Fast As A Shark: The Elusive Pursuit of Awesome

The Day After Obama Gets Elected

2009-05-05T03:48:00.001-04:00

The Day After Obama Gets Elected

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2009-04-27T22:09:00.004-04:00

Dj Format: We know something you don't know

2009-04-22T16:03:00.000-04:00

10 Concepts Ford Should Have Built

2009-03-31T19:50:00.003-04:00

Ford Should Have Built These

I agree with all of these. Bronco would be a sweet Escape/Sub-Escape car.

I still think Ford should build the Continental: Put it on the Panther platform, keep it body on frame, air suspension, aluminum body panels, suicide doors, Give it an ecoboost 5.0litre V8, and an ecoboost 6.0litre V12 (two 3.0litre Ecoboost V6's on a common crank). Give it a brilliant interior, stretch the wheelbase, price it around 65k, cut rate Roller, with that American style and class....or do it on the Australian Falcon platform...

Interceptor, build it on the Australian Falcon platform, or build it on Panther, just throw some more power at it, a solid rear can be tuned to handle well, give it a good suspension set up (Parry-Jones in the hizzouse), they know how to do it, swap the steering rack, and give it a proper six speed auto, and a manual trans option, 3.5litre v6, 3.5litre Ecoboost, 5.0litre Ecoboost V8 or in that V8's stead a 5.4litre S/C SVT version. Done. They should have done this when 300C/Charger took off, they could've easily gotten big sales.
Mercury Messenger: take 1 part Mustang Platform, add 1 Part IRS. Done. Powertrain: 3.5litre Ecoboost v6, 5.0litre Ecoboost v8, sell it. Or, go with the 3.5litre Ecoboost V6, and a S/C 4.6 litre V8 and the S/c 5.4 w/ aluminum block at the top end. Price it 5-8k higher than the Mustang, stretch the wheel base a bit make it into a true 2+2/GT car, give it fancy suspension tuning (MRC or something), Bam, Gentlemans Mustang for the Family man.

Ford Gr-1, all the suspension/powertrain/development was already done, all they had to do was tool for body/frame, do a limited run price it the same as a Ford GT (not the 'stang), bam, prove Ford can do futuristic as well as Retro, a modern day Shelby Daytona Coupe. Get some more money out of the GT development, they also could do a Shelby Cobra (remember the concept) version as well, and get even more bang for their buck.

SVT CONTOUR!!!!! Original AD!!! can't belive I just found it.

2009-03-29T22:05:00.002-04:00

Those of you who know me may know that I am awfully proud of my '99 SVT Contour (E1, the one pictured in the ad is a E0), I love it to death and I know it isn't much but its a damn fun car, handles well, and with 200 horse it is decently quick, (200 horse and 3200 lbs with a slick five speed box).
Love the car.
Love it.

Fantasy Garage, mostly in order, till the endish... detailed write ups coming soon...

2009-03-27T14:12:00.005-04:00

Ford GT
Ford GT40
Jaguar XKSS
Jaguar XK220
Aston Martin V8 vantage (1978)
Jaguar E-type
Ford RS200
Ford Escort Cosworth
Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
Ford 1970 Ranchero with 429 Super Cobra Jet motor
Chevy 1970 El Camino 454 SS
Aston Martin DB4 Zagato
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
McLaren F1
Ferrari Daytona
Lancia Stratos
Ford Sierra XR8
Ferrari 250 SWB
Ferrari America 500 Superfast
Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
Jensen Interceptor FF
Porsche 959
Lamborghini Miura
Continental MkII
1964 Continental Convertible
Mazda Cosmos 21
Mazda FD RX7 Type RZ
KWE KR12 Jaguar http://www.kwecars.com/jaguar/range/KR.php
Maserati Bora
Facel Vega HK500

Aston Martin Vanquish

Aston Martin V8 Vantage (new)

Aston Martin V12 Vantage (supposed to be coming out soon)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage LeMans
E34 BMW M5 (euro spec)
E28 BMW M5 (euro spec w/ Water Buffalo Leather)
Mini Cooper S (rally-spec, original model)
'63 Corvette Sting Ray
'65 Corvette Fuelie
'66 Corvette L88
Audi Ur-Quattro
Lancia Delta S4
Citroen SM or DS or both
Austin Healey-3000
Panoz Esperante GTR1
Ford Mustang Boss 427
Ford Mustang Boss-302
Mercedes Benz 450 SL 6.9
Buick Grand National GNX
Mercedes Benz 600 Grosser
Duesenberg SJ
Bentley S1
Bentley Speed Six
Jensen Cv8
Lotus Carlton
Fiesta SHOGUN
Jensen 541S
Ford Fairlane 500 w/ 427 cid R-code motor
Ford Torino Cobra w/ 429 cid Super Cobra Jet motor
Bentley Arnage

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage GT
1970 Dodge Challenger, 440 cid Six Pack, Four Speed, in white of course.
Dodge Charger 500
Plymouth Superbird
Pontiac G8 GXP
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham (1957)
Ford Mustang Shelby GT 350
Terminator Cobra
MGB GT V8
Triumph TR6
Renault Clio V6
Morgan Aero8/Morgan Aeromax
Corvette ZR1
Ford Falcon XB GT
Renault R5 Turbo
Hudson Hornet with Twin H POWER!
'67 Camaro

Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic

Rolls Royce Phantom IV

Bugatti Type 55
BMW M Coupe
Original Range Rover
Land Rover Defender
C10 GTR

Bugatti Royale

DeTomaso Pantera
Studebaker Commander
First Gen Taurus SHO
BMW 2002

Race Prepped Miata

Mazdaspeed Miata
Datsun 510
Toyota GT2000
Honda NSX-R

I guess i need an Auburn and a Packard in there to really complete this list, but this shall have to do for now...

Individual write up's are coming soon I SWEAR.

Sleep with your head in the armpit of fallacy...

2009-03-26T02:51:00.002-04:00

Atmosphere is damn good, one of my favourite artists for sure, this song has been getting a lot of play lately, just something about i think fits where I'm at with my life right now...

