Keeping the Washington 522 debate alive
When Washington proposed labeling of GMO foods, we thought it was important legislation that would increase the power of consumers. We thought is should pass, and we said so in our newsletter and Facebook page. The GMO companies apparently agreed with the first part but not the second, because they dumped millions into the successful campaign in an effort to kill it. One of our clients, John W., wrote to us on the issue and gave us a long list of the scientific organizations that have declared GMO’s to be safe, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, and many more. We couldn’t contact John to reply directly, but we hope he get to see this…
Dear John,
Thanks for sending the GMO info. It’s hard to disagree with that much of the scientific community on the effects of GMOs, but that wasn’t the point of Washington Initiative 522. 522 would have only required labeling of the products. Even if you grant the benign nature of GMOs and the gullibility of GMO opponents, every person should have access to the tools to make informed choices about the products they buy, especially on something as intimate and vital as food.
Health effects (real or imagined) aren’t the only reasons someone may want to avoid GMOs… they may want to support local, organic farms, they may not want to support the companies that produce GMOs, and there may be many more reasons. It may not be appropriate to restrict the production of GMOs, but neither is it appropriate to deny the power of choice to individuals.
522 would have empowered choice without restricting access. I think it was a good solution, and I’m sorry it was defeated.
Thanks for your thoughtful input, John. And to everyone else out there, please write, email, or call us on any issue that matters to you. We read everything you send, and we’ll reply as best we can!
The Dwyer dart juggernaut comes to an end
If there’s anyone (anyone?) wondering about the fate of the Mechanics, the Tom Dwyer dart team, the news isn’t good. We were, to put it politely, towards the back of the pack as the playoffs approached. However, since there were only four teams in our division we did make the final four. Mathematics abandoned us at that point, though, and we lived up to our slogan… “Superior automotive care. No bull.” The Mechanics lost in the first round. Congratulations to all this year’s winners, and if we can choke down the humiliation we’ll see you next season!
Your reviews and referrals matter
We are constantly grateful for the supportive and loyal clients we have developed over the years. Your comments and appreciation keep us on the right road to providing the superior automotive service you deserve. Your reviews and referrals are not only the highest compliments we can receive, but they’re the lifeblood of our new business. If you like what you’ve found at Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, please tell a friend or take a minute to write a review on Yelp, Angieslist, Google, or the review site of your choice. Thank you!
Latest Automotive Recalls
Automobiles are just like any other product; occasional flaws in manufacture or design can cause problems once they leave the factory. When an issue is identified the manufacturers and government work hard to bring the vehicles back in for refit or repair, but not all recalls make the front pages. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a constantly updated list of recalls from every manufacturer. The last month’s recalls are below, but clicking the button at right will take you to the full list at the NHTSA website.
December 16: 1.2 million Michelin LTX M/S tires, Recalled for tread separation, which could cause massive air loss and loss of control over the vehicle.
December 16: 76,565 BMW vehicles from 2006-2007, including 300 and 500 series models, Recalled for the front passenger seat occupant detection system which may crack and fail, causing the front passenger air bags to not deploy.
December 16: 1,315 Carry-on cargo trailers from 2006-2013, Recalled for door locks that may jam, leaving individuals inside without an exit.
December 16: Certain Infiniti Q50 vehicles from 2014, Recalled for power steering software that may disable the electric steering system.
December 13: 62,155 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles from 2009-2011, Recalled for exterior lights that may not work due to a melted fuse.
December 13: 19,197 Acura MDX AWD vehicles from 2014, Recalled for the drive shaft which may have been insufficiently tightened, increasing the risk of a crash.
December 13: 3,837 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid vehicles from 2013-2014, Recalled for corrosion that may cause an electrical short and result in a stall-like condition.
December 13: 268 Mirage cargo trailers from 2006-2013, Recalled for door locks that may jam, leaving individuals inside without an exit.
December 13: 142 Suzuki SX4 vehicles from 2013, Recalled for insufficiently tightened bolts that may get caught between the drive plate and the cylinder block, causing the engine to stall.
December 12: 721 Forest River travel trailers from 2012-2013, Recalled for the trailer tire which may contact the bottom of the floor, possibly causing a blowout and increasing the risk of a crash.
December 12: 52 ATI Performance automatic transmissions installed in 2013 Chevrolet Camaros, Recalled for potential roll away while the transmission is in park.
December 12: 91 Jayco pop-up camping trailers from 2011, Recalled for a component failure in the roof lift system, potentially causing the roof to abruptly collapse to the closed position.
December 12: 57 Starcraft RV pop-up camping trailers from 2013, Recalled for a component failure in the roof lift system, potentially causing the roof to abruptly collapse to the closed position.
