Top Ten Things Not to Do During the 1849 California Gold Rush

April 27, 2026April 27, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

This edition continues the historical background on the Top Ten feature. I hope you like it. This post ran on September 1, 2018

10 If you are near the gold rush, do not sell everything to go mine for gold. If you do, at best, you will break even. At worst, you’ll find that you have blown your life savings chasing a dream. (Seems you could have found a better way to blow your money, Farquharson. You could try self-publishing.)

9 If you are near the gold rush, do not move that stake at the corner of Tiny the WWF champ’s claim. If you do, at best, Tiny will let you put it back. At worst, Tiny figures you are jumping his claim. (No use even putting up a fight, Farrin. I would just lie there. Tiny is bound to lose interest sooner or later.)

8 If you are near the gold rush, do not hide your gold under the straw mattress on your cot. If you do, at best, the lump will keep you awake. At worst, sadly, that’s the first place a thief will look. (Well, now you need to start over, Farrs. With any luck, you get that gold dust back in another six months of panning.)

7 If you are near the gold rush, do not describe someone to his face as a sourdough. If you do, at best, the person is too new to know that a sourdough is someone from Canada who has come to California in search of Gold. At worst, the person might take exception to being called dough. (Might as well take it back, Farson. Looks like he is mighty angry.)

6 If you are near the gold rush, do not wear your Amiri jeans to work. If you do, at best, you will attract many stares. At worst, the Levi-Strauss salesperson might decide a gunfight is in order. (I guess you didn’t realize that Levi’s are the official jeans of the gold rush, huh, Favian. No worries, just buy a pair and all will be forgotten.)

5 If you are near the gold rush, do not announce any discoveries of gold. If you do, at best, you’ll have more friends. At worst, the mob scene that will transpire is more than you can handle. (Your claim needs to be defended, Fedyenka. But do you really want to shoot someone?)

4 If you are near the gold rush, do not complain about the cost of food. If you do, at best, you’ll be told to go elsewhere. At worst, the cook may decide that serving you requires a higher reimbursement and raise his prices again. (Funny, Felix, but you are the only one paying more for everything.)

3 If you are near the gold rush, do not think you can set up a get-rich-quick wagon and tool rental business. If you do, at best, all your tools will be rented out, and you’ll need to get more. At worst, none of the devices will be brought back, and the rentals do not cover the cost. (This was not how it was supposed to work, Fergus.)

2 If you are near the gold rush, do not drink whatever is in that bottle in the saloon. If you do, at best, you won’t go blind. At worst, you might lose track of time and wake up three weeks from now broke and homeless. (Imagine if you’d had enough money to buy two bottles, Fiacre. You might not be with us right now.)

1 If you are near the gold rush, do not pan for gold. If you do, at best, you won’t find any. At worst, you might pull a couple of specks out of the sand, which will cause an extreme attack of gold fever. (Well, that does it, Fidelis. You are hooked. See you in a couple of years when your money runs out.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway’s Historic Liebelt Cabin

April 26, 2026April 25, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

Today, we are visiting Lakeways historic Liebelt Cabin. We are catered by Crown and Anchor Pub of Austin. Our entertainment is The Foggy Mountain Boys.

Classic Hamburger & Fries – The tried-and-true original, 100% Fresh, Never Frozen Patty cooked to perfection. For those who don’t want to mess with a good thing!

Mushroom Swiss Burger & Fries – Topped with sautéed mushrooms and melted Swiss cheese.

Cheeseburger & Fries – Our Classic Hamburger with American cheese.

Double Cheeseburger & Fries – Our Classic Hamburger, double patty with American cheese.

Jalapeño Cheeseburger & Fries – Cheeseburger topped with sliced jalapeños.

Bacon Cheeseburger & Fries – Add two strips of bacon to the cheeseburger.

Veggie Burger & Fries – Award-winning! A crispy veggie patty on a wheat bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo, and mustard.

Hop on the bus and let’s go.

There’s the historical marker explaining that the cabin was relocated to the city hall area in 2011. It is over 150 years old.

Vintage farm equipment around the cabin.

More farm equipment.

