Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

isellhondas said:

qbrozen said:

isellhondas said:

laurasdada said:

qbrozen said:

laurasdada said:

jmonroe said:

laurasdada said:

Life is good; my '13 XF is a virgin no more.

Whilst lunching with the GF and her mother, some fine upstanding young man/woman defiled the Jags near pristine exterior. Might have been two incidents, a very strange dent in the driver side rear door, possibly a door slam or shopping cart. Paint isn't cracked, but a raised "scar" in the steel in the middle of the concave area of dent. More noticeable, and maybe more egregious, the lovely mesh grill now has a mangled mesh hole in the drivers side portion. As well as cracked frame. Either someone intentionally kicked it in, a trailer hitch, or very corner of a bumper hit? No paint left in either damage area. Needless to say, no note left, no cameras in the parking lot.

I'll drop by the local Jag dealer, see how much for a new grille. May just live with it. As Jags are known to hold their value so strongly, I'm afraid these cosmetic imperfections my really hurt at trade/sale time!

I'm know how that feels. Went through it when a jacked-up pickup truck took out the right front fender of Mrs. j's Subie 2 years ago in a kids hockey arena parking lot.

If your insurance is like mine, it will cost you your deductible (mine is $500) but it will be a not-at-fault claim and your rates will not go up.

Ok, this is the second parking lot thing for the guys in here. Who wants to make it 3 and finish the bad luck for us guys.

Let us know how the claim goes.

jmonroe

Thanks, I did stop by the local police to register the event. I'll check with my insurance, but I have a $1k deductible, so I may live with it... And, die a little each day that I see the missing teeth and scarred flank!< /div>

Uhoh. I wouldn't have done that. It may show up on carfax now. I'd much rather eat the cost and avoid the extra depreciation.

Shoulda been lunching with you! Didn't really think about that, a bit distraught (and I know it's not a huge deal. Coulda been much worse, taken out a headlight or worse...). It's a 4+ year old Jag, depreciation is its middle name! Still, 50 months unscathed, I guess it was due.

I for one, don't care what shows up on Car Fax. A lot of buyers (most) won't even look at Car Fax and if you have photos available you can put their minds at ease that the damage was minimal.

A Dent Wizard ***might*** be able to work that dent out...maybe not because it looks kinked at the bottom.

Who ever did that damage KNOWS that they did it! JERKS!

Really? You don't care? Huh. That's interesting. 

Even if buyers don't care, dealers sure as hell do and will take it out of your trade, so it matters if you trade rather than sell. As for my few private sales, all of them wanted the carfax.

Well, I guess that was poorly worded. Actually I DO care but not as much as some people do. Some buyers care obviously and that is why I suggested taking before and after photos of the damage. It was so minor that most potential buyers would say "Oh, that wasn't a big deal". The same photos can be shown to a dealer and, yes, some stores would act like the car's value was diminished by half. Most cars that are more than a couple of years old have had "some" body work or touch up done. some will show up on a Car Fax and some won't. I just think that some people make too big a deal out of Car Faxes. Some MAJOR events somehow escape a Car Fax label so go figure?

I used to live with this every day!

imidazol97 said:

Handicapped parking permits are abused by family members and others who may have stolen them or gotten them with faux doctor's notes--at least in Ohio.

The police hand out tickets in our fair city for cars not displaying them, but there are no checks on whether those who parked the car should have the permit they hang on their mirror.

I recall one overdressed 50's something lady who parked her car at Walmart in a handicapped, hopped out handily, and proceeded to walk rapidly toward the Walmart door. She gave me a dirty look because I was watching her, attempting to note any sign of disability. She was wearing tall high heels and had no trouble. How did she get the mirror hanger?

Many other abusers who appear to have ones that aren't legitimate are typically overweight and lethargic until they see something inside the store they like and then their energy increases ten fold. They could use a good walk across the parking lot by Dr. Azol's disagnosis. In some cases I suspect the person with the need for the handicap card lets the young person keep it because they drive them occasionally to and fro shopping and/or doctor visits. Or the original holder has passed away or moved into a nursing home and the abuser retains the handicap parking permit.

