Don’t talk politics on purposely everyone has an opinion ha ha Ha not worth arguing because were still walking to believe the same regardless what anyone tells you about anything pretty much in life
Old former open the next storm turns into being nothing I know you’ll get a pounding in upstate New York but my brother said and my sister goes to school in Albany like mentioned in prior post things the other day
Used to love putting on the Bob Vela or Norm Abrams construction shows and listening to them was awesome when I was little kid they might both be really old now or not alive anymore
Automaker's stocks took a tumble when tariffs were announced. About 3%. The big worry is whether the increased cost of steel can be passed onto consumers or not, since auto sales are flat right now anyway.
Steel and aluminum tariffs do not apply to Canada and Mexico. Doesn't most of our steel come from there?
Most does, but they will probably be hit with tariffs too if NAFTA isn't changed, and btw....most experts believe NAFTA is more beneficial to the US than it is to Canada.
Good, then Canada should jump at the chance to help Trump get NAFTA renegotiated if they don't like the present terms.
Hard to negotiate with someone who wants things his way and isn't reasonable. Good negotiation is a win for both sides, not "might is right". In todays world it is better to cooperate so all can benefit....it avoids making enemies. Friends are better than enemies, maintaining a few allies might be a good thing in the long run.
Don’t talk politics on purposely everyone has an opinion ha ha Ha not worth arguing because were still walking to believe the same regardless what anyone tells you about anything pretty much in life
You are very wise marco....can't change opinions about politics.
Personally, I am trying to avoid politics...just talking about "Tariffs" and especially affect on cars.
Last Friday they predicted 1-3" and we got a foot. Wednesday theft said 15" and we got 7. I'd like to run a weatherman over with my car if i could get it out of the driveway. :@
Many people finally discovered their antilock brakes and stability controls on their cars along with the 4-whee drive wouldn't save them from losing control when the road is icy. The laws of physics and momentum just won't be denied no matter what fancy electronics are on the vehicle. People died in accidents here in SW Ohio from 1 inch of snow that iced as it melted and the temps dropped.
The local weather-guessers mentioned our total snow for the year was either 13 or 19 inches. Total. Many of the folks in the NE got that in one snow.
I'm hoping this is our last nights of low 20's (F) until the end of March (out like a lion).
I want to check my rims for out-of-roundness from all the potholes that cropped up the last 6 weeks and more. I replaced on last fall. I think the rims I have are soft enough the inner part will deform under a straight solid hit while the outside where the 5 spokes are survives and stays round. I asked the tire store to check when they rotated the tires last week, but I think they just looked for radial and lateral run out on the tread.
"Mexico’s economy ministry said on Thursday it formally imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of carbon steel pipe from China after completing an investigation into “unfair” trade practices."
Automaker's stocks took a tumble when tariffs were announced. About 3%. The big worry is whether the increased cost of steel can be passed onto consumers or not, since auto sales are flat right now anyway.
Steel and aluminum tariffs do not apply to Canada and Mexico. Doesn't most of our steel come from there?
Most does, but they will probably be hit with tariffs too if NAFTA isn't changed, and btw....most experts believe NAFTA is more beneficial to the US than it is to Canada.
Good, then Canada should jump at the chance to help Trump get NAFTA renegotiated if they don't like the present terms.
Hard to negotiate with someone who wants things his way and isn't reasonable. Good negotiation is a win for both sides, not "might is right". In todays world it is better to cooperate so all can benefit....it avoids making enemies. Friends are better than enemies, maintaining a few allies might be a good thing in the long run.
I thought you just said Canada currently felt they had a bad deal with NAFTA. Now they don't want to renegotiate their bad deal? Make up your mind driver, which is it?
We should have tariffs on cheaply made hats/suits/knockoff designer shoes and handbags made in our most favored trading "partner" and other problem areas, too.
"Mexico’s economy ministry said on Thursday it formally imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of carbon steel pipe from China after completing an investigation into “unfair” trade practices."
Don’t talk politics on purposely everyone has an opinion ha ha Ha not worth arguing because were still walking to believe the same regardless what anyone tells you about anything pretty much in life
Well said.
2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
"Mexico’s economy ministry said on Thursday it formally imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of carbon steel pipe from China after completing an investigation into “unfair” trade practices."
And the trade wars begin. That didn't take long. Expect inflation to jump on all these tariffs....not only for North America, but worldwide.
Expect China to put some metals companies out of business once this gets rolling.
I am having a most enjoyable morning watching the cops scoop up all the speeding crazies in the neighborhood. They got the black Mustang which generally tracks about 55 mph through a school zone--he apparently is getting towed; and then there's the fat kid (oops--"clinically obese") who drives, helmetless, on his incredibly noisy Chinese motorized bicycle way over the legal limit; and now I see the light bar on again with an SUV begging for mercy. I have already leaned out my window to give the thumbs down to the victorious gladiator.
