My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on October 24, 2006

A German automotive Internet TV site called UnitedPictures.TV posted a video clip to YouTube explaining the technology behind the new clean BlueTec diesel developed by Mercedes Benz. The clip is relatively simple but explains the method used to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) by up to 80 percent. The clip also talks a little bit about where the ammonia comes in and the patented “AdBlue” … as it relates to the “BlueTec” engines used in 2007 and later DaimerChrysler and Jeep vehicles. Here is a link to the Mercedes E320 Bluetec marketing campaign that kicked off on October 9th 2006 followed by the short Bluetec video clip below.

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Posted By RichC on October 23, 2006

Call me lazy for not posting anything more thoughtful, but I spent Sunday evening enjoying the second game of the World Series; the St. Louis Cardinals one the first and the Detroit Tigers won the second. Anyway, a friend set me a link a product he felt was pushing iPod accessory limit and I found it hard to disagree. The iCarta iPod Toilet Roll docking station offers a four speaker combination iPod dock and toilet paper roll holder. As one happy user commented — “what a conversation piece. I’m here to tell you nothing in my house can top it!” I believe it … although it probably won’t make the best Christmas gift for my wife?
🙂

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Posted By RichC on October 22, 2006

Anyone familiar with computers, the Internet and email no doubt has first hand experience with the headaches in figuring out how to handle Spam. I’ve yet to come up with a perfect solution in managing my personal email that prevents accidental deletions of important emails, but have developed a reasonable set of personal filters in the open-source Thunderbird client.

Email is not the only place people struggle with managing spam. For example, in my WordPress blog, I receive a fair amount of unwanted advertising posted as comments. It been tetious to scan through the list daily and find only legitimate comments. Yesterday I installed a ‘plug-in’ call Akismet and so far it deserves high praise. In 24 hours it was able to tag with 100% accuracy all spam (see screen shot above). I can recommend it to anyone looking for a way to keep ‘comments’ open, yet controlling unwanted spam; give it a try if you have a blog.

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Posted By RichC on October 21, 2006

A Google video clip is over due … and this one is a trifecta as it includes aviation, automotive and diesel topics in one 4 minute clip! Alan McNish, a celebrated Le Mans driver in his spectacular Audi R10 Le Mans TDI diesel takes on a Harrier Jump Jet in the United Kingdom — sounds like fun. Neither vehicle is really in its element since Le Mans racing is speed and skill over time instead of a runway drag strip, and the Harrier is hardly designed to remain glued to the track! Nevertheless,events like this are a great way to publicize the advancements in diesel engine technology this past decade. Hold on to your hats … the race is about to begin!
😀

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Posted By RichC on October 20, 2006

Frank Giovinazzi posted an encouraging Generation Y and X survey today over at CarBuyersNotebook. It was encouraging in that there seems to be more acceptance of the new breed of cleaner, quieter, more powerful, efficient and economical diesels. Frank has posted regularly on the inroads diesel technology is making here in the United States and the promising future now that Ultra Low Sulfur and Biodiesel are nationally available. Check out all his posts over at CarBuyersNotebook.com.

Younger Drivers Considering Diesel-Powered Cars?
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On the heels of the new Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel arriving at the pumps and the launch of the next generation of diesel-powered cars like the 2007 Mercedes- Benz E320 BLUETEC this week, a new omnibus survey has found that 50 percent of Generation Y (18-29 years in age) and 46 percent of Generation X (30-41 years of age) would consider buying or leasing a new clean diesel car.
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The survey findings echo recent predictions by J.D. Power and Associates that sales of diesel cars will nearly triple in the next ten years as advancements make today’s diesels a greener, more fuel efficient and socially responsible alternative to gasoline-powered cars.

Read Frank’s entire post here.

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Posted By RichC on October 19, 2006

She was determined to be a figure skater and a concert pianist -– high ambitions for a young black girl from Birmingham, Alabama,
in the 1960s. In a way, her destiny was set for her when her parents named her after an Italian musical term that means to play “with sweetness.” “Sweetness” might have been her name, but do not make the mistake of assuming that she was fragile. She became quite used to adversity. As a young lady she was not allowed to use the dressing room of a department store – that was reserved for whites only. Her family attempted to eat at a restaurant after the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964. They were greeted with silence and stares. But Sweetness did not become bitter. Instead she resolved to make a difference in the world. And make a difference she did.

The girl named Sweetness had great parents, but she credits her faith as the greatest source of her strength. The apostle Paul wrote that God “works of everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:11, 12). Because of this hope, the bright young lady form Alabama approached each setback, each insult, and each failure as part of the wonderful script that God was writing with her. Each day she would start looking again for new opportunities. Sadly, figure skating never worked out. Becoming a concert pianist didn’t pan out either. But that’s because God had something else in mind for her. It’s fortunate for all of us that he did.

On September 11, 2001, a voice on the telephone informed the president that the United States was under attack. It was the voice of the women some consider the most powerful woman in America. This woman then immediately implemented emergency procedures to protect the president and his staff. She also assured the leaders of the world that the United States government was still up and running. It was the voice of the young lady form Alabama whose name is Italian means to play “with sweetness,” or Condoleezza. Yes, that woman was Condoleezza Rice, our nation’s National Security Advisor.

The disappointments, persecutions, and disadvantages in her life ultimately helped Condoleezza Rice find her way. The apostle Paul wrote that we “rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope” (Romans 5:3, 4). Maybe life isn’t turning out the way you wanted. But Condoleezza Rice would probably join the apostle Paul and plenty of others in saying “Don’t worry. You’re in training for something better.”

