Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

henryn

qbrozen said:

We are at the Phillies game today. Of course we picked the day that wound up being brutally hot.

All days here have been brutally hot, and for the last month and a half. Well, it did rain one afternoon. One.

tjc78

@qbrozen said:
We are at the Phillies game today. Of course we picked the day that wound up being brutally hot.

It’s brutal down the shore, I can’t imagine in the city. Shame they couldn’t get the offense going today.

stickguy

last week at the shore was vastly better than the numbers from inland. Was warm but actually nice all week and no rain. Always comfy on the beach!

mjfloyd1

@28firefighter said:

@mjfloyd1 said:
Hmmm. Sometimes I hate my job. I got called at 530 am for a case at 10 am. “Foreign body in rectum”. Hmm

I go in at 9. Nurse asks what it could be. I say “well we have a 59 yr old male who is HIV+, hepatitis C + and used meth two days ago . He has a 7.5 in by 1.5 inch cylindrical object in his rectum. Do you have any ideas what it might be?” She says “never mind “.

Pt says “it happened in Louisville two nights ago and I drove home yesterday , I probably should have gone to a hospital in Louisville when it happened “.

Interesting.

I did talk to the house supervisor and ask for them to maybe call at a more reasonable hour since he was admitted at 6 pm the night before…

To quote the venerable Dr. Cox viewing a radiology film:
“I don't know what to tell you, there, Bobbo. Either this kid has a light bulb up his butt or his colon has a great idea.”

No matter how you slice it, putting something glass up the bung hole is not a bright idea

jmonroe1

stickguy said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

we are back from vacation. sadly our mountains of stuff did not disappear, or pack itself, while we are gone. I am seriously concerned about getting this done, especially since the wife will be swamped at work next week. .

If you haven't used it in 2 years you probably won't need it again, and if you do need it you will never find it. Not only that, but it will be cheaper to buy a new one than to haul all that stuff from one location to another.
There should be a rule, you must move every 6 years and throw out anything that hasn't been used in 2 years. Maybe also, get rid of 25% of junk every time you move too.

I know all this. and 2 years? Try 20+ for a lot of it. I however am not the problem. The other half has attachment issues. To everything it seems.

______________________________________________________________________________________

And she's still attached to you too. I think.

jmonroe

qbrozen

@tjc78 said:

@qbrozen said:
We are at the Phillies game today. Of course we picked the day that wound up being brutally hot.

It’s brutal down the shore, I can’t imagine in the city. Shame they couldn’t get the offense going today.

I don’t know what they were thinking in the bottom of 9th. Stott on first, 1 out, down by 1, Bohm at plate. That’s an automatic steal. Put the tying run in scoring position. NOPE. So Bohm gets a hit and no score. Sigh.

abacomike

I drove (with my friend) from my friend’s home in Boca Raton to Cleveland Clinic Medical Center in Weston (about 40 miles) to visit one of our friend’s wife.

She had been suffering pain in her abdomen so they performed an endoscopy on her to explore her upper GI area. They found nothing. She went home but started having severe pain in her stomach several hours after the endoscopy in a different location. Doctor told my friend to take her to the ER. They drove to the Cleveland Clinic complex. They performed a CT-Scan on her and found a small tear in her stomach. She was immediately admitted her.

It seems that when they pulled out the endoscopy implement they tore part of her stomach. She is on IV fluids and morphine for the pain. She can’t eat or drink anything. Stomach acid is probably leaking out and causing the pain.

They will probably operate on her if the tear does not heal - how can it heal by itself if stomach acid is involved? Good grief! I wonder if they have a good grounds for a malpractice suit. She is a wonderful person - we all are very fond of her.

