Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright · February 2019

Totalitarian regimes can be very efficient.

jmonroe1 · February 2019

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
serious question. why do they put them up on the roof instead of on the ground like around here?
Possibly no basements. We had an a/c on the roof on one house we had. It was in the country and part of the house - the living room dining room was built out of a 150 yer old farm house that was still there...the rest was new. Because we were in the country electrical heat was our best option, and there was NO duct work in the farm house part...so a roof air conditioner was a logical choice. It can be very efficient even without duct work.
I'm confused. I've never seen an A/C system that didn't have duct work. Since you have to pump cool air to be comfortable. Therefore, you have to have at least one outlet which would require duct work and if that is the case the A/C system would be horribly inefficient.

jmonroe
Even I, who is technically challenged, will try to explain. Houses in the north usually have pipes and duct work to carry heat.....if you add an a/c to the system it can use the same duct work as the heating unit.

Sometimes, not all the time, you have a house without a basement, and you want to add an a/c unit later. If you install it on the roof you need minimal duct work to carry the air into the house. Since cold air falls it is actually pretty efficient.

In the case of the 150 year old farm house, there was no furnace and no duct work, and it was heated with electricity....a grid plastered into the ceiling. The easiest solution was an a/c unit on the roof. There was minimal duct work. Stores use roof a/c's all the time...efficient and less expensive.....also fairly quiet.

Probably good in areas that could flood too.

I know you are technically challenged but now I see that you have other challenges. Your post that prompted my response said in part:

"Because we were in the country electrical heat was our best option, and there was NO duct work in the farm house part...so a roof air conditioner was a logical choice. It can be very efficient even without duct work".

Note that you said, "NO duct work" and then said, "without duct work". Therefore, I made my post that said I was confused and now more than ever. Why? Because now you said, "There was minimal duct work". Which is what I said when I said, "Therefore, you have to have at least one outlet which would require duct work and if that is the case the A/C system would be horribly inefficient". Having at least one outlet is minimal to me not, "NO duct work" or without duct work".

jmonroe

ab348 · February 2019

I think the real @jmonroe is back.

driver100 · February 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:

driver100 said:

ab348 said:
I watched the latest episode of The Grand Tour where they went to China. I knew development has exploded there but some of the things they showed were just mind-boggling, like a city of 30 million people which neither they nor I had ever heard of, absolutely filled with highrises and roads/tunnels/bridges/etc that were unlike anything I have ever seen. Project that over that whole country, then tell me again how my plastic shopping bag or drinking straw is killing the environment.
We were there a few years ago, Chungking. They say it has 30 million people but it is really a few districts tied together to make a city. There was little there before but they built a lot of highrises, for one thing to give people a home if they were displaced because of the Three Gorges Dam Project. You give up your little shack so they can fill the gorge with water, and you are offered an apartment in town.

But the building and infrastructure in China is incredible. I mean, how do you govern 1.4 billion people? Saw the Terra Cotta Soldiers, Great Wall, pandas, Shanghai and Beijing on that trip.
Actually a member of the Shiftright family has been to Chungking, many times. That was my dad, who as a very young man flew "over the Hump" from Burma during WW II. From Brooklyn to Burma in one year--what a ride! The U.S. Army supported the Chinese with supplies and intelligence info. He wrote home and predicted that the Communists would beat the crap out of the Nationalists after the war, and by god, he was right!

I wonder what he would think of Buick being one of the best selling cars in China today!

He was right about the Communists, but who could predict the Chinese would love Buicks? And, why not say Oldsmobiles - but they also love Cadillacs. We saw a lot of them and many models not available in North America.
Our young guide on the bus tour tried to sell us rubber stamps one day - a little side business....with stamps and envelopes. The next day we were introduced to our new guide, I think someone found out our first guide was trying to make a few dollars on the side.....they aren't fond of the capitalistic spirit.

One lady in our group asked our guide "What do you think about what happened in Tiananmen Square?" The guide wisely ignored the question.....it wouldn't be good if an official heard her talk about it.

driver100 · February 2019

ab348 said:
One of the interesting things noted on the episode, apparently true, were the arrays of cameras strung across expressways that took flash photos of every single car passing by. They said each was reviewed by someone in the bureaucracy although I suspect there had to be a pre-screening process that was automated. What they are looking for I do not know. Imagine how well that would go over here.

