[worknfool]

Sorry Tom, reply was meant for Gabriel...do you really own a Lotus btw?

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by worknfool

Sorry Tom, reply was meant for Gabriel...do you really own a Lotus btw?

Hi worknfool,

Search the Internet for the part of my member name without the number separated into two words to find the answer: Lotus Eclat

There is a web site out there with a gold one, very much like mine. It is a swept back profile version of the Lotus Elite II - i.e. without the look of a Gremlin in the back, sort of like the profile of a Toyota Supra circa mid-late 70s.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Revised theory suggests carbon dioxide levels already in danger zone.

If climate disasters are to be averted, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) must be reduced below the levels that already exist today, according to a study published in Open Atmospheric Science Journal by a group of 10 scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom and France.


Atmospheric CO2 if coal emissions are phased out linearly between 2010 and 2030, calculated using a version of the Bern carbon cycle model. Hansen, et al/Open Atmospheric Science Journal

-- Tom

[worknfool]

Core frustration; whether you buy the science or not, what if the doom sayers are correct,...or worse? What if they've undershot the mark and there are other forces at work ready to heap more horrific consequences upon us. This is one area where I couldn't agree w/ your sited Yalies more. Do we really want to wait to find out?

Western consumers are addicted to buying more, throwing away and replacing, etc. China has filled a huge part of that demand. Economics aside, we're confronted daily with evidence of their disregard for health and safety issues; lead paint in toys, garbage in tooth paste, etc.

Couple this with their human rights attitude; tanks vs. citizens, state mining operations that ignore even 20th century tech 'cuz life is cheaper than new equipment, etc.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4049253.stm

Then we've got their present contributions to modern world ecology; accelerated desertification of the Gobi region and air pollution on a scale heretofore unseen.

Their air pollution alone has increased by something like 50% in the last decade, and it's expected to QUADRUPLE over the next 15 years.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2005/...hina.pollution

Were Americans to stop driving cars and operating coal fired electrical generation plants today, China still possesses the capacity to completely destroy our environment all by itself within the next few decades. That's not being an alarmist, just look at the pictures and read the data.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Dust
http://www.motherjones.com/photos/the-last-empire/

Not that their alone, 'cuz the very same economic forces are having the same cause and effect in India, Indonesia and much of the former Soviet Republics.

Should Americans want to really take action in a significant way that can make a difference we need to start by limiting not just our energy consumption, but consumption of import products across the board.

Try buying "Made in the U.S.A." I've many friends in the plumbing trade that refuse to use anything but because of the quality problems that Asian made gas pipe and valves have regularly experienced. They have responded by telling customers that the bill for quality U.S. materials will be 20% or more over the import, but that's the only way that they'll do the job. If you want cheap, go to Home Depot and fix it yourself.

Which brings us back to our responsibilities. Look before you buy. This isn't just a protectionist / nationalist paranoia, just common sense. The manufacturing base moved there in the 1st place to escape environmental, health and safety controls...you know, make more money. Well, we've done our part to contribute to that, and now we need to grab the pendulum and sling it back in the opposite direction.

The third world will continue to develop, but not as quick to continue unfettered by the same controls that we operate under. A global economy needs to mean a reasonably level global playing field.

What's the difference between the power supply that I bought from PC Power & Cooling 6 years ago and the one that came in my daughter's year old PC? My old made in the USA cost probably ten times as much...and it still works. What's more the people that built it probably made a decent wage, had unemployment coverage, OSHA protection, etc. and the waste and emissions from the plant weren't polluting,(at least that's the hope).

I build cabinets, furniture and housing for a living. Over the last decade, as more and more formerly U.S. made tool manufacturers sent their work over seas, I found myself scouring Ebay for old made in the US tools. The reason was simple, the new stuff was designed to be disposable, not fixed, and besides that, it doesn't do as nice of a job.

Plain bearings and bushings replaced needle bearings and rollers. Plastic instead of metal housings. Poorly wound motors and inaccurately machined parts that no longer mattered 'cuz it wasn't supposed to last. The only exceptions to this that I've seen are tools from very high end makers who are up front about what they build and what you have to pay to own one.

I have an old Porter Cable 504 belt sander that's been out of production for years. Also a couple of old P/C production laminate trimmers that are no longer made. Nothing in their current product line can compete with the quality or efficiency of what these tools can do. The only new tools that I've found that work as well or better are made by a German Co. named Festool.