Surreal and The Sound Providers-Push On

2009-03-26T02:49:00.002-04:00

This is one of my favourite songs by Surreal. Surreal and the Sound Providers=epically good. i'm mad into this chill hip hop starting since first semester, might be the new kids I've started hanging out with who have exposed me to more and more of it, but either way I'm down with it, the new friends are fun and so is the music.

Eastern Jam Chase & Status

2009-03-26T02:44:00.004-04:00

Snoop ganked this shit son.

Analog Brothers-Bionic Oldsmobile

2009-03-26T02:44:00.002-04:00

Analog Brothers=tooo good.

March Madness '09

2009-03-17T13:13:00.006-04:00

It's time for MARCH MADNESS!!! I'm sure we'll have
many biased,objective-lacking, pro-Michigan posts
to come but as for now,I've compiled a list of
rec/#conf*/top25/rpi for the 2009 Men's Tourney
so that you Bracketeers can get going.

Midwest                                     East
Louisville 28-5 /1BigE  */ 5/  8            Pitt     28-4 /2BigE   / 2/  1
MichSt   26-6 /1Big10  / 7/  4              Duke     28-6 /2ACC   */ 9/  2
Kansas   25-7 /1Big12  /11/  9              Villanva 26-7 /4BigE   /10/ 12
WakeF    24-6 /2ACC    / 8/ 15              Xavier   25-7 /1Atl10  /19/ 18
Utah     24-9 /1MtnW  */29/ 13              FlaSt    25-9 /4ACC    /22/ 16
WestVa   23-11/7BigE   /30/ 21              UCLA     25-8 /2Pac10  /15/ 36
BosCol   22-11/6ACC    /  / 56              Texas    22-11/4Big12  /40/ 42
OhioSt   22-10/4Big10  /44/ 33              OklaSt   22-11/4Big12  /37/ 16
Siena    26-7 /1MetAtl*/37/ 20              Tenn     21-12/1SEC-E  /44/ 23
USC      21-12/5Pac10 */  / 40              Minn     22-10/7Big10  /  / 37
Dayton   26-7 /2Atl10  /32/ 30              VCU      24-9 /1Colon */33/ 54
Arizona  19-13/6Pac10  /  / 57              Wisc     19-12/6Big10  /  / 48
CleveSt  24-10/3Horiz */  / 55              PortSt   23-9 /2BigSky*/  /117
NDSt     26-6 /1Summit*/  / 88              American 24-7 /1Pat   */44/ 73
RobMrris 24-10/1Neast */  /108              Bghamton 23-8 /1AmEast*/  / 91
AlaSt    22-9 /1SWAC  */  /190              ETennSt  23-10/2AtlSun*/  /121
MorhedSt 19-15/4OVC   */  /136


West                                        South
UConn    27-4 /2BigE   / 3/  6              NCar     28-4 /1ACC    / 1/  3
Memphis  31-3 /1CUSA  */ 4/  7              Oklahoma 27-5 /2Big12  / 6/  6
Missouri 28-6 /3Big12 */14/ 11              Syracuse 26-9 /6BigE   /18/ 12
Wash     25-8 /1Pac10  /13/ 15              Gonzaga  26-5 /1WCC   */12/ 29
Purdue   25-9 /2Big10 */24/ 25              Illinois 24-9 /2Big10  /26/ 26
Marqutte 24-9 /5BigE   /21/ 33              ArizSt   24-9 /3Pac10  /23/ 34
Cal      22-10/3Pac10  /40/ 40              Clemson  23-8 /4ACC    /17/ 27
BYU      25-7 /1MtnW   /25/ 32              LSU      26-7 /1SEC-W  /20/ 37
TexasAM  23-9 /4Big12  /27/ 39              Butler   26-5 /1Horiz  /16/ 22
Maryland 20-13/7ACC    /  / 53              Mich     20-13/7Big10  /  / 42
UtahSt   30-4 /1WAC   */33/ 22              Temple   22-11/4Atl10 */  / 30
NoIowa   23-10/1MVC   */37/ 61              WestKy   24-8 /1SunBlt*/  / 44
MissSt   23-12/3SEC-W */  / 64              Akron    23-12/3MAC-E */  / 95
Cornell  21-9 /1Ivy    /  /115              SFAustin 24-7 /1SlandE*/  / 80
CalStNR  17-13/1BigW  */  /132              MorganSt 23-11/1MEAC  */  /133
Chatt    18-16/1SthrnE*/  /173              Radford  21-11/1BigSth*/  /131


rec/#conf*/top25/rpi

The Obama Deception: hahaha

2009-03-12T10:44:00.001-04:00

Credit Crunch: Visualized

2009-03-04T22:53:00.001-05:00

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis.

Crisisofcredit.com

The goal of giving form to a complex situation like the credit crisis is to quickly supply the essence of the situation to those unfamiliar and uninitiated. This project was completed as part of my thesis work in the Media Design Program, a graduate studio at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

For more on my broader thesis work exploring the use of new media to make sense of a increasingly complex world, visit jonathanjarvis.com.

Support the project and buy a T-Shirt! cafepress.com/crisisofcredit

© Copyright 2009 Jonathan Jarvis

2009-03-04T20:46:00.001-05:00

Love The Beast

2009-03-04T19:27:00.001-05:00

a) I really want to see this film
b) I want to be like this guy when it comes to cars, I want to keep any car I own forever basically.

Lost NFL Boaters: Who Gives a Damn?

