Posted By RichC on August 8, 2006
This is just a photo from a previous post that I’m attempting to polish for an upcoming vacation … ignore the post if you’ve seen the photo before.
Note: Clicking on the smaller photo will bring up a larger photo if I have the post correctly updated.
Posted By RichC on August 7, 2006
Breaking news on the crude oil front … just what US oil doesn’t need:
Crude Oil Rises After BP Shuts Alaskan Field, Largest in U.S.
Aug. 7 (Bloomberg) — Crude oil rose after BP Plc shut Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay field, the largest in the U.S., because of corrosion in a pipeline. An inspection completed in July found a leak in a pipeline, London-based BP said in a statement today. The shutdown will take “days” to complete, a company spokesman said. The BP- operated Prudhoe Bay field produces 400,000 barrels a day, about 8 percent of U.S. production.
Read entire story at Bloomberg.com.
Update on Monday afternoon:
Crude prices rose more than $2 Monday after this news. Crude-oil futures for September delivery closed up $2.22 at $76.98 a barrel on Nymex. Intraday, the contract hit a high of $77.30 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline advanced 2 cents to $2.25 a gallon, and heating oil rose 5 cents to $2.14 a gallon.
For the positive spin … Domestic inventories of crudeis up 4% over last year adn the U.S. Energy Department said it would provide crude from the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve if a refinery requested. In the past, the government has used oil from the SPR, which holds 700 million barrels, to cover refinery outages. Saudi Arabia also offered to provide crude to cover the shortfall, but much of their oil is heavy in sulfur and expensive to refine. Most Alaskan crude is sent to refineries on the West Coast for processing into products like gasoline and jet fuel.
Posted By RichC on August 6, 2006
Ford is running a series of “bold moves” promotional video clips marketing it changing ways. Episode 7 points to alternative fuels. (particularly ethanol) The video clip uses a new all ‘alternatives’ fuel station run by Bill Smith in Southern Pines, North Carolina to show that it might be possible to rotate away from ‘all’ petroleum in todays’ vehicles. It a ‘cute’ first day of sales where the brand new station and it excited employees sell all their fuel. Another funny segment is where Mr. Smith talks to the camera telling us that he is going to llower the prices a few cents and “to watch the station across the way” … sure enough, the worker comes out and matches the price to Mr. Smith’s amusement. (The station also sells Biodiesel!)
🙂
Videos below … Episode 7 is the one on Bill Smith’s alternative fuel station.
Posted By RichC on August 6, 2006
Here’s a post which is probably of interest only to gadget lovers. The mobile phone sites have been posting photos of a rumored new slimmer Treo for months. This one, currently referred to as the “Nitro,” looks to have a few more serious watchers checking it out. It has been suggested that Cingular will be the carrier that will release it in the US and that it is different from current model in size, SD sideloading slot and no protruding antenna.
Here are a few rumors in regard to the specs:
* A 1200mAh battery; the Treo 650/700 has a 1800mAh
* 64MB User Available Memory
* Runs PalmOS version 5.49016
* Camera is 0.3MP (like Treo 650) NOT 1.3MP (like Treo 700p/w)
* Stylus is rubber on the upper part (instead of all metal)
* SIM card is loaded on the side instead of top
* ACCESS (PalmOS) trademark is everywhere in the software
Here’s a post from Andrew over at Treonauts that has a few photos posted and comments of his own. (by the way, I highly recommend his reviews and store)
On a different note of the same flavor, Inventec, which produces the 700p for Palm, is claiming they’ll be unable to start “volume production” of the device until September due to software problems. No indications from any reseller that they are unable meet demand, but if you have been thinking about a new Palm Treo … this might be something to consider.
Posted By RichC on August 5, 2006
A friend of mine sent me an update article from Wired Magazine about the JCB Dieselmax streamliner that will attempt a run for the diesel land speed record. (I had forgotten about it) The record is currently 236mph but driver Andy Green will be shooting for 300+mph. On August 1st before leaving the UK they ran a final test up over 200 mph in preparation for the salt flats. One of the interesting points in the Wired article was noting the rpm differences: “Formula One alcohol powered race car 20,000 and the JCD twin 4 cylinder engined Dieselmax car a slow 3800.” (Hmmm, I know ‘jet turbines’ are oil burners too … but sense we must be talking piston power only?)
If you haven’t clicked the link above and read the final page, I found these specifications interesting:
TWIN ENGINES:
Two 750-hp diesels are mounted horizontally to reduce drag – one in front of the driver, the other behind.
COOLING:
Aero-dynamics rule out a radiator, so water is sprayed into the intake manifolds from a 53-gallon tank of ice pellets located in the vehicle’s nose.
BODY:
Nose design and fender skirts create negative pressure under the car and channel drag-inducing salt spray away from the chassis and tires.
TURBOCHARGERS:
Four turbo pumps, two for each engine, feed the power plants’ voracious thirst for air – 5 cubic tons per hour – more than double that of a Le Mans race car.
TRANSMISSIONS:
Each engine has a six-speed gearbox, shifted electronically using steering wheel-mounted paddle switches.
COCKPIT:
A carbon-fiber cocoon independent of the car and encased in a steel-tube cage protects the driver in case of crash and fire.
TAIL FIN:
Provides straight-line stability at high speeds.
Posted By RichC on August 4, 2006
For those of us fortunate enough to be using cell phones with high speed data from Sprint, there is some good news. Sprint announced it is ahead of plan for the expansion and evolution of the Sprint Power Vision(SM) network that allows users to access audio, video and data applications with handheld and connection card devices. Sprint plans to begin its roll out of the upgraded technology known as EV-DO Revision A during 4Q 2006 with coverage expected to reach more than 40 million people by year end.
