Recent Comments:
Lutz: No Beat for the U.S., smaller CUVs on the way, Insignia stalled {Autoblog}
Jul 15th 2008 1:05PM I haven't posted in a couple of months--been too busy to keep up much. But I have a chance today, and good lord, I just have to ask this:
BOB! WHY THE HELL DID YOU ASK US TO VOTE FOR ONE OF THE LITTLE BOXES IF YOU WEREN'T GOING TO SELL ONE???
Sorry, I'll keep my voice down now.
Contender for next-gen HUMVEE looks battle-tested in Baja {Autoblog}
Mar 24th 2008 3:27PM Finesse? Are you serious? YOU drive one of those slow, heavy, rattly things over a few hundred miles of crap roads and rocky desert and then tell me how much "finesse" a HMMWV has. I've put many miles on the things--Don't believe the hype!
Bush thinks ethanol is increasing price of corn {Autoblog Green}
Mar 7th 2008 8:34AM This blog really isn't worth the time for me any more. I think after today, I'm going to leave it alone for a while. I'll check back in a few months to see if the discussion has been infused with any amount of reason and science.
I disagree with much of the Bush administration's policies, but I think they're on target with their energy concerns. Believe it or not, there are actually folks in federal agencies who care what happens to both our economy AND our environment. The shallow press and raving lunacy that have been substituted for inquiry and reasoned debate obscure the hard work of thousands of folks.
Down here in Georgia, we have millions of acres of vastly underutilized pine forest--most of it under private ownership and very well managed. By private, I mean over half is owned by individuals. The 30-35% owned corporately is some of the best managed forest in the world. The big focus for cellulosic ethanol here is overcoming the difficulties of getting the sugars out of trees--they don't do as well as grasses. The thermochemical processes of recent develpoment may turn out to be a good way of converting pine biomass to alcohols. Unmerchantable timber and harvest residues are the primary feedstock focus, but the future is wide open. Point is, our land use patterns won't be affected as drastically with this initative. Deforestation is a serious issue--our country should take the lead in promoting well managed, sustainable forests and finding really smart ways to adjust our cropping systems for energy crop rotations without seriously changing land use.
Come on folks--we're smarter than our politics and personal secular religions. You're telling me we can't do this? Damn. Have some hope. Have some confidence in community and hard work--or smart work I should say.
See you in a few months.
USA and Brazil working together on ethanol in the Caribbean and Central America {Autoblog Green}
Mar 7th 2008 8:11AM I wish we could resolve the foolish standoff with Cuba--their sugar cane industry could really use the boost, and we'd have a new source of relatively smart-made EtOH. Here's hoping the next generation can build a reconciliation.
Pics Aplenty: 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Coupe beauty shots {Autoblog}
Mar 6th 2008 2:53PM Is there a spoiler delete option? Even the Mustang has that.
What say you? Should Ford sell Fiesta hatchbacks in U.S.? {Autoblog}
Mar 5th 2008 8:41PM Yes, but only the five door if they have to limit models.
By the Numbers: February 2008 {Autoblog}
Mar 4th 2008 3:34PM Astro, can't you read the sign??? Please Don't Feed the Troll
;)
EPA officially defends denial of CA request to regulate emissions {Autoblog}
Mar 4th 2008 3:18PM D-GOD, you should give a citation for your figures on electricity use to refine gasoline.
Geneva '08 Preview: Lotus goes tri-fuel with Exige 270E {Autoblog}
Mar 3rd 2008 10:11PM MD Drew--Man, you're the first person I've met since I was in school who's recognized Ozymandias as being another name for Rameses. Some folks get the Shelley connection, but vaguely. I thought it was fitting grandeur and futility for an internet nome de plume.
But yes--alcohol fuels of carbon counts up to butanol excite me. When produced and transported smartly, they have their place in powering our personal transportation. We've just got to keep working on it. I'm tired of the naysayers who love to point out the problem areas without going a step further to say what can fix it. Cynicism too often masquerades as wisdom.
A nickel for you if you can tell me where Owain comes from. ;)
Bourdais calls Indy merger "horrible" {Autoblog}
Mar 3rd 2008 9:15PM I really don't mean to sound cynical, but how many people really care anymore? Their refusal to settle this long ago has driven away most of the folks who used to think open wheel racing in America was of any significance. I find it more worth while --and much more entertaining--to follow sports car racing in all its incarnations.
Man, that sounds pissy when I read it back. I'll just say Champ and IRL--get over it and give us some racing worth tuning in for.
