Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

sda

That is the early Northstar that had oil leak problems IIRC. Later ones didn't have that.

Oil leaks are one thing, but stretching head bolts that lead to blown head gaskets is another. My parent's 98 Aurora suffered from both. At around 80k it started leaking oil which would have required the engine to be pulled and the bottom end resealed. It never got bad, dad just kept a drip pan underneath it. The engine overheated for the 1st time at 102k. It was determined that the head gasket(s) had blown and to repair it was not economically feasible. They gave the car to my sister and she had a used engine put in it. Her teenage boys use it as their daily driver. Mom now drives a CR-V.

roadburner

My 235i is at the dealer for a brake fluid and coolant change, and my SA was kind enough to "pull ahead" an Oil Service- which means I'll be all set for my HPDE in about a week. He gave me an X1 for a loaner and it is EXTREMELY nice- my wife will not want to give it back.
Finally, my son is washing and valeting cars at the dealer today and sent me the following text:
"The newer X5s are tanks. I hate them."
He's definitely his father's son...

nyccarguy

The X1 your wife got as a loaner, is it a new 2016 based on the FWD platform?  I've seen a few on he road and like the new styling.

henryn

oldfarmer50 said:

henryn said:

So I dropped off my 2015 F150 at the dealer this morning for the Check Engine light being on. They gave me a ride back to the house so I can take the rental car and go pick up my Cadillac at the body shop. The good news is the Cadillac seems to be actually fixed this time. The bad news (you knew there had to be bad news, right?). The bad news is that Enterprise says I owe them $169 on the rental car. I tell them to leave that open until I can talk to my insurance. Which is no problem, they (USAA) have now agreed to cover the rental car through today.

So back to the F150 and the Check Engine light. I dropped the truck off at about 8:45 this morning, and still haven't heard from them. Except to receive an email, with a web link to the repair order. Very 21st century.

But check the line that says "Customer Pay". I'm really, really hoping that is just a mistake. We're talking a truck that is barely 8 months old, with less than 4k miles.

Oh oh. My Ford just turned 4600 today. Hope nothing happens.

The only thing that I wonder about is the dash illumination sometimes changes without me doing anything (like turning on headlights). I'm assuming this is a feature to adjust to changes in outside light levels.

There is a TSB out for this, only affecting the 2015 F150 with the 2.7L engine.

TSB 15-0171


FORD: 2015 F-150


ISSUE:

Some 2015 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 2.7L gasoline turbocharged direct injected (GTDI) engine and built on or before 10/5/2015 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2450.

Replace the fuel tank mounted evaporative emission blocking valve. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-13.
The evaporative emission blocking valve is serviced with the fuel tank pressure sensor and tube.

roadburner

nyccarguy said:

The X1 your wife got as a loaner, is it a new 2016 based on the FWD platform?  I've seen a few on he road and like the new styling.

Yes, the new one that shares platform architecture with MINI.

roadburner

I just decoded the X1's VIN and it turns out to have the M Sport Suspension- it doesn't ride bad at all and handles really well. My son also drove one and he said he'd take an M Sport X1 over a F30 3 Series in a heartbeat.

henryn

sda said:

That is the early Northstar that had oil leak problems IIRC. Later ones didn't have that.

Oil leaks are one thing, but stretching head bolts that lead to blown head gaskets is another. My parent's 98 Aurora suffered from both. At around 80k it started leaking oil which would have required the engine to be pulled and the bottom end resealed. It never got bad, dad just kept a drip pan underneath it. The engine overheated for the 1st time at 102k. It was determined that the head gasket(s) had blown and to repair it was not economically feasible. They gave the car to my sister and she had a used engine put in it. Her teenage boys use it as their daily driver. Mom now drives a CR-V.

We have discussed this before. Cadillac made 2 changes to the head bolts in the Northstar engines. In the 2000 model year, they went to a longer head bolt. In mid-year 2004, they went to a different pitch on the threads. The possibility of head gasket failure did go down starting with the 2000 models, and after the mid-year change in 2004 head gasket failure on the Northstar is pretty close to non-existent.

