That’s what some folks say about wine when it pleases their palette. They then go on to speak of the smoothness, robust flavor, color and taste. And, on some levels, I could say the same for this past year of 2009. For me it was filled with activity, creative process, changes in schedules and tasks, as well as in mobility. It has been a full-bodied year.
And this is the final day of that year. Last year, on this day, I did a sort of look back accounting of the year itself. Went back and read that yesterday and found some of the seeds that began to flower in this one. Last year, at this time, I had just opened the door to a delightful new activity: coloring.
I was thoroughly enjoying my own personal exploration and finding a wealth of expression in the process. It was soothing and healing. That eventually gave way to Mandalas, Zentangles, and sketchbooks of my own doodlings. Then I got involved in the Sketchbook Project at
www.arthousecoop.com/
I finished that project a few days ago and will mail it off later today. It was a bit overwhelming, but I did mange to complete it and am pleased, not only with the project, but the inspiration I found within it. I love the fact that all of the above has made me eager to face off with this New Year. If I had to define those experiences, I think I would have to title this past year, The Year of Creative Explosion (or Expansion).
I have written a great deal about the Wild Thing that resides in all of us. Yet, when I look back on these past twelve months, I find a very colorful Wild Thing that has patiently abided within me, waiting for just this opportunity to speak and express itself. One that never quite found complete satisfaction in the black and white world of words.
Due to a very limited budget, I had to make most of my Christmas gifts this year. And it was a delight to realize that I had spent so much time preparing for that without actually once thinking about it. There were all those images, full of color, harmony, beauty, to work with. Married to a few words of poetry, they were the perfect expression and vehicle for what I had to do. I loved the outcome and so did those who received them. Those were very special gifts and I loved giving them.
But, this year was also been The Year of The Car. I hadn’t owned a vehicle in five years, and had the opportunity and took it. What a difference that has made, not just in my mobility, but in the way I see myself and pursue those things that interest me most. It meant freedom in so many little ways, and an expansion of my choices as well. Although it also limited my meager budget even further, it was well worth the stress and worry I put into making that decision.
Also, in this past year, my relationship with my family has been altered a great deal. My sisters and I have been able to care for my Mother with some amount of smoothness, a lot of humor and laughter, and a lot less distance. We have all gained support from one another and, that in turn, pleases my Mom probably more than anything else could.
But, that also means that my time and energies have been altered in both large and small ways. My blogs have suffered, simply because I have had to let go of some of what I had been doing. I refuse to give them up completely because they satisfy that Wild Word Thing that also abides within me. Although they are not anywhere as prolific as they had been, they are still a basic form of satisfaction that I can’t afford to let slide away completely.
Best of all, I have been able to keep my journal up on a daily basis. It still forms the beginning of my day and is still the best friend I have ever had. When I jot down ideas about things I would like to do, or images I would like to try, it is almost as though those thoughts move from wishes to promises I am making to my own person. Some, like the Sketchbook Project, seem a bit overwhelming, but just writing about those feelings seems to become a prod to simply keep moving forward. I have no desire to disappoint my best friend.
Looking back on this past year, what I find is an element of contentment and satisfaction I have not known in the past. It’s also a bit scary. Could next year be even better? All I can do is hope. That’s not a bad way to begin another year. Are you hopeful for the same?
December 29, 2009
Orlando, Florida
Car Accident Report, Police Report, Crash Report, At Fault Help, Traffic Ticket, Car Accident Liability
Under Florida law, after a crash involving property damage, personal injury, serious bodily injury, or death, the driver is required tby statute to give his name, address, license number and registration documents to the police. The driver is also required to provide a statement. In order to assure that compliance with this law did not violate a persons rights against self incrimination the legislature enacted the Accident Report Privilige. The “Accident Report Privilege” is a Florida law (F.S. 316.066) that prohibits any statements made to a police officer during a crash investigation from being used as evidence in any hearing or trial. If the officer wishes to obtain statements that are admissible the officer must “change hats” and tell the person that he is beginning a criminal investigation and then read Miranda warnings.
F.S. 316.066(7) Except as specified in this subsection, each crash report made by a person involved in a crash and any statement made by such person to a law enforcement officer for the purpose of completing a crash report required by this section shall be without prejudice to the individual so reporting. No such report or statement shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal. However, subject to the applicable rules of evidence, a law enforcement officer at a criminal trial may testify as to any statement made to the officer by the person involved in the crash if that person’s privilege against self-incrimination is not violated. The results of breath, urine, and blood tests administered as provided in s. 316.1932 or s. 316.1933 are not confidential and shall be admissible into evidence in accordance with the provisions of s. 316.1934(2). Crash reports made by persons involved in crashes shall not be used for commercial solicitation purposes; however, the use of a crash report for purposes of publication in a newspaper or other news periodical or a radio or television broadcast shall not be construed as “commercial purpose.”
For more information please visit our website: www.maloneaccidenthelp.com
The smoother you drive, the longer your car will run. Stopping and starting, fast lane changes, scratching off all lead to shorter life for your car.
Naturally, you can’t drive at all without stopping and starting. But your goal is to keep moving smoothly any time that you can. Does it look like a stoplight is about to turn green? Then slow down and if possible, gently keep moving until the light changes.
Less engine idle means less engine wear, says Sikorsky. If you have to idle longer than 30 seconds, you may as well turn the engine off and start it when you’re ready to roll. So turn off the car if you’re waiting in parking lots, waiting on others to ready themselves for travel, if you have to go back in the house for something, etc.
And never rev up the car while it’s not moving.
If you’re driving in “bumper to bumper” barely moving traffic, it’s wise to turn your air conditioner off. This saves a lot of wear on your car. The engine has to work overtime if the air is on and you’re stopping and starting frequently.
You’ve probably heard that it’s good to take your car out periodically for a good drive on the highway now and again, and that’s good advice. This allows your engine to get fully warmed up and helps get rid of some deposits built up by short trips.
If it’s below freezing, try not to take your car out on short trips of less than five miles. Sikorsky says this is one of the worst possible conditions for your car.
Don’t cruise around a parking lot forever, trying to find a spot. Go ahead and park further away and get in a little exercise.
Avoid accelerating suddenly unless there’s an emergency situation. Putting the pedal to the metal may get you someplace today, but tomorrow you may end up hitching a ride from a neighbor.
If possible, don’t park your car headed uphill. When you’re ready to start it later, the engine will have to use extra power to pull itself. It’s better to park headed downhill than uphill.
Driving on dusty roads cuts your gas mileage considerably as well as adds to engine wear.
I’ve found Drive It Forever a valuable read! It’s personal, and easy to read, even if you’re mechanically challenged.