My cure is more big government where State of Ohio requires proof of eligibility every two years. They seem to be passed out good for 5 or more years. And change the color of them every two years so the old ones can't be modified.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/crime--law/misuse-handicapped-placards-rampant-police-say/64M3Q1hUFyGGeLMhwTZGNI/

My wife who has had two strokes and has trouble walking resisted getting a placard for a long time. Finally I convinced her to ask her doctor for one. The doc gave her a temp tag only good for 6 months which expires the end of this month. If anyone ever needed special parking it's my wife. How these other folks get 5 year placards is beyond me.

On planes I can see service animals like seeing eye dogs but what of the rights of other passengers who might be allergic or anxious around animals? If I'm phobic around dogs should I be forced to have a panic attack or get bitten to accommodate someone else?

Comfort animals in my opinion are a scam. Imagine, some woman tried to bring a peacock on a plane. I'm sure some cases are legit but there have to be alternatives to inconveniencing an entire plane.

Comfort animals can do a lot of good, there are people out there that have a very hard time coping with things (think Vets with PTSD or kids that have been abused) and an emotional support animal can be a very positive thing. It can be a matter of life and death. But it has been abused and that hurts those that really need them.

tbirdmarco

Cute animals posted above

tbirdmarco

 Jay Monro loved your story about 

snakeweasel

Michaell said:

dino001 said:

isellhondas said:

I am also not a "One Owner" freak as some are. To me, it is a ***slight*** benefit especially on an older car. I have seen cars that had three owners that were in better shape than some mistreated one owner cars!

Every rule of thumb depends on the thumb

Do you know the origin behind the saying "Rule of Thumb"?

I do, it came from the circus when General Tom Thumb made the rules.

Mr_Shiftright

@oldfarmer50 -- I don't remember how I took that photo. He wouldn't get off the feeder and let me fill it! Pretty tough for someone weighing 1/2 of an ounce.

snakeweasel

jmonroe said:

All this talk about handicap parking spaces. I'll bet you guys aren't thinking this all the way through. A little story about this. Don't worry it ain't all that long at least not for me anyhow.

As I have said before we moved to SC in 1992 (in March no less) for about 5 years and there were tons of handicap spaces and I mean tons of handicap spaces in the smallish town I was about to build a house in. Really a nice quaint Southern town. A retirement place of sorts, a good bit of old and new money, many new developments, more golf courses both private and public than I could count, horse people, stuff like that. In fact, I was considering an equestrian lot at one point, then I realized I didn't have one of those things so we built a house in a golf community even though I'm not a golfer. Had to live somewhere, right?

Anyway, about a month after I was there a fellow worker who was born and raised in that town asked me how things were going and in general how I liked the place. I said, "fine, I like the weather, the quality of the new home construction, etc. etc." Then I said, "man, you guys sure do have a LOT of handicap parking spaces down here". He smiled and said, "yeah, I know what you mean but we count mental down here".

If a Yankee like me from the Burgh had said something like that about an old Southern town they would have hitched me up to a few of those Polo ponies and dragged me out of town while golfers practiced their drive swings on me.

I'll bet you guys never thought about that, huh?

jmonroe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zyNkSsA3-s

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gGxo1KCbq8k

andres3

I just skipped like 1,000 posts to get here. Did I miss anything good?

andres3

Speaking of Jeeps:

Mr_Shiftright

Looks like Hwy 880 out of Oakland.

ab348

Interesting news that last year Geely of China almost purchased FCA. Seems like only a matter of time.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20180305/OEM02/180309647/how-chinas-geely-sought-to-buy-fca?cciid=email-autonews-blast

snakeweasel

graphicguy said:

Well...didn’t intend to stir a hornet’s nest TBMARCO, Mike, Breld, Driver, etc. I think we all know when any rule is being abused, whether it’s service animals or handicapped parking. The abusers are obvious to all of us.

I’m throwing the vast majority of “scooter people” into the abuser list by the way. Again, I’ve seen them spend more energy and time getting them in and out of their vehicles than they would have endured by walking.

Carry on while I go back into my dark, dank dungeon!!!!!

