Toyota HQ moving to TX

[JV_]

For Japanese auto brands, the logic of keeping their U.S. sales and administrative arms in California is breaking down under the outsized penalties of conducting business in the Golden State and the changing dynamics of the North American automotive industry. So Toyota is leaving, according to Automotive News.



http://www.forbes.com/sites/dalebuss/2014/04/27/it-makes-sense-for-toyota-to-leave-california-for-texas/

[TheTrevor]

About the only vast remaining pocket of dynamism in the California economy is Silicon Valley, where the mastery of the global digital economy by companies ranging from Google GOOG -2.36% to Hewlett-Packard HPQ +0.51% has become so complete that they have been able to succeed despite the home-state business landscape.

And that's why it's not especially easy for some folks to just relocate from CA to states which are more 2A-friendly.

[GardoneVT]

And that's why it's not especially easy for some folks to just relocate from CA to states which are more 2A-friendly.

Never thought I'd be saying this, but California also offers a lot more then a big paycheck.

I live in a state which the CCW permits cost $10 and are truly "shall issue". But I can't hike up Runyon Canyon in South Dakota. The nearest In and Out is thousands of miles away. So is the Pacific Ocean and the lovely PCH next to it. Don't even get me started about the variety of women in LA, and the weather isn't even a debate.

I used to be one of those voices that said "GTFO of CA." While I still dislike the politics , after visiting the place I can see I was talking out of my kittening rear. Southern California has a culture you just cant get in New Orleans or Arkansas, even if you can buy nice guns in those states.

[JM Campbell]

Texas....it's where the parties at.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[TGS]

Never thought I'd be saying this, but California also offers a lot more then a big paycheck.

I live in a state which the CCW permits cost $10 and are truly "shall issue". But I can't hike up Runyon Canyon in South Dakota. The nearest In and Out is thousands of miles away. So is the Pacific Ocean and the lovely PCH next to it. Don't even get me started about the variety of women in LA, and the weather isn't even a debate.

I used to be one of those voices that said "GTFO of CA." While I still dislike the politics , after visiting the place I can see I was talking out of my kittening rear. Southern California has a culture you just cant get in New Orleans or Arkansas, even if you can buy nice guns in those states.

SoCal is a pretty sweet place....for outdoorsy people, you can hit just about every scene you can want within a 6 hour drive; big forests, deserts, dunes, beaches and the ocean, mountains, ect. I very much enjoyed the week I spent in Coronado....lots of great places to eat as well, which is definitely not something I can attribute to most other states I've visited.

ETA: I honestly wouldn't mind going back to CA for a vacation. I've yet to see Texas or Alaska, however, so it'll have to wait.

[RoyGBiv]

Toyota employees will find themselves most welcome here, assuming they remember WHY Toyota moved them here.
They should shed any flippin socialist politics at the CA border.
They already f-'d up Colorado... (hopefully not past the point of no return.) We don't need that crap here.

TGS: AK = Awesome! (in the summer ;-) )

[Suvorov]

SoCal is a pretty sweet place....for outdoorsy people, you can hit just about every scene you can want within a 6 hour drive; big forests, deserts, dunes, beaches and the ocean, mountains, ect. I very much enjoyed the week I spent in Coronado....lots of great places to eat as well, which is definitely not something I can attribute to most other states I've visited.

ETA: I honestly wouldn't mind going back to CA for a vacation. I've yet to see Texas or Alaska, however, so it'll have to wait.

And one nice thing about visiting Kalifornia is that compared to other nanny states, you CAN bring you gun and not worry about ending up in jail as long as you keep it unloaded in a locked container while in your vehicle and do not carry it with you where prohibited (which is pretty much everywhere but there are sportsman oriented exceptions).

While there is much hateraid on the internet towards Kalifornia, with the exception of the politics and the traffic/overcrowding, the place is pretty close to paradise.

[David S.]

While there is much hateraid on the internet towards Kalifornia, with the exception of the politics and the traffic/overcrowding, the place is pretty close to paradise.

...and cost of living near any metro area.

[Suvorov]

...and cost of living near any metro area.

