My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on March 8, 2006

A few weeks ago, I made the comment that we need to be careful as to the signals we are sending to allies around the world in restricting what allies are permitted to operate companies in the US. My concern was that when we restrict business ownership based on prejudice, jumping to the conclusion that the Dubai port business is connected to terror, that we risk gaining ground in developing better relationships in the middle east. In the port operations case, the United Arab Emirates is one of the few middle eastern countries that allows the US to stage attacks on terror from as well as base our warships around. I recognize that there are many people in UAE who may be sympathetic to the terrorist and as a government still will not recognize Israel … so there is a concern. Unfortunately, banning ‘only’ middle eastern companies from business dealing and port ownership will do little in winning hearts and minds of more Arabs. Neil Cavuto had an interview with Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) who presented a solution that might bridge the gap without the predjudicial taste. We’ll see if it gains traction although President Bush doesn’t seem to be paying attention (Reuter’s article). See Cavuto interview video below.

I’m still not sure as to the security risk that the Dubai port ownership creates; on one hand I believe the President’s strength is looking out for the security of our county and that he is working to build allies in the middle east. On the other hand, I’m not fond of anything that remotely adds risk to our nation’s security. Representative Hunter offered some compelling remarks in try to re-evaluating what ‘any’ foreign government should be allowed to own in the US. Upon some reconsideration, this might be a logical approach and I’m someone in support of Rep. Hunter’s proposal. If we do an over-the-board evaluation of security issues as they relates to foreign corporations owning at risk segments of our infrastructure. The ports might just be one of them but if we go down Rep. Hunters path, prejudice should not be factored into who can and can’t own certain companies.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) on Neil Cavuto 3/7/2006

Category: Misc | 2 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on March 8, 2006

A friend of mine spotted this switch on one of the forums he visits, and I thought was worth a post. Actually it segues into a pet peeve of mine, that of people confusing the ‘no conversion biodiesel’ alternative with just ‘straight’ (SVO) or ‘waste’ (WVO) conversions.

A quick comparison between what I call biodiesel and SVO/WVO is that biodiesel is vegetable oil that has undergone a transesterification process where glycerin is removed. Using this alternative fuel requires no modification on most modern diesel vehicles. It can be used at 100% (‘neat’ or B100) or blended with petroleum diesel at any percentage. A common 20% blend is called B20. It is included as an alternative in the recent energy legislation and is eligible for tax credits. There is a growing commercial industry around Biodiesel (see Biodiesel.org) as well as many grassroots organizations.

SVO or WVO ‘conversions (the switch photo) is an alternative to petroleum that requires additional hardware be installed into cars and trucks. Most options install a separate heated tank where the vehicle starts on regular diesel or biodiesel and then switches to the SVO or filtered WVO after it has been thinned by heating. Additional heating of fuel lines and filters are generally installed too. Shutdown requires purging of the fuel line and running a fuel that doesn’t thicken when cooled for a few minutes. Two installation kits that I’ve tinkered with are Greasecar or Greasel.

I hope this helps … yet many in the media continue blend the terms. Correct them!

Category: Biodiesel, Diesel, Energy | 4 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on March 7, 2006

The Loremo isn’t due out until 2009 according to Gerhard Heilmaier, but this radical new sports car is making many in the automotive engineering world turn their heads. The Loremo is designed to be a low resistance vehicle and offers efficiency beating most anything on the road while remaining stylish and sporty. Most economy models sacrifice performance for high miles per gallon, but the Loremo GT version with a 50HP 3 cylinder turbo diesel can zip to 100km/h (approx 60mph) in 9 seconds and still get an estimated 85mpg. For the super thrifty, get your order in for the LS version which comes with a smaller 2 cylinder 20HP turbo diesel and will go nearly 150 mpg.

The company founders believe that all cars of the future will have to be more efficient, and therefore that was the prime reason for reducing the weight of their vehicles. The 450kg automobile will be in a 2+2 airdynamic shape that has a drag coefficient of .20 or ‘cw x a of .22.’ The composite vehicle is also engineered for safely and does away with the traditional doors; you climb in like a ‘bathtub’ according to the company.

Check out the company’s website and click below for a 3-D ‘quicktime’ around the Loreno.

Loreno 3D Walkaround

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Posted By RichC on March 6, 2006

Do we need to petition our community for a “hitching post” at the local Caribou Coffee Shop in West Chester, Ohio?

How does that saying go … “the more things change (and they certainly have in our community!), the more they stay the same.” Seeing people on horseback trotting around Liberty Township was probably commonplace a little over a century ago, but it looks a little out of place in the hustle and bustle around here nowadays. At any rate, having a conspicuous police presence as a deterrent to crime is wise and the visablity of police on horseback even better (really noticeable IMHO) … besides with the amount of traffic in this high grow area it might actually be easier to get around?

