Schlicken’s Response: Great Pic. The first thing we asked here at schlicken was, what state do you think this picture was taken in? Mississippi came in first followed closely buy Arkansas. What do you think?
|
Today was just another average Saturday. Got up late did a few chores around the house then I headed to the local Quickie Lube/Car Wash(like the sign to the left) with my dad. He asked me to go so he could take both his cars in at the same time and kill two birds with one stone. My dad’s been going to the same place for years and although it was crowded as usual he dropped off the car and we waited.
As the time passed, my dads truck went quicker and was all done before his car had even finished its oil change. Somewhat annoyed we watched as the car finally went to the back where it would be scrubbed before coming out of the mechanical car wash. After about 10 more minutes, the car still had not come out and an older woman about 60 who ran the front counter and young highschool boy who washed the cars came out and asked us if our car was there.
My dad said, “yes,” to which she replied, “what type of car sir?”
“Honda Accord Hybrid”, he said beginning to get somewhat irritated with all the questioning.
The older woman gave the young boy a nervous look and then said, “Could you go to the back, sir, and see if you see your car? We think it might have been stolen”
“Stolen,” asked my dad?
“Yes”, nodded the older woman.
And that’s how we found out that some punk guy who had been standing around the back area for the last couple of days stole our car. The car wash lube place just leaves the keys in the car as they move it from station to station. It’s actually the perfect crime. The guy just walked right up and took the car, no breaking in required.
This is the first, and hopefully the last time I ever have a car stolen. Interesting enough, neither my dad nor myself ever felt really much fear or nervousness. My dad has great insurance and the Lube place is most likely liable anyway.
When I got home I started doing some research because I wanted to know why my dad’s car and why today?
The research pointed out pretty blatantly that he was at risk. Most of us know that Honda’s are notoriously bad for being stolen, one of the only faults of the machines. Below is the list of the top 10 most stolen cars for 2005. It’s put out by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
Rank Year/Make/Model
1. 1991 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1994 Dodge Caravan
5. 1994 Nissan Sentra
6. 1997 Ford F-150
7. 1990 Acura Integra
8. 1986 Toyota Pickup
9. 1993 Saturn SL
10. 2004 Dodge Ram
So although my fathers car was a newer model of Honda Accord, you can still see how much thieves like them. The NICB also does an anual study of the top 10 Vehicle Theft Hot Spots or locations that have the most thefts.
Thefts per 100,000
1. Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. 1,310
2. Stockton, Calif. 1,061
3. Visalia-Porterville, Calif. 1,031
4. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. 1,023
5. Modesto, Calif. 1,005
6. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash. 975
7. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, Calif. 958
8. Fresno, Calif. 953
9. Yakima, Wash. 931
10. Tucson, Ariz. 920
We live in the Sacramento area which has the 7th most thefts per 100,000 vehicles at just under 1,000.
All in all, with the research I did, I believe I shouldn’t have asked why my dad’s car was stolen today, I should have asked why it wasn’t stolen yesterday.
|
They are 7.5-feet long and can scoot along at a top speed of about 15 mph. Both feet (yes, there is a left and a right) are covered with plush pink Flokati rugs the exact color of cotton candy.
They are, of course, electric battery powered slippers. They each have a 36-volt system using six YellowTop 12-volt Optimas. Anyone who has used these 38 pound, 50 Amp-Hour, deep-cycle, sealed, yellow lead blocks will know that this is way more battery than one needs for a bedroom slipper. The two front wheels are chain driven by a 7-inch brushed DC motor made by Advanced DC Motors. This kind of motive power is also way more than any fluffy footware really needs.
The frame is welded steel and plywood. The lucky driver sits on a pillowed tractor seat and steers by the rear third caster wheel in the back.
You might be wondering what pink bunny slippers have to do with Tesla Motors. Tesla Motors has set out to change people’s perceptions of electric vehicles as slow and ugly. Well, my slippers are faster than most, and not so ugly, I hope. I’d like to go on some more about how the Tesla Roadster will change the world, but a Senior Director of Engineering is now telling me that I need to write about my electric muffins.
Editor’s note: You might be able to spot Greg and his electric muffin tootling around the Maker Faire in San Mateo, Calif., this weekend, May 19-20. The faire, which showcases arts, crafts, and science projects, will be held at the San Mateo Fairgrounds.
[Source: Tesla Motors via Eglobe1]
|
