“Optionally-manned” sounds problematic to me - like another “one-size-fits-all” answer that is causing the F-35 so many problems. In many ways, the F-35 is an incredible aircraft. A problem it suffers from is the one platform is trying to be too many things for too many users.

The best part is it looks like the truck is done rolling and then starts up again for one more roll. Almost like God said “fuck you” and gave the car a flick with a giant invisible finger.

As a Pens fan (and a Caps hater), it’s hard to really fault the Capitals here. The series was generally fantastic hockey with close games all around. I have a little sympathy for the Caps (and the Rangers in the 1st round) for running into Matt Murray. It seems that hot goalies for the opposing team have been the…

For me personally, it’s the Ecoboost engine that makes me want to consider the Raptor. As much as I’ve liked the truck and really want one, the supercar-bad MPG of the 6.2 V8 makes that a nonstarter. Yes, at full throttle, while towing, or otherwise under heavy load, the Ecoboost fuel economy won’t be much better than…

Now I’m hungry....

Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh?

It’s been a long time since I leased a car, but aren’t the terms/process for buy out in the lease itself? If so, wouldn’t a refusal by the leasor to let the lessee buy the car at the end of the lease be a breach of the lease contract?

I worked toward my license at Harris Hill in the late ‘90's when I was in undergrad. It was cheap, but I still ran out of money as a continuouly-poor undergrad. It was such a relaxing experience overall; almost zen-like.

In a lot of ways, I think the sun is easier to deal with on a motorcycle than in a car. I keep a pair of cheap, dark sunglasses in my tank bag so when the sun is bad I can pop them on under my helmet, which helps out a lot. When I’m cruising on the highway into the setting sun, I can stick my left hand up precisely…

Nope, this kinda sucks actually. At least on DirecTV, I have to buy a sports pack for $14 a month to get this channel. I used to be able to get MotoGP on FoxSports Net or whatever it was with my existing channel package.

Aside from cars being self-driving (sensing the environment around them and reacting), the cars need to be able to communicate with each other too. One of the biggest impacts on traffic would be getting rid of or reducing the accordian effect in stop-and-go-traffic. If cars can communicate with each other, then an…

I wish the video clip started a little earlier. At the very beginning of the clip you can hear a definite slow down in the rotor speed but then it comes right back up (probably as the pilot lowered the collective).

I think part of it is how quickly he was able to take his foot off of the clutch. To me, the demonstration looked like what driving a stick shift econobox looks like with a normal application of gas. His foot popped off the clutch pretty quick for not giving it any gas.

I think if I was the owner, I would be happy with the result. Let’s analyze the situation - the car is in a sinkhole filled with fluid caused by a busted sewer line. Conventional wisdom is stay away from flooded cars because they’ll never run right and will probably always have mold. This car was flooded with poop…

With the autopilot, would you feel comfortable reading a book, for example?

I don’t know, but I am on my fifth season with by Blizzaks on my RWD Infiniti G37S. I still drive pretty aggressively when the road is dry/clear. I’m probably going to replace the tires after this season. Not because of wear, but because of the age.

The animal crackers from Costco are the best thing in the world. Even better, dip them in Nutella! You’re welcome!

On the “must clean” list, you forgot the front grill. A lot of people don’t bother, but if the grill is totally clogged with packed snow or ice, the engine could actually overheat.

I think you hit the nail on the head Patrick - it’s a win, but it’s clearly a concept car and therefore nothing to get excited about until the design elements play a significant role in a production car. What are the chances that Honda/Acura - one of the most conservative design groups out there - goes with such a…

About the Raptor though...I would drive around unashamedly in an urban environment with one. Why? Because the roads suck. In a Raptor designed to bounce along rutted, undulating dirt roads, pot holes and speed bumps become fun!