Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

Karen_S · June 2002

Even though it's "real" time for most of us :-), the time stamp will be returning to PT eventually.

KarenS
Host
Owners Clubs

PS> Congrats to Brazil! The final match with Germany should be exciting.

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

Well, another fine day for Worldcom, America's favorite phone company. The CEO announced that they hid operating costs of $3.8 billion as capital expenses (think Enron, Global Crossing) and he was SURPRISED! (yeah, right!).With our stock being suspended from trading (after-hours had it down to 20 cents a share) and talk of bankruptcy, I wonder why I'm actually here at work. They are talking about a cut of 17,000 employees, though I heard we are safe), but this bankruptcy thing scares me. Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck in the next few weeks.

ateixeira · June 2002

Good luck, but polish that resume just in case.

-juice

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

yep...its funny, the last few days, we've been talking about joining a home exchange and trying to find a place in Italy for a year...it may be a good time?

bsvoller · June 2002

We'll keep our fingers crossed for you. I'm going to have to pull all of my stock out of the market and wait till this blows over.

Don't get me started on appropriate punishments for these yahoo CEO's who've been bleeding their companies dry for personal benefit for the last 5 years, and now want to claim Alzheimer's. Outrageous. Words fail me, and that just doesn't happen very often (grrrrh).

'nuf said

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

I agree with you 100%. Look at Worldcom's previous CEO, Bernie Ebbers...they lent him a total of $360 million, which he is supposed to pay back over the next 5 years...to whom? The new CEO, Sidgemore, says he was surprised about the accounting tricks, but he's been on the board for quite a while and has been Vice chairman. Who does he think he's kidding...not the SEC, I hope.

ateixeira · June 2002

What better timing? The job market here isn't all that good.

-juice

bsvoller · June 2002

The list of abuses is seemingly endless. I believe the Wall Street Journal did a recent expose, which was reprinted in our local paper. Absolutely hair raising. These "loans" to members of the board that then get "forgiven". Wow. And to some extent, it's a small cadre of people who sit on each other's boards and approve this stuff for each other.

I'm generalizing here, I know, but I'm sorry, there is a pattern of abuse and it's no figment of my imagination.

These same people then turn around and complain that they just can't afford a decent raise for the rank and file, or that cafe restrictions are too expensive, or that emissions standards are unrealistic or whatever. What could they have done with a few hundred million more in R&D ?

And these guys want to pass themselves off as "pillars of the community" ?! Many are the very same people who stand up on their bully pulpits and scream bloody murder about moral bankruptcy in our culture. What ever happened to corporate citizenship ? What ever happened to personal service to the community ? What ever happened to fiduciary responsibilites ?

Talk about hypocrisy. Unbelievable.

hypov · June 2002

Worldcom, Enron, Global Crossing...
the fallouts are hitting the banks pretty 'good'.
Look out for added cost to bank your money.

-Dave

ateixeira · June 2002

Actually, it's in the BILLIONS, not millions. Yikes.

Front page of the Washinton Post today.

-juice

rbleland · June 2002

As a financial broker in western Canada, I am painfully aware of the crisis in investor confidence, brought on, in part, by the Enron, Global Crossings, Adelphias, and now WordComms. I have never seen people so pessimistic and afraid to invest in anything!! As I am also a Cdn Chartered Accountant (like CPA in U.S.), I know a little of the problems caused by the lack of integrity the public accountants appear to be displaying. I may follow Ross to early retirement on the Coast!!
Rick

hypov · June 2002

at least you get a good shot at retiring.
I probably have to paint my Soobie "taxi" yellow and put a meter in it

-Dave

ateixeira · June 2002

OK, Rick, just don't sell the Subie! ;-)

-juice

PS New job starts July 1, but I don't move until July 15

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

I'll have to sell all my Hot Wheels and 1/43rd scale cars! (but I'll keep my redlines)

rbleland · June 2002

Yep, the TS is a keeper - probably fit in well with the "granola" culture more prevelant on the Coast LOL. Seriously, these last 2 years have had a double impact on me, however, as my investment (read retirement) assets have declined, so has my income (at a time when I wanted it to be higher as a final burst!!). Oh well, I'm only 58 so maybe a work a bit longer?!? Not much we can do - so let's carry on. At least we have fun/practical cars to drive.
Rick

bsvoller · June 2002

Friends of ours lost 6 figures in their retirement account due to the Qwest mess. And Nacchio got a raise last year, and severance when they finally dumped him.

rbleland · June 2002

I have Hot Wheels, lots of 1/43 stuff and 1/18 also AWA old road maps, signs, books and lots of other auto-related collector stuff. E-Bay here i come as I just got a new Canon PowerShot G2 digital a while ago. Back in the chips!!

