Archive for September, 2008



The Largest Dinosaurs to Roam the Earth

Posted By Amy Nutt on September 30, 2008 @ 6:43 pm

It’s relatively unclear and practically impossible to judge exactly which species of dinosaur was the largest, due to the fact that many of the fossil remains discovered to date aren’t totally complete. Partial fossils have been discovered relatively recently that allude to the fact that there may have been dinosaurs that were much larger than what scientists had perceived to have been the largest, but trying to judge based on the incomplete evidence that exists is a difficult task.

Despite the information and evidence that has already been unearthed, and what is discovered in the near and the distant future, there will probably always be questions when it comes to determining which dinosaur was the largest or which was the fastest, which could fly or which were adept in the water. Regardless of what exactly is discovered, scientists will probably never be able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt what exactly went on sixty five million years ago, or that we will have enough information to make any truly conclusive decisions.

The best that we can do is judge based on the most complete evidence that we currently have available to us, which may only be an infantile percentage of what the age of the dinosaurs really has to offer.

Judgment based on complete evidence

With a relatively complete skeleton to go by and enough information to make a reasonable judgment as to overall size, the largest dinosaur discovered seems to be the Brachiosaurus.

The Brachiosaurus most likely lived at the end of the Jurassic period or at the beginning of the Cretaceous period.

How big did it get?

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has some familiarity with dinosaurs that the biggest of all the dinosaurs was beyond what could be considered massive. The Brachiosaurus could have gotten to in excess of eighty feet in length, and with a body type similar to that of a giraffe, it could very well have been able to raise its head nearly forty feet in the air.

Though it can be pretty difficult for scientists to accurately estimate the weight of any dinosaur, the estimates on this giant herbivore range in the neighborhood of thirty tons on the low end, all the way up to forty tons at the other end of the spectrum.

Safety in Numbers (numbers of pounds, that is.)

Brachiosaurus was an herbivore, dining exclusively on plant material. Many herbivores were particularly susceptible to predators, most likely because they posed less of a threat to their attackers. Quite a few known dinosaur herbivores had extra protection like armor plating or extra tough, spiny skin, but not the Brachiosaurus. It’s speculated that the brachiosaurus wasn’t too threatened by even some of the larger predators in the dinosaur world, simply because they were so large in stature.

Popularity

Because of the unique distinction of being the biggest prehistoric dinosaur to ever roam the earth, the brachiosaurus has gained some notoriety in the popular media. We’ve seen the brachiosaurus in some major motion pictures as well as on television; in fact, the brachiosaurus has become popular almost to the point that it rivals the tyrannosaurus as the most popular of all known species of dinosaur.

It’s probably pretty likely that, in the not too distant future, another nearly complete fossilized skeleton will be unearthed and put back together like an enormous jigsaw puzzle, to show the world a dinosaur that is even more immense than the brachiosaurus. If in fact this does happen, it certainly won’t change the fact that the brachiosaurus was one of the most impressive animals to ever walk the earth and it probably won’t change the fact that the brachiosaurus is also one of the most popular species of dinosaur to have ever existed.

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MOR Vacations: MOR Than Investment

Posted By Matt Willis on @ 5:03 pm

In the investment realm, there are risk-takers and there are those who opt to stay on the safe side and choose to minimize their risks. In a world where money seems hard to earn, easy to lose for most, people hesitate to invest simply because things like stock portfolios seem so hard to do. But among all the excuses that people make as their reason not to invest, the biggest block to why most do not make the necessary financial risks to invest and gain more is the misperception that “It takes money to make money.”

MOR Vacations defies your fears by giving you an affordable option. Not only is this investment amazingly affordable, it is also amazingly saleable that you’d wonder why you didn’t invest in this, in the first place.

Have you ever heard of an investment option that’s priced at only a dollar short of a 16 GB iPod Nano? Well, today, you finally have! At $198, you’ll be able to invest in a system that would allow you to buy an 8 GB iPod Nano and leave you with $101 extra, on the first taste of your investment’s profits! YES! Your first sale of a membership package would allow you to make $250 in commissions! You’ll be able to recover your investment in no time!

