Presentation

370z drifting

370z drifting

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Response to Matan's Presentation

We both had the same topic which was cars, but he was more focused on the physical and large scale effects on nation. Matan said that cars were expanding the cities and therefore creating suburbs. Because of the ability to travel as an individual easily, the car was able to move the homes of people who work in the city out of the city to the suburbs and keep their jobs. Without the car they would have to walk ride or take a train to work which would be much less convenient. However, we did focus on the same current issue which was pollution and fuel consumption. Interestingly, he had an opposing view to me. He said that pollution is terrible and that the people should give up their sports cars and SUV's in order to get a car that has 5 times the miles per gallon. Matan said that the United States alone produces 20% of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions just from the automotive pollution. This is an amazing fact because at first I figured that the small amount of gas that comes out of a car's tail pipe really does not effect the worlds gigantic atmosphere. However, just the cars in the US are effecting the entire world with 1/5 of the worlds pollution. This proves the point that research must be focused on more fuel efficient cars. Electric cars are starting to really boom also and can help with this problem by eliminating C02 emissions. However, knowing this I still believe that it is okay to own super cars. The feeling and freedom that they give the consumers is much more important than the emissions of the cars, if and only if, the majority of the cars on the road are producing 50 miles to the gallon or more. This compromise will let people enjoy the freedom and control that high power cars give and still help stop the pollution in everyday cars.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Response to Jill's presentatin

Jill had a great presentation in the fact that she really showed how America was so affected by music. It affected America on a broad scale. It made individuals feel happy, and confortable listening to music that they love. It can give them a sense of memory for example the first song at a wedding will be remembered for the rest of their lives. It will also unite individuals into groups. Music can bond people together because of the genre that they like or the feelings that they share. I totally agree with this. When a good song comes on the radio, it is so much fun to blast it and enjoy it with someone else who enjoys it the same as you do. This bonds the two or group of people together because they apreciate the same song. Similarly on a larger scale, music can bond an entire country. Take for example the song "We Are the World." This song was made to unite the entire country to get them to help Hati with the earthquake. It was so effective that now I really want to help out in Hati. It motivated me because of the importance it showed by having that many artists singing. The fact that I recognized over 20 well know singers and artists makes me feel like that song was important because if it was not then why are all these amazing artists singing it. Not only did it move me by importance but also the feeling I get when listening to it. The song was so good partly because of the artists that sung it, but mostly because of the meaning and the video is shown. It gave a sense of how much help the people in Hati need. This message is what makes music so strong in America. The best music can move you with a message and make you feel good.

Response

I just went through Andrew's presentation on gays and lesbians. Going into it I had believed that it was different to have a same sex marriage. I would uncontrollably look at people differently if they were gay. Unfortunately that was how I was raised. Even this weekend with my grandparents I was at a restaurant and our waiter wan noticeably gay and when he walked away my grandparents started mocking him. I thought it was funny, but now after watching Andrew's presentation I realize it is not. If I knew how much the gays had to go through and put yourself in the shoes of a gay man I would not have laughed. I can only imagine what it would be like to have death threats sent to you by the hundreds like Mr. Milk. It was also good to know why the gay people have a parade in Chicago. At first I thought they were just trying to show off that they were gay and different. However, now I know that the parade is because of the Stonewall riots which is when the gays rebel against the police because of an unjust rule that says that no more than 3 gays can sit at a bar. Overall, I learned a lot about the struggle that gays have gone through and how well they endure the pressures that society puts on them. I will definitely not mock a gay guy again.

Works Cited

ABC-CLIO. "Background Essay." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 28 Jan. 2010. http://www.issues.abc-clio.com/.

"A Growing Nation, 1850-1900." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.

"automobiles." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2010.

Clarkson, Jeremy. "Aston-Vantage-V12" TopGear.com. Web. 17 Feb. 2010http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/aston-vantage-v12

GM. "GM's Latest - The 2009 Corvette ZR1 and it's Supercharged LS9 Small-Block V-8." Corvettefever.com. Web. 15 Feb. 2010 http://www.corvettefever.com/techarticles/corp_0712w_gm_ls9_zr1_corvette_small_block_engine/index.html

Gretchen DuBeau. "Fuel Efficiency Standards Should Be Raised." Opposing Viewpoints: Cars in America. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 8 Feb. 2010 .

