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Heart-warming.

‘70 convert (MAJOR) project temporarily squatting @ Rancho Balthy.

Three things... (1) Government is not more likely to serve YOUR interest than private enterprise. Ultimately, both serve the interest of the leaders and minions of the organization first and everyone else second. (2) The difference between Government and Private enterprise is that the latter CANNOT COMPEL the consumption of, or payment for, their product or service on you. Government on the other hand CAN COMPEL you to pay for it through taxation. You do not have to use Microsoft windows or buy power from the private utility company however inconvenient that may be -- you can use Linux or you can get your own generator. If you don't pay your taxes they throw you in jail, seize your assets anyway and shoot you if you resist. Private companies -- even monopolies -- can't do that. (3) You may say that you can influence government policy with your vote. But there's so many problems with that argument. Firstly, with private companies you have an absolute segregation of choice. You can decide on buying or not buying Tesla's Solar Roof independently of eating at MacDonalds or getting an iPhone. With government you are forced to vote on a one size fits all package from two political parties that encompasses everything. You don't like the way this party's appointee runs the power grid, but you don't like the way the other runs abortion, guns control, healthcare, immigration, education or whatever else... So do you really have the freedom to decide on this specific issue? I don't think so. Secondly, with Private Enterprise your choice is exclusively yours. If you decide that you want to screw Texan power companies, you can get your own generator, solar panels and a Tesla Powerwall. You, and you alone, CAN decide to do that. If you decide that you want to vote against for the gay promising to reform your municipal utility, it is diluted by millions of other voters may not vote for the same guy. I believe that we should be largely an "on your own society" and government should be there to provide national defense, public safety, basic infrastructure and a legal frame work. Anytime something can plausibly be done by private or government entities it should be totally private -- and that includes energy, transportation, healthcare and education.

On a similar level, but in the sports world. NHL. The Colorado Avalanche decided to pay homage to the team they inherited in 1996 this year when the NHL decided that all their teams were to create an alternate jersey. The Quebec (City) Nordiques moved to Colorado. Colorado aptly named Avalanche won their first Stanley Cup that very same year they moved to Colorado. Impressive.

For such a know it all, you sure managed to be wrong about Texas power on just about every front. Their grid and alleged "smart" system was proven an absolutely joke just over a month ago and that's just for starters how utterly horrible their entire system was and and still is. And while you talk about not letting the government decide, you seem to have ZERO problem with letting the industry (in this case electric companies) run it for you, which (btw) includes controlling that SAME government you decry via lobbying and dirty politics. My dad (rest his soul) worked for Duke Energy for almost forty years and I could tell you some stories about the horrors that are the Texas Electrical grid and the folks who run it. It is laughable how off base you are and even more laughable that you bitch about Cali yet continue to live there. Not real smart if you ask me but hey, what do I know. In the end, trying to compare CA with TX, at this point, is like trying to compare a dog turd to a pig turd. Who cares? They're both s***.

I LOVE the radical proportions of this '58 Ford :

Yes, it is the point of a forum and, even though this thread was probably designed to be less intense, I can't tell someone how to use it. I don't read your posts because they're just too much. That's because, when I once did a long time ago, it was a heated thread supporting your belief that replacing air filters on cars is unnecessary. We don't need to rehash that and I'm not interested in a regurgitation of the facts you presented. It went on and on and on. All I know is that, for $ 14.99 or less, I go to a chain auto parts store, come back home, take a screwdriver to loosen up the intake assembly, put it in, and I have peace of mind, which is worth a lot more than $14.99 to me. Then, more recently, when we've never really interacted before, you come on to tell me, out of the blue, that you think the QM2 (Queen Mary 2), as seen on my signature photo, is piss poor. And, you were right in that you are entitled to your opinion. However, in your volley, you inserted that you were assigned to either the Princess Grill or the Queen's Grill to dine. And the food was below par? That was a convenient way for you to drop the hint that you popped for among the most expensive cabins on the ship. The vast majority of QM2 travelers are eating in a massive restaurant with a name the likes of the Britannia or the Columbia (or similar names as the ones on the preceding QE2). And, here, I'm saving my pennies to travel on it someday in the shortest and least expensive way just to sample this grand ship. So, what I'm trying to say is that your posting style tries to show that you know it all and also features thinly veiled but noticeable amounts of conspicuous consumption, self-righteous conservatism, and elitism.