Well, the thing that I had been dreading finally happened about a week ago. As you know, I’ve been having multiple wars with my vehicle, and recently had wondered at what point does one stop repairing their old car, and begin to save for a new one, and have done stupid things in the vehicular arena that have cost me quite a bit. Finally, after the first cold snap (below freezing temps for about 8 straight days), my car gave up the ghost in a fantastic way. It didnt start a few mornings, So I got it running, took it down for an electrical systems check, and it passed. This gave me cause for hope, as I could potentially make it through the winter and get a new vehicle in the spring. That wasnt in the cards, and it’s officially dead as of right now. Im not sure exactly what the problem is, but I suspect the starter. So, I needed some help with making a decision on how to go about it, so I emailed a PF Blogger and friend, Matt Jabs, who runs Debt Free Adventure. I figured he would have some solid advice, and the readers would also offer some great tips for me. He put my situation to the readers, and they gave me some great responses. Im aware that they couldnt really know the situation as completely as I do, nor my motivations for looking for certain things that I’m looking for, and for not considering things that I’m currently not considering. As with anything, this is a decision that is right for me and me only, and my situation, decisions and actions should be approached with caution, and your personal situation should be considered when you make a decision of this magnitude.
Much of the advice I got suggested that I use the funds on hand to purchase a used car. This is something that I had thought extensively about, and am aware that my insurance will be cheaper, and that I can own something outright without going into debt. Im aware of all of these things, and elected not to follow this path for the following reasons:
I did this last time I purchased a vehicle, and spent approximately the same amount. After about 1 month, I was replacing the clutch, at a cost of $100. Im not naive enough to think that I can buy a used car and have it be reliable, but the clutch, along with the fact that i’ve spent ~1,400 in the last 8 months on repairs alone (most of which have been done by me for just the cost of parts. Cost could easily be doubled if this was done by someone else. I didnt enjoy the lost time or the constant worry regarding the state of my vehicle, and think that if I spend about the same amount, I’d get myself back into a similar situation in a few months, while spending money that I could be using to save for a car on repairs to keep my current car running. Couple the repairs with a previous post on being a moron, and I have spent more on my vehicle in the last 10 months than anything else, including rent!
I was tired of losing sleep when the weather got cold, or when I got into it wondering if the car was going to turn over. Over the 18 months that I had it, it left me broke down on the side of the road 3 times, doing things that were ill advised countless times, and was in and out of the shop a handful of times, and was immobilized while I was working on it for a day or longer a handful of times as well.
I drive alot of miles (100 on normal days, 160 on days where I work at both of my jobs). I go down roads through the middle of nowhere, frequently with marginal or 0 cell phone service. There is not many people going down these roads, and the weather on these roads is often poor, at the absolute best. Getting stuck on one of these roads with a broken down car would not be a good situation, and I really dont want to find myself in it.
I honestly dont believe I can get something reliable for the amount of money that I will be spending without the assistance of financing.
Many of you suggested cragislist, which I am thankful for, but Im assuming you live in areas that have a much denser population than where I do. Craigslist works because there are alot of people on it, all from the same geographic region (say san fransisco). The area where I live does not have any of those things. There is 1 craigslist page for the state of wyoming, and the state has less people than alot of places, and some areas are 8+ hours away, when weather is good. Due to these two things, used car listings are rather sparse. This makes competition more fierce for the products, and limits the amount of product. I believe that if I procure a vehicle in this situation, I would find myself in the same spot in a year or two. I’d have sunk alot of money into keeping it running, and not made any headway on saving for a new one.
My New Truck (just kidding)
I thought the financial samuri gave good advice reguarding the top limit one could spend (10% of yearly income), but due to my life status, that would not amount to much more than the amount I currently have saved. It’s a great metric, although I believe it does not account for one crucial thing: Disposable income. Someone making 90,000 per year may have 14,000 per year that is uncommitted, just as someone making 38,000 could have 14,000 uncommitted. By this metric, one could spend $9,000 on a new car, while the other one could only spend $3,800, even though they have the same amount of money per year to throw at the outstanding debt in hopes of eliminating it.
So, these facts, unfortunately, resigned me to a loan for a vehicle, basically no matter what I do. This left me with a few options, some I thought were more fruitful than others. I figured one potential problem with buying a used car with a bank loan was the following (and it was just about enough to scare me away from the process). I could buy a used vehicle, and due to the age of the vehicle, get a short term 1-2 years from the bank, with high minimum payments. It would not be out of the realm of possibility to have the vehicle break down, or worse, get in a car accident, and owe money on a vehicle that I would no longer be able to drive, because repairs would cost too much. As Kevin from Out of your rut would said “buying a beater for $1000-$1200 may improve his cash flow situation short term, but it probably won’t solve his longer term problem” which I view to be crucial.
I could do this and expect to come out fine in the short term, but that’s not really the way I like to live. I tend to think over a much longer term than most people. I usually find that when Im thinking about next week or next month, most people are thinking about yesterday and tomorrow. This blog is about taking time to think through your decisions and make the best one over the long term, not the near term.
Many of the comments also centered around my Credit Card Debt. I have about 4k, and I have been looking at eliminating it. I’ve made good progress so far, but as I looked back, much of the debt was attributed to vehicular problems that I have had in the past. A lot of readers on the Debt Free Adventure Blog commented that getting a reliable vehicle was one of the smartest things they ever did as far as debt reduction was concerned. I share their viewpoint. Getting a more reliable vehicle will allow me to work my second job more often, and increase my income in that way. I could make all my monthly bills on the salary from my first job, but as you readers know, I’m focused on paying down my debt and saving for my future. Increasing my workload now (while I have the energy and time) will pay dividends later on, and being able to do this in a predictable fashion will allow me to budget better, save more, and get ahead faster.
So, What did I decide to do? After carefully considering my needs, I went looking for a truck. As people who have shopped for a truck are well aware of, they hold their value remarkably well, and because of this, it made more sense for me to get a new truck. I kept an open mind and inquired about many used trucks in the area, but some were 3 years old, and more expensive than the one I ended up purchasing. So, now, unfortunately, I’ve got more debt, but I feel better about this because unlike my credit cards, (and lots of CDOs) it’s backed by an asset that I know the location of, can see, touch, and most importantly, use daily.
I was able to get a good deal and negotiate the depreciation out of the dealer, so I ended up paying about 4k less than the sticker price, which I’m happy about.
After much deliberation Im confident that this was the right decision for me, and I’d like to extend deep gratitude to all of you that have provided input from Matt’s Blog and comments on my previous posts. They helped me greatly and it took much thought (and much more number crunching) to come to a decision.
As an aside, after owning the vehicle for about a week, I’ve finally slept through the night without waking up in a fit of worry wondering if my old car was going to start in the morning. This had become a real problem as of late, and it caused me to wake up multiple times in one night. Being able to sleep through the night and not have to worry about a stupid vehicle and instead concentrate on what’s really important in life is, as they say on the commercials, Priceless.
A 16-year-old South Giles Street resident was arrested Wednesday morning on a host of charges connected to the theft of two cars this fall.
The teen is accused of stealing a Chinese restaurant delivery driver’s Toyota Camry off South Giles Street on Oct. 24 and a Ford Taurus from Laurel Street and McCormick Place on Nov. 15.
Both cars had been left running while unattended when they were stolen. They were recovered undamaged within two days of being reported stolen.
Police identified the teen as a suspect by tracing the call made to the Chinese restaurant to place the fake order to his cell phone.
The teen was charged with two counts of unlawful taking of a means of conveyance, as well as conspiracy and theft charges. He was released on his own recognizance.
This month I am getting too many unexpected Business advertisements in my Inbox. People can now order car drivers with all the measures like police verification already taken. The company Radiant Car Care Plus Pvt. Ltd. is one of the first company I came across which is doing this demanding business. I wonder doing a business is like picking up something and providing it online. Hail IT sector!
MORE MUSCLE CAR MADNESS @ INSIDELINE.COM: www.edmunds.com In 2002, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second human being to set foot on the moon, punched a guy in the face for accusing him of faking the moon landing. Buzz was 72 years old at the time. Go right ahead and question the existence of the 2010 Ford Mustang GT, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and 2010 Chevy Camaro SS and they, too, might just give you a knuckle sandwich in the kisser. Like Mr. Aldrin, they bear names from long ago that have made …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as2erdrkQbI&hl=en
See Also : aberdeenblog aberdeenblog http://chaneleblog.co.cc/
What else does a family of 5 do on the last weekend before Christmas??? We go to the mall. But not just one mall, we go to several.
When you’ve been cooped up in the house as much as Urbanmummy has, something has to give and what gave was our peaceful weekend at home with the family. We needed to get out! Even if it meant heading into crowds of holiday shoppers lollygagging their way through the mall. We needed to return stuff. We bought a stroller for the car seat so we wouldn’t have to carry Berry around all day, we hit up Toys R Us, a big mall and a bunch of other little stores. We got errands done.
Woo hoo.
With Berry being 3 weeks old and the boys finally sleeping in their bunk beds (or not sleeping for that matter) we figured what better than to drive around a lot and give them all plenty of time to sleep in the car while we spent money. I could tell it was going to be a productive day when I saw Urbannummy’s eyes. She was out of the house and dammit she was going to get stuff done. I did not realize how much of a chore it was getting three sleepy kids out of the car and into a store… Whew.
On Sunday Linus had a birthday party at the movie theatre. Great idea in theory, but tough to coordinate since he’s only seem one movie before, with us, and we were told that the Princess and the Frog was a touch scary for 4 year olds. One of us could have joined him, for $11.00 but it didn’t make sense since there was Berry and Stewie still to be dealt with. So off Linus went. He said it was scary but he had fun… Fun being chocolate, juice, popcorn and “TV”.
On Sunday morning the boys went to Karate and excelled. They were focussed and awesome. Made me proud. At karate I sat with the President and CEO of the incredible indie music site; www.supernova.com. It was there I learned that Chad Kroeger, the lead singer of the bank Nickleback produced Theory of a Deadman’s recent effort, which I thought was AWESOME! He also talked about another band in the Kroeger stable called Default. I’ll have to check them out.
As a HUGE music fan, I’m going to try to arrange for a monthly supernova.com music discussion to introduce some outstanding up and coming bands for everyone to watch out for.
So the only downfall of this fun, busy weekend is that Berry slept too much on Sunday and thus did not sleep Sunday night so Urbanmummy was exhausted and she (thankfully) let me sleep so I could work the entire day.
Last I checked the boys, they were sneaking into our bedroom just before 6:30am to come hit Bozo.
Remember Bozo???
We bought Bozo in effort to stop the kids from hitting each other and everyone else. We’ve had a few incidents of children who cannot keep their hands to themselves and thus have hit, smacked or slapped each other, us, their nanny and strangers in the karate dojo. They have told their teachers about being hit… They get frustrated, they smack each other… But not any more. Now they know that if they get “angry” they should wait, get up and walk over to Bozo and punch him until they feel better. Then they can go back and play.
I’ll keep everyone informed as to whether this works and if so, how long it took them to either lose interest in Bozo or punch a hole in him.
Drive-in movies used to mirror your personal evolution through life.
When you were a kid, you went to the drive-in with your parents are were relegated to watching the movie from a blanket laid out on the gravel next to the car.
When you were a teen, the drive-in was where you, and as many of your friends that you could pile into the car, all went to drink mass quantities of beer and liquor, with no idea of what movie was playing on the screen.
As a college student, the drive-in is where you went with your special friend, often to steam up the windows, again with no concern as to what movie was actually playing.
As a grown adult, you went to the drive-in, complained endlessly about all the kids laying on blankets, all the drunk teenagers stumbling in front of your car, and would grumble at the sight of the row of cars at the back of the drive-in who’s windows were all steamed up.
What memories!
I remember loving to go the Drive-In. A Drive-In meant a late night out, eating in the car without fear of getting in trouble, and two movies!
When I was in High School in Salem, Oregon….our town had a Drive-In with 4 screens! And it was a newer High Tech Facility that used radio instead of the rusty old speakers that hung on your window. Having 4 screens was great in that you could pay to watch the newest Disney movie….while you were instead all staring at the neighboring screen showing a rated-R movie that you had been assured contained lots of gratuitous nudity…..without fear of being thrown out! Life was good!
You would have thought that the theater owner would have thought to put high fences between the segments of the Drive-In, but nope….there we were….paying for a rated G Family Flick while happily drinking ourselves silly while watching Jason hack to shreds more campers in the latest Friday the 13Th flick on the next screen.
Then, with the age of 24 screen multiplexes, DVD’s, VCR’s, 35 Movie Channels on Cable, Blockbuster, NETFLIX, etc…….Drive-Ins all but died off.
There are very few left in the country.
Here in Texas, there were 388 Drive-Ins in 1958.
Now…..there are only 13 left.
One of those is located about 1 1/2 hrs from where we live. A few years ago, we packed up our son and took him to the Drive-In for the first time in his life. Beforehand, he thought watching two movies from our car was going to “totally suck big time!!” as he put it.
He had the best time. He watched the first flick from the back seat. By the second, he was laying on the roof of the car on a blanket. He thought the Drive-In was the coolest thing since sliced bread. We have since taken him back and he loves the place.
Surprisingly, the place is crowded every time we go. Obviously, many others also miss the fun of going to the Drive-In. Maybe they will make a comeback.
I sure hope so.
Now…if those damn drunk, oversexed teenagers would just quit walking in front of my car every 5 minutes!!!
And get all those screaming little kids back into your cars!!!
I appear to have inadvertently given the impression of being a bit of a goody-goody. Well I hate to shatter this myth but I have a little tale to tell that took place many months ago and involves someone I shall call Keith. This is not his real name but I want to protect the identity of my …… victim.
I know Keith through my sister, who is friends with his wife. I like his wife, she has a really good sense of humour, she always tells me jokes that I don’t understand and those that I do make me blush.
I find Keith a bit of a challenge, he is nice enough but always talks to me as though I am five years old. He likes everything to be just so, he has a perfect garden, his garage is immaculate and until recently his car was always in showroom condition.