Leno, Jay. "Jay Leno's Garage." shelbysupercars.com. Web. 20 Feb. 2010. http://www.shelbysupercars.com/video-jay-leno.php

"science in America." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2010.

Vincent Bryan " “In My Merry Oldsmobile”," Annals of American History.

[Accessed February 1, 2010].

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Fate of Supercars

The environment and economy have effected the technology and research that go into the production of the cars today. The future of supercars is very uncertain because of this. Government laws, economic recession, higher gas prices, and environmental agencies, are all factors that discourage car companies from producing cars with high volume engines. Today Gretchen DuBeau, a global warming advocate, is trying to persuade the government that average fuel economy needs to be raised and monitored more strictly. She believes that by increasing the average fuel economies of all the car manufacturers it would in turn, “reduce the oil used by cars and trucks by one-third in 2020; save four million barrels of oil each day by 2020; save consumers $16 billion at the gas pump; and cut global warming emissions from vehicles by 20 percent.”(Gretchen Dubeau) These predictions are very appealing to the government. By using less oil it would not only decrease the demand of gas resulting in lower prices but reduce our dependency on foreign oil. Also, by using less oil over seas it would keep more money in the country to help boost our economy. All of these economic improvements would be made while fighting global warming. Therefore, it would be wise of the car companies to cut down on supercars and powerful engines. However, this is not the case.
Car companies are coming out with even more powerful and more technologically advanced engines. Take for example the new LS9 Corvette engine used in the 200 mph ZR1. By creating this car, Chevy is sticking up to the environmentalists and saying that the excitement of power and torque is more important than the atmosphere. The Corvette has a large supercharger that gives the LS9 a lot of power and sucks up the fuel. A supercharger is basically an air compressor that compresses the air to push into the engine. This helps the gas burn more rapidly and gives the car more power. The assistant chief engineer is describing the effect of the large displacement supercharger on the V8 by saying that the supercharger “expands the 'sweetzone' of the compressor's effectiveness, broadening it to help make power lower in the rpm band, to put it simply the low-end torque is amazing.” The supercharger allows the power of the V8 to be unleashed even when the rpm are low. As a result, the torque is increased giving the driver a thrill from 1-7,000 rmp. This is the excitement that gets consumers craving more and more power from these supercars. They will do anything to experience the acceleration of 0-60 in 3 seconds; it is more important to them than the environment and the economy by far. Another American car company has built a ridiculously fast car, but this company is a little more exclusive.
SSC has come out with the fastest car in the world, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT. This supercar is powered by a twin turbo V8 that makes environmentalists cringe. However, the car enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies are very impressed with this state of the art technology. It can reach speeds higher than any other European car in the world and tops out at around 270. However, they have only officially taken it up to 257mph which is faster than the Bugatti Veyron. Along with this ridiculous acceleration it gives the driver a sense of control and excitement at slower speeds too. Jay Leno says, “the more I drove this car, the more comfortable it gets, the more you settle into it. It really is a drivers car. There's no aids at all. When I drove the Bugatti Veyron, although it was incredibly fast, it felt big and cumbersome. This car seems to shrink around you."(Jay Leno) During a test run in Los Angeles, Jay Leno was driving the car and gave a lot of positive feed back on the quality of handling. It was not a huge piece of machinery that he was just telling what to do like the Veyron; it was a tight and accurately made full on race car. It gives the driver a sense of control and confidence. As a result, it makes the car feel apart of the driver almost like an extension of his or her body. The Aero is very predictable and that makes it so much more rewarding to drive. Knowing that one has the confidence to drive the car extremely well to its limits gives them a very encouraging and satisfactory feeling. A feeling that is indescribable and is much more exciting than global warming and the issues of the economy. These two cars have shown that the economists and environmentalists are not affecting the supercar companies as of now, but what about the future.
Top Gear is the worlds most well known car show, and the host, Jerremy Clarkson, has reviewed thousands of supercars over the years. However, this could be a thing of the past because of the new laws and environmental situations. During a review of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, he believes that the huge V12 supercar will end the era of great supercars. "Thanks to all sorts of things, the environment, economy, problems in the Middle East, the relentless war on speed, cars like this will soon be consigned to the history books." Because of the high taxes and the terrible economic situation, the government will inevitable dwindle the amount of supercars on the roads and dissuade car companies from ever making them again. The huge 7 liter engines require massive amounts of fuel to rev up to 8,000 rpm, and thus they have terrible CO2 emissions and miles per gallon. Jeremy Clarkson is worried that the government will not listen to the people and keep encouraging car makers to produce the cars that they love. Jeremy believes, "what I am driving here is an ending." The massive 12 cylinder engine that the Aston has under its hood is most likely the last extremely powerful engine produced. The odds of another car company coming out with an engine as big as that and amazing as that is very slim. Many supercar makers are ending a few lines of supercars. Lamborghini is even ending the Murcielago series of cars, one of their most powerful lines to start a less explosive 2 wheel drive line of cars. Could Jerremy Clarkson be right? Will the economy and environment halt the production and research of these amazing technological achievements? Or will the consumers who love and live for the euphoria and adrenaline that comes from just looking these cars keep the supercar companies going? What will be the future fate of the supercar?

