Random Thoughts Thread

[Robert Hall]

23 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Being from Ohio, this is interesting

 

The train station in Cincinnati appears to be quite a gem...I need to take a mini vacation down there and explore the city...never spent anytime in Cincinnati, driven through on I-71 on my way to and fro Louisville a few times.. 

[ccap41]

32 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

@oldshurst442 @A Horse With No Name @Robert Hall @ccap41 I think based on our discussion here that you would all agree with the portion of this story. MAGA is a failure in they just want to be isolated and manage the decline of America. That I have to totally agree with Mitch McConnell on as usually I do not agree with this old man that should have retired 10 years ago.

The GOP of Ronald Reagan is NOT the GOP of today. Sad pathetic GOP needs to kick out MAGA and all the Old Senile people if they want a true conservative party that manages for all rather than the focused 1% criminal approach living in the past of todays MAGA GOP.

Mitch McConnell gets standing ovation after speech with indirect swipe at Trump

Interesting read for sure.

Another Interesting read.

Analyst shames GOP for hypocrisy after U-turn on key conservative gripe

Thank you but, I'm not about to read anything about politicians or politics. 

Sorry, @oldshurst442, you can read this stuff for me and defend America for me, as well. Please and thank you. 

[A Horse With No Name]

2 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

The train station in Cincinnati appears to be quite a gem...I need to take a mini vacation down there and explore the city...never spent anytime in Cincinnati, driven through on I-71 on my way to and fro Louisville a few times.. 

It is an amazing state. I complain about it, but it ahs been a perfect place to spend my adult years and raise a family. 

2 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Thank you but, I'm not about to read anything about politicians or politics. 

Sorry, @oldshurst442, you can read this stuff for me and defend America for me, as well. Please and thank you. 

I am all about travel. Living in America has been great, but I would love to spend the rest of my life exploring the rest of the world. 

23 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

Yes!  We are quite fun and friendly and welcoming to strangers (Non-Greek people)...

Actually in life I have had a bunch of people I have loved that have been Greek. And one former poster here who was a complete....(.......).  Don't want Drew to give me penalty points...

[A Horse With No Name]

3 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Thank goodness there are still some willing to stand up to Trump and his Mobe mentality of lies to cover up his criminal activities.

Liz Cheney Responds to Donald Trump’s Threat to Jail Jan. 6 Committee

This forum is starting to get political and politics to an extent are not allowed. All 50 States went more red in the last election, which means that the majority of Americans have sold out everything we have stood for over the last 250 or so years. 

I have nothing nice left to say about our country. 

Although I love American music, we have given the world so much in that way. But politically and morally we are bankrupt. 

Worth a watch...

TC Bpb. I found your charger for you. Well done. Or as they say in Italy, Stracotto. 

[A Horse With No Name]

And if you want a Chryco product for here in Ohio for winter, there is this...

 

Or if you want to go one step further. 

 

More Chryco coolness...

 

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Actually in life I have had a bunch of people I have loved that have been Greek. And one former poster here who was a complete....(.......).  Don't want Drew to give me penalty points...

A former poster by the name of Wings perhaps?  Yeah...he was out of control LOL  

 Hey...what do you know???!!!   Olympic Airways that airliner in the thumbnail is.     

56 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

This forum is starting to get political and politics

True. But it has been quite civil.  The problem posters that would have helped to derail and devolve are all gone. 

56 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I have nothing nice left to say about our country. 

Well...despite all that is going on right now in your country, at least the New York Yankees couldnt resign Juan Soto!!!   THAT is a good thing, non?   Phoque the Yankees!!!  

56 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

But politically and morally we are bankrupt. 

But he still stays in New York and signs an incredible 15 year 765 million dollar contract with the Mets.   Hey...at least sports in the USA are not bankrupt.  Well...at least not financially. (bankrupt that is)

[trinacriabob]

8 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

 

Worth a watch...

- - - - -

TC Bpb. I found your charger for you. Well done. Or as they say in Italy, Stracotto. 

First, the greenhouse of the charred Charger says 2006 and on up to the redo in the mid-2010s, so no interest on my part.  But thanks!  (Medium well for me.)

- - - - -

The ocean liner video is true, for the most part.

When the ocean liners were pulled, there was a niche for one to stay in the game - the QE2 (1969-2008).  That ensured she was close to full and profitable. I've been on it once and it was sleek and modern (for being from the OG group).  They kept their promise and she is now a hotel in Dubai.  She looks the same, minus the lifeboats.  I would love to stay there for a night or two, but Dubai isn't on my radar.

The France (1962-1974) was the longest ship for decades, between 1,000 and 1,100 ft. long, and French food as standard equipment every day would have grabbed me, but she started to sail far from full and bled red ink.

The S.S. United States situation rotting away in Philly saddens me.  It should be redone and parked next to a venue in Manhattan.  It's the U.S.'s very last true ocean liner.  Americans don't have as much of a connection with ships, IMO.

Italian Line had 4 ships (after the Andrea Doria replacement with the Leonardo) into the late '70s, retiring them on a staggered schedule.  They took the southern route, so there was more time to enjoy the pools.  They differentiated themselves with white hulls and superstructures to reflect that sunnier route.  The food was great - better on the 2 smaller ones compared to the 2 bigger ones, per my parents. I've done 4 crossings with the family as a kid and it changes how you see the world - for the better.  The floor/deck plans below the promenades were "messy" (labyrinthine) to keep people in their 1 of 3 classes, so not that amenable to conversion.  The Leonardo was the only ship that crossed into the Pacific, on a unique 41-day cruise to Hawaii, from Italy, through the Panama Canal.  The Leonardo, relative to size and weight, was the biggest gas guzzler in the fleet - much like the L-1011 relative to other heavies.

