The Lounge

* I haven't posted in a while because I had been back to work full-time & just didn't have the time to "keep up", get enough rest/sleep, remain in Cardiac Rehab, among other responsibilities. But, now, as of 02/23/2012, less than 3 weeks after returning to full-time work after my 11/11/2011 open heart surgery, I find myself ... unemployed. To say I'm stunned/numb is just the tip of the iceberg. I've already started the process of "scaling back" financially (including dropping some sponsorships & donations), have applied for unemployment, & started the process of looking for a new job. The last time this happened (April 2005, due to the Sears/Kmart merger)…

All right, most people who have been on the forum here know I am NOT crazy about lesbians. I am fairly indifferent to gay men. However, lesbians carry such negative energy that I can't dismiss it and thus dislike them. My first run-in with a lesbian was at a place of employment a few years after college in So. Cal. She was my immediate supervisor. I had NO clue she was a lesbian, but how quickly you learn. I just thought she was a woman who preferred short hair and had a thick, squatty frame. We would go to company sites and had to turn in expense reports upon returning from the trip. Even though there was a minimum below which you didn't have to itemize, I tend t…

Many thanks to my buddy Ray B for updating my website, including these new pics...!!! Click on each picture to see the larger image and, in some cases, to read more info about it. Specific train room & model pics: http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/collection/collection.html Specific lego house pics: http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/lego/lego.html Cort:33swm."Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker MCinfo.hobbies.RTs.pics.CHD = www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I wonder if it's too late" ... Nickelback ... 'Photograph'

well boys and girls. i'm sitting here and typing one handed because the other one is holding my little bundle of joy. I've come to a realization, it isn't bad at all to be a dad. we've only been home for a few hours and already I know this is what I've wanted to be. Holding my little one in my arms for a little while, even if she's screaming her lungs out and crying like the devil is a great feeling, I know that one day it'll all end, but right now, I really really love being a dad, seeing those big blue-gray eyes look up at me, I know that this is the right thing and it can't get any more right. Hopefully I'll have a picture or two up of her soon. So, how's about th…

This is actually FUTURE_OF_GM posting on my GFs screen name. Just wanted to let everyone know that I have decided to step down from the administration here at C&G, yet for some strange reason I am not allowed to post in the Lounge area of the site either (I'm not sure why) It's been a fun ride and I would like to pledge my respect and thanks to Walt for all he has done for us over the past 6 years Unfortunately the site just isn't going where I think it should be and I have a hard time supporting leadership with some of the unjust decisions certain administrators have made in the past year or so. Communication has been virtually nonexistent and I haven't felt "par…

I saw 3 birthdays today: MGZ06 - he lives in Windsor, Ontario, it seems...he has Detroit's RenCen in his signature Buickman - well, I won't open that can of worms as this can get heated Another member I've never seen post Happy birthday, guys!

Finally back from Carlisle. Got the car there ok, just had to re-wash it thanks to the rain. Then I got stuck (parked -in) at the registration area for at least an hour and a half. Finally got out and did a quick round through the grounds, got some good pics. Then, I got the call that the NOS hood for the camino had finally showed after over a month of waiting- and it is a complete piece of $hit. Bent and dented and even rusted-through in a few spots! I'm not happy. Now to get something to eat and take care of the dogs. I'll post some pics later.

I washed/waxed/cleaned the '87 MC LS this past Saturday ... but, didn't get the older 4 MCs out yet. On Sunday, I was feeling too many muscles that I had forgotten to muster the energy and patience to get the older ones out. Ah, well ... perhaps this coming weekend . Anyway ... I went for a short drive in the '87 MC LS Sunday afternoon ... after having lunch and spending some time with my sis and bro-in-law. On the way home, I stopped at a gas station to fill 'er up. As I was doing so, a guy parked next to me at another pump was shaking his head, looking at my car. So, I asked him if something was wrong.... He said something about how "you guys don't seem to get it…

... I love Portishead. Take a listen:

http://www.autobasedigital.net/clients/WLM...anks/index.html

"My" new Smart Passion: $14,620. White/black with tan interior, premium sound system, foglamps, power steering, clock and tachometer. Can "comical" also be "smart"? I saw my second Smart locally on the street yesterday, yellow with black frame, driven by an uber-nerdy guy with glasses. What's going on here? Is it hip to be square?

