Croc

Who cares, the original CTS had a $h!ty interior even though all the materials cost a lot. All the other examples you posted have a much cleaner, tighter fit it seems. Obviously it never stood out to me before, but in the following picture you posted, it looks like quite a noticeable gap: I mean, I know you're a huge VW fan for whatever reason (I honestly cannot fathom the appeal), but I've never been offended by a VW the way I have been by the new Jetta. And I'm definitely not alone judging by the press it has gotten. ETA: I might as well add in the overall appearance of fit to the front end. Now, from your close-up photos, I can see that there aren't actually gaps between the headlights and sheetmetal, yet VW filled that space with a material that LOOKS like a huge gap. Especially since it isn't a uniform thickness. It honestly looks like the hood is popped in the above photo. I'm used to VWs being very tight-looking, and this just is a huge mess in comparison. Like this looks like Chevrolet tried assembling a VW circa 1999, that's how bad the build quality looks.

The semi-circular hood cutout for the emblem is cheap.

Eh. Not as nice as it probably needed to be.

It involves every State. There are federal MUTCD guidelines, and then state "supplements." Often, states negotiate on requirements with the FHWA. For example, California recently agreed to officially switch to mileposts instead of postmiles for their freeways and start adding exit numbers as a trade-off to continue painting school crosswalks yellow. Yes, in CA a crosswalk in a school zone is yellow. I definitely think it adds visibility, and I think exit numbers and mileposts are an improvement, so I like how that turned out.

The story was a sensationalist one about New York City, not about any other cities or states who may have been wasteful and/or stupid.

You read waaaaaay too much into it.

Camino, I'm so glad you would have done the right thing had you been in that situation. Unfortunately, many of the Libertarian positions you advocate for LEAD TO these situations that then rely on others to step up and go "above and beyond" or "ignore the rules" to do the right thing. And I don't think that's right. Oh, and if you really think I have the free time and money lying around to go book a flight on Southwest to Tennessee just to dance on some ashes...wow you really are a very literal and gullible person. I'm seriously enjoying one of the biggest laughs in a long time over your apparent pearl-clutching because I "dared" to type what I typed. I mean CLEARLY that was not meant to be taken literally or seriously AT ALL WOW

Agreed. Honestly, if something seems outrageous, unreasonable or ridiculous...it probably isn't true, or at least isn't being reported accurately.

Yup, do I celebrate out of schadenfreude that policies that have caused undue hardship for other people are biting someone in the ass, or do I feel bad for him as one of the unfortunate "hapless others" who has fallen victim to the undue hardship caused by the selfish, short-sighted jackass policies enacted by others in his town? From what Dodgefan reported, he turns out to be a hypocritical free rider.

While that's not EXACTLY what I think the lesson is here, you get it. I think the lesson has more to do with trying to get out of paying for public services "because they're public" and then wishing they were there when THEY are affected, nevermind all the other people who suffered and lost out due to the selfish behavior. Opt-in fire service will always be more expensive and less effective on a per customer basis than a uniform exaction paid by virtually all of a given population.

No, you've completely missed the point. This has no bearing on whether or not he agrees with my political views, but whether or not he is a leach and a selfish piece of $h! or not. See, this is a very clear example of why a pure free market society sucks. This is a very tangible example of why the anti-tax, anti-government people are wrong. Oh, and "for some reason" if you read the thread, you'd see that Dodgefan reported: So it seems pretty clear he's an anti-fee, anti-tax government guy, but one who cries foul when the chickens come home to roost. Oops. So in actuality, what I am actually saying is that a rational analysis of the situation is contingent BOTH on the actions/behaviors of the fire department AS WELL AS the actions/behaviors of the affected party. This man isn't offensive to me. I haven't seen his picture, smelled his body odor, observed his crazy personality flaws, or anything. I don't know him from Jurgis Rudkos. But if he's skipped his fire bills in the past and counted on waived fees in emergencies, then I find that pretty reprehensible behavior, a selfish leach, someone going around getting something for free, something that only costs $75 a year. If that's all it costs, I guarantee you that fire dept. is cash-strapped.

...exactly, so what's up with the interrogation?? Never contradicted it in my posts.

You're right, the local people wanted it that way, and wanted it that way like Mr. Stupid here because he thought he could get away with not paying for years and years and they'd put the fire out anyway. Oops. Actions have consequences. I don't feel bad for him, he made the bed he now can't sleep on because it burned.

What do you think my response would be? Clearly, there would be no fire department due to lack of funding in your "hypothetical" situation. Some things are a public good that warrant funding and taxes whether you end up needing it or not.

But that part of the country likely intentionally set themselves up that way because "Why should anyone have to pay for fire service they never use? My house has NEVER burned down, so why should I pay taxes for it? Get the government out of our lives!!!!!!!!!!!"

Wait...so he'd skipped out on his bill before and they made exceptions for him before?!?! Yeah feeling less sorry for this guy. Anyone find good deals on Southwest?? I have a celebration to plan...

Again, anybody have word on whether the hapless homeowner is an anti-government Tea Partier like C-Spec?? I really need to know if I need to book a flight to Tennessee to dance on the ashes or go to Rite Aid and buy the guy a Halmark card.

They actually are. This is why you should try to refrain from flipping out over an article on the internet. Look up another article, and BAM suddenly you'll realize it was a slow news day and you were manipulated by a poor journalist trying to write a sensationalist piece. It actually isn't. Only if you fall for journalistic sensationalism. Read the actual article: http://www.nypost.co...2VolVhXnCymfkvM This is a country-wide regulation, a change to the FHWA MUTCD. These changes were approved in 2003. Because New York and other states complained about costs, they were given a 15-year phase-in. Most signs have been replaced as part of their normal life cycle. Oops.

Honestly I don't know how to feel. My immediate reaction is to be outraged, but then again what if this guy is a Tea Partier? Long live the Libertarian paradise... I need more information.

That's not quite the same as whether or not it will be a future classic. There are some Gremlin fanatics out there, but the Gremlin is no Tri-5 Bel Air.

Honestly the only B-Body that won't likely make it as a future classic is the Custom Cruiser because it really isn't notable in any way, shape or form compared to the Roadmaster or the Caprice.

...yeah I don't get burnouts either. Just seems like trailer park kulture to me.

OK that's cool.

Question RE: facebook connectivity. Are you getting anything out of it from facebook, or are you just aiding them in building data profiles of our members? Because I'd remove that functionality if they aren't doing anything for you. Just a thought.

Do you type whole documents in Cambria? I definitely prefer semi-serif to serif, but I can't see myself typing a whole document in a semi-serif.