Here’s a safety tip that came from a “Dear Heloise” clipping set to me by none other than my mom; no matter how old I am she never stops being a mom. Actually I don’t think she was really thinking about me, but most likely my son and daughter … so I’ll forward them the newspaper clipping ‘as instructed’ when I’m done posting.
The lesson I learned years ago about “not putting you home address on luggage tags” is a practice that might be a good idea to apply to some of our electronic devices too. Just as hotel and airline luggage may signal an unscrupulous character that someone is away from home, a cellphone or portable GPS unit can do the same and make it pretty easy to locate HOME if such a waypoint is stored in memory.
I’ve listened to ‘mom’ when it comes to my luggage tags by including only my office address on all of our family’s luggage, but I haven’t been quite as careful with my cell phone database and definitely haven’t given much thought to precisely locating “HOME” in our GPS devices.
You just gotta love a biodiesel powered car like Jay Leno’s “more money than brains ” (his words) EcoJet(previous post). I’ll be anxious to get the full performance reports (with economy figures) and look forward to solutions to keep the EcoJet quiet — here’s a thought?
It has been frustrating for wannabe Volkswagen TDI buyers planning to purchase a new 2009 diesel late this summer or fall. Most have discovered that there are none to be had and that MSRP and sometimes above is required to get on a dealer list for a 2010 first off the boat (happening this week!) This time it’s not that VW isn’t making them (lapse for a couple years) or that $4.00 gasoline have sent people running to buy a fuel-sipper … no, it’s that wonderful US govenment “Cash for Clunker” program.
“If you hear from dealers or customers complaining about where their Jetta [TDI] Sportwagen is or they can’t buy a Jetta[TDI] Sportwagen–because believe me we get these emails every day” Keys told Journalists, “(the cash for clunkers program) is what did it.”
According to Steve Keyes, over sixty-five percent of Volkswagens purchased through the clunker program were the high fuel mileage Jetta TDIs diesel. Not only did the “new car sale boosting program” take cars from customers that would have been full price non-taxpayer funded vehicles, but they also took away the Volkswagen cars that were selling the best.
Even before the clunker program, Volkswagen was selling the new ‘clean diesel’ version of their Jetta and Sportwagen at a fast clip. In fact, VW expected about a third of Jetta TDI sedans sold would have Volkswagen’s “clean diesel” and about half of the Jetta Sportwagens. They were wrong, says Steve Keyes, sales of Jetta TDI sedans ran about forty percent, and over the past couple of months over eighty percent with the Jetta Sportwagen TDI.
“The good news is,” continued Keys, “we just started shipping the 2010 models, and particularly the Jetta Sportwagen.”
The second part of the this post’s subject line makes very little sense unless you’ve been paying attention to the weather in much of Ohio in recent days. We’ve had so much dampness and rain that we might as well be living in Seattle … evidence by my daughter’s cellphone at the OSU/Illinois game on Saturday — her Palm Centro is currently DOA but ‘drying out’ with limited hope for resuscitation.
On the other hand, the game was well suited for the rain seeing the Buckeyes run up 30 points to the Illini’s 0, making it the second shutout in a row after losing to USC two weeks ago (win over Toledo last week). Illinois quarterback Juice Williams was quoted as describing his team’s offense as a “nightmare.” That said, the rain didn’t help build confidence in Ohio State’s passing game, as they instead moved the ball on the ground running 236 yards on 46 carries, a 5.1-yard average.
For Buckeye fans there is still concern over passing the football, but it’s a definite good to see opponents will need to defend against the run. Without question, credit must go to a solid defensive which gave no mercy to the Illini and shut down any passing game that was in the playbook. If you’re a fan of the scarlet and gray — a true Buckeye — then you’re at least glad to see wins and scoring.
After a few days of autumn rain, the yard was heavy with moisture and air was think with a hazy fog this Saturday morning. I headed out to pick up the paper and decided to take the camera along. Fifteen minutes later I had a few photos (click any photo for larger images).
Since we have been planting trees in our yard this year, I also though I would include a photo record of at least one of the trees planting date. Although most of the species are a variety of native Ohio trees, I wanted to try a more unique tree … one that is considered “critically endangered” — a Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). Although I really don’t see many in this area of Ohio, I’m hoping this Redwood will survive and that my kids with be around to see it reach a majestic height.
Since I’m becoming more and more anti-YouTube(partially my own doing), I’ve been tinkering with a couple other online video sharing sites. Vidly.com(or the shortened Vid.ly) is easy to use and has both a simple Twitter interface for phones, and an easy uploader tool while using the computer. Editing and organizing (tags, notes, etc) could be improved, but its by far the easiest site to share video up to 20 minutes with Twitter users; it doesn’t get much faster. If you’re looking for a video sharing option for Twitter, or a easy way to embed a clip on a blog, give Vidly.com a try.
My “test” video is a Twitter shared repost of the “Mmm, mmm, mmm” indoctrination clip which is in the news today. According to Michelle Malkin, the video that has an elementary school in New Jersey singing praises about our President, was originally posted in June and taken down. Showing respect for President Obama by not saying “You lie” is one thing — but teaching kids in school to sing this is indoctrination.
Although I’m not one to read books (especially 728 pages) on a web browser, I did notice that Ghost Wars by Steve Coll is available as a scanned and imaged book on Google. So far I’m finding the history lesson intriguing and fitting with one of my favorite movies, Charlie Wilson’s War. If you’re interested in detailed account of how our intelligence agencies operate from spies to budget procedures, Mr. Coll provides plenty of information. From the collapse of the Soviet Union to the rise of Osama Bin Laden and attempt to covertly eliminate him, the inter-working of the CIA in Afghanistan is most intriguing. Although the information in this 2004 book is history, it is timely considering President Obama will soon be deciding on escalating troop numbers in Afghanistan.
No offense Glenn, but I’m more comfortable remembering our nations’ wigged fathers! (see Time magazine cover photo & articles)
Americans with moderate to conservative political views have flocked to right leaning talk radio and FoxNews television this past year (cable news ratings), as the United States congress and President Obama seek to follow through on their campaign promises of “change.” In protest to the deciding liberal direction of this “change,” concerned citizens began a series of Tea Parties (see 1, 2 or 3) focused on exorbitant government spending, corporate bailouts and more recently nationalized health care. The grassroots uprising has rocketed unofficial figurehead and radio/TV personality Glenn Beck to “the catbird seat,” much as so-called Hillarycare did in 1993 for Rush Limbaugh. It’s not that Glenn Beck is focused on merely criticizing President Obama and the Democratic congress, but he has tapped into American’s frustration over ineffective and bloated federal government in general. He has without question rallied traditional everyday Americans to take notice to what is happening to their country, not just under the current administration, but the prior administration as well. Like a minister reinforcing his points using scripture, Beck regularly references the writings of our founding fathers and contrasts the change taking place and being proposed to their ideals — “change” that has the federal government assuming more and more control over what once was the responsibility of individuals.
Advocates for less invasive government, lower taxes and personal liberty, have seen the tentacles of Washington DC politicians become more and more entangled in our personal lives; they see it as a socialization of American an threatening the foundation of our country. They see bigger government counter to the independence and freedoms that enabled generations of Americans to build a strong nation. They see a smaller government as one which encourages individuals to take responsibility and believe that lower taxes hands citizens with a direct vested interest in using it wisely as the most efficient. It’s individualism and capitalism that has made the United States the most prosperous and innovative in the world, as well as a model for all seeking freedom. Unlike those who see the socialist countries across the Atlantic the example for the United States, those exercising their first amendment rights against the current administration and congressional leadership believe our nation would be stronger if we returned to the founding fathers’ values for our nation.
It’s not just a fringe group of vocal Libertarians and Republicans that are concerned either, as Independents and moderate Democrats are wondering how much is too much government? Those who hear Glenn Beck’s consistent message know that he pounded the table against both Republicans and Democrats who advocate government as the answer to our economic woes. At the core, Republicans do “talk” as if they want less power in Washington DC, but often stray from their principles once they arrive on Capital Hill. Democrats, at least those in control, seem to be bent on liberal change … change that is moving us toward Washington DC centered control, where citizens become ‘even more’ dependent on the federal government. It’s has been an incremental creep over the past several decades, but the current changes are ones that may take huge bites if the current administration and congress have their way.
Glenn Becks new book, Arguing with Idiots, goes on sale today, September 22, 2009.
Volkwagen TDI friend Eric R. and I filmed a new CinciTDI“How-To” video on Sunday afternoon and as installed his new Dieselgeek Panzer skidplate and ‘Full Metal Jacket‘ side skirts (great kit Jim). The installation was easy and although we were puzzled by a couple of the tabs on the side skirts — but it helped to “read the instructions” and hand fitted the pieces in place. I’ll post the video here when it is finished as well as to the “How-To” video section of CinciTDI.
I can attest to the robustness of the Panzer plate having installed both a steel VW skidplate on my previous VW Jetta TDI — must see — and the Panzer on my daughters TDI. Both vehicles have put them to the test, mine with a large rock and my daughter keeping the engine ‘at bay’ with broken engine mounts! No doubt Eric will be happy with the new protection and durable ‘Full Metal Jacket’ side skirt protection.
Eric “cheating” by using impact wrench to install final rivnuts.
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Here’s a safety tip that came from a “Dear Heloise” clipping set to me by none other than my mom; no matter how old I am she never stops being a mom. Actually I don’t think she was really thinking about me, but most likely my son and daughter … so I’ll forward them the newspaper clipping ‘as instructed’ when I’m done posting.
that might be a good idea to apply to some of our electronic devices too. Just as hotel and airline luggage may signal an unscrupulous character that someone is away from home, a cellphone or portable GPS unit can do the same and make it pretty easy to locate HOME if such a waypoint is stored in memory.
We’ve had so much dampness and rain that we might as well be living in Seattle … evidence by my daughter’s cellphone at the OSU/Illinois game on Saturday — her Palm Centro is currently DOA but ‘drying out’ with limited hope for resuscitation.
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