March 30, 2007
Friday Doggie Blogging
It's Friday and I know it's been awhile ...
So onto the puppy cuteness!
Lance and Maggie got Tennis sweaters ...don't they look adorable!!!
Magge Upclose and personnal ..
Lance under the desk with puppy eyes !!!
Today in Automotive History
1947 : Tucker announces car concept
On the day after his acquittal, Preston Tucker celebrated in Chicago, driving one of the few automobiles actually produced in his venturePreston Tucker announced his concept for a new automobile to be named "the Tucker". Having built a reputation as an engineer during WWII when he served as general manager of his company, Ypsilanti Machine & Tool Company, Tucker looked to capitalize on the high demand for cars that post-war conditions offered. No new car model had been released since 1942, and so the end of the war would bring four years worth of car-buyers back to the market. Tucker intended to meet the demand with a revolutionary automobile design. His 1945 plans called for an automobile that would be equipped with a rear-mounted engine as powerful as an aircraft engine, an hydraulic torque converter that would eliminate the necessity of a transmission, two revolving headlights at either side of the carÝs fender, one stationary "cyclops" headlight in the middle, and a steering wheel placed in the center of the car and flanked by two passenger seats. However, a series of financial difficulties forced Tucker to tone down his own expectations for the cars. Production costs rose above his projections and investors became more cautious as the Big Three continued their astounding post-war success. To raise money for his project, Tucker sold franchises to individual car dealers who put up $50 in cash for every car they expected to sell during their first two years as a Tucker agent. The deposit was to be applied to the purchase price of the car upon delivery. The SEC objected to TuckerÝs strategy on the grounds that he was selling unapproved securities. It was just one intervention in a continuous battle between Tucker and federal regulatory bodies. Tucker loyalists espouse the theory that Tucker was the victim of a conspiracy planned by the Big Three to sabotage independent manufacturers. More likely, though, Tucker was the victim of an unfriendly market and his own recklessness. Unfortunately for his investors, the SEC indicted Tucker before he could begin mass production of his cars. He was acquitted on all counts, but his business was ruined. In the end, only fifty-one Tuckers were produced and none of them were equipped with the technological breakthroughs he promised. Still, the Tucker was a remarkable car for its price tag. Whether as an innovator silenced by the complacent authorities or a charlatan better fit to build visions than cars, Preston Tucker made a personal impact in a post-war industry dominated by faceless goliaths.
March 29, 2007
Toyota Offers More Incentives
Toyota thinks it can compete in the Truck market, I am enjoying the slap in the face they are receiving ...
Toyota Motor Corp. is offering another $1,000 in sales incentives on its new Tundra full-sized pickup truck in the United States, as it faces pricing pressure from domestic rivals. The new incentive can only be applied to help a customer with a vehicle trade-in allowance, Japan's top automaker said.Toyota already offers incentives of up to $2,000 cash back on the Tundra, depending on the model and region, trade publication Automotive News reported.
Today in Automotive History
1806 : Treasury funds first highway
An antique car club traveling on National Pike Road in PennsylvaniaThe Great National Pike, also known as the Cumberland Road, became the first highway funded by the national treasury. Built between 1806 and 1840, the Great National Pike stretched from Cumberland, Maryland, to Vandalia, Illinois. On this day the first appropriation of $30,000 was made by congressional act. Eventually over $6 million was appropriated for the highway. In 1856, control over the road was turned over to the states through which it ran. Roads would be left to the devices of the states almost exclusively until the dawn of the automobile. Henry Ford and other leaders of the automotive industry were instrumental in encouraging the federal funding of national highways.
March 22, 2007
Michigan Losing Residents At Alarming Rate
I don't think people outside of Michigan or the Auto Industry really know what it is like in Michigan right now.
The loses are stagering, foreclosures, bankruptcies, people leaving the state, unbelieveable unemployment rates, this all while the rest of the country is enjoying everything.
While Michigan's population held steady in the last six years, Wayne County lost more residents than any other county in the country, save for hurricane-ravaged Orleans Parish, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates to be released today
That's right, Wayne county has lost more people than anywhere except New Orleans.
Folks, this is bad. In another 5 years Michigan may almost not exist.
Wayne County has been particularly battered by Michigan's economy. The county's unemployment rate in January was 9.1%, compared with a statewide rate of 6.9%, the highest in the nation.The number of mortgage foreclosures in Wayne County last year hit 40,220 -- one out of every 21 homes -- more than any other county in the nation's largest metropolitan areas.
This is serious stuff folks. And DC isn't doing anything to help.
All the Auto Industry asks for is Fair Trade agreements. Actually since those agreements are there somewhat we want them enforced.
Hypocrite Speaks Against Auto Industry
Mr Gore decided to open his big hypocritical mouth against the Domestic Auto Industry.
He also criticized domestic automakers for failing to more aggressively move to reduce carbon emissions and chided them for making "gas guzzlers they can't sell, that no one wants to buy."
You first.
He must not know that Honda, Toyota and Nissan all make "Gas Guzzlers" to, and they are pushing them hard right now. Toyota is even offering incentives on their Gas Guzzlers to try and get some of the market from the Domestics.
Why doesn't anyone praise the Domestics for developing environmentally efficent cars also. They have plenty of "Green" cars too and quite a few gas sippers. But of course since politicians and the media kiss the Foreign Auto Makers ass every chance they get they would say anything against them or for the Domestics.
Gore endorsed proposals to mandate dramatic increases in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) mandates, but sidestepped questions about how much automakers could be forced to spend to comply.emphasis mine
As long as they do what Gore says he doesn't care how much it could hurt them.
Hey Mr Jackass, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Don't the Dumocrats know that Detroit is a huge Dumocrat state? With all the push towards making more jobs in Michigan disappear they will start voting the other way or there will be nobody left in Michigan to vote.
Today in Automotive History
1926 : River Rouge is renamed
The Ford Motor Company renamed its massive River Rouge facility the Fordson Plant. The name River Rouge, synonymous with Ford history, would continue to be used. River Rouge was established in response to the massive demand for the Model T. In the spring of 1915, Henry Ford began buying huge tracts of land along the Rouge River, southwest of Detroit. He later announced his plans to construct a massive industrial complex which would include its own steel mills. Ford proclaimed he would no longer be "at the mercy of his suppliers." Ford Lieutenant William Knudsen disagreed with his boss's notion that bigger was better. The pugnacious Ford responded to his advice with typical urbanity, saying, "No, William, no. I want the Ford business all behind one fence so I can see it." The outbreak of war in Europe brought with it a scarcity of steel that threatened to halt production of the Model T. Ford ordered Knudsen to buy up all the steel he could. Henry Ford, a proclaimed pacifist, objected to the idea of preparing for war. He likened a war-ready nation to a man carrying a gun: bound for trouble. Nevertheless, once war was declared, Ford stood behind President Wilson and River Rouge became an "arsenal of democracy." The largest industrial complex of its day, River Rouge looked like a small city. After the war, the factory remained a primary character in the Ford drama. By 1937, General Motors (GM) and Chrysler recognized the United Auto Workers (UAW) as a labor union. But, despite the fact that the federal government, with the New Deal, guaranteed a worker's right to belong to a union, Ford refused to negotiate with the UAW. Instead, he ordered his strongman, Harry Bennett, to keep the workers in check. On May 26, 1937, union leader Walter Reuther led a group of men through the River Rouge Plant to distribute literature to the workers. Upon leaving the plant, Reuther and his companions were attacked by Bennett and his men. The event, named the "Battle of the Overpass," received national attention. Ford's reputation as a labor negotiator, already bad, grew worse. Amazingly, though, Bennett's fear tactics postponed the inevitable triumph of labor leaders for almost four years, when a massive sit-down strike finally succeeded in shutting the River Rouge plant down. The Ford River Rouge plant is also well-known for a Ford family controversy over a series of murals by artist Diego Rivera, which were commissioned by Edsel Ford on behalf of the Detroit Art Institute. Henry Ford objected strongly to the communist aesthetic of the murals and ordered their production ceased. Edsel, in a rare moment of defiance, refused his father's demands and the murals remained on display at the River Rouge Plant. Today, just as Henry Ford desired, the Fordson Plant at River Rouge really is "the Ford business all behind one fence," where we can see it.
March 21, 2007
Spam
Lets just say that you wanted to recieve a ton of spam into your email box, what are the best sites to go and enter your email address into?
Please don't provide links, just the address ...
Today in Automotive History
1960 : Senna is born
Ayrton Senna da Silva is born in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Senna was first given a 1 cc car by his father when he was only four years old. He raced throughout his childhood and began to compete at the age of 13 in local Brazilian KART races. Senna rose from the anonymity of KART racing to become one of the greatest Formula-1 drivers in history. He was worshipped in Brazil to an extent nearly unimaginable in the U.S. Senna, known for his belligerent competitive spirit, won 41 Grand Prix events, and remains second all-time to Alain Prost in Formula-1 victories. He was a key player in the golden years of F-1 racing when he, Nigel Mansel, Alain Prost, and Nelson Piquet battled for the top position in car racing's most glamorous circuit. Senna died in a crash in 1994 during the Grand Prix of San Monaco. A manslaughter investigation still shrouds Senna's death in mystery. It is presumed that Senna's fatal crash may have been caused by a faulty steering column on his Williams-Renault automobile. However, the cause of Senna's death has become a point of contention among Brazilian racing fans who hold the Williams team responsible for the death of their national hero.
