Quality Weenie

Just exactly, what in the hell is a

Boomer Sooner? I'm like that guy, I don't give crap, but I hope it wins.

RIP Roger Smith

GM Automotive Legend dies ...

Roger B. Smith, who led General Motors Corp. through the tumultuous 1980s, died Thursday at age 82.

Smith was the subject of Michael Moore's scathing "Roger and Me" documentary that chronicled the effect of the automaker's job cuts in Flint. He was chairman and chief executive officer from January 1, 1981, to his retirement in 1990.

"He changed the entire picture of GM," said longtime said Detroit mega-dealer Martin "Hoot" McInerney. "If you were the president of GM, you didn't have too much to say because he was chairman.

"He wasn't born into the job, he was promoted into for his ability. It wasn't just luck that got him there."

Smith came to GM during a turbulent time for Detroit's Big Thee. Domestic automakers were beginning to lose market share to rivals led by Toyota Motor Corp. and quality problems were plaguing the industry.

"He was ahead of his time - he accepted tech advancements and he believed the industry was going to need technology to survive," said Robert Stempel, who succeeded Smith at CEO. "He believed the market was no longer as going to be only North America, that it was going to be global."

During his tenure, GM created the Saturn brand, fostered the introduction of front-wheel drive mid-size cars, a joint venture with Toyota and acquisitions including Electronic Data Systems and Hughes Aircraft Corp.

Smith joined GM in 1949 as a general accounting clerk.

"Roger Smith led GM during a period of tremendous innovation in the industry," said GM Chairman Rick Wagoner in a statement. "He was a leader who knew that we have to accept change, understand change, and learn to make it work for us."

Doug Fraser, president of the UAW from 1977 to 1983, recalls Roger Smith as a man of his word during labor contract negotiations in the early 1980s, a difficult time for the industry.

"As I got to know him and understand him, I knew he possessed the qualities for successful negotiations -- you give your word and you keep your word. Once Roger gave his word, he kept his word, and you didn't have to worry about it," said Fraser, who now teaches labor relations at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Funeral services will be private

Screw Cars, Ride Your Bike Says Hillary*

The Fuel economy debate is ramping up in the presidential primaries. Each candidate wants to out-do the other with higher mandatory rates.

Hillary wants 55 mpg by 2030, the current bill being considered is 35 mpg by 2020. If Hillary is running on her experience being a first lady and Bills accomplishments shouldn't someone be bringing up the fact that Bill and Gore did nothing to increase fuel economy all 8 years in office?

With the push for huge raises in fuel economy is it realistic?

The Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic hybrid you could buy today are rated at about 46 miles per gallon and 42 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving -- and the numbers that would be used for Corporate Average Fuel Economy compliance are higher. A new generation of lithium-ion batteries and some tweaks to the computers in their gas engines probably get them to 55 mpg.

A more sober analysis of what's possible in advanced automotive design comes from a group of MIT researchers, including John B. Heywood, a professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Sloan Automotive Laboratory at MIT.

The paper, "Factor of Two: Halving the Fuel Consumption of New U.S. Automobiles by 2035," assesses three basic scenarios for boosting the average fuel economy of U.S. vehicles to 42 miles per gallon by 2035. First, car makers could channel future improvements in vehicle design toward boosting fuel efficiency -- instead of using them to goose power or 0-60 performance. Second, they could increase the use of diesel, turbocharged gasoline and gas-electric hybrid technology. Third, they could reduce the size and weight of vehicles.

"Over the next three decades, consumers will have to accept little further improvements in acceleration performance, a large fraction of new light-duty vehicles sold must be propelled by alternative powertrains, and vehicle weight must be reduced by 20% to 35% from today," the MIT scientists write.

So we would have to accept slower performance, alturnative fuels and smaller/lighter vehicles. But how much slower, smaller and lighter do they mean?

For example, today's Toyota Camry accelerates to 60 miles per hour in 9.4 seconds, weighs about 3,157 pounds (1,435 kg), delivers 160 horsepower and averages about 27 miles per gallon (8.8 liters per 100 km,) according to the MIT study.

A hypothetical Camry that weighed 2,525 pounds (1,148 kg), and had a 1.4 liter, 128-horsepower engine could accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 9.2 seconds, but would average 42 miles per gallon (5.5 liters per 100 km.) The same exercise applied to a Ford F-150 pickup would produce a vehicle that weighs 877 pounds less than today's vehicle, gets around on a 162 horsepower engine and averages 27 mpg, compared with 17.3 mpg today.

Would an F-150 with only 162 hp engine be able to tow or haul what today's F-150 at 202 hp (4.2L engine, not sure which engine they used for the study) can haul? I think not. They don't even get into those facts. (The Taurus with a 2.3L engine gets 160 hp, it does not have towing recommendations, which means they don't recommend towing)

Costs?

Depending on how various technologies are applied, the total costs of re-engineering cars to get to an average of 42 mpg (which is short of 55 miles per gallon, of course) would be $54 billion to $63 billion. Some of that cost would reflect the expense of designing small cars to be safer, although the researchers argue that by eliminating the heaviest vehicles from the road, overall safety would be improved.

Safety would improve by taking the heaviest vehicle from the road, dumocrats only want people to drive Prius's. They don't want people to have a choice, it's drive what I tell you to drive not what you want to drive. Oh and about those 18 Wheelers, well we will think of something after tens of thousands end up being buried in their vehicles because it was impossible to pry them out after that collision.

So who will be picking up the tab for these advances?

Putting full emphasis on boosting fuel efficiency would increase the average cost of a car by about $1,400 by 2035, and the cost of the average truck would go up by about $1,600, the MIT researchers conclude.

Sen. Clinton's proposal calls for offering the auto industry (Detroit's Three or all the auto makers with factories in the U.S. isn't clear) $20 billion in low interest bonds to "retool the oldest auto plants to meet her strong efficiency standards."

That $20 billion sounds like a lot, except when put against the auto industry's capital needs. For that sum, you could design and tool up about 10 new cars and 10 new engines for the whole industry. GM alone sells more than 70 models in the U.S.

So our esteemed rulers want to tell you what you should drive, making it slower and less safe (that weight has to come from somewhere, I hear aluminum is light weight), screw it make everyone ride bikes.

* Hillary didn't say that exactly, but you know that is where all this is leading.

It's Benign

Mr Weenie just called and said the vet just called with the results from Maggie biopsy on her cyst that was removed last wednesday....

It's Benign!

Oh, thank the good lord!

Death By Chocolate

Any animal lover knows that chocolate is toxic and deadly to dogs.

I am freaked about the puppers getting chocolate because I have lots of chocolate at home and them being on the smaller side just a little can have devistating effects.

What I don't know is how much is to much?

I found this great graphic that shows how much of what kind of chocolate (white, milk, dark, baking, etc) will give what kind of toxicity levels.

Chocolate Toxicity

You just move the slide to your dogs weight and it shows how much is to much.

That Has Got To Hurt

Toyota came out with a new sub-compact (smaller than a compact vehicle) and the reveiws are hurting, a lot.

The Scion, however, was the equivalent of over-boiled sausage on a stale bun. Cover it with mustard or cheese or even that neon-green relish and it still would leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Built on the same platform as the Toyota Yaris, the xD subcompact is the cheapest Scion in the brand's three vehicle lineup.

From its unbearably loud ride to its aim-for-the-ditch torque steer, the xD won't ever hang on anyone's wall of fame. No bun signing for this car. Really, it shouldn't even be on anyone's menu.

Compared to the likes of the Honda Fit, Chevy Aveo and Nissan Versa, the xD costs more, offers less utility, and is one of the ugliest vehicles on the road.

Didn't I tell you that it was only a matter of time before Toyota started falling apart.

New CAFE Rules On Horizon

Looks like new CAFE rules will be voted on in the very near future.

The source also confirms discussions center around a compromise that preserves a 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km) bogey, as well as a 2020 deadline. In addition, there is language that that holds cars and trucks to a separate standard.

The House debate over new fuel-economy rules deadlocked this summer after Reps. Baron Hill (D-IN) and Lee Terry (R-NE) authored a bill that would raise the CAFE standard to between 32 mpg (7.4L/100 km) and 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km) by 2022. This target, which has gained the bipartisan support of more than 175 House lawmakers, came in response to a sweeping Senate energy bill that called for increasing CAFE to 35 mpg by 2020.

Most auto makers favor the Hill-Terry bill because it offers them more time to achieve the technical advances they consider necessary to meet the proposed target without pricing themselves out of consumers’ reach. And unlike the Senate standard and others proposed by House legislators, the Hill-Terry proposal keeps cars and trucks separate, another assertion coveted by auto makers.

This deal isn't as bad as some that have been put forth by dumocrats, but at least it isn't to much of an automotive manufacturer killer. But there are winners and losers in this deal and it isn't who you think.

“The winners are the government officials that have perpetuated the issue,” Wolkonowicz tells Ward’s. “The losers are the auto makers producing in the U.S. and consumers.”

Echoing a refrain heard throughout much of the auto industry, Wolkonowicz says CAFE has proven ineffective at reducing America’s consumption of oil and the percentage of oil it imports. The solution, he says, is to raise gasoline prices with a fuel tax, which could subsidize other needy government programs.

“But that would be political suicide,” he says, calling a fuel-economy standard a pulpit for politicians. “The sad thing is that we have global corporations and American jobs lying in the balance. Shouldn’t government be caring about that instead of CAFE?”

Studies have already proven the more you raise gas mileage on vehicles the more people drive, there is no saving of or using less gas with increased mileage on vehicles.

Dancing With The Cats

Because I like cats so much:

I am Scared / Scary

So That Is What It Feels Like To Give Birth?

When it rains it pours for me I swear ...

Monday morning at 3:20am I woke up to an excrutiating pain in my right side, laid there until around 4am then told Mr Weenie he's going to have to take me to the ER as I couldn't stand the pain any longer.

We thought appendics ...

Got to the ER around 4:30am, told them what I was experiencing and first thing they ask

Ever have kidney stones before?

Gads, Kidney stones.

A pee test and CT scan later they confirmed I was passing a 2mm kidney stone.

I didn't get drugs until 5am, within 20 minutes I was feeling no pain, before they released me at 6:15am they gave me another shot of pain meds.

I didn't wake up until 5pm at which time it passed through. I looked at it and I thought all that &*%$ pain for that little thing? It had broken up and looked like beach sand.

They also said contray to popular belief calcium doesn't cause kidney stones, lack of water and too much salt and animal protein causes them. So they said since my chances have increased for more occurances I have to cut down on meat and salt and greatly increase my water intake.

I have had pain before but nothing like what I was experiencing yesterday. Good god almighty that was horrible.

Farewell Sweet Little Zoe

Run free Zoe, you now know no more pain.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and they are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are so happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together each day, but then the day comes when one suddenly stops and peers into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

YOU have been spotted, and when you finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved soft head, and you finally get to look once again into the loving eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

Author unknown...

SLAYER!!!

Saw this the other day, and thought of my blogbrother. Knew he'd like it.

I couldn't he'p it.

'Neck

Xpost

Turn your volume down if yo're at work, or you are hoighty-toighty. If latter is the case, then you better not laugh... One bit. You grin and bear it.

'Neck

College Football Overtime Format

SUX!

It’s not a secret, being a Buckeye fan, I’d like to see LSU lose, and then welcome their coach on up to Meatchicken. My dream, is his bein’ shat upon by the sweater vest, just as his predecessor was.

The OT format, is bullshit. Why take special teams out of it. This OT format is damned near the same OT format I coached for little leaguer head bangers back in the day when ‘Neckson was bustin’ ass.

I appreciate TV time as much as the next ‘Neck. Don’t delay my Monster Truck show, or my Tractor pull dammit, but… let ‘em play the game, not 3/4’s of it to determine who wins and who loses. That’s pussified.

Now, as I’m writing this sentence LSU has lost, and they have lost TWICE this year. Will they drop to 7th after being a number one team and losing… to an unranked opponent, like say, Illinois? I’m guessin’ not. Before all you SEC lovers jump up and try to shove a banana up my tail pipe, dig up… As I’m watchin’ that game tonight, I’m seein’ trick plays, and razzle dazzle bullshit when it just was not called for. Sometimes, you get in a situation, as a team, where you just have to have the beef, as a team, and a coach, and fans, and say SUCK IT, we’re gonna knock your asses backwards, ’til we get what we want. I didn’t see any of that this afternoon ‘tween those two teams.

I know, it’s a sad fact, but, but, many of your better coaches have Ohio roots. LSU’s has Meatchicken root. You do the math. Don’t think ol’ Gator Urban wouldn’t trade places with the sweater vest… think again. Y’all’s boy Saban… Hell, do I really have to go on here. They’d have the first Greyhound bus the hell out of there if they got that op… Big 12 coaches, Stoops, Youngstown Ohio, Mangioni, yep, you guessed it, more Ohio roots. Face it (fuckers< -- that was harsh) peep's. Ohio is where football was born. If it wasn't, then ask yourself this... Why is the basketball hall of fame in New York? Then ponder a minute, and riddle me this... Why is the football hall of fame in CANTON OHIO? 'Cause that's where they are. I don't hear a peep out of anybody South of Canton sqeualin' to get the HOF in their state. Not even out of Texas, Nebraska, or Oklahoma, or Florida, Tennessee. All of the previous have some damned fine football programs. We're the got-damned Granddaddy's of the collegiate game up here in this part of the Nation.

Hop right the fuk up, and prove me wrong. I’m acquirin’ a taste for crow, so if I have to eat it, just don’t burn it damnit. And don’t forget the barbecue sauce. You got a chance now… the Rock-n-Roll hall of fame is in Cleveland, and I REFUSE to believe that’s where all that started.

Either way, the coaches, many of ‘em down and around there have Bit 10/Ohio State roots. Look it up. Bio’s, history on ‘em. I know, it sucks for you. But I will say this, muchas gracias for makin' a bunch of Buckeye raided coaches millionairs. If you ask me, as good as meatchicken recruits out of Ohio, crap, they might as well go for a DII coach ... like we did. You can't tell smart people nothin' though. They know it all. Get Les... Pluueeezzzze get Les.

I’d just like to finish this post with a got-damned big ol’ Rebel Yell….

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee ‘ freakin’ haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!

Somebody lose ‘tween Kansas and Missouri(which will happen Saturday), and Oklahoma, beat whichever fuker wins that game the next week.

Then, all I need is for West - by - Got - Vagina to squeak by both of the pansies they’re left facin’.

That… ‘ought to’ do it.

PS:

Yeah, your read this crap over at my place, if you go there, but lookit'... I'm runnin' a 5 man show with one man on one foot, so... deal with it if you don't like it. Make your own bet, and get your own winter blog. Don't even ask me why I got my "Winter Blog" in Mieatchicken... I don't know, I don't ski, nor sled, nor snomobile, I just revel in seein' my team beat their ass again, and again. Damn... life is good.

Matter of fact, ... it's all that I can do to keep from goin' Conan on 'em...

Automotive Connections Now...

Damn Girl... I didn't know you were tight with Rahal... You go girl. ')

Hounds one day... helmets the other I reckon.

'Neck

Cup check

I don't know why the video takes so long to load, but it does... have some patience, I'm turnin' the crank fast as I can...

Thanks Cat...

'Neck

PS: I don't know why in the hell there's so much "white space" at the top of this post... If you're an MT person, and know why embedding an object does that... shoot me an email redneckramglings - at - gmail - dot -com. And I'll fix it if I can.

'Neck

A Puppy Montage

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Thanksgiving

I know it's dated, but some things ring eternal

'Neck

Poor Baby Maggie

Update to this post ...

We picked the babies up from the vet just an hour ago.

Poor Maggie, she lost her 2 front bottom teeth. They were loose so the vet pulled them. She got to keep the one that was "cracked", the vet called it a slab fracture and they just removed the "slab" part.

They said her teeth look good, a little gingivitis in the back. They said that they have small jaws and dogs with small jaws can loose teeth like Maggie did.

They gave us the 2 teeth so Maggie could put them under her pillow tonight for the tooth fairy.

She also had her cyst removed, they said they think it's a wart, but it was removed and sent out for further testing.

Poor girl, just looking at her you can see she doesn't feel good. She just wants to cuddle up and be babied.

Lance's teeth also look pretty good, a little gingivitis in the back but otherwise healthy!

The techs said eveytime they took one of them out of the cage (they put them together in one cage) the other would growl and bark at them. They thougt it was cute how protective of each other they are.

But I wonder if Maggie will now bark with a lisp?

A Little Prayer

I just dropped the babies off at the vet for their yearly dental and Maggie's cyst removal.

They were no happy campers when they went one way and I went the other way, so glad I am working today because last year the house was too quite.

When I went to brush Maggie's teeth on sunday I noticed a crack in her tooth, turns out it's a sliver of tooth that cracked off the tooth. Vet said as long as it's a superficial crack (doesn't go all the way up) she won't lose the tooth (would that be correct, anybody have this happen?) So we have to wait and see what will happen.

Maggie is also have a cyst removed from her front upper leg, it's about 2-3 mm in diameter. It's in an area they can't bandage so it will probably just stiches. We opted to have them send it in for testing because I would rather be on the safe side then be cheap.

So please say a little prayer for Maggie and her tooth and cyst and that the whole thing doesn't make her have a seizure. I will be on edge all day until I hear she is minus a cyst and keeps her tooth.

I'm here in the "Big House"

And I'll tell you one thing. It's damned quiet. There's puppy clothes layin' everywhere 'round here. Damn if that dog wardrobe ain't grow'd out some since the last time I was here. Now... there's things with wings... Uhuh... ain't touchin' that one, but my dogs are chewin' on it. I guess they got there own versions of "stuffie killers"... Kinda like football, we always had practice pads but not that kind. They sure do have funny practice pads up here in the state up north. Maybe Chad and Mikey use those kind.

I know what you're thinkin' Qdub, starin' at my dogs "scarlet eye"... you're wrong. You've already been assimlated.

'Neck

Go Fred08!

Lance and Maggie Have A Blog

Because I know everyone just can't get enough of them and they wanted to let the world know how great they are, I started up a blog for them.

Let me present:

The Stuffie Killers

Holy Crap

UPDATE: with links to story and video

I walked down to see it after getting home from work and it's really amazing that the two people lived through it. Most of the debree went behind to the open "park" area behind the house but there were a couple windows and lots of glass across the street. Neither house on either side of it were really damaged, the one house's siding was melted from the fire, but otherwise no damage.

Mr Weenie got pictures, but used the camera with the film instead of the digital. He said he didn't know how to use it.

Mr Weenie just called and said to get to a news station (he's on vacation)...

The house 4 doors down from us just exploded.

He said he felt the explosion and thought our roof was caving in, he said the whole house shook.

He said there are fire trucks and police all over the place.

2 people were inside but got out / were pulled out and are alive. The kids were at school.

I Apologize In Advance

For what is about to happen to my blog and for the next 11 days.

Damn boys in blue, I am going to kick their butts for doing this to me again.

Centrist

Found at Pamibe's place

You are a Social Moderate (56% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (68% permissive) You are best described as a: Capitalist (68e/56s) Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Help Send Lex Home

Found this over at Army Wife Toddler Mom's site

The family of CPL Dustin Lee need the Milbloggers help. They have crossed their t's and dotted their i's and still no LEX.

Please spread the word and please sign the petition to help retire Lex to Dustin's family in Mississippi.

Most of you probably know by now who CPl Dustin Jerome Lee is. For those of you who do not, please take the time to read a little more about him and view photos of him at Remember CPL Dustin Lee

In a nutshell-

Dustin was a K9 War Dog Handler and MP who was killed in Iraq on March 21 2007. His K9 Lex survived but with injuries.

He received shrapnel wounds to his body, almost lost his tail, and to this day still has shrapnel lodged near his spine. The Veterinarians opted to leave this shrapnel in place as to not risk damage to Lex's spine.

Since Dustin's death the family has tried diligently to get Lex adopted to them so that they may care for him. Lex was of course the last (person) to see Dustin alive.

Even before the incident of the RPG that killed Dustin, Lex was destined to retire upon returing from this tour in Iraq. The family has waited patiently for the last remaining part of Dustin to arrive home...and they are still waiting.

GO NOW SIGN THE PETITION

Michigan Finds New Way To Raise Money

I can't believe Michigan actually found a way to balance the budget without raising taxes and it's "legal"

If you've noticed an increase in the number of police speed traps of late, you are not alone.

Traffic police in Michigan and elsewhere in the United States are turning motorists into mobile cash dispensers, as states' fund-raising efforts turn desperate.

I just said to Mr Weenie two days ago "have you noticed an increase in the amount of cops trying to catch speeders lately"

And I don't mean just seeing an extra cop or two during the week, two days ago I passed 10 cops trying to get speeders during my 30 minute, 13 mile drive home. That is almost a cop per mile. And this is the middle of the month and isn't the first time during the month I have seen more cops then usual.

Local and state police are going out of their way to set up traps in such "easy pickings" locations. These are not legitimate targets like school zones, but lightly trafficked roads

So Michigan has found a way to raise money, but it still isn't making residents happy.

Michigan's CommunistsDumocrats Won't Allow A Primary

Well Michigans Communist Dumocratic party just disenfranchised all of Michigans citizens by not allowing a primary.

Today, Michigans house was suppose to vote to allow a joint primary in Michigan for January 15th but they let that fall to the wayside and now it's almost impossible to get a joint primary onto the ballot due to SofS ballot deadlines.

How did this happen you ask?

The House Speaker, Andy Dillion a dumocrat, cancelled today's session and gave the house another week off (they had last week off) ensuring the vote won't happen and won't beable to get on the ballot either.

How does this effect Republicans? Due to it being a joint primary the republicans can't get on the ballot because this was a joint primary or no primary at all.

So the Dumocrats just took away all Republicans right to vote in the primary.

Michigans Attorney General, Mike Cox, is filing a emergency appeal to try and save the primary but it doesn't look promising.

Thanks to Right Michigan for bringing this to light

Detroit News article, much nicer to dumocrats

Ford Going To Ratify The Contract

Well it looks like the Ford UAW workers are going to ratify the contract, and the media kept touting out the early numbers with nearly 90% of the plants that voted early approving of the contract.

The plants that voted early were the ones that would be closed down if the contract isn't approved, you would be stupid to work there and not approve the contract.

Six major UAW locals representing more than 19,000 Ford workers voted Monday. That means the vast majority of Ford's 54,000 UAW workers have had their chance to cast ballots. Results for three of those locals were not yet available late Monday, and a few more locals are not expected to vote until today, but those results likely won't affect ratification even if a majority of workers reject the deal, according to an analysis of the voting so far by The Detroit News.

What is bad about voting on the contract is that they won't give you all the details of the contract before voting, they only give you a "highlights" page that outlines the major things (good things only).

We found out yesterday more information about the VEBA account, everyone recommends only 20% of the fund to hold company stock (that is what they recommend for 401k's also) but we found out that it was negotiated for the VEBA fund to have 55% of Ford stock in it.

Well, that VEBA fund won't last to long now will it, especially if Ford goes out of business. The fund won't last more than a couple years.

Over half of the funds will be in Ford stock, talk about handicapping it before it is even begun.

Guess it's time to start saving even more money for retirement so will be able to afford insurance, because we certainly won't have it when Mr Weenie retires.

66% Is Impressive?

One can only imagine what the morale of workers at american automotive companies is like right now.

Ford does a Pulse survey of it's employees every year, it measures different apects of work, bosses, morale, etc.

Ford is estatic about this years morale results ...

Morale at Ford Motor Co. is higher than it has been this decade, according to the latest internal survey of employee sentiment conducted by the Dearborn automaker.

It's the highest it has been in a decade, that's 10 years. Wow it must be a high number right?

Overall, 66 percent of Ford employees in the Americas responded favorably to a battery of questions about morale -- the highest since the survey began in 1999. Last year, 53 percent responded favorably, the company said.

66%

That's failing in terms of grades ...

I think they have nothing to cheer about.

Police Car Fires Back In The News

The media is back at it, blaming Ford for a "flawed" Crown Vic Police Car that burst into flames injuring a policeman.

Patrol officer Ross Linert, 48, a 12-year veteran of the force, was in the Akron Children's Hospital burn unit in critical condition Monday after his 2005 Crown Victoria Interceptor was hit at high speed at 1:08 a.m. on North Meridian Road.

"The gas tank exploded," Gavalier said Monday. "A wall of flame went right through from the rear to the front of the car."

Linert, who managed to get out of the car himself, suffered burns over 30 percent to 40 percent of his body. He's in an induced coma at the hospital, a township police report said.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the police officer and his family.

But the media is more interested in Ford's horrible vehicle then the officier or family

The Crown Victoria, which Ford no longer sells to the public, has come under much scrutiny because its gas tank is behind the rear axle and in the car's "crush zone." The Internet is rife with reported cases of fires after Crown Vics were hit from behind.

At least 30 officers have burned to death after their Crown Vics were rear-ended and hundreds more civilians have died in Crown Vics, Lincoln Town Cars and Grand Marquis, says the Center for Auto Safety, based in Washington, D.C.

Yes, they no longer sell the Crown Vic to the public, but does the media explain why? Of course not, Ford no longer sells the Crown Vic to the public because of it's very poor public sales and the Grand Marquis is the same exact vehicle with more chrome, which is very popular.

At least the police chief isn't buying to the media's attempt at blaming Ford.

The township's police chief says he's doubtful a much-criticized design feature in Ford Crown Victoria Interceptors played a role in the fire that injured a township patrol officer in a Sunday morning crash.

Gavalier said he believes the sheer force of the crash contributed to the gas tank explosion in Sunday's accident.

He said that Ford makes a Kevlar shield for the Crown Vic gas tanks, but that even with such a shield in Linert's cruiser, "I think the same thing would have happened."

The rear of the car was pushed almost into the back seat, he pointed out. The car's back end is completely crushed.

The speed of the drunk driver that hit the police car must have been high to crush the trunk of the vehicle into the back seat of the police car.

Will the media ever get off the "flawed" design causing explosions and realize that almost any vehicle hit at a high rate of speed with a gas tank in the rear will probably explode.

Proud Mommy

I am such a proud mommy!

Lance won Sitehound of the Month for November on one of the dog forums I read.

I entered his picture and the members voted him the winner.

Promises

When you make me a promise to have something done by a specific date you had better come through on that date because you gave me your word that it would be done.

You would have assessed the situation and using your judgement you say "yes, it will be done on that date", this is especially important to me to trust you on your word if I do not have expertise in that area because I would not know if you are truthful or lying.

So when I went to the doctor to talk about surgery on my foot his intern said "8 weeks and you will be as good as new".

I added a couple weeks to that because one can never really know how quickly the body will heal itself, so I was thinking 100% by 12 weeks at the very latest.

This Friday it will be 11 weeks since my surgery and I can say with complete confidence that I was better off before the surgery then I am right now.

If I had to put a percentage on my recovery I would put it at 60%.

60% is far from the 100% I should have been at 3 weeks ago, in fact in school it would be considered failing.

When I went into the doctors on October 23rd and voiced my concern about the major swelling, pain and not being able to move my toe I was told "recovery could take upto 6 months".

To say I was pissed would be a major understatement. If I had known that it would have had a major impact on my decision to have the surgery, I would not have had it just yet. I would have waited, probably a lot longer. But I thought hey 8 weeks and back to normal, I can handle that.

At the last doctors visit they said we will send you to physical therapy to help with the motion and swelling issues. I 3 times before I deemed it a waste of time to sit there for 1/2 hour doing exercises I could do at home and with the swelling they are not going to do much good for now. So I stopped going and will just do the exercises at home for awhile.

I blame myself for this because I didn't confirm with my doctor what the intern said, thought the intern knew what they were saying because they were the "expert".

So I expect at least another 3-4 months before full recovery is achieved.

Father Of One Of My Kids

A guy goes to the supermarket and notices an attractive woman waving
At him. She says hello. He's rather taken aback because he can't
Place where he knows her from. So he says, "Do you know me?" To
Which she replies, "I think you're the father of one of my kids."

Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been
Unfaithful to his wife and says, "My God, are you the stripper from my
Bachelor party that I made love to on the pool table with all my buddies
Watching while your partner whipped my butt with wet celery???"

Punchline below

She looks into his eyes and says calmly, "No, I'm your
Son's' teacher."

Islamic Cars

Looks like regular cars are not good enough for the Muslums any longer.

Malaysian automaker Proton plans to team up with companies in Iran and Turkey to produce "Islamic cars" for the global market, a news report said Sunday.

Proposed by Iran, the collaboration would include installing features in automobiles such as a compass to determine the direction of Mecca for prayers, and compartments for storing the Quran and headscarves, Proton's Managing Director Syed Zainal Abidin told national news agency Bernama.

Put Up Or Shut Up

Looks like Ford UAW workers will be ratifying their new contract this week.

Since the Automotive companies have finally gotten what they wanted out of the UAW it is time for them to put up or shut up.

The Big 3 have been bitching for years now that the only reason they are not successful is because the UAW workers make to much money, health insurance too much, etc.

So now we will finally find out if it really was the UAW that was dragging down the Big 3 or if it was the fact that they don't design vehicles that people want to buy.

After years of talking the talk that it needs cost concessions from the United Auto Workers to compete globally, the domestic auto industry will finally get a chance to walk the walk.

A tentative four-year contract with Ford Motor Co. appeared headed for union ratification in voting that ends Tuesday. That would make Ford the last of the domestic automakers to enter a new era of lower labor costs that should make them more competitive with Toyota, Honda and other imports stealing buyers.

The contracts are significant for domestic carmakers because money spent on wages and health care can now be pumped into new products, said David Cole, chairman of Center for Automotive Research.

Those changes, Cole said, are "the most momentous we're seen in a labor contract. Labor did its part, big time."

So now the Big 3 have to walk the walk, but I am guessing any stumbles will still be blamed on the UAW by the executives at the Big 3.

Thank A Vet Day

To The Hottest Men In The Military

Uncle Sam Needs You

NEW POSTS BELOW - THIS IS UP UNTIL NOV 11TH

Yes, he needs you.

You can do your part.

It's Project Valour IT time again.

Go join up now .... About Project Valour IT

Originally Valour-IT provided the voice-controlled software, but now works closely with the Department of Defense Computer/electronic Accommodations Program (CAP): CAP supplies the adaptive software and Valour-IT provides the laptop. In addition, DoD caseworkers serve as Valour-IT’s “eyes and ears” at several medical centers, identifying possible laptop recipients. Wounded military personnel can also directly request a laptop through the sign-up form or through the Valour-IT/Soldiers' Angels representatives

GO MARINES!

NEW POSTS BELOW, THIS IS UP UNTIL NOVEMBER 11TH

Is Ford Going To Pull A Chrsyler?

With voting to ratify the new UAW contract, Ford announces they plan on getting rid of an additional 4,000 hourly workers.

But Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally was clear in a conference call with auto analysts and journalists Thursday that the job cuts at Ford are not over, especially given the $1-billion pretax loss in North America in the third quarter.

"We will continue to reduce our employment consistent with our restructuring to operate at the lower demand over the next few years," Mulally said.

And just how does Ford plan on getting rid of those employees? Will it be through buyouts or simple permanent layoffs?

He would not say whether Ford would reduce more workers through involuntary layoffs or buyouts, which would allow workers to leave voluntarily with compensation.

"Let's talk about that next week," he said, referring to a conference call Ford is to host after the company's more than 50,000 autoworkers conclude voting Monday or Tuesday on a tentative 4-year labor agreement with Ford.

Yep, Next Week ..

After the voting to ratify the contract is done.

That lack of information about buyouts from Ford leaves some autoworkers suspicious that Ford simply would lay off workers as soon as the new contract is ratified.

Behind the scenes, Ford officials suggest the company would not violate the union's trust that way.

But given the actions of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, workers seem to want promises to be detailed and concrete. After autoworkers at those two companies ratified a contract with the companies, the carmakers announced they would lay off about 3,000 and 10,000 workers, respectively.

Ford probably should have kept it's mouth's shut until after the ratification because workers were learly before voting began but now they are down right suspicious and worried.

Gary Walkowicz, one of about 40 autoworkers at the Dearborn Truck Plant protesting the new contract, said autoworkers are more mistrustful of these deals than ever before.

"People are definitely suspicious and concerned about possible layoffs after what happened at General Motors and Chrysler," he said. "Some people are saying they're going to do the same thing: announce layoffs."

Looks like Ford is channeling Chrysler

Friday Doggie Blogging

Lance and Maggie got some more new collars a couple weeks ago.

Lance got a Cowboy one

Maggie got one called Sunday Brunch, although the picture doesn't do it justice. It looks real nice against her fur color

Neither were very cooperative in getting their pictures taken with their new collars on.

Collars bought from K9Closet

Another Successful "Hit-to-Kill" Mission

BIL sent another update on the Star Wars program.

He is the Project Manager for the Defense Contractor that is building the Star Wars program.

SEA-BASED MISSILE DEFENSE "HIT TO KILL" INTERCEPT ACHIEVED

Air Force Lieutenant General Henry 'Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced the successful completion today of a multiple simultaneous engagement involving two ballistic missile targets.

This was MDA's latest "hit to kill" intercept flight test conducted jointly with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. For the first time, the operationally realistic test involved two unitary "non-separating" targets, meaning that the target's warheads did not separate from their booster rockets. This was the 32nd and 33rd successful "hit-to-kill" intercepts since 2001.

Designated as Flight Test Standard Missile-13 (FTM-13), it marked the tenth and eleventh successful intercepts, of thirteen targets in twelve scheduled flight tests for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program, a sea-based component of the Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Aegis BMD is designed to intercept and destroy short to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.

The mission was completed by the cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), using the tactically certified 3.6 Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense shipboard weapon system and the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA interceptor.

At approximately 6:12 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (11:12 p.m. EST), a target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. Moments later, a second, identical target was launched from the PMRF. The USS Lake Erie's Aegis BMD Weapon System detected and tracked the targets and developed fire control solutions.

Approximately two minutes later, the USS Lake Erie's crew fired two SM-3 missiles, and two minutes later they successfully intercepted the targets outside the earth's atmosphere more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean and 250 miles northwest of Kauai. The intercepts used "hit to kill" technology, meaning that the targets were destroyed when the missiles collided directly with the targets.

A Japanese destroyer also participated in the flight test. Stationed off Kauai and equipped with the certified 3.6 Aegis BMD weapon system, the guided missile destroyer JS Kongo performed long-range surveillance and tracking exercises. The Kongo used the test as a training exercise in preparation for the first ballistic missile intercept test by a Japanese ship planned for later this year.

This event marked the fourth time an allied military unit participated in a U.S. Aegis BMDS test.

MDA and the Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD Program.
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors of Moorestown, New Jersey
is the Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) and prime contractor for the
Aegis BMD Weapon System and Vertical Launch System installed in Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers. Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson,
Arizona is the prime contractor for the SM-3 missile and all previous variants of Standard Missile.

This is the offical press release from the Navy.

Clinton Perpetuates Model T Myth

Clinton really is all about the soundbites to make herself look good all the while pounding on the american auto makers.

She also proves she does not fact finding before spouting one liners off.

Chrysler LLC criticized recent suggestions that the Model T Ford is a more fuel efficient vehicle than today's SUVs -- saying that's misleading.

"Henry Ford would be dumbfounded until he opened the hood. Because he would recognize the internal combustion engine underneath. It is the same basic concept that he put in to the Model T almost a century ago. In fact, that Model T got better gas mileage than your typical SUV does today," said Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner. "We can't continue this. It's time for a change."

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in outlining her plan to more than double combined fleet-wide fuel economy standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030, told an audience Monday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that automakers needed to do more to innovate.

Clinton hates the american auto makers, it's clear to see that and she has no problem with not campaigning in Michigan because of that hatered but thinks all those dumocrats are going to vote for her anyway.

I have seen the Model T gas mileage verses the SUV gas mileage quote being spouted off by the left every where I look. It's a good arguement for the SUV's are evil crowd too.

"A number of members of Congress have also perpetuated this myth. We join with those in Congress who are in favor of higher fuel economy standards. But comparing the Model T with today's vehicles is like comparing the Wright Brothers glider with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. You don't hear people complaining that the Dreamliner doesn't get as good fuel economy as a glider,"

Hating the american auto makers is as popular a thing to do as taking down the tabacco companies.

Is it really fair to compare a 1,200 pound Model T to todays 3,000 plus pound SUV's?

"There's a reason the Model T weighed 1,200 pounds, less than half the weight of most vehicles sold today. The Model T didn't have safety features like dual airbags, reinforced safety cage, anti-lock brakes and traction control. The Model T didn't have electric windows, interior lights, air conditioning, a radio and CD player."

Vines also noted that the Model T had a "four-cylinder, 22-horsepower engine had a top speed of 45 miles per hour, and it spewed out far more noxious emissions than today's vehicles because it didn't have a catalytic converter. And the brakes on a Model T? Make sure you plan ahead. Assuming the laws of gravity apply in New York, all those extra features add a lot of weight to a vehicle."

This Chrysler guy is pretty pissed off about Clinton spouting off myths and attempting to take down the auto industry with her double the gas mileage of todays vehicles within 10 years bill she would try to pass if she makes it to the white house.

Would any president sacrifice their safety, or comfort, and give up the presidential motorcade, which includes many SUVs laden with heavy armor?" Vines wrote. "But when you're looking for a soundbite, why fuss with facts? Look, you can love the planet and love your SUV too."

Dumocrats, do as I say not as I do.

Better Late Than Never

Halloween pictures of the puppies!

Lance didn't get a new outfit for halloween, but did get to sit on the porch with me for an hour and hand out candy. The kiddies loved him.

Lance was Snoopy

Maggie was a Fairy Princess

And this says what Lance thinks of Maggie as a Fairy Princess

"Phooey on that"

Dog Humor

Yesterday, at Wal-Mart, I was buying a large bag of Purina dog chow and was about to check out.

A woman behind me asked if I had a dog. On impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, and that I was starting the Purina Diet again. Although I probably shouldn't, because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry and that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no; I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setters ass and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard!

WAL-MART won't let me shop there anymore!!!

And They Think Waterboarding Is Torture

All the "old" people in our families have finally retired, Mr Weenie's mother was the last and she retired in October and prompting went in for hip replacement surgery. She has 2 knee replacements to go yet.

Mother-in-law Weenie lives in South Carolina.

She visits us usually once a year, but has never stayed for more than 4 days because she always had to get back to work and saved most of her vacation for visits to the grandkids in Maryland.

That has all changed now that she is retired.

She is visiting us during Christmas ...

FOR 9 DAYS

Talk about torture ....

gads ....

And what is even worse? We always have from Christmas Eve through New Years Day off (thank-you UAW and automotive industry). So we will be home the entire time she is with us.

Mr Weenie is freaking already, I am laughing at his freaking outness.

Bout time he has to deal with family during the holidays.

Will This Bee The Solution?

Mr Weenie called to let me know he bought 2 pounds of honey from a guy at work who's dad is a beekeeper.

2 pounds is a lot of honey.

And no, it's nothing kinky you sicko's ...

We get the Whole Dog Journal (a must have subscription for dog owners) and they had an article about the benefits of honey. It's really amazing what honey can do for canines and humans. It has very good healing properties.

The article mentioned about using honey for allergies. Studies have been done and canines and humans and have shown that if you take local honey every day, it's the same as allergy pills but even better. It must be local honey because that honey has local substances in it from the local bees pollunating the local flowers, local plants and flowers that you would be allergic to because they are in your area.

Since we are pretty desperate to get Lance some relief from his allergies we decided to try the honey therapy with him. And yes, honey is a good thing to give to your dog. (you can also use it on cuts for it's healing properties and use it after seizures to bring your dogs blood sugar back up because blood sugar drops during a seizure).

Hence the call from Mr Weenie about the 2 pounds of honey from a local bee keeper.

I will have to re-read the article but I think it's 1 teaspoon of honey every day (you have to take it every day during your "allergy" season for it to be effective, just like allergy pills).

I will keep you updated as to it's effectiveness.

Ford UAW Workers Get Worst Deal

I just found out what the media isn't telling, and I just found an article that flat out lies about what the new contract entails.

Comprehensive health care: maintained for active workers

BULLSHIT

I just found out from Mr Weenie that all our prescription and office/ER co-pays have doubled. Does anyone realize how much that is going to cost people?

GM and Chrysler didn't have any changes to their health care costs.

Along with Ford only paying 40% into the VEBA account (GM and Chrsyler paid a lot more into their VEBA accounts) the workers have gotten screwed by Ford and the executive team at the UAW.

I hope the contract is voted down.

If they give the executives any freaking bonus or raise after the contract is signed I can tell you for certain they will have a riot on their hands.

To see a compreshensive account of the contract terms see this.

I Should Have Let Him Loose

Mr Weenie and I were in Home Depot on saturday night and we literally ran into one of our famous neighbors, Ron Gettlefinger (UAW President).

Mr Weenie so wanted to give Gettlefinger his opinion of the negotiations so far but I warned him to keep quite.

I should have let Mr Weenie go crazy all over his ass seeing the terms of the agreement now.

UAW Screwed Ford Employees

Ford and the UAW negotiated a contract over the weekend and the details are finally coming out and the hourly workers at Ford are getting screwed without the benefit of vaseline.

The details:

Retiree health care: Ford will be required to put up substantially less cash than GM or Chrysler to fund a voluntary employees' beneficiary association, or VEBA, that will take over responsibility for hourly retiree health care. Only 40 percent of Ford's contribution will be in the form of cash, compared with GM's 54 percent and Chrysler's 59 percent.

Which means by the time Mr Weenie retires we won't have health care because they money will have run out. This method of health care has not been proven out at all. So now we will need to start saving even more to be able to afford health care when we retire.

Factory investment: Ford will invest cash that would have gone into the VEBA in its plants to make them flexible, enabling them to produce more than one kind of model. Ford intends to make all of its North American plants flexible, except for those it expects to close as part of a previously announced restructuring plan.