Generally, don’t republish an entire story, especially when I don’t know exactly where it came from, but my daughter sent this to me thinking I would enjoy it. I did and thought others might too.

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Posted By RichC on October 18, 2006

Diesel fuel pumps are now sporting new labels indicating the new Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel that is now mandated by the EPA in the United States. I used the cell phone camera on my Palm Treo 700p to ‘click’ this one while filling up today. Although fuel companies are confident that the new ULSD will lubricate sufficiently, now might be the time to consider a diesel fuel additive that provides lubricity … like biodiesel.

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Posted By RichC on October 18, 2006

A ‘deja vu moment’ hit me as I watch my son head off to school for “Nerd Dress Up Day.” Although I found his appearance humorous, I couldn’t help but think back a few decades (1960s) when I was in grade school — I’m surprised my photo wasn’t used in Wikipedia under the Nerd definition! Did I look like that?
Gulp … sure enough … my ‘deja vu moment’ was confirmed as I pull out an old photo. Have a good chuckle at my expense, just not too many or I’ll have to pull some photos from your yearbook!

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Posted By RichC on October 17, 2006

A resident on the Big Island of Hawaii posted photos of a large cloud of dust moments after the volcanic Pacific island chain experienced a significant Sunday morning earthquake and illustrates the seismic power of an earthquake. Many areas suffered major road and infrastructure damage in a quake that measured 6.6 (at 7:07 a.m. local time) and has had repeated aftershocks; thankfully have been no deaths or serious injuries associated with the quake.

The earthquake’s epicenter was a few miles off the west shore of the island of Hawaii, known as the Big Island, not far from the popular vacation town of Kona. (well known for its premium coffee) Scientists say that the cooling and settling of the volcanically created islands over time are what cause the change in tectonic plates under the islands. [1] According to island news sources, power had been mostly restored and schools were partially opened on the Big Island. Road and buildings in this popular tourist area have been affected as have the homes of many of the 160,000 residents.

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Posted By RichC on October 16, 2006

Our Experimental Airplane Association (EAA) Chapter 284 had the October meeting at Jim Hammond’s “Airdrome” located just east of Dayton, Ohio; its home to some very interesting projects and restored airplanes. Jim welcomed our members to his personal hanger(s) which to me looked like an airplane hobby on steroids. (Jim did admit that his hobby got away from him) His passion for aviation over the past several decades have obviously consumed his time and extra dollars, as both his personal grass strip, his well lit and organized workshop and multiple hangers are a great home for ‘his collection of personally’ restored classic airplanes.
As for ambition, Jim doesn’t let much holds him back; neither his work as an engineer in a family business or being a husband and father of two daughters have kept him away. Notable in his collection was his everyday flyer, his”truck” as he calls it, an attractive Aeronca Champ. (Aeronca has a rich local SE Ohio history as do many early airplane companies)

As we meandered our way slowly around Jim’s collection of airplanes, most of us were amazed that someone this young could have the expertise and ambition to have restored this many airplanes. After checking out the familiar Aeronca Champ, most of us were drawn to his ‘flying bathtub‘ parked in the hanger just behind the Champ. Those familiar with that nickname know we’re talkng about an early Aerona; Jim’s was a C-3 from the 30s with an interesting history. In its day, it held the altitude record for a pilot and passenger (2 place) at 15,000 feet. (jokingly Jim mentioned the pilot and passenger were ‘small’ women)

Hammond’s C-3 doesn’t just sit around collecting dust either, as he has toured part of the country including a 1600 mile round trip to Oshkosh and Iowa with it … and considering it is original and has
received only one overhaul since its manufacture in the early 1930s, that’s amazing!
He also has a great little Piper ‘Cub’ similar biplane, call a Hatz that is an attractive biplane with avid builders and flyers. Jim’s little two place biplane looks as if it would be one of the most enjoyable taildraggers to fly around the patch.

Another beautiful vintage airplane is the Stinson (mid 1930s) radial powered monoplane (above), which beginnings stem from the local Dayton area too. Jim’s is model which was restored by Morton Clark was called a Reliant (?). He recently used the Stinson as the “luggage hauler” when touring with others to Oshkosh and the airshow circuit around the mid-west. It’s a pretty big airplane with significant space and cargo hauling ability as it was designed to carry up to 4 passengers plus pilot in comfort. According to the US Centennial of Flight Commission’s website, the company founder Edward “Eddie” Stinson was a proficient test pilot as well as ‘stunt’ pilot and had logged the most flight time to date, 16,000 hours, at the time of his death at the age of 38. He died in an air crash in Chicago on January 26, 1932, while on a sales trip. (Cockpit below)

Although Jim Hammond had a few other items around, perhaps the most interesting was the 1917 Standard J-1. Their are only a handful left and very few flying. They were built to supplement the much more popular Curtis Jenny during World War I. This particular
plane was used for barnstorming during the 1920s and has a rich history including the common retrofit which added a more powerful French built 150 HP Hisso engine. The barnstorming pilot that once flew this airplane in the 1920s even paid Jim a visit and shared some memories. (Yes … he is a little older than most of us, 100 I believe!)

As we wrapped up our day touring Jim’s shop and hangers, were bunches of photos and personal memorabilia that I would have enjoyed looking at too … some that would make aviation museum people drool. He pulled out several photos showing his airplanes and their history with previous owners a lifetime ago and although I enjoy my Sonex project, I also envy the idea of restoring a piece of disappearing history. I picked out a more recent hand scribbled note thumb-tacked to the door post that might offer some 2006 history for anyone familiar with antique airplane restoration.

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