March 20, 2007
Gardasil Mandatory In Michigan?
Not yet, but they are throwing up a second bill to try to get it pushed through. The first one failed because they were not allowing exceptions.
I have been looking into Gardasil just to see what it is about. I am not for it and here is why
1 - Testing was only done on 25,000 with only 250 of them being 9 years of age. That is not a huge study compared to the population that they want to give this to.
2 - It was not tested on anyone outside the age range of 9-26 years of age. That is important because ...
3 - It only lasts for 4 years. So every 4 years you need to be re-vaccinated? The testing never said anything about re-vaccinating. So once you hit 26, when you are your most sexually active you can't have it? And that is one thing I never read about in newspaper articles.
4 - It only protects against 70% of Cervical cancer causes.
Gardisal only protects those that don't have the HPV virus already. So truely the only ones they can potentially save are young ones.
And how many parents are going to go in every 4 years to re-vaccinate? How many 18 + year olds are going to go in and get re-vaccinated?
I don't trust it yet and from the article in the newspaper here alot of parents don't trust it yet either.
Got my information from here ...
Why Is It . . .
That one can not think of great ideas and thoughts during the day ...
But they wait until 1 AM and then come rushing at you like fat people running towards an all you can eat buffet?
Today in Automotive History
1920 : Bugatti delivers first 16-valve
James Ward's brother W.D. Packard at the wheel of a 1900 Packard automobileBugatti delivered its first 16-valve car to a customer in Basel, Switzerland. Bugatti, a Swiss-based luxury car company, was famous for its exquisite, powerful vehicles. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Bugatti car was a symbol of wealth and status, and its cars were equipped with massive racing engines. A bizarre footnote in Bugatti history: the renowned American dancer Isadora Duncan was driving in a 16-valve Bugatti when her trademark long scarf caught in the rear wheel of the vehicle, and she was instantly strangled to death.
March 15, 2007
Ford Trucks Build Toyota Commericals
Would could be more hilarious then seeing Ford Trucks in the background of a Toyota Commerical set?
It's one of the most dramatic commercials for Toyota Motor Co.'s redesigned Tundra pickup. A truck drives up a steep seesaw, towing a heavy load and is able to stop on the way down, despite the extra weight.Toyota is so proud of the commercial that it posted behind-the-scenes footage on its Web site.
That's where eagle-eyed Ford Motor Co. fans noticed something.Trucks seen in the background of the job site, used by workers to build the massive commercial set, are Fords.
The first truck visible in the video is a Ranger pickup with a camper shell on it. The next is a Louisville-built F-Series Super Duty truck.
As the video's director watches to see if the Tundra will be able to stop, the truck in the background is another Super Duty.
"It doesn't surprise us," Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said. "It's another example of how Ford trucks are ingrained into every work site in America."
Toyota officials did not return calls seeking comment.
See the commerical for yourself
Hey, Ford Trucks, Built Tough!
Control Freak I Am
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Hattip: Blog momma Tammi
Mother Nature Reminds Us It's Still Winter
Tuesday it was 72 degrees outside
Wednesday it was 64 degrees outside
Today, we have an inch of snow on the ground
Mother Nature sure is a tease in March.
Today in Automotive History
1911 : Otto Manufacturing is organized
The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost in 1906On this day, Gustave Otto, the son of internal combustion engine pioneer Nikolaus Otto, organized Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik Muchen. Otto's Munich-based aero-engineering firm would later merge with Karl Rapp's firm to form the Bayerische Motoren-Werke, or BMW.
March 13, 2007
Here Comes The Sun ...
What a Beautiful day it is outside...
Is 64 degrees outside right now ...
absolutely what we have been waiting for.>
Took the puppies for a walk just now and they loved it also, something they have been waiting for all winter long ....
They are now collasped in front of the doorwall totally tired out, looks like I will have a quite afternoon!
Toyota Truck Not Doing So Well
Looks like Toyota much toted truck the Tundra isn't really doing as well as they say it is ....
Toyota Motor Corp. says some of its dealers are offering as much as a $1,500 discount on the basic work truck version of Toyota's newly redesigned Tundra, just barely one month after it went on sale, the Wall Street Journal reported. The discount is a one-month nationwide program on the Texas-built truck that began this month and is described by Toyota as "another tool," to spur sales.(emphasis min)
Another tool to spur sales? Gee when the American Auto Industry offers incentives Toyota says they are doing it because they can't sell cars and have cars that nobody wants to buy. Now that the shoe is on their foot it's a "tool".
Congress To Slap The Auto Industry While It's Down
Looks like Congress is pushing for the dimise of the American Auto Industry also. Nothing like slapping on some laws to push the Auto Industry over the edge especially when they are down already.
A key lawmaker will introduce a bill today that requires automakers to raise fuel economy standards 4 percent a year.The proposed legislation by U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a longtime critic of the auto industry, is in line with President Bush's stated goal of an average 4 percent boost each year beginning in September 2009 for passenger cars and September 2011 for light trucks.
Nothing like forcing the Auto Industry to do something that they are already trying to do. It's not like the Big 3 are sitting around not trying to make improvements.
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration analysis said the 4 percent annual increase would cost the auto industry $114 billion between 2010-17, including $85 billion for Detroit's Big Three.
Forcing improvments is not the way to go about this. The Big 3 are working on making the improvments, they have whole divisions working on getting better fuel economy out of their vehicles, but forcing "green" vehicles onto people who don't want to buy "green" vehicles is not the answer.
Today in Automotive History
1980 : Henry II abdicates throne
Dean Jones and Don Knotts, with Herbie, in "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo"Henry Ford II resigned as Chairman of the Ford Motor Company after naming Philip Caldwell his successor. With Ford's resignation, the era of the Ford family as an automotive dynasty temporarily ended. Henry II was, like his grandfather, a tough and formidable leader. He reorganized the company and instituted a modern bookkeeping system. His father, Edsel, had been considered a dreamer by Henry I. Edsel had spent much of his energy designing cars and improving Ford's labor relationships. He hadn't been a hard-edged businessman and often drew his father's criticism on those grounds. Like the archetypal ruling families of England, the Ford family followed its own generational legacy: Henry the Great, Edsel the Confessor, and Henry II. It sounds like Shakespeare.
March 07, 2007
This and That
Won't be blogging much until next week, Mr Weenies Great Aunt died at the beginning of the week and now we have a house full of out of town relatives who have come in for the funeral. So I am playing hostess until Saturday. At least it's someone to talk to during the day.
Still no job, no interviews, and only 1 call of interest in the past 2 weeks. Gads this is really draining my reserves.
Unemployment runs out at the end of March, so then I have to go re-apply and cross my fingers hoping they re-new it. The $300 per week isn't much but it is something.
That's about it, life is pretty dull around here right now. Well of course except for the funeral thing.
Today in Automotive History
1932 : Communists protest at Ford
Harry Bennett, head of Ford's secret service, is helped up at the riotsThe Communist Party of America organized the "March on Hunger"; the procession traveled from downtown Detroit to the Ford Motor Company's River Rouge Plant in order to protest the company's labor record. When police and firemen were unable to disperse the thousands gathered at River Rouge, Ford strongman Harry Bennet, notorious for his mob tactics of labor management, ordered his "servicemen" to quell the crowd with fire hoses. Defying the freezing temperatures and icy water, the crowd refused to give up its protest. Bennet, who ruled Ford's enterprise with nothing short of terrorist tactics, confronted the crowd, ordering them to disperse once and for all. The determined crowd, unaware that they were faced with their nemesis, began to shout, "We want Bennet. And he's in that building." Bennett corrected their mistake, and for his trouble he was showered with bricks and slag pieces. He was struck in the head during the barrage. Before he fell to the ground, the combat-ready Bennett pulled Joseph York, a Young Communist League organizer, to the ground on top of him. Seeing Bennett bleeding profusely from his head, the police opened fire on the unarmed protesters. York and three other protesters were killed. Ford's trouble with labor unions came to a head five years later when Roosevelt's New Deal guaranteed the workers the right to join a union. Again Bennett would be at the center of a violent confrontation at the River Rouge complex.
March 02, 2007
Friday Doggie Blogging
Its Friday!!!!!!!
Are you really for some puppy cuteness??????!!!!!!!!!!
First, a picture of Lance and Maggie looking at mommy like she is crazy
And then we have Lance doing his impresonation of a Frog
And we have Lance in total relaxation during a tummy rub
Today in Automotive History
1949 : Automatic streetlights are introduced
The Tatra T600 "Tatraplan"The first automatic streetlight system in which the streetlights turned themselves on at dark was installed in New Milford, Connecticut, by the Connecticut Light and Power Company. Each streetlight contained an electronic device that contained a photoelectric cell capable of measuring outside light. By November of 1949, seven miles of New Milford's roads were automatically lit at dusk by a total of 190 photoelectric streetlights. No longer would the proud men of New Milford be forced to don stilts in order to light their street lamps.
March 01, 2007
Ford Gone To Far With Cutting?
You are not going to believe the outragious cuts Ford Motor is making now.
It's just down right cruel.
I don't know how they think people will survive this one ...
Mr Weenie came home and told me this today ...
The executives will now have to pay for their own rounds of Golf.
How torterous can they be, making executives pay for their own Golf.
Gads, what will be next ...
Making them pay for their own lunches at the executive lunch room?
Making them gas their own vehicles?
God, how far low will Ford make those executives stoop?