My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on September 29, 2006

The rain and cold front passed, the sky cleared and the sun melted behind a scenic Ohio farm setting as I made my usual 4 hour drive home from Cleveland to Cincinnati last night. The soothing autumn sun set made for a relaxing trip as it disappeared behind fields of future renewable fuel.
😉
Fuel prices were down again this week which should be good news for consumers and our pocketbooks; this is particularly helpful since heating season is right around the corner. I noticed Flying J was selling diesel for $2.37/gallon along Interstate 71 and that some independent stations even posted gasoline under $2.00/gallon. I talked with someone yesterday who even filled up with unleaded gasoline for $1.94/gallon!

I’ve made my regular fueling stop the new renewable fuel Sunoco at exit 151 off of Interstate 71. Since its opening my Volkswagen Jetta TDI has been sipping (45.5mpg) from their biodiesel pump. This week I topped off with 14.57 gallons of B20 at $2.53.

Category: Automotive, Biodiesel | 6 Comments »
Tags: alternative, biodiesel, fuel, ohio, renewable, sunset

Posted By RichC on September 28, 2006

***Click for larger version of this chart***

The chief measuring stick for the stock market, the Dow Jones Industrials, closed at 11,718.45 and briefly traded at record levels today. Shortly after the 9:30 market open, the index was trading above its record high close of 11,722.98 set back on January 14th, 2000. For some this milestone seems to pale in comparison to the crazy euphoria day after day record highs of the 90’s stock market boom; to others today’s high was a thankful relief, a relief to have weathered terrorism, corporate scandals and a recession. Many believe we are now seeing the effects of better management, tax relief and a carefully managed federal reserve — all crucial for steady growth. Although the market has been rising since its low in 2002, it has not been without its doubters. The years end and possible political change could prove to be the ‘pin’ if our recent high is indeed a ‘bubble?’ As we approach that ‘investor dreaded’ month of October, some are preparing their portfolios for a possible correction while others continue to bully the market forward working to make up for the weaker investment returns that were notable in the first half of this decade. I have to admit, from an investors standpoint, the recent trading above 11,000 and the uncertainly of this November’s mid-term election sends a chill down my spine.

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Posted By RichC on September 27, 2006

Venezuelan-controlled Citgo Petroleum Corporation is being dumped as gasoline supplier for the convenience store operator 7-Eleven according to a statement released by the company. This is a major chance for 7-Eleven since the two companies have had close relationship considering Citgo has supplied 7-Eleven’s 2,100 locations for 20 years. The action comes only a week afterw derogatory comments were made by President Hugo Chavez toward the President of the United States. In a speech delivered to the United Nations Chavez went so far as to refer to President Bush as “the devil.”

Earlier this year, the conservative American Family Association pushed boycott action against Citgo due to it being a Venezuelan government controlled company who’s President openly chastised American and its President. The attention and ongoing feud between countries, and more accurately ‘leaders,’ generated some comments on this blog back in March of 2006.

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Posted By RichC on September 27, 2006

As much as I like Crocs as a company, a stock (CROX) and as a trendy shoe ‘fad,’ the recent jump in stock price in a hot stock market triggered one of my self imposed trading rules today: it moved 15% up or down in 3 days so I sold at $34.64 this morning. (I’m a big advocate of several 3 day trading rules)

I learned about Crocs after wearing this shoe and stomping around the beaches of Hawaii on a recent vacation. I of course started seeing them everywhere after wearing them and being impressed. (that’s usually the way it is … you don’t notice everybody that has something until you have it) I found them very comfortable and definitely unique and decided I would invest a few dollars in the stock CROX. Obviously I’m not the only one noticing this fad as I watched the stock continue to show good volume. I hate to sell and I suspect on the next downturn I’ll repurchase the shares … now to figure out how to write off the vacation as an investigative investment trip!
😀

Crocs, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of footwear for men, women, and children under the ‘crocs’ brand worldwide. The company produces soft and lightweight, nonmarking, and slip- and odor-resistant shoes. It also manufactures and sells a line of crocs-branded apparel and accessory items, which include t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, beanies, and socks, sunglasses, baseball hats, power straps, and kneepads; and nonbranded products, such as spa pillows and kayak seats that are marketed to original equipment manufacturers. The company sells its products through various footwear channels, including specialty footwear stores, outdoor retailers, and sporting goods and department stores. It also sells its products through other specialty channels, including gift shops, uniform suppliers, independent bicycle dealers, specialty food retailers, health and beauty stores, and other specialty stores. In addition, Crocs sells its products directly to consumers through its Web site, www.crocs.com, and through company-operated kiosks that are located in high foot traffic areas. As of December 31, 2005, it operated 50 retail kiosks domestically and internationally. The company distributes its products through approximately 6,500 store locations in the United States. The company was founded in 1999 as Western Brands, LLC and changed its name to Crocs, Inc. in January 2005. Crocs is based in Niwot, Colorado.

