Quick hitters

1. A few posts back I said about the cash-for-clunkers law:

So if someone trades in a clunker, they'd better get at least $10K for it toward a hybrid, or this plan will be DOA.

So here's a little bit more about the law being discussed in Congress:

Cash for clunkers deal moves ahead

"The “cash for clunkers” proposal, which would give consumers a tax credit of up to $4,500 for switching from their gas guzzlers..."

'Nuff read. That's not enough $$$. Later on:

"A group of senators, led by California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, is backing an alternative proposal that imposes tougher mileage limits on the trade-in program. Feinstein’s bill mandates that the old vehicle must get 17 mpg or less, and new passenger cars with at least 24 mpg are eligible for vouchers. To receive the full $4,500 voucher, the new vehicle must get at least 13 miles to the gallon more than the old car."

Maybe better than the marginal House bill, but still not enough money to get wary consumers back in the showroom in droves. They need more cash to make this work!

2. Giant lobster roll: was it worth it?

Giant lobster roll rolls into Portland, Maine

My question: was all (or at least most) of the lobster roll eaten? Or was it a waste of fine sea-dwelling organisms (48 pounds worth of lobster meat) for the sake of a stunt? I hope not. This sentence: "A local roller derby team helped carry the sandwich to the festival, where it was cut into sections and sold to raise money for a youth association", makes it sound like it was consumed.

3. Envisat works -- keep it working

ESA Extends Envisat Satellite Mission

"ESA Member States have unanimously voted to extend the Envisat mission through to 2013."

and

"The decision to extend the Envisat mission operations, taken during the last ESA Earth Observation Programme Board meeting, is a recognition of the success of the mission, in terms of the wide number of scientific and operational users served and the good technical status of the satellite after seven years of operations," Envisat Mission Manager Henri Laur said."

and

"Another reason the mission was extended is the need for scientists to be able to access data over long periods of time in order to identify and analyse long-term climatic trends and changes (such as greenhouse gas concentrations, sea surface temperature, sea levels, sea-ice extent)."

This is nothing but good news. Keep up the good work, Envisat.