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You don’t have to agree with the entire article (or any of it), but I myself liked Paul Ryan’s statement in the last paragraph. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Crony capitalism concerns reach new heights with rise of Trump The Washington Post / November 23, 2016 Late in October 2015, shortly before he would become speaker of the House, Paul Ryan delivered a sermon on the subject of crony capitalism. "This is a profound debate we are having," he told his colleagues in a floor argument over the federal Export-Import Bank, which has long been criticized by conservatives for helping American companies sell their products overseas by subsidizing loans. "It is about what kind of economy we are going to have. Are we going to reward good work or good connections?" That question is suddenly much bigger, and much thornier, for Republicans, thanks to President-elect Donald Trump. Trump is the head of a business empire that includes real estate developments and luxury resorts around the world. He had repeatedly said that he would turn the operations of that empire over to his children once he takes office. But in the days since his election, Trump and his associates have taken steps that mesh or risk meshing his business interests with his new position of power. Trump has urged British politicians to fight wind farms that could threaten the views from one of his golf courses, and included his daughter Ivanka in diplomatic discussions with the leaders of Japan and Argentina. His new Washington hotel is courting business from foreign diplomats. It's easy to imagine much larger - and more economically consequential - issues arising once Trump takes office. Some of America's biggest crusaders against crony capitalism warn that Trump could use his position to pressure foreign leaders to accommodate his company, or to bend U.S. regulations to favor his interests over competitors. He might not even need to ask for those favors; they might just appear. "There's no way that someone dealing with a Trump business doesn't think, 'The guy behind the name is sitting in the White House,' " said Veronique de Rugy, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University who has long fought the Ex-Im Bank and the general issue of crony capitalism. Writing in the Wall Street Journal's opinion pages this week, conservative columnist Holman Jenkins Jr. said Trump's administration could "swirl down a drain of cronyism." "Foreign and domestic business interests will be lining up to partner with the Trump children believing it buys favor with the Trump administration," he wrote. "It can't be otherwise on our human planet." Trump's policy initiatives pose a second threat, de Rugy says, including an infrastructure spending push that could be steered toward the president's friends or business associates. Ronald Klain, a former aide to President Barack Obama, warned Democrats recently that Trump's funding plan for infrastructure, which relies heavily on tax credits for private industry, would amount to "a massive corporate welfare plan for contractors." Even Trump's much-celebrated-by-conservatives push for tax reform could, depending on the details, dramatically boost his companies. Trump has largely dismissed those concerns. "The law's totally on my side," he told the New York Times Tuesday. "The president can't have a conflict of interest," Skewed government interests can, however, dampen an economy. That has been the case in Italy and Greece, and to an even greater extent in Russia. The diversion of resources to a president's businesses or his friends can chill competition, saddle consumers with fewer choices and higher prices, and erode incentives to work, innovate and invest. "What's hard to see is the distortions in the capital markets from government intervention," de Rugy said, "or all the unseen victims of that intervention." Or as Ryan put it on the House floor last year, under crony capitalism the "winner is the person with the connections, it is the company with power, and it is the company with clout. The loser is the person who is out there working hard, playing by the rules, not knowing anybody, not going to Washington, and hoping and thinking that the merit of their idea and the quality of their work is what will win the day."

Today's Trucking / November 24, 2016 Starting July 1, 2017, potential Class A licence applicants in Ontario must complete an approved Mandatory Entry Level Training course prior to taking their Class A road tests. This new standard in driver education is a step forward in regards to risk management within the trucking industry. Angelique Magi, VP Transportation and Strategic Initiatives at The Guarantee, provides a brief overview of the new MELT program and how it established a win-win situation for the public and the insurance industry. .

