Lesson: Don't Piss Off a Lawyer
Aviation Lawyer Sues and wins $3100 after being bumped by Continental
If you ever have an involuntary bumping case, this story can be a simple roadmap for approaching the case.
USATODAY.com - Continental bumps lawyer, loses $3,100 in lawsuit
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
The Rutles Tragical History Tour
Test Your Rutles Triva Skills
. . . at the official Rutles site. Link below
The Rutles Tragical History Tour
. . . at the official Rutles site. Link below
The Rutles Tragical History Tour
Monday, November 21, 2005
Toyota is on track to top GM sales
Toyota to be the World's Top Automaker in 2006
Toyota is on track to top General Motors as the world's largest auto maker. Toyota is projecting a 11% rise over 2005 to 9.2 million units. GM's projection is not available, but is expected to be below its 2005 sales of 9.1 million.
Toyota is on track to top GM sales
Toyota is on track to top General Motors as the world's largest auto maker. Toyota is projecting a 11% rise over 2005 to 9.2 million units. GM's projection is not available, but is expected to be below its 2005 sales of 9.1 million.
Toyota is on track to top GM sales
V6 Crew Cabs: Holden VZ Crewman S 4x2 3.6 September 2005 Car Review - CarPoint Australia
From the Not-Available-Here File
The Holden VZ Crewman
The Holden Crewman is Australia's version of the El Camino, still alive and well down there. Could this be imported as a Chevrolet? The last thing General Motors needs is a distraction.
V6 Crew Cabs: Holden VZ Crewman S 4x2 3.6 September 2005 Car Review - CarPoint Australia
The Holden VZ Crewman
The Holden Crewman is Australia's version of the El Camino, still alive and well down there. Could this be imported as a Chevrolet? The last thing General Motors needs is a distraction.
V6 Crew Cabs: Holden VZ Crewman S 4x2 3.6 September 2005 Car Review - CarPoint Australia
Microsoft Xbox 360 Reviews. Video Game Consoles Reviews by CNET.
The XBox 360 is Here
Build a better Nerd Trap . ..
Microsoft Xbox 360 Reviews. Video Game Consoles Reviews by CNET.
Build a better Nerd Trap . ..
Microsoft Xbox 360 Reviews. Video Game Consoles Reviews by CNET.
USATODAY.com - Honda FCX: Ride pollution-free
Honda FCX - Our Fuel Cell Future?
Linked below is USA Today's review of the Honda FCX, the first "commercially available" fuel-cell powered car.
USATODAY.com - Honda FCX: Ride pollution-free
Linked below is USA Today's review of the Honda FCX, the first "commercially available" fuel-cell powered car.
USATODAY.com - Honda FCX: Ride pollution-free
Who'll Blink Over GM? - Newsweek Business - MSNBC.com
Newsweek's Allan Sloan on GM
A 3-way Game of Chicken
One of my favorite columnists, Allan Sloan of Newsweek describes what he calls a "three-way game of chicken" that is driving General Motor's stock price. The players are GM, Delphi, and the UAW. Specifically, Delphi CEO Steve Miller, by daring the UAW to strike with a low-ball wage cut proposal, is also daring General Motors to come in with some cash to head off the strike.
I mentioned before how economists familiar with game theory may be able to come up with a potential way out of this mess. On the other hand, it may be that there is no winning scenario. It's possible that there may not be enough money to get Delphi out of bankruptcy. It's possible that there never was, and GM knew it, and that's why Delphi was created in the first place, as the primary mirror in a house of smoke and mirrors. If that's the case, then GM investors have just been bamboozled.
Consider this, four years ago, in 2001, GM decided in its "Keep America Rolling" campaignnn that it couldn't shrink its way to financial health. It had to keep production up because its retiree commitments weren't going down. They've only gone up since then. Nevertheless, GM announced a plan to cut 9 plants today. Many, if not most, of the workers from those nine plants are just going to retire. Were is the money going to come from to pay the costs of the new retirees?
href="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10117463/site/newsweek/">Who'll Blink Over GM? - Newsweek Business - MSNBC.com
A 3-way Game of Chicken
One of my favorite columnists, Allan Sloan of Newsweek describes what he calls a "three-way game of chicken" that is driving General Motor's stock price. The players are GM, Delphi, and the UAW. Specifically, Delphi CEO Steve Miller, by daring the UAW to strike with a low-ball wage cut proposal, is also daring General Motors to come in with some cash to head off the strike.