Aw come on the vast majority of scooter people? You're kidding us right?

jipster

Mr_Shiftright said:

Thanks for pictures of the color coded discs. I forgot about the GMs having the matching colored wheels showing through....and forgot about the Mavericks and Comets that had colored discs as well. There aren't many but I found a picture of the Cutlass model that had colored standard wheel covers. Hard to tell, but they are color matching. (Don't let oldfarmer see this car...he'll want to know how much he wants for it) Maybe this one;

@oldfarmer50 might want that top one and he can have it but I know which one I'd want in that bottom pic. jmonroe

I think we agree for the 3rd time in 3 days! We are becoming great buds!

I can't take this already. @Michaell and or @Mr_Shiftright can you get one of us out of here? Makes no difference to me. :@ jmonroe

We only expel members through a computer-generated program that does it randomly. That way it's completely fair.

Kristie use to have a Delete-O-Matic 5400... that Jmonroe was quite familiar with. But that was in the olden days. Glad to see things streamlined these days. Gives the rest of us a fighting chance. ;-)

On the handicapped parking, some businesses go a bit overboard. My tennis Club has 3 spaces. Can' recall anyone using them. Logical. Maybe its the law you have to have so many spaces designated for handicap parking, per total number of spaces available. 

explorerx4

@andes3,
Conclusion, VW NAV sucks.

jmonroe

andres3 said:

I just skipped like 1,000 posts to get here. Did I miss anything good?

Only mine.

jmonroe

stickguy

parking spot rules are set by the municipality (possibly fed oversight too). Basically need X handicap spots for every 10 regular ones. And of course, all kinds of restrictions to size and location.

as with many other things in this country, a wonderful idea, that the scammers immediately latch onto to abuse and ruin it for the people that really need it.

jmonroe

andres3 said:

Speaking of Jeeps:

Hey @Shifty, are you still keeping score?

If a picture is worth a 1000 words, @andres3 just beat the hell outta me.

jmonroe

fintail

Ha, classic underrated movie. I loved that one when I was a kid, cracked me up.

nyccarguy

@andres3 - sharp shots of the Alltrak!  What do you think of it so far?  How many miles do you have on it?  Any plans to modify it?

graphicguy

suydam said:

graphicguy said:

Well...didn’t intend to stir a hornet’s nest TBMARCO, Mike, Breld, Driver, etc. I think we all know when any rule is being abused, whether it’s service animals or handicapped parking. The abusers are obvious to all of us.

I’m throwing the vast majority of “scooter people” into the abuser list by the way. Again, I’ve seen them spend more energy and time getting them in and out of their vehicles than they would have endured by walking.

Carry on while I go back into my dark, dank dungeon!!!!!

My wheelchair friend uses a scooter too and often takes it instead of the chair. Just sayin.

There is a person who the electric scooters are meant for.

driver100

tbirdmarco said:

 Jay Monro loved your story about 

Yes, it was so long I forgot what it was about too..........

tbirdmarco

 GG don’t worry you didn’t stir up hornets nest Ha ha ha no offense or anything taken at all just was taking part in the conversation don’t you worry brawl good in here 

tbirdmarco

 Andries three just talked about a bunch of different topics don’t think you missed too much how’s everything been going 

abacomike

jipster said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Thanks for pictures of the color coded discs. I forgot about the GMs having the matching colored wheels showing through....and forgot about the Mavericks and Comets that had colored discs as well. There aren't many but I found a picture of the Cutlass model that had colored standard wheel covers. Hard to tell, but they are color matching. (Don't let oldfarmer see this car...he'll want to know how much he wants for it) Maybe this one;

@oldfarmer50 might want that top one and he can have it but I know which one I'd want in that bottom pic. jmonroe

I think we agree for the 3rd time in 3 days! We are becoming great buds!

I can't take this already. @Michaell and or @Mr_Shiftright can you get one of us out of here? Makes no difference to me. :@ jmonroe

We only expel members through a computer-generated program that does it randomly. That way it's completely fair.

Kristie use to have a Delete-O-Matic 5400... that Jmonroe was quite familiar with. But that was in the olden days. Glad to see things streamlined these days. Gives the rest of us a fighting chance. ;-)

On the handicapped parking, some businesses go a bit overboard. My tennis Club has 3 spaces. Can' recall anyone using them. Logical. Maybe its the law you have to have so many spaces designated for handicap parking, per total number of spaces available. 

