Sam's Thoughts

With CBS boss Les Moonves indicating that his network is planning to demand $4 million…

Sam — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:06:12 +0000

With CBS boss Les Moonves indicating that his network is planning to demand $4 million for a 30 second Super Bowl ad slot (up from $3.5 million this year) it's no wonder that +General Motors has opted to say "thanks but no thanks."

I'm guessing that GM will actually make a series of Super Bowl style ads just as they did this year and in years past. The only difference is that they won't actually run during the broadcast of the game.

If you think back to the week leading up to the game this year and the last several years, most of the big ads had already been posted on Youtube and most people had seen them long before kickoff. There were almost no surprises during the game. GM's Super Bowl ads will get just as much attention during the pre-game period and without costing them a penny.
#generalmotors #superbowlcommercials

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Why GM spurned the 2013 Super Bowl
NEW YORK — Not long after announcing that it will stop advertising on Facebook, General Motors said Friday it would not be a sponsor in the Super Bowl in 2013 either. What's going on here? Deep-p…

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If you've been considering a buying a new hybrid vehicle you've no doubt…

Sam — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:41:01 +0000

If you've been considering a buying a new hybrid vehicle you've no doubt noticed that there is a significant price premium associated with adding electric drive motors and big batteries to a vehicle. You will almost certainly have lowering operating costs thanks to the regenerative braking and electric assist, but several things factor into how long it will take for those savings to overcome that initial premium.

Over at FuelEconomy.gov they've put together a nice little calculator that estimates the payback period of a hybrid compared to its conventional alternative. Hybrids get most of their benefit from recapturing kinetic energy during braking, saving it in the battery and then returning it to propulsion through the motor. If you do most of your driving on the highway, the benefits of a hybrid will be limited, but if most of your commuting is stop and go urban traffic, the payback will be a lot quicker so make sure you adjust the slider for how much city driving you do.

In general for the average driver that does about 15,000 miles and 55% in the city, the payback for most hybrids is about 4-5 years.
#hybrid #fuelefficiency

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Hybrid Compare
These are some hybrid models that may pay you back quickly when compared to a similarly equipped non-hybrid model. Select a model to see how it compares based on your fuel prices and annual miles.

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found objects

Sam — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:20:35 +0000

found objects

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samabuelsamid's photo on Instagram

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Peony now fully open

Sam — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:18:53 +0000

Peony now fully open

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Peony getting ready to open up

Sam — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:17:52 +0000

Peony getting ready to open up

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Unless things change dramatically under Google ownship, I suspect that the Droid…

Sam — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:45:05 +0000

Unless things change dramatically under Google ownship, I suspect that the Droid 3 I'm running right now will probably be the last +Motorola Mobility phone I ever buy. Motorola has reneged on their promise last year to unlock bootloaders on phones, and to provide operating system updates for at least 18 months.

They published an updated list today of devices that will get official upgrades to Android 4 and confirmed that the Droid 3 and X2 will stay on 2.3 Gingerbread forever despite having debuted less than 12 months ago.

What really annoys me is that D3 and every Moto phone since runs on the same TI OMAP4 platform as the Galaxy Nexus so it seems like this should be a no-brainer.

Frankly this is bullshit and the only saving grace is that there are now several very good independently developed ICS ROMs for the D3. I just flashed the May 16 build of AOKP last night and its running great. Still a couple of minor issues with bluetooth and the camera but very stable and faster than the stock rom ever was. At the very least Motorola should release all of the drivers for the D3 and X2 so that devs can get the final remaining issues worked out.

#motorola #android #ics

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Motorola
Motorola

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The big question is why was this device not available from day one when the +Chevrolet…

Sam — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:27:37 +0000

The big question is why was this device not available from day one when the +Chevrolet Volt and +Nissan Leaf went on sale? Had this been used to drain the active electrons out of the battery after NHTSA crash tested the Volt last year, there likely never would have been any of the battery fire incidents that happened weeks after the tests.

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Midtronics GRX-5100 simplifies servicing hybrid and EV batteries
As we move away from traditional fossil fuel-burning automobiles towards hybrids and EVs, we're presented with new challenges — namely servicing th

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The beauty of faith is that you can be selective and arbitrary

Sam — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:36:26 +0000

The beauty of faith is that you can be selective and arbitrary

Reshared post from +Atheist

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Via +Ben Wojdyla on FB

Sam — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:51:14 +0000

Via +Ben Wojdyla on FB. Nice wrap up of the idiocy of gay marriage arguments

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Once again, there's a second side

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:53:41 +0000

Reshared post from +Phil Nickinson

Once again, there's a second side. Go figure.

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TED and inequality: The real story
Today TED was subject to a story so misleading it would be funny… except it successfully launched an aggressive online campaign against us. The National Journal alleged we had censored a talk bec…

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This is nothing short of insane

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:45:46 +0000

Reshared post from +Violet Blue

This is nothing short of insane. Or, business as usual for the 1%. Tip from a DC insider got me this just-published Sunlight Foundation expose on the eve of Facebook's IPO.

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On eve of Facebook IPO, Sunlight exposes $3 billion tax break | ZDNet
Facebook’s IPO lets it use a tax loophole to get up to $3 billion in tax breaks; no need to pay taxes for the forseeable future.

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The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 goes out to play at Road Atlanta

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:47:21 +0000

#ford #shelbygt500

Braselton, Georgia – May 16, 2012 — The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 on track at Road Atlanta. The 662 horsepower Shelby GT500 is world’s most powerful production V8 and is backed up by chassis, aerodynamic and braking performance that makes the GT500 an outstanding all-around sports car. (05/17/2012)

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Mmmm! Bacon!

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:32:02 +0000

Mmmm! Bacon!

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With 662 hp and 631 lb-ft of torque, launch control might be a good idea

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:02:11 +0000

#gt500 #shelbygt500 #launchcontrol

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The 2013 Shelby GT500 now has a standard launch control system that lets drivers…

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:44:59 +0000

The 2013 Shelby GT500 now has a standard launch control system that lets drivers easily adjust the desired engine rpm for a quick getaway. Unlike many of the other overly complex systems out there, drivers can engage launch control with a single button tap.
#ford #mustang #gt500 #shelby #shelbygt500

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2013 Shelby GT500 Launch Control Ensures Smooth Starts Regardless of Surface Condition | Ford Motor Company Newsroom
“Launch control is essentially a special mode of the traction control system that integrates the brake and engine management systems to keep the tires balanced on the peak of the mu-slip curve in orde…

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Ford made an interesting pivot last year with its new C-Max MPV by dropping its plans…

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:36:22 +0000

Ford made an interesting pivot last year with its new C-Max MPV by dropping its plans to offer a version with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost and go hybrid only. That makes the C-Max, Ford's first exclusively hybrid vehicle (at least here in North America, Europeans can still buy it with gas and diesel powerplants).

It's nearest competitor here will be the Toyota Prius V which is also a hybrid only. Unlike the Toyota (for now at least, Ford will also offer a plug-in version of the C-Max. Ford is now taking orders for the C-Max which has been officially priced starting at $25,995, $555 below the Prius.

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Ford Begins Taking Orders for C-MAX Hybrid – America’s Most Affordable, Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Utility Vehicle | Ford Motor Company Newsroom
Ford Begins Taking Orders for C-MAX Hybrid – America's Most Affordable, Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Utility Vehicle. Ford dealers are now taking orders for the Ford C-MAX Hybrid, which will be more affo…

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I'm far more likely to skip a film from a company that shuts down anyone's…

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:23:49 +0000

I'm far more likely to skip a film from a company that shuts down anyone's free speech rights than the beliefs of an individual star. For example, I abhor the politics of Kelsey Grammar but I still like to Boss on Starz because he puts in an amazing performance.

