Random Thoughts Thread

[G. David Felt]

Talk about a lying POS Idiot47 is trying to actually think we would believe he was opposed to ICE raids in Georgia on the Hyundai / LG battery plant.

Hyundai hoped to return skilled South Korean workers to the US after the ICE raid. Trump just opened the door | CNN Business https://share.google/MftbblNnEZquyJcU7

[G. David Felt]

WOW, If this was Biden the GOP would have raged, but no it is Idiot47 looking confused and having to be directed around the room.

Forbes published the whole almost 8 min and wow is Idiot47 confused.

 

[G. David Felt]

Seems VW is working to bring back their Mojo along with lower prices.

“True Volkswagen”: Volkswagen realigns its model range around core values | Volkswagen Newsroom

VW will have their ID3 starting at under $30,000

VW has a Fire and Ice limited edition that looks so cool in the purple color, but clearly the 1,990 produced will be for the Euro market only.

Volkswagen celebrates the comeback of “Fire and Ice” with a special model and a song by Purple Disco Machine | Volkswagen Newsroom

1990's edition was a 160hp fun drive. The ID3 will be a 320HP EV fun Drive.

ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE: Volkswagen starts series production in Zwickau and Dresden | Volkswagen Newsroom

Fun does not stop there as VW celebrates 50 years of Polo and has an ID.Polo coming out but has released a race car version first.

ID.Polo race car has AWD with 670 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque.

50 years of the Polo: Volkswagen celebrates anniversary with spectacular drift video | Volkswagen Newsroom

Current ICE Polo in the rear, the all new ID.Polo in the foreground.

50 years of Polo | Volkswagen Newsroom

VW has shown off their ID.Cross concept.

World premiere at the IAA: with the ID. CROSS Concept, Volkswagen is presenting a compact SUV for affordable electric mobility | Volkswagen Newsroom

This is the Near Production ID.Cross Concept.

[A Horse With No Name]

16 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Get off the internet for awhile. The real world isn't nearly as doom as gloom as scary headlines make it out to be. The internet does a good job of making the real world look a lot worse than it actually is. Just live your life and control what you can control.

I have re discovered cycling, and find joy in solitude and spending time in my workshop and with friends. But I am here now, and this is the internet..

15 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Yale Economist says that the $300 Million Musk spent to buy him a spot next to Idiot47 cost him millions of EV sales.

Elon Musk's cringe-posting addiction cost Tesla over one million car sales

Tesla is the most over valued stock on the planet. Without government tariffs, they would be dead in a week. Chinese EV's would kill them. 

[A Horse With No Name]

On 10/24/2025 at 1:15 PM, trinacriabob said:

Good afternoon ...

That is a sexy beast

12 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

The people we put in office are essentially zombies. 

[A Horse With No Name]

16 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Get off the internet for awhile. The real world isn't nearly as doom as gloom as scary headlines make it out to be. The internet does a good job of making the real world look a lot worse than it actually is. Just live your life and control what you can control.

And the reason for my feelings is factual, we really are destroying the country rapidly and its not coming back. The debt, the move away from the dollar as the reserve currency for the world, the de industrialization, the loss of family farms, the educational damage, the environmental damage, the division, its all getting worse and not going to reverse regardless of how we vote. The die is cast, the American empire is over. 

 

We took a 102 mile round trip bike ride Saturday, I only made half if it as my bike had mechanical problems at the 51 mile mark. Could not rectify the problem, so I waited at a local brew pub by a fire on the patio with my Cannondale eating a Calzone and drinking good beer 9only had 2 though) until my wife got to the Ranger and drove down to pick me up. 

Drinking good beer, enjoying my life, eating good food, being in touch with nature, and riding my bike are how I am going to live through and enjoy the tough times we are inevitably going to face. 

That ride is a metaphor for the next twenty years of my life...

Hell yeah, at least there is beer. 

 

Bokes loaded into the Ranger after a long day, My wife's Specialized carbon fiber Ruby on the other side of the bed. 

[A Horse With No Name]

The Calzone in question, it was glorious. I will disagree with Olds Hurst, not sure we are going to find a better one in Montreal. 

Nor Italy, to respond to another esteemed member here...

This was a Mexican porter, fantastic, and the other Stout I had was amazing. 