Funny you mention going from a Cadillac to a CR-V. I almost did that last year, but backed off. I might have gone through with it except for 2 things. I could not get the features I wanted in the CR-V without getting a sunroof, which is an absolute deal breaker for me. The sunroof takes away too much headroom. And I could not lay my hands on one for an extended test drive (minimum 24 hours, preferably 7 days). I was willing to rent, but there aren’t any to be rented.

Right now, I'm bouncing back and forth between a Kia Soul and a minivan. I think the Soul is a lot more value for the dollar spent (compared to a CR-V), but I also fully understand that resale value will be almost non-existent.

graphicguy

Someone mentioned in this, or one of the other threads about watching BBC's new" TopGear.

I recorded it and just got around to watch it last night. Out of the gate, it's NOT the equivalent of the show Clarkson headed up. Not even close.

That said, it's worlds better than the American TopGear. The writing is better. The photography is way better. And, althought the Brittish host isn't someone I'm familiar with, you could tell he was amped up and seemed to be screaming or laughing loudly most of the time. I'll chalk that up to nerves.

Surprisingly to me, Matt LeBlanc was very good. He's articulate. He's engaging. He's in no way trying to be like any of the old hosts.

Curious how the Brits would respond to an American host, but Matt was the better of the two, by a fair margin.

I'll keep watching, for now.

Still awaiting Clarkson, May and Hammond to return on NETFlix

Michaell

graphicguy said:

Someone mentioned in this, or one of the other threads about watching BBB's "new" TopGear. I recorded it and just got around to watch it last night. Out of the gate, it's NOT the equivalent of the show Clarkson headed up. Not even close. That said, it's worlds better than the American TopGear. The writing is better. The photography is way better. And, althought the Brittish host isn't someone I'm familiar with, you could tell he was amped up and seemed to be screaming or laughing loudly most of the time. I'll chalk that up to nerves. Surprisingly to me, Matt LeBlanc was very good. He's articulate. He's engaging. He's in no way trying to be like any of the old hosts. Curious how the Brits would respond to an American host, but Matt was the better of the two, by a fair margin. I'll keep watching, for now. Still awaiting Clarkson, May and Hammond to return on NETFlix

I thought they were going to be on Amazon. 

graphicguy

Michaell said:

graphicguy said:

Someone mentioned in this, or one of the other threads about watching BBB's "new" TopGear.

I recorded it and just got around to watch it last night. Out of the gate, it's NOT the equivalent of the show Clarkson headed up. Not even close.

That said, it's worlds better than the American TopGear. The writing is better. The photography is way better. And, althought the Brittish host isn't someone I'm familiar with, you could tell he was amped up and seemed to be screaming or laughing loudly most of the time. I'll chalk that up to nerves.

Surprisingly to me, Matt LeBlanc was very good. He's articulate. He's engaging. He's in no way trying to be like any of the old hosts.

Curious how the Brits would respond to an American host, but Matt was the better of the two, by a fair margin.

I'll keep watching, for now.

Still awaiting Clarkson, May and Hammond to return on NETFlix

I thought they were going to be on Amazon. 

Might be Amazon. I had thought I heard it was NetFlix.

Mr_Shiftright

Yes, Amazon.

sda

henryn said:

sda said:

That is the early Northstar that had oil leak problems IIRC. Later ones didn't have that.

Oil leaks are one thing, but stretching head bolts that lead to blown head gaskets is another. My parent's 98 Aurora suffered from both. At around 80k it started leaking oil which would have required the engine to be pulled and the bottom end resealed. It never got bad, dad just kept a drip pan underneath it. The engine overheated for the 1st time at 102k. It was determined that the head gasket(s) had blown and to repair it was not economically feasible. They gave the car to my sister and she had a used engine put in it. Her teenage boys use it as their daily driver. Mom now drives a CR-V.

We have discussed this before. Cadillac made 2 changes to the head bolts in the Northstar engines. In the 2000 model year, they went to a longer head bolt. In mid-year 2004, they went to a different pitch on the threads. The possibility of head gasket failure did go down starting with the 2000 models, and after the mid-year change in 2004 head gasket failure on the Northstar is pretty close to non-existent.