Upon arrest and deportation, the assets of illegal immigrants (illegal economic migrants) should be summarily confiscated by the United States government. Money earned by illegal immigrants is, inherently, illegally earned income. Only by sending a clear and strong message can we stem the tide of “illegal” immigration. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Denmark confiscates, cash, valuables from “refugees” [economic migrants] The Guardian / June 30, 2016 Denmark has seized valuables from asylum seekers for the first time, five months after passing a law that allows police to take cash and jewellery worth over 10,000 kroner (US$1,419) from them. Police took 79,600 kroner (US$11,296) from five Iranians who flew into Copenhagen airport on Tuesday and immediately claimed asylum, the Danish immigration police said in a statement. Since the five had travelled on false passports, they were arrested for forgery and searched – at which point their money was found and most of it confiscated. Asylum seekers in Denmark can keep cash and valuables worth less than 10,000 kroner US$1,419) – anything more can be taken to pay for their care, according to the controversial legislation enacted in early February. The Danish police are rigorously enforcing the law. In a statement, Per Fiig, the head of Denmark’s immigration police centre, said: “Danish police every day look out for asylum seekers and foreigners staying illegally who could have valuables that could help finance the cost of their stay.” Asylum applications have dropped dramatically in Denmark in 2016, compared to 2015. The government said 5,500 applications were received until 30 October, compared to 21,000 in 2015.

Mr. Moussa has 10 children and 2 wives. And now, the United Nations is giving him free money. 13 food debit cards at $27 each = $351 for food alone Moussa also receives a second debit card with $170 a month that he can spend however he wants (more during the winter) “Refugees” certainly live well nowadays. Why isn’t an able-bodied man like Moussa fighting to take back his homeland? .

VW challenges Ford, Mercedes with new Crafter Automotive News Europe / November 24, 2016 Volkswagen aims to grab a greater share of the lucrative segment for large cargo vans dominated by Ford Motor and Mercedes-Benz after investing around 800 million euros in a new manufacturing plant that marks a record for its light commercial vehicles division. The new factory in Wrzesnia, Poland is expected to build 100,000 units of its entirely redesigned Crafter annually when all body style derivatives are available in 2018. The Crafter will offer new features such as front-wheel drive and automatic transmission, both previously not offered. These should help to double the model's current volume according to VW managers. Demonstrating the importance of the model, both Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch and Lower Saxony Premier Stephan Weil, two of VW's most important board directors, flew in to attend the opening ceremony late in October along with the CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus, Andreas Renschler. The market for "C/D Transporters," as VW calls large delivery vans with 3-6 tons (6,614-13,228lb) of gross permissible weight (GVW), is over 1.3 million vehicles in size globally and growing thanks to the trend towards online shopping firms such as Amazon or Zalando in Germany. However VW mainly competes in the western European market which increased by 14 percent last year to nearly 500,000 units. While anything but sexy, it's a well-known axiom that the commercial vehicle business can be extremely profitable when run properly. Ford of Europe is market leader in the region with the Transit, earning a 4.9 percent pretax margin during the first nine months. Meanwhile, Opel/Vauxhall had long neglected the commercial van businesses and ended up breaking even during the same period -- and then only on an operating level and after adjusting for effects. Addressing this vulnerability has now become a "fundamental element" of the General Motors brand's 2022 growth strategy. The risks however have never been higher for VW's van business, best known for building the Volkswagen Bus that became a pop culture icon during the Flower Power era of the 1960s. Like many automakers in this comparatively low-volume segment, VW had previously split the development costs by partnering up with a competitor. The outgoing Crafter was based on the Sprinter from Daimler's Mercedes-Benz unit and built by Mercedes. Daimler only supplied the 50,000 units annually that it was contractually obliged to do and in 2013 decided to end the partnership entirely to gain the extra capacity. Platform risk Much like the passenger car market though, larger vehicles are more lucrative than small ones. "Mercedes' van business makes all its money with the Sprinter," said one VW commercial vehicles manager. Volkswagen took a risky bet by developing a platform solely for the Crafter which is technically incompatible with the rest of the 12-brand group's vehicles. No other vehicle in the entire product range comes equipped with axles capable of supporting the weight needed for the segment except for the heavy trucks sold by VW Group's MAN and Scania heavy truck brands. Additionally the problem arose that none of the group's 130 manufacturing plants worldwide were adequate to build the Crafter given none had the required dimensions for assembling and painting a model such as the Crafter. The paint shop has 12 swimming pool size tanks alone dedicated to various stages of cathodic immersion coating. As a result, the 2.2 square kilometer size of its plant in Wrzesnia - roughly equivalent to 300 soccer fields - makes it the group's biggest factory for one single model. "The length of the vehicle determines the factory," said Jens Ocksen, head of Volkswagen Poznan, the Polish unit of VW's commercial vehicles division. VW hopes that by adding front-wheel drive models it can increase volumes mainly from businesses that need a vehicle offering plenty of volume to store a product that doesn't have a lot of weight, for example bakeries or florists. An additional benefit of removing the drive shaft is the corresponding 10 centimeter lower floor. While it sounds minor, VW officials say it saves drivers climbing the equivalent of climbing over 600 stairs every month. The sliding door has also been designed to shave off three seconds each opening and closing. These savings translate to more trips they can take and hence more money operators earn. Lastly, VW will now finally be able to offer automatic transmissions, which the Crafter needs in Germany to participate in tenders made by emergency services for ambulances or police vehicles. Volkswagen is considering whether to launch the Crafter in the U.S. market, where more and more European vans are succeeding thanks to their lower cost of ownership. Ford began building its Transit in Kansas City, Missouri, while Mercedes is investing half a billion dollars to begin manufacturing the Sprinter in Charleston, South Carolina.