My street is rather windy and semi- rural with intermittent sidewalks at best. Kids walk past all the time going to the local elementary school.
We have some ferocious mothers in this neighborhood so I"m sure they have something to do with this Black Ops.
I sold one of those today to someone who was working on an 1 1/4" water main that wouldn't close.
Mike - you must be so proud of your grandson!
@jmonroe - my 11 year old's Pee Wee B team won game 1 of their state tournament tonight 5-0. Game 2 is Saturday at 7:45 AM & Game 3 Saturday at 2:30 PM. Very exciting!
Good luck with your sons hockey tournament this weekend. Just be sure to tell your son that the 5-0 whipping they put on the last team should not let it go to his teams head. That kind of thinking is disastrous.
I hope the parking situation is better where your son plays compared to where Grandson #4 played last weekend. But, if it isn't and you come across a screaming hockey mother in the parking lot we want to hear about it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I am having a most enjoyable morning watching the cops scoop up all the speeding crazies in the neighborhood. They got the black Mustang which generally tracks about 55 mph through a school zone--he apparently is getting towed; and then there's the fat kid (oops--"clinically obese") who drives, helmetless, on his incredibly noisy Chinese motorized bicycle way over the legal limit; and now I see the light bar on again with an SUV begging for mercy. I have already leaned out my window to give the thumbs down to the victorious gladiator.
My street is rather windy and semi- rural with intermittent sidewalks at best. Kids walk past all the time going to the local elementary school.
We have some ferocious mothers in this neighborhood so I"m sure they have something to do with this Black Ops.
That's awesome. I love justice when it is well deserved.
2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
Interesting. Am I overlooking what the replacement bulbs are? Or are they not replaceable and you have to buy a new unit (minus the ballast)?
You know, I have no idea. They're new so I didn't even consider that. The little metal box disconnects from the light by turning a ring and pulling the wire apart so replacing one if it ever stops working would be very easy.
I just was reading the spec sheets and installation instructions since these lights intrigued me. Turns out the light unit does not have a replaceable bulb, you need to replace the whole thing except for the control box it if it ever fails. They claim a service life of 35000 hours IIRC.
I was hoping the control unit allowed you to daisy chain a number of lights but you need a control box for each light, which means running a bunch of 120V cable.
Each light comes with the little box. They cost less than $30US.
I have two run in series. Just jumped from one to the other - on one dimmer switch. They draw so little electricity I don't see why many couldn't be wired this way although I don't know what the limit may be since I only have 4 of them and 2 dimmer switches.
Maybe I read your post wrong but can you really wire 2 control boxes in "series" where each control box only receives half of the 120 VAC supply. I'm thinking, even if you can do that, wouldn't it be just as easy to connect the 2 control boxes in "parallel' just like any other 120 VAC group of lights being controlled from one switch/dimmer?
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Interesting. Am I overlooking what the replacement bulbs are? Or are they not replaceable and you have to buy a new unit (minus the ballast)?
You know, I have no idea. They're new so I didn't even consider that. The little metal box disconnects from the light by turning a ring and pulling the wire apart so replacing one if it ever stops working would be very easy.
I just was reading the spec sheets and installation instructions since these lights intrigued me. Turns out the light unit does not have a replaceable bulb, you need to replace the whole thing except for the control box it if it ever fails. They claim a service life of 35000 hours IIRC.
I was hoping the control unit allowed you to daisy chain a number of lights but you need a control box for each light, which means running a bunch of 120V cable.
Each light comes with the little box. They cost less than $30US.
I have two run in series. Just jumped from one to the other - on one dimmer switch. They draw so little electricity I don't see why many couldn't be wired this way although I don't know what the limit may be since I only have 4 of them and 2 dimmer switches.
Maybe I read your post wrong but can you really wire 2 control boxes in "series" where each control box only receives half of the 120 VAC supply. I'm thinking, even if you can do that, wouldn't it be just as easy to connect the 2 control boxes in "parallel' just like any other 120 VAC group of lights being controlled from one switch/dimmer?
I am having a most enjoyable morning watching the cops scoop up all the speeding crazies in the neighborhood. They got the black Mustang which generally tracks about 55 mph through a school zone--he apparently is getting towed; and then there's the fat kid (oops--"clinically obese") who drives, helmetless, on his incredibly noisy Chinese motorized bicycle way over the legal limit; and now I see the light bar on again with an SUV begging for mercy. I have already leaned out my window to give the thumbs down to the victorious gladiator.
My street is rather windy and semi- rural with intermittent sidewalks at best. Kids walk past all the time going to the local elementary school.
We have some ferocious mothers in this neighborhood so I"m sure they have something to do with this Black Ops.
