Croc

Agreed, this is a non-partisan thread. I haven't noticed this at all, but I'll be on the lookout for it.

I personally like Pelosi. I didn't see this conference, so I'm not sure what transpired, but past conferences have always come off well to me.

Just fond this on Perez...Prop 8: The Musical: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff...d-rashida-jones

I just saw the episode where they're heading back east and Ricky sold it. I love that show, whenever it's on I make time for it.

A Christmas Story just annoys me...way too cloying. There really isn't a favorite movie for me...but I always did enjoy the first Chrismukkah episode on The OC. Not really into holiday movies...they tend to be too kiddy and cheesy for my liking.

No I know what you mean. You're always taught not to stare, so you look away really quickly, but at the same time it could be misconstrued as thinking they're "untouchable," which they obviously are not. For you it's the disfigured, for me it's kids with cancer. Some things you just try not to think too much about because it's so twisted, yet when confronted with a startling situation IRL you lose your composure so quickly.

Heidi Montag "Overdosin'" Video: some $h! never gets old... The Coolest 8 Year Old in The World Talks About O'Reilly: never gets old... Sparkly Wiggles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ThqDGpCDzI Kids say the darndest things... Landlord: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/74/the-la...t-panther-mckay Too funny... So much fun on YouTube...

It got plenty of attention at LAIAS, and I personally think it looks awesome, so I'm not worried. If the Prius sells on fuel economy alone, this machine should move units like the second coming.

Hillary...WEAR A f@#kING BRA!!!!!

That sucks. So few were made...

The thing about SNL is that it is entirely satire. As such, it makes fun of whatever it can for the day. I don't think I'd ever call bias on them, especially considering all their classic skits on Bill Clinton and Janet Reno back in the day. It's like what one of the Comedy Central guys said back in 2000: They were hoping Bush would win, because they couldn't imagine having much material with bland, boring Al Gore. Bush and his memorable ideosyncrasies proved to be much better satirical fodder.

Google Maps is a free download on Blackberry phones.

I love my Blackberry, and will be upgrading to a new one this Xmas (trading in a 2-year-old Pearl for a Bold). I'm definitely not addicted. I like getting emails when they arrive because sometimes I'll receive an email containing an opportunity with a limited time-frame involved, or I need to change my plans based on it, so not being limited to a computer to check email is really nice. I really only use it for call/text/email, though occasionally I use the Google Maps app for directions on the fly, or the Google search to look things up on the fly...but not much else. And hey, if I'm in a really boring meeting/seminar, I can surf dKos and stay up with the news of the day instead of feeling the seconds of my life evaporate (or worse--fall asleep in front of the lecturer).

Isn't this just the new iteration of the SportCombi? It does look beefier a la Volvo XC, so maybe it will have a wider appeal. Still though, all the product in the world won't fix SAAB's sales problems with so few and far-flung dealerships.

A baby Seville, with Bonnie bits, to be precise. I think a lot of it surrounds the unique bits, like the center stack and DIC. There are a lot of electrical issues that make it difficult to pinpoint and fix, and the interior was not designed to be easy to service AT ALL. I know a lot of issues are attributable to poor assembly, with loose wires being the main culprits. After many miles and potholes, a lot of them come loose in the dash, either due to very limited wire length in some cases, or sloppy securing on the assembly line. And then finding the right wire and taking apart the dash and center stack are total PITAs. I really think that the 2nd Gen Aurora wouldn't have as many problems had the union workers taken a little more pride in their work on the line (whether in actual assembly or quality checks), because so many issues are due to poor assembly quality. Only a few of the most common issues are due to poor engineering, like the Secondairy Air System where any driving in water will cause the blower to intake water, not be able to drain it, leading to eventual seizure. GM has redesigned the part for subsequent applications, but no TSB or recall was ever issued for the Aurora, and it really should have been. Regarding the Catera, my uncle was a Cadillac service technician for years, and from what he told me, the Catera was just difficult to service because language/standards between Opel in Germany, and standard GMNA service instructions were not interchangeable or even similar. One example I remember is that the service manual would refer to the "front right" or "front left" side of the car, and that in one country that was relative to the driver's viewpoint, while the other was relative to standing in front of the car and looking at it. Obviously that's a big difference. Also, the design of the Opel was just so different from GMNA cars at the time that there was quite a level of unfamiliarity involved. I have a feeling that if an Opel technician worked on Cateras, he/she would have very few issues with it. GM seemed to get the Catera issues largely fixed by 2000, though. I know many happy first-gen Catera owners, too, so I have a feeling that the level of Catera education/familiarity on the part of the service technicians plays a large part in the ownership experience.

The main thing I've heard is that because the Auroras were so unique in many ways, and not too many were built, they have a lot of little quirks in their design not shared by platform mates, as well as specialized components (unique engines), that make them daunting to service. Whereas Devilles, Sevilles, Bonnevilles, and LeSabres are much more common, mechanics are more familiar with them. I know some mechanics who are very familiar with the Auroras and diagnose things quickly, while others aren't and hate working on them for that reason. Whenever I take mine to my Cadillac dealership, I always try to provide as much info regarding TSBs, part numbers, likely problems, and other things that I've researched on ACNA to help them out as much as possible.

