Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

Last year around this time when I was looking at buying a CPO used car you might recall I quite liked the Fusion. What I discovered that most of the ones I found on lots were ex-fleet vehicles and were SE trim levels with option packages that added the 2.0 Ecoboost engine, 18" alloys, leather seats, etc. There were a few Titanium trims available that had all that stuff as standard, along with a Sony-branded stereo and different/nicer leather seats, probably other things too. I think the Titaniums were all AWD too.

Enterprise has all three trim levels and I've delivered many a Fusion to dealers. Never noticed much difference in the Titanium trim except maybe better seats. Does the high trim come with NAV systems or other items that might jack up the used prices? I see AWD mentioned which I guess could add to the price.

BTW, I owe you an apology. You sent me a message to my profile account months ago and I just found it. I very rarely look at my profile so things tend to get lost in there. Hope your kid found her car. If I was looking for an $8k car I would look at Craigslist and Listingallcars.com

houdini1

28firefighter said:

I can't do Red Lobster for the reason @houdini1 mentioned. After having the freshly caught and prepared stuff, the frozen stuff just doesn't taste the same.

Actually, I rarely eat cooked fish out anymore - my favorite thing to do is go to the fisherman's terminal and buy it right off the boat and then prep it and cook it at home. Lately I've been messing around with different types of salmon and rub concoctions and cook them on a Cedar Plank on the grill.

Things like Oysters, Lobster, and Sushi I'll eat out.

Cedar plank? That is how we used to cook possum when I was growing up. You cooked it on a cedar plank then threw away the possum and ate the plank.

jmonroe

cdnpinhead said:

It's clear that there are a bunch of people on here who can, in fact, feel the pea through the mattress, at least in terms of Italian food. If you're situated out in flyover country the pickins are slim much of the time -- good driving conditions, but not so much in terms of eating options at the end of the day.

During my working days I spent some time in Tempe and found some pretty good burritos. Don't tell me they've screwed them up.

jmonroe

ab348

oldfarmer50 said:

BTW, I owe you an apology. You sent me a message to my profile account months ago and I just found it. I very rarely look at my profile so things tend to get lost in there. Hope your kid found her car. If I was looking for an $8k car I would look at Craigslist and Listingallcars.com

Wasn't me.

jmonroe

ab348 said:

jmonroe said:

It looks like it will cool off a tad the day after my birthday. If you know a good weather guy maybe he can bump it up a day, then I could come visit you as birthday gift to myself. Don't get all spastic, I'm not going to ask you to pay my airfare (like I did with @Mike) but if you suggest it, I won't refuse.

FWIW, I prefer warm vs. cold but I have my limits and it looks like you are approaching it, so you might have to do better than airfare. 

jmonroe

Is your birthday July 25th? Mine is the 26th.

Yep, you got it. I have an idea. Maybe Edmunds can provide a cake and ask our poster buddies to bring nice gifts. If you don't ask, you won't get.

jmonroe

cdnpinhead

jmonroe said:

During my working days I spent some time in Tempe and found some pretty good burritos. Don't tell me they've screwed them up.

It's pretty hard to screw up a burrito, but many try.

28firefighter

houdini1 said:

28firefighter said:

I can't do Red Lobster for the reason @houdini1 mentioned. After having the freshly caught and prepared stuff, the frozen stuff just doesn't taste the same.

Actually, I rarely eat cooked fish out anymore - my favorite thing to do is go to the fisherman's terminal and buy it right off the boat and then prep it and cook it at home. Lately I've been messing around with different types of salmon and rub concoctions and cook them on a Cedar Plank on the grill.

Things like Oysters, Lobster, and Sushi I'll eat out.

Cedar plank? That is how we used to cook possum when I was growing up. You cooked it on a cedar plank then threw away the possum and ate the plank.

Coffee right through my nose.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

BTW, I owe you an apology. You sent me a message to my profile account months ago and I just found it. I very rarely look at my profile so things tend to get lost in there. Hope your kid found her car. If I was looking for an $8k car I would look at Craigslist and Listingallcars.com

Wasn't me.

great! Now I owe YOU an apology for a misplaced apology.

stickguy

Farmer, IIRC from last time I online built a Ford, the Titanium is basically an SE (or SEL, whatever the next level down it) with all the option packages standard, with a few extras you can only get on the Titanium. And standard with the 2.0t motor.

unless of course, I am wrong.

snakeweasel

jmonroe said:

Agreed on cold vs. heat. The way I look at it, I can always add more layers, but there's only so much I can take off.

