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The University of South Carolina Hydrogen Hybrid Bus is leaving the moderate temperature of the South and heading towards the much less forgiving temperatures of Vancouver, Canada in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Back in November 2009, I had talked about how hydrogen buses commissioned in Canada were starting to arrive for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The buses will be traveling upon the British Columbia Hydrogen Highway that includes Whistler, Victoria, Vancouver and 4 other cities.

The University of South Carolina 38-foot, 37 passenger bus is on loan to the Canadian government for transportation of passengers and athletes. The hydrogen fuel cell hybrid bus needs some slight modifications before hitting the colder Canadian climates, however.

Both fuel cells and passengers will need supplemental heat in the bus so the vehicle must be retrofitted to achieve this. The hybrid bus is also fitted with a bank of fast-charge, lithium titnate batteries to provide more power when needed.

The Hydrogen Hybrid Bus uses a carbon fiber/fiberglass composite body in order to reduce weight. The one downside of this road trip is that because there are few hydrogen fueling stations between Columbia, South Carolina and British Columbia the bus will have to be hauled by trailer to and from this event.

This is yet another call for more hydrogen fueling stations to be built in the U. S. as a simple bus trip becomes a major undertaking without adequate fueling infrastructure to support long distance travel.

The late 80’s and 90’s were boom years for big, oaky white wines, especially Chardonnay. Over the past decade, it has been all about unoaked whites, with Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc taking center stage. Is oaked white wine still a timeless classic? Largely outdated? Or is it primed for a strong comeback? What are your views?

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And the great sell off continues…

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The dome of the state Capitol is refracted through raindrops during a break in Monday’s showers. Rain is expected for most of the week.

What is the perfect storm for California?

There is no such thing. Every weather system that pushes up flowers also doles out punishment.

Yet for farmers and others vulnerable to drought, the current storms look promising.

After months of middling precipitation amid predictions of a big El Niño year, the Pacific Ocean is finally delivering a fire hose of water to a state that has weathered several dry years.

To top it off, the amped-up jet stream has delivered cold storms – producing not just rain but snow. While some parts of the Sierra haven’t seen huge accumulations yet, the overall precipitation has been robust, with more on the way.

Near the city of Mount Shasta, one weather station recorded 3 inches of rain in the 24 hours leading up to Tuesday afternoon. Above Lake Oroville, another station recorded nearly 3 inches of rain in 24 hours. If that keeps up, these large, depleted reservoirs will rise quickly – although filling them will take many more weeks of wetness.

And that is the delicate balance California confronts. Drought and floods are recurring themes, and sometimes they can happen in the same year. In 1995, the state started out somewhat dry, but then got doused with about 13 inches of rain in a week. The result was record-breaking floods up and down the coast, and high water suddenly surging down through the levee-lined rivers of Sacramento.

Residents of Southern California have so far borne the brunt of the recent storms, with mudslides a persistent threat. Across the state, residents are dealing with power outages, flash floods and downed trees. Even rougher weather is predicted for today.

So what would be the perfect storm?

It would produce lots of snow in the Sierra, and rain that would fall gently, but persistently, for several weeks. It would fill up the state’s reservoirs and percolate into aquifers, but it wouldn’t cause mudslides, power outages or deadly floods.

Limbs would stay on trees, gutters wouldn’t get clogged and hair wouldn’t get frizzed in the high humidity.

It is a nice storm to imagine. But it will never happen.

My 60 pound 6-year old Australian shepherd mix has trouble with his toe nails -they split and crack so badly that it involves a trip to the vet. My vet suggested gelatin and I’ve been making doggie jello shots with clear gelatin and beef broth with helps but also gives him the runs. Today the vet also suggested looking into the horse hoof supplements. I called my sister, a horse trainer, who suggested your web site and a brand of hoof supplement called Farriers Friend. Would this be safe for dogs and what dose should I use? The vet said about one tenth of a horse dose. I would appreciate any help or suggestions you might have. MS, New York

Dear MS,

Hardly ever will you see me recommend a horse product for a dog or the other way around. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, dosing can be extremely difficult. Not only can it be hard to figure out how much of a product for a 1000lb horse to give to a 60lb dog, sometimes the formulation for one species isn’t so easy to get another species to eat. Second, it’s hard for me personally to keep track of the ingredients it’s safe for one species to have but dangerous for another species to have so I avoid the risk by sticking to species-specific products.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let me make some recommendations that should be safe for your dog and easy for you. You’re on the right track with gelatin, or, hydrolyzed (boiled) collagen. Collagen is simply a term for a certain group of proteins in the body. This group of proteins is the most abundant group in the body, and the most abundant group in connective tissue (such as toenails). It makes sense to supply the building blocks of toenails if you want them to grow healthier.

