Random Thoughts Thread

[balthazar]

Friend of mine's wife has a pretty recent honda CRV, maybe 2 yrs old. He hates it. Horrible visibility, some real dumb-ass service obstacles. I haven't been in it to get an opinion, but for a small CUV, it's striking bloated on the exterior.

[daves87rs]

19 hours ago, ocnblu said:

10.5 years is an ETERNITY... I did my cosmetic upgrades after one year of ownership.  Pennsylvania gas tax just went up 8 cents, beginning of the year.

Paging BOBO... BOBO, please come to the front desk and turn in your summation of 2016.  BOBO???

 

Yeah, no Bobo lately....

Yeah, when they get over ten years, they just grow on you....

We've had one almost 14 years, the other nearly 13. Then the Balt is creeping up on 9....

 

Will finally be a new car in the stable soon.....

[ocnblu]

7 hours ago, Suaviloquent said:

So I did my first workout of 2017..... I guess I get double brownie points, because I am going full speed ahead to 15% body fat?

ooo... you said "brownie".    Keep it up!

[cp-the-nerd]

On 12/30/2016 at 7:24 PM, Frisky Dingo said:

No, it's nothing deep or anything. I just hate the weather, the crowds, the traffic, the commercialism, peoples' expectations of gifts, the lame gifts I get, the insane amount of money my wife insists we spend on our kids. It's just madness. Factor in that I'm not religious in the slightest bit on top, and that just compounds it.

I agree on the weather, commercialism, and crowds/traffic. Those parts are miserable, thank god for Amazon prime. I have great family parties, though. I got tanked twice, once for x-mas eve and once for new years.

I love picking out great gifts for people and seeing the reaction. I got my parents' a bigass plasma globe and my dad's face lit up like a 10 year old. They have a lot of cool lights around the house, but nothing like a plasma ball. I usually get decent stuff, too, because people ask what I want and I go search on amazon, haha.

[ccap41]

I just realized here at C&G that you can "Win the Day" with the most "likes" for the day.. WTF kind of crap is that?? Talk about handing out awards to make people happy..daily..because we all need constant praise.

THIS SITE IS AN ENABLER TO THE MILLENNIAL EFFECT!! 

[cp-the-nerd]

15 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I just realized here at C&G that you can "Win the Day" with the most "likes" for the day.. WTF kind of crap is that?? Talk about handing out awards to make people happy..daily..because we all need constant praise.

THIS SITE IS AN ENABLER TO THE MILLENNIAL EFFECT!! 

I was going to "like" this, but I feel like that would be contradicting the message.

[ccap41]

1 minute ago, cp-the-nerd said:

I was going to "like" this, but I feel like that would be contradicting the message.

Haha RIGHT?!? ..then again more here seem to be liberals than conservatives.. comes with the territory.. LOL

[FordCosworth]

15 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

I was going to "like" this, but I feel like that would be contradicting the message.

You guys are hilarious.

31 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I just realized here at C&G that you can "Win the Day" with the most "likes" for the day.. WTF kind of crap is that?? Talk about handing out awards to make people happy..daily..because we all need constant praise.

THIS SITE IS AN ENABLER TO THE MILLENNIAL EFFECT!! 

Everyone gets a ribbon...retake the exam until you pass...no score kept in primary sports...

Then these little snowflakes get into the real world and find out that there are winners, there are losers. Best was Brexit - the " losers " wanted a rdo over,  followed by Trump - Clinton supporters rioted.

 

[surreal1272]

While summers here can be like the seventh layer of hell, I am loving "winter" in Phoenix right now. It's the yearly reward for openly bursting into flames for three months every year lol. 

[cp-the-nerd]

20 minutes ago, FordCosworth said:

You guys are hilarious.

Everyone gets a ribbon...retake the exam until you pass...no score kept in primary sports...

Then these little snowflakes get into the real world and find out that there are winners, there are losers. Best was Brexit - the " losers " wanted a rdo over,  followed by Trump - Clinton supporters rioted.

 

The saltiness of the left is at critical mass right now. Everyone who disagrees with the liberal agenda is an alt-right white supremacist. The echo chambers are shrinking and the media is doubling down on conspiracy theories about Russia and fake news... despite the hacks revealing real corruption, and the mainstream media being the greatest arbiter of actual "fake news" over the past two years.

