New Ford Fiesta Shatters Small-Car Mold: Best Projected Miles Per Gallon, Connectivity, Performance, Personality

• New Ford Fiesta bursts onto the scene with an impressive lineup of powertrain options anchored by the award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost^® engine that delivers a thrill-packed ride with unrivaled 40 mpg-plus 

• Fiesta is loaded with a dazzling array of features and technologies that proves small is smart

• Personalization features and hot new color combinations make the 2014 Ford Fiesta – on sale next year – a car that not only revels in the spotlight, but demands it

• Fiesta ST smokes the competition with the best performance in its class

Click to download images.

 

For more information, visit the 2014 Ford Fiesta Press Kit.

 

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26, 2012 – Ford’s new Fiesta, which breaks cover at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will redefine the small car with a projected best 40 mpg-plus fuel economy rating, an exciting new look, and special features and technology that make it the most fun-to-drive car of its size.

 

“Customers want cars that are expressive and fun while offering class-leading fuel economy,” says Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “Fiesta delivers all the excitement drivers are looking for in a car we believe will raise the bar even higher for small cars in North America.

 

“Our goal with this Fiesta was to take a car that was already a leader in fuel efficiency, performance, connectivity and personality, and make it even better,” Fields adds.

 

Fuel efficiency and fun

The most dramatic and distinctive Fiesta to date will deliver the best miles per gallon among its rivals, led by Ford’s patented new 1.0-liter EcoBoost^® engine. This landmark engine, already selected for both the Popular Mechanics 2012 Breakthrough Award and Engine Technology International’s International Engine of the Year Award in Europe, is expected to deliver more than 40 mpg.

 

With that, Fiesta is projected to be the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid subcompact in America, and stands as a shining example of Ford’s commitment to provide consumers with the most fuel-efficient cars, SUVs and trucks.

 

While the diminutive size of the 1.0-liter EcoBoost saves cash at the pump, it doesn’t hold anything back on the road. At 123 horsepower for each liter of engine displacement (the engine’s size), the 1.0-liter EcoBoost delivers more power for its size than a Lamborghini Aventador (at 108 horsepower per liter).  

 

EcoBoost is fundamental to Ford’s strategy to provide technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains that deliver uncompromised performance and fuel economy. EcoBoost engines deliver fuel economy gains of up to 20 percent and reduction of CO₂ emissions of up to 15 percent, compared with larger, less-efficient engines. Ford’s leadership with EcoBoost has resulted in more than 125 patents on the technology. Currently, more than 500,000 vehicles have this engine and by 2013 more than 1.3 million will have EcoBoost.

 

Small is smart

In addition to its new EcoBoost engine, Fiesta boasts a best-in-class suite of technologies and features that give drivers the perfect blend of a connected world and an untethered driving experience.

 

A new MyFord Touch^®  system with 6.5-inch touch screen that features enhanced voice control is now available, providing drivers more options than ever for navigation, communication and entertainment functions. Fiesta still features SYNC^® AppLink^™ capabilities pioneered on the first Fiesta, which allows drivers to access and control Ford-approved smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls while on the go, helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Turn-by-turn navigation remains part of SYNC Services.

 

Ford’s MyKey^® is a new feature on Fiesta, which enables parents in particular to encourage safer driving and limit their teenagers’ exposure to risk at the wheel. The system allows owners to configure maximum speed and audio volume limits. It also mutes audio until seat belts are fastened and ensures driver aids, safety systems and more vigorous alerts cannot be deactivated when used.

 

“This car was built for the digital generation,” says John Schneider, Ford chief engineer, Upperbody Electronics. “With Bluetooth^® connectivity and MP3 capabilities, tech-savvy people who use social media to be constantly connected with the world around them won’t be slowed down when they get in this car.

 

“It has always been the belief at Ford that entry-level drivers deserve the best technology,” Schneider adds. “We launched SYNC AppLink on Fiesta, and now transitioning to MyFord Touch with this new touch screen enables us to go further in our quest to give drivers the best in in-car electronics.”

 

Built to excite the right-brain driver

Proving to be every bit as creative as its owner, the new Fiesta will offer custom exterior design graphics and sexy new color options. The redesigned exterior boasts a sporty new grille that reflects the new face of Ford.

 

Inside, things are just as expressive. The cell phone-inspired dashboard and available leather steering wheel and seats amplify the modern interior and entice drivers to get in the car and get on the move. A selection of ambient lighting options allows Fiesta drivers to set just the mood they want. Also available is a new Sony HD audio/satellite radio with eight premium speakers for drivers to more fully appreciate their music.

