EV Driver Realizes How “Brutal” Road Trips Can Be

By William Teach April 17, 2023 – 7:15 am

Once again, I’ll mention that I am not against EVs. Heck, for most of my driving one would serve me well. It’s only on those trips to the beach or up to NJ that would be a problem. Like this

A 9-hour drive in Toyota’s new electric SUV showed me how brutal EV road trips can be with the wrong car

Electric cars are quick, quiet, and kind to the planet, but limited range and lengthy charging times mean road trips aren’t exactly their strong suit.

That’s what I learned when I took Toyota’s new bZ4X SUV from New York to Washington D.C. one weekend in early April. The 500-mile journey wasn’t some epic coast-to-coast adventure, but rather the kind of long-haul drive someone might casually take a few times per year and not think twice about — if they’re behind the wheel of a regular gas car.

In a battery-powered vehicle, though, things aren’t always that simple.

Here we go

Every EV has a maximum charging rate, expressed in kilowatts (kW), that governs the amount of power it can accept from roadside fast chargers. For the bZ4X AWD Toyota provided, that’s an uncompetitive 100 kW. The higher an EV’s rating, the faster you can hypothetically charge  — so long as you find a charging plug whose rating is equal or greater.

And the faster it can charge the more expensive the vehicle is. Most of what is considered “affordable”, in the $30K range, can take an hour at a fast charging station.

But you don’t always achieve that max charge rate due to the charger, the temperature of the battery, or, in my case, settings built into the vehicle itself. During my trip, the car never got close to 100 kW, leading to some excruciating charging times.

Or, you can pull up to a gas station, put your card in, put the pump in the filling spout, take 5 minutes or so, and you’re on your way, regardless of anything, except possibly waiting for an open pump. You can run in and grab a drink and snack and be on your way.

On the way down to DC, I pulled into an Electrify America station with a 37% charge, looking to add just enough energy to make it the rest of the way. The Toyota refused to pull more than 35 kW, so just getting to 74% took a full 45 minutes of waiting around — not exactly something you want to do at night when you still have hours of driving ahead of you.

That stint added 95 miles of range, according to the SUV’s estimates. But highway speeds sap energy quickly, so in real-world terms, it was probably more like 75.

I get 33mpg in my Civic Hatchback EXL. 90% of my driving is around town, so, I know I’ll get much better on the highway. I do not have to worry about losing a lot. Here we go

Total it all up and charging stops added two hours of travel time on top of the roughly nine-hour trip.

And, as the article continues, you realize just how much you have to plan and keep an eye on things for long drives. Maybe the climate cultists should back off and push for more non-plugin hybrids.

But the electric future seems inevitable at this point, so we might as well learn to live with it.

Why should we have to learn to live with it when it’s not ready for prime time? Last I check, America is the land of freedom, and we do not have dictators.

Read: EV Driver Realizes How “Brutal” Road Trips Can Be »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Global Warming | 27 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach April 16, 2023 – 1:00 pm

…is a high area that might be safe from sea rise, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is A View From The Beach, with a post on Biden returning then going on vacation.

It’s fun loving ladies week.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 8 Comments | Trackback URL

Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

By William Teach April 16, 2023 – 9:21 am

Patriotic Pinup Bill Randall

Happy Sunday. Another gorgeous day in the Once And Future Nation of America. The Sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the NHL Playoffs start this week. This pinup is by Bill Randall, with a wee bit of help.

What is happening in Ye Olde Blogosphere? The Fine 15

  1. Blazing Cat Fur has 30 years of global warming prophecies
  2. Climate Depot discusses the folly of heat pumps
  3. Cold Fury covers the Trannysaurus Rex
  4. Da Techguy’s Blog wonders about the difference between the leaker and material in Joe’s garage
  5. Geller Report notes where Palestinian jihad leaders go when they need good medical treatment
  6. IOTW Report covers NYC getting a rat czar
  7. Legal Insurrection highlights abortionistas upset over the politeness of pro-lifers
  8. Moonbattery discusses sexual deviancy doublethink
  9. neo-neocon covers the arrest of leaker Jack Texiera
  10. Outside The Beltway wonders why Texiera had access to the information
  11. Pacific Pundit notes a tranny build-a-bear
  12. Powerline dives deep into the closing of four Walmarts in Chicago
  13. Sultan Knish notes the Biden regime is back to pushing “Islamophobia”
  14. Gateway Pundit discusses Marjorie Taylor-Greene defending the leaker
  15. And last, but, not least, The Right Scoop highlights a Lincoln Project lunatic going on a racist rant against Tim Scott

As always, the full set of pinups can be seen in the Patriotic Pinup category, or over at my Gallery page (nope, that’s gone, the newest Apache killed access, and the program hasn’t been upgraded since 2014). While we are on pinups, since it is that time of year, have you gotten your Pinups for Vets calendar yet? And don’t forget to check out what I declare to be our War on Women Rule 5 and linky luv posts and things that interest me. I’ve also mostly alphabetized them, makes it easier scrolling the feedreader

Don’t forget to check out all the other great material all the linked blogs have!

