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GRAND CANYON WEST, Arizona (CNN) -- I was stranded in the Arizona desert in my broken-down truck wondering if I had made a big mistake: Our CNN.com biofuel road trip seemed doomed to fail.
CNN.com's Cody McCloy, left, and co-pilot Brian Hardy set out on their biofuel experiment on July 28.
My newly purchased 1978 International Harvester Scout quit on me during our very unscientific experiment to drive a biodiesel-powered truck from California to Georgia in two-weeks.
Under a hot sun, with no air conditioning in the truck, I feared that my Scout would be stolen while I went for help. Worse, I worried that I'd be forced to abandon the vehicle altogether and return home to Atlanta with my tail between my legs.
But two things happened as I sat in the middle of nowhere, a stone's throw from the Grand Canyon. One: I was reminded of the incredible capacity for people to help total strangers. And two: The Scout proved that it wasn't quite ready for the junk yard. Watch a retrospective on Cody's trip »
A very generous Grand Canyon West employee named Dave drove me and my co-pilot Brian Hardy two-and-a-half hours to Kingman. There, we rented a car and gathered hard-to-find auto parts that brought the Scout back to life. See Cody's road trip photos »
Two weeks and 4,189 miles after we set out, here's what we learned:
Lesson 1: The project was designed to start a conversation about alternative fuel. No single fuel is the answer, but we need to start looking at alternatives. Biodiesel's not the only solution, but it's a way to start looking at the problem of how to fuel the nation in a cleaner way, and to do something about it.
Biodiesel is made by chemically modifying vegetable oil. The resulting biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable and can be blended at any level with regular diesel. Most diesel cars can run on it, and it can be found in more and more places around the country.
The whole idea of this adventure was to see how easy it is to find biodiesel fuel and to learn what role it might play in our nation's energy future. As the price of oil spiked this year, many Americans started looking for alternative fuels that might pollute less and help the nation break its addiction to foreign oil.
The project got started when I suggested that CNN.com use me as a reporter. I told them I would purchase a diesel vehicle -- sight unseen -- near San Francisco, California, and drive it back to Atlanta, Georgia, on biodiesel and biodiesel blends. When the bosses said yes, I had no idea what I was in for. Follow Cody's trip on interactive map »
Driving through the Southwestern United States in August in a truck without air conditioning was an ordeal, to say the least. Much of the trip was spent with windows rolled down. The Scout sometimes blew hot air inside the truck onto our feet.
On one occasion the heat was so unbearable I had to beg Brian, who was driving at the time, to pull off the Interstate and find a convenience store so we could simply stand in the refreshing a/c.
Lesson 2: For long distance trips, you really need to map out your biodiesel fueling destinations and make sure they're open, and I would call places before you stop. Being green isn't necessarily easy, but if you put time into it and think about it, running your vehicle with biodiesel is something you can do to help the environmental problems we face.
The number of fueling stations that offer biodiesel is growing quickly, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but it turned out to be harder to find than we initially expected. We got a lot of help finding fueling stations from the friendly folks at the National Biodiesel Board.
Reality first set in the day we set off from San Francisco on July 28. A station in Big Oak Flat, California, where we'd hoped to fill up was closed. In Las Vegas, Nevada, Haycock Petroleum provided us with biodiesel, although they normally deal only wholesale.
We estimate we spent an extra five hours traveling off the beaten path in search of the right type of fuel.
As for money, we shelled out $367 for fuel. The best bargain we found was $4.25 per gallon, and the most expensive biodiesel we bought was $5.59 per gallon. We bought 81.39 gallons of biofuel during the trip. When we had no choice, we bought regular diesel fuel, which totaled 74.67 gallons.
Mechanical difficulties
Based on our research of biodiesel hurdles, the mechanical problems we had along the way were fairly typical. That said, this is a 30-year-old vehicle we're talking about, so our experiences likely differ from those you'd get in a newer car.
B100 » (100 percent biodiesel) is a strong solvent, so it can soften and/or dissolve residue left from using conventional diesel fuel, according to the Department of Energy. On top of that, biodiesel breaks down certain types of rubber found in hoses and gaskets, says the DOE.
The agency recommends cleaning the fuel tank if it contains residue and using "extreme care ... to ensure that any part of the fuel system that touches the fuel is compatible with B100."
Unfortunately, we did not take these steps early enough. In Grand Canyon West, six days and 1,200 miles into the trip, our fuel filter clogged up and our tank contents were contaminated.
Apparently a previous owner of the Scout installed fuel lines with pliable plastic tubing. Biodiesel turned this into gunk, which entered the fuel filter.
Two days later after several stops and starts we were able to pump the fuel tank clean of the residue we'd collected during the first few days of the trip. Watch how we pulled a "MacGyver" around the fuel tank »
Incidentally, auto manufacturers don't warranty engines after they've used blends containing more than 5 percent biodiesel, according to FuelEconomy.gov.
Enough about the tough moments; this was a fun and educational trip!
For one, we visited places voted on by CNN.com users. Including Oxford, Mississippi, and Roswell, New Mexico. Watch us at New Mexico's UFO museum »
Brian and I met some truly forward-thinking people who are on a quest to develop more sustainable practices in the United States.
In San Francisco, we toured the Solazyme plant, where scientists convert algae oils into fuel, soap and food. The researchers at the plant say if they had the money that is currently being spent on drilling for oil, they could manufacture enough of the product to market and run people's cars within two years. Watch Cody's interview about algae biofuel »
During our stop in New Orleans, Louisiana, professor Douglas Meffert of Tulane University explained the plan to install turbines in the Mississippi River to help power the Lower 9th Ward, a neighborhood in New Orleans that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Watch us along the "Big Muddy" »
We also heard from resourceful CNN iReporter Dr. Marshall Davis who shared with us how he produces his own biodiesel in his garage at home. Watch Davis explain what his kids think of his hobby »
We thought we might camp more during this trip, but for logistical reasons, it didn't happen as much as we expected. We camped in Yosemite National Park and New Orleans. When you're on a time-crunch, camping doesn't work and it's not necessarily any cheaper than staying at a motel.
It's been a true adventure -- two-weeks I'm sure Brian and I will never forget. Thanks to everyone who helped us and who offered support as they followed us along the way.
CNN's Debra Alban contributed to this report.
All About Alternative Fuel Vehicles • Alternative Energy Technology • Travel and Tourism


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subset: commoncrawl


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Paint it red pr14x2030 eyespy midi skirt. Fabric: 95% polyester, 5% elastane. Care label: warm hand wash. Occasion: casual,nine to five style: party girl,everyday girl,stripes suits shape: pear,hourglass,rectangle


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3 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Many of us have written Sheldon to clear up questions or read his website inside out to educate ourselves, find cycling facts or technical info. Through the years I've grown to appreciate, respect and rely on his particular spin on bike lore and truthful down home humor on the subject. My beginnings would not have continued on my bike if it were not for Sheldon's answers to my novice and girlie questions. Thank you.
May all cyclists pass on his wisdom to others new to the sport. Despite our blues his passion was bright like his favorite color red. Peace to you, your family and Igor.
Bernadette (email@example.com)
- 4 March 2008 at 01:48
- Anonymous said...
I never had correspondence with the man and though I'm new to fixed riding, through all my searches, the name "Sheldon Brown" came up almost everywhere. I feel that a community has lost an important and pivotal figure and a family has lost their father, I'm sorry I never had the opportunity to correspond with him and my condolences and my heart to all that knew and loved him.
- 11 November 2009 at 20:11
- George Stephens said...
I have used Sheldon's knowledge as a reference to build numerous amazing bicycles. I never knew him, but I know that he will forever be loved. His passion for most everything with a sprocket and a chain will benefit this planet long after his memory. Thank you Sheldon, and thank you to those who helped him and loved him.
- 17 June 2011 at 07:31


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Location: Systematic Entomology LaboratoryTitle: Revision of the Afrotropical Mayrellinae (Cynipoidea, Liopteridae), with the first record of Paramblynotus from Madagascar Author
|Simon Van Noort - Iziko Museums Of Cape Town
|Buffington, Matthew
Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2013
Publication Date: 3/13/2013
Publication URL: http://www.pensoft.net/journals/jhr/article/4072/revision-of-the-afrotropical-mayrellinae-cynipoidea-liopteridae-with-the-first-record-of-paramblynotus-from-madagascar
Citation: Simon Van Noort, Buffington, M.L. 2013. Revision of the Afrotropical Mayrellinae (Cynipoidea, Liopteridae), with the first record of Paramblynotus from Madagascar. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 64:1-64.
Interpretive Summary: Parasitic wasps are important biological control organisms especially for the control of invasive, exotic species that are pests in agriculture and forestry. This paper investigates a group of wasps native to Africa and Madagascar that parasitize wood boring beetle larvae. The paper provides a better understanding about the evolution of this group and provides species identities and distributions that are essential to well-developed biological control projects. Eight new species are described, and an on-line, interactive keys to 28 species are made available. Digital color images of all of the species are provided in the paper as well as on-line. Biological control researchers, ecologists and tropical agricultural researchers will find this paper useful.
Technical Abstract: The genus Paramblynotus Cameron from the Afrotropical region is revised including the description of the following eight new species: Paramblynotus alexandriensis Buffington & van Noort sp. nov.; Paramblynotus bayangensis van Noort & Buffington sp. nov.; Paramblynotus behara van Noort & Buffington sp. nov.; Paramblynotus dzangasangha van Noort & Buffington sp. nov.; Paramblynotus parinari Buffington & van Noort sp. nov.; Paramblynotus ruvubuensis van Noort & Buffington sp. nov.; Paramblynotus seyrigi van Noort & Buffington sp. nov.; Paramblynotus zohy van Noort & Buffington sp. nov. The genus Paramblynotus is recorded from Madagascar for the first time, with representatives of two species-groups being present on the island: the Paramblynotus yangambicolous species-group and the new Paramblynotus seyrigi species-group, which we erect here to accommodate a single, but highly distinctive new species. The latter species-group is likely to be endemic to Madagascar. We provide identification keys to the genera and species occurring in the Afrotropical region. Online dichotomous and interactive Lucid keys are available at http://www.waspweb.org/Cynipoidea/Keys/index.htm.