It is an ordinance in all cities in order to be in compliance with the ADA (Americans With Dissabiltiies Act).  I used to serve on the Planning Commission in my local town/city.  All public parking facilities must have one handicap parking space per “X” number of total parking spaces.  Hospitals and similar high handicap usage facilities must have a higher percentage of handicap spaces.  Severe fines can be levied against owners of buildings and facilities that do not meet the minimum requirements for handicap spaces.

roadburner

Here's Sylvester the Wonder Cat, resting on a Recaro in my now departed '02...

jmonroe

abacomike said:

jipster said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

Thanks for pictures of the color coded discs. I forgot about the GMs having the matching colored wheels showing through....and forgot about the Mavericks and Comets that had colored discs as well. There aren't many but I found a picture of the Cutlass model that had colored standard wheel covers.



Hard to tell, but they are color matching.
(Don't let oldfarmer see this car...he'll want to know how much he wants for it)

Maybe this one;

@oldfarmer50 might want that top one and he can have it but I know which one I'd want in that bottom pic.

jmonroe

I think we agree for the 3rd time in 3 days! We are becoming great buds!

I can't take this already.

@Michaell and or @Mr_Shiftright can you get one of us out of here? Makes no difference to me. :@

jmonroe

We only expel members through a computer-generated program that does it randomly. That way it's completely fair.

Kristie use to have a Delete-O-Matic 5400... that Jmonroe was quite familiar with. But that was in the olden days. Glad to see things streamlined these days. Gives the rest of us a fighting chance. ;-)

On the handicapped parking, some businesses go a bit overboard. My tennis Club has 3 spaces. Can' recall anyone using them. Logical. Maybe its the law you have to have so many spaces designated for handicap parking, per total number of spaces available. 

It is an ordinance in all cities in order to be in compliance with the ADA (Americans With Dissabiltiies Act).  I used to serve on the Planning Commission in my local town/city.  All public parking facilities must have one handicap parking space per “X” number of total parking spaces.  Hospitals and similar high handicap usage facilities must have a higher percentage of handicap spaces.  Severe fines can be levied against owners of buildings and facilities that do not meet the minimum requirements for handicap spaces.

Mike, I'm late with the congrats about your grandson. Stop smiling, I know you are.

Grandson #4's hockey team won their tournament yesterday and I still smile when I think about how well he played. He made countless great saves to help his team win the three games needed to win the tournament trophy.

It sounds like your grandson has quite an arm and it should help him as he progresses through baseball. When he gets older I hope he maintains the good arm.

FWIW, I had a pretty good arm too and believe it or not I still throw as hard today as I did when I was 20...just takes a LOT longer to get there.

Keep us abreast on his accomplishments and stop smiling so much.

jmonroe

tbirdmarco

 Very very nice clean to hear one happy grandfather that’s awesome keep on smiling keeping us updated 

tbirdmarco

 Driver 100 Ha ha ha  lol lol

tbirdmarco

 Glad you survived another committee in your town for handicap parking yes I think that’s how it goes with a number of spots 

jmonroe

Hello anybody home.

Edmunds byelaws clearly states that if you don't play by the rules you will be hit up with a hellashish doc fee.

I just saved myself from that fate.

jmonroe

thebean

@roadburner, nice kitty. Looks like he is saying "Go ahead, touch me just once and see what happens".

Mr_Shiftright

ab348 said:

Interesting news that last year Geely of China almost purchased FCA. Seems like only a matter of time.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20180305/OEM02/180309647/how-chinas-geely-sought-to-buy-fca?cciid=email-autonews-blast

It does seem like that. I noticed that China is expected to exceed U.S. retail sales globally (that's everything sold to everyone in stores or online stores) by the end of 2018.

Kinda looks like Asia and Germany are going to be calling the shots economically in the next 50 years.

roadburner

thebean said:

@roadburner, nice kitty. Looks like he is saying "Go ahead, touch me just once and see what happens".

Funny thing; he isn't all that aggressive- he's just got that typical feline arrogance.

Mr_Shiftright

That's what they all say just before their face gets bitten off. Never trust a cat.

dino001

Mr_Shiftright said:

That's what they all say just before their face gets bitten off. Never trust a cat.

