Russian Meteor Impacts

[Stevinator]

Would this fall in the same category as the (supposed?) fact that oil companies are slowing down the development of electric based cars?

I don't know. Do the car makers actually make anything from having you take your car into a mechanic? Even if you go to the dealer, most of them are independent. That's like everytime i try to fix something I run into weird sized metric bolts that you can't get to unless you take something else off. I have a friend I work on cars with and he will go off at the concept that they make it hard on purpose, but I don't know how that benefits them.

Maybe they make money on training mechanics or something. If you've ever had to take the engine mounts off to change a belt tensioner (ponitac sunfire), you'll ask yourself the same question. Why did they make this purposefully difficult? There's got to be a reason. Somehow, some way they are making money on it. Even if it just jacks up the cost of fixing cars so you have to buy a new one sooner.

Having never driven a rental car, I can't agree/disagree, but I do know that truckers have a disc of some sorts, so cops and the truckers' employers can see if all rules were obeyed.
But those systems can be easily bypassed, my brother in law simply places a magnet on the box, appearantly it stops all input data of the engine/mileage/etc, as if the truck was parked somewhere.

nice. I'll ask a friend who works at enterprise if they use tracking data. I know they don't use it for speeding, because he rented the van we took down to florida, from his own branch, and he went 90 most of the way.

I'm sure that if we were in an accident, they'd use the black box. Plus I know insurance companies always want to put this little recorder on to "prove" you're a good driver. I don't know how long it stays there (like do you send it back or is it wireless and stays forever), because there's no way in hell I'd ever agree to that.

[jmervyn]

Would this fall in the same category as the (supposed?) fact that oil companies are slowing down the development of electric based cars?

I don't know. Do the car makers actually make anything from having you take your car into a mechanic? Even if you go to the dealer, most of them are independent.

I don't believe it's that linear. First, it's not the oil companies, but the auto companies. Second, it's not that there's a need to slow down development of electric cars; despite all the conspiracy theories electric cars are great but they're simply not going to sell well enough to make a difference. I remember hearing a fairly shocking quote recently - that despite ALL the effort expended pushing 'green' small cars, the big American sellers are still SUV's and pickup trucks.

Maybe they make money on training mechanics or something. If you've ever had to take the engine mounts off to change a belt tensioner (ponitac sunfire), you'll ask yourself the same question. Why did they make this purposefully difficult? There's got to be a reason. Somehow, some way they are making money on it. Even if it just jacks up the cost of fixing cars so you have to buy a new one sooner.

I don't think it's <THAT> blatant. What's definitely involved is making over-complex systems integral to the operation of the vehicle - those over-complex systems being involved in the safety and mileage.

There's no reason whatsoever we couldn't have cars that meet CAFE standards right now, but that would involve stripping the hundreds of pounds of airbag deployment systems and other safety gear out. Probably a bunch of other legally required equipment too.

But those systems can be easily bypassed, my brother in law simply places a magnet on the box, appearantly it stops all input data of the engine/mileage/etc, as if the truck was parked somewhere.

That's the problem with complex systems of this nature - they're very easy to screw up, even accidentally.

I know they don't use it for speeding, because he rented the van we took down to florida, from his own branch, and he went 90 most of the way.

This is false. Just because they didn't rip him on it doesn't mean they don't use it. I'm thinking they just cut him some slack - when you say 'his own branch', what's the relation?

[Dawnmaster]

I'm sure that if we were in an accident, they'd use the black box. Plus I know insurance companies always want to put this little recorder on to "prove" you're a good driver. I don't know how long it stays there (like do you send it back or is it wireless and stays forever), because there's no way in hell I'd ever agree to that.

Hm, you make a good point there, even if it were optional, I'd understand how insurance companies would enforce you to install and leave it on, or don't give you an insurance for your car.

Iirc, some insurance companies refuse to give insurance for your house/car if you don't have a proper alarm/security system.

I don't believe it's that linear. First, it's not the oil companies, but the auto companies. Second, it's not that there's a need to slow down development of electric cars; despite all the conspiracy theories electric cars are great but they're simply not going to sell well enough to make a difference. I remember hearing a fairly shocking quote recently - that despite ALL the effort expended pushing 'green' small cars, the big American sellers are still SUV's and pickup trucks.

Well, to be honest, if they'd make the "green" cars with more power and better looks, they might get somewhere...



It seems whether you want a good looking and powerfull electric car, or insurance without being forced to let your cam on, you need to take out Big Brother and the corporations first!

[jmervyn]

Well, to be honest, if they'd make the "green" cars with more power and better looks, they might get somewhere...

