The lobby group Republicans for Environmental Protection last month endorsed Senator John McCain for President as indicated again by REPs president Martha Marks. On Tuesday leading Democrat Senator Clinton made a move to look greener’ by proposing fuel economy targets of 55 mpg by 2030 for U.S. auto manufacturers. MSNBC interviewed Ms. Marks who commented about her party and their position on the environment. (below)
Once upon a time, protecting the environment was a feather in the cap of the Republican platform (Theodore Roosevelt), but nowadays they have allowed it to become their Achilles heel.
Each year fishermen in Japan coral pods of dolphins by the thousands and force them into a small cove for slaughter. The killing of these marine mammals is said to be part of the Japanese culture, but is disturbing to most civilized people outside of the fishing community. Several organizations including National Geographic are bring pressure to stop the slaughter, but to date have been unsuccessful. Groups of activists, including celebrities, have tried to stop the killing without success.
Although I’m not opposed to sportsmen hunting wildlife, there is something disturbing about the mass brutal killing of dolphins. (warning, the clip below shows graphic killing of dolphins)
All who have watched automotive videos on the web have probably run across Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame. His British humor and interesting car reviews have made him a legend worldwide, and my son’s favorite car show host. He is less than polite when it comes to belittling cars, their performance characteristics or their manufacturers … but he also has little problem belittling an entire nationality when it comes to automobiles. If you like French cars, don’t watch this … of course that would include about 2 people worldwide.
🙂
Our back porch project continues to slowly progress as the fireplace begins to take shape. I’m hoping the stone masons will show up this week and that the weather continues to remain dry.
The Volkswagen Sportwagen was highlighted in the VW Driver magazine this past month and offered a glimpse at what the stock new Jetta based wagon will be like. The two page spread was ‘slick’ (both magazine and car) although only a few features were detailed. From the specs and the photos it looks like a very attractive small wagon — especially the ‘clean diesel’ 2.0 liter TDI powered Sportwagen. (140HP/235lb-ft)
I don’t think I’m the only one who starts to salivate when looking at the photos and specs of the new 2009 Volkswagen TDI ‘clean diesel’ Sportwagen being displayed at the Las Vegas SEMA Show. It is a really attractive small/midsize car that has is bound to have significant interest from Volkwagen TDI advocates. For me, after years of seeing SUVs and Crossover SUVs, the new VW Sportwagen makes me like station wagons again — I’ve owned several in years past: Volvo 245, Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon and even a ‘vinyl wood sided’ Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser wagon!
😉
This particular Sportwagen is ‘soon to arrive’ in the spring of 2008 with a 2.0 liter 140 HP TDI diesel delivers 235 pound-feet of torque. (ask a diesel owner and he will tell you “it all about torque.”) Fuel economy should be near 50 mpg highway … something I miss dearly since selling my 2003 Jetta TDI. The show car is a bit dolled up but isn’t all that far from stock. It offers some ideas as to how one might customize the car, after all this is the Specialty Equipment Market Association show. The displayed TDI Sportwagen sports 19 inch Sportec alloy wheels, performance tires from Yokohama and a styling package. The 2009 model also has ‘blue’ Brembo brakes and H&R springs which lower the height All in all, I can’t wait to see this car!
… BUT, while zipping into the necessary room at a McDonald’s restaurant, I saw an unusually labeled diaper changing table. (Baby Changing Station — kind of sick in this case?)
I ran across a few interesting math calculations, in of all places, a surfing and sailing photo blog that I enjoy called the Horse’s Mouth. Joe Rouse includes excellent photos of sailing, surfing, fishing and all things ‘seaworthy.’ (and some that are just ‘nice’ to look at)
😉
It was interesting enough at the moment that I wanted to save it … and share it. Of course now that I’m this far in posting, I’m having second thoughts … hmm?
1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321
1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111
1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111=12345678987654321
As Apple’s new Leopard OS leaps to 2 million copies sold in a week (link), the fine folks at Microsoft are spoofed by BlimpTV in a “made for BlipTV” ad promoting (or demoting)Vista. Very funny … with a few off color descriptive words.
(New Palm Centro smartphone photo test – click photo for larger)
The weather is starting to turn a bit nippy and our back porch project is still without an outdoor fireplace, not that you’ll catch me sitting out there at 32 degrees. (temperature this morning) According to the the builders, waiting on the stone masons is no surprise to them. Hmm … I hope we’ll have things finished up before the snow piles up or before my son graduates next spring!
🙂
Thought I would add a photo from my Canon EOS Rebel XT for comparison. (click photo for larger)
The lobby group Republicans for Environmental Protection last month endorsed Senator John McCain for President as indicated again by REPs president Martha Marks. On Tuesday leading Democrat Senator Clinton made a move to look greener’ by proposing fuel economy targets of 55 mpg by 2030 for U.S. auto manufacturers. MSNBC interviewed Ms. Marks who commented about her party and their position on the environment. (below)
Each year fishermen in Japan coral pods of dolphins by the thousands and force them into a small cove for slaughter. The killing of these marine mammals is said to be part of the Japanese culture, but is disturbing to most civilized people outside of the fishing community. Several organizations including 
All who have watched automotive videos on the web have probably run across 
I ran across a few interesting math calculations, in of all places, a surfing and sailing photo blog that I enjoy called the 
