Ace-Garageguy

Pretty much my philosophy concerning most, if not all, physical endeavors. I also find it helpful to remember remind myself that, theoretically anyway, I'm smarter than whatever it is I'm working on.

My thoughts exactly. As long as "technology" is just another tool in the box, it's great. I do lotsa stuff much faster because of today's tech than I ever could in times past. But not EVERYTHING. Unfortunately, and realistically, there is a vast segment of the populace who can do absolutely nothing if there's no app for it.

The idea of having vastly augmented capabilities is intriguing to me...like being able to download instant mastery of, say, the Russian-language or quantum physics...an eventual theoretical possibility...sidestepping months or years of conventional study. What bothers me is today's propensity to rush to market with less-than-adequate development...by second and third and fourth rate engineers and developers and marketing-managers, planned obsolescence, and a likely lack of long-term support (the Tinylimp model of forcing everyone to buy all new operating systems periodically). The "smart-home" industry is already plagued by problems like these, from many web-connected devices being wide open to easy hacking, lack of compatibility and standardization across multiple platforms, and poor after-purchase service and parts availability.

Going to? Looks to me like most folks are already there.

Whether you're an aviation enthusiast, a soldier, or just have a passion for anything, this guy's story is one of the most inspirational things you may ever see. This, to me, is what it means to be an AMERICAN.

Agreed. Both my older trucks have simple brake-pressure-proportioning valves that do the job very well. One of them has linkage to a valve that increases the rear brake bias as the bed is loaded and gets lower on the suspension. Straight mechanical systems, pretty much reliable for the life of the vehicle, and not dependent on electronic hardware and software that's going to be non-repairable as this stuff ages. And...I've seen more than a few high-end vehicles destroyed because their incompetent operators mistakenly believed their ABS and traction-control systems would save them, no matter how stupidly they chose to behave behind the wheel. Speaking of which...as we're forecast to possibly have snow here for Christmas, if it does indeed arrive, there will be the inevitable roadsides littered with expensive 4-wheel-drive vehicles on their roofs, in ditches, or sliding through intersections to crash into opposing traffic.

Some truth to that, but unfortunately well over half of what's up on YT is just flat wrong. EDIT: One of the little fellas we had to run off a while back got everything car-related from YT videos, even though we have on-premises just about the best technical reference library I've ever seen in any shop anywhere. Needless to say, he couldn't actually fix anything, and everything he "worked on" either came back almost immediately or had to be completed by somebody else in the shop...often me. His resume stated he'd been a "mechanic" for over 10 years...but he couldn't tell you in simple terms how an IC engine runs. People need some (at least) basic knowledge of what they're looking to try to do in order to be able to sort through the rebleated YT gibberish and get to the good stuff. Same goes for Google searches.

Just looked at the latest NWS forecast. Seems there's a chance, though slight, of having a white Christmas here this year.

If I lived closer to you, I'd invite myself over for dinner every week.

Interesting venison-related story...friend-a-mine's wife lives in an area with a lot of deer, which she feeds corn and apples in her back yard. She thinks of them as pets. Illegal poaching of deer has become something of an issue 'round there, and after she called 911 to report obviously poaching activity, the cops showed up and arrested HER for "abusing the 911 system". Apparently witnessing the killing of tame deer doesn't qualify as an emergency.

Great to hear. A good teacher who understands his subject and is interested in it can make all the difference. It would be smart if there was a renewed respect in this country for hands-on technical work. A GOOD mechanic can still make a high-5 to low-6 figure income (a jell of a lot more than second-rate emoji designers make), and if he opens his own GOOD shop, the earning potential is much more.

Which is exactly what all this overly-complex claptrap is training an entire generation of drivers to be. Can't parallel park. Can't back-up without radar and cameras. Can't check their own oil, tire pressures, coolant, or washer fluid. Can't change a flat, or jump a dead battery. And pretty much forget about changing their own oil or plugs or air filter...not to mention that less than 20% of US drivers can drive a stick. And spare me the wrong analogy that it's just like folks not knowing how to drive a horse-drawn wagon, or ride. Having some basic understanding of and competence operating a machine you're absolutely dependent on is part of taking adult personal-responsibility for one's life outcomes...and there's no app for that. EDIT: It can be just flat deadly, too. A large German manufacturer of front-wheel-drive cars computer is programmed to limit throttle application when the steering wheel is turned. Fine for your basic shouldn't-be-driving-anyway moron I guess, but if you find somebody barreling at you while they're checking their texts and need to stab the throttle and crank the wheel to get out of their way, you're toast. The knowledgeable enthusiasts driving these things go into the computer and disable this particular "safety" feature, but it can't be turned off by a less-than-dealership-level interface, or top-line aftermarket equipment.

