this one’s not about elections.

Early Christmas wish: to drive-test an Aston Martin DB9 LM Cam mici sansele, avand in vedere ca e editie limitata si exista doar 124 in toata lumea. Dar Mos Craciun & Mos Top Gear sigur citesc si-mi fac rost de un drive test. : )) That would be an Aston Martin DB9 LM.

And it’s not just a pretty car. Gear potential, top speed 300 kph / 186.4 mph, check this out:

engine	All Alloy V12
position	Front Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
valvetrain	4 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed	Fuel Injection
displacement	5953 cc / 363.3 in³
compression	10.3:1
power	302.0 kw / 450 bhp @ 6000 rpm
specific output	75.59 bhp per litre
bhp/weight	263.16 bhp per tonne
torque	570 nm / 420.4 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm
body / frame	Extruded Aluminium Bonded Monocoque
driven wheels	RWD w/LSD and Traction Control
front tires	Bridgestone REO 50 235/40 ZR19
rear tires	Bridgestone REO 50 275/35 ZR 19
front brakes	Vented & Grooved Discs w/4-Piston Brembo Monobloc Calipers, ABS, EBD, EBA
f brake size	mm / in
rear brakes	Vented & Grooved Discs w/4-Piston Brembo Monobloc Calipers, ABS, EBD, EBA
r brake size	mm / in
front wheels	F 48.3 x 21.6 cm / 19 x 8.5 in
rear wheels	R 48.3 x 24.1 cm / 19 x 9.5 in
steering	ZF Rack & w/Servotronic Power Assist
f suspension	Double Wishbones w/Coil Over Aluminum Covered Monotube Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar
r suspension	Double Wishbones w/Coil Over Aluminum Covered Monotube Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar
wheelbase	2740 mm / 107.9 in
front track	1568 mm / 61.7 in
rear track	1562 mm / 61.5 in
length	4697 mm / 184.9 in
width	1875 mm / 73.8 in
transmission	Rear Mounted 6-Speed Manual or Six Speed Auto
gear ratios	:1
top speed	300 kph / 186.4 mph
0 – 60 mph	4.7 seconds
0 – 100 mph	10.8 seconds
0 – 1/4 mile	13.1 seconds

Santa Top Gear, so we’re clear: you’ll bring me an Aston Martin DB9 LM test drive, okay?

stuck in the middle with tarantino.

Guess I’ll never cease to be fascinated by Tarantino’s smoothly violent, appealingly raw and highly unrestrained combination of brain and talent. In my mind Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick are always somehow competing in brilliance. But Kubrick’s most of the times second so far.

Awww, still in love with Mr. Blonde  and his dance on this song in the “infamous ear scene”.

Reservoir Dogs / Soundtrack: Stealers Wheel - Stuck in the middle with you (a song of 1972).

I think this fanvid is better than the trailer. Soundtrack: The Transplants – Diamonds and Guns.

heavy rotation. si nu in winamp.

Inca una foarte subtila de la tv, descoperita la PR politic: clip cu Antonescu difuzat in heavy rotation pe RTV, desi el nu e in turul 2. Ilegal? Normal ca nu, ca doar noi n-avem legi/norme clare in niciun domeniu, daramite in audio-vizual. Doar imoral. Oricum, desteapta miscarea. Si subtila. Marim si pastram activ capitalul de imagine al lui Crin, pentru ca el sa se transfere si sa se traduca in voturi pentru Geoana. Bravo, Vantu. Ma-ntreb cand anume o sa apara o institutie media total independenta in peisajul romanesc. Una care sa nu stie ce-i aia manipulare, una care sa nu stie ce-s alea interese, una care sa nu se murdareasca, una care sa existe pentru informare corecta si doar pentru asta, una care sa isi considere audientza inteligenta, una care sa se bata in credibilitate cu institutiile media din afara. Probabil nu in timpul vietii mele.

Ambulanţa domnului Lăzărescu.

Cam cat dureaza sa vina o ambulantza in Cluj? O jumatate de ora. Asta daca esti cu adevarat norocos. Plus cele zece minute in care esti tinut in telefon de catre o tanti de la dispecerat, a carei prima intrebare e: “Cum e imbracata doamna cazuta in strada? Pare cersetoare?” Daca ziceam “da”, oare ce se intampla? Daca era cersetoare ar fi dat prioritate altor urgentze? Daca era cersetoare ar fi lasat-o sa moara, in ideea ca oricum sint prea multi cersetori pe pamant? Unde e egalitatea de sanse la un sistem medical corect, fratilor? Unde e egalitatea de sanse? Batrana pentru care am chemat azi ambulantza nu era oricum cersetoare. Era o doamna respectabila. Dar intrebarea de la dispecerat a reusit sa ma scoata din sarite. Plus viteza de reactie a ambulantei. Daca batrana mea avea un atac de cord, in momentul in care ar fi ajuns ambulantza, ar fi gasit-o in mod sigur deja moarta. Timp pretios pierdut in incercarea de-a afla cum e imbracata…. si daca e “cersetoare”. Timp pretios in care ma putea pasa unui medic de pe ambulantza. Timp pretios pierdut de ambulantza pe drum. Foarte mult timp. Probabil si un trabant sau o bicicleta ar fi parcurs drumul mai repede decat ambulantza. Si nu e un fel de-a spune. Nepasare? Incompetenza? Sau amandoua? Nu pot sa spun ca ma mai uimeste ceva in Romania, dar pana acum parca nu credeam chiar atat de mult ca “Moartea domnului Lazarescu” nu e doar un film. Dezgustator. Revoltator. Nepasare. Incompetenta. Romania.

o ţară de fericiţi.

Antonescu e fericit, se vede deja proprietarul a 2.000.000 de voturi şi se poartă ca un administrator de fond de investiţii. Geoană e şi mai fericit decât Antonescu. Televiziunile lui Vântu şi Voiculescu sunt nu numai fericite, ci de-a dreptul în al nouălea cer. România, un popor de oameni fericiţi. Interesant tur doi: o să dau iar vot pentru unul doar ca să nu iasă ălălalt. Ţine şi asta tot de fericire, nu? Fericirea de-a nu avea niciodată de unde alege şi de-a da mereu vot negativ. Mânuţele-n suuuuuuus, românaşi, living happily insane is the new thing!

ilici strikes again. :))

http://www.reportervirtual.ro/2009/11/iliescu-a-votat-cu-base.html

turismul electoral a murit, traiasca turismul electoral.

http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-6531446-audio-operatiunea-autobuzul-inlocuita-operatiunea-masina-mica-sate-comune.htm

“the real slim shadys” de romania, yo!

Pe fast forward despre “marea” confruntare a stimaţilor prezidenţiabili din seara asta.

Dar, intai de toate, una finutza de tot, din categoria “echidistanta si independenta totala”:

Basescu: “Vreau un guvern care sa nu mai fie controlat de oameni ca Vantu, Patriciu, Voiculescu si Hrebenciuc.”

Burtiera (banda cu scris) de pe RealitateaTV: “Basescu: Vreau un guvern care sa nu mai fie controlat de oameni ca Patriciu, Voiculescu si Hrebenciuc.”

Asa-i c-am dreptate c-a fost finutza de tot?

…

Memorabile:

Cea mai buna fapta a fiecarui candidat. Geoana: “Nu am dat-o pe soacra-mea afara din casa.”

Repere morale ale candidatilor. Antonescu: “Chiar daca nu se tunde cum trebuie, Tudor Chirila.”

Subiecte de discutie extrase din urna. Basescu la citirea subiectului: “Modelul prezidential. Adica eu, hăhă.”

…

In afara de asta… marea confruntare a fost cum zicea CTP mai acum vreo saptamana: s-au facut din vorbe mai ceva ca rapperii. Altfel spus, pe mine “marea confruntare” m-a convins de un lucru deja stiut: nu ma reprezinta niciunul dintre stimatii prezidentiabili, asa ca o sa fie prima oara cand o sa merg sa dau vot alb. De ce ma mai deplasez totusi pana la sectia de votare daca tot dau vot nul? Pentru ca nu-s dintre aia care zic: “mi se rupe de tzara asta, nu merg la vot.” Eu chiar vreau sa votez. Vreau, imi pasa, as vrea sa schimb ceva. Dar, din pacate, nu am cu cine vota anul asta. Stimatii rapperi nu ma reprezinta. Cred ca mai trebuie sa moara vreo doua generatii de politicieni pana sa apara clasa aia noua politica mult-asteptata. Spor la asteptat. Intre timp mergeti la vot si alegeti raul cel mai mic. Daca exista.