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / November 18, 2016 .

Renault Trucks will introduce its latest concept truck, the Urban Lab 2, at this year’s Pollutec show, taking place at the Lyon’s Eurexpo exhibition centre from November 29 to December 2, 2016 (Hall 2, aisle J, stand 117). Because Renault Trucks believes diesel fuel is the primary energy for long-haul transport - and will remain so for many years to come - it is constantly striving to cut fuel consumption and slash emissions. At the 27th Pollutec show, Renault Trucks will be spotlighting the performance of Euro-6 engines compared to the previous generations. The emissions reduction system fitted to Euro-6 engines has cut nitrogen oxide emissions five-fold and particle emissions six-fold compared to Euro-5. Today 99.9% of particles – even the very finest – are trapped by the pollution filter. Renault Trucks will also be unveiling the mock-up of its new diesel laboratory vehicle designed for distribution: the Urban Lab 2. This truck is the result of a collaborative project – the Efficient Distribution Truck or EDIT - with six partners. It offers an array of high-tech features in aerodynamics, engine hybridization and tire performance as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure communication which makes it possible to drastically reduce the fuel consumption of delivery vehicles. The Renault Trucks stand will also feature a Range D “WIDE” fitted with a new generation Euro-6 Step C-compliant 11-litre engine and steerable tag axle. This vehicle offers fantastic maneuverability, making it ideal for operating in an urban environment. Renault Trucks is extending its CNG offerings to take into account the greater demand for diverse sources of energy in built-up areas. Visitors to the Renault Trucks stand will also have a chance to check out the “WIDE” CNG with its horizontal exhaust system. This version enjoys the same chassis and body-mounting possibilities as its diesel counterpart since there is no vertical exhaust to integrate between cab and trailer. .

Scania Group Press Release / November 23, 2016 ”I particularly like the direct contact with my clients in their daily operations,” says Pilar Lendine from Scania in Spain. Meet her and her colleague Andreu S. Martorell and hear them talk about their jobs in Scania’s global Sales and Services network. Scania is a global company with a total of 45,000 employees in 100 countries. One crucial part of the company – and undoubtedly one of the most public ones – is the Sales and Services network, which currently employs more than 33,000 captive and non-captive employees world-wide. Scania sees an increasing need for recruitment to different parts of the Sales and Services with roles such as service advisors, sales representatives, workshop managers and service technicians being particular requirements. A common denominator is the focus on service and customer relationships. Fast and reliable service, being close to the customers, understanding the customers’ customer and having more vehicles on the road are all key success factors for Scania, wherever in the world the company operates. “As a service advisor I spend a lot of time with our customers because that’s key to knowing their business,” says Andreu S. Martorell, Service Advisor for Scania Camion Grup [Scania Truck Group] in Spain. “If you know their business then you’re able to provide very sophisticated and specific solutions that result in savings for them, which is a key element in the success of their business.” ”What I particularly like about my work is the direct contact with my clients in their daily operations. My job is to support my clients to increase their efficiency and profitability,” says Pilar Lendine, Sales Representative for Scania Camion Grup in Spain. .

