Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

imidazol97 · December 2018

Are the supercharger stations Tesla has been siting usable by other electric vehicles? I never notice any other flavor of EV at the mostly unused bank of 8 along I70 here.

imidazol97 · December 2018

fintail said:
Even if he has those wishes, I can question his motivations for a sustainable future (private EVs aren't it), but I like that he has helped spur some innovation.

There was a report from a group I thought honest that the total environmental impact of building and electric vehicle, birth to death, was more than a similar ICE product.

But the MSM finds environmentalism to be a topic they wish to push, so it's often presented in guilded tones. Tones that are not deserved. I've supported environmentalism for a long time. Lots of faux areas there supported by some groups.

[Deleted User] · December 2018

Cool article, Imid. Thanks for sharing.

Colorado has a state rebate program for commercial businesses who install chargers at their locations and make them publicly available as well as government facilities. There’s no requirement for a certain brand, but to your point, some public money is going into the development of a network of charging points. I found this article:
https://clippercreek.com/evse-rebates-and-tax-credits-by-state/

For years Tesla has provided free Tesla charging stations to businesses, sometimes but not always including the installation in adddition to the hardware, which they call destination charging, meaning a hotel, restaurant, or retail location wanting to lure Tesla drivers. The business pays for the electricity and sometimes the electricity. It’s smart business for both sides. Now that I own a Tesla, I’m choosing to stay in hotels with Tesla chargers. Here’s a map that shows Tesla Superchargers and destination chargers:
https://tesla.com/findus#/bounds/70,-50,5,-170/?search=supercharger&name=North%20America

ab348 · December 2018

imidazol97 said:

But the MSM finds environmentalism to be a topic they wish to push, so it's often presented in guilded tones. Tones that are not deserved. I've supported environmentalism for a long time. Lots of faux areas there supported by some groups.

Up here that is really true. The local/national media are all over bans for plastic shopping bags and plastic drinking straws (the latter of which I find completely loony). It seems a simple-minded approach to a much more complex question.Where I used to work, the company abandoned plastic bags for paper ones back in 2007 or thereabouts. The idea came out of the blue one day at our weekly executive meeting.

It seemed foolhardy to me from a customer satisfaction POV. When you are buying 6-packs of beer or an expensive bottle of wine or spirits you do not want it put in a bag that is difficult to carry, is prone to tearing, and tends to fail if it gets wet. Even minimal research showed that paper bags come with a significant cost to the environment of their own - water and energy in their manufacture in particular. Plus in this area there is an expensive but effective mandatory plastic bag recycling program already in place.

Those arguments were dismissed quite quickly when it became clear that the reason for the move was that the CEOs wife told him "it was the right thing to do", and therefore he deemed that it was to be done. Ever since that time, I have hated that phrase.

We also spent much time and money coming up with a variety of reusable bags, made in China, that were virtually unsaleable and ended up being given away as promo items or landfilled after sitting in the warehouse forever. There was also considerable media criticism of the change since our previous plastic bags were made of clear blue plastic and were popular with people for reuse in recycling bottles and cans at the curb.

In the local press today I found this article, interestingly enough:

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/local/banning-plastic-bags-is-not-the-answer-says-acadia-prof-270137/

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Dr. David Duke says reusing plastic bags rather than banning them is a better solution to fight their negative environmental impact.

Duke is a professor in the Environment and Sustainability Studies program at Acadia University and doesn’t support banning plastic bags.

He says the real question the ban is addressing is not regarding carbon impact from plastic bags, but rather their pollution contributions. Referencing a 2018 Danish study, Duke argues alternative bags people use to carrying grocery items home in lieu of single-use plastic bags “will have different and significant environmental impacts that may not be apparent in the debate.”

“If you want to really want to address the plastic pollution issue… there is only one sure-fire way to do it properly: education and the provision of convenient recycling,” he says.

Duke says this approach would ensure plastic is kept out of the environment and sorted “where it belongs” within the consumption and reuse cycle. He also says the addition of new resources – alternative bag options like cotton tote bags – would no longer be required. “The solution is to encourage the use of reusable and recyclable plastic bags. These can be used many times and when they begin to break they can be recycled,” he says.

Duke says plastic bags fall within the concept of convenient recycling since they last through 40 to 50 uses and are later recycled. However, he adds, there must be government buy-in for this concept and further environment education to work.

“[The government] looks like it's doing something for the environment, and on one level it is, but it's doing so only on that one level, and it may be making the problem worse elsewhere,” he says.

Duke says that's why he doesn't favour a bag ban and would instead support taxing plastic bags – with money going towards improving recycling facilities and making reusable and fully-recyclable plastic totes cheaper and more accessible – as well as a sharp increase in penalties for improper plastic disposals.

