Although this car design is just a concept, and most likely all it will ever be, it is definitely something interesting to think about. The design was created by Pforzheim University alumni Anne Forschner for BMW. The concept has many different panels all covered in solar photovoltaic cells that can both charge the car and act as wind brakes. A great car in theory, but something tells me most people wouldn’t be too happy if they saw this car flare its panels on the highway.
via Autoblog
Some morons have decided it’d be a good idea to make a computer case that resembles a Dodge Charger SRT8. The morons at Dodge then decided to licence the product. But the biggest moron is the end user, the consumer who actually decides to buy this malarkey. PC Rides offer a Dodge Charger SRT8 bodied PC, with headlights that turn on when the computer turns on, and brake lights that flicker while the hard drive is working.
I can understand if it’s a lambo, or something sleek and sexy…but a Charger (although it is a sweet ride), just doesn’t have the lines, or the suave sophistication to pull this off. Especially when you throw in the fact that this thing starts at $1,850 and goes up to $2,495 full specced. Considering an Alienware desktop starts at $1,299 and their ultra premium series starts at $2,299, you’d have to be absolutely junglin’ bananas to buy this piece of crap. But wait…the front bumper is the cd drive….and it opens…ok fine, I guess its worth it. If you want more information on this tragedy, then you can go fly a kite visit their website. But if you are planning on getting one, then kindly email me and I will happily provide you with my address, so you can send the money directly to me. This way, you waste it in a beneficial way, and also, at the same time, I am able to save you a large amount of embarassment. Some things just shouldn’t be licenced…unless they’re done right.
Well yesterday evening my step-dad came over and we resurrected the old rusty red car in my driveway. It has been sitting there for literally years and it’s not a vehicle of quality. I remember a few years ago driving a long and hearing this odd sound like a big thud, and then crunch, I looked behind me and a HUGE piece of rust had fallen off!! So why the move to bring car from loserville back from the dead? Well a few weeks ago my three sons and I were in a very bad car accident and we totaled off our mazada. It was a three car collision that should never had happened and ended with us being smashed into a metal pole as well. I only remember hitting one vehicle (who was at fault by the way) and not the other two. Now I have to say, I had been struggling with my faith for the last couple of years, but this accident sort of brought me home to God again in a way.
It was…the scariest thing in the world to have my 3 year old son laying somewhere in the intensive care unit in a neck brace with glass in his face, slipping in and out of consciousness, not knowing his brothers names, not knowing if he was okay, and not being able to physically get up and see him myself! I kept a fair bit of humor in tact during the whole thing and the doctors were awesome! Literally as they were pulling pieces of glass from my head my phone went off, and it was the son “I’m On A Boat” by the Lonely Island. The doctors looked at each other when the song came on, and then laughed heartily and started singing along, I joined in at the end too, and we were all in stitches of laughter! To make matters worse, laying there not being able to feel my knees, I had to pee soooo badly! Unreal! I tried so hard to use the bed pan and the doctors were teasing me about it extensively as they migrated to the “other side of the room” to give me privacy. That’s when the ring tone went off again, and you could hear laughter erupt from the other side of the room “Well that’ll break your piss – concentration!” . And it sure did! I was reduced to having a catheter put it, and a bag of pee laying casually on my lap. I told the doctor I was no longer the cool stylish accident victim, but I was now the loser accident victim who had her own pee showcased. I think I had more fun joking with the doctors there than anything, and well… the morphine definitely helped, lol! All in all we came out as if angels had been holding us all up in that accident! The MD had told me he was expecting to find me dead at the scene of the accident, and everyone was convinced that I had angels watching over my boys and I. My three year old just ended up having some bad whiplash and cuts on his face, and my other two boys only had very minor seat belt burns! I had minor injuries compared to what I could have had, but they were worried about a vertebra in my neck so I was in a neck brace for a few weeks, I had glass stuck in my head and cheek, a broken cheekbone and very badly bunged up knees, but overall, I was quite alright! In any case, my little boys are OKAY and that’s all that matters to me .
So clearly, I had to get the crapmobile going again, just until I find another vehicle, and so the shopping begins! Yuck yuck yuck, if I get told one more time to buy a mini-van I might scream! I just enrolled all three of the boys in soccer, so to get a mini-van would “officially” make me the soccer mom!! I am just not ready for that status yet! I need a nice car, that looks nice, has no rust and is reliable. Not necessarily a brand new vehicle by any means but something that would look good with my photography business stamped on it, and that looks professional enough that when I pull up for weddings and jobs, every one isn’t wondering why they hired me to begin with.
So here I am back in the red rusty car, and not liking it at all! This car hunt best go well!!!
Our Mangled car
the car accident
car accident
the car accident
The pole
Selling my 2006 Honda Civic SI leather coupe 6-Speed Manual with Navigation with 50500 miles.
This is the absolut top of the line you can buy. First owner and very well taken care of. All maintenance done at dealer and paper work is available.
Very few of this model with manual gear box and Navi was sold by Honda. Very sporty drive and very fast. It has every option available such as 6CD changer with premium sounds system, Navigation with voice and much more.
4 Brand new tires also installed recently.
See the book value right now
Dear My Lovely Shoe-ers,
My Lovely Shoes is invited to attend the 2009 FORMULA 1™ SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX on 25.26.27 September 2009. Yayness!! Thank you Singtel for the wonderful tickets! Stay tuned for peektures :*)
If you do not have any idea what that is, FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix The inaugural FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix took place on 28 September 2008 on a street circuit of public roads around the Marina Bay area. The race was the first Formula One™ to be held at night, and the first Formula One™ street race in Asia. Over 100,000 spectators, a sell-out, capacity crowd, and more than 110 million television viewers worldwide watched the Singapore Grand Prix. The 2009 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix will take place from 25-27 September 2009 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in the heart of downtown Singapore.
xoxo
Was heading to the toilet before I had to be at a 2 and a half hour meeting that was slated to end even later than that at work. That wasn’t the point. Now back to the toilet scene. I was already standing in front of the urinal, positioning myself, all ready in that stance, to pee of course. Then when I was halfway through my whole pee-ing business, some idiot out there started to press the horn of the car.
And apparently the carpark is just directly outside of the toilet. And yes, that carpark is supposingly full house. But still, car drivers became dumb and started to drive in. And yes, they honked. While I was halfway through my pee. And yes, halfway through I got a shock of course. Imagine that feeling when your pee is already halfway out and you are halfway through relief therapy when suddenly you kinda got tazer-gunned on the back and your urine begins retracting back into your bladder and with the whole process repeating? (Which means your pee started having intervals of stop and go).
I almost ran out and then wanting to pee onto that person’s car.
Of course, wearing my uniform and not trying to disgrace myself, I got myself back together and started peeing like a normal man. Feeling a little frustrated as well because the horn was continuous. And also of course that I don’t have that strong muscles to pull off a water hose stunt, that’s why the idea wasn’t really supported by my sub-conscious.
Anyway, no matter how disgusting this post has become, it’s just something to share.
FML anyways.
Reuters indicates that Hummer operations will be relocated to a location in southeast Michigan, with plans to start at 100 employees and eventually ramp upwards to 300 in a few years. A site for the headquarters has not been announced yet, but it will likely come after the deal between GM and Tengzhong is finalized.
See This and More in WAREGROUND
Late last month an Illinois District Court ruled a bank can be sued for their failure to adopt multi-factor authentication and concluded the bank breached its duty to protect the Plaintiffs’ account against fraudulent access, and if the bank’s failure to adopt multi-factor authentication caused fraudulent access to plaintiffs’ account, it could be held liable for negligence.
In 2007, a hacker gained access to the plaintiffs’ online accounts by using the plaintiffs’ username and password. The hacker ordered a $26,500 advance on the plaintiffs’ home equity line of credit, which was transferred to a bank in Austria. When the theft was discovered and the funds traced, the Austrian bank refused to return the money.
