Random thoughts thread

In reply to eastsideTim :

Craig Powerplay, man.

eastsideTim said:

Appleseed said:

eastsideTim said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Is that what the whole 1970’s Novas with air shocks and lift shackles thing was called back when I was a little kid?

Google Street Freaks. You'll be pleased.

Some of those definitely resemble what I used to see, though most are far more extreme.  I mostly remember Novas and Camaros, with the nose at stock or lower height, the back jacked up with bigger than stock rear tires, and they all had to have the painted diff cover.  Bet almost all of them had a Kraco AM/FM radio/tape deck, too.

Sounds like you are just talking about '70s Street Machines, which was the evolutionary first step of Street Freaks. Stinkbug stance, Cragars or slot mags or Center Line Auto Drags, often a tunnel ram or 6-71 blower jammed through the hood. That was the inspiration for the 2011-ish revamp of the Crusher Camaro

Mndsm said:

Saw a car that had temp plates on it. Was a newer Mitsubishi mirage. Also had the sticker from a known bhph lot on it. How bad does life have to be when you buy the cheapest new car in America, used, from a bhph lot, when the guy that sells these things new will finance literally anything with a pulse?

This is what happens when you File chapter 11 after rolling over your 6th car loan in 5 years. A buddy of mine once worked for a Kia dealer as a salesman and had a customer pay $55k for an appliance car that cost $25k on MSRP... seriously some people are dumb. Also, somewhat related; over 30% of all new BMWs will be sold with in the first year of ownership.. I cringe everytime I see fresh dealer plates.

OneSickGNX said:

Mndsm said:

Saw a car that had temp plates on it. Was a newer Mitsubishi mirage. Also had the sticker from a known bhph lot on it. How bad does life have to be when you buy the cheapest new car in America, used, from a bhph lot, when the guy that sells these things new will finance literally anything with a pulse?

This is what happens when you File chapter 11 after rolling over your 6th car loan in 5 years. A buddy of mine once worked for a Kia dealer as a salesman and had a customer pay $55k for an appliance car that cost $25k on MSRP... seriously some people are dumb. Also, somewhat related; over 30% of all new BMWs will be sold with in the first year of ownership.. I cringe everytime I see fresh dealer plates.

As an aside, I laugh at luxury cars, especially european ones. Brand new maserati is what, 150k? 5 year old maserati, cheaper than a Camry. 

Why do the big 3 not make personal luxury vehicles, full framed off-road capable suvs (the ramcharger doesn’t count as it isn’t sold here.), or 2 door sedans anymore? Sincerely; I would much rather drive something with the interior space/comfort of a 70s-80s midsize car, actual good looks (instead of the fish bowl), 2 doors and an AWD v8 than an appliance CUV or crossover. Also since any 3rd world country can produce a crossover for half the cost of the US find a different market...

In reply to OneSickGNX :

Because you are in the severe minority. The masses have spoken. Jelly beans for everyone. 

OneSickGNX said:

Why do the big 3 not make personal luxury vehicles, full framed off-road capable suvs (the ramcharger doesn’t count as it isn’t sold here.), or 2 door sedans anymore? 

They nearly starved to death continuing to make those long after people decided they no longer wanted them.

Hell, I'd be happy with something with a wheelbase in the 94-99" range, that doesn't sit you upright like a truck.  That isn't Asian, because I want a car that won't audibly rust.

I see a lot of 2 door bmw and Mercedes luxury cars.. I mean a lot.. also see a lot of higher end chargers, 300s, STS, CTS, AMGs, 5 & 7 series bimmers and more than a few jags and masseratis. What I was getting at is that in a time of everyone making status quo cars that people deem acceptable why not build something people want (or better yet drool over.) and not just need... also there must be some want for more off-road capable trucks/suvs too, I see a lot of wranglers, Tacoma’s, special model rangers, Colorado’s, canyons and frontiers. Heck the FJs sold so well that for 5 years after my dad bought his; dealers where offering to buy it for several thousand over what he had paid new. Obviously the blind people GM uses for their commercials aren’t all consumers otherwise they would have a larger market share just saying.

In reply to OneSickGNX :

It occurred to me that all three things you want have been replaced by the pickup truck.

Opposable thumbs are  awesome, until they quit working correctly...

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to OneSickGNX :

It occurred to me that all three things you want have been replaced by the pickup truck.

Yep. Chose your flavor of F150. 
Limited for luxury, Raptor for off road. 

I'm tired of special editions. Bring back the standard transmission, regular-cab, 2wd mini-truck. 
 

(I've been putting some miles on Dad's '91 Ram 50, and forgot how much fun they are to drive)

Recon1342 said:

I'm tired of special editions. Bring back the standard transmission, regular-cab, 2wd mini-truck. 
 

(I've been putting some miles on Dad's '91 Ram 50, and forgot how much fun they are to drive)

Make mine "1990s full sized" (not the 2020 full size), with rubber floor mats, manual HVAC controls, manual trans, lockout hubs, and a floor shifter for the transfer case. 
 

Today I had an "interesting" encounter with 2 idiots on my drive home from work. I have a cheap Aukey dashcam that records the videos in a .ts format. I want to be able to manipulate the video for editing but I have to convert it to MP4 to do so. The native video is 1080p @30fps.

Using VLC to convert it, I get a big loss in quality.

What do you guys use? I found a stand alone program that converts almost everything but I'm wondering if there is a better way?

If you had a transporter like the one in The Fly, what happens if you put the receiving unit inside the sending unit?

Reply to MNDSM

In reply to RevRico :

You're not wrong. 

Too Long, Don't Bother Reading.  Random venting, not looking for answers just need to let it out.

I'm not overly superstitious but this seems like more than a simple coincidence. I hope to God it goes well. 
 

A few months ago at the urging of some coworkers I was talked into joining some dating sites. They felt it would do me good to meet some people and get out of the house once in a while. Almost immediately a woman messaged me.  I don't know why, she's good looking, has her E36 M3 together, and could do far better. I wasn't ready to meet anyone at first so we just talked. We've now texted several times a day every day for over three months. When I was finally ready to meet her she had hurt her back on vacation and wasn't up to it. We still talked and texted putting meeting on hold until she was up and moving. 
 

Two weeks ago during presurgical testing they found a problem and admitted her to a local hospital, days later she was transferred to a hospital down in Manhattan.  They've been doing tests all week and she hasn't gotten many answers yet. She's alone and scared, and has said a couple times I shouldn't get too involved because of the year I've already had. Common sense may say she's right but I can't stop myself. I know it could go terribly but so be it. This is where the superstitious bit comes in. She lost her husband about two years ago. When she started talking to me and I wasn't interested in what she was looking for she also could have bailed. She didn't and helped me greatly to deal with the hell I was in. Now she's in a situation that I have years of experience in and while we haven't met I want to help however I can. I seems like there's some kind of reason we matched up with each other. I don't have any expectations that it will be come anymore than the friendship it is but seeing as I have little going on anyway I feel like I'm almost supposed to be doing this. I hope this makes some kind of sense  but I guess it doesn't really matter.  Like so many parts of my life I'm just riding along to see where it goes anyway. 

In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :

If I've been in a situation before and feel like my experiences can help someone, I feel almost obligated to help. Sometimes, I get burned. Usually, the recipient is grateful. 
 

Give her some help.  Worst case, you have helped someone...

PS- don't really care how long your posts are, or how ranty. I like reading them.

In reply to Recon1342 :

Thank you, she's very appreciative of my checking in everyday and to have the offer of help while she's in Manhattan since I go everyday and her family is all up here 80 miles north. She hasn't needed anything and her dad who seems to be a saint has been making the trip. I only really see only potential downside and it in reality it would be a lot worse on a lot of other people. A few people I've mentioned it to think it's a dumb idea but I figure I'm somewhat damaged so to speak anyway what's a little more, and there's a chance this could all go well which I could really use anyway. 

In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :

You give a E36 M3. It's a blessing and a curse. And you don't know how to turn it off. (Or want to) I know exactly how that feels. Keep giving a E36 M3. She appreciates it.

Mndsm said:

If you had a transporter like the one in The Fly, what happens if you put the receiving unit inside the sending unit?

You either should, or shouldn't, watch Primer.

They do this with a time machine.  I'd say it makes sense in context, but the whole movie is a giant mind screw that needs four or five viewings, with notes taken, to make any sense. 

Remember the end of Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, when Bill and Ted were fighting with De Nomolos saying "if you go back in time and do THAT then I will go back in time and do THIS" for about five minutes?  The whole second half of the movie is like that, except without the exposition, you just see the results.

In reply to Appleseed :

Believe it or not it's almost never been a bad thing. Most of my life I've been the person friends come to when the need help and it usually works out fine. I'm really hoping to continue that streak. 

Wally, always do what you feel is right. I've read your posts for a long time and even when you are down it seems your purpose it to build other people up; keep doing what comes natural to you. Don't forget we are here to support you the same way?

In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :

You asked so I'll answer. 

Continue to give and be there.  Be sure to keep sight of what's important like keep your job, keep your house, keep your dog and your family.  But, aside from that, I don't just see this as a one way street.  I think there is something that you get form the "relationship".  What you are getting is something else to focus on and without that, what you might be left with is just to focus on yourself.  Not that you are bad but that "self only" can lead to a depressing spiral in this timeframe.   

So, my suggestion is to say somewhat guarded but continue forward.  A place to focus some energy right now is probably a good thing.  Could it become more?  Hard to say but that "chance" is what makes the game/gamble interesting.