Perhaps. Thing really is, who wants to buy a "green" car if it's $20K more on the sticker price and no guarantee that you'll be paying less fuel prices (to say nothing of having a really... HOT... ride)

It seems whether you want a good looking and powerfull electric car, or insurance without being forced to let your cam on, you need to take out Big Brother and the corporations first!

I think it's contradictory. Electric cars are fine, but they're essentially oversize golf carts. How can you look smooth in a golf cart?

[Stevinator]

I don't believe it's that linear. First, it's not the oil companies, but the auto companies. Second, it's not that there's a need to slow down development of electric cars; despite all the conspiracy theories electric cars are great but they're simply not going to sell well enough to make a difference. I remember hearing a fairly shocking quote recently - that despite ALL the effort expended pushing 'green' small cars, the big American sellers are still SUV's and pickup trucks.
I don't think it's <THAT> blatant. What's definitely involved is making over-complex systems integral to the operation of the vehicle - those over-complex systems being involved in the safety and mileage.

The problem with electric cars is they don't have the juice for any decent sized thing, and then they take WAY too long to charge. i heard tesla got it down to 45 minutes, but it takes me like 5 as a gas station. 10 with the burban. I don't care what makes the car go, but I'm not buying something that makes me spend an hour waiting for it to charge up in the winter at a power station. I'm certainly not spending MORE on that than a regular car.

So yeah, it's not a conspiracy, it's you don't put money into something that won't sell, and things that don't sell don't get money invested in them.

As for everyone wanting SUVs, while that's true, SUVs today are so much smaller and crappier than they used to be. I looked at buying a patriot, because I've been a long time Jeep owner (I've owned 3) and they seemed super plastic-y and blech. then i shopped around and everything is all plasticy and blech. And all that plastic isn't getting them that much better mileage. Plus, they keep adding BS like tablets and all this garbage into them so they're all complicated. I don't want a car that's going park for me, or brake when i didn't want it to. I don't care what's under there. you brake when i tell you to, and not before.

Speaking of the pussifaction of SUVs, have you noticed that even the midsized ones can't carry anything anymore? The old standard was that you could fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood back there (your regular blazer with seats flipped, run right up to the driver's seat). now, with the curled in sides on the backs, it's like maybe 42"x 48", maybe. Shoot. if all it's going to hold is groceries, then why bother?

There's no reason whatsoever we couldn't have cars that meet CAFE standards right now, but that would involve stripping the hundreds of pounds of airbag deployment systems and other safety gear out. Probably a bunch of other legally required equipment too.
That's the problem with complex systems of this nature - they're very easy to screw up, even accidentally.

troof. so much crap in cars these days. I have a friend who bought a new camaro, we looked under the hood and there's so much crap in there you can't see the massive engine. it's all covered in plastic and other BS.

it does sound secksy though. mmmm

This is false. Just because they didn't rip him on it doesn't mean they don't use it. I'm thinking they just cut him some slack - when you say 'his own branch', what's the relation?

could be they let it slide for employees. or he knew how to game it and didn't tell us. or he just paid it and threw it in. It just seems like something he would've mentioned, after all the time he's complained about work. You know how it is after a few beers. everyone's job sucks the most.


I'm not sure if they do this stuff, but it wouldn't surprise me. It seems like it would be hard to explain to customers though. Um, we're charging you another $20 because you sped and stopped too suddenly. I'd be pretty pissed, and probably not use that rental company anymore.

[Dawnmaster]

Perhaps. Thing really is, who wants to buy a "green" car if it's $20K more on the sticker price and no guarantee that you'll be paying less fuel prices (to say nothing of having a really... HOT... ride)
I think it's contradictory. Electric cars are fine, but they're essentially oversize golf carts. How can you look smooth in a golf cart?

The whole idea of being environmental still baffles me as ridiculous, you use electricity to recharge your vehicle, so it doesn't emit any carbon fumes, but where do you get the electricity?
I know we have wind power / solar power / tidal power / turbine etc, but iirc about 50% of our grid is still powered by Nuclear plants?

The problem with electric cars is they don't have the juice for any decent sized thing, and then they take WAY too long to charge. i heard tesla got it down to 45 minutes, but it takes me like 5 as a gas station. 10 with the burban. I don't care what makes the car go, but I'm not buying something that makes me spend an hour waiting for it to charge up in the winter at a power station. I'm certainly not spending MORE on that than a regular car.

Exactly, normal electric cars can only drive for 150 - 200 km, and take 8 hours to recharge, if you're going to work and back, and plug it it every night, that should be okay, but you won't be able to drive anywhere to a concert or distant relatives? Or you have to stop every 2 hours to wait for 8 hours...

