Dear US Auto Makers,

Now I hear rumblings that the US Government is pondering your possible bailout. This will, I am sure, be followed by the airlines, the electrical conglomerates and then the retail giants. I fear the "necessity to save our economy" as Henry Paulson put it, will continue to perpetuate itself until Uncle Sam is the majority shareholder or the outright owner of everything in this country. Maybe I am overstating things a bit, but here's my suggestion before you eagerly decide to accept your glorified stimulus checks.

1. Consolidate - Ford - you need to get rid of Mercury. I mean c'mon who are you really fooling with the Milan, Mariner and Mountaineer. I liked them better when they were called the Fusion, Escape and Explorer. This goes for you too GMC. Chevy can stay but I am sorry, GMC, you've gotta go. Look, I have no problem with your companies having a luxury brand, Ford has Lincoln and GMC has Cadillac. But these "so called" middle grade luxury names like Mercury and Buick are a waste of time, resources and of course...MONEY! Pontiac falls in this group as well...bye bye!

2. Design Research - First of all, fire your current design teams! Why, why, why is it taking you so long to design cars that actually look good. I know I am belaboring an already well documented point, but seriously are your current line of cars the best you have to compete with the Germans, Japanese and now even the Koreans? Or tell me truthfully, is it your lack of concern for us, the car buying public, that ultimately dictates your design production. I strongly believe in the latter. You guys have, for so long, just made what was practical and safe knowing that we would more than likely buy it. And shame on us because we have done just that. But that degree of presumptive idealism is what's ultimately killing you. Obviously, if we are talking about your bailout. Contrary to popular belief, most Americans love driving nice looking cars. Just look at the sales statistics for Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen as compared to you three numbskulls. There are some exceptions with your newer mode of design research, however. For example, Dodge has done very well with its designs of the Charger and Challenger. Chevy has excelled with the new Malibu and Camaro. Ford has done the same, to a lesser degree, with it's Edge and Flex. Follow than thought process!

Look, I understand these two modest arguements are just a fraction of what you need to do to save your industry, but its a start. In fact, it seems to be the two most popular complaints among everyone I talk to. Maybe you guys should actually take a gander at your "suggestion boxes" occasionally and tackle these glaring weaknesses before signing up to be a government owned industry.

Yours Truly,

Fed Up Car Buying American

...Oh, and tell your pompous dealerships that when we come in to buy a car...don't be stupid. They should be bending over backwards to get our business. Haggling over a mere $1000, one way or the other, is why you're losing the race. Happy driving:)

"Hark!" - A Great Christmas Read!

I know it may be a little early to recommend a good Christmas book, but now is as good of a time as any. And if you're counting down the days, like I am, then you'll know there is about 51 days left until Christmas. So why not take a look at Hark! by Chris Breme and start shopping a little early.


I came across this book last year and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's a quick but easy read and will keep you turning the pages. If there was any complaint at all it would be that Hark! does follow the formula of a typical Christmas novel. However, it truly inspired me. It reminded me of the gospel, which is so clearly preached again and again in this novel. Topics such as sin, the law, grace, justification and forgiveness are all clearly detailed. There are verses relating the passages on just about every two or three pages - all 188 of them. This key element really drove home some of the points made through fiction, and showed that the main purpose in this book was more than just entertainment - it had a message that was clear, unlike many other pieces of Christmas fiction out on the market.


So grab yourself a copy of Hark! and awaken your Christmas spirit a little early this year. You really won't be disappointed. You can purchase Hark! on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Walmart.com and Target.com If you don't beleive me just read to what others had to say:



"No matter what the time of season, HARK! is a superb, heart-warming story that brings us back down to earth probing the real meaning of Christmas and our relationships with God and each other. " - K. Sully


"Inspiring, captivating, heartwarming. Hark is more than the story of a man finding faith in God while "lost". Chris Breme has created believable characters and placed them in realistic settings. Anyone who has waited for news of an overdue loved one will feel the fear and anxiety of Sam's family as they search for him. Breme masterfully interweaves the story of Sam and his journey with scripture and quietly leads the reader to examine their own faith. Hark is more than a reminder of the "true meaning of Christmas". It reminds us of the fragility of life and the need to cherish our relationships with God and family. " - Beth Sheffield

"When Charles Dickens wrote The Christmas Carol he was telling a story of salvation. The ghosts of Christmas saved Scrooge from his greatest nemesis: himself. In Hark!, Chris Breme tells us the salvation story of Sam Sargent, a man in love with the commercialized image of Christmas. Sam comes to realize what many like him realize, that all the decorations, the Christmas music, the trees, the presents and holiday cheer, are merely external decorations, the tinsel of life, glittering but worthless apart from the real meaning of Christmas. At the core of a man's true happiness is Christ's living presence. Breme is an excellent storyteller and writer. This is his first book with many more to follow. If you really want to be touched and reminded what Christmas is all about, then pick up Chris Breme's book. You won't be disappointed." - Jeff W.