The Solar Impulse flew all the way from Switzerland to Morocco and back. This surf events prepare your mobile phones to keep update for the results.

Compared to its fossil-fueled brethren, it didn’t set any speed records. The plane, which has the wingspan of an Airbus A340 and 12,000 solar cells integrated into the wings to supply four electric motors, travels about as fast as most people in a residential 25 mph zone when they think nobody’s looking.

The solar cells also charge the 400kg lithium polymer batteries so the aircraft can fly at night.

But the Solar Impulse is a one of a kind, a vanguard, something that could inspire a generation to believe in the power of the sun. I’d liken it to the Herald of Galactus in issue 48 of the Fantastic Four. Although the concept of the cosmic Silver Surfer was far different, his arrival made the citizens of earth (in the Marvel Comics universe) look to the sky.

There they saw unbridled power.

A new generation

I’d argue that power is there even without the Surfer. Every day the societies of this tiny planet of ours use about 15 terawatts of power. A terawatt is a trillion watts.

Derek Abbott, a professor at the University of Adelaide in Australia, says his country could capture enough solar energy to satisfy the world. Maybe more. The sun, he says, produces enough energy to power about 10,000 of our planets, or 174,000 terawatts.

Abbott explains in videos available on YouTube that with 500-by-500 square kilometers of parabolic mirrors, enough of the sun’s rays could be reflected back to boil water and create electricity. Excess energy would be used to generate hydrogen, which could be exported as a clean-burning fuel.

Simple? Certainly more straight-forward than letting Galactus into our solar system so he could suck the planet dry.

Challenge of Galactus

While that threat may seem to those of you who didn’t grow up reading Marvel comics, pollution and climate change provide a threat nearly as scary. Thus, a little inspiration can’t hurt. Little things, like the Solar Impulse, may trigger interest in just one kid who’ll go on to unlock the key to tapping zero-point energy. The Surfer served as herald to Galactus until he was freed by the Fantastic Four.

And while I’m on the subject of cool new stuff, there’s another electric plane in the news. This one was recently flown by Chip Yates, the guy who drove the world’s fastest motorcycle into the record books.

Flying electric, fast

This time Yates climbed into the cockpit of an odd experimental-looking aircraft, dubbed the Flight of the Century Long-ESA electric test plane, and took off from Inyokern Airport in California on July 19, according to Paul Ridden of gizmag.com. Ridden says the plane was converted from a Long-EZ aircraft, which is an outfit that provides materials and parts to the do-it-yourself airplane builder.

“During the flight, Yates managed to ramp the speed up to 202.6 mph and lay claim to yet another speed record,” Ridden writes.

So, will these developments affect the solar industry? Perhaps. But Tom Cotter, sales manager of Real Goods Solar Central Valley in Fresno, Calif., put my initial exuberance in perspective.

Another perspective

“The solar electric plane is cool technologically, makes a great newsworthy story and could be used by educators to wow students into interest in solar/renewables/physics,” he says. “As far as the North American solar industry, it doesn’t do much.”

Cotter, an astute follower of the clean energy industry and a true believer in clean air, explains that the solar industry is undergoing its own evolution as air conditioning contractors, furniture companies, Joe-in-the-truck handymen, electrical companies and others get into the business of installing photovoltaic panels.

Many have said that the real answer to building the potential of clean energy is to put solar panels on every available rooftop and push for net-zero energy buildings. But this requires building a bullet-proof reputation. A lot depends on word-of-mouth sales. Spotty work could torpedo growth.

“There will be small advances in technology, but the real advance will be adoption of what is already available,” Cotter says.

Inspiration from the Surfer

There are quite a few technologies in the pipeline that will enhance the experience. We have the power to transform our environment now. We just have to take the initiative.

Don’t be afraid to innovate. Young people are the future of the clean energy industry, and their inspiration is pivotal. Whether it takes a solar plane, electric motorcycle or coming up with a cosmic-powered atmospheric encapsulated surf board, we need their hope and determination.

