Robert Hall

I don't see a problem with Magna having ownership of Opel, it's the Russians I don't trust...their banking and businesses tend to be controlled by corrupt criminal organisations.

People into creative stuff seem to prefer them (GUI design, websites, photo manipulation, publishing, etc). As an enterprise Java and Oracle developer that dabbles in Ruby on Rails, I prefer them as they have pure UNIX goodness inside (OS X is UNIX based). Alas, though, the corporate cubeland development environments are still predominantly Windows, though the production environments are UNIX (Sun Solaris, IBM, and HP usually in the banking, finance and insurance worlds that I know pretty well). Rob

I like my Saturday morning Venti triple shot mocha douchearino w/ a artisan sandwich on the side. But I don't actually go into Starbucks, I roll through their drive thru in the JGC or the Merc 500SEL (which doesn't have cupholders--ARGGGGGGGHHHHHH). Years ago, back during the 2002 tech bubble, I was an unemployed techie for a while and hung out in coffee shops in Colorado Springs (Pike's Perk, great local place) w/ my laptop w/ other unemployed techies enjoying the free wireless.. Though nowdays, a MacBook Pro is necessary to hang out in coffee shops, a Windows laptop will only get you laughs of derision in the more tech oriented zipcodes, I've observed. Rob

I can't recall the last time I've seen any '80s Camry. I'm sure there are some still on the road, but I haven't noticed one in ages. I guess the theft rate is for demand for parts.

Exactly...I used to be a loft living coffee drinking, BMW owning and Jeep driving urbanite in downtown Denver before I moved to the burbs. Seems like FOG has prejudice against urban yuppies (and doesn't he live in urban area himself)? Rob

Saw the strange 3 wheel moped at work again today..determined the badge said 'MP3'. Turns out it's a Piaggio MP3. Interesting. R-Cube Piaggio MP3

I've seen a few of those..they used 'em in rural areas...seen them outside Colorado ski towns (along w/ RHD XJ Cherokees) and in Ohio... R-Cube

Saw an orange HHR today on the freeway--sort of a 'hybrid'--a panel but w/ the regular side doors. Are they an option on the panel? Saw not one but two '93-96 Fleetwoods in the last day---one last night in traffic--think it was black, and a silver blue one on the freeway this morning....looked to be in great shape. Made me think of the thread going on in the lounge. Rob

Mmm....nutella. Haven't had any in a while, I used to buy it to spread on English muffins at breakfast. Delicious stuff

Those are probably more likely independent, professional women who make their own car purchases (at least that's what the 3- and 5- series owners I've known tend to be (dated a couple, worked w/ several, have friends whose wives buy their own luxury cars)) rather than a housewife that gets hubby to buy her a minivan or CUV to haul around their offspring. Some DTSes are probably driven by Mary Kay saleswomen or grandmas... R

I remember 25 years ago, the area in Ohio I grew up in had a Sears, KMart, a Rink's, a Hill's, a Montgomery Ward's, a TG&Y, a Hart's, a Fisher's Big Wheel, Quality Farm & Fleet and a couple others...in 3 towns with 5-12k people, in a county w/ about 75k. \ Wal-Mart showed up 15 years ago. Today, population is a bit more, but all those stores are gone. Wal-Mart is all that is there, even the Sears closed in the mall last year. Rob

Excellent. Congrats on the new gig!

Cool.... I haven't picked up any new MBXes in a couple months, usually find them at WM or Target. This is the 2nd time MBX has done a '63 Caddy ambulance---I have one of their original ones from the early '60s (one of their tiny 'Regular Wheels' issues).

Sweet stuff...the newest Greenlight Auction Block series release has a sweet red '70 GTO w/ black vinyl top and a custom 2 tone '68 Chevy pickup..ordered them yesterday. There is a blue '71 GTO in the recent Factory 2 Pack series also. I don't have any of the Motor World series yet, but have seen them online. Here are pics of the Auction Block series from GLCollector.com GL Collector

Nah, I'm just lazy about putting the TP back on the holder--it's one w/ a spring and a pain to change out..

Well, it's one of those important issues that come up from time to time...lately, though, I don't even bother putting TP on a holder...I just keep 1/2 dozen rolls on top of the tank and roll off what I need, and a 24 pack in the closet.

I don't think I've been in a regular Sears since about 2000...I think I bought a battery at one in Colorado Springs. When I need tools, I go to the neighborhood Ace or Home Depot.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Taurus in person...looks great in the pics. I like the size of it. The interior looks great from the pics.

Looks like the TDI comes well-equipped, though...not stripped down.

The SHO is $38-43k or so...I'm sure some CTSes are in that price range. I didn't say they are competitors--many cars/trucks/SUVs are in that price range--, but that they are in overlapping price ranges, way above that of the Taurus' GM competition (Impala). The recent Impala SS wasn't in that price range...

GS might work...they used that on the last Regal, so their is a precident for using it on FWD 4dr sedans. GNX should be like GTO, reserved for RWD muscle cars. Super seems very old, old school...like 1950. Not 2010.

Well, the SHO is priced into CTS territory. (I'm not saying the SHO competes with the CTS, but I can't see a Chevy SS (Malibu?) in that price range...possibly a LaCrosse performance variant instead?)

cruise

Hmmm...got to translate...by 'Over' do you mean from the front--'B' in the diagram---and by 'Under' do you mean from the back--'A' in the diagram? If so, I prefer from the back ('A'). I think the reason it's done that way is to conserve use (pulling from the back usually results in less pulled off than from the front.) From the front also makes it too easy for pets to grab some and make a mess... Rob

Saw a sharp bright red '83-87 El Camino and a sharp white '65 Cadillac 2dr (not sure if it was a Calais or CdV) today..