Monday Open Comments

They don’t make ’em like that anymore! My latest search for a quality sewing machine brought that home this past week. The older models are known for their reliability and repair-ability, because the newer models have plastic gears. When a printer breaks down now, we go buy a new one. Repairs on printers now are almost as much as a new printer would cost. We live in an age of planned obsolescence. What has your experience been, and how does that affect your Christmas shopping?


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GJT
GJT
December 13, 2010 11:25 pm

Ok, so do I love ’em or hate ’em – Texans. Somebody make up my mind.

fat albert
fat albert
December 13, 2010 10:48 pm

Wagonburner:

Kneemail on the way and continuing…….

mharper42
mharper42
December 13, 2010 9:47 pm

Another too-busy day. Been meaning to ask, did anyone else watch 60 Minutes yesterday? What did you think about Boehner’s interview where it was shown how easily he gets all choked up with emotion? It is certainly unconventional. I was thinking how Ronald Reagan was able to speak from the heart about how much America meant to him, but I… Read more »

mharper42
mharper42
December 13, 2010 9:08 pm

Pyro, I don’t do kneemail but you have my sincere wishes that this turns out for you the way you want it to.

GJT
GJT
December 13, 2010 7:59 pm

You got it WB. It’ll all work out.

mharper42
mharper42
December 13, 2010 7:57 pm

#31 Sarge

Oh you funny man 😀

Katfish
December 13, 2010 6:50 pm

#39 –

and younger daughter’s bf is raking leaves outside

Um

er

Uh………………….sounds a LOT like some heretofore NON voted upon AW-THOR-I-TAY is being implemented!

MEGASNIKKER

Katfish
December 13, 2010 6:47 pm

#40 – kneemail is UP!

Shannon
Admin
December 13, 2010 6:26 pm

You got ’em WB.

bob42
December 13, 2010 6:07 pm

WB, I’m familiar with where you are. You’re in my thoughts.

Simple Simon
Simple Simon
December 13, 2010 5:58 pm

Arrrgggh

Simple

Simple Simon
Simple Simon
December 13, 2010 5:58 pm

Let me try this again
“>

Simple Simon
Simple Simon
December 13, 2010 5:57 pm

I sure that many of you have felt the same at times.
“>

Look at this

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
December 13, 2010 5:30 pm

#40 Pyro: Kneemail on the way.

Dude42
December 13, 2010 4:54 pm

I have a need for your prayers, if you are so inclined.

I am, and you got ’em.

wagonburner
Editor
December 13, 2010 4:42 pm

btw – The preceding post was very difficult for me to write. Not that I’m too proud to ask for help, but it’s hard to admit when you’ve screwed up, especially on something that has such great effects on you and your family.

wagonburner
Editor
December 13, 2010 4:41 pm

I have a need for your prayers, if you are so inclined. I made a pretty big mistake when I took a job a few months ago. Since then, my blood pressure has been consistently high (I’m getting treatment for that now and it’s getting better), I’m getting worn out from travel, and missing my family and various family-related activities.… Read more »

bob42
December 13, 2010 3:02 pm

Life is good. My last two meetings for this afternoon were cancelled due to participant vacations, and younger daughter’s bf is raking leaves outside. I reckon boyfriends are good for something after all.

Super Dave
Super Dave
December 13, 2010 2:37 pm

One of my guys here at work has a son that plays for Pearland, they went to San Antonio this past weekend and beat Stevens so now they’re heading to Dallas to play Trinity, allegedly, the best in the COUNTRY! I wish them luck. 😉

bob42
December 13, 2010 2:21 pm

#34 Sarge, not yet. She nearly had a fit years ago (we were still married then) when I dropped $120 on the Solis grinder instead of buying yet another $15 spice grinder that would only last a year before their poor little motors would burn up. She cast a disapproving eye on the Bunn brewer when she saw it, but… Read more »

Sarge
Sarge
December 13, 2010 1:56 pm

a commercial quality Bunn grinder may be in my future

I stopped seeing those girls when I left the Army.

Does your wife know about this?

bob42
December 13, 2010 1:29 pm

#31 Sarge, lolz 🙂 As it turns out, a commercial quality Bunn grinder may be in my future. A few years ago a nearby convenience store run by an Indian family hooked up with a coffee service leasing outfit. The leasing outfit owned and maintained the grinder and brewer, but made its money by being the contractually exclusive supplier of… Read more »

El Gordo
December 13, 2010 1:09 pm

#15 – Close enough that I could feel the heat.

Sarge
Sarge
December 13, 2010 1:03 pm

Although a Bunn grinder would look nice

I stopped going to those kind of bars a long time ago.

Simple Simon
Simple Simon
December 13, 2010 12:33 pm

27 Boney,

I still have a timing light and Dwell Meter in the bottom of my upright toolbox. I have not used either for two decades. I like the new engines and well remember having to do tuneups every 7-8 thousand miles.

