One Carbon Molecule At A Time

Santa Uses Fullerenes

Space Age Santa

Larry Silverberg, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University, said his research has established that Santa does not, as commonly thought, carry enough presents for each child in his sleigh.

"We believe that he uses nanotechnology to grow the presents under the tree with soot, candy, other types of natural materials. He puts them under the tree and actually grows the presents, wrapping and all."

So...Even Santa is ahead of America in Fullerene manufacturing technology!

I keep sending e-mails to Researchers and the Obama transition team. So far, my fullerene suggestions have reached the level of "Intense Debate", in the public forum. I guess that's something.

The Obama-Biden transition team has invited me to organize a local, healthcare, community discussion group, but I am not getting through to the commerce/economy/environment people, yet. Maybe I can get further attention if I do this healthcare thing. We shall see.

To read my posts about Fullerenes, type "fullerene" in the blog search box.

What a Difference a Day Made

A dusting of snow at Shasta Dam. 12/15/08

Dusting of snow along Dam road. 12/15/08
Winter is trying to make it's way to Redding. The surrounding hills and mountains are beginning to accumulate snow, and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. ☃
Wow, that's quite a light display!
What? You didn't click on the little snowman?
If you do, you will see just the oppposite of this...

"Yes dear, I put up the decorations."

Down The Hillside

Berry bushes and snow help hide the trailer trash, trash.
While taking pictures of the berry bushes along the dam road I found the spoor of the agressive ignorant anti-environmentalists.
"Build it, and they will throw it away."

Virgin Spaceport in New Mexico

Spaceport America approved by FAA

New Mexico's Spaceport America, the anticipated home base for Virgin Galactic's suborbital space tourism operation.
The 16,600-acre stretch of ranchland is located 40 miles north of Las Cruces, N.M., and 30 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences, in Sierra County.

I have fond memories of Las Cruces. Between 1960 and 1975, I must have traveled through that town at least 50 times. It's on the well worn path between Texas and California. Dad had a new tire put on there once, and the wheel fell off about 5 miles out of town. I guess the trainee at the tire store hadn't got to the tighten the lug nuts lesson, yet.

Great Snakes Alive!

Bright green pit/viper

BANGKOK (AFP) – Scientists have discovered more than 1,000 species in Southeast Asia's Greater Mekong region in the past decade, including a spider as big as a dinner plate, the World Wildlife Fund said Monday.

The species were all found in the rainforests and wetlands along the Mekong River.

Todays Relatively Appropriate Song;
The Snake -Al Wilson

"It's not what you look at that matters,
it's what you see."
-- HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Sunset, Bat Baby, Lake Shasta and the Volcano Song

Nice Sunset Yesterday

Sunset from my Balcony 10/27/08
Sometimes the sunsets here are breathtaking.

It's A Gas, Gas, Gas...
The Rolling Stones

Price of gas on Monday, before I cleaned the windshield

Cell phone pic this evening 10/28/08
Well, whadda ya know, the price went down 4 more cents!
Impatience made me get gas yesterday, but then I was on empty. Maybe the price will be even lower next week when I will have enough money to fill it up.

The Adventures of Bat Baby

Thanks to Jo Anna for the picture
I haven't heard from Bat Girl for a few days, but the last I heard, she was on the San Juan islands. Maybe they don't have cell phone service in that part of Washington state.
This bat baby will do just fine for today's blog.

Here in Redding;

Leaves and fruit, (berries?), by my balcony. 10/27/08
Fall is falling all around me. I had planned a trip east toward Burney to photograph the fall colors, but it was not to be, at this time. The forest service has been doing a controlled burn by Mount Lassen, that has that side of the valley pretty much smoked out. It might produce an interesting effect to my photos, but then there is the matter of fuel for the car. It will, like anything else that requires money, just have to wait until next week.

On the other hand, I am just down the road from Shasta Dam, so I took a ride up there today.

Transportation provided by; Marian Sauer
It was a beautiful day for a ride in the Buick.
It looks and feels like it was made for a fall day drive up to the lake.

Driver and photographer, Happy Phil

The lake is down to early 90's level and one can see a portion of the tower that was part of the dam construction, rising as the water level falls.

Shasta dam and lake 10/28/08

If you look close, you can see a car crossing the dam.
From this vantage point, you can see some of the damage from the wildfires we had in July.
The lake is still over 300 feet deep at the dam. There was an article about the legend of the giant fish that dwell in the depths of Shasta lake. There are some sturgeon that were in this part of the river before the dam was built, so 300+ pound sturgeons, could very likely make their home in the lake.

The boat ramp is a long way down. 10/28/08

Boat ramp from another viewpoint 10/28/08

Mount Shasta looms in the distance 10/28/08
All in all, it has been another wonderful day, here in Redding.

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;
Volcano -Jimmy Buffet

Enjoy God's Beautiful Earth