The NY Times has a story about Tesla Motors asking for a $400M piece of the $25B in automotive bailout money. Randall Stross clearly doesn't think they should get any of it. Complaining that Tesla is merely making cars for the rich, and asking why tax payers should pay for any of it. Honestly I'm almost with him on that part.

Tesla has a very long waiting list of people who already spent $109,000 for their cars. Even with that money already in they are having trouble making ends meet. That's just poor business.

However what they are doing is too important to let them go under. None of the major auto makers wants to make cars that don't have ICEs. Mostly because electric cars have virtually zero maintenance cost. Rotate the tires and refill the washer fluid twice a year. That's it. They will run a decade before they need anything else. At that point you buy a new battery that lasts longer, and your good for another ten years. Also the roadster is simply the beginning. If they get the money, in two years they will produce a 4 door sedan for around $50K. In every way it is an investment in the future

Tesla is currently further along with this technology than anyone else in the world. $400M is literally pocket change compared to what the government spend money on. When was the last time you heard anything about sombody requesting less than $10B from the government? If they say they need $400 million, I say give them a Billion. Make them the next big auto manufacturer. The market desperately needs a kick in the pants. Tesla is trying to deliver it.

Today my sister and I worked on a Christmas gift for our father. In this case the camera was high enough on the tripod that I couldn't see through the view finder, so the framing was a best guess sort of thing. She really liked this one, for some reason. It is kind of cool looking but I'm not that big on it as a portrait. I'm all OOF and cropped out even more than she is... Actually now that I think about it... that might be why she liked this one :)

Hey everybody! Congrats to me! This is my 200th blog post since switching to Habari back in March '07.

Now I get to use this mini milestone to wish all Americans a Great Thanksgiving!

I found this pic online sorry it's not one of mine.

I don't often review new albums but this one was compelling for a number of reasons.

I am this time because Guns N' Roses is a classic Rock Icon, and rock icon's don't make comeback albums after 15 years. Also I was never a Guns 'N Roses fan. I didn't dislike them at all, but I never bought or even heard an album. I've only ever known... you know, the popular songs that you hear all over. So I though it would be good to give a GNR ignorant opinion about their latest album. The main reason that put me over the top, was that fact that they managed to do what Metallica hasn't done. The made a good sounding album.

Yes I know Not this dynamic range crap again! I'm sorry, but yes I have to. I really like the songs on both Chinese Democracy, and Death Magnetic. However Death Magnetic sounds like shit. The dynamics have been almost completely leveled out, making it sound like loud noise. Apparently Guns 'N Roses are aware of this trend, and wanted the album to sound like what their fans remember. So I can say it sounds truly fantastic. Crank it up and it really makes you feel the music. Major props to Guns 'N Roses.

Alright. With all that technical audiophile crap out of the way, the songs are very cool. It's very clear they spend a lot of time on this album. Every song sounds meticulously crafted with purpose. Each one musicly (is that a word) evokes the perfect emotions to complement the lyrics. It's just all kinds of perfect. I fully expect them to win a Grammy for this.

Yesterday I saw the new vampire movie. Twilight is what you get when you you need to make a vampire movie that can be shown on the family channel. Well maybe it's not that bad but it's very sappy for a vampire movie.

On the other hand I do know it was intended for teenage girls. Boy do I know it. The theater was packed with them. All giggly and stupid with excitement. They started applauding and hollering when the previews ended and the feature started. Part of me wanted to flee in terror. But it was a small part and I told him to suck it up.

I'm sort of glad I stayed... Sort of. Many parts of it were painfully sappy, others were utterly insane for any other vampire movie. What if the Cleavers were vampires and decided to play a family game of Baseball? Yah.. That's not even craziest part. The movie it's self makes the comparison of vampires and humans as being Lions and Lambs. Now imagine a family of Lions being completely fine with one of their sons dating a Lamb. Yes it's that nuts. With all that, I will admit, it's just barely.. mostly entertaining.

I'm sure if you match it's target demographic you will love it. For my self and everybody else, waiting for the inevitable squeals to hit HBO or Showtime would be the best option.