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*Denali has entered the chat* *F-150 King Ranch has entered the chat* *F-150 Platinum has entered the chat* *Ram Limited has entered the chat* The Lincoln Blackwood was a limited edition truck, available only in a shortbed with a wooden liner and only in 2wd. The Lincoln LT was a victim of badge engineering.. it offered nothing but a grille and a navigator dash over the F150. The suspension and transmission were the same. The only hardware difference is that it was AWD rather than 4WD. The Escalade EXT was more than a badge job most years. It came with a bigger motor (6.0L) than the Avalanche (5.3) in the first generation. The second generation got the 6.2 while the Avalanche only got the 5.3 and for a couple years an optional (and very rare) 6.0. The Escalade had AWD instead of 4WD and they got air shocks (air shocks were only an LTZ option on the Avalanche, I have them) In addition to the Escalade dash, the door panels were upgraded as well. The only reason the Escalade EXT died was because the Avalanche died... and the Avalanche died due to GM stupidity. The Avalanche and EXT for some reason were not built on the Suburban/Tahoe line, instead they were built on the Silverado/Sierra line. GM wanted to sell more Sierras and Silverados to compete with Ford. They decided there wasn't enough room to build the Avalanche/EXT in Arlington next to the Suburban, so it got canceled. I think there absolutely is a market there for a luxury truck. Denali and the premium offerings from Ram and Ford prove that. Plus there's the luxury 250/2500 series trucks as well... I see a LOT of Denali 2500 Duramaxes around me. The reason there's no Lexus version of the Tundra is because Toyota has enough trouble moving the Tundra as it is. It isn't a compelling offering in the truck market and it is the second worst fuel economy after the Titan. Toyota had hoped to sell 200k Tundras a year and they barely crack 100k. The Titan sells a pathetic 26k a year, but the only reason it survives is because it rides on the same frame/platform as the Armada/QX80 and the NV Vans... but with the NV getting discontinued and Armada/QX80 sales under 45k.. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Titan discontinued entirely in a few years.

I looked on Statista for current lease versus sales numbers and the Germans clearly lead, but the fine details on this are currently subscription and the a quick search showed the following numbers from 2014 that showed the German brands were already leading as lease queens. Which car brands do people lease or buy? - Cartelligent Brands with high leasing percentages Leasing is most attractive for clients who only plan to keep the vehicle for a short period of time. There are a number of reasons why this makes sense—many car buyers value the latest safety and tech features in their vehicles, enjoy the prestige of driving a newer car or just enjoy the fun or driving something new every few years. Additionally many business owners will choose to lease company vehicles for the tax advantages and larger companies will often give car allowances to top executives. http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201420Audi20A6_21-300x200.jpg 5. Audi (64% Leased) Why leasing is popular: Luxury performance vehicles such as Audi’s are often popular choices to lease. Audi enthusiasts love the blend of style and technology the brand offers and upgrade regularly to keep up with the latest trends. Audi offers an aggressive money factor (the leasing equivelent of the interest rate) to well-qualified lessees on many models which helps to keep payments low. http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201420Mercedes-Benz20E-Class_11-300x200.jpg 4. Mercedes-Benz (67% Leased) Why leasing is popular: Like Audi, Mercedes-Benz makes it attractive to own the latest model. New releases offer technology and safety features that make drivers want to update their vehicle. Mercedes-Benz also offers a high residual value on many models to lower the monthly payments on its leases. http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201520Land20Rover20Evoque_01-300x200.jpg 3. Land Rover (68% Leased) Why leasing is popular: Land Rover has successfully positioned its brand as a status symbol (even the Queen is driven in one!). Drivers are more likely to want the convenience of leasing so they can easily upgrade to the latest model. http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201420BMW20520Series_01-300x200.jpg 2. BMW (70% Leased) Why leasing is popular: BMW incentivizes brand-enthusiasts to upgrade often with its innovations in safety and technology, as well as style. The brand also offers attractive lease-only incentives such as loyalty and lease rebates to make leasing espcially attractive to well-qualified drivers. BMW owners tend to come back and lease another BMW. (see Top ten brands for customer loyalty) http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201520Fiat1-300x200.jpg 1. FIAT (78% Leased) Why leasing is popular: FIAT is a fun, sporty car for single professionals, but not necessarily one that will work once marriage and children are on the horizon. This combined with an aggressive lease rate make FIAT our most leased brand. Brands with high purchasing percentages Buying, on the other hand, makes sense when drivers plan to hold onto the vehicle for a number of years. Buyers tend to value reliability and economy over the latest style and gadgets. This is reflected in our list of most-purchased brands: http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201520Chevrolet20Tahoe1-300x200.jpg 5. Chevrolet (63% Purchased) Why buying is popular: Our top-selling Chevy, the Volt, is primarily leased, but other popular models such as the Suburban and Tahoe are purchased by clients who intend to hold onto them for the long run. http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201420Honda20CR-V_01-300x200.jpg 4. Honda (65% Purchased) Why buying is popular: Hondas are affordable, reliable cars that tend to be driven for a number of years. Honda vehicles hold onto their value consistently, which in combination with low interest rates for well-qualified buyers, make them an attractive purchase option. http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201420Toyota20Land20Cruiser1-300x200.jpg 3. Toyota (68% Purchased) Why buying is popular: Toyotas consistently top the charts for best resale value. It’s unsurprising that their reputation for reliability and safety makes car buyers want to drive them for a number of years, especially with Toyota’s aggressive finance rates for well-qualified buyers. http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201520Hyundai20Sonata1-300x200.jpg 2. Hyundai (73% Purchased) Why buying is popular: Hyundai’s come standard with a 10-year/100,000 mile Powertain Limited Warranty and five years of unlimited roadside assistance. Hyundai buyers top our list of financed vehicles (as opposed to those who pay in full up front for their new car). http://www.cartelligent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/201520Subaru20Outback_01-300x200.jpg 1. Subaru (75% Purchased) Why buying is popular: Subaru is another brand renowned for safety and reliability. Eco-conscious Subaru buyers are also shy of financing—the brand tops our list of vehicles customers pay for in full.