Maybe they were pre-screened and maybe not. I saw people cleaning a super highway, using a tree branch as a broom. For our little 4 day trip on the Yangtze we were on a small cruise ship that held 100 passengers...but, there were 110 staff....labor is so cheap. When you got off the ship there was a staff member on each step, there to help.

driver100 · February 2019

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
serious question. why do they put them up on the roof instead of on the ground like around here?
Possibly no basements. We had an a/c on the roof on one house we had. It was in the country and part of the house - the living room dining room was built out of a 150 yer old farm house that was still there...the rest was new. Because we were in the country electrical heat was our best option, and there was NO duct work in the farm house part...so a roof air conditioner was a logical choice. It can be very efficient even without duct work.
I'm confused. I've never seen an A/C system that didn't have duct work. Since you have to pump cool air to be comfortable. Therefore, you have to have at least one outlet which would require duct work and if that is the case the A/C system would be horribly inefficient.

jmonroe
Even I, who is technically challenged, will try to explain. Houses in the north usually have pipes and duct work to carry heat.....if you add an a/c to the system it can use the same duct work as the heating unit.

Sometimes, not all the time, you have a house without a basement, and you want to add an a/c unit later. If you install it on the roof you need minimal duct work to carry the air into the house. Since cold air falls it is actually pretty efficient.

In the case of the 150 year old farm house, there was no furnace and no duct work, and it was heated with electricity....a grid plastered into the ceiling. The easiest solution was an a/c unit on the roof. There was minimal duct work. Stores use roof a/c's all the time...efficient and less expensive.....also fairly quiet.

Probably good in areas that could flood too.

I know you are technically challenged but now I see that you have other challenges. Your post that prompted my response said in part:

"Because we were in the country electrical heat was our best option, and there was NO duct work in the farm house part...so a roof air conditioner was a logical choice. It can be very efficient even without duct work".

Note that you said, "NO duct work" and then said, "without duct work". Therefore, I made my post that said I was confused and now more than ever. Why? Because now you said, "There was minimal duct work". Which is what I said when I said, "Therefore, you have to have at least one outlet which would require duct work and if that is the case the A/C system would be horribly inefficient". Having at least one outlet is minimal to me not, "NO duct work" or without duct work".

jmonroe

Picky, picky.
Most people would know I meant minimal duct work, a way for the cool air to go the short distance to vent a few feet away......not ducts throughout the basement, up the walls and running through every room.
JMonroe1 is more ornery than the original.

driver100 · February 2019

ab348 said:
I think the real @jmonroe is back.

Yeh, his clone is much easier to get along with, and is pretty funny.

ruking1 · February 2019

fintail said:
Middle class is a relative construct.

Isn't it wonderful what one can do without cares in terms of social and environmental matters, corruption (look at west coast real estate, which is directly impacted by this same region), IP regulations, etc.

ruking1 said:

In light of the 2016 population of Canada, at about 36.2 M, 30 M in Chungking, China is probably a mind blower.

Another of mine blower in light of China’s 1.4+ B people, fully 300 M (21%) are in the middle class. This miracle growth in the middle class has happened largely during the last three decades. Isn’t it wonderful what can be done with American money, education, know-how, technology & markets?

It’s almost easy to see why China’s car market @ 20 M? beats USA’s @ 17.5 M.

Of course middle class is a relative construct ! ? Where did you get that I said the construct wasn’t relative? Indeed, app $32,000 USD yearly income puts you in the top 1% of the WORLD. (Top 1.03% to be closer)

imidazol97 · February 2019

ruking1 said:
Indeed $35,000 USD puts you in the top 1% of the WORLD.

Wow.

ruking1 · February 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Totalitarian regimes can be very efficient.

OR,... NOT? How about how well is Venezuela doing? It probably has more oil & gas resources than the Middle East.

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

explorerx4 said:
@oldfarmer50,
What kind of wood did you use?

