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In 2009 President Obama called for major reforms as we were desperately trying to climb from the depths of the financial crisis, and we've achieved the vast majority of his goals. Congresswoman Maloney took a leadership role on enacting financial reform legislation as a conferee to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This landmark legislation helped restore the economy and continues to protect Americans from unscrupulous behavior by improving transparency and accountability. It helped provide market stability so that more than 12 million private sector jobs could be created. The unemployment rate was cut in half, and our economy continues to grow in part because of the reforms we put in place.
Brief Summary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Years without accountability for Wall Street and big banks under Republican rule brought us the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, cost us 8 million jobs, and wiped out the retirement security for tens of millions of Americans.
The most comprehensive and common sense reforms in generations restored responsibility and accountability to the financial system, and will empower consumers with information to make the best choices on their homes, credit cards, and savings for college and retirement. Wall Street Reform is key to creating a strong new foundation to grow the economy and create jobs.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LEGISLATION
Consumer Protections with Authority and Independence: Creates a new independent watchdog, housed at the Federal Reserve, with the authority to ensure American consumers get the clear, accurate information they need to shop for mortgages, credit cards, and other financial products, and to protect them from hidden fees, abusive terms, and deceptive practices.
Ends Too Big to Fail Bailouts: Ends the possibility that taxpayers will be asked to write a check to bail out financial firms that threaten the economy by: creating a safe way to liquidate failed financial firms; imposing tough new capital and leverage requirements that make it undesirable to get too big; updating the Fed's authority to allow system-wide support but no longer prop up individual firms; and establishing rigorous standards and supervision to protect the economy and American consumers, investors and businesses.
Advance Warning System: Creates a council to identify and address systemic risks posed by large, complex companies, products, and activities before they threaten the stability of the economy.
Transparency & Accountability for Exotic Instruments: Eliminates loopholes that allow risky and abusive practices to go unnoticed and unregulated -- including loopholes for over-the-counter derivatives, asset-backed securities, hedge funds, mortgage brokers and payday lenders.
Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance: Provides shareholders with a say on pay and corporate affairs with a non-binding vote on executive compensation and golden parachutes.
Protects Investors: Provides tough new rules for transparency and accountability for credit rating agencies to protect investors and businesses.
Enforces Regulations on the Books: Strengthens oversight and empowers regulators to aggressively pursue financial fraud, conflicts of interest and manipulation of the system that benefits special interests at the expense of American families and businesses.
More on Dodd-Frank Act
Maloney Expresses Strong Opposition to Dodd Frank Roll Back Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investment on the House Committee on Financial Services, released the following statement after taking to the House floor today to urge a no vote on S.2155, a bill that would roll back Dodd-Frank enacted consumer and investor protections.
Rep. Maloney on House Passage of the CHOICE Act
Jun 8, 2017 Press Release
"Today, House Republicans, against the recommendations of consumer rights' groups and those in the financial services industry, and without the support of a single Democrat, passed the Financial CHOICE Act. This shortsighted and misguided bill will roll back key protections Congress put in place after the financial crisis to prevent a repeat of events and will take us back to the regulatory Stone Age.
Rep. Maloney Condemns Financial Services Committee Republicans' Passage of Financial CHOICE Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investment, condemned Republican's passage of the Financial CHOICE Act out of Committee today. The bill, should it become law, will repeal the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and roll back the important protections put in place after the financial crisis.
Rep. Maloney Slams Financial CHOICE Act, Warns it Would Take U.S. Back to Pre-Financial Crisis Conditions
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investment, during today's Committee on Financial Services full committee hearing, slammed the Republican-proposed Financial CHOICE Act which would repeal the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and roll back the important protections put in place after the financial crisis.
Maloney Offers Amendment to Maintain Dodd-Frank Protections Against Taxpayer Bailouts of Banks
Feb 28, 2017 Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investment, introduced an amendment to protect the Orderly Liquidation Authority of Dodd-Frank, which ensures that taxpayers don't have to bailout failing financial institutions. The amendment was offered during the House Financial Service Committee's consideration of its budget views and estimates. The Congresswoman released the following statement after offering the amendment.
Congresswoman Presses Regulators on Volcker Rule Data
A senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee is pressing regulators to share two years of market data they have collected in connection with the Volcker Rule, a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act intended to rein in banks' risky trading and investments.
Rep. Maloney Asks Financial Regulators for Volcker Rule Data Update
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and GSEs, today sent a letter to U.S. financial regulators asking for an update on the ongoing implementation of the Volcker Rule. In the letter to the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congresswoman requested "an update on the quantitative trading metrics that the agencies have been collecting" under the Volcker Rule.
Rep. Maloney on 6th Anniversary of Dodd-Frank
Jul 21, 2016 Press Release
Marking the sixth anniversary of Dodd-Frank, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), member of the Dodd-Frank conference committee, senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, released the following statement.
Maloney Marks Fifth Anniversary of Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
WASHINGTON – Today Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, marked the five year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on July 21, 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act was enacted in response to the 2008 financial crisis, which brought the American economy to the brink of another Great Depression.
Statement of Representative Carolyn Maloney on H.R. 4173, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Jun 30, 2010 Press Release
Thank you Chairman Frank for yielding, for your leadership and for presiding over the most open and transparent conference process in history.
The Dodd/Frank bill is landmark legislation which will protect consumers and investors, while allowing our financial services industry to continue financing the creativity and innovation, which has, even in these difficult times, made the American economy the envy of the world.


When one reaches the Pinnacle of Consciousness, they experience their wisdom and knowledge expand. When you reach that pinnacle, the physical journey and the expenditure of energy ceases—and you rest. The pinnacle is to see all things in alignment in your life for the accomplishment of the goals that you have chosen and the path of the soul that you have identified since the beginning of time. When you reach the pinnacle, it is easier to go down into the world bringing with you what you have learned from this higher perspective.
The pinnacle is not perfection; the pinnacle is the power to be in dominion of all things in your life. Like the sleeping bear in the cave of consciousness, you awake after a winter of isolation and awaken to the spring of renewal and light. That is the pinnacle when the road ahead is trust. When time, focus and intent have won over distraction, frustration and disappointment. The day will come when you will look back and see the perfect path that has led you to the perfect expression of the path of your soul. You have survived. You have rendezvoused with yourself and moved through this process together, sometimes friends, sometimes adversaries. You have not toppled off the mountain or blown from the wind. But you will stand upon the pinnacle where all of your efforts will be made known.
The Pinnacle of Consciousness is not an end—it is a beginning. The pinnacle is the highest point known to man and the bridge for humanity into the higher Consciousness. The pinnacle is a representation of increased vision, of separation from the distractions of the world. The pinnacle is symbolic of the higher consciousness, as is the sky. Ancients built upon the high places. The pinnacle is when you have come close enough to touch the mind of God. And all is well in your world.


Barton is famous, isn't he?
Surya said he feels great.
Shawn felt a tap on the shoulder.
Clay had a lot of work to do yesterday afternoon.
Irving got a kick out of the way Rand told the story.
All teachings were translated beautifully by Frederick into English as hardly anyone could understand any Esperanto.
Pratt and Jacobson are good people.
