Senator Graham has floated a “Clean Energy Standard” in place of a national “Renewable Energy Standard,” as part of his bipartisan effort to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation with Senators Kerry and Lieberman. The provisions would create significant demand for increased use of natural gas, nuclear and carbon capture & storage alongside renewable energy. However, forgotten in this proposed standard is the role that Canadian hydropower plays in the US transition to a low carbon economy.
Hydropower produces 90 times fewer greenhouse gases than coal-fired plants and over 40 times fewer than the least carbon intensive of the thermal generation options, the natural gas combined cycle. Electricity from the Canadian province of Québec alone has contributed to reduce emissions in the Northeast region of the US by approximately 30 Mt of CO2 equivalent, from 2001 to 2008. Canada has plans to bring on significant new sources of hydropower. This energy in large part will be exported to the US utilities. All sources of hydropower energy sold in or to the United States, where such facilities are certified by regulatory authorities to have complied stringent environmental laws should qualify for clean energy standards. There is no doubt that large hydropower has its share of risks, but so do other sources of energy proposed for a clean energy standard and without the same climate benefits and Canadian hydro should not be put at a disadvantage by pending legislation.
Below are some recent statements by public officials on the issue of Canadian hydro.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu June 30, 2009
"There’s no one solution to the energy crisis, but hydropower is clearly part of the solution and represents a major opportunity to create more clean energy jobs."
Phillip Moeller; FERC Commissioner July 29, 2009
"The world won’t get to where it wants to go on carbon emissions without hydropower. (…) I think this is the most exciting but also critical time in energy policy in our lifetime. (…) If hydropower isn’t recognized, we’ll regret it for decades. The time is now."
Central Vermont Power Service (CVPS) President Bob Young and Green Mountain Power (GMP) President Mary Powell March 11, 2010
"This agreement (between CVPS, GMP and HQ Energy Services [US]) sets the stage for a new contract that will help us maintain what is arguably the cleanest power supply in the nation, while ensuring a relatively stable and affordable future for our customers."
1McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP represents Canadian Hydropower interests.
Known for his large-scale photographs of dilapidated buildings in places like Cuba, Russia, and Times Square, Andrew Moore has now turned his attention to Detroit. These images are from his new collection,Detroit Disassembled, published by Damiani and the Akron Art Museum, where an exhibition of his work will be on view from June 5 to October 10.
Moore’s photographs present a devastating scene of urban deterioration, offering us glimpses into abandoned motor plants, train stations, theaters, schools, hotels, police stations, and office buildings, along with vistas of vacant houses and lots. All of the buildings are in deep states of decay: moss grows on the floor of an office at the former Ford Motor Company headquarters; thousands of books molder in the Public Schools Book Depository; an unseen person keeps a small fire going under a plastic shelter inside the trash-filled engine works room of the Dry Dock Company Complex. One of Moore’s photographs, showing an abandoned nursing home, appears in the April 29 issue of The New York Review, in Tony Judt’s essay “Ill Fares the Land.”
Another book on the same subject,The Ruins of Detroit, by the French photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre, will be published by Steidl this summer. Marchand and Meffre had already begun their project when they met Moore, whose earlier work they knew, and they urged him to photograph Detroit as well. As a result, there are now two distinctive takes on the decline of a once-powerful center of the US economy: while Moore’s book is slender, with an essay by the poet Philip Levine, Marchand and Meffre’s collection puts across a broader sociological analysis. Both books allow an astonishing amount of beauty to surface, whether in the fading traces of ornate architectural elements or in the rich colors of freshly sprouted vegetation.
Known for his large-scale photographs of dilapidated buildings in places like Cuba, Russia, and Times Square, Andrew Moore has now turned his attention to Detroit. These images are from his new collection,Detroit Disassembled, published by Damiani and the Akron Art Museum, where an exhibition of his work will be on view from June 5 to October 10.
Moore’s photographs present a devastating scene of urban deterioration, offering us glimpses into abandoned motor plants, train stations, theaters, schools, hotels, police stations, and office buildings, along with vistas of vacant houses and lots. All of the buildings are in deep states of decay: moss grows on the floor of an office at the former Ford Motor Company headquarters; thousands of books molder in the Public Schools Book Depository; an unseen person keeps a small fire going under a plastic shelter inside the trash-filled engine works room of the Dry Dock Company Complex. One of Moore’s photographs, showing an abandoned nursing home, appears in the April 29 issue of The New York Review, in Tony Judt’s essay “Ill Fares the Land.”
Another book on the same subject,The Ruins of Detroit, by the French photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre, will be published by Steidl this summer. Marchand and Meffre had already begun their project when they met Moore, whose earlier work they knew, and they urged him to photograph Detroit as well. As a result, there are now two distinctive takes on the decline of a once-powerful center of the US economy: while Moore’s book is slender, with an essay by the poet Philip Levine, Marchand and Meffre’s collection puts across a broader sociological analysis. Both books allow an astonishing amount of beauty to surface, whether in the fading traces of ornate architectural elements or in the rich colors of freshly sprouted vegetation.
Back when the iPad came out and the SDK was being explored, Greg singled out a few iPad features that we felt would be useful on the iPhone. Unfortunately only one of them seems to have made it in OS 4.0, but it’s a handy one: Bluetooth keyboard support. You can get some quite nice keyboards for a decent price, and they’ll make long emails or blog posts much, much more comfortable.
You can grab the one from Apple if you’re a freak, or do a little shopping around and find one that does a little more.
The Nexus One car dock has arrived, and we’ve mounted it in our venerable Honda Accord for a quick spin around the block, and for a few photos in the garage. (More on that in a bit.) Join us after the break as we see what all the hubbub’s about, and whether the Nexus One car dock is worth the $55 you’ll have to shell out for it.
Investors often seek safety from financial market turbulence in US government bonds since they offer virtually no risk of default and, unlike cash or gold, provide a yield.
At the same time, sovereign debt default concerns outside the US, e.g., Iceland, Dubai, and Greece, have been linked to short-term rallies in the US dollar and have diverted attention from the fiscal challenges facing the US.
Reports of US Treasury auction distress first appeared in December of 2009 when an article by Eric Sprott and David Franklin entitled “Is it All Just a Ponzi Scheme?” questioned the “Other Investors” reported by the US Federal Reserve. The unidentified investors held $359.1 billion worth of US Treasuries in the forth quarter of 2008 but $880.5 billion by the end of the third quarter 2009, an increase of $521.4 billion. Based on the Federal Reserve Flow of Funds Report, Messrs. Sprott and Franklin found the increase attributable to the “Household Sector”, which is defined in the Federal Reserve’s Flow of Funds Guide as “…amounts held or owed by the other sectors … subtracted from known totals … [such that] the remainders are assumed to be the amounts held or owed by the household sector.” Thus, the “Household Sector” is strictly an artifact of accounting practices, and, as a result, there has been some speculation regarding the parties responsible for $521.4 billion in 2009 US Treasury purchases.
