On the lighter side…
A Story of interest to both Jerome and Dr. Frist:
Reuters today has a story with the headline “German Inventor: I Never Used Dead Cats for Fuel.”
Apparently Christian Koch, the German inventor and head of the firm “Alphakat GmbH,” has developed a process which he claims can convert “paper, plastics, textiles, and rubbish” into biodiesel fuel. In fact, he claims to have driven his own vehicle over 100,000 miles on this fuel with no ill effects.
“It’s an alternative fuel that is friendly for the environment. But it’s complete nonsense to suggest dead cats. I’ve never used cats and would never think of that. At most the odd toad may have jumped in.”
Small comfort to the amphibia at Booman Tribune…
Koch said there was no truth to the stories published on Tuesday and Wednesday in the German newspaper Bild that he used cats as part of his secret recipe.
Bild on Tuesday wrote a headline: “German inventor can turn cats into fuel — for a tank he needs 20 cats.” The paper on Wednesday followed up with a story entitled: “Can you really make fuel out of cats?”
A spokesman for Bild told Reuters the story was meant to show that cat remains could “in theory” be used to make fuel with Koch’s patented method.
The author of the story said Koch had never told him directly that he had used dead cats as the story implied.
Dr. Frist expressed disappointment at this turn of events: “Cats are a renewable resource, and after their use in medical education they can be a vital part of our nation’s energy policy. I intend to insert language directing the DOE to investigate cats as a fuel source into the upcoming bill opening the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. That should make those environmentalists happy.”
BMT regular SallyCat is organizing a protest march on congress when the date of the hearings is announced. Catnip and other BMT regulars plan to blog the hearings live.
A spokesman for Bild told ePluribus Media that this same reporter is now investigating the use of endangered large cat species in the production of Puma sneakers.