2009-03-02T16:29:00.002-05:00

It's at times like this that the media really starts to piss me off.
In case you didn't know, a few days ago a couple NFL players (Corey Smith, a FA, and Marquis Cooper, Raiders CB) and a couple former college football players from South Florida went missing in the Gulf Coast of Mexico. They were on some annual fishing trip and were on a 21-foot boat.
ESPN (and many other media powerhouses) have jumped on this story concerning 1. a FA who played for the LIONS for 3 years, 2. a Raiders player (Oakland sucks for you non-football buffs), and 3. a couple former college players who didn't make it to the big show. They (the media) have speculated for countless hours about this pathetic, useless story. Here's how I see it: if they come back, they come back; if they don't, they don't. Giving the viewers an update every 10 minutes won't change a damn thing that is going on with these clowns who decided to get on a raft in "raging weather conditions" and go fishing.
What gets to me the most is the fact that America has succumbed so much to the media that we rely on them for every little thing that arises as a "big news story." (and who really gets to decide that? the media...)
I'm not saying the media is bad for everything. There are, in fact, some very useful pieces of information that we can only find via the media (that rhymed). However, in this case, ignorant fans all around the country are glued to their TV sets and websites actually caring about these damned football players who, I'm sorry to say, don't mean shit to their respective teams.
Anyways, your average American on the street has probably done more for our society than these guys.
This is about how much ESPN ACTUALLY KNOWS about the lost NFL fishers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfISlGLNU

The bottom line to this story (you don't need the media to give you every little word in the reports, which so far have given us next to nothing as it is):

Optimistically- They're fine, sippin pina coladas with Elvis and Tupac in the Bahamas and they haven't seen the news (haha)

Realistically: they're dead, drowned. One of the (USF) guys was hanging onto the flipped over boat? Yeah they're gone for good.

Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.

Hi-Caliber: Self Proclaimed Republican-Hip Hop Artist

2009-03-01T13:29:00.007-05:00

Sadly I can't find a interview from a non-liberal source. Don't try to tell me that Huffington Post, and Max Blumenthal are not liberal/biased sources.

I did however, find hi-caliber's myspace page. His hip hop skills are lacking.
Before you judge me, I think the muslim's don't like pork line is maybe out of line, definitely excessive. However, it does look like there is going to be more pork in this administration than the previous one.

Teen Angst (more old writing)

2009-02-28T22:25:00.002-05:00

I am not a girl. I am not an adult, yet. I am not a child. I am not white, I am not black, I am not yellow, I am not rich, I am not poor, I am not nothing. I am not dead. I am not loved. I know not what I am, but I do know w hat I am not. I am not intelligent. I am not good at math. I am not. I am not what my parents want me to be. I am not as I want me to be. I am not a wielder of slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, but I am not one who does not suffer from these slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. I am not one to dislike Shakespeare. I am not a liberal. I am not a member of the religous right. I am not normal. Apparently, I am not a real Indian, at least according to those kids in the cult of IASA. I am not one to eat like them, talk like them, dress like them, eat liek them, listen to their not music, or enjoy their not culture. I am not one to share their interests or their vices, there fore I am not Indian for I am not one to fit in their box of what it means to be Indian. I am not what I seem. I am not a druggie, I am not an alcohlic. I am not a cigarette smoker. I am not skinny. I am not liked. I am not what I'm not. I am not cultured. I am not confident. I am not sure of myself. I am not attractive. I am not gay. I am not sure of what I am. I am not me. I am not not me.

Man pursuing Awesome (more old writing)

2009-02-28T21:52:00.003-05:00

*snick*, the gear shift slides into 4th. The revs build. The mechanical din of engine noise steadily builds, mere inches behind my head, a beautiful symphony of metal, and petroleum products. The exhaust note builds to a shrieking crescendo, as two red needles sweep upwards in unison. An accelerator pedal is depressed to the floor, the wind rushes by, the scenery's all a blur, sweat drips down my face...my heart beats...louder...and faster...my eyes water...every ounce of brain matter I possess is intently focused, concentrating on the road ahead, the cars behind, and my own car, listening to the roar of the 3.0litre Gurney-Weslake V12, feeling the road, the wheels occasionally skittering along the sometimes rough track, there isn't much r.oom for error at speeds upwards of 150 miles an hour, especially not in a 1967 Formula One car. There are no aerodynamic aids, minimal safety precautions, this is living on the edge, this is man pursuing awesome, this takes jupiter sized balls of steel. The track surface is riddled with bumps and holes, a driver has a one in three chance of dying every time he races. ... Why do I do it?...
Brake, downshift, the engine gurgles and spits, clip the apex, take the proper racing line, feel the rear end start to swing wide, counter steer, it snaps back, put your foot into it, watch the revs build, *snick* back up into fourth, *snick* up into fifth, a 12 cylinder orchestro roars behind my head building to a barrel-chested shrieking crescendo. The G-forces build as I pass 200 miles an hour on teh long back straight, The adrenaline rushes to my head, my palms sweat, my heart beats...louder, and louder...and louder. I crest the hill and feel the tires leave the ground, and the entire car is launched into the air, "Oh shit! This could go bad," The car hits the ground with an ominous thud and a very expensive sounding crack. The rear end breaks loose, "FUCK", I despearately try to regain control, fishtailing through the stretch, but its no use, the car goes into a spin the rear comes all the way aorund, "SHIT!", I clip another car and gain more speed, the car continuing to spin, once, twice, thrice, four times, "Oh shit, Oh shit, Oh shit, Oh shit!", I watch the world spin around, seemingly in slow motion as I relice what very well likely could happen. *Crack*, I hit a tree at 150 miles an hour. My nose catches the delightful smell of high-octane racing gas, oil, steel, a piston head's olfactory delight, a pleasant warmth envelopes me, "A pleasant warmth?, gasoline? SHIT!", flames erupt, brilliant orange, they engulf me..."OH SHIT I am going to die..."

Opel to partially break away from GM

2009-02-27T11:52:00.004-05:00

The International Herald Tribune reports that GM Europe Executives who state that Opel needs $4.2 billion in government aid to stay afloat want to distance Opel somewhat from GM:

Managers envision Opel becoming a "legally demarcated, at least partly independent business unit," GM Europe President Carl-Peter Forster said after Adam Opel GmbH's supervisory board met at its Ruesselsheim, Germany headquarters. Forster heads the board, the equivalent of a U.S. board of directors.
Pardon the ridiculous formatting, but Bloggers being dumb right now. Anyways I think this really isn't a good move on GM or Opel's part, as Opel definitely would have a lot of trouble competing in the European Market place against Ford Europe, VW etc. Adam Opel GmbH isn't a large enough corporation to be independent, additionaly GM's British subsidary, Vauxhall relies mostly on selling rebadged Opels, (Opel isn't sold in the U.K, and Vauxhall isnt' sold on the continent). In the end it really depends on a number of factors but mainly, how Vauxhall would be dealt with, and how independent Opel would be, would Opel be able to take advantage of GM's size to support it? How independent would Opel be?, would it just be third-party investors, or would it be moving towards an independent company? I can see it working out well if Opel moves somewhat towards the same sort of relationship Mazda and Ford have, perhaps, with a greater GM Motors stake though. Maybe, Opel, Vauxhall, Saab should consolidate perhaps with either Saab or Opel being the holding company and GM holding a majority stake?