Anyone else have a link or hotty-fest going on? Let me know so I can add you to the list. And do you have a favorite blog you can recommend be added to the feedreader?

Two great sites for getting news links are Liberty Daily and Whatafinger.

Read: Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup »

Posted in Patriotic Pinup | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

Americans Pull Bank On Spending As Non-Existent Inflation Takes A Toll

By William Teach April 16, 2023 – 7:00 am

Americans have been pulling back on spending off and on since the pandemic started. And, in fairness, inflation is hitting many nations. Some are doing better, some are doing worse, for a variety of reasons. That said, we are worried about the U.S.A., and the president, his advisors, and the Democratic Party are not only ignoring the pain, they are keeping it going in an attempt to institute more government dominance, making people more reliant on the government. Also, to change your behavior. They won’t change theirs, just yours. And, in many cases, Biden and his Comrades are making inflation and pricing worse. I won’t blame Biden for inflation, that’s China’s fault. It’s the response that is the issue

Here’s where Americans are pulling back their spending as inflation takes a toll

Retail sales in the U.S. fell 1 percent from February to March, according to Census Bureau data released Friday, a sharp drop signaling that the economy is slowing faster than expected.

Analysts had predicted retail sales would fall 0.4 percent. Sales figures were down despite consumer prices rising 5 percent annually in March, indicating that sales volumes are seeing even steeper declines.

Spending is up just 2.9 percent compared to last year. But adjusted for inflation, retail sales are down 2 percent annually, according to EY-Parthenon senior economist Lydia Boussour.

“In other words, consumers are spending more dollars but are getting less goods or dining out less than in March last year,” Boussour said in an analysis.

Consumers are increasingly pulling back their spending following years of consistent price hikes and elevated borrowing costs brought on by the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes.

And what are some of the biggest things they are cutting back on? Well, fuel has an average national price of $3.668. Sure, that’s down from the high, but, it was $2.39 on Trump’s last day. It’s been high since the big spike last year, and had been trending up, with Biden doing more to harm prices that help. People have gotten used to high gas prices, so, are doing less travel.

Sales at general merchandise stores, which sell a broad range of items, fell 3 percent last month.

The report indicates a pullback in spending on pricier products. Sales of electronics and appliances plummeted 2.1 percent in March and 10.3 percent on the year. Furniture store sales fell 1.2 percent last month and declined 2.4 percent on the year.

Clothing store sales fell 1.7 percent in March. The industry had been propped up by luxury sales, but luxury clothing giant LVMH warned this week that U.S. demand is starting to soften after years of big spending.

Online sales are surging, because people are, for one thing, opting out of driving and ordering more online.

Of course, how much of the already high prices are being factored in? If prices fall 3%, but, they were already up 20%, does it matter? The roast beef lunch meat I used to buy at Lidl was about $6 before inflation. Now it’s almost $11. Microwave meals are up about 30%, cans of soup are up about 50 cents to a dollar. Ice cream is up about 30%. So many of the products I buy, or used to buy, are way up. So, I buy many less often.

Yet, the idiots will still support Biden and his Comrades.

Read: Americans Pull Bank On Spending As Non-Existent Inflation Takes A Toll »

Posted in Democrats, Economy, Joe Biden | 10 Comments | Trackback URL

CNN: ‘Climate Change’ Is Making Disaster Recovery Worse For People Of Color Or Something

By William Teach April 15, 2023 – 3:00 pm

No one should be surprised by CNN making this all about raaaaacism, are they? They shouldn’t, as this is not about science, but, implementing more and bigger government

Racial disparities are working against disaster recovery for people of color. Climate change could make it worse

People of color in the US face heightened risks of harm from climate-induced disasters. Now, non-profits are pushing to remedy that disparity with more equitable approaches to disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

“Until we really address the root issues of climate injustice, we’re going to continue to see a disproportionate impact as it relates to disasters in Black and historically excluded communities,” said Abre’ Conner, Director of Environmental and Climate Justice for the NAACP.

In other words, grifting

A report by the EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs looked at four vulnerable social groups: people living on low-income, racial minorities, those with no high school diploma, and seniors over age 65. Of those four groups, the study found minorities are most likely to live in areas projected to be impacted by climate change.

Moreover, Black people are 40% more likely than non-African-Americans to live in areas with the highest projected increases in mortality rates due to changes in extreme temperatures.

It’s a dire warning for the future, based on an inequitable past.