Revised held the knife between his teeth as he untied the knot.
Gil is going to love it here.
Are you going to see Franklin tonight?
How do you know about Pandora?
Did Metin say why he wanted to quit?
I thought you said Miles had no facial hair.
Piercarlo stays inside all day staring at the computer.
Joni sat down on the couch next to Sergei.
Jeffie was surprised when Hirotoshi asked him out on a date.
I have to introduce Irving to the manager.
What was Ethan doing here?
Why are you so interested in what Alexander thinks?
Loukas had his house painted last summer.
I don't like the idea of Don going out with Sidney.
I want Gregge to suffer.
Ned died of liver cancer.
Why don't you just let Raman talk?
Robbin is going to be really proud.


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https://www.barrons.com/articles/yet-another-niche-etf-launches-digital-sports-betting-and-online-casinos-51591291370
Yet Another Niche ETF Launches: Digital Sports Betting and Online Casinos
June 4, 2020 1:22 pm ET
Photograph by Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
There may not be hockey or basketball, but investors can now place their bets on a niche exchanged-trade fund that invests in digital sports wagering and online casinos.
Roundhill Investments, which has an esports ETF that is up 28.5% since its inception a year ago, on Thursday launched the Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF (ticker: BETZ).
The ETF is designed to track the online sports betting and online casino sector, according to Roundhill. Holdings include names like DraftKings, (DKNG), FanDuel parent Flutter Entertainment (FLTR:Ireland), and even traditional gaming firms invested in the space like Eldorado Resorts (ERI) and Penn National Gaming (PENN). But it also includes firms that provide infrastructure or technology to such companies, like Kambi Group (KMBIF:Sweden) and Gan (GAN).
Roundhill describes it as the first ETF "globally designed to track the online sports betting and online casino sector."
The esports ETF, called Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF (NERD), has assets of $17 million. The new ETF has $1.5 million in assets under management.
Thematic ETFs have been gaining traction, particularly those that fit with a stay-at-home environment for many Americans, including cloud computing, robotics and videogames, Todd Rosenbluth, head of ETF & mutual fund research at CFRA, said in an email.
"Investors need to truly believe in the long term investment theme to use a small portion of their portfolio's assets to either of these themes as the risk and the reward is much higher," he said, referring to the themes of these two ETFs.
Roundhill co-founder Will Hershey told Barron's his firm seeks to find sectors it thinks are a secular growth story, esports and online sports betting being two of them.
"In the case of online sports betting and online casino you not only have tailwinds from a broader shift from brick and mortar to digital, but also regulatory momentum, particularly in the U.S.," Hershey wrote in an email.
Though more than 15 states allow online sports gambling in some capacity, only a few like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada offer online casino-style gambling. But budget deficits caused by Covid-19 has led some bulls to speculate holdouts will expand their offerings to raise tax revenue.
"On the regulatory side, I expect that states will move quickly towards full legalization, especially due to the budget deficits that have arisen due to COVID-19," Hershey added.
The hottest name in the ETF, Draftkings, went public in April through a merger with special-purpose acquisition firm Diamond Eagle Acquisition. Even with sports out of the picture, the company has found alternatives like ping pong, Korean baseball, and even professional videogaming to help fill the void. The stock has posted triple-digit percentage gains since the Diamond Eagle merger on April 27.
In total, the Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF has 30 holdings, with exposure to 13 countries. The ETF was up 1.7% to $15.87 on Thursday.
Write to Connor Smith at connor.smith@barrons.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Tucker Mocks Lindsey Graham's 'Fundraising' Fox Interviews: 'It's Political Televangelism'
'SEND ME MONEY!'
Carlson also may have been tweaking his fellow Fox star Sean Hannity, who has hosted Graham dozens of times for friendly chats on his show this year.
Justin Baragona
Media Reporter
Updated Sep. 02, 2021 12:20AM ET / Published Sep. 01, 2021 11:50PM ET
Fox News host Tucker Carlson ridiculed Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Wednesday night for avoiding his show, calling the Republican senator out for running to friendlier Fox programs to beg for money on his "never-ending fundraising tour."
And in the process, Carlson was perhaps tweaking his Fox News primetime colleague Sean Hannity, who has hosted Graham on his show no less than 35 times this year.
Over the past few days, Carlson has devoted near-nightly segments to criticizing Graham over his record as a lawmaker. Last week, for instance, the Fox News star spent the final few minutes of his show railing against the Senate Judiciary Committee member for not doing enough to block President Joe Biden's court picks.
Following that anti-Graham monologue, in which the host called the senator a coward for avoiding his show, a smirking Carlson tapped his papers on his desk and handed his show off to Hannity, who claimed he didn't hear him. Graham then appeared on Hannity's show 30 minutes later.
Having already bashed Graham on Tuesday night for his hawkish support of the Afghanistan War—the senator again appeared on Hannity's show that evening—Carlson expanded his criticism of Graham's Afghanistan record on Wednesday night.
Stating that one of the reasons why Americans were shocked at how quickly Kabul fell is due to Washington leaders falsely painting a rosy picture of the situation in Afghanistan, Carlson said Graham was "one of the main mouthpieces for these lies."
He then highlighted a series of Graham's comments through the years, including the senator expressing support for the 2009 troop surge and claiming in 2011 that America was "on the verge" of winning the war in Afghanistan as long as we didn't accelerate the withdrawal of troops from the region.
"We have a game plan in Afghanistan that I think justifies the expenditures of blood and treasure that's about to come," Graham also said in 2009, prompting Carlson to respond rhetorically.
"So now's the moment to ask, really, Lindsey Graham? What exactly was that 'game plan'?" Carlson wondered aloud. "And at what point did you realize that it wasn't working? Well, if Graham ever knew that his plans were failing, somehow he forgot to mention it to the rest of the country."
Carlson wrapped up his commentary by again slamming Graham for steering clear of his show. He also brought up the South Carolina lawmaker's willingness to debase himself for campaign cash during his other Fox interviews.
"We'd love to know what Lindsey Graham thinks about that," Carlson declared. "You see him on television quite a bit—all the time—on his never-ending fundraising tour. 'I'm a conservative, send me money!' It's political televangelism."
He concluded: "But weirdly, Lindsey Graham won't come on this show, and that's a shame because it would be a worthwhile conversation for everyone. The invitation remains open."
Following the broadcast of his show, Carlson's official Twitter account posted a video clip of the monologue in its entirety. It was the second night in a row that the Fox News star tweeted out one of his anti-Graham segments.
Graham, at least for one night, did not pop up on Hannity.


Tiff Joy, who signed to Vashawn Mitchell earlier this year, celebrated the release of her debut self-titled album on Friday, Nov. 6 at New Life Cathedral in Brooklyn, where JMP Productions and mBarc Marketing hosted an album release event featuring a live performance by the singer/songwriter (other performances included Denise Renee, Durel Hall & Restored, and Vincent Bohanan & SOV).
Being the voice and writer behind Rickey Dillard's "Amazing" and having sang background for gospel artists like Fred Hammond, it's hard to believe this powerhouse vocalist is shy. That night, Tiff Joy described how she's able to step out of her shell to sing by comparing the motion to Beyonce's alter ego, Sasha Fierce.