My car got a workout - 120 miles driven yesterday.

oldfarmer50

I just had to share this:

https://youtu.be/WnKSobUyAFw

Makes you not want to ever buy a used car and from the last segment I wouldn’t want a new one either.

stickguy

I watched the whole thing (I like those videos!) Last one was great. $120K ADM on a Hummer EV.

explorerx4

This year I signed up with Tru Green lawn service.
They came around a couple of times then didn't show for a couple of months until I called them.
Today the guy came by and only serviced the front and sides.
I talked to him as he was loading up to leave and asked him if he did the back yard. He showed me the order which did not indicate to do the back yard.
He showed me another order which had a 'B' for back yard.
I asked him if he needed me to call anyone to get authorization to do the back, but he would just do it.
All I want is the service I signed up for.

Michaell

I gave up with TruGreen several years ago.

I'm using another company that I've been happy with - until this year.

Noticing some weeds in my front yard, and I know they are supposed to apply weed killer with every treatment. I've got pictures to send them.

kyfdx

TruGreen neglected to show up after April, in 2021. My wife kept asking when the last time they'd shown up, etc., and I kept blowing it off. "I'm sure they were here in June". Turned out, they hadn't been there, and the yard was showing it. Finally, in September, I got hold of them, and they had no explanation.

Did my final four treatments in September, October, November and December. Totally useless.
I asked for a refund, and got no response, so I kicked them to the curb. (after 20 years).

driver100

stickguy said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

we are back from vacation. sadly our mountains of stuff did not disappear, or pack itself, while we are gone. I am seriously concerned about getting this done, especially since the wife will be swamped at work next week. .

If you haven't used it in 2 years you probably won't need it again, and if you do need it you will never find it. Not only that, but it will be cheaper to buy a new one than to haul all that stuff from one location to another.
There should be a rule, you must move every 6 years and throw out anything that hasn't been used in 2 years. Maybe also, get rid of 25% of junk every time you move too.

I know all this. and 2 years? Try 20+ for a lot of it. I however am not the problem. The other half has attachment issues. To everything it seems.

Well, at least she is keeping you!

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

stickguy said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

we are back from vacation. sadly our mountains of stuff did not disappear, or pack itself, while we are gone. I am seriously concerned about getting this done, especially since the wife will be swamped at work next week. .

If you haven't used it in 2 years you probably won't need it again, and if you do need it you will never find it. Not only that, but it will be cheaper to buy a new one than to haul all that stuff from one location to another.
There should be a rule, you must move every 6 years and throw out anything that hasn't been used in 2 years. Maybe also, get rid of 25% of junk every time you move too.

I know all this. and 2 years? Try 20+ for a lot of it. I however am not the problem. The other half has attachment issues. To everything it seems.

______________________________________________________________________________________

And she's still attached to you too. I think.

jmonroe

I saw this after.....great minds think alike.
But as one friend used to say, and fools seldom differ.

driver100

kyfdx said:

Did my final four treatments in September, October, November and December. Totally useless.
I asked for a refund, and got no response, so I kicked them to the curb. (after 20 years).

Most years I don't bother with our weeds, I figure at least they are green. And I am not one of these OCD people who have to have a lawn that is like a putting green. One year I got weed guys to come, and they sprayed and did everything, I think it cost about $500 IIRC. Within a few weeks the lawn didn't look any better than when I left it alone. I'll take my chances now, I got to accept weeds, they aren't noticeable if you only look at your lawn from a distance.

tjc78

We use a local guy to do the lawn treatments. It’s been pretty successful. I also did an aerate and over seed in the fall last year. Not sure if that was money well spent or not.

Far from a golf course, but I’ll take it. I water 30 mins a zone every other day. As long as it stays green with minimal clover and no dandelions it’s all good.

imidazol97

Here in western Ohio, the best thing is to aerate the lawn spring and fall. That means having a professional job done with a heavy aerator--not the light things that some lawn services use and then do it when the ground has not been soaked deeply after a rainy period so that the punches don't sink it in deeply.

A neighbor who has since moved has a carpet cleaning business and he would ask folks who had good looking yards what they did. The core aeration seemed to be a big factor, of course along with fertilizing and weed killers.

carnaught

driver100 said:

kyfdx said:

Did my final four treatments in September, October, November and December. Totally useless.
I asked for a refund, and got no response, so I kicked them to the curb. (after 20 years).