The OmniSans and Zero Hedge articles focus on the percent of Treasury auction purchases made by the Federal Reserve’s own primary dealers, as compared with other bidders, and on the percentage of indirect (foreign) bids accepted. In particular, the acceptance of 100% of foreign bids suggests extremely weak foreign demand. While the evidence is accurate, the conclusion is less clear since the changing pattern of US Treasury auction results is more complex.
Federal Reserve measures designed to increase financial market liquidity and to recapitalize the banking system, such as the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), represent monetary inflation (or re-inflation), and some of this currency has certainly found its way into the coffers of the US Treasury, i.e., a rise in primary dealer purchases. A rise in primary dealer purchases could also be a result of the low cost of borrowing from the Federal Reserve. In theory, primary dealers can generate profits simply by borrowing from the Federal Reserve at near zero percent interest rates and buying Treasuries with higher yields. Of course, primary dealer purchases funded by borrowing from the Federal Reserve would be tantamount to debt monetization.
An increase in primary dealer purchases, or in purchases by direct bidders, could compensate for a decline in foreign purchases of US Treasuries but would not explain it. To be significant, a decline in foreign purchases would have to be evident in more than one type of Treasury, i.e., outside of the reported 1.0 bid to cover ratio for indirect bidders in recent 4-week Treasury Bill auctions.
What may be an emerging pattern of falling foreign demand and rising primary dealer purchases, both of which have been moderated by an increase in purchases made by direct bidders (financial institutions that place bids directly with the US Treasury, such as domestic depository institutions and mutual funds) is evident in 4-week Treasury Bill auction results.
Direct Federal Reserve purchases of US Treasuries (monetization) have been distributed over Treasuries of different types and maturities and have been generally implemented as a consistent, low-level of buying for particular Bills, Notes or Bonds. Overall, the Federal Reserve increased its holdings of US Treasuries by $286 billion in 2009, an increase of more than 60% as of September 2009 compared to 2008, and, as of March 2010, the Federal Reserve’s holdings of US Treasuries had increased another $14 billion to roughly $777 billion.
What is important is that monetization has been most significant in 4-week Treasury Bills, reaching 38.59% of total 4-week Treasury Bill sales on January 26, 2010, but similar spikes in Federal Reserve purchases do not appear in auction results for other types of Treasuries. Thus, it should come as no surprise that 4-week Treasury Bills have fallen out of favor with foreign investors.
Of course, the amount of currency created by monetization in a particular auction, regardless of the percent of Treasuries purchased by the Federal Reserve, represents only a small fraction of the monetary base. Nonetheless, there is not only a psychological dimension but also aggregate effects on the balance sheet of the Federal Reserve, on the US dollar and, ultimately, on the viability of US Treasury auctions.
A general pattern of decreased indirect bidder participation offset by rising direct bidder participation, setting aside any increase in primary dealer purchases, is evident outside of 4-week Treasury Bill auctions.
Foreign demand for 30-year Treasury Bonds has fallen over the past year, suggesting that foreign purchases may have shifted towards the short end of the maturity continuum. The more significant fact, however, is the marked increase in direct bidder purchasing, which has more than compensated for slack foreign demand at the extreme long end of the spectrum leaving primary dealer purchases flat.
Given the increase in direct bidder purchases, and reflecting on the questions raised by Messrs. Sprott and Franklin, it seems likely that the $521.4 billion worth of US Treasuries in 2009 reflects otherwise unclassified direct bidders, i.e., direct bidders other than recognized domestic investment funds and depository institutions. Unfortunately, the identities of the bidders remain unknown in any case.
The most dramatic example of primary dealer purchases replacing indirect (foreign) bidders is in Cash Management Bills, but these represent a rolling debt of perhaps $100 billion analogous to the corporate bond market and are not representative of other types of Treasuries.
While there are apparent signs of Treasury auction distress, based on a survey of Treasury auction data from January 2009 to March 2010, there is no indication of an immanent auction failure so long as the primary dealers and direct bidders continue to step into the breach. Further, the same patterns either do not appear or are much less pronounced in longer-term Treasury Note sales.
It seems unlikely that direct bidders within the US can compensate indefinitely, or to an unlimited extent, for falling foreign demand. Commenting on the ambitious spending plans of the US federal government, Zhu Min, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China said in December 2009 that “the world does not have so much money to buy more US Treasuries.”
It would certainly be unreasonable for the US federal government and Federal Reserve to assume that ambitious deficit spending and ongoing quantitative easing (QE) would have no cumulative impact on US Treasury auctions. If there is a limit to foreign appetite for US debt, to foreign capacity to lend to the US, or to international tolerance for US dollar devaluation, the US government and Federal Reserve seem determined to find it.
Since China recently liquidated $34 billion in US Treasuries, the statement of China’s Director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Yi Gang, “[China is] a responsible investor and in the process of these investments we can definitely achieve a mutually beneficial result” seems obligatory. In reality, the US is currently the largest debtor nation in the history of the world, while China is the US’ largest creditor, and neither China nor any other country is in a position to bail out the US should US Treasury auctions run aground. Nonetheless, an overt Treasury auction failure seems impossible with the Federal Reserve as the lender of last resort to domestic depository institutions and to its own primary dealers. Unfortunately, direct monetary inflation is not without consequences. Specifically, increased debt monetization would impact the value of the US dollar and could spark high inflation, i.e., rising US dollar prices for imported goods and energy, or an eventual hyperinflationary collapse of the US dollar.
Without a robust economic recovery in the US, it seems unlikely that the apparent distress of US Treasury auctions will abate. Among other things, the gap between increasing US federal government spending and falling federal tax receipts is currently growing. A continuation of current US federal government and Federal Reserve policies under deteriorating economic conditions suggests levels of debt that could not be absorbed by US creditors, and a so-called double-dip recession would put extreme pressure on the US dollar. Indicators of Treasury auction distress include:
Rising Treasury yields, regardless of interest rates, signaling inadequate demand.
A continued decline in foreign bids, thus a higher percentage of accepted bids, particularly in additional types of Treasuries, outside of 4-week Treasury Bills.
Direct bids failing to rise at a rate sufficient to offset falling indirect bidder demand, thus causing either primary dealer purchases or monetization to rise.
A marked and sustained increase in primary dealer purchases versus direct or indirect bidders.
Additional spikes in Federal Reserve purchases (monetization) in any type of Treasury, or a sustained increase in Federal Reserve Treasury purchases generally.
An expansion of the incipient shift away from the long end of the maturity continuum towards shorter-term Treasuries.
Below arelinks to news stories of interest from newspapers that came up during a search today. These links were active at the time of this e-mail, but should you want to save a story, printing it or cutting and pasting the entire article and saving it to your computer is recommended.
State News
Future teachers worried budget cuts could affect them
Quincy WGEM (NBC) 10 – -The cuts vary by district, but most involve firing teachers, classroom aides, and support workers, and districts say they must cut staff to make ends meet. This is bad news for those ready to graduate and pursue a job as a teacher, but for a pair of education majors, the current economic condition won’t stop them from following their dreams.
