Top 5 Best College Cars

1) 2007 Ford Taurus – Find one in excellent condition with less than 50k miles for around $5k. These old style Taurus’ are the best sedans money can buy.

The 07 Taurus with some rims to "set it off." Now that's one good lookin' ride.

2) 2006 Ford Fusion – If you know where to look you can easily find one with 50k miles for less than $7k. Best car in its class… also gets great MPG!

3) 2008 Ford Focus – These are great on MPG and cost little to maintain. Find one with 30-40k miles for less than $8k.

4) 2007 Pontiac G5 – Great on gas, has received excellent reviews, and is easy to find under $8k in excellent condition.

5) 2007 Chevy Cobalt – Great on gas, high quality car, and you can find one with low miles for less than $8k.

Big “No-No’s”

- Imports

- Imports

- Did I Mention Imports?

[Via http://carchat101.wordpress.com]

Seriously, Toyota--Chill. Everyone Gets a Free Pass. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge Have Had Hundreds.

—~—

A persistent story in the media lately has been the recall of millions of Toyota vehicles, a recall so serious they have decided to halt the production of numerous models. What is the fault with these millions of vehicles? A friggin loose car mat might get lodged in the footwell in such a way that, according to hearsay, might cause the accelerator pedal to be pressed.

Oh boo-freakin-hoo. A loose car mat? Seriously?  Have these consumer primadonna’s never driven a used car?

Several things come to mind. Namely, that on my old s*** beater 300k truck, and nearly every other heap I’ve owned, the car mat thing happens, and it’s no big deal. For one, that’s why there’s that other pedal–you know, the brake pedal.

But for new production cars, it’s probably fair to say, sure, maybe that’s an issue, especially when you’re selling cars to a society dictated by the least-common denominator of operators. It’s not necessarily a crisis, but something to correct, improve, and move on.

And yet, Toyota is being brow-beaten over this stupid non-issue, and Toyota itself has expressed shame over the recall. Something smells fishy, and I’ve little doubt that the American automakers—whom Toyota outcompetes like a cheetah in the Special Olympics—have been busy keeping the story alive.

But the thing is, at least Toyota has the sense of responsibility to recall vehicles on such a massive scale, at such great loss of profit, for such a minor issue. If this were any American automaker, there would be no recall. The calculation would work something like this:

“Query: 3 billion in profit losses, or simply fight the matter in court for a mere 25 million and perhaps a few out-of-court settlements for those affected?”

So why is this stupid story lingering in the media? Is it really intended to slander Toyota, inarguably the worlds best and most efficient automaker? Are the American automakers really that desperate?

Well, let’s take a look at another budgetary memo:

“Stealth corporate media campaign encouraging bad publicity for a better competitor versus designing and producing better car, one that people can actually use.

-Net loss of media campaign: 10 million in court costs in suit with Toyota.

-Net loss of producing a better car: A few bar napkins, one of those squeezy stress balls, and four years to get a bachelor’s in engineering.

Conclusion: Screw em! Slime those stinky Sushi-mongers and build another Hummer!”

[Via http://excludedthird.wordpress.com]

Fiesta RS Coming to America: Ken Block World Rally Car

The European Fiesta has made it to our shores, but only in its watered down city dress. When the 2011 model goes on sell in a few months it will be a front wheel drive powered by an anemic 1.6L. However, the 1.6L power plant will be short lived, as Ford plans to introduce the 2.0L for the 2012 model year.

If Ken Block’s Monster World Rally Car is any indication the all wheel drive RS model is coming to America as well. Strip off the wild paint and decals you have the US Spec 2012 Ford Fiesta RS.

The car was prepped by Olsbergs Motor Sport Evolution, the same Swedish  that company that prepared Ford’s recent entry in the Pikes Peak hillclimb. Ken and his Italian co-driver Alex Gelsomino will compete in all six Rally America races before heading across the pond to compete in the World Rally stage.

[Via http://motorcitymusclecars.wordpress.com]

Ford and Ken Block team up to conquer the world of Rally.

Leaked a few days early. The 2010 Ken Block Ford Fiesta wasn’t due to premier till Wed…which is probably when you’ll be reading this.

The newly formed Monster World Rally team is happy to announce Ken Block will be piloting their Ford Fiesta in select events through out this next year. Ken, the co-founder of DC Shoes, has been excited and ready for the task of teaming up with these to big names. Although Ken has been close to the spot light from Skateboarding. Snowboarding and Motocross, he his most noted for his driving technique as presented in viral “Gymkana” videos.