“If we want to nudge people's behaviour into new directions using policy, this would be a better way to do it in my opinion,” he says.

oldfarmer50 · December 2018

imidazol97 said:

fintail said:
Even if he has those wishes, I can question his motivations for a sustainable future (private EVs aren't it), but I like that he has helped spur some innovation.
There was a report from a group I thought honest that the total environmental impact of building and electric vehicle, birth to death, was more than a similar ICE product.

But the MSM finds environmentalism to be a topic they wish to push, so it's often presented in guilded tones. Tones that are not deserved. I've supported environmentalism for a long time. Lots of faux areas there supported by some groups.

Many a noble idea is coopted by people seeking political advantage.

graphicguy · December 2018

oldfarmer50 said:
This is for GG who has considered both these cars:

https://youtu.be/rdsxfTJiTVw

I’ll only make two points.

1) On the track, look in which car the driver has the biggest smile on his face.

2) With its’ exhaust, CAI and GT 350 throttle body, my Mustang makes a few more horsepower than that Mustang’s 460hp. (Couldn’t resist bragging a bit).

@oldfarmer50 ...interesting. Personally, I don’t see where the two cross paths, except they’re both sport cars....one a coupe, the other a 4 door.

To me, the Mustang doesn’t drive anything like the Stinger. The Mustang is rawer (in a good way). It has tamed a bit since it now has IRS. But still, it’s nowhere near the “softer” feel of the Stinger. Only way to get a Mustang is with a manual transmission mated to the 5.0 V8. Stinger doesn’t even offer a V8 (but wouldn’t that be nice?).

My track days are over. But, I agree that on the track, it’s no contest. Mustang wins. On the road? As a daily driver? I’ll take the Stinger every day over the Mustang.

I know the trade rags keep throwing the Mustang into the mix whenever they test a new M Sport, or Audi S....and now a Stinger GT. But, I don’t consider the Mustang a competitor to any of those.

You want a Mustang that can scream from point A to point B. A Stinger does the same thing, in a much different manner, and is more quiet and probably more refined in the experience.

I do think the Stinger (and G70 mate) does compete with the Audi S and BMW M, probably throw the AMG C Class in there, too.

As we’ve discussed here, the problem with that lineup of competition is whether a BMW, Audi, Mercedes or in my case, an Acura buyer would lay down cash for a Kia badge, regardless of how good the Stinger might be.

At less than $40K, I’ve been tempted. If I was able to find a G70 around here, I might have actually done it. But, I can’t and haven’t.

Speaking of Genesis, since they separated from Hyundai, good luck trying to find any stock on ANY Genesis (at least in the Greater Cincinnati area). Sales numbers are dismal nationally. If this was their plan to roll out the brand, somebody has done a piss poor job of it. All the early hype and good press is going to be forgotten by the time they fix that. Which means the brand is going to have an even tougher time getting a foothold here.

driver100 · December 2018

My BIL, his son and the son's girlfriend came to the house for dinner one night.
Mrs D offered them a coffee......when they saw it would be made in the Keurig Coffee maker they declined.
MY BIL has a Ford Ranger truck with NO a/c.....a/c is bad for you and is unnecessary.
He says drink lime juice if you have any medical problem, it cures everything.
Mrs D has to get gluten free desserts since they think gluten is really bad for them.
Have you ever had a gluten free baked item......they are awful, loaded with sugar to hold it together and add taste - probably a lot worse than gluten. In fact, we need a certain amount of gluten.

Plastic bags, gluten, Keurig pods, gas powered cars, I always think, "Nothing is as bad as you think, and nothing is as good as you think", only extremists get caught up in these things. If people like Keurig coffee, Keurig will find a way to make pods that degrade........if they are smart (and they actually are available now).

imidazol97 · December 2018

Local store for Genesis has a 80 and a 90. $58K and $75K MSRP. And I mean "a" of each. Two cars.

I assume the "Genesis" store is a separate desk inside the showroom from the Joseph Hyundai sales. Same building.

I had checked a few weeks back for a Hyundai 70 and then they had one of each IIRC.

houdini2 · December 2018

bwia said:

dino001 said:

driver100 said:
IMHO, I think Musk is a dreamer (in a good way like Da Vinci and Henry Ford etc.) and these are problems that challenge him. I think he means well and wants to make a difference....I don't think it is about the money with him.
I'd agree, but he also exhibits several psychopathic treats, which means his day-to-day behavior may be driven reactions to the resisting environment and skeptical people. It feels he has no ability to restrain himself from saying something stupid (no control of his emotions), or resist a compulsion to lie whenever the reality doesn't fit his story. Other than that I'm sure he is a saint wanting to save the Planet.
Sounds so familiar, perhaps it is a leadership trait common in real estate and casino types (smile)

And politicians.

imidazol97 · December 2018

Standalone Genesis store on other side of town has an 80. No price given on website. That's an interesting marketing technique.