I trust a few things:
1. If house cats were our size and we were theirs, we would be nice prey.
2. If you die in presence of a cat and nobody comes, you're his/her next meal.
3. If a cat gets startled by something in your presence and there is no escape route, you will be attacked. It's not personal, it's just the way they are.

dino001

This still puzzles me. Why are cucumbers so scary to cats?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXv44YL_Gio

fintail

If Germany can get a grasp on some demographic issues, and not losing IP if not actual majority shares of stock of its firms to our most favored "trading" "partner". I am not holding my breath, defeat from the jaws of victory seems to be a strategy sometimes.

Maybe the only positive part is that some of our dollars are coming back when laundered (I mean "invested", for residency of course) in west coast American and Canadian real estate markets. No "vetting" here.

Mr_Shiftright said:

Kinda looks like Asia and Germany are going to be calling the shots economically in the next 50 years.

driver100

Just to clarify.....RE: cats and cucumbers,

To be fair, there aren’t any videos of cats seeing a cucumber from a distance and then walking up to interrogate it, so perhaps it’s the unexpected sight of a cucumber behind them that’s frightening, not the cucumber itself: An unexpected pineapple would likely be just as jarring. As it turns out, Dr. Roger Mugford, a specialist in animal behavior, told the Telegraph: “I think that the reaction is due to the novelty and unexpectedness of finding an unusual object secretly placed whilst their heads were down in the food bowl.”

“Cats have to be suspicious of the unknown: It could represent the danger of a snake or another predator,” Mugford continued. “I suspect that there would be the same reaction to a model spider, a plastic fish or a human face mask.”

These days you don't know if the videos are real or photoshopped...like large tennis rackets.

driver100

fintail said:

If Germany can get a grasp on some demographic issues, and not losing IP if not actual majority shares of stock of its firms to our most favored "trading" "partner". I am not holding my breath, defeat from the jaws of victory seems to be a strategy sometimes.

Maybe the only positive part is that some of our dollars are coming back when laundered (I mean "invested", for residency of course) in west coast American and Canadian real estate markets. No "vetting" here.

Mr_Shiftright said:

Kinda looks like Asia and Germany are going to be calling the shots economically in the next 50 years.

What happens when incoming German cars will have heavy duties on them?

abacomike

driver100 said:

If Germany can get a grasp on some demographic issues, and not losing IP if not actual majority shares of stock of its firms to our most favored "trading" "partner". I am not holding my breath, defeat from the jaws of victory seems to be a strategy sometimes. Maybe the only positive part is that some of our dollars are coming back when laundered (I mean "invested", for residency of course) in west coast American and Canadian real estate markets. No "vetting" here.

Kinda looks like Asia and Germany are going to be calling the shots economically in the next 50 years.

What happens when incoming German cars will have heavy duties on them?

Driver, that’s when we start buying AMERICAN! 

dino001

abacomike said:

Driver, that’s when we start buying AMERICAN! 

I think there will be much more than just that. For starters, Boeing, Caterpillar, Emerson et. al products will see some duties on their product right of the bat. Next step will be Google, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook being dragged in front of commissions not just for one or two alleged violations, but for twenty at a time. Public hearings, like flogging for entertainment. Large fines would follow for no other reason that those companies are American.

Oh yes, trade wars are "easy" and "totally winnable". We have evidence of last 300 years from Navigation Acts saying the opposite, but I guess our self-proclaimed extra-genius with large hands and what else says so, so we should believe him.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

If Germany can get a grasp on some demographic issues, and not losing IP if not actual majority shares of stock of its firms to our most favored "trading" "partner". I am not holding my breath, defeat from the jaws of victory seems to be a strategy sometimes. Maybe the only positive part is that some of our dollars are coming back when laundered (I mean "invested", for residency of course) in west coast American and Canadian real estate markets. No "vetting" here.

Kinda looks like Asia and Germany are going to be calling the shots economically in the next 50 years.

What happens when incoming German cars will have heavy duties on them?

Driver, that’s when we start buying AMERICAN! 

Maybe not, a lot of American stuff is made with imported stuff so adding a duty will either switch companies to more expensive American sourced raw materials or keep on buying imported raw materials at the higher price. 

