Quality Weenie

Sneak Peek - 2007 Jeep Wrangler

Jeep to unveil new Wrangler at Detroit show

Jeep plans to unveil a redesigned Wrangler next week at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The next-generation Wrangler gets new sheet metal, an upgraded chassis and a revamped cabin, and will move upscale, with improved safety features and more content.
A new addition to the Wrangler family will be a four-door variant, built on a longer wheelbase. Exterior styling is said to resemble that of the Jeep Gladiator concept truck.

Hattip: Detroit News

Today in Automotive History

1903 Ford Hires Dodge

Henry Ford hired John F. and Horace E. Dodge to supply the chassis and running gear for his 650 Ford automobiles. John and Horace, who began their business careers as bicycle manufacturers in 1897, first entered the automobile industry as manufacturers of auto parts in 1901. Manufacturing car bodies for Henry Ford and Ransom Olds, the Dodge Brothers had become the largest parts-manufacturing firm in the U.S. by 1910. In 1914, the brothers founded the Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company, and began work on their first automobiles. Dodge vehicles were known for their quality and sturdiness, and by 1919 the Dodge Brothers were among the richest men in America. Their good fortune didn't hold, however. Both brothers died of influenza in 1920. Their company was sold to a New York bank, before eventually being purchased by Chrysler in 1928. Under Chrysler's direction, Dodge became a successful producer of cars and trucks marketed for their ruggedness.

Today in Automotive History

1948 Who Made the Jeep?

The Federal Trade Commission issued a restraining order, preventing the Willys-Overland Company from representing that it had developed the Jeep. Willys-Overland did, in fact, end up producing the Army vehicle that would come to be known as the Jeep; but it was the Bantam Motor Company that first presented the innovative design to the Army.

Friday Doggie Blogging

I know everyone has missed the Friday Dog Blogging so I will give you more cuteness and sweetness then you can handle.

When Maggie gets scared of something she hides under the coffee table and in the corner.

A Howling Good Time

I had to do a seperate post on the Wolf Park because it deserves it's own post.
I had a great time there, I loved the place. It was great, fantastic, awesome. I definately want to go back and bring the hubby.
Being able to interact with the wolves and seeing others physcially interact with the wolves was very interesting. They actually reminded me of my puppies with their actions. It also reminded me that dogs are just domesticated wolves, that they have a common background with wolves. Some of the things the wolves were doing were versions of what my puppies do.
Laughing Wolf was extremely knowledgeable about the wolves and the tour he gave was great, had it been warmer I could have stayed outside for hours listening to him and asking questions about their behaviors.
I would have liked to learn more about the Foxes they have too, definately next time.
And I also want to see the Wolf / Bison demonstrations, to be able to see that in person should be an awesome thing to see.
So here are the links for the Wolf Park, use them please.
Wolf Park http://www.wolfpark.org/
Wolf Park Gift Shop Online: http://wolfparkstore.com/
Wolf Park Online Donations: http://wolfparkstore.com/tab2/store/category/6c7c/Donations.html
Wolf Park Seminars http://www.wolfpark.org/seminars.html
Sponsor A Wolf http://www.wolfpark.org/adopt.html
Wolf Park's Photos Of The Day http://www.wolfpark.org/adopt.html
Wolf Park Photo Seminars http://www.wolfpark.org/photo_seminar.html
Extended Entry contains the photos I took.

Today in Automotive History

1909 Hudson Motor Incorporated

The Hudson Motor Car Company, founded by Joseph Hudson, in Detroit, Michigan, was incorporated on this day. Hudson is perhaps most famous for its impact on NASCAR racing, which it accomplished thanks to a revolutionary design innovation. In 1948, Hudson introduced the Monobuilt design. The Monobuilt consisted of a chassis and frame that were combined in a unified passenger compartment, producing a strong, lightweight design with a beneficial lower center of gravity that did not affect road clearance. Hudson called the innovation the "step-down design" because, for the first time, drivers had to step down to get into their cars. In 1951, Hudson introduced the Hornet. Fitted with a bigger engine than previous Hudson models, the Hudson Hornet became a dominant force on the NASCAR circuit. Because of its lower center of gravity, the Hornet glided around corners with relative ease, leaving its unstable competitors in the dust. For the first time a car not manufactured by the Big Three was winning big. In 1952, Hudson won 29 of 34 events. Excited by their success on the track, Hudson executives began directly backing their racing teams, providing the team cars with everything they needed to increase success. The Big Three responded, and in doing so brought about the system of industry-backed racing that has become such a prominent marketing tool today. The Hudson Hornet would dominate NASCAR racing until 1955 when rule changes led to an emphasis on horsepower over handling.

The Therapy is Going To Cost Me A Fortune

Or Wolf Fest blogmeet.

Ok, now that everyone else has written about the blogmeet I will tell what really happened.

I got to the hotel around 2:30, having gotten done with my customer visit real early and decided to take a nap. Woke up around 4:30 thinking that I should be meeting Contagion and company soon for dinner. Yea, was I wrong on that count. By the time Contagion called I was nearly faint from the lack of food. You know Contagion there is such a thing as time zones.

So we met for dinner and don't believe the crap about me not talking much, it was from being nearly faint from starvation. Laughing Wolf joins us for dinner and the group had a pleasant time chatting, ignoring Contagion and his constant, very loud, calls to the bartender to keep em coming. As dinner was winding up LW told us that he had to leave because Tammi, T1G, Bloodsprite and Bloodspouse were probably waiting at the back door for him.

NOT!

So we get directions, I show off my driving skills and we end up at an intersection not knowing where to go next because we don't have an address. It was asured to us that we couldn't get lost. Well Contagion was riding shot gun so couldn't turned into could and did. A call is placed to LW with the intersection street names and LW asks if we are in another state because he has no idea where we are and directs us to turn around and head back towards the main street and he will turn on his porch light to try and spot us. We look behind us to turn around and LW appears out of no where, no where being his house, which was right behind us. Someone needs to buy LW a map for his birthday.

We enter the house and Tammi and company are no where to be found so we catch some floor and wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. And wait. And finally they come rolling up the drive.

Tammi comes bounding in the house grabbing anyone and anything to hug as she goes. With hugs despensed they leave for a cigarette with only minutes later T1G coming back in to give me a hug saying he didn't know who I was. I can't believe he didn't recognize the boobies, I had them displayed nicely.

All of a sudden, as everyone was sitting down to chat, Contagion insists that he needs his beauty sleep and complains until we leave.

The next morning Oddy liked my driving so much that she wanted to drive with me again, so off to the battlefield we go. We arrived first with Contagion and Ktreva arriving shortly afterwards. Wes and Wife arrived shortly after them and all decided to punish me by standing out in the cold for what seemed like hours for the rest to arrive. The rest arrive, we walk out to the battlefield, short speech by LW and then to the warmth of the visitors center.

Someone decided it was time to head off to the Wolf park, so being good sheep off we went. Once at the park someone mentioned that Harvey and TNT had arrived but I didn't notice him. Tour time, LW headed the tour and what a job he did. If you go, talk LW into giving you the tour because he did an awesome job of it. I will do a seperate post abou the Wolf Park tour. By the end of the tour I was a popsicle but made it inside the building for warmth, hot cocoa and some munchies.

This quite dark haired gentleman comes up to me and gives me a hug, I was quite frightened as I didn't know who he was. Turns out it's Harvey. Now let me tell you folks, I would never in a million years think this quite, unassuming person was Harvey. I imagined that when Harvey entered a room one would definately know he came in.

We then headed out for chow! Yea, food! The bar was great, as all small bars are. There was quite a discussion about Loins going on and Ktreva got so excited that she got Oddy wet!

We then headed back to the Wolf Park for Howl Night, stopping by the gift shop before it started.

Howl night was fantastic. It was cool howling with the wolves! But what really shocked me and I can't believe that nobody mentioned it before now was that a couple of the wolves were getting it on, more than a few times. I think they knew that members of the Bad Example family were present and they were just trying to fit in.

After Howl Night we head to a tavern and ate and drank some more. The conversations were flying, beavers were nawing, beers were disappearing and Oddy was getting it on with an Wooden Indian statue.

All in all I had a great time, something that was much needed by me. Now a re-cap on the people in attendance. In order of appearnace.

Contagion - Shy my ass, christ I wish I was THAT shy. The man wouldn't shut-up, well ok he did shut-up some but that was when there was a drink at his lips. Even though he drives a Chevy he's a real sweetie and I can't wait to have another drink with him soon.

Ktreva - A real saint for putting up with Contagion and a real sweetie and a cutie! I had fun hanging with her and can't wait to talk Loins with her again, although I hope she doesn't get me wet.

Oddy - A real sweetheart and she didn't scream once while I was driving. She's also a smart one!

Laughing Wolf - Wasn't sure what to expect from someone who blogs about Wolfs as much as he does, but I am glad to have met him. His knowledge of Wolfs astounds me, I bow to you sir!

Tammi - She is everything you think she is and much much more. I love that she is a touchy feely person cause I like that. Since meeting her I can't wait to meet her again, she just leaves that kind of impression on you. She is a person that you just want to be around because she makes you feel good about yourself.

T1G - A big ol teddy bear and good hugger! I can't believe he isn't taken yet, I mean are women in Illionis blind? If I were single honey, if I were single.

Bloodsprite and Bloodspouse - Two of the most kind people I've met. I didn't get much of a chance to talk with them, which I regret, but I hope to in the future.

Wes and Wife - Again two of the most kind people I met. They are very funny too! Kept me laughing much of the day, I hope they are at future blogmeets.

TNT - I didn't get to talk with her much, but it's easy to see she is very in love with Harvey.

Harvey - Man, you blew my impression of you right out the door. I really was thinking that when Harvey came into a room everyone would know it. I imagined him sliding in loudly, being bolsterous and making himself known. Instead here is this quiet, unassuming person who talks quitely. It was an honor meeting you sir, I hope we get to sit down and chat at a future meeting.

In all, everyone made me feel welcome and at home. I am a very shy person and nobody would believe the amount of courage it took for me to attend this event. I am glad I worked up the courage to attend and actually can't wait until the next one.

Today in Automotive History

1923 Landmark Chevy

The 1,000,000th Chevy was produced on this day. Chevrolet began when William Durant hired Louis Chevrolet, a Swiss race-car driver and star of the Buick Racing Team, to design a new car. Durant hoped to challenge the success of the Ford Model T with an affordable, reliable car. Chevrolet wanted to design a finer sort of automobile, however. Their product, the Classic Six, was an elegant car with a large price tag. But Durant built two more models, sturdier and cheaper, and Chevy was on its way. Durant eventually made over a million dollars in profits on his Chevrolet marque, money that allowed him to reacquire a majority interest in General Motors (GM) stock. Durant eventually merged the two companies and created GM's current configuration. Louis Chevrolet left the company before the merger, leaving only his name to benefit from the company's success.

Today in Automotive History

1881 The New World

On this day in 1881, Joseph A. Galamb, a Ford Motor Company engineer and a member of the team of engineers that developed the Model T, was born in Mako, Hungary. The Model T design would change automotive history with its reliability, affordability, and capacity for mass production. "If you freeze the design and concentrate on production," Ford explained, "as the volume goes up, the cars are certain to become cheaper." Thanks to men like Joseph Galamb, the design for the "Tin Lizzy" met her maker's expectation to bring automobiles to the masses and guaranteed that the New World would become even newer for the next wave of immigrants. On February 3, 1981, the citizens of Mako, Hungary, paid tribute to Galamb, honoring the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Today in Automotive History

1923 Leaded Gasoline Goes On Sale

Gasoline mixed with Tetraethyl lead was first sold to the public at a roadside gas station owned by Willard Talbott in Dayton, Ohio. Coined "ethyl gasoline" by Charles Kettering of General Motors, the blend was discovered by General Motors laboratory technician Thomas Midgley to beneficially alter the combustion rate of gasoline. Reportedly, in seven years of research and development General Motors labs tested at least 33,000 compounds for their propensity to reduce knocks. Leaded gasoline would fill the world's gas tanks until emissions concerns lead to the invention of unleaded gasol

A Primer For Visiting Detroit During the Super Bowl

Super Bowl Instructions
For all the visitors, from other than Michigan, coming to the
Super Bowl in February

1. First, you must learn to pronounce the city name. It's Deh-troit. NOT DEE-troit. If you pronounce it DEE-Troit then we will assume you are from Toledo and here for the country Music hoe-down.

2. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Detroit has its own version of traffic rules... Hold on and pray!

3. The morning rush hour is from 6:00 am to 10:00 am. The evening rush
hour is from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday
morning. Weekends are open game.

4. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended, cussed out and possibly shot. If you're first off the starting line when the light turns green, count to five before going across the intersection. This will avoid getting in the way of cross-traffic who just ran their yellow light to keep from getting shot.

5. Schoenherr can ONLY be properly pronounced by a native of the Detroit
metro area. That goes for Gratiot too.

6. Construction and renovation on I-94, I-96, I-75, I-275, I-375, The Lodge and The Southfield Freeways are a way of life and forever. Just deal with it.

7. If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect or they are "out-of-towners"

8. All old men (or women) with white hair wearing a hat have total right-of! -way.

9. The minimum acceptable speed on I-696 and I-275 is 85 regardless of
the posted speeds. Anything less is considered downright SISSY. Oh,
and don't even think of allowing more than one car length between cars!

10. That attractive wrought iron on the windows and doors in Detroit is
NOT ornamental. DO NOT get out of your car to take pictures.

11. Never stare at the driver of the car with the bumper sticker that
says "Keep honking, I'm reloading", he/she is.

12. If you are in the left lane, and only going 70 in a 60 mph zone, people are not waving because they are so friendly in Detroit. I would suggest you duck.

13. I-275 and I-696 is our daily version of NASCAR.

14. It's not M-10, it's "The Lodge".

15. That's not a lake, it's a pothole.

16. If someone tells you it's on Outer Drive, you better hope you have a map.

17. The Michigan left turn is simple. If you want to turn left, go a 1/4 of a mile past your turn, get to the left, then make a left, then make another left, then make a right when you get back to the intersection wh! ere you wanted to turn left in the first place. NOW you have gone left.

18. And those 2 really ugly arches over Telegraph???? DON'T EVEN ASK!! WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE!!!!!

WELCOME, ENJOY YOUR STAY, BUT AVOID EYE-CONTACT WITH THE LOCALS

Today in Automotive History

1898 First Auto Insurance Policy

The Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, extended coverage to an automobile owner, making them the first company to issue an automobile insurance policy to an individual. Dr. Truman J. Martin of Buffalo, New York, paid a premium of $11.25 for the policy that covered $5,000 to $10,000 of liability. In 1925, Massachusetts became the first state to mandate automobile insurance, "requiring owners of certain motor vehicles and trailers to furnish security for their civil liabilities." Today, auto insurance is a fact of life for American drivers as nearly every state requires some insurance for the operator of a motor vehicle. In a country where the driver's license serves as the primary form of identification, the challenge of selecting a coverage policy and paying the car insurance premium has become a rite of passage for many young Americans.