That evening I must have told him a dozen times I did not want to learn to shoot a gun, that guns scared me and I did not like them. But there I was standing in his garage being given a safety lecture on shooting. He passed me the gun, I unclipped the lever as instructed and was just about to pull it back when he took it straight back off me. “I had better do this, it’s a bit tricky” he said. My irritation levels went up a notch.
He passed me back the gun, I opened a little flap on the top and asked for a bullet. “Sandy, it’s an air pistol. It fires pellets not bullets” he said with a sigh. My irritation level went up another notch.
I raised the gun, straightened my arms took a very wobbly aim and was just about to shoot when he said”Remember squeeze the trigger don’t pull it”. My irritation level went off the scale so I PULLED the stupid trigger as hard as I could.
I was expecting a bang but it just made a little piff sound, the pellet missed the target but hit the metal frame and richoched off it. It then flew within inches of Keith’s ear and hit his beloved car parked on the drive. He grabbed the gun off me and marched over to his car, looked at the damage, looked at me, shook his head and stormed off into the house to get some polish.
I went over to the car, there was a tiny dent that nobody would ever notice but the paint had been chipped and being a black car it stood out like a sore thumb. No amount of polishing would ever repair that.
I suddenly felt my scalp start to itch, I put my hand to my head and felt two little horns start to grow. A really satisfied smile spread across my face and my irritation levels went back to zero.
Let the world know – you irritate me and I’ll shoot your car.
A good rental car is one thing you are going to need when visiting Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island. They are less convenient in Honolulu since parking is at a premium, but would likely be necessary if staying at Turtle Bay or somewhere outside of Honolulu. Oahu has a great bus system as well, unlike the other islands, so having a car is not as important.
The best advice I could give on rental cars in Hawaii is to make sure you have your own insurance before you get there. They charge ridiculous amounts for their insurance. We did not realize you can get insurance at home that will cover rental car insurances, so we ended up paying way more than we had planned.
Here in BC the ICBC RoadStar package covers rental car insurance, and I believe it only costs about thirty dollars or so.
I believe some credit card companies cover rental car insurance as well, if you pay for the rental using their card, so keep an eye out for that as well.
Of course you can always go without the extra insurance if you don’t want to pay. But it seems like a sure way to ruin a vacation if something happens to your rental car that you declined the extra insurance on.
During our wedding trip of 2008 we pretty much had to pay the extra fees. We did not know if we had any extra coverage, and did not want to have our wedding trip ruined because we didn’t buy an extra $500 worth of insurance. Although we were pretty mad about having to pay so much.
On our wedding trip of 2008 we used Budget Rental Car at the Kahului Airport. As with all the rental car companies at the airport they have shuttle buses to take you to their car lots. Almost everyone in our group rented from Budget, and most were happy, except us of course with the extra fees. It seemed we were one of the few who didn’t know you could get insurance at home. But we would have had to pay the fees at any of the rental companies there, so it was mostly our issue and not theirs.
But of course we still didn’t go back to Budget on our 2009 trip. Instead we tried Alamo. They were good to deal with. We got through the paperwork, and they send you out to their lot to pick a car. They have a group of cars from your car class, and you get to pick the one you want.
But as with any rental car, you should make sure to check it over very well before you leave.
We ended up having to return a few of their cars. The first had a faulty set of keys. Not a big deal, but for a ten day vacation we wanted to be able to use the auto keypad to open the doors and truck without putting the key in the actual lock, which is always handy if you have your hands full.
The second car had a front tire with a bit of a gouge in it. We drove for a few days before we noticed it. But we took photos of the entire car before we drove it off the lot. So when we checked the photos, we could clearly see it was there when we picked up the car. We just didn’t notice when we first got the car. They gave us a new one with no questions asked, but we were happy to have the photos in case we needed backup on the issue.
The third car was good, and we had no troubles with it. But of course we checked it over very well before we left.
We also rented from Budget on the Big Island, and Alamo on Kauai. Both were good to deal with and we had no complaints.
One last tip would be to check the prices online quite often. We had a car booked, but noticed the same class of car was now listed at half price. So of course I canceled the original reservation and got the newer price. Not sure if that happens often, but perhaps it is something to keep an eye on if you think you got a bad deal.
Get ready for the OC Car show coming up the first weekend June. This show gets super filled right away. Register now on www.occarshow.com and make sure you have a spot reserved! We will be there, colaborating a booth with Pepsi, and have same crazy cars on display like always! If you are a company and you’re interested in becoming a vendor please contact us for special discounts and rates!
Indian Passenger Vehicle Industry: ‘Small is beautiful’ report ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=129357&rt=Indian-Passenger-Vehicle-Industry.html ) assesses that Owning a car is aspired by every Indian household and with low penetration, increasing income levels and resumption of buoyancy in the economy, the opportunity in the passenger vehicle market is humungous. At present, around 30 out of every 1,000 households in India own a car. Even if the households that can afford owning a car are considered, the penetration is as low as 45 per cent. Having said this, of the households affording a car, around 70 per cent fall at the bottom of the income distribution pyramid and can afford owning a small car only. Furthermore, the excise duty on small car is lower at 8 per cent as against 20 per cent on big cars. This would translate into strong growth in the small car segment. The factors like households affording big cars but opting for small cars on account of their easier maneuverability given the traffic chaos and parking constraints in metros and poor infrastructure and congested agglomerations in smaller towns would help pushing the small car sales growth. Furthermore, rich households opting for small cars as their additional cars either for female or young members in the family or for smaller trips would also push small car sales.
Nano is foreseen to give a supply-side push to the small car sales, as its first year cost of ownership, which typically determines the threshold income levels for buying the vehicle, is around 25 per cent lower than Maruti’s 800, the next cheapest available car. This has added 1 million households that can afford buying a car by 2013-14. The Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have taken into cognizance the humungous opportunity in small car sub-segment. Four out of the six launches till date in calendar 2009 fall in small car sub-segment, which includes Tata Nano, Maruti Ritz, Fiat Punto and Honda Jazz. Only Tata Manza and Chevrolet Cruze (General Motors) fall in mid-size sub-segment. Eight more launches are expected in the small car sub-segment in the next 15-18 months.
It developed a detailed statistical model that attempts to forecast the domestic passenger vehicle sales. The sales are segregated between personal use and commercial use on the basis of interaction with the industry and analytical acumen. Vehicle sales for commercial sales are forecasted on the basis of service sector GDP growth, while the vehicle sales for personal use are forecasted on the basis of ownership cost and the target household that can afford to own a car. Other qualitative factors like macro-economic outlook, consumer confidence, willingness of vehicle financers to finance purchases, actions of OEMs like launches, aggressiveness, sales push techniques, delaer network etc have also been quantitatively built in the demand forecasting model.
The report is divided into four sections. Section I presents viewpoint on the industry that covers domestic and export sales forecasts for the next five years and outlook on the profitability for next 15 – 18 months. Section II provides an in-depth study of the Indian passenger vehicle industry encompassing its evolution and the trends in the last five year. Section III provides profile of key players in the industry, while Section IV contains technical aspects and various key data tables as an Annexure to the report.
