There is nothing smart about a Smart Car

All I can say is WTF?! Why would anyone in their right mind spend over $20,000 on a golf cart?

I remember a couple of years ago when the craze for the Smart Car took effect here in Canada. I heard a lot about the car and how small it was and how great on gas it would be. Essentially it was very interesting especially for those that live in big cities where space is an issue. Along comes the Smart Car. And with that the pricing of the Smart Car is released. This was when I spit my coffee all over thirteen different people in the elevator. THAT MUST BE A MISPRINT I thought to myself. $20,000.00 for...THAT?

So I jumped online and spit my third sip of coffee all over the computer monitor when I visited the website to confirm that indeed you are over $20,000.00 on road for one of these pieces of shit. Here I was expecting $5,000-$7,500. I mean LOOK AT IT! It's a glorified golf cart.

So everyone is going on and on about how great it is on gas. I agreed - only when the diesel was available. What do the morons at Smart do? Cancel the diesel and keep a PREMIUM only gas engine that they claim gets 5.4L/100km but in real life gets over 6. The same as say, a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla (5-sp). So tell me this, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND THINKS THE SMART CAR MAKES SENSE? Seriously? Is it because you think you look cool driving one? Newsflash - YOU DON'T. You look like an oversized and awkward fool driving a golf cart on city streets.

Is it because you are environmentally aware? NO because if you were you would buy a car that is better on gas that doesn't drink premium you fool.

Is it because it's small? Well maybe. But why would you spend $3,000-$7,000 MORE on a two seater with next to zero cargo space that goes 0-60 in 13 seconds when you can buy a five seater with cargo space that gets equal or better fuel economy (keep in mind this piece of shit swallows premium) and still have enough gas money to drive it an extra 10 years?

It's just not right. People who buy these things must be thinking something else. I have no idea what that can be? Is it the novelty? Are you starving for attention?

After the initial explosion of these POS's I noticed about 6 months later there were a shitload of these for sale in people's driveways and online. I guess the novelty wore off and they thought "what the hell was I thinking?" I see a lot less now - maybe one or two a week on my usual commute as compared to 15 or so when they first came out.

Seriously, calling this a *Smart* Car is one of the biggest farces in car history. This oxymoron never ceases to make me chuckle because who are we kidding, this is as far from smart as car value gets. You want to save the world and your money...but a Yaris or Fit and take the extra $5,000 and give it to programs for environmental improvements.

There is NOTHING smart about "Smart Cars."

Don't be fooled by the ads or the hype. Save your money and show them what smart really means.

A big flaw with iTunes

The Internet is supposed to be without borders

**UPDATED 9/22/09** (see bottom)

Some of my favourite bands or not from North America. Why? Well I could get into more detail about that but let's just say the "mainstream" music in North America is just mostly drivel directed by record companies with puppets doing as their told.

Some of the best bands and artists out there don't get any airtime on the radio or recognition at all. Along came the Internet to change all that. At least that was the plan. Bands can now broadcast their music online via streaming through such sites as Last.fm and MySpace. This is a great way to hear music out there that is ten times better than the crap on the radio station (yeah I'm talking to you 104.5 CHUM FM).

The downside of the Internet is downloading. I do not condone downloading music unless it is to "try before you buy." However, if you like it, buy it. This is what I have been trying so hard to do for some of my favourite bands but the problem is it's not always a viable option.

Take for example "Northern Lite" http://www.northernlite.de/

This is one of my favourite bands. Their last two albums, "Unisex" and "Super Black" were amazing. So I decide I want to buy them? TOO BAD! You see for some reason (maybe distribution rights or some other BS) they are not available to LEGALLY download via iTunes or other online retailers. Sure I could buy the import CD but why should I spend $60-$80 on a CD that I should be able to buy for $10 online?? I wanted so bad to support the artist but within reason of course. If I spend $60 I know that most of that money is going to bull shit charges that the artist does not see.

So iTunes is my favourite online retailer as it has the most selection. I go to Northern Lite's "library" and only about half their catalog is available? Why? I flip the store to iTunes Germany and BINGO - there I see both "Unisex" and "Super Black" JACKPOT. I add them to my cart and that ends the excitement right there. I message pops up and says I can only buy music from iTunes Canada store. WTF? This is so stupid. SO VERY STUPID. So iTunes tells me it's distribution rights. Ummm, what? It is electronic DATA. It is ridiculous that you say distribution rights with something that is just data. Why can I listen to the entire album streaming online from an online radio station in Germany but when I want to actually support the artists, I am told I can't because of distribution rights? Huh?

Dear record companies of the world - YOU ARE ONLY HURTING YOURSELF WITH THESE STUPID POLICIES! You know why? Well I'll tell you why. After weeks of trying to find an online retailer that will actually sell me the albums (legally) coming up empty handed...I get frustrated and turn to P2P networks for assistance. Yes, I download them from the Internet. Not because I don't want to pay a reasonable price for them, or support the artist. It's simply because if I didn't download them, I would not have been able to get them at all (again for a reasonable price - $60 for a CD is disgusting).

So let's add to the confusion. A couple of weeks ago Northern Lite releases a new single from their forthcoming album "Letters and Signs Part One". Of course I expect I will be stuck downloading it again but wait, iTunes Canada actually has it! What? Why this one? Why not all of them or none of them? Is it a crapshoot? So I figure it's because they are on another label and grin because that means I will be able to obtain all their new stuff. Fast forward to today, the day the actual album comes out. I run to my PC this morning, pull up "Northern Lite" in iTunes and...WHAT THE F#%@?!?! It's NOT there. So I immediately flip to the German store and low and behold there it is staring me in the face. What a let down.

