Guelph Mother's Day Gifts

Looking for last minute Mother's Day Gifts in Guelph or wondering what to get your mom for Mother's Day? Pay attention to the details! Think outside the box and get her a gift certificate from Diamond Detailing Guelph's Finest Automotive Reconditioning Technician. It's like having a new car without the payments!

Mother's Day is quickly approaching but there's no need to settle for unimaginative gifts. Make Mother's Day extra special this year by giving her the perfect gift. Everyone wants a new car but few can afford it. Car detailing is an affordable way to recondition, maintain the value, restore driving comfort, reduce illness, net a higher resale value, help sell the car faster, preserve the longevity, reduce costly repairs and help to create an enjoyable driving environment. How could anyone go wrong with a gift like that - especially when it is from Guelph's Finest Automotive Detailing Centre.


Thank Mom this Mother's Day by treating her to something special. Quality isn't expensive it's priceless! At Diamond Detailing we turn a great gift into a memorable gift. Diamond Detailing Gift Certificates are the perfect way to show how much you care. Let Mom know you appreciate all the times she drove you and all the times you borrowed the car with a Platinum Complete Interior/Exterior Detail - Mom will love you for it!

Visit us at:
Diamond Detailing Automotive Reconditioning Technician
355 Elmira Road North Unit 139
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
(519)824-3915

E85 Costs More Than Regular Gas. Has Done. Will Do?

E85 Costs More Than Regular Gas. Has Done. Will Do?
By Robert Farago The Truth About Cars
April 26, 2008 - 629 Views

E85 is, indisputably, a less efficient energy source than normal gas. (In other words, you get less miles per tank with E85 than non-E85 fuel.) According to a study based on EPA data by the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at Ohio State University, the "E85 penalty" varies according to vehicles and vehicle types, and city or highway driving. "The mean fuel economy of E85 in city driving is 73.42% that of gasoline, with a range of 66.89% to 81.33%. In highway driving, the mean fuel economy is 73.4% that of gasoline, with a range of 67.61% to 81.53%." OK, so the American Automobile Association tracks fuel prices for both blends. "Over the course of time that AAA has been tracking adjusted E85 prices, they’ve never fallen below the daily price of regular gasoline," The Wall Street Journal reports. "Since early October, adjusted E85’s price spread over regular gasoline has varied widely, between 4% and 12%, suggesting there’s at least some potential for improvement. However, Trilby Lundberg, publisher of the Lundberg Survey newsletter… says it’s 'extremely unlikely' that the adjusted E85 price can ever fully close the gap with retail gasoline." I dunno. E85 is already heavily subsidized from the field to the pump; what's the bet that [more of] your tax dollars "help" close that gap?
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/e85-costs-more-than-regular-gas-has-done-will-do/
Wall Street Journal Market Watch »

Better get ready for $2.25 gas

Everything from manufacturing to transportation will be affected
Nicolas Van Praet, Financial Post Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008

If you think gas prices are bad now wait until the price of oil skyrockets to $200 a barrel. A CIBC economist says this is a likely scenario and will affect everything from gas prices to the manufacturing ...

Gasoline prices in North America will soar over the next four years to $2.25 a litre, causing a massive jolt to the continent's manufacturing base not seen since the oil shocks of the 1970s, a leading economist is warning.
Jeffrey Rubin, chief economist and strategist with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, forecasts in a new report titled The Age of Scarcity that Canadians and Americans should brace for $2.25-a-litre gasoline, or about $7 a gallon, by 2012. That's nearly double the current nationwide average price for regular unleaded gas of $1.23. The price will top a record $1.40 this summer as it starts its climb, Mr. Rubin said.
As millions of people in emerging countries such as India and China buy their first cars in the months and years ahead, the economist argues, oil supply will fail to meet the new demand. And as they drive more, North Americans will drive less.
It is an eye-popping prediction from an economist who's been proven correct on his bold calls before. And it would have monstrous effects, widening the divide between Canada's have and have-not provinces and forcing up the price of anything that needs to be transported.
In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, a 55-miles-per-hour speed limit was imposed on U.S. highways. Toyotas and Hondas became big sellers. And Alberta got rich. This time, Mr. Rubin said, hybrids will go "from marketing and PR fluff to the core of car production." People will move closer to where they work. And Alberta could get even richer.
"I think there will be fewer people on the road in North America in five years than there is right now," Mr. Rubin said in an interview Thursday. "For everybody who's about to get on the road by buying a new Tata or a Chery car in the developing world, someone's going to have to get off the road in this part of the world. There's just not enough gasoline to go around."
Gasoline, diesel and other transport fuels now account for over half of the world's oil usage and have driven more than 90% of demand growth in recent years, Mr. Rubin said in his report. By 2012, consumption of oil in the rest of the world will exceed that used by developed OECD member countries, he said, a nearly unthinkable prospect a little over a decade ago.
Global Insight, a major market research firm that specializes in the auto industry, estimates that for every $10 increase in the price of a barrel of oil, manufacturers of new vehicles lose 190,000 sales annually in the United States as people's financial priorities shift away from buying a new car. Based on Mr. Rubin's forecast that oil prices will soar to $225 a barrel by 2012, that works out to roughly two million vehicles that are not needed.
That's more than all the new cars and trucks sold in Canada annually, and about the same as all the vehicles Ford Motor Co. made at all its factories in the United States last year.
Automakers are not ready for this kind of dramatic change and would suffer a "huge blow" from it, said John Wolkonowicz, Global Insight's senior automotive analyst for North America.
"In the short term, it would create absolute hell," Mr. Wolkonowicz said, particularly for Ford, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC. Detroit's carmakers would see more of their traditional profits from trucks eroded as consumers move quickly to more fuel-efficient cars, he said.
Transportation companies are already making major adjustments to respond to higher fuel prices. Airlines such as Horizon Air and Porter Airlines are choosing turboprop planes over jets. Railways are replacing older locomotives with more fuel-efficient ones. Carmakers have teams of engineers trying to cut vehicle weight and make better engines.
Oil at $225 per barrel would take those efforts to an entirely new level. But some see other solutions.
David Cole, chairman of the Centre for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., argued the industry is at the edge of a revolution in fuels that will see cellulosic biofuel made from non-food sources become economically viable and come on stream over the next few years. "I think this is really going to dampen the speculation on petroleum."
Global Insight's own forecast calls for the price of oil to come down from its run-up near $120-a-barrel this week. "We're not forecasting that or anything close to [Mr. Rubin's prognosis]," Mr. Wolkonowicz said. "We're forecasting prices are going to come down because higher prices will spur more exploration."
National Post, with files from Scott Deveau

UK New Car Carbon Tax Scarfs $5b, Does Sweet FA for CO2

More Global warming fraud - government imposed carbon taxes will not reduce carbon emissions. Read the latest article in the Truth About Cars and The Daily Mail.
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UK New Car Carbon Tax Scarfs $5b, Does Sweet FA for CO2
By Edward Niedermeyer - THE TRUTH ABOUT CARSApril 24, 2008 - 320 Views
The Daily Mail reports that the UK's new carbon tax works spectacularly… as a revenue-builder. The recently-increased "showroom tax" costs consumers between $500 and $2k on cars based on their C02 emissions. According to her Majesty's Treasury, the carbon tax will add nearly $5b to the government's coffers. And here's the kicker: the gov's own figures will only decrease auto-related greenhouse gas emissions by… wait for it… less than one percent. Conservative Treasury spokesman Justine Greening discovered the discrepancy between the cost to consumers and benefit to the environment during that awesome fixture of the British Parliamentary government known as "Parliamentary answers." "This is a massive tax hike which will have virtually no impact on the environment," said Greening. "Despite their claims, the Government don't expect this move to change behaviour at all - it is just another eco stealth tax of the worst kind." Hear hear.

