There are tax breaks for hybrids. Take a look at the federal Clean Fuel Vehicle deduction. up to 10% of the purchase price of the car, not to exceed $2000, IIRC. (I took a $2000 deduction off of both my US Federal and Massachusetts state income taxes for the purchase of my 2001 Toyota Prius.)
Read chapter 12 of IRS publication 535 (and yes, you can use the Clean Fuel Vehicle deduction or Electric Vehicle Credit if you are not a business): http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf
The Prius also charges the battery through regenerative braking. When you're coasting or going downhill, or while braking, some of the kinetic energy that would otherwise be wasted (such as heat on your brake pads) is used to generate electricity for the battery.
When needed, the gasoline engine will run as a generator for the electric propulsion system of the Prius. Usually, when you do need the gasoline engine (say, highway driving) the most efficient (highest MPG/lowest emissions) RPM of the engine will probably produce more power than is needed for keeping the car running, so that extra power is sent to the battery.
Much like seen in the commercials for the new hybrid Civic, there's no place to plug in the current gasoline/electric hybrids.
The only plug is for the "usual" gasoline pump! You just don't visit it as often as for the average car...
Be careful that you don't swallow all the bullshit that they're feeding the public. After all, GM said, when asked why they were cancelling the EV1 program, "They weren't selling well." What the spokesman neglected to mention, was that they were NEVER SOLD AT ALL - only leased, and that the waiting list for leasing had been quite long...
Yeah, there's the same old bull being thrown about for the hybrids (Prius, Insight, Civic) right now. The media keeps saying that the hybrids have poor sales. The automakers (Toyota and Honda) are selling them as fast as they can make them, just that their production volume is low.
There was a five-month waiting list for a Prius (up until Jan. when Toyota scrapped their internet ordering system (transferred to the Rav4 EV sales) for traditional dealer-allocation), and it can still be several weeks to get one...
Well, with the 350 N-m/258 lb.-ft. @ 0-400 rpm of torque available from my Prius' electric motors from a stop, there isn't a car that can pass me from a standing stop (say, a red light) unless I let it...
A common adage is horsepower sells cars, but torque wins races...
Info about my Toyota Prius (including MPG charts and such): http://www.kluge.net/~felicity/prius.php
Great, I thought, I'll just search for +Boeing +Student +Satelite or something of that sort.
There's your problem. I did a search using/.'s search engine for "satellite" and found the previous story pretty quickly (albiet on the second page (30+) of results)...
You do still go into electric-only with the Prius with the AC on, just not as often... (same could be said of heat.) The Prius comes with an automatic climate-control. So, when you first enter your hot car, the AC is on full and the engine runs. When you get near your target temperature, the fan slows, and since the AC isn't really used very often anymore, neither is the gas engine. And this much is for sure, both the AC and the heater are VERY good at what they do!
The MPG for those in the hotter climates that use AC almost year round (CA, FL, TX, etc.) have been reporting in the low 40s for their Prius.
And the majority of car magazines tend to drive the Prius (and the Insight) differently than a normal car, and therefore get some really lackluster results. (If the magazine even actually tries the car - often the same mis-information/made-up-information can be seen copied from one "test report" to another!) I wouldn't trust just the one report from Road & Track...
comparisons of the Prius to the Echo, as taken from the Prius list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/message/7319
(Also note that you have to add on a TON of options onto the Echo to meet what is STANDARD on the Prius, and the Echo doesn't come with the long warranties and the 3 yr/36,000 prepaid maintenance plan...)
From: dong5@prodigy.net
Date: Wed Feb 14, 2001 10:06 pm
Subject: Re: on the fence
As an echo and prius owner my experience is different htan this on the echo.I see in the echo forum w/edmunds.com, they slam the prius and I guess here vice versa. Anyways, my experience...............
1. ECHO- 38 mpg(46 mpg hiway on Consumer Reports article) on several tanks w/mixed city/freeway driving,lots of room. HUGE trunk,good aceleration w/o having to use a lead foot $10,000 price, easy to drive and quiet enough for a vehicle of this price and aize, probably better mpg in cold weather than Prius.
2. Prius-40mpg on short trips and BAM!!mid-to-high 50's with longer trips and/or temps. in the 60's and 70's. DEAD QUIET in the stealth mode which I can do fairly often w/careful driving. Nice, solid feel. LOTS of good features.$20450 price. I was driving Prius-style before
they made the car.
CONCLUSION- 2 different good cars from Toyota. Depends on finances, etc. I tend to pick and choose the car to drive according to the trip
and temp.
If you get an echo, opt for AC, AT, and the split rear seat-about$13000.
Or drive a Prius for 3-5 years and see the next gen. of hybrids.
Good luck,
Don Gillespie
Nashville,TN
--- In toyota-prius@y..., "richard" wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Forman Susan"
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 8:16 PM
> Subject: [toyota-prius] on the fence
>
> > greetings all,
> > definitely a prius newbie. Contemplating a purchase
> > but need some help weighing the pros/cons.
