I tried to post this on Thursday from my cellphone camera, but unfortunately, it didn’t post? Hmm …
Thursday continued the move higher in ‘gasoline’ prices and unfortunately for me I was driving our gasoline burning Honda Pilot. On my way to Northeast Ohio I looked and looked for cheaper gas and ended up filling at the I-71 Jeffersonville, Ohio Flying J. (above) It was the lowest price posted anywhere along my route as many stations were displaying $3.19/gallon. On a positive note, I did manage to squeeze out 22.1 mpg. (unfortunately in the two fill-ups I managed to spend $100.00 on fuel!)
One of the reasons I didn’t take the VW TDI this week is because the bearing in my alternator is going. Its twice as bad now, but I tried a little WMV video with my Treo 700p. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear the squealing bearing start after a few seconds. I ordered a Bosch 120A alternator from World Impex … thankfully this is the weekend of the Impexfest IV and I’m taking advantage of the discount and having a friend bring it back to save shipping … it’s still costing $205. (thank Bruce)
May 3rd CNNMoney.com published an article noting the jump in fuel prices has once again created an interest in economical alternatives to ‘gasoline,’ in this case diesels. The article titled “Diesel cars are coming back” comments on the price of oil 30 years ago that has some Americans turning to diesels build by Mercedes-Benz … and then of course the 1980s debacle of by GM. Besides the poor performance, noise and nasty smoke, it wasn’t long until ‘cheap gas’ was back and the American ‘try’ at diesel was just an ugly memory.
Today, as most TDI owners know, diesels are no longer noisy and hampered with poor performance. Thankfully more and more people are beginning to look at them again and realizing, that with the new ULSD and biodiesel, they are far cleaner than before. Add to this the unprecedented work being done with NOx treatment and particulate filters, diesels may actually be cleaner per mile that many gasoline hybrid vehicles. Check out Peter Valdes-Dapena’s article and see if he’s fairly representing this new breed of diesel.
“The diesel Jetta sedan will be back next year, however, in a cleaner running version that will meet emissions standards in all 50 states, VW says.”
Oh what tangled webs ‘get’ weaved … especially when messing with the power of the masses connected online … and elsewhere. The story begins with copy protection of a new high definition HD-DVD format — protection intended to prevent (or at least make it difficult) for pirated copies of movies to be duplicated from this new generation of DVDs. Their copy protection uses a cryptographic key of 16-hexadecimals to encrypt the data so that digital duplicate copies could not be made. Unfortunately … or fortunately depending on your position on your right to maintain back-ups of purchased HD-DVDs … someone leaked the key. It didn’t take long before social networking and “people submitted news sites” started to post this hexadecimal number … Digg.com probably being the most notable.
The story continued to unfold as the administrators at Digg were concerned about “the owners of this intellectual property infringes their intellectual property rights†decided that it was in their best legal interest to remove the code from their site … although the details are not known if they were threatened by legal action as have other sites which published the key. It really didn’t matter since members and readers saw censorship and began creative approaches in continuing to release the ‘secret code.’ It mushroomed and the censorship/threat of legal action backfired on those wanting to protect the encryption. All forms of images and media content began relaying the code and it grew out of control like a “multi-headed Hydra from Greek mythology: Every time Heracles cut off one of the heads, two more sprang up in its place.”* It has now appeared about everywhere … the power of the people with a little help from something called the Internet! (thanks for the info SmokeStack)
From all accounts and an email from Donna, the festivities in Bristol were pretty humbling or as she herself writes: “Life is beyond amazing at this point. The events happening are surreal. Someone pinch me.” The past week has been a whirlwind for Donna Lange, as she managed to give speeches, share some music and meet … and “hug” … many of those who had encouraged her along the way. The legislature in Rhode Island even declared April 28th as “Donna Lange Day!” She is the 46th American to solo sail around the world — the 257th person worldwide according to Ted Jones, chairman of the Joshua Slocum Society. The organizers of the event did a great job — I only wish I would have made the trip a priority.
🙁
She is planning to return to Bermuda this week and after repairing “Inspired Insanity” will sail the final jaunt back to Rhode Island. Her intentions after that are to work on a book and involve herself in one or more of the many humanitarian and environmental issues that she is attracted to. I’m hoping that we’ll notice her voice in continuing to support for renewable energy, and in particular promoting the marine use of biodiesel.