The fire I enjoyed waiting for my wife. 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by A Horse With No Name

[A Horse With No Name]

My other bike, a Raleigh. Alum Creek/Blacklick Creek trail, I ride it often. 

 

The rolling junkyards of Ohio, broken rusted frame, broken rusted bed, its a goner. 

I really like this, was at the Columbus Museum, of Art. 

Cool old Desoto wagon in Hilliard, out from a morning walk. 

[ccap41]

16 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

True, but sadly the real world is doom and gloom if you go into any major city with Federal buildings. The ICE building in Seattle used to be a nice place to walk by on my way to work. Now it looks like a Nazi Concentration camp with guard posts outside, razor wire, nothing that says a Democratic America, just a Dictatorship run country. Very scary to see all the ICE out and about Harassing Americans as much as anyone else.

ICE needs to be closed down, and a new Immigration department built with people who are human.

Again, not true. I literally work directly across from a federal building in STL and that is not the case. I'm sure the one in Seattle is that way, but you can't just blanketly cover every Fed building as the same. 

[A Horse With No Name]

16 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

True, but sadly the real world is doom and gloom if you go into any major city with Federal buildings. The ICE building in Seattle used to be a nice place to walk by on my way to work. Now it looks like a Nazi Concentration camp with guard posts outside, razor wire, nothing that says a Democratic America, just a Dictatorship run country. Very scary to see all the ICE out and about Harassing Americans as much as anyone else.

ICE needs to be closed down, and a new Immigration department built with people who are human.

Its the very clear sign of an empire in decline. 

Why American Airlines, Like Spirit and Southwest, is having bumpy skies. Worth a watch.

 

 

A video reflecting a happy teenage years, cars and happier times. 

 

[oldshurst442]

57 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

The people we put in office are essentially zombies. 

 

Not zombies.  The people that are in office are fascist.  

The PEOPLE that put those fascists in power are zombies. 

And...the people that continue to ignore what the reality is are zombies...

I guess, the short term pain is not painful enough.  Problem is, because of zombie-ism, the pain is also numb for them to realize that there will not be any long term gains. Well, only for the oligarch rich that will actually benefit from trump's fascism. For the rest of the population, permanent pain. 

Get off the internet because doom and gloom exists...

But also, put on blinders from reality because doom and gloom ACTUALLY exists, so just lay in a fetal position and hope the pain isnt too much to bear.

 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

8 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

 

Not zombies.  The people that are in office are fascist.  

The PEOPLE that put those fascists in power are zombies. 

And...the people that continue to ignore what the reality is are zombies...

I guess, the short term pain is not painful enough.  Problem is, because of zombie-ism, the pain is also numb for them to realize that there will not be any long term gains. Well, only for the oligarch rich that will actually benefit from trump's fascism. For the rest of the population, permanent pain. 

Get off the internet because doom and gloom exists...

But also, put on blinders from reality because doom and gloom ACTUALLY exists, so just lay in a fetal position and hope the pain isnt too much to bear.

 

 

From a factual standpoint, being a zombie and being a fascist isn’t mutually exclusive so there is that.

[Robert Hall]

51 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

My other bike, a Raleigh. Alum Creek/Blacklick Creek trail, I ride it often. 

 

The rolling junkyards of Ohio, broken rusted frame, broken rusted bed, its a goner. 

 

Wow..that's only 15-20 years old.  A neighbor has one that vintage, a silver STX 4x4 super cab like that but in excellent shape w/ a rumbly exhaust.    I've seen a couple Silverados from that vintage w/ holes as big as my fist in the front fenders (yet w/ shiny red paint).  Saw one on I-77 last year that was so dilapidated the bed was tilted at about 20 degrees left to right from behind.. 

[ccap41]

57 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

 

The rolling junkyards of Ohio, broken rusted frame, broken rusted bed, its a goner.

Maybe they're going to the Firestone in the background to fix...everything... 🤣

[oldshurst442]

2 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Wow..that's only 15-20 years old.  A neighbor has one that vintage, a silver STX 4x4 super cab like that but in excellent shape w/ a rumbly exhaust.    I've seen a couple Silverados from that vintage w/ holes as big as my fist in the front fenders (yet w/ shiny red paint).  Saw one on I-77 last year that was so dilapidated the bed was tilted at about 20 degrees left to right from behind.. 

