#roll up motor manufacturers

[nonclassyparty]

sweet and right and merciful (c.s)

summary:

(A STARRING ROLE SPIN-OFF) Choi San deals with the mortifying ordeal of falling in love.

playlist (tba) // my main masterlist // moodboard (tba)//click to donate to Palestine

notes; i bet you thought you'd seen the last of both me and sr!san well you're wrong! tell me if you want to be added to the taglist

snippet;

As he didn't have a disgustingly large amount of generational wealth to back him up nor parents who dabbled in political meddling and occasional blackmail like some of his peers, San always knew that he would have to fight tooth and nail for his spot in the world.

This would seem fairly overdramatic if all he was seeking out of life was a stable job and paid bills, of course: he was, after all, the son of a middle school teacher and a man that had several jobs which he never did right because hey, they never had much so San should've been satisfied with anything. 

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how one would look at it), Choi San was too ambitious for his own good. Having been born and raised in the small town of Namhae which was nothing more than an old supermarket some (nobody under the age of fifty) considered a shopping mall and a small beach - the moment he left for college, he swore that he'd never be back there again for nothing more but the holidays. And simply leaving Namhae wasn't enough, no, you see San's goal was money, more money than he would ever need. Bitterness could be considered a man's biggest motivator to get something done and spending his childhood and early adolescence watching his mother work day and night to make sure the bills are paid just for no money to be left spare sure did make San bitter. Call him shallow and materialistic but to San, money most definitely could buy some happiness.

And so, with that thought in mind (placed by no-one else but himself) since the tender age of twelve when he first visited Seoul for a football game and saw what exactly he's been missing out on living in Namhae, San poured everything he had into his studies until he landed a scholarship for Seoul National University in the field of Electrical Engineering. He had been strategic in his choice of career. Electrical engineering required just enough work and brains for it to be considered a lucrative degree and used just enough engineering principles to keep him interested in the job.

And San was excellent at his job. He was quick and efficient, precise and absolutely never wrong. Getting hired to work at one of South Korea's most renowned automobile manufacturing companies not long after he got his degree didn't come as a surprise to no-one. He was competent. The problem with competence and climbing the business ladder though was that it was rewarded with increasingly complex projects almost every month.

And so, our opening scene: A Thursday morning, sometime in January. Amidst the white cubicles on the third floor of Zenith Motor Company, Mr. Kim was doling out new projects to his top engineers with a vengeance.

"Jung, this ones for you," He smacks Jaehyun over the head with the folder before dropping it unceremoniously on his desk, "And try not to get doughnut smudges all over this one."

"Byun, you're continuing the testing from last month." Jaebum nods his head, eyes barely moving from the computer screen in front of him. Mr. Kim continues with an eye roll, "Lim, new model that needs surveillance."

He continues down the room throwing down casefiles as he goes until he stops by San's desk with a smile, "Choi, since you did so well on the Genesis project I'll let you choose." 

"What are my options?" San asks, leaning back in his chair as two files are thrown onto his desk.

Mr. Kim looks down onto his clipboard. "Mr. Jinyoung needs help with the 3D design for-"

Mr. Jinyoung is one of San's bosses.

"-the new model that we're ready to turn in for production. You could send him an e-mail but I wouldn't, he's a bit...difficult to be around these days."

Mr. Jinyoung is also the husband of one Son Danbi, the thirty-four year old woman that San got...very familiar with for a groundbreaking six times at his apartment before he learned that Danbi is a bit too clingy and his job actually might be at stake if she keeps calling the office asking for San instead of her husband. Three times in a row.

She didn't handle San deciding it's best to stop seeing each other very well.

Getting fired for sleeping with his boss' wife and probably getting his nose broken (for the second time over a woman) when his boss' wife inevitably has a meltdown and exposes how San fucked her into his mattress six times once San refuses to meet up with her out of newfound respect for the man she's married to (read: he's scared that he'll get sacked) or literally anything else. The choice was quite obvious.

"I'll take the second option." San quips with ease as he flips over the folder.

"Research and development for a new model! I was hoping you'd pick that one and am not disappointed, you never back down from a challenge." Mr. Kim comments with a grin that San returns because he's been kissing his ass too long to stop now. "You're working with another engineer from the second floor."

San nods and, as Mr. Kim keeps going down to the next cubicle, his eyes sweep over the file and stop at the bottom of the page where one out of two people tasked has already signed their name. In neat handwriting;

Y/L Y/N

He bites back a groan, eyes falling shut and he can hear the Head of the office keep rattling off assignments somewhere in the background.

Nothing registers because suddenly, San remembers honey skin, judging eyes and a sharp tongue and wonders if getting his nose broken a second time right before getting fired by Mr. Jinyoung and losing his entire career would've been the wiser option.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Truthout/Floodlight:

The IRA is the Biden Administration’s signature climate law. The historic act is the most aggressive climate policy in U.S. history, rolling out billions in tax breaks and other incentives with the goal of cutting economy-wide carbon emissions 40% by 2030.

Every congressional Republican voted against the bill, arguing it was nothing more than handouts to prop up climate and social justice programs. Some on the extreme right continue to argue that climate change is a hoax. But now some GOP House members who voted against the IRA are urging their leader to consider saving key portions of it.

In fact, it is the red states that overwhelmingly have benefitted from the federal government’s infusion of clean energy money, according to a report released today by, a national nonpartisan group of more than 10,000 business leaders that advocates for a cleaner economy and environment.

Friday marks two years since Biden inked his signature on the IRA. Companies have announced roughly 330 clean energy and vehicle projects since that time, efforts that could create 109,278 jobs and bring in a whopping $126 billion in private investments, if completed, according to the E2 report.

E2’s report breaks down IRA-boosted projects by state, sector and industry as well as by congressional district. It found that “nearly 60% of the announced projects — representing 85% of the investments and 68% of the jobs — are in Republican congressional districts.”

Among the major projects is the South Korea-based solar manufacturer QCells. Last year it announced a $2.5 billion expansion in Dalton, Georgia, spurring more than 2,500 jobs and helping change a town known as the “carpet capital of the world” into a destination for clean energy manufacturing.

