Learned'd VIII: Less Bewbs, Same Nonsense

[elwesso]

I got the M coupe out last weekend, got my oil change kit coming in the mail hopefully in the next couple days so I can start tearing it up with that again!

[AppleBonker]

Also, yes, this happened. My wallet hurts...



Shutup. I know my garage is filthy. Waiting for warm weather to deep clean.

Edit: plus two cars in the driveway. Like everyone else in Indiana.

[Kompresshun]

Wes, i'm jealous of everything in your driveway. Yes, even the Q45 and it's rustiness. That is all.

Nice purchase Adam! I do have to say a like the look of the new Rogue a lot compared to the previous generation. If they'd just give up with their CVT obsession, it would be an awesome vehicle.

If you think you garage is filthy, you don't want to see mine. I've got stuff scattered all over from the bathroom remodel and then Miata parts are everywhere too.

I only have one car in my driveway, but I may another in a few months. I'm planning on picking up a truck or SUV for myself finally.

[AppleBonker]

Wes, i'm jealous of everything in your driveway. Yes, even the Q45 and it's rustiness. That is all.

I love the Q. Rust or not.

I do have to say a like the look of the new Rogue a lot compared to the previous generation.

The styling is decent. Few things I could nit-pick (chrome/tail lights), but overall a good attempt.

If they'd just give up with their CVT obsession, it would be an awesome vehicle.

Not going to happen. And Honda is joining them. I wont be surprised to very few normal automatics in the near future. Damn fuel economy regs.

If you think you garage is filthy, you don't want to see mine. I've got stuff scattered all over from the bathroom remodel and then Miata parts are everywhere too.

I think it looks worse from the other angle. Then again, I usually mop the garage (yeah, you read that right) once or twice a year. I've got some clutter I need to pitch and some reorganization to do. It's a tight squeeze, and I'm not looking forward to finding a way to store the tractor when the snowblower is attached to it. That image shows there is no space for that.

I only have one car in my driveway, but I may another in a few months. I'm planning on picking up a truck or SUV for myself finally.

Get another ranger! The truck is amazingly handy to have for work around the house/landscaping. I love having it and driving it, but can't tolerate the hit on the gas budget. The Accord has been great for getting to/from work where I don't need anything special. Hopefully it doesn't take much to keep it running for the next few years.

And I will be getting rid of one of the cars. Four isn't needed. Her old car isn't worth anything, so I might just dump it on a salvage yard.

[Kompresshun]

Pretty much everyone that is still making good cars have been avoiding CVT's. Honda, Nissan, and Subaru have been the only ones to submit to them and I do not understand why. All of the other automakers have been pretty vocal about how inefficient and bad the CVT's actually are, which is why Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep finally dumped them.

I actually mop my garage twice a year minimum too. I move everything out aside from shelving, the workbench, and the toolbox then blow it out with the compressor, sweep it and mop it really well. I can't stand a nasty garage floor. After I finish this bathroom remodel, i'm going to reorganize mine again. I usually clean it up twice a year, but i'm having to shift things around and reorganize stuff due to the addition of the Miata, a parts washer, a riding mower, and my daughters electric John Deere Gator toy car I restored for her.

I miss my old Ranger and i've considered another one, but I really need something bigger and want something bigger too. I'm considering a Tundra, a Tahoe, or maybe an Xterra. I've got some things on the horizon that I really need something more roomy, with 4x4, and that is capable of hauling a decent amount. Fuel mileage is not much of a concern for me, because we have three cars that get 20+ mpg city and around 30 mpg highway, so I can afford to have a gas guzzler in the fleet now.

[AppleBonker]

I really need something bigger and want something bigger too. I'm considering a Tundra, a Tahoe, or maybe an Xterra. I've got some things on the horizon that I really need something more roomy, with 4x4, and that is capable of hauling a decent amount. Fuel mileage is not much of a concern for me, because we have three cars that get 20+ mpg city and around 30 mpg highway, so I can afford to have a gas guzzler in the fleet now.

New/used? Still love my Titan and I'm sure they'll be heavily discounted closer to the release of the redesign.

