Sunday, July 26, 2009
Yes for Breakfast - Porridge & Cookies!
Raisin Buckwheat PorridgeSo in the past month we've jumped on the wagon and just agreed to make new traditions. We've been having Rawesome Sunday lunches with buckwheat porridge, biscuits or pancakes for Saturday or Sunday breakfasts, and a weekly/frequent Breakfast Cookie Snack. Also Rice Bowl Wednesdays, but that's not breakfast :)For our raw Sunday lunch, we often have Buckwheat porridge, and then something else raw to go with it (such as raw vegetable soups, salads, and raw 'tuna' salad collard wraps).Blueberry Porridge with Raw Creamy Tomato Soup'Oatmeal' Raisin Buckwheat Porridge (using raw wheat germ as 'oats')served with a Carrot Radish Salad(shredded carrots, diced radish, fresh anise herb, sesame seeds, and avocado dressing!)We also had an apricot buckwheat porridge (with dried apricots). SOO many variations that you can do (banana pudding, mango, apple spice, strawberry, fig...)! Definitely try the buckwheat porridge - it's so creamy, sweet, flavorful, filling, raw, and healthy!LK's Buckwheat Porridge (Adapted from Gone Raw)2/3 - 3/4 cup raw buckwheat groats, soaked in water overnight (or for a few hours), then rinsed and drained2 Tb raw buckwheat groats unsoaked (for crunch)1-2 fresh bananas2-4 dried dates (or other dried fruit)pinch of cinnamon or other spicesserve with - fresh berries, apples, raisins/currants, 1/4 cup shredded carrots, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, nuts, flaxmeal, and/or raw wheat germ.Prep your buckwheat (once soaked, rinse and drain).Cut up dried fruit into sizes more manageable for blending.Blend the soaked buckwheat groats, bananas, dried fruit, and spices (in Vitamix or other blender/food processor) to a creamy consistency - you may need to add water if necessary.Then add your toppings and the unsoaked buckwheat groats, and devour!Of course for an unraw version, use your choice of grains instead of buckwheat (ex - triticale meal, steel cut oats, quinoa, rice), add 1 cup non-dairy milk, and cook the grains or soak overnight. Then blend, along with the spices, banana, dried fruit, and more milk if necessary. You can serve with any toppings (including maple syrup, oat bran, nut butters, sweet potato or pumpkin puree).Along with many other breakfast enthusiasts, we are hooked on the Breakfast Cookie. So easy to whip up. Again sooo many possibilities for flavors. When we do use a 'nut butter', we use tahini, otherwise we sometimes leave it out and add a mashed date or dried fruit. We just prep it overnight and have it sit in the fridge, then breakfast is ready in the morning!Tahini Breakfast Cookie - Makes 2 Servings2/3 cup spelt flakes, rye flakes, barley flakes, or other 'oat' type flakes3 Tb tahini1 Tb hemp powder3/8 cup non-dairy milk1/2 tsp vanillabanana to serveoptional - 2 Tb wheat germ or flaxmealCranberry Orange Breakfast Cookie - Makes 2 servings1/2 cup grain cereal (such as Bob's Spice n' Nice Cereal or triticalle meal, kamut cereal...)1/2 cup spelt flakes1/4 cup oat bran1/4 cup non-dairy milk1/4 cup or more cranberry juice1 fresh date, mashed1-2 tsp orange zest2 tsp dried cranberries, choppedberries or more dried cranberries to serveBanana Cocoa Breakfast Cookie - Makes 2 servings2/3 cup spelt flakes, rye flakes, barley flakes, or other 'oat' type flakes3 Tb mashed banana1 Tb cocoa powder3/8 cup non-dairy milk - try chocolate!1/2 tsp vanillabanana slices to serveoptional - 2 Tb wheat germ or flaxmealWe are 100% in love with breakfast! For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in between!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Psychology, Crime & Law
The latest issue of Psychology, Crime & Law (Volume 14 Issue 3) is one of those issues where almost all the articles look tempting. Given my particular interest in deception Ill be starting with Granhag and Hartwigs intriguing offering on mind-reading and deception detection, but the articles on how TV affects legal decision making and linking crimes in serial homicide will be next on the list.
Heres the line-up:
What judges know about eyewitness testimony: A comparison of Norwegian and US judges (Svein Magnussen; Richard A. Wise; Abid Q. Raja; Martin A. Safer; Nell Pawlenko; Ulf Stridbeck)
A new theoretical perspective on deception detection: On the psychology of instrumental mind-reading (Pär Anders Granhag; Maria Hartwig)
Perceptions of children during a police interrogation: Guilt, confessions, and interview fairness (Allison D. Redlich; Jodi A. Quas; Simona Ghetti)
Objection, Your Honor! Television is not the relevant authority. Crime drama portrayals of eyewitness issues (Sarah L. Desmarais; Heather L. Price; J. Don Read)
Behavioural crime linking in serial homicide (Pekka Santtila; Tom Pakkanen; Angelo Zappalà; Dario Bosco; Maria Valkama; Andreas Mokros)
What do prisoners want? Current concerns of adult male prisoners (Mary McMurran; Eleni Theodosi; Anna Sweeney; Joselyn Sellen)
Heres the line-up:
What judges know about eyewitness testimony: A comparison of Norwegian and US judges (Svein Magnussen; Richard A. Wise; Abid Q. Raja; Martin A. Safer; Nell Pawlenko; Ulf Stridbeck)
A new theoretical perspective on deception detection: On the psychology of instrumental mind-reading (Pär Anders Granhag; Maria Hartwig)
Perceptions of children during a police interrogation: Guilt, confessions, and interview fairness (Allison D. Redlich; Jodi A. Quas; Simona Ghetti)
Objection, Your Honor! Television is not the relevant authority. Crime drama portrayals of eyewitness issues (Sarah L. Desmarais; Heather L. Price; J. Don Read)
Behavioural crime linking in serial homicide (Pekka Santtila; Tom Pakkanen; Angelo Zappalà; Dario Bosco; Maria Valkama; Andreas Mokros)
What do prisoners want? Current concerns of adult male prisoners (Mary McMurran; Eleni Theodosi; Anna Sweeney; Joselyn Sellen)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Don’t Be Fooled by Inflation
By: Peter Schiff
Strike up the band, boys, happy days are here again! Recently released short-term economic data, including unemployment claims, non-farm payrolls, home sales, and business spending, which had been so unambiguously horrific in February and March, are now just garden-variety awful. With the Wicked Witch of Depression now apparently crushed under the house of Obamanomics, the Munchkins of Wall Street have sounded the all clear, pushing the Dow Jones up 25% from its lows. But the premature conclusion of their Lollipop Guild economists, that the crash of 2008/2009 is now a fading memory, is just as delusional as their failure to see it coming in the first place.
Once again, the facts do not support the euphoria. Over the past few months, the government has literally blasted the economy with trillions of new dollars conjured from the ether. The fact that this stimulus has blown some air back into our deflating consumer-based bubble economy, and given a boost to an oversold stock market, is hardly evidence that the problems have been solved. It is simply an illusion, and not a very good one at that. By throwing money at the problem, all the government is creating is inflation. Although this can often look like growth, it is no more capable of creating wealth than a hall of mirrors is capable of creating people.
We are currently suffering from an overdose of past stimulus. A larger dose now will only worsen the condition. The Greenspan/Bush stimulus of 2001 prevented a much needed recession and bought us seven years of artificial growth. The multi-trillion dollar tab for that episode of federally-engineered economic bullet-dodging came due in 2008. The 2001 stimulus had kicked off a debt-fueled consumption binge that resulted in economic weakness, not strength. So now, even though the recent stimulus administered a much larger dose, we will likely experience a much smaller bounce. One can only speculate as to how much time this stimulus will buy and what it will cost when the bill arrives.
My guess is that, at most, the Bernanke/Obama stimulus will buy two years before the hangover sets in. However, since this dose is so massive, the comedown will be equally horrific. My fear is that when the drug wears off, we will reach for that monetary syringe one last time. At that point, the dosage may be lethal, and the economy will die of hyperinflation.
