I remember that car before it was on ebay. There was a website out there dedicated to it at some point.
Only reason this is news; is because it was reported in San Francisco with a more trendy (albiet, unreliable hunk of garbage) car. As long as its German!! Audi, VW, BMW, MB, we dont care! Electrical systems designed by an 8 year old be damned!!!
That MR2 was pretty slick. I seem to remember a few other cars as well. There was also that one car back in the 60s that some certain automobile maker (now defunct iirc) made a few copies of.
Its no big deal. Toyota's Prius in Japan had a parallel parking feature where it autoparked using a backup camera on the dash. Its been out for 3 years now or so (and no telling what else there was before that)
Most newer vehicles are going all drive-by-wire now; including the steering, brakes, and throttle. All new Lexus vehicles coming out have these features; combined with stability control, motion sensing, radar for finding distance between the cars around you, etc to create an entire package called VDIM. Its the most sophisticated safety package in the world. With the absensce of a steering rack; the wheels, throttle, etc are all controlled by the computer. So small wonder that a vehicle could be made to drive itself.
Trouble with most new vehicles using this is reliability issues. You don't have to worry about that with Toyota or Honda; but Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and a few others from Europe would scare the hell out of me. I've heard numerous stories of Mercedes E and S class vehicles just STOPPING in the middle of the freeway, not cranking, and losing control of steering. Something that advanced is VERY dangerous when you couple shoddy German (and general European) electronics with it.
Yeah while running on 20 octane gasoline and making less horsepower than modern lawnmowers.:)
I don't see the Model T making 30mpg+ while qualifying as a ULEV2 vehicle and making 130-200hp as the modern-day 4 cylinder does. Do you know what would have happened on a Model T if it ran a catalytic converter?
My whole point of this post; is that there are MANY other reasons why gas mileage is the way it is. Low emissions doesnt mean great gas mileage; it actually hurts it in most cases. There are far far more restrictions now than there used to be. Can you imagine a Model T attempting to pass emissions in California?:)
I was also inferring to technology R&D and deployment. If one does some research into Toyota's hybrid technology system; one can see HOW far ahead they are. In regular gasoline engine development, Honda and Toyota (especially Toyota with their new 2GR-FSE in the IS350 and the new 4.6L V8 available in the next-gen LS) are ahead in creating engines that make lots of power and torque with lower displacements, lighter weight engines, more efficient transmissions, less emissions, and better gas mileage. Honda and Toyota both have their hydrogen fuel-cell engines already going through thorough testing.
I know more about Toyota than I do about Honda, so I apologize for referring to primarily them. But for instance:
The new Toyota 2GR-FSE is a 3.5L V6. There are several larger displacement DOHC V6s on the market. Most, only 6-7 years ago, were in the 3 liter to 2.5 liter variety. Usually made about 180-230hp. Nissan being the first to really bring out a NEW V6; delivered their VQ35DE, which had a very linear horsepower curve (287 peak in the 350z guise), and a nice flat torque band (260 fr-lbs). Good emissions rating(at ULEV1 I think), and decent gas mileage, mid 20s gas mileage. You couldnt find this anywhere in the American V6s. V6s in the Mustang were making 190hp, bad gas mileage; while the Firebird and Camaro only 200hp; all with more displacement (3.8 liters).
The new Toyota is even better now. Standing by the new SAE ratings for horsepower they claim 306hp in their new IS350. While dynos (devices that actually test horsepower at the wheels, instead of the engine) are pointing to the engine actually making somewhere between 325-350hp. All while having an even lower emissions rating (ULEV2) and better gas mileage than the Nissan motor (in a heavier car even). The closest V6 in the American inventory is a new Ford V6, unsure of the size, (barring the supercharged offerings from GM - thats a whole new can of worms) making 240hp. And this motor is BRAND NEW. I'm thinking its going into some of the Lincolns IIRC (and hopefully the fivehundred - which is woefully underpowered in an otherwise nice car).