Original article and readers comments can be found here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/uk-carbon-tax-works-for-increasing-government-revenue/

What do you call your car?

By Theodore LeverettApril 24, 2008 - 335 Views THE TRUTH ABOUT CARS
Sometimes a badge just isn't enough of a name for a car– especially now that automakers have fallen head-over-heels in love with alphanumerics. Hey kids! Let's all jump in the MKZ! So, how's you're G35x? Mine's the LS 600hL. Growing up, our family car was a 1978 Ford LTD Country Squire. I mean, how American is that? Not very. But at least it was aspirational. (Flex? Flex what?) As an homage to its size and apparent indestructibility, we called the beast "the battlewagon." A brown Ford wagon of my acquaintance was called "Mudblup" after the amorphous cartoon character in the Teddy Ruxpin (Worlds of Wonder) series. A white '96 Monte Carlo with was not-so-creatively (but entirely accurately) known as "Moby." And my '92 T-Bird has long been nicknamed "the Thunderchicken." Of course, a lot of people (i.e. women) simply came up with a cute name like "Sally" and called it good. While carmakers are still going down the spyplane and government agency route (G8), I reckon consumers have taken matters into their own hands. So, how about you? What do you (or your significant other) call your cars? [We welcome Mr. Leverett to the TTAC team and thank Jonny Lieberman for not having a cow over this QOTD usurpation.]

Original article and reader comments can be found at: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/question-of-the-day-what-do-you-call-your-car/

Sorry to ruin the fun, but an ice age cometh

Sorry to ruin the fun, but an ice age cometh
Phil Chapman April 23, 2008 The Australian News


THE scariest photo I have seen on the internet is www.spaceweather.com, where you will find a real-time image of the sun from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, located in deep space at the equilibrium point between solar and terrestrial gravity.

What is scary about the picture is that there is only one tiny sunspot. Disconcerting as it may be to true believers in global warming, the average temperature on Earth has remained steady or slowly declined during the past decade, despite the continued increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, and now the global temperature is falling precipitously.
All four agencies that track Earth's temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California) report that it cooled by about 0.7C in 2007. This is the fastest temperature change in the instrumental record and it puts us back where we were in 1930. If the temperature does not soon recover, we will have to conclude that global warming is over.

There is also plenty of anecdotal evidence that 2007 was exceptionally cold. It snowed in Baghdad for the first time in centuries, the winter in China was simply terrible and the extent of Antarctic sea ice in the austral winter was the greatest on record since James Cook discovered the place in 1770.

It is generally not possible to draw conclusions about climatic trends from events in a single year, so I would normally dismiss this cold snap as transient, pending what happens in the next few years.

This is where SOHO comes in. The sunspot number follows a cycle of somewhat variable length, averaging 11 years. The most recent minimum was in March last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a gradual build-up in sunspot numbers.
It didn't happen. The first sunspot appeared in January this year and lasted only two days. A tiny spot appeared last Monday but vanished within 24 hours. Another little spot appeared this Monday. Pray that there will be many more, and soon.

The reason this matters is that there is a close correlation between variations in the sunspot cycle and Earth's climate. The previous time a cycle was delayed like this was in the Dalton Minimum, an especially cold period that lasted several decades from 1790.
Northern winters became ferocious: in particular, the rout of Napoleon's Grand Army during the retreat from Moscow in 1812 was at least partly due to the lack of sunspots.

That the rapid temperature decline in 2007 coincided with the failure of cycle No.24 to begin on schedule is not proof of a causal connection but it is cause for concern.

It is time to put aside the global warming dogma, at least to begin contingency planning about what to do if we are moving into another little ice age, similar to the one that lasted from 1100 to 1850.

There is no doubt that the next little ice age would be much worse than the previous one and much more harmful than anything warming may do. There are many more people now and we have become dependent on a few temperate agricultural areas, especially in the US and Canada. Global warming would increase agricultural output, but global cooling will decrease it.

Millions will starve if we do nothing to prepare for it (such as planning changes in agriculture to compensate), and millions more will die from cold-related diseases.

There is also another possibility, remote but much more serious. The Greenland and Antarctic ice cores and other evidence show that for the past several million years, severe glaciation has almost always afflicted our planet.

The bleak truth is that, under normal conditions, most of North America and Europe are buried under about 1.5km of ice. This bitterly frigid climate is interrupted occasionally by brief warm interglacials, typically lasting less than 10,000 years.

The interglacial we have enjoyed throughout recorded human history, called the Holocene, began 11,000 years ago, so the ice is overdue. We also know that glaciation can occur quickly: the required decline in global temperature is about 12C and it can happen in 20 years.
The next descent into an ice age is inevitable but may not happen for another 1000 years. On the other hand, it must be noted that the cooling in 2007 was even faster than in typical glacial transitions. If it continued for 20 years, the temperature would be 14C cooler in 2027.
By then, most of the advanced nations would have ceased to exist, vanishing under the ice, and the rest of the world would be faced with a catastrophe beyond imagining.

Australia may escape total annihilation but would surely be overrun by millions of refugees. Once the glaciation starts, it will last 1000 centuries, an incomprehensible stretch of time.
If the ice age is coming, there is a small chance that we could prevent or at least delay the transition, if we are prepared to take action soon enough and on a large enough scale.
For example: We could gather all the bulldozers in the world and use them to dirty the snow in Canada and Siberia in the hope of reducing the reflectance so as to absorb more warmth from the sun.

We also may be able to release enormous floods of methane (a potent greenhouse gas) from the hydrates under the Arctic permafrost and on the continental shelves, perhaps using nuclear weapons to destabilise the deposits.

We cannot really know, but my guess is that the odds are at least 50-50 that we will see significant cooling rather than warming in coming decades.
The probability that we are witnessing the onset of a real ice age is much less, perhaps one in 500, but not totally negligible.

All those urging action to curb global warming need to take off the blinkers and give some thought to what we should do if we are facing global cooling instead.

It will be difficult for people to face the truth when their reputations, careers, government grants or hopes for social change depend on global warming, but the fate of civilisation may be at stake.
In the famous words of Oliver Cromwell, "I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken."

Phil Chapman is a geophysicist and astronautical engineer who lives in San Francisco. He was the first Australian to become a NASA astronaut.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23583376-5013480,00.html
>>>>end of news story
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Now, you may be wondering why an auto detailer has taken to posting news articles about Global Warming. Well, as you are probably aware if you've read my posts I have a great love for nature and because of my deep felt I began researching Global Warming. My research has led me to the opinion that Global Warming may in fact be a scam. Much of the supporting evidence of this tall tale has not been published in mainstream media but when the occasional article shows up in the newspaper I feel I have an obligation to share it. Most of my visitors are auto detailing customers, other automotive detailers and people in the car sales industry. By sharing the collection of reports as they appear it helps broaden the reach of the audience and may help to enlighten others or inspire them to research Global Warming themselves.

If we are being told a lie about Global Warming the outcome could be disastrous perhaps not in an ecological sense but in a way that will decay freedom, rights, liberties, create higher taxes, higher gas prices and could in fact be a plan for population control. The world is eating up bio-fuel and buying into Global Warming but it is causing people to starve to death worldwide. The government, the Federal Reserve, car manufacturers, oil corporations and environmental industries have tapped into a pot with Global Warming especially during a time when we are experiencing a peak oil crisis.