As always, the bulls fail to understand that investors can lose wealth even as nominal stock prices rise. As a corollary, the bearish case is not discredited by rising stock prices. While there are some bears that mistakenly cling to the idea that deflation will cause the dollar to rise, those of us in the inflation camp understand that the opposite will occur.
In the meantime, stocks are not rising because the long-term fundamentals of our economy are improving. If anything, the rise in global stock prices is due to investors realizing that cash is even riskier then stocks. The massive inflation that is the source of the stimulus is essentially punishment for those holding cash. To preserve purchasing power, investors must seek alternative stores of value, such as common stock.
It is important to point out that despite an impressive rally, U.S. stocks have substantially underperformed foreign stocks. In the past two months, while the Dow Jones has risen 30%, the Hang Seng and the German DAX have risen by over 50% in U.S. dollars. Commodity prices are also rising, with oil hitting a five-month high. And gold is shining as well, with the HUI index of gold stocks up 30% during the past two months, and 2/3 of those gains occurring in the past month. If this rally really were about improving economic fundamentals, gold stocks would not be among the leaders. Further, during those two months, the U.S. dollar index fell by 7%, with commodity-sensitive currencies such as the Australian and New Zealand dollars surging 20%.
To me, the relative strength of foreign stocks and currencies indicates that perhaps the global economy is not as impaired as many have feared. It has been my view all along that after the initial shock wears off, the world will be better off - once it no longer subsidizes the American economy. The shrinking U.S. current account deficit is evidence of this trend in action. Renewed strength in foreign stocks and weakness in the dollar may indicate that not only is the world decoupling from the U.S., but benefitting as a result.
So let the Munchkins dance for now. But remember, the Witch is not dead, only temporarily stunned by an avalanche of fake money.
GoldSeek.com
Strike up the band, boys, happy days are here again! Recently released short-term economic data, including unemployment claims, non-farm payrolls, home sales, and business spending, which had been so unambiguously horrific in February and March, are now just garden-variety awful. With the Wicked Witch of Depression now apparently crushed under the house of Obamanomics, the Munchkins of Wall Street have sounded the all clear, pushing the Dow Jones up 25% from its lows. But the premature conclusion of their Lollipop Guild economists, that the crash of 2008/2009 is now a fading memory, is just as delusional as their failure to see it coming in the first place.
Once again, the facts do not support the euphoria. Over the past few months, the government has literally blasted the economy with trillions of new dollars conjured from the ether. The fact that this stimulus has blown some air back into our deflating consumer-based bubble economy, and given a boost to an oversold stock market, is hardly evidence that the problems have been solved. It is simply an illusion, and not a very good one at that. By throwing money at the problem, all the government is creating is inflation. Although this can often look like growth, it is no more capable of creating wealth than a hall of mirrors is capable of creating people.
We are currently suffering from an overdose of past stimulus. A larger dose now will only worsen the condition. The Greenspan/Bush stimulus of 2001 prevented a much needed recession and bought us seven years of artificial growth. The multi-trillion dollar tab for that episode of federally-engineered economic bullet-dodging came due in 2008. The 2001 stimulus had kicked off a debt-fueled consumption binge that resulted in economic weakness, not strength. So now, even though the recent stimulus administered a much larger dose, we will likely experience a much smaller bounce. One can only speculate as to how much time this stimulus will buy and what it will cost when the bill arrives.
My guess is that, at most, the Bernanke/Obama stimulus will buy two years before the hangover sets in. However, since this dose is so massive, the comedown will be equally horrific. My fear is that when the drug wears off, we will reach for that monetary syringe one last time. At that point, the dosage may be lethal, and the economy will die of hyperinflation.
As always, the bulls fail to understand that investors can lose wealth even as nominal stock prices rise. As a corollary, the bearish case is not discredited by rising stock prices. While there are some bears that mistakenly cling to the idea that deflation will cause the dollar to rise, those of us in the inflation camp understand that the opposite will occur.
In the meantime, stocks are not rising because the long-term fundamentals of our economy are improving. If anything, the rise in global stock prices is due to investors realizing that cash is even riskier then stocks. The massive inflation that is the source of the stimulus is essentially punishment for those holding cash. To preserve purchasing power, investors must seek alternative stores of value, such as common stock.
It is important to point out that despite an impressive rally, U.S. stocks have substantially underperformed foreign stocks. In the past two months, while the Dow Jones has risen 30%, the Hang Seng and the German DAX have risen by over 50% in U.S. dollars. Commodity prices are also rising, with oil hitting a five-month high. And gold is shining as well, with the HUI index of gold stocks up 30% during the past two months, and 2/3 of those gains occurring in the past month. If this rally really were about improving economic fundamentals, gold stocks would not be among the leaders. Further, during those two months, the U.S. dollar index fell by 7%, with commodity-sensitive currencies such as the Australian and New Zealand dollars surging 20%.
To me, the relative strength of foreign stocks and currencies indicates that perhaps the global economy is not as impaired as many have feared. It has been my view all along that after the initial shock wears off, the world will be better off - once it no longer subsidizes the American economy. The shrinking U.S. current account deficit is evidence of this trend in action. Renewed strength in foreign stocks and weakness in the dollar may indicate that not only is the world decoupling from the U.S., but benefitting as a result.
So let the Munchkins dance for now. But remember, the Witch is not dead, only temporarily stunned by an avalanche of fake money.
GoldSeek.com
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Black Gestapo
This is one of the more startling titles and posters in movie history. Let's take a look at the poster in question:Well! That's something you don't see every day.The movie is pretty bland, except for the occasional shot of the militant black army chanting "VENGEANCE! VENGEANCE! VENGEANCE!" with a soundtrack overlay of "SIEG HEIL! SIEG HEIL! SIEG HEIL!" At the beginning of the movie, Watts is under the sway of beefy, sunglasses-wearing white thugs, who force businesses to push drugs and gambling. So we get a round of scenes in which the business owners are roughed up for not having enough money to give to the white mob. Then we meet the People's Army, which is not really military. It's sort of a black Salvation Army. Except for the second-in-command, who wants to get real guns and start fighting whitey for real. The leader of the People's Army, General Ahmed, doesn't go along with it until his girlfriend gets raped by the beefiest and most sunglasses-wearing-est of the thugs. So Colonel Kojah gets the go-ahead to train a small group to fight back.So the next scenes involve Kojah's army shooting up the white guys when they try to pick up their ill-gotten gains. There's a fairly short war and the head of the white mob shrugs and decides to get the hell out of town and maybe try his luck in Harlem. And as soon as that happens, Colonel Kojah (who has renamed himself General Kiongozi) takes over the rackets, leaning on the local shopkeepers to sell heroin and push the gambling and so on. So you've got an Animal Farm situation, where the revolutionaries have become the new tyrannical masters, although it happens a lot faster here.So now General Ahmed has to invade General Kiongozi's compound, which is suspiciously like a country club, and take out the entire army by himself. First he liberates the tennis courts, then he tricks a squad into running down the road until they collapse, then he kills about forty people. Finally, he takes out Kiongozi and the movie's over. Pretty straightforward sleazy stuff.Now, it turns out there's a novelization from Holloway House, better known (if at all) for the Iceberg Slim books. Check it:This novelization is an attempt to make the story mean something. It follows the movie precisely, but it fills in a lot of inner details that the director and actors were unable to do:Kojah couldn't help but wonder if all great men felt as he did when they made their first stride toward greatness. He wiped his sweating brow and then slipped quickly across the carpeted bedroom to the doorway that led to the rest of the house. His team followed closely at his heels.Was it possible that Henri Christophe, L'Overture, and Nat Turner felt as he felt? He could hear a distant drum beating out a marching beat, the cadence for his army of liberation of conquest. They must have felt as he did as they set out to destroy the dreaded honkie. The beast that had cowered peoples throughout the world. But he would not run in fear. He would fight and win. Win and become a legend, a hero.The book is still pretty sleazy. I don't think it has a choice with this title. But it's much, much better than the movie it's based on.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Slate-ish Recycled Interior Design Tiles
If you're searching for something new -- maybe as a back splash, wall accent, or decorative element -- give Slate-ish a look. Slate-ish tiles come in seven colors and are made from reclaimed scrap from the fabrication of Richlite and PaperStone countertops. This is 100% post-industrial waste paper laminate cut into strips, squares, bars, and cubes. Slate-ish tiles are light, non-porous, and provide an interesting alternative to stone applications. 5-6-09 Update: Slate-ish tells us most tiles are under $20 psf loose, with a range of $15-40 psf. Backed tiles on pre-mounted panels run about $20 psf extra. Read more about Slate-ish ...