What would you be able to buy at $149? Most likely, you’ll be able to buy either an iPod Nano (8 GB), a PSP, Playstation 2, or an Xbox. Why not use your $149 on a 7-day vacation to Pono Kai, Hawaii instead? If Hawaii is no longer exotic enough for you, how about taking a vacation to the Mayan Sea Garden instead? Or how would a 7-day trip to Mayan Palace sound to you? At $149, you now have the chance to enjoy week-long trips to either of these places and more!

The most affordable vacations as an add-on to an investment option you’ve never thought possible? Why not! Why not earn the money needed to take these vacations as well? MOR Vacations not only gives you a moneymaking machinery, it also gives you a way to save on leisure trips!

So allow MOR Vacations to dispel all you’ve perceived about investment. Let MOR Vacations show you how easy it is to earn big-ticket profits, while giving you vacations as affordable as an iPod or an Xbox. Come to MOR Vacations today!

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Help Me I Want To LOse Weight!

Posted By Henry John on @ 3:47 pm

When you look in the mirror in the morning and then wish you hadn’t, then it’s time to start to think about doing something about the large tyre that has appeared round your middle.

What have you done wrong? What is it that’s made you this way? There are probably many reasons and it’s a good idea to think about what they are. If you do you’ll have a very good idea what to do.

There are probably many reasons why you’ve put on weight. You’ve probably got some pretty good excuses. Some of them might be valid, but the fact remains that you’ve got to do something about it. Are you prepared to get to grips with the problem? Are you prepared to really make a supreme effort?

It takes determination if you’re going to succeed. It means saying goodbye to the chocolate bars, to the cream cakes and to the delicious bread you like so much. You have to start to become aware of the calorie content of what you’re eating.

Have you any idea of the number of calories you eat every day? Have you any idea of the number of calories you burn every day? These are two very important pieces of information you need before you start.

What you do not want to do is to just reduce your calorie intake because you believe it’s what you need to do. This course of action will prove to be disastrous. In fact it is very likely to result in you actually putting on weight rather than taking it off.

What about exercise? Do you know how much you take? Do you take any at all? Exercise, if it is to be of any use to you at all, has to be ‘intentional’ exercise. Exercise that makes a difference and actually gets your blood flowing.

Exercise is very important because it burns calories. It’s also very good for you. We were not meant to sit around looking at television or playing computer games. Our bodies were meant to be used. It is certainly true that if you don’t use it you lose it – something to remember! Losing weight effectively is about learning new habits, new slim habits that will help you to change. If you don’t change, and are not prepared to change, no amount of dieting will ever result in permanent weight loss.

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How To Prepare For the Colonoscopy Prep.

Posted By Krista Clarxzon on @ 3:43 pm

Are you prepared for the colonoscopy prep procedures?

Some of the more common reasons for a colonoscopy are blood in stool, persistent abdominal pain, bowel habits change or anyone over 50 years of age.

50 is the age when the risk for colon problems increases. Due to this it is recommended to have a colonoscopy every 10 years after the age of 50. However, if your family has a history of cancer you may need to have more frequent exams before the age of 50.

For most procedures you will be given a sedative or pain killers. I want a pain killer for the anticipation of pain. Something to keep me from worrying about the procedure.

Asking a friend or relative to come with you is a smart thing to do and it required. You will not be allowed to drive after the procedure due to the sedatives you will receive.

Two names that you may hear are Proctologist and Gastroenterologist. A Proctologist is the doctor that deals with disorders of the rectum or anus. A Gastroenterologist is doctor that deals with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Staying well hydrated is one of the more difficult things to do before, during and after a colonospopy. Since the main purpose of the prep is to flush and clean the colon your system will need an unusual amount of water.

Since you are on a liquid diet it should be easier to drink more water. Other substances you can drink are Strained fruit juice, Plain coffee, Diet soda, Plain tea, Fat-free bouillon or broth. Gelatin or popsicles in any color but red or blue is usually allowed.

