled the garden on the weekend with an electric tractor. >Just bought a small, cordless electric rototiller for my mother - she >loves it. > >Gasoline is only expensive if you use it. Go electric and green your >electricity. Buy locally. We know the answers, the rest is >rationalizations and convenience. Yes, it does take some effort to put >it all into practice, and I'm still on the path and far from the goal. >My advice, make the shift to sustainable practices while fossil energy >is still cheap. > >Darryl > >Dawie Coetzee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Hey Zeke, are you familiar with this one? > > ><http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/renewables/wilde/sterfo1.htm>http://www. >angelfire.com/ca4/renewables/wilde/sterfo1.htm -D > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Zeke Yewdall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org > > Sent: Wednesday, 23 May, 2007 4:42:18 PM > > Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Fwd: US Gasoline Prices Hit All Time Historical >Highest > > Level - Adjusted For Inflation > > > > Wha?????? I did have to replace the radio in my '91 VW because after >I > > replaced the battery, it went into security mode and wouldn't turn on >again. > > And I refused to go to the dealership to have them fix that. I >suppose I was > > supposed to take it there to get the battery replaced to begin with... > > > > > This is why I am building my own electric cars. One from a 1974 >pickup, and > > one from a recumbent bicycle (if I lived on the flatland, the regular >bicycle > > itself would be fine.... but pedling up 4,000 feet in elevation gets >tiring at > > times and I'd like electric assist -- solar recharged, of course) > > > > Z > > > > > > On 5/22/07, Mike Weaver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Maybe an open source car? > > The problem with new cars is that they can't be fixed. I knew someone > > who got a new BMW 540 and it was replaced by insurance after the radio >was > > stolen. Wiring and electronics too messed up to fix. 80k disposable >car! > > > > > > > > Dawie Coetzee wrote: > > > > > The problem I've got with the Smart is that it embodies the motor > > > industry's kind of closed-technology, capital-intensive, > > > disposable, owner-unfixable, economies-of-scale-sensitive approach >as > > > much any other new car: possibly even more. I've often wondered if >it > > > can be corrected by a few minor tweaks, but every time I've done >that > > > exercise I've found that I'd very early cast out every last vestige >of > > > the Smart and designed an Austin Seven instead! > > > > > > Also, the Smart's brief is to do the job that ought to be done by > > > walking. -D > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > From: Mike Weaver < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org > > > Sent: Monday, 21 May, 2007 11:28:29 PM > > > Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Fwd: US Gasoline Prices Hit All Time >Historical > > > Highest Level - Adjusted For Inflation > > > > > > Still, this morning as I went into the city in my relatively small >VW > > > Biodiesel Golf, I saw hundreds of single occupant SUVs > > > pass me. Why don't we have smart cars in the US? I don't even need >a > > > VW most of the time. All I need to carry is a few computers and a > > > tools. > > > > > > > > > Keith Addison wrote: > > > > > > >If you put a bit more effort into it I'm sure you can hit $10 a > > > gallon soon. > > > > > > > > ><http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/msg69797. >html>http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/msg69797 >.html > > > >Re: [Biofuel] Fwd: Gas Station Owner Told to Raise Prices > > > > > > > >Best > > > > > > > >Keith > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>US Gasoline Prices Hit All Time Historical Highest Level - >Adjusted > > > >>For Inflation > > > >> > > > >>US average, self-serve, unleaded regular hits $3.18 > > > >> > > > >>This is a point we have been dreading. Before this, > > > >>the all time highest US average gasoline (regular) price > > > >>was during 1981 (March IIRC). Adjusted for inflation, > > > >>we finally topped it, and appear to be still climbing at a > > > >>steady pace. It was announced on the news yesterday > > > >>(Sunday) on PBS. > > > >> > > > >>CNN verifies it, today: > > > >><http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/21/news/economy/record_gas_monda >y/>http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/21/news/economy/record_gas_monday/ > > > >> > > > >>Here is a webpage, anticipating it, but not being able > > > >>to anticipate what the number would be, or when it > > > >>would get reached: > > > >> ><http://www.answers.com/topic/oil-price-increases-of-2004-2006>http:// >www.answers.com/topic/oil-price-increases-of-2004-2006 > > > >> > > > >>We got close in 2006 > > > >><http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/07/gas_prices_allt. >html>http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/07/gas_prices_allt.html > > > >> > > > >>We got closer, earlier this month: > > > >><http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=21867>http://www.inf >ormationliberation.com/?id=21867 > > > >> > > > >> <http://zfacts.com/p/35.html>http://zfacts.com/p/35.html > > > >> > > > >>This website that was set up to say "gasoline is cheap" > > > >>now shows that today it has gotten expensive, by their > > > >>standards. ><http://www.nationalreview.com/moore/moore082803chart.asp>http://www. >nationalreview.com/moore/moore082803chart.asp > > > >> > > > >> ><http://infohost.nmt.edu/~armiller/gasprices.htm>http://infohost.nmt.e >du/~armiller/gasprices.htm > > > ><<http://infohost.nmt.edu/%7Earmiller/gasprices.htm>http://infohost.nm >t.edu/%7Earmiller/gasprices.htm> > > > >> > > > >>This one will give you an idea of the kind of misleading > > > >>verse that we were being fed by Washington, and that > > > >>some propagandists still spout, even in the face of reality. > > > >> ><http://www.cted.wa.gov/energy/archive/Indicators99/Indicator24.htm>h >ttp://www.cted.wa.gov/energy/archive/Indicators99/Indicator24.htm > > > >> > > > >>Here is a radical, George Will, trying to make fun of > > > >>the concern about gasoline prices, just last month. However, > > > >>since then, the pump price has gone up 18% (since last month) > > > >>and is now at the highest price in history, both in actual >dollars, > > > >>and also in inflation adjusted dollars. > > > > >><http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/A >R200>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/A >R200 > > > >>7040402251.html > > > >> > > > >> ><http://jalopnik.com/cars/gas-prices/never-mind-the-4-per-gallon-here >s>http://jalopnik.com/cars/gas-prices/never-mind-the-4-per-gallon-here >s > > > >>-the-summer-road-trips-61124.php This one would be funny, if it > > > >>weren't so sad: from last month: Quote: "says Tom Kloza, chief oil > > > >>analyst for the Oil Price Information Service, an energy >consulting > > > >>firm. "The reality is that we're nearing the highs of the year, >and > > > >>within 30 days there will be more gasoline on the market The >article > > > >>was dated 4/25/2007, twenty six days ago, and the quote was from > > > >>before that. Those prices better drop fast. Instead they have > > > >>climbed about 15%. Here is an other quote from the deceptive > > > >>"experts:" "The most recent Energy Dept. forecast, released >Apr.10, > > > >>predicted retail regular gasoline prices would average $2.81 per > > > >>gallon in the summer of 2007 (April-September)." We are already > > > >>nearly 40% through that time, and prices are still climbing. Here >is > > > >>another one: ""We expect to see prices flatten around where they >are > > > >>now," says Douglas MacIntyre, senior oil analyst for the f > > > >>ederal Energy Information Administration, part of the DOE. "More > > > >>refinery outages and higher crude prices could push it to $3 Since > > > > >>then the price has climbed about 18%, to $3.18, the highest price >in > > > >>history. More: "experts say consumers are actually getting a >bargain > > > >>at the pump, as prices are still lower than in the early 1980s, > > > >>adjusted for inflation." Since then the price has climbed about >18%, > > > >>to $3.18, the highest pump price in history. Another: "On a >national > > > >>average, gasoline prices actually decreased for the week of Apr. >23, > > > >>falling 0.7 to $2.87 per gallon" > > > > >><http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20070426/bs_bw/apr2007db20070426139334 >Since>http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20070426/bs_bw/apr2007db2007042613933 >4Since > > > > >>then the price has climbed 11%, to $3.18, the highest price in > > > >>history. Also the old record year 1981 only averaged $2.64 >(adjusted > > > >>to 2006 dollars) while 2006 averaged $2.81, and this year is >looking > > > >>to set a new record average, not just the highest price records. . > > > >><http://www.swivel.com/data_columns/spreadsheet/2690244>http:/ >/www.swivel.com/data_columns/spreadsheet/2690244 However, > > > >>gasoline is > > > >>still a lot more expensive in other countries. And another curious > > > >>fact. Adjusted for inflation, the cost of oil was around $90 a > > > >>barrel, back in 1981. It is hanging at around 2/3rds of that >today. > > > >>The difference is going to the oil companies, not for the purchase > > > >>of oil. They are currently, with two oil men in the White house, > > > >>reaping the largest profits of any companies in the history of the > > > > >>human race. -Laren Corie- Solar Building Design Since 1975 > > > >><http://www.larencorie.com/>www.LarenCorie.com> ><<http://www.larencorie.com/>http://www.larencorie.com/ > > > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > > > >Biofuel mailing list > > > >Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > > > > ><http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainableli >sts.org>http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainab >lelists.org > > > > > > > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > > ><http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html>http://journeytoforev >er.org/biofuel.html > > > > > > > >Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 > > > messages): > > > ><http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/>http >://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Biofuel mailing list > > > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > > > ><http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelist >s.org>http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainable >lists.org > > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > > ><http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html>http://journeytoforever.org/ >biofuel.html > > > > > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 > > > messages): > > > ><http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/>http://www. >mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > > > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > New Yahoo! Mail is the ultimate force in competitive emailing. Find > > > out more at the Yahoo! Mail Championships > > > < > > ><http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/championships/games/ >*http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://mail.yahoo.net/uk/>http://uk >.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/championships/games/*http://uk. >rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://mail.yahoo.net/uk/>. > > > Plus: play games and win prizes. > > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > > >Biofuel mailing list > > >Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > > > ><http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelist >s.org>http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainable >lists.org > > > > > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > ><http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html>http://journeytoforever >.org/biofuel.html > > > > > >Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 >messages): > > ><http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/>http:/ >/www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Biofuel mailing list > > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > > ><http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelist >s.org>http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainable >lists.org > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > ><http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html>http://journeytoforever.org/ >biofuel.html > > > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 >messages): > > ><http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/>http://www. >mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Biofuel mailing list > > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > > ><http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelist >s.org>http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainable >lists.org > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > ><http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html>http://journeytoforever.org/ >biofuel.html > > > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 >messages): > > ><http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/>http://www. >mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > > Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. >Try it > > now. > > <http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/>http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/ >-- >Darryl McMahon >It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will? > >The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy (eBook and trade paper) ><http://www.econogics.com/TENHE/>http://www.econogics.com/TENHE/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/
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