trinacriabob

hedonism

Oldsmobile

greenback (also a major thoroughfare in Sacramento which goes through Citrus Heights AKA Syphilis Heights)

I tend to agree, Pantho. Absolutely. The gains are minor incremental strides. The repairs and diagnostics will make things way more expensive. My 1992 Buick is approaching 234,000 miles. It has basic sequential fuel injection and the OBD-I engine management system. In almost 15 years, I have replaced 2 O2 sensors and 1 MAF sensor. I currently have the SES light on and Kragen read a code which isn't even a sensor...plug wires or a faulty coil. Inside, beyond PS and PB, I have no other power accessories but I spent on nicer accessories (console, gauges, alloys) that aren't that complicated in nature. Why do you think I'm holding off on the new car when mine runs ok and is still so comfortable and quiet? And why do you even think all the cars I am considering are, relative to what's on the market, not that complicated? I will buy one more new car that is familiar. I think that, by the time beyond that at which I buy again, the technology and types of vehicles out there will be VERY different and more efficient.

My response to thread: O.J. Simpson

I am with you on this. Except for getting people in and out of the back seat, which is typical of all coupes, this car was easy to live with, comfortable and had become quite reliable (according to CR and other sources).I think that there are some styling quirks that a nip and tuck should and could have fixed. So, now it's gone. Too bad, because I think that GM could have accommodated 2 personal luxury coupes in their line-up: one at the Riviera price-point and the other at the Monte Carlo price-point. What happened? In the late 80s, the GM line-up had numerous mid-size and up coupes in their line-up. Now, there are NONE and most of them were reasonably attractive in terms of styling.

Olds Guy, glad to see you put an Intrigue at the right hand side of your new sig...sweet....

careless

cheese

keystone

Normandy

White with black interior seems to be most flattering for the GP...and I like what you said, Flybry: "f@#k you, I'm the Grand Prix." Every time I see one, I think of that kick-ass comment.

It's a little over-the-top. I know the Midwest and the South are particularly keen on the Greek System and it's almost humorous that my grad alma mater (U of Ill.) has or had the largest Greek System in the nation...some 55 fraternities and 27 sororities. It's part of the reason I didn't like being there...too much noise. I like things real quiet and was carrying 17 or 18 graduate credits per semester. There's no denying that the Greek System is elitist. It's based on externalities for the reasons they describe...popularity with Greek houses of the opposite sex and then, after school, for the connections value. I do see a value in the latter, but the former can be rough on some people, as the article describes. Incidentally, 2 very prominent schools (Notre Dame and Rice) do not want the Greek system on their campuses for the segmentation it seems to create. I know that my friendships with kids I had gone to parochial grammar school/high school with and then went onto undergrad with waned significantly once they joined the Greek system.

Yeah, you wouldn't believe how many 2006 new Monte Carlos are sitting on lots around where I live...quite a few more than, say, 2006 LaCrosses and Grand Prixs. It will take some incentive action to move them, though.

invasive

What's the matter, babe, the worldliness a little over your head? You need to get out of PA and MD a little more.

This holds true most of the time but sometimes it doesn't...meaning there are darker featured people of unmistakable northern Italian lineage and light skinned, or blond, Italians coming from the South (about 20% of my relatives are some dark shade of blond and they are southern).However, that being said, a southern Italian generally would generally get the reaction "now THAT's an Italian." This would be someone like Al Pacino, Tony Danza or Sylvester Stallone. Dark features, dark eyes (especially with what I call the hound dog feature...i.e. the whites exposed under the pupil like Stallone has), a prominent nose and an unmistakable ethnic look. Some are potentially interchangeable with a Greek or a darker Spaniard (they cast Andy Garcia in "Godfather III" and he is Cuban and they cast Al Pacino in "Scarface" and he is Italian). A northern Italian wouldn't probably get that reaction...they could interchange with French or Swiss people in most cases, which border them to the north. Most of the time, they will have brown or black hair but it's just that they don't look particularly ethnic. If you are ever in Milan or Turin, you will see a lot of Italians that don't hit you over the head as being Italian, particularly the more well-heeled northerners. Throwing this over to another ethnicity or race, take some Jewish celebrities. I have a Jewish friend I grew up with in LA who was talking about this and she said "now, you take one look at Elliott Gould and you think 'now that's a Jew' "...because he has a certain look. Then you look at Michael Douglas or William Shatner and that wouldn't really register, yet they are Jewish. This whole anthropological thing is fascinating and people watching in Italy is a trip in itself. Sometimes, I've found myself on trains in Italy trying to keep from busting up in laughter...they probably wouldn't get it and probably don't see themselves as amusing, so they might think I am the one who is nuts.

Voce tem Taco Bell em Lisboa? Nao e possivel... My response to thread: future

chihuahua

An "airbrushed" 49 according to the announcement on the home page ...and his billboard.

I saw 3 birthdays today: MGZ06 - he lives in Windsor, Ontario, it seems...he has Detroit's RenCen in his signature Buickman - well, I won't open that can of worms as this can get heated Another member I've never seen post Happy birthday, guys!

No. The Mafia originated in Sicily. The Camorra originated in Naples. The 'ndragheta originated in Calabria. All in the south...that's why northern Italians don't like southern Italians. And me, being southern Italian, can sort of understand while they feel that way. Fortunately, because I don't look southern Italian, I can blend reall well in the north of Italy and am treated well. Actually, this is a political "hush-hush" topic that is probably best left alone while over there, but I wanted to pass on that information.I am really sorry about what happened to your fellow studio mate. I am wondering if he was small and naive-looking which could have made him a target. Even though I can take care of myself, I am always cautious in some of those cities. The train station is in Piazza Garibaldi which is always crowded, but I would stay away from any neighborhoods outside of there. What's really sad is that (many) less than fortunate Neopolitans are all about the "art of the scam" and accept it as a way of life with no intent to change it. Naples has had many campaigns to change its image and it doesn't look like they are succeeding. As for the hotel, do not take any valuables with you or keep them with you. I have heard that stuff has "disappeared" even in some nice hotels. What a $h! hole!

He and his wife followed his in-laws who relocated to a more rural area between San Antonio and Austin. I think it's in the San Marcos area. I was stunned. It wouldn't be my first choice.

TYD, that's hilarious...I guess it's from the sensory overload of downtown Toronto living.Texas, huh? My best childhood friend just moved to the Austin TX area because he was priced out of Cali and wanted to buy a house.

Oh, come on, P, you can muster a better line than that. Even "what's your sign?" would be better....Couldn't resist...that one was ripe for the picking.