However, there is a very positive outcome even if Global Warming is proved to be a fraud - people are taking notice that we are over consuming and abusing Mother Earth. It's time to put the brakes on. But how many of us are actively participating by taking responsibility and acting on it ourselves? Too many people think they are doing their part by paying air pollution - but their money is not fixing any of the problems we have created for nature. Whether Global Warming is real or not we need to physically get off our butts and fix the problems ourselves not pay an irresponsible and untrustworthy government to sell us the hope of a green future.
So all I ask; is that you be a well informed citizen before you agree to pay for what they are selling. Do own research on the matter, refuse to pay for this agenda if you find it to be false but never stop moving in the direction of assuming responsibility for earth. Being responsible doesn't mean paying your government it means you take control by reducing, recycling, reclaiming, researching, rejuvenating and loving all that is nature.

Air Pollution Diminishes Fragrance of Flowers

Study: Air Pollution Diminishes Fragrance of Flowers
22 April 2008 - Green Car Congress
Air pollution from power plants and automobiles is diminishing the fragrance of flowers and thereby inhibiting the ability of pollinating insects to follow scent trails to their source, a new University of Virginia study indicates. This could partially explain why wild populations of some pollinators, particularly bees, are declining in several areas of the world, including California and the Netherlands.
The study appears online in the journal Atmospheric Environment.
The scent molecules produced by flowers in a less polluted environment, such as in the 1800s, could travel for roughly 1,000 to 1,200 meters; but in today’s polluted environment downwind of major cites, they may travel only 200 to 300 meters. This makes it increasingly difficult for pollinators to locate the flowers.
—Co-author Jose D. Fuentes, a professor of environmental sciences, UVa
The result, potentially, is a vicious cycle where pollinators struggle to find enough food to sustain their populations, and populations of flowering plants, in turn, do not get pollinated sufficiently to proliferate and diversify.
Other studies, as well as the actual experience of farmers, have shown that populations of bees, particularly bumblebees, and butterflies have declined greatly in recent years. Fuentes and his team of UVa researchers, including Quinn McFrederick and James Kathilankal, believe that air pollution, especially during the peak period of summer, may be a factor.
To investigate this, they created a mathematical model of how the scents of flowers travel with the wind. The scent molecules produced by flowers are very volatile and they quickly bond with pollutants such as ozone, hydroxyl and nitrate radicals, which destroy the aromas they produce. This means that instead of traveling intact for long distances with the wind, the scents are chemically altered and the flowers, in a sense, no longer smell like flowers. This forces pollinators to search farther and longer and possibly to rely more on sight and less on smell.
The scientists calculated scent levels and distances that scents can travel under different conditions, from relatively unpolluted pre-industrial revolution levels, to the conditions now existing in rural areas downwind from large cities.
It quickly became apparent that air pollution destroys the aroma of flowers, by as much as 90 percent from periods before automobiles and heavy industry. And the more air pollution there is in a region, the greater the destruction of the flower scents.
—Jose Fuentes
The National Science Foundation funded the investigation.
Resources
Quinn S. McFrederick, James C. Kathilankal and Jose D. Fuentes; Air pollution modifies floral scent trails; Atmospheric Environment Volume 42, Issue 10, March 2008, Pages 2336-2348 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.12.033

Pedal-powered cabs coming to Toronto

Apr 21, 2008 01:03 PM Curtis Rush Staff Reporter
A fleet of pedal-powered EcoCabs will hit the downtown Toronto core starting May 1, offering passengers a speedy — and free — ride to their favourite restaurant, nightclub, business meeting or even the Rogers Centre for a ball game.
Eight of the cars, which have a futuristic yellow outer shell, were introduced today at Dundas Square by William Kozma, president of GO Mobile Media.
There is no charge (although tips won't be turned down) because the cabs are supported by corporate sponsors. Lipton Green Tea is one — and riders are provided a free glass of green tea with their ride.
The cabs, which are about 10 feet long and four feet wide, can accommodate two passengers on the padded seats and a child under 12.
And the three-wheeled cabs will travel on the right-hand lane of city streets at a top speed of 12 km/h. The average speed in the downtown core will be about 6 km/h.
"The idea is to have the vehicles throughout the downtown core in the areas where there is the most congestion," Kozma said.
The EcoCabs will focus on an area of about six to 12 blocks downtown.
"The idea is not to replace the cabbies," Kozma said. "We're not taking people for airport runs or picking them up at hotels with their luggage. This is strictly short-haul distances."
The cabs will run primarily on the pedal-power of the driver. To go uphill, or when there is a particularly heavy load, a rechargable electric battery will kick in.
The free service may not be well received by local rickshaw drivers, who charge a fee for the same kind of service.
"There's no reason to nickel and dime consumers for a dollar or two dollars a block when you can just take them for free," Kozma said.
"I think that's really the future, and the environmental mandate is most important. If rickshaws still want to operate, I think that's great. I think they provide a valuable service, but I think the EcoCab fills a void both from a transportation need and from an environmental requirement."
Cabs like these have been a success in other countries, Kozma said. For instance, New York City has been operating similar cabs in the theatre district for a couple of years.
The company hopes to expand to Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton next year.
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I applaud Kozma for his entrepreneurial spirit for putting a plan together of this magnitude. What more could you ask for - a free service to the consumers, a free drink of green tea, creation of employment, an environmentally friendly business and it comes at the cost of the corporation not the consumer. It's about time these major corporations start giving back. Very refreshing to hear! We wish him well.

How to choose a professional automotive detailer

Where quality is the thing sought after there is no comparison
Car washes, amateur detailers posing as professionals & express detailing shops offer cheaper prices undercutting a true professional detailer. Master automotive detailers will always have higher prices because they offer premium detailing services.

Selecting a professional detailer is not an easy task
It’s unsettling but true - many may call themselves professionals but they do not stand up to or beyond the industry standards and lack customer commitment. When seeking the services of a Master Automotive Detailer it should be approached no different than if you were hiring a contractor for your house. A vehicle is the second largest investment for most people - a major asset and you don’t want amateur detailers performing work on it. You want a master automotive detailing technician because simply knowing how to make a car sparkle is not enough. If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional detailer to do the job - wait until you hire an amateur! The result can be costly.

Pricing reflects the quality of workmanship
Price is what you pay; the value is what you receive. The result of quality workmanship is not an act; it is a habit that is long remembered after the price is forgotten. A Master Automotive Detailing Technician should:
- Have ethics
- Be consistent
- Offer high quality services/ products
- Offer value for the price
- Possess professional skills
- Possess knowledge about the chemicals they are using
- Have knowledge about and use the proper equipment
- The workmanship should have value for the price
- Constantly update their professional skills, education and training to keep pace with the ever changing technology
- Have technical training and knowledge about the various surfaces of each vehicle because each vehicle is made of different materials. No two cars are the same so each vehicle must be treated accordingly.

A professional detail takes several man hours to complete
In most cases it should take 8 hours to complete an interior / exterior detail but in some cases a detailing specialist may ask to keep the vehicle several days if the work is extensive. The true professional does not put a time limit on quality when it comes to auto detailing; so if you are told that a complete detail can be performed in a few hours be very weary.

It should be noted that even the Master Detailer can sometimes miss something because these are multi-dimensional surfaces. If they do, call them immediately and tell them. A true professional will ask you to bring it back in so they can fix it.

Chemical quality
A master detailer uses the highest quality of professional grade chemicals that are proven to be successful. It is important that the automotive detailer understands that the quality of the chemicals used on your vehicle are just as important as the workmanship that is performed. Quality products make a world of difference. A complete restoration can look good but if the products that were used are low-grade - it defeats the purpose because they have not provided complete protection against the elements. A detail shop using brand name products available at retail stores should be avoided.

