Categories
Solar car

[1388] Of Continuum at Dana Test Track

As the World Solar Challenge approaches, being less than 2 months away, the team prepares. This is the latest Michigan solar car team, Continuum:

Before my involvement in solar car team during my undergraduate years, I had always thought that any car built extensively with duct tape are cardboard cars or anything street-unworthy vehicles. Imagine my shock when I learned how the first car which I had the opportunity to work on, was made extensively of duct tape to join all its fiber glass parts, metal suspension and electronics (the funkiest word I learned while with the team: telemetry)

No I am kidding. But were still used tons of duct tape and the Continuum team does the same too, as you can observe in the video.

Anyway, according to the solar car team website, Continuum is on its way to Australia. All the best!

Go Blue!

And cool song, do you not think so?

Categories
Solar car

[1315] Of Continuum

Go Fast. Go Smooth. Go Blue.

Categories
Solar car

[1276] Of the ninth generation solar car

And it is named Continuum.

It is set to be unveiled this July 14 in Ann Arbor.

The University of Michigan is the most successful solar car team in North America and one the most successful university solar car teams in the world. The Dutch team still riddles Michigan in the global arena. I hope Continuum could finally break the Dutch monopoly in the World Solar Challenge in Australia in year.

Go Fast. Go Smooth. Go Blue.

Categories
Solar car Sports

[617] Of beautiful Ajax without a finish

I watched Ajax played against Arsenal last night. Somehow, the match reminds me of why I like Ajax in the first place � huge but local, young yet technically skillful, a darkhorse but feared by many. But Ajax has always have problems with its finishing ever since Ibrahimovic and Mido left. This was hurtfully apparent last night.

Arsenal’s first goal was swift and punishing. I’d wish Ajax hadn’t been so relaxed.

Arsenal’s second goal is another story altogether. It was a penalty and it’s definitely a lie. Reyes dived in the penalty box and even the commentators cast doubt on the referee’s decision to award Arsenal a penalty kick. Even if the decision were appropriate, Reyes was offside and the linesman had clearly raised his flag. Somehow, the ref chose to ignore that.

When Ajax’s captain, Tomas Galasek tried to talk to the ref about that penalty, the ref refused to listen. Instead, Galasek was booked with a yellow card. Some of Ajax’s fans at Ajaxtalk.nl mourn that the ref was biased to his fellow countryman, Reyes about that penalty. I don’t know about that but I know the ref sucks.

Immediately after the penalty, Ajax’s then rushed to Arsenal’s penalty box and scored.

Yet, it wasn’t enough and again, the statistics – possession, number of shots, corners – is not reflected in the result. Cruel as it is, only the final result that matters in the end. Realization of this cruelty is what most Ajacieds – fans, players and coaches alike – are unable to grasp on.

The game itself was entertaining despite I was clearly frustrated. Nevertheless, Ajax players were fantastic and exciting. Babel, Pienaar, Rosenberg, Galasek and Boukhari did a lot of good stuff to the ball. Ajax as a team played great passing and attacking style. Yet, it never really managed to cash in on its many opportunities that it created so elegantly.

If only Ajax has another Ibrahimovic, Ajax could be a force to reckon with. It’s clear that many of Ajax players like Sneijder, Pienaar and other that I’ve mentioned earlier are maturing into great players.

p/s – a guy talking about World Animal Day in Malaysia. Or lack of.

pp/s – this entry also reminds me why I hate Italian teams so much.

ppp/s – Michigan clinched third place in WSC. Dutch Nuna 3 secured first place while Australian Aurora 101 managed second.

Categories
Kitchen sink Science & technology Solar car

[615] Of happy 7th birthday, Google?

Seven pieces of cake with chocolate coating and seven strawberries on top are seen today on Google’s front pape. Can’t click on the image but the image is located at http://www.google.com/logos/7th_birthday.gif (sorry but I will not hotlink it. I hate hotlinking and I wish you do too. To see it, copy and paste the URL manually into your address bar).

Also, personalized Google finally gets to the front page?

p/s – Michigan’s currently second in the World Solar Challenge in Australia. w00t!