Since 2022, the northern third of Nevada has added more than 5,000 jobs from a $6.6 billion investment in projects such as the Rhyolite Ridge and Thacker Pass lithium mines as the state aims toward becoming the lithium capital of the United States.

And in North Carolina, $19.7 billion has been poured into the state, creating 22 clean energy projects and more than 10,000 jobs in solar, recycling, electric vehicle and battery manufacturing. The investments include a $13.9 billion Toyota Motor North America EV/hybrid battery plant slated to open next year.

E2’s report is based on publicly available information, including news releases and formal government announcements. Roughly one-third of the information did not include how much money was being invested or how many jobs a project was expected to create, E2 stated.

In other words, the impact of the IRA is likely broader than the nonprofit’s tally. That bodes well for environmentalists and clean energy advocates.

18 congressional Republicans signed a letter to GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana urging him to be cautious in repealing all or parts of the IRA — something Trump has vowed to do if he is again elected president.

“Energy tax credits have spurred innovation, incentivized investment and created good jobs in many parts of the country — including many districts represented by members of our conference,” the Aug. 6 letter to Johnson said.

The Congress members said they had heard from industry and constituents that clawing back previously issued energy tax credits, especially on projects that already broke ground, would undermine private investments and stop development.

“A full repeal would create a worst-case scenario where we would have spent billions of taxpayer dollars and received next to nothing in return,” the letter states.

[in-omni-scientia]

What is a "motor carriage"

It's a good thing you didn't ask this of Interfacing -- he would have described them near-pornographically with zero substance.

A motor carriage (abbreviated as both 'MC' and 'car') is a type of passenger vehicle which is self-propelled, primarily transports one or more people rather than cargo, and may run mostly on roads created specifically for the thoroughfare of vehicular traffic. Popular brands that mass-manufacture MCs include the Coupris MotorCorp, Linnea and LUM, though there are a wide range which may range widely in price, power and style.

Motor carriages generate power using an internal combustion engine (ICE). These engines work by converting chemical energy into mechanical energy, or torque. The reaction of oxidizers mixing with a fuel and being ignited causes pistons to move up and down within a cylinder; the pistons are connected to and spin a crankshaft, which in turn rotates the wheels of the car and causes it to move. Most engines will contain anywhere between one to twelve cylinders and be four-stroke; this means they work by first drawing in the air-fuel mixture as the piston moves down (intake, induction or suction stroke), compresses the mixture as the piston moves up (compression stroke), the mixture is ignited forcing the piston down (combustion, power or ignition stroke), and then the spent mixture is pushed out through the exhaust port (exhaust or outlet stroke). Multicylinder engines will offset each individual cylinder's cycles to ensure the engine runs smoothly, and the cylinders will be arranged in either a line (such as in the KR18GU engine of the Coupris 40) or a V-shape (such as in the V12 engine of the Coupris Kineema).

MCs have several forward 'gears' which dictate how much power you would like to use from the engine. These range from 1 to 5, with 1 being low gear (generally used when you first start your MC to move it) and 5 being your highest gear. There is also neutral, which means you are in no gear, and reverse. The car is controlled using the brake, accelerator and clutch; brake slows the car, accelerate speeds it up, and clutch disconnects the wheels from the engine.

Modern motor-carriages are operated using two clutch levers, two brake levers attached to the aforementioned clutch, a gearshift pedal operated with the left foot, and an accelerator and differential lock operated with the right foot.

MCs are steered using a hybrid of clutch-brake steering and braked differential steering systems. Early MCs only used the clutch and brake to steer the car; rather than turning the wheels to change the direction it is moving in, power is disconnected from either one side or the other with a clutch. Some would also apply slipping of the brake in order to tighten the turn. One issue with this braking system was that, since the wheel is disconnected entirely, the average forward momentum is not maintained, and so the car would slow significantly; as well as this, on downslopes, sometimes declutching one side to turn would result in a turn in the opposite direction. An alternative, coming later, was braked differential steering; using a differential (a gear train which has the property of one shaft's rotational speed being the average of the others), braking power is applied to one side to turn the vehicle. This had an advantage over clutch-brake systems in that it would maintain the average speed, as the opposite wheel would speed up accordingly due to the differential. However, this system had a problem that, in the case of one wheel meeting a higher rolling resistance than another, the differential action would engage. In some models, particularly ones made for off-roading in rough terrain, this had to be solved by creating a differential lock to prevent unwanted differential action. Modern MCs use a clutch, brake and differential system with a differential lock.

[justforbooks]

Long before Dave Myers, one half of the TV duo the Hairy Bikers, was hairy, or a biker, he was a cook. While still a child, he prepared family meals when his mother, a former shipyard crane driver, became so debilitated by multiple sclerosis she was scarcely able to leave her bed. “Dad and I became Mam’s carers, muddling through each day,” said Myers, who has died aged 66. “Sometimes I got out a cookbook and made a pie or a stew out of whatever ingredients we had in.”

His mother had been “a fabulous cook and was often preparing food while I played at her feet”. His father, the foreman of a local paper mill, would put little Dave on the saddle of his motorbike so he could pretend to ride. “I loved the smell of oil and machinery and rubber; just one whiff would set my pulse racing.”

But it was only half a lifetime later that Myers, after many years of working as a television makeup artist, managed to make an onscreen career by combining these two childhood passions. In 2004, when he was 45, Myers and his friend Simon King, a locations manager on the Harry Potter films, pitched their idea for a TV show focusing on motorbikes and food to the BBC. “It was midlife crisis time and you can’t have more of a midlife crisis than going off on a motorbike,” said Myers.

The show’s premise was that two burly, hirsute motorcyclists would visit foreign locales, often getting off their bikes to cook by the roadside. In the first episode of The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook (2006), the pair motored through Namibia, stopping off to cook crocodile satay and oryx rolls.

This culinary travelogue ran across three series, taking them to Portugal, Vietnam, Turkey and Mexico, and became such a hit with the viewers that a memo circulated the BBC praising the two men for winning over “a difficult-to-reach audience”. “Basically a ‘difficult-to-reach audience’ translates as ‘normal people’,” said King.