Example: Festool sells a cordless driver drill with a brushless motor that sells for almost twice what a roughly similar tool from Rigid, P/C or DeWalt (their new owner) offers. In the two years since I purchased my 1st, several of my employees have replaced their throw aways twice already, and mine still works as good as new. Not only that but mine is lighter, more comfortable and more powerful.

Problem: Very few people are willing to part with $4-500 for a cordless drill when they think that the formerly quality name brand can get 'em by for 1/2 the price.

Anyway, didn't mean to drill to this level of esoterica, but that's how my rants roll.


-lotuseclat79- know anybody lookin' to trade for a body organ or possibly one of my kids, I lust for an Esprit S4...even though it's not made in USA, ...but it is a 4 cyl...

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by worknfool

...-lotuseclat97- know anybody lookin' to trade ...

Something looked wrong about that, so I scrolled up. Yep, it's 79, not 97.

Personally, I prefer the new ones. 2.0 liter Toyota motors work better than the old Brit junk

[worknfool]

Lysdexic from too many solvent fumes.

You're missin' the whole English motor vehicle mystique thing.

Zener diodes, 6 volt charging systems and lever action shocks be damned.

There's no excitement like the thrill you get when you're late to work and you've got British electronics waiting for you in the drive on a rainy morning.

Makes as much sense as the steering wheel angle on old Fiats and Alphas. But they're all still fun to drive...when they run

[buffoon]

Originally Posted by worknfool

.....................I have an old Porter Cable 504 belt sander that's been out of production for years. Also a couple of old P/C production laminate trimmers that are no longer made. Nothing in their current product line can compete with the quality or efficiency of what these tools can do. The only new tools that I've found that work as well or better are made by a German Co. named Festool.

Example: Festool sells a cordless driver drill with a brushless motor that sells for almost twice what a roughly similar tool from Rigid, P/C or DeWalt (their new owner) offers. In the two years since I purchased my 1st, several of my employees have replaced their throw aways twice already, and mine still works as good as new. Not only that but mine is lighter, more comfortable and more powerful.

Problem: Very few people are willing to part with $4-500 for a cordless drill when they think that the formerly quality name brand can get 'em by for 1/2 the price..................................

Yeah, Fezer & Stoll (Festool) were founded in 1925 and still going strong (stronger even). you won't find them so much in the DIYs in Germany or here or elsewhere in Europe but the professionals will go for them, if they know what they're doing. Darn machines last a lifetime.

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by worknfool

Lysdexic from too many solvent fumes.

You're missin' the whole English motor vehicle mystique thing.

Zener diodes, 6 volt charging systems and lever action shocks be damned.

There's no excitement like the thrill you get when you're late to work and you've got British electronics waiting for you in the drive on a rainy morning.

Makes as much sense as the steering wheel angle on old Fiats and Alphas. But they're all still fun to drive...when they run

Ha! I've got a friend who just bought an old Saab who is now constantly asking me for rides everywhere.

[worknfool]

That's quite simply because he hasn't found where to insert the ignition key yet. Sorta like tryin' to find reverse on an old Bug. You can stare at that H pattern on the shift knob all week long and it'll never tell ya to push down.

[worknfool]

Took a job once out'a school selling cars. Thought, hey I'm an enthusiast, this should be great fun. Besides I had a family to feed and wasn't in a position to get too picky.

Other than the fact that I sold Toyotas & V.W.s, and got a different free one to drive every couple of months, had to be on of the most hateful jobs I've ever had.

Spend your days trying to get people to like and trust you so you can pump 'em in the arse. Paid the bills but taxed the conscience. The first thing The old timers taught me though...when you see a French built car hit the lot, run, 'cuz who ever owns it wants to get rid of it, and whatever they owe, it's not worth half that much.

I have to admit, Peugeot had the most incredibly comfortable heated seats that have ever graced an automobile. Just don't look under the hood. We were a dealer for them too for a while. They had brand new ones still sitting on the lot that were four years old. Any time some ome managed to give one away the tires had to be replaced before it could leave. Usually the happy owner of European luxury was back within a day or two threatening to kill someone if they didn't take the car back.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by worknfool

Don't know your age group so I'm not sure how relevant this may be to ya (I can remember taking summer classes there when CMU was still Carnegie Tech). I always thought the 'burgh got short changed. Lots of really cool things to see and do and an amazingly rich cultural tradition. Just tough to try and make a livin' there.

I am 5 years your senior. I used to hang out at CT in the late 60's with highschool friends. We would ditch school and take the 73 Highland Park bus and go to Oakland.