Its the official start of summer, well for me at least, I dont work Fridays, so its time to hit the beaches, lakes, rivers, whatever else you want to hit. We're going to St. Louis tomorrow to see the dinosaur exhibit at the zoo. Then Sunday is apparently river enjoyment day, its going to involve canoes and kayaks and possibly other floating craft. No plan for Monday. Anyone else have anything planned?

Well, I'm still alive and doing well. However, I'm writing this from my computer at work as I still have no power or cable at my house. Which totally sucks btw, considering the storm hit September 13th in the wee hours of the morning and I haven't had power since then. My wife and I are living off generator power - with electrical cords all throughout our house. Our beautiful huge cypress tree in the backyard uprooted during the storm and came crashing down on our shed, ripping the main power line running behind our house on 11th Street totally off it's pole, and damaging my service line too. The big news from a car perspective though is that Ike basically killed …

This is laughable, and I think it shows the root of the current mess the country is in:

I keep looking at new Audis... with lust in my heart.

I really do. Such good deals. Like this chair I got. For some time no my office chair has been broken...the seat wobbles and it feels like the mounting bracket is pushing through the cushion and against me. The other day I figured I'd look into what the problem was. Turns out the plarticlboard that the bottom of the seat is made of fractured, and the bracket really was pushing into the bottom cushion. As it also turns out the actual bracket has fractured. So the seat's junk and becoming more uncomfortable each day. I really noticed it a couple days ago when I spent almost all day working on the computer. Now, when I bought it I bought a warranty for it that covers bas…

Craigslist Chrysler ad As seen on Jalopnik. A very strange Craigslist ad.. From Craigslist: I believe the car originally belonged to my Aunt Betsy, who was born in Wisconsin in 1931, and later migrated to California in 1954, while engaged to my Uncle Talbert. She had a Tabby cat named Blinky, who died in the spring of 57. Blinky had 6 kittens in 1955, all of whom she regrettably gave away at a fair in Modesto. The cats where never seen or heard from again. Betsy left Modesto in 1963, approximately at the time she allegedly helped purchase the car for her lover, Benson, whom Talbert was unaware of. Unbeknownst to Betsy at that period, a second Tabby cat, also nam…

http://jalopnik.com/5491612/pussy-wagon-stars-in-new-lady-gaga-music-video If you have ears you've probably heard a thousand Lady Gaga songs. Or at least you've heard one song a thousand times. And because her very NSFW video "Telephone" co-stars the "Kill Bill" Pussy Wagon you'll now know another song. This could be the actual Silverado SS Pussy Wagon from the Kill Bill series or a detailed replica, but who really cares as long as it's P***Y Magnet Yellow?

Do a Google search for '9-3' and watch what comes up. What will they think of next?

Of course everyone's seen my '68 Panther (Camaro) vanity plates. They read PANTHR since we're only allowed six characters here in Massachusetts. But I also collect License Plates from all over the world. I've got like 47 or 48 of the United States, in some cases dozens of one state and like 200 of Mass and NH each. This one I got off of eBay and it's hanging up on the wall in my house. Another 170 or so are haning up in my shed/garage. Most I got off eBay and some are as old as the 1920s. Anyone else collect plates?

For the past few years I have been trying to get my dad a poster size photo of a red 1965 Corvette Convertable (black top, knockoff wheels, not the 427 model). And I have not found any kind of posters for that exact model. I've seen several ebay auctions for some and have requested to the seller if they have any higher resoution photos for the car but I don't get any kind of reply back. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...TRK%3AMEWA%3AIT I called kinkos and they didn't tell me a particular image size just the image should be within 250 - 300 dpi. My dad's someone who usually request for shirts and other borring stuff but I really want to sup…