> > Currently the choice is between the ECHO and PRIUS
> > here are the facts:
>
> Hi from an Echo driver who has since ordered the Prius. . .
>
> > 1. I drive approx. 100 miles daily...60 miles highway
> > and 40 miles inner city & suburb. My car is my
> > office, my livelihood & other peoples lives depend on
> > my car's reliability and functioning, it CANNOT
> > breakdown.
>
> The break down factor definitely is a consideration in any car. But
I was
> nervous about the Echo when I got it too. It was brand new here.
What did
> anyone really know about it?
>
> > 2. I prefer the interior of the PRIUS, the seating in
> > the ECHO is ghastly/cheap-looking
>
> I totally agree. At the time I got the Echo I was coming from driving a
> truck for many years. As plastic as the Echo was, I really did not notice
> it until it was too late to go back. ..The web page for the Echo says it
> is called that because that is what you hear in in (as a joke). ..After
> driving the Prius, I can see that the Echo is no match for the Prius in
> purely "comfort" issues.
>
> > 3. From what I've been reading the mpg is not
> > drastically different between the 2 cars (ECHO is
> > 32/39)
>
> In the year I have had the Echo, I have gotten 40 mpg one time where
> conditions were perfect. Other times it is in the high 30s on steady
> driving. . . But now in winter, I am lucky if I am getting 30 at all. The
> thing with the Prius is that it can go way higher. . . and even the overall
> average of all driving is better than the best that you can get with an
> Echo.
>
> > 4. The ECHO is $8000 less than a PRIUS without
> > options.
>
> Been there, thought that. But the Prius is also way more car than the 8,000
> difference. . .
>
> > 5. I'm being told that the NAV system is not
> > available yet as an option (though someone on here
> > stated it was available in new cars...???help???)
>
> No knowledge. .
>
> > 6. The emissions are vastly different (as you all
> > know)
>
> The Echo has this gas engine that runs all of the time. I keep picturing as
> I drive all of the times that it would be shutting down if I was in a Prius.
> . . And it keeps chugging along.
>
> > 7. In the next 2-3 years several manufacturers are
> > slated to release hybrids, including toyota, reporting
> > gas mileage upwards of 80 mpg.
>
> At what cost? Now is now. I wish I had waited a few more months for the
> Prius to come out. I knew I wanted one. It just was not available yet. . .
>
> >
> > Any words of wisdom, experience, or things that I may
> > not have considered?
>
> I thought I was going to keep the Echo long term. I have changed my mind in
> less than a year. If there is any chance you really want the Prius, just
> buy it now. The Echo is not a real good comparison, and not a good
> compromise.
>
> Richard in No Cal. . . still waiting. .
>
> > Thanks,
> > Sue
The EPA fuel economy is 52 MPG city, 45 MPG highway, for an average of 48 MPG.
I've owned a Prius for almost a year now, which included a New England winter. Lifetime average MPG for me is ~49MPG over ~12,000 miles, and I certainly don't baby it. The lowest per-tank mileage I've seen is 39MPG, the highest was over 60MPG.
The car is capable of driving in electric-only up to around 42 MPH, which is certainly higher than "parking lot speeds", and can even shut off fuel to the engine at speeds higher than that. The car is incredibly quiet.
As for the myth of Toyota losing money on these cars, it's mostly the amortization of the R&D costs. Toyota introduced the Prius in 1997 in Japan, 2000 for the US (with a bigger battery and motor (although still a V4)). Toyota currently has hybrid versions of the Estima (minivan) and the Crowne (large sedan?) available in Japan. Toyota was also in a deal with Ford recently for the sale of hybrid technology/components, but Ford axed the Explorer (and larger trucks) hybrid R&D citing costs. (Unknown if Ford also axed plans for the purchase of Toyota hybrid technology for the Escape, due out in 2003... http://www.hybridford.com/ )
Mileage is only part of the "green" factor of the Prius. Sure, less gas used (and idle-stop!) means less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses burned, but what about other emissions? The Prius is one of a small select few cars that meet the CA SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) status. Emissions such as particulate matter and nitrous oxide (NOx), such substances that are smog-producers and are linked to asthma problems and cancer, are much lower on the Prius. The Prius retains its SULEV status at all times of the year, and during all times while on (including startup). The VW diesels can't claim these numbers.
The Honda Insight (manual) and the proposed 2003 hybrid Honda Civic are listed as ULEV, and the CVT Insight is a SULEV.
Oh, and yes, there is still a ~5 month waiting list for the Prius. Orders for the car a placed through the internet. (Prius was a beta-test for Toyota's upcoming 3rd brand which also uses the internet ordering.) Toyota has limited the US allotment to ~12-13,000 vehicles a year, and just upped that number to ~17,000. More people would buy them if they were available... Count yourself lucky if you happen to find one on a dealer lot...
