Well, apparently the good folks in China had the same idea, and they’ve actually started to implement EV battery swapping stations in Guangzhou.

Things change really fast in China because they have the money and cheap labor to do many of the infrastructure projects.  Need a new airport or improve it? Let’s build it and it’ll be done in less than 4 years. Want a high speed train? It’ll be done quickly and it’ll be to places that everyone cares about. Want to host the summer Olympics?  Let’s renovate everything and build a new stadium.

Seriously, can the western nations learn from this?  Of course we can: Lower the cost and stop using politics to delay what needs to be done.  Now, let’s get to work!

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

A to Z Efficiently

1. But later on, I managed to crash the car and lost it.

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I’m very sure Japan is on the path of rebuilding.  It warms my heart to see this image from East Nippon Expressway Company, showing how they rebuild highways in less than 4 days!  Very impressive.

As a side note, East Nippon Expressway is a private company managing highways and toll roads.  This is another reason why privatization works. No government effort can do it this quickly and efficiently.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Rebuild Japan

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For a big budget show¹, the American version of Top Gear got very little fanfare.  It was mentioned a couple of times in the news and details were sketchy.  What was mentioned was the hosts of  Top Gear USA, Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrara, and Rutledge Wood, whom I’ve never heard of before.  Then it premiered in History Channel.  Who would’ve put this combination together?

Maybe I should’ve dug deeper because the show was closer to home than I thought.

The show was filmed on El Toro Airbase in Irvine, which is only 5 minutes away from work.  Earlier this week, as I was driving up Irvine Blvd, I did see a giant light on top of a tall crane in the middle of the airfield.  I wondered what or why it was there.  Now I know why.

I’ve always paid attention to the Top Gear series, but for some odd reason I missed the call for tickets to see the show at the Marine Base.  I’ve just submitted my name for future tickets, hoping the show will be renewed for 2nd (or 3rd) season.

Now, Top Gear UK worked because of the presenters gelled together.  On the first episode, the three US guys just don’t have that closeness.  It’ll take some time for them to get to know and gel with each other.  By the third episode, I could see them bonding during the $1000 car challenge, where they spit alcohol on the camp fire, and laughing it all up when they trashed their cheap cars off-roading.

I sure hope they don’t suffer the same problem with Top Gear Australia, where they kept changing the hosts – trying to figure out which three will make the right combination.  I say give them a chance.  They might just surprise me.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Top Gear USA – Under the Radar

1. at least the UK version

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1. Top Gear: Season 13
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As I was driving towards the nearest restaurant, I noticed the highway was smooth sailing.  It was too good to pass up, so I said to myself: Skip breakfast and hit the highway!  I’ll be at work in no time.  I could pick up breakfast closer to work.

After about halfway to work, *BAM*: Traffic jam!  I smacked myself on the head thinking I could’ve been eating a nice Sausage McMuffin (with eggs)!  Instead, it was stop and go for the next 3 miles.  I made it to the office at 8:30am, with my stomach growling.

A Lesson learned: Trust my gut feeling, especially when it’s hungry!

Photo Credit: LA Streets Blog

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

The Road Beckons

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• Paternity Leave.  The company allows for 3 weeks of paid leave. But the State of California also adds partially paid paternity leave for upto 6 weeks (with exceptions)!  However, caution for taking State benefits because an employee can lose his/her job.
• What’s in Los Angeles?  We’ve been to Griffith Observatory, Kodak Theater, Ghetty Museum, Farmers Market, and the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame.  I have yet to find Michael Jackson and Bruce Lee‘s stars on that street.
• Koreans only buy Korean cars.  A co-worker noticed even in Seoul, Korea, he only saw Korean cars.   No surprise because imported cars in Korea get slapped with high taxes and tariffs.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Lunch Bits – Edition 34

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Once again, my favorite show from the UK is back! Season 13 started two weeks ago, and there will be (only) 7 episodes.  In Top Gear tradition, they started off wonderfully, with fun challenges (racing with a coal powered steam train), and testing fun cars like the Lotus and Ferrari FXX.

Of course, this time around they had something to say about the sad state of the auto industry.  Surprisingly, they didn’t talk about it too much.  They proceeded in doing what they do best: running cars around the test track, pushing their bodies to the limit, and causing mayhem.

And they revealed The Stig‘s real identity!

Anyway, I’m going to enjoy watching whatever Top Gear put together.  I’ve also been enjoying Top Gear Australia, which is now on Season 2.  The hosts dynamics are different, but they are equally funny blokes, having fun racing and thrashing cars.

Keep up the good work, guys!

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Top Gear: Season 13

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3. Top Gear USA – Under the Radar

• The golf game at Dad Miller Golf Course.  It was my annual outing for my friend’s birthday.  We seldom play, so our progress is stagnant.
• Possibly going golf in an early tee time (6am) for half-a-round back-9.   That way, those of us with wives can go home before 9am, bringing donuts for breakfast.
• Lexus car maintenance.  Upto $100 for an oil change?  I’m glad I don’t have a Lexus.
• Guppy House.  What is it?  It’s just fancy hang-out, serving greasy fried “comfort” food.  The one in Diamond Jamboree is busy all the time.
• Buying and collecting movies.  May not be relevant, now that companies are starting to offer streaming or downloadable movies.
• Housing market in the surrounding OC/LA area being down.  Especially in Temecula and Rancho Cucamonga.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Lunch Bits – Edition 29

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Stephen J. Beard¹ and Rich Exner² came up with a traffic shockwave illustration that clearly explains the problem.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Traffic Delays – Redux

1. Renowned illustrator
2. Reporter and editor of The Plain Dealer publishing

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He also told me the service requirements should also be based on-board computer indicator.  I don’t have to follow the clockwork service schedule (10k, 30k, etc.)   In fact, he said to ignore the mileage altogether.  Also, he did tell me there’s a possibility the computer might tell me to bring it for a service sooner.  It just means my next service will not happen for a while.

It’s the first time I’ve ever come across an honest service guy who told me not to waste my money on frequent maintenance services, and oil changes.  I should not be changing oil too frequently, anyway.   That’s good to know.  No more clockwork maintenance schedule for me.   It just reassuring car maintenance doesn’t have to be a costly commitment.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

No Oil Change Yet

1. I’ll need 4 quarts of 5W-20 oil.

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Then Honda delivered the Honda FCX Clarity.  It’s the first consumer available (albeit lease only) hydrogen powered car.  It has a range of about 280 miles per full tank (4 kilograms) of liquid hydrogen.  It can do 136 HP, which is a decent power for a family sedan.  In the US Market, it’s currently only available in California.  People in Orange County are already starting to get the FCX Clarity, and Honda is expecting to lease 200 of them in the next 3 years.  From the looks of it, demand is pretty low because of the lack of hydrogen fueling stations.  But I really commend Honda for trying, wholeheartedly, to get the mass adoption started.   Honda has a history of making alternative power-train cars more appealing by making them available first to the mass market.  They did it with the Hybrid (Insight) and Natural Gas (Civic GX).

Honda really knows exactly how to deliver. That’s why I only buy their cars.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Hydrogen Cars No Longer a Pipe Dream

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