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Literary analysis

In the short story, "The Red Convertable," there are two brothers who find a convertable on the side of the road and spontaniously decide to buy it. They both loved the car and went on many trips together. They spent an entire summer just driving around the country. More importantly, when Stephan was suffering from post tramatic stress the car was what brought him back to his old self. Stephan and Marty experianced many exciting and happy memories do to this peice of technology. The red convertable gave them freedom and adventure therefore they were able to experience true happiness. According to Thoreau, this happiness that the two brothers experinced was single handedly due to the freedom and self reliance that the car gave them. The two brothers had no worries, and experienced life as it came to them. The two brothers “just lived our everyday lives here to there.”(136) They did not care that they were on a trip; they went with the flow. There was no money to worry about, no appointment to attend, and no one to impress. This freedom allows them to truly enjoy life and the company of eachother and the car. For example, Marty was sitting in the shade of a willow tree and, “it was comfortable. So comfortable. The branches bent down all around me like a tent or a stable. And quiet, it was quiet.”(136) The solitude that the brothers had under the tree was due to the freedom that the car gave them. He was able to feel peaceful because of the lack of worries and responsibilities that they had on the trip. Stephan and Marty were able to experience happiness and pleasure from each other and from their trip because of this peice of technology. If they had planned a route to go on then they would be constantly comparing their trip to their planned trip to see if they were “on schedule.” However, by having no cares about where they are and when they are there, the two brothers are able to truly experience the beauty of life and be carefree. The car was not just a tool but a part of their lives by allowing the brothers to be where they want and when they want with no worries.

The red convertible was not just a machine that got them from one place to another but an important character of the story that gave them adventure, bonding, and peace. The adventure that they experienced was all due to the car. The car allowed them to be free from their home on the Chippewa reservation. It took them many places, for example almost the entire state of Montana and even up to Alaska for a while. One thing was certain where ever they went it was always better than the last place. The two brothers always traveled “on to greener pastures.”(137) Leaving one place was never sad for the two brothers because they knew that as that chapter ended a new one would start. This amazing adventure that man and machine went on together brought each one of the three closer together. The car was at the center of the brothers bond. This became evident at the end of the short story when Stephan was experiencing post traumatic stress. Marty decided the only way to reverse the effects of the war was to remind him of his former happy days with the red convertible. However, one cannot just jump back into a memory, Stephan needed to get reacquainted with the car just like old friends. Therefore, Marty took a hammer to the car and destroyed it so he could fix it up. After working on the car day in and day out, Stephan started to become himself again. The ultimate success came when Stephan said to Marty, “Lets take that old shitbox for a spin.”(141) It was just like the adventures they shared before the war. The two brothers would finally be back together and enjoying each others company like before. They start to casually talk at the river and when they start arguing about the car Stephan finally laughs. “For some reason this cracks me up and so we’re really laughing for a while then, and then we drink all the rest of the beers one by one and throw them into the river to see how far the current takes them,”(144) This shows their carefree lifestyle is back and they are just enjoying one another’s company. It goes to show that the car can be more than a tool for transportation. The Red Convertible was not only a character that helped the brothers experience true happiness and adventure, but a symbol of brother hood and bonding. When Stephan and Marty are finally happy again, Stephan decides to go for a swim in the rising river. He ends up drowning and Marty cannot do anything about it. He decides that since his bonding with Stephan, and his good times with Stephan were over, it was necessary to kill the car too. It says, “The wires short out. It is all finally dark.”(145) The darkness is the car’s lights shorting out and as the car dies so does the relationship between Marty and Stephan because Stephan literally is dead. Marty could never have taken the car and used it all by himself. It was always their car; there were many instances were the two brothers tried to give the car to one another but they were never successful. This was the one thing that brought them together. The car furthermore symbolized this bonding of Stephan and Marty. Now that Stephan is gone, Marty’s adventures and bonding with him are over. As a result the car is gone. The car is much more than technology and a way to get from point a to point b. It can be something that gives happiness, adventure, or bonding.