Hope that clears up my stance. Its not just profits; its a whole slew of other issues too.
SUVs and trucks are the ONLY segments where American companies are still competitive and/or leading in sales. The sheer profit and good things that happened from such a big SUV investment is partly responsible for their faltering in midsize and small/compact cars. Nissan's reliability issues with their fullsize trucks doesnt help Japan's quest to dominating the fullsize market either. (The QX56 was recently named the most unreliable vehicle of 2005 by Consumer Reports, while the Titan and Pathfinder Armada were not far behind). Toyota's Tundra, while not quite fullsize (to be larger in the next model revision) is still the most reliable fullsize over the average of many different reports; along with the Tacoma (as it always has been since its inception) for the mid-size market.
The gas crunch is only now a more recent development. And now, with Ford and GM, LOSING sales when they pull their "employee pricing" crap; they are now resorting to price cuts across the board. They can't sell them unless they hand out great deals (with exception for the C6 Vette and fullsize trucks/SUVs).
As for "catching up" in terms of reliability; that is a SERIOUSLY misinformed opinion. There are some reliable American cars; most of them in the Buick and Mercury brands. But as an average; their reliability ratings have only slightly increased (some progress is progress, of course). But take a look at Toyota and Honda; and their ENTIRE lines (especially Lexus and Acura) are on the most reliable lists of many different publications. Especially their best sellers; Camry and Accord.
True on the unions, but they are no longer needed anymore in modern times. Will a day come where they are needed again? Quite possibly! The trek towards socialism that the US (and the rest of the world) has made over the past 150 years may be just making them quite obsolete. But not right now. They are the reason Delphi has declared bankruptcy, they are one of the main reasons that Toyota made enough money last year to BUY GM or Ford, and its why they are making mention of GMs bankruptcy in dark corners of the stock market. Toyota, scared of a backlash against Japanese goods, has even been attempting to HELP GM out; they bought out GMs stake in Fuji-Subaru and have raised their prices (both times publicly stating WHY).
What I'm trying to say; while one person can find a reliable American car (there are more now than there were 10 years ago); if you randomly select one, you more than likely will pick wrong. I applaud the US companies for trying (not like they care of course), but they need new management up top (Bob Lutz was supposed to be GMs savior, but he has done nothing).
Progressively better maybe in an absolute sense...
But relatively speaking; compare them to Toyota or Honda and its like comparing little league to the major leagues in baseball. Toyota specifically, is so far ahead of GM and Ford that its positively scary.
Much of it comes from the unions. But more of it comes with a better business model across the entire spectrum; from assembly plants to R&D. For instance, it takes Toyota a sizable fraction of the time compared to GM or Ford(about 1/3 to 1/2 the time) of taking a car from the drawing board to full scale production; while still being either THE most or of the top 2 in reliability in it's respective class.
For diehards, I specifically leave out Chrysler; since they are now DaimlerChrysler; a sizable portion of total ownership being German... not that German cars are any better than American cars in reliability(most are worse actually).
Evolution is a FACT. Macro and Micro. There is so much scientific evidence to support it; its just a fact.
Evolution does not deal with HOW life came to be; it deals with how it evolved.
Right now, the MECHANICS of the system are what's up in the air; and in fact are the only arguments that the ID crew tries to poke at... "if we can't explain completely HOW the large variety of horses evolved over time, then its just too complicated to understand; there must be a designer behind it all." Completely ignoring the FACT that the evolution HAPPENED. We're still exploring HOW it did. We've got the proof that it exists; just not how it works.
Just how we once could watch birds fly but couldnt fly ourselves... or how the Meteor Crater in Arizona was REALLY caused by a meteor and not deep-earth shifting by volcanic forces that created a large sinkhole.
Things happen that we don't understand all the time. It doesnt change the facts that it DID happen; we just need to find the mechanics to fit the puzzle. Some of the crazier ID supporters think that if we can't easily find a solution; then it must be the hand of God.
And to the ID supporters that begin their passive-aggressive attacks about me being a heathen. I AM a Christian... I just happen to view God as a minimal interventionist. If He is so perfect, then he can touch one domino and make them fall in whatever pattern that He wishes. I grow tired of the fundamentalist Christian right that calls me either a Heretic or an unbeliever and tells me I'm going to hell because I don't believe the Bible word for word as its exact meaning.
I don't think that's what he was getting at:) I think it was more of/.ers not HAVING girlfriends in the first place; or maybe Pamela Handerson or Thumbileena and her 4 friends.
My 2200 a couple years ago DEFINITELY would have trouble running games solidly today. You've got delusions, friend.
How about: Doom3, FEAR, and Quake4? If you think your processor will run them "solidly" (solid is full quality settings except for AA and AF) then you probably havent played them:) Because my A64 3200 won't play FEAR at full specs; and if I turn on AA and AF at full resolution in the other two games, it bogs down.
Maybe you've got a different idea of "solid" than everyone else; but to REALLY run new games, a 2400 isnt going to cut it.
I got a large majority of it, trust me. Since my last post I've asked people from various areas about their experiences. No one remembers even any thunder. Where I was before landfall, there were quite a few tornados running around; I remember hearing the sirens blaring in midtown as I was driving home from work (idiot GM didnt think the hurricane was going to be much)
Reading radiation in a storm... is that different from ACTUAL lightning strikes? Because we got a LARGE part of the storm; and I was awake through the whole thing. Drank coffee and ate pretzels on the front porch at one point too; watching trees falling and covering the road. Nothing but a loud roar coupled with walls of rain impacting everything from the woods we lived around to the brick walls of the garage.
Being a person who went through Katrina and the aftermath. I didnt see any lightning during Katrina (waiting for the storm included) at all and no evidence of lightning strikes in the lightly hit areas. (the harder hit areas weren't there anymore, so I couldnt judge)
Amen. I bought mine for like $15 new. I've never had issues with it; it feels great in my hand. And if you need a ton of buttons to click on the mouse; you need to start learning to use your LEFT hand:)
Being ambidextrous is a big advantage in many things... though most "professional" gamers are pimply-faced 18 year old kids that weigh 120lbs with 9inch arms (though their right forearm is much larger than the left! I wonder why!??!?)
Yup. I think a fix can be found for this in two ways:
1) Hotter spark plugs; going up a couple heat ranges can take care of some of the issues
2) And in a complete turnaround; use additional gasoline injection; just how some performance turbocars use alcohol injection to boost the octane effects and cool the intake charge.
Yeah thats what glowplugs are for, genius. Diesel motors have problems cranking at cold temps too; its a quirk of the design of the diesel motor.
"Companies spend tons of money to come up with the best solution and you think you can do better for free?"
Give me a break. No one said someone could "do better for free". Companies ARE in it for the money; and if you think the refinery companies ARENT there JUST for the money; well you need to re-evaluate your concept of how the world really works. I know THE REASON that these things havent been universally adopted in this country, is because of the companies and corporations. Do you REALIZE how much money they make? They showed profits of 9 BILLION this year. Wasnt this supposed to be the year where they tried to slow the increase in gas prices by taking loses or something?
And don't group me in with "Libs". Libs are people with great idealistic visions of how social, political, and environmental systems SHOULD work; but then neglect the realistic economic side as well. I simply told someone how the systems work; and you made a off-handed remark (that wasnt even totally correct either) and then somehow turn it into a political discussion. Get a life!
My mistake; I also forgot to add that most modern automobiles would ALSO need their car's ECU reprogrammed to change the fuel and ignition maps. The motor and other drivetrain components though would handle it just fine, was my point.:)
For ethanol? yes. Alcohols have a much different Stoichiometric air/fuel ratio than your typical gasoline. Gasoline has a perfect burn at 14.7:1 air/fuel ratio.