Which is due to the overcrowding and politics....

[GardoneVT]

Which is due to the overcrowding and politics....

I'd have to disagree with the "cost of living" aspect.

Yup, its crowded, no doubt . But the cost of stuff in Los Angeles wasn't unreasonable from what I could see, as long as one was smart about where they shopped. When I lived in the north side of Chicago, there was no such thing as inexpensive basic necessities. Given that I was kinda surprised to see somewhat reasonable prices at the Ralph's chain.

LA also has indoor gun ranges you can go to in the city limits. Try that in New York City or Chicago sometime.

[TheTrevor]

Which is due to the overcrowding and politics....

Cost of living isn't a huge issue for many folks (obviously, because they live here) due to compensation scaling to match the cost of living here.

Overcrowding and cost of real estate are both driven the fact that there's virtually no room left for cheap suburb-style growth. 99.99% of the farms and orchards have been developed into housing, retail, offices, etc. It's practically a zero-sum game at this point, and the only way around it is to operate private transit systems like Google, Yahoo, Genentech, etc. all do to enable folks to work while commuting in from up to 50 miles away.

All of that, and I still like living here. The weather is generally lovely, and there's basically any climate I want to visit (except "sunny beach with warm water") within a 4-hour drive. We don't have to beg for permission from the local authorities before we can go gun-shopping, and the tide is turning in our favor regarding concealed carry.

The one downside is that there seems to be an unwritten law governing highly attractive straight people in NorCal: upon graduating high school or (sometimes) college, it appears to be compulsory for same to move to SoCal. I was fortunate enough to marry someone smart AND attractive before I moved to Silicon Valley.

[Tamara]

And one nice thing about visiting Kalifornia is that compared to other nanny states....

I don't even change planes in BOS or ORD.

[Suvorov]

Cost of living isn't a huge issue for many folks (obviously, because they live here) due to compensation scaling to match the cost of living here.


Other than the desire to "breath free" (which as you say appears to be slowly turning in our favor) and not having to fly half way across the country just to start work (which may change one day) - the cost of living will most likely be the main factor that causes me to dig up that root that has kept me here for more than 14 years and head east. In my neighborhood, a basic 2500 square foot home will run you $1.5 million which is absolutely absurd in my mind and something that not even the top of my profession could easily afford.

Back to the concern of the OP - it really looks to me that the power that be in charge of our State government couldn't give a rat's behind about traditional industry or retaining it. They tolerate Tesla because it is "green", but they don't want their batteries made here. Silicon Valley and Hollywood are about the only industrial centers that the State seems to want around. I doubt there is much gnashing of teeth in Sacramento over Toyota leaving.

[Suvorov]

I don't even change planes in BOS or ORD.

I've had a few conversations with co-workers based in ORD that have reported no issues traveling in and out of there with checked firearms and dealing with the Smurfs and CPD. Maybe the word has gotten around to the local constabulary? The "good" thing about ORD is that while the airport has been gerrymandered to be part of Chicago, the immediate surroundings are all independent towns with less draconian gun laws. MDW (Midway) on the other hand sits right smack dab in the middle of South Chicago, the last place next to NYC you would want to be caught with a gun, but the place you most likely need it.

[GardoneVT]

I've had a few conversations with co-workers based in ORD that have reported no issues traveling in and out of there with checked firearms and dealing with the Smurfs and CPD. Maybe the word has gotten around to the local constabulary? The "good" thing about ORD is that while the airport has been gerrymandered to be part of Chicago, the immediate surroundings are all independent towns with less draconian gun laws. MDW (Midway) on the other hand sits right smack dab in the middle of South Chicago, the last place next to NYC you would want to be caught with a gun, but the place you most likely need it.


In flying out of LAX with my cased Beretta (naturally) last month , at the check-in gate the ladies at the United counter seemed quite perturbed at the presence of the gun. While the weapon was inspected and the TSA guy gave the thumbs up soon after, on leaving the counter I noticed my boarding pass , under the comments section all the world to read , said "FIREARM IN CHECKED BAGGAGE".

What the deuce?

