Galileoscope: It Really Works!

I got my Galileoscope in the mail the other day, and I am really impressed. It has a large, heavy, real glass objective lens. The eyepiece lenses are plastic, but seem to work pretty well.

It was not too hard to assemble, and is solid when together. I took it out, screwed to a camera tripod, and I was able to see Jupiter and 4 of its moons!

I am not able to take a picture, but the image was similar to this, though not as magnified:



I can't wait to point it at Saturn!

Read Pete.

If you aren't reading Peter DeLorenzo, you should be. He's got a lot to say, and it is usually well said. http://www.autoextremist.com.

(No, he didn't pay me for that.)

Creepy Metal Detector Guy

I went for a walk to today, and went past a local construction site where the city is re-modeling a municipal park. A metal detector guy had slipped through the construction fence, and was quietly wandering around with his detector, stopping every so often to dig into the exposed earth with a small trowel.

I don't know about you, but I find these guys to be creepy. Their hobby is based on the idea of profiting by digging up stuff that other people have lost. They are mostly looking for jewelry and rare coins. To me, the right thing to do is to turn in lost property, especially if it is valuable. Perhaps you get to keep it if no owner comes forward.

"I Just Sent You An Email"

Some people at work have this annoying habit of sending you an important email, and then popping into your cube (Yes, I work in a cubicle "office") or call you on the phone to say "I just sent you an email". 

Look, if it is critical information, call or show up first, and say "I need to send you some information about this...".  Or, send a text message to my phone that says "important: check your email".  And give me time to read it.

What always happens is I am sitting there, trying to digest this important email, and the person runs in and says "Did you get the email?" and then proceeds to tell me what is in it!

Chrysler--Looking Shaky

Have you noticed the lack of positive news about Chrysler?   How Chrysler's sales numbers continue to slide year-over-year, even after Cash For Clunkers?  How Ford and GM are coming out with new product, and teasing the press with development mules running around in heavy camo, but there are no spy shots of Chrysler vehicles?

For 2010MY, the only "all new" (for what that's worth) product is the Dodge Ram HD.  That and some minor cosmetic tweaks and standard equipment package changes.  For a complete run-down, see AllPar (http://www.allpar.com/history/chrysler-years/2010.html).

For 2011MY, the new V6 Phoenix engine will be introduced.  A new Jeep Grand Cherokee, co-developed with Mercedes, will launch, as well as a refreshed 300.

In 2012, FIat may be able to introduce the first small Fiats, such as the 500 ("Cinquecento"). 

Meanwhile, Chrysler must figure out some way to keep selling their sub-par mid-size cars. 

Will Ram, Jeep, and minivans keep the company alive?  Or will Fiat take a Cerberus-like financial beating as Chrysler bleeds out money? 

I hope that Chrysler has some sort of secret project under wraps which will prove to the world that thay are alive, and can still design and engineer a lust-inducing world class car.  They need to remind consumers that they are still in the game, because to me, it looks like they are fading out.

Audi Mocks Volt

In an interview with MSN Autos, Audi of America president Johan de Nysschen mocks would be buyers of the Chevrolet Volt as "idiots" and environmental posers. (Link http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=1247701). He predicts that the Volt will flop and that Obama will have to prop up the Volt to save face.

He's basically right. Even Obama's own automotive task force reported that the Volt was "too expensive to be commercially successful in the short term".

But, Audi's cheerleading for clean diesel is not going to work. That's because the U.S. decided long ago to be very tough on diesel emissions standards, which means that "clean diesel" engines are expensive. Though not as expensive as hundreds of pounds of batteries. Also, due to the economics of refining, during times of high demand diesel can be as expensive (or more) as gasoline, ruining the value proposition further. A much better plan is to develop GTDI and HCCI engines, which get diesel-like efficiency running on gasoline, which several of the OEMs are looking into.

GM's Volt is basically a publicity gesture and technology exercise. Eventually, the system might get cheap enough to makes sense economically. Or it may not. It wil still have done its job, helping GM earn public assistance and learn about all electric propulsion for future programs.

One more thing: pop some popcorn, folks, because Lutz is going to come out swinging a lead pipe.

Spotted A 2010 Buick LaCrosse

The other day, I stopped by my local Murray's Auto Parts store to buy some high quality washer fluid.  Pulling in next to me was a new Buick LaCrosse, of the freshly redesigned 2010 vintage.  It was a nice metallic cream color. It had standard plates, but some sort of parking sticker on the windshield.  A well dressed young man stepped out, likely a GM management type or maybe a marketing/PR guy.

The guy noticed me admiring the car, and said, "So, what to you think"?

"The design is nice, and the interior looks great", I said, "but I'm not sure about the vent things."

"Yeah, that's a Buick styling thing", he said, and walked off.

So that's my mini-review of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.  Lovely lines, rich looking interior, silly vent holes.