I don't think that you're being quite fair by saying, "Real men don't need badger brushes, lotions, hot towels, special scents, jazz playing in the background, there are too many other things you can be doing in your life to do all that stuff."
Some people might say the same thing about your spending the time playing tennis. Shaving has nothing to do with how masculine you are or aren't. It's a process that some may enjoy as a pass time or ritual. Some men like to cook; others like to play softball. Some men play a musical instrument; others like to fish. Therefore, if shaving is a process that you enjoy, you are just as "real" as the man who plays basketball. If a two minute shave with a Mach 3 is your thing, that's fine. If I want to try a 15 minute shave with hot towels and a safety razor, that's fine, too. I'm disappointed in your viewpoint, but you certainly have the right to say it.
Yet GM ignored the head gasket problem on the Northstar engine for 10 years before they fixed it. Since they were out of warranty before they blew GM generally told customers to go pound sand. Same thing with the intake manifold problem on the otherwise bulletproof 3.8L v6.
Someone somewhere figured they could keep screwing the customer without affecting sales. From GM's latest numbers, maybe they were right.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@driver100 said:
First, this was especially for oldfarmer. Did you see that semi fly by a stopped schoolbus with lights flashing....on the right side while a girl was about to get on? You guys should be getting $80K a year... -semi-involved-in-school-bus-incident
Driver later turned himself in.
Sadly, that isn't uncommon. A few years ago a 7 year old was run down by a pick up truck doing exactly what that trucker did. The kid died IIRC.
In my own district there is a notorious corner where drivers will run down the shoulder to make a right on red without stopping regardless of a kid exiting a school bus. We have to train our kids to stop at the bottom step and look backwards down the side of the bus before stepping off because of this.
I support your $80k proposal.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
My Eclipse is built on the same Project America platform as the Endeavor SUV which is about twice the size. My old Lincoln is built on the same platform as the Thunderbird/Cougar but is 9 inches longer.
They can do a lot with a single body design.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@sterlingdog said I'm disappointed in your viewpoint, but you certainly have the right to say it.
Sorry Richard, if you were offended. I was just having fun - writing in a satirical style. Unfortunately, I think, unless you know the person or if you can't see the person, it is hard for everyone to realize that person isn't serious. I suppose a would help.....I didn't think of that....had to get out and play some tennis
I have become better than I used to be when trying to lighten things up, but I'll try to be clearer in the future I really don't care if people like to spend time shaving, sitting around in a bathrobe all day, wear their underwear while watching TV all day long, sleep in flannel pajamas, spend hours coloring their hair, go for manicures, eat chips and drink beer all evening....couldn't care less, really And if you love to lather up with a badger brush and use hot towels and a safety razor and get great pleasure from it, by all means be my guest....honestly, makes not one bit of difference to me - no because I am serious!
@oldfarmer50 said:My old Lincoln is built on the same platform as the Thunderbird/Cougar but is 9 inches longer.They can do a lot with a single body design.
Exactly, an Audi isn't a VW. There are a few similarities though, fun to drive, great steering and handling, terrific manual transmissions, beautiful interiors, good quality materials, comfortable well thought out seating.
@oldfarmer50 said We have to train our kids to stop at the bottom step and look backwards down the side of the bus before stepping off because of this
Driving a school bus is a huge responsibility. We take the job fro granted, but for those who don't drive a school bus, just think of the pressure you would be under to watch for what can go wrong. It would be like defensive driving X 100.
btw...no idea how this is related, our pilot from St Petes to Niagara Falls NY was a very pretty lady, with a nice voice.
@driver100 said:
Driving a school bus is a huge responsibility.
Now that's a pun and a half.
I've watched drivers maneuver those Blue Birds through narrow spots. The overhang on
the rear axle is enough that turning to the right swings the rear of the bus out to the left
a foot or two.
"Lincoln certainly isn’t the only company to spin multiple cars off the same platform. The MKZ’s closest competitor is probably the Lexus ES 350, which is a spiffed-up Toyota Avalon. But Lexus is in an enviable position regarding brand cachet, in that it has some. Plenty of people would buy an ES 350 over an Avalon just to get that sleek “L” on the grille. On the other hand, I can attest that nobody spies a Lincoln badge and declares, “Gee, somebody’s doing awfully well!” So Lincoln has to try harder to offer something you can’t get from Ford. "
I'm glad that you were joking. You are correct; it can be difficult to interpret some posts when you can't see the person's body language.
As for Oldfarmer driving a bus, his school district is so fortunate to have had this good man for so long. I used to have a time keeping school bus drivers. They were forever quitting because of the discipline on the bus, the odd hours, the weather, other drivers, etc. It truly is a thankless job and they aren't paid nearly enough.