Republicans (and politicians of all stripes) need to get it into their heads that the bill of rights trumps their money making opportunities every single time.

Reshared post from +Dan Gillmor

When a right-wing shareholder of Time Warner asked the CEO to muzzle anti-tea party comments from an actor, the CEO said, "What can we do about it? Not much."

The correct answer from a media executive should have been: "Have you ever heard of free speech, you jerk? I don't care how many shares you own."

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Dark Knight Rises imperilled by Morgan Freeman's politics, claims Time Warner shareholder
Conservative shareholder in media conglomerate demands there be no repeat of Freeman's anti-Tea Party remarks during publicity drive

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Also the US Department of Justice stepped up today and issued a strongly worded 11-page…

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:37:45 +0000

Also the US Department of Justice stepped up today and issued a strongly worded 11-page page letter defending the right of people to record the actions of police offers. Police are important to maintaining a civil society, however, protecting the public safety does NOT put any cop above the law. They are required to observe the constitutional rights of the people and if a bystander sees a police officer violating the law they have the right to record that and blow the whistle on that officer.

Now if we can just get police to recognize the right to photograph public places and buildings and start locking up rent-a-cops for harassing anyone with a camera we'll be getting somewhere.

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Justice Dept. Defends Public's Constitutional 'Right to Record' Cops | Threat Level | Wired.com
As police departments around the country are increasingly caught up in tussles with members of the public who record their activities, the U.S. Justice Department has come out with a strong statement …

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Is this finally the start of rolling back the police state that has been established…

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:31:18 +0000

Is this finally the start of rolling back the police state that has been established since 9/11? We can only hope that this stands up under appeal.

It doesn't matter how scared we might be, there is no reason to detain people indefinitely without charge or a trial.

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Federal court enjoins NDAA
An Obama-appointed judge rules its indefinite detention provisions likely violate the 1st and 5th Amendments

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In principal I agree with the idea of appointing Supreme Court justices for life….

Sam — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:07:14 +0000

In principal I agree with the idea of appointing Supreme Court justices for life. Not having to repeatedly deal with running for re-election should allow justices to step back and examine laws on their merit and the constitution rather than political expediency.

The flip-side of allowing justices to serve for life needs to be complete transparency. While lifetime appointments have allowed many great justices to serve this country well, some of the appointments in the past few decades have been decidedly political (yes we're looking at you justices Scalia, Roberts, Thomas and Alito).

The only way to really judge the intellectual honesty of our justices is to be able see the papers they produce in the course of deliberations. While they will of course argue that they should be able to keep their deliberations private, this is a bogus argument. The court is there to serve the interests of the American people and protect our constitutional rights.

The Citizens United case was one of the greatest legal travesties of the last half century and while Chief Justice Roberts might not like it, we deserve to see what went on behind the scenes. The court only deserves the reverence it earns. They are not royalty. It's time for Justice Souter to publish his thoughts on the case and for other justices to come forward with the truth of what goes on. Perhaps in the harsh light of day, we will end up with a better court.

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Citizens United: Justice David Souter’s dissent in the Supreme Court’s momentous campaign finance case.
The New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin this week revealed juicy bits from the Supreme Court’s deliberations as it considered Citizens United, the thunderous case in which the court allowed corporations and …

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If I were running Sprint or AT&T right now, I'd stop all sales of iPhones…

Sam — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:38:07 +0000

If I were running Sprint or AT&T right now, I'd stop all sales of iPhones right now until Apple backs off on this ridiculous injunction.

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Sprint finally acknowledges EVO 4G LTE delay on its community forums | Android Central
EVO 4G LTE Sprint's community forums this morning have acknowledged that the EVO 4G LTE has been delayed, stuck in customs. It hasn't gone out and said that it won't be available for Friday morning's…

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I refuse to use any frictionless sharing stuff

Sam — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:54:21 +0000

If I want to share, and I share plenty, I will do so actively. Sometimes some friction is a good thing.

Reshared post from +Becky Worley

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upgrade-your-life/embarrassing-socialcam-shares-prevent-them-185909023.html#more-809. Please Share- as an act of mercy for your oversharing FB friends!

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Why (and How) to Turn Off Facebook’s SocialCam
Friends — I beg of you — TURN OFF SHARING for the SocialCam app on Facebook. SocialCam is a feed of user-generated videos. Just by clicking on a SocialCam link in Facebook and accepting their app, ev…

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To hell with Apple

Sam — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:07:09 +0000

To hell with Apple

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HTC Evo 4G LTE to miss May 18th launch due to US Customs investigation
News broke last night that shipments of HTC's One X for AT&T and Evo 4G LTE for Sprint were indefinitely delayed at US Customs as the agency investigates the devices for potentially infringing…

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To hell with Apple

Sam — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:07:09 +0000

To hell with Apple

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The Uni-Cub is an evolution of the +Honda U3-X concept that I got to try out when…

Sam — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:46:34 +0000

The Uni-Cub is an evolution of the +Honda U3-X concept that I got to try out when I visited Japan in 2009
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/tokyo-2009-autoblog-samples-quirky-honda-u3-x-and-other-assist/

It was actually a very cool concept with some neat technology, but I'm not sure how useful it actually is.

Reshared post from +Evan McCausland

Meet the Honda Uni-Cub. Interesting gizmo, but I miss the days when a Honda Cub was a lithe, amusing 50cc motorbike.

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(Almost) Better Than Walking: Honda's New Uni-Cub Mobility Machine – Rumor Central
Honda's new experimental vehicle is a personal mobility device named the Uni-Cub, a two-wheeled, electric-powered pod.

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Back in 2007 and 2008, most major automakers were planning or seriously considering…

Sam — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:44:16 +0000

Back in 2007 and 2008, most major automakers were planning or seriously considering diesel-powered vehicles for the US market. Among those where Korean brands +Hyundai Worldwide and +Kia Motors. I spoke to John Juriga who was then director of powertrain engineering at the Hyundai America Technical Center at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.
http://web.archive.org/web/20080122050602/http://dieselforecast.com/ArticleDetails.php?articleID=428
Kia had a large display featuring a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that was intended for the Boreggo SUV and possibly also for the Hyundai Genesis.

However in the spring of 2008 as fuel prices spiked and diesel in particular went well beyond even premium gasoline, most of those plans were shelved except for the big German automakers, +Volkswagen USA, +BMW USA and +Mercedes-Benz USA Since then with at least a modicum of recovery in the industry and need to improve efficiency, many of these plans are being revived. +Chevrolet is introducing a diesel Cruze next year and +cadillac is apparently considering reviving the diesel V6 it had developed for the CTS. With the Boreggo long gone, Kia is even rumored to be looking at a four cylinder diesel for the Optima midsize sedan to compete with VW's successful Jetta and Passat. Who else will jump into the diesel car game?
#diesel.

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Kia considering Optima diesel for U.S.?
Rumors about global-market diesel engines hopping over one pond or another to the United States are a dime a dozen, but a recent question posed by Kia Motor America's public relations department on Fa…

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GT500 SWF

Sam — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:28:25 +0000

To view the flash content, please go to GT500 SWF

Today five years after they first showed off a concept for small crossover called…

Sam — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:44:32 +0000

Today five years after they first showed off a concept for small crossover called the Trax, Chevrolet finally announced that it would be built and debut in September at the Paris Motor Show.

The design has evolved quite a bit from the original copper-colored concept http://green.autoblog.com/2007/03/28/ny-auto-show-preview-chevrolet-trax-mini-car-concept/ on the left so that it now looks more like a miniature Equinox. http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/May/0514_trax

It apparently won't be offered in the US. What do you think?

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Yes please, 330d!

Sam — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:55:36 +0000

Yes please, 330d!