We got to witness Holy Ghost Tiff on stage, but also got a chance to chat with Tiff Joy off stage to learn more about her new album.
I just love hearing 'Tiff Joy' sing!!!!!


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Recommended Reading: Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English, by Natasha Solomons
by Erika Dreifus on November 23, 2010
MR. ROSENBLUM DREAMS IN ENGLISH
Reagan Arthur Books, 2010. 368 pp. $23.99
Review by Erika Dreifus
By now, we are familiar with literature penned by "2G"-ers, children of the second generation, whose Jewish parents survived Nazi persecution. With time's passage, it was inevitable that we'd begin to see writings from the next generation: the grandchildren.
British writer Natasha Solomons is one such grandchild. The "About the Author" section at this debut novel's end reveals that Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English is based "on her own grandparents' experience." The novel focuses on Jack (né Jakob) Rosenblum, who emigrates from Germany with his wife, Sadie, and their baby daughter in the summer of 1937. Upon arrival, Jack receives a "dusky blue pamphlet entitled While you are in England: Helpful Information and Friendly Guidance for every Refugee." If Jack cherishes a Bible, this pamphlet is it: "He obeyed the list with more fervour than the most ardent Bar Mitzvah boy did the laws of Kashrut…." Over time, he expands and adds to the list based on his own observations.
Sadie Rosenblum does not share her husband's enthusiasm for throwing off their past (or for his "verdammt list"). She is haunted by the family left behind—and lost—in Germany. This domestic conflict underlies the novel. But the challenge that actively propels the plot is Jack's quest to build a golf course in Dorset, which results from his being denied golf-club membership—the final list item, "the quintessential characteristic of the true English gentleman."
This is a gorgeous book, with setting, scenes, and dialogue all artfully managed (an aside: the cover art is equally lovely, although I can't help wishing that this American edition had preserved the British title, Mr. Rosenblum's List: Or Friendly Guidance for the Aspiring Englishman). It is no surprise to discover that Solomons is a screenwriter. Let us hope that she will soon script this story for film.
(This review was published in Jewish Book World, Winter 5771/2010.)
Anglo-Jewish literature, Book reviewing, Holocaust, Recent Reads, Resources for Jewish reading
3 thoughts on "Recommended Reading: Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English, by Natasha Solomons"
Jew Wishes says:
I enjoyed your review! I share your enthusiasm for this wonderful book, and like you, think the cover is gorgeous.
Erika Dreifus says:
Thanks! You know, I debated about included that–should we really judge books by their covers, after all? But I couldn't help myself.
Heidi Estrin says:
I think the old saying of not judging a book by its cover works better for people than for books. The cover (and format in general) of a book is part of the experience of the book, and it does affect your perception of the story to some degree.
Anyway, it sounds like a really interesting and unusual story. Thanks for including it in the December Jewish Book Carnival, and a really big thank you for being the host this month!


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The New Spitfire 9
Heroes Remember
Recommend Video 25 Recommends
We came south again and our life improved a hundred percent. We got the better Spitfires when we went south. And it was just a wonderful relief to feel that you were on an equal footing with the Germans. And they were called Spit 9's, Spitfire 9's and the first ones we got were the A- model which was a high altitude and you could get up to forty thousand feet and freeze to death with no trouble at all. There was no heat in the cockpits, no heat in the cockpits and oh they were cold. And at forty thousand feet it's minus 50, 40, 50 centigrade you know it's really cold. And they gave us sort of submarine socks that pull up here and submarine shirts, sweaters that come down to here. But it was a wonderful feeling to have that and also we started using some long range tanks which would allow you to stay up longer.
Mr. Warren receives a newer Spitfire 9 fighter which is the equal of German fighter aircraft. The new Spitfire can fly at much higher altitude, and with its auxiliary fuel tanks, has a much greater combat range.
Douglas Warren
Douglas Warren was born on May 28, 1922 in Nanton, Alberta. His father, a farmer, was an isolationist emigrant from the United States. One of four children, Mr. Warren had an identical twin brother with whom he was very close. They had always wanted to fly, and enlisted in the Air Force in 1940. Mr. Warren completed his pilot training in High River, Alberta. Once overseas, he joined #165 Spitfire Squadron in Ayr, Scotland, and was involved in the air battle during the Dieppe Raid, as well as later flying cover on bombing raids. He then joined #66 Squadron at Falaise, France, flying the new SpitfireMK9B in ground attack operations. Mr. Warren was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, Mr. Warren's exemplary career continued after permanently joining the RCAF. He became Fighter Leader for Canada's Meteor Jet Squadron, served in the Korean War, was a NATO pilot instructor in Germany, and served time with NORAD. Mr. Warren eventually became Assistant Base Commander at Comox from where he retired with the rank of Wing Commander.
Veterans Affairs Canada
Person Interviewed:
War, Conflict or Mission:
Location/Theatre:
Units/Ship:
Mr. Warren, who enlisted with his identical twin brother, describes an ironic situation which occurs while training in a Link Trainer at High River, Alberta. Mr. Warren's twin is having trouble in this machine, and unbeknown to the instructor, they trade places. Ironically, the marks Mr. Warren gets for his brother are higher than his own.
Aircraft Shortages at Flying School
Mr. Warren describes a shortage of Anson aircraft at Elementary Flying School in High River Alberta. His tongue-in-cheek sense is that more value was placed on recovering the wheels from a downed aircraft than on its pilot. Later, at RAF flying school in Medicine Hat, he retrains in a single engine Harvard which eventually leads him to becoming a fighter pilot.
Air Cover at Dieppe
Mr. Warren discusses the air battle over Dieppe, and the deterrent effect of Allied fighters. He goes on to cite the number of aircraft lost, and explains the discrepancy between claimed and verified German losses on that day.
Value of his Ground Crew
Mr. Warren discusses the importance of his ground crew, and his sense that they were responsible for his safely completing his tour of duty.
Fuel was Critical
Mr. Warren describes several of his combat tasks; sweeps (searching for targets of opportunity), dogfighting and bomber escort. The length of these missions was short due to the Spitfire's small fuel capacity and high consumption rate.
The Spitfire was A Poor Night Fighter
Mr. Warren is in one of three squadrons trained for night fighting. He describes being nearly blinded by flames from his Spitfire's exhaust ports, which made takeoff and landing very difficult.
Radar Operated Rear Turret - Testing
Mr. Warren becomes involved in the testing of a new radar operated gun in a rear bomber turret. His role is to act as the enemy fighter while tests are run on the new radar's accuracy. Mr. Warren is impressed by how well the new technology works.
Radar Operated Rear Turret – Fatal Flight
Mr. Warren is returning to base in formation with the radar equipped bomber, when the bomber suddenly drops its nose and plunges into a pasture, killing all aboard. Sadly, this was to have been the crew's last tour of duty.
Sweeps at the Falaise Gap
Mr. Warren pilots the modified Spitfire 9B, equipped for low level warfare. He describes, with regret, attacking German horse-drawn equipment, as well as the fact anything on the road was fair game. He expresses admiration for German motorcycle riders who were particularly vulnerable to air attack.