The two self-taught cooks had a disarmingly unpretentious love of food and easy on-screen banter redolent of Keith Floyd, if less bibulous, or Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson, if less posh. In a sense, Myers and King were the male northern riposte to the Two Fat Ladies. What’s more, their two fat lads were refreshing fare in the age of telegenic cooks such as Nigella Lawson or angry chefs like Gordon Ramsay.

Spin-off shows followed, including The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour of Britain (2009), The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best (2010), The Hairy Bikers’ Mississippi Adventure (2012) and The Hairy Bikers’ Asian Adventure (2014), along with allied cookbooks and a 2015 memoir, The Hairy Bikers Blood, Sweat and Tyres.

What was the secret of their success? “We are mates, it’s not something that’s been manufactured,” said Myers. “We’re not snobby about food. We’re very happy with egg and chips, as long as it’s very good-quality eggs and good-quality potatoes. About 95% of good cooking is good shopping.”

They met by chance in a Newcastle pub in the 1990s when Myers was working there as makeup artist and prosthetics technician on an adaptation of Catherine Cookson’s The Gambling Man starring Robson Green. King, an assistant director on the project, was at the bar ordering a curry. The barman told King that if he ordered two curries he would qualify for a special offer: four poppadoms instead of one. “I just stepped up and said, ‘I’ll have the other curry’,” Myers said.

The pair cemented their friendship with road trips up the west coast of Scotland, travelling with a pan, a single-burner stove, some butter, a lemon and some brown bread. “We’d go up round Loch Assynt, up by Lochinver, and catch wild brown trout.” The idea for the television series was born from these trips.

But, while the Hairy Bikers became celebrated and their cookbooks successful, some worried that their recipes were unhealthy. Their banana French toast recipe, consisting of brioche, bananas, peanut butter and cream, was ominously dedicated to Elvis Presley. One critic suggested that their full-English shakshuka, featuring sausages, lardons and black pudding, “looks as if it should come with a diagram on how to administer CPR”.

Indeed, as their fame expanded, so did their waistbands. By 2012, Myers recalled, he was taking tablets for high blood pressure and to lower his cholesterol, and both he and King were diagnosed as being morbidly obese during a medical. He weighed 17st 12lb, with a 49in waist, while King weighed in at 19st 6lb, with a 50in waistline. “I was prediabetic; human foie gras, basically,” Myers said.

The diagnoses pushed them to make the series The Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight. Both men lost 3st 7lb during filming and published their most successful series of books afterwards under the general title Hairy Dieters. “Doing it publicly was the thing that encouraged us to make it work. People admired the honesty. We sold about 1.3m copies of our first book. We learned an awful lot from it.”

The following year, 2013, Myers appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, performing a “Tartan tango” to the tune of The Proclaimers’ I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) with his dance partner, Karen Hauer, and becoming, in the words of the show’s judge Len Goodman, “the people’s champion”, winning the weekly popular vote despite sometimes low marks from judges and armchair critics deriding his “ungainly boogying”. He didn’t win, but the Hairy Biker received the longest standing ovation for, fittingly enough, a Meat Loaf-themed paso doble.

Myers, the only child of Jim and Margaret, was born in Barrow-in-Furness ( then in Lancashire but now in Cumbria) and attended the town’s grammar school for boys, where an inspirational teacher, Mr Eaton, encouraged him to develop his artistic skills. He took a fine art degree at Goldsmiths, University of London and a master’s degree in art history.

His first job was as a trainee makeup artist at the BBC. He worked there for 23 years, including a stint on Top of the Pops, before the Hairy Bikers got together. While filming the show in Romania, Myers met Liliana Orzac. “In our hotel there was a striking woman on reception. Nudging Si, I whispered: ‘I fancy her!’” They married in 2011.

In 2022, Myers announced on the podcast Hairy Bikers – Agony Uncles that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He and King made a moving return to the screen in The Hairy Bikers: Coming Home for Christmas in December 2023, in which they discussed his illness and treatment; and had filmed a new series, The Hairy Bikers Go West, which is currently screening on BBC Two, and which King described as “a celebration of a joyous and creative friendship”.

Myers is survived by Liliana and her children, Iza and Sergiu.

🔔 David James Myers, chef and television presenter, born 8 September 1957; died 28 February 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[wheelscomedyandmore]

From 1953-1979 all Corvette's were built in St. Louis, Mo. And, on today's date in 1981, the last STL 'Vette rolled off the line.

1953, General Motors hand-assembled the first 300 Corvettes on a small prototype assembly line within the Flint Chevrolet plant.

This temporary setup allowed GM designers and engineers to innovate and perfect new manufacturing techniques.

On December 28, 1953, Corvette production transitioned to St. Louis, Missouri.

The massive General Motors Union Boulevard Complex became the new home for the Corvette, ramping up production slowly.

By 1954, 3,640 units were produced, with sales initially sluggish. However, production grew steadily, reaching 30,000 units per year by 1969 and peaking at 53,000 units in 1979.

The St. Louis plant faced challenges. Workers endured tough conditions, with no air-conditioning and a glass roof that turned the factory into a furnace. Despite the hardships, their dedication ensured the Corvette's success.

On August 1, 1980, Chevrolet moved Corvette production to a new state-of-the-art facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This transition marked a new chapter for the Corvette, with improved production techniques and better working conditions.

Bowling Green continues to be the home of the Corvette, and the loss of the Corvette is still remembered every year in St. Louis.

#ChevroletCorvette #CorvetteHistory #AmericanMuscle #ClassicCars #VintageCars #CarHistory #AutomotiveExcellence #FlintMichigan #StLouis #BowlingGreen #CarEnthusiast #GM #NationalCorvetteMuseum

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Top 10 Innovative Cars

The cars of today owe a lot to the vehicles that came before them. Car design has always been about innovation and breaking new ground, but it's rare to find an automobile that can genuinely be said to have changed everything that came afterwards. The cars in this list were not your average motors - each and every one of them had an influence that reached far beyond their original conception. Here are the unique stories of ten of the most innovative and influential cars ever produced.

