Well on my way to work this morning another delay… Fire trucks blocking the street, and general high traffic. Seems a Prius may have lost control. No idea who’s fault it is, and hopefully no one got hurt. But still I had the feeling of satisfaction seeing another smashed up Prius. I guess I’m still bitter

Note the picture above is not the one that I saw this morning, but the car looked worse then the flipped over turtle as above…

“Despite the budget fix enacted in February, the state is on track to come up $23 billion short of what it needs to get through the year, the Legislature’s chief budget analyst says.”

They should choose Capitol One Visa! I think I have proposed this before, they should just pay all these bills on a cash back card and all done, it’s unsecured credit right? How good of a credit rating does the State of California have anyway? It would be easy you just ask for a $23 Billion credit cap on your Visa car and good to go. I’m sure you could do it right from the automated phone system.

But Seriously folks, $23 Billion? And Los Angeles, the will loose a ton of bread too I’m guessing.

I hope they can afford to have more grates put over the storm drains to keep things out of the ocean. What how much did that $hit cost? I’m sure millions of dollars.

If California was a company it surely would be due a Federal Government Bail out due to idiotic operations. We (Not I) voted on the bullet train, and other odd spending things. Stem Cell research? I guess you can still spend money that you don’t have it the voters approve it?

Oh well raise my taxes I’ll help out… wait they just did…

Shit Box Dodge

From Some AP news report…
Chrysler will file for bankruptcy after talks with a small group of creditors crumbled just a day before a government deadline for the automaker to come up with a restructuring plan, President Barack Obama said Thursday. Chrysler will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York, giving Chrysler time to galvanize a partnership with the Italian car maker Fiat Group SpA….

Well for one thing I didn’t know they were still in business? How many BAD BOY Dodge station wagons with 20″ rollers can you sell? Fiat that sounds like a mess.The PT Cruiser, done, so what else? Charger? Nope, not unless it is from the Dukes of Hazzard. Maybe the New Challenger? Ok that one is nice! So they make one car and I’m not going to get into the old / odd looking trucks. Didn’t they make a Tank for the Government a few years back, is that still in production? I think I have more questions then comments or answers.

Put a Dodge in your garage as they say…

And for the record I do like the Blues Mobile – and a fitting quote from the Blues Brothers  “I don’t believe it it’s that shitbox Dodge again”  I sill like the Plymouth Branding, but long gone.

Well due to the tight budget the L.A. City Parking Division has stepped it up. While parked outside of my house on Saturday, on a quiet residential street I got popped for no front license plate. WTF that’s bull $hit. Does the city need my 25 bucks that bad? Doesn’t seem sporting at all. If I’m go get caught without a font plate I want a peace officer to have to pull me over and write me a proper ticket. One where the ‘VIN’ box is filled in with my car’s VIN, not the word ‘TOOHIGH’, maybe is should have said ‘TOOLAZY’.

Well it seems I can reduce it by placing the license plate back on the front of my car and taking a picture, and sending that picture with a check for 10 bucks to the L.A. City Parking Bureau. I’ll be skipping that exercise and enjoying paying online for an extra $2.00 fee. Wait, I should send it in a check in an envelope just to be spiteful but that might backfire and bankrupt the Division, seems better to pay the $2 fee and be done.

The real question this raised for me was how long before they can ticket me again? If I park on the road say the next day an a new ‘Parking Agent’ comes buy will I get stung again? Crap, looks like I’ll have to put the broken license plate back on the truck. And yes, I’m a violator of the front license plate law…

The last thing that was amusing about the event was the bottom of the ticket had a small note that said “Citation increased $3.00 by the State”. Well I guess I’m helping keeping the fine State of California out of Bankruptcy.

