My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on September 12, 2005

The Boys of Point du Hoc, by Douglas Brinkley has masterfully honored Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder and his 225 U.S. Army Rangers for their June 6, 1944 D-Day climb and the man who honored them 40 years later. Their undertaking is beyond thinking as they scaled the 100 foot cliffs while the enemy sprayed them with bullets, cut their ropes and toss grenades down on them.

With thousands of other Allied troops pouring onto the French coast, the success of this vast D-Day invasion hinged largely on the Rangers’ mission. Their mission was to climb the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc and destroy six powerful artillery guns that threatened to rain death on troops as they laned on Omaha beach. According to D-Day planners, “those guns posed a major threat to the invasion. They had to be destroyed.” Quoted 20 years later to historian and journalist Walter Cronkite, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the D-Day assault describe the Rangers mission as “pretty much a miracle.”

James Rudder who died in 1970 was not around to see the accolades 40 years later, but some of his men were. They return to the cliffs of France with many other D-Day soldiers and their families. Rudder’s story, and those of his brave men have been told many times, but Douglas Brinkley (Historian, noted Author, Tulane History Professor was displaced by Hurricane Katrina although he and his family are safe) has in my opinion made the story even better. Brinkley’s reflection on both the history of the Rangers, the training of the fearless men, the nearly impossible invasion and finally the honor due during the moving 1984 Ronald Reagan speeches is done extrodinarily well. (click for mp3 audio of Reagan’s 40th Anniversary speeches – 4.8 MB) I believe that although Tom Brokaw coined “The Greatest Generation,” Ronald Reagan was the amalgamation. Through his life and presidency we were able to better understand what patriotism and love of country is. There was no better spokesman for that Great Generation.

If you enjoy history and the amazing heros that keep our country great, you’ll enjoy this book. For a ‘shot’ of patriotism and what Americans have done to preserve our way of life, this is the ticket. What they died for then, is the freedom we (and much of Europe) enjoys today, lest we forget. They were amazing men giving their lives to free the millions in Europe from tyranny … and our troops are doing the same thing today. They are also American heros. Perhaps its not a perfect comparison, but Americans have and are still freeing people from oppression and tyrants before those threats reach our shores. Some would say ‘December 7th and 9/11’ were similar wake up calls.

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Tags: book, boys, brinkley, History, military, pointe du hoc, reagan, ww2, wwii

Posted By RichC on September 11, 2005

Wolfsburg, 12 September 2005 posted in the AutoSpectator
Volkswagen will present a series of new models including sixteen world and motor show premieres at the 61st International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA). The highlights include the debut of the new Eos cabriolet/coupé, the Golf R32, the Golf GT TDI and the Golf GT and Touran with dual-turbocharged FSI engines (Twincharger)

The Twincharger engines, which are equipped with a turbocharger as well as a compressor for the Golf GT (125 kW) and Touran (103 kW), herald the beginning of a new generation of powerplants. Furthermore Volkswagen will present the Caddy EcoFuel and Touran EcoFuel that run on natural gas, a new version of the Multivan as well as the new top of the range versions of the Passat, Passat Estate, Phaeton and Touareg.

Cabriolet coupé Eos: The new Eos from Volkswagen is the world’s first four-seater car to have a five-piece CSC roof, which combines the characteristics of a coupé, sliding and cabriolet roof. You will have fun all year round with this cabriolet/coupé thanks to its unique roof system, sporty driving properties and between 85 kW / 115 hp and 184 kW / 250 hp of power. (See the Eos press kit for further information.)

Golf GT: Following on from the Golf R32 and the Golf GTI, Volkswagen will launch a third dynamic version of the most successful European car on the market, the Golf GT, at the end of 2005. It provides endless power in a double-pack. The new Golf GT comes with a dual-charged FSI engine — a world premiere — (Twincharger = turbocharger plus compressor) as well as the so far most powerful VW four-cylinder turbo diesel. Both engines deliver 125 kW / 170 hp. Characteristics: more performance, lower consumption. Let’s take the Golf GT with the 1.4-litre 125-kW Twincharger engine, for example. Its four-cylinder engine is the most powerful in an all-new engine range. The Golf GT reaches 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds with this powerplant. Top speed: 220 km/h. Average consumption: 7.2 litres. For example, the Golf GT 2.0 TDI, which uses the latest piezo unit injector system and four-valve technology, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h. Average consumption: 5.9 litres. The Golf GT models will be launched with their own individual styling and equipment.