A Very Close Call
Mr. Warren's Spitfire is struck by shrapnel or ack-ack, leaving a hole in the cockpit and him with a numb leg. He jettisons his bombs and returns to base. Smelling something burning, his investigation finds a piece of molten metal in a tin box in his tunic pocket. During this clip, Mr. Warren also explains why Spitfire pilots seldom ejected if their plane was shot down.
Perspectives on Death and Danger
Mr. Warren differentiates between how ground and air forces might view targeting the enemy. He also compares the perspectives of ground and air forces in terms of proximity to the enemy.
Reunion with the Dutch Underground
Mr. Warren describes suppression bombing in the Scheldt designed to keep the Germans heads down while the Canadian army advanced. Years later, at a meeting in Holland, he is surprised to be confronted by a member of the World War Two Dutch Resistance who had been in the area at the time of the bombing.
Men who Didn't Have a Chance...
Mr. Warren reflects on his good fortune to have survived the war and offers a poignant in memoriam for those who weren't so fortunate.


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American Airlines, Boeing 767-300, N345AN: Accident occurred October 28, 2016 at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD), Illinois
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N345AN
Accident Number: DCA17FA021
Date & Time: 10/28/2016,
Registration: N345AN
Aircraft: BOEING 767
Defining Event: Uncontained engine failure
Injuries: 1 Serious, 20 Minor, 149 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air Carrier - Scheduled
NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The NTSB's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-18/01.
On October 28, 2016, about 1432 central daylight time, American Airlines flight 383, a Boeing 767-323, N345AN, had started its takeoff ground roll at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, when an uncontained engine failure in the right engine and subsequent fire occurred. The flight crew aborted the takeoff and stopped the airplane on the runway, and the flight attendants initiated an emergency evacuation. Of the 2 flight crewmembers, 7 flight attendants, and 161 passengers on board, 1 passenger received a serious injury and 1 flight attendant and 19 passengers received minor injuries during the evacuation. The airplane was substantially damaged from the fire. The airplane was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The failure of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 disk, which severed the main engine fuel feed line and breached the right main wing fuel tank, releasing fuel that resulted in a fire on the right side of the airplane during the takeoff roll. The HPT stage 2 disk failed because of low-cycle fatigue cracks that initiated from an internal subsurface manufacturing anomaly that was most likely not detectable during production inspections and subsequent in service inspections using the procedures in place. Contributing to the serious passenger injury was (1) the delay in shutting down the left engine and (2) a flight attendant's deviation from company procedures, which resulted in passengers evacuating from the left overwing exit while the left engine was still operating. Contributing to the delay in shutting down the left engine was (1) the lack of a separate checklist procedure for Boeing 767 airplanes that specifically addressed engine fires on the ground and (2) the lack of communication between the flight and cabin crews after the airplane came to a stop.
Turbine section - Failure (Cause)
Fuel system - Damaged/degraded
Use of policy/procedure - Cabin crew (Factor)
Delayed action - Flight crew (Factor)
Lack of communication - Flight crew (Factor)
Lack of communication - Cabin crew (Factor)
Organizational issues
Equipment manufacture - Manufacturer (Cause)
Task design - Manufacturer (Factor)
Takeoff-rejected takeoff
Uncontained engine failure (Defining event)
Fire/smoke (non-impact)
Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Engineer
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Toxicology Performed:
Flight Time: 17400 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4000 hours (Total, this make and model)
Co-Pilot Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: BOEING
Model/Series: 767 323
Airworthiness Certificate: Transport
Serial Number: N345AN
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 220
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/15/2011, Continuous Airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Engines: 2 Turbo Fan
Engine Manufacturer: General Electric
Engine Model/Series: CF6-80C2 B6
Registered Owner: American Airlines Group, Inc.
Rated Power: lbs
Operator: AMERICAN AIRLINES INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Flag carrier (121)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: AALA
Observation Facility, Elevation: KORD
Distance from Accident Site:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2000 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 11°C
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 25000 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots, 180°
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Chicago, IL (KORD)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Miami, FL (KMIA)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 1432 CDT
Airport: Chicago O'Hare International A (KORD)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt; Concrete
Runway Used: 28R
Runway Length/Width: 13000 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor, 8 None
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 19 Minor, 141 None
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 20 Minor, 149 None
Latitude, Longitude: 41.968889, -87.917778
U.S. air-accident investigators have called for upgraded engine-inspection practices and better-coordinated procedures for passenger evacuations, in their final report about a fire that badly damaged an American Airlines Group Inc. jet on a Chicago runway two years ago.
The findings and recommendations released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday stem from an October 2016 accident in which a rare manufacturing defect caused part of the right engine on a Boeing Co. 767 bound for Miami to rupture violently late in the takeoff roll. Metal parts flew as far as 3,000 feet, a fuel leak caused a massive fire under the right wing and all 161 passengers used emergency slides to leave the jet.
There were no fatalities, but the National Transportation Safety Board issued industrywide recommendations for modernized engine inspections and stepped-up airline crew training to ensure safer emergency evacuations.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, United States regulators haven't updated guidance on conducting emergency evacuations for three decades, despite several high-profile examples of problems getting passengers off airliners in just the past few years.
Investigators concluded that a rare manufacturing flaw dating back to the late 1990s—and likely undetectable through recent years—created microscopic cracks in the high-energy internal disc that eventually led to the accident at O'Hare International Airport. General Electric Co. manufactured the engines.
Even with significant safety advances in engines and overall airline performance over the last few decades, "there's still improvements that can be made," said Robert Sumwalt, the safety board's chairman. Inspection methods "that can fail to uncover a defect in a safety critical component of an airliner," he said, "need a closer look.:
Regarding the crew's response, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the pilots, after hearing a loud bang, acted appropriately to halt the takeoff and shut down the damaged engine. But the report was critical of the level of cooperation between the cockpit crew and flight attendants.
Investigators, among other things, found that flight attendants hadn't received adequate training on systems to communicate with the cockpit or passengers. Two attendants told the safety board they couldn't operate the intercoms to contact the pilots, as smoke billowed inside the cabin and passengers disregarded instructions by climbing over seats and insisting on grabbing carry-on bags.
With one of the wide-body jet's engines still running as the evacuation began, a passenger suffered a serious injury as he was hit by jet blast. The pilots told investigators the only emergency engine shut-off checklist they had didn't call for immediately turning off the remaining engine.
Modern jet turbines are designed to prevent broken parts from being spewed outside the engine cover. But violent disintegration of some internal parts has dogged certain models of GE's CF6-80 model engines since 2000, prompting a series of stepped-up safety actions by the manufacturer and the Federal Aviation Administration.
An Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman didn't have any immediate comment on the nonbinding safety recommendations.
American, which has revamped flight attendant training, told investigators the cabin crew took appropriate steps to initiate the evacuation despite communication difficulties.
Another passenger has filed a lawsuit against Boeing and American Airlines after the airplane she was on caught fire last year on the O'Hare International Airport tarmac when part of the engine failed.
About 20 people were taken to hospitals after the right engine of Miami-bound American Airlines Flight 383 broke into four pieces about 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28, 2016, according to fire officials and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The suit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court also names General Electric Aviation as a defendant, claiming the company sold faulty engines that Boeing used to assemble the 767 aircraft.