Those didn't go to G until 2000. I know the 2000 Devilles had some initial issues, particularly cruise control switches, engine mounts, signal stalks, and sensors of many kinds.

Sounds like the stalk needs to be replaced. Fairly common on G-bodies, especially around 90k. Wheel bearings only have a life of around 90-110k, no matter the car. I just had my front driver's bearing replaced at Pep Boys...$200 no problem. Sensor issues are unfortunately common for GM cars between 1995 and 2005. I know I read on ACNA that it's a good idea to have the steering shaft lubed regularly (every year or two). Where was yours? Around the decklid gasket? Seems to be the most common location... I've experienced this in mine, and it doesn't pose any harm to my knowledge. Usually blasting the air on high for a minute and then going back to auto clears it up, sometimes turning the car off and then back on fixes it, too. It's just a faint noise, though, so I don't worry about it. Not true. This has been solved on ACNA. Auroras are very sensitive to alignment and tire roundness. The slightest irregularity from specs can cause this. Here's the link for the solution thread: http://aurorah.proboards47.com/index.cgi?b...mp;thread=14558 Sorry to hear about your experience. From what I've heard, 2nd Gen Auroras have very inconsistent quality, unit by unit. Most of the common issues are related to a few components, and the most blatant ones usually have service bulletins relating to them, the secondary air system flaw being the most egregious exception. Also, it seems that there are a lot of little things owners should pay special attention to with regards to preventative maintenance, like the steering shaft, and keeping the throttle body lubed. That said, I've been fairly lucky with mine, the main repair for me was the transmission PCS replacement, but that is a common issue with the transmission on all applications, not just the 3.5 Aurora. When she runs well, she runs so wonderfully. Barring a sudden change for the worse in reliability, it will be very hard to part with my baby in a couple years.

No, Greenland is the last place on earth, or maybe Antarctica. I'd love to go to Iceland.

@ Nick...

QUOTE (empowah @ Nov 28 2008, 12:06 PM) Nice. I made sweet potato pancakes for Thanksgiving, and it was surprisingly easy and tasty. For sure it's better than the canned stuff with marshmallows on top. Stir fry shredded sweet potato and minced garlic with a nonstick pan, season with coarse salt and pepper, and when tender, flatten the sweet potatoes into a pancake, wait a few minutes, and then flip. No eggs or flour or squeezing needed; sweet potatoes are nowhere as wet as regular potatoes. I made mine in the afternoon and reheated them in the oven. Serve with creme fraiche and chopped chives. Niiiiiiice. Our sweet potato casserole we have for holidays isn't from a can, nor does it have marshmallow topping. That kinda stuff gets lumped with jello salad in my mind as SLOP from the 1950s that should never be revisited. Same with canned fruit cocktail... But yours sounds really good...might have to try that sometime, sans the teflon pan, though.

...do you LARP?

Wow, I just awoke from A Very Epic Food Coma. So here's how terribly we outdid ourselves this year: Gathering (4:30): Shrimp cocktail (father made this) Table water crackers and cranberry chutney/cream cheese (sister made this) Mulled apple cider with Jack Daniels Single Barrel (I made this) variety of Yellowtail and Fetzer...we don't f@#k around Dinner (6:30): Spicy cream of pumpkin soup (I made this) Mixed greens salad (mother made this) Fruit salad (cousins provided this) Rolls (Aunt made this) Sweet potato casserole (aunt-in-law made this) Mashed potatoes (aunt made this) Sauteed spinach, onions, and mushrooms (I made this...no collard greens at the store :-( ) Oyster stuffing (cousin made this) Chorizo cornbread stuffing (mother made this) Traditional bread stuffing (mother made this) Cranberry sauce (I made this, not Sandra Lee--so no canned slop) Green beans seasoned with onions and bacon (mother made this) THE TURKEY!! (mother and I made this) Gravy (mother and I made this) The After-Dinner: Persimmon pudding (mother made this) Pumpkin pie in a crushed gingersnap crust (I made this) EDIT: Home-made peanut butter fudge (aunt-in-law made this)

Two days ago I made a savory matzo brei. I put finely diced shrimp in it, so it wasn't exactly Jewish. Kikkoman tempura sauce concentrate, little sugar, garlic, diced shrimp, some white pepper all sauteed in a skillet. Matzo meal soaked in a bowl with water, some of the savory filling was added to the "batter," and then mixed. Add to skillet, flip like a pancake halfway through. Remaining filling served on top.

I'd die if Lutz replaced Wagoner...but I doubt that's in the cards. Who's Lutz 2.0? I know! Let's bring someone from Holden to head GMNA! That'll give PCS and CPF hernias!