Oldfarmer, just wondering. Years ago, did you ever have bus monitors ride the route with you after school?. When I first started teaching back in the 60s, I was required to ride one bus route after school. We usually got back to the school about 4 PM, depending on the route that I was assigned. Some routes were longer and I returned at a later time. Our faculty was split in half so you only had to do it one semester out of the year. Having bus monitors did have a positive impact on the discipline. Later, as the teacher unions gained more power, the practice of using teachers as monitors ended.
Also, did you have to leave your bus at the school? We did in the early years, but later the drivers took them home with them. Until about 1990, we had student drivers. The good thing about that was the drivers had to come to school anyway, plus they would report discipline problems to the principal as soon as they arrived. The state ended that practice because studies showed that adult drivers were safer drivers.
"As for Oldfarmer driving a bus, his school district is so fortunate to have had this good man for so long."
I am in total agreement with ALL of your comments, Richard. I always supported our bus drivers - from supporting them in discipline issues to requesting increases in salaries due to their horrible low pay positions.
Imagine trying to maintain discipline in a large vehicle while ensuring for the safety of every youngster, not to mention keeping the bus within safe speeds, dropping off and picking up students on streets where drivers of other vehicles refuse to stop for a school bus with flashing lights.
Oldfarmer, I have nothing but complete respect for what you do and how you do it!
I'm surprised at this point that the liability lobby hasn't led to requiring a security guard on every bus, along with full video coverage. No way the driver should be worrying about what is going on in the bus at the expense of focusing on what's outside.
@sterlingdog said:
As for Oldfarmer driving a bus, his school district is so fortunate to have had this good man for so long.
Bus drivers face a dilemma. They have to pay careful attention to their driving and to protect the students leaving or coming to the bus. If they have an accident or one of their charges crosses when a car doesn't stop for the lights, they are immediately drug tested and checked for responsibility. On the other hand, they are expected to keep the little turkeys inside the bus on their good behavior. If things happen inside the bus, the bus drive is questioned as to why they let it happen. They are treated as though they are not being effective if the kids behave badly, especially bullying right now.
So which is it for the driver? Driver? Behavior specialist? All for a low rate of pay considering the responsibility.
Further, if the bus drivers do a good job, the administration takes credit for doing a job well and having those drivers in shape. If things go wrong with the bus drivers, it's those unpredictable lowlifes that apply for the jobs that are at fault--not the administrators running the place. I recall that the City of Dayton Schools has had trouble with drivers calling in sick at a high rate due to the expectations versus the perceived pay. In previous years the TV stations were doing stories about kids waiting long times past their pickup times for a bus to appear. And then there's the problem with getting kids home. And then there's the times students were left on the buses after drop off at school or at the home stop. All good TV fodder.
That was a really good article imid. He did the kind of satire I was aiming for talking about shaving. I liked this part;
I have a 2010 MKT EcoBoost and I love it. It has all-wheel drive, 355 twin-turbocharged horsepower and three-row seating like a minivan. Its weird Art Deco-flavored styling is even growing on me. When every crossover resembles a polished oblong river rock, the MKT stands out for at least trying to look like something else. Perhaps that “something else” is a mutant baleen whale from outer space, but at least it’s not another river rock.
Evidently a $43K MKT has almost the same features as a $36K Fusion. Some upgrades like better leather seats.
I liked this part too:
The biggest shock comes when you try to put the car into gear and realize that there’s no shift lever or knob; control of the transmission is relegated to buttons on the dashboard. This is the kind of feature that will probably impress occasional passengers while mildly annoying you, the owner, because you can’t choose a gear just by feel. The MKZ demands that you look at its buttons before you go anywhere.
@imidazol97 said:The overhang on the rear axle is enough that turning to the right swings the rear of the bus out to the left a foot or two.
I forgot about that huge overhang in the rear that swings out. These buses don't have seatbelts which I don't understand. There's huge mirrors and that can't be easy trying to figure out what is going on around you. Driving with 2 kids in a car can be hard enough, how is it managing 30 or 40? Bad weather was mentioned too, and having a route and picking up kids at a particular time. I've seen mothers holding the bus while the kid is running from the house, and some kids don't run too fast. Sometimes there is a line of cars behind a school bus, and the driver pulls over to let the cars get by. And there are even more things to think about...it is spinning my head thinking about it.
First, let me express thanks for all the kind words from all of you. Nice to be appreciated here at least.
Richard, usually we don't get monitors on the big buses unless there is massive trouble. The small special needs buses get them because many students on them have particular medical or psychological needs.