Is Hyundai doing what Honda does with new models and limiting the supply to increase talk and desire? Is Genesis not supplying the stores?

Does anyone have sales data for these 3 Hyundai models?

tjc78 · December 2018

driver100 said:

My BIL, his son and the son's girlfriend came to the house for dinner one night. Mrs D offered them a coffee......when they saw it would be made in the Keurig Coffee maker they declined. MY BIL has a Ford Ranger truck with NO a/c.....a/c is bad for you and is unnecessary. He says drink lime juice if you have any medical problem, it cures everything. Mrs D has to get gluten free desserts since they think gluten is really bad for them. Have you ever had a gluten free baked item......they are awful, loaded with sugar to hold it together and add taste - probably a lot worse than gluten. In fact, we need a certain amount of gluten. Plastic bags, gluten, Keurig pods, gas powered cars, I always think, "Nothing is as bad as you think, and nothing is as good as you think", only extremists get caught up in these things. If people like Keurig coffee, Keurig will find a way to make pods that degrade........if they are smart (and they actually are available now).

This is so upsetting to hear. People can be so extreme. Yes they do make biodegradable pods.

Is the waste created by Keurig so bad? What about the water saved? We have both a traditional coffee maker and a Keurig. Before we had it I can’t tell you how many times I made even a half a pot and wasted it. Imagine over millions of households the amount of waste compared to just brewing a single serving. It would never be our only pot but great for occasional use

houdini2 · December 2018

explorerx4 said:
Just wait until the first tremor happens when in the tunnel.

Or the first guy who sets up a giant gopher trap !

bwia · December 2018

I mentioned this in an earlier post but Hyundai dealerships cannot sell 2019 Genesis models. Those including the G70 are reserved for stand-alone Genesis dealerships. I think it has something to do with franchise agreements in most states, but I'm not sure.

fintail · December 2018

At least you aren't tweeting off like a madman - either a sign of a jerk or something broken upstairs. Reminds me of someone else

driver100 said:

I usually give a true genius a bit of leeway when it comes to character flaws, their brains may not work in the same normal patterns as we normal people. Not everyone can be flawless and perfect like me.

houdini2 · December 2018

fintail said:
People who are so great and altruistic don't make unfounded accusations of pedophilia via Twitter like golden boy Elon. That BS should cost a lot of his fortune right there. Seeing how his battle with the SEC has gone, however, it is just more evidence of the golden rule. He may have some cool ideas, but he has some enormous flaws as well.

Some psychiatrists say that any every decision that anyone makes is self serving in some way. Say that someone wins millions in the lottery and then gives it all to charity just means that individual valued all the goodwill people would feel towards him, and his own self concept above the money. I would disagree, but it is an interesting concept.

imidazol97 · December 2018

fintail said:
At least you aren't tweeting off like a madman - either a sign of a jerk or something broken upstairs. Reminds me of someone else
driver100 said:

I usually give a true genius a bit of leeway when it comes to character flaws, their brains may not work in the same normal patterns as we normal people. Not everyone can be flawless and perfect like me.

We'd done so well not taking this into politics so far. LOL.

You must be referring to F. D. Roosevelt and his bypassing the then biased media by doing the Fireside Chats. When the newspapers and radio coverage was biased, he went around. Great idea.

https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/fireside-chats

If he had had a cell phone or a computer, President. F. D. Roosevelt could have bypassed the biased media coverage to get his thoughts and successes out to the public by using the tweet system. Tweets are nothing new. But it's obvious the media doesn't like having their stranglehold on what we're allowed to hear or see being bypassed.

I've made the parallel to some of the media coverage of GM in the last couple of decades. Were a GM van to have had rear seats that didn't latch securely into place flipping and injuring or killing people, it would be covered like the ignition switch problem in smaller GM vehicles was covered. See earlier post with link to Kyle Plush's death by Odyssey.

henryn · December 2018

houdini2 said:

Some psychiatrists say that any every decision that anyone makes is self serving in some way. Say that someone wins millions in the lottery and then gives it all to charity just means that individual valued all the goodwill people would feel towards him, and his own self concept above the money. I would disagree, but it is an interesting concept.

I don't buy this as a universal truth. I think it is mostly true, for most people, about most things that they do.

driver100 · December 2018

houdini2 said:

fintail said:
People who are so great and altruistic don't make unfounded accusations of pedophilia via Twitter like golden boy Elon. That BS should cost a lot of his fortune right there. Seeing how his battle with the SEC has gone, however, it is just more evidence of the golden rule. He may have some cool ideas, but he has some enormous flaws as well.
Some psychiatrists say that any every decision that anyone makes is self serving in some way. Say that someone wins millions in the lottery and then gives it all to charity just means that individual valued all the goodwill people would feel towards him, and his own self concept above the money. I would disagree, but it is an interesting concept.

