Slide Show: 2010 Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln is aiming the MKZ at entry-level luxury buyers, but the car doesn't deliver all that it promises.
JAPAN'S REGIONS
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Japan's two lost decades
Dec 30th 2009
From The Economist print edition
From The Economist print edition
Japan has taught the world a great deal about coping with the financial crisis. Now the West is on its own
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“NEW Year rally expected on Tokyo market next week.” That was a typically boosterish Japanese newswire headline on December 29th 1989, the day that one of the world’s biggest ever asset-price bubbles reached bursting point. Exactly 20 years later the Japanese are still paying the price for such hubris (see article). The Nikkei 225 index, which peaked at 38,916, now languishes at just over one-quarter of that level (though once again there is talk of a New Year rally). Japan’s economy has barely grown in nominal terms after two “lost decades”, and is again suffering from deflation. Where Japan was once bearing down on America, it now feels the hot breath of China on its neck. Remember “Japan as Number One”? These days the country’s chief claim to fame is having a gross government debt burden approaching 200% of GDP. Read the whole story here...
NYT~BEST OF 2009 SLIDE SHOW
Slide Show: Jerry Garrett's Top 10 Cars of 2009
This year's top new cars focus, more than before, on affordability, economy and sustainability.
Slide Show: Ezra Dyer's Top 10 Cars of 2009
While plenty of worthy, interesting cars were introduced this year, the advances were evolutionary rather than groundbreaking.
Slide Show: James G. Cobb's Top 10 Cars of 2009
In a year of high anxiety, car enthusiasts could take some comfort in going back to the basics.
Slide Show: Lawrence Ulrich's Top 10 Cars of 2009
More than a house, a car remains the most visible, desirable accessory of success.
NEW YORK TIMES ~ Wheels
For One Reviewer, Prius Is the Year's Top Car
By JERRY GARRETT
The new Toyota Prius earns points for a more powerful engine, gets 50 miles a gallon and has solar panels on the roof to help cool the interior. But it's also a great value.
Snowstorm Chasing in an Audi R8
By EZRA DYER
The Audi R8 V-10, with a midengine layout and all-wheel drive, can tear around a racetrack. But how does it handle in an East Coast snowstorm?
Aston Martin Cygnet Available Only to Aston Owners
By PHIL PATTON
The Cygnet compact car is expected to be priced at around $35,000, which may seem low for an Aston Martin, but only existing Aston owners are eligible to buy one.
Lawyer Withdraws Cases Against Toyota
By CHRISTOPHER JENSEN
A Dallas lawyer who had filed a lawsuit to reopen 17 cases against the automaker has changed his mind after reviewing documents from Toyota.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tokyo homeless shelter opens
Holiday substitute for '08 Hibiya Park
By MARIKO KATO
Staff writer
A holiday-season shelter set up by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government opened Monday in Shibuya Ward to take in hundreds of laid-off workers. Read more here….
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Making spirits bright through holiday shopping in Japan
Christmas is in the air, but Japanese salarymen see no reason to celebrate. Recent statistics said the average year-end bonus at major Japanese companies this year plunged by 15.01 percent to 755,628 yen, or around $8,400. It is also the first double-digit decline for winter bonuses and the sharpest year-on-year drop since the records began in 1959. Read the whole story here....
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
How Panera Bread Defies the Recession
Ron Shaich, Panera Bread Co.'s CEO, shows off the variety of
breads and pastries available in his stores on a daily basis.
Tom Gannam / AP
By SEAN GREGORY
The $1.3 billion soup and sandwich joint has thrived during down times. Read the story here......
Quotes of Note
"After playing around on motorbikes, I'm ready for the serious stuff."
Formula 1 driver MICHAEL SCHUMACHER,
ends three years in retirement, signing a one-year contract to drive in 2010 with Mercedes GP
ends three years in retirement, signing a one-year contract to drive in 2010 with Mercedes GP
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
F1 driver rescued from mountain
Former Formula 1 driver Ukyo Katayama has been rescued from the slopes of Japan 's Mount Fuji , but two of his climbing companions are feared dead.
Katayama, 46, was walking down a trail at a height of about 2,200m on the 3,776m mountain when a rescue team fromShizuoka
Katayama told reporters he was "alright", but two others are missing feared dead in harsh weather.
Katayama drove in almost 100 Grands Prix in the 1990s.
Kyodo news agency reported that the driver made two calls for help to police - at 0100 (1700 GMT Thursday) and 0730 local time.
The messages said that one colleague "appeared to have died and another was in danger".
Katayama indicated that his companions' tents had blown away.
