Monthly Archives: December 2013


ahh, poor little rich boy, feeling so alienated 4

I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for Langone and his buddies. If the comments of the Pope cause them to not feel like giving to charity, who really has the problem here?

Reshared post from +Talking Points Memo

The empire strikes back!?

Billionaire Home Depot Founder Says Pope Francis Is Alienating The Rich
Billionaire Home Depot founder Ken Langone has a warning for Pope Francis.

A major Republican donor, Langone told CNBC in a story published online Monday that wealthy people such as himself might stop giving to charity if the Pope continues to make statements criticizing capitalism and income inequality.

Langone described the Pope’s comments about a “culture of prosperity” as “exclusionary” statements that may make some of the rich “incapable …


Several months ago while searching for something else in the +Ford Motor Company archives… 8

In album Edsel Ford’s First Mustang

Several months ago while searching for something else in the +Ford Motor Company archives I stumbled across these images

I had been looking for photos of the 1960s German-market #Mustang  known as the T5. At first glance, with the fender-mounted mirrors I thought this was an example of a T5. It wasn't until I zoomed in on the rear gas cap which I expected to be marked as T5 that I noticed it actually said EBF II (aka Edsel B. Ford II, great-grandson of Henry). 

http://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/features/a-new-ford-mustang-for-christmas.html

After a bit more research, I determined that Dec. 27, 1964 was Mr Ford's 16th birthday. He granted me an interview, where I learned that his father Henry Ford II, had the design studio prepare this one-off Mustang fastback for him. ?


John Krafcik to Return to Ford as COO? or Tesla?

John Krafcik is without question one of the most successful automotive CEOs of recent years, having led Hyundai America to stunning growth over the past five years with a 75 percent jump in sales volume. Surprisingly, Hyundai closed out 2013 by announcing Krafcik’s departure.

During Krafcik’s tenure the product lineup was revamped and expanded, helping the brand migrate from one known mainly for value to a serious competitor to the market leaders from Detroit and Japan.

Unfortunately, the final 18 months of his term was tarnished by the controversial overstating of EPA fuel economy estimates. Krafcik’s departure came just days after a $400 million settlement of legal claims.

So where does Krafcik land next?

Back to Dearborn?

Prior to Hyundai, Krafcik spent 14 years at Ford where a management shuffle may be imminent. Despite non-denial, denials from Ford, CEO Alan Mulally, continues to be named among the top candidates to take over Microsoft, with current chief operating officer Mark Fields expected to take the helm next.

While it seems like a step backwards, Krafcik could conceivably return to Ford as COO where he would have more direct control over Ford and its products than as the head of the American branch of a Korean company.

Both Krafcik and Fields are in their early-50s,  so Fields is likely to remain the CEO of Ford for many years to come. Krafcik may be interested in taking what looks like a dead-end job if also got control of Lincoln. Although Ford remains publicly committed to Lincoln, not much has really been done to revive the brand.

If Ford agreed to give him the real responsibility and a product budget that Jim Farley lacks, Krafcik might just see this as a golden opportunity to prove his worth. Of course that might also trigger the departure of marketing chief Farley. Will Ford and Krafcik see this as a trade-up? Possibly.

Auburn Hills?

Since taking control of Chrysler from bankruptcy in 2009, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has managed both automakers, regularly commuting between offices in Turin, Italy and Auburn Hills, Mich. While Chrysler has continued to surprise with product updates since nearly collapsing, it hasn’t always executed as well as hoped. Sales of the Dodge Dart have underwhelmed and delays to the launch of the Jeep Cherokee have hurt.

A full-time local CEO probably couldn’t hurt Chrysler’s chances of success as it rolls out new mid-sized cars, minivans, and trucks. Krafcik’s operations and product experience, would probably make him a great fit for Chrysler, but would Marchionne be willing to cede control of the American side of the company?

Back to Silicon Valley?

The most intriguing possibility would be at Tesla Motors. Elon Musk has given no public indication that he’s going anywhere, but there are signs that it may be time to give up day-to-day control.

A serial entrepreneur, Musk has dipped into widely divergent fields from online payments to solar power to vehicles to space travel to the hyperloop. Musk has been full-time CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX since 2008.

Under Musk’s leadership, both companies have successfully launched new products and are approaching the critical mass they need for long-term survival. Now both companies could probably benefit from a full-time leader to lead long-term growth and it’s not clear that Musk would necessarily want to be that person.

Krafcik has history in Silicon Valley having earned his Mechanical Engineering degree from Stanford and then working at the former NUMMI GM-Toyota joint venture plant in Fremont, Calif which now builds the Model S and soon the Model X crossover.

Tesla needs to drive down its manufacturing costs in order to achieve sustainable profitability without relying on the sales of zero emissions credits. Krafcik’s experience could be exactly what’s needed to establish the company for the long-term.

This would allow Musk to step back to his previous role as chairman and chief product architect. Think of Musk and Krafcik as the automotive equivalent of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook as they took Apple from a company that was nearly bankrupt in the late-1990s to one of the most valuable companies in the world.  

 


America needs to demilitarize its police 1

There is absolutely no justification for local police to ever posses such a vehicle.?

Police Acquisition Of Army Vehicle Enrages Internet Commenters
On December 17th the police department in Salinas, California unveiled a new “Armored Rescue Vehicle” that’ll shield officers from bullets and grenades but cannot, they’re learning, shield them from the barrage of negative comments from the public.


As an alternative, how about if we consolidated a bunch of the low population states… 7

As an alternative, how about if we consolidated a bunch of the low population states in the vast middle of the country?

Reshared post from +The Verge

California could be split into six separate states if a new proposition passes?

‘Six Californias’ ballot initative would make Silicon Valley a state
Silicon Valley leaders have been dreaming of a place where technology could advance unencumbered by the law. Google CEO Larry Page wants to set aside a part of the world for such experimentation,…


I am so glad that I don't listen to modern country music radio, so I don't… 1

I am so glad that I don't listen to modern country music radio, so I don't have to hear this dreck?

Why country music was awful in 2013

Country music subject matter 2013: Truck fetishism, old dirt roads, ordering women to climb into trucks, tight blue jeans fetishism, driving women to riverba…


Will the winner of the auction for the first retail 2015 +Ford Motor Company  #Mustang… 1

Will the winner of the auction for the first retail 2015 +Ford Motor Company  #Mustang  still own it 50 years from now?

Gail Wise, the Chicago schoolteacher that bought the first Mustang in April 1964 still has that same car today with her husband Tom. ?

First retail 2015 Ford Mustang to be auctioned for diabetes charity
Someone will write a very large check supporting diabetes research and become the first owner of a 2015 Ford Mustang.