Simple

bob42
December 13, 2010 11:41 am

#27 The 302 v8 in my F150 still uses the classic block, but is fuel injected with electronic ignition. After 16 years, I have no complaints. I’ve put 3 sets of plug wires on it, and that always makes a noticeable difference. I’ve only put one set of plugs in it. The old plugs were amazingly clean for having over… Read more »

Super Dave
Super Dave
December 13, 2010 11:29 am

Well it’s a start; Federal judge in Va. strikes down health care law.
Let’s see where this goes, prolly to the Supreme Court.

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
December 13, 2010 11:22 am

Re: old engines: I wonder how well those motors would run if they were equipped with modern fuel injection and spark control?? The old carburetored engines needed to be tuned every 12,000 miles or so, the new ones don’t need to be touched (other than oil and filters) for 100,000 miles or so.

Katfish
December 13, 2010 11:16 am

#23 – Good CATCH SD! You are absolutely correct!

Dude42
December 13, 2010 11:15 am

re: BMI charts They truly must be taken with a grain of salt. In addition to the issue of differing muscular characteristics, the size of skeletons can be very different from one person to the next. In short, using the BMI number as a be-all end-all guide to how healthy someone is or isn’t is ridiculous. Health and obesity are… Read more »

bob42
December 13, 2010 10:58 am

My coffee grinder must have become jealous about me bragging on the Bunn. When I went down to grind the beans for brew #2, it made a gosh awful noise similar to nails on a chalkboard. I gave it a good whack on the side and it started working again. I suspect an issue with the gear train that drives… Read more »

Super Dave
Super Dave
December 13, 2010 10:57 am

Right you are KatFish But you left out the trusty 292 Chevy in-line 6, truck motor only 115 HP but maximum Torque output started @ 800 RPM, they put these little guys in school buses.

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
December 13, 2010 10:39 am

#19 TT: Thank you, I was not trolling for a compliment; merely pointing out the absurd. If I, as a fifty freaking one year old man who avoids the gym like the plague (not what you would call a heavily muscled, work out junkie) yet fall in the “overweight” category at 5’9″ and 170 lbs, something is really wrong. I… Read more »

Katfish
December 13, 2010 10:35 am

Ah yes engineered obsolescence……….

Dodge 225 slant 6
Dodge 318 v-8
Chevy 283 v-8
Ford 300 straight6
Ford 289

They all ran “too well”

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
December 13, 2010 10:21 am

Mrs. Foul “O” says that childhood obesity is a National Security threat. “Military leaders … tell us that when more than one in four young people are unqualified for military service because of their weight,” the first lady says in the prepared remarks, “childhood obesity isn’t just a public health threat, it’s not just an economic threat, it’s a national… Read more »

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
December 13, 2010 10:08 am

#16 TT: On occasion I see Juki brand sewing machines used in alteration shops.

Super Dave
Super Dave
December 13, 2010 9:52 am

El Gordo, was the Condo Far in your area? Space Center and Kirby.

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
December 13, 2010 9:34 am

#13 Squawkster: I think the last launch of the Discovery (perhaps it is a different one) will be in Feb – maybe a trip to Fla would be in order so as be able to “scratch one off”.

squawkbox
December 13, 2010 9:27 am

Ever since the days of the Mercury space program I have fallen in love with watching rockets and space ships taking off. I am still like a little kid. In fact on my bucket list is to watch the shuttle take off live. Me thinks the shuttle will pass before I do. I digress. Grab a cup of coffee for… Read more »

Texpat
Texpat
December 13, 2010 9:24 am

Something most people don’t know is the tools by all brands sold at Home Depot and Lowes are special lines with cheap internal parts. If you go to a tool store catering to contractors, the tools of the different manufacturers appear the same, but have slightly altered model numbers. Contractors know this and are willing to pay the extra 30-150… Read more »

bob42
December 13, 2010 9:24 am

Some years ago I replaced my coffee pot, which had become slower than molasses due to mineral deposit build up around the heating element (as all pots inevitably do). The new one was a fairly decent model, with a vacuum insulated carafe, and fancy electronic timer. After about a year, its printed circuit board fried. Even though the model was… Read more »

Super Dave
Super Dave
December 13, 2010 9:21 am

“Bout Microwaves we have a 10 years old 1100 watt unit here @ work, a couple of years ago it died so I opened it up and found the HV capacitor shorted, a new one was $21 and we thought the unit was worth repairing. We had an old ancient microwave sitting unsed in the corner so I opened it… Read more »

El Gordo
December 13, 2010 9:17 am

Recently needed a 6 volt battery for the flashlight. New 6v battery – $6.00. New flashlight with battery included – $3.50. I got the package deal.