Author: Serkadis

Honda announced today that it will show a concept version of the next-generation Honda Odyssey minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show on February 10, 2010.

“The next-generation Odyssey will further enhance its hallmark qualities of innovation, quality, safety and fun-to-drive character, while increasing its overall efficiency,” Honda said in a statement released today. “The Odyssey, currently in its third generation, was the best-selling minivan in the United States in 2008 and 2009. It is produced from domestic and globally sourced parts by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC in Lincoln, Alabama.”

Pictured above is the 2010 Honda Odyssey.

– By: Omar Rana

England, U.K. | Follies and Grottoes

Constructed between 1593 and 1597, the Triangle Lodge was designed by Sir Thomas Tresham. Built as a monument to his Roman Catholic beliefs, Tresham revered the number three, representing the Holy Trinity, which is evident in the layout of the Lodge. Comprised of three floors, including the basement, three sides each 33 feet long, and three windows on each side for each floor. On every side of the building is a different Latin text from the Bible, each 33 letters long.

The inscriptions are as followed:

-Aperiatur terra & germinet Salvatorem: “Let the earth open and … bring forth salvation” (Isaiah 45:8)

-Quis separabit nos a charitate Christi?: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35)

-Consideravi opera tua, Domine, et expavi : “I have contemplated thy works, O Lord, and was afraid” (Habakkuk 3:2)

Each floor of this folly is comprised mainly of a hexagonal room, which leaves three triangles in each corner. In one of these corners is a spiral staircase, the other two are small rooms. Atop each wall sits three gargoyles, and above them are three pointed gables. Cast in the stone of the outer two gables of each of the walls is a symbol of importance. Among the emblems are the Seven-branched Candelabrum, the Seven Eyes of God, a Hen and Chickens, a Dove and Serpent, the Hand of God touching a globe, and a Pelican in her Piety.

A broken inscription across the three middle gables, which are actually sundials, reads: Respicite, Non Mihi Soli Laboravi, “Mark ye, not for myself alone have I toiled.” Atop the three gables on each side is a three-sided obelisk, reaching toward the sky. The obelisk, too, has symbols adorning each side, including the Christogram “IHS”, Iesus Hominum Salvator (“Jesus, Savior of men” in Latin), a lamb and cross, and a chalice.

The building facade is covered in seemingly random numbers, Tresham’s initials, and a multitude of heraldic shields and crests. The trefoil, or three-leafed clover, features prominently on the building, this is because the trefoil is the main symbol of the Tresham family crest. Each of the windows on the second floor are trefoils with triangular panes within. Above the entrance is the number 5555, though the numbers’ appearance is odd, leaving some historians to speculate that it once read 3333.

Above the door, but underneath the Tresham coat of arms lies the inscription: Tres testimonium dant, “The number three bears witness.” Some think that the inscription could mean “Tresham bears witness,” considering “Tres” was the pet name given to him by his wife. Successfully nestled away in the countryside to prevent discovery by Protestant authorities, the Triangular Lodge survived the period of persecution of English Catholics.

The 2010 lineup sees some new and exciting offerings from Buick, as they are amidst their renaissance from ‘Grandpa’s car’ to an image that is more appealing to the younger crowds. While the 2010 LaCrosse is certainly the current spearhead of the movement, the Enclave is the one that started it all, standing as Buick’s most luxurious offering until the debut of the all-new 2010 LaCrosse. Bear in mind however, that the Enclave is awaiting a 2011 redesign that should bring a sharper, sleeker, more luxurious vehicle to the lineup.

Though the 2010 Buick Enclave does not stand without merit, there are some changes, improvements ad upgrades that it could afford to receive when designers work on the next-generation model. Read the entire review to find out what they are.

Review: 2010 Buick Enclave:

2010 Buick Enclave Specifications:

Base Price: $35,515.
Price as Tested: $49,895.
Engine: 3.6L V6 – 288-hp / 270 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission: Hydra-Matic 6T70 6-speed automatic.
Curb Weight: 4,780 lbs (FWD), 4,985 lbs (AWD).
0 to 60 mph: 8.5 seconds.
Fuel-Economy: 17/24 mpg for FWD (city/highway) / 16/22 for AWD.

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

Exterior:

With an aggressive wide-stance, the ’10 Enclave has an exterior that demands attention and this is probably one part we hope that GM designers leave virtually untouched. The front features the standard Buick grille and a body that flows very fluidly in all directions. High-intensity discharge projector headlamps adorn the sides of the grill, and sit just over the front-fog lamps.

Standard exterior features include power lift-gate, chrome roof rails, and heated turn-signal side-view mirrors that retract. This all sits on 19’ machined aluminum wheels that bring a touch of vibrance, but maintain the sleek subtlety of the entire design. The extreme rear of the vehicle also features a subtle but elegant chrome-tipped dual exhaust.

Our test-model, the Enclave, CXL-2 trim, builds upon all of the above by swapping out the machined aluminum wheels and replacing them with chrome-clad ones.

Overall, the Enclave is one of the best looking crossovers in this segment. It is indeed the best looking crossover based on GM’s Lambda platform, which also includes the GMC Acadia, the Chevrolet Traverse and the late Saturn Outlook.

Interior:

As mentioned above, the Enclave now sits second to the LaCrosse in terms of interior luxury; that does not mean however, that the Enclave is on par with a bare-bones-interior Kia either. The Enclave certainly offers luxury and space – tons of space, with comfortable seating for 7 passengers and ample cargo space with features and functionality for everyone from executive to soccer mom.