Alcohol, depending on the variety, usually burns somewhere between 10 and 12:1. What does this mean? Well it requires MORE fuel to create a clean combustion. Though, from what I've read more fuel may be used, but it is a cleaner burn; resulting in less emissions output. Most modern engines could most likely use Ethanol IF they had their fuel systems redone without using certain types of hoses that rot away; and by replacing the fuel pump; since most fuel pumps are set to work with gasoline and alcohol is a good bit thinner.
Alcohol also allows for better tune; engines will develop more horsepower per liter in displacement because of the higher octane effects of various alcohols. This is why there are methanol drag cars out there.
Biodiesel can successfully be used in almost any diesel engine. Some old hoses could possibly have rotted away and need replacing; but that is standard maintenance anyways. I've seen old diesel boats running it; to someone's 1982 Datsun 2.2L diesel (I think its a 2.2) that gets like 60mpg.
A great thing about biodiesel is it has a VERY clean burn. It doesnt stink like diesel motors do. For the most part, everyone says it smells like popcorn... seriously! Biodiesel can also be refined by backyard chemists. There's a guy here in Alabama, believe it or not, that sells it. He does what many backyard refineries do; he gets waste oils and gunk from local restaurants, refines it into biodiesel; uses it for himself to power his home and sells it off. He is also able to refine the waste products of biodiesel and sell them as well. Its quite interesting; and from what I can see, its an environmentalists wet dream:)
Not quite. Wasnt there a record amount of DVDs sold this holiday season? Hell I know I bought more than I ever have before; and there are many people that I know that will agree. Someone saying 'DVD is dead' sounds like someone that just wants to be the first one to say something; so they say truly outlandish things that never come true. (but just in case they do, lets say it anyway!)
I want to get the Wedding Crashers special edition on DVD:D
Back when BestBuy was doing their major GeekSquad rollout; like when they were putting it into almost every store. It used to be in just a few larger stores.
I was working there at the time as a pc tech, and we had a guy come in to apply for one of the new GeekSquad positions (everyone was being converted, but our store had put out advertisements for "now hiring Geek Squad agents" and crap like that). I helped do his interview. We had gotten his email address and everything.
He came back in for a few more interviews with other managers and senior employees; and me and one other guy did a little researching, because something just wasnt quite right. It turns out, the guy had an online blog; our search yielded us a xanga account with the same name as his email; it was quite unique, and the guy had pics of himself on there.
In his blog, he states several times; about how he owns another company that did the same thing GeekSquad was supposed to do (house to house repairs, etc). And that he was going to get hired at Bestbuy for Geeksquad, and how he would be "competing against himself" and taking over GeekSquad. We had a GOOD laugh for about 30 minutes; then printed that particular blog entry; and gave it to the GM. Needless to say, he didnt get hired LOL. The guy was like 19 and seemed bent on world domination via Bestbuy (definitely not the place to start lol) and needed a backslap to the face (or a kick in the nuts, whatever you want to say).
We could even generalize it a bit more and make fun of ANYONE who spends $6k-$8k on a personal computer. If you've got that kind of cash to sling, I always thought you could ACTUALLY DO in REAL life what you play in a game.:)
Well, except for going to Mars and shooting up Demonspawn as a lone marine;)
Economic death penalty isnt the same thing as a "death penalty" for serial murderers. Think about the phrase. Just how schools in the NCAA can receive the 'death penalty' for a particular sport; meaning many scholarships lost, no TV coverage, no bowl game, etc... or even no play whatsoever.
Economic death penalty just means he'll be given so much debt that he'll NEVER be able to repay it all; and that he'll be stuck with it for the rest of his life.
I cant believe someone marked your reply as "insightful". But I've got bad karma because I have different political views than the moderators; so what do I know?:D
Slashdot Mirror
Its just like Ep 4 ANH. Lucas is the Emperor and Sony is Darth Vader. Ironic and funny that the shoes on the other foot now.
Its the Illudium P36 Explosive Space Modulator!!! That creature has stolen the space modulator!!! Oh delays, delays....
