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This week we’re talking about cars and Cars!
Elise tells the story of the VW emissions scandal, which we’ve dubbed “cheaty cheaty bang bang,” about an engineering hack that allowed VW cars to fraudulently pass US industry standards during testing.
Then Olivia answers the question we’ve all been asking: is the Disney/Pixar Cars franchise propaganda for the automobile industry? Short answer is… no, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.
Other subjects include corporate obsession with growth, petromasculinity, and a documentary about the Pepe the frog meme.
Story #1: VW Emissions Scandal (Elise)
Sources:
Everything You Need to Know about the VW Diesel-Emissions Scandal, Car and Driver, Dec 2019
Second Volkswagen Exec Sentenced to Prison for Diesel-Emissions Scandal, Car and Driver, Dec 2019
How VW Got Busted for Skirting EPA Diesel Emissions Standards, Car and Driver, Sept 2015
If You Own a Cheaty 2.0L VW Diesel Car, Here’s How Much Money You Can Expect, Car and Driver,
June 2016
Volkswagen: The scandal explained, BBC, Dec 2015
The Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Scandal and Accountability, The CPA Journal, July 2019
German Dieselgate trial begins without ex-VW boss Martin Winterkorn, DW, Sept 2021
Volkswagen Violations, EPA
5 years in, damages from the VW emissions cheating scandal are still rolling in, Fortune, October 2020
“Dieselgate” – a timeline of the car emissions fraud scandal in Germany, Clean Energy Wire, May 2020
Story #2: Cars and Cars 2: A Very Scientific Analysis (Olivia)
Olivia’s Sources:
The Roads Not Taken With Pixar’s Cars Films, Huffington Post, July 2011
Disney and Pixar’s ‘Cars 2’ a Hit in Red States, Hollywood Reporter, June 2011
A dash of Wikipedia
Cars and Cars 2 on Disney+ lol
Further Reading on Petromasculinity:
The Fossil Fuel Debate’s Most Bizarre Byproduct: “Petro-Masculinity” Mother Jones
Petro-masculinity: Fossil Fuels and Authoritarian Desire, Cara Daggett, Sage Journals, June 2018
Proud Boys and petro-masculinity, Emily Atkin, HEATED, October 1 2020
The Dump
We’re busy! And tired! Olivia recently watched Feels Good Man on the library app Kanopy.
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World Is Burning 