My Desultory Blog

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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Posted By RichC on October 15, 2006

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) significant reduction in the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel take effect today, October 15th, 2006. The new measure reduces sulfur from its current level of 500 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm, an aggressive 97 percent reduction. The new fuel known as Ultra Low Sulfur diesel (ULSD) will be available for cars, trucks and buses with or without the advanced pollution controls. The will be immediate improvement in emissions, but when fully implemented the actions are expected to have significant environmental benefits.

According to the EPA, by the the year 2030 the fleets of diesels will completely be replaced and the US will have reduced 2.6 million tons of smog-causing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions each year. Health benefits from the reduction of harmful particulate matter (PM) will also be reduced by 110,000 tons per year and result in more that $70 billion dollars annually in environmental protection and public health benefits. For addition information the EPA has published a PDF document on this change.

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Posted By RichC on October 14, 2006

President Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld were on hand today to dedicate the new United States Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. It honors past and present airmen who served in the youngest branch of military service, including the 54,000 Air Force men and women killed in action. A significant crowd gather today as old and new aircraft flew overhead, including a flyby of the USAF precision flying Thunderbirds.

Former Air Force captain and well known American journalist Bob Scheiffer lead the dedication ceremony taking place today. The design is not only a look back, but a look forward toward the future in is modern representation of the flying maneuver known as the bomb burst. It reflects those who served and are serving in using air power through the USAF to help defend our great nation. President Bush said the dedication marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of the Air Force’s 60th anniversary. “It’s fitting that, from this day forward, the men and women of the Air Force will have this memorial, a place here on the ground that recognizes their achievements and sacrifices in the skies above.”

The memorial is set near Arlington National Cemetery and close to the spot where Orville Wright flew the world’s first military airplane in 1909. The new memorial features three stainless steel spires that soar skywards. The highest spire reaches 83 meters and is visible from nearby Washington. Until now, the Air Force had been the only branch of the U.S. military that did not have a memorial in the Washington area.

I’ll include an Air Force video clip available on YouTube talking about the memorial.

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Posted By RichC on October 14, 2006

Late to the light-sport aircraft (LSA) game Cessna, gives their 9 month project, a new concept light-sport aircraft (LSA) a test flight from McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas to Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport in a flight that lasted about 30 minutes. In that time it flew a variety of flight maneuvers at speeds nearing 130 mph. Although the new concept is not necessarily a business ‘go,’ Cessna Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jack J. Pelton said the company would determine if there is a favorable business case for the LSA entry. They will make that decision in the first quarter of 2007.

According to the EAA press release, “the Cessna Sport features a 30-foot wingspan, side-by-side seating in a 48-inch wide cabin, tricycle gear, and a 100-hp Rotax 912S engine. It has dual control sticks, upward opening doors, toe brakes, and a castering nose wheel. Construction is primarily of aluminum, with selective use of composite parts for the cowl, wing and dorsal fin.”

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Posted By RichC on October 13, 2006

The issue of ‘gun control’ and ‘conceal carry’ came up while talking with a friend since she was planning to take a handgun class and wanted to be able to carry a handgun in her purse. As a supporter of a civilians right to bear arms, I was still somewhat concerned and hadn’t fully thought out the ‘conceal carry’ issue in my own mind. (I’m probably not alone?) My concern is ‘who’ around me is eventually is going to be carrying a concealed weapon on a daily basis? Its quite the responsibility and I was on the fence until I listened and thought it though.

My friend’s incident began with ‘road rage’ directed toward her a few weeks ago and became one of the reasons she wanted to carry a handgun. I was concerned that someone in a ‘panic’ with close proximity to a gun could make a deadly mistake and so I still wasn’t sure I wanted motorists to have ready access to a gun, but was starting to understand her position too. She explained that during the recent trip, a man stormed out of his car and came up to her window yelling profanities. At first he yanked on her locked door handle and then pounded on her window. Fearing it would break, she quickly drove through the traffic light in a panic and called 911 on her cell phone. Nothing came of the incident as the guy was never stopped, but that evening she began thinking about what could have happened.

A couple weeks later she read about a sexual assault in a park just a few miles from her house that she regularly goes to and that clinched the desire to not be a victim. I’ll include the Cincinnati Enquirer story below as well as an interesting ABC John Stossel video clip talking about ‘Gun Myths.’ I’m now on board with the Ohioans for Concealed Carry and believe that no one should have to be a victim. Who knows, if criminals have to think twice about who around them is armed, crime statistics might improve? As for bad guys getting guns, they’ll buy, steal or carry a gun with or without a permit anyway … only the responsible citizen goes through the training, background check and permitting procedure to carry one.

Mom recognized attacker – Cincinnati Enquirer 10/11/2006

SHARONVILLE, OHIO – – The woman who was sexually assaulted yesterday in a park here recognized her attacker. In her 911 call to police, the woman said, “I see him over here all the time.”
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“In my entire career I have not come across anything this appalling to me,” Sharonville Police Lt. John Cook said. “The fact that he did this in front of the two children is disgusting.”
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The teen approached the woman while she was at the park playground with her children, Cook said. In the 911 call, the 21-year-old woman said the teenager told her he had a gun in his bag. “I got both my babies with me and I wasn’t gonna argue with nobody,” she said. “I have a gun in my backpack. You need to come with me,” the teen told the victim, Cook said.
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The woman pleaded unsuccessfully with the teen to allow her to take her two children home before he forced her to go to a nearby shelter area, Cook said. There, Cook said, the teen ordered the woman to undress and then forced her to perform a sex act.
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A couple of park employees noticed the naked woman and went to investigate, Cook said. The teen ran away as the park employees approached. One park employee stayed with the woman and called police. The other chased the teen, but lost sight of him. A Sharonville police officer spotted the teen a short time later in a nearby church parking lot, Cook said. The teen was arrested and taken to the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center.

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