S&WForty

I totally agree with that. I typed up something as soon as I got to work this morning, and when I hit send, it said I wasn't logged in. But I had logged in! Oh well. I'll try to retype it... I work for a Tier 2 supplier. Sometimes (rarely) we're a Tier 1 supplying directly to the OEM, and sometimes we are a Tier 3. Regarding your last question, most things aside from the powertrain should carry over with few problems. I work with interior switching control interfaces. Changes in those components will be technology or styling-driven rather than Eco-GreenieWeenie driven. I pecked my reply in a hurry on an iPod Touch last night. To explain my cut and dry comment, I have never seen such a convoluted mess. First, my disclaimer. I am the typical gun-loving Republican, and I fit most of the stereotypes for such fine people. (LOL) I am usually anti-union (I come from the school of thought that unions were a must have in the 20s/30s when laborers were being worked to death, but like many good things, they've become twisted, and they have created more entitlement-minded people). I have worked with the white collar Motown design engineers for the last 13 years, and I know how they have had little job security while their assembly-line counterparts have not made much less in wages while being protected by the UAW. But, I am not wanting to slam unions. Ironically, I am defending them to make a brief point. The UAW gave "historic" concessions in 2007(?) that were still being phased in when the credit market froze. Had we not entered into this economic storm, we would be watching GM turn around. Something critics said would never happen. There are experts out there that will debate that, but I try to be an optimist, and the daily reports I read back during that time were very promising. Look at Ford. Ford managed to eek by without a bailout. They also received those concessions. I doubt they would be squeaking by bailout free had the UAW not come around. But... So many "experts" in the media cite the Big Three's past as blame for where they are now. Is it true? Yes, to a point. Clearly, their past put them in a worse position to weather this storm compared to their competition, but so many of the critics and politicians are slamming them with old facts as if they are current. When I hear people slam the UAW as if we're still in the '80s or even '90s where they wouldn't cooperate, it just makes me roll my eyes. I say give credit where credit is due. Were their concessions two years ago too little too late? With the current economic sitatuon, the clear answer is yes. Had the markets not frozen, I'd have to say "No, better late than never." Also, I don't know how many times I have seen Big Three union wages compared to the "transplants" wages (transplants are those imports with assembly plants in the U.S.) and they were not apples to apples. When people base their arguments over out-dated or distorted "talking points," it gets old. As the bailout talks approached, I was torn over them. I was John Kerry. I FLIP-FLOPPED. I didn't like the fact LOANS were being called BAILOUTS and FREE MONEY. Look at what Chrysler did in the late 70s. That was a loan and the government was paid back. And the Big Three were asking for drops in a bucket compared to what AIG/etc were asking for and receiving. BUT - hindsight is 20/20. This Republican wishes he'd been full-force anti-bailout the entire time. Let Ch. 11 sort it all out as quickly as possible. But in my flip-flop defense, it was not clear how going straight to bankruptcy would work for the short or long-term. Protecting our manufacturing base is critical. (Politicians that have enabled out-sourcing just don't get it. We simply cannot remain prosperous as a nation if our ecomony only has service industries...) Though the bailouts just delayed the inevitable (Ch. 11), maybe they have allowed a softer landing, but who knows. What is appalling is how the government and unions will come out of all this smelling like a rose. Just one more march towards Socialism. I've been very politically-minded since '92 (thank you Mrs. and Mr. Clinton). I've always found everything to be "black or white, no gray area in the middle." Seeing this mess from the inside out, I for once have seen a gray area in what quickly became a political issue. Deep down what makes me the maddest is how the Big Three were righting the ships when out of nowhere the credit issue appeared and hit them in the face with 2x4s. Then along came all the critics slamming them with zero facts about their turnaround efforts that were working. You're totally right. My boss recently was explaining how with Chrysler's Ch. 11, the priorities to debtors are being rearranged on a whim. I think it's the bondholders getting 20-30 something cents on the dollar when they are supposed to get 100% or close to it. Of course, Suppliers are last in line. Visteon just filed Ch. 11 on 5/28. We'd deposited a check on 5/27. We got the "Bounced" notification from the bank today. Just more money that went into the Ch. 11 black hole. The 'ruptcy laws are a joke when Suppliers are the last to get a settlement. It took over two years to get the settlement money when Delphi went bankrupt a few years ago. I think we received about 60% of what they had in payables the moment they filed Ch. 11. Anyway, while those in higher pecking order argue about the sale of Chrysler and how it affects their investments, companys that supply Chrysler with parts they have to have in order to operate teeter in the verge of bankruptcy, too. Thankfully we're Tier 2 to Chrysler, but in the old days our ship-to location was a Chrysler-owned plant. Best of all, try not shipping to your bankrupt customer. All Purchase Orders are frozen. No renegotiating until the customer/court says so. You keep shipping like nothing happened while losing the last 60-90 days worth of payables. Quit shipping, and you're in contempt of court.

The industry woes aren't as cut and dry as all the armchair quarterbacks think.

It reminds me of "it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission."

