My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on June 2, 2011

I felt a little guilty talking about my daughter’s new ‘digs’ yesterday since my son has settled into his new shared house (3 guys) while taking summer classes Miami University in Oxford Ohio as well. In fact, he had us over and grilled brats, dogs and burgers – quite the host! Thanks, Taylor! We had a good meal, great time playing foosball on the front porch and enjoyed the less crowded summer tour of the buildings (including my old office when I was teaching there). A few memories came back as well, particularly when Taylor pointed out a few of his hidden study nooks … I recall doing that same thing! (Random thought: Here’s an interesting article on Memories from the Weekend WSJ.)

The enjoyable Memorial Day recreation aside, when I returned home it was time to tackle the task of cleaning patios, washing off the furniture and pulling cushions out of storage. I’m not sure when I’ll get around to replacing the broken pool tiles, but the 86 degree water and 97-degree temperatures made the pool a real treat this past weekend. We all enjoyed spending time in the water and some a little too much sun (photo left)!

 

 

Photos taken with original Palm Pre and the one with coffee cup with Katelyn’s Sprint  EVO 4G
(click for larger photos)

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: apartment, birthday, college, drew, katelyn, miami, oxford, pool, summer, taylor, university

Posted By RichC on June 1, 2011

It was a hot day to move, but a fun father/daughter time as Katelyn moved from her old ‘digs’ in Kent, Ohio to her new Columbus area apartment. It was in part sad (leaving friends and the comfort of known surroundings) after spending 7 years of college and medical school in NE Ohio, but exciting for her to be making a new home in Columbus. I know she is looking forward to her residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and has already networked with friends in the area just a few short days after her medical school graduation – thanks to Social Networks!

Beside knowing a few people already, her brand new apartment as all the features to make life comfortable … providing she has a few off hours to meet people (residents work a few more hours per week than most of us).

The central AC was great, the stacked new washer and drier a plus (anyone need a washer and dryer?), the kitchen very modern and small 3 floor balcony large enough to relax on. If the ‘fiber’ to the building is any indication, her Internet speeds should be excellent as well. She’s opted to pay for the garage for her VW Jetta TDI … although it has unfortunately see its share of north eastern Ohio road salt … still, it will be better than scraping ice and snow off the cars come wintertime.

She’s also hoping to add a little color to one wall … obviously ‘orange’ … or as the paint sample says: “Tangerine.” It’s starting to look like home to me.

 

(photos were taken with either my original Palm Pre or Katelyn’s new EVO 4G)

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: apartment, columbus, family, hospital, moving, nationwide, ohio, residency, tdi, vw

Posted By RichC on May 31, 2011

The World Health Organization is now classifying cellphones in category 2B – possibly carcinogenic to humans. An international panel of experts evaluated hundreds of scientific articles focusing on electromagnetic radiation, which emanates from radar, microwaves and cellphones (mobile phones).

Category 2B includes gasoline engine exhaust, glass wool, styrene, lead and DDT.
In a communiqué, WHO wrote:

"The WHO/IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer1, associated with wireless phone use."

The authors explained as background information that concern has been growing regarding the possible health hazards posed by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by mobile phones. There are estimated to be 5 billion cellphone subscriptions worldwide.

See articles

Category: Cellphone, Health | 2 Comments »
Tags: brain, cancer, tumor, who

Posted By RichC on May 30, 2011

I’m remembering the honor trip I took with my father and brother to Washington DC with WWII and Korea veterans last year this Memorial Day weekend. I hope you all enjoy a safe holiday and remember those who died protecting and defending our freedoms and this great nation.

I’m including a little video below from last years trip and stop at Arlington National Cemetery.

Category: History, Holiday, Millitary, Video | No Comments »
Tags: Arlington, dadc, Memorial Day, military, mp4, veterans

Posted By RichC on May 29, 2011

Amazingly … President John F. Kennedy’s speech setting the goal for the United States to “go to the moon”  was given 50 years ago. Most in this country has heard parts of this speech and JFK’s delivery is burned into memory of many of my generation. For those too young to have heard the entire speech, here’s your chance to listen — politics aside, it is debatably one of the top five inspirational speeches an American President has ever given.

I enjoyed re-listening and then catching NPR’s Ira Flatow interviews about the speech.

NPR: Science Friday on “We choose to go to the moon” | (mp3)

Category: Archive, Audio, Video-TV | 1 Comment »
Tags: jfk, kennedy, moon, space, speech

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2011

The new Chattanooga, Tennessee Volkswagen plant opened this past week (May 24, 2011) and is an example of how VW incorporates its trademarked ThinkBlue initiative. Here’s hoping the trend continues to the cars they build in America … the new 2012 Volkswagen Passat and Passat TDI clean diesel.

Below is a chart from the ThinkBlue site.

Category: Automotive, Environment, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: chattanooga, passat, tennessee, volkswagen, vw

Posted By RichC on May 27, 2011

I’ve been watching (but not participating) in the initial public offering of Solazyme (SZYM), one of the first algae based biofuel companies to come to the market. Although they haven’t been trading for much more than an hour, the price well well above their $10 target and $19.70 open. As I post this over my lunch at 12:20 EST, shares are trading $21.43.