Your car care guardian should be committed to customer satisfaction and a superior craftsman
Here are a few more tips to help you when looking for that diamond in the rough:

• Educate yourself - Gain as much information and knowledge as you can about car care prior to consulting any auto detailing services.
• Ask around town - Inquire with friends, family, co-workers and automotive dealerships to find out who is the best automotive detailer in or close to town. Automotive dealerships are your best bet - they are in the business and know the value of a fine detailer.
• Ask questions - Once you have expanded your knowledge you will be able to ask questions. Find out what options are available to you, ask what the differences are between their service and the competitors, ask about their customer satisfaction policy, prices, the benefits and how they define themselves as a professional.
• View a car before and after - Ask the detailer if you may see a car prior to being detailed and again after the work has been completed. Do not go by photos. Ask to see the real deal. It may be a little time consuming because you will have to go to the shop twice but it is well worth it.
• Ask for references - Don’t be afraid to ask a detailer prior to contracting them for several references. If they are unwilling to provide any - stay clear. A true professional has excellent references and is more than willing to provide them upon request.
• Follow through - Before committing to any services follow through on the references. Ask the reference if they were satisfied with the work performed, what type of service they purchased, if they have had any problems - if so, was it rectified in a timely and favorable way. Ask when the work was performed - if it was just performed ask if you can see it.
• Make a decision - It’s now time to make an intelligent decision based on your knowledge.

Remember, basing your decision on pricing alone is not enough

Auto detailing is protection for your asset. In general, prices reflect the quality of workmanship. Lower quotes usually mean lower - chemical quality, care, client satisfaction, craftsmanship and overall knowledge, training and education. A true professional does not reduce prices to compete because the quality of work provided supersedes that of the competitors and is above the industry standards.

That's the Diamond Detailing Difference!

Diamond Detailing Automotive Reconditioning Technicians are trained, professional detailers dedicated to art & science of automotive protection. Our professional skills are a result of our professional training, certification and devotion to continued education. Our key to client satisfaction goes beyond that of providing the highest quality service. It is the responsibility of a bona fide professional detailer to educate clients on why it is a wise move to invest in quality, to teach proper care car maintenance and explain the many benefits of automotive detailing.

We want our clients to have the highest expectations and to understand the difference between our services and that of the competitors. Experts agree That it is a combination of the amount of time, care, equipment knowledge, chemicals, skills and training that define and separate the amateurs from the true professionals. A master detailer takes pride in their workmanship and wants their customers to be able to do the same. You have the right to be cautious and should be

Diamond Detailing fixes damage caused by other detail shops on a regular basis - so we have first hand knowledge of the type of poor workmanship out there. We have gained the trust of clients from all over Ontario and the United States because we understand that customers work hard for their vehicles and deserve to have them protected by the highest standards.

To book an appointment please call or visit us at:

Diamond Detailing Guelph's Finest Automotive Reconditioning Technician

355 Elmira Rd North Unit 139, Guelph, Ontario, Canada(519) 824-3915

http://diamonddetailing.50webs.com

Chrysler Opens Chinese Design Office

By Edward Niedermeyer The Truth About Cars

April 17, 2008 - 384 Views

Chrysler LLC announced today that it has opened a design office in China, a move the Detroit Free Press calls "part of a much larger expansion by the Auburn Hills automaker to beef up its product design efforts outside the United States." While Chrysler slashes as many as 25k North American jobs this year, it plans on recruiting 1k engineers outside from outside the United States. Chrysler's Chinese operations are expanding to include more local suppliers, in India the local engineering staff is set to double. Arguing that Chrysler is designing models specific to rapidly growing markets abroad, VP for product development Frank Klegon points to the success of its Mexico division (which is set to add 450 new staff). "They're already doing unique product for Mexico that's designed and developed in Santa Fe and for sale in Mexico by themselves," says Klegon. "It's a resource center that we're building upon. They started out as more of a vehicle development and test facility and moved them into design." But something doesn't add up here. If this is all about "unique products for unique markets," then why is Chrysler selling a rebadged (Chinese) Chery A1 in Mexico as a Dodge?Detroit Free Press »

Gas price shatters record

Gas price shatters record
by THE CANADIAN PRESS

NEW YORK -- Retail gasoline prices in the United States pushed past a record high yesterday as Canadian prices continued to rise as well, although a bit more slowly because of the strong Canadian dollar.

U.S. prices moved to more than $3.40 US a gallon - about 89 cents US a litre - yesterday, fulfilling expectations that they'll keep climbing toward $4 US a gallon as the summer driving season approaches.

Oil prices, meanwhile, fluctuated after setting yet another record high overnight. Analysts said investors were locking in gains from crude's ongoing rally and trying to determine whether prices have more room to rise.

At the pump, the average U.S. price of a gallon of unleaded gas rose 1.9 cents overnight to $3.418 US a gallon, according to a survey of stations by AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

In Canada, gasoline prices are $1.16 a litre and higher in most markets. They were around $1.18 yesterday in Edmonton.
Some industry analysts expect the cost of fuel to increase to between $1.30 and $1.40 a litre this summer.

Prices appear to be rising more slowly in Canada in part because the high value of the Canadian dollar is offsetting some of the higher costs from rising oil prices.

Since crude oil is traded in U.S. dollars, a rising loonie against the American greenback has eaten into a part of the increase. As well, gasoline imported from the United States is cheaper to Canadian consumers when the loonie soars.

Wholesale cars sales drop 1.8%

Wholesale trade drops 1.8% in February
By Krystle Chow, Ottawa Business Journal Staff
Fri, Apr 18, 2008 8:00 AM EST


Wholesale trade fell by 1.8 per cent in February, wiping out the gains made in the previous month as declines occurred in five of the six wholesale sectors, according to a report by Statistics Canada.

Sales by Canadian wholesalers dropped month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted $42.6 billion, driven down by a four-per-cent decline in automotive product sales to $7.1 billion. It was the segment's lowest level since July 2005, as motor vehicle sales fell for the third month in a row.

"Some of the recent decline can be explained by lower prices, as manufacturers took advantage of the strength of the Canadian dollar to offer attractive discounts on new vehicles sold in Canada," the report read. "The total value of motor vehicle sales has also been affected by a shift in consumer preferences to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles."

Significant downward pressure also came from the "other products" category, which includes wholesalers of agricultural chemicals, recycled materials, paper products and non-agricultural products, where sales fell by 3.4 per cent to $5.8 billion.

After adjusting for price change effects, wholesale trade fell by two per cent month-over-month.

Are you ready to start paying carbon taxes like California?

Global Warming - Is it Fact or fiction you decide

The environment is a big concern for me - if the earth can't live with us how do we plan on living without it? I know there is a serious environmental problem that needs immediate action. Nature in all its realms should never be ignored and as the care takers of this planet and must actively assume responsibility for it.

Some experts say we may be looking at paying a Global Carbon Tax in the near future but is the Global Warming agenda fraud or fact? My research has led me to the opinion that the real agenda behind Global Warming has nothing to do with saving the environment and everything to do with making money.

This marketing ploy is a means to stimulate an debt-ridden economy, slow crude oil consumption during a peak oil crisis, a diversion tactic to steer people away from other important issues and to hide the truth about what is really causing these earth changes. What the Government is selling about Global Warming I'm not buying!

Global Warming has problem, reaction, solution written all over it and it comes at the expense of the consumer and small business owner. Yes, according to the latest emissions news San Francisco says the big boys will pay a tax too. Whether that happens is another story. What we do know is that the citizens/consumers will be flipping the bill.

Problem, reaction, solution has been used for eons by governments to create, orchestrate and direct mass mindedness as a means to move an agenda forward in order to meet their goal. 9-11 is the perfect example. A problem is created... terrorism. People react demanding that their government protect them. The government offers there ready made solution war and Homeland Security and it's many other branches. Yes 9-11 happened; but the facts and evidence have directly linked this catastrophe with the United States government not the supposed terrorist.

So why would the US government carry out such an evil deed on it's own citizens? Power, money, control and opportunity to manipulate the people. Sway them in the direction that allows this elite structured organization to make the necessary changes to move forth with the globalization agenda.