Ohio does have snow and humidity and Im assuming salted roads in the winter.  So that would explain the rust.

Poor ownership explains the rest.  And how it was written, "rolling junkyards of Ohio" and Im assuming that a majority of Ohioans make for poor owners of automobiles?

Quebecois in general are decent care takers of their vehicles.  They are shytty drivers, but that is a whole other ballgame.

 

[Robert Hall]

3 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

Ohio does have snow and humidity and Im assuming salted roads in the winter.  So that would explain the rust.

Poor ownership explains the rest.  And how it was written, "rolling junkyards of Ohio" and Im assuming that a majority of Ohioans make for poor owners of automobiles?

 

 

Salted roads, no inspections, poverty, red state issues. lots of beaters on the roads.  Which is sad, as Ohio has many great universities and cultural institutions... still a lot of wealth here, though...I live a few miles from some of the most expensive real estate in the state (Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Pepper Pike) and they just opened a new Porsche dealer close by.  I'm an Ohio native, grew up here, moved back, still see some good here...it's not all Trump trash.  

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

And the reason for my feelings is factual

The news of that reality is everywhere other than fox entertainment. 

The stories are real and everywhere.  If one is truly not a zombie and has no blinders on, one could see the shyt even if in their own backyard is clean.  

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

we really are destroying the country rapidly and its not coming back.

At this juncture, inaction is what is killing your country.  It is still not too late for the country to recover.  Many contingency plans that the world has made EXCLUDING the US in have not been in effect just yet.   

 

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

The debt, the move away from the dollar as the reserve currency for the world

The US still produces and sells stuff across the planet. Not too late to reverse the new trends and patterns that have taken place with trump's regime.  Topple him and his regime and things will get back to normal. But...a few things have to be rectified first.  Like...

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

the move away from the dollar as the reserve currency for the world, the de industrialization, the loss of family farms, the educational damage, the environmental damage, the division, its all getting worse and not going to reverse regardless of how we vote.

Yeah...all this has to be reversed. 

The american green back has been the focal point for some time. Many nations wanted the american green back to go away in world trade. trump and his regime facilitated that move. 

Education.  How do americans educate themselves when ignorance is celebrated?

Division. Many americans are racist, sexist. Education is key to eliminate most of that. 

The rest is just corporate greed.  Part of the fascism that is going on now. Topple trump and his regime and expose the corporate greed and the oligarchs that backed trump and his regime and that battle seems to be half won. At least this is my thinking. 

[A Horse With No Name]

6 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Salted roads, no inspections, poverty, red state issues. lots of beaters on the roads.  Which is sad, as Ohio has many great universities and cultural institutions... still a lot of wealth here, though...I live a few miles from some of the most expensive real estate in the state (Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Pepper Pike) and they just opened a new Porsche dealer close by.  I'm an Ohio native, grew up here, moved back, still see some good here...it's not all Trump trash.  

It’s actually a fantastic place to live. As disgusted as I am on the national scale, I am the exact opposite on the local scale, my life here is incredibly good!

1 minute ago, oldshurst442 said:

The news of that reality is everywhere other than fox entertainment. 

The stories are real and everywhere.  If one is truly not a zombie and has no blinders on, one could see the shyt even if in their own backyard is clean.  

At this juncture, inaction is what is killing your country.  It is still not too late for the country to recover.  Many contingency plans that the world has made EXCLUDING the US in have not been in effect just yet.   

 

The US still produces and sells stuff across the planet. Not too late to reverse the new trends and patterns that have taken place with trump's regime.  Topple him and his regime and things will get back to normal. But...a few things have to be rectified first.  Like...

Yeah...all this has to be reversed. 

The american green back has been the focal point for some time. Many nations wanted the american green back to go away in world trade. trump and his regime facilitated that move. 

Education.  How do americans educate themselves when ignorance is celebrated?

Division. Many americans are racist, sexist. Education is key to eliminate most of that. 

The rest is just corporate greed.  Part of the fascism that is going on now. Topple trump and his regime and expose the corporate greed and the oligarchs that backed trump and his regime and that battle seems to be half won. At least this is my thinking. 