Yes, it is an interesting concept. So, if some guy gives $5 million to some charity he is doing it for purely selfish reasons - mainly to soothe his ego. I think the person who said that is looking for an excuse not to be charitable.

I would agree, the person giving the money does it partly because it makes him feel better, but, he feels better because he has demonstrated that he is a good human being and is making the world a better place. It isn't for purely selfish reasons.

oldfarmer50 · December 2018

imidazol97 said:

fintail said:
At least you aren't tweeting off like a madman - either a sign of a jerk or something broken upstairs. Reminds me of someone else
driver100 said:

I usually give a true genius a bit of leeway when it comes to character flaws, their brains may not work in the same normal patterns as we normal people. Not everyone can be flawless and perfect like me.

We'd done so well not taking this into politics so far. LOL.

You must be referring to F. D. Roosevelt and his bypassing the then biased media by doing the Fireside Chats. When the newspapers and radio coverage was biased, he went around. Great idea.

https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/fireside-chats

If he had had a cell phone or a computer, President. F. D. Roosevelt could have bypassed the biased media coverage to get his thoughts and successes out to the public by using the tweet system. Tweets are nothing new. But it's obvious the media doesn't like having their stranglehold on what we're allowed to hear or see being bypassed.

I've made the parallel to some of the media coverage of GM in the last couple of decades. Were a GM van to have had rear seats that didn't latch securely into place flipping and injuring or killing people, it would be covered like the ignition switch problem in smaller GM vehicles was covered. See earlier post with link to Kyle Plush's death by Odyssey.

Classy comeback. Thanks for preventing me from saying something I might regret.

abacomike · December 2018

If I won millions of dollars in some lottery or someone left me many millions of dollars, I would definitely make charitable contributions to many organizations I personally feel some connection to - anonymously! I have no interest in being lauded by those charitable organizations or by the media or by any individuals who would want to praise me - I have no interest in being praised or even thanked. I would make those contributions because I am doing "good" for others or for animals. I have no need to donate my money for any personal gain or ego trip.

I make annual contributions to charitable organizations every year who I think would benefit by helping others. This includes the ASPCA, breast cancer, American Cancer Society, St. Jude Hospital for Children, Boys' Town in Nebraska, to name a few. It's sort of a ritual with me - I sit down at my desk in December with my pen and checkbook, and begin writing checks to approximately 25 organizations.

Does this make me feel "good" as a person? I really don't know- I don't "feel" anything - I do this as an exercise, much like tithing - a ritualistic exercise. That's just how I give back for all that I have received - a duty so to speak.

abacomike · December 2018

I was out this morning to get a haircut at my favorite barbershop. We had some severe storms last night and now there is a cold front passing through - 30-35 mph winds with gusts to 50 mph - it feels like a winter hurricane out there today. Supposed to drop into the high 40's tonight and highs only in the low 60's tomorrow. It sure is blustery out there today!

28firefighter · December 2018

Western WA got slammed by a nasty windstorm yesterday - 60mph gusts in some of the area. We lost several large branches and a chunk of our fence was wiped out. House seems to have remained unharmed. Did have to get Sam early from school because they lost power.

I'm ready for summer.

abacomike · December 2018

During one of the episodes I watched last night of "The Grand Tour" on Amazon Video, Jeremy Clarkson did a 20 minute segment on the Bugatti Chiron Sport Coupe - over 1000 horsepower and at a cost of over $3 million. It was one of the most fantastic segments I have ever watched of a truly tantalizing vehicle. I guess for the individual who has everything - this car would be in his/her garage, without doubt. Clarkson remarked several times that it was the most thrilling experience he's ever had driving a car.

This Chiron replaces the Veyron which, in its own right, was a fantastic vehicle - but this Chiron was almost miraculous in every way conceivable. Unfortunately, I'll never know what Jeremy Clarkson experienced, but I can at least "drool" a little, can't I?

fintail · December 2018

You went down that road, not me.

It's a conspiracy!

imidazol97 said:

We'd done so well not taking this into politics so far. LOL.

You must be referring to F. D. Roosevelt and his bypassing the then biased media by doing the Fireside Chats. When the newspapers and radio coverage was biased, he went around. Great idea.

https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/fireside-chats

If he had had a cell phone or a computer, President. F. D. Roosevelt could have bypassed the biased media coverage to get his thoughts and successes out to the public by using the tweet system. Tweets are nothing new. But it's obvious the media doesn't like having their stranglehold on what we're allowed to hear or see being bypassed.