Expect a full-fledged Carpocalypse post, post my Japanese exam of hell.

I wish I could be this Awesome: 11 year old Finn piloting Evo Rally Car

2009-02-27T11:50:00.002-05:00

Forbidden Fruit...

2009-02-24T21:51:00.001-05:00

That other British Motoring Show reviews the new Focus RS.

I want.

We're supposed to get the Euro-Focus State-side within the next two years, it'll probably be a little bit decontented just for cost reasons, because the fact remains that the American people are not willing to drop 30 large on a small car with a Ford badge. Ford is however in the process of re-tooling Wayne Assembly to build Euro Focus (C1) based cars and most likely the European Focus as well.

Car Porn for the Weekend:

2009-02-23T15:05:00.002-05:00

Turn your speakers up to 11. One of the best adverts of all time, out of all adverts not just car adverts.

Australia Embodies Awesome. Cars so masculine they have to shave the front bumper every morning..

2009-02-23T14:04:00.005-05:00

Australia gave us Mad Max, which is a trilogy of awesome put to celluloid.
Australia also gets to run around in full size V8 Falcons, and Turbocharged Six powered Falcons, total sleepers, and legit BMW 5-series beating performance cars.

Check out fpv.com.au
Check out Holden.com.au
Check out hsv.com.au

The next step is to change your pants after sufficiently making a mess in them.
Then look up tickets to Australia. Thats what I did. Why the eff can't we get this shit here, I mean like come on, this is the last pure iteration of the CLASSIC AMERICAN FULL SIZE SEDAN, and it is totally, and completely modern. We got the G8 and then asshats went and killed it but come on ford you can get us the Falcon, can't you, can't you, can't you? Please? I would do unmentionable things if it just meant that they'd bring the Falcon over here. Thats a promise. Alan, call me.

Check out this total sleeper F6 E concept over at World Car Fans. I want it, though of course I'd prefer the six speed manual.

Falcon FPV commercial

Ford v. Holden (just like Ford v. Chevy State Side) this is from Top Gear Australia, its not as good as Top Gear, but whatever, its all I can find.

The Hotted Up versions, also from Top Gear Australia.

Bridge-Loan Madness

2009-02-23T12:49:00.007-05:00

The Detroit News has found (not surprisingly) that most of the government's "Presidential Task Force on the Automotive Industry" a) either drive foreign cars, or don't own a car at all...

Geithner owns a 2008 Acura TSX, registered in New York. He once owned a 1999 Honda Accord and a 2002 Acura MDX, according to public records
...
His maternal grandfather, Charles Moore, was a vice president at Ford Motor Co. from 1952-63, according to Peter Geithner, the secretary's father. But Geithner wasn't very interested in cars growing up -- in part because he graduated from high school in Asia, his father said.
Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege that's registered in Massachusetts. He previously owned a 1996 Ford Taurus GL.
What other task force members drive:
• Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey and a 2004 Volvo S60. He previously owned a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 1982 Datsun.
• Carol Browner, the White House climate czar, said earlier this month at the Washington Auto Show that she doesn't own an automobile. Public records show she once owned a 1999 Saab 9-5 SE.
• Energy Secretary Steven Chu doesn't own a car, his wife, Jean Fetter, said in a telephone interview on Sunday. Cabinet officials are typically transported to and from work by security officials in government vehicles.
• Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson owns a 2008 Toyota Prius and a Honda Odyssey minivan, she said Sunday. "It's great," she said of her Prius.
...
Here's what task force policy aides drive:
• Austan Goolsbee, staff director and chief economist for the White House Economic Recovery Advisory Board, owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander.
• Joan DeBoer, the chief of staff to LaHood, said in an interview Sunday she drives a 2008 Lexus RX 350. She doesn't consider herself "a car buff" and views her car as a way to get around town.
• Heather Zichal, deputy director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change, owns a Volvo C30, according to public records and officials.
• Gene Sperling, counsel to the Treasury Secretary, owns a 2003 Lincoln LS, and previously owned a 1993 Saturn SL2.
• Edward B. Montgomery, senior adviser to the Labor Department, owns a 1991 Harley-Davidson and previously owned a 1990 Ford Taurus L station wagon, public records show.
• Lisa Heinzerling, senior climate policy counsel to the head of the EPA, owns a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback station wagon, according to her husband.
• Diana Farrell, the deputy National Economic Council director, doesn't own a vehicle. Her husband, Scott Pearson, owns a 1985 Peugeot 505 S.
• Dan Utech, senior adviser to the Energy Secretary, owns a 2003 Mini Cooper S two-door hatchback.
• Rick Wade, a senior adviser at the Commerce Department, owns a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier and previously owned a 1998 Toyota Corolla.
• Jared Bernstein, Vice President Joe Biden's chief economist, owns a 2005 Honda Odyssey.
President Barack Obama traded in his Chrysler 300C for a more fuel-efficient Ford Escape hybrid during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Joe Biden, the son of a car dealer, owns a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette -- a wedding present from his dad. He primarily commuted from Delaware to the Senate on Amtrak.
Ron Bloom, a special adviser to the Treasury Department who is also advising the task force, owns an aging Ford Taurus.

What this mostly shows, is that with the exception of V.P. Biden, Dan Utech, Gene Sperling, and Heather Zichal and on the chance that Diane Pearson's husband's Peugeot 505 S is the Peugeot 505 Turbo S (a gear head can hope), and not the basic Peugeot 505 S gas/Diesel..(in which case...he's just holding onto an old car)....the taskforce has terrible taste in cars.