And we need to do all the other stuff right. As my former boss Courtney Kalashian would repeat to me (especially in my darkest moods), “Mike, as I’ve said before, ‘Failure is not an option.’ ”

Mike Nemeth, project manager of the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization, spent 24 years working as a newspaperman editing and reporting from Alaska to California. The SJVCEO is a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life through increased use of clean and alternative energy. The SJVCEO is based in Fresno, Calif. and works with cities and counties and public and private organizations to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout the eight-county region of the San Joaquin Valley. For more information, go to http://www.sjvcleanenergy.org.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mike_Nemeth/674339

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Surf contest is one of the most physically demanding sports there is today. Mainly because it’s ride or die out there; shred or get shredded. The waves don’t stop for you, which means that you don’t stop. This type of physical fitness requires a great deal of endurance, strength, agility, and balance. One of the best ways to become a stronger surfer in all areas is surfing itself. However, not all surfers live right by the ocean, or have the opportunity to go out for a session whenever they want. Also, if you are truly out of shape and lacking in any of these crucial aspects of fitness, the ocean is probably not the safest place for you right now. Fortunately, there are numerous forms of cross training that can drastically improve your surfing performance and experience as a whole. The most effective forms of cross training for surfing specifically are those that work the same muscle groups, have similar movements, and give you the feel or the flow that surfing has, also known as functional training. The focus of functional training is on exercises that involve or mimic the movements you would make while surfing. Let me introduce you or refresh you on some forms of cross training that will get your strength, endurance, agility, balance, and much more up to par.

Swimming is an excellent form of functional training especially if it’s in the ocean – that way you really get the same feel and become more acquainted and knowledgeable about your playing field. Swimming is probably the most obvious way to increase your paddle power (just like surfing improves your surfing), plus it works multiple muscle groups simultaneously- just as surfing does, and the same ones you use while surfing. At the same time that you are swimming and gaining strength in all of the necessary areas, you are improving your cardiovascular fitness as well, which helps to build your endurance. Swimming, or paddling to be more exact, is what you are doing about 90 percent of the time you are surfing. Therefore, it’s worth it to practice and become better and necessary if you want to become a better surfer.

Running is a very common form of cross training for many sports. It can be extremely effective in advancing your surf performance as long as you are careful, after all, running is one of the most injury prone sports there is. That’s why it is best to run either on sand (wet sand, or dry for more of a challenge), grass, or trail for less of an impact on your joints. Places that are most commonly available for most people to run on are a mixture of grass and concrete, so it’s important that you have a good pair of running shoes for protection and support. The greatest thing about running is that you can manipulate the flow into a more functional training. What I mean is that when you are running, you don’t have to limit yourself to any there and back, boring routes. Running a set, decided on distance is good, but to really put running in gear for your fitness advancement and surfing improvement specifically, interval running is the most functional and effective. Interval running has you run through a set of time intervals where you run hard and easy on and off; for instance, 20 seconds fast, followed by 40 seconds of less intense or easy running, for a total of 20 minutes. This quick and constant switch of low intensity to high intensity is what makes interval running such a functional form of training for surfers, because when you’re surfing you constantly have to switch from a low intensity (waiting for a wave) to a high intensity (catching the wave). Interval running increases your agility by getting your body used to this strong and sudden shift making it faster and more fluid. It also builds your strength and stamina.

If you’ve never taken a yoga class, it’s time to get on that! Yoga is becoming more and more popular among surfers today and it is clear as to why. Yoga not only helps to increase your flexibility, strength, balance and endurance but it also develops mental stamina which are all very crucial for surfing. What’s more is that it develops a sense of calmness and patience- you’re going to need this definitely for surfing but also at all times for life in general! And if that isn’t beneficial enough, hang tight. Yoga gives you improved posture, breathing, and also minimizes your risk of injury. It also is extremely effective in clearing out toxins and helps a lot with blood circulation, bringing necessary oxygen and nutrients to places that normally don’t get enough. It is one of the most complete and balanced forms of exercise there is because you’re stretching, strengthening, balancing, and meditating all at the same time. There are many different types of yoga but all of them will leave your mind, body, and spirit feeling completely cleansed and refreshed. And the benefits it will bring to your surfing experience make it all the more worth your time and effort.

Finally, we have functional training! Like I stated earlier, the focus of functional training is on exercises that involve or mimic the movements you would make while out in the surf. By focusing so specifically on these surf-like movements and exercises, doing them repetitively and regularly, your body will develop muscle memory. This means that when you get out in the water and have to paddle through a massive set it, or if you are suddenly forcing your way into a wave, it will be a breeze since you have been doing these same movements every day. Your surfing ability and overall fitness will be heightened immensely. Mostly all forms of exercise need some kind of equipment, whether it is a certain type of shoes or clothing, a specific place like a field or a pool, or a hoop or a goal. For functional training, all you will need is a stability ball, a set of dumbbells, and a resistance band to give you an intense, multi-targeted workout that you can do at home, at the gym, or where ever suits your mood. Functional training uses running, swimming, strategic exercise and stretching sequences to improve your total fitness spectrum: agility, flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance. Functional training is the best-rounded form of exercise there is, especially for surfing, and has the potential to get you to live up to yours.

