Joe,

We haven't had any abandoned vehicles, rolling blackouts or lack of water. At least in the urban areas. And since I live and work in an urban environment I've been untouched by that.

Be grateful. I saw where folks who lost their 11 year old child due to
the winter weather and lack of power and heat, have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the power companies. Nowadays, the prolific pun is "Attorney - Have Law Suit With Lawsuit, Will Travel". You know there are folks chomping
at the bit on litigation.

If Geico doesn't offer me a good settlement after the wreck (which I can't get until after the chiropractic care is done), I'll have to hire an attorney, and take them to court to sue big time. The lawyer will then take 25 to 50% of the damages. I would prefer to get a big settlement, then "take the money, and run".

The second law of thermodynamics (entropy) means that sooner more than later, everything in this life...flesh and blood or otherwise...is going to fail. In the case of a vehicle, it loses 30 to 70% of its value the moment you drive it off the dealership lot. Yet, you can expect to pay at least $20,000 for a new car...likely more. And, with everything being electronically integrated, if
one thing fails, like a house of cards, the whole thing will crash.

The 2009 Volvo 2 door hardtop convertible ended up being exchanged for a 2013 Chevy Cruze 4 door sedan...because of a lack of parts. The thing is, the age on both means that parts have worn out.

Repairs to the Volvo would eventually cost far more than the Chevrolet, but with the issues they've found (plus replacing the tires, and getting a full spare) is going to cost me $3500. I've got just enough in the bank to take care of that, plus the rest of this month's bills. Another COVID-19 check would
elp,
but with all of the political boondoggling and under the table stuff that's always going on in Washington, DC...I'm not optimistic. There's a bunch of crap in the new bill that has no business being in there, IMO.

Drivers here go crazy when it snows.

That's the case everywhere.

I am reminded of an old Far Side cartoon. You have read this before
but its for the newbies.
Two panels.
First panel is a typical day on the highway with cars going about
their business.
Second panel, "the first snow flake of the season" and there is one solitary snowflake falling and cars are running into each other,
driving off the highway, etc.

Exactly. Folks think they can stop just as quick on a wet, snowy, or icy pavement, as they can on dry...and most times, they're driving too fast for conditions. That likely was the main cause of the 130 vehicle pile-up in
Fort Worth recently.

Daryl

... Why's the man who invests all your money called a broker?
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Daryl wrote --

The 2009 Volvo 2 door hardtop convertible ended up being exchanged for a 2013 Chevy Cruze 4 door sedan...because of a lack of parts.

When I was on my trip in '19 the first car was a Cruze and while not a
Chevy man, I fell in love with it. It was a 2918 or '19 model.
When I rent a car I want something with a little protection around me,
not some tiny death trap on wheels.
Had to swap it out in Del Rio, TX for a Nissan Versa after that incident
with the right front wheel.

Folks think they can stop just as quick on a wet, snowy, or icy
pavement, as they can on dry...and most times, they're driving too fast for conditions. That likely was the main cause of the 130 vehicle pile-up in Fort Worth recently.

Concur.
I hate driving on interstates on general principle. I'll be doing the
limit, in good conditions, and passed by others like I was sitting still.
And many times drivers are distracted by any number of things: phones, texting, playing with that infotainment business, their minds off in space somewhere, etc.
Joe

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Joe,

When I was on my trip in '19 the first car was a Cruze and while not
a Chevy man, I fell in love with it. It was a 2918 or '19 model.

It's cheaper to repair an American made car than a foreign made one.

When I rent a car I want something with a little protection around
me, not some tiny death trap on wheels.

Exactly...you might as well be driving a dune buggy. :P

Had to swap it out in Del Rio, TX for a Nissan Versa after that
incident with the right front wheel.

Unfortunately, the law of entropy affects everything.

I hate driving on interstates on general principle. I'll be doing
the limit, in good conditions, and passed by others like I was sitting still.

That was the case when I was going over to Lonoke to visit my Mom in a nursing home. I couldn't take US Highway 70 (the main route before I-40
was built), as it was flooded out. I was a nervous wreck when I got there.

And many times drivers are distracted by any number of things:
phones, texting, playing with that infotainment business, their minds
off in space somewhere, etc.

Yep. I keep the radio on low volume, so I can hear sirens or other
things that demand my attention. If a call comes in on the cellphone,
if I can't pull off the road and park to answer it, I ignore it. Or,
if it's a number I don't recognize, I ignore it regardless.

I've been getting slammed by all these fraudulent calls, wanting
to sell me auto insurance and warranties, saying my Social Security
benefits are going to be suspended, credit card problems, etc. I have
a bulletin on the BBS with a whole slew of phone numbers that folks
should BLOCK in their smartphones.

Daryl

... Access denied---nah nah nah nah naaah nah!
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Hello JOE MACKEY!

** On Sunday 30.01.22 - 07:03, JOE MACKEY wrote to GEORGE POPE:

CP wrote --

I prefer 80F+ all 4 seasons.

I like it between 55 and 85.
Cool nights good for sleeping, and warm days where you don't need a jacket or anything.

The inside temp fell to around 13C at some point overnight (and
-33C between 5am-6am outside). I didn't even notice it. Woke
up to the temp at 16C. Now, about 4 hours later, I am basking
in romm temp of 17C.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.51
* Origin: Creditors have better memories than debtors. (1:153/757.21)

Aug wrote --

up to the temp at 16C. Now, about 4 hours later, I am basking
in romm temp of 17C.

My place stays pretty much 20C without heat in the winter, due to heat
from the apartment below rising up.
This is during a normal winter where it runs from about -3 overnight to
7.2 during the day.
On my days off I might have the heat on but usually its get up, go to
work, come home, go to bed without any heat on.
And unless a really cold night, there is no heat on then. I'm nice and
warm snuggled under the covers and don't notice it. :)
Joe
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The inside temp fell to around 13C at some point overnight (and
-33C between 5am-6am outside). I didn't even notice it. Woke
up to the temp at 16C. Now, about 4 hours later, I am basking
in romm temp of 17C.

& God bless you. . .

You earned your money & you decide how to spend it according to the creature comfortas YOU gety to definefor yourself.

I kept my place at 25C when heat was included, but no more than 23 now that I'm paying for the gas. . .

When I'm earning more, I'll pop it back up to 25. . .

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)