Pressure treated (newer non toxic) deck posts and decking. 4x4s for supports. 2x10s for joists and 6x5/4ths for the floors. Busted my thumb putting in the last nail and had to use the electric drill to relieve the pressure under the nail. Ouch!

It was basically like building a deck 8’ off the ground.

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

stickguy said:
serious question. why do they put them up on the roof instead of on the ground like around here?

I’m guessing snakes and scorpions gumming up the works and then surprising the repairman.

Mr_Shiftright · February 2019

imidazol97 said:

ruking1 said:
Indeed $35,000 USD puts you in the top 1% of the WORLD.
Wow.

"Look MA, I'm at the top of the world!" Quick---what old movie?

Mr_Shiftright · February 2019

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Totalitarian regimes can be very efficient.
OR,... NOT? How about how well is Venezuela doing? It probably has more oil & gas resources than the Middle East.

Well a smart dictator does not kill the host of course. And you need strong collaborators. The corruption and nepotism has to be as efficient as the rest of the totalitarian system. There are many dictatorships that have been cruising along for decades now.

suydam · February 2019

Moving away from China’s govt and back to cars, here is an interesting take on the auto loan “crisis”:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2019/02/21/debunking-the-auto-loan-delinquency-crisis/amp/

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

ab348 said:
My brother dropped by for a visit last night and mentioned that his daughter and some of her girlfriends were visiting Las Vegas this week on a girls holiday and that they were very disappointed because it is cold and snowing there. I had not heard that but I guess it is true. It made him wonder if places there actually have much in the way of heating systems. I have to think they would but perhaps not as much heating capacity as you would typically find.

Vegas had it’s first snow in 10 years.

stickguy · February 2019

measurable snow 2 days in a row now. I would be really annoyed if I took my winter vacation to the desert, and got that!

Mr_Shiftright · February 2019

suydam said:
Moving away from China’s govt and back to cars, here is an interesting take on the auto loan “crisis”:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2019/02/21/debunking-the-auto-loan-delinquency-crisis/amp/

That is interesting, but actually not all that comforting regardless. The numbers are still the numbers. It's like if automobile fatalities drop by 1,000 in a year, we all don't go YEA!

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

driver100 said:

ab348 said:
One of the interesting things noted on the episode, apparently true, were the arrays of cameras strung across expressways that took flash photos of every single car passing by. They said each was reviewed by someone in the bureaucracy although I suspect there had to be a pre-screening process that was automated. What they are looking for I do not know. Imagine how well that would go over here.
Maybe they were pre-screened and maybe not. I saw people cleaning a super highway, using a tree branch as a broom. For our little 4 day trip on the Yangtze we were on a small cruise ship that held 100 passengers...but, there were 110 staff....labor is so cheap. When you got off the ship there was a staff member on each step, there to help.

Help or report back your every move to the government?

suydam · February 2019

stickguy said:
measurable snow 2 days in a row now. I would be really annoyed if I took my winter vacation to the desert, and got that!

Head to the low desert like Palm Desert if you don’t want snow in winter! High desert is better in fall and spring.

ruking1 · February 2019

suydam said:
Moving away from China’s govt and back to cars, here is an interesting take on the auto loan “crisis”:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2019/02/21/debunking-the-auto-loan-delinquency-crisis/amp/

There are a lot of things to be said either way about the Forbes article. Too bad they didn’t cover how the majority of folks buy cars in China. So for example, most China car buyers pay cash. This is despite popular American cars costing much more in China than in the USA. (USD)

Mr_Shiftright · February 2019

Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:

imidazol97 said:

ruking1 said:
Indeed $35,000 USD puts you in the top 1% of the WORLD.
Wow.
"Look MA, I'm at the top of the world!" Quick---what old movie?

White Heat, James Cagney. Great movie.

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

suydam said:
Moving away from China’s govt and back to cars, here is an interesting take on the auto loan “crisis”:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2019/02/21/debunking-the-auto-loan-delinquency-crisis/amp/

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

ruking1 · February 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

suydam said:
Moving away from China’s govt and back to cars, here is an interesting take on the auto loan “crisis”:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2019/02/21/debunking-the-auto-loan-delinquency-crisis/amp/

Lies, damn lies and statistics.