Photo credits: Slate-ish.
Photo credits: Slate-ish.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Planning a Caravan
Ok, now that CBR is over with, my next big Airstream outing will be our WDCU Caravan out to Madison, Wisconsin for the WBCCI International Rally that starts on 27 June and goes through July 4th. For that, I'll be leading a Caravan out and Frank Yensan will be my Wagon Boss making sure our stay-overs are good. I am looking for someone to work at bringing up the rear of the Caravan each day ensuring that all Caravanners on the route make it to each way point / layover and to collaborate with me and the WagonBoss. Our plan is to meet somewhere near Pittsburgh, Pa on the afternoon / early evening of the 23rd to have a check in around 530pm at a site soon to be identified. We will then travel on the 24th to Jackson Center to the Airstream Factory and the plan is to be there by 1pm to make the Factory tour. We will stayover at the factory that night and then get up and head for Elkhart, Indiana on the 25th where we will be staying at the RV/Motor Home Hall of Fame on the night fo the 25th, to get up and roll to Jefferson County Fairgrounds on the 26th to meet up with the VAC Rhendevous for the Parade of Vintage into the International on the 27th. I'm working on my CB installation for the Caravan as well as working up a roster of who is coming. I need to know if you are participating by the 15th of May to have good numbers of who is participating. It will be a good time. If you are looking at just caravanning out to the factory with us, you are more than welcome, or even if you want to Caravan out the hole way and turn around for a neat trip. Either let myself of Frank know if you are coming. My email is airstreamnut@gmail.com if you want to participate.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Milwaukee Brewers Team Report
INSIDE PITCH The Brewers on Sunday finished a stretch of playing 20 games in 20 days. Over that span, they went 14-6 to boost their record from 4-8 to 18-14. During that 20-game gauntlet, the Brewers went 5-0-2 in series play. Before that stretch, they lost their first four series of the season. "That was a nice run in that stretch," said manager Ken Macha. "I'm sure a lot of the guys will enjoy a day off (Monday) and come back and get 'em Tuesday." The Brewers had a chance to sweep the archrival Cubs over the weekend at home but lost the series finale, 4-2. They had plenty of chances to win the game but went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. "You get spoiled a little bit," admitted second baseman Rickie Weeks. "It was just one of those days." Winning series remains the club's goal, so the players were only mildly disappointed with the Sunday loss. "You're not going to sweep every team, every time," said third baseman Bill Hall. "We're focused on winning series, and that's what we did. That's the main thing we want to do."NOTES, QUOTESThe running game has not been a priority under new manager Ken Macha. The Brewers have stolen only 10 bases, ranking them only ahead of Atlanta in the National League. The Brewers have been caught nine times attempting steals.C Mike Rivera was scheduled to play with Class AAA Nashville for three games Monday-Wednesday as the final steps in his return from a sprained left ankle. Rivera is eligible to come off the 15-day DL Thursday and the scheduled pitcher that day is RHP Dave Bush, whom Rivera caught before getting injured.LHP Mitch Stetter appeared in 16 of the Brewers' first 31 games. Stetter is the only left-hander in the Brewers' bullpen, and manager Ken Macha said he is worried about over-using him. LHP R.J. Swindle provided a second lefty in the bullpen for a week in April before being returned to Class AAA Nashville.BY THE NUMBERS: 14-6 The Brewers' record in playing 20 games in 20 days before getting an off day Monday.QUOTE TO NOTE: "What a professional. He's putting his name in the lineup." Manager Ken Macha, on the contributions he has received off the bench from INF Craig Counsell.ROSTER REPORTLF Ryan Braun has been on an extended period of strong offensive production. Over his last 18 games, Braun is batting .431 (28-for-65) with seven home runs and 23 RBI. He ranks among the league leaders with 69 total bases.1B Prince Fielder, who was swinging a hot bat on the Brewers' last road trip, drew a blank over the weekend in a three-game home series against the Cubs. Fielder went 0-for-10, dropping his average from .280 to .255.C Jason Kendall is three hits shy of 2,000 for his career. He ranks eighth all-time among players who have appeared in at least 1,000 games as a catcher.LHP Manny Parra, who starts Tuesday against the Marlins, pitched much better in his last three outings than in his first three of the season. After going 0-3 with an 8.16 ERA in his first three starts, Parra is 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his last three starts. MEDICAL WATCH: C Mike Rivera (sprained left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment as soon as May 11, and he could be activated May 14. RHP David Riske (right elbow tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10. He will attempt to rehab the elbow through mid-May, but if he is unsuccessful, he might need Tommy John surgery. ROTATION: RHP Jeff Suppan RHP Yovani Gallardo LHP Manny Parra RHP Braden Looper RHP Dave Bush BULLPEN: RHP Trevor Hoffman (closer) RHP Todd Coffey RHP Carlos Villanueva RHP Seth McClung LHP Mitch Stetter RHP Jorge Julio RHP Mark DiFelice CATCHERS: Jason Kendall Carlos Corporan INFIELDERS: 1B Prince Fielder 2B Rickie Weeks SS J.J. Hardy 3B Bill Hall INF Craig Counsell INF Casey McGehee OUTFIELDERS: LF Ryan Braun CF Mike Cameron RF Corey Hart OF Chris Duffy OF Brad Nelson
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Best Duos
Scooter rounded up some of the TV bloggers for a Best Duos on TV list (as a sequel to last years Best Character list). It could be any duo from any show with new episodes since last June 2008. Just any duo that sparks up the screen, whether it be friends, enemies, lovers, family, anything. And if looking back at last year's single character list and this years duo list, it's that we bloggers really do love our Friday Night Lights. Plus, the buzz on The Big Bang Theory is really picking up this year.Here was the compiled list of the Top 25 Favorite Duos, along with my own Top 10 picks that I submitted at the end of the post:1. Coach Eric and Tammy Taylor (Friday Night Lights)2. Liz Lemon and Jack Donagy (30 Rock)3. Sheldon Cooper Ph.D. and Penny (The Big Bang Theory)4. Jim Halpert and Dwight Shrute (The Office)5. Patty Hewes and Ellen Parsons (Damages)6. Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan and Special Agent Seeley Booth (Bones)7. Emerson Cod and Olive Snook (Pushing Daisies)8. Blair Waldolf and Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)9. Shawn Spencer and Burton “Gus” Guster (Psych)10. Chuck Bartowski and Special Agent Sarah Walker (Chuck)11. Sam and Dean Winchester (Supernatural)12. Marc St. James and Amanda Tannen (Ugly Betty)13. Barney Stinson and Ted Mosbey (How I Met Your Mother)14. Bill Adama and Laura Roslin (Battlestar Gallactica)15. Landry Clark and Tyra Colette (Friday Night Lights)16. Ben Linus and John Locke (Lost)17. John “J.D.” Dorian M.D. and Dr. Christopher Turk (Scrubs)18. Sookie Stackhouse and Bill Compton (True Blood)19. Jeff Patel and Lester Barnes aka Jeffster (Chuck)20. James “Sawyer” Ford and Juliet Burke (Lost)21. Homer and Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)22. Bill Adma and Saul Tigh (Battestar Galactica) 23. Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell (Legend of the Seeker)24. Earl and Randy Hickey (My Name Is Earl)25. Michael Westen and Fiona Glenanne (Burn Notice)Submitted by Voters: Dan, Ducky, Kath, Matt, Sandie, Scooter McGavin, TVFan, VanceAnd here's my list that I submitted, though I must say now that I've seen the results, I'm so ashamed of myself for completely forgetting about Pushing Daisies. I also had a few on my list that I was highly considering but at the last moment, switched off for other picks. 1. Tami and Coach Eric Taylor - Friday Night Lights2. Ben and Locke - Lost3. Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy - 30 Rock4. Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass - Gossip Girl5. Penny and Sheldon - The Big Bang Theory6. Bones and Booth - Bones7. Tyra and Landry - Friday Night Lights8. Amanda and Marc - Ugly Betty9. Dean and Sam Winchester - Supernatural10. Megan Smith and Charlie Hogan - PrivilegedI had also highly considered: Marshall and Barney (How I Met Your Mother), Michael Westen and Fiona (Burn Notice), Sawyer and Juliet (Lost), Cappie and Casey (Greek), Chuck and Sarah (Chuck), really any pairing on Friday Night Lights would have worked, and I seriously had to withold myself in picking a top 10 solely from this show alone. And I should have also considered: Earl and Randy (My Name Is Earl), Any pairing from Pushing Daisies.I also considered those from The Office but deemed it worked best in ensemble moments (and I got irritated by Michael and Dwight this season, which was my initial duo to pick)Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com
Hybrid Cars
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to propel the vehicle.[1] Power sources include:
* On-board or out-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS)
* Gasoline
* Hydrogen
* Compressed Air
* Human powered e.g. pedaling or rowing
* Wind
* Compressed or Liquid Natural Gas
* Solar
* Coal, wood or other combustibles
The term most commonly refers to Hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) which includes internal combustion engines and electric motors.