If the people hadn't responded as they did the plan to invade Iraq and take away your rights would have failed. A new plan would have to be devised to strip your freedom, spy on you and turn you against each other, but the plan went as it should. The people cried out and looked to their government like a God that could save them and handed their rights and freedom over including their God-Given rights as a spiritual being. If only people had questioned authority and demanded proof instead of buying into the lies well over 100,000 lives could have been spared, the liberties and freedom of the citizens worldwide would not have eroded to a point of living in a police state and the tax payers would have been spared by the unprecedented cost of an ongoing war for oil. Our cry for help has made the elite richer, more powerful and moved the Totalitarian plan forth. As for us; we are true slaves to the masters with blood on our hands, without freedom or rights and we are now poorer than we have ever been.

We are living in a sick and twisted society that has been programmed to believe and trust our government without question just as we would a religion! We accept everything they say and believe it to be the true. Our pseudo governments are not acting responsibly or on the behalf of the citizens. They are acting out of greed and for their own reasons. The free-thinking individuals wanting to challenge or question it are suppressed and controlled by fear. Fear to stand for freedom, truth and liberty because those who do go against the grain get penalized. As for the sheep - they fear each other and their government. We have fully bought into the divide and conquer theory. Politics has turned people against one another to a point where an 82 year old Deacon wearing an anti-war t-shirt is seen as the enemy and arrested because he expressed his views on the Iraq war with his clothing. People are being tazered for not paying a $2.50 bus ride or because they look suspicious to brainwashed security and policing agents. The sick thing about it is people think this is okay and that these people had what was coming to them. Wow do we have any common sense left, ethics or morals?

The Global Warming issue as I see it is no different. Present a problem so great that people will react then present the solution. Again, I have to be clear - I do believe that the environment is in danger and we as individuals need to respond. I do not feel that the proposed taxing solutions or handing over our hard-earned money so that the elite forces who run the private corporation such as the Federal Reserve and the top 500 fortune companies can make a profit. Think about it...what is your money being used for - a giant air purifier? No, it is lining people's pockets... oil industry, car & environmental product manufacturers just to name a few. It is also funding a war for oil, making corporations richer, stimulating a bankrupt economy and to keeping you divided because those who don't buy into in become the enemy. It is good that the government has stirred up a buzz making people environmentally aware but they are deceiving you about what is really happening to the earth and who is responsible. They are forcing you to pay their new stimulus act through false information. Just look at Y2K. How much money was generated by worried consumers who bought up everything because we were told a catastrophe could happen?

The solution to global warming doesn't lay in your paycheck and that won't help alleviate any guilt when it comes to what you are leaving behind for your children. As a consumer YOU NEED TO MAKE THE CHANGES to help your environment NOT YOUR GOVERNMENT.

Paying taxes for carbon emissions and buying products to be more environmentally friendly isn't doing the environment any favors. Who do you think owns the big companies who are producing environmental products - you got it they do! They even own the majority of big name health food brands. While some products do make sense others you can do without.

Here is something else to consider. On the eve of Earth hour we all turned our lights out and we all felt that we had done something positive for the world but did we really. The vast majority of people packed up and headed out in their cars - so what did we achieve and why didn't the government report that in the news? Who benefited from it. Probably them. There is an peak oil crisis and they do need you to cut back on energy consumption because the longer they can keep the oil circulating the more money they are earning as stock prices skyrocket. But there is a more important issue at hand. The exercise you participated in was just that an exercise to see how conditioned you are. Again we all dove in head first obeying without questioning. Haven't you noticed since that day there has been mass marketing on green products, news stories about carbon emissions, plans and taxes. We responded to their test marketing and now they are selling the hope of a green future at your expense.


I don't claim to know it all about Global Warming or have the answer to the environmental problems but I do have common sense which tells me to be responsible through actions. To participate and do our part to protect the environment by means of: reducing, reusing, recycling, researching, reclaiming and rejuvenating.

RESEARCH

Decide to make an impact and act on it. Start by researching what products are harmful and how certain technologies are harming you and your environment. You can start by looking into the following:

Plastic - Another lie we bought into. It is not our salvation in fact it has become our demise. Only a small portion is recycled because it costs more to recycle than to produce new. Carbon emissions from recycling it are greater than producing new plastic and the landfills are piling up with it. On a health issue plastic is toxic and has being directly linked to numerous health problems.

Nanotechnology - A health risk and environmental danger to humans and nature. Despite known risks Government officials have declined to ban it because it is the answer to cheaper manufacturing costs and bigger profit.

Research gives you power and a better understanding of how these products impact your health and the health of the environment. Genetically engineered or modified food, chem trails, pesticides, fertilizers, prescription drugs ending up in your drinking water and fluoride in water are just a few...

Once you have gained knowledge about the hazards put public pressure on government and manufacturers to stop manufacturing them, have them labelled
appropriately, to spend tax payers money creating awareness of the potential hazards and proper disposal. Boycott products or manufacturers who produce hazardous products.


REDUCE

- Vehicle emissions , maintain your vehicle, use it less often, walk to the store if you can, carpool and reduce the number of vehicles in your home if it is feasible to do so.

- Use less energy and water at your home and business. Research products you buy and limit your use. Buy energy efficient products, turn lights off, don't let tap water / toilets run, wash full loads in cold water, repair dripping taps, reduce use of air conditioning/heat and unplug appliances when not in use.

- Limit consumption of new products. We are a materialistic society that wants everything. If we could go back to the days where want and need were two different things we would be better off. If we stop buying stuff we could actually help the environment. Reduced spending = reduced production of manufactured goods = reduced pollution and waste. Do we really need 20 different brands of each product from the same manufacturer? No, we did quite well when we only had 3 toothpastes and a handful of shampoo to choose from. Look on the shelves and ask yourself how many of these products end up going to waste because they weren't sold and how much energy was used to produce them. The numbers would be astounding.

- Buy products made in your own country. This will help offset the reduced consumption and help to create more jobs at home.

- Buy bulk foods whenever possible and bring your own reusable bag to place the items in, along with some ecobags for your groceries.

- Call local flier delivery services and tell them you do not want free newspapers, fliers or advertisements. Leave a note on the mailbox to the postman directing them to not leave junk mail. Stop buying the newspaper if you aren't reading it and try to cut down on magazine consumption. Instead of using paper towels buy clothes that are reusable after washing.

- Reduce the consumption of wood products buy used if you can and save a tree. Buy bamboo instead of wood.

- Eliminate plastic! Don't buy products in fancy plastic packages, use glass bowls for food storage, fill water bottles at the store instead of buying pre-bottled


REUSE
Buy used or keeping what you have and use it for another purpose. There are too many things around the house that can be reused so I am not going to list them all. Be creative - just because the product does not meet the needs now doesn't mean it won't work for something else.


RECYCLE

Many of us already recycle as part of our programming but recycling forced by government has not been the answer we thought it would be. There is big profit to be made from your garbage and when you wash it, sort it and bag it you are doing someones job. That means the big boys make more profit because they didn't have to pay anyone to do it and your taxes are paying the garbage man to deliver it to them. I'm not saying don't recycle because that would be insane. What I am saying is recycle but profit from it yourself or give it to someone who needs it.

- Recycle old clothes by taking it to a used clothing store and put it on consignment, put it in a drop box, take it to a homeless shelter or a
women's shelter - the choices are endless. When buying new clothes consider buying bamboo or hemp clothing.

- Recycle old furniture in the same way as clothes - you could even place an ad in the paper to sell it, give it away or have a garage sale.

- In Provinces or States that have aluminum can, glass, cardboard, paper, wood, and metal recycling depots take it in yourself and get paid for it. If you don't want to do it yourself and don't care about the money find someone that does. Many homeless people will jump at the opportunity as will independent trash haulers.


