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Real Long Term Cost vs. Battery life
Real Long Term Cost vs. Battery life
my concerns exactly and that's why I haven't finalized yet.
Dortor, why would you replace a perfectly good battery after only 8 years? When an ICE vehicle has a 3 year guarantee, do you replace the engine after 3 years?
While I think no one is indifferent to cost, no amount of analysis will result in a cost justification for this car. I doubt that anyone buys this car thinking they will save money.
You only need to replace the battery when it's remaining capacity is no longer adequate to meet your maximum driving range needs. Because you can always just charge up more frequently. Personally, I don't take many long trips much past 75 miles, so I figure it will be a GOOD LONG TIME before the battery has lost enough to crimp my style. I'm hedging my bets that by the time that happens, either: a) batteries will be much cheaper, or b) I'll have found another car I want more. Also, don't forget that even and ICE will need the engine rebuilt (or major repairs) after a long enough time/miles have gone by...
Teslarumors.com takes a different approach, depreciating the entire car, and then comparing 5 & 10 yr. TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of the MS is about the same as cars in the $30-40K range, and significantly better than more expensive cars.
PS: other battery devices lack the temperature management of the TM system. This eliminates the major source of degradation: overheating.
I don't think anyone is buying an $80k car because they hope to save a few pennies a mile on fuel. Even with a cheaper EV, such as the LEAF after the price reduction, it still takes several years to cover the initial higher price. There are many other benefits to driving an EV.
I am very excited to have just configured! I don't think I'm going to save money, though, buying this car. There just simply is not enough information yet. For example, questions that still need to be answered:
- Tesla's savings estimator has the total price of gas; some of this includes "taxes" that are used to fix the roads, and I guarantee that if electric vehicles become plentiful, the government will find a way to tax EVs for their share of road tax. This will erode the savings.
- There is a chance that batteries will be MUCH cheaper in the future, and gas will be MUCH more expensive. This will also affect your savings analysis.
- The assumption that you "save" $1500 or so per year as noted previously ignores the time value of money. Paying $10,000 for a battery in the future is better from a time value basis than paying $1500 for gas every year.
I really do hope that EVs do represent a future where drivers can save money with certainty, but I don't think we're there yet. But I'm still super excited and cant' wait for my beautiful car.
I don't think it is at all unreasonable to factor in the technology advances in battery chemistry one can expect before the end of eight years. Yes, we have a current price list for replacement, but batteries should be far cheaper, lighter, and more powerful in a few years, and price lists accordingly reduced. This is especially pertinent since all the talk about range anxiety will certainly pressure scientists/manufacturers (i.e. Tesla) to focus great attention on battery advancements. Your cost/benefit and amortization schedules will change accordingly. I wouldn't get too concerned about today's calculations.
nickniketown, are you 12 or what? All, I'm sure he's a kid. Look at all his posts. Definitely not in his teens that's for sure.
Dortor: Tesla uses a very conservative number for the cost of fuel for an ICE. That number is roughly appropriate for a Camry, but that is simply not a relevant vehicle. Vehicles that are comparable to a P85 cost more like $0.30 to run, and with that, the savings become much more substantial. That said, this car is not about being frugal, it is simply the best car, just like Tesla was trying for. Drive it for a while and all other cars seem old and slow.
First of all I dooubt the average cost of gas will be $3.80 per gallon over the next 8 years. (See the last 8 years.) Secondly, if the battery is guaranteed for 8 years the actual usefulness is likely much longer.
When Jay Leno in his piece about the Model S asked Franz von Holzhausen how long the battery would last (not what the guarantee was) Holzhausen answered 10 years. And 10 years as we all know is a very long time for vehicle life and an eternity in tech development.
Obviously no one can predict the future but I think the difference between fuel costs of an ICE & a Model S over the practical life of each vehicle is going to favor the Model S far more than the above scenario predicts.
I am days away from finalizing and am nervous over a few things but probably will do it. A few points. One you have to facter the loss of energy whem charging, the loss of energy from vampire draw which they say will improve, the loss of energy conditioning the battery, and any unknowns we dont yet know about. I drive a z4 thats ten years old and got 29 mpg over its life with real world stop and go traffic combined with hwy driving. Given the 20% supposed improvement of the z4 in mpg and the various unaccounted inefficiencies of the models s i computed the annual gas savings on todays dollars for nj where gas is cheap and elecric is high not to be that much. Granted its an unfair comparison because the z4 is a to seater, but often we drive my wife"s jetta diesel if we are together and the z is myself alone or with the fur child aka dog.
It is unknown when a battery will need to be replaced (assuming reasonable wear and tear). One poster said the battery could easily last 20 years. So only te will tell how this shakes out in reality.
As for the whole issue of accounting for a new battery as fuel cost... Do you do this with replacing your engine or any other associated repairs to an aging ice? Why not? Why only do this with a battery car?
I think the cost of ownership of ms will be the real test of Evs future. Imagine only three moving parts to maintain as opposed the hundreds in ice and many more in the ever increasing hybrid world after 8+ years... Imagine having detailed logs of all your cars maintenance needs when walking into the mechanics garage... No one will be able to pull a fast one on you... They are forced to do honest work... How many times have you had u expected problems brought up by mechanics? Lots in my circle, believe me...
For me, I feel this car is dollar for dollar a deal over time... You just pay more upfront then the normal car so the savings don't stand out. Imagine when the genIII comes out... Probably will equate to the cost of a Sonic if you look at it from this perspective.
Long term savings is where this tech could really shine especially since the average length of ownership these days is 11 years.
Well, I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota that I use when I have a lot of stuff to carry. I just put $3,000 into a new transmission. Older cars cost money to maintain in tip top shape. Teslas, too. But instead of piston rings, headers, valves, trannies, etc, we have batteries to worry about. Seems like a wash to me.
Also, I got the 85KWh, but don't drive more than 50 miles for 90% of my days. So, as long as the battery can power 50 miles, I still have a baller set of wheels.
Also, at 8-10 years, the whole car is depreciated. An 85KWh battery performing at a 40KWh equivalent is still pretty well matched to the then current quality on the rest of the car. And that's a pretty worst-case scenario, right?
Also, how many of you 2013 Model S owners will still own your Model S in 8 years? I know some of you will...but most of you are rich, or are early adopters, or both...both categories tend to update their cars before 5 years.
The Model S with 85KWh simply has juice to spare to retain value even if the battery degrades. As we know, the average daily drive is about 35 miles. I'm just not that worried.
+1 Derek
The deal with long term savings will come when the first owners trade in or sell their ms and the follow on owners take on the car. I think those that purchase the 5 year old 85kw ms ( which is the person able to pay 35-50k) will experience the savings immediately. I have a feeling this market will be huge.
Electric Vehicles are more about saving the environment in the long run, not specifically saving money today.
An EV is a viable path to reducing carbon emissions: one of the few that I (and most driving citizens of this planet) can undertake easily. We are also in the process of installing a PV (solar) system to reduce carbon emissions further.