Stop by my blog to read a comprehensive review of Total Surfing Fitness: Functional Training for Surfers. It’s www.totalsurfingfitnessreview.com [http://www.totalsurfingfitnessreview.com]

Peace & Love to all!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Angela_N_Juliano/1451646

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7376507

In this article, you’ll learn

• The differences between concrete and asphalt.
• How to maintain and care for both types of driveways.
• The important issues that need to be considered before making a decision on your driveway.

So you’re in the market for a new driveway or perhaps you’re building a new home and need to decide how to pave your driveway. Either way, you’ll probably have two traditional options to choose from- concrete or asphalt. They are similar but have key differences you should consider before making a decision. These considerations include aesthetics, climate, maintenance, cost, and restrictions. Disregard the cost for concrete driveway especially if the results will be more than the cost as you expected.

Both concrete and asphalt must have well compacted bases of gravel before application. Both take time to ‘cure’ before they can be driven on, although concrete takes several days while asphalt takes several hours. In addition, both are made from the same general material- stone and sand. However, the difference comes from the adhesive.

In asphalt the adhesive is tar and in concrete its cement.

These two substrates give asphalt and concrete their unique characteristics. They also affect costs, durability and maintenance. Tar, while more inexpensive than cement is softer and degrades easier and faster. However, with proper maintenance this negative attribute of asphalt can be diminished.

Aesthetics

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is true for driveways as well. Some people like the look and concept of the driveway being an extension of the road and therefore have asphalt driveways. The differences between asphalt and concrete are as different as black and white, literally. However, there are some different things that can be done to both asphalt and concrete to get away from the traditional black or off-white colors.

As a general rule of thumb, concrete is an easier material to work with to get different finishes. Concrete can be stained or tinted to an array of colors and can be stained differently in a single driveway to get unique patterns. Concrete can also be stamped into different designs, etched or engraved to get different looks and it can have different finishes such as brushed or exposed aggregate. All these different options can create a plethora of unique options when designing your driveway.

Asphalt is more limited. Since asphalt must be rolled and compressed, there is little in the way of unique finishes. Moreover, until recently, there was little option in color apart from standard black. However, there are now tints that can be added at the end of as a sealant or even integral coloring that is added during mixing.

Climate

For those who live in areas that have either very cold winters or very warm summers, climate can be an important consideration. Concrete has the tendency to crack and suffer from frost heaving in cold and freezing winters. Furthermore, salt used for ice melting can create pits in concrete leaving blotches across the driveway. Alternatively, asphalt has issues in hotter climates. The tar in asphalt can become soft in the high heat of summer and can become tacky and even deform in some cases. It is important to talk to a reputable contractor about the effects the local climate will have on both asphalt and concrete prior to finalizing any decisions.

Maintenance

There are definite differences when considering maintenance. After about six months to a year after installation, asphalt driveways should be sealed. Asphalt should then be subsequently sealed every three-five years afterwards. This can be done by anyone and does not require any special tools or machinery. Sealing the asphalt will extend the life of the driveway, which when properly maintained may last upwards of 30 years.

Concrete driveways do not necessarily need to be sealed to last upwards of 50 years. However, sealing a concrete driveway can preserve the look and finish. Concrete driveways will stain easier than asphalt (although sealing will help) and will require a degreaser to remove any oil based stains that may occur.

Both asphalt and concrete driveway cracks can be repaired. However, asphalt cracks are easier to repair and blend into the original. Meanwhile, concrete repairs are more obvious due to weathering. An added plus with asphalt is that it can be resurfaced fairly inexpensively leaving a brand new top coat if the old layer falls into disrepair, which is impossible for concrete.

Cost

Ignoring any maintenance costs, asphalt is generally much cheaper to install than concrete. On average, the cost per square foot for asphalt will run between $2.50 to $4.00. Fluctuations in crude oil prices can cause fluctuations in asphalt prices but the price will remain around this range. Concrete, on the other hand, can run between $4.00 to $6.00 per square foot for basic installation and can cost more depending on different finishes and detail. It’s not unheard of to have a stained concrete driveway with a smooth finish cost over $15.00 per square foot.

Regulations

Finally, before you get too far, you may want to check with any local building codes to see if there are any specifications. For those that live in a development, your HOA may have very specific restrictions on color, finish or even type of driveway material you can use. Go here to inquire for your driveway costs.