TreeHugger.com is also impressed by the golf cart powered Beetle’s top speed:

The converted Beetle is no slow-poke either, able to reach speeds upwards of 45 miles per hour. As the car gets more time on the road, an onboard computer will gather performance data as well.

Since tree hugger brought up the subject of not being a slow-poke and data acquisition, here is a test video of a ZR1 Corvette making a 205mph run. And they have an on board computer as well.

Click here to view the embedded video.

That looks like a fun ride!

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.

James Madison, Federalist No 45

The Founding Fathers were exquisite writers that left nothing to interpretation. Consider the balance of Madison’s passage from Federalist no. 45:

The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.

If James Madison were alive today, he would be asking “what part of few and defined don’t you get?”

Of course, the founding fathers unambiguous language doesn’t stop today’s progressives. The latest trend from the left is the idea of “Progressive Federalism” where progressives push their ideas wrapped in the wording of Federalism. Consider this idea from the HufyPo:

But in order for Progressive Federalism to happen, the federal government has to be supportive of floors, not ceilings — that is, oriented toward setting minimum progressive regulatory standards that states must at least comply with, not maximum regulatory ceilings that states are not allowed to go above and beyond.

How exactly is establishing “minimum progressive regulatory standards” from an all knowing federal government square with the idea of  “Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”

Take the idea further. Who would determine the minimum progressive regulatory standards for example, recycling? If Kentucky set the minimum progressive regulatory standard, people from California would be up in arms. They would argue the Kentucky standard is ineffectual. If California set the minimum standard, Kentucky would argue the standard is too onerous.

The debates would be endless.

This is the genius of the Federal system of governance created by our founders and will not be improved upon by a bunch of unhappy progressives.

As a closing thought, consider the following passage from Madison in Federalist no. 44. Madison explains the reasoning behind not enumerating every discrete power or regulation in the Constitution.

Had the convention attempted a positive enumeration of the powers necessary and proper for carrying their other powers into effect, the attempt would have involved a complete digest of laws on every subject to which the Constitution relates; accommodated too, not only to the existing state of things, but to all the possible changes which futurity may produce; for in every new application of a general power, the particular powers, which are the means of attaining the object of the general power, must always necessarily vary with that object, and be often properly varied whilst the object remains the same

There is no way “Progressive Federalism” will approach the brilliant simplicity the Founding Fathers created.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sen. John Kerry & His “Yacht-Gate” Scandal — Hypocritical Dem Senator Skirts Paying Taxes on His $7 Million Yacht (video)

It’s patriotic to pay more taxes, to loosely quote VP Joe “Bite Me” Biden.

Unless you’re a millionaire Democrat in the Senate.

A millionaire Democrat in the Senate who is dodging paying his yacht sales tax, but who is more than happy to force millions of Americans to pay a huge increase in their taxes for his and Team Obama’s upcoming “global warming/climate change/tax Americans to death” tax for the ill-conceived, bogus cap-and-trade debacle.

Hypocrisy, thy name is John Kerry.

Excellent Pinhole Camera photography.

2nd Half Slowdown Update

Intel’s 50Gbps Silicon Photonics Link shines a light on future computers (video) – The link has several videos, here is the introduction:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mike Cox denies partying in mayor’s mansion- Even the WaPo is covering this story. It seems the Democrats would prefer running against Bouchard or Hoekstra in Michigan’s Gubernatorial race.

Good friend of MCT the Lapeer County Observer is supporting Mike Bouchard.

The Lapeer County Observer is endorsing Mike Bouchard for the next governor of Michigan.He has the best all-around platform which will give the state of Michigan the best chance for recovery.His blueprint for success lays out his agenda nicely.Mike Bouchard is also the only candidate willing to go on record as supporting a right-to-work state.This is a must if we are to break the stranglehold the union has had on Michigan for so long.

I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it’s possible. The reason I am is because I believe the big problem is not taxes, the big problem is spending. The question is, “How do you hold down government spending?” Government spending now amounts to close to 40% of national income not counting indirect spending through regulation and the like. If you include that, you get up to roughly half. The real danger we face is that number will creep up and up and up. The only effective way I think to hold it down, is to hold down the amount of income the government has. The way to do that is to cut taxes.

Milton Friedman, September 16th, 2003

The Baltimore Sun has published an Op-Ed today that perfectly captures the latest Liberal Democrat talking point that the very idea the Bush tax cuts should be extended will make our national deficit even worse. Furthermore, they are completely apoplectic that some Democrats (this is only an election year ploy, they would never actually implement the cuts) are suggesting that we should extend the cuts to people who earn above $250K.

The argument is this: “George Bush cut taxes. George Bush started the Iraq war. George Bush is a bad man. Obama did the right thing to run the deficit to $1.4 trillion and George Bush squandered the budget surplus. Did we mention George Bush is a bad man. Now we can’t ‘afford’ the tax cuts.”

Several things completely lost on our intrepid,and Bush Derangement Syndrome inflicted, op-ed writer. First, congress has been controlled by Nancey Pelosi, Harry Reid and the Democrats since 2006. For nearly 4 years they have watched the stock market tank, unemployment rise, the housing market implode and deficits soar. Remember, Congress controls spending.

Government spending has skyrocketed under Pelosi, Reid and now Obama.. There is no discussion at the Baltimore Sun or among Democrats about spending cuts. They only are looking at tax increases.

Increasing taxes and governmental stimulus spending doesn’t work as evidenced by Japan and its Lost Decade.