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2013 BMW 3-series Sports Wagon Revealed
We like the BMW 3-series, and we like station wagons. So here’s good news: BMW has released the first round of info on the new 3er Sports Wagon, or Touring as it is called in the Old World. It will be offered in the U.S. once again, and we expect to see a 328i with the 2.0-liter four making 240 hp, a 300-hp 335i with the 3.0-liter turbo six, and a 330d with a 3.0-liter straight-six turbo-diesel and around 250 hp. (more…)

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A word of warning if you happen to rent a truck from +U-Haul

Sam — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:45:57 +0000

I helped my daughter move into her new apartment this morning and we rented a cube van from U-Haul to shuttle furniture across town.

Anytime you rent a car the agency usually charges a premium over the going rate for gas if you don't bring it back full. Typically they charge about $0.50-1.00 over the going rate. We got the U-Haul van with 5/8 of a tank and got back with 9/16 of a tank after driving 15 miles. Sofia rented the truck and I hadn't read the contract.

It turns out that U-Haul charges $5.00 a gallon (the going rate around here right how is about $3.55-3.60) and worse they also charge a $30 service fee! Fortunately there was a gas station just 2 blocks away. If you rent from U-Haul, make sure you put gas in before you return it.

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Illegal copying of someone else's intellectual property.

Sam — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:34:18 +0000

Illegal copying of someone else's intellectual property.

Reshared post from +Atheist

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I saw a Fisker Karma in the wild for the first time last week, cruising up Ocean…

Sam — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:30:10 +0000

I saw a Fisker Karma in the wild for the first time last week, cruising up Ocean dr in South Beach. It's a big and heavy car and if this analysis is correct, probably not as thoroughly engineered as it should be.

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Expert: Fisker Karma's engine packaging, not batteries, likely caused fire
LOS ANGELES — A garage fire last week in suburban Houston has been linked to a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, but the company quickly noted that the battery remained intact and unplugged — and did not…

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The first full prototype of the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder makes an appearance on…

Sam — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:09:52 +0000

The first full prototype of the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder makes an appearance on the road in Germany

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Porsche 918 Spyder scooped -
Autocar.co.uk is the online home of the world's original car magazine. Stay up-to-date with latest motor industry news, read reviews of the hottest new cars, watch our spectacular videos, and find the…

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During my 4 years at Autoblog I wrote a lot of first drive reports and vehicle reviews….

Sam — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:54:53 +0000

During my 4 years at Autoblog I wrote a lot of first drive reports and vehicle reviews. This one was by far my shortest drive experience!

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First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, watch out for second!
2008 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet – Click above for high-res gallerySaturday afternoon we went for what may have been the shortest and quickest first drive in

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Seeing the +Ford Racing post about the new 5.0-liter Cobra Jet V8 this morning brought…

Sam — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:49:56 +0000

Seeing the +Ford Racing post about the new 5.0-liter Cobra Jet V8 this morning brought to mind my first official experience with drag racing a few years ago. I was invited to participate in the Ford Racing Invitational at Milan Dragway against a dozen other auto writers.

I quickly learned that drag racing is a lot more complicated than simply slamming the go-pedal against the floor board. Check out my story to learn more about drag racing.

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Ford Racing Invitational '08: The aftermath
Click above for a high-res gallery from the Ford Racing InvitationalI went into the Ford Racing Racing Invitational drag race this weekend with only a

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Over the last several years +Ford Racing has created three separate runs of the Mustang…

Sam — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:38:46 +0000

Over the last several years +Ford Racing has created three separate runs of the Mustang Cobra Jet factory-built drag racers all of which have been powered by the 5.4-liter supercharged V8 that also powers GT500.

For the 2013 models, Ford Racing has adopted the new 5.0-liter Coyote V8 in either normally aspirated or supercharged versions and the base version recently spent some time on the dyno.

I was lucky enough to try out one of the 2008 models at Milan Dragway several years ago http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/first-drive-ford-mustang-cobra-jet-watch-out-for-second/

Reshared post from +Ford Racing

2013 Cobra Jet naturally aspirated 5.0L Ti-VCT engine on Ford Racing's 17G engine dyno.

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Apparently Rush is upset that the president is intruding on his own personal war…

Sam — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:54:40 +0000

Apparently Rush is upset that the president is intruding on his own personal war on traditional marriage

Reshared post from +Koushik Dutta

I wasn't gonna post on gay marriage anymore, but these are so funny.

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The 2013 Ford Fusion will have the most complete suite of driver assist systems in…

Sam — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:09:34 +0000

The 2013 Ford Fusion will have the most complete suite of driver assist systems in the mainstream midsize segment. Midsize sedans are the highest volume car segment in America so bringing this sort of the technology to the masses is a big deal.

The sensors and actuators that make all of this stuff work are also the building blocks for even more capable vehicles in the coming years.
http://fordfusionstory.com/latest
#2013fordfusion #driverassist #autonomousvehicles

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Ford Fusion To Bring Active Safety Technology To The Masses | Autopia | Wired.com
Ford has announced that the upcoming 2013 Fusion will offer an available suite of driver assistance technology, like adaptive cruise control, active pa

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Based on this driving impression and what I've seen from +BYD at several auto…

Sam — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:01:31 +0000

Based on this driving impression and what I've seen from +BYD at several auto shows in recent years, the company is clearly still not ready for prime time. +byd

Reshared post from +Green Car Reports

Here are our first driving impressions of the BYD e6.

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Updated BYD e6: First Drive Of Chinese Electric Crossover
Most Chinese carmakers have backed away from plans to attack the U.S. market, and their hopes of dominating electric cars have slowed. But Chinese maker BYD continues to develop and test the e6 all-el…

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Sam — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:11:38 +0000

Reshared post from +Atheist

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Back when I was still engineering vehicle control systems, a lot of our testing involved…

Sam — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:07:34 +0000

Back when I was still engineering vehicle control systems, a lot of our testing involved trying to anticipate all of the unpredictable things that the vehicle operator might do. Computer engineers often use the acronym PEBKAC http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_error and in the automotive sphere the steering wheel substitutes for the keyboard.

For example the biggest variable in trying to control anti-lock brakes was how hard or fast the driver applied the brake pedal. Many of us dreamed of the day when we could take the driver out of the equation.

The combination of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications with advanced sensing and actuating systems has the potential to dramatically reduce both collisions and congestion. We're well on our way to semi and fully autonomous vehicles with increasingly affordable collision warning, lane departure, blindspot indicator and adaptive cruise control systems.

I love to drive on a twisty country or canyon road, but frankly the daily commute on the highway is just a grind and I'd just as soon let the car handle the job.
#autonomousvehicles

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Why Google's self-driving car may save lives
While driverless cars like Google's may sound scary, the truth is they're safer than the cars and trucks you share the road with today.

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A few days ago I posted about Pratt&Whitney's newest flying testbed, a modified…

Sam — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:58:26 +0000

A few days ago I posted about Pratt&Whitney's newest flying testbed, a modified Boeing 747SP used for testing new aircraft engines. https://plus.google.com/114133424228405038490/posts/iGWatNAKwcU

As some commenters mentioned, this plane was by no means the first of its type. At about the same time that Pratt was initiating its new testbed, it retired an old one. The plane being put out to pasture is actually the last remaining flying Boeing 720 in the world. The 720 was a shorter version of the ground-breaking 707 and now they are all gone.

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Farewell to Boeing's 720
Aviation Week

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In Focus:

Sam — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:28:23 +0000

Reshared post from +The Onion

In Focus:

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Future U.S. History Students: 'It's Pretty Embarrassing How Long You Guys Took To Legalize Gay Marriage'
DECATUR, IL, THE YEAR 2083—According to students in Mr. Bernard's fourth-period U.S. history class, it's "really pathetic" how long it took for early-21st-century Americans to finally legalize gay mar…

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It's about time! Seriously, anyone that feels that the value or strength of…

Sam — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:26:47 +0000

It's about time! Seriously, anyone that feels that the value or strength of their hetro-relationship is threatened if two men or two women can get married has far deeper problems that they need to look at. My wife and I have been together for 18 years and allowing same-sex couples to get married has no impact on us at all.

