Do you still have the pictures?

Thank you.

I’ve used similar analogies in the past when trying to explain how simply deleting a file isn’t really “deleting” the file.

Great post.

One other thought, a second place to check for odd sized water heaters if the home center fails you, would be a real plumbing supply store (Ferguson, etc). But keep in mind the reason your plumber’s fee was so much higher than just buying a water heater at HomeD ($280 typically) is that they charge more for commercial brands, I found that they were charging $500 -$600 for the same capacity and warranty, but it was a heftier product…. I think the maker was something like “State”

Do be aware that there are multiple types of bulbs. The climate control section has at least 2 different kinds (white base vs black base), I don’t remember if those are different that the others (clock, rocker switches, etc).

When I went to the dealer to get replacement parts, the parts diagram on their computer was pretty useless. So telling the parts guy where they came from didn’t help much. Bringing in the faulty bulbs is the best way to find the matching replacement parts.

Another tip I discovered: use a multimeter to test for continuity of the bulb before replacing it. One of the bulbs I was working on just needed to be reseated in the socket. If the bulb doesn’t have continuity, then it does need to be replaced.

Anyway, recently I did a silly test on my own to see if my laptop is 64 bit. I downloaded the Ubuntu 64 bit live image. I use UNetBootin to put it in a USB drive (1G). Then I just boot from the USB. On a 64 bit pc, it will boot and goes into the desktop. For 32 bit, it will give you an error.

Not the most elegant way, but it give me a quick indication of which PC is 64 bit.

I’ll put a review of the body shop on Yelp.

- the stick-type pressure gauges are junk, at least that is my experience. Get a dial-type round gauge with a needle that turns. For example, something like this. It’s more accurage, easier to read, and not much more expensive. Make sure it can go up to at least 60psi, for the spare tire as mentioned below.

- Use the correct inflation levels. The PSI rating printed on the sidewall of the tire is the maximum pressure, not the recommended pressure. On my cars, when you open the driver’s door there is a sticker on the door frame that has the manufacturer’s recommended tire sizes and inflation PSI. Use that pressure.

- Don’t forget to check the inflation on your spare tire. The last thing you want is to have a flat and discover that the spare has too little pressure to use. There are two challenges to this: (1) The spare is tucked away out of sight in your trunk or other hidden compartment. Out of sight, out of mind. (2) if you have a space-saver spare (not full size) like everyone else, they need a much higher pressure. My spares need 60psi, where my regular tires are around 30psi. Tires with higher pressure tend to leak faster. I just checked my spare (which has never been used) for the first time in 6 months, and it had fallen to 45psi. Unfortunately most spares are stored with the valve stem down, so you may need to remove the tire from the trunk to check the pressure and top it off. Spend a few minutes doing that now, it will definitely be worth it when you are on the side of the freeway with a flat.

I have a small air compressor at home, and after I run it I drain water from it. That tells me that a standard compression-decompression cycle will remove at least some moisture from the air it discharges. And anytime I need new tires it is due to tread wear, not rubber deterioration.

After I get home, I do a little searching and find a couple of good articles, one a no-nonsense explanation, and the other from trusty Consumer Reports. The bottom line is that under normal circumstances standard air is good enough for you too. But if you do like the appeal of nitrogen, it won’t hurt anything but your wallet. If it’s free, go for it. Yes, there is some benefit, but it is so minimal I don’t think it is worth the cost. If you really want to worry about the gas in your tires, check the inflation PSI more often than you typically do. And if you want to improve your mileage, adjusting your driving technique will make a bigger impact.

TireRack.com has a service where they can take a new tire and shave it to a particular tread depth for situations just like this. You buy just one new tire, then have them shave it to match the depth of your existing good tires. You’re all set for a fraction of the price and much less landfill waste.

For my last set of tires I did my research on TireRack.com, but was in a big hurry to get them installed, so I negotiated my local tire shop down by more than $60 for the set by waving around the Tire Rack mail order prices. I got the impression that the local tire shops dislike Tire Rack for eating into their business. Most local tire shops can get most any tire from a distributor within 1-2 days. If you know what you want, they can get it for you at no additional cost. Don’t go with only what the local shop has in stock in that particular store on that particular day.

Bottom line, I am still of the opinion that the best deal (considering the lifetime of the tires) is to buy them from and install them at Sam’s Club / BJ’s / etc. Just be aware of the lead time for their special orders if they aren’t in stock.

Do the math to figure out which source is the best for you: tires + shipping + mount/balance/stem + disposal + alignment + periodic rotation + mid-life rebalance + hurry.

