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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Snowshoe who wrote (250427)	5/18/2008 6:40:44 AM
From: Tom Clarke	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 793955

GOP's New Slogan Already Being Used To Market Anti-Depressant May 12, 2008 03:41 PM Leave it to the tone deaf GOP to find a way of attaching themselves to this election cycle's "change" mandate that simultaneously reinforces the fact that their failed policies have messed up the world to such an inhuman extent that many Americans now live their daily lives in a state of free-floating panic and paralyzing anxiety. In today's New York Times' Caucus blog, Carl Hulse reports that House Republicans have got themselves a brand-new slogan: It looks like Republicans will counter the Democratic push for change from the years of the Bush administration with their own pledge to deliver, drum roll please, "the change you deserve." The first element of the party agenda developed over the past few months by the leadership and select party members will focus on family issues. "Through our "Change You Deserve" message and through our "American Families Agenda," House Republicans will continue our efforts to speak directly to an American public looking for leaders who will offer real solutions for the challenges they confront every day," said the memo prepared for lawmakers. What the GOP doesn't seem to realize, because they are idiots, is that "the change you deserve" is the registered advertising slogan of Effexor XR, a drug that many of you might have started taking as a result of all the...you know -- terrorism. (Hat tip to Bluestem for catching this gem.) Effexor, also known as Venlafaxine, is approved for the treatment "of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder in adults." Its common side effects are very much in keeping with the world the House Republicans have striven to build: nausea, apathy, constipation, fatigue, vertigo, sexual dysfunction, sweating, memory loss, and - and I swear I am not making this up - "electric shock-like sensations also called 'brain zaps.'" Its less common side effects are equally awesome in their appropriateness. And when the Food And Drug Administration reviewed the ad copy that included the tagline, "The change you deserve," it took issue with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures Effexor, saying that the company made "unsubstantiated superiority claims." Sounds like the GOP have picked an ironically accurate tagline for their efforts! huffingtonpost.com

To: Snowshoe who wrote (250427)	5/18/2008 7:02:43 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 793955

I bet this Chinese "peasant truck" gets at least 80 mpg. I don't get 80 with my Moped, and it's a lot lighter and smaller than the Chinese truck. Of course, it has to carry 250lb me. :>)

To: Snowshoe who wrote (250427)	5/18/2008 1:29:35 PM
From: mistermj	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793955

Chevy Volt hits the road, runs 40 miles on battery power Posted May 15 2008 10:41 AM by Andrew Strieber Category: According to Lutz, General Motors GM CEO Rick Wagoner recently declared that despite several setbacks, thanks to an infusion of cash the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt was still set to hit dealerships in 2010. Further proving that development is on schedule, company vice-chairman Bob Lutz has now announced that a functioning Volt mule with full lithium-ion battery pack is finally departing the testing lab to hit the track. Lutz confirmed that the Volt hybrid system has performed up to expectations, declaring "I can almost say the battery is the least of our problems." In tests the battery pack is successfully powering the car for up to 40 miles without help from the internal combustion engine, even under varying thermal conditions. Lutz additionally expressed confidence in Wagoner's earlier 2010 prediction, saying that "unless we encounter some completely unforeseen obstacle" a launch date in November of that year -- just 30 months from now -- is looking good. So what challenges still lie ahead for the Volt? One issue left to resolve is refining the complex hybrid system's software -- Lutz explains that among other things engineers are working to determine how exactly the gasoline engine should kick in, and when. Motor Trend technical editor Frank Marcus recently toured the Volt's development facility, and it's clear GM has made a major commitment to getting the highly-anticipated car ready on time. When the Volt finally does reach dealers in November of 2010, don't be surprised if at first it's sold at lower volumes and for a higher price than originally expected. Then again, considering that just a few months ago it looked like the project would miss its production deadline by months or even years, the fact that GM is on track to put one of the first Extended-Range Electric Vehicles on the road is a pretty impressive achievement. Source: Gm-Volt.com