Unutterably Silly So what are you doing RIGHT NOW?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Bought a 2015 Prius Saturday. Now sitting before a mirror practicing condescending looks to give owners of big trucks and SUVs.

An old friend is a Prius hacker. He bought one, and being a network engineer, did things like hook logic analyzers to the car's local bus to see the messages being passed on the car's network. He knows folks who have tuned a Prius to get 100mpg, though that's a best case in proper conditions, and not normally achievable.

For more than you probably want to know, he's posted details of his various efforts here http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/#prius

Another friend is the very happy owner of a Tesla Model S. He bought one one level above the base model, for $80K, and has been over the moon about it. He commented "You pay Tesla $5K to get a test drive. If you aren't happy they'll refund the money on the spot, but you won't ask for it back because you'll love the car!"

I've ridden in it and it's scary quiet. You don't realize how fast you're going because there are none of the usual noise related clues. And he recounted an interesting conversation with a local cop because he didn't have an emissions control sticker. He told the cop "Inspections these days are all about emissions. This is an all electric vehicle, and has no emissions! (Pops hood and trunk to reveal empty space usable for storage.) Why do I need an emissions sticker?"

The potential drawback is range. He gets about 200 miles on a charge, and you don't just pop into a gas station for a refill. But the car is strictly for local driving. If he needs to travel longer distances, he rents a car or flies.
______
Dennis

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

An old friend is a Prius hacker. He bought one, and being a network engineer, did things like hook logic analyzers to the car's local bus to see the messages being passed on the car's network. He knows folks who have tuned a Prius to get 100mpg, though that's a best case in proper conditions, and not normally achievable.

For more than you probably want to know, he's posted details of his various efforts here http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/#prius

Another friend is the very happy owner of a Tesla Model S. He bought one one level above the base model, for $80K, and has been over the moon about it. He commented "You pay Tesla $5K to get a test drive. If you aren't happy they'll refund the money on the spot, but you won't ask for it back because you'll love the car!"

I've ridden in it and it's scary quiet. You don't realize how fast you're going because there are none of the usual noise related clues. And he recounted an interesting conversation with a local cop because he didn't have an emissions control sticker. He told the cop "Inspections these days are all about emissions. This is an all electric vehicle, and has no emissions! (Pops hood and trunk to reveal empty space usable for storage.) Why do I need an emissions sticker?"

The potential drawback is range. He gets about 200 miles on a charge, and you don't just pop into a gas station for a refill. But the car is strictly for local driving. If he needs to travel longer distances, he rents a car or flies.
______
Dennis

That's fascinating, Dennis. I'm not an electronics/mechanical hacker myself, but an admirer of those that are. Your post is a reminder that I've had the thing for ten days now, during which time every day I've been meaning to look under the hood and still haven't. I don't want that too widely spread for fear the Manhood Certification Association will revoke my credentials. I'm already on their watch list for my general dislike of watching sports events. Right now the only things I've got going for me as far as they're concerned is my occasional viewing of professional wrestling and my love of The Three Stooges. My late daughter knew more about cars than I ever will. That was the common bond that initially drew her and her husband together. He said he'd never met a woman who knew more about automobiles. I, on the other hand, have always had only three things that I looked for in a vehicle:

* It must be capable of getting me from point A to point B.
* It must have A/C.
* It must have cruise control.
Add to that list a fourth that recent rentals have spoiled me for: It must have Bluetooth.

Despite my general disinterest in other factors, however, I had been wanting a Prius for some time because of it's being friendlier to the planet than most other cars, although I haven't been able to even hope to buy a new one (they start around $30,000). This one was half that, and even at that price I'm having to partially un-retire to do some Ubering to help pay far it. I'm even considering finding a second source of additional income; preferably something part-time. But hey! I now have my own car I can drive to a new job. My wife and I don't have to share the Corolla!

[WT Sharpe]

I'm getting ready to take a shower even though the dishwasher is running.

I live for danger.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

That's fascinating, Dennis. I'm not an electronics/mechanical hacker myself, but an admirer of those that are. Your post is a reminder that I've had the thing for ten days now, during which time every day I've been meaning to look under the hood and still haven't.

There are some cars where you really don't want to look under the hood. Service by other than a factory trained mechanic can void the warranty.

I have fond memories of "Gus Wilson's Model Garage" from Popular Mechanics, where crafty old mechanic Gus had various novel ways of determining just what a car's problem was and effecting a fix. SF writer Robert A. Heinlein told a story about getting his first car that reminded me of it.

He'd traveled from Colorado to New York by train to meet editor John W. Campbell, to whom he'd sold sold a novel for serialization in Astounding SF Magazine. His return trip went through St. Louis, MO, because he wanted to meet author E. E. Smith (The Skylark of Space and Lensman series, among others.) They got on like a house on fire. Heinlein told Smith he decided he needed a car. Smith offered to help him get one. Those were the days when you took a car for a test drive before buying. Smith's technique was to take the car out, find a long straight stretch of road with no traffic and floor it, with his head pressed against the driver side door to listen to the noises the car made under speed. RAH described it as hair raising but effective. The car Smith chose for him was a well maintained used car that served RAH well for years, and Smith was able to get it for exactly the amount Campbell had paid him.

These days, a car is a mass of sensors and micro-processors communicating over a local network, and diagnosis of problems is simple. The mechanic plugs a laptop into a data port, and the car says what it's problem is. For the most part, you don't have to look under the hood.

I don't want that too widely spread for fear the Manhood Certification Association will revoke my credentials. I'm already on their watch list for my general dislike of watching sports events. Right now the only things I've got going for me as far as they're concerned is my occasional viewing of professional wrestling and my love of The Three Stooges.