Rick

ateixeira · June 2002

Time to eBay some of that stuff?

Are 15" steelies worth anything if I only have 3? What about wheel covers? My old AM/FM/tape desk?

Just curious.

-juice

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

Before you sell, email me a list and photos of your Hot Wheels and 1/43rd scale cars

rbleland · June 2002

Would your 15" steelies fit an Isetta (sic?)?? Hey, you can try anything on E-Bay; might be someone crazy enuff to buy anything. I have been a buyer, but not yet a seller on E-Bay. May change that soon (because I need to lighten my load of "stuff").
Rick

rbleland · June 2002

Will do but I'm not quite ready to go yet. I have to figure out the mechanics of selling on E-Bay first. Would likely keep my HW's but sell the 1/43 et al.
Rick

kate5000 · June 2002

What is most upsetting, those CEOs/CFOs ALWAYS get a golden parachute, no matter how badly they screwed up. Most likely, they'll end up running yet another company into the ground, while getting those humanogous compensation packages. Not only loans are "forgiven", I've heard of some cases when board votes for negative (!) interest on the loan, so the CEO gets both prinicipal and interest on the "borrowed" money.
arrgh... let's talk about Subies, please ?

subearu · June 2002

if you follow Milwaukee news, you probably have heard about the county execs that wrote themselves a nice pension bonus by cashing it out early. forced a recall election from the people to oust the county supervisor that was behind it, but he still got a hefty 'severence' for leaving.

-Brian

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

Bernie Ebbers, founder and until 2 months ago when he was forced to resign, CEO of Worldcom, is to get $1,000,000 per year until his death, then his wife is supposed to get $500,000. This is the man who took the company down the tubes.
P.S. I love my subie! (that is also a play on words...Susan uses her maiden name which starts with B; thus Sue B.)

ateixeira · June 2002

Sorry for the OT question, but what fees does eBay charge? Seller or buyer?

I've offered the rims here for free but noone has shown interest (probably because they are not a complete set).

-juice

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

the seller pays the final value fee, which depends on the amount. somewhere here, there are explanations on fees

http://pages.ebay.com/services/index.html

armac13 · June 2002

There is room for a FEW more retirees in the Valley, so feel free to join me.
:-)
Actually I would enjoy it if you came for a visit. Subarus are endemic here, especially the old granola DL & GL models. I think that there is a special Subaru bylaw: All modern Outbacks must be Wintergreen. Legacys can be any colour.

Ross, Poor in money but rich in retirement

rbleland · June 2002

It may happen too! Comox Valley is one area Bev & I are interested in, as well as the Sunshine Coast area. We were thinking of about 3 to 5 years from now; however, with the world capital markets in the current condition they are, we might go earlier than that. Bev is a teacher and that business isn't getting any easier either. I'm sure there would be lots of the older Subies there!! One should decide before "allowable retiree quota" is used up and the doors are closed! I might have to use my Subie granola rights to get in. Maybe B.C. will boom again when all current "boomers" look to quit and live somewhere more pleasant the Regina or Toronto.

Rick (still working).

kate5000 · June 2002

Given the state of my 401(k) (yes I believed those financial gurus and invested in stock mutual funds -- not aggressive or international but middle of the road US mixed cap) I'll never be able to retire... Grrr. At least I'm still enjoying my Forester.

armac13 · June 2002

Ross

lucien2 · June 2002

sort of, of corporate silliness, why is it that I had to get my UK Car magazine to read that GM is deleting ABS and side airbags as standard equipment on most models in an effort to save money? What the hell is that all about?? Seems a silly way to save, especially in lawsuit-happy America.

All I have to say is, they better leave Subaru alone.

nygreg · June 2002

for depressing me this morning. Ross - I think I need you to come out of retirement.

How's this: I have three beautiful daughters and a beautiful wife, the sun is shinning this morning, saw a beautiful rainbow yesterday after a wonderful thunderstorm (Subie loved it), it is Thursday, and I will have 5 days off next week (July 4th).