Rodent is correct. It's a "road draft tube", which was used for crankcase ventilation prior to the PVC (positive crankcase ventilation) systems being fitted. Here's a real one. The tube goes to the hole in the valley cover.

CLICK HERE: https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=rvrbX6qfDMLt5gLM3pXQBQ&q=modelcarsmag+duplicolor+primer&oq=modelcarsmag+duplicolor+primer&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIFCCEQoAEyBQghEKABMgUIIRCrAjIFCCEQqwIyBQghEKsCOhEILhCxAxCDARDHARCjAhCTAjoCCAA6CAgAELEDEIMBOgUIABCxAzoLCC4QsQMQxwEQowI6CAguELEDEIMBOgIILjoFCC4QsQM6CAguEMcBEK8BOgUIABDJAzoKCC4QxwEQrwEQCjoECAAQCjoECAAQHjoGCAAQChAeOgsIABDJAxAWEAoQHjoICAAQFhAKEB46BggAEBYQHjoHCCEQChCgAVCqDFjngQFgo4YBaABwAHgAgAGRAogBzhWSAQYyNC41LjGYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiqrtLupdbtAhXCtlkKHUxvBVoQ4dUDCAk&uact=5

Just a heads-up, fellas. There's a new fake PayPal e-mail scam making the rounds trying to get folks to "log in" to their accounts to clear up a security issue. Unfortunately, the portal you're directed to by the e-mail is fake, and all it's doing is stealing your password. You've been warned.

The Monogram kits are great. Reasonably accurate, well-proportioned, build beautiful models with some applied skill. The Lindberg kits I see as primarily parts-sources for other builds. The engines are kinda Y-block Fords. Many of the details are just flat wonky, and the proportions are ungainly and ugly. BUT...with some serious hack-n-wack you can build something cool from them if you know what you're doing.

I'm not crazy about Win10 either, but it becomes second nature after using it for a while. There are plenty of how-tos available online if you get stuck. If you really just prefer to stay with the look and UI of Win7 (which I liked a lot), here's an option... https://open-shell.github.io/Open-Shell-Menu/ Here's more... https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-make-windows-10-feel-more-like-windows-7

Ain't that the truth. But nah...contrary to what everyone else in the known universe already knew worked just great, Chebby elected to re-invent the wheel with an iron head, a silicon-impregnated alloy block, and ferrous-coated pistons...with disastrous results. Sadly, there's still a whole jell of a lot of that kind of "thinking" out there in engineeringland.

Frankly I'm surprised at the gripeage about getting emails from FSM / SA. It's pretty standard these days to get constant marketing BS from anybody you ever do business with online. I purchase lots of parts, tools, equipment, and supplies for business. I always decline the "do you want to be on our mailing list?" question. No thanks. I'll buy what I want WHEN I WANT IT. But almost always, the marketing deluge ensues. Guess what, marketing bozos: trying to shove crapp down my throat via constant emailage will usually provoke me to find another supplier. PS: If you don't like a constant torrent of BUY BUY BUY !!!, never do business with Jeg's, CVS, or K&N...or Real Mazda Parts...etc. etc. etc.

Yeah, getting the package addressed to 1234 into the box with 1234 on it is SO demanding. OMG...the stress!!! HOW CAN THEY EVEN COPE ON A DAILY BASIS??? OMG !!! OMG !!! See...I wouldn't be such a hardarr about this stuff if I didn't have to deal with it MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK, sometimes MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. It gets real old trying to make a living and being FORCED to compensate for rampant incompetence...or just not giving a damm...CONSTANTLY, in order to accomplish ANYTHING.

Well see, if you were snoozing or texting through the class called "numbers 101", it's kinda hard to actually get the right mailbox matched with the right package...even if the talking GPS says "you have arrived". Also, there's a possible comprehension problem concerning the words "you have arrived". Word meanings these days are entirely subjective, and don't necessarily mean the same to all people...depending of course on their particular "experience" and world-view. Then you combine words into phrases, and the comprehension thing becomes almost impossible for a large segment of society today. Add in numbers to this oh-so-confusing mix, and it's frankly a marvel that anything gets delivered at all.

Yup...beautiful work and clean, clean, clean.

When way too much is just enough...

I like your thinking. Frankly, I had very little interest in any of those cars when I was younger, having become a Euro-car snob round about '68 or so. But Now when I go back and look at a lot of the old American iron, I'm impressed...and probably in large part because it usually takes a lot less effort and fewer boxes full of cash to get and keep an old American car on the road than their European cousins demand. Now that the old US iron isn't strangled by emissions regs (in rational states, anyway) makes them more interesting too.