Monday Updates

So I have been REALLY behind in keeping my posts current, I apologize. Life has been very consuming as of late, new car, visits by friends and family, and some laziness. So if you have not been back for awhile, here is the last weeks worth of posts. I hope you all keep coming back for your Daily Dose, as I enjoy posting insight to what I feel is fun, important, and hopefully a bit unique. Also, be sure to check out my favorite blogs, as the spectrum of topics is diverse. From Gardening to Environmentalism, its all there! Enjoy!

Monday April 7th, 2008: Kansas National Championship
A brief recap of Kansas winning the NCAA Mens basketball title

Tuesday April 8th, 2008: Calie, the New Car
A little insight into my new car, Calie the MINI Cooper

Wednesday April 9th, 2008: Olympic Torch Protest
My take on the protest surrounding this years Olympic torch relay

Thursday April 10th, 2008: Olympic Torch's Carbon Footprint
A look at the development and carbon footprint of this years Olympic Torch!

Friday April 11th, 2008: Chuggles Sleep Over
Kmewalt's dogs are back, and this time, they stay for the weekend!

Saturday April 12th 2008: Air and Noise Pollution
Interesting connections between 'pollution' and its unusual impacts on nature.

Sunday April 13th 2008: Ryan Hall and the London Marathon
A brief rant and recap of this years 2008 London Marathon

Have a great day and thanks again for coming by
~Zachawii~

Journey of Harmony

Torch Carbon Foot Print
I discussed yesterday about the protests surrounding the Olympic torch and its relay around the world. Which got me thinking about the torch itself, who designed it, whats it made of, and how does it get from country to country? And, courtesy of GreenDaily, what is the environmental impact this torch relay? Well your answers and mine, are about to be had!

Lenovo, yes the computer company, designed the torch for the 2008 games, while the flame element was designed by the Chinese aerospace industries. It is cast out of aluminum, stands 28.35 inches tall (72 cm) and weighs slightly more than two pounds (985 kg). Traditional Chinese artistry adorns the torch, which resembles traditional scrolls . The flame element is able to stay lit in winds of up to ~40 mph (65 kph) and in rains of approximately two inches an hour (50 mm/hour). The 'green' side of the torch is that the materials are recyclable and the propane fuel meets environmental requirements. Makes for a beautiful torch, but what about environmental beauty?

The torch relay is the longest in history, with the IOC stating that the journey will span nearly 85,000 miles. The flame, when not being carried by relay members or being doused by fire-extinguisher wielding protesters, travels on a custom Airbus A330, the Journey of Harmony, complete with custom paint job. The A330, according to Wired, the A330 burns through 5.3 gallons of fuel PER mile. Talk about crappy mpg! Earthlab calculates that for the entire trip, the A330 will use ~462,000 gallons of jet fuel, netting around 5,500 TONS of CO2.

If you add this, plus the huge investments of energy and raw materials to build the new Olympic facilities, you wonder if the Olympics are really worth it from an environmental standpoint? Why are we awarding countries that do not have facilities prior to the games? Why do knew ones have to be built? Why, like in Atlanta in 1996, do the facilities get torn down after the games? There are already several world class facilities already available, why not award only those cities to chance to host the games? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, I think the IOC could use a lesson in the basic three. I'm still excited for the games...119 Days!

Olympic Protests

Olympic Torch
I have resisted the urge to write about the protests surrounding the Olympic torch relay around the world, but figured I would briefly weigh in on it. I am excited about the Olympics, as can be seen here, here, and here, where the greatest athletic spectacle held, pits each nations greatest against one another.

This years torch relay has been mired in controversy and protests, which have began, though not entirely, with the way that China handled a Tibetan protest last month which coincided with the beginning of the torches relay. The protests have gotten louder and more pronounced, more issues have come to forefront that each protesting group is trying to raise awareness to; Tibetan autonomy, human and civil rights issues, freedom of speech, the Taiwan issue, and China's response to various African conflicts. There is even talk of boycotting the games...what is all of this?

The Olympics embrace the principles of bringing people, cultures, and countries together to showcase each of their best athletes abilities. It is supposed to promote peace and unity. I support the protests of this years Olympic games in so much as it peacefully raises awareness of the wrongs that have been done by China. If the Chinese people feel that these protests are against them, the possibility of a backlash against the west is plausible, though remote. This would be expected of any country who feels that they are being personally attacked by another

The Chinese are immensely proud of these Olympic games and are truly trying to put their best face forward to show the world how much they have come into modernization. Of course there will be skeletons in the closet, but what country does not? Lets make progress and stop hashing the past, it is gone, done, forget and move on, its what we're supposed to do. Now, only 120 days to go! Wahoo!