tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post6660788911064733085..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: Embarrassing? Try Risible.Gus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-76332270743962315932013-08-14T02:49:33.646-06:002013-08-14T02:49:33.646-06:00Ah, Risk. You bring back grad school memories of m...Ah, Risk. You bring back grad school memories of my first year. We weren't assigned mentors yet, so we shared a common office in an unused lab. There was an old Mac in a corner, and that had a computer version of Risk installed. Guess what that got used for...Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-9163538578782874652013-08-13T20:46:15.976-06:002013-08-13T20:46:15.976-06:00Yo, Gus, you write, "By a funny coincidence, ...Yo, Gus, you write, "By a funny coincidence, today's post starts off talking about chess. I am just now getting to comments."<br /><br />And I just now saw this. I never was a fan of chess myself, which I'm lousy at. Just awful. One of my colleagues asked me some time ago if I played chess, and I said I play checkers rather like the bear, only not so well, which got me a big laugh: There's a funny Russian cartoonishy thing called <i>Mary and the Bear</i> (<i>Masha i Medved</i>), and in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqYsbttfgaQ" rel="nofollow">one episode</a> ("Masha + Kasha": <i>kasha</i> is essentially cream of wheat) the Bear spends the episode lost in his own world trying to solve a challenging championship checkers game. Yeah, that's about my speed. (I'm no slouch at Risk or backgammon though.)Snedcatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-27588509593167112592013-08-12T04:17:32.210-06:002013-08-12T04:17:32.210-06:00RE Chess: By a funny coincidence, today's post...RE Chess: By a funny coincidence, today's post starts off talking about chess. I am just now getting to comments.<br /><br />RE Volts: I guess that's why GM recently decided to cut prices on Volts by <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/08/06/gm-chevrolet-volt-price-cut/2621657/" rel="nofollow">12.5 percent</a>.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-90499739105442853172013-08-11T17:52:35.952-06:002013-08-11T17:52:35.952-06:00Actually, hybrids can offer quite a bit of value b...Actually, hybrids can offer quite a bit of value but as you implied; it all depends on the circumstances. One man's value might be another man's sacrifice.Steve Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-74378508303301386362013-08-11T17:44:29.392-06:002013-08-11T17:44:29.392-06:00"nature" has got to be the worst possibl..."nature" has got to be the worst possible object you could sacrifice yourself to; it's not even alive but I guess that's the whole point; sacrifice is really meant to be an end in itself and the object of the sacrifice exists only to make the sacrifice more palatable. All fun and games I suppose, until someone loses their civilization.<br />Personally the only sacrifices I've ever made involve the game of chess!<br />BTW: Do not confuse hybrid engines (like a Prius) with gas/electric engines (like a Chevy Volt). The terminology is a bit confusing but the so-called hybrids are not really hybrids at all (you can’t plug them in) but simply more efficient internal combustion engines whereas cars like the Chevy Volt seem kind of sad and pointless unless you’re looking for a way to increase your electricity bill and enjoy buying and switching out batteries.<br />Electric engines are much better than gasoline engines for go-carts, though. I’ll give them that.Steve Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-12909950065770016852013-08-11T03:20:39.140-06:002013-08-11T03:20:39.140-06:00Point taken: Gut reactions aren't always compl...Point taken: Gut reactions aren't always completely correct. (e.g., According to your analysis, hybrids can offer actual value, at least for some drivers.)<br /><br />Crucially, your decision doesn't involve sacrificing your self-interest to "nature" or anyone/anything else.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-50746819998843335932013-08-10T18:06:07.671-06:002013-08-10T18:06:07.671-06:00Actually, I might consider leasing a hybrid based ...Actually, I might consider leasing a hybrid based on the following reasoning. In V4s, the Ford Fusion SE and the Ford Fusion SE hybrid are comparable in terms of size, power, internal space, options, etc. They have identical exteriors. They felt identical on test drives. The hybrid gets 47 miles/gallon vs. the standard which gets 22 miles/gallon for a difference of 25 miles/gallon. If you drive 12,000 miles per year in three years (which is low for most Americans) that adds up to a savings of 1440 gallons which at $2.50/gallon makes it a total of $3600. The cost difference between the cars is $3345. Since my gas and mileage would likely be higher, it makes the savings even greater.<br />Not sure how to factor in cost of repairs. <br />But I like the V6 better and I am not sure I can get a comparable hybrid for that. <br />Steve Dnoreply@blogger.com