Other Interests, Idea’s & Thoughts – Page 4

Capitolist Buys a Plug In Hybrid? Ford C-Max Energi Part 3

You might wonder why a couple of proud capitalists would purchase a plug in hybrid car? The vast majority of media outlets never pass a chance to describe lovers of liberty and free markets as people who want dirty air and water. We reject their racist analysis. Racist? Ok, I’m taking lingual liberty. They certainly are drawing a circle around a huge group of people and saying “They are all bad like thus and thus….”. And, the statement is completely untrue. Perhaps racist isn’t the right word, however is it “news” if it’s delivered with a slant? No, it’s propaganda or opinion, not news. 😉

Anyway, we are to one degree or another technology nerds. Also, I’ve always had an interest in electric transportation. I’ve built some hot rod electric scooters that I use at shows. At the moment, I have some projects underway to electrify a classic mini bike. So, as a family, we have operational 3 forms of electric transportation.

A few reasons. I don’t like giving money to people that hate us. As an American, I consider it a matter of patriotic pride to limit my consumption of products imported from the Middle East. I like electric powered transportation and have always dreamed of building electric bikes, scooters, motorcycles and cars. My wife and I are technology nerds. It’s a cool car and technology is just fun to play with.

Not a reason: Man Caused Global Warming Hoax. This is a huge scam religion perpetrated by those wishing to weaken America (anti-capitalists), those wishing to take American pride down a few notches (can you name a few American Apologist Politicians?) and those in academia (scientists) who survive on money for government studies that seems to pour into any public panic. If you hate me for stating these things, don’t look up any data on rise of CO2 following global temperature rise, it will disappoint you in the so called scientists that signed the original report and Al Gore. CO2 does not drive global temps, it follows it. What warms the earth is (do you remember grade school?) is that gigantic ball of intense fire we call the sun.

I don’t need to make up lies or silly make-believe theory’s to justify being clean, thrifty or patriotic (my personal expression of one aspect of patriotism). Others may need a Santa Claus, I’ll stick to facts and logic. Hokey religions and Three-card Monte are no match for a good logic at your side, kid.*

*Hans Solo adaptation.

Marine Joshua Boston writes to Senator Dianne Feinstein(D) – “I am not your servant.”

Fox and Friends Interview

Senator Dianne Feinstein,

I will not register my weapons should this bill be passed, as I do not believe it is the government’s right to know what I own. Nor do I think it prudent to tell you what I own so that it may be taken from me by a group of people who enjoy armed protection yet decry me having the same a crime. You ma’am have overstepped a line that is not your domain. I am a Marine Corps Veteran of 8 years, and I will not have some woman who proclaims the evil of an inanimate object, yet carries one, tell me I may not have one.
I am not your subject. I am the man who keeps you free. I am not your servant. I am the person whom you serve. I am not your peasant. I am the flesh and blood of America. I am the man who fought for my country. I am the man who learned. I am an American. You will not tell me that I must register my semi-automatic AR-15 because of the actions of some evil man.

I will not be disarmed to suit the fear that has been established by the media and your misinformation campaign against the American public.

We, the people, deserve better than you.

Respectfully Submitted,
Joshua Boston
Cpl, United States Marine Corps
2004-2012
——————————————————————————–

“Whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force.”
-Thomas Jefferson-

Huffington Post: Former Marine, Pens Response To Dianne Feinstein Gun Control Bill: ‘I Am Not Your Servant’

I Salute Joshua Boston for defending Liberty, all our Liberty!!! Even though a former Marine, Joshua recognizes his duty to defend Liberty from tyranny at home. A patriot never retires, never quits, never gives up, never leaves room in America for the enemy’s of Liberty. We must all do our duty to our troops who are away and defend Liberty at home against outside and inside attackers. Let not Liberty die to thunderous applause!* The tyrannt Senator from California go hide her head for her confession as a trator to American Liberty. What part of “Shale not be infringed.” do you not understand? Hell, any 3rd grader could spell and understand every word in the second amendment. Don’t like self defense? It’s a short flight to Mexico where it is just the way you want it, or perhaps Chicago (death tolls in state wide gun-free-zone higher than our troops in Afganistan).

Dianne Feinstein: CONFESSES SHE IS ARMED! Yet recently she questions your right to defend yourself while she is armed to the teeth. Throw this 3rd world tyrannt out California!

