trinacriabob

turtle

COUNTERPOINT: You know you DIDN'T grow up in the 90s when you talk to somebody who grew up in the 90s and mention someone like Donna Summer and they say: "Who?" For me, the 90s means Bill and Hillary (), becoming licensed as an architect in '97 and the birth of the '98 Intrigue...among other things.

It was an LT. The wheels were 15". I didn't notice the brand of the tires, though.

I won't deny part of what you are saying. My Dad was outspoken, would stand his ground and he always looked at the ridiculous side of things. I am all of those things. I would have to say I essentially got along with my parents. Any problems stemmed from the "power struggle" that began in my teens and the desire to separate. They couldn't handle that I was growing up and getting more confident, partly through schooling and becoming more independent. Finally, a job offer in Atlanta came along and I bolted...and it was the best thing I ever did. That was the most peaceful 2 year period of my life...nobody to argue with. The # 1 problem was that any issue became an issue of control for them. When you study the 2 of the most practical things in the world (business and then architecture), you then learn to weigh, analyze and look everything up. Therefore, my decisions were and are based more on logic than emotion. They were completely the other way around - more emotional than logical. That was what over 3/4 of the fighting was all about. Also, nothing pleased them...and I didn't try. I figured that if I was consistently an A- student, never drank, never did drugs, never smoked, never wrecked a car, groomed myself fairly well and kept company with people that, by L.A. standards, were the conservative A-student/student council type crowd, then they ought to have nothing to complain about. But they could always find fault. And I look at them and wonder why...they are a "fraction" of what I am.

Beverly Hills

Spruce Goose

Sometimes, a lot of it has to do with what you do for a living...let's face it, some jobs or responsibility levels are tougher on you than others...like being an air traffic controller or being an ER doc....no thanks.

I think my parents might be the biggest factor in why I opted NOT to have children. I feared that I might replicate them. I've voiced this to friends and relatives who have told me that, knowing me, that probably wouldn't have happened that way. However, it doesn't look promising. Oh well.

Ok, it's the end of summer and I want to take a few road trips before it gets colder. My sled is old, so I think I will take an Alamo rental into the "low" Sierra for a couple of weekend days to plunk myself onto an air mattress and enjoy the sun for a mere $ 22 a day....and collect some frequent flyer miles in the process. My reservation for a compact turned out to be a chance to try a Cobalt for over 200 miles. Mine was that electric blue with a hint of purple. The little sedan is pleasing to the eye. The front grille is definitely an improvement and the greenhouse with the sweepback in the rear passenger compartment side window is a departure from the ordinary, which I now like. It's just the rear end that is less than optimal. The taillamp design is a little overused (read "G6") and the lack of definition in the bumper is a little bland. Otherwise, not bad...like I said above: cute. The interior has a host of strong points and some negative ones. Most noteworthy is the fact that the entire layout is ergonomically "predictable," meaning that it takes no time at all to familiarize yourself with this car and use its features effortlessly. Mostly everything is easy to reach and use. The seats offer a great viewing position though they are a tad on the hard side. Also, they are a bit narrow and the bolsters intrude. However, the fact that you sit high mitigates some of the awkwardness. (I deduced that the combination of pronounced bolstering and low seating position, taken together, is what makes the GP a little disappointing). As I pulled out of the airport rental lot, the greenhouse's styling sports its vantage points. In a styling era where glass is on the decrease, Cobalt sedan's visibility is excellent. The entire layout of the dash is pleasing to the eye. Controls are generally easy to operate. The radio set-up is the ubiqutous GM layout...from Cobalt to Cadillac. This car separates the lighting and the wiper stalk...that's good, in my mind. The trans lever feels like a short-throw stick. That's nice, too. There is a triad of misses. The first is that there is NO temperature gauge. I don't want to operate the buttons on the info system to get the coolant's Fahrenheit reading! The other is that the cupholders are so far forward that, when used, intrude on the operation of the climate control. Lastly, because of the center positioned parking brake, the armrest console storage bin is a little weak. For the bucks, the car drives pretty nicely. The handling is pleasant and predictable. Pushing it a little hard doesn't inspire excessive confidence as this car's center of gravity is not what we find in a sports car or even something like a GP which inherently feels more planted. On the interstate, the car has a nice centered feel. The only drawback is that, like the pre-redo Impy and MC, there is a tire drone. If that were gone, the motoring experience would be much more serene. The EcoTec 2.2 engine feels peppy in this little sled. It's at home here, whereas it seems to be a little weak for the Malibu. It's a little grainy at lower speeds but quiets down sufficiently on the highway. It was interesting to lift the hood: the plastic shroud seems to cover EVERYTHING. I want to see SOME engine so I can see if there's a leak or a vacuum hose that has become undone. The Turbo Hydramatic transaxle shifts nicely but the 1-2 shift feels "weird" (not as purposeful as on a V6), but they seem to act this way on so many 4-bangers. Still, this powertrain ought to provide many years and miles of reliable motoring for the money. The good part was the gas mileage. I couldn't believe it. I bested the EPA sticker. On pleasant undulating roads in the lower Sierra, it returned 35.89 miles per gallon! That's awesome since previous tries in Malibus brought back about 31 to 33 mpg. And all for a car that is functional, reasonably comfortable, well-priced and features a powertrain that's a staple. Cars are getting better, it seems. I recently drove a Milan and ...God...what an improvement over the Taurus/Sable it replaces. I feel the same way about the Cobalt sedan. It's a commendable improvement over its Cavalier heritage.

