Few Hollywood personalities have suffered

As demand for oil increases, the search for alternative fuels becomes a top priority. Researchers are studying grasses and trees as sustainable resources to produce ethanol. Fast-growing poplar trees hold much potential as a fuel stock but require costly pretreatment prior to processing for ethanol.

Cellulose is the plant material used to make ethanol. Another plant material, called lignin, impedes processing into fuel.


"I personally think these things are a bit impractical actually to expect people to do that," Mr Blair says in an interview.

The prime minister, who recently had a family holiday in Miami, adds that it would be wrong to impose "unrealistic targets" on travellers. "You know, I'm still waiting for the first politician who's actually running for office who's going to come out and say it - and they're not," Mr Blair says. "It's like telling people you shouldn't drive anywhere."

His remarks contrast with the tone set by Ian Pearson, the environment minister, who last week used strong language to criticise Ryanair for opposing the European commission's plan to include all flights within Europe in the EU carbon trading scheme from 2011.

Few Hollywood personalities have suffered the trials of outrageous fame and fortune more dramatically than MTV prankster Green. He offers his autobiography at the age of 32, when it's not at all clear that his career is over, but soon enough after his high-profile marriage to and divorce from actor Drew Barrymore to remain interesting. Green details his humble beginnings as an Ottawa skater punk turned cable public access TV show host. He honed his goofball, confrontational-style humor during this time, by approaching strangers in the street with meat on his head (a running theme throughout his career) or by embarrassing friends and family for cheap laughs. His low-budget hijinks attracted MTV executives, which began his whirlwind ride through TV and then Hollywood celebrity. Green reminisces about his Saturday Night Live appearances, his experiences filming the movies Road Trip and Freddy Got Fingered and, finally, his and Barrymore's tumultuous and doomed relationship. And while there's a dearth of revelatory or newsworthy info, Green's earnest tone is improbably flattering, and the author comes off as a very likable guy. 52 b&w photos.


Geneticist Haiying Liang is seeking to breed poplars with a lower lignin content that could improve biofuel production and be less costly to process without harming the tree’s growth. She is growing test trees now in the Clemson greenhouses. Her results could lead to increased biofuel production within the next decade.