Random Thoughts Thread

[trinacriabob]

On 10/26/2020 at 12:22 PM, David said:

Am a dog lover, my sister is checking out the type of dog she wants to get. Spent the weekend with this labradoodle.

 

Labradoodles and goldendoodles are now fairly established.  I don't know much about their pros and cons.

These are now called "designer" dog breeds, specifically bred to cross two sets of qualities they want to combine.  Within the last week, I saw a photo of a combination of a Bernese Mountain Dog (one of the best dogs around) with a poodle.  You should have seen the price on it.  It was a beautiful dog.

Dogs are not cheap these days.  Someone explained to me that, since people are increasingly warming up to the reality that, in shorthand, people suck, the demand for household pets, and especially select breeds, has gone up.

[daves87rs]

11 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

Labradoodles and goldendoodles are now fairly established.  I don't know much about their pros and cons.

These are now called "designer" dog breeds, specifically bred to cross two sets of qualities they want to combine.  Within the last week, I saw a photo of a combination of a Bernese Mountain Dog (one of the best dogs around) with a poodle.  You should have seen the price on it.  It was a beautiful dog.

Dogs are not cheap these days.  Someone explained to me that, since people are increasingly warming up to the reality that, in shorthand, people suck, the demand for household pets, and especially select breeds, has gone up.

Never thought I would see $5k dogs... ? 

[Robert Hall]

Of the 'designer' breeds, I like Yommies (Yorkie-Pomeranian) , Yorkipoos (Yorkie-Poodle) and Morkies (Yorkie-Maltese).  

 

For some randomness, saw a TV ad for the GMC Hummer EV...I rarely see TV ads, but I was streaming a documentary on the Ark Royal and it had ads.

[balthazar]

"local field workers", Wisconsin, 1915.
Put 'em to work.

[ocnblu]

One word:  OMG, Genesis GV70!

 

[ocnblu]

8 hours ago, balthazar said:

I know I read the GM lowered the price on the 3.0L TD to around $1500 (effective immediately) ... but build n price guides are currently showing it circa $2300. Was it a short-time special and I didn't catch that? Seen it from Chevy & GMC< and from numerous dealers' window stickers online.

Wasn't that new, lower price bump v. the price of the optional 6.2L gas engine or something like that?  I forget now.  Nice truck, I'm not a red guy though (for vehicles anyway)

[Robert Hall]

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

One word:  OMG, Genesis GV70!

 

Yes!  I was looking at pics of it last night, I like the styling inside and out... very sharp and unique.

 

 

A bit of randomness..my father would have been 99 today.

Edited October 29, 2020 by Robert Hall

[A Horse With No Name]

21 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Even though it won't be happening, I could use something like an old school GM 4.3 V6 with TBI under the hood of my next car.  

I think they still use that as a base motor for full size pickup trucks. But if I was going to buy a GM truck, the only configuration I really like is the ZR2 Colorado. 

10 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Yes!  I was looking at pics of it last night, I like the styling inside and out... very sharp and unique.

 

 

A bit of randomness..my father would have been 99 today.

Hyundai is the most dynamic car maker right now in terms of what they are doing. 

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Wasn't that new, lower price bump v. the price of the optional 6.2L gas engine or something like that?  I forget now.  Nice truck, I'm not a red guy though (for vehicles anyway)

Again, would prefer a colorado ZR2 Diesel myself....but that is a damn nice truck. Not really a red guy either when it comes to trucks, but I had a red S-10 that was fantastic back in the day. 

9 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Of the 'designer' breeds, I like Yommies (Yorkie-Pomeranian) , Yorkipoos (Yorkie-Poodle) and Morkies (Yorkie-Maltese).  

 

For some randomness, saw a TV ad for the GMC Hummer EV...I rarely see TV ads, but I was streaming a documentary on the Ark Royal and it had ads.

I really want a Shi-Tzu. Such well behaved, gentle dogs. 

Or a Jack Ruseel terrier to terrify my cats, I can't decide which.

