Everything looks better sitting in the Ritz. So I’m in a magnanimous mood, surfing the web on TTAC readers’ behalf. Needless to say, I wandered into “Top Ten Things Autoblog is Thankful For.” Normally, I’d pour sarcastic sprinkles on AB’s vanilla prose, and then smother it in chastising chocolate. In fact, AB inspired me to write my own top ten higher power hat tips. And here they are, in descending order. Feel free to add yours. Or, just to tweak Stephan Wilkinson, not.
1. My wife. Sam was the one who created this site, when I asked if I should publish a piece on the internet critical of Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe– the magazine that provided our income at the time. Without hesitation, she told me to “go for it.” And so I have, from that moment to this.
2. Our readers. Without you, I wouldn’t have a job. But more than that, you give myself and our writers the motivation to keep going, to seek out the truth about cars. Equally, our success relies on insightful commentary from our “Best and Brightest.” You keep us honest, focused and open to the ever-present possibility that we’re wrong.
3. Our contributors. I am privileged to work with a large number of passionate, talented, determined and prolific freelance writers. Their copy is a joy to edit and a pleasure to read. Their patience is much appreciated.
4. NameMedia. They sign the paychecks. They “get” TTAC and have never interfered with our editorial choices. NM’s technical staff perform miracles with limited resources. {PLEASE fix the posting delay]
6. The mainstream media. As TTAC doesn’t have its own front line reporters, yet, we depend on The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press, Automotive News, The New York Times, the AP and dozens of other media sources for mill grist. Without them we’d be flying blind.
7. Engineers, They make the machines that make the whole world drive. I never forget how much hard work goes into every part of a vehicle, moving and otherwise. And I never forget that no one sets out to make a bad car.
8. The Internet. Without it, I’d never be published. A point I proved in two countries over ten years.
9. The domestic automakers. They have provided the story line that sustains this site’s editorial arc. Their rebirth– or the birth of their replacements– will give us work for many years to come.
10. Coffee.
Happy Thanksgiving, RF.
Thanks for a great site.
Safe travels home.
Happy Thanksgiving. We don’t cellebrate it down here (Venezuela), but it will not prevent me from greeting you.
Thanks for recognizing our jobs (#7 in your list). All the world that is around is was designed mostly by engineers. And yes, none of us are set to make a bad car. As a matter of fact, we fight everyday to give you a good one.
On point 8 I’d like to ask you which countries were those. I found long time ago an spanish magazine named: La verdad acerca de los coches or something like that. That tittle stands as TTAC.
My top ten starts also with my wife. #2 would be my baby, which is in the way.
#3 Career. I’m a mechanical engineer and would never consider other thing than this.
#4 Job. I am working almost in my dream job. I always wanted to work in the auto industry, and for the past 4 years that’s what I’ve been doing.
That was 4. I’m not filling the remaining 6 =)
Why comments doesn’t immediately appear?
#1. I’m thankfull I’m not Rick Wagoner. I’d rather be relatively poor, than to be wealthy like him and have the whole world know that I’m an incompetent f*ckup.
#2. I’m glad I’m not Barrack Obama. Bush just set a flaming bag of dog crap (the economy and the war in Iraq) on his front porch, and now it’s up to Obama to try to figure out how to put the fire out over the next 4 years without getting sh*t all over himself.
#3. I’m glad I don’t work for Detroit or the automotive industry in general right now. With the way things are going in that business the only people who stand to gain anything from the fallout of the auto industry are the makers of Rolaids, Maalox, Pepto Bismol, and a few rehab counselors at AA.
1. My wife.
2. My daughter
3. My Grandparents (they raised me)
4. Other freinds and family
5. Cars in general (They truly fasinate me)
Robert, what are you doing working? I thought you were on holidays!
1. “High Octane” Peter M. DeLorenzo – for without a joker such as him, I would not be able to discern the brilliance of Robert Farago.
2. I too give thanks for the reduction in size of the US auto industry. For if we believe the United Nations, the automobile, and in particular the SUV, is the root cause of all Earth’s problems.
3. I give thanks to Richard Wagoner…for without such a buffoon in high places, life would be without comedy, tragedy, and ridicule. We need all of these things in a post-industrial society such as ours.
4. I give thanks to the book “Who Moved My Cheese”, for without this book …all the laid off UAW workers would be without a beacon of cheese in which to strive for. Be “bold”, be “courageous”…go find “some new cheese”…please.
5. I give thanks to all the automotive engineers too. I sit next to a guy who discusses loudly on the teleconferences all the intimate details of threads, bolts, and nuts…to the point where I want to strangle him. Why, he even takes microscopic photos of threads after having been used once…to inspect for damage, etc. If this sounds exciting, trust me…I have a cubicle for you.
6. I give thanks for Jim Beam. He is there each time I read another wonderful episode of “GM Death Watch”.
7. I give thanks for CSPAN. It is such a TREAT to see three bufoons sitting in a row, with nothing much to say but “please, give me your money…I have nothing more to offer you than economic blackmail of the utmost proportions”.
8. I give thanks to larceny, theft, corruption, and greed. If not for these rotten attributes, I would still be buying “American”. Can I interest anyone in a slightly-used Chevy?? Pretty please?
9. I give thanks to the “invisible hand” of the free marketplace. Without it, we would still be at the mercy of GM’s monopoly…and be paying for it accordingly. It is such a treat to see GM reaching for the public teat!!
10. Finally, I give thanks for those rubber testicles hanging from the rear bumpers of GM pickups/SUVs. For without these giant phallic symbols, I would never even bother to look at a GM truck. But WITH them…why, my womanly hormones start to kick in!! Thanks to the individual who patented Truck Nutz!! I feel like SUCH a woman in your presence :)
1. My children (& granddaughter) and their mother’s health. The fact that I have a good relationship with all my kids. I’m not thrilled to be divorced but unlike a couple of my friends the woman I care about isn’t dead.
