ShadowDog

Linky Winky: MSN.com FORT COLLINS. Colo. - Authorities were scouring the skies Thursday for a 6-year-old boy who unhooked his family's experimental balloon-powered aircraft and floated away from home, sheriff's officials said. Read the story at the link.

I don't deny it can be done, just better through the dealer and not the city. People lose jobs over this kind of thing when someone feels there is something to gain (politically). I mean, only because people suck. Anyhow, best of luck. Hope it works out.

I suggest you first check with your city council about the sale of assets. The civic authority for maintenance and public works got into hot water when he offered to sell equipment to our business. Apparently, not following proper procedure in not offering the equipment up for tender was a huge no-no, opening the city up to legal issues. Not sure if this would apply to you; however, it's worth looking at if this angle is still worth pursuing.

Around here vehicles are given for free alongside things like a really expensive muffler just to avoid paying the Provincial taxes on the title transfer. This way, they can 'technically' declare its replacement value at its true book value, as opposed to being worth next to nothing. We never cared about such things because most people insure their vehicles for as little as possible just to pay the smallest premium.

Depending upon the type of repair, it can be worth fixing an older model; however, the overall cost to run an older model may not be worth it. It isn't just the ability to warm the water that makes a dishwasher energy efficient, but the design for good cleaning and shorter wash times. I put so much time into researching a dishwasher for us, I could sell the damned things now. With dishwashers, the scale from basic to feature-laden is surprisingly broad. When my wife and I bought ours last year, we had choices from around $300 to $1,200. Of course, the higher-buck varieties are built with better quality and longer lasting materials, versatile design and more operational features. The most important features are different for each person; however, for us it had to be quiet, allow for short-cycling small loads with a good tray and deep basket design. We settled on a great price for an upper-level Kenmore and have been satisfied with it. My buddy bought a Frigidaire with the same features, paid about $150 dollars more and hates it because it's too loud. He asked me to take a look at it to find out what he could do. We lined his cabinets and the floor of his raised insert-compartment, as well as the exterior of the unit with pink insulation but that only helped a bit. If one is used to the sound of their dishwasher, this might not seem like big deal; however, when you're used to quiet ones, it makes a huge difference.

Crap, I feel for you. It seems to happen a lot to me as well, lately. As far as Quebec drivers go, the only moment I ever took notice of myself really getting mad at another driver was this year when some asshat with Quebec plates pulled out of a gas station ahead of me and literally stopped moving in the 90 km/h two-lane rural road. I braked a little heavier than normal to slow down, but nobody was in immediate danger, but at least I'd been paying attention in the first place. It appeared as though the driver didn't know if he turned in the right direction out of the gas station and had to think about it in the middle of the road. Nobody else was coming or going, so it was still just the two of us. Only about five seconds passed before the driver decided to turn off to the shoulder. Naturally, one would assume he was pulling off to let me by... NOPE, just as I was about to pass by, he darts left again into the lane and decides to pull a U-turn in front of me. Already blocking me and unable to make the turn, he needed to back up to make it a three-point turn. At this point I was so livid to the ignorance of this guy that I decided to pull into the on-coming lane, and s-l-o-w-l-y pass around the front of his car with my horn blaring and showing him my middle finger. A more mature move would have been to do nothing, but I couldn't let this stupid move go.

What'cha wanna bet the operator needed to change his shorts after this one?

Exactly. We have a 3 month old along with our 2 year old and we go out to shop, not parade around and have people get all touchie-feelie with our kids. It's enough that we have to deal with what ever germs are around in a public setting; never mind people getting right up and breathing on them, touching their cheeks and shaking their hands. Now, while were not 'germaphobes', we do practice things like safe food handling and proper cleaning to avoid getting sick. One can't really do too much to constantly control the bad habits of others when they are compelled to touch and pinch our baby after wiping the snot from their nose, scratching their ass or crotch and what ever else most people do without thinking. ... I wouldn't put a sign on my kid. That's just weird.

What a winnar! I haven't come across something so '2st Grade' since, well, 2nd Grade! Dorkus Extremus.

"I'm sorry, sir. You said your car has what problem?" "It's time of the month. You know? When things overheat and it leaks fluid?" "Oh, my apologies. Just give the engine plenty of fluids, ask the parts counter for a box of tampons and everything will be fine."

At first, I thought about laughing. Then I realized this level of ignorance actually makes me irritated. Seriously, have people become so lazy that all they think they need to know about a car is how to start it and put it into drive? People put more thought into how to make their complicated, morning breakfast cereal than understand how to operate something that can kill them. Doesn't this piss anyone else off?