The plaintiff, Emily Schnoll, was seated in a row that was adjacent to the area where the engine caught fire, according to the suit. As a result, she was "violently thrown about the cabin and then caused to endure smoke from the engine failure entering the cabin area."
Due to her inability to evacuate the plane in a timely manner, Schnoll also claims to have suffered "emotional and physical distress." In addition, the suit claims that Schnoll was unlawfully detained by police at O'Hare following the incident.
Representatives for Boeing and GE did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday evening.
An NTSB report issued after the fire said one of the fractures on the turbine disk of the engine was "consistent with fatigue cracking." Takeoff was aborted due to the "uncontained engine failure" that led to fuel pooling under the plane's right wing, which then burst into flames, authorities said.
One piece of the turbine disk went through the inboard section of the right wing, over the fuselage and into a UPS warehouse facility more than a half-mile away. Another piece was found about 1,600 feet away, but it was still on O'Hare property, authorities said.
No fire breached the cabin, and the 20 hospitalized passengers were released a night after the fire.
"We're proud of our pilots, flight attendants and other team members who responded quickly to take care of our customers under very challenging circumstances," a representative for American said in an emailed statement. "American is actively participating in the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation and will continue to work with the NTSB and the other parties to the investigation of this event."
In November 2016, 18 passengers filed suit claiming American, Boeing and GE acted negligently.
The latest five-count negligence suit seeks more than $250,000 in damages.
Original article ➤ https://chicago.suntimes.com
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
American Airlines Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N345AN
On October 28, 2016, at about 2:32 CDT, American Airlines flight number 383, a Boeing B767-300, N345AN, powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2B6 turbofan engines, experienced a right engine uncontained failure and subsequent fire during the takeoff ground roll on runway 28R at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The flightcrew aborted the takeoff and stopped the aircraft on runway 28R and an emergency evacuation was conducted. Of the 161 passengers and 9 crew members onboard, one passenger received serious injuries during the evacuation and the airplane was substantially damaged as a result of the fire. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a domestic scheduled passenger flight to Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami, Florida.
Timestamp 12/02/2017 10:12:00 AM
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Salon J & Tips on how to get your ideal hair treatment • Sofia etc.
Those of you who saw my Instagram post with the 'before and after' of getting my hair colored know that this is the first time I have been 100% satisfied with the way my hair turned out. The first time I got it highlighted, it came out much lighter than I wanted, and I had to get it fixed. The second time, it came out so dark that it basically just looked like my natural hair. This time, I was determined to get it right, and Salon J made that happen! Today I'll be sharing with you my recommendations for getting a color treatment that you are totally happy with, as well as recapping my experience at Salon J.
It's a pretty big change! My hair before was pretty much one color, and the ends were starting to get lighter because of the sun. Jen, the owner of Salon J New Haven, was my stylist for this subtle balayage look, and she was simply amazing! Besides putting me at ease and just generally being really friendly, she was a total expert on how to transform hair!
First off, before deciding on a salon, look at their Instagram page to see what kind of color treatments they normally do. If you see only fine blonde hair on the page, then maybe you should think twice about visiting the salon if you have coarse dark hair. Whatever salon you are considering, see if they've done a good job on your color and type of hair in the past. Salon J has plenty of photos of darker haired 'before and after's on their page, so I felt like they would definitely be able to handle my hair.
Talk through what you want in the beginning, and make sure you don't rush through this part. It's always a great sign when your stylist takes out the time to figure out what you are looking for, and when they ask you questions to make sure they understand. I didn't feel rushed at all when Jen and I were talking about what I wanted, so I was confident that she understood what I was looking for. She took the time to explain the difference between how a balayage would look compared to how highlights would look on me, and that was really helpful as well.
Have some photos of what you want in terms of color. In the past, I'd find a picture and say to my stylist "Just like this, but a little darker" or "Just like this, but less of an orange tone". That doesn't help the person who will be doing your hair. It may take a long time to find a photo that is 100% what you want, but just do that.
Also, make sure you find a photo with your hair texture/type. A lot of the photos of highlights and balayage floating around on the Internet are with wavy or loosely curled hair. This might be because the highlights are more noticeable that way. But if you have straight hair or tight curls, for example, and if you usually wear your hair naturally, then find a photo of what you want on your hair type, since that is what your hair will look like most of the time. I showed Jen a photo with straight hair, since my hair is naturally straight.
It's also helpful if you can find photos of the hair style you want on someone of your skin tone, just so you have a better idea of what it'll end up looking like on you. Even if the stylist does exactly what you wanted, you'll end up disappointed if it doesn't suit your skin tone.
Talk about what you DON'T want also- something too brassy, something too orange, something too blonde? Make sure your stylist knows what your worst nightmare is, also, just so they stay away from anything in that range.
Ask your stylist what they think of your ideal look, and whether that will be possible for you. For example, I said I didn't want any red tones, but the photo of what I wanted actually did have some red tones, so Jen had to explain that to me. She made sure I understood that there would have to be some red in order to achieve the look I wanted. It's also helpful to hear if your stylist thinks the look you are going for will suit you. Jen was an expert in this area, so I knew she wouldn't give me a color that I couldn't pull off.
After the color treatment was done, Jen also gave me a blowout and added some loose curls to my hair, which was great! I curl my hair pretty frequently as well, so it was nice to see what it would look like when I do that, and it just gave the entire look a fresh feel. Suffice it to say that I was really happy with my look, and that I'll be going back to Salon J as long as I live in New Haven. I highly recommend Salon J to my Connecticut family, and definitely reach out to me if you have any questions!


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The weeks have raced by already and so much has happened! Like I've said many times, when the most is happening, you tend to have the least time to share about it with others!
It's now September. School has started. This happened on the 1st September, which like in Russia, is the start of the school year, and even though that was a Saturday this year, that didn't change things!
In the short video you can see Mia being called up, where she received her Estonian language school book and her cap...she was just a little nervous, she told us after!
She then had her first lesson, which gave us time to meet some parents. September 1st was also our 11th wedding anniversary, but like the previous four years, it does get a little swallowed by school (oh, and the fact that September 2nd is also Mia's birthday!). We actually went back to the home of one of Mia's class mates after the events on Saturday. They are an American family, very new to Tallinn, and also here to church plant. You can see four more photo's from Mia's first day, including her answer to prayer uniform, by clicking here.
As mentioned in my last post, we had a few days exploring some of Estonia in August. One day we went about 45km west along a coastal area that has stunning cliffs (picture 1), beaches (5) and a waterfall (2), as well as stumbling across a great Spa hotel that just happened to be on 'Happy Hour' at the time we arrived, which meant we could go swimming for half the price! I couldn't help notice the conference facilities (that could host more than 400 people) and think "One day, we'll fill this..."
We also went a little east of Tallinn on another day and found (we think) the highest waterfall in Estonia, that actually freezes in winter (Pictures 3 & 4).
So it's on the back of the prophetic that I've been building relationships, with the view to encouraging what God is about to do in these nearby cities.
So it was a great day showing Kev around, talking about how things have gone for us here, praying together. We are excited to see what happens through them all in Helsinki in the years to come.
