Category Archives: fools ‘n frauds

Chinese Maker to Pay EPA $680,000 Fine for Dirty ATVs

Posted on 11 January 2012 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $680,000 settlement with recreational vehicle manufacturers, Loncin (USA), Inc., Longting USA LLC, and Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Ltd., to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) caused by the import of 7,115 uncertified recreational vehicles into the United States. It was the latest in a series of actions against the Chinese company and its agents. Continue reading →

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Payroll Tax Cut and Unemployment Scrap Ends Temporarily

Posted on 22 December 2011 by Ken Zino

The dysfunctional Washington government finally agreed to extend a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits after President Obama stared down a divided Republican party by threatening to stay in town while the Congress ‘vacationed,’ which most voters would have a hard time discerning anyway given the gridlock in Washington.

Gallup has Congressional Approval rating at 11% an all time low, which makes Obama’s low 49% rating looking like grounds for a Democratic landslide next year. Continue reading →

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Tidbits – Leaf, Marchionne, Volt, Politics, Rust, Electronics

Posted on 7 December 2011 by Ken Zino

Nissan has re-opened “reservations” for the 2012 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle in Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Deliveries will begin next spring. Nissan LEAF is now available for order in 30 states, including Washington, D.C. National … Continue reading →

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Daimler Employee Arrested, Detained Under Controversial Alabama Immigration Law

Posted on 22 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The controversial Alabama immigration law requires the proper papers be carried by foreigners, including employees of firms investing in the state. Daimler, of course, is one of the largest employers in Alabama, with billions invested thus far and recently announced millions more will be added to increase production. Continue reading →

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California Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegally Storing Toxic and Explosive Hazardous Wastes in His Backyard

Posted on 15 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Wyman was charged in June 2009, after firefighters responded to a report of a fire and explosions at Wyman’s residence. Because of the ammunition that was being “cooked off” in the fire, firefighters had to wear bullet proof vests. Continue reading →

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The Film – Chevy 100, An American Story – Debuts in Detroit

Posted on 4 November 2011 by AutoCrat

Do not confuse this Chevy 100 infomercial with other serious documentaries sponsored by GM and produced by Ken Burns during his long association with the largest automaker in the U.S. Chevy 100 lacks an organizing theme – other than it’s time to sell more Chevrolets. Instead, Chevy 100 is comprised of sporadic observations along with snapshots of the history of the brand, supplemented with large amounts of quick-cut contemporary footage from collectors clubs and fawning owners. Be forewarned, you will not see the history of Chevrolet, or the history of the automobile in U.S.A. that Chevrolet is such a significant part of, given justice in this treatment. Continue reading →

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New Jersey Stiffs U.S. Taxpayers over $271 Million Grant. Republicans, Democrats Collude on Cancelled ARC Tunnel

Posted on 6 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Well, it sounds like LaHood (an Illinois Republican appointed by Obama) had no choice. Defenders of the deal, and there are some, say that DOT maneuvered to get N.J. taxpayers some benefit from the cancelled transit investment. In their view this solves the standoff over reimbursement — interest and penalties were accruing daily that New Jersey taxpayers would have been responsible for — and maybe New Jersey residents will also get the benefit of improved transit in the state. We will see. There sure is enough political manure here in my view to help New Jersey remain the garden state… Continue reading →

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Obama Administration Submits Controversial FTAs to Congress. Largest Loss of Jobs since NAFTA Coming?

Posted on 4 October 2011 by Ken Zino

The AFL-CIO said the “The Korea agreement is the largest offshoring deal of its kind since NAFTA. If enacted, it likely will displace 159,000 U.S. jobs, mostly in manufacturing. And its glaring loopholes would allow unscrupulous businesses to import illegally labeled goods from China and possibly even from sweatshops in North Korea—potentially without any tariffs at all.” Continue reading →

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Facebook Posting Costs Chicago BMW Salesperson His Job

Posted on 30 September 2011 by Ken Zino

A National Labor Relations Board Administrative Law Judge ruled this week that Knauz BMW, a Chicago area car dealership, did not wrongfully terminate an employee for his Facebook postings. Back in May the NLRB alleged unlawful termination of an employee … Continue reading →

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Treasury Receives $2 Billion TARP Repayment from American International Group. U.S. Taxpayers Still out at Least $51 Billion

Posted on 18 August 2011 by Ken Zino

During the financial crisis and Great Recession caused by Wall Street financiers, the U.S. Government’s support for AIG totaled approximately $180 billion. After today’s repayment, the taxpayers remaining outstanding investment in AIG through Treasury is $51 billion. Not one of the involved executives has been prosecuted for what were various forms of financial fraud that lead up to the near collapse of the global financial system and the ongoing Great Recession. Continue reading →

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Editorial: Happy Fourth of July! More Independence Needed

Posted on 4 July 2011 by Ken Zino

We should celebrate our past today, and honor the men and women of vision – and property – who created this country starting with the War of Independence, continuing through the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution that is still in place, as fine a document of governance of the people, by the people and for the people that ever existed. Remember well the resounding words of its preamble – WE THE PEOPLE. And we need to toss out of office the people who don’t understand WE, who are in it just for ME. Continue reading →

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Volvo Winces at Dour Depiction of British Pol in Project Volvo

Posted on 10 June 2011 by Ken Zino

The Daily Telegraph broke a story about the 2006 plot – dubbed Project Volvo – designed to ultimately replace Prime Minister Tony Blair with Gordon Brown. In it Brown was said to be viewed by voters as “”humourless, dour, moody, aggressive, unapproachable.” Brown was characterized as a “Volvo, British Rover.” Continue reading →

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Tavares Replaces Pélata as COO of Renault as Fallout from Spy Case that Embarrassed French Government Continues

Posted on 31 May 2011 by Ken Zino

Renault announced yesterday in Paris that Carlos Tavares is its new chief operating officer, replacing Patrick Pélata. It was the latest development in an industrial espionage case that embarrassed the French government and saw the firings of Remy Pagnie, Director of Group Security, as well as his two co-workers, Dominique Gevrey and Marc Tixador. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recall Study Finds Adversarial Relationship with NHTSA

Posted on 24 May 2011 by Ken Zino

The Quality Report, since it was paid for by Toyota, has already come under attack for bias from organizations linked to product liability lawyers. Nonetheless, the Report describes Toyota’s attitude toward federal safety regulators as “adversarial.” Unintended acceleration or stuck gas pedal problems are implicated in thousands of incidents and more than 90 alleged deaths. Continue reading →

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Pork Update – USDA and DOE Award $47 Million in Taxpayer Dollars for Biomass Research to Special Interests

Posted on 6 May 2011 by Ken Zino

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu have announced that $47 million in taxpayer dollars will be diverted to fund eight research and development projects to support the production of biofuels, bioenergy and biobased products from … Continue reading →

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