Current Events Watch

I so want an electric car. I wish I could afford one of these:

Chrysler's new electric line-up

Chrysler displays EV vision - first electric vehicles due 2010

Chrysler introduced three electric-vehicle prototypes in September 2008, while expressing its intention to broaden its all-electric and Range-extended Electric Vehicle portfolio across its vehicle lineup. At the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Company unveiled updated versions of those vehicles – along with two new electric vehicles.

Chrysler's electric SUV

Chrysler will produce at least one of these vehicles for North American markets in 2010 (still no word on which one), with at least three more models to follow by 2013. Between its ENVI electric-drive vehicles and GEM neighbourhood electric vehicles, Chrysler expects to have 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2013.

Range-extended Electric Vehicle platform

Chrysler has developed a Range-extended Electric Vehicle platform that is a plug in series hybrid system capable of 40 miles electric only and 400 mile (640 km) total driving range. Much like the GM Volt there is no direct connection between the gasoline motor and the wheels, the petrol engine is used only to generate electricity to feed the electric motor when the battery charge runs low. The Range-extended Electric Vehicle platform uses a permanent magnet synchronous 3 phase AC (BLDC) electric motor with 200 Kw (268 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb/ft). The motor and inverter for the Chrysler prototype Range-extended Electric Vehicles have been sourced from UQM Technologies and while the Wall Street journal speculated in September 2008 that A123 Systems were in advanced talks with Chrysler regarding battery supply there has been no official confirmation concerning either company. The EV drive system is integrated with a small-displacement gasoline engine and electric generator capable of a continuous 70 Kw (94 hp) to produce additional electricity to power the electric-drive system beyond the basic EV only range of 40 miles (64 km). The recharging process and time for a Range-extended Electric Vehicle is the same as an all-electric vehicle, using either a 110-volt or 220-volt outlet.

Chrysler's electric minivan

The same Range-extended Electric Vehicle platform may be used in a total of 4 vehicles:

• The Chrysler 200C EV concept represents what a next-generation Chrysler sedan could be
• Jeep Patriot EV which is a series hybrid version of 2009 Jeep Patriot.
• Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV is also a Range-extended Electric Vehicle. This prototype is a two-wheel drive Wrangler but Chrysler say they are exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of the Company’s advanced electric-drive technologies. When this technology is developed the instant high torque of the electric-drive motor and the ability to precisely control each wheel independently ideally suited for off-road driving. Chrysler has provided no technical details on these in-wheel motors and no future dates when we might see a demonstration vehicle. Although the idea of an off road 4×4 with wheel motors has enormous potential we will have to wait for more news from Chrysler on this technology.
• Chrysler Town & Country EV minivan is a front wheel drive vehicle capable of carrying 7 passengers, that like the other Range-extended Electric Vehicle, delivers 40 miles of all-electric range and a total range of 400 miles.

Dodge Circuit EV

The most exciting Electric Vehicle demonstrated by Chrysler and the one we think most likely to reach production first is the Dodge Circuit. Based on the Lotus Europa it is identical in concept to the Tesla Roadster. With the same 200 Kw (268 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) electric motor used in the Range-extended Electric Vehicle platform the Dodge Circuit actually has slightly more power and torque than the Tesla’s 248 HP (185 Kw) and 276 ft/lb (375 Nm). Tesla has just announced a Roadster Sport with 15% more power which would give it 212 Kw but at a premium price of US$128,000. Chrysler say the Circuit has a range of 150-200 miles (240-320 km) but no battery capacity or curb weight has been published for this vehicle nor has any retail price.

The Dodge Circuit EV posts impressive performance numbers:

• 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds
• ¼-mile in 13 seconds
• Top speed of more than 120 mph

Although there has been no official confirmation it is widely believed that Chrysler has made the decision to discontinued Viper production after the 2011 model year. The Dodge circuit would seem to be the perfect low volume sports car replacement especially considering the similarly equipped Tesla EV has a faster 0-60 mph time (3.7 sec) than a 510 hp (380 Kw) third generation production model Viper (3.94 sec).

Paul Evans at Gizmag.com

Electric vehicles coming from soon from Chrysler

We just celebrated Labor Day! And no doubt, flipping through the channels on our day off, at some point we all happened upon the everlasting, neverending, annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon . Oh, my God! When will it end? I think people are sick of it already after 41 years. I remember as a kid, it was something I kind of looked forward to, back in the ’70s. We’d sit and watch, not so much to see the parade of Jerry’s Kids being wheeled onstage, but the show was entertaining. Famous comedians, famous musicians, it was more like a variety show than a charity event. At least that’s why I wanted to watch. Sorry, crippled kid, too much air time for you, I want to see Elvis!

But I was just a kid, albeit not one of Jerry’s, so cut me some slack. What did I know? Of course it’s a great cause, and I don’t intend to offend. I’m honestly all about helping other people. And as I grew older, I redeemed my lack of pre-adolescent compassion by generously tossing cash into the firemen’s boots at every intersection. I do mean every intersection. Firefighters at every corner, bearing boots. (Why boots?) I think even they are tiring of this annual charade. Every year it seems there are fewer willing to risk their welfare by standing at a busy intersection to play “catch a quarter in the boot.”

So after billions of dollars raised, where’s the cure? Or, at least, what advances in research have been accomplished? I guess once a year we might get an update, if we happen to be channel-hopping at the right time. And if we’re willing to watch long enough. I’m not. It’s torture. So, as a disclaimer, as far as I know, there may well have been massive advancements in MD research this year, and I just missed that clip. I was probably watching HBO at the time.

