Atlanta Automaker Building "Perfect" Police Car

Atlanta-based Carbon Motors, in cooperation with Georgia Tech, is developing the world’s first vehicle built expressly for law enforcement agencies. This car, known as the E7, is pretty mean.

Its strobes, flashers and spotlight are integrated into the car body - no light bar on top. Speed detection gear is also integrated into the car, along with automatic license plate recognition, and a video and audio feed from the car's rear compartment that automatically uploads to the police computer system. It will pursue at speeds up to 155 mph.

Plus, it just looks menacing. A lot more impressive than the Crown Vic.

No word on when the thing will be rolling off an assembly line, or just where in the metro area the plant will be located.

A Nation Of Dunces

I really can't seem to find the amount of time I'd like to get on here and rant and rave, share the interesting web sites I stumble across, or just blather witlessly. But I did feel it important to share this column I just read. It's from Susan Jacoby in the Washington Post. The title: The Dumbing Of America. Her point, one that I've felt and shared in discussions with friends, is that our younger generations aren't keeping up in the smarts department with their counterparts around the globe. Some statistics that she cites...

According to a 2006 survey by National Geographic-Roper, nearly half of Americans between ages 18 and 24 do not think it necessary to know the location of other countries in which important news is being made. More than a third consider it "not at all important" to know a foreign language, and only 14 percent consider it "very important."

If someone doesn't see the importance of knowing where in the world important events are taking place, they probably don't understand the importance of the things happening in the first place. Sounds like they would make pretty uninformed voters come election time. Sad...

She even quotes a survey conducted last year that shows more than 40% of Americans under the age of 44 hadn't read a single book of any kind during the previous 12 months.

What Is An American?

While clearing out old emails from my inbox, I found this little gem. I have no idea who originally wrote it, when or where. I only know it came from a relative, and I received it during 2006. Before that I know nothing. As we're preparing to elect a new President, I thought it was worth posting. I hope you enjoy...

What Is An American?

You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist wrote the following to let everyone know what an American is, so they would know when they found one. (Good on ya', mate!!!!)

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan. An American may also be a Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes. But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001, earning a better life for their families. I've been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 other countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place; they are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

Quote Of The Day

Saw this quote on the Web today and loved it. It's from sci-fi writer Harland Ellison. I'm sure the wife would agree with the sentiment...

"The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity."

Is It A Hoax?

One of my new favorite websites is the Museum of Hoaxes. I've always been fascinated with the way a completely bogus story can spread around the world, defying logic and common sense. The Museum of Hoaxes documents, even celebrates, these truth-less tales. Like the time Microsoft acquired the Roman Catholic Church in exchange for Microsoft stock. Or the dead alien found on the side of a Georgia highway. Great fun!

Good Signing Day For Georgia Southern

Coach Hatcher and the guys picked up 36 signees yesterday, and from the sound of it some pretty talented kids. A lot of these kids will be asked to contribute right away. The class includes David Arnold, a running back from Valdosta who chose GSU over Illinois; and Franklin Green from Savannah, who had originally intended to play at Florida. Adam Urbano, a running back from Calhoun High in North Georgia, could come in and start this year. Calhoun ran a spread offense similar to the Eagles.