The current Queen Mary 2 (QM2) is a dream.  I've now done the crossing twice. ("Economy class," and perfectly okay, though one inactive member here who could afford the suites up high had to trash it.)  It's big and, even if full, it never feels crowded.  Not only that, it's beautiful inside and out, and fairly luxurious in a traditional way, but also fairly priced.  One of the coolest things is sailing out in tandem with a Staten Island Ferry - what a treat for those lucky commuters and visitors.  Also, a crossing is not a cruise - it's a different purpose and different experience, with a diverse crowd using the QM2 for transportation between the U.S. and Europe.  Cunard Line (not sure) may have once had the slogan "Getting there is half the fun," IIRC. I'm on board with that!

I can be a pedantic nerd when it comes to this topic and I'll own that.

[G. David Felt]

Yes we have gone a bit political, but imho a civil discussion. I agree with @ccap41 that for the most part, I have tried my best to stay away from reading on politics in general, but the part of me in standing up to bullies due to my own family being heavily Korean, aka Minority, not white I have to stand up to protect those I love and the rights of just being human.

No one has a right to make anyone here at C&G or in North America feel they are any less human than anyone else.

To quote the Statue of Liberty 1903 Bronze Plaque:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

If one still wants to wonder about the U.S. constitution, let me quote the key two sections:

ArtI.S8.C18.8.1 Overview of Congress's Immigration Powers

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C18-8-1/ALDE_00001255/

ArtI.S8.C18.8.7.2 Aliens in the United States

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C18-8-7-2/ALDE_00001262/

Now with that said, some will choose to turn a blind eye if it is not affecting them and that is fine, it is their right, others will monitor and choose to act based on the issue and that is fine too. One hopes that we will have limited ignorance of people just blindly hurting others for a racist ignorant agenda.

 

NOW IN REGARDS TO AUTOS

@A Horse With No Name Very cool videos of the Jeeps doing winter stuff, but after the $5,000 repair shortly after warranty and Jeep knowing they built a flawed engine but fighting the customers in court to take accountability and then just dumping the V6 and moving to a straight 6, Stellantis will never get another dollar from me or anyone in my family. My son wants nothing to do with Jeep products.

[trinacriabob]

There is "some" relief about the "closure," but also one big WTF.

They apprehended the likely perpetrator of the murder of Brian Thompson in Manhattan.  America is transfixed when someone in a high profile case is on the lam - think Brian Laundrie and Scott Peterson, even though with similar but different circumstances.  In the movies, "Thelma and Louise" come to mind, at the very least.

The arrest came about fairly quickly.  Thank the McDonald's in Altoona, PA.

The WTF is his background.  WTF! He has a bachelors and masters degree in a STEM field from Penn.  He was in a fraternity.  He went to an exclusive prep school in Baltimore.  He was the valedictorian.  He was capable enough in his chosen field.  It's interesting and bizarre that he shares an alma mater with Trump and Musk.  From where he lived, Ivy League Penn, in Philly, is really close to the Baltimore area, so he didn't stray far from home.

What made him snap?  How did he go from Ivy League grad to marksman and gun connoisseur? Did he grow up with a silver spoon or not?  What was the household like?  Everything on paper so far looks standard.  This is going to take some unraveling.  He obviously wasn't as "smart" as he thought he was.

I feel bad for everyone adversely affected.  I'm thinking his parents, relatives, and friends are in shock and some people will not treat them too kindly going forward, which is unfair.

[oldshurst442]

41 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

There is "some" relief about the "closure," but also one big WTF.

I was kinda rooting for him NOT to get caught.  But in today's technological and connected and photograghed/video capable world, I knew it was highly impossible for a regualr citizen to commit murder in broad daylight and get away with it. 

I had the same WTF moment as you regarding his education. 

41 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

The arrest came about fairly quickly. 

Im actually shocked it took that long. Im actually shocked he was able to leave NYC WITHOUT getting caught.  We do live in a highly internet connected, always getting second by second updates and armed with a cellphone with camera/video capabilities.   The brothers that bombed the Boston Marathon were caught immediately BECAUSE of second to secong Twitter updates of where those brothers were headed.  

41 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

What made him snap?

The obvious corrupt insider trading of that insurance company that was under investigation, the fact that that insurance company scammed and denounced MANY claims from needy people and the fact that that CEO was the head honcho of such a dispicable corporation. 

41 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

WTF! He ha a bachelor and masters degree in a STEM field from Penn. 

 I had another WTF moment in that the gun he used was a 3D printed one.  

Another political opinion of mine coming up, so brace yourselves...

The ATF and NRA better figure out what the hell to do with the 2nd Ammendment because 3D printed guns have FINALLY entered the chat with public shootings in America.   

Thoughts and Prayers to everyone....

45 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

I feel bad for everyone adversely affected.  I'm thinking his parents, relatives, and friends

(Ill repeat what I said above) Thoughts and Prayers to everyone....

 

45 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

are in shock and some people will not treat them too kindly going forward, which is unfair.

And you are a good man for thinking this way.  I took the sarcastic path, but Im with you in that sentiment 100%

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, trinacriabob said:

There is "some" relief about the "closure," but also one big WTF.

They apprehended the likely perpetrator of the murder of Brian Thompson in Manhattan.  America is transfixed when someone in a high profile case is on the lam - think Brian Laundrie and Scott Peterson, even though with similar but different circumstances.  In the movies, "Thelma and Louise" come to mind, at the very least.

The arrest came about fairly quickly.  Thank the McDonald's in Altoona, PA.

The WTF is his background.  WTF! He has a bachelors and masters degree in a STEM field from Penn.  He was in a fraternity.  He went to an exclusive prep school in Baltimore.  He was the valedictorian.  He was capable enough in his chosen field.  It's interesting and bizarre that he shares an alma mater with Trump and Musk.  From where he lived, Ivy League Penn, in Philly, is really close to the Baltimore area, so he didn't stray far from home.