I've made the parallel to some of the media coverage of GM in the last couple of decades. Were a GM van to have had rear seats that didn't latch securely into place flipping and injuring or killing people, it would be covered like the ignition switch problem in smaller GM vehicles was covered. See earlier post with link to Kyle Plush's death by Odyssey.

stickguy · December 2018

Genesis is supposed to be stand alone going forward, though the one by me (and where my son is getting his) are still in the Hyundai store as the build new buildings. My guess is as long as they agreed to do it, can keep selling. But, they are way short on dealers doing it. They need to ramp up more ASAP. And get their SUVs out there.

he is not concerned, because they have the conceirge service, so any time it needs something, they flatbed a loaner, take his away, and bring it back when finished. I am sure in a pinch the Hyundai dealer can take care of it too.

cdnpinhead · December 2018

Apparently passwords expire these days. I was able to log on (finally) after I hit the "forgot password" link and got an E-mail from Edmunds with the link to the "reset password" page. I modified my password slightly and am back on, for now. The exercise took a half hour or so -- interesting way to run a railroad.

oldfarmer50 · December 2018

abacomike said:
If I won millions of dollars in some lottery or someone left me many millions of dollars, I would definitely make charitable contributions to many organizations I personally feel some connection to - anonymously! I have no interest in being lauded by those charitable organizations or by the media or by any individuals who would want to praise me - I have no interest in being praised or even thanked. I would make those contributions because I am doing "good" for others or for animals. I have no need to donate my money for any personal gain or ego trip.

I make annual contributions to charitable organizations every year who I think would benefit by helping others. This includes the ASPCA, breast cancer, American Cancer Society, St. Jude Hospital for Children, Boys' Town in Nebraska, to name a few. It's sort of a ritual with me - I sit down at my desk in December with my pen and checkbook, and begin writing checks to approximately 25 organizations.

Does this make me feel "good" as a person? I really don't know- I don't "feel" anything - I do this as an exercise, much like tithing - a ritualistic exercise. That's just how I give back for all that I have received - a duty so to speak.

I think that’s the way I’d do it too although I’d want to be around to watch when the recipient received my donations.

graphicguy · December 2018

Anytime an elected official tries to suppress legitimate reporting via the media, it is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.

Mr_Shiftright · December 2018

tyguy said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

I'd rather have more of a vote as to the future of humanity, not just have him plan it. His vision is self-serving and techno-centric. Remember "Atoms for Peace"? Or "Save the World By Eradicating DDT"? Or even social media, which was going to make us one big happy global family?

How'd those work out? Not so good. Atom energy terrorized us, lack of DDT starved millions, and social media tends to make people miserable.

Nature thinks on a much bigger scale than he does.

How do you not have a vote in his vision? If you don’t agree, don’t buy it.

That's not a vote based on merit or rationality, though. That's a vote based on consumerism, or perhaps on the momentum of a government-funded corporate charity. There are plenty of persistently bad ideas that people buy all the time, and then only later suffer unforeseen consequences. People didn't vote for air pollution, after all-- but they got it anyway--or social media addiction/alienation, or the vaping epidemic among teenagers, or the rampant opioid distribution.

My point is---that technology is a wonderful servant and a horrible master.

houdini2 · December 2018

driver100 said:

houdini2 said:

fintail said:
People who are so great and altruistic don't make unfounded accusations of pedophilia via Twitter like golden boy Elon. That BS should cost a lot of his fortune right there. Seeing how his battle with the SEC has gone, however, it is just more evidence of the golden rule. He may have some cool ideas, but he has some enormous flaws as well.
Some psychiatrists say that any every decision that anyone makes is self serving in some way. Say that someone wins millions in the lottery and then gives it all to charity just means that individual valued all the goodwill people would feel towards him, and his own self concept above the money. I would disagree, but it is an interesting concept.
Yes, it is an interesting concept. So, if some guy gives $5 million to some charity he is doing it for purely selfish reasons - mainly to soothe his ego. I think the person who said that is looking for an excuse not to be charitable.

I would agree, the person giving the money does it partly because it makes him feel better, but, he feels better because he has demonstrated that he is a good human being and is making the world a better place. It isn't for purely selfish reasons.