With the evolution to EV-DO Revision A, users in markets where it is rolled out, will experience faster average download speeds of 450 – 800 kbps; and average upload speeds of 300 – 400 kbps. These data rates can enable richer applications and services such as high-speed video telephony, music on demand, video messaging, large file uploads and high performance push-to-talk capability. Unfortunately there is no indication as to a premium fee or an increase in upload speeds. For a quick look at what my Palm Treo 700p smartphone is currently getting in an EVDO area see the test below.
Posted By RichC on August 3, 2006
There have been several reports over the last few days talking about the Tesla Motors all-electric Roadster. (see Autoblog.com) From its unveiling in California with Governor Schwarzenegger present at the Santa Monica airport hanger to the youtube video included below, this is an impressive electric vehicle. According to Tesla chairman Elon Musk, the $80-$100,000 hand-built car is capable of a 250 mile range and has all the creature comforts of other vehicles. The silent power is not only ‘clean,’ but can deliver outstanding performance. (130mph and 0-60 in 4 seconds) If the design looks somewhat similar to what is produced by Lotus, it may be no surprise then that this vehicle may be built at Lotus in the UK. (Hethel) This is one EV that I’d like to see in my garage!
Motor:
* 3-phase, 4-pole AC induction motor
* 13,500 rpm maximum
* Max Net Power: 185 kW
* Max Torque: 180 lb-ft
* Top speed: over 130 mphPerformance
* 0-60 mph: around four seconds
* 0-100 mph: under 11 seconds
* Range: 200-250 miles per charge (estimated)
* Home-based charging system (EVSE) with integral safety featuresTransmission:
* 2 forward speeds + reverse (by reversing the motor)
* 1st gear: 4.20:1
* 2nd gear: 2.17:1
* Reverse by reversing the motor (speed electronically limited)
* Final drive: 3.41:1Exterior:
* Body: Carbon fiber
* Unique headlamp assemblies using proprietary HID low-beam and halogen high-beam lamp units
* LED taillights, marker lights and direction indicator lights
* Length: 155.4 / 3946 (in/mm)
Posted By RichC on August 3, 2006
I spend several days week on the road and have been getting a little better at finding internet access (hot spots) in order to upload files, manages sites and retreive email. This week I’m staying at a Radisson hotel that normally has wireless access for my evening connect, but unfortunately the service has been up and down — down as I write this. So … I’m connected by cell phone for this post (tethered), and I though I would update how I generally make my daily internet connections while out of the office or away from home.
In Ohio, the territory that I regularly travel in, Panera Bread makes a good lunch stop and usually offers the best chance for reliable ‘free’ high speed internet connections. I’ve found a pretty good selection of coffee shops, restaurants and shopping areas offering internet access too. Recently I’ve found a few McDonald restaurants on Interstate 71 between Columbus and Cleveland that are offering ‘free’ wifi. I use a ‘sniffer’ like NetStumbler to see just what is available, but am a little bit uncomfortable with ‘wardriving‘ for anything but emergency situations.
🙂
Prior to upgrading my cell photo to the Palm Treo 700p with EVDO, I used an excellent Samsung i500 Palm flip phone that doubled as a dial up connection with my notebook computer. The new Treo phone uses Sprint’s high speed network in select cities and offers internet ‘download’ speed that is far superior to traditional cell phones and comes close to a slow DSL broadband connection. (PCMCIA slot EVDO cards and newer notebooks can be purchase with wireless high speed already built in) Uploading is another issue, that unfortunately is something I regularly need to do. For that its still finding true higher speed wifi. (when in non-EVDO coverage areas the speed reverts to cell phone) Also most carriers charge a premium for using a phone ‘tethered’ to your computer for internet access, but like broadband internet at home, satellite radio and cable tv, it is hard to give up once having had it.
Posted By RichC on August 2, 2006
The FoxNews program “The O’Reilly Factor,” hosted by Bill O’Reilly, interviewed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday evening. The interview made clear the position the United States is ‘not’ forcing a cease fire between Israel and Hezbollah, but is working to back the government of Lebanon in controlling Hezbollah within their borders. Condoleezza Rice was comfortable, yet cagey, and laughed a few times especially when Bill O’Reilly referenced himself as being “pretty dense” and “not the smartest guy in the world.”
All in all it was pretty clear interview positioning the US in strong difference to Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. She was a bit more diplomatic with France when O’Reilly attempted to get her to join in on the anti-French rhetoric. Nevertheless, I’m not sure I have the same confidence she has in how well the resolutions coming from the UN and the EU are going to quell the turmoil in the middle east. Perhaps the only positive coming out of the terrible happenings in Lebanon is that other nations will step up in the peacekeeping efforts … its about time the US says enough is enough with being the world’s policeman.
Posted By RichC on August 1, 2006
Here’s an update on Maurice O’Reilly’s high speed record attempts with a Volkwagen Jetta 1.9 liter TDI diesel. On Saturday and Sunday (July 29 & 30th) he set four records at Goudies Road in Rerewhakaitu New Zealand according to reports. The previous diesel record for this run was topped by 40km/h and is now Mr. O’Reilly’s at 232.1245km/h. (144.5416mph) Although I don’t know specifics in regard to what it takes to set a “Diesel Speed Record for the flying kilometre,” the new record is impressive and obviously requires a correctly tuned TDI and the right fuels? (I’ll await a reply from the club secretary in hopes of an explanation)
Congratulations to the team and driver Maurice O’Reilly for showing the world exactly what a 1.9 liter turbocharged DIESEL can do. For more on this run, see cars.co.nz.