http://townhall.com/columnists/jackkerwick/ http://townhall.com/columnists/jackkerwick/2016/11/21/an-open-letter-to-presidentelect-trump-n2248527

Trump's tax plan: massive cuts for the 1% will usher 'era of dynastic wealth' The Guardian / November 23, 2016 More than eight million low-income and single-parent families will face sharp tax increases under Donald Trump exacerbating income inequality President Donald Trump is set to give America’s richest 1% an average annual tax cut of $214,000 when he takes office, while more than eight million families with children are expected to suffer financially under his proposed tax plan. On the eve of the election, Trump promised to “massively cut taxes for the middle class, the forgotten people, the forgotten men and women of this country, who built our country”. But independent expert analyses of Trump’s tax plan show that America’s millionaire and billionaire class will win big at the expense of struggling low- and middle-income people, who turned out in large numbers to help the real estate billionaire win the election. Experts warn that Trump’s tax plan will exacerbate America’s already chronic income inequality and herald in a “new era of dynastic wealth”. “The Trump tax plan is heavily, heavily, skewed to the most wealthy, who will receive huge savings,” said Lily Batchelder, a law professor and tax expert at New York University. “At the same time, millions of low-income families – particularly single-parent households – will face an increase.” Batchelder, who wrote an academic paper on Trump’s tax plan published by the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said that the president-elect’s plan “significantly raises taxes” for at least 8.5 million families, with “especially large tax increases for working single parents”. More than 26 million individuals live in those families. Minority families are set to suffer disproportionately from the tax increases, according to Batchelder. With 32% of African American families facing a tax increase compared with 19% of whites, this is mostly due to African American families being more likely to share the burden of childcare within the family and hence not benefit as much from Trump childcare credits. Batchelder said the effective tax increase for many millions of families would run into the thousands. While the poor will face tax increases, the Tax Policy Center research said the rich would received big tax cuts that get even bigger as you work up the income scale. The top 20% of earners would receive an average annual tax cut of $16,660 compared with an overall average cut of $2,940. The richest 1% will collect 47% of all the tax cuts – an average saving of $214,000. The 0.1% – the 117,000 households with incomes of more than $3.7 million – would receive an average 2017 tax cut of $1.3 million, a nearly 19% drop in tax they were due to pay in 2016. The tax savings of the super-rich will increase further in future, with the 0.1%’s estimated 2025 tax bill to fall by $1.5 million. It is a stark contrast to Hillary Clinton’s tax plan, which would have seen taxes rises for the super-wealthy. Under her plan, the top 1% would pay an extra $163,000 a year more on average, and would have made up 93% of all new tax revenue by 2025. “Listening to Trump’s rhetoric, most Americans probably don’t realise at all the impact of Trump’s tax plan,” Matt Gardner, a senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) said. “Any way you slice it, the very best-off Americans will be the biggest beneficiaries. “If it looks bad now for middle-income families, those who turned out to vote for him, it’s only likely to get worse [with Trump as president]. It is very likely that they will end up poorer still. The most likely victims are middle- and low-income families.” Gardner said that under Trump, America will become even more divided between the rich and poor. “America is already very unequal, and his proposals would make income inequality a lot worse,” Gardner said. “This is obviously quite worrisome. If he rode to victory on a middle-income wave of support, those middle Americans will be very disappointed.” The inequality problem will be exacerbated by Trump’s plan to scrap inheritance tax – which he refers to as “the death tax”. The 40% inheritance tax is currently only charged on personal estate worth more than $5.45 million and joint estates of $10.9 million – sums so large that it only affects less than two in 1,000 Americans. Trump has proposed repealing the tax entirely. While Clinton, pushed by Bernie Sanders’ strong stance on the issue, had suggested lowering the threshold to $3.5 million and increasing the rate to 65% for the super-wealthy. “It’s hard to think of a tax change that will have a more detrimental effect on inequality,” Garnder said. “There is no question that this will lead to a perpetual income elite – hardly the thing that Trump voters would have wanted. This will lead to a new era of dynastic wealth.”