Hybrid types
Vehicle type
Single-wheeled vehicles
There were large Chinese wheelbarrows depicted with sails and masts.Likewise, there are the same Chinese wheelbarrows with sailing masts depicted in the Atlas of Gerardus Mercator (1512–1594 AD), as well as the 1626 AD book Kingdom of Chinay J. Speed.[2] The English poet John Milton (1608–1674 AD) popularized the Chinese sailing carriage in Europe with a poem written in 1665.
Two-wheeled and cycle-type vehicles
Mopeds and electric bicycles are a simple form of a hybrid, as power is delivered both via an internal combustion engine or electric motor and the riders muscles. Early prototypes of motorcycles in the late 1800s used the same principles.
* In a parallel hybrid bicycle human and motor power are mechanically coupled at the pedal drive train or at the rear or the front wheel, e.g. using a hub motor, a roller pressing onto a tire, or a connection to a wheel using a transmission element. Human and motor torques are added together. Almost all manufactured models are of this type. See Motorized bicycles, Mopeds and for more information.
* In a series hybrid bicycle (SH) the user powers a generator using the pedals. This is converted into electricity and can be fed directly to the motor giving a chainless bicycle but also to charge a battery. The motor draws power from the battery and must be able to deliver the full mechanical torque required because none is available from the pedals. SH bicycles are commercially available, because they are very simple in theory and manufacturing.
The first known prototype and publication of an SH bicycle is by Augustus Kinzel (US Patent 328842317) in 1975. In 1994 Bernie Macdonalds conceived the Electrilite SH lightweight vehicle which used power electronics allowing regenerative braking and pedaling while stationary. In 1995 Thomas Müller designed a Fahrrad mit elektromagnetischem Antrieb in his 1995 diploma thesis and built a functional vehicle. In 1996 Jürg Blatter and Andreas Fuchs of Berne University of Applied Sciences built an SH bicycle and in 1998 mounted the system onto a Leitra tricycle (European patent EP 1165188). In 1999 Harald Kutzke described his concept of the active bicycle : the aim is to approach the ideal bicycle weighing nothing and having no drag by electronic compensation. Until 2005 Fuchs and colleagues built several prototype SH tricycles and quadricycles.
Heavy vehicles
Hybrid power trains are used for diesel-electric or turbo-electric railway locomotives, buses, heavy goods vehicles, mobile hydraulic machinery, and ships. Typically some form of heat engine (usually diesel) drives an electric generator or hydraulic pump which power one or more electric or hydraulic motors. There are advantages in distributing power through wires or pipes rather than mechanical elements especially when multiple drives—e.g. driven wheels or propellers—are required. There is power lost in the double conversion from typically diesel fuel to electricity to power an electric or hydraulic motor. With large vehicles the advantages often outweigh the disadvantages especially as the conversion losses typically decrease with size. Presently there is no or relatively little energy storage capacity on most heavy vehicles, e.g. auxiliary batteries and hydraulic accumulators—this is changing.
Rail transport
An example of a typical hybrid is the new Canadian, Bombardier-built railroad engine called the AGC (Autorail à grande capacité, high-capacity railcar) which has dual mode (diesel and electric motors) and dual voltage capabilities (1500 and 25000 V) allowing it to be used on many different rail systems. [2]. The first operational prototype of a hybrid train engine with significant energy storage and energy regeneration capability has been introduced in Japan as the Kiha E200. It utilizes battery packs of lithium ion batteries mounted on the roof to store recovered energy.[5] In the U.S., General Electric introduced a prototype railroad engine with their Ecomagination technology in 2007. They store energy in a large set of sodium nickel chloride (Na-NiCl2) batteries to capture and store energy normally dissipated during dynamic braking or coasting downhill. They expect at least a 10% reduction in fuel use with this system and are now spending about $2 billion/yr on hybrid research.[6] Variants of typical diesel-electrical locomotives are like the Green Goat (GG) and Green Kid (GK) switching/yard engines built by Canadas Railpower Technologies. They utilize a large set of heavy duty long life (~10 yr) rechargeable lead acid (Pba) batteries and 1000 to 2000 HP electric motors as the primary motive sources and a new clean burning diesel generator (~160 Hp) for recharging the batteries that is used only as needed. No power or fuel are wasted for idling—typically 60–85% of the time for these type locomotives. Its unclear if dynamic braking (regenerative) power is recaptured for reuse; but in principle should be easily utilized. Since these engines typical need extra weight for traction purposes anyway the battery packs weight is a negligible penalty. In addition the diesel generator and battery package are normally built on an existing retired yard locomotives frame for significant additional cost savings. The existing motors and running gear are all rebuilt and reused. Diesel fuel savings of 40–60% and up to 80% pollution reductions are claimed over that of a typical older switching/yard engine. The same advantages that existing hybrid cars have for use with frequent starts and stops and idle periods apply to typical switching yard use.[7] Green Goats locomotives have been purchased by Canadian Pacific Railway, BNSF Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad among others.
Railpower Technologies Corp. engineers working with TSI Terminal Systems Inc. in Vancouver, British Columbia are testing a hybrid diesel electric power unit with battery storage for use in Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes. RTG cranes are typically used for loading and unloading shipping containers onto trains or trucks in ports and container storage yards. The energy used to lift the containers can be partially regained when they are lowered. Diesel fuel and emission reductions of 50–70% are predicted by Railpower engineers. First systems are expected to be operational in 2007.
Road Transport, Commercial Vehicles
GM has launched hybrid versions of its full-size GMC Yukon (pictured) and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for 2008
GM has launched hybrid versions of its full-size GMC Yukon (pictured) and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for 2008
Early hybrid systems are being investigated for trucks and other heavy highway vehicles with some operational trucks and buses starting to come into use. The main obstacles seem to be smaller fleet sizes and the extra costs of a hybrid system are yet compensated for by fuel savings, but with the price of oil set to continue on its upward trend, the tipping point may be reached by the end of 2008. Advances in technology and lowered battery cost and higher capacity etc. developed in the hybrid car industry are already filtering into truck use as Toyota, Ford, GM and others introduce hybrid pickups and SUVs. Kenworth Truck Company recently introduced a hybrid-electric truck, called the Kenworth T270 Class 6 that for city usage seems to be competitive. FedEx and others are starting to invest in hybrid delivery type vehicles—particularly for city use where hybrid technology may pay off first.The U.S. military is investigating hybrid Humvees[13] and other vehicles.
Ships
Ships with both mast-mounted sails and engines were an early form of hybrid vehicles. Newer hybrid ship-propulsion schemes include large towing kites manufactured by companies such as SkySails. Towing kites can fly at heights several times higher than the tallest ship masts, capturing stronger and steadier winds.
Engine type
Hybrid electric-petroleum vehicles
Hybrid New Flyer Metrobus
Hybrid New Flyer Metrobus
Hybrid Optare Solo
Hybrid Optare Solo
When the term hybrid vehicle is used, it most often refers to a Hybrid electric vehicle. These encompass such vehicles as the AHS2 (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, and the Saturn Vue), Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid and others. A petroleum-electric hybrid most commonly uses internal combustion engines (generally gasoline or Diesel engines, powered by a variety of fuels) and electric batteries to power electric motors. There are many types of petroleum-electric hybrid drivetrains, from Full hybrid to Mild hybrid, which offer varying advantages and disadvantages.