The Curse hits lots of people every year it seems but I think that this year I am entitled to the bragging rights associated with most cursed. I'd be interested to see if anybody can beat this, it's just been one of those years. In addition to the two incidents with my 07 Impala this year, there were actually many other curse related incidents I didn't share, and now at the end of the year, totaling the insurance damage, it's something spectacular. This year's total: APRIL 9, 2010- I was rear ended at a stoplight by a Camry in my 07 Impala causing $1200 in damage requiring a new rear bumper and bumper shroud. JULY 12, 2010- Biggest hail storm in terms of insurance da…

Top 10 small cities 10. Eden Prarie, MN 9. Fairfield, CT 8. Boise, ID 7. Scottsdale, AZ 6. Overland Park, KS 5. Cary, NC 4. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD 3. Sugar Land, TX 2. Naperville, IL 1. Fort Collins, CO My critiques: 10--Minnesota, seriously? 9--I dont have the $$ to live in CT 8--I dont like potatos that much 7--Heat 6--Its in KS and not the good part, with the flat empty roads 5--I'd rather live in GA not GA Light 4--Maryland is still a state? 3--More heat 2--Used to live near enough, its not that great 1--Expensive Link There is more crap at the link, like a state-by-state breakdown of best cities, youngest cities, cities with the most sing…

I would have to sell my '81 Fender Bullet so that I could have the rest of the money to buy it, but it might just be worth it: http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/2451007578.html Of course, I'd want to do a full on '99 conversion with it; front clip, interior, and wheels. Finding a donor Cherokee for that would be easy and cheap enough. Here's also a runner up: http://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/2464101824.html

If you can see my sig, you can see that my Myspace has been up and running. I obviously, like with C&G, don't keep anything a secret on there. Heh, well, I was expecting... even somewhat wanting it to been seen, just not what I found out today. As I already knew, my cousin found out about my homosexuality by seeing my myspace. She was cool with it, as I thought she would be. Well... she has a big mouth, heh. She told her mom, her mom told her brother, and he told our grandma. Now, that wasn't that big of shock... it was hearing about it from my mom. First of all, I hear that my grandma already knew. As did two other aunts of mine and... unexpectedly, my dad. So, my mo…

Dang! I spotted my first prototype today, but I had no camera (I had 3, but they were all used up; of all the luck!!) I managed to see the rear and a bit of the doors, but since itn was driving fast down the highway, it was hard to tell. My guess: The NG Mercedes E-Class.

You gotta remember this one right? This has got to be one of the best commercials mankind will ever know... Google Video Link

Brown shirts in halls of power again Furtive and scheming Preparing Too soon yet for false glory and symbol Too soon for open declarations and edict Furtive still and prevailing Slow erosions and sharp affronts Wrapped in cloaks of safety to hide their faces Sleeping the sleep of slow poisons Not hearing the cries of warning Not learning from the brutal past We turn our heads and refuse to see Silent now is the fourth estate compromised and broken As its own freedom drains away As it capitulates Two centuries on and that golden dawn of wisdom and reason no longer shines in enough souls We forget ourselves We forget the dangers We allow the dismantli…

It's still March, but today was 92. Seems too early for such warm weather, that's a May temp here normally. But I have used the A/C in the car during the last week. Cleaned the house ceiling fans and replaced the A/C filters today...A/C season will be here soon. Anyone else notice unseasonably warm weather in their area during March?

RE the recent '66 Impala discussion.... these seats recently sold on eBay. They were from a '61 Starfire, but (pattern aside) are correct for '59-60 also (of note; they have full metal backs). There were 5 pics, but you absolutely get the picture of their condition. No tricks. Without checking the link / eBay, what would you guess a pair of '59-61 GM buckets, in complete but worn shape, would go for?