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“What do you want for Christmas?” My husband asks me this and I ask him the same at some point each December. And every year we have to rack our brains to come up with something we’d want / like as a gift.
We do our Christmas shopping for family and friends, sometimes with a clearly defined list, sometimes not; occasionally well in advance of the event, mostly horribly late. And whilst trailing round the shops, and fighting through the crowds, we check out all the possible festive gifts for one another, and buy none of them.
Neither of us gets revved up over a gift boxed set of random products or a new winter sweater; but equally neither of us can come up with something that we really, really want for Christmas. Now, this has nothing to do with a lack of imagination; more to do with the fact that there’s very little we really need. And always having one essential eye on the family bank balance generally makes those things we’d quite like to have fall into the “non-essential” category, and they tend to stay there un-purchased.
Also, being a family of makers and doers, arts and crafts have always featured strongly in our November and December leisure time; the results of which have been the most amazingly weird and wonderful Christmas gifts over the years. Personally, I really like to receive a handmade gift; it warms my heart to think of someone lovingly slaving away just to put a smile on my face.
However, when this year’s request came for my gift ideas, I decided to seriously go for it just for comic value:
1. A January holiday, jetting off to somewhere warm, just the two of us
2. A camera; one which zooms in and out properly and takes video footage
3. A posh expensive dress and a pair of high heeled pointy shoes (even though they’ll make me too tall)
4. A new car; a slinky fast sporty number to replace my battered old box on wheels
I could have gone on, plenty, really I could, but that would have been overkill. I also know that a couple of those requests can be accommodated without too much pain.
And my husband’s response to my question, “What do you want for Christmas?” He said the same thing he’s said for the last 30 or so years,
“I’ll have you stark naked please with a ribbon on for Christmas!”
Well, this wish has never actually been granted to him, what with small children, teenagers, grandparents and all the other manic stuff of Christmas mornings. And no, you really shouldn’t feel sorry for the man of the house, as the only difference between his Christmas morning dream and any other ordinary morning will be the bloody bow.
However, after 30 years of him first asking for me naked with a ribbon on for Christmas, and me never quite managing to get it all wrapped up beautifully and presented properly for first thing Christmas Day, I’ve decided that this year, my lovely midlife husband will get his wish. We have no small children to attend to these days; we do have grown up ones though and I’m sure one of them can steer the kitchenship for a while.
I will, of course, make sure he also has a gift or two tucked under the tree for later, even though we both know that the best things in life really are for free. My only worry is, what will he ask for next year?
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On December 10th, around 4:30 in the afternoon, someone reported a person standing up through the sun roof of a parked vehicle.
Now, maybe I’m naive, but since when was standing through a sunroof illegal? Isn’t that what they’re for? Everyone’s thought about it. At least this person wasn’t driving and standing. That’s dangerous. If the car crashed, you could get seriously hurt. But in a parked vehicle? I don’t see the problem.
Maybe the caller assumed the person was breaking into or out of the car. That could be suspicious. But the act of standing alone is not a valid call, if you ask me. I demand the freedom to stand through my sunroof if I so desire. In a country based on freedom, at least let me do that.
During the last summer session, I thought I could get away with parking in the Red Zone in Stadium lot, which is explicitly reserved for faculty and staff from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s summer, what cop is going to bother checking all the way back here?” (Since naturally it was about a mile away from the Union).
I got my answer when I returned a few hours later to find that six minutes after I left my car a cop had slapped a $30 ticket on my windshield!
Now, I’ve left my car in a (not paid-for) spot in pay lots many times, sometimes for hours–What gives?!
However, the fine print at the end of the stub was going to make my day bright again:
“Appeal by July 30th…”
Hmmm. I logged onto SOLAR and typed a detailed description of how I thought parking rules were suspended during the summer (this was true in high school, why not here?) and I will be sure to familiarize myself with parking restrictions in the future (Green parking pass = only green lots). To my sheer amazement, my long-winded explanation got the ticket dismissed!
This fall, however, my rebellious friend has decided on multiple occasions to flout the “Staff Only” rule instead of walking to West Apartments in the cold.
HE HAS GOTTEN FOUR TICKETS DISMISSED.
Granted, he writes his appeals like the pre-law student he is, but is this neccessary? Is just the effort of logging onto SOLAR enough to keep the University from collecting?! Unbelievable.
A college friend of mine and I were talking yesterday. Her daughter was giving her grief because she “stocks” the car during the winter. Warm hats, socks, gloves, blankets, food, etc. This is how I grew up – never leave the house during the winter without a half tank of gas, coffee cans (not plastic) with candles, matches, chocolate and nuts and everything you might need to survive in your car should you get stranded in the snow.
Now, perhaps in the age of cell phones and with areas being built up as they are, this may not seem necessary. But, if I go out on a meeting a distance outside of St. Louis and am wearing heels and a skirt and a “dressy” top, if something happens and I have to sit in a dead car waiting for a tow truck for an hour or two during bad weather – I’m sure going to be glad I have the hat, gloves, blankets, and heavy socks and boots to keep me warm in the mean time. As a rule, I tend to keep a few magazines or a book in the car in case I need to kill a little time before appointments. All of this takes very little space and could be a life saver if the worst happens.
‘The world has become so complicated, the growth of available information so explosive, that the journalist needs to be a filter, as well as a transmitter; an organizer and interpreter, as well as one who gathers and delivers facts.’ So says Philip Meyer in the first chapter of the 2002 edition of his book Precision Journalism.
Computer Assisted Reporting, or CAR, has been evident in the United States since the 1950s but is still only in its embryonic stages in the United Kingdom. Without going into the number-crunching aspect in detail, it effectively involves using programmes like Excel and Access to inspect data and then draw conclusions from it. Our lecturer here at CJS, Glyn Mottershead, described it succinctly when he said that using databases enabled journalists to “interview the information”.
Having the wherewithal and the sheer willpower needed to conduct one of these interviews is clearly going to make the difference when it comes to being innovative and successful in the field of journalism. As The Poynter Institute says of CAR: ‘In the midst of all the pushing and shoving for a place at the news table, here’s a banquet of wonderful stories reserved for reporters who can use a computer to analyze data.’
So rich is this banquet, indeed, that some journalists are worried investigative sites based around user collaboration (often by non-journalists), such as Help Me Investigate, could end up leaving reporters without jobs as they don’t have the time to spend days on end conducting and crafting a detailed investigation.
I’d like to think James Ball is wrong, and that newsrooms will be tolerant of their reporters spending time interrogating data and coming up with great exclusives. As he points out, data journalism stories are often: ’ incredibly complex, fraught with legal issues’. The ability of a journalist to deal with complex information whilst negotiating the potential legal minefield should guarantee that CAR doesn’t spell the end of investigative journalism.
As Glyn said, CAR allows journalists to “assume the role of the expert” and “become an authority” on a subject; and as we keep being told by guest lecturers from Peter Preston to Robert Andrews, developing a specialism is integral to making a future in reporting. We shouldn’t be afraid of CAR; it is a way to develop, rather than stifle, the role of the modern journalist.