For a good comparison of the Toyota Prius to a Honda Insight (and also the few press-released info on the 2003 Honda Civic), a VW Beetle TDI, and few other vehicles, see http://www.insightcentral.net/compare-honda-insigh t.html
I recall hearing that several "futuristic" themes used in Fritz Lang's 1927 movie Metropolis (co-released with the book by Thea von Harbou) have since come true. The main item that I recall from the movie is video phones.
The issue here is cutomers trying to resell their bundled system software when they upgrade. If you upgrade to Linux, you're still not allowed to resell the bundled OS.
That is true. However, as a quote from the article:
When eBay gets a complaint, the company pulls the auction and notifies the seller of the complaint without trying to determine whether there has been an actual violation. It is up to the seller to prove the sale is legitimate for it to be re-listed."
so, even if you have a legit. retail version of an older Windows product, your auction can be pulled until you jump through the hoops to establish that you have a non-OEM version...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/on2/money/history.html Includes a nice timeline.
http://www.mintmark.com/moneyhistory.htm
Covers mostly coinage, but a good overview
http://minneapolisfed.org/econed/curric/history. ht ml
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis covers the reasons for money, and some history of paper money.
and for lots of great links (from the co-author of the book "A History of Money: From Ancient Times to the Present Day"):
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/money.html
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/llyfr.html
Back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, there was a "prediction" that there would be a great earthquake to hit the Mississippi River valley. (I think it was predicted for an intercontinental plate line running near St. Louis.)
Anyhow, during the week or so of hyped-up media coverage (slow news week?), there were several "Fat is Beautiful"-type groups (and maybe a few weight-loss groups, too, I don't remember) that all decided to stand on the fault line and jump in unison, to get the big earthquake started. The earthquake never happened, but...
Yeah, someone in my high school did a similar stunt in our US History class.
We were given a term paper to write on any subject we liked. It had to be more than 7 (10?) pages long, and had to include at least one direct source (interview, letter, diary, etc.).
A fried of mine wrote about the hippie/flower child movement of the late 1960s. She figured that our teacher would only have enough time to skim the first page or two, perhaps the last page, and he'd check the references list. So, she sprinkled her own favorite hash brownie recipies and the like into the middle of the paper as filler. No one noticed, and she got an A.
I would love to buy a hybrid or electric car, but liveing in Minnesota I have my doubts.
When it is -30 F the car battery can hardly power the starter to start the car. I can not imagine a battery powered car working very well. And without the combustion where would the heat come from -- more battery drain.
The Prius has no starter. The 270v NiMH battery pack directly starts the engine, not the usual 12v lead-acid car battery you're thinking of. Actually, the Prius battery performs better (retains its charge better) in the winter. The car has electric heaters, besides the usual heaters that steal waste heat from the engine, so you start receiving heat the moment you turn on the car, and you don't have to wait 10min for the engine to warm up for the cabin to toasty. Your actual mileage will be a bit less in winter (like all cars suffer in winter), because the engine will need to warm up the emissions-related components (like the catalytic converter) so that the car retains its SULEV status.
Also remember, you do not charge the Prius with a plug! The car generates its own electricity from using the gas engine as a generator, and also regenerates electricity when you are coasting or braking. The Prius enjoys the slow driving brought on by traffic, lights and stop signs, and from slow-going snowy weather!
(If the Prius sold closer to a low end Camry / high end Corolla, I'd be more tempted. I ran the numbers, and it would take about nine years, at my driving rates, to make up the cost differential compared to a similarly outfitted gasoline model, even with savings... and it's an untested engine. Never buy first generation.)
The Toyota Prius was introduced in 1997, in Japan, where it has been selling since. It's the world's first mass-produced hybrid. It was introduced in the USA/Canada/parts of Europe for the 2001 model year, but back in mid-2000. A slightly beefier model (bigger battery, better suspension) was put into the Prius for the 2001 model for the world introduction. If you go with the changes from the 1997 Japanese model, the 2001 (and the 2002s) are considered the 2nd Generation.
The 2001 (and 2002) Prius has a US EPA rating of 52 city / 45 highway. Yes, you'll save pennies at the pump. However, the car also comes with a free 3-year prepaid maintenance plan.
And don't forget that the Prius' SULEV rating means that it is putting out 90% less smog-producing emissions than that regular LEV car that you're looking at! (or that other car is putting out 10x the emissions, depending on how you look at it!)
An automatic 2002 Corolla LE with the Option package #2 (power everything, AC), alloy wheels, and ABS brakes prices at ~$17,000.
The Prius comes fully loaded, with a wonderful continuously-variable automatic transmission, remote keyless entry, alarm (insurance discount!), engine immobilizer (insurance discount!), with everything that the above Corolla has (minus a tach and the split rear seats), for ~$20,000.