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

Enjoy your vacation!

nygreg · June 2002

ateixeira · June 2002

Loosh: AN wrote about that, too, in fact I mentioned it in the Cafe.

Hard to believe, but GM cut ABS in order to compete with the Koreans on the low end. Worse, the savings were tiny, a couple hundred per car, I think $150 IIRC.

-juice

lilbluewgn02 · June 2002

I think to cut safety features when the buying public (except for SUV buyers) is becoming more safety-conscious will turn around and bite GM in ...penny-wise and pound-foolish

Kirstie_H · June 2002

Dan Barger had a last-minute issue arise and won't be able to join us tonight; HOWEVER, the chat will go on with Heather Christensen and a new guest, Maria Burton, Check Point and Transition Area Manager & Administrative Director.

Hope you can join us at 6pm PT/9 pm ET!

kirstie_h
Roving Host
Edmunds.com

subaru_team · June 2002

I'd love to be in the chat, but the server appears to be busy. I hope it is enjoyable! (I'll keep trying). Make sure you post your thoughts!

Ross - congrats on the new home! I feel rested just reading about it!

Greg - I'm on vacation all of next week too! Lots of activities planned, but all fun stuff.

Have a great week everyone!

Patti

lark6 · June 2002

Enjoy your vacation; I'm sure it's well deserved.

Thanks so much for all your help and advice - to me and the rest of the people on the Town Hall boards - over the past two years. Hope there'll be many more! We've learned that SoA has an ongoing interest in its customers and their wants and that, through the power of the Internet, SoA's customers have become much more savvy as well. (In other words, we know what the rest of the Subaru-owning world gets, and we want some too!)

Ed

ateixeira · June 2002

Chat was cool. The substitute ended up being Ann Hall, an Event Organizer, plus Heather was there from Team Subaru (she's a competitor in the event).

Ann drives a '98 Outback to all the check points, it has 112k miles already!

Heather was tough as nails, if you have the OLN channel at home watch her starting July 7.

-juice

lucien2 · June 2002

does indeed save $120 or so by deleting ABS as standard. The kicker is that it is now a $300 option, or 100% mark-up for a safety feature. Rubbish.

subearu · June 2002

...Subaru doesn't get any ideas to delete AWD as standard and then make it OPTIONAL. GM can decontent as much as they want then, I won't care one bit.

Of course, I wouldn't mind if a TT H4 was optional.

-Brian (papabear)

kate5000 · June 2002

yesterday, about 4:45 pm on north-bound 880. Looks great. Black. I wonder, Bear (of cat_and_bear) was it you by chance?

ateixeira · June 2002

Yeah, Brian, and for $300, while we're at it. A la carte, in any model. :-)

Got the 2nd 6CD changer today, so Sandy is going to be happy. It's actually been a while since the most accessorized Forester in the world got anything new.

-juice

subearu · June 2002

if only a TT H4 cost $300 as an option, boy that would be a price killer! SOA would need more engine plants to keep up with demand. Oh, I suppose the turbo manufacturer would need to step up too.

-Brian (papabear)

ateixeira · June 2002

Sandy had officially been upgraded. She's quite happy. :-)

More details in Mods for anyone interested.

Anyone from the DC area going to the Bel Air meet tomorrow? Wish I could go. There should be freebies, sponsored by SoA. Check it out if you can, Bob, Loosh, Mike, Hutch, other locals.

Go Brazil!

-juice

rsholland · June 2002

Juice, I don't know anything about it!

Bob

lark6 · June 2002

IIRC << >> ?

Congrats juice!

Ed

jfl · June 2002

While cooking breakfast this morning, I thought of Patti's 2nd anniversary here and also of our Edmund's hosts. There was an OT thread from waaaay back about hash browns (started by Graham???) and one of the hosts provided a really great recipe.

So, THANKS to Patti and SoA and also to Edmund's and their hosts. Without them we wouldn't have this wonderful community.

juice - CELEBRATE!!!

Jim

lucien2 · July 2002

I wanted to go (my god, an i-club Mid-A meet that ISN'T in VA!!) but we really, REALLY need to get this album finished. It's almost a year behind schedule thanks to this thing called having a life, and Kirsten is going to go postal if we're not finished by September. Me too, for that matter. So no meets for me, and I am pretty much out of the auto-x business until the fall. We're recording every weekend that we aren't traveling for a wedding, anniversary, etc.

It's also why I haven't been in for chats much lately.

Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II

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