I mentioned before how economists familiar with game theory may be able to come up with a potential way out of this mess. On the other hand, it may be that there is no winning scenario. It's possible that there may not be enough money to get Delphi out of bankruptcy. It's possible that there never was, and GM knew it, and that's why Delphi was created in the first place, as the primary mirror in a house of smoke and mirrors. If that's the case, then GM investors have just been bamboozled.
Consider this, four years ago, in 2001, GM decided in its "Keep America Rolling" campaignnn that it couldn't shrink its way to financial health. It had to keep production up because its retiree commitments weren't going down. They've only gone up since then. Nevertheless, GM announced a plan to cut 9 plants today. Many, if not most, of the workers from those nine plants are just going to retire. Were is the money going to come from to pay the costs of the new retirees?
href="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10117463/site/newsweek/">Who'll Blink Over GM? - Newsweek Business - MSNBC.com
GM ups job cut target to 30,000 hourly jobs - Nov. 21, 2005
GM to Cut 30,000 Jobs - Shut 9 Plants
Ford to cut 4,000 Jobs
Here is CNN's rundown of the GM cuts.
The plants being closed include Oklahoma City, and the Lansing, Mich., Craft Centre in 2006, and Doraville, Ga., in 2008.
In addition, some shifts will be eliminated at three other assembly plants. In addition Line 1 at Spring Hill, Tenn. and Oshawa, Ontario, Car Plant No. 2, will also shut, although assembly plants on the same property as those two lines will continue to operate. But GM counts the facilities being closed there as separate assembly plants.
One shift in Moraine, Ohio, will also be eliminated in 2006.
GM also said it will shut eight other facilities, including two stamping plants in Lansing, Mich. in 2006 and Pittsburgh in 2007, along with two powertrain plants, in St. Catharines, Ontario, and Flint, Mich., in 2008. And the company will shut three parts facilities in Portland, Ore., Ypsilanti, Mich and St. Louis by 2007, although St. Louis will be converted to a collision center. There will be one more parts facility closing, with its identity yet to be determined.
Here are some of my quick thoughts on the cuts. Some news reports state flat-out that the Saturn plant in Spring Hill Tennessee will be shut down. According to CNN, one line will be shut and one line will remain open. The Saturn plant is one of the newest in the GM inventory. Also, the Oklahoma City factory had been substantially rebuilt after a direct hit by a tornado just a few years ago. Age of facility apparently wasn't a big consideration in determining what plant to shut down. Also, the cuts appear to be disproportionately in GM's southern region. This means that Dixie is almost exclusively going to be the land of the transplants for some time. Your typical southern NASCAR fan is going to be far more likely to work for Toyota,Hyundai, Honda, or Nissan than GM Ford or Chrysler. If Joe Nascar works for Daimler-Chrysler, he's likely to be a non-unionized Mercedes worker. There will be even less of a union presence in the soutern states than there was before.
I'm a little surprised that some of these plants will be shut down before the UAW collective bargaining agreement expires in 2007.
I'm going to try to add more cogent thoughts to this later. I just wanted to get something down in a timely fashion.
Fellow Afscme 3357 members, I urge each of you to spend some time during the winter shut-down to come up with a personal contingency plan and do one thing toward that plan. This is real. This is not a drill.
Thanks to Ken W. for the link.
GM ups job cut target to 30,000 hourly jobs - Nov. 21, 2005
Ford cuts 4000
Ford to cut 4,000 Jobs
Here is CNN's rundown of the GM cuts.
The plants being closed include Oklahoma City, and the Lansing, Mich., Craft Centre in 2006, and Doraville, Ga., in 2008.
In addition, some shifts will be eliminated at three other assembly plants. In addition Line 1 at Spring Hill, Tenn. and Oshawa, Ontario, Car Plant No. 2, will also shut, although assembly plants on the same property as those two lines will continue to operate. But GM counts the facilities being closed there as separate assembly plants.
One shift in Moraine, Ohio, will also be eliminated in 2006.
GM also said it will shut eight other facilities, including two stamping plants in Lansing, Mich. in 2006 and Pittsburgh in 2007, along with two powertrain plants, in St. Catharines, Ontario, and Flint, Mich., in 2008. And the company will shut three parts facilities in Portland, Ore., Ypsilanti, Mich and St. Louis by 2007, although St. Louis will be converted to a collision center. There will be one more parts facility closing, with its identity yet to be determined.