I did the TCO calculations. I noted for my expected driving distance that replacing the batteries in 8 years would add (ignoring NPV) $125 per month to my "fuel" costs. Shrug. Yup, add the cost of electricity and it's still in the same ball-park as an ICE.
The other inherent benefit of today's EVs actually comes from the fact that it is hard to get a big enough battery system to produce the range of the MS. This has forced the issue of pulling out the stops for all efficiency gains possible. You see this in the 0.24 DC, the regen-braking, etc.
In the end, it still beats the pants off of an ICE when it comes to the carbon footprint. With some luck and more people on this path, my kids and your kids might be able to live in a world with a stabilizing climate vs a run-away greenhouse.
@nickniketown - yes, you should stay with your Mercedes because they have door pockets and better lights in the trunk. That is definitely the deciding factor for me in buying a car. Since you clearly aren't interested in such an inferior car as the Model S, why are you still here at all?
Your story about the SmartEV rings false -- first, it is hard to simulate 4 years of use in less than 4 years (you can do cycles, but that doesn't exactly replicate it), and second there are lots of Roadsters out there for longer than 4 years that say differently, even saying the degradation is much lower than expected. For the Roadster, Tesla had to stuff the batteries wherever they would fit because the Elise wasn't designed as an EV, yet the Model S has improved battery technology on a number of fronts and could be expected to perform better than the Roadster batteries.
The path to achieving the environmental goals will be through creating a car that makes sense in financially to a target market. Mass market will be genIII, genIII will begin moving the dial on eco front. Not enough just to be emissions free in real world... Real world is like the frog that doesn't jump out of the boiling water (think al gore said this in his doc). Has to make sense to the wallet first before we make the leap.
dortor: There are a lot of flaws in your calculations/assumptions, but I will focus on the absolutely biggest one of all:
Including the $12,000 in the TCO is done incorrectly. If you replace the battery after year 8, you will be good for another 8 years. You will only need to pay $12,000 to replace the batteries once. You won't replace the battery after year 16 right before you junk the car... That means, using your method, you should put in $750 per year instead of $1,500.
Another question raised by this discussion is whether to pony up the $12k for the battery replacement as soon as the option becomes available. If battery technology improves as many expect, and costs come down, maybe the $12k up front is not a good deal.
One mitigant in these calculations of ROE and battery replacement cost is the time value of money over such a long period of time, 8 years. IN 2021, you will be paying for that battery in 2021 dollars, not 2013 dollars. Not true for gas cost, which you pay throughout.
Also, for the cost of the replacement battery in 2021, one can expect inflation impact on the currency to be more than offset by technological innovation savings. With gas, you may get technological advances in OTHER cars during that period that effectively reduce gas cost by increasing MPG, but your 2013 year model ICE car will have the same old fuel economy.
So I feel good about the battery issue you describe, subject to the great unknown -- how will the battery degrade over time BEFORE I get to the 8 year replacement point, and where will Tesla step in with its "unlimited" battery warranty to protect me against that range degradation. No answers except for "trust me, we'll do the right thing". One service rep told me they will constantly analyze the degradation on the general MS population, and if your degradation excessively exceeds that, they will honor the warranty. That sounds like "trust me".
@rdloftin1 - This greatly depends on your risk aversion. 12 grand today or 22 grand or more in 8 years in future dollars. Yes Tesla is a new car company but that doesn't mean the car was built by newbies. One of the greatest achievement in the evolution of humans was the ability to stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. James Clerk Maxwell, Michael Faraday, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford all of these guys would be very interested in Tesla Motors and what they are achieving. There is no doubt that the suspension on this car was expertly tuned, the weight balanced just right. The car exude confidence, the kind you can only get from a superior build, using parts source from MB supplyers like the door switches and the steering tree. I've got mine and if anyone ever want to take this car off the road, they'll have to pry it from my cold dead fingers. It is the best car I have ever driven and the only car I truly feel is worth every penny.
If you calculate the battery into consumables then you have to deduct it from the purchase price which would reduce the initial cost for the 85 kWh model by about $ 15'000.- (otherwise you calculate the battery price twice).
The questions for me regarding the battery replacement option are:
1. How long can I wait before exercising the option?
2. What battery will I get? Another 85kw (in my case) or a better one if available?
3. What warranty will the new battery carry? Would TM warrant the new one for more than 8 years, even if the new battery is built on superior technology?
No question that one's risk appetite factors into the decision, but I'd sure like to have these answers before the window closes.
Surely there must be some hard reliable numbers regarding the battery capacity-loss over time from all the Roadsters out there? Then it should be easier to calculate the battery-cost, even though there are a lot of unknowns (number of charging cycles, depth of recharging, the effectiveness of battery temp.control, currency-fluctuations, inflation, future cost of fuel, future cost of batteries and so on).
Or, most probably, that's what Tesla has done and figured out that the lifetime will be 8 years. Much more if you don't mind the drop in range.
I tried that fuel-cost-calculation myself some while back, and with Norwegian fuel prices remaining constant for the years to come (highly unlikely!) I figured I'd need to drive my (future) Model S at least 15 km pr day to be cheaper "fuel"-wise than an ICE-machine. This is for a period of 8 years, but as stated by a few earlier this should really be 16 years!
No need to cancel my reservation then. Not because of this at least.
Many upgrades to the battery since the Roadster. Flat pack not the only one, many others.
What part of "depreciates the whole car" don't you understand? The battery is being written off at the same rate as the rest of the car. If you like, think of the write-off as money put aside to replace it.
Double-counting, and then again double-counting at the 16-yr. mark. You're obviously trying hard.
There are many factors to consider beyond cost such as:
1. Quiet
2. No exhaust
3. No oil changes/tune-ups
4. No transmission to replace
5. No antifreeze
6. No rusting body or undercarriage (95% aluminum)
7. Regenerative braking (longer brake pad life)
8. Fun to drive
My Mercedes cost $80,000 in 2002 and today I will be lucky to get $8,000 for it. ICE's in general are as close to disposable commodities as anything else. It actually takes a great deal of effort to dispose of them as they are toxic nightmares by the time they have reached the end of their life-cycle. At least with this car the few parts that there are, by comparison, can be replaced fairly easily and thus this will most likely be the last car I own.
Sometimes it helps to step back and see the forest from the trees.
"So I guess the question is: what will the range of a Tesla Model S battery be in 5 years?"
Wait 5 years and you will know, nobody can answer you this right now. Or wait for the roadsters to be 5 year old next year, and ask an owner. It will still be guesstimating though, as the batteries are a different chemistry and have different temperature management.
You are right that without that answer, any TCO analysis is incomplete. That's why trying to make a TCO analysis on this car is an exercise in guesswork. You can either believe tesla (8 years, 20% capacity loss or whatever their official numbers are), and go for it, or not believe them and pass on the model S. Those are your only two choices. Even if some know-all battery expert told you that it's going to be fine, it is more than obvious you won't believe them, you have no reason to believe them, and will continue to doubt until you have the absolute proof. But then the proof in 5 years should be in conditions matching yours, not ideal, like california or some other warm place. So you will never know exactly, which is why you should never buy a model S, the chance exist you will regret it, and it won't make financial sense in the long run.
nickniketown, the Roadsters have proven the tech enough that I feel Tesla has a better idea about their batteries than you and whatever 3 cents you want to throw in.