I remember that car before it was on ebay. There was a website out there dedicated to it at some point. Only reason this is news; is because it was reported in San Francisco with a more trendy (albiet, unreliable hunk of garbage) car. As long as its German!! Audi, VW, BMW, MB, we dont care! Electrical systems designed by an 8 year old be damned!!! That MR2 was pretty slick. I seem to remember a few other cars as well. There was also that one car back in the 60s that some certain automobile maker (now defunct iirc) made a few copies of.
Does the /. crowd hang out with anyone?
Its no big deal. Toyota's Prius in Japan had a parallel parking feature where it autoparked using a backup camera on the dash. Its been out for 3 years now or so (and no telling what else there was before that)
Most newer vehicles are going all drive-by-wire now; including the steering, brakes, and throttle. All new Lexus vehicles coming out have these features; combined with stability control, motion sensing, radar for finding distance between the cars around you, etc to create an entire package called VDIM. Its the most sophisticated safety package in the world. With the absensce of a steering rack; the wheels, throttle, etc are all controlled by the computer. So small wonder that a vehicle could be made to drive itself.
Trouble with most new vehicles using this is reliability issues. You don't have to worry about that with Toyota or Honda; but Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and a few others from Europe would scare the hell out of me. I've heard numerous stories of Mercedes E and S class vehicles just STOPPING in the middle of the freeway, not cranking, and losing control of steering. Something that advanced is VERY dangerous when you couple shoddy German (and general European) electronics with it.
Yeah while running on 20 octane gasoline and making less horsepower than modern lawnmowers. :)
I don't see the Model T making 30mpg+ while qualifying as a ULEV2 vehicle and making 130-200hp as the modern-day 4 cylinder does. Do you know what would have happened on a Model T if it ran a catalytic converter?
My whole point of this post; is that there are MANY other reasons why gas mileage is the way it is. Low emissions doesnt mean great gas mileage; it actually hurts it in most cases. There are far far more restrictions now than there used to be. Can you imagine a Model T attempting to pass emissions in California? :)
Yes and then we can gain access to root and find the garbage file to execute the Da Vinci code and hold the world hostage!
I was also inferring to technology R&D and deployment. If one does some research into Toyota's hybrid technology system; one can see HOW far ahead they are. In regular gasoline engine development, Honda and Toyota (especially Toyota with their new 2GR-FSE in the IS350 and the new 4.6L V8 available in the next-gen LS) are ahead in creating engines that make lots of power and torque with lower displacements, lighter weight engines, more efficient transmissions, less emissions, and better gas mileage. Honda and Toyota both have their hydrogen fuel-cell engines already going through thorough testing.
I know more about Toyota than I do about Honda, so I apologize for referring to primarily them. But for instance:
The new Toyota 2GR-FSE is a 3.5L V6. There are several larger displacement DOHC V6s on the market. Most, only 6-7 years ago, were in the 3 liter to 2.5 liter variety. Usually made about 180-230hp. Nissan being the first to really bring out a NEW V6; delivered their VQ35DE, which had a very linear horsepower curve (287 peak in the 350z guise), and a nice flat torque band (260 fr-lbs). Good emissions rating(at ULEV1 I think), and decent gas mileage, mid 20s gas mileage. You couldnt find this anywhere in the American V6s. V6s in the Mustang were making 190hp, bad gas mileage; while the Firebird and Camaro only 200hp; all with more displacement (3.8 liters).
The new Toyota is even better now. Standing by the new SAE ratings for horsepower they claim 306hp in their new IS350. While dynos (devices that actually test horsepower at the wheels, instead of the engine) are pointing to the engine actually making somewhere between 325-350hp. All while having an even lower emissions rating (ULEV2) and better gas mileage than the Nissan motor (in a heavier car even). The closest V6 in the American inventory is a new Ford V6, unsure of the size, (barring the supercharged offerings from GM - thats a whole new can of worms) making 240hp. And this motor is BRAND NEW. I'm thinking its going into some of the Lincolns IIRC (and hopefully the fivehundred - which is woefully underpowered in an otherwise nice car).
