Tag Archives | Diesel Trucks

?Heavy Duty Pickup Truck Battle Deepens

Most consumers in the market for a pickup truck have no need for the heavy duty variety, the type of truck offering a turbo-diesel engine and, in some cases, dual rear wheels. However, construction crews and sport enthusiasts who bring six men to a job site or who regularly pull a large boat or camper can benefit from these larger and heavier trucks.

Raw Power

Turbo-diesels offer owners optimum levels of horsepower and torque, making it easier to haul heavy loads while providing decent fuel economy. All three American pickup truck manufacturers offer them: General Motors sells the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra HD, Ford offers the Ford Super Duty and Chrysler has the (Dodge) Ram 3500. Each truck line is diesel-powered, with Ford and GM building its diesels in-house. Dodge procures its engine from Cummins, Inc., the Columbus, Ind. engine and power generator builder.

The Ford and GM diesel engines are V-8s while the Ram features an inline-six. Ram is not a disadvantage as that engine is a smaller version of powerful Cummins engines used in construction grade equipment. The displacement for all three engines is about the same, with Ford and Ram at 6.7-liters and GM at 6.6-liters.

Diesel Battle

A battle for customers began to heat up in the second half of 2010 when Ford announced that the company had tweaked its Power Stroke engine to produce more horsepower and torque via a software upgrade. Suddenly, the Ford engine replaced GM’s engine as the most powerful engine on the market. Ford’s diesel is now rated at 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque, edging out Chevrolet and GMC as its engine is rated at 397 horsepower and 765 lb.-ft. of torque.

The Ram series offers 350 horsepower and 610 lb.-ft. of torque and, on the surface, seems to be operating a significant disadvantage to its chief rivals. However, that disadvantage fades with the introduction of a high output version of its Cummins diesel, an engine option available as of the second quarter of 2011.

Torque Leaders

When equipped with the high output turbo-diesel and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the torque rating on the Ram truck jumps to 800, the same rating offered by Ford. Horsepower remains the same with the high output engine, however the new engine calibration provides an extra 40 horsepower when cruising down the highway. That’s advantageous for the driver who is pulling a big load and needs to maintain enough power always.

Ram has two other advantages over its competitors. Maximum towing capacity is a whopping 22,700 pounds, the highest in the segment and the gross combined weight rating is 30,000 pounds. It is also the only heavy duty diesel pickup truck that does not require diesel exhaust fluid, a convenience likely to be appreciated by drivers.

Expanded Battle?

Will GM attempt to match Ford and Ram or will it be content with following the pack leaders? Likely, we’ll see this battle expand, perhaps to eventually include the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan, neither of which offer diesel options with their top of the line pickup trucks.

?Hazmat Protection is Vital to the USA

According to OSHA, Safety Lockout tagout products should be in place today and I have some ideas in this article that could point you in the right direction. What you need first is a way to disable equipment in a wide variety of ways from potential terrorist attacks. Next, find a way to mount these Anti-theft products permanent to the equipment so there is no put it on take it off as with other anti-theft devices.

In addition, all should be very hard to defeat so the thief will most likely give up and leave the scene as to not get caught. That’s the plan, right? Ok then, keep reading and check out the end of this article so your company can find a way to comply.

According to the Homeland Security Act, protection of key volatile assets are each trucking company and construction equipment company own responsibility. Our risk of a terrorist attack inside the USA is always on high alert ever since 911 happen. What needs to be done is for your company to find a way that could save untold lives if some terrorist ever did try to steal a hazmat or food supply semi-truck load of products and blow it up inside a populated area.

Major problems exist within different industries for hazmat load protection and its very real. They are inside the trucking, farming, construction equipment, Railroad, RV, automotive or river barge business.

Think what would happen if a would be terrorist go control of a river barge loaded with any one of several different hazmat loads being propane, diesel, gas, chemicals, etc. It would be a disaster in the making. However, with the proper precautions, it could be prevented totally and that’s my goal here with this article.

Several key products exist that can combat this terrorist threat and I will tell you how they work here.

One is a manual air shut down system designed to lock up maxie-brakes on a variety of different equipment. A pad lock keeps the maxie brakes in the off position at all times. Some examples are for uses are: Semi-trucks; semi-trailers, all air brake systems on construction equipment that have spring loaded maxie-brakes; swing air system on a track hoe; air brake systems on farm equipment with maxie-brakes, etc.

Another is a manual fuel shut down system. It can be used on anything with a motor gas or diesel. Excellent for semi trucks, stand alone semi-trailers, construction equipment, towmotors, smaller trucks, motorcycles, boats, RV’s, etc. This one also takes a pad-lock to lock up your equipment and keeps it open or closed at all times.

Another is an electronic key for a high-tech fuel shut down system. No pad lock required here. This is the best Coded Entry Anti-theft device on the market today for the big and small engines alike and will also work on anything with a diesel motor. The main device stays hidden somewhere in the engine compartment while the coded keypad is placed near the operator for ease of use. Can be pre-set to your own personal code plus offers anti-tamper proof properties. This product is a very effective Anti-theft and Anti-terrorist attack device. It is designed for construction equipment, Semi-trucks, Yachts, Farm Equipment, RR equipment and high end Auto’s. Simply type in a security code on a key pad and the fuel system is disabled. Affordable, effective, high in quality and reliable.