Also, EPA lady, are you f***ing kidding me, a Prius, are you f***ing serious, not only could you not get anymore stereotypical, It shows you don't really understand the situation, The Prius as a system is more toxic than regular car, the resources to make the batteries in the Prius and the batteries themselves in the Prius (which might I add won't really last that long) are far more toxic, if you really cared about the environment you wouldn't drive a hybrid, its just a fashion statement, and i'm inclined to think you're just a shallow b***. I'm sorry but in get incensed about this sort of mis-information and general stupidity. If you really want to be kind to the envirmonment, keep an old car running.

Also, the fact that basically around half of these fucktwats don't even own a car, makes me think that they don't really understand what the Big Three need, actually, strike that, I know they don't know what the Big-Three needs. I'm sorry, reliability has caught up, and fuel economy meets or exceeds the Japanese. And Oye, Liberals, your great corporate saviour Toyota with its Prius as the magic salve to fix all the worlds problems? Yeah, that Toyota, that Toyota has a lower fleet average than GM, and sells more big 'gas-guzzlers' and SUV's than GM, so keep on smoking your crack pipe.

Brings me to another rant, people should be able to buy whatever the fuck they want, get rid of CAFE, if people want to pay for 'shitty' fuel economy, than let them. The simple fact of the matter is that the American people have proved time and time again that they simply do not REALLY want incredibly fuel-efficient cars. We don't need 35 mpg fleet, thats ridiculous, and we certainly do not need to be "matching" Europe in fleet fuel economy...because lets see, they drive on smaller roads, at collectively lower speeds for the most part, their cars are smaller, because they use them differently, they don't tow stuff etc. And their emissions regulations aren't nearly as stringent, neither are their safety regulations. Oh, probably at least half of the European fleet is diesel. Yeah, but diesel is a dirty word here isn't it? You guys want your safety standards, your emissions standards, and 'fuel economy'.
I'd like to after collectively bitch slapping Congress and Government as a whole, with the exceptions of a few select people, tell them that they can't have thier cake and eat it too, you want good fuel economy? cut out weight, you can't have cars that weigh 5 tons get the fuel economy you want, and trust me the way safety standards are moving thats where we'll be at. After doing this I'd like to collectively bitch-slap them again, and then I'd like to single out most of the Republican Senators from the South, as well as Barney Frank and the rest of those characters that grilled the auto-industry and acted like they knew every thing about the auto-industry and didn't grill the Banks at all and just gave them loads and loads of money for perpetual bitch-slapping. Chuck Hagel, Thaddeus McCotter, and John Dingell I would excuse from the bitch-slapping. Well Chuck isn't in congress any more but I wish he still were.

HOWEVER, back to my main point, the car companies just need money, they don't need to be told what to make, they are perfectly on track with that, or were until the government started interfering whch I definitely think is the reason for the shutting down of GM HPD, the shuttering of Pontiac as a brand (after they invested SO much money into Zeta), the reason we're not getting anymore Zeta platform cars. YOU FUCKING KILLED A WORLD-CLASS BMW BEATING RWD MID-LARGE SIZE SCALABLE PLATFORM, WTF CONGRESS, WTF. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME, YOU KILLED WORLD CLASS PRODUCT, b/c American's need small cars, and then when american's don't buy small cars you'll pat yourself on the back congratulating yourself for "forcing" The Big 3 (2.8 really but whatever it'll always be the Big 3 to me), to bring small cars over, and then watch the american car companies fail, and blame them for the failure, while you piss away loads and loads of our tax payers money. Nice, Congress you are all real geniuses.

Penn State: 38 Illinois: 33

2009-02-21T15:27:00.002-05:00

Juice Williams attempted a Hail Mary pass with no time remaining but it was batted down inside the Penn State 5...
I'm sure this game had to bolster Darryl Clark's Heisman hopes.

OH WAIT, this is basketball. Dear God @ that score. You mean to tell me PSU's bball team only scored as much as their football team did against Illinois back in September. You GOT to be kidding me.

I guess though if you love defence this was your game.

Interesting statistics from the game:
Both teams shot less than 19% from 3 point range.
The leading scorer in the game had 11 points.
Both teams combined for 16 assists (6 for PSU, 10 for Illinois)
The players on PSU without at least one steal were the minority.
Illinois didn't shoot a FT the whole game.
Illinois scored about twice as many points as their AP rank coming into this game (33, 16)
As expected, both teams shot horribly (less than 30% collectively)
The assist/TO difference for the each team-- PSU: -7 Illinois: -5

On Tuesday the 17th of February, 2008, the Phoenix Suns scored more against the LA Clippers in the first quarter (41 pts) than either the Illini or the Nittany Lions did in this whole game...dear god.

You're going to need new pants after this? Probably.

2009-02-19T17:53:00.002-05:00

:30 seconds, and 2:30, are the two best parts. But everything is best.

GM to Cancel all Future Performance Model's!?! And Pontiac?!

2009-02-18T19:14:00.004-05:00

The boys over at Jalopnik report that GM is planning on canceling all future performance models as part of their viability plan. I for one don't think this is the right idea, performance models get people in the door, they get people to buy the cars they are based on.

It also seems GM will be killing its 'Performance Division' Pontiac. Although, the name plate will carry on, it won't be its own brand, and it will definitely not be a full line brand.

It seems like these are two dark horses of the carpocalypse, thanks Congress for being lame-o's and not liking fun cars.

Fmylife.com

2009-02-17T17:23:00.002-05:00

Fmylife.com is so legitly my life. I need a huge ego-boost sometime soon.

And I think I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Fuck all this shit. That includes you, womens studies, fuck you.

photo cred to Jalopnik.com

Multilateral Polyangular Rolling Sheet Metal Sculpture

2009-02-17T16:48:00.003-05:00

This is an epic search for the 10 best Automotive Designs of all time, the most influential, the most radical, everything will be taken into consideration. An exploration of the automotive aesthetic.

