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Jan. 4th, 2011
Статистическое
Jan. 4th, 2011 05:46 pm Year-to-date statistics on Airport screening from the Department of Homeland Security:
Terrorist Plots Discovered 0
Hernias 1,485
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Terrorist Plots Discovered 0
Hernias
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Automotive
Jan. 4th, 2011 06:03 pmBTW, before holidays during the exciting one day trip to Chicago, Avis decided to test me with their "cool green" vehicle -- Prius. I figured, why not try something once?!
First Impressions: for the 25K or whatever it costs, it sure does not fee like it. The vehicle had 11K miles on it, and the thing was making noises from all over the place, mostly poorly attached plastic.
The good: the thing (you can see I am struggling calling it the car) literally takes no gas during stop and go traffic. That is pretty damn cool. Also pressing th start button simply locks the doors. Also kind of cool.
Also, since there were no speedometer in front of the steering wheel, I managed to attach my portable Navi in that spot. Double cool.
I think that's about it
Of course on the highway -- no magic. 43/mpg is not bad, but I think a decent diesel or even gas Civic can do that.
The engine was running pretty much the whole time even in stop and go traffic. Maybe because the heater was running. Switching to Electric Vehicle mode (shuts off the engine) works, but the moment you go over something like 5mph, the gas engine starts. Not cool.
The driving experience of this thing -- well, it feels like driving a refrigirator. Ok, I may be spoiled, but I swear it feels more like a home appliance than a car.
But the funniest part is the way other drivers treat you on the road. I guess you are percieved to be some sort of sweet green tree hugger who under no circuimstances can speed, or god forbid try to drive agressively. When I tried to floor it at a traffic light in order to make a left turn ahead of the traffic (I had about 300 yards, but who knew this thing would actually accelerate and spin the wheels on the snowy chicago street), the drivers next to me litterally melted in disbelief only to try to drive me into the concret wall seconds later. Usually stuff like this happens to me when I drive in the NYC a rental with Texas license plates. I even stopped to check the plates -- nope, Illionois alright.
Short story -- been there, done that, will stick with wonders of German engineering. But for the money, I wold definitely get a Civic. Or two.
First Impressions: for the 25K or whatever it costs, it sure does not fee like it. The vehicle had 11K miles on it, and the thing was making noises from all over the place, mostly poorly attached plastic.
The good: the thing (you can see I am struggling calling it the car) literally takes no gas during stop and go traffic. That is pretty damn cool. Also pressing th start button simply locks the doors. Also kind of cool.
Also, since there were no speedometer in front of the steering wheel, I managed to attach my portable Navi in that spot. Double cool.
I think that's about it
Of course on the highway -- no magic. 43/mpg is not bad, but I think a decent diesel or even gas Civic can do that.
The engine was running pretty much the whole time even in stop and go traffic. Maybe because the heater was running. Switching to Electric Vehicle mode (shuts off the engine) works, but the moment you go over something like 5mph, the gas engine starts. Not cool.
The driving experience of this thing -- well, it feels like driving a refrigirator. Ok, I may be spoiled, but I swear it feels more like a home appliance than a car.
But the funniest part is the way other drivers treat you on the road. I guess you are percieved to be some sort of sweet green tree hugger who under no circuimstances can speed, or god forbid try to drive agressively. When I tried to floor it at a traffic light in order to make a left turn ahead of the traffic (I had about 300 yards, but who knew this thing would actually accelerate and spin the wheels on the snowy chicago street), the drivers next to me litterally melted in disbelief only to try to drive me into the concret wall seconds later. Usually stuff like this happens to me when I drive in the NYC a rental with Texas license plates. I even stopped to check the plates -- nope, Illionois alright.
Short story -- been there, done that, will stick with wonders of German engineering. But for the money, I wold definitely get a Civic. Or two.