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Re: global warming a croc [gagrice]

by avalon02wh on Sun Nov 02 16:41:23 PST 2008

“ The government is the only entity that throws money away on worthless research.” Just because you do not see a value in research doesn't make it worthless. Do you think other countries will stop doing research. Within a decade or two of us stopping research the U.S. would become nothing more than a banana republic. “China's Spending on Research and Development Growing Faster than U.S. ... While the United States still has a bigger share of the global R&D market, second-ranked China is gaining ground.” http://www.inc.com/news/articles/200610/china.html Companies throw money away on useless research and products all the time. Sometimes their research is second to none as in the case of Bell Labs. Do you think AT&T would have gotten were they did if they had stopped basic research? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Labs “As a tax payer I find the following pork unacceptable. ...Representative Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) for $211,509 in olive fruit fly research in Paris, France. “ You are kidding right? :surprise: $211K, a General in the Military sneezing would spend more money than that. Have you heard the expression penny wise and pound foolish? Try this link: http://sarahpalintruthsquad.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/memo-to-sarah-palin-fruit-f- ly-research-has-led-to-advances-in-understanding-autism-video/ Basic research is important. Research into climate is also important. How much money we can spend is certainly open to debate, but if we stop doing research we will be in trouble. The rest of the world will not stand still.

This can't be good

by fezo on Fri Oct 31 12:53:39 PDT 2008

GM ends incentive early - For the first time in years, General Motors is pulling the plug early on a certified used-car financing program, a GM spokesman confirmed today. The company is doing so because of a lack of credit funding, said spokesman John McDonald. GM had announced a financing incentive program through GMAC Financial Services that would start Oct. 1 and run through Jan. 5. The program offered 3.9 percent consumer loans for 60 months on all used models of the Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac G6 sedans and Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. But on Oct. 17, GM sent a notice that it would end the program Nov. 3, McDonald said. Subscribe to Automotive News As a result, many GM dealers worry they won't be able to move the inventory they built with the understanding that the program would run through Jan. 5. "It's a tough situation for everybody," McDonald said. "It really shows how pervasive the impact is for this credit crisis. If there's no money to do this stuff, there's no money to do this stuff." McDonald said GM is studying future incentive programs. He said GM plans a different certified used-car incentive on Nov. 4, but he declined to give details. "Obviously, the dealers are our customers," McDonald said. "We want them to be successful, but you can't get to the point where you're putting yourself in financial difficulty." 'Bait and switch' One GM dealer in suburban Detroit said the Impala, G6, Silverado and Sierra make up 50 percent of his GM used inventory. He called GM's move a "bait and switch." "The market's going to fall on those cars because they're no longer a featured vehicle, and we bought them to supply them through the end of the year. Now what?" he asked. At Thompson Sales Co. (Buick-Pontiac-GMC-Cadillac-Saab) in Springfield, Mo., the four nameplates make up about 18 percent of the GM used vehicles there. Owner Lynn Thompson bought them at auction for about $200 or $300 more than for what they might normally sell. That's because their price rose when GM came out with the incentive program. "We pay more at auction for them," Thompson said. "Then they drop the program. We'll sell them, but it'll be a much slimmer margin than it was before." Dealers concerned for GM At neighboring Springfield, Mo., dealership, Reliable Chevrolet, managers kept their used-vehicle inventory low, so they do not have a lot of these vehicles in stock. Still, one employee there, who asked not to be identified, said he has never seen GMAC cancel a program this early. He said he takes it as a sign of the severity of GM's financial situation. "They haven't given us a clue as to what they were going to do," the employee said. "Anything GM does doesn't surprise me right now. I hate to say that. We're in a survival mode right now; everyone is." Said Thompson: "This is the first time that I can remember they stopped a plan before they said they would, and I just hope they're coming out with a better plan. I'm surprised they announced it so early. That's a concern for me." He remains optimistic that GM will offer dealers either an early Red Tag program or some other incentive, he said, adding: "I don't think they'll leave us high and dry." When you rown dealers are crying bait and switch you've got a problem.

Re: global warming a croc [avalon02wh]

by gagrice on Thu Oct 30 07:48:00 PDT 2008

Do you know why they were doing the research? I wonder if they were doing the research because of some government requirement. I would imagine some of the research was paid for as a result of government arm twisting. You can apply to companies like BP for research grants. It most likely is in their best interest. No other good reason for them to spend the money. I would not expect any company to pay for research without potential gain. The government is the only entity that throws money away on worthless research. The last spending bill is loaded with those kind of wasted earmarks. You being a scientist would not consider spending on most things as frivolous. As a tax payer I find the following pork unacceptable. Representative Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) for $211,509 in olive fruit fly research in Paris, France. Hope he and his family had a wonderful vacation :sick:

Re: If GM gets rid of Buick... [manegi]

by circlew on Thu Oct 23 04:03:30 PDT 2008

When you go global, everyone CAN win minus greed/cheating. The goal are great products. The profits are made if the margins are fair and the business is operated correctly. Everyone wins. Here is the story of a guy who made money, shared and is now helping people in Detroit. He is a saint on earth. Proves you can use money to help people outside the board room! GM, Chrysler, Ford...this is for you guys/gals to digest! Bob Thompson Regards, OW

Re: 2009 Corolla XLE [tgj1099]

by terceltom on Wed Oct 22 21:24:09 PDT 2008

Call Thompson Toyota in Doylestown, PA. Offer them $675.00 for the Platinum Warranty, that's what they quoted me on.

I will admit

by boaz47 on Sun Sep 21 19:25:07 PDT 2008

to be a bit of a gadget person myself but maybe one of the biggest boons to driving I have found is GPS and Computer maps. I simply don't buy paper maps anymore. I got my last Thompson map in 2004. But either my computer and Streets and trips from Microsoft or my GPS gets me to any spot in the US I want to go. It isn't perfect but if I know where I want to go the car tells me where I am and how to get there. Believe it or not two of my bicycles have computers on them to tell me how fast and far I am going and how long it took me. Maybe overkill I know but it seems to be the wave of the future. Some will simply give me a blank look and ask why? Why a car GPS or why a bike computer? Simple, instant information and ease of use. look at what we are doing in this forum. We aren't putting to pen and paper our thought and mailing them to each other we are doing it by computer is what could be if we wanted, real time. My refrigerator frost free, my oven is self cleaning. My phone is wireless. My TV is remote as is my DVD/CD player and every house I know has a microwave. We as a nation seem to want easy to use things. I don't eve flip a switch to turn on a porch light. Some have suggested Americans are lazy if they don't drive a manual. I believe we are lazy if we drive when we can walk or ride a bike so the transmission doesn't count as exercise.