It has been said that the North Korean diplomatic outpost in Uzbekistan has probably the worst diplomatic staff on the face of the earth.  The second worst is probably the staff of the Brazilian Consulate in Los Angeles.  Horror stories abound, the most recent of which comes from poor (name withheld to avoid any risk [...]

I have mentioned several times the potential for dimethyl ether (DME) as a viable fuel source.  The race for harvesting DME is between East Asia, Sweden, and now Canada.  Another company, Calgary-based GV Energy, has plans on opening a DME plant in Terrace, British Columbia.   Like many forestry towns in the Pacific Northwest, Terrace [...]

So it’s the day after Christmas, and hopefully your tree will last till New Year’s Day, or if you have some Armenian or Eastern European blood in you, it will hold out until January 6.  I do not have a problem with buying a live tree, as long is it is mulched by the city, [...]

What do you do when you’re new to the EU and face that 20% renewables target by 2020?  Ask Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city and the country’s largest logistics and economic hub.  Home to 350,000 people–10% of whom are students–Kaunas faces difficult choices in the next several years as Lithuania struggles to meet EU regulations. [...]

The country in Eastern Europe to which I’d move in a heartbeat is Slovenia.  I’ve never seen so many shades of green, and for a nation smaller than New Jersey, Slovenia offers much for the visitor:  countless hiking opportunities, enchanting lakes such as Bled, a slice of the Adriatic coastline, and once you learn how [...]

There are two things you should try in Canada that are hard to find south of the border.  First, peameal bacon, which is a lean cut of pork, similar to uncured ham, and great on a sandwich or with eggs.  Next, there’s poutine, the most pleasurable guilt:  French fries with cheese curds and gravy.  You’ll [...]

Finland is the quiet sibling amongst the Scandinavian family of nations.  Bordering Russia, it doesn’t have the “brand” recognition that Sweden (Ikea and ABBA), Norway (fjords), and Denmark (Maersk).  In the renewable energy debate, you don’t hear about Finland’s policies to the extent you hear about Germany’s solar, France’s nuclear, or Sweden’s biofuels. (more…)

Sorry PETA, but dogs make great pets.  They are wonderful at so many levels.  They teach kids responsibility and time management, they guard the house (the stats show you’re less likely to be burglarized if you have a pooch), they keep you company without conditions, and they may even be beneficial for your health (blood [...]