Citizens Bank notified the plaintiffs that it intended to hold them liable for the loss. The online banking agreement between Citizens and the plaintiffs stated “We will have no liability to you for any unauthorized payment or transfer made using your password that occurs before you have notified us of possible unauthorized use and we have had a reasonable opportunity to act on that notice.” Citizens billed the plaintiffs for the $26,500, and when failed to pay the balance on time, Citizens reported the account as delinquent to credit bureaus, and threatened to foreclose on their home, if the plaintiffs continued to refuse to make payments.
The plaintiffs sued Citizens, claiming that the bank’s actions violated the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. § 1601, et seq.), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681, et seq.), the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. § 1693 et seq.) and constituted common law negligence.
The Court ruled, “In light of Citizens’ apparent delay in complying with FFIEC security standards, a reasonable finder of fact could conclude that the bank breached its duty to protect Plaintiffs’ account against fraudulent access[,]” and if the bank’s failure to adopt multi-factor authentication caused fraudulent access to plaintiffs’ account, it could be held liable for negligence.”
How does this case help technology providers that address the multi-factor authentication requirement?
Speaking only for the voice biometrics industry, the bank could have installed a speaker verification application for multi-factor authentication. The application replaces the CSR manual account authentication process, and you can read more about this process on by blog at http://glenyou.blogspot.com/2009/08/is-your-contact-center-protected-from.html . Furthermore, each phone or internet voice verification can be recorded, and saved to a file to protect the bank from future multi-factor authentication claims.
Slowly everyone is picking up the pace…
I managed to get the car serviced before its scheduled date – the overwhelming free time that I had was too good to be wasted on TV and lazing around at home and as it is a holiday season, my usual mechanics having more free time to properly check the car. I had a problem with the car’s brakes and the gear was a bit tough – I got both fixed.
After I drove the car back home, I realised my wife was still at work and there was no one around at home. It was almost noon and the sun was high over my head and crazy it may sound, I decided to wash the car – only then discovered rust like patches on the roof. There are also patches on the front. I wondered how I could have missed it.
The roof of the car had many rust like spots and I think I know why – ever since, my wife got her car, my car has been parked in the open and under the trees and on the weekends, we usually take her car instead mine. It is to save fuel (due Viva’s better fuel mileage) and also to run in additional mileage before the next service. When that happens, my car will remain at its place for days under the sun and rain. Over time, I guess my car’s paint surface must have given up, hence the start of rust.
(The last thing anyone wants on the car is rust especially on the painted areas. Image source: http://pbase.com)
But I realised the rust like patches was not like the rust that I have seen before – this one seems to be on the surface and without any rough areas. So before I start to panic – I decided to try to wipe off the ‘rust’ with car polish first (several rubs with the normal car shampoo did nothing to clear the rust like patches). At first, nothing happened but after several rubs, the rust like patch started to disappear and the original paint started to shine again. Major ‘disaster’ has been avoided and given me an excuse to alternate the shaded parking spot between mine and my wife’s car.
I realised that I cannot afford to leave the car under the sun and rain on a regular basis – the rust patches may not go away the next time. I also need to start back my usual 6 months once polish & wax session if I still want to preserve the paint quality – it is expensive, at least RM100 per session and that is what have put me off for the last 6 months.
On a quieter front…we had plenty of time for shopping items looking for the cheapest price tag and those under promotion, we also managed to find some ‘gems’. I also had some personal shopping to be done – mine for the long overseas deployment next month. There is a long list for this and I may even need to buy another suitcase just to carry foodstuff – high on the list are the usual suspects like instant noodles, instant oat meals, vacuum packed nuts and titbits, tea, tablets, etc.
The holiday was good but as many good things out there; it has to come to an end. The usual office work and the traffic jam will recommence from today and my departure date is looming closer.
Andrew Pierce
Telegraph
September 22. 2009
The Prince, who has two Jaguars, two Audis, a Range Rover and still drives an Aston Martin given to him by the Queen on his 21st birthday, said developers had a duty to put public transport and the pedestrian at the heart of their housing schemes.
Speaking about the “domination of the car over the pedestrian”, the future King said: “We must surely be able to organise ourselves… in ways in which we are not dependent on it to such a great extent for our daily needs.”
The Prince said the principle of “elevating the pedestrian above the car” was one of the guiding factors of Poundbury – his model development in Dorset. The importance of “pedestrian friendly public space” is central to the Poundbury ethos.
This kind of public transport-oriented development is fundamental to achieving the ultimate goal of a low carbon community, and it is very likely that such communities, far from being austere, will actually become the sought-after places where people will choose to live and spend their time.”
Read entire article
URL to article: http://www.infowars.com/prince-charles-tells-commoners-to-abandon-cars/
You need to keep a number of things in mind before going for Car Rentals Italy.
• First of all search the internet to find the quotes of different rental companies and then compare them to get the best package for you.
• See for some extra privilege packages if offered that might cost you less on rental cars.
• Make sure there are no hidden charges involved with the rent.
• Confirm the age limit as many car rentals consider you legit if you are above 25 years of age.
• Try and pick a car that is nearest to your destination in order to pay less rent and save time because Italy is a critically over crowded place in spring and autumn.
Source: Plan Your Vacation WIth A Rental Car
An individual tends to become possessive after spending his hard earned money on things which has more utility and necessary for his personal use like computer, car or any electric gadgets. When you buy an electronic gadgets or a very expensive automobile it tends to give in after sometime due to regular wear and tear, rough misuse, or depreciation and careless attitude towards a thing you have bought or there are certain things specially electronic items which get out of order by even sparingly used. To bring things back into working condition one needs a skilled mechanic or an automobile engineer who would personally repair your car and get it repaired under his personal supervision.
To keep your car looking good and performing well, Start by reading your car owner’s manual or search for your car models manual on line if you bought a used automobile which most of the times doesn’t have manuals for the drivers for them, read the safety warnings in your owner’s manual and any safety warning stickers under the hood or avail the facility of log servicing to check your car parts regularly it is necessary that your car gets inspected by a mechanic. This should be done at least once in a year. Some of the parts of the car cannot be inspected visually. The mechanical inspection or the car mechanic will cover these parts such as brakes, suspension and so on.
Car is one of the most essential things, due to hectic lifestyle it has become necessity than luxury. To achieve good resale value and better performance it has to be frequently maintained, maintenance is not only about cleaning the car and painting the car to keep it shiny. You need to take care of all the parts of the car. The parts inside the bonnet need more attention as these parts determine the performance of your car. These parts need routine maintenance either by the owner or the experience car mechanic, or a reliable and trustworthy service station since maintenance determines the longevity as well as the performance of a car.
It is not advisable to have blind faith on the mechanic, care has to be taken for the originality of the spare parts which are replaced, Never agree to his tall claim about the thing to be repaired, and always insist on the parts which need a replacement with proper cash memo or a bill, if you do not trust about the originality of the replaced parts go personally with him and get assured. Always show keen interest on the job that is been done, never allow yourself to be exploited or a little careless attitude moneywise you will be taken for a jolly good ride and after, at the end of the day one would realize the money as well your efforts have gone down the drain without a feeling of customers satisfaction and contentment. It is always advisable to take recommendations from the experience person of this field.
Remember, you can browse sites like Automobile Mechanics to give you some tips and advices in properly maintaining your car but it is also advisable to pay a few dollars for an expert periodically to check your car to get it to its best condition.
Author
Although I’ve previously mentioned that I’d like to use this blog as often as possible, I certainly haven’t been doing that. Why? I haven’t had time to really sit down and reflect.
My work is so uninspiring at this point. It’s repetitive and monotonous. I’m certainly not learning anything new out of it. Worst of all it consumes much of my time that I usually use to explore, discover and research new things. It’s so frustrating. But I keep at it in hopes that by the end of this year, it will open up opportunities to do something very special. It’s really difficult to keep that hope up though.
That little summer coding project never happened but I will keep the idea in mind so that when time does open up, I can give it a shot. I’m finding typography to be very interesting lately especially when timed to music. I listened to a couple of songs that can be candidates for my own typography animation that I’d like to try eventually. Lastly, I want to work on some trance tracks.