Well, living in Alaska you get your wish for preferring colder weather. As for that "layer" thingy, I've heard that before. There are limits you know and if I had to guess, if you did one more layer removal, the Edmunds decency policy would kick in and you'd be banned in here forever. jmonroe

I used to live in Alaska and they were the warmest winters I have experienced, it gets colder here in Chicago.

snakeweasel

cdnpinhead said:

It's clear that there are a bunch of people on here who can, in fact, feel the pea through the mattress, at least in terms of Italian food. If you're situated out in flyover country the pickins are slim much of the time -- good driving conditions, but not so much in terms of eating options at the end of the day.

There are some very good eating options in fly over country. You won't get the variaty that you get in the cities but you can get some good seats especially if you are looking for country cooking. One of the best Italian restaurants I have been to was in the middle of nowhere Illinois. 

xwesx

snakeweasel said:

I used to live in Alaska and they were the warmest winters I have experienced, it gets colder here in Chicago.

No you didn't. You lived in Anchorage.

On a serious note, though, Winters here are great. Straight up temps, you live in balmy warmness down there, but you can keep your wind chills! Nearly any time it is windy here in the winter, it is also relatively warm. I'll take -40 or -50 ambient temps over -5 with a -40 wind chill any day!!!!

The last decade has been fairly warm here in general. In the last five years, I doubt we have seen more than two weeks (e.g., 14 days total) of weather that has been colder than -30. Winter before last, it didn't hit that temp even once all winter long. Instead, all that air was pummeling the midwest with cold and wind. Climate change is real!

jmonroe

snakeweasel said:

jmonroe said:

xwesx said:

Agreed on cold vs. heat. The way I look at it, I can always add more layers, but there's only so much I can take off.

Well, living in Alaska you get your wish for preferring colder weather.

As for that "layer" thingy, I've heard that before. There are limits you know and if I had to guess, if you did one more layer removal, the Edmunds decency policy would kick in and you'd be banned in here forever.

jmonroe

I used to live in Alaska and they were the warmest winters I have experienced, it gets colder here in Chicago.

@snakeweasel, only you could go to Alaska and screw up their weather.

jmonroe

stickguy

-anything is way too cold. I never want to be frozen to the bone. And dealing with nonsense like car engine freezing? No way for people to live.

Nice warmth to keep your blood flowing, that is the way to go.

oldfarmer50

xwesx said:

snakeweasel said:

I used to live in Alaska and they were the warmest winters I have experienced, it gets colder here in Chicago.

No you didn't. You lived in Anchorage.

On a serious note, though, Winters here are great. Straight up temps, you live in balmy warmness down there, but you can keep your wind chills! Nearly any time it is windy here in the winter, it is also relatively warm. I'll take -40 or -50 ambient temps over -5 with a -40 wind chill any day!!!!

The last decade has been fairly warm here in general. In the last five years, I doubt we have seen more than two weeks (e.g., 14 days total) of weather that has been colder than -30. Winter before last, it didn't hit that temp even once all winter long. Instead, all that air was pummeling the midwest with cold and wind. Climate change is real!

Sounds more like climate relocation. Poor midwest was getting your weather.

snakeweasel

xwesx said:

I used to live in Alaska and they were the warmest winters I have experienced, it gets colder here in Chicago.

No you didn't. You lived in Anchorage. On a serious note, though, Winters here are great. Straight up temps, you live in balmy warmness down there, but you can keep your wind chills! Nearly any time it is windy here in the winter, it is also relatively warm. I'll take -40 or -50 ambient temps over -5 with a -40 wind chill any day!!!! The last decade has been fairly warm here in general. In the last five years, I doubt we have seen more than two weeks (e.g., 14 days total) of weather that has been colder than -30. Winter before last, it didn't hit that temp even once all winter long. Instead, all that air was pummeling the midwest with cold and wind. Climate change is real!

I actually lived in Kodiak, mid to low 30's during winter with lots of rain. Summer was usually high 60's.

And yes climate change is real, just as it's been for the last 5 billion years.

snakeweasel

jmonroe said:

jmonroe said:

Agreed on cold vs. heat. The way I look at it, I can always add more layers, but there's only so much I can take off.

Well, living in Alaska you get your wish for preferring colder weather. As for that "layer" thingy, I've heard that before. There are limits you know and if I had to guess, if you did one more layer removal, the Edmunds decency policy would kick in and you'd be banned in here forever. jmonroe

I used to live in Alaska and they were the warmest winters I have experienced, it gets colder here in Chicago.

@snakeweasel, only you could go to Alaska and screw up their weather. jmonroe

Congratulations jmonroe you have the post of the week. 

fintail

My favorite pizza is at a little restaurant in the small old logging town where my mom lives. Started by an Italian 60+ years ago, apparently the same recipes, it is excellent - you'd never expect it there. Of course, some good stuff in Italy, too.

