Dave Ambrose

Between the US Postal Service, and Canada Post, the situation is a real mess, and unfortunately beyond our control. One of our readers just got their issue of 210 last week. We're working on better distribution for Canada, and hope to have something in place soon.

I get it. It's fun to push the rules sometimes. We've had a spate of incidents where we've needed to remove posts that were inappropriate. They were either personal attacks, or they contained inappropriate subject matter; frequently veiled political references, or sexual innuendos. It would be nice if people would take the hint, but they don't. We are instituting a new standard procedure for these instances. If we have to remove your post, we will put you on moderation for 30 days. Please don't misbehave a second time. Thanks, Dave Ambrose

Not yet. We're actively working on it though.

I have a hypothesis. Once upon a time, the software that figured out all these routes worked very well, and everyone was (reasonably) happy. Over the years, enough "special cases" were added such that the software doesn't work as well, so things get sent on these long, bizarre routes until the routing system does something semi-intelligent, or someone steps in, and sends it to the right place in spite of the routing instructions. Add to this the occasional package code misread, and it's probably a miracle that it works as well as it does.

There are a large number of flaming hoops to traverse in getting in there. We do have digital subscriptions available now. Check the subscription page for more info.

Issue 211 has been mailed. We think you'll like it.

Sorry you had that problem. I updated our list of acceptable manufacturers.

I used to use those motors in slot cars. They were very good. Ran like a bat escaping Hades wrath.

Yes. I just turned it on.

A lot of products are now either packaging all their units for individual shipment, or just packaging to ones they send to online retailers for individual shipment. I've also noted that Amazon has gotten very careful with their shipping, at least here. Even delicate things are arriving intact.

I took another tour of the ads and blocked a bunch. What happens is that an advertiser miscategorizes their ad a not adult when it should be. I report them, but the same ads pop up again under a different company, and the review cycle starts all over again. Don't even get me started about ad fraud.

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't either. I will find out.

Saw the new Dune move last week. Wow. Given the difficulty of adapting the book to a movie, it got a lot of stuff right. It didn't butcher the plot. The visuals were finely crafted, and the acting was first rate, tho I feel like the presentation of Duke Leto Atredes was a little problematic. I give it two thumbs up.

I hope you get well soon. I know how you feel. I had something similar going on a few years ago. Took 6 months to figure out what was wrong, and another year to treat it. Hang in there, and ask lots of questions.

I'm going to hypothesize that the hobby shops per capita number directly correlates with the length and temperature of the winters.

This change took place too late for a lot of hobby shops. They can't stock everything, and online operations frequently beat them in terms of price, and selection. Getting into the hobby shop business is a big capital investment, with a slow rate of return. If you're looking to make money with money, then your best bets are elsewhere. Also, Florida has the same problem as San Diego. The weather is too good. People spend most of their time on outside activities. Indeed, that's a reason many people move to Florida in the first place. I can sympathize with you about the drive. My closest hobby shop is a good 30 minutes away too. That's a big difference from the 10 minute bike ride of my youth. Thank goodness for RC. If it weren't for that, most of the remaining hobby shops would be gone.

I started keeping a can of flat-fix in the car for just that reason. Our truck has a full-size spare, but I'm probably overdue for checking its air pressure. Thanks for the reminder.

I had my local hobby shop set two aside for me, and I picked them up yesterday. One of them is getting built as the Mooneyes dragster. The other is for parts. I loved parts packs as a kid and now I have what I need to do some serious kit-bashing.

I'm building the Dick Tracy Space Coupe. It's yellow. Y'all know just how many coats of paint that takes. Wipe off the hull, put down a coat. Set it aside to dry. I notice a cat hair on it. It's Shasta's. She's been gone 5 months, but here it is. I'd like to think she just wanted to say hello. Thankfully, the hair wasn't embedded in the paint.

We were out camping last weekend. There's no cell coverage where we were. Turned my phone off. The only thing I missed was the camera when we had a covey of quail wander into our camp site. Not that I don't love y'all to death, but sometimes, you just need a break.

PM Sent

Thank you. We now have a new stop on our way to LACMA and the Petersen. I wonder if they rent slotcars for some track time. Many many years ago, my daughter and I stopped at a slot car track while we were on vacation. (we got stuck with the laundry) It was a fun way to spend some time whilst the kids clothes were washing.

I’m finding the backup camera on my 2014 Frontier to be very useful. We got it so we could be sure we can see any small children who might be back there, and it’s super handy when I’m parked next to a van or RV. Drove my daughters SUV which has blind spot sensors. Didn’t find those terribly useful, but the surround parking cameras are nice for cozy parking spaces. I don’t have much problems at home, but San Diego allows parking spaces to be a few inches narrower. Grrrrr. . .

I gotta ask -- what is it with people and parking lots these days? Around here, they see someone pull out, and they keep going. Car in the parking space is next to the ever popular white work van, can't see what's coming, and backs out slowly. Car in the aisle could have stopped, but keeps going and hit's her. Barely puts on his brakes. Gets out and yells at her for backing out in front of him. I left my contact info with the poor lady and told her insurance company to call me.

Our server was breached some years ago. So far as we knew, they didn't trash the forum, but they could have.