Another is a master disconnect switch hidden inside a lockable box. This one disables the starting motor. Housed on the outside is a shackle less lock so it can not be defeated. This one has smaller battery cable holes for smaller types of equipment like bobcats, farm tractors, towmotors, etc. It is a Lockout/tagout and a Anti-theft device.

Another is a multi-person Lockout/Tagout device with larger battery cable holes designed for larger equipment such as semi-trucks, Motor Coaches, Larger Construction Equipment, Yachts, Larger Farm Equipment. It also comes with the shackle less lock and also doubles as an Anti-theft device. It has Lockout/tagout stamped on the housing and will shut down anything with an electric starting motor. This one comes with a unique shackel-less lock that has many other uses as well.

Another is a heavy duty key box. It’s ThiefsNightmare most affordable Lockout/tagout device that will get you legal with the OSHA Standards now on the books. This product can also get all your trucks, farm equipment, construction equipment, ect. no matter how many thousands of pieces of trucks or equipment you have down to one “”key”” when all keyed alike locks or re-settable combination locks are used on the outside of this keybox. After so much equipment, keys can become a nightmare. This product key box solves that problem so you can use that “”key room”” for something else.

All these products are very high quality and standardized for ease of use by all industries and language so they can be used world wide.

Another idea is a Pental eye-hook locking device. It is designed for tag utility trailers, air compressor trailers, welding trailers or any type of farm trailer with a Pental style hitch system. Simple, but the TN-5 is an effective product to prevent theft of your trailer and whatever is on it from anyone with a pickup truck. Get yours today.

To find out more about these ThiefsNightmare products with pictures and more complete detailed descriptions to see what they can do for your company, please visit the web site at the end of this article.

My goal here is to help secure American.

Loss Prevention:

You probably didn’t realize that just plain theft of non-recovered equipment in 1987 was $154 Million. Today theft is much worse being over ONE BILLION DOLLARS per year just here in the USA for just the trucking industry alone. Now it’s a Quiet Epidemic! Theft is as high as one million per day in one six county area and getting worse in many areas.

Are you self-insured? If you are, by placing effective and affordable anti-theft products on your equipment will automatically INCREASE YOUR PROFITS by preventing theft that is as predictable as the Sun rising tomorrow.

Afraid your drivers or operators will not use the Anti-theft device? Add this statement into your lease agreement or drivers application? “”All equipment must be locked up when unattended with the Thief’s Nightmare device or said Driver or Operator may face IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL.”” It may sound cold, but it works.

Think your covered because you’ve an expensive GPS tracking system installed already on your trucks? WRONG! By cutting one small wire, any thief or terrorist can and will disable your very noticeable expensive GPS system in about two seconds.

Thats all for now,

?A Resurgence of the Chevy S10 4 Cyl

The Chevy s10 4 cyl may be making a resurgence, and for much the same reason that its big brother was produced in 1972. It was that year that Chevy introduced the Chevy LUV compact pickup truck. It was to be the predecessor to the Chevy s10 4 cyl vehicle that had a production run from 1982-2004. Below I will be giving a brief history of the Chevy s10 and how it developed through its lifetime.

The first compact pickup truck from General Motors was the retagged Isuzu KB distributed since 1972 as the Chevrolet LUV. The 1973 Arab oil embargo coerced GM to look at planning a domestically-produced compact pickup truck. Since common, components of early GM chassis lines (chiefly by the GM G-body intermediates) were integrated. The 1st S-series trucks were brought in in 1982. The Chevrolet and GMC models were identical apart from the grille. An extended cab and Insta-Trac four wheel drive were added the following yr by 2 fresh engines.

The sport utility S-10 Blazer and S-15 Jimmy debuted in 1983; GM was the 2nd to bring out compact sport utilities trailing Jeep but before Ford. This course came about again where 4-door editions were brought out in March 1990 as 1991 Model beside the standardized Oldsmobile Bravada.

The big news for 1985 was the discontinuing of the Cavalier’s OHV I4 in favor of Pontiac’s Iron Duke. The OHV-derived 2.2 L engine and Isuzu 1.9 L were both departed the following yr, leaving alone only the Iron Duke and updated 2.8L V6. A much-welcomed 4.3 L V6 was appended for 1988, and anti-lock brake system arrived the following year.

The GMC S-15 converted to the the GMC Sonoma in 1991, and the Sierra trim packages are dismissed to aver at mix-up with the fresh GMC Sierra full-size pickup. The GMC Syclone also appeared that year. The Sonoma GT bowed in 1992. Added to this was the 4.3L V6 Vortec W code engine. This generation’s final yr, 1993.

The second-generation trucks came along in 1994. All of the limited models (the Syclone, Typhoon, and Sonoma GT) were deceased, but the alterations to the truck bestowed it in line with arch-rival Ford Ranger. The Iron Duke and 2.8 L 60° V6 engines were cast off, allowing just the 4.3 L Vortec and a new 2.2 L engine, itself a derivative of the old Cavalier OHV.

