The Alternative Vehicle Co-Operative

An Article in INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY has the story of the bill that is likely to be voted on which will decide if States are allowed to Drill Offshore.

The Republican National Convention is selling a mega illusion. Alaska and the coast of California are the goose that laid the golden egg. Everyone in that auditorium chanting “Drill Baby Drill” is actually chanting “Kill The Goose, Get All The Eggs!”.

These Christians need to ask themselves, honestly; if Jesus were here on earth right now would he endorse “Drill Baby Drill”?

Really, would he?

I’m being serious.

Look me in the eye and tell me that he would.

Tell me he would be OK with destroying God’s creation, homes of bears and eagles, fishes and whales so we can idle our V8’s in traffic and choke ourselves on smoke.

I’m no theologian, but if I had to guess, I would bet Jesus would probably ride the bus.

Drill Baby Drill. And then we’re suddenly free of foreign oil? Uh hugh. Sure. Alaska and Saudi Arabia are neck and neck for the title of “oil rich region”. I hate to break it you folks but getting along with our neighbors well enough to do business with them is not something that’s going to go away. No matter how much domestic oil we produce. That is feature of the landscape on our ever-shrinking planet.

They are trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Trusting the rich guys and big oil is not the solution. We need to be smarter than to join the angry mob chanting, “Kill the Goose, Drill Baby Drill”.

Check Out Driven: Shai Agassi’s Audacious Plan to Put Electric Cars on the Road in this months Wired Magazine

The next TechNet will be held August 14, 2008.
There is a $20 donation to the incubator for this event.
Please RSVP to Susan Barich or call 831-582-9718.
Upcoming TechNet Topics:
August 14, 2008: MTC CleanTechNet: Abundant BioFuels
Abundant Biofuels Chairman and CEO Chuck Fishel discusses biofuels
and his company’s solution to rising fuel costs & other issues at
Marina Technology Cluster.

Marketplace, the financial news show from PRI reported today that gas has dropped in price because demand dropped! Music to our ears. Preach on brother!

This is an awesome display of how us consumers really can make a difference. Pissed off about the price of gas? Angry about the damage petro chemicals are doing to our environment? Then don’t buy gas. Simple. Well done everyone.

Here is a clip from the story:

RYSSDAL: So, here we sit, down 20 percent in the price of a barrel of crude oil in about three weeks. What gives?

BEUTEL: Well, it’s been demand destruction. The curious thing here is that the consumer has had a lot more power than he or she were aware that they did have. Demand for gasoline, which is the main item which is produced by crude oil and the biggest item that we use here in the U.S. . . . Gasoline demand is down between 2.2 and 4.1 percent, depending on which source or aggregate one uses. But that’s been enough to pull gasoline prices down almost 75 cents a gallon.

For the rest of the story click here

Completely disregarding my fathers advice (nothing new there…. was that desperation or pleading I heard in his voice?) I bought a 1983 diesel Mercedes. WooHoo! (Dad’s a fine one to talk about dragging home old cars anyway).

I have been driving it for 2 days now and it seems to be in good working order. I thought the turn signal was broken, but when I rolled up the window they started working again. Also, it’s a bit louder and not as nice as my 02 Subaru… but I see a lot of potential.

It’s a four speed standard transmission sedan, needs some body work, but not a total eyesore. I paid $1,200 for it, its got 165,000 miles. Kate hasn’t left me (yet) but I have noticed her sinking down in her seat when we drive through town.

I have formed a three-phase plan to boycott the evil oil industry and make a (loud) statement about prioritizing the environment.

Phase one. I can buy Biodiesel out of a pump at a service station in Santa Cruz. This will require only minor modifications to the car: I have to replace the fuel filter, biodiesel is a solvent and a lot of gunk comes out through the lines. Also I hear there is a good chance all the rubber hoses will melt.

Phase two will be to fix some dents, get new tires, repair a tare in the seat and maybe even a paint job. Also who knows what kind of mechanical issues I may run into.

Phase three is where the fun really begins. This is where I find a restaurant and start filtering their WVO (waste veggie oil). This will require a 55 gallon drum of used fryer grease in my garage and a spare, heated, tank in my trunk. Obviously, a much higher level of commitment. We’ll see if I get that far. If I do, I’m planning on flying cousin Bill out for an all expenses paid trip to help me install the system. I haven’t asked Bill yet, but I know he’s a sucker for this type of thing.