They are a one of the leaders in making fuel from algae and have worked with the US Navy as well as a couple big corporations: Chevron, Dow Chemical and Unilever. With all the buzz in their attempt to raise the $100 million, management must be thrilled with their IPO generating almost twice that – $197 million. Now to see they and generate enough business and fast enough advancements with this new capital.

CNBC: Solazyme (SZYM) IPO interview

According to TheStreet.com, “the energy IPO market played out according to plan this week, with the buzz surrounding the Solazyme deal leading to the better-than-expected pricing. Solazyme was the energy IPO of the week.”

Category: Audio, Biodiesel, Environment, Financial | 1 Comment »
Tags: algae, biodiesel, biofuel, investing, ipo, solazyme

Posted By RichC on May 26, 2011

Has anyone back-tested Dog of the Dow technology stocks as a second half of the year purchase? Most of the technology upgrade cycles and business purchases happen during the second half of the year … and with CSCO (1.5% dividend yield) and  MSFT (2.6% dividend yield) at the bottom of the Dow 30, they certainly have under performed during the first part of 2011. Perhaps they make for an interesting summer dividend stock buying strategy? (ignoring BAC since its yield is only .40% and isn’t a tech stock)

Microsoft indicates 5 up half years plus dividends in the 6 previous years.

Cisco … not so good, new Dow stock and only a recent dividend stock.
CSCO has 3 down years and 2 up years – pretty “doggie.”

Here’s a $10,000 “paper trade” split between these two “dogs.” I’ll try to remember to check at the end of 2011 – perhaps it would have been best to buy mid-summer?

05/25/2011 BUY 300 shares CSCO @ $16.19 = $4857.00
05/25/2011 BUY 200 shares MSFT @ $24.19 = $4838.00
CASH = $ 305.00
——–
$10,000.00
Check back in December 2011

Current Dow Stocks for 2011 

Cisco, -12.1%

Bank of America, -8.0%

Microsoft, -8.0%

Hewlett Packard, -1.2%

Merck,2.0%

Procter & Gamble, 2.2%

Coke, 2.4%

Wal-Mart, 3.0%

McDonald’s, 3.8%

Verizon, 5.0%

Home Depot, 6.3%

Johnson & Johnson, 6.3%

JP Morgan Chase, 6.5%

AT&T, 7.9%

Kraft, 8.6%

Intel, 9.5%

3M, 10.9%

General Electric, 11.0%

Dupont, 12.0%

Alcoa, 13.8%

Exxon, 14.0%

United Technologies, 14.0%

Chevron, 14.0%

Travelers. 14.6%

IBM, 16.0%

American Express, 16.9%

Walt Disney, 17.0%

Pfizer, 19.2%

Caterpillar, 20.5%

Boeing, 22.5%

Category: Financial | No Comments »
Tags: dogs, dow, investing

Posted By RichC on May 26, 2011

Category: Volkswagen | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on May 26, 2011

 

With the recent overseas photos of a TDI (Volkswagen) with the “hybrid” badge, the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 and indications that Mercedes is planning a 2012 E300 Bluetec diesel hybrid … then I’m getting pretty excited. As someone sure to take a bit of heat from my diesel and biodiesel oriented friends, I’m still going to think positive after my excellent Toyota Prius experiences earlier this year. I’ll be watching both VW and Mercedes closely in hopes that the U.S. gets a chance to see a diesel hybrid relatively soon.

Mercedes E300 Bluetec diesel hybrid could make it to the U.S.

We’re about to witness the first-ever mass-production diesel hybrid in this summer’s Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 crossover; this sort of powertrain has had engineers and many consumers drooling for a few years. The miles-per-gallon possibilities and environmental benefits are fascinating right away. All that has held them at bay was the expense of development and production, plus the unwanted risk of passing that big price tag on to buyers.

Mercedes confirms that its E300 Bluetec Hybrid is on the way and will be on sale by the end of 2012. We asked them right away what this means for Mercedes‘ diesel investment in the United States. The team members in Germany grinned a lot and said they could neither confirm or deny anything at this time. But to stay tuned.

The first viable diesel hybrid from Stuttgart for public consumption was first shown at this past March’s Geneva Motor Show. It combines a latest-generation 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel good for 204 horsepower with an ultra-sophisticated 20-hp electric motor module. Effective combined torque, however, booms out at 428 pound-feet from way down low in the revs, while estimated miles per gallon in European city/highway combined cycle hits 57.4 mpg at its best. For the EPA cycle, knock that down to a more earthbound 45 mpg or so average in normal driving. Still, not too shabby for an E-Class, kids.

The lithium-ion battery assembly used in the E300 Bluetec Hybrid is the same one tried and liked already in the S400 Hybrid. Please, oh, please, get this baby over here for a near-future One Lap of America.

READ

Category: Automotive, Diesel, Mercedes, Volkswagen | No Comments »
Tags: diesel, hybrid, mercedes, peugeot, volkswagen, vw