Ford Model T (1908)

The first massed produced automobile.

The Model T - colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie - is generally regarded as the first affordable car in the world, and the vehicle that opened up a world of automobile travel to the middle classes. Ford's assembly line production made it all possible, setting a standard of manufacturing that influenced almost every industry in the world. Produced between 1908 and 1927, more than 15 million Tin Lizzies were sold, and the car gave mobility to the masses. For that reason, it is often considered to be one of the most influential developments in the history of design and production.

Rolls Royce Silver Ghost (1908)

The first military car.

At the time of its development, the beautiful Rolls Royce Silver Ghost was considered to be at the forefront of luxury car design. However, it was to become something much more important than a toy for the rich. In 1914, all Silver Ghost chassis were re-purposed to form the basis for a brand new armored car, and the vehicles ended up playing a significant part in World War I, the Irish Civil War, the Turkish Wars and even World War II. In doing so, the Silver Ghost gave birth to the modern concept of mechanized military conflicts and ended the days of the horse cavalry.

Austin Seven (1922)

The first 'people's car'.

The Austin 7 is a legendary British car that was hugely successful both in its home country and abroad. It is often seen as the forerunner to the modern automobile as we know it, and made a huge impact on the economy car market that was comparable to the innovative inroads made by the Ford Model T fifteen years before. It is seen as the first 'people's car' that further popularized motoring, and it was re-bodied to form the basis for the first cars produced by BMW, Nissan, Lotus, Jaguar and the Australian firm Holden.

Volkswagen Beetle (1938)

The mechanical innovator that became a cultural icon.

It's hard to find another automobile with the rich history of the Volkswagen Beetle. The brainchild of Ferdinand Porsche, it was one of the first rear-engine automobiles and was specifically designed to travel at 100kph on Germany's autobahn highway system. It also featured one of the world's first air-cooled engine designs, but its impact went way beyond its mechanical innovations. Its production lasted for 65 years between 1938 and 2006 - the longest ever run for a single design concept - and it was the first car to truly become a cultural icon (helped by the 'Herbie' films of course), showing that motor cars had a place in wider entertainment.

BMC Mini (1959)

The early 'hot hatchback'.

Another car that gained an influence outside of the motoring world is the much loved BMC mini. It was conceptualized as a car for everyone and went on to be produced in over 100 variants in countries all over the globe. It was also one of the first modern front wheel drive cars, and made the idea of the small 'hot hatchback' cool. This simple, little car which came to symbolize the 'swinging' 60s, was one of the first efficient 'city' cars and became a rally car, racing legend and movie icon in pictures like The Italian Job.

Citroen DS (1955)

The groundbreaking car that influenced car design for years.

The Citroën DS always occupies high places when experts are looking to crown the best car of all time, and with good reason. This executive car was years ahead of its time and it's widely accepted that every modern car model can in some way trace its design back to the DS. It was the first mass production car to include disc brakes, featured an aerodynamic body design considered futuristic at the time but standard today, it had hydraulic suspensions and revolving headlights, and sold a then-record 12,000 units on its first day of release. It remains one of the most influential automobile designs ever produced.

Jaguar E-Type (1961)

The luxury icon of the 1960s.

The Jaguar E-Type is one of the most beautiful sports cars ever to grace the road, and a legend of 1960s design. At a time when most cars were more about practicality than style and performance, the E-Type boasted top of speeds in excess of 150mph and could travel 0-60mph in under 7 seconds. It was the first production vehicle that didn't feature a body fixed to a separate chassis, instead, it employed a 'racing design' where the body was attached to a tubular framework. It will always be associated with high performance and sleek sophistication, and it influenced sports car designed long after it left the production line.

Lamborghini Miura (1966)

The world's first super car.

The Lamborghini Miura was the world's first super car, and pushed the boundaries of what people thought was possible in automobile design. It ushered in the era of the high-performance, two-seater sports car and was lightning quick - comfortably the fastest road car in production when it was first released. The design shared much more in common with the race cars of the day, rather than the sleek touring car designs that had previously been favored by car firm bosses, including Ferruccio Lamborghini himself, who objected the original concept for the Miura, forcing the company's engineers to design it in their spare time.

Chrysler Minivan (1983)

The first ever multi-passenger mini-van.

In 1983, Chrysler effectively invented the Minivan and changed the way cars were conceptualized for good. The Minivan's design grew from the need for a vehicle suitable for larger families, which still retained the driveability of a normal car. It looked boxy, but had a sliding side door that made loading the kids in the car easy, yet it was small enough to fit in a standard parking spot. Owning one came to symbolise both financial, adult success and, paradoxically, 'lost youth' in 1980s America. The car changed the landscape of automobile design forever. 

Toyota Prius (1997)

The world's first mass-produced electric hybrid vehicle.

The Toyota Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid, electric vehicle in the world, and its influence is probably yet to be fully realized. Just as the Model T and Austin 7 brought automobiles to the masses, the Prius broke new ground in the important quest for an electric powered alternative to modern gas guzzlers and remains one of the most environmentally friendly cars sold to date (now in its fourth generation, it remains in production). For all these reasons, the Prius deserves its place on this list of the most innovative car designs of all time.

[diabolus1exmachina]

ISO Rivolta Fidia 

Bubblecar manufacturer Iso joined the ranks of supercar constructors in 1962 with the launch of the Giotto Bizzarrini-designed Rivolta coupé at the Turin Motor Show.Renzo Rivolta's Isothermos company had begun life pre-war making refrigerators, turning to the manufacture of scooters, under the Iso name, after the war and thence to the highly successful Isetta bubblecar.Interviewed for Octane magazine (issue 151) Renzo's son Piero recalled that his father liked sports cars but could not find one that really suited him; one that was fast, comfortable and reliable. “He decided that Iso should produce a fast car that was genuinely useable every day, and priced somewhere between a Jaguar and a Ferrari.” The result was the Rivolta.Iso's first supercar set the pattern for those that followed: Bizzarrini-designed chassis, Bertone coachwork and Chevrolet engines, its future developments including the long-wheelbase, Ghia-styled Fidia four-door saloon, the muscular, short-wheelbase Grifo and the Rivolta-replacement Lele.Iso's most successful model, the Rivolta was produced up to 1970, by which time a total of 797 cars had been built.The Iso Fidia (or Iso Rivolta Fidia or, originally, the S4) was a much rarer car, with only 192 known to have rolled off the production line.The first models were powered by a 5.4-litre 355HP Chevy V8, accelerating the saloon from zero to 60mph in about seven seconds. From 1973, however, a 5.8-litre Ford V8 engine was used, developing some 325HP.John Lennon bought the second Fidia ever made.