Recently we have been seeing more special needs children put on the big buses as part of "mainstreaming". These kids could be autistic, have Down's Syndrome or other disabilities. One kid had to have a service dog go along with him to keep him calm. We had state mandated training when this happened and were told that these kids could have unpredictable behavior such as putting their hands over your eyes while your are driving. When we asked how we were to safely drive under those conditions we were told to "just deal with it". That was the training.
Stickguy: all our new buses come with 4 video cameras and full GPS. Most of the cameras are pointed at the driver and the GPS sends an alert to management if you pull over at a convinence store to use the bathroom when empty.
imid: the one accident I had in my career was when one of my fellow drivers parked his car illegally near my bus as I swung into a tight spot. The back end swung out and put a nice racing stripe across his trunk. When the boss asked what happened I told him that I had missed the car by 3 feet but that unfortunately he had parked his car 3 feet 1 inch into the roadway.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
For those having trouble using the 5-bladed Fusion razors to trim near the nose on the upper lip, why not flip the razor over and use the 6th blade, the trimming blade, that's on the top of the back side. The razor head locks into position for accuracy and precision so you can trim away with the single blade there. See package.
@imidazol97 said:
For those having trouble using the 5-bladed Fusion razors to trim near the nose on the upper lip, why not flip the razor over and use the 6th blade, the trimming blade, that's on the top of the back side.
In a 1975 Saturday Night Live Show they made fun of having a 3 blade razor. In the show there satirical advertisement for the “Triple-Trac”, a revolutionary 3-blade razor. A simple (and very familiar) animation simulated how the first blade lifted a hair, the second primed it for being cut and the third cut it. The very idea of a triple-bladed razor was clearly unbelievably ridiculous—to a 1975 audience. The tagline said, “The three-blade razor— designed for people who’ll believe anything”
When I hear 5 blades I think about that ad. btw a very young George Carlin did the ad.
.
@oldfarmer50 said:When the boss asked what happened I told him that I had missed the car by 3 feet but that unfortunately he had parked his car 3 feet 1 inch into the roadway.
@imidazol97 said:
For those having trouble using the 5-bladed Fusion razors to trim near the nose on the upper lip, why not flip the razor over and use the 6th blade, the trimming blade, that's on the top of the back side. The razor head locks into position for accuracy and precision so you can trim away with the single blade there. See package.
imid, I knew that I had had a razor like that in the past, but I could not remember the name. Thanks for refreshing my memory. All of our beards are different, and I know that mine was heavier when I was younger. It takes less effort for me to shave now, so the disposable 2 blade razor works well for me.
"For those having trouble using the 5-bladed Fusion razors to trim near the nose on the upper lip, why not flip the razor over and use the 6th blade, the trimming blade, that's on the top of the back side."
Thanks, imid, I did not know that. Will try it tomorrow morning - was hoping to find something to trim the upper lip near my nose. Hope it works.
Now for the best of all shaves in the entire world: Go to an experienced Barber who uses the straight razor.
I hadn't been paying much attention to razor topic as I seem to have lost mine back in the late 70's early 80's.
Mention of barber and straight razor reminded me I needed a haircut and beard trim. Took care of that this AM and the women Barber I had always includes a neck shave with straight razor (as well as back of the head stuff with razor ).
@abacomike said:Thanks, imid, I did not know that. Will try it tomorrow morning - was hoping to find something to trim the upper lip near my nose. Hope it works.
Or, try the "Driver Method" of no fuss, no muss shaving. Use a lower cost and effective Mach 3 (the 5 blade Fusion is a case of diminishing returns when you get past 3 blades) and I use a very thin disposable, for that upper lip area near the nose......so thin it can reach that area just fine. In most cases the cheaper the thinner and better...usually a store made generic brand.
Was watching one of those car auction shows and they sold a 1987 Buick Gran National for $32,000. It had only 200 miles in it.
Why in the world would someone buy a hot (for it's time) car and then store it for 27 years? I don't know what they cost new but they had to be in the $20k range. $12,000 doesn't seem to be much return for 27 years of storage expenses.
How would you even know it would be worth anything?
How could you drive it just 200 miles and not want to drive it more?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@oldfarmer50 said:Why in the world would someone buy a hot (for it's time) car and then store it for 27 years? I don't know what they cost new but they had to be in the $20k range.
How could you drive it just 200 miles and not want to drive it more?
Obsessive Compulsive...buy it because they love it, don't want to put a mark on it, because it is so perfect, and then sell it when they realize there isn't an alternative...have to sell it and move into a retirement home
Did you all cut your throats testing out new razors?