The entertainment element is long gone. Jerry is certainly no longer entertaining. He’s become an old, fat, babbling, nonsensical fool, who needs to give it up. And the guests that have performed on the telethon for the last many years are, well, let’s just say, definitely on the D List.

Jerry is all about “his kids”, of course, and we all know who they are. When someone asks if you’d like to help Jerry’s Kids, you know that he or she is not asking if you want to donate to the spawn of neighhbor Jerry Goldberg, two doors down.

But again, he’s become an embarrassment, in my opinion, and needs to quit. Hey, if he wants to continue the telethons, great. Go for it, but he needs to delegate the hosting duties to another. Maybe then, too, the booking agents could attract performers who actually will draw an audience.

Hopefully, he would choose a replacement who isn’t so old, or so tired, or so drunk, or so doped up, that he or she would call a kid in the audience an illiterate fag.

Watch that video clip from this weekend’s telethon here.

Yep, Jerry loves the kids! The ones on wheels, anyway. The rest are fair game for name-calling, I suppose. Still, “illiterate fag” is pretty harsh.

Maybe he was just venting after a lifetime (isn’t he, like, 90 now?) of repressing his own sexual tendencies. May I present the following for consideration. Rest in peace, Dean. Sorry to drag you into this.

jerry lewis telethon, mda telethon, labor day telethon, jerry lewis, muscular dystrophy telethon, illiterate fag

Lesbians drive Subarus, gay guys drive Saturns. Both are equally likely to drive a Jeep Wrangler. While drinking a Bud Light. (Not condoning such behavior, just trying to make a point.) Subaru, Saturn, Chrysler, Anheuser Busch, have all made a concerted effort to market to the gay community. That’s why we buy their cars, drink their beer. And now Levi Strauss is targeting the gay community. I’m happy, because I love my 501s.

Like I said in a previous post about the Democratic Presidential candidates courting the gay vote in the Logo debate, we are a loyal bunch. It’s worth the effort to market to us, because in general, the gay community is an affluent demographic (good for business!) and a community that appreciates the recognition. Advertise in our magazines, and on the channels we’re known to watch. We certainly notice, and we will buy your cars, and drink your beer. And wear your jeans.

I liked the Bud Light commercial that aired on television a few years ago, the one where a hot woman was hitting on a hot guy at the bar… and then his boyfriend shows up and they walk away holding hands, much to her dismay. Well, that commercial didn’t last too long. Conservative folks seem to be able to shut down such nonsense fairly quickly.

I don’t drive a Saturn. Or a Jeep. Certainly not a Subaru, lest I be mistaken for a lesbian. But I do love my Levi’s 501s, and my Bud Light.

We’ve all seen this recent commercial on TV.

I like it. But here’s the alternative version airing on Logo and certain other channels. Thanks, Levi Strauss & Co., for recognizing that we are here, too. We also buy your jeans. And thanks, also, for casting this guy. I’ll buy whatever he’s selling.

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Once again, Elizabeth Edwards is in the spotlight. This time she wasn’t sharing info about her medical problems. She was confronting Ann Coulter.

Edwards phoned into MSNBC’s “Hardball� Tuesday. She asked Coulter to stop using insulting language and Coulter responded Edwards shouldn’t tell her to stop speaking. That retort is the essence of Coulter.

It’s also the essence of others on the far end of their party preferences. Bill Maher is a classic example. Remember the show where he goes on and on about the vice-president? Catch the second video posted below.

These pundits often use hyperbole for the purpose of publicity. A pundit without publicity is like a pickle without brine. These people are in the entertainment business, and the last time I looked, the political entertainment business was alive and well. That is, unless you’re a certain liberal radio show.

That’s the American way and it’s nothing new. Stroll back through our nation’s history for a look at muckraking and political propaganda in keeping with what’s happening today. The difference is that until now, the reach was limited. You could only go so far with newspapers. The Internet keeps words and gestures alive in perpetuity. Another difference is now you don’t challenge someone to a duel involving guns. Great tools for modern-day duels are sound clips, blogs and talk shows.

I keep wishing we could get this sort of footage from Iran, or Russia or North Korea. Venezuela might be fun.

Seems the rest of the world wants to catch up to the United States in every way but one.

Freedom of speech can only be a holy grail in a country that’s truly free.

On neither of the videos below do I see anybody “playing pretty.” All the participants can rest assured when they go home, they’ll keep their heads. No secret police will be waiting.

Somebody tell the rest of the world to catch up to us in that regard.

Word Press, Technorati, Tags, vice-president, Cheney, Maher, Coulter, pundits, talk shows, left wing, right wing, American politics

The aftermath was just as frenetic. According to media reports, irate fans crashed the HBO site shortly after the episode concluded.

To me, the finale was somewhat of a letdown but not a total crash. I think the powers-that-be decided on art versus entertainment. I figured the setting, with Tony and his loved ones sitting down to dinner, with a few cautious glances at others in the diner by Tony, put the viewer in the same seat the boss occupies.

Tony Soprano doesn’t really know what’s ahead and nor do we. He’s living his life as he always has, anticipating violence at every corner, but eating onion rings as though he hasn’t a care in the world. We’re sitting there with them, wondering will it be the last meal.

The only violence we saw Sunday night was Phil Leotardo’s death by gunshot, followed by that extreme bone-cracking sound as his wife’s SUV rolled over his head.

There was a pivotal moment missed by everyone I’ve talked to, with A.J. confessing to his therapist his enchantment over the way his SUV burned when leaves caught fire from a catalytic converter spark.
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