My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on April 13, 2006

For those of us using the Firefox browser, there is an update available that should fix a couple issues, especially a security flaw. For those of you still using Internet Explorer, you might want to consider giving Firefox a test drive; I really like it on the PC. (Safari seems to still run faster on Mac and that is especially noticeable on the new Intel -based Macs)

I have noticed a few crashes lately and am hoping this will solve the problem. Fixes in Firefox 1.5.0.2:

Spoofing with translucent windows

Security check of js_ValueToFunctionObject() can be circumvented

Privilege escalation through Print Preview

Privilege escalation using crypto.generateCRMFRequest

File stealing by changing input type

CSS Letter-Spacing Heap Overflow Vulnerability

Crashes with evidence of memory corruption (rv:1.8.0.2)

Fixed in Firefox 1.5.0.1

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Posted By RichC on April 13, 2006

Here’s a winner for all those teens wanting cell phones. (better link)Sprint Nextel introduced a wireless service to help parents find their children. The locator device uses a mapping system that is accurate to a radius of 2 to 100 yards. This could provide and interesting conversation when parents and teens discuss the evening events?

It is branded the “Family Locator Service” but more than likely will gain a more appropriate ‘clock and dagger’ nickname. One benefit for teens is that they’ll have time to contemplate their fate, as the service also notifies children via text message that their parents have checked up on their location.

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Posted By RichC on April 13, 2006

Violence with an uncomfortable reminder once again erupts in recovering Cincinnati. Just when residents seemed to be working together to mend the real and perceived problems in this racially sensitive city gunfire is heard on the steps of city hall (actually record ‘in’ city hall). Citizens, neighborhoods, city hall and the police department have all worked hard to discuss differences and listen to one another. One voice, although not always passive, was that of Michael Bailey (or General Kabaka Oba) who was critically shot today outside of city hall. His recent tone has been ‘friendlier’ toward the Cincinnati police which often has been a target of his criticism.

The incident happened just after he attended a meeting at city hall today, where he was shot multiple time in the legs, arm and chest. According to his brother, he is still critical condition, but resting comfortably. After police receive a solid ID on the shooter from the victim himself, Howard Beatty of the West End turned himself in to police. Bailey and Beatty have had several verbal confrontations to the point it is being described as a ‘feud.’

Thankfully today’s violence was contained to this event between two men and that the community seems to understand that it is not ‘riot’ worthy. (but I’m not holding my breath; we have our share of idiots)

Another note semi-worthy of being mentioned is that Ohio is one step closer to passing Jessica’s Law. A popular Cincinnati area radio celebrity, Bill Cunningham – AM 700 WLW, was interviewed on the O’Reilly Factor tonight. He was asked to voice his thoughts on the subject of why most of the newspapers of Ohio seem out of step with the voters in supporting Jessica’s Law and taking such a soft stand on Judges unwilling to come down hard on sexual predators. (see previous post and post) I’ll include a clip with his thoughts. (BTW: I’m testing a capture from my Slingbox while away from home — how’s the quality?)

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Tags: cincinnati, foxnews, ohio, police

Posted By RichC on April 11, 2006

The EIA (Energy Information Administration) released estimates for summer fuel pricing this morning and its not good if you are a summer driver of either gasoline or diesel vehicles. (see chart below)

According the the EIA release, “continued steady world oil demand growth, combined with only modest increases in world spare oil production capacity and the continuing risks of geopolitical instability, are expected to keep crude oil prices high through 2006.”

Summer (April 1 to September 30) regular gasoline pump prices are expected to average $2.62 per gallon, 25 cents higher than last year’s average of $2.37 per gallon.

Retail diesel prices are also expected to average $2.62 per gallon, 3 cents higher than last years average of $2.59 per gallon.

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Posted By RichC on April 11, 2006

While on the theme of hybrid vehicles, one would be remiss if not to comment on the segment leading, and third-generation improving Toyota Prius. According to British reporters at Auto Express, Toyota is to build the first production car capable of returning more than 110mpg (imperial gallons = 94mpg US gallons). In Europe the competition for fuel sipping is even more intense then in the US as the miser vehicles have traditionally been diesel.

A Toyota engineer commented to the Auto Express reporter Peter Lyon: “The whole electrical system has been redesigned to improve economy. We are working on a prototype that runs solely on the electric motor in slow traffic, but switches to engine and motor drive when higher speeds are needed.”

