On the Radio - Regina Spektor

The following is a really cool song, On the Radio by a great artist my brother recently introduced me to, Regina Spektor. I particularly like the inescapable logic she incorporates into her song: "you try until you can't." Hope you like it!

Hybrid Cars

I’m in Chile for the year-end holidays and I’ve been driven around in a Hybrid Honda Civic. This is the first time I’m actually on a Hybrid so I thought I’d dedicate a post to it, and hopefully convince some out there to buy one.

The first thing you notice is the discreet, yet very satisfying “Hybrid” Logo on the right side of the back of the car. In Santiago Chile (a City of over five million people), where there are possibly 200 of these vehicles in circulation, it is something people take notice. Driving this car, even being onboard this car, conveys a powerful yet plain and simple message: I’m working to reduce my emissions. Already many of our family friends are talking about the car: “did you see their new car? It’s a Hybrid!” People want to see it, people want to drive it, and it’s an important fuss because it promotes interest and ultimately car-replacement purchases.

The driving of the car is an interesting experience in-and-of itself. The battery assists the engine during moments of high acceleration (when the most gas is burned). It then gets recharged when you break. A little widget on the sideboard actually shows you when the battery is assisting or recharging, check it out:

This assisting of the engine is really astounding! Instead the noisy engine noise you get when a typical car moves from standstill to first and second gear you get a smooth, noiseless electrical experience. The battery takes the car into what seems like second gear, then the engine kicks in. Now, given that the energy is provided by both a battery and a typical motor, I think that it is not possible to get these cars in stick-shift. Indeed, I’ve been thinking that this is probably going to be true of any electrical engine going forward. I don’t know, but it would seem that electric cars would not use gear boxes. A dead technology or something that will survive only in select types of vehicles?

I said it first

I just want to point out that, in case you read this article , I want to point out that I said it first here. If Google wins the upcoming 700mhz auction things will change dramatically.

Snooth

I registered for Snooth, a new wine recommendation and social network engine. So far I have only rated 6 wines but I already have 40 recommendations. This leads me to believe that the engine is working, however, I won’t know for certain until I actually purchase and drink one of the recommended wines on the list. If you like wines I think it’s a pretty cool option for exploration and discovery of new bottles. If you do join, friend me!

I tried, to no avail, to incorporate their widget to my blog. Either their code is not working or I am doing something wrong.

I’m going to take this opportunity to rate two more wines as well. I had a 1975 (nineteen seventy five is the name of the winery) Amber Knolls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. It was great! Recommended by the sommelier, the wine was very smooth and easy to drink, a little spicy, and basically the best wine I have had in a while.

Tonight I accompanied my dinner with a Castano Solanera Vinas Viejas Yecla 2004. While not as good as the 75 I liked this wine. It’s a strong combination of three varietals that could do with another year of cellaring. It goes very well with strong salty cheeses or Mediterranean tapas. Ohh, I love tapas!