A Prius Feel Good Picture
Well it was a great day until I got on the road to work. Usual traffic, blocked some ‘short cutters’ and then almost to the 405 Freeway ramp and a Prius tries to squeeze behind me to make a w-i-d-e right turn around me. Impatient Jerk. But due to his bad Prius Driving style (and of course attitude) he clips the back of the Excursion… Well not really, just the Trailer Hitch Ball. Nice!. Pulled over and guess what, looks like I the 2nd or 3rd try at a proper side swipe. Pissed off I looked and saw only the white ECO friendly paint and nothing bent or damage so I told the guy to hit the road and be more careful. He grumbled and went on his way. Now I’m really pissed because I’m way out of any chance of easily getting on the freeway, have to do some left turns in morning traffic and no way to get in line to the non-carpool lane. So I make the left  on the 405 ramp and snake all the people that would not let me in. Just then I see a motocycle cop on the overpass pulling up to look for just that. Whew, just missed a dumb ticket. Well, now on my way. I arrive at work and with the Excursion. The underground parking has limited selection of big spots, and guess what, the only slot left are next to two Prius’s (or is that Pri-i or prisus?) well the gal that just parked next to where I was targeting did a lame parking job and was ‘over the line’. I wanted to cram the truck in to 4×4 mode and repeatidly push it into the cement wall then say ‘Sorry’ didn’t see your car.

On a good note, No damage to my truck, I didn’t get a ticket, and I held back on smashing up someones car because they are a poor parking Prius driver. I should get a lottery ticket now!

Some notable slogans…
Click it or ticket
“Shut up and drive” (C) 2008 GTSparkplugs

“Text it or Ticket” (C) 2008 GTSparkplugs

Below is the law as copied from some page on the DMV site.
Senate Bill No. 28
CHAPTER 270
An act to amend Section 12810.3 of, and to add Section 23123.5 to, the
Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
[Approved by Governor September 24, 2008. Filed with Secretary of State September 24, 2008.]
legislative counsel’s digest SB 28, Simitian. Motor vehicles: electronic wireless communications device.
(1) Under existing law, on and after July 1, 2008, it is an infraction for any person to drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone, unless that telephone is designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking operation, and is used in that manner while driving, except as otherwise provided. A violation point is not given for a violation. A violation is punishable by a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense.
This bill would also prohibit a person from driving a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication, except as specified. The bill would also provide that a violation point is not given for a violation of these provisions and would impose a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. By creating a new infraction, the bill would impose a state-mandated local  program.

(2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 12810.3 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
12810.3. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (f) of Section 12810, a violation point shall not be given for a conviction of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 23123, subdivision (a) of Section 23123.5, or subdivision (b) of Section 23124.
(b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2008.

SEC. 2. Section 23123.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
95 23123.5.

(a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication.
(b) As used in this section “write, send, or read a text-based communication” means using an electronic wireless communications device to manually communicate with any person using a text-based communication, including, but not limited to, communications referred to as a text message, instant message, or electronic mail.
(c) For purposes of this section, a person shall not be deemed to be writing, reading, or sending a text-based communication if the person reads, selects, or enters a telephone number or name in an electronic wireless
communications device for the purpose of making or receiving a telephone call.
(d) A violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a base fine of twenty dollars ($20) for a first offense and fifty dollars ($50) for each subsequent offense.
(e) This section does not apply to an emergency services professional using an electronic wireless communications device while operating an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, in the course and
scope of his or her duties.

SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because
this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime
within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

Well, seems it was time for a set of new tires on the Excursion. Having a Tire Mounting and Balancing device (Ranger R-26EX and Matching Balancer) I figured I should just do the truck too. Well all good in thought. I picked up a set of Kumho Ventures for the Excursion from the Tire Rack. Nice looking tire, good reviews, great price and I really have been happy with the Kumho’s on the race car as well as other cars that I have used them on. So Saturday the long journey of doing truck tires begins. Tire one, no problem, off and on in a short time. Tire two, off, and not quite on… I could not get the bead to seat, so I finally took the new tire off and picked another to see if it would, and sure enough it popped right on. Balancing was a bit a a task as I think the larger truck tires are ‘wobbly’ as I’ll put it at best, but got it balanced and on. So now the rear of the Excursion has new tires, front will have to wait for another day, like Sunday

I begin again and run into the same problem almost immediately, I can F’n seat the bead. The sidewalls are too floppy to pop up air and no matter what I do just would fill. Tried the last tire, same S#@$%. Every time I have had a problem with doing tires it seems that it was some magic trick to make it work. Back to the internet for some research, that is, of course, after remounting the old tires and bolting them back on.

