Australia Terraforming Plan

Basically, Australia is a huge desert with some pretty bits around the outside and lots of expensive bits underneath. In the future there will probably be a resource war or for land space and UAE, India or China will take over. Even if the above doesn't occur there will be a population explosion sometime.

With thirst for creating usable land. It makes sense to terraform the worst bits into something usable. All the surrounding land should be effected and become healthy. So what are the steps.

Well,

1. Prepare the soil.

Dig a big trench up the guts and use that stuff to make a couple of mountain ranges extracting all the good bits along the way.

2. Seed

Build a few cities along the edges and connect them all to the rest of Australia's cities with air trains or maglev personal travel rails (more on these later)

3. Fertilize

Open an entry to the sea. This will allow for the solar EV boats to glide in carring all the good bits away. It should also combat the rising sea water issue a little. (more on that later too)

4. Grow

We don't actually need to do this part.

But you could bring in the people bots. Or just clone some. your choice.

Russ.

Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock

Cherub Rock Rocks with a heavy distortion and a cool groove.

Billy has a pretty interesting guitar style.

For something more mellow, try Disarm. both from Smashing Pumpkins siamese dream.

Satch Boogie

Need a little speed funk screaming fusion pick me up?!

Satch Boogie is what you need.

The Sudden Death Love Electric Sun Cult

Ian Astbury... is a Revolution and The cult have basically simple music that sounds great.

The LOVE album launched these guys in the UK but before that their music of the Sudden / Death Cult was still awesome. Resurrection Joe... Funky Awesome Heavy Cool!

"Hot Sticky Scenes... You know what I mean!" Rain.

But the kicker was She sells Sanctuary & Live in 1985! The Howling Mix was also released.

Most of these songs are similar as guitarist Billy Duffy was uniquely cool, Jamie Stewart kicked in too.

Love Removal Machine launched the ELECTRIC Era and The Album art continued their themed album releases.

Wild Flower

Lil' Devil

I loved the artwork and copied it onto my guitars and cases.

After this he kind of got better.,

Edie brought them more mainstream success after they cleaned up a bit and Billy got much better for the Sonic Temple. I pre-ordered and got the T-Shirt.
I must have played it 100000000 times. But purists like me love the rawness of the early stuff.

RA28 Love!

This RA28 / TA22 Celica takes me back. The first car I bought myself was a RA30/TA23 LT 1600 GT after having won $1700 on the lottery. Yehaa! It was cool, but nothing like this. This is Uber Cool!

The TRD front and rear spoilers and over fender flares change the coolness factor off the scale!

The dished steel wheels and stretched rubber looks fun. 185/55/13 somehow looks big.

This car is for sale for just over $10000 dollars in Japan as prices are a bit inflated for older cars and although the body looks ok, the interior and engine are far from great.

Fully restored cars sell for around $50000 and over in Japan. and Older Skylines and Fairlady ZG240Z are selling for over $150000 these days.

If I return to my roots, This sounds like a future daily driver project. With a modern 2.0L ish or Renesis engine swap decent power/brakes and some airconditioning. Excellent.

For more Uber coolness. Check out these from Takeeys Japan and their Stock

Domo Arigatou Mr Roboto

This is a part of western culture but surprisingly unknown in Japan.

If you ask someone about Mr Roboto "domo ......" they will probably say "arigatou"

Domo Arigatou Mr Roboto by the Styx.

It's a crazy thing that some of the most famous things about Japan are unknown inside.
Maybe it was resented upon release and banned or something.

And this song "Turning Japanese" by the Vapors is also unknown among my Japanese Friends. It's never available in Karaoke rooms.

Evolution is Over!

This post may take a while to explain, but basically Darwin's laws of natural selection finished many years ago.

While they may still apply in some small pockets of the world. Most of us have moved past evolutionary theories and are no longer dependant on the natural environment for survival. We are however dependant on other technologies. Because most of us don't have the hunting and gathering skills to survive. The need to reproduce has all but dissappeared as the world is bordering on massive overpopulation.

So whats to come?

We have about 500 years before we can create gods. yes thats right!

Ray Kurzweil is a respected guy who predicts Human Immortality in the 2020s but Ray's predictions are a bit premature.

If I were a respected person my theories may also be taken seriously. And they should be.

