RichC | February 29, 2008
For those of you with a taste for performance AND a sport utility vehicle that could use some biodiesel, checkout the diesel version of the Porsche Cayenne expected in 2009. Industry analyst Peter Schmidt indicated the the primary motivation for the diesel Porsche Cayenne is the cost of fuel and improving emissions in diesel technology. […]
RichC | February 29, 2008
In a press conference on Thursday, President Bush referenced his administration’s heavy investing in renewable fuels and the problem this expansion creates as it competes for food crops (particularly corn based ethanol). The President stressed that we also “need more oil and gas exploration and for less money to be spent on foreign oil.” These […]
RichC | February 28, 2008
Wired highlighted the new Audi TT 2.0 TDI, but can’t confirm if it will be available North America. Notice the comment “Roadster” below … might we see a TDI convertible? (LINK to full article) Behold the TT 2.0 TDI. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (pictured above), matched to a six-speed manual transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive, […]
RichC | February 27, 2008
As previously posted, the the hydrogen powered Honda FCX Clarity is a ‘realistic looking’ automobile, aside from it need for hydrogen. (infrastructure problem) It will be on the roads as a ‘lease only’ vehicle in southern California for about $600/month. (limited availability) This includes regular maintenance and insurance so the number might not be as […]
RichC | February 26, 2008
Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain and Mike Huckabee were or are speaking Monday and Tuesday in and around Cincinnati Ohio. I could barely contain myself watching the local news interviewing those showing up to listen fawn all over Barack Obama in Cincinnati on Monday. One lady said the “tears just flowed” as Obama walked […]
RichC | February 25, 2008
Having dealt with an identity theft issue about 5 years ago, I’ve been a bit more attentive to what is being reported on my credit report. Once a year around tax time I pull my own credit report and review the items being reported. (haven’t opted for a ‘pay for’ monitoring service just yet) This […]
RichC | February 23, 2008
Demand for fuel is down, but prices are up to a near all-time high in the U.S., says a USAToday article. Diesel hit a record high of $3.54 per gallon, and unleaded gasoline is up to a $3.11 national average price, which is an increase of more than 6.2 cents in two days. The previous […]
RichC | February 22, 2008
LOw REsistance MObile The Germans have created a 2-cylinder turbo diesel vehicle that is capable of fuel efficiency of 130 to 150 miles per gallon, according to an article in MSN. The car is designed with minimal drag and low weight, but doesn’t have the battery packs or regenerative brakes of other mega-MPG hybrids. The […]
RichC | February 21, 2008
While on a college visit with my son and short vacation this past weekend, I picked up a good book that offered a first hand look at today’s politically correct ‘college experience.’ I’m not sure that the author’s recount will comes as a shock, but I assure you that quite a bit has changed from […]
RichC | February 20, 2008
Here are a few more photos as the earth eclipses the moon on February 20, 2008. (Photo above is about 10:20 PM in Cincinnati, Ohio) A bit further away (above) and here’s a close up photo.
RichC | February 20, 2008
The don’t miss it … click for larger
RichC | February 19, 2008
Total Lunar Eclipse on Wednesday Night: The eclipse begins at 8:43 p.m. Wednesday. The moon moves to total eclipse, when it changes color, from 10:01 to 10:51, according to NASA. The eclipse ends at 12:09 a.m. on Thursday, February 21, 2008. The weather in SW Ohio is foretasted to be mostly clear Wednesday night. The […]
RichC | February 18, 2008
I promise this will be the last, but I’m using my cell-phone to post these last two day from Delray Beach, Florida. Its been a nice time away from Cincinnati and both my son and I have enjoyed the visit with family and college visit to Lynn Universtiy. I’m including a beautiful beach art of […]
RichC | February 17, 2008
Spending the weekend away … its nice here! 🙂
RichC | February 15, 2008
According to the Audi Dealer Council, someone mentioned that the Audi Q7 would have the TDI diesel engine by the end of 2008. This would make the SUV from Audi available close to the time its sister vehicle, the VW Touareg (small 3.0L TDI), is slated to arrive in the U.S. (November 2008) Follow the […]
RichC | February 14, 2008
Here’s a Canadian Newsroom spoof on “snow” that is too funny not to share. Must have been a slow news day? (BTW … Happy Valentine’s Day)
RichC | February 14, 2008
Here’s a quick test post using an impressive piece of ‘blogging’ software call BlogJet 2. So far it is one of the easiest ways to publish content to a variety of blogging and content management platforms. I’m certainly not the expert at giving this the once over, but will include a few comments below from […]
RichC | February 13, 2008
Edmonds Inside Line reported a little more on the new Volkswagen Jetta TDI schedule to show up for test drives at North American VW dealerships late spring and early summer. (should be available for delivery to buyers August 2008) Along with information on the 50-state compliant 2.0-liter common-rail diesel engine, the article also reported on […]
