My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on March 4, 2011

I spent the day working on boat projects … and enjoying the sunny 70 degree temperature of Florida. The winds have been blowing and gusting and making the forecast less than attractive for sailing as my son is coming down over his spring college break (the reason I’m here). Still, there is plenty of work to be done on the boat.

Besides working on the electrical issue and my Navman depth/speed/log instruments, I’m rigging up a better and more seaworthy generator mount in the engine room. This required cutting some new flooring material and picking up some stainless steel hardware for the ‘hopeful’ installation on Friday. I also pulled out and cleaned up the aging Zodiac which at this point does look as if it will hold air for at least a few hours … although it isn’t in the best of shape and I didn’t check to see if it would float. (maybe a future boat show special purchase???)

Category: Personal, Sailing | No Comments »
Tags: dinghy, encore, florida

Posted By RichC on March 3, 2011

I appreciated and enjoyed the excellent kabobs and great company as sailing friends Mark and Darlene Jones had me over for dinner last night. They sure seemed to be enjoying their time aboard their sailboat Zola traveling leisurely up and down the intercoastal waterway.

Thanks for inviting me to dinner; what great slip mates – boat next to our sailboat Encore.

Category: Archive, Personal, Sailing | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on March 2, 2011

The big tech announcement today came as Steve Jobs introduced a follow up iPad 2 to Apple’s previous tablet success. Apple has pretty much been the only game in town since the introduction of the iPad. This year’s model isn’t necessarily full of surprises, but does hold the price point while adding a camera, some additional speed and battery life as well as holding its $499 bottom end model price.

Snippet from WSJ article:

It comes with front and rear cameras—addressing an omission in the initial model—and a new Apple-designed chip that Mr. Jobs said performs standard calculations twice as fast as its predecessor and offers a nine-fold boost in graphics performance.

Viewed from the front, the iPad 2 looks largely the same as its predecessor, aside from the addition of a small camera. It comes with a white as well as black front, and with and without 3G wireless service provided by either AT&T Inc. or Verizon Wireless in the U.S. Unlike some rival tablets, the new iPad cannot connect to high-speed 4G cellular networks.

Apple will also sell a new cover that snaps to the side of the device with magnets and comes with cloth on the inside that can help clear smudges off the glass screen.

The company also showed a new version of its mobile operating system and other internally developed software, including a version of its music recording program Garage Band.

Analysts, in particular, praised the iPad 2’s design, which is thinner than the current iPhone and 15% lighter than the original iPad, shrinking from 1.5 pounds to 1.3 pounds. Those changes could make the iPad more portable and appealing as a reading device for books and periodicals.

What’s under the hood of the iPad 2 could also be important, illustrating Apple’s unusual role as both designer and user of chips. The new A5 chip in the iPad 2 adds a second calculating engine–an aid in doing multiple computing chores at once- plus a big increase in graphics circuitry that could inspire game developers.

LINK

Category: Cellphone, Computer, Technology | No Comments »
Tags: apple, Computer, ipad

Posted By RichC on March 1, 2011

The pain at the pump over high fuel prices will most likely slow the pace of our tepid economic recovery. For Americans fortunate enough to be fully employed, that means spending more dollars on fuel and less in other areas that might have hired a new workers. For businesses that mean a higher cost of doing business something that will either decrease margins, slow sales or both. For many Americans thinking the worst was behind us, it means putting off that new purchase a little longer … and in turn slowing the US economy, something that relies on a robust exchange of goods and services to improve our economy, grow taxes and reduce the unemployment rate.

Chart from the US Energy Administration’s February 21, 2011 numbers release.

Of course that’s the best scenario … the worse is that high fuel prices and instability in middle eastern countries that produce much of the oil we consume, could end up sending our economy back into a recession. The doomers were already predicting a “double dip” recession, but now even mainline analysts and commentators from financial news channels are showing concern (snippet below).

Gasoline prices are at their highest levels ever for this time of year, when prices are typically low. And with unrest in the Middle East and North Africa lifting the price of oil to the $100-a-barrel range, analysts say pump prices are likely headed higher.
Investment guru and CNBC “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer has said that, if gasoline hits $4 a gallon, it could push the U.S. economy back into a recession.

