Archive for the 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles' Category

The Automotive Campaign


Posted by Apocalypse Tom on September 21st, 2008

Is it possible that the need for candidates to prostrate themselves at the altar of Detroit means that the majority of American politicians haven’t yet realized what most other Americans have known for decades, namely that American cars are crap?
Gutter John actually wins a point for owning foreign vehicles, but loses 12 points for owning [...]

I know we’re in rough economic times (but not a recession dammit) and trying to cut costs is part of doing business, but it seems to me that once you’ve booked record orders for your industry-leading airliner design, the last thing you should do is drive your chief union of manufacturing employees to strike.

Chrysler


Posted by Bruno on July 28th, 2008

Is screwed.
They’re getting out of the leasing business because their gas guzzlers have such little resale value, they’re not worth taking back at the end of the lease. Auto makers have not yet begun to feel the full brunt of the change in consumer driving habits. One of the Big 3 [...]

“It’s Like An Airplane”


Posted by Contrarian on May 1st, 2008

Maybe you trust this man to make smart environmental policy? I wouldn’t:
Representative Anthony D. Weiner, Democrat of Brooklyn and Queens, drives a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, leased for $219 a month. Representative Michael R. McNulty, a Democrat from the Albany area, gets around in a 2007 Mercury Mariner hybrid, a sport utility vehicle, for $816 a [...]

The Gas Tax Holiday as Word Problem


Posted by Apocalypse Tom on April 29th, 2008

Apocalypse Tom owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX, an all wheel drive pseudo sports car that goes faster than Tom reasonably needs to drive and allows him to go over Snoqualmie Pass in winter weather that keeps everyone except chained-up semis and Tom at home.
The WRX has a 15.9 gallon gas tank, and requires [...]

More MD-80 Fun


Posted by Bruno on April 9th, 2008

Chatted with the Prof a bit about this last night with respect to American Airlines, but it looks like Alaska’s also grounding some MD-80s. for testing
The bad news, is that Alaska is grounding some flights. The good news is that Alaska apparently ony has 9 — that’s right, nine — MD-80s left [...]

Electric Cars


Posted by Bruno on March 24th, 2008

I found myself watching Who Killed the Electric Car? last night, and it’s quite an interesting little movie.
One thing that’s hinted at in the film, but not really fleshed out, is the idea that electric cars are a really, really disruptive technology. Like any disruptive technology, they create a whole new class of winners and [...]

Truck You, You Truckin’ Truck!


Posted by Contrarian on March 11th, 2008

And it’s helpful to remember that, you know, our entire freakin’ economy is based on trucking:
Ricardo Caraballo was having a familiar American experience at the filling station the other day, groaning as the pump clicked up, up, up. By the time he finished it read $505, and his tank was only half full.
A few years [...]

All Aboard


Posted by Bruno on February 23rd, 2008

Iraqis fall in love with the Lionel-Industrial Complex:
The service between Baghdad and Basra resumed with little fanfare in December after a hiatus of 18 months. Few dared use it at first, but word has spread of a safe and cheap journey, and railway officials are scrambling for funds for more carriages.
“There’s been a [...]

Branding Thought of the Day


Posted by Apocalypse Tom on February 21st, 2008

Flexcar was a much better name. The name described the service, no explanation really necessary.
On the other hand, Flexcar’s logo looked like someone who had been run over, which seems like a mixed message.


Now Playing: Episode 366

 
 Standard Podcast [31:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Obama staffs up, Detroit comes to DC and finally, Iraq and the US come to a security agreement.

Links Mentioned: Iraq SOFApros and cons of a bailout.

You are currently browsing the Bruno and the Professor weblog archives for the 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles' category.

Longer entries are truncated. Click the headline of an entry to read it in its entirety.