Skip to main content

Das Gas

VW screwed up.  The people's car or Volkswagen is the world's largest maker of automobiles according to sales figures available for 2016.  Based in Germany it was a company originally founded by none other than Ferdinand Porsche, the creator of the eponymous sports car models.

Popular among the younger generation and females more than males, the sedan is an attractive low cost option for a German car driving experience when a BMW or 3 pointed star is out of reach.

Thusly there are lot of VW brand vehicles roaming the streets of Anytown, USA.  As of mid Sept a revelation was brought to the public's attention where the company engineers had installed software in its engine computers to cheat on pollution control tests run by the American Environment Protection agency.

But the tests tripped VW up.  Something I guess was not adding up.  VW finally pleaded mea culpa costing the CEO his job.  People chimed in on national TV and internet saying they were taken and that it was shameful that a car company had lied and destroyed their trust.

This is not the first nor the last of these events, few years ago Ford was in the doldrums when their popular SUV started tipping and crashing- turned out the tires were bad; then Toyota had a computer malfunction on their Prius hybrids that sent them running off on their own; the General had its issues when their Motors showed up with defective ignition switches causing death.

There will be class actions and other suits, some designer (for the lawyers) and some not but in the end the company will pay up restitution and people will keep breathing a sigh of (polluted) relief.

BTW what exactly is a sigh?  I am not sure I have breathed one.  Apart from the relief version are there other kinds?  If so who is making them?  Please send all responses to the -

Breathe Right Foundation
Spirit Drive
Washington DC, USA

Comments

  1. Sigh (saay) is usually the creamy variety on top of milk that some don't like, and some sigh, that they aren't allowed to have it.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

 The Palmetto state.  One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back.  We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination.  Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old.  The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago.  The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

Gab about Gaps

There are a number of news stories these days where conversation inevitably turns to discussing some sort of GAP - Gap between rich and poor is growing Gap is losing market share to other clothiers The Dow is Gapping Down (so is the NASDAQ) and the dollar is Gapping Up The guy who advised British public over the PA on dangers of tube travel with the phrase 'MIND THE GAP' has died There is a frightening Gap between our Debts and Savings Gap between Executive pay and Average worker salary is at an all time high All I am doing is listening to all this unfold with my mouth aGAPe. What me worry?