Nissan

Nissan Motor vs. Nissan Computer

I didn't realize this, but going to Nissan.com does not open up the web site of Nissan Motors.

This sort of thing used to happen a lot more often than it does now. Some companies were slower than others in getting around to figuring out that this whole Internet thing was more than just a fad. Typically if they wanted a domain name and it had already been taken, they would make some sort of business arrangement with the current owners.

Now, this is only one side of the story, but reading through the account of the lawsuits that Nissan Motors brought against Nissan Computer is pretty sickening. They tried to take it all the way to the US Supreme Court, who were not interested in hearing the case. There's no law governing domain names, the registrar allocates them on a first-come-first-serve basis. That's the way it's always been. I gather that Nissan Motors was trying to sue this guy based on trademark infringement. Guess what? The guy's last name happens to be Nissan, I think he can use it.

Trucks from India

GV-USA | Global Vehicles USA

Apparently, they're planning on bringing trucks to North America from the Mahindra company in India. I've never heard of them before today, but if you read up on the company history, they used to build Willys Jeeps for the Indian market. First using the Radar O'Reilly method of shipping parts and assembling them locally, then later they started making their own parts. They were making CJs through the 1990's.

So, why do I care? Well, the Mahindra truck is going to use a small, fuel-efficient diesel for one thing. For another, it's apparently going to be the lowest-priced truck on the market. Might be a good alternative for a low-cost basic workhorse. Yeah, they're kind of ugly, but for a work truck who cares?

Now that's engineering

NASA - Mars Exploration Rover Status Report: Rovers Resume Driving

These rovers have already far surpassed their original design lifetime, and now they've survived a dust storm nobody expected them to. They'll probably still be cruising around on the surface of Mars when the Energizer bunny checks in to the retirement home.

Are you going to wear that in pubic?

I was wearing my Human Descent shirt today with the cat penguin (or is it penguin cat? Whatever). The girls working behind the sandwich grill counter at Fortino's got a really good laugh out of it. What's weird is that most people are completely oblivious to it. I like the subtlety of this picture. It's bizarre without being loud. I was just going to link to the image on the original site rather than copy it here, but couldn't find it in his gallery.

BTW, this guy clearly has way too much time on his hands, not to mention a disturbingly twisted imagination.

Yawn...

Dodge's new vehicle.

2009 Dodge Journey: Minivan For The Worldwide Masses - Jalopnik

I'm already tired of the crossover trend. It's just a cross between a minivan and an SUV. I can see the motivation for something in the in-between space, but this just strikes me as an uninspired box on wheels. A transportation appliance. I like the navigation screen and the storage spaces, but just about everything coming out these days has all of that. I seem to be really liking Mitsubishi these days for some reason, I keep thinking I'd rather have an Outlander than a Dodge Journey. Mazda has some pretty interesting vehicles as well. Toyota apparently makes nice vehicles, but I find them overpriced due to their reputation. Plus, I hate having the same car as everyone else.

Of course, I still haven't figured out what kind of vehicle I'm going to get to replace my '95 Dakota. I have a couple of years to worry about it, though. I don't know if I want to get something new and keep it a good long time, or go cheap by getting a used car with the caveat that it'll probably need replacing before too many years. There's also the question of body style. SUV, crossover, small wagon, sedan, coupe... the mind boggles.

I was thinking that I should decide on a body style first before comparing models. In order to figure that out, I need to figure out what I'll be using it for. Currently we use the '01 Dakota for virtually everything other than my daily commute to work. If the new vehicle will be used for errands and road trips that will make a big difference over just a commuter vehicle.

It occurred to me the other day that I'm thinking about this in a software design methodology. Typically you sit down and figure out your use cases, then use that to derive the requirements, and then from there come up with a design that meets the requirements. Works for cars too... figure out how you're going to use it, then what you need in order to fill those uses.

Car geek meets computer geek.

Mopar or what car?

I saw a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer in the parking lot of the grocery store today. I actually like it quite a bit. Chrysler had better get their act together in the next couple of years if they want to keep my business.

Dust, dust, dust...

Hey look! A blog!

I'd almost forgotten all about this.