2. Ditto on the well being of the rest of my family, including my mom, who’s 84, though she’s, ahem, difficult.
3.The United States of America and our brilliant founding fathers.
4. Israel & the IDF.
5. My cousin, who’s like a brother, and my brother who is even closer than that.
6. My friends and rabbis who let me know when I’m out of line and give me wise guidance. We can all use good people with the ability to call us out on our bullshit. Well, maybe not all, but me for sure.
7. What abilities and talents God has given me. Life is hard enough. It’d be even harder if I was stupid.
8. The great people of the US Armed Forces who have made and continue to make it possible for us to be thankful for so much.
9. RF for giving me the opportunity to get paid to write about cars.
10. The fact that Annie the greyhound probably has a torn hamstring, not cancer. My dog is definitely faster than your dog.
Usta Bee, the war is over, we won, get over it. If you don’t believe me, ask Michael Yon.
Finally, I give thanks for those rubber testicles hanging from the rear bumpers of GM pickups/SUVs. For without these giant phallic symbols, I would never even bother to look at a GM truck. But WITH them…why, my womanly hormones start to kick in!! Thanks to the individual who patented Truck Nutz!! I feel like SUCH a woman in your presence :
Pray tell, madam, just what automotive behaviors of women are a window into their particular insecurities? Shall we discuss how so many SUVs are driven by women who’d rather be seen as MILFs than minivan driving soccermoms ?
You may think your joke is on those guys with the truck nutz (and males in general), but I’m pretty sure they’d find your reaction hysterical, double entendre itended.
BTW, if you’re going to use a tired cliche, at least use it right, ma’am. It’s the penis that’s phallic, not the testicles.
Main Entry:
phal·lus
1 : a symbol or representation of the penis
2 : penis
Pronunciation:
ˈfa-ləs
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural phal·li ˈfa-ˌlī, -ˌlē or phal·lus·es
Etymology:
Latin, from Greek phallos penis, representation of the penis;
Main Entry:
mis·an·dry
Pronunciation:
ˈmi-ˌsan-drē
Function:
noun
Etymology:
mis- (as in misanthropy) + andr- + 2-y
: a hatred of men
1. I give thanks that the automotive blogosphere is beginning to draw enough women participants that critiques of Truck Nutz can actually be found.
2. I give thanks to the printed word, which will document 20 years from now how myopic were the automotive pundits who denied the seriousness of global warming and the automobile’s role in its perpetuation.
3. I give thanks to the power of logic, which allows people to rise above either/or, yes/no, good/evil dichotomies that block effective problem solving of complex policy issues.
4. I give thanks to the resiliency of American democracy, which may be a little slow and cumbersome but so far has managed to avoid hitting the iceberg.
5. I give thanks to my 20-year-old daily driver, which does everything I need it to do quite well and for a ridiculously little money.
1) Thanks for sinking fuel prices- we can all drive bigger and more!
2. I give thanks to the printed word, which will document 20 years from now how myopic were the automotive pundits who denied the seriousness of global warming and the automobile’s role in its perpetuation.
3. I give thanks to the power of logic, which allows people to rise above either/or, yes/no, good/evil dichotomies that block effective problem solving of complex policy issues.
Would the good doctor please explain how #2 doesn’t reflect a yes/no, good/evil dichotomies sensibility? I realize that proponents of anthropomorphic global warming believe that no debate on the topic is permitted, but that hardly seems, I dunno, scientific.
Meanwhile I’d like to hear an explanation how this warming cycle is different from all the other global warmings & coolings that have been taking place on a roughly 1500 year cycle for eons. What caused those previous global warmings, which have been consistently verified by tree ring data, arctic ice cores etc.?
I am thankful that I became familiar with a song featuring the following lyrics (the idea of which was probably penned long ago) that I have taken to heart…
“Somone said he who knows he knows
Knows nothing
And he who knows he knows nothing
He really knows”
Happy T-day, RF. Hope you get another vacation before GM files.
Mmm, coffee.
And thanks to TTAC for another year as the place for automotive news.
Ronnie Schreiber : “I’d like to hear an explanation how this warming cycle is different from all the other global warmings & coolings that have been taking place on a roughly 1500 year cycle for eons. What caused those previous global warmings, which have been consistently verified by tree ring data, arctic ice cores etc.?”
I’d invite you to ask your questions directly to prominent climate scientists.
http://www.realclimate.org/
I’d invite you to ask your questions directly to prominent climate scientists.
I’m sorry, but any site that uses the Godwinlike appellation “denier” has moved from science to religion. You may not like what Fred Singer has to say, but he’s got credentials in the area of climate study and related hard science fields.
Meanwhile, your prominent climate scientists couldn’t tell the difference between September and October, but since the results of their error matched their expected outcomes (I believe in real science that’s called “bias”), they didn’t bother to check until skeptics noticed their mistake.
When the data fits their model it’s called climate. When it doesn’t, it’s just normal weather changes.
Obviously, you’re entitled to worship Gaea at the Church of Gore. It’s a free country.
Let me ask you some environmental questions. No fair peeking on Google.
How does the CO2 output of a human on a bicycle compare to that of a 4 cyl ICE powered car traveling the same distance?
What puts out more CO2 per passenger mile, a human on a bicycle or 4 people carpooling?
What US industry pollutes the environment the most?
What is the largest source of dioxins in the environment?
Is Laurie David an effective spokesperson for AGW?
Why is energy use at Al Gore’s mansion going up?
Is it possible that Al Gore has a financial interest in promoting AGW?