[mariacallous]

Beyond the padlocked metal gate, beyond the silent train crossing, lie 4.8 million square feet of concrete—weeds and saplings pressing through the cracks, rubble heaped on the ground, environmental dangers lurking in the soil.

The immense site, especially dreary on the hard-rain, late-winter morning when I was back in Janesville, was the home of General Motors’ oldest operating assembly plant, long the heart and economic soul of this small southern Wisconsin city. In its heyday a half-century ago, the Janesville Assembly Plant boasted 7,000 workers.

Even when the last Chevy Tahoe rolled off the assembly line two days before Christmas of 2008, about 3,000 GM’ers were still there that final year to lose their well-paid jobs, and the closing and the bad economy swept away thousands of other jobs nearby.

I had first come to Janesville as the United States was creeping out of the Great Recession. I was looking for a spot to write a close-up of what happens to a perfectly ordinary place when good work goes away, and this county seat, surrounded by farmland about 100 miles northwest of Chicago, seemed promising. I spent several years getting to know auto-working families stung by vanished jobs, community leaders trying to coax the city out of the economic trauma and the shifting texture of Janesville itself.

Falling out of the middle class, I learned, is not the same as having been poor all along, bruising people’s identity along with their standard of living. Job retraining, I found, was not always a panacea. And as the 2016 election cycle was bringing Donald Trump to the fore, I saw the kind of post-industrial distress that attracted voters elsewhere to his flavor of populism—even as Janesville remained a Democratic-leaning union town.

Now, seven years after my book, Janesville: An American Story, came out, as the rain clattered on my rental car, I wondered what lessons this place might yield about the United States’ economy and communities’ hopes in this starkly different time. If this small city in America’s heartland served as a handy microcosm of what happened during the recession of 2007 to 2009, what could it tell us about the kinds of jobs America has been spawning lately, the geography of industrial development, the expectations that Biden administration policies have infused in another election year among communities in which traditional industry has become merely a memory.

And what I learned this time is a reminder that, often, more than one thing can be true at once. This small city has a plucky, resilient streak, so I was not surprised to hear while I was back in town an overt pride in its considerable recovery. And yet, that is not its only trajectory. The present-day story of Janesville also illustrates U.S. manufacturing’s waning and, in particular, the difficulty of finding fresh uses for the vestiges of auto plants the country has abandoned.

[spookysaladchaos]

Global top 13 companies accounted for 66% of Total Frozen Spring Roll market(qyresearch, 2021)

The table below details the Discrete Manufacturing ERP revenue and market share of major players, from 2016 to 2021. The data for 2021 is an estimate, based on the historical figures and the data we interviewed this year.

Major players in the market are identified through secondary research and their market revenues are determined through primary and secondary research. Secondary research includes the research of the annual financial reports of the top companies; while primary research includes extensive interviews of key opinion leaders and industry experts such as experienced front-line staffs, directors, CEOs and marketing executives. The percentage splits, market shares, growth rates and breakdowns of the product markets are determined through secondary sources and verified through the primary sources.

According to the new market research report “Global Discrete Manufacturing ERP Market Report 2023-2029”, published by QYResearch, the global Discrete Manufacturing ERP market size is projected to reach USD 9.78 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 10.6% during the forecast period.

Figure.   Global Frozen Spring Roll Market Size (US$ Mn), 2018-2029

Figure.   Global Frozen Spring Roll Top 13 Players Ranking and Market Share（Based on data of 2021, Continually updated）

The global key manufacturers of Discrete Manufacturing ERP include Visibility, Global Shop Solutions, SYSPRO, ECi Software Solutions, abas Software AG, IFS AB, QAD Inc, Infor, abas Software AG, ECi Software Solutions, etc. In 2021, the global top five players had a share approximately 66.0% in terms of revenue.

About QYResearch

QYResearch founded in California, USA in 2007.It is a leading global market research and consulting company. With over 16 years’ experience and professional research team in various cities over the world QY Research focuses on management consulting, database and seminar services, IPO consulting, industry chain research and customized research to help our clients in providing non-linear revenue model and make them successful. We are globally recognized for our expansive portfolio of services, good corporate citizenship, and our strong commitment to sustainability. Up to now, we have cooperated with more than 60,000 clients across five continents. Let’s work closely with you and build a bold and better future.

QYResearch is a world-renowned large-scale consulting company. The industry covers various high-tech industry chain market segments, spanning the semiconductor industry chain (semiconductor equipment and parts, semiconductor materials, ICs, Foundry, packaging and testing, discrete devices, sensors, optoelectronic devices), photovoltaic industry chain (equipment, cells, modules, auxiliary material brackets, inverters, power station terminals), new energy automobile industry chain (batteries and materials, auto parts, batteries, motors, electronic control, automotive semiconductors, etc.), communication industry chain (communication system equipment, terminal equipment, electronic components, RF front-end, optical modules, 4G/5G/6G, broadband, IoT, digital economy, AI), advanced materials industry Chain (metal materials, polymer materials, ceramic materials, nano materials, etc.), machinery manufacturing industry chain (CNC machine tools, construction machinery, electrical machinery, 3C automation, industrial robots, lasers, industrial control, drones), food, beverages and pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, agriculture, etc.