[Suvorov]

In flying out of LAX with my cased Beretta (naturally) last month , at the check-in gate the ladies at the United counter seemed quite perturbed at the presence of the gun. While the weapon was inspected and the TSA guy gave the thumbs up soon after, on leaving the counter I noticed my boarding pass , under the comments section all the world to read , said "FIREARM IN CHECKED BAGGAGE".

What the deuce?

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the ladies at the United counter usually perturbed by the presence of anything or anyone that causes them to do work. Don't mistake a general loathing of their job and animosity towards customers for some specific anti-2A animosity.

I know Federal guidelines are supposed to prevent any identifiable markings on checked bags that would indicate they had a firearm inside but perhaps there isn't anything that specifically prohibits it being printed on the boarding pass itself. That said - I have never seen it.

[GardoneVT]

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the ladies at the United counter usually perturbed by the presence of anything or anyone that causes them to do work. Don't mistake a general loathing of their job and animosity towards customers for some specific anti-2A animosity.

I know Federal guidelines are supposed to prevent any identifiable markings on checked bags that would indicate they had a firearm inside but perhaps there isn't anything that specifically prohibits it being printed on the boarding pass itself. That said - I have never seen it.

Makes sense. It took them two tries to get the yellow firearm declaration form printed properly, if that's an indication. They misspelled my name on the second copy, but I thought it best to leave it alone and make my flight.


I don't even change planes in BOS or ORD.


Ohare is a pit , gun-fu drama or no. When I lived in Chicago i'd drive two hours north to Mitchell in Milwaukee for my flights.

[Kennydale]

I believe they assemble trucks in San Antonio. Welcome Toyota

[Suvorov]

I believe they assemble trucks in San Antonio. Welcome Toyota

I know Kalifornia got a little butt hurt several years ago when Toyota decided not to assemble the Prius in the Bay Area.

[Alpha Sierra]

Never thought I'd be saying this, but California also offers a lot more then a big paycheck.

I live in a state which the CCW permits cost $10 and are truly "shall issue". But I can't hike up Runyon Canyon in South Dakota. The nearest In and Out is thousands of miles away. So is the Pacific Ocean and the lovely PCH next to it. Don't even get me started about the variety of women in LA, and the weather isn't even a debate.

I used to be one of those voices that said "GTFO of CA." While I still dislike the politics , after visiting the place I can see I was talking out of my kittening rear. Southern California has a culture you just cant get in New Orleans or Arkansas, even if you can buy nice guns in those states.
After living in that place for 18 months, I GTFO as fast as the .mil would transfer me. And I will never go back.

[Tamara]

I know Kalifornia got a little butt hurt several years ago when Toyota decided not to assemble the Prius in the Bay Area.

It would take a remarkable lack of business savvy and a total inability to read the political winds to plunk down a mult-billion dollar blue collar manufacturing facility in the middle of the Bay Area. That'd be like letting your kid go to the slumber party at the Escobar household; your investment and future livelihood would be hostage to the whim of every hippie political fad to hit the front page until you finally threw up your hands, sold the plant at a loss to some rubes from Shanghai, and moved to Alabama.

[NETim]

I miss the ocean. I miss the food. I don't miss California.

[justintime]

Never thought I'd be saying this, but California also offers a lot more then a big paycheck.

I live in a state which the CCW permits cost $10 and are truly "shall issue". But I can't hike up Runyon Canyon in South Dakota. The nearest In and Out is thousands of miles away. So is the Pacific Ocean and the lovely PCH next to it. Don't even get me started about the variety of women in LA, and the weather isn't even a debate.

I used to be one of those voices that said "GTFO of CA." While I still dislike the politics , after visiting the place I can see I was talking out of my kittening rear. Southern California has a culture you just cant get in New Orleans or Arkansas, even if you can buy nice guns in those states.

I've spent a lot of time in Cali - it gets old fast and I realized Texas offers pretty much all the same stuff plus more. The negatives of California definitely are not outweighed by the positives in my opinion.

[Dagga Boy]

I've spent a lot of time in Cali - it gets old fast and I realized Texas offers pretty much all the same stuff plus more. The negatives of California definitely are not outweighed by the positives in my opinion.