The article goes on to state, “The secret lies with the batteries. The current Prius uses nickel-hydride items, which currently offer the best balance between cost and performance. But engineers are working on new lithium cells, which are lighter, smaller, generate more power and last longer. Subaru and Mitsubishi both plan to sell electric cars by 2010, but Toyota hopes to get its new model on the road as early as 2008.”

Something that most of us will say under our breath … “yes but the performance will suffer.” Not too loud … they also claim that the 0-60mph times will improve by one second putting it at just under 10 seconds. Toyota continues to lead the hybrid segment and from the sounds of things, a 3rd generation Prius should be as strong a seller as gen one and two.

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Posted By RichC on April 10, 2006

All hybrid vehicles are green … right? — Obviously not … but that doesn’t stop marketeers from trying to make ‘hay’ by building and selling a hybrid vehicles that aren’t exactly green. The truth is that some hybrid vehicles are going to leave a ‘less than desirable’ footprint on our society and give a black-eye to those vehicles that are wisely using hybrid technology. I’ve attached a CNBC clip (below) that debates the merits of ‘hybrid’ technology. While I don’t agree with the ‘anti-hybrid’ opinion, we need to be aware that all hybrid vehicles are not ‘created’ equal. In fact, some hybrids, even if they improve fuel efficiency, might impact our environment more negatively than its simpler counterpart?

The debate as to what direction Americans, and the world, should be adopting in clean vehicles of the future continues to rage. There are those heavily invested in hybrid vehicles that are coupled to the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and continue to want to defend this leading ‘clean’ technology. There are others who believe improving the existing an far simpler single technology (one energy producer) vehicles like most of us now have is the best option in bridging the gap until a universally clean system is developed. Still other are advocates for rushing completely new technology into place; ones that are strictly plug in electric, use hydrogen or hydrogen based fuels cells who’s fuel is generated in a super clean way at a central power station. Still there are others who believe in modifying the fuels we use in existing technology, such as ethanol, biodiesel, liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas. More than likely we’ll see a variety of these options in the next few years and they will continue to compete for consumers and the governments blessing as being the ‘best’ clean vehicle technology — but we all need to keep our eye on the big picture — ‘cradle to grave’ as it is often referred to.

I personally see our future moving toward the fuel cell option, but don’t see it anytime soon or as an all inclusive option. Just as a two seat sports car isn’t appropriate for moving freight across the country, a 2 seat fuel-celled carbon fiber passenger vehicle isn’t appropriate for every use. Therefore, I see this time of discovering better technology and fueling options as a good thing. As we continue to diversify our fuel choices, improve the efficiency of the ICEs, and adopt ways to ‘regenerate’ lost energy through hybrid technology and opt for renewable fuel options capable of fueling even the largest of commercial vehicles … man wins because the best choices should rise to the top.

The conversation this morning on the CNBC network brought a good debate to light. Most likely neither side had complete accuracy as to the ‘hybrid debate,’ but all that watch can certainly see that there is more to a ‘green car’ than adding an electric motor and calling it a hybrid. ‘Cradle to grave’ or ‘dust to dust’ impact has as much to do with making the hybrid ‘green’ as does how a company uses hybrid technology. It does seem that today we are seeing company jump into the hybrid arena with little effort to make the vehicle an efficient one. Buyer beware: “Just because it is a hybrid doesn’t always make it the best option.”

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Posted By RichC on April 8, 2006

John Neff and Chris Paukert talked at length today on their podcast about a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (diesel) vegetable oil conversion. (See Autoblog Podcast) John met with the owners in Lorain Ohio and spent some time checking out their vehicle. The two brothers, Chuck and Tom Norton, had their car converted to run on Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) or Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) at a nearby company in Oberlin, Ohio (near Cleveland) called Full Circle Fuels . According to a previous article, Full Circle Fuels use hardware from Golden Fuel Systems . (formerly Greasel) The photos and description were excellent and well worth a read even though its not exactly biodiesel. (see link)

If you aren’t anxious to listen to the entire 35 minute podcast, but want the parts discussing the veggie car conversion, some slightly editted audio (and smaller file) can be downloaded here. (right-click/save-as if it doesn’t quickly play) The last few minutes of conversation between John Neff and Chris Paukert also discuss biodiesel and hydrogen … as well as comment positively concerning diesel cars in the US. The indepth interview photos were well done.