 

Big on safety

This continues to be a small car that is big on safety. Fiesta offers the following standard safety features:

 

• AdvanceTrac^® with Electronic Stability Control
• Dual-stage first-row airbags
• Driver knee airbag
• Side-impact airbags
• Side-curtain airbags
• Four-wheel anti-lock braking system
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Child-safety rear locks
• Anti-theft engine immobilizer
• Improved side-impact safety capabilities

Fiesta ST pushes performance

Fiesta ST is Ford’s newest contribution to the world of hot hatches.

 

A new high-output variant of the award-winning 1.6-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine propels Fiesta ST with an anticipated 197 horsepower and 214 lb.-ft. of torque. In comparison, Mini Cooper S makes do with 181 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft., while Chevrolet Sonic RS produces 138 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft.

 

Unlike the competition, Fiesta ST doesn’t simply look like a performance car; it’s got the guts to back it up.

 

Fiesta ST may be born with racing DNA, but there’s no price for that performance at the pump. Available exclusively as a five-door hatchback in North America and with a six-speed manual transmission, Fiesta ST is projected to achieve up to 34 mpg.

New 2014 Ford Fiesta Adds MyFord Touch with Improved Voice Recognition, Navigation and Phone Pairing

• 2014 Ford Fiesta comes to market with one of the most comprehensive suite of in-car connectivity technology features available in a small car: SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® featuring a new 6.5-inch LCD touch screen

• The technology is driving up purchase consideration and appeal of Ford products, proven by internal data showing new vehicles ordered with MyFord Touch exceed expectations

• Ford, working with Microsoft, continues to improve MyFord Touch with new capabilities and features including more natural and accurate voice recognition, simpler Bluetooth^® phone pairing and better navigation controls

Click to download images.

 

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 26, 2012 – The latest trend in consumer electronics is the miniaturization of the gadgets we love, while packing them with even more performance such as a razor-thin phone that doesn’t bulge in a pocket, smaller tablets that can be held with one hand, or music players that can be worn on the wrist. Ford is following suit, and beginning next year it will offer MyFord Touch^® with a new 6.5-inch LCD touch screen available on the 2014 Ford Fiesta.

 

“Technology features are important to all of our customers including small car buyers, and MyFord Touch continues to drive up purchase consideration of our vehicles,” says Michelle Moody, Ford cross-vehicle marketing manager. “MyFord Touch is appealing to customers, as it consistently ranks among the top 10 purchase considerations with new owners. We’re excited to bring it to the small car segment, where it will really help Fiesta stand out from the crowd.”

 

The migration of this technology comes right as Ford hits the five-year anniversary of its award-winning SYNC^® in-vehicle connectivity system that was co-developed with Microsoft; more than 5 million cars and trucks have been sold with the system. Ford first launched SYNC on the 2008 Focus, then its smallest and most affordable car. Now, unveiling MyFord Touch for Fiesta cements Ford’s commitment to making technology affordable and accessible to everyone.

 

“We are seeing strong brand lift from MyFord Touch amongst in-market shoppers, with 65 percent of those intending to purchase a vehicle reporting SYNC definitely plays a role in their purchase consideration,” says Moody. “Take rates for MyFord Touch on new vehicle orders, such as the 2013 Escape and Fusion, continue to outpace our internal projections. We expect the same trend for Fiesta.”

 

Besides the new MyFord Touch 6.5-inch color touch screen, which is an upgrade over the currently available 4-inch screen, the 2014 Fiesta will launch with the latest SYNC software that adds new features including:

 

• Simplified Bluetooth^® phone pairing: When pairing, the driver simply has to hit “OK” if the PIN on the phone and touch screen match each other
• More natural voice recognition: Drivers can now simply say “Play <name>” when requesting a specific artist, song, album or genre of music (i.e. “Play jazz” versus “Play genre jazz”)
• Improved voice recognition accuracy: The latest version of Nuance’s speech software, VoCon^® 3200 v4.2, improves overall voice recognition performance
• Flattened audio command structure: At any time, drivers can say the station frequency, “AM 760,” or the official name of the Sirius station, like “Hits 1,” to tune in; drivers no longer need to say “Radio” or “Sirius” to indicate their desire to listen to those audio sources
• Simplified navigation controls: The destination entry screen has been improved to help make it easier to enter an address

With MyFord Touch powered by Microsoft, Fiesta drivers will be able to stay connected to their lives, easily getting the information and entertainment they want while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Ford Focus Earns Top Safety Rating from NHTSA

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2013 Ford Focus its top safety rating, a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

• The Focus was designed to with safety in mind with its next-generation airbags and AdvanceTrac^®with electronic stability control

• The driver’s side airbag uses a specially designed curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a “pocket” to help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes

Click to download images.