Hope that clears up my stance. Its not just profits; its a whole slew of other issues too.
I respectively disagree about SUVs.
SUVs and trucks are the ONLY segments where American companies are still competitive and/or leading in sales. The sheer profit and good things that happened from such a big SUV investment is partly responsible for their faltering in midsize and small/compact cars. Nissan's reliability issues with their fullsize trucks doesnt help Japan's quest to dominating the fullsize market either. (The QX56 was recently named the most unreliable vehicle of 2005 by Consumer Reports, while the Titan and Pathfinder Armada were not far behind). Toyota's Tundra, while not quite fullsize (to be larger in the next model revision) is still the most reliable fullsize over the average of many different reports; along with the Tacoma (as it always has been since its inception) for the mid-size market.
The gas crunch is only now a more recent development. And now, with Ford and GM, LOSING sales when they pull their "employee pricing" crap; they are now resorting to price cuts across the board. They can't sell them unless they hand out great deals (with exception for the C6 Vette and fullsize trucks/SUVs).
As for "catching up" in terms of reliability; that is a SERIOUSLY misinformed opinion. There are some reliable American cars; most of them in the Buick and Mercury brands. But as an average; their reliability ratings have only slightly increased (some progress is progress, of course). But take a look at Toyota and Honda; and their ENTIRE lines (especially Lexus and Acura) are on the most reliable lists of many different publications. Especially their best sellers; Camry and Accord.
True on the unions, but they are no longer needed anymore in modern times. Will a day come where they are needed again? Quite possibly! The trek towards socialism that the US (and the rest of the world) has made over the past 150 years may be just making them quite obsolete. But not right now. They are the reason Delphi has declared bankruptcy, they are one of the main reasons that Toyota made enough money last year to BUY GM or Ford, and its why they are making mention of GMs bankruptcy in dark corners of the stock market. Toyota, scared of a backlash against Japanese goods, has even been attempting to HELP GM out; they bought out GMs stake in Fuji-Subaru and have raised their prices (both times publicly stating WHY).
What I'm trying to say; while one person can find a reliable American car (there are more now than there were 10 years ago); if you randomly select one, you more than likely will pick wrong. I applaud the US companies for trying (not like they care of course), but they need new management up top (Bob Lutz was supposed to be GMs savior, but he has done nothing).
Progressively better maybe in an absolute sense... But relatively speaking; compare them to Toyota or Honda and its like comparing little league to the major leagues in baseball. Toyota specifically, is so far ahead of GM and Ford that its positively scary. Much of it comes from the unions. But more of it comes with a better business model across the entire spectrum; from assembly plants to R&D. For instance, it takes Toyota a sizable fraction of the time compared to GM or Ford(about 1/3 to 1/2 the time) of taking a car from the drawing board to full scale production; while still being either THE most or of the top 2 in reliability in it's respective class. For diehards, I specifically leave out Chrysler; since they are now DaimlerChrysler; a sizable portion of total ownership being German... not that German cars are any better than American cars in reliability(most are worse actually).
Yeah I figured it was semantics pretty much :)
;)
You say 'tom-AY-toe' I say 'tom-AH-toe'
Evolution is a FACT. Macro and Micro. There is so much scientific evidence to support it; its just a fact.
Evolution does not deal with HOW life came to be; it deals with how it evolved.
Right now, the MECHANICS of the system are what's up in the air; and in fact are the only arguments that the ID crew tries to poke at... "if we can't explain completely HOW the large variety of horses evolved over time, then its just too complicated to understand; there must be a designer behind it all." Completely ignoring the FACT that the evolution HAPPENED. We're still exploring HOW it did. We've got the proof that it exists; just not how it works.
Just how we once could watch birds fly but couldnt fly ourselves... or how the Meteor Crater in Arizona was REALLY caused by a meteor and not deep-earth shifting by volcanic forces that created a large sinkhole.
