The Pope has been getting all day coverage on cable TV. I seen him at the White House, saying Mass, at Congress, at the UN. Everywhere the TV shows massive crowds, come from far away, just to see the Pope in person, live and not on TV. The Pope's saturation TV coverage has complete eclipsed the visit of China's president. China is an important country and its president visiting the US ought to be newsworthy, but the Pope has "sucked all the oxygen out of the room", to borrow an overworked cliche from the TV newsies. The Pope is getting better TV coverage than the Donald.
What to make of this? Well, the vast crowds of believers indicate that God is alive and well in the United States. Even among Protestants, the Pope commands enormous respect. The sight of huge crowds, attending services in massive churches, sited on prime city real estate, shows there is loads of support among the citizens for both Catholicism and the Protestant churches. Many Protestant churches have veered off into either extreme liberalism or intense fundamentalism, adopting stances beloved of their pastors but awfully way out for many members. At this time, the Catholic Church teachings are a moderate mainstream view point broadly acceptable to many Americans, which gives the Pope even more importance than he ordinarily would have.
I heard Obama say something like "This church contributes to the strength of America." Which is very true, although I expect churchmen shuddered at hearing this. Good churchmen think in terms of strengthening their church and bringing their parishioners into a better relationship with God, rather than contributing to the strength and power of a secular nation-state. Certainly the Christian teaching that all men are brothers does a lot for good for civil order, loyalty to country, and reduces enmity in the society. This are all good things.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Volkswagen, microprocessor scams, and NOx
The great Volkswagen emissions scam is breaking big. They canned the CEO of Volkswagen yesterday over the matter. Apparently, the microprocessor in the diesel VW's was able to sense when the car was undergoing an EPA emissions test and adjust something to make the engine run cleaner. Sensing when the car is being tested isn't all that hard, if the engine is revving up above idle but the car isn't moving, it's on a test stand getting tested. The anti skid sensors on each wheel will let the microprocessor know if the wheel is turning. Unless all four wheels are turning, the car isn't moving and it doesn't take great programming skill to make a few adjustments to engine operation.
Just what the microprocessor can do on a diesel is less clear to me. Diesels don't have ignition systems (spark plugs) so there is no ignition timing to fiddle with. There is the fuel air mixture, I suppose setting the mixture extra lean will spoil the combustion, lower combustion temperatures, which reduces the "NOx" emissions. It also ruins fuel economy and power output. In engines, running hotter give you more power and better fuel mileage.
It could be the problem is the US standards for nitrogen oxide ("NOx") emissions. The air is 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. Heat air up enough and the nitrogen and oxygen go together in various combinations, NO2, N2O4, etc. The temperature inside the cylinders of an engine as hot enough to form "NOx". The is the basis of the famous Haber process for making "fixed nitrogen" for fertilizer and explosives. Plants need fixed nitrogen, ("NOx") and cannot make it them selves. Another fact from freshman chemistry, All nitrates are soluble. Which means all the "NOx" in the air will come down in the rain and fertilize the fields.
So why is "NOx" called a pollutant? Partly because the EPA likes to call as much stuff pollutants as it can because it gives them more areas to throw their weight around. In the case of "NOx" the source of LA smog was found to be a combination of "NOx" and oily hydrocarbon vapors, unburned gasoline. Under the impulse of sunlight the two chemicals will combine and make smog. The correct solution would have been to clamp down on unburned hydrocarbons, all sources of which represent poor engine performance or leaks and spills. Without any unburned hydrocarbons, you can have all the NOx in the air you want and not get smog.
Well, the EPA didn't do that, they are off on a "NOx" kick, have been for 40 years. And it hurts. Diesel is more efficent that spark ignition engines. In Europe half the automobile fleet is diesel. In the US nobody drives a diesel. Reason? US "NOx" standards are much tighter than they are in Europe. Apparently the only way to get a diesel car to pass US emissions tests was to cheat, which is apparently Volkswagen's solution to the problem.
It's time to have a public debate on "NOx" standards.
Just what the microprocessor can do on a diesel is less clear to me. Diesels don't have ignition systems (spark plugs) so there is no ignition timing to fiddle with. There is the fuel air mixture, I suppose setting the mixture extra lean will spoil the combustion, lower combustion temperatures, which reduces the "NOx" emissions. It also ruins fuel economy and power output. In engines, running hotter give you more power and better fuel mileage.