Kens Career in Rally begin in 2005. Where he one Rally America’s coveted Rookie of the year award. Kens career since has been a spotty one. Never winning 1st over all but coming multiple times in 2nd or 3rd. This Year Ken will be competeing in the American Rally Championship, X-games, and select rounds in the World Rally Championship. Ken will also be the first ever American driver to campaign for the World Rally Championship

The Fiesta will be equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine utilizing an All wheel drive system. This custom rally machine has been built by Swedish race shop Olsbergs Motor Sport Evolution. Best of Luck To Ken Block, Monster Energy Drinks, and Ford in there 2010 Season.

Links – Jalopnik, Monster World Rally Team, Ford Racing, Ken Block Racing Youtube Channel

[Via http://motaryinmotion.wordpress.com]

Funny photo captions as done by yours truly.

This bear was used by Hannibal Lecter as a child. Lecter cites this bear as his inspiration for what he does. fufufufufufu!

This is what happens when you let Kevin Malone (from the NBC show "The Office") alone with the vending machine. He needs a little help.

Well biology has taught us many things, but I guess if I keep swimming in a regular pool 9 months from now I may be holding a new little bundle of joy. This would then lead some of my male friends to say "whose your daddy baby? You don't know who your daddy is." Nor do I because I believe sex before marriage is wrong. That and the daddy of my future child will be there when his child is born!

This looks like something my redneck relatives would do. They've already had a keg and a dance to "Ready to Run" by the Dixie Chicks at their first wedding, so why not teach the kids how to be drunkards?

Come in with a taurus and come out with a bmw z3....now I wanna go to this carwash!

This is what happens when you use a windows-based system. Humiliation and pain will follow you the rest of your days! Once you get a mac you don't go back.

Bad septic tank system and one drunk Jimmy Dugan will get you this!

This is what Dr. Hannibal Lecter used before he went to jail.

That’s all for today.

[Via http://musingsofxtina.wordpress.com]

Kia and Microsoft are partnering; "UVO"will be the first direct competition to Ford's "Sync"

Kia Motors America and Microsoft Corp. are partnering to provide a new system that will allow drivers and passengers to make phone calls and control a car’s audio system through voice commands.

Called UVO, the hands-free system will be offered in several Kia vehicles by the end of the year, according to the auto maker, the first being the 2011 Kia Sorento crossover, likely to be out around July.

UVO will also be the first direct competition to Ford Motor Co.’s Sync system, which is also based on Microsoft technology. Kia and Microsoft will announce the partnership Tuesday at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Ford is expected to unveil new Sync features that combine navigation and online social media at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The next generation of Ford’s Sync, expected out later this year, will also offer wireless Internet access, the company has said.

Hands-free technologies allow drivers and passengers to answer and place phone calls, send and receive text messages and access music and other media, primarily by using voice-recognition programs.

UVO will provide all such functions, but will not offer turn-by-turn directions as Ford’s Sync technology does.

Both UVO and Sync can be linked to iPhones, MP3 players and other portable mobile music and cellphone devices.

“For us, it’s a breakthrough interface,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of U.S. marketing for Kia. Mr. Sprague declined to say what the product would cost, but said it would be consistent with Kia’s value message.

“We’ve always made sure that we continue to offer the consumer the best value,” said Mr. Sprague. “So we’ll make sure we do the same with UVO.”

Sync, which is offered in Ford vehicles such as the Ford Fusion and F-150, starts at about $400 and goes up from there.

[Via http://powerhouseus.wordpress.com]

TV in Your Ride: Chrysler, Jeep & Dodge

FLO TV - Charapp Rt.28 Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ford, Natrona Heights, PA 15065

Chrysler Group LLC may have been the first to coin the phrase “car potato” as they took claim as the first U.S. automaker to offer live mobile television in its Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. Teaming up with FLO TV™ Auto Entertainment, vehicles are able to host up to 20 channels including CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV, Nickelodeon, and much more.

How it Works: Using a micro-size roof antenna, the customer is able to view feeds via a dedicated multicast network. The associated receiver and wiring are all hidden, well out of reach of the soccer team in the back. Passengers are able to use a remote control on the preexisting DVD system’s 7-inch display.

“We want to offer our customers the ultimate in entertainment,” said Pietro Gorlier, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care. “With FLO TV Auto Entertainment, we are the first automaker to offer mobile TV with the capacity for as many as 20 channels.”

The FLO TV system plus installation costs $629, which includes a one-year pre-paid The FLO TV service subscription and is offered as a deal-installed option. Additionally, the system may be retrofitted to some older vehicles that are equipped with DVD entertainment systems. Whatever the price, the The FLO TV system is sure to make road trips with the family a much more enjoyable experience.

Charapp Ford North, Natrona Heights, PA 15065 (724) 294-2000

Charapp Rt.28 Chrysler Jeep & Dodge, Natrona Heights, PA 15065 (724) 295-5000

For more information, contact:

Charapp Rt.28 Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ford

(724) 294-2000 Ford or (724) 295-5000 Chrysler Jeep & Dodge

[Via http://charappdealer.wordpress.com]

Ford Ka No longer viable

In my own opinion The New Ford Ka shape is vile.
Having lost its  individual characteristic eccentricness the new model is just another clone of the mundane small car model.

