In reply to Peabody :
That's why I kept thinking it was the idle circuit.
I've had plugs fire on the bench but not in the cylinder. This is the first time I've had WOT ok but poor idle. I'm guessing because magneto systems make more energy as they spin faster whereas distributor systems make less.
In reply to ShawnG :
Ignition systems are weird. Weak ignition in a rotary can manifest as poor light load but acceptable WOT.
I guess, really, "engines that choke on their own effluent at idle and part throttle" are weird 
I freaking HATE networking. Network devices never, ever seem to just play well with each other. I don't understand how networking is this complicated in 2025.
brandonsmash said:I freaking HATE networking. Network devices never, ever seem to just play well with each other. I don't understand how networking is this complicated in 2025.
If we disregard the expense, this is the main reason I still don't have data for autocross. Everything connects wirelessly, when it connects, that is.
And now, my other autocross rant.
I had been trying to decide all week whether to do the eight hour round trip to Moultrie Georgia for a red Hills event.
I finally decided Saturday morning that I would be going today, and spent the next several hours swapping tires, changing oil, and doing other work on the car and in the garage. I forgot to actually register until about 4:15. Registration closed at 3:30.
This usually isn't a problem, I normally register for events as soon as they open. I'm not too disappointed, I've got plenty else I can do today, and I needed the race tires on the car since it's going in for alignment tomorrow.
Trying to apply for an e-visa for the country to which I will be deployed to.
All I was given in the email was the link to the country's government website to apply for the visa.
No guidance on how to fill out the application.
I was not given the date of when I will be arriving in country nor the location of which I will be staying at, which is required for the visa application.
No further instruction other that "Get it done".
It's E36 M3 like this that burns me up. I will have been with this company one year in a week. The entire time I have been employed here has been like this. It's infuriating.
Changing the oil on my tundra, the stream from the drain hit my pan at just the right angle to splash all over the place. Even made it all the way to the brake heat shield. At least I had a bag of kitty litter ready
Another wasted weekend. I can't seem to get E36 M3 done.
brandonsmash said:I freaking HATE networking. Network devices never, ever seem to just play well with each other. I don't understand how networking is this complicated in 2025.
Teaching myself wireshark right now to find and fix weird network issues. Totally not my job but it keeps coming up.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
Last time I had to use wireshark it was to troubleshoot a super-weird VoIP issue after failing to find anything useful about the problem through the VoIP server software. Turned out the problem was entirely at a telecoms company the server was connecting to the phone system through and not a networking issue at all 
GameboyRMH said:In reply to wearymicrobe :
Last time I had to use wireshark it was to troubleshoot a super-weird VoIP issue after failing to find anything useful about the problem through the VoIP server software. Turned out the problem was entirely at a telecoms company the server was connecting to the phone system through and not a networking issue at all
I am fully expecting a failed cable that was likely handmade my me a decade ago. Lots of traffic to dig through if I can get the error to reappear
Seeing kids unhappy about something they love doing sucks.
NTson #2 loves playing hockey and was probably the 1st guy below the cutoff for varsity at the beginning of the season.
He got invited early in the season to practice with var, but was dealing with a multi week cold and struggled to keep up, so he didn't get asked back the following week. His line is the top scoring line in the JV, even more productive than the line with players practicing with varsity, and the scoring is evenly distributed (6,5,5 goals each) . More recently his line got asked to practice with varsity and he broke a blade 3/4 of the way through the first practice, but did well the second practice.
Today after jv practice he got in the car and I could tell something was up, but didn't press. When we got home he told me several of his teammates were called up to play for varsity this week (last game against the other team was 11-1 win), but he wasn't asked.
We talked about it a bit later and he is going to talk to the coach to see what he needs to do differently and what he should be focused on for the rest of the season and to prepare for next seasons tryouts. I told him he needs to focus any questions on himself and what he needs to do, and not ask questions comparing himself to other players.