What did I find? All sorts of things. Here they are -

You can ‘Explode’ them on with Starting Fluid. Looked cool, and looked like it could land me in the hospital or burn the place down.

You can get this device that essentially blows the tire up with a blast of air but it cost $250-$300 for a cheep tank and a 2″ ball valve. I think it is the Cheetah brand, definite rip off, but hey they came up with a good idea and should get paid, but still should be about 100 bucks.

Yet another option was these odd large looking O-Rings. These slip over the rim and force the seal and supposedly pop out when the bead seats.

The last one is almost obvious and I can’t believe that I didn’t think of it, and here it is… Just put a ratchiting tie down around the tire and crank it. It will push the tire evenly in and make the side walls pop out. Simple!

My plan of attack it to wait for my Tire O-Rings and then get a tie-down and get back to business. One thing that I did really find useful was the new Ingersol Rand Ti Impact gun. It is Bad A$$ed.  Saved a lot of back breaking lug removal.

More as the tire fiasco unfolds

Well I went last night (Thursday) for the Pre-opening of the show. It was nice, good crappy food (Meat stick substance), and other nice tasting but bad for you food stuffs. As usual the show left me wondering if I would go if it were not free, and I didn’t get free food? No, I would not, it is pretty much a been there done that kinda’ thing. Seems the same every year.

Highligths might include…

Some day Chevy will release the New Camaro, Ford to have a sneek preview of the Mustang, etc. The Same looking cars, same sort of hype on the same subjects. Always cars missing from the manufactures, where was the Audi S8? WTF, no Porsche GT3RS? Stuff like that. Los Angeles is one of the LARGEST markets for performance cars and yet year after year they dog us at the L.A. Auto Show.

A bunch of odd looking imports, some ‘Green’ cars, etc. Lots of cars on lazy susan’s spinning around, and lets not forget the Famed ‘Kentia Hall’ where you can find some 28″ hi-roller rims and other badly styled cars (a few good ones however). You can be sure Al and Ed Autosound will be in there full force pumping some tunes.

The overall ebb seemed low, but since this was an early admission day, might have been that. See ya’ next year…maybe.

Detroit automakers have been suffering. There are worries that GM, Ford and Chrysler might not have enough money to make it through the downturn. And over the weekend, there were reports that the carmakers could be looking into dramatic moves including a possible merger between General Motors and Chrysler.

What next a Corvette with a Hemi? Kentucky Fried Chicken Merge with McDonalds? Cats Sleeping with Dogs? Daisy Duke Sleeping with Michael Knight … Well you get the idea

Other News Headlines -

GM Plus Chrysler Equals Survival? (Business Week)

GM buying Chrysler? Don’t count on it (MSNBC)

G.M. and Chrysler Explore Merger (NYTimes.com)

Chrysler, GM have merger talks: sources (Yahoo!)

Well, I guess it is inevitable…  We can’t have leaded gas, so no reason to let us have lead wheel weights. What next, I can’t use my cell phone while driving without a hands free attachment?  Wait, oh, never mind. Don’t get me wrong I’m not one that dumps oil down the sewer, or throws my aluminum cans in the trash, I put my old weight in a can not the trash and how many wheel weights are fly off of cars these days? They don’t catch a breeze and blow in the wind? And where does this lead come from, I thought it was in the ground already? … Well maybe it is from Canada or something. I had better look on the web for more data. This smells like the Global Warming, Global Ice Age, Global Warming thing. Remember Freon (12) well that was banned for R134A, which was supposed to be a good thing, well not so much.

As I have said before, when  Mother Nature really gets sick of us she is going to hit CTRL+ALT+DELETE and start fresh. How long before we piss her off that bad?

And finally I just ordered a couple of boxes of tape on LEAD weights before they become illegal and I have to pay 3x the price on Ebay, I can see the ad title “Vintage NOS LEAD wheel weights NO LONGER AVAILABLE” and the bidding war will ensue.