charlie8575

Two more books I've read/am reading at the moment. Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade. A very good, very well-written book that foreshadows a lot of the troubles we now have with the Middle East and why we should never have stuck our noses in any of it. The other book is very interesting- Operation Nemesis is real. It reads like an espionage movie, but it isn't. Written by Eric Bogosian, it chronicles how a group of Armenians in America exacted revenge on the Ottoman and Young Turk governments by assassinating several of their top leaders in the early 1920s for planning and causing the Armenian Genocide. I won't give the ending away- read the book and be amazed. Charlie Larkin

It's a cooperative effort. Also, let's be honest, not every parent is handy, a good cook, or similar, and not every kid has the opportunity to learn stuff like you had through informal education and/or work. And there are plenty of families that cannot manage money. The classes like IA and Home Ec are taught by specialists who are trained to teach those courses. Sometimes, this is the only exposure these kids get to any of that, and sometimes, it's the only exposure they get to doing it right. I do agree that things like basic courtesy and respect should start at home, but why not reinforce it in school? When I taught, I reinforced it, sometimes, with emphasis on "force." I had more than a few kids tell me that I was the first adult that actually demanded and expected respect from them. That's disturbing. Charlie Larkin

Now you know why I stopped teaching. We have eliminated virtually all that is useful from education. Charlie Larkin

When Massachusetts converted over to sticker-covered perpetual plates in 1967, the Registry of Motor Vehicles actually had a pretty good idea. The plate expires every two years according to the last number of your plate, with all vanity, antique, motorcycle/moped and trailer plates expiring in November and most commercial plates in Decemeber. Regular, reserved and other special passenger car plates go by 0-9, with 0 being October. So, my plates, for example on both cars, have a 4 for the last number. So, April of every odd year (lucky me,) I get to renew both plates at $60/whack. Now, one of my plates will be exchanged for one of the special plates (Masons,) which will come out in September. I chose plate MM1993, using that to commemorate my high school class (with whom I'm very close, as they, in a real sense, are my family.) So, the other plate will expire in March of even years, giving me 13 months between renewals, but the renewal will be $100, with the extra $40 going to the Masonic Medical Library and Research Center being constructed. Charlie Larkin

This really doesn't ring true. Speaking after spending all winter preparing income taxes, something really sounds messed up to me. So, it prompts the following questions. 1. Are these Roth or Traditional IRAs? 2. Did you withdraw anything? Even if so, only what you withdrew should be taxable from a Traditional IRA. Roths will most likely incur an penalty of some kind; both have a few exceptions. While I'm not saying your guy was wrong or incompetent, it might not hurt to have someone else check it over. H&R Block (my employer) does offer a "Second Look" program year-round for free, available to anyone. The only fees incurred are if you decide to file an amended return. I do know in some regions they're offering a $50 coupon good until the end of the month for holds; you might be able to use it for an amendment, too. Charlie Larkin

This quote perfectly sums up one of the reasons why education now is so terrible in my opinion. Dependency is usually created. Sometimes, it's beyond anyone's control (e.g. mental retardation, severe birth defects, accidents or acts of aggression not the fault of the recipient.) But, all too frequently, it's other things in control of the recipient. Charlie Larkin

On order by Spare Time Shop. Due end of the month. Charlie Larkin

I have a stock phaeton in progress. If all goes well, it'll be at NNL-East Saturday. I like the color- very cool color for a rod. Charlie Larkin

Confirmed out end of April. My hobby shop has one on order for me. Like the tag line they used..."can we build one for you?" Charlie Larkin

Looks great. Excellent idea to use the Lindberg CV chassis. Even the wheel-covers are the same. Charlie Larkin

Gorgeous gear-head-ette; been trying to find one (a little more age-appropriate) for years. No luck. A non-Armenian from Glendale? I didn't think such people existed! Why, oh why can't I find one for myself? It would make life so much easier not having to explain the whole car thing all the time. Charlie Larkin

I like the wires on this. The full discs are nice, but the wires add that special something. The colors are nice- not really "stock," but certainly appropriate for something like a late-model repaint. That said, that teal is in the same family as Symphony Blue-Green, so it's not too far off, either. All that aside, it's a beautiful end product. Charlie Larkin

Absolutely stunning, Bill. This will steal NNL-East 30. And I can't wait to see up close and personal. Charlie Larkin

AMC is cool. Very nice build of yours, Rob. Charlie Larkin

Another way to convert the dimensions. Take the length in inches and divide it by 24 or 25. Example: 223.4/25= 8.936" Charlie Larkin

Looks good. Charlie Larkin

Excellent. That'll look great with the red exterior. Charlie Larkin

Excellent reuse of an oops. Charlie Larkin

Sounds like Testors. Grab a package. The grits are on the back of the package. Tape a the chart into your toolbox. Hobby shops, hardware stores, Model Expo and model shows have all supplied me at one point or another, along with Wal-Mart and auto parts stores. Charlie Larkin

Even on the first page, there are literally dozens of great modeling ideas! Charlie Larkin

That's what I get for trying to think in the middle of the night. You're right. Chrysler Engine Red is a decent representation of the Hudson red. Charlie Larkin

I like it, Rich. I'll look forward to seeing that on the 16th. Charlie Larkin

It's...it's....stock?! Wow- Jim, you feelin' okay? Seriously, nice job on that. I'm leaning towards the Shelltone Ivory/Richeleu Blue for mine, too. Charlie Larkin

The '54 engines are gold. Testors gold spray enamel works very nicely to represent it. Charlie Larkin

^This. Charlie Larkin