Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

oldfarmer50 · May 2018

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

explorerx4 said:
What if there is no direct replacement model?
Say you buy a last year Taurus? I think 2019 will be the last year with no replacement.
Maybe the actuaries figure that into how much the rider costs.
Maybe, but they couldn't know in every case if a model will be brought back the following year. My guess, and it is only a guess, is they would give you a similar car that would have cost the same as your original car was...at the time. For example, replace a $40000 2016 Taurus, with a 2019 Impala that would have been $40000 in 2016.
Who other than @imidazol97 would be satisfied with a Chevy when they had a Ford?

jmonroe
How am I supposed to take that comment invoking my name?

Take it as acknowledgement that you are living rent free in someone's head.

imidazol97 · May 2018

oldfarmer50 said:

imidazol97 said:

jmonroe said:

Who other than @imidazol97 would be satisfied with a Chevy when they had a Ford?

jmonroe
How am I supposed to take that comment invoking my name?

Take it as acknowledgement that you are living rent free in someone's head.

Something of Imidazol Derangement Syndrome... LOL

graphicguy · May 2018

nyccarguy said:
I’m not sure how many of you have heard, but @sandman_6472 has been laid up in the hospital for a few days and nobody has heard from @graphicguy in a while.

Sorry to hear about Sandy. Didn't get through the thousand plus posts since I've been away. Work travel has me in the weeds.

Nothing of importance on my end.

Will check in more regularly, as time permits.

Carry on!

28firefighter · May 2018

Good to hear from you, @graphicguy! Glad all is well.

ab348 · May 2018

Some good news on the health front, which I really needed.

I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer.

Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.

28firefighter · May 2018

That's great news, @ab348! Thinking healthy thoughts for you.

jmonroe · May 2018

ab348 said:
Some good news on the health front, which I really needed.

I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer.

Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.

That is great news ab, now all you have to do is get the ticker fixed and you're good for another 10K miles or an oil change whichever is to your advantage.

We're here for you and I'm sure you know that.

jmonroe

imidazol97 · May 2018

ab348 said:
Some good news on the health front, which I really needed. ... Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.

Congratulations on the Good news. Now they can proceed with the valve. And even better is you don't have urological cancer.

"Not cancer" is a great phrase indeed.

bwia · May 2018

ab348 said:
Some good news on the health front, which I really needed.

I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer.

Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.

@ab348, glad to hear that the detected masses around your kidneys are benign and treatable. If I am not mistaken it sounds like something similar to Melania Trump's kidney condition. As to the heart valve replacement, I wish you much luck with that. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is world class for these procedures, but no worries, as I am sure Canadian doctors are equally proficient with these as well. By the way, is the new valve going to be animal (i.e. pig), plastic or something else? Prayers.

ab348 · May 2018

bwia said:
As to the heart valve replacement, I wish you much luck with that. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is world class for these procedures, but no worries, as I am sure Canadian doctors are equally proficient with these as well. By the way, is the new valve going to be animal (i.e. pig), plastic or something else? Prayers.

In 2009 when I had bypass surgery they replaced the Mitral valve with a tissue (pig) valve, and it is still fine. But the aortic valve started acting up about 4 years ago and got bad enough about 15 months ago that they determined it needed to be replaced (I can confirm it is now very limiting). Since I had complications post-op in '09 they consider me high-risk so they don't want to open me up if they can avoid that (fine by me). Fortunately there is a TAVI program locally where they replace it via an incision into a groin artery and somehow snake it up into position, and that is what I'm supposed to get. Strikes me as magic but scares me much less and the time in hospital is much less as well, as is the recovery time after discharge. That is a bovine valve I'm told.

abacomike · May 2018

ab348 said:

Some good news on the health front, which I really needed. I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer. Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.

Great news! You must have been living on the edge these past weeks since the diagnostic tests. Now for step 2 - new valve. Good luck my friend.

explorerx4 · May 2018

@ab348,
I posted a message on your profile.

oldfarmer50 · May 2018

ab348 said:
Some good news on the health front, which I really needed.

I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer.

Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.