The broad and high front dash draws attention frontward with its center analog clock placed under a protruding curve that sits atop the center of the dash; it is somewhat reminiscent of a grandfather clock. Amenities available to front seat passengers include; heated/cooled seats, 4-way power adjustable passenger seat, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory, power lumbar support, tri-zone (driver, front passenger, back) climate control, and a power tilt and telescoping leather wrapped steering wheel with wood accents and wheel mounted audio controls for the driver.

The second-row captains seats feature the ‘Smart Slide’ feature which enables the seats to fold flat like in a traditional SUV, or completely collapse themselves and slide forward right behind the front seats. All rows also feature floor mats, and the third row comes equipped with a 60/40 split bench seat.

The sound system offered is an AM/FM/Stereo CD player with rear passenger controls, USB and auxiliary inputs, and XM satellite radio with complimentary service for 90 days. Other bells and whistles include; Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, auto-dimming rearview mirror, universal home remote, quiet tuned interior, 1 year OnStar service, remote keyless entry, theft-deterrent system, tire-pressure monitoring, child safety latch, and dual-front, head and side-curtain, and front side-impact airbags.

The CXL-1 trim level offers all of the above listed amenities plus leather seating with heated/cooled front seats, remote start, and rearview camera while the CXL-2 package adds a Bose sound system. Other optional amenities include the $1,890 touchscreen navigation package with XM navigation & traffic, and the $1,400

However, for 2011, we’re hoping GM incorporates more design and soft-touch material from the LaCrosse to make Buick’s lineup more uniform.

Performance:

As the Enclave is by no means built for performance, it drives pretty well for a luxury crossover. The car is powered by 3.6 L SIDI V6 engine that puts out 288-hp mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Stabilitrak stability control and an anti-lock breaking system add safety and security to the ride. Considering the size of the Enclave, the EPA estimated 17/24 mpg is a bit impressive, as well as the 19 mpg combined fuel economy. Both the frontal and side crash-ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration come in at the maximum; five stars, and the rollover risk rating is an impressive four stars.

Overall, ride quality of the 2010 Buick Enclave is exceptionally comfortable – especially for long-trips. Acceleration is also quite impressive for a vehicle weighing in at 4,780 lbs (in front-wheel-drive trim).

Overall:

The FWD Enclave carries an MSRP of $35,515, $38,630, and $41,995 for the CX, CXL-1 and CXL-2 trim levels, respectively. For the AWD version of any trim-level the price gets increased by an even $2,000.

The 2010 Buick Enclave resides in a class with the 2010 Lexus RX 350, 2010 Lincoln MKX, and 2010 Acura MDX, which carry respective MSRP’s of $37,625, $38,845 and $40,990.

While the Enclave is certainly not out-classed by its competition, we feel that it falls short of Buick’s maximum potential, which was shown with the ’10 LaCrosse. Some interior design cues inspired by the LaCrosse would do the Enclave well, especially with regard to the rich, sleek, supple, and luxuriously sporty interior of the LaCrosse. As it stands, there is nothing about the Enclave’s interior that grabs the driver’s attention and emotes a feeling of luxury. Aesthetically, the vehicle’s interior is very plain; it lacks the sweeping curves and sloping angles that the LaCrosse offers, and doesn’t offer much of a ‘cockpit’ environment.

Judging by the LaCrosse, and Buick’s works in the pipeline, the 2011 redesign should address this issue and advance Buick’s renaissance as they attempt to pull-ahead of their old image of ‘Grandpa’s car’ and appeal to a younger, successful crowd.

Review: 2010 Buick Enclave:

– By: Stephen Calogera

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

By Marcela Valente BUENOS AIRES, Jan 26 (IPS) Some 300 women a year die in Argentina of complications during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period, from largely preventable causes. Many of the deaths result from unsafe abortions.

According to different studies, some 460,000 to 600,000 abortions are performed each year in this country of 40 million people, almost one for every birth, even though abortion is illegal. And many poor women who are unable to afford an abortion in a private clinic end their pregnancies in dangerous unhygienic conditions.

Official data released late last year put the number of maternal deaths in 2008 at 296, 21 percent of which were caused by unsafe abortions. While down from the 306 cases registered in 2007, the figure is still high. Most alarmingly, four of the deaths involved girls between the ages of 10 and 14, and 39 of the victims were teenagers under 19.

Argentina has a maternal mortality rate of 44 for every 100,000 live births – two and a half times higher than the average in neighbouring Chile and Uruguay, and a far cry from the six per 100,000 or seven per 100,000 live births in Spain and Italy, for example.

Both national authorities and independent experts working on these issues say that at this pace, Argentina will fail to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of significantly reducing the number of maternal deaths by 2015, bringing it down to Chile's and Uruguay's current levels.

The MDGs are a set of eight goals and related time-bound targets adopted by 189 nations at the U.N. Millennium Summit in 2000. The overall aim is to tackle some of the leading development challenges and put the world on the path towards sustainable development.

Goal 5 is to improve maternal health, and the related target is to reduce maternal mortality rates by three-quarters by 2015, as compared to 1990 levels. The full list of goals covers a range of issues, including reducing extreme poverty, hunger and child mortality, promoting gender equity, and combating major diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria.

A study by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Watch (OSSyR – Observatorio de Salud Sexual y Reproductiva) – a local organisation made up of academic centres and supported by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) – found that between 1980 and 2006 child mortality dropped by 61 percent in Argentina, while maternal deaths were reduced by 32 percent, and the maternal mortality rate has remained basically steady over the past few years.

In fact, in 2008 there was only one death less than the 2001 total of 297, and by 2006 UNICEF began to express concern about the lack of progress in lowering the maternal mortality rate, in contrast to the improvements seen in infant mortality.