Kind of quiet today, I was watching the French Open Tennis match. But, I do have a pet peeve. People who are waiting to make a left turn on an advance green light. The arrow points to go, and the guy in front of me makes his left turn as slowly as possible somehow getting pleasure from making sure the guy behind him (usually me) won't be able to turn on the advanced light.
I guess it is the same as waiting for someone to back out of a parking space on a full lot. Tests have shown people take a lot more time if they know someone else wants the spot. I guess it makes them feel more powerful or something. I am going to call it the "Putin Complex" (oh, sorry to mention politics again).
@driver100 said:
I am going to call it the "[non-permissibile word deleted]" (oh, sorry to mention politics again).
That's okay. We won't flag it, this time! (just kidding).
@oldfarmer50 said:Why in the world would someone buy a hot (for it's time) car and then store it
I recall Rush saying he had bought one of the Lincoln Town Cars that he dearly loved and stored it because he felt the newer model would never be as good as the one he liked. Then he admitted that he loved the replacement better than the earlier one like he had stored.
Then along came the bulbous model. I don't recall any mentions of it.
"Did you all cut your throats testing out new razors? "
Yes I did OF. Tried the trim blade on the reverse side of the Fusion cartridge and it was perfect just below my nose on the upper lip. Even better than Mach3. Thanks for the tip!
@abacomike said:
Yes I did OF. Tried the trim blade on the reverse side of the Fusion cartridge and it was perfect just below my nose on the upper lip. Even better than Mach3. Thanks for the tip!
@oldfarmer50 said:
If I had Limbaugh's money I'd have a whole warehouse full of stored cars.
We agreed not to make political talk on this discussion? My point was he had stored a Generation 1 Town Car only to find he liked Generation 2 as well or better.
@abacomike said:
imidazol97 said: "You're welcome"
Sorry , imid - thought it was OF. Thanks for the tip, imid!
I'm glad to contribute something to help everyone use the Fusion better. I had noticed the trim blade on the back because I buy all the blades for my son. He has 3 Fusions. He bought the Power version but likes it because the handle is heftier. He rarely uses the vibration in it. He has a regular at OSU along with a Power Fusion, and has a regular at home here.
@driver100 said:
First, this was especially for oldfarmer. Did you see that semi fly by a stopped schoolbus with lights flashing....on the right side while a girl was about to get on? You guys should be getting $80K a year...
Speaking of school buses one almost took me out last week. I was riding my bike to work when one passed me and merged back over running me off the road. If I didn't swerve to my right at the last moment that guy would have hit me.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
@oldfarmer50 said:
Stickguy: all our new buses come with 4 video cameras and full GPS. Most of the cameras are pointed at the driver and the GPS sends an alert to managemen t ** if you pull over at a convenience store to use the bathroom when empty.**
I keep trying to figure out why you would stop to use the bathroom if you were empty? (Just a little humor for an otherwise humorless day.)
On Saturday afternoon, a brush fire, which was caused by a lightning strike, started in the Everglades in western Broward County. Over the past 2 days, it has extended to 20,000 acres and is only 5% contained. This morning, visibility was down to less than 1000 feet throughout south Florida because the winds have been light and variable.
We've had very little rain thus far in our rainy season - just the usual hit and miss thunderstorms.
There was quite a bit of ash all over my car this morning. According to the Forestry Service down here, they claim that wild fires like this clean out the tall Sawgrass in the Everglades, however the wildlife is at risk, of course. They don't expect to have this under control for 7-10 days.
"would be a good time for one of the major rain event storms to move through"
There were several thunderstorms out over the Everglades this afternoon and evening, however they were accompanied by hundreds and hundreds of lightning strikes. The rain did not put out the wildfires, unfortunately. The forecast is for heavy smoke and dense fog.
I went out to dump the trash this evening and the smoke made me cough. Terrible situation - 23,000 acres now affected, but since it's out in the Everglades, no homes or human life are in danger.
@abacomike said:Terrible situation - 23,000 acres now affected, but since it's out in the Everglades, no homes or human life are in danger
There's always something. And, as I found out when we arrived on May 29th, Hurricane Season starts June 1st...forgot about that until we got there.
You could probably use a heavy rainstorm about now. Fires are scary, breathing in and seeing smoke...and they destroy so much including homes. My thoughts are with you, hope they get it under control and out soon.
"You could probably use a heavy rainstorm about now."
The Forestry Service and National Park Service are merely monitoring the fires. They are not attempting to put them out because they are inaccessible to fire trucks and we don't have aircraft here in Florida to dump fire retardants and water over the flames - all those aircraft are out in Arizona, California and Utah. Nothing available here in the Southeast.
