Couldn't Have said it better myself.

I just read a really good commentary on electric vehicles.

You can read it in it here
http://www.diyelectriccar.com/blogs/2008/07/electric-cars-are-the-way-of-the-future.html

The great part is...

I believe EVs will become the primary personal transport not because of any political beliefs I have but because of what I call the LCD (Least Common Denominator) factor. The gist of it is that all forms of energy can be converted into electricity, but not all forms of energy are interchangable. I certainly can't fill up a diesel engine with hydrogen and if the world runs out of both Oil and Corn, well, my flex fuel vehicle isn't going to go very far. On the flip side, there will always be wind, running water, temperature differences, fusable atoms, the sun (so long as I'm alive, at least), and many other sources for generating electricity. It appears to be the least common denominator.

This... Is what I'm saying.

Tony

Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog

http://drhorrible.com/

This is off topic, but it's great. It also makes the point that quality (good writing), has a good chance of overcoming even the silliest ides. This is warm and fuzzy and great.

Enjoy,

Tony

About the Chevy Volt

There has been a great deal of critism lately leveled at the Chevy Volt. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal that was very harsh. At first glance much of the critism seem reasonable.

• People really want big cars.
• Electricity can be more poluting than gas.
• The generator will not be as effecient as promised.
• The Volt will be too expensive

However, the facts on the ground are rapidly changing. Theories on pricing and economy are frequently based on current fuel cost, current emissions and current thinking.

SUV sales are plumetting. This is not just a recent change, Hybrids have been doing well, and many consumers are waiting for the car they ‘want’ to be released as a Hybrid. I personally don’t see this as an endorsement of ‘Hybrids’ as much as an endorsement for change.

Technology is also changing, with $4 gas, industry and investors are all scrambling for a piece of the alternative energy ‘pie’. Better batteries, motor, generators are all on the horizon. How much better remains to be seen. Where we end up is a guessing game.

The primary benefit of the ‘Volt’ is that it doesn’t really care where the electricity comes from. It can come from an outlet (coal or nuclear), it can come from a generator (Gas, Diesel, Ethanol, Vegetable oil, hydrogen). It could come from the sun or a lightning rod if you’re lucky. While the first version of the Volt is planned to be gas, it just a matter of changing out the generator to convert to newer technologies. Current Hybrids are well tuned machines relying on the engine for the heavy lifting; they can’t be easily unplugged and ‘swapped’.
As battery technology increases, you will be able to unplug your old batteries and replace them with newer, lighter, cheaper alternatives.

It is easy dismiss the idea of the onboard generator as being ‘inefficient’. It has been suggest that an electric car on a generator could get as low as 15 mile to the gallon. While, I think that is and unreasonably low estimate (my research in the subject suggests that 20 miles would be the worst case scenario for an extremely inefficient system for a car of the Volts weight in heavy driving), I think creating a car that hit 40 miles per gallon, would be pretty darn easy.

Still the efficiency is not really the point of the generator. The generator removes the ‘compromise’ factor of the electric car. Consumers worry about not being able to drive their car, because it’s out of charge. They won’t buy a car that they are afraid will strand them. The generator serves as a ‘safety’ net. It also allows them to plan the yearly trip to grandmas knowing that their family car will get them there quickly and reliably.

To me the Volt seems to be shaping up into a great ‘no compromise’ product that will well serve the customers who can afford it. I also believe, it could turn into a profitable and growing platform for a fleet of future low cost, efficient ‘no compromise’ cars and trucks.

Kids and cel phones

Recently a blogger on information week posted the following editorial.

"Stop Reading Your Kids' Text Messages"
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/07/stop_reading_yo.html

As this relates to families and adapting to future technologies, I thought I'd share my perspective.
This is the letter I sent to her...

