Warm and wet, mid 70s to start, and if we get any rain, it might cool down, but if we just get overcast and drizzle, it’s going to be pretty unpleasant. It was misty drizzle for most of yesterday and warm besides. Sweaty.
I did get a few things done. Mainly small but important things on my Ranger. At 20 years old, the biggest problem is with the plastics. Whether for cost savings or weight, the plastic parts are really aging out. First to go was a cable end for the latch release on the suicide doors. Fortunately there is an aftermarket billet aluminum replacement available. It’s a niche product made by some guy, and sold world wide through ebay. Peak civilization? The next thing was the soft plastic over the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel. I replaced them once with NOS, but they crumbled again. This time I replaced them with OOS, or scavenged parts from my ‘parts truck’. I did soak them in silicone, which seems to reverse and delay the crumbling, if you get it in time. The latest thing, which had to be addressed, was the driver’s door handle. The whole thing is molded from some sort of polymer, looks like glass reinforced. The lever actuator that moves the rod to open the latch broke at it’s root, where it joins the handle. I stole a very similar handle off my parts truck, replaced the one time fasteners with some bolts, and got it working again.
What does this all have to do with anything? Well generally I see a lot of failures in soft plastic overlays. They will suddenly get sticky or crumble. Usually I can remove a thin layer of ‘soft’ sticky and continue to use the device. Sometimes I re-coat it with clear FlexSeal spray. The thicker items that crumble could be made on a 3D printer, or re-created in some other way. The door bhandle definitely could have been printed. There are a couple of take aways for me. If you want something that will last, avoid overmolded soft plastic. Avoid plastic in structurally important parts. If you can’t avoid it, be prepared to replace or re-make critical parts in the future.
I believe that the best economic choice (most of the time) and the best ecological choice, is to repair an item that breaks, especially if the repair is straightforward. There might be items that don’t have parts available, or the parts are expensive, or they are not available in a timely fashion, and then you need to be creative, and prepared to do some work yourself. To that end it’s been one of my goals to have the tools and materials on hand to re-create most industrial processes, or to replace the process with something equivalent.
If the door handle was critical, I could 3D print it (or have a friend do so). I could fab one out of metal. I could design something to do the same job that I could make more easily than duplicating the Ford design. Or I could bypass the handle entirely. I took the easy route yesterday, because my time and money are limited, and I already had a part that was a 98% solution. I got to practice repairing my truck. I used stuff I’d put aside against future need.
That’s the essence of prepping, and disaster response. Very small disaster in this case, but still a good chance to test my skills, knowing I can get a real repair shop to buy the real piece and replace it if needed.
Test your self, your skills, and your stores, while there is still backup in the world.
And stack some stuff.
nick
“Roger & Me”. Ross Perot era GM in Flint, MI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6ff68dXFsc
The clip cuts before you see the money scene of the segment, possibly the movie.
You can probably guess what happens next.
Michael Moore was funny once upon a time.
Don’t live in a Gulf marine environment. Texas as far inland as Austin is bad, but the Florida peninsula is worse.
Plasticizer migration and UV degradation due to the UV inhibitors being used up. One of the reasons black plastic is ubiquitous–carbon black is a UV absorber, protectingby dgrading the UV energy to IR.
The spray and wipe protectants, if used regularly, will help extend the life. Sunshades will help protect the interior if the vehicle is parked outside.
About 30 years ago I got a pair of Ecco shoes. Very comfortable, molded polyurethane sole with the ECCO log deeply molded into the bottom, just where the ball of the foot causes maximum flex. Theu failed by cracking at the logo. I took them back to the store and was told it was normal wear and tear–no warranty. I knew it was b.s. but pre-internet I didn’t have a resource to cite of a path to get even. Missed the shoes and a couple years later got two more pair (shallow learning curve). One failed the same way.
The other got taken on a trip and when I got back they stayed in the plastic grocery bag that they came home in. Big mistake. Took them out some months later and the soles were coming apart in sticky chunks.
