Craigslist Overpayment Scam -- My Fake Check!

To my surprise, today I received a UPS letter envelope containing a check for $2,450. From the ATP Oil & Gas Co. in Texas. Which I have never done business with. The return address on the UPS envelope was from a different location, in Minnesota, also a place I had never done business with.

Then I remembered--some guy had emailed me about a camera lens I was trying to sell on eBay, and offered to send me a check for it if I would ship it to him. I said "ok" in case he was legit, but I suspected he wasn't.

So here it is, my trophy. A ridiculously bad fake check. Note the strange mix of fongs -- Arial, Times, and Comic Sans. The smudge from my wetted finger.

Notice the signature. Look familiar? It's George W. Bush!

Bottom line, don't ever accept overpayment for a Craiglist item from a stranger, who wants you to return the overpayment via Western Union. It is 100% scam.

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Bob King's Posturing

The UAW's president, aptly named Bob King, is out in the press landing punches before the first bell.

"I like Alan Mulally. But I just think it's morally wrong," said King, who assumed the leadership of the union last year. "It creates problems for Ford in both the salaried work force and the hourly work force. It seems like one individual is getting all of the gain."

This is typical left wing progressive posturing, setting up class envy as a wedge between the UAW's hourly workers and the managers of the auto companies.

"It seems like one individual is getting all of the gain". What?!? What about the shareholders? From a low of around $1.60, Ford's stock price has recovered to near $15. That is billions of dollars of value returned to stockholders, many of whom happen to be in the UAW. Not to mention jobs saved, direct and indirect. Ford dealer's didn't get crushed the way GM and Chrysler dealers did.

Alan Mullaly, though not single handedly, was a key player in keeping Ford from going bankrupt along with GM and Chrysler. As such, he is very valuable--CEOs who can save companies and preserve billions of dollars of shareholder value are not exactly hiding under every rock. Successful CEOs, like sports stars, have a market value. If Ford didn't offer Mullaly a generous performance based pay package, maybe he wouldn't have come from Boeing to save Ford. Maybe he would have been snapped up by some other company in need of a turn-around.

Maybe Ford would have gone under.

By the way, when was the last time you heard Bob King railing against the excessive pay of his unionized brethren, the professional football players of the NFL?

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Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

At Mercedes-Benz models such as the debut of the new C-Class Coupe, usually only a matter of time, come to the AMG version. Times up, "say hello to 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupe.

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

 Scheduled for next month's New York Auto Show is presented is, C63 AMG Coup� basically a 2012 C63 AMG sedan loaded from a few doors. Either way, you're looking at a V8 engine driving Affalterbach 6.2L 451 hp (481 with optional AMG package development) is to the rear wheels via a seven-speed MCT transmission speed shift pay. Expect upper 4.4-second sprint to sixty miles and an electronically limited 155 hours of storage end trim, or 4.3 seconds and 174 mph in the spec AMG development.

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

 Modern Car of 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coup�

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Spoiler Alert: 2011 12 Hours of Sebring in Book

Spoiler Alert: 2011 12 Hours of Sebring in book

Running 2011 from the historic 12 Hours of Sebring officially ended and the results showed several hats veteran and newcomer surprises on the podium. There are many measures that are obtained in the class, also several impressive comebacks and debuts.

audi

Spoiler Alert: 2011 12 Hours of Sebring in book

Loic Duval took the checkered flag in the team as a whole and Peugeot 908 HDi FAP ORECA Matmut, ORECA their first win since sweeping GT Sebring in 2000 in a factory-supported Dodge Viper. Simon Duval keep Highcroft Racing ARX Pagenaud in his HPD-01e and the factory Peugeot 908 driven by Frank Montagny, Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy. The race was in the final seconds, with all three podium finishers on the lead lap. The second factory entered Peugeot fell with the No. 2 Audi R15 Plus, ended run both cars in the pits. Audi both missed chances with tire problems. 

Spoiler Alert: 2011 12 Hours of Sebring in book

Spoiler Alert: 2011 12 Hours of Sebring in book

Spoiler Alert: 2011 12 Hours of Sebring in book

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Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

 Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

Renault released the new MPV future vehicles, namely Renault R-space concept. The concept of the R-space exhibition at the Geneva Motor Show 2011th Renault R-Space based record but smaller. Interior like Cash Cab is designed to make the transport of children with a simple task. In perhaps the most interesting features and show car-like, no control less than 27 small motors hexahedron-shaped platform adjusts in the back of the R-space.

 Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

 Engine R-Space can be modulated to produce a flat space, booster seat, table or freestyle area for the children to sit down and play. In our view, the rear looks like a bar graph to come to life. When the switch back again on the seats, the R-space instead. The device is good for 110 hp and 118 pound-feet of torque, with power to flow to the wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox. MPV also beautiful green - it produces just 95 g / km CO2 reach, while 64 miles per gallon.

 Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

 Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

 Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

 Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

 Modern Car OF Renault R-space concept in Geneva 2011: Future Vehicles MPV

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The PS Fluid Flush Scam, AGAIN

I got my oil changed the other day. I do it at my dealership because they give me points I can use to get free service, so it works out to be a reasonable deal. This time, they did the "we recommend you flush your power steering fluid' pitch on me, going so far as offering to show me that it was "dirty". Upon inspection my fluid (which is about 50,000mi old) was a medium cherry color, like cherry coke. Not very dirty.

Here's the truth. Power steering fluid is good for well over 100,000 miles in normal usage. It changes color because it leaches carbon black and other chemicals from the rubber power steering hoses and fittings. Just because it is dark does not mean it is damaged.

When should you flush your power steering fluid? If it gets overheated (not sure how, perhaps failing pump?), or contaminated. And you don't need to power flush it, you can simply suck it out with a turkey baster and refill the reservoir. According to an expert on this subject, who I happen to know, there has been no proven benefit from power steering pressure flushing.

When the dealer pushes you to change your power steering fluid, he is really just trying to improve his profit margin on your sale.

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SPD WTF

This morning, I was driving in to work and noticed the local "Irish" bar had people huddled in the doorway, waiting for the place to open for service.

It was 8:30 am.

If I was Irish I think I would be annoyed that my cultural heritage was being used an excuse to drink all day.

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