RECLAIM the earth!

Demand that deforestation stop, that the continuation of our concrete jungle come to a halt, that land and animals are protected. Demand that the use of plastic be limited for packaging and banned for food use. Refuse to buy soda, water, milk and other liquids for consumption that are in plastic - demand glass! Boycott companies who use unnecessary packaging.

Insist that consumers be given the option of new technology instead of being forced to use products that are hurting your planet, health and putting a financial strain by way of taxes on you as the end user. Free energy exists - it's real and it is less harmless to the environment but the organized structure doesn't want you to know about it or use it because there is no profit to be made in things like water fueled cars.

REJUVENATE the earth.

Stand up to the government and tell them you refuse to pay taxes for things that aren't being fixed. Now go out yourself and plant some trees because this is a vital key to the solution. We need to replace our forests - they are the giant air purifier we are longing for. Our problems really started to get out of control when populations increased and manufacturing, logging and plastic became big biz. So plant away using old world heritage seeds and help make this world beautiful again.

April is car care month

April is National Car Care Month! By focusing on your car maintenance you can reduce costly repairs, maintain the longevity of your vehicle, increase gas mileage by as much as 10% and keep your vehicle in safe working condition.
Here are a few car care tips :

Complete Auto Detailing
Interior & exterior auto detailing helps to restore and prolong the lifespan of your vehicle.

- A car should have an engine shampoo in the spring and fall to remove salt residue, leaves, dirt and debris that can work its way into engine parts and cause poor performance.

- Paint decontamination helps to maintain the surface of your vehicle and helps to prevent damage cause by corrosion.

- Wax should be applied to create a barrier between the paint and hazardous elements like the sun.

- Paint sealant aids in the prevention of damage caused by acid rain, ice, snow, sun, accidental spills, bird droppings

- Removal of brake dust aids in better performance of brakes and reduces contamination to paint. Brake dust flies off your wheels onto your paint - the tiny, hot metal pieces embed themselves into your paint and can be the beginning of rust.

- Interior shampoo is essential after a long, snowy, cold winter. A professional interior shampoo will leave your carpets and upholstery looking its best. Shampooing eliminates salt residue, mud, dirt and debris. Salt is enemy number one when it comes to your carpets - if it is not removed properly the damage can be costly.

- Winter is damp and with dampness comes mold. Professional auto detailing reduces airborne allergens and helps to maintain a healthier environment.


Check & Change Lubricants and fluids
- Engine oil
- Transmission fluid
- Washer fluid
- Coolant flush
- Power steering fluid
- Brake fluid
- Clutch fluid

Keeping fluid levels topped and clean reduces damage to internal parts and keeps the vehicle performance at its best.

Windshield Wipers
Replace both front and rear windshield wiper blades to keep them performing at their best and to reduce damage to glass.

Check and replace parts
- Air filter
- Check engine light
- Belts
- PCV filter
- Hoses
- Radiator cooling fans
- Horn
- Mirrors
- Intake preheat duct
- Battery ( cables, clamps, terminals, carrier hold down and charge indicator)
Regular maintenance of parts reduces roadside breakdowns
Replacing air filters is essential as it keeps debris such as bugs, dirt and other objects out of the fuel system air intake. Dirty air filters reduce gas mileage and increase carbon emissions.

Tires
- Check tire depth
- Tire pressure
Low tire pressure will drastically reduce gas mileage and create more wear on your tires.

Lights
- License plate lights
- Brake lights
- Side lights
- Turn signals
- Tail/ Parking lights
- Headlights

Vehicle Safety News

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, a national personal injury attorney offers a Master list of vehicle injurys, vehicle recalls, manufacturers defects:
- 15 passenger van rollovers
- accelerator defects
- ATV and Yamaha Rhino
- Backover accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Heavy trucks
- Park to reverse and transmissions
- Power windows
- Seat back collapses
- Seat belt failures
- Suspension defects
- SUV rollovers
- Tire tread separations
- Truck rollovers

Chrysler/Nissan/Chery/Suzuki/Mitsubishi Inbreeding Explained

By Frank Williams - The Truth About Cars
April 15, 2008 - 1,008 Views
Let's recap. Chrysler builds pickup trucks for Mitsubishi. Chery is working on a U.S.-market subcompact for Chrysler. Chrysler is selling a rebadged Chery as a Dodge in Mexico. Volkswagen is selling Chrysler-built minivans in the U.S. Nissan is building small trucks for Suzuki to sell in the U.S. and Versas to be sold as Chryslers in Brazil. Chrysler has been talking with Great Wall Motors in China about something. Now, just in case all these relationships aren't confusing enough, The Detroit Free Press reports that Chrysler and Nissan announced Chrysler will build a version of the Ram pickup in Mexico for Nissan to sell in the U.S. In return, Nissan will build a North American-bound small car in Japan for Chrysler. In a way, all this makes sense, particularly the Chrysler-Nissan deals. After all, Chrysler has a well-established presence in the truck and van market while Nissan and Chery specialize in small cars. All they're doing is capitalizing on each other's strengths. However, the more Nissan and Chrysler snuggle-up together, the more it seems that Nissan is testing the waters for establishing an American partner– something Carlos Ghosn has promised, eventually. Don't be surprised if in the next few years you hear that Chrysler's building vans for Nissan or that Nissan's supplying Altima drivetrain components for the Sebring/Avenger. And when Cerberus starts the flip 'n strip with Chrysler, Nissan will be right there to pick up the pieces. You heard it here first.

Car buyers to face tougher time securing loans

Saturday, April 12, 2008 Robert Schoenberger Plain Dealer Reporter

If your credit isn't perfect, get ready for a tougher time buying a car. You may have to make a bigger down payment, and you'll probably pay more every month. Lenders nationwide are tightening their standards for auto loans, which means more rejections, shorter loans and higher interest rates.

For the first time in nearly a decade, dealers are telling large numbers of buyers that they can't afford the cars they want. CitiGroup this week slashed about 800 jobs in its auto-lending business and says it plans to cut the number of loans it offers. CitiGroup's move followed cutbacks and altered credit terms by virtually all the lenders that specialize in less-than-ideal credit risks in the auto market.

"People with decent credit aren't able to get the terms they think they should get," said Michelle Primm, managing partner of the Cascade Auto Group in Cuyahoga Falls and a special director of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Mary Kay Bean, spokeswoman for JP Morgan Chase, said her company is demanding bigger down payments and will not write loans longer than 72 months for buyers with lower credit scores. Some buyers looking for new midsize sedans are leaving in used compact cars. Some buyers can't even afford that.

Bill Miller, a Cleveland State University student who works full time as a mechanical engineer, said he tried to buy a car a few months ago and couldn't get credit anywhere. As a college student with a C-minus credit rating and some credit card debt, he knew that getting a loan would be a challenge. But he didn't think $7,000 for a used car would be impossible. He wanted to buy the car with his fiancée so she could drive to work. Instead, he takes long lunch breaks to drop her off. "We were declined and declined and declined. I thought I rebuilt my credit, at least to the point of getting a car loan," Miller said. "I guess not"

Scott McKown, finance and insurance director for the Classic Auto Group in Mentor, said competition among lenders as recently as last year allowed dealerships to sell cars to people who historically couldn't afford them. "In a lot of cases, we'd say, Boy, I hope the customer can pay this,' " after seeing the loan terms, McKown said. "These guys tended to specialize in that low end of the business."

The loan tightening could lead to lower car sales in a year that is already shaping up to be the worst for auto sales in more than a decade. As with the collapse of the mortgage business, lenders blame the tightening of auto credit terms on Wall Street.

