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There is no silver bullet solution to reducing energy use for transportation 3

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 5033 days ago)

We will need a variety of solutions to meet the needs of different drivers. Battery electric vehicles are definitely not for everyone with their limited range although they can work for many people. One British owner of a +Nissan Leaf was clearly on the edge of the useful operating range of the plug-in only car and got himself stranded twice and nearly stuck on several other occasions. 

For this particular driver an extended range electric vehicle like the Vauxhall Ampera made more sense by providing electric-only driving range with a backup engine in case the battery couldn't make it.

For other drivers, a plug-in power-split hybrid like the new Pruis PHV, Ford C-Max Energi or Fusion Energi or even smaller more efficient gas or diesel engines could be a better option depending on where they drive and how far. Someday even hydrogen fuel cells will probably be part of the mix. It's all about the Power of Choice

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Like The Plug, Not The Range: Leaf Owner Trades In For Volt (Ampera)
When the 2011 Nissan Leaf launched at the end of 2010, many environmentally-conscious drivers took the plunge and decided to buy one, hoping to leave gasoline behind for good. For the majority of Leaf…

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One quarter of Texans already have no health insurance and thanks to Rick Perry playing… 3

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 5033 days ago)

One quarter of Texans already have no health insurance and thanks to Rick Perry playing politics, that's not going to get better any time soon.

Reshared post from +Talking Points Memo

Rick Perry, governor of the state with the highest percentage of uninsured residents, declares he won’t implement 'Obamacare'

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry Refuses To Implement ‘Obamacare’
Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Monday he will not implement ‘Obamacare’ provisions such as the Medicaid expansion and the insurance exchanges. The decision could mean that Texas ultimately loses an opport…

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Dempsey Racing is the first team to announce that it will use +Mazda USA's new…

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Dempsey Racing is the first team to announce that it will use +Mazda USA's new  SkyActiv-D diesel racing engine. 

Reshared post from +Alex Nunez

I acted as photog for Fox News' Gary Gastelu at Lime Rock this weekend. Pics are on the attached article. 

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Patrick Dempsey shifts racing career into high gear with Le Mans prototype program
Actor turned driver loves his life in the real fast lane.

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Oops! somebody is gonna either get fired or lose a contract for this one! 1

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 5033 days ago)

Oops! somebody is gonna either get fired or lose a contract for this one!

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This Is The 2014 Corvette's Entire Nose [Video]
One of GM's Tier 1 suppliers, Omega Tool Corp., made a video to show off how well they could mold complicated plastic body panels. Only they chose the still-secret 2014 Chevy Corvette instead of the outgoing C6 Corvette. Oops. More »

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So a few of my coworkers shared this limited, but I say when you've got great… 2

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 5033 days ago)

Reshared post from +Andy Bohm

So a few of my coworkers shared this limited, but I say when you've got great news, share it with the world!

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Google Announces Global Campaign To Legalize Gay Marriage
Google has announced a global campaign in support of equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples

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I have to respectfully disagree with +Mike Elgan about #boycottapple 8

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged boycottapple Google+ patents on by (updated 5033 days ago)

I have to respectfully disagree with +Mike Elgan about #boycottapple

Mike is right that corporations are bound by fidicuary responsibility to make as much money for their shareholders as they can within the limits of the law. If we assume that the patent law situation is not going to change then what Apple is doing by trying squash their competition in the courts is the right thing.

However, I think we need to look at this from a broader perspective. Changing intellectual property law can only be done by Congress. Unfortunately our legislators are largely in the pocket of the big corporations that benefit the most from the current IP structure so that means nothing will change unless those corporations decide it needs to change.

But how will that happen you might ask. The only way that these companies will ever change their stance is when it hurts their bottom line to maintain the status quo. That will only happen if consumers stop subsidising this behavior by not buying these products.

If we look at the companies that are abusing the current system, non-practising entities (aka patent trolls) don't make anything to boycott and it appears that the market is already boycotting Microsoft and Nokia for other reasons. Android companies including Samsung, Motorola and HTC are only using patents to defend themselves agains the likes of Apple and Microsoft.

That means the only means we have of changing the direction of intellectual property law is to stop buying from the companies that benefit from it most notably Apple. If Apple starts to believe that persuing patent suits cost them more than lobbying for changes in the law, then they will push for change.

Then and only then will things change.
#patents  

Reshared post from +Mike Elgan

Why the ‘Boycott Apple’ movement is dumb.

The #BoycottApple hashtag was trending hard on Google+ last week. The call to boycott is based on Apple’s attempts to ban both the Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone and the Galaxy 10.1 tablet. 

Here’s why the call for a boycott is misguided and futile: 

http://www.cultofmac.com/177786/why-the-boycott-apple-movement-is-dumb/

(Pic props to +Phlash Tha)

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This afternoon a dragonfly found itself stuck in our pool with a bit too much water… 1

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 5033 days ago)

This afternoon a dragonfly found itself stuck in our pool with a bit too much water on its wings. Fortunately Julie scooped it out and it then spent a couple of minutes drying off its head and wings before taking off for good.

In album Wet Dragonfly (13 photos)

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