Much of the chassis constituents comprised the equivalent as the 1st generation (the A-frames between the 1st and 2d generation comprised the same altho they were comprised in the beginning sourced from GM’s G-body vehicle lineup), by with the steering knuckle, leaf springs, and differential assembly. The second generation also offered an optional 8.5″” rear differential (they were common with 4WD S-series with the ZR2 off road package, and 2000-03 2WDs including the Xtreme).

Broadly speaking, since the wheel 2WD trucks, the 8.5 rearend was entirely applied once it went with both a manual transmission V6 engine it was standard for 4WD trucks with either transmission. This was also the year that GM introduced the ZR2 Offroad Package.

The 4.3 L engines were brushed up for 1996 and a 3rd (back) doorway was contributed for the extended cab models. The exterior, interior, brakes, and 2.2 L engine were invigorated for 1998,an Auto-Tracall-wheel drive was elective starting in 1999 for the Blazers. As well the SS package was substituted from the “”Xtreme”” sports model package (which endured until 2004). In 2001 a Crew Cab option was supplied and was usable in 4WD and transmissionon automatic transmission entirely.

Standard 2WD models accompanied 15×7 in wheels with directional vents, and ZQ8 models accompanied 16×8″” wheels as 4WD models (including the ) applied 15×7″” wheels. The 14-inch (360) wheels applied on the first generation was stopped.

Second-generation S-series were in addition to brought about locally in and are still in production even tho’ the North American edition of the S-series was ceased in 2004. Brazilian S-10s accept a different front grille, lamps and bumper, and are usable with a 2.8 Diesel engine assembled along MWM.

Even though the Chevy s10 4 cyl has been discontinued, there are still many great deals to be found on this vehicle.

?H2O Vehicle Conversion Kit

An H2O vehicle conversion kit has become essential for any household on a tight budget. Fuel prices are no longer a joke. If you have the money to pay $4 for a gallon of fuel, or £1 for a litre of petrol, fine. Most of us have to look at alternatives to a standard petrol powered engine. Things may change very soon, but at the moment the best option is an H2O vehicle conversion kit.

To convert a car to water is easier than most people think. It only requires a water cell which is added on to the existing engine thus creating a hybrid car. It can be applied to both diesel and gasoline engines. The result is a significant reduction in the use of gas fuel. The results can produce a reduction of 50% on the costs of running a standard car and even more for trucks.

When an H2O vehicle conversion kit is inserted, you start saving money from day one. It attaches to the engine in a very simple way and can be removed at any time. More than 100 people each and every day are installing an H2O car conversion kit. Things have gotten out of hand with rocketing gas prices. People aren’t as stupid as oil companies and car manufacturers think.

Costs of an H2O Conversion Kit

A guide to convert your vehicle costs less than $70. The price of materials is under $130. Hand the guide to your mechanic and he should be able to fit all for less than $200. Using a mechanic, that’s just $400. Expect to start slashing 50% off your monthly gas expenditure. I’ll let you do the math. Most folks have repaid their initial investment within 6 months and are saving big time from there on in.

With the cost of a gallon of gas creeping, or should that be sprinting, towards the $4 mark, a swathe of commuters is taking to using buses or trains. With a 9% rise in mass transit ridership on the same time last year, public transport is already becoming overcrowded. It reflects many people’s concerns over the cost of running a car. Of course, no such option exists for truckers and those living in remote or rural areas.

There are already rumblings of discontent amongst hauliers across the USA. Recently several thousand truckers in the UK descended on London to protest against the soaring price of diesel. They are demanding tax rebates from the government. The picture is even worse in France where duty is far less on fuel then in the UK. There, both fishing vessels and lorries have blockaded ports to make their voice heard.

Unfortunately HHO technology is still little known about and not really reported much in the media or press. Yet the only really viable solution to the fuel crisis currently is an H2O vehicle conversion kit.

?Hand Held Diesel Programmers

There are many types of hand held diesel programmers out there, the ones we are going to talk about today are the Diablosport predator tuner, the Hypertech power programmer, and the Bullydog Triple Dog. These all have similar functions and power increases and a few unique features to each.

The first one that we are going to talk about today is the BullyDog Triple Dog. One of the unique features of the Triple Dog is that it will work on any of the newer Ford, Dodge or Chevy diesel trucks. So it can be pulled off of a Ford Powerstroke and put directly onto a Chevy Duramax or Dodge Cummins. That is a very nice feature, because you can sell your truck and buy a new one even from a different company and not have to purchase another performance programmer. Also there is a free extreme program available to Triple Dog owners from Bullydog’s website. On some trucks the extreme program adds up to 230 extra horse power.

The second one we will talk about is the Diablosport Predator. This hand held programmer comes with three built in tunes for economy, economy while towing, and all out performance. This unit loads its program into the truck via the trucks diagnostic port. The Diablosport Predator also offers the ability to check and clear trouble codes as well as calibrate the speedometer for larger tires. Diablosport has a predator tuner for most new vehicles both diesel and gas. The Diablosport Predator also comes with a screen about three times larger than the competitions.

The Hypertech power programmer also comes with three programs built in and a programmer for the diesel trucks and most gas vehicles. It also has the ability to adjust the speedometer for larger tires and can check and clear trouble codes, which can save a trip to the mechanics which is worth its weight in gold at times.