Most years I don't bother with our weeds, I figure at least they are green. And I am not one of these OCD people who have to have a lawn that is like a putting green. One year I got weed guys to come, and they sprayed and did everything, I think it cost about $500 IIRC. Within a few weeks the lawn didn't look any better than when I left it alone. I'll take my chances now, I got to accept weeds, they aren't noticeable if you only look at your lawn from a distance.

Canadians are just more civilized - even the weeds.

ab348

Up here weed killers are banned and have been for over a decade by the province. As a result we are dandelion city every spring. Even the new sods I had put down 2 years ago which were perfect the first year and mostly OK last year were overrun with both dandelions and all sorts of other weeds this spring. Discouraging.

Every summer I think of taking a trip to the nearest Home Depot in Maine and loading up the car with all the stuff that is banned here. Of course COVID kiboshed that the last couple of years.

bwia

New 2023 EQS SUV. Full electric GLS: interior, exterior and walkaround. Very nice looking vehicle but it looks more station wagon than SUV. As a 7-seater the rear seats look claustrophobic
https://youtu.be/iuMKyTtJsnc

driver100

carnaught said:

driver100 said:

kyfdx said:

Did my final four treatments in September, October, November and December. Totally useless.
I asked for a refund, and got no response, so I kicked them to the curb. (after 20 years).

Most years I don't bother with our weeds, I figure at least they are green. And I am not one of these OCD people who have to have a lawn that is like a putting green. One year I got weed guys to come, and they sprayed and did everything, I think it cost about $500 IIRC. Within a few weeks the lawn didn't look any better than when I left it alone. I'll take my chances now, I got to accept weeds, they aren't noticeable if you only look at your lawn from a distance.

Canadians are just more civilized - even the weeds.

I don't think I am an average Canadian though.....a perfect lawn isn't that important to me. Weeds are plants too you know? I try not to look at my lawn too closely, then it doesn't bother me.

driver100

bwia said:

New 2023 EQS SUV. Full electric GLS: interior, exterior and walkaround. Very nice looking vehicle but it looks more station wagon than SUV. As a 7-seater the rear seats look claustrophobic

I don't think that is the SUV model. The EQS SUV looks more like an SUV, a really nice one. Almost 400 miles on a charge.

jmonroe1

@driver100 said:
I don't think that is the SUV model. The EQS SUV looks more like an SUV, a really nice one. Almost 400 miles on a charge.

————————————————-
Is that down hill with the wind?

jmonroe

bwia

driver100 said:

bwia said:

New 2023 EQS SUV. Full electric GLS: interior, exterior and walkaround. Very nice looking vehicle but it looks more station wagon than SUV. As a 7-seater the rear seats look claustrophobic

I don't think that is the SUV model. The EQS SUV looks more like an SUV, a really nice one. Almost 400 miles on a charge.

Driver, you are right, here is EQS SUV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uW_Ws07rE4&t=96s

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

This year I signed up with Tru Green lawn service.
They came around a couple of times then didn't show for a couple of months until I called them.
Today the guy came by and only serviced the front and sides.
I talked to him as he was loading up to leave and asked him if he did the back yard. He showed me the order which did not indicate to do the back yard.
He showed me another order which had a 'B' for back yard.
I asked him if he needed me to call anyone to get authorization to do the back, but he would just do it.
All I want is the service I signed up for.

Have your soil tested at your local cooperative extension and adjust Ph to the proper level. Use a grass seed adapted for your area (No bluegrass in Florida or zoysia in Canada) . Water until runoff no more often than once a week, too often watering will encourage weeds. Feed with nitrogen in the spring and phosphorus in the fall. Cut the grass at least 3” high.

Easy peazy.

driver100

bwia said:

driver100 said:

bwia said:

New 2023 EQS SUV. Full electric GLS: interior, exterior and walkaround. Very nice looking vehicle but it looks more station wagon than SUV. As a 7-seater the rear seats look claustrophobic

I don't think that is the SUV model. The EQS SUV looks more like an SUV, a really nice one. Almost 400 miles on a charge.

Driver, you are right, here is EQS SUV

Thanks bwia....that is one beautiful car, and I like the SUV much more than the sedan in this case. The instrument panel is really special!

qbrozen

I have to pay for lawn care because my wife complains it looks bad, and I’d rather have someone else to blame.

explorerx4

@oldfarmer50,
We have not moved yet, so this is at my pre move house. Another week or so to go.
I pre paid for the year, so I'll have to monitor that the company shows up for the new owner after I leave.

ab348

driver100 said:

I try not to look at my lawn too closely, then it doesn't bother me.

If it's nothing more than a weed patch, I can understand that.

bwia

@driver, some time ago you were looking for a dash cam. Here are six models, selected by Car and Driver, to consider

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/g25380817/best-vehicle-dash-cams/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_cdb&utm_medium=email&date=072322&utm_campaign=nl28365269&utm_term=AAA -- High Minus Dormant and 90 Day Non Openers

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

I try not to look at my lawn too closely, then it doesn't bother me.

If it's nothing more than a weed patch, I can understand that.

Sometimes you get a house where they just have weeds and it can look pretty nice. I am not sure whether these are weeds but this is the idea;

Weeds are plants too!

stickguy

Looks nice. Remember, weeds and wildflowers are what nature thinks should be there. A lawn is a man made artificial ecosystem that mostly wants to die.

jmonroe1

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

I try not to look at my lawn too closely, then it doesn't bother me.

If it's nothing more than a weed patch, I can understand that.

Sometimes you get a house where they just have weeds and it can look pretty nice. I am not sure whether these are weeds but this is the idea;

Weeds are plants too!

————————————————
Them are weeds that you allowed to get out of control.

A coupe years ago I decided to go with True Green after being with an indy guy for many years. True Green was a little more but I was not happy with the aeration and over seeding I got with the indy guy especially after I told his son about it the following Spring. I told him that about 7 years prior they did aeration and over seeding and that worked fine so that’s why I decided to try it again. All he did was apologize and said he’d tell his Father about it. Any time I was the least bit unhappy with any application from them the Father came right out and looked over the yard and the next day someone showed up to apply whatever was needed. One time they came over the same day. I think I may have called them maybe 3 or 4 times out of dozens and dozens of application over about 15 years. This time I didn’t get a call so I cancelled and went with True Green. I didn’t like the results over almost 2 years with them so I cancelled them. Now what do I do? Well, I decided to call the indy guy again. The guy didn’t know anything about my talk with his son but he said he’d correct that situation right away and came the next day to start servicing my lawn.

Here’s a case where an employee (in this case a son) can screw up a biz the father spent years building up because they don’t communicate with the boss about a customer’s dissatisfaction. Everything is back to normal once again now.

FWIW, I have had a lawn service ever since I was in my first house in 1969 trying to do something I didn’t like doing and never cared enough to find out how to take care of weeds. Sometimes you just gotta call The Guy but you also have to call the right one.

I really don’t like yard work, and like @qbrozen, it’s nice to blame things on someone else if you can.

jmonroe

mjfloyd1

VW CEO ousted and replaced by Porsche CEO

https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a40706421/vw-ceo-herbert-diess-ouster-evs-cariad-electric-models/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_aut&utm_medium=email&date=072622&utm_campaign=nl28508015&utm_term=AAA -- High Minus Dormant and 90 Day Non Openers

driver100

bwia said:

@driver, some time ago you were looking for a dash cam. Here are six models, selected by Car and Driver, to consider

https://www.caranddriver.com/shopping-advice/g25380817/best-vehicle-dash-cams/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_cdb&utm_medium=email&date=072322&utm_campaign=nl28365269&utm_term=AAA -- High Minus Dormant and 90 Day Non Openers

Thanks for the information bwia, the cameras they have chosen seem to be really good value. It is almost impossible for me to find what I am looking for. This would be for the 2014 C Class.
What I would really like is a back up camera.
If it also has a forward facing dash cam that would be a bonus.
I want it to run on batteries or solar.
I don't want to have it plugged into the cigarette lighter, and they won't hardwire it into a Mercedes.
Some will send the picture to your cell phone, but I only buy minimal phone service while in the U.S. - no data.
If you ever find one for under $200 that has those features I am in.
I actually kind of gave up looking because it is impossible to find, but I am thinking my backup skills are pretty good....maybe it is a skill worth keeping.

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

I try not to look at my lawn too closely, then it doesn't bother me.

If it's nothing more than a weed patch, I can understand that.

Sometimes you get a house where they just have weeds and it can look pretty nice. I am not sure whether these are weeds but this is the idea;

Weeds are plants too!

————————————————


Here’s a case where an employee (in this case a son) can screw up a biz the father spent years building up because they don’t communicate with the boss about a customer’s dissatisfaction. Everything is back to normal once again now.

jmonroe

The original owner is almost always better than a new owner and especially a son who takes over.
The original guy built the business and knows what works and what doesn't.
Someone who buys the business pays big $$$s to buy the business and he has to get that money back, asap. The original guy started from scratch and probably has no debt.
The son is just taking over a business his father made successful, no real knowledge of what works and what doesn't.
True Green is problematic because some franchisees are better than others. Some really care and run a good business, other guys do minimal work.

kyfdx

That's exactly it.. Each franchisee is local. Some of them are great, some suck. Also, your franchisee might be good for years, then sell out to someone who sucks.

ab348

stickguy said:

Looks nice. Remember, weeds and wildflowers are what nature thinks should be there. A lawn is a man made artificial ecosystem that mostly wants to die.

You sound like those people who tout "no mow May" as a way to save the bees by letting dandelions take over their lawns. The bees did just fine when people took pride in their properties.

explorerx4

I posted my Tru Green rant a couple days ago.
Here are a few of other things I have run into lately.

Ordered new windshield wiper arms and frames/blades from a Mustang aftermarket supplier.
Posted this on another thread a few days ago.
They had a deal if you bought 2 wiper arms and 2 OEM style wipers.
Box shoes up early(Great!) although the day after I had the car shipped to OH.
Open the box and check the receipt. Both things were substituted with other parts.
Wiper arms looked ok(I'll probably use them as the powder coating on the originals is coming off), but frames/wipers were just some generic Trico parts.
I have a 60 day window for return, so I'll try to install the new inserts on the original frames.

Our car Insurance company somehow put the MKZ back on our policy renewal on Oct 2021 after we dropped it in Aug 2021 when I sold it to Carvana. We didn't notice until the Mustang went back on the road and they sent a new Dec page.
They ended up giving us a $400+ credit for over billing.

Went to the attorney's office today to pre sign the papers for our house sale today.
Each year, the town bills for sewer and trash collection. Paid the $589 bill around July 1.
On the settlement sheet, there was no line item for any credit for that.
Atty said it got missed buyer's Atty. Maybe maybe not.
We should get $500+ back from that.

cdnpinhead

Just keep in mind the two major caveats of project engineering:

1) If it's easy, you're doing it wrong
2) If it's fun it's probably someone else's responsibility/job

driver100

@explorerx4 Good thing you are retired, so you have time to deal with all of the problems.

andres3

driver100 said:

@explorerx4 Good thing you are retired, so you have time to deal with all of the problems.

So retired people can handle Chryslers and Land Rover's by that logic.

andres3

So.... would you trade in a fun car with 55,600 miles for one that has 3,500 miles, +100 HP, awesome red color paint, 2 years newer model, but costs twice as much as your trade in value? Maybe 120% more.

Thinking $31K trade (tops), vs. $60K purchase (which is $66K with taxes and fees). Of course my assumed out the door price is the current asking price....

stickguy

If same model, nope.

andres3

stickguy said:

If same model, nope.

TTS ---> TTRS

It's like going from M235i to M2 Competition for another frame of reference. Does the '18 M2 Competition with 3,500 miles cost the same as two 2016 M235i's with 55K miles?

@roadburner probably has these figures on the top of his head.

I figure some of you guys have more fun running the numbers than I do.