A replica of the marker for August Liebelt, who built and lived in the cabin.

One view of the cabin.

A closer look.

The stove was used for cooking and heating.

A view toward the fireplace and dining area.

Artifacts from the era.

Looking back toward the stove and at the ladder to the second story. Note that the cabin had three doors, which provided plenty of ventilation.

A close-up of more artifacts. Great needlepoint, but spelling not so much.

The old rocker and cane. The framed photos are of members of the Historical Society at various functions in the cabin.

Now it’s time for food and music. I hope you have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “tan/ten/tin/ton/tun”

April 25, 2026April 24, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

A simple Saturday would include a calm cup of coffee, peace, and quiet. Of course, around here, the coffee is available, but peace and quiet? A touch of the two-coffee button sets in motion a chain of events destined to see me admitted to a special care facility or an order for a tun of wine. The coffee smells like redemption to a caffeine-starved brain. The first sip stops the nails-on-the-chalkboard low-caffeine warning alarm. The second sip is accompanied by the Westminster chime of the doorbell, joined by the baying of my own hounds of Baskerville – Twiggy and Tempeste. Their sound is like ten ton of tin falling from a church rafter just before the benediction. A quick toss of two new identical tan colored squeaky toys into the soundproof room, and the door slam brings back the Songs of Silence.

A check of the security monitor shows me an image of a person dressed in a Bugs Bunny suit. Since my curiosity is raised, with a sigh, the security shutdown process begins.

The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. The MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter hovering over the house is diverted. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the security system’s shutdown process. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots were chained in the basement. The Klingons are called back, and the Targ is caged. Robbie’s Bot is sent to the basement. The Tasmanian Devil is directed to the food in his cage, and the door drops. The electronic jammer is kept active, given a situation with a robot not too long ago. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

The guy in the Bugs Bunny suit has a clipboard and a letter, which he passes to me. After signing and passing the clipboard back, the question has to be asked, “What’s with the Bugs Bunny outfit?” He explains that he took his uniform to the dry cleaners and picked it up last night. When he went to put it on today, there was an obvious mistake, so he had to wear the Bugs Bunny outfit that the cleaners mistakenly gave him.

“Why not just wear normal clothes?”

“Then I would be out of uniform, which is against company rules.”

“But you look out of uniform right now.”

“No. You see, I have the receipt that clearly says this is my uniform.”

The conversation is going nowhere, and the guy has his Bugs paw outstretched for a tip. Feeling sorry for him, he gets a tenner. Back inside, the letter is a message from Linda Hill that reads:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “tan/ten/tin/ton/tun.” Use one, use ’em all, use ’em any way you’d like. Bonus points if you manage to get four of them into your post. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2026/04/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-25-2026/

“Well, you got the bonus points for using all of those prompts.”

“Why, thank you.”

“I think you played a little loose with that ten ton of tin falling line, but we’ll let you get away with it.”

“I thought you were going to call me on the tan toy.”

“No, that was okay. How did you know what a tun was?”

“I used to live in wine country, and some of the big storage barrels were called tuns.”

“Well, that was obscure for sure. What made you think of a Bugs Bunny suit?”

“I wish I could tell you. I was writing the story, and it just came to me.”

“Well, how about writing you and me at the pub with some Voodoo Rangers?”

“Just introduced the concept. You call Uber?”

“Yup. Right over there.”

“No way.”

“Why?”

“Because I know we’ll have to put out a fire or something.”

“Only if there is a call.”

“With my luck, there will be several.”

“Okay, I thought you would say that, so I called for two. Look over there.”

“Wow, a 1946 Pontiac Streamliner. Now you are talking.”

“I thought you would like it.”

“What’s the catch?”

“No catch. Okay, just a little catch.”

“I knew it. What’s the catch?”

“The driver’s kids have to come along.”

“Doesn’t seem so bad. How many kids?”

“Eight, I think.”

“I think we have better odds with the fire engine.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

April 24, 2026April 23, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 60 Comments

The hills of Tanzania where Ecosia operates – credit, Ecosia, released

Our good news post comes from the Good News Network.