Mr. "Pants on," looks like you and the Crocmeister have the same "on the rag" battles you and I periodically do. That's refreshing! I don't feel left out!

Has Lauren come back under a different "screen name"?

You don't know the half of it (because people won't go into diatribes). Some people are not that good at parenting, so there is no real reason to "lighten up."

There's an incredible canyon between me and my father...and between me and my mother, as well. In short, we had: - a generation gap (and a half) (they had me late in life and I am the last-born) - a culture gap (they came here and failed to assimilate, with 90+% of their friends being immigrants from the same country who also hung onto their ways) - an education gap (they had little...not their fault, I probably went ahead and got too much, but they still think they know more than I do, even as an adult) I think that my Dad had a lot of rigid thoughts that were based on where he came from that he brought with him. I would say I spent the last dozen years purging myself of ways they taught me to handle situations that were supposed to be good for me... but weren't. The one thing I did hang onto (from my Dad) is not to put up with people's crap. I agree with that. My mother, on the other hand, routinely lets too many things "roll off" not to make waves. I can't do that. Someone told me that "I raised myself." I guess that's a compliment to me and a put-down to my parents.

Rosie O'Donnell

iguana

lion

I'll make my W-body observation...since that's "my" model. LaCrosse sales are down and Grand Prix sales are down even more. However, Impala sales are up and Monte Carlo sales tripled in August while the year to date total looks about the same. What's with that?

peaks

brothers

This a very tough thing to answer because you have to "pick your battles." No state income tax in the following: Washington Nevada Texas Florida New Hampshire one more, there are 6 No sales tax in: Oregon there are others, someone help me out Death penalty is on the books in the West, the liberal Northeast does not have it, for the most part If free means being able to pump your own gas, then you can't do that in: Oregon New Jersey If free means space, the states of the Intermountain West have very low density but the "sophistication" level is also low and the feeling of isolation is high. I refer to: Montana Wyoming Nevada Idaho Camino, it's a balancing act. Those that have no state income tax have to get it another way. I think the most important thing is "fit" with the people. A weird but funny co-worker from Long Island comes into my office to complain about anything on a regular basis and he was saying that, out West, loyalties run thin but, in his mind, in the Northeast, people are more forward and abrasive but also more loyal. "Fit" is everything in my mind. I love the beauty of the Northwest but my "in your face-ness" definitely scrapes with the arms-length and aloof Scandinavian sensibilities of the area. So far, I would have to say there's a fit for me in CA, the Northeast and the more urbanized areas of the Southeast (ATL, MIA, etc).

Agreed. It is a very basic human need. Just because we are highly developed and intelligent animals does not undo the fact that we are ANIMALS. Right on.

This would be our main receptionist. No, she doesn't smoke. She is just FAT. A while back, she had an interview for a job with the City of Seattle. I don't think she got it. I wish she had so she would just move her ass away. With the nature of her 2 brief marriages and her low-life kids, you'd think she'd smoke. Either way, she is a turd.

Why be normal?

It's blu... my answer: Yankovic

Good call. Sex has a spot on Maslow's hiearchy of needs. Smoking and drinking alcohol do not. Word, Reg!