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Barack Obama’s First Hundred Days

Posted by Charles Mitri Categories: Domestic Policy, Editorials, Education, Foreign Policy, Foreign Relations, Taxes, US Economy, Wall Street, War,

Barack Obama

So… January 20, 2009, history takes its latest bow when President-Elect Barack Obama is sworn in as America’s 44th Chief Executive. The fortunate ones lucky enough to secure Inauguration tickets will brave arctic temperatures as the rest of America watches this latest chapter in US history unfold on an ocean of televisions from Seattle to the Florida Keys.

January 21, 2009 will mark the real onset of what might be called the Altering Era. That’s the day the President-Elect enters the Oval Office and starts work on a world of problems. What follows is a best guess at what to expect from Barack’s first hundred days in office.

Click to continue reading Barack Obama’s First Hundred Days

GM Finally Unveils Chevy Volt

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, GPS, Transportation, Wireless / WiFi,

If you live in Michigan, you couldn’t help but be inundated with news about the official unveiling of the Chevy Volt. Run on electricity from its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery, it has a gas/E85-powered engine to sustain the battery and keep the car moving. GM estimates that a driver who drives about 40 miles per day should save about $1,500 a year. Other features include a 7-inch touchscreen display, climate and infotainment controls, GPS, and Bluetooth capability. Unfortunately, GM won’t even begin production until 2010 on the $40,000 car.

GM Plans Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Editorial, Science, Transportation,

AM General, the company that makes the Hummer H2 for GM, is hoping to make wheelchair-accessible vehicles by 2010. The car will be made for the U.S. and Canada and will include an automatic ramp that will be able to handle wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobile devices. They say they already have reservations for 3,500 units. Since GM has mentioned that other parties might be interested in its Hummer brand, it will be interesting to see if this will be another carrot or a last ditch effort by the company to keep those gas-hogs on the road.

General Motors Enlarging Windshield

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Design, Transportation,

General Motors researchers are working on a new windshield that gives those who have vision problems an easier way to see the road. The glass combines lasers, infrared sensors and a camera to enhance images on the road. The combined technology enlarges objects that are already in the driver’s view. While GM feels that the ideal target for this product would be the aging baby boomers, we are all for anyone who can use it and perhaps save a deer or two.

Knight Riders’ KITT Replaced

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Drama, Specials, NBC, Announcements,

Val Kilmer A TV project months in the making has had a major casting change in the 11th hour.

Will Arnett, the voice of NBC’s new KITT mobile, has had to sever ties from the Knight Rider movie. It seems his vocal cords actually belong elsewhere.

The actor (Blades of Glory) has been doing General Motors voice-over work for some time now. Unfortunately, those who have seen trailers for the ‘80s update know the automobile featured belongs to Ford. GM, finally realizing there may be a conflict of interest, asked the two-timing Arnett to step aside.

Fortunately for the network, another actor has been found to fill the void. Val Kilmer will now be the one heard in the Feb. 17th special. Assuming the movie serves as a new series’ pilot, it’s unclear whether Kilmer would continue on with the role.

As for Arnett, let’s just hope that Arrested Development film happens after all.

Bleeding Edge TV 189: Driving Tips from GM’s Milford Proving Grounds

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Short Bytes, Design, Features, Podcasts, Transportation, Videocasts,

When General Motors contacted us about bringing us up to their Proving Grounds in Milford, MI, we jumped at the chance at getting to visit what we figured would be an awesome place. We were right - General Motors’ Milford Proving Grounds was the industry’s first dedicated automobile testing facility when it opened in 1924. It covers 4,000 acres, and over 4,800 staff work in its 107 buildings today. The proving ground includes the equivalent of 132 mi of highway-quality roads for vehicle testing. Some roads are open only to drivers who have passed special performance driving training.

We got a first-hand look at the new StabiliTrak technology that GM will be making a standard feature on all their vehicles in a couple of years, which aims to give drivers a lot more stability during sudden turns and avoidance maneuvers. In addition, GM gives us some tips on how to maintain control of your vehicle, even in extreme (and often unsafe) conditions. Check out the video for all the goods, and leave us any driving tips you may have in the comments.

GM to include Stolen Vehicle Slowdown in Cars

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, GPS, Misc. Tech, Transportation,

OnStar logo By 2009, if they are done dealing with the UAW, GM will be equipping its new vehicles with a system that will aid police to remotely stop high-speed chases. In cooperation with OnStar, who can already track devices and help cops find stolen vehicles, it will also issue a signal that remotely slows the car down to idle speed. OnStar is free initially for owners of GM automobiles that have them built in, but must pay for the service beginning with the second year. OnStar says that about 60% continue to subscribe after that first year. In light of the price of new vehicles and fuel, we are not surprised that many decide to opt out and spend the extra on gas.

The Bleeding Edge 174: DARPA Grand Challenge Qualifier: Carnegie Mellon and GM’s BOSS Vehicle

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Design, Features, Mods / Hacks, Transportation, Videocasts, Videos,

Bleeding Edge TV 174: DARPA Grand Challenge Qualifier: Carnegie Mellon and GM’s BOSS Vehicle

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Full Episodes, Gizmatic, Hack Attack, Design, Features, Transportation,

We visited one of the fifty or so groups participating in the DARPA Urban Challenge during one of their qualifying rounds. In case you are unaware, the DARPA Urban Challenge is a charge given publicly to groups who are capable of designing and proving the technology for autonomously driven vehicles. Carnegie Mellon University teamed up with GM to create an autonomous SUV they call “Boss.” In order to participate in November’s 60-mile urban driverless race, they need to pass this benchmark. Check out the video to see Boss pull perfect three point turns and beautifully follow traffic rules - even at four way stops with other cars. We’re crazy excited to see this technology come alive in our society. The team from DARPA is darting back and forth across our country qualifying and disqualifying entries. Some of the remaining companies and teams will bring us autonomously driven cars during our lifetime, its amazing how close we already are.

Survivor Loses GM Sponsorship

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, CBS, Survivor,

General Motors has decided to no longer sponsor Survivor, despite their six year run with the series. The timing of this decision seems to coincide with the series’ new twist to pit races against each other, however, GM says that it had nothing to do with their decision to pull sponsorship. GM spokeswoman Ryndee Carney told the Associated Press, “I think it’s just a coincidence. I know it’s not cause and effect.” Instead, GM insisted that Survivor simply did not fit in with their current marketing strategy—“to focus more on product placement and big-ticket live events, like sporting competitions and award shows.”

While most would agree that the news does seem to be a direct effect of this season’s segregated tribe format, CBS did confirm that GM announced the end of their sponsorship several months before the new season’s twist was announced. CBS spokesman Chris Ender said, “GM had no knowledge of [this season’s] ethnic format.”

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