Tuesday, August 12, 2008

the mayor's boat ride


Here in our town, we have a mayor who values carless transportation. Every year, Mayor Pam Torliatt makes sure we enjoy the mayor's boat ride, the mayor's bus ride, the mayor's bike ride and the mayor's walk. The river is right downtown so boats arriving downtown are very festive, although at this point, I suppose the mayor's boat ride (small craft only) is more about fun than practicality in everyday life. But the point is made. There were lots of people out in their boats (or borrowed or rented boats) following the lead of the mayor: kayaks, canoes, little wooden boats, bigger wooden boats—all gathered Saturday for the community ride on the river. I talked with one guy who said regretfully that he rarely sends his beautiful handmade wooden boat into the water. Events like these are a great excuse to remember how peaceful, social and even sometimes practical, a boat ride can be.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

solar


We found this huge new one Megawatt solar array in Santa Rosa at Agilent.