<blockquote

Interesting that you have a bunch of celebrity like conditions. Arnold Swartzenager had the heart valve thing and the First Lady of the US had a similar kidney ailment. How did you manage to be so top tier?

berri · May 2018

My best to everyone. Life can be unpredictable, so take care and live life!

tjc78 · May 2018

graphicguy said:

I’m not sure how many of you have heard, but @sandman_6472 has been laid up in the hospital for a few days and nobody has heard from @graphicguy in a while.
Sorry to hear about Sandy. Didn't get through the thousand plus posts since I've been away. Work travel has me in the weeds. Nothing of importance on my end. Will check in more regularly, as time permits. Carry on!

Ugh travel...when I took my new position I was told no traveling. Well that was a little BS, because I’ve traveled more for work this year so far than the previous 5 years!

I am trying to minimize it, but sometimes you just have to be on site.

abacomike · May 2018

My subsequent comments are not intended to be political - nor should they be so construed.

You all know that for the first 32 years of my working life, I was a teacher for 9 years and a school principal/headmaster for 23 years. Not once did I ever worry about any of the children or adults in my care being shot and or murdered while in the school. I guess I was lucky and spared the horrors of such an unconscionable action carried out by one or more of my students against the precious lives of the other kids and teaching staff in my school(s). Yes, I took fierce security precautions by making sure no one entered my school without first getting a visitor’s badge in my office which they were required to wear in full view when in the building.

Then came Columbine and Sandy Hook and Parkland and, now, SanteFe, not to mention scores more. Thank God I was just leaving the education business by the time Columbine happened.

God help us all if the powers at large cannot come up with a means of protecting our most precious of legacies and loves - our children. Don’t think I don’t worry continuously about my grandchildren in their High School. This shouldn’t be!

May the Lord bless and keep all those who have died in the face of such circumstances close to his heart.

tbirdmarco · May 2018

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CY4NR_1pwkQ

xwesx · May 2018

Excellent sentiments, Mike.

Such situations are a simple risk reality of any gathering of people, and these manifestations display the decay of values in our society to the point where our children feel so estranged and lives mean so little. Heartbreaking, really.

oldfarmer50 · May 2018

abacomike said:
My subsequent comments are not intended to be political - nor should they be so construed.

You all know that for the first 32 years of my working life, I was a teacher for 9 years and a school principal/headmaster for 23 years. Not once did I ever worry about any of the children or adults in my care being shot and or murdered while in the school. I guess I was lucky and spared the horrors of such an unconscionable action carried out by one or more of my students against the precious lives of the other kids and teaching staff in my school(s). Yes, I took fierce security precautions by making sure no one entered my school without first getting a visitor’s badge in my office which they were required to wear in full view when in the building.

Then came Columbine and Sandy Hook and Parkland and, now, SanteFe, not to mention scores more. Thank God I was just leaving the education business by the time Columbine happened.

God help us all if the powers at large cannot come up with a means of protecting our most precious of legacies and loves - our children. Don’t think I don’t worry continuously about my grandchildren in their High School. This shouldn’t be!

May the Lord bless and keep all those who have died in the face of such circumstances close to his heart.

While I have no real evidence I just wonder if there isn't a connection between these incidents and the increasing use of psychotropic drugs on children. It seems every kid these days is on some mood altering drug.

thebean · May 2018

Very well said, Mike. I'm convinced we can't rely on Congress (irregardless of party) to solve this issue, nor any issue that takes real resolve. All any representative or senator cares about is getting re-elected and they will say/promise anything to that end. Term limits are all that can save our country. But, they will never be voted in, sadly.

jmonroe · May 2018

bwia said:

ab348 said:
Some good news on the health front, which I really needed.

I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer.

Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.
@ab348, glad to hear that the detected masses around your kidneys are benign and treatable. If I am not mistaken it sounds like something similar to Melania Trump's kidney condition. As to the heart valve replacement, I wish you much luck with that. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is world class for these procedures, but no worries, as I am sure Canadian doctors are equally proficient with these as well. By the way, is the new valve going to be animal (i.e. pig), plastic or something else? Prayers.

You raised an interesting thought when you mentioned the material from which heart valves are made. Like, manmade plastic or animal such as from a pig.