250 Millionth Tree Planted by this Tree-Planting Search Engine Just Ahead of Earth Day

By Andy Corbley –Apr 23, 2026

Reaching the milestone just before Earth Day, Ecosia, the nonprofit search engine, is celebrating 250 million trees planted worldwide, becoming the world’s largest planter of native trees.

Since its founding in 2009, Ecosia has built the world’s largest network of local reforestation operations, numbering more than 200,000 tree planters and 125 organizations worldwide. Users’ clicks and searches, as well as the ad revenue they generate, translate into funds the company uses to organize tree planting.

These partnerships have allowed the tech company to focus on working with local experts to plant 1,600 native tree species, including 144 endangered or vulnerable species, making it a leading contributor to threatened-tree conservation. These efforts are helping biodiversity hotspots recover and restoring ecosystems in communities for generations to come.

Founder Christian Kroll, together with Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment, planted a tree to mark the 250 million milestone in front of the German federal parliament, the Reichstag, in Berlin, where Ecosia is headquartered.

“All of our successes have come from this powerful on-the-ground movement, ” said Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia. “From one click in 2009 to 250 million trees today, our global community supercharged our climate action.”

GNN has previously reported on Ecosia. The search online often targets countries that are the most biodiverse, where tree loss directly corresponds with species loss. This has led them to launch projects in Nicaragua and Peru, Burkina Faso and Malawi, Indonesia, and Australia.

In 2018, for example, they created a tree nursery for 200,000 trees in Madagascar, to help create a forest corridor leading from an isolated habitat to the ocean. In 2019, they created a forest-agriculture project in Borneo to prevent locals from selling land to oil palm development.

That same year, Ecosia took measures to ensure it could never be sold and that no one, including the founder, could profit from or receive dividends from the company. This means that the business is set up purely to benefit the planet.

Growing trees and forests is a long-term game that goes beyond just planting seedlings. Some of Ecosia’s trees get planted because they guarantee future revenue for the community (e.g., fruit and nut trees or trees that boost harvest yields); these provide a strong incentive for the beneficiaries of these products to protect the trees long term. Other reforestation work provides returns on investment for financiers. These are the most well-funded.

However, not every tree has a straightforward financial return on investment, and therefore, making a case for long-term investment is not clear-cut. In fact, much of today’s deforestation is the result of trees not being valued much in economic terms.

This is why Ecosia’s work is so critical to reforestation. It can step in where return-seeking capital won’t. This allows vital ecosystems and communities to be supported without greenwashing or offsetting motives. A purpose company with only one shareholder: the planet.

Unique to any other tech company, Ecosia has a dedicated Tree Team: a group of forestry and nature conservation experts, social business experts, economists, and social scientists, focused on finding the right partners to work with, collaborating with communities, and planting the right species to ensure our trees thrive. It is the only company in the world with a CTPO (Chief Tree Planting Officer).

“We care about our trees long term, not just for some pretty pictures of young saplings,” shared Pieter van Midwoud, Ecosia’s CTPO. “We have developed a vigorous monitoring program to analyze whether projects that we started would benefit from further support. Ecosia, as a purpose company, is best placed to do this long term, and we hope to grow millions more trees.”

The next chapter for Ecosia is to make a bigger move into landscape restoration. Rather than solely assessing projects based on factors that affect the long-term benefits of trees—such as water supply, fuel access, and financial sustainability—the company has begun to take a more active role in influencing those factors.

“We know that collaborating together with the local community is the only way to run a successful restoration project long term, so combining tree planting with complementary interventions that enable farmers and nature to have a bigger impact will be further strengthened,” said van Midwoud.

The good news in this story is that a serious effort to enable sustainable tree planting is sponsored by a tech company. Today’s JohnKu talks about tech and the environment. I hope you have a great weekend.

Tech and conservation,

Are not usual bedfellows . . .

Good when it happens.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Miss Mom.

April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 100 Comments

“She’s really gone?”

“Well, for a while, Tempeste.”

“Where’d she go?”

“Daughter is fostering a dog and had to go on a trip, so Mom is babysitting.”

“How long is she going to be gone?”

“Till Sunday.”