Category: Financial | 2 Comments »
Tags: investing, stocks, trading

Posted By RichC on September 27, 2006

Information Week offered a report card review on several of the most popular Internet browsers like: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Opera. I’ve used several popular browsers and have adopted Firefox as my personal favorite. (I’m also fond of the fact it runs the same on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems) Nevertheless, the latest version running on my notebook — 1.5.0.7 — seems a little less stable than previous versions. (am I alone?) I’ve also been playing with the new ‘tab’ browsing capable Internet Explorer 7.0.5 and its impressive but incorrectly displays many pages or as Microsoft might say … the pages were incorrectly designed. As for the Mac based Safari browser running on an Intel based Mac, its the fastest of the bunch in my ‘seat of the pants’ testing but suffers from incompatibilities that I’ve yet to over come. (some news websites video, etc) Opera seems fine, but I’ve not given it a fair trial. I suspect that it would see more success if the competition for ‘free’ Internet browsing software wasn’t as prevalent? Oh … let’s not forget Netscape, its still alive and kicking. As so far as I know, there is still a loyal user base,
but I’m not running it so can’t really comment. The same goes for the Linux based Konqueror browser … although I did play with it a bit and found it a great browser. For regular use, I still prefer Firefox running on Linux, Mac or Windows.

As for the actual ‘security’ review, the article I mentioned indicated that over the last six months “that 7 out of every 10 new vulnerabilities uncovered from January through June were bugs in Web applications.” The total number of vulnerabilities found in the six-month period hit 2,249, an 18 percent jump over the second half of 2005. Of these web vulnerabilities, the most significant numbers are with browsers themselves.

The Numbers:
Internet Explorer led the pack with 38 new issues which was a 52 percent jump over the previous 25 flaws. Apple doubled their previous 6 problems with Safari in 2005 to 12 this year. Unfortunately the open-source Mozilla Firefox took top honors for ‘numbers’ … they had 47 vulnerabilities according to Symantec, a company specializing in PC and software security. Mozilla was quick to point out that the numbers don’t tell the full story since attacks aimed at browsers happen twice as often to Internet Explorer users than to Firefox users.

Another number is the “How quick to fix a problem” number or as Symantec calls it: “time-to-patch.” Here is where the open-source browsers have an advantage. Mozilla was able to patch their browser in 1 day, Opera took only 2, Apple’s Safari 5 days and the behemoth Microsoft took 9 days to patch their product, Internet Explorer. My plans are to stick with Firefox, how about you?

EDIT: A rather ‘timely’ update for this post:

SEP. 26 6:23 P.M. ET

Microsoft Corp. rushed out a fix Tuesday for a security flaw in its Internet Explorer Web browser after attackers had begun exploiting the vulnerability to take control of computers.

The Redmond-based software maker said it was putting out the fix ahead of the next scheduled security fix release date on Oct. 10 because of the severity of the problem. The flaw carries Microsoft’s highest “critical” rating.

The vulnerability in Microsoft’s browser is particularly worrisome to security experts because computer users could come under attack just by visiting a Web site that had been manipulated to take advantage of the flaw. That, in turn, would give an attacker complete control of a user’s computer, including access to e-mails, personal information and other data.

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Posted By RichC on September 26, 2006

The prototype of the 2008 Volkswagen ‘common rail‘ diesel powered Jetta TDI was on display along with several other vehicles in Boston last weekend and a member from the TDIClub was there to snap a couple photos. Of course I’m late to the table in commenting on this as several diesel related blogs and publications have already pick this up as well. Nevertheless, its great to see what the 2008 Jetta TDI might offer.

A couple of lip smacking highlights are the 140 ponies being produced by the common rail design which is mated to a 6 speed manual rather that the 5 speed that previous US TDIs have received. All it all it looks like something to wait for? (lets just hope the EPA likes it too?)

Category: Uncategorized | 29 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on September 25, 2006

Not since the ‘finger wagging’ incident in the oval office has President Clinton chastised someone the way he did Chris Wallace and the media (primarily FoxNews) in a Sunday newshow interview. The interview was intended to focus on promoting President Clinton’s “Global Initiative,” but ended up off topic. In the 20 minute interview, loved him or hated him, President Clinton vehemently defended his record and what he perceives as a ‘politically motivated’ perspective on what his administration did and didn’t do to capture Osama Bin Laden and thwart terror. I suspect that it was not only the question from Chris Wallace that ‘set him off’ (as Wallace did try to steer the subject back toward the “Global Initiative”), but the events including the recent controversial ABC Docudrama and the political escalation of attacks on both side the GOP and Democrats in what was done to combat terrorism. Issues are obviously coming to a head, and being ‘spun,’ as we approach a crucial November midterm election. Its was obvious to me that Chris Wallace and his reference to the ‘FoxNews viewers many emails’ was the straw that broke the camels back.

