THE US REPORT

Just last week Volkswagen announced that it will build a U.S. automotive production facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., where it will produce a car designed specifically for the North American consumer and invest $1 billion in the economy. That announcement was followed by the dedication of Nissan Americas headquarters (photo, right) in Franklin, Tenn. The new center serves as regional headquarters for the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Just when you thought the economy was tanking and rumors of major American carmakers’ financial woes are floating, two manufacturers are in the news—the good news—confirming an intent to funnel money into a Southern state. Prof. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen AG was quoted in a news release at the Tenn. Dept. of Economic and Community Development: “Volkswagen will be extremely active there. This plant represents a milestone in Volkswagen’s growth strategy. We will be selling 800,000 Volkswagens in the U.S. by 2018, and this new site will play a key role. This, along with our growth strategy, is a prerequisite for the economic success of the company in the dollar region. We look forward to establishing an important mainstay for ourselves when we become the biggest European carmaker there.”

Nissan Americas CEO Carlos Ghosn offered a statement in his company’s news release: “Nissan Americas is an investment in our future,” Ghosn said. “We purposefully designed the building to inspire and enhance collaboration among our employees. The building also is a statement about our confidence in the continued growth of Nissan in the Americas and our unyielding commitment to environmental sustainability.” In May, Ghosn unveiled Nissan’s five-year business plan, GT 2012, including an outline of Nissan’s commitment to leadership in the design, development, manufacture and distribution of zero-emission vehicles.

While the vehicles themselves will be environmentally friendly, they will rely on a power infrastructure for batteries to recharge.

Disclosure: I drive a Nissan Altima and I am crazy about that car.

For sources, click on 'References' link below this post. Photo of Nissan's Franklin headquarters from Nissan Americas website.

A couple weeks ago I wrote about the Carolina Wren couple who took up residence in last year’s begonia in a hanging planter on our deck. The babies have hatched, and the wren activity fascinates us when we’re having coffee or we’re working out back. When I wrote the first story, there were a handful of eggs in the nest. Now the babies stay hungry. The mother and father work hard to feed them right now, taking turns zooming to and from the nest. I had to be patient yesterday in order to get a photo while both parents were gone—I don’t want to disturb them.

If the hound goes to barking as he often does when he catches an interesting scent or hears a loud sound, the father wren (I think it’s the father) will protest loudly. You can listen to the wren song at pages on the Cornell University website. Our adopted chicken is fascinated by the bird sounds she hears; she struts around the deck near the nest area and cocks her head every now and then. We’re curious to see what Chickie will do when the fledglings start their flying lessons. I moved a large begonia beneath the hanging basket where the nest is—hopefully that will cushion a fall if one occurs. I’m thinking about placing a large fern there as well.

Thankfully there aren’t any predators, pets or otherwise, that can get to this nest. But it’s tricky because I have to water the begonia so the foliage stays full enough to shelter the nest. That means waiting, as I do for a photo opp, for the parents to forage. Then I sneak up to the back of the basket and gently water it around the edge so it doesn’t get the nest or babies wet.

I’m hoping to get more photos once the fledglings venture out. There are some cool photos also at the blog Deep Fried Kudzu.

Watching birds make a nest and raise a family reminds me that amazing experiences often come wrapped in simplicity. (filed by Kay B. Day)

**Please note I will be offline May 1-4.

A woman is suing Petsmart after her husband died of a little known illness, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus.  Her husband received a liver transplant; the organ was tainted with LCMV. The Boston Herald says the donor had contracted the virus after buying a sick hamster at a Rhode Island Petsmart store.

My daughters had pet hamsters—one of them had 13 babies, having come home from the pet shop (not a Petsmart) unbeknown to us with child. My daughter waltzed in the door, and named her "Jumbo" after exclaiming, "Isn't she fat, Mama?" The store owner, after the multiple births,  told me they’d probably die. They all thrived and the ensuing scramble to find adoptive homes will probably live in my family history for years to come. My husband will never forget it, that's for sure.

I admit I was always uncomfortable with my children having these critters, even though both girls were old enough to take precautions with hygiene. The Centers for Disease Control offers a great fact sheet about LCMV; anyone contemplating a rodent for a pet should read it carefully.

I don’t know how the lawsuit will pan out—some bloggers think it’s frivolous. This isn’t a condition a doctor would probably even think about because the symptoms mimic other routine illnesses. I have to confess hamsters were my least favorite pets for the girls, but they are cute and they do some amazing acrobatics in their cages. My daughter’s gerbil died when it was about 5 years old—she was in high school by then. I was sad, but I made a firm new rule: no more rodents in my house even if they’re in a cage. The lawsuit reminded me there are risks with pets too, and LCMV is a risk I don' t think I'd take again even if the creatures are cute.

[Read my guest column at the Blog Catalog blog—how I learned what the term social media really means.]

When our daughter decided she’d adopt a dog from a shelter, the trick was to find a dog that was right for her lifestyle. For one thing, her condo is big enough for our daughter and her roomie, but not big enough for a large breed like a retriever. She visited different shelters—she had volunteered for one in our area—and as soon as she met Bandit, she knew he was the dog for her. She went into the arrangement with eyes wide open. Her work with foster kids prepared her well.

Bandit is an active, loving pup who has to be handled with care at times. We think he experienced cruelty, maybe at the hands of a male, because he takes to females quicker than to men. At first, he needed some special medical care, but a few trips to the vet got him in good shape fairly quickly. He has to be handled gently, without sudden motion. He is better around adults than kids, not because he is dangerous, but because when he gets happy and excited he likes to jump up and down using your body as a springboard. He loves other dogs—our hound has a great time playing with Bandit.

When she first brought him home, she focused on setting a routine. This helped a lot with housebreaking and teaching him he could trust people. He was a few months old when our daughter had to go out of town, so we kept him for her to avoid having to kennel him. He was already used to being here when she comes to visit us, and he loves being able to run around our backyard since he has to get his exercise on a leash at his own home. Our daughter realized an immediate benefit—walking her active dog keeps her in shape. She’s also met lots of new friends who have dogs at her complex.

There are so many animals in need of a loving home. If you’re thinking about getting a pet, consider visiting your shelter. Bear in mind these dogs may often need extra care and attention. Often shelter dogs have been abandoned; sometimes they’ve been abused. Patience is required with any animal, but shelter animals may need a little more. If you do get lucky enough to find yourself a “Bandit,” at an animal shelter, you’ll be rewarded with love, loyalty and devotion. Bandit has become part of our extended family. We can’t imagine life without him. He’s our special shelter adoptee and our life is richer for having him. The Humane Society and Pet Finder are great sites for more information about how to deal with adopting an animal from a shelter. (Filed by Kay B. Day)

(Photo: Jen with Bandit. For a closer look at Bandit, click the American Critters link at right.)