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Well, not as grand as the title might sound, but a Stanford Sophomore College class is in Hawaii to tour our energy sites.  ( I should add that I have an addendum at the very end of this posting, raising the status of this students beyond their expectations .) A rather pedantic course name--Energy in Hawaii:  Forefront of Clean Energy Technology and Policy. We will explore practical, social, technical, and political issues surrounding energy production and use in Hawaii. Hawaii is at the forefront of changes in the electric grid and the uses of electricity, with an aspirational goal for 100% carbon-free electricity in 2045. Hawaii also has passed legislation that aspires to 100% fossil-free transportation by 2040 . That last goal, actually applies only to land.  Air transport remains farther into the future.  The students are led by Stanford Political Science Professor Bruce Cain, who also serves as the Director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West.  Has degrees from Oxford an

96-year old Queen Elizabeth II is dead, long live 73-year old King Charles III.  She reigned for 70 years. An   accession council   of over 700 citizens, including Prime Minister Lizz Truss, voted to proclaim him king.  Did you see Charles shaking hands and getting kissed by some lady?  No one was wearing a mask.  The actual coronation will not take place for months.  Queen Elizabeth II was so honored 16 months after King George VI went.   Longest reigning monarch today is now Hassanal Bolkiah of  Brunei .  He is 76-years old and is soon to reach 55 years in his leadership.  How many of you have been to Brunei?   It is located on the north coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia.  Has a population of just under half a million.  Gained independence from Britain in 1984.  Has vast oil and gas fields, and is next to Singapore in the Human Development Index.  Government has zero public debt. Whether at the national or international level, I long wondered who was the greatest diplomat to engender