I foresee future legal entanglements with regard to motor vehicles.  As more and more cars are being recalled for a myriad of problems does that leave the owner with a legal obligation to have the vehicle inspected by the dealer and could failure to observe a recall notice subject the owner to liability in the event of an accident?

APOLOGIES R US —NOT

Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder
of the world’s largest automaker,
bowed his head slightly, acknowledging

the dozen or so rubes on the House
Oversight Committee who wouldn’t know
Bizen-yaki from Bernard Leach

and, with neck slightly bent, indicating
acknowledgement of responsibility,
testified for hours, declaring his deep

sorrow at having put money before safety.
Declaring company behavior “shameful”
and vowing himself personally

responsible for any and all accidents
occurring from defects in their merchandise,
“There is striking evidence,” he averred,

“that at times the company was more concerned
with profit than with customer safety.”
Holy cow!  He actually said that?

Hard to believe that we have yet to hear
any such confession from one single American
corporation, no matter how guilty of what

crimes of omission, commission and
recession that have robbed innocent Americans
of jobs, bank accounts and houses.

Only one question:  Quoting Toyoda-san:
“All the Toyota vehicles bear my name,”
said their Maker.  “When the cars are damaged ..”

Yes, he said “the cars” (Or was he misquoted?)
“It is as though I am, as well.” Smiling at clumsy
translations, “Konnichi wa!”  Responded several

Representatives, in order to appear savvy
enough to forget Pearl Harbor so that Hiroshima
and Nagasaki will not erupt from the memory hole.

APOLOOGIES R US

Taiga Udzusama, world-famous Japanese wrestler,
committeed spsritual hara-kiri recently
before an audience of approximately

one hundred honored family members
and guests who traveled with him in stretch-limos
to a teahouse near the summit of Mt. Fuji.

Bowing low before the statue of a badger,
the ancient Shinto trickster who for centuries
has been knwon to carry women into the woods

for sport, Udsusama greeted the dawn
with a twenty-page apology for offending
the commercial and political lords of his dominion.

Pasty-faced and overwrought, as if drugged
on an elixir of semi-somnolence,
he laid his regrets before an international

audience of millions, creating a soul-torn
media frenzy of singular hypocrisy and indiscretion. Family and friends appeared glum and tense,

under pressure to appear publicly distraught
over behavior which is totally mundane,
commoplace and would have been ignored

but for a 9-iron, a fireplug, and some broken glass.
Only half dead, Udzusama walked off-stage leaving
a heap of question-marks to writhe on the floor.

Where’s the hatred for Toyota?  No hatred here.  We own a Toyota and it’s a fine car, but the new ones have some major braking difficulties. 

Mr. Toyoda was apparently flummoxed by the time he got to Congress after experiencing a revolting development when the brakes failed to work on the new Toyota he was riding in causing it to wreck.  What I don’t understand, is why the key can’t be immediately switched off when the brakes fail?

Why all the hatred toward Toyota?

Good riddance to the Hummer.

Looks like Toyoda got a taste of what his company was actually doing.  Heads will probably roll at Toyota.