Cool Gadget

Topic: Personal Technology

I was at the Future Salon meeting yesterday and saw a presentation from this guy from Bug Labs. They manufacture this mobile base station that you can attach modules (gps, camera, lcd, etc.) for a custom mobile device.

Here's a link for the You Tube introduction

Graduation Day!

It was my nephew E.J.'s high school graduation ceremony yesterday. I can't believe he's eighteen and about to start college now. It seem like yesterday I was teaching him how to hit a baseball. I feel very old.

Hybrid Land Yacht

Topic: Cars

I'm not a real big fan of SUVs (i.e. station wagons with big wheels) but Chevy's new Tahoe Hybrid is interesting. Besides being a hybrid, it also E85 capable (can run on 85% ethanol instead of gasoline), Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation (shuts off 4 cylinders when not needed), and has a CVT (multiple gear ratio for better fuel economy). They pretty much through the entire sink at it. It's not really new for GM, they've been using a similar system for their buses. The hybrid still only gets 22 mpg on average but that is still the best milage for a full-size land yacht. The Tahoe pictured above isn't a hybrid but a standard gas version. The difference in appearance is that the hybrid has hybrid badges all over it. It's looks like a billboard on wheels.

The pic is from CarDomain.com

Chevy Volt

Topic: Cars

There's a confirmation article in Reuters that the Volt is a go for 2010. What I found interesting in the article is that Waggoner says they're creating a car from the ground up. Didn't GM produce the first post-war electric car or did they forget about EV1? It must of been a real lemon if they couldn't use any of the data from that car. Also, General Motors is closing down its plants for their SUVs and possibly eliminating the Hummer division. Maybe they're not so stupid after all. I certainly hope not, Detroit still greatly affects the economy of the US.

The Ultimate Battery Operated Car

Topic: Cars

The car above is the new Tesla Roadster. It's an all electric (no gasoline engine) vehicle that has a 200 mile range between re-charge. Go to Jay Leno's Garage for the info and video about the Tesla. I went by their headquarters in San Carlos, CA and fortunately there was one in the parking lot. Elon Musk in the video says it has little in common with the Lotus Elise, but I'm highly skeptical since I saw it up close. The main drawback is that it's real low and the seats are practically on the floor of the car. You'd better practice your yoga if your planning on buying one of these. At a price tag of $110k, they should provide you with your own guru. What I like about this is that, with the Ford Escape Hybrid, you'll not only be very green but you'll be the only kid on your block with these cars. I know what you're thinking, but I'm not a real environmentalist, more of a gadget freak. Or am I both?

Cool Hybrid

Topic: Cars

Here's my latest dream car: a Ford Escape Hybrid with Avarus AV1 Vercelli wheels. The picture above isn't a hybrid but it's the same as the hybrid model with custom wheels. What I like about this hybrid is that its not only good for the planet/pocketbook but looks cool. Eat your heart out Prius owners. I should mention that I'm not a big fan of SUVs but I like the look of this one.

The picture is from a website called Car Domain.

My Twitxr and Twitter accounts

I just joined two other internet sites that will help me waste a lot of time. Oh boy what fun! They're called Twitxr and Twitter and my username for both is dariocruz.