My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on May 12, 2008

Palm better get their act together with a new high end Treo because Research In Motion introduced their new Blackberry Bold today. They seem to be catching up with Apple’s iPhone although some say Apple is prepping for the gen-2 iPhone … still they suffer from not having a dedicated tactual keyboard. There might still be a window for other high performance smartphone players since both the iPhone and new Blackberry Bold are only available on the AT&T networks.

Blackberry Bold specs:
* Size – Length: 114mm, Width: 66mm, Thickness: 14mm
* Weight (with battery) – 133g (same as the 88xx series. I can attest to it!)
* Memory – 1GB on-board (storage) and 128 MB Flash (applications)
* Battery – 1500mAhr lithium cell
* Est. Battery Life – Standby: 13 days, Talk Time: 5 hours
* Network Support – UMTS: 2100 / 1900 / 850MHz, GSM: 1900 / 1800 / 900 / 850 MHz, GPRS, EDGE and HDSPA networks
* Wi-Fi – 803.11a/b/g enabled
* Display – HVGA, 480 x 320 pixels, Transmissive TFT LCD, supports over 65k colors

* Media Player, Video Support – DivX 4, Div X 5 & 6 are partially supported, XviD is partially supported, H.263, H.264 and WMV3
* Media Player, Audio Support – .3gp, MP3, WMA9 (.wma/.asf), WMA9 Pro/WMA 10, MIDI, AMR-NB, Professional AAC/AAC+/eAAC+
* Media Player, Audio – BlackBerry Media Sync allows you to transfer your desktop iTunes music to your BlackBerry!!!
* Camera – 2.0MP, 5 x digital zoom (with flash of course)
* GPS – internal GPS with extended ephemeris, BB Maps is standard
* Bluetooth – Bluetooth v2.0, all the normal stuff and Bluetooth Stereo Audio via A2DP and AVCRP
* USB Port – Enables charging and high-speed data synchronizations via USB “A” to mini-USB “B” cable (I can personally say moving files back and forth is now lightning quick!)
* Browser – HTML browsing, View Movies/Clips from websites built for mobile streaming, RSS feed support

Here’s a good look at the “business” of RIMM and Apple … as well a a peek at the new Blackberry Bold. (CNBC video clip below)

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Posted By RichC on May 12, 2008

Water cooler conversations around the country have been discussing fuel prices and what they (and our nation) can do to get a handle on the rapid change in fuel costs. Experts suggest that the reason for the run up have been four fold: a) increased worldwide demand, b) flat production of new crude and refined fuels, c) the weak U.S. dollar … and d) oil speculation due to lower returns in other investments (as well as speculation on other commodities affected by high oil). Currently there is a move to tighten up requirements for oil speculators as well as to conserve by tightening up fuel economy standards while the U.S. continues to work on ‘green’ alternatives, but most of this will take time — something our economy may not have.

In my opinion an immediate relief is needed, and for the U.S. it will require intervention that will permit American oil companies access to a few more currently off limit known oil reserve areas. It will also require trade talks with emerging countries (ie. China and India) and oil producing countries who currently subsidized their citizens fuels. (see CNBC video clip below) I believe that the act of approving additional U.S. capacity will send a signal to speculators, and in turn might prevent an additional run-up in crude pricing … even though the new U.S. oil production will be slow to come online. Trade talks with oil production nations who subsidized their citizens ‘below market priced fuels’ will also help to reduce worldwide demand and keep oil from doubling from here … and at least slow the appetite for gasoline and diesel to prevent threatening and ‘fuel price’ induced worldwide economic slowdown or worse.

CNBC had a good discussion Monday morning which discussed a couple of these points.

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Posted By RichC on May 12, 2008

In a recent PBS Motorweek program, a selection of clean and efficient vehicles were compared to each other. They certainly were not equal for usability or price, but the comparison offered potential buyers insight on how the different ‘green’ technologies and most common fueling options compared to each other. The smaller Honda Civics were ideal for around town commuting and the Hybrid version was the cleaner and most efficient, but the Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI Bluetec impressed the reviewers as a highway vehicle for its torque and comfort traits. As for the reviewed offerings from GM, the Chevy Tahoe E85 or gasoline V8 4WD was tested against the hybrid version of the same … and although there was some improvement using E85 or the hybrid technology, its not exactly an econo-box when it comes to lean and green. (video clip below)

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Posted By RichC on May 11, 2008

This might seem odd, but a new Royal Star Magnolia (Stellata Magnolia) is a gift that made my wife happy on Mother’s Day — photo and post from Palm Treo. (EDIT: tweaked post Sunday afternoon)

Happy Mother’s Day Brenda … and to all mothers reading this. (in fact I think I’ll give ‘my’ mother a call)

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Tags: brenda, home, landscaping, magnolia, mother's day, yard

Posted By RichC on May 10, 2008

Here’s an interesting search engine designed for images from TinEye.com. The unique search actually searches by “pixel” and not words or keyword and will find similar photos and graphical files located on other website on the Internet. Although the site is currently no where close to archiving the billions of images on webpages, it does search 487 million images as of May 2008. It is interesting to know just what images are being used and where and might offer another way to track down similar sites.

TinEye was mentioned in Amber McArthur’s blog, which I’ll include below, and my have a unique way for web surfers to look for image content. I don’t see it surpassing Google for Images, but the technology being employed is cutting edge. Very interesting.