Here she says she will reintroduce assult weapons ban for all us underlings. Most rifles sold and handguns are semi-automatic. This means when you pull the trigger, it fires a round. So, if the gun fires every time you pull the trigger in her estimation it only belongs on a battle field. If you own it and need to defend yourself, you need to remove a lock first.

Wait a minute you raping mass-murdering madman, before I try to kill you first, let me get this lock off my rifle. PLEASE!

These are the choices madmen, dictators, tyrannts and evil doers want to leave thier peasants with. That is a real example of love and care for your fellow man. Should we be surprised?

“The natural tendency of things, it seems, is for government to grow and for liberty to retreat.”
-Thomas Jefferson-

Make no mistake, anybody that wants you to be weaker can’t possibly be looking out for your interests. Particularly a politicion who at home and work is armed to the teeth at work paid for by your tax dollars. You’ve been providing her armed security (do you feel like a sucker yet?). But, it’s not OK for you, you pathetic servent grade trash subject of the federal governement. It’s not OK for you to provide for your own defense at the same time your providing for hers.

*

Hard to tell if Emperor Palpatine is really Dianne Feinstein?

“Among the many misdeeds of British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.”
-Mahatma Mohandas K. Gandhi-
(1869-1948)
Source: An Autobiography, pg 446

My name is Dave Thacker and I’m doing something about it.

Ford C-Max Energi Part 2

A full week on the ticker. Remember the very important point presented in part 1. That point was Ford says to wait at least 1000miles before making any mileage calculations. This implies there may be some break in mixture settings that prevent it from reaching it’s potential for a while. That being said, here are my shots of the data thus far.

Over 20 miles of driving on engergy generated from braking. 200 miles exactly in pure electric driving. The brakes are interesting. When you lightly press on the peddle, you get a braking action, however it’s really the generator robbing your inertia for energy to charge the battery. As you move down on the peddle you can feel there are about 3 steps in this level of braking (or level of power generation) which each step increasing in rate of power generation and braking force. If you don’t move your foot at all, you’ll come to a complete stop. Obviously, when you are barely moving (moment before you stop) there can be no electronic braking (or little) yet it feels just like the brake pads are stopping you. Some super-brain programming must be managing this and it works perfectly!

Shown here are total miles, state of battery charge and what remains of our first tank of fuel given to us by the dealer. Not bad, close to 500 miles and we have about a 1/4 tank left. Notice, I have changed the mileage calculation. It was at first combined with with electric power. I wasn’t interested in that figure. I wanted to know what we were getting per gallon of gasoline. So, that is now represented. It’s continued to climb all week and as you can see, it’s over 40mpg at this time.

Overall my impression of this car is a “fine ride”. Really enjoying the gizmo factor of playing around with an electric car. It’s as fine a ride as any luxury automobile I’ve ever driven. Comfortable, handles nice, great on the highway. Can’t wait for an excuse to take a long trip in it.

I did run into a couple of irritations this past week. When it comes to any kind of product manual or help file, it seems not to include “my” answer. While switching it from MPGe to MPG I encountered a wrench icon. A retangular yellow light with a wrench in it. Going to the bible like (thin pages and thick!) manual to look over the two pages full of warning icons, I could not find a wrench. Going to the glossary and looking up words like “icon”, “wrench” and “symbol” produced a big fat zero. I’ve come to expect that when I look into any kind of help file or manual. Is a black cloud following me? Probably not. Once I got the setting to what I wanted, the wrench never appeared again. Not sure what it was trying to communicate to me.

The second item is the foot actuated lift gate. It seemed to work iratically, opening partially then stopping at times. I discovered we were using it wrong, wiggling your foot back and forth under the bumper can start it opening and also toggle it to stop. Just sticking your foot under the bumper and pulling it out gets a reliable full open every time.

More to learn: You’ll notice in one photo, a full battery stating it has 12 miles range. We had read this car has about 20-22 miles on battery alone. I’ve still to figure out if this is part of a break in or what the reality is on final full electric range.

American Dream

Great animation telling the history of Monday and threats to our freedom and independence. It’s inescapable, we’ve slid way down the hill. I am unsure if it can be turned around or perhaps the best we can do is stick our feet through the floorboards and slow it down.