• Job security: Ford agreed to remove two plants -- Wayne Stamping and Assembly Plant and the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake -- from its list of facilities targeted for closure and will not close any other U.S. assembly plants beyond those already slated to be shuttered. Ford also made specific new product commitments to Wayne and other facilities. GM set a moratorium on outsourcing, agreed to retain current product plans at 16 UAW assembly plants and made investment and future allocation commitments for 12 of those plants. Chrysler made no future product commitments but identified $15 billion in potential investment in U.S. plants during the term of the contract. The company announced $3 billion in powertrain investments in June.

So the money that should have gone to health care is being reinvested in plants that will no doubt be closed in a couple years.

Because somebody please explain to me how these plants were slated to close because they didn't have new vehicles to put in them but now all of a sudden they are remaining open. And what they didn't put in the above was that Ford still has the right to shuddered these plants at anytime. So I guess Ford is taking a page out of the Chrysler playbook and will announce they are closing the plants after the contract is signed.

Two-tier wages: Ford may hire new workers in assembly and other types of jobs at lower wages until the overall number of workers in the lower-wage tier reaches 20 percent of its UAW work force. GM and Chrysler may hire workers at lower wages but only for certain jobs not core to making vehicles.

So Ford has set the presedence for the next round of contracts because you know GM and Chrysler will be screaming their poor and just have to hire anybody at lower wages to save the company.

Jobs bank: Ford workers may not stay in the jobs bank, earnings nearly full wages, beyond one year. In that time, if they are offered another job at Ford, they must take it or leave the company. GM workers may turn down one offer but must take the second one. Chrysler workers without jobs may spend up to two years in the jobs bank. After that, the UAW and Chrysler would negotiate a plan for workers.

This is reasonable and everyone was actually expecting this.

There is no mention of bonuses like GM and Chrsyler got but I am sure they are in there but just not mentioned in the paper.

I have a feeling that this contract will not be passed by the UAW membership. Because once you give up a little, the company will keep pushing for more and more. Just ask Northwest employees, who have given up 50% of their wages and never got back what was promised to them all the while the executives got huge raises and bonuses for getting the employees to give up.

Chrysler did the Ford UAW members a big favor by screwing it's employees so quickly after the contract was signed because the UAW members are going to remember that and apply that to the plants that are now miracuously going to "stay" open.

The Green Bean Scheme

Maggie is such a schemer.

We have started giving the puppers vegtables and fruit with their food. We started because Maggie is on a diet (she needs to lose at least 1 if not 2 pounds) and we have cut her kibble down. Her tummy was growling alot so we started adding veggies to fill her up.

Mr Weenie is still feeding them in the morning so when I would come down after getting ready for work I would give Maggie some Green Beans because I thought Mr Weenie wasn't adding them in the morning.

Maggie got use to me giving her Green Beans in the morning and started crying for them before we would get downstairs (she's such a drama queen).

I mentioned this to Mr Weenie about her dramatics and he said "hey, I've been adding them to her kibble in the morning too".

So Maggie was getting double the Green Beans in the morning and acting all drama queen for me so I would give them to her.

I told Maggie we caught onto her Green Bean scheme and she stopped the drama queen antics in the morning with me now.

We Had Our Fingers Crossed

Dispite getting big concessions from the UAW for promises, in writing, of job security Chrysler, claiming they had their fingers crossed behind their backs when they signed the contract, is getting rid of 12,000 employees this month.

Chrysler drastically scaled back its North American operations Thursday with plans to cut shifts at five assembly plants, eliminate 12,000 more jobs and drop a handful of unpopular vehicles from its product lineup.

Looks like contracts mean nothing and the UAW at Chrysler is now regretting signing the contract. I don't blame them, Chrysler made promises to them for getting drastic cuts and yet Chrysler goes back on their word. They out and out screwed it's workers.

They have pissed off a lot of people now.

Chrysler LLC workers said they feel deceived after the company announced massive job cuts Thursday, just days after the United Auto Workers agreed to a controversial contract with the Auburn Hills automaker.

"I supported that contract and would have voted 'no' if I knew half the workers here would be laid off. It's sad," said Lydia Johnson, a line worker at Chrysler's Sterling Heights Assembly.

Privately owned Chrysler intends to slash up to 10,000 hourly jobs through 2008 and reduce shifts at five North American assembly plants. Some 2,100 salaried and contract positions also will be cut.

Trust me, the workers will not forget this. And it's having some effect on the Ford negotiations going on right now.

News of the job losses also has shaken Ford Motor Co. hourly workers, who are in the final stages of contract negotiations with the Dearborn carmaker.

Ford workers, who are waiting for UAW leaders and the Dearborn automaker to reach a tentative labor agreement, said they'll now view any promise of job security with deeper skepticism.

"You get promises of job security and it turns out they don't mean much," said Al Figlan, a skilled tradesman at Ford's Van Dyke Transmission plant in Sterling Heights. "You bet a lot of us are paying attention to that."

I think Ford is going to have to make some real promises to get the contract to pass.

Chrysler is going to have some problems on their hands if they want anything else from the UAW, I wouldn't trust anything Chrysler said to me now.

No Quality Weenie Here

A side effect from the Valour IT compeititon is the hits I get.

When you sign up for a team you list your blog name and of course everyone is curious about a site called Quality Weenie donating to Valour IT.

You all have dirty minds.

Hee hee hee

So if you were looking for some Quality Weenie, I put some below the fold just for you guys.

How Unique Are You?

I found this quiz over at This Minx.

Very Interesting that there are very few of my married last name people in the U.S when in Malta it's as common as Smith is in the U.S.

This is how many people with my first name and last name (hyphenated).

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

As for my first name:
There are 4,548 people in the U.S. with the first name (my first name).
Statistically the 2762nd most popular first name.
More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name (my first name) are female.

My Maiden name:
There are 78,828 people in the U.S. with the last name (my maiden last name).
Statistically the 426th most popular last name.

My Married last name unhypenated:
There are 879 people in the U.S. with the last name (married unhyphenated last name).
Statistically the 30847th most popular last name.

But It's Real Children This Time

Why is it only now that people are calling for penalities to China and bans and firing of US Product Safety Chairpeople when childrens toys are involved but there was narely a screech from citizens when thousands of dogs died from poisioned dog food?

I think I remember saying that nothing would be done about China's product safety issues until kids were involved.