This is my first floppy-less PC, so I don’t mind the lack of a floppy interface. Honestly, I haven’t used a floppy in years.

Just to let you and anyone else who wants to know, the difference between the SG31G2-V2 and the SG31G2 is that the newer one (the V2) does not have a floppy connector on the motherboard and subsequently has no floppy cable included. It also looks like, based on the specs http://global.shuttle.com/product_detail_spec.jsp?PI=1267
and
http://global.shuttle.com/product_detail_spec.jsp?PI=646

that a couple of things have changed around: a newer LAN chip, a VIA firewire chip instead of a Texas Instruments one, and one less USB header on the motherboard.

I’m hoping to put a 8800 GT into my system…here’s hoping the 250W PSU can handle it.

Good work!

I disagree on a couple points. (Meaning that for the most part I think you’re spot on!)

First of all about the saying that if men had to have the babies we would die out. All due respect to women and not to belittle in any way the special hell and pain that can be childbirth, but that’s really a ridiculous saying. Women’s bodies are designed to be able to do that. I can’t say that I personally have had to go through too much misery, but I know men who have and can take it. If we had to we would, and that’s just the way it would be.

And that book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” I found to be mainly scare-mongering. (That sounds worse in words that I feel about it, but I can’t think of something else that would fit better.) They look at the most negative of everything, it seems like. We found another that was much better: “Great Expectations.” At the very least it fit my style much better.

I agree that if you get the hand-me-downs they aren’t all that expensive. We splurge a little here or there, but have been pleasantly surprised for the most part. I have to say that Legos, even spendy as they can be, have been about our best money spent on toys for Jasper. He’ll spend many hours just playing and building. I *love* it!!

Thanks!

I think I’m happier with the base model than I would have been with the Type-S since I have put in an aftermarket CD deck with a USB-input that allows me to search and control my ipod through the deck’s controls.

I have to say one thing.. The Acura RSX was meant to be driven with a clutch and shifter, whether 5 or 6 speeds.

I think I’ve finally gotten out of the habit of reaching for my contact solution when I go to bed. In fact, I gave my solution stash to my daughter and returned the unused contacts to the place where I got them. I occasionally am surprised when I wake up in the morning and can see immediately.

JBP

My recent issue of Car and Driver says the observed mileage of an Acura TL is 19 MPG. A Honda Civic Si is 24 MPG. A Mini John Cooper Works Clubman is 24 MPG. So I get the performance of a sports coupe while sipping gas like an econocar. I still don’t understand while Acura discontinued production of the RSX.

The only mechanical problems I’ve had in 5 years and 50k miles is a faulty oxygen sensor. Everything else is basic maintenance. I put on a new set of tires this summer. I’m still extremely satisfied with this car.

But now at the end of the 3rd week, I’m down to simple lubricating drops only occasionally, the halo effect is lessened but still present, and the brightness sensitivity has lessened. I’m still getting used to not taking out my contacts at bed time. My vision for driving is quite good (still some nighttime glare), and I’m not having problems with reading my computer screens. If someone asked me “is it worth it” at this point, I’d say “it’s pretty good”.

Let’s see what the next couple months hold.

Additionally, being outdoors in a breeze, the wind caused a whistle sound as it ran past the small holes on the outside of the earbuds, which didn’t completely drown out the content, but was noticeable in a bad way.

So it sounds like they are best used indoors while being mostly still. Hmm. I’ll need to keep my old Sony earbuds for jogging.

Also, yes, iPod in options suck bad on the car. I’m using a Sony tape adapter that works well enough, but I’d kill for a clean way to have an aux in for my iPod. There’s a modification some guys at Club RSX came up with (see http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=547118), but I like my FM reception too much to muck with it.

just learned that today

-Paul Wilhelm

So the only real options for the Type S are an FM transmitter (yuck) or a cassette adapter (not so bad). All cars should have an Aux input, but I can’t fault Acura that much since the car’s design (first model shipped at end of 2001, designed before that) predates the iPod popularity (first model shipped at end of 2001). So I use a cassette adapter, it’s a bit of a pain, but better than an FM transmitter.

“What is genuine repentance? When an opportunity for transgression occurs and we resist it, not out of fear or weakness, but because we have repented.”

“For transgressions against God, the Day of Atonement atones; for for transgressions of one human being against another, the Day of Atonement does not atone until they have made peace with one another.”

(I’m currently on DirecTV with a HDTiVo, and my headache will come when they get rid of the MPEG2 feeds in favor of MPEG4.)

– David