Yes, it is a very cynical theory.

xwesx · December 2018

Mr_Shiftright said:
lack of DDT starved millions

Wait, is that a vote FOR DDT?! The planet is still reeling from that stuff. The last thing we need is to destroy our planet just to feed more people (for a short period of time, at that). We have far more than enough people in the world; artificially propping up the population through environmental terror (we're still at it, of course) does nobody any good (for long).

houdini2 · December 2018

oldfarmer50 said:

abacomike said:
If I won millions of dollars in some lottery or someone left me many millions of dollars, I would definitely make charitable contributions to many organizations I personally feel some connection to - anonymously! I have no interest in being lauded by those charitable organizations or by the media or by any individuals who would want to praise me - I have no interest in being praised or even thanked. I would make those contributions because I am doing "good" for others or for animals. I have no need to donate my money for any personal gain or ego trip.

I make annual contributions to charitable organizations every year who I think would benefit by helping others. This includes the ASPCA, breast cancer, American Cancer Society, St. Jude Hospital for Children, Boys' Town in Nebraska, to name a few. It's sort of a ritual with me - I sit down at my desk in December with my pen and checkbook, and begin writing checks to approximately 25 organizations.

Does this make me feel "good" as a person? I really don't know- I don't "feel" anything - I do this as an exercise, much like tithing - a ritualistic exercise. That's just how I give back for all that I have received - a duty so to speak.
I think that’s the way I’d do it too although I’d want to be around to watch when the recipient received my donations.

I usually write the check to the org. I want to help, not to those raising donations and only end up giving them 10% of the donations, after their "expenses".

houdini2 · December 2018

graphicguy said:
Anytime an elected official tries to suppress legitimate reporting via the media, it is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.

Yeah, the key word there is "legitimate".

houdini2 · December 2018

houdini2 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

abacomike said:
If I won millions of dollars in some lottery or someone left me many millions of dollars, I would definitely make charitable contributions to many organizations I personally feel some connection to - anonymously! I have no interest in being lauded by those charitable organizations or by the media or by any individuals who would want to praise me - I have no interest in being praised or even thanked. I would make those contributions because I am doing "good" for others or for animals. I have no need to donate my money for any personal gain or ego trip.

I make annual contributions to charitable organizations every year who I think would benefit by helping others. This includes the ASPCA, breast cancer, American Cancer Society, St. Jude Hospital for Children, Boys' Town in Nebraska, to name a few. It's sort of a ritual with me - I sit down at my desk in December with my pen and checkbook, and begin writing checks to approximately 25 organizations.

Does this make me feel "good" as a person? I really don't know- I don't "feel" anything - I do this as an exercise, much like tithing - a ritualistic exercise. That's just how I give back for all that I have received - a duty so to speak.
I think that’s the way I’d do it too although I’d want to be around to watch when the recipient received my donations.
I usually write the check to the org. I want to help, not to those raising donations and only end up giving them 10% of the donations after their "expenses".

ab348 · December 2018

Changing topics, I got my insurance renewals recently. Car and home are both with the same company. I have been with TD Insurance (previously Meloche Monnex) for 21 years (I had to look that up) and never made a claim. Both were up, the car policy by about 20%, the home policy by about 10%. Needless to say, I was annoyed.

I asked them to call me and see what could be done to reduce that. Much to my surprise, I got a very helpful agent. He looked at my auto policy, asked me some questions, made some changes that really don't affect me at all, and got it down to less than I paid last year. Then he looked at the home policy and although no changes were made to that coverage, he applied some sort of discretionary discount that he was allowed to use to make that less than last year also. So they kept my business for another year. We'll see what next year brings.

xwesx · December 2018

tyguy said:
Cool article, Imid. Thanks for sharing.

Colorado has a state rebate program for commercial businesses who install chargers at their locations and make them publicly available as well as government facilities. There’s no requirement for a certain brand, but to your point, some public money is going into the development of a network of charging points. I found this article:
https://clippercreek.com/evse-rebates-and-tax-credits-by-state/

For years Tesla has provided free Tesla charging stations to businesses, sometimes but not always including the installation in adddition to the hardware, which they call destination charging, meaning a hotel, restaurant, or retail location wanting to lure Tesla drivers. The business pays for the electricity and sometimes the electricity. It’s smart business for both sides. Now that I own a Tesla, I’m choosing to stay in hotels with Tesla chargers. Here’s a map that shows Tesla Superchargers and destination chargers:
https://tesla.com/findus#/bounds/70,-50,5,-170/?search=supercharger&name=North%20America

I stayed at a place that had such a charging station back in 2017 when we bought the Q7. It was an hour or so north of Austin: Lampasas. Pouring rain when we arrived that around 2300 hours, and the entire parking lot was full, partially owing to three large pickups with 30+' trailers in tow. However, there were two free spaces that were straddling a charging station, with signs that said "electric vehicles only." The best part? They were the nearest parking available to the front entrance - closer even than the handicap parking spaces. I backed on in and had a very nice sleep that night.

graphicguy · December 2018

houdini2 said:

graphicguy said:
Anytime an elected official tries to suppress legitimate reporting via the media, it is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.
Yeah, the key word there is "legitimate".

