I’ve commented on the handy free service called Jott before, and am giving their new Twitter Jott Link a try — not that I spend much time using Twitter. After two years in Beta, Jott.com has move to an advertiser and pay-for-services model. As more and more subscription based Internet components arrive, I’ve become less and less inclined to pay for extra services. In an off the top of my head accounting of the subscription services on top of my ISP, I’ve opted for: 1) Personal Webhosting beyond company servers, 2) Flickr for images, 3) Sugarsync for back-up and file availability, 4) an old USA.net email service that I can’t seem to let go of, 5) Skype out, and 6) an email junk filter account that I’ll eliminate — it is unreliable. If you use Twitter, give the Jott link a try.
North Carolina TDIClub member “coolbreeze” may bring his new 2009 Volkswagen Sportwagen TDI to the TDIFest over Labor Day weekend – thread. If he does, it will be the first one most of us will have seen. Crossing my fingers that you can make it Bruce!
My son had an end of summer cookout and bonfire (sorry for the lack of focus above) this week for he and his good friends head off to college this fall; most will be parting ways and heading in different directions. As a parent, its been great to know my sons core group of friends, many for the last 13 years, and I couldn’t be more inspired by this generation of ‘decent’ young people. There are far too many negative stories about America’s youth and its good to experience the opposite: bright, considerate and genuinely nice kids to be around (although they are 18 now — perhaps adults is a better choice of words?).
Another circumnavigation record falls … this time its a trip around the world in a “whirlybird.” Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik set a new world record for the fastest trip around the world in a helicopter. They circumnavigated the globe from LaGuardia Airport crossing the Atlantic, traversing 20 countries, 12 time zones and 49 states in 11 days, 7 hours and 3 minutes. This feat beat the old record of just over 17 days.
“We just approached our schedule very aggressively, we didn’t let anything stop us or slow us down,” said Kasprowicz, 55, of Middleburg, Va.
Breaking the record meant forgoing some luxuries, including food, sleep and showers.
“You’re in the cockpit on a good day 18, sometimes 20 or 21 hours,” said Sheik, 38, of Baltimore. He said he and Kasprowicz ate mostly trail mix and granola bars.
“Bathroom breaks [were] never really a problem,” Kasprowicz said because of frequent refueling stops. The helicopter made more than 80 stops over the course of the trip and the crew got the average refueling time down to 12-14 minutes.
The record-breaking feat was almost derailed when the helicopter was delayed in Russia for a day due to airport closures and a strict air traffic control system.
The crew flew for Alaska on Friday night, narrowly escaping being grounded in Russia for the weekend.
To do it, they chartered an aircraft and arranged for three 55-gallon drums of jet fuel to be flown onto St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. “We got out literally by the skin of our teeth,” Kasprowicz said.
“We really had to push hard to make up for that lost day in Russia,” Sheik said. “By the end of the trip, we really just had to sacrifice rest and sleep.”
The pair holds the record for the fastest helicopter flight from New York to Los Angeles, and, on this trip, also broke the record for the fastest trip from New York to London.
“It was a great adventure and we’re really glad to be home,” Kasprowicz said, adding that he was most looking forward to “a good sleep on a real bed.”
Automotive sales and production worldwide has slowed a bit this year as economies slow, but the production of Volkswagen vehicles in China continues to grow. According to Automotive News, sales are up 23.2% for vehicles build in the communist country, with over one-half million vehicles produced. This number move very close to VW’s production in Germany and actually trails in number of vehicles built by a mere 3,000. If production continues at this grow pace, China will be the largest producer of VWs in the world … perhaps by year end?
Volkswagen cars currently have nearly 20 percent of the market in China and with the introduction of up to 14 new models in the next 2 years, should continue to dominate. VW executives expect the Chinese market for their vehicles will grow from 5.6 million units to 10.3 million over the next 10 years, proving once again that China is a major economic producer and consumer in this 21st century.
Fay, currently designated a tropical storm, drenched the Florida Keys on Monday. The rains flooded roads and created a handful of possible tornadoes as it moved north according to emergency management officials. Whil
The storm killed at least five people in the Caribbean according to news reports, but there were no reports of injuries or deaths, just flooding in the Keys.
Corey Walton, a hurricane support meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center, said Fay — a diffuse storm without a clearly defined eye — was moving north at about 14 miles an hour, and could become a Category 1 hurricane before striking Florida’s west coast Tuesday morning.
I really wanted to take off early today and head home to just lounge in the pool, but the pile of work to be done is not getting smaller. The summer is getting away from me and don’t see much slowing down before September.
