Wheel Spinning

Much attention, most of it very negative, has been focused these days on the auto industry.  But some of it is hopeful, some a little absurd, and, OK, the rest is negative...

What goes up, must come down.  Spinning wheels, got to go round.  Talk about your troubles it's a crying shame ... (apologies to BST)

Leno does Detroit - Tonight show host Jay Leno loves all things motorized, so he's a natural supporter of America's auto industry. It's with pleasure then, but not surprise, that we hear the comedian will be putting on a free concert in (actually, near) Detroit. A way for Leno to give a little back to the industry and workers that have given him so much - even if they (or their fearless leaders) really did screw the pooch. Besides the no-cost admission, there are also free drinks and snacks too, according to national public radio this morning. Good deal, as long as the jokes are fresher than the food is likely to be ...

A Day Late and A Dollar Short (give or take a decade and a billion or so) - Now that the horse has run out of the barn, the goose has been cooked, and the fat lady has nearly finished her song, GM is trying to close the barn door (balsa wood), stick (fake) feathers on the goose, and shove duct tape on the heavyweight canary's mouth. Today's morning news featured a concept vehicle produced by Segway partnered with GM. Kind of a two-person (barely), covered (also barely), sit-down, two-wheeled, Segway scooter. With a top-speed of 35 mph, this thing won't be taking over the highways and byways anytime soon. It will, however, eventually take it's place alongside the original Segway as a hazzard to pedestrians at every tourist spot in the country.

Tastes like it was Made In China - Ah, the flavor of real lead.  China has a love affair with lead, seemingly putting it in nearly everything the country exports.  Some of those lead inclusions are inexplicable and concerning, like use of the metal in suckable and chewable toys, but others are, well, pretty expected and ordinary.  It's clearly in the latter category where most reasonable people would place the use of lead in motorized vehicles.  After all, these do have batteries, and most of those wonderful things have lead somewhere in them.  Lead is also used as a strengthener for structural frame components for off-road vehicles, including ATV's marketed for youthful drivers (aka 'kids').  Pretty harmless use of lead, 'eh?  Not like any kid will be sucking or chewing batteries, brakes, or frames, right?  Don't tell that to the CPSC.  Although this organization does a mostly admirable job, like any bureaucracy it can get its head firmly stuck up its nether regions at times, and this seems to be one of them.  The CPSC has banned any products aimed at children containing lead - even motorized vehicles.   Some very influential people are attempting to right this red-tape wrong, but in the meantime we can rest assured that none of our kids will be lying around their rooms licking wheel bearings and handgrips.  Comforting news ...