I mean, when Alex Jones looks like f@#king Nostradamus because of the leaks, you need to take a hard look at yourself.

[surreal1272]

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

I just realized here at C&G that you can "Win the Day" with the most "likes" for the day.. WTF kind of crap is that?? Talk about handing out awards to make people happy..daily..because we all need constant praise.

THIS SITE IS AN ENABLER TO THE MILLENNIAL EFFECT!! 

'Tis a little silly for sure. I have seen tons of what I call "tag team" voting where one poster up votes everything posted by another poster and vice versa. Very silly indeed but some folks need that validation while bemoaning others for seeking the same. 

Edited January 4, 2017 by surreal1272

[ccap41]

* checks people's "days won" *

* realizes I'm not the winner *

 

* pouts and looks for another award to be gifted *

[FordCosworth]

10 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

The saltiness of the left is at critical mass right now. Everyone who disagrees with the liberal agenda is an alt-right white supremacist. The echo chambers are shrinking and the media is doubling down on conspiracy theories about Russia and fake news... despite the hacks revealing real corruption, and the mainstream media being the greatest arbiter of actual "fake news" over the past two years.

I mean, when Alex Jones looks like f@#king Nostradamus because of the leaks, you need to take a hard look at yourself.

Such a refreshing comment to read. 

[Stew]

I was a Republican for 18 years and only changed last year.  The GOP party are the biggest special snowflakes their are.  They HATE people having the same rights they have, they try to force their religion on everyone and decry those that don't believe exactly as they do.  The GOP has become a party of special little snowflake babies that cry when they feel like someone getting a right, or not believing the exact same as they do means something is being taken from them.  The party has changed and nowhere near for the better and whiny little Trump who cries every time he doesn't get his way and needs his special place to protect him and his baby VP from freaking Broadway actors is the epitome of the poor state the GOP is in.  When ou are so convoluted you think because someone has a different view from you or wants the same rights as everyone else that makes them a "special snowflake", when in fact it is your own selfishness and want to keep your ball for yourself that indeed makes YOU, the GOP, the team of "special snowflakes". 

Edited January 4, 2017 by Stew

[cp-the-nerd]

6 minutes ago, Stew said:

I was a Republican for 18 years and only changed last year.  The GOP party are the biggest special snowflakes their are.  They HATE people having the same rights they have, they try to force their religion on everyone and decry those that don't believe exactly as they do.  The GOP has become a party of special little snowflake babies that cry when they feel like someone getting a right, or not believing the exact same as they do means something is being taken from them.  The party has changed and nowhere near for the better and whiny little Trump who cries every time he doesn't get his way and needs his special place to protect him and his baby VP from freaking Broadway actors is the epitome of the poor state the GOP is in.  When ou are so convoluted you think because someone has a different view from you or wants the same rights as everyone else that makes them a "special snowflake", when in fact it is your own selfishness and want to keep your ball for yourself that indeed makes YOU, the GOP, the team of "special snowflakes". 

The difference between the GOP and the DNC is that the republican/conservative people actually elected a non-establishment candidate, while the DNC cheated Hillary into place, had this exposed nationally, yet voting democrats supported her and the corrupt establishment anyway.

Broken socialist policies are the new DNC platform and they will openly ride the national debt into oblivion while signalling to the world how virtuous they are. At least Republican PEOPLE are voting for small government, and voting against self-serving politics.

[Stew]

You realize that trump is really as establishment as Hillary is.  As i say, Hillary is controlled by Wall Street, trump IS Wall Street.  Seriously the ONLY real non-establishment Candidate was Sanders and unfortunately the DNC screwed him.  Remember, it was NOT the Democrats as a whole as most of us REALLY disagreed with the way sanders was done.  Clinton was horrible, but Trump makes her look like the best candidate ever.  I mean seriously, what is being a little whiny baby on Twitter really accomplishing?  Or threatening automakers while shipping your own product in from Mexico?  Such a freaking hypocrite. And self-serving politics?  i mean have you ever done ANY actual research that didn't involve Fox News?  ALL the GOP cares about is themselves and their money in their own pockets.  To say otherwise is to simply be drowning in utter ignorance. 

