Link Love from The Car Connection: Bringing You Up To Speed Edition, Volume 1

MINI pedal car

January 5, 2009

So, did you miss us? We've been putting the hurt on some green bean casserole while the elves downstairs made upgrades to TheCarConnection servers. Don't worry, though: we've been paying close attention to the news feed between naps. Here are the first of several links that ought to bring everyone up to speed:

Higher national gas tax may be on the horizon: Everyone's feeling the economic burn these days--state and federal governments included. Now, from Washington and elsewhere, we're hearing the nacent murmurings for a higher national gas tax (not to mention higher state taxes), the idea being that higher gas prices will (a) generate revenue and (b) encourage fuel-economy among consumers and auto manufacturers. Which is far more straightforward and far less creepy than a GPS-based mileage tax, I suppose.
Chrysler cancels trip for all-star dealers: Chrysler may have seriously fumbled with the much-maligned "Thank you, America" ads, but they may have recovered slightly by putting the kabosh on a splashy Mexican soujourn for its 300 best dealerships. Chrysler spokesman Stuart Schorr lamented the cut, saying that the trip has been a cherished tradition for 45 years--"as far back as we can measure". Which begs more than a few questions about their record-keeping and their counting skills.
Seattle takes on the snow: Seattle has a reputation for being really eco-conscious, but that may be costing some drivers. The city doesn't use salt to clear icy roadways because it's worried about toxic runoff, meaning that many folks--including police--can't get around very well. Luckily, the city's DOT is playing around with a new mixture that includes molasses, which sounds much stickier than the plain old sand they'd been using. All I know is, it's easier to make snow yellow than green.
Doobie Brothers plan to burn it up in Detroit: I suppose they were added to the entertainment bill to balance out teenie-bopper heavyweights the Jonas Brothers. If only some of the automaker's product lineups showed that kind of diversity....
Poll reveals public bias against CEOs, UAW, "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer": In December, American Pulse surveyed 4,117 folks and found that nearly 80% of Americans point the finger for the Big 3's troubles on management, with around 58% insisting that the unions also deserve a chunk of the blame. As lagniappe, over 28% of those surveyed agreed that "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" is the most annoying Christmas song of all. It's like they read my mind.
Santas, save your pennies for next year: The 2009 holiday season has gotten exponentially more expensive: next summer, Morgan Motor Company will release the SuperSport Junior Pedal Car, which is a three-wheeled, 2/3 scale replica of some of the racers the company made 100 years ago. Of course the major difference is that this is, as the name implies, a three-wheeled pedal car--in common lingo, a tricycle. As in, for kids. At upwards of $3,700, it kinda makes that new Xbox 360 sound like a bargain.