Kyodo named the missing pair as Eiichi Usami 43, and Toshio Horikawa, 34, who both work for Katayama's firm.
The temperature was reported to be -25C.
Katayama drove mainly for Tyrell in the 1990s, then switched to rallying before taking up his love of climbing.
He has scaled the summits of Mt McKinley, Kilimanjaro and a number of Himalayan peaks.
Katayama, 46, was walking down a trail at a height of about 2,200m on the 3,776m mountain when a rescue team from
Katayama told reporters he was "alright", but two others are missing feared dead in harsh weather.
Katayama drove in almost 100 Grands Prix in the 1990s.
Ukyo Katayama appeared in almost 100 Grands Prix in the 1990s
Experienced climber Kyodo news agency reported that the driver made two calls for help to police - at 0100 (1700 GMT Thursday) and 0730 local time.
The messages said that one colleague "appeared to have died and another was in danger".
Katayama indicated that his companions' tents had blown away.
Kyodo named the missing pair as Eiichi Usami 43, and Toshio Horikawa, 34, who both work for Katayama's firm.
The temperature was reported to be -25C.
Katayama drove mainly for Tyrell in the 1990s, then switched to rallying before taking up his love of climbing.
He has scaled the summits of Mt McKinley, Kilimanjaro and a number of Himalayan peaks.
Rough Ride for Hatoyama After Landslide Election
A growing deficit, a spat with Washington, a campaign finance investigation and broken promises: Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s first 100 days in office in Japan have been anything but smooth. Read the story here...
WHEELS @ The New York Times
Solar Car Charging Comes to New York
By JIM MOTAVALLI
Solar and wind-farm company Beautiful Earth Group has built the city's first solar car charging station in Brooklyn.
Group Names Best and Worst Child Booster Seats
By CHERYL JENSEN
In a test of 60 booster seats, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave 15 ratings of Best Buy and Good Buy, while revealing 11 seats to avoid.
In Germany, Turning Wallflowers Into Supercars
By NICK KURCZEWSKI
The 200-mile-per-hour Brabus GLK V-12 and 9ff GT9-R are proof that the German love for horsepower isn't slowing down.
When It Comes to Car Paint, Black Is the New Black
By PHIL PATTON
Henry Ford had it right. While silver is still the world's most popular color, the color black is making a comeback.
Slide Show: They Built Excitement
The mingling of power and glamour was Semon E. Knudsen's goal for all of Pontiac.
New to the Aftermarket
CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR A FULL VIEW OF OUR NEW LINEUP AND THEN CALL STARTLINE WITH YOUR PURCHASE ORDER.
Friday, December 18, 2009
TOKYO AUTO SALON 2010 with NAPAC
January 15, 2010 (Friday), 16th (Saturday), 17th (Sunday)
G.M. Plans to Close Saab After Sales Talks Collapse
Unable to find a buyer for Saab after a year-long search, General Motors said Friday that it would begin shutting down operations at the Swedish carmaker. Read the whole story here......
Three hundred and seventy one (371). That's how many Saabs were sold in November across the entire USA
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Help Us Help JHELP
JHELP.com is the organization that helps foreigners in trouble in Japan
The program has 4 simple steps so please visit JHELP Christmas Charity Campaign.
What happens is that Metropolis then adds you to the donor's list, and in January 2010 will donate JPY200 per donor to JHELP. It may not sound like a lot, but the target is to sign up 5,000 registrations by December 25th, so collectively your 5 minutes of effort will go a long way to helping JHELP cover the operations costs it has helping those of us in need.
For more about JHELP, check them out on the internet at JHELP.
Christmas in Japan (日本語字幕）
What do you think about the way Christmas is celebrated in Japan
Saturday 05th December
Blue_Tiger at 08:43 PM JST - 5th December
What celebration? Yes, there's some nice stuff at Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea ; yes, some stores really roll out the red carpet for those who bother to purchase gifts; of course, sure, cake companies do a lot of business; there may even be the occasional office party, or school special.....but really, what in Japan
I agree, Phillyprnc - no George Michael for this chap. Christmas songs are for Christmas; George Michaels Horror is best left for some other time of year....
As far as people who say Christmas is about Pushing Religion: Who's Birthday are we celebrating?
tigerguy at 08:44 PM JST - 5th December
I think that it's fantastic, the food, decorations, music... just like the western Christmas celebrations. Lots of businesses making lots of money off the occasion. I especially like to see all the lovely illumination lights. It's too bad the Japanese don't do more gift-giving on Christmas day and they still have to work. I just love this time of the year when I can get a really nice long break from work and enjoy with family and friends.
