Play Moist Towelette Concentration
Here's the link. It is just what you think it would be.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Minivan R.I.P.
Long Live the Minivan
At the same time that Ford announced that it's putting the Freestar and the Monterey out of their misery, Daimler Chrysler announced that it will be previewing the DCX 2008 minivans at next week's Detroit Auto Show. Is Chrysler riding in like the cavalry to save the day, or is it cavalierly riding off a cliff? It might depend upon the strength of the new product. GM killed their uncompetitive vans late last year. All of the domestics have been relying heavily on fleet sales, but none so much as Ford.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will tell you that in late October 2006, I purchased a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. I hope to publish an actual review when I get around to it. Even though the van has performed flawlessly, and I think I got the best vehicle for my money, I have to tell you that my shopping experience had something to do with my decision to sell my DCX stock. More about this in a later post.
From the Psst: Want to see a Minivan Naked file:
Autoblog backed off when DCX protested the posting of leaked minivan pics. There's a guy named Vince Burlapp that would be happy to oblige you if you are really interested in seeing naked pictures of the 2008 Chrysler minivans before next week. I'm not going to link his site. You'll be able to find him. Here's a warning: just ask some people look better with clothes on, some cars do too. There's nothing to see here folks, move along. Note to DCX: after you've taken the Sebring stylist to the woodshed for a whipping, leave the door open. the Town & Country stylist has something coming.
Long Live the Minivan
At the same time that Ford announced that it's putting the Freestar and the Monterey out of their misery, Daimler Chrysler announced that it will be previewing the DCX 2008 minivans at next week's Detroit Auto Show. Is Chrysler riding in like the cavalry to save the day, or is it cavalierly riding off a cliff? It might depend upon the strength of the new product. GM killed their uncompetitive vans late last year. All of the domestics have been relying heavily on fleet sales, but none so much as Ford.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will tell you that in late October 2006, I purchased a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. I hope to publish an actual review when I get around to it. Even though the van has performed flawlessly, and I think I got the best vehicle for my money, I have to tell you that my shopping experience had something to do with my decision to sell my DCX stock. More about this in a later post.
From the Psst: Want to see a Minivan Naked file:
Autoblog backed off when DCX protested the posting of leaked minivan pics. There's a guy named Vince Burlapp that would be happy to oblige you if you are really interested in seeing naked pictures of the 2008 Chrysler minivans before next week. I'm not going to link his site. You'll be able to find him. Here's a warning: just ask some people look better with clothes on, some cars do too. There's nothing to see here folks, move along. Note to DCX: after you've taken the Sebring stylist to the woodshed for a whipping, leave the door open. the Town & Country stylist has something coming.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Things you can do with $100 Billion
Just $2.5 Billion provides wind power for a million homes
As Congress prepares to debate a supplemental $100 billion expenditure for the war in Iraq, there is news coming out of Southern California concerning a $4 Billion project to create a 50 square mile windfarm that will generate power for a million homes. The initial phase of the project will provide about 1.5 megawatts. The ultimate potential is 4.5 megawatts, or enough to replace two nuclear power plants.
Just $2.5 Billion provides wind power for a million homes
As Congress prepares to debate a supplemental $100 billion expenditure for the war in Iraq, there is news coming out of Southern California concerning a $4 Billion project to create a 50 square mile windfarm that will generate power for a million homes. The initial phase of the project will provide about 1.5 megawatts. The ultimate potential is 4.5 megawatts, or enough to replace two nuclear power plants.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
IRAQ: Revolt of the Generals
For about a year, more and more senior military leaders have been increasing open criticism of the Bush administration's Iraq strategy. This is now turning into an open rebellion. While President Bush seems to be on the verge of asking for more troops in Iraq, his generals might not go along with the idea. According to a new article on Time.com
I did a Google search on "revolt of the generals" and came up with about 30,000 hits. Surprisingly, I added "Iraq" to this search, and still came up with 28,000 plus. Open criticism of civilian leadership by senior military officers is not the norm. Historically, it is notable by the exceptions, with the most noteworthy being the Revolt of the Admirals in 1949.
In 1949, senior naval policy-makers objected to a shift in focus and funding away from the Navy and towards the (then-new) Air Force. Specifically, the Navy objected to the cancellation of the supercarrier U.S.S. United States in favor of funding for intercontinental bombers such as the B-36 and the nuclear weapons that they would carry. Ironically, within a year of the revolt of the admirals, the U.S. would be enmeshed in a war in Korea. In that war, the B-36 and much of the Navy's top hardware would not be used.
For about a year, more and more senior military leaders have been increasing open criticism of the Bush administration's Iraq strategy. This is now turning into an open rebellion. While President Bush seems to be on the verge of asking for more troops in Iraq, his generals might not go along with the idea. According to a new article on Time.com
But the Chiefs finally "have found their manhood," in the words of one military officer. They are beginning to challenge, in private for the most part, the political leadership to a degree unprecedented in this Administration. According to Pentagon sources, the senior officers are demanding that the White House finally come up with a definable and achieveable military strategy for Iraq. "We would not surge without a purpose," Army Chief Gen. Pete Schoomaker said bluntly to reporters last week. "And that purpose should be measurable."
I did a Google search on "revolt of the generals" and came up with about 30,000 hits. Surprisingly, I added "Iraq" to this search, and still came up with 28,000 plus. Open criticism of civilian leadership by senior military officers is not the norm. Historically, it is notable by the exceptions, with the most noteworthy being the Revolt of the Admirals in 1949.