We all enjoy things automotive. But you've got to experience certain things in person. I've got some pictures of the Grand Ascent at Hershey where cars as old as 100 tear up the hill just as they were designed to do! You've got to put this show on your calendar for next June to see and hear these great cars! What do you think of these cars? Check out the Bugatti Type 57 and Wayne Carini's Porsche! http://automotivetraveler.com/jump/4174

4. Ford Edge 3. Toyota Highlander 2. Hyundai Santa Fe 1. Nissan Murano I'll try to weigh in more on this tomorrow. The article was WEAK. It flat out said at the end of the article that none of the four stood out and won the competition. But in the interest of needing to print a finishing order, they then ordered them they way they did, in my opinion on bias. They cited the Ford as being heavy and not having as much cargo space due to the fastback roofline. Its like they found one thing to bitch about about the Ford (weight) and played it up WAYYYY TO MUCH. Because the Ford, despite being heavy had some of the best acceleration times and the best handling t…

Detroit Free Press DCX: No option is off the table February 14, 2007 While promising to address Chrysler Group’s losses and make it a healthier unit, parent company DaimlerChrysler AG vowed that no options would be ruled out. The statement was made in response to a report out of Handelsblatt, one of Germany’s leading business publications, said Chrysler Group spokesman Mike Aberlich. Advertisement Some German shareholders have demanded that DaimlerChrysler sell the Auburn Hills-based unit, though most U.S.-based industry analysts dismiss the idea as turning away opportunities for further cost-savings. “Now for the Chrysler Group: The tough competition and the adve…

Yesterday evening I decided that, given my hatred for my hateful old Astra hatchback has grown to burning new heights, I would pay a visit to Kentucky's largest independent auto auction — the Kentucky Auto Sales Pavilion, or KASP for short — located 30 miles north of me in Lexington and try to take home a beater or project car for less than $1,000 dollars. Here, it was certainly an obtainable concept and less of a challenge based on late Sunday night programs I had watched; numerous Clinton Administration-era vehicles seemed to cross the auction block here rarely ringing up at more than $1,500. It also seemed far less droll than spending countless future weeks of sifting …

Grand Champion: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=...&id=4808968

I am in one of those deals right now. Bad service couldn't be taken care of locally, so rather than 'eff with it with a regional manager, I am taking it up with a name I found on the corporate web site for the NY-based headquarters. My friends love my "poison pen" letters, as they call them. They are very diplomatic and professionally written, but they have an "edge." Therefore, they come to me when they want help writing one. I have written about 7 or 8 of them in my life, and in about 3/4 of the cases, the "big bosses" rectify the situation in my favor. I'm not a TOTAL jerk. I have also written about 4 letters to companies praising them for excellent service or …

I wish this dude did not cut the hood on the Eldo. Funny how he needed TITANIUM half-shafts. =

Basically, I'm attempting to install my Clarion CD player into the Cutlass. Needless to say, it's ancient wiring has confused me. The simple wiring diagram I have for it doesn't explain what two certain wires are. As well, I don't see where I'm supposed to connect two certain wires on the other end. In this picture, the two wires in question are the brown and orange wires in the connector to the right. In this picture, the GM wire diagram that doesn't explain what those two wires are. In this picture, the Clarion wire diagram that shows the "memory back-up lead" and the "bus power lead". Does anyone know what the brown and orange wires are? I'm thinking they m…

For the 2008 model year, which GM car sports the best interior? My vote: 1. Cadillac CTS 2. Chevrolet Corvette with optional interior package 3. Chevrolet Malibu

Yeah uh huh so we closed early at work today. When I got home and came in from the garage downstairs, I heard a snapping and cracking, and it felt cool in the downstairs family room. Apparently, someone shot out my sliding door glass. Pieces were still slowly falling out onto the floor. Glass was thrown clear across the room, and there was a hole about 1.5 inches across where the projectile came through. The door was still locked, nothing is missing, so I don't believe it was an attempted break-in. Small game season is in right now... so I'm thinking it was some idiot with a gun... or it could have been kids being little a-holes, too. My homeowner's insurance compa…

G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Turbocharging, Stop Gap Step to Variable Supercharging? I have come across multiple stories lately about Variable Supercharging. Torotrak has the rather dry scripted but exciting video about Variable Supercharging that delivers big engine feel all the time with none of the traditional Turbo lag or the high pressure, premium fuel requirement of traditional Superchargers. The video does cover how this variable Supercharging compares to turbo's and regular Superchargers. With the push for fuel economy and downsizing of engines by taxation on the size of an engine, we have all seen our a…