Here are some of my quick thoughts on the cuts. Some news reports state flat-out that the Saturn plant in Spring Hill Tennessee will be shut down. According to CNN, one line will be shut and one line will remain open. The Saturn plant is one of the newest in the GM inventory. Also, the Oklahoma City factory had been substantially rebuilt after a direct hit by a tornado just a few years ago. Age of facility apparently wasn't a big consideration in determining what plant to shut down. Also, the cuts appear to be disproportionately in GM's southern region. This means that Dixie is almost exclusively going to be the land of the transplants for some time. Your typical southern NASCAR fan is going to be far more likely to work for Toyota,Hyundai, Honda, or Nissan than GM Ford or Chrysler. If Joe Nascar works for Daimler-Chrysler, he's likely to be a non-unionized Mercedes worker. There will be even less of a union presence in the soutern states than there was before.
I'm a little surprised that some of these plants will be shut down before the UAW collective bargaining agreement expires in 2007.
I'm going to try to add more cogent thoughts to this later. I just wanted to get something down in a timely fashion.
Fellow Afscme 3357 members, I urge each of you to spend some time during the winter shut-down to come up with a personal contingency plan and do one thing toward that plan. This is real. This is not a drill.
Thanks to Ken W. for the link.
GM ups job cut target to 30,000 hourly jobs - Nov. 21, 2005
Ford cuts 4000
Friday, November 18, 2005
BREAKING NEWS: Chrysler to offer free gas, maintenance Chrysler to offer free gas, maintenance
Daimler Chrysler to offer Free Gas
Daimler Chrysler has countered GM's Red Tag program with its own incentive program called "Miles to Freedom". DC is offering $2400 in a debit card towards gas expense, and free routine maintenance for two years. Some models are excluded including the popular 300 series.
BREAKING NEWS: Chrysler to offer free gas, maintenance Chrysler to offer free gas, maintenance
Daimler Chrysler has countered GM's Red Tag program with its own incentive program called "Miles to Freedom". DC is offering $2400 in a debit card towards gas expense, and free routine maintenance for two years. Some models are excluded including the popular 300 series.
BREAKING NEWS: Chrysler to offer free gas, maintenance Chrysler to offer free gas, maintenance
Thursday, November 17, 2005
General Motors just can? catch a break - Automotive - MSNBC.com
General Motors Market Cap < $12 Billion
GM shares plunged low enough today to bring the market cap of the company (the total value of all its shares) to $11.9 Billion. The market considers General Motors to be less than 1/10th as valuable as Google Inc. (at $112.5 Billion), and even less than Ford Motor Co. (13.6 Billion).
(thanks to Marc S. for the link.)
General Motors just can?t catch a break - Automotive - MSNBC.com
GM shareholders should be in open revolt at this time. The recent $400 million earnings restatement is just a hint that the GM's financial statements probably aren't that reliable, and the reality is probably worse than what's on paper. There SHOULD be intense pressure on the board to break up the company at this point. GMAC, the crown jewel of the company, is at risk when the company can't borrow money cheaply enough to keep lending rates competitive. Once GMAC is gone, what true financial incentive is there on a pure financial standpoint to not sell off valuable assets and shutter the worthless ones? Given the contractual provisions in the current UAW contract, plant closings are limited through 2007, but that's just 13 months away. (I don't know what month the collective bargaining agreement ends.)
What's it going to take to save GM as we know it today? Read the next post.
My take on the GM Mess and How to Get Out of It Version 1.0.
Nobody Asked Me, but So What?
GM's only realistic hope of turning around the automotive operations involve immediate substantial help from both the United Auto Workers AND the United States government. Whoever wants to lead this country should take the bull by the horns, get GM management, the UAW, and the congressional leaders in the same room and hammer out a deal where everybody gives something up. It would take an immediate 20% concession by the UAW plus additional promised concessions to forestall Delphi-like impoverishment. Moreover, friendly congressional representatives should propose $50 billion or so in government contracts to improve capacity utilization. When they are accused of doling out a handout, don't hide it. Admit it. GM saved the economy after 9/11, it's time for a payback. Screw the World Trade Organization.
