Inspirational and good news.
Former Tyco International executives L. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz were recently denied bail.
“They were convicted in June on charges of first-degree grand larceny and other charges related to accusations they stole $180 million outright and improperly made some $430 million by manipulating Tyco’s stock value.”
It is good to see that the American justice system still applies to people of every walk of life.
Solar Panels have met resistance because they are somewhat hard to install, some people have challenged that notion. A new form of photovoltaic cells being tested now (and expected to be in mass production in two years) are based on a fancy solar ink.
This new form of solar power generation will allow for cheaper, and more widely used, solar panels. The experimental cells can even be easily incorporated into clothing.
Thanks, Colin!
Actress Angelina Jolie has recently been presented with the Global Humanitarian Award from The United Nations Association of the U.S.A. for her work in aiding refugees all over the Globe.
She first became involved with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) after travelling to the small African country of Sierra Leone, which has been devastated by years of civil war. After witnessing the suffering and challenges that refugees face she chose to use her noteriety as a highly popular actress to aid in their cause.
Angelina has visited more than 20 countries to talk personally to refugees and has also become highly regarded for her activism before senior political and economic leaders in arguing the protection of refugees. She has served as a voice for millions of displaced people all over the Globe.
UN High Commisioner for refugees António Guterres said in his congratulatory message “The depth of your dedication and commitment inspires many others, especially the legions of young people who admire you, to think about how they too can help to make the world a better place.”
Although hydroelectric stations have provisions for stopping fish passage or attractive fish around turbines a small portion go through the hydroelectric turbine. Typically the turbines wins. A new turbine type called an Eco-Bulb turbine handles this problem nicely while improving effeciency. By combining the turbine and generator into one housing (the bulb) many traditional problems with hydroelectric power is mitigated. The new turbines are more effecient, can be used at sites that couldnt be developed before such as old dams that have small flows of water and are fish friendly. Currently the only site in North America with this technology is at Trenton, Ontario at an old dam site that had been adandoned.
Probably not what you were hoping for, but the hydroelectric industry has recently been experimenting with lubrication using biologically degradable oils from natural sources. When a hydroelectric turbine is in operation it must be well lubricated or else friction and instability are created which shake and therefore damage both the turbine and casing. However, a small portion of the oil inevitably leakes into the water. Although less than the waste oil from a motor vehicle the hydroelectric industry is experimenting with biodegrabalbe oils with regulations the threat of fines or enforcement. A hydroelectric industry spokesman commented that bio lube is simply a choice since they work as well as conventional lubes and the industry does not have to worry about spills. With future advancements bio lube could be converted to higher temperature operations such as oil inside a car engine.