So finally my girlfriend was able to find the school bus that witnessed the accident a few weeks ago. She was able to get the info of it down (the plate, bus number and the company it belonged to). This was yesterday, so by the time I got home the Lawrence School District office was closed, and today I wasn't able to call. I plan to tomorrow, but I'm not sure how to ask or if they are the right people to call. The bus is from North Reading Transportation, which several towns away from us, but makes stops in this area, which leads me to assume that it has a Lawrence bus route for one of the Lawrence Schools...but it didn't say which. When I called North Reading Transportat…

take a peek at this, a 10.5 Outlaw XLR! never seen one done up this well! Click

http://providence.craigslist.org/car/718697890.html I found one! In driving distance! And it's not a complete $h!box! And it has the 292 inline six so it would even be economical to drive! Should I call now, or wait to see if the price goes down? Everybody's broke, so it's almost guaranteed to. What should I do?!?

Ok, for a while, it will be my 92 Regal coupe. I'm now within 1,000 miles of 250k. But, if I had to use the LaCrosse as the daily driver and wanted to get a back-up putt-around car, and no longer had the Regal, I'd consider the following (if I could find low mileage ones): - 98 or 99 Intrigue, base, only with 3800 V6 and not the 3.5 - (just saw this) on my way to work in the AM, I pass up a non-GM dealership that has an early 2000s Grand Prix GT coupe in the metallic gold with the tan interior. I really like those. - lastly, I thought about how nice the early 2000s Bonneville LE with some stock alloy wheels, NO spoiler, and the plump cloth bucket seats might be …

This is my rant for the month (or week, or day?) Why do people take a name- say Cobalt and say 'Balt? No one else who did not own one would have a clue what your talking about. Are you just lazy or what? Or like hacking up car names for no real reason? Stranger: hey nice car---what is it? You: it's a 'Bu Stranger: what? Never heard of it You: I mean Malibu Stranger: why didn't you say that? You: I don't know? Same for Malibu---'Bu?? Equinox---'Nox? and Camaro---'Maro??? Drives me nuts--anyone else agree? I don't see Camry owners saying--'mry or Cam? Civic---'vic? out side of Mustang--I can't think of any stupid short names from any other cars…

Saw this article on The Drive and thought it will be a good topic for our forum. Post what were the Best Five Cars in your opinion (can be cars/suvs/trucks) for the past decade 2010-1019. Can be only five.

Put together some clips I had on my computer a couple weeks ago. Thought i'd share. I know it's not the best (what can you expect from windows movie maker) If you see anything missing feel free to let me know. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgLghJdsSj8

Not the divert the thread, but I've seen buses like that in parts of So Cal in recent years..I wonder--are they a late model bus w/ retro styling or are they as old as they look--the styling looks like it's from the '40s or 50s.

Haven't seen you in a while but Happy Birthday Ven ...

Last year I gave some friends of mine a crack pipe for Christmas. Neither of them are what you would call a crack head. The husband has never so much as drank alcohol, his wife was a bit of a pothead when I first met her (I've known her longer than him) but she doesn't do it now. Its in a box somewhere now, I thought they should have put it on the tree as an ornament.

I was up in Oregon and Washington for about a week visiting friends, sight seeing, etc...interesting place...hadn't been there before.... the coastline is beautiful, the mountains great, waterfalls, gorges, etc... I really like what I've seen of Portland..I stayed in Portland, did a day trip to Seattle, so I saw more of Portland..loved Powell's City of Books (huge bookstore), Thai restuarants, went to a couple jazz clubs, a number of brewpubs, a U2 concert, and got stuck on I-5 in an ice storm...I'll have to go back in the spring or summer to tour wineries in the Willamette valley. Had an '06 GP as a rental from Avis...pretty nice, overall.. I l…

I always like these trucks...very unique. They made these for sometime in other markets after production ended in America. FC 150 '57 FC 170:

To release some stress, I sometimes check into C&G during lunch or as I'm cleaning up my office getting ready to go home. Any much more than that would not be cool.