They said they are waiting for it to burn out by itself which could takes days, if not weeks. The thunderstorms are not putting out the fires - and the lightning strikes are causing even more fires.
"Mother natures way of clearing out all the dead stuff. Kind of like giving the area a tune-up. In the long run it will be in better condition."
Definitely - that's the position the Forestry and National Park Services have taken. But it has caused several negative impacts:
*Health warnings exist for asthmatics and people with respiratory ailments. *Wildlife eradication - deer, gators, panthers, and many aviary species like egrets , flamingos, cranes, etc. *Damage to automotive paint surfaces.
After all those days we were freezing our bums off here in the upper midwest and we heard about the glorious 80 degree days in lower Florida now we have an additional negative besides those hurricanes that blow through like a "hurricane": we have smoke from swamp fires.
I am sure with all the older folks and folks who have compromised health who have moved to Florida the smoke is a major concern. Will they attribute deaths to the smoke when they occur like we do with deaths due to the cold in some of the Northern cities in the winter?
Comments
I don't think that you're being quite fair by saying, "Real men don't need badger brushes, lotions, hot towels, special scents, jazz playing in the background, there are too many other things you can be doing in your life to do all that stuff."
Some people might say the same thing about your spending the time playing tennis. Shaving has nothing to do with how masculine you are or aren't. It's a process that some may enjoy as a pass time or ritual. Some men like to cook; others like to play softball. Some men play a musical instrument; others like to fish. Therefore, if shaving is a process that you enjoy, you are just as "real" as the man who plays basketball. If a two minute shave with a Mach 3 is your thing, that's fine. If I want to try a 15 minute shave with hot towels and a safety razor, that's fine, too. I'm disappointed in your viewpoint, but you certainly have the right to say it.
Richard
The remark in the last post in the gray box above is also my comment. I don't know what happened there.
Richard
Yet GM ignored the head gasket problem on the Northstar engine for 10 years before they fixed it. Since they were out of warranty before they blew GM generally told customers to go pound sand. Same thing with the intake manifold problem on the otherwise bulletproof 3.8L v6.
Someone somewhere figured they could keep screwing the customer without affecting sales. From GM's latest numbers, maybe they were right.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Sadly, that isn't uncommon. A few years ago a 7 year old was run down by a pick up truck doing exactly what that trucker did. The kid died IIRC.
In my own district there is a notorious corner where drivers will run down the shoulder to make a right on red without stopping regardless of a kid exiting a school bus. We have to train our kids to stop at the bottom step and look backwards down the side of the bus before stepping off because of this.
I support your $80k proposal.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"...the platform.."
My Eclipse is built on the same Project America platform as the Endeavor SUV which is about twice the size. My old Lincoln is built on the same platform as the Thunderbird/Cougar but is 9 inches longer.
They can do a lot with a single body design.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Sorry Richard, if you were offended. I was just having fun - writing in a satirical style. Unfortunately, I think, unless you know the person or if you can't see the person, it is hard for everyone to realize that person isn't serious. I suppose a
would help.....I didn't think of that....had to get out and play some tennis 
I have become better than I used to be when trying to lighten things up, but I'll try to be clearer in the future I really don't care if people like to spend time shaving, sitting around in a bathrobe all day, wear their underwear while watching TV all day long, sleep in flannel pajamas, spend hours coloring their hair, go for manicures, eat chips and drink beer all evening....couldn't care less, really
And if you love to lather up with a badger brush and use hot towels and a safety razor and get great pleasure from it, by all means be my guest....honestly, makes not one bit of difference to me - no 
because I am serious!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Exactly, an Audi isn't a VW. There are a few similarities though, fun to drive, great steering and handling, terrific manual transmissions, beautiful interiors, good quality materials, comfortable well thought out seating.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Driving a school bus is a huge responsibility. We take the job fro granted, but for those who don't drive a school bus, just think of the pressure you would be under to watch for what can go wrong. It would be like defensive driving X 100.
btw...no idea how this is related, our pilot from St Petes to Niagara Falls NY was a very pretty lady, with a nice voice.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Now that's a pun and a half.
I've watched drivers maneuver those Blue Birds through narrow spots. The overhang on
the rear axle is enough that turning to the right swings the rear of the bus out to the left
a foot or two.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
@imidazol97 said:
Here's an article about sharing. It can have it's upside and downsides.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/automobiles/autoreviews/the-secret-ingredient-is-ford-fusion.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0
"Lincoln certainly isn’t the only company to spin multiple cars off the same platform. The MKZ’s closest competitor is probably the Lexus ES 350, which is a spiffed-up Toyota Avalon. But Lexus is in an enviable position regarding brand cachet, in that it has some. Plenty of people would buy an ES 350 over an Avalon just to get that sleek “L” on the grille. On the other hand, I can attest that nobody spies a Lincoln badge and declares, “Gee, somebody’s doing awfully well!” So Lincoln has to try harder to offer something you can’t get from Ford. "
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm glad that you were joking. You are correct; it can be difficult to interpret some posts when you can't see the person's body language.