As @28firefighter said it's nice when speeding offenders are finally caught driving too fast in a residential neighborhood. I just hope your thumb was not mistaken for a finger and we hear on the national news tonight that an Edmunds car guy from Sonoma California had the windows of his Mini blown out.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
As everyone in here knows, Mrs. j is not a car gal but even she has an opinion about some cars.
As we were headed to Grandson #4's hockey championship tournament game last Sunday, we were sitting at a light in the right lane when I saw a Beetle in the left turn lane that had a putrid Blue color. So, I said to her, "how would you like a car painted like that"? She had the perfect answer, "anybody that owns that kind of a car doesn't really care". And here I thought she didn't care about cars.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Automaker's stocks took a tumble when tariffs were announced. About 3%. The big worry is whether the increased cost of steel can be passed onto consumers or not, since auto sales are flat right now anyway.
Steel and aluminum tariffs do not apply to Canada and Mexico. Doesn't most of our steel come from there?
Most does, but they will probably be hit with tariffs too if NAFTA isn't changed, and btw....most experts believe NAFTA is more beneficial to the US than it is to Canada.
Good, then Canada should jump at the chance to help Trump get NAFTA renegotiated if they don't like the present terms.
Here is an issue with NAFTA. Those, who benefit, either don't know it (consumers buying less expensive goods are usually not aware why those goods are cheaper), or attribute their success to themselves. Moreover, they are most dispersed all over the country. Those, who got hurt by stiffer competition from abroad cry foul. They also tend to be concentrated in some areas, which means the impression will be NAFTA is hurting America. The human tragedies are real and they look really great on TV, especially if it's not one person, but hundreds all being terminated at a factory.
Everybody claims a to want "free, but fair market". What they really mean is market, where they're free to do what they please and charge nice premium for it, but the "unfair" competition is put away.
Automaker's stocks took a tumble when tariffs were announced. About 3%. The big worry is whether the increased cost of steel can be passed onto consumers or not, since auto sales are flat right now anyway.
Steel and aluminum tariffs do not apply to Canada and Mexico. Doesn't most of our steel come from there?
Most does, but they will probably be hit with tariffs too if NAFTA isn't changed, and btw....most experts believe NAFTA is more beneficial to the US than it is to Canada.
Good, then Canada should jump at the chance to help Trump get NAFTA renegotiated if they don't like the present terms.
Hard to negotiate with someone who wants things his way and isn't reasonable. Good negotiation is a win for both sides, not "might is right". In todays world it is better to cooperate so all can benefit....it avoids making enemies. Friends are better than enemies, maintaining a few allies might be a good thing in the long run.
I thought you just said Canada currently felt they had a bad deal with NAFTA. Now they don't want to renegotiate their bad deal? Make up your mind driver, which is it?
I didn't say that Mr houdini, what I said was the US gets more from NAFTA than it gives, where Canada is concerned. It doesn't matter though, it keeps business going and people employed...those people pay taxes etc., NAFTA has been a good thing for both Canada and the US, only when someone wants to be a bully and change it to take advantage of a friend and ally does it become a bad deal. How would you like to be a strawberry grower in Florida, who exports strawberries to Canada....then have a trade war so steelworkers will have more jobs?
Nice to see enforcement not at the base of a steep hill with a random speed limit change, not at the entrance to an otherwise irrelevant little town, etc.
I am having a most enjoyable morning watching the cops scoop up all the speeding crazies in the neighborhood. They got the black Mustang which generally tracks about 55 mph through a school zone--he apparently is getting towed; and then there's the fat kid (oops--"clinically obese") who drives, helmetless, on his incredibly noisy Chinese motorized bicycle way over the legal limit; and now I see the light bar on again with an SUV begging for mercy. I have already leaned out my window to give the thumbs down to the victorious gladiator.
My street is rather windy and semi- rural with intermittent sidewalks at best. Kids walk past all the time going to the local elementary school.
We have some ferocious mothers in this neighborhood so I"m sure they have something to do with this Black Ops.
Automaker's stocks took a tumble when tariffs were announced. About 3%. The big worry is whether the increased cost of steel can be passed onto consumers or not, since auto sales are flat right now anyway.
Steel and aluminum tariffs do not apply to Canada and Mexico. Doesn't most of our steel come from there?
Most does, but they will probably be hit with tariffs too if NAFTA isn't changed, and btw....most experts believe NAFTA is more beneficial to the US than it is to Canada.
Good, then Canada should jump at the chance to help Trump get NAFTA renegotiated if they don't like the present terms.
Here is an issue with NAFTA. Those, who benefit, either don't know it (consumers buying less expensive goods are usually not aware why those goods are cheaper), or attribute their success to themselves. Moreover, they are most dispersed all over the country. Those, who got hurt by stiffer competition from abroad cry foul. They also tend to be concentrated in some areas, which means the impression will be NAFTA is hurting America. The human tragedies are real and they look really great on TV, especially if it's not one person, but hundreds all being terminated at a factory.
Everybody claims a to want "free, but fair market". What they really mean is market, where they're free to do what they please and charge nice premium for it, but the "unfair" competition is put away.
Right on! Many D3 cars were being built in Canada, because the cost to build is less. Canadian dollar is low - about 76 cents to the USD, healthcare is paid for, etc. That brings the cost down for the US consumer....but, the consumer never thinks of that, unless prices go up. Steelmakers will charge more if there is a tariff on steel....car makers will charge more because they pay more for steel. Fewer cars will sell....how does this create jobs?
I am having a most enjoyable morning watching the cops scoop up all the speeding crazies in the neighborhood. They got the black Mustang which generally tracks about 55 mph through a school zone--he apparently is getting towed; and then there's the fat kid (oops--"clinically obese") who drives, helmetless, on his incredibly noisy Chinese motorized bicycle way over the legal limit; and now I see the light bar on again with an SUV begging for mercy. I have already leaned out my window to give the thumbs down to the victorious gladiator.
First, thank you for the welcome respite from this new board "Power, Politics, Trade and Tariffs" that I seem to have stumbled into.
I had just the opposite experience here today. Because the weather presenters on TV have got people whipped up into a frenzy again about storms that may or may not drop a little snow, the grocery stores are shockingly busy and the streets around them have heavy traffic today. But for whatever reason, when I went out this AM to pick up my weekly groceries it was as if I had been transported overnight to The Villages in Florida or Sun City in Arizona. Endless numbers of seniors in their Corollas, Accents and Camrys, trundling along well under the limit, going around in endless circles on cloverleafs, etc. It was really bizarre. We are an older province anyway but apparently every one of them was out this morning. On one multilane I had to do something I hate to do, overtaking on the right, when a line of about 10 vehicles were all in the left lane doing well under the limit. I didn't even have to speed to do it. I have never seen that here before, ever.
I like Sharkbite fittings where it's hard to reach or a possible fire hazard too.
When I was doing some work for my daughter and her husband after they bought another house, there was a line that needed capped. As hard as I tried I could not get the cap soldered. For some odd reason water was seeping through. I even tried the old trick of stuffing bread in the tube first to no avail. When I turned the water on the cap went flying across the basement.
I went and got a Sharkbite cap and ended the frustration.
I love sharkbite fittings... especially for retrofit applications! I will never again solder another joint on a line that is in use.... it is simply not worth the frustration (or the time to prep it).
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
No power at our house since 6:30 last night. This sucks.
Man, that's no fun. I imagine such outages are pretty unusual around there, too.
We once had an outage for nearly four days, but I think that's the longest I've experienced. Thankfully, weather outside was hovering around freezing at the time, so the temp inside the house was still at about 55 degrees when the power finally did come back on. I almost broke out the generator on that one!
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
We seemed to have a similar thing going on a couple weeks ago along the main road near my house. I saw several police vehicles busy along that four-mile stretch. I always set my cruise at 60 here, which is probably about 59 with my winter tires on. My supervisor, who lives nearby, was one of those snagged. Apparently, she was going about 63 at the time (warning only). She was shocked that I did not get pulled over, since I was the fastest vehicle on the road by a fair margin as I passed the point she was stopped. Everyone assumes that just because I really like to drive on snow and ice, that I must be driving really fast at the same time!
I even passed by two different officers who were not actively engaged with another driver with no issues. Apparently, driving near the SL is okay, even if that is faster than the timid around me. LOL
55ish in a school zone?! My goodness.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I like Sharkbite fittings where it's hard to reach or a possible fire hazard too.
When I was doing some work for my daughter and her husband after they bought another house, there was a line that needed capped. As hard as I tried I could not get the cap soldered. For some odd reason water was seeping through. I even tried the old trick of stuffing bread in the tube first to no avail. When I turned the water on the cap went flying across the basement.
I went and got a Sharkbite cap and ended the frustration.
I love sharkbite fittings... especially for retrofit applications! I will never again solder another joint on a line that is in use.... it is simply not worth the frustration (or the time to prep it).
There should be a heavy tariff put on sharkbite fittings. They are causing job losses for people in the soldering product business. Help fight the good fight now.
I like Sharkbite fittings where it's hard to reach or a possible fire hazard too.
When I was doing some work for my daughter and her husband after they bought another house, there was a line that needed capped. As hard as I tried I could not get the cap soldered. For some odd reason water was seeping through. I even tried the old trick of stuffing bread in the tube first to no avail. When I turned the water on the cap went flying across the basement.
I went and got a Sharkbite cap and ended the frustration.