Funny you mention going from a Cadillac to a CR-V. I almost did that last year, but backed off. I might have gone through with it except for 2 things. I could not get the features I wanted in the CR-V without getting a sunroof, which is an absolute deal breaker for me. The sunroof takes away too much headroom. And I could not lay my hands on one for an extended test drive (minimum 24 hours, preferably 7 days). I was willing to rent, but there aren’t any to be rented.

Right now, I'm bouncing back and forth between a Kia Soul and a minivan. I think the Soul is a lot more value for the dollar spent (compared to a CR-V), but I also fully understand that resale value will be almost non-existent.

It's a shame it took GM so long to make those changes. The Northstar engines were very smooth and had a nice sound to them.

driver100

sda said:

That is the early Northstar that had oil leak problems IIRC. Later ones didn't have that.

Oil leaks are one thing, but stretching head bolts that lead to blown head gaskets is another. My parent's 98 Aurora suffered from both. At around 80k it started leaking oil which would have required the engine to be pulled and the bottom end resealed. It never got bad, dad just kept a drip pan underneath it. The engine overheated for the 1st time at 102k. It was determined that the head gasket(s) had blown and to repair it was not economically feasible. They gave the car to my sister and she had a used engine put in it. Her teenage boys use it as their daily driver. Mom now drives a CR-V.

Some people have good experiences with their GM cars.....other people not so much, and they are driving Asian or European cars.

graphicguy

Last time I was given a "warning" here at Edmunds was years and years ago when I got into a verbal tussle with a poster that came, did a dive bomb on me (over what is something I've long forgotten) and I fired back. I think it was Kirstie who politely sent me a private note stating she would ignore my little tete a tete, but not to engage in such a way again.

I got the message. I was being silly for being upset.

This is a forum, based loosely around our love for cars. For the most part, it's quite friendly, probably as freindly and as fun as any other interesst group forums I participate in (you ought to see a bunch of audiofiles go at it).

I like everyone here. But, at the end of the day, it is nothng more than a social forum with a common theme. If someone wants to take offense and "report me", so be it. It really isn't going to make a hill of beans different to me.

But, I must be "pure", given no one that I'm aware of has reported me for any reason.

No one will remember that a month from now even if it does happen.

jmonroe

Now I'm going to complain.

I don't care about getting flagged for abuse whether warranted or not but I do care when my icon is changed without my consent.

The one that shows now doesn't reflect the handsome guy that I am or was depicted as in my original icon. Which by the way, wasn't selected by me either but it was at least a better looking guy than I'm made out to be now.

There is something very strange going on in here. Someone, yeah I'm talking to you Mod guys, should look into what's going on in here lately or refund my dues for this month that was paid in advance. :@ :@

jmonroe

mako1a

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

cdnpinhead

I've still got the same cockeyed orange round-headed well let's say, person, that I've had since we got this gem of a "new" system. I guess you're telling me it and I could be on borrowed time.

driver100

I thought that was your photograph!

driver100

Sure...go ahead and slam me....see if I care.

ab348

driver100 said:

I thought that was your photograph!

I thought the resemblance was uncanny.

stever

Maybe it's a Vanilla thing to encourage people to update their Profile and earn their Photogenic badge.

stever

If you missed it, please scroll up to the post from @mako1a's wife. Her post was moved over her since this was the discussion where @mako1a mostly participated.

abacomike

stever said:

If you missed it, please scroll up to the post from @mako1a's wife. Her post was moved over her since this was the discussion where @mako1a mostly participated.

I had no idea - he hadn't posted for quite some time.  May God bless him and keep for all eternity.  I shall miss him deeply, rest his soul. 

houdini1

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

Debi, that is such sad news. Please accept my condolences, and thank you so much for letting us know. We are a pretty close group and your husband will be missed terribly here. God Bless you and thanks again for letting us know. Dan H. (houdini)

jmonroe

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

Debi,

Please accept my condolences and no apology is necessary for being late.