This will go great with my other Avs jersey! I lived on the edge while in college wearing my Avs jersey during the playoffs in Hockeytown back in the day.. (still a Wings fan of course!)

Genie

Australia has the largest known lethal amount of spiders including a lethal spider that jumps out of trees to bite its victims and is known for many deaths in that country. Interesting to know is that Mexico has the highest number of lethal instects, animals, etc. followed by Brazil and then Australia. QUOTE: Which country has the most venomous animals? Surprisingly, it’s not Australia but Mexico with 80, followed by Brazil with 79 and then Australia with just 66 (they just happen to be more potent). Countries With The Most Venomous Animals – Brilliant Maps

Ahhhh! Spring.... and the beautiful sight & smell of Dupli-color Pontiac Blue!

I was just going to comment on how I saw 3 EV CUVs today on the way to a junk food grocery run but Balthy's Cutlass convertible just makes my news seem irrelevant and nondescript... Since I did come here to post something... 1. Tesla's red hued Model Y. Parked at the grocery store. Although the Model Y would be the frumpiest and ugliest of all Tesla vehicles, I must admit, Tesla's red colour is awesome and it goes very nice with this CUV... 2. White Ford Mustang Mach E. A suburban 35-40 year old milf-ey wife with two kids in the back. Divorcee? and part of her settlement was to purchase this to stick it to her cheating ex. Or maybe SHE was the one cheatin' and her new beau bought her this? All speculative of course as I like to conjure up stories in my head when Im out and about trying to entertain myself when my wife and kids are not with me... 3. Black Jag iPace. Boring Jag. Nothing of interest to report other than it was...black. I didnt even want to bother with who was driving it...

The turbo in a J80 like that would be a 4.2 inline 6 diesel.

For Zep, I love ‘When the Levee Breaks’ and ‘In the Evening’. Love the opening of Levee....

I never liked "the Immigrant Song" from Led Zep. There is something very cringe about the song to me. And I cant put my finger on it as to why I think this way other than I dont like it at all. So NO! You are NOT alone in that regard @trinacriabob. I feelz your pain.

Honestly, Dwight does make a few interesting points. Good to hear both sides, even if I don’t agree with it. Good to see a little debate here and there... ?

From the land of the rising Sun, I found this imported Toyota Right Hand driving Land Cruiser. Turbo 4 banger 4x4

Totally agree with that as one who went to college @ Kobe University in Japan. I had a motor bike there but found after the first year of exploring that taking trains was far more efficient for me to see the country over driving. If the US invested in proper rail service between all major cities, you could easily reduce auto's on the road. have cleaner air and reduce stress for many people on top of changing personal / family costs. ? Maybe cause his wife wins them all and he thinks he can win more here? ?‍♂️

February 13 This is yet another unique color available for the Dodge Charger. Kudos to the make and the model for many color choices when the trend is toward contraction. I don't know if I'd buy one in this color, but it has grown on me. It looks right at home in sub-tropical South Florida. You don't have to be or drive "granola" to go green.

I feel very alone in this regard: I have always found this song painful to listen to. So, I sometimes listen to it for a laugh and to think of the metalheads who thought they were "too cool for school," doing "air drums" while listening to this or singing it. They didn't like it too much when I (sometimes with a friend or a coworker) would parody its wailing refrain: Aa-ah-ah ... ah! Aa-ah-ah ... ah!

Local rocker Michael Stanley passed away at age 72 of lung cancer...saw him in concert a couple times back in the early 90s. 'My Town' (about Cleveland) got some airplay on MTV in the '80s, remember the video from back then... https://www.cleveland.com/galleries/KUR7OQOEKVEIPNORS7XOSXPOWA/

Now THAT is an oxymoron. A heavily regulated economy is one where the government decides what is produced, when, how and by whom. That is BY DEFINITION a SOCIALIST Economy. As far as Texas is concerned, they have 11.9 cents kWh electricity rates -- almost half what we pay in the Democratic People's Republic of California. Had they gone with excess generation and grid capacity that is not needed, it won't be 11.9 cents a kWh. I think Texans want low electricity rates and not pay through their noses every month so they can have uninterrupted power for a once in hundred year freeze. If that worries you, you are free to spend your money on a few extra blankets, get a backup generator or, hey, do the Green Boy thing and put in Tesla Powerwalls for $15 grand! Sure as hell beats the GOVERNMENT making everyone spend extra on electricity because GOVERNMENT thinks not losing power for a few days in a hundred years important when you may not.