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Manage and control groups
Groups help teams manage access to their shared folders. As an admin, you can view and manage all the groups within your team, as well as control who creates them.
With groups, team members can create lists of people who should have access to many of the same files and folders (like departments, teams, or functions). Any new member added to a group will automatically be added to all shared folders that the group has been invited to.
Creating groups makes collaborating easier for your team. For example, instead of inviting each member of the marketing team to a new project folder one at a time, your marketing manager can invite the "Marketing" group instead. Once invited, everyone within that group will automatically get an invitation to join the new folder.
Key points:
- View all groups across your entire team.
- Add or remove team members from groups as needed.
- Restrict group creation to only admins on your team.
Creating groups
By default, both Admins and team members can create groups. Click here for instructions on how team members can create groups.
To create a group from within the Admin Console:
- Sign in to your Dropbox Business account.
- Click Admin Console.
- From the left sidebar, click on Groups.
- On right-hand side of the page, click the New group button.
- Enter a name for your group. This is the name all team members will see and use to invite the group to new shared folders. Please note that as the owner of this group, you can change the group's name at any time.
- Click the Create group button.
Note: Group names can't be used twice within the same team. Once a group is created for a team, others will receive an error if they attempt to create a new group with that same name.
Viewing and managing your team's groups
If you're the admin for a Dropbox Business account, you can view and manage all the groups within your team.
To view the groups in your team:
- Sign in to your Dropbox Business account.
- Click Admin Console.
- From the left sidebar, click on Groups. All groups created by any member of your team will be listed on this page.
Note: You automatically act as an owner for each group within your team, and you can manage those groups as an owner. Create a new one by clicking the Create group button. To edit a group, select the name of the groups you'd like to edit.
Viewing and managing a member's groups
As the admin, you can also view and manage the groups of any single team member. This can be helpful when onboarding new employees, since you can easily add them to all of the correct groups, as well as when an employee changes roles and you need to adjust their groups.
To view a team member's groups:
- Go to the Admin Console and click on Members from the left sidebar.
- Click on the name of the team member's account you'd like to view.
- Under Group membership, you'll see a list of all the groups that team member is a part of.
Restricting group creation
By default, team members are allowed to create groups, but you can restrict this ability to admins only if you'd like.
To restrict the ability to create groups to admins only:
- Go to the Admin Console and click on Groups from the left sidebar.
- Under "Who can create groups?" select Admins.


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The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze touts itself as being the Tri-State's (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) biggest and most exciting Halloween event. Their hubris is deserved; The glowing pumpkins and the elaborate installation of carvings are incredible.
The event features more than 5,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack o' lanterns, and is set against the backdrop of the historic,18th-century riverside landscape of the Hudson River Valley. All displays are made out of pumpkins, and arranged into the likes of giant sea monsters, dinosaurs, snakes, and shrunken "Little Monsters." It even features a Tunnel O' Pumpkin Love. (If you're wondering how that works, it involves gourd-filled Jack-in-the-Boxes springing up and bouncing around.)
Pumpkin carving has a rich history in the UK. The Instagram blog describes it, writing:
Although only associated with Halloween as we know it today since the late 1800s, the tradition of gourd carving dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries in rural Ireland and England. People created jack o'lanterns for the old holidays of Samhain and All Souls' Night when spirits were thought to be the most active. Grotesque faces carved into the objects were meant to frighten away any ghouls seeking to do harm.
These sculptural displays sound like heaven for anyone that loves hand-carved pumpkins and Halloween. I'm a bit jealous I'm not able to see the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in person! If you're like me and unable to make it to the Blaze, fear not. Visitors are not shy to share their photos on Instagram or Flickr. (Via Colossal. Photos via Josh Bousel, Kimberly Quintano, Bryan Haeffele, and Jeremy Bernstein.)
Photo by Joshua Bousel.
Photo by Joshua Bousel.


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The New York/New Jersey Super Bowl host committe is embracing concerns about a cold weather game, with a snowflake in their official logo in the media center.
But while many viewed next year's game as a one-time reward for building MetLife Stadium, officials there think it can become part of the regular rotation.
"It's the biggest sporting event in North America," host committee CEO Al Kelly told Steve Politi of the Newark Star-Ledger. "It's only right that it gets on the biggest stage in the world, and hopefully it makes sense that should happen once a decade. Right?
"I don't have any vision that we're going to get three out of the next 12 Super Bowls or something. But maybe, because of all the other things you can do in the region, which is an endless list of options, we can have it again."
Steelers co-owner Art Rooney II once called it a "a one-time exemption," as the league bent its rule on 50 degree average temperatures or a dome to host.
And the league has battled weather concerns in the past, Dallas and Atlanta being the most obvious examples, but the chance of inclement weather is far greater in New York, and that's something they're going to have to fight in future bids.