On its web site, OSSyR notes that while the country's maternal mortality rate is below that of nations classified as countries with "high maternal mortality" (50-100 per 100,000 live births), at 44 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2007, Argentina's is steep if compared to other social and health indicators such as its low birth rate, high coverage for prenatal health care, and high percentage of infants delivered in health facilities assisted by trained professionals.

Maternal mortality not on the agenda

According to OSSyR, the country has the necessary means to successfully address the problem, but has failed to do so because of a lack of political will. And they are not alone in this opinion.

In an interview with IPS, Dr. Mariana Romero, a researcher with the Centre for Studies on State and Society (CEDES) – which forms part of OSSyR – said that although cutting the maternity mortality rate would not require huge resources, "the issue is just not on Argentina's political agenda."

"In Chile, abortion is still illegal, but there's a family planning policy in place since the mid-1960s, which wasn't discontinued during the (1973-1990) dictatorship, and the country's primary health care services operate in coordination with the emergency health care system," said Romero, the author of a study entitled "Making Every Maternal Death Matter".

And in Uruguay, although President Tabaré Vázquez vetoed a law in November 2008 that would have decriminalised abortion, the vast majority of the population has access to health care and family planning, and there is growing awareness about contraception, she added.

Like other experts who spoke to IPS, Romero criticised the "ineffectiveness and low visibility" of the Sexual Health and Responsible Parenthood Programme launched in Argentina in 2003 with the aim of preventing unplanned pregnancies through the distribution of free birth control.

The reality is that a high number of unsafe abortions continue to be performed in Argentina, where the interruption of pregnancy is only legal in cases of rape or risk to the mother's life – although even in these extreme cases, doctors tend to demand judicial authorisation, with the consequent delay and threats to the mother's mental or physical wellbeing.

"There is no clear and explicit policy that prioritises the issue of maternal deaths," Romero said. "To bring down the number of deaths, the Programme needs a higher profile, as well as supplies, trained human resources, and monitoring. Without political will, there is no visibility."

When the latest maternal mortality figures were released in December, former health minister Ginés González admitted that "it is the indicator that has seen the least progress of all the Millennium Goals," and this lack of progress "amounts to failure."

"The strategies deployed to reduce these deaths are falling short," González said.

For his part, the government's undersecretary of community health, Guillermo González, acknowledged that the 2015 target for the goal will not be met, but said that the Health Ministry expected to cut the maternal mortality rate by one-third by 2011 – that is, down to 3.3 deaths for every 10,000 live births.

According to González, "We haven't worked hard enough on four basic issues": a shortage of blood banks to cover cases of severe blood loss, the difficulties in early detection of patients with high blood pressure, the lack of timely treatment for infections, and insufficient efforts to reduce abortion-related complications.

The undersecretary of community health said that "Sixty percent of all pregnancies in Argentina are unwanted."

Experts blame that on the inefficiency of the Sexual Health and Responsible Parenthood Programme, which is in charge of providing family planning resources and services.

Aimed at reducing deaths caused by unsafe abortions, Argentina has a protocol for the treatment of patients who come to the hospital for abortion-related complications. Nevertheless, such cases accounted for 21 percent of maternal deaths in 2008.

A look at figures at the provincial level shows that in districts where access to medical care is more difficult, the proportion of maternal deaths caused by abortion complications is double the national average. In 2008, 44 percent of all maternal deaths in Entre Ríos and 39 percent in Chaco were caused by complications from abortions.

This follows a common trend worldwide. Maternal mortality constitutes one of the greatest inequalities in health, more so even than infant mortality, according to both the 2009 MDG progress report, released in July 2009, and UNICEF's "The State of the World’s Children 2009" that focuses on maternal and newborn health and was launched in South Africa on Jan. 15.

"Maternal mortality," the MDG report says, "is among the health indicators that show the greatest gap between the rich and the poor – both between countries and within them. Developed regions report nine maternal deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 450 maternal deaths in developing regions, where 14 countries have maternal mortality ratios of at least 1,000 per 100,000 live births."

And according to UNICEF, "the average lifetime risk of a woman in a least developed country dying from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth is more than 300 times greater than for a woman living in an industrialised country."

"It's appalling," said Marta Alanis, president of Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir – a partner of the U.S.-based group Catholics for Choice – which sits on the advisory board working with the national government's sexual health programme.

"The programme has major shortcomings," she told IPS. "It faces all sorts of hurdles – lack of supplies, red tape and administrative problems, obstacles that are rooted in ideological beliefs.

"Many officials are letting their religious beliefs guide their government and legislative actions, and that's also true in the case of some doctors in their practices," she said.

To illustrate the hurdles women face in gaining access to birth control, she pointed out that at a health centre in Córdoba, her home province, there's a sign that says no contraceptives will be provided to women who have not undergone screening for cervical cancer.

"If more women-friendly programmes were effectively available – programmes that offer emotional support as well – many of these deaths could be prevented; but this way they're only scaring women away," Alanis said.

"Sex education efforts are needed to prevent unplanned pregnancies; in cases where abortion is legal, the procedure must actually be available; and abortion should be decriminalised in all cases until the twelfth week of pregnancy," she said.

"Only then will we bring down the number of maternal deaths caused by unsafe abortions, which almost always affect the poor," she concluded.

Look out, Naomi: Ashley’s telling it all. Ashley Judd, actress/activist/denim designer, has inked a deal to publish a memoir in cooperation with Ballantine Books, the publisher announced in a release on Tuesday. The book, Ashley’s first, will draw from more than 500 pages of journal entries chronicling the star’s childhood through her work as global ambassador for PSI/Youth AIDS and marriage to IRL driver Dario Franchetti.