While liquid fuel/electric hybrids date back to the late 1800s, the braking regenerative hybrid was invented by David Arthurs, an electrical engineer from Springdale, Arkansas in 1978-79. His home-converted Opel GT was reported to get as much as 75MPG and plans are still sold to this original design, and the Mother Earth News modified version on their website.
Continuously outboard recharged battery electric vehicle (CORBEV)
Given suitable infrastructure, permissions and vehicles, BEVs can be recharged while the user drives. The BEV establishes contact with an electrified rail, plate or overhead wires on the highway via an attached conducting wheel or other similar mechanism (see Conduit current collection). The BEVs batteries are recharged by this process—on the highway—and can then be used normally on other roads until the battery is discharged.
This provides the advantage, in principle, of virtually unrestricted highway range as long as you stay where you have BEV infrastructure access. Since many destinations are within 100 km of a major highway, this may reduce the need for expensive battery systems. Unfortunately private use of the existing electrical system is nearly universally prohibited.
The technology for such electrical infrastructure is old and, unfortunately outside of some cities, is not widely distributed (see Conduit current collection, trams, electric rail, trolleys, third rail). Updating the required electrical and infrastructure costs can be funded, in principle, by toll revenue, gasoline or other taxes.
Hybrid fuel (dual mode)
In addition to vehicles that use two or more different devices for propulsion, some also consider vehicles that use distinct energy sources or input types ( fuels ) using the same engine to be hybrids, although to avoid confusion with hybrids as described above and to use correctly the terms, these are perhaps more correctly described as dual mode vehicles:
* Some electric trolleybuses can switch between an on board diesel engine and overhead electrical power depending on conditions (see dual mode bus). In principle, this could be combined with a battery subsystem to create a true plug-in hybrid trolleybus, although as of 2006, no such design seems to have been announced.
* Flexible-fuel vehicles can use a mixture of input fuels (petroleum and biofuels) in one tank — typically gasoline and bioethanol or biobutanol, though diesel-biodiesel vehicles would also qualify.
* Dual mode:Liquified petroleum gas and natural gas are very different from petroleum or diesel and cannot be used in the same tanks, so it would be impossible to build an (LPG or NG) flexible fuel system. Instead vehicles are built with two, parallel, fuel systems feeding one engine. While the duplicated tanks cost space in some applications, the increased range and flexibility where (LPG or NG) infrastructure is incomplete may be a significant incentive to purchase.
* Some vehicles have been modified to use another fuel source if it is available, such as cars modified to run on autogas (LPG) and diesels modified to run on waste vegetable oil that has not been processed into biodiesel.
* Power-assist mechanisms for bicycles and other human-powered vehicles are also included.
Fluid power hybrid
Hydraulic and pneumatic hybrid vehicles use an engine to charge a pressure accumulator to drive the wheels via hydraulic or pneumatic (i.e. compressed air) drive units. The energy recovery rate is higher and therefore the system is more efficient than battery charged hybrids, demonstrating a 60% to 70% increase in energy economy in EPA testing [16]. Under tests done by the EPA, a hydraulic hybrid Ford Expedition returned 32 mpg–U.S. (7.35 L/100 km / 38.4 mpg–imp) City, and 22 mpg–U.S. (10.69 L/100 km / 26.4 mpg–imp) highway.
UPS currently has two trucks in service with this technology.
While the system has faster and more efficient charge/discharge cycling and is cheaper than gaselectric hybrids, the accumulator size dictates total energy storage capacity and requires more space than a battery.
Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicles (PHEV)
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The latest hybrid technology is the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The PHEV consists of a gasoline-electric hybrid whose battery pack (usually Li-ion) is upgraded to a larger capacity, which can be recharged by either a battery charger hooked into the electrical grid or the gasoline engine (only if required). The car runs on battery power for the first 10 to 60 miles (16–100 km), with the gasoline engine available for faster acceleration, etc. After the battery is nearly discharged, the car reverts to the gasoline engine to recharge the battery and/or return the car to the charging station. This may get around the fundamental obstacle of battery range that has made nearly all pure electric cars impractical. Fuel costs (ignoring conversion costs), in principle, may be as low as 5 cents/mile. Its not clear yet whether converting an existing hybrid car will ever pay for itself in fuel savings. The biggest problem is finding a good, cheap, high-energy battery pack—the same problem that has plagued the pure electric car. If everyone plugged into the utility grid to charge up their car this would seem to be merely displacing the gasoline/diesel combustion problem to the typical coal powered electrical generating plant. But, if cars were recharged late at night this would allow the base load of the electrical system to be more efficient with a much more even base load and electrical power can also be generated by clean wind, hydro, tide power, etc. Since most travel is about 30 miles/day this may be the cleanest personal transportation system presently available. There is a cottage conversion industry for owners of existing hybrids, and several large auto industry groups (GM, Toyota, Mercedes etc.) as well as the US Department of Energy are investigating this system. No major car company (as of late 2007) offers PHEVs yet. The typical cottage industry conversion car is the Toyota Prius (cost of conversion $5k-$40k), since it is a full hybrid with enough power in its electrical system to maintain typical city speeds.
Hybrid vehicle engines and how they work
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Petroleum fuel engine assist
The first type can propel itself using only the electric motor at very low speeds. The gasoline motor also has the ability to kick in and help out the electric engine when more power is needed, such as when passing or climbing a steep grade. The Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid fall into this category.
When a car like the Toyota Prius accelerates from a standstill, the electric motor gets the vehicle rolling and continues to drive it up to around 25 mph before the gasoline engine automatically starts up. Under hard acceleration from a stop, the gas engine starts immediately to provide maximum power. The electric motor and the gas engine also work in tandem when driving conditions demand more power, such as while climbing a hill or passing other vehicles. Because the electric motor is used so much at low speeds, the Prius and Escape get better mileage in the city than they do on the highway.
Electric assist
The second type uses the electric motor only to assist the gasoline engine when it needs extra boost, again during brisk acceleration or when going up a hill. The Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight fall into the second category.
When a car like the Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid, the electric motor assists the gas engine only when driving conditions demand more power, such as during hard acceleration from a stop, while climbing a hill or passing other vehicles. As with normal, gas-powered cars, these hybrids get better fuel economy while cruising on the highway, as that is when the gas engine is least taxed.
Environmental issues
Fuel consumption and emissions reductions
The hybrid vehicle typically achieves greater fuel economy and lower emissions than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), resulting in fewer emissions being generated. These savings are primarily achieved by four elements of a typical hybrid design:
1. recapturing energy normally wasted during braking etc. (regenerative braking) This is a mechanism that reduces vehicle speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into another useful form of energy, especially in stop-and-go traffic.
2. having significant battery storage capacity to store and reuse recaptured energy;
3. shutting down the gasoline or diesel engine during traffic stops or while coasting or other idle periods;
4. improving aerodynamics ; (part of the reason that SUVs get such bad gas mileage is the drag on the car. A box shaped car or truck has to exert more force to move through the air causing more stress on the engine making it work harder. Improving the shape and aerodynamics of a car is a good way to help better the gas mileage and also improve handling at the same time.
5. using low rolling resistance tires ; (tires these days are made to give a quiet , smooth ride but rarely is efficiency considered. These tires cause a great deal of drag, once again making the engine work harder , consuming more gas mileage. Hybrid cars use special tires that are more inflated than regular tires and stiffer, which reduces the drag by about half, improving fuel economy by relieving stress of the engine.
6. relying on both the gasoline (or diesel engine) and the electric motors for peak power needs resulting in a smaller gasoline or diesel engine sized more for average usage rather than peak power usage.
These features make a hybrid vehicle particularly efficient for city traffic where there are frequent stops, coasting and idling periods. In addition noise emissions are reduced, particularly at idling and low operating speeds,[23] in comparison to conventional gasoline or diesel powered engine vehicles. For continuous high speed highway use these features are much less useful in reducing emissions.