Right car, right color. Love it! @Surreal, when you do get a turntable I can't reccomend this highly enough. Made a huge difference in my lsitening enjoyment with vinyl, and US made. At $129 plus tax/shipping, a bargain! https://www.schiit.com/products/mani?Finish=412&AC Adapter=147&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eeuu2PN5_itvJenEXtllw9n1p48Dw8dAP6O2-KT26moLGTmH0MfpYdwaAp0ZEALw_wcB

I loved it, actually. I didn't like it at first but love it in these pics. Pardon me for searing, but hot enough to fuck! Still in an audio state of mind. I ahve a good turn table...but lust after this. https://reverb.com/item/41533917-vintage-thorens-td166-mkii-2-speed-belt-drive-suspended-chassis-turntable?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=23848944490860455&utm_content=23848944491240455&utm_term=Never Better&fbclid=IwAR3IMKYn996__3ciTTra7LXi9m0iH6DliOmLAyQngo_DVEvh1cE0evbzS_I

Hey! Who you calling' cheap? Oh wait. That was me. I'm cheap. Carry on.

Those are really good turntables for the price. If I go with a belt driven model, it'll be something along that nature, as far design goes. Love the modern look to it. All of my "throwback" media is in my workshop (CDs, Albums, and Minidisc, yes minidisc). My current setup in my workshop. The four components here (below) cost me a grand total of $45, courtesy of of Goodwill in Peoria, AZ and the pawnshop where I work part time. I am a cheap deal fiend lol. Add in the two pairs of USA made Sony floor speakers, and I spent less than $100 for everything.

This thinking is outmoded. mercedes is volume-based and it's higher cost. Just about all the 'bottom tier' brands (hyundai, honda, kia, etc) have pushed upmarket, Chevy has pushed upmarket, there's no USDM equivalent of a 1980 Chevette anymore. Yeah; relatively lower cost', and it is on many models, but there's no rule it also can't build high-priced models (obviously). Look at your fanboy brand's car line pricing overlap / shared engines/ transmissions... why aren't they clearly separated by a hard bundle of thousands? Because it's not necessary. GMC is at record-breaking volume levels; they sold almost 10% more Sierras during a global pandemic than the year before. They're not going to exceed than for '21 due to the chip shortage / production constraints... but they're selling every single Sierra they can build. 253K in 2020, on pace for 276K for '21 (thru Q2). Again; you're trying to create a problem where there is none, and going thru a 1980's filter to do so. According to the above, fiat's are the most popular leased model, yet there are no fiat's listed in the top 71 higher-value retained vehicles. That would support a vast divergence between a fiat's lease rates and its low resale value.