The next ingredient I would make sure to have on board is biotin. In the B-vitamin family, it’s a co-enzyme in hundreds of metabolic reactions, one of which is protein building. Horse owners have long recognized its value in growing strong, resilient hooves and there’s evidence to support its use in promoting healthy skin and coat in dogs as well.

Finally, make sure your dog is getting plenty of the anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids. Sometimes commercial diets are loaded towards the pro-inflammatory omega 6 fatty acid side and problems can develop on the inside as well as the outside.

Provide your dog will all three of these key ingredients—gelatin, biotin and omega 3 fatty acids—with our new SmartCanine Skin & Coat. Then just make sure your feeding a high-quality dog food and supplementing with fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy snacks, and your dog should be in great shape in no time!

It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed $5 martinis at Hanny’s. Much too long. Sitting at the stainless steel bar last weekend reminds me of how much I enjoy this ultra-modern-but-not-too-hip spot on Adams and 1st Street. Surrounded by windows and the remains of department store glamor, I couldn’t help but smile brighter amid the candle light and wonderfully mixed background music, and order that second martini (which was amazing, by the way). Frequented by locals and working-stiffs alike, a night begun at Hanny’s remains open to infinite possibilities.

Every investor is taught to build a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. Problem is, that’s nonsense, says Andrew Smithers, head of Smithers and Co., an economics consulting firm in London. He thinks that bonds are highly overrated as an asset class and should generally be bypassed in favor of keeping cash in short-term deposits.

To make his point, Smithers looks at the long-term results that a U.S. investor would have achieved with a portfolio of half stocks and half cash versus what the same investor would have achieved over the same period with a portfolio of half stocks and half bonds.

Between 1899 and 2009, the stock-and-cash portfolio would have produced a real average annual return of 4.07%. By comparison, the stock-and-bond portfolio would have generated a real average annual return of 4.62%–just slightly more than the cash portfolio and at the cost of considerably more volatility.

The very slight advantage in return that is gained by adding bonds is mostly the result of the unusual period since 1979, when bond investors made out like bandits as yields fell from the inflationary highs of the stagflation years and bond prices soared. Remove that period and the mix of stocks and cash actually does better than the mix of stocks and bonds. No matter which period you choose, the stock-and-cash mix generally a better risk-adjusted return.

Smithers thinks that many investors are being lured into bonds these days as they search for an alternative to cash that is paying them nothing. He thinks these investors will be disappointed. As governments try to finance their expanding deficits with huge bond issues, and as inflationary expectations rise, bonds are set for a tumble.

Freelance business journalist Ian McGugan blogs for the Financial Post

How can you tell if a musician’s artfreak persona is more than an act? When on a random afternoon, he’s in a bath on his lawn in front of a “Blob in the Bath” sign. Incredible. [Google Maps via Pitchfork]

Last week, in a reversal of its 2008 declaration that Bisphenol A (BPA) was safe, the FDA expressed “some concern” about this chemical found in plastic bottles and metal cans. Noting “the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children,” the FDA says it will conduct more in-depth studies. For now, though, BPA remains legal and unregulated. Here are some ways you can reduce your exposure.

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After being on the road for over two weeks, it’s good to be home. I met so many passionate scientists, students, and science advocates along the way that it brought me a sense of great hope for what’s to come. A highlight was the past weekend stopover in North Carolina for ScienceOnline2010 where I was delighted to meet dozens of interesting science writers and new media folks in person while getting the opportunity to spend time with my favorite science bloggers from around the world. It was a lot of fun to share a panel on fact-checking with Rebecca Skloot and David Dobbs–and if you haven’t already picked up the most recent issue of O Magazine, make sure you do! Rebecca has a fascinating excerpt from her upcoming book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks inside! I also had the pleasure of participating in a second session with Isis and Janet; two women who constantly amaze me both in and out of the blogosphere. Our session on civility got a bit too uncivil at times, but it also brought up very important discussion points that I’d like to see explored more online.

