Marlene McKay » News

Fuel from salt water?

Marlene — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:51:27 +0000

A friend of mine sent me a link to a blog that was talking about how someone has found a way to burn salt water, and that the possibility was there to further develop that to actually be able to run cars with that technology.

So I was just googling “fuel from salt water” and was reading the different links about it.

From what I can tell, right now it takes more energy to create the fuel than the fuel itself would generate, which makes it impractical. Perhaps someone can refine the process, but I also read that when the salt water DOES burn, it releases a deadly form of chlorine gas, which probably would not be a good thing!

So, I think that quite a bit of “tweaking” needs to be done for that technology to hit the mainstream use of running our cars on saltwater!

My aunt sent me an article about a leopard

Marlene — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:36:53 +0000

I know I’ve told you that I have an aunt that lives in London. She sent me an email yesterday with a link to a local newspaper (to her) that was running a story with pictures about a leopard that attacked a large crocodile. It was quite a battle; the leopard won the battle and hauled the crocodile off to eat. All I can say is that the leopard must have been pretty hungry to take on a crock! The article was on the Earth news section of the website of the London Telegraph paper at Telegraph.co.uk if you want to check it out.
Absolutely amazing!

Tough times ahead

Marlene — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:37:00 +0000

I don’t know how I stumbled across this particular CNN website yesterday, but the headlines were disheartening: Fed sees more tough times ahead. The article goes on to say that the Federal Reserve sees both unemployment and inflation rising in the year ahead. That news does not surprise me, but it does discourage me. It is getting harder and harder to make ends meet. I’m working two jobs, putting in twelve hours a day and am looking for a third job and still not making enough to pay the bills. These are tough times, for sure.

Uncontacted native tribes

Marlene — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:50:54 +0000

I am always amazed when I hear news of uncontacted native tribes being “discovered.” There is a story that I saw from the Yahoo pages about a tribe in Brazil that includes pictures from a recent “flyover.” The natives are photographed aiming flaming arrows at the aircraft that is taking the pictures. Can you imagine the horror and dread these natives are feeling as they see this “monster” flying overhead?

I have to stop and think whether it really is in the tribes best interest, as human beings, to be left undeveloped or is it in their best interest to be contacted and taught “modern ways.” That is a moral and ethical decision I know I’ll never have to make, and I’m glad I don’t have to make it! I know for sure that I am glad that I don’t have to live in such primitive conditions!

If you want to see the story I’m talking about, click here.

Mud slinging

Marlene — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:03:34 +0000

I keep hearing about how Donald Trump is running for president on the Republican ticket. One of the things that concerns me about that is how many very heated and nasty public disagreements he has been involved in.

One of the biggest jobs of President is diplomacy. I haven’t seen much of that coming from Mr. Trump. I find it difficult to fathom that he could actually be elected. But if he wants to spend a lot of money on a politcal campaign, I’m sure the economy would be grateful for having his money circulating among the working class!

Lesson – never pick on someone bigger than you are

Marlene — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:58:35 +0000

When I was a little girl, and was learning to deal with life issues, such as bullies, my parents taught me that eventually a bully tries to pick on the wrong person and gets the stuffing beat out of him. I guess this youngster learned this lesson the hard way.

The long haul

Marlene — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:33:27 +0000

As I read about all of the devestation in Japan from the earthquake and tsunami, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of that horrible disaster. I can only imagine the terrible hardship this is causing. All of those people have no place to sleep, no blankets to keep warm, and no food or clean water to consume.

I wonder about how all of these people will survive for the long haul. Where will they live? How will they survive? Who will feed them?

On the less emotional side, and thinking about the “business” end, I wonder will their debtors defer their payments? How will the mortgage companies try to collect payments on houses that no longer exist? And I wonder about all of the insurance claims. Will the insurance companies refuse to pay, saying it was an “act of God?” Hmm….. I thought I was taught in school that Japanese people don’t believe in God.

The Groundhog Promises Early Spring

Marlene — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:40:49 +0000

The official groundhog did not see his shadow this morning. So we should have an early Spring this year. I, for one, am more than ready for warmer weather.

Such a shame

Marlene — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 03:05:03 +0000

One of the big local headlines this week in our town is that an eighteen year old man stabbed his 61 year old mother to death and beat up his father. While out of his mind on drugs. Other people were in the house at the time and were not hurt. No one knows WHY this young man did such a horrendous act. These kinds of stories really scare me about how easy it is for people to get their hands on drugs that will have such a negative influence on our behavior. What a terrible tragedy, and what a good reason to stay away from anything that will alter judgement!

Scary collapse

Marlene — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:46:32 +0000

I just saw some video footage of the inflatable roof on the Metrodome collapsing from the weight of the snow that Minneapolis got over the past few days. This is some scary footage! I’m really glad that no one was inside seeking emergency shelter! That would have caused some serious injuries!