Author Topic: The future doesn't look too bright.  (Read 5139 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Falcon67

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2151
    • View Profile
    • Kelly's Hot Rod Page
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #30 on: August 18, 2022, 10:20:26 AM »
The innovation is there, you just don't see it much yet.  AEM has a whole set of products to control aftermarket, crate and even Tesla drive units

https://www.aemev.com/

Their stuff put down the first 200+ MPH EV dragster run.  They have the stuff to retro fit EV drives into hot rods and etc.  "Engine swap" is evolving right now.  Chew on a Tesla-swapped Mustang. Hot Rod's (formerly Pop Rod's) Project X is now a full EV swap project. 

Until we get Luke Skywalker's land speeders, there's still tires, brakes and systems that somebody has to trouble shoot and repair.  Need people to retrofit buildings with energy efficient windows, sort out the power integration from solar panels, science out "smart" lighting systems, connect and service HVAC systems.  When PCs started landing on desks, typing pools evaporated.  But it required a whole new set of skills that brought in a fresh set of tasks. 

Ford CoPilot 360 Driver Assist - the 2021 F-150 has this.  It's got a lot of capabilities, but I can assure you there's a LONG way to go on that self-drive business.


Jim Kramer

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 44
    • View Profile
Re: Sorry guys......
« Reply #31 on: August 18, 2022, 04:25:56 PM »
But if they were simply replacing retiring employees they wouldn't need such a massive increase in funding, unless they were going to increase everyone's salary by about one hundred present. This isn't good..........Jim Kramer

Joe-JDC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1489
  • Truth stands on its own merit.
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #32 on: August 18, 2022, 04:47:37 PM »
The news releases I have seen say "an ADDITIONAL 87,000 IRS agents".  You have to read all the information.  Joe-JDC
Joe-JDC '70GT-500

BattlestarGalactic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1296
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #33 on: August 18, 2022, 04:50:25 PM »


The newer mustangs have buttons to change the exhaust sound...

Lot of research going into self driving cars...LOT of research.

My sister has a 2022 5.0 6 spd conv. and it had a recall due to wire harness to the mufflers was damged due to bad routing and burnt wires.  It's all good now but that is surely something that I would NOT want to have to pay to fix!   Too many gimmicks and not worth it.
Larry

shady

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1001
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #34 on: August 19, 2022, 08:17:59 AM »
87K? That's laughable. Where are they going to find that many people to work when no one else can get one person to hire. never going to happen. If they hire 10 a day it would take 24 years to fill plus all the ones leaving or retiring. Never going to happen, scare tactic.
What goes fast doesn't go fast long'
What goes fast takes your money with it.
So I'm slow & broke, what went wrong?
2021 FERR cool FE Winner
2022 FERR cool FE Winner
2023 FERR cool FE Winner

machoneman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3846
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #35 on: August 19, 2022, 08:42:58 AM »
87K? That's laughable. Where are they going to find that many people to work when no one else can get one person to hire. never going to happen. If they hire 10 a day it would take 24 years to fill plus all the ones leaving or retiring. Never going to happen, scare tactic.

Yeah, guess who merely took the new monies and divided it by the average salary of an IRS employee. Voila, 87,000 field agents banging on doors. I think not. In fact, it was long overdue to add staff to process huge backlogs of refunds due average Americans like us. That and, once again, after a long layoff, offering free tax advice by phone, email and text messages to those who can't afford a tax specialist.

Who should (rightfully) be afraid? Big corporations who post massive profits and pay little in taxes due. Them and rich dudes who employ a cadre of tax avoidance folks, many who blatantly skirt the law knowing they have little to fear. Yeah, I welcome the added $ to the IRS since if your paying your fair share, you have nothing to fear.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2022, 12:23:50 PM by machoneman »
Bob Maag

CV355

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 373
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #36 on: August 19, 2022, 10:48:15 AM »
The newer mustangs have buttons to change the exhaust sound...

Lot of research going into self driving cars...LOT of research.

The active exhaust is pretty neat, but it's just a butterfly valve with a variable position controller.  The EVs that mimic ICE sounds are a bit weird to me.  Hearing  a sound through a speaker and hearing the same sound from the real source are always going to be different.

SDV technology has been in development since the 1950's, back when tow motors started being guided by wire instead of rail.  What we're seeing in EVs for self-driving technology is a combination of vision guidance, LIDAR, and GPS technologies that have been developed in industry over the decades.  Machine vision is as impressive as it is finicky.  18 years ago, a good vision system was $50k+ and had a 0.08mpx resolution.  These days, you can get a 12mpx industrial high-speed camera for $12k, and basic 0.3mpx "checkers" for $600.  Huge advances every year.  I deal with sales reps all the time who demo these units, make it look absolutely perfect, and then we have nothing but trouble with the unit in an actual real-world environment.  Deep learning is the game changer there.  You basically feed a program examples of OK and NOK to learn from, with nuances, and the program develops its own set of criteria.  Any time you solve a Captcha online, you're feeding a deep learning program.  Here's the scary part though...  when EVs start adopting "machine learning," it brings in the topic of ethics.  Machines don't have ethics, so someone has to assign priority to scenarios.  You've probably read articles about a certain EV automaker getting in trouble because an EV might choose to harm the driver instead of harming pedestrians in the event of a crash. 

So, how does that relate back to the topic of the thread?  Future looking bleak and all?  It's trending towards rental over ownership.  EVs are being pushed to total autonomy, and the cost is going to be more than what most people can afford.  Many people will be pushed to simply "rent" an EV when they need to get somewhere instead of owning one.  That's bleak. 