?Grand and Gorgeous GMC Truck is Waiting For You

GMC is the company which is having larger share in the innovations of trucking industries and the upliftment of quality of the trucks is boosted highly by the Company as there are huge numbers of models that have strucked the market and also the competitors. The specialty of these trucks is that their exterior is made with rich materials and also they are having exclusive interiors to please the insiders.

This model of 2006 GMC 3500 SLE is one of the richest types of 4×4 Pick up trucks for sale and also can be considered as the most luxurious used 4×4 trucks for sale. This truck is having so many varieties of features like automatic transmission, Aluminium wheels that give he impact to the exteriors and also the turbo diesel engine which is quite in demand these days due to economical issue in the mileage part.

The richness of this Pick up truck can be measured by the fact that the entire bed and flooring of the Truck is covered by rubber!! So, the flooring sounds quite clear and crispy inspiring any one to have longer rest inside this used 4×4 online truck!! Also the bed liners are made perfect by spray in the liners, this is quite necessary to fill gaps as otherwise the gaps can make the gesture of the truck deteriorated. More over the truck is available with the North Carolina dealers who are considered to be the most reliable dealers. The documents of these online used 4×4 trucks are clear and so is the title.

?A Mercedes in a Dodge Body?

While Chevy and Ford have been out trying to improve the comfort and ride of their “”heavy duty”” line up, Dodge did something different — they turned to the master of comfort in Mercedes. In fact, Dodge, once owned by Mercedes, took not just a lesson in amenities, but also used the trademark Mercedes unibody construction to improve the handling and maneuverability of their beefy trucks. And this couldn’t have come at a better time, as soon after Dodge trucks exploded on the market with the new rounded grill and the sought after Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, they were sharply criticized for the unreliable transmission. Seems that Dodge built an engine so mighty that their transmission couldn’t keep up.

So what did they do? They used Mercedes innovative RFE transmission, complete with the antifreeze bladder to not just perform every bit as well as their Cummins engine, but also to reduce the engine noise vibration and harshness. But the innovative Dodge team didn’t stop there. The list of Mercedes features they added were impressive, from the high intensity discharge lights, soft touch interior, and LED lighting to the rain-brake support, they left the customer wanting nothing.

And to be sure, Dodge trucks have consistently outperformed their counterparts in the torque and power categories, but now any deficiencies in comfort, or safety — two Mercedes hallmarks — are a thing of the past. Now, with Dodge’s new designs, fans can have the best of both worlds, the best built trucks, and the most comfortable — all at an affordable price. No longer will those who need the power of a truck have to succumb to the often harsh ride, deplorable gas mileage, or hefty price tag. Dodge, or more accurately, now Ram –the two brands split in 2010 –has solved all of that for the customer, and once again, left no stone unturned. And along with the brand division, Ram will be rolling out a sweet new line up.

Maximizing efficiency and power, the new Ram is highlighted by the high output Cummins engine, built to pull a might 20,000 pounds. But customers need not worry, this hefty model is fully loaded with soft touch interior, LED lighting, GPS, Bluetooth and navigation cameras. Meet the new Ram — a perfect blend of power and comfort. And with it’s counterparts struggling to make ends meet, Ram reports sales are up 13%.

?Isuzu’s i-Series Trucks for 2007

Isuzu is still in the pickup truck business, selling their version of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickup. Isuzu’s version is a likeable truck, though the model range is limited.

At the first glance, the Isuzu i-series is often perceived, not quite correctly, as a warmed-over General Motors product. While the i-series is more or less identical to the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, the fact is that Isuzu did have a hand in the truck’s development. The deal was that Chevy and GMC would have first shot at selling the truck in North America while Isuzu would sell a slightly different diesel-powered version called the D-MAX in the Asia-Pacific region, which have been very marketable.

Isuzu started selling the i280 and i350 in the US in 2006, though sales were a fraction of those of the Colorado and Canyon. Part of the problem was lack of choice. The i-series came in just two versions: The four-cylinder manual-transmission extended-cab 4×2 i280 and the five-cylinder automatic crew-cab 4×4 i350. Chevy and GMC continued to sell their versions of the truck with a wide variety of cabs, bed, engine, transmission, and driveline combinations.

For this year, things have improved slightly. The four-cylinder Isuzu now offers an automatic transmission, while the five-cylinder model comes in both extended and crew cabs as well as with a 4×2 driveline, though the 4×4 is only available as a crew cab. Both trucks also get larger engines and new names: i290 and i370, reflecting their 2.9 and 3.7 liter engines.

There is no carpet and an AM/FM radio in the driver’s seat, though air conditioning and 4-wheel antilock brakes are part of the standard parts. The truck accessories, which contain cloth seats, carpets, rear jump seats, CD/MP3 player, floor mats, and tinted windows are worth $699 all in all. The automatic transmission is at $1,089 and the bottom line is at $19,500. It contains manual door locks and crank-up windows.

The i290’s extended cab has rear-opening doors on both sides for easier access to the second row, where there is are two fold-up jump seats with 3-point belts and LATCH child seat anchors. Like most compact pickup back seats, these are best suited for kids. Once seat are pulled up, one will find a handy plastic tool box that also flips forwards to provide flat load floor.

This year, the i-series offers side curtain airbags, a rare truck accessory in pickup trucks. They are optional on LS-model extended-cab Isuzus and standard equipment on the i370 with crew cab.