Ford C-Max Energi Purchased Part 1

2012 C-Max Energi Plug In Hybrid — 2012 C-Max Energi

C-Max Energi[/caption]It was time to purchase a new car. My wife and I are fans of Top Gear, a european auto show. On that show they don’t like many cars, however, they all love the Fiat 500 Abarth. We also liked the Ford C-Max. These cars do not have too much in common, however it was the two we were picking from. We finally decided on the C-Max Energi. (my Abarth dreams are still alive) Her previous car is a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid. The Civic is 9 years old with a little over 100k on it. I currently drive a 2006 Dodge Mega Cab Cummins Diesel pickup. We have decided to keep the Honda as I have been averaging about $254 a month in fuel expense commuting to work each day. However, I need the truck to travel to trade shows and fly-ins so we’ll be keeping that. I just don’t need to be driving it so much. I am planning that by driving the Civic will save us about $127 a month in deisel fuel.

The C-Max comes in several varieties, we choose the “Energi” version. The Energi is a plug in Hybrid It has an EPA rating of 100 miles per gallon. The car contains a lithium ion battery and can go 10-20 miles on battery alone.

I plan to write in this forum about the C-Max and out experience with it.

When we picked up the car, the avergage fuel economy guage was reading 13.5mpg and it had 59 miles on it. (YIKES!)

One of the things that concerned us was the lack of people reporting fuel economy for the C-Max, both Hybrid and the Energi Plug In. The few that did report all reported less than EPA sticker mileage. Typical for the C-Max Hybrid (sticker 47mpg city, 47mpg highway and 47mph combined) was from 32 to 36mpg. That is alarming. However, these reports all seem to come from reviewers who have cars on loan for a day to film and make reports. Also, for photogenic reasons the driving almost always was in the hills and canyons of California or similar. Test speeds always seem to be 70mph plus. We don’t drive like that. Also, what does any reviewer or test driver do? They stand on that throttle to feel the power, they film passing, they film jack-rabbit starts, the test the handling. All things your likely to get tired of doing after owning a car for a 1000miles or so. What am I saying? You can’t trust the media here (like you can’t trust them anywhere). In this case, they don’t have an axe to grind, they have a report to finish. There is no axe to grind, just human nature. So, I’m anxious to see if I am correct or in error. Will the car do much better than previously reported?

Also, not reported by any report is the Ford’s manual which warns not to measure fuel economy during the first 1000 miles. The most accurate time will be between 2000-3000 miles. Having mechanical and racing experience (and a dose of healthy logic), I can assure you with todays computer controlled ignition and fuel delivery systems could easily be programmed to run a little richer for a better break in. The manual does not state it in that way and no research indicates they’ve done that. However, there is no research that indicates they did not either. So, we’ll follow the directions and give it the miles before we get too critical.

I wonder if any of the online reviewers of the C-Max Hybrid bothered to read the manual? Remember, these are humans.

We have the Energi version which is perported to get 108mpg in the city and 92 highway. Of course with an electric range limit of about 20 miles, I would presume most of your trips need to be very short with charging before each trip to acheive this mileage. My wife’s commute is 60 miles a day and most of that is Highway. I’ll be quite happy if she averages 60mpg. We are starting with the car in the winter which creates heating loads.

Energi010113Mileage — Mileage Data Shot 01-01-13

Here is our first set of guage photos. I’ll try to add these from time to time so you can see how the Energi is doing.

Utah Teachers Flock to Gun Training

Utah Teachers Gun Training — Clark Aposhian, President of the Utah Shooting Sport Council, demonstrates with a plastic gun during concealed-weapons training for 200 Utah teachers
Dec. 27, 2012, in West Valley City, Utah. (Rick Bowmer/AP Photo)

The perception of schools as sanctuaries from violence has been “blown up” by recent events and some believe it’s time for educators to literally take the situation into their own hands and carry guns.

……handful of states, including Oregon, Hawaii and New Hampshire, that allow people to carry licensed concealed weapons into public schools.

see the Full Story – ABC NEWS: Utah Teachers Flock to Gun Training

The report describes Utah’s long running choice to resist evil law breaking wackos with force, to protect our children with deadly force if nesasary. Certainly it would not be complete without an objector to liberty, self-defense and teacher defense of children. As reported by ABC NEWS – Carol Lear, the board’s director of school law and legislation, who stated “It’s a terrible idea…It’s a horrible, no-good, rotten idea.”