Mako and I had many discussions a while back. And then I found out youz guys were originally from the Pittsburgh area.

Thanks for making the effort to inform us.

jmonroe

isellhondas

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

Debi,

I am so sorry to hear that sad news. We are, indeed a pretty close group and we consider each other as good
friends. Thanks for letting us know and know he will be missed.

Craig - AKA isellhondas

oldfarmer50

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

I'm so sorry to hear this. You have my deepest condolences. To let his friends here know of this is a kindness we can never repay.

houdini1

Just checked my profile and it looks like I am the reigning champ with 15 abuses and 0 explanations. Always proud to be the champ at anything ! Also, I am hereby extending my humble apology to anyone here that I have unknowingly, but callously abused.

isellhondas

houdini1 said:

Just checked my profile and it looks like I am the reigning champ with 15 abuses and 0 explanations. Always proud to be the champ at anything ! Also, I am hereby extending my humble apology to anyone here that I have callously abused.

Oh, face it, you're an ABUSER!

I got a "promote" once for saying I had never waxed our 2003 CRV and the paint still shines like new!

This was two years ago and it STILL shines!

stever

The no-waxing promote was probably by me. To see posts that have been "promoted", you have to go to the "Best Of" link. I don't think that page gets a lot of visits. (apologies to whoever asked about this the other day - I forgot about it).

isellhondas

Why would you consider that to be "promoting"? All cars are clear coated now so it isn't necessary to wax ANY car very often! Besides, at the time I wrote that I had been retired four years.

Since I just posted that it STILL shines does this mean I'm going to get another "promote"?

stever

I don't believe in waxing cars (for protection, anyway), so that's why I promoted that post.

ab348

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

Debi,

I am so sorry to hear this. My most sincere sympathies. As someone who also had heart surgery I know how tough it can be. My condolences to you and your family.

Greg

imidazol97

@fezo
The flashlight post is one of those on the Best Of page that have been promoted. Good going!

andres3

graphicguy said:

henryn said:

Someone here in the forums warned me about Caliber Collision, and he (whomever it was) was correct.

They called me this afternoon, said my Cadillac was ready, I took off and drove down to their shop. They bring the car around, and from 10 feet away I can see a piece of trim hanging loose. Only about a quarter inch, maybe three/eighths, but definitely not right, and apparent from a distance.

I point this out, the body shop employee says, “I’ll just run this around back and fix that.” As he backed up, I spotted that the passenger side headlight assembly was not working. (Parking light on for drivers side, not for passengers side.) I stopped him, and we checked the lights. That entire headlight assembly on the passenger front was replaced, and nothing works. Parking light, headlight, turn signal, nothing.

At this point I’m getting a little hot under the collar. A loose trim piece should never have passed inspection, but it’s not that big of a deal. Trying to put me on the road in an unsafe car, putting my life in danger, that IS a big deal.

I went back to work in the rental car, and called my insurance company. They are going to implement a review to see if Caliber Collision should be on their approved list. This “little mistake” may wind up costing them a lot of money.

WOW...have another shop check all of the rest of their work, perhaps?

the problem with that is the inspection has to be so extensive that it would cost $$$ for someone to do that. A cursory once over they'll do, and that'll tell you about surface imperfections like inconsistent paint finish or inconsistent panel gaps.

Using the insurance companies "recommended" shop only gives you a leg to stand on, but not much of a leg. If you choose your own shop, they will say you chose them, you deal with it. A lesser insurance company might say the same thing about one of their approved "listed" shops. They could just bash your complaints with "you chose the shop, they are on our list, but no one put a gun to your head to select that particular one!"

I was a bit dismayed how hands-off Geico was about the shoddy quality of repairs. I am only still with them because they are cheap cheap cheap in CA. At least I know what I'm getting and paying for now.

They came in cheaper on the brand new TTS than the 2.5 year old S4; I'm saving money on insurance now (about 3-4%) I think.