So why the single but not the album on the same god damn label? I give up trying to figure this out. It only makes my head spin. Sorry Northern Lite...if iTunes Canada won't release your new album to Canada, I am resorting back to downloading it. If you give me your mailing address I will gladly send you the money for your last three albums - I am dead serious. Bands like you NEED to be supported. Too bad iTunes won't back you up and even worse that North American radio does not recognize nor care about good music anymore.

Please keep making awesome music. And I will keep mailing you money. But $60 to import one disc is just beyond my budget. Give me a legitimate mailing address and I will send you the money (hell it will be more than what the record company pays).

iTunes needs to drop the borders THIS IS THE INTERNET!

For those lucky enough to buy this in Germany, please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/lwyncm
Or Amazon in Germany:
http://tinyurl.com/msnafd

For those stuck with iTunes Canada...well you know where to go. Just don't forget to mail that cheque. I'll post the address if I can get it.
====================

** Well it seems that although the Epic Fail I call Itunes Canada continues to disappoint I was able to *BUY* the digital download directly from an online music shop in Germany this past weekend. It was 9.99 euros so a little more money but well worth every penny. Awesome album!

The new 2010 Honda Crosstour Review

This is going to be a very easy review. I was excited to hear that Honda was coming out with a crossover to compete with the Toyota Venza. The Venza never really did anything for me so it shouldn't have been tough to impress me with the Honda version. However, I was a little skeptic after they released the hideous Accord a couple of years ago. What a failure design that was.

So Honda unveils the new Crosstour and VOILA! EPIC FAIL.

EPIC

FAIL

HONDA

What an ugly piece of shit. Who designed this? Was it a 4 year old with no arms and eyes? Seriously it looks nothing like the Euro Accord wagon we were expecting. Instead it looks like shit. Plain shit. No it's actually worse than that. Let's take a look at the car bit by bit shall we?

The front: What the hell is that grille doing? It looks like it wants to stick out 5 more feet from the front of the car. It has a little Chrysler Crossfire mixed with Ford Fusion except once mixed, it looks like shit. It looks like a fat sagging chin with a crooked smile. EPIC FAIL.

The side: The least offensive part until you get to the back sides. Look at the slope at the back of this car. You could run a ski jump off this thing! That probably takes away big time from the rear passenger head room. Why waste space in the name of "aesthetics"? The slope is a failure on the designers' part. Is it trying to look like the Infiniti FX? Oh how flattering. The difference is the Infiniti looks good.

The ass:


All I can is WOW. How hard can you fail there? What a designing flaw. What an ugly piece of shit ass end. Could be one of the ugliest ass ends I have ever seen (next to the Challenger of course). Simply wasted space and way too round. It is ugly ugly ugly. HIDEOUS.

EPIC

FAIL.

Sorry Honda, at the pace your designers are going I won't be putting you at the top of my shopping list anytime soon. It's pretty sad when Toyota makes a better looking car. I mean, TOYOTA? Come on.

I can't wait to see how they massacre the new Civic when it comes out. Maybe it will look like a Corolla except uglier? You can count on it.

So pricing hasn't been announced for it yet in Canada but based on Honda's track record, they will want to charge $35,000 CDN base for this $23,000 car. Fully loaded the car will go for $40,000 (real life value will be $29,000). I bet it will be more than the Venza. We will wait and see...

Dear Honda - maybe you should ask your customers their opinions BEFORE you piss away millions in designing what may be the ugliest car you've ever made? Based on early reactions, it appears as though over 80% of your faithful followers HATE the looks of this car. Just Google it and see for yourself...

Rating 2/10 (1 point for the wheels and another because there will be a 4-cyl option)

Car Review - The 2009 Dodge Challenger

2009 P.O.S Dodge Challenger "Car"

The first time I saw one of these on the road I couldn't believe my eyes. I remember saying to myself "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT PIECE OF SHIT?" Yes the muscle car comeback is at it again. First the Ford Shitstang, then the Chevrolet Camaro (least offensive but still crap) and then comes along this fucking eye sore horse shit crap fuck ugly excuse for a car. So here we are in a time where gas prices are going through the roof, we are running low on oil (at least that's what the oil companies are saying) and the environment is starting to show real signs of poisoning. So what are the car companies doing? Producing gas guzzling pollution enhancing cars that should have been kept buried in the sand since the early 80s.

I mean WHAT THE FUCK? Not only is the Challenger a butt ugly gas guzzler - but it looks as though they did nothing to even try to make it look like it belonged to this or the last decade. It sticks out like a sore genital on the roads and every time I see one (which is about three times now) my lunch or dinner lifts up to the top of my neck and I have to struggle not to throw up all over it.

Sure the PT Cruiser is ugly, sure the Honda Element looks like a box you wouldn't shit in but this thing takes the cake.

I went to the web site to look at the specs and threw up all over my monitor. I threw up at the EPA.

I bet a lot of people (4 or 5) disagree because they are still living in the 70s and want to relive the nostalgic childhood when gas was 10 cents a gallon and pollution was only understood as farting but I am sorry - if you bought this car you are irresponsible and selfish.

I give it is 0/10.

Here are some other reviews of the car: