tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post2957345012150830851..comments2024-03-28T06:32:24.557-04:00Comments on The Elephant Bar: Obama Takes Off the Velvet Glove with AutomakersDeuce ☂http://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-31390352178867053282008-11-24T08:15:00.000-05:002008-11-24T08:15:00.000-05:00..cost ^of gasoline....cost ^of gasoline..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-66549822359539040542008-11-24T08:14:00.000-05:002008-11-24T08:14:00.000-05:00Mat has told us that ev's can get 600 mi/gal.==It'...Mat has told us that ev's can get 600 mi/gal.<BR/>==<BR/><BR/>It's not hard to do the math. EV miles cost 1/10th to 1/100th the cost gasoline miles.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-37384547152231950542008-11-24T03:50:00.000-05:002008-11-24T03:50:00.000-05:00...And while there is no accepted methodology yet ...<EM>...And while there is no accepted methodology yet for figuring the gas mileage of a plug-in hybrid, it could conceivably save many drivers several gallons of gas each week.</EM><BR/><BR/>Fella obviously doesn't read EB. <BR/><BR/>Mat has told us that ev's can get 600 mi/gal.linearthinkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05201292791445921817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-27302741923873560142008-11-24T00:30:00.000-05:002008-11-24T00:30:00.000-05:00Yep, doesn't take long to get to the slopes. :)Yep, doesn't take long to get to the slopes. :)samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856051164644278989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-12285444744591517862008-11-24T00:04:00.000-05:002008-11-24T00:04:00.000-05:00Hilton Hotel, highrises, shit, couldn't believe it...Hilton Hotel, highrises, shit, couldn't believe it.<BR/><BR/>There's an <I>eight lane</I> to the top of Snoqualamie Pass.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-78509960711428677252008-11-23T23:57:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:57:00.000-05:00No doubt.Bellevue had already gone crazy when I le...No doubt.<BR/><BR/>Bellevue had already gone crazy when I left in '94.<BR/><BR/>I remember the Bellevue of old. John Danz theatre with the bowling alley next door. Right in the heart of downtown. I think I watched Star Trek I there.samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856051164644278989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-33507379394467869782008-11-23T23:48:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:48:00.000-05:00Interesting, Mat.I got to tell you, the Bellevue, ...Interesting, Mat.<BR/><BR/>I got to tell you, the Bellevue, Washington, where your company is located, isn't the old Bellevue, Washington I used to know. Man, what a change.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-50478936275219271762008-11-23T23:28:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:28:00.000-05:00NOVEMBER 18, 2008, 4:33 AMCompany With Hybrid Batt...NOVEMBER 18, 2008, 4:33 AM<BR/>Company With Hybrid Battery Solution to Seek Billions From Energy Department<BR/><BR/>By MATTHEW L. WALD<BR/>Updated 11/20/08 10:34 a.m.<BR/><BR/>AFS Trinity, a company in Bellevue, Wash., thinks it has licked the battery-life problem for hybrid cars, with its extra-large capacitors. (Image: AFS Trinity)<BR/>The stumbling block for the plug-in hybrid, a vehicle designed to travel its first 40 miles or so every day on battery power, and the rest on gasoline, is the battery — particularly its durability.<BR/><BR/>For a long life, batteries typically need to be charged and discharged slowly, but electric cars make high demands on the battery — and not only when accelerating from a stop. They also use “regenerative braking,” where the drive motor is reversed, turning momentum back into current when the driver wants to slow down.<BR/><BR/>So in both acceleration and deceleration, the current flow can be so large it causes internal heating in the battery, shortening its life.<BR/><BR/>AFS Trinity Power, a small company in Bellevue, Wash., says it has the problem licked. In January, the company rolled out a small S.U.V. that uses lithium-ion batteries nursed along by common electrical storage devices called capacitors.<BR/><BR/>Capacitors take a trickle of energy and store it up so it can be released in great bursts. They can also take a huge slug of energy quickly, and then deliver it slowly. This is at the heart of AFS Trinity’s innovation.<BR/><BR/>Electrically speaking, the capacitors, which look like an 18-pack of shrink-wrapped Red Bull cans, sit between the batteries and the wheels, so the flow into or out of the batteries is always fairly gentle, even if the car is making jackrabbit starts or panic stops.