Dear His Holiness Pope Francis: I have been impressed with your tenure as Pope. You have literally taken the road less traveled (Robert Frost) in the Catholic Church. You have succeeded in opening up the hearts and minds of many in your flock. For non-Christians, like me, your words have suggested great love for the […]
The more you look at the contemporary scene with gasoline and imported oil, the more you have to wonder why we’re not switching some of our fuel needs to methanol. Look at what’s happening: Oil has become so plentiful that we’re reverting to the old situation of the 1950s, when the big concern among oil […]
In his State of the Union address on Jan. 28, 2003, President George W. Bush proposed $1.2 billion in research funding so that America “can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles.” “With a new national commitment,” the president added, “our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom, […]
Congress just left town for recess. Should we feel relieved that it can do no (or at least minimal) harm while it’s out of town, or should we feel bad that it went on vacation without enacting several important bills or making a real dent in establishing the ground rules for a fair and effective […]
Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren, well-known advisors and columnists for people with relationship issues, were, at one point in time, distant cousins of mine. So I was willingly exposed to daily columns about the lovelorn, love-confused and folks in need of love. Ms. Landers and Ms. Van Buren were actually sisters. They, however, didn’t […]
J.W.G. Turner and R.J. Pearson et al, Lotus Engineering The authors of this research argue that since there isn’t enough E85 to power all the flex-fuel vehicles on the road, “the introduction of methanol (which can be made extremely simply and cheaply from natural gas) into gasoline-ethanol mixtures, can be used to create drop-in fuels […]
As oil prices have tumbled, one thing has become clear: Electric vehicles are making much greater headway in the rest of the world than they are in the United States. U.S. sales have remained flat over the past year after increasing steadily over the last decade. But sales have actually accelerated in some European countries, […]
I used to teach public policy development, while a dean at the University of Colorado. Before that, I was lucky to be involved with colleagues at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other federal agencies in helping develop public policy. Finally, over the years I have had the good fortune to […]
Over the last month, the following incidents have taken place in the Middle East: On July 4, a car bomb exploded in a crowded market in Baghdad, killing nine people and injuring 24. Although no one took credit for the attack, suspicion fell on ISIS, which had been responsible for previous bombings in Baghdad. The […]
William Shakespeare once said that there are “occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things” (Henry V). I would edit the Bard of Avon and add, except when trying to readily understand recent oil price increases in California. Put two analysts in a room and ask about the cost of oil and you likely […]