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Posted By RichC on May 9, 2008

We’ve been waiting for our Economic Stimulus Check to arrive and “plunk” in was electronically transferred into our checking account May 9, 2008. So the next step is to be patriotic and “simulate” the American economy. My wife and I have discussed this and are in agreement that we will replace our kitchen dishwasher … but there is a problem: She wants a Bosch (made in Germany) and I’m wanting to purchase an American made model? Her point is that she has been unhappy with the two previous domestic models (Maytag and KitchenAid) and that her mother loves her energy efficient, quiet, stainless steel Bosch dishwasher. Hmm?

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Posted By RichC on May 7, 2008

The Earthrace crew is almost to the Panama as of the evening of May 7th (MAP) after a bad fuel stop in Puerto Rico. The ship carrying the biodiesel fuel for Earthrace had mechanical problems and was able to make it to port. The talented groundcrew scrambled to find a new source of biodiesel on Puerto Rico, unfortunately the best they could do was to find a company to make some fresh biodiesel. The process took time and kept them in port for 30 hours (28 more than planned). The “crew are all just flat and disappointed” after this stop and Captain Pete Bethune continued to express concern in his latest radio report about a Panama Canal strike which could slow their transit through the Central American canal. Stay tuned.

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Posted By RichC on May 6, 2008

Although I suspect Senator McCain might be persuaded to pick a more established Republican running mate, I’ve been monitoring the ‘chatter’ and am starting to think positively about Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. With Jindal, McCain would bring a generation of new blood into the campaign and be able to win over the Ronald Reagan voters … and even right wing mouthpieces like Rush Limbaugh. (something the GOP “get out the vote” folks want to see happen)

Bobby Jindal, is only 36 and would compliment an aging John McCain well. He would offer an answer those turning to Obama over concern for the ‘age/generational’ reason. Last year, Jindal became the nation’s youngest governor — he exudes optimism for the struggling people of Louisiana; optimism is something our country really could use. I remember the ‘positive toned’ Ronald Reagan in 1980 after 4 negative years ‘weak’ America under Jimmy Carter. A little American pride and optimism would be helpful.

Jindal is the son of Indian immigrants who asks is friends at age four to call him Bobby after the Brady Bunch TV show character according to an article. He’s bright, graduating with honors from Brown University and attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Before being elected as governor, he was elected to the House, served as an assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and suffered a political loss his first run for governor. At age 36, he may be just what the McCain ticket needs … especially seeing that a McCain – Romney tickets receive only lukewarm attention. The polls show Romney actually hurts McCain with moderate voters. (Hmm … recent articles suggest that Bobby Jindal is not seeking the running mate spot with John McCain, but then most serious candidates would probably say that?)
EDIT: Same thoughts 😉 — Bill Krystal Op-Ed in the NYTimes

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Posted By RichC on May 6, 2008

Wow … almost 60 kids tonight! It was a nice night for the Young Life gang as they were finally able to have part of their evening meeting outside. The college age leaders do a good job of corralling such a high energy group. The most enjoyable part for me is hearing them all sing together accompanied by acoustical guitar. They are a great group of high school kids and I’m starting to think I might miss not having them around each week next year?

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Posted By RichC on May 5, 2008

Earthrace has crossed the Atlantic (May 5) and has had a great run (see previous posts). They are 800+ nautical miles ahead of record time although they spent several days bashing through seas (literally through the waves). Yesterday the seas moderated and were following which made for more comfortable travel. Perhaps the latest pains have been comfort … one which includes a “plug bog” (inoperable toilet). They have resorted to a bucket as sailors often do … and have done for thousands of years.

Here’s a bit from Captain Pete Bethune’s log dealing specifically with ‘biodiesel’

“This weather looks crap”, Rob says to me as we come crashing through another wave. The seas have been relentlessly on our bow for the last six hours and the strain is just starting to show on the crew. I glance down at Adam who is trying to sleep but without success. He’s bouncing up and down on the bed as we crash through each wave. Down beside him is a small puddle of what looks like orange juice. Who’d be stupid enough to take liquid down there, I wonder to myself.

A few minutes later I glance back down, and the small puddle has suddenly morphed into two inches deep of bright yellow liquid sloshing all through the sleeping quarters, and rising steadily. Within seconds we discover one of the inspection hatches on the main fuel tank has pulled and biodiesel is gushing out. The challenge though is the hatch is very low, and if we pull it off to fix it, we’ll lose half our total fuel all through the boat. Which would also leave us stuck in the middle of the Atlantic with insufficient fuel tPuertoto Puerto Rico”.

“Get me some wood” I yell at Mark, who still seems half asleep. He scurries off to the engine room, while Adam and I work at holding the lid down as best we can. Meanwhile biodiesel continues to leak, covering our legs, arms and clothes. GrabbingMakitaew Makita cordless saw we cut a couple of pieces of wood and chock them between the lid and the bunk, providing a temporary fix at least. A little bit of fuel still sneaks out the side, but noting like what it was.

We then get the sidewinder jack and brace it between the lid and the bunk. Within seconds of cranking the handle the flow stops, and the lid is sealed. That was close, I think to myself. If it had happened at night you might not know about it until the fuel made its way to the bilge pumps, which would involve a huge amount of fuel. I look around the carnage in the sleeping quarters. Bedding, clothes, shoes, tools, spare parts and equipment are all covered in biodiesel. The slippery liquid is all through the boat, making our floor a health and safety officer’s worst nightmare. Adam has already started cleaning up.

It’s an hour later before we finally stow away the tools as best we can. “”Thank God it wasn’t normal diesel”, Adam say to me with an exhausted look on his face. I look up at him. He is completely covered in the fluid, and his face is bathed in sweat You need people like him on a boat.

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