<BR/><BR/>Together, they store very little energy — less than one kilowatt-hour, a tiny fraction of what the lithium-ion batteries do — but they can charge and discharge almost instantly, almost forever, without damaging themselves, said Edward W. Furia, chief executive of AFS Trinity.<BR/><BR/>His company calls its capacitors, which are larger than most in use, “ultra capacitors.” The combined system in the company’s prototype “has been going and going and going,” Mr. Furia said.<BR/><BR/>AFS Trinity announced on Monday that it had put the electric system through a ten-month test in which it was charged from a wall socket and then discharged in a pattern typical of a 40-mile drive, including accelerations and regenerative braking.<BR/><BR/>The testing, carried out by an independent lab, Mobile Power Solutions, of Beaverton, Ore., found that the buffered batteries lasted through 3,800 cycles, which would be more than 12 years for a car charged six times a week.<BR/><BR/>Unbuffered, the batteries lasted only 500 cycles — equivalent to less than two years.<BR/><BR/>Of course, most cars do not go 40 miles on most days, so gasoline use would often be zero. And while there is no accepted methodology yet for figuring the gas mileage of a plug-in hybrid, it could conceivably save many drivers several gallons of gas each week.<BR/><BR/>For its part, General Motors has been aiming for a plug-in hybrid sedan — the Volt — but has not yet settled on a battery, and durability has been one of the biggest issues. Given its current financial woes, a product that requires replacement under warranty in a few short years is hardly what the company needs now.<BR/><BR/>On Tuesday, the AFS Trinity said it plans to apply for a $2.5 billion loan from the Energy Department, under the $25 billion loan program created as part of last year’s energy bill.<BR/><BR/>Common belief has been that the money would go entirely to the Big 3 automakers, but AFS Trinity, and a partner, Ricardo, a British auto design company, believe they could take a factory that has been shut down — or will be soon — and convert it to build S.U.V.s with their electric system.<BR/><BR/>The company is showing off its “Extreme Hybrid” prototypes this week in Los Angeles. (Update 11/20: The vehicle is on display concurrent with the Los Angeles Auto Show, but in a nearby exhibition hall, not at the show itself.)<BR/><BR/><BR/>http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/company-with-hybrid-battery-solution-to-seek-billions-from-energy-department/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-85728026466363488392008-11-23T23:14:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:14:00.000-05:00The dollar fell 0.8 percent from U.S. trade on Fri...<I>The dollar fell 0.8 percent from U.S. trade on Friday to 95.18 yen, and the euro was down 0.7 percent at 120.01 yen.<BR/><BR/>Gold retreated to $792.05 from New York's notional close of $799.45 on Friday after safe-haven buying had earlier in the session kept alive a rally that saw prices gain more than 7 percent to their highest in five weeks.<BR/><BR/>Oil prices rose 37 cents to $50.30 a barrel, giving up some of the earlier gains of more than 2 percent. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meets on Saturday in Cairo amid speculation it could cut production.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4AL0OO20081124" REL="nofollow">Citigroup Worries</A>samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856051164644278989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-73325864227692944932008-11-23T23:12:00.000-05:002008-11-23T23:12:00.000-05:00I remember, Bob. Strange shit, indeed. We got th...I remember, Bob. Strange shit, indeed. We got the double-whammy.samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856051164644278989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-67131468585130567182008-11-23T22:59:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:59:00.000-05:00One option being considered is taking some of the ...<I>One option being considered is taking some of the risky assets held by Citigroup off <BR/>its balance sheet</I><BR/><BR/>Just kinda, you know, remove the bad shit. That 'dodgey debt' stuff.<BR/>---<BR/>Strechard, a man after my own heart.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-36613279536740460672008-11-23T22:54:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:54:00.000-05:00Government working on Citigroup rescueBy JEANNINE ...<B>Government working on Citigroup rescue</B><BR/>By JEANNINE AVERSA <BR/><BR/>WASHINGTON (AP) — The government was weighing a plan on Sunday to rescue Citigroup Inc., whose stock has been hammered on worries about its financial health.