"Design is intelligence made visible."-Le Corbusier

Since at least the agricultural revolution and the division of labor that came with it, humans have designed, ever since we started having free time, time to think about things more profound than when the next meal may come our way, ever since we were able to strive for more than mere practicality and function we have designed. We have attempted to implant a beauty in our daily lives, we have designed to solve problems we didn’t know existed, and to create new ones, we have designed for more than function, we designed for pleasure, beauty, enjoyment, design was our chance, to take over from that great designer, mother nature and do our part in beautifying and improving the world we lived in. It was our chance to show off, our intelligence, our creativity, our innovative sense, and our perception of beauty. It was us following Voltaire’s missive, that, “It is the purpose of art to improve on Nature”, that was what the great designers all tried to do. Design came into full bloom with the Industrial Revolution and the mass consumption of goods, it became a tool to differentiate, a selling point. Design is one part practical and functional, one part innovation, one part aesthetics, and one part mystical. Great design will unite the first three in a holy-design-trinity invoking the fourth intangible element in the observer, stirring up an indescribable feeling in the consumer invoking the holy capitalistic ritual of want and consumption.

Design has evolved, it has become an artistic science and a scientific art, a methodical manufacturing creativity, constrained by production factors, serving marketing, slave to the consumer base, as well as a free-spirited test bed of conceptual innovation bounded only by the limits of the human imagination, unconstrained, creating product, creating needs, wants, beauty. Design in spirit is difficult to define, or convey the grand sense of importance, creativity, and soul it contains, a meshing of physical and emotional constraints, needs, wants and desires. Design as a process can be roughly described as,

“an ability to conceptualise an idea, express it in materials and prove it by demonstration” (Bayley). Design is a practical art and a foolish science, a melting pot of intellectual purpose and creative expression. Simply put, “Design is an art that works” (Bayley).

“It is the purpose of Design to improve on industry.” (Bayley, Conran). Automotive design improves the breed, it challenges the market, it culls the inferior, it innovates the field driving it forward to constant aesthetic, mechanical, and practical improvement in hot pursuit of the elusive holy-trinity of design, a perfect balance of aesthetic, practicality and innovation. Sir Terence Orby Conran does an excellent job in attempting to explain the abstract concept of what good design is.

“The answer is that it is immediately visible: something that has not been intelligently designed will not work properly. It will be uncomfortable to use. It will be badly made, look depressing and be poor value for money. And what’s more, if it doesn’t give you pleasure, it is bad design” (Conran).

Sir Conran agree’s with Le Corbusier’s sentiment, stating, “Good design really is intelligence made visible”. Design is a reflection of its creator,

“Everything that is made betrays the beliefs and convictions of the person who made it. Everything has been designed. Conscious or unconscious decisions have always been made which affect the way a product is manufactured, how it will be used and what it looks like…good design or thoughtful design…comprises 98 per cent commonsense and 2 per cent of a mysterious component which we might as well call art or aesthetics. A good design has to work well, be made at a price the consumer finds acceptable and it must give the consumer practical and aesthetic pleasure. It must also be of a quality that justifies the price paid. If the design has some innovatory qualities then, at least in my opinion, it becomes an even better design. In addition, well designed products tend to have a long lifespan and usually acquire an attractive patina of usage….The designer’s job is not to repeat history” (Conran).

So what makes the best automotive design? Is it utility, is it novelty, is it pure aesthetic pleasure, is it the best compromise? Is it how revolutionary the design is? Is it the effectiveness? Sound off in the comments, and give me some suggestions, I aim to create a list of 25 or so and from there narrow it down to the top 10.

700 Horse S2000

2009-02-17T16:43:00.000-05:00

Sick yeah, I can appreciate a well done car, even if it is Japanese...
However, I can't imagine them reliably running 700horse on a stock engine, its definitely going to be needing some beefed up internals, and even then I don't know how reliable it is.
I'd rather have a 700 horse SBC, probably lighter too.

I feel bad posting country, but I love Detroit.

2009-02-17T16:34:00.003-05:00

Its worth a listen I guess, there was another video I saw paired with it that was way better and not country and about Detroit, but I can't find it again, sadness, so far now you get to listen to this.

and this I guess, (and oh, I know its three years old I just found it whilst I was looking for the other Detroit song).

I still can't really figure out how to get you tube videos to work but its a learning process.

Vintage Ad: Goodyear Polyglass Tyres: Women Need Them!!!

2009-02-17T16:16:00.002-05:00

Car Porn of the day

2009-02-17T15:32:00.007-05:00

Enjoy, Folks.(click for fullsize version).

Sniff Petrol: Not Advertisements

2009-02-17T15:10:00.000-05:00

SniffPetrol (www.sniffpetrol.com) is absolutely hillarious and I encourage you to check it out if you haven't already. One of my favourite features is The Not Advertisements feature. I've posted some of my favorites, everyone should definitely check it out, you just have to love that dry british humour.

F-150 Harley Davidson to Get 6.2 Litre Boss Engine, Hot Damn.

2009-02-17T14:15:00.001-05:00

The Boy's over at Auto-Blog snagged this picture of the Engine Bay of the Harley Davidson F-150, instead of the 5.4litre Mod Motor that it was originally thought the Harley Davidson Edition was going to get, it looks like its getting a massive performance up grade with the 400+ horse, 6.2 litre Mod-Motor. Maybe this will be like an on-road Lightning-lite, even though it does not look like the F-150 will be getting a Lightning this generation either.

Engine pRon

2009-02-17T14:08:00.000-05:00

Check out the super car tear down series over at the ol'Jalopnik for some fantastic Engine Porn. Ten bucks (not really ) to whoever can identify the lead in image. No cheating by checking Jalop. This one's easy.

Copy and Paste $96k Hyundai

2009-02-17T14:02:00.000-05:00

Based on a stretch version of the Hyundai Genesis platform with a 420 horse 5.0litre version of the Tau V8, the Hyundai Equus (naked Daniel Radcliffe not included) comes with the derivative styling we've come to expect from the folks at Hyundai, and a shocking $96,000 dollar price tag. Don't expect to see this state-side soon, more details to come.

