kscarbel2

Troll ?

When a website has been hacked, it's best not to log in, much less visit the affected website.

About 93 years ago, in the America of 1925, another time and place with different attitudes, respect and honor was extended to 49 soldiers who obeyed their government's call to cross the Atlantic and fight on foreign soil.......but never returned. How dare U.S. courts side with the beliefs of a peculiar few, much less the 2018 standards of the majority, and order the removal of a monument built in 1925. The monument stood, without issue, for 89 years. Then it's suddenly politically incorrect based on the views of an obscure group? Why don't we then erase all historical artifacts from existence, and be done with it? Cultural decay and declining standards of behavior in the United States.

It’s all too much…..we have entered the Twilight Zone ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Federal court rules World War I memorial cross must be torn down Back in 1925, the American Legion erected a memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland, to honor the memory of 49 men who perished during World War I. The 40-foot tall memorial became known as the "Peace Cross." In 2014, the American Humanist Association -- a group that believes in "being good without a god" -- filed a lawsuit alleging the cross-shaped memorial is unconstitutional and demanding it be demolished, altered, or removed. They alleged the cross carries "an inherently religious message and creates the unmistakable appearance of honoring only Christian servicemen." On Wednesday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and ruled the historic memorial must be torn down -- all because the Bladensburg Memorial is in the shape of a cross. The Fourth Circuit said the memorial excessively entangles the government in religion because the cross is the “core symbol of Christianity” and “breaches” the wall separating church and state. Writing separately, Chief Judge Gregory wrote, “This Memorial stands in witness to the VALOR, ENDURANCE, COURAGE, and DEVOTION of the forty-nine residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland ‘who lost their lives in the Great War for the liberty of the world.’ I cannot agree that a monument so conceived and dedicated and that bears such witness violates the letter or spirit of the very Constitution these heroes died to defend.” The American Legion could appeal directly to the Supreme Court. "Today's decision sets dangerous precedent by completely ignoring history, and it threatens removal and destruction of veterans memorials across America," First Liberty Institute attorney Hiram Sasser said. First Liberty Institute and the Jones Day law firm are representing the American Legion in their fight. “This memorial has stood in honor of local veterans for almost 100 years and is lawful under the First Amendment,” Jones Day attorney Michael Carvin said. “To remove it would be a tremendous dishonor to the local men who gave their lives during The Great War.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/towering-cross-shaped-monument-on-public-land-is-unconstitutional-court-rules/2017/10/18/b26e4afe-5b47-11e7-9b7d-14576dc0f39d_story.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/29/us/politics/peace-cross-maryland-court-first-amendment.html .