“Till Sunday? You know how long that is?”

“Yeah, it’s four days.”

“We could die by then.”

“Oh, please. Dad’s here to take care of us.”

“I hate to say anything, but Dad is no Mom.”

“Sush, he’ll hear you. Besides, he takes good care of us.”

“He does know how to open doors for sure.”

“He feeds us and gets us to exercise.”

“Yeah, that exercise part. Mom gives us long walks, and sometimes in the park.”

“Dad is a little older, so his range is not as large as it was.”

“Older is a very kind way to put it.”

“Well, he is our Dad.”

“I guess I should be more patient.”

“And when Mom comes back, you will appreciate her more.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Breath”

April 21, 2026April 20, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments

Today, I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 85. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word nearest to my finger is “breath.” This is our prompt today.

“Okay. Close your eyes.”

“Why should I close my eyes?”

“‘Cause I don’t want you to be scared.”

“Why would I be scared?”

“Well, you have never done this before, and I want it to be fun for you.”

“But if I’m scared, how can it be fun?”

“That’s why I want you to close your eyes.”

“Now you have me worried.”

“How so?”

“If I keep my eyes open, I’ll be scared.”

“Maybe you’ll be scared.”

“If I shut them, I won’t be scared and will have fun.”

“That’s not exactly it, but close enough.”

“Can’t we do this another day?”

“No. You have been bugging me to teach you, and today is the day.”

“Okay then. I want to keep my eyes open.”

“That is up to you. I was just giving you a suggestion.”

“How are we doing this?”

“You are going to stand on the edge, and I’m going to give you a push.”

“A push?”

“Yup.”

“Then what?”

“You spread those beautiful wings and soar like Mom and Dad. I’ll be right behind you,”

“What if I fall?”

“You won’t, but if you do, I’ll catch you.”

“Okay, Mom. I’m ready.”

“Take a breath and off you go, my beautiful eagle darling.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do During the French Revolution

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

As a reminder, this series of top-ten lists is a fantasy look at historical events as if we were there. This post was originally published on August 13, 2018

The Top Ten Things Not to Do During the French Revolution

10 If you were in France during the revolution, do not wear your best clothes while walking on the street. If you do, at best, you will be suspected of being a monarch supporter. At worst, you will be arrested, tried, convicted, and face the guillotine. (You have to admit it, Frank. These folks have no patience with cleanliness or fine clothes. Get ready for a really close shave.)

9 If you were in France during the revolution, do not accept a ride on a two-wheel wagon driven by Tiny the Revolutionary champ, who just got a loyalty award. If you do, at best, you’ll sneak off before you reach the plaza. At worst, you have a difficult time trying to convince Tiny that you are not part of the monarchy and are now trussed up like a turkey. (Those wagons are for transporting prisoners to the guillotine, Felix. What were you thinking?)

8 If you were in France during the revolution, do not wear your “I Love Louis XVI” pin. If you do, at best, most folks will think you are joking. At worst, a mob of villagers will ensure you are no longer a threat to the revolution. (What do all these people want, Fredrick. Why do they continue to yell, “Off with his head?” This is not Wonderland.)

7 If you were in France during the revolution, do not take the tour of the Bastille even if you paid in advance. If you do, at best, the tour will be quick, and you’ll be out before the storming. At worst, you will be mistaken for a defender of the Bastille by the storming crowds. (I would try to remember how to use that saber, Flynn. You are not going to convince that crowd that you are a tourist.)

6 If you were in France during the revolution, do not forget to wear your Liberté, égalité, fraternité T-shirt whenever you go outside. If you do forget, at best, you’ll still look like a peasant. At worst, your judgmental air will get you into court. (There doesn’t seem to be a whole bunch of innocent until proven guilty thought around this place, huh, Fabio. Next stop, the ultimate haircut.)

5 If you were in France during the revolution, do not wear your “I’m With Robespierre” shirt past the expiration date. If you do, at best, you’ll be reminded that he is now thought of as a traitor. At worst, you and Robespierre will become fast friends before the blade falls. ( You gotta know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em, Federico. Don’t be a fool, let Robespierre go first. Who knows, a miracle could happen.”)