In 1949, senior naval policy-makers objected to a shift in focus and funding away from the Navy and towards the (then-new) Air Force. Specifically, the Navy objected to the cancellation of the supercarrier U.S.S. United States in favor of funding for intercontinental bombers such as the B-36 and the nuclear weapons that they would carry. Ironically, within a year of the revolt of the admirals, the U.S. would be enmeshed in a war in Korea. In that war, the B-36 and much of the Navy's top hardware would not be used.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Smart Scientists:
Rove vs. Rover - the Sniff Test is a Dead Heat
A group of scientists lead by Noam Sobel at the University of California, Berkley have been conducting experiments to see if humans can smell as well as dogs. Note: I said WELL and not GOOD, "well" being the adverb, and "good" being the adjective. Dr. Sobel believes that the human sense of smell is under-rated, and with a little training people can top their canine companions. Here's a description of the experiment as described at Dailyindia.com
As a part of the study the boffins first laid down a 10-metre-long trail of chocolate essential oil in a grass field.
They then blindfolded 32 Berkeley undergraduates, blocked their ears and set them loose in the field to try to track the scent. Each student got three chances to track the scent in ten minutes.
Because it's posted at dailyindia.com, the story has to be true. I don't know what excites me more, the fact that I might be able to read the daily fireplug news with my beagle, or the thought that Berkley students (who will soon be making double my salary)had to get down on all fours and sniff the ground blindfolded to pass Psychology class.
Rove vs. Rover - the Sniff Test is a Dead Heat
A group of scientists lead by Noam Sobel at the University of California, Berkley have been conducting experiments to see if humans can smell as well as dogs. Note: I said WELL and not GOOD, "well" being the adverb, and "good" being the adjective. Dr. Sobel believes that the human sense of smell is under-rated, and with a little training people can top their canine companions. Here's a description of the experiment as described at Dailyindia.com
As a part of the study the boffins first laid down a 10-metre-long trail of chocolate essential oil in a grass field.
They then blindfolded 32 Berkeley undergraduates, blocked their ears and set them loose in the field to try to track the scent. Each student got three chances to track the scent in ten minutes.
Because it's posted at dailyindia.com, the story has to be true. I don't know what excites me more, the fact that I might be able to read the daily fireplug news with my beagle, or the thought that Berkley students (who will soon be making double my salary)had to get down on all fours and sniff the ground blindfolded to pass Psychology class.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
The Saturn Plant that Time Forgot - GM didn't
What in Spring Hill is this?
General Motors announced that it is planning on investing $255 million in its idle Saturn Plant in Spring Hill Tennessee even though it has no (announced) products to build there. The Ion recently ceased production, and the minivan that was going to be built there was cancelled. General Motors doesn't have the cash to just throw it around willy-nilly, so what could be going on behind the scenes? Here are some possibilities.
1. An unannounced, super-secret, black-budget kind of project, perhaps a stealthy mach-4 spy car called "Aurora".
2. GM wants to spruce up the plant prior to selling it to another car-maker, Nissan Perhaps?
3. GM wants cash up front from the state of Tennessee. When time comes to pony up the GM investment - that's where a certain chap named Eleven comes in and lowers the hammer.
Animal of the Week:
61 Flavors of Opossum
Most people are told that the opossum is the only marsupial that is native to the Western Hemisphere. Okay, but did you know that there are about 61 species of opossum? Only one is native to the United States, the Virginia Opossum. Purists hate it when we call them "possums". Possums live in Australia they say. Whatever you call them, they sure are good eatin'.
What in Spring Hill is this?
General Motors announced that it is planning on investing $255 million in its idle Saturn Plant in Spring Hill Tennessee even though it has no (announced) products to build there. The Ion recently ceased production, and the minivan that was going to be built there was cancelled. General Motors doesn't have the cash to just throw it around willy-nilly, so what could be going on behind the scenes? Here are some possibilities.
1. An unannounced, super-secret, black-budget kind of project, perhaps a stealthy mach-4 spy car called "Aurora".
2. GM wants to spruce up the plant prior to selling it to another car-maker, Nissan Perhaps?
3. GM wants cash up front from the state of Tennessee. When time comes to pony up the GM investment - that's where a certain chap named Eleven comes in and lowers the hammer.
Animal of the Week:
61 Flavors of Opossum
Most people are told that the opossum is the only marsupial that is native to the Western Hemisphere. Okay, but did you know that there are about 61 species of opossum? Only one is native to the United States, the Virginia Opossum. Purists hate it when we call them "possums". Possums live in Australia they say. Whatever you call them, they sure are good eatin'.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
FDCPA Cheatsheet
What was that section number again?
Here's a quick reference page from www.creditboards.com.
What was that section number again?
Here's a quick reference page from www.creditboards.com.
Livonia, Michigan vs. Georgetown, Kentucky
Old vs. New in the Auto Industry
The New York Times has published a great compare/contrast piece between Livonia, Michigan, which has been hit hard by the decline of the traditional auto industry, and Georgetown, Kentucky, the center of U.S. auto production for Toyota.
You need a free registration to view the article linked here.
Old vs. New in the Auto Industry
The New York Times has published a great compare/contrast piece between Livonia, Michigan, which has been hit hard by the decline of the traditional auto industry, and Georgetown, Kentucky, the center of U.S. auto production for Toyota.
You need a free registration to view the article linked here.
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