US tax reform targets avoidance by multinationals The Financial Times / November 3, 2017 Excise levy would crack down on ‘inversion’ deals and foreign groups with US affiliates Foreign multinationals have emerged as the target of a tax avoidance crackdown embedded in radical reforms unveiled by Republicans this week as they seek to stop companies from spiriting profits out of the US. Company lobbyists who initially cheered the plan to cut the corporate tax rate from 35 per cent to 20 per cent were on Friday fretting over an anti-avoidance provision they said could do collateral damage to global supply chains. Their concerns underscore the formidable challenges confronting Republicans as they try to overhaul the tax code for the first time since 1986 in the face of corporate lobbying, budget constraints and an impatient President Donald Trump. Gary Cohn, director of Mr Trump’s National Economic Council, said on Friday the White House hoped to see the House of Representatives vote on the tax plan the week after next, when Mr Trump returns from a trip to Asia. The anti-avoidance proposal would hurt foreign-owned multinationals with American affiliates as well as US companies that used “inversion” deals to move their head offices overseas, said Bret Wells, a tax expert at the University of Houston. Crafted with an “America first” tinge, it would impose a 20 per cent “excise tax” on cross-border payments between affiliates of the same company, which are tax deductible and made for materials, services and intellectual property royalties. “Yes, we have a new design to stop inbound, unwarranted deductions of expenses,” said Kevin Brady, the chief Republican tax writer in the House of Representatives, in response to a question from the Financial Times. Mr Brady, chairman of the House ways and means committee, has been pushing for ways to end perceived advantages he says the current tax code gives to foreign companies versus US corporations. Mr Wells, who recommended similar measures to Congress at a hearing last month, said: “It’s a fairly expansive provision in the way it’s contemplated.” He estimated that at present some companies could use tax-deductible payments between affiliates to shift as much as 30-40 per cent of their profits out of the US. Lobbyists dispute the characterisation of multinationals as tax avoiders, arguing that such payments, also known as related-party transactions, are a legitimate and necessary part of internal supply chains that span the globe. Nancy McLernon, president of OFII, a trade group for foreign companies in the US, said: “We’ve got to be very careful as we craft major tax legislation that might disproportionately impact international companies because US companies can be hit by retaliatory measures as a response.” France is pushing for the EU to agree a new turnover tax on US tech groups to make it impossible for companies such as Apple and Google to cut their tax bills by moving profits between countries. The Republican excise tax would have a limited effect on US tech companies. Although they use IP royalties to shift profits out of the US, their ability to do so is constrained by a provision of existing law that does not apply to foreign-owned companies. One lobbyist said the excise tax would affect other US businesses, arguing it would hit carmakers importing components from their own factories in Mexico and retailers bringing in clothing from affiliates in China. He said it recalled an earlier Brady proposal for a levy on imports — a border adjustment tax — which was killed by an outcry from importers. “In my view this is a border tax-lite proposal because you are taxing material being brought in to be sold in the US,” the lobbyist said. The excise tax would raise $155bn over 10 years, according to Congress’s joint committee on taxation, curtailing what Republicans call the “erosion” of the US tax base and helping to pay for the sharp cut in the headline corporate tax rate. A summary of the excise tax proposal from Mr Brady’s committee says “current law incentivises and subsidises the shift of American jobs overseas because additional functions performed abroad allow for greater deductible payments from US corporations to their foreign affiliates”. It continues: “The provision would eliminate the US tax benefit afforded to multinational companies . . . by imposing full US tax on those profits irrespective of where they are booked.” Mr Brady said the excise tax was “one of the areas we invite the most feedback in, because it’s a combination of some traditional ideas that have been talked about in the past with some new approaches”. The Republican bill, which House speaker Paul Ryan says will also save money for middle class families, is due to be amended by lawmakers next week before a vote in the House. If it passes, it will then go to the Senate, where members are likely to want to make their own revisions. OFII and other trade groups said they were still evaluating the impact of the bill as a whole. Related reading - http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/42799-white-house-refuses-to-step-on-pfizer-tax-dodge/?hl=inversions .

I thought the second video, by an owner, largely covered your question. I apologize for failing you. Anyway, "you're welcome".

My above post didn't answer your question?

. . http://www.ramforum.com/f158/2500s_auto_level_rear_air_suspension_towing-78862/

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Ford invests $220 million to expand Ranger production, build Raptor in South Africa Engineering News / November 3, 2017 Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is investing R3-billion (US$220 million) in expanding Ranger production at its Silverton plant, in Pretoria. The plant builds the Everest sports-utility vehicle and Ranger pickup, with the latter exported to 148 markets. The focus of the investment would be on increasing Ranger capacity in order to cater for growing demand from local and export markets, a further improvement in quality, increased automisation, as well as enabling production of the Ranger Raptor, which would enter the South African market in 2019, said Ford Middle East and Africa operations VP Ockert Berry in Pretoria on Friday. The purpose-built, desert-racing inspired Raptor forms part of the Ford performance brand, with other members of the club the well-known ST, RS and GT derivatives. Berry said the Silverton plant would produce more than 100 000 units this year. Current capacity at the plant is 100 000 units a year. The R3-billion investment will see capacity increase to 167 000 units a year. The changes to the plant should be in place in January next year, following a four-week shutdown period over December. The Silverton plant operates on a two-shift rotation, with a three-shift operation not currently on the table. Employment was set to increase through the capacity expansion, noted Berry, although he could not yet quantify the number of people to be added to the Silverton payroll. The newest investment from the US car maker in its South African operations was an indication of Ford’s commitment to South Africa, noted FMCSA MD Dr Casper Kruger. “The market response to our announcement that Ford will be introducing a Ranger Raptor has been absolutely phenomenal,” he added. “We are exceptionally proud to confirm that this highly anticipated performance model will be assembled in South Africa. This is yet another fantastic achievement for our local team, and signals our ability to produce world-class products of the highest calibre.” In the first ten months of the year FMCSA Ranger exports from South Africa reached more than 46 000 units, with local sales at 27 048 units. Ranger production at the Silverton plant started in 2011. .