I’ll include a entire 2.7 meg MP3 Audio clip of the entire interview (right click/save as) because it is smaller than the video, but will add the ‘FoxNews Promo’ for the interview available on YouTube below. (interesting too) You only have to search your memory while listening to the audio to get a clear image of how much tension must have be in this room … oh to be a fly on the wall.

Category: Uncategorized | 12 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on September 25, 2006

We all know that diesel cars are among the stingiest on fuel, but then their has always been that emissions hurdle … until now. Honda has one upped their diesel leading European counterparts with a new fuel efficient California ready four cylinder car. It will be the first to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strict California diesel exhaust rules said Honda’s President Takeo Fukui in Japan. This will be the first vehicle to meet these rules and will beat the equivalent gasoline model by 30 percent in efficiency.

Unfortunately the wheels of progress move slowly as the car is not planned for introduction until the 2009 model year, the same year Honda intends to bring over a fuel cell powered sports car, according to Bloomberg.

Currently there are only a handful of diesel passenger cars in the US, primarily made by Volkswagen and Mercedes, but with fuel prices taking a bigger bite out of consumers wallets many are looking at options. Hybrid leadership belongs to Toyota, followed by Honda and seems to be the best known option. Alternative domestic replacements for oil is hoped will add supply to the current petroleum monopoly over how we fuel our current and future vehicles, but is requiring government subsidies in order to compete as it is ramped up.

Conservation options are the individuals best choice in getting more for their dollar in either driving less or driving smarter. According to market forecaster J.D. Power & Associates, they estimate that diesels will account for 9 percent of U.S. auto sales by 2010 and continue to rise as US consumers recognize what Europeans have already found out … diesel are no longer the noisy and smelly cars they were in years past, especially with new ULSD and biodiesel available.

According to the Bloomberg article cited above, Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler plan to use a system that squirts ammonia on diesel fumes as they pass through a filtering chamber, a system that the U.S. EPA and California regulators haven’t yet approved. Honda on the other hand, said its diesel engine differs from rivals’ by using a new nitrogen oxide catalytic converter to generate and store ammonia on-board, rather than adding it separately as the Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler systems require. Particulate matter or soot produced by diesel engines contributes to lung disease, aggravates asthma and other breathing problems and creates smog, according to the EPA.

The new U.S. regulations, which start in 2007, require vehicles that weigh less than 6,000 pounds to emit no more than 0.07 grams of nitrogen oxide per mile on average. This new standard is proving a major challenge for fuel efficient diesel cars of the past … standards to which few diesel cars have been able to meet.

EDIT: A friend fowarded a good article on the announcement here. Thanks Buck.

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Posted By RichC on September 24, 2006

Entering a quick personal weekend update from my Treo smartphone with an attached sunset photo as I ride with my son driving a few practice hours before he takes his driving test later this fall. It was a nice weekend after a cooler and rainy start on Saturday. The Friday night high school football game went surprisingly well as our local team recorded its 3rd win in a row as Lakota East beat Fairfield 21 – 0, although next weeks game against Colerain is one to be feared. Saturday night was movie night as we rented United 93 … a sobering movie reminding us of the evil that exists in this world. And then today was full of luck as the Cincinnati Bengals took advantages of the gift of 5 turnovers offered up by last year much despised Pittsburgh Steelers to win the game 28 – 20. And … as a ready to post this from our Caribou coffee stop, our favorite ‘chatterbox’ at the coffee shop, Joe, will be moving on. I think will miss his enjoyable conversation as he was part of the reason we always stopped for an evening cup of coffee here.

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Posted By RichC on September 23, 2006

The folks over at Treonauts forum sleuthed some new photos of the much talked about antenna-less Treo 750. The phone itself is said to reflect the desire for a sleeker full feature PDA/Phone and will be first introduced running the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system, hopefully followed by Palm OS. The network will be initially Cingular which is GSM and should be available soon. (September 2006 release we’ve been told) The screen is 240×240 pixels the same as the Treo 700w , but slightly lower than the 320×320 on the Treo 700p. (Palm OS) The 750 sports a thumb-board and touchscreen like all the Treos and has 60MB of built in memory with a miniSD slot available in the side of the phone. (see previous photos) The processor is a Samsung 300 MHz similar to all newer Treos and the connections offer 3G networking speeds in areas where it is supported. (384 kbps) The camera is a 1.3 megapixel with video capability which is unfortunately still not acceptable quality in my opinion. According to GSMArena the standard 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery should offer up to 240 hours of standby time and 4-1/2 hours of talk. No matter which way Treo lovers look at this new offering … its only a baby step.

Category: Uncategorized | 12 Comments »
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