4 If you were in France during the revolution, do not tell folks that you really prefer cake. If you do, at best, you might be looked upon as a fool. At worst, those you talk to might think you are a supporter of Marie Antoinette. (You know exactly where this is going to lead, don’t you, Finlay?)

3 If you were in France during the revolution, do not continue to joke about wanting a Napoleon for dessert. If you do, at best, you might need a steak for that black eye. At worst, you might need a priest for that long walk to the guillotine. (When no one laughed the tenth time, you might have gotten the hint, Finian.)

2 If you were in France during the revolution, do not continue to tell everyone how beautiful you think the Palace of Versailles is in the sunlight. If you do, at best, they will be too busy to take you seriously. At worst, you and 100 of your closest Versailles residents will be marched into Paris. (Another trial, Finian. This is getting tiring. The good news is this is a tip to the executioner-free day at the guillotine.)

1 If you were in France during the revolution, do not assume the flag you are flying is that of the revolutionists. If you do, at best, you picked right. At worst, your three gold fleur-de-lis on a white background, although beautiful, will attract bullets. (Never believe a guy on the street who sold it to you, Fitz. Now you need to take cover.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Camp Sign-up.

April 19, 2026April 19, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 71 Comments

Today, we are visiting the Lakeway Activity Center for the Summer Camp Sign-up. We are catered by Zanzibar of Austin, and our entertainment is Pete Seeger.

Grilled Pineapple Salsa – avocado, pickled red onion, pineapple, cilantro

Guacapoke – ahi tuna, guacamole, chile crisp, radish, wonton chips

Chicken Katsu Bao – bao buns, fried katsu chicken, bean sprouts, napa cabbage, ponzu pickles, gochujang sauce

Jerk Chicken Wings – grilled chicken, cilantro, lime

Duck Egg Rolls – rotisserie duck, cabbage, sweet chili sauce

Shrimp Skewers – cilantro marinade, teriyaki glaze

Salmon Crispy Rice – yuzu kosho aioli, pickled Fresno pepper, cilantro

Korean BBQ Wagyu Skewers – cucumber quickles, gochujang glaze

Kahuna Burger – BCR Wagyu, grilled pineapple, teriyaki glaze, cheddar, sweet onion, napa cabbage, and kewpie mayo

Pu Pu Platter – jerk wings, shrimp skewers, duck egg rolls, guacamole, chips

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go

Here we are at the Lakeway Activity Center.

There’s the sign.

The Lakeway Swim Center.

Science Camp.

Steam works – Learning through hands on experence.

Steamworks Lego pile for fun.

Coding camp.

Art camp.

A petting zoo.

Skyhawks – Learning through sports.

The balloon man.

Fencing camp. (I think the kid is a natural)

Fire engine.

Mounted police.

A very fast Mustang for speeder catching

And as advertised, Kona Ice.

Time to relax with the music and food. I hope you have a great week.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Life Hack”

April 18, 2026April 17, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

The coffee machine is the greatest life hack until it isn’t. Some days it functions perfectly, and others you would think it belonged in the junk yard. Today is one of the former. Dual streams of soothing syrup fill the cup without a hitch. The first sip quiets the caffeine-deprived nerve endings in the brain. The second sip is greeted by the Westminster and Hounds of Baskerville cacophony that threatens to blow out all the windows.

A toss of two bones into the soundproof room, followed by the slamming of the door, brings a kind of hush all over the world. A glance at the security monitor confirms the presence of a mule on the porch. After give-and-take with Francis the talking Mule, it is clear the security system needs to be shut down, and the door opened.

The Mule has an envelope in its mouth, which it drops on the porch. Picking it up there is the obvious sign of an expected tip. The Mule raises a hoof in anticipation of a payoff. The last thing needed is two rear leg horseshoe dents in the front door, so a ten-spot is slipped into the outstretched hoof. An ear-splitting Hee Haw lets me know the Mule is happy. Once inside, the envelope contains a message from Linda Hill. It reads

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “life hack.” Use it however you’d like. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link:

https://lindaghill.com/2026/04/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-18-2026/

“So you caved on the tip.”

