Happy Birthday Critical Mass

This is actually a belated birthday but what ever. 15 years ago in San Fransisco bicycle commuters and activists took over the streets for a few hours one Friday afternoon. This tradition continued every month and caught on in cities and towns all over the US. Last Saturday was national don't drive your car day and I am guessing the coincidence was planned for the day after the birthday. For anyone wanting a nostalgic
viewing of the Bay Guardian and their bit about it read here.


It seems that all the foot dragging by fuel station owners and gasoline refiners has actually created a glut of ethanol in the market. Imagine that, available fuel is sitting un-used while the price of corn drops, both circumstances screwing the burgeoning bio fuels industry and farmers alike. But wait, gasoline refiners get a federal subsidy of $.51 per gallon of ethanol mixed into petroleum based fuels. Why the glut? When was the last time you saw E85 gas available or had a car that could handle it? Read a NYT article here
if interested.

The real solution as I have said many times is plug in cars and a re-vamped electricity grid. Most people that drive cars use them for less than 150 miles per use making the plug in ideal. They have faster acceleration too.

Tesla Motors still slow on getting their plug in sports car to market, ask them why their next car is a sedan instead of a station wagon or mini van with real market value. Here's their website

It looks like Oregon finally has some affordable electric vehicles now that ZAP opened up a new Portland show room, and it's on the east side! Check zap's blog
here,
and read on to hear about some strategic alliances they made with a Chilean utility and a Chinese auto manufacturer.

So things are still good, even though the fascists are usurping more power, the greedy greedos are doing what ever they can and using the once free market as their shield while wielding a sword made from their ill gotten gains. They kill everybody in the market because they have lobby forces paid for by the subsidies and favors those same lobby fucks get for them. So many uncertainties, inequities, and ubiquities it's hard to see the love in all our hearts but it is alive and we all have a response ability to act according to our values and abilities. Thanks and have a great moment.