We also had Dave & Hannah Henson with us for a long weekend, actually arriving the day after Kev Jones was here (which was then followed by our friends Chip & Helen with their two children arriving on the plane the Henson's flew back on!).
Dave's mobility issues following the serious back operation he'd had, meant we did less rushing around and more talking about things, which was also a real blessing.
Gathering together on the Sunday afternoon with those already involved, it was great to be released into this season of gathering others. Taking the lead from Jesus, who gathered and taught to crowds before calling out from those same crowds his disciples, we are now setting out to do the same, with a emphasis on gathering, and not a 'religious' meeting. So using meals (Taste the Nations starts this Sunday!) twice a month plus another gathering event (eg we played volleyball last week), we'll end the month with a Vision Sunday, which will give some teaching and come back to the big thing we are called to.
Midweek we'll be praying together (with the first prayer meeting happening tonight!).
Elena arrived at ours early on Sunday morning from St Petersburg - she is looking to join the church plant and is here finding out about a job - she should hear today so please pray that something comes through. She doesn't yet speak English (she will work in a Russian kindergarten) but has a great heart for Tallinn.
The Gathering Season - so with thoughts of this new season fresh in our mind, we hit the busy school weekend and new school week, and have been struck by how many people we are meeting! Rachel especially, who has been picking Mia up, has had some great conversations at the school with a number of parents. There are about two or three international and Estonian families who have expressed an interest in church.
At our local bus stop as well, she met another mum with her daughter. Mia pointed out she was wearing the same uniform, so Mia showed the girl her logo and they became friends just like that. This girl has started in the other class in her year (there are two classes each year that take children from 7 years old all the way up to graduation age!). This is a Russian speaking girl and mother, and having met them again today (Mia holding hands with this girl and chatting away in Russian) they are already talking about taking it in turns to take the girls in.
Jesus said "Put down your nets" and in just doing so, the act of obedience, they caught a great catch. And so it seems, just positioning ourselves to start gathering, God is already gathering people to be caught up in the crowd, from which a church will emerge.....it's going to be an exciting season.
It has been an intense week already, even if it's only Wednesday. Getting Mia ready for school (which included an evening of double covering all her books!) we've had to very quickly work out what we need to do.
With Estonia being a very cyber country, it means the school has it's own e-school, where as parents we need to register and once signed in it shows us homework for Mia, the teacher sends us messages as well as getting other notifications.
There is also the contact information for all the other parents and access to enroll in after school clubs and sports.
The academic day is relatively short at the moment, with Mia's latest class finishing at around two, but yesterday, having done her swimming and ballet trial, she didn't leave until gone 5 - needless to say, both Mia and Anya, not to mention Rachel, have been very tired!
Please pray for them - Mia does love school now (despite the tears on Monday morning stating she didn't want to leave us - this was contrasted by moans that same evening saying she wish she was still at school as she loved it so much!) Anya has also been 'difficult' this week....but she is making great progress with her potty training. It's impossible to know the effect all this change is having on their behaviour, and what is just bad behaviour! Much grace needed at times - thankfully much grace is always available, when we remember to ask for it!
Church planting series - hear from friends around the world also planting churches (at various phases). First up, Chris Taylor in The Hague, Holland.


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TV International Brings Global Entertainment to Your Door
Home / TV International Brings Global Entertainment to Your Door
By adminfad September 6, 2021
For anyone living in the UK it may come as a surprise that TV International, which is known in some quarters to be a thinly disguised satellite television operation, is actually a joint venture of Sony and Broadband. The international launch of the channel on Friday night marked its launch with an exclusive launch show in cinemas across the UK. It is one of the biggest launches in recent years for a British channel and is being seen as a major boost for digital TV and broadband Internet in the UK. TV International, which will launch exclusively in Europe later this year, will provide a direct feed of world TV news and factual coverage from every corner of the globe. It will also feature interviews from leading figures and current affairs from the major news outlets including CNN, CCTV, Al Jazeera, Sky and the BBC.
The international launch was designed to promote the growth of digital television in the UK and set a benchmark for other European countries such as Portugal, Spain, Norway and Sweden to follow suit. The move by TV International, which already has an array of channels spread over five continents, gives the UK an all-embracing television service stretching over multiple timeslabs. For the first time ever, a British channel will launch at no cost to the customer, something which is bound to cause an influx of new customers to either sign up to the new TV International pay-per-view package or simply purchase the new TV add-on channels. With the advent of pay-per-view you get to choose exactly when you want to watch your favorite British shows, but with the addition of the international expansion, TV International will have expanded its range of programming to cater for viewers in other countries.
In the last year the company had signed deals with Pay-Per-View in Scandinavia, Germany, Australia and the United States to provide pay-per-view access to its global audience. While the international programming packages are yet to be finalised, you can take a look at the exciting new channel which just launched on Friday night as the first step towards expanding your viewing horizons beyond the English soil, as well as the chance to find out what your favorite British actor is doing these days. With a mix of funny, romantic and educational shows, the network's latest offering," Pets", promises to go down a treat with its combination of well-known celebrities and the kids who adorn their platforms. If you've been missing out on the big international TV events, you can take advantage of the latest development in the international TV industry with the introduction of TV International.


I'd like to make some changes to the board in the near future and your input is critical. What kind of changes do you think should be made? What do you think we could add that would improve the site?
We could even do nominations and votes on background image ideas or maybe it's possible to have 2 or 3 which the forum will randomly rotate through every time a page is loaded?
Last edited by BostonUrbEx; 02-12-2011 at 07:27 AM.
I think the biggest issue for this site is the main page and I think it should play to the forum's greatest strength: photography.
I think archBoston.com could easily be the premiere Boston-based urban photo site. Just setting up something simple like a tumblr on the front page would bring tons of visitors to the site. You could leave submission open and whoever uploads whatever and just selectively edit from there. Another option would be to select photos from the Photo of the Day thread.
Edit: As far as the forum goes, it's fine the way it is. All I want are a strike out tag and a spoiler tag.
I like the idea of the main page being a blog that different members contribute to but it won't work if it's not updated.
The [strike][/strike] tags are built into vB. They must have been disabled or something happened along the way.
I agree that we should capitalize on our member's supreme photo-taking capabilities. We also need a refreshed logo, non-default skin, and a vibrant, engaging landing page for those that find us through Google and other sources.
Also, for our front page, we should maybe put a news section on it (put under the "Enter the ArchBoston forum, another avatar that says "Enter ArchBoston news"). At first we'd mostly be linking to stories from the media, but I'm sure we can write some stories ourselves, contributing our unique perspectives. That would greatly increase our profile in Boston-area media and "buzz"
I like the idea of having more for the main-page, but I really like how minimalistic, classy, and modern feel to it as is. Right under the current logo/banner, some really short quick links like "News and Blogs" and "Upcoming Events" would be nice. Nothing flashy or eye catching, just a lite directory.
I think a "What would you do" section, or recurring thread would be alot of fun and spur some creative juices.
I am sure everyone has taken a look around said to themselves.. "heres what I'd do if I had the opportunity".
