Day 1.181: The King, a frock and droll

What a difference a year makes! Last July, inspired by an alternate energy conference near my workplace, I wrote about fuel-cells being the emperor's new clothes (the king's new frock?) due to their dependence on other fuels for the production of their fuel (hydrogen). This year it seems that with the price of oil going up (and up) finally many in the US are ready to consider that there may be a need (and an economic incentive) to investigate alternative fuels - or at least to buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Not everyone of course - some are asking the Federal government to release some of their reserve of oil to combat this 'temporary blip' in oil prices. Anyone else think that maybe the rise in demand and the decline in supply could make the increase rather more long lasting than just this summer?

Today E5N1 was back with the friends we were visiting when this picture was taken on the 'Fourth' while the girls went to the opticians. It seems that eye-tests can be fun. Apparently, for some at least, reading charts of letters has been replaced by watching Finding Nemo sometime in the last thirty years. Their eyes are fine and both E5N1 and his schoolgirl babysitters had a great time by all accounts.

All of which may not be very funny, but seeing as you have been doing so well with them - here's another opportunity for you to shine - yes it's pop pun 62 for title watchers (play along and then have another look at the picture): the pathos you can keep for the children (in the street) for the vision.