No not really, those that deal in those markets understand & work the many tiers that exist.

Mr_Shiftright · February 2019

I think he meant that the original article manipulated the statistics and this article kind of clarifies them.

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

Work today was sweet torture. Bunch of dealer deliveries which allowed me to drool over cars while waiting for the check. Went to a Nissan/Genesis dealer and got a good look at a G70 with a $48k sticker. Must have been a stripper since it’s twin The Stinger in top form goes for $52k. Still very nice.

The cherry on the cake however was at a Caddy dealer. They had a black CTS tt V in the showroom for $64k. Except for not having enough money and remembering GGs experience it would be hard to resist. Especially since the sales manager was trying to sell me the whole time I was there.

ruking1 · February 2019

I think most people would be surprised to learn that the used car market almost exactly double the new car market per year. So for example, (2018)17.5 million new (&/or) 34 M used were sold.

The bottom line; loans in either/both sectors can be like indicators of the economy.

sda · February 2019

One day I will get the hang of this. I thought it would be easier to post the pics from my smart phone and then use my Surface to add text...
The first pic is the hotel that we stayed in St Petersburg last weekend. The weather was great, we ate most meals outside and we had a grand time.
The second pic is the house that dad grew up in. His dad literally built the house, carpentry and masonry. He did have help with the plumbing and electrical. It was built in 1937 and is located in the historic section of Old Kenwood in St. Pete.
The last pic is the house my parents built in 1962 for $9900. Dad said he was concerned about affording the $98/mo mortgage! It is 1500 sq/ft, 3 bed/2bath. It was fun to do the nostalgic tour and show my wife where I grew up as a child.

stickguy · February 2019

interesting mix of houses. thanks for sharing!

suydam · February 2019

Why are we looking at them? Don’t remember this thread!

snakeweasel · February 2019

ruking1 said:

fintail said:
Middle class is a relative construct.

Isn't it wonderful what one can do without cares in terms of social and environmental matters, corruption (look at west coast real estate, which is directly impacted by this same region), IP regulations, etc.

ruking1 said:

In light of the 2016 population of Canada, at about 36.2 M, 30 M in Chungking, China is probably a mind blower.

Another of mine blower in light of China’s 1.4+ B people, fully 300 M (21%) are in the middle class. This miracle growth in the middle class has happened largely during the last three decades. Isn’t it wonderful what can be done with American money, education, know-how, technology & markets?

It’s almost easy to see why China’s car market @ 20 M? beats USA’s @ 17.5 M.

Of course middle class is a relative construct ! ? Where did you get that I said the construct wasn’t relative? Indeed, app $32,000 USD yearly income puts you in the top 1% of the WORLD. (Top 1.03% to be closer)

But $32k USD in the U.S. wont get you the same standard of living that less than that would get you in other areas of the world.

ruking1 · February 2019

snakeweasel said:

ruking1 said:

fintail said:
Middle class is a relative construct.

Isn't it wonderful what one can do without cares in terms of social and environmental matters, corruption (look at west coast real estate, which is directly impacted by this same region), IP regulations, etc.

ruking1 said:

In light of the 2016 population of Canada, at about 36.2 M, 30 M in Chungking, China is probably a mind blower.

Another of mine blower in light of China’s 1.4+ B people, fully 300 M (21%) are in the middle class. This miracle growth in the middle class has happened largely during the last three decades. Isn’t it wonderful what can be done with American money, education, know-how, technology & markets?

It’s almost easy to see why China’s car market @ 20 M? beats USA’s @ 17.5 M.

Of course middle class is a relative construct ! ? Where did you get that I said the construct wasn’t relative? Indeed, app $32,000 USD yearly income puts you in the top 1% of the WORLD. (Top 1.03% to be closer)
But $32k USD in the U.S. wont get you the same standard of living that less than that would get you in other areas of the world.

Lots of US “ex pats” have figured this out, voted with their feet & have moved to those locations.

ab348 · February 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?