Having said that, I would strongly advise anyone who is thinking of purchasing a used Ka pre 2002 – DON`T

You will be buying a rusty biscuit tin with following likely problems – Steering rack, power steering, suspension failure and flimsy handles that snap off in the cold.

2002 -2008 Best buy.

You have been warned

[Via http://fordka.wordpress.com]

Jaguar to produce a new C-Type, denies XJ Coupe rumours

A report from Inside Line says that Jaguar has confirmed a new C-Type, as well as denied rumours of an XJ Coupe.

The new C-Type will be the first coupe besides the XK that Jaguar has made in years. It will reportedly be based on a new aluminum monocoque chassis, and available in both coupe and convertible form (with a soft-top roof). There will be just two seats, rather than the XK’s 2+2 configuration.

Powering the engine will be a new V6 engine, based on Jaguar’s 5.0L V8. There will also be a turbo version, using some technology taken from former owner Ford. The engine will reportedly spread across the range with time, as part of Jaguar’s effort to increase fuel efficiency. That V6 doesn’t mean there won’t be a performance version though. Jaguar will be leaving enough space in the front for the 5.0L V8, so that an R version could be possible.

The same insider who provided this info also says that he hasn’t heard of an XJ Coupe planned, as rumours suggested some time ago.

I’m looking forward to this C-Type, hopefully Jaguar won’t mess it up.

Source: Inside Line via Autoblog | Picture: Brian Snelson

[Via http://theblogofcars.wordpress.com]

Ford Wins Both Car & Truck Of The Year

Ford Motor Co.’s yearlong resurgence got another little boost Monday morning when its vehicles swept the car and truck of the year awards at the North American International Auto Show here.

The 2010 Fusion Hybrid won the car class and the odd-looking but highly practical 2010 Transit Connect won the truck award.

It was only the third time in 17 years of the Detroit auto show awards that one automaker won both major categories.

A jury of 49 automotive journalists voted on the awards. Earlier, Motor Trend magazine named the Ford Fusion its Car of the Year award, adding to other awards that the automaker has won in the U.S., Europe and Asia over the past year.

North American International Auto Show juror Csabe Csere, a former editor at Car and Driver, said: “Though not the first hybrid on the market or even the second or third, the Fusion Hybrid is simply the best one ever built.”

Jurors praised the Transit Connect — which with its narrow width and tall roof looks a bit like a European ambulance — for its practicality. The four-cylinder Transit Connect’s generous cargo area can be outfitted with shelves or other tools for use by businesses.

By Terry Box / The Dallas Morning News

for more  information – click here

[Via http://herbchambers.wordpress.com]

The Detroit Auto Show: Day 2

Its day two at the Detroit show, and we’re seeing some more action from GM than we did yesterday with the Granite concept and the Acadia Denali trim package.  Here’s what happened today.

Cadillac CTS Coupe:

The CTS, and particularly the CTS-V are proof that someone at GM gets it.  Its handsomely styled, fun to drive, has a rich interior, and competes with the best of Europe.  The few opportunities I’ve had to drive the V-series had me crunching numbers trying to figure out what organs I’d need to sell to get one in my driveway.  The one place the GM couldn’t compete with the Europeans was in the coupe category, as Cadillac hadn’t made a coupe since the Eldorado’s demise.  Now, the CTS coupe is here, with a wedgy back end that makes the vehicle appear almost as a hatchback.  This may prove the wrong design direction, although the fastback Mustang was always popular.   At any rate, it will be a great driving car and the V will offer a domestic alternative to the BMW M3, at a much lower price.

Chevrolet Aveo RS:

In a product category that for years has been described with terms like “penalty box,” the Chevy Aveo was arguably the worst of the worst, or at least close to it.  Produced by Daewoo and rebadged as a Chevrolet, it was everything the Koreans wanted you to forget about their past.  Considering that, why would GM, when coming out with a replacement for the worst-in-class, keep a model name that evokes images of plasticky interior, poor driving dynamics, and lackluster quality?  The Aveo RS itself looks much better than the model it replaces, but I question whether or not the package is improved beyond the looks.  The RS package is very Fast and the Furious looking, with the gaping air vents, big wheels, and shiny paint, but will it deliver those promises?  Will the slow and the frugal be turned off by it? Will anyone notice?  Or will they all spend their money on the new Ford Fiesta, or the class leader Honda Fit?