I spent my entire life there. If some of you think its got "Paradise" qualities now.........should have seen it as a fairly conservative state. What the progressives and nannies have done in fifty years is really a marvel in screwing up a good thing. Texas has the potential to be following right behind them, and I pray everyday that the people here stick to what makes Texas such a good place to live and California such a good place to visit.

[Palmguy]

In flying out of LAX with my cased Beretta (naturally) last month , at the check-in gate the ladies at the United counter seemed quite perturbed at the presence of the gun. While the weapon was inspected and the TSA guy gave the thumbs up soon after, on leaving the counter I noticed my boarding pass , under the comments section all the world to read , said "FIREARM IN CHECKED BAGGAGE".

What the deuce?

Airline smartphone app = electronic boarding pass...just don't let them write on your phone ;)

[Tamara]

I spent my entire life there. If some of you think its got "Paradise" qualities now.........should have seen it as a fairly conservative state. What the progressives and nannies have done in fifty years is really a marvel in screwing up a good thing. Texas has the potential to be following right behind them, and I pray everyday that the people here stick to what makes Texas such a good place to live and California such a good place to visit.

I can't remember where I read it, but there was a pretty interesting article positing a sort of "vulture class" that flocks to wherever the Big Boom is happening, fouls the nest, and moves on to the next place. If the people building the big house down the road from you are from California, and their grandparents moved to LA or San Fran in the '50s or '60s to get away from Detroit or Cleveland, be afraid. Be very afraid.

[TAZ]

This is a double edged sword. It's nice to have more jobs in the state, but the baggage that they bring sometimes hurts in the long run. All the idiot Kali transplants who sell their shacks for $400k and buy cash drive up property values and make it harder for the rest of us to buy homes. They bring their left leaning politics and screw up everything they touch.

Wish there was a way to bring the jobs but leave the people.

[GardoneVT]

This is a double edged sword. It's nice to have more jobs in the state, but the baggage that they bring sometimes hurts in the long run. All the idiot Kali transplants who sell their shacks for $400k and buy cash drive up property values and make it harder for the rest of us to buy homes. They bring their left leaning politics and screw up everything they touch.

Wish there was a way to bring the jobs but leave the people.

According to Forbes, the jig's pretty much up for Texas. Here's (http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2011/migration.html)an interactive map they put together of folks who move from state to state, based on tax return data.

Some screenshots of movement patterns for Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Blue is Incoming, Red is outgoing. Might not be long before Texas passes their own eh-dubya-bee.


http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y528/GardoneVT/TexasThree_zps24850c26.jpg

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y528/GardoneVT/TexasTwo_zps4304f7e6.jpg

http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y528/GardoneVT/TexasOne_zpsf5091f85.jpg

[Tamara]

Might not be long before Texas passes their own eh-dubya-bee.

What color is the sky in your world? :confused:

[GardoneVT]

What color is the sky in your world? :confused:


Dont hate the poster, hate the map.

[JM Campbell]

Dont hate the poster, hate the map.

Dude seriously, if you do not live in Texas you have no clue as to local politcs. Hit up some pro Democrat website of a political forum and spew all the crap you want.

Your seriously close to the ignore button...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[JAD]

Your seriously close to the ignore button...

Who is?

[JV_]

Your seriously close to the ignore button...


Thread drift: It'd be kind of interesting to see a list of the top 3 or top 5 people on ignore lists.

[STW]

Hi. I'm new here but just have to share my perspective on California.

At one time California had it all - good climate, amazing geography, quality schools, reasonable prices. When I first moved there, barely a teenager, in the mid-60s there were fewer than 19 million people. The geography and the climate didn't change but 19 million more people moved to the state, many of them thinking that what they saw in the movies or at the Rose Parade was real. While they saw Malibu beach on TV what they found was El Monte or Sherman Oaks or San Jose with clogged roads, bad air, and enclaves of moneyed people living the life they (secretly) expected when they moved. It wasn't fair and somebody should fix it. Enter bigger government promising to fix their broken paradise. Unfortunately, 38 million people crammed in limited space can't be fixed, particularly when the type of person attracted to a job with the power to change things generally doesn't have the talent or the skills to make it work. Worse follows bad and those with the ability and/or foresight to leave do so. See Toyota.