It could be the problem is the US standards for nitrogen oxide ("NOx") emissions. The air is 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. Heat air up enough and the nitrogen and oxygen go together in various combinations, NO2, N2O4, etc. The temperature inside the cylinders of an engine as hot enough to form "NOx". The is the basis of the famous Haber process for making "fixed nitrogen" for fertilizer and explosives. Plants need fixed nitrogen, ("NOx") and cannot make it them selves. Another fact from freshman chemistry, All nitrates are soluble. Which means all the "NOx" in the air will come down in the rain and fertilize the fields.
So why is "NOx" called a pollutant? Partly because the EPA likes to call as much stuff pollutants as it can because it gives them more areas to throw their weight around. In the case of "NOx" the source of LA smog was found to be a combination of "NOx" and oily hydrocarbon vapors, unburned gasoline. Under the impulse of sunlight the two chemicals will combine and make smog. The correct solution would have been to clamp down on unburned hydrocarbons, all sources of which represent poor engine performance or leaks and spills. Without any unburned hydrocarbons, you can have all the NOx in the air you want and not get smog.
Well, the EPA didn't do that, they are off on a "NOx" kick, have been for 40 years. And it hurts. Diesel is more efficent that spark ignition engines. In Europe half the automobile fleet is diesel. In the US nobody drives a diesel. Reason? US "NOx" standards are much tighter than they are in Europe. Apparently the only way to get a diesel car to pass US emissions tests was to cheat, which is apparently Volkswagen's solution to the problem.
It's time to have a public debate on "NOx" standards.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Hillary comes out against Keystone XL
She offered no reasons for her newish stand. She called the project a "distraction". Which means nothing. Since she offers no reasons for her new public stand, I gotta think it's politics. She is appealing to the party's greenies, at the expense of the unions. Unions like Keystone XL 'cause it will employ a million of their members, which is important to unions. Obviously she thinks there are more greenie votes out there than there are union votes.
I wonder who does Hillary's polling and did they get this right? Somehow I think there are more union people (union members and their families) out there than card carrying Sierra Club greenies. I might be wrong, but so might Hillary.
Maybe some union people will see the light and vote Republican.
I wonder who does Hillary's polling and did they get this right? Somehow I think there are more union people (union members and their families) out there than card carrying Sierra Club greenies. I might be wrong, but so might Hillary.
Maybe some union people will see the light and vote Republican.
Redcoats take the White House
Putting on the dog for Pope Francis at the White House. The marching unit, the only marching unit, was Redcoat, fifes, drums, tri cornered hats and all.
God Save the Queen.
Long Live the Anglosphere.
God Save the Queen.
Long Live the Anglosphere.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Joint, the new magic word
At least in the armed services. We have a Joint Strike Fighter, a joint combat pistol, joint this, joint that, all in the name of interservice cooperation.
Now the TV is calling the traditional and long standing Andrews Air Force Base by the new name of Joint Base Andrews. That's a new one on me. Wonder when that started. And who started it.
Anyhow they put on a pretty good show for the Pope's arrival. Obama and family and Biden were on the ramp to greet the pope. There are few visitors so important that the president goes out to the airfield to greet them. Anyhow, the Pope should have gotten the impression that the Americans are glad to see him.
Now the TV is calling the traditional and long standing Andrews Air Force Base by the new name of Joint Base Andrews. That's a new one on me. Wonder when that started. And who started it.
Anyhow they put on a pretty good show for the Pope's arrival. Obama and family and Biden were on the ramp to greet the pope. There are few visitors so important that the president goes out to the airfield to greet them. Anyhow, the Pope should have gotten the impression that the Americans are glad to see him.
Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) Again
Aviation Week had another piece on this aircraft, so the topic is still alive. Didn't say anything about the aircraft, or the mission, just some talk about where it is in the procurement process. Interesting if you are a company guy thinking of bidding on part of it, but not much for us plane watchers.
Poor Ben Carson
The newsies have been talking up Ben's comment on Muslims. Carson was asked if he would support a Muslim for US president. Carson said "no" which I agree with. He went on to say that Islam places the Koran, the Hadiths, and Sharia law above just about anything, especially above secular things like the US Constitution. Which is quite true. Personally I would not vote for a Muslim candidate, and I fully agree with Carson's position. American presidents support and defend the Constitution, Federal statues and the Common Law, and place this duty far above any Islamic obligations.
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