Flyover country is great for diner style food, too.

I haven't been to an Olive Garden since I was a student, doesn't get me going. Amusingly, my mom likes it, and I get her a gift card for her birthday every year - nearest one is over an hour away.

snakeweasel said:

There are some very good eating options in fly over country. You won't get the variaty that you get in the cities but you can get some good seats especially if you are looking for country cooking. One of the best Italian restaurants I have been to was in the middle of nowhere Illinois. 

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

We kinda like the soup, salad and breadstick lunch deal. Not that I am a soup conisseur.

I have given up on restaurant soups.....loaded with salt. Bread is also loaded with salts. If I eat those things I won't fit into my horizontal striped T-shirts.

I like Olive Garden for the soup and salad. I don't know that the soup is as salty as some.

My recent blood lab results had my Na at the minimum amount. So my wife is doing something right directing my choices eating out and what she prepares at home.

Almost all soup is very high in salt...unless it is labeled low salt and even that has quite a bit. Take a look at the label, daily max is about 2300 mg.........ideal is about 1500....one teaspoon. Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi soup has 1290 mg......minestrone 810.

driver100

jmonroe said:

ab348 said:

jmonroe said:

It looks like it will cool off a tad the day after my birthday. If you know a good weather guy maybe he can bump it up a day, then I could come visit you as birthday gift to myself. Don't get all spastic, I'm not going to ask you to pay my airfare (like I did with @Mike) but if you suggest it, I won't refuse.

FWIW, I prefer warm vs. cold but I have my limits and it looks like you are approaching it, so you might have to do better than airfare. 

jmonroe

Is your birthday July 25th? Mine is the 26th.

Yep, you got it. I have an idea. Maybe Edmunds can provide a cake and ask our poster buddies to bring nice gifts. If you don't ask, you won't get.

jmonroe

Isn't that what families are for?

Happy B-Day Buddy - better you than me.

abacomike

jmonroe said:

It looks like it will cool off a tad the day after my birthday. If you know a good weather guy maybe he can bump it up a day, then I could come visit you as birthday gift to myself. Don't get all spastic, I'm not going to ask you to pay my airfare (like I did with @Mike) but if you suggest it, I won't refuse.

FWIW, I prefer warm vs. cold but I have my limits and it looks like you are approaching it, so you might have to do better than airfare. 

jmonroe

Is your birthday July 25th? Mine is the 26th.

Yep, you got it. I have an idea. Maybe Edmunds can provide a cake and ask our poster buddies to bring nice gifts. If you don't ask, you won't get. jmonroe

My blessings to you, JM, on once again reaching 55 years old!  Or is it 39 again?  No, I think it’s your 60th, right?  No, you drive a Genesis - so you must be at or above 70 - at least that’s how old Genesis owners are down here in God’s waiting room.

However old you are, Happy Birthday my friend - it’s a pleasure knowing you! 

roadburner

The Keeneland Concours is this Saturday, and the Club Sport is just about ready. Last week I had it detailed at the CPO BMW dealership by a guy who does excellent work. Today I changed the oil, installed new floor mats, and replaced the door handle trim(it was cracked). I think that it looks pretty good for a car that is almost 23 years old. The downside is that rain is predicted for Saturday, so I doubt I'll spend much more time on it.

Mr_Shiftright

graphicguy said:

tjc78 said:

There are some people that really like Olive Garden... to me it's the equivalvent of buying Prego and frozen meatballs. I'm Italian, make my own meatballs and gravy and other Italian dishes. It really drives me crazy when people think that is good "Italian" food

We are lucky in Jersey because along with Diners everywhere we also have fantastic local Italian restaurants. Many of them are BYOB and you can be out of there for $50 with tip and leave with leftovers.

The only chain Italian that is good is Maggiano's. All their food is cooked to order and has an actual chef.

100% Italian here, too. Like you, I make my own sauce, usually with “Farmer’s Market” plum tomatoes, fresh onions, good olive oil, etc. Make my own meatballs, too. Try to make my own pasta, too (have one of those fancy-shmantzy pasta attachments for the old Kitchenaid), if I have the time.

Even some of the “mom and pop” Italian restaurants around these parts aren’t all that good.

Funny story....5-6 years ago I was doing business with a large Brazilian Aerospace company named Embraer.

They would bring a gaggle of execs to meet at our Orlando office every quarter to discuss contracts, statements of work, and bid on some of their projects. They’d be here for a week, at least. Being the good host, I’d fly down to Orlando as I was the leader for these projects at the time. We’d have dinner every evening and given they’d been to our office many times, and knew the area, I’d let them choose where I would take them for dinner.