My own predictions lead to around 200 years before immortality is a viable and sustainable option due to financial, moral and economic factors, but it will certainly be experimented with in 20years.

Why? Because people want to!

My own timeline includes combinations of genetic shifts to where humans become a blend of species taking bone and muscular composision from other species (which may include aquatic ot airborne mammals or insect etc) as well as nano and cybernetic research where the "Future Human" species will include mechanical body or brain storage components or even manufactured living componentry, ie Blade Runner.

Combinations of these things will occur in the future as well as many other topics.

If you want to see what happens. You probably can.

Immortalitity still requires some kind of retention of the phisical mind however, but does not require the need for sex or reproduction. (Star wars General Grievous is a good example) It requires a mindshift to be satisfied with yourself and a logical progression to needs for maintaing New Manufactured species. Having already mentioned that most body componentry can be manufactured and potentially no need for Original Humans. Thios raises all kinds of what if scenarios.

IF there actaully turns out to be a "soul" (without a physical requirement) in what ever physical form surely the control over this "soul" will be the next limitation on the evolutionary scale.

With the ability for "everyone to know everything" through information sharing, surely these problems can be solved and the reliance on a matter or anti-matter may be irrellevant.

So I give that a rough unbased speculative estimate of 300 years past immortality to create a god.

So start thinking. Blow your own mind! Younger generations are already thinking about these things with video game titles exploring the acceptable boundaries.

Russ.

DIE PRIUS DIE!

Extreme Prius from Sweeden has nice paint and wheels. But.... It's STILL A PRIUS and they are fundamentally wrong. Even when it's crawling along the engine is running.

Top Gear Version 1, Top Gear Version 2 comparison on driving fast. Prius Fast... M3 slow.

Comedy...Version .... Stupid thinking.

Landspeed Racing. "It makes a difference when we are running with MAXIMUM THROTTLE ON THE ENGINE!!!!!" the engine!!!!! no mention of fuel economy to reach that speed.

And here is the final shite. where are all the CD figures for the Prius bodykits. I'm sure most will actually make the thing less fuel efficient.

There are so many anti-prius messages on the internet some of them with great suggestions on the correct directions to go. Almost none in Japan. Japanese people aren't really like that.

Save the world or save money... Fit vs Prius.

Shawnee

I like Shawnee's laid back attitude apart from the obvious attractions.

Here is a little best of from her role in Becker as Linda.
Sometimes when you see actresses so much from young age till old, you do become attached. Thats why they are rich. All us dumb ass guys love 'em.

Here's someone quite a lot more obsessed than me.

You may not be aware of her antics in Fydolla Ho. "FIVE DOLLAR HORE" is a pretty raw band. A bit like her vocals... raw. But I like that she doesn't try to be more than is there.

Low Rider

Play me. and read on.

This song by War in 1975 is instantly recognized as the theme for a the insane low rider scene.

I used to play this song over and over as I cruised around dreaming of getting a 1962~1970 pilarless chevy impala on hydraulics. To detail and paint to polish the chrome and drop the stance. There are just cool.

When they are high and pumping up and down the street, it's pretty crazy. These days things are a bit out of hand. like this craziness.

but I still love the whole vibe of the scene. Lowrider always featured these awesome cars with awesome girls. I wonder why I used to buy this magazine when I was much younger. Yes that's right the gorgeous curves, the decoration, the .....  you get the idea.

Actually I used to get these and custom street truck magazine for paint ideas for RC cars. A few shades of one colour layers in airbrushed graphics is awesome.

I love the way these cars are show cars that still get driven. Its a part of car culture that has avoided carbon fibre. Lets hope it stays that way.

If I ever get to Miami. I'll be going to some car shows.

Check out http://www.lowridermagazine.com/ for all the awesomeness.

Lost in Translation

This post was meant to be about Karaoke.(which I love) But I guess I'll change it totally.

Bill Murray's film of a few years ago is "Lost in Translation" a famous guy comes to Japan - Tokyo and gets taken to all kinds of places to promote Suntory whiskey or whisky (recently votes worlds best). Some places I've been to and some I haven't.

As a foreigner living in Japan this movie has some hype and reality around it. Those people who hate living here will love this movie and those who love living in Japan will dispise it as a negatively slanted view of proceedings.

