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All this talk about going places.... I really want to go camping!!!! ?

I wish I had a motorhome...a week or so in a state or national park would be great. Growing up w/ RVs was a lot of fun.

@oldshurst442 @balthazar Yes we are NOT supposed to talk politics here and I did think long and hard on posting that news story that also includes the local news video clip showing the 75 year old man getting pushed down by the cops. I also understand that a Curfew was in effect. Yet with that, I also understand that our constitution is about freedom and peaceful resistance to the system when us citizens disagree with what is going on. I then rewatched and rewatched the video and a few things really stood out to me. The man was not doing anything physically aggressive towards the cops. Why did the two police officers feel the need to shove him backwards so hard when he was not threatening them. One of the two grabbed the other officer when he attempted to squat down to check on the guy and pushed him forward. While one cop radioed for medical, NO ONE ELSE bothered to look or stop on a man who was clearly unconscious and bleeding from his ears clearly in the video I also noticed the heavy use of military gear on all these police officers and the Military SUV in the background. I get the need for crowd control, I get the need to have rapid response units to deal with looting and criminal activity. I DO NOT get the lack of empathy for humanity and that the job of the police is to interact with and find a peaceful resolution to defuse all situations. The Police Forces around the US and for that matter around the world have leapt to using extreme force first rather than human verbal skills to control crowds. Just as I would leap into a situation where another person be male, female, hetro, gay, etc. was being physically hurt by another to protect them, I would also rather use my words to diffuse a situation first than blunt force. One that comes from generations of Military who have proudly served America and who has relatives who serve in the police departments here locally, I take a deeper personal feeling about the poor direction our police forces have taken in the last 30 years especially. When I first got married in 1991, my Uncle, a sergeant in the Kirkland Police Department talked to me about the life I could provide to my wife at the time and being a body builder and physical fitness nut fresh out of college choose to try out not just for Kirkland but also for Redmond, Tukwila, Seattle and our state WSP. I scored consistently in the mid 90's on my physical and mental testing and yet was passed over due to Military folks with NO COLLEGE education getting the 15 point bonus all because they served in the military. These same people while most are decent folks also came to the job with anger issues and other issues from the gulf war. I heard from my Uncle of the people who got the openings in the Kirkland Police force were all medically discharged within a couple years after I tried out. I choose to go with my education and the tech industry and have no regrets. Yet in looking back at my own experience and watching this video of the assualt on the senior, it reinforces to me that while we need to take military training into account it should by all means not be given such a bonus when we are talking about a very important role that requires people skills and many of the military folks come out still lacking in people skills that allow them to defuse tense situations. If we take these folks, it should be a requirement to go through a psychological training program so that they have the mental tools to deal with this better. We have to rise to be better than those causing criminal activity when we deal with protesters. Yes I could go on but I hope I have clearly explained myself.

[ I typed 3 or 4 responses to the above topic, and deleted them all ] - - - - -

And yes...back to cars... I clicked on the Cadillac C8 link but I got an error... PS: I love you guys... I mean, all you folk at C&G and Americans in general! It pains me to see the US this way! That is why I pour my heart out. I dont mean what I say in disrespect. Im just voicing my concern. Im sharing MY point of view with you. Im opening up to you guys. Yes. Its direct. But its as passionate as it comes. because it comes from my heart. It may seem short sighted to some. But that is OK. Its necessary and healthy to share differing opinions.

@oldshurst442 How about Caddy's possible version of the C8?! Sexy AF!! ? https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/05/mid-engine-cadillac-sports-car-rendered/

I did not know if I wanted to lend my opinion on that topic. For several reasons myself. 1. Supposed no political talk in these forums. 2. not to alienate anybody and starting a ruckus. But then I said... screw it. I am so mad at what is going on with everything. Im mad at corrupt cops. Im mad at stupid, uneducated poor folk that commit crimes, (any race), put themselves and others in danger while commiting their petty crimes (because often its petty crimes), resisiting arrest and then not owning up to their crimes. (Im mad at white collar crimes too made by very very rich folk, maybe madder, but that is for another discussion at a later time) Im mad, twice, at corrupt cops for taking said situation above and using that as an excuse to commit their own crimes against humanity. Im mad at the commmuties that tolerate this never ending cycle of crime on the street and then blaming everybody but themselves for it. And THAT includes the black community for always using race as an excuse. But THAT also includes the white community that ignores the RACIAL biases we (because Im white) have towards blacks and which also includes the police communities for turning a blind eye to their rotten apples and THAT also includes blacks and whites together for continuing to fuel both of our racial tensions that still exist. Boy, this Covid thing and now the death of a black man at the hands of the police have really united the world like never before... At least that is a shimmer of bright light going forward. Because 2020 has been a really shytty year otherwise.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/buffalo-cops-video-plead-not-guilty-pushing-man-75 Just wanting to make sure you were aware of what legalities were available to that frail old body where he had no business being at.