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 23, 2012 – The 2013 Ford Focus received a top safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The Focus earned a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing, which combines vehicle performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and a resistance to rollover evaluation.

 

“The new Focus is another example of Ford’s commitment to safety and NHTSA’s NCAP program has recognized this fact,” said Steve Kenner, global director of the Automotive Safety Office. “The Focus is built with technologies from bumper to bumper to help reduce occupant injury risk when a crash is unavoidable.”

 

Focus was designed with next-generation front and side airbag technologies to tailor deployment to individual occupants. Focus also includes segment-exclusive Safety Canopy® curtain airbags.

 

The driver’s airbag uses a specially designed curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a “pocket” to help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes. Innovative seat mounted side airbags feature unique shoulder vents which are designed to line up with the shoulder area of a larger occupant keeping the side airbag from venting. On smaller passengers, the effect is just the opposite because the occupant’s shoulder is below the vent, the gas vents out of the airbag.

 

The following safety and driver assist technologies are available on the 2013 Ford Focus:

 

• AdvanceTrac^® with electronic stability control helps the vehicle maintain its intended path by measuring side-to-side yaw (or skidding), by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle, and when wheel slip is sensed, reduces engine torque and applies selected brakes;

• Ford SYNC®, co-developed with Microsoft and using Nuance Communications voice recognition technology, allows customers to bring digital media players and Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones into their vehicles and operate the devices via voice commands or with the steering wheel’s supplemental audio controls;

• MyKey® allows parents to program any key through the vehicle message center to limit the volume on the stereo, top speed, block incoming phone calls and texts and make sure a child is buckled up before using the audio system; and

• Active park assist uses an ultrasonic-based sensing system and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) to position the vehicle for parallel parking, calculate the optimal steering angle and quickly steer the vehicle into a parking spot.

Award-Winning 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine Coming to North America Next Year in the New Ford Fiesta

• Ford’s newest EcoBoost^® engine is expected to deliver the best fuel economy of any non-hybrid car sold in America

• Ford’s patented 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will be the most refined and powerful in its class

• Global sales of EcoBoost engines are at 520,000 units and growing fast

Click to download JPG.

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 19, 2012 – The new 2014 Ford Fiesta on sale next year will be the first vehicle available in the United States with Ford’s award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost^® engine. Though the car has not yet undergone EPA testing, it is expected to be certified as the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid car available in the United States.

 

The smallest engine available in its class, Ford’s patented 1.0-liter EcoBoost won’t be short on power, torque or refinement. The smooth, quiet-running engine is projected to produce 123 horsepower and peak torque of 148 lb.-ft.

 

“Customers are going to be pleasantly surprised at what the smallest member of the EcoBoost engine family can do,” said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of Powertrain Engineering. “Most customers are not going to be thinking about the number of cylinders under the hood when they drive the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost Fiesta. They’ll notice an extremely smooth and quiet idle, terrific acceleration accompanied by a sporty sound at high revs, and – most importantly – outstanding fuel economy.”

 

The newest member of Ford’s global EcoBoost engine family, the 1.0-liter will join the most fuel-efficient lineup in Ford Motor Company’s history. Next year, Ford will offer eight vehicles rated at 40 mpg or higher – double today’s total, and more than any other automaker. Ford tops Toyota in fuel economy in every segment in which both companies compete.

 

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine in the Fiesta expands Ford’s power of choice strategy by giving customers interested in a very fuel-efficient car a new alternative.

 

Pricing is not yet set, but as with the other EcoBoost engines available across Ford’s car, truck, SUV and crossover lineup, the 1.0-liter will be a very affordable option. Adding an EcoBoost engine costs about $995 in most Ford vehicles.

 

“Many customers would like the fuel efficiency of a modern diesel or a hybrid, but can’t stretch their budgets to cover the cost premium,” said Bakaj. “That’s where the EcoBoost Fiesta fits in. It will offer a highly fuel-efficient alternative at a lower cost.”

 

Newest EcoBoost engine – a game changer

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is unlike any engine in Ford’s 109-year history. Not only is it the company’s first three-cylinder engine, but it debuts many new technologies never before seen in a Ford vehicle. These include an offset crankshaft; variable oil pump; split cooling system; external-balancing, super-small, responsive turbocharger; and a timing belt immersed in engine oil.

