Man Gas is Expensive

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So we are up something like a buck thirty per gallon  from this time last year. The commute to my new job has knocked a few MPG off what I used to get. In the Vibe I used to do 33-34 most of the time, but I have been getting more like 30. This is the worst I have consistently gotten. With gas prices crazy high I have been doing some mild hypermiling and cutting my expressway speed down to 60 or 65. At my fill up this morning I calculated 33.6mpg for the tank. Not too bad. Continue reading →

How to not loose a bookmark

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I downloaded a book on our new iPad to read. I figure I will give this new-fangled eBook thing a try. It has been a  fine experience so far with only one big surprise. I put the book on my old iPhone as well as the iPad. I really don’t carry the iPad around too much, and thought it would be nice to have it on my phone for when I have to wait in line, at the doctors office etc.

The one thing that was bugging me was how to remember where I left off.

With a real book it’s easy: use a bookmark. eBooks can use bookmarks, but how am I going to keep them synced? Imagine having two copies of a book and when you put one down moving the bookmark in the other. Last night I remembered what chapter I was on, but ebooks don’t have fixed pages. Page-count  varies based on what font size and layout you use, so I thought I would have to skim around to find my spot. It turns out it was all in vain. iBooks (the Apple book app) will wirelessly sync your bookmarks, spot, notes, and highlights. Awesome.

Also I actually highlighted something yesterday. I never highlight anything, ever. I think this ebook thing might work out after all.

Garmin 3790T

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A while back I posted that I won a new GPS. Well it finally came and I have had a while to play with it and give some feedback. I am going to spare you from an in depth review because there are already a ton of them out there. We also don’t use it very often. It gets pulled out for times when we are going someplace new or on multi-hour trips.

Visually is is nice, it looks like a smart phone, simple and black. The interface is fast and the larger screen is nice. I used to have a Garmin 250W and it was nice, but didn’t have many features. I wouldn’t have paid for extra features, or at least I didn’t think I would. If/when I have to replace this unit it may be a tough call. Continue reading →

To-Do: Drill Press Restoration

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I usually keep a to-do list running in my head. The problem is that I sometimes forget things. I am hoping that by sharing this on the intertubes I won’t forget, and ya’ll might hold me accountable for getting started and finished.

I inherited an old floor drill press from my grandfather. For a while it sat in my parents barn, but once I got my own house and garage it moved in with me. So far it has worked well, but I would like to do some upgrading to make it easier to use and more accurate. It is a beast and totally worth some time and effort. My grandfather already made some upgrades. The original motor was replaced with a washing machine motor, complete with a two speed switch added to the side. He also modified (flipped upside down) the cover to make adjusting the pulleys easier…I think. It may just be that the new motor wouldn’t let the cover fit properly. Continue reading →

Back to an old hobby

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It has been a few years since I have done any knife making. It is a hobby that I have always loved and have been doing since I was in middle school. I tend to cycle hobbies and will work exclusively in one medium for a while before moving to another. I have a few knife projects to work on this summer, but have only made one knife in the past five years. To get back into the swing of things I decided to tackle a restoration project.
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Does it make sense to buy a hybrid?

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Last month Edmunds.com posted an article about the relative cost of hybrids and the “break even” point.It reminded me of a similar post from 3 years ago that I blogged about.

The article compares regular vs. hybrid versions of cars and based on $3.11 gas and 15k miles per year. They get:

Hybrids:
Ford Fusion Hybrid: 6.6 years
Honda Civic Hybrid: 6.8 years
Lexus RX 450h: 6.8 years
Nissan Altima Hybrid: 10.3 years
Toyota Camry Hybrid: 7.8 years

Since there isn’t a non-hybrid Prius comparing it to a Corolla it takes 6.3 years or a Camry 0.7 years.

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A better Yakima fit tool

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If you have bikes, boats, skis, or a bunch of cargo a roof rack is often the best way to carry it. The problem is that it can be confusing. Depending on your car you have to figure out what hardware you need and if you can even put a rack on your car.

Yakima has a cool iterative fit guide, but it is flash based and really aimed at selling the things that attach to the rack on the car you already have. I like to use the Dealer Fit Tool. It is much quicker than the regular guide and gives you all the measurements and even pictures for most cars. It also allows you to see options for older Yakima hardware, and can tell you what you can carry.

Most cars only have minor changes most years and big updates every few years. The Dealer tool groups the years so you can help narrow down options. For example: the Chevy Malibu 1997-2004 only has 25″ between the bars, which isn’t enough (in my opinion)  for a canoe.  However, the 2004-2007 and the 2008-2011 models both have 32″ between the bars, so they could work. It can also tell you quickly that the 2008-2011 models are rated for 25 more pounds than previous models so my be better if you want to carry two canoes.