Cadillac XTS:

The XTS should have been big news for GM.  This “concept” is more or less what will be replacing the STS and DTS in the near future.  Instead, there has been a collective yawn from the blogosphere, and probably, at the Detroit show.  This is the BIG Caddy.  This is supposed to be GM’s flagship vehicle.  This is supposed to do battle with the extremely good Lexus LS, the BMW 7-series, the S-Class Mercedes, and the Audi A8.  Some say buyers in this class want an elegant looking car that doesn’t stand out.  If they don’t want to stand out, the XTS will be a good choice; their neighbors may even mistake the headlights for a Ford Fusion.

This car breaks no ground.  It follows the CTS’s design language, which doesn’t seem to translate as well to a bigger package.  This is supposed to be the aspirational vehicle, not an also-ran for when you outgrow (or get too old for) your CTS.  It should set the design theme for future Caddy’s, and be something that everyone will want to shop against the best from Japan and Germany.  I think it missed the mark.

The interior looks good, and the rear/side are handsome, if bland.  But that front end has to go if this car is going to go anywhere without a significant rebate.

So thats day 2 in Detroit.  Has GM shown all its cards for the week?  Or is there a surprise waiting in the wings of Cobo hall, waiting for the right moment to wow us all?  Tune in tomorrow to find out.

I’d also like to thank all my friends, and their friends who have become my fan on Facebook, or started following me on Twitter.  Please get the word out!  The more popular I am, the more likely someone from GM sees this and calls me for an interview.  If you’ve found me, welcome to the blog, I hope you enjoy it!

Facebook

Twitter

[Via http://johnvrbanacforgmceo.com]

Apps: They're not just for your phone anymore

NEWS Apps: They’re not just for your phone anymore
By Brandon Griggs, CNN
January 10, 2010 6:43 a.m. EST

Las Vegas, Nevada (CNN) — To most people these days, an “app” is something you download on your smartphone to help you do a specific task — say, find a good nearby restaurant.

But big tech companies, seeing how applications have boosted the appeal of gadgets such as Apple’s iPhone, are starting to view apps as low-cost enhancements for a broader range of products, from netbooks to TVs and beyond.

At the International Consumer Electronics Show here this week, microchip maker Intel launched an app store geared towards netbook computers. Not to be outdone, Samsung announced it will open its own app store for HDTVs, Blu-ray players and mobile phones.

Even unlikely players such as Ford Motor Co. are getting in on the app act. Ford announced Thursday that several applications, including one that will read aloud Twitter tweets while you’re driving, will be available on many of its vehicles later this year.

What’s driving this sudden app movement?

“Mobile computer chips have gotten so powerful and affordable, and it’s so easy to get on the Internet, that it doesn’t make much sense to ship a gadget with dedicated, stagnant functionality,” said Brian X. Chen, who covers technology for Wired.com.

“Add an Internet connection and a software platform open for third-party programmers to develop for — i.e., open an app store — and you can enhance the capabilities of a gadget, thus future-proofing it, at no cost.”

Sales of the apps, which typically cost a few dollars apiece, also create a new source of revenue for the device’s manufacturer, Chen said. And consumers win, too: They get more value out of their product without having to keep buying new hardware.

Software applications have been around for decades, but it took the recent success of the iPhone and Apple’s App Store — with their can-do slogan, “there’s an app for that” — to make apps sexy on the consumer level.

Developers have created more than 100,000 apps for the store — at no cost to Apple, which takes a cut of revenues. Less than 18 months after the store launched in 2008, owners of the iPhone and iPod Touch have downloaded more than 3 billion applications.

Rival smartphone makers such as Palm and Research in Motion soon followed with app stores of their own. It’s now standard for Web properties such as Facebook, Google and eBay to have mobile apps that let users share updates or make purchases on the go.

The number of people who use Internet-enabled mobile devices is expected to pass 1 billion by 2013, according to industry analysts, meaning that demand for apps will only grow. And as more people grow accustomed to using apps to quickly check the weather or send a tweet on Twitter, more manufacturers will develop apps-ready products, experts say.

On Thursday Intel launched a beta version of its app store, called the Intel AppUp center, for netbooks, the smaller, simpler cousins of laptops. About 100 apps, in such categories as entertainment, games, health, social networking, are now available for download at www.intelappup.com.

The beta store will host apps for both Microsoft Windows and the open-source Moblin operating system, which target the popular netbook computer category powered by Intel’s Atom processor.

“Apps have been defined in people’s minds as these little things that run on the iPhone. Our focus is on getting lots of smart people to think of the netbook as a device they can target [for developing apps],” said Peter Biddle, who run’s Intel’s Atom software program.

Eventually, Intel and its partners expect to expand the store to include applications for smartphones, TVs and even consumer electronic appliances.

Meanwhile, Samsung is betting that as television merges with the Internet, more channel-surfers will enjoy being able to order a movie from Netflix or scroll through photos on Picasa without having to leave their couch.