I don't know what flavor @ab348 is, nor do I have a need to know, but our poster buddies @nyccarguy and @28firefighter might have to opt out of the pig thing, heaven forbid it ever comes to that, lest they no longer be kosher.

I never thought of something like that before. This site makes you think out of the box.

jmonroe

abacomike · May 2018

oldfarmer50 said:

My subsequent comments are not intended to be political - nor should they be so construed.

You all know that for the first 32 years of my working life, I was a teacher for 9 years and a school principal/headmaster for 23 years. Not once did I ever worry about any of the children or adults in my care being shot and or murdered while in the school. I guess I was lucky and spared the horrors of such an unconscionable action carried out by one or more of my students against the precious lives of the other kids and teaching staff in my school(s). Yes, I took fierce security precautions by making sure no one entered my school without first getting a visitor’s badge in my office which they were required to wear in full view when in the building.

Then came Columbine and Sandy Hook and Parkland and, now, SanteFe, not to mention scores more. Thank God I was just leaving the education business by the time Columbine happened.

God help us all if the powers at large cannot come up with a means of protecting our most precious of legacies and loves - our children. Don’t think I don’t worry continuously about my grandchildren in their High School. This shouldn’t be!

May the Lord bless and keep all those who have died in the face of such circumstances close to his heart.
While I have no real evidence I just wonder if there isn't a connection between these incidents and the increasing use of psychotropic drugs on children. It seems every kid these days is on some mood altering drug.

The perpetrators of these killings in our schools were either social outcasts who were bullied by peers, sociopaths who suffered some form of neurological disorder (Autism or Aspergers or related neurological disorders) which acutely altered their behaviors, or suffered from one or more mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bi-polar disorders.

But, no matter the affliction, it’s still kids killing other kids. My philosophy on the possible causes of these tragedies goes back to “MAINSTREAMING” special education students into the regular education classes without sufficient monitoring of these special education students in those placements. I am not opposed to mainstreaming. Federal Law requires mainstreaming special education students in all public schools - but lack of sufficient funding seriously limits the tracking and monitoring of these kids. Social workers and school psychologists and Special Education Resource Teams are understaffed and overworked with caseloads that intrinsically doom many of these mainstreamed students to failure or anti-social behaviors which are not identified soon enough - and even when identified, no resources are available to correct the problem(s).

My youngest grandson has Aspergers, a form of autism that inhibits his ability to interact with others socially in appropriate ways. Thank God for a good special education program in my grandson’s school district - he has improved exponentially and enters high school in the fall. He has a 142 performance IQ, but his verbal IQ is seriously depressed by the Aspergers Syndrome - the ability to express himself verbally to others in appropriate ways. I haven’t seen him in over 7 years, but my son is bringing him here to Florida in August. But don’t think I don’t worry that he could be pushed into a situation whereby he overreacts to certain negative stimuli.

I don’t believe the shootings in schools problem is caused by the over use psychotropic drugs on these kids but rather the lack of adequate resources to properly track and monitor the children who have been mainstreamed.

abacomike · May 2018

jmonroe said:

Some good news on the health front, which I really needed. I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer. Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.
@ab348, glad to hear that the detected masses around your kidneys are benign and treatable. If I am not mistaken it sounds like something similar to Melania Trump's kidney condition. As to the heart valve replacement, I wish you much luck with that. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is world class for these procedures, but no worries, as I am sure Canadian doctors are equally proficient with these as well. By the way, is the new valve going to be animal (i.e. pig), plastic or something else? Prayers.
You raised an interesting thought when you mentioned the material from which heart valves are made. Like, manmade plastic or animal such as from a pig. I don't know what flavor @ab348 is, nor do I have a need to know, but our poster buddies @nyccarguy and @28firefighter might have to opt out of the pig thing, heaven forbid it ever comes to that, lest they no longer be kosher. I never thought of something like that before. This site makes you think out of the box. jmonroe

Jmonroe, in the United States, less than 5% of those who identify with Judaism practice The Kashrut Laws (keeping the foods they eat Kosher) according to Leviticus (the Book of the Bible that delineates what Kosher and non-Kosher is). In Kosher homes, there are three sets of dishes and food preparation utensils. One set for meat, one set for dairy, and one set for Passover.

