LoneWolf

It must be above 40F to wear shorts here. It is currently around 25F, so no-go.

There you sit

broken hearted

Had bad `nog

And then you sharted?

(I am now calling you Jsharrt)

So, should we call you 2Fart now?

1 minute ago, Bikeguy said:

Years ago before purchased my plasma (new and way more expensive than the OLED), the reviews were predicting plasma wound have a short life span too.  Plasma was going to slowly burn out, etc..