I fled California when I realized there were 10,000 cars stopped on the freeway near my office at 10 in the morning and seeing the ocean from the office front door wasn't enough to make up for that. In addition, the laws were getting nuttier and nuttier and I believed sanity would be a long time coming to Sacramento.

Now, eight years later, I live near where I was born and find any gun not on the CA DOJ approved list just a little bit more attractive. I like hard winters and the fact the city doesn't plow most roads is a way to keep out the riffraff. I'll spend Friday in Yellowstone NP.

[Tamara]

Dont hate the poster, hate the map.
I don't "hate the poster", just find his assertion that the climate in TX could swing from what it is now to a legislative AWB in a time frame that could be described as "might not be long" to be completely out of line with reality. Even if the anti-gun forces pile up in Texas as fast as they did in Cali, given the baseline they're starting from, you'll be eating cat food in a retirement home while the .gov kites you bad SS checks before the pendulum there will swing that far.

TX enjoys a lot of protections Cali doesn't have; Article I, § 23 of the TX state constitution for starters, which has no corresponding provision in the CA state document.


Your seriously close to the ignore button...

Thank you for quoting him, BTW. ;)

[Dagga Boy]

I see Texas having the potential to follow California in a lot of areas.....gun stuff is not one of them. With that said, it only took California a few years from really being the black gun state, to the polar opposite. It can happen anywhere, but there are a lot of other issues in play in Texas to at least stop that stuff.

[jetfire]

I don't even change planes in BOS or ORD.

I am frequently forced to change planes in ORD. It makes my eye twitch.

True story about Logan: I was flying home from a match with a pair of G21s and a grip of 10 round mags (because prison sucks); the TSA agent at Logan nearly had a stroke when he looked in my bag. Called an airport Po-Po over who looked at the guns, looked at me said "have a safe flight home." It wasn't that bad.

The best airport in the north east for travelling with guns is probably Hartford. With Colt and S&W both using it for their travel, they actually get a pretty decent number of people through there with guns. I've never had an issue.

[GardoneVT]

I don't "hate the poster", just find his assertion that the climate in TX could swing from what it is now to a legislative AWB in a time frame that could be described as "might not be long" to be completely out of line with reality. Even if the anti-gun forces pile up in Texas as fast as they did in Cali, given the baseline they're starting from, you'll be eating cat food in a retirement home while the .gov kites you bad SS checks before the pendulum there will swing that far.

TX enjoys a lot of protections Cali doesn't have; Article I, § 23 of the TX state constitution for starters, which has no corresponding provision in the CA state document.



Thank you for quoting him, BTW. ;)

I did type the word "maybe". As in realizing I can be totally wrong about the thought.

Before you click " ignore" just chew on this thought: at one point in time Col. Jeff Cooper was based out of Southern California, as was most of the competitive shooting community . The changes since those days are why, among other things, Toyota is moving out of CA.

[JM Campbell]

Chew on this....do you think just maybe some of those blue lines in your posted graphs just might be the good people that are fleeing the tyranny in their home state?

See we can do this all day, but as for me I tip my hat and say good day before momma smacks me for bad manners.

Good day sir.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[Tamara]

Chew on this....do you think just maybe some of those blue lines in your posted graphs just might be the good people that are fleeing the tyranny in their home state?

nyeti is a blue line. I'll bet he's just waitin' to vote for an AWB. ;)

[TR675]

I'm from Texas, recently went to a local gun show, and after seeing all of the goobers there I am all about passing an AWB immediately. We also need some kind of license to breathe, and reasonable restrictions on handing them out.

