jheis

I'm just flat amazed at the number of tattooed, fat, ugly, women I see on a daily basis. Philosophically, I have nothing against an attractive, artistically done tattoo, but most of the ones I see are just plain hideous. What's with the skulls, flaming eyeballs, demons, dagers, etc. What on earth are they thinking. I must be a rebel - no tattoos, no piercings.... James

I've owned both Escort & Valentine 1. The V1 is a far superior product. IMHO a road trip without a V1 is like driving naked. YMMV. James

Didn't exactly "selflessly volunteer." Got called up for my draft physical in '68 (before the lottery) & enlisted in the Air Force instead. Basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio & a year of Air Traffic Control Radar tech school at Keesler AFB in Biloxi MS. Then three years at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Loved Germany - hated the military. James

Like Gary, I learned most of my mechanical skills from a 1959 Triumph TR3. Bought the car in '73 for $400. To be fair, the car probably had 300,000 miles on it when I got it. As a starving student, I had no choice but to learn how to work on it myself. Took a couple of JC autoshop classes. Fortunately, a TR3 is a pretty, stone simple, mechanically stout piece of kit. Over the years, it got "driveway" engine & transmission rebuilds and a "garage" paint job. Drove the car for 7 years and sold it for $4,500. Last summer I finally sold off the last of the Triumph "spares" I had accumulated over the years - brought a fair chuck of change! By the way, the Isetta (along with the later, more "car like," 700 series) saved BMW from insolvency and allowed them to claw their way back to viability in the years following WWII. Without the Isetta there would be no BMW car company today. James

Roy Rogers is a local NorCal/North Bay boy (Roy Rogers is his real name - he was actually named after the singing cowboy). His band, the Delta Rhythm Kings has been playing together for about 25 years. He's probably best known for his work with John Lee Hooker's band in the 80's including producing the Grammy winning album "The Healer." Also did a lot of work with the late Norton Buffalo over the years. James

Another shot of the Franklin. The only American car I've ever owned! James

My other ride is a 1933 Franklin Olympic Convertible Coupe. One of 14 know to exist. Records are non-existant, but it is believed that about 50 Olympic convertible coupes were built. Air cooled 273 ci (4.5 liters - same size as my 928) straight six. 100 hp, 3500 lbs. Four wheel hydraulic brakes. Franklins were built in Syracuse, NY from 1902 through April, 1934.

'82 Porsche 928 with the "Competition Package" owned it since '94 S4 four piston Brembo brakes & S4 front suspension, short shifter, custom cat-back exhaust system.

Might as well finish Mike's plug. The business is called "Soundscape" and they are located at 1044 4th Street in Santa Rosa, CA. Haven't been there in a while, but lots of cool stuff last time I stopped by. James

Don't know about the AVR-3200, but I (briefly) owned a AVR-1804 & the FM reception was worthless. Couldn't even lock on to stations that my 15 year old Carver CT-17 pulled in without breaking a sweat - also sounded like crap. I returned it after about a week & bought a B&K pre/pro. James

Lots of troubling unanswered questions about the case. All the interviews I've read say that if anyone should have been able to deal with a runaway car, it was the CHP officer behind the wheel. No idea why he was unable to shift into neutral - or have the passanger pull it into neutral - but SoCal traffic flows at about 80 mph, so they would already have been moving pretty fast when the car took off. Not much time to think, but the brother-in-law in the back seat had time to make a 911 call, so it seems like someone should have been able to do something to prevent this tragedy. James

Kessler is someone our English friends would label as a wanker. James

As was pointed out in the above articles, hit the brakes twice at WOT and the vacumn is depleted. Without power assist, the engine easily overpowers the brakes.

In the San Diego case, the driver was a seasoned off-duty CHP officer with lots of high speed driver training under his belt. The car was a loaner from the dealer while his car was being serviced - so, he, apparently was unfamiliar with the car, hadn't read the manual & didn't know the three second drill on how to turn it off. The call to 911 was from the driver's brother-in-law who was a back seat passenger in the runaway Lexus. He reported wide open throttle & no brakes. No idea why the driver was unable to shift it into neutral, but things happen very quickly when a powerfull car goes to WOT. The driver had his hands full trying to thread his way through heavy traffic at 120 mph. Unfortunately, his luck ran out & he rearended a SUV, struck an embankment & the car burst into flames killing him, his wife, their 13 year old daughter, and the wife's brother. Toyota blames the floor mats.... There have been over 2,000 of these "incidents." 16 fatalities so far....

KG-2s would be perfect. Sweet little speakers. James

Only in America. Where else can a pudgy black kid grow up to be a skinny white woman?

The important question here is: what happened to Duke Spinner? Haven't seen a post from him in - seems like forever. James

B&K pairs great with Klipsch. The ST-125.2 (now badged as Reference 125.2) is more than sufficient & you can pick them up dirt cheap on epay - don't worry about buying used, they're pretty much bullet proof. As you can see from my sig. line, I'm a B&K fan. BIG step up from my previous Carver based system. James

All the info you need is here: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm James

For those who refuse to drink the Windoze Koolaid, be aware that Logitech offers ZERO Linux support - you can't even set it up...

The most important "link" in the audio chain is the choice of speakers. While there are some excellent In-ceiling and in-wall speaker systems, "in-ceiling" is by far the most compromised placement for accurate sound reproduction. No offense, but IMHO tube amplification for a in-ceiling system is lipstick on a pig.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/business/20road.html?ref=todayspaper

You should be able to pick up a B&K PT3 series II on epay in the ~$200 range. I've got two of them. Very nice little sweet sounding preamp with a good built in tuner (but no phono stage) - just be sure it comes with the remote - replacement remotes are ~$60. Made in the USA. James

Aquas de Marco (Waters of March) by Antonio Carlos (Tom) Jobim Lots of different versions, but I think my favorite is a duet between Elis Regina & Tom Jobim (sadly both gone now): Elis Regina accompanied by Tom Jobim on piano: Sealab! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjUOxxwjpSE&feature=related A version by Susanna McCorkle (also no longer with us) http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2269766/waters_of_march/ For a different take, Marisa Monte & David Byrne: http://www.imeem.com/papaki2/music/SafDZibg/marisa-monte-david-byrne-waters-of-march/ Video: Feist & David Byrne: Instrumental version by Eliane Elias' Trio: http://vodpod.com/watch/1825007-eliane-elias-trio-waters-of-march-agua-de-beber Suzanne Vega & Stacy Kent: Anya Marina: http://hypem.com/track/748012/Anya+Marina+-+Waters+Of+March Sofia: http://neim0.multiply.com/video/item/19/Sofia_-_Waters_of_MarchAguas_de_Marco Al Jarreau & Oleta Adams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ld8kHYN-4&feature=related John Pizzarelli: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROMBbhyQvsQ&feature=related Sondre Lerche: In Hebrew: Amatuer (??) version: Dorm room recording: Banjo! Lurch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Pz-iMuHcw&feature=related "a stick, a stone, it's the end of the road...." The story & lyrics: http://www.wicn.org/song-week/waters-of-march-1972 - enjoy. James

Better get me a BIG surge protector! James