I got it. I know how to save the automakers without a bailout.
It’s called… “Sound European.”
If it works as well for Chrysler as it has for Electrosol, I espect a full turnaround within 2 months of inundating us with even more irritating advertisements.
Surprised?
According to the in-game timer, I spent about 42 hours playing through Saints Row 2 in its entirety, completing every mission, activity, and having an absolute blast doing so. It was so much fun in fact, that I can’t believe I actually spent 42 hours on it!
I was a huge fan of Saints Row when it came out, I underestimated it, and it was an awesome surprise. The folks at THQ and Volition refreshed the sandbox style shooter, updated it, and made it better. Most importantly – they kept the fun.
They don’t pull any punches in Saints Row 2. To call it an orgasm of violence would be an understatement. Many of the activities and plot points in this game would get anyone a free trip to the needle. While that’s nothing new in this genre, SR2 does it so… perfectly that it completely absorbs the player.
Whether you’re following the major plot points, recovering from your “death” in the last game and slowly regaining the city you once dominated by torturing, killing, and just plain decimating everything in your path… or running through activities like Mayhem, Insurance Fraud, Hitman, Snatch, etc… The game never slows down for a moment.
In short, this game is sandbox perfection. It is what GTA was. I managed to avoid mentioning the other major player in this genre until now because IMHO, SR2 holds its own and is the pinnacle of what can be done in this type of game. GTA IV was counting on an established fan base, media hype, and the fact they spent far too much time replicating NYC to remember that IT IS A GAME. THQ/Volition is still hungry, it’s still obvious that they care more about the in game experience than any other developer/studio out there, and that hunger paid off with SR2.
Now… SR3? 🙂
Can’t win for losing: Chrysler criticized for “Thank You” ads
I’m glad I don’t drive Chrysler anymore. As far as I’m concerned – I will never buy another Ford, GM, or Chrysler. Thank you America? Are you serious? A corrupt Government hands a failing business cash out of what was supposed to be an ill-advised bank bailout, all composed of money taken at gunpoint from American taxpayers, and they have the AUDACITY TO THANK US!?
WE DIDN’T HAVE A CHOICE, YOU !@#$HEADS. You did. You decided to give the unions so much power. You decided to market inefficient vehicles. You decided to play so close to the margin that the economic slowdown pretty much put you out of business. You deserve to be out of business, unemployed, and forced to watch as the imports do what they have done all along – continue to make money selling the cars that people want and need.
GST “KR not canceled” from knight rider online on Vimeo.
Here’s to hoping the reboot makes some of the wincing experienced through S1 worth it.
No economy, no society, no family, no individual has ever been taxed into prosperity – EVER.
In the best case, a tax is a way for Government to fund its function.
In the worst case, our case, a tax is a punishment for the prosperous and what enables Government inefficiency at every level.
Now that Americans are apparently driving less, the Governments aren’t making as much money.
Their solution? Tax more.
That’s right, while the cost of a gallon of gas is now in the more reasonable $1.50 range instead of $4.00, the Government has apparently felt the pinch of losing out on windfall profits. Michigan, California, and other states all plan on raising the tax on gas to make up for the shortfall.
ARE THEY KIDDING!? With the cost of a gallon of regular in Michigan around $1.60, they plan on hiking the tax burden to 18% on the wholesale cost of fuel. That would make it the highest fuel tax IN THE NATION.
You’ve done what they wanted, what they recommended! You’re driving less! You’re driving the fuel efficient cars that they forced the automakers to produce! You aren’t falling for the allure of the Red Tag Sale $55,000 dollar Cadillac Escalade anymore! How do they respond? TAX YOU MORE.
Look folks, when the raw power of this economy is unleashed – there really isn’t anything that can stop it. Sure, things are bad now, and people are justifiably shy of pulling the trigger. Only months ago, fuel was over $4. Sales in just about every industry are down. The stock market is down. Companies are going under, and we’ve got an inbound President hell bent on being the one to prove that a nation CAN be taxed into prosperity.
People aren’t sure, they’re flat out scared to death. The best thing the Government can do at this point is to STAY THE F OUT OF IT. Clean up their own house, and leave ours alone. Stop handing out our money to and buying businesses that only know how to fail. Start cutting the fat and stop taxing us to stay fat. We can come out of this situation with a renaissance, or more malaise. The key is keeping Government out of our wallets, out of our cars, and as far out of our lives as possible.
Since I doubt they’ll back off any time soon, I’ll be investing in tin foil hats. How about you?