By far the high point of the i290 is its engine. At 2.9 liters, it is huge for a four-cylinder engine, and it shows in the numbers: 185 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque, the latter peaking at a usefully low 2800 RPM. Those numbers represent an increase of 10 hp and 5 lb-ft over last year’s 2.8 liter engine.

It would be easy to mistake the i290’s off-the-line performance for that of a six-cylinder truck. The truck loses some of its get-up-and-go at highway speeds, though passing acceleration (50 to 75 MPH) is adequate. The four-banger has enough torque to spin the rear wheels, even under moderate acceleration.

The i290 has a payload capacity of just over 1500 lbs, whose towing capacity is 2,100 with the manual and 3,100 with the automatic, more than enough to haul a small boat, a couple of ATVs, or a utility trailer. Its bed width is 4′ 9″”; bed length is 5′ for the crew cab and 6′ for the extended cab. Movable support cables allow the tailgate to be held half-way open and bear weight in this position.

The i290’s steering is light, good but not sporty. The ride is remarkably quiet at highway speeds. As mentioned earlier the i290 comes with standard antilock brakes but lacks advanced safety electronics such as electronic stability control, which is just starting to make their way into competitors’ products.

?Gottfried Helnwein – An Interview – On the Vandalism of the Installation

Ninth November Night” “In this interview with writer Michal Szyksznian, artist Gottfried Helnwein discusses the clash between artists and dictators, the mediocrity of society, and how he dealt with the attempted destruction of his installation “”Ninth November Night”” in Germany.

MS: In common notion, America is seen as the land of freedom. But at the same time it seems to enforce definite canons and models on the world, and put the hand of censorship on the unconventional expression of the individual. I know that you enjoy living in LA, because it gives you freedom. What kind of freedom does LA have to offer?

GH: LA is a strange place. A few blocks from my studio the streets are filled with thousands of homeless people, huddling on sidewalks or staggering through the streets — and from time to time some lost soul is gesticulating franticly and shouting at invisible enemies. I live and work in the so called “”artist district”” in downtown Los Angeles – an innocent little island with old warehouses and brick buildings that look like left-overs from a noir movie set, inhabited by artists, photographers, musicians, skinny girls with nice tattoos, freaks, and Japanese students from SCI-Arc (The Southern California Institute of Architecture) placed in the former Santa Fe Rail Road freight-depot, a concrete block one-quarter of a mile long.

The heart of the artist district is the “”Groundworks”” cafe in a red-painted building across the old, run-down “”American Hotel”” where Bukowski once wrote the screenplay for “”Barfly””. The air is heavily polluted from all these diesel trucks that blow their unfiltered exhaust gases through their erected chrome-pipes into the air of downtown. When I touch my paintings my hands gets black from the layers of black dust, that sets on everything all the time.

But that’s only one ride in the theme-park that is LA. There is also little Tokyo, Chinatown, Mexico, Russia, Armenia, Korea-town, etc. All together more than 140 different ethnic groups and 224 different languages. Here you can find any religion that people ever dreamed up – from the Church of Satan to the Chassidic Jews wearing huge fur hats and tight caftans, like their ancestors wore in Galicia 200 years ago, walking with their children on Shabbat under palm trees in the Californian sun.

In South Central, black kids loiter at street corners with a magnum in their waistband, controlling the drug-trade. And in the heavily gated communities of the rich, private police officers in smart, black uniforms protect all the precious miracles that plastic surgery is creating these days. And all these different people live here in some kind of peaceful anarchy. And of course there is that industry which has fabricated dreams for the whole world since 100 years: Hollywood.

LA is a city without a center, and it has no memory – there is no past and no future, only the here and now. It is like a raw wound that nobody cares to bandage. I never felt so free in my life. I think it’s a freedom that comes from the fact that nobody gives a shit.

MS: It seems that stereotypical thinking and censorship increase the will of crossing the boundaries. I think that these things are necessary for the artist to intensify his expression. What do you think?

GH: Most societies are ruled by mediocre people that have no vision and no imagination. Most rulers are scared of creation and creative people. Artists are funny people. All they want is to touch and move, challenge and surprise others. Dictators hate surprises more than anything else. All they want is to turn their territory into a neat little toy prison camp and play with their little toy people. Push them around, rip a leg or a head off now and then or throw them into the garbage when they are tired of their stupid, little doll faces.

And it’s actually not very hard to convince humans that it is the smartest and safest for them to become puppets and leave all that boring thinking and decision making to the wisdom of God – or to his deputies: the Fuehrers, leaders, Popes, Presidents, Duces, Cesars, Chairmen, and General Secretaries.

Isn’t it interesting that Stalin for example – lord over the life and death of hundreds of million slaves, the biggest war-machinery, armies of secret police and an enormous network of Gulags – was scared of the poems of a lady named Anna Akhmatova? Deep inside tyrants know that a seemingly innocent song or poem can have the potential power to spark off the final big fire that will turn his empire into ashes.

Hitler tried to destroy every artistic expression by frantically burning books and paintings, looting all museums, declaring art “”degenerate””, and in typically German bureaucratic nerd-fashion he even created a Government-agency called “”Reichskulturkammer”” which handed out official certificates to artists that explicitly forbade them to paint or write poetry.

