Argonne National Laboratory Transportation Technology R&D Center

If you want to keep up with the cutting edge developments in advanced automotive technology like fuel cells, hybrids, etc, check out this web site.



Argonne National Laboratory Transportation Technology R&D Center

Warren Buffett has $36 Billion in cash, and that's just sad.

According to the New York Times, Warren Buffet reported that he is holding as much cash as he can due to uncertainty in the economy. This is just sad. Here's one of the smartest investors in the world, if not THE smartest, and he can't be confident of making more than a puny money market rate of return on his capital.

Needless to say, this keeps $36 Billion out of productive use. I think back to the Bible story where the father throws the son out of the house because he buries the money entrusted to him rather than putting it to productive use. Of course, money market funds are productive, but only to a degree.

Finally, what does this say about George W. Bush and establishment confidence in the Bush Economic Plan?



Buffett Has Cash Holdings of $36 Billion
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Wellspent.org - another option for effortless fundraising?
Whenever I make a significant consumer purchase, I try to use scrip so that my childrens' school can get a little extra money. It sure beats selling popcorn.

While looking for something else, I stumbled upon www.wellspent.org. This site actually had the best price on the first thing I looked at, and 2% goes to the charity of your choice. It's worth checking out the next time you buy something.


wellspent.org - Save Money. Support Non-Profits.

Peyton Manning and the Peyback Foundation - Doing the minimum for the maximum attention


Peyton Manning touts his contributions to disadvantaged kids through the Peyback foundation. Per his website $320k since 1999. This is not all coming from Peyton though. Numerous corporate sponsors are listed.

Here's an open letter to you Peyton. You are taking a lot of money out of our city, Indianapolis, Marion County. We have schools that have been starved for funding for public projects like the football stadium that brought the Colts to Indianapolis. Here's a proposition: Pay to air condition one school per year.

The city is talking about funding a $200-300 million stadium. The least you can do is kick in $5 million for the kids. $300k of other peoples' money just isn't that impressive.


Peyton Manning.com > PeyBack Foundation

Peyton Manning and the Great Apes

Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning has been in the news lately for his new $99 million contract with a $34.5 million signing bonus.

This shows how out of whack our priorities are. Below is a link from the United Nations. They are begging for $25 million to save all of the great apes (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, orangutan and Bonobos) from extinction. Hey Peyton, why don't you really "pey back" and cut a check for the whole amount. They can name wildlife sanctuaries after you.


$25 Million Urgently Needed To Save Great Apes, U.N. Says

A Big Onion for Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is in my doghouse for customer service. I received an e-mail advertisement in my inbox ostensibly from Southwest. When I went to find the unsubscribe information, the message directed me to go to the southwest website. When I clicked two menus deep into the website, the site told me I wasn't on their mailing list.

I then looked for an e-mail contact at southwest only to find out that Southwest doesn't accept e-mail. That's funny, because they market with e-mail.

I called two different customer service numbers. Finally one person told me that the message didn't come from Southwest, it came from a spoofing virus. Maybe yes, maybe no, but it appears that Southwest has a policy of sending e-mail marketing messages and not accepting replies. Further, a Google.com search tells me that Southwest has had problems with spoofing before, but there is no mention of it on the website. Finally, from the link below, the policy of not accepting e-mail and resulting low customer service ratings is not a new situation. This goes back at least to 2000.

So, Southwest, you are in my doghouse. Stop quivering in fear and get back to work.


Airlines hit snag with online customer service | CNET News.com

Where for art thou Ford Escape Hybrid?

I stumbled on this press release from April 2000 touting the hybrid version of the Ford Escape to be available in 2003. This is the first I can remember any press release noting that the basic technology of the car comes from earlier Volvo projects.



Ford Escape to have clean, efficient hybrid-electric powertrain in 2003

Where for art thou Ford Escape Hybrid?

I stumbled on this press release from April 2000 touting the hybrid version of the Ford Escape to be available in 2003. This is the first I can remember any press release noting that the basic technology of the car comes from earlier Volvo projects.



Ford Escape to have clean, efficient hybrid-electric powertrain in 2003

Pokemon PT Cruiser to be auctioned on eBay

Ck out the specially built Pokemon PT Cruiser. My 6 year-old loves Pokemon. I think he'd have a hard time coming up with the money to buy this car.

Motor Trend News - Pokemon-e PT Cruiser To Be Auctioned On eBay

Starsky & Hutch Torinos making a comeback?

I never liked the red Torino with the white stripe driven by Starksky & Hutch. So naturally, the car is making a revival with the new Ben Stiller & Owen Wilson movie.

There's now a website dedicated to the Starsky model Torinos.

Starsky and Hutch Torinos