So there is no need to worry about pork valves for the heart for most who are Jewish.

suydam · May 2018

The principle of pikuah nefesh, saving a life, triumphs over everything. There is no problem accepting pig valves for any kind of Jew, observant or not.

ab348 · May 2018

abacomike said:

My philosophy on the possible causes of these tragedies goes back to “MAINSTREAMING” special education students into the regular education classes without sufficient monitoring of these special education students in those placements. I am not opposed to mainstreaming. Federal Law requires mainstreaming special education students in all public schools - but lack of sufficient funding seriously limits the tracking and monitoring of these kids. Social workers and school psychologists and Special Education Resource Teams are understaffed and overworked with caseloads that intrinsically doom many of these mainstreamed students to failure or anti-social behaviors which are not identified soon enough - and even when identified, no resources are available to correct the problem(s).

I don’t believe the problem is caused by the over use psychotropic drugs on these kids but rather the lack of adequate resources to properly track and monitor the children who have been mainstreamed.

That may be a part of it. Mainstreaming is also done here and it is a disaster. The kids needing the attention do not get enough of it, and they disrupt classes so that it makes learning a challenge for the other kids present, and everyone loses. It is politically incorrect to suggest it needs to go away but I'm sure many parents think that way. But whether that is the main reason for the violence I am not so sure. Things that come to mind are recreational drug use at a young age, excessively violent movies/TV/video games in popular culture, lack of teaching of moral values, you name it. A lot comes down to parenting that is sadly lacking.

No easy answers.

jmonroe · May 2018

abacomike said:

jmonroe said:

Some good news on the health front, which I really needed.

I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer.

Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.
@ab348, glad to hear that the detected masses around your kidneys are benign and treatable. If I am not mistaken it sounds like something similar to Melania Trump's kidney condition. As to the heart valve replacement, I wish you much luck with that. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is world class for these procedures, but no worries, as I am sure Canadian doctors are equally proficient with these as well. By the way, is the new valve going to be animal (i.e. pig), plastic or something else? Prayers.

You raised an interesting thought when you mentioned the material from which heart valves are made. Like, manmade plastic or animal such as from a pig.

I don't know what flavor @ab348 is, nor do I have a need to know, but our poster buddies @nyccarguy and @28firefighter might have to opt out of the pig thing, heaven forbid it ever comes to that, lest they no longer be kosher.

I never thought of something like that before. This site makes you think out of the box.

jmonroe

Jmonroe, in the United States, less than 5% of those who identify with Judaism practice The Kashrut Laws (keeping the foods they eat Kosher) according to Leviticus (the Book of the Bible that delineates what Kosher and non-Kosher is). In Kosher homes, there are three sets of dishes and food preparation utensils. One set for meat, one set for dairy, and one set for Passover.

So there is no need to worry about pork valves for the heart for most who are Jewish.

OK Mike, I'll take your word about the 5% thing. As much as we like our Kosher poster buddies, I don't think any of us think of them as being in the top 5% of anything.

jmonroe

fintail · May 2018

Where did you teach? That might be part of it, too. I'm glad I grew up when and where I did - this kind of thing simply wasn't on the radar. I also got to get through college before costs exploded. I don't envy kids today.

Satire rag "The Onion" runs this headline every time there's an incident, and it makes a not-incorrect observation "‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens"

abacomike said:
My subsequent comments are not intended to be political - nor should they be so construed.

You all know that for the first 32 years of my working life, I was a teacher for 9 years and a school principal/headmaster for 23 years. Not once did I ever worry about any of the children or adults in my care being shot and or murdered while in the school. I guess I was lucky and spared the horrors of such an unconscionable action carried out by one or more of my students against the precious lives of the other kids and teaching staff in my school(s). Yes, I took fierce security precautions by making sure no one entered my school without first getting a visitor’s badge in my office which they were required to wear in full view when in the building.

Then came Columbine and Sandy Hook and Parkland and, now, SanteFe, not to mention scores more. Thank God I was just leaving the education business by the time Columbine happened.