What made him snap?  How did he go from Ivy League grad to marksman and gun connoisseur? Did he grow up with a silver spoon or not?  What was the household like?  Everything on paper so far looks standard.  This is going to take some unraveling.  He obviously wasn't as "smart" as he thought he was.

I feel bad for everyone adversely affected.  I'm thinking his parents, relatives, and friends are in shock and some people will not treat them too kindly going forward, which is unfair.

Grew up in a wealthy family, seems he was spoon fed everything and never really had to work hard or figure out how one gets along with the positive and negatives in life. His family failed him imho.

What we know about Luigi Mangione, Ivy League grad charged in CEO's murder - ABC News

This makes me think he was a trust fund baby.

Luigi Mangione: What We Know About Arrest in UHC CEO Killing | TIME

Weirder yet is they say he is richer than the ceo he killed.

Luigi Mangione: The Wealthy Heir Behind the Suspect Murder of Brian Thompson | KnowInsiders

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

I was kinda rooting for him NOT to get caught.  But in today's technological and connected and photograghed/video capable world, I knew it was highly impossible for a regualr citizen to commit murder in broad daylight and get away with it. 

I had the same WTF moment as you regarding his education. 

Im actually shocked it took that long. Im actually shocked he was able to leave NYC WITHOUT getting caught.  We do live in a highly internet connected, always getting second by second updates and armed with a cellphone with camera/video capabilities.   The brothers that bombed the Boston Marathon were caught immediately BECAUSE of second to secong Twitter updates of where those brothers were headed.  

The obvious corrupt insider trading of that insurance company that was under investigation, the fact that that insurance company scammed and denounced MANY claims from needy people and the fact that that CEO was the head honcho of such a dispicable corporation. 

 I had another WTF moment in that the gun he used was a 3D printed one.  

Another political opinion of mine coming up, so brace yourselves...

The ATF and NRA better figure out what the hell to do with the 2nd Ammendment because 3D printed guns have FINALLY entered the chat with public shootings in America.   

Thoughts and Prayers to everyone....

(Ill repeat what I said above) Thoughts and Prayers to everyone....

 

And you are a good man for thinking this way.  I took the sarcastic path, but Im with you in that sentiment 100%

We have a day of reconning coming as the whole GHOST GUN is an old new thing that will cause states to write laws, and the NRA is running on borrowed time with their stupidity of taking a narrow ignorant approach to the 2nd amendment.

Considering how we, the U.S. wrote the constitution of Japan and how you have to go through so much training, medical reviews, etc. to get a license to buy a hunting rifle, but handguns for the public are illegal in Japan and this was written by some of the most conservative gun happy people such as General McArthur. So, we are stupid for not adjusting how we deal with guns especially the whole 3D printed gun and silencer.

[Robert Hall]

Kind of a bizarre story all around... when it originally happened, it seemed like the work of a professional, but this kid was clearly no Jackal.  It is amusing how much effort the NYPD put into finding him, if the victim had been an ordinary person instead of a scumbag CEO of a corrupt insurance company I doubt if they would have done much or if it would have made the national news... 

Edited December 10 by Robert Hall

[A Horse With No Name]

13 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Yes we have gone a bit political, but imho a civil discussion. I agree with @ccap41 that for the most part, I have tried my best to stay away from reading on politics in general, but the part of me in standing up to bullies due to my own family being heavily Korean, aka Minority, not white I have to stand up to protect those I love and the rights of just being human.

No one has a right to make anyone here at C&G or in North America feel they are any less human than anyone else.

To quote the Statue of Liberty 1903 Bronze Plaque:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

If one still wants to wonder about the U.S. constitution, let me quote the key two sections:

ArtI.S8.C18.8.1 Overview of Congress's Immigration Powers

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C18-8-1/ALDE_00001255/

ArtI.S8.C18.8.7.2 Aliens in the United States

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C18-8-7-2/ALDE_00001262/

Now with that said, some will choose to turn a blind eye if it is not affecting them and that is fine, it is their right, others will monitor and choose to act based on the issue and that is fine too. One hopes that we will have limited ignorance of people just blindly hurting others for a racist ignorant agenda.

 

NOW IN REGARDS TO AUTOS

@A Horse With No Name Very cool videos of the Jeeps doing winter stuff, but after the $5,000 repair shortly after warranty and Jeep knowing they built a flawed engine but fighting the customers in court to take accountability and then just dumping the V6 and moving to a straight 6, Stellantis will never get another dollar from me or anyone in my family. My son wants nothing to do with Jeep products.

Two things...

The idea of an America that welcomes folks regardless of who they are is dead forever. Never was and never will be this country or who we are. All I can control are my own actions. 

I love the Jeep Video's, but there is a saying about sailboats, planes, and prostitutes that applies to race cars...and Stellantis products. If it flies, floats, or f#cks, you are better off renting it. 

YMMV. 

3 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Kind of a bizarre story all around... when it originally happened, it seemed like the work of a professional, but this kid was clearly no Jackal.  It is amusing how much effort the NYPD put into finding him, if the victim had been an ordinary person instead of a scumbag CEO of a corrupt insurance company I doubt if they would have done much or if it would have made the national news... 

Agreed. He is a hero, the former COE is a zero. 

7 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Grew up in a wealthy family, seems he was spoon fed everything and never really had to work hard or figure out how one gets along with the positive and negatives in life. His family failed him imho.

What we know about Luigi Mangione, Ivy League grad charged in CEO's murder - ABC News

This makes me think he was a trust fund baby.

Luigi Mangione: What We Know About Arrest in UHC CEO Killing | TIME

Weirder yet is they say he is richer than the ceo he killed.

Luigi Mangione: The Wealthy Heir Behind the Suspect Murder of Brian Thompson | KnowInsiders

We have a day of reconning coming as the whole GHOST GUN is an old new thing that will cause states to write laws, and the NRA is running on borrowed time with their stupidity of taking a narrow ignorant approach to the 2nd amendment.