Here are a couple of the presentations posted at DonnaLange.com: * House Resolution: proclaming April 28, 2007, “Donna Lange Day in the State of Rhode Island” by Representative Douglas Gabinske
* Special commendation, Town of Bristol – artwork for a plaque commemorating Captain Donna Lange’s courageous sail, Presented by Diane Mederos, Town Administrator
* Golden Circle Award presented by Commodore Ted Jones of the Joshua Slocum Society
* Honorary Life Membership presented by Vice Commodore Jack Walsh of the Southern Cross Owners Association
* Special Certificate from the National Women’s Sailing Association by Susan Daly
* Five year membership in the International Association of Cape Horners by Jane Pares
Donna’s hometown Time Union paper did an article on her and there was also one in Rhode Island’s Providence Journal. In my May 2007 issue of Cruising World, long time sailor Capt. Fatty Goodlander also wrote and article; I’ll attach it below. (personal note: I’ve subscribed to this magazine without missing an issue for 30 years — yes I was young when the sailing dream took hold)
After meeting with EU leaders in the Rose Garden, President Bush commented a bit more on the importance of cleaner, renewable, domestically produced fuels. As an advocate for alternatives to petroleum, I’m pleased to hear national leaders stressing importance of continuing national efforts in developing renewable biofuels … especially the ‘more efficient’ biodiesel.
President Bush:
I have said we’ll have a mandatory fuel standard, not a voluntary fuel standard, but a mandatory fuel standard that will reduce our uses of gasoline by 20 percent over a 10-year period of time. We believe that ethanol and biodiesel, the spread of ethanol and biodiesel are — the goal of spreading ethanol and biodiesel is achievable, that’s what we believe. And we’re spending a lot of money to achieve that goal.
Now, the spread of ethanol in the United States is not going to be achievable if we rely only upon corn. There is a limit to the amount of ethanol we can produce with corn as a feedstock. So our research dollars are going to what they call cellulosic ethanol, and that means the ability to make ethanol from switchgrasses or wood chips. And we’re spending a lot of money to that end.
Last weeks storms:
I’m a bit slow to post the drive home storm photos from last week, but will put a few thumbnails below … it was a nasty bit of weather, although the above clouds were more ominous to look at than to drive through. (click for larger)
. . . . . .
Lakota East High School Prom 2007:
I’m hesitant to include photos of my handsome son with his date on this public forum or to post any of his friends, but believe me … they all looked great.
I’ll just keep the gallery of photos private, but for those who are interested or have reason to want a copy (ie. they’re of your kids), I’ll email a link to the photos if you would like to see them, although by now I’m sure Taylor has forwarded whatever was necessary? The group of 24 friends gathered at the Pan’s house in West Chester for photos and hors d’oeuvre before taking a couple of limos down to the Northern Kentucky Convention center for the prom which ended at midnight. Of course the night had just started as the ‘prison’ (aka: High School – construction photos coming) had been turned in to a ‘cruise ship’ with fun and game galore. They had a great time — I only wish my proms were half as fun as what they are today.
🙂
I’m thankful my son has such a decent group of young people as friends. He has selected well … or did they pick him? Whichever, I thankful they are his friends and enjoy talking with them, in fact enjoyed the conversations about the prom and after-prom with several of them this morning. A bunch of them crashed at our house when the after-prom was finally over — they arrived to our house at 5:00AM and slept until about noon … all but one who had to be up to play in his church band this morning. (I feel for you Seth … I still think I would have tried to find a replacement?)
The champion of optimism … Skipper Pete Bethune … has finally conceded that the record of circling the globe by power boat in the fastest time is not possible anymore. After receiving some negative news while Earthrace waits for parts in the Pacific, Bethune writes as his crew mate sits down for breakfast with him: “Ryan comes wandering in. He’s got a big smile on his face so he’s obviously not aware of the latest developments. He slots down with a plate of hot food and I give him the crappy news.”
“His smile disappears and he looks out at the harbour just metres from where we’re sitting. “Does this mean we’re buggered for the recordâ€, he asks. I do some quick sums in my head. Even if we had a perfect run from here there’s no way we’d get the record by Barbados. He pushes his plate away but doesn’t say anything more.”
After a series of problems … some just part of the challenge, others much larger … it looks like the run for the record is now over. The question they now face is with only a few dollars left to complete the trip, will they be able to find sponsors willing to supply the needed biodiesel to finish the circumnavigation?
If you must rent a car, consider Enterprise Rent-a-Car … they are working in several ways to not only run a quality ‘Rental Car Company,’ but give back to the countries they do business in. They have collaborated with The National Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service in planting trees. Each year, The National Arbor Day Foundation — a world-class non- profit organization — will identify a number of tree planting projects throughout the U.S. and work with similar agencies to find planting projects in Europe and Canada.
