As GM’s car sales steadily decline in the U.S., its Buick brand has become one of the most coveted China. Buick recently debuted its new Invicta show car, the expected replacement for the LaCrosse model, whose purpose is to appeal to both U.S. and Chinese consumers, bridging the gap between the two markets. It features luxurious interior features valued by Chinese drivers, such as gadgets, computers and backseat roominess, but also addresses the preferences of American drivers for bold, exterior styling. It was designed in seven months, just in time for the Beijing Auto Show. Buick cars sharing many of…
Author: Noah Graff
The Isle of Man TT is among the oldest and famous races in motorsports. Azhar Hussain, an eco-conscious motorcycle fanatic, hopes to turn the race into what he calls the world’s first high-speed zero-emissions grand prix.If Hussain’s vision receives approval from TT organizers, TTxGP will showcase motorcycles and three-wheelers fueled by anything that doesn’t emit tailpipe pollution. They’ll race on the same 38-mile mountain course where conventional bikes hit speeds in excess of 120 mph. “This is an event where cutting-edge technology, systems and designs can be tested against the best in the world and rapidly refined and improved,” Hussain…
In the following video video TheStreet.com’s political analyst John Fout points out free trade issues which he believes both presidential candidates have flip-flopped on. He says that in the democratic primary Obama knocked NAFTA saying the country needed to “renegotiate” the agreement. After beating Hillary who had taken such a strong anti-NAFTA stance, now Obama says he supports “fair” free trade.Fout then rips McCain for touting free trade to win the Republican vote, yet afterward giving a speech in April proposing the creation of a “League of Democracies” alienating China and Russia. Fout also claims that McCain said he wants…
Today I came across a video of the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas which was held in April, 2008. The event is a competition between students from around North America (there is a different one in Europe) to create the most fuel efficient car ever. Purdue University won the prize for a solar engine vehicle reaching 2,861.8 miles per gallon. Penn State won the Fuel Cell category with a car reaching 1,668.3 miles per gallon, and Mater Dei High School claimed the first and third place trophies for the internal combustion engine category. The 5th and 6th Gen vehicles traveled 2,383.8 and…
A recent survey by RBC Capital Markets showed that many Americans are becoming more open to living near wind, hydro, geothermal, and even nuclear power generation facilities in response to high energy prices and environmental concerns. Only 16 percent of Americans said that they would oppose the construction of any type of energy plant or facility in their hometown, down from 23 percent in 2007.In addition to power generation related companies (mentioned in the following video) infrastructure manufacturers such as Parker-Hannifin Corporation, Foster Wheeler, and Woodward Governor Company, are just a few of the firms which could capitalize on the…
World trade is like a chameleon, constantly changing colors to survive and flourish. This is why I tend to disregard the Lou Dobbsians who are constantly searching for bad guys rather than opportunities.With the developing world growing so fast now and the added strain of material flowing to China to heal the wounds of the horrible earthquake, the container system is simply overused. The China trade is sopping up all slack in capacity, which means rates are triple those of six years ago if you can even find a container to send goods from the U.S. to Europe.The cost of…
Just when you think that we Americans have it bad with gas prices between four and five dollars per gallon, look across the Atlantic. Europeans are paying around nine dollars per gallon. Spanish truck drivers have protested by simply parking in a long line along the highway. Now in Spain and France people are protesting high prices by riding bikes in the nude. Also, farmers are leaving fields and clogging roads with their tractors. Source: www.thestreet.com
Now people can replicate replicating machines from replicating machines. Sounds kind of like Dolly, the cloned sheep, being cloned to produce a new sheep. http://blog.reprap.org/2008/06/reprap-achieves-replication.html Adrian (left) and Vik (right) with a parent RepRap machine, made on a conventional rapid prototyper, and the first complete working child RepRap machine, made by the RepRap on the left. The child machine made its first successful grandchild part at 14:00 hours UTC on 29 May 2008 at Bath University in the UK, a few minutes after it was assembled. [Sorry this news is a few days late, RepRap fans. We had a press…
A Gas Guzzler May Save You Money With ridiculous gas prices sweeping across the U.S., it might seem intuitive for a car buyer to look for something fuel efficient like a Smart Car, Prius, or Honda Civic. But with dealers struggling to get rid of trucks and SUVs (domestic brands in particular) some unprecedented deals for gas guzzlers are appearing which may actually make sense for buyers to jump on. Manufacturers are offering between $2,000 and $5,000 in discounts on once popular models like the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Suburban, and dealers say there’s room for negotiation after that. Used…
Fredric Baur, the man who invented the tubular can that packages Pringles potato chips, died May 4, 2008, at the age of 89. Yesterday it was announced that he has had some of his ashes put into a Pringles can which was put into his coffin. Baur was an organic chemist and food storage technician who specialized in research and development and quality control for Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble Co. A patent for the can was granted in 1970, according to P&G archivist Ed Rider. Pringles have always been my favorite potato chips. I’ve always felt their flavoring was superior…