PHAT CAR - FAT BEHIND

Any excuse for a Scirocco picture 

We know that people are getting bigger in size, that news isn’t new.

What may not be more obvious is that cars are getting bigger and heavier as well. An example the Mk1 VW Scirocco is 1625mm wide and 3880mm long, theMk3 VW Scirocco is 1810mm wide and 4256mm long.

Certainly, some of this can be attributed to how much space you need to house all the electrical gadgets from ABS to Air Con and everything in between. The public now demand safety and luxury features in their cars in the bucket load so, they have to go somewhere.

The other reason for this is people. Yeah that’s right, people are getting bigger too, and therefore the amount of space they require in their cars will have to be bigger as well.

So what are car manufacturers doing about this?

Well, BMW for example have now got some 800 volunteers helping them work out how to design cars for obese people. Mercedes are planning to strengthen grab handles, Honda have widened their seats by approx 50mm and Porsches now have steering columns that retract and lift when the car is switched off, much like the top of the range Japanese cars.

It’s the small things that make all the difference, from the size of the doors to how far apart the pedals are. Reverse cameras and blind spot warning systems have all been added too which are designed to help the larger person manoeuvre their vehicle.

Is this really such a good idea? Or should we as a society not be concentrating on improving people’s health instead?

THE VOTE IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD

Phil McCarron on the recent violence muddying the waters of protest.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said that “There are only two forces in this world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run, the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.”

Liberty in blood

The Occupy protests have remained firmly entrenched on the battle field of social and economical change, proving that this is much more than a half-hearted fad.  Remaining true to the routes of the movement, they have been orderly and peaceful.  However, those that wish to see an end to the fight for social equality have grown weary of listening to the voice of the people and are stepping up efforts to shut them down.  The tipping point on the seesaw of forceful and peace has quivered.

All across America, city ordinances and curfews are being put into place in an attempt to stamp out the movement, with some cities even resorting to tear gas, baton rounds, and rubber bullets. 

Violence is contagious and is always destined to escalate…it should never be bilaterally used to promote change, as a change bought in blood will always be stained, and the memory of that blood always lasts longer than the wound.

“When liberty comes with hands dabbled in blood, it is hard to shake hands with her.”

~Oscar Wilde

 Non-violent solution

In the London riots, the police were criticized for not clearing the rioters out.  They were scorned for not using force.  In hindsight, they did the correct thing.  At a heavy financial cost, they merely contained the rioters and let their blind rage peter out.  Had the London Police met violence with violence, the escalation would have torn the city streets apart.

The Occupy movement MUST remain non-violent at all costs in order to succeed.  Victory for the movement can only come from the method that first bore this inequality.  Legislation.

Your contract is up for renewal Mr. Senator

In one year’s time, the election polls will be open for business.  The representatives and senators of both parties that have struck down jobs bills, avoided tax loopholes, bailed out corporations instead of the working class, had their pockets lined by lobbyists and kept the 1% appeased, will be interviewing to keep their jobs.  Though the politicians work for the 1% of the country, it’s the 99% that employ them.

A final message to the elected officials,

“You are one election away from being unemployed like the rest of us.”

~Phil McCarron

Article by: Phil McCarron

1% OF THE AMERICAN DREAM

Though the phrase ‘The American Dream’ died out quite some time ago, the mindset it instilled remains woven into the fabric of American society.  The American dream, that once made this country great, is fast becoming just another page in a history book, slowly slipping from our memories it’s now an opaque belief that is in peril of crossing over the line, from legendary into the realm of myth.

The American Opportunity

The American Dream was the idea that all men were created equally, and that everyone, regardless of color, sex, age, or social class, should be afforded the chance to live a prosperous life.  It was a revolutionary principle in civilization, as it effectively cast off the shackles of the social class system.  No longer was a person bound to a certain quality of life by their bloodline or skin tone, but only by their personal abilities, and their abilities to define themselves and work toward achieving a richer fuller life.