I smelled a little bit of that breath of death, when I had my first exhibition in a museum in Vienna 1971, when somebody stuck labels on each of my paintings with the words “”degenerate art”” on it. I need censorship as much as I need an asshole on my elbow.

MS: Someone destroyed the photographs of children from your “”Kristallnacht”” installation. How do you feel about it?

GH: If I put an installation, a work of art, into a public space, I start a process that I can’t control entirely anymore. I have to be willing to let go, and accept that the emotions and reactions that it might trigger will become part of that work.

Sometimes as an artist you put your finger on a spot that hurts and then you have to be able to confront the screams. And exactly that happened with my “”Ninth November Night”” Installation (in remembrance of “”Kristallnacht””). It was 100-meter-long wall of pictures with 4 meter high childrens’ faces lined up in front of the cathedral of Cologne, and one night somebody came along and cut all the throats of the children. I was startled at first and uncertain of what to do with the cut up sheets of vinyl, but then I decided to just roughly patch them up with tape and include the injury. And although it was originally unintended by me, this attack added another dimension to that work of art and made it more powerful.

?GM’s Diesel Engine Plans Revealed

Other than offering a diesel engine with its big pickup trucks, General Motors doesn’t have a line of diesel engines in place where some customers have wanted them for years: in their small cars. GM did introduce diesel engines to several of its large car lines in the 1980s only to recall and replace those defective engines with gasoline engines later on.

European Diesels

Since that debacle, GM has been building and selling diesel engines with success in Europe. The European market is highly dependent on diesel power as these cars typically average more than 30 percent better fuel economy than gas cars. And, with fuel costing more than $7 per gallon in some countries, diesels are a must have option for the European driver.

GM has yet to confirm it, but offering at least one diesel model in coming years makes sense.

First, federal fuel economy requirements will mandate a huge jump in fuel mileage by 2016, but GM has a lot of catching up to do if it is to meet the 35.5 fleetwide average coming down. Currently, GM’s fleet is averaging 24 miles to the gallon, but with the 40 mpg Cruze and the electric Volt hitting the market this year, those numbers will go up.

Second, diesel demand in the United States is pent up. Today’s drivers understand that the technology has improved considerably, making these engines cleaner and even more reliable than before. And, with no need to do tune-ups, they’re easier to maintain. Volkswagen has proven that consumers will flock to diesels if given the choice.

Possible Models

What models do I think will gain a diesel engine? That’s hard to say, although the Cruze would be a natural fit or even the smaller Aveo. However, giving the midsize Malibu a diesel option could help provide that sedan with a much needed edge in its segment. GM tried, and failed, to offer a hybrid Malibu, but a diesel option could prove wise.

Look for GM to consider a diesel option with its compact Equinox crossover too. That model has been a strong seller for GM and could benefit from that option. What better way to attract more customers than to present an option not widely available elsewhere.

We’ll know more about GM’s plans in the coming months with perhaps that news coming out when auto shows are held in Los Angles, Detroit, Chicago and New York later this year into early next spring. Diesel power, anyone?

?A Look At Gas Trucks Versus Diesel Trucks

If you plan to use your truck like a car, desiring quick, quiet acceleration and rarely ever haul a heavy load and don’t plan to it for a long time,you may want a gasoline engine. Gas engines run smoother, fuel is easier to find, and gas engines start easier in cold weather.

If you plan to use your truck for towing, value good fuel economy and plan to put plenty of miles on it, you may want a diesel. The price to buy a diesel truck is really high, although they can offer you a lot in return.

Below, you’ll find the leading vehicle manufacturersand what they offer you.

Dodge

The 2500 and 3500 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks are the newest 3/4 and 1 ton trucks on the road. Back in 2002, the Ram didn’t have enough power with the 245 HP 9.5L. Dodge promised more powerful engines for the 2500/3500 platform and they delivered on that promise.

The new base engine is the 5.7L gasoline V-8 that’s not only the most powerful engine of the group at 345 HP but also revives the well known and historical Hemi name.

Ford

Ford helped push the 3/4 ton and 1 ton truck market to where it is today when it introduced it’s international engineered power stroke diesel back in 1994. Before 1994, these diesels were poorly built and no match for the big gasoline engines.

From 1994 to 2002, over 70% of super duty Fords were sold with the optional 7.3L V-8 diesel engine. This engine helped to put Ford among the leaders in diesel trucks, as they had more than they needed to dominate the market.

Chevrolet/GMC

The GM 2500/3500 twins Silverado HD and Sierra HD both come standard with GM’s 6.0L gas engine V-8. This engine is ideal for 3/4 ton trucks where towing isn’t a concern. The upgrades start with the 8.1L gas V-8 that’s based on Chevrolet’s venerable big block engine.

Over the years, diesel trucks have proven to be effecient with mileage, great for towing, and easy on maintenance. Unlike gas engines, diesel engines do not have spark plugs, which means you won’t need to get them tuned up near as much as gasoline engines.

For those who like to haul heavy loads on a frequent basis, diesel is the way to go. You can get quite a few miles per gallon, and diesel trucks are built to go 250,000 miles or more before the engine needs to be rebuit,making them a purchase that is more than worth your money.

?GM Death Watch: It Ain’t Gonna Happen!

I have been enjoying reading the news these past few days, perhaps in a perverse sort of way. Pundits and prognosticators are all forecasting the pending doom of the world’s largest automaker as if the approaching layoffs and restructuring are signaling the venerable automaker’s end. Certainly, GM has some problems – big ones – but the company isn’t likely to go away or even file for bankruptcy. The news isn’t all that it seems to be on this subject either…GM will survive and likely thrive in the decades ahead.

Okay, I am not crazy. Could GM go away? Of course, as could any poorly managed company. Yes, executives are overpaid and so are union workers. There…I said it. GM has been taking it on the chin from Asian automakers for three decades now and their U.S. market share continues to dwindle. Still, it isn’t doomsday for the general. Far from it. Here are some things that I believe GM is attempting to do to as they restructure.

Reduced Legacy Costs – GM won an important battle with its unions to force workers and retirees to pony up more money for their share of rising healthcare costs. Before you cry “”foul”” most Americans are paying heavily for their health insurance, while most autoworkers pay little or nothing. Reportedly, GM’s legacy costs add $1500 to the price of every vehicle. Hardly a way for any company to compete, right?

Divisional Trimming – GM axed Oldsmobile and is, supposedly, looking at whether Pontiac or Buick should go next. Saturn looks safe, primarily because of the division’s excellent dealer network while Chevrolet is the household name for so many car owners and is, therefore, untouchable. Cadillac is once again doing well and is competing effectively against Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, and Infiniti. Cadillac easily outsells rival Lincoln more than 2 to 1.

Captive Imports – I mentioned in a related article that China’s Chery Automotive Company will be importing a line of vehicles to the US commencing in Summer 2007. With a starting price as low as $6995, there is no way that GM can compete with them. Neither can Ford, Toyota, Honda, or Nissan for that matter. So, what is the option? Import one or two ultra low priced lines of cars from Korea via the company’s Daewoo division. Currently, the $9995 Chevy Aveo is the low price king in the US. This Daewoo built model is being overhauled and the new model should arrive in the US in about one year. Expect the price to
drop as GM prepares for Chery’s onslaught. Expect GM to pressure their unions for further give backs as American highways are soon flooded with cheap Chinese imports.

Operational Spread — The US auto market is the most lucrative in the world. Expect GM to strengthen luxury brands including Cadillac and Hummer as many of these vehicles bring in profits of ten thousand dollars or more per vehicle. Gas prices are coming down and America’s thirst for profitable trucks and SUVs has hardly been quenched. Still, look for GM to do a few hybrids, add some more diesels, and continue researching hydrogen production.

Union members should be alarmed by all these looming changes. Cutbacks will happen but they will only be wider and deeper if union opposition remains so strong. Yes, the unions could kill off the general, but that would be suicide for the workers. Better to pick whatever battles you can win and hope for the best.

The general isn’t dead and it hardly is dying despite everything you read and hear [personally, I believe GM is beating the “”we’re getting clobbered”” drum to squeeze out more give backs from the unions]. Globalism is changing the way business is done and it would do all of us good to wake up to that fact…like it or not.

?Used Toyota Landcruiser – Market Remains Strong

From its conception in the 1950’s, the Toyota Landcruiser developed a legendary reputation as a highly capable off-road vehicle, renowned for its high power engine and rugged chassis and drive train. These traits have characterised all models since and coupled with advances in technology and more focus on luxury, the 2010 Landcruiser 200 is an amazing vehicle. This proven history and development over the last 60 years has made the used Toyota Landcruiser market a thriving hive of activity.

The development of the Landcruiser began in Japan just after World War II, as the Japanese has been exposed to the US military Jeep and saw the potential to improve this model and offer it to the civilian market. In January of 1951, the first prototype was completed, known as the Model BJ. With a 3.4L Six Cylinder engine producing a healthy for the day 85Hp (64kW), a chassis from the existing Toyota SB truck and a solid 4WD drive train, the legend began as this vehicle had outstanding off road capabilities. These characteristics were the platform of all future models that have been a winning combination for the Toyota Landcruiser ever since.

After building a solid reputation in its early years, Toyota continued its development and in 1954 the name ‘Land Cruiser’ was adopted in attempts to distance itself from the American Jeep and also remain strong against the established Land Rover brand. The FJ25 model came with the first ‘F’ series engine, with more power at 105hp (79kW) and improved suspension for better ride and comfort. It was this model that was first imported in to Australia in 1958 by the Theiss Brothers, for use on the Snowy Mountain Hydro Electric Scheme. This was the beginning of a love affair with the Landcruiser in Australia that is still strong today.

The demand for the used Toyota Landcruiser remains strong across all models in Australia, from the legendary FJ40 built from 1960 – 1984, through the ever popular Landcruiser 80 and Landcruiser 100 series models. They have legendary status for off road, towing and workhorse capabilities and improvements in comfort have seen the Landcruiser even become popular as an urban vehicle for families needing that little bit more.

The Landcruiser 200 is set to cement its place as the greatest 4WD on earth and the combination of off road capabilities and luxury make this one outstanding vehicle. From the V8 petrol or twin turbo diesel engines, advanced traction control and suspension and excellent interior finish, this is certainly one model that will maintain the demand in the u

?Gasoline Prices Going Through the Roof

OH MAN!