Teaching no longer a ’stable’ career
Chicago WLS (ABC) 7 – A new survey of state schools reveals districts are preparing to cut an even greater number of staff than previously thought. The Illinois Association Of School Administrators says nearly 20,000 school workers – ranging from teachers to support staff – can expect to lose their jobs thanks to budget cuts. Teachers are on the front line of those losses. With all the uncertainty, teaching, which was once considered stable career, is anything but.
State’s only school for blind and deaf students in jeopardy
Chicago Tribune – “It’s an enormous burden.” The Rock Center is one of many schools being stung by a recession that has diminished state revenue and property taxes, forcing numerous teacher layoffs. But while traditional school districts are able to fall back on property tax revenue for funding, the Rock Center relies entirely on the state.
Grayslake teachers accept lower raises
Chicago Daily Herald – Grayslake Elementary District 46 teachers have agreed to contract concessions in an effort to help bridge a $2.27 million budget gap projected for the 2010-11 school year.
Board may recall 34 teachers at April meeting Geneseo, Ill. – Thirty four of the 66 non-tenured teachers who were dismissed by the Geneseo School District are expected to be rehired at the school board’s April meeting.
Mautino to schools: ‘We’re looking at cuts’
Ottawa Daily – “This is a good sign for us,” Mautino said. School officials questioned Mautino about recent pension reform and how that will impact the teachers’ Retirement System. Mautino acknowledged that some of the changes made to when a person can retire may need to be tweaked for educators. No one, he said, wants a 60-year-old forced
Dist. 220 superintendent’s contract extended to 2014
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – Tom has made a commitment to the district for another four years,” Battle said. But the head of a local tax watch group criticized the contract as excessive at a time when both teacher salaries and state funding issues are causing the district to trim personnel and student services. The contract extension gives Leonard a 3.6 percent raise for the current school year,
Attorney general probes Rich Township SD 227 Board
Park Forest Star – The school board is expected to approve Leak’s contract, which has yet to be negotiated, at its April 20 meeting, board president Sonya Norwood said. Tuesday’s announcement that Leak was the board’s top choice followed an explosive board meeting that drew a crowd of about 200. Members of the teachers union, the student body and elected officials from Richton Park and Olympia Fields read statements, criticizing the board’s actions.
Beloved Prospect Heights band instructor retiring after 40 years
Chicago Daily Herald – Not many people stay at the same job for 40 years – especially one involving adolescents – but Dave Thomas, the MacArthur Middle School band director, has stuck around to teach generations of children how to excel as musicians. Thomas is retiring from the Prospect Heights school after almost four decades.
Students line up as colleges add more ‘green’ programs
Chicago Daily Herald – from the Pew Charitable Trusts shows. Jobs are being created for people of all skills and educational levels, the report says, including positions like engineers, plumbers, marketing consultants, teachers and administrative assistants. And interest is only expected to rise, with President Obama’s pledge to create millions of green-related jobs in the energy, transportation and manufacturing
Stimulus cash helping District 116 technology needs
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – Round Lake Area Unit District 116 has been awarded $850,000 in federal stimulus money to upgrade technology for students. Illinois State Board of education officials announced the District 116 award Wednesday. The Round Lake area’s school system was one of 15 across Illinois selected to share in $10 million in federal stimulus cash for school
Bradley students ask administrators for new mascot
Quad Cities Dispatch Argus Leader – Bradley University’s nickname is the Braves, but the school officially has no mascot — something students at the private university in Illinois say they would like changed. The Peoria school’s students voted Monday and Tuesday in a nonbinding referendum to call on administrators to come up with what their ballots called an ‘appropriate’ mascot, school spokesman Shelley Epstein said Wednesday.
Time has come to increase income tax
Chicago Daily Herald – Letter to the Editor – Thousands of Illinoisans are losing their jobs because of the state’s inability to pay its bills. Illinois schools are drastically cutting programs. Medicare and Medicaid bills are not being paid to health care providers
Chicago schools adopt healthier menus
Chicago Tribune – many schools will earn certification next year remains unclear; the district wouldn’t offer a target number. Certification would also require the schools to offer daily recess, increase physical education to at least 90 minutes per week and offer nutrition education in half of all elementary grades and in at least two high school classes required for graduation.
Restructuring of Board of Trustees on hold Daily Illini – The bill currently in the Senate, introduced by State Sen. Mike Frerichs, D-52, would require one of the nine trustees to be affiliated with agricultural pursuits. Reis said this bill could be amended to include further changes, but said it might not pass if it requires a specific agricultural group to be represented among the trustees.
Political News
Poll Shows Brady Lead Narrowing MyFox Chicago – The latest poll in the Illinois governor’s race shows Republican Bill Brady in the lead over incumbent Governor Pat Quinn. …
Problems traced to history and power MyWebTimes.com – It’s been three decades since Illinois government worked well. That was the last time the state had a governor with enough personal power and political muscle to bring together the legislative leaders, lock them in a room (at least figuratively) and keep them there until they hammered out a budget that was balanced and realistic
Springfield’s real political power, Since 1983, Michael Madigan the ‘real’ governor among the ‘Four Tops’ Streator Times-Press – Madigan, who has been speaker for 25 of the last 27 years, is one of the four Illinois legislative leaders known collectively as the “Four Tops.” The others are Democrat John Cullerton, the Senate President who presides with a 15-vote majority, and Republicans Tom Cross, who is House Minority Leader, and Christine Radogno, Senate Minority Leader.
Atheist Rob Sherman files $2.3 Billion lawsuit against Gov. Quinn Chicago Daily Observer – ?Most of the grants challenged by Sherman, Illinois’ leading atheist, go to religious organizations — houses of worship, parochial schools and religious ministries. Clear, unambiguous language in Article X, Section 3, of the Illinois Constitution says that no grant of money shall ever be made by the State to any church for any purpose. Article X, Section 3, also strictly prohibits public funds from ever being used to help support any parochial school. In addition, Article I, Section 3, of the Illinois Constitution provides that no person shall be required to support any ministry against his consent.
Remap debate to have far-reaching consequences
Springfield State Journal Register – Illinois lawmakers’ upcoming debate over how to redraw their legislative districts will have political consequences for the next decade. Democrats and Republicans are pushing rival constitutional amendments to overhaul the system used after each census to remap legislative voting districts. In recent decades, legislative deadlocks have resulted in a map being chosen by lottery.
Feds: Make former Blagojevich lawyer testify
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – the attorney-client privilege” but that the governor has declined to expressly waive that privilege. Communications between a lawyer and client usually are exempt from being used in court. Gov. Pat Quinn, after replacing Blagojevich in February 2009, waived any notion of privilege on Quinlan’s behalf, and the motion cites case law that there’s no privilege between a government official
Helen Thomas: ‘I want to die with my boots on’ JACKSONVILLE — Long-time White House correspondent Helen Thomas believes passage of President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan was critical to his presidency.