Samsung is calling Samsung Apps “the world’s first HDTV-based application store,” although it’s not expected to launch until later this year. Samsung has opened the store to third-party developers and hopes to have more than 150 apps available for download by the end of 2010. Many content partners have already signed up.

“There’s going to be an application for everything,” said Samsung product training manager Jermain Anderson, who envisions guys sitting around a living room, playing Texas hold ‘em poker on a big-screen TV while holding their virtual cards on their smartphones.

Suddenly, a TV becomes more than a TV — it’s also a computer screen and a gaming console.

“The idea is to make everyone’s life more convenient without them having to go to more than one place to do it,” Anderson said. “Down the road, the app store will bring a lot of different Samsung products together.”

Soon, apps will even be coming to the highway. Ford has signed agreements with three partners: the Pandora music service, Stitcher Internet radio and OpenBeak, which helps users send and receive messages via Twitter. Drivers will not be able to read the tweets on the dashboard — instead, a computer voice will say them aloud.

The three apps would live on users’ smartphones but would be controlled in the vehicle through Ford’s SYNC system, which allows motorists to operate mobile devices through voice commands or steering-wheel controls. The apps will be available later this year for any Ford vehicle with a SYNC system.

“When we saw the apps craze … [we realized] there’s a consumer demand there,” said Alan Hall, a technology communications manager at Ford. Hall was quick to say that Ford would not approve apps — such as video games — that might distract the driver.

“Apps are becoming the norm for how people quickly and easily access the information they want,” Hall added. “People are used to getting information on demand. They have a digital life outside the car — they should have a digital life inside the car.”

© 2009 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

[Via http://dominicstoughton.wordpress.com]

New Beginnings

A lot of people are upset about Ken Block’s move to Ford. Although I’m not the biggest Ford fan, I can totally see why he did it. Subaru was great for a time and they really helped Block achieve world-wide fame but they were only in a position to allow his career  reach a certain level. By signing with Ford, Block will be able to compete in the World Rally Championship and ultimately take his career to the next level. This is a disappointing outcome for Subaru fans but a great one for Ken Block fans. I think he’ll do really well with Ford.

[Via http://aclassblog.wordpress.com]

CES Highlights: New Mobile Concepts and More

As day two of CES unfolds, lots of innovative new products and initiatives are showing up, including as-yet-unseen concepts for netbooks and mobile displays, numerous type of tablets and more. Here are some of the most notable debuts.

Lenovo and others are demoing portable computers equipped with new PixelQi display technology.  These LCD displays operate in two modes — a normal color mode like most laptop displays and a non-backlit mode that allows viewing in bright light. Once the backlight is turned off the display is viewed in a black-and-white mode like that used in traditional e-ink readers.

Yahoo (s yhoo) has announced that it’s releasing a kit to allow developers to create their own TV widgets. It’s aiming to put “ConnectedTV” widgets on living room media devices, Blu-ray players, and cable and IPTV set-top boxes.

Rovi (formerly Macrovision) arrived at CES this week armed with its new TotalGuide digital programming guide (formerly “Liquid”) and a slew of new content partners, hoping to win over the hearts and minds of CE manufacturers looking for a way to integrate traditional TV content alongside broadband video. Check out NewTeeVee’s take.

ASUS has debuted a number of new notebooks and netbooks. Its EEE PC Seashell KR Collection features glitzy designs done in collaboration with designer Karim Rashid. The pink-and-black systems run Intel N450 processors, are 802.11n-ready, and have up to 250GB hard drives, but it looks like the cases are the real selling points. ASUS also showed off a concept netbook that unfolds into a big-screen tablet.

Meanwhile MSI is demoing a dual-screen netbook prototype with touchscreen features and no physical keyboard. The 10-inch screens are capable of 1024 x 600 resolution, and a displayed keyboard provides tactile feedback as you type on it.

Ford’s (s f) new MyTouch platform, which will appear in the 2011 Ford Edge, puts an 8-inch touch-screen in the center of a dashboard. It provides for navigation and climate controls and more. You can also plug in a 3G modem and connect to the Internet. GigaOM Pro (subscription req’d) also has an analysis of Ford Sync, a new communication and entertainment platform for cars that responds to voice commands.

Dell (S dell) has showed off its first-ever tablet, based on the Android (s goog) OS, with a 5-inch screen. It joins numerous other tablets, including an HP-branded one that Microsoft (S msft) CEO Steve Ballmer displayed during his keyonte, and another Android-based tablet, with a 7-inch screen, from Motorola (s mot).

And Intel (s intc) CEO Paul Otellini announced last night that the company is bringing the Moblin mobile Linux operating system and the Moorestown chip to smartphones. He showed the LG GW990 phone running both and performing complex multitasked chores. LG and Sprint (s s) also unveiled new Lotus Elite and Rumor Touch smartphones. The Lotus Elite can play voice mail messages without the user having to open up the phone.