“I hope that this book will be a call to action as well as a memoir,” says Judd. Ashley will collaborate on the effort with Maryanne Vollers, who contributed to Hilary Clinton’s best-selling memoir, Living History.

There will be a foreword by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. The still-untitled autobiography hits booksellers’ shelves in the spring of 2011.

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, GM, Saab, Earnings/Financials, Spyker

What a long, strange trip it’s been. Every thriller must have an endgame, although whether the guy gets the girl in the end or just plain “gets it” is often in doubt right until the final frame. This afternoon, after a most improbable and tortured saga, General Motors has finally agreed to sell Saab to Spyker Cars.

The tiny Dutch supercar manufacturer and its backers have outlasted all comers, including everyone from Koenigsegg to investment consortium Merbanco to a joint bid by Genii Capital and Formula One mastermind Bernie Ecclestone. More significantly, they’ve endured GM and its negotiators, submitting and re-submitting a series of bids to finally bring together the winning package.

Complete details of the transaction have yet to be fully disclosed, but it’s understood to include Spyker giving GM $74 million up front, along with allowing The General to pocket a further $326 million in preferred shares from the new Spyker-owned entity. The deal requires that the Swedish government agree to guarantee a 400 million-euro loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), a step that is expected to be consummated in February.

As part of the agreement, Spyker chairman Vladimir Antonov has agreed to step down, a move reportedly key to GM’s interests in keeping its intellectual property sequestered from Russian hands.

With Saab’s operations already partially “wound down” from GM’s liquidation moves following the collapse of the earlier Koenigsegg deal, it will be interesting to see how quickly Spyker can get the Swedish marque’s operations back up to speed, including delivery of the 2011 9-5 sedan, a promising vehicle range that was likely the linchpin holding the whole deal together.

Interestingly, after this protracted and very public battle, Saab may actually have more visibility and consumer goodwill built up than it has in decades. Whether this will translate to additional sales or fall by the wayside remains to be seen. General Motors could also potentially see a bit of public cordiality from seeing this process through, as it will also have proven that it can successfully spin off one of its properties, something that was in doubt after the caving-in of the Saturn sale to Roger Penske and what looks to be an increasingly tenuous sale of its Hummer brand to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong. Click through to the jump for the official press release from General Motors.

[Sources: General Motors, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg]

Continue reading BREAKING: GM reaches agreement to sell Saab to Spyker!

BREAKING: GM reaches agreement to sell Saab to Spyker! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today announced it will produce the next-generation Ford Explorer SUV at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.

• Ford will produce the next-generation Explorer SUV at its Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, bringing approximately 1,200 new jobs to the Chicago region
• Ford will invest nearly $400 million in its Chicago Assembly and Chicago Stamping plants to launch production of the Explorer
• The next-generation Explorer will feature significant fuel economy gains of at least 25 percent over the current-model Explorer thanks to EcoBoost engine technology, six-speed transmissions and a unibody construction
• Ford has sold more than 6 million Explorers since the vehicle was originally launched in 1990; Explorer has been America’s best-selling midsize SUV for 15 of the past 19 years

Ford is investing nearly $400 million in its Chicago manufacturing facilities to launch production of the new, fuel-efficient Ford Explorer. The company also will add 1,200 new jobs to staff a second production shift at Chicago Assembly Plant and increase production at the nearby Chicago Stamping Plant.

The next-generation Explorer will be built at the Chicago Assembly Plant on a flexible assembly line alongside the new Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS sedans. Ford’s $400 million investment includes approximately $180 million in manufacturing investment at the Chicago sites and about $220 million for launch and engineering costs.

In addition, Ford will be making significant investment in supplier tooling to support next-generation Explorer production.

“The new Explorer will redefine the SUV for the modern era – retaining the capability customers want while delivering superb fuel efficiency, comfort and convenience,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas.

“This investment underscores Ford’s commitment to building world-class, fuel-efficient vehicles in America and creating new jobs that will contribute to our nation’s economic recovery.”

The new Explorer will deliver at least 25 percent better fuel economy than the current model. The vehicle will feature unibody construction, Ford’s EcoBoost engine technology, a six-speed transmission and lightweight materials.

Ford will provide full details about the new Explorer later this year.

In addition, the next-generation Explorer will debut the auto industry’s first-ever production inflatable seat belts, designed to provide additional protection for rear-seat occupants – often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to head, chest and neck injuries.

The inflatable rear seat belts spread crash forces over five times more area of the body than conventional seat belts, which helps to reduce pressure on the chest and to control head and neck motion for rear-seat passengers. Ford eventually plans to offer inflatable seat belt technology on other vehicles globally.

“Our Chicago Assembly Plant – with its excellent work force, lean and flexible manufacturing processes, and proud history of making great Ford vehicles – is the ideal choice for building the new Explorer,” said Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president, North America Manufacturing.

“The plant successfully has launched two new vehicles in the past two years and our Chicago employees consistently deliver with an eye on quality, efficiency and safety.”

In planning for the company’s future manufacturing presence in the state, Ford worked closely with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who led an effort in passing legislation that allows Ford to participate in Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program, which provides tax incentives to businesses that commit to new investments and create or retain jobs in the state.

This legislation allows Ford to participate in the EDGE program through payroll tax credits rather than corporate income taxes.

“Governor Quinn immediately understood the importance of helping Ford by proposing and passing legislation that provides us with an alternative way to claim and secure these important tax credits,” Fields said.

“We are grateful for his support of Ford and auto manufacturing in Illinois, and want to thank him for his leadership.”

“The production of the new Ford Explorer will create 1,200 new jobs here in Illinois,” said Gov. Quinn.

