Yesterday I read an interesting post on Engadget about the Nissan Leaf. I can't remember what the article said, but I noticed the advertisement used in the post: first 100% electric car. Now, I can't quite put my finger on it, but outside of the hippy-dippy crowd, there seems to be sizable amount of suspicion, distrust, and all around dislike for the electric car. I don't know why... but it's out there. Let's talk deal.
To begin, these are all Nissan's numbers. The car can go about 100 miles on a single charge. A single charge will cost a user about $2.50 (through their electricity costs). Right now, I estimate that your average driver pays that cost for around 20 miles. Double that if you're a lucky hybrid owner. Moreover, that price is only going up. And quick. Electricity costs will undoubtably rise, but probably not at the rate of oil.
Of course there are problems with this electric car problem (distance, chargers, untested on the mass market), but why aren't people crazy about the potential of electric cars? Is it that we're crazy about paying for gas? Crazy about the dependence on the Middle East and the necessity of involving ourselves in every security matter their in order to protect that interest? Oil spills? I'll pass.
Right now I don't have the means to pre-order the Nissan Leaf (not even close). However, one day I will. Until then, bicycle all the way.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Mr. E's Crazies List 2010! Part 2
2. Tim Pawlenty
I've really got to hand it to Tim Pawlenty. He went from being a fringe contender for the Crazies List to number two in the overall running. He made great strides back when he made his illegal unallotments, but myself (and I'm he too) were a bit disappointed with the crazy points that earned him. However, this week he came roaring up the charts by not only vetoing a DFL sponsored bill that kept the bulk of his cuts intact (2.5 billion out of 3 billion isn't a bad ratio) and vetoing a health bill that would get more low-income Minnesotans health insurance (plus save that 500 million he refuses to find through tax increase). Finally, to top it off, he went on the governor's fishing opener without finishing negotiations with the DFL on a budget. Again, I say bravo to Tim Pawlenty for really putting in some effort this week to earn a spot on the Crazies List 2010.
Now, I will admit that I am not a huge fan of Pawlenty. However, if you asked me to point at what I dislike about him, I would have trouble naming more than a couple of things (1. He's rigid... 2. His way of "balancing the budget" is to delay payments to schools.... "we can do it all with spending cuts" he says...) My big push against him is: what has he done over the past eight years? I honestly don't know. He didn't raise your taxes. Your city raised your taxes... but he didn't let the state. Beyond that I can't name a single good idea for the state of Minnesota that he has brought to the table (and that was not a good idea). This man presumably wants to run for president and his best idea is no new taxes. Again, I think that's a noble ambition except when I'm the twenty-something year old who will need to pay the national debt down the road. Thanks a lot no new taxes pledge.
I've really got to hand it to Tim Pawlenty. He went from being a fringe contender for the Crazies List to number two in the overall running. He made great strides back when he made his illegal unallotments, but myself (and I'm he too) were a bit disappointed with the crazy points that earned him. However, this week he came roaring up the charts by not only vetoing a DFL sponsored bill that kept the bulk of his cuts intact (2.5 billion out of 3 billion isn't a bad ratio) and vetoing a health bill that would get more low-income Minnesotans health insurance (plus save that 500 million he refuses to find through tax increase). Finally, to top it off, he went on the governor's fishing opener without finishing negotiations with the DFL on a budget. Again, I say bravo to Tim Pawlenty for really putting in some effort this week to earn a spot on the Crazies List 2010.