But dammit! I need time.
By the way, time to get excited about the new car.
The story of a 52 years old woman from the United States made a stir around the world. With 11 broken ribs after her car fell through the mountains, Cynthia Blair-Hoover has survived in a miraculous way, until he was found by some miners.
Cynthia Blair-Hoover fell with her car into a steep about 110 meters deep in the Rocky Mountains trying to avoid a deer. She had 11 broken ribs, a perforated lung and a few cracked vertebra. She didn’t give up however, at any moment to fight for her life.
In the middle of the wilderness, without any food, beaten by rain and snow, the woman survived.
Armed with a golf club, to keep the predators at distance, didn’t eat anything, but drank some water … squeezed from her hair.
In five days of anguish, Cynthia managed to crawl about 140 yards, reaching near a mine. People here have heard her voice. They found her exhausted, with her mouth full of dirt, so they immediately called the medics. In present, the heroine is recovering in a hospital in Colorado.
There’s nothing much you can say in favour of having a car break down on you twice in one week. Conversely you can confidently say it’s a bit shithouse. It’s satisfying, however, to be able to say that having a car break down on you twice in one week in Port Moresby was no more or less shithouse than were it to have happened in Sydney. Or at least to say our car broke down on us twice in a week in Port Moresby, and guess what? We lived.
Now, a qualification – said breakdowns did not happen at night. They did not happen in the midst of a settlement teeming with raskols (probably because we tend to avoid those places, like most folks who have both the sense and the luxury of doing so – and of course there’s plenty around without much of the latter, never mind the former). The breakdowns have, I might add, been resolved to 95 percent satisfaction – once we could be bothered hauling the vehicle to our mechanically-minded man in Six Mile with the heavy equipment hire business and the defunct WW2 browning machinegun in his living room, I’ll be 100 percent satisfied.
Initially we suspected the incompetence of the petrol station attendant (a small but significant boon of Moresby life is that people fill your vehicle for you!). As our humble brown auto choked and shuddered it’s way towards home we reasoned that maybe the guy had put diesel instead of petrol in the fragile engine. We’d already recruited three strangers (one actually turned out to be our neighbour!) to help push-start it at the servo, and the effort was more painful than usual. Splutter, cough, gasp, and ppppffftttpppffff… we rolled to a halt at the lights closest to home, conveniently blocking the turning lane.
I got out and again ‘recruited’ some more help. One need not be proactive when seeking help in pushing a vehicle out of harm’s way in Moresby. You need only make vague pushing motions at the rear of a vehicle and maybe summon a few glistening droplets to adorn one’s brown and abracadabra! Three or four helpful types will materialise and get your car out of the way. If you’re lucky the same ‘new’ neighbour will appear again (as he of course did, a few kilometres from where we’d first met him), helpful and red mouthed and wild-eyed with a pot belly full of boisterousness. ‘We are used to this!’ he exclaimed, meaning his countryfolk’s frequent vehicle-pushing. ‘This is real PNG driving’. When I mentioned the diesel in the petrol tank theory he offered the services of his son to take a whiff and figure out what was in our car’s gizzards. When I said that was a bit too dangerous he told me not to worry. ‘We’re not like the Abos!’ he assured me, jokingly. I was too stupefied to respond.
A small crowd of mechanical know-it-a-bits gathered and peered at the unfathomable engine region of the car, but meanwhile we had called the helpful chap we shall call, for the purposes of this narrative, Mr Tech. Mr Tech is our property manager and his job description apparently extends to ‘helping clueless dimdims when their car’s stuffed’, among other useful activities. It was Sunday but Tech was around, so I took a short walk up to his office (an air conditioned shipping container) to borrow some jumper leads. Of course there was no question that the exercise in getting the jumper leads was simply another chance to remind him that I had no idea what to do with such things, so he said he’d be down – after some paperwork. He was rolling a cigarette as he told me this but I dare not presume what kind of paperwork would keep a man busy on a Sunday.
Tech came of course, but the jumper leads did little to reinvigorate our vehicle. In my ignorance I entertained the notion that flogging the car with them to encourage onward movement may help but I did not voice this, as even I know a car is not the same as a horse. Mr Tech retreated with the useless jumper leads. We lingered in the sun and the dust congealed between my toes. Kit got a sunburnt right arm from hanging out of the driver’s seat window. After a while the sunlight makes everything go a bit bleached-looking, a slow surreal scalding of the retinae that comes from long exposure to the garish light. The bare hills, the ubiquitous red dust, the palls of smoke, the people trudging and wilting under the bare sky. I went and bought two cans of Solo and came back just as Tech arrived again with a tow rope. As we attached it his wife sat dutifully in the front seat of their ramshackle Land Cruiser and assured us warmly that it was not a bother to help, even on a Sunday. Actual charitable Christians! I thought.
That was the first breakdown. We got the car back within a day or two after Tech’s offsider had examined it, and were told the issue was simply a flat battery, and maybe the oil (which of course had been disgracefully low). All seemed well and I was collected from work in Town a couple of afternoons later. It may have been the proximity of the same service station where the trouble had started that prompted the shudders and jolts, but again we were sitting in a car with a near-fatal case of the hiccups. Traffic was slow and inevitably we stalled. As I got out to push I could only give a helpless shrug to the driver of the ramshackle taxi now stuck behind us, who if it were not for the surprise of seeing a dimdim get out to push could have been thinking ‘there but for the grace of God…’ Or, just maybe, he was thinking we were deadshits who should be in a better car – as we were thinking.
This of course was a conspicuous situation. Two whiteys stuck by the side of a busy road, close to a kai bar and a bus stop, leaning nonchalantly on the car as if it were just the kind of thing we’d normally do in our spare time. Plenty of greetings and smiles and waves and entertained locals eyed us up as they went past. We had decided to try and get help from different quarters seeing as Mr Tech had helped us so readily the previous Sunday, but none of our calls got through. As we were contemplating the dilemma of calling on the same guy for a favour, the situation resolved itself for us – for who else what creaking his way up the bumper-to-bumper traffic than Tech himself. He spotted us, clearly puzzled, and again I shrugged. He promised to return soon with tow ropes – just first he’d have to get home and throw the two tuna fish in the back of his vehicle in the fridge. I saw these fish, they were massive, and it would have been a damn shame to leave them in the heat too long. So we waited.
Now when waiting idly by the roadside one gets less relaxed as the light dwindles. This is a fair fact. The traffic dissipated, the crowds thin and vanish. I watched as the old women packed up their cheap sunglasses and buai after a long day squatting in the dirt under the beating sun. Somewhere some people at home were probably bracing themselves for the Channel 9 news theme that preceded the EMTV news. Meanwhile I briefly got to know one of the guys who had helped us push the car, a shifty looking bloke with a ludicrously colourful shirt named Charleston. ‘I’m always around here’, he informed me, indicating the grubby steps and benches in front of the kai bar, before expectorating a mouthful of red gob proficiently into the gutter. It settled with the bountiful refuse and kindred buai stains that filled the overbrimming storm drain.
The lack of light eventually became disconcerting, but not for long – Mr Tech’s Land Cruiser was spotted rumbling in our direction, his great grey afro luminous in the cabin of the vehicle. He had brought his son, who was promptly put to work. As he bent over his son and informed him of his uselessness in the arts of the tow-rope I could not help notice Tech’s gnarled, talon-like toenails, and the wafer-thin surface of his thongs that separated his feet from the bitumen – they were so clearly part of his person that they almost looked like they would have to be peeled off his feet later after a long soak.
One final mishap awaited us, but not an unexpected one. The rope came undone as we were hauled up the wide expanse of road approaching our place, past the leering face of the Happy Gardener on the billboard out the front of his nursery, but before the Country Club and the dilapidated playing field. It was fully dark by now and cars, though fewer, were careening past at reckless speeds. Our own lights were utterly functionless and so we were were praying oncoming traffic in our lane saw us with enough time to not smash us to smithereens as we retied the rope – or as Tech’s son tied it, before his dad finally intervened to do it the grown up’s way. As they tied and untied and objected to each others’ interference I noted grimly the portions of the roadside railings that had been wiped out by speed-crazed suicide drivers in recent times. It isn’t an exagguration to say that new evidence of high-speed carnage can be seen on this road every week. We would have looked like sitting ducks in the oncoming headlights – assuming we were spotted.