Hopefully it goes well and the coach views it as a positive action to actively solicit feedback.
Really, thanks for buying the little shiny happy person body spray. Not like she hasn't proven time after time after berkeleying time the only amount she knows how to spray is "all". Hope you're enjoying your day at work while I'm gagging in this house with all the windows open and 35 degree winds blowing through.
Little road trip in the NB yesterday..... The accelerator pedal is too close, the clutch pedal is too far, and the gauge hood causes glare on the windshield right where I need to see. Just like the NA's. I love it though.
I swear, the meme of the DMV being a terrible place to be is one of the worst things that has ever happened to the car scene because of what I deal with trying to buy old iron:
I have explained to you multiple times sir: I cannot buy your car until you begin the process of getting a title. I have called multiple agencies and gave you their numbers. I cannot legally search your VIN, both because it's too old for carfax to research but also because it's legally not permissable in the state you're in. The state government will not give me information on the vehicle because then it would be loaning out personal documents and details. I live in a different state and it might not even be legal for it to move across lines. If you want this vehicle sold- and I want to buy it! I have messaged you multiple times!- you have to get a title regardless, otherwise the new owner is spending a few thousand hoping the car isn't stolen or illegal in some way, and will have to go to the same local DMV regardless. You even went to the title office to see what you needed before!
You want it sold? Get a berkeleying title you cornfed cockstain. Stop wasting time and apply for a lost title. Stop being difficult, it is not hard, I HAVE HELPED YOU, the DMV will help you.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, GO DO IT. THE MONEY IS CALLING AND YOU'RE. NOT. ANSWERING.
In reply to GIRTHQUAKE :
Same guy who complains he can never catch a break.
I bought my last house from a guy like that.
After a PITA negotiation and purchase process, halfway through taking possession. The property was still full of trash that was supposed to be removed, as stated in the contract, his realtor said "Bill thinks you're trying to screw him".
My reply was "The only guy trying to screw Bill is Bill. I just want what he agreed to in our contract. Do I need to call my lawyer?"
It's not often, but it does happen occasionally.
Some days I berkeleying hate my job.
TravisTheHuman said:gixxeropa said:solidworks uses 70% of my computers resources when I open it, my company's security software uses the other 30%. If I have any other apps open while I'm using solidworks, everything slows to a crawl. It would be nice to be able to use the browser while I'm working on a drawing but oh well. I even have to close outlook and teams
What kind of potato computer did they give you?
Right?
I just did a full rebuild on this assembly that I haven't opened in weeks. Took about 4 seconds and CPU use never got above 24%, memory at 54% (of 16G). I have multiple browsers open all the time.
I built this computer in 2013, it wasn't even a killer build back then. All I can say is disable any add-ins you don't need.
wearymicrobe said:GameboyRMH said:In reply to wearymicrobe :
Last time I had to use wireshark it was to troubleshoot a super-weird VoIP issue after failing to find anything useful about the problem through the VoIP server software. Turned out the problem was entirely at a telecoms company the server was connecting to the phone system through and not a networking issue at all
I am fully expecting a failed cable that was likely handmade my me a decade ago. Lots of traffic to dig through if I can get the error to reappear
We need to use wireshark around here, and it needs to be a pretty specific version configuration to work on our avionics network.
Our IT (they prefer DT, for Digital Technology, these days) crawls our machines on a periodic basis, loses their E36 M3 when they find wireshark installed and then usually delete-- or sometimes they upgrade it to a version they like better, but of course isn't useful in our environment.
My main gripe about wireshark is that if I'm not using it at least weekly, the necessary knowledge completely exits my body.