Reshared post from +Gina Trapani

No more separate but equal.

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So much for the samsung galaxy s3 having any kind of exclusive on flipboard

Sam — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:27:05 +0000

Now running on my droid3 along with ice cream sandwich that motorola may never release

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Instagram hens now with tilt shift

Sam — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:12:42 +0000

Instagram hens now with tilt shift

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Just like before…I just wanted to remind you!

Sam — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:39:01 +0000

Reshared post from +Atheist

Just like before…I just wanted to remind you!

#repost

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Just like before…I just wanted to remind you!

Sam — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:39:01 +0000

Reshared post from +Atheist

Just like before…I just wanted to remind you!

#repost

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Serious braking power, 6 pistons and 15-inch diameter

Sam — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:44:06 +0000

#2013gt500

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Inside Line speculatively renders what they think the next generation Mustang will…

Sam — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Inside Line speculatively renders what they think the next generation Mustang will look like. Rumor has it that heavily retro 60s-inspired look of the current S197 Mustang will give way to a modern style that draws heavily on 2011 Evos concept.

This new rear drive platform is expected to include the first independent rear suspension since the previous generation SN95 Cobra. Hopefully this new model will benefit from the weight reduction efforts going on throughout the Ford lineup.

I like this direction, still looks like a Mustang but brings the design into the 21st century. What do you think?
#ford #mustang #2015mustang

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Future Vehicles: 2015 Ford Mustang
Is this the 2015 Ford Mustang? Close to it, at least that's what a Ford insider told us recently. Set to be released about two years from now on its 50th anniversary, the 2015 Mustang will be muc…

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Maurice Sendak will be missed by all of those that appreciate great writing

Sam — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:59:10 +0000

I spent many hours reading Sendak's works to my kids when they were little.

Reshared post from +Justin Hyde

RIP Maurice Sendak, one of the best children's book artists to ever put pen to page. While everyone remembers "Where The Wild Things Are," I'd note that his classic "In The Night Kitchen" — a Caldecott-winning story of a dreamy escape that Sendak later said had hidden references to the Holocaust — remains among the books most banned by school libraries because the little boy in the book is nude for a few scenes. That story came out in 1970, and four decades later people are still trying to catch up with Sendak. If you haven't seen him mess with Stephen Colbert, I can't recommend it strongly enough.

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Colbert Report: Grim Colberty Tales with Maurice Sendak Pt. 1
Maurice Sendak considers a sequel to "Where the Wild Things Are."

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A range of only 100 miles from a 41.8 kWh battery pack is not much to get excited…

Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:02:54 +0000

A range of only 100 miles from a 41.8 kWh battery pack is not much to get excited about especially for $50,000. With only 2,600 units coming over 3 years, this one definitely falls into +John Voelcker's compliance EV category.

Reshared post from +Green Car Reports

Toyota USA has finally taken the wraps off the 2012 RAV4 EV, and it estimates its range at about 100 miles. What do you think? Compliance vehicle?

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2012 Toyota RAV4 EV Electric SUV: Fewer Than 1,000 A Year
Today, Toyota revealed the production version of its eagerly awaited 2012 RAV4 EV all-electric crossover, with a powertrain designed and provided by startup electric carmaker Tesla Motors. Surprising …

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Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:03:55 +0000

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Maximum air flow

Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:03:27 +0000

Maximum air flow

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Don't get bit

Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:02:54 +0000

Don't get bit

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This is an interesting article about George Hotz (aka geohot) the hacker that cracked…

Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:40:32 +0000

This is an interesting article about George Hotz (aka geohot) the hacker that cracked the security code of the Sony PS3. While Hotz is an interesting character, perhaps the more interesting part of this tale was the subsequent cracking of most of Sony's websites by online activists angry at the company's legal attack on Hotz.

From a PR perspective, Sony's attack on Hotz and the removal of the ability to run Linux on the PS3 was a colossal blunder. On the other hand the counterattack against the Japanese giant, exposed huge lapses in Sony's online security. While it's unfortunate that so much consumer data was stolen, the hacks against Sony and other follow-on attacks made the world much more aware of how big companies handle security. Hopefully everyone has taken this as a learning opportunity and addressed these problems.

Unfortunately I suspect there are still a lot of big organizations that have not taken the lessons to heart.
#geohot #georgehotz #sony #security

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George Hotz, Sony, and the Anonymous Hacker Wars
Martyrs win devotees, and soon Hotz had gained the allegiance of the most notorious hackers: a group called Anonymous…

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While my wife +Julie Abuelsamid and I were hanging out in South Beach last week we…

Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:25:02 +0000

While my wife +Julie Abuelsamid and I were hanging out in South Beach last week we took a long walk along the beach each morning. Every few hundred yards, there was a lifeguard tower but unlike what I've seen along other shorelines, every one of these towers was unique. No two towers had the same design or color scheme. One morning I took along my camera took a series of photos some of the towers we saw.
#southbeach #lifeguardtowers #photography

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Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:21:33 +0000

In album 2012-05-06

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Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:21:22 +0000

In album 2012-05-06

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Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:21:21 +0000

In album 2012-05-06

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Sam — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:21:18 +0000

In album 2012-05-06

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One of the problems with developing new aircraft engines is how to test them in airborne…

Sam — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:36:42 +0000

One of the problems with developing new aircraft engines is how to test them in airborne environments before the planes they are meant to propel even exist.

Pratt and Whitney has acquired a pair of Boeing 747SPs that have been retired from airline service and modified them to allow installation of prototype engines. Larger engines are mounted on one of the four standard wing positions on one aircraft while the second plane has been modified to accommodate smaller engines on a special stub wing hanging from the 747 hump. AviationWeek takes a look at how this was accomplished.
#airplanes

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Inside Pratt's new flying testbed
Aviation Week

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Demonstrating to Audi and Toyota that creative and innovative racing cars don't…

Sam — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:27:41 +0000

Demonstrating to Audi and Toyota that creative and innovative racing cars don't have to cost tens of millions of dollars.

Reshared post from +Alex Nunez

This is so terrific.

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This is why LeMons is the best race series
This weekend, Audi marked the competition debut of its latest R18 race cars at the World Endurance Championships at Spa Francorchamps. Yet the most

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I would be very curious to see how many potential votes Samuel Wurzelbacher loses…

Sam — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:20:37 +0000

I would be very curious to see how many potential votes Samuel Wurzelbacher loses because the people who would like to support him are scratching their heads in the booth trying to figure "Where is Joe? I don't see Joe on this ballot?"

#politics #indecision2012

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Thank goodness that not all laws being pushed through congress are hundreds or thousands…

Sam — Sun, 06 May 2012 13:44:27 +0000

Thank goodness that not all laws being pushed through congress are hundreds or thousands of pages long. So many bills like the USA Patriot Act and budgets get passed into law without anyone ever actually reading the entire text.

Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-NY) introduced a beautifully simple one page bill HR-1062 that does one thing and one thing only. If passed, the innocuous sounding but disingenuous Burdensome Data Collection Relief Act would repeal Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 111-203). You can find the full 849 page text of the Dodd-Frank bill at http://bit.ly/KEKhMi

So what does this single onerous paragraph of this huge bill require publicly traded companies to do? They must publish the ratio between the total compensation of the CEO and the median compensation of all employees of the company.

It's a good thing we have Republicans like Hayworth to protect us from being exposed to excess and burdensome information like how much more our bosses make than we do!