RichC | February 12, 2008
Senator John McCain narrowly defeated former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in the Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia Republican primaries today while Senator Barack Obama won handily over leading Democrat Senator Hillary Clinton. McCain the Republican front runner is almost surely the GOP candidate for President while the Democrats have yet to have any certainty. […]
RichC | February 12, 2008
Volkswagen TDI “diesel” owners and those anxiously awaiting the new Jetta TDI are not the only ones frustrated with not having new TDIs this past year … OR hearing that the spring release of the new 50 state VW ‘clean diesel’ TDI as been delayed until late summer 2008. (when most manufacturers will be bringing […]
RichC | February 11, 2008
Our Experimental Aviation Association EAA Chapter 284 had a superb meeting Sunday afternoon at the Tri-State Warbirds Museum in Batavia Ohio. (Clermont County Airport I69) About ten members from our chapter met at 2 PM to hold a brief chapter meeting and tour the museum. We enjoyed a guided tour of the aircraft on display […]
RichC | February 10, 2008
Space Shuttle Atlantis along with seven crew lifted off on Thursday February 7th with the mission to deliver and attach the European Science Laboratory to the International Space Station. The news hasn’t really made the front page with the deadly tornadoes and political news this past week. The seven astronauts of STS-122 docked successfully on […]
RichC | February 9, 2008
I’m probably not the one to listen to when it comes to dealing with “spam,” that’s obvious if you glance at my ‘junk’ email address box (left) … yet here are a couple that might be helpful in keeping a primary email inbox clean. Caveat: My advice is not heavily researched, nor has it eliminated […]
RichC | February 8, 2008
The delayed new fifty-state legal VW Jetta CleanTDI should start to show up at U.S. and Canadian dealers in June. AutoblogGreen indicated that the first 1,000 diesel Jettas will start to show up, but that each dealer will only be allocated one car as a demonstrator. The test drives will be used to re-introduce VW […]
RichC | February 7, 2008
Google, the Internet search engine giant, has a free 411 business directory service that is available from any phone by calling 1-800-GOOG-411. As a test I recorded a quick ‘lookup’ while driving to Akron, Ohio and will include the audio clip I recorded on my Palm Treo. (or listen to the clip in the right […]
RichC | February 6, 2008
This is a test to see if the Reply Media Catcher software can be used to capture a YouTube Clip. (works on some Flash .FLV files, but not on streaming Microsoft .WMV files) Testing YouTube Capture
RichC | February 6, 2008
I don’t watch that much network television and it is a rarity that my wife and I would both find ourselves anxiously waiting for one particular program to return … but such is the case with the CBS series Jericho. We were hooked back when the series first started and were very disappointed to hear […]
RichC | February 5, 2008
After a bit of recovery in the financial markets since January, the markets returned to fear as recession looms over Wall Street. All U.S. stock markets ended lower on Tuesday after data showed the services sector shrunk in January to the lowest levels since the last U.S. recession. Continued concerns over the credit worthiness of […]
RichC | February 5, 2008
Although many areas have important local issues on the ballot … and local officials to elect, the nation is focused on selecting candidates that will run for President in November 2008. To coin a college basketball term … its the “final four.” The Democrats will choose between Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton; the […]
RichC | February 4, 2008
A trend in recent years when eating out at a restaurant is to offer a wedge of lemon with your water. I’ve often thought its was a nice touch and have enjoyed both seeing and tasting the lemon on the edge of my ice water glass … but I might think again after seeing a […]
RichC | February 3, 2008
What would a post be on Superbowl Sunday without at least a mention in my blog. Although logic tells me that the undefeated and experienced New England Patriots will win, I’m like 70% of the football fans in this country wanting to see the New York Giants Superbowl champs. The Giants have been an underdog […]
RichC | February 2, 2008
The PBS television This Old House will be broadcasting a series on rebuilding in New Orleans. The long running home remodeling program offers up a glimpse at how a few areas are rebuilding and are returning; they’ll do it with a look at the unique architecture and at the resilient people who call New Orleans […]
RichC | February 1, 2008
Big news in the technology world as Microsoft (MSFT) made a bid to bring Yahoo (YHOO) into the Mr. Softy stable. The huge 44.6 Billion dollar bid would help these two companies attempt to reign in the dominate online giant Google (GOOG). The deal would pay Yahoo shareholders $31 a share, which represents a 62% […]
RichC | February 1, 2008
The new smaller Mercedes SUV was shown in concept form at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show and is close to production – “possibly by the year’s end,” according to Joe Wiesenfelder at the Cars.com Kicking Tires Blog. This smaller Benz will join the full size GL and M series SUV already in production and more […]