Check out my eBook on the Chevy Volt
Embedded Link
Recharging the Car
A chronicle of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt development
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
Recently one of our hens has been acting broody, hanging out in the nesting area of the coop even though her eggs won't hatch.
Even when I pick her up and put her outside, she still just plops herself down and sits there like she's incubating an egg. Hopefully this passes soon.
#hens #broody
In album Broody Hen (11 photos)
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
In Fayetteville, New Yor, the library is installing a hacker space in a former furniture factory with all kinds of equipment that will allow people learn and build. I particularly applaud the librarian Lauren Smedley for organizing Geek Girl Camps to encourage young girls to get involved. Let's hope more libraries around the country do the same.
Embedded Link
Public library in New York is getting a hacker lab
Librarian Lauren Smedley has a broad vision of what public libraries can be to their patrons, and she's putting that vision to the test with changes at her own, the Fayetteville Free Library in central New York. The library — which is fittingly housed in a former furniture factory — is getting a Fab Lab to encourage makers and hackers, and will include equipment such as a MakerBot, a CNC router, and a laser cutter.
The library's plans include offering free classes such as an introductory cour…
Google+: Reshared 3 times
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
How come they don't make movie trailers like this any more?
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
For past couple of decades, most of the efforts to use renewable biomass to replace oil, natural gas and coal have revolved around liquid fuels, particularly ethanol and biodiesel. New research indicates that may not be the best approach to take.
Because most people in America today are sadly lacking in useful science education, they are unaware how much petroleum and gas is used in the production of chemical products like plastics and synthetic fabrics among many other things. The connection between petroleum and transportation is much more visible and obvious to the under-educated masses so when the time came to reduce petroleum use, biofuels seemed the obvious first and easy choice.
While organic chemicals like plastics and synthetic fibers are based on base carbon-hydrogen molecules just like fossil fuels, they are actually significantly different. The chemicals are based on long chains of thousands of the base molecules.
Initially most biofuels were derived from corn kernels and soy beans by fermenting the relatively simple sugar molecules to produce alcohols that were closer in structure to the petroleum fuels. Unfortunately the yields of fuel from these feed stocks was far too low to make the kind of difference needed in petroleum consumption.
In recent years, the emphasis for fuel production has shifted to converting cellulosic biomass to ethanol. A corn plant contains far more biomass in its stalk and husks than it does in the kernels but it exists in the form of cellulose which is essentially a natural polymer with long carbon-hydrogen chains. Before this material can be used to produce a liquid fuel, it has to be broken down into base sugars which requires either some more energy input or the use of enzymes which remain expensive. The liquid fuel production process also consumes vast quantities of fresh water.
Since natural biomass is already much closer in structure to some of the materials produced from oil, it seems probable that the conversion process should be much easier than producing fuels. In some cases, the natural fibers can even be useful without chemical conversion such as using hemp fibers for a wide variety of applications.
Another prime example of using biomass for chemical processes is the use of soy-based polyols to produce foams. Ford has been a leader in this area and it began rolling out soy-foam seats in its vehicles in 2007. Hyundai is now starting to use soy-foam as well.
Perhaps the combination of battery, fuel cell and advanced internal combustion engines running on gas and diesel can be blended with biomass derived plastics, foams and fabrics to make a bigger overall impact on energy use than biofuels.
#cars #biomass #biofuels #energy #green
Embedded Link
Green Car Congress: Researchers argue that the optimal use of biomass as a renewable resource is for production of select chemicals, not power, heat or fuels
Online news, features and analysis
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
Anyone out there with a 2009 or later VW diesel with a DSG transmission?
We've got a 2010 Jetta TDI with a DSG that is experiencing an intermittent high idle problem. Most of the time it idles at about 800 rpm. But from time to time it tries to run at about 1,000 rpm. When that happens, and you stop with the brake applied, it seems to surge and seems to want to pull away. In my own experience as an auto writer with some other recent Golf and Jetta diesels I never experienced this in other vehicles. The dealer is claiming this is normal but I'm dubious. FWIW, there are no faults set or warning lights, so whatever it is within spec but probably just barely.
Has anyone else experienced similar behavior?
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
A trio of Boss Mustangs from 1969, 70 and 71
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
100 years of silt blasting out the hole when the dam first opens!
Reshared post from +Bob Goyetche
WOW
Embedded Link
Dam breached, reservoir drained
kottke.org …is a weblog about the liberal arts 2.0 edited by Jason Kottke since March 1998 (archives). You can read about me and kottke.org here. If you've got questions, concerns, or interestin…
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
It seems a group of senators have proposed constitutional amendment that would allow legislatures to limit campaign spending.
Driven by the absolutely disgraceful Citizens United ruling in the US Supreme Court, the idea of corporate "personhood" has reached untenable levels. The proposed amendment seems like a very good first step but we need an amendment that goes even further and completely obliterates this fundamentally flawed idea.
If corporation is going to be granted the privileges and rights of being treated as a person, then it must also be subject to all of the responsibilities and consequences including being subject to criminal prosecution and penalties for violating the law.
Unfortunately, in this age of governance by the Koch brothers and their ilk, the chances of any such amendment passing are almost nonexistent.
Embedded Link
Have we finally reached the tipping point on corporate personhood, and the role of corporations in influencing U.S. elections?
I never got around to mentioning it last week, but Democratic Senators Tom Udall, Michael Bennet, Tom Harkin, Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Sh
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
This is so very true especially for those of that actually live in regions for four complete seasons!
Reshared post from +Brian Brushwood
This made me laugh out loud for 18 seconds:
Embedded Link
end of autumn.. – Imgur
Imgur is used to share photos with social networks and online communities, and has the funniest pictures from all over the Internet.
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