Embedded Link

Burdensome Data Collection Relief Act (H.R. 1062) – GovTrack.us
H.R. 1062. To amend the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to repeal certain additional disclosure requirements, and for other purposes. In GovTrack.us, a database of bills in t…

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In the second round of World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium…

Sam — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:56:43 +0000

In the second round of World Endurance Championship at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium today, Audi debuted its new 2012 versions of the R18 in a dominating performance. Audi ran two each of the R18 Ultra and the R18 e-tron quattro. The Ultra is an updated version of the car that won at 24 hours of Le Mans last year and continues with its twin-turbocharged diesel V6.

The e-tron quattro takes the diesel sports car concept that Audi has been running since 2006 to a whole new level. In addition to the diesel V6 powering the rear wheels, Audi has hybridized the R18 with the same electromechanical flywheel system used so successfully by their corporate cousins at Porsche for the past two years.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/hybrids/porsche-911-gt3r-hybrid-flywheel

The e-trons with their electrically powered front wheels supplementing the diesel powered rear end, dominated the rainy early part of the race, but as the conditions changed the Ultras made a better choice going straight to slick tires. Ultimately the four Audis crossed the line taking the first positions with the order Ultra/e-tron/Ultra/e-tron.

Toyota is going to have one hell of a battle on its hands next month at the 24 Hours of Le Mans!

#wec #worldendurancechampionship #audi #audir18etronquattron

Audi R18 e-tron quattro #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)Dindo Capello (I), Tom Kristensen (DK), Allan McNish(GB)

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Earlier this week, my daughter Sofie noticed that the hens had climbed up on top…

Sam — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:18:26 +0000

Earlier this week, my daughter Sofie noticed that the hens had climbed up on top of the coop for the first time (that we know of!). Since then they have been hanging out up there pretty regularly. Hopefully the the hawk that can occasionally be seen overhead doesn't notice them there. I caught the hens on video as they made their way to ground level.

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Rupert Murdoch tweets: "Seems impossible to have civilised debate on twitter….

Sam — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:17:53 +0000

Reshared post from +Jeff Jarvis

Rupert Murdoch tweets: "Seems impossible to have civilised debate on twitter. Ignorant,vicious abuse lowers whole society, maybe shows real social decay."

Jon Snow, anchor of the Channel 4 News in the UK, responds: "@rupertmurdoch I find that in life one reaps what one sows…"

Does Murdoch have neither the slightest sense of what he hath wrought … or of irony?

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Conversation with @rupertmurdoch, @jonsnowC4, @MlleSorbet and @foragefinefoods
The Social Media Story storified by Edward Melvin

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TechShop Detroit is now officially open in Allen Park, MI near the +Ford Motor Company…

Sam — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:47:24 +0000

TechShop Detroit is now officially open in Allen Park, MI near the +Ford Motor Company product development campus. If you are in southeast Michigan you might want to swing by this weekend for tours, demonstrations and discounts on memberships. http://techshop.ws/ts_detroit.html

#ford #techshop

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South beach sea gulls

Sam — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:15:54 +0000

#gulls #birds

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Royal terns on South Beach

Sam — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:13:19 +0000

#birds #royalterns

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A pelican that I saw while hanging out in South Beach this week with limited ban…

Sam — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:12:05 +0000

A pelican that I saw while hanging out in South Beach this week with limited bandwidth

#pelican #birds

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Regardless of how you feel about climate change this is an idiotic campaign designed…

Sam — Sat, 05 May 2012 11:19:41 +0000

Regardless of how you feel about climate change this is an idiotic campaign designed to appeal to the feeble minded among us. If charles manson said he still believed in gravity would that make you suddenly float away?

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Heartland Institute Compares Climate Science Believers And Reporters To Mass ‘Murderers And Madmen’
The Heartland Institute has launched one of the most offensive billboard campaigns in U.S. history. The Chicago-based anti-science think tank is comparing all those who accept climate science — and th…

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I feel no sympathy for Mr Stephenson or at&t especially when it to disrupting…

Sam — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:59:51 +0000

I feel no sympathy for Mr Stephenson or at&t especially when it to disrupting there obscene text messaging business model

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AT&T CEO voices regret over iPhone unlimited data model
It's always refreshing to hear the head of a major corporation cop to past mistakes — particularly in front of a large crowd

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Miami Beach

Sam — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:29:08 +0000

Miami Beach

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Thanks to +Alex Nunez for recommending Lario's on the beach

Sam — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:41:52 +0000

Thanks to +Alex Nunez for recommending Lario's on the beach. The cuban style skirt steak, roast pork and the mojitos were all outstanding!

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I often disagree with Tom Friedman's analysis but in this case he nails it

Sam — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:18:00 +0000

It's time for the US to shift from supporting other regimes with weapons as we have done since the second world war and support educational initiatives instead. We'll do more to improve the lives of people in the middle east by teaching them to read than by giving fighter jets to their generals.

Unfortunately the chances of it happening are nil since we don't even do that here and our members of congress get far too much cash from the likes of Lockheed Martin

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=945640&f=28&sub=Columnist

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Charles "Boss" Kettering is rolling over in his grave today

Sam — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:43:59 +0000

The gutting of the once proud +General Motors Research and Development organization continues as 25% percent of the remaining staff in the research department at the Warren Tech Center will be eliminated. A sad day indeed.

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GM to chop 100 R&D positions

General Motors Co. will cut about 100 positions at its global research and development headquarters in Warren and will close a research and development facility in Bangalore, India, as part of a glo…

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How about a bill that tamps down Gateway Stupidity and Ignorance that could lead…

Sam — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:37:31 +0000

How about a bill that tamps down Gateway Stupidity and Ignorance that could lead people to become right-wing nut-jobs!

Reshared post from +Talking Points Memo

Gateway sexual activity?

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Tennessee Passes Bill To Tamp Down ‘Gateway Sexual Activity’
The Tennessee Legislature on Friday passed a bill that seeks to bar “gateway sexual activity.”

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The state of Michigan has been dabbling with imposing dictatorial emergency managers…

Sam — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:35:19 +0000

The state of Michigan has been dabbling with imposing dictatorial emergency managers on struggling cities like Ecorse, Flint and Pontiac since the mid-1980s. The program of eliminating democracy and imposing radical financial austerity has been such a rousing failure everywhere it has been used that one of the first pieces of legislation passed after the election of Republicans in the house, senate and governors mansion in 2010 was to radically expand the emergency financial management system and allow Rick Snyder to impose them almost anywhere he felt like.

Why are Republicans so utterly opposed to democracy and ignorant of what it takes to revive a community from within rather than destroy it? More importantly, knowing how Republicans feel about them, why do voters keep casting ballots for them?
#politics #emergencyfinancialmanagers #michigan #democracy

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Michigan emergency managers undermine economic recovery as well as democracy
Video on msnbc.com: Rachel Maddow reviews the track record of governor-appointed "emergency managers" in Michigan and finds that towns that lost their democratically elected governments to emergency m…

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When I took economics 101 in college one of the things we were taught was that over…

Sam — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:31:32 +0000

When I took economics 101 in college one of the things we were taught was that over time, incomes could rise without triggering inflation as long as the increase was tied to improved productivity. Since the industrial revolution productivity has improved at the highest rate in all of human history and even more so in the last four decades.

A not so funny thing has happened since the 1970s (which just happens to coincide with the rise of the political right in America). While productivity in America has climbed by over 80 percent since 1973, average hourly compensation has only gone up about 39%.

The difference between the increase in productivity (and the lower costs it brings) and compensation has gone largely to corporate profits. However, if you look even closer at the data, you see something even scarier. The disparity between productivity and compensation wouldn't be so bad if it was distributed evenly across the working population. However, as anyone in the 99% knows, this has not been the case.