Hybrid Vehicle Emissions
Hybrid Vehicle emissions today are getting close to or even lower than the recommended level set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). The recommended levels they suggest for a typical passenger vehicle should be equated to 5.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The three most popular hybrid vehicles, Honda Civic, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, set the standards even higher by producing 4.1, 3.5, and 3.5 tons showing a major improvement in carbon monoxide emissions.
Environmental impact of hybrid car battery
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Though hybrid cars take in substantially less petroleum than conventional cars, there is still an issue regarding the environmental damage of the Hybrid car battery. Today most Hybrid car batteries are one of two types: (1) nickel metal hydride, or (2) lithium ion; both are regarded as more environmentally friendly than lead-based batteries (which constitute the bulk of car batteries today). Jim Kliesch, author of the Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks told HybridCars.com, There are many types of batteries. Some are far more toxic than others. While batteries like lead acid or nickel cadmium are incredibly bad for the environment, the toxicity levels and environmental impact of nickel metal hydride batteries—the type currently used in hybrids—are much lower. .
Though substantially less toxic than conventional car batteries, nickel-based batteries are known carcinogens, and can lead to a wide array of other health problems (little testing has been done to show the effects of nickel on people but other possible side effects may include: xencephaly, everted viscera, short and twisted neck, short and twisted limbs, microphthalmia, hemorrhage, and reduced body size ).
Although companies are funding research to use these safer less toxic batteries, the fact of the matter is lead is so cheap, and money always plays a factor when dealing with mass production of an item.[clarify] According to a 2003 report entitled, Getting the Lead Out, by Environmental Defense and the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Mich., an estimated 2.6 million metric tons of lead can be found in the batteries of vehicles on the road today. Theres little argument that lead is extremely toxic. Scientific studies show that long-term exposure to even tiny amounts of lead can cause brain and kidney damage, hearing impairment, and learning problems in children. The auto industry uses over one million metric tons of lead every year, with 90% going to conventional lead-acid vehicle batteries. While lead recycling is a mature industry, its impossible to rescue every car battery from the dump. More than 40,000 metric tons of lead are lost to landfills every year. According to the federal Toxic Release Inventory, another 70,000 metric tons are released in the lead mining and manufacturing process. [Jim Kliesch, author of the Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks]
Raw materials shortage
There is an impeding shortage of many rare materials used in the manufacture of hybrid cars .
For example, the rare earth element dysprosium is required to fabricate many of the advanced electric motors and battery systems in hybrid propulsion systems .
Nearly all the rare earth elements in the world come from China, and many analysts believe that an overall increase in Chinese electronics manufacturing will consume this entire supply by 2012.In addition, export quotas on Chinese Rare Earth exports have resulted in a generally shaky supply of those metals .
A few non-Chinese sources such as the advanced Hoidas Lake project in northern Canada as well as Mt Weld in Australia are currently under development; however it is not known if these sources will be developed before the shortage hits.
Alternative green vehicles
Other types of green vehicles include other vehicles that go fully or partly on alternative energy sources than fossil fuel. Another option is to use alternative fuel composition (i.e. biofuels) in conventional fossil fuel-based vehicles, making them go partly on renewable energy sources.
Other approaches include personal rapid transit, a public transportation concept that offers automated on-demand non-stop transportation, on a network of specially-built guideways.
* On-board or out-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS)
* Gasoline
* Hydrogen
* Compressed Air
* Human powered e.g. pedaling or rowing
* Wind
* Compressed or Liquid Natural Gas
* Solar
* Coal, wood or other combustibles
The term most commonly refers to Hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) which includes internal combustion engines and electric motors.
Hybrid types
Vehicle type
Single-wheeled vehicles
There were large Chinese wheelbarrows depicted with sails and masts.Likewise, there are the same Chinese wheelbarrows with sailing masts depicted in the Atlas of Gerardus Mercator (1512–1594 AD), as well as the 1626 AD book Kingdom of Chinay J. Speed.[2] The English poet John Milton (1608–1674 AD) popularized the Chinese sailing carriage in Europe with a poem written in 1665.
Two-wheeled and cycle-type vehicles
Mopeds and electric bicycles are a simple form of a hybrid, as power is delivered both via an internal combustion engine or electric motor and the riders muscles. Early prototypes of motorcycles in the late 1800s used the same principles.
* In a parallel hybrid bicycle human and motor power are mechanically coupled at the pedal drive train or at the rear or the front wheel, e.g. using a hub motor, a roller pressing onto a tire, or a connection to a wheel using a transmission element. Human and motor torques are added together. Almost all manufactured models are of this type. See Motorized bicycles, Mopeds and for more information.
* In a series hybrid bicycle (SH) the user powers a generator using the pedals. This is converted into electricity and can be fed directly to the motor giving a chainless bicycle but also to charge a battery. The motor draws power from the battery and must be able to deliver the full mechanical torque required because none is available from the pedals. SH bicycles are commercially available, because they are very simple in theory and manufacturing.
The first known prototype and publication of an SH bicycle is by Augustus Kinzel (US Patent 328842317) in 1975. In 1994 Bernie Macdonalds conceived the Electrilite SH lightweight vehicle which used power electronics allowing regenerative braking and pedaling while stationary. In 1995 Thomas Müller designed a Fahrrad mit elektromagnetischem Antrieb in his 1995 diploma thesis and built a functional vehicle. In 1996 Jürg Blatter and Andreas Fuchs of Berne University of Applied Sciences built an SH bicycle and in 1998 mounted the system onto a Leitra tricycle (European patent EP 1165188). In 1999 Harald Kutzke described his concept of the active bicycle : the aim is to approach the ideal bicycle weighing nothing and having no drag by electronic compensation. Until 2005 Fuchs and colleagues built several prototype SH tricycles and quadricycles.
Heavy vehicles
Hybrid power trains are used for diesel-electric or turbo-electric railway locomotives, buses, heavy goods vehicles, mobile hydraulic machinery, and ships. Typically some form of heat engine (usually diesel) drives an electric generator or hydraulic pump which power one or more electric or hydraulic motors. There are advantages in distributing power through wires or pipes rather than mechanical elements especially when multiple drives—e.g. driven wheels or propellers—are required. There is power lost in the double conversion from typically diesel fuel to electricity to power an electric or hydraulic motor. With large vehicles the advantages often outweigh the disadvantages especially as the conversion losses typically decrease with size. Presently there is no or relatively little energy storage capacity on most heavy vehicles, e.g. auxiliary batteries and hydraulic accumulators—this is changing.
Rail transport
An example of a typical hybrid is the new Canadian, Bombardier-built railroad engine called the AGC (Autorail à grande capacité, high-capacity railcar) which has dual mode (diesel and electric motors) and dual voltage capabilities (1500 and 25000 V) allowing it to be used on many different rail systems. [2]. The first operational prototype of a hybrid train engine with significant energy storage and energy regeneration capability has been introduced in Japan as the Kiha E200. It utilizes battery packs of lithium ion batteries mounted on the roof to store recovered energy.[5] In the U.S., General Electric introduced a prototype railroad engine with their Ecomagination technology in 2007. They store energy in a large set of sodium nickel chloride (Na-NiCl2) batteries to capture and store energy normally dissipated during dynamic braking or coasting downhill. They expect at least a 10% reduction in fuel use with this system and are now spending about $2 billion/yr on hybrid research.[6] Variants of typical diesel-electrical locomotives are like the Green Goat (GG) and Green Kid (GK) switching/yard engines built by Canadas Railpower Technologies. They utilize a large set of heavy duty long life (~10 yr) rechargeable lead acid (Pba) batteries and 1000 to 2000 HP electric motors as the primary motive sources and a new clean burning diesel generator (~160 Hp) for recharging the batteries that is used only as needed. No power or fuel are wasted for idling—typically 60–85% of the time for these type locomotives. Its unclear if dynamic braking (regenerative) power is recaptured for reuse; but in principle should be easily utilized. Since these engines typical need extra weight for traction purposes anyway the battery packs weight is a negligible penalty. In addition the diesel generator and battery package are normally built on an existing retired yard locomotives frame for significant additional cost savings. The existing motors and running gear are all rebuilt and reused. Diesel fuel savings of 40–60% and up to 80% pollution reductions are claimed over that of a typical older switching/yard engine. The same advantages that existing hybrid cars have for use with frequent starts and stops and idle periods apply to typical switching yard use.[7] Green Goats locomotives have been purchased by Canadian Pacific Railway, BNSF Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad among others.