Enterprise, is a corporate citizen committed to giving back and they are funding as many of these planting projects as possible — totaling one million trees each year, and will announce those projects in conjunction with National Arbor Day each year. The National Arbor Day Foundation will work with the U.S. Forest Service, the public agency charged with protecting and preserving the National Forests, which will plant the trees where they are needed most.
Not only that, but founder Jack Taylor and his wife Susan have given a gift of $25 million dollars to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels as part of a leading biofuel research center located in the Midwest. My hat is off to a fine company (rented just a couple weeks ago from them) and outstanding corporate citizen.
For those of you keeping up with Donna Lange and her solo circumnavigation here and elsewhere, she is visiting the Rhode Island Statehouse today in preparation for a welcome home celebration on Saturday in Bristol, RI. Officials in the state have declared April 28th “Donna Lange Day” — how cool is that?
Following her visit with friends and family, she will be returning to Bermuda and making repairs to her solid 28 foot Southern Cross sailboat “Inspired Insanity” and then sailing it home to the US. For those of you going, enjoy the celebration (and music) from 3 to 6 in Bristol on Saturday April 28th. Meet up at the Herreshoff Marine Museum (the public welcome). Thankfully my favorite print magazine “Cruising World” (I’ve been an uninterrupted subscriber since the 1970’s when sailing was just a dream) posted an article online.
Also here’s a little backgroung video from New Zealand television station last year … I enjoyed it and thought it would be an appropriate time to share?
Filled up as usual at the exit 151 Mt. Gilead I-71 renewable fuel Sunoco station (B-20 = $2.83) after noticing quite the jump in gasoline prices today. Many of the stations along the Interstate were at $2.99 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline as reports of low US gasoline inventories frightened futures traders. I suspect that report on Wednesday from the Energy Department along with hurricane season, summer driving and reports of partial shutdowns at four major U.S. refineries are raising concerns and uncertainty.
Where will this all pan out? Some say we’re on the way to $4.00 gasoline this summer, while others seem encouraged that there is plenty of crude oil supply around the world and with the news from the EU/Iran discussion going better, some say we’ll at a high right now. See an article by Associated Press writer John Wilen for a professional view on energy.
That aside, its been quite sometime since we’ve seen diesel and biodiesel lower than gasoline … think it will last? I doubt it, but since I’m driving a Volkswagen TDI and getting 45 miles per gallon I’m not complaining too much.
😀
One of the reasons I didn’t take the VW TDI this week is because the bearing in my alternator is going. Its twice as bad now, but I tried a little WMV video with my Treo 700p. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear the squealing bearing start after a few seconds. I ordered a Bosch 120A alternator from World Impex … thankfully this is the weekend of the Impexfest IV and I’m taking advantage of the discount and having a friend bring it back to save shipping … it’s still costing $205. (thank Bruce)
May 3rd 
Oh what tangled webs ‘get’ weaved … especially when messing with the power of the masses connected online … and elsewhere. The story begins with copy protection of a new high definition HD-DVD format — protection intended to prevent (or at least make it difficult) for pirated copies of movies to be duplicated from this new generation of DVDs. Their copy protection uses a cryptographic key of 16-hexadecimals to encrypt the data so that digital duplicate copies could not be made. Unfortunately … or fortunately depending on your position on your right to maintain back-ups of purchased HD-DVDs … someone leaked the key. It didn’t take long before social networking and “people submitted news sites” started to post this hexadecimal number … 
From all accounts and an email from Donna, the festivities in Bristol were pretty humbling or as she herself writes: “Life is beyond amazing at this point. The events happening are surreal. Someone pinch me.” The past week has been a whirlwind for Donna Lange, as she managed to give speeches, share some music and meet … and “hug” … many of those who had encouraged her along the way. The legislature in Rhode Island even declared April 28th as “Donna Lange Day!” She is the 46th American to solo sail around the world — the 257th person worldwide according to Ted Jones, chairman of the 
After meeting with EU leaders in the Rose Garden, 
I’ll just keep the gallery of photos private, but for those who are interested or have reason to want a copy (ie. they’re of your kids), I’ll email a link to the photos if you would like to see them, although by now I’m sure 
The champion of optimism … Skipper Pete Bethune … has finally conceded that the record of circling the globe by power boat in the fastest time is not possible anymore. After receiving some negative news while 
If you must rent a car, consider 
Filled up as usual at the exit 151 