Considering how we, the U.S. wrote the constitution of Japan and how you have to go through so much training, medical reviews, etc. to get a license to buy a hunting rifle, but handguns for the public are illegal in Japan and this was written by some of the most conservative gun happy people such as General McArthur. So, we are stupid for not adjusting how we deal with guns especially the whole 3D printed gun and silencer.

He is a hero. The CEO is a zero, 

9 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

There is "some" relief about the "closure," but also one big WTF.

They apprehended the likely perpetrator of the murder of Brian Thompson in Manhattan.  America is transfixed when someone in a high profile case is on the lam - think Brian Laundrie and Scott Peterson, even though with similar but different circumstances.  In the movies, "Thelma and Louise" come to mind, at the very least.

The arrest came about fairly quickly.  Thank the McDonald's in Altoona, PA.

The WTF is his background.  WTF! He has a bachelors and masters degree in a STEM field from Penn.  He was in a fraternity.  He went to an exclusive prep school in Baltimore.  He was the valedictorian.  He was capable enough in his chosen field.  It's interesting and bizarre that he shares an alma mater with Trump and Musk.  From where he lived, Ivy League Penn, in Philly, is really close to the Baltimore area, so he didn't stray far from home.

What made him snap?  How did he go from Ivy League grad to marksman and gun connoisseur? Did he grow up with a silver spoon or not?  What was the household like?  Everything on paper so far looks standard.  This is going to take some unraveling.  He obviously wasn't as "smart" as he thought he was.

I feel bad for everyone adversely affected.  I'm thinking his parents, relatives, and friends are in shock and some people will not treat them too kindly going forward, which is unfair.

Agreed on folks treating his family without kindness....

14 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

First, the greenhouse of the charred Charger says 2006 and on up to the redo in the mid-2010s, so no interest on my part.  But thanks!  (Medium well for me.)

- - - - -

The ocean liner video is true, for the most part.

When the ocean liners were pulled, there was a niche for one to stay in the game - the QE2 (1969-2008).  That ensured she was close to full and profitable. I've been on it once and it was sleek and modern (for being from the OG group).  They kept their promise and she is now a hotel in Dubai.  She looks the same, minus the lifeboats.  I would love to stay there for a night or two, but Dubai isn't on my radar.

The France (1962-1974) was the longest ship for decades, between 1,000 and 1,100 ft. long, and French food as standard equipment every day would have grabbed me, but she started to sail far from full and bled red ink.

The S.S. United States situation rotting away in Philly saddens me.  It should be redone and parked next to a venue in Manhattan.  It's the U.S.'s very last true ocean liner.  Americans don't have as much of a connection with ships, IMO.

Italian Line had 4 ships (after the Andrea Doria replacement with the Leonardo) into the late '70s, retiring them on a staggered schedule.  They took the southern route, so there was more time to enjoy the pools.  They differentiated themselves with white hulls and superstructures to reflect that sunnier route.  The food was great - better on the 2 smaller ones compared to the 2 bigger ones, per my parents. I've done 4 crossings with the family as a kid and it changes how you see the world - for the better.  The floor/deck plans below the promenades were "messy" (labyrinthine) to keep people in their 1 of 3 classes, so not that amenable to conversion.  The Leonardo was the only ship that crossed into the Pacific, on a unique 41-day cruise to Hawaii, from Italy, through the Panama Canal.  The Leonardo, relative to size and weight, was the biggest gas guzzler in the fleet - much like the L-1011 relative to other heavies.

The current Queen Mary 2 (QM2) is a dream.  I've now done the crossing twice. ("Economy class," and perfectly okay, though one inactive member here who could afford the suites up high had to trash it.)  It's big and, even if full, it never feels crowded.  Not only that, it's beautiful inside and out, and fairly luxurious in a traditional way, but also fairly priced.  One of the coolest things is sailing out in tandem with a Staten Island Ferry - what a treat for those lucky commuters and visitors.  Also, a crossing is not a cruise - it's a different purpose and different experience, with a diverse crowd using the QM2 for transportation between the U.S. and Europe.  Cunard Line (not sure) may have once had the slogan "Getting there is half the fun," IIRC. I'm on board with that!

I can be a pedantic nerd when it comes to this topic and I'll own that.

I am highly jealous of your crossings. I actually would like to do the crossing on a cargo ship some day. Ditch my phone, take some books, and hide from the world for the 17 days or however long it takes to cross. 

[A Horse With No Name]

14 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

A former poster by the name of Wings perhaps?  Yeah...he was out of control LOL  

 Hey...what do you know???!!!   Olympic Airways that airliner in the thumbnail is.     

True. But it has been quite civil.  The problem posters that would have helped to derail and devolve are all gone. 

Well...despite all that is going on right now in your country, at least the New York Yankees couldnt resign Juan Soto!!!   THAT is a good thing, non?   Phoque the Yankees!!!  

But he still stays in New York and signs an incredible 15 year 765 million dollar contract with the Mets.   Hey...at least sports in the USA are not bankrupt.  Well...at least not financially. (bankrupt that is)

Phoque the Yankees!

 

In terms of Wings, I wish he was here so I could point out that the continental flopped, Lincoln has the highest inventory of almost anyone in terms of unsold cars, the Wings still suck as a hockey team, Ford has since discontinued every passenger car other than the Mustang, and Fords SUV lineup is mid at best...

This as a guy who got over his hate for Ford (or some of it any ways) and now has 102,000 miles on his Ranger. 

 

Edited December 10 by A Horse With No Name

[A Horse With No Name]

 

[A Horse With No Name]

Why would anyone delegate their own personal safety to the police anywhere? Personal safety is a personal issue. Cops write reports because they get there long after your life is threatened.