The Prius also qualifies for a $2000 federal income tax deduction RIGHT NOW, and will probably qualify for it (or a smaller $ amount) with the new Bush plan. Unknown yet if the $2000 federal income tax credit currently available for electrics covers the Prius (no one who took it this year has been audited, so...). Many states also allow a tax deduction on the Prius (clean-fuels deduction). Some states do not charge sales tax (MD comes to mind) on the Prius. Some states (PA) or localities (San Joaquin valley, CA) provide incentives to buy the Prius, up to ~$2000 depending on where...
Oh, and Ford has licensed use of the Toyota Hybrid System for use in their planned hybrids, so apparently at least 2 manufacturers thinks it is good technology...
Using most mice/pointing devices already cause my wrists to hurt after brief usage.
I can already see a greater amount of people suffering from Repetitive Stress Injuries (most commonly known of which is Carpal Tunnel) thanks to the added vibration...
I'd like to highly suggest that you check out the rec.arts.movies.tech newsgroup, particularly archives of the newsgroup. Your question of home movie conversion/preservation is asked fairly regularly there.
(Be aware that the topic of feature film preservation is also a common topic there, so steer away from those threads. concern yourself with the home movies type of threads. if you have some historic event or landmark or person in your movies, there are some universities/museums which will preserve the film for free if they can add it to their archives...)
Re:Not just a reel, the entire film - inside job
on
TPM movie reel stolen
·
· Score: 5
Why does the film have to be broken down? I've helped move a full platter of film before. You clamp down the film so it doesn't sprawl all over the place while you're moving it, and then you pick up the film. Simple, easy.
if you're even more adventurous, you don't even need to clamp down the film. Just unscrew the platter, and carry that.
(the reason one would need to move a full platter's worth of film is to move it from one projector to another in a multiplex... On Thursday nights it is quite common to have to move an older film out of the largest theater to a smaller one, to allow a new blockbuster to get the larger theater. Also, one might show a movie in different theaters during a single showing day. (Kids' movie in large theater for the afternoon while R film in smaller theater, evening have kids' movie n small theater with R (adult) film in large theater.)
Another need to move films whole is to send it from your major first-run theater to the second-run across town...
It is a multi-person job, but it's not very hard to do. Then you just walk the film out of the building. (It would get a little hairy through the doorways, but...)
Not necessarily a one person job, but it is a heck of a lot easier to do. If you're a weakling like me, then you'd need at least one or two people to also hold on (make sure the film doesn't fall out of the middle somewhere). Doorways just require the film to be held horizontal (doesn't fall out as easy as diagonal). *Stairs* are the worst. (as the stolen print was in a first floor booth, this wouldn't have been a problem.)
Having been a (and still am, though no longer practicing) state-licensed projectionist and worked in more than one theater within the last 5 years, I felt I had to comment... Sorry in advance for the long rant.
A standard 35mm print of a movie costs the studio about $3000. If you add in lab time, transportation, and lost revenue for a stolen print (usually the distributor takes 80% of the ticket sale price for the first 2 or more weeks, with reducing percentages as the run gets longer), then maybe a 35mm print would be worth $60k.
And a 70mm print these days no longer costs the $10k+, and isn't much more expensive than a 35mm film to print. The extra $6k was for the magnetic striping for the soundtrack. Most 70mm prints struck these days (minus 1996's Hamlet) are 70mm DTS prints, which has the same optical soundtrack sync to the DTS CD as a 35mm print.
As far as breaking into a projection booth, it's scarily usually quite easy. I've had to shoo away a number of kids who took a wrong turn going out the back-of-theater exit doors after a show, and ended out in the booth... (Usually we'd just forget to lock the door from the outside.) here in MA, it's actually illegal to have the door locked during showtimes (throwback to the days of nitrate (burns VERY easily) film).
If the booth consists of a large multiplex (usually one projectionist/manager for a booth), one could enter the far end of the (noisy with projectors running) booth, and the projectionist on the other end wouldn't hear you. If the booth is for a small theater, chances are that it's a manager/projectionist, who only enters the booth if there is a reported problem, or to thread or start a film, which leaves the booth unattended for quite some time.
Let me point out here that film reels, trailers (previews), and frames (sometimes called cells on eBay) are all the property of the studio (per the legal stuff at the end of the credits), not the theater or any single person, and MANY people have been successfully sued by studios to reclaim ownership.
Oh, and as for the amount of film stolen... A "reel" could be any of a number of things. If it was a shipping reel, then it could either be a 2000 ft. reel (about 17-23 min. of film), or a ELR (Extended Length Reel), which is 6000 ft. of film (approx. 1/2 the movie).
If the theater is using a dual-projection setup (not likely at a commercial chain multiplex), then the reel could be any of a 2K, 4K, or 6K ft. reels.