A few dithering minutes later and we were moving again, all of us in one piece, as was our car. The same could not be said for Tech’s Cruiser, although this was no fault of some wild driver on Waigani Drive. Earlier I had noticed the steering column held together by layers of electrical tape, and the missing window-winder handle that had been replaced by a pair of multi-grip pliers. I commented to Tech’s son that multi-grips were probably put to better use than as makeshift window winders but he just said they always knew where to find them. Fair enough. The engine obviously worked OK though, and that was clearly the most necessary bit (along with the rope). Neither failed us for the rest of the short voyage back to Tech’s compound.
The epilogue goes something like this – the car is now fixed, although like I said I’d like our man in Six Mile to give it a once over. Some clever device called an alternator needed replacing, and the process of getting Tech’s right hand man to fix it involved two weekends of waiting – being fiscally challenged the mechanic couldn’t just buy the parts and get us to reimburse him, we had to fork out up front for everything. In addition the process of figuring out what ws actually broken seemed a bit trial and error, as in ’stretim displa, see if it works, nogat, traim displa samting, whoops em bagarap yet, wokim nupela alternator then…’. But when you can’t fix it yourself one learns to accept these things, hop on the buses in the meantime, and wonder why on earth people don’t just ride bikes.
Why Own Your Own Consider Car Sharing cheap 24inch chrome rims
posted by Melissa Breyer May 14, 2008 5:00 pm
filed under: On The Go, Transportation, carsharing, zipcar
The Carbon Busters Home Energy Handbook by Godo Stoyke (New Society Publishers, 2007).
“If you live in a city, you don’t need to own a car.”
–William Clay Ford Jr., CEO, Ford Motor Co.
Car sharing is based on the premise that many of us can fulfill most of our transportation needs with walking, biking and public transit. For those times when we can’t, we can rent a car, or join a car sharing service. More than 72,410 Americans and Canadians already do.
There are a number of fixed costs for owning a car, such as loan or lease payments, insurance, registration and, in some areas, paying for a parking stall.
If you don’t drive very much, but still want the convenience of an automobile for specific jobs, car sharing may be the answer. Car sharing is an economical alternative for those driving 7,500 miles a year or less.
Visit carsharing.net to find out where your nearest car sharing depot is located.
Do you ‘care share’? How is it working for you? Any other ideas for leaving the car in the driveway, or giving up the car altogether? Share
Around 3.30pm today 20/09/09 there was a car crash at Taylorville just out of Greymouth. The two occupants of the vehicle ran away before police arrived, one was located at a near by address but the other is still missing.
Andrew David Lorimer, 21 of Taylorville was last heading on foot towards the Grey River, he then contacted his girlfriend with his cellphone a short time after stating he was actually in the river. He has not been herd from since.
Police say fears are growing for his safety as time goes on.
A search involving local LandSAR teams, four SAR Dog Handlers, two Inflatable Surf Rescue Boats, a kayak team, Coast Guard Personnel, the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter, and Police, has failed to locate any sign of the missing man.
The search has been scaled down and will concentrate on selected areas along the banks of the Grey River.
Police have not discounted the possibility that Lorimer has made it out of the river and is actively avoiding police. If anyone has any information regarding LORIMER they are encouraged to contact their local police station.
Rollover Car Crashes in Las Vegas
A tragic accident on Interstate 15 highway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas when one of their vehicles rolled over, killing two family members and seriously injuring four others.
A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol (CHP), told the Reporter that the van tumbled over into the center divider of the highway, ejecting four of the van’s passengers.
The four survivors were airlifted by a helicopter to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center for severe injuries ranging from head and back trauma to abdominal injuries. The recent bankruptcy of GM will impact how Las Vegan’s recover from roll over tragedies.
The GM Reorganization and Product Liability Claims
The U.S. Treasury Department is negotiating with more than a dozen state attorneys general to roll back two key features of General Motors Corp.’s bankruptcy plan that would have wiped out billions of dollars in potential claims from car-accident victims and closed auto dealers.
The discussions show how the federal government’s GM rescue is brushing up against the limits of its ambitious legal approach, which attempted to use the Bankruptcy Code to override many state legal contracts and protections.
This could ultimately expand the cost of GM’s $60 billion bailout, though government officials say it
shouldn’t delay the emergence of a “new GM” from bankruptcy protection. This article recently made it on to the law professor blog for mass torts.
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Victims Have Historically Been Able to Recover Their Damages
The Firestone lawsuit
The settlement of the $1 billion lawsuit a Texas family filed against Bridgestone/Firestone over a Ford Explorer rollover involving Firestone tires would be impossible under a bankruptcy discharge.
The settlement came in the first of more than 100 lawsuits filed against the Nashville, Tenn. -based company to come to trial since the recall of 6.5 million tires last summer. The tires have been linked to 203 traffic deaths and more than 700 injuries in the United States.
Firestone lawyers blamed the rollover on the design of the Ford Explorer and urged the jurors to hold Ford responsible. The Rodriguez family has settled with Ford for a reported $6 million.
Firestone attorneys introduced several internal Ford documents that said the Explorer had a propensity to lose steering control and roll over.
Dealerships That Historically Paid for Injuries cased by Their Negligence Will be Immunized if They Go Bankrupt
A passenger injured in a vehicle fire where the dealership was at fault reached a $250,000 settlement of his Phelps County personal injury case against a car dealership that attempted to repair a fuel-line leak a couple of days before the fire.
Wenzel was hospitalized at Maricopa for 13 days before he was released, and his parents took him back to Pennsylvania for recuperation. He received successful follow-up treatment for a year, leaving little to no visible scarring. His medical bills totaled $69,849.
Plaintiff’s automotive mechanics expert, Michael Hearrold, testified that a reasonable mechanic would have replaced the entire fuel line instead of attempting to splice out a portion and clamp it together. Hearrold explained that the attempted repair by Hutcheson Ford was not done properly because neither of the ends was flared.
A SOLIDÃO DOS OUTROS
Há coisas inexplicáveis em Eu Sou a Lenda que o tornam um filme estranho. Inicialmente, acompanhamos o último homem da terra sozinho e a câmera se debruça sobre o humano, aproveitando-se da simpatia fotogênica de Will Smith. Focado no homem e sua capacidade tolhida de ser (ora!) humano, o filme mantém seu interesse, pois não se atém a dar explicações, teorias e fabulações milagrosas de futuro apocalíptico. Estamos apenas no terreno do que é essencialmente humano.
Isso dura pouco, afinal, as necessidades de um produto cinematográfico acabam vencendo e a ação tem que comer solta durante a maior parte do tempo. Nesse ínterim, o filme fica banal, previsível e piegas. A sua força vital sai da simpatia de seu protagonista solitário (e, portanto, do lado humano) e passa para os efeitos especiais, ação, correria, bem e mal, salvação, grandes temas humanitários.
Fico pensando se este não seria um filme para o Godard de Viver a Vida, pois falta aqui o que sobra no de 1962: entender que a tragédia das pessoas solitárias é movida pelo confronto da natureza desses seres humanos (a saber: repleta de vontade de vida) com o meio em que vivem, repressor de suas essências.
Eu Sou a Lenda, dir. Francis Lawrence (HBO – 19h10)
Yesterday, after being told that my job would be ending next week, I went to a friend’s house for the evening for some cheering up. I left her house near the Cathedral at 11:15pm and took a cab to the Foggy Bottom metro. I was on the platform, waiting for the last train of the night, when I saw a handsome, well-dressed guy about my age walk by once, then twice. He then sat down on the same bench as me, but said nothing. A few minutes later, he got up and stood on the platform about 3 feet in front of me, facing me. When the train pulled up, he got in one car, and I got in the one behind (I have no idea why I did that, must have been instinct kicking in!).