No. You cannot do that. 100% agree with you. Absolutely true. No you cannot let people run any city down. 100% correct there also. Yes. EXACTLY! And not only a right for Americans only. For EVERYBODY! But there comes a time when protesting does become...less than friendly...for the GREATER GOOD of the party that NEEDS ITS VOICE HEARD because otherwise.... Ive got 2 examples. And one that includes the start of the birth of YOUR country... 1. Boston Massacre where "unruly" colonists frustrated by British soldiers in the streets flung snowballs at the redcoats and and the redcoats in turn opened fire at the mob killing 5... Then the Boston Tea Party happened a couple of years later and then...well...its in the history books. 2. The French Revolution with all the "let them eat cake" stuff... Now...in THIS situation...looters and anifa shyte and all that...well, Ill agree with you, peaceful protesters protesting the death of George Floyd is one thing, looters and shyte distubers is another. That 75 year old man that was pushed by that cop... I hope we can agree that that old man had a RIGHT to protest... And I hope we could agree that that 75 year old WHITE man was NOT a threat and was NOT a looter... Shame on that cop for pushing him down. I dont know all the details, but If I was that man's son, Id find out who that cop was and he would have a helluva time with ME!!! Legally or...ilegally... About the bad cops comment.... Yes there a few bad apples. But Ill tell you one thing: There a few professions that 1 bad apple is 1 too many... Doctors. Commercial airline pilots. Teachers. Judges and police officers. There SHOULDNT BE any bad apples in these professions... Yes it happens. With cops. It has gone FAR TOO LONG! How did we get there? Notice the whole world is protesting. Im sure in London England, Paris France, Montreal and Toronto Canada are all with George Floyd, protesting for all black people in the US, but Im pretty sure they are also voicing their protests concerning THEIR VERY OWN police forces... I know in Montreal, we are voicing our concerns over our own racist incidents with our cops... One bad cop and it rots a whole lot of them. Notice that the guy that murdered George Floyd had 3 or 4 other cops just looking at him suffocating George and they did nothing to stop him from murdering him... One cop allegedly tried to say something along the line that he cant do that, but his voice was not loud enough and strong enough and was completely ignored... Colin Kaepernick's kneeling was DISMISSED and IMMEDIALTELY called an act of disrespecting the flag... WTF???!!! And this is why we are here today, in the middle of a pandemic, with yet another murdered human (black or not) at the hands of a cop. A cop is NOT judge, jury and executioner. A cop does NOT render justice to the would be criminal. A cop just brings the would be criminal to justice... Outside of the cop defending his life trying to bring a would be criminal to justice...I think we could all agree that George Floyd was NOT a threat to that cop's life... A for a lousy counterfeit 20 dollar bill, George Floyd lost his life for it. Again, the streets can be a jungle sometimes and cops have that right to NOT to die protecting us all from the thugs of the mean streets...but... There is a problem in the US. And if somebody tells me that white folk die just as much as black folk at the hands of the police just to dismiss the racial discrimiantion black folk face....Ill just repeat what I said above: A cop is NOT judge, jury and executioner. A cop does NOT render justice to the would be criminal. A cop just brings the would be criminal to justice... And if white folk die just as many black folk die at the hands of the police, then the problem that the US faces is actually WORSE than it is...and we shouldnt dismiss it casually just because we want to supress the black folk. Look at the NFL's response now with Colin Kaepernick's kneeling... How the phoque did THAT take a 180 degree turn? Yeah...because THERE IS a racial problem in the US... And if the Black folk want to protest for their voices to be heard...I think we should let them protest!!!] That is a two-way thing. We dont let suppressed people voice their opinion, then they WILL revolt with violence. July 4rth 1776 is an example. (no taxation without representation...) If we let looters and shyte disturbers run free, violence is almost always the end result... And let us not forget If people in power forget this, the people will fight back...and then that spells the end for the country...

Ontario has opened up backcountry camp sites but that is it so far given the washrooms at car camping places could be an issue.

"Old cars were only good for a few years, then they were junked." 26 yr old Ford still in service, 1939 :

You can NOT broad brush ALL emergency responders' for a few bad actors here and there, that isn't right and most of these write-ups only show or give one side of the disturbance or fight. There are some bad or dirty cops that need to be vetted in all cities, but the vast majority are there to help and keep the peace. I know because I have family and friends who are great officers in city or state positions and have been for over 20 years. The mob of Antifa and others were looting and burning buildings down as well as lighting cars on fire and beating up random people all around the nation, it was organized by a higher authority and we all know who it is. Seattle was WAY out of control with rioting and looting setting police cars on fire because your local gov't allowed it to get out of hand as well as NYC, LA and other majors cities. They don't allow that crap here in Phoenix being the 5th largest city it doesn't happen here, because the police don't allow it to get out of hand, it's not a military thing it's Rule of Law. It is interesting that you mentioned the US military because the mob of looters and rioters stopped once the National Guard came in to assist all the cities that were having trouble. The minute the mob protesters (not peaceful protesters) and rioters started signs of aggression by pushing barricades, shaking street signs and trying to light trees on fire in front of our PD HQ downtown, police came out in full riot gear and immediately started flash bangs which dispersed most the crowd and pushed them back off the barricades that they were told to stay off of repeatedly over the bull horn. You can't let people act like animals and burn the city down no matter what race, gender or creed as there's zero reason for it. Peaceful protesting is one thing and a right we have as Americans, but criminal rioting and looting is a whole nother thing and you know that!