Say the topic is .. Downtown Crossing or Pier 4 or the East Boston Waterfront. Have folks propose their own ideas for a new development site or planning and redeveloping and existing area and post em.
Challenge each other, discuss and design (maybe including renderings, site plans and such).
Basically, instead of reacting to proposals and critiquing developments after the fact, get proactive and come up with some original creative ideas.
Purely for example for one possibility.
I've always felt like the site could be a real portal for development and real estate news for the greater Boston area. Basically like Curbed, but for Boston. That, however, would take a team of dedicated developers and an actual plan on how to pay for it.
The obvious downside to that would be that the forum aspect of the site would take a back seat, so I can see how it wouldn't be the most popular idea.
Also, I like Suffolk's idea about having a blog on the front page. I'd certainly want to contribute to that.
I think, basically, if there are any major changes to the site they need to either enhance the forum or compliment it.
I'd also like to see a section of building info only by building that can be used a reference, location, height, type, start date, completion date, the works.
Yeah we can really take the site to a whole new level, let's get it started! I can design the layout of the new sites, seems like BostonUrbEx can make the themes, icons, and background, have some of our good writers write some articles (Mr Keith, Joe_Schmoe, many others), set up photo galleries for our good photographers (probably can't be hosted on aB itself though), and i guess each member can have their own personal blog to write articles before they are promoted to "official" aB writer.
This is a very easy setting to fix, but will result in even longer page loading times. I personally think they should be even smaller. The web development standard for forums is 640 x 480. If you like what you see, you can click on the bar and view the fullsize photo.
Some page load times on this site are HORRENDOUS, such as the Photo of the Day ones.


My wife's trusty Chrysler 300 is still ticking and looking good...but sometime this next fall/winter it will roll over to 400,000+ kilometres and be headed for 500,000 by the end of next year. Not that I expect it to blow up In the short term or anything, however it will be getting long in the tooth and we are contemplating end of life plans.
For quite a few years now we have been contemplating an EV but the math on the cost versus savings potential didn't make sense for us purely from the perspective of buying an EV for gas savings vs "we just wanted a new car" and the EV was secondary to that fact.
Resale price on the earlier models are now in the $15K range so easier to swallow.
They've been around long enough now that the quirks are known and solved.
The new Chevy Bolt would also fit the bill but the price is still stupid. Tesla would be awesome, but I refuse to spend that sort of money.
Smaller/cheaper pure EV's like the Leaf don't have the range she needs. The Prius, still not really a pure EV in the end.
Based on her commute and right now she should be able to make it almost the entire distance on electricity alone and there is a possibility that she will have access to a plug where she can, over the period of an eight hour shift even on the slow 15a charger, pick up enough of a recharge to make it 50–75% of the way home on electric alone again. And then recharge at night.
Curious if anyone here owns a Volt or has had experience.
I wouldnt buy an older Volt. batteries are due for replacement soon $$$$ and I dont trust GM engineering on first gen products.
The Bolt actually looks quite promising, despite its stupid price tag, I believe there are govt grants in the $10 to 15k range last I heard, but haven't really looked into it and the limited range is a disappointment.
Electric cars are here to stay, but apart from Tesla, I still think they are in their infancy with their limited range and high price tags.
I call BS on the above, unless possibly it was diesel? did the report talk about maintenance and long term reliability? please post a link.
The 3-series vs Prius was Top Gear, and it was a very contrived test that is meaningless in the real world.
The Volt has proven to have excellent reliability. Batteries generally haven't been a problem; GM did their homework with these. There are a few people who have put very high mileage on them. If you are used to the interior space of a Chrysler 300, the Volt is ... a bit smaller. The back seat is strictly for two people because of where the battery pack is located in the chassis.
I don't care for the playskool interior of the first-generation Volt, but if you can get past that, it's a good car. The second-generation model is a lot better looking inside and out (and uses less fuel and has a longer electric-only range and better performance) ... but those will still be at new-car prices.
GM warrants the Volt battery for 8 years, so I'd be careful when looking at a 2011, I'd look into whether it had its battery pack replaced or price what it will cost in a year or two later. most people dont think about those costs in the long term and how much it will add to the price of the car.
still wouldnt touch a first gen version.
I did my homework. Almost pulled the trigger on a used 2015 Volt last year. Wife has a 20 Km stop-and-go round trip while I have 40 Km mainly hwy trip.
The biggest issue I read on the Volt forums was a thing called ERDTT (engine running due to temperature) in cooler weather. This had a major effect on my total cost of ownership calculations, and the mental gymnastics required to get the most battery range and least fuel usage out of the vehicle. Ultimately there was no way my "I just want to turn the damn key and go" spouse was going to operate it at that level.
Other issues was charging, a level 2 charger was required to get the vehicle to charge in a decent amount of time, not included with the vehicle. Purchase and install was about 1K for that.
Charging etiquette (look it up) means Volts go last. Anyone with an EV is going to give you grief or worse unplug you because you can still operate on gas. I don't need the confrontation, I don't do well at that.
Lastly for me, there was no way I could hook up and charge at work, I inquired and it was considered theft from the corporation.
So, we ended up getting a 4cyl gas powered sedan.
New Focus EV may be worth the bucks. Big time gov subsidy and the range is finally decent.
And what exactly is wrong with taking an 8 year old boy to dress like a slutty girl and dance for adults at a bar?
I know the first thing everyone says about EV's is "Wait until you have to replace the battery!", but reality is that they're faring incredibly well, and since the volt only uses something like 2/3 of it's battery capacity (in an effort to help longevity which is clearly working) so it's not like a vehicle that's nearing 6-7 years old has consumed it. To the contrary most Volt owners report good capacity remaining even in original Volts.
Yes, there are complaints out there of battery issues, but it's been my observation that many of these originate from people who don't fully understand that running the AC or Heat without proper pre-conditioning (while still plugged in) is at fault for that, or that driving their driving habits aren't exactly efficient. There's lots of Prius owners getting dismal fuel economy as well simply because they still insist on driving their car the same way one might drive a sports car.
I still think they are in their infancy with their limited range and high price tags.
Not sure how you could say that with the Bolt coming out. 380K per charge on pure electricity alone is hardly "limited range" (That'll take you from Pearson all the way to Windsor!), and the Volt blows that away even more with the pure EV and 42MPG gas backup.
Something like the Leaf is what I'd consider "limited range", personally.
I find that difficult to believe. As mentioned, please post a link. Regardless, it's not an even remotely close comparison to put any hybrid next to a true EV - the EV wins hands down every time on overall cost per K.
As for the (probably inevitable, as we tend to keep vehicles until they're expiring) battery replacement, I'm not too worried about that - one doesn't have to dig too far to find replacement battery packs for $1000-$3000. Hell, there's one at Standard Auto Wreckers right now (to explore but one source, scrapyards) for $2100 out of a 2011. There's lots of reconditioned ones out there as well for a fraction of the "official" GM replacement as well.
The way I look at it is that a $50 oil change once every 30 days on a traditional gas engine (based on the milage my wife drives commuting) is $600/year. If after 3-4 years of ownership it needs a battery the savings on the oil changes alone will pay for that, and we're laughing all the way to the bank on the 4 years of gas savings.