Background research analysis

Science and technology have improved the everyday lives of citizens in America since its beginning in the early years of the country. However, it has improved society in many different ways over time. In the beginning, science and technology was used to invent. Ever since the American Revolution there was a need for a faster way to pick crops and do work more efficiently. It was answered by inventions to improve the efficiency. There were many inventors in science that improved their work with very simple inventions like the cotton gin or the reaper. Many inventors and scientists were “popularizing the concept of applied science as a means of progress” in the nations industries.(science in America) Applied science is the research in science in order to apply the knowledge directly to improving the efficiency of a task or job. America needed these inventions in its early years to establish farms, crops, and especially to help urbanize the virgin land of America. It helped quickly develope a nation's growth in economy and everyday life. However, when America was settled into and the economy was stronger, there was a switch of the scientific research towards the protection of the society. With World War I underway, the American government realized the need for scientific research to provide weapons and technology to help win the war. Unfortunately, the war ended before a lot of progress was made, but America was prepared for World War II. After a long and bloody battle in the pacific to reach the mainland of Japan, the American troops had already lost over 50,000 men not to mention thousands more at the infamous Pearl Harbor. As a result, the American government along with its troops wanted the war to be over. Not to mention the Japanese were known for fighting ruthlessly with their kamikaze attacks. It was because of these factors “that convinced President Harry S. Truman in the summer of 1945 that an invasion of Japan would be tremendously costly for both sides. Another option-the use of the new atomic bomb.“(Background Essay) The new weapon invented by top scientists like Edison and Oppenheimer was the most technologically advanced and most powerful weapon war has ever scene. President Truman believed that the use of the weapon would save lives on both sides of the battle by destroying the dry docks and factories that help support the Japanese troops. In this sence the Americans used technology to defeat the Japaneese technology, the factories. It was not only a war fought by humans with deaths, but a war fought by scientist with technology. This loss of technology from Japan would hopefully lead to their surrender. Unfortunately, there were extremely dramatic results; the two bombs killed over 150,000 Japanese many of whom were citizens who would never pick up a gun. However, the strategy did work; the technologically advance weapon ended up saving countless thousands of American lives by destroying Japan's technologic resources. However, was it worth the cost of the Japanese lives? Japan suffered many deaths, but the U.S. saved countless. After the war thousands and thousands of troops returned home to experience as much excitement and adventure as they had overseas. Science and technology was now focused on the citizens everyday lives again and making them easier and more practical. Some scientists focused on the new crave for transportation, which was the car. The car redefined American transportation by giving people the independence to travel hundreds of miles in just one day. Many car companies took advantage of this by marketing towards the consumers using the open road as an ideal haven for the people. The article on automobiles on ABC-Clio says, “Gasoline was still cheap, new interstate highways had open up, and Americans loved the open road. Singer Dinah Shore urged her countrymen to ‘see the USA in you Chevrolet’ in television jingles.” Chevrolet saw that society loved to use the open roads to see the country more practically than if one was on a train or walking. They knew that people loved the adventure of being free from their little neighborhoods and roaming around other nearby cities. Therefore they used this as a way to market their cars. As a result, cars gave the society a new way to appreciate technology and that was with emotions. Technology is no longer used to make things practical or safe, it is used to make products more enjoyable and appealing. Take for example the hot rods of the 1960’s and the muscle cars that defined Detroit. However, cars not only made society happy, they also bonded people to the road and with each other. The poem, In My Merry Oldsmobile, demonstrates this. For example, the line, “They love to spark in the dark old park as they go flying along” illustrates two different bonds. It can be interpreted two ways. The sparks could be interpreted as the spark plugs of the engine igniting the fuel producing power for them to fly up and down the dark park. The two love the thrill of speed that the car gives them and bond to it with as a result. However, this could also be a metaphor for how the spark plugs ignite the fuel of the engine and the car ignites the fuel for their love. These sparks are the beginning of love between the man and woman. The car sets them free from society and gives them control over their lives. As a result, they bond to one another and share the excitement of the open road. Overall, the car had brought these two lovers together and gave them a way to be alone and appreciate each other. This was not the intent that technology and the scientist making the cars thought would occur. However, many inventions and great things were discovered by mistake, and the car is no different. The technology that made transportation so pleasurable also freed society and introduced them to adventure and individuality.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Mpg should be monitored