Rational 

19 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Maybe they're going to the Firestone in the background to fix...everything... 🤣

They can fix it by unbolting the license plate and driving another truck up to that plate. “Gee Ma, it’s red now!”

[Robert Hall]

7 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

It’s actually a fantastic place to live. As disgusted as I am on the national scale, I am the exact opposite on the local scale, my life here is incredibly good!

 

I love it here in my part of NE Ohio...the park system is fantastic, love the beaches on Lake Erie, all the museums, concerts and restaurants in the Cleveland and Akron area..   I will likely stay here when I retire in a decade or so, maybe spend a few weeks or a month or so in the winter somewhere warmer. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Robert Hall

[oldshurst442]

8 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Salted roads, no inspections, poverty, red state issues. lots of beaters on the roads.

Quebec has salted roads. And poverty.  But we have inspections. Not really enforced to the max but the little laws we do have  that are somewhat enforced insure that rolling hazards are not on our roads.  

 

10 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Which is sad, as Ohio has many great universities and cultural institutions... still a lot of wealth here, though...I live a few miles from some of the most expensive real estate in the state (Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Pepper Pike) and they just opened a new Porsche dealer close by.

Ohio is a beautiful state.  Judging by the personal pictures you post and what I see when I use the google machine.

12 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

I'm an Ohio native, grew up here, moved back, still see some good here...it's not all Trump trash.  

I do apologize for my tantrums. Not directed at you. But...I will continue to rant and temper tant against the people of america and trump.  Do not include yourself in these.  The people that include themselves in these tantrums probably SEE themselves in them... 

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

Wow..that's only 15-20 years old.  A neighbor has one that vintage, a silver STX 4x4 super cab like that but in excellent shape w/ a rumbly exhaust.    I've seen a couple Silverados from that vintage w/ holes as big as my fist in the front fenders (yet w/ shiny red paint).  Saw one on I-77 last year that was so dilapidated the bed was tilted at about 20 degrees left to right from behind.. 

I have a neighbor here that has a 5-year-old Mercedes and it has rust spots and moss all over since she never washes it, I suspect the rust is from clogged drains since she leaves it outside year-round by pine trees.

Some just never learn how to take care of an auto.

50 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

The news of that reality is everywhere other than fox entertainment. 

The stories are real and everywhere.  If one is truly not a zombie and has no blinders on, one could see the shyt even if in their own backyard is clean.  

At this juncture, inaction is what is killing your country.  It is still not too late for the country to recover.  Many contingency plans that the world has made EXCLUDING the US in have not been in effect just yet.   

 

The US still produces and sells stuff across the planet. Not too late to reverse the new trends and patterns that have taken place with trump's regime.  Topple him and his regime and things will get back to normal. But...a few things have to be rectified first.  Like...

Yeah...all this has to be reversed. 

The american green back has been the focal point for some time. Many nations wanted the american green back to go away in world trade. trump and his regime facilitated that move. 

Education.  How do americans educate themselves when ignorance is celebrated?

Division. Many americans are racist, sexist. Education is key to eliminate most of that. 

The rest is just corporate greed.  Part of the fascism that is going on now. Topple trump and his regime and expose the corporate greed and the oligarchs that backed trump and his regime and that battle seems to be half won. At least this is my thinking. 

Agree, I see inaction all the time with social media posts of people recording ICE doing illegal things and no one walking up demanding accountability.

ICE has started to do this Nazi BS here in Issaquah, I told my wife to carry her passport as she cares for our newest grandson and takes him all over, will help with proving she is a U.S. citizen, Korean by birth. I also told her to call me if anything like this happens. 

I will not tolerate this Nazi BS.

[G. David Felt]

@A Horse With No Name @Robert Hall @oldshurst442

Agree, national scale, the country leadership is over due to the Russian Asset Puppet the Zombie Boomers put in office trying to live in the past.

Locally, I love living in Washington State, Mild Winters, but 1-2 hrs to drive up and enjoy winter sports. Parks, trails, biking, so much to do and see, love it here.

Not to mention the wine, beer and food scene here.

[trinacriabob]

2 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

That is a sexy beast

I wholeheartedly agree.  The '77 had the cleaner vertical bars with the stacked lamps as opposed to the '76's diamond hatch grill.

Back then, there were a lot of options and not everything was put into strict and limited packages.

It would have been nice to get the plush up-level interior, the gauge package, and a tilt wheel, yet not put on too many of the electric gizmos.

On the exterior, those spirograph wheels are actually wheel covers, hence susceptible to sticky fingers. But they look mighty fine. Then, you'd need dual body colored sport mirrors to go with all that.  Pass on a vinyl roof.

Now here's where I might be crazy.  I would just get the basic standard engine.  It was the 250 cubic inch inline 6 by Chevrolet.  Those have a 7 main bearing crank and they are in it for the long haul.  They purr differently than does a V8, but they were definitely smoother than the V6 (by Buick) of that day. 

So that's a package that features the looks inside and out, but also has a simple and reliable DIY setup in the engine bay.  You'll just have to live with 105 horses.  People may honk at you!

I'm glad you like this car.  Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person on this forum who carries a big torch for the GM colonnades.  And that my detailed knowledge of them is nerdy!

Happy hump day, folks.  It's also Whopper Wednesday.

[Robert Hall]

4 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

I wholeheartedly agree.  The '77 had the cleaner vertical bars with the stacked lamps as opposed to the '76's diamond hatch grill.

Back then, there were a lot of options and not everything was put into strict and limited packages.

It would have been nice to get the plush up-level interior, the gauge package, and a tilt wheel, yet not put on too many of the electric gizmos.

On the exterior, those spirograph wheels are actually wheel covers, hence susceptible to sticky fingers. But they look mighty fine. Then, you'd need dual body colored sport mirrors to go with all that.  Pass on a vinyl roof.

Now here's where I might be crazy.  I would just get the basic standard engine.  It was the 250 cubic inch inline 6 by Chevrolet.  Those have a 7 main bearing crank and they are in it for the long haul.  They purr differently than does a V8, but they were definitely smoother than the V6 (by Buick) of that day. 

So that's a package that features the looks inside and out, but also has a simple and reliable DIY setup in the engine bay.  You'll just have to live with 105 horses.  People may honk at you!

I'm glad you like this car.  Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person on this forum who carries a big torch for the GM colonnades.  And that my detailed knowledge of them is nerdy!

Happy hump day, folks.  It's also Whopper Wednesday.

As weird as it sounds, I'd love to have a '77-79 Impala 2dr or Caprice 2dr as a hobby car.  Straight 6 or 305 would be fine...I've just always liked that rear window and the overall shape.

 

13 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

@A Horse With No Name @Robert Hall @oldshurst442

Agree, national scale, the country leadership is over due to the Russian Asset Puppet the Zombie Boomers put in office trying to live in the past.

Locally, I love living in Washington State, Mild Winters, but 1-2 hrs to drive up and enjoy winter sports. Parks, trails, biking, so much to do and see, love it here.

Not to mention the wine, beer and food scene here.

I really need to get back out to the PNW for a vacation...been a long time since I've been out there.

[G. David Felt]

4 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

As weird as it sounds, I'd love to have a '77-79 Impala 2dr or Caprice 2dr as a hobby car.  Straight 6 or 305 would be fine...I've just always liked that rear window and the overall shape.

 

I really need to get back out to the PNW for a vacation...been a long time since I've been out there.

Reminds me of the mid 80's Monte Carlo Areo SS that I loved. Would love to have one as a project auto, but doubt I ever will as I would want it electrified. Moved into that next phase of life around grand kids. no time.

[surreal1272]

3 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Again, not true. I literally work directly across from a federal building in STL and that is not the case. I'm sure the one in Seattle is that way, but you can't just blanketly cover every Fed building as the same. 

Maybe, just maybe, that is because you don't live in a target city or state as designated by the lead moron in D.C. The same mechanisms exist in the Fed building across the street from you as does the one's in Seattle or Portland. Don't let complicity disguise the actually facts.

Edited 40 minutes ago by surreal1272

[ccap41]

17 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

Maybe, just maybe, that is because you don't live in a target city or state as designated by the lead moron in D.C. The same mechanisms exist in the Fed building across the street from you as does the one's in Seattle or Portland. Don't let complicity disguise the actually facts.

That's kind of my point though. "any major city with federal buildings" and it certainly isn't the case. Again, I'm sure it is the case in some cities, but it isn't a blanket statement that's true.