You’ve been saving and planning for your next vacation. You’ve made reservations for accommodation, listed down the places you want to go, and even looked up the best restaurants for a dine-in experience. Now, how are you going to travel or conveniently go from one place to another? Depending on a few factors including time and budget, you need to carefully consider your options when it comes to local transport. Some travel destinations have well-enforced public transport system whereas it is simply more convenient to travel by car for others.
To fully utilize your travel time, it is best to rent a car. It allows you to travel to more remote and less accessible tourist destinations.
Car hire is relatively easy and it is a much preferred mode of transport around the region. The prices are quite reasonable and different agencies will have different types of transports to offer. Always make your travel plans in advance to prevent overbooking. You can also take advantage of the cheaper rates through online booking and early bird rate. Nightlife, eating out and shopping options are aplenty.
I thought about the accident at least ten times a day. I tried so hard to remember what happened. Occasionally I would get flashes, quick images of him, or the road, but it wouldn’t piece together. A solicitor was now involved due to my personal injuries and I demanded he sent all the statements to me including pictures. Needless to say he was very reluctant to do so. There were over twenty four images, but some of these stood out the most for me.
Susan says, “These were taken in a mall parking lot. The spots are all angled in one direction. Apparently the driver didn’t pay attention to how far up they needed to park. Either that or they were doing it on purpose. They had an Ohio license plate. My husband stepped into the first picture to show how much room the driver had. No one else around them was parked like an ass- just them. Stupid Ohio drivers.”
Problem: Your car is beat. But the open road is calling.
Solution: Go virtual. Pull up Google Maps, set it on “street view” and off you go! The joys a road trip without spending $ on gas, food, or tolls… all without leaving your computer. Or go old school, and use a fold-able map.
Drive at full speed in this freeway avoiding the other cars. If you hit one you lose and you must begin again. You must maneuver fast because the cars go at full speed. Use the arrows to move.
How is everyone tonight? Things are going great around here, I had a full & busy day at work and now am so happy to be at home relaxing. My back started to bother me a bit after sitting in a desk chair all day so I had to wrap things up a lil’ earlier than expected but I was okay with that Andddd I was SO proud of myself bc I drove right past the “crash site” tonight and didn’t freak out - ahhh relief!!!
In other work news: MISSING YOGURT ALERT!!!!!!!
Either I lost my mind (always a possibility) or someone STOLE my Chobani at work!!! I even took the time to put in on ice this morning bc I knew I wouldn’t get to my office til lunch time due to some meetings at our other location. Put it in the fridge once I get to my desk, worked all afternoon and saved it for after my 2pm meeting which ended up going over time and couldn’t wait for it…. I hope that person enjoyed it! Sheesh.
So no review until tomorrow friends…. hey, don’t blame me
So before dinner I guess I should give you guys the answer to my car question from earlier, and btw I loved all the comments I got on this, ya’ll are awesome and they totally made my day!!!
I had a feeling that my bestie from college would get this one, and just as I expected she left a secret comment that read:
” Do I get to guess which car since I’m 99% sure I know the answer?….nothing says love like a ………”
Haha yes friends, it’s true…. and this has been said verbatum from this lady’s mouth more than once before haha (blush face now?!) During my college years (and well before) I always said that one thing I want to have is a BMW & that I would rather I have a guy propose to me with a BMW car key instead of an engagement ring… I am outta control haha oooops?!?!
In fact, last year around this time when The Man and I first started dating I was looking into purchasing a BMW and we went to the lot one afternoon. Laura (bestie from above) found out that we were shopping for BMW’s together and she seriously thought that I was getting married hahaha — she calls and says to me “ummmm Steph, is there something I should know?!”
Yes, I am weird & perhaps a bit too superficial with this whole car issue — but hey, I drove a 2000 Altima for 8 years for Pete’s sake!! And I obviously don’t really love jewelry like most girls do ? But now that I have met the love of my life, I kinda have a lil’ different view (eh hmmm gotta cover those bases here k?!??! ) However that doesn’t mean that I still wouldn’t love to purchase that beemer for myself (Beyonce chimes in with some “Independent Woman”) We’ll have to see what kinda deals can be worked out… so more to come!
Ole!
Dinner tonight was Mexican inspired…
Chicken Fajitas!
I surprised The Man with some fun snacks when he got home to munch on while I cooked up the fiesta!
This Kroger Private Selection garden salsa surpassed my expectations like woah, it was superfab!
And not to mention that I <3 this Herdez Salsa Verde… so good!
I had also let some chicken tenderloins marinate in some of this guy for an hour or so while I relaxed and sipped some vino… “foodie happy hour” right Jenna?!?!
Sauteed them up, slicing them into pieces once they were almost cooked through.
Then sauteed up some green pepper & onion in a lil’ Goya EVOO – which is some great stuff btw! – with some salt & pepper (as always!)
Served up the chicken, peppers & onions on whole wheat tortillas with the green & red salsa topping + some of the best thick low fat dressing that I have EVER tasted (Kroger brand strikes again!)
His &
Hers Chicken Fa-jee-tas!!!
These were really really really yummmmmy, the Fajita marinade has the perfect flavor and paired with all the other toppings it was a match(es?) made in heaven!
So I’ll leave you friends with one of the best comments ever from my fave Michigan homegirl (in regards to the car discussion), it seriously made me LOL
“Ummm I’m gonna say the Beeemer cuz yer such a baller, shot caller!!
Love it! Gotta run friends, we are actually going to make it car shopping in the morning and there are alot of other things on the agenda (maybe yoga?!, hair appointment, lunch date, comedy club, tacky sweater party, snow???) so see ya for some fun tomorrow! Have a great & safe night
In the West, meeting the parents isn’t really considered a huge deal (as far as I know). Many of my friends have brought home their boyfriends or girlfriends for a casual weekend at home and introduced them to their parents. Sometimes, those boyfriends or girlfriends were even different the following month.
However, in Korea, meeting the parents is a big deal. That kind of thing only happens when the dating couple is ready to get married. Therefore, it was nearly a year and a half after the start of our dating before I finally met her parents.
Additionally, in Korea, a marriage is viewed as a joining of two families more than a joining of two individuals. We also talk about that in the West, but in Korea, they really act it out. Therefore, the family often plays a huge role in helping a single person decide whether or not to marry a certain individual. And plenty of couples have broken up or delayed their marriages for years because of the negative reactions of their families to their significant other. In the West, although parents and family may sometimes react negatively toward one’s love interest, the individual generally decides for themselves whether or not to marry, regardless of their parents input.
We (I) knew these kinds of challenges would come up in our relationship from the beginning. Add to that fact I’m not a Korean and don’t speak Korean fluently, and we had a recipe for trouble. Therefore, I knew it was important, if I was serious about Sarah, to be serious about her from the start.
But…Pray, First
When difficult times came up in our relationship, I did my best to be a rock: unmoving in my devotion, with eyes (and hope) to the future. Even through the hardest of times, when we were on the edge of breakup, we clung to each other and held on. She wanted me to give her hope and confidence in our relationship and future, and I did my best to do so. But sometimes, even the very best I could offer wasn’t enough. So, I had to give her more to hope in than just me.