You have been asked so many times, POST THE DAMN LINK TO YOUR FACTS! So based on their actual reporting for all of 2020: Mercedes-Benz reports 2020 sales of 325,915 vehicles (mbusa.com) Quote: Year-to-date, MBUSA's volume leaders were the GLC, GLE and the E- Class/CLS with totals of 52,626; 48,154; and 27,102 respectively. SUVs accounted for 65% of total sales in 2020. The all new GLA and GLB SUVs accounted for more than 25% of total SUV sales in 2020. Q1 2021 Mercedes-Benz reports Q1 2021 sales of 78,256 vehicles (mbusa.com) Mercedes-Benz volume leaders in Q1 included the GLE, GLC and E-Class/CLS model lines. The GLE led totals with 16,668 units followed by GLC with sales of 15,569. The E- Class/CLS rounded out the top three with 8,199 units. Our diverse lineup of SUVs accounted for 69% of our total sales volume during Q1. Q2 2021 Mercedes-Benz reports Q2 2021 sales of 82,390 vehicles (mbusa.com) Mercedes-Benz volume leaders in Q2 included the GLE, CLC and GLB model lines. The GLE led totals with 19,037 units followed by GLC with sales of 14,580. The GLB rounded out the top three with 10,360 units. Year-to-date, MBUSA's volume leaders are the GLE, GLC and C- Class with totals of 35,705; 30,149; and 17,795 respectively. Looking at Average sales price 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB Prices & Incentives - TrueCar I am NOT finding CLA, GLA, GLB selling over $50K at all. In fact according to this the average transaction price is as follows by model. This only shows a couple models north of $50K and most are well below showing Mercedes to no longer be a Luxury brand but a global brand on par with Chevrolet and Toyota. Mercedes-Benz Price Trends - CarGurus This I find very interesting showing that Mercedes GLE is in #2 place as the most heaviest discounted auto right behind Cadillac XT5. Consumer Reports: The Most Discounted New Cars Right Now (motorbiscuit.com)

My lovely wife is the same way. I may not be so frugal. But, I have adopted a more simplistic, minimalist lifestyle the past few years complimenting her frugal ways.

It was pretty good, for the record. My dad was the frugal king. I am merely his humble frugal servant.

I believe the term is frugal. And there is NOTHING wrong with that. I high five you!

Denali 1500 starts at 56k. A Cadillac version does not need to start at 80k. There can very easily be overlap in the 'every single option' Denali and the starter Cadillac. The Caddy could easily start at 65k and that's enough of a price gap to distinguish itself with only a little overlap from a completely loaded Danali. Also, according to their website, you can't get the 6.2 in the Denali, it's ONLY available in the AT4. A 1500 Denali with the optional 3.0 diesel and every option/package box checked, it totals to 68,825 before destination. A 65k starting price for a Cadillac with the 6.2 wouldn't be a tough string to pull. THIS is why I said your numbers are completely random, because they are.

It takes real creativity to make a good sounding system with inexpensive gear. it's a matter of synergy. Lots of expensive systems sound like crap. Video was pretty good actually, I thought.

@surreal1272 Interesting interview with a music lover with a very cheap system. This pic is priceless... I have been stupid tired from work...

Poor truck... The rolling stones found thier next drummer. British rock is....British Rock. Actually with a good driving record, insuring everything I have wanted to insure ahs been pretty cheap.

It’s going to be far more widespread than just Dodge, when Joe Q Marginaldriver says ‘watch how fast this thing accelerates!!’ in supermarket lots, residential streets, highway off-ramps, etc etc. Really makes me wonder what insurance rates are going to balloon to; might be another ‘muscle car crackdown’ like in the early ‘70s. ?

100% agree. I swear it is a daily occurrence where I see a Charger or Challenger doing something stupid.

Idiots have more money than brains. Dodge Hellcat driver flips a truck over leaving a Meet. https://www.facebook.com/100002161939064/videos/3830636753685018/ https://www.facebook.com/100009210341876/videos/2830448417272142/ Found on You Tube.

