I named my Siberian Husky “Laika” after the dog that rode on Sputnik 2. I get asked all the time if I’m a photographer because the first / only thing most Americans know by that name is a Leica camera. (I guess they’re pretty good)

It's a bummer that the Cold War ideology caused and causes us to be ignorant of the…

This is why I have an XC-70.

It took me from the CA coast, through Moab, UT, over the Rocky mountains, across the great plains, and all the way to CT without missing a beat, all the while towing my 911, carrying a full load, and housing a dog and cat. It’s now my DD and I love it.

All ships, but especially warships, are very watertight. On something like an aircraft carrier it’s divided into so many watertight compartments that it’s practically a sponge. Mere weather is unlikely to actually put much water where it doesn’t belong - unless you leave a hatch open or something.

However, on NIMITZ…

You can turn around, but it's very delicate, you have to plan it just right turn in the trough between swells. Honestly though... you just don't turn. You put the bow in the direction of the major swells, and keep enough headway to steer. Ships can take a fantastic beating - warships even more so, but mother nature is…

Forgive me, but I can’t resist a little bit of competition.
I’ve been on board the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ when she put her entire bow underwater. It was an awesome thing to see. Also, luckily, the air wing was disembarked, so there weren’t any airplanes damaged in the high seas. I love a good storm!

Nope, you've misunderstood me. I'm saying the actual harm isn't that bad in absolute terms (yes, they emitted more NOx than legal for that category of vehicle, but still very little in comparison to the real polluters). What VW did is very bad - and the intent behind it is even worse. Their corporate behavior was…

Yep, they’re pretty fun. :)

Now I want to jack it up and put some knobby tires on it.

I completely agree, VW should roast for their deception. I also agree about the legal and ethical gulf between intentional deception and incompetence. Nobody has ever suggested that VW’s problem was an “oopsie”, where it’s pretty clear that GM’s ignition issue does stem from honest incompetence.

First... this totally looks like a bomb, and probably is.
However, for the sake of argument, and to answer your question... there’s a fascinating history of structural failure due to metal fatigue and cracking combined with the properties of Aluminum and the stress of pressurization. The British built Comet, the first…

Simple - I lost it in the divorce, but the car’s in limbo until the Dieselgate issue is worked out. If there’s going to be a buyback then my ex's automotive future will be different. If there's a fix, then fix the damn thing so I can get it to her... if there's going to be a buyback, then buy the damn thing back so I…

My point is that although VW cheated, and that is bad, the contribution to total NOx pollution is roughly equivalent to a single drop of water in a swimming pool. The number one contributor of NOx emissions is actually coal fired power plants, and the entire fleet of TDI’s, even with decades to work, can’t ever begin…

I want one!

Although I understand the inherent badness of deliberately defeating the existing emissions regulations, the total increase in NOx emissions is still small. I suspect the total lifetime NOx emissions of every TDI on American roads is equal to less than a single day of NOx emissions from all the heavy trucks on the…

As a TDI owner... I really want to know when we'll know something too. I appreciate what VW did with their "goodwill package" but I still need to know if they're going to buyback my damn car.

Had to do some serious digging, but it is one of the awesome turbo diesels. The price is a bit high, but the car is beautiful, original, and will continue to run until the end of time. NP.

I'm not sure one can safely "give" dragons to anyone... I suspect the dragons in question have opinions about who they serve...

He was only racist against Vulcans... and then only playfully. (Is it still racist, or speciesist, or something completely different when dealing with aliens?)

After reading the books... the chances of Stannis being resurrected are just about zero. However, in the books, the red witch, who's name I can't spell, had a realization that the true king wasn't Stannis, it was Jon. That's why I'm sure he'll be back at some point.

Still too soon. ;)

I agree completely. VW is bad for lying about polluting, and for polluting more than they are allowed to, but the overall emissions are excellent in every category except NOx.