I've been on a kayaking trip through one of the non-Milford fjords. It was a day trip courtesy of a marvelous outfitter in Te Anau. The fjord was reached via a boat ride across a lake, a van-trip over a pass - My little group of kayakers (8 plus guide) were the only people we saw all day. We did see porpoises and penguins and seals, though. :) It was, seriously, among the most spectacular trips of my life-time.
As far as the Milford track goes, you would need very high tolerance for rain and muck! There really is no dry season there. If you can manage a few days of wet, though, it is spectacularly beautiful.
As for New Zealand - not only is the country of unparalleled beauty, but the people who live there are among the most kind and polite I've met anywhere. I deeply love NZ and I'd go back in a moment if I could.
The $70/hour for autoworkers is a myth. The actual number is $28/hour - which comes out to $60,000/year. The Honda, Toyota, etc. plants in the US pay around $24-25/hour. The benefits received by UAW-represented workers comes out to an additional $10/hour. Horrifying, isn't it, that people who work 40 hours a week should receive health and disability benefits.
It's not quite correct to say that there are "no CO2 emissions". Refining and casting 700 tonnes of carbon steel is a carbon-intensive process.
It is true that there are no carbon emissions after the initial investment, however. I wonder what the break-even point is, relative to a conventional gas-powered or coal-powered plant?
Pictures taken solely with my camera phone - a Sony-Ericsson w810i. I think they're pretty good. It's not been updated as much lately, but I hope to keep adding to it.
I heart Teuthology, XL please
As far as the Milford track goes, you would need very high tolerance for rain and muck! There really is no dry season there. If you can manage a few days of wet, though, it is spectacularly beautiful.
As for New Zealand - not only is the country of unparalleled beauty, but the people who live there are among the most kind and polite I've met anywhere. I deeply love NZ and I'd go back in a moment if I could.
Source: http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=1026e955-541c-4aa6-bcf2-56dfc3323682
and
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/market-movers/2008/11/18/the-return-of-the-70-per-hour-meme
It is true that there are no carbon emissions after the initial investment, however. I wonder what the break-even point is, relative to a conventional gas-powered or coal-powered plant?
Pictures taken solely with my camera phone - a Sony-Ericsson w810i. I think they're pretty good. It's not been updated as much lately, but I hope to keep adding to it.
And no pesky text to read!