This article is trying to get the government to raise the average fuel economy standards to 40 miles to the gallon. They believe that this would save consumers money at the pump because they would not have to fill up the tank as often. Also as a result, it would lower the demand of oil and decrease the prices. Therefore, the consumers would be saving exponentially. There are many cars out today that produce over 40 miles per gallon. For example, the Toyota Prius gets 55mpg and the ford SUV Escape gets 35-40. Thus the technology to get an engine as efficient as 40 miles to the gallon and still keep the same performance and acceleration is here. We only need to apply it. I agree that the need for environmentally friendly cars is huge. It can also be a great economy booster. However, restricting car companies to average 40mpg for all their cars is outrageous. That would end the super cars who have mpg of around 15 or even 12. The whole idea of driving in America is about the open road and the freedom that it gives you when driving. By taking away the ability to feel the power of a 6L V8 or the sound of an Aston Martin V12 would be killing the entire culture of driving. This restriction of fuel economy would be, in my opinion, imposing on the rights of the citizens to express their selves and pursue happiness. The Declaration of Independence states that one of our unalienable rights is the right for the citizen to pursue happiness. No government law can restrict someone from pursuing happiness. If this law were passed requiring all car companies to average their fuel economy to 40 mpg then it would destroy many peoples ability to pursue happiness. It is quite simple that the reason people buy super cars and sports cars is not because they care about fuel economy or the environment. It is because they want to be entertained and enjoy their driving experience and be free. If this outrageous law is passed then citizens would not be able to buy a sports car and take it out for a joy ride on the highway when they please, and thus impairing their ability to pursue the happiness they get when they are driving. However, I do agree that increasing the miles per gallon of every car would decrease the demand of oil. As a result this would lower prices of gas and decrease our dependency on foreign oil. These are two key reasons why the government should, instead of restrict companies from producing cars with low miles per gallon, encourage companies to produce more efficient cars with money for research.




Gretchen DuBeau. "Fuel Efficiency Standards Should Be Raised." Opposing Viewpoints: Cars in America. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Deerfield High School. 8 Feb. 2010 .

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Corvette Engine

The Corvette is the icon of American sports cars. Now there is a new even more powerful and faster 'vette that is called the ZR1. The ZR1 has an all new engine that is called the LS9. The LS9 is GM's most powerful engine ever built. It has 8 cylinders that take up a displacement of 6.2 liters. However, the cherry on top of the ice cream is the supercharger. Similar to a turbocharger a supercharger's job is to boost oxygen into the engine cylinders in order to get more power at the high rpm's. However, what I learned, is that it widens the torque curve and therefore develops nearly 320 lb-ft of torque at only 1,000 rpm. This low end torque means that the Corvette can literally jump off the line and get the car rolling faster. This supercharger really amazed me how so many factors come into play when developing an engines performance. No one wants an engine with all of its power at 6,000 rpm so that if you are in 3-5,000 rpm's you get no power. When you press your foot down you want acceleration not a delay for the engine to rev up to 6,000 rpm then acceleration. The weight of the components of the engine also play a big roll in the rpm red line. I knew that if you get more rpm's the more power you get out of the engine. Thus if you can get a V8 to 9,000 rpm's it will produce a boat load of power. I learned that in order to do that you must make the moving components very light weight. This not only helps the total weight of the car but it makes the effort of spinning the crankshaft less stressful. For example, if you had a string and attached a baseball to the end you can spin it quite quickly, but if you attach a pool ball then there is much more stress on that rope and thus cant rotate as fast. This article I read was very informative but a lot of the language went over my head. Therefore I am excited to research the basics of internal-combustion engines.

http://www.corvettefever.com/techarticles/corp_0712w_gm_ls9_zr1_corvette_small_block_engine/index.html

Fastest Car In the World

The world's fastest car, one might think Bugatti or the famous McClarin F1 or the wild Konneggsegg CCX, but as of 2008 there is a new record holder who is surprisingly American. The SSC Ultimate Aero TT is the fastest production car in the world, and it is made right here in the states. This supercar is can reach the amazing speed of 257 miles an hour because of two distinct features, weight and power. The car weighs just under 2,900 pounds which is 110 pounds lighter than a corvette and a Carrera GT and has twice the horsepower. This is because of the formula F/M=A where F is force, M is mass, and a is acceleration. Thus if you keep the power high and the weight low the acceleration of the car will be extremely high, and that is what SSC did. The power plant is a 6.3L twin turbo charged aluminum block engine with 8 cylinders. Jerod Shelby chose to make the engine out of aluminum and "only" have 8 cylinders to keep the weight down. In contrast, the Bugatti Veyron has a 16W engine which is basically two V8's strapped together yet only has 1001 hp. Where the V8 squeezes out 1183 hp and 1194 pound feet of torque. This achievement is credited to the two turbo chargers which produce 14 lbs of boost pressure. A turbo charger is basically two connected fans. One fan is spun by the exhaust which in turn spins the second fan that pulls air and precious oxygen into the engine. This oxygen is necessary for the extra boost because of the combustion in the cylinders. SSC chose to make the car entirely out of space age materials such as carbon fiber and EBX-1208. These two materials make up the chassis and the body panels of the car. It is because of these two materials that the car can stay under 3,000 pounds. Thus the car has an extremely high power to weight ratio that is more than double the Corvette's and Carrera GT's giving it extreme acceleration. The Aero can go from 0-60 in 2.78 seconds and can do a 1/4 mile in under 9.9 seconds. However, there are many American made cars that have souped up engines with massive amounts of horse power that are just as fast but when it is put around a track it cannot go around a corner. This is just the typical American car syndrome, fast in a straight line but terrible in the bends. So you might ask is the Aero any good on a track. The answer is yes. The Aero has an incredibly sturdy chassis that sometimes driving up a steep driveway, a wheel might come off the ground 3 inches. Also there are no driver aids. There are no abs and no traction control. This means it is a true drivers car and "you can not only throttle with your right foot, but steer with your right foot." The owner of the company, Jerod Shelby, is saying that because there is no traction control the Aero can go into a corner flick the tail out and get out of the slide with power from your right foot. There is no technology holding you back from doing an amazing drift around a corner with the gas peddle. The lack of technology is crucial in making the driving experience amazing. When Jay Leno took it out for a drive he said, "the more I drove this car, the more comfortable it gets, the more you settle into it. It really is a drivers car. There's no aids at all. When I drove the Bugatti Veyron, although it was incredibly fast, it felt big and cumbersome. This car seems to shrink around you." Instead of being detached from the actual driving experience by a lot of technology in the Veyron, the Aero gives the driver all the control. This allows the driver to feel everything working through the steering, the clutch, gearbox, the sound of the turbos, and spin of the wheels. Allowing the driver to feel in control gives them a feeling that the car is an extension of their body and shrinks around them for optimal maneuverability. As a result, this car is an amazing piece of engineering, and it should be at $621,000. However, that is around half of the price of the Veyron. In my opinion, this car is ten times better than a Veyron because of the simplicity. It has a powerful engine and a light weight body; that's it. It gives you that x factor that you look for when buying a supercar. Something that doesn't show up in the statistics of the car, or the description. It is something indescribable, something that gives you a smile and that amazing adrenaline rush every time you see, touch, or drive the car. The Aero has the x factor for me.