 

The result of the 1.0-liter’s advanced design is a quiet, smooth-running engine that develops roughly the same output as a 1.6-liter four-cylinder. But with about 25 percent fewer moving parts, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost is able to deliver higher fuel economy and lower emissions.

 

“We really focused on reducing the amount of energy the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine uses by paying very close attention to such things as bearing sizes, piston ring tension and thermal management,” said Bob Fascetti, director, Ford Global Engine Engineering. “For instance, we decided not to use a balance shaft in the engine because it adds weight and increases friction or parasitic losses. So we balance the engine externally with the crankshaft pulley and flywheel.”

 

Super-successful debut

Since being launched in the spring in the Ford Focus in Europe, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine has established itself as one of the most noteworthy engines of 2012. In April it was voted International Engine of the Year by a jury of 76 journalists from 36 countries. In June it set 16 land speed records at a racetrack in France. In October the 1.0-liter EcoBoost was given a Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine, and this month the engine won the prestigious DeWar Trophy in Great Britain.

 

In Europe, where the diesel engine is king, the 1.0-liter engine now accounts for about 30 percent of sales in the Focus. The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is just now launching in the B-MAX and C-MAX, and will also be offered in the all-new Mondeo.

 

The 1.0-liter engine is the fourth member of Ford’s global EcoBoost engine family. Since launch in 2009, Ford has sold more than 520,000 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles globally and expects volume to grow to 1.6 million in 2013.

 

Ford has more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost engine technology, and the number of patents continues to grow.

 

EcoBoost combines turbocharging with gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing to allow a smaller engine to replace a larger one with no loss of performance and at least a 20 percent gain in fuel economy.

 

“We’re extremely proud of the amazing success the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine has achieved in such a short time,” said Bakaj. “We think it will do extremely well here in the United States. With the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in the F-150, we learned customers will embrace smaller engines as long as you don’t ask them to sacrifice performance. The 1.0-liter will deliver three things that matter most to our customers – value for the dollar, terrific fuel economy and great performance.”

New Ford Multicultural Marketing Campaign Showcases All-New Ford Fusion and Delivers a Riveting Message to African American Community; Campaign Features Tupac Shakur’s Poem, ‘The Rose That Grew from Concrete’

• Ford’s newest multicultural marketing campaign tied to the all-new Ford Fusion features the poem by the late Tupac Shakur, “The Rose That Grew from Concrete,” which symbolizes the Fusion’s breakthrough in performance, style and innovation – a transformation of consumer expectations of midsize sedans

• The campaign launches today and features TV ads, print, radio and a digital execution that highlight the breakthrough styling and design of the all-new Ford Fusion

• The digital portion of the campaign features a series of Web videos that emphasize the inspiration behind the design of the Fusion

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 19, 2012 – There’s no denying that the all-new Ford Fusion has broken the mold when it comes to the design of a midsize sedan. This truth has become the inspiration behind the development of Ford’s newest advertising campaign targeting the African American community. The inspiring campaign demonstrates the continued commitment from Ford to “go further” in bringing game-changing products to its consumers.

 

The campaign, called “A Rose,” debuts today and includes a TV advertisement in which consumers witness members of a Ford product team creating a breakthrough product by chiseling a large block of concrete into the all-new midsize sedan. The ad, which features Andre Royo from HBO’s “The Wire,” includes a voiceover reciting the late Tupac Shakur’s poem, “The Rose That Grew from Concrete.”

 

“The all-new Ford Fusion is such a breakthrough vehicle for Ford,” said Shawn Thompson, Ford manager, Multicultural Marketing. “The late Tupac Shakur’s poem, “The Rose That Grew from Concrete,” is the perfect description for the way the new Fusion’s design came to be. As it’s described in the words of the poem, the Fusion is a clear testimony of what we can do if we keep our dreams.

 

“This campaign breaks completely away from anything we’ve done in the past to introduce consumers to a new vehicle utilizing a poem by one of hip hop’s most celebrated artists,” Thompson added. “This campaign, like the poem, has an inspiring message at its core.”

 

The fully integrated campaign also includes radio and print ads in addition to a digital execution featuring a series of Web videos that will live on www.ford.com/brandnew. The videos feature interviews with some of the team members behind the design of the all-new vehicle. The Web videos can be found on the Ford Fusion YouTube channel and Ford Fusion Facebook page beginning today.