Residual fats in the grocery store bag.
I ruined a pair of Blundstone soles my first week working in Downtown Seattle by not watching where I walked in the early morning in the International District, when the restaurants dumped God only knows what on the streets before dawn.
In theory, the soles were chemical resistant and had held up for 10 years prior to that point.
Fortunately, the one place in the country which will repair Blundstone was located in Portland, just across from where we lived.
My ecco shoes failing the same way at my dad’s funeral dinner led me to research why, and learn about actual GOOD men’s shoes. Now I have a hobby of watching shoe repair videos, and have collected almost all of the things necessary to do shoe repairs (except the machines.)
I’ve done some minor glue repairs, and have been buying (and selling) good men’s shoes for a while now. (not my ‘non-prepping hobby’ though.)
n
59F and might be dropping this morning. Some gusting wind. 93%RH.
Time to drink the coffee.
n
Fire at the factory?
Nothing to see here. Move along.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/ford-has-found-the-source-of-f-150-lightning-s-problem/ar-AA17yH9B
Dad used to have two pair of Johnson and Murphy dress shoes going at once. Staggered the purchases a couple years, got them resoled several times, then bought a new pair when the uppers on the oldest pair wore out.
I still have the pair he got me in high school, but they are too small for my aged feet.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/why-experts-are-concerned-about-the-new-medical-codes-for-covid-19-vaccination-status_5053996.html?utm_source=Morningbrief&src_src=Morningbrief&utm_campaign=mb-2023-02-16&src_cmp=mb-2023-02-16&utm_medium=email&est=ogciO3n%2B182jbzHdFk1O96AnDMPCNUrd9abFjPcebsg%2FSNqGPj4MQtEag7m%2FEGtEInspections?
From a friend who is a subscriber. I am not, but could read it. Apologies if you can’t.
Seems they are tightening the noose. We have lost our sovereignty, and seem to have no recourse.
J&M is one of the brands that is very hard to generalize about. They have so many different lines of product, at so many different quality levels and prices, that I can’t just say “yeah, those are good shoes”.
The all leather ones, especially the made in USA ones, are very nice shoes. But they have a value line that is made in china or india that is cardboard and plastic.
If someone asked me, as a reseller, I generally don’t look at them because the resale isn’t great (see the difficulty of knowing good from ok). That said, for someone buying for themself, they are popular and some are very well made.
Cole Haan is similar, lots of quality levels, but most of the modern ones use every trick in the book to save money. Look good, but aren’t heirloom quality.
Anything with plastic soles should be avoided. Anything by Stacy Adams (unless for a stage costume) should be avoided.
Florsheim is a venerable brand, and the vintage are awesome and collectible as well as being great well made shoes. HOWEVER the modern ones are plastic and cardboard coasting on the brand name.
BTW, there is no reason to tolerate painful poorly fitting shoes. Find a style, and a ‘last’, and a brand that fit you properly. Every line fits differently, and is built to a different basic shape on a fixture called a ‘last’. Find the one that works for you.
I have a high arch. I can usually compensate by buying wider shoes, EEE generally works, but some manufacturers like the look of ‘long and skinny’ so they don’t have any that fit me well, puma, lucchese, most styles of leather Nike, etc. I also like a roomy ‘toe box’. Some manufacturers specialize in big roomy toe boxes.
From a prepper standpoint, I don’t think you can have too many good shoes/boots/footwear… but they have to have leather or rubber soles, not have any overmolded plastic, or soft plastic soles, have metal eyelets or hooks, be mostly constructed of leather or a branded high tech performance fabric, and actually stitched together. Grid and civilization still up, you can wear and buy whatever because you can count on replacing it when it fails, but if you are going to store something, or plan to use it for years, spend the money on quality. (or buy in the secondary market.)
n
(and you should think about maintaining your footwear and repairing it. Saddle soap, wax, water proofing, specialized cleaners, contact cement and needle and thread are pretty inexpensive, don’t take up much room, and will keep your footwear in good condition and good repair.)