Real world example from an average Joe like myself. I drove my S for 50+ miles Saturday. I plugged it in when I got home. I spent (from the plug) $1.67 to recharge the car. If I had drove my 12 year old Saturn I would have spent $7.93. If I would have driven campsalvage's Z4 I would have spent around $6. I am happy and do not care about the battery. I will be trading the S in for two GenIII's when they come out.
nickniketown will never know anything except he can't afford the car in the first place.... and that's really the point that should be made. If you can afford a $75,000 car (which is what I paid for mine) then you are not going to nit-pick at the $600 service fee or how much gas/battery cost. I bought the car because I wanted it not because it was going to save me money or the world. The car is a blast to drive. Buy it for that or simply do not buy it. I have never made money on a car purchase in my life and I don't think that is going to change any time soon.
In ICE terms:
Think of a battery as a mobile unrefined oil well, not gas tank. The battery has many cycles of recharging capability, essentially serving in place of a deep oil well that continuously pumps oil. But this oil is useless without charged electrons, just as oil is useless to a car until it is refined. When the battery is no longer useable, its like the oil well going dry and no more refined gas can be made.
Essentially, the reason you are paying 80k for an 85kWh Model S instead of $45-50k is because you are prepaying 30k for a mini oil well (the battery) where you will get/store energy for the next 8-12 years. The reason ICE car is cheaper is because you do not have to buy the oil well up front, just the refined gas. It would be like going to buy a car and the dealer said, "We calculated that you would consume X,XXX barrels of oil over the 8-12 year life of this car, so you need to buy this mini oil well along with the car for an extra $XX,XXX. A small nominal fee will be charged every-time you get the refined gas from your well.
A base model S without the 40kWh battery would cost around $32k without the battery. Think of a charge to the battery as refining the gasoline that sits in the ICE tank. The difference is we do not buy crude oil and refine it ourselves in our homes to be used in our gas tanks. The larger the kWh battery you buy, the bigger the oil well equivalent.
My own thoughts are when a network of batteries/chargers become available and you are not forced to buy the battery along with the car, but let larger companies manage the "electric oil well" (the battery) you will have a very economical car, cheaper than an ICE car, but the infrastructure is not there right now.
Slightly OT, speaking of underbody corrosion, the casing of the battery is actually steel. I wonder if it will experience any corrosion in northern salt-spreading regions.
During my extensive Tesla search before ordering, I read somewhere that the Roadsters were getting about 3% degradation each year. I would hope that the MS would improve on that, but even if they didn't, 3% is a whole lot better than what most of the estimates above (search the forums and you'll see this referenced a number of times). Too, Tesla would not warrantee a battery for 8 years if they thought there was a real chance of the average live being less than that.
I agree that the higher end models are not the best "investment", but I would challenge those who state, "no one buying this car thinks they can actually save money". I've done an extensive analysis (time value of money, insurance cost difference, maintenance estimates, etc), but below is a simplified version of the more significant variables:
$57.5k (stripped down 40 kWh bought before the end of the year)
- 8.3k ($7,500 Federal Rebate + $750 Oregon Rebate)
+ $4k (10 years of owner ship * $400/year annual electricity cost)
- $19.5k (Trade-in assuming 1/3rd initial cost)
+$8,000 (Battery replacement, even though it should have about 75% capacity after 10 years)
= $41.7 (my full assessment showed an annual cost of ownership to be about $5.8k)
Compared to:
$23.8 (stripped down Honda Accord which has many less features in the base model and is an inferior car)
- No Rebate
+ $19.6 (10 years of owner ship * $1,960/year annual gas & oil)
- $7.9k (Trade-in assuming 1/3rd initial cost)
+$3,000 (repairs over 10 years that are unique to ICE)
= $38.5 (my full assessment showed an annual cost of about $5.3k)
Now the accord is no comparison to even the entry level MS. A BMW3 or Mustang GT has an annual cost of about $7.0k versus $6.7k for a 60 kWh model with $5k-$6k worth of upgrades (what I purchased).
Too, after purchasing the battery, you have another 8-10 years left which really makes the value proposition good.
I'm sure I will get slammed for this assessment, but my point is, the value proposition is a lot better than the original sticker price would make one believe and this IS one of the primary reasons I purchased my Model S.
@dortor "no one buying this car thinks they can actually save money"
Our situation...
Wife commutes approx 35k per year. She loves BMW, so every 3-4 years she gets a new one.
So costs..
BMW $50k + maint for 100k miles $5k
times 2 costs us $110k for 6.5 years of BMW's
I could break it down further, but her Tesla should put us even at about 5 years.
Even accounting fuel costs as the same! 35K x 5 worth of gasoline is gonna cost lots more than 35K of electric juice. Is her mpg in double digits? ;)
typo: 35K x 5 of electric ...
(That's 175K, for those who don't have their calculators handy.)
Just do what I did:
Step 1) convince yourself by whatever means necessary that the car will save you a few hundred dollars of gas a month
Step 2) Finalize your order
Step 3) Admit that there might not be much savings in gas or maintenance, and that the car may be worthless at the end of 8 years
Step 4) Be happy again knowing that you're probably not buying the car to save the world but because it's an insanely cool, fun car with lots of electronic toys, and despite the inconveiences, in some ways it's absurdly convenient; plus it's a car that really is different and you're helping to pave the way for a car that really will be a game changer down the road (whether it's Gen III or a non-Tesla car)
Step 5) Smile smugly
Sounds like you all missed the fine print on the contract. It reads the same as a video poker machine:
"User understands that use and ownership of this vehicle is for entertainment purposes only and understands that it requires a financial expenditure to enjoy. All costs and expenses are approximate and do not guarantee anything whatsoever".
I plan to drive it and see what happens, just like the rest of you. If I can keep the battery 10 years and get to where I want to go great! If I have to fork over more money to replace it in 3 years, after 100,000 miles, I will do that too.
I know at least one person commented on this, but I just want to add: we can't possibly know what a Model S replacement battery will cost in 8 years (or however long after that it actually lasts). But it is almost a guarantee that it will be much less than $12,000. Until recently, there has been little incentive to advance battery technology. In just the last couple of years, we now have lots of hybrid and all-electric cars on the road. Chances are that the numbers will grow very fast. The chicken and egg circle is being broken, and we will see some amazing advances in the following areas of battery technology:
time to charge
weight (energy density)
and these are just a few. I am looking for companies that are in the business of advancing battery technology and investing there. Tesla is first on the list.
Just an aside, the guy who accidentally invented the super-soaker-squirt-gun is a research scientist. He has developed a wafer cooker size battery that is super light weight and literally one inch square with plenty of power. I do know that he sold it to Whamo for an undisclosed fortune and intended to use all that money to continue his research. I don't know what happened to him because that was a number of years ago but I expect many new achievements to come rapidly if Tesla can hang in there. I am very excited about this new wave of the future and I am certainly committed to the long haul.