 

The TV advertisements will air on broadcast networks that include BET, TV One and NBA on TNT; the print ads will be featured in a number of leading African American print publications that will include “ESSENCE” and “JET” magazines.

 

The Ford Fusion has a sleek design and equips consumers with seven must-have technologies, including an available Lane-Keeping System, adaptive cruise control, active park assist and MyFord Touch^®. In addition to its technology features, Fusion offers the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the midsize segment. It offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives, a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.

 

“We hope this campaign gets consumers buzzing about this segment-defining vehicle,” said Thompson. “The Ford Fusion truly sets itself apart from all other midsize vehicles in the segment and this new advertising campaign is just a first glimpse of that.”

 

The entire advertising campaign was created by UniWorld Group, Ford’s African American advertising agency of record.

 

The new Fusion is on sale now at Ford dealerships.

Deconstructing Four Classic Thanksgiving Myths

The Pilgrims invented Thanksgiving, right? Well...not really. This is just one of the more common Thanksgiving myths that we'll examine in this article.

Thanksgiving myths are common and persistent in American culture, possibly because they've been institutionalized in our schools and passed down from one generation to another. Just because they're the official stories we're told, does not make them true.
In fact, Thanksgiving is an invented tradition that owes more to Abe Lincoln for making it a formal holiday, than to the Pilgrims. Who, by the way, weren't even introduced as a part of the holiday until the late 19th century! Care to learn more Thanksgiving facts? Read on.

 

Myth 1: The First Thanksgiving Occurred at the Plymouth Colony.

Whether this Thanksgiving myth is true depends what you consider a Thanksgiving. The first celebration that was called such and occurred in what would become part of the U.S. took place in San Elizario, Texas in 1598, when conquistador Juan De Onate arrived at the Rio Grande after a long, brutal trek.
Closer to Plymouth, the Berkeley Plantation on the James River claims a Thanksgiving Day in 1619, two years before the Pilgrims and their official first Thanksgiving in 1621. If you want to be strict about it, Plymouth Colony's was actually at least the third Thanksgiving. But who's counting?

Myth 2: Thanksgiving Originated as a Religious Holiday.

Nope, this one's definitely a Thanksgiving myth. Most thanksgivings are indeed religious, but not the American one. It never has been. It's mostly a fall harvest festival. The Pilgrims would never have invited the Native Americans (who they considered heathens) to a religious observance.

Myth 3: The Turkey-and-Cranberry-Sauce Tradition Started with the Pilgrims.

Not likely. While the early English settlers were quite familiar with turkey, they hadn't been exposed to cranberries by that point. In addition, they had no corn, potatoes, yams, or most of the other foods we associate with Thanksgiving. What they did have was deer, and we know they ate that. Maybe bear, too.
So it's a Thanksgiving myth to think that our traditional meal of turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce on the side is at all representative of the settlers' Thanksgiving feast. It's traditional because it's what the Victorians, who first widely celebrated Thanksgiving, enjoyed on their holiday.

Myth 4: We've Celebrated Thanksgiving Every Year Since the First One.

Not so. Once again, you have to decide which one was first (1598, 1619, or 1621), and in any case not every year has seen a Thanksgiving as such. Even if you accept the official date (1621), the Pilgrims didn't have another Thanksgiving until 1623, when they celebrated the end of a drought.
Thanksgiving wasn't even a widespread American holiday outside of New England, until President Lincoln proclaimed it such in 1863 -- and even then, it wasn't really official until 1939. But hey, don't let these Thanksgiving myths affect your enjoyment of the day: dig in, nap if off, and go watch some football!

Dreaming of a Windfall

I love reading random Twitter feeds.

I’ll wonder what random people are thinking about a particular topic, so I’ll go to Twitter and search for that topic. Often, I’ll see an interesting remark from someone and wind up on their personal Twitter feed, reading about their lives and stories.

More than anything, this has taught me that even with the great diversity of people on Earth, there are a lot of experiences people have in common. They have hopes and dreams. They have disappointments and failures. They have joys and things that they cherish.

One dream that I often see mentioned is that of a giant life-changing windfall. People often lament that their life would be better if they suddenly discovered some money, as it would free them from whatever situation that they’re currently struggling with.

It’s a comforting dream, no doubt. There isn’t a person reading this that doesn’t have some aspect of their life that they would love to have magically altered in some fashion, and many of those aspects could be fixed with a giant infusion of cash.

The problem is that this type of magical thinking can really hold us back.