http://www.shelbysupercars.com/video-jay-leno.php

Friday, February 5, 2010

Top Gear Video

Top Gear is the world’s leading car show. The hosts review many supercars and talk about modern issues of the supercar. For example, they talk about speed cameras, high gas prices, taxes on cars, and even the terrible construction on the roads. However, during a review of a brand new Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the host, Jeremy Clarkson, gives very little figures about the car. Instead of informing the viewers about how unbelievable the Vantage is and how powerful and beautiful it is, he says that this amazing car makes him feel sad. He believes that the car will end the era of great supercars. "Thanks to all sorts of things, the environment, economy, problems in the Middle East, the relentless war on speed, cars like this will soon be consigned to the history books." Jeremy Clarkson believes that because of the high taxes and the terrible economic situation, the government will inevitable dwindle the amount of supercars on the roads and dissuade car companies from ever making them again. The huge 6 liter engines require massive amounts of fuel to rev up to 8,000 rpm, and thus they have terrible CO2 emissions and miles per gallon. Jeremy Clarkson is worried that the government will not listen to the people and keep encouraging car makers to produce the cars that they love. Jeremy believes, "what I am driving here is an ending." The massive 12 cylinder engine that the Aston has under its hood does not please the government. The odds of another car company coming out with an engine as big as that and amazing as that is very slim. Many supercar makers are ending a few lines of supercars. Lamborghini is even ending the Murcielago series of cars, one of their most powerful lines to start a less explosive 2 wheel drive line of cars. I however believe that people will still buy supercars because of the euphoria and adrenaline that comes from just looking at them, but we cannot hide from the fact that the Jeremy Clarkson is right. The supercar era is over.


http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/aston-vantage-v12

Thursday, February 4, 2010

The Red Convertible

My short story, The Red Convertible, matched the themes of my topic and even themes we have went over in class. In the story, two brothers go on a drive together and find a red convertible with a fore sale sign on it. The next thing they knew they were driving it home and fixing it up. The car brought these two brothers together and took them on an adventure. The next summer they decided to go on a road trip, nowhere particular, just to drive and enjoy each other and the car. They travel were ever life takes them. The two brothers run into a girl hitchhiking and pick her up. It ends up that she is going home to Alaska. Stephan and Marty enjoy their time in Alaska and admire the natural beauty of the land. However, when it comes time to go home reality sets in. Stephan has to go to Vietnam and he leaves Marty the car. Stephan comes back a changed man, and he has not changed for the better. He doesn’t laugh, doesn’t joke, and is always jumpy because of his experiences in the war. After months of his post traumatic stress, Marty finally decides that the only way to get his brother back was to remind him of the great times they had in the red convertible. Marty takes a hammer and smacks the car left and right; he makes it look like a wreck. A month later, Stephan sees the car and immediately starts working on it. He works every day and almost every night. Fixing the car becomes an obsession for him. However, I believe that it was not an obsession; the car saved his life. It was the only thing that meant something in his life. Fixing the car gave him a purpose and drive to do something. Where as right when he got home from the war, he had no motivation to do anything in his life. Slowly the effects of the war dwindle on him, and when the car is finished he offers Marty a ride. They take the car to the river and start talking about Stephan’s change. Then they start arguing about who gets the car, and just like brothers do, they started fighting. Stephan starts to laugh; this is what Marty has waited for. Marty was successful at getting Stephan back to his old self, and his first laugh since he went to ‘Nam made his transformation back to his old self official and complete. They start to drink a lot and they finish an entire cooler of beer when Stephan decides to go for a swim. Unfortunately the river is very strong and he gets sucked away and drowns. Marty cannot handle this and decides to drive the car into the river. I believe that he does this as a tribute to his brother and their relationship. The car represented the fun that they had together and when that bond was broken he had to end the car too.
Stephan and Marty were able to experience true happiness because of the way they lived that summer. The two brothers had no worries, and experienced life as it came to them. Most people plan an entire trip so they can get every little drop of fun out of it that they could. However, the two brothers “just lived our everyday lives here to there.”(136) They did not care that they were on a trip; they went with the flow. There was no money to worry about, no appointment to attend, and no one to impress. This freedom allows them to truly enjoy life and the company of each other. For example, Marty was sitting in the shade of a willow tree and, “it was comfortable. So comfortable. The branches bent down all around me like a tent or a stable. And quiet, it was quiet.”(136) The comfort of the tree made a natural home for Marty. He was able to feel protected and peaceful because of the beauty of nature. This idea of living day to day and living with nature mimics Emerson’s way of life. Stephan and Marty were able to experience happiness and pleasure from each other and from their trip because of this way of life. If they had planned a route to go on then they would be constantly comparing their trip to their planned trip to see if they were “on schedule.” However, by having no cares about where they are and when they are there, the two brothers are able to truly experience the beauty of life and be carefree.
The red convertible was not just a machine that got them from one place to another but an important piece of the trip that gave them adventure, bonding, and peace. The adventure that they experienced was all due to the car. The car allowed them to be free from their home on the Chippewa reservation. It took them many places, for example almost the entire state of Montana and even up to Alaska for a while. One thing was certain where ever they went it was always better than the last place. The two brothers always traveled “on to greener pastures.”(137) Leaving one place was never sad for the two brothers because they knew that as that chapter ended a new one would start. This amazing adventure that man and machine went on together brought each one of the three closer together. The car was at the center of the brothers bond. This became evident at the end of the short story when Stephan was experiencing post traumatic stress. Marty decided the only way to reverse the effects of the war was to remind him of his former happy days with the red convertible. However, you cannot just jump back into a memory, Stephan needed to get reacquainted with the car just like old friends. Therefore, Marty took a hammer to the car and destroyed it so he could fix it up. After working on the car day in and day out, Stephan started to become himself again. The ultimate success came when Stephan said to Marty, “Lets take that old shitbox for a spin.”(141) It was just like the adventures they shared before the war. The two brothers would finally be back together and enjoying each others company like before. They start to casually talk at the river and when they start arguing about the car Stephan finally laughs. “For some reason this cracks me up and so we’re really laughing for a while then, and then we drink all the rest of the beers one by one and throw them into the river to see how far the current takes them,”(144) This shows their carefree lifestyle is back and they are just enjoying one another’s company. It goes to show that the car can be more than a tool for transportation. The Red Convertible was a symbol of brother hood and adventure.

