Projo Subterranean Homepage News

The Aptera prototype, which is halfway to completion, will go for up to 330 miles on a gallon of gas thanks to an aerodynamic design and the lightweight composites that make up the chassis.

There's a press release at pureenergysystems.com.

(No, it's not floating above a fourth wheel on the far right; that seems to be the company logo.)

The manufacturer: Three San Diego engineers have formed a startup called Accelerated Composites. They welcome investors, but they've used photos of text on their website, so I can't quote them. (D'oh to AC's marketing team.)

More pix and these amazing specs at autoblog:

The diesel/electric hybrid pairs a 12 hp diesel engine with a 25 hp electric motor, with power storage in a bank of supercapacitors. With a weight of only 850 lbs, the powertrain is good for a 0-60 time of about 11 seconds, and a top speed of 95 mph (electronically limited). Construction has begun for the first prototype.

No one's hazarding a guess yet about when you can plop your money down for it.

Related: Ford expected to announce 25,000 job cuts Monday. AFP. Imagine if Detroit had been developing and selling economical cars instead of going for big quick profits with gas-guzzling SUVs that cost like a truck but were largely big boxes on a car chassis.

Women as pawns: Female Iraqi prisoners Key in Iraq Hostage Drama: AP reporter Scheherezade Faramarzi writes,

The U.S. military confirmed this week that it was holding eight women. However, Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim Ali said a ninth woman was arrested Jan. 6 — one day before (U.S. journalist Jill) Carroll was abducted.

Little is known about these women, except that they are between 20 and 30 years old and face terrorism-related charges. Human rights activists believe many are detained to pressure wanted male relatives to turn themselves in....

Hind al-Salehi, an activist who promotes the rights of female detainees, said many women are arrested to pressure male relatives wanted by the Americans or Iraqis to surrender. Some do, al-Salehi said, although others "would rather sacrifice their wives or daughters and mothers for the sake of that cause."

"They break into a house looking for a suspect. He's out. So they take his wife or sister or mother," she said.

Related: Iraq ministry expects US to free Iraqi women. Reuters.

Sunday dinner: Beef Osso Bucco over Ricotta Gnocchi and Warm Spinach: Never tried it before. I'm using loose baby spinach instead of bagged, since it's only cooked by putting the hot meat on it.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Later: Poking around about osso bucco, which is traditionally made with veal, I read this: "Keep in mind, if you use lamb or beef, the meat won’t be as 'fall off the bone' tender. "

No way. I will make it in the crockpot tomorrow, and it will be tender.

Good thing I went shopping, and hadn't frozen everything I'd bought on sale. We're having Roast Pork Loin instead. These directions are vague, but I get the idea.

We put this together quickly and now, as we watch the Steelers and Broncos, wonderful aromas of garlic and ginger are coming from the kitchen. There's plenty of spinach, enough to serve with this, too.

Even later: An hour per pound would have been too much cooking for that pork roast. Our 3.79-lb roast was done in 2 1/2 hours, and was a little dry. Next time, I'd put it on a rack and add water to the pan. I found a jar of good applesauce -- just apples -- in the back of the pantry, and that solved the problem. The spinach, dropped into a pot in which a crushed clove of garlic was sweating in a bit of olive oil over low heat, made a tasty contrast.