Phaeton instrument cluster glass

The instrument cluster glass?  Pfft.  Big deal.

Well, Schott Spezialglas AG's "Conturan" glass is sort of a big deal, in an anonymous, hiding-in-the-open kind of way.

• The special glass is more permeable to light and cuts reflection significantly.
• According to a German study, a driver processes an average of eight sensations per second.  We sometimes spend an extra fraction of a second looking at our instrument cluster due to glaring from the instrument cluster's glass.  Conturan reflects light at a rate of only 0.5% (instrument panel glass in other cars reflect at 8%).
• With such a low reflection rate, the instrument cluster does not have to sit so deep in a dashboard, away from the sun.  Phaeton designers thus had more freedom in where to place the cluster.
• Normal glass is etched to reduce reflection.  The trade-off there is a drop in transparency.  With Conturan, three metal oxide coatings are applied to both sides instead.  Each coating has a maximum thickness of 1/100,000,000 of a millimeter. 

Info source.
Photo source.

Mercedes-Benz Auto 2000 Concept

Rick Perry's controversial faith ad

Though the Republican contest is now between Romney and Newt, Perry's ad is the talk of the town.  He just plunked down $1 million to buy 3 weeks' worth of TV commercials in the state of Iowa.  Iowa is the first of 50 states to hold a primary/caucus to determine the Republican nominee for president.  That's market saturation in a state of just 3 million residents.

Cable news and social media have hyper-accelerated this election season.  On my couch sits last Sunday's New York Times.  On the cover is Herman Cain.  Herman who?

2 batteries in Phaeton

 Wires galore

Am slowly learning the intricacies of the Popemobile.  It has two batteries, both in the trunk.  One is for starting, the other is for accessories.  But there's more to it.

1. If the starter battery's charge is depleted, the accessories battery will automatically take over to start the car.
2. At temperatures below 10 degrees C, the batteries will work in tandem to start the car.
3. When an airbag is deployed, an explosive charge (!) will detonate and disconnect the starter battery at the positive terminal.

Info via PanEuropean, Phaeton guru extraordinaire.

BTW, the frozen tie rods issue is no more.  The local mom-and-pop shop used equal parts penetrating lubricant, patience, and strategically placed thwacks of a hammer to loosen the tie rods.  Thereafter, they were able to complete the wheel alignment job.

Renault and Peugeot police cars

H/t engineer.

Bashar al-Assad interview

Jump to 0:56.  

Wow, just wow.

Niihau, Pearl Harbor, a crash landing, and Japanese internment

Interesting theory as to why Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II.

Newt Gingrich's jobs policy (and attitude towards the poor)

Well, Herman Cain has quit so it's time for a new Republican front runner.  It's Newt Gingrich!  He is a very sharp and driven guy, but comes with a lot of baggage (which will no doubt all be aired out in the next few weeks).

Big gas station signs for sale

For you Bay Area cats who want to decorate your garages.  Texaco ad.  BP/Shell ad.

Forklift flex test on a Unimog

These guys are an hour away.  Will try to check them out.