My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on June 7, 2008

Dave Vanderwerp reviewed the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI in a recent article of Car and Driver and concludes that its the “cheapest 40+mpg sedan.” His June 2008 review follows a Jared Gall “first drive” article in February of 2007 — its been a long wait for TDI lovers.

Just when you thought there wasn’t a 40-plus-mpg car available for $20K other than the pipsqueak Smart Fortwo, we happened upon this timely little tidbit on the EPA’s website: the 2009 Jetta TDI is officially rated at 30 mpg city, 41 mpg highway for the six-speed-manual model and 29 city, 40 highway when equipped with the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automated manual.

The previous 2006 Jetta TDI was rated at 30/37 for the five-speed manual and 30/38 for the six-speed DSG (according to the EPA’s new methods), which means the ’09 model improves its highway figure roughly 10 percent while at the same time boosting horsepower by 40 to 140, bumping torque by 59 lb-ft to 236, and making the oil burner clean enough to be sold in all 50 states.

VW is quick to suggest that it expects the new Jetta TDI to outperform the EPA’s figures—by as much as 20 percent—a diesel phenomenon we don’t totally discredit due to real-world economy as high as 25 mpg in our long-term Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI (rated at 18/24). And even though diesel prices are currently hovering about 20 percent higher than gas, the Jetta TDI’s ratings out thrift gas-powered Jettas by about 40 percent.

Read entire article

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By RichC on June 6, 2008

Crude oil is trading up more than $11/barrel to a record high on a weak dollar do to surprising U.S. unemployment numbers. The number had the strongest rise in 2 decades and analysis at Morgan Stanley suggests prices may reach $150 within a month. Oil is “being used as a hedge by speculative buyers for the weakened dollar,” said Gary Adams, vice chairman of oil and gas consulting at Deloitte & Touche LLP. “We are seeing that the price will continue to go up as investors look for alternatives.” The stock markets have sold off sharply on this news and have those who once believe we were in for a stock market recovery toward the end of the year questioning their thinking. Both the DOW and S&P are down over 2% today. An interesting quote from one market guru is that “he gets it” and points to the fact that demand for oil is high and supply is limited … paraphrased “The millions of Chinese are trading in their bikes for cars.”

Category: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Tags:

Posted By RichC on June 5, 2008

Although it wasn’t a close call in remembering our 26th wedding anniversary, I wasn’t exactly plotting weeks in advance either … but Brenda and I had an enjoyable time going to the movies — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. For us the Indiana Jones movie brought back fond memories as the first, Raiders of the Lost Ark, came out when we were dating and engaged. Brenda even remembers our exact seats at the small town theater in Oxford, Ohio. Her weekend visit was the only time in 1981 that she came down to visit while I was in graduate school at Miami University. Interestingly, we have ended up living only a short drive Oxford … and even contemplated driving there for the evening, although opted to spend the money on eating out rather than on $4.00 gasoline! (besides, we were just there for my son’s high school graduation)

Category: Archive, Personal | No Comments »
Tags: anniversary, brenda, family

Posted By RichC on June 4, 2008

Tuesday night we had a series of severe storms make their way through our area (north of Cincinnati) and spawn rotational winds as well as 90 mph straight-line blasts. Thankfully there was significant warning and we was able to get a few things put away at home to prevent damage … but we did head for the basement about 9 PM. Most of the 3-4 inches in an hour rains were to our north and west, but we experienced plenty of lightning and thunder. As sirens blared and people for the most part took cover while they watched the television coverage and checked on their friends and family by phone. Within a 5 minute period of the initial cells passing over our house I received 5 phone calls from family and friends noting where the storms were located. In hindsight, the fierceness of the storm dissipated just prior to hitting our area, but then less violent cells continued to sweep through all night long. In fact as the Treo cellphone photo shows (click photo for larger), the ominous clouds and dark skies continue, as does a tornado watch.

Snipet from a Cincinnati Enquirer article:

Trees and wires were downed across Hamilton County and Cincinnati. The storm knocked down wires in Hyde Park on streets such as Observatory and Paxton avenues and Madison and Stettinus roads. Several streets are closed due to downed trees including Delta and Observatory.

About 8 a.m., winds destroyed a roof at Woody Sander Ford, 235 W. Mitchell Ave., in Spring Grove Village. No injuries were reported, and only a few vehicles suffered damage, but the building sustained about $75,000 worth of damage, city officials said.

“We got off real lucky there,” said Kyle Sanders, a salesman.

Duke Energy crews have been called to numerous locations.

A tree was reported down into a house in the 1500 block of Glen Parker Avenue in Northside. Electrical wires also are down. It is not known if they are live or if anyone was injured.

A transformer in the 1500 block of Central Avenue was struck by lighting and burst into flames.

