WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Is America's Energy Independence important?
Good Day, Traffic lights floating from balloons... Have you ever seen any of the Star Wars movies where they show scenes from the capitol planet of Corusant. That is kind of how I envision it. But really, wouldn't it just be too cool to have one of those Moller vehicles? Right now he says there is only one M400 in existance. However, he has been in close discussions with the FAA and things are looking good. First thing I am going to do when I win the lotto - buy a Tesla and a Moller... hahaha! Can you imagine "flying" into the gas station? What is cool about the M400 and its sister vehicles, is that the engines are designed to operate with various fuels. Gas, deisel, ethanol. Then you are not as hog tied to where you can go, and can use what ever fuel source is at hand. The M400 has a max ceiling of 36,000 feet. Max speed of 375 miles and hour and range of 750 miles on a full tank. Safety parachutes come with. And get this eight, yes eight engines! So even if you suck in a bird and destroy two engines you are still safe to fly! What an interesting and yet fascinarting VTOL vehicle. Now if it could run on electricity too... Steelie (1 hr ago | post #43)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, Nostromo, you won't get any arguement from me there. I was fortunate enough in the late 90's to have been in the international business game (until the economic meltdown of Asia back then). I was living and had my offices in Singapore. A beautiful and clean place I might add. Well, one of the things I did was to help American companies find parterns in Asia. If that meant selling American product in Asia or perhaps helping an American company find manufacturing partners. Being in this line of work meant a fair amount of travel from time to time. So I was then fortunate to have travelled and done business in such countries as the Phillipines, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia for example. And boy howdy have I seen my fair share of factories. Some might suprise you with how clean and modern they were, particularly when dealing with electronics. To a furniture factory I remember touring in Southern China (just outside Hong Kong) That looked like something out of a period "Imperial " movie depicting an era from hundreds of years ago. Seriously, the buildings looked as if they had been around for several hundred years, and probably were... To an outdoor factory in Malaysia. No really, it was outdoors! Just roofs over the working areas and machinery. No walls. They were making furniture. We had to retreat at two points during the tour due to a large cobra and then a kimono dragon. Crazy! Steelie (1 hr ago | post #30)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Is America's Energy Independence important?
Good Day, Businessminded - if you thought the Tesla site was interesting, check this out! http://www.moller. com/ Steelie (2 hrs ago | post #41)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, Batch - If I told you they were already here, what would you say? http://www.moller. com/ Steelie (2 hrs ago | post #55)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Is America's Energy Independence important?
Good Day, Bussinessminded - yeah, a bit pricy, for now. As with any new technology they start off high priced but eventually level out. Just think about things like plasma T.V.s, Ipods, X Box 360, and so on. All were much more expensive but have come down in price. Another one of the reasons I think electric will eventually be the king of all vehicles is two fold. Zero emissions and cheap. Also, I think we will also begin to see more government regulation to this effect. We are already seeing it in California where they are requiring more zero emission vehicles be sold. Depending on how both the technology of the batteries and solar develop over the coming years, shoot, concievably you could power your vehicle for free! I have read articles by various scientists that hope this very thing happens. It would be easy enough to throw solar panels on the roof of a garage, carport or roof of a business. And some of the concept drawings were pretty cool. Imagine carports being errected in parking lots with solar panels on top. So when you go to work, if needbe, just plug in your vehicle. Plus, you get the advantage of a cool car in summer and no snow to brush off in winter... haha. (I know, viability of solar during Michigan winters...) Shoot, I have even read of solar panels that are so sensitive that they can produce power by moonlight! There are also companies that have produced solar panel roofing shingles. They look just like a normal shingle but are in fact miniature solar panels... how cool! Furthermore there are scientists in both the US and France who are freneticly working on figuring out nuclear fusion. They have managed to heat plasma to several million degrees. Even hotter than the surface of the sun! They are working on how to keep it going. If they figure that out, well, case closed. So I have every confidence that we will become thoroughly energy independant within my lifetime. We see these technologies are being developed. And as both demand for them increases so to will the expense of them decrease making it affordable for all. Steelie (6 hrs ago | post #39)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, Nostomo - I don't mean to be arguementative, but actually they are. A frend of mine is a repair shop manager for a Toyota dealership. And if I remember correctly he said that depending on model, the engine and or transmition may come from Japan but virtually all of the rest of the auto is US made. (Perhaps someone in the car business can confirm this?) In fact, for example, as an unintnded consequence of the American Axel strike earlier this year GM was "forced" to shift much of their Chevy truck production to Mexico. This in turn has decreased the truck lines' domestic content low enough to the point that a Toyota Tundra is more American than a Dodge Ram or Silverado. To the point that now these two lines are nearly 25% Mexican made. So slap a sticker on your 2008 Silverado or Dodge Ram to state "25% Mexican made!". Steelie (6 hrs ago | post #26)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Deal reached on financial bailout
Good Day, Taser, also well said. I certainly plan to use my "power" of the vote and plan to vote against any one of my representatives who voted for this plan. Will it matter? Who knows? But if enough people are fed up and vote then then many of these so called representatives will be looking for new jobs. And you bring up a point that I think is what makes America still so great. That much of the population still understands and practices the concept of self reliance. If you don't do it who will? Oh sure we have way too many who look to the State for the solution to all of their problems. But when push comes to shove it is what an individual does for themselves and their families that makes the real difference. For example, it was noted on CNN earlier that sales of safes in the US is through the roof. That to me really says something. That there are people out there who get it. They are taking precautions. They are being self reliant. Steelie (7 hrs ago | post #109)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, GT - and that is just it. When will they, if ever, learn? I dare say many members of this forum could run these companies better than those in charge now. Steelie (7 hrs ago | post #53)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Is America's Energy Independence important?
