Ace-Garageguy

Subdivision HOA Karens probably wouldn't hold me in very high regard.

Ummmmmm...that's kinda sad. The 1500cc 5-speed Fiat "Bertone" X1/9s with AC had a rather poor Magneti Marelli alternator that was inadequate to operate the AC, the engine fan, the HVAC fan, the lights, and the wipers simultaneously. To make matters worse, in wet weather (when you'd need all those things running), its belt would slip badly because the poorly designed alternator bracket that was part of the dealer-installed AC system didn't provide enough "wrap" around the alternator pulley. The ALT light would be on constantly, and the lights would slowly dim as the battery ran out of juice. My shop was in downtown Atlanta and I lived about 50 miles away on Lake Lanier. I got tired of not knowing if I'd make it with the alternator light on all the way whenever the belt was the least bit damp. I fixed my own car by modifying the bracket to accept a big Mopar alternator that was more than up to the task and cost a fraction of what the Marelli unit went for. I also reworked the belt tensioner to get enough wrap on the alternator pulley so that slippage was a thing of the past. Modifying the wiring to integrate the Mopar alternator was simple, and the problem was solved forever.

Worm casserole might appeal to fish and early birds, but I prefer spaghetti.

"Hard one" is what she said when asked to figure out the square root of zero in her head.

"Device envy" is when you find yourself uncontrollably staring at somebody's $5000 WhizmoThinkamy smartphone, and desperately trying to figure out how you can afford to get one on a $10/hr salary.

Pocket protectors used to indicate nerdism, but now indicate somebody who can actually write with a pen.

Here's hoping the new one has a crankshaft made out of the right steel. The original car was very much a Fiat 127/128 under the skin, but something was lost in translation. EDIT: I didn't know this, but I just read the original car remained in production until 2008! (still to be verified)

Cents may go the way of the dodo as part of the new penny-pinching scheme.

Along the way we can go a long way towards achieving word-meaning accuracy and usage disambiguation.

One of these days, people (including me) will learn to double-check the actual last response before posting.

Bath...now there's something I haven't had in a long long time.

I'm liking heem muchly.

Dishes made of paper don't have to be washed, which is a real time saver if you don't have indoor plumbing.

Baby, this time y'all are six hours out of synch.

There must be some meaning to all of this...but I'm danged if I have a clue as to what the definition of is is.

"Den" kinda evolved from "library" and "study" and has apparently morphed into "man cave", which I think sounds ridiculous.

"Free lunch" was never a thing unless somebody was trying to screw you out of a whole lot more than the cost of a midday meal.

That makes me sad. I was really hoping against hope that some billionaire would step up and restore her, maybe with a state-of-the-art propulsion system like a bio-diesel-fueled turbine-electric rig...and sails. If I had Bezos' money, I sure as H. would. Though certainly expensive, it would be pocket change to someone with his resources. Oh well... Twow it away mommy. It bwoked.

Yup, I've seen that one. Interesting and kinda awful for a variety of reasons, but the link to more info than I've seen on it before is appreciated.

Legislation is years behind the reality of the "digital age" because most legislators are apparently ignorant of the workings of "technology" more in depth than taking selfies and posting on social media. Enforceable legislation that has a basis in reality and what's required to combat fraud with the same tech that currently makes it possible is needed. But to paraphrase Henry Ford: whether you think something can be done, or you think it can't, you're right.

OR...maybe it was a gubmint funded study of what cars would look like to theoretical 7-foot-tall upright-walking fish that used cameras with fisheye lenses.

Library girls always appealed to me, probably because I figured they could read.

Yup, he was most definitely an inspiring builder.

"Disappear yourself, please, and if that's too much to ask, then please at least be quiet."

I started one years ago using the IMC / Testors / Union '48 body and the AMT '41 wagon nose, with this 2001 real-car build as inspiration. I never considered the IMC kit to be worth doing a straight build, but it's a natural for a chopped custom, though the opening doors make it more of a challenge. Got to the mockup yeah-this'll-work stage and quit, as usual. Nice roofline and forward-swept B-pillar on the real car though... Somewhere along the line I picked up a nicely made resin sedan delivery conversion too (unknown maker, possibly All American Models).