Great video on the web from aurora borealis last night. Look for Mt Washington Observatory, U of WI satellite, and some amateur from Saint Cloud, MN.
The National Space Weather Observatory had an animation predicting activity for the next week. Looks like an offset disk spinning around the North Pole.
@Nick
WRT waterproofing, Scotchguard has been discontinued. I posted a year or so ago about picking up the older (about pre-2002) product using the original octyl chemistry if you found it at garage/estate sales. Now I would say grab anything you see.
Vaccination status has been in Workday, the big HR “SaaS” tool, going back to when Plugs announced his large company jab mandate.
HireRight, the most popular background search tool, probably has it too.
Cars. Someone used to say “Rust never sleeps,” but neither does plastic rot. Keeping a car indoors, especially during daylight hours, is essential.
One solution is to have a daily beater, and some good ones kept out of the weather. Prepping; a full time job.
30% more young people dying from heart attacks
Cedars Sinai hospital dropped an atomic bomb of truth on us: 30% more young people are dying from heart attacks than before the pandemic.
The rise in heart attacks is so striking because the demographic it has hit is shocking: people from 25-44 years old. People in this age group are not generally known for dropping like flies from heart disease.
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/02/15/30-more-young-people-dying-from-heart-attacks-n531026
Ilhan Omar withdraws support for East Palestine after learning it’s in America
https://babylonbee.com/news/ilhan-omar-withdraws-support-for-east-palestine-after-learning-its-in-america
It’s even more interesting that the doctors at Cedar Sinai don’t even entertain the possibility that the vaccine might be the cause.
I did like the “psychological and social challenges” explanation. Reminds me of the good old days of the Sixties when the stress of the Vietnam War and the draft caused that huge spike in heart attacks among draft age men.
Also interesting that “Kyle” didn’t “scrutinize” the 30% using his ginormous intellect, but immediately started attacking the forum.
Prepare The Hammers of Bob.
What are the odds this clown gets off with a slap on the wrist:
‘Who are you wearing?’ Thread covering former Biden admin official Sam Brinton in court HILARIOUSLY perfect
I’m laughing it’s not wearing a dress and makeup. And the comment about the judge “In court, the Judge addressed Brinton as Mx (mix) Brinton.” Wokeness is a mental disease.
A hot air ballon is ginormous. But consider what is filling the balloon.
I received the wrong part for our dishwasher. Top buttons. Ours has front buttons. I emailed the supplier with their own “certified for this model” showing a front button panel. “That’s what we got.” It goes back today, but I’m out shipping each way. I’m going to get a new dishwasher. Don’t want to mess around anymore looking for parts for a 10+ year old model.
I’d explain to the vendor why it is in their best interest to send the correct part out immediately with a return label for the incorrect part.
Trial Science.
California law requires doctors to only tell the “truth” about Covid and the vaccines. Lawsuits are pending, but, for now, no one practicing at Cedars is going to deviate from the official narrative because the penalty could include loss of license.
Big Smile!
No one is selling new vehicles which could be beaters down the road, and existing beaters are in demand.
My neighbor with the garage queen Bronco drives an older Tacoma as his daily vehicle.
Top Putin defence official, 58, plunges 160ft to her death from 16th-floor tower block window – the latest high-ranking figure to die in mysterious circumstances
I’m not glad he’s dead, but I’m glad he’s gone:
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/cm/catalytic-converter-heist-wakes-woman-221203090.html
Someone needs to develop an inexpensive but effective defense against cat converter thieves. I’m not sure whether this woman’s tactic will prove to be inexpensive, and I gather that it was only somewhat effective with the thief getting some cutting done before being dispatched. I hope the accessories are charged with murder for participating in a felony that caused a death.
The Clinton machine working for the Russian army? How quaint.