In the graph presented by Paul Krugman, note the difference between average hourly compensation and median compensation. The average comes from dividing the sum total compensation by the population. The median is the point at which half the population is above that point, and the other half below. With a comparatively even bell-curve distribution, the average and median would be fairly close together.

However, the median compensation over the last 40 years has only gone up by 10.7%, barely one-quarter of the average increase. What that means is that a relatively small proportion of the population has seen its compensation rise by much, much, much more than 40% (something on the order of several hundred percent) while the vast majority of Americans have seen virtually no movement in their income over the last 4 decades. That is why we now have the largest disparity in incomes in America in our history and the middle class is quickly moving toward extinction.

That is what the policies of Republicans have wrought on America.
#politics #incomeinequality

Reshared post from +Jeff Jarvis

Krugman: Where productivity value went (to inequality).

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Where The Productivity Went
It's two-thirds the inequality, stupid.

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I'm not a fan of Oracle, but it's good to see them step up where Apple has…

Sam — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:41:13 +0000

I'm not a fan of Oracle, but it's good to see them step up where Apple has clearly failed. Over the past several years, Apple has repeatedly been a laggard when it comes to correcting security issues that have been identified by outsiders.

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Oracle announces direct Java support for OS X, Mac to get security updates the same time as Windows
Earlier this month, Apple released an update to Java version 1.6.0_31 for OS X — but not before an estimated 600,000 Macs had been infected by malware taking advantage of exploits in a prior…

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Stephen Colbert delivered at keynote a few days ago at the Time 100 event that was…

Sam — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:41:16 +0000

Stephen Colbert delivered at keynote a few days ago at the Time 100 event that was right up their with his legendary Washington correspondents dinner speech. As usual, Colbert aimed his rapier wit at many of the influential people in the room that night including that enemy of democracy and the American people, David Koch.

Sure, he's all for buying the elections, but when the bill for democracy comes up, Dave's always in the men's room. I'm sorry, I must have left Wisconsin in my other coat.

I was particularly excited to meet David Koch earlier tonight because I have a Super PAC, Colbert Super PAC, and I am — thank you, thank you — and I am happy to announce Mr. Koch has pledged $5 million to my Super PAC. And the great thing is, thanks to federal election law, there's no way for you to ever know whether that's a joke.

By the way, if David Koch likes his waiter tonight, he will be your next congressman.

The entire transcript is at the link, if anyone knows of video of the event post it in the comments.

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The Page by Mark Halperin | Clinton and Colbert at the TIME 100
SecState and Comedy Central funny man among the distinguished guests. Clinton: "TIME has honored so many national and global leaders; you couldn’t possibly acknowledge every one. There’s many I haven’…

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The Verge also has a great collection of photos of the arrival of Enterprise

Sam — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:13:54 +0000

The Verge also has a great collection of photos of the arrival of Enterprise

Embedded Link

NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise: the NYC fly-by in pictures
The Verge is a technology-focused news publication founded in 2011 by Joshua Topolsky and Marty Moe in partnership with Vox Media and its CEO Jim Bankoff. The Verge's mission is to offer breaking news…

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The transfer of the prototype space shuttle Enterprise from Washington DC to New…

Sam — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:12:13 +0000

The transfer of the prototype space shuttle Enterprise from Washington DC to New York on Friday provided a once in a lifetime photographic opportunity.

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The Most Awesome Pictures of the Space Shuttle Enterprise Riding a Jet to NYC
Check out the visuals from this morning's low-altitude flyover.

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How much extra would you be willing to pay for a car that could drive itself? One-fifth…

Sam — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:49:59 +0000

How much extra would you be willing to pay for a car that could drive itself? One-fifth of people in a JD Power survey said they would spend $3,000 more for the capability.

Frankly that price is well within reach in the next 5-7 years. Consider that a number of cars on the road today already have most of the hardware bits necessary to enable at least semi-autonomous driving.

We've been migrating in this direction since at least the early-1980s with the advent of anti-lock braking. ABS intervenes between the driver and the road, using wheel speed sensors to decide when the brake pressure the driver is applying should be reduced at individual wheels in order to help maintain control of the car.

Over time that capability expanded traction and stability control and more recently adaptive cruise control and lane departure prevention.

Autonomous vehicles are about more than just convenience though. The ability for vehicles to talk to each other and the infrastructure and get real-time data about what is happening beyond the sight-lines of the driver opens up enormous possibilities for reducing accidents, congestion and energy consumption.

I still love to drive, but on my daily 25 mile commute to the office, I would take autonomous capability if it was available.

Embedded Link

One in five drivers would spend $3,000 to add self-driving to their next car
Judging from what Google has been saying to automakers, self-driving cars are still millions of test miles away from actually making it to showrooms, but survey results indicate some American drivers….

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Republicans in Michigan don't believe in democracy and they aren't above…

Sam — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:23:04 +0000

Republicans in Michigan don't believe in democracy and they aren't above going to any lengths to prevent it. Last year the newly Republican-controlled legislature and the governor passed an emergency manager law. Under the law, the governor can dismiss locally elected governments and replace them with an appointed manager.

Needless to say, many of the voters of Michigan were not impressed and were more than willing to sign a petition that would put the law on the November ballot. After crates of petitions were delivered to the state board of canvassers, the signatures were checked and even after some were disallowed, there were 203,238 signatures, 40,000 more than required for a recall vote.

However, four member board deadlocked 2-2 along party lines about approving the ballot measure. It turns out that a group called Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility protested the petition on the grounds that the font was too small. Not the language of the ballot, or the validity of the signatures but the font size!

It turns out Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility happens to operate out of the law offices of Jeffrey Timmer, one of the two republicans on the board of canvassers. Despite the obvious conflict of interest Timmer did not recuse himself from the vote. What a farce!

#emergencymanager #michigan #recall

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EM referendum off November ballot, opponents vow appeal

The Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 along party lines today on whether Michiganians will get to vote in November on a repeal of the controversial emergency manager law – sparking angry shou…

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This is a very interesting take on what the next generation Mustang might look like….

Sam — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:27:41 +0000

This is a very interesting take on what the next generation Mustang might look like. Rumor has it that the current retro-look will give way to something more like last year's Evos concept. This blend of old and new seems like it might still be a bit too close to the old.

What do you think?

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Should the Next-Gen 2015 Ford Mustang Look Like This? – WOT on Motor Trend
This rendering from our illustrator shows one possible look of the 2015 Ford Mustang. Should Ford's next-gen pony car look like this?

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In my past life as a control engineer for electronic braking systems, this was the…

Sam — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:17:57 +0000

In my past life as a control engineer for electronic braking systems, this was the flow chart of my work life.

Reshared post from +TECHNICS ?

IT • PROGRAMMING • Good Code ?

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662 hp and 5 mpg better than the camaro zl1

Sam — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:53:58 +0000

#ford #gt500 #torque

Reshared post from +Motor Authority

This Just In: The 2013 Shelby Mustang GT500 has 662 horsepower & hits 60 mph in first gear.

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2013 Shelby Mustang GT500 Certified At 662 Horsepower
Get ready for ludicrous speed–the 2013 Shelby Ford Mustang GT500 has been certified at 662 horsepower–12 more than the promised 650–and 630 pound-feet of torque. Why? Because muscle car. We guess. …

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Yet another Lotus chassis has been re-purposed as an electric vehicle, this time…

Sam — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:44:15 +0000

Yet another Lotus chassis has been re-purposed as an electric vehicle, this time as the foundation of the Infiniti Emerg-E concept. Previously the Elise/Exige chassis has been used to underpin the Tesla Roadster along with a few other concepts and attempts at electric sports cars that went nowhere.

Nissan opted to use Lotus' newer and larger Evora to make a roomier and more comfortable car.