True...with what we now know of the conspiracy fallacies and influence of foreign and entities into the spread of those fallacies, it’s even more important for our established media outlets to report without political interference.

ab348 · December 2018

graphicguy said:

houdini2 said:

graphicguy said:
Anytime an elected official tries to suppress legitimate reporting via the media, it is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.
Yeah, the key word there is "legitimate".
True...with what we now know of the conspiracy fallacies and influence of foreign and entities into the spread of those fallacies, it’s even more important for our established media outlets to report without political interference.

I would agree, except for one thing. Too many news organizations now have their own agenda. Not to buy totally into the "fake news" narrative, but some organizations claiming to be journalists and complaining about how they are being treated are really partisan boosters for one side or another, and often use sensationalist tactics to make their case. When I look at the daily summary I get from the Boston Globe for instance, I often just shake my head and wonder how they can honestly call themselves journalism. Makes one long for the days of Walter Cronkite.

As the old saying goes, "Physician, heal thyself."

[Deleted User] · December 2018

Mr_Shiftright said:

How do you not have a vote in his vision? If you don’t agree, don’t buy it.

That's not a vote based on merit or rationality, though. That's a vote based on consumerism, or perhaps on the momentum of a government-funded corporate charity. There are plenty of persistently bad ideas that people buy all the time, and then only later suffer unforeseen consequences. People didn't vote for air pollution, after all-- but they got it anyway--or social media addiction/alienation, or the vaping epidemic among teenagers, or the rampant opioid distribution.

My point is---that technology is a wonderful servant and a horrible master.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Social change in America is a mix of capitalism, social movements, and government influence. People vote with dollars as well as polling stations. All the social issues you mentioned start with choices of individual people and largely outside the voting booth.

No one is forcing anyone to buy an EV, but when a person chooses to drive a gas guzzler, s/he is choosing air pollution and energy dependence. This is hardly a surprise or unforeseen. Idle any ICE vehicle in an enclosed area for a short period and see how well you breath. Additionally, we still import more oil than we export, so we have to protect those foreign assets to feed our consumption. There are no surprises here.

If you want to talk government-funded corporate charity, then let's get into how much we spend annually propping up fossil fuels and ethanol.

[Deleted User] · December 2018

graphicguy said:

houdini2 said:

graphicguy said:
Anytime an elected official tries to suppress legitimate reporting via the media, it is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.
Yeah, the key word there is "legitimate".
True...with what we now know of the conspiracy fallacies and influence of foreign and entities into the spread of those fallacies, it’s even more important for our established media outlets to report without political interference.

100% agree, GG. Unfortunately I don't think there's even one media outlet left simply reporting the facts. You have to wade through the bias to get to anything useful.

oldfarmer50 · December 2018

ab348 said:
Changing topics, I got my insurance renewals recently. Car and home are both with the same company. I have been with TD Insurance (previously Meloche Monnex) for 21 years (I had to look that up) and never made a claim. Both were up, the car policy by about 20%, the home policy by about 10%. Needless to say, I was annoyed.

I asked them to call me and see what could be done to reduce that. Much to my surprise, I got a very helpful agent. He looked at my auto policy, asked me some questions, made some changes that really don't affect me at all, and got it down to less than I paid last year. Then he looked at the home policy and although no changes were made to that coverage, he applied some sort of discretionary discount that he was allowed to use to make that less than last year also. So they kept my business for another year. We'll see what next year brings.

I’m dreading next year’s insurance bill. My long time company has been raising rates for no reason for several years now. I worry that the recent not my fault fender bender with the wife’s PT will be an excuse to raise them again. I called and asked if they wanted a copy of the police report but they said it wouldn't have any effect unless I filed a claim on my own insurance, which I didn’t.

Why don’t I believe them?

Mr_Shiftright · December 2018

xwesx said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
lack of DDT starved millions
Wait., is that a vote FOR DDT?! The planet is still reeling from that stuff. The last thing we need is to destroy our planet just to feed more people (for a short period of time, at that). We have far more than enough people in the world; artificially propping up the population through environmental terror (we're still at it, of course) does nobody any good (for long).

No, not exactly a vote for DDT--but it turns out the original "science" on ill effects was not that good, and also the consequences of banning it probably outweighed the good it did. Of course, the people who suffered were not the ones making the decision.

Mr_Shiftright · December 2018

tyguy said:

graphicguy said:

houdini2 said:

graphicguy said:
Anytime an elected official tries to suppress legitimate reporting via the media, it is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.
Yeah, the key word there is "legitimate".
True...with what we now know of the conspiracy fallacies and influence of foreign and entities into the spread of those fallacies, it’s even more important for our established media outlets to report without political interference.
100% agree, GG. Unfortunately I don't think there's even one media outlet left simply reporting the facts. You have to wade through the bias to get to anything useful.