AS I STATED in an earlier post, the new Knight Rider has some serious problems. My main complaint is that it has become too big, too flashy, too fast. We’re starting out with Super Pursuit Mode (AKA Battle Mode) in the first Episode, and not as a 4th season add on to try and keep the series fresh.
My faith in the writers, producers, and network to not continue to screw up what is a very simple and very successful formula is permanently destroyed by this:
That’s right. KARR. It’s back. It’s not voiced by the same guy that did Optimus Prime anymore, but it IS a cross between a Decepticon, a Gobot, and that idiotic Robocop 2. HOW HARD IS IT TO JUST CREATE A NEMESIS!? Seriously, just make it an evil Mustang. Better yet, bring back the evil ’82 Trans Am! It wouldn’t be hard for someone to pick the parts up off the desert floor and rebuild the car, for God’s sake Michael built a RAMJET in the middle of the desert!
Makes no sense for the new KARR to be a humanoid robot, whatsoever. This is just a cheap ploy to cash in on the Transformers market. Who is Mike’s nemesis going to be, a frakking Asimo!?
Still in the general malaise era of my opinion on the holiday times. Sure, I enjoy getting together with family and friends to reflect on the close of yet another year on this planet… But everything just seems to get more shallow over time.
My biggest complaint? Gift cards. Generally speaking – I usually get flack from people for buying everything I need and not patiently waiting for someone to buy it for me. The cop-out is to get a gift card that will allow me to spend someone else’s money on myself.
Now I’ll admit, years ago I was one of those gift-card lamers, but for the past 2 years, I buy people actual gifts. I don’t get crazy, I just figure – they’re my friends, they’re my family, so I always have a good idea of something I can buy them that respects our relationship, acknowledges its history, and maybe puts a smile on their face long enough to forget about the state of affairs in this country.
So seriously, gift cards are for lamers, just take a change and buy or make a little something for someone you care about. It doesn’t take much more effort than buying a gift card, but the payoff is immeasurable.
I’ve long been a proponent of allowing the big 3 to wither and die, as well as take the UAW with them. They got too big, too fast, and over-extended themselves with policies that did not put long-term profitability first.
Now they’re getting a bailout, and we get advertisements for Chevrolet’s and Cadillac’s asking us if we are ‘Surprised’ about some feature of the car.
Frankly, I’d be surprised if these douche-bags could stay in business without Government help for once. Instead, in another 10 years when the imports are still building and selling quality automobiles, we’ll get treated to another bull-crap argument as to why people who can’t sell cars deserve to take our money anyhow.
New York planning ‘fat tax’ on drinks
When is enough, enough? I really don’t get how we allow our elected leaders to get away with this crap.
In order to make up for a 15 billion dollar budget deficit, Governor Blinky Paterson has proposed a tax on sugar based soft-drinks. Essentially if you purchase regular Coke or Pepsi, you will be helping to support the greed and sheer stupidity of our state government. Buy diet? No tax. They say it will also improve health. I’m sorry, but what is so healthy about ingesting so much sodium that you literally pack on 10-15lbs of water?
Diet soda isn’t healthier than regular, and taxing the middle and lower class (chances are “New York’s Wealthiest Residents” don’t drink Cola) is not how a responsible Government should make up for a budget deficit
I’VE GOT A THOUGHT! HOW ABOUT YOU CUT 15 BILLION DOLLARS IN PORK, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, AND OTHER CRAP? I’ve had to make cuts in my lifestyle due to the economy, and I sure as hell am not going to ask my neighbor to fill in the gap so I can maintain the lifestyle I’m accustomed to. Why can’t the government make some cuts?!
I’d say start with the politicians salaries, benefits, and retirement funds, then work your way down. It’s supposed to be a duty, not a f**king career.
Driving home from the mall yesterday with my friend, I’m at the junction of 517 and Route 94 in Vernon. Since I already got pulled over once in that town for apparently ‘not yielding’ I made an extra effort to slow down even more at the intersection. What happened next was almost surreal.
As I was slowing for the yield, I passed a red Jeep Cherokee on my left which was waiting to turn left, and saw an oncoming pickup trick, so I was waiting for it to pass before I pulled out.
BOOM. Screech. Parts everywhere, right in front of me, and a Dodge Dakota is sitting right on the yellow lines in the middle of the road, its passenger side front 3/4 completely obliterated. I completely thought that the guy hit me, but I didn’t feel it, or see the damage on my truck from the inside.
When I got out to see if the other driver was OK, I figured out what happened. The Cherokee was now facing 94 northbound, it had apparently not yielded and cut off the pickup, which slammed into it. Still, when a violent accident like that happens right in front of me – I guess I can’t help but be a little disoriented for a few moments.