Both of these chassis' make good platforms thanks to their light weight and flexibility. The original Elise marked the debut of platform constructed by adhesive bonding of aluminum extrusions. This construction method makes the chassis strong and easy to modify by lengthening various sections.

For what it's worth, this isn't Nissan's first interaction with Lotus. Like many major automakers, Nissan has quietly contracted Lotus Engineering in the past for vehicle development help, especially on ride and handling.

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Dissected: Lotus-Based Infiniti Emerg-E Sports-Car Concept
Infiniti's stunning Emerg-E sports-car concept gets broken down to expose its Lotus bones and range-extended electric powertrain. Read the story and see photos at Car and Driver.

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The ever increasing trend toward agricultural monocultures is perhaps the single…

Sam — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:04:11 +0000

The ever increasing trend toward agricultural monocultures is perhaps the single biggest environmental threat that we face. By genetically engineering seeds in an attempt to create disease and pest resistant super-breeds and preventing farmers from collecting and saving seeds we limiting the natural course of evolution of plants and artificially limiting variety.

The problem is that the bugs and diseases we are trying to fight continue to evolve and become resistant to our attempts at countermeasures. No matter how hard humans try, we can never anticipate every eventuality.

Without a variety of breeds, monocultures inevitably succumb to something we couldn't anticipate. We need to acknowledge that while tremendous strides in nutrition and human health have been made through science over the past century, we shouldn't be so egotistical as to assume that we can solve everything. In some cases we should let nature takes it course and that includes letting different breeds of plants and animals flourish so that we can hedge against the threats to our food supply.

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This infographic shows a reduction of produce variety in the last century as a direct result of big businesses (i.e. Monsanto) controlling the world seed supply. It's time to change our food system!!

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(Tue01) +Scott Monty interview on Google+:

Sam — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:38:05 +0000

Reshared post from +Guy Kawasaki

(Tue01) +Scott Monty interview on Google+:

http://www.digiday.com/brands/why-ford-believes-in-google-plus/

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Why Ford Believes in Google Plus
Ford was one of the early adopters of Google Plus. Social media chief Scott Monty thinks it's a mistake to count out Google's big social bet.

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It's neat to watch the development of this girl's face as she grows, especially…

Sam — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:28:07 +0000

It's neat to watch the development of this girl's face as she grows, especially between about 8 and 10.

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Holy time lapse.

https://vimeo.com/40448182

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Two years after showing off the original Electric Networked Vehicle (ENV) concepts…

Sam — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:46:17 +0000

Two years after showing off the original Electric Networked Vehicle (ENV) concepts at the Beijing Motor Show and Shanghai World Expo, GM is back with Version 2.0. This time around it retains design ideas from the European designed original but it's been refined to be actually usable in the real world rather than just on smooth, flat surfaces. The fully autonomous driving capability, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and electric drive remain but the Segway-based, two-wheel balancing chassis is swapped for a four wheel setup. ENV 2.0 now has amenities such as climate control and some minimal cargo space.

It will be interesting to see how the field trials of this vehicle work out when they begin in the next year or two. Vehicles like this are ideally suited to dense urban environments as part of car sharing systems. Think of it as personal, point-to-point mass-transit.

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It's been several years since +Ford Motor Company sold off Jaguar and Land Rover…

Sam — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:29:40 +0000

It's been several years since +Ford Motor Company sold off Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata Motors, but the Dearborn automaker has continued supplying some parts to the British luxury automaker including engines. The diesel engines that are available in European Jags and Land Rovers are built at Ford's Dagenham diesel center in the UK and the base V6 in the XF, XK and XJ is a version of Ford's Duratec 3.0-liter.

At the Beijing Motor Show, Jaguar announced that it will be following the industry-wide trend to engine downsizing by replacing the current V6 engine with the 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder. The turbocharged and direct injected engine will produce 237 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. This engine is already available in the Ford Edge and Explorer and it's coming to the 2013 Fusion later this year.

Would you go for a small four cylinder engine in a car the size of the XJ? Depending on how you use the car it certainly seems plausible and it will no doubt offer better performance than even V12-powered XJs of the not so distant past.

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The hybrid architecture that +Ferrari recently described in a European patent application…

Sam — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:50:00 +0000

The hybrid architecture that +Ferrari recently described in a European patent application http://sam.abuelsamid.com/2012/04/13/ferrari-files-patent-for-new-hybrid-system/ has now been sort of shown in physical form.

At the Beijing Motor Show this week, Ferrari is displaying its latest HY-KERS system that is expected to go into production in the successor to the ENZO when it debuts later this year. Like the architecture described in the patent, this one features a main traction motor paired with the dual-clutch transmission along with a secondary motor at the front of the engine to drive the accessories.

While the patent described a car with a front mounted V8 and rear wheel drive, there is nothing about this hybrid architecture that limits it to any particular combination of engine location and drive wheels. The powertrain being shown in Beijing uses a V12 based on the one in the new F12 Berlinetta. The V12 is bolted directly to the transaxle as it will be in the rear-mid-engine F70/Enzo.

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Who would have thought that a think tank that gets most of its funding from the Department…

Sam — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:53:53 +0000

Who would have thought that a think tank that gets most of its funding from the Department of Defense and from various defense contractors that it has "contracts" with would propose spending more money on yet more new weapons?

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A think tank is advocating more laser weapons. We believe sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads would be most effective.

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See the light on laser weapons, think tank urges
True, the Pentagon hasn't yet gotten the hoped-for payoff from its R&D on directed-energy weapons. But there's always tomorrow. Read this blog post by Jonathan E. Skillings on Cutting Edge…

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Shrooms growing on a stump

Sam — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:20:26 +0000

Shrooms growing on a stump

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When I see the +Lamborghini Urus, all I can think is "Please +Ferrari, for all…

Sam — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:42:14 +0000

When I see the +Lamborghini Urus, all I can think is "Please +Ferrari, for all that is right and holy, DO NOT BUILD AN SUV!"

Hopefully, the Maserati Kubang is as close as we get to one from Maranello. https://plus.google.com/photos/fromphone/5696030395153222674

That said, this is a far better looking vehicle than the old LM002 and it appears that Lamborghini is actually aiming to keep weight down. Few actual technical details are revealed in the press release but the 600 hp output points to what is probably an updated version of the marvelous V10 found in the Gallardo and Audi R8. I'm also curious to learn what "forged composites" are.

Lamborghini Urus – The SUV super athlete
#lamborghini #lamborghiniurus

Lamborghini presents SUV concept vehicle with extreme performance

Unique, powerfully dynamic design, interior with carbon fiber innovations such as Forged Composite®

Breathtaking dynamics thanks to 440 kW / 600 hp and lightweight design technology; best in class CO2 figure among the competition

Beijing/Sant’Agata Bolognese, April 22, 2012 – At the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, Automobili Lamborghini presents the ultimate super athlete in the SUV segment. With the Urus concept car, Lamborghini is completely redefining dynamics and design in this category. The Urus combines unique design, a fascinating interior and outstanding performance with versatility and everyday usability.

Output of around 440 kW / 600 hp and Lamborghini’s excellent know-how in the field of lightweight design technologies guarantee breathtaking dynamics. At the same time, the Urus will offer the lowest CO2 figure of all comparable vehicles. As an SUV concept with four generous seats, a versatile luggage compartment, variable ground clearance and, of course, permanent all-wheel drive, the Urus delivers unique driving fun with virtually no limitations. The interior, too, matches the standards of this super athlete with innovative materials featuring carbon fiber technology like the patented Forged Composite®.

The luxury SUV segment is successful worldwide and promises continued strong growth – a luxurious and powerful SUV is the most emotional way to drive a four-door vehicle equipped to meet all the demands of everyday mobility and yet enjoy refined driving fun. The Urus means that a Lamborghini can now be used by a household as its primary car. This expands the brand’s customer base enormously – appealing to families and to the drivers of Lamborghini super sports cars who have thus far driven SUV models from other brands. Target markets are primarily the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, the Middle East and China. The annual production volume could conceivably be around 3,000 vehicles.

