Greg In The Desert

Tesla finally announced their new Model S Coupe last week. This is the car that Tesla was supposed to build in Albuquerque, but moved the manufacturing to San Jose California when they got a better deal. That didn’t work out either and it’s not clear to me exactly where they plan to build the Model S.

I lived in San Jose in 2001 and it’s a crazy place compared to Albuquerque. I’m still not sure how they ever thought it would be cheaper to produce the cars there rather in Albuquerque in the long term. It could end up being a good thing for Albuquerque if they go out of business like Eclipse Aviation did. I’m certainly not wishing for Tesla to go under but the times are tough and I’ve read some possible bad news in that regard. I would still like to see them have some manufacturing in Albuquerque.

At $40,000 over 500 sedans have already been pre ordered. It’s a good looking car but I won’t be on the buyers list anytime soon. Maybe if they came out with a pickup truck I might have to get out the credit card.

I am what is call a AFOL, Adult Fan Of Lego. I got my start with legos in the 1970’s and 1980’s with the town and space themed sets. I couldn’t tell you which set I had first but I did have the much coveted LL-497 Galaxy Explorer.

Lego no longer makes the straight space them any more. They instead make the Mars Mission and Star Wars’s themes. There’s no mistake that the Star Wars sets are awesome and I very occasionally buy one for that reason.

Many of us AFOL’s are nostalgic for the original Space theme and March 2009 is the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the original space themed sets from Lego.

Neo Classic Space is celebrating by introducing a new model of day of march in the look of the original blue and grey space theme but using modern Lego building techniques.

Their first model, the LL-414 Deep Space Perimeter Patrol Ship, does not disappoint. Note the lack of studs anywhere on the model.

I don’t buy this iPod nano leak. Yes, i think the device is real but I don’t think the leak was an accident. This is all part of Steve Job’s reality distortion field and Apple’s ploy to build hype before the September 9th event and still maintain the perception of their no-preannounce secrecy scheme.

There are two dangers in leaking products early. If it’s leaked too far in advanced competitors get an idea what your up to and can make adjustments to their products. The iPod nano doesn’t count here because it was only leaked a few weeks before it’s official release.

The other danger is the leak could kill sales of the older model leaving an unwanted inventory. Several days before Kevin Rose posted about the new model, Appleinsider reported that the older model of nanos were discontinued and inventory was running out.

Besides, the nano isn’t the most exciting of Apple’s devices or a new device so leaking it only helps drive speculation about what else Apple could announce. Apple told a east cost journalist that they should be at the event on September 9th because it will be a big deal. I wouldn’t want a Apple event to be anything but a big deal..

The RDF is building and the internets are caught in it. Good job Apple.