First, we’ll be moving my son to college over the weekend (and celebrating my father-in-laws birthday). This is my son’s first year to college so the 9th floor dorm move in along with thousands of freshmen is sure to be a zoo. After that, we move my daughter back to medical school, although she’s pretty much ready and will have her car (a VW TDI of course) and is moving back into the same apartment. Once that’s done, then comes Labor Day weekend. For this I’m going to need to be ready for two big events: The annual Fly-In, Airshow and Pancake Breakfast that my EAA chapter is involved in, and then the North American TDIFest being held in Mason, Ohio. Our CinciTDI group is hosting the TDIFest OH8 this year and its a big task to arrange not only the accommodations, but the activities which are important for a successful event. Perhaps its just normal to feel a bit of pressure?
Once again TV in our house was tuned in to watch the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Saturday night. We were anxious to see Michael Phelps swim again — and swim he did. This time Phelps did it with his American teammates — Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak — in the Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay winning another American gold medal … the 8th for Phelps making it a single Olympic games record. This final gold medal for Phelps left him near speechless after the finish and gives him a total of 14 Olympic golds — Phelps now stands alone in sports history with the most Olympic gold medals.
Using a Zipcar might be an attractive option for some urban-ites, particularly if their city has decent mass transit and a Zipcar.com footprint. I know a few, very few, people who live in larger metro areas and have learned to live without owning a car — although as a Midwestern suburban and rural oriented person can imagine NOT having a car. Nevertheless, a company call Zipcar was envisioned by the two founders in 1999 after seeing a ‘rent a car by the hour’ set-up in Berlin, Germany. They have set up a network of cities in the U.S., and also in London, which rent cars by the hour (or day) at a pretty competitive rate. The advantage for those living near Zipcar garage locations (major colleges for the most part) is that as a member you reserve a car online, swipe your badge and drive. There is no hassle with rental car locations or their lines, no garage problems, maintenance or even fuel fill up issues. As the Nightly Business Report video clip below demonstrates, users can even use some pretty attractive cars — not just the econo-boxes that are rented at the compact car level found at airports.
Zipcar locations in London
My thought was IF we take a trip to London and stay at a friends flat near The Tube and rail, we might want to use a Zipcar for those trips away from town?
Rick Warren, famous for his book “The Purpose Driven Life” and as pastor at Saddleback Church, was interviewed on Friday about political figures like Sen. John Edwards who recent affair was exposed. His comments on Forgiveness and Trust were excellent (below). Warren will also be moderating a “Civic Forum” with guests Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama Saturday August 16th from 5-7pm PST (8-10PM EST).
Rick Warren:“There’s a difference is between forgiveness and trust. And I don’t think people understood this even as far back as, say, the Clinton scandals and things like that. The Bible teaches us that forgiveness must be instant and that we are to forgive people instantly when they sin because of three reasons: first, we’ve been forgiven by God; second, resentment makes you miserable; and third you’re going to need more forgiveness in the future.
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who’ve trespassed against us.†So forgiveness has to be immediate but trust has to be rebuilt. Forgiveness is by grace. Trust is by works. And so if a woman’s husband is beating her and he comes back to the door and says, “Will, you forgive me?†She has to forgive him. “Yes, I forgive you.†“Will you let me back into the house?†“No, that’s another matter.â€
You have to earn that trust. All leadership is built on trust. It’s built on credibility. If you don’t have credibility, if you don’t have authenticity, if you don’t have trust, you’re not a leader even if you have the title. And the moment you lose the trust of the American public you’re no longer the leader. You may still have the title but you’re not it. It takes years to build trust and you can lose it instantly — and it takes even longer to rebuild.
John Edwards and others like him have lost the trust of America because they lied, and fundamentally beneath every affair it’s dishonesty, its deceit, its deception. They’re lying to God. They’re lying to themselves. They’re lying to their wives and they’re lying to the public. How do you trust someone who’s constantly lying? You can’t. That’s why it is a myth to say their personal life doesn’t matter. It does matter — all of leadership is built on credibility. “
Another circumnavigation record falls … this time its a trip around the world in a “whirlybird.” Scott Kasprowicz and Steve Sheik set a new world record for the fastest trip around the world in a helicopter. They circumnavigated the globe from LaGuardia Airport crossing the Atlantic, traversing 20 countries, 12 time zones and 49 states in 11 days, 7 hours and 3 minutes. This feat beat the old record of just over 17 days. 
Automotive sales and production worldwide has slowed a bit this year as economies slow, but the production of Volkswagen vehicles in China continues to grow. According to 
Once again TV in our house was tuned in to watch the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Saturday night. We were anxious to see Michael Phelps swim again — and swim he did. This time Phelps did it with his American teammates — Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and Jason Lezak — in the Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay winning another American gold medal … the 8th for Phelps making it a single Olympic games record. This final gold medal for Phelps left him near speechless after the finish and gives him a total of 14 Olympic golds — Phelps now stands alone in sports history with the most Olympic gold medals. 
Using a Zipcar might be an attractive option for some urban-ites, particularly if their city has decent mass transit and a 
Rick Warren, famous for his book “