National News
Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax
Quad Cities WHBF (CBS) 4 – Tax Day is a dreaded deadline for millions, but for nearly half of U.S. households it’s simply somebody else’s problem. About 47 percent will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. Either their incomes were too low, or they qualified for enough credits, deductions and exemptions to eliminate their liability. That’s according to projections by the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research organization.
Schools Could Soon Sell Ads on School Buses News On 6 – One of Oklahoma’s lawmakers is trying to give school districts the ability to make money from mobile advertising. Faced with significant reductions in the budget, school districts across the state are looking for ways to save money and increase revenue. Representative Seneca Scott, a Democrat from Tulsa, has filed an amendment to SB421 to allow businesses to advertise on the side of school buses.
Iowa balances budget; but cuts still looming
Quincy KHQA (CBS) 7 – But the General Assembly has worked during the session to fill in some of the funding gaps in the state’s priority areas. That means the cuts won’t be as deep for education, corrections and public safety and economic growth. He says 60 percent of the state’s budget goes to education in some way, from school districts to state universities.
Low achieving schools getting $18.7 million
Quincy KHQA (CBS) 7 – The U.S. Department of education is sending $18.7 million to Iowa to help the state’s lowest achieving schools turn around. The money is being made available through the department’s School Improvement Grants
Missouri bill could give PE credit for sports, band
Quincy KHQA (CBS) – That’s the premise of legislation given first-round approval Wednesday by the state Senate. The bill would let school districts award one unit of physical education credit to students who participate in at least three years of interscholastic sports or marching band. The legislation also requires regional “professional development centers”
Giving regulators the authority to liquidate the biggest banks doesn’t mean those banks won’t still rank as too big to fail and that, critics say, is the big problem with Senator Dodd’s financial reform bill
Kyrgyzstan is important to Washington for its supply line to the U.S.’s Afghanistan war operations. Moscow has tried to disrupt the U.S.-Kyrgyzstan relationship before. Has it tried again?
The three companies at the heart of the auto industry’s latest alliance are taking an environmental approach, developing a new generation of small cars and green engines in line with new E.U. regulations
Researchers say they’ve found a way to keep more newborns alive in the poorest corners of eastern India: Get their mothers talking
Word of the Day for Thursday, April 8, 2010
interlard \in-tuhr-LARD\, transitive verb:
To insert between; to mix or mingle; especially, to introduce something foreign or irrelevant into; as, “to interlard a conversation with oaths or allusions.”
Audi has taken the covers off of the 2011 TT Coupe and Roadster, which are now apparently a little more attractive than the current models. Audi says that the design of the lightweight bodies are now made primarily of aluminum and the interior has also been revised with new technologies.
New for 2011 is the highly-efficient 2.0 TFSI 4-cylinder making 211-hp, helping the TT return an average fuel-economy of 35.64 mpg. When mated to a manual transmission, the engine allows the 2011 Audi TT Coupe to go from 0-62 mph in 6.1 seconds – when mated to the 6-speed S tronic the TT Coupe goes from 0-62 mph in 5.6 seconds.
The 2011 Audi TT RS Coupe and Roadster, which still won’t come to the U.S., are powered by the 2.5L 5-cylinder turbo making 340-hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. 0-62 mph comes in 4.6 seconds when mated to a manual and 4.4 seconds when mated to a S tronic.
Hit the jump for the press release and the high-res image gallery.
2011 Audi TT:
Press Release:
The Audi TT: dynamic, lightweight and highly efficient
Note: This release contains European information, some information may not apply for the US
Dynamic design, enthralling performance and exemplary efficiency – the Audi TT Coupe and the TT Roadster are now more attractive than ever. The design of the lightweight bodies made primarily of aluminum and the interior have been revised with great attention to detail, while new technologies lower the fuel consumption of the compact sports car. New to the lineup is a powerful and highly efficient four cylinder: The 2.0 TFSI develops 155 kW (211 hp), but is content with an average fuel consumption of just 6.6 liters per 100 kilometers (35.64 US mpg).
Exterior design
The second generation TT Coupe and the TT Roadster have made a name for themselves as design icons, similar to their predecessors. Awards such as the 2007 “World Car Design of the Year” document this status. A brawny, broad foundation, powerful shoulders and a flat roofline – the two compact sports cars have fascinatingly masculine lines. Their dynamic appearance is now even more expressive than ever.
The most obvious feature at the front of the car is the powerful bumper, which frames the larger air inlets with three-dimensional, sharply drawn out edges. The fog lights are set in chrome rings. Also sporting a new look are the lattice of the single-frame grille in high-gloss black and the optional xenon plus headlights. Twelve white LEDs arranged in a straight line at the lower edge of the headlights serve as the daytime running lights. These together with the wings in the headlight body are classic Audi design features.
The tubular, apparently floating reflectors of the tail lights add visual depth to the rear end of the car. The large tailpipes of the exhaust system – the 2.0 TFSI features a dual exhaust – and the larger, flat black diffuser set additional accents. A spoiler that extends at 120 km/h (74.56 mph) improves downforce.
The upgrades to the TT Coupe and the TT Roadster have added two centimeters (0.79 in) to both cars, which now measure 4,187 millimeters (13.74 ft) in length. The width of 1,842 millimeters (6.04 ft) and the height of 1,352 millimeters (4.44 ft) and 1,357 millimeters (4.45 ft) for the Coupe and Roadster, respectively, remain unchanged. The wheelbase measures 2,468 millimeters (8.10 ft). Four new metallic colors have been added to the TT color range: Scuba Blue, Oolong Gray, Volcano Red and Dakota Gray. Daytona Gray, pearl effect is also available with the S line package.
Body
A key factor for the groundbreaking efficiency and excellent driving dynamics of the TT is the body, which features hybrid Audi Space Frame technology (ASF). Lightweight aluminum is used at the front of the car back to the B-pillar, with steel panels used at the rear. This mix enabled the development engineers to balance the axial loads perfectly and keep the total weight extremely low – prime parameters for dynamic performance.
The TT 1.8 TFSI weighs a mere 1,240 kg (2,733.73 lb), a good 100 kilograms (220.46 lbs) less than its closest competitor. The body of the Coupés weighs only 206 kilograms (454.15 lb), which breaks down to 140 kilograms (308.65 lb) of aluminum (68 percent) and 66 kilograms (145.51 lb) of steel (32 percent). The specific reinforcements in the TT Roadster – steel bulkhead, strongly ribbed sills, A-pillar and windshield frame – result in a 58 to 42 percent split of the two materials.
The ASF bodies of the TT are not only extremely lightweight, they are also very strong and low-vibration, providing the foundation for sporty and precise handling, the quiet ride and the high passive safety. A package of finely tuned retention systems protects the passengers in the event of a crash. The classic cloth top of the TT Roadster is a perfect complement to Audi’s lightweight construction principle. It contributes to a low center of gravity, fits ideally into the design line and takes up little space when folded.
Audi offers the soft top in two variants. The manual version features a central latch for opening and closing the top. An electrohydraulic drive opens the optional fully-automatic top in just 12 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). An additional acoustic mat further improves the already excellent acoustics and thermal insulation.