Random comments on the above string: Battery technology will evolve. In 8 years you might be able to by more capacity for less money. There might even be aftermarket options, depending on how many of these things are on the road.
An 8 year old ICE is depreciating in ways other than value. There is no way an 8 year old ICE is making the same horsepower as it did the day it left the factory. The driver might not feel it, because it degrades over time. But it is losing power every year.
It is expensive and labor intensive to upgrade and ICE vehicle. Engine swaps and electronic upgrades are enormously expensive. Those two systems on MS are relatively easy to swap out or improve. MS therefore seems a better platform for supporting future improvements.
Tesla has unique opportunities regarding trade-ins. In 4 years when I want to trade in my 40 kwh car, they can easily upgrade it to an 85 (or beyond), slap a warranty on it and sell it. ICE manufacturers don't have that capability. They aren't going to drop the latest engine technology in a 4 year old car. They couldn't even if they wanted to.
My laptop and cell phone batteries are lasting a lot longer than they used to, and they don't have sophisticated heating and cooling systems keeping them at ideal temperatures.
If Roadster was experiencing significant battery degradation, we'd be hearing about it. There are more than enough haters out there to ferret out the bad news.
A bit too too, there. Upgrading a 40 to an 85 doesn't fly, at least re the SC hardware. That needs a complete wiring rebuild. Cheaper to make a new car, probably. That said, large batteries with standard charging could be available.
Let's assume 1000 mile batteries will cost $2500 in 8 years (please adjust for inflation), assume that gas will be $10 a pint, that Tesla will continue to push out software updates and improve the efficiency of 2013 Model S cars by 10% annually, perhaps assign an arbitrary X factor to each equation (could be a positive or negative value because we can't know what will happen with taxes, resale values of 1st gen EVs or traditional ICEs in the future) and let's ignore the predictable and unpredictable costs of repairs to ICE vehicles with their thousands of moving parts and EVs with their 10s of moving parts. Now, can somebody get out their slip-stick and cypher that TCO? And could somebody tell me how much money I will have to spend to maintain my MS for the next 10 years? I can tell you I spent north of 8 grand on my 2003 CLK 500, not including those reasonably priced Mercedes service visits. I hope I don't have to pay somebody to take it away. This should be easy to figure out. Or, call Ms. Cleo at the psychic friends hotline. You can get back to us in 10 minutes @ $9.95 a minute. Meanwhile, I'll be driving my Tesla around with a big smile on my face and will be giving no thought to the costs, depreciation or anything other than how happy and smug I feel for being an early adopter and having the honor of being among the first to experience the unprecedented joy that flows from the accelerator, into my right foot, fills every fiber of my being and prevents my brain from contemplating these unfathomable, depressing notions. If the economies of your life depend on whether a Model S will save you a nickel or lose you a dollar, don't buy an $80k electric luxury car. Consider a second hand Prius, or a bicycle. If you have the money, buy the car, have fun, be the first in your neighborhood, blaze a trail, live it up. What is the going rate on euphoria? Whatever it is, in my opinion, it's worth it. Best car ever. Hope this was helpful.(YMMV)
Lush, you're besotted! Those endorphins have put you round the bend. These nice men in the white coats just want to help. Go with them quietly.
:D ;p |B-}
True. I'm off the rails. Those men in white will have to catch me first if they want to put me in a rubber room and I can out torque them in my Tesla. But I'm having fun and not yet putting a price on it. Maybe the infatuation will wear off someday and I'll start having regrets and counting the costs, or this could be true love, which is priceless. Time will tell. It's funny though, I never really calculated the true TCO of any car I owned in my life. It makes it so much harder to be in denial about the value of a vehicle when you actually crunch the numbers. Most of my cars probably were costing me far more than I really knew. It will be interesting to see how future battery technology develops and what range and life we can enjoy in 3, 5, 10 years. Tesla warrants the battery for 8 years. I hope their estimates are accurate. It would be a shame for them, and us, if they had to replace them all early. Hope their estimates are realistic. But semi-seriously, if you could upgrade/trade in your 85/60/40kw battery in maybe 5 years for one that could go, let's say 1000 miles, what would you be willing to pay? Would the impact on your TCO be a deal breaker or would the added range be worth it, even if your TCO exceeded that of a comparably priced ICE? You still would have a car with zero TPE, not to mention astonishing performance, a beautiful body and that amazing touchscreen. Sometimes being green costs more (can you say organic grocer?). Sorry that I've rambled off topic. I'm a creative type, not very pragmatic or technical, and this discussion has me wondering aloud about the future.
@ Lush1
Have fun with your Tesla Model S.
Driving a Tesla model S every day is priceless...
Before last Sunday, I was asking myself the question of cost since I put my reservation almost 4 years ago. I have my car for about a week now, and the car is a 1 million $ experience at least...
It's true that it seems expensive, but driving clean is also priceless.
Driving the first "true" 21st century car, is priceless. All the other are from the past. Living in the car of the future is priceless.
if we all drive ICE car, we even don't know if we will able to breathe in 20 year from now, the cost of ownership for these 20 years will be useless... Let's drive clean, and enjoy a marvelous car.


text:
This custom CJ-3A is a project that Jesse over at Fortec Atlanta had worked on for well over a year. Using a bunch of Omix-ADA, Rugged Ridge, and Alloy USA parts, as well as some custom fabrication – the build finally came to completion just before the 2012 SEMA Show! Be sure to check out the gallery at the bottom of the post.
–Omix-ADA fenders stretched 8"
–Omix grill
–Omix "WILLYS" branded tailgate
–Original windshield frame chopped 12" and 1" added to opening to accommodate bigger glass
–All Omix lights
–Original headlamp bucket assemblies
–Aluminum tub
–Omix stainless steel front OE style bumper shortened
–Omix stainless steel OE style rear bumperettes
–Omix side view mirror
–72-75 CJ-5 frame, boxed and fitted with custom cross members
–Custom tubular trans mount
–Custom motor mounts
Suspension, Brakes, and Steering:
–Independent front suspension with adjustable coilovers
–Parallel 4 link rear with adjustable coilovers on custom mounts
–Custom rear track bar and mounts
–103" wheelbase
–Manual rack and pinion steering
–Under dash master cylinder and booster
–4 piston front brake calipers
–Disc brakes on rear
–All hand bent stainless steel brake lines with braided stainless hoses
–5.7 Hemi form 2008 Dodge Ram
–426 Hemi intake
–6.1 Hemi fuel rail and injectors
–6.4 Hemi front accessories and oil pan
– 224 / 228 @ .50" lift Cam
–High Flow Electric Fuel Pump
–15 Gallon Aluminum Fuel Cell
–Custom Headers with Gibson Sand Rail Mufflers
–Custom Aluminum Radiator
–Omix Dipstick handles and oil filler cap
–Built 545RFE from 2008 Dodge truck
–3000 Stall
Rear End:
–Dana 44 from 72-75 CJ-5
– Limited slip
–Precision Gear 4.10 Ring and Pinion, and rebuild kit
–Alloy USA replacement shafts
–Alloy USA diff cover
Wheel and Tires:
–Front: 26 x 4.5 / 17 M&H Racemaster tires on 17 x 4 Aluminum Wheels
–Rear: 28 x 12.50 / 15 M&H Racemaster tires on 15 x 12 American Racing Outlaws
–Omix OE style CJ-3A seats
–Omix Leather wrapped steering wheel re-wrapped in brown leather
–Omix glove box door and grab handle
–Stainless steering column
–Custom Aluminum Console

subset: commoncrawl


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— A police sketch of a man walking in the area of Greenwich teenager Martha Moxley's home the night she was killed is expected to be a critical part of defense lawyers' next bid for freedom for Michael Skakel, the Kennedy cousin serving a 20-years-to-life sentence for the 1975 murder.