<BR/><BR/>The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve have been in discussions over the weekend to devise a strategy to stabilize the company, according to people familiar with the talks. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were ongoing.<BR/><BR/>One option being considered is taking some of the risky assets held by Citigroup off <BR/>its balance sheet, a move that would give the company more breathing room and put it in a better position to raise capital. It was unclear, however, exactly how that option might be structured, the people said. Another option would be for the government to make another cash injection into the company.<BR/>==<BR/><BR/>LOL!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-35455158267529862222008-11-23T22:50:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:50:00.000-05:00Can't get rid of any of them. Not even a brain...Can't get rid of any of them. Not even a brain tumor takes Ted Kennedy out. Dodd, Barney, the boys, that asshole from Harlem who writes the tax code but doesn't pay his. Just can't get rid of any of them.<BR/>==<BR/><BR/>http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=10760140&ch=4226723&src=news<BR/><BR/>Waiting to say hello.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-12773426881862461922008-11-23T22:46:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:46:00.000-05:00Own farm land.Own farm land.Deucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09795547877694092754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-30108027367917810372008-11-23T22:38:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:38:00.000-05:00Can't get rid of any of them. Not even a brain tum...Can't get rid of any of them. Not even a brain tumor takes Ted Kennedy out. Dodd, Barney, the boys, that asshole from Harlem who writes the tax code but doesn't pay his. Just can't get rid of any of them.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-72066960704754626002008-11-23T22:35:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:35:00.000-05:00They'll be raising the minimum wage right along. W...They'll be raising the minimum wage right along. We're going to have inflation.<BR/>-----<BR/><BR/>But gas prices are down, temporarily. We just filled 'er up at $1.59 9/10 here. Beats $4.00. It's those dang speculators again. We need an excess profits tax!Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-91232113146233807552008-11-23T22:31:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:31:00.000-05:00What depresses me almost as much as Obama, is, we ...What depresses me almost as much as Obama, is, we just can't get rid of the damned Clintons. Just can't get rid of 'em. Sam, remember how we moaned about Hillary? Well, we got Obama, and Hillary too, SOS, the Daily Double. Jackpot.<BR/><BR/>-----<BR/><BR/>An intelligent man in this climate would figure a way to get in line for the money handouts, somehow.<BR/><BR/>Inflate the currency. I think that's it. Sometime ago, when things were better, even then my realtor was saying, they're going to have to inflate the currency.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-59558273161546672232008-11-23T22:19:00.000-05:002008-11-23T22:19:00.000-05:00The more I think about this strategy, the more I a...The more I think about this strategy, the more I am convinced of the political cleverness. If the economy were doing so-so, Obama and the Democrats would have to temper their spending. Not now.<BR/><BR/>They can and will spend on everyone of their favorite projects, windmills to libraries and day care centers. You can guarantee the jobs created will be favorable to the unions and the rest of the Democratic constituency, and the Democrats can claim and say the Republicans and Bush made us do it.<BR/><BR/>Here comes the best part.<BR/><BR/>They do not have the money to do it so they have to go the most inflationary route, which means printing it, and that will work unless they seriously overshoot the spending and that cause an accelerating inflation, so then what? Well they then get to fulfill another promise, they will raise taxes to bring down inflation and reduce the deficit.Deuce ☂https://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-70859607215339371212008-11-23T21:57:00.000-05:002008-11-23T21:57:00.000-05:00Gold rallied sharply Thursday, and is rallying aga...<I>Gold rallied sharply Thursday, and is rallying again at the time of this writing on Friday -- it's now broken above the significant resistance range of 740-750, and is currently testing the $800 level. While the technical outlook on the daily chart still looks a bit bearish for gold, some major fundamental news of late suggests the bull market may be ready to resume.