When you spoke with Watt's Mack (1-888-304-6225) about the price and availability of rectangular B-model fuel tanks, what did he say? 40 gallon - 2MB4359RP1 50 gallon - 2MB4359RP2

But they actually don't. Not everyone is adaptable to overseas assignments. A U.S. assignment for Europeans is a dream come true in their eyes.......they hate leaving at the end of their tenure. But other countries, in this case China, require a very special kind of individual that most global companies have few of.

As we mentioned in this week’s newsletter, the market is getting dangerously ahead of itself. Navistar (NAV) reached a high of $31.29 on Wednesday, closing at $31.07. Oshkosh (OSK) virtually reached the $70 level, with a high today of $69.97, closing at $69.93. Paccar (PCAR) reached a high of $62.22, closing at $61.98. We account the market’s significant and rapid advance to a combination of irrational exuberance AND unknown market forces that should be feared. We fully expect insiders to take profits from this market advance, and fear a future drop, as there is little rational underlying support for the S & P’s current record high level. Closing at record highs for three consecutive days, the S & P closed at 2,204.72 on Wednesday. Note: BMT Investors COO Barry Holden announced this week that we have again secured the BlackRock property within the Ocean Reef Club on Key Largo from our investment partner for our winter retreat. BMT Investor members will receive further details over the coming weeks.

New API Diesel Engine Oil Categories Arrive Dec. 1 Heavy Duty Trucking / November 22, 2016 The American Petroleum Institute's new diesel engine oil-service categories, API CK-4 and FA-4, will begin appearing in the marketplace on December 1. New API Donuts denoting the categories will appear on licensed products and marketing materials allowing consumers to identify oils meeting CK-4 or FA-4, which are expected to be recommended in new owner’s manuals and by engine manufacturers. The new specifications were designed to address the varying needs of engine technologies in aging, new, and in-use on- and off-highway applications to help diesel engine manufacturers meet stringent emissions and fule-mileage requirements. “December 1 is an industry milestone as it marks the first day new API CK-4 and FA-4 engine oils can be marketed and sold on retail shelves or in bulk,” said Kevin Ferrick, senior manager of API’s Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System. “The time between approval of the categories last winter and the first licensing on December 1 gave large, medium, and small oil marketers the ability to test their new formulations and ready them for market. This signals the culmination of almost nine years of cross-industry collaboration in the development of the new standards.” API CK-4 oils will replace current API CJ-4 engine oils and will be backwards-compatible for most applications for which engine manufacturers currently recommend CJ-4. The new CK-4 oils will provide a number of improvements over CJ-4, including improved shear stability, oxidation resistance, and aeration control. API FA-4 oils will provide similar improvements over CJ-4 oils, but it is important to note that FA-4 oils are only intended for use in newer on-highway diesel engines. FA-4 oils will have limited or no backwards compatibility with on- and off-highway diesel engines for which engine manufacturers have recommended CJ-4. While not specifically backwards-compatible, FA-4 oils are expected to play an important role in some current and new diesel engines by protecting those engines and at the same time helping them meet more stringent emissions anf fuel-mileage requirements. CK-4 and FA-4 oils are designed for different applications. This means technicians and consumers will need to check their owner’s manuals or with engine manufacturers to determine which oil is right for their vehicle. API developed two visually different API Service Symbol Donuts so that consumers can easily distinguish between the two categories. The new API FA-4 Donut features a shaded section to differentiate API FA-4 oils from CK-4 oils. The API CK-4 Donut will look the same as the current CJ-4 Donut. To find out if you are supposed to use CK-4 or FA-4 oil, check with your owner’s manual and your engine manufacturer. You can also visit the API website www.DieselOilMatters.com for more information about the new API CK-4 and FA-4 service categories and their use in on- and off-highway diesel vehicles and equipment. .

Betsy DeVos Post: Secretary of Education Previous experience in education: NONE Age: 59 in January 2017 Schooling: DeVos attended Holland Christian High School and graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a bachelor's degree in business administration and political science. A Trump critic: This past March, DeVos said "I don't think he [Trump] represents the Republican party. I think he is an interloper." Background: A billionaire republican donor from Michigan and former Michigan republican party chairwoman. Her husband, who unsuccessfully ran for Michigan governor in 2006, is heir to the Amway fortune. DeVos is described as an American politician, businesswoman, philanthropist, and “education activist”. DeVos is an advocate of Republican-favored charter schools, which are publicly funded and set up - outside the state school system - by teachers, parents, or community groups. Devos has also previously supported the Common Core education standards that Trump has vowed to eliminate, a federal maths and reading syllabus set up in most states. Trump calls the Common Core program a "disaster".