In an attempt to improve the methods when preparing for a colonoscopy a pill has been developed. This pill allows for better cleaning of the colon and may allow the test be performed more quickly. Your doctor will tell you what is right for you.

Let’s hope that we can develop a pill that we can take that’s like a Russian space station. Take the pill and it setup a command post and relays data about our colon the hospital. I don’t have to leave my house. I can only hope.

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Diet Pills, Are They Harmful?

Posted By Ricardo d Argence on @ 3:35 pm

If you’ve ever skimmed the pages of a fitness publication, you couldn’t have missed all the ads for diet pills. It seems that diet pills get the most attention. Which should cause one to wonder if diet pills do more harm than good.

Diet pills have a great potential to help you lose weight and this can be very appealing, especially if you are someone who has struggled to lose weight in the past. But these advantages should be weighed against the possible dangers of diet pills including some dangerous side effects. Before take any diet pill, you should understand what some of the dangers of diet pills can be.

You may consume less calories while taking diet pills, but you will also have less energy and slower metabolism. And slower metabolism is often a cause of obesity, since the body stores and doesn’t use as many calories.

Ephedrine is used in a large number of diet pills as it increases the heart rate and metabolism rate which could lead to heart attack or stroke. This is a drug that should not be taken if you have high blood pressure, or heart and thyroid problems. This has been linked to a number of deaths and serious illness.

Caffeine is a common ingredient in diet pills. Always read the label and any that say they contain more then 300mg of caffeine should not be taken as this could be very harmful to your health, because like ephedrine, caffeine raises your heart rate and blood pressure and again could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Symptoms of diet pills can be few to severe depending on what is in them. Some diet pills, especially the stimulant based diet pills, are habit forming and as such can be abused. Abuse of these drugs may lead to dependence. Check with your doctor before taking any prescription diet pill to find out if they are habit forming and what signs you should look out for to alert you to this problem.

Even if diet pills help you to reduce weight it is always important that you do a little bit of enquiry about it and make sure to cosult a physician to ensure that it is safe for you to take. The best way to reach a goal of losing weight is to eat right and exercise consistently.

Regular exercise and a change in eating habits can have the same affect as weight loss drugs. You could eat fruits and veggies to get your daily minerals and fiber and then supplement the balance with grains and rice. A great exercise plan with weights involved helps to enhance the body’s capacity to burn up calories and maintain the health of the heart.

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New Bowflex Revolution Home Gym

Posted By matthew lewis on @ 3:28 pm

Bowflex Revolution

Sure, you will know you’re a fitness buff, when you read a Bowflex Revolution comparison and start sweating with excitement. And if you’re not sweating now, you will be when you learn about the new, more versatile and easier to use Bowflex Home Gyms.

Bowflex fitness equipment offers numerous types of exercise equipment and several models of home gyms with various levels of versatility. The Bowflex Ultimate 2 has 95 exercise possibilities, the Ultimate XTLU has more than 90 possibilities, Xtreme 2 has more than 70 possibilities, Xtreme has more than 65 possibilities and Bowflex Sport has more than 60 different items.

All these machines have been tested and proven to be effective home gyms and are praised by many owners. The Bowflex website even lists hundreds of testimonial letters from satisfied customers. However, the newly released Revolution may surpass all the older models just with customer satisfaction.

The Revolution, originally developed for astronauts, offers hundreds of workouts and exercise variations. Realizing how well it worked for astronauts, Bowflex modified it for in-home use so that everyone could benefit from it. Its closest cousin, the Bowflex Ultimate 2 model, only has a maximum of 95 exercise variations.

Like as with any other Bowflex home gym, owning a Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is like having your own exercise center right in your home. It replaces many other different pieces of fitness equipment because you can basically work out every single part of your body. If you’re persistent, you can lose weight fast. And it’s just one piece of fitness equipment, which offers a huge amount of resistance with the miraculous SpiraFlex Technology.

The new Bowflex Revolution is also the quietest and most easy to use exercise equipment ever made by Bowflex.

Like so many other Bowflex fitness machines, the Bowflex Revolution can be folded and very easily stored. When they designed it, they kept in their minds that many homes have low ceilings, especially in the basement. So, this amazing equipment will surely fit in just about any room in your home.