Good Day, Business minded, interesting that... Sometimes a company will purchase an idea for the express reason of keeping it off the market. They may have their own reasons of course... but still an odd habit. Honestly, I am of the opinion that battery power is the way it will eventually pan out for autos. The technologies are improving and there is really nothing to manufacture for an electric car as opposed to any other type of fuel like hydrogen, diesel or gas. Just plug into a wall. Shoot, look at the solar races they have each year. Although expensive for now, take a look at Teslamotors.com. Fascinating vehicle. I can't wait to see their 5 seat sedan when it is released. Steelie (Saturday | post #34)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Deal reached on financial bailout
Good Day, Business minded - good point on the market. Oh sure the global banking issue, blah, blah.... Thing is the general public gets it. And they are reacting accordingly. I know how my representative voted (yes for bailout), and guess where my vote is going next primary election? Well, not to this individual. Look, the vast majority of Americans very strongly voiced their opposition to this plan. So why then did our representatives ignore our very loud voices? For what reason did they vote against the wishes of their constituents? Do they really think we are that stupid? Mark my words, I think there are going to be a bunch of new faces in Washington over the next couple of years. Voters don't forget, and rarely forgive. Steelie (Saturday | post #101)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, Maynard, good points. I guess one of my concerns here is that although yes the customer base was demanding these larger vehicles, that these companies do not seem to have a contingency plan. Hey I know they can not just turn over a factory overnight to produce a different product. I takes time to install new dies, presses and the like. But don't you think they should be prepared for any circumstance? Come on, these are large multi-national companies. They should really be prepared for any change int he market place. A closet full of ideas and types of reaction if you will. But I just don't understand why, again, they did not see this coming. Now is the time for them to once again look back in time to what happened in the 70's. And hopefully they will not repeat mistakes like they did then. They got caught flat footed and I personally think hurried new smaller cars into the market perhaps a little too quickly. Need I say Pinto? Oh certainly they need to make quick and decisive action, but they should be careful to make sure they are not hurrying too much. I would rather see them take a few extra months in development than make some knee jerk reaction to the problem. Steelie (Saturday | post #51)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, As predicted, it begins... Diamler has been voicing for a while that they are considering getting out of their relationship with Chrysler. However, I have my doubts that this merger will solve any problems for either company. What is next? Toyota - Ford? Actually, that might be a better merger than GM - Chrysler. As it is known, Toyotas are made with more American components than either GM or Ford. So that could concievably help not only Ford by producing a better product, but also stimulate the auto supply market if Toyota were to take over and say that Ford had to play by their rules. Which in turn could mean more jobs in that sector. Hmmm... Steelie (Saturday | post #5)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, Oops, forgot to mention Blade Runner.... Steelie (Friday | post #79)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, Hmmm... Although I thought that the Godfather as a cinematic piece is better than Star Wars I voted Star Wars for the impact that frankly it still has today on society. Here we are more than 30 years after the first film was released and it still has a great effect upon the society, like it or not. Good merchandising? Perhaps. But parts of the story ring true to so many individuals. Star Wars geeks to normal human beings alike. Just look at how often it is refered to in film and T.V. Family Guy (all the time), the Simpsons, Robot Chicken, Space Balls and so on. Ask anyone and probably 99% of the time they will be familiar with what Star Wars is. (No... not the Reagan era defense system thingy... but it was named after the movie...) And that is what in many ways makes a film so endearing for generations. Like the Wizard of Oz, Citizen Cain, Gone with the Wind, or even a Disney classic like Marry Poppins or what may become a Disney classic in the Pirates of the Carribean set. It simply "rings true" to so many individuals. Steelie (Friday | post #78)
WOOD-TV Grand Rapids and Michigan
Good Day, Jay, unfortunately yes. Keep in mind she was a lawyer before becoming govenor. However, she, to my knowledge, has never been a judge, which most certainly would hinder any nomination proceedings. Not having had the experience of being a judge I would think would be negative in nature. Steelie (Friday | post #22)
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