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley Post: US ambassador to the United Nations Previous Experience in foreign affairs: NONE Age: 45 in January 2017 Schooling: Nikki attended Orangeburg Preparatory Schools. She graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Background: Born Nimrata "Nikki" Randhawa to Indian parents, Nikki Haley was raised in a Sikh household. She is currently governor of South Carolina. During the presidential campaign, Haley supported Florida Senator Marco Rubio and then Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Haley criticizes Trump: Haley strongly attacked Trump's proposal to ban Muslim immigrants, describing it as "un-American". Trump criticizes Haley: "She’s weak on illegal immigration, and she certainly has no trouble asking me for campaign contributions because over the years she’s asked me for a hell of a lot of money in campaign contributions. So, it’s sort of interesting to hear her. Perhaps if I weren’t running, she would be in my office asking me for money," Trump said.

Deutz Press Release / November 23, 2016 At Bauma China 2016, Asia’s biggest trade fair for construction equipment, Deutz has unveiled their new TCD 9.0 four-cylinder diesel engine. The 9.0-liter engine is the first in a new generation of engines that DEUTZ is planning as part of an alliance with the Liebherr Group. As well as the TCD 9.0, the new engine family will also include six-cylinder diesel engines. Production of TCD 9.0 will begin initially at Deutz’s plant in Dalian, China. The larger engine models produced by Liebherr within this cooperation will be sold by DEUTZ under its own brand. The TCD 9.0 is rated at 300 kW (402 hp) and 1,700 N·m (1,254 lb-ft) of torque. It features a highly compact design for easy installation in a wide range of applications including excavators and wheel loaders. The new engine series is being developed for the EU Stage V, US Tier 4, China IV and EU Stage IIIA emissions standards and will be ready to go into series production in 2019. “By adding new engines from the alliance with Liebherr, we are enhancing our product portfolio and can now cover further power output ranges and applications. Furthermore, having the TCD 9.0 made in Dalian will give us the proximity to our Chinese partners that we need. We continue to see a great deal of growth potential in this market when it comes to advanced technology,” said Deutz board of management Michael Wellenzohn. .

Associated Press / November 23, 2016 Wal-Mart intentionally failed to pay hundreds of truck drivers in California the minimum wage, a federal jury decided Wednesday, awarding the drivers more than $54 million in damages and opening up the retail giant to additional penalties. The seven jurors returned the verdict in a lawsuit accusing the company of not properly paying drivers in accordance with California law for activities that included inspecting and washing their trucks and for layovers. The company argued that the drivers are paid for activities that include those tasks and that they are not working during layovers. Scott Edelman, an attorney for Wal-Mart, said he was pleased to win seven of 11 claims. "The findings on the other claims were dictated, we believe, by juror instructions that the court gave that were wrong and will be the subject of post-trial motions and, if necessary, an appeal," he said. A spokesman said Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is likely to appeal. Randy Hargrove said in a statement that the company's drivers are among the highest-paid in the industry, earning from about $80,000 to over $100,000 per year. Wal-Mart believes "that our truck drivers are paid in compliance with California law and often in excess of what California law requires," Hargrove said. More than 800 drivers who worked for Wal-Mart between October 2005 and October 2015 sought $72 million in damages, the bulk of it for layovers when they say they are required to stay with their trucks. Their attorneys said at trial that additional damages and penalties could push the total Wal-Mart owed to more than $150 million. A judge will determine civil penalties. "The facts in the law clearly show that these drivers were not paid for all the duties they did, like the pre-and post-trip inspections, and they were not paid for their rest breaks," said Butch Wagner, attorney for the drivers. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. — the nation's largest private employer — has faced other criticism over its pay and treatment of U.S. employees. The company announced last year that it was giving a raise to about a half-million U.S. workers. The raises were part of a $1 billion investment that the retailer said also was intended to give workers more opportunities to advance and more consistent schedules. Wal-Mart drivers are not paid by the hour. Wages are based on mileage and specified activities. The drivers' attorneys pointed to a ruling in their favor from U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who said last year that Wal-Mart would be in violation of California law if it enforced its driver pay manuals because they say no pay is earned for certain tasks. The company argued that it paid drivers for activities that included other, smaller tasks and could not have a separate payment designation for everything they did, some of which took just minutes. At trial, Edelman likened what the plaintiffs were asking for to a baker who charges a flat fee for a cake, not the individual tasks of buying the eggs, putting the cake in the oven or cleaning the dishes after. "When you pay a baker $20 to bake a cake, what are you paying that baker to do?" Edelman said during his closing argument. "Is it just to put the cake in the oven for however long? Because that's essentially what the plaintiffs are arguing." Wal-Mart pays drivers $42 for 10-hour overnight layovers as an extra benefit, but it does not control their time during that period, Edelman said. Drivers are free to go to the movies, exercise or do other activities, he said.