---

Edited December 10 by A Horse With No Name

[A Horse With No Name]

[A Horse With No Name]

I love this photo, I need to be on the road again!

Passengers boarding a plane in 1932, neat picture. 

[A Horse With No Name]

Really wild custom Olds...

Another cool motorcycle photograph...

I love this vintage steam locomotive photograph...

The building of the ST Louis arch....

[A Horse With No Name]

Last pic for a bit, but I love this photo...

[trinacriabob]

4 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I am highly jealous of your crossings. I actually would like to do the crossing on a cargo ship some day. Ditch my phone, take some books, and hide from the world for the 17 days or however long it takes to cross. 

Don't be, because it was a little stressful as a kid, with only one rough - very rough - crossing.  I had no choice in the first 2 round trips, or 4 crossings.  My parents bought passages on the ships so we could move overseas on them ... and back ... and across ... and back. LOL.

Passage 5 was not right after college, but close enough.  I had to do it.

The others are more recent.

FWIW, crossing to the UK is 7 days.  Crossing to Italy (no longer a thing) was about 7 or 8, reaching the Strait of Gibraltar in about 5 to 6 days, usually with a stop at Lisbon before entering the Med.

Yes, it is possible to do the cargo ship thing.  You'll have lodging and your meals, but I don't know what else.  On a ship, you'll never get bored because there's so much to do. There are also nooks and crannies where you can indeed burrow, relax, and read/write.

[ccap41]

13 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

The brothers that bombed the Boston Marathon were caught immediately BECAUSE of second to secong Twitter updates of where those brothers were headed. 

it took 4 days to catch those guys. It wasn't immediate. 

15th was the marathon attack and 19th was the firefight/arrests. 

[A Horse With No Name]

 

Two original and inteeresting muscle cars. 

[trinacriabob]

4 hours ago, ccap41 said:

it took 4 days to catch those guys. It wasn't immediate. 

15th was the marathon attack and 19th was the firefight/arrests. 

I remember when they reported from overseas where the parents were and the mother was completely dysregulated, cursing America and saying they were good boys.  Good boys don't plan and make lethal attacks at major civic events.

There is a big ingrate factor in America.  Some people are able to move here and are then still disgruntled.  It's a hard thing to come to realize that this country works in concentric circles.  There is still a lot of power in wealthy WASPy dynasty type faimilies here and the circles then fan out.  People who are more and more dissimilar from that yardstick find themselves on outer rings and they might be pissed.  However, their kids have the option to break that fairly fast by getting an education and doing things with it. 

This is even more problematic in (South)Western Europe where who you know means even more.  Sure, some actress from Sicily or singer from Naples from the working classes got a break, but it's not that common because it's systemic.

Case in point:  grown-up frat boy type Jesse Watters made an uncalled for comment about the likely fate of the accused shooter.  If you think that, shut up. It's obvious that Jesse Watters is very silver spooned as he is one arrogant SOB and thinks he can say what he wants.  They got rid of Tucker Carlson.  They could get rid of a few others on that network.

Some people appreciate being here, knowing it's not perfect, and some people are here and fuming.

[trinacriabob]

8 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

The building of the ST Louis arch....

It is indeed a very cool thing!  It's a place in the flyover zone that you can't fly under. LOL ... sorry. Someone in the audience always asks about this.  It's interesting when they slide in the final piece - the keystone - and it fits perfectly. (Of course, there have to be tolerances all throughout.)  The movie they show is very informative.

A lot of cities can't plan ahead because they don't know what's coming, like the arch.  There should have been a mall or lawn devoid of buildings beyond the arch stretching quite a ways to the west.

One big turd is Sacramento, CA.  There is a mall to the west, unobstructed between the interstate and the capitol.  There should have been 3 more malls in the other directions.  To the north of the capitol, it gets dumpy very quickly.

[ccap41]

3 hours ago, ccap41 said:

it took 4 days to catch those guys. It wasn't immediate. 

15th was the marathon attack and 19th was the firefight/arrests. 

I guess, technically, it was more like 5 days. 

[trinacriabob]

I'm having trouble letting go ... of my Alitalia app!

[Robert Hall]

3 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

It is indeed a very cool thing!  It's a place in the flyover zone that you can't fly under. LOL ... sorry. Someone in the audience always asks about this.  It's interesting when they slide in the final piece - the keystone - and it fits perfectly. (Of course, there have to be tolerances all throughout.)  The movie they show is very informative.

A lot of cities can't plan ahead because they don't know what's coming, like the arch.  There should have been a mall or lawn devoid of buildings beyond the arch stretching quite a ways to the west.

One big turd is Sacramento, CA.  There is a mall to the west, unobstructed between the interstate and the capitol.  There should have been 3 more malls in the other directions.  To the north of the capitol, it gets dumpy very quickly.

I remember the Arco Arena being kind of off by itself.  I recall eating at a few restaurants downtown that were nice.  Been 20 years since I’ve been there.  My sister did a few gigs for a few years at CALPERS, CALSTRS and CALTRANS, I visited a couple times to go to concerts back in the day.  

[trinacriabob]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

I remember the Arco Arena being kind of off by itself.  I recall eating at a few restaurants downtown that were nice.  Been 20 years since I’ve been there.  My sister did a few gigs for a few years at CALPERS, CALSTRS and CALTRANS, I visited a couple times to go to concerts back in the day.  

The Arco Arena is in Sac, but in the Natomas area, and built when it was a much emptier area with a lot of fields. It is/was one ugly stadium.

The Kings used to play there.  The rapport with the Lakers was strained.  Someone on the L.A. side called Sacto a cow town.  The locals were pissed.  The locals supposedly would bring cowbell triangles to games with the Lakers played at home.  I'd have to look if that's true.  Karma is a bitch.

