Ford Labeled with the Mark of the Beast

Photo courtesy of Ford

I get emails from random people from time to time about the many conspiracies that are run in the automotive and business worlds. Some of the accusations are just plain ridiculous: there is a car that can run on pure water that Detroit has been sabotaging (Japan and Germany are in on it as well, people), hydrogen fuel is being sabotaged by Elon Musk (OPEC is helping him out), and that I'm part of a plan to spread libel about Tesla (I secretly hate all electricity).

The 2016 Volvo XC90 is Incredibly Safe and Nobody is Shocked

Images courtesy of Volvo

When most people think about car safety, Volvo inevitably comes to mind. Why not? The Swedish automaker has pushed for increasingly safer vehicles over the years, creating the three-point safety belt and other technologies that have saved numerous lives. Even though recently some people have accused Volvo of slipping when it comes to how safe its vehicles are in relation to the competition, the company has gone out and flexed it safety muscles once more with the all-new 2016 XC90 crossover.

Rolling Coal: a Personal Story

I live in the state of Utah, where there are a number of pickup trucks and big SUVs. I understand how legitimate the need for such vehicles are for a number of people, having driven some myself, including for jobs. That being said, I have no tolerance for the practice of rolling coal, and here's part of the reason why.

Another GM Embarrassment from the Past

Photo courtesy of GM

I could write a whole book about the many GM embarrassments from the past, including the "brilliant" plan of making tires in-house, the Cadillac Cimmaron, killing off more car brands than (probably) any other company out there, etc. 

This is NOT How to Get Out of a Speeding Ticket!

Photo courtesy of Ford

Unless you are one of the lucky few, you know the dread of being pulled over by the police. Oftentimes it's for speeding, an infraction many are guilty of and few think about until it's too late. If you do happen to get pulled over by the police, there are of course things you should and should not do. For example, don't make any sudden moves, because the police never know if you are going for a weapon or not. You should be courteous to the officer, even if you felt you did nothing wrong, but that doesn't mean you have to be a complete doormat.

Motorists, Pedestrians, Cyclists, etc.

Image courtesy of Volvo Cars

For some weird reason, the people who taught me to drive a car reinforced one truism over and over: I was handling a large, heavy machine capable of dolling out great destruction and even death. Driving wasn't treated as a right but rather as the privilege that it is. I was also taught to be respectful of others' space on the roads.

Hagwalah: How People Tempt Death on the Arabian Peninsula

If you've never heard of hagwalah, you're definitely not alone. Most people in the Western Hemisphere know nothing of the insane "sport" that not only youth, but even grown men who live on the Arabian Peninsula engage in.