Container failures:
I recently opened a 6 oz. can of tomato paste that was several years past expiration. I think the expiry date was in 2018 – not all that long ago. When I punctured the lid, the can extruded a tendril of paste that amounted to maybe a quarter teaspoon or more. I decided against taking one for the team by tasting it, and dumped it instead. It looked fine. I take this as encouragement to have plenty on hand, so that I have little motivation to risk using it.
In other preps, I was storing water collected from my dehumidifier in gallon milk jugs. I’m a little leery of drinking that water, since there is some dirt buildup in the bottom of the collection bin and out of fear of legionella or the like. Two days ago, I noticed that the floor was wet under the shelf with those jugs. I found one that was partially collapsed that had at least two tiny holes. What I presume was the first was in the bottom, and there was another at a crease caused by the collapse from the water draining out. I’m trying to salvage the particle board shelf by pressing the area that swelled up in a vise between a couple of 2x boards. I squeezed out some water, and I’ll wait another week or so for it to dry out, then see how bad it is.
“Someone needs to develop an inexpensive but effective defense against cat converter thieves. I”
They already did. .45ACP.
I’ll be glad for you.
As for a defense, how about dropping an array of conductors from under the vehicle and then dumping the battery’s charge? It wouldn’t come to dumping the battery through the thief because most of the conductors would be flat on the ground, but he’s at least get a good scare and might get crisped.
“Amid high energy prices, SCE VP, other experts push to reduce California’s reliance on natural gas”
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-natural-gas-prices-puc-caiso/642907/
Just about every other state in the Union is converting from liquid fuels to natural gas since natural gas is generally so much cheaper. But since California has not allowed new pipelines or existing compressor stations to be upgraded, they run into false shortages during periods of high demand. Like, winter.
There are several catalytic converter anti-theft devices on Amazon, see here.
An SLC TV station did a review of various types last year – see here.
Someone needs to develop an inexpensive but effective defense against cat converter thieves. I’m not sure whether this woman’s tactic will prove to be inexpensive, and I gather that it was only somewhat effective with the thief getting some cutting done before being dispatched. I hope the accessories are charged with murder for participating in a felony that caused a death.
The locals around here are advising you to inscribe your catalytic converters with the vehicle VIN.
“SpaceX Wants To Add More Powerful Satellites To Gen 1 Starlink Constellation”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-wants-to-add-more-powerful-satellites-to-gen-1-starlink-constellation
“The upgraded satellites promise to offer high-speed internet with ‘more targeted and robust coverage for American consumers,’ SpaceX has told the FCC.”
It looks like the FCC must be advised before ANY hardware changes are made to space going equipment. I am not sure what to think about that as several other groups are trying to get their own space internets going.
Moah satellites ! Moah satellites ! Moah satellites !
Air-bag suspension…
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ranflas_n_viclas-on-instagram-ground-level–247486942006818404/
>> The locals around here are advising you to inscribe your catalytic converters with the vehicle VIN.
I wouldn’t spend much to have this done, most of the stolen Cats go straight into a shipping container and then off to China for removal of the rare metals.
I haven’t had the engraving done yet on my Nissan LE… oh, wait, never mind.
Came back home and parked my Jeep in the garage, closed the door and locked it.
It looks like Uncle Festerman may be down for the count:
John Fetterman checks himself into hospital for clinical depression: Democratic Senator getting inpatient treatment at Walter Reed after condition became ‘severe’ in recent weeks
Say, don’t Senators have to be present to vote?
Unless Senate rules have changed.
Senate rules die hard. The Grand Kleagle had to be rolled down to the floor to pass Obamacare even on reconciliation, and the Dems started 2009 with a filibuster-proof majoriity.
If Incitatus is done, Manchin is de facto President with veto power over any bill.
Yeh, right. Like the thief, likely at night, under a vehicle would see the VIN. Even if the scrap yard will not take the converter because of the VIN, the converter is still gone from the vehicle and the damage done. Many scrap collectors will not even look for the VIN. Surprise inspections, and severe penalties if the source of the converter cannot be confirmed. If a VIN is involved, then a mandatory 10-year prison sentence for the employee, or scrap dealer, that accepted the converter.