Until this year, lenders such as HSBC, AmeriCredit, CitiGroup and others would package their auto loans and sell them to investors, who would make their money from borrowers' interest payments. But with the collapse of the mortgage market, investors no longer want to buy loans, especially loans made to buyers with shaky credit. Without the ability to sell their loans, AmeriCredit and others don't have enough cash to make as many loans. So they're being more selective.

Even Ford Motor Credit, General Motors Acceptance Corp. and other lenders affiliated with automakers say they're looking a little harder at each transaction. But those companies tend to stick to the best borrowers, so dealers said the effect of those changes has been minimal.

Some dealers said the stricter loan terms are healthy and necessary. "When you have dealers that say they can get anybody a loan, they're selling financing," said Pat O'Brien, owner of Chevrolet dealerships in Medina, Willoughby and Westlake. "They're not selling the car." He added that loan terms offered to people with poor credit were often so bad that they would have been better off not buying. "They're taking real advantage of the person who could least afford it," O'Brien said.

Primm of Cascade Auto Group said she isn't happy about scrambling to get financing for her customers, but she said the terms make a lot more sense than the loans common a year ago. "Shorter terms and bigger down payments are good things," she said. "You shouldn't go 72 months on a car [loan] when people only own their cars for three or four years."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

rschoenb@plaind.com, 216-999-4059

Original article can be found here: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/business-6/120798933622270.xml&coll=2&thispage=1

How to drive around using water as fuel for your car

Ethanol Causes Global Warming

By Stein X LeikangerFebruary 13, 2008 - 22,727 Views

Politicians around the world were up against the wall. The World Trade Organization (WTO) was slowly picking away at all their fancy ways of sidetracking public funds into hopelessly anachronistic and inefficient agricultural subsidies. And the agribusiness beats the mil/industrial complex when it comes to lobbying skills. Even French politicians, famous for ignoring the plight of their people, tremble at the thought of another tractor phalanx of mad farmers pulling up in front of the National Assembly and launching putrid brie at their doorstep. Enter Peak Oil.
The WTO rulings are in place to regulate reasonable and equal trading practices between nations. But they cannot proscribe internal actions designed to protect the national infrastructure against potential disruptions. Running out of oil is one such potential downer. Enter a substitute that "solved" two problems at once:
1) How to keep moving money to the agribusiness without the WTO getting pesky.
2) Providing a palliative against Peak Oil. "See, we'll be driving on corn on the cob instead. Nothing has to change."
Well, now maybe it will have to. Bioethanol is a wildly inefficient way of propelling anything, whether aqua, auto or aero. Even in the most benign scenarios, the energy efficiency is pretty much 1:1. Add the fact that you're converting land from growing crops for food to growing fuel for cars, and you have a potential problem on your hands. To wit: rising food prices.
Turns out ethanol is bad in so many ways you don't even want to BEGIN thinking about it. Fortunately, we have people who are willing to do both the thinking and the research for us. The journal Science has just published two papers indicating that clearing land for biofuels will aid global warming.
Wouldn't you know it, the very thing that is going to cure us will kill us faster? Researchers from Princeton University, Woods Hole Research Center and Iowa State University (smack dab in the heart of E85 country) have all concluded that over 30 years, the use of traditional corn-based ethanol will produce twice as much greenhouse gas emissions as regular gasoline.
In the words of the report’s lead author, “this is not good news.” Surprise! There are hidden environmental costs to producing biofuels. "The land we're likely to plow up is the land that we've had taking up carbon for decades," Tim Searchinger at Princeton pronounced. "We can't get to a result, no matter how heroically we make assumptions on behalf of corn ethanol, where it will actually generate greenhouse-gas benefits."
Meanwhile, the governementos of the world are sleeping soundly in the knowledge that they have done a good thing, keeping rotting agricultural produce off the Capitol steps and letting people motor as usual.
Over at the Casa Blanca, the chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality isn’t surrendering the federal tit without a fight. James L. Connaughton says biofuels' benefits remain tangible.
"Like any issue, there are ways to do it right and there are ways to do things wrong, and the same is the case to biofuels. We move as rapidly as we can to second-generation [biofuels] because those offer the best opportunity for a low environmental profile."
And the Executive VP of the Biotechnology Industry Organization couldn't agree more. "It is much more logical to produce biofuels that recycle carbon,” Brent Erickson insisted. “Even if a short-term carbon debt is created. Even if it's 167 years, you're still better off than burning oil that can never be paid off."
He could have added that biofuels also offers the best opportunity for an abysmal energy ROI. Kind of like buying Eli Manning out of the Giants because you need someone to throw warmups to your starting High-School quarterback.
Michael O'Hare, who really knows his biofuels, is glum. Yes, another academic, from Berkeley of all places. What does he know?
"The bottom line of these complicated chains of events is that using crops for biofuels anywhere induces land use changes somewhere, and while the effect isn't a simple acre-for-acre replacement, and we don't know exactly how big the land-clearing carbon hit should be for a generic gallon of biodiesel or bioethanol, betting now is that it is most unlikely to be small enough to view crop-based biofuels as green substitutes for petroleum."
Well, doesn't that throw a wrench in the spokes of politicos and car honchos alike? Not to mention members of the green mafia who have been seduced by the notion they were supporting agriculture over oil wars.
It's worth restating. All those of us now alive have enjoyed an extended period with ridiculously effective energy readily available at an unbelievably low price. There are no viable substitutes to the energy efficiency of petroleum, and demand is outstripping supply, and faster than we'd like to think. What next? Sorry, but there is no easy answer.

Article courtesy of The Truth About Cars

Please visit The Truth About Cars website to read viewer comments and see original article : http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ethanol-causes-global-warming/

Is the Canadian Government bribing you with your own money to stimulate weakened new car sales?

Is the Canadian Government trying to bride citizens with their own money to stimulate a weakening economy? In reading the article below titled : Feds to spend $90M on scrapping clunker cars posted Tue. Apr. 1 2008 5:23 PM ET by The Canadian Press it seems to me that this has nothing to do with emissions and everything to do with increasing new car sales.

OTTAWA -- The federal government has quietly given the green light to a national program offering drivers incentives get older, polluting vehicles off the roads. Environment Canada's annual planning report, released this week, earmarks $90 million over the next three years for a so-called vehicle "scrappage'' program.

The department has mulled the prospect of starting a national program since last year's budget set aside federal money for two years' worth of scrapping initiatives. But aside from yearly spending estimates, the planning report yields few details about the new program. It's not known, for instance, how the national program will work with the patchwork of regional scrapping groups that now receive federal funding.

Seven groups across the country get money from Ottawa to offer incentives -- ranging from rebates on new vehicles to free transit passes and charitable receipts -- in exchange for older vehicles. The groups then turn the rusty clunkers over to scrap yards, which crush and recycle them according to provincial guidelines. At least three of these groups say Environment Canada hasn't told them how -- or if -- they figure into the government's plans. "We're just waiting for the announcement,'' said Margaret Bernhardt-Lowdon, director of health initiatives for the Manitoba Lung Association, which runs a Winnipeg-based scrapping program called Bye Bye Beaters. "I'm kind of in the dark ... I'm certainly looking forward to hearing what they have to say, though.''Bye Bye Beaters, Halifax-based Steer Clean and the national Car Heaven program say they were unaware the department had set aside money for the federal scrapping program. "That sounds great, but to whom, and where, and why, and what?'' said Car Heaven's program manager, Fatima Dharsee, referring to the new program.