With 330 horsepower and 725 lb/ft of torque, and a rear axle ratio chosen to achieve "12" startability, I imagine top speed easily reaching 65mph, and that's fast enough. Remember, it runs up to 2,800 rpm.

The media is a curious beast. Once, Zika was all over the front pages and set to conquer the world, and then suddenly you never hear any more about it. Perhaps, the powers that be couldn't stop it and thus want the topic buried.

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Interesting project, but in my mind, only this is a "Mutt". .

Financial Tribune / November 2, 2017 President and CEO of Volvo Trucks Martin Lundstedt conferred with [Iranian truckmaker] SAIPA chief Mehdi Jamali over the expansion of business ties and new production lines. The talks were held during a visit by Lundstedt and Volvo managers to SAIPA headquarters in west Tehran on Tuesday, the local company’s news website reported. Both sides expressed hope to expand collaboration through “joint production of commercial vehicles.” Jamali said SAIPA is interested in building ties with the Swedish company, noting that it is also planning to export a portion of its jointly produced commercial vehicles. The two carmakers have a history of collaboration. Under a deal signed in July, SAIPA Diesel will assemble 3,500 Volvo FH heavy goods vehicle during the current fiscal which started in March. As per the agreement, 5,000 units will be assembled next year. SAIPA Diesel CEO Mohammad Sadeqi, also present at the meeting, referred to Volvo Trucks’ plan on technology transfer, saying, “Currently, only 20% parts used in the FH models’ are manufactured locally ... We have reached an agreement to increase the share to 30% next year.” The SAIPA subsidiary’s chief further said that his company is planning to become the regional hub for Volvo commercial vehicles and sell to regional markets along with Central Asia and North Africa. Note: Iranian truckmaker SAIPA is the distributor for both Volvo brand trucks and Dongfeng-Volvo joint venture trucks. Dongfeng is wholly-owned by the Chinese central government and run by the communist party. .

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Owner-Driver / October 31, 2017 Different issue triggers second recall of Mack trucks in Australia in less than a week A recall has been issued for 7,668 Metro-Liner, Trident, Titan, Granite and Super-Liner Mack trucks in Australia. The notice affects trucks sold beween December 31, 2006 and October 17, 2016. A notice on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website states: "The driver is not alerted to low air pressure in the braking system because the air system warning is set too low." "This may result in reduced braking, posing an accident risk to the driver and other road users." Owners are advised to contact an authorised Volvo Group Australia dealership to arrange an inspection and repair of the vehicle. The full list of affected vehicles can be found here. This is a second recall affecting Mack trucks in less than a week, with up to 463 trucks recalled for a different issue late last week.

Owner-Driver / October 30, 2017 Certain trucks from the Metro-Liner, Granite, Trident, Titan and Super-Liner ranges called back A recall has been issued for a total of 463 Mack trucks sold between April 24, 2016 and March 9, 2017. The callback affects vehicles from the Metro-Liner, Granite, Trident, Titan and Super-Liner truck range. A notice on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) states: "The front brake mounting hardware may have been under torqued and the incorrect torque tool used during manufacture." "The mounting hardware could become loose, reducing braking ability and posing an accident risk to the driver and other road users." Owners are advised to contact their nearest authorised Volvo Group Australia dealership to arrange an inspection and repair of the vehicle. The full list of affected vehicles can be found here.

