uptone

Monday, 7 May 2007

Hot Fractured Rock Geothermal Energy - the Answer to Global Warming?

Energy is, and will remain, the largest business on Earth. This industry is undergoing major changes as the world grapples with climate change, pollution and the need for renewable energy. One source of renewable energy is hot fractured rock (HFR) geothermal energy.

HFR geothermal energy is produced using heat extracted from buried hot granites by circulating water through an engineered, artificial reservoir or underground heat exchanger. These hot granites represent a massive source of renewable energy, free from CO2 emissions.
The development of HFR geothermal energy relies on existing technologies. HFR geothermal projects are currently underway in France, Switzerland, Germany, California, and Japan. Australia has a recognised potential for the development of HFR geothermal energy.
Perhaps HFR is the answer to the world's future energy needs - a source that does not exacerbate the problem of global warming, is safe and seemingly available in infinite supply. This report entitled, "The Future of Geothermal Energy" suggests that the amount of extractable HFR energy exceeds the world's current consumption by a factor of several thousand!

To quote Sheikh Yamani: "The Stone Age did not end because people ran out of stones - it ended because they found something better."

What is Hot Fractured Rock Energy? Click here and here to find out.

With thanks to Geodynamics, the Australian geothermal power company for the images and text.

Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Miracle Drywash is awarded the Waterwise Marque

Waterless carwash system recognised for reducing water wastage in the UK

OXFORD: The waterless carwash product, Miracle Drywash, was honoured in March 2007, on United Nations World Water Day, by Waterwise, the UK’s leading authority on water efficiency. The product was awarded the prestigious Waterwise Marque at the annual Waterwise Water Efficiency Conference, held at Oxford University.

Tim Jones of SJK Products, manufacturers of Miracle Drywash, receiving the Waterwise award from Waterwise Director, Jacob Tompkins.

The Marque is awarded annually to products which reduce water wastage or raise the awareness of water efficiency. Judged by a panel of water efficiency experts, Miracle Drywash was awarded the Marque because it offers a major contribution to water efficiency and it was also considered to give out a good message in terms of saving both water and time.

Miracle Drywash, the totally waterless car washing and polishing system.

Miracle Drywash, the totally waterless car washing and polishing system, is manufactured by SJK Products Ltd. The company’s director, Tim Jones, who accepted the award said, “To receive the Waterwise Marque is a great honour and this will make us even more committed to reducing the millions of litres of water that are needlessly wasted every day by those washing their cars at home with their hosepipe.”

The Waterwise Marque.

The Waterwise Marque – the first scheme in the UK to highlight water-efficient products, founded in 2006 – was also awarded this year to a dishwasher, an aerated showerhead, water storing gels for the garden, a waterless urinal, a new dual flush toilet, drought resistant turf, a device to recycle your bathwater, a garden drip irrigation system, tap flow restrictors and devices to reduce the amount of water used when flushing the toilet.

Waterwise (www.waterwise.org.uk) is an independent, not for profit, non-governmental organisation and is the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK. It sits on the UK Environment Minister’s Water Saving Group alongside the water industry and regulators and it works together with water companies, manufacturers, retailers, NGOs, environmentalists, regulators, domestic consumers and the media.

Miracle Drywash, manufactured by SJK Products Ltd in Crawley, West Sussex, is a totally waterless washing and polishing system – a revolutionary way to both wash and polish your car, boat, motorbike, or any other metal, glass, or painted surface - with only a single application of the product. The company was founded by Mr SJ Khebbal in 2004. Miracle Drywash can be purchased online at http://www.miracledrywash.com/purchase.php

For more information, please contact:

SJ Khebbal
SJK Products Ltd.
James Place
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 6GA

Tel: 0800 881 8062
E-mail: info@miracledrywash.com
Web: http://www.miracledrywash.com

waterless, carwash, car wash, polishing, drought, hosepipe ban, caravan, motorhome, camping, environment

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Monday, 30 April 2007

Birmingham celebrity photographer launches new family portrait business

Steve Gerrard becomes a ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ photographer

After working in the music industry for almost 20 years and photographing some of the world’s biggest artists and bands, Birmingham-based photographer, Steve Gerrard, is now extending his services to officially include family portraits and wedding photography. It's what one magazine editor calls the "Jekyll & Hyde" of his photography.

Steve has now set his sites on building a successful wedding and portraiture business aimed at high-end clients in the UK and internationally, looking for quality images with a dynamic and contemporary edge.