I love sharkbite fittings... especially for retrofit applications! I will never again solder another joint on a line that is in use.... it is simply not worth the frustration (or the time to prep it).
There should be a heavy tariff put on sharkbite fittings. They are causing job losses for people in the soldering product business. Help fight the good fight now.
There must be a huge tariff on them already! Most cost me about $10 each. EACH!!!!!
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I was going to comment about the surprise inch of snow flurries overnight that melted onto the roads in SW Ohio in parts causing lots of accidents.
Then I was hearing the stories about the snowfalls again in the northeast.
Sympathies go out to all there. And IIRC there's another storm coming.
Son was in DC Va area when first one went through last Friday, so he and two others had to drive back to Ohio since flights were cancelled. All DC got was rain and wind. And wind.
Last Friday they predicted 1-3" and we got a foot. Wednesday theft said 15" and we got 7. I'd like to run a weatherman over with my car if i could get it out of the driveway. :@
Unless the weatherman is Nostradamus, it's pretty darn hard to predict even 24 hours in advance. The technology is so much better today that the accuracy is great compared to when I was a kid. I think they do a good job, even if they are forced by station management to bring emotions and borderline hysterics into it for ratings sake.
problem is, the models are all range probabilities. So basically, the weather forecast really should be 40% chance of 6-10", 30% chance of 3-6", 15% each LT 3 or more than 10. Something like that.
which no one would like, even though it would be better for planning purposes. So instead, they pick a number and go with it. Just because they predicted wrong, doesn't mean it wasn't the right prediction. Just that a long shot came in!
Occasionally on Friday or Saturday night, I stumble upon "Live PD" on the TV, which is, as the title alludes to, a live show on police activity. I am always stunned by the number of drivers that, when stopped, do not have a valid drivers license. Either it's expired or suspended or they just don't have one. Normally if nothing else is found, they are let go with a warning to get their license fixed. Why??? I have never driven without a valid license.
If the police towed their cars, as I understand is done in Philly (maybe all of PA?), people would obey the law. It might be a hardship to have your car towed if you are working poor, but that's tough, IMHO. It would make it a priority to keep your license valid if you know your car will get towed.
As everyone in here knows, Mrs. j is not a car gal but even she has an opinion about some cars.
As we were headed to Grandson #4's hockey championship tournament game last Sunday, we were sitting at a light in the right lane when I saw a Beetle in the left turn lane that had a putrid Blue color. So, I said to her, "how would you like a car painted like that"? She had the perfect answer, "anybody that owns that kind of a car doesn't really care". And here I thought she didn't care about cars.
jmonroe
Mrs. Venture is the same.
Last summer a VW bug pulled up along side of us at a red light. It had a flower in the vase on the dashboard. I asked her how she liked the flower. She looked over and said, "That's the best part of that car".
I like Sharkbite fittings where it's hard to reach or a possible fire hazard too.
When I was doing some work for my daughter and her husband after they bought another house, there was a line that needed capped. As hard as I tried I could not get the cap soldered. For some odd reason water was seeping through. I even tried the old trick of stuffing bread in the tube first to no avail. When I turned the water on the cap went flying across the basement.
I went and got a Sharkbite cap and ended the frustration.
I love sharkbite fittings... especially for retrofit applications! I will never again solder another joint on a line that is in use.... it is simply not worth the frustration (or the time to prep it).
There should be a heavy tariff put on sharkbite fittings. They are causing job losses for people in the soldering product business. Help fight the good fight now.
You don't know how close you came. It is definitely costing jobs. Many larger companies are using them because the greater cost of the fittings is offset by labor costs. Not every contract, but it is being looked at.
I like Sharkbite fittings where it's hard to reach or a possible fire hazard too.
When I was doing some work for my daughter and her husband after they bought another house, there was a line that needed capped. As hard as I tried I could not get the cap soldered. For some odd reason water was seeping through. I even tried the old trick of stuffing bread in the tube first to no avail. When I turned the water on the cap went flying across the basement.
I went and got a Sharkbite cap and ended the frustration.
I love sharkbite fittings... especially for retrofit applications! I will never again solder another joint on a line that is in use.... it is simply not worth the frustration (or the time to prep it).
There should be a heavy tariff put on sharkbite fittings. They are causing job losses for people in the soldering product business. Help fight the good fight now.
You don't know how close you came. It is definitely costing jobs. Many larger companies are using them because the greater cost of the fittings is offset by labor costs. Not every contract, but it is being looked at.
It makes sense. Why pay people to waste their time on an obsolete technology? There are still applications for soldered copper, but basic residential water supply lines are not it! I would think the plumbers themselves wouldn't want to be wasting their time on it either.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I don't trust any sort of plumbing fittings. It all seems like witchcraft to me. The old school plumbing guys prefer a sweated joint, then a compression fitting, with the Sharkbite at the bottom of the totem pole. All of these are beyond me. I think everything should be threaded and use a gasket.
