Unfortunately it looks like +Nissan is going to have break out some bandages after today's Le Mans test day. The Nissan GT-R LM Nismo is about as all-new as it gets and the first day on the track with the rest of the 24 Hours of Le Mans field does not appear to have gone very well. http://www.24h-lemans.com/wpphpFichiers/1/1/ressources/Pdf/2015/24-heures-du-mans/classification/test-day/test-day-24-heures-du-mans-2015-test-practice-2.pdf

While the +Porsche 919s led the way with a best lap time of 3:21.061 followed closely by their +Audi USA R18 cousins, the best Nissan could manage was 3:50.713, putting this front-drive hybrid LMP1 back with the GTE machines. They have a lot of work to do in the next 13 days 🙁

Perhaps +Chevrolet marketers will be saved from themselves by the Patent and Trademark Office

Chevy Bolt trademark application suspended by USPTO
The US Trademark Office suspends GM’s application for the Bolt trademark because Yamaha already has one for its motorcycle.

Seeing these trucks jumping over ramps on the grand prix course in the pouring rain was a hoot so I captured some in slow motion on my Moto X

As we progress (or is that regress?) toward a self-driving future, GM is getting proactive on the safety front

GM Announces Plans To Recall Driverless Car By 2021
DETROIT—Saying the automaker is always looking ahead to the future, top executives from General Motors announced plans Thursday to recall a fully autonomous car by 2021.

Anyone that purchased a 2015 +Hyundai Worldwide Sonata with the navigation head unit can bring it their local dealer for a free software update that will enable +Android Auto support. For now there is no news about Apple CarPlay support although since the Google I/O developer conference is also happening this week, I'd guess that we'll hear something the week of June 8 when Apple holds it's Worldwide Developer Conference.

I got demos of both systems back in January https://sam.abuelsamid.com/2015/01/19/trying-out-android-auto-and-apple-carplay-with-hyundai/

In Album Hyundai Android Auto

Last summer a pair of robins built a nest in the middle of a fuschia hanging on the deck so we put up in another, hoping they'll be back

In Album fuschia

Another member of the backyard wildlife brigade

I took a look and noticed a nest taking shape, and sure enough when I checked again today, there were several small speckled eggs in there that look like cardinal eggs.

In Album cardinal’s nest

It's good to see Pickuptrucks.com publish a piece that looks at reasons why you might not want actually buy one. Personally, I've long been of the opinion that for my lifestyle, a truck is a great thing to be able to borrow (see item 5 in the list).

Top Five Reasons Not to Buy a Pickup – PickupTrucks.com News
By G.R. Whale. I’m a pessimist and a contrarian — I’ve been that way for years and I don’t see imminent change on the horizon. I’ve also been playing with pickup trucks for 40 years. After recently having a few in the driveway simultaneously, I realized there are good reasons not to buy a pickup …

After a week with the +BMW i3, I came away impressed with a lot of what Munich has accomplished here and thinking it might be time to get rid of the brake pedal.

BMW i3 REX – Carbon Fiber EV at an Almost Affordable Price | Sam’s Thoughts