So me and the wife are 5 miles from our exit to get to our apartment on I-75, when we noticed a pickup on the side of a large bridge. As we pass him my wife gasps and says, "Oh my God, he's gonna jump!" I turned around and sure enough he was standing on the concrete wall on the edge of the bridge, wrapping a jacket around his head. As we pulled off and my wife is dialing 911, I turned around and I watched him fall off the bridge. Police finally showed up, took our information, and informed us someone from Lexington Metro Police would be in touch for a statement. We just got the call from a homicide detective who took our story. We actually found out we got the bett…

Or something like it. Check out the interior. Crazy. 2002 Chevrolet Impala 9C1 This place is local, so I may check out their stuff one day. Though if I ever do get one, I need a spotlight and an antenna farm on the back just to be cool.

...long lost vehicles & Route 66.... 3 articles for you to read/enjoy, the first 2 written by me. #1 ... " Finding Long Lost Friends " READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE: http://www.motorgnomes.com/2012/02/finding-long-lost-friends/ """ Walking home from 5th grade the Friday of Labor Day weekend 1984 I was on a bit of a high. We were, after all, about to embark on a special trip north to see relatives in Minnesota. However, as I rounded the corner of the old Gromer's Supermarket store [the building of which is now gone, in favor of a new fire station; I suppose SOME progress is good], my mood dropped considerably, as I didn't see "my" 1976 Monte Carlo ... anywhere…

I dont care who you vote for or which amendments or propositions you vote for or against or which judges you vote to keep or remove from the bench, just go fu*king vote. Its a midtern election, sure it doesn't have the sex appeal of a presidential election, but you've been putting up with political ads for months, go make that suffering worthwhile.

Got bored and started browsing AutoTrader, and found this: http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.asp...18&adid=5271685

I'm going to tell you a tale about the experience my wife has just been thrust into. It involves a letter she received from Revenue Canada that states: ...notice is to inform you that Canada Revenue Agency may withhold income tax refunds... to recover debts owed to a provincial or territorial government. ...you have an outstanding debt under the following legislation or program: Fines Enforcement - Traffic Jurisdiction: Alberta She was given a contact for the apparent debt, so she called to discover that there was an unpaid photo radar speeding violation from 2001 under her name for $123 that was delivered to her address in Alberta where she wasn't even residing at …

It got me. Again. Only this time, it involved my mom’s Venture. We were taking one of the Company’s cargo vans up to the local Chevy/Buick/Pontiac/GMC/Isuzu/Mitsubishi dealer to get a recall on the power steering pump taken care of. So, after dropping off the Express van, my mom, dad, little cousin who’s now living with us (a whole different story on its own), and I pile into our Venture to head home. I turn the key and it sort of sputters. The engine doesn’t turn over. I figured maybe I didn’t turn the key hard enough, so I try again. Same thing...the engine sputters, but nothing. The radio comes on, but the time gets reset to 12:00 each time. It’s then I realize that my…

I am certain there will be no controversy in wishing our uncle dave a Happy Birthday today. Have a good one, enjoy yourself, sir!

Maureen McCormick was Marcia Brady, for you younger members who may not know. In the 70s and 80s, that look was an LA mainstay, practically a dime a dozen. Nowadays, in LA, you don't see anybody like that. So where are they? The same is true in Portland. In the last 10 years, WASPY pissy little Portland (I hate Northwesterners) doesn't look as white and pissy as it did 10 years ago. I know where the Maureen McCormicks are. In Chico and places like that, which is where I happen to be today en route to Sacramento. The third tier tiny cities of the West are where those people apparently now reside, unless they live in the spendy neighborhoods of the urban areas the…

I was checking through Craigslist, which is pretty addictive if you ask me, and came across this ad 1989 Camaro Yeah, I know, it's another 3rd gen Camaro. But, but, but, it's another convertible. It looks damn nice and the price is very reasonable. The only problem is that I have a full driveway already, not to mention garage. I have no plans to buy this one, unless of course the Cavalier sells real quick. If that were to happen, I might just pick this one up and consider selling my 89 RS Convertible. Hmmmmm...... Think Tammy would agree to it???