This was one of the entries at boingboing.net this week.

Apparently, scientists at the University of Birmingham in the UK have discovered that e colli poops energy efficient hydrogen when fed chocolate.

What could the implications be for energy efficient cars?
Hmmm...I dunno, but I think I'll have another bon-bon.


"01 June 2006
NewScientist.com news service

Willy Wonka could have powered his Great Glass Elevator on hydrogen produced from his chocolate factory.
Microbiologist Lynne Mackaskie and her colleagues at the University of Birmingham in the UK have powered a fuel cell by feeding sugar-loving bacteria chocolate-factory waste. "We wanted to see if we tipped chocolate into one end, could we get electricity out at the other?" she says.
The team fed Escherichia coli bacteria diluted caramel and nougat waste. The bacteria consumed the sugar and produced hydrogen, which they make with the enzyme hydrogenase, and organic acids. The researchers then used this hydrogen to power a fuel cell, which generated enough electricity to drive a small fan (Biochemical Society Transactions, vol 33, p 76).
The process could provide a use for chocolate waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. What's more, the bacteria's job doesn't have to end once they have finished chomping on the sweet stuff. Mackaskie's team next put the bugs to work on a production line that recovers precious metal from the catalytic converters of old cars.
Place the bacteria in a vat with hydrogen and liquid waste from spent converters, and the enzymes again get to work. The same hydrogenase used to produce hydrogen splits the gas into its constituents, generating electrons that react with palladium ions in the solution. This forces the palladium out of the solution, and it sticks to the bacteria. The palladium-coated bacteria can then be recycled as catalysts for other projects, Mackaskie says."

From issue 2554 of New Scientist magazine, 01 June 2006, page 25

*****Siouxsie and the Banshees "Spellbound"

It's just amazing...and you can't get that smell off your mind and out of your head right now.

The Gardenia is blooming hard-core in the south right now.

The smell permeates the air. Complex, pungent, yet beautiful notes of honey, perfume, citrus, musk, and earth.

It's that fragrance that non-gardeners in the south inately know right away, but can't pinpoint. The gardeners in the south are "drunk as Cooter Brown" on the fragrance this week.

The Gardenia shrubs at the Doghouse are full blown blossomed and sweet. You can't escape their fragrant notes. The fragrance wafts across the yard, onto the porch, and even through the air conditioning units, filling the house.

I have to say that this is one of those moments in time that I love the south like mad. I love the "at once simple and complex" nature of the south. I love the complex yet humble flavors, the complex yet humble people, and the complex yet humble scents of the south.

*****The Blasters "Samson and Delilah"

Thanks Misty, for the name! When Tuesday is a Monday...



Hot Monkey Love,

T

I can’t believe it is Sunday night already. I also can’t believe I’m sitting here with the blinds drawn, blogging on Memorial Day weekend, and still nursing the hangover from HELL. This is truly the worst hangover I can recall in the past 20 years.

On any account, I have to say it was worth it. We saw possibly one of the best up-and- coming bands in a great small venue at The Earl last night. The Cougars. Watch for them if they come anywhere near you. I mean hard workin, hard rockin, passionate, fun as shit, amazing stage presence…..everything you could ask for in a live performance.

Here’s the band’s line up….

Sam Ambrosini- Keyboard

Mark Beening- Trumpet

Bryan Bienias- Bass

Matt Irie- Vocals

Brett Meingasner- Guitar

John Mcclurg- Guitar

Frank "Boobs" Garcia- Saxophone

Brian Wnukowski- Drums

I mean check that out…the 2 guitars and the horns. They WORKED them too. They were going nuts and so was I after a couple of songs. Matt was sporting a big ol Tom Selleck mustache and worked the crowd into a frenzy. You can check out some info, dates, and tunes at their MySpace site

 http://www.myspace.com/cougars

I can’t remember having this much fun at The Earl in a long time. After the show, Marc, Chanda, Rob, and I kidnapped the drummer Brian…and we went over to The East Side Lounge to shake a little junk and hang out.

OK…so today we trolled over to the Gospel Brunch at The Park Tavern at Piedmont Park. I’m thinking…”Ok..I’m a little queasy…(1pm by now and like 125 degrees F)…but maybe I just need a Bloody Mary and some food”  Shit…when we got there I thought I was dying! I didn’t know whether to eat or throw up.

After we ate…we walked around the Jazz Festival at the park (approximately 325 degrees F by now) Stumbled around, saw some pretty good artwork…and decided to go back tomorrow night for the final night…with a blanket, some food, and some wine. Awesome idea. Get me home so I can hit the bed and exorcize this demon that has taken up residence inside my body.

So…around 7 I dragged my ass out of bed and checked in at Needs More Cowbells. Prank has a great post over there. He mentioned the band X….which made me think of Dave Alvin, and the band The Blasters that he was in, after X sorta started splitting up. I did a search on Rhapsody and found a greatest hits album of theirs. Not just “A” greatest hits…the “The” greatest hits…from one of the greatest bands ever. Awesome, soulful, and energetic psychobilly rock…real American music. It is called "Testiment: The Complete Slash Recordings". GENIUS AND BEAUTIFUL American music. I am in heaven!

The Blasters…for some reason…flew under the radar in the mid eighties. That always freaked me out. Maybe it was the timing. Their music is absolutely brilliant, American, beautiful, and rockin. I’d go as far to say that the music they laid down was the best music from that decade. So…I found this jewel on Rhapsody and am in a little heaven right now. 52 tracks on this bad boy. I AM GOOD.  

Thanks, Prank…for the domino effect reminder about these guys. Hope everybody is having a great holiday. Peace, T

 

Sometimes

I'm too busy
scanning the horizon
for storms
that may
or may not
be headed
this-a-way.

Not right now.

The extended forecast is lookin good.

Uncle Bud and Aunt Stella are here for the holiday.
The Decatur Arts Festival and the Atlanta Jazz Festival becon.

The Jazz Festival kicks off the Sunday with a Gospel Brunch at the Tavern in Piedmont Park. Then Jazz all day and night in the park. A big old blanket will hold good wine, better food, and the best bunch of sapiens...homo and otherwise...that a guy could ask for. Sublime.

I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A GREAT, "THROWED OFF" HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

Peace, Brutha T.