Cora,
As a privacy advocate and a parent, I would like to offer you another perspective. I have several jobs as a parent; security, sustenance, education, entertainment. Security is first, because if you’re not safe, and don’t feel safe, you can’t have eat, read, or have fun. I don’t spend a lot of time on safety, my girls know the basics, I manage the environment, but I know that I can’t focus on the other things if there are risks.

My girls will probably get a cell phone for security reasons, when they enter third grade. They are in second and kindergarten now. They are not getting a phone so they can text their friends, or so they can call them. They are getting a phone so if someone forgets to pick them up, or they get into a fight at a friend’s, or the house is locked and they can’t get it, they can call for help. As I step away from the 24 /7 protection, that I’ve provided so far, I would like them to have a security blanket, a tool to help them. A phone. This is not a necessity, but a benefit that our income provides. Kids do not need cell phones for social reasons, many parents don’t believe that even high school kids should have one. I disagree, but that doesn’t mean that I believe my 3rd grader will be old enough, or responsible enough to have a ‘secure’ means of communication.

Let’s be clear, it’s my job to eavesdrop on my kids. I have to listen to how they interact with their friends, their family. I have to coach them on manners, attitude, and just being nice. As they mature, I will have to step back from that, but I cannot give up my responsibilities to keep them safe, to grow strong, smart, giving kids.

When my daughters get their phones, they will understand that I will know who they are calling, and what they are texting. I will read them eagerly in the beginning and less so when they get older. This will allow me to coach my child on appropriate uses, and keep her safe.

One of the benefits she will enjoy when she buys her first phone, is the knowledge that it’s not mine, just like her first car, and her first apartment.

I guess my largest point, Is my kids trust us to keep them safe. That is the promise we make, you worry about school and learning and having fun, I’ll take care of the rest. I tell my girls I will keep them safe, I tell them that I will read their emails, call logs, and text messages. When they get older they know they will take my place, and be responsible for safety, but now it’s my job.

She is not old enough yet to keep her own room clean, she needs training wheels to ride a bike, and she’ll need training wheels to use a phone.

Trust is the ability to rely on someone or something. My daughter can rely on me, rely on me to help them, listen to them and teach them and as much as possible, keep them safe.

I’m her training wheels, and I’m not giving up the job, it the best job in the world.

Tony Wilson
Chief of family security,
Morning cook,
Tenured professor of life skills at the University of Family
And clown.

Ps One last quick point, kids need to learn the skill of knowing who could be listening. They need to know the will live in a world where bosses can read work email. They don’t have to transmit their innermost thoughts on SMS, and when they learn to differentiate medium and message, that another skill I’ve taught them.

Alternative Energy Vehicles

No one can argue that change is coming in the auto industry, but what will that change be? Will gas prices continue to rise, will hybrids continue to grow, or will they be overshadowed by hydrogen or electric?

I've been reading allot about electric vehicle conversions, this is the process of taking an current vehicle and removing all the gas bits, (which is a lot) and replacing those bits with an electric motor, batteries, charger, and controller.

So, for example, today you could buy a classic VW convertible for $3500 put a couple grand in body work, and 4 grand in electronics and for less than $10,000 you could have a stylish, fun, fuel efficient car for driving around town. This car would perform better than the original and the components (except the batteries), would last longer.

That is technology available today.

Look at the some of the conversions that have already been done...
http://www.evalbum.com/type These are all cars created by hobbyists at a considerable costs, but as more money is spent on research.

These components will get simpler and less expensive, similar to the way computer components dropped in price and conformed to advanced standards.

If you want range you can add something like this...
http://www.jstraubel.com/EVpusher/EVpusher2.htm (I don't actually like this method, which works by literally pushing the car, I think it's dangerous, but there are similar designs that simply generate electricity, they are less efficient, but safer and simpler). I'll write more on these trailers later.

Yes, we know about electric cars, and generators, but these aren't mainstream products and they probably never will be....