Regardless of what either political party says, the disappearance of this mindset isn’t an issue of Americans becoming freeloaders with a sense of entitlement, or jealously toward the successful; it has and always will be about the keyword in The American Dream…opportunity.

The 99% vs. The 1%

The deep seeded unrest on the streets of America has been smoldering for decades, and the embers of injustice are beginning to re-ignite that American spirit.  The 99% have finally been stripped of the only thing they wanted in the first place…opportunity.

The 1%, the obscenely wealthy business owners and corporations, have been entrusted by both Republican and Democratic polices, containing copious tax breaks and subsidies exclusive to the 1%, to provide that opportunity for their fellow Americans to realize their potential and strive for a prosperous life…the 1% have abused this privilege…they have failed us.

Financial Slavery

Instead of reinvesting in the communities that enriched their lives, instead of giving the benefit of the doubt, instead of encouraging others to reach for the stars, the 1% has systematically depleted this nation of opportunity in order to keep the prosperity for themselves.  Piece by piece the 1% has dismantled the American Dream through financial slavery by controlling the flow of money and controlling the price and existence of labor.

Left and right, come together as Americans

This isn’t an issue for Rightwing or Leftwing preconceptions or stubborn viewpoints, this is an issue for ALL Americans, to come together and stop the descending spiral into social and economical madness, to restore the virtuous revelation upon which this nation was founded…that everyone is treated as equals, and that they all deserve a chance to achieve a full and prosperous life.  

Whether it be the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement, or the ‘Tea Party,’ the American people are beginning to wake up and are starting to exercise their democratic right to make a change.

There has come a point in every great civilizations history when the line is drawn between what is, and what is not an acceptable state of affairs.  The civilized nation is America, the affair is the death of opportunity, and the line has been crossed.

The battle to reclaim the ‘Land of Opportunity’ has begun.

Article by: Phil McCarron

HALLOWEEN: WHAT CAR TO PERFECTLY ACCESSORIZE YOUR COSTUME

31^st of October, Halloween, Samhain, All Hallows Even, or Festival of the Dead, call it what you will but it is more or less it’s all the same thing. The lead up to Halloween is now filled with people, kids and pets getting dressed up as witches, zombies, vampires, werewolves. Some even use their imagination and end up dressed up as something more original.

That made me wonder, what sort of car you would drive if you were a creature of the night….

After some thought I reckoned that Werewolves would probably require the use of a 4wd so you could go off to run as a wolf somewhere where you weren’t likely to be seen. If it had a decent load space you could stash a change of clothes there and whatever animal you had caught too.

Then I remembered how much dogs like to stick their head out the window with their tongue hanging out, getting doggie slavers down the ‘C’ pillar of the car and letting your ears blow in the wind. Dogs also like to run in packs, track and hunt. So, a combination of 4wd drive and convertible would be ideal. That leaves the limited edition Rav 4 convertible from 1999 a JEEP Wrangler or Freelander Convertible. Depending on who the Werewolf is, they might even really appreciate the idea of having an Audi Quattro Cabriolet….

So, imagine for one moment you are a Zombie for example, the choice of car isn’t going to be an issue; you are most probably not being able to do anything apart from move towards food.

Giving the odd moan you would just follow the rest of the zombie hoard on your way. Not using your brain and following the crowd could possibly mean that Zombies would drive BMW Minis.

So what would the trendy cool Vampire about town drive? I suppose it would depend on what Vampire Lore we are following. Assuming the Bram Stoker version then Vampires don’t melt in daylight, do need blood and do really need a place for a coffin.

That would mean something along the lines of a pick-up truck. Though if the Vampire in question had been around for a while they would probably have built up some cash and to be able to attract victims into your ‘ride’ may be an advantage. So I reckon an imported Ford F1 pickup or an HSV Maloo.

As for the Witch, what do you think she would drive? I drive an old scirocco; it’s held together by magic and looks a bit like a broom.

Article by: Lynn Tulloch