Tag: automobiles

Thursday News Chum: Summer Camps, Rental Cars, Plus-Size Reality, Crocs, and Odorless Kimchi

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Some selected news items, gathers over the lunchtime perusal of the papers:

  • From the “Kramer Krud” Department: Swine Flu is impacting more than just the workplace. It’s having a big impact at summer camps, as reported by the NY Times. In Maine, there are 33 camps with outbreaks, and another 10 in the pipeline being tested—and some have 70 to 100 kids in isolation, so they’re running shadow camps for them! In Georgia, Camp Coleman canceled its first session because so many counselors got sick right before camp started that it seemed impossible to provide a good program. In Vermont, Camp Killooleet had one or two sick children on a Monday soon after camp began, according to its director, Dean Spencer, but that grew to 12 or 15 on Tuesday — so on Wednesday, Mr. Spencer sent all 100 campers home for a week. What about locally? Here the Jewish Journal has a report. As of the end of June, Camp Ramah in Ojai has one confirmed case of Influenza A and has sent home 26 campers and staff. Camp Alonim at American Jewish University’s Brandeis Bardin campus in Simi Valley has had six confirmed cases of Influenza A, and those campers all were sent home. As for the Wilshire Camps, they’ve had a small percentage. All Wilshire Boulevard Temple campers were required to take their temperatures before going on the buses headed for Hilltop or Hess Kramer. Camp Alonim also took campers temperatures upon arrival and sent anyone home who had a fever above 100. (update on SoCal camps here)
  • From the “We Try Harder” Department: The decline of the Big 3 automakers in the US has affected more than dealers: the composition of rental car fleets is changing. No more are the fleets composed of the poor sellers of GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Now they have the poor sellers of Nissan and Kia. At least this improves your chance of renting a Toyota.
  • From the “Television Reflects Us” Department: One problem in the past with reality shows is they haven’t reflected reality: you’ve seen model-sized wannabe-actors going after wannabe-model-actors (that was even true with the “Geek” show on the CW). According to CNN, that is changing: more reality-shows are casting plus-sized contestants, obstensibly because they look more like the audience. Of course, the point is far too often to make fun of them for their size, and encourage them to lose weight.
  • From the “Ugly Shoes” Department: Remember Crocs, those super ugly shoes. They are so last year. The LA Times is reporting on how Crocs have lost their popularity, and no one is buying them anymore. Of course, part of the problem is that they didn’t incorporate planned obsolescence: if your shoes are indestructable, no one will replace them. Crocs seem to be destined to go the way of Earth Shoes.
  • From the “We Are What We Eat” Department: Lastly, in a story that talonvaki would like, the LA Times is reporting how an enterprising Korean scientist has created an odorless kimchi. Just what the world needs. Next up: Limberger.
Share

Chum That Makes You Go Huh? — Toilet Paper, Car Personalities, Mystic Dates, & Structural Glass

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Here are some more articles that just caught my eye during my lunchtime reading:

  • CNN has a Mental Floss article on how toilet paper is uniquely American. We’re evidently the leading consumers of the product; we’re the inventors of the product; and of course, we’ve come up with ways to market the product without referring to its specific function. Think of what the “strength”, “softness”, and “absorbancy” are really saying…
  • The San Diego Union-Tribute has a link to an AP article about personality traits of cars. It talks about how the shape and styling of a car often reflect a personality the manufacturer wants to project. Given this, why do so many manufacturers want to reflect the personality: “dull”?
  • USA Today has a piece about something that is going to happen tomorrow morning: the “rare” date/time alignment of 04:05:06am 07/08/09. They are tying to imbue the date with all sorts of meaning, and why it is a good day for this and that. Of course, I read the article on the heels of watching the Penn & Teller Bullshit episode on Astrology, so I’m thinking, “This is news?”
  • The New York Times has an article about the new observation boxes in the Sears Tower in Chicago: the ones made of glass that suspend you ¼ mi above the sidewalk. I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’ll get me in one of those. The article’s take on the boxes is interesting though… it doesn’t look at them from the fear factor — rather, it looks at the use of glass as a structural building material. Those boxes are laminated tempered glass. Of course, that doesn’t make a difference to your psyche…
Share