Prior to the Revolution, Nautilus referred to the Bowflex Ultimate 2 as superb “top-of-the-line” with the best design among other fitness equipment available. Now the company believes that the “cutting edge” in terms of home fitness equipment belongs to the Bowflex Revolution.

Bowflex has been in business since 1986, successfully selling and improving its products for over 20 years. And they have the experience and the satisfaction guaranteed to back up their quality products. Once you’ve read a Bowflex Revolution review, you’ll realize that this machine is the one you need to make working out a seamless part of your lifestyle.




How to choose a stuffed toy for your child

Posted By George Mercer on @ 3:11 pm

Playing is a universal language that all our children use to learn about the world around them. Everything is a toy for the little one and is a major contributor to the child mental and physical development.

Children eagerness to learn and explore has became many mothers’ dilemma. How can any mother protect their children from hurting themselves while getting to know things and people around them. The most obvious and traditional solution was stuffed toys. These toys helped in developing the child’s mind by stimulating his imagination and at the same time kept him safe away from electricity plugs or fire.

Choosing a stuffed toy for your child isn’t an easy job to do. Child age and interests is an important factor to consider on your visit to the toy store. There are millions of stuffed toys displayed on your local toy store but which one of them is the most appropriate one for your child.

Children in their first year become interested in exploring and touching things around in order to understand their nature. A simple touch by your child hand can reflect a feeling of threat or safety. This touch is transcribed to his mind and opens it to a whole new world of adventure.

Stuffed toys at this early age needs to soft, no sharp edges, always avoid toys with small pieces that can easily be swallowed or pushed inside the ear or nose. In this early ages child safety is your main concern not your child cry. When we visit the toy store with our children the major problem we face is how to equate between letting our children choose for themselves to build their personality and what is really safe for them.

Child tend to choose cartoon characters like Mickey mouse or spider man as they communicate with them emotionally due to the joy and happiness they experience while watching them. In a child mind, he needs to keep these moments forever by getting these toys to always remind him that he is a happy little fellow.

Keeping your child a happy fellow is really a rewarding experience for any mom. The question that always hunts moms is how to preserve this happy face for ever. Well here is an idea, Give your child a pack of colored pencils and let him draw his favorite character. Send this drawing to childsown.com and we will transform your child drawing into a stuffed toy with the exact same colors as your child drew. We will use fabrics that are safe for your child so that you can feel safe putting your child to bed with his drawing toy.

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Investments – A Guide

Posted By James Redder on @ 3:00 pm

Many people delay planning their financial future as they do not believe they have the funds but with investing, it can be started on a budget. Although many people believe it is only stocks that matter, investing can also be carried out in so many areas including, online and bonds for example. Each one of these areas can make (or lose) a fortune and if you are intent on providing for your families future, this could be the way to do it. In this article we will very briefly look at the concepts with stocks and mutual funds, with real estate and of course online.

Research on how to invest is as important as in the areas you plan to invest in, especially when stocks are concerned as this can be one of the more risky areas to invest in particularly for first timers. The stock market can be a great way to make money, sometimes very quickly but these sorts of gains are generally made by people that know what they are doing and short term risks can be involved.

The safest place to place your money is in real estate; it might take many years for you to appreciate a decent return on your savings but when you do it will be big. For those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty, home remodeling is the way forward by purchasing a run down property and then selling it on at a profit where the money can be used for another property to make more money.

Still, you will need to look into this further if this is an idea you are keen on because there are other issues to think about; however, this next area to invest in is not so labor intensive. The term ‘armchair investor’ is used for all those people that have dipped their toes into online trading; open to just about everyone it is currently the fastest growing sector.

The basis of this is to work from home on a computer, carefully assessing the companies that you may trade in; it is easy to start with very small sums of money. This form of speculation must be done by a person with a strong sense of discipline because many people become addicted to the biding and find themselves losing money faster than they can earn it.

If you plan on investing, make sure you educate yourself in the market and means in which you wish to proceed. Whether it is with stocks, mutual funds, real estate or online, do your research and make some money!