Azrael at 09:33 PM JST - 5th December
I find the American tendency to remove Christ from Christmas puzzling and sad, but I suppose it may just be a small but very vocal minority, because it doesn't match with census info. In Japan it's only expected; Christmas in Japan
Christmas in Japan
In my country, Christmas is about the religious aspect. I am Catholic. Christmas starts on December 8th (Mother's Day honoring Virgin Mary and all mothers) and ends on January 6th (the Three Wise Men arrive). There are posadas and the Christmas novena up to the last one on Christmas eve. Posadas are basically night parties as the holy Family travels from one house to the next seeking lodgings (hence the name Posada). There are Christmas chants to request entry and replies from the house (house owners make lists to participate in their community, it's only nine nights one house a night), then the novena is prayed and there's a party with Christmas music, traditional sweets and foods. The parties format varies throughout Ibero-America. Posadas are my favorite part of Christmas. My family puts up a Christmas tree, but we don't feature Santa Claus, yet many people does. Families with foreign descent mix in their food traditions and music. Christmas bring people together; it's the best time of the year. Christmas Eve mass is my favorite. Christmas day Mass and New Year's Mass are also beautiful. I'm an architect and I've helped design scenes for my neighborhood's church. I love to watch Christmas Eve Mass broadcast from the Vatican ; since I moved last time here in Japan US Spain and she has described how beautifully Christmas is celebrated there in local traditions (Spain
Azrael at 09:37 PM JST - 5th December
AND YES, I hope I won't have to listen to George Michael ever again @____@;. Last year it was like the ONLY song department stores had in Tokyo
Madara at 09:39 PM JST - 5th December
I like to spend my christmas in Japan
spudman at 09:45 PM JST - 5th December
Time to send all the religious fanatics away and let us pagans celebrate the winter solstice the way it was before the papists came along. The Japanese are pretty good cause at least they don't ram religion down your throat. Eat, drink, swap presents, have sex and carry on working the next day, yeah thats pretty good.
Disillusioned at 09:48 PM JST - 5th December
Just another adopted Americanism and poorly adopted at that. Yes, they have lights. Yes, they have Christmas trees. But, they have no idea why. And, it's just another work day. Pitiful!
Sarge at 10:07 PM JST - 5th December
Phillyprnc - Thanks for that Christmas in Japan
imacat at 11:13 PM JST - 5th December
Christmas is what you make it!
I can't understand the people here complaining about Christmas in Japan
It's nice to have all the illuminations in Tokyo London
You can buy all the xmas stuff you want in Japan
And make sure to spend one night around xmas at karaoke, belting out all the xmas classics. Get your Japanese friends to sing one or two Japanese xmas songs. Some of them are really nice such as Tatsuro Yamashita's "Christmas Eve".
So quit whining and make your Xmas in Japan
Merry Christmas to all who read JT!! (and bah humbug to the moaning minnies) ;-)
seesaw at 11:41 PM JST - 5th December
I didn't like it before but I've gotten used to it now.
whatsgoinon at 01:35 AM JST - 6th December
I really love KFC Santa! I think I'll put him on my Christmas cards this year.
I try to be in my home country over Christmas, but if I have to be here, I celebrate it the way i do in my own country, minus family, but with friends and loved ones here.
cliffworks at 01:35 AM JST - 6th December
pls read my earlier posting about how many Japanese couples celebrate Christmas Eve, it's a lovely tradition. tks
Azrael at 04:38 AM JST - 6th December
Imacat: Merry Christmas! ^-^!
Ranger_Miffy at 06:05 AM JST - 6th December
The commenters here have added considerably to my Christmas/ X'mas spirit. Merry Christmas/X'mas to all!
MrUSA at 06:36 AM JST - 6th December
NEWS
4 American Teenagers Arrested in Japan
By HIROKO TABUCHI
Three boys and a girl from an American military base were arrested on charges of attempted murder for allegedly toppling a woman on a motorbike, causing her to suffer a serious head injury.
By HIROKO TABUCHI
Three boys and a girl from an American military base were arrested on charges of attempted murder for allegedly toppling a woman on a motorbike, causing her to suffer a serious head injury.
U.S. struggles to keep step with Japan's shifting foreign policy
When the Democratic Party of Japan roared to victory in August, unseating a party that had runJapan almost without interruption since the 1950s, Obama administration officials fanned out across Washington
(By John Pomfret andBlaine Harden, The Washington
When the Democratic Party of Japan roared to victory in August, unseating a party that had run
(By John Pomfret and
GM widens shake-up of management team
Three days after the ouster of chief executive Fritz Henderson, General Motors Chairman Edward E. Whitacre Jr. announced a deeper management shake-up at the automaker that named new presidents for the company's North American, European and other international divisions.