God help us all if the powers at large cannot come up with a means of protecting our most precious of legacies and loves - our children. Don’t think I don’t worry continuously about my grandchildren in their High School. This shouldn’t be!

May the Lord bless and keep all those who have died in the face of such circumstances close to his heart.

28firefighter · May 2018

@suydam nailed it - you do what it takes to save a life, even if you are ultra religious.

@abacomike nailed it - I do not keep kosher nor does anyone I know in our community of Jewish friends and family, save for one extended family member who became Orthodox. Personally the idea of keeping kosher went out the window the days I had cheesesteak and bacon for the first time.

If it saved my life, I’d take it no matter what it came from. In fact one of the medications I’m on for my Crohn’s (Remicade) is made from mouse proteins.

abacomike · May 2018

fintail said:

Where did you teach? That might be part of it, too. I'm glad I grew up when and where I did - this kind of thing simply wasn't on the radar. I also got to get through college before costs exploded. I don't envy kids today. Satire rag "The Onion" runs this headline every time there's an incident, and it makes a not-incorrect observation "‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens"
My subsequent comments are not intended to be political - nor should they be so construed.

You all know that for the first 32 years of my working life, I was a teacher for 9 years and a school principal/headmaster for 23 years. Not once did I ever worry about any of the children or adults in my care being shot and or murdered while in the school. I guess I was lucky and spared the horrors of such an unconscionable action carried out by one or more of my students against the precious lives of the other kids and teaching staff in my school(s). Yes, I took fierce security precautions by making sure no one entered my school without first getting a visitor’s badge in my office which they were required to wear in full view when in the building.

Then came Columbine and Sandy Hook and Parkland and, now, SanteFe, not to mention scores more. Thank God I was just leaving the education business by the time Columbine happened.

God help us all if the powers at large cannot come up with a means of protecting our most precious of legacies and loves - our children. Don’t think I don’t worry continuously about my grandchildren in their High School. This shouldn’t be!

May the Lord bless and keep all those who have died in the face of such circumstances close to his heart.

Believe it or not, for the first 4 years of my teaching career I taught grades 4, 5 and 6 in the inner city of Chicago. The school was 100% African American students - but with rare exceptions, the kids were great. I did remember having a 12 year old boy throw a chair at me once, but I survived. I often wonder if I made an impression on my students and if many were able to shed the stigma of poverty and racism and become successful adults in our society. I am confident that I reached at least one of those kids and because of my skills as a teacher and educator, they are now successful in every measurable way. Changing the life for the better for even one kid makes all the struggles I had in those early years worthwhile.

As a school principal, I know I succeeded with hundreds of lives- I still communicate with s dozen or so former students and have attended a couple of weddings years ago. So very satisfying.

suydam · May 2018

As I said, it’s not a problem whether you’re Orthodox or not. Jews as a group don’t shun medical practices or scientific advances. The principle of saving a life is always the highest cause.

driver100 · May 2018

Ab, good luck with your heart.....I would never guess you had any medical problems if you hadn't mentioned it....you maintain a positive attitude in life, and you have a very clever sense of humor....great qualities.

GG: nice to have you back.....when we don't hear from someone I sometimes wonder if something really bad happened....chances are we would never know. Maybe we should leave our passwords and names in our wills.

JMonroe; Interesting question about pig and bovine hearts. How about if someone is a vegetarian or vegan, what do they do?

Mike; I think many youth are alienated. Many parents don't care about their kids, have no clue about teaching values. I think drugs are a problem....when I taught elementary school in the early 70s few kids had ADD (attention deficit disorder), hyperactivity, alcohol syndrome and many other disorders along with all the violence kids are exposed to. There are lots of factors. Schools should have fences and gates, and a central entrance where people entering are monitored.

Sandman6472 · May 2018

Finally sitting at the computer. Emergency doc said I came in just in time, another day or two and I coulda died. Man, that was a real wake up call!!
Taking off until mid-June now then will ease back into work. Probably give up the auction job as three days/week at Hertz is really plenty, do about 30 hours each week. Think it's enough to be honest.
Take care all and remember, tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us. Live right, eat right and be happy!!