I had my two favorite allies by my side most of the meeting–CM and Vanessa Woods. I am also pleased to report back that Ed Yong is just as awesome in person as at Not Exactly Rocket Science. Bora, Anton, and David did a terrific job pulling the conference together and it was fantastic to see so many friends who inhabit the blogosphere from Sci to Brian, Greg to Carl, Darlene to Dave, Miriam to Kevin, Arikia to Nate, Eric and Eric and on and on… I could not begin to list everyone, so instead, I will just say this: Everyday it is a delight, privilege, and honor to share the science blogosphere with the incredible, inspiring, and wonderful individuals that participate here. I am already looking forward to next year’s event!

Can I overdo bran mashes? I’ve been giving more with the long spell of subfreezing weather. SH, Tennessee

Dear SH,

Unfortunately yes. As much as we love to prepare a warm, tasty bran mash with our horse’s favorite ingredients, this traditional treat may be doing more harm than good. Turns out bran mashes upset the nutritional balance of the diet and may not even prevent or treat the problems we’re giving it for in the first place.

The biggest problem with bran mashes is the imbalance in the calcium to phosphorus ratio. Horses should get somewhere between 1 part calcium to 1 part phosphorus (1:1) or 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus (2:1). Bran has a ratio of 1:12, which means it has a lot more phosphorus than calcium. Creating an upside-down balance between these two important minerals can lead to a condition called “Big Head Disease,” where the horse pulls calcium out of its bones in order to rebalance the ratio.

Another problem with a weekly bran mash or an occasional bran mash before or after a trip is that it is a sudden change in the horse’s diet, something we’re taught never to do. The beneficial bacteria that live in the horse’s GI system need time to adapt to any new feeds. Bran is made up of complex carbohydrates that require bacteria to ferment them so it especially needs this “break in” period. Some of these complex carbohydrates are completely indigestible in the horse, so bran does tend to “bulk up” manure. However, research has shown that even when as much as 50% of the diet consists of bran there is still no laxative effect. Any stool softening or additional water you see in the feces after feeding bran is more likely diarrhea from a sudden change in the diet.

So if you’re feeding a bran mash to heat your horse up from the inside on cold winter days, try feeding more hay. If you’re feeding a bran mash to get more water into your horse, try adding electrolytes to the diet (and using heated buckets—studies prove horses drink more water when it is warmed). If you’re feeding a bran mash to bond with your horse, there are lots of other things you can do to remind him you’re his friend such as extra grooming, carrot stretches or clicker training.

In December, Facebook made a series of bold and controversial changes regarding the nature of its users’ privacy on the social networking site. The company once known for protecting privacy to the point of exclusivity (it began its days as a network for college kids only – no one else even had access), now seemingly wants to compete with more open social networks like the microblogging media darling Twitter.

Those of you who edited your privacy settings prior to December’s change have nothing to worry about – that is, assuming you elected to keep your personalized settings when prompted by Facebook’s “transition tool.” The tool, a dialog box explaining the changes, appeared at the top of Facebook homepages this past month with its own selection of recommended settings. Unfortunately, most Facebook users likely opted for the recommended settings without really understanding what they were agreeing to. If you did so, you may now be surprised to find that you inadvertently gave Facebook the right to publicize your private information including status updates, photos, and shared links.

Want to change things back? Read on to find out how.

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1. Who Can See The Things You Share (Status Updates, Photo, Videos, etc.)

Probably the most critical of the “privacy” changes (yes, we mean those quotes sarcastically) was the change made to status updates. Although there’s now a button beneath the status update field that lets you select who can view any particular update, the new Facebook default for this setting is “Everyone.” And by everyone, they mean everyone.