"I love the variety that my work allows me. One afternoon I went straight from photographing a gorgeous 6-week old baby to photographing the singer from heavy metal band, Slipknot!" says Steve.

Running the business with his Canadian wife, Evelyne, Steve’s approach to photographing his subjects may be different to what people are used to.

“My aim is to give people an experience which is fun, relaxed and away from the artificial confines of a photographic studio,” Steve says. “Children especially don’t always feel comfortable stuck in a white room with bright lights flashing in their faces. I always work on location, photographing people at home or in their favourite place, using natural light and aiming to capture people’s true personalities. It’s more fun for them and it’s certainly more fun for us too.”
His wedding photography mirrors this approach and produces beautiful images which perfectly capture the spirit of the big day.

“The days of cheesy, posed wedding pictures are thankfully behind us: now couples are looking for something much more natural and creative. We still make sure we have some nice posed shots of the bride and groom and their guests, but my aim is to produce an album which acts as a photographic narrative of the wedding, with candid images capturing the emotion, excitement and fun of the occasion.”

Over the last 20 years, Steve has photographed a wide variety of artists from Iron Maiden, Morrissey and Radiohead to Jared Leto, Juliette Lewis and Pete Doherty. His images have graced the pages of magazines such as NME, Rock Sound and Metal Hammer as well as Professional Photographer magazine, which also just published a 4-page feature on Steve and his photography.

Steve Gerrard is a successful photographer based in Great Barr, near Birmingham, England specialising in a variety of styles from wedding and lifestyle shoots to music and corporate photography.

For more information, contact:
Steve Gerrard
Steve Gerrard Photography
49 Jayshaw Avenue
Great Barr
Birmingham
B43 5SB

Tel: 0121 357 2229
E-mail: steve@stevegerrardphotography.com
Web: http://www.stevegerrardphotography.com

photo, photos, photograph, photographs, photographer, photographic, wedding, weddings, portrait, portraits, portraiture, family, corporate, lifestyle, great barr, birmingham, midlands, england, uk

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Tuesday, 24 April 2007

SPAMALOT - World's Largest Coconut Orchestra

We did it! All 5,567 of us, packed into Trafalgar Square yesterday (St George's Day) and issued with free coconuts, got into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest coconut orchestra!

The day was made extra special for me because both Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones were there, as well as the entire cast of Spamalot!

As you can see, Harry & I had a fantastic afternoon:

We even got on TV - on ITV London's 6pm news bulletin. They asked us if we knew what St George's Day was all about - we didn't which was exactly what they wanted to hear.

Well, Harry couldn't wait - the queue to the loo was too long!

Some peasants turned up for the event.

There's another one!

Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam encouraging us to go and see Spamalot "because Eric Idle's house in LA is very large and very expensive to maintain".

Michael England, orchestra leader for Spamalot conducts the crowd into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Hannah Waddingham (the Lady of the Lake) with Terry Gilliam, the original Patsy from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, doing the face he used for the part.

Terry Jones holds up the Guinness Book of World Records certificate. We did it!

See also the following articles (can you spot Harry & I in the photos & videos?):

Wednesday, 18 April 2007

Monty Python's Spamalot - our third time!

Yes, we love Spamalot so much, we've seen it 3 times now: for my birthday, for Harry's birthday party and, yesterday, for Harry's actual birthday. The show was excellent as ever.

It worked out so well as we had great seats and, funnily enough, we got to meet (and photograph) all the cast members we missed last time. And here are the photos to prove it:

In front of the Palace Theatre, moments before the start of the
3pm matinee performance, Tues 17 Apr 07.

Harry at the stage door after the show.

Harry hanging around waiting to meet the cast.

With Graham MacDuff who plays
Sir Dennis Galahad, The Black Knight and Prince Herbert’s Father.
Harry asked Graham to sing "Now we're into E!" from
'The song that goes like this" in a squeeky voice and he did!

With Tony Timberlake (left) who plays Sir Bedevere, Mrs Galahad and Concorde and Darren Southworth who plays the Historian,Not Dead Fred, a French Guard, a Minstrel and Prince Herbert.

With Robert Hands who plays Sir Robin, Guard 1
and Brother Maynard. Harry asked him not to poop his pants
- he promised he wouldn't!

Harry & me on stage, taken by Ben Jefferson himself
- the Spamalot company manager!

What a fantastic time we had - the Spamalot team are such a friendly bunch of people!

Our Spamalot adventure is still not over yet because we are going to see the cast again and break a world record with them on St George's Day (23 Apr 07) in Trafalgar Square.