For those who still have time and can find stores that are participating, today is National Donut Day!

^ Might be a '90s RR, they were always a good 20 years behind the times (rectangular headlights).

Everyone has a different interpretation of beauty. There's no doubt the Desert SW has its own beauty. I don't think it has much to do with being a real man to deal with the Desert SW heat and living conditions. For some, it's not an aesthetic they like. I was recently in Florida and, thanks to those reliable downpours in the afternoons, the place is all green and turquoise ... abundant, lush vegetation and turquoise waters. I find their 92 degree humid heat easier to take than 108 degree dry heat. Others don't agree. It's not all that packaged. You can live in the NW and love the trees but strongly dislike the tree huggers and the granolas. Dfelt ain't no tree hugger ... he lives on the East Side and drives domestic vehicles. Kudos to dfelt on both counts. (Much like you can be a liberal Republican or a conservative Democrat - it's not so cut and dried.) For the tree huggers and granolas, it's not just about conservation or preserving the natural beauty. It's about making an annoying and all encompassing statement. I didn't really get along with them too well. Then, the SW has its types of granolas and counterculture types, like middle aged and retired ladies with short gray hair, studious glasses, sizable collections of turquoise and carnelian Indian jewelry, and Subaru wagons who love Sedona, Flagstaff (~ 7,000 ft. elev.), and Santa Fe (NM). Those areas' prices have gone way up because of the liberal moneyed intellectuals (or wannabe intellectuals) who have moved into certain cities in AZ, NM and CO ... and you can have those places because I wouldn't enjoy having them as neighbors. I like the Desert SW for about a week. I was last there for about 4 or 5 days. The inside of my nose and my head seemed to dry up daily, producing regular nosebleeds and headaches. Then, when I get somewhere moister, this doesn't happen.

Back to cars... Trans Ams Transcends all boundaries Disco Country Rock Blurred lines between country and rock Synthesizer pop Rap/hip hop Whatever type of music this is on a Firebird Esprit

All businesses that have EVs have fast chargers and as such your looking at 40 min for full recharge not waiting till the next day. STOP THE FUD! about EVs. A full recharge is very doable during a lunch break. We already know that the average route for US mail is under 100 miles a day, so no problem going EV for USPS, Amazon also has stated that their average daily route is no more than 150 miles if Urban, on average 50 to 80 miles in the City, so again no problem for EVs. Multiple sites that have UPS or FedEx drivers posting that on average they drive 100 to 150 miles with anywhere from 150 to 220 packages to be delivered. I have a hard time believing that the delivery drivers taking the package the last step to the customers door are driving 300 to 500 miles a day. 300 to 500 miles a day makes no business sense as they would never have time to stop and deliver the packages. There are posts that many drivers are like USPS with routes under 100 miles a day but hundreds of packages that have to be delivered.

Yep, same driving style here lead right foot, but if I'm in the left lane after passing I still always get over to the right even if nobody is driving behind me, it's just second nature to me. The #1 left lane is for overtaking or safety/rescue personnel who can quickly come up on you so if not overtaking another car and as long as there's room in the other lanes that's how it should be handled. HOV left lane is a whole nother beast, we have scheduled times that anybody can drive in the HOV alone or not so it's only officially an HOV lane during rush hour between 6am-9am and 3-7pm confuses the hell out of many even though the huge signs spell it out very clearly. I've found that for the most part the SW has been the best for left lane drivers especially compared to the NW, but there is an exception to everything there's still some that don't get it. I lived in N. California for college years ago and Dallas, TX for a couple years after that and left lane driving was also much better in those states compared to the NW. We used to call the left lane drivers in NW "Oregon traffic cops" or "Washington traffic cops", basically the general public with a sense of entitlement trying to control others speed, crazy but true.

You've obviously never really been to Arizona and actually driven around or traveled up North. There is a TON of green conifers and ash trees around the Valley of the Sun and even more up North towards Sedona and Flagstaff etc. I could go overboard like you with more pictures and links, but I have better things to do, just Google it. I know what the NW is about I grew up there as you know, great to visit but I'd never live there full time again, too depressing 10 mos. out of the year. Plenty of water here, because of where we are we are fully prepared, plenty of lakes and rivers here including huge reservoir lakes. Yeah, you gotta be a real man to live here. Prickly Pear cactus and my 55-60' Mexican Fan palm trees and aloe in bloom in my backyard. Pretty relaxing view

'57 Fairlane Club Victoria

He had no business being out there in the first place. He's lucky he didn't run across the lawless mobs, they would have laughed as they destroyed his frail body. Now back to our normal schedule of discussing autos (apostrophe is improper).