Golf R32: The new Golf R32, the second generation of the most powerful Golf of all time, will be launched at the Frankfurt motor show. Again, it comes with permanent four-wheel drive, but now has a greater output of 184 kW / 250 hp. Like its predecessor, the new top of the range Golf also features its own distinct look and design. The Golf R32 has a maximum speed of 250 km/h and, as an alternative to a six speed manual gearbox, it is also available with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG). The “R32” then has even greater acceleration reaching 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds instead of 6.5. It will be launched at the end of September.

New Beetle, New Beetle Cabriolet: The new generation of the New Beetle and New Beetle Cabriolet will make their motor show debut in Frankfurt. The distinguishing features include headlights, rear lights, bumpers and wings in the style of the New Beetle Ragster study presented at Detroit. The latest New Beetle represents an even stronger statement for people who like their car to reflect their attitude to life. More than 800,000 people drive the closed or open variations of the world’s most famous and recognisable automotive design.

Jetta: Volkswagen is launching the new Jetta in Europe to tie in with the Frankfurt motor show. The fifth generation of the saloon also sees the company introduce a single name for all markets across the globe. In Germany / Europe, the Bora will therefore be called the Jetta again. It has more space to offer for long journeys than ever before. Compared with the Bora, the length of the new Jetta has grown around 18 centimetres to 4.55 metres. It also has an impressive 527-litre boot (a gain of 72 litres). This combination definitely works. In the USA, for example, the Jetta has managed to secure the position of best-selling car among all European manufacturers year after year. In Europe too, where sales have reached the 6.6 million mark, Volkswagen will now position the Jetta more as a sporty and elegant compact saloon like the US concept. The power ranges from 75 kW / 102 hp to 147 kW / 200 hp

Touran 1.4 TSI, 103 kW: The 125 kW / 170 hp Golf GT will not be the only dual-charged model in the future. The principle of “more power, lower consumption” will also take the Touran even further. A lower performance version delivering 103kW / 140 hp is on its way. In Germany, it will be launched in the 1st quarter of 2006.

Touran 2.0 TDI, 125 kW: While the 125 kW / 170 PS 2.0 litre TDI with piezo unit injector and diesel particulate filter as standard makes the Golf GT a sports car, it turns the Touran into a sports MPV. Its four-cylinder turbo delivers powerful acceleration. The international premiere of the Touran 2.0 TDI will also be at the IAA. This TDI is, of course, also available with the dual clutch gearbox (DSG). On sale from December.

Touran EcoFuel / Caddy EcoFuel and Caddy Life Colour Concept: From 2006, the successful Touran and Caddy ranges will include natural gas versions. The 80 kW / 109 hp multi-talents will also be able to run on petrol. During exclusive gas operation, the range of the Caddy is approx. 430 kilometres and of the Touran approx. 310 kilometres. After that, you can drive on with petrol or stop at one of Germany’s around 650 natural gas garages. The four natural gas tanks have been integrated as under-floor solutions in the rear section (Caddy: 26 kg; Touran: 18 kg). If you prefer conventional drives, but still want an unconventional car, we recommend the Caddy Life Colour Concept. The exterior and interior of the spacious compact van for young families are not just colourful, they have exclusive equipment details like 15-inch alloy wheels as well as leather steering wheels, gearstick knob and handbrake lever.

USB interface: In future, Volkswagen will offer an interface for a USB stick/player in the Golf, Golf Plus, Jetta and Touran. You will therefore be able play MP3 and other file formats on the standard audio system. It is then operated with the buttons that are usually used for the CD changer on the radio.

Passat / Passat Variant 3.2 FSI V6 4MOTION: As of the fourth quarter of 2005, a newly developed 3,169 cm3 V6 engine will be available for the Passat and Passat Estate. It delivers 184 kW /250 hp and develops a maximum torque of 330 Newton metres. The six cylinder uses direct fuel injection (FSI) and accelerates the Passat 3.2 V6 FSI to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds (estate: 7.2 seconds). Top speed: 246 km/h (estate: 243 km/h). The top of the range models, which come with the DSG double-clutch gearbox and four-wheel drive (4MOTION), have an average consumption of 9.8 and 10.0 litres (estate) every hundred kilometres.