I don't trust any sort of plumbing fittings. It all seems like witchcraft to me. The old school plumbing guys prefer a sweated joint, then a compression fitting, with the Sharkbite at the bottom of the totem pole. All of these are beyond me. I think everything should be threaded and use a gasket.
It's certainly a risky business to infiltrate the bowels of one's home with water... just waiting to wreak havoc! And, then, put it under very high pressures just to tempt fate.
I know a couple plumbers who hate these fittings. They have personal feelings that it is "cheating" to use them, and they talk about how terrible they are, etc.,etc. Fact remains, though, that neither will touch them, so they really don't have a clue; they just have biases.
Empirical evidence does not support their biases, though I imagine that time will, ultimately, tell. If nothing else, though, the fact that I can run a single pex line all the way across my house, with several twists and turns, and only have a single fitting on each end of that run, makes it all but certain that the potential number of failures in that line is dramatically lower than a copper run. In addition, the flow resistance in that span is orders of magnitude lower. I don't see the drawback here.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
Not wanting to get into the politics of these tariffs, but they do have a direct effect on me. I (my company) have been selling imported No Hub (cast iron) drainage fittings for the better part of at least the last 20 years. The Domestic Pipe & Fittings are far superior to what I sell, but they are also significantly more expensive. Now all the "big" jobs are spec'd out to use either CHARLOTTE or TYLER no hub pipe & fittings. Most of my customers are smaller plumbers & contractors that use my imported no hub pipe & fittings for small to medium sized jobs. We've managed to make very good money on import No Hub Pipe & Fittings until now.
Slowly but surely, my costs have been creeping up. Usually there is some sort of notice. Last week I got a call from a vendor who told me that effective immediately, they have implemented a 40% price increase. This officially makes the imported fittings MORE expensive than the ones made here in the good old US of A.
Now I know what you are thinking. Great! Bradd, you can now buy and sell domestic no hub fittings. Not so fast. I was able to buy from an importer who buys directly from the factory. In order to get the best price, I have to buy an entire truckload of domestic pipe & fittings. There is a 1/4 truck, 1/2 truck, & full truck price. Then there are "back end" rebates based upon how much you buy. So now even if I could (or wanted to) lay out the money for 6 months (or a year) worth of inventory, I can't. They don't want to deal with the little guy like me. So I can't buy directly from the manufacturer, I HAVE to buy from a re-seller who also happens to be a bigger plumbing supply and therefore my competitor. Money is made when you buy things, not when you sell.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
Automaker's stocks took a tumble when tariffs were announced. About 3%. The big worry is whether the increased cost of steel can be passed onto consumers or not, since auto sales are flat right now anyway.
Steel and aluminum tariffs do not apply to Canada and Mexico. Doesn't most of our steel come from there?
Most does, but they will probably be hit with tariffs too if NAFTA isn't changed, and btw....most experts believe NAFTA is more beneficial to the US than it is to Canada.
Good, then Canada should jump at the chance to help Trump get NAFTA renegotiated if they don't like the present terms.
Hard to negotiate with someone who wants things his way and isn't reasonable. Good negotiation is a win for both sides, not "might is right". In todays world it is better to cooperate so all can benefit....it avoids making enemies. Friends are better than enemies, maintaining a few allies might be a good thing in the long run.
I thought you just said Canada currently felt they had a bad deal with NAFTA. Now they don't want to renegotiate their bad deal? Make up your mind driver, which is it?
I didn't say that Mr houdini, what I said was the US gets more from NAFTA than it gives, where Canada is concerned. It doesn't matter though, it keeps business going and people employed...those people pay taxes etc., NAFTA has been a good thing for both Canada and the US, only when someone wants to be a bully and change it to take advantage of a friend and ally does it become a bad deal. How would you like to be a strawberry grower in Florida, who exports strawberries to Canada....then have a trade war so steelworkers will have more jobs?
Mr. driver, those were probably not your exact words, but the meaning is essentially the same. It is called paraphrasing. I still don't know what you are complaining about. Canada is exempted from the tariffs just announced. As far as I know, nothing has affected either Canada's or U.S. strawberry crops. You said Canada got the short end of the stick (paraphrasing again) vs U.S. but you are condemning U.S. for trying to make NAFTA more fair, even for Canada.
Not wanting to get into the politics of these tariffs, but they do have a direct effect on me. I (my company) have been selling imported No Hub (cast iron) drainage fittings for the better part of at least the last 20 years. The Domestic Pipe & Fittings are far superior to what I sell, but they are also significantly more expensive. Now all the "big" jobs are spec'd out to use either CHARLOTTE or TYLER no hub pipe & fittings. Most of my customers are smaller plumbers & contractors that use my imported no hub pipe & fittings for small to medium sized jobs. We've managed to make very good money on import No Hub Pipe & Fittings until now.