I spent a few days there many years ago. It was a bit underwhelming in truth. I think our expectations were way off. Getting there was a chore, hours of driving on 2-lane highways over endless bridges through the Keys, which were pretty scruffy then. Key West itself was pretty scruffy itself back then but nevertheless interesting, with Hemingway’s house and the southmost point having the pier where Cuban refugees came ashore, among other things. When we were there it wasn’t very crowded. Biking around town probably is fine.

ruking1 · February 2019

ab348 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?
I spent a few days there many years ago. It was a bit underwhelming in truth. I think our expectations were way off. Getting there was a chore, hours of driving on 2-lane highways over endless bridges through the Keys, which were pretty scruffy then. Key West itself was pretty scruffy itself back then but nevertheless interesting, with Hemingway’s house and the southmost point having the pier where Cuban refugees came ashore, among other things. When we were there it wasn’t very crowded. Biking around town probably is fine.

The Keys sounds like it hasn’t changed much in 42 years, even if it did get a new causeway during that time!

sda · February 2019

We were there in ‘99 and while we had a nice time, I have no desire to go back. In ‘67 dad managed the building of the bridge going from Big Pine Key to No Name Key. Mom drove the 30 miles every week to Key West to shop at the only local supermarket, Safeway, IIRC.

driver100 · February 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?

We went there about 4 years ago. Only stayed for the day....saw enough and glad I can say I have been there, no desire to go back. Brief impressions;
*Restaurants and bars (lots of bars) are tacky and overpriced.
*Lots of weirdo's and homeless type people...who I guess can live somehow because of the climate
*You could bike around.....but, I don't know why.
*Like Ab said, a long monotonous drive to get there, 2 lane road, traffic slow if you get a slow guy in front.
*The part I liked the best was...on the way out we drove through some of the streets just off the main drag, very interesting architecture, very modern homes, some nicely preserved older homes, some old homes with very modern additions.
*When we got there I was looking for a parking lot. I saw a field with a big guy who was sitting behind a bridge table. I asked him if it was a parking lot. He got up slowly like he was going to attack me and he said, Yeh, what did I think it was, a drive in theater? I paid some exorbitant amount to park for a few hours.
*Liked being in the Southern most part of the U.S.,,,Cuba is 90 miles away. There is a sign that says that...get a picture (I could post mine in my horizontal striped T-shirt)
*If I went back, I would probably go on the speed boat that goes from Port Myers to Key West, stay overnight, return the next day.
Glad I saw it...been there done that, once was more than enough!

driver100 · February 2019

sda said:
We were there in ‘99 and while we had a nice time, I have no desire to go back. In ‘67 dad managed the building of the bridge going from Big Pine Key to No Name Key. Mom drove the 30 miles every week to Key West to shop at the only local supermarket, Safeway, IIRC.

That is another thing I will never understand....why would you want to live in Key West? Lots of tourists and hmmm, non-traditional types, not much in the way of stores, doctors, hospitals and other essential services you might want. Long ways to a decent airport....you are kind of stuck there. Long ways to the mainland. Did i mention hurricanes? I don't get it, but, maybe if you love boating and fishing etc. Not my idea of a great place to live.

pensfan83 · February 2019

Wife and myself vacationed in Islamorada in about 5 years ago. We enjoyed ourselves but we don't feel compelled to go back anytime soon. Mainly because it's a bit of a hike to get to from the mainland and we were underwhelmed with the food and entertainment. I dont recall big crowds.

ruking1 · February 2019

In addition to getting to the Keys a lot, used to sail out of Coconut Grove. There’s an almost endless variety of water sports. Summers can almost be oppressive, even when one is used to it.

andres3 · February 2019

snakeweasel said:

berri said:
Heck, the country has become so divided that maybe it would be better to break into several separate countries. It just gets tiring listening to all the infighting these days.

Stick, all I'll say about the new tax code is that its reduction impacts are far greater for the wealthy and it certainly didn't eliminate any of the tax advantaged real estate developer loopholes - big surprise.
Well considering that as much as 40% or more of wage earners pay no income tax, the lower 50% pay less than 4% of all income taxes collected and the upper 1% pay more than the lower 90% it's hard to do a tax cut that doesn't impact the rich more than the middle and lower classes.

Tax cut to impact middle and lower classes more? Easy.