Chances are that the theater had the film mounted up on a platter (plays sort of like an 8-track), in one BIG reel for the entire movie. (all of the shipping reels taped together) with clamps or some form of binding wire/rope/string, the whole movie can be easily transported by 2 people, 1 if strong enough (and slung over the shoulder like a tire).
of course, knowing how journalists tend to keep things minimalized so that they don't confuse the public, they just used "reel," which could mean a lot of things.
unfortunately, I do not remember just how much film weighs, only that it is heavy... (when in shipping canisters, even heavier...)
BTW: a good site for techincal information regarding film projection is the rec.arts.movies.tech FAQ.
Slashdot Mirror
There are tax breaks for hybrids. Take a look at the federal Clean Fuel Vehicle deduction. up to 10% of the purchase price of the car, not to exceed $2000, IIRC. (I took a $2000 deduction off of both my US Federal and Massachusetts state income taxes for the purchase of my 2001 Toyota Prius.)
Read chapter 12 of IRS publication 535 (and yes, you can use the Clean Fuel Vehicle deduction or Electric Vehicle Credit if you are not a business): http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf
The Prius also charges the battery through regenerative braking. When you're coasting or going downhill, or while braking, some of the kinetic energy that would otherwise be wasted (such as heat on your brake pads) is used to generate electricity for the battery.
When needed, the gasoline engine will run as a generator for the electric propulsion system of the Prius. Usually, when you do need the gasoline engine (say, highway driving) the most efficient (highest MPG/lowest emissions) RPM of the engine will probably produce more power than is needed for keeping the car running, so that extra power is sent to the battery.
Much like seen in the commercials for the new hybrid Civic, there's no place to plug in the current gasoline/electric hybrids.
The only plug is for the "usual" gasoline pump! You just don't visit it as often as for the average car...
Be careful that you don't swallow all the bullshit that they're feeding the public. After all, GM said, when asked why they were cancelling the EV1 program, "They weren't selling well." What the spokesman neglected to mention, was that they were NEVER SOLD AT ALL - only leased, and that the waiting list for leasing had been quite long... Yeah, there's the same old bull being thrown about for the hybrids (Prius, Insight, Civic) right now. The media keeps saying that the hybrids have poor sales. The automakers (Toyota and Honda) are selling them as fast as they can make them, just that their production volume is low. There was a five-month waiting list for a Prius (up until Jan. when Toyota scrapped their internet ordering system (transferred to the Rav4 EV sales) for traditional dealer-allocation), and it can still be several weeks to get one...
Well, with the 350 N-m/258 lb.-ft. @ 0-400 rpm of torque available from my Prius' electric motors from a stop, there isn't a car that can pass me from a standing stop (say, a red light) unless I let it...
A common adage is horsepower sells cars, but torque wins races...
Info about my Toyota Prius (including MPG charts and such): http://www.kluge.net/~felicity/prius.php
There's your problem. I did a search using /.'s search engine for "satellite" and found the previous story pretty quickly (albiet on the second page (30+) of results)...
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/08/24/165823 8&mode=nested
You do still go into electric-only with the Prius with the AC on, just not as often... (same could be said of heat.) The Prius comes with an automatic climate-control. So, when you first enter your hot car, the AC is on full and the engine runs. When you get near your target temperature, the fan slows, and since the AC isn't really used very often anymore, neither is the gas engine. And this much is for sure, both the AC and the heater are VERY good at what they do!
...
The MPG for those in the hotter climates that use AC almost year round (CA, FL, TX, etc.) have been reporting in the low 40s for their Prius.
And the majority of car magazines tend to drive the Prius (and the Insight) differently than a normal car, and therefore get some really lackluster results. (If the magazine even actually tries the car - often the same mis-information/made-up-information can be seen copied from one "test report" to another!) I wouldn't trust just the one report from Road & Track
comparisons of the Prius to the Echo, as taken from the Prius list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/message /7319
/or temps. in the 60's and 70's. DEAD QUIET in the stealth mode which I can do fairly often w/careful driving. Nice, solid feel. LOTS of good features.$20450 price. I was driving Prius-style before
.The web page for the Echo says it
.After
(Also note that you have to add on a TON of options onto the Echo to meet what is STANDARD on the Prius, and the Echo doesn't come with the long warranties and the 3 yr/36,000 prepaid maintenance plan...)
From: dong5@prodigy.net
Date: Wed Feb 14, 2001 10:06 pm
Subject: Re: on the fence
As an echo and prius owner my experience is different htan this on the echo.I see in the echo forum w/edmunds.com, they slam the prius and I guess here vice versa. Anyways, my experience...............
1. ECHO- 38 mpg(46 mpg hiway on Consumer Reports article) on several tanks w/mixed city/freeway driving,lots of room. HUGE trunk,good aceleration w/o having to use a lead foot $10,000 price, easy to drive and quiet enough for a vehicle of this price and aize, probably better mpg in cold weather than Prius.
2. Prius-40mpg on short trips and BAM!!mid-to-high 50's with longer trips and
they made the car.
