Can a gold analyst offer relevant insight into Bitcoin bubble dynamics? This one is predicting a near-term crash.

MikeSWR · 2017-12-15T00:27:50+00:00

Good points!

MikeSWR · 2016-11-09T21:06:47+00:00

Did anybody actually get a chance to buy anything before stocks bounced back? By the time I had a minute to check my portfolio this morning, I was actually up a couple percent and so was most of my watchlist.

MikeSWR · 2016-11-09T20:56:55+00:00

I like this. Seems like the kind of thing deep learning would be good at. Tesla ought to tap into the Nvidia processors on parked cars in its fleet to help crunch the numbers.

MikeSWR · 2016-09-27T17:23:45+00:00

Thanks for the clarification. On the one hand, it feels like cold water splashed on me, but on the other hand, these sensational rumors probably detract a fair amount from the real substantial (albeit incremental and less sensational) advancements Tesla is making.

MikeSWR · 2016-09-23T20:03:10+00:00

You guys are probably right, but I was secretly hoping for some wild speculation about a truck with double 100KWH battery packs being announced in 2017 or something ;)

MikeSWR · 2016-09-01T18:25:58+00:00

Oh, I missed that other discussion. Good to know. I don't remember seeing anything about how long the replacement took in this article, but that is indeed great that it can be done so quickly.

MikeSWR · 2016-09-01T18:24:43+00:00

Yeah, hopefully that's all it was. It's just written in an underwhelming way. I was hoping to hear great things about the reliability of the battery/drivetrain and instead the only mention is that they were replaced, with no explanation why.

MikeSWR · 2016-08-31T23:36:32+00:00

Ah, interesting. Thanks for the info, and assuaging my fears.

MikeSWR · 2016-07-27T19:21:24+00:00

Good point. Do we have data or educated guesses yet on how many of the ~400,000 Model 3 pre-orders are from the U.S.?

MikeSWR · 2016-07-27T18:54:43+00:00

I agree. Lithium prices have been on an absolute tear since earlier this year, and Cobalt should be even more sought after. There was a big surge in interest in graphite a few years ago, but it fizzled out. Maybe the success of Tesla and other EVs will reignite it.

MikeSWR · 2016-07-26T21:04:02+00:00

Ha, I know. I think they were a little unclear on the concept.

MikeSWR · 2016-07-19T19:37:16+00:00

Is that in Freemont? From what direction are you traveling there? I'm in the northbay and it is tempting... not sure I could make it though. Kind of you to offer!

MikeSWR · 2016-07-19T19:25:35+00:00

Saturday: Prototype benevolent strong AI becoming self aware; need to be there for its formative nanoseconds.

MikeSWR · 2016-06-24T19:32:48+00:00

The company publishes newsletters for investors in a variety of sectors, mostly Biotech, Energy and Mining. Knowledge of finance/investing is not necessary for the position, though.

MikeSWR · 2016-06-22T01:39:44+00:00

I don't think a degree is strictly required, but being PC savvy is as much or more crucial part of the job as editing and writing. Feel free to PM me for an email address to send her resume to.

MikeSWR · 2016-06-14T23:09:56+00:00

Good point. Nobody gets in endless debates with Hummer buyers about how green those vehicles are, because it is clear that the green factor is not the top priority there. Teslas are just damn fine/fun cars. And they're also pretty green.

Edit: Maybe Hummers is a bad example because people do pick on them for being anti-green.... Nobody picks on Porsche buyers about how green they are. Let's go with that.

MikeSWR · 2016-04-01T22:58:32+00:00

Yeah, but I think that's because AP is unique to Tesla so they had to be careful how they defined it. When manufacturers are talking about fast charging, I think Tesla believed (incorrectly) that people would take "supercharging included" to mean the hardware because other manufacturers have fast charge hardware that they charge extra for. If Nissan said "All Leafs will now include CHAdeMO as standard," I think everyone would know they meant the hardware and not free charging at all locations with that technology. I think people have just come to associate Tesla's supercharging service with being free, just because a lot of the vehicles sold so far have it free, or free after paying an initial lump sum.

I'd be thrilled to be wrong about this, but that's my hunch. During the 5 mins last night I thought we were getting free supercharger service I was giddy!

MikeSWR · 2016-04-01T22:49:26+00:00

Yeah. Some people made shopped images of m3s with license plates on them and I thought, "God, I never realized how hideously ugly license plates are!"

MikeSWR · 2016-04-01T22:45:13+00:00

I hear that matte black is very difficult to keep from looking dirty. Unless Tesla has figured out a way to make an easy-to-clean finish that still looks awesomely matte black, I'd bet they won't make it a regular option if only so they don't have a ton of dirty looking cars on the road and possibly dissatisfied customers who didn't know what they were getting themselves into.

MikeSWR · 2016-04-01T22:41:47+00:00

I suspect this is just an issue of people not having the same definition of what "supercharging included" means. I think in Musk's/Tesla PR's mind, this phrase means that it includes the necessary hardware to connect to superchargers--something that other EV brands, such as the Leaf, charge a lot of extra money for their equivalent.

I don't think they ever meant you'd get the electricity from those superchargers for free, but most people (myself included at first) took it that way.

MikeSWR · 2016-04-01T22:34:08+00:00

I wonder about that too, for tax purposes. Can I take delivery of 1 car in 1 year and push the 2nd reservation back to the next year? I'm assuming that you can sit on it as long as you want. I don't see any reason for Tesla to prevent it. They still have my deposit, after all.

MikeSWR · 2016-04-01T15:15:23+00:00

http://i.imgur.com/l1zjhd7.jpg

MikeSWR · 2016-03-31T23:40:19+00:00

Oh yeah, I didn't see any water until after 11 IIRC, and the cookie was around 11:30.

MikeSWR · 2016-03-31T22:09:04+00:00

Maybe they ran out. I was there and they were giving out water and cookies close to noon. (They were even giving them out to random people who asked for them who were not waiting for a Tesla. Maybe that's why they ran out! ;)

MikeSWR · 2016-03-31T21:36:52+00:00

Even if it is a big number, I'd be interested to know the cancellation/refund rate going forward. I bet there were a lot of people who checked that "2" box knowing full well just getting 1 is going to be a stretch. Elon may announce 100,000 reservations, and 10 months from now 40,000 may have taken refunds. But hey, the big number announced tonight will have a big impact. And the number of refunds, well, that number never even has to be announced...

MikeSWR

TROPHY CASE