Interior
The interior of the TT features a sporty design, dynamic elegance and generous amounts of space. The standard sport seats are mounted low and offer a high level of lateral support. The steering wheel is flattened at the bottom. The five round air vents and the arched cowl over the round-dial instruments exude the spirit characteristic of the TT. The ergonomics are logical and the fit and finish is uncompromisingly precise – just like always with Audi. When the ignition is turned, the dials of the speedometer and tachometer briefly run up to the limit before returning to zero.
The designers have added additional gloss to the fine interior. New aluminum-look applications shine on the steering wheel, the center console and in the door liner. Elegant accents are provided by rings, frames and strips in high-gloss black. The aluminum strip above the glove box door is now brushed gray. There are three new interior colors from which to choose – nougat brown, titanium gray and garnet red. The leather seat covers are specially treated to reduce thermal heating by as much as 20 degrees Celsius (68° F) when the TT is parked in the sun.
The TT Coupe and the TT Roadster are sports cars with a high degree of everyday utility. The backs of both rear seats fold down in the 2+2-seater Coupé, expanding the trunk space beneath the long lid from 292 to 700 liters (10.31 – 24.72 cubic ft). The Roadster, which offers 250 liters (8.83 cubic ft) of storage space whether the top is up or down, can also be supplied with the option of a load-through facility.
Drivetrain
Three four-cylinder engines with turbocharging and direct fuel injection are available for both the TT Coupe and the TT Roadster. The two TFSI gasoline engines and the TDI combine sporty performance with groundbreaking efficiency – their fuel consumption figures have been reduced by up to 14 percent. All three engines are coupled with a recuperation system that recovers energy during braking and coasting phases.
New to the lineup is the 2.0 TFSI with 155 kW (211 hp), which replaces the 2.0 TFSI with 147 kW (200 hp) and the 3.2 FSI. With a manual transmission, the two-liter engine accelerates the Coupe from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 6.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 245 km/h (152.24 mph). Audi also offers the 2.0 TFSI with an optional drivetrain featuring the six-speed S tronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The spring from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes only 5.6 s in this configuration.
The Audi valvelift system AVS in the new 2.0 TFSI increases power, torque and efficiency. Equipped with a manual transmission, the TT 2.0 TFSI consumes only 6.6 liters of fuel per 100 km (35.64 US mpg) in the European test cycle. CO2 emissions are an exemplary 154 grams/km (247.84 g/mile). The best value posted by a competitor is 199 g/km (320.26 g/mile). Fuel consumption has improved by 1.1 liters/100 km over the previous model.
The 2.0 TFSI is a winner par excellence, having been named “Engine of the Year” five years in a row by an international jury. Its technology package combines high output with impressive pulling power. A constant 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque are available between 1,600 and 4,200 rpm. The long-stroke engine, which is extremely cultivated thanks to two balance shafts, has been painstakingly optimized for minimal friction.
The Audi valvelift system adjusts the lift of the exhaust valves in two stages depending on need. This reduces flushing losses in the combustion chamber and also ensures that the optimal flow of the exhaust gas is directed to the turbocharger, which in turn ensures that torque is developed quickly.
The combination of turbocharging and direct fuel injection also reduces the combustion chamber temperatures and the resulting tendency to knock. This allows a high compression ratio of 9.6:1, which improves efficiency.
The TT engine lineup includes two other four-cylinder engines besides the new 2.0 TFSI. The 1.8 TFSI, available with a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, delivers 118 kW (160 hp) and 250 Nm of torque (184.39 lb-ft), the latter between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. It launches the Coupe from a standing start to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds, with a top speed of 226 km/h (140.43 mph). It consumes just 6.4 liters of fuel per 100 km (36.75 US mpg) on average, which corresponds to only 149 grams of CO2/km (239.79 g/mile). The TT 2.0 TDI remains the only sports car with a diesel engine in its segment, and its efficiency clearly sets the standard. The TT Coupe consumes just 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km (44.38 US mpg), which corresponds to only 139 grams of CO2/km (223.70 g/mile). With 125 kW (170 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque – the latter available between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm – the standard sprint takes 7.5 seconds and acceleration continues until a top speed of 226 km/h (140.43 mph) is reached. The two-liter TDI is mated to a manual transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.
A precisely shifting six-speed manual transmission transfers power to the wheels regardless of the engine. Audi also offers the S tronic dual clutch transmission as an option for the new 2.0 TFSI. This transmission switches between its six gears with virtually no interruption to the supply of power. The high-tech gearbox shifts extremely quickly and comfortably, either fully automatically or manually as the driver desires. Manual shifts can be made using the optional paddles on the steering wheel.
The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is available as an option for the 2.0 TFSI with the S tronic; it comes standard with the 2.0 TDI. The hydraulic multi-plate clutch, which is mounted on the rear axle in the interest of weight distribution, is electronically controlled. During normal driving, it sends most of the engine’s power to the front wheels, but can quickly transfer up to 100 percent to the rear wheels, if necessary.
The quattro drive provides substantially greater stability, traction and driving enjoyment, and is another unique selling point of the Audi TT in its class.
Chassis
The front suspension features McPherson struts, with aluminum components used to keep the weight of the unsprung masses low. The power steering is direct, sensitive and thanks to its electromechanical drive, highly efficient. The trailing arms of the four-link rear suspension are relatively soft in the interest of comfort. The connections to the three transverse links per wheel, on the other hand, are rigid in order to direct lateral forces into the body with precision.
Available as an option with all variants of the TT is the electronically controlled Audi magnetic ride shock absorber system, another high-tech feature that underscores the unique character of the compact sports car. A fluid containing tiny magnetic particles circulates through the dampers. When a voltage is applied to the magnetic field, the behavior of the particles changes and thus the damping behavior of the fluid changes. A computer fed with input from a bundle of sensors controls the adaptive damping.
The driver can choose between two base characteristics, which are now even more clearly differentiated. In “Normal” mode, the movements of the TT Coupe and the TT Roadster are balanced – equally agile and comfortable. In “Sport” mode, high damping forces largely suppress body roll. The TT is tautly connected to the road, and its setup is highly dynamic.
Another option is available in addition to Audi magnetic ride – the Sport button. The driver can use it to adjust the characteristic of the gas pedal (with manual transmissions), the amount of servo boost for the steering and the engine sound in two stages.
The range of wheels has also been reworked, and now features 14 variants. The TT 1.8 TFSI, the 2.0 TDI and the 2.0 TFSI roll off the assembly line on 17-inch aluminum wheels with size 245/55 tires.
Winter wheels are available in three sizes; the range of summer wheels extends all the way up to 9 J x 19 with size 255/35 tires. Mounted behind the large wheels are powerful brakes with large-diameter discs. The front discs are internally ventilated.
Equipment and trim
All versions of the TT Coupe and TT Roadster come with a rich array of standard equipment. Among the highlights are the “chorus” audio system, a driver information system and – in the TT Coupe– an automatic climate control system. Two navigation systems, a universal cellular phone preparation and the sonorous Bose Surround Sound system are available as options. The optional xenon plus headlights can be combined with a cornering light function.
The onboard computer with efficiency program comes standard in the TT. It displays all of the consumption-relevant data on the central display, and gives the driver tips for efficient driving. The gear-change indicator indicates the proper gear. Another function provides information on which vehicle systems, such as the climate control system, are consuming energy and how that effects fuel consumption.
Customizing fans will find a rich selection available in Color & Trim. It begins with the optional leather upholstery and includes four leather packages, an application package and two S line packages. The S line exterior package focuses on design modifications in the area of the bumpers, the air inlets and the diffuser. The S line sport package features a black interior with many fine details in such places as the steering wheel, the seat covers and the applications. 18-inch wheels and body lowered by 10 millimeters (0.39 in) make the handling even more dynamic.
The updated TT Coupe and the TT Roadster will debut on the German market this summer with only minimal changes in price. The 1.8 TFSI will be available from €30,200.
The Audi TTS and the Audi TT RS
The Audi TTS, both in Coupe and Roadster body styles, combine enthralling sportiness with cultivated comfort. Its two-liter TFSI with the large turbocharger and many additional modifications pumps out 200 kW (272 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque, the latter from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm. It accelerates the TTS Coupe with the optional S tronic from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.2 seconds, up to a governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). With the S tronic, the Coupé consumes an average of only 7.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (30.55 US mpg).
The TTS comes standard with the Audi magnetic ride adaptive shock absorber technology, the Sport button and a high-performance brake system. Visual cues to its identity are provided by the 18-inch wheels with size 245/40 tires and a new grille combined with chrome air inlets. A new color combination – spectral silver/black – is available for the interior.
The dynamic spearhead of the TT model series is the TT RS, which is likewise available as a Coupe or a Roadster. Its turbocharged, inline 5-cylinder engine draws 250 kW (340 hp) of power from 2.5 liters of displacement. 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft) of torque are available between 1,600 and 5,300 rpm. It nevertheless averages just 9.2 liters of fuel per 100 km (25.57 US mpg).
The TT RS Coupe rockets from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.14 mph) in 4.6 seconds; quattro GmbH will raise the top speed from 250 to 280 km/h (155.34 to 173.98 mph) upon request. A sound flap in the exhaust system further intensifies the distinctive five-cylinder sound. A manual six-speed transmission with a sportily narrow gearing currently delivers the power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Starting this fall, Audi will also offer the option of the TT RS with a newly developed version of the S tronic that can handle the tremendous torque of the powerful five-cylinder engine. The compact layout of the seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission makes it suitable for transverse mounting in combination with the quattro all-wheel drive system.
The TT RS Coupe with the S tronic launches itself from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.4 seconds. The TT RS Roadster requires 0.1 seconds more for this discipline – a bat of an eye less than with the manual transmission. Distinctive design details, 18-inch wheels and an extremely powerful brake system are standard with the TT RS.
Greece’s fiscal problems are turning into one of those endless sagas, the kind we watch unfold at Thanksgiving every year. Aunt Daphne is going to leave Uncle John! No, they’re in counseling! Wait, now Aunt Daphne is breaking up with the counselor, too! The rumors are starting to take on a toxic life of their own, driving up the yields demanded on Greek debt–which in turn, makes it less likely that they’ll be able to finesse the crisis with a moderate infusion of outside cash.
Paradoxically, that seems to be good news for us, pushing our debt yields lower; we are the proverbial “any port in a storm”. This phenomenon is what makes it so difficult to assess the risk of US fiscal trouble. On the one hand, the US budget is clearly on a completely unsustainable path, and frankly, our household budgets don’t look so much better. This should make investors nervous about our bonds.
And as far as I can tell, they are. But they’re even more nervous about bonds everywhere else . . . because everywhere else has worse demographic problems, and a less impressive history of economic growth. So they aren’t signal ling their nerves the way we’d expect, by slowly and steadily pushing up bond yields.
But that in itself is a vulnerability. If at any point we are not seen as the safest game in town, we will take a gigantic–the better word might be “catastrophic”–hit on our bond interest. If there’s somewhere safer to park our money, suddenly we lose the premium we currently enjoy for having bonds considered the “risk free” rate. So while our super-sterling credit rating may delay the onset of a fiscal crisis, if we ever let it get to that point, the onset may be even more sudden and disastrous than these things usually are. All the more reason to start getting our fiscal house in order now.
Whatha’s looking it? As raw milk’s popularity grows, so does scrutiny. It’s been a
tough twelve months for proponents of raw milk. Last April, as many as 81
Colorado consumers were sickened by campylobacter associated with raw milk.
Last September, about 35 people became ill with campylobacter, apparently from
milk from a Wisconsin dairy. And just in the last few weeks, 17 raw milk
drinkers in the Midwest associated with a dairy in Indiana have become ill with campylobacter.
Added to all that, Whole Foods last month notified producers in four
states—California, Washington, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania—that it would no
longer stock raw milk.
What’s the
problem? As far as the public health and medical establishments are concerned,
whenever people consume raw dairy products, it’s a problem. In their view, raw milk is inherently
dangerous and shouldn’t be produced or consumed.
But the fact
that as many as three million Americans regularly consume raw milk, according
to the Weston A. Price Foundation, calls the health establishment’s radical
view into question. Still and all, raw dairy proponents are coming around to
the view there is a problem—it’s just not the problem the authorities would
have us believe.
In their view,
these are really problems of success, stemming from raw
milk’s fast-growing popularity.
As part of a
long-standing campaign to encourage consumption of locally produced
nutrient-dense foods, the Weston A. Price Foundation has been encouraging
consumers to switch to unpasteurized milk.
But that doesn’t
mean the organization wants conventional dairies to just discontinue
pasteurization and sell their milk raw. As the organization says on its Real
Milk web site, it “recommends Real Milk—that is, milk that is full-fat,
unprocessed, and from pasture-fed cows. We do NOT recommend consumption of raw
milk from conventional confinement dairies or dairies which produce milk
intended for pasteurization…Real Milk, that is, raw whole milk from grass-fed
cows (fed pasture, hay and silage), produced under clean conditions and promptly
refrigerated, contains many anti-microbial and immune-supporting components;
but this protective system in raw milk can be overwhelmed, and the milk
contaminated, in situations conducive to filth and disease. Know your farmer!”
With growing
numbers of consumers willing to pay $7 and more a gallon for raw milk, more
dairies are looking to say good-bye to their local processors, who pay on the
order of $1 to $1.50 a gallon for milk intended for pasteurization. While there
are no exact figures, in states where raw dairies are licensed, like
Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts, the number of raw dairies has been
growing. Even in states where raw milk can only be sold via private arrangements,
known as cowshares or herdshares, like Michigan and Ohio, the number of dairies
getting into raw milk is understood to be rising sharply.
The biggest
problem may be that at least some farmers are slipping up in their production
of safe raw milk. That doesn’t mean raw milk can’t be produced safely on a
consistent basis. Obviously, many dozens of dairies are doing it day in and day
out, year after year. But as Tim Wightman of the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation points out, “There is value in understanding what happened” at the dairies that
have had outbreaks over the last year.