Multivan “Sport Edition”: The Multivan “Sport Edition” is another world premiere. Its emphatically design-orientated equipment includes Xenon headlights, sports suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, interior décor applications of brushed aluminium and exclusive two-coloured leather seats. The Sport Edition comes with the five-cylinder TDI (96 kW / 131 hp and 128 kW / 174 hp) or the V6 engine (173 kW / 235 hp).

Phaeton W12 / Touareg W12 Executive: The Volkswagen range covers a performance spectrum of 40 kW / 55 hp in the Fox up to – from now on – 331 kW / 450 hp in the Phaeton and Touareg. The performance of the new Phaeton W12 has been increased with modifications to the engine by 22 kW / 30 hp. At the same time, the maximum torque has been increased from 550 to 560 Newton metres and is now available from 2,750 instead of 3,000 rpm as before. The overall effect is an even smoother delivery of power. The new Touareg W12 Executive is just as powerful. Alongside the Touareg W12 Sport is the world’s only twelve-cylinder off-roader. In terms of technology and features, the powertrain on this exceptional SUV with its maximum torque of 600 Newton metres is unrivalled by any other vehicle in this segment.

Technology Park: In addition to its innovative new cars like the Eos cabriolet/coupé, the dynamic Golf GT and the highly economical Touran EcoFuel, Volkswagen will be presenting a range of exciting technologies from today, tomorrow and the future at the 61st International Motor Show in Frankfurt. In hall 3.0, Europe’s biggest car brand has reserved 1,100 m2 of its 5,300 m2 fair booth for the Technology Park. This section features its own special design. The six subject areas of engines, gearboxes, chassis, comfort, electronics and drive and fuel strategy provide an insight into the work of Volkswagen’s Research and Development department merging the present with the future. The technology ranges from the latest Twincharger engine for the Golf GT and the diesel particulate filter to CCS combustion technology. Incidentally, this autumn, Volkswagen will start a widescale retrofit campaign for over six million diesel vehicles. CCS (Combined Combustion System) is a combustion method that combines the advantages of diesel and petrol engines and could become an important engine concept for the coming decades.

Important:
All data and equipment mentioned in this press kit applies to the model range offered in Germany. Models for other countries may differ. Modifications and errors excepted.
The terms FSI, TDI, DSG and CSC are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or other Volkswagen Group companies in Germany.

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Posted By RichC on September 8, 2005

Although I was not at the 2005 TDIFest in Wisconsin this year, I took advantage of the TDIClub website to catch up on things. One of the unique looking TDIs was Ernie Roger’s New Beetle. Ernie, a retired aerospace engineer, created a … for the lack of a better word … ‘spoiler’ for the back of his car to improve aerodynamics. His one tank trip from “just outside Park City to Davenport, Iowa — 1,209 miles — on a single tank of gas.” Calculating his mileage, he was able to log 78MPG. Impressive if you can take the attention. 🙂

You can read more in an article that was published in the Utah Deseret Morning News.

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Posted By RichC on September 8, 2005

Close to home and impacting friends here in Cincinnati, Delta Airlines has announce some major cost cutting efforts in hopes to save a floundering airline. The Cincinnati Enquirer details the plan that will eliminate 1000 employees and approximately 26% of Delta’s daily flights from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Today’s 599 departures will be reduced to 442 by December 1, 2005.

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Posted By RichC on September 5, 2005

Cincinnati Metro will operate its 390 buses on a blend of 30% biofuel and 70% regular diesel with this initial delivery. Biodiesel can be mixed with regular diesel fuel or can be used 100% in place of regular diesel. The percentage of biodiesel that Metro uses will change based on availability of regular diesel fuel.

Metro has arranged to purchase soybean-based diesel fuel, also called biodiesel, biofuel or soydiesel. The first delivery was made yesterday to fuel buses with biodiesel beginning today. The bus fleet uses about 10,000 gallons of diesel per day and Metro has the capacity to store enough fuel to operate the fleet for one week. Running out of fuel would jeopardize service.

Metro has recently been designated as a “blender” by the IRS, which means that Metro is permitted to mix biodiesel and regular diesel fuel in its own tanks and is eligible for a credit on the cost of the fuel.

The price of regular diesel fuel on the open market is around $2.30 per gallon; biodiesel cost is about $3, but Metro gets a almost $1 credit per gallon from the IRS due to Metro’s blender status.