As for everyone wanting SUVs, while that's true, SUVs today are so much smaller and crappier than they used to be. I looked at buying a patriot, because I've been a long time Jeep owner (I've owned 3) and they seemed super plastic-y and blech. then i shopped around and everything is all plasticy and blech. And all that plastic isn't getting them that much better mileage. Plus, they keep adding BS like tablets and all this garbage into them so they're all complicated. I don't want a car that's going park for me, or brake when i didn't want it to. I don't care what's under there. you brake when i tell you to, and not before.

That's why I still only buy basic model cars, I don't care for onboard computers and all that rubbish. Heck, whenever I got somewhere for the first time, I still look up the road on a map before I leave, I dislike GPS systems to the very core of my being, I've never gotten anywhere while using a GPS, it has always managed to try and send me to illegal or impossible locations.

[jmervyn]

So yeah, it's not a conspiracy, it's you don't put money into something that won't sell, and things that don't sell don't get money invested in them.

Sometimes I think there's hope for you yet. Then you go and post something about religion that makes me sound calm when discussing Commies.

could be they let it slide for employees. or he knew how to game it and didn't tell us. or he just paid it and threw it in. It just seems like something he would've mentioned, after all the time he's complained about work.

Combinations for teh win. Unless they blame the next customer.

You know how it is after a few beers. everyone's job sucks the most.

Actually, mine sucks the most. IT is the emotional sinkhole for all other employees' angst.

Plus one of my worst l-users yesterday... thank Christ she didn't come to me with this, or I wouldn't have been able to restrain myself... complaining bitterly to one of the computer teachers that her new card/PIN logon wasn't working. Turns out she didn't know what the Num Lock key was or why to use it.

The whole idea of being environmental still baffles me as ridiculous, you use electricity to recharge your vehicle, so it doesn't emit any carbon fumes, but where do you get the electricity?
I know we have wind power / solar power / tidal power / turbine etc, but iirc about 50% of our grid is still powered by Nuclear plants?

Don't forget coal plants at 36% (down from almost 45% thanks to LP gas). Yes, that's why they call them "Low Information Voters" - they're stupid enough to believe press release information.

Exactly, normal electric cars can only drive for 150 - 200 km, and take 8 hours to recharge, if you're going to work and back, and plug it it every night, that should be okay, but you won't be able to drive anywhere to a concert or distant relatives? Or you have to stop every 2 hours to wait for 8 hours...

This could change everything, just like my favorite tech Thermal Depolymerization, but even if we can create cold fusion tomorrow there's still all kind of aspects like scalability, deployment, and operation which influence whether it really becomes a "thing". That's the technique which the "watermelons" (environmental socialists) really want - they don't want cheap solar/wind, but to raise the cost of fossil fuels to the point of prohibition.

[BobCox2]

Good Driving in Russia

[Stevinator]

Sometimes I think there's hope for you yet.

The jury is still out on you :P

Then you go and post something about religion that makes me sound calm when discussing Commies.

Now you're just being ridiculous, you NEVER sound calm when talking about commies.

Combinations for teh win. Unless they blame the next customer.

I asked last night, and he said they don't have access to the black box (so they don't charge for it), but they do have multiple lojack systems, so if you disable one, there's another.

Actually, mine sucks the most. IT is the emotional sinkhole for all other employees' angst.

i bet it pays better than mine.

Plus one of my worst l-users yesterday... thank Christ she didn't come to me with this, or I wouldn't have been able to restrain myself... complaining bitterly to one of the computer teachers that her new card/PIN logon wasn't working. Turns out she didn't know what the Num Lock key was or why to use it.

I feel little better about myself.

Don't forget coal plants at 36% (down from almost 45% thanks to LP gas). Yes, that's why they call them "Low Information Voters" - they're stupid enough to believe press release information.

I'm still a big fan of nuclear. but in the mean time, can they make my truck run on natural gas? It already goes to my house, and i bet I'd see a return pretty quick if the conversion wasn't too expensive.

This could change everything

, just like my favorite tech Thermal Depolymerization, but even if we can create cold fusion tomorrow there's still all kind of aspects like scalability, deployment, and operation which influence whether it really becomes a "thing". That's the technique which the "watermelons" (environmental socialists) really want - they don't want cheap solar/wind, but to raise the cost of fossil fuels to the point of prohibition.

that's cool!

[BobCox2]

I'm still a big fan of nuclear. but in the mean time, can they make my truck run on natural gas? It already goes to my house, and i bet I'd see a return pretty quick if the conversion wasn't too expensive.


[URL="http://hotair.com/archives/2013/02/23/video-the-battery-that-might-change-everything/"]

that's cool!

i See the CNG Gas Honda all the time.