If you have lived in the great state of Florida as long as I have, you can remember back to when we had a formal vehicle inspection that was required before you could obtain a current vehicle registration. This requirement went by the wayside for several reasons, such as funding issues and lack of consumer support. Then, not too very long ago, the state took a crack at holding vehicle emissions inspections because it was thought that Florida's overall air quality was getting worse. After a couple of years, though, the powers that be determined that the air wasn't so bad after all, and all the inspection stations closed.

The end of an era is approaching as NASA plans its five final shuttle launch missions before shutting down the program this year. The three aging space shuttles will each be transferred to museums or science centers.

I remember driving to the east coast of Florida to watch my first launch years ago. It was amazing the power one felt as it shook itself free from the earth's surface-its heavy weight tugging against gravity. Even standing several miles away, the launch is easily seen, the entire sky lit by the rocket engines as they create a huge blazing cone.

Whenever I take time out of the office, I'm invariably asked what my travel plans are. Being in the "Biz," it's assumed that I'm off to some exotic locale. My recent vacation was spent at home improvement stores in preparation for a much anticipated kitchen remodel. Hey, just my small contribution towards healing the economy.

After an all-day lake crossing through the Andes from Porto Montt, Chile to the Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina with a AAA group, I had no idea what a beautiful place I was about to discover. A private motorcoach took us the few miles to the LLao LLao hotel and resort for my first visit but it was dark and I really didn't have an idea what I was going to experience. Walking into the hotel built in 1939 was a joy and the champagne cocktail we were offered before check in wasn't as impressive as the hotel interior.

I’ve always loved driving through Alpine Bavaria, especially in the fall. The scenery is always spectacular and the little villages are charming. But early one September while driving in the Allgaü area of Southern Germany, we rounded a curve and had to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. The road was full of cows! And not just ordinary cows—but cows decorated with elaborate wreaths and headdresses of greenery, flowers and ribbons, and all wearing huge bells around their necks.

One hundred years ago, Paris suffered one of the worst floods in its recorded history. The Galeries des Bibliothèques has compiled an online exhibit to show off some of the striking images from the flood, including an interactive exhibit with more than 1,300 photos. At one point, the water hit more than 20 feet above normal levels. The flood crippled the city's infrastructure, leaving many Parisians stranded when even the trains could not longer operate after several major stations flooded, including the Gare D'Orsay on the right bank. The images are striking, often haunting reminders of mankind's fragility compared to the brutal force of nature.

QUESTION: Take a look at the following statement and see if you can identify who authored it: "We rely on U.S. supplies of coal, oil, natural gas, renewable energy and other sources to meet this demand, in addition to drawing from a global marketplace—where demand is projected to rise by close to 35 percent from 2005 to 2030. To achieve energy security in this environment of growing demand at home and abroad, America will need to continue developing all its economic energy options.