Yes, the preconditioning is essential to avoid running the engine unnecessarily, but as I understand it they can be programmed to precondition on a set schedule, and my wife's schedule *is* very predictable, so that won't be an issue.
There's DIY options out there including modifying the original 110V cord to pass 220V (at the related higher amps) to the car.
Getting 220V to my garage will cost me maybe $100 or so.
This is still a question for my wifes situation in the end, but even if she has to drive home on the gas side of things the 6.5L/100K the volt manages on gas beats the 11L/100K the 300 burns now. So it's still a win.
Anyhow, aside from the eventual battery replacement I struggle to find any downsides, but it's always interesting to hear from those who have the "been there done that" Tshirt.
It was an m3 vs prius.
.... The way I look at it is that a $50 oil change once every 30 days on a traditional gas engine (based on the milage my wife drives commuting) is $600/year. If after 3-4 years of ownership it needs a battery the savings on the oil changes alone will pay for that, and we're laughing all the way to the bank on the 4 years of gas savings.
Your wife drives 100,000km a year???
Or does the 300 have abnormally short oil change intervals?
Most cars nowadays have anywhere from 8,000km - 15,000km schedules. Some even longer.
Is a used Volt the only consideration?
Some heavy annual mileage. I run about the same.
New Prius or lightly used should be had at a decent price. Excellent range. Decent cargo space if going with the "C" model.
Blanket statement, however as I said earlier, the Bolt looks promising. Would like to see more "real world" testing. Driving a car from Pearson to Windsor at a fairly mild cruise isn't a true reflection with hardly any strain on the battery pack.
edit: Prius is a hybrid but IMHO a overall better, more reliable choice than a used older Volt!
When we travelled recently, the Taxi company sent over a Prius to get us to the airport. We crammed into the back seat (somewhat illegally) and the trunk swallowed 4 large pieces of luggage. absolutely incredible!
Friend of mine was researching the new Chevy Bolt and he said that with the government programs, his trade in, and a few incentives the price of one is ridiculously cheap, and the government apparently subsidizes the installation of a quick charger in the house. I haven't looked into it, but from what he informed me (and he's one to do research) it seemed very attainable. Personally I'd prefer a Tesla...but can't afford it anytime soon so not even on the radar. The Bolt, may actually be on the radar but will look into it more once it comes time.
Ridiculously cheap? .... very relative, depending on each individual obviously. I think by consensus, the BOLT is not cheap and will not be cheap for some time for most of people.
For a commute car, dull looking and badly driving, there's always the cheap Nissan Leaf ... seriously, it all depends what people need/want. I wouldn't touch the Leaf even if I could have it for currently advertised leased price of USD 49/month in California (they are unloading them probably before gen 2 release ...). Because I am not looking for a box on wheels. Plus if you need to tow anything, all but one model X) EV's are out. PHEV is an option perhaps, but I have yet to hear anyone tows anything with Volt.
@mxs - you're right. I should've gotten the numbers before I spewed on the interwebs. I'll talk to him in the next week or so, but if I recall it was less than $20k OTD after his trade (old GTI), and gov't incentives.
The Prius isn't in contention as it's not pure EV. At an average fuel consumption of around 5.5L/100K it uses more gas than a Volt, and it uses it all the time as there's (at least on the generations in contention in the used market, I think the new ones are mostly the same?) no option to drive on electricity alone. Yes, even though the Volt relies on gas as well after the battery depletes, with a Prius you lose those ultra-cheap electric miles, and the use more gas with every 100K of gas mileage on top of that.
Our 300 has got to high mileage (and remains exceptionally mechanically healthy) because I maintain it exceptionally well. I'm still a fan of the 5000-6000k oil change, so yes...for all those surprised at the fact a 300 can make 400,000-500,000K I'm in the "maintenance pays off" camp. And the 3.5L in the 300 is known as a fairly reliable engine as well, FWIW, but I had an 89 Beretta with the 2.8L that went to 500,000K as well. 500,000K should be attainable for any decent engine now with proper or conservative maintenance, IMHO - even 4 bangers like the EcoTech can hit that as long as they're maintained and not beat on. My sons Saturn is a good example, nearing 400,000K and still healthy.
My wife drives at least 800K/week for work, and sometimes when she goes offsite that can climb to 1000+, so yes, it adds up, and that's not including personal use. These figures also bolster the argument for pure EV vs a hybrid especially if a portion (or potentially all, if the government plan comes to fruition) electricity is free. That's more or less 150-200 free kilometers per day - who would turn down that opportunity?
Last I looked the Bolt MSRP was around $50K Canadian? Even with the $15K subsidy, with no trade (the 300 will have little realistic residual value by the time are done with it), by the time you add taxes back onto that you're still talking a basically $40K car, which I'm not willing to pay as the carying costs vs savings math don't make sense to me personally. There's also the range anxiety that my wife would not be cool with, or the fact that it's not realistic for any longer trips like we occasionally take - I often drive for more than the Bolts entire range before stopping sometimes on road trips, and I don't want to have to wait hours for a recharge, all while having to plan around charging station availability.
A friend is a Toyota Hybrid tech. He said the life of the batteries is strongly correlated to having pets in the vehicle. The battery pack is cooled by air from inside the vehicle, if you have pets, the hair plugs up these passages, the batteries run hot and they fail. Keep things clean and he sees very few problems. Just something to keep in mind when looking at used vehicles with big batteries.


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Eric Vs. 365 - Day 291 - WWE 2K20
How the heck did WWE 2K20 get released? Don't answer that. We all know the reason why is that Take Two had a contract to meet and a release slot to fill, so a game was coming out regardless. But, seriously, how could THIS be the final product? It's ugly and glitchy and awful and all I did was watch it and not even play! Read more and watch gameplay here.
Way way back in 2013, after the original THQ dissolved and the WWE license was up for grabs, Take Two jumped in and scooped up the license and started publishing the games starting with WWE 2K14. The plan back then was for longtime series developer Yuke's to finish its work on that year's game, which would become WWE 2K14, and then another developer would step in and make the games from then on. I remember all of that because I got the press release and wrote a news article about it all back in early 2013.
What happened instead was that Yuke's kept pumping out the games ever year - probably because Take Two was too cheap to make the commitment to a new team - up until WWE 2K20, when Visual Concepts took over fully. Visual Concepts had helped Yuke's make the previous several games, and VC has a reputation as a good sports game developer, so it seemed like it was in good hands.
Spoilers: It wasn't in good hands. Somehow, some way, a series that was already most known for being glitchy as Hell and incredibly inconsistent visually got by far its worst entry in years. WWE 2K20 is goddamn UGLY, which is crazy considering that WWE 2K19 looked decent and was a solid game overall. WWE 2K20 is also extremely glitchy and wonky and crappy and dumb and, ugh. Rumor has it that there won't be a WWE 2K21 this year in order for VC to have enough time to get everything back in shape for the next game. That's probably a good plan.
For this video I watched a women's Royal Rumble match. It started off great with Asuka coming out #1 and lasting until more than halfway through. Then it was boring for a while so I cut a lot of stuff out. Then Kairi Sane came out at #30 and it was interesting again!