While I have read the subsequent posts and understood everyone's position, the underlining mentality that lingers is one that suggests nothing about our existing products should change until alternative fuels, engine design and other innovations are developed for mainstream production. Everything comes with baby-steps, otherwise, that is one giant leap before the public and consumers will accept those new products. The other point worth making is how the automobile companies will find themselves able to continue producing the old-school product for the select few consumers still desiring them. If the people have spoken and want the shift to green, it's the companies that have to answer the call. If GM wishes to remain a company that develops a product for all consumers, they hold the ball. Consumer demand dictates whether you will still be able to drive a high-performance / high-efficiency alternative product; and the only way a company will know this demand is through their existing sales that matches the desire found on forums and letter-writing campaigns.

I'd say the judge should award him $1 and require him to pay all legal fees associated with the case, as well as court fees and all expenses.

With all that hatred and backlash, then all the techno-jargon which will be obsolete yesterday, I want to end life.

That was my thought. The first thought that entered my head was, "So, what's different these days?"

Enter 68. ...in this case, his rants about the clean profile would really ring true. I'm not so keen on the crease-line of the quarter panel. Odd to have there, but even more odd if it's missing. A bummer of a necessity?

I appreciate the effort that went into making it appear and function in the classic sense. When I'm looking at the fuel gauge or speedometer, down toward the stereo controls where the sharp downturn of the dash completely separates from the centre console, I get the feeling that I literally am in an updated 70's Camaro. That's the goal here, going over the modern approach and developing a classic feel for the driver. Anyone can design a 'retroesque' interior, but to design one that appears to function in that same style to give the driver a classic impression is a huge goal to attain. Though I speak highly of the final design, about the only thing I consider a bit 'aftermarketish' in appearance is the placement of the centre information gauges. I mean, it's not as if just because GM went to such great lengths to give its customers a new Camaro there wouldn't be some things that would be considered a little 'off'. The 'spoiled children' comment makes it seem as though the car exists and must be placed on a pedestal, regardless of anything. That kind of thinking is reserved for import owners on kool-aid as thick as Jell-o, IMHO.

Anyone bitching about the unexpected cost for return need only be given a cheque in their pie-hole and a kick in the ass out the door. If a vehicle is the second-largest investment a person can make, that person should invest the appropriate amount of time to research and test drive their short list of choices. Oh well if people aren't so bright. That's no surprise. The marketing campaign is a solid one. It's not as though they're saying, 'What have you got to lose?' No, they're saying, 'Give us a chance. We think you'll be satisfied.'

Damn bean-buritos 'n fajitas stay out!

This would look a whole lot different, though amusing, if found it a bag of white corn chips.

When the company introduced GPS systems in the plumbing division's vans, the plumbers thought it was a cool idea to help them locate their assignments faster. They later learned through the reprimand of a few crewmen that they got more than they bargained for because the same system was utilized to check on the locations of the vans at any given time. It turned out some of the crewmen were using the vans on the weekend for personal use, charging fuel to the company; also on a few a occasions to stop off at "unapproved locations", such as "the liquor store" during work hours. So in the case of preventing time and fuel theft, I'd say this kind of equipment has its place.

While so many consider it over the top, I look at it this way. If texting while driving is considered worse than drunk driving, and the fatality rate for accidents related to drunk driving is high, you can bet that the potential for death in a texting accident is up there too. At the very least, this stupid action is sure to raise the insurance rates, especially for inexperienced drivers. Not that this matters much since mommy and daddy will end up putting the car in their own name just to save the dough.

I don't know why it's called 'Big Brother' when, really, it's just a more efficient means to do a job; not to mention protect private property, whether vehicles or just plates from falling to the wrong hands. Why is it such a bad thing to have something other than an officer's eyeballs scoping out for bad things?

moan

It's not important, but a meaningful letter to my wife sure looks better in my handwriting than in block letters. It can be considered an artful expression to put some care into the written word. Communication with a computer only gets one so far. The sticky note is still all powerful. At work, if I have to give out a notation for directions or specifications in quick time, it's on paper. I don't waste my time opening up a text program to type, then print it out on a massive piece of paper for someone to fold for their pocket. The fact that I can write cursive legibly and quickly makes for efficiency. Aside from that, sync-problems and computer malfunctions easily lose notes. People easily lose pieces of paper, but at least a piece of paper is still somewhere to find.