Owner-Driver / November 3, 2017 Starting from age 18, Western Australian owner-driver Jack Humphrey moved through the licence grades where he is now operating a 2007 Mack Titan Australia-wide. Peter and Di Schlenk write Owner//Driver caught up with Jack Humphrey at the BP Archerfield in Brisbane as he was waiting for a load home to Western Australia. Instead of sitting around, Jack was passing the time polishing his rig. "I was lucky as the old man set us up," Jack recalls of his beginnings in the industry. It’s a slightly bitter sweet story for Jack, but with a happy ending. From a young age he was keen to follow his father and get behind the wheel, but with Jack aged 18, getting the appropriate licence proved to be an obstacle. It was only when Jack’s father was diagnosed with cancer that the opportunity came to become a professional driver. "Dad, Grant Humphrey, has driven for 40 years and as a young man I always wanted to drive trucks," Jack explains. "My old man got crook with prostate cancer and wrote a letter to the transport department in WA. They granted me a special conditions licence, an HR, to help us get through on the family farm." The family farm is at York, 100km east of Perth, and Grant had taken over the farm from his father, Peter. However, it was critical for Jack to be able to drive to keep the farm operational while Grant recovered. "He got well again and is at home working the farm. "I had my HR for 12 months and when I turned 19, I phoned a driving school in WA and got my MC licence." That was six years ago and Jack says he’s enjoying life and living the dream. "I have always liked Mack trucks and the old man has always had Macks. He still has one at home, a 1997 Mack Titan with an E9 610 V8 in it. That one is very sweet." Jack’s Titan is a 2007 model rated at 120 tonne with a Cummins Gen 2, rated at 620hp under the bonnet. It has a Mack 18 speed ’box and B55170 diffs riding on Neway air bag suspension. Originally bought and owned by John Foggo, it was driven by Mick Wilson from brand new until that business went under. The truck was repossessed and the Humphreys bought it out of Wagga Wagga. "I won’t break it in a hurry," Jack exclaims. "It’s heavy duty and with its long wheel base, I get a good ride. "There is plenty of room in the cab although I wouldn’t mind putting a bigger bunk in. "I haven’t got a TV but I’ve got a microwave and freezer so you can pretty well live by yourself." Jack’s fiancée Hannah freezes his meals and he takes them on the road and microwaves them when required. "It saves a bit of money and you know the food is good and nutritious," Jack says. He adds that Hannah used to travel with him occasionally but she is now committed to a full time job back home. "I think I would give her the shits if I stayed home too long," Jack smiles. On the road When there is work to do on the farm Jack runs around home doing harvest and some stock work, even a bit of general. But he says he loves being on the road. "The old Mack keeps me out of mischief and I get to have a look around Australia. "I couldn’t think of a better job really where you get paid to do what you love." Jack knows only too well how fortunate he was to start his career at 19, but believes he would still have wanted to drive because this is what he has always wanted to do. "Unfortunately it’s a dying era, especially for young fellows in trucks. Then the family comes along and they get married, have kids and want to stay at home. "They have made it hard for the keen young fellows at 18 or 19, for a young bloke that wants to drive trucks. By the time they go through getting their licence and becoming old enough and experienced enough for someone to take them on, they have an alternative job or another career path by the time they actually get into it." The WA way Jack is a big fan of the WA logbook system and believes that the way the books are set up over the border doesn’t look after the driver at all. "My honest opinion is that it is just about the money; all about the fines and that. "I nearly went an hour over the other day and would have received a hefty fine. I hadn’t broken my 12 hour limit, just managed to run over by a half hour in a 24 hour period. There should be some flexibility. "At the end of the day we are only out here trying to do our job," Jack says. "There are cowboys who try and wreck it for everyone else but 95 percent of us are trying to do a job. It’s not like we are out here trying to be a hero." The other glaring difference between the east and the west coast of Australia are the roads. "They are absolutely rooted! The roads over here are some of the worst roads I have ever driven on. I drive on better dirt roads back home than some of the sealed roads in Queensland. "We are very fortunate in WA because the infrastructure is very good. Even our back roads are better than some of the major highways here." Jack is pleased to see more routes opened up to road trains but believes that the roads are no better than years ago. "I came over the other day between Surat and Blue Gums and I was back to 65km/h because I couldn’t keep the thing on the road. "I felt like I had been riding a horse all day by the time I pulled up." Meanwhile, Jack went back to polishing his rig, but not before putting the feelers out to get a couple of loads back to Perth. .