Agreed, but they will shape the mainstream. As hobbyists continue to pursue this field, the platforms will be more unified, and there will be an opportunity for a Linux type community for form around this. Instead of car design being limited to large manufacturers, cars will be able to be designed in garages again, in different form factors. Power, shape, performance characteristics can be grown to suit and adapted over time.

Electric components are more manageable than mechanical components. Only a few of us would ever dream of pulling that great engine out of the Acura and putting it into a PT Cruiser, but with new technology, people will be able to buy a simple body, and a great engine. Later as car styles change, they could upgrade the body, without losing their investment in batteries, and motors.

This will drastically reshape the auto industry. It make used cars more interesting, and obsolete overnight.

There will be a market for....

• Converting used cars of classic body styles.
• Safety upgrades on classic cars.
• Upgrade components.
• Professional performance tuning.
• New cars that conform to published standard will be of increased value.
• New cars will be sold as less expensive shells for external setup.
• Rental of external 'Range extenders' designed for a variety of tasks.
• Custom vehicals for vertical markets.

When considering these changes consider the growth of the home computer industry. In the beginning there were 'home brew' computer clubs. This created a few companies that were able to market that knowledge into a complete package. Several years later, there was a 'boom' caused by the standardization of the AT platform that allowed many different computers to be built. Later the ATX platform made home made computers profitable, and almost all the components available at Best Buy.

Where is the world going?

So, I'm in the process of changing. It starts with 'tuning'. I really looked at myself, I found I was tired more than I wanted to be. I talked with my Doctor, had a sleep study, surgery on my nose. When that wasn't 100% went back to Doctor. Now I'm on medicine for ADD. I can write a lot on that subject, but for now... I'm a fan.

Intellectually, I'm closer to who I want to be, but I'm still distracted by all the possible options. All the paths that are before me. I need to really invest in something, and see how far I can take it. I need to really find out if I'm as smart as I think I am, as good as I'd like to be.

If I were reasonable, I'd start out with a potential list of goals, and skills and then I'd try to map those skills to the goals and pick something practical. I'm not going to do that.

I'm going to think about the future, I'm going to read about the future, I'm going to get smarter about the technology that intrigues me, and I'm going to try to share that knowledge with anyone who is interested.

Current future trends that interest me...

• Robotics.
• Alternative energy vehicles.
• Long form television.
• Social gaming.
• How DVRs will affect viewing and content.
• Working remotely.
• Technology in education
• Other questions.

These are some of the topics I'll be researching and sharing.

Why "Repeat as Necessary"

My life is currently not what I want it to be.

For most of us, on some level, this statement is almost always true. There is always a problem of some form, that needs to be addressed. Still at this exact moment of my life, I'm faced with a somewhat unique position. My family, my home, my friends are all great. There are problems, but they are manageable and acceptable. All of the external inputs into my world are happy, safe, charming.

The problem is, I don't like who I am right now. I feel overwhelmed by the personality I've created for myself. A constant pressure to be worthy of the life I have around me. This pressure has become a distraction. I want to create something 'great'.

I want to "Change the world".

These are things I have always imagined, and dreamed of. I poured some sweat, and money trying to recreate the kind of change that was caused by Wozniak and Jobs when they started Apple computer.

According to http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/popclockworld.html, there are 6,708,560,184 people alive today. Maybe 10,000 of them will really get do do something even close to the kind of world changing creation I dream of.

As opportunities flow near me, I struggle with my desires for play, and my desire to create something. More so, I struggle with my fear of failure. My fear of wasted effort.

When I learned to play hockey, I created my own saying, which I choose to believe.

"When you are skating, you are going to fall down a predetermined number
of times. When you fall, rejoice, you got that one out of the way."

I think it worked for me, because I was sure that I would learn to skate. Still I fear that I won't change the world. In my life I've gone through many episodes of growth and rediscovery. All have left me closer to the man I want to be. I'm in the end of the first act, of one of those stages now. I'm tired of changing, I'm discouraged and I'm scared. So, I remind myself.

Observe, Change, Repeat as Necessary.