[Dagga Boy]

nyeti is a blue line. I'll bet he's just waitin' to vote for an AWB. ;)

I tell a lot of people that those fleeing California for Texas voluntarily (as opposed to work transfers) are not the problem children. They are "correct voters". For Californian's, Texas is ugly, flat, has crappy weather, confusing roads, confusing pronunciation of stuff, is very low service, and the list goes on. For a solid conservative, we LOVE it. You learn to like weather, you enjoy most adults actually having manners, you can talk about guns with other parents at sports events....including what can you like for your AR. You adapt because of what it offers in terms of how the place is run. Uber liberal progressives don't come to Texas voluntarily. It is everything they hate, and the idea of Ted Cruz being their Senator is as appealing as Boxer/Feinstein was to me. Oregon, Colorado, parts of Arizona, and a few other places that are generally "pretty" have experienced the wrath of relocated California liberals.

I have often proposed that Texas needs billboards in a bunch of places showing picturesque signs with slogans like "Come to California for good welfare benefits, great marijuana, and great stuff others will pay for". Might get some of those arrows going the other way with Texas's "blue dots".

The biggest issue with places like Toyota is that they do bring those who are coming "against their will". Hopefully, many of those who will want to change things to the environment that caused them to have to come to Texas with Toyota will figure it out, but I doubt it.

[Doug]

Most Toyota execs lived on the hill - PVE, RPV, Rolling Hills Estates while the mid level in Hermosa, Redondo & Manhattan Beach back when it was more affordable.

Many corporate decisions are made where the execs will live why you had corporate HQs so close. The exec does not want to live in Newport Beach then commute 1.5 hr each way out to the inland empire, looks geographically flat & desert like.

Then once in a while they do what Toyota does and consolidate.

Think of the discussion that occurs when the family sits down that they are moving out of their 180 degree ocean view home on a hill to parts unknown where 70 degree year round temps are a thing of the past and armadillos, scorpions, and humidity are present.

Probably much like the separate neighborhoods of NYC, they will form their liberal enclaves & neighborhoods then multiply.

Where are the Little "Liberal/Progressive" Towns in Texas? If not, soon...

[Tamara]

Where are the Little "Liberal/Progressive" Towns in Texas? If not, soon...

Never been to Austin?

[TR675]

Austin. Dallas. Houston. El Paso. The Rio Grande valley is heavily democratic.

City suburbs trend red but the cities themselves are more or less solidly blue.

[Kyle Reese]

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/not-surprisingly-democrats-dont-consider-wendy-daviss-race-a-priority/

[Suvorov]

Austin. Dallas. Houston. El Paso. The Rio Grande valley is heavily democratic.

City suburbs trend red but the cities themselves are more or less solidly blue.

Three Words: Sheila Jackson Lee

[TR675]

Three Words: Sheila Jackson Lee

I've got a lot more than three words for Ms. Lee. She's an embarrassment. I've got even more words about some of our local pols.

OTOH, Louis Gohmert is the Joker to Ms. Lee's Batman. So it's not like any one party has a monopoly on crazy in Texas.

[NickA]

Austin. Dallas. Houston. El Paso. The Rio Grande valley is heavily democratic.

City suburbs trend red but the cities themselves are more or less solidly blue.

Heck, there's a statue of Samuel Gompers in downtown San Antonio, and our mayor is as big an Obama acolyte as you'll find.

[Bigguy]

One thing you can say about Texas politics. They ain't boring. But some elements of it are certainly going to pot.
http://o.b5z.net/i/u/10121673/h/Images/agribanner.gif (http://texasforkinky.com/)

[RoyGBiv]

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/not-surprisingly-democrats-dont-consider-wendy-daviss-race-a-priority/

No surprise there. After she was exposed for "embellishing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Davis_%28politician%29#Biography_issue)" her "trailer park to the governors mansion" story, as well as the not-entirely-without-merit story that she was a gold digger who left her child with a step parent while she went to law school half way across the country... Oh... and... after she turned pro-gun (including OC) and pro-life (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Davis_%28politician%29#Abortion)..... She became rather toxic for the progressive movement.

Abbott will be awesome.

[SeriousStudent]

They are building the new Toyota headquarters next to my office. I'm not kidding, I'll be able to walk across a parking lot and walk into their building.

I'll get to work brainwashing them just as soon as the advance party shows up. I'll have them eating What-A-Burgers and saying "Y'all" so fast it will be scary.