If you accepted the new recommended settings then you voluntarily gave Facebook the right to share the information about the items you post with any user or application on the site. Depending on your search settings, you may have also given Facebook the right to share that information with search engines, too.

To change this setting back to something of a more private nature, do the following:

1. From your Profile page, hover your mouse over the Settings menu at the top right and click "Privacy Settings" from the list that appears.
2. Click “Profile Information” from the list of choices on the next page.
3. Scroll down to the setting “Posts by Me.” This encompasses anything you post, including status updates, links, notes, photos, and videos.
4. Change this setting using the drop-down box on the right. We recommend the “Only Friends” setting to ensure that only those people you’ve specifically added as a friend on the network can see the things you post.

2. Who Can See Your Personal Info

Facebook has a section of your profile called “personal info,” but it only includes your interests, activities, and favorites. Other arguably more personal information is not encompassed by the “personal info” setting on Facebook’s Privacy Settings page. That other information includes things like your birthday, your religious and political views, and your relationship status.

After last month’s privacy changes, Facebook set the new defaults for this other information to viewable by either “Everyone” (for family and relationships, aka relationship status) or to “Friends of Friends” (birthday, religious and political views). Depending on your own preferences, you can update each of these fields as you see fit. However, we would bet that many will want to set these to “Only Friends” as well. To do so:

1. From your Profile page, hover your mouse over the Settings menu at the top right and click "Privacy Settings" from the list that appears.
2. Click “Profile Information” from the list of choices on the next page.
3. The third, fourth, and fifth item listed on this page are as follows: “birthday,” “religious and political views,” and “family and relationship.” Locking down birthday to “Only Friends” is wise here, especially considering information such as this is often used in identity theft.
4. Depending on your own personal preferences, you may or may not feel comfortable sharing your relationship status and religious and political views with complete strangers. And keep in mind, any setting besides “Only Friends” is just that – a stranger. While “Friends of Friends” sounds innocuous enough, it refers to everyone your friends have added as friends, a large group containing hundreds if not thousands of people you don’t know. All it takes is one less-than-selective friend in your network to give an unsavory person access to this information.

3. What Google Can See – Keep Your Data Off the Search Engines

When you visit Facebook’s Search Settings page, a warning message pops up. Apparently, Facebook wants to clear the air about what info is being indexed by Google. The message reads:

There have been misleading rumors recently about Facebook indexing all your information on Google. This is not true. Facebook created public search listings in 2007 to enable people to search for your name and see a link to your Facebook profile. They will still only see a basic set of information.

While that may be true to a point, the second setting listed on this Search Settings page refers to exactly what you’re allowing Google to index. If the box next to “Allow” is checked, you’re giving search engines the ability to access and index any information you’ve marked as visible by “Everyone.” As you can see from the settings discussed above, if you had not made some changes to certain fields, you would be sharing quite a bit with the search engines…probably more information than you were comfortable with. To keep your data private and out of the search engines, do the following:

1. From your Profile page, hover your mouse over the Settings menu at the top right and click "Privacy Settings" from the list that appears.
2. Click “Search” from the list of choices on the next page.
3. Click “Close” on the pop-up message that appears.
4. On this page, uncheck the box labeled “Allow” next to the second setting “Public Search Results.” That keeps all your publicly shared information (items set to viewable by “Everyone”) out of the search engines. If you want to see what the end result looks like, click the “see preview” link in blue underneath this setting. 

Take 5 Minutes to Protect Your Privacy

While these three settings are, in our opinion, the most critical, they’re by no means the only privacy settings worth a look. In a previous article (written prior to December’s changes, so now out-of-date), we also looked at things like who can find you via Facebook’s own search, application security, and more.

While you may think these sorts of items aren’t worth your time now, the next time you lose out on a job because the HR manager viewed your questionable Facebook photos or saw something inappropriate a friend posted on your wall, you may have second thoughts. But why wait until something bad happens before you address the issue?

Considering that Facebook itself is no longer looking out for you, it’s time to be proactive about things and look out for yourself instead. Taking a few minutes to run through all the available privacy settings and educating yourself on what they mean could mean the world of difference to you at some later point…That is, unless you agree with Facebook in thinking that the world is becoming more open and therefore you should too.

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