Should you choose to contact this objector to liberty, her contact information is published on a public web page: USOE Law – Contact Us

Published there on this day is:

Carol Lear
Director
Phone: (801) 538-7835 | E-mail: carol.lear@schools.utah.gov

Heidi Alder
Education Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7832 | E-mail: heidi.alder@schools.utah.gov

Kathy Akin
Administrative Secretary
Phone: (801) 538-7830 | E-mail: kathy.akin@schools.utah.gov

My name is Dave Thacker and I’m doing something about it.

Is Capiltolism Humane?

Another great talk given my Milton Friedman. What are the results of various systems of government? This talk was given before socialism/communism in the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) had failed. 45 minutes.

Although not mentioned in the talk, it is also interesting to mention another failed socialist government. The NAZI party (NAZI translated from German is National Socialism) Socialism is used to gain control, complete central control of peoples, it seems so sweet at the onset, however it eliminates liberty and forces participation. To the hopeful central controllers, more important than what your day to day decisions are is who gets to decide. We are suffering from intrusions into every step of American life, how much water your toilet uses, which shower head you choose, and on and on, all for the “greater good”. Certainly, I am not saying Americans in favor of Socialism are Communists or Nazis, what I am saying is the peoples of Russia, Germany, Greece, Cambodia (Pol Pot) were entrapped by socialist ideals and all ended in failure. Literate Americans have the benefit of history in order to determine what is at the end of the socialists anti-capitalist path. We have the option of rejecting these failed ideals and avoiding the poverty and despair of Cuba, Russia, Germany and so many others. Some Americans make the argument that we can ignore history, that we never tried it fully and that’s why it will work for us, we are American’s after all. It seems a little aloof to consider oneself above history doesn’t it? One thing leads to another and so on, it is historic and undisputable, where it happens, it fails with sad results for everyone (except the ruling class).

Listen to Milton Friedman, he saw this in his own time. I wonder if he could have imagined we would have slipped so far by now? I think the answer is yes, he did imagine it, that is why he was giving these talks and warnings, trying to stem the tide of poverty and failure in socialist systems where the equality is sought and always achieved to an equal level of poverty for all of us.

Evil Finds a Way

Although I wrote the following comments over approximately a 10 day period, I chose not to publish them prior to the last funeral out of respect for the families.

A horrible tragedy unfolds in a school, a wacko kills 26 persons, 20 of which were children. Before the bodies are removed, it is seized upon by many including the mayors of New York and Boston as an opportunity to further curtail Liberties.

We shouldn’t be surprised, their brother Rom Emanuel is famous for confessing an underlying philosophy.

My prayers go out to the families and victims of this depraved insanity. I feel ashamed there are those Americans among us whose crassness allows them to confiscate their immeasurable loss for further attacks on our Liberties and freedoms. As if you and your freedom were to blame for this wacko’s actions.

During the memorial service, a high government official was vowing to use all the power of his office. The speech mentioned 4 shootings during this administration. However, he omitted one, there were five. Left out was Fort Hood where a Muslim terrorist Maj. Hasan assisted by an on-base gun-free zone attacked Americans. A place where our soldiers, sworn to fight to the death for our freedoms were forced to be disarmed. (should I say not trusted, to be armed?) 13 people died in that self defense free zone. Do you remember? They side tracked the real reason these people died by defining it as “workplace violence”. A military base, you can’t have more command and control than a military base. Maj. Hasan walked right into the so called “Soldier Readiness Processing Center” and killed 13 soldiers who’s readiness was not respected. Why did he fail to mention this 5th failure of gun control? They controlled soldiers on a base, disallowing our most trusted defenders of freedom to be armed and 13 of them were killed. Yes, I blame the controllers that SO MANY died. I empathize with you in wishing we could, yet I know we cannot really trust this government or any other government to protect us. Sure they’ll be on the scene to take the reports and investigate and blame the inanimate objects. It’s our first responsibility to keep our own selves and families safe. To protect ourselves from a government official investigating why we died.

Those who wish us to be weaker are planning to use the actions of this madman to argue that you have too much Liberty. As if it is your fault American, you and your ilk are to blame. While they are protected up to the eyeballs in Washington with firearms, barriers, missiles and technology, they desire you and I should have no choice. Somehow the problem is our Liberties, not the evil mental case that did the deed. Of course, it suits the needs of those seeking to take bites out of our constitution to blame you and me and our freedoms rather than a determined individual that committed the crime or the people who organize the zones where self defense is prohibited.