Actually, I am kind of Bipolar, maybe one of each. 

[A Horse With No Name]

Lots of neat vintage iron here. 

 

Good Video. 

 

 

 

...and I love both the Audi and the Lincoln....I am not a snob by era....

I want an Epic adventure...

 

 

 

I so want to travel to central America when all of this covid crap is done. 

 

 

Substitute a Ford Ranger for the T100 and we are good....but it is much more difficult to take a vehicle south of the border if you have a loan on it. 

Might like to find an older basic vehicle with 4WD to take on some adventures. 

 

[daves87rs]

I just saw two Ford Escorts this morning.....like late 80s ones-threw me off a bit....

[trinacriabob]

18 hours ago, balthazar said:

Telepathy?  I just found this great YouTube on an entry level FB of this genre "down under."

[Robert Hall]

4 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

 

I really want a Shi-Tzu. Such well behaved, gentle dogs. 

Or a Jack Ruseel terrier to terrify my cats, I can't decide which.

Actually, I am kind of Bipolar, maybe one of each. 

Tzus are nice.  At some point, I'd like to have a West Highland White Terrier (Westie) again or an Australian Terrier again...have had them in the past, love their personalities and temperament.  Westies are calmer than Aussies, the 3 Aussies we've had tended to be bipolar...sweet and loving one moment, bitey and ferocious the next. 

[balthazar]

[A Horse With No Name]

15 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Why you buy a Tundra.....never get that kind of smoke out of a Toyota. 

Speaking of trucks...

 

[A Horse With No Name]

3 hours ago, daves87rs said:

I just saw two Ford Escorts this morning.....like late 80s ones-threw me off a bit....

I remember getting passed by one on an off ramp by a guy doing like 90.....he bit the concrete wall and the Escort came apart spectacularly.  Guy was OK but I bet his insurance went way up. 

https://www.trucks.com/2020/10/27/waymo-daimler-self-driving-truck-partnership/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=popup&utm_content=ram

[A Horse With No Name]

Nice review. 

 

15 hours ago, daves87rs said:

Never thought I would see $5k dogs... ? 

I never thought I would see half ton pickups at almsot 80 grand...

13 hours ago, balthazar said:

"local field workers", Wisconsin, 1915.
Put 'em to work.

My grandmother grew up in and was born in a log cabin in Wisconsin in 1917....amazing how things change in a short period of time. 

[A Horse With No Name]

15 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Labradoodles and goldendoodles are now fairly established.  I don't know much about their pros and cons.

These are now called "designer" dog breeds, specifically bred to cross two sets of qualities they want to combine.  Within the last week, I saw a photo of a combination of a Bernese Mountain Dog (one of the best dogs around) with a poodle.  You should have seen the price on it.  It was a beautiful dog.

Dogs are not cheap these days.  Someone explained to me that, since people are increasingly warming up to the reality that, in shorthand, people suck, the demand for household pets, and especially select breeds, has gone up.

People do suck, more and more each day. Disgusted with the political negativity in  the country. I can pick on my own side of the fence....the number of liberal friends of mine who would celebrate if Amy Comey Barret chocked on a piece of chicken in a resteraunt and died is amazing.  I want a dog, a pickup truck, and the open road. 

 

I need to re read Travells with Charlie. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Travels-Charley-Search-America-Steinbeck/dp/0140053204

This also looks like a good read. 

https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/ref=pd_lutyp_wsixn_v2_6_4/143-4699616-0598161?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B08L2HSVS8&pd_rd_r=8f410600-f449-4eb3-86e6-60a60af5d0c9&pd_rd_w=bDIoO&pd_rd_wg=0rFeF&pf_rd_p=5046f028-98e3-42b1-9847-47bc0a965eea&pf_rd_r=DGMN2NC7M83VRTTMK7KV&psc=1&refRID=DGMN2NC7M83VRTTMK7KV

[balthazar]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

My grandmother grew up in and was born in a log cabin in Wisconsin in 1917....amazing how things change in a short period of time. 