They received the exact outcome they wanted from the study.

Many marginalized people, Black in particular, have faced socioeconomic factors that relegate them to living in environmentally hazardous areas or substandard housing structures. So, when a natural disaster hits, they are ill-equipped to withstand the impact.

Well, why could that be? It’s not like Democrats attempt to stick blacks in slum areas, promising to take care of the blacks, making them reliant on government. Slum areas that have poverty, crime, pollution, and, are far away from the white Democrat voters. Look at Hurricane Katrina: a goodly chunk of the blacks in New Orleans government plantations did nothing but wait for the government to help them as the hurricane approached.

That was the situation this past March 24 when a severe tornado leveled much of the Black-majority rural town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, killing 26 people. Racial disparities existed in Rolling Fork for decades. Many residents there were poor, had low access to information or internet service, were priced out of insurance coverage, and lived in mobile homes that weren’t retrofitted to withstand severe weather conditions. With the nearest tornado shelter over 15 miles away, it set the perfect storm to leave people displaced and scrambling for aid and assistance, which was very slow to arrive.

So, the government didn’t really care? Isn’t FEMA run by Democrat Joe Biden?

It’s a long piece chock full of exactly the type of race baiting you’d expect from CNN, linking it all to the climate crisis scam.

Read: CNN: ‘Climate Change’ Is Making Disaster Recovery Worse For People Of Color Or Something »

Posted in AGW Socialism, Global Warming | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach April 15, 2023 – 1:00 pm

…are wonderful low carbon sailing ships, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Watts Up With That?, with a post on global warming causing more strikeouts.

Doubleshot below the fold, check out 357 Magnum, with a post wondering how that bail reform is working out in Chicago.

Read More »

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 8 Comments | Trackback URL

UK Telegraph: You Know, We Don’t Really Need Biden

By William Teach April 15, 2023 – 10:30 am

Remember when we were told that dumping Trump and selecting Biden would bring honor and respect back to the U.S. from the international stage? How’s that working out?

Biden has greatly diminished America’s role in the world – Britain doesn’t need him

There is no need to fear Joe Biden hating Britain because nobody really cares about the US presidency any more. It’s an uncomfortable truth to face but the commander-in-chief has become an international laughing stock, diminishing the status of the White House on the world stage.

If it wasn’t bad enough that he has spent the past four days mumbling and bumbling through a completely self-serving tour of Ireland, under Sleepy Joe’s watch a new world order appears to be busily capitalising on his ineptitude.

We have now got Saudi Arabia striking deals with the Iranians and Chinese, while Emmanuel Macron, the French president, continues to chase humiliatingly after Xi Jinping’s tails.

Meanwhile, Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, was in Beijing on Friday calling on developing countries to work towards replacing the US dollar with their own currencies in international trade – a move that would only strengthen China’s quest for dominance over all global commerce. Many African nations now appear to be in hock to the Chinese communist state, which responded to Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen’s 10-day trip to Central America by encircling the island with military planes and ships.

While all this has been going on, reports have emerged of Russian attempts to forge closer ties with the United Arab Emirates. Many of these countries had backed President Trump – and would probably revert to backing any US president that wasn’t a demented fool.

OK, perhaps just one man’s thoughts at a British paper, but, remember the bit about the Biden regime having virtually no foreign diplomacy? That came from the NY Times. What, exactly, was Biden doing in Ireland? It was more like a vacation with a few Bidenisms

Unsurprisingly, Biden flew straight to his Delaware beach house as he came back from Ireland.

Read: UK Telegraph: You Know, We Don’t Really Need Biden »

Posted in Joe Biden | 8 Comments | Trackback URL

Mars CEO Decides To Join The Cult Of Climastrology

By William Teach April 15, 2023 – 7:15 am

Hey, look, another stock that will tank as sales plummet. It’s not even that good of chocolate

Mars CEO sees ‘moral’ duty in tackling climate change

The new chief executive of Mars, maker of M&M’s sweets, chewing gum and pet food, says companies have a “moral” duty to reduce their environmental footprint as the world battles climate change.

Poul Weihrauch, a Dane who took the reins of the US-based group in September, acknowledges that the food industry has a big impact on the environment, with its plastic wrappers and its contribution to deforestation and carbon emissions.

Big companies have a “massive opportunity” to have an impact against climate change, Weihrauch told AFP.

“It’s an important area of development for Mars to be known for changing the curve and not only talk about it,” he said in an interview in Paris.

The family-owned multinational, whose brands include the Mars and Snickers chocolate bars, Pedigree pet food and Wrigley’s chewing gum, aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

If it’s such a moral duty, then why wait till 2050? Why not do it right now, Poul? You can start by reducing your own personal carbon footprint, no more fossil fueled flights or vehicles. Put up a ton of solar panels and wind turbines to power the factories. Ship the materials via sailing ships. Move the finished products by electric trucks. But, we all know that it’s a scam, hence the 2050 date. They’ll trot out some plans and pledges, but, never really do anything but purchase some carbon credits, and pass on the cost to the consumer.