News Chum: Dr. Demento Returns, Incandescent Light Bulbs, Vanity License Plates

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Well, the feeding frenzy resulting from Michael Jackson and Sarah Palin has calmed down a bit, and a few interesting pieces of lunchtime news chum have surfaced:

  • From the “Pico and Sepulveda” Department: Gary Lycan (who has an excellent radio column in the OC Register) is reporting that Dr. Demento is returning to the airwaves as part of a July 10 tribute to KMET — The Mighty Met — on KSWD 100.3 FM (there was also a July 4 tribute on KLOS 95.5). The good Dr. will be on at 7pm “playing all the songs that became famous on my show at KMET like ‘Fish Heads’, ‘Another One Rides the Bus’, and ‘Pico and Sepulveda.” No word yet whether he’ll be followed by “Flo and Eddie”.

    The Mighty Met was a radio staple during my high school and early college days. Although I wasn’t into the music they played at the time, I did listen regularly to Dr. Demento and I still remember Flo and Eddie to this day (explanation: right after Dr. D was the Flo and Eddie By The Fireside show). When they became “The Wave” and went to lukewarm jazz, Los Angeles lost one of its best music stations.

    (An interesting side note in the article: Merrill Shindler, restaurant critic, is returning to KABC with a new “Feed Your Face” program, 4-7 p.m. Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays.)

  • From the “A Bright Idea Department: The NY Times has an interesting article on a new breed of incandescent light bulbs — bulbs that have been engineered to be significantly more energy efficient and to meet new efficiency requirements. This is good news for those of us with dimmer switches (CFLs don’t work well with dimmers), as well as those sensitive to the CFL “flicker”.
  • From the “Blue Plate Special” Department: The SF Chronicle has an interesting article about the Golden Gate Special Interest Plates, and how they might not be getting enough subscribers to be made. In general, sales of vanity plates dropped about 20% in 2008 from the year before. But vanity plates are still popular, with the “Kids” plate and the “Whale Tale” plate taking the 1st and 2nd sales position. I have a kids plate, in order to get the ♥ symbol, permitting me to say ♥CAHWYS. Alas, the UCLA plate is the least popular.
Share

Tuesday Business News Chum: Keyboards, Painted Airline Employees, Amazon Associates, Tata Nano

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

I’m finally coming up for air after a long telecon this morning — and thus this late lunch break and news perusal:

  • From the “Now Where Is That ‘Any’ Key?” Department: For years and years folks have tried to change the layout of a keyboard. Nothing has succeeded. Levono is trying again: with a new keyboard that slightly enlarges the DEL and ESC keys. The research and history behind this change is fascinating.
  • From the “I Bet Your Smile Is Painted On” Department: Air New Zeland has a new marketing campaign touting the fact that they have no hidden fees… and they’ve extended it to their safety videos. Specifically, the campaign features unclothed workers… well, they have their clothes painted on with body paint… and have these workers in their “Bare Essentials of Safety” safety video. The video and commercials are not as revealing as some might think. The realistic body paint makes it look as if the employees — flight attendants, baggage handlers and a pilot — are wearing uniforms. The one person not shown doing his actual job is the company’s buff chief executive, Rob Fyfe, who plays a baggage handler. The commercial is available on YouTube.
  • From the “Associates” Department: Many folks are probably Amazon Associates. I am (for both the SCJ FAQ and California Highways). However, your associate fees may be at risk. Amazon has already cut associates lose in two states because of new sales-tax rules, and may cut off more (including those in California, if a proposed tax-collection scheme is passed). Be forewarned, if you want to keep up your steady supply of Amazon gift certificates!
  • From the “Small Car” Department: The NY Times takes the Tata Nano for a test drive… and actually likes it. This doesn’t appear to be your father’s Yugo, folks.
Share

Economic Chum: Kroger/Ralphs Marketing, Ford Family, Small Business Credit, Job Market

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Last night, I had the occasion to talk to my broker about building college funds and investing in this economy, and I pointed her to a number of articles I had seen during my lunchtime news reading. So, for today’s lunchtime chum, I thought I would share them with you:

  • From the “Targeted Marketing” Department: The LA Times has an interesting article on the Kroger chain, which out here in Los Angeles we know as Ralphs (disclaimer: My brother-in-law works for Ralphs as some sort of manager). Oldtimers in Los Angeles will remember Kroger as the one-time owner of the Market Basket chain (and if you are into grocery history, check out this site). Kroger, it seems, is making money through intensive analysis of their customer base, and by silently tiering their stores: the ones with wealthier clientele get more national brand products, the ones with more price-conscious consumers get more private-label products. They individualize coupon book mailings. Now, I’ve never particularly liked Ralphs since Kroger took over — we still prefer TJs and Gelsons — but that could be because we’re not going to a correctly-tiered store for our style.
  • From the “There’s A Ford In Your Future” Department: The NY Times has an interesting article on Ford Motors, which you’ll recall is the only US-HQed carmaker to not accept US Govt funds. The article claims that one reason is that the Ford family is still at the helm and actively involved. I should note that the NY Times also has an interesting piece on which autos are actually made in the US. By the way, when you buy that car, expect to see some colors you haven’t seen in a while. USA Today is reporting that carmakers are using colors in lieu of new models to lure buyers.
  • From the “Feeling Squeezed” Department: The LA Times has an interesting piece on the tightening credit squeeze for small business. It notes how the credit cards that small business depends upon to smooth cash flow are disappearing or having rates raised… and that the same companies that are doing this may be going out of providing private-label cards to these stores. This could affect those with private label cards (think Best Buy), or those trying to take advantage of the 0% financing deals (which are often private-label credit).
  • From the “Get A Job” Department: The NY Times has an interesting article on the job market: in particular, how certain skilled professions are begging for people. These include professions such as critical care nurses, welders, licensed civil engineers, special education teachers, geotechnical engineers, and electrical lineman. All are fields that require some aspect of professional experience or training on top of the school experience (making the people harder to come by). Interesting article, especially if you are looking for work, or know someone looking for work.
Share

What Makes A Car Elegant

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

I was reading the paper today, and saw a big ad for “GM’s rebirth”. I had also recently walked by a Cadillac dealer, and commented to myself how ugly and inelegant the Caddie’s looked. Who cares about economical cars? Amercan’s care about design, and GM has recently stunk in the design department.

So, in looking at the recent Caddies, I tried to figure out why they don’t seem elegant. Lincoln towncars are elegant. Mercedes are elegant. But Lexii and Infinitus and Accrum just seem like bigger Toyotas, Nissans, and Hondas. Then it came to me.

Hood ornaments.

Caddilac has ditched that lovely hood ornament to go with the center-grill name badge, just like every other manufacturer. But Mercedes and Lincolns: They still have the ornaments… and are still viewed as classy.

So here’s a plea: GM, and the other luxury car makers: Bring back that lovely hood ornament at the front of the hood. It gives a certain something to the car…. and in this economy, provides a ready source of jewelry and free advertising.

Share

The Side-Effects of a Good Hummer

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

All day long, I’ve been trying to figure out what to write. Most of the news chum has been pretty dry; there wasn’t much worth comment. But then an article caught my eye:

Schwarzenegger isn’t mourning the loss of Hummer

Now, if you recall, the Governator was a big fan of Hummer a few years ago. Nowadays, he drives a Hummer powered by vegetable oil, while he guides our wonderful state into fiscal ruin. But that’s another topic. Back to Hummer… in the article, Arnie is quoted as saying:

“I feel saddened about the fact that America has so far fallen behind and that Detroit, the big automakers, that make spectacular cars …. somehow have not kept up in the technology. … And I think it is largely because they have been protected by the federal government for too long, rather than the federal government saying, ‘Here are the new standards — 10 years from now, those are the cars that you have to produce.’ ”

This brought to mind an article I saw earlier in the NY Times, about how GM is really an innovative company. They just aren’t innovative in the US. Where do they innovate? India. Brazil. China. Sales increased 10% last year in Brazil, 9% in India and 6% in China. Recent numbers in some areas are even better — GM’s sales in the Asia Pacific region were up 44% in May compared with the year before. Yes, cheap labor has a lot to do with it. But innovation does as well: In China, GM spent years emphasizing fuel economy and affordability. In Brazil, it created flexible-fuel engines that run on ethanol or gasoline, and compact pickup trucks. In India, it is constructing a new tiny car that may be priced to compete with Tata’s $2,500 Nano.