My workshop is just a straight four channel set up with music in mind, even though the receiver is a Home Theater model. It has a bi-amp mode that allows a straight four channel mode for music, which was my goal to begin with. Regarding my living room set up, you are correct on the speaker brand symmetry importance. I will say that the Infinitys I have to do match up pretty well and have a surprising amount of power for a slimmer profile tower. I'm more than happy with them, for sure. I would never own anything by Land Rover but those are very sharp looking and off road proven, for sure. Just would not want the maintenance and parts hassle.

Mustang ICE Fans should be excited by this conversation with FORD CEO about the Future of Mustang and what he wants. QUOTE: Farley wouldn't confirm whether or not the next Mustang will appear next year. But when asked if there are any broad Mustang goals that he would care to share at the moment, Farley responded, "For my kid to have it on his wall. Or on his phone." Ford's CEO Wants the Next Mustang to Be a Poster Car | The Drive

I am excited for the Newest and final movie with Daniel Craig James Bond Movie. Seems Defender is a huge part and you can buy a 007 version. The $115,950 Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition Is for 007 Cosplay (thedrive.com)

They already have a Model Y, smaller 2-row CUV. It's been out for a couple years.

Smart to keep it all vopiced the same. klipch stuff is nice in that it is so efficent that anything can drive it. I am going to do the two channel thing. Couch is a really good sweet spot for listening. Pic of my younger son, just happen to like the photograph.

When my living room is less "disasterly" looking (been rearranging some things), I'll show you my setup. There is a 7.2 Ch Onkyo receiver in mine, Klipsch center and front surround channels and a pair of Infinity Reference (another $15 Goodwill find btw) slim profile floor speakers. Have not added a pair of back surround speakers yet but they will probably be Klipsch as well, just to keep it semi-consistent lol. A really nice turntable is in its future.

My system @surreal1272 Onkyo reciever will go upstairs to a dedicated home theater room (was free, helped a friend move a sofa and he gave it to me). I think I am going to pair a tube amp with the vintage Yamaha Tuner and switch between amps depending on the type of music I will listen to. Thinking of an EL 34 Tube push pull design. Turn table is an RT 82 Fluance. Pre amp is an Emotiva. Schiit Vidar amp. Sony CD player. Want ot put my Schiit Modi 3 as a DAC for the Sony. Trying to avoid dumping big bucks into a dedicated CD player/transport. Paradigm Refrence 9 series speakers. Vidar and turn table were purchased new....ONKYO and Yamaha were free fromf riends....not shown is the HSU subwoofer. Subwoofer, pre amp, Sony cheap off of FB Marketplace/Craigslist. Thinking of a nice OPPO CD player at some point. I want to replace the rocker with a comfortable chair for headphone listening.

If there's a 10-20% take rate on luxury trimmed trucks selling for 60-80k, there is certainly room for more. You realize what 10-20% of sales in this segment means, right? 2020 Sales 10% 20% Silverado 593,057 59,306 118,611 Sierra 253,014 25,301 50,603 F150 787,372 78,737 157,474 Ram 563,676 56,368 112,735 Total 2,197,119 219,712 439,424 Between 220,000 and 440,000 vehicles per year are luxury trimmed trucks, based on your 10-20%. Last year Mercedes sold a total of 324,708 vehicles in the US.

Does it really make that big of a difference? Both of my receivers are pre-amped for a turntable already so I am wondering if it is truly worth adding to an existing system. Looks like some good Schiit (yes, I was itching to say that).

My belt drive RT-82 Turn table with White Vinyl....Paul McCartney spinning. Schiit Mani Phono Amp made in Texas in teh back ground. CD is of a string quartet, I have actually been listening to a lot of classical lately. In other news, looks like it might be a great year for the cleveland Browns.

I can support that. Looking for a nice one for my living room but I think I may go direct drive instead of belt driven. Still mulling that one over. I hate to say it, but I actually like it. It does a really nice job of paying homage to the classic ZX rides like the 240 and 260 with even a little bit of the 2nd gen 300 in there. More "back to it's roots".