Things happen that we don't understand all the time. It doesnt change the facts that it DID happen; we just need to find the mechanics to fit the puzzle. Some of the crazier ID supporters think that if we can't easily find a solution; then it must be the hand of God.
And to the ID supporters that begin their passive-aggressive attacks about me being a heathen. I AM a Christian... I just happen to view God as a minimal interventionist. If He is so perfect, then he can touch one domino and make them fall in whatever pattern that He wishes. I grow tired of the fundamentalist Christian right that calls me either a Heretic or an unbeliever and tells me I'm going to hell because I don't believe the Bible word for word as its exact meaning.
I don't think that's what he was getting at :) I think it was more of /.ers not HAVING girlfriends in the first place; or maybe Pamela Handerson or Thumbileena and her 4 friends.
My 2200 a couple years ago DEFINITELY would have trouble running games solidly today. You've got delusions, friend.
:) Because my A64 3200 won't play FEAR at full specs; and if I turn on AA and AF at full resolution in the other two games, it bogs down.
How about: Doom3, FEAR, and Quake4? If you think your processor will run them "solidly" (solid is full quality settings except for AA and AF) then you probably havent played them
Maybe you've got a different idea of "solid" than everyone else; but to REALLY run new games, a 2400 isnt going to cut it.
I got a large majority of it, trust me. Since my last post I've asked people from various areas about their experiences. No one remembers even any thunder. Where I was before landfall, there were quite a few tornados running around; I remember hearing the sirens blaring in midtown as I was driving home from work (idiot GM didnt think the hurricane was going to be much)
Reading radiation in a storm... is that different from ACTUAL lightning strikes? Because we got a LARGE part of the storm; and I was awake through the whole thing. Drank coffee and ate pretzels on the front porch at one point too; watching trees falling and covering the road. Nothing but a loud roar coupled with walls of rain impacting everything from the woods we lived around to the brick walls of the garage.
Being a person who went through Katrina and the aftermath. I didnt see any lightning during Katrina (waiting for the storm included) at all and no evidence of lightning strikes in the lightly hit areas. (the harder hit areas weren't there anymore, so I couldnt judge)
Amen. I bought mine for like $15 new. I've never had issues with it; it feels great in my hand. And if you need a ton of buttons to click on the mouse; you need to start learning to use your LEFT hand :)
Being ambidextrous is a big advantage in many things... though most "professional" gamers are pimply-faced 18 year old kids that weigh 120lbs with 9inch arms (though their right forearm is much larger than the left! I wonder why!??!?)
Yup. I think a fix can be found for this in two ways:
1) Hotter spark plugs; going up a couple heat ranges can take care of some of the issues
2) And in a complete turnaround; use additional gasoline injection; just how some performance turbocars use alcohol injection to boost the octane effects and cool the intake charge.
Yeah thats what glowplugs are for, genius. Diesel motors have problems cranking at cold temps too; its a quirk of the design of the diesel motor.
"Companies spend tons of money to come up with the best solution and you think you can do better for free?"
Give me a break. No one said someone could "do better for free". Companies ARE in it for the money; and if you think the refinery companies ARENT there JUST for the money; well you need to re-evaluate your concept of how the world really works. I know THE REASON that these things havent been universally adopted in this country, is because of the companies and corporations. Do you REALIZE how much money they make? They showed profits of 9 BILLION this year. Wasnt this supposed to be the year where they tried to slow the increase in gas prices by taking loses or something?
And don't group me in with "Libs". Libs are people with great idealistic visions of how social, political, and environmental systems SHOULD work; but then neglect the realistic economic side as well. I simply told someone how the systems work; and you made a off-handed remark (that wasnt even totally correct either) and then somehow turn it into a political discussion. Get a life!
My mistake; I also forgot to add that most modern automobiles would ALSO need their car's ECU reprogrammed to change the fuel and ignition maps. The motor and other drivetrain components though would handle it just fine, was my point. :)
For ethanol? yes. Alcohols have a much different Stoichiometric air/fuel ratio than your typical gasoline. Gasoline has a perfect burn at 14.7:1 air/fuel ratio.