I’ve noticed that the sunshine and warming temperatures seems to be drawing out locals and mounted police alike; might it be a sign that spring is on its way?

The horseback patrols that the West Chester Ohio Police Department uses are ideal for overseeing the many retail stores, parking lots and restaurants that surround the 330 acre park that use to be a Voice of America relay station.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the developing park, the sunshine and warmer temperature would make for a great opportunity to stretch you legs as there is an excellent walking path as well as a variety of fields for sports, pets and even competitive remote controlled sailing fleets! The Voice of America Park and Museum is just off I-75 north of Cincinnati and was establish after the decommissioning of the VOA Bethany Station in September of 1995. This unique broadcasting facility looked like a giant pin cushion in its prime as the acreage bristled with huge towers an miles of wire. The facility served to broadcast shortwave radio to all corners of the world for more than 50 years. In its day, it was the means to communicate the message of freedom and democracy people around the world. It provided an important like for people oppressed by communism during the cold war and is credited with playing an important role in the colapse of the Soviet Union during the 1980s. With that reasoning, the new Butler County park was aptly named, “Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park.”

My Frappr Map

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Tags: caribou, coffee, horse, ohio, police, west chester

Posted By RichC on March 5, 2006

Volkswagen purchased the Bugatti name in 1998 and in September of 2005 announced that it would begin producing a limited number of extrodinary sports cars costing well over a million dollars each. (and there’s a waiting list to buy them!) After announcing the chosen name ‘Veyron’ at the Tokyo auto show in 1999, the engineering team has suffered several setbacks from performance related accidents to high speed overheating problems.

Currently there is one vehicle in North American, of which a lucky few gets test rides. (see video below) According to VW, limited production models will begin arriving to customers later this year. The Veyron has a multi turbo charger equipped 16-cylinder engine developing 1001-horsepower and it powers an all wheel drive system that is styled around a carbon-fiber body. The car is said to be capable of 250 miles per hour and will most likely be admired by anyone who like cars.

If you appreciate the revival of historic names, this model will do the 1910 thru 1956 Bugatti models justice. The original European classics were high-performance cars at the time and they are admired by many car lovers around the world; the new Veyron most likely will do the same.

FoxNews Bugatti Test ‘Ride’

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Posted By RichC on March 4, 2006

I received an email from a regular reader suggesting that my last couple of posts were “too serious” and left him a little “glum.” He mentioned that he liked the funny video clips (they can be found elsewhere on the web, btw) and that I should sporadically add a few more.
“Glum?” Hmm … maybe??? Well then … today I’ll just post a video clip sure to make James (and a few others) smile. A good friend of mine emailed this clip and its just a couple silly out-takes from a ‘good ol’ boy’ fishing show. I think it is Bill Dance? I chuckled and suspect you’ll do the same.
🙂

Bill Dance and some fishing out-takes

Category: Hobby, Humor, Video | No Comments »
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Posted By RichC on March 3, 2006

I’m taking a moment to make a quick entry tonight to close out an earlier post about potential shutdown of the RIM Blackberry device. Both business and government have been concerned as millions rely on their wireless ‘push’ email device. Research In Motion (Rim) settled their ongoing legal battle today with a $612.5 million dollar deal with NTP (a patent holding firm). RIM claims that this long running battle is hurting profits and sales. From the looks of things, this four-year court battle is now over and ‘crack’berry addicts can breathe easy.

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Posted By RichC on March 3, 2006

I’m reluctant to post a message before hearing from Citgo Petroleum Corporation on an email making its way around the internet that generates strong emotions from most I’ve shown it too. (see posted email at the end of this post)

The company (Citgo) is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

As most of you know, relations between the Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez and the United States is not all that friendly. Before taking a strong position on this, I want readers to know that I am well aware of the power of the pen. Writers, reporters, lawyers and everyday people have the ablity to slant events and skew opinions on these kinds of issues. I suspect that who owns and has input into the operation of ‘most’ foreign corporations has little to do with the governments of countries since profit and business over shadow politics … but their is a bit more concern when talking about corporation with potential government direction. Thankfully in our democracy we can use our pocketbook, our free press and our own discretion.

This Citgo-Venezuela situation sort of reminds me of the recent unrest with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) purchasing 6 port operation facilities. Politically it is near suicide for politicians seeking re-election to back the purchase since popular opinion has deep concerns over ‘government owned’ corporations and their ties to terror and those who dislike the US. Personally I don’t see that it is a security issue, but understand the emotional aspect to any questionable issue relating to a linked relationship with some that might not be as friendly to the US.