"I’ve never been a believer in the double-dip scenario," says Cramer, according to CNBC. "But with $4 gasoline, it could happen, especially if high fuel costs create a palpable sense of inflation."
He’s not the only analyst worried about the economic impact of higher gas prices. Mark Haines, co-anchor of CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” program, also said Monday on MSNBC’s Morning Joe program that he fears a double-dip recession if U.S. oil hits $150 a barrel.

“No one knows for sure,” he said. “But if you told me oil’s going to $150 by spring or summer, then I would say, ‘OK, I’m putting my money on a double dip.”’
…

LINK

Category: Diesel, Politics | No Comments »
Tags: diesel, economy, fuel, gasoline, oil, recession

Posted By RichC on February 28, 2011

As the crowds of protesters dissipate in Madison Wisconsin (previous post), some of the more intense union members or bussed in supporters are still sticking around to get their point across. The Capitol police in Madison have for the most part been clearing out the state house and the door have been closes to prevent others from entering.

I’m not sure whether its long days or group mentality, but some (allegedly a teacher) have decided to take out their frustration on Mike Tobin (FoxNews reporter) and has decided to do more than just push, shove and get between him and the camera on live shots … according to recent reports, jabs were thrown. According to Tobin, they were only leveled at his arm, but left him with something resembling a “charlie horse.” I sort of wonder if the teacher doing the jabbing wanted the reporter to punch back … since obviously poking a guy as solid as Tobin in the arm wasn’t going to do much damage? Still … it shouldn’t happen … especially from a teacher.

Category: News, Politics, Video-TV | No Comments »
Tags: foxnews, mike tobin, protest, union, wisconsin

Posted By RichC on February 28, 2011

On the heels of a tragic ending for the Americans traveling on s/v Quest, another sailboat has been taken by Somali pirates. According to news reports, the pirates have hijacked a family (parents and three children) as well as two others onboard.

Report translated from DR.dk News:

Danish sailing ship hijacked by pirates

A ship with a Danish family from Kalundborg and their two assistants are hijacked by pirates and is on its way to Somalia coast. Foreign Ministry informs Ritzau that the Navy Operational Command 24th February received an emergency call from the ship which is owned by the family and at that time located in the Indian Ocean.

– Navy Operational Command received a distress signal from the Danish ship and immediately began an investigation of what had happened to the ship and its crew, "says Charlotte Slente, head of MFA’s Citizen.

Very difficult situation
– Sadly, it was confirmed that the ship hijacked by pirates, and that now appears to be headed for Somalia, "she continued.
The Danish warship Esbern Snare is directed to the area where a Danish family with three children have been hijacked, learns B.dk.
She further states that all relatives have been informed and they are now in close contact with the Danish authorities. Besides parents and three children, two technicians on board. They’re like family Danish. Foreign Ministry does not want to say how old the kids are.
Sailed out in 2009

– This is a very difficult situation – even to relatives. Not least because there are children involved, and therefore we are asking the Danish media about being gentle on the relatives, "says Charlotte Slente. According to Ekstra Bladet family sailed from Denmark in August 2009 to return home in late summer after two years of sailing. The eldest son is 17 years while the youngest is a girl of 13 years and a boy of 15 years. Along the way, the family, which has significant operating experience, including visited South America, the Caribbean, Fiji and Thailand, before about two weeks ago summoned from the Maldives, bound for Africa.

FoxNews article below:

Pirates Reportedly Hijack Danish Boat With Three Children on Board

COPENHAGEN, Denmark –  Pirates reportedly have hijacked a Danish sailboat with four adults and three children on board.

The ship was hijacked Thursday while traveling through the Indian Ocean and is now on its way to Somalia, Denmark’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Charlotte Slente told DR News, a national TV News channel in Denmark.

A Danish couple, their three children and two technicians were on board the sailboat, DR News reported.

Navy Operational Command started investigating immediately after receiving a distress signal from the Danish boat, Slente said.

All relatives of those on board the boat have been informed of the events and are in close contact with the Danish authorities, Slente told the station.