I'm so glad I'm from the D

2009-02-17T13:54:00.000-05:00

Mitch Albom's article the 'Courage of Detroit' from Sports Illustrated is definitely a great read if there is anyone who hasn't read it yet. And, its inspiring, but not for all the right reasons. The adopted Detroiter's article does leave some things out. Jim Boyle over at Model-D has written an excellent rebuttal to Albom's column, which some might say portrays us as a down-out city thats fighting back. Boyle's column uncovers some of the gems right here in Detroit.

Albom's Column.

Boyle's Column.

The Messiah Has No Clothes?

2009-02-17T13:42:00.002-05:00

Interesting Column from Gerald Warner over at the Daily Telegraph, definitely a good read, and definitely a good viewpoint to consider

The burnt child, contrary to conventional wisdom, does not fear the fire. After the Blair experience there is no excuse for anybody in Britain falling for Obama. Yet today, in this country, even some of those who remained sane during the emotional spasm of the Diana aberration are pumping the air for Princess Barack. At a time of gross economic and geopolitical instability throughout the Western world, this is beyond irresponsibility.

I definitely think all the Obama Mania is really going to far, at this point it has definitely jumped the shark. Obama Commemorative Plates in Illinois? The man hasn't even been president for a full month yet, commemorative coins etc. All the mania about him being the first 'black president' is really un-necessary as well, I think it really would've said more about America f there had been no mania about him being "Black", it would have said more if it hadn't been mentioned at all. I mean really, the news-worthyness of a story about a president, or even a candidates ethnicity should be about the same as the news-worthyness of a candidates Necktie.

Check it out, and feel free to rant and rave in the comments.

The Classy Manifesto

2009-02-17T01:05:00.000-05:00

The Classy Manifesto:

An overview of the basic principles of classiness:

Classiness is more than a philosophy, it is more than a state of mind, it is a way of life, and more; it is the ultimate goal, the motivating force in life to heighten one’s own level of classiness and to spread the way and knowledge of class to those unfortunate enough to not be classy.

Classiness, then is the penultimate manner of living, the following manifesto outlines the rules, laws and principles of classiness. It should serve as a guidebook for living one’s life and a tool to spread class to those unfortunate classless heathens.

Classiness shall always be an exclusive club; if everyone is classy nobody is classy. Classiness is on surface relative, but at its most basic and fundamental core Classiness has certain undilutible, undeniable qualities and principles that are not relative. These principles include poise, matching attire, and other indescribable but innate qualities. When spreading the knowledge of class keep an eye out for these qualities, there are those who deserve to be shown the ways of classiness, who possess these innate qualities, and there are those who do not possess these innate qualities, those who do not deserve to be shown classiness. A classy person will know when they meet someone whether they are classy or not; and whether they deserve to be shown the ways of classiness or not. A few basic rules one should keep in mind; communists, socialists, trade unionists and Frenchmen (they’re all the same thing) are not classy, or deserving of being taught the ways of class.

The following are rules to abide by:
-Martini’s are made with Gin not Vodka. Vodka Martinis are not classy. Unless you are James Bond, in which case you can drink whatever you please. For the rest of you, do not question this precept.
-Class is not trendy, it is timeless, everlasting trends may come about and try to overwhelm class but class will always prevail, always.
-Clothing must always match, and must always be worn properly; this is essential to being classy.
-Obvious pretension for pretension’s sake is not classy. However, pretension is classy when it is natural, fitting and necessary, pretension is part of classiness but it must never appear to be forced, it should always flow naturally or at least appear as if it is your natural state. Forced class is not classy; it makes you appear a fool.

Those who are classy will already know what classy is, they won’t even need this manifesto, those who are intrinsically classy are the classy, if one reads this manifesto in the hopes of achieving classiness, abandon hope now. You will only achieve a faux classiness an imitation of the ideal classiness, a state achieved b those who are truly classy, intrinsically, inherently classy. Those who achieve a level of faux class will only full those on the same level of class or below, those who are inherently classy will immediately notice that you are not truly classy.

Ode to the Small Block Chevy

2009-02-17T01:02:00.000-05:00

A throbbing rumble. Meshing Gears. Whirring belts. Spinning shafts. Reciprocating hunks of metal. Explosions in a closed chamber. Compress, explode, expand, turn. Chemical energy into Mechanical. A big bang in a little chamber creates a mechanical piece de resistance, the invention that shaped the 20th century. And this, this is its finest, most pure masculine iteration. 427 cubes of unbridled pushrod power. No nancy boy over head cams here, no siree. No limp wristed flat-plane engines here, not enough torque to pull a twig, none of that, not here. This is 427 cubes of pure masculinity, tree stump pulling, world shifting torque. That’s what matters, horsepower is only a function of torque over time, none of this high revs no torque bullshit, not here. This is the small block Chevrolet V8, the engine that built America, 50 years plus and still going strong. This isn’t a pansy Symphony Orchestra, none of that finesse, none of that subtlety. This is a rock band, thing Queen at Wembley stadium, not the New York Philarmonic at Carnegie Hall. Now what would you rather hear? Be honest. Queen wins, every time. This engine is brown beer, It’s football and greasy food. This is engine is manly, this engine is America. This is the quiet Blue-Collar bloke in the corner of the bar with a beer who finally gets tired of all the nancy boy ruckus so he takes them out back and gives them a damn good thrashing. This is the engine that can give the best Germany and Italy have to offer a bloody good hiding. An all aluminium old school tour de force. A definite case of “Meet the new boss same as the old boss”. This is the grand daddy of engines. An all American thoroughbred, bordering on the edge of insanity.
An eight cylinder rock band, a pure explosion of power. A deep barrelled grunty exhaust note that’d make the baby Jesus cry. This is God’s engine, a symbol of all that is beautiful and righ tin this world. This is 427 cubes of baseball and apple pie.

