Alternative Energy and All-Electric Vehicles - The Harder They Come, Jamaican Style

The Sea! The Sea! The Open Sea!

The Blue, the fresh, the ever free!

B.W. Procter, The Sea

America [Bernie Mac impresario], Milk River, Clarendon, Jamaica my island home, is reeling from a death toll of nine (9) reported by the International Press as stated in the article “Tropical Storm Nicole kills nine in Jamaica”, published Thursday October 2 2010 by Reuters, Yahoo! News.

It is now rumoured to be in the teens, with the Chinese Ambassador asserting, in a rather diplomatic way, that the ruling JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) and it Public Sectors are so punch-drunk with money, not to mention an assured party victory that they have time to debate the Environment as stated in the article “'It's up to Jamaica', says Chinese Ambassador”, published Thursday October 2 2010, The Jamaica Observer.

Oh well, at least I got back power, and my computer works! If only I had an Apple iTV or even the LIME TV, which I plan by some means to purchase this Christmas 2010, as I could also stream TV, having stopped watched CVM TV and Television Jamaica since 2005.

This as aside from Beauty Queen Regina Beavers on CVM at Sunrise and Tech Tutorial on Smile Jamaica, their lack of on-demand streaming makes me ask rhetorically when I saw their revamped websites, why bother?

Kingston people, in their SUV, FINALLY got to understand what we experience in the country EVERYDAY, with gigantic sink holes appearing, according to a FB contact of mine, in Barbican, of all places, as this is effectively Upper St. Andrew, home to the Young and the Restless.

Simon Crosskill, who is rumoured to live in Barbican, according to Smile Jamaica on Television Jamaica, now has a REAL case against the PWD (Public Works Department). Bye now America, thanks for using HAARP (High Altitude Auroral Research Project) again, much obliged, as it finally seemed to drive home the point after all the loss of life that we are all Jamaicans, and not living on roads divided along JLP or PNP lines.

Christopher Nolan movie, Inception, chief character played by Leonardo DeCaprio states “what is the most dangerous weapon? An Idea”. That was what the Apple iPhone was back in 2007 when it debut on Telecom Provider AT&T’s network before going on to break records and become a headache on Telecom Provider AT&T’s Network as stated in the article “AT&T breaks sales records with iPhone 3GS launch”, published July 2, 2009 1:12 PM PDT by Marguerite Reardon, CNET News - Signal Strength.

The corresponding Second Quarter in 2008 on the face of losses of 921,000 POTS customers all due to Apple magical Apple iPhone 3GS, despite the huge US$300 subsidy so as to make the device affordable to the masses as opposed to the very first Apple iPhone launched in 2007.

Good Move Telecom Provider AT&T! It appeared well worth it as stated in the article “iPhone buoys AT&T subscriptions - but hurts profit”, published July 23, 2009 7:34 AM PDT, by Marguerite Reardon,  CNET News – Wireless.

Telecom Provider AT&T saw their profit drop by 15% for that Second Quarter of 2009 from a high of US$3.77 billion in the Second Quarter of 2008 to US$3.2 billion in the Second Quarter of 2009 even on the back of a gain of 2.4 million (2,400,000) Apple iPhone 3GS. Then came the Data Hogs.

This due to the very same Apple iPhone users, effectively 3% of users using up 40% of the Data Network Resources on their Network as stated in the delightful narrative by Ralph De La Vega, Head of AT&T Wireless as stated in the article “AT&T considers incentives to curb heavy data usage”, published December 9, 2009 3:08 PM PST by Marguerite Reardon CNET News - Signal Strength.

Statements which are pointless, as common sense based on anecdotal information speak to an increasing insatiable demand for Data at higher and faster speeds. All due to the Apple iPhone Effect in 2007, ironically its API originally based on my suggestions in 2003 AD. Who would have thought it would become so big?

Now this dream of mine given away in 2003 is THE Reality, with capacitive touch screen smart phones the must-have gadget of 2010, forcing even RIM Blackberry to debut the behind spec BlackBerry Torch 9800 on Telecom Provider AT&T with its two (2) year contract for a reasonable US$199 as per the article “RIM looks to make a splash with $199 touchscreen BlackBerry Torch”,  published Tuesday August 3 2010 by Ben Patterson, Yahoo Technology Writer, Yahoo! News.

Which as we all know, got Torched by a more Tech-savvy public as per the article “RIM Halves BlackBerry Torch Price to Boost Sales”, published Monday August 16, 7:24 pm ET by Barbara E. Hernandez, Yahoo! News and as confirmed in the article “BlackBerry Torch already being sold at discount”, published August 17, 2010 8:14 AM PDT by Don Reisinger, CNET News - The Digital Home!

Despite this, the trending towards tech gadgets, specifically smart phones, long the preserve of tech obsessed males as ruminated by Award Winning member of the CNET Blog Network Writer Chris Matyszczyk in the article “Will tech always be a boys 'n' toys club?”, published August 29, 2010 12:58 PM PDT by Chris Matyszczyk CNET News - Technically Incorrect.

It is even catching on with women in the United States of America, at least according to the opinion of Marguerite Reardon, a CNET News Reporter in the article Modern power moms flock to smartphones”, published August 17, 2009 4:00 AM PDT by Marguerite Reardon,  CNET News– Wireless.

That was 2009 AD, the Year of the Smart phones, even here in Jamaica, as all Telecom Providers are selling RIM Blackberry as if a tree has sprung up in New Kingston and the Sales Representatives (Executives in the case of Telecom Provider CLARO) are baggin’ and taggin’ ‘em [American colloquial] as fast as their little hands can muster, as Jamaica is usually two (2) years behind when it comes to trends in Telecommunications.

To wit, Telecom Provider Digicel has placed their faith in Google’s capable Android OS hands with the Motorola Droid, rebranded as the Motorola Milestone as stated in the article “Digicel launches the new Motorola Milestone”, published Sunday, July 18, 2010, The Jamaica Observer, as gadget “geek-ness” sells.

This is not even mentioning the Digicel 4G Broadband Network as stated in the article “Digicel all set to unveil 4G Broadband offering”, published Friday, August 13, 2010 by AL EDWARDS, The Jamaica Observer still with bugs and kinks left to figure out, specifically as it relates to protecting the Copyright of the owners of Digital Music and Video online.

Good choice, as Telecom Provider CLARO, now bristling with pride with the Apple iPhone 4, is “pimping” it out here in Jamaica with FaceTime Ads on local channels Television Jamaica and CVM TV as if it was a Range Rover from Stewart’s Motors AutoHaus, again well-placed faith, as uber-exclusivity and glamour sells, even with Network Problems.

Even Telecom Provider LIME is now under Rihanna’s Umbrella, with the up and coming Mobile TV as stated in the article “LIME goes Mobile TV”, published Saturday August 28^th by Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The “TVAnywhere” concept served up by a Telecom Provider LIME and DC Digital partnership as stated in the article “LIME pumps US$100 million into DVB system”, published Sunday, August 29, 2010 By Alicia Roache Sunday Finance reporter, The Jamaica Observer, rumoured also to be powered by Google and their exotic as yet seen Unicorn.

It is appropriately name the Google TV as stated in the article “Google to start TV service in US this autumn”, published Tuesday September 7, 10:37 am ET By Nicola Leske, Yahoo! News and as stated in the article “Intel's Otellini: Google TV shipping this month”, published September 9, 2010 2:13 PM PDT by Tom Krazit, CNET News - Relevant Results.

All to make the Season of Giving Bright after Black Friday, the statistical starting point of Pre-Christmas shopping, making Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn that much happier as stated in the article “Best Buy: Oops! iPad isn't ruining laptop sales after all”, published Saturday September 18, 1:43 am ET by Jeff Bertolucci, Yahoo! News.

The cash tills ring to the tune of a hopefully better American Economy at Target as stated in the article “iPad Debut at Target? Nice at the right Price”, published Tuesday September 14, 2:23 am ET by Barbara E. Hernandez, Yahoo! News.

Christmas of 2010, why are thou so far away?

If 2009 AD is the Year of the Smart phones, then 2010 AD is already shaping up to be the Year of the Tablet, with the Apple iPad out front followed by the overpriced, blitzkrieg-ed Samsung Galaxy Tablet as opined in the article “Success of Samsung Galaxy Tab Doomed by Carrier Contracts”, published by Monday September 6, 9:16 am ET by Tony Bradley, Yahoo! News

Ditto too the RIM Playbook, RIM CEO Mike Lazardis newest Enterprise Team Member as stated in the article “RIM's PlayBook aims at iPad”, published Tuesday September 28 2010 by CNET News and as stated in the article “BlackBerry maker offers tablet aimed at businesses”, published Tuesday September 28 2010 by Associated Press, Yahoo! News.

So far, despite the lack of power specs, by virtue of its amplification of the Blackberry via a standard BlueTooth connection, makes it the ONLY contender worthy enough to dethrone CEO Steve Job’s Apple iPad.

Silicon Valley, do you have a facility for placing bets on upcoming Gadgets, just as you have for Sports Betting? ‘Cause mi’ han’ miggle a scratc’ me, Jamaican colloquial style!!

I have an inkling to bet some money on Motorola and their much rumoured tablet partnership with Telecom Provider Verizon as suggested in the article “Motorola most likely iPad rival”, published August 22, 2010 11:00 AM PDT by Brooke Crothers, Nanotech - The Circuits Blog, CNET News and as stated in the article “Motorola and Verizon Plan Cable-TV-Watching Tablet”, published Wednesday August 4, 2:07 pm ET by Barry Levine, newsfactor.com, Yahoo! News.

I would like (and wish) they would call it the Motorola Lightsabre, in keeping with the Star Wars themed Motorola Droid and the Motorola R2-D2 as stated in the article “R2-D2 Droid 2 edition to arrive in September”, published August 16, 2010 5:07 PM PDT by Scott Webster, CNET News  - Android Atlas just a Battle Cruiser away.

Good timing too, as George Lucas’ LucasFilm is ramping up to release the 3-D Blu-Ray version of Star Wars – The Phantom Menace as per the article “Star Wars saga to get 3-D makeover, starting with 'Phantom Menace' in 2012”, published Wednesday September 29^th 2010, Yahoo! News.

So what of 2011 in Jamaica? This is the Year of the All-Electric Vehicles, in the land of “fame excess” courtesy of Miley Cyrus “Party in the USA”, specifically the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf as stated in the article “Eclectic Electrics”, published May 13, 2010, 5:00PM EST, BusinessWeek - FEATURES,

Jamakicans would be interested in All-Electric Vehicles made in the People’s Republic of China, what with the new People’s Republic of China sponsored roads soon to be a reality as stated in the article “JDIP will boost economy - Golding”, published Monday, September 13, 2010 BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large, South/Central Bureau,  The Jamaica Observer

This is despite the misgivings of Kent LaCroix, President of the Automobile Dealers Association (ADA), who is still harping an old idea I used to support called Turbo Diesel and in the process downplaying the adoption of All-Electric Vehicles in Jamaica as stated in the article “Is Jamaica ready for electric vehicles ?”, published Friday, October 01, 2010, The Jamaica Observer, which I supported because it was all the rage in Europe and it was fast.

Folks,  I am on the Obama Bandwagon and his support for the American Autoworker by his investment in Alternative Energy, which we in Jamaica can also adopt in the training of Automotive Technicians at the JAGAS Automotive School here in Jamaica and install large-scale photo voltaic panels soon to come rolling off the production lines in the People’s Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as stated in the article “Trini Govt looking into glass, solar panel plant”, published Thursday September 30 2010, The Jamaica Observer, to power the Charging Stations that need to be installed

Preferably by Coulomb Technologies, who are currently installing charging stations in the United States of America as stated in the article “First public EV charging station opens in NYC”, published July 15, 2010 1:47 PM PDT by Liane Yvkoff, CNET News  - The Car Tech blog with a free downloadable app to assist Jamaican motorists in location a charging station before they run out of Electricity as stated in the article “Network Web-Savvy EV-charging stations on tap”, published June 2, 2010 7:57 AM PDT by Martin LaMonica, CNET News  - Green Tech.

Aside from this hurdle, speed demons in Jamaica will hate the 80 Km range and slow 80 km/h speed but love the fuel efficiency and longer times between servicing and recharging, as the chassis is completely different.

Thus, even the most Tech-savvy Jamaicans may want to initially sit out this tech revolution until 2012 AD, by which time it will be the Year of the London 2012 Olympics, in which time Range Extender based technology vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt will be in full production, capable of almost 200 km and hybrids will be standard fare.

At which point, JDIP and all as sure as the Sun will shine, we Jamaicans will get what’s rightfully ours. For the Harder they Come the Harder they fall, one and all.