The Citgo situation is similar since the corporate ownership is part of a government owned “national oil company” in Venezuela. That country is run by a ‘strong handed’ leader that has shown distaste for the US and vice versa, particularly when it relates to the countries feisty Hugo Chavez. I’ll post the email just as it came, and allow readers to determine how we should respond. I have written to Citgo in Houston and will offer a few email addresses at this end of the post incase others want to seek a response. (let me know if you receive one worthy of a follow up) If the company replies to my questions and concerns, I will post them as a follow as to their side of this position.

I also suspect that tying Cindy Shehan to Chavez and then to Citgo is done just for impact (it worked on me), yet anytime a “National oil company” run by a government that is overtly negative about the US owns a “wholly” owns an American corporation I would want to know about it. (IMHO, this is just another reason to work toward alternatives and adopt moderate conservation measures that reduce our dependency on foreign petroleum)

If you are inclined to seek comment from Citgo on this matter, the contact information can be found on their website.

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Cindy & Chavez
Venezuela Dictator Vows To Bring Down U.S. Government
Venezuela government is sole owner of Citgo gasoline company

Venezuela Dictator Hugo Chavez has vowed to bring down the U.S. government. Chavez, president of Venezuela, told a TV audience: “Enough of imperialist aggression; we must tell the world: down with the U.S. empire. We have to bury imperialism this century.”
The guest on his television program, beamed across Venezuela, was Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar activist. Chavez recently had as his guest Harry Belafonte, who called President Bush “the greatest terrorist in the world.” Chavez is pushing a socialist revolution and has a close alliance with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq, the issue here is that we have a socialist dictator vowing to bring down the government of the U.S. And he is using our money to achieve his goal! The Venezuela government, run by dictator Chavez, is the sole owner of Citgo gas company. Sales of products at Citgo stations send money back to Chavez to help him in his vow to bring down our government.

Take Action
Please decide that you will not be shopping at a Citgo station. Why should U.S. citizens who love freedom be financing a dictator who has vowed to take down our government?
Very important. Please forward this to your friends and family. Most of them don’t know that Citgo is owned by the Venezuela government.
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To be as fair as possible, I’ll post a “Urban Legend” post evaluating the circulating email with an interesting poll allowing readers to see if they were swayed to avoid purchasing Citgo branded fuels based on this email campaign. According to their research the campaign targeting Citgo was started in January by The American Family Association.

EDIT: Removed my “dictator” reference.

Category: Energy | 14 Comments »
Tags: citgo, oil, PDVAmerica, venezuela

Posted By RichC on March 2, 2006

Its all about marketing and timing. General Motors is off and running after gaining support for its “Live Green, Go Yellow” marketing blitz when President Bush used the bully pulpit to promote alternative fuels like ethanol. If this solution sounds too good to be true … it is because at this moment it is.

Let’s take a look at the marketing hype and four problems that are not necessarily making there way into GM’s advertising. (BTW … I support biofuel alternatives as a part of the energy solution, but prefer less hype and more facts)

Problem number one: Only 608 of 168,987 U.S. filling stations have ethanol pumps. What good is it to run to General Motors (or other manufacturer building dual fuel vehicles) if once you buy the new car you can’t find a place to fill it? In Cincinnati you will not find an E85 pump as of March 2006. That said, we should see pumps by the end of the year. (support the Tri-State Clean Fuels Network)

Problem number two: E85 has less energy than gasoline and will increase the number of ‘inconvenient’ fill-ups for automotive owners and decrease the actual miles-per-gallon from 10 to 15%. This might be more a psychological hurdle than real one since that actual fuel cost less that gasoline.

Problem number three: Making E85 is an energy-intensive process and those researching the economics are somewhat divided as to whether ethanol is an energy loser. The problem in the US is that we have to ship corn to processing facilities which yields 2.8 gallons per bushel. Brazil who uses sugarcane, is a bit more efficient in that they locate their processing facilities right where the sugar cane (their source for ethanol) is grown. This is not to say we can’t change and become more efficient producing ethanol from crops like switchgrass which requires less cultivating, and building new facilities closer to where the crops are grown to reduce the shipping cost.

Problem number four: We don’t produce very much in comparison to what we use. The United States currently has 98 ethanol production plants that can produce about 4 billion gallons of ethanol each year, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. It sounds good, but compare that to the gasoline we are actually using: 140 billion gallons annually. Even with the new Energy Policy Act that President Bush signed in August 2005, we are only projecting our production of ethanol to be 7.5 billion gallons a year by 2012.

Now I don’t want to sound like a anti-ethanol guy because I appreciate the efforts to move toward clean and renewable domestic alternatives to petroleum … but I’m a realist when trying to get a handle around the problem. Ethanol is not going to be the overnight solution to our petroleum addiction, but will play a part in the long term process of weaning off oil.

Category: Energy, Environment, Video | No Comments »
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