When we wish for just one big thing that can transform our lives, we often overlook the thousands of little steps we can take right now that can add up to real change.

You can dream of a hundred grand dropping on your doorstep, but if you spend $250 a month frivolously, your bad choices add up to a hundred grand in about a decade.

You can dream of debt freedom when you have a pile of bills sitting in front of you, but if you focus on simply tackling one of those debts, it will go away before very long. Follow it with focus on the next debt and that one vanishes. Before long, the mountain of debts will whittle away.

You can dream of a bankroll to start your own business, but if you just focus on the specific aspects of it that you can do for very little cost, you can get the ball rolling right now.

My sister-in-law lives in the Seattle area. On a clear day, you can see Mount Rainier from her house. It looks something like this:

Mount Rainier is around 80 miles away. When I visit, it can be fun to sit on the back porch, look at the mountain, and dream about that big thing.

No matter how long I sit there dreaming, though, when I open my eyes, Rainier is still miles and miles away. It’s still a vague dream on the horizon.

Instead of dreaming, I can start walking or driving in that direction. The big goal is still in front of me, but as I move closer to it, a step at a time, it gets more and more clear. It goes from being something vague on the horizon to being something I can actually reach.

Before I know it, I’m standing on the mountain.

Every big dream we have in life is like that. We see it off in the horizon. It looks enormous and distant, and it feels almost impossible to reach it.

Yet, with every step we take, that enormous goal gets a little closer. It gets a little clearer. The next step seems a little easier.

When you dream of a windfall, don’t just dream of it dropping on your lap. Instead, think about that first step you can take. It can be a tiny, little step, but as long as it moves you toward the goal, it’s a great step.

Stand up on that back porch and start walking toward the mountain.

Ford Motor Company Fund Pledges $1 Million to American Red Cross

• Ford Motor Company Fund announces $1 million pledge over two years to American Red Cross for disaster relief and career training for veterans and family members

• Through this grant, 200 veterans, those soon to leave military service, or their family members will receive scholarships for free training for a career in health care

• Healthcare Scholarships are available to military families in Detroit, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Nashville, Tenn. and Louisville, Ky.

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 15, 2012 – Ford Motor Company Fund is pledging $1 million to the American Red Cross for workplace development training for veterans, military members and their families, as well as to disaster relief through the Red Cross Disaster Responder program.

 

In this two-year commitment, Ford’s longstanding support of the American Red Cross is being expanded with 200 Blue Oval Scholarships for nurse assistant training in the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program. These scholarships will enable veterans, or those soon to leave military service, and their families to receive training for careers in the health field in five cities: Detroit, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Nashville, Tenn. and Louisville, Ky. All are cities in Ford’s Operation Goodwill program.

 

The Red Cross nurse assistant training program equips trainees to achieve state-level certification as nurse assistants and obtain sustainable and competitive employment. The program provides job development and work readiness resources as well as help for graduates to find employment.

 

“Ford’s support allows us to extend our nurse assistant training program in five areas of the country and helps us serve a larger number of service members and their families,” said Lynn Crabb, senior director of Policy and Programs, Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces.

 

“Recent government data show unemployment among post-9/11 veterans is at 9.7 percent,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “This expansion of our Red Cross partnership provides deserving veterans and their family members the chance to build new careers in the nursing field, which is a win-win-win for them, the Red Cross and our communities.”

 

This support builds on $50,000 in Ford grants in the past two years for the southeastern Michigan region health care career training program and disaster services programs.

 

As part of this partnership, Ford also is joining the Red Cross Disaster Responder program and pledges donations on an ongoing basis in advance of major disasters, which helps the Red Cross ensure an immediate response to meet the needs of those affected by disasters of all sizes, at no cost and regardless of income.

 

In addition, Ford Motor Company is donating two Transit Connect vans to support crisis response in Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico

Ford Escape wins inaugural Car of the Year from Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics has unveiled its 2013 Automotive Excellence Awards, and not only is the Ford Escape among its 10 best vehicles, for the first time ever the magazine names a Car of the Year and Escape is editors’ choice for the award. Escape earned the honor for being “an affordable vehicle that excels in multiple auto excellence categories,” for its “excellent engine options, abundance of technology and great price.” Reviewers pointed out that “Escape is freshly minted, with a solid new chassis shared with the European Ford Kuga. The driving experience feels like it’s two full generational leaps ahead of the old Escape.” Read the full report here.