Here we go again. I guess now the “”proof is in the pudding”” and it is time for us to face reality.

Gas prices are not going back down and is now said to be going up, again, to an average of over $3.00 per gallon.

This will be the highest jump in gasoline prices we have had since January this year. The increase of gasoline clearly does not only affect the people but also our economy.

Back when gasoline reached over $2.00 per gallon you could see lower sales of SUV’s and other large vehicles. People just could not afford to drive these type cars and trucks.

Just imagine what will happen now when prices exceed $3.00.

Not only will it affect our economy on a larger scale but for a lot of people it may be devastating.

Personally I cannot drive my car as much as I would like to. I actually have to limit my driving and make priorities of when do I really have to go somewhere.

Think about this. The minimum wage is around $5.50 in the USA. This means after you pay your state taxes, federal taxes and FICA. Of that hours work you are basically left with enough money to buy one gallon of gasoline which might take you 15-20 miles down the road. (Not to mention the price of gasoline is loaded with more Federal and State taxes.) In other words you have to work one hour to be able to drive for 15 minutes.

Gee, they say owning a car is a luxury and a privilege. Time for a reality check again.

For most Americans a car is a basic necessity. Is the government mentioning that they will do anything about this? (Like lower the Federal and State taxes on gasoline) NO! They are not.

Millions of Americans are already living below the poverty level today and how many will be considered to live below the poverty level after this increase in gasoline? A lot more people will have to seek help from the already strained welfare system just to feed their families. Children will go hungry so mom and dad can get to work to at least keep a roof over the family’s head.

Are we really a people that are so easily led? Don’t we have enough gumption and guts to stand up and say enough is enough or if nothing else demand something in return? (Like an increase in wages or a cheaper barrel of oil from Iraq that we are pouring billions and billions of U.S. tax dollars into) I got a question what is the price of gasoline in Iraq? Did you know that the U.S government is subsidizing the price of gasoline for the people of Iraq. Just guess what people in Iraq are paying for a gallon of gasoline? Please sit down before we tell you. 5 CENTS a gallon. Whats wrong with this picture?

You might think “”OH WELL”” welfare will take care of these people. What if it will actually affect you? This extra money you will have to pay for gasoline might be the money that would enable you to have cable TV. a computer or a cell phone. It will not be very nice to give this up, will it?

Before it all gets out of hand let us try to do something, demand something. After all we are supposed to be a government for the people, by the people. ARE WE NOT?

Our family took steps to lower our spending on fuel. We tried many products from oils, liquids, attachments and researched every product out there to no avail found nothing that worked.

Until one day I was taking a taxi and the driver told me about this revolutionary new product that he had been using for months to increase his gas mileage, he said the whole Taxi cab company was using it and they increased their gas mileage by as much as 25%. He kindly gave me a few tablets to try. I took the tablets with great skepticism and tried them and to my surprise it really did work. The pills increased my mileage by about 20%. I vowed to tell the world about this product so here is a site to read more about the product [http://www.CarCrow.com]

Thanks for reading our Blog,

?A Look At Gas Trucks Versus Diesel Trucks

If you plan to use your truck like a car, desiring quick, quiet acceleration and rarely ever haul a heavy load and don’t plan to it for a long time,you may want a gasoline engine. Gas engines run smoother, fuel is easier to find, and gas engines start easier in cold weather.

If you plan to use your truck for towing, value good fuel economy and plan to put plenty of miles on it, you may want a diesel. The price to buy a diesel truck is really high, although they can offer you a lot in return.

Below, you’ll find the leading vehicle manufacturersand what they offer you.

Dodge

The 2500 and 3500 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks are the newest 3/4 and 1 ton trucks on the road. Back in 2002, the Ram didn’t have enough power with the 245 HP 9.5L. Dodge promised more powerful engines for the 2500/3500 platform and they delivered on that promise.

The new base engine is the 5.7L gasoline V-8 that’s not only the most powerful engine of the group at 345 HP but also revives the well known and historical Hemi name.

Ford

Ford helped push the 3/4 ton and 1 ton truck market to where it is today when it introduced it’s international engineered power stroke diesel back in 1994. Before 1994, these diesels were poorly built and no match for the big gasoline engines.

From 1994 to 2002, over 70% of super duty Fords were sold with the optional 7.3L V-8 diesel engine. This engine helped to put Ford among the leaders in diesel trucks, as they had more than they needed to dominate the market.

Chevrolet/GMC

The GM 2500/3500 twins Silverado HD and Sierra HD both come standard with GM’s 6.0L gas engine V-8. This engine is ideal for 3/4 ton trucks where towing isn’t a concern. The upgrades start with the 8.1L gas V-8 that’s based on Chevrolet’s venerable big block engine.

Over the years, diesel trucks have proven to be effecient with mileage, great for towing, and easy on maintenance. Unlike gas engines, diesel engines do not have spark plugs, which means you won’t need to get them tuned up near as much as gasoline engines.

For those who like to haul heavy loads on a frequent basis, diesel is the way to go. You can get quite a few miles per gallon, and diesel trucks are built to go 250,000 miles or more before the engine needs to be rebuit,making them a purchase that is more than worth your money.