Edited January 4, 2017 by Stew

[ccap41]

9 minutes ago, Stew said:

ALL the GOP cares about is themselves and their money in their own pockets.

Sounds like a somebody's candidate as well..

@Drew Dowdell

Why did you close that one thread that 4-5 of us were actually talking about the topic of the thread? If one or two people are going to talk nonsense just ban them from the thread(s).

[Stew]

Just now, ccap41 said:

Sounds like a somebody's candidate as well..

@Drew Dowdell

Why did you close that one thread that 4-5 of us were actually talking about the topic of the thread? If one or two people are going to talk nonsense just ban them from the thread(s).

When it comes down to the bottom line that is all politicians really care about at all.  that said, the GOP takes it multiple steps further by trying to force their beliefs on people and even block civil rights to certain groups because they simply don't want them to have them and that is a HUGE problem. 

[surreal1272]

8 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Sounds like a somebody's candidate as well..

@Drew Dowdell

Why did you close that one thread that 4-5 of us were actually talking about the topic of the thread? If one or two people are going to talk nonsense just ban them from the thread(s).

Sorry but only one was trolling that thread while I, you, and others were actually trying to discuss the matter. 

[cp-the-nerd]

17 minutes ago, Stew said:

You realize that trump is really as establishment as Hillary is.  As i say, Hillary is controlled by Wall Street, trump IS Wall Street.  Seriously the ONLY real non-establishment Candidate was Sanders and unfortunately the DNC screwed him.  Remember, it was NOT the Democrats as a whole as most of us REALLY disagreed with the way sanders was done.  Clinton was horrible, but Trump makes her look like the best candidate ever.  I mean seriously, what is being a little whiny baby on Twitter really accomplishing?  Or threatening automakers while shipping your own product in from Mexico?  Such a freaking hypocrite. And self-serving politics?  i mean have you ever done ANY actual research that didn't involve Fox News?  ALL the GOP cares about is themselves and their money in their own pockets.  To say otherwise is to simply be drowning in utter ignorance. 

You're arguing in platitudes and straw men.

"It was NOT the Democrats as a whole as most of us REALLY disagreed with the way sanders was done." Voting records say otherwise. Clinton won popular vote because liberal strongholds still voted for her in droves. I live in Maryland, I'm friends with liberals, they bitched about Bernie for a week and then voted Hillary.

"Clinton was horrible, but Trump makes her looks like the best candidate ever." You literally said nothing of value with that statement.

"Or threatening automakers while shipping your own product in from Mexico?" As a businessman first and foremost, Trump did what was financially sound for his company, just like the automakers and many other companies selling products. As president, he's trying to bring back jobs to benefit the country. The actual negotiations are more like "here's the plan to incentivize local manufacturing with improved corporate tax rates etc, but in the mean time, there's also going to be a tariff to expedite domestic investment."

"Have you done ANY actual research that didn't involve Fox News?" More baseless posturing trying to discredit my vote with stereotypes. I follow some of the smartest and most talented journalists in the alternative media, and because of the intellectual free market of the internet, their support is growing exponentially as people grow tired of bullsh!t from CNN, Fox, CNBC, BBC, etc. My podcast subs are FAR from a republican echochamber.

"ALL the GOP cares about is themselves and their money in their own pockets." All *politicians* care about is themselves and their money... There I fixed it for you.

[Stew]

22 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

You're arguing in platitudes and straw men.

"It was NOT the Democrats as a whole as most of us REALLY disagreed with the way sanders was done." Voting records say otherwise. Clinton won popular vote because liberal strongholds still voted for her in droves. I live in Maryland, I'm friends with liberals, they bitched about Bernie for a week and then voted Hillary.

"Clinton was horrible, but Trump makes her looks like the best candidate ever." You literally said nothing of value with that statement.

"Or threatening automakers while shipping your own product in from Mexico?" As a businessman first and foremost, Trump did what was financially sound for his company, just like the automakers and many other companies selling products. As president, he's trying to bring back jobs to benefit the country. The actual negotiations are more like "here's the plan to incentivize local manufacturing with improved corporate tax rates etc, but in the mean time, there's also going to be a tariff to expedite domestic investment."

