Demand for fuel is down, but prices are up to a near all-time high in the U.S., says a USAToday article. Diesel hit a record high of $3.54 per gallon, and unleaded gasoline is up to a $3.11 national average price, which is an increase of more than 6.2 cents in two days. The previous record of $3.22 was in May 2007. While doing a few calculations, it might even save a few bucks to fly from Cincinnati to Orlando rather than drive … if you consider the cost of miles on an automobile. Here’s the Triple-A Fuel Cost Calculator(below) using our Honda Pilot as compared to a Delta Airlines flight.
LOw REsistance MObile
The Germans have created a 2-cylinder turbo diesel vehicle that is capable of fuel efficiency of 130 to 150 miles per gallon, according to an article in MSN. The car is designed with minimal drag and low weight, but doesn’t have the battery packs or regenerative brakes of other mega-MPG hybrids. The Loremo does this with a efficient diesel, slick slick skin and limiting weight. (especially non-essentials) Most interesting is that the Loremo is to be mass produced in Europe and will available for about 15,000 euros. ($22,000 US)
After its 2009 release in Europe, the Loremo will be redesigned to reach the North American market the following year. A $30,000, 3-cylinder GT model will also become available, offering better acceleration (0-60 in roughly 10 seconds, vs. 16 for the base model). Both hybrid and fully electric versions are also in the works.
While on a college visit with my son and short vacation this past weekend, I picked up a good book that offered a first hand look at today’s politically correct ‘college experience.’ I’m not sure that the author’s recount will comes as a shock, but I assure you that quite a bit has changed from my memory of college a generation ago. (full disclosure: my undergraduate education took place at a smaller ‘more conservative’ university — although my more ‘insulated’ off campus housing graduate studies were at state universities)
Abby Nye wrote Fish Out of Water and published it through New Leaf Press in 2005 and chronicled her freshman year adapting to the ‘liberal’ atmosphere of a secular university — this coming from a conservative Christian background. In hindsight, I should have read this a few years ago and been a bit more focused on what goes on at secular universities since my daughter went to Kent State University — she received an outstanding education I might add. Perhaps I’m reading this book a bit late … or perhaps not, since my son will be heading off to college next year?
Nevertheless, I enthusiastically recommend Fish Out of Water and suggest that it is an excellent book for those wanting a first hand account of “what’s going on” in many American Universities; Abby Nye’s insight is especially helpful if one is coming from a conservative home. The advice for students wanting to know what to expect when choosing a ‘liberal’ university should be very helpful and her story will give students a leg up as they arrive on campus. (she also offers a few ‘survival’ hints) I’ll include a clip from an Amazon member review below.
Reader Review:
First-time author Abby Nye is on the front lines in the culture war, and she sees it where combat is the fiercest: on the campus of a secular university. While Abby went into college prepared for a change, she at times found herself overwhelmed by relativism, nihilism, postmodernism, and all the other -isms that are prevalent in today’s anti-God, anti-Christ, liberal universities. Abby gives great perspective on how to live out your faith on campus. How do I stay away from sex and drinking and drugs? What do I do on Friday night when it seems like everyone else is out getting blitzed and hooking up? Where can I find friends who have similar beliefs? What do I do if a prof is trashing my faith in class? Abby combines thorough research with well-placed anecdotes to offer a plan of attack as a student approaches his or her freshman year in college. It is obvious that Abby is passionate about the subject matter, and that she wants to make an impact in the lives of the students around her. (snipped from review by Joshua Knippa)
Total Lunar Eclipse on Wednesday Night:
The eclipse begins at 8:43 p.m. Wednesday. The moon moves to total eclipse, when it changes color, from 10:01 to 10:51, according to NASA. The eclipse ends at 12:09 a.m. on Thursday, February 21, 2008. The weather in SW Ohio is foretasted to be mostly clear Wednesday night. The low temperature for the night will be 14 which will make it excellent for viewing. The next total eclipse will be on December 21, 2010.
I promise this will be the last, but I’m using my cell-phone to post these last two day from Delray Beach, Florida. Its been a nice time away from Cincinnati and both my son and I have enjoyed the visit with family and college visit to Lynn Universtiy.
I’m including a beautiful beach art of a couple of sea lions just moments away from the “tide of destruction.” (no … I didn’t do it.)
According to the Audi Dealer Council, someone mentioned that the Audi Q7 would have the TDI diesel engine by the end of 2008. This would make the SUV from Audi available close to the time its sister vehicle, the VW Touareg (small 3.0L TDI), is slated to arrive in the U.S. (November 2008) Follow the diesel will be the hybrid version of the Q7 as well. Another addition to the premium Audi line will be the Q5, coming at the end of the year too. Its the sibling of the VW Tiguan and will also be getting the diesel sometime in 2009, although the hybrid version of the Q5 will be coming first. Audi Dealer spokesman Joel Weinberger mentioned that the diesel would be at a $2,000 premium, which is the same as Volkswagen.
While doing a few calculations, it might even save a few bucks to fly from Cincinnati to Orlando rather than drive … if you consider the cost of miles on an automobile. Here’s the Triple-A Fuel Cost Calculator (below) using our Honda Pilot as compared to a Delta Airlines flight. 
LOw REsistance MObile
While on a college visit with my son and short vacation this past weekend, I picked up a good book that offered a first hand look at today’s politically correct ‘college experience.’ I’m not sure that the author’s recount will comes as a shock, but I assure you that quite a bit has changed from my 
According to the Audi Dealer Council, someone mentioned that the Audi Q7 would have the TDI diesel engine by the end of 2008. This would make the SUV from Audi available close to the time its sister vehicle, the VW Touareg (small 3.0L TDI), is slated to arrive in the U.S. (November 2008) Follow the diesel will be the hybrid version of the Q7 as well. Another addition to the premium Audi line will be the Q5, coming at the end of the year too. Its the sibling of the VW Tiguan and will also be getting the diesel sometime in 2009, although the hybrid version of the Q5 will be coming first. Audi Dealer spokesman Joel Weinberger mentioned that the diesel would be at a $2,000 premium, which is the same as Volkswagen.