Slowly but surely, my costs have been creeping up. Usually there is some sort of notice. Last week I got a call from a vendor who told me that effective immediately, they have implemented a 40% price increase. This officially makes the imported fittings MORE expensive than the ones made here in the good old US of A.
Now I know what you are thinking. Great! Bradd, you can now buy and sell domestic no hub fittings. Not so fast. I was able to buy from an importer who buys directly from the factory. In order to get the best price, I have to buy an entire truckload of domestic pipe & fittings. There is a 1/4 truck, 1/2 truck, & full truck price. Then there are "back end" rebates based upon how much you buy. So now even if I could (or wanted to) lay out the money for 6 months (or a year) worth of inventory, I can't. They don't want to deal with the little guy like me. So I can't buy directly from the manufacturer, I HAVE to buy from a re-seller who also happens to be a bigger plumbing supply and therefore my competitor. Money is made when you buy things, not when you sell.
Real life example of leaders not caring what their actions do to the small businessman. Just placate the base and try to get re-elected. In the future, scholars will be teaching about this time in history as the tipping point in the fall of the US empire.
I am having a most enjoyable morning watching the cops scoop up all the speeding crazies in the neighborhood. They got the black Mustang which generally tracks about 55 mph through a school zone--he apparently is getting towed; and then there's the fat kid (oops--"clinically obese") who drives, helmetless, on his incredibly noisy Chinese motorized bicycle way over the legal limit; and now I see the light bar on again with an SUV begging for mercy. I have already leaned out my window to give the thumbs down to the victorious gladiator.
My street is rather windy and semi- rural with intermittent sidewalks at best. Kids walk past all the time going to the local elementary school.
We have some ferocious mothers in this neighborhood so I"m sure they have something to do with this Black Ops.
Careful. I've heard cops have it in for green Mini Coopers!
I don't trust any sort of plumbing fittings. It all seems like witchcraft to me. The old school plumbing guys prefer a sweated joint, then a compression fitting, with the Sharkbite at the bottom of the totem pole. All of these are beyond me. I think everything should be threaded and use a gasket.
It's certainly a risky business to infiltrate the bowels of one's home with water... just waiting to wreak havoc! And, then, put it under very high pressures just to tempt fate.
I know a couple plumbers who hate these fittings. They have personal feelings that it is "cheating" to use them, and they talk about how terrible they are, etc.,etc. Fact remains, though, that neither will touch them, so they really don't have a clue; they just have biases.
Empirical evidence does not support their biases, though I imagine that time will, ultimately, tell. If nothing else, though, the fact that I can run a single pex line all the way across my house, with several twists and turns, and only have a single fitting on each end of that run, makes it all but certain that the potential number of failures in that line is dramatically lower than a copper run. In addition, the flow resistance in that span is orders of magnitude lower. I don't see the drawback here.
The two biggest problems with home ownership - keeping water you don't want out, and keeping the water you do want in.
I don't trust any sort of plumbing fittings. It all seems like witchcraft to me. The old school plumbing guys prefer a sweated joint, then a compression fitting, with the Sharkbite at the bottom of the totem pole. All of these are beyond me. I think everything should be threaded and use a gasket.
Comments
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Personally, I am trying to avoid politics...just talking about "Tariffs" and especially affect on cars.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
NO MORE VW BEETLES AFTER 2018
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The local weather-guessers mentioned our total snow for the year was either 13 or 19 inches. Total. Many of the folks in the NE got that in one snow.
I'm hoping this is our last nights of low 20's (F) until the end of March (out like a lion).
I want to check my rims for out-of-roundness from all the potholes that cropped up the last 6 weeks and more. I replaced on last fall. I think the rims I have are soft enough the inner part will deform under a straight solid hit while the outside where the 5 spokes are survives and stays round. I asked the tire store to check when they rotated the tires last week, but I think they just looked for radial and lateral run out on the tread.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Mexico slaps tariffs on Chinese steel pipe for 'unfair' pricing
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-trade-china/mexico-slaps-tariffs-on-chinese-steel-pipe-for-unfair-pricing-idUSKCN1GK276
"Mexico’s economy ministry said on Thursday it formally imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of carbon steel pipe from China after completing an investigation into “unfair” trade practices."
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
We should have tariffs on cheaply made hats/suits/knockoff designer shoes and handbags made in our most favored trading "partner" and other problem areas, too.
Link now works.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-trade-china/mexico-slaps-tariffs-on-chinese-steel-pipe-for-unfair-pricing-idUSKCN1GK276
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Expect China to put some metals companies out of business once this gets rolling.