Even if GM doesn’t import the vehicles here, it can import the designs. The constraints of bankruptcy and Federal involvement, as well as the publicity, prevent the imports. But protectionism can backfire. There was a link from Yahoo that noted the reason the Big 3 turned away from cars and to trucks and SUVs was because of tariffs. When we look at automakers and jobs, we need to take the global view: GM has plants outside the use, and foreign-HQed automakers have major plants in the US. I know, I’m rambling from point to point. But that’s how my mind is working today.

Thinking about the tariff issue makes me think of collateral damage. We’ve seen that with the stimulus: the “Buy American” provision in the act are hurting American companies that source to foreign suppliers. We’ve seen that in LA: a poorly written pot dispensory moratorium has resulted in an budding business in pot. The GM bankruptcy will have ancillary effects as well. I’m not talking about dealers: but the already beseiged media and newspapers, who will suffer a significant drop in advertising dollars.

I don’t know where I’m going here (hmmm, just like GM). But I do know that if the American HQ’d companies are to be successful reinventions, we need to look at the global business. We also need to encourage the foreign companies to invest and build plants and manufacturing here in America. That’s how we reinvigorate our economy successfully.

Share

Chum for a Tuesday

Posted onAuthorcahwyguy

Today’s news brings an interesting mix of chum:

  • From the “But I Always Thought They Wore Ties” Department: It appears that a publisher has gotten into trouble with his alma mater and his church because of a calendar he published. The calendar: “Men on a Mission”. The school: BYU. The church: LDS. The LA Times is reporting on the situation of Chad Hardy, whose calendar provides photographs of hunky former missionaries in poses, characters and settings familiar to the Mormon faithful. A calendar of Mormon mothers (who Hardy calls “Mormon Muffins”) styled as sexy (though clothed) pinups is set for release this summer. The “Men on a Mission” calendar has a shirtless Mormon for each month, and its first publication in 2007 was applauded by liberal-minded churchgoers…. but then the Mormon church received some unflattering publicity, and adherants complained that the calendar was damaging the image of the faith. As a result of publishing the calendar, he has been excommunicated by the church, and although he has earned sufficient credits to graduate BYU, they will not issue him the degree.

    In somewhat related news, the New York Times is reporting the growth of the atheist movement, which is speaking out more, banding together, and flourishing.

  • From the “And Don’t Ask About Their Cheerleaders” Department: The New York Times is reporting that MIT is dropping 8 of its athletic teams, as a result of a need to trim $1.5M from its budget. Cut were the alpine skiing, competitive pistol, golf, wrestling, and men and women’s ice hockey and gymnastics teams. Disgruntled students, demanding that all 41 teams be kept, kidnapped Tim the Beaver, the institute’s mascot (the student playing Tim was released unharmed, although the costume’s head eventually ended up on the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard).
  • From the “Builds Strong Bones Seven Ways” Department: Two interesting science articles today. One, from the Washington Post, explores using nanotechnology to make silk stronger. Specifically, scientists used atomic layer deposition (ALD) to deposit microscopic metals on silk strands, which drastically strengthened the material. More interesting is that it didn’t just coat the silk–it infiltrated the substructure and rebound with the silk at the molecular level.

    Turning to another strong material: bone, one of your bodies most important organs. The New York Times has an interesting article on bone and its elasticity. We think of bone as this inert material (probably from all those skeletons we see)… but your bones are actually continually microfracturing and repairing themselves, and interact with your homonal and digestive systems to obtain what they need to do this. The article is a real interesting read.

  • From the “Nummi, Nummi” Department: As folks know, I drive a Toyota Matrix, which is a wagon version of the Toyota Corolla. The Matrix has a twin — the Pontiac Vibe. I’ve always been surprised that Toyota doesn’t advertise the Matrix more, but evidently it sells well enough that they don’t need to advertise. The Matrix is made in Canada, but the Vibe is made in Fremont at the NUMMI plant. I mention this because the Vibe is one of the few well-made Pontiac cars, and one of the few that doesn’t share a platform with any other GM car (as with the G8, another Pontiac getting good reviews). So, I’m wondering… with the death of Pontiac, what will become of the Vibe:

    ETA: Well, it turns out there are some answers in this article. Some, but not all. More here and here.

Share