World’s smallest twin engine airplane
RichC | November 29, 2007
RC looking — but it does fit a pilot — twin engine airplane. I’ll try to remember not to complain about legroom when flying commercial coach anymore. 🙂
Lunch stop and trip to the deep south
RichC | November 28, 2007
Entering a quick post from the road while stopping on I-65 in southern Alabama (Greenville) a trip down memory lane … Krystals and Rolaids. I suspect that only one reader will understand this entry, nevertheless I’m including a cellphone photo to see if the site is still working. (I’ve been in Crestview Florida visiting with […]
How well do you know your city skylines?
RichC | November 27, 2007
Driving this week and am including a city skyline … who’ll be the first to name it? (hint: I’m not in Ohio this week)
Blog Problems: MySQL server is slow or down
RichC | November 25, 2007
If you have tried to access My Desultory Blog recently, you are no doubt experiencing slow — or “NO” response on my website — Grrr. I’ve been frustrated with my current host for some time now and go round and round with the hope that a ‘cure’ is just around the bend. So far they […]
GM’s Project Driveway: Public Fuel Cell testing
RichC | November 24, 2007
Since I’m on the Fuel Cell topic (yesterday’s post), I’ll include a news brief below from the weekly PBS program Motorweek in regards to General Motors “Project Driveway.” This large scale test of GM’s Equinox Fuel Cell technology announced in September will proved over 100 free Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles to gain from real […]
Battery & Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered Honda
RichC | November 23, 2007
While gasoline hybrid vehicles continue to gain popular, another electrically powered car being introduced by Honda is being test marketed in three California cities. Its the hydrogen fuel cell/lithium battery powered Honda FCX Clarity. Current hybrid vehicles are criticized because they require two propulsion systems making them mechanically complex with batteries yet they still require […]
VW Touareg V6 TDI is getting more fuel efficient
RichC | November 21, 2007
According to a post at AutoblogGreen, the new Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI diesel has been improved to reduce fuel consumption. (eventually we’ll see the V6 TDI Touareg in North America, although as far as I know there isn’t a price or date.) The V6 now averages 9.6 liters of diesel per 100 km (24.5 mpg) […]
Motorweek reviews the 2008 Volkswagen R32
RichC | November 20, 2007
I’ve posted previously that I’ve ogled the limited edition Volkswagen R32, but haven’t had a chance to compare it to other small performance hatchbacks … including its close cousin the GTI. The gang over at the long running PBS automotive program Motorweek did, and they ran the R32 it through their consistent battery of road […]
Visiting family and the first taste of snow
RichC | November 19, 2007
We’ve been out of town the last couple of days and now it is catch up time for a short week of work before Thanksgiving. It was an enjoyable visit in New York with my in-laws and a chance to give them a hand with a few home maintenance projects. Their beautifully restored 180 year […]
From the fill in the missing date department
RichC | November 18, 2007
I missed posting this weekend and figured why not add a Sunday entry on Monday? Here’s a great catamaran sailing video with some interesting onboard camera angles. Hmm … too bad winter is around the corner in my neck of the woods. (and in Ben Erikson’s too) 🙂
Back porch progress
RichC | November 17, 2007
The stone masons (stone artists) continue to make slow progress on our new back porch fireplace. I’m finally giving up on having an evening fire before winter.
TDIFest OH-8 to be held in Cincinnati
RichC | November 16, 2007
Fred Voglmaier founder of the TDIClub announced Thursday November 15th that Cincinnati was chosen as the site for the 2008 TDIFest to be held on Labor Day weekend — TDIFest OH-8. The CinciTDI group with help from the ColumbusTDIDrivers group are excited to host the annual gathering and believe our central location could make this […]
Mercedes S-Class 2010 S400 Bluetec diesel hybrid
RichC | November 15, 2007
Those of you wanting a bit of luxury while sipping fuel might want to start saving your pennies. Mercedes Benz has announced their new S400 Bluetec Hybrid that will be available in 2010. The 265 HP/465 pound-feet of torque V6 diesel coupled to a high-torque electric motor will whisk this large luxury S-Class sedan to […]
Biodiesel profits slim as sales rise
RichC | November 15, 2007
An analysis article written my Timothy Gardner and published in Reuters summarizes the challenges of running a biodiesel business. Although fuel prices have risen significantly and demand for alternative have tripled sales of biodiesel to 250 million gallons last year, the oil feed crops have risen as well. Soyoil, the primary oil feed crop in […]
Earth Class Mail: Your postal mailbox online
RichC | November 14, 2007
We are all familiar with an online mailbox, but do you know about Earth Class Mail “online” mail? Its not email in the traditional sense, but its your paper mail delivered on the Internet. Think of them as an electronic Post Office Box for your paper mail. Earth Class Mail receives, opens, scans and posts […]