CONCLUSION- 2 different good cars from Toyota. Depends on finances, etc. I tend to pick and choose the car to drive according to the trip
and temp.
If you get an echo, opt for AC, AT, and the split rear seat-about$13000.
Or drive a Prius for 3-5 years and see the next gen. of hybrids.
Good luck,
Don Gillespie
Nashville,TN
--- In toyota-prius@y..., "richard" wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Forman Susan"
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 8:16 PM
> Subject: [toyota-prius] on the fence
>
> > greetings all,
> > definitely a prius newbie. Contemplating a purchase
> > but need some help weighing the pros/cons.
> > Currently the choice is between the ECHO and PRIUS
> > here are the facts:
>
> Hi from an Echo driver who has since ordered the Prius. . .
>
> > 1. I drive approx. 100 miles daily...60 miles highway
> > and 40 miles inner city & suburb. My car is my
> > office, my livelihood & other peoples lives depend on
> > my car's reliability and functioning, it CANNOT
> > breakdown.
>
> The break down factor definitely is a consideration in any car. But
I was
> nervous about the Echo when I got it too. It was brand new here.
What did
> anyone really know about it?
>
> > 2. I prefer the interior of the PRIUS, the seating in
> > the ECHO is ghastly/cheap-looking
>
> I totally agree. At the time I got the Echo I was coming from driving a
> truck for many years. As plastic as the Echo was, I really did not notice
> it until it was too late to go back. .
> is called that because that is what you hear in in (as a joke). .
> driving the Prius, I can see that the Echo is no match for the Prius in
> purely "comfort" issues.
>
> > 3. From what I've been reading the mpg is not
> > drastically different between the 2 cars (ECHO is
> > 32/39)
>
> In the year I have had the Echo, I have gotten 40 mpg one time where
> conditions were perfect. Other times it is in the high 30s on steady
> driving. . . But now in winter, I am lucky if I am getting 30 at all. The
> thing with the Prius is that it can go way higher. . . and even the overall
> average of all driving is better than the best that you can get with an
> Echo.
>
> > 4. The ECHO is $8000 less than a PRIUS without
> > options.
>
> Been there, thought that. But the Prius is also way more car than the 8,000
> difference. . .
>
> > 5. I'm being told that the NAV system is not
> > available yet as an option (though someone on here
> > stated it was available in new cars...???help???)
>
> No knowledge. .
>
> > 6. The emissions are vastly different (as you all
> > know)
>
> The Echo has this gas engine that runs all of the time. I keep picturing as
> I drive all of the times that it would be shutting down if I was in a Prius.
> . . And it keeps chugging along.
>
> > 7. In the next 2-3 years several manufacturers are
> > slated to release hybrids, including toyota, reporting
> > gas mileage upwards of 80 mpg.
>
> At what cost? Now is now. I wish I had waited a few more months for the
> Prius to come out. I knew I wanted one. It just was not available yet. . .
>
> >
> > Any words of wisdom, experience, or things that I may
> > not have considered?
>
> I thought I was going to keep the Echo long term. I have changed my mind in
> less than a year. If there is any chance you really want the Prius, just
> buy it now. The Echo is not a real good comparison, and not a good
> compromise.
>
> Richard in No Cal. . . still waiting. .
>
> > Thanks,
> > Sue
The EPA fuel economy is 52 MPG city, 45 MPG highway, for an average of 48 MPG.
h t.html
I've owned a Prius for almost a year now, which included a New England winter. Lifetime average MPG for me is ~49MPG over ~12,000 miles, and I certainly don't baby it. The lowest per-tank mileage I've seen is 39MPG, the highest was over 60MPG.
The car is capable of driving in electric-only up to around 42 MPH, which is certainly higher than "parking lot speeds", and can even shut off fuel to the engine at speeds higher than that. The car is incredibly quiet.
As for the myth of Toyota losing money on these cars, it's mostly the amortization of the R&D costs. Toyota introduced the Prius in 1997 in Japan, 2000 for the US (with a bigger battery and motor (although still a V4)). Toyota currently has hybrid versions of the Estima (minivan) and the Crowne (large sedan?) available in Japan. Toyota was also in a deal with Ford recently for the sale of hybrid technology/components, but Ford axed the Explorer (and larger trucks) hybrid R&D citing costs. (Unknown if Ford also axed plans for the purchase of Toyota hybrid technology for the Escape, due out in 2003... http://www.hybridford.com/ )
Mileage is only part of the "green" factor of the Prius. Sure, less gas used (and idle-stop!) means less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses burned, but what about other emissions? The Prius is one of a small select few cars that meet the CA SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) status. Emissions such as particulate matter and nitrous oxide (NOx), such substances that are smog-producers and are linked to asthma problems and cancer, are much lower on the Prius. The Prius retains its SULEV status at all times of the year, and during all times while on (including startup). The VW diesels can't claim these numbers.