As for Oldfarmer driving a bus, his school district is so fortunate to have had this good man for so long. I used to have a time keeping school bus drivers. They were forever quitting because of the discipline on the bus, the odd hours, the weather, other drivers, etc. It truly is a thankless job and they aren't paid nearly enough.
Richard
Oldfarmer, just wondering. Years ago, did you ever have bus monitors ride the route with you after school?. When I first started teaching back in the 60s, I was required to ride one bus route after school. We usually got back to the school about 4 PM, depending on the route that I was assigned. Some routes were longer and I returned at a later time. Our faculty was split in half so you only had to do it one semester out of the year. Having bus monitors did have a positive impact on the discipline. Later, as the teacher unions gained more power, the practice of using teachers as monitors ended.
Also, did you have to leave your bus at the school? We did in the early years, but later the drivers took them home with them. Until about 1990, we had student drivers. The good thing about that was the drivers had to come to school anyway, plus they would report discipline problems to the principal as soon as they arrived. The state ended that practice because studies showed that adult drivers were safer drivers.
Richard
"As for Oldfarmer driving a bus, his school district is so fortunate to have had this good man for so long."
I am in total agreement with ALL of your comments, Richard. I always supported our bus drivers - from supporting them in discipline issues to requesting increases in salaries due to their horrible low pay positions.
Imagine trying to maintain discipline in a large vehicle while ensuring for the safety of every youngster, not to mention keeping the bus within safe speeds, dropping off and picking up students on streets where drivers of other vehicles refuse to stop for a school bus with flashing lights.
Oldfarmer, I have nothing but complete respect for what you do and how you do it!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I'm surprised at this point that the liability lobby hasn't led to requiring a security guard on every bus, along with full video coverage. No way the driver should be worrying about what is going on in the bus at the expense of focusing on what's outside.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Bus drivers face a dilemma. They have to pay careful attention to their driving and to protect the students leaving or coming to the bus. If they have an accident or one of their charges crosses when a car doesn't stop for the lights, they are immediately drug tested and checked for responsibility. On the other hand, they are expected to keep the little turkeys inside the bus on their good behavior. If things happen inside the bus, the bus drive is questioned as to why they let it happen. They are treated as though they are not being effective if the kids behave badly, especially bullying right now.
So which is it for the driver? Driver? Behavior specialist? All for a low rate of pay considering the responsibility.
Further, if the bus drivers do a good job, the administration takes credit for doing a job well and having those drivers in shape. If things go wrong with the bus drivers, it's those unpredictable lowlifes that apply for the jobs that are at fault--not the administrators running the place. I recall that the City of Dayton Schools has had trouble with drivers calling in sick at a high rate due to the expectations versus the perceived pay. In previous years the TV stations were doing stories about kids waiting long times past their pickup times for a bus to appear. And then there's the problem with getting kids home. And then there's the times students were left on the buses after drop off at school or at the home stop. All good TV fodder.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
That was a really good article imid. He did the kind of satire I was aiming for talking about shaving. I liked this part;
I have a 2010 MKT EcoBoost and I love it. It has all-wheel drive, 355 twin-turbocharged horsepower and three-row seating like a minivan. Its weird Art Deco-flavored styling is even growing on me. When every crossover resembles a polished oblong river rock, the MKT stands out for at least trying to look like something else. Perhaps that “something else” is a mutant baleen whale from outer space, but at least it’s not another river rock.
Evidently a $43K MKT has almost the same features as a $36K Fusion. Some upgrades like better leather seats.
I liked this part too:
The biggest shock comes when you try to put the car into gear and realize that there’s no shift lever or knob; control of the transmission is relegated to buttons on the dashboard. This is the kind of feature that will probably impress occasional passengers while mildly annoying you, the owner, because you can’t choose a gear just by feel. The MKZ demands that you look at its buttons before you go anywhere.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I forgot about that huge overhang in the rear that swings out. These buses don't have seatbelts which I don't understand. There's huge mirrors and that can't be easy trying to figure out what is going on around you. Driving with 2 kids in a car can be hard enough, how is it managing 30 or 40? Bad weather was mentioned too, and having a route and picking up kids at a particular time. I've seen mothers holding the bus while the kid is running from the house, and some kids don't run too fast. Sometimes there is a line of cars behind a school bus, and the driver pulls over to let the cars get by. And there are even more things to think about...it is spinning my head thinking about it.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Thanks for understanding...I'll try to be more careful about doing the tongue in cheek stuff
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
First, let me express thanks for all the kind words from all of you. Nice to be appreciated here at least.
