Author Archives: bwnunnally

About bwnunnally

Bruce Nunnally is an independent Blogger who writes Cadillac Conversations on all things Cadillac. Connect with Bruce on Google+

Sweating Software updates

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Updates this morning to our forum software appear to have gone well.  I always sweat this stuff, because I hate being offline if it goes over a cliff.    The upgrade appears to be seamless in this case, and everything appears to be up and functional.  We got guests online right away, but I held my breath a moment until I could see a ‘regular’ (yay KHE) show up.

The goal of the new upgrades is to add a more complex CAPTCHA, “Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart”.   This forces users to input a random code when registering and changing email address, etc to prevent bot’s from spamming the forums (hopefully).  The innovative approach here is that this part of the forum can be upgraded separately now in a mostly-automated fashion so that as the forum software producer comes out with better and better ways to make the CAPTCHA not readable by robots then they can push that upgrade to each forum.

As with any change, please let me know if you see any behavior you don’t expect.

Caddyinfo, Social Sites, and the Blues

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Listening to XM Radio 74 BB King’s Bluesville and working on Caddyinfo site improvements.

XM Radio Logo

First, I visited Caddyinfo forums and answer questions and post updated info about what’s happening and plans.  This actually happens thoughout my work, as I tend to pop back to Caddyinfo to make updates or post items that come up.  Next, I made the rounds to myspace, facebook, linkedin, to handle incoming mail, new contacts, etc.  Next a quick scan of Yahoo Answers in case there are Cadillac related questions.

I added a flash widget using Sproutbuilder to echo ‘tweets’ that I made on twitter.com here on the blog page, on the main page, and on the forum index.  Twitter is a near real-time social media comment service.  Sort of cell phone messaging (SMS) and a old style BBS combined.  One more way to link to people with common interests.

For example, following the major Automotive sites is a natural for me.  I also follow family members who post tweets.  I am starting to add some non-obvious tweats, such as Cristina Favreau who writes the The Savvy Entrepreneur blog. My sense is that media coaches like Cristina, who focuses on service professionals, can also help with ideas on how to improve Caddyinfo’s services and reach to our target audience of Cadillac enthusiasts.   So ‘listening in’ on her posts and blog updates hopefully will help sharpen our focus.

Forum update to new forum software tomorrow, Sat 10/4.  Nothing  major but some improved code to help limit forum spam.  I don’t mind banning spammers after they post but if we can filter out more of the bots that would save time.

Ask Patty what’s cool and high tech? Chevrolet Volt

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Quick note that Ask Patty included the Chevrolet Volt in their blog

More Choices than Ever Before – The Alternative Cars of the Future

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The New Volt Takes You Farther
General Motors celebrated its 100th birthday this month with a new Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV), the Chevrolet Volt also displayed at the Santa Monica AltCar Expo. Aerodynamics was one of the key motivations for the design of the Volt, especially since it plays a big role in driving range.

The 16-kWh lithium-ion battery provides electricity for trips up to 40 miles. The battery works with a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator that sustains charge. When the battery is depleted, it can extend the car’s range for hundreds of miles so consumers do not have to worry about running out of electricity. Because of its charging technology, the Volt can be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet. Moreover, GM estimates that the unique system only costs two cents per mile while under gasoline- and emissions-free battery power. The Volt is scheduled for production at the end of 2010.

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All good, all correct, and exactly the type of facts that GM and Chevrolet need for real people to know. The Volt is a revolutionary automobile.

Compare:  I paid $3.45/gallon of regular unleaded today.  If I got 20 mpg city that would be $0.1725 per mile.  The Volt will cost around $0.02 per mile for the first 40 miles of electric charge (all the range most people use in a day).  At today’s gas prices that will cost the same ($3.45/.02) as if the Volt got 172 mpg!