trinacriabob

cheapskate (I LOVE coupons)

"lifer" oh $h!, was my spelling off?

hefer MOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Yesterday, I had to do an administrative errand that involved some important paperwork and traveling between Northern California and Northern Nevada. So, I went on-line and rented an ECONOMY car from one of the majors. Upon arriving at the lot, there were no $ 18.99 economy cars, so I knew an upgrade was in order for the same price. The people in front of me were given a Jeep but I wanted something with an actual trunk, so the lady gave me a base model Chrysler 300. Now, I've probably posted before that I am quite disenchanted with the styling of most Chrysler products...and the 300 is no exception. I don't like the grille, the greenhouse and the squatty proportions. I got inside and got myself organized. Kudos to the bucket seats that suited me beatifully. Not too bolstered and not too flat, I was able to live in them for the round-trip of 339 miles with no fatigue. That was great. The dash is sensible, as is the center stack. Everything is fairly predictable and one learns to operate the items in the center stack rather quickly. Additional kudos for less of a blind-spot than anticipated, especially with the thickness of the C-pillar. The seating position is also advantageous. However, the top of the dash cowl is unusually deep, or wide, and the continuation of this plane onto the hood makes it seem more like a truck or SUV. The high and flat hood plane just felt weird. On the minus side, there did not appear to be an automatic door locking feature. The pale green bezel illumination at night with dark gray indicators was not at all pleasing...maybe better in a mental hospital. The cruise control stalk was downright bizarre and no match for the user friendliness of those found on GM products. Lastly, the operation of the power seats, again, couldn't hold a candle to those in a GM car. The movements that the switch allowed for seemed to have limited range and didn't allow for much "blending." Driving the 300 is a mixed bag. I returned home to pick up paperwork, so I popped the hood to see what powered this car. GOOD GOD...I couldn't believe it. It was a puny 2.7 litre DOHC V6...the same one that finds its way into some Sebrings/Stratuses. Fairly quiet at cruise, it is rather rambunctious when throttled...a little on the grainy side. The transmission is just OK. It seems like mine, with almost a quarter of a million miles, shifts more smoothly due to a better marriage to the engine. Here, the tranny seems to hunt a lot to keep the 2.7 litre engine operating at an optimum place. When you consider that each litre is about 60 cubic inches, this engine measures out to 162 cubic inches, give or take. Once I knew that, I could see why the transmission would downshift so often. Handling feels secure. Again, a traditional mounting of the engine told me that this is a RWD car. So I immediately thought of Sixty-Eight Panther! I will admit that I too prefer a RWD car but my reason is the serviceability. (I truly would like for the Grand Prix, the LaCrosse or the Monte Carlo to have the styling and proportions that they do while being rear-wheel drive. However, when "the elements" are out there, the FWD comes in handy). I was expecting a handling bonus from the RWD, given the equal weight distribution. I did not detect one. In fact, on the road up to Tahoe and then back down the leeward side of the Sierra, when pushed hard in the mountain turns, the 300 did NOT seem to like it. Of the W-bodies, the Grand Prix, complete with its unequal FWD distribution, seems more up to the task of taking on the twisties. But, overall, it was a pleasant riding car with a very nice supple yet controlled ride at highway speeds. The fuel economy was about 26 mpg over the 339 miles. This included about 85:15 highway:city as well as a gas guzzling climb from sea level to an altitude of 7,400 feet over Echo Summit on US 50. My knee jerk reaction from Day One has been to hate this car. I no longer hate this car and wouldn't mind being upgraded into one in the future as the opportunity arises. Would I buy one? NO. The drive confirmed that there are other mid-size products better suited to me.

Bored? I wish. If I was ever bored, it would just give me an excuse to get in the car and go somewhere...anywhere. Now, how about depressed? I measure that by how much I nap. Seriously.

architect HA!

opera conductor

What now? What now? Sheez!

Never having taken anything beyond Psych 101, I'm no expert but I'd like to think I've got a decent dose of street smarts.1. I don't think that when relationships "go south" people change their sexual preference. Instead, they become angry or bitter (which is normal), cautious (which is sensible) and find hobbies or other outlets to distract them for a while. 2. Some may change their sexual preference, but I think it's a small minority. (I have a friend from ATL who originates from Philly whose father and mother divorced. It was an abusive marriage. The few times I've met her mother, the woman looks "textbook" "L". She could be one of those that switched over. Funny, because in seeing the wedding picture, the mother looked like an attractive feminine bride). 3. Most people just keep on going and/or sit it out on the sidelines until a relationship that works comes along. One final word: I don't remember how old you are, but if it's any consolation, the "tables turn." You will become more in demand and women will become easier to deal with...that's probably because they know they have the unwanted baggage of lugging around "someone else's kids." LOL. Case in point: Kevin Costner and George Clooney keep on ticking while Sharon Stone and Kathleen Turner have taken a licking. (no, not that kind).

Un po' superbo...dietro il suo cancello! :AH-HA_wink:

galvanic response

Hey, didn't anyone tell them the steps aren't to code?

gravity

Like 867 said up above, they don't know what they want! Most men are pretty linear and women can't get there, so it creates friction.My Dad was, as far as I can see, happily married to my Mom. I mean, you know, parents are weird and all, but I think my Dad was quite observant about women, especially since he came from an era and a country where women were deferential to the "man that brought home the bacon." He said that "since women are weaker (physically), they compensate in that they have to fight dirty and with a mind f*ck." (said in another language, but translated). WMJ, you should have told the bitch that you are at war with vaginas attached to fat chicks.

Appartamento con un bidet pieno di cacca! Now that I have your attention!Great pictures, Mustang...thank you! BTW, I don't know where in Rome you hang your hat, but other than my 1st cousin near Bracciano, I have other cousins who live a couple of blocks from the Metro station called "Re di Roma," on a side street from Via Taranto. A couple of Athens comments: The metro really is nice, especially for a southern European city. In 2002, you couldn't yet take it all the way to the airport. Did you see the hourly changing of the guard ceremony at Syntagma Square where those dudes wear those skirts and those shoes that appear to have pom-poms? A lot of cats in Greece, right? The food kicks ass, right? I'm more partial to Portugal and Spain, but I will probably get back to Greece within the next 3 years...it was very relaxing in the more rural areas and the islands.

Galore! (Did you see "Goldfinger"?)

Are you as much of a character at work as you are here?

Was law school ever in your plans? :AH-HA_wink:

wiretap

I'm driving home after lunch and realize that my odometer is about to roll over to an even number (you know, ending at ,000)...but it wasn't quite there. So, I didn't pull into the driveway and instead drove around the neighborhood a little more to make it get to that "magic number." I find that I've done this more than once, among other weird quirks. Do you do this kind of crap with your car? Or, do you have other weird quirks you care to share?

The first part: funny! As for languages to learn, that was exactly the reason I took French for 2 and a half years in high school. Then, in college, I took Spanish for a change and to facilitate vacation travel as an adult to places I wanted to go: namely Spain and Argentina. I sure as hell didn't learn it to help out somebody's lazy ass. And that was the same reason I taught myself Portuguese - so I can vacation over there, or possibly in Brazil, and enjoy it more.

Classe economica My response to thread: economy

Looks like a sophomore business curriculum somewhere, am I right, WMJ?Been through that drill ! But you're a smart one, so I'm sure you'll do well...then, when the week is over, you can ponder jiggly titties! :AH-HA_wink:

first class

WMJ is the KING of "off the wall" on this site...uhm...maybe he shares that title with Satty.