Do I think every teacher and school administrator should be carrying a weapon? Shouldn’t it be up to them, up to each American if they choose to do so? That’s Liberty! What if Liberty were not obstructed with opposing regulations? If Liberty where not hindered by it’s opponents, who’s to say there would not have been some small number of school employees able to provide lethal resistance to this killer? No, rather than allowing free people to defend themselves and those they love, we forced those teachers into charging the gunman unarmed, shielding their pupils with their bodies (unarmed) or running (unarmed) from harms way. Limiting citizens to these frightening choices is held up as the high moral ground by some. I am aghast with shock and horror at the ignorance of many. We trust our teachers with our children. If they wished to do them harm, there is nothing stopping them. There is nothing stopping a knife, a gun, poison, physical abuse, if they wanted to do them harm they could. They have them all to themselves, even alone in classrooms all day long. Yet to satisfy some sick political cause against the Liberties of Americans, we prevent them from exercising the power to protect our children. We create an environment that favors evil, an environment that favors the sick wacko. A free fire zone where there are none whom are “free” to resist evil with equal force. The wacko knows how to avoid a fair fight and where to find preferential treatment. Time and time again they go to the anti-self-defense zone and they enter that zone with the full knowledge it’s been designed with a philosophy, with misguided intentions, not effective defense. Our Anti-Self-Defense zones are most effective at creating space for madmen to do whatever they want. To be in charge.

Wacko’s don’t seem to have any difficulty arriving at such simple logical conclusions. They understand where the way is easy and where it is difficult. It’s not complicated. Are you smarter than a wacko?

My name is Dave Thacker and I’m doing something about it.

Core Values of Freedom

Let me recommend a documentary; Ayn Rand and the Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged

My wife and I recently watched it on Netflix using our Roku. This is a modern documentary covering a powerful philosophy. Learn what the “Right to the pursuit of happiness” really means. Here is the trailer:

I would classify this documentary high on my list of must watch films. You’ll find enlightening coverage of why we are in the financial crisis we are in and why we’re going where we’re headed. Our system trains us to forget, this will help you to remember and perhaps avoid an unpleasant future. Perhaps you’ve heard of Atlas Shrugged or Ayn Rand and wish to know a little more about it. The documentary is a quick cliff notes version of here philosophy. I would definitely recommend taking in this film, it will help you understand the recent movie Atlas Shrugged better to have this foundation. Look it up and Enjoy!

A Self Defense Free Zone Kills Again In Portland Oregon

December 12,2012: Another zone were self defense is forbidden, where dying at the hands of a wacko is held in higher moral regard than defending your own life or the lives of other Americans. Clackamas Town Center Mall, A place where your life is flippantly put at risk. Hey wackos! Come here! Come to our place where we have disarmed the “sheeple”, easy victims for you to prey upon. Score two more innocent deaths for the anti-self defense cause.

I know the anti-self defense crowd must get warm fuzzies when they post a “No-Guns” sign. I don’t question their intentions. I’m sure their intentions are good. However, when you measure the results of gun free zones, of forbidding self defense, what you really have done is made your “zone” an attractive place for a law breaker or maniac to let loose his sick fantasies upon your customers and friends. The owners of this mall are complicit for creating a dangerous place to inhabit. I am sorry for the families of the loved ones who were lost, sorry our country tolerates this kind of ignorant stupidity. Shame on you for creating another place that gives preferential treatment to criminals.

At best, missing from many people’s education and upbringing is the simple lesson that predators seek easy victims over difficult ones. Do Hyenas feed upon Lions or Gazelles? Or, do they simply begrudge you your right to choose to be a Lion rather than a Gazelle? For some it’s ignorance, others pure politics, they are offended by American liberty to choose anything.

At Radical RC we respect the right of every American to self defense. Any visitor or employee is not only welcome to carry a weapon if they wish, it’s respected. Failing to exercise constitutional rights risks lowering ones appreciation for the gift of freedom and liberty we enjoy in this country. And, it weakens our resolve, easing the way for those who are continually chipping away at our liberties. I respect your right to choose, what I don’t respect are the tyrants that feel it’s their right to choose for you.

If I err in any way, I choose to err on the side of Liberty.

My name is Dave Thacker and I’m doing something about it.