Erie PA Community gifted $100 million
RichC | November 13, 2007
If you live in the city of Erie Pennsylvania (pop 102,000), or the surrounding county (pop 280,000), you will soon be seeing a significant donation being put to use through community based charities. A recent anonymous donation will benefit some 46 charities distributed through the Erie Community Foundation. A wealthy Community Foundation ‘friend,’ who wants […]
Future Biodiesel: LiveFuels – algae-to-biocrude
RichC | November 12, 2007
LiveFuels Inc. is an alliance of scientists expecting to make algae ‘biocrude’ a viable biodiesel oil source by 2010. They believe if the Manhattan Project took only 3 years that their project can be done in 4 years. The alliance is being lead by Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. Department of Energy Nation Laboratory and […]
Veterans Day – Armistice Day … a little history
RichC | November 11, 2007
In doing an informal survey of about Veterans Day this past week, it was apparent that very few people realized that it was originally called Armistice Day or Remembrance Day. (interesting the U.S. holiday is often written incorrectly with an apostrophe, but it is Veterans Day … without an apostrophe) We celebrate the U.S. State […]
Seaweed and bananas
RichC | November 10, 2007
Oh my … if you’re going beach combing, don’t slip. 😀 At least six cargo containers broke loose and fell into the sea in a storm off the coast from the Netherlands. A sailing blog (Litoralis) posted this photo which indicates at least one container must have broken open and spilled bananas from Cuba which […]
Mystery Northeastern Ohio BMW ‘diesel’ teaser
RichC | November 9, 2007
If you live in Cleveland Ohio you might have noticed this fine looking 2 door BMW hatchback running around the east side, but if you are like most of the U.S., do not see BMW 325 TDS vehicles all that often. What makes it unique??? “Yes, Its a diesel“ This particular car belongs to Ray […]
VW TDI ‘clean diesel’ Jetta/Sportwagens delayed
RichC | November 8, 2007
Disappointing news from Volkswagen — the new ‘clean diesel‘ 2.0 liter TDIs that were to be available in April 2008 are now going to be delayed until late summer 2008. (perhaps in time for the TDIFest OH-08?) The information comes from VWoA and was announced to the dealer network. The delay is due to a […]
JC Penney catalog 1977 … and I was there!
RichC | November 8, 2007
While driving through Columbus Ohio I often tune into check the traffic on AM radio 610 WTVN. The talk station does a pretty good job updating accidents and slowdowns as I transit through on my way to and from Northeastern Ohio. This week the Joel Riley mentioned an interesting blog post where blogger Johnny Virgil […]
Green Republicans (REP) back Sen. John McCain
RichC | November 7, 2007
The lobby group Republicans for Environmental Protection last month endorsed Senator John McCain for President as indicated again by REPs president Martha Marks. On Tuesday leading Democrat Senator Clinton made a move to look greener’ by proposing fuel economy targets of 55 mpg by 2030 for U.S. auto manufacturers. MSNBC interviewed Ms. Marks who commented […]
The Japanese dolphin kill of 2007
RichC | November 6, 2007
Each year fishermen in Japan coral pods of dolphins by the thousands and force them into a small cove for slaughter. The killing of these marine mammals is said to be part of the Japanese culture, but is disturbing to most civilized people outside of the fishing community. Several organizations including National Geographic are bring […]
Automotive French bashing by Jeremy Clarkson
RichC | November 5, 2007
All who have watched automotive videos on the web have probably run across Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame. His British humor and interesting car reviews have made him a legend worldwide, and my son’s favorite car show host. He is less than polite when it comes to belittling cars, their performance characteristics or their […]
Our Back Porch Project gains a fireplace
RichC | November 4, 2007
Our back porch project continues to slowly progress as the fireplace begins to take shape. I’m hoping the stone masons will show up this week and that the weather continues to remain dry.
More about the VW Sportwagen in VWDriver
RichC | November 3, 2007
The Volkswagen Sportwagen was highlighted in the VW Driver magazine this past month and offered a glimpse at what the stock new Jetta based wagon will be like. The two page spread was ‘slick’ (both magazine and car) although only a few features were detailed. From the specs and the photos it looks like a […]
2009 VW TDI Sportwagen at SEMA Show
RichC | November 2, 2007
I don’t think I’m the only one who starts to salivate when looking at the photos and specs of the new 2009 Volkswagen TDI ‘clean diesel‘ Sportwagen being displayed at the Las Vegas SEMA Show. It is a really attractive small/midsize car that has is bound to have significant interest from Volkwagen TDI advocates. For […]
Busy traveling … no time for blogging
RichC | November 1, 2007
… BUT, while zipping into the necessary room at a McDonald’s restaurant, I saw an unusually labeled diaper changing table. (Baby Changing Station — kind of sick in this case?)
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.