"Have you done ANY actual research that didn't involve Fox News?" More baseless posturing trying to discredit my vote with stereotypes. I follow some of the smartest and most talented journalists in the alternative media, and because of the intellectual free market of the internet, their support is growing exponentially as people grow tired of bullsh!t from CNN, Fox, CNBC, BBC, etc. My podcast subs are FAR from a republican echochamber.

"ALL the GOP cares about is themselves and their money in their own pockets." All *politicians* care about is themselves and their money... There I fixed it for you.

 

 

Not straw men at all.  Every point I made is still valid and the one point you made last, i already had.  If trump wants to bring jobs back, why not bring the ones he shipped over?  he cannot be a business man first and foremost anymore.  He is the president, a public figure.  if he want to stay a businessman concentrating solely on himself, he should have never ran for president.  the truth is though is that he is going to make things into what benefits him and him alone.  his business interests, his pockets, he will run over us all for his sake.  All of this is VERY obvious.  And just because you disagree with someone's view does NOT make their argument a straw argument but rather shows how the OP wants to validate themselves only so they can remain "special". 

Oh, and you cannot tell me with a straight face that all those GOP supporters who were for say, Cruz, Carson etc, didn't end up voting for Trump where their chosen candidate lost. 

Edited January 4, 2017 by Stew

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, surreal1272 said:

Sorry but only one was trolling that thread while I, you, and others were actually trying to discuss the matter. 

I was just stating that there was some off-topic back and forth(while it still seemed minimal, imo). But, yes.

[G. David Felt]

So lets leave the political banter in the political forum threads and get back to random thoughts!

GE just bought 75 Boeing 737 Max which only has one engine, the GE Leaf engine. I wonder what besides the obvious leasing of jets to others might be a reason for GE so focused on buying Boeing jets with GE engines. Could this be GE's way to long term plan production capacity knowing they get to write off certain expenses and cost associated with leasing jets to others that they buy?

Very interesting on top that GE has purchased stock in both FORD and GM according to their filings as diversified investments. Makes me wonder if GE is hedging their EV strategy as they build controllers for electric motors.

H'mmmmmmmmmmmmm

[surreal1272]

29 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I was just stating that there was some off-topic back and forth(while it still seemed minimal, imo). But, yes.

No worries. I knew what you were getting at. 

[cp-the-nerd]

58 minutes ago, Stew said:

Not straw men at all.  Every point I made is still valid and the one point you made last, i already had.  If trump wants to bring jobs back, why not bring the ones he shipped over?  he cannot be a business man first and foremost anymore.  He is the president, a public figure.  if he want to stay a businessman concentrating solely on himself, he should have never ran for president.  the truth is though is that he is going to make things into what benefits him and him alone.  his business interests, his pockets, he will run over us all for his sake.  All of this is VERY obvious.  And just because you disagree with someone's view does NOT make their argument a straw argument but rather shows how the OP wants to validate themselves only so they can remain "special". 

Oh, and you cannot tell me with a straight face that all those GOP supporters who were for say, Cruz, Carson etc, didn't end up voting for Trump where their chosen candidate lost. 

Your debate skills speak for themselves. I pointed out your empty arguments and your response is semantics and minutia. Trump wasn't president elect when he was making international deals to benefit his corporate profits. The argument is flimsy at best. Take issue if/when Trump doesn't move his manufacturing stateside in the coming months, his proposed tariffs will affect him, too, afterall. I suppose we should be mad he takes completely legal tax breaks, too?

"And just because you disagree with someone's view does NOT make their argument a straw argument but rather shows how the OP wants to validate themselves only so they can remain "special"."

Trying to dispel a strawman accusation while perpetuating one in the same sentence... If you can't see the logical fallacy then we're clearly at an impasse. A strawman means you're setting up an easy target by twisting facts or simply making something up. This whole "GOP is blocking rights so they remain special" argument is completely hollow. You're making vague generalizations to sound morally superior without addressing any specific platform or argument.

