History | Patrick James

Tag Archive for History

Patrick James | September 24, 2008

1 Year… Oh, Really! Already!

Well, the flight of time has been strange and it’s been a stranger year still! This date one year ago, I wrote and posted my first blog… and I thought that it would only be a “summer fling” I would get out of all too quickly… but no, it’s been all too interesting with all the learning, all the mistakes and all the blogger updates… not to mention all the wonderful blogs I have come across in the last twelve months.

So with the candle blown out!… My wish is for a coming year of blogging that sees me learning even more and managing to write a couple of really decent posts!!!

Category: Something Else | Tags: Blogger, Blogging, History, Posts, Writing

Patrick James | August 29, 2008

No comments

Hybrid History. A 20TH Century Lesson.

If you have wondered about the origins of the hybrid engine, then you’ll find this, a fascinating post from Auto Time Machine:

Let’s go back in time and learn a little piece of history about hybrid engines and fuel cells during the 20th century. I bet this stuff is older than your Mercedes S430 radiator hose. Anyway, let’s dig in with the details provided by my source!

THE 20TH CENTURY

1904: Henry Ford starts his assembly-line production of “low-priced, lightweight, gas-powered vehicles” and as a result, the Electric Vehicle Company was unsuccessful in the next few years.

1905: American engineer H. Piper records a copyright for a petrol-electric hybrid car.

1913: Steamers and electrics were about to be phased out with the discovery of the self-starter which provided convenience to drivers to start gas engines. Sales of electric cars went down to 6,000 and the Ford Model T sells nearly 182,000 gasoline vehicles.

1920-1965: The period which the mass-production of electric and hybrid cars went stationary.

1966: First bill introduced by Congress with a recommendation to use electric vehicles to reduce air pollution.

1970s: The Arab oil embargo of 1973 brings increased gasoline prices and a new interest in electric and hybrid vehicles.

Category: Eco-Driving, Petrol-Head, Tech Talk | Tags: Ecodriving, Henry Ford, History, Hybrid, Mercedes, Motoring, Porsche, Time

Patrick James | May 6, 2008

No comments

Taoiseach urged to make last worthwhile act in office… re-route M3

Bertie Ahern has been asked to re-route the M3 motorway away from the Hill of Tara as one of his last acts in office.

A petition containing almost 40,000 names was handed into the Department of the Taoiseach which urged him to reconsider the route of the Co Meath motorway which, it is claimed, could destroy heritage.

Source: TaraWatch

Category: Highway To Hell!, Something Else | Tags: culture, History, Irish Culture, Irish Politics, M3, Motorway, Tara

Patrick James | April 18, 2008

No comments

Lukworth Links! April 18th, 2008

Today’s theme is “Green” and the environment:

TaraWatch with details on World Heritage Day. Friday 18th April

Treehugger takes a look at: National Hanging Out Day. Saturday 19th April

Greenbang on Sun Microsystems’ open eco – a very nifty site that helps organisations track and measure their greenhouse gas emissions. Similarily, Tom Raftery’s Lower (Carbon) Footprint discusses the NASA Vulcan Project to Map CO2 Emmmissions.

Greendaily’s Patrick Metzger in an enlightening post looks at: When recycling is dangerous.

Environmental Leader reveals that: Nearly seven out of 10 U.S. consumers are willing to pay more for products made with renewable resources….

AT&T Tech Channel: Green Computing:

5 Green Computing Tips:

Category: Lukworth Links! | Tags: College, Events, History, Life, Lukworth Links!, Tara, World Heritage Day, YouTube

Patrick James | February 25, 2008

No comments

Tara destruction… Government on road to ruin

This week an Irish Post poll showed more than 80 per cent of respondents were in favour of halting all construction of new roads around the historic site. In one of the largest responses ever received more than 3,000 people took part. That opposition has been mirrored in previous petitions and online message boards opposing routing a motorway past this historic archaeological treasure.

Against this background the Government’s intransigence smacks of nothing more than sheer bloody-mindedness. It seems Ministers are determined not to be seen admitting they made a mistake. But there is little doubt that the route chosen for the new M3 motorway is a mistake of colossal proportions. It is akin to Britain’s Department of Transport deciding to re-route the M4 motorway so it passed close to the world famous stone circle at Avebury. To make matters worse the Irish Government could have easily ordered the route of the M3 to be altered to ensure it avoided the Hill of Tara but chose not to do so. Instead they decided it was worth risking the destruction of one of the world’s most important archaeological sites for the sake of so-called progress.

Source: Tara Watch