NO MORE VW BEETLES AFTER 2018
You mean....no more "man-bug"?
My street is rather windy and semi- rural with intermittent sidewalks at best. Kids walk past all the time going to the local elementary school.
We have some ferocious mothers in this neighborhood so I"m sure they have something to do with this Black Ops.
I hope the parking situation is better where your son plays compared to where Grandson #4 played last weekend. But, if it isn't and you come across a screaming hockey mother in the parking lot we want to hear about it.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
As we were headed to Grandson #4's hockey championship tournament game last Sunday, we were sitting at a light in the right lane when I saw a Beetle in the left turn lane that had a putrid Blue color. So, I said to her, "how would you like a car painted like that"? She had the perfect answer, "anybody that owns that kind of a car doesn't really care". And here I thought she didn't care about cars.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Everybody claims a to want "free, but fair market". What they really mean is market, where they're free to do what they please and charge nice premium for it, but the "unfair" competition is put away.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Thanks for fixing it up.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Meanwhile, in Seattle
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I had just the opposite experience here today. Because the weather presenters on TV have got people whipped up into a frenzy again about storms that may or may not drop a little snow, the grocery stores are shockingly busy and the streets around them have heavy traffic today. But for whatever reason, when I went out this AM to pick up my weekly groceries it was as if I had been transported overnight to The Villages in Florida or Sun City in Arizona. Endless numbers of seniors in their Corollas, Accents and Camrys, trundling along well under the limit, going around in endless circles on cloverleafs, etc. It was really bizarre. We are an older province anyway but apparently every one of them was out this morning. On one multilane I had to do something I hate to do, overtaking on the right, when a line of about 10 vehicles were all in the left lane doing well under the limit. I didn't even have to speed to do it. I have never seen that here before, ever.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
We once had an outage for nearly four days, but I think that's the longest I've experienced. Thankfully, weather outside was hovering around freezing at the time, so the temp inside the house was still at about 55 degrees when the power finally did come back on. I almost broke out the generator on that one!
We seemed to have a similar thing going on a couple weeks ago along the main road near my house. I saw several police vehicles busy along that four-mile stretch. I always set my cruise at 60 here, which is probably about 59 with my winter tires on. My supervisor, who lives nearby, was one of those snagged. Apparently, she was going about 63 at the time (warning only). She was shocked that I did not get pulled over, since I was the fastest vehicle on the road by a fair margin as I passed the point she was stopped. Everyone assumes that just because I really like to drive on snow and ice, that I must be driving really fast at the same time!
I even passed by two different officers who were not actively engaged with another driver with no issues. Apparently, driving near the SL is okay, even if that is faster than the timid around me. LOL
55ish in a school zone?! My goodness.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
which no one would like, even though it would be better for planning purposes. So instead, they pick a number and go with it. Just because they predicted wrong, doesn't mean it wasn't the right prediction. Just that a long shot came in!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
If the police towed their cars, as I understand is done in Philly (maybe all of PA?), people would obey the law. It might be a hardship to have your car towed if you are working poor, but that's tough, IMHO. It would make it a priority to keep your license valid if you know your car will get towed.
Last summer a VW bug pulled up along side of us at a red light. It had a flower in the vase on the dashboard. I asked her how she liked the flower. She looked over and said, "That's the best part of that car".
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I know a couple plumbers who hate these fittings. They have personal feelings that it is "cheating" to use them, and they talk about how terrible they are, etc.,etc. Fact remains, though, that neither will touch them, so they really don't have a clue; they just have biases.
Empirical evidence does not support their biases, though I imagine that time will, ultimately, tell. If nothing else, though, the fact that I can run a single pex line all the way across my house, with several twists and turns, and only have a single fitting on each end of that run, makes it all but certain that the potential number of failures in that line is dramatically lower than a copper run. In addition, the flow resistance in that span is orders of magnitude lower. I don't see the drawback here.
Slowly but surely, my costs have been creeping up. Usually there is some sort of notice. Last week I got a call from a vendor who told me that effective immediately, they have implemented a 40% price increase. This officially makes the imported fittings MORE expensive than the ones made here in the good old US of A.
Now I know what you are thinking. Great! Bradd, you can now buy and sell domestic no hub fittings. Not so fast. I was able to buy from an importer who buys directly from the factory. In order to get the best price, I have to buy an entire truckload of domestic pipe & fittings. There is a 1/4 truck, 1/2 truck, & full truck price. Then there are "back end" rebates based upon how much you buy. So now even if I could (or wanted to) lay out the money for 6 months (or a year) worth of inventory, I can't. They don't want to deal with the little guy like me. So I can't buy directly from the manufacturer, I HAVE to buy from a re-seller who also happens to be a bigger plumbing supply and therefore my competitor. Money is made when you buy things, not when you sell.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2025 Forester Limited, 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250