MSI netbook image courtesy of Gizmodo.

[Via http://gigaom.com]

Driving Under the Influence

Tweet-aholics are most likely applauding today’s announcement from Ford Motor Company at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Vegas. Ford plans to help people drive under the influence — the influence of Twitter, that is. Ford plans to put new technology in its cars to enable people to hear their Twitter feeds read aloud while they are driving. It’s expected that drivers also will be able to post tweets verbally in the next 12 to 18 months even though that capability wasn’t formally announced today.

MyFord, a new computer in the dashboard of new Ford vehicles, will make it all possible. The system features a voice-controlled interface with an 8-inch touchscreen display, USB ports, Wi-Fi capabilities, and support for smartphone applications like Pandora, Twitter, and Stitcher. In addition, drivers can use voice commands to control everything from their stereo to A/C to phone. When parked, you can use the touchscreen display to surf the web, but once you start driving, it is disabled for safety. Ford will roll out the new system in its new Edge and Focus models first, but the company expects the technology to be installed in 80% of its vehicles within five years.

Some safety groups are criticizing the new technology saying it’s too big of a distraction for drivers, but I disagree. How is listening to a Twitter feed any different than listening to a radio broadcast? Furthermore, it’s much safer than someone fumbling with a mobile device and taking their eyes off the road to read the screen while driving. With the rise in deadly accidents caused from texting while driving, I think the verbal prompts are a much safer alternative. Personally, I’m a big fan. Anything that doesn’t force a driver to take his eyes off the road is a positive in my book.

The only downside: becoming even more addicted to Twitter.

[Via http://laurainsideout.com]

Have You Been Entertained and Informed by a Ford Lately? Should You Be?

Earlier today, I lounged in the passenger seat while a Ford employee sat behind the wheel and showed me MyFord Touch–the upcoming radically upgraded version of the digital entertainment/information platform that the company began offering a couple of years ago as Ford Sync. The new version has a speedometer that’s flanked by two LCDs, and a jumbo color touchscreen, and it lets you do a gazillion things–from listening to music to getting directions to adjusting mood lighting in the car to turning your auto into a mobile hotspot. I loved it. And the chances of the Ford rep getting distracted and causing an accident were…well, nil, because we were sitting in a fake car interior inside a conference room in the Las Vegas Convention Center here at CES.

I’m impressed by MyFord Touch, which will start to appear in cars later this year–price TBA–and which Ford plans to roll out to eighty percent of its line within five years. It–and/or stuff like it–will be a factor the next time I plunk down money for an automobile. But this New York Times story reports on concerns that the new generation of Internet-connected car computing systems simply demands too much attention from drivers. One of the naysayers is U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who’s presumably in a position to do something about them if he so chooses.

Your opinion, please.



View This Poll
surveys

[Via http://technologizer.com]

2009's Most-Searched Cars:Kelley Blue Book Names Models Most Researched On Its Site

Kelley Blue Book’s top 10 most-researched new vehicles of 2009 :

The top half of a list of the 20 vehicles targeted the most in searches onwww.kbb.com last year was dominated by Japanese cars, with Honda taking the top two spots and four out of the top 10. Toyota claimed five of the spots with Nissan earning another.

Honda and Toyota also had one more entry each in the rest of the top 20, with Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, also claiming a spot.

Detroit’s Big Three automakers totalled only five spots on the list, with three Ford vehicles and two Chevrolet vehicles making the list. The third Big Three member, Chrysler, did not have a car on the lsit.

The entire list is as follows:

• 1. Honda Accord
• 2. Honda Civic
• 3. Toyota Camry
• 4. Honda CR-V
• 5. Toyota Corolla
• 6. Toyota RAV4
• 7. Toyota Highlander
• 8. Toyota Prius
• 9. Nissan Altima
• 10. Honda Pilot
• 11. Ford Escape
• 12. Chevrolet Camaro
• 13. Honda Odyssey
• 14. Ford Fusion
• 15. Mazda3
• 16. Ford Mustang
• 17. Volkswagen Jetta
• 18. Toyota Sienna
• 19. Lexus RX 350
• 20. Chevrolet Equinox

The Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (in varying orders each year) have been the top three most-researched new-vehicles on kbb.com each year since 2004.

However, many vehicles made noteworthy jumps into the top 20 most-researched new-vehicles for 2009 that were not on the list in 2008. Chevrolet’s all-new redesigned Equinox and Camaro models both grace this year’s list for the first time. Also new to 2009’s top 20 are the recently revamped Lexus RX 350 and the popular, fast-selling Ford Fusion.

The stabilization in gas prices for 2009 led to a trend away from smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles over the past year, and thus some popular small cars that were among the most-researched in 2008 have fallen off the list for 2009. Subcompact cars like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, along with the compact MINI Cooper, were among the most-researched new cars last year, but did not make the list this time around.