me, wonderwall, the apocalypse. :))

Gabri ela: oare guvernul nost’ o sa aiba bani sa participe la organizarea apocalipsei din 2012?
Wonderwall: romania… are u glumishing me?
Gabri ela: pai trebuie sa participam si noi, ca tzara, nu?
Wonderwall: cred ca s-ar amana apocalipsa daca ar astepta dupa noi
Gabri ela:  = ))
Gabri ela: dar de ce? io-s sigura ca la cat de capabili sintem ca tzara, am organiza foarte bine apocalipsa. io zic sa ne propunem candidatura pentru hosting the apocalypse
Gabri ela: ca organizatori principali
Wonderwall: nu zici tu rau. vulcanii noroiosi sediul
Gabri ela:  sau casa poporului.  mare, urata, nefolositoare, headquarter perfect pt. apocalipsa
Gabri ela: oare care e contributia pt. fiecare tzara?  = )) moare isarescu daca afla ca trebe sa participe BNR activ la apocalipsa
Gabri ela: dar oricum se amana iar apocalipsa, asa am inteles : D
Gabri ela: nici macar apocalipsa nu mai e serioasa
Wonderwall: who said that?
Gabri ela: pai PR-ul apocalipsei a trimis comunicat de presa la organizatorii mondiali cum ca apocalipsa e ocupata in 2012, asa ca se amana turneul mondial 
Wonderwall: did not know aplocalyse have such an unflexible schedule
Gabri ela: pai s-or fi gandit ca nici macar nu merita sa vina… cel putin pentru romania.  oricum noi n-am plati-o, ca n-avem cu ce, zis-am ca mor isarescu si guvernu’ daca afla ca tre sa participam activ la organizare. = ))

currently reading and recommending:

 

Charles R. Morris – The Trillion Dollar Meltdown: Easy Money, High Rollers, and the Great Credit Crash

Morris is smart, pissed, and just the kind of crochety old “In my day…” guy I would want to be in charge of my money, if I had any.

Though the writer’s political leanings are pretty obviously to the left of center, they serve to underscore an important truth: every American is a free-market capitalist, however much he may have loved the Che Guevara poster on his dorm-room wall.

Morris essentially explains (and predicts, given it was written about a year ago) the current financial crash. He writes with more flair than most in his field and also shows certain daring with many of the ideas he expresses. Here are some examples:

“Intellectuals are reliable lagging indicators, near-infallible guides to what used to be true.”

“In its modern form, Chicago school economics has mutated from a style of analysis into a Theory of Everything. For almost any public or social issue, adherents believe, the free market, if allowed to work without obstruction, will consistently produce optimal outcomes. The omnivorous streak in Chicago economics has drawn it into the realms of crime, welfare, education, health care, and other areas once thought to be mostly outside economics purview.”

“As a general rule, only the very smartest people can make truly catastrophic mistakes.”

This book is a short but sturdy treatment of a crisis that Morris and other predicted, and that we are currently in the throes of. Morris stops short in more or less the same place George Soros does (I mentioned Soros’s writings in my older posts, he has some brilliant theories too) –– arbitrarily taking a late-channel spot of capitalism and defending it from other economic systems. One wonders if, by the time this crisis is through, the average American will not conclude that capitalism, always and every time, ruins itself. That will likely end the privatizing of profits – or at least the socializing of losses.

According to Morris, the astronomical leverage at investment banks and their hedge fund and private equity clients virtually guarantees massive disruption in global markets. The crash, when it comes, has no firebreaks. A quarter century of free-market zealotry that extolled asset stripping, abusive lending, and hedge fund secrecy crashes down with it.

The Trillion Dollar Meltdown explains how things are likely to get worse before they better. If you aren’t familiar with some of the terminology, it might feel a bit dense to read. If you work in the industry, it will feel like a good, well-written, but long Bloomberg magazine article. Also, if you are a die-hard Chicago free market conservative, a lot of the writing will be very annoying. But given it was written over a year ago, before our economic nuclear winter started, pretty insightful.

As a practical conclusion, the financial crisis is only the beginning: a more profound economic and political restructuring is on its way. Oddest fact from the book? US Economy is about $14 trillion. The world economy is about $54 trillion. Value of financial derivatives before this meltdown began? $500 trillion.

Have a nice reading.