| Leaders offer up predictions for '08
Detroit Mayor "Kwame Kilpatrick will file a paternity lawsuit against Roger Penske, claiming to be Penske's illegitimate son. Kwame will balance his budget one way or another." ROBERT FICANO, Wayne County executive: • "A plan to expand Cobo Center WILL be approved in 2008." JERRY YORK, adviser to Las Vegas billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, former chief financial officer of Chrysler and IBM, former board member of General Motors and current board member of Apple, is mulling these issues heading into 2008: • "What will U.S. auto industry volume/incentive spending per unit be in 2008? (I am betting on an industry of 15.25 million to 15.5 million units.)" • "What will the domestic three (automakers') North American profitability/cash flow be in 2008? And will Cerberus stick to its publicly announced plans to treat Chrysler as a long-term investment?" • "Will the domestic three increase their product renewal rates in the 2009 to 2011 period to stabilize their North American market shares?" • "Will the domestic three begin taking any more meaningful actions to eliminate troubled brands and/or reduce dealer body sizes?" MARK FIELDS, Ford Motor Co.
Deal clears way for single open-wheel series in America
The open-wheel deal that had to happen finally did. The Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series completed a deal Friday to unify the two American open-wheel circuits, bringing them under the umbrella of the IRL. "I'm glad that they were able to get it done," said A.J. Foyt, the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and an IRL team owner. "It'll eliminate the confusion for the race fans and the sponsors because there'll be just one type of car and one type of motor and everyone will be running together. May the best team win." After 12 years of bitter rivalry that confused fans, promoted apathy and nearly buried the sport, Champ Car agreed to cease operations, giving the surviving IRL the opportunity to rebuild open-wheel's lost prestige.
NASCAR SNCS (MARTINSVILLE) - STATS-BASED EVENT ADVANCE
Also watch for Tony Stewart to make a move. Stewart is fourth in the standings, but heads to one of his best tracks. Stewart won at Martinsville last season and has four consecutive top-10 finishes there. He leads all drivers in both Driver Rating (125.5) and Average Running Position (4.4). Selected Driver Highlights – Martinsville Speedway-specific Note: All driver statistics that follow are from Martinsville Speedway. The Loop Data statistics – Driver Rating, Average Running Position, etc. – in this release, however, cover the last five races at Martinsville. NASCAR's scoring loops began collecting data for statistical purposes in 2005. Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet) - Two top fives, three top 10s - Average finish of 15.0 - Average Running Position of 11.9, sixth-best - Driver Rating of 93.2, eighth-best - 76 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most - Seventh-fastest Green Flag Speed - 1,941 Laps in the Top 15 (77.6%), fourth-most - 117 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most Kurt Busch (No.
Harewood keeps Barbados plans on the backburner
Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood is to reject the chance to play World Cup football for Barbados at this stage of his career. Barbados coach Eyre Sealy has spotted that the 27-year-old striker was born on the Caribbean island and was planning to call him up for the two-legged qualifier with Dominica. But Harewood is concentrating on his football in England with Villa although he admitted he may consider playing for Barbados at a later date. The former West Ham striker said: 'My whole family are Barbadian but playing for Barbados hadn't really crossed my mind. 'Truthfully my dad used to say 'don't go back to Barbados because it's not as good as playing for England.' 'Probably later on, maybe in another couple of years, I'll consider playing for them but not at this moment.
'Get Carried Away' as Sex and the City Previews at Mercedes-Benz ...
NEW YORK, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- This season, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week offers not only an advance peek at the latest looks for Fall 2008, but also another must-have topping everyone's list this year: the highly anticipated Sex and the City, in theatres May 30. Top editors, stylists and newsmakers attending the shows at Bryant Park will get to glimpse several elements featured in the film, including film clips, wardrobe elements styled by the legendary Patricia Field, and an all-new Mercedes-Benz vehicle making its big screen debut, the Mercedes-Benz GLK. Many fashionistas await the May 30th theatre release of Sex and the City because of the fabulous outfits alone. Oscar-nominated celebrity wardrobe designer Patricia Field has worked hard to ensure the movie's starlets are dressed to the nines and ready, once again, to trigger trends in fashion.
Porsche Tightens Grip on VW's Wheel
Since the surprise resignation of Volkswagen CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder Nov. 7, Supervisory Board Chairman Ferdinand Piech has tightened his control over VW almost daily. Porsche, which is controlled by Piech and his family, increased its stake in VW duing the past week from 21% to 27.45%. Today Porsche announced it aims to boost its holding to 29.9%. Call it the "going private" of Volkswagen. For the past year, Piech has been engaged in a pitched battle to wrest control of the company from state hands — namely the State of Lower Saxony, which owns 20% and has long reigned as VW's largest shareholder. And Piech, the wily engineer and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, is now close to winning. For those not up to speed on Germany's most riveting industrial drama, Piech launched his attack a year ago, using his family's control over Porsche to nab a controlling 21.3% share in Volkswagen for some $4 billion.
City considers Triple Crown extension
I do not know about the grocery stores, but have you ever stopped into Subway, McDonalds, Wendy's, or any other fast food place during Triple Crown Time? The line is huge most of the time. Those may not be "local" businesses, but they are certainly generating tax revenue. Also, I assume these people are sleeping somewhere? So that means hotel rooms are being paid for. Seems to me that they are generating revenue. .
February 2008
Change to Win's Anna Burger, the highest-ranking woman in the US labor movement, said Clinton should consider withdrawing from the race. Clinton ended January with her campaign $7.6 million in debt, which does not include the $5 million personal loan she floated the campaign after Feb. 5. There is consternation among progressives about the state Democratic Party's desire to run disgruntled Republican Chris Bodkin instead of Democrat Jimmy Dahroug against Sen. Caesar Trunzo. Sen. Eric Schneiderman writes about "transformational politics" (as opposed to transactional politics) for The Nation. Potential Bronx borough president candidate Helen Foster defended her father's comment that the last two people to hold that post (Adolfo Carrion and Freddy Ferrer) weren't "sympathetic to the black community." Gov.
|