Bias doesn't matter if the facts speak for themselves, right? If I choose, say, in my publication, ONLY to report all the defects with Honda cars, and nothing about GM, or nothing good about Honda---well that's "bias" but still the truth (presuming I didn't make up the thing about the defects).

What the Russkies do is a bit different, and they are VERY good at it. They would give you 20% very accurate information on Honda, which you could then verify, and then feed you 80% false info. Worse yet, these lies would then be often repeated by either willing or, often, unwitting accomplices in the American media.

I guess you could say the same about "road tests", although I don't think the Russians interfere too much in those!

stickguy · December 2018

People as a group (especially politicians) are not very good with making decisions when the choice is between real bad for a few, vs. pretty bad for many.

so if event A will kill 5 people, but the fix will shorten the lifesspan of 1,000 (and yes of course I am just making this all up!) they usually go with the save the couple option.

medical care of course faces the same dilemma (death squads coming for grandma!).

Mr_Shiftright · December 2018

Our brains aren't built for longterm thinking, that's for sure. That's why leasing was invented!

[Deleted User] · December 2018

Mr_Shiftright said:

Bias doesn't matter if the facts speak for themselves, right? If I choose, say, in my publication, ONLY to report all the defects with Honda cars, and nothing about GM, or nothing good about Honda---well that's "bias" but still the truth (presuming I didn't make up the thing about the defects).

What the Russkies do is a bit different, and they are VERY good at it. They would give you 20% very accurate information on Honda, which you could then verify, and then feed you 80% false info. Worse yet, these lies would then be often repeated by either willing or, often, unwitting accomplices in the American media.

I guess you could say the same about "road tests", although I don't think the Russians interfere too much in those!

Yeah, I do agree with that, and it's much harder to discern that form of bias. When I already know the larger story it's easy to see, but at that point I don't need the info they're reporting. Excellent point, Mr S.

houdini2 · December 2018

ab348 said:

graphicguy said:

houdini2 said:

graphicguy said:
Anytime an elected official tries to suppress legitimate reporting via the media, it is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.
Yeah, the key word there is "legitimate".
True...with what we now know of the conspiracy fallacies and influence of foreign and entities into the spread of those fallacies, it’s even more important for our established media outlets to report without political interference.
I would agree, except for one thing. Too many news organizations now have their own agenda. Not to buy totally into the "fake news" narrative, but some organizations claiming to be journalists and complaining about how they are being treated are really partisan boosters for one side or another, and often use sensationalist tactics to make their case. When I look at the daily summary I get from the Boston Globe for instance, I often just shake my head and wonder how they can honestly call themselves journalism. Makes one long for the days of Walter Cronkite.

As the old saying goes, "Physician, heal thyself."

True, we don't have investigative reporters any longer. All we have are people writing editorials and calling it news.

oldfarmer50 · December 2018

It’s that time of year.

Just now I went out to buy pizza. I turned left from a single lane to double lane road and is proper, I turned into the closest (left lane) and the signaled to merge right. A woman behind me making the same turn crossed both lanes and tried to pass me on the right. When she realized she couldn’t do that she flung herself back to the left and passed at substantially higher than the speed limit. She switched back to the right and was stopped by the traffic light. I rolled right up behind her.

Another mile down the road we left the two lane together and she blew through the stop sign at the end of the ramp. She got caught in traffic and I caught up to her at the next stop sign where I noticed she was yaking on the phone.

Let’s see...failure to maintain proper lane, speeding in a work zone, running stop signs and cell use while driving. How many points would that be?

bwia · December 2018

Ok, ok, I know this is a politics free zone but where do I vent my frustrations on the mismanagement of the economy. Karamber!

[Deleted User] · December 2018

oldfarmer50 said:
It’s that time of year.

Just now I went out to buy pizza. I turned left from a single lane to double lane road and is proper, I turned into the closest (left lane) and the signaled to merge right. A woman behind me making the same turn crossed both lanes and tried to pass me on the right. When she realized she couldn’t do that she flung herself back to the left and passed at substantially higher than the speed limit. She switched back to the right and was stopped by the traffic light. I rolled right up behind her.

Another mile down the road we left the two lane together and she blew through the stop sign at the end of the ramp. She got caught in traffic and I caught up to her at the next stop sign where I noticed she was yaking on the phone.

Let’s see...failure to maintain proper lane, speeding in a work zone, running stop signs and cell use while driving. How many points would that be?

LOL. That must have felt good keeping up with her while following the law. All she did was endanger other people and with no benefit.

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