The Honda Insight (manual) and the proposed 2003 hybrid Honda Civic are listed as ULEV, and the CVT Insight is a SULEV.
Oh, and yes, there is still a ~5 month waiting list for the Prius. Orders for the car a placed through the internet. (Prius was a beta-test for Toyota's upcoming 3rd brand which also uses the internet ordering.) Toyota has limited the US allotment to ~12-13,000 vehicles a year, and just upped that number to ~17,000. More people would buy them if they were available... Count yourself lucky if you happen to find one on a dealer lot...
For a good comparison of the Toyota Prius to a Honda Insight (and also the few press-released info on the 2003 Honda Civic), a VW Beetle TDI, and few other vehicles, see http://www.insightcentral.net/compare-honda-insig
I recall hearing that several "futuristic" themes used in Fritz Lang's 1927 movie Metropolis (co-released with the book by Thea von Harbou) have since come true. The main item that I recall from the movie is video phones.
That is true. However, as a quote from the article:
so, even if you have a legit. retail version of an older Windows product, your auction can be pulled until you jump through the hoops to establish that you have a non-OEM version...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/on2/money/history.html
. ht ml
Includes a nice timeline.
http://www.mintmark.com/moneyhistory.htm
Covers mostly coinage, but a good overview
http://minneapolisfed.org/econed/curric/history
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis covers the reasons for money, and some history of paper money.
and for lots of great links (from the co-author of the book "A History of Money: From Ancient Times to the Present Day"):
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/money.html
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/llyfr.html
Back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, there was a "prediction" that there would be a great earthquake to hit the Mississippi River valley. (I think it was predicted for an intercontinental plate line running near St. Louis.)
Anyhow, during the week or so of hyped-up media coverage (slow news week?), there were several "Fat is Beautiful"-type groups (and maybe a few weight-loss groups, too, I don't remember) that all decided to stand on the fault line and jump in unison, to get the big earthquake started. The earthquake never happened, but...
Yeah, someone in my high school did a similar stunt in our US History class.
We were given a term paper to write on any subject we liked. It had to be more than 7 (10?) pages long, and had to include at least one direct source (interview, letter, diary, etc.).
A fried of mine wrote about the hippie/flower child movement of the late 1960s. She figured that our teacher would only have enough time to skim the first page or two, perhaps the last page, and he'd check the references list. So, she sprinkled her own favorite hash brownie recipies and the like into the middle of the paper as filler. No one noticed, and she got an A.
Coming soon:
There are a few others, but most currently sound like vaporware...
Check out John's pages at http://home.att.net/~john1701a/. He's had a Toyota Prius since 9/09/2000, and he lives in Minnesota. How does -13F sound? http://home.att.net/~john1701a/prius/prius-album7. htm
The Prius has no starter. The 270v NiMH battery pack directly starts the engine, not the usual 12v lead-acid car battery you're thinking of. Actually, the Prius battery performs better (retains its charge better) in the winter. The car has electric heaters, besides the usual heaters that steal waste heat from the engine, so you start receiving heat the moment you turn on the car, and you don't have to wait 10min for the engine to warm up for the cabin to toasty. Your actual mileage will be a bit less in winter (like all cars suffer in winter), because the engine will need to warm up the emissions-related components (like the catalytic converter) so that the car retains its SULEV status.
Also remember, you do not charge the Prius with a plug! The car generates its own electricity from using the gas engine as a generator, and also regenerates electricity when you are coasting or braking. The Prius enjoys the slow driving brought on by traffic, lights and stop signs, and from slow-going snowy weather!
The Toyota Prius was introduced in 1997, in Japan, where it has been selling since. It's the world's first mass-produced hybrid. It was introduced in the USA/Canada/parts of Europe for the 2001 model year, but back in mid-2000. A slightly beefier model (bigger battery, better suspension) was put into the Prius for the 2001 model for the world introduction. If you go with the changes from the 1997 Japanese model, the 2001 (and the 2002s) are considered the 2nd Generation.
The 2001 (and 2002) Prius has a US EPA rating of 52 city / 45 highway. Yes, you'll save pennies at the pump. However, the car also comes with a free 3-year prepaid maintenance plan.
And don't forget that the Prius' SULEV rating means that it is putting out 90% less smog-producing emissions than that regular LEV car that you're looking at! (or that other car is putting out 10x the emissions, depending on how you look at it!)
An automatic 2002 Corolla LE with the Option package #2 (power everything, AC), alloy wheels, and ABS brakes prices at ~$17,000.
The Prius comes fully loaded, with a wonderful continuously-variable automatic transmission, remote keyless entry, alarm (insurance discount!), engine immobilizer (insurance discount!), with everything that the above Corolla has (minus a tach and the split rear seats), for ~$20,000.