“The Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit, which I put the full weight of my administration behind and signed into law in December, has provided much needed relief to our state’s ailing automotive industry and the necessary incentives for one of our nation’s leading car companies to stay in the Land of Lincoln.”

Ford’s investment of $400 million in Chicago-area manufacturing facilities and Explorer’s fuel economy improvement of at least 25 percent is also supported by Ford’s green partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Chicago Assembly Plant is one of 11 Ford facilities in the U.S. participating in the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentives Program initiated by Congress and implemented by the Obama administration.

The program is helping to develop advanced technology vehicles and strengthen American manufacturing across the country. Ford, Nissan, Tesla, Fisker and Tenneco are all participants in this initiative.

“Ford has been a major presence in our city since 1924 when it opened this plant to make the Model T,” said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

“The company has demonstrated its commitment to Chicago by spending millions of dollars to modernize the facility in recent years, and I want to thank the company for that commitment and for its faith in Chicago and its residents.”

The current Explorer and Explorer Sport Trac models are built at the company’s Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. Shifting production of the next-generation Explorer to Chicago Assembly paves the way for Louisville Assembly to undergo transformation to a flexible, fuel-efficient small car plant from a truck-based SUV plant.

Ford will begin producing new vehicles at Louisville Assembly based on its global C-car platform in 2011. The specific models will be named at a later date.

The Chicago Assembly Plant, opened in 1924, currently has approximately 1,200 employees working on one shift. Ford’s Chicago Stamping Plant, which opened in 1956, has approximately 700 employees on two shifts.

Opened in 1955, Louisville Assembly Plant has approximately 1,000 employees operating on one shift.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents.

With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo.

The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit ford.com.

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The creators of Rambler think that Twitter’s a pretty vapid service filled with useless information. So they went out and tweeted lots of insightful things! No, of course not. They just created the most worthless Twitter account of all time.

Rambler shoes come equipped with a sensor that knows when you’re walking, and a Bluetooth hookup to a cellphone that tweets each stride. For those times when the wearer isn’t stepping out, the Twitter account just posts a series of periods. It goes a little something like this:

You can follow it here, although it looks like it hasn’t been used in a while. I hope everyone’s okay!

So yes, basically, Rambler throws tainted meat on a big steaming pile of garbage and calls it “commentary.” Next time just clean the garbage up, people! [Popkalab via Fashionably Geek via The Daily What]

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Japan, Mazda

The 2011 Mazda Atenza (Mazda6) is due to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and in addition to a slight nip and tuck, the JDM version of Mazda’s mid-size sedan is packing an all-new 2.0-liter inline-four with direct injection.

Although the styling tweaks are subtle, the new front fascia benefits from a mildly reworked grille, bumper and enlarged side air intakes, along with new 17- and 18-inch wheels and taillight housings. The interior remains largely the same, save new piano black trim on the center console, shift knob and door handles, and surrounding the audio and climate controls.

Mazda remains mum on details about the direct-injected four pot, but don’t be surprised to find the refreshed 2011 Mazda6 in dealers later this year, with the exception of the wagon, which remains a Japan-, Europe- and Australia-only affair. Full details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Refreshed 2011 Mazda Atenza/Mazda6 debuts with new direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder in Japan

Refreshed 2011 Mazda Atenza/Mazda6 debuts with new direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamingnewslink.com’s self-help guide for Mass Effect 2 Errors, Freezing, Slowdown, Install and Crash to Desktop problems
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Say it ain’t so, General! American Idol’s General Larry Platt may have launched the “Pants on the Ground” sensation, but a soul singing group from Detroit’s Highland Park neighborhood says the anti-saggy pants anthem was inspired by a song they penned and performed more than a decade ago.

The Green Brothers believe their 1996 recording “Back Pockets on the Floor” — which has the same message as the song General Platt popularized on the FOX talent show earlier this month — may have been the springboard for “Pants on the Ground.”

In a statement uploaded to YouTube last week, The Green Brothers wrote: “This is in regaurds [sic] to the General Larry Platt “Pants on The Ground”. His song is a take off of the Green Brothers song ” Back Pockets On The Floor’. Back Pockets On The Floor was written by G. Green and was copyrighted and recorded by the Green Brothers in 1996. The General’s song have the same intent, idea and in part the same message. YOU BE THE JUDGE AMERICA!!”

Stopping short of calling Platt a thief, Gerald Green says The Brothers wish The General well but want the world to hear and see their version of the song…which is a bit of a mess, if you ask me…General Larry Platt, a former civil rights activist, has not responded to the allegations. The Atlanta native is currently seeking a copyright for “Pants On The Ground.”

Effective, healthy weight loss isn’t only due to the simplistic calories in, calories out paradigm. Nor is it solely reliant on diet and exercise. It’s everything – it’s all the various signals our body receives from the environment that affect how our genes express themselves and thrive. How we approach the subject matters, too. Our mood, our methods, our temperament. Our conscious decisions and our willpower. It’s setting good habits and expunging bad ones. Most of all, it comes down to keeping our genes happy by providing an environment that approximates evolutionary precedent.

1. You think you’re eating healthy, but aren’t.

Does your diet consist of a massive amount of “products”? Low-carb or not, you want to eat real food. Flagons of diet soda, plates of pure fiber in the shape of noodles, and loaves of 1g net carb “bread” do not a Primal diet make. You’re just feeding an addiction and consuming empty calories – sound familiar? Disregard the labels and look inside for what you know to be true: this crap isn’t food, and you shouldn’t be eating it. It’s about way more than just low-carb.