Railpower Technologies Corp. engineers working with TSI Terminal Systems Inc. in Vancouver, British Columbia are testing a hybrid diesel electric power unit with battery storage for use in Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes. RTG cranes are typically used for loading and unloading shipping containers onto trains or trucks in ports and container storage yards. The energy used to lift the containers can be partially regained when they are lowered. Diesel fuel and emission reductions of 50–70% are predicted by Railpower engineers. First systems are expected to be operational in 2007.
Road Transport, Commercial Vehicles
GM has launched hybrid versions of its full-size GMC Yukon (pictured) and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for 2008
GM has launched hybrid versions of its full-size GMC Yukon (pictured) and Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for 2008
Early hybrid systems are being investigated for trucks and other heavy highway vehicles with some operational trucks and buses starting to come into use. The main obstacles seem to be smaller fleet sizes and the extra costs of a hybrid system are yet compensated for by fuel savings, but with the price of oil set to continue on its upward trend, the tipping point may be reached by the end of 2008. Advances in technology and lowered battery cost and higher capacity etc. developed in the hybrid car industry are already filtering into truck use as Toyota, Ford, GM and others introduce hybrid pickups and SUVs. Kenworth Truck Company recently introduced a hybrid-electric truck, called the Kenworth T270 Class 6 that for city usage seems to be competitive. FedEx and others are starting to invest in hybrid delivery type vehicles—particularly for city use where hybrid technology may pay off first.The U.S. military is investigating hybrid Humvees[13] and other vehicles.
Ships
Ships with both mast-mounted sails and engines were an early form of hybrid vehicles. Newer hybrid ship-propulsion schemes include large towing kites manufactured by companies such as SkySails. Towing kites can fly at heights several times higher than the tallest ship masts, capturing stronger and steadier winds.
Engine type
Hybrid electric-petroleum vehicles
Hybrid New Flyer Metrobus
Hybrid New Flyer Metrobus
Hybrid Optare Solo
Hybrid Optare Solo
When the term hybrid vehicle is used, it most often refers to a Hybrid electric vehicle. These encompass such vehicles as the AHS2 (Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade, and the Saturn Vue), Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid and others. A petroleum-electric hybrid most commonly uses internal combustion engines (generally gasoline or Diesel engines, powered by a variety of fuels) and electric batteries to power electric motors. There are many types of petroleum-electric hybrid drivetrains, from Full hybrid to Mild hybrid, which offer varying advantages and disadvantages.
While liquid fuel/electric hybrids date back to the late 1800s, the braking regenerative hybrid was invented by David Arthurs, an electrical engineer from Springdale, Arkansas in 1978-79. His home-converted Opel GT was reported to get as much as 75MPG and plans are still sold to this original design, and the Mother Earth News modified version on their website.
Continuously outboard recharged battery electric vehicle (CORBEV)
Given suitable infrastructure, permissions and vehicles, BEVs can be recharged while the user drives. The BEV establishes contact with an electrified rail, plate or overhead wires on the highway via an attached conducting wheel or other similar mechanism (see Conduit current collection). The BEVs batteries are recharged by this process—on the highway—and can then be used normally on other roads until the battery is discharged.
This provides the advantage, in principle, of virtually unrestricted highway range as long as you stay where you have BEV infrastructure access. Since many destinations are within 100 km of a major highway, this may reduce the need for expensive battery systems. Unfortunately private use of the existing electrical system is nearly universally prohibited.
The technology for such electrical infrastructure is old and, unfortunately outside of some cities, is not widely distributed (see Conduit current collection, trams, electric rail, trolleys, third rail). Updating the required electrical and infrastructure costs can be funded, in principle, by toll revenue, gasoline or other taxes.
Hybrid fuel (dual mode)
In addition to vehicles that use two or more different devices for propulsion, some also consider vehicles that use distinct energy sources or input types ( fuels ) using the same engine to be hybrids, although to avoid confusion with hybrids as described above and to use correctly the terms, these are perhaps more correctly described as dual mode vehicles:
* Some electric trolleybuses can switch between an on board diesel engine and overhead electrical power depending on conditions (see dual mode bus). In principle, this could be combined with a battery subsystem to create a true plug-in hybrid trolleybus, although as of 2006, no such design seems to have been announced.
* Flexible-fuel vehicles can use a mixture of input fuels (petroleum and biofuels) in one tank — typically gasoline and bioethanol or biobutanol, though diesel-biodiesel vehicles would also qualify.
* Dual mode:Liquified petroleum gas and natural gas are very different from petroleum or diesel and cannot be used in the same tanks, so it would be impossible to build an (LPG or NG) flexible fuel system. Instead vehicles are built with two, parallel, fuel systems feeding one engine. While the duplicated tanks cost space in some applications, the increased range and flexibility where (LPG or NG) infrastructure is incomplete may be a significant incentive to purchase.
* Some vehicles have been modified to use another fuel source if it is available, such as cars modified to run on autogas (LPG) and diesels modified to run on waste vegetable oil that has not been processed into biodiesel.
* Power-assist mechanisms for bicycles and other human-powered vehicles are also included.
Fluid power hybrid
Hydraulic and pneumatic hybrid vehicles use an engine to charge a pressure accumulator to drive the wheels via hydraulic or pneumatic (i.e. compressed air) drive units. The energy recovery rate is higher and therefore the system is more efficient than battery charged hybrids, demonstrating a 60% to 70% increase in energy economy in EPA testing [16]. Under tests done by the EPA, a hydraulic hybrid Ford Expedition returned 32 mpg–U.S. (7.35 L/100 km / 38.4 mpg–imp) City, and 22 mpg–U.S. (10.69 L/100 km / 26.4 mpg–imp) highway.
UPS currently has two trucks in service with this technology.
While the system has faster and more efficient charge/discharge cycling and is cheaper than gaselectric hybrids, the accumulator size dictates total energy storage capacity and requires more space than a battery.
Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicles (PHEV)
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The latest hybrid technology is the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The PHEV consists of a gasoline-electric hybrid whose battery pack (usually Li-ion) is upgraded to a larger capacity, which can be recharged by either a battery charger hooked into the electrical grid or the gasoline engine (only if required). The car runs on battery power for the first 10 to 60 miles (16–100 km), with the gasoline engine available for faster acceleration, etc. After the battery is nearly discharged, the car reverts to the gasoline engine to recharge the battery and/or return the car to the charging station. This may get around the fundamental obstacle of battery range that has made nearly all pure electric cars impractical. Fuel costs (ignoring conversion costs), in principle, may be as low as 5 cents/mile. Its not clear yet whether converting an existing hybrid car will ever pay for itself in fuel savings. The biggest problem is finding a good, cheap, high-energy battery pack—the same problem that has plagued the pure electric car. If everyone plugged into the utility grid to charge up their car this would seem to be merely displacing the gasoline/diesel combustion problem to the typical coal powered electrical generating plant. But, if cars were recharged late at night this would allow the base load of the electrical system to be more efficient with a much more even base load and electrical power can also be generated by clean wind, hydro, tide power, etc. Since most travel is about 30 miles/day this may be the cleanest personal transportation system presently available. There is a cottage conversion industry for owners of existing hybrids, and several large auto industry groups (GM, Toyota, Mercedes etc.) as well as the US Department of Energy are investigating this system. No major car company (as of late 2007) offers PHEVs yet. The typical cottage industry conversion car is the Toyota Prius (cost of conversion $5k-$40k), since it is a full hybrid with enough power in its electrical system to maintain typical city speeds.
Hybrid vehicle engines and how they work
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Petroleum fuel engine assist
The first type can propel itself using only the electric motor at very low speeds. The gasoline motor also has the ability to kick in and help out the electric engine when more power is needed, such as when passing or climbing a steep grade. The Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid fall into this category.