The Prius also qualifies for a $2000 federal income tax deduction RIGHT NOW, and will probably qualify for it (or a smaller $ amount) with the new Bush plan. Unknown yet if the $2000 federal income tax credit currently available for electrics covers the Prius (no one who took it this year has been audited, so...). Many states also allow a tax deduction on the Prius (clean-fuels deduction). Some states do not charge sales tax (MD comes to mind) on the Prius. Some states (PA) or localities (San Joaquin valley, CA) provide incentives to buy the Prius, up to ~$2000 depending on where...
Oh, and Ford has licensed use of the Toyota Hybrid System for use in their planned hybrids, so apparently at least 2 manufacturers thinks it is good technology...
Using most mice/pointing devices already cause my wrists to hurt after brief usage.
I can already see a greater amount of people suffering from Repetitive Stress Injuries (most commonly known of which is Carpal Tunnel) thanks to the added vibration...
I'd like to highly suggest that you check out the rec.arts.movies.tech newsgroup, particularly archives of the newsgroup. Your question of home movie conversion/preservation is asked fairly regularly there.
(Be aware that the topic of feature film preservation is also a common topic there, so steer away from those threads. concern yourself with the home movies type of threads. if you have some historic event or landmark or person in your movies, there are some universities/museums which will preserve the film for free if they can add it to their archives...)
if you're even more adventurous, you don't even need to clamp down the film. Just unscrew the platter, and carry that.
(the reason one would need to move a full platter's worth of film is to move it from one projector to another in a multiplex... On Thursday nights it is quite common to have to move an older film out of the largest theater to a smaller one, to allow a new blockbuster to get the larger theater. Also, one might show a movie in different theaters during a single showing day. (Kids' movie in large theater for the afternoon while R film in smaller theater, evening have kids' movie n small theater with R (adult) film in large theater.)
Another need to move films whole is to send it from your major first-run theater to the second-run across town...
Not necessarily a one person job, but it is a heck of a lot easier to do. If you're a weakling like me, then you'd need at least one or two people to also hold on (make sure the film doesn't fall out of the middle somewhere). Doorways just require the film to be held horizontal (doesn't fall out as easy as diagonal). *Stairs* are the worst. (as the stolen print was in a first floor booth, this wouldn't have been a problem.)
another BTW: here are pictures of a platter system and shipping reel cans (with two sets of DTS disks in their shipping cases)
Having been a (and still am, though no longer practicing) state-licensed projectionist and worked in more than one theater within the last 5 years, I felt I had to comment... Sorry in advance for the long rant.
A standard 35mm print of a movie costs the studio about $3000. If you add in lab time, transportation, and lost revenue for a stolen print (usually the distributor takes 80% of the ticket sale price for the first 2 or more weeks, with reducing percentages as the run gets longer), then maybe a 35mm print would be worth $60k.
And a 70mm print these days no longer costs the $10k+, and isn't much more expensive than a 35mm film to print. The extra $6k was for the magnetic striping for the soundtrack. Most 70mm prints struck these days (minus 1996's Hamlet) are 70mm DTS prints, which has the same optical soundtrack sync to the DTS CD as a 35mm print.
As far as breaking into a projection booth, it's scarily usually quite easy. I've had to shoo away a number of kids who took a wrong turn going out the back-of-theater exit doors after a show, and ended out in the booth... (Usually we'd just forget to lock the door from the outside.) here in MA, it's actually illegal to have the door locked during showtimes (throwback to the days of nitrate (burns VERY easily) film).
If the booth consists of a large multiplex (usually one projectionist/manager for a booth), one could enter the far end of the (noisy with projectors running) booth, and the projectionist on the other end wouldn't hear you. If the booth is for a small theater, chances are that it's a manager/projectionist, who only enters the booth if there is a reported problem, or to thread or start a film, which leaves the booth unattended for quite some time.
Let me point out here that film reels, trailers (previews), and frames (sometimes called cells on eBay) are all the property of the studio (per the legal stuff at the end of the credits), not the theater or any single person, and MANY people have been successfully sued by studios to reclaim ownership.
Oh, and as for the amount of film stolen... A "reel" could be any of a number of things. If it was a shipping reel, then it could either be a 2000 ft. reel (about 17-23 min. of film), or a ELR (Extended Length Reel), which is 6000 ft. of film (approx. 1/2 the movie).
If the theater is using a dual-projection setup (not likely at a commercial chain multiplex), then the reel could be any of a 2K, 4K, or 6K ft. reels.
Chances are that the theater had the film mounted up on a platter (plays sort of like an 8-track), in one BIG reel for the entire movie. (all of the shipping reels taped together) with clamps or some form of binding wire/rope/string, the whole movie can be easily transported by 2 people, 1 if strong enough (and slung over the shoulder like a tire).
of course, knowing how journalists tend to keep things minimalized so that they don't confuse the public, they just used "reel," which could mean a lot of things.
unfortunately, I do not remember just how much film weighs, only that it is heavy... (when in shipping canisters, even heavier...)
BTW: a good site for techincal information regarding film projection is the rec.arts.movies.tech FAQ.