[douradoluxurycar]

Discover Extravagance: Luxury Car Dealerships in Dubai Offer the Ultimate in Opulence and Performance

Dubai is known for its opulence and luxury lifestyle, and there are several luxury car dealerships in the city where you can find high-end vehicles. Keep in mind that the availability of specific brands and models may change over time, so it's a good idea to check the latest information and visit the dealerships' websites or contact them directly for the most up-to-date offerings. Here are some luxury car dealerships in Dubai that were well-known in Luxury car industry.

Al Nabooda Automobiles: Al Nabooda Automobiles is one of the largest dealerships for Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen in Dubai. They have a strong presence in the region and offer a range of luxury vehicles.

Al Tayer Motors: This dealership represents several luxury car brands, including Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Bentley. They have a flagship showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai.

Dourado Luxury Car : This dealership is the leading car dealer for new and used vehicles in Dubai with an inventory of over 300+ luxury cars from leading brands. They have a strong presence in the region and offer a range of luxury vehicles.

AGMC: AGMC is the official dealer for BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce in Dubai. They have multiple showrooms and service centers across the city.

Emirates Motor Company: As the authorized distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Emirates Motor Company offers a wide selection of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Premier Motors: This dealership is known for selling high-end cars, including the likes of Maserati and Ferrari.

Lamborghini Dubai: As the name suggests, this dealership specializes in Lamborghini vehicles, catering to the elite sports car market.

McLaren Dubai: McLaren fans can visit this dealership to explore the British manufacturer's high-performance sports cars.

Bentley Dubai: Bentley Dubai is the place to go if you're interested in purchasing a Bentley luxury automobile.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai: For those seeking the pinnacle of luxury, Rolls-Royce offers a range of bespoke luxury vehicles, and the Dubai dealership is a showcase for these exquisite cars.

Bugatti UAE: If you have a passion for the fastest and most exclusive hypercars, Bugatti's dealership in the UAE is worth a visit.

Remember that Dubai is home to some of the world's wealthiest individuals, and the city's luxury car dealerships cater to this clientele by offering an extensive selection of high-end and exotic vehicles.

[wetsteve3]

Matching numbers bike

Odometer reads 386 miles Highly original, shows as new Frame and engine no. 7F01404H7 Willie G's Cafe Racer, stock and unmodified Displayed in private collection for 24 years 1000cc engine Owner's manual Original service manual Harley-Davidson parts catalog Original Harley-Davidson keys

Since its inception, the motorcycle has lent itself to the needs of riders determined to ride them in every possible environment with a never-ending thirst for speed and style. Originating on the city streets and country back roads in England in the 1960s, the cafe racer has endured as a timeless expression of motorcycle customization, joining the ranks of iconic genres like board track racers, choppers and bobbers. The stripped-down and hopped-up British cafe racers zooming between pubs were purpose-built for optimizing speed and handling. Still, the minimalist style that resulted has echoed in every decade since to become a staple genre in motorcycle culture. The cafe racer movement was so significant upon its arrival that many of the world’s top manufacturers began rolling out production models into their lineups by the 1970s.

One such iconic machine was the brainchild of a young Willie G. Davidson of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, who pulled inspiration from the vibrant cafe racer culture in the U.K. to produce his own version with a distinctly American DNA. Using Harley-Davidson’s existing XLCH Sportster as a foundation, Davidson and his team unveiled the XLCR (cafe racer) in 1977, a model which it is safe to say raised quite a few eyebrows. At its heart was a 61 CI (1000cc) OHV V-twin and 4-speed gearbox built in-unit, which could push the hefty 550-pound machine to a top speed of 115 MPH.

Where its British and Italian counterparts drew from a heritage of Grand Prix racing to inspire their styling, the XLCR married its heritage of flat track racing and the increasingly popular street tracker style to produce a menacing, all-black beast of a motorcycle. A flat track fuel tank, ducktail rear section and bikini fairing captured the cafe racer look, while 2-into-1 exhaust, disc brakes and Morris mag wheels completed what was, at the time, the fastest Harley-Davidson on the market. Displayed in a private collection for 24 years and accompanied by its owner’s manual, original service manual, a Harley-Davidson parts catalog and the original Harley-Davidson keys, this incredibly original 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR has turned over less than 400 miles, which—given its limited overall production and increasing collectability—makes this American cafe racer an extremely rare and classic motorcycle.

[the-firebird69]

This is the kind of look we're looking for you can have the horizontal lines but we'd rather not because fabric really doesn't do that this isn't a kit and it's a wide body it's not for a Firebird but this is what we like and we like how this is molded and fits. We'll make it one or two modifications when is you have to fit it to the Firebird and it is a nuisance to try and do it so they'll probably eventually make a new one probably today they say and I would add some fairings to the bottom to make it look like the firebird itself which already has a supercar bottom fairing and he says to why not use the ones that are there there'd be too deeply insect but you can make the kids so you take those off and put them back on and it's something of a Hallmark of our son and daughter who likes to incorporate real pieces of the body then you have to widen it a little I'm so really need a new mold but the original design would be incorporated not necessarily the original price and the bumper has to go it has to look like this you don't want that saggy bumper out there or on the front ever it looks incredibly awful but it was a way to cover it up and we used it to put things on and roll them into the trunk yes and our son and daughter say huge bags of rice and giant bags of beans

Frank Castle hardcastle

And I'm in the above too

Duke nukem Blockbuster

About 30 lb bags so that way that big we could set them on the rear end really 40 lb bags and sit on there and 80 lb bags of concrete that was helpful right there that last one it makes it with the rice I've already probably said enough but here we go this is going to work and they're going to get to it and that's what the new Firebird will look like a super car cuz they really should they should not look like these s***** cars and Chrysler is going to come out with a line of them and they're going to look like s*** this is going to work these cars going to be hot and it keeps the original look of the car and the particular year that it started becoming a supercar and the induction system is perfect it's going to rule

Thor Freya

Also have had enough of their little game mentality but they look familiar and they're from a movie it's not West side story it's warriors and they kick their own ass pretty bad and they're going to start fights and get beat up and have fun and then they'll be gone

You're approving this design it's awesome and the company that does this is going to get with the other one they said so you know how to make it and they want to incorporate the Firebird rear panel and not the bumper