“The Urus is a very concrete idea for the future of Lamborghini – as a third model line and as the perfect complement to our super sports cars,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “SUVs stand for freedom and emotion. SUVs make up one of the most successful market segments worldwide. The Urus is the most extreme interpretation of the SUV idea; it is the Lamborghini of the SUVs.”

Heritage and Name
Permanent all-wheel drive is part of the Lamborghini DNA; but the brand from Sant’Agata Bolognese is also no stranger to the SUV segment – Lamborghini founded the super-luxury SUV segment with the legendary LM002. When it was unveiled in 1986, the LM002 was an absolutely revolutionary vehicle. An automobile suitable for off-road driving with a twelve-cylinder engine and 450 hp, a top speed of more than 210 km/h, a luxurious interior and, above all, an absolutely stunning appearance – it was utterly unthinkable at the time. The Lamborghini LM002 remained in production until 1992. And, although barely more than 300 units were ever built, the LM002 has secured its place in automotive history.

With the Urus, Lamborghini designers and engineers have created a new icon in automotive history – that much is certain. As has long been the tradition at Lamborghini, its name is derived once more from the world of bulls – the Urus, also known as Aurochs, is one of the large, wild ancestors of domestic cattle. Urus bulls could measure up to 1,8 meters at the shoulder. The Spanish fighting bull, as bred for the past 500 years, is still very close to the Urus in its appearance.

Concept and Technology
The Urus is the Lamborghini among SUVs. Its concept places design, performance and driving fun firmly and uncompromisingly front and center and redefines the benchmark for the competition. Yet it offers plenty of space for four people and a generous amount of luggage or shopping. The Urus is the Lamborghini for everyday use, for the family, for leisure pursuits with friends.

Most importantly, however, it is a true Lamborghini. The Urus has a unique, utterly unmistakable appearance. It looks powerful, but not bulky. It is muscular and highly athletic, but also elegant. At a length of 4,99 meters, it fits perfectly into the sporty SUV class. At a height of just 1,66 meters, however, it is considerably lower than all its competitors. Together with its width of 1,99 meters, the Lamborghini Urus boasts the perfect proportions for the super athlete in the segment.

The key to its performance is primarily the drive – the heart of every Lamborghini. The target has been set – expect around 440 kW / 600 hp. Permanent all-wheel drive with traction control is, of course, a given.

One target is clearly defined – the Lamborghini Urus will beat all comparable competitors when it comes to CO2 emissions. One important prerequisite for this is low weight. The Urus will be considerably lighter than its competitors, sticking firmly to the Lamborghini lightweight design philosophy. The steps to achieve this include an intelligent material mix for the structure and bodyshell and, for the first time, systematic lightweight design in the interior, too. The consistent application of innovative carbon fiber technologies is a given – Automobili Lamborghini possesses unique know-how in this particular field.

Lightweight design is the decisive prerequisite not only for moderate fuel consumption, but also for dynamics and handling. The Urus will set new benchmarks here, too. A low center of gravity and a highly variable bodyshell height are among the solutions. The Lamborghini SUV is also notable for its innovative, adaptive aerodynamics. In combination with the variable bodyshell height, the height-adjustable front spoiler facilitates a good approach angle and excellent obstacle clearance. At its lowest setting,
however, it aids stability at high speeds. The form is, of course, aerodynamically refined. At the upper edge of the rear windshield is a deflector that diverts the airflow along the rear windshield and onto the adjustable spoiler. In combination with the likewise adaptive rear spoiler, the aerodynamic balance of the Lamborghini Urus can even be adjusted to suit the prevailing driving conditions.

Design
Lamborghini design is unique. Every Lamborghini is an artwork of avant- garde design, a technical sculpture in rapid movement. Every Lamborghini is pure and minimalist – exhibiting a clear focus on what matters. The Lamborghini Urus concept car adheres to this logic just as firmly as the Aventador sports car. Extremely tight, razor-sharp lines define a precision that is at the very forefront of automotive design. And the clean, taut, finely executed surfaces show the exceptional degree of competence and experience possessed by Lamborghini in design, construction and bodyshell manufacturing. The result is a tremendously precise design language with a strong technical appeal that is amazingly spirited and light in its expression.

It starts at the front, which already displays the clear family resemblance. The strong three-dimensionality with sharp lines, a clear arrow form, large air intakes left and right, the Y shape in the headlamps, the aerodynamically refined function of the elements and the lines that run from the hood over the roof to the rear of the vehicle – these characteristics of the Lamborghini design language are all evident in the Urus.

And yet every single detail has been reinterpreted – for example, the headlamps now take on a horizontal, heptagonal form and feature full LED technology consisting of two arrays each with three high-performance LEDs. LED light guides lend the daytime running lights their characteristic Y-shape, while the LED fog lamps are positioned beneath the huge air intakes. Between them is the adaptive front spoiler. Characteristic for the side view of the Urus is the narrow window surface that tapers sharply toward the rear. Together with the highly dynamic roofline and the extremely muscular rear wheel arch, they create a taut and powerfully sporty look. The marked indent formed behind the front wheel arch by the air intake breaks the side view to give it a surprising degree of lightness.

Substantial wheels are part of any Lamborghini, especially if it redefines dynamics in the SUV segment – the all-new 24-inch wheels sport a double- spoke design and are forged from matte-finish aluminum. Five carbon fiber winglets optimize ventilation. The Urus is painted in a rich, lightly shimmering red that offers the ideal contrast for the many bodyshell parts made from carbon fiber reinforced polymer. A large proportion of the front spoiler, the complete side sills and the mighty rear diffuser all clearly display their carbon fiber origins. There are no conventional exterior mirrors, instead small and aerodynamically optimized cameras monitor traffic conditions behind the vehicle. These images are displayed via two TFT screens placed in ergonomically perfect positions on the left and right of the cockpit.

The rear end of the Urus is astonishingly round for a Lamborghini; it looks powerful, but in no way bulky. The narrow rear lights featuring the Y signature are connected by a black strip that adds emphasis to the car’s breadth. The attention paid by Lamborghini designers to detail is evident
everywhere, even on the exhaust system. The four hexagonal end pipes are carefully fitted into chrome surrounds.

Interior
The Lamborghini Urus completely redefines the term sporty within the SUV segment, yet without restricting its everyday usability. This is particularly evident in its interior – the driver and up to three passengers feel like they are wearing a perfectly made-to-measure suit – carefully fitted, but comfortable. Yet there can be no doubt that what we are dealing with here is the ultimate sports car among SUVs. Virtually the complete interior is – in keeping with the Lamborghini lightweight design strategy – finished in carbon fiber reinforced polymer.

Automobili Lamborghini possesses a unique competence in the use of carbon materials, and exhibits this innovative technology in the Urus concept car. The center tunnel is particularly notable – an open, skeletal carbon fiber structure made from Forged Composite®. It carries through the entire interior and is only partially clad in leather-upholstered cushioning. Single cushions also clad the four bucket seats. The seating position is lower and flatter than in any other vehicle in the segment. Also all four bucket seats are made from Forged Composite®.

The Lamborghini Urus concept car also features an extremely minimized operating philosophy. Behind the steering wheel are only the shift paddles for the dual-clutch transmission. All other functions such as indicators, lights and windshield wipers are incorporated into either the multifunction steering wheel or the center console. The driver is delivered information via a freely programmable TFT screen behind the steering wheel. Secondary functions like navigation, entertainment and climate control are operated via a touchscreen on the center tunnel. A further touchscreen is available for rear seat passengers.

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