Where abouts?

[G. David Felt]

10 hours ago, ocnblu said:

One word:  OMG, Genesis GV70!

 

Over all not bad, but the rear reminds me of the funky Infinity CUV that was shaped like this. Not a big fan. wait and see but from the C to D pillar is just weird to me and then the Jelly Bean back end. Meh

[A Horse With No Name]

59 minutes ago, balthazar said:

Where abouts?

Near Wausau

Someone else has my same philosophy for finding tools in the workshop. 

[A Horse With No Name]

I love this Channel....

 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

This video is really funny....and yes...lots of people in our country like this...

 

 

[balthazar]

2 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Near Wausau

Huh. Right up ol' 39 from Plainfield. Nice.
 

Edited October 29, 2020 by balthazar

[ocnblu]

2 hours ago, David said:

Infinity

???

[trinacriabob]

10 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I think they still use that as a base motor for full size pickup trucks. But if I was going to buy a GM truck, the only configuration I really like is the ZR2 Colorado. 

Or a Jack Ruseel terrier to terrify my cats, I can't decide which.

I believe you are correct.  I know someone in the Sunbelt who bought a simplistic RWD big Chevy or GMC truck 2 or 3 years ago (new, for a great price) and he told me he had a six under the hood.  This is a person who builds and repairs things, yet he couldn't tell me which engine was under the hood.  I asked him if I could raise the hood and look around.  It was a 4.3 or 4300 V6.  How would he not know that?  The change is that, since it was introduced, it is now an all aluminum (heads and block) engine.  Also, TBI gave way to Bosch injectors, I'm sure.  I guess that, with steel sleeves lining the cylinder walls, this technology became reliable.

As for dogs, I was in Europe and there was this guy holding a puppy at the entrance to his bar - which really means espresso joint.  I asked him, in HIS language, what kind of dog it was.  His response was pronounced as "Chuck Russ."  I asked him for the third time, and he then included the suffix "terrier."  I then said, "Oh, Jack Russell terrier."  Affirmative.  This puppy licked my hand. 

[ocnblu]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Duke_engine

[trinacriabob]

What I really came onto the forum to say tonight ... 

About a year and a half ago, I bought a sofa and another upholstered piece for the living room.  Given my control oriented nature, I ordered it.  I hate that the trendy thing is to have pillows that have some wild pattern when the body color of a sofa or a chair is solid.  So I ordered everything solid.  This salesman, who was younger but NOT pushy, helped me with selecting the upholstery while I had the model/frame already selected.  The fact that he didn't push me when I first went into the store to look around is what got him the sale.

The items arrived early, were set up, and they looked better than I could have imagined.  I sent him a brief e-mail thanking him and telling him how good they looked and attached a photo of each of the two pieces.  No response.

Tonight, I went in there since I am tentatively looking for another piece for another room.  He was there.  I hope he didn't see me.  I talked to the salesperson who greeted me.  (I learned covid has pushed delivery times for factory orders back in a big way.)  My attitude is that if the previous salesman couldn't respond with "thank you" or "glad to have helped" like a person with the minimal people skills for sales, I shouldn't be that concerned whether or not he got my business in the future.

Edited October 29, 2020 by trinacriabob

[Robert Hall]

43 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

I believe you are correct.  I know someone in the Sunbelt who bought a simplistic RWD big Chevy or GMC truck 2 or 3 years ago (new, for a great price) and he told me he had a six under the hood.  This is a person who builds and repairs things, yet he couldn't tell me which engine was under the hood.  I asked him if I could raise the hood and look around.  It was a 4.3 or 4300 V6.  How would he not know that?  

The truck is probably just an appliance to them...most drivers don't know what is under the hood---just a power unit for their appliance. 

[Robert Hall]

4 hours ago, David said:

Over all not bad, but the rear reminds me of the funky Infinity CUV that was shaped like this. Not a big fan. wait and see but from the C to D pillar is just weird to me and then the Jelly Bean back end. Meh

The Infiniti FX?  I liked those...distinctive styling, not the usual SUV box.  