Here's my specific proposal, If George W. Bush really wants a legacy, earn one. Declare war on foreign oil dependence and mean it. Let GM lead our industrial base just like it did in World War II. The government could sponsor a program to replace the inefficient, polluting engines in 2 million old cars with modern Ecotech engines, it will go as far as any project the Bush Administration has sponsored in reducing air pollution. Such a program can be funded by money from polluting power plants who get the benefit of the net reductions. Let GM plants shift to the production of solar heaters, solar shingles, and led lighting fixtures. Give every family on welfare $1000 worth of energy-saving home improvements, have the products built in the USA in idled auto plants, and have the improvements installed by people who are now un-employed. Let's convert all city buses to dual-fuel hybrids within 5 years. Let's divert 1/2 of all NASA work hours to energy-efficiency projects. Let's put GM supercomputers to work doing the math on planning the grid for massively parallel electrical grids featuring residential fuel-cell co-generators such as the model that Honda just introduced.
While we're at it, we have to come face-to-face with the healthcare mess. It's time to sever the bond between employment and healthcare. It is a farce and it is now being exposed as a farce. GM can't compete in a capitalist economy with a socialist entitlement structure. We need a single-payer healthcare system not just for General Motors but for every employer. It's not socialized medicine, it is central funding of a social good in a market where there is there isn't anything close to the "zero information costs" necessary for free markets to function.
To be continued, updated, deleted or ?
GM shares plunged low enough today to bring the market cap of the company (the total value of all its shares) to $11.9 Billion. The market considers General Motors to be less than 1/10th as valuable as Google Inc. (at $112.5 Billion), and even less than Ford Motor Co. (13.6 Billion).
(thanks to Marc S. for the link.)
General Motors just can?t catch a break - Automotive - MSNBC.com
GM shareholders should be in open revolt at this time. The recent $400 million earnings restatement is just a hint that the GM's financial statements probably aren't that reliable, and the reality is probably worse than what's on paper. There SHOULD be intense pressure on the board to break up the company at this point. GMAC, the crown jewel of the company, is at risk when the company can't borrow money cheaply enough to keep lending rates competitive. Once GMAC is gone, what true financial incentive is there on a pure financial standpoint to not sell off valuable assets and shutter the worthless ones? Given the contractual provisions in the current UAW contract, plant closings are limited through 2007, but that's just 13 months away. (I don't know what month the collective bargaining agreement ends.)
What's it going to take to save GM as we know it today? Read the next post.
My take on the GM Mess and How to Get Out of It Version 1.0.
Nobody Asked Me, but So What?
GM's only realistic hope of turning around the automotive operations involve immediate substantial help from both the United Auto Workers AND the United States government. Whoever wants to lead this country should take the bull by the horns, get GM management, the UAW, and the congressional leaders in the same room and hammer out a deal where everybody gives something up. It would take an immediate 20% concession by the UAW plus additional promised concessions to forestall Delphi-like impoverishment. Moreover, friendly congressional representatives should propose $50 billion or so in government contracts to improve capacity utilization. When they are accused of doling out a handout, don't hide it. Admit it. GM saved the economy after 9/11, it's time for a payback. Screw the World Trade Organization.
Here's my specific proposal, If George W. Bush really wants a legacy, earn one. Declare war on foreign oil dependence and mean it. Let GM lead our industrial base just like it did in World War II. The government could sponsor a program to replace the inefficient, polluting engines in 2 million old cars with modern Ecotech engines, it will go as far as any project the Bush Administration has sponsored in reducing air pollution. Such a program can be funded by money from polluting power plants who get the benefit of the net reductions. Let GM plants shift to the production of solar heaters, solar shingles, and led lighting fixtures. Give every family on welfare $1000 worth of energy-saving home improvements, have the products built in the USA in idled auto plants, and have the improvements installed by people who are now un-employed. Let's convert all city buses to dual-fuel hybrids within 5 years. Let's divert 1/2 of all NASA work hours to energy-efficiency projects. Let's put GM supercomputers to work doing the math on planning the grid for massively parallel electrical grids featuring residential fuel-cell co-generators such as the model that Honda just introduced.
While we're at it, we have to come face-to-face with the healthcare mess. It's time to sever the bond between employment and healthcare. It is a farce and it is now being exposed as a farce. GM can't compete in a capitalist economy with a socialist entitlement structure. We need a single-payer healthcare system not just for General Motors but for every employer. It's not socialized medicine, it is central funding of a social good in a market where there is there isn't anything close to the "zero information costs" necessary for free markets to function.
To be continued, updated, deleted or ?
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