As usual, there is a huge amount of free information on the internet if you really want to learn more; remember, successful people do not use luck all the time! Enjoy the investing you do but remember it has a serious side that doesn’t take prisoners; this is why it is so important to learn the game rules before you play.

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The Most-Asked Bankruptcy FAQs

Posted By Ron Carnegie on @ 2:45 pm

When filing bankruptcy for the first time, people have many questions. A bankruptcy FAQ can explain simple and basic concept of bankruptcy such as how to file bankruptcy, what types of bankruptcy can a person file, and how much it costs to file bankruptcy. A bankruptcy FAQ often discusses chapter 7 bankruptcy and chapter 13 bankruptcy in detail.

The first question that comes to people’s mind on the subject of bankruptcy and often the first question in a bankruptcy FAQ is how to file bankruptcy. Knowing how to file bankruptcy properly will avoid many problems that can result on a legal standpoint. The first step of filing bankruptcy is to file a petition and then pay all the needed fees such as administrative fees and the filing fee.

There are more than one type of bankruptcy to file. Any good bankruptcy FAQ will start with distinguishing between different types of bankruptcy such as chapter 7, chapter 13, chapter 11 and chapter 12 bankruptcy. A person seeking to file bankruptcy needs to know in detail what type of bankruptcy is the best for his/her situation.

For anyone with lots of debt, filing chapter 7 seems like the best idea and a bankruptcy FAQ will explain why. Most debts are discharged when a chapter 7 is filed however not all. The major drawback of filing chapter 7 is that almost all assets of the filer are liquidated and proceeds used to pay off debts. There are certain assets that are exempt but most people will lose all their assets in the process.

A bankruptcy FAQ will not fail to mention chapter 13 bankruptcy in detail. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is all about repayment plan. In stead of putting all assets at the disposal of the bankruptcy trustee to liquidate and then pay creditors, debtor can come up with a repayment plan and keep the assets. Debtor seeking chapter 13 bankruptcy will have to prove that he/she has enough income to pay creditors.

Another popular question in a bankruptcy FAQ is how much it costs to file bankruptcy. Some people think that it costs a lot to file bankruptcy. The truth is that the filing fee and administrative fee are only a few hundred dollars. However, if you hire a bankruptcy attorney, the cost goes up because of the attorney fee and not the filing fee.

When filing bankruptcy, do not expect all debts to go away. Some debts will not be discharged even when the debtor files bankruptcy. Taxes and guaranteed student loans for example are usually not discharged. The bankruptcy laws involving what debts are discharged and what are not are very complicated.

Overall, a bankruptcy FAQ is very useful in order for anyone thinking of filing bankruptcy to be familiar with the rules to be able to comply. Bankruptcy laws have changed over the years and it is also important to keep up with the most up to date information and laws on bankruptcy.

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Jaguar started out life as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars

Posted By Harvey Williams on @ 2:16 pm

What Car magazine voted the Jaguar XF car of the year 2008. The award was well deserved. Leasing and contract hire companies are experiencing strong demand for the XF. It somehow seems odd that the manufacturers of a car so expertly designed and advanced technologically, should have started out as a manufacturer of sidecars; the Swallow Sidecar Company. Started in 1922 by William Walmsley and William Lyons both very keen motorcyclists. However the real driving force behind the company was William Lyons.

During this period and right through to the 1960′s motorcycle sidecars were very popular; many people could not afford to buy a car so a motorcycle was usually the answer. However as motorcycle owners got married and had children they wanted to be able to go out on day trips as a family, so they would purchase and permanently attach a sidecar to their motorcycle. The sidecar would accommodate their wife and children, or their wife would ride pillion and the children would sit, reasonably well protected from the elements, in the sidecar. Sidecars were big business and the Swallow Sidecar Company had some of the most attractive designs on the market.

During the late 20′s the company had started to build car bodies. The Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company became their new name, which they felt was more in keeping with the work they were doing and they built the body for the very popular Austin 7. Soon they moved from their premises in Blackpool to larger premises in Coventry, where many of the motor manufacturers were based. Other manufacturers started to ask them to also build their car bodies and the company was really starting to get off the ground.