The department passed queries to Environment Minister John Baird's office, which offered no details about the national program. "We remain committed to implementing an effective vehicle scrappage program. When we have something to announce, we will announce it,'' Baird spokesman Eric Richer wrote in an e-mail. Environment Canada consulted with environmental groups, regional scrapping organizations and other stakeholders last year to explore the possibility of starting a national program. "All I know is they want to have one program available to all Canadians. Something very big and accessible,'' Dharsee said. The department e-mailed the regional outfits in January letting them know Baird was poised to announce the program. "We anticipate that minister Baird will make an announcement about the new program within the next few weeks,'' said the Jan. 21, 2008 e-mail, obtained by The Canadian Press. But more than two months later the department has yet to make that announcement.

The government estimates five million vehicles from 1995 or earlier -- predating today's tougher emissions standards -- were on the roads last year.These older vehicles make up just a fraction of the estimated 18 million vehicles in Canada, but they account for up to two-thirds of the pollution that causes smog.

Yes I agree; emissions should be reduced regardless of whether the global warming issue is valid or not. But why does it always come at a cost to the citizens not the industrial business sector and why does it always fall in the laps of the consumers? If the Canadian government was a responsible governing body then they should have developed a plan for this when air quality started to fall. Would it have been too much to ask that the entire country implemented carbon emissions for all vehicles at that point? Perhaps then, we would not be facing this issue now. Instead of bribing Canadians to junk their cars wouldn't it have been a good idea to have used the money earned from emission testing as grants to car manufacturers for the advancement of technology to develop affordable parts and methods to keep older cars running clean. People could then update older vehicles and keep them running in an environmentally friendly way.

The plan devised by the Canadian Government may sound wonderful but once it is implemented they'll change the rules just as they do with everything else and before you know it they will make it MANDATORY to scrap all older vehicles. This is what most people do not realize - so for those that think it is a great plan and want to help the environment here are some things to think about before you support this plan.

People who can afford a new car sometimes forget about how decisions like this impact those that can't. As stated in the article 5 million cars are older vehicles - that means 5 million families may be without a vehicle because you did nothing to stop it. I am sure you know someone who drives an older car and is not able to afford new car payments - are you willing to drive them to work, their kids to school, to soccer, church and to the grocery store? If not, seriously consider not supporting this plan because it will become mandatory shortly after. Why - because the Canadian economy much like the US economy is in financial trouble.

Take the bus you say? Why should they have to take public transit when they worked hard to make their car payments and high interest rates to pay off their vehicle. Isn't that the idea to own a car outright? If not, maybe everyone should just rent cars! A car is suppose to be an asset but how can it be an asset if you keep flipping it every few years only to enter into a never ending payment? You don't own it then, the banks do and you never will . The continuous process of trading in to buy new only enslaves you to the masters who are getting rich. So while pseudo governments and capitalists profit from your decisions you struggle to get ahead.

The mainstream media is busy keeping everyone in a state of confusion about a recession. One day it states that we are facing a recession and the next it spells a tale that everything will be okay as long as you keep spending. Fact of the matter is... Canada is far from being safe. We are already starting to feel the impact of a recession that will most likely end in a depression. What many Canadian fail to notice or understand is how the NAFTA deal is affecting Canadians. Bottom line is we are the USA now - Canada as you know is no longer. Whatever economic difficulties the United States has - we have. I won't get into that too much - if you would like to research it for yourselves please visit Global Research who is dedicated to exposing the truth: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=region&regionId=2

Bribing you with your own money to get into something more expensive and beyond your means is a dirty tactic. By dumping your car that is already paid for and hopping into a new car you will most likely need to buy on credit. Hmmm... so by helping the so called emissions you are adding to the credit bubble and aiding in the downfall of the economy. But doesn't spending stimulate the economy? No, not if it is on credit. By purchasing on credit you are stimulating the pockets of capitalists who prey on you. It does nothing for the economy but bring it further down. They get rich while driving you and your country into the poorhouse. The more you spend on credit; the more money the Federal Reserve has to issue which weakens the dollar and just keeps adding to the credit bubble. If people keep buying on credit the problem can and never will be corrected. It is time to start living within our means and start owning our assets. Don't work your butt off for someone else because if we do hit hard economic times assets that have been financed are not yours to keep if you can no longer make the payments.

Failure to implement a Canada wide emissions program instead of junking good cars is cause for concern. My cars are all older and they all pass emissions with flying colors as do many of our clients. So what is the Government of Canada really saying with a plan like this - emissions testing is a fraud - it doesn't cut down emissions? If that is the case; what have Ontario citizens been paying for? It makes me wonder because it was only a year ago that the Ontario government was talking about cancelling emissions testing all together. If the Ontario Government believes global warming is valid why would they even consider stopping a program like emission's testing. Where has the profits earned by the government from emissions testing ? Certainly it didn't go to cleaning the air! This is a real concern as some provinces are considering charging all drivers a carbon tax - what is your money being used for? Is it really correcting the so called global warming problem if so how? Or is this another Y2K money making scheme conjured up by the elite. Yes there is an environmental issue just look around but is it caused by the things they would have you believe? Maybe they should stop spraying toxic chemicals of unknown origins in the air otherwise known as chem trails. Perhaps they industrial revolution needs to slow down and maybe we as citizens need to stop aiding it.

Stereotyping older cars as rust buckets or cars that are in poor mechanical condition is crap. Again all my cars are in supreme mechanical condition and the bodies are mint as are my clients with older cars. In fact as a automobile detailing centre we see the condition of cars both on the interior and exterior and have noticed that the majority of people with older cars maintain their cars better than those with new vehicles. We have seen more rust, broken parts and, mechanical problems on new cars than we have old. Go figure... older cars are made better, are easier to fix and cheaper to fix than new cars. Yes there are some cars like this on the road but in provinces that have vehicle safety laws you should see this problem. So again, why not implement a vehicle safety law across Canada. In my opinion stereotyping vehicles in this manner is just another way to make people feel they are not maintaining an image or status. By making a person feel as though they are being irresponsible for driving an older vehicle and have others look at them in this way it forces them to upgrade. This status thing is so out of whack and that is why we are in such an economic trouble today.

So if you are still thinking about buying a new car; here is one final point to consider - nanotechnology! New car parts are being made with nanotechnology, complete interiors, exteriors, glass and engine parts. Diamond Detailing Guelph's Finest Automotive Detailing Technician does not use any chemical or product that contains nanotechnology for the safety of our customers and our own protection. We feel the dangers associated with nanotechnology are so great that we now protect ourselves with the appropriate gear when working on any new car made with this technology. If you are unaware of the health dangers of nanotechnology please read my other posts: http://guelphautodetailing.blogspot.com/2007/05/nanotechnology-dangers-in-automobile.html
and if your really curious as to what other daily household, cosmetic, stationary products and cars you may be using that have nanotechnology visit: http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/browse/products/

I'm fully in favor of stimulating new car sales as the car industry does represent a major portion of the economy but perhaps the Canadian Car manufacturers need to tend to their pricing problem rather than the Government bribing and enslaving citizens to buy new and put themselves into further debt . Cars manufactured here and shipped to the United States are sold to the dealers at a remarkably lower price than the same vehicle being sold here. Today we are seeing rebates and so called Canadian pricing incentives but they still do not match prices of the cars being sent to the USA. Why is that? Perhaps if car dealers and consumers stop buying cars across the border we could stimulate our own economy but instead Canadian tax payers keep paying to bail corporations out of trouble? As we bail out one to stimulate the economy we end up picking up the tab in another area like the Ontario Health Care tax. When does it end? It doesn't - at least until you stop allowing your government to take away your hard earned money, your rights and your freedom ? It is time to start researching issues before you support them. Find out the real agenda's behind them, question authority, demand answers and see to it that you order the change. Don't take the word of your government because they haven't done a very good job up till now of telling you the truth. Instead they change laws under your nose and don't tell you till it's too late. Give the dog an inch he'll take a mile. What's next - maybe you should scrap your old house too so you can buy new? Just some food for thought.