By the way, the equivalent to Bernie supporters voting for Hillary isn't Cruz/Carson supporters voting for Trump. It would be if the GOP stole the candidacy from Trump and gave it to Jeb Bush–the establishment favorite–then got caught red handed and still had vast majority support. THAT is insanity.

[Stew]

22 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

Your debate skills speak for themselves. I pointed out your empty arguments and your response is semantics and minutia. Trump wasn't president elect when he was making international deals to benefit his corporate profits. The argument is flimsy at best. Take issue if/when Trump doesn't move his manufacturing stateside in the coming months, his proposed tariffs will affect him, too, afterall. I suppose we should be mad he takes completely legal tax breaks, too?

"And just because you disagree with someone's view does NOT make their argument a straw argument but rather shows how the OP wants to validate themselves only so they can remain "special"."

Trying to dispel a strawman accusation while perpetuating one in the same sentence... If you can't see the logical fallacy then we're clearly at an impasse. A strawman means you're setting up an easy target by twisting facts or simply making something up. This whole "GOP is blocking rights so they remain special" argument is completely hollow. You're making vague generalizations to sound morally superior without addressing any specific platform or argument.

By the way, the equivalent to Bernie supporters voting for Hillary isn't Cruz/Carson supporters voting for Trump. It would be if the GOP stole the candidacy from Trump and gave it to Jeb Bush–the establishment favorite–then got caught red handed and still had vast majority support. THAT is insanity.

LOL, seriously?  i mean you can't really be serious about any of this?

[ccap41]

34 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

I suppose we should be mad he takes completely legal tax breaks, too?

That is one thing that COMPLETLY blew my mind during the months leading up to Nov. 9th. Literally(and I mean that to the fullest extent possible) all of us take every tax break we know of, will look for more, and will continue to do so. I have never met on Replublican, Democrat, and everything in the middle that has said anything a long the lines of, " I haven't paid enough in taxes this year. "

[G. David Felt]

Anyone else see or watch the video showing the Faraday Future EV Auto Reveal?

Check it out now as it is a very cool EV Auto with 378 Miles Battery Pack.

 

[oldshurst442]

I was at the drive-thru cash earlier today when this beautiful beast came a rolling!

It took me by surprise as big RWD coupes with big honking V8s just disappear  suddenly in Quebec this time of the year. All black except for the fuel filler door on the side. That was super bright chrome.

 

What an imposing, curvy awesomeness this car is!

[FordCosworth]

There are actual liberals on twitter saying they will now boycott Ford over cancelling the Mexico plant and adding 700 USA jobs. 

For creating jobs in their own damn country instead of Mexico??? WTF is wrong with the liberal mindset? 

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ford/status/816320729415176192

[El Kabong]

I like cheese. 

[G. David Felt]

32 minutes ago, FordCosworth said:

There are actual liberals on twitter saying they will now boycott Ford over cancelling the Mexico plant and adding 700 USA jobs. 

For creating jobs in their own damn country instead of Mexico??? WTF is wrong with the liberal mindset? 

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ford/status/816320729415176192

I am confused as I read through the tweets and the one tweet which was the only tweet that stated it would not buy Ford was about how they perceived Ford supporting Racist trump, not for closing or not moving forward with production in Mexico. Where are the tweets on canceling the mexico plant? I did not see them.

Overall interesting read, thank you for posting.

[oldshurst442]

12 minutes ago, El Kabong said:

I like cheese. 

You also like wine.

 

[El Kabong]

Far be it for me to question your expertise in said field. 

[ocnblu]

Who's watching the spillways?

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

Who's watching the spillways?

Very cool picture, so glad the new highway is in. Way faster and safer than allowing anyone to just drive over the dam before.

I wonder the same thing, who's watching?

[ccap41]

10 hours ago, FordCosworth said:

There are actual liberals on twitter saying they will now boycott Ford over cancelling the Mexico plant and adding 700 USA jobs. 

For creating jobs in their own damn country instead of Mexico??? WTF is wrong with the liberal mindset? 

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ford/status/816320729415176192

More than likely it is those without jobs who cannot afford a new car anyway and already would have had a reserve put in to the next Prius..because status.