It didn’t take the company long before they were producing their own car the company launched the SS1 in 1931. It sold for 310 but actually looked a lot more expensive. It was low, had wire wheels and was quite long, the overall impression was of an expensive sports car. It was shown at the 1931 Motor Show and gathered large crowds. The Company name was changed again during 1933 to SS Cars and they launched the SS1 Tourer. William Walmsley resigned from the company.

The name of the company changed again, to SS Cars Ltd in 1933 and the SS1 Tourer was introduced. Shortly after William Walmsley left the company. During the mid 1930′s the SS90 was launched; it was low to the ground and very sporty in appearance, the car was very reasonably priced, less than 400. It was followed by the SS100, this time with a 2,663 cc engine and twin carburettors. It was very fast although later an improved version was on show at the 1938 Motor Show with a 3,845 cc engine. This model never really got of the ground because the Second World War followed soon after its launch.

Normal production stopped during the war as it did for all motor manufacturers. Both German and British motor manufacturers switched their production to military vehicles. Because of it’s concentration of manufacturing industry, Coventry was heavily bombed by the Germans. Equally Volkswagen BMW and Mercedes were prime targets for the allied forces.

After the war the company had to change it’s name. The name SS with all its association with Nazi Germany was far from ideal; in 1948 the company became Jaguar cars. In the same year the XK120 was introduced. Some say its designers came up with the idea of the XK during their long hours on fire watch duty, all members of staff would normally take their turn doing fire watch duty, even senior management; during the war, if you did not have personnel on fire watch during the night, there was a good chance your factory wouldn’t be there in the morning.

The XK 120 was unveiled at the 1948 Motor Show; it was called 120 because of the car’s top speed, which was very fast in 1948. There was nothing that equalled its road holding and speed. It was its lines however that made it so outstanding, even 60 years on there are few people who would not find the car beautiful. It was a soft-top sport car, it had wire wheels and sometimes the bonnet had a leather strap. Girls dreamed of sitting in the passenger seat with the wind blowing through their hair, perhaps not surprisingly men rather liked the idea of being in the driving seat. It’s image later became a little tarnished when it was rather unfairly seen as a cad’s car; depicted being driven by a Terry Thomas type character, complete with cigarette holder.

Jaguar did very well during the 1950′s; the Mark V11 was introduced, which enjoyed a great deal of success in motor racing. Stirling Moss raced the car, as did the Formula 1 world champion Mike Hawthorn. It also came first in the 1956 Monte Carlo Rally. Rack and pinion steering was a new feature when the XK140 was launched in 1954. The other new feature was a rear seat designed for seating small children, perhaps not seen as a great asset by the typical purchaser of an XK140. The new feature of the XK150 when it was launched was disc brakes. Also launched was the Mark 1X and the very popular Mark1 and Mark 11.

The Mark 11 came out in 1959 and proved to be an extremely popular car with successful business people but also became associated with the criminal world; successful criminals tended to favour the Mark 11 Jaguar. It also became a target for car thieves; they were often then used as getaway cars for bank and jewellery robberies. Later the police bought a number of them and modified the engines so they could keep up. A Jaguar Mark 11 was sold at a Florida auction in February 2008 for $75,900 USD.

The Mark X came out in 1961; it was originally aimed at the US market and was really a very big car for the UK. It was approaching 17 feet in length and very wide. The fuel consumption was 17 mpg, which was unacceptable to many British motorists. 1961 also saw the launch of the amazing E Type; first seen at the Geneva Motor Show it took the motoring world by storm. The design was far head of it’s time. It was probably the most desired car that has ever been produced, those that could afford the 2000 price tag, bought one. 2000 was a lot of money in 1961, but still less expensive than its rivals it was a very proud moment for Jaguar

1968 saw the introduction of the XJ6 an extremely popular car; nearly 100,000 were produced between 1968 and 1973. The Series 11 was then produced and the XJ model has continued in one form or another right through to the present day. William Lyons retired from Jaguar in 1972.