The Sandman

abacomike · May 2018

driver100 said:

Ab, good luck with your heart.....I would never guess you had any medical problems if you hadn't mentioned it....you maintain a positive attitude in life, and you have a very clever sense of humor....great qualities. GG: nice to have you back.....when we don't hear from someone I sometimes wonder if something really bad happened....chances are we would never know. Maybe we should leave our passwords and names in our wills. JMonroe; Interesting question about pig and bovine hearts. How about if someone is a vegetarian or vegan, what do they do? Mike; I think many youth are alienated. Many parents don't care about their kids, have no clue about teaching values. I think drugs are a problem....when I taught elementary school in the early 70s few kids had ADD (attention deficit disorder), hyperactivity, alcohol syndrome and many other disorders along with all the violence kids are exposed to. There are lots of factors. Schools should have fences and gates, and a central entrance where people entering are monitored.

“...many parents don’t care about their kids...” is not true. A few parents, maybe, but not “many”! Parents do care about their kids, but due to circumstances that most cannot control, they either do not have the skills or the means to give them what they need. Above all, kids need LOVE and parents who can and do LOVE their children. Some parents are incapable of expressing their love, but they do love and care about their offspring.

My thoughts are this - if you can find a parent who does not care about their kid(s), it would be a rare find, indeed!

oldfarmer50 · May 2018

Rare enough to ever be collectable? I can't imagine they made a lot of them.

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/d/1988-chrysler-lebaron-coupe/6568420330.html

explorerx4 · May 2018

Lebaron looks like it's in great shape. It even has a cross hanging from the mirror, which you will probably need if you buy it.

abacomike · May 2018

When I got to my dermatologist’s office yesterday, parked right next to me was a 2018 Honda Accord EX-L in white with some very impressive looking wheels. I think this was the first one I have seen up close since the model restyling. That was one sharp looking sedan and I was really struck by the size of the car. It was as big as an E Class or 5 Series - at least it appeared to be. This is no longer the compact Accord we all grew up with - this was a standout in terms of styling and size.

I looked up the specs on the 2018 and found only 4-cylinder engines - no V6’s available. I was surprised at that. The 2.0 4cyl turbo develops an impressive 252 hp with 273 lb ft of torque. That beats the E Class 4 cyl turbo by 12 hp and is 700 lbs lighter. That Accord probably moves quickly off the line.

Definitely a super competitive edge over many high end vehicles as well as the Camry and the Sonata and the Altima.

driver100 · May 2018

oldfarmer50 said:
Rare enough to ever be collectable? I can't imagine they made a lot of them.

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/d/1988-chrysler-lebaron-coupe/6568420330.html

I always liked those Lebarons......big windows, long hood, squared off sides. Sounds good considering the price and the mileage...looks immaculate. Like the guy says, "a rare survivor".

I'd be more inclined to buy it if I knew something about fixing cars....I think it will need a lot of that.

driver100 · May 2018

My thoughts are this - if you can find a parent who does not care about their kid(s), it would be a rare find, indeed!

Maybe you only associate with people who do care about their kids. Or, maybe you have to have that kind of outlook to have a career in the teaching profession. Parents of bad kids, may say they care, but, they don't care enough to instill decent values and discipline their kids......or the kids wouldn't be stealing cars, joining gangs, destroying property, and harming other people.

imidazol97 · May 2018

Don't the Civic and the accord share the same platform. The accord is styled to look bigger. I would rather buy an Accord with a normal greenhouse where the driver can hope to park and see where the corners are by inference if not direct vision.

If GM were using the same platform for a Civic and an Accord (Cruze and Malibu), I can only imagine the criticism that would be evoked of GM for that. I recall in 2013/14 how the criticism was that GM had shrunk the Malibu from the Gen 7 size to keep it from being too close to the Impala. All sorts of conspiracy theories were put out about that attempt to protect the Impala from competition. I tried to find information about the Accord and Civic platforms, but it was missing from the Wiki summaries.

Another comment is that don't I recall a few years back Honda was criticising use of turbos on small 4-cylinder engines? Now they have only that.