 

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home about my story contact get via email twitter! mortgage rates auto insurance Welcome to The Simple Dollar! If this is your first time visiting the site, read my story and my key simple ideas for improving your finances and your life. Also, don't miss 100 great tips for spending less money. Shop Online for Better Price Comparisons (317/365) Share November 13, 2012 @ 2:00 pm - Written by Trent Categories: 365 Ways to Live Cheap Bookmarks: del.icio.us, reddit It seems pretty common to use online sources to comparison shop for the big items. The internet is a powerful tool for finding the best bang for the buck on automobiles, homes, televisions, cameras, and so on. Yet that’s just a starting point. I use the internet to comparison shop for anything non-perishable that will cost me more than $20 or so over the course of a year. Garbage bags. Toilet paper. Socks. Laundry detergent. I use the internet to comparison shop for all of these things, and many, many more. There are many sites out there that will ship a bulk purchase of a non-perishable item to your home for free or for a relatively small price. If you can capitalize on that from the convenience of your home, take advantage of it. Compare the prices you get online for these items with the prices you can get locally and go for whichever option is cheapest. Shop Online for Better Price Comparisons (317/365) For starters, there’s Amazon.com, which seems to sell pretty much anything and offers free shipping on all purchases of $25 or above. So, let’s say I need some large trash bags for leaf disposal. Before I head out to the grocery store, I’ll just check on Amazon for the price on the bags I need. Let’s say I find a box of 108 bags for $48.92, or about $0.45 apiece. Can I find them cheaper at my local grocery store? I write down the price on my grocery list and go shopping. If the local store has a comparable or lower price, I’ll buy the item at the store. If not… I go home and make an online order. Usually, the price is cheaper via one of my local options, but not always. When it’s not, I buy it online and save a few dollars. A few days later, the item shows up on my front door. You don’t have to stick with just amazon.com, either. Shop around at various online sites. See if your local big box retailer has lower prices at their website than at their store. Check out other options, too, like NetGrocer for grocery items or Drugstore.com for drugstore prices. You’re not just limited by the prices at your local stores. Do price comparisons across the real world and the internet and you’ll end up finding the biggest bargains of all, even on the ordinary things you might not expect. This post is part of a yearlong series called “365 Ways to Live Cheap (Revisited),” in which I’m revisiting the entries from my book “365 Ways to Live Cheap,” which is available at Amazon and at bookstores everywhere. Images courtesy of Brittany Lynne Photography, the proprietor of which is my “photography intern” for this project. Email this • Save to del.icio.us • Subscribe to this feed • Stumble It! • Digg This! • Twit This! • Add a comment Did you like this article? You can get the complete text of all the latest articles at The Simple Dollar in your email inbox each morning by entering your email address below. Your address will only be used for mailing you the articles, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time. Six Simple Gifts to Make Between Now and Christmas

Two years ago, I ran a fall article series on homemade gifts, which I then gave out to relatives that Christmas.
Naturally, some of the gifts were bigger hits than others. After the series was over, I gave some thought as to the amount of effort I put into the gifts in exchange for how happy they made the recipient, and I came to the conclusion that six of the items would be worth doing again with respect to the effort involved and how much people enjoyed them. Here are these six gifts.
If you start on Thanksgiving weekend, you can make all of these before Christmas.
Photo Cubes
These photo cubes still adorn the homes of the people we gave them to.

The process was pretty straightforward. We went to a local lumberyard and had them cut a 4×4 board (which actually measures about 3.5″ by 3.5″) into 3.5″ pieces, making several (approximate) cubes. We used sandpaper to smooth the faces a bit and round the corners of the cube.
We then printed out six pictures per cube, cut them into squares, and glued them to the cube faces.
After that, we applied several layers of Mod Podge (a simple-to-apply finish that you can get at many hobby supply stores) to each cube that we made, then applied a final layer of spray sealant to keep the cubes from having a “tacky” feel.
Each cube took perhaps two total hours of effort to complete, with some of that time overlapping if you make multiple cubes.
See the full photo cube post for more details.
Personalized Cards and Stationery
These personalized photo cards have been both cherished by the recipient and sent through the mail as note cards.

Again, the process here is simple. Get some completely blank 5″ by 7″ note cards and some construction paper or colored art paper. Cut the paper into 4.5″ by 6.5″ rectangles and affix them to the front of the cards with some form of adhesive (I used double-sided tape with a bit on each corner). Then, get a stack of 4″ by 6″ prints of photos that you like and affix those photos on top of the rectangles (again, with double-sided tape on each corner).
These are fun to wrap as well. We took pieces of tissue paper, folded them nicely around the cards, put a sticker on to hold the tissue paper in place, and used a garment box for the outside covering.