1975 saw the introduction of the XJS; the motoring press gave it very good reviews but some Jaguar enthusiasts were disappointed with the design. Some twelve years later their faith in the Jaguar design team was restored when the XK8 was launched in 1997. A wonderfully designed car that had almost as much class and style as the E Type of some 36 years earlier.

In 1966 William Lyons who had by now become Sir William Lyons was in talks with BMC, who were keen to buy Jaguar. The fact that British Leyland had also expressed a strong interest in Jaguar, allowed Sir William to negotiate from a position of strength. BMC eventually bought Jaguar and BMH was formed. Sir William got the deal he wanted.

In 1968 Jaguar’s fortunes started to change they became part of the British Leyland Corporation; British Leyland had become very large and chaotic. Labour relations deteriorated to an all time low and whilst Sir William did everything he could to look after Jaguar and its workforce Morale was slipping and it deteriorated further when Jaguar’s founder retired in 1972. Even the company’s name had been changed from Jaguar Cars ltd to British Leyland Exports ltd; it appeared to be change for the sake of change but it certainly caused the workforce to further loose identity. The inevitable happened and in 1975 the company went bankrupt and was nationalised by the government. One can only imagine what Sir William felt for Jaguar the company he had nursed for fifty years.

Jaguar was then in the hands of Bob Knight a loyal Jaguar man, who was determined to turn the company around. Jaguar reputation for poor reliability was becoming well known and sales were dropping. Knight was convinced that a lot of the company’s quality problems were as a result of outside suppliers supplying components that were of poor quality and subsequently failing, making Jaguar cars look bad in the eyes of the public.

John Egan took over from Bob Knight in 1980, not joining at the best of times; he took over whilst the Jaguar workers were on strike. He didn’t really know what he could offer them, so he asked them to trust him and they agreed to go back to work. Michael Edwards head of what was now called BL, agreed to give Jaguar more independence. Egan carried on with Bob Knights fight to return the company to its earlier profitability. Morale improved but it was going to be long struggles in 1981 just over 13,000 Jaguars were sold.

When Bob Knight joined the company the workforce were on strike. He didn’t have much to offer the workforce at that early stage but persuaded them to put their faith in him and production re-started. The low morale, from which the company had suffered, started to recover. Things did not improve overnight and in 1981 Jaguar only managed to sell a little over 13,000 cars.

The company and had survived and was secure once more, John Egan was chief executive. Jaguar was bought by Ford in 1989 paying $2.5 billion a very large investment indeed and in the following year invested many more billions into the two companies they had bought; Jaguar and Land Rover.

Jaguar never made money for Ford, Land Rover on the other hand did make a profit. 2001 saw the launch of the X Type, which was pretty much a disaster; it had Ford Mondeo components and a real image problem. It was intended to compete with the BMW three series market but became a favourite amongst retirees; it was not good for Jaguar’s reputation.

Ford sold Aston Martin in 2007; they had problems and wanted to get back to basics. This was followed by the sale of land Rover and Jaguar in 2008. The sale price was $2.3 billion, less than Ford had paid for Jaguar some nine years earlier. However both companies had a shortfall in their pension schemes, this had to be made up by Ford at the cost of $600 million. Tata the Indian conglomerate was the purchaser.

Some were worried when they learned of Jaguar’s sale to Tata, feeling that Jaguar should remain British, forgetting that Jaguar hasn’t been British since 1989.

There has been some comment that Jaguar, that represents everything that is British, has now fallen into foreign hands but Jaguar has been in foreign hands since 1989 and what is most important is that the company survives. It is very clear from the history of Jaguar, that it needs autonomy in order to succeed. Tata have made it clear that it does not intend to “meddle” with Jaguar and that it wants the Jaguar tradition to survive and prosper.

30,000 Germans were polled in 2006, this revealed that the majority of Germans preferred Jaguar to Mercedes, Audi and BMW. The new XF has been an enormous success and contract hire and leasing companies are placing large orders for the car. After all it’s ups and downs Jaguar seems to be as strongly placed as it has ever been.

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