Prayer became a cornerstone and defining aspect of our relationship, and as our prayer deepened, our relationship deepened as well. As our relationship deepened, our prayers deepened as well, going beyond casual prayers and deep into soul-aching, heart-melting prayers and hopes.
So, it should come as no surprise that my first meeting with Sarah’s parents was preceded by months of prayer. In fact, I prayed nightly for them for a month before we met – a habit I’d picked up from my first courting of Sarah (it took three months of nightly prayers before she agreed to be my “girlfriend”).
Actually, prayer has been a habit of ours from the very beginning of our relationship. From the first time Sarah agreed to have dinner with me, even before she’d agree to be my “girlfriend,” we’ve prayed together. Walking home that first night, I knew she was Christian and found great value in God, so I was inspired to suggest a simple prayer together before bed. And from that day on, our every day has been bathed in prayer – with some amazing results.
House Problems
In Korea, it is not uncommon for tennants of apartments, or even one-room Villas to put down a large sum of money as “key money” on a place to live. Sometimes, with a large enough “key money deposit,” this even exempts them from paying rent.
Sarah’s family had done that for her on a one-room near the public university. When Sarah wanted to move out, she requested the return of her key money deposit from the building owner (as is customary, to be used as a down payment on the next house). She waited for months, and the owner kept saying “I’ll get you the money next month,” (the amount was more than the price of a new car) but the money never turned up and eventually the owner ran away (with all the other tennants money as well).
That was in the Spring of 2008.
For Sarah’s first meeting with my parents, we’d originally planned to go to the US in November 2008 for my friend’s wedding in South Dakota. However, she said didn’t feel right leaving the country with house problems like that, so the plans were scrapped.
In February 2009, after over a year of dating, I was getting anxious to move our relationship along and meet both sets of parents (we’d met neither by then). So, we tentatively made plans to go to the US in July to meet my folks, and prayed that her house problems we be resolved by then. It was also at that point that we began praying to meet her parents.
Finally, on Children’s Day (May 5), I met Sarah’s whole family. It was a big step that said, “We’re ready to marry.”
House for Sale
As July approached, Sarah’s ownerless one-room apartment went up for auction in the court. We prayed for a quick sale that would return most of the stolen money to her parents and our prayers were answered (though with only half the money) before we left for America in July – she finally felt free to leave Korea for a while.
Unfortunately, however, with the sale of Sarah’s one-room, it also meant that she would have no new place to live upon returning from America. Her move-out date was set for two weeks after we returned – not nearly enough time to find a new house.
So, with much prayer and hope, we journeyed to America to meet my family and let them also know “We’re ready to marry,” and arranged to move Sarah out into her sister’s house when we returned. But, there was no place for Sarah’s furniture there, so we gave most of it to her brother to use for his daughter’s room. We moved Sarah and her suitcases to her sister’s, her furniture to her brother’s, and her books and dishes to my place.
Within a matter of a few months, we went from a couple who was “ready” to get married and had met both sets of parents, to a couple that had no house, no furniture, no car, and no career jobs (we both had jobs at a private English academy, but Korean mothers generally view those positions not suitable for careers). Of course, all of those things (we lacked) are very important in Korea and are considered prerequisites for marriage by many Koreans. Time to pray.
Heaven Helped Us
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3
From high hopes in the early summer, to a nearly “un-marriable” position by the end of summer, we’d come full circle, and were broken and discouraged in spirit. But God didn’t disappoint us.
As we took time to pray and seek God, remarkable things happened. Though we had nothing of our own, God began to provide His own in ways we couldn’t predict or even imagine.
#1: Get a (good) job
Although we have jobs at a private academy, we’ve both been told that those jobs aren’t suitable for a married couple. So, before leaving for America, Sarah applied and interviewed for a public school job (which she got), and I was just offered a job at Jeonju University (today at 4:30).
#2: Buy a house
With Sarah houseless for over a month, we were both getting anxious. One day, on an impulse, we checked with an agent we know he showed us a wonderful two-room that would be available for the very next day. With a little help from my parents, we signed the contract.
#3: Furnish the house
Earlier the same morning we met with the agent, we also met a man who worked for a US helicopter company in Korea. Their contract was up and they were trying to sell off an apartment full of furniture. He gave me an unbelievable deal on the lot of it, and I cleaned him out.
Our house and furniture are by far the two most significant blessings we’ve received. There is no doubt that God’s hand was in it all. After returning from America, our finances were drained from our purchase of new airline tickets, and Sarah became homeless shortly thereafter. One month (and many prayers later) we found ourselves in possession of a full set of furniture and a new house to put it all in.
#4: Get a car
While a car would be nice to have, in Korea it is not as much a necessity as in America. The public transportation system is amazingly efficient and cheap, and I prefer riding my bike to driving anyway. Even still, we will need a car sooner or later, (at least to visit her parents more often) so we have been praying for God’s provision in a car.
#5: Marriage $
Due to our ticketing issues (and then reissues) in the airport in LA, I spent much of the money I’d saved for our (potentially upcoming) honeymoon just to return us to Korea. Most of the rest of the money I’d earned in Korea has gone off to pay student loans. Thankfully, Sarah’s old house sold so that we could use some of her parents’ house money. Sarah has also been saving since last January, so she can pay them back next January after the wedding.
#6: Parental Consent
Although my family gave their permission for our marriage after our trip to America, Sarah’s family was a lot harder to win over. In fact, I expected it to be a long battle for their blessing after we returned, but was very surprised when her family brought up the topic of our marriage before we did. The first weekend back, we visited their home and they asked, “So, when are you getting married?” Her father and brother then started to talk about an appropriate date.
#7: Set the Date
One of the most challenging things was arranging the date for the wedding because my family lives in America, and needs at least a week away to come here to see the wedding. Sarah’s family didn’t want to wait until 2010, and my family couldn’t make it to Korea until after December 12. Finally, we decided December 19 would be best to accomodate both.
The last word
“Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.” – John Aikman Wallace
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. All our relationship has been bathed in prayer, without which we wouldn’t be where we are today. We pray big prayers, not because we expect it all, but so that we can be rejoice in God’s grace. As Phillip Brooks says:
“Pray the largest prayers! You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches, but for wings.”
Now I am driving, I have come to realise that the roads are filled with people who seem to have a deathwish. From cyclists with no lights at night, through to van drivers who act as though the Devil himself is on their tail, I have been amazed at how little regard these people seem to have for both their own safety and that of others.
We bought our first car back in March this year – doing our bit to help the automotive business out of recession, some have suggested. Actually, we just finally felt there was enough need to warrant buying a car, after 15 years of married life without one. As a driver getting back out there it was a slow and steady start for me, admittedly nervous having only ever driven hire-cars for about 21 years. Yet, 8 months later, here we are merrily driving to work daily.
