| Homes blend eco-friendliness, unique design
Theres been quite a buzz around town lately about energy and water conservation practices, and for years so-called green building has been a hit.
However a few homes in Truckee were built eco-friendly, not just to save heat and money, but because theyre just plain interesting.
One with the Earth
Sue and Jeff Cauhape have been living in their Tahoe Donner, earth berm home for 12 years. The couple maintains that, despite being for-the-most-part covered in dirt, their home is very bright and inviting.
Its not dark inside at all; we were surprised by how much light there was, Sue Cauhape said. We tried to sell it for two years, but I dont think a lot of people get the concept. Its odd, but weve been very comfortable here.
Comfort inside the home can be attributed to its thermal mass the walls absorb and retain heat, so the house requires neither heater nor air conditioner.
Afghanistan:Manley Report
First of all I would like to say I have lost two family members in Afghanistan, and that if I was able to re-join Princess Pat. over there I would, only because I feel obligated to help my fellow soldiers. That said, this mission is one that would go on forever. It doesn't really matter how much stability is brought to the region, as soon as western countries leave, it will again become ruled by Islamist warlords. There is a lot of money to be made in the poppy fields and as long as that remains true, the warlords will return. Now the reasons we went in there in the first place I am sure time will show were false as well. You cannot claim we are there to protect womens rights etc. because if thats what we are doing there we have a few hundred more countries to occupy over there.
New Delhi, December 13
Chill pierced deeper even during the day in the Capital on Thursday. Tribune photo by Manas Ranjan Bhui
Disabled employees entitled to reservation in promotion: HC
New Delhi, December 13
In a judgement that holds promise for government employees suffering from disability, the Delhi High Court has held that they are entitled to the benefits of reservation in promotion. .
Toyota exec, activist clash at L.A. show
The incident occurred at the end of Toyota's press conference, where Bob Carter, vice president and general manager of the Toyota division, was introducing the 2008 Sequoia full-size SUV.
When a man asked Carter why Toyota was suing California over carbon-dioxide emissions regulations, Carter noticed that the man's media badge identified him as Dave Schembri, head of Mercedes-Benz's Smart division. Carter knocked the video camera from the man's hands, and security guards separated the two.
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Fuel-cell vehicles stalled by price tag
Politicians and scientists have been touting hydrogen as the fuel of the future for years. But as the price of oil tops $100 a barrel and more alternative energies find their way to market, consumers might be wondering: Where are the hydrogen fuel cells?
"It's a very difficult technology to bring to the real world," said Taras Wankewycz, vice president of Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, a Singapore company that makes products powered by fuel cells. "The ability to run your car on something that doesn't burn or something that doesn't pollute is still considered very futurist."
A fuel cell creates electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction. Water and heat are the only byproducts.
The technology dates back to 1839, but its first modern use was to supply power to command and lunar modules during the Apollo space program.
Wheat board latest topic as federal NDP, Liberals snipe over possible ...
But the spirit of unity quickly dissolved as NDP MP Pat Martin urged his Liberal counterparts not to "sit on their hands" when the wheat board issue comes up for a vote in the Commons. Liberal MP Raymond Simard, who was sitting just a few feet away, called Martin's comments a political cheap shot. Simard could not say whether the Liberals would abstain from a vote on the wheat board if it is deemed a confidence motion that could result in an election. On Wednesday, New Democrat finance critic Thomas Mulcair said Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has shown "incredible weakness" by indicating his party might abstain from a vote on the federal budget. .
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