[balthazar]

Proposed 1960 Olds '55' :

[ocnblu]

6 hours ago, balthazar said:

Proposed 1960 Olds '55' :

There were Pontiac and Buick versions as well at this stage.  Early foray into "badge engineering".

[G. David Felt]

15 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

The Infiniti FX?  I liked those...distinctive styling, not the usual SUV box.  

Yes, the FX is what the rear on this reminds me of. Piss poor interior cargo space, could not even get a bag of golf clubs in them. Also interior space for humans sucked too. I know lots of people liked the style, but for me, the style cost in interior room. 

That is why I love the Hummer EV, it has the box design with style and what looks like plenty of interior space especially for us big people.

[A Horse With No Name]

This looks good....were I to replace my Aveo in a few years...have to pay down the Ranger First...

 

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee-Dublin-d490_L26539?sourceContext=google&cgfv=0.86&cgp=30888&cgfr=3&cgfab=A&ax8324=503&px8324=p2&type=GoogleAdWordsContent&kw=&matchtype=&ad=461234897963&placement=www.democraticunderground.com&networktype=r&device=c&devicemodel=&adposition=none&cp=309910256&adg=21246778976&fi=&tid=aud-125939373656&lc=9014968&lm=&tgt=boomuserlist%3A%3A100762976&cgfdate=20201028&aceid=&cgfloc=en&&type=GoogleAdWordsContent&kw=&matchtype=&ad=461234897963&placement=www.democraticunderground.com&networktype=d&device=c&devicemodel=&adposition=none&physloc=9014968&intloc=&aceid=&cid=309910256&agid=21246778976&tgtid=aud-125939373656&fid=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv72Htr_c7AIVgezACh33tgYeEAEYASABEgLhK_D_BwE#listing=279674208

[A Horse With No Name]

Speaking of Jeep...

 

[daves87rs]

53 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Speaking of Jeep...

 

Been a while since I saw one!

 

That said- I saw a line of Mustang E Machs today testing....didn’t realize my Equinox was bigger than one.... ? 

[G. David Felt]

Exxon Mobil has stated that as they transition to a change of what powers auto's around the world and work to get to a net zero equality for the climate by 2035, that changes are in order and with the Pandemic, Exxon Mobil cust 1,600 positions in Europe and 1,900 position in the US today. They also announced that they will be reducing their head count globally by 15% or 14,000 by the end of 2021.

https://electrek.co/2020/10/30/egeb-exxon-layoffs-wartsila-us-net-zero-electricity/

[ocnblu]

22 minutes ago, David said:

Mobile

LOL

[balthazar]

LOT of people worldwide working from home now or out of work. Tourism, hotel and entertainment industries have been decimated. Fuel demand is way down.

Exxon-Mobil reported in June that fuel consumption in ‘20 was down... 11%.

Edited October 30, 2020 by balthazar

[trinacriabob]

4 hours ago, balthazar said:

LOT of people worldwide working from home now or out of work. Tourism, hotel and entertainment industries have been decimated. Fuel demand is way down.

Exxon-Mobil reported in June that fuel consumption in ‘20 was down... 11%.

Right, the leisure and discretionary sectors have probably been the hardest hit.  People need that stuff to keep their heads screwed on straight. 

It's weird to be inside an airplane or public transit with so many seats blocked off.  The airlines have to fly planes that are, more or less, mostly full to be profitable.  I have a feeling that, if normalcy comes, there will be a huge surge in travel and it might be difficult to find airplane seats and hotel rooms at times.  Pent up demand can work in strange ways.

 

[ocnblu]

[Robert Hall]

Strange times.. I bought gas last Friday for maybe the 3rd time since January.    

[G. David Felt]

R.I.P. Sir Sean Connery who passed in his sleep overnight at age 90.

The best James Bond 007 we ever had.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54761824

[trinacriabob]

56 minutes ago, David said:

R.I.P. Sir Sean Connery who passed in his sleep overnight at age 90.