1) Eliminate sales tax.
2) Eliminate property tax for homes under $500,000.
3) Eliminate citation/ticket fines.
4) ELIMINATE ALL DMV FEES (LICENSE/REGISTRATION/DRIVER'S LICENSES)
5) Eliminate gas taxes.

Done!

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?

If price is no object try Sunset Key just off shore. Private cabana, private yacht at your disposal, private pool and restaurant. Leave your bike on shore and take the yacht down to the jet ski rental.

This is the old farmer himself considering spring planting in 2004.

suydam · February 2019

We had a family vacation in Isla Morada a few years back and enjoyed it immensely. It’s very easy to get to from Miami. Weather was fabulous coming from the cold northeast. We rented a condo on the beach. Went sailing, did a lot of snorkeling, especially out to Pennecamp reefs, the teens and twenty-somethings swam with dolphins, we went to the Everglades — really interesting ecosystms like mangroves that aren’t anywhere else in the same way. We loved the food. Sampled several varieties of Key Lime pie, had terrific fresh fish every night. Since we had a condo, we cooked for ourselves too — even made latkes one night because it was Hanukkah. All the condos have boat parking spaces too because deep sea fishing is the real draw, which we didn’t do on that trip. Highly recommend as there is so much to do in that area. The kids even made friends with other vacationers, and we all enjoyed evenings on the beach, which had a bar just steps away.

driver100 · February 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?
If price is no object try Sunset Key just off shore. Private cabana, private yacht at your disposal, private pool and restaurant. Leave your bike on shore and take the yacht down to the jet ski rental.

This is the old farmer himself considering spring planting in 2004.

That looks like the life - living the dream

PF_Flyer · February 2019

RIP Peter Tork. And I get to keep it about cars with the George Barris '66 Pontiac convertible. Hey hey...

ab348 · February 2019

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?
If price is no object try Sunset Key just off shore. Private cabana, private yacht at your disposal, private pool and restaurant. Leave your bike on shore and take the yacht down to the jet ski rental.

This is the old farmer himself considering spring planting in 2004.

That looks like the life - living the dream

It was until he tumbled out of the hammock.

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

andres3 said:

snakeweasel said:

berri said:
Heck, the country has become so divided that maybe it would be better to break into several separate countries. It just gets tiring listening to all the infighting these days.

Stick, all I'll say about the new tax code is that its reduction impacts are far greater for the wealthy and it certainly didn't eliminate any of the tax advantaged real estate developer loopholes - big surprise.
Well considering that as much as 40% or more of wage earners pay no income tax, the lower 50% pay less than 4% of all income taxes collected and the upper 1% pay more than the lower 90% it's hard to do a tax cut that doesn't impact the rich more than the middle and lower classes.
Tax cut to impact middle and lower classes more? Easy.

1) Eliminate sales tax.
2) Eliminate property tax for homes under $500,000.
3) Eliminate citation/ticket fines.
4) ELIMINATE ALL DMV FEES (LICENSE/REGISTRATION/DRIVER'S LICENSES)
5) Eliminate gas taxes.

Done!

Except for part of the last item those are all state taxes not federal. If you think states are going to do away with their slush funds I want the number to the dispensary you use.

graphicguy · February 2019

ruking1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:
Totalitarian regimes can be very efficient.
OR,... NOT? How about how well is Venezuela doing? It probably has more oil & gas resources than the Middle East.

Venezuela's problems aren't natural resources, but government corruption, which is rampant there.

A few years ago, I had to stay in Caracas for a few weeks for work. Got to know a few of the locals and made friends. The picture of corruption they painted was astounding. Something for all other countries to learn from.

oldfarmer50 · February 2019

PF_Flyer said:
RIP Peter Tork. And I get to keep it about cars with the George Barris '66 Pontiac convertible. Hey hey...

When I was a kid, that car and the Batmobile were my favorite cars.

graphicguy · February 2019

Mr_Shiftright said:
Anyone ever vacation in Key West or the Florida Keys in general? Any good for biking? Mobs of people?

Been there several times. They Keys are best seen by bike, actually. If you haven't been, it's worth it to visit.

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