Metro was one of the first transit systems in the country to experiment with biodiesel, operating its buses several million miles on the alternative fuel. In 1993 and 1994, Metro participated in two successful national tests for soybean-based biodiesel. In 2000, Metro experimented with biodiesel made from recycled cooking oils from local restaurants. In 2001, Metro operated almost half its fleet on a soydiesel blend. All of the tests were funded throughspecial alternative fuels grants. Based on this experience, Metro has been pleased with the performance of the fuel in its buses.

More information is available at the Sorta website.

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Posted By RichC on September 4, 2005

A friend of mine in the oil and gas industry has forwarded me information that might impact the supply of fuel to those of us living in the northeast. The improving conditions should help with both supply and prices.

Colonial Pipeline’s mainline systems are currently operating at approximately 70% of capacity. Additional restoration of electric power service has allowed Colonial to continue its planned capacity increase. Colonial crews are now connecting the distributed generation equipment that is allowing Colonial to add additional capacity to both the gasoline and distillate lines. This ongoing work is resulting in gaining higher capacity faster than originally predicted. Current plans will allow Colonial to be at approximately 86% of capacity by the end of Sunday.

UPDATE: 9/6/2005: “Colonial went to 100% today.”

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Posted By RichC on September 1, 2005

“It was a broiling August afternoon in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Big Easy, the City That Care Forgot. Those who ventured outside moved as if they were swimming in tupelo honey. Those inside paid silent homage to the man who invented air-conditioning as they watched TV “storm teams” warn of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing surprising there: Hurricanes in August are as much a part of life in this town as hangovers on Ash Wednesday.

But the next day the storm gathered steam and drew a bead on the city. As the whirling maelstrom approached the coast, more than a million people evacuated to higher ground. Some 200,000 remained, however—the car-less, the homeless, the aged and infirm, and those die-hard New Orleanians who look for any excuse to throw a party.

The storm hit Breton Sound with the fury of a nuclear warhead, pushing a deadly storm surge into Lake Pontchartrain. The water crept to the top of the massive berm that holds back the lake and then spilled over. Nearly 80 percent of New Orleans lies below sea level—more than eight feet below in places—so the water poured in. A liquid brown wall washed over the brick ranch homes of Gentilly, over the clapboard houses of the Ninth Ward, over the white-columned porches of the Garden District, until it raced through the bars and strip joints on Bourbon Street like the pale rider of the Apocalypse. As it reached 25 feet (eight meters) over parts of the city, people climbed onto roofs to escape it.

Thousands drowned in the murky brew that was soon contaminated by sewage and industrial waste. Thousands more who survived the flood later perished from dehydration and disease as they waited to be rescued. It took two months to pump the city dry, and by then the Big Easy was buried under a blanket of putrid sediment, a million people were homeless, and 50,000 were dead. It was the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States.

When did this calamity happen? It hasn’t happened yet. But the doomsday scenario is not far-fetched. “

If you made it to the end, this was written by Joel Bourne, Jr. and published in National Geographic in October 2004.

_

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Posted By RichC on August 30, 2005

I hopes that those reading this will consider helping fellow Americans as we have always done for all in need. Katrina has truly left a wide swath of death and destruction. Most likely everyone with a TV or newpaper has seen the need, but may not know what they can do. I’ll link a video WMV video clip (3.4 MB) in hopes it tugs on your heart and include a list of places to donate from Homeland Security/FEMA below.
Here is a list of phone numbers set up solely for cash donations and/or volunteers.

Donate cash to:

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;

Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348

America’s Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070

Donate Cash to and Volunteer with:

Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171

Catholic Charities, USA
703 549-1390

Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818

Church World Service
1-800-297-1516

Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998

Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522

Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210

Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283

Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Southern Baptist Convention — Disaster Relief
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440

United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583

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Posted By RichC on August 30, 2005

This is a phone based blog post. Should appear under Technology.
8/30/05 7:03 pm

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Posted By RichC on August 30, 2005

Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Inc. will be announcing the long awaited iTunes cell phone called the “Rokr” next week. Analyst expect that the news will officially be released on September 7th in a joint news conference that will include representatives from Apple, Cingular and Motorola. The past year has seen many rumors and delays in the release, but should prove to be one of the most popular electronic devices announced this year.

The new phone will be equipped with software that would allow it to play songs purchased at Apple’s iTunes Web site, according to reports. Wall Street expects this device to surpass all other music playing phones within a month. It will be an excellent product for all three companies and should put all three at the top of the hill when it comes to marketing technology.

My inquiries to Apple, Cingular and Motorola are replied to with “no comment.”

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