And yes, 3,500 miles over 4 years makes me nervous.... very nervous. It's too little.

qbrozen

I'm blown away you haven't given up on Audi yet.

abacomike

cdnpinhead said:

Just keep in mind the two major caveats of project engineering:

1) If it's easy, you're doing it wrong
2) If it's fun it's probably someone else's responsibility/job

When you mentioned "project engineering", it brought up "repressed memories" of developing and writing PROJECT MANAGEMENT schematics when I was a school principal.

When the superintendent of our school district hired a new deputy superintendent to manage instruction, curriculum and school principals, he put us through some rigorous training seminars and class instruction on developing project management plans for curriculum implementation, specific goals and objectives that were mutually approved by the principals and the deputy superintendent, as well as local school projects for instructional improvement. Each objective required that each principal submit project management plans and flow charts (which included milestones and evaluative measurements for inputting data in order to determine milestone achievements) which were reviewed at project management periodic meetings with the curriculum director, the assistant superintendent for instruction and the deputy superintendent.

My undergraduate degree was in Business Administration with a major in Management and Finance which gave me a great background in the project management developmental stages. My MA was in Education and Instruction and my CAS was in Administrative Education. In those days when I first became a principal, my business background made all the difference in successfully developing project management flow charts.

In today's educational administration, everything is accomplished through Project Management which is a credit to the Educational profession at the management level. However, our public schools back in the 1970's through the 1990's was the first of its kind to utilize project management in the public schools environment.

abacomike

I finally located CD interest rates for 12 month CD's at 1.9% last week and 2.5% today. I opened one last week at 1.9% and one today at 2.5%. I expect in a few weeks that rates will be over 3% for 12 months certificates of deposit which will finally provide me with some help with all this inflation - not much help, but at least something which is better than .022% which I was getting earlier.

henryn

abacomike said:

When you mentioned "project engineering", it brought up "repressed memories" of developing and writing PROJECT MANAGEMENT schematics when I was a school principal.

When the superintendent of our school district hired a new deputy superintendent to manage instruction, curriculum and school principals, he put us through some rigorous training seminars and class instruction on developing project management plans for curriculum implementation, specific goals and objectives that were mutually approved by the principals and the deputy superintendent, as well as local school projects for instructional improvement. Each objective required that each principal submit project management plans and flow charts (which included milestones and evaluative measurements for inputting data in order to determine milestone achievements) which were reviewed at project management periodic meetings with the curriculum director, the assistant superintendent for instruction and the deputy superintendent.

My undergraduate degree was in Business Administration with a major in Management and Finance which gave me a great background in the project management developmental stages. My MA was in Education and Instruction and my CAS was in Administrative Education. In those days when I first became a principal, my business background made all the difference in successfully developing project management flow charts.

In today's educational administration, everything is accomplished through Project Management which is a credit to the Educational profession at the management level. However, our public schools back in the 1970's through the 1990's was the first of its kind to utilize project management in the public schools environment.

To me, "project management" is a four letter word. Project managers used to drive me to distraction.

"I don't know how long it will take, I've never done it before. H___, no one's ever done it before! When I finish, I'll tell you how long it took."

Of course, how long it took to do it the first time is totally irrelevant, as it will take you much less time to do the same job a second time.

At the time I (and others working with me) were doing things with supercomputers that had never been done before, or even attempted.

dino001

abacomike said:

I finally located CD interest rates for 12 month CD's at 1.9% last week and 2.5% today. I opened one last week at 1.9% and one today at 2.5%. I expect in a few weeks that rates will be over 3% for 12 months certificates of deposit which will finally provide me with some help with all this inflation - not much help, but at least something which is better than .022% which I was getting earlier.

Have you heard of I-bonds on Treasurydirect? You can buy them up to $10k per account per year. Current rate is 9.6 percent, changed every 6 months. They're 30 years, but can be cashed after 1 year, if cashed before five years you lose only last 3 months of interest, so better than long-term CDs (often 9 months). The formula is set as Base + 2*inflation+inflation*base. Current base is zero, current inflation was set at 4.81 (May, valid until October).