2. You’re under too much stress.

The stress response system is subconscious; it responds to stimuli and nothing else. Emotional stress, physical stress, financial stress, relationship stress – I hesitate to even make these distinctions, because the body does not differentiate between sources of stress. They all cause the body to produce cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone that catabolizes muscle, worsens insulin resistance, and promotes the storage of fat. For 200,000 years, stress meant a life or death situation. It was intense and infrequent, and the cortisol release was arresting and extreme enough to improve the chances of survival. Today, our body responds to a stack of paperwork the same way. Traffic jams are like rival war bands. A nagging boss is like a rampaging mastodon, only on a daily basis. Take a step back from your life and take stock of your stress levels – they may be holding you back.

3. You need to watch your carb intake.

Carbs are key, as always, especially when you’ve got weight to lose. Veer closer to the bottom of the curve, taking care to avoid all processed food (hidden sugars). You might also try skipping fruit.

4. You’re adding muscle.

I always tell people not to get hung up on the scales so much. Those things are useful – don’t get me wrong – but they never tell the whole story, like whether or not you’re adding lean mass. The PB will spur fat loss, but it also promotes muscle gain and better bone density. If you’re feeling good but failing to see any improvements register on the scale’s measurements, it’s most likely extra muscle and stronger bone from resistance training. You wouldn’t know that just from the bathroom scale. If you absolutely need objective records of your progress, get a body fat percentage test (although these might not even tell the whole story) or try measuring your waist.

5. You’re not active enough.

Are you Moving Frequently at a Slow Pace for three to five hours every week? Remember: the near-daily low-level (between 55-75% max heart rate) movement should be the bedrock of your fitness regimen. It’s easy to do (because every bit of movement counts) and it doesn’t dip into your glycogen reserves (making it a pure fat burner, not a sugar burner). If you’re on the low end of the spectrum, crank it up toward five weekly hours and beyond.

6. You’re lapsing into Chronic Cardio.

Of course, you can go too far with the low-level movement – you can begin to lapse into Chronic Cardio. When you stay above 75% of your maximum heart rate for extended periods of time, you’re burning glycogen. Your body in turn craves even more sugar to replenish the lost stores, so you polish off a heap of carbs, preferably simple and fast-acting. You can continue down this route if you wish – I did, for a couple decades – but you’ll gain weight, lose muscle, release more cortisol, and compromise any progress you might have made.

7. You still haven’t tried IF.

Results vary, but if you’ve seemingly tried everything else, intermittent fasting can be a great tool to break through a weight loss plateau. Make sure you’ve fully transitioned onto a Primal eating plan and start small. Skip breakfast and eat a late lunch. If that feels okay, skip breakfast and lunch the next time. Just take it slow and pay attention to your hunger. Eventually, try exercising in a fasted state to maximize the metabolic advantage. If all goes well, your hunger won’t necessarily disappear, but it’ll change. A successful IF tames hunger, makes it less insistent and demanding.

8. You’re eating too much.

Low-carb isn’t magic. It reins in wild hunger and tames insulin, but calories do still matter – especially once you approach your ideal weight. In fact, those last few pounds often don’t respond to the same stuff that worked so well to get you to this point. Eating nut butter by the spoonful and hunks of cheese without regard for caloric content may have gotten you this far, but you’ve got to tighten things up if things aren’t working. And that’s the real test, isn’t it? There is a metabolic advantage to eating according to the PB, but if the weight isn’t coming off, something’s up – and calories may need to come down.

9. You haven’t overcome bad habits or developed good ones.

Be brutally honest with yourself. Do you engage in bad habits? If so, identify them. Make tentative, loose plans to disengage from their clutches, and tell people close to you. Make it public, so you can’t back out without losing face. You’ve also got to develop good ones. Follow roughly similar guidelines as when kicking a bad habit – identification, planning, publication – and you’ll be on your way.

10. You haven’t purged and Primalized your pantry.

Out of sight, out of mind; out of reach, out of mouth. Keep the crappy junk food out of your pantry, if not out of your house altogether. Go down the list and toss the stuff that doesn’t apply. As for the rest of your kitchen, check out the fridge interiors and grocery lists of some other Primal folks for inspiration.

11. You’ve reached a healthy homeostasis.

It may be that your body has reached its “ideal” weight – its effective, genetic set point. Reaching this level is generally painless and effortless, but it won’t necessarily correspond to your desired level of leanness. Women, especially, tend to achieve healthy homeostasis at higher body fat levels. Breaking through plateaus can be hard enough, but plateaus ordained by the body itself can be nearly impossible. It’s probably going to take some serious tinkering with carbs, calories, activity levels, sleep, and stress. If everything else is on point and accounted for, you may be looking at healthy homeostasis. Then, the question becomes: do you want to mess with a good thing?

12. You’re low on willpower.

Willpower is like a muscle. It must be used or it will atrophy. You’ve also got to provide fuel for your will – little victories to start out. Go for a walk if you can’t muster the will for the gym. Take note that willpower, or lack thereof, might actually be an indicator of your body’s needs. If you truly can’t muster up the will for the gym, it may be that your body needs to recover. When that’s the case, overtraining is a bigger danger than lack of will.

13. You’re full of excuses.

If you find yourself having mini self-contained internal arguments throughout the day (and you lose), or (even worse) lying to yourself about what you’re eating and doing, you’re probably also full of excuses. Read this, maybe twice, then follow up with this.

14. You haven’t actually gone Primal!

We get a good number of new readers on a regular basis, and not all of them take instantly to the Primal concepts. And yet they come back. They read the archives, the comments. Something draws them near, while at the same time keeping them at arm’s length. Why is that? What’s stopping them? If that describes you, what are you waiting for? Take the plunge. Go Primal for 30 days and see how you like it. I assure you; the many enthusiastic community members are here because it works.