End result is that both foreign and most domestic goods increase in price. Trade wars hurt everyone, we need free trade. 

abacomike

jmonroe said:

jipster said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Thanks for pictures of the color coded discs. I forgot about the GMs having the matching colored wheels showing through....and forgot about the Mavericks and Comets that had colored discs as well. There aren't many but I found a picture of the Cutlass model that had colored standard wheel covers. Hard to tell, but they are color matching. (Don't let oldfarmer see this car...he'll want to know how much he wants for it) Maybe this one;

@oldfarmer50 might want that top one and he can have it but I know which one I'd want in that bottom pic. jmonroe

I think we agree for the 3rd time in 3 days! We are becoming great buds!

I can't take this already. @Michaell and or @Mr_Shiftright can you get one of us out of here? Makes no difference to me. :@ jmonroe

We only expel members through a computer-generated program that does it randomly. That way it's completely fair.

Kristie use to have a Delete-O-Matic 5400... that Jmonroe was quite familiar with. But that was in the olden days. Glad to see things streamlined these days. Gives the rest of us a fighting chance. ;-)

On the handicapped parking, some businesses go a bit overboard. My tennis Club has 3 spaces. Can' recall anyone using them. Logical. Maybe its the law you have to have so many spaces designated for handicap parking, per total number of spaces available. 

It is an ordinance in all cities in order to be in compliance with the ADA (Americans With Dissabiltiies Act).  I used to serve on the Planning Commission in my local town/city.  All public parking facilities must have one handicap parking space per “X” number of total parking spaces.  Hospitals and similar high handicap usage facilities must have a higher percentage of handicap spaces.  Severe fines can be levied against owners of buildings and facilities that do not meet the minimum requirements for handicap spaces.

Mike, I'm late with the congrats about your grandson. Stop smiling, I know you are. Grandson #4's hockey team won their tournament yesterday and I still smile when I think about how well he played. He made countless great saves to help his team win the three games needed to win the tournament trophy. It sounds like your grandson has quite an arm and it should help him as he progresses through baseball. When he gets older I hope he maintains the good arm. FWIW, I had a pretty good arm too and believe it or not I still throw as hard today as I did when I was 20...just takes a LOT longer to get there. Keep us abreast on his accomplishments and stop smiling so much. jmonroe

Yes, jmonroe - I have a smile on my face every time I think of my grandson.  I am so very proud of what he has accomplished in his 17 years of life.  He grew to 6’4” tall.  He acquired a true love of baseball.  He learned to hit.  He learned to pitch a ball over the plate at over 90 mph.  He has maintained a 3.8 GPA.  He got a 65% scholarship, including room and board, to a college of his choice.  He was smart enough to know that if he accepted a 50% scholarship to a division 1 school, he’d probably sit on the bench for 2 years.  He wants to play baseball, not musical chairs.  Now, he’ll be a starting pitcher in his freshman year and in years 2, 3 and 4,  he’ll pitch and play first base so he can bat - which he loves to do.  I love this kid!  Besides, with his blond hair and blue eyes, big cheek dimples and muscular physique, he has no problem with the girls.

As for staying healthy and avoiding injuries, that’s in God’s hands.  This boy earned what he’s already accomplished and deserves all the breaks he can get. 

BTW, he is already being seriously scouted by many major league teams.  All I can do is pray for this boy!

Michaell

abacomike said:

jmonroe said:

jipster said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Thanks for pictures of the color coded discs. I forgot about the GMs having the matching colored wheels showing through....and forgot about the Mavericks and Comets that had colored discs as well. There aren't many but I found a picture of the Cutlass model that had colored standard wheel covers.



Hard to tell, but they are color matching.
(Don't let oldfarmer see this car...he'll want to know how much he wants for it)

Maybe this one;

@oldfarmer50 might want that top one and he can have it but I know which one I'd want in that bottom pic.

jmonroe

I think we agree for the 3rd time in 3 days! We are becoming great buds!

I can't take this already.

@Michaell and or @Mr_Shiftright can you get one of us out of here? Makes no difference to me. :@

jmonroe

We only expel members through a computer-generated program that does it randomly. That way it's completely fair.

Kristie use to have a Delete-O-Matic 5400... that Jmonroe was quite familiar with. But that was in the olden days. Glad to see things streamlined these days. Gives the rest of us a fighting chance. ;-)

On the handicapped parking, some businesses go a bit overboard. My tennis Club has 3 spaces. Can' recall anyone using them. Logical. Maybe its the law you have to have so many spaces designated for handicap parking, per total number of spaces available. 