1 hour ago, dfelt said:

Very cool picture, so glad the new highway is in. Way faster and safer than allowing anyone to just drive over the dam before.

I wonder the same thing, who's watching?

Very pretty picture!

Are we supposed to be watching the spillways..?

[oldshurst442]

9 hours ago, El Kabong said:

Far be it for me to question your expertise in said field. 

In the field of wine-making?

 

Wine is a gift from the gods....

And me being Greek, Id say I enjoy it from time to time.

But wait...you meant something else entirely...

Ah...yes.

The irony...it being so thick, you could cut it with a cheese knife.

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2017 by oldshurst442

[surreal1272]

10 hours ago, FordCosworth said:

There are actual liberals on twitter saying they will now boycott Ford over cancelling the Mexico plant and adding 700 USA jobs. 

For creating jobs in their own damn country instead of Mexico??? WTF is wrong with the liberal mindset? 

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/Ford/status/816320729415176192

Sorry but anyone who takes anything said on Twitter seriously should not even be operating heavy machinery, much less be allowed to vote. The fact that one of those people is our president-elect is even scarier.

 

On a side note, it will interesting to see what happens to jobs in Canada since Trump has made it clear that he is going after any production outside of the US. I have my popcorn on standby.

Edited January 5, 2017 by surreal1272

[Stew]

21 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

Sorry but anyone who takes anything said on Twitter seriously should not even be operating heavy machinery, much less be allowed to vote. The fact that one of those people is our president-elect is even scarier.

 

On a side note, it will interesting to see what happens to jobs in Canada since Trump has made it clear that he is going after any production outside of the US. I have my popcorn on standby.

Agreed 100% and my last word on said subject. 

[ccap41]

* Scopes out new posts in Random Thoughts thread *

* sees cheese knives *

*everything checks out *

[El Kabong]

*Looks around Forum*

*Sees who ain't here*

...yup. It's good to be back. Better to be vindicated. 

"Vin"-ning in this case referring to winning, not whining. 

I like multilingual puns. 

Edited January 5, 2017 by El Kabong

[Stew]

First decent snow of the year is upon us here.  Time to see what the little bug can do I guess haha. 

[ccap41]

8 minutes ago, Stew said:

First decent snow of the year is upon us here.  Time to see what the little bug can do I guess haha. 

We're getting our first little bit as well. Only expect 2-3 inches though.. So glad I'm rocking a Yaris rental!

[Stew]

18 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

We're getting our first little bit as well. Only expect 2-3 inches though.. So glad I'm rocking a Yaris rental!

Well, at least I am not the only one missing a set of driven wheels this year haha. 

[ccap41]

2 minutes ago, Stew said:

Well, at least I am not the only one missing a set of driven wheels this year haha. 

lol Yep! And I'm pretty confident my next vehicle will only be FWD as well... With my luck we will get a shet ton of snow this year and next compared to the last two winters that I had AWD and barely got anything but like 1 storm a year.

[Stew]

Just now, ccap41 said:

lol Yep! And I'm pretty confident my next vehicle will only be FWD as well... With my luck we will get a shet ton of snow this year and next compared to the last two winters that I had AWD and barely got anything but like 1 storm a year.

that is how it goes haha.  FWD can be good in the snow though.  my parents old regal is a tank in the white stuff lol. 

[Drew Dowdell]

I must have the most impeccably balanced karma in the world. Every time something really good happens to me... something equally bad happens at the same time.... in this case, it was exactly on the same day, yesterday.  This is not the first time stuff like this has happened.....

[ccap41]

23 minutes ago, Stew said:

that is how it goes haha.  FWD can be good in the snow though.  my parents old regal is a tank in the white stuff lol. 

Yeah my prior FWD vehicles have been fine as long as I don't let the vehicle have bald tires or summer tires(which wouldn't happen). As long as you aren't in a rush or anything FWD can be just fine in 95% of the situations where I live.

[Stew]

14 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I must have the most impeccably balanced karma in the world. Every time something really good happens to me... something equally bad happens at the same time.... in this case, it was exactly on the same day, yesterday.  This is not the first time stuff like this has happened.....

I usually just get the bad half.  If something good happens it scares the hell out of me.