"This is a very difficult situation – even to relatives. Not least because there are children involved, and therefore we are asking the Danish media about being gentle on the relatives, " she said.

For security reasons the Ministry would not supply any further details on the missing passengers, DR News reported.

Category: News, Sailing | No Comments »
Tags: boat, hijack, pirates, sailing, somalia

Posted By RichC on February 28, 2011

Category: Video | No Comments »
Tags: france, french, talent

Posted By RichC on February 27, 2011

Duke Energy, our electricity utility, was kind enough to ship me a nice size box of compact florescent lamps at no charge to replace our existing bulbs. I can’t say that I was surprised to see that they are made in China, but I sure would rather they be manufactured in the United States – I’m probably not alone? (I’ve heard that there aren’t any CFLs being made in the U.S. … correct?)

Category: Business, Environment, Financial, Politics | 2 Comments »
Tags: cfl, china, electric, energy, utilities

Posted By RichC on February 26, 2011

I would like to hear more about the Eaton “hydraulic hybrid powertrain” that both Chrysler and Ford are developing for mini vans and light trucks. I’ve heard of them being used in larger trucks, and delivery vans, but haven’t seen them in consumer vehicles yet. Some of the more interesting numbers being toss around suggest that it “may boost the highway fuel-economy of Ford’s best-selling F-150 pickup by about 80 percent compared to the conventional gas-powered version. The Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP), along with Folsom Technologies, is developing a prototype powertrain for an F-150 that will deliver as much as 40 miles per gallon highway.” This sound promising since Americans do like their SUVs, trucks and minivans.

(click images above for larger graphics)

Ford F-150 Hybrid May Deliver 40 MPG

By Danny King February 25, 2011

A hydraulic hybrid powertrain similar to the one Chrysler is developing for its minivan with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Eaton Corp. may boost the highway fuel-economy of Ford’s best-selling F-150 pickup by about 80 percent compared to the conventional gas-powered version. The Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP), along with Folsom Technologies, is developing a prototype powertrain for an F-150 that will deliver as much as 40 miles per gallon highway. The CCEFP is part of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center and includes seven universities and 55 industrial companies.

The CCEFP is following up similar efforts by Chrysler and the EPA, which announced last month that they would adapt hydraulic hybrid technology for the light-duty auto market with the goal of designing a Chrysler minivan as a demonstration vehicle by 2013 using EPA’s own patented technology. A joint engineering team will design and integrate the Chrysler-EPA hydraulic hybrid system into a minivan and test the demonstration vehicle in 2012. The minivan will feature a unique powertrain that replaces the automatic transmission.

The hydraulic hybrid system differs from conventional hybrids, which use batteries to store power and reduce the work done by the combustion engine,  by capturing and reusing the energy lost in braking through a hydraulic pressure vessel. The system can also turn off the engine when it is not needed and only fully use the engine when it can operate at peak efficiently.

The F-150, which was donated by Ford, is the second such hydraulic hybrid powertrain product worked on by the CCEFP. The group’s first stage involved a Polaris Ranger all-terrain vehicle that the CCEFP started working on about five years ago. Pickuptrucks.com originally reported on this project.

The Ford F-150, in its two-wheel-drive, 3.5-liter six-cylinder version, gets an EPA-rated 22 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. By reaching the 40 mpg highway threshold, the F-150, using the new system, would vault past Ford’s four-cylinder Ranger, which gets a class-leading 27 mpg highway with a five-speed manual transmission.

Edmunds Auto Observer

Category: Automotive | No Comments »
Tags: eaton, f-150, ford, truck

Posted By RichC on February 25, 2011

A great rock n roll band, REO Speedwagon was will be performing opening day Monday, July 25 at EAA Airventure 2011 this summer in Oshkosh Wisconsin. The concert is courtesy of Ford Motor Company and is free of charge to all AirVenture guests following the afternoon air show. Advance purchase admission tickets and camping for AirVenture 2011 are now available at a discounted rate.

Category: Aviation, Entertainment, Music | 2 Comments »
Tags: airventure, eaa, Music