Olympus

it's a damn nuisance it's the ugliest buffer in history yeah a lot of people got away with stuff 80 lb bags of concrete stuff like that it's gross

Manufacturer of the aftermarket rear panel as you see here and we're going to produce a ton of them apparently I'm familiar with the car he's talking about it's a V6 it's the one with 235 horsepower when you put these fairings on it adds a little weight no because you're taking the old ones off and it takes weight off I always make them wrong and heavy and out of this plastic like a garbage can and when you put them on there harder and the carbon reinforced and nowadays are modern and strong and they come with a subframe too and bumper and our kids all together looks like the one you shown but we're going to modify it to look exactly like it and round it it's awesome this is an awesome kit and people will know who we are from the rear, and it starts off going 180 and you end up going $285 mph same motor one person in it same car no engine modifications if you modify the engine with a DOT exhaust and you get to take off the top end if you had a top into it as well you're talking about 385 to 400 miles per hour it is a very fast car and the rims and tires are fine and now you have to change those to fit and we like the zero profile ideas the kit was shown it's not that great and we're going to modify hours to mirror it and we have those panels and we're going to make the wheel wells work properly the heights will be proper and we will note how high and the front end will be right and fit with the side panels and side panels stick with the doors and the rear panels fit with the door and the new rear end will fits with the end panels everything will fit in combination and you can see the car above that's our kit

[golden-spike]

How ya feel about Greaseball?

[audio in the future]

Rolling Stock Review

Union Pacific's Pacific Daylight "Greaseball" the passenger diesel.

In 1971, the City of Los Angeles took his last trip. That last trip was the final trip for all Union Pacific Passenger trains. Only two years after my manufacture.

Decades later on the company's 150th anniversary we were all told big things were happening. Every decade a new piece of rolling stock was ceremoniously given to me for my service as Yardmaster. However, ever time it had been a coach. I was not looking forward to this and I was already irritated by my company's insistence of giving me coaches. When Pacific Daylight was unveiled I had to hold back my reaction. An engine but not just any engine but a twin motor passenger diesel. He was and is absolutely beautiful. Built with be best masculine curves and a voice perfect for a diesel's ears. Passenger service as a whole had just been reborn with him and I knew it then.

His frame was an upgrade to the DDA40x model, resolving issues that we had such as shearing bolts on our fuel tanks, inner frame bending, and buckling struts. His styling was a call back to the streamlined diesels of yesteryear to inspire people to ride the rails again. He not only was seriously strong but seriously fast without a sacrifice to the smoothness of the ride.

The company didn't give him his passenger train in the beginning. They focused on testing his AI and seeing if the code needed any further updating since the passenger engine lineage of code was decades old despite the newer code that was injected to bring it up to current standard. Once he proves himself, his coaches Affogato, Aurora, and Solara were given to him.

The company had him race early on to show that Union Pacific was still the best of the breed. A title we earned long ago. These races and competitions became important to him. It was how he made an identity for himself beyond 'Golden Spike's Lieutenant'. I prayed to Starlight for his safety every day and when he raced I prayed every hour.

He easily pulled in people with his charisma like a great storm. They revolved around him. Coaches and engines. They became his gang of diesels and his gossip crew of coaches. It was adorable. He learned how to do the coaches hair and was an absolute sweetheart. He cleaned their carriages and carried supplies to their carriages. He made sure that his closest gang engines were always well fueled. I frequently saw him and his favorite three freight haulers hug and kiss before they left the yard.

He always picked Dinah as his coach for races. Taught her how to defend herself and how to fight. Punches and kicks in races are not cheating. It is allowed and part of the spectacle for the humans we do this for. Competitions were simply another way for railroads to make money. Everything is about money. We are all children of profit. The moment we are not profitable, we are done for.

Greaseball always worked hard and when he didn't pull passengers he would volunteer to pull freight in a lash up with his gang members. I wish every engine was as wonderful as he. I am absolutely honored to have had him as mine.

[johnschneiderblog]

Muscle memory

Somewhere on I-69 around Auburn, Indiana, as we motored southward to see the kids, the odometer on our 8-year-old Impala registered 100,000.

Big deal, you might say. So what?, you might ask. And I would agree that getting 100,000 miles out of a car these days is hardly noteworthy. They do it without even breaking a sweat.

Keep in mind, however, that I’m old enough to remember when coaxing 100,000 out of a Detroit-made rust-bucket was cause for celebration. In fact, the odometers only went to 99,999; past that, it “rolled over,” back to 00,001. It’s muscle memory that makes me sit up and take notice at 100,000 miles.

So, what changed? As a son of Detroit, it hurts me to say this but the answer is foreign imports - Hondas, Toyota, Volkswagens, etc.  It took the automakers overseas to show American car-buyers that planned obsolescence and slipshod manufacturing weren’t the only possibilities.

Fortunately, the Big Three took the lesson.

[divinekangaroo]

Modern day mid-20s Alfie and Tommy @ a university party: what they think of each other the first time they see each other across a hazy crowded room at a house party where franz ferdinand’s walk away is playing

Alfie (Chemical Engineering but Tommy assumes it’s Arts) spouts that kind of monologue-heavy arrogant verbosity, with no room for actual dialogue, that Tommy instantly loathes him; simultaneously he gets a sinking feeling that at some point he’ll end up on his knees sucking him off in a filthy toilet, probably more than once at multiple parties where he can’t fucking work out why Alfie is even there or who he knows, sometimes maybe it’ll be more than once at the same party in different toilets, all whilst never really talking to each other, and Alfie would probably scab a cab ride off Tommy too and get off early and leave him with the fucking bill every time and it’ll descend to scabbing a twenty here or fifty there as well and one day Tommy would find out the cunt’s just rolling in generational wealth even though he looks and probably smells fucking homeless