There’s no shortage of restaurants in Orlando, especially around International Drive, where they always stayed. Some of those restaurants were quite good. What did they choose? Olive Garden. They absolutely loved that place. Fine with me as it was easy on my expense account. But, of all the places I tried to take them, they loved OLIVE GARDEN. Far be it from me to explain to them that it wasn’t real Italian food.

SEAT HEATERS......I’ve set the temp on my TLX and it controls everything else, the cabin temp, whether to heat or cool the seats, which vents to utilize, etc to keep the temp in the cabin at my preset. It does a very good job of it, too.

The PROBLEM (ahem) is that Americans were exposed mostly to southern Italian cooking, which is heavy on sauces and very hearty, country-type food. There's a whole world of Italian cuisine that many Americans have never experienced, unless they live in large metro areas or go overseas. That type of cuisine uses a lot of fish and vegetable dishes, as well as pastas, beans and "critters" most of us have never even seen.

xwesx

snakeweasel said:

I actually lived in Kodiak, mid to low 30's during winter with lots of rain. Summer was usually high 60's.

And yes climate change is real, just as it's been for the last 5 billion years.

Hahaha; not like this, but point taken.

And, there's lots of Alaska to love. This state covers the width and height of the lower 48, so we have plenty of climates from which to choose!

andres3

snakeweasel said:

andres3 said:

henryn said:

andres3 said:

I'd use the reasonable and prudent law enforcement standard, and in many cases, it isn't reasonable or prudent for cars to impede traffic at the same exact speed across all lanes; even if it is a dozen simultaneous violators.

@andres3, your posts do not make any sense. And that seems to be getting worse. If there are more cars on the road than the road can handle, what choice does anyone have about the speed at which they are traveling????

That's just it, that's rarely the case. The real case is you have a few bad apples creating bottlenecks of congestion, that then spirals out of control.

While you can't always control the speed due to obstructions in front of you, you can avoid entering the passing lanes without an ability to pass. If you find yourself unable or unwilling to pass, you should again move right except to pass. As I said, bumper to bumper stop and go traffic is an exception as everything has broken down at that point.

I often see the right lane become the defacto passing lane due to impeders in the passing lane.

No it's not rarely the case, it happens a couple of times a day. It's called rush hour. 

I don't know about your rush hours, but in mine, there is massive variance. Have you ever thought to once think outside your tiny box and figure out why there is such a massive variance in congestion despite traffic being pretty much the same? Think outside the box.

andres3

I'm not the only one that criticizes and questions the IIHS and NHTSA:

https://www.motorists.org/issues/red-light-cameras/oxnard-critique/

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/34/3413.asp

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2593.asp

This last one is particularly notable, as when you don't like the data, you can simply make insane conclusions.

Example: Higher injury accidents after red light cameras were installed. They admit it in the report, but it doesn't change the summary conclusions and recommendations to support red-light cameras despite that fact! People be damned! Show me the money!

https://www.motorists.org/wp-content/themes/nma/pk/lib/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=https://www.motorists.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/05-vdot.pdf

driver100

Mr_Shiftright said:

graphicguy said:

tjc78 said:

There are some people that really like Olive Garden... to me it's the equivalvent of buying Prego and frozen meatballs. I'm Italian, make my own meatballs and gravy and other Italian dishes. It really drives me crazy when people think that is good "Italian" food

We are lucky in Jersey because along with Diners everywhere we also have fantastic local Italian restaurants. Many of them are BYOB and you can be out of there for $50 with tip and leave with leftovers.

The only chain Italian that is good is Maggiano's. All their food is cooked to order and has an actual chef.

100% Italian here, too. Like you, I make my own sauce, usually with “Farmer’s Market” plum tomatoes, fresh onions, good olive oil, etc. Make my own meatballs, too. Try to make my own pasta, too (have one of those fancy-shmantzy pasta attachments for the old Kitchenaid), if I have the time.

Even some of the “mom and pop” Italian restaurants around these parts aren’t all that good.

Funny story....5-6 years ago I was doing business with a large Brazilian Aerospace company named Embraer.

They would bring a gaggle of execs to meet at our Orlando office every quarter to discuss contracts, statements of work, and bid on some of their projects. They’d be here for a week, at least. Being the good host, I’d fly down to Orlando as I was the leader for these projects at the time. We’d have dinner every evening and given they’d been to our office many times, and knew the area, I’d let them choose where I would take them for dinner.

There’s no shortage of restaurants in Orlando, especially around International Drive, where they always stayed. Some of those restaurants were quite good. What did they choose? Olive Garden. They absolutely loved that place. Fine with me as it was easy on my expense account. But, of all the places I tried to take them, they loved OLIVE GARDEN. Far be it from me to explain to them that it wasn’t real Italian food.