Skakel's lawyers said they will raise claims that the composite drawing — based on a description given to police by a private security guard at the gated Belle Haven community where both Moxley and Skakel lived — should have been used as exculpatory evidence by Skakel's trial lawyer.
Skakel, the nephew of Robert and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, was convicted of Moxley's murder in June 2002 at age 41. He was not charged with the teen's murder until 2000, when he was 39. His trial received widespread publicity because of his ties to the Kennedys.
The state Supreme Court has upheld his conviction, and the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review the case. Last October, Skakel, now 52, pleaded his innocence before the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles but was denied release from prison.
His lawyers' latest argument was outlined in a pretrial memorandum filed Tuesday at Superior Court in Rockville in anticipation of a hearing beginning April 16 on a petition Skakel has filed for a writ of habeas corpus. Such a petition is often a convict's last resort to get a verdict overturned or a prison sentence reduced.
Skakel's lawyers, Hubert J. Santos and Jessica M. Santos, say Skakel's trial lawyer, Mickey Sherman, was ineffective. Sherman is expected to testify in the hearing later this month.
Skakel's lawyers argue that it was Sherman's duty to investigate and obtain the police sketch that they say bears a strong resemblance to Kenneth Littleton, a man who did tutoring at the Skakel home. Littleton originally was a chief suspect in Martha's murder, the lawyers say.
The pretrial memo says Sherman did not specifically request a copy of the sketch, "the single most important piece of exculpatory evidence in the case. … The ability for the jury to view a sketch of a man seen near the crime scene at the relevant time that resembles Kenneth Littleton (and not 15-year-old Michael Skakel) would have materially assisted the defense."
The state Supreme Court, in unanimously upholding Skakel's conviction in 2006, noted that the state should have turned over the sketch. However, because the sketch is mentioned in two reports that Sherman had in his possession before trial, the high court deemed it a harmless error, because Sherman had notice of the existence of the sketch and did not pursue it.
In a pretrial brief filed Tuesday, a team of state's attorneys headed by Fairfield County Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Susann E. Gill said an investigation determined that the composite sketch was of another man, not Littleton. The brief also points to findings by Judge Edward R. Karazin Jr., who presided over the trial and subsequent Superior Court hearing for a new trial, that said Skakel failed to prove the sketch resembled Littleton in 1975.
"Obviously if the sketch does not resemble Littleton, it is not even relevant to the theory constructed by [Skakel]; therefore it can not be material," the state's attorneys wrote.
Skakel's lawyers allege 10 deficiencies of Sherman at trial, including his "failure" to obtain discovery, to challenge what they claim were coerced confessions, to properly prepare defense witnesses, to challenge use of certain evidence, and to advise Skakel of his constitutional right to testify and elect trial by a three-judge panel.
They also allege Sherman's counsel was adversely affected by a conflict of interest in his fee arrangement with Skakel.
The memo filed Tuesday shows Skakel's lawyers also plan to raise questions about Sherman's handling of the trial testimony of two of Skakel's former Elan School classmates, including Gregory Coleman, a convicted felon with a history of drug addiction and mental health issues, who testified that Skakel had confessed the murder to him.
Coleman died of a drug overdose in Rochester, N.Y., in 2001, about four months after he testified at Skakel's probable cause hearing, the pretrial memo states. Elan served as a residential substance abuse center for teens.
Skakel's lawyers wrote that the prosecution's case "rested entirely on the credibility of two witnesses of dubious credibility, who came forward with their stories of confessions after twenty years and the announcement of a reward for information."
"There were no eyewitnesses to the murder of Martha Moxley," they continued. "There was no forensic evidence that linked [Skakel] to the crime. Had trial counsel acted with reasonable diligence and conducted an appropriate investigation, obtained discovery and challenged inappropriate evidence presented by the state, the result of [Skakel's] trial likely would have been different."
State's attorneys disagree, saying in their memo Tuesday that Coleman's testimony "was buttressed at trial by two witnesses."
The state says Sherman's representation did not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness, something Skakel must prove to determine ineffectiveness. Skakel "cannot carry his burden of proving" Sherman's counsel was constitutionally deficient and "that he was prejudiced," the state's attorneys wrote.
Further, the state's attorneys say claims of ineffective counsel on some of the counts are "procedurally defaulted" due to Skakel's failure to raise them in his 2005 petition for a new trial. In addition, the state's attorneys say, Karazin's findings denying Skakel a new trial "were conclusive; there was nothing tentative" about them.
"The state should not be forced to litigate these issues a second time," the state's attorneys wrote. Skakel "should not be permitted to place these issues once again in dispute in the hopes that a different judge will come to a different conclusion."
To allow Skakel to do that, "for no good reason other than his desire to keep the controversy alive and hope for a different result before a different decision maker, makes a mockery of the finality to which the state, the taxpayers, and the victims are entitled," they wrote.
Skakel and Moxley were both 15 when the crime occurred. They lived across the street from each other. Moxley's body was found beneath a tree on Halloween. She was beaten to death with part of a golf club about 10 p.m. the previous night.


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I am surprised by the pride folks demonstrate in their bigotry. Nothing seems to galvanize good people of majority status like the opportunity to pick on a minority group that has the audacity to vocalize dissatisfaction. Bigotry about sexual orientation operates on a continuum from "love the sinner" to "kills the gays." In the future, those who support denying basic civil rights to this minority group will be viewed in the same way decent people view those who supported denying civil rights to black people 50 years ago.
Views: 493
I know.... No shame
To them it's not so much bigotry as their way of saying, "I'm better / holier / more pious than YOU are," and in so doing, show off their bigoted attitude to their fellow believers ... AND to everyone else.
In the final analysis, sure, Dan Cathy has the right to give to whatever organizations he wants and to run his business after his preferences. Mayors Menino and Emanuel in response have the right to publicly point out this attitude. It may be that they can't legally prevent Chick-fil-A from coming into their markets, they can make the process a lot more difficult, time-consuming and expensive, while employing their skills at political theater to keep Cathy's less-than-egalitarian attitudes in the public eye.