Can't explain it other than either TTS drivers are very careful, or the more likely, the general population has been targeting brand new S4's for damage and destruction on our US roadways.

andres3

imidazol97 said:

@henryn

I'm with GG on having another shop check it out completely before signing off on the work from the insurnace company--probably when you cash their check with the release on it?

In fact, I'd ask the insurance company to pay a quality shop that YOU choose in your area, to inspect it--why should you have to pay to verify the level of work is competent from their "preferred shop" arrangement. You paid insurance assuming work would be done by competent repair shops.

I'd couch it to the adjuster/agent that this is to help them check on the quality of the "preferred shop" they are funneling business to.

I had a problem long ago in Cincy area with a cheap, cheap windshield replacement at a Blue Ash shop which the _agent_ steered me to. Then the replacement windshield for that led to damage on the dash pad. The insurance company even offered to replace the dash pad, but I didn't want a mismatch of colors on a 1-year old Oldsmobile. I made it clear the agent had said he had been golfing with his buddies who had opened a shop and I should go there for replacement windshield work.

Sign-off? In my case, the shop had to be paid for me to drive off in the vehicle, so the insurance company basically pre-pays them. No way to even test drive it without first paying your deductible and all outstanding fees to the body shop as well. After that, they consider everything "warranty" work, rather than repairing or redoing "shoddy" incorrect work.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

wife and I need to get on some sort of diet too. I probably have an extra 20 at this point, but I could live with 10-15!

Figure out how many calories you use in a day....average male about 2500.
Eat food that keeps you below that amount.....it won't be a lot of food....make sure what you eat has nutritional value.
You have to burn 3500 calories to lose one pound....it you didn't eat for one day you should lose about .6 of one pound.
Diet accounts for 90% of weight loss, exercise about 10%.
One of those corned beef sandwiches would probably equal running for about 3 or 4 hours to burn off the calories, french fries about 5 hours!

How many calories you use a day is dependent of your weight and activity level. A 200 pound man uses twice as many calories as a 100 pound man walking the same distance. Someone will use up more calories walking 2 miles as opposed to one.

That's all true but to make it easy to understand an average man burns about 2500 calories a day. An average woman about 1800. That's not a lot of calories for meals and snacks. If you have cereal (300 with milk) and toast (150 a slice), orange juice 150) for breakfast you could have consumed 600 Cal. A hamburger and fries for lunch could be 800, and chicken, veg and potato easily 800 for dinner. Doesn't leave a lot for dessert or snacks.

If I play tennis for 90 minutes, play pickleball for 2 hours, walk the dog for about a mile a day, my pedometer registers about 11000 steps, walked equivalent of 3 or 3 1/2 miles, and I burn at most 350 calories....350 calories is what is in one bagel or donut.....and a lot of chocolate bars...that is a lot of exercise for very little calories burned.

I would think that 11,000 steps would be more like 5 miles. IIRC I do a little more than 5K steps during lunch and it works out to about 2.8 miles (used strava one day to measure it). For me 11,000 steps would be a little more than a Big Mac calorie wise.

Of course I am 6 foot 2 so if you are shorter there would be more steps per mile.

explorerx4

@mako1a
Debi,
Thank you for making the effort to inform us of your husbands passing and please accept my condolences.
We know he loved his mustang GT, but as much as you.

A fellow Mustang guy.

snakeweasel

Mr_Shiftright said:

snakeweasel said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

The trend now is towards smaller, professional, well-paid and extremely lethal armies, if you can afford all that. Screaming hordes don't last very long on a modern battlefield.

Screaming hordes never did last very long on battlefields. Even in ancient times most battles were won by the more professional force. You had to keep your forces tight and acting as one, otherwise you were toast. It was the army that broke first and turned into that screaming horde were the ones slaughtered in battle.

The Greeks were the first recorded armies of disciplined and well-trained troops. Rather than putting on a big show with large numbers and customs, they were among the first armies to "get in your face" immediately and defeat you with superior tactics and steadiness in battle.