When a car like the Toyota Prius accelerates from a standstill, the electric motor gets the vehicle rolling and continues to drive it up to around 25 mph before the gasoline engine automatically starts up. Under hard acceleration from a stop, the gas engine starts immediately to provide maximum power. The electric motor and the gas engine also work in tandem when driving conditions demand more power, such as while climbing a hill or passing other vehicles. Because the electric motor is used so much at low speeds, the Prius and Escape get better mileage in the city than they do on the highway.
Electric assist
The second type uses the electric motor only to assist the gasoline engine when it needs extra boost, again during brisk acceleration or when going up a hill. The Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight fall into the second category.
When a car like the Honda Insight and Civic Hybrid, the electric motor assists the gas engine only when driving conditions demand more power, such as during hard acceleration from a stop, while climbing a hill or passing other vehicles. As with normal, gas-powered cars, these hybrids get better fuel economy while cruising on the highway, as that is when the gas engine is least taxed.
Environmental issues
Fuel consumption and emissions reductions
The hybrid vehicle typically achieves greater fuel economy and lower emissions than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), resulting in fewer emissions being generated. These savings are primarily achieved by four elements of a typical hybrid design:
1. recapturing energy normally wasted during braking etc. (regenerative braking) This is a mechanism that reduces vehicle speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into another useful form of energy, especially in stop-and-go traffic.
2. having significant battery storage capacity to store and reuse recaptured energy;
3. shutting down the gasoline or diesel engine during traffic stops or while coasting or other idle periods;
4. improving aerodynamics ; (part of the reason that SUVs get such bad gas mileage is the drag on the car. A box shaped car or truck has to exert more force to move through the air causing more stress on the engine making it work harder. Improving the shape and aerodynamics of a car is a good way to help better the gas mileage and also improve handling at the same time.
5. using low rolling resistance tires ; (tires these days are made to give a quiet , smooth ride but rarely is efficiency considered. These tires cause a great deal of drag, once again making the engine work harder , consuming more gas mileage. Hybrid cars use special tires that are more inflated than regular tires and stiffer, which reduces the drag by about half, improving fuel economy by relieving stress of the engine.
6. relying on both the gasoline (or diesel engine) and the electric motors for peak power needs resulting in a smaller gasoline or diesel engine sized more for average usage rather than peak power usage.
These features make a hybrid vehicle particularly efficient for city traffic where there are frequent stops, coasting and idling periods. In addition noise emissions are reduced, particularly at idling and low operating speeds,[23] in comparison to conventional gasoline or diesel powered engine vehicles. For continuous high speed highway use these features are much less useful in reducing emissions.
Hybrid Vehicle Emissions
Hybrid Vehicle emissions today are getting close to or even lower than the recommended level set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). The recommended levels they suggest for a typical passenger vehicle should be equated to 5.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The three most popular hybrid vehicles, Honda Civic, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, set the standards even higher by producing 4.1, 3.5, and 3.5 tons showing a major improvement in carbon monoxide emissions.
Environmental impact of hybrid car battery
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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)
Though hybrid cars take in substantially less petroleum than conventional cars, there is still an issue regarding the environmental damage of the Hybrid car battery. Today most Hybrid car batteries are one of two types: (1) nickel metal hydride, or (2) lithium ion; both are regarded as more environmentally friendly than lead-based batteries (which constitute the bulk of car batteries today). Jim Kliesch, author of the Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks told HybridCars.com, There are many types of batteries. Some are far more toxic than others. While batteries like lead acid or nickel cadmium are incredibly bad for the environment, the toxicity levels and environmental impact of nickel metal hydride batteries—the type currently used in hybrids—are much lower. .
Though substantially less toxic than conventional car batteries, nickel-based batteries are known carcinogens, and can lead to a wide array of other health problems (little testing has been done to show the effects of nickel on people but other possible side effects may include: xencephaly, everted viscera, short and twisted neck, short and twisted limbs, microphthalmia, hemorrhage, and reduced body size ).
Although companies are funding research to use these safer less toxic batteries, the fact of the matter is lead is so cheap, and money always plays a factor when dealing with mass production of an item.[clarify] According to a 2003 report entitled, Getting the Lead Out, by Environmental Defense and the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Mich., an estimated 2.6 million metric tons of lead can be found in the batteries of vehicles on the road today. Theres little argument that lead is extremely toxic. Scientific studies show that long-term exposure to even tiny amounts of lead can cause brain and kidney damage, hearing impairment, and learning problems in children. The auto industry uses over one million metric tons of lead every year, with 90% going to conventional lead-acid vehicle batteries. While lead recycling is a mature industry, its impossible to rescue every car battery from the dump. More than 40,000 metric tons of lead are lost to landfills every year. According to the federal Toxic Release Inventory, another 70,000 metric tons are released in the lead mining and manufacturing process. [Jim Kliesch, author of the Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks]
Raw materials shortage
There is an impeding shortage of many rare materials used in the manufacture of hybrid cars .
For example, the rare earth element dysprosium is required to fabricate many of the advanced electric motors and battery systems in hybrid propulsion systems .
Nearly all the rare earth elements in the world come from China, and many analysts believe that an overall increase in Chinese electronics manufacturing will consume this entire supply by 2012.In addition, export quotas on Chinese Rare Earth exports have resulted in a generally shaky supply of those metals .
A few non-Chinese sources such as the advanced Hoidas Lake project in northern Canada as well as Mt Weld in Australia are currently under development; however it is not known if these sources will be developed before the shortage hits.
Alternative green vehicles
Other types of green vehicles include other vehicles that go fully or partly on alternative energy sources than fossil fuel. Another option is to use alternative fuel composition (i.e. biofuels) in conventional fossil fuel-based vehicles, making them go partly on renewable energy sources.
Other approaches include personal rapid transit, a public transportation concept that offers automated on-demand non-stop transportation, on a network of specially-built guideways.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Huge South American Drug Ring Busted - With Ties To Hezbollah
I've been writing for quite some time on narco-terrorism and how it helps finance jihad. And, if you take it one step further, there's not much of a problem smuggling jihadis into America as a side product to the trade via our porous Southern border.Here's a great example of one such tie in that's now out in the open:In cooperation with various other countries, Dutch authorities have rounded up a big cocaine gang that had links with Hezbollah. Seventeen suspects were arrested on Curacao, the biggest island of the Netherlands Antilles, the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) has revealed.International cooperation between police and judicial services of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles, Belgium, Colombia, Venezuela and the US led to the arrest of the 17 suspects by the Curacao police. They are believed to be part of a drugs and money-laundering organisation with international branches, thought to be responsible for the import and export of at least 2,000 kilos of cocaine per year, according to the OM. "The organisation maintained international contacts with other criminal networks, which in the Middle East support Hezbollah financially".In this investigation, launched at the beginning of 2008, containers with cocaine were intercepted earlier in Rotterdam (300 kilos), the Spanish city of Valencia (20 kilos) and the Belgian city of Antwerp (140 kilos). Three Colombian suspects have for some time been in pre-trial custody for their involvement in the Rotterdam shipment, discovered in October 2008.The 17 suspects now arrested are from Venezuela, Colombia, Lebanon and Cuba as well as Curacao. The organisation shipped containers with cocaine from Curacao to the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Jordan. From Venezuela, drugs containers went to West Africa and subsequently to the Netherlands, Lebanon and Spain. Couriers smuggled cocaine from Curacao and Aruba to the Netherlands as air passengers.The suspects invested the drugs profits in property in Colombia, Venezuela, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic and in companies on Curacao. Large sums of money from the drugs trade have become available in Lebanon via underground bankers. From Lebanon, orders are also placed for weapons, which had to be delivered by the drugs organisation from South America. Keep in mind that Hezbollah's stronghold in Lebanon's Bek'aa Valley is a major drug producing area.Hezbollah are not merely couriers and financial partners but suppliers. And while the article doesn't say so, there's no doubt in my mind that part of the deal involves obtaining scare foreign exchange for Hezbollah's boss, Iran.As terrorism expert and best selling author Steve Emerson has documented, Hezbollah has cells of operatives already in America. Now you know one way they finance and sustain their infrastructure.These are the people Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton want to normalize as 'just another political party'. Unbelievable.Hat tip, the one and only Fausta..and an honorable mention to The Baron and Dymphna
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