“I decided it was the right thing to do.”

“You could have gone for carrots.”

“I was in my robe. Where am I going to get carrots?”

“That’s a good point.”

“Besides, giving the mule ten bucks is a life hack.”

“How so?”

“It prevented any further annoyance. Isn’t that what a life hack is all about?”

“I suppose.”

“Take those discounted Uber rides, for instance.”

“What about them?”

“It would be better to just pay full price rather than put up with whatever annoying catch there is. I would consider that a life hack.”

“Paying full price?”

“Yes.”

“You are not going to like the one I order then.”

“Where is it?”

“Over there.”

Photo by Dale Rogerson. Encouraged by Marc Anthony

“Good grief. This is exactly what I’m talking about.”

“The price is really good.”

“And the catch is?”

“Not so bad.”

“Uh huh.”

“All we have to do is load some building supplies before we go to the club.”

“Supplies? Like what?”

“Oh, a few bags of concrete and some wood.”

“So we need to wear work clothes?”

“I would suggest it. One more thing.”

“It was too good to be true. I suppose we need to build a house.”

“No .”

“What then?”

“We need to unload the supplies.”

“Full price Uber would be a life hack.”

“Oh, come on. It will be fun.”

“One splinter and you are a dead man.”

“Here’s some gloves.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

April 17, 2026April 16, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 Comments

A rendering of a fully-electrified Chinese vessel at the port of Suzhou – credit CATL ©

World’s Largest Battery Maker to ‘Spare No Effort’ in Electrifying Marine Cargo Industry

By Andy Corbley –Apr 16, 2026

Today’s good news comes from the Good News Network

A Chinese conglomerate that controls 37% of the global market for EV batteries has recently said it will “spare no effort” to electrify parts of the marine shipping industry.

The cost of lithium ions has fallen by 90% over the past two decades, epitomizing the overall reductions in battery costs that have facilitated the resulting boom in EVs.

In all that, however, little has been done to investigate the use of battery-powered maritime systems. It’s for good reason: batteries produce lower-density energy than the heavy fuels used to power container ships or tugboats. Displacing water requires a lot more umph than displacing air.

Now, CATL, which also controls some 22% of the world’s energy storage systems, is planning to double its maritime applications division to pioneer early battery systems for near-shore vessels.

“We will spare no effort in investing in R&D, human resources, and materials to build the supply chain for this industry,” said Su Yi, who leads the group’s Maritime Business Unit.

The International Maritime Organization aims to halve the industry’s share of global shipping emissions to 1.5% from 3% by 2050, a goal that has so far been pursued through greener fuels such as green methanol and hydrogen.

In 2024, GNN reported that a consortium of Japanese firms successfully demonstrated the first-ever zero-emissions ship above 20 gross tons, with the pilot sailing it 30 kilometers (18 miles) out to an offshore wind farm and back.

A year earlier, GNN reported that global shipping leader Maersk had ordered a green methanol-powered ship two years earlier and had already placed an order for 25 more methanol-powered vessels, in addition to retrofitting existing ships with methanol engines and turbines.

Su told the Financial Times that the current focus is on producing batteries that meet the extreme requirements of powering large vessels near shore. In addition to requiring maximum discharge rate, the batteries would need to last long and remain safe in ocean conditions.

CATL reported impressive 2025 earnings, with 42% year-over-year revenue growth to $10 billion, driven by demand for data centers and energy storage. Su didn’t provide timelines or sales targets, but merely mentioned that she and her team were confident there’d be market demand.

Its existing strategy since 2017 has been a battery-swap model whereby near-shore vessels like tugs can swap their batteries at a station for a fully-charged one to enable ’round-the-clock operations.

The group had previously seen success with such a model in its long-haul trucking division. Previously, the company developed hybrid battery-fossil fuel solutions for still-water and near-shore vessels, as well as for cruise ships.

The good news in this story is that more resources are being invested in alternative power sources for the maritime industry. Today’s JohnKu talks about ongoing solutions to the world’s carbon problem. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Alternative ways,

Are continuously being sought . . .

To help Mother Earth.