Big armies aren't necessary anymore unless you are a second-rate nation content to fight outdated land battles.
Logistically I'd bet the Russians or Chinese couldn't project more than a few hundred miles for any length of time.

The Greeks didn't have a professional standing army, they were pretty much like your state militias. Yes they were highly trained and well disciplined but they were 1.) pretty much part time warriors and 2.) not the first well trained and well disciplined military forces. Back then tactics were pretty much lining up in a row with your shields overlapping and moving forward like a big wall. Usually with the front line poking their swords out from behind the shields and a second row with lances or spears trying to get stabs over the others shields. It was usually the first whose line broke that lost the battle.

If you've seen the movie "300" those scenes where the Greeks are "waltzing" through the Persians just slaughtering them, that never happened. When that battle got to the point where the Greeks line broke and they were fighting one on one the Greeks were overwhelmed by the Persians greater numbers and were slaughtered.

The Greeks only held back the Persians when their Phalanx held and the Persians were forces on a one on one battle. Once that Phalanx broke the Persians superior numbers doomed the Greeks.

Most historians cite the Roman legions as the first professional standing army. The men of the Roman Legions stayed in the army, training and doing work for the empire when they were not campaigning as opposed to other previous armies when the men went home to do their civilian jobs when they weren't campaigning

Now unless you are fighting a small localized war you will need a large army. You will have to fight those land battles because unless you are willing to get troops into enemy territory and occupy it you will never win a war. The larger the land mass you have to subdue and the further away it is the more troops you will need to fight that war.

snakeweasel

jmonroe said:

snakeweasel said:

jmonroe said:

While I am technically a veteran, I almost feel like I am cheting when I say yes when some one asks me if I am a veteran because I served in peace time with no one shooting at me. The closet I came to that was when we were flying in armament to Key West Florida during the Cuban Crisis. Did several of those flights and that was as close as I ever got. Just lucky, I guess.

Thanks again for the post.

jmonroe

Hey, don't sell yourself short and don't minimize your part. You put on that uniformed and served that makes you just as much as a veteran as anyone else. remember that during the Cold War things could have gotten real real fast.

'snake',

Thanks for trying to lessen my feeling of guilt when I say I am a veteran. But IMO the guys that are being shot at and especially the ones that lost their lives doing it are the ones that have the right to be called veterans and to be honest are this countries real hero's because they are the ones that have given the rest of us what we have today.

Now, having said all that, that doesn't preclude me from accepting Home Depot's and Lowes military entitlement to a 10% discount on all purchases even sale items sometimes. I guess that's because that's business and I'm cheap.

jmonroe

Most people who wear the uniform never get shot at. There are many jobs in the military that don't get shot at. mechanics, administrative people, cooks, medical personal and the like. But they are no less veterans then the infantryman on the field because the infantryman on the field would be useless without them. Plus sometimes these people do get in the thick of things.

You're a vet, wear it with pride you earned it.

snakeweasel

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

Debi, my condolences on your loss. Thank you for letting us know, he will be missed.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

Sure...go ahead and slam me....see if I care.

Happy now?

28firefighter

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

@mako1a

Debi,

I am so sorry for your loss. We will miss him dearly here. May his memory forever be a blessing. 

All the best to you and your family as you grieve. 

Alex - aka 28firefighter

nyccarguy

@mako1a - I'm so terribly sorry to hear about your husband's death Debi.  He was a great guy!  He LOVED his Mustang!  I'm honored that you took the time to let us know.  May he rest in peace.  God bless you and your family during this difficult times.  Please let us know if there is somewhere we can make a donation to.

Bradd (nyccarguy)

abacomike

Mako1a's passing serves as a reminder to all of us that life is not indefinite nor should it be taken for granted.  It (life) is a blessing that has been bestowed upon us by God, but only for a short time in the context of the age of the universe - a chance, an opportunity to be the best we can be through the guidance of our parents, our spouses and our children.  What we accomplish in life leaves a lasting impression on those we have come in contact with.  

