MSN is reporting two deaths – a pre-teen and a teen – here in Ontario over the last week. Scary.
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate?
On one hand the vaccine has been rushed into production. On the same hand, we hear about the damage done by the last Swine Flu vaccine.
On the other hand, children – who would normally take a week off school with the annual seasonal flu – are dying from this new strain.
Conclusion? Both my hands are scared.
Tagged flu, H1N1, medical issues, Swine Flu, vaccination
The community children had a blast at the City open house on
Saturday. In addition to the usual popcorn, face painting and petting
zoo, the kids were treated to some up close and personal time with a heady
display of mighty machines. Our son was mesmerized during his ride in a
cherry picker/bucket truck.
I too found inspiration but the object thereof was decidedly more
grounded. It was a hybrid hydrogen/battery powered car. The fledgling vehicle was proudly escorted by
students from the University of Waterloo engineering department.
Everything about this vehicle sounds right.
It travels 400 km on a fill up which consists of a battery charge and a
full hydrogen tank. Emissions? Water.
Yup, good ole’ H2O. Although estimating
the cost of fueling this car at approximately half that of a conventional
vehicle of similar size, the student cautioned that once hydrogen becomes a
viable fuel source it will be heavily taxed.
The downside to this car? Firstly, cost
– hardly a surprise – at seven figures for the prototype. Secondly, infrastructure. Even if the car was available, there are few
places, save for NYC, LA and Vancouver I believe, where one can ‘hydrogen up’. Although they did talk about some
interesting plans to showcase the vehicle and related technology during the
2010 Vancouver Olympics.
In response to my question as to when this car would be available to the
general population, the response was “Fifteen to twenty years”. I could feel my smile fade. When I think of
the environmental and political implications of getting these babies on the
road, that timeline seems an eternity. But
at least the technology is here. And just
maybe, some saavy entrepreneur(s), inspired by the incredible business
potential, will be willing to invest.
Governments too have lots to gain.
The only remaining question is “Who will start their engine first?”
Posted in Environment, Science
