Wired has reported that the Department of Energy has re-classified the company's car as, in fact, a car, allowing the company to apply for special government loans. (Whereas before, the three-wheeled vehicle was classified as a motorcycle.) This could mean great things for Aptera, whose story I've followed for several years now. (Two posts back … Continue reading Speaking of Aptera
journalism
Lutz race proves CTS-V
The 2009 Cadillac CTS-V on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2008. (Flickr creative commons photo from joeross) I sent out a Facebook update a few days ago about a cool marketing concept: Bob Lutz, a famous General Motors executive, challenged his competitors to a race. "May the best car … Continue reading Lutz race proves CTS-V
Lovely international reporting
Students in a Chinese classroom seem happy to learn English, or at least happy to be together. (Creative Commons-licensed photo by yewenyi) Yesterday the New York Times featured an informative and fun-to-read story about outlandish edicts put forth by China's legions of untrained local officials. Sharon LaFraniere did a great job reporting on a nation-wide phenomenon … Continue reading Lovely international reporting
Clout City
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley speaks at a celebration for a building's LEED certification. (Creative Commons-licensed photo from the Flickr account of the Center for Neighborhood Technology) Move over, Tribune, there's another watchdog in town. No one seems to follow the mayor's corruption (yes, I said it) more intently than Mick Dumke of the Reader. … Continue reading Clout City
Summer 2008 work
Here are four clips published summer 2008 in the Wilmington (Ohio) News Journal. For more representative samples of my work, see the this page. May 21, 2008 — A feature describing how kids learn about life on the American frontier. Oxen had to pull their bus from the mud. — June 21, 2008 — At first … Continue reading Summer 2008 work
Brandon Smith 