When I got to the West Falls Church metro stop, I walked up the escalator and saw him at the gate. He stopped to talk to the station manager because his Smart Trip wasn’t working. Once he passed through the gates he sort of just stood around for a minute. When I went to go through t he gate, my Smart Trip didn’t work either, so I also had to talk to the station manager. While this happened, the guy remained standing on the other side of the gate. Once I got through, he approached me immediately and started talking to me in a thick accent.
He was friendly and flirty, and I was (stupidly) disarmed by him starting up a conversation. As we walked towards the garage, he asked me if I would like to have dinner with him at the end of the week. He asked for my phone number, and I said I would take his. When I hit the elevator button for my floor, he said he was going to the same floor. We got out of the elevator and I walked towards my car, which is when he told me that he hadn’t driven, but wanted to walk with me. Instead of thinking “this is bad news bears”, I convinced myself that it was nice of him to walk me to my car. When we got to my car, he again asked for my number, after refusing to give me his, and I (again, STUPIDLY) gave it to him. I told him I was leaving, and he said “why don’t I come to your house with you? I don’t have a car, let me get in your car”. I told him that was not happening, and unlocked my driver’s side door.
He tried to hug me and I put my hands up. He then moved in front of the door, so he was blocking it, grabbed my breast, and forcefully pulled me to him and tried to kiss me. I was able to shove him away, get in the car, and immediately lock the door and drive away. I contacted both Metro police and Fairfax County police, who are taking reports from me this evening when I get out of work.
I felt so silly for not getting away from him sooner, and I was so terrified when it happened. I’m normally very aware of my surroundings, and make sure my safety is a priority. I was just so distracted by my impending unemployment, that I guess I let my guard down. I felt like the wind was knocked out of me. My mind was racing with “This can’t be happening to me, how am I going to get away fr om him? Oh My God, what is he going to do?!” I was alone in a garage with this man, who was blocking my car door, without another person in sight, and my cell phone battery was dead. I was very lucky that I got away unscathed.
I wanted to post a description of him here, and to urge everyone to trust your gut feelings… and to carry mace (and keep your cell phone charged!). Description: Said he was 24 years old. Told me he was Egyptian and that his name was “Ibrahim” or “Abraham”. Tall, slender, and handsome (just goes to show you, charming and handsome DOES NOT mean safe!). Dark, close-cropped wavy/curly hair, dark eyes, very thick accent, blue button down shirt, black pants.
Be careful, ladies.
Location: West Falls Church Metro
Submitted by Emily on 9/17/09
Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment you would like to submit? Just click here and fill out the online submission form. All submissions are posted anonymously unless you specify.
The big news through August was the weather. Never, have I seen so many dismal, dull days with the valley smothered in gloom and an oppressive, muggy atmosphere.
As the prevailing south–westerlies push cloud in from the Atlantic it swoops over the beaches and cliffs, drops into the valley and then often struggles to climb up the mountain. Wisps of cloud fall backwards down the clefts in the hill. The result is that we often miss the rain which is precipitated a little farther inland and the valley is left in cloud or sea mist, sometimes all day long.
This, combined with damp and high temperatures, means that paradise has taken a rest for a week or two. Even the corn has been abandoned, overripe and soggy right up to the last days of the month. Blight has struck down the last of my tomatoes and potatoes
Worse still has been the horrendous invasion of traffic meaning that any trip outside the valley is prolonged by the queues of cars and caravans standing still on the roads all around. Journeys that wouild usually take 10 or 15 minutes are stretched to an hour plus. Perhaps, in fact, paradise is still here in the valley. Certainly by comparison we are all so very fortunate to live here and sometimes too ready to moan or complain.
With the turning of the month the grockles are gone and glorious, fresh sunshine returns. There is a sense of excitement and life again. The rooks are whirling and weaving in the breeze. The buzzards are on constant patrol, swooping, gliding, seeking those elusive baby bunnies and other delicious prey. Every day we are out in the valley: Carla, Capone and me – the intrepid three. There are adventures to be had in every corner, across every field. As we pass the anniversary of our arrival in Paradise Valley I can reflect on the very warm welcome the dogs and I have received here. It is a privilege to live in the gentle community of Sutton Poyntz.
It is a privilege to know the valley as intimately as we now do. Endless meandering through every field, along every hedgerow, up and down the hills and dales makes every nook and cranny familiar. The great delight is how the seasons and weather change the views and environment. A vast palette of colours is used. There are different wind strengths and directions; dramatic lighting and cloud formations; a variety of wildlife, wild fauna and flora, often producing amazing, emotional experiences. Only by familiarity, experience and repeated visits can one truly appreciate the beauty of the valley.
I can enjoy walking in blustery rain and wind, often more than in stillness and sunshine. Only very occasionally is there weather that really cannot be enjoyed. We are moving towards a more exciting season. There is a developing chill in the evening air. The sun is still strong but the trees are beginning to redden. Outside my window the white horse bathes in the evening sun and closer to me two collared doves flutter into the branches of a dead tree. Behind them is a magnificent horse chestnut and yes, there are definitely colours of autumn there. The change is upon us.
My grandmother
Loved her lava coloured Lada.
A thick brown vinyl roof,
Tiled and stretched.
A Battleship in length and
Mass, we were a crew
In an angular retro tank,
Without a Gun.
The world rebounded off the
Front, the bodies collided with
The side, the back would stay
Intact, even when men in
rep cars rear ended us.
The decor was mud brown,
Constrictive to the senses
Too long you would surely drown
In the plasticated menagerie of
Taccy dials and sticks and buttons.
The gold go faster stripe
made it go 30mph faster then
it would really go.
Lava could engulf it,
But the garage would
Buff it out again.
They say that if you want to sell your car rapidly, that DealerBid is the right place to be. They also say that if you want the best possible price for your vehicle (functioning or not), that DealerBid is the perfect resource. It goes without saying that these are two desirable qualities that this company has to offer, along with countless offers from reputable dealers. You are invited to sell your car at DealerBid, browse through the opportunities offered and decide on the dealer that has the most attractive offer to make.
At DealerBid, dealers from all over UK, different car specialists and group buyers come together. They have attractive offers to make, helping people sell their vehicles as fast as possible, without any hassle. The optimal price of the market is always chosen for the car about to be sold, all clients receiving 100% satisfaction. If you want to sell your car, then this is the resource for you. You just have to say “I want to sell my car” and they will gladly take care of your needs. The offers made on your car are based on real estimates and it is practically impossible not to be satisfied with the sum of money offered. You can then tell all your friends that “I got cash for my car” and mention a few more details about DealerBid.
Focused on satisfying the needs of prospective clients, the specialists working for DealerBid will never undervalue a car. They are not in to make a quick profit and this is the reason why they will gladly put you into touch with different car dealers. There are no intermediaries, your vehicle being presented directly to the dealers and the money made from the transaction sent to you really soon. First of all, you will have to mention a few details about the car you’re planning on selling. The next step will be to enter your contact details, the information offered being made available to prospective buyers. Then, all you have to do is wait, as buyers will contact you with their offers.
The price offered for your vehicle will differ according to the functionality of the car in question. Don’t think that you cannot sell your car if it does not function. Non-runners are welcomed at DealerBid just like fully-functional vehicles, as there dealers mostly interested in purchasing such cars. You just have to say to yourself “I need to sell my car” or “I have to obtain cash for my car”, pay a visit to DealerBid and get into contact with prospective buyers. You can keep your number plates without any problem, so you do not have to worry about such aspects.
Old or new, classic or commercial, non-runners or functional vehicles – they are all welcomed at DealerBid. The service is completely free and you can certainly recognize the benefits of advertising your vehicle over the Internet, getting into contact with potential buyers. Are you prepared to benefit from a truly fantastic service?
Jimmy,
We have had some good times lately, yeah? I mean, this summer was good; our travels to other states, up mountains and across rivers and into cities flung far and wide. We carried so many people to so many shows and on so many adventures that I honestly believe that I have fully gained the 50 dollars worth of you that I paid out.
That being said, I don’t want you to go. Not yet. I believe that you have many miles left in you. Your heart is still strong. Your legs are creaky, squeaky and a bit off-kilter, your shocks are hard and leaky, but all of that be fixed. I can make you stronger; straighter of leg and softer of shock you can get me through an entire winter without having to walk to the bus to get to work or bum rides from friends to get to shows. Together we can cruise the witery NW and go camping or hiking or anythig that WE want because you still, I believe, have the mechanical constitution to do just that.
So no, I don’t want you to go. I know that you are having problems right now. You just don’t seem to want to go like you used to. Like a septugenarian you have a little trouble getting up those hills and your power-band is far slighter than it was even a few short months ago. I know that your nerves are frayed; your timing is off and your filters are dirty and there is a real possibility that your coils are coming undone. But I won’t let you go.
Indeed, I have come to love you, my noble steed. Like me, you are a little rough around the edges. No one would ever refer to you as pretty or sexy. People sometimes make fun of your noises, smells and temperamental ways. But like me you keep on truckin, so to speak, and won’t give up on proceeding forward no matter how much it may hurt you, failing only when the last opportunity has been used up. So yes, I love you, and I won’t let you go.
I’ll find your problems. I will diagnose what ails you and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that you hit that golden mark. I will advance your timing and clean your filters and relace your coils. You and I will have more and better summers, summers where you feel like the travelling workhorse that you once were and can make it up a hill on the highway without burning a half tank of gas in the process. We will have a winter of contented show-going, you ferrying me and my friends in warm safety through the downpours and freezing cold of the Northwest winter.
So please don’t go, Jimmy. Give me a chance to fix you and get you into the order that I know you will be happy. Give me a chance to exercize my abilities and pay you back for the amazing times that we have had together by allowing you to be one of those rare vehicles that make it to the quarter-million mile mark. We can do this, Jimmy.
Together.
Increase your credit score and your chances improve for securing an auto loan. The ideal credit score for any type of financing such as a car loan, home loan, bank loan or credit cards is 740 points or higher. The average credit in the United States is between 690 – 695 points. To get an auto loan you should have a credit score that’s greater than 640 points with a 20% down payment. For example, on a $20,000 auto purchase you should put down at least $4,000. The bank should lend you 80% ($16,000). In most cases you will obtain financing under this senario as long as you can provide proof of acceptable income. For more credit tips visit the official Score 1st website @ http://score1st.com
Tonight around 6.20pm 16/09/09 there was a fatal crash when a car with four occupants crashed into a power poll on Estuary Road, New Brighton.
All four occupants were taken to hospital by ambulance, one of the occupants, a woman, died on route.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash which is unknown.
The name of the deceased person is not available at this time.
2009-09-14, Sarajevo. The prosecutor read into evidence statements made by two witnesses, A6 and Muska Sestovic, following the opinion of the court expert psychiatrist, Alma Bravo-Mehmedbasic, that the victims are not capable to testify in person due to the psychological trauma. The Witness A6 stated that she was raped more than 50 times during her two-month (June and July 1992) detention in the Sušica Detention Camp in the Vlasenica area, and that Goran Viscovic was among the people who raped her. A6 stated that she was forced to reciprocate or else she was beaten. Ms. Sestovic testified about the physical abuse of Muslims in Vlasenica in July 1992, whereas they were beaten and forced to crawl on the asphalt road. The statements were read over the objections of the defence counsel who argued that psychological state of the witness makes them suggestible and their testimony unreliable. Ms. Bravo-Mehmedbasic opinion was expressed on the basis of the available medical reports. The trial is due to continue on October 5.
Predrag Bastah, 55, a.k.a. ‘Car’ was a member of the reserve police in Vlasenica; Goran Višković, 54, a.k.a. ‘Vjetar’, was a member of the Republika Srpska Army. The Prosecutor alleges that the two accused were involved in numerous beatings, forced disappearances and rapes of non-Serb population in Vlasenica Municipality from April to the end of September 1992.
The Bentley Mulsanne includes many features popular in the Chinese market, such as a spacious interior and chauffeur-ready driver's seat
As we’ve pointed out time and time again, with the global doldrums cutting into the vehicle budgets of many luxury consumers in developed markets like North America, Japan and Europe, high-end car companies like Rolls-Royce have increasingly looked to emerging markets like China to get them through the economic crisis and create a new, loyal buyer’s market. As Chinese luxury models become more prevalent (and popular) over time and truly begin to rival the dominant luxury models by BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, automakers at the highest end are already starting to plan ahead for a strong China strategy to ensure their brands remain at the top of the heap for years to come.
Following the lead of the 2010 Porsche Panamera, which was unveiled at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, Bentley has taken the lid off of its 2011 Mulsanne, with what is sure to be an eye towards the Chinese market — where the country’s ultra-rich still have no domestic alternative that can match Bentley quality. After making its initial debut in August, the Mulsanne has become the talk of the high-end luxury scene, not least because it is the first all-new Bentley model to roll off the production line since the 1930s. As Motor Authority writes, though this car is most certainly beyond the budgets of most lustful car enthusiasts, it is a sight to behold and has an engine to match:
Named for the 90-degree turn at Le Mans, the Mulsanne arrives in the middle of next year with a pricetag likely approaching $300,000, before any custom finishes or materials are specified.
The design’s a blend of a traditional silhouette with some modern detailing, less so than the smaller Continental range. Echoing the Bentley S-Type of the 1950s, the Mulsanne features a bold frontal design dominated by the traditional Bentley matrix grille and highly prominent round inner headlamps with chrome surrounds, flanked by two smaller outboard lamp clusters. The iconic ‘Flying B’ retractable radiator mascot is available as an option. Uniquely designed 20-inch wheels (and optional 21-inch) reinforce the Mulsanne’s powerful, sporting stance.
So what does this powerful, pricey beast have to do with China? Well, for one thing, China has rapidly emerged as one of Bentley’s most important markets, with sales increasing 93% over the previous year back in 2007, the announcement by Bentley that it expects sales in China to overtake U.S. sales by 2012, and recent reports suggesting that Bentley’s sales will show growth in 2009 despite ongoing global economic uncertainty. Since entering the Chinese market in 2001, Bentley has seen the number of its cars on the roads in China increase from a little over 100 to upwards of 1,000 — with expectations that this number will grow by 1,000 year-over-year by 2012. The Mulsanne will most definitely become a feature on the more luxurious streets in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou — where Bentley opened a new dealership to much fanfare only two months ago.
With wealthy Chinese becoming world-class investors and asset diversifiers, we can expect to see a number of these new Bentleys residing within extravagant courtyard estates and becoming the newest must-have among that country’s super-rich — alongside luxury watches and jewelry, contemporary Chinese art, fine wines and a set of top-of-the-line golf clubs.
So if you’ve ever been to Japan, one thing that is very noticable is that all the cars look new. They’re all shiny, glossy, and nice. You never see old rust buckets–save for maybe a work truck out in the country. Comparing this to America, its strange, because you see a lot more clunkers hanging around the streets of Detroit that you ever would… anywhere in Japan. I brought this up with someone the other day, and they shined some light upon the subject. I was talking to an Australian, who had lived in Japan for a few years back in the early 2000s. She said she bought a used car, only to find Japan wouldn’t let her register it. The car was maybe 7-8 years old, still good condition, ran great, but Japan had deemed it ‘Not road worthy.’. It makes me wonder if Japanese people go out and buy new cars every 3-4 years… I mean, I guess when you have a transit system as complete as the Japanese system, it’s not as critical to have a car. I also would posit that by having such a far-reaching transit system, cars wouldn’t rack up mileage as quickly either?
Honda has been launched new sedan D segment car Civic in Indian market.
one of the most popular cars in America. Because of its excellent performance , high fuel economy ,environmental awareness and highly reliable,low maintenance cost Honda Civic one of the most choice of buyers.Honda has come with its new Civic .
Civic always look unique in sedan body type . new Civic features new headlamps with Smokey background which appeal sporty and tail lamps with octane designed with new front sporty bumper. New Civic also has two special sport packages on offer – Inspire & Elegance. Inspire package includes front underskirt spoiler, trunk spoiler,rear spoiler and side spoiler. Elegance package includes parking sensor, door visors and illuminated garnish for steps.
The new Civic having 1.8 L i-VTEC engine is the most advanced engine technology available in the segment. The engine generates maximum power of 132 Bhp at 6300 rpm with maximum torque of 175 Nm at 4300 rpm. and the fuel consumption on highway is 15kmpl and in city 11 kmpl.
some new featrures of New Civic are Dual SRS Airbags ,Interior fabric/leatherette for interiors,Chrome finish front grille,Rear seat armrest with audio controls,Dash integrated music system with AUX/USB support,Cruise control in Automatic model.
Honda Civic priced @ RS.
Honda Civic S MT – 11,80,000.00
Honda Civic V MT – 12,70,000.00
Honda Civic V AT – 13,44,000.00
New Civic is available in five shades – Black pearl, White, Red, Silver metallic and Polished metal metallic.
More images of Civic Click herE
I somewhat regret at this point with my purchase of this car. I’ve spent more than RMB 200,000 (USD29,000) on the car, and now have to spend another RMB 40,000 (RMB 5,888) for the license plate!!
Is Shanghai now one of the most expensive cities in the world for car license plate? I miss Beijing so much…I truly believe life quality in Beijing is much better than Shanghai. At least you don’t need to pay for a car license plate!
I’ve tried twice already to auction one for myself in both July and August, but all failed because my price was not high enough. I’ve to try it again this Saturday. Price has gone up from RMB 32,000 in July to RMB 36,000 in August, and they say it will continue to rise in September.
Shanghai is not city for car. It’s so small and the roads are so narrow. Unlike in Beijing where motors have been banned long time ago by the government, here cars share the same lane as those bicycles and motors.
I think I make a huge mistake by getting this car…
Apa yang dilakukan ibu gurita kalau mobil mogok ?
Mobil ngelitik sepanjang 1 km terakhir, tiba-tiba mesin mati, keluar asap
di bawah kap mesin.
Ibu gurita, ibu rumahtangga yang mengurus suami-anak-memasak-bikin kue -belanja-mengurus rumah-mengatur keuangan merangkap perempuan bekerja juga mengemudikan mobil kesana-kemari serta mengurus dan memutuskan banyak hal.
Tapi, menghadapi mobil mogok ?
Apakah berlagak jagoan, membuka kap mesin dan melongok dengan percaya diri ?
Tentu saja tidak.
Langkah pertama, meminta tolong tukang parkir untuk mendorong ke tempat aman.
Menelpon suami lalu menunggu dengan taksim.
Suami datang.
Membuka kap mesin … seketika tukang parkir, satpam bank, polisi yang sedang bertugas ikut mengelilingi mobil.
Mengisi radiator dan reservoir air yang kosong.
Waterpump bocor.
Tak ada bengkel di sekitar sini.
Telpon montir freelance ke HP 0816xxxxxxxx.
Lapor kondisi kerusakan dan pesan onderdil.
Menunggu lagi.
Montir handal datang dengan mobil Daihatsu Charade, membuka kotak perlengkapan,
siap dengan lampu yang mengambil daya dari accu, karena hari menjelang maghrib
dan hujan pula.
Waterpump yang pecah diganti dengan membuka dulu Timming Belt.
Dua jam selesai semuanya, termasuk mengganti seal yang sudah aus.
Asli tahun 2000, rusak tahun 2008.
Mungkin sudah waktunya ganti.
Alhamdulillah, ada suami baik hati yang berkorban tidak mengajar dan ada montir handal yang bisa dipanggil kapan saja.
Lain kali … panggil saja langsung sang montir handal itu.
Alhamdulillah, mogok depan bank. Ada ATM yang bisa membantu menyelesaikan
ongkos onderdil dan ongkos kerja.
Insya Allah, tidak ada kerusakan berikutnya. Atau Insya Allah ganti mobil baru.
The magic P word that changed our lives forever.
Hello all. I hope you have been well.
It has been an incredible rush of happy emotions for Michele and I since we proudly announced our impending parenthood to all friends and family. Previously, only our immediate family was privy to the information and it cut us to no end every time we had to keep a straight face telling a white lie when we were asked if Michele is pregnant.
We have been flooded with messages and phone calls these few days and feel really blessed to have people who genuinely take interest in or care about us. In each and everyone of you, we trust and we thank. You guys are inextricably bounded to us and we hope to share every moment of our beautiful journey with everyone of you.
I thought I’ll reveal a little about the day we discovered the little bundle of joy.
It was on a cold, winter morning on July 22nd and a clearly frustrated Michele was peeing onto another pregnancy test kit. I say another we have been trying for a kid since right off the bat. Weeks turned into months and we began to fear the worst – Michele can’t conceive!
Turns out it’s all about timing and as all new parents will tell you, they’re learning all the time. It’s all new to me and I find myself looking up pregnancy sites and books to understand the 5W1H of conceiving. I think the idea of sex must have begun to look a little dull as we were only focused on getting Michele pregnant, not enjoying it.
For awhile, I truly loathed having sex! Mind you, this is a man talking as well!
Anyway back to the morning of July 22nd. I remember we were having a disagreement on something and we were both standing in the bathroom. Michele had just peed onto the kit and had left it on the counter top. I can’t remember what we were disagreeing on – something trivial and typical of any married couple – but I had just booked myself a couple of driving lessons so was feeling pretty good about myself.
A few minutes went by and Michele casually glanced at the kit. I was busy reiterating my opinion on Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution (okay, I really wasn’t but I was talking a lot) when she cut me off with her hand to her mouth and a whooping gasp of air.
It took me half a second to comprehend why she started acting like a Mayan tribesman. I literally stared at the kit for a minute.
I remember embracing Michele for a long while and did the Pregnancy Dance in the bathroom. Whatever that was.
I called my Dad, who lives in Singapore. It was 9am Melbourne time, 7am Singapore. My Dad picked up the phone and quipped a classic one liner I’ll never forget.
“There’s only one reason why you would call me at 7am in the morning. Congratulations!”
So much for a surprise.
I don’t think being a father has hit home yet. As I speak, the silence of my home isn’t pierced by the screams of a baby wanting attention, or a tired Michele crying out for my assistance. I have been told to get as much sleep as I can muster before Baby arrives.
I’ll definitely try. It won’t be today though, as I’ll be heading out to shop for a car.
A new car and a Baby. This is the best year yet.
Thanks for the comment goldenbeauty! Glad you’re a fan of the blog. Hope being carless is working out well for you.
Anyway, in response to your questions:
1. Public transit combos: bus + metro: I haven’t done the bus + metro combo since moving back. I did it occasionally in high school, but haven’t recently. I don’t live very close to a metro station, so it’s not in my daily public transit routine. That said, I am VERY much looking forward to the proposed Westside metro and hoping that it does appear before the proposed date of 2036.
I have done a two-bus combo a few times recently though. If possible, I prefer to walk a little farther instead of taking a second bus. But sometimes that isn’t possible, or I’m too lazy. Recently I took the 704 to the 720, getting from the Poquito Mas on Westwood and Olympic back home. It was a really easy transfer, and I got home pretty RAPIDly (sorry). The 704 was nowhere near as crowded as the 720, and it was nice to mix it up. Yesterday, I took the 218 over Laurel Canyon to the 750 down Ventura Blvd to Woodman. I also found that you can take the 240 down Ventura, so that was nice to know.
2. Are transfers worth it? Well, the buses don’t actually sell transfers anymore. So you have to pay separately for each bus you take. It’s $1.25/ride (unless you have a bus pass, obviously). Usually, it’s worth it if you don’t want to/can’t walk. On Google Maps, if you type in where you’re coming from and where you want to go, it will tell you how much the trip will cost in gas. More often than not if you’re taking two buses to get there, the gas cost is a lot more than $2.50.