:)
Alcohol, depending on the variety, usually burns somewhere between 10 and 12:1. What does this mean? Well it requires MORE fuel to create a clean combustion. Though, from what I've read more fuel may be used, but it is a cleaner burn; resulting in less emissions output. Most modern engines could most likely use Ethanol IF they had their fuel systems redone without using certain types of hoses that rot away; and by replacing the fuel pump; since most fuel pumps are set to work with gasoline and alcohol is a good bit thinner.
Alcohol also allows for better tune; engines will develop more horsepower per liter in displacement because of the higher octane effects of various alcohols. This is why there are methanol drag cars out there.
Biodiesel can successfully be used in almost any diesel engine. Some old hoses could possibly have rotted away and need replacing; but that is standard maintenance anyways. I've seen old diesel boats running it; to someone's 1982 Datsun 2.2L diesel (I think its a 2.2) that gets like 60mpg.
A great thing about biodiesel is it has a VERY clean burn. It doesnt stink like diesel motors do. For the most part, everyone says it smells like popcorn... seriously! Biodiesel can also be refined by backyard chemists. There's a guy here in Alabama, believe it or not, that sells it. He does what many backyard refineries do; he gets waste oils and gunk from local restaurants, refines it into biodiesel; uses it for himself to power his home and sells it off. He is also able to refine the waste products of biodiesel and sell them as well. Its quite interesting; and from what I can see, its an environmentalists wet dream
Not quite. Wasnt there a record amount of DVDs sold this holiday season? Hell I know I bought more than I ever have before; and there are many people that I know that will agree. Someone saying 'DVD is dead' sounds like someone that just wants to be the first one to say something; so they say truly outlandish things that never come true. (but just in case they do, lets say it anyway!)
:D
I want to get the Wedding Crashers special edition on DVD
ACTUALLY, I've got a funny story.
Back when BestBuy was doing their major GeekSquad rollout; like when they were putting it into almost every store. It used to be in just a few larger stores.
I was working there at the time as a pc tech, and we had a guy come in to apply for one of the new GeekSquad positions (everyone was being converted, but our store had put out advertisements for "now hiring Geek Squad agents" and crap like that). I helped do his interview. We had gotten his email address and everything.
He came back in for a few more interviews with other managers and senior employees; and me and one other guy did a little researching, because something just wasnt quite right. It turns out, the guy had an online blog; our search yielded us a xanga account with the same name as his email; it was quite unique, and the guy had pics of himself on there.
In his blog, he states several times; about how he owns another company that did the same thing GeekSquad was supposed to do (house to house repairs, etc). And that he was going to get hired at Bestbuy for Geeksquad, and how he would be "competing against himself" and taking over GeekSquad. We had a GOOD laugh for about 30 minutes; then printed that particular blog entry; and gave it to the GM. Needless to say, he didnt get hired LOL. The guy was like 19 and seemed bent on world domination via Bestbuy (definitely not the place to start lol) and needed a backslap to the face (or a kick in the nuts, whatever you want to say).
We could even generalize it a bit more and make fun of ANYONE who spends $6k-$8k on a personal computer. If you've got that kind of cash to sling, I always thought you could ACTUALLY DO in REAL life what you play in a game. :)
;)
Well, except for going to Mars and shooting up Demonspawn as a lone marine
You just completely missed the bus on that one.
:D
Economic death penalty isnt the same thing as a "death penalty" for serial murderers. Think about the phrase. Just how schools in the NCAA can receive the 'death penalty' for a particular sport; meaning many scholarships lost, no TV coverage, no bowl game, etc... or even no play whatsoever.
Economic death penalty just means he'll be given so much debt that he'll NEVER be able to repay it all; and that he'll be stuck with it for the rest of his life.
I cant believe someone marked your reply as "insightful". But I've got bad karma because I have different political views than the moderators; so what do I know?