The Red Convertible

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Blogging Experience

Science and technology is my favorite topic; there is just so much that I enjoy about it. It was extremely easy to pick topics for me to narrow down and research on. I had a list of at least ten. However, picking one was so hard. I was interested in war and especially the arms race, but I did not care about all the politics that came between the US and the USSR during the arms race. I experienced the same story with the space race. However, the power of the weapons still mystified me. I was excited learning about how the atomic bomb was made between the two world wars, how the two smartest men in science were put on a job to create the most destructive weapon ever used. The idea of power was also found in cars. The invention of the internal-combustion engine made automobiles much more powerful and efficient in the turn of the 19th century. I found that the car meant more to the people than just a way to get from point a to b. It was a status of wealth and royalty to start off. Then it became dependable and common with the model T. However, the true automotive appreciation came when cars were made to please the costumer. They were not made to just get them from point a to b, but to get them there, comfortably, quick, fun, in style, or even just take them away from life. The poem I read about the Oldsmobile is a perfect example; the two teenagers wanted to be alone together and go on an adventure to experience something new. It was the car that allowed them to actually do this. The car brought them together and gave them freedom. However, the type of automobiles that interest me the most are the ones that put a smile on your face. Whether it is because of the unbridled power the engine puts out or the sharp precise handling or maybe even the beauty of the car itself. However, it is really hard to write and research about a cars handling and the feeling you get when you hit an apex pulling .9 g's. Therefore I decided to concentrate on power and speed, more specifically engines. There is so much that can be researched about engines. Today I know a little about engines, but I feel like it would be fun to learn about every detail in the common engine and how the new Bugatti W-16 engine is so amazing. I feel like I will go into aeronautical or mechanical engineering and will be working with engines in the future; therefore this topic will be very beneficial for starting off my knowledge of power.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Cars Seperating People from Society

The automobile has given the young generation the freedom to express their emotions and live life. In this poem a young couple share their love for the freedom that the Oldsmobile gives them. It says, "You can go as far as you like with me, In my merry Oldsmobile." The phrase "as far as you like" refers to marriage in the fact that latter in the document it talks about them going to a church to get married. However, that phrase also can show how they can go on an exciting adventure some place foreign. The male character is using the car as a way for the couple to escape their ordinary lives and start a new adventure together. The bonding between the couple is shown through the car and its metaphors. For example, the line, "They love to spark in the dark old park as they go flying along" could have multiple meanings. The sparks could be interpreted as the spark plugs of the engine igniting the fuel producing power for them to fly up and down the dark park. However, this could also be a metaphor for how the spark plugs ignite the fuel of the engine and the car ignites the fuel for their love. These sparks are the beginning of love between car, and man and woman. Then the car could also make them feel like their flying like they get a high from being with each other in the car. Overall, the car had brought these two lovers together and gave them a way to be alone and appreciate each other.

Vincent Bryan " “In My Merry Oldsmobile”," Annals of American History.
<http://america.eb.com/america/article?articleId=386695&query=engine>
[Accessed February 1, 2010].