The Monarchs also used to play there.  I won't go there.  A place where I worked once hired a girl who had a Monarchs sticker on her SUV rear window to work as a "paraprofessional."  She had to work on something for me.  I sensed she didn't know anywhere near enough.  I asked her if she knew the actual dimensions of a 2x4.  She did not!  This wasn't kindergarten.  She wasn't working out very well ... for anyone.  One day, she stopped showing up, either because she was stressed out or knew she was going to be let go.

There is/was all this empty land and they still haven't gone through all the hoops to put in the light rail from downtown to the airport through that soulless Natomas area.  City nicknames go from Sactomato to Excremento, and then some.

I have/had a few smarter friends who worked at a few wings of the government there and they either got complacent or had nerves of steel to keep plowing ahead to be achievers alongside some duds.

Living in the foothill communities is the way to go if you have to live in that metro area, but you'll have rattlesnakes as neighbors.

[G. David Felt]

3 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

The Arco Arena is in Sac, but in the Natomas area, and built when it was a much emptier area with a lot of fields. It is/was one ugly stadium.

The Kings used to play there.  The rapport with the Lakers was strained.  Someone on the L.A. side called Sacto a cow town.  The locals were pissed.  The locals supposedly would bring cowbell triangles to games with the Lakers played at home.  I'd have to look if that's true.  Karma is a bitch.

The Monarchs also used to play there.  I won't go there.  A place where I worked once hired a girl who had a Monarchs sticker on her SUV rear window to work as a "paraprofessional."  She had to work on something for me.  I sensed she didn't know anywhere near enough.  I asked her if she knew the actual dimensions of a 2x4.  She did not!  This wasn't kindergarten.  She wasn't working out very well ... for anyone.  One day, she stopped showing up, either because she was stressed out or knew she was going to be let go.

There is/was all this empty land and they still haven't gone through all the hoops to put in the light rail from downtown to the airport through that soulless Natomas area.  City nicknames go from Sactomato to Excremento, and then some.

I have/had a few smarter friends who worked at a few wings of the government there and they either got complacent or had nerves of steel to keep plowing ahead to be achievers alongside some duds.

Living in the foothill communities is the way to go if you have to live in that metro area, but you'll have rattlesnakes as neighbors.

 I have family throughout California and many call Caltrans, CrapTrans. Seems they do enough to get it going, but barely enough to keep it going let alone doing it right, not so right! Crazy messed up area for sure. Then how bad is it when you compare it to the Major F'd up mess of Texas and Florida.

This is an interesting watch.

What happens if Trump ends the electric vehicle tax credit? - CBS News

Another interesting read that shows how conflict of interest is a big problem in Idiot47 administration.

Ramaswamy’s threats to claw back Rivian loan spark criticism of Elon Musk’s DOGE role | CNN Politics

So, hope the Idiot fails big time and this does continue on as it is the right, smart move for USPS as EVs make far more sense than ICE for the little amount of driving they do. ICE maintenance is crazy high compared to EVs; long term this reduces cost for USPS. Common sense which is no so common on the incoming idiot47 administration.

Exclusive: Trump may cancel US Postal Service electric mail truck contract, sources say | Reuters

Honestly, I can easily see a major recession hitting the U.S. due to incompetence around killing off IRA.

[G. David Felt]

WOW, You Go Standsbury, you bury them just like the Movie series called The Purge, it seems we are back to the 1950's with Blacklists and the attempt to purge the country. This Heritage 2025 Purge Program is why we have to Fight for the Constitution and freedom rights of all and not a Purge of non-MAGA people. WOW!!!!

 

[A Horse With No Name]

8 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

 I have family throughout California and many call Caltrans, CrapTrans. Seems they do enough to get it going, but barely enough to keep it going let alone doing it right, not so right! Crazy messed up area for sure. Then how bad is it when you compare it to the Major F'd up mess of Texas and Florida.

This is an interesting watch.

What happens if Trump ends the electric vehicle tax credit? - CBS News

Another interesting read that shows how conflict of interest is a big problem in Idiot47 administration.

Ramaswamy’s threats to claw back Rivian loan spark criticism of Elon Musk’s DOGE role | CNN Politics

So, hope the Idiot fails big time and this does continue on as it is the right, smart move for USPS as EVs make far more sense than ICE for the little amount of driving they do. ICE maintenance is crazy high compared to EVs; long term this reduces cost for USPS. Common sense which is no so common on the incoming idiot47 administration.

Exclusive: Trump may cancel US Postal Service electric mail truck contract, sources say | Reuters

Honestly, I can easily see a major recession hitting the U.S. due to incompetence around killing off IRA.

People will get the government they voted for. 

7 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

WOW, You Go Standsbury, you bury them just like the Movie series called The Purge, it seems we are back to the 1950's with Blacklists and the attempt to purge the country. This Heritage 2025 Purge Program is why we have to Fight for the Constitution and freedom rights of all and not a Purge of non-MAGA people. WOW!!!!

 

I am waiting for the day there is active violence against such folks. I don't endorse it, I just expect it from MAGA

Funny commercial....

 

[A Horse With No Name]

Your feel good story of the day. 

[A Horse With No Name]

Last post for a bit, but this is worth a watch. 

 

[G. David Felt]

WoW, Chery Automotive of China is wanting to show that their EVs are 5 star crash safe for the occupants. The harshest crash test is the U-Turn crash test where two autos hit the U-Turning auto in off setting corners. Safety to the occupants with minimal degradation of the body is pretty impressive here.
 

 

@trinacriabob You might get a faster crossing if this does get approved to be built.

Inside the $20trillion Transatlantic Tunnel That Would Link The US to the UK in Under an Hour : The Hearty Soul

[G. David Felt]

Seems McLaren has been sold to the UAE.