Richard, usually we don't get monitors on the big buses unless there is massive trouble. The small special needs buses get them because many students on them have particular medical or psychological needs.
Recently we have been seeing more special needs children put on the big buses as part of "mainstreaming". These kids could be autistic, have Down's Syndrome or other disabilities. One kid had to have a service dog go along with him to keep him calm. We had state mandated training when this happened and were told that these kids could have unpredictable behavior such as putting their hands over your eyes while your are driving. When we asked how we were to safely drive under those conditions we were told to "just deal with it". That was the training.
Stickguy: all our new buses come with 4 video cameras and full GPS. Most of the cameras are pointed at the driver and the GPS sends an alert to management if you pull over at a convinence store to use the bathroom when empty.
imid: the one accident I had in my career was when one of my fellow drivers parked his car illegally near my bus as I swung into a tight spot. The back end swung out and put a nice racing stripe across his trunk. When the boss asked what happened I told him that I had missed the car by 3 feet but that unfortunately he had parked his car 3 feet 1 inch into the roadway.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
For those having trouble using the 5-bladed Fusion razors to trim near the nose on the upper lip, why not flip the razor over and use the 6th blade, the trimming blade, that's on the top of the back side. The razor head locks into position for accuracy and precision so you can trim away with the single blade there. See package.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
In a 1975 Saturday Night Live Show they made fun of having a 3 blade razor. In the show there satirical advertisement for the “Triple-Trac”, a revolutionary 3-blade razor. A simple (and very familiar) animation simulated how the first blade lifted a hair, the second primed it for being cut and the third cut it. The very idea of a triple-bladed razor was clearly unbelievably ridiculous—to a 1975 audience. The tagline said, “The three-blade razor— designed for people who’ll believe anything”
When I hear 5 blades I think about that ad. btw a very young George Carlin did the ad.
.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
lol......love that answer!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
imid, I knew that I had had a razor like that in the past, but I could not remember the name. Thanks for refreshing my memory. All of our beards are different, and I know that mine was heavier when I was younger. It takes less effort for me to shave now, so the disposable 2 blade razor works well for me.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
"For those having trouble using the 5-bladed Fusion razors to trim near the nose on the upper lip, why not flip the razor over and use the 6th blade, the trimming blade, that's on the top of the back side."
Thanks, imid, I did not know that. Will try it tomorrow morning - was hoping to find something to trim the upper lip near my nose. Hope it works.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Now for the best of all shaves in the entire world: Go to an experienced Barber who uses the straight razor.
I hadn't been paying much attention to razor topic as I seem to have lost mine back in the late 70's early 80's.
Mention of barber and straight razor reminded me I needed a haircut and beard trim. Took care of that this AM and the women Barber I had always includes a neck shave with straight razor (as well as back of the head stuff with razor ).
Or, try the "Driver Method" of no fuss, no muss shaving. Use a lower cost and effective Mach 3 (the 5 blade Fusion is a case of diminishing returns when you get past 3 blades) and I use a very thin disposable, for that upper lip area near the nose......so thin it can reach that area just fine. In most cases the cheaper the thinner and better...usually a store made generic brand.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I'm glad that I could remind you to clean up.
I bet you look nice and feel better.
Richard
"...lost mine..."
Here's how I picture you after reading that:
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/A3_c4yNj5dc/hqdefault.jpg
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Was watching one of those car auction shows and they sold a 1987 Buick Gran National for $32,000. It had only 200 miles in it.
Why in the world would someone buy a hot (for it's time) car and then store it for 27 years? I don't know what they cost new but they had to be in the $20k range. $12,000 doesn't seem to be much return for 27 years of storage expenses.
How would you even know it would be worth anything?
How could you drive it just 200 miles and not want to drive it more?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Where is everyone?
Did you all cut your throats testing out new razors?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Obsessive Compulsive...buy it because they love it, don't want to put a mark on it, because it is so perfect, and then sell it when they realize there isn't an alternative...have to sell it and move into a retirement home
Kind of quiet today, I was watching the French Open Tennis match. But, I do have a pet peeve. People who are waiting to make a left turn on an advance green light. The arrow points to go, and the guy in front of me makes his left turn as slowly as possible somehow getting pleasure from making sure the guy behind him (usually me) won't be able to turn on the advanced light.