This damn 2012 Impala is the worst car I've ever owned. Yes, worse than even the Baja that I loathed. It breaks faster than I can fix it. Just about the time I get ready to fix some other long-standing issues, something new and more pressing crops up. In just 8 months time, I've done 4 wheel bearings, replaced one front ABS harness, re-engineered the nightmarish power steering system that sprung a leak, replaced both headlamp assemblies after the sockets melted, replaced both rear stabilizer links, replaced the in-tank fuel pump after it attempted to strand me, replaced all rotors and pads, replaced the high-pressure fuel pump that was spraying gasoline in the engine bay, and now had a front caliper lock up. It currently has an ABS light that comes and goes and is likely another faulty ABS harness, it sounds like one of the already-replaced wheel bearings is starting to make noise, and it has a Check Engine Light from the evap vapor line that runs the full length of the car, which crumbled at a stern glance while changing the fuel pump. berkeley this car.
In reply to NickD :
Wow. DD#2's 2006 Impala has been as reliable as a stone ax.
If she ever wants to replace it I guess I won't recommend a newer Impala.
Minor Rant? Minor Win?
The Samsung oven died. Again. We got it in early 2019. Early October '23 the main PCB died, none were available (but nominally could go back into production any minute!), and after waiting for them to crop up for a couple of months, we found a place that would repair ours on the other side of the country. Sent it there, got it back, and the next day got word that the new part from Samsung was back in stock and shipping.
I was a little conflicted since I don't normally like to stock substantial replacement parts for my household appliances, but I didn't argue and didn't return it, though I kicked myself a little for not canceling the order.
The minor win is that it's the same part this time, so keeping the "extra" worked out and we were only without an oven for about an hour. So the original was good for about four and a half years, and the repaired item for a year and a half. If the new part lasts as long as the original did, we might be approaching a bare minimum oven lifespan. Is ten years reasonable? Feels short to me for a major appliance, but less stupid than four.
Samsung could go boil its head if I thought any of their cooking appliances worked well enough to do so.
In reply to Jesse Ransom :
Our Frigidaire appliances are 15 years old with one switch replaced on the stove. We buy everything from a little country appliance store, and they've always looked after us. I would never buy an appliance from a box store.
In reply to Peabody :
I would love to find a local appliance place that was helpful. We have a local chain, but the experience hasn't historically been much different than bigger chains. It would obviously not be worth chasing the differences in initial price if we had something worth supporting.
The last Samsung to be replaced was our fridge; we ended up buying a Frigidaire from Costco when it was $800 less (!) than at either the local chain or other boxes.
I truly don't know that this constitutes a rant, but y'all are my extended family and it's not worth making a new thread about it. I was informed that the company was eliminating my position today, effective immediately. When I joined my regularly scheduled 1-on-1 call this afternoon and there was a third name in the participants list I knew there were three possibilities: They could have come up with some justification to fire me for cause, they were going to put me on a plan, or I was going to be laid off. As soon as she said something-something financials blah-blah tough, unfortunate yadda-yadda eliminating your position and it has nothing to do with performance, I knew that was HR-speak for I would qualify for severance. Since I had been there for about 22 1/2 years, that would be enough to cushion the blow and get me through until I find a new job.
Honestly, I'm not really that upset about it. I mean, it's a little bruising to my ego that they don't want me to work there anymore, but the last several months have been absolutely miserable for me, work-wise. I really didn't want to be doing my particular job any longer and my ideal scenario was that I would be promoted - even laterally - to some different challenge and responsibility within the company. If that wasn't on offer, then my next best option is to find a new opportunity somewhere else. The worst thing for me was being stuck where I was. In a way, I get to win a little bit because instead of getting rid of me for no cost because I found a new job on my own, they're paying me to leave.
Now I just need to find something new as soon as I can. While I can live off the severance for a while, I'd rather take as much of that money as possible and do something life-changing with it. Maybe get it into an IRA or something to add to my retirement, buy a rental property, or start or invest in a business. I'm sure the opportunity will present itself.
Anybody in need of an experienced IT professional? I'm afraid I can't relocate, but I am absolutely a master of Zoom, Teams, and WebEx!
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