Wightman
suggests that dairies experiencing outbreaks may in some cases have unwisely
responded to increases in consumer demand by introducing animals purchased from
a factory system known for problems. “Looking for the best deal has its hidden
costs…for the farmer and the consumer, and the very web we depend on,” he says.
It’s precisely
because of its success that the raw milk community is now being placed under a
microscope by the media and regulators. There have been lengthy features challenging raw milk’s safety in
both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal in just the last few weeks.
Part of the
challenge for raw milk proponents is that at least some have not wanted to
admit to the reality that people can become sick from drinking raw milk (just
as they can, and do, from pasteurized milk and other foods). It’s been thought that cows that
graze on pasture or eat hay produce milk that isn’t susceptible to pathogens.
It’s also been assumed that public health authorities are biased in their
investigations of outbreaks. As a result, the Weston A. Price Foundation has
expressed skepticism about whether raw milk has really been the culprit in the
Colorado and Wisconsin outbreaks, among others.
A Wall Street Journal blog
posting following up on the paper’s article accuses proponents of “dismissing
warnings about bacterial contaminants…” Unfortunately, the knee-jerk
defensiveness in the face of probable outbreaks, which wasn’t noticed when raw
milk was a fringe food, just won’t cut it any more now that raw milk is
regularly making the media big leagues.
In a truly open
market, the marketplace would force the bad dairies out of business. But we
don’t have a truly open market—we have one where regulators are in a position
to force good dairies out of business for the transgressions of bad dairies.
Therefore, it’s up to the raw milk community to police itself. It could be there needs to be a raw dairy association, with real authority to penalize dairies that don’t meet high standards. If the raw dairy community won’t take the responsibility to watch over its interests, the government will likely take over this responsibility even more than it already does, and the results won’t be geared toward protecting our rights to access the foods of our choice.
Make no mistake, iAds are the iPhone user’s worst enemy. If Buzz Lightyear were at the unveiling, he’d have rocket punched Apple right in the face. More »
God I hate this Tit for Tat bullshit. My car is faster than your car, my car can beat your car to 60 mph by .08 of a second, my penis is bigger than yours… bla, bla, bla. Is this really what the pony car wars have come down to? A back and fourth exchange from manufactures about who has the biggest V6 winky? When Ford came out and said the 2011 Mustang V6 had 305 hp it apparently tweaked the undersized panties of the guys at GM. So much so that they are now claiming the 2010 Camaro’s V6 was in fact underrated at a measly 304 hp, when it in fact makes a whopping 312 hp, 7 hp more than the Ford Mustang.
Really guys, at this point just live with the fact they are both good cars and leave the he said, she said crap out of the discussion.
Snooping around the new iPhone OS 4 software, some have already spotted something interesting: Three new functions called AVCaptureDevice.hasFlash, AVCaptureDevice.flashMode, and AVCaptureDevice.hasTorch. Do these functions mean the next iPhone’s camera will get a flash? Possibly. [AppleInsider] More »
If you are involved in or are a witness to an accident, what’s the first thing you should do? Call #911, right? While we’re certainly not advising against using the emergency service, making that call may wind up being rather costly to either yourself or the victim. Proof of such can be seen in the case of Cary Feldman, who was traveling through Chicago Heights, IL on his motor scooter when he was stuck from behind.
As CBS 2 Chicago tells it, a witness to Feldman’s accident called #911, as you might hope and expect them to do. “There was no fire, there was no explosion, there was no debris,” according to Feldman. “From what I saw, they came, they saw, and they left.”
Still, the Chicago Heights Fire Department responded and examined the scene before they left. Shortly thereafter, Feldman received a bill for $200 while the person who hit him, who lives in Chicago Heights, got a bill for $100.
“Crash taxes” are an alarming trend in the 41 states that have not banned the practice.
Don’t think you can just avoid the issue by not paying. Feldman reports that officials were “sending me letters and they even turned it over to collections without sending a final notice… So this is what I call extortion. This is how they get you to pay it.”
Such so-called “crash taxes” are an alarming trend in the 41 states that have not banned the practice. Illinois lawmakers are even considering legislation that would allow municipalities to bill up to $250-per-hour for emergency services that are already funded in part by taxes.
Not everyone with a vote in Illinois thinks the would-be law is a good idea. Representative Karen Yarbrough (D – 7th District) calls it a “very bad bill,” adding, “This is just another way to reach into a consumer’s pocket.” Chicago Heights Fire Chief Thomas Martello suggests that such methods are necessary in response to tight budget constraints and says that house fires won’t incur an added bill.
Feldman remains unconvinced that the tactic is appropriate. “I’m going to call it a scam,” said Feldman. “Just a way to make money instead of helping people.” So, we ask you: Good, creative way to ease tight budget constraints for emergency services, or just another blatant money grab? Consider the topic officially up for debate. Feel free to voice your own opinion in our Comments section below.
Americans might not be as eager for financial reform as Washington thinks, according to a new YouGovPolimetrix National Omnibus/Hamilton Place Poll out today. Just 44% of respondents strongly or somewhat favor “new laws to overhaul government regulation of financial institutions.” And some of the more granular results are even more surprising.
For starters, most of those polled don’t think financial reform should be one of the top two priorities for Washington. In fact, just 18% think it should be given that level of importance by policymakers. 61% did, however, believe that financial reform was at least fairly important.
It would probably be useful if the same question was asked a year earlier: with the financial crisis still clear in the memory of Americans back then, it’s likely that there would have been more interest in financial reform. Democrats may have squandered their opportunity pursue more aggressive regulation with broader public support at that time compared to the effort’s current lackluster support.
Speaking of Democrats, they led those who support more regulation with 69% in favor. But it’s astonishing how few independents support reform — just 37%. Only 23% of Republicans support it.
Possibly the most shocking part of the poll: just 12% of respondents believe establishing a consumer financial protection agency is the most important aspect of financial reform. Most are more worried about the too big to fail problem that leads to government rescues. 36% ranked that the most important, split between the general elimination of bailouts (33%) and creating a resolution authority (3%).
Here’s how that breaks down by respondents’ political affiliation:
Even though bailouts are a major concern, those polled are utterly skeptical that the government can prevent them in the future. Only 14% have “quite a bit” or a “great deal” of confidence that new regulation could stop bailouts. 45% have very little confidence or none at all.
The results were pretty similar regarding the likelihood that reform can protect consumers. Just 15% of respondents have “quite a bit” or a “great deal” of confidence that new regulations could provide more rights to consumers that would significantly improve the way banks and financial institutions treat customers. In fact, 52% have a “quite a bit” or a “great deal” of concern that additional regulation could raise costs or limit credit for average customers and small business. These stats don’t speak well for the political popularity of a consumer financial protection agency.
At this point, financial reform isn’t likely to involve the passionate protest and lively debate on the part of average Americans that was seen during the fight for the health care reform. The poll found that only about half of Americans are even paying somewhat close attention to financial reform currently. But as Congress begins more aggressively pursuing a bill, the public’s interest could increase.
Note: According to Hamilton Place this is a purely independent policy poll intended to add additional understanding to the regulatory reform debate.
The city of Portland, Ore., is aiming for 49 total acres of eco-roofs in the
city by 2013 (the city’s paying up to $5 per square foot to any home or business
that builds one). But what about green roofs outside the urban environment?
What’s the appeal there? Blending more with the natural surroundings? Sure,
green roofs are beautiful, keep your abode cooler in the summer, warmer in the
winter, and tastier for wildlife passers-by. But, we wonder, what stories and
mysteries lie beneath the non-urban eco-roofs …
Photo courtesy shropshiretraveller via deviantART
The fourth little pig, having hired an architect, a landscaper, and feng shui consultant, made his slacker porker brothers jealous.
Everyone knew the little red house was an insecure baldy, but no one expected it to grow a toupee.
Photo via Marigreen
Could the shiny stainless ash can tell the sad tale of
shunned dwarf Smokey? Doc had finally
sent him packing.
Photo via DryscapesMax tried valiantly to let his owners know that he was a vegetarian—the untouched bone, the rooftop veggie garden. Finally, he rejected their sad attempts to woo him home with chicken jerky. It wasn’t even free-range.
Photo via DryscapesThe wheel took comfort in his solo lean against the house. He just couldn’t face the other two on their cushy sedum bed. They would never understand what it felt like to be a third wheel.
Photo via Free Seed Ring
The flower beds for a roof seemed like such a great idea—the strangling root system for a ceiling, not so much.
Photo: Andrea Gandini
Hansel and Gretel’s trail of bread crumbs wouldn’t be able to get them out of this mess. They knew they would soon be fertilizer for the little house of plants.
Photo via Green Architecture Notes
Yes, the poppies would have made them sleepy. Dorothy was relieved for the first time that her fear of heights would work in her favor.
Photo via deconstructingpurpose
The pink ghetto of the roof garden decided that invasion was the only strategy left for getting to the hipster side of the house. Run roots, run!
Photo via design-milkThe window in the chimney was a stroke of genius, in theory. Sadly, no one had yet to peer through it. The grass slip-and-slide: not so genius.
Photo via sweethomestyle: three85
It was odd that after going to all the trouble to install a green roof, he could only truly experience the outdoors through his one tiny window, which is how he liked it.
Photo via ecosalon
Literally bringing the outdoors inside in 3 … 2 … 1…
She had never fancied herself a gardener. Luckily, the voices in her head responded with clear instructions on rooftop crop production.
The plants she’d ordered looked much smaller on the Internet. But strangely, the mullet effect pleased her.
Photo via kdjpcapix of FlickrBessie became obsessed by a certain nursery rhyme the farmer told his daughter involving a moon and a jump. A realist, Bessie was certain her leap from the roof would be a success.
Photo via gwenhwyfearThe houses found it ironic that they were spared from the volcano, only to drown in a sea of grass. Oh, what a world indeed.
Mud? Check. Stones? Check. Gravity-fed spring water? Check. In the building frenzy, however, they’d seemed to have misplaced the hobbits.
Photo via PBase
Due to budget cuts, Santa could no longer afford the reindeer’s salary demands. Goats would have to suffice despite their easy distraction by grass and shiny objects.
Photo via boingboing
They treated themselves to bomb shelter chic. Their grass roof would keep them cool and even shroud them from view in case of air attack … except for that pesky sidewalk pointing like an arrow to the fam. Thanks, Dad.
Around 3,500 conservative activists from all over the South are in New Orleans this weekend for the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC), which many political insiders consider the unofficial kickoff to the 2012 presidential cycle.
The SRLC which takes place every four years is a politico’s paradise; big name speakers, strategy sessions, backroom networking and luxury fundraisers, all set in a city world famous for its food, drink and Cajun entertainment.
But even as Bourbon Street beckons, the main attraction for attendees and an armada of reporters, will be the GOP’s potential 2012 contenders.
SRLC official Kirstin Hopkins calls it, “An excellent opportunity to speak to a large group of influential conservative Republicans.”
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin finds herself in the familiar position of divisive headliner. The GOP megastar, former 2008 Vice Presidential candidate and Fox News Channel contributor will receive no speaking fee for her appearance, which is a rare occurrence.
There is also a closely watched SRLC Straw poll, and Palin is among the favorites.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has been mulling a presidential bid ever since 1994 when he crafted “The Contract With America” and led Republicans to their first House majority in nearly 50 years.
Gingrich is still one of the GOP’s most prolific purveyors of ideas, but many think he’s not really serious about making a presidential run.
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour built a dominant Republican National Committee as chairman during the Gingrich revolution. He’s now the chairman of the National Governors Association and is thought to be a proven master of conservative politics and policy.
Everything’s bigger in Texas and Governor Rick Perry is running for an unprecedented third term in office. However, his incessant attacks on Washington and the Obama Administration have had Lonestar state newspapers and insiders speculating since last year that his eye is really on 1600 Pennsylvania.
Then there’s Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, the number three Republican in the House of Representatives. While fighting Democrats in congress Pence has also been making the rounds in the crucial early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. He’s also begun signing up volunteers and potential staffers.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has been quietly laying the groundwork for potential run for several months. This appearance amounts to confirmation that he wants to be seen as a contender.
Texas congressman and 2008 phenomenon Ron Paul is a staple at such gatherings and is sure to garner huge ovations. Paul is also a serious threat to take the straw poll, just ask the stunned crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference last February.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal takes on the role of hometown host. Jindal was on the McCain’s VP shortlist in 2008 but struggled through a less than stellar response to President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress in February of last year.
However, the two big names who have done the most to place themselves in the 2012 GOP conversation will be noticeably absent.
Former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mitt Romney is on a tour promoting his recent book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty canceled his appearance in order to take part in a welcome home ceremony for troops returning to Minnesota from Iraq. Pawlenty aides tell us the governor will instead address the event in a taped video message.
Some might argue that the man with the most at stake when he takes the stage this weekend is embattled RNC Chairman Michael Steele.
Though GOP candidates will likely enjoy what many call a “target rich environment” this midterm election season, the conference also comes at a delicate time for the RNC, which has been dogged by revelations party coffers paid for an outing at a sex-themed Hollywood nightclub.
That bombshell triggered the resignations of several top advisers at the RNC and has chairman Michael Steele on the hot seat over questions about his financial stewardship of the committee.
Steele will address the conference on Saturday, and over the next few days his schedule is packed with meetings.
Steele aides tell Fox News many of those meetings will be a chance for the chairman to meet face to face with the very party insiders who have been calling for his ouster.
Reports of US Treasury auction distress first appeared in December of 2009 when an article by 
It seems unlikely that direct bidders within the US can compensate indefinitely, or to an unlimited extent, for falling foreign demand. Commenting on the 
China’s foreign exchange reserves, valued at 