3. Taxis? I really want to take one of these new, prominent taxis. I haven’t had the opportunity yet. But now that you’ve asked, I think for research’s sake, I’m going to have to try one out one night. Also an FYI: If you are in Beverly Hills, they only allow certain taxis to pick you up in Beverly Hills. Not sure about other areas, but something to keep in mind in Beverly Hills.
yesterday i went on a trip to a château. there was a long car ride, and then finally i got to a fair-sized town. i got out of the car, and this is what i saw first:
here’s a close up of the door (hehe, i love french doors):
then across the street i saw this:
and then i looked around, and saw this:
then i wandered around the streets for a bit:
(absolutely fantastic view)
found the old place where they washed laundry (and anything else they happened to have around):
here are some close ups:
here’s a close up of the date over the archway:
(in case you couldn’t see, it says “R F 1903) (at least, that’s what i see.)
then i got to the gift shop you go through to get to the château. here’s what the ruins look like from the sky:
here’s what it looked like when i first saw it:
then i went inside (not the best picture, my finger was partly on the lens and some people are in the way, but it’s the only one i took of the front):
here’s to the left side (argh! it’s that finger again!):
here are some more photos of the inside:
(above is the door to the museum in the château. unfortunately i didn’t get many pictures of the inside. there is another little museum in the château, and maybe you’ll see the other door.)
here’s a close up of the window:
i will post the rest of the pictures from the château (and my exploring the town) later.
First I would like to clarify the title of these blogs. Hype has two basic meanings: 1) to stimulate, excite, or agitate; 2) to trick; gull (source). Anti-hype refers to the first; there is a lot of excitement going on with the advancement of EVs. I’d very much like to get caught up in it, but I just have too many unanswered questions. How are they REALLY zero-emissions, aren’t the batteries toxic, and how long do they last anyway (all these questions will be addressed in this blog)? With anti-hype I aim to take a step back and reason what makes sense (hopefully with your help; the reason of any one individual, though potentially great, is inevitably flawed), and if all measures out, well then, I guess I can get caught up in the hype as well.
One of the issues with the EV is its gas tank equivalent – the battery. Let’s explore some of the questions I’ve had regarding the EV battery. There is a lot to talk about when it comes to the EV battery, so to avoid producing a mondo post, I’ve decided to split this topic into its own miniseries.
EVs costs less to drive?
Remember The Day?
Have you heard that it costs $.02 per mile to drive an EV? Sounds great right? At $4.00 a gallon, that equates to a 4.00/.02 = 200 miles per gallon vehicle, which is approximately 5 times better than my family’s 2001 manual transmission, gasoline powered Toyota Carolla. With said vehicle, we would be paying 4.00/40 = $.10 per mile (again, a factor of 5). But how are they obtaining $.02 per mile? Let’s run some numbers.
The Tesla Roadster battery can hold 53 kWh of electricity, and can go 244 miles on a full charge (source). Let’s assume the power from the source to the battery is 100% efficient during the charge process (no losses). Also, let’s assume your power company charges you $.10 per kWh (you can use your own utility bill to adjust this calculation). This means it costs you $5.30 to go 244 miles (53 kWh * $.10), resulting in a little over $.02 per mile ($5.30/244 miles = $.02/mile)!
However, the batteries have to be replaced every X amount of miles. This is because the batteries lose charge capacity over time. You could retain the battery longer, but with a shorter driving range (source, read the article for an explanation). Some are curious if this affects power performance; my guess will be…no, but perhaps you could provide some better insight?
Tesla estimates that you’ll want to replace the battery every 100,000 miles and it will cost $12,000. Assuming this cost is correct and is constant, it would cost you $36,000 to go 300,000 miles, which I am going to take to be the life of the car. This mean the battery costs a little over $.01 per mile ($36,000/300,000 miles), totaling $.03 per mile to drive an EV. But along with no need to change the oil, there are other shifts of maintenance fees from an ICEV to an EV, so it depends on what exactly you want to toss into the mix for determining equivalent cost per mile.
Another thing I would like to note is that the gas we purchase has a tax already included. In my home state of Washington, the tax is $.375 (source), plus the federal tax of $.184 (source). If we switch to electric powered cars, the state and federal governments are going to lose out on a lot of revenue (which is supposed to be allocated to civil maintenance?). I’m just going to speculate that the government will want their piece of the pie – and I think they deserve it, assuming the money truly is going to build new roads and the like – and somehow this electric energy will be taxed to keep the balance. But even if a tax boost the cost per mile by 100%, driving an EV would still be cheaper, and likely the price to “fuel up” wouldn’t dramatically increase with time as has been the case with gasoline over the last couple of years.
In French class, I remember learning all the names of the different markets. There was the boulangerie, the fromagerie, the patîsserie. Naturally, I pictured myself walking with purposes between the different markets. I’d have a basket on my arm weighed down by fresh produce and a baguette, purchased from my different stops.
Without a car, I’m starting to realize my French class daydream. For a couple Saturdays, we’ve done a market-loop. All in all, the walk is only a couple miles, but it’s pleasant, and a good way to combine exercising with something that actually needs to get done (um, buying food).
The patented market-loop starts in either Little Ethiopia or at New India Sweets and Spices. There, we get giant bags of good, affordable spices. Usually we also get some dried or canned goods like chickpeas or kidney beans. More often than not, I find some sort of snack item that I get desperate for (Digestive crackers are SO reasonably-priced at New India Sweets and Spices). If we’re at New India Sweets and Spices, we also usually buy samosas when we check out, so we get a mid-market-loop samosa with tamarind chutney.
Next in the market-loop, we walk up Fairfax to Whole Foods. Whole Foods is the closest market to our apartment, but it’s still about a mile or so away. At Whole Foods, we get whatever we need for the week that we didn’t get at New India Sweets and Spices or in Little Ethiopia. We try to keep our Whole Foods shopping minimal since it’s pretty pricey.
From Whole Foods– the bags are usually pretty heavy by now– I make a quick stop at Chado to buy loose leaf tea. I’m kind of a tea addict, and since selling my car and walking to buy everything, Chado has become a weekly staple. Most of the time, I get about 2 or 3 oz of 4 or 5 different teas for about $10 or $15. 2 oz of tea yields about 20- 25 cups of tea. So I get about 100 cups of tea for $15. That’s a pretty good deal considering bagged teas often hover around $7 or $8 for 22 cups of tea (yes, I have obsessed over justifying my Chado purchases).
From there, we loop back to the apartment. All in all, it doesn’t take too long (okay, that depends on how involved with the snack items I get in New India Sweets and Spices)– probably about 2 or 3 hours tops. But it’s a good break in the day, and a nice way to fit in some exercise, all while doing a very necessary errand. And I get to turn the Miracle Mile into my own personal Paris.
When I moved to Springfield, Virginia, my neighbors enthusiastically told me about the slug line, an informal carpool system that has been around since 1971. There’s a pick-up spot right in my community and several others elsewhere in town. Many folks in the DC area don’t know about the slug line — I didn’t until I moved to Springfield.
The plan is simple. Drivers need three people in the car to use the HOV lanes on I-395. So drivers and riders (aka slugs) meet at designated locations. The drivers fill their vehicular quotas, the riders get a free lift, and everybody gets into the city — and home again — faster. Unlike a traditional carpool, you never know who will ride with you (or give you a ride). With some lobbying and political maneuvering over the years, slugs have convinced local governments to set aside areas where these commuters can park and meet.
At first, the notion of getting in a car every morning and every evening with two complete strangers sounded absurd to me and more than a little dangerous. A year or so went by before I tried it. But people are creatures of habit. Most keep to more-or-less the same schedule every day, so slugs and drivers begin to recognize each other. Mentally, I give the familiar people nicknames. People tell stories and share information. The slug line was social networking and grassroots activism long before either one was trendy.