The largest model of homes in my tract has a 3 car garage. A neighbor living in one of those has all 3 spaces filled with hoardings. Famile member’s cars are parked in driveway or in street. YUUUP, catalytic converter stolen.
So a senator out with old age disability, who next? President?
No. Manchin also decides who gets to be VP now assuming McCarthy survives scheduling a floor vote.
I’m amazed how many garages are packed with valuable treasure. /sarcasm
My previous house had a very large garage. A double-door, plus a high single door. I only had two vehicles, but you could fit four in there easily and not be crowded. The high single door area was also deep, so big enough for a full size travel trailer. Lots of room in there during the 4 years we lived there.
The garage had a separate entrance to the basement, which I really liked. Wife’s health reasons forced a move to a lower elevation (currently about 180feet ASL), but I would have preferred to stay there.
Current house has an advertised two car garage, but really only room for one car. Which is all we need now. The tall and deep RV space would have been nice to have, though.
Like, perhaps, Nick’s?
>”I’m amazed how many garages are packed with valuable treasure. /sarcasm”
Fie on you for siding with my wife!
I should have built a smaller garage and a large shop, but it didn’t work out that way. I’m really, truly trying to change. In truth, adequate workspace/staging space is also a prep.
Il Dulce McSpongebrain had a press conference:
https://dailycaller.com/2023/02/16/white-house-demands-media-comply-kicks-specific-reporters-out-of-bidens-ufo-brief
I noticed that about WA State garages.
We had one of the rare houses in Vancouver, WA built with enough space in the garage for two cars plus a back area which was probably deep enough on one side to put another vehicle in tandem. The space wasn’t big enough for a garage queen Bronco but maybe a sports car toy.
My apartment building in Issaquah offered garage spaces, but I mistakenly passed not wanting to pay the extra fee and figuring the residents only used them to store junk. Big mistake. The complex was stuffed full — and I mean *full* — of H1B labor violating occupancy limits on leases, but, as long as all involved stayed quiet, 4-5 people in 400 sq ft apartments was only a problem on Sunday night when everyone was home at once from Microsoft and the only parking available was illegally occupying a space in the clear area on the construction site across the street.
I went on a waiting list for a garage, but I walked out of the Seattle job a few weeks later.
While I don’t subscribe to Nick’s storage philosophy, at least he accesses his stuff. Far more typical is moving into a house, pack the boxes high in the garage, and never touch them again.
Heh. I will be the first to admit I could be a, lets say, collector, if I didn’t work at it. I have 3 cars in my 3 car garage. My 4th bay can fit a car in it, but it’s my workshop, so a car only goes in when I need to work on it. My work garage is 26×16 inside dimensions. Not big enough, of course, but I make do. I have a loft above for storage, though there isn’t a lot up there. I have everything in the shop either on wheels or mounted on the wall. I also finally have a place for everything, which makes keeping the shop organized a little easier.
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/kevindowneyjr/2023/02/15/medical-tyranny-the-feds-are-tracking-the-unvaccinated-and-you-wont-believe-who-is-telling-them-to-do-it-n1670857
Next doctor visit:
DR: Have you ever smoked?
DR: None of your business.
DR: Do you own any guns?
DR: See above.
DR: Have you been vaccinated?
DR: I hope you don’t intend to try billing me for the time it takes to ask irrelevant questions.