The Sun’s op-ed writer acknowledges the pain the middle class is suffering due to the recession and that increasing taxes (i.e. letting the tax cuts expire) will cause additional economic pain. However, the Baltimore Sun op-ed writer and Democrats in general are now Deficit Hawks. After nearly two years with Obama, Pelosi and Reid on a spending binge of an unprecedented scale, when presented with an opportunity to extend tax cuts, our political leaders are concerned about deficits.

Today, the newly minted Deficit Hawks point out “the deficit is a really big problem” and is projected to be worse. They say that “Mr. Obama repeatedly promised never to raise taxes on the middle class (a promise we considered ill-advised, then and now), so he would no doubt take a political hit for letting the tax break for middle-class families expire. We, however, are far more concerned with the fiscal health of the nation than the president’s political fortunes.”

My question is, if they are so concerned about the “fiscal health of the nation” why are they not calling for spending cuts rather than tax increases? There is no discussion of canceling the the balance of the stimulus bill and using it to cut the debt. Why not call for the repeal of government run health care if they are afraid of future deficits? England is moving away from national health care because of costs and lack of efficiency. Germany is fighting the costs of their national health care system. It doesn’t work there. Why would it work here?

The truth is they only care about providing cover for liberal Democrats and advancing their progressive agenda.

How I want this car to actually be made! But this is the case with most awesome car designs. Sasha Selipanov originally from Moscow, left school and went to study automotive design at the Art Center College of Design in the USA. Whilst there he designed this incredible Ferrari GTO. Born out of his love for automotive design, Ferrari’s and Lambo’s, crossbreeding this love to create this new form of beauty. Enjoy.

Government Parasites

Who was the wisest Founder? (I voted Madison, however this kind of poll is like asking you to pick your favorite child)

Highway 61 – Visited

Arizona to allow concealed carry without permit

Single-Payer Hell: British NHS to severely ration routine care, hip replacements and cataract surgery to save money

Chris Christie vetoes Planned Parenthood subsidy

Global Warming Study Finds Temperatures Increase During Summer

Rick Snyders True Colors Flying

Many folks have been wondering why Rick Snyder won’t openly debate the other Republican candidates for Governor. Some say he does not yet want to be outed as the progressive shill he is. Some say he is simply “trying to talk directly to the people” instead of participating in an establishment exercise. Believable?

The Frontline: Conservative Bloggers in the Trenches

How real is the Tea Party?

Study confirms effectiveness of SarahPAC ‘Mama Grizzlies’ ad

“We will continue to use all the tools available to us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the president believes in the science. He believes we have a Supreme Court decision and we will continue to move forward.”

Carol Browner, Obama’s Global Warming / Climate Change Czarina

Obama is beholden to the hard core environmentalists and can’t get the Senate to push through new regulations limiting the gas, CO2, that we all exhale and plant life uses for photosynthesis. Therefore, he will regulate CO2 through the EPA and they will deploy regulations and measure more draconian than anything the legislature would dream of voting for.

Coal Keeps The Lights On!

And the next target for Obama and the EPA is the backbone of our nations electrical grid. Coal power.

Next up are rules due early next year dealing with coal-fired power plants. A number of other petitions from states and environmentalists are on EPA’s doorstep that press for climate-focused limits on petroleum refiners and other major industrial sources.

Senate and House Democrats from Virginia and West Virginia are trying to craft legislation to delay the EPA regulation for two years, however Obama is threatening a veto.

This is more bad news for our economy. Just as the drilling “moratorium” in the Gulf of Mexico will take years to turn around, constructing power plants takes years as well. And energy is the key to any economy. Even writers at Pravda (yes, that Pravda) understand:

That brings us to Cap and Trade. Never in the history of humanity has a more idiotic plan been put forward and sold with bigger lies. Energy is the key stone to any and every economy, be it man power, animal power, wood or coal or nuclear. How else does one power industry that makes human life better (unless of course its making the bombs that end that human life, but that’s a different topic). Never in history, with the exception of the Japanese self imposed isolation in the 1600s, did a government actively force its people away from economic activity and industry.

Even the Soviets never created such idiocy.

Of course Obama and Democrats “believe” that CO2 and is causing ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’ (if we have a few unseasonably cool days). Of course, they cant put forth actual, testable proof that it is happening. All we get is “we believe it is happening” and “the only way to solve the problem is to funnel more money and more control to the federal government.”

Christopher Monckton puts things in to perspective nicely:

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you want further proof that the greenhouse and the theory of atmospheric back radiation effect is a bunch of nonsense, check out this post at The Hockey Schtick.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Extra big tip O’ the hat to FLR

If you notice anything on the site that is not working properly, please let me know, either through the comments via e-mail.

Thanks for visiting motorcitytimes.com

Steve

motorcitytimes.com

One Nice looking Ducati

ducati-750ss-custom

Harry Reid wants to change Senate rules to eliminate the Republicans filibuster option. How ’bout changing the rules and repeal the 17th Amendment.

Firefox Just Perfected Tabbed Browsing.

Hollywood Shocked as Family Films Flourish

The surprise box-office boom for the cartoon “Despicable Me” is making it clear again to Hollywood this summer that family films are the most likely to be top-grossing films. “Toy Story 3” is number one for 2010, not only among the critics, but among the people as well. “Despicable Me” already has broken into the top ten box-office hits for the year to date with almost $130 million in ticket sales.

I really liked Despicable Me.

The worlds strangest parking garages

car silo parking