All-New Nissan Z has Premiered in NY for Sports Car fans. All-new Nissan Z premieres in New York (nissannews.com) https://media.flixel.com/cinemagraph/mah5e7bnyrl0urhovppq https://flixel.com/cinemagraph/mah5e7bnyrl0urhovppq/

So the question this whole channel has been about is Will Competition Destroy Tesla? Mercedes EQ Roadmap General Motors Ultium Roadmap Of which we have these two coming under GMC Hummer Where is Mercedes Answer to this? GM has already confirmed the Lyriq for Cadillac, Chevrolet has the Bolt and Bolt EUV, plus we know a GMC and Chevrolet regular electric pickup is coming. Ford has not shown a detailed electric roadmap that I have seen, but we have the Mach-E that is 70% conquest sales mainly from Tesla. F-150 Lightning electric pickup that will be in both fleet and retail models coming next year. Then we have Rivian with their R1T and R1S and 6 more electric auto's on the way by 2025. At this point, Tesla has some serious problems, no wonder they are looking to become a power supply company as they cannot seem to deliver on a broader portfolio that @smk4565 have said everyone has to have to be successful. Semi truck - DELAYED Cyber truck - DELAYED and Musk has said if he built it today it would cost over $1 million dollars. Roadster - DELAYED Musk can blame all he wants on parts including chip shortage, but reality is poor leadership. Mercedes seems to be having the same issue with the large amount of cars versus what the public wants in trucks and SUV/CUVs.

Lexus; no. Like someone pointed out; it'd be based on a bottom feeder toyoter; that's a poor foundation to build off of, esp when all toyoter is doing is (badly) copying the Big 4 trucks. Cadillac & Lincoln... I think they are playing it right by conceding the lux truck segment to the higher volume in-house brands. There's too much of a 'well-worn path' to Ford to try and divert traffic to Lincoln at this point. It's possible tho, esp if a Lincoln truck had as much attention to detail as the Navigator has shown. I just don't think every brand needs tube in every segment (something I've said many many times here).

Why does this bother you so much???!!! Dont answer as your opinion means shyte... 1953 Corvette The Corvette emblem on that hood 1957 Corvette The front emblem remains largely the same.... The side emblem of that 57 Corvette '57 Chevy The emblem on the side of a 57 Chevy fuelie Emblems of Impala SSs 1960 1961 1962 Impala SS 1963 Impala SS 1964 Impala SS 1965 Impala SS 1966 Impala SS 1966 Chevelle SS 1967 Impala And that was the last time I believe the checkered cross flags were placed on a vehicle other than the Corvette... Corvette emblems Tim Allen's Hot Rodded LT5 engine swapped Impala SS. Notice the so called Corvette cross flag? Through out the decades, Corvette enthusiasts with other Chevrolet die hard performance guys along with other brand's sports car crazy folk KNOW the Corvette is a Chevrolet. They all LOVE the fact that the Corvette is a Chevrolet! Through out the decades, Corvette enthusiasts with other Chevrolet die hard performance guys along with other brand's sports car crazy folk KNOW the Corvette is a Chevrolet. They all LOVE the fact that the Corvette is a Chevrolet! Corvette Racing http://www.speedsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2020/03/2001bc3439.jpg.jpg With the Corvette logo front and center and the Chevy Bow Tie displayed in it!!! The Corvette will ALWAYS be a Chevrolet. Stop with your nonsense.

That is a niiiiice model. Ive got 74 of them. I once had over 100. I got rid of the ones that I had a duplicate of. Like for example I currently have a 1969 Olds 442, a 1971 Olds 442 and a 1970 455 Cutlass SX. I gave away the 1970 Olds 442 pains me but I DO I have the SX. It was between the '70 and the '71. I decided to keep the '71 since the front end is different from a '70) and a 1968 Olds 442. I gave away a General Lee Charger, but I kept a very nice plum crazy '70 Charger. Although I DO prefer a '69 over the '70, the colour of the '71 is sooooo much nicer lookin'. ETC... Gave them away to friends or their kids for them to start their own collections. These are MY 1st gen F-Bodies. Im only gonna add 1 more to my collection. And its gonna be a C8 Corvette. Im waiting to see if I like the Z06. As Chevy hasnt revealed the Z06 yet, obviously a die cast is not available for it yet. But it will be either a Z06 or the Sting Ray C8 to complete my collection.

i really dig the Fluance turntables. Here is my RT-82. I really want to get an RT-85 EDITTTT i have an RT-81

My wife is the Frugal deal queen, I just merely hate to shop.