Owner-Driver / November 3, 2017 Being a diesel mechanic and specialising in heavy vehicle recovery has helped Stuart Klints easily find work on both the east and west coasts of Australia. Peter and Di Schlenk write Think towing in south-east Queensland and you naturally think Barnes Towing. After all, they have been providing a service to Brisbane companies since 1903. Today the company has 26 various trucks on the road operating out of five depots. Barnes lays claim to being the largest dedicated heavy recovery operator in the Southern Hemisphere. Stuart Klints drives a 2014 Kenworth T409 8x4 for Barnes. The last time Owner//Driver caught up with Stuart it was during the Lights on the Hill convoy a few years ago. Back then he was behind the wheel of a Scania. "I loved that Scania but two years ago my partner Yvette and I decided on a change and we moved to Perth where I worked for Swan Heavy Towing," Stuart says. Stuart and Yvette returned to Brisbane this year, although he’s no stranger to Western Australia. He’d previously worked for Mitchells as a qualified mechanic, but was drawn back to Queensland by the weather and to be closer to his family. Stuart was born in Brisbane where he lived for 13 years before the family moved to the Gold Coast. After leaving high school, he did an apprenticeship working on coaches and then went straight into heavy recovery. "I had always liked trucks and Rodney [Hill] at Knight’s Heavy Towing gave me a foot in the door. "There is an advantage to being a diesel mechanic and a tow truck driver at the same time, just the knowledge of how things worked and how things go around," Stuart adds. Back when Stuart began with Knight’s, he was driving a rig with all the old chain gear. That first tow truck was a 1976 Kenworth SAR with an 8V92 Detroit Diesel and a 20-speed Spicer ’box. "It was a screamer. It had a beautiful cab and sitting up there so high, I definitely thought I was king of the road," he exclaims. Kenworth to Scania After the SAR, Stuart spent a short time in a W model before getting into a Kenworth T650. The W had the first under-lift that Stuart had ever used and he’s operated them ever since. Stuart then started with Barnes in another T650 which progressed to a brand new Century Class Freightliner and then came the Scania. "I was a Kenworth fan for years and years, especially as a young bloke and the SAR and T650 had it all. "When Barnes was looking at buying a second 8x4 Scania to be based on the north side of Brisbane, they asked me what I thought of the Scania. I replied ‘no way’! "Anyway I ended up taking the Scania for a drive to see what I thought of it. I did that and returned with a smile from ear to ear. "I told [owner] John Dent that he had better get me one of those Scania things," Stuart laughs. "It was just so quiet, comfortable and easy to drive." Stuart rates its off-road abilities as one of its best assets. The Scania had full airbag suspension; front and rear. "With the variety of our work, you have to go onto properties or off road to certain jobs," he continues. "Just recently I had a job that surprised me. A private bloke rang and said his bobcat was in a sinkhole on his property. It was literally in a sink hole. He had been trying for two days to get it out. "There was hard ground all over his property except for this sink hole that was twice the size of the bobcat. "It was hard to access because of the size of the truck and the domestic driveway. It was a bit of a project but we got it out and he was tickled pink." Stuart runs out of the Gold Coast depot where two under-lift recovery trucks are based, in addition to a tilt tray and semi tilt tray. "Some days you could be a bag chucker all day. You do one job in this and then you jump in the semi-trailer and then the tilt tray. On other days you will just be in this all day," he explains. Heavy recovery The Barnes’ T409 8x4 is fitted with an Ekebol under-lift. "Barnes run a full Ekebol fleet as they are Australian built and engineered and will do the job. "You can’t beat the Ekebol stuff and it is manufactured locally at Buderim on the SunshineCoast. "It’s great for Barnes to be able to buy all of the various pieces of machinery from one shop." The under-lift on Stuart’s 409 is a TS20v2 model and rated at 100 tonnes, which means he can hook onto 100 tonne no problem. "This little Kenworth is a good truck and having a bonnet out front helps," he smiles. "In the heavy towing side of things, the more weight you’ve got out front of your truck the better. "When picking up vehicles with the under-lift, it keeps your weight up at the front and it gives you the advantage of being safer and more stable." With five depots in and around Brisbane, Stuart says Barnes provides great coverage and top service. "As a company, we will go literally anywhere but here on the Gold Coast I try to be kept around the local area to provide that local service," he explains. "If something is over the border that is going back to Brisbane they will run a Brisbane truck, whereas the Toowoomba trucks will go way out west to recover a vehicle." While the traffic can be very intense running around the Gold Coast all day, Stuart doesn’t get too stressed. "A lot of people can’t handle it but I just go with it. If it’s moving, it’s moving. If it has stopped, it’s stopped. "At the end of the day, the sun goes down and the traffic thins out and you get there in the end." Previously, Stuart and Yvette operated a couple of shops on the north side of Brisbane. One was a carvery and the other a convenience store. Handling both proved too difficult so after two and a half years with the carvery, it was sold. This allowed them to concentrate solely on the convenience store. "When we sold the store, the money we made was put towards a motor home; a 40ft Greyhound Denning coach. It pulls a 20ft trailer. "The idea was to go west and then when we had had enough, we came home. "So now we have a home on wheels so we can became grey nomads," he smiles. Stuart has been a heavy vehicle recovery operator for over 23 years now and still loves it. "I’ve been with Barnes for 16 years in total over the two stints, and I love good looking gear. "Barnes have top equipment and they allow me to take it to truck shows so I couldn’t happier." .