apple juice

Two wonderful developments in the world of TDIs and BioDiesel recently took place.

First off, VW decided to extend warranty coverage to TDI owners who run up to B5, (5% BioDiesel) and they are researching higher concentrations.

This is a huge win. Although many TDI owners already run BioDiesel, this takes creates a “halo-effect” around the cars and the fuel. It is now legit to purchase a TDI and burn the bean.

Secondly, the first BioDiesel production plant in Minnesota opened. This goes hand in hand with VW announcing their warranty coverage, because in 2006, Minnesota will be the first state to mandate 2% BioDiesel in all diesel fuel.

For more info: VW — BioDiesel Now — TDIClub.com

No, not Minneapolis unfortunately.

This is a great article on Mayor Daley’s quest to turn Chicago into the “greenest” city in America. It’s the kind of visonary, “look-what-we-can-do-when-we-work-together” stuff that I just eat up.

Back in 1989 newly elected Mayor Richard M. Daley was plagued with how to lift Chicago out of the post-industrial slag heap. He had a simple yet brilliant idea: plant more trees. This turned into a wholesale reformation of the city’s crumbling 100+ year old infrastructure. Since 1989, the city has spent $5.2 billion improving Chicago’s walkways, streets, parks and neighborhood communities. Most impressive amongst a list of admirable achievements was facing the great white elephant that was the Chicago River. Buildings once faced away from the river to avoid the stench, and the extent of damage was reminiscent of the Lake Erie chemical fires of the 1970s. Today large sections along both branches have reemerged as residential districts full of townhomes, high-rises and converted loft communities with a meticulously landscaped riverwalk stretching for miles.

This article talks about many of the things I wish I could do if I were working in the “Minneapolis Department of the Environment”. I wonder how we could get that started…

This is not the sort of thing I would normally admit out-loud. Yes, I am a geek, all who know me can attest to that. But I usually have a very tempered level of geekitude. The geek is not on display at all times, more like it’s in the holster ready to come out at any moment…

This is one of those moments.

I’m listening to the soundtrack to a video game right now. There, I said it.

It’s the soundtrack for Splinter Cell (a game I have never played), and the music was composed by Amon Tobin… an electronicalist… err something.

I guess this is what happens when the Apple Juicette is out of town for a week:

• Come home from work
• Feed Dog
• Eat left overs for dinner
• Watch “the daily show” from last night
• play Zelda for an hour or so. (okay 2 hours)
• listen to music… including random video game music
• type some random incoherence into the old website
• time to go to bed!

Anyway, thanks jgd3 for the recommendation!

I had a little sports-related injury a week ago. I just started playing indoor soccer, and I managed to catch my foot in some strange and un-natural way as I was running after the ball.

I’m compelled to share a picture:

A co-worker wanted to see the ankle the other day, so I pulled up my pants a few inches, and she said.. “Is the ace bandage keeping it stable?”

“Ummm, it’s not wrapped,” I replied.

But that was a week ago, now I’m hobbling around without the crutches, but i don’t think I’ll be back on the artificial pitch again this season!

Ah well, more time for vids.

I’m on the phone with FedEx, asking if I can pick up my package today. (I can’t)

He put me on hold to call the local FedEx center, and the hold music was EXACTLY the same as what was playing in my office.

Sync’ed exactly.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, sweet sounds floated down from above. Put the receiver back to my ear. It’s in surround sound now.

The Muzak is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now in this very room. You can hear it when you look out your window. Or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work. When you go to Church. When you pay your taxes. It is the music that has been pulled over your ears to blind you from the truth.