Europeans are by & large; automotive xenophobes. They're really not a relevant market outside of themselves. There's a regular cab/long bed commercial/base trim for fleet sales, yes. Almost none are retail-sold. But as soon as you go to a crew cab/4WD, that price rises to $39K with the standard 2.7L Turbo and no options. When I do a 500-mile radius search for a base CC/5.5' 4WD Sierra, 5 come up, sticking between $40.7K and $44.7K. That's a long damn way from "$30K".

These are completely random numbers.

This is beyond bad news at the wrong time of the year (like there's a good time to lose your job).

GM and Ford NEED to figure out an alternate way to produce these semiconductors because this is killing their sales.

This brings back memories as my dad and I had left just a day before the big eruption and our 16ft aluminum fishing boat was filled with ash from one of the early pre-eruptions. I was back home in Kirkland Washington on this day when it exploded.

What is with Dodge drivers lately? Not a day goes by, when I'm on the interstate, that a Charger or Challenger driver isn't acting like they are in Cannonball Run. I am over all of them and sadly it's not just the V8 drivers out there. Even the 3.6L fools do that and I don't understand it. Just offering a master class in "How to drive like a complete Jackass: Sponsored by your friends at Mopar".

Cougar 428 Cobra Jet Wide enough for you Balthazar? I am going to channel oldsHurst and respond with music...

Yet none of those “issues” have been issues since they have ZERO problem moving any of them. I think GM has it pretty well covered. And what everyone else here is trying to tell you is that the D3 have been selling luxury pick ups for years now. It’s your favorite company that didn’t seem to have a case for it even though they are allegedly a luxury car company. See the problem yet? I am wondering if anyone can get new products out on time, at this point. This shortage has affected literally everyone.

Ford has brought back a classic for the 2022 model year only. FORD RANGER SPLASH A sporty, stylish blast from the past returns as the Ford Ranger adds the Splash™ Package for the 2022 model year Ranger Splash Package includes distinctive orange and black body-side graphics, unique matte black wheels, orange and black trim inside and out, and specially designed seats Ranger will also be available with Splash Limited Editions – one-time-only colors that will drop every few months, with Splash™ – Snow Edition kicking off the first batch of these limited-run offerings Ranger Splash Is Back! Classic Name Reimagined in a New Package with a Series of One-Time-Only Colors to Follow | Ford Media Center More pictures at the Link above.

I was curious to see what Bing would give me for searching for Hispanic Sensibilities and Pace.... First thing up was this:

As a half ton pickup, what part of $74,640 does not make this an Off-Road Luxury Pickup Truck? As a 3/4 ton 2500 HD AT4 pickup, $84,495 me think makes this a luxury off road pickup. I see no reason for a auto company that has deep pockets and builds commercial trucks and buses to not be in the Luxury Truck segment! Tesla has NOTHING to compete in this segment. Per @smk4565 Mercedes has deep R&D Pockets, so why do they not have anything to compete in this segment of Super Trucks? ?

I happen to like Hispanic sensibilities and pace... You gotta LOVE the Spanish way of celebrating a girl cheating on her boyfriend with two of his buddies AT THE SAME TIME with a song and a specific dance!!! Then there is the very seductive dances themselves... A whole lot of them!!! Im just gonna go with this club song because it reminds me of my clubbing days...but trust me, the dances are hot. And there is nothing overly sexual about them. Just very very sexy! They know foreplay! EVERYBODY SALSA!!! And the pure sexiness of the way they speak and dance and live! And who doesnt like a conga line at a wedding or best yet, somewhere on a Caribbean island paradise???!!!

Random thoughts on this random thoughts thread on this first day of September: 1) Rankings of places based on criteria are often ridiculous and not relevant to a lot of people. They may about the best suburb to live in, the best place to live overseas, and blah blah. As for suburbs, you might have Overland Park, KS, The Woodlands, TX, Cranberry Township, PA, Cary, NC, and Wilsonville, OR on the list. But if those regions are not your personality, then you'd be S.O.L. For foreign countries, they've got places like Ecuador, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal, France, Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, etc. If you don't think you'd eventually gel with Hispanic or Asian sensibilities and pace, then a person shouldn't consider them. Then they've got "best town in every state" ... more mind numbing reading ... 2) When I was a teen, Arby's rarely ever entered my stream of consciousness. It's like they were invisible. They have really upped their game, and, now, I go in more often and find sandwiches and wraps on their menu that I like. 3) The start of autumn is a mere 3 weeks away.