SEAT HEATERS......I’ve set the temp on my TLX and it controls everything else, the cabin temp, whether to heat or cool the seats, which vents to utilize, etc to keep the temp in the cabin at my preset. It does a very good job of it, too.

. That type of cuisine uses a lot of fish and vegetable dishes, as well as pastas, beans and "critters" most of us have never even seen.

Sounds delicious!

driver100

xwesx said:

snakeweasel said:

I actually lived in Kodiak, mid to low 30's during winter with lots of rain. Summer was usually high 60's.

And yes climate change is real, just as it's been for the last 5 billion years.

Hahaha; not like this, but point taken.

And, there's lots of Alaska to love. This state covers the width and height of the lower 48, so we have plenty of climates from which to choose!

We had a salesman who had a few stores he had to visit in the winter that were in Alaska. He told us he would run into the store for 10 minutes but would always keep the engine in the car running.

driver100

andres3 said:

snakeweasel said:

andres3 said:

henryn said:

andres3 said:

I'd use the reasonable and prudent law enforcement standard, and in many cases, it isn't reasonable or prudent for cars to impede traffic at the same exact speed across all lanes; even if it is a dozen simultaneous violators.

@andres3, your posts do not make any sense. And that seems to be getting worse. If there are more cars on the road than the road can handle, what choice does anyone have about the speed at which they are traveling????

That's just it, that's rarely the case. The real case is you have a few bad apples creating bottlenecks of congestion, that then spirals out of control.

While you can't always control the speed due to obstructions in front of you, you can avoid entering the passing lanes without an ability to pass. If you find yourself unable or unwilling to pass, you should again move right except to pass. As I said, bumper to bumper stop and go traffic is an exception as everything has broken down at that point.

I often see the right lane become the defacto passing lane due to impeders in the passing lane.

No it's not rarely the case, it happens a couple of times a day. It's called rush hour. 

Have you ever thought to once think outside your tiny box and figure out why there is such a massive variance in congestion despite traffic being pretty much the same? Think outside the box.

Yeh snake, what's the matter with you boy....try to think outside the box for one time!

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

andres3 said:

I'd use the reasonable and prudent law enforcement standard, and in many cases, it isn't reasonable or prudent for cars to impede traffic at the same exact speed across all lanes; even if it is a dozen simultaneous violators.

@andres3, your posts do not make any sense. And that seems to be getting worse. If there are more cars on the road than the road can handle, what choice does anyone have about the speed at which they are traveling????

That's just it, that's rarely the case. The real case is you have a few bad apples creating bottlenecks of congestion, that then spirals out of control. While you can't always control the speed due to obstructions in front of you, you can avoid entering the passing lanes without an ability to pass. If you find yourself unable or unwilling to pass, you should again move right except to pass. As I said, bumper to bumper stop and go traffic is an exception as everything has broken down at that point. I often see the right lane become the defacto passing lane due to impeders in the passing lane.

No it's not rarely the case, it happens a couple of times a day. It's called rush hour. 

I don't know about your rush hours, but in mine, there is massive variance. Have you ever thought to once think outside your tiny box and figure out why there is such a massive variance in congestion despite traffic being pretty much the same? Think outside the box.

Not sure where you live but I am in one of the largest metropolitan areas on the US. Here the only real variance occurs around holidays and there is a slightly noticeable difference between the summer months and the rest of the year. Other than that every road is going to have the same gridlock every rush hour.

snakeweasel

andres3 said:

I'm not the only one that criticizes and questions the IIHS and NHTSA: https://www.motorists.org/issues/red-light-cameras/oxnard-critique/ http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/34/3413.asp http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2593.asp This last one is particularly notable, as when you don't like the data, you can simply make insane conclusions. Example: Higher injury accidents after red light cameras were installed. They admit it in the report, but it doesn't change the summary conclusions and recommendations to support red-light cameras despite that fact! People be damned! Show me the money! https://www.motorists.org/wp-content/themes/nma/pk/lib/pdf/web/viewer.html?file=https://www.motorists.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/05-vdot.pdf

Yeah but I have found that the one critical of them are not exactly the most unbiased groups they are pushing agendas.

The one I really liked is when they put red light cameras at some intersections in my town there was a group staring that at one intersection accidents increased by 300% in the 6 months after installation as opposed to the 6 months prior. The problems with their stats was that the number of accidents went from 1 to 3 and that the 1 happened in the summer months and the 3 happened in the snowy winter months. When you compared the year prior to the year after there were less accidents. 

