My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on July 9, 2006

I’ve been battling a storm water problem since we built our house and every year tweak my existing water routing plan contemplating new ways to deal with it. I spotted a “This Old House” video clip that offered a solution … a few more dollars than I want to spend, but I appreciated the engineering ideas. I might be able to use a modified version if my latest French drain project fails to satisfactorily solve my problem.

Here’s a photo of my recent French Drain Project behind our house.

Storm Water – “This Old House”

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Tags: drainage, home, house, rocks, tootsie, video, yard

Posted By RichC on July 8, 2006

I’m cheering for a group of students from University of Minnesota who will be racing their entry, Borealis III on September 17th in the World Solar Rally. Last year they took 2nd place in a 2005 race from Austin Texas to Calgary, Canada and have rebuilt and modified their vehicle in order to compete in Taiwan. The project manager, Patrick O’Connor and his team held a press event to show off their evolving project with the press this past week. Project vehicles are judged on a variety of factors including style, use of technology and overall race efficiency.

University students have been working on Borealis III since January 2004. The U of M Solar Vehicle Project was founded by a group of undergraduates in the Institute of Technology in 1990. The team is an undergraduate project and remains true to its origins as a student administered, designed and built project that teaches members about engineering and management in a complete product development environment.

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Posted By RichC on July 7, 2006

As a boy, the first movie I ever saw was “The Love Bug” at the Skyline drive-in theater in the back seat of my dad’s Chevrolet Corvair. (actually I think it was it “Born Free” not that it matters.) In an article sent to me by a VW TDI driving friend, German engineers at Volkswagen are coming closer to bringing a “Herbie,” or at least a close relative, to life.
🙂
The current test car is a fully automatic Volkswagen Golf GTi ’53 plus 1′ (its codename) and is capable of driving itself at speeds up to 150 mph. The vehicle can maneuver around corners and even tightly placed cones through a marked test track. It can do this without help from any human assistance using electronic ‘eyes’ of radar and laser sensors sending the information back to its computer.

The Golf GTI uses GPS navigation to track it exact position which has been enhance to locate it to the inch. According to the article, “it drove itself faster and more precisely than the VW engineers could manage.”

I’d like to see this technology go into the DARPA Challenge?

EDIT 7/7/2006 10:40AM – A reader emailed me after reading today’s post that he spotted a FoxNews news break flash about this and sent me an email “knowing I like to include video.” (he’s right) Thanks Jim for reading and emailing to let me know about this. So not to let him down, I found the clip and have included it here.

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Posted By RichC on July 6, 2006

Southwest Windpower has introduced a new residential small wind generator called the Skystream 3.7â„¢ that can produce 4,800 to 6,600 kWh of energy to the average home. The unit is designed to be affordable costing around $10,000 and is intended for ‘on the grid’ power users. In average installations the residential unit should pay for itself in 5 to 12 years by offsetting power purchase from the grid with clean, renewable power. According to the companies co-founder Andrew Kruse in a press release, “Skystream will change the way many Americans power their homes and take control of their energy costs. Wind energy for the individual homeowner is finally main-stream.”

The company, Southwest Windpower is the world’s largest producer of small wind generators (400 to 3000 watts). The 20-year old company has been a pioneer in the development of wind technology and has produced over 90,000 generators that provide power to residential homes, remote cabins, telecom transmitters, offshore platforms, water pumping and sailboats.

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Posted By RichC on July 5, 2006

Biodiesel Magazine published an article their April 2006 issue titled “Simple, effective B100 quick field test available.” CytoCulture International has developed “a practical tool for use throughout the entire biodiesel supply chain.” It is a handy field test, available now (see below), that according to the author is “effective and simple.”

The test, called the pHLip Test by its creator, uses visual identification in a test vial. The most practical test is one that determines the age of biodiesel — the most acidic the sample, the older the biodiesel. As pH level drops, the solution changes from red to orange and eventually yellow if the biodiesel is more acidic … older.
Another test is for the left over catalyst. When trace amounts of hydroxide are still present, the indicator color changes from red to purple if too much catalyst is still left in the fuel. Other indicators are tests for soaps, monoglycerides, diglycerides adn triglycerides. These test require visual inspection of residues and is less definitive, yet a good indicator of a less than ASTM standards fuel.

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Posted By RichC on July 4, 2006

Happy Birthday America! What an outstanding way to celebrate Independence day. STS-121 and the Shuttle Discovery made a near picture perfect launch today at 2:35PM lifting a heavy weight from anyone associated with the Space Program. The crew of seven are now in space and during this 12-day mission will continue evaluating new safety procedures while they visit the International Space Station. The team plans two spacewalks and attempt a series of repairs. STS-121 will be the first of an ambitious 18 planned trips to space over the next 3 years. It would be great to see America Shuttle program phase out on a high note leaving a positive legacy in its wake.

Today’s launch brought back memories of watching NASA launch men into space as the US raced to the moon — to disastrous moments that reminded us of the risk. For Americans and the many involved with the space program, today was a true celebration. I didn’t intend on archiving this moment, but decided last minute I wanted to include such a highlight in my blog. Let’s hope for a safe and successful mission.

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Posted By RichC on July 4, 2006

While our country and its citizens have enjoyed “Independence” for 230 years now, let’s be sure to stop and thank those who earned it, maintained it and fight to keep it. Thank you America, and those who have fought and continue to fight, to keep it free and secure. On a personal note, I’ve made a tradition of replacing our flag each fourth of July — its a good day to do it. (Treo 700p Smartphone photo above using the 2x feature)

What would a national holiday be without looking at a bit of our history. Some of you that read my posts do with and interest in alternative fuels whether it be for national security, a cleaner environment or just to improve our energy future. I spotted this quote from President Richard M. Nixon that I found to be well-suited.

“As we move toward the celebration 2 years from now of the 200th anniversary of this Nation’s independence, let us press vigorously on toward the goal I announced last November for Project Independence. Let this be our national goal: At the end of this decade, in the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need to provide our jobs, to heat our homes, and to keep our transportation moving.”

The more we think we change the more we stay the same.
🙁

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Posted By RichC on July 3, 2006

Senator Joseph Lieberman dropped a bombshell today as he made a calculated move to ensure his name will be on the ballot either as a Democrat or and Independent this fall. Under Connecticut law, one can be put on the ballot if he has 7,500 signatures by August 9th — so just in case Lieberman loses the primary on August 8th, he will be prepared to run against his party’s nominee by doing just that. “I’m essentially taking out an insurance policy,” Lieberman told CNN. “I’m opening up an option that will guarantee me that I will be able to make my case to all the voters in Connecticut in November.”

Senator Lieberman has been at odds with many in the Democratic party by supporting President Bush in the “War on Terror.” He an a few other Democrats have supported both the war effort in Afghanistan and Iraq, something that has divided and brought anger from many Democrats. For Senator Joseph Lieberman it has also brought on challenger Ned Lamont, something he has not had since 1989. Mr. Lamont is a multi-millionaire who is running a notable anti-war campaign in hopes to defeat Lieberman in August primary.

Currently the polls show Lieberman is still maintaining a slight lead, but in a midterm primary who knows what a few million dollars could do oust Senator Lieberman? CNN had a good interview with Lieberman who detailed his reasoning for announcing the signature petition, but strongly maintains his allegiance to the Democratic party.

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Posted By RichC on July 3, 2006

Nasa’s Space Shuttle program waits once again as the experts analyse new photos taken overnight of foam damage possibly due to rain water leaking near the fueling/defueling connection. If water was able to seep in and freeze to be warmed later by the daytime heat, that could be the reason for this small fracture. STS-121 has been delayed twice now and is waiting for a go signal in order to launch on July 4th.

The STS-121 mission is to head to the International Space Station (ISS) delivering a new ISS crew member, Thomas Reiter from Germany as well as test new safety and repair techniques on the Shuttle itself. This technique were developed following the Columbia disaster of February 2003. The Shuttle will also deliver supplies, equipment to the Space Station which has been recently supplied by an unmanned Russian space craft.

Due to weather conditions near Kennedy Space Center, the planned launch was scrubbed for Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2. The launch is currently scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, 2006 at 2:38 p.m. EDT.

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Posted By RichC on July 2, 2006

Biodiesel Magazine had an update on JatroDiesel, a Mason Ohio based company, in its June 2006 issue. The facility under construction in Miamisburg Ohio, just outside of Dayton, is nearly completed and has some biodiesel buyers already in place according to Rajesh Mosali, chief executive officer of JatroDiesel. JatroDiesel’s process is somewhat unique as their plant will not use water in the production process which according to the company increases the shelf life of the final product. “A major advantage that we carry is that we are also the equipment manufacturer” states Mosali. The article reveals that the JatroDiesel plant will have multi-feedstock processing capabilities, but will use mostly yellow grease and soybean oil. The company will also run a cooking oil recycling service for area restaurants. Bunge, a soybean crusher and oil blender, and Darling International, a recycler and renderer of animal waste products, will provide additional feedstock. Mosali also indicated that the JatroDiesel facility will also have a testing laboratory on-site “to guarantee fuel will meet the requirements specified by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM).” Also the company indicated that they have identified two more plant sites for future projects.

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