The bottom line is that Cathy will likely still sell his chicken sandwiches, but probably not so many as he might have otherwise. The black eye he takes for his bigotry won't go away for a long time, either.
Two observations about this.
First, I don't think it will take 50 years to view Cathy and his ilk in the same way white supremacists of the 1960's are currently viewed. I think their viewed the same way right now - at least I do. Which leads me to my next point.
Second. I'm of the opinion that Huckster Huckabee and his "Support Chic-fil-a" campaign will ultimately backfire on them. Think of this. You're a company that, like every other capitalist corporation, wants to expand your market. Do you do that by alienating potential customers, and driving off ones you have now? Yeah, you make a big splash for a couple of days with cheering supporters and lines out to the parking lot. But, after a few weeks, people will go back to their normal routines. Die hard Chic-fil-a customers will continue to eat there. But even then, a constant diet of the same thing gets old. Others will go back to Burger King, McDonald's, Hardees, etc. HOWEVER, you have demonstrably alienated a significant percentage of the population that will never eat there again, or even try it for the first time. The very same population you want for the expansion of your customer base. I'll be the first to admit I'm not an economist, but this doesn't strike as the most intelligent business plan one could come up with. Personal opinion is that their potential for growth just took a major hit.
I don't think Chic-Fil-A will be hurt by the founder giving a fortune to hate groups, and speaking against LGBT people's rights to christian publications. The only bad publicity is no publicity. For many (myself included) then only time I've heard about Chic-Fil-A has been due to the owner being a bigot. The teabaggers have made big inroads in American politics, with their bigotry. Mrs. Palin has made a fortune by being a poop head, even though her voice sounds like pigs eating their young. Even Mrs. Palin's dimwitted daughter has made a fortune by having no talent other than choosing an infamous mother and getting pregnant.
These people, and chic-Fil-A are like the pile of cow poop attracting flies - there are plenty of flies to attract.
Chic-Fil-A may never be McDonalds' but they will do well. America has no shortage of low life.
I am just disgusted with my fellow human beings today, I yelled at network television three times this morning before I decided I'm too sick and it's wearing on me emotionally to watch this clap trap, so no more local t.v. for me... I can't do it... I'm getting uglier whilst I watch, thinking uglier thoughts, wishing we had crazies on our side.
It's a never ending game of whack-a-mole with this type human, I'm convinced that humans will 'never' peacefully coexist and this stupidity, this malignancy on the ass of humanity we call religious fundamentalism has done nothing but destroy civilization after civilization in the name of their gods since its inception, I'm convinced it will not rest until we are extinct, they are our species meteorite, our plague. Maybe we should build a floating city somewhere out there and leave them to kill one another off.
Not watching local TV might be a good idea (sigh). A floating city might be a good idea.
SB, I see your point. And while I agree that even bad publicity is still publicity, I think this works more for politicians than it does for businesses. BP stock fell in value from $60.00 a share to $27.00 a share in light of the Gulf Oil Spill. Bank of America stock dropped by 30%. Hewlett Packard's stock dropped 22% when the CEO Hurd falsified expenses for meeting with a "consultant" (Jodie Fisher - soft core porn star). Now, I realize Chick-fil-a is not a publicly held company, and they didn't bring down the stock market, or cause an environmental disaster. But, I'm still not convinced this will be good for business.
You're correct in that there's always going to be flies attracted to shit. And, I don't think this will cause their bankruptcy, by any stretch (although, one can always hope). However, once the smell permeates things, it may be just the flies that are attracted, and no one else.
On another site it was mentioned that there used to be a Denny's-like pancake restaurant chain, Sambos. According to Wikipedia, in 1979 Sambo's had 1,200 outlets in 47 American states. Then the syrup hit the fan, due to the obvious racist name and theme. I remember eating there as a boy - there was definitely the "plantation theme", stereotype racist imagery on the decorations and menus. Boycotts and protests led to the chain's demise, and even bankruptcy and re-naming could not save it.
I think the difference here is that, in the 1970s, much (by no means all or even maybe most) of the family-restaurant-going populace rightfully saw shame in racism. Or at least, viewed eating at a racist-theme restaurant as being low-life. People wanted to think of themselves as goodhearted and well meaning. To eat at a restaurant that had as its name, a racist symbol and imagery, did not jib with how people wanted to view themselves.
Today, elections are still fought and won by people who use the "gay card" to garner votes. In every state that has put marriage equality on the ballot, the anti-equality side has lost. Even if that changes in a couple of states this fall (don't bet your pants on it), the majority of the country either doesn't give enough of a damn to vote, or is avidly against equality. And plenty, who are not against equality, don't understand why a company's founder being homophobic means they shouldn't enjoy the food.
On their "anti-gay-day", the chain was as busy as a farmer with one hoe and 5 rattlesnakes. That effect will wear off, but we are still a long way from acceptance of LGBT people.
I would like to believe otherwise. I grew up gay, I'm still gay, and I will always be gay. I lived through homophobic redneck childhood, bullying and beatings. I lived through the fame and fortune of Reagan, Anita Bryant, Jerry Farwell, seeing more die from AIDS than died in Vietnam - without gov't comment and with "leaders" blaming the victims, don't ask-don't tell, and countless personal experiences. To expect that a country and culture that has so many times shown promise only to back down, is not realistic. It's like being the wife of an alcoholic who is constantly claiming to be reformed, only to come home and administer yet another beating.
Even thought I nearly cried when Obama came out in support of marriage equality, and Hillary Clinton and other politicians have said, LGBT people are human and deserve respect and equality, it's very hard not to say, thank you so much, truly and sincerely, but I still don't trust American society.
I want to say I understand your mistrust, but I honestly don't. Appreciate it and empathize with it, yes. Understand it based on personal experience, no. I'd be lying if I said I did. I've never been in your shoes, or lived your life experiences. I'm a 60 year old white, heterosexual, male, who was in the demographics that were handed every opportunity society could offer growing up. I was never told I couldn't drink at a water fountain, use a restroom, or eat in a diner because of my skin color. I was never told my opinions were worthless, that I should get back in the kitchen, have career opportunities, or equal pay denied to me because of my gender. I was never picked on, beaten, shunned, ostracized, or made to feel an outcast who is less than human because of my sexual preference or orientation. Unlike so many in our society (and the world), I drew what American society at the time would have defined as a winning lottery ticket at birth.
But, I'm glad I grew up when I did. It was an eye opener to live through the civil rights movement, and realize how dangerous and deadly ignorant bigoted hatred can be. Oh, and I used to get into a shit load of trouble, and more than one ass whipping, with my father when I mentioned I thought blacks were just as equal as everyone else. Now, decades after being a living witness to Selma, Alabama, Bull Connor, and Chaney, Goodman and Schwermer, I hear the same dumb assed arguments, same hatred, same ignorant bigotry, same mean spirited dehumanization being spouted from the same type of people when it comes to LGBTs.
I guess I'm hoping that that there are enough of you and me out there that a change for the better will occur. It's incremental, and long overdue. Two steps forward, and one and three quarters backward. Maybe not in my lifetime or yours. But I can still hope, if for no other reason than for my children and the future. I'll give credit to fellow A|N member James Martin for enlightening me to the following quote.
Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace. Benito Jaurez
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New "JIT Spray" Penetrates Best Windows Defenses
New attack techniques have proven capable of penetrating the state of the art in Windows systemic defenses, specifically DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization). A demonstration was made today at BlackHat in DC and one firm has released a proof of concept to their customers.
Attacks against ASLR and DEP individually have been around for some time, but the two have tended to reinforce each other; a bypass of DEP is usually blocked by ASLR, and a bypass of ASLR is usually blocked by DEP. The new technique works on systems with both defenses in place. DEP has been supported in Windows since Windows XP SP2, although not turned on by default. ASLR was introduced in Windows Vista. In both cases the program or the user has to opt-in to use the feature. Many modern versions of program, like IE8, Acrobat and Flash all opt-in.
The attack is a "JIT Spray," the details of which may have been released at Black Hat today, but they aren't documented well yet. DEP stops attackers from writing executable code to the heap and running it because the heap is marked as non-executable. JIT spraying solves this by spraying pages which are marked as executable.
We first heard of the exploit a few days ago when Dave Aitel of Immunity Inc. revealed on Twitter that they had released a JIT Spray + Aurora demo to their customers that works on IE8 and Windows 7, but we've been hearing for some time that many groups were working on it.
The demo at BlackHat was in a presentation by Dionysus Blazakis (Dion) of Semantiscope. A YouTube video of the exploit can be found here (it's also embedded belowjack up the volume for the full effect). It's somehow unsurprising, but the demo of the attack involves Adobe's Flash. Dion had previously done research into how Flash works, including the fact that it has an embedded virtual machine and a JIT (Just-In-Time compiler) for that VM. JITs originated with Java (and don't be surprised if this technique moves on to Java eventually, although perhaps there are defenses against it).
VMs like Java and Flash take virtual instructions and translate them dynamically execute the appropriate native machine instructions. Large performance advantages can be had by compiling sections of the virtual instructions into executable code and running that code, rather than interpreting them on a one-by-one basis. This is what a JIT does. JITs therefore have to dynamically write code to areas of memory, mark those areas as executable and then execute them. I'm not sure exactly how they're doing it, but Dion may be tricking the Flash VM into generating the attack code (which, in this case, is the standard Windows proof of concept of running CALC.EXE).
There are more details about this in Dion's presentation slides, but they are drenched in sarcasm and allegory. Soon an easier-to-read version should be available.
Aitel's limited writings about Immunity's exploit are harder to follow, but it may not involve Flash. I don't see off-hand how you would do a JIT spray without a JIT, but Aitel has written that the technique should be more generally applicable.
Research like this is always good in the big picture, but in the short term it's rather bad in that it means that the best defenses we have may soon be inadequate. Once again, other platforms are far from immune, and in fact ASLR is only barely available on the Mac. Attackers seeking to exploit non-Windows platforms generally have an easier time of it. The answer is hard to see; perhaps some sort of IPS (Intrusion Prevention Service) for the JIT.


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We employ birds as model species in the investigation of general principles and mechanisms that are central to understanding key questions in biology and the environment.
Members of the Centre are based in the School of Biosciences and the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences. Honorary members are based world-wide.
More news...


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The rumor mill continues to churn out information on soon to be released products today. SamMobile, who has a very good track record with Samsung related rumors, claims they have "confirmed" a complete spec list for the unannounced Galaxy Note 8 set to be released at Mobile World Congress.
According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Note 8 will feature an 8-inch 1280×800 LCD display, 5 and 1.3-megapixel cameras, 2GB of RAM, up to 32GB of internal storage with SD expansion, a 4600mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0 and Android 4.2. With an 8-inch display, the Galaxy Note 8 will be just a hair bigger than the Nexus 7 at 211.3×136.3×7.95mm, however, it will be slightly lighter. The Galaxy Note 8 is also rumored to launch in both WiFi only and 3G capable variants. No word on LTE connectivity.
Samsung already offers a tablet that competes in the mid-range category, with the Galaxy Tab 7.7, but the Tab series has yet to see the kind of success the Note and Note II have. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 has been a bit of a miss, but the Note 8 could be just what Samsung needs to revitalize the tablet branch of the Note family.
We'll be keeping an eye out for more on the Galaxy Note 8 as Mobile World Congress gets closer.


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Drew Barrymore & Justin Long Have Sex Every Five Pages
Drew Barrymore and her on-and-off-again boyfriend Justin Long shoot new scenes for their upcoming movie Going the Distance in Long Island, New York on Monday (July 27).
In this scene, the couple has a heart-to-heart talk before things get heated. Very heated.
"[Drew and Justin] get it on so much it's crazy," producer Adam Shankman tells JustJared.com. "They have sex every five pages in this movie, which is about a couple attempting to have a long distance relationship."
10+ pics inside of Drew and Justin making out in public off-set in NYCearlier this month…


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Austin City LimitsMay 1, 2005 - Paul Ruschmann
Take one state capital, add 30,000 or so college students, stir in a rich football tradition and—voila!—you've got a can't-miss recipe for good times. Take Austin, for instance. It's the home of the University of Texas, ranked by Princeton Review as one of America's top 10 party schools. It won't take you long to find... View Article


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Mercato Centrale - Within the San Lorenzo street market, you'll find the indoor Mercato Centrale. The Mercato Centrale is very much a farmer's market. Hailing back to a day when supermarkets and hypermarkets were unknown and farmers brought their own goods to market to sell themselves, the Mercato Centrale has an embarrassment of riches in produce, breads, meats, cheeses, and cured olives. You'll find plenty of unique Florentine foods and wines you can take home with you, and you may bump into some of the local restauranteurs shopping here as well. Browsing through the stalls here is delightful, and when you're tired, you can walk downstairs for lunch or coffee at one of the many little cafes and restaurants. The proprietors will often let you try a sample of their foods if you just ask, especially if you're clearly there to buy.
Mercato di Sant' Ambrogio - The Sant Ambroglio Market is smaller than the Mercato Centrale, but is along the same lines: fresh produce, meats, wines, pressed olives and fresh olive oil. You'll find excellent dried fish and pasta here as well. The Mercato Centrale is in a gigantic indoor warehouse-style building; while the Sant Ambroglio market is also indoors, it has a much more authentic Old World feel to it than Mercato Centrale. In addition to the food vendors indoors, you'll find lots of clothing and other household goods being sold outdoors in the street market adjacent.
Mercato delle Cascine - The Cascine Market is not a permanent market, unlike the others; it runs only on Tuesday from 8 am to 2 pm. However, it is also the largest of Florence's markets, with the widest variety of goods. Located in the Cascine Park (entered at Piazza Vittorio Veneto on the west side of Florence), this market sells everything you can imagine: fine wines and cheeses, fresh produce and other farm goods from the Tuscan countryside, clothing and shoes from Pierre Cardin, Armani, Gucci, and many of the other Italian designers who maintain factories nearby, and nearly anything you might wish to bring home from Florence. If you can go on Tuesday, this market is worth the trip. Save your souvenir money for when you get here.


