Brunner Island

Coal-fired Brunner Island power plant.

Ford Forward

A piece on Ford's CEO Alan Mulally appears in today's New York Times. It's worth noting, of the big three automakers, Ford did not take bailout money and in 2009 posted its first profitable quarter in two years. The buzz of the moment is Mr. Mulally's unveiling of the all-new version of the Ford Focus, at tomorrow's Detroit Auto Show.

And on Feb 5, thanks, in no small part, to Anne Deeter Gallaher's strength of purpose, Mr Mulally has accepted an invitation to visit Central PA on behalf of The Second Mile, a nonprofit organization that serves the youth of PA .

Mulally will speak and answer questions at the Feb. 5 fundraiser forThe Second Mile fundraiser at the Hershey Lodge. For more info on the event, click here.

When the Falcons Live

I hope I can return to this vantage point atop the Rachel Carson state office building on a day with better light. The 17-floor building in downtown Harrisburg is the home to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. And during several months of the year, it a Peregrine falcon nesting site. Very territorial and quite aggressive during the nesting period, so humans need to beware. I'll am going to keep an eye on the Falcon Cam in order to plan another trip to the rooftop.

Christmas at Longwood.

Special Guests

Our company party was extra special - not only did Santa show up but so did Buddy the elf.

Top Everything 2009

As comes 2010, so too come the top tens of 2009 - of course - including viral videos. If you only have time to view a few, I recommend #8 The Longest Way 1.0 and # 9's joyful post-it stop-motion.

If you like Twitter then you will love Flutter at #10.

#6 - a trip to the overwrought eighties is a hoot - a literal version of Total Eclipse of the Heart. And if you are not already one of the 33 million viewers - here is the summer sensation of #2 Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson's trip down the aisle.

For the Top Ten Everything of 2009, start here.

Kisses to Go

Years ago driving down a busy Houston highway, I heard tires screeching behind me. I gripped the wheel and looked into the rear view mirror to see the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile careening across several lanes of traffic to avert a collision. It's a sight that sticks with a person.

That memory came back to me today as I passed the Hershey's Kissmobile parked outside R.T. Grim Electronics on Trindle Rd. in Camp Hill. My other brush with the Weinermobile occurred in a Whataburger parking lot in Houston several years after the traffic incident. That time I was given a tour of the interior which has motor home living quarters. Each year a new team of drivers called Hotdoggers are chosen for the coveted position to cruise the country on promotional tours.

The Weinermobile concept around since 1936, has evolved to include a weinermobile built on a Mini Cooper chassis. Hershey's Kissmobile is a new kid on the block, making its first appearance in 1997. It's so goofy and cute - with it tags of Kisses, Almonds, Hugs, turning with the wind - I had to stop to take a closer look. For good measure the license plate reads Kiss-2GO.