The entire process took perhaps two hours for a batch of 35-40 cards.
Obviously, you can use any type of photography you want. Grandparents might appreciate photos of grandchildren. Others might like nature pictures or cityscapes. You can choose photographs and colors based on what you think the recipient will enjoy.
See the full personalized stationery post for full details.
Crocheted Hat and Scarf
This was a pet project of Sarah’s. We’ve seen family members wearing the product of these efforts many times. It only took Sarah eight or so hours to finish these, most of which was spent on the couch with a good movie on the television.

Sarah recommends starting with this tutorial to learn how to crochet. If you want to make the exact hat shown in the picture, here’s that pattern. There are many scarf patterns and hat patterns freely available online.
All you need is some time, a crochet needle, and some yarn. Sarah estimates that each scarf and hat takes about four hours to make, but she does have at least a little experience crocheting. If you’re not familiar with how to crochet, there’s no better time to learn.
See the full crocheted hat and scarf post for more details.
Meals in a Jar
We’ve seen these used as kitchen decorations and also used as meals. We’ve also heard compliments on how it made a delicious meal or snack for the recipient’s families, and they didn’t take long to make, either.

There are many meals out there that can be prepared out of mostly dried ingredients – soups, brownie mixes, and so on. You can make a wonderful gift by taking one of your favorite recipes of this type, collecting all of the dry ingredients together, and putting them in a jar, which ideally leaves the recipient only having to add water, stir, and cook.
All you really need is a recipe, the ingredients for that recipe, a glass jar to hold it (with a lid, of course), and perhaps a few additional items for decoration (we used squares of cloth, a ribbon, and some card stock for a handmade tag).
Just add each ingredient to an appropriately sized jar, close the jar up, and decorate it. Be sure to include a note explaining what’s in the item and what steps still need to be taken to prepare it as a meal.
See the full meals in a jar post for more details.
Wine Jelly
Our wine jelly was enjoyed by several different families. I actually ended up passing along this post to several different recipients who wanted to make it themselves. All you need is an afternoon to make quite a few jars.

You don’t need much to make these jars. You’ll need the usual canning items: a large pot, six jars with lids and rings, and something to pull the jars out with (we bought a plastic “bucket” for fifty cents from a local store that works great). For this jelly, you’ll need 3 1/2 cups of wine (this will take a little more than a bottle, but you can use grape juice to make up the difference if you don’t want to pop open a second bottle), 1/2 cup of lemon juice, one package of dry pectin, and 4 1/2 cups of sugar.
Just mix together the jelly ingredients in a pot (mix the wine, juice, and pectin first until it’s boiling over medium-high heat, then add the sugar slowly while stirring rapidly) and boil for another minute after the sugar is all added. Ladle it into the jars (that have been boiled in water for cleanliness) with half an inch of breathing room on top, close them with the lids, and put the jars into a boiling water bath for five minutes. Let them sit out to cool and you’ll have wonderful gifts.
See the full wine jelly post for more details.
Homemade Vanilla Extract
If you’re going to make this one, you need to start right away, but you only need two of the items to get started: vanilla beans and vodka. The rest can wait. This process makes some of the best vanilla extract you’ll ever try.

To package the extract, you’ll also need some food-safe bottles, which you can order online at a reasonable price. The ones we used were eight ounce bottles with screw-top lids. We also printed off our own labels, as you can see.
So, how do you make it? The first step is to head to eBay right now and bid on some bulk vanilla pods. Buying them individually is cost prohibitive, but you can get lots of pods at a very cheap price if buying them in bulk. Also, hit your local liquor store and get a bottle or two of inexpensive vodka (you don’t need the expensive stuff here).
When you get the beans, slice eight (or so) of the pods lengthwise so the beans are exposed, then drop the whole pods (beans and all) right into the vodka bottle. Close the bottle up, shake it, and store it in a cool dark place. Shake it every day or so.
After three weeks (or longer – I’d wait until the last day or two for this), take out your bottle and filter it using a pair of coffee filters over the top of a jar. Just pour the extract through so that you filter out the beans and any pieces of the pod. Put the extract into the food safe bottles you have, affix the labels, and you have a wonderful homemade gift.
See the homemade vanilla extract post for full details.
Our family and friends loved these gifts and put them to good use over the past two years. Each one can easily be made before Christmas, particularly if you get started this Thanksgiving weekend. Each one is relatively low cost, too, compared to purchasing anything similar, plus these have a wonderful homemade quality about them.
Have fun!