Where's my jet-powered outhouse?
The Speeding Outhouse - Popular Science
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Monday, November 22, 2004
Mazdaspeed Mazda6
274 Horsepower, turbocharged, direct injection, all-wheel drive.
The Mazda6 is on our approved cars list because it is UAW Made - is the Mazdaspeed Mazda6? We'll find out.
Indianapolis Star cars.com:
274 Horsepower, turbocharged, direct injection, all-wheel drive.
The Mazda6 is on our approved cars list because it is UAW Made - is the Mazdaspeed Mazda6? We'll find out.
Indianapolis Star cars.com:
2005 Buick LaCrosse
The 2005 Buick LaCrosse replaces botht he ancient Century and Regal. One would think that, because the Century and Regal were so ancient, that the LaCrosse would be an all-new design. Nope. Surprisingly, though, the LaCrosse has gotten overwhelmingly good reviews. Not just good, glowing. "Almost Lexus-like" is typical. Here's a review from thecarconnection.com.
The Car Connection [ The Web's Automotive Authority ]
I stopped by a Buick dealer a couple weeks ago to try to get a test drive, but they didn't have a car available. I'll try to post first-hand impressions as soon as possible.
The 2005 Buick LaCrosse replaces botht he ancient Century and Regal. One would think that, because the Century and Regal were so ancient, that the LaCrosse would be an all-new design. Nope. Surprisingly, though, the LaCrosse has gotten overwhelmingly good reviews. Not just good, glowing. "Almost Lexus-like" is typical. Here's a review from thecarconnection.com.
The Car Connection [ The Web's Automotive Authority ]
I stopped by a Buick dealer a couple weeks ago to try to get a test drive, but they didn't have a car available. I'll try to post first-hand impressions as soon as possible.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
How to one-up Jay Leno
Jay Leno is well-known for his car collection. He has millions of dollars tied up in automobiles. How can you beat Jay in the "things that go" category for a fraction of the cost? Buy an aircraft carrier. Brazil has one for sale. Late last year, it was briefly listed on eBay. Apparently there is a potential Chinese buyer that has been dickering over the cost of transportation to China. If you pay the freight, you should be able to pick it up for $2-4 million.
Telegraph | News | For internet sale: aircraft carrier, only three owners
Jay Leno is well-known for his car collection. He has millions of dollars tied up in automobiles. How can you beat Jay in the "things that go" category for a fraction of the cost? Buy an aircraft carrier. Brazil has one for sale. Late last year, it was briefly listed on eBay. Apparently there is a potential Chinese buyer that has been dickering over the cost of transportation to China. If you pay the freight, you should be able to pick it up for $2-4 million.
Telegraph | News | For internet sale: aircraft carrier, only three owners
Book - American Nightmare
An author Named Richard Lord just published a book titled American Nightmare that looks quite interesting. It includes case studies on predatory lending. I haven't read it yet. I hope to get to it soon.
Books for an informed democracy: Chomsky, Zinn, Harbury, Aristide. Books on politics, environment, ethics, militarism, peace.
An author Named Richard Lord just published a book titled American Nightmare that looks quite interesting. It includes case studies on predatory lending. I haven't read it yet. I hope to get to it soon.
Books for an informed democracy: Chomsky, Zinn, Harbury, Aristide. Books on politics, environment, ethics, militarism, peace.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Drive your own Tank
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to drive a tank? Now you have a chance. A company called Texas Tanks lets you drive a real tank and participate a mock war game. The whole thing takes one day and costs $2750. Here's the link:
Texas Tanks: Drive a Tank (Armored Vehicle) Adventure
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to drive a tank? Now you have a chance. A company called Texas Tanks lets you drive a real tank and participate a mock war game. The whole thing takes one day and costs $2750. Here's the link:
Texas Tanks: Drive a Tank (Armored Vehicle) Adventure
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Firefox turns 1.0
The Mozilla Firefox browser just turned 1.0. Backers are hoping to steal 10% of the total browser marketshare away from Microsoft Internet Explorer.
I'm using an earlier version of the Mozilla browswer at home, and I can tell you that it is much less succeptible to the typical malware (pop-ups, hijackings, worms, etc.) that you get with IE.
Mozilla releases Firefox 1.0 | Tech News on ZDNet
The Mozilla Firefox browser just turned 1.0. Backers are hoping to steal 10% of the total browser marketshare away from Microsoft Internet Explorer.
I'm using an earlier version of the Mozilla browswer at home, and I can tell you that it is much less succeptible to the typical malware (pop-ups, hijackings, worms, etc.) that you get with IE.
Mozilla releases Firefox 1.0 | Tech News on ZDNet
A fight for control over the AFL-CIO
The York Times published an article today that is a must-read for all union members. Andrew Stern, president of the Service employees International Union is mounting a challenge to John Sweeney's presidency of the AFL-CIO.
Stern points out that organized labor spent $150 million trying to unseat President Bush, with nothing really to show for it. Organized labor as a percentage of the workforce has shrunk from 35% in the 1950s to 13% now, and because of that, has diminishing clout, especially on national issues.
Stern wants to refocus national expenditures on organizing key employers and industries, including a $25 million per year Walmart campaign. According to the article, he hints that if increased efforts are not focused on the service industry, key service industry unions may bolt from the AFL-CIO.
The New York Times > National > Largest Union Issues Call for Major Changes: "annually on organizing."
The York Times published an article today that is a must-read for all union members. Andrew Stern, president of the Service employees International Union is mounting a challenge to John Sweeney's presidency of the AFL-CIO.
Stern points out that organized labor spent $150 million trying to unseat President Bush, with nothing really to show for it. Organized labor as a percentage of the workforce has shrunk from 35% in the 1950s to 13% now, and because of that, has diminishing clout, especially on national issues.
Stern wants to refocus national expenditures on organizing key employers and industries, including a $25 million per year Walmart campaign. According to the article, he hints that if increased efforts are not focused on the service industry, key service industry unions may bolt from the AFL-CIO.
The New York Times > National > Largest Union Issues Call for Major Changes: "annually on organizing."
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Shipping Containers - Blight or cozy little hideaway?
Thanks to an enormous trade deficit, mountains of shipping containers are accumulating in the United States. A major irony is that these 20 ft long rectangular boxes are roomier and more resistant to the elements than the housing units of a good portion of the world's population. So why not turn the containers into housing units?
Well, that's being tried. See the site below:
containerbay
The problem that I see is that the vast majority of these efforts are taking place in Europe and the U.S. This is where we have the surplus of containers. The projects should take place where they have a shortage of housing.
I've been to Peru where determined squatters hand build little shacks on hillsides whereever they can. (It is irrelevant that they seldom have any legal claim to the land.) These enterprising settlers could make shipping containers into very livable housing. The problem is that the powers that be don't want the settlers to live there at all.
Thanks to an enormous trade deficit, mountains of shipping containers are accumulating in the United States. A major irony is that these 20 ft long rectangular boxes are roomier and more resistant to the elements than the housing units of a good portion of the world's population. So why not turn the containers into housing units?
Well, that's being tried. See the site below:
containerbay
The problem that I see is that the vast majority of these efforts are taking place in Europe and the U.S. This is where we have the surplus of containers. The projects should take place where they have a shortage of housing.
I've been to Peru where determined squatters hand build little shacks on hillsides whereever they can. (It is irrelevant that they seldom have any legal claim to the land.) These enterprising settlers could make shipping containers into very livable housing. The problem is that the powers that be don't want the settlers to live there at all.
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