15. You’re not getting enough sleep.

Chronic levels of sleep deprivation cause the release of cortisol, our old fat-storing friend. The biggest spike in (fat-burning, anabolic) growth hormone plasma levels occurs in deep sleep. And a recent sleep study showed that truncated sleep patterns are linked to weight gain. Get seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

16. You haven’t given it enough time.

The Primal Blueprint is a fat loss hack, undoubtedly, but it isn’t always a shortcut. Some people get instant results from dropping carbs, grains, sugar, and vegetable oils, while others have to take a month to get acclimated and only then does the weight begin to slide off. Either way, though, this is a lifestyle. You’re in it for the long run. Approach it with the right mindset and you won’t get discouraged.

17. You’re eating too much dairy.

Some people just react poorly to dairy. We see this time and time again listed in the forums; dairy just seems to cause major stalls in fat loss for a good number of folks. There are a couple speculative reasons for this. One, folks coming from a strict paleo background may not be acclimated to the more relaxed Primal stance on dairy. Reintroducing any food into the diet after a period of restriction can have unintended consequences on body composition. Two, dairy is insulinogenic, which is why it’s a popular post-workout refueling tool for athletes. Does a non-strength training PBer need to drink a few glasses of milk every day? Probably (definitely) not.

Bonus Reason: Sprinting is not part of your fitness routine.

I’ve found that many assume that they’re getting everything they need from their workouts from plenty of low level aerobic activity and a couple of strength training sessions each week. Sprinting is often overlooked, but it’s one of the Primal Blueprint Laws for a reason. Nothing shreds you up faster than sprinting. I’d ease into sprints if you’ve never done them or are extremely out of shape or overweight. That is, I recommend you have some measure of fitness aptitude before you jump into a routine. But once you’re ready do 6-8 all out sprints (with short breaks between) once a week to break a weight loss plateau when all other attempts have failed.

Am I missing any other reasons? If you’ve successfully surmounted a stall in your fat loss, what was the ultimate explanation? Let everyone know in the comment board!

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Related posts:

1. How to Maintain Muscle While Losing Weight
2. Dear Mark: Weight Loss and Workout Routine
3. Break Through Your Weight Loss Plateau

Without admitting any wrongdoing, AT&T Mobility has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging that their flat-rate early termination fee was unlawful. If the settlement is approved, AT&T will pay out a total of $16 million in cash and $2 million in “non-cash benefits” to NJ residents whose AT&T wireless contract included a flat-rate ETF provision any time after 1998.

Again, there’s no wrongdoing admitted here and it’s only one state, but still significant that AT&T doesn’t feel confident enough in their case to see it through to the end.

Update: AT&T has sent us the following statement, which again clarifies that they’ve admitted no wrongdoing, and also notes that the settlement pertains to an ETF policy that has since changed as of 2008:

We strongly deny any wrongdoing, and no court has found AT&T Mobility committed any wrongdoing regarding these fees. However, we have agreed to settle to avoid the burden and cost of further litigation.

It’s important to note that the litigation involves old early termination fee policies of the old AT&T Wireless and Cingular. In 2008 we introduced a new, more flexible early termination fee policy, in which we pro-rate the ETF if you are a new or renewing wireless customer who enters a one- or two-year service agreement.

And here is the original notice concerning the settlement:

Important Notice from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey about a Class Action Settlement
Para ver este aviso en espanol, visita www.ATTMETFSettlement.com/espanol
A Class Action Settlement Could Affect Your Rights If You:
• Subscribed to wireless telephone service from AT&T Mobility LLC (“AT&T Mobility”) or its predecessors and paid or were charged a flat-rate early termination fee (“ETF”) at any time after January 1, 1998; or
• Your contract included a flat-rate ETF provision at any time after January 1, 1998.
A proposed Settlement has been reached in a class action alleging that AT&T Mobility’s flat-rate ETF (generally between $150 and $175) was unlawful. The Settlement resolves several other cases that challenge AT&T Mobility’s flat-rate ETF. AT&T Mobility strongly denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to settle to avoid the burden and cost of further litigation. The sole purpose of this notice is to inform you of the Settlement so that you may decide what to do.
If the Settlement is approved, a settlement fund of $16,000,000 in cash and $2,000,000 in non-cash benefits will be created. Class Members who submit Claim Forms may receive monetary or other benefits. You may also choose to exclude yourself from, or object to, the Settlement. The Court has appointed attorneys to represent the Class. You may hire your own attorney, but only at your own expense.
For a full description of the Settlement, related Court documents, and deadlines and forms, please visit www.ATTMETFSettlement.com.
• Claim Forms are due June 14, 2010, but the date may be extended.
• Requests to exclude yourself from the Settlement must be submitted to the Settlement Administrator and are due March 24, 2010.
• You or your lawyer has the right to appear before the Court and object to the Settlement. Any objections to the Settlement are due March 24, 2010, and any objections to attorneys’ fees requested are due April 12, 2010.
• The Court will determine whether to approve the Settlement at a Fairness Hearing on April 14, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
• If you do not exclude yourself by March 24, 2010 and you are a member of the Class, you will be bound by the terms of the Settlement and give up your rights to sue in court or arbitration regarding issues in the case.
You can get a Claim Form at www.ATTMETFSettlement.com/claimform by calling 1-888-228-0885 or
by writing the AT&T Mobility ETF Settlement Claims Administrator, c/o Rust Consulting, Inc., P.O. Box 2266, Faribault, MN 55021-2386.
Questions may also be directed to Class Counsel by email at [email protected].
Please do not contact AT&T Mobility or the Court with questions about this Settlement.

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Illinois Department of Public Health officials are warning consumers about Salmonella after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced Daniele International Inc. is recalling approximately 1,240,000 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) varieties of Italian sausage products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

FSIS became aware of the problem during the course of an ongoing investigation of a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella serotype Montevideo illnesses.

During the course of that investigation, a sample of product was tested and found to contain Salmonella.

The product tested was similar to products bought by customers who later became sick in the Montevideo investigation, but currently there is not a direct link.

The Salmonella strain in the tested product does not appear to be the Montevideo strain of interest and further testing of the sample is ongoing.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. 

Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially for those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours.

Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

The company voluntarily recalled all products in circulation associated with black pepper, which the company believes is a possible source of contamination.

The products subject to recall include:

• 10-ounce packages of “DANIELE NATURALE SALAME COATED WITH COARSE BLACK PEPPER.”
• Catch weight packages of “DANIELE PEPPER SALAME.”
• 9-ounce packages of “BLACK BEAR OF THE BLACK FOREST BABY GENOA PEPPER SALAME.”
• 20-ounce packages of “DANIELE DELI SELECTION, GENOA SALAME, SMOKED SALAME, PEPPERED SALAME, RUSTIC SALAME.”
• 340- and 454-gram packages of “DANIELE SURTIDO FINO ITALIANO, SALAMI GENOA CON PIMIENTA, LOMO CAPOCOLLO, SALAMI CALABRESE.”
• 16-ounce packages of “DANIELE ITALIAN BRAND GOURMET PACK, HOT CALABRESE, PEPPER SALAME, HOT CAPOCOLLO.”
• 8-ounce packages of “DIETZ & WATSON ARTISAN COLLECTION PARTY PLATTER PACK, HOT CALABRESE, PEPPER SALAME, HOT CAPOCOLLO.”
• 8-ounce packages of “DANIELE ITALIAN BRAND GOURMET PACK, HOT CALABRESE, PEPPER SALAME, HOT CAPOCOLLO.”
• 16-ounce packages of “DANIELE GOURMET COMBO PACK, PEPPER SALAME, CAPOCOLLO, CALABRESE.”
• 500-gram packages of “DANIELE ITALIAN BRAND GOURMET PACK EMBALLAGE ASSORTI GOURMET ITALIEN, HOT CALABRESE, PEPPER SALAME, CALABRESE PIQUANT, SALAMI AU POIVRE, HOT CAPOCOLLO, CAPOCOLLO PIQUANT.”
• 8-ounce packages of “BOAR’S HEAD BRAND ALL NATURAL SALAME COATED WITH COARSE BLACK PEPPER.”
• Catch weight packages of “DIETZ & WATSON ARTISAN COLLECTION, BABY GENOA PEPPER SALAME, MADE WITH 100% PORK COATED WITH BLACK PEPPER AND PORK FAT.”
• 20-ounce variety packages of “DANIELE DELI SELECTION, GENOA SALAME, SWEET SOPRESSATA, PEPPERED GENOA, MILANO SALAME.”
• 21-ounce variety packages of “DANIELE GOURMET ITALIAN DELI SELECTION, SWEET SOPRESSATA SALAMI, PEPPERED GENOA SALAMI, HOT SOPRESSATA SALAMI, MILANO SALAMI, SALAMI SOPRESSATA DOUX, SALAMI GENOA POIVRÉ, SALAMI SOPRESSATA PIQUANT, SALAMI MILANO.”
• 7-ounce packages of “DANIELE SALAME BITES PEPPER SALAME.”
• 14-ounce packages of “DANIELE GOURMET ITALIAN DELI SELECTION ASSORTMENT DE FINES CHARCUTERIE ITALIENNE, SWEET SOPRESSATA SALAMI, MILANO SALAMI, SALAMI SOPRESSATA DOUX, SALAMI MILANO.”
• Catch weight packages of “DANIELE NATURALE SALAME COATED WITH COARSE BLACK PEPPER.”
• 32-ounce variety packages of “DANIELE DELI SELECTION, GENOA SALAME, SWEET SOPRESSATA, PEPPERED GENOA, MILANO SALAME.”

Each package bears a label with establishment number “EST. 9992” or “EST. 54” inside the USDA mark of inspection.  These products were distributed to retail establishments nationwide, as well as internationally.

When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS’ Web site at fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Audi, Luxury

In case you haven’t already, Audi wants you to give this angry little mongrel, the 2011 R8 Spyder, a chance. To encourage you to lean in its favor, Audi has put together 91 seconds of rather dramatic footage (and screamin’ 5.2-liter V10 audio) to show you what it can do for you, if only you would allow it the opportunity. Not to put too fine a point on it – we’re sold.

Follow the jump to check out the vid and decide if it changes your mind – or only makes it up more.

[Source: Audi via Autoblog UK]

Continue reading Video: 2011 Audi R8 Spyder. Y’all ready fo’ this?

Video: 2011 Audi R8 Spyder. Y’all ready fo’ this? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 was a very important year for Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Co., Ltd. (BAIC), as the company purchased some of the distressed SAAB’s assets from the Swedish manufacturer’s owner, General Motors.

According to chinacartimes, Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. (BAW), a subsidiary of BAIC, acquired several SAAB models, with the sale including three platforms and two turbocharged engines and the Chinese company intends to make use of all these next year. BAW is planning to produce its … (read more)

Army of Two: The 40th Day is still a fairly new release, so seeing it marked down spells chest bumps and high fives for you and your would-be online buddies. For today only, Amazon’s Gold Box has