It is an ordinance in all cities in order to be in compliance with the ADA (Americans With Dissabiltiies Act).  I used to serve on the Planning Commission in my local town/city.  All public parking facilities must have one handicap parking space per “X” number of total parking spaces.  Hospitals and similar high handicap usage facilities must have a higher percentage of handicap spaces.  Severe fines can be levied against owners of buildings and facilities that do not meet the minimum requirements for handicap spaces.

Mike, I'm late with the congrats about your grandson. Stop smiling, I know you are.

Grandson #4's hockey team won their tournament yesterday and I still smile when I think about how well he played. He made countless great saves to help his team win the three games needed to win the tournament trophy.

It sounds like your grandson has quite an arm and it should help him as he progresses through baseball. When he gets older I hope he maintains the good arm.

FWIW, I had a pretty good arm too and believe it or not I still throw as hard today as I did when I was 20...just takes a LOT longer to get there.

Keep us abreast on his accomplishments and stop smiling so much.

jmonroe

Yes, jmonroe - I have a smile on my face every time I think of my grandson.  I am so very proud of what he has accomplished in his 17 years of life.  He grew to 6’4” tall.  He acquired a true love of baseball.  He learned to hit.  He learned to pitch a ball over the plate at over 90 mph.  He has maintained a 3.8 GPA.  He got a 65% scholarship, including room and board, to a college of his choice.  He was smart enough to know that if he accepted a 50% scholarship to a division 1 school, he’d probably sit on the bench for 2 years.  He wants to play baseball, not musical chairs.  Now, he’ll be a starting pitcher in his freshman year and in years 2, 3 and 4,  he’ll pitch and play first base so he can bat - which he loves to do.  I love this kid!  Besides, with his blond hair and blue eyes, big cheek dimples and muscular physique, he has no problem with the girls.

As for staying healthy and avoiding injuries, that’s in God’s hands.  This boy earned what he’s already accomplished and deserves all the breaks he can get. 

BTW, he is already being seriously scouted by many major league teams.  All I can do is pray for this boy!

@abacomike - makes you wonder if he'll get drafted by an MLB team this summer ....

tbirdmarco

What’s this free that and beans charges you talk about Jay  lol  what’s this fee that and beans charges you talk about J Monro ha ha Ha ha ha lol

tbirdmarco

 Phone is possessed doing that more lately were saying what’s this free you talk about above J Monro Ha ha ha 

Mr_Shiftright

driver100 said:

fintail said:

If Germany can get a grasp on some demographic issues, and not losing IP if not actual majority shares of stock of its firms to our most favored "trading" "partner". I am not holding my breath, defeat from the jaws of victory seems to be a strategy sometimes.

Maybe the only positive part is that some of our dollars are coming back when laundered (I mean "invested", for residency of course) in west coast American and Canadian real estate markets. No "vetting" here.

Mr_Shiftright said:

Kinda looks like Asia and Germany are going to be calling the shots economically in the next 50 years.

What happens when incoming German cars will have heavy duties on them?

I don't know of any such plan to do that.

fintail

Likely not going to happen, (I hope) this is more of a distraction by 45 to make people look away from the corruption and absolute void of ethics in his house, and to appease some of the base.

However, if someone who might suffer from a disorder and doesn't realize that trade wars have benefited actual people zero times in history does succeed in such implementation, the profit margins on most of these cars are no doubt so high, much of it could be absorbed by the makers either on MSRP or lease subsidies. With the growing socio-economic chasm, many of those buying top end models can afford to eat the costs, too. It could also add to residual values, if new models end up significantly more expensive. But I see this as all a big "if" and a well-timed distraction from an overflowing swampy least competent and credible regime in history.

driver100 said:

What happens when incoming German cars will have heavy duties on them?

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CibRXKJrDAw

imidazol97

The EU has a tariff on US autos imported there of 10%. The US has a tariff on their vehicles coming into our country of 2.5%. Seems imbalanced to me. There are tariffs on things from the US imposed by countries around the world. What is the tariff on US cars going into Japan? Korea?

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/05/trumps-tariff-threat-on-european-cars-could-spell-big-trouble-for-germany.html