Test drove an Xterra Off-Road (now Pro-4x) and really liked it as well, but the girl vetoed that one at the time.

And right on with the gas guzzler. Great to have, as long as it isn't your daily.

[elwesso]

Yeah you're definitely not alone with the garage thing. I have a drain in the center of my garage (glorious), and I hose everything down scrub it real good at least 1-2 times a year (especially in the spring). I hate laying on the ground and getting filthy just from the dirt on the ground, seems unnecessary.

Adam I just noticed you're in NW Indiana, are you up around Valpo or Merillville? I live around Goshen/Warsaw...

[elwesso]

I miss my old Ranger and i've considered another one, but I really need something bigger and want something bigger too. I'm considering a Tundra, a Tahoe, or maybe an Xterra. I've got some things on the horizon that I really need something more roomy, with 4x4, and that is capable of hauling a decent amount. Fuel mileage is not much of a concern for me, because we have three cars that get 20+ mpg city and around 30 mpg highway, so I can afford to have a gas guzzler in the fleet now.

I agree with that. I would probably have a truck too, if I didn't have like 4 family members with trucks. I don't need it that often, so it's just easier to borrow one then own one and never use it.

[AppleBonker]

Yeah you're definitely not alone with the garage thing. I have a drain in the center of my garage (glorious), and I hose everything down scrub it real good at least 1-2 times a year (especially in the spring). I hate laying on the ground and getting filthy just from the dirt on the ground, seems unnecessary.

Newer construction doesn't allow for drains in the garage - concerns about mixing auto waste with the normal waste stream. I'm on septic, so it all ends up in the yard anyway lol.

Adam I just noticed you're in NW Indiana, are you up around Valpo or Merillville? I live around Goshen/Warsaw...

Closer to Valpo. South of there actually. In the middle of GD nowhere. I think I knew you were in the Warsaw area though...

[Kompresshun]

I'm planning on used, around $20k or so.

I like the Titan, but i'd prefer a Toyota if i'm going to buy a pick-up. The Titan just isn't quite good enough, but I guess if it were heavily discounted my issues with it would probably fade away. I just really am not a fan of how old the platform is and how much of a pig they are on gas. I know in this territory it doesn't matter much, but i'm just not okay with 11-12mpg city.

I'm leaning more toward an SUV though, just because I prefer enclosed area and i'll probably purchase a trailer too, so if I need to haul anything larger I can use the trailer. We'll probably have another kiddo in the next couple of years and i'd rather have more interior space. Plus the gear i'll be hauling daily will need to be kept inside too.

I could put a camper top on a truck, but at that point I feel like it just eliminates the purpose of buying one.

[AppleBonker]

Roger that. I've gotten nearly 16 mpg lifetime in the Titan. But I don't drive it like a lunatic, and it's mostly highway. Definitely an old platform though. But the Pro-4x has handled any and all questionable terrain I've thrown at it.

You can probably get an Xterra at a good price. The mileage isn't so great on them either, but once again the Pro-4x/Off-road trim are incredibly capable vehicles. Don't know if you're ever planning on off-roading, but I'd probably lean towards the Xterra for that use when compared to its competitors (note: I haven't really researched them in a few years, so I might be a bit off).

[Kompresshun]

That's why I kinda keep coming back to the Xterra I think - I would really like to do some offroading again. I miss it. A lot.

Even though it's on the minimum of the towing capacity I wanted, it has everything else I want and i'm still not convinced that i'll really need to tow up to 5,000lbs anyways at the moment. I would like to have the ability, but it limits my options to larger vehicles. Not that I mind larger vehicles, but I still really like the Xterra and 4Runner the best out of the bunch i've been looking at.

[RicerX]

Bro... I'm probably going Xterra when I pay off the Z (keeping the Z dammit). If towing isn't really crucial, that thing with a 6MT would be my recommendation all day.

[Kompresshun]

That's the only way I would go too. That's another reason i'm not sure I want something larger too - I want a manual in the next vehicle. I've had automatics since 2008 and finally got back into a manual when I bought the Miata. My life has been amazing ever since.