I'll have to drive one of each when I get ready to purchase a replacement for my Malibu, which is doing fine thank you.

snakeweasel · May 2018

ab348 said:

Some good news on the health front, which I really needed. I have been waiting for a heart valve replacement for the better part of a year. For the last 5 motnhs that has been on hold because as part of the workup in preparation for that, a "routine" CT scan showed some odd things re. my kidneys - a whole bunch of small masses attached to each. Cardiology called in Urology, who were a bit baffled and ordered a bunch of tests including a MRI and needle biospsies of each kidney. Their feeling was that it was cancer. Got called in today and was told they are benign. May be something called an angiomyolipoma which, while not great, is generally treatable and non-urgent at this point. That means my valve procedure can go forward. Always nice to be told you don't have cancer, when you (and the docs) thought you did.

Great news, will keep you and your procedure in our prayers.

snakeweasel · May 2018

driver100 said:

My thoughts are this - if you can find a parent who does not care about their kid(s), it would be a rare find, indeed!
Maybe you only associate with people who do care about their kids. Or, maybe you have to have that kind of outlook to have a career in the teaching profession. Parents of bad kids, may say they care, but, they don't care enough to instill decent values and discipline their kids......or the kids wouldn't be stealing cars, joining gangs, destroying property, and harming other people.

Also you have the parents who will defend their children (let's face it kids are baby goats) no matter what. I don't know how many times I have heard a parent say something like "my child would never do something like that" or "I can't discipline him, it would destroy his creativity".

Spare the rod.....

abacomike · May 2018

imidazol97 said:

Don't the Civic and the accord share the same platform. The accord is styled to look bigger. I would rather buy an Accord with a normal greenhouse where the driver can hope to park and see where the corners are by inference if not direct vision. If GM were using the same platform for a Civic and an Accord (Cruze and Malibu), I can only imagine the criticism that would be evoked of GM for that. I recall in 2013/14 how the criticism was that GM had shrunk the Malibu from the Gen 7 size to keep it from being too close to the Impala. All sorts of conspiracy theories were put out about that attempt to protect the Impala from competition. I tried to find information about the Accord and Civic platforms, but it was missing from the Wiki summaries. Another comment is that don't I recall a few years back Honda was criticising use of turbos on small 4-cylinder engines? Now they have only that. I'll have to drive one of each when I get ready to purchase a replacement for my Malibu, which is doing fine thank you.

I don’t follow GM news briefs about their platforms, engines or conflicts with the public or news media at large about their manufacturing as closely as you do, imid. But the same is true with all manufacturers from my perspective. If it isn’t in the automotive or business section of my newspaper or on this board from Edmunds, I am clueless. Thanks to posters like you and ab, I stay on top of GM news. Same is true about BMW and Mercedes and Jaguar - we have experts on this forum who contribute their knowledge and expertise.

So when it comes to engines and platforms - I learn that stuff here on Edmunds.

imidazol97 · May 2018

The over arching point about the school shootings is that other students comment that they are not surprised that the shooter went socially haywire and did what they did. The kids, and the administration/teachers, and the parents know there's something wrong in the personality or behavior or the offenders.

The politicians and media with their agendas try to make out that there's some great solution in the sky if only, if only we do this or that which they want. But the parent in Fl along with the brother both had run ins with the shooter where the shooter pulled a gun on them! And they didn't handle the problem. The school district used the then administration's Promise Program which hides criminal offenses to lower data points on record is also responsible. That would be like hiding a vehicle flaw that causes accidents to avoid getting a high number of vehicular mishaps attributed to runaway acceleration or ignition switches turned off easily.

I also blame Alphabet and Facebook for their various social media systems meant for profit--the social media interaction is remote and cold and divisive, as well as being misused to shape opinions.

We had guns at school in the trucks and cars when I was in school in a farming community. People were bullied in various ways. Of course, if there were incidents in some distant school, we didn't have media all over the country covering an incident as if it were local. Our local media outlets, vying for space on Facebook, even present dramatic traffic accidents in California as if they were some local issue.

abacomike · May 2018

I was going to venture out this morning for a walk at the mall but we are now under a flood warning until late tonight. According to our local weather experts, we have had 12 inches of rain since last Saturday - that’s an average of almost 2 inches a day with several more inches expected in the next 10 hours.