Let us all put behind the pettiness of our egos and elevate our hopes and prayers to/for the betterment of our fellow human beings.

jmonroe

cdnpinhead said:

I've still got the same cockeyed orange round-headed well let's say, person, that I've had since we got this gem of a "new" system. I guess you're telling me it and I could be on borrowed time.

Things are happening very stealth like here lately.

All I can say is don't turn your back on these guys.

jmonroe

driver100

Debi, You are a very special person to go through all that to let us know. It is extremely sad to lose a friend, and we appreciate you letting us know. We will miss Mako.....my deepest condolences.

driver100

houdini1 said:

Just checked my profile and it looks like I am the reigning champ with 15 abuses and 0 explanations. Always proud to be the champ at anything ! Also, I am hereby extending my humble apology to anyone here that I have unknowingly, but callously abused.

Houdini....you the man!
You are my hero!
Let's see who can top houdini.
Mike, your abuse is like nothing compared to houdini.

Mr_Shiftright

snakeweasel said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

snakeweasel said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

The trend now is towards smaller, professional, well-paid and extremely lethal armies, if you can afford all that. Screaming hordes don't last very long on a modern battlefield.

Screaming hordes never did last very long on battlefields. Even in ancient times most battles were won by the more professional force. You had to keep your forces tight and acting as one, otherwise you were toast. It was the army that broke first and turned into that screaming horde were the ones slaughtered in battle.

The Greeks were the first recorded armies of disciplined and well-trained troops. Rather than putting on a big show with large numbers and customs, they were among the first armies to "get in your face" immediately and defeat you with superior tactics and steadiness in battle.

Big armies aren't necessary anymore unless you are a second-rate nation content to fight outdated land battles.
Logistically I'd bet the Russians or Chinese couldn't project more than a few hundred miles for any length of time.

The Greeks didn't have a professional standing army, they were pretty much like your state militias. Yes they were highly trained and well disciplined but they were 1.) pretty much part time warriors and 2.) not the first well trained and well disciplined military forces. Back then tactics were pretty much lining up in a row with your shields overlapping and moving forward like a big wall. Usually with the front line poking their swords out from behind the shields and a second row with lances or spears trying to get stabs over the others shields. It was usually the first whose line broke that lost the battle.

If you've seen the movie "300" those scenes where the Greeks are "waltzing" through the Persians just slaughtering them, that never happened. When that battle got to the point where the Greeks line broke and they were fighting one on one the Greeks were overwhelmed by the Persians greater numbers and were slaughtered.

The Greeks only held back the Persians when their Phalanx held and the Persians were forces on a one on one battle. Once that Phalanx broke the Persians superior numbers doomed the Greeks.

Most historians cite the Roman legions as the first professional standing army. The men of the Roman Legions stayed in the army, training and doing work for the empire when they were not campaigning as opposed to other previous armies when the men went home to do their civilian jobs when they weren't campaigning

Now unless you are fighting a small localized war you will need a large army. You will have to fight those land battles because unless you are willing to get troops into enemy territory and occupy it you will never win a war. The larger the land mass you have to subdue and the further away it is the more troops you will need to fight that war.

----------------------------------------------


The movie "300" was a joke.

The Greeks were very aggressive by the standards of the day. They didn't put on displays, or demonstrate for days, or hit and run---they went right at you and aimed to annihilate you. Remember the account of the Battle of Marathon? That's kinda what I was driving at.

Yes, the Romans were a military machine unlike the world had ever seen. Alas, not even the Greeks could withstand them.

I always thought one of the most intriguing events in history was when a very young and weak Rome sent emissaries to meet Alexander the Great. What if he had gone west instead of east? The world would be so different today!

Large armies? I think large land masses like China and Russia are unconquerable but they are defensible.

carnaught

mako1a said:

I would like to inform all my husbands friends here that my husband has passed away. He was in the hospital for over 10 weeks for a serious medical condition and he did not recover. I have had this computer to a computer guy twice now, so I could log on, so that I could let you all know what has happened to him. I'm not sure that this is the best way to let you all know this but it is the only way that I can, so sorry it couldn't have contacted you's much sooner. Debi

I am so sorry for your loss. May he RIP.