“Dimension Search (Perry Rhodan #60)” by Kurt Mahr, translated by Wendayne Ackerman
https://www.amazon.com/Dimension-Search-Perry-Rhodan-60/dp/4416460430?tag=ttgnet-20/
Book number sixty of a series of one hundred and thirty-six space opera books in English. The original German books, actually pamphlets, number in the thousands. The English books started with two translated German stories per book translated by Wendayne Ackerman and transitioned to one story per book with the sixth book. And then they transition back to two stories in book #109/110. The Ace publisher dropped out at #118, so Forrest and Wendayne Ackerman published books #119 to #136 in pamphlets before stopping in 1978. The German books were written from 1961 to present time, having sold two billion copies and even recently been rebooted again. I read the well printed and well bound book published by Ace in 1974 that I had to be very careful with due to age. I bought an almost complete box of Perry Rhodans a decade or two ago on ebay that I am finally getting to since I lost my original Perry Rhodans in The Great Flood of 1989. In fact, I now own book #1 to book #106, plus the Atlan books.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Rhodan
BTW, this is actually book number 68 of the German pamphlets written in 1962. There is a very good explanation of the plot in German on the Perrypedia German website of all of the PR books. There is automatic Google translation available for English, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, French, and Portuguese.
https://www.perrypedia.de/wiki/Hetzjagd_durch_die_Dimensionen
In this alternate universe, USSF Major Perry Rhodan and his three fellow astronauts blasted off in a three stage rocket to the Moon in 1971. The first stage of the rocket was chemical, the second and third stages were nuclear. After crashing on the Moon due to a strange radio interference, they discover a massive crashed alien spaceship with an aged male scientist (Khrest), a female commander (Thora), and a crew of 500. It has been over sixty-nine years since then and the Solar Empire has flourished with tens of millions of people and many spaceships headquartered in the Gobi desert, the city of Terrania. Perry Rhodan has been elected by the people of Earth to be the World Administrator.
It has been almost 62 years since Perry Rhodan and Reginald Bull found the Immortal living on his wandering planet who gave them the immortal cell treatment. It is time for them to renew the cell treatment but, the wandering planet is not where they computed it to be ! But, there is evidence that the wandering planet has been stolen by the Druufs, the time thieves who are stealing the populations of entire star systems. So Perry and Reg go looking for the wandering planet in the Druuf time plane.
Two observations:
1. Forrest Ackerman should have put two or three of the translated stories in each book. Having two stories in the first five books worked out well. Just having one story in the book is too short and would never allow the translated books to catch up to the German originals.
2. Anyone liking Perry Rhodan and wanting a more up to date story should read the totally awesome “Mutineer’s Moon” Dahak series of three books by David Weber.
https://www.amazon.com/Mutineers-Moon-Dahak-David-Weber/dp/0671720856?tag=ttgnet-20/
My rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (3 reviews)
“Hobby Club’s Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF”
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/hobby-clubs-missing-balloon-feared-shot-down-usaf
“A small, globe-trotting balloon declared “missing in action” by an Illinois-based hobbyist club on Feb. 15 has emerged as a candidate to explain one of the three mystery objects shot down by four heat-seeking missiles launched by U.S. Air Force fighters since Feb. 10. ”
Oops.
Hat tip to:
https://www.drudgereport.com/
BTW, the USAF did not use heat seeking missiles. They used the practice missile blanks with no explosives or electronics. So, at least each shot was not $400,000.
If the cost of the aircraft operation, more than one, and support logistics, the cost is probably a couple million; per hour.
True, Ray, though they need to get N hours per month of flying in, so that’s a fixed monthly cost in maintenance, fuel, pilot, and what-not. I don’t know as the cost to send the bird up to shoot a balloon should be charged here, since they’d be up and flying drag races along the Mississippi River or something anyway.
SteveF beat me to it, they need seat time anyway…
—————–
Can anyone here read this and honestly think they have enough food stored?
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/wall-st-journal-report-says-you-should-stop-eating-save-money
To Save Money, Maybe You Should Skip Breakfast
n
So what heat source does a 32-in mylar balloon and a few ounces of payload have?
How is it that it was previously reported as the size “of a small car”? Same DOD function that produced the body counts in ‘Nam?
And if our detection capability is a 32-in mylar ballon, just how is it the FJB’s Chinese masters could sneak a 200-ft balloon across the U.S. and DOD didn’t see nuthin’?