I guess it is the same as waiting for someone to back out of a parking space on a full lot. Tests have shown people take a lot more time if they know someone else wants the spot. I guess it makes them feel more powerful or something. I am going to call it the "Putin Complex" (oh, sorry to mention politics again).
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
That's okay. We won't flag it, this time! (just kidding).
I recall Rush saying he had bought one of the Lincoln Town Cars that he dearly loved and stored it because he felt the newer model would never be as good as the one he liked. Then he admitted that he loved the replacement better than the earlier one like he had stored.
Then along came the bulbous model. I don't recall any mentions of it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"... Rush Limbaugh said..."
If I had Limbaugh's money I'd have a whole warehouse full of stored cars.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"Did you all cut your throats testing out new razors? "
Yes I did OF. Tried the trim blade on the reverse side of the Fusion cartridge and it was perfect just below my nose on the upper lip. Even better than Mach3. Thanks for the tip!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
You're welcome.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
We agreed not to make political talk on this discussion?
My point was he had stored a Generation 1 Town Car only to find he liked Generation 2 as well or better.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"You're welcome"
Sorry , imid - thought it was OF. Thanks for the tip, imid!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I'm glad to contribute something to help everyone use the Fusion better. I had noticed the trim blade on the back because I buy all the blades for my son. He has 3 Fusions. He bought the Power version but likes it because the handle is heftier. He rarely uses the vibration in it. He has a regular at OSU along with a Power Fusion, and has a regular at home here.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I know how you feel, I can't find Burma Shave either.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Speaking of school buses one almost took me out last week. I was riding my bike to work when one passed me and merged back over running me off the road. If I didn't swerve to my right at the last moment that guy would have hit me.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I like this shave cream:
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I keep trying to figure out why you would stop to use the bathroom if you were empty? (Just a little humor for an otherwise humorless day.)
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
On Saturday afternoon, a brush fire, which was caused by a lightning strike, started in the Everglades in western Broward County. Over the past 2 days, it has extended to 20,000 acres and is only 5% contained. This morning, visibility was down to less than 1000 feet throughout south Florida because the winds have been light and variable.
We've had very little rain thus far in our rainy season - just the usual hit and miss thunderstorms.
There was quite a bit of ash all over my car this morning. According to the Forestry Service down here, they claim that wild fires like this clean out the tall Sawgrass in the Everglades, however the wildlife is at risk, of course. They don't expect to have this under control for 7-10 days.
The fire is about 16 miles west of where I live.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
would be a good time for one of the major rain event storms to move through.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"would be a good time for one of the major rain event storms to move through"
There were several thunderstorms out over the Everglades this afternoon and evening, however they were accompanied by hundreds and hundreds of lightning strikes. The rain did not put out the wildfires, unfortunately. The forecast is for heavy smoke and dense fog.
I went out to dump the trash this evening and the smoke made me cough. Terrible situation - 23,000 acres now affected, but since it's out in the Everglades, no homes or human life are in danger.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
There's always something. And, as I found out when we arrived on May 29th, Hurricane Season starts June 1st...forgot about that until we got there.
You could probably use a heavy rainstorm about now. Fires are scary, breathing in and seeing smoke...and they destroy so much including homes. My thoughts are with you, hope they get it under control and out soon.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
"You could probably use a heavy rainstorm about now."
The Forestry Service and National Park Service are merely monitoring the fires. They are not attempting to put them out because they are inaccessible to fire trucks and we don't have aircraft here in Florida to dump fire retardants and water over the flames - all those aircraft are out in Arizona, California and Utah. Nothing available here in the Southeast.
They said they are waiting for it to burn out by itself which could takes days, if not weeks. The thunderstorms are not putting out the fires - and the lightning strikes are causing even more fires.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mother natures way of clearing out all the dead stuff. Kind of like giving the area a tune-up. In the long run it will be in better condition.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"Mother natures way of clearing out all the dead stuff. Kind of like giving the area a tune-up. In the long run it will be in better condition."
Definitely - that's the position the Forestry and National Park Services have taken. But it has caused several negative impacts:
*Health warnings exist for asthmatics and people with respiratory ailments.
*Wildlife eradication - deer, gators, panthers, and many aviary species like egrets , flamingos, cranes, etc.
*Damage to automotive paint surfaces.
So there are pluses and minuses.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
After all those days we were freezing our bums off here in the upper midwest and we heard about the glorious 80 degree days in lower Florida now we have an additional negative besides those hurricanes that blow through like a "hurricane": we have smoke from swamp fires.
I am sure with all the older folks and folks who have compromised health who have moved to Florida the smoke is a major concern. Will they attribute deaths to the smoke when they occur like we do with deaths due to the cold in some of the Northern cities in the winter?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,