This morning, tootling along one of the main roads out of our town long before dawn, I observed yet another cyclist with a deathwish: a lady on a bike on the left of the road pulled across the traffic (a couple of cars ahead of me) and then turned right down the junction peddling blithley down the right hand side of the road. There were no hand signals, there was no warning of the maneouvre, she had no lights on the bike, and she was dressed in dark clothes.
The other day, driving home along the ring-road on the outskirts of our city, I witnessed a car essentially weaving through the fairly heavy traffic. This fellow was undertaking cars in the outside lane, then whipping across to that right-hand lane to overtake the next car, and so on. As the car didn’t sport any emergency service markings, I can only assume that this person had somewhere they needed to be dreadfully quickly. Enough, obviously, to risk life and limb.
Last week, again driving out of the city, we passed a small family car impaled on the wall of a residential garden. I do mean impaled: it was a good 2-3 feet off the ground, the underside torn and having caused the low wall to partially collapse. The front was mangled. Looking inside, we could see a child seat in the back dislodged slightly. We could see the air bag, limp in front of the driver’s seat. Broken glass and, no doubt, broken people involved. From the scene, it was clear that the driver had turned left at the junction too fast and had needed to avoid something in path… and then veered across to the right-hand side of the road, and up onto the wall. A sobering sight, especially assuming the child seat had been full.
This week, writing to help people who need to find new jobs, I have been reminded about our own personal responsibility. Translating Stephen Covey’s “First Habit” of Proactivity out onto the road, I realised that we all are responsible for the choices we make each second of the journey to and from work. The consequences of our poor choices, whether they lead to a near-miss or our own death, are entirely the consequences of our choices combined with the choices of the other road-users around us.
Even if everyone else is ignoring the rules and driving like insane devils, do we not bear the responsibility to slow down? Should we not remember and act upon the adage, “mirror, signal, maneuvre”? Do we really owe it to ourselves to ride out in the dark dressed in black and without a single light on our bikes? Should we not practice courtesy and respect for others while in our little warm boxes with wheels?
Imagine you are waiting in a queue and someone walked along the outside of that queue, ignoring everyone else, and then pushed in ahead of you. How would you feel? Probably pretty annoyed. Yet, night after night on the way home, I see people do just this very thing in their cars. All for the sake of a few seconds gain in the traffic jam.
I’m far from being a good driver. I make mistakes. I probably irratate the heck out of others when I let someone slip out of a side road by slowing down. I do, however, encourage myself to remain focused and calm. It’s the best way, I’ve discovered, to stay alive and get home safely – calm, focused, and patient.
Thomas Honda of Johnstown reports exciting November sales as we continue on their record setting year! Having such a high percentage of growth from last year to this is not typical of the Honda market at the moment as its November was down 9% in new cars sales from last November. Thomas Honda has shown a 64% increase in new car sales since last year as it shoots up the charts of all Pa Honda Dealers! We sold 23 new cars this November over last year’s 14! More than 40 units went out this November a number that more than doubled last years monthly numbers. Used car sales also continue at a record pace passing our all time record for November used car sales at 20 vehicles. In the three month period of Sept. Oct. and Nov. Thomas Honda of Johnstown has sold 132 retail units vs. last years total of 81. This year has been a record setting year as they have already passed and plan to smash their previous yearly sales record. Bill Ingram, the General Manager at Thomas Honda says that he is excited about the continued sales record setting pace and he expects Dec. sales to continue at the same heightened level!
We decided to take on a sacred cow by asking this question-is Jay Leno a real car guy?
We are a magazine dedicated to the concept of the average car guy. Why would we give a multi-billionaire talk show host a chance to get past the ropes and into this average car guy nightclub?
Isn’t he just like every other multi-billionaire?
You know the type-collects Ferraris like we used to collect Hot Wheel toy cars. Giant ego guy driven by the acquisition gene so Hemi-Cuda means as much to them as cabbage futures or Manhattan real estate.
These guys don’t even show up at the auction-some flunky with a cell phone handles that role. The car is just a number on a page to that kind of guy. It just happens to have a huge upside-appreciation wise.
Usually the only Detroit iron guys like that want is the stuff they drive up to insane prices like the Shelby Cobras, the COPO Camaros, rare Corvettes-it’s almost too boring to talk about.
So why is Jay Leno not one of those guys?
First, he’s not a multi-billionaire (if you don’t count his car crop).
Second, he still has that 1955 Buick from his poverty days. Not many guys have the kind of crystal ball that tells them‚”Jay, hang on to this old brute because some day you’re going to replace Johnny Carson and end up being paid more than the GDP of 15 African countries and then you can fix the old girl up”.
Jay Leno would still have that old Buick even if he’d dropped out of comedy and become a lifer at Safeway. Maybe it wouldn’t have that killer drive train or Corvette-like handling but he’d still have it.
Parked outside a mobile home and rustier than a freshly divorced 52 year old insurance broker’s pickup lines but Jay would still own that 55 Buick.
That’s a real car guy.
Admit it, who wouldn’t do those incredible resto-modifications to the 55 Buick or that 1966 Toronado if you could? We get to live through Leno because when he makes a giant state of the art rear-wheel drive touring car out of a 66 Toronado he’s actually striking a blow for average guys all over the globe.
Be honest. Wouldn’t you do the same thing?
One more thing about Leno-he drives the wheels off his cars. Whether it’s 50 feet long and tank powered he drives the liver out of them. There’s a great video showing Leno pounding on his 66 Dodge Hemi Coronet-the one where there’s pure joy on his face.
And not the show biz “between the drugs and the alcohol I’m so fried all I can do is hold a loopy grin look”. This is a goofy-looking guy who gets to thrash a 60’s car icon that he could only dream about in his former life.
The other thing is that if that Hemi or Stanley Steamer breaks down there’s a pretty good chance Leno can jump out and fix it-or at least get it to limp home.
He’s a lot like you.
The biggest argument in Jay’s favor is the he never, under any circumstances gets rid of a car. He might lend his name to a charity deal but ask him to sell part of his family and you’ll probably get some working knowledge on Jay Leno security-the kind that puts head-sized dents in garage doors.
Leno has what our late brother Bruce called ‘the sickness’. The sickness is where a guy can’t go by an old car without being drawn in.
It’s like a cosmic black hole
The pull is too strong for guys like that so eventually they end up one “divorce car”away from marital oblivion. Sure they can hide one, two, maybe three or more but once those old cars take over you’re going to need marital counseling, legal affidavits and 2 sections of land that the bride doesn’t know about.
So the only time you’re going to see Leno cars for sale is at an estate auction or divorce sale. These aren’t mere commodities to a guy like that-they are his reason for living.
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Life “Lesson”
Andddd I was SO proud of myself bc I drove right past the “crash site” tonight and didn’t freak out - ahhh relief!!! 
I even took the time to put in on ice this morning bc I knew I wouldn’t get to my office til lunch time due to some meetings at our other location. Put it in the fridge once I get to my desk, worked all afternoon and saved it for after my 2pm meeting which ended up going over time and couldn’t wait for it…. I hope that person enjoyed it! Sheesh.