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With Last.fm on your computer you can scrobble your tracks,
share your music tastes, listen to personalised radio streams,
and discover new music and people.
Last.fm is open source software and contains no spyware or adware.
Maintained by: Michael Johnson
Keywords: lastfm,Audioscrobbler,scrobble
ChangeLog: last.fm
Download SlackBuild:
last.fm.tar.gz.asc (FAQ)
(the SlackBuild does not include the source)
|Individual Files:
| doinst.sh
| last.fm.1
| last.fm.SlackBuild
| last.fm.desktop
| last.fm.info
| last.fm.script
| patches
| slack-desc
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Vintage Scalloped Diamond Engagement Ring
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At Zoara we consider diamond knowledge an integral part of your purchase. From the 4 Cs to diamond insurance and appraisals, we leave no topic unexplored. We invite you to read, learn, and become a diamond expert with the help of Zoara.
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Cycling is of "negligible" importance but has benefited from disproportionate government support because Australia's mostly male policy makers are looking out for the nation's mostly male cyclists.
That's the claim of an RMIT report, released last month, which compares how people travel to work across Australia.
According to the report, which analysed 35 years of census data, Australian women are greater public transport users than men, who were most likely to cycle to work (77 per cent) or drive (57 per cent).
Overall, cars remain the top mode of transport, with the number of drivers nearly doubling from 2.02 million in 1976 to 3.94 million in 2011 as public and active transport use has dipped.
"Perhaps this helps explain why the 'male' modes of car driving and cycling receive more policy and media attention than the female-dominated modes of walking and public transport," concluded authors Dr Paul Mees and Dr Lucy Groenhart.
It goes on with a good response from Ben Wilson - for my two cents I think the problem is some acadmemics look for some kind of undercurrent of bigotry to embed their findings in to try and give them some extra credibility and significance ~ or to create an overarching narrative. Of course at times such bigotry truly exists, but other times the authors are just clutching at straws - which is clearly the case here.
Contrary arguements and reasoning haven't been considered when they jumped at the conclusion that more men cycle, therefor investment in cycling infrastructure is sexist.
Why didn't they consider the fact that studies have shown that more investment in cycling infrastructure makes the laneways safer and that attracts more women. In fact if you really want to be ridiculous you could say this is sexist investment against men in favour of women because it's women who mostly feel the need for the cycle lanes to be safer, not men.
No mention too of the myriad of footpaths for pedestrians (which they argue women prefer) that must out number cycle lanes by a thousand to one.
What a joke - the simple facts are cycling is good for men and women, and walking is good for men and women - any improvement to any infrastrucutre for either is good for us all. My bet is the authors of the report don't do much cycling or walking! If the infrastrucutre by design could only benefit one sex it would be sexist, but that is not the case. And they honestly wonder why the term "academic" is a by word for irrelevant!!


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ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves have benched catcher Brian McCann for Friday's wild-card playoff game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez made the announcement Thursday before a workout at Turner Field. David Ross will start and bat seventh, the only change in the Braves' regular lineup.
Plagued by injuries, McCann has endured the worst year of his career. He batted just .230 with 20 homers and 67 RBIs.
Gonzalez says he made the move more for defense than offense, believing Ross has a better chance of keeping the Cardinals from attempting to steal. Also, Ross was behind the plate for two of the most dominant performances by starting pitcher Kris Medlen: a 12-strikeout effort against Colorado on Sept. 3 and a career-high 13 Ks vs. Washington on Sept. 14.


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Friday, December 04, 2009
Android Testing at Droidcon London 2009
I would like to thank Skills Matter and Novoda for the invitation to present the Android Testing tutorial at Droidcon London 2009.
A very successful event indeed, and a lot of interesting talks were presented.
Presentation slides and other resources can be found at http://android.codtech.com/droidcon2009 or if you prefer at slideshare.
I would also thank Okpala Ikenna N. Jr., who took this and other great pictures of the event that can be seen at flickr.
Posted by Diego Torres Milano at 12:11
Labels: android, easymock, hamcrest, junit, presentation, sdk, slides, TDD, test driven development, training, tutorial
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National Defense Research Institute (NDRI)
The National Defense Research Institute (NDRI), a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), conducts RAND research for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the defense agencies, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Navy. RAND research for the U.S. Air Force is carried out within RAND Project AIR FORCE, while research for the U.S. Army is carried out within RAND Arroyo Center.
The primary function of NDRI is research on complex national defense policy and strategy problems, where multidisciplinary capability, objectivity, and an explicit national-interest charter are essential. The NDRI Director is Jack Riley. NDRI research program is overseen by an advisory board composed of representatives of key sponsors within DoD. NDRI research is conducted within four centers: Acquisition and Technology Policy, Forces and Resources Policy, Intelligence Policy, and International Security and Defense Policy.
As an FFRDC, NDRI has a special relationship with its research sponsors. The primary source of analytic expertise for OSD and other DoD elements over the past 30 years, NDRI has established a unique, irreplaceable capability and capacity. NDRI researchers have acquired an in-depth knowledge of OSD's requirements and institutional character and have used these to suggest innovative, effective ways of implementing current policy as well as to evaluate new, realistic policy options. The efficiency of the research effort has been aided by the development and maintenance of a base of knowledge and theory—that is, an institutional memory—as well as a suite of methods and tools. This infrastructure not only aids in and is further elaborated by long-term research efforts but also stands ready to support high-priority, short-run sponsor analytic needs.
Work performed in NDRI is described in detail in the NSRD Annual Report.
NDRI Research Centers
NDRI operates through four interconnected centers:
- The Acquisition and Technology Policy Center (ATP) addresses opportunities and challenges presented by advances in technology, in particular those enabled by the information revolution. It identifies ways to preserve and strengthen the nation's military industrial base, along with innovative weapon system acquisition strategies.
- The Forces and Resources Policy Center (FRP) analyzes issues affecting DoD's human resources. These include policy options that help ensure that the United States is able to attract and retain high-quality military personnel, appropriately support the families of military personnel, and efficiently provide health care to service members, retirees, and their dependents.
- The Intelligence Policy Center (IPC) maintains a broad, substantive focus that spans international security, acquisition, and manpower issues affecting the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of national-security intelligence.
- The International Security and Defense Policy Center (ISDP) explores how the global security environment is changing; how those new conditions affect U.S. interests; and what policies, strategies, and terms of U.S. engagement are needed to shape the environment and protect those interests.
The work of the centers corresponds closely with the responsibilities of four of the under secretaries in the Office of the Secretary of Defense — those for Policy, Acquisition and Technology, Personnel and Readiness, and Intelligence — and their counterparts in the military services. These centers carry out an integrated research plan reflecting the critical relationships among strategy, technology, and personnel. The Intelligence Policy Center also provides research and analytical support to the agencies of the national intelligence community and links to other intelligence efforts within the Arroyo Center and Project AIR FORCE.