Keep thinking positive! This is one brave kid who probably did not have any idea what kind of ride he was in for.

See the article at CNN. I hope he makes it out of this safely.


From the article this far:

The helium balloon was tethered to the boy's family home in Fort Collins, the Larimer County Sheriff's Department said. The boy got into the craft Thursday morning and undid the rope anchoring it.

The Federal Aviation Administration is trying to track the aircraft on radar and has notified the Denver International Airport. Shortly after noon (2 p.m. ET), the balloon was sighted two miles south of Evans.

Davis said a balloon company has been contacted and several media outlets offered to help track the balloon with their helicopters.

"We're trying to determine the best course of action," Davis said. "This is a first and we'll do what we need to do."

Over at the EcoFriend blog, there is a nice entry with lots of pictures showing off a new, very stylish electric bicycle. The bike is designed to be compact with 20" wheels while the configuration is for someone who would normally ride a 28" wheeled bike.

The motor is a 250 watt unit built in the hub. The system uses a lithium ion battery pack. There is no note of distance the unit can go on electric only, but I am sure this is something we will see more of in the future.

Follow the related link for photos and a little more information.

There is an article in the Wall Street Journal about a "super station" being proposed for connecting the major electrical networks. The purpose would be to allow renewable energies to be transported between regions without an entirely new infrastructure.

See the related link for more information.

Also see Yahoo Green for their information.

Well, if you live around here, then no doubt you have noticed the rain. Parking lots are flooding, rivers close to overflowing and roofs leaking. We have been very busy dealing with this storm. Check out my August 7th posting about El Nino and you may see some correlation with the prediction of an extra wet season ahead.

Be prepared and be careful. Have working flashlights and canned foods available. Also make sure you have a way to keep warm that is not dangerous and a neighbor or relative you can stay with if necessary.

Please take care when driving.

These are easy and have an additive impact on your budget and the environment, a win-win.

1. Turn off lights when you leave a room more than 5min, even at work. If you are the last one out the door, you are responsible for the impact.

2. Carry your own water. Do not buy bottled water, fill a re-usable container with filtered water instead.

3. Waste less food. Be frugal, make use of leftovers.

4. Relax your driving. Accelerating is one of the most wastefull aspects of driving next to sitting still with the engine running. Give yourself 5 extra minutes and accelerate gently when you drive. You will save gas and probably discover that the extra 5 minutes is actually more than you need. However, the extra 5 minutes will help you relax and reduce your driving stress.

5. Stop the energy leaks. If you have a guest room, unplug everything in it when you do not have a guest. Look up "Energy Vampires" on your favorite search engine to find specifics about which devices are the biggest offenders. Many households can save $500 a year on energy.

6. Find ways to use what you already have. Reusing items instead of buying new is frugal and good for both your budget and the environment. Be creative.

7. Choose products with less packaging. Packaging adds to the cost of products and the environmental impact. By doing this, we make a statement or cast a vote with our wallet. Eventually the manufacturers catch on. This impact goes beyond the instant reward at the register.

8. Plan travel carefully. Make the best use of your time and transit. Planning a route ahead of time saves miles, time and money as well as reducing impact on the environment.

The bottom line - Good habits have an additive effect and go a long way toward helping your budget and the environment.