The best James Bond 007 we ever had.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54761824

I read that 5 minutes ago.  It almost seems surreal ... Sean Connery was a larger than life persona.  He appears to have gone peacefully and may he R.I.P.

It has been an incredible thing to grow up with and mature alongside the timeless franchise of so many great 007 films.

[trinacriabob]

By the way, Happy Halloween, C&G folks. 

Stay safe and healthy ... and HAVE FUN!

 

[balthazar]

Phoenix, 1940 :

[balthazar]

Ram asks $4995 for their 3.0L TD in the Ram 1500, while GMC is asking $2390 for their 3.0L TD.

[regfootball]

Why in this age of 6, 8, 10, 12 megapixel cameras abounding, do so many dealerships still photograph their cars to 600 and 800 pixel photo sizes, on shit cameras from 2009?  Or maybe they just post the photos at that reduced size for space reasons.....when monitors these days are 1900+ pixels....

Those crappy photos on the dealer website do not make me want to go look at your 50,000 dollar car.

Even worse, many don't even photo their cars anymore.  They leave up those stock animation quality rendered images of the manufacturer.

Many photograph their vehicles in a weird space with completely heinous and unflattering fluorescent lighting as well.  Vroom's photos are like the vaseline on lens images of penthouse from the 70's and 80's.

I realize prepping cars for sale takes work and cost is involved (i have worked at a dealership); but take some more time and care to photograph your inventory well, it makes it more presentable.  You don't need 80 pictures.....20-40 will work if they are high quality photos and capture each image to show relevant things.

Edited November 1, 2020 by regfootball

[G. David Felt]

3 hours ago, regfootball said:

Why in this age of 6, 8, 10, 12 megapixel cameras abounding, do so many dealerships still photograph their cars to 600 and 800 pixel photo sizes, on shit cameras from 2009?  Or maybe they just post the photos at that reduced size for space reasons.....when monitors these days are 1900+ pixels....

Those crappy photos on the dealer website do not make me want to go look at your 50,000 dollar car.

Even worse, many don't even photo their cars anymore.  They leave up those stock animation quality rendered images of the manufacturer.

Many photograph their vehicles in a weird space with completely heinous and unflattering fluorescent lighting as well.  Vroom's photos are like the vaseline on lens images of penthouse from the 70's and 80's.

I realize prepping cars for sale takes work and cost is involved (i have worked at a dealership); but take some more time and care to photograph your inventory well, it makes it more presentable.  You don't need 80 pictures.....20-40 will work if they are high quality photos and capture each image to show relevant things.

As one with a photo degree, I have wondered many times about that and in thinking, it is about the bottom line of having an employee take pictures cost hourly wages and honestly, I think many dealerships are still stuck in the 70's on how to sell auto's.

That is why Tesla, Rivian, etc. scare the dealerships. They are ignorant about changing with the 21st century.

Your right, a little time to make a basic template of how to take photo's and which ones to show off the auto you could easily reduce it to 10 to 20 photo's at most of high quality that would show off the auto and then post it to the web.

I expect over the next decade a number of dealerships to disappear as shopping via Costco, online or direct from manufacture to you with quality pictures will change the way people shop and what they expect. Waste time just staying old school of attacking and pressuring every person who comes on the lot will fail for those dealerships. 

With the Pandemic, many are shopping online and only when truly ready to look at the auto in person will they go shop.

I talked with my sales rep at the Cadillac dealership via Zoom to see how he was doing. He said over all sales are down about 1/3rd of what they normally have been at this time of year. He also said far less looky loos and as such greatly reduced test drives of people just looking which has made the average auto sale of the purchased auto be under 15 miles when sold on the odometer. 

Interesting.

[balthazar]

Few people understand perspective, composition, proportion and lighting, Manufacturer photos always look better than dealership photos.

[A Horse With No Name]

https://youtu.be/2F6phe9L5sc

Colorado on 35s