New v. Old

2009-02-17T00:21:00.000-05:00

Depending on response, I'm planning on making this a recurring feature.
New or Old? Would you rather have the original, or the current "modern" version of the same car, I'm going to stick with the same manufacturer, and the same segment for now.
Lets start with Lamborghini, I for one absolutely detest new Lamborghini's, Lamborghini's have always been too flash, too ostentatious, and buying a new one to me shows you really have no discerning taste, Lamborghini has never had any pedigree, and that's its problem. They've always had to try too hard, they're all shouty. The nouvau riche buy Lambos, Old Money buys Ferarris, and everyone knows Old Money is so much classier. A perfect example is the Lamborghini Countach, Marcello Gandini's original design was excellent, pure of line, simple in form, then they had to go ruin it with giant wheel arches and big vents and massive spoilers, none of which it really needed. That is the essence of Lamborghini and the current ones are even worse, Audi has engineered all the Italian soul out of Lamborghini, it isn't supposed to work properly all the time, and you'r enot supposed to see out of the back, thats the point, and the ever sensible Germans just don't seem to get it. Its a real pity. James May sums it up best when he says that Lamborghini's are like a "fart at a wedding"
Now whilst new Lamborghini's are bought by trust fund baby's, movie stars, and rappers who put 22" colour matched dubs on their cars (proving their tackyness). However, purchasing a classic Lamborghini, I feel demonstrates discerning taste.

The Lamborghini Miura was launched in 1967, penned by Gandini at Bertone, it is one of the most beautiful cars of all time. As well as being one of the most influential designs and lay outs in super-car history, the Ferrari 250 LM and the Ford GT40 had used a mid-engine lay out in competition, but before the Miura super-cars were front engine, the Miura made the mid-engine lay out the standard for super cars to come. The Miura's sensational design still looks modern today. The five speed manual, coupled to the transverse mounted 3.9litre Lamborghini V12 (another innovation), was good for 345 hp, the gearbox and engine shared the same casting and the same lubrication until the P400SV's.

The Lamborghini we're looking at here though, is the Miura SV/J. Octane Magazine, has driven Chassis 18 (the Shah of Iran's ex-car), and they can give you alot better impression of it than I can.

I figure most of you will be familiar with the Murcielago LP-640, if not the internets await you.
The Muricelago comes with a 632bhp V-12, AWD, and a six speed manual.

So what will it be? The Poll's at the bottom of the page. Vote wisely, I'll judge you.

You know what? I'd rather have a Ford GT instead.

Feel free to duke it out in the comments.

The Pursuit of Awesome

2009-02-16T23:45:00.000-05:00

So I thought I'd give this Blog deal a shot, I'm opinionated enough, my interests are varied enough, and I spend enough time on the interwebs anyways. Neal Shah, 19, I bleed Maize and Blue and Ford Blue Oval Blue (Pantone 294C to be exact), I like to think of myself as Detroit Born and Raised, just a simple Midwestern Motor City boy, but in all honesty, my background, is 2.5 Generation Indian-American (although I don't realize I'm Indian till I look in the mirror, (identity crisis much? maybe, or maybe I just identify with being "American" the great thing about this country, identification isn't limited by ethnicity). Born in Ann Arbor, spending various amounts of time growing up in middle-class suburban Ann Arbor/Detroit, whatever you prefer to call it, I grew up closer to Ann Arbor than Detroit, spending various stints of time in Bloomington, Indiana, and Hiroshima, Japan, moving every two to four years growing up. I consider myself fairly well travelled, fairly well cultured, and I like to class it up. However, when it comes down to it, I enjoy the down to earth Blue-Collar sensibility that Detroit has, its definitely what I think I'm going to end up calling home.
I like music, all sorts of it, old school hip hop, underground hip hop, trance,house, jazz, classic rock, rock,punk, post-punk, classical, I like to think I have a refined taste for these sorts of things.
I like beverages.
I like muscle cars, good books, I hate ricers, I like Music, stuff, stick shifts, el caminos, rancheros, ford, the blue oval, the american auto indsutry, the global auto industry, carburetors, clutches, big blocks, small blocks, crank shafts, cross-plane v8's, flat plane v8s, rotaries, con-rods, push rods, overhead cams, internal combustion engines, tech, girls who dig cars, girls who drive stick, international politics, global affairs, being educated, being aware, being non-PC, knowing shit, diversity, flat sixes, straight sixes, turbo chargers, superchargers, direct injection, trans-ams, Calvinball, things that are beautifully engineered, things that are over engineered, things that well engineered, clever solutions, things that are BAMF, things that are beautifully complicated, complication for complications sake, things that are bat shit insane.
I like good beer, Ford's, Alfa's, Lancia's, Rover's, Morgan's, TVR's, Vette's, Chevy's, Mustang's, Pony Cars, Shelby's, GT Cars, Sports Cars, Real SUV's, Jaguar's, Old-School Bentley's, Land Rovers, Citroen SM's, Citroen DS's. I like Talbot-Lago's, I like Group B Rally Cars, I like Audi's, I like proper Merc's, and proper BMW's, I'm a bit of an anglophile, I like Top Gear, I think James May is brilliant, I like Old Pick-ups, I like proper off roaders, I like Jeeps. I like Old cars, new cars, super cars, British Cars, French Cars, American Cars, Old-School German cars, crazy off the wall Japanese cars, Italian cars, Swedish cars. I like rally, F1, LeMans, auto-cross, etc etc etc... I like SVT, CDW-27, and thinking about cars, thinking about my cars. I like burning time on craigslist looking at projects and thinking about how I'd do them out. My school books are full of car doodles still, and that should explain alot about me. I prefer my cars with three pedals.

This blog is going to be about whatever I damn please, but mostly, its probably going to end up being about cars, secondly, its going to be me ranting. It'll be enjoyable, I promise, I'm good at ranting.

I'd like to leave you with one of my favourite pieces of writing, something I read often.
Davey G's first Fast As A Shark column over at Jalopnik, its what I stole the title of this Blog from, and it is truly and inspiring piece of writing.

http://jalopnik.com/247572/fast-as-a-shark-cannibalism-in-pursuit-of-the-elusive-awesome