UAE buys McLaren after carmaker suffers record loss

Seems Nissan has a all new Leaf coming in a form of a sedan. Be interesting to see if they can get this out before they run out of money.

https://www.carscoops.com/2024/12/2026-nissan-leaf-ditches-dorky-looks-gets-much-needed-glow-up/

[G. David Felt]

OUCH, this is going to hurt many who thought they could retire, but if you were born after 1960, to be eligible for retirement, you will have to work till your 70 to claim SS and Medicare.

Republicans Want to Raise Retirement Age to 70 as Life Expectancy Is Falling | Truthout

[G. David Felt]

@A Horse With No Name This is a very cool woodworking video.

Woodturning - Log To Bowl | Watch

[G. David Felt]

Very cool, Kia has confirmed the EV pickup is coming still.

2025 Kia EV Pickup Virtually Expands EV9 Family to Fight Ram’s Mid-Size Truck - autoevolution

[smk4565]

On 12/7/2024 at 1:26 PM, G. David Felt said:

Nissan, I give 12 months at most, Renault just sold their 36% holding in Nissan and there is no new investor lined up for Nissan. They have no new products, Hybrids/EVs that the market wants. As it seems, this could be the first legacy OEM to die.

Will Nissan be the First Major Car Company Bankrupcy in 12 Months? | NextBigFuture.com

In regard to Stellantis, I would not touch a Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler product here or any other product overseas. They are bottom feeding terrible and the stories both here and abroad are continuing to state that the Executives have taken their bonuses on meeting certain goals and replaced quality of product with terrible quality due to lower skilled, cheaper paid work force abroad and the death of new product here due to taking the U.S. profits to shore up the rest of Stellantis and not re-investing back into the local brands.

 

Nissan has the new Kicks at a competitive price, that could do well like the Trax has.  There is a new Murano.  But the Titan is gone (not that they sold many anyway), the Altima is dying next year so that is a lot of lost volume, I think they killed or are killing the Versa, and the Z doesn't sell at all (too expensive).  And a lot of those Sentra, Kicks, Rogue sales are probably rental fleets.  It is just a junk brand.  

Infiniti sales are down 50% in the past 5 years and they are going to let Infiniti dealers move into Nissan dealers to survive.  But Infiniti is in even worse shape than Nissan because they can rely on rental fleets and low credit buyers like Nissan does.

No higher margin luxury sales, no high margin pick up sales, Nissan is a mess.

Stellantis also a mess, way too many cost cutting measures and they build junk cars and too many brands to feed.  You don't need Dodge and Chrysler, Alfa and Maserati, Citroen and DS, Opel and Peugeot, etc.  It is all overlap, they could kill half those brands.  Terrible product planning too, way too many expensive vehicles and they don't make a competitor to the Corolla or Rav4 or Model Y for the global market and those are the top 3 selling vehicles in the world.  No Ford Maverick or Toyota Tacoma competitor at Ram.  

And the Stellantis fan boys want to blame the decline in the company on Tavares killing the Hellcat and the V8 Chargers, but Hellcat vehicles are low volume and they pretty much exhausted that market already.  They could bring back a Hellcat Charger and they'd probably sell like 10,000 a year when the company has capacity to build like 7 million vehicles a year.  The company is clueless on what buyers actually want, and they haven't put R&D into new product in forever and trashed the reputation of all their brands.

And I think Tesla is next, once the $7500 goes away, and the west cost liberals stop buying them because they don't like Elon, I can see their sales dropping because that product line is stale as hell now, and the Cybertruck is already out of reservations, so those are about to be a sales bust.   Unless Elon cons the government to buy 100,000 Teslas per year.

[trinacriabob]

3 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

 

@trinacriabob You might get a faster crossing if this does get approved to be built.

Inside the $20trillion Transatlantic Tunnel That Would Link The US to the UK in Under an Hour : The Hearty Soul

Yikes. 

I don't know.  I still haven't been in the Chunnel.  That link between Denmark and Sweden that is part bridge and part tunnel is something.  The bridge across the Strait of Messina has challenges left and right.  California High Speed Rail is like a flickering bulb.

This is akin to going to another planet!

[G. David Felt]

13 hours ago, smk4565 said:

Nissan has the new Kicks at a competitive price, that could do well like the Trax has.  There is a new Murano.  But the Titan is gone (not that they sold many anyway), the Altima is dying next year so that is a lot of lost volume, I think they killed or are killing the Versa, and the Z doesn't sell at all (too expensive).  And a lot of those Sentra, Kicks, Rogue sales are probably rental fleets.  It is just a junk brand.  

Infiniti sales are down 50% in the past 5 years and they are going to let Infiniti dealers move into Nissan dealers to survive.  But Infiniti is in even worse shape than Nissan because they can rely on rental fleets and low credit buyers like Nissan does.

No higher margin luxury sales, no high margin pick up sales, Nissan is a mess.

Stellantis also a mess, way too many cost cutting measures and they build junk cars and too many brands to feed.  You don't need Dodge and Chrysler, Alfa and Maserati, Citroen and DS, Opel and Peugeot, etc.  It is all overlap, they could kill half those brands.  Terrible product planning too, way too many expensive vehicles and they don't make a competitor to the Corolla or Rav4 or Model Y for the global market and those are the top 3 selling vehicles in the world.  No Ford Maverick or Toyota Tacoma competitor at Ram.  

And the Stellantis fan boys want to blame the decline in the company on Tavares killing the Hellcat and the V8 Chargers, but Hellcat vehicles are low volume and they pretty much exhausted that market already.  They could bring back a Hellcat Charger and they'd probably sell like 10,000 a year when the company has capacity to build like 7 million vehicles a year.  The company is clueless on what buyers actually want, and they haven't put R&D into new product in forever and trashed the reputation of all their brands.

And I think Tesla is next, once the $7500 goes away, and the west cost liberals stop buying them because they don't like Elon, I can see their sales dropping because that product line is stale as hell now, and the Cybertruck is already out of reservations, so those are about to be a sales bust.   Unless Elon cons the government to buy 100,000 Teslas per year.