Now, I will admit that I am not a huge fan of Pawlenty. However, if you asked me to point at what I dislike about him, I would have trouble naming more than a couple of things (1. He's rigid... 2. His way of "balancing the budget" is to delay payments to schools.... "we can do it all with spending cuts" he says...) My big push against him is: what has he done over the past eight years? I honestly don't know. He didn't raise your taxes. Your city raised your taxes... but he didn't let the state. Beyond that I can't name a single good idea for the state of Minnesota that he has brought to the table (and that was not a good idea). This man presumably wants to run for president and his best idea is no new taxes. Again, I think that's a noble ambition except when I'm the twenty-something year old who will need to pay the national debt down the road. Thanks a lot no new taxes pledge.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
If you can't trust, you can't be trusted
We as a society have an issue with trust. By an issue with trust, I really mean that we have none. Now... I am not one to make broad claims like these out of nowhere (unless I'm trying to get a rise out of someone... but being that this is a blog and I can't see you, the reader, getting noticeably angry, there really is no point). Anyway, we don't trust each other. Allow me to provide an apt anecdote:
Last Sunday (a week ago today), I stepped out my door with my dog at around 10 pm. Walking down the sidewalk, I noticed a person carrying a small child. My first impression was, "this is kind of sketchy." Not an uncommon reaction for south Minneapolis at night. I continue my walk, Yuki does her business, and to my surprise a woman asks me where the park is. Well, the woman was the person I saw earlier and I directed her toward the park. Before I could continue with any more of a reaction, she informed me that she had lost her car after she and her daughter attended the May Day Festival at Powderhorn Park. The first words out of my mouth were that I would help her look (what can I say, I have a soft spot for children and being a knight in shining armor). We walked about 10 blocks before I told her that she and her daughter should come back to my place and stay with my neighbor while I drive and look (she had been walking about for two hours at this point).
I found her vehicle quickly (I had been doing some heavy thinking about where it could be... turns out I was right). I drove them to the car and her final statement was, "that it is so great that I found a seemingly trustworthy person to help out." Now, before I get into all the jazz of my post, I just want to say that I wasn't disappointed by that statement and this woman is taking me out to dinner with her and her daughter to thank me. However, that last statement she made really spoke to me about our society. We have a tendency to assume the worst in others (specifically strangers) and we're all guilty. In the beginning of my little anecdote, my first thought about this woman and her child was, "sketchy." I'm not saying we should not be cautious, but who knows how long this woman would have been looking for her car if she hadn't taken a chance with me.
Unfortunately, this post is not a "here's a problem and fix it post." Chances are you can't just walk out your front door and start fixing the trust-your-neighbor problem (only I have those mad skills). Ultimately, we waste a lot of time fearing and distrusting people we don't even know. Take for instance the constant claims from politicians that the other side is interested in the downfall of the country. Worst yet is that shit plays really well with a lot of voters. Time to get over it.
Last Sunday (a week ago today), I stepped out my door with my dog at around 10 pm. Walking down the sidewalk, I noticed a person carrying a small child. My first impression was, "this is kind of sketchy." Not an uncommon reaction for south Minneapolis at night. I continue my walk, Yuki does her business, and to my surprise a woman asks me where the park is. Well, the woman was the person I saw earlier and I directed her toward the park. Before I could continue with any more of a reaction, she informed me that she had lost her car after she and her daughter attended the May Day Festival at Powderhorn Park. The first words out of my mouth were that I would help her look (what can I say, I have a soft spot for children and being a knight in shining armor). We walked about 10 blocks before I told her that she and her daughter should come back to my place and stay with my neighbor while I drive and look (she had been walking about for two hours at this point).
I found her vehicle quickly (I had been doing some heavy thinking about where it could be... turns out I was right). I drove them to the car and her final statement was, "that it is so great that I found a seemingly trustworthy person to help out." Now, before I get into all the jazz of my post, I just want to say that I wasn't disappointed by that statement and this woman is taking me out to dinner with her and her daughter to thank me. However, that last statement she made really spoke to me about our society. We have a tendency to assume the worst in others (specifically strangers) and we're all guilty. In the beginning of my little anecdote, my first thought about this woman and her child was, "sketchy." I'm not saying we should not be cautious, but who knows how long this woman would have been looking for her car if she hadn't taken a chance with me.
Unfortunately, this post is not a "here's a problem and fix it post." Chances are you can't just walk out your front door and start fixing the trust-your-neighbor problem (only I have those mad skills). Ultimately, we waste a lot of time fearing and distrusting people we don't even know. Take for instance the constant claims from politicians that the other side is interested in the downfall of the country. Worst yet is that shit plays really well with a lot of voters. Time to get over it.
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