Tommy (joint Commerce and Law, which Alfie correctly assumes he’s failing) looks like Alfie would find him in a filthy bathroom doing cocaine off his own custom engraved mirror compact kept inside his inner jacket pocket without any offer to share, and who probably keeps his keys on a silly keychain and even his sportswear is Shiny and Has a Label; some time later Tommy would corner him while off his face as if they had some kind of solidarity for that brief moment they looked at each other over the pile of coke which Tommy didn’t share, and he’ll spend the next forty minutes explaining in detail his morning smoothie regime, the best powdered supplements to add, the quality of different blender motor manufacturers when processing dates, and the fact his mother committed suicide when he was twelve and his father abandoned him; Alfie figures he’ll get himself through it by staring at Tommy’s lips the whole time and nodding sagely until he can work out how to get him back into that bathroom and on his knees

Both of them assume the other is the kind of arse who’s the last one standing at any party for the usual various ugly reasons re: easy pickings, even after the host has put on the ‘shop’s closing get the fuck out of my house’ music, and so they loiter, linger, wait

[aiautos]

Top row: Magazine article and poster from the Splash Grand Prix Middle row: Magazine cover and poster from the California Amphibious Racing Circuit Bottom row: Posters for the Japan Amphibious Endurance Tournament

With the rising popularity in amphibious cars, it only made natural sense to try and push them to their limits, to see just how fast they could go over both land and sea. As a result, several amphibious racing circuits arose all around the world. We've got some advertising material here, as well as some details and descriptions about some vehicles from three of those circuits.

The Splash Grand Prix was started in 1947 by a group of New England amphibious automobile enthusiasts who wanted to see just how fast their boat-cars could go. The result was the Splash Grand Prix, a 5-lap race around a course that takes place on equal amounts land and sea. While not as fast as some of the other circuits, it's been described as more high intensity, shorter-range event, with the winding spaghetti-like roads of the New England area being the perfect challenge for drivers to navigate. The event is a very friendly and humble affair, with people bringing their tents, grills, and coolers in a huge picnic/cookoff style event that culminates into watching the big race. Cars are usually modified or custom-built roadsters, though there have been a few modern-style entries (but nothing too flashy, as there are strict component and weight requirements). The red car in the article to the left is the Hammnicar III, built by John M. Hammond the Fourth in 1982, as a tribute to the then-lost Hammnicar I, and the seldom-seen Hammnicar II. It was used in the Splash Grand Prix in the 1982, 1983, and 1984 seasons, winning the first two, but by 1984, it was out of date. The Hammnicar II was based off of a VW Superbeetle, not unlike the Catfish, but was designed as a tandem-control vehicle, powered by a Chevrolet Corvair Turbo 180 hp turbo motor, rather than the original Volkswagen flat 4. It competed in the super-modified 200 hp class, and was able to achieve speeds on the water of up to 40 knots, while able to do 120 mph on land.

On the other side of the country, we'll find the California Amphibious Racing Circuit. Founded in 1954, you'll find that this event is the polar opposite of the Splash Grand Prix. Loud, bombastic cars with sleek designs and souped-up engines are the stars of the show, and sponsorships litter the sides of the cars like a NASCAR vehicle. Everyone and their grandmother is trying to sell you something at the CARC, and the atmosphere is intoxicatingly overwhelming. The race is televised across the country, with millions tuning in to see these amphibious beasts rip across the sand and surf at speeds that can reach over 130 mph! In 2003, Thompson Hydrosports, a well-known homologation manufacturer, finally decided to dip it's toes into building it's own entry into the 2004 California Circuit season, building the Thompson Tornado (the vehicle on the magazine to the left), powered by the homologation 350 Chevrolet, machined to produce 500 horsepower. The vehicle itself was built from fiberglass and aluminum, and had a top speed on the water of 90 knots, while on land it could achieve 160 mph. The Tornado would become infamous once it entered production in the next year, for being super fast, agile, but most importantly, dangerous. of the 52 built, including the 2 prototypes, 31 of them were damaged beyond repair, or lost in accidents, with a total of 8 fatal accidents killing one or both of the crew. The most notable of the accidents being of the 41st production vehicle, driven by Robert Hall, and James Williams as Navigator, was lost in an 87 knot roll, the vehicle disintegrating around the crew, with nothing of the wreck being recovered, other than two of the wheels.

Crossing the pond, you'll find the Japan Amphibious Endurance Tournament, an affair squarely in the middle of the SGP and the CARC in terms of flashiness. While a little late to the party in 1970, it is nonetheless a beloved event enjoyed by racing enthusiasts across the globe, with events being televised across the world. While CARC vehicles are built for speed, JAET vehicles are built for endurance, boasting innovative designs meant to be efficient and comfortable while still being powerful. Being an endurance tournament, the track usually spans the entire length of Japan in both land and sea, meaning the races can sometimes take over 2 days to fully complete. Pit stops are placed at key points in the race (usually in the transitions between ground and water), but some legs of the race can result in the drivers going for over 8 hours straight! The car featured in the leftmost advertisement is the 1999 ALIAH, developed by the Japanese Hydronautics Committee in 1998. A non-government entity, like the FIA, the JHC built the ALIAH as a successor to Project Kikka, an unbuilt prototype for a 200 mph on road racer, and a 100 knot superboat. ALIAH was built to succeed in nearly as many areas, using a folding wheel mechanism, to allow all 6 wheels to be hidden away to allow for higher speeds on the water. The actual ALIAH travelled up to 185 mph on land, and 83 knots on the water. During testing, however, the vehicle had an engine fire, from it's twin Toyota 1GZ-FE V12 engines, that produced 800 hp each, to the rear 4 wheels, or the hydrojets at the back. Posthumously, the gearbox was found to be at fault, though the EFS (Engine Fire Suppressants) were used, and saved the boat. This Magazine cover shows the post-fire repairs, missing aerodynamic panels, and allowing the internals to be seen. The ALIAH was used to demonstrate the CLASS VI racing series, and CLASS VI is still ongoing, though the current dominant force as of the 2023 season are turbine-electric hybrids, allowing for intense acceleration on land, and intense acceleration on ground. The ALIAH is on display in Karuizawa, at the JHC's headquarters/museum for hydro-racing. It is on display in situ post testing, with the fire damage still visible in places, though repairs had been made after the fire, which are also visible.