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Tags: conversion, jetta, svo, volkswagen, vw

Posted By RichC on April 7, 2006

I spoke to soon in my complementary post in regard to Washington DC and our elected senators last night. Today the idea of a compromise seems to have disappeared and stonewalling is coming from both parties. So much for believing there was some sanity in Washington.

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters)
U.S. senators failed on Friday to agree on a plan that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance for citizenship, leaving the fate of a radical overhaul of immigration policy in doubt.

But the measure was shelved ahead of a two-week congressional break amid partisan bickering over amendments, possibly dooming efforts to pass comprehensive reform before the November mid-term elections.

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Posted By RichC on April 7, 2006

Dealing with illegal immigration reform in Washington while humanely dealing with the 11+ million Central American and Mexican people in the United States is a very challenging situation. First dealing with those who are here illegally by force is impossible; we need a better solution. Second if we don’t have border security, no matter who is sent back, they’ll continue to cross back over again and again. Thankfully for as much criticism our legislators receive, yesterday they seem to be able to creatively compromise a solution that to me is some of the most reasonable legislation in a long time — at least the Senate version.

The new bill has been written by Republican Senators Chuck Hagel and Mel Martinez and has at least 65 supporters. Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman believes there are enough senators onboard to override any potential filibuster by opponents — either on the right or the left. The House has presented a much stiffer proposal than in the one yesterday which has no so-called amnesty provisions for putting illegals on an eventual path to citizenship.

The compromise that finally got enough Senators concluded that an “estimated one million illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years would have to leave, or remain here illegally. Some three million or so illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. between two and five years will have to report to their prior port of entry into the U.S. to be reclassified as temporary workers. The roughly 7 million immigrants who’ve spent more than five years here would be on a virtually guaranteed path to citizenship, provided they stay employed, pay a fine and back taxes and learn English.”

It will be interesting to see where the bill goes from here and if the President backs the Senate proposal as most suspect. Nevertheless, the political system is working and the solution being supported by most in the Senate seems realistic. I hope the rest of America climbs aboard and that we gain a handle on illegals living and working in the shadows.

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Posted By RichC on April 6, 2006

Today’s blog post is a little off the wall, but considering my father retired from the elevator business after 45 ‘up and down’ years … (groan … one) I thought he would appreciate me taking this topic to the ‘next level.’ (groan … two) If you can still bear to keep reading, the idea of a space elevator is does have some merit as a way to move cargo and people through our atomsphere and into space. It sounds sort of quirky but one company sees this as very realistic. They actually has a running countdown to an April 12, 2018 launch.

Imagine a carbon nanotube pole extending miles (62,000+) to an orbiting space station and complex that might offer a launching point for further exploration and research. The vehicle (elevator car) would slide up this pole and eventually reach the station without the usual navigation challenges that are currently inherit with a shuttle or rocket vehicle. There is a company that is beginning to move forward with experiments and plans to build such an elevator. Check out Lift Port Group.

LiftPort, Inc. was established in 2003 with the goal of building a space elevator. Located in Bremerton, WA, we have been diligently working toward that goal. Over the last two and a half years, we’ve gone through 14 generations of robots, successfully climbed over 1000ft, and opened our first carbon nanotube factory in Millville, NJ. We are recognized by the media as the leaders in space elevator technology. LiftPort, Inc. is a privately held Washington state ‘C’ corporation. We currently have a number of shareholders and a staff of 14 team members.
The company’s mission is simple: to build a complete space transportation infrastructure with a focus on the space elevator. Towards that goal, the team at LiftPort, Inc. is partnering with universities, research labs, Individuals, non-profit organizations, and private businesses to develop the necessary technologies and capabilities. The subject of research for more than a century, the space elevator is a unique way to ferry cargo and people into space. Recent advances in technology, most notably the development of carbon nanotube composites, now appear to make building it feasible. Initial research reports on building the space elevator that draw upon these discoveries have now been completed. As proposed in these preliminary reports, the space elevator will consist of a carbon nanotube composite ribbon stretching some 62,000 miles (100,000 km) from earth to space. The elevator will be anchored to a specially designed ocean going vessel named, “The LiftPort” near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, and to a small man-made counterweight in space. Lifters (robotic elevator cars) will move up and down the ribbon, carrying such items as satellites, solar power systems, exploration probes, factories, and eventually people into space. LiftPort’s plan is to take the concept from the research stage to commercial development.
The company is in the process of putting together a technology, marketing and operations team, as well as a technical and operation advisory board.

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