(By Peter Whoriskey, TheWashington
Three days after the ouster of chief executive Fritz Henderson, General Motors Chairman Edward E. Whitacre Jr. announced a deeper management shake-up at the automaker that named new presidents for the company's North American, European and other international divisions.
(By Peter Whoriskey, The
Tiger Woods car crash reenactment.
Taken from a Chinese television show, depicting the Tiger Woods crash near his home and argument with potential mistress Rachel
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Sales of imported cars rebound
Kyodo News
Sales of imported motor vehicles, including those made at Japanese carmakers' overseas plants, bounced back 4.8 percent in November from a year earlier to 14,190 units, for the first year-on-year gain in 19 months, an industry body said Friday.
The Japan Automobile Importers Association traced the rebound to a reaction to the 37.7 percent sales plunge dealers saw in November last year, when the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the subsequent global economic crisis chilled consumer sentiment.
The association also linked the rebound to the spirited sales of new models major foreign automakers released at the end of October and November, including the Polo compact of Volkswagen AG and the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.
Of the total, sales of foreign-brand vehicles rose 3.9 percent to 12,302 units, while those of domestic-brand vehicles rose 11.1 percent to 1,888 units.
New EU leader inspired by Japanese haiku
Hsin-Yin Lee, news editor at "China Times" in Taipei
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Realizing an assertive post-American Europe
By JEREMY SHAPIRO and NICK WITNEY
PARIS — As U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Sweden to collect his Nobel Prize, the celebrations expose an awful truth: Europe's admiration for its ideal of an American president is not reciprocated. Obama seems to bear Europeans no ill will. But he has quickly learned to view them with the attitude that they find hardest to endure — indifference.
We are entering a post-American world — the world beyond America's brief moment of global domination. Obama's administration understands this, and has responded with what it calls a "multipartner strategy." Whether it is the Chinese for the global economy, or Russia for nuclear disarmament, the United States will now work with whomever can help it get the results it wants — thus ensuring that it remains the "indispensable nation." Read more here.....
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Supercar camp: Non-stars in insanely priced cars
By Marco R. della Cava, USA
MOJAVE, Calif.
You don't think about family, friends or work. You don't worry about updating your Facebook page or missing any Tweets. You don't daydream.
You do concern yourself with surviving an experience that few mortals will savor. The reward is one extraordinary adrenaline rush, while the penalty for distraction includes the destruction of a super-pricey supercar and, um, damage to not only your own body parts but also those of the celebrated race car driver nervously riding shotgun. Read the whole USA Today story here……
Why Fritz Henderson Is Out as GM's CEO
Wednesday, Dec. 02, 2009
It's Ed Whitacre's GM now.By accepting the resignation of CEO Fritz Henderson, the board chairman, Ed Whitacre, puts himself squarely in the driver's seat at General Motors.
Auto-industry insiders like to think of their business as impossibly complicated, involving as it does billions of dollars, intricate technology and the necessity of gauging consumer tastes three or four years in the future. By their reasoning, developing the necessary expertise takes decades of experience. No outsiders need apply. (See GM's great hopes for 2010.)
Former Boeing executive Alan Mulally has partially disproved that theory by leading Ford to the greatest success among the Detroit Three. Now GM board chairman Ed Whitacre, a veteran of the telecommunications business, will try to go the rest of the way. After accepting the resignation of GM veteran Fritz Henderson, Whitacre will be running the company as interim CEO while he searches for a full-time successor. Read on here.....
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Start-Up Nation: Israel's Economic Miracle
It's a trillion dollar question and the answer can be found in a new book investigating this modern phenomenon.
With a population of slightly more than seven million people, Israel
One reason for Israel
"Veterans of the Israeli military, once they retire, join the commercial market and they apply the different cutting edge technologies in the medical market, telecommunications, cellular market, etc.," Israeli economic analyst Yoram Ettinger told CBN News.
As a result, Israel
For example, in the Jewish state, 140 people per 10,000 work in research and development. The U.S.
"It just shows you how robust the human factor is here in Israel
A new book called Startup Nation, the Story of Israel's Economic Miracle, by author Dan Senor, examines how tiny Israel
It argues that Israel
It also shows how other nations - and individuals - can learn from Israel
Edelbrock 2010 "Race Only" Products Catalog Now Available, FreeEdelbrock 2010 "Race Only" Products Catalog Now Available, Free
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