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)
There isn’t much doubt that the best team in baseball this year resides in Boston. Last night the Red Sox won game four of the World Series (4-3) and defeated the national league’s best, the Cinderella-like Colorado Rockies. Although the Rockies won 20 of their last 21 games to get to the World Series early, they were no match for the American League Boston Red Sox. (or perhaps it was during the long layoff that the Rockies lost their momentum?) At any rate, there is not much doubt that pro sport owners in Boston know how to build winning teams.
My congratulations to the Sox, their friends and fans … even though it pains me.
The Volkswagen Touareg has been impressive ever since its introduction back in 2003. It is a technology oriented 4×4 SUV that has developed an impressive pedigree over the last 4 years with races in Dakar, Baja, Pikes Peak and the unmanned DARPA competition. (race version of the Touareg2 to the right) The Touareg isn’t just about performance as it is also an attractive and comfortable SUV; it is just as impressive in everyday driving and offers an array of creature comforts that are easy on the body; from the exterior it is also pleasing to eyes in my opinion. But that is where is stops for many of us as the new 2008 VW Touareg2 is still without a third row seat or from what I’ve seen to date … a U.S. V-6 diesel. (see March 8, 2007 post) Price and economy has been another sour note for many of us; for example the current V-10 diesel TDI version lists for nearly $70,000.
The video above is from the long running PBS automotive program Motorweek and reviews the redesigned 2008 model. Below are two videos by a Volkswagen of America’s General Manager of Product Management detailing many of the features of the Touareg2.
Let me state that I’m not a big fan of Hans Blix, or even most of the PBS ‘political’ oriented news programs, but I do occasionally check on shows not available on a regularly watched right leaning news station. That said, Charlie Rose had a 25 minute interview with the previous head United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency and more recently the Swedish based Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission (WMDC). He is a politician and diplomat as well as the author of the 2004 publication “Disarming Iraq.”
It is clear that Mr. Blix has political views that differ from our countries current path, his goal is none the less the same: a nuclear free Iraq and Iran. To Charlie Rose’s credit, he had a couple challenging questions that seem to remain unanswered by Blix. The current U.S. policy is to negotiate from strengthen in preventing nuclear weapon development in initially Iraq and most recently Iran differs from the softer negotiation mention subscribed by Hans Blix. He sees the build up of forces and ultimatums prior to talking with radical Arab leaders counter productive, and believes that we should negotiate with all things on the table first and stand down military presence in the middle east. Its a dangerous time to be wrong.
I still think I could be talked into this electric car with an EPA rated range of 245 miles that can do 0-60 in 4 seconds, look as good as a Ferrari and be recharged in 3-1/2 hours.It offers electric vehicles good hope for the future … too bad the Tesla is going to cost over $100K. (article and youtube video)
Biodiesel Magazine reported the successful results from flight testing by Green Flight International and Biodiesel Solutions this week in Reno, Nevada. The Czechoslovakian L-29 aircraft blended a mixture with Jet-A at the beginning of the flight and slowly increased the blend until it reached B100 (100% biodiesel). The jet powered aircraft reached 17,000 feet and showed “no significant difference in performance compared to jet fuel” according to Green Flight International. Biodiesel Solutions President Rudi Wiedemann commented “the very idea of using 100 percent biodiesel to fly a jet aircraft makes a compelling statement about the possibilities for the future of renewable energy and a healthier planet.â€
I ran across a few interesting math calculations, in of all places, a surfing and sailing photo blog that I enjoy called the 
There isn’t much doubt that the best team in baseball this year resides in Boston. Last night the Red Sox won game four of the World Series (4-3) and defeated the national league’s best, the Cinderella-like Colorado Rockies. Although the Rockies won 20 of their last 21 games to get to the World Series early, they were no match for the American League Boston Red Sox. (or perhaps it was during the 
The 
Let me state that I’m not a big fan of 
Biodiesel Magazine