I guess rainy season has arrived in South Florida.

imidazol97 · May 2018

abacomike said:
I was going to venture out this morning for a walk at the mall but we are now under a flood warning until late tonight. According to our local weather experts, we have had 12 inches of rain since last Saturday - that’s an average of almost 2 inches a day with several more inches expected in the next 10 hours.

I guess rainy season has arrived in South Florida.

Look at the good side: it's not heavy rain as part of a hurricane..., yet.

tjc78 · May 2018

@sandman_6472

I hope you feel better as soon as possible! I read the post over in CCBA and really feel for you. Very early on in my relationship with my wife I went through a battle with cancer. I sheltered her from it to an extent and looking back I regret it since all she wanted to do was help. We’ve had our tough spots in the last 10 years (just about 6 married) but somehow we get through it.

Take a step back and get your self fully healthy, then attack that issue head on.

graphicguy · May 2018

Sandy....great to hear you are on the mend. Keep us posted.

TJC....some of the travel wasn’t bad. Spent some time in NYC Austin and Miami. Then again, I was also in Ft Worth and Lenexa.

Hinted at some job changes a few months back. Been going back and forth with this new company (large tech company). Always feel guilty about interviewing with one company while always taking a sick day(s) to travel and interview with another.

Possibility of a new and shiny job always sends me into a funk about my current job. That’s not fair to my current employer. But, as they say, money talks and BS walks. I kind of have always wanted to work for the company I’m talking to. Would be disappointed if I don’t at least get an offer after talking to them the last several weeks.

We’ll see.

OF.....I had a work colleague who loved those LeBarons. He and his wife had 3 of them collectively. All lasted at least 150K miles. I think one went over 200k miles. The one you linked looks in great shape. Offer 20 Benjamin’s.....keep another grand or two set aside for repairs, and that could be a hoopty that will last another 10 years.

Driver....are you insinuating I should leave my Edmunds password with you? That scares me a little as I could see you and JM sharing the password and posting as me. No good would come of that.

houdini1 · May 2018

imidazol97 said:
We had guns at school in the trucks and cars when I was in school in a farming community. People were bullied in various ways. Of course, if there were incidents in some distant school, we didn't have media all over the country covering an incident as if it were local. Our local media outlets, vying for space on Facebook, even present dramatic traffic accidents in California as if they were some local issue.

Same here Imid. A few fisticuffs settled all our disagreements, and usually turned your opponent into a friend.

oldfarmer50 · May 2018

abacomike said:
When I got to my dermatologist’s office yesterday, parked right next to me was a 2018 Honda Accord EX-L in white with some very impressive looking wheels. I think this was the first one I have seen up close since the model restyling. That was one sharp looking sedan and I was really struck by the size of the car. It was as big as an E Class or 5 Series - at least it appeared to be. This is no longer the compact Accord we all grew up with - this was a standout in terms of styling and size.

I looked up the specs on the 2018 and found only 4-cylinder engines - no V6’s available. I was surprised at that. The 2.0 4cyl turbo develops an impressive 252 hp with 273 lb ft of torque. That beats the E Class 4 cyl turbo by 12 hp and is 700 lbs lighter. That Accord probably moves quickly off the line.

Definitely a super competitive edge over many high end vehicles as well as the Camry and the Sonata and the Altima.

A guy down the road is selling a 2012 Accord with 36k miles for $10,500 asking price. Considering the supposed high resale value of these cars and that Edmunds values the lowest trim Accord at $11,300 I'm looking for an excuse to give the guy a call. Maybe driver100 can throw some cold water on the idea. Maybe it's a flood car or it's haunted.

oldfarmer50 · May 2018

abacomike said:
I was going to venture out this morning for a walk at the mall but we are now under a flood warning until late tonight. According to our local weather experts, we have had 12 inches of rain since last Saturday - that’s an average of almost 2 inches a day with several more inches expected in the next 10 hours.

I guess rainy season has arrived in South Florida.

Weren't Floridians complaining about drought not to long ago? IIRC there were predictions of the state turning into a desert.

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