[Dattebayo]

Too much car talk going on in here...

[MinisterofDOOM]

What business is it exactly?

Half Life 2 guys, can one of you guys recommend some really good "mods" for me? To include a reliable link for me to DL it...pretty please.

I've only really messed with two HL2 mods. Mainly because these days most of what would have become HL2 mods became full on independent Source spinoffs.

Synergy adds coop to HL2 and both expansions. Tons of fun. http://store.steampowered.com/app/17520/

FakeFactory's Cinematic Mod adds some great high-res textures, but also takes a lot of liberties I'm not fond of with the overal design aesthetic of the game. Some ambient changes are weird, but the one I can't stand is replacing Alyx with an Adriana Lima lookalike with big boobs and pokey nipples. It's also HUGE (several gigs) and in my experience the direct download links are unreliable. You can torrent it but I'm not sure how actively they are seeded ten years later.

[AppleBonker]

The acoustic version is so awesome. Keep hearing it in the car and enjoy it more with each listen.

Couldn't find the album version with just a quick search (edit: because it wont be released until next month), so this will have to do:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKDRNF9titI[/youtube]

Awesome song to begin with, but love that version.

[MinisterofDOOM]

My god Cable One is embarassing.



Also, not bad for a day of heavy use:

I see lots of people bitching about Nexus 5 battery life, but I used the s*** out of mine for 7 straight hours today before taking that screenshot. That includes hours of simultaneous speakerphone talk time, screen-on time, and data use.

Sure beats the s*** out of my old phone, which barely made it 12 hours and that's if I never touched it.

[Dattebayo]

My new work phone (a moto X) has been going for 3 days without a charge. However, it hasn't been used much.

[RicerX]

The acoustic version is so awesome. Keep hearing it in the car and enjoy it more with each listen.

Couldn't find the album version with just a quick search (edit: because it wont be released until next month), so this will have to do:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKDRNF9titI[/youtube]

Awesome song to begin with, but love that version.

MY FAVORITE BAND OF ALL TIME. Them and Dream Theater. I cannot wait for their acoustic album to drop.

[WDRacing]

I remember listening to Dream Theater back in 92 while washing dishes at Boston Market.

[float_6969]

I was 11 years old in 1992. Just thought you'd like to know

[Rogue One]

I was 11 years old in 1992. Just thought you'd like to know

And I was 11 when WDRacing was born.

[Kompresshun]

I was 11 years old in 1992. Just thought you'd like to know

I was 8. What a bunch of old farts

[frapjap]

Beavis: Hey Butthead, that guy is PISSED.

The first time I saw Sevendust live, I was all "oh snap, that dude is black? Cool!"

I skated with him in the little traveling skate park on the warped tour, that was cool. Dude busted out a 360 flip on a wedge.

[Kompresshun]

I used to be a huge Sevendust fan back in the day. I also used to listen to a lot more music from that genre back then in general though.

[sx moneypit]

Mornin' folks!

[Bubba1]

Mornin' folks!

Good morning. Another week, another snow storm tonight. I think we're going to miss the brunt of it and get only 1-2 inches.

[RicerX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S52zUAFKvs8[/youtube]

This song demonstrates the versatility of this band.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N_hsPiYVCo[/youtube]

This song demonstrates the badassery that is Morgan Rose.

While I have always leaned on Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater for drumming style as far as what I've tought myself, Morgan Rose has snuck in a good bit too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCOWx4YL ... 0v7b-7s8fg[/youtube]
(Ignore the flubs in this one, but I feel like a bit from both Portnoy and Rose snuck into this song. - this is a drum cam on a tiny stage from my last show.)

[Kompresshun]

Mornin' Gents.

I've actually never listened to Dream Theater before

Good morning. Another week, another snow storm tonight. I think we're going to miss the brunt of it and get only 1-2 inches.

We've got about 1/2" on the ground here right now and it's still coming down. I think i'm finally getting sick and tired of the snow

I'm also currently in the middle of putting the new top on the Miata and it's hard to work with then it's cold in the garage. I've made some decent progress for only spending a couple of hours on it so far though: