February 28, 2007
Hell Has Frozen Over
No really, it has ....
This is not a hoax ...
There is actually video of him saying this ...
Must have been all those emails I sent him!
NYT Thinks Americans are Stupid
It seems that Paul Krugman, an editor at the NYT, thinks Americans are stupid and illiterate.
Krugman argues that America lost out on the plant (remember, it’s 1300 jobs) because American workers were “illiterate.” He cites a comment from a Canadian partsmakers’ booster group as his evidence. And in the process, he falls back on ugly stereotypes and simultaneously shows off the thin research he performs as habit to write his columns.
The plant he is refering to is a new Toyota plant in Ontario that will build RAV4's.
And what else does he base this on besides the Canadian partsmakers group?
Krugman repeats: “‘Nissan and Honda have encountered difficulties getting new plants up to full production in recent years in Mississippi and Alabama due to an untrained - and often illiterate - workforce. In Alabama, trainers had to use “pictorials” to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech plant equipment.’”
And where else is Mr Krugman getting his "illiterate" information from?
Krugman’s threadbare argument comes right from DailyKos, the liberal blog thought leader condemned by Bernard Goldberg in his tight new book, 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America“. And Kos gets it straight from the CBC - that’s right, the Canadian Broadcast Company, the same CBC that blathers against red-state America at every turn - and Gerry Fedchun, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, whose the CBC adds (and Krugman must have missed) “will see increased business with the new plant.”“The educational level and the skill level of the people down there is so much lower than it is in Ontario,” Fedchun said.
Nice to see that "Americans" are getting American literacy information from the Canadians.
The editors at the Car Connection got their panties in a bunch over this article from Mr Krugman, but rightfully so ...
There is, after all, a bottom line every manufacturer must heed. And there is a difference in workers who are new to building cars, versus those moved around from Michigan to Ohio depending on where the union can resettle them. In the 25 years since Nissan set up in Tennessee, it’s been no mystery what quality of workers are available in the Deep South. And though some require more training, it’s still a much better proposition than building a plant in a unionized area - unless, as in Ontario, Toyota overcame the cost disadvantage by getting hundreds of millions in tax concessions, saved money by coupling the back-office operations with another plant and saved money on the materials for construction by building in a country with a lower materials cost basis.
Toyota Picks Mississippi Plant Because Of Educated Work Force
Toyota says the educated work force is what drew them to the Tupelo area for its eighth assembly plant in North America
So, Toyota feels the only reason they picked Mississippi for their new plant was the high education of the citizens of that fine state.
Toyota officials, after the glow of the press conference today announcing their new Mississippi plant, will have to explain how they arrived at their research on education. In an annual ranking of states by independent research publisher Morgan Quitno Press, the state ranks 48th out of 50 for education. (emphasis mine)
Wow! They do have some explaining to do. Or could they be covering up the real reason why Mississippi won the contract?
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour said that the state lured Toyota with an incentive package close to that which attracted Nissan to Canton , Miss. That package was reported to be $363 million.
Ah, so money was involved ...
That and the fact that the Asian automakers love the south ... less expensive then the north and ...
Toyota's move to Mississippi continues a trend of Asian carmakers choosing Southeastern U.S. sites. Not only is it far away from the United Auto Workers' strongholds, but manufacturers like Toyota are welcomed with open arms by states who have lost most of their manufacturing base - textiles and furniture - to Asian countries. Toyota said workers will make about $20 per hour plus health and retirement benefits. (emphasis mine)
$20 per hour is nothing to sneeze at, of course it's not the $30 per hour that the Kentucky plant is making but it is the same as what the Big 3 are paying their employees. So much for the Big 3 paying "outragious" amounts to it's work force.
Goberment Forces More Regulations
The Government is trying to force more regulations onto sane people or stupid peoples actions.
In a bid to keep children safer, automakers could be forced to install rear-view cameras and power windows that automatically reverse under a bill to be introduced today.
And you will never guess who is leading the push ...
The Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act -- which U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and John Sununu, R-N.H., will introduce at a news conference today
I would really like to know where she is getting her information, because if it really was that much of a tragedy, a kid getting killed by a power window or being run over while someone is backing up you would have heard it about it a lot more than we do.
And what you may ask are they basing the power windows killing kids on?
In December, a 3-year-old girl was killed in a Pontiac Vibe in Detroit when she was caught in a window that rolled up and strangled her.
They are basing it on an instance in which the driver, the kids grandmother, was at fault for the whole thing.
And then we get this stupid quote ...
"If automakers can add heated seats and chilled cupholders then they can afford to save kids' lives," said Janette E. Fennell, founder and president of the advocacy group Kids and Cars,
"The answer is not, 'Let's just keep blaming the parents,' " Campbell said Monday.
So lets make sure the parents are more not responsible for the actions of themselves and their kids. Lets take responsibility for ensuring that parents don't have to teach their kids not to touch the car and make the automakers responsible for teaching kids that.
Today in Automotive History
1903 : Ford hires Dodge
John and Horace DodgeHenry 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.
February 27, 2007
Today in Automotive History
1914 : Auto titans clash
The start of the Vanderbilt Cup Race, circa 1911In the first decade of automobile racing, one rivalry stood out above the others: the brash Barney Oldfield vs. the gentlemanly Ralph DePalma. On this day in 1914, it was DePalma who got the better of Oldfield in the 9th Vanderbilt Cup in Santa Monica, California. The Vanderbilt Cup was American racing's first tradition. The event was founded in 1904 to introduce Europe's best racers and manufacturers to the U.S. Named after the event's sponsor, William K. Vanderbilt Jr., the Vanderbilt Cup ran every year from 1904 to 1915, when race fatalities finally led Vanderbilt to shut down the event. With the amazing safety technology available in car racing today, it is hard for us to imagine just how dangerous racing was for men like Barney Oldfield and Ralph DePalma. Racers of their generation had more in common with Chuck Yeager and John Glenn than with the racers of today. Equipped with enormous engines and almost no suspension or steering technology, the pre-World War I race car was a hunk of metal on wheels capable of propelling itself over 60mph on dirt tracks. Guiding the cars through turns was as much a test of brute strength and raw courage as it was a test of skill. With death as a silent participant in every race, it is clear why a race between Barney Oldfield and Ralph DePalma was as fascinating to spectators. Oldfield, hard-nosed and streetwise would race anyone, anywhere, anytime. DePalma was a product of the system; deferential and quiet, but he was no less courageous. The rivalry would come to a head during the 1917 match races between the two men. Large-scale racing had been halted due to World War I, but head-to-head match races commanded considerable crowds. Oldfield, driving the Harry Miller designed "Golden Submarine," an aluminum-framed technological wonder, defeated DePalma and his more traditional Packard, powered by a 12-cylinder aircraft engine.
February 23, 2007
Friday Doggie Blogging
This edition of Friday Doggie Blogging is brought to you by
DOG'S GONE WILD
And here we have Lance thinking that is this as good of a spot as any to lay down.
Today in Automotive History
1958 : Racing champion is kidnapped
Juan FangioIn a bizarre twist, Argentine racing champion Juan Manuel Fangio was kidnapped by Communist guerrillas in Havana, Cuba, one day before the second Havana Grand Prix. Members of the July 26 Movement (M-26-7) and followers of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, the kidnappers hoped to make a political statement by kidnapping the world-famous Fangio before he could defend his title at the Havana Grand Prix. "We wanted to show that Cuba was living in a situation of war against the Batista tyranny," explained Arnol Rodriguez, a member of the kidnapping team. In a moment fit for a Blake Edwards film, revolutionary Manuel Uziel, holding a revolver, approached Fangio in the lobby of his hotel and ordered the race-car driver to identify himself. Fangio reportedly thought it was a joke until Uziel was joined by a group of men carrying submachine guns. Fangio reacted calmly as the kidnappers explained to him their intention to keep him only until the race was over. After his release to the Argentine Embassy, Fangio revealed a fondness for his kidnappers, refusing to help identify them and relaying their explanation that the kidnapping was a political statement. In the meantime, the Havana Grand Prix had been marred by a terrible accident, leading Fangio to believe that he had been spared for a reason. Years later, Fangio would return to Havana on a work mission. He was received as a guest of the state, and he expressed his gratitude with quiet eloquence, "Two big dreams have come true for me: returning to Cuba and meeting Fidel Castro." Fangio was famous for winning races; he became legendary by missing one.
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February 22, 2007
Ouch, That Hurts
We went and had our taxes done on Tuesday.
And let me tell you, that hurts when they don't use vaseline.
One would think with me not working 3 1/2 months last year we wouldn't have had to pay but we are ... to both the Feds and the State.
Gah, looks like back to the cheap dog food for us.
Today in Automotive History
1949 : Lauda is born
Louis Chevrolet driving a Buick Model 10 racer, 1910Stylish Austrian race-car driver Niki Lauda was born in Vienna, Austria, on this day. Lauda is also the founder of Air Lauda, a continental European airline that features flight attendants in denim jeans and Team Lauda baseball caps.
February 20, 2007
Today in Automotive History
1993 : Lamborghini dies
The 1963 Lamborghini GTVFerrucio Lamborghini died on this day in 1993, leaving behind a remarkable life story of a farm boy with big dreams. Born on his family's farm outside of Bologna, Italy, Lamborghini grew up tinkering with tractors. He enrolled in an industrial college near Bologna, where he studied machinery. Graduating just before World War II, Lamborghini then served as an engineer in the Italian Air Force. After the war he returned to his family's farm and began assembling tractors from leftover war vehicles. Lamborghini built such high-quality tractors that by the mid-1950s, the Lamborghini Tractor Company had become one of Italy's largest farm equipment manufacturers. But Ferrucio dreamt of cars. In 1963, he bought land, built an ultra-modern factory, and hired distinguished Alfa Romeo designer Giotti Bizzarini. Together they set out to create the ultimate automobile. In 1964, Lamborghini produced the 300 GT, a large and graceful sports car. By 1974, Ferrucio Lamborghini had sold out of the business bearing his name, but the company would never deviate from his initial mission to create exquisite vehicles at whatever cost.
February 19, 2007
10 Weeks
2 1/2 months ...
Gah, I am going crazy here.
I haven't even heard from a headhunter in 1 1/2 weeks. Things are starting to look bleak.
Now if I was willing to move south I would have had a job because they headhunters that have contacted me in the past month have all been for jobs in the south.
And the cold weather isn't helping any but I don't want to see Spring without a job. I am beginning the wonder what it is like to work.
And my unemployment runs out in 6 weeks.
Gak ...
Today in Automotive History
1954 : T-Bird hatches
The 1955 Ford ThunderbirdThe Ford Thunderbird was born in prototype form on this day. It wouldn't be released to the market on a wide scale until the fall of 1954, the beginning of the 1955 model year. The T-Bird was a scaled-down Ford built for two. It came with a removable fiberglass hard top and a convertible canvas roof for sunny days. Armed with a V-8 and sporty looks, the T-Bird was an image car. For $2,944 a driver could drop the top, turn the radio dial, and enter a more promising world. General Motors (GM) had created the Corvette two years earlier to meet the needs of the G.I. who had developed a taste for European sports cars. In keeping with Ford's cautious tradition, the T-Bird, its response to the Corvette, still looked like a Ford and was classified as a "personal car" and not a "sports car." But it was popular. Just as it had relied heavily on one car, the Model T, in its early stages, Ford would rely heavily on the T-Bird to bolster its image as a progressive car maker capable of keeping pace with GM. A decade later the Mustang would take the torch from the T-Bird, but to remember Ford in the 1950s one only needs to call to mind the stylish growl of the Thunderbird's V-8.
February 16, 2007
Today in Automotive History
1852 : The Studebaker is born
Henry and Clem Studebaker, with their brothersHenry and Clement Studebaker founded H & C Studebaker, a blacksmith and wagon building business, in South Bend, Indiana. The brothers made their fortune manufacturing during the Civil War, as The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company became the world's largest manufacturer of horse-drawn carriages.
With the advent of the automobile, Studebaker converted its business to car manufacturing, becoming one of the larger independent automobile manufacturers. During World War II, Studebaker manufactured airplanes for the war effort and emphasized its patriotic role by releasing cars called "The President," "The Champion," and "The Commander." Like many of the independents, Studebaker fared well during the war by producing affordable family cars.
After the war, the Big Three, bolstered by their new government-subsidized production facilities, were too much for many of the independents. Studebaker was no exception. Post World War II competition drove Studebaker to its limits, and the company merged with the Packard Corporation in 1954.
Financial hardship continued however as they continued to lose money over the next several years. Studebaker rebounded in 1959 with the introduction of the compact Lark but it was shortlived. The 1966 Cruiser marked the end of the Studebaker after 114 years.
February 15, 2007
Today in Automotive History
1967 : Founder of American auto industry dies
Roy Chapin during his Detroit to New York tripJ. Frank Duryea, founder of the Duryea Motor Wagon Company with his brother Charles, died in Old Saybrook, Conneticut, at age 97. Seventy-four years earlier in the month of February, the Duryea brothers manufactured the first of 13 Duryea Motor Wagons, unofficially giving birth to the auto production line and the American automobile industry.
February 14, 2007
Toyota Set To Screw It's Employees
Toyota actually are so in love with themselves that they actually put into a high level memo that they are going to screw their employees for more profit.
Toyota Motor Corp. must hold down growth of its U.S. manufacturing wages and benefits, which are among the highest in the auto industry and are growing faster than the company's profit margin, according to a high-level company report obtained by the Free Press.The report from Seiichi (Sean) Sudo, president of Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing in North America, said Toyota should strive to align hourly wages more closely with prevailing manufacturing pay in the state where each plant is located, "and not tie ourselves so closely to the U.S. auto industry, or other competitors."
I know everyone thinks that Toyota workers are making a lot less than the American Auto Industry worker but they are dead wrong.
In a memo to workers at the plant after the report was circulated, Toyota noted that workers at Georgetown earned $3 an hour more than the U.S. auto industry standard. The Free Press reported last week the workers averaged $30 an hour, including bonuses.(emphasis mine)
So Japanese Auto workers at American plants are making $3 more than the American Auto Industry worker.
Guess that blows the theory that the American Auto companies pay it's workers a blotted salary and is the cause of all the American Auto company problems. Because if the Japanese companies pay more than the American companies and the Japanese companies are not having the same problems the American companies are having then it can't be wages and benefits can it. Hmm, maybe my theory that it's the executives fault is correct.
Auto experts and Toyota's workers say it is ingrained in Toyota's culture to sweat over trying to save $300 million five years down the road even as the company rakes in more than $1 billion a month.
So just like the American companies the bottom line is the most important thing to the Japanese.
Toyota's strategy resembles what Hyundai Motor Co. uses at its plant in Montgomery, Ala. Assembly workers there make $14 an hour, about half the wages, bonuses and benefits of Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Detroit's automakers. But Hyundai's wages still are considerably higher than for comparable Alabama jobs, which pay $10.79 an hour."Our challenge will be how to educate team members and managers about our condition, so that they can understand and accept change," Sudo said in the report.
So Toyota wants it's employees to start making only $14/hour. So when Toyota lineworkers start complaining that they can not take a 50% cut in wages will all the naysayers say they are being greedy and should just accept that much cut in their wages? As they are doing to the American Auto workers.
I keep saying that with Toyota increasing exponentially every year they are eventually run into the same problems that the American Auto companies are and it looks like it will be sooner than later.
Chicken Little Ain't Got Nothin On Our Weathermen - Updated
Since Monday all the weatherman in our area has talked about was the "big" winter storm that was coming.
Monday they were talking of timelines of when the storm would hit and snowfall amounts.
Tuesday morning the timelines changed a little and snowfall amounts were increased to 10 inches of snow for our area (up from 6 inches).
Wake up this morning and we are lucky if we have 3 inches outside.
Nothing like insiteing riots at Home Depot about all the snow we were suppose to get. Home Depot reported they sold out of snowblowers ,shovels and ice.
Bet today they have a crap load of snowblower returns.
UPDATE - The offical totals say 5-7 inches. Hard to tell because of the wind blowing and creating drifts and bare spots but could be possible.
Just got in from doing the snowblowing and I can't feel most of my fingers (wind chill -3 degrees). My nose was running and when I would cough outside I would have snot bubbles come out from my nose. I was a pretty site! Why oh why did I insist that our new snowblower (it's 3 years old now) have an electric start so I could "do the snow" if I had to. I can't do a pull start but I can do an electric start. Of course with the snow blowing like it is out there it kept blowing back into my face.
Today in Automotive History
1896 : Future king takes a ride
Al CaponeEdward Prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VII, became the first member of the British Royal Family to ride in a motor vehicle.
February 09, 2007
Friday Doggie Blogging
It's Friday!
Since it's been so cold out I thought the puppies needed a hat for when they traveled out into the horrible white stuff.
And then we have Lance and Maggie with their ears doing cute things ...
And last we have Mr Weenie (Daddy) holding the twins!
Today in Automotive History
1909 : The Brickyard is founded
Carl Fisher, President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway CorporationOn this day, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation incorporated with Carl G. Fisher as president. The speedway was Fisher's brainchild, and he would see his project through its inauspicious beginnings to its ultimate glorious end. The first race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway took place on August 19, 1909, only a few months after the formation of the corporation. Fisher and his partners had scrambled to get their track together before the race, and their lack of preparation showed. Not only were lives lost on account of the track, but the surface itself was left in shambles. Instead of cutting losses on his investment in the speedway, Fisher dug in and upped the stakes. He built a brand new track of brick, which was the cheapest and most durable appropriate surface available to him. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway would later be affectionately called "the Brickyard." Fisher's track filled a void in the international racing world, as there were almost no private closed courses in Europe capable of handling the speeds of the cars that were being developed there. Open course racing had lost momentum in Europe due to the growing number of fatal accidents. Recognizing the supremacy of European car technology, but preserving the American tradition of oval-track racing, Fisher melded the two hemispheres of car racing into one extravagant event, a 500-mile race to be held annually. To guarantee the attendance of the European racers, Fisher arranged to offer the largest single prize in the sport. By 1912, the total prize money available at the grueling Indy 500 was $50,000, making the race the highest paying sporting event in the world. However, the Brickyard almost became a scrap yard after World War II, as it was in deplorable condition after four years of disuse. The track's owner, Eddie Rickenbacher, even considered tearing it down and selling the land. Fortunately, in 1945, Tony Hulman purchased the track for $750,000. Hulman and Wilbur Shaw hastily renovated the track for racing in the next year, and launched a long-term campaign to replace the wooden grandstand with structures of steel and concrete. In May of 1946, the American Automobile Association ran its first postwar Indy 500, preserving an American tradition. Today, the Indy 500 is the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
February 08, 2007
Worse Luck Than Da Bears
I can not beleve this ...
Lately it is rare that I even leave the house, usually just once per week. Which means my contact with people is limited mostely to Mr Weenie.
1 1/2 weeks ago Mr Weenie gets a cold ..
Great ...
I limit my exposure to him to try and avoid getting it from him ...
Nope...
Saturday I started to feel bad ...
Tuesday I felt worse ...
Wednesday even more worse ...
It's Thursday now and I feel like ...
My lungs are being coughed up my throat.
Gah, I feel like crap that has been run over by trucks.
*shaking fist at Mr Weenie* Damn you ...
Oh and the job front .... ya that is going about as well as my cold is.
Today in Automotive History
1936 : Riches to rags
Sir William Lyons with a V12 powered E-type at his home, Wappenbury HallOn this day, General Motors (GM) founder William Durant, filed for personal bankruptcy. Economic historian Dana Thomas described Durant as a man "drunk with the gamble of America. He was obsessed with its highest article of faith--that the man who played for the steepest stakes deserved the biggest winnings." GM reflected Durant's ambitious attitude toward risk-taking in its breathtaking expansionist policies, becoming in its founder's words "an empire of cars for every purse and purpose." However, Durant's gambling attitude had its down sides. Over a span of three years Durant purchased Oldsmobile, Oakland (later Cadillac and Pontiac), and attempted to purchase Ford. By 1910, GM was out of cash, and Durant was forced out of control of the company. Durant got back into the big game by starting Chevrolet, and eventually regained control of GM only to lose it a second time. Later in life, Durant attempted to start a bowling center and a supermarket, but met with little success. Durant's trials and tribulations are proof that, even in America's most successful industry, there were those who gambled and lost.
February 04, 2007
It's Colder Than A Virgin On A First Date
It's F@&King Cold out!
A high of 7 degrees today.
The puppies are NOT happy.
February 02, 2007
Storms Move Across Florida
My mom is fine, she took shelter elsewhere ...
But her house is gone.
Christopher Patton, spokesman for the Lake County emergency operations center, told Reuters 14 people were killed -- three in Lady Lake, about 40 miles northwest of Orlando, and 11 in nearby Paisley, on the edge of the Ocala National Forest."We have complete devastation of homes, of businesses, religious institutions," Patton said on CNN. "It was unlike even perhaps the hurricanes of 2004 when we had minor roof damage, screen damage, pool damage. This is way far more devastating."
Friday Doggie Blogging
It's Doggie Blogging time again!
It's been pretty cold here in the Great White North lately and the puppies are not happy about it ...
Maggie likes to lay on her back between me and the couch ...
Lance says "I look really cute when I tilt my head like this ..."
After Halloween, Target puts all it's costumes on sale for 75% off. This includes the left over doggie costumes .... This is what Lance and Maggie will be next year for Halloween ....
Batman and Robyn
Mike Illitch Rocks!
Mike Illitch is the owner of the Little Caesars Empire. He is also one hell of a human being, the nicest guy you could ever meet.
My sister use to work for the Little Caesars Empire has an Accountant and dealt with Mr Illitch on a daily basis and said he is a great man who cares about everybody. In fact the day that Little Caesars laid off a bunch of employees at their warehouse facilities he had a heart attack.
I saw this today ...
One solider is battling back -- his body is broken, but his spirit is very much alive. Robbie Doughty, 31, was honorably discharged from the army in 2004 after losing both of his legs in an Iraqi bomb side explosion.Little Caesars Pizza chain owner Mike Illitch called Doughty and offered him an opportunity to open his own Little Caesar's franchise.
Doughty isn't the only one ...
To provide honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity when they transition to civilian life or seek a career change, and thank them for the sacrifices they and their families made for our country“The Little Caesars Veterans Program provides honorably discharged and disabled service members with an outstanding opportunity to utilize their leadership skills to run a business. The significant credits and discounts, as well as special financing options, make this truly unique program a valuable and excellent option for our service members who transition to the civilian workforce each year - especially our wounded warriors who have sacrificed greatly for our Corps and country.” – Lt. Col. Francis Piccoli, U.S. Marine Corps
Remember this story this weekend as you go get your pizza's for the Big Game.
Please Note The Time and Date Of This Statement
Calling Iran a danger to the U.S. and one of Israel's greatest threats, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that "no option can be taken off the table" when dealing with that nation.(emphasis mine)"U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal: We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons," Clinton told a crowd of Israel supporters. "In dealing with this threat ... no option can be taken off the table."
So when the issue comes to a vote for War we will see how Clinton reacts.
I See A Future As A Race Car Driver
| Your Driving Is is: 93% Male, 7% Female |
 You're reckless, aggressive, and see driving as a game. And while you like to live on the edge a little, you still know how to drive safely. |
Hattip to the Ogre!
February 01, 2007
Today in Automotive History
1898 : First auto insurance policy is issued
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.