From what I heard, an inconsiderate and uncultured local was either blocking the entrance to his driveway or was in it. Tact doesn't really work, in the sense that another local will be doing the same thing there tomorrow or the next.

Reuters / November 22, 2016 Daimler has apologized and reassigned a senior executive from his job after he made disparaging comments in a row over a parking space in China. Rainer Gaertner, Daimler's trucks and buses president in the country, also used pepper spray on bystanders who intervened. The incident took place in a Beijing car park on Sunday. Daimler said it was "a purely private issue, which has now been resolved in an amicable manner". The argument, involving strong language, began when Gaertner drove his car into a parking space in the Beijing suburb of Shunyi ahead of a local driver. A quarrel ensued during which the Daimler executive said: "I have been in China one year already; the first thing I learned here is: All you Chinese are bastards." Gaertner’s dispute was with a Chinese driver at a residential community in Beijing's northeastern Shunyi District. Passersby were drawn to the quarrel and tried to defend the Chinese driver. In a statement, Daimler said: "Such an incident reflects in no way the values of Daimler and we sincerely apologize for the concerns raised by this matter. "The nature of the dispute and in particular the manner in which it was conducted, irrespective of any comments alleged to have been made, is adjudged to be not only of concern to the public but viewed by us as detrimental to the standing of our company, unbecoming of a manager of our brand and prejudicial to our good name," Daimler said. Daimler added that Chinese authorities have closed their investigation into the incident. Despite the fallout, Daimler said Gaertner remains an employee of Daimler and will be moved to a new role. .

Volkswagen CEO sees no diesel in future of U.S. business Reuters. /. November 23, 2016 Volkswagen will no longer offer diesel vehicles in the U.S., its global brand chief said on Tuesday, ending speculation the company might return to the technology after its emissions scandal fades from memory. The comments by Volkswagen brand CEO Herbert Diess, first reported by European business daily Handelsblatt and confirmed to Reuters by a VW spokesman, were the strongest yet to deny the possibility that diesel -- once a quarter of the brand's U.S. sales -- could be a part of Volkswagen's future U.S. lineup. Volkswagen reached a $14.7 billion settlement with 475,000 U.S. owners of diesel vehicles and federal and California regulators in October after admitting to installing secret software in its diesel cars to cheat emissions tests. In September, Diess told Reuters at the Paris Auto Show the company was not yet ready to abandon diesel technology, and could continue to offer diesel models for the U.S. market. Just last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Hinrich Woebcken, told reporters he did not believe diesel would ever "come back in the same magnitude as we've seen it up to now" in the U.S. market. "Emissions standards in following years are getting tougher and tougher," Woebcken said. "Why don't you put the money and investments ... to comply with these standards, why don't you put the money on the spot where the future is?" he asked, speaking of VW's new focus on electric vehicles. Luxury car brand Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, still sees a diesel vehicle as possible, its Americas president said last week. "Once we hopefully get past everything, I see an opportunity for potentially, probably to offer it on one model, and that model would probably be the Q7 SUV," Audi of America President Scott Keogh told Reuters.

The day one itinerary appears to have been reduced from 21 items to 6. No mention of a wall, and he will not prosecute Hillary Clinton (21 item list at beginning of thread) .