“Are Chinese Masters like Dutch Masters, the cigars? ”
You must have searched for Bill Clinton.
“About the last lines: I admit I’m confused. My searching brings up “Fuse Junction Box”, are you asking about jet capabilities? Federal Judicial Building came up too but is apparently Canadian. Which building in particular?”
I’m sure Google has a remedial use class that you could understand with a little help.
“About the heat source: everything gives off black-body radiation. I’m guessing the detection limits of a Sidewinder are pretty swell, to justify the price-tag.”
I’m guessing you’d need to cite some specifications to sound credible. Even trolls with extra arms don’t get by on hand-waving.
And if our detection capability is a 32-in mylar ballon, just how is it the FJB’s Chinese masters could sneak a 200-ft balloon across the U.S. and DOD didn’t see nuthin’?
DOD might not have seen it but the CIA reputedly did. But I am fairly sure that the DOD saw it and ignored it.
I can see that NaN finished grading remedial English papers early today.
I strongly suspect more than one personality at work.
Eve had several
Nah. More of a weird friend group project.
The “Are Chinese Masters like Dutch Masters, the cigars?” line makes me think one of the lesser intellects had point tonight.
To be lesser than Nano… boggles.
Nah. More of a weird friend group project.
I was thinking of Sybil.
Verily.
n
“New Jersey Bans Sales of Gasoline-Powered Cars After 2035”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/new-jersey-bans-sales-of-gasoline-powered-cars-after-2035
“Following five other states and the EU, NJ will only allow sales of zero-emission vehicles, primarily EVs but also fuel cell, which must also be powered by clean energy sources.”
So shall it be mandated, so shall it happen. After all, what could go wrong ?
Not just plastics, the cast pot metal handle on the lift gate of my ’76 Land Cruiser wagon broke too. Replaced it with one I made of steel scraps when I still had my torches.
I had a pair of dress Clark’s shoes do the same, no plastic bag and never worn.
It’ll be horse drawn carriages or slave borne palanquins for the Senor of the Hacienda, and shanks mare for the rest of us.
n
I had a pair of dress Clark’s shoes do the same, no plastic bag and never worn.
– I think the lack of fresh air circulation hastens the breakdown, but it’s a chemical process involving the plasticizers that are in the material to make it soft and springy. They are born with a ticking clock. Rubber doesn’t have the problem, so Red Wings, and anything with a Vibram sole should be ok.
Something similar happens with aging plastic tool handles, particularly from Xcelite and Craftsman. The plastic starts to break down and smells like vomit. Xcelite are the worst, in old cases you can see the discoloration around the decomposing handles. Craftsman, you can soak the handle in water with Simple Green until a white outer layer forms and softens. Remove that layer, then dip the handle in acetone to create a new ‘skin’ sealing the handle. You’ll get another 10 to 15 years at least out of them after doing that.
n
Nope. Suburbans like the US Government vehicle Mayor Pete uses to haul his bicycle to within a block of the office so he can pedal the rest. When he moves into One Observatory Circle, he will get the upgrade to the Escalade.
I’ve had the glue fail on Vibrams on high end Timberland oxfords, both original soles and Hecho en USA replacements.
I have a pair with the original soles which need to go in for repair now. One shoe has a squeak which developed inside the sole, and the sole on the other one is starting to separate. The shoes have already been in once since the pandemic to glue spots where separation started.
shanks’ mare = human legs
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shanks%27_mare
I’m working for another hour, but I did play hooky to watch “Picard” before business hours started in India.
Yes, it worked at our house.
Best sly sight gag? The bunk beds – long story — right out of Disney’s Galactic Starcruiser Hotel, proving once again that it is an authentic “Star Trek” experience.
I am watching the new “Wolf Pack” show on Paramount+ on Amazon. Buffy is on it. And she got old.
And the dialogue in the scene started with:
Picard: “This is utterly humiliating.”
Riker: “Yes, it is.”