This latest batch of storms follows waves of severe thunderstorms that ripped through Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky on Tuesday, with the worst of the storms hitting Butler and Warren counties.

Tuesday night, several funnel clouds were reported, mostly in Oxford and Mason, but no tornadoes have been confirmed touching down, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington and county dispatchers. Tornado sirens shrieked in communities such as West Chester Township about 9:30 p.m. as some residents took shelter in their basements.

A Waynesville woman was taken to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after lightning struck her house in the 900 block of Windfield Way at 8:19 p.m. Tuesday, said Wayne Township Fire Chief Paul Scherer.

The woman, who was standing in her bedroom at the time, suffered pain throughout her body from the strike, he said. She does not have life-threatening injuries. Her name and age was not released. Other relatives were home at the time, but they were not injured, the fire chief said.

Claire Wagner, a spokeswoman for Miami University in Oxford, said several hundred people attending a graduation for Hamilton High School about 9 p.m. Tuesday were held in Millett Hall due to the severe weather.

Incoming Miami freshmen and their parents going through orientation also were held in basements of other buildings for safety.

“For the intensity of the storm, there seems to not be any damage right now,” said Chris Warren, an Oxford police dispatcher.

Since the storms began Tuesday afternoon, more than 50,000 people lost power at some point, mostly in Hamilton County, according to Duke Energy’s website.

As of 2:10 a.m., 7,150 people remained without power, with the largest numbers in Clermont and Hamilton counties.

In Union County, Indiana, which is located just west of Oxford, Ohio, police are investigating an unconfirmed report that a tornado may have touched down at about 8:54 p.m. Tuesday, according to the weather service.

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By RichC on June 3, 2008

U.S auto companies have been suffering and even the ‘rising sun’ of Toyota has had sales pains. Most of the pain has been felt by U.S. automakers as consumers don’t want gasoline thirsty pickups and sport utility vehicles in the face of $4.00/gallon pump prices. General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler LLC have depended on the pickup and SUV buyer and are ill prepared to weather higher priced fuels and inflationary prices over the short term. Long term, they have been reluctant to replace there larger vehicles with efficient models although GM announced the possibility of shedding their Hummer brand.

But while the three U.S. automakers and Toyota are suffering, some other Asian automakers were able to gain a bit. Honda Motor, Nissan and Kia have attracted American new car buyers and two of them have posted record sales. Honda did so well as to see their Civic model beat the Ford F Series pickup truck to become the nation’s bestselling vehicle. Ford F-series pickup sales suffers enough to also be passed by Toyota’s Camry mid-sized model.

GM didn’t only suffer from the higher fuel prices, but also by a series of strikes which affected the production of its better selling models such as the Malibu and crossover vehicles. According to GM’s management, they estimated that labor issues were to blame for 6 – 7% of their reported sales shortfall. (15,000 to 18,000 vehicles) Their chief business forecaster, Mike DiGiovaani, did say that he sees the problems behind them and that maintaining a 20% market of total U.S. sales this past month was “remarkable given the combination of labor disruptions, oil prices and a weak economy.”

CNN reported that “Chrysler LLC, the privately-held automaker that was purchased by Cerberus Capital Management last year, saw sales fall 25%. The company, which had long held the title of No. 3 U.S. automaker through 2005, fell to fifth place in sales as it was passed by Honda. Toyota is number two and Ford is the third largest in U.S. auto sales. Chrysler, which has been offering buyers a chance to lock in $2.99 gas prices as part of their purchase, said much of the decline was due to a unusually high 40% cut in monthly fleet sales to businesses such as car rental companies. The company also said that car sales fell at a higher rate than light truck sales. Still, that appeared to be the exception rather than the rule in May.”

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By RichC on June 2, 2008

Prop problem for Earthrace … here’s an update from the log:
“Having made a swift 3 hours 15 minutes turnaround in Palau, Earthrace encountered some sea debris, which has damaged the port prop. The boat returned to port where the prop was removed and the drive shaft tested. The shaft has been put out of line and will require repair in Singapore. Earthrace left Palau at 0400 local time and will journey to Singapore on one engine. Her reduced speed of 16 kn will still maintain her lead on the current record, and help mitigate any further damage from possible sea debris, which is a known problem in this stretch of water. Ground Crew will arrive in Singapore on Monday 2nd June as planned, and will prepare for the repairs. The weather forecast is good and the revised ETA for Earthrace in Singapore is Friday 6th June.”

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By RichC on June 1, 2008

It has been a busy few days getting ready for a well attended open house, family for the weekend and my son’s high school graduation ceremonies. (baccalaureate and graduation) The good weather held and everything went very well, thanks to my wife’s planning … and we even have some left over food!

Since I’m traveling this week and didn’t have a chance to transfer my digital photos from the camera to the computer, I’m going to include just one pre-graduation photo taken with my cellphone. Thankfully the ceremony at Millet Hall at Miami University was well orchestrated for a larger high school graduation class and we were in an out within a couple hours. To the Lakota school officials credit, they have graduation ceremonies figured out … except for the traffic in getting to and from Oxford, Ohio! (slow traffic)
🙂

Lakota grads lauded
Class of 2008 — involved and engaged — looks back and forward

OXFORD — The Class of 2008 merited all the pomp and circumstance, said Superintendent Mike Taylor at the graduation ceremonies for Lakota East and West on Saturday, May 31.

“Regardless of when you started here, this class has exemplified how students can connect with their school and participate in their school activities and the community,” he told the nearly 1,300 graduates and thousands of parents that attended the two ceremonies at Millett Hall on the Miami University campus in Oxford.

When this class started kindergarten in 1995, there were 12,700 students in the district, compared with this year’s 18,300 students, Taylor said.

With student engagement a goal within the high schools, surveys showed these graduates participated in sports, arts, volunteer projects and school clubs.

“For all of us, Lakota has grown with the Class of 2008,” Taylor said. “In the 50-year history of the Lakota Local School District, this is the most involved and engaged class in our entire history.”

Student speakers recalled memories from school and community activities that lead to their success.

East valedictorian Deanna Pan compared her experiences to the batter of a cake with graduation as the frosting.

East salutatorians Ronak Buch and Joseph Vermeersch said their experiences have taught them discipline and given them a drive for the future.

West’s salutatorian Robert Samblanet said their success was built on persistence, achievement and continual support.

“What is persistence if there’s no one to drive us,” he said. “What is achievement if there is no one to challenge us.”

Valedictorian Raymond Xi reminded students to prepare to go separate ways while maintaining their common link as Lakota graduates.

“Today is not only a day to look back, but also a time to look forward,” he said.

Category: Archive, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
Tags: corbett, family, graduation, lakota, school, taylor

Posted By RichC on May 29, 2008

My son graduates high school on Saturday so we are busy prepping for open house and family. The raccoon is gone, one “dead” smelly baby has been dug out of the insulation in the garage and another was treed last night by Tootsie (probably will try and reenter the house again? All in all I think we are ready and the weather Friday night’s open house looks good.

Category: Audio, Misc, Personal | No Comments »
Tags: graduation, home, house, raccoon, taylor

Posted By RichC on May 28, 2008

Earthrace, an attempt to round the world in record time on biodiesel fuel, is halfway across the Pacific Ocean and is now 700 or so miles west of Majuro in the Marshall Islands. They arrived on one engine and departed 4 hours later back on two.

After leaving San Diego the crew and ‘unique’ boat made a quick stop in Hawaii to exchange crew, pick up food and refuel, but a couple days out experienced a high pressure injector line leak which sprayed a mist of biodiesel fuel throughout the engine room. The engine was shut down and speeds reduced to 15 knots as there were no spare parts onboard for this particular leaking pipe. There was talk of making repairs with JB Weld, but injection pressures for this high tech Cummins diesel are 35,000 psi — that’s asking a lot from epoxy!

Nevertheless, the weather was good and the crew continued to the Marshall Islands at half speed where the ground crew was to come up with the new part. According to Pete Bethune, the ground crew has come together and is working well since some difficult times in Panama. Thankfully for the Earthrace adventure this uncelebrated groundcrew group has reconnected and were also able to come up with the correct parts and repair the engine quickly. Although Capt. Bethune would have preferred an under two hour stop as they did in Hawaii, he “reckon it’s a fair trade” to be back on two engines in only 4 hours. Next stop … Palau.

Category: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By RichC on May 27, 2008

Another year … and another family has figured out how to get into our house — an animal family that is. We’ve had birds in the attic and raccoons once before, but this guy has been a bit more challenging to trap. I’ve moved my live trap in different places around the roof line (where I’ve seen this guy/gal walking) and around the attic trusses where he/she has torn the soffits off for entry and damaged a piece of heating/air-conditioning flex ducting. I put the boxed in trap so that there was no escape where the soffit, but no ‘coon.’

Recently I forced him/her into the attic space over the garage and then closed off the entry. I then opened the crawl through door and at night the ‘bandit’ dropped out and onto the floor — a 12 foot drop. Unbeknown to this little ‘nasty’ raccoon, our dog, an Australian Blue Heeler named Tootsie, sleeps in the garage … and oh what a commotion we had last night! Eventually Tootsie drove the raccoon up on top of some storage shelves and there it sits … now what??? (BTW … our dog does like to hunt and bring home prizes)

Category: Misc, Personal | 1 Comment »
Tags: garage, house, raccoon, tootsie