<BR/><BR/>Consider:<BR/><BR/>* Iran recently switched to gold reserves.<BR/><BR/>* China is massively increasing its gold reserves.<BR/><BR/>* Perth mint, one of the most prominent gold mints in Australia, has suspended orders.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://seekingalpha.com/article/107435-china-and-iran-switch-to-gold-will-u-s-investors" REL="nofollow">Investors Switching to Gold?</A>samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856051164644278989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-36169916322107933902008-11-23T20:35:00.000-05:002008-11-23T20:35:00.000-05:00Man. Pete Schiff is more and more right every day....Man. Pete Schiff is more and more right every day.<BR/><BR/>The Keynesian model is toast. With SS and Medicare, we're too deep in the hole to do any of this crap. <BR/><BR/>This crash is going to suck the big one.<BR/><BR/>I almost feel sorry for Obamasan. Almost.Brother D-Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11416004913872204554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-84829103572016217352008-11-23T20:14:00.000-05:002008-11-23T20:14:00.000-05:00On a recent Saturday night, 200 or so members of W...<I>On a recent Saturday night, 200 or so members of Washington, DC's Uighur community gathered at the Northern Virginia Community College cultural center to celebrate Nation's Day. The event commemorated the Central Asian ethnic group's creation of the Republic of East Turkistan and declaration of independence from China—twice (once in 1933 and again in 1944).<BR/><BR/>...<BR/><BR/>Depending on how the DC Appellate Court responds to Monday's arguments, Ilshat Hassan could soon have a new roommate. A member of the Uyghur American Association (the UAA uses an alternative spelling of Uighur), Hassan had been a teacher for 15 years in China before he came to the United States and received political asylum.<BR/><BR/>...<BR/><BR/>Turdi Ghoja, one of the founders of the UAA, said the families who have volunteered to take in the detainees don't believe they present any risk to the community. "Uighurs, no matter where they live, we assume we know them," he said, noting that people have volunteered because they recognize that "It could be me.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/11/ex-guantanamo-detainee-next-door-uighurs-freed.html" REL="nofollow">Detainee Next Door</A>samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856051164644278989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-64787382193387392472008-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:002008-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:0024 Kicks off a new season in eight minutes with a ...24 Kicks off a new season in eight minutes with a two hour episode. Jack Bauer will be in Africa and a woman president will be in the White House...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-43218666345093434272008-11-23T19:15:00.000-05:002008-11-23T19:15:00.000-05:00hey provide the core support to Federal Socialism....hey provide the core support to Federal Socialism.<BR/>==<BR/><BR/>They are Federal Socialism. Commies, to be blunt.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-50345292233033141872008-11-23T19:13:00.000-05:002008-11-23T19:13:00.000-05:00Given the fact that the Obama administration is re...<I>Given the fact that the Obama administration is ready to negotiate with the Taliban in Afghanistan and even with Hamas in Palestine, Obama would have an entirely legitimate claim to ask Turkey to at least negotiate with the DTP. Such expectations would split Turkey into two camps.<BR/><BR/>This is the point at which anti-Americanism in Turkey would skyrocket once again. If the US wants Turkey to negotiate with the PKK or the DTP, it would produce more anti-Americanism than ever.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, Obama's potential failure to address the PKK problem would continue to feed anti-American sentiment among the Turkish population, as well.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=159573&bolum=109" REL="nofollow">Obama and the PKK</A>samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11856051164644278989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-3096488656745865962008-11-23T18:57:00.000-05:002008-11-23T18:57:00.000-05:00also news we can not use since the head in the san...also news we can not use since the head in the sand culture of America only cares that the Messiah likes corned beef...<BR/><BR/>Code Pink is in Iran....<BR/><BR/>Iran hangs alleged Israeli spy Ali Ashtari........<BR/><BR/>Yep the Faith of Peace....What is "Occupation"https://www.blogger.com/profile/08237879055691019968noreply@blogger.com