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

andres3 said:

I'd use the reasonable and prudent law enforcement standard, and in many cases, it isn't reasonable or prudent for cars to impede traffic at the same exact speed across all lanes; even if it is a dozen simultaneous violators.

@andres3, your posts do not make any sense. And that seems to be getting worse. If there are more cars on the road than the road can handle, what choice does anyone have about the speed at which they are traveling????

That's just it, that's rarely the case. The real case is you have a few bad apples creating bottlenecks of congestion, that then spirals out of control. While you can't always control the speed due to obstructions in front of you, you can avoid entering the passing lanes without an ability to pass. If you find yourself unable or unwilling to pass, you should again move right except to pass. As I said, bumper to bumper stop and go traffic is an exception as everything has broken down at that point. I often see the right lane become the defacto passing lane due to impeders in the passing lane.

No it's not rarely the case, it happens a couple of times a day. It's called rush hour. 

Have you ever thought to once think outside your tiny box and figure out why there is such a massive variance in congestion despite traffic being pretty much the same? Think outside the box.

Yeh snake, what's the matter with you boy....try to think outside the box for one time!

So I should think like someone trying to justify aggressive driving?

abacomike

said:

driver100 said:

andres3 said:

I'd use the reasonable and prudent law enforcement standard, and in many cases, it isn't reasonable or prudent for cars to impede traffic at the same exact speed across all lanes; even if it is a dozen simultaneous violators.

@andres3, your posts do not make any sense. And that seems to be getting worse. If there are more cars on the road than the road can handle, what choice does anyone have about the speed at which they are traveling????

That's just it, that's rarely the case. The real case is you have a few bad apples creating bottlenecks of congestion, that then spirals out of control. While you can't always control the speed due to obstructions in front of you, you can avoid entering the passing lanes without an ability to pass. If you find yourself unable or unwilling to pass, you should again move right except to pass. As I said, bumper to bumper stop and go traffic is an exception as everything has broken down at that point. I often see the right lane become the defacto passing lane due to impeders in the passing lane.

No it's not rarely the case, it happens a couple of times a day. It's called rush hour. 

Have you ever thought to once think outside your tiny box and figure out why there is such a massive variance in congestion despite traffic being pretty much the same? Think outside the box.

Yeh snake, what's the matter with you boy....try to think outside the box for one time!

So I should think like someone trying to justify aggressive driving?

Please don’t - think like someone trying to justify aggressive driving!  One is enough on this forum.  When I think of aggressive driving, I think about the Indianapolis 500 or the Daytona 500.  I also think about drivers who cut in and out of lanes scaring the heck out of most drivers.  I also think about traffic violations and those who cause accidents but never get involved in accidents.  I think about speeders doing 20 mph over the limit.

However, there is the concept of defensive driving strategies - anticipating what other drivers might do or how best to avoid accidents.

Aggressive driving should be saved for the track or for use when an upcoming situation on the road demands it!  

abacomike

If you own stock in Bed, Bath and Beyond, you should see a slight rise in the price per share - just a few pennies.  Yesterday I splurged and bought new bathroom mats, a dozen bath towels, 6 hand towels, 4 washcloths, 2 comforter sets with matching sheets and pillowcases, 6 new pillows, a new coffeemaker, and 2 beach towels.  Having a lot of company this summer.

What dates did you say you were coming down, jmonroe?  I just wanted to be prepared for you and Mrs. jmonroe.  Also, have my son and grandson flying in for a few days next month.

Those 20% off coupons I had been saving sure came in handy.  I saved $85+ over regular retail prices.  Anyone else coming down? 

graphicguy

Not looking good for us car lovers/buyers.....

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/18/heres-how-much-your-next-car-could-cost-if-trump-auto-tariffs-go-thro.html

imidazol97

snakeweasel said:

thebean said:

Any of you folks who complain about winter in the north need to come down here to North Texas and soak up some of this. I'll take cold any day.

Oh look at all that sunshine you'll have to shovel. 

Ya'll do need to cut back on the electricity usage. I read a record power use was set yesterday in TX.

driver100 said:

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

We kinda like the soup, salad and breadstick lunch deal. Not that I am a soup conisseur.

I have given up on restaurant soups.....loaded with salt. Bread is also loaded with salts. If I eat those things I won't fit into my horizontal striped T-shirts.

I like Olive Garden for the soup and salad. I don't know that the soup is as salty as some.

My recent blood lab results had my Na at the minimum amount. So my wife is doing something right directing my choices eating out and what she prepares at home.

Almost all soup is very high in salt...unless it is labeled low salt and even that has quite a bit. Take a look at the label, daily max is about 2300 mg.........ideal is about 1500....one teaspoon. Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi soup has 1290 mg......minestrone 810.

The toscana zuppa and fagioli average about 750, lower than the one cited.
A lasagna entree is 2200 milligrams. I'll take the zuppa mit the salad.

imidazol97

@graphicguy, got a new speed trap.

A new red-light camera speed trap going in on main river road east of Cincy. I can just hear the checks to buy approval being cashed already, just like was found in Columbus. Or maybe they just donate to the favorite foundations of various city officials.

"The intention of the law is improved safety, Administrator Greg Roberts said. Speeding is a problem in the village, he said, especially on U.S. 52 which runs through the heart of the Clermont County village of more than 2,600 residents.

"About 13,144 vehicles per day travel U.S. 52 adjacent to New Richmond, according to the Clermont County Engineer’s Office.

"The speed, Roberts said, also contributes to crashes. There are at least a couple of significant collisions each year.

“We want to send a message,” Roberts said. “If you come to the Village of New Richmond, we have traffic laws; we have drug enforcement initiatives... be prepared to follow the law.”"

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2018/07/18/new-richmond-speed-control-cameras-coming-u-s-52/796973002/

The State of Ohio legislators have had their handling of this hampered by Home Rule laws and then the Supreme Court (of Ohio) decision against their last solution.

imidazol97

To add a little humor, note that the Village Administrator Roberts threw in a comment about "we have drug enforcement initiatives."

That may be a secret leaked--that the cameras can detect drugs and identify their passing.
Next we need a camera to detect incompetent politicans running Ohio cities...

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

If you own stock in Bed, Bath and Beyond, you should see a slight rise in the price per share - just a few pennies.  Yesterday I splurged and bought new bathroom mats, a dozen bath towels, 6 hand towels, 4 washcloths, 2 comforter sets with matching sheets and pillowcases, 6 new pillows, a new coffeemaker, and 2 beach towels.  Having a lot of company this summer.

What dates did you say you were coming down, jmonroe?  I just wanted to be prepared for you and Mrs. jmonroe.  Also, have my son and grandson flying in for a few days next month.

Those 20% off coupons I had been saving sure came in handy.  I saved $85+ over regular retail prices.  Anyone else coming down? 

Leaving tomorrow morning, spending a couple of days in my old stomping grounds of Nashville then onto Orlando to spend time with the grandkids. How far are you from mouseville, er I mean Orlando. 

fintail

I wonder if they have a pension shortfall for citizens deluxe like that brave warrior administrator, or just an overall budget gap. I mean, it's all about safety! Think of the children! Law and order!

And the "war on drugs", don't get me started - roughly 35 years later, and many parts of the country could have an official flag featuring a guy with a needle sticking out of his arm. Sure has worked wonders.

imidazol97 said:

@graphicguy, got a new speed trap.

A new red-light camera speed trap going in on main river road east of Cincy. I can just hear the checks to buy approval being cashed already, just like was found in Columbus. Or maybe they just donate to the favorite foundations of various city officials.

fintail

The rush hour here only seems to vary when "traffic engineers" (sarcastic quotes) fiddle with traffic controls. It once seemed better when school was out, but population has grown so much here, and so many people are working, that it doesn't seem to matter anymore.

andres3 said:

I don't know about your rush hours, but in mine, there is massive variance. Have you ever thought to once think outside your tiny box and figure out why there is such a massive variance in congestion despite traffic being pretty much the same? Think outside the box.

abacomike

snakeweasel said:

abacomike said:

If you own stock in Bed, Bath and Beyond, you should see a slight rise in the price per share - just a few pennies.  Yesterday I splurged and bought new bathroom mats, a dozen bath towels, 6 hand towels, 4 washcloths, 2 comforter sets with matching sheets and pillowcases, 6 new pillows, a new coffeemaker, and 2 beach towels.  Having a lot of company this summer.

What dates did you say you were coming down, jmonroe?  I just wanted to be prepared for you and Mrs. jmonroe.  Also, have my son and grandson flying in for a few days next month.

Those 20% off coupons I had been saving sure came in handy.  I saved $85+ over regular retail prices.  Anyone else coming down? 

Leaving tomorrow morning, spending a couple of days in my old stomping grounds of Nashville then onto Orlando to spend time with the grandkids. How far are you from mouseville, er I mean Orlando. 

About 210 miles.

suydam

Florida is a big state.
California too. People sometimes ask me, how far are you from San Francisco? Umm, around 300+ miles.

Mr_Shiftright

SF Bay Area is like that. You can set your watch to when rush hour starts and stops. If you aren't out of the city by 2 pm, or into the city by 7 AM, you are totally screwed for at least a couple of hours of soul-sucking traffic. I figure if you're lucky you can average about the same speed as a young person on a serious bicycle.

Mr_Shiftright

suydam said:

Florida is a big state.
California too. People sometimes ask me, how far are you from San Francisco? Umm, around 300+ miles.

Yes, I run into this all the time. People call me up from say Ohio and ask if I can go look at a classic car they want to buy. My ads clearly say where I am and they seem to think I can drive to San Diego and back in a day.

I can't. I am often tempted to ask them if they realize that is the distance from Paris to Warsaw but of course I don't. I give them a California geography lesson. California is athletic. We're tall and lean.

graphicguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

SF Bay Area is like that. You can set your watch to when rush hour starts and stops. If you aren't out of the city by 2 pm, or into the city by 7 AM, you are totally screwed for at least a couple of hours of soul-sucking traffic. I figure if you're lucky you can average about the same speed as a young person on a serious bicycle.

Driven that route more times than I care to remember....going from office in San Jose to spend some time in the Bay Area. But, at least I know that going into it.

Even though nothing has changed much uptown around the Financial District and the Wharf area, the sense that the mood and vibe has changed is strong, and not for the better.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

snakeweasel said:

abacomike said:

If you own stock in Bed, Bath and Beyond, you should see a slight rise in the price per share - just a few pennies.  Yesterday I splurged and bought new bathroom mats, a dozen bath towels, 6 hand towels, 4 washcloths, 2 comforter sets with matching sheets and pillowcases, 6 new pillows, a new coffeemaker, and 2 beach towels.  Having a lot of company this summer.

What dates did you say you were coming down, jmonroe?  I just wanted to be prepared for you and Mrs. jmonroe.  Also, have my son and grandson flying in for a few days next month.

Those 20% off coupons I had been saving sure came in handy.  I saved $85+ over regular retail prices.  Anyone else coming down? 

Leaving tomorrow morning, spending a couple of days in my old stomping grounds of Nashville then onto Orlando to spend time with the grandkids. How far are you from mouseville, er I mean Orlando. 

About 210 miles.

I kind of figured it would be something like that. Would like to meet some of the gang here but I'm not sure I could fit that into my schedule. 

abacomike

snakeweasel said:

abacomike said:

snakeweasel said:

abacomike said:

If you own stock in Bed, Bath and Beyond, you should see a slight rise in the price per share - just a few pennies.  Yesterday I splurged and bought new bathroom mats, a dozen bath towels, 6 hand towels, 4 washcloths, 2 comforter sets with matching sheets and pillowcases, 6 new pillows, a new coffeemaker, and 2 beach towels.  Having a lot of company this summer.

What dates did you say you were coming down, jmonroe?  I just wanted to be prepared for you and Mrs. jmonroe.  Also, have my son and grandson flying in for a few days next month.

Those 20% off coupons I had been saving sure came in handy.  I saved $85+ over regular retail prices.  Anyone else coming down? 

Leaving tomorrow morning, spending a couple of days in my old stomping grounds of Nashville then onto Orlando to spend time with the grandkids. How far are you from mouseville, er I mean Orlando. 

About 210 miles.

I kind of figured it would be something like that. Would like to meet some of the gang here but I'm not sure I could fit that into my schedule. 

No problem.  Maybe next trip down.

Mr_Shiftright

graphicguy said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

SF Bay Area is like that. You can set your watch to when rush hour starts and stops. If you aren't out of the city by 2 pm, or into the city by 7 AM, you are totally screwed for at least a couple of hours of soul-sucking traffic. I figure if you're lucky you can average about the same speed as a young person on a serious bicycle.

Driven that route more times than I care to remember....going from office in San Jose to spend some time in the Bay Area. But, at least I know that going into it.

Even though nothing has changed much uptown around the Financial District and the Wharf area, the sense that the mood and vibe has changed is strong, and not for the better.

SF has been totally messed up. Maybe if you're 21 and living with 5 room mates and partying all the time, it's a lot of fun, but for most people with real lives, it just gets harder and harder to live there. I was just down in China Basin area and they're building all these tall "anthills" for people to live in--just big metal boxes with outrageous rents and nary a tree or bench in sight. But you can buy an $8 piece of gourmet toast nearby. I'd shoot myself before I lived like that. I've found Manhattan much easier to deal with.

pensfan83

I posted back in May about how we were doing an extensive project to renovate our back deck. The project wrapped up about 5 weeks ago and since then we have been busy staining and finishing off around the deck. The lower deck has some of our old deck furniture that I would like to scrap but my wife wants to keep it around for now. We spend quite a bit of time out there now that it's covered and had a TV. Sorry for the quality I snapped these last night in overcast skies.