I liked the Three Stooges. I pass on pro wrestling. It's a show, and the wrestlers are entertainers. They're good at it, but I prefer sports events where the match isn't scripted. (An old friend once lived fairly near Madison Square Garden in NYC. He said he could usually tell what was playing at the Garden by the dress of those queued to enter. The exception was Heavy Metal and Wresting. No surprise, as they appealed to the same audience.)

My late daughter knew more about cars than I ever will. That was the common bond that initially drew her and her husband together. He said he'd never met a woman who knew more about automobiles. I, on the other hand, have always had only three things that I looked for in a vehicle:

* It must be capable of getting me from point A to point B.
* It must have A/C.
* It must have cruise control.
Add to that list a fourth that recent rentals have spoiled me for: It must have Bluetooth.

I count myself lucky. I don't own a car, and don't need one. Anything I need on a daily basis is within a few blocks walk of me. For longer distances, NYC has comprehensive 24/7 mass transit ot taxis. I've had the odd conversation with high tech recruiters where I explain that I don't own a car, and unless I can reach the job site by public transit, I'm not a candidate for the position.

Despite my general disinterest in other factors, however, I had been wanting a Prius for some time because of it's being friendlier to the planet than most other cars, although I haven't been able to even hope to buy a new one (they start around $30,000). This one was half that, and even at that price I'm having to partially un-retire to do some Ubering to help pay far it. I'm even considering finding a second source of additional income; preferably something part-time. But hey! I now have my own car I can drive to a new job. My wife and I don't have to share the Corolla!

The incentive for most Prius owners is less planet friendliness than higher gas mileage. Hybrid designs provide that, and the technology is appearing elsewhere.

I'm all in favor. I get annoyed by folks whose motive in buying something like a Prius is signaling virtue, because the motive is less care about the planet than being able to publicly proclaim what good and right thinking sorts they are and gain status in their peer group.

(I've seen hybrid designs applied to 18 wheelers and locomotives, also for economic reasons. One recent locomotive design uses a diesel/electric design. Traction motors propel the engine. The diesel component keeps the batteries charged and provides the power for the traction motors. It allows an electric locomotive to be used where "third rails" and overhead catenary to provide power don't exist.)
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Dennis

[Rumpelteazer]

It's cooled down for a couple of days now, but finally my bedroom has also cooled down now, 20.9C and going down. The thick walls of our house are both a blessing and a curse: it takes a couple of days before my bedroom heats up when it's hot outside, but once it does it takes days to cool down again when temperatures outside drop.

I slept better during the last couple of nights, but hopefully tonight I only wake up for my nightly bathroom break and sleep through the rest of the night without waking.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

It's cooled down for a couple of days now, but finally my bedroom has also cooled down now, 20.9C and going down. The thick walls of our house are both a blessing and a curse: it takes a couple of days before my bedroom heats up when it's hot outside, but once it does it takes days to cool down again when temperatures outside drop.

I slept better during the last couple of nights, but hopefully tonight I only wake up for my nightly bathroom break and sleep through the rest of the night without waking.

We have cooled down a bit too.

[Rumpelteazer]

With just over two weeks to go until I'm going house/dog sitting I'm looking for tasty, but quick and easy recipes which can be made for one or two servings. My father is a difficult eater, so trying something new is not something I do often. This year I think I'm in the mood to do some experimenting.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

With just over two weeks to go until I'm going house/dog sitting I'm looking for tasty, but quick and easy recipes which can be made for one or two servings. My father is a difficult eater, so trying something new is not something I do often. This year I think I'm in the mood to do some experimenting.

What type of foods do you like?

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

What type of foods do you like?

When dog sitting I usually live of salads and stir fried vegetables. Whilst I don't mind eating the same dinner two days in a row every once in while I like to be able to vary. I usually cut up a bunch of vegetables, enough for two days and the second day I change which rice, sauce and/or seasoning I use.

I do like pasta salad, "my" recipe is easily varied by using different vegetables and/or cheese, but I would like to try some new recipes.

I'm not a big meat eater, especially not cold meats and at the moment spicy foods are a no no, since they trigger heart burn.

My friends also got a new oven, so I will have to do some baking.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

When dog sitting I usually live of salads and stir fried vegetables. Whilst I don't mind eating the same dinner two days in a row every once in while I like to be able to vary. I usually cut up a bunch of vegetables, enough for two days and the second day I change which rice, sauce and/or seasoning I use.

I do like pasta salad, "my" recipe is easily varied by using different vegetables and/or cheese, but I would like to try some new recipes.

I'm not a big meat eater, especially not cold meats and at the moment spicy foods are a no no, since they trigger heart burn.

My friends also got a new oven, so I will have to do some baking.

Let me think on this. Without meat makes it easier.

[Blossom]

This is annoying everytime I breath it sounds like a whining puppy or kitten. Any idea how I can get rid of this crud?

I've never smoked, I don't have asthma. It started a few days ago.

Sent from my XT1528

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Blossom

This is annoying everytime I breath it sounds like a whining puppy or kitten. Any idea how I can get rid of this crud?

I've never smoked, I don't have asthma. It started a few days ago.

Sent from my XT1528

Is there a plant pollinating outside right now? It sounds more like an allergy than an illness. Try some children's benedryl.

[5thWiggleWife]

Sitting in the cottage, cooler in hand, looking out over the lake and toasting Canada's 150th Birthday!

[WT Sharpe]

Happy birthday, Canada!

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by 5thWiggleWife

Sitting in the cottage, cooler in hand, looking out over the lake and toasting Canada's 150th Birthday!

I hoist a flagon in honor of Canada!