Read: Mars CEO Decides To Join The Cult Of Climastrology »

Posted in Climate Cult, Global Warming | 9 Comments | Trackback URL

Anheuser-Busch CEO Realizes They Really Messed Up, Issues Statement Which Pleased No One

By William Teach April 15, 2023 – 7:00 am

Brendan Whitworth must have taken a look at the plummeting stock, and, more importantly, the plummeting sales, and decided to do a little damage control

Anheuser-Busch CEO Issues Statement After Dylan Mulvaney Beer Can Scandal: ‘We Never Intended to Be Part of a Discussion that Divides People’

Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth issued a mea culpa Friday in the wake of the company’s partnership with Dylan Mulvaney, a former gay man who now claims to be a woman.

The move sparked backlash across the nation as the company became the latest to focus on woke social issues — namely, the radical left’s attempts to promote woke gender ideology into society by injecting it into schools and placing it on the forefront of favorite brands in corporate America. According to reports, Anheuser-Busch lost more than $6 billion in market value following its promotional campaign with the transgender TikTok star as tensions rose and boycotts ensued.

On Friday, Whitworth issued a statement, contending that the company “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.”

The full statement

As the CEO of a company founded in America’s heartland more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew.

We’re honored to be part of the fabric of this country. Anheuser-Busch employs more than 18,000 people and our independent distributors employ an additional 47,000 valued colleagues. We have thousands of partners, millions of fans and a proud history supporting our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere.

We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.

My time serving this country taught me the importance of accountability and the values upon which America was founded: freedom, hard work and respect for one another. As CEO of Anheuser-Busch, I am focused on building and protecting our remarkable history and heritage.

I care deeply about this country, this company, our brands and our partners. I spend much of my time traveling across America, listening to and learning from our customers, distributors and others.

Moving forward, I will continue to work tirelessly to bring great beers to consumers across our nation.

Pretty much a wishy washy statement, taking barely any responsibility, not apologizing for the idiots in their marketing division, like

The statement comes weeks after a March 23 podcast interview with the vice president of marketing at Bud Light, Alissa Heinerscheid. During her appearance on the Make Yourself at Home podcast, the marketing executive criticized the brand’s image prior to her position at the company, describing her desire to “shift the tone” and make it “truly inclusive … lighter and brighter and different and [appealing] to women and to men.”

Maybe promote her to customer, along with the other fools who decided to play politics and Woke? I doubt this will move the needle. Conservatives and women who were outrage over the fake women thing won’t be placated by the statement, and lunatic lefties do not drink AB products to start with, unless they are seltzer crap.

Read: Anheuser-Busch CEO Realizes They Really Messed Up, Issues Statement Which Pleased No One »

Posted in Barking Moonbats | 19 Comments | Trackback URL

Judge Blocks Brandon’s Waters of The US Rule

By William Teach April 14, 2023 – 5:04 pm

At least temporarily

U.S. judge blocks Biden clean water rule in 24 states

A federal judge in North Dakota on Wednesday temporarily blocked implementation of a Biden administration rule establishing protections for seasonal streams and wetlands in 24 states, according to court documents.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Hovland granted the states’ request for a preliminary injunction prohibiting enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the United States rule, which was finalized in December.

In the order, Hovland said the states would “expend unrecoverable resources complying with a rule unlikely to withstand judicial scrutiny.”

The rule protects waterways that have a “significant nexus” to navigable U.S. waters – a standard that ranchers, developers and other industry groups have said is overly broad and creates burdensome permitting and regulatory hurdles.

West Virginia and 23 other Republican-led states sued the EPA and other federal agencies in February, alleging the rule violates the U.S. Constitution and sows confusion for landowners.

Basically, as I’ve noted before, this rule would give the federal government unbelievable power over the private property of citizens. I actually have a great idea: let’s implement the rule in the Blue states that are not opposing the rule, see how that goes. See if they enjoy it. They would have no problem with Los Federales telling them what they can and cannot do with their properties because of a season stream, a stream that only appears when it rains, or a little pond out back, right? Having to go through the federal permitting process if they want to do anything, get an EPA statement, and so forth, right?

Meanwhile, Brandon took a long, fossil fueled flight, with backup jets, fighter jets for escorts, and a large fossil fueled motorcade, to say in front of the Irish parliament

Read: Judge Blocks Brandon’s Waters of The US Rule »

Posted in Collapsing Science, Global Warming, Joe Biden | 3 Comments | Trackback URL
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