Turbo-Diesel- Hybrid Killer?

We all know the cars. A Toyota Prius comes rolling down the road, silent as it is running on its battery, the owner happily getting 48 mpg. Hybrids represent a gigantic (overdue) leap forward in car technology. Highly efficient, great for city driving, and an all around good car. There are a few problems facing hybrid. they need a new battery every 125,000 miles, which costs around $4500 at present day prices. The harming of the Nickel-Hydraide is more harmful to the environment than the carbon emissions saved. But the main problem is with highway driving. When driving above 30 mph he electric motor turns off and it goes into normal petrol mode. While still efficient, it loses out on its overall mpg here.

Inset the clean diesel. Already a staple in Europe, where the fuel of choice is diesel, it is finally catching on here in America. Take the Volkwswagen Jetta TDI. Using a 1.6 litre turbo-diesel motor, the car get an astonishing 38 mpg city, and 50 highway. The average American commuter spends most of their time at highway speeds. Thus making it a more fuel efficient vehicle.




Then comes the prospect of driving. With 148hp and 250 ft lb. of torque, it is by no means a slouch. Whereas most hybrids accelerate at the speed of hair growth, the TDI accelerates as fast if not faster than the average car. And diesel in America is still in its infancy. The Audi A1 in Europe, when powered by the TDI motor, gets an astounding 68 mpg combined.


(The Audi R8 Concept-powered by a 600hp diesel- that gets 30 mpg)



There are however some problems with diesels. They still depend on oil, which is a limited resource, as well as having a higher cost here in America due to the lack of diversity in the diesel market. Besides that they are the same as a normal car, with no major motor work to be done for at least 200,000 miles.

In the future, expect to see diesel-electric hybrids, such as the new UP!. A company owned by Mercedes, it seats two, is powered by a deisel-hybrid, and gets 135 mpg!

The future is bright for Turbo Diesel Cars.

Technology-Friend or Foe?

When most people think of technology today, we think of the computer, cell phones, high-def TV's, and the likes. These are great examples of how far humans have come from the the wheel and arrowhead. However, numerous people have a hat for technology. Some of their points are valid. Time wasting, irrelevant, mind numbing, these are all arguments against technology. And generally they are directed at the entertainment aspect of these devices.

What people generally forget to think about is the main reason why that piece of technology is there. Sure, my laptop is great for surfing Facebook, watching stupid videos, and downloading music. But it serves a greater purpose than that. It is a toll first and foremost. Be it for school work, or editing film, its main purpose is to make my life easier. And thats what technology is all about. Making your life easier.



People may not think of it, but the pulley, wheel, and even spear are all tools designed to make your task at hand easier. Cell phones originally were intended just to talk without having a hardline. And that still is the main use. Sure you can surf the internet, take pictures, and play games. But when you look at it, it still is used the most as a communication device, be it e-mail, text, IM, or even an old fashioned phone call.




So I believe that technology is a friend. Sure it can distract you and consume, but only if you let it. After all, every piece of technology is a tool, its how you use the tool that determines how you perceive it.

Socialist College?

In society today, most of the higher paying jobs that are not vocational, usually require some type of higher level education. And to remain competitive, the more prestigious the university, the better. This also has an adverse affect, as the more prestigious, the more the cost of tuition. This is a problem effecting thousands of college bound students and their family daily. For instance, wile looking at schools to transfer to, the tuition ranges enormously. Take for instance George Washington University. They have an annual tuition of $40k a year. This is on top of trying to live in DC, where a normal lunch goes for triple the going rate in York. This is something that I have to consider seeing that my parents will only pay for so much with a sister in college and a little brother planning to attend in 2 years.




This is not how this scene plays out in countries such as Germany and Japan. As you continue on through your high school years, your grades, GPA, and interviews, determine which college you would go to if you plan on attending. Be it a traditional college, or a vocational school, all public universities are absolutely free for the student. And their Universities have consistently ranked academically with the best in the world(Stanford, Dartmouth, Oxford, etc.)

Now you don't have to go to a public school, there are private institutions in Germany, these however are for the students who didn't perform well enough to get into their desired state college. Opponents against a free education have some valid points. Ranging from the increase in taxes, to not having as high a level of education. The argument against lower academics is invalid, as we can see that free colleges worldwide perform at the level or above that of the best private institutions. There is no hiding that taxes would be higher, but with the amount spent on college loans and subsidies by the Federal and State governments, the amount wouldn't be astronomical. And the benefits would far outweigh the costs. I would allow the families and students to have more money, thus spending more and stimulating the economy. It would also ensure that everyone would have a chance to become educated, making the United States a key player in innovation, thus steering us away from the world view that we are a nation of idiots.

In conclusion, while I am adamant about this idea, I do realize that it is a long shot from ever happening. We are a country that values prestige and status, thus making the idea of everyone being equal and having an equal chance seem a little to socialist for most Americans. Maybe a compromise of more government subsidies for college students would help? But as stated earlier, most politicians claim education reform, and that usually turns into a false promise.

Mass Transit?

The topic of my blog today is going to be something that plagues cities across, the world, no its not overcrowding, the poor, or even crime. The problem I plan to address is transportation, with specific regard to mass transit. It is a scene we have come to expect when traveling to lager cities. Horns honking, traffic lined up for miles, road rage, and just general chaos. An its not even limited to major metropolitan areas. Even York is plagued by congestion on its major thoroughfares. When you take a look at what cities around the planet have low traffic, most are centered around Europe. European society values cities much more compared to America, so it would be expected that they have figured out some of the issues.
There are two main reasons for the less congestion. They drive much smaller cars, and they use alternative methods of travel. In countries like Germany, over 80% of the nation uses public transport on a daily basis. This is possible due to the extensive train, bus, and subway services available to the public, as well as the efficiency of their systems. It is often joked that you could set your watch to the German train system.



So what would we have to do to match the urban centers of Europe. Some cities in the United States already have efficient and well used mass transit systems. Portland, Oregon for example is leading the stride for better mass transit. The problem with the system right now is the lack of synchronization. You can get around fine in the city, but if your a commuter, or live in a different city, you usually have to take 3 different types of travel, with long overlaps in between. If we invested in a larger, more cohesive, faster, and better looking(lets not lie here, most old city buses and trains look horrendous), we would have less congestion. And we all know that when there is less congestion, people are happier.
So in conclusion I leave it up to you. Would you rather be sitting in traffic in the middle of summer with thousands of others, or be enjoying a smooth ride on a new, fast and efficient train?