December 12: Certain PROLine travel trailers from 2010-2013, Recalled for batteries that may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
December 12: Certain Bridgestone H300 315/80R22.5 18 ply tires, Recalled for a crack in the inner liner splice, causing the tire to deflate.
December 11: 3,795 Toyota Tacomas from 2013-2014, Recalled for valve springs in the engine that may break.
December 11: 522 Chrysler vehicles from 2013-2014, including the Dodge Avenger and Jeep Compass models, Recalled for potential loss of engine oil pressure, causing the engine to stall or fail.
December 11: 175 Spartan Motors motorhomes and one emergency response chassis from 2013-2014, Recalled for castle nuts which may come loose, causing a loss of steering.
December 9: 19,597 Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 2014, Recalled for the clutch master cylinder which may allow air into the clutch system.
December 9: 2,886 Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 2014, Recalled for an incorrect clutch release plate, potentially preventing the clutch from disengaging.
December 9: 2,608 BMW F 800 S and F 800 ST motorcycles from 2007-2009, Recalled for the rear wheel drive bearing and the rear axle, which may wear and affect the control and handling of the motorcycle.
December 9: 725 Forest River travel trailers from 2008-2011, Recalled for failing to conform to Federal Safety Standards regarding the tire inflation pressures.
December 6: 46,375 Haulmark Industries travel trailers from 2006-2013, Recalled for door locks that may jam, leaving individuals inside without an exit.
December 6: 374 Chrysler Dodge Dart vehicles from 2013, Recalled for front seat mounted side airbags that may not have been installed properly.
December 6: 512 Wells Cargo trailers from 2006-2013, Recalled for door locks that may jam, leaving individuals inside without an exit.
December 6: 376 McLaren vehicles from 2012-2014, including MP4 12-C Spyder models, Recalled for the wiper motor brushes which may jam, causing the wiper motor to stop working.
December 6: 130 Mercedes-Benz vehicles from 2013, including SL63 models, Recalled for the occupant classification system which may not detect a very light person in the passenger seat, keeping the passenger airbags from deploying in the event of a crash.
December 5: 3,115 Pierce vehicles from 2000-2010, including Arrow XT and Enforcer models, Recalled for mounts that may fail, causing the cab to fall when in the tilted position.
December 5: 3,558 Exiss/Sooner travel trailers from 2006-2013, Recalled for door locks that may jam, locking individuals inside without an exit.
December 4: 215 Trailex trailers from 2006-2013, Recalled for door locks that may jam, locking individuals inside without an exit.
December 3: 2,475 BMW K1600 GT and K1600 GTL motorcycles from 2012, Recalled for potential stalling of the engine.
December 3: 349 Pierce Manufacturing emergency vehicles from 2009-2013, Recalled for trailer turn signal lights that do not work when the brakes are applied.
December 3: 156 Sutphen Corporation fire apparatus from 2000-2012, including SPH 100 and SAI 110 models, Recalled for bearings on the extension ladder that may seize, causing the extend/retract system to fail.
November 26: 139,917 Ford Escape vehicles from 2013, Recalled for potential oil leaks that may cause an engine fire.
November 26: 9,469 Ford Escape vehicles from 2013, Recalled for a potential fuel leak from the engine compartment fuel line.
November 26: 8,816 Isuzu vehicles from 2003-2004, including Rodeo and Axiom models, Recalled for possible corrosion of the forward mounting point bracket, causing the bracket to detach from the frame and increasing the risk of a crash.
November 26: 4,792 RC Trailers enclosed trailers from 2006-2013, including RC and MTI models, Recalled for door locks that may jam, locking individuals inside without an exit.
November 26: 353 Entegra Coach motorhomes from 2010-2014, including Anthem and Cornerstone models, Recalled for power cables from the exterior freezer that may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
November 26: 247 Jayco travel trailers from 2014, Recalled for increased risk of fire due to poor connection of the AC water heater ignition wires.
November 26: 2,529 Nissan NV200 vehicles from 2013, Recalled for a potential short circuit that may cause the battery terminal to blow, increasing the risk of a crash.
November 25: 42,696 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles from 2014, Recalled for the windshield defroster which may become inoperable when the vehicle is started.
November 25: 14,909 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles from 2013, Recalled for the wiring harness under the front seats which may short circuit, potentially starting a fire.
November 25: 15,500 Hyundai Entourage vehicles from 2007-2008, Recalled for potential corrosion of the front lower control arm, resulting in the loss of control of the vehicle.
November 25: 2,456 Ford Focus Electric vehicles from 2012-2014, Recalled for a software problem that may result in a sudden loss of power.
November 21: 79,867 Kia Sedonas from 2006-2012, Recalled for potential corrosion of the front lower control arm, resulting in the loss of control of the vehicle.
November 21: 2,951 Ford F-350/450/550 Ambulance Package vehicles from 2011-2012, Recalled for potential loss of power and engine stalling.