BattlestarGalactic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1296
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #37 on: August 19, 2022, 02:52:03 PM »
Look at car leases in the last 20+yrs.  It's a safer way to be so you don't have to deal with repairs after it gets miles on it.  No one wants to "own" anything anymore.  Housing is about the same.  Rent, and let someone else deal with it.  So when it's all said and done, those people will have nothing tangible when they retire.  Just the shirt on their back....maybe.  They will be paying rent til the day they die.
Larry

hwoods

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 392
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #38 on: August 21, 2022, 08:49:36 PM »
what is going on today, is not about politics.  It is about Good Vs. Evil.


Good Luck to us ALL

Jay, Delete this post if you feel the need
it is hard to balance your check book with your testoserone level
Previous FE Cars:   1965 Ford Galaxie 390/4spd then upgraded to 427 sideoiler
1970 Maverick 427 sideoiler.  X Pro Stock Car
Current build in progress 1964 Thunderbolt Clone

428kidd

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 414
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #39 on: August 22, 2022, 03:58:56 PM »
Part of it was 25 or so years ago the buzz word was college. Everyone that was anyone had to go to college to get a good job. Which was horse crap , but that's what got told to kids. Then they went to college on someone elses dime, to party there ass off and get a degree that they can't use in the real world. Mean while all those guys that went in to tech jobs got looked down on as not as smart or not as good of job. Now things are kind of reversing . Also of tech jobs pay better than some of the college jobs . As far as what the young kids feel like? I don't care , I call it what it is lazy. Think you got it bad after 45 in the salt mine , just think of how well you would be if you had 45 years sitting on your duff? Think it's bad now that's right it could be worse no house no race car , etc etc etcm. I really don't care as long as I don't have to keep up some lay about dead beat who decides he or she don't want to work, fine by me starve, but don't stand in line for government hand outs from the people that do work and pay and pay in. Remember the government don't have any money except what we the people give it . 

StarlinerRon

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 48
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #40 on: August 22, 2022, 08:17:09 PM »
Leasing a car is just paying someone to arrange financing and sell the car for you at the lease end.

If you damage it or run up excess mileage (according to the contract) you will pay for it dearly.

Leasing is an easy way for companies to eliminate most of the bookkeeping for company cars for tax returns.

Most big auto auctions are returned lease cars. They keep used car prices high by setting high reserves on them and now prices are very high because of the new car shortages.

Ron.

shady

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1001
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #41 on: August 23, 2022, 08:42:34 AM »
Right now people who leased cars and are at the end of the lease have a gold mine. They buy the car at the end rather than turn it in and are selling them for thousands over the buy back.
What goes fast doesn't go fast long'
What goes fast takes your money with it.
So I'm slow & broke, what went wrong?
2021 FERR cool FE Winner
2022 FERR cool FE Winner
2023 FERR cool FE Winner

BattlestarGalactic

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1296
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #42 on: August 23, 2022, 04:50:45 PM »
Leasing a car is just paying someone to arrange financing and sell the car for you at the lease end.

If you damage it or run up excess mileage (according to the contract) you will pay for it dearly.

Leasing is an easy way for companies to eliminate most of the bookkeeping for company cars for tax returns.

Most big auto auctions are returned lease cars. They keep used car prices high by setting high reserves on them and now prices are very high because of the new car shortages.

Ron.

Some years back I had a friend whose daughter had to park her lease and buy something else to help save the huge penalty for excessive mileage.  I'm guessing she never read the fine print(seemed to be her problem on many things now looking back).

Selling anything is a big deal now.  Money for nothing as long as you don't need to replace said item.  Friend bought new Bronco, was told drive it for a year and dealership would give him more then he paid for it.  Crazy.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2022, 04:53:06 PM by BattlestarGalactic »
Larry

machoneman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3846
    • View Profile
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #43 on: August 24, 2022, 06:39:31 AM »
Long term, the future does look brighter. Here's why.

-many US firms are bringing jobs back here to eliminate those supply chain bottlenecks.
-the semi-conductor shortage revealed the need to not only mine raw materials here and in Canada, but also to build those semi-conductors here.
-like wise, the slowdown of most industry in China due to Covid-19 (mandatory closures) was just getting back up to speed when now, a severe and long term drought has dried up major rivers, cutting hydro-electric power and causing massive stoppages to most major industries.

Sure, it's going to take time for these and other changes (I could go on but..) but we're headed in the right direction these days. That's my take.     
Bob Maag

Falcon67

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2151
    • View Profile
    • Kelly's Hot Rod Page
Re: The future doesn't look too bright.
« Reply #44 on: August 24, 2022, 11:07:45 AM »
Quote
Selling anything is a big deal now.  Money for nothing as long as you don't need to replace said item.  Friend bought new Bronco, was told drive it for a year and dealership would give him more then he paid for it.  Crazy.

I upgraded from a 2020 XLT F-350 to a Lariat 2022 F-350 thanks to crazy trade in values, so you won't hear me complain LOL.

I think a major worry right now is really the drought conditions.  I just checked the ERCOT site and at 9AM Texas was making 3664 mW from just wind and solar alone.  Hovver Dam hydro is down to 1076 mw capacity as of June because of the drop in Lake Mead.  That one plant supposedly supplies power to 1.3m people, including Vegas.  The thought of that power plant going offline is very unnerving.  Mead is 93' above the point of having to stop the turbines.  I wonder if there is enough fossil power out there to make up the shortage should the worst come to pass.