Kia, Hyundai, Genesis make superior EVs at 800V true platform compared to the dated 400V Tesla platform. I honestly if Idiot47 figures out a way to pull back the IRA, Tesla is going to Hurt more than Moron Musk realizes.

We have had way too many auto companies for the last Decade and the move of the Dodge van to Chrysler only with Chrysler becoming a Van only product line and no real new products on the horizon, time to Kill Chrysler, move the van back to Dodge. Ram/Dodge/Jeep have been plundered for decades for the profits they generated to keep other brands in Europe going. I agree with you that Stellantis needs to kill off half of their brands to clean up to a far more manageable portfolio.

Infiniti has been on life support for the last Decade and Nissan I stick with it that it could be bankrupt by the end of 2025. A day of reconning is coming for the auto industry and I would not be surprised to see a few of the current name plates dead in the industry by 2030.

[G. David Felt]

Very Cool Video, VW honored an unused and dead program for a woman who bought her Cabriolet with Pickup in Europe and shipment back to the U.S. Yet with her pickup of her 1987 Cabriolet in the Netherlands and driving it around on vacation, she decided to stay till more than 37 years later she decided it was time to come back home to the U.S. and VW honored her with bringing her car home. 

Very cool Story.

 

[G. David Felt]

ROFLMAO this just cracks me up, why would Time give him a cover, but I agree with the MEM.

[smk4565]

6 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Kia, Hyundai, Genesis make superior EVs at 800V true platform compared to the dated 400V Tesla platform. I honestly if Idiot47 figures out a way to pull back the IRA, Tesla is going to Hurt more than Moron Musk realizes.

We have had way too many auto companies for the last Decade and the move of the Dodge van to Chrysler only with Chrysler becoming a Van only product line and no real new products on the horizon, time to Kill Chrysler, move the van back to Dodge. Ram/Dodge/Jeep have been plundered for decades for the profits they generated to keep other brands in Europe going. I agree with you that Stellantis needs to kill off half of their brands to clean up to a far more manageable portfolio.

Infiniti has been on life support for the last Decade and Nissan I stick with it that it could be bankrupt by the end of 2025. A day of reconning is coming for the auto industry and I would not be surprised to see a few of the current name plates dead in the industry by 2030.

I think Musk is so arrogant that he thinks Tesla doesn't need any tax breaks or government help (despite building his business on them) and that if all the tax credits go away, it will hurt the legacy OEM's selling EV's more than him.   But without that $7500 discount n Tesla's they look $10k more expensive than the ICE counterparts and once that value proposition is gone I think the sales grown crawls to a halt.  And Stellantis and Nissan may be a mess, but Toyota is a juggernaut, Hyundai/Kia have good momentum, GM is looking pretty strong again, Honda does their core products well and the Germans have the luxury market sewn up.  Tesla faces a lot of competitors who aren't just going to roll over.

[G. David Felt]

3 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

I think Musk is so arrogant that he thinks Tesla doesn't need any tax breaks or government help (despite building his business on them) and that if all the tax credits go away, it will hurt the legacy OEM's selling EV's more than him.   But without that $7500 discount n Tesla's they look $10k more expensive than the ICE counterparts and once that value proposition is gone I think the sales grown crawls to a halt.  And Stellantis and Nissan may be a mess, but Toyota is a juggernaut, Hyundai/Kia have good momentum, GM is looking pretty strong again, Honda does their core products well and the Germans have the luxury market sewn up.  Tesla faces a lot of competitors who aren't just going to roll over.

Honda has been surprising with their Prologue as it is a huge seller here in the U.S.

GM has come on strong, but I wonder if it will last without the Android Auto and AppleCar play support.

I see Kia/Hyundai/Genesis taking a solid 2nd place for 2024 in EV sales. I think they could challenge Tesla next year even if they kill off the IRA which will require both House and Senate to approve and right now, this will affect a big chunk of RED states where EV and battery production is, so those house and senate members have already said that touching IRA is a bad thing. Going to be interesting.

Germans are falling and Genesis as well as Cadillac has come on strong with Luxury. I honestly see no reason to spend the extra coin for the German brands over Cadillac or Genesis.

[trinacriabob]

51 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

why would Time give him a cover

[G. David Felt]

I will have to agree that I will never go back to the complexity and overload of maintenance on ICE. Love my EV9 and once Genesis has their full size Luxury SUV out to compete with the EscaladeIQ, I can see me possibly retiring my Escalade for the Genesis. Of course, the wife would still love a truck, so once Kia gets the EV9 pickup out, might get that since we are very happy with the EV9 SUV.

https://insideevs.com/news/744035/ev-owners-survey-global/

This is awesome what they did in making this Skyline R32 an EV. Would love to have an R32 or R33 EV.
Nissan Made an Electric GT-R R32

[G. David Felt]

@oldshurst442 Excellent read and I totally agree with the writeup, let the GOP burn themselves to the ground. Treat them like the addict they are and self combust.

Opinion: America voted for a dumpster fire — Democrats just need to let it burn itself out

@A Horse With No Name Very cool video on making a wooden cup.

Woodturning - Cubism | Watch

Another awesome wood turning project. Crazy what people will think up.

Woodturning - I Maxed Out My Lathe! | Watch

We are getting hit hard starting tonight through next week, heavy rain, winds and snow.

Atmospheric River Set to 'Wallop' Western US: What We Know

Seems the incoming administration wants to kill off safety for the sake of profits, focused on Robotaxi profits.

Trump team set to end key vehicle safety rule opposed by Elon Musk's Tesla: report

[G. David Felt]

Interesting read and comparison of the ID.BUZZ versus EV9

Volkswagen ID Buzz vs. Kia EV9: Which 3-Row 7-Passenger EV Is Best?