I'm a GM fanboy, but the LS always caught my eye. The newest Lincolns are getting my attention, too.

Sorry about that. I work in the auto industry. Anything that delays Chrysler restarting production is seen as detrimental. We're sitting on months of inventory.

Good grief. That is some crap right there.

I've always liked those. I don't think they got the attention they deserved. To think Lincoln had that when Cadillac had the Catera - "the Caddy that zigs." Had Lincoln outsold the Catera 100:1, it wouldn't have been a surprise. The LS was called the DEW98 program at Ford. I can't recall which Jag (by name) shared that platform, but it was the one called "Baby Jag" that ran during the same model years. S-Type maybe.

Here, present! We're also the kind of people that don't read Consumer Reports when shopping for a car.

You said it! Too bad we don't have more that could go on "tour" and speak to today's youth.

What a sick way to go. Back around '87 or '88, a co-worker of my mom's died doing that. He was 24 at the time. At first family said he was electrocuted in the attic, but the way it was told didn't make sense. A relative of his worked at the same place, and a day or two later he told what really happened. He had a custom leather noose mounted up there. Back then, everyone there was totally stunned and had never heard of such a thing. It was rumored that the "Preppy Murder" case in NYC (Central Park?) in the '80s where the guy strangled his girlfriend to death was really where he was squeezing her neck for the same purpose. Back then that stuff was hush-hush.

As my HCP class instructor told us, if they re-engage you, and you fire again, a witness not close enough to realize what is REALLY going on may think you returned to "finish them off." Nevermind a witness that is simply ignorant. Next time you're out shopping and you marvel at some of society's finest members (yeah, sarcasm), just remember those are all potential witnesses in the event you find yourself in such a situation. That makes me wanna crawl under a rock and stay home...

I've received just spam-like email so far.

For some people it is simply home. There are other areas in West TN where my relatives live. In years past when I was a kid, they would hound my mom to move back to her hometown area or the big town near it. Those same relatives now say we're better off having stayed in Memphis. Those areas have declined considerably over the last 20 years. Not every area is perfect, but I'll be the first to agree Memphis is THE armpit of the state. But like I said, it's home.

Smoking ougtha be handled the same as carrying guns. Make it legal everywhere except where it's posted. Let the individual business make the decision. That sucks about the wife and roses. I was just huffing the scent of one a few minutes ago. Stong perfumes/scents throw me for a loop more than cigarette smoke.

You're not obviously someone that upon smelling any cigarette smoke you immediately get a headache and feel like puking. For many, it's not a matter of scent not smelling like roses, they are literally sickened by it. I still agree the law went to far though. Thanks for the $$$ data points.

Are you going to go to WalMart nightly just so you can carry? I've had my permit since February. I have not yet felt comfortable leaving my firearm in the car all day (still debating one of those locking storage things that bolts under the seat), and my life pretty much is work-home-work-home. I've only carried a few times while shopping or going out for a walk.

I think smoker's have been screwed, but at the same time there's a few places I like to eat at that never really could keep the smoke out of the non-smoking area. They got more business when I knew I could go eat and breath at the same time... Now, if they would only ban screaming babies/kids from nice eating establishments. At McDonald's, no big deal, but when I am paying $20+ for two, I like to enjoy my meal in relative peace and quiet... POSTED! KIDS UNDER 12 EAT OUTSIDE.

Amen. This bill is more than welcomed.

I think you just swung far to the side of optimism. I think there's 1-2 too many generations in there.

I have thought that way in the past, but some recent experiences have changed my mind. A gun-loving, permit-approving friend of mine has in recent weeks seen two different people open-carrying, and both people made him stop and rethink his support for "just anybody getting a carry permit." One person was a "hot head," and the OC'ed firearm came across as a silent threat, and the other person was simply referred to as a "total thug." If more people like those two examples start OC'ing their guns, imagine the reaction anti-gun or riding-the-fence-on-guns people will have. We can't seem to get laws passed to carry in various places due to the apprehension many people already have, and that is with a high percent of is carrying concealed. I asked my friend, "How many permit holders have shot someone wrongly? Yeah, just that shooting in Cordova. One out of how many thousands of permit holders in TN??? I guess the two you saw haven't shot anyone." I had the comeback for my friend, but we're dealing with people's perceptions, not facts or reality. It's just another example in life how a few bad apples can ruin things for the rest of us. If it wasn't for that, I'd still think more OC'ing people would open eyes positively. But that ain't gonna happen.

It's on my left ankle. The seat sits low, so my ankle can be reached rather easily. I kinda sit with my left heel directly in front of the seat a little to the right of center with my left knee leaning on the door panel. In something more truck-like, I dunno. I haven't crossed that bridge yet. I do appreciate the post about having the gun worn in the same reach spot as the seatbelt buckle.

National Take Your Side Arm To Work Day.

Thanks!

Can you order a duplicate at any time, or must it be ordered when you are getting one issued the first time or during the renewal process?

It's sad how only the politically correct parts of history are told and taught over and over. Nevermind ALL the facts...