I have a mixed bag about it.

You can live in Japan and never experience any of this stuff, or all of it. It's a bit of a documentary style movie and therefore bores me to tears. Its slow... hard to watch and sometimes just stupid. But for the content I was quite interested. I used to work very close to where it was mostly shot. "Shinjuku".  A few scenes from other places near there "Shibuya" etc, but mainly around the Shinjuku area. This is not a temple tour of a movie, but a city image that some people get hooked up in.

I've read many reviews of this movie and as a movie its ok. Two people become friends and probably want more. But as most people do, they try to bring a broader meaning to the movie that maybe this is what happens to boring people in Japan. FORGET IT! IT's A MOVIE!

Come to Tokyo and see for yourself. Like Bill, you will uncover something in your life.

But it's probably not going to be... "I get 2 million dollars to promote a product in a foreign country and confused in the process, because I can't communicate in their language, So I'll find some things to do to occupy my time."

Trailer

Russ.

I can't decide which eco car to buy.

These are eco cars that somehow bends the definition a little.

Following on from my previous post. These cars screams "DIE EARTH DIE!"

But there is actually a lot of ECO friendly things about them.

This is an absolute monster. the a.d. Tramontana is F1 inspired fighter jet on wheels. And I want one! Looks can be decieving. Its a big car! those are 20inch Dymags its riding on.

http://www.tramontanagroup.com/adtramontana/adtramontana.php

Catalog

It is a 12 cylinder V60 Biturbo with 5.5liter displacement running Turbo pressure of 1.4 bar making over 720 Hp - 529 kW at 5.250 rpm  and Max. Torque 1100 Nm at 4.000 rpm Transmission is longitudinally mounted with a mid engine, rear wheel drive layout.

There can be two passengers sitting like the F1 ride along cars and the roof is removable for open top running.

Ariel is well known for the "3" and has announced the latest version of the Atom – the Ariel Atom 500, powered by a small V8 engine. With over 500bhp in a 500kilo package the Atom 500 will boast one of the highest power to weight ratios ever for a production car.

The Atom will have over 1000bhp per tonne (compared to a Bugatti Veyron’s 521bhp/tonne) and will be built in limited numbers.

 

So where's the Eco? They have less components made from earthly metals. therefore the extraction process damages the earth less.
They weigh almost nothing! so Theoretically, they use less rubber / fossil fuels etc when driven in a leisurely 40klm/h.
They are built by hand and not energy guzzling robots.
etc etc
etc etc
 
So I just have to come up with the cash now. Maybe I'll steal some eco friendly R&D money from a government by promising alternatives to the Prius. And build my own style Atom or Tramontana.
 
Russ.

Eco My Arse keting. (marketing)

I getting sick of all this eco junk. Almost all the wheel manufacturers have some kind of eco project to try to attract the only emerging car market left. What exactly is a Forged ECO wheel as opposed to a normal Forged Wheel. Why is it suddenly important.

YOU MUST WIN the PRIUS and INSIGHT consumers! For our financial survival. PANIC!

So hard fought is this message that even legendary BBS has created green hub caps to acnowledge the green movement. Like most (not all) They actually changed nothing else about their business except design a new lightweight forged wheel.

While this is fine. They ONLY fit prius and insight.

Ignoring every other potential customer on the road in the process.

Meaning. Unless you buy a Prius, you can't be eco friendly. unless your intelligent enough to ignore all this crap and buy something that is much better.

Dumb!

If you want to be serious about eco friendly benefits of lightweight design. I suggest you look past the marketing shite (oops) hype at the following!

DYMAG CARBON! or RS WATANABE MAGNESIUM!

 These wheels offer real benefits. less fuel required for the same accelleration. Less weight to flatten your grass.

And the two best benefits of all. They make you go faster and look Freaking cool!

In the Groove

Play this and read. Slot car racing. I always had these as a kid. Scalextrix, AFX and others. But around 17 I stopped running RC and got into Slot cars with my brother in law. We did 1/32 womps, 1/32 international and 1/24 flexis. We travelled a bit around QLD and went to some (stupid when i look back now) 6 hour and 12 hour events.

It was fun at the time. i enjoyed painting the lexan bodies and always featured in concours.

There are only a few tracks around these days.

I hope someone keeps them going.