[RoyGBiv]

They are building the new Toyota headquarters next to my office. I'm not kidding, I'll be able to walk across a parking lot and walk into their building.

I'll get to work brainwashing them just as soon as the advance party shows up. I'll have them eating What-A-Burgers and saying "Y'all" so fast it will be scary.

5-nothing Asian guys are a hoot to take to the range. All my experience has been with the Chinese, but I'm betting the Japanese would have even more fun. And don't forget the rodeo. Mesquite's closer, but FTW Stockyards is funner.

[NickA]

Supposedly, the Toyota Tundra came about because of a bunch of execs going to a Cowboys game. Toyota had always had the small trucks, and never saw a need for a full size truck.
After seeing the parking lot of the stadium, they said the Japanese version of "Look at all these kittening trucks" and the rest is history.
The plant here in SA was built for Tundra production, and a few years ago they moved all Tacoma production (from CA) here.

[SeriousStudent]

5-nothing Asian guys are a hoot to take to the range. All my experience has been with the Chinese, but I'm betting the Japanese would have even more fun. And don't forget the rodeo. Mesquite's closer, but FTW Stockyards is funner.

A long time ago, I worked at a place where we did a lot of metallic silhouette shooting. We also had a lot of Japanese tourists. I lost track of how many times I was posing in a photo with a beaming fellow, who'd had a great time shooting his first firearm.

Years later I was in Hong Kong, chatting with some very nice (and lethal) Gurkha's who patrolled the border. Wonderful fellows, but they also had never held a firearm until they joined the British Army. And since they were carrying SA-80's, some still had not. ;)

It's a lot of fun helping folks satisfy that curiosity in a safe manner. But you know I'm way too old to ever get on a bull or a bronc again. I'll make sure they get over to Cowtown and have a blast, including Joe T Garcia's!

[PPGMD]

I'll get to work brainwashing them just as soon as the advance party shows up. I'll have them eating What-A-Burgers and saying "Y'all" so fast it will be scary.

I knew this Chinese guy, I forget his name but it was Chinese in origin, and he looked as Chinese as you can get. But when he opened his mouth you would swear he was an American redneck. His parents must have truly believed in the American melting pot, as outside of his physical looks he dressed and talked like you would expect any other American.

It was truly one of the most awesome things I have seen.

[SeriousStudent]

I knew this Chinese guy, I forget his name but it was Chinese in origin, and he looked as Chinese as you can get. But when he opened his mouth you would swear he was an American redneck. His parents must have truly believed in the American melting pot, as outside of his physical looks he dressed and talked like you would expect any other American.

It was truly one of the most awesome things I have seen.

One of my minions speaks flawless Japanese. He grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi as a first-generation American. The practical jokes he has pulled are .... quite refined. :cool:

He showed up to work one day dressed in a very nice suit, to get an official picture for some travel and security paperwork. One of the security guards assumed he was a foreign visitor, and began to talk slowly and loudly. He, of course, immediately began responding in Japanese. Not very complimentary Japanese. Something about chickens and ancestors. The rest was just too fast for me.

Much hilarity ensued. I still can't believe we did not get fired over the fallout. Some people in the food chain were not amused at all.

[LHS]

I knew this Chinese guy, I forget his name but it was Chinese in origin, and he looked as Chinese as you can get. But when he opened his mouth you would swear he was an American redneck. His parents must have truly believed in the American melting pot, as outside of his physical looks he dressed and talked like you would expect any other American.

It was truly one of the most awesome things I have seen.

One of my best friends came to the US from Taiwan (or the 'real' China, as he calls it) when he was a young teenager, and now lives in a small West Virginia town where we went to high school together. He still speaks heavily-accented 'Engerish' (his term), likes to mess with the locals by speaking only Mandarin at times, and got his US citizenship, C&R FFL and CCW permit. He loves America like few ever could, and has built a prosperous business from the ground up using nothing but his own skill and the sweat of his brow. While I was playing football, he was working in his family's restaurant and saving his pennies to turn his hobby into a career. Now he flies all over the world, doing commercial photography so he can buy more ammo and milsurps for his collection. He's living the American dream, and loving every minute of it.