[Via http://powerhouseus.wordpress.com]

Where to Watch <em>One Piece</em>

nhl jerseys cheap

discount nhl jerseys

Around 2500 BC, the Harappans built the world’s first tidal dock at Lothal, located in present-day Gujarat. Ship-building was a thriving industry then, driven by the strong trade links with Mesopotamia and Persia.

Belying such a pioneering past, India’s current contribution to the global ship-building industry languishes at around 1%.
Japan, South Korea and China together have a share of more than 85% of
the ship-building industry. China’s rise has been meteoric. In a span
of a decade, China increased its marketshare from 2% in 1995 to about
20% now. It employs about three lakh people in about 500 shipyards,
having an order book of about 40 million DWT. India employs 12,000
people in 28 shipbuilding yards with a 1.3 million DWT order book.
These figures provide not only the amount of catching up to do but also
the immense opportunities in the ship-building industry. The government
of India has set an ambitious target of garnering 8% of the world share
by 2017.
Maritime trade constitutes 95% of India’s total trade by volume. Being
among the fastest-growing economies in the world and having a 5,500-km
mainland coast line, India is ready for a large ship-building industry
catering to the world. In addition, India’s labour costs about eight
times less compared with that of South Korea’s. The epicentre of
ship-building has moved from Europe to Japan to China due to lower
labour costs. Coupled with them is the advantage of having a developing
ancillary industry—engines, generators, valves, pumps, etc. It is
estimated that every Re 1 invested in ship-building will trigger
investments of Rs 10 in ancillary industries. Currently, even Indian
shipyards are purchasing such equipment from foreign firms that are
able to sell cheaper because of the economies of scale. About 45% of
the input requirements are imported. As in the automobile industry,
India has the opportunity to build a buzzing ecosystem for
ship-building.
In the last few years, private players like Great Eastern Shipping,
Mercator Lines, ABG and Bharati have been operating ship yards
successfully. Pipapvav Shipyard floated an IPO in September 2009.
Coming off record levels of orders and fleet utilisation in 2008, the
economic bust has altered the scenario in ship-building. Compared with
an order book which was about half of the existing fleet size in start
of the year, new orders have been close to nil in 2009. Platou research
claims that to avoid structural overcapacity, about 40% of the orders
for bulk vessel and container vessels have to be cancelled. How the
industry adjusts to the altered economic conditions will be interesting
to watch.
While China focused on building capacities with smaller and less
complex vessels, India should not only compete in that space but also
be focused on developing competencies for complex vessels that require
large automations. India has already carved a niche for offshore
vessels that are important in the ever-expanding oil & gas
exploration industry. There should be a strong focus on R&D in
ship-building, maintenance, design and management. Indian firms should
tie up with foreign partners to capture technology flow and build
capacities. Being a knowledge-based industry, India, with its
English-speaking workforce, has a natural advantage .
A ship is sold first before it is built. In the ship-building industry,
credibility is paramount. Indian firms should improve productivities,
modernise quickly and deliver on time. Though on par with China, the
productivity lag in India can be gleaned from the fact that the DWT per
person in India is 50 compared with 300 in Japan.
Like any nascent industry, ship-building needs state support to stay
competitive in the global market. Other than fiscal incentives, the
government should create an enabling environment that fosters research
and innovation. Maritime cluster is the cornerstone of the Norwegian
maritime industry. A Norwegian cluster contains players from the whole
maritime value chain, viz. ship-building, ship design, shipyards,
research institutions and finance. This stimulates transfer of
knowledge, spawning entrepreneurship among different actors. Best
practices followed in other industries like single-window clearance,
having a separate monitoring authority for ship-building, etc. could go
on to ease the constraints and enable development of the industry.
Ship repair has always been accorded secondary status (this article has
been no different) compared to ship-building in spite of its immense
potential for employment. Ship-building is technology-driven, while
ship repair is labour-intensive that calls for good ancillary support
and quick turnaround time. For every Rs 100 spent on ship repair, Rs 30
goes as labour charges. The ship repair industry is ‘evergreen’ and
very different from the cyclic ship-building industry. The annual
repair potential of ships operating in India or calling Indian ports
alone is estimated to be about Rs 2,800 crore. It is ironic that Indian
labourers, who acquire their skills in India, man the yards in
Singapore, Dubai and Colombo which are the leaders in ship repair.
China has been emerging as a dominant player in the ship-repair
industry, too. China has 176 dedicated ship repair yards, while India
has one yard and 35 smaller ship repair units. About 56,000 people in
China are involved in ship repair while in India the number is 5,000.
Placed strategically between the east and the west, India presents
itself as an excellent choice for ship repair industry by offering low
mobilisation and demobilisation expenses. With the labour advantage,
India should position itself as a cost-effective destination for ship
repairs. India should also give more attention to setting up new repair
facilities and cater to the repair needs of larger vessels like VLCCs.
Also, ship repair offers the ideal platform for firms to develop
capacities and establish a steady revenue flow as they move up the
value chain into ship-building.
India missed the shipping boom in the 20th century due to the lack of
industrialisation in the 1970s. Now, the 21st century opportunities
beckon. As descendents of the enterprising Harappans, we should seize
the tide.

Source: Financial Express

Jumping Ship

Remember Horse Sense? The movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures that portrays the tense relation between two cousins; Tommy Biggs and Michael Woods. The characters of Biggs and Woods are played by Andrew and Joey Lawrence who are brothers in real life. In the filming of Jumping Ship, they are lucky to have another full brother of theirs, Matthew Lawrence, join them in one of the flick’s main roles.

Jumping Ship starts off with Michael Woods and his father disputing over the starting position Michael should hold in his father’s well heeled business. Having been there and done it all, the senior Woods insists his son should start from a secretarial designation so he can learn the tricks of the trade from firsthand experience. Michael, on the other hand, thinks otherwise since he feels being the owner’s son he should get an executive designation.

cheap mlb jerseys

mlb jerseys cheap

One Piece Latest Episode
Right now, I'm pretty much excited in watching One Piece episode 394 entitled “Rescue Caimie – The Dark History of the Archipelago”. I eagerly await the english-subbed episode to come out and be released.

A couple of new websites I've recently found that I use to watch One Piece online are:

Anime Season
Anime Season – This website is dedicated to several other animes and uses several sources for their movies, including MegaVideo, Imeem player, VEOH, and a miscellaneous player. They provide several sources in case the server is down or if you've watched the maximum number of hours (for example, MegaVideo limits use to around fifty minutes per day). I find Anime Season a good source for discovering new and ongoing animes that are fun to watch, since they have a lot of anime on their list categorized according to genre.

Watch-One-Piece.net
Watch One Piece . net – This is a fairly new website, but this, unlike Anime Season, is focused only on One Piece anime. I like this site because it is lighter and loads fast. It's pretty much easy to navigate around and go to the episode I like, as well as view additional information about that episode. It currently has One Piece episodes–up to the latest episode 393 (soon it will be 394!)– as well as One Piece movies.

One Piece? A Review of the anime
One Piece is an anime that looks pretty simple, in terms of graphics, but it's really fun to watch. I like the audio too, and the voices of the cast which can be quite lively. It is the story of comrades (the word used in the anime is nakama) who have different dreams, but who travel together on the same pirate ship to accomplish those dreams. Their bonds are strong, and so is their loyalty to their comrades.

What to expect?
Expect to laugh at the characters you will meet, expect some action as they battle other pirates and the marines of the World Government, and expect to encounter deep and serious scenes that can touch you and even make you cry.

One Piece Manga
If you want to go ahead with the story, you can continue reading it on Manga. There are several sites like those mentioned above that allow you to read One Piece english Manga translations.

Well, I guess it will be better if you watch it than if you would just read about it here. Try out these two great sites. Enjoy watching One Piece episodes and movies!

cheap nhl jerseys

discount nhl jerseys

[Via http://bequemlichkeitsdepot.wordpress.com]

The Psychology of Naming Cars II

This one is for Anton, who was the first to like my first posting on car names:

Among executives who don’t understand how to name products or services to have impact on sales, car executives are the best.  They actually undermine sales by screwing up the psychology behind naming cars. Boardroom executives think that Chevy Malibu would sell well in Boysey, Idaho; Chevey Impala would sell among deer hunters and venison eaters in the mid-west; or that Ford Pinto would sell well with Mexican beans. If place, animal or food were that powerful for sales; Volvo meatballs, Chrysler Frankfurter (nicknamed the ‘the long hot rod’), or VolksWagon Hamburger, would top them all during the recession, not to mention Dodge Ram among the nostalgic fans of the LA football club. The truth is that those executives who decide car names are not creative enough to tap all categories, including the vegetable kingdom or religon to name a few. Imagine the sales of Ford Pope Classic among Catholics, or the Pigeot Catchup in French flying circles.  I, for one, would like to expand the field of car names to include Chevy Banana (good sales in any south American republic, but not in slippery Canada), Mercedes Las Vegas, and GM Gambling 150.

Enough of this nonsense. Seriously speaking, the truth of the matter is that the best car sales in the world would be the UK’s Sterling Anglia, Tokyo’s Nisan Yentle, Ford Dollarama, Toyota Indy 5000, Honda Paradise, Fiat Cardinal, or simply any respectable car named  after a King, God, or 500 mpg. I rest my case against the lack of imagination in the broadroom!

[Via http://drelior.wordpress.com]