Originally Posted by worknfool

Pittsburgh Symphony, Heinz Hall, Carnegie Museum, Science Center, Laurel Highlands, the Inclines, Syria Mosque (I think it's gone now), Permanti Bros., the trolleys, Hoagies, Kielbasi, the Buggy Races, Kennywood, the parks - pools and skating rinks...CMU used to have a Tartan Band that had something like 40 bag pipers. I'm not a Scott but 40 pipers will put some serious goose bumps on ya.

I've been all over the country and seen a good bit of the world, but I always enjoy going back to Pittsburgh. Real friendly, genuine people. (Love the roads...not). Can't say much for B'more except that its always been easy to make a living down here. Too close to D.C. and the city is completely insane..

Yep, I carry the same affection for my birth hamlet. I have been in awesome beautiful places, but none is as imprinted on the soul as my hometown. I drive everyone here crazy at least once a year with my homesick pining away . I miss the smell of snow, and brick, and the sound of slushing tires, and the rivers and hills, and old wooden screen doors and porch swings, family, and the zoo that I renamed the Eukastro. I even remember when colored peeps were sold on tables at Easter in the Five and Ten downtown. I miss the old churches and park statues and the cemeteries and the Italian delicatesans....YUM

Originally Posted by worknfool

Just in my life time I've seen some of the most ridiculous resource mismanagement in the country result in the near total destruction of one of the eastern seaboards greatest treasures.

Democrats have owned this state for generations and yet none of them have the balls to do what they should to really save the bay 'cuz the pandering scoundrels are afraid to piss off anybody.

The crabs, oysters and rock fish have been fished and polluted almost to death, but they won't stop it 'cuz they say Virginia won't. Idiots!

The wetlands and marsh grasses are still receding every year from nitrate overload. Can't stop that 'cuz every body needs real green lawns and the chicken farmers on the shore might complain if you made 'em stop polluting. It is absolutely nuts!

Manufacturing jobs have been leaving the area for decades. Instead of replacing them with something more appropriate they whore themselves to huge polluters like R.W. Grace and Beth Steel to try a save a few jobs short term.

Meanwhile the polluters get to donate some of their brown fields that belong on the Super Fund clean up list, to the local jurisdictions for a tax credit.

Paint manufacturing used to be huge around here, partially due to transportation and partially 'cuz the bay made a nice toilet for flushing their settlement ponds.

You can still drive down the interstate on the southeast side of town and see ponds of several acres in size, filled with titanium dioxide sludge, within a football field of the bay. Guess what happens when we get hit with hurricane flood tides, since these ponds are only a few feet above sea level to start with.

The people here don't seem to really appreciate anything. I actually had some woman's boy friend fetch his gun 'cuz I picked up a candy wrapper, that she had thrown on the ground, and handed it back to her with the comment "I think you dropped this".

Tried to stop a guy changing his car's oil on the street from pouring it down the storm drain. Ended up with lots of rocks and racial epitaphs comin' my way and the police getting involved. The city cops acted like I was the crazy one for saying something to the guy in the 1st place.

Did I say crazy? Maybe I understated...
Sorry for the manic posts. If it's something I care enough to comment on then it's usually somethin' I'm passionate about.

You are verbose

[worknfool]

It's a sickness. I quit therapy, they kept tellin' me to shut up and let the other squirrels talk.

Eukastro?

I need a hoagie!

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by worknfool

Eukastro?

I need a hoagie!

What can I say. It came out of my mouth at about 4 years old. There was an Ark at the childrens zoo (do you remember that?) I insisted it was a Eukastro. No-one could understand what I was saying. They told me all the animals came on the Ark, and I assumed that is how they all got to the zoo, so I called both the ark and the zoo the Eukastro. Wasn't until a few years ago, I wrote the word (well, typed it really), and looked up the parts (Euk) cell....(Astro) star. So the zoo was a star cell.

[worknfool]

Pretty logical for 4. 'Member they had an Ark @ Kennywood too.
Alright, that's enough...Steelers just screwed the pooch and I'm at least 150 miles from a decent sandwich or Danny's Pizza.
I gotta go watch Ole Yeller and cheer up.

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by worknfool

It's a sickness. I quit therapy, they kept tellin' me to shut up and let the other squirrels talk.

Eukastro?

I need a hoagie!

Hi worknfool,

Hoagies - how much I miss the good hoagies I had when growing up and going to college in the Philly area! I didn't much like veggies as a kid, and at the age of 20 ordered a hoagie at the local shop one night, and forgot to tell them to hold the tomatos. Discovered tomatos that night - !

-- Tom