"Green Technology" = Fail at Winter Olympics...Zamboni to the rescue!

They’re called “Olympia machines” — electric versions of the old Zambonis — but, like many brilliant “green” ideas, they’re expensive and don’t work:

The electric Zambonis — part of Canada’s attempt at a green Vancouver Olympics — failed multiple times this evening, causing a massive delay in in the middle of the Men’s 500-meter speedskating event.

The Canadian-built electric ice resurfacers used at the Richmond Olympic Oval are supposed to help the environment but it cost the second half of the 500M speedskating pairs after one ice-resurfacing machine couldn’t properly clean the ice. Then a second machine failed. Then they brought in a third and it, too, screwed up the course.
With speeds of up to 40 MPH reached on the ice, the rutted and uneven surface was considered too dangerous to skate on. It was eventually fixed but American Shani Davis, prepping himself for a gold medal run in the 1,000-meter, decided to withdraw.

Three electric Olympia machines were used, and none did the job. Now those things, along with their batteries, will probably end up on a scrap heap somewhere, and the Vancouver Olympics organizers are airlifting in a good ol’ gas-powered Zamboni from Calgary so there are no more long delays at the rink. “Carbon neutral” baby..... I can feel it getting warmer outside already.

Yeah, let’s put the greenies in charge of the whole world!

My Nominee for Dad of the Millenium!

There is an old adage that says "Good fences make good neighbors." I think this is what they meant.
While our efforts...back in the day... consisted of laying 2x4's in a square and flooding the backyard with a garden hose, along with hanging a light from the closest tree with an extension cord, this guy has taken it a step further.
Any Dad doing this would have been nominated for sainthood when I was a kid. They must have some nice neighbors too, as it goes across two backyards.

Look at the bottem picture of the cool Zamboni (in spite of the Oilers logo) . Zamboni actually manufactures these for the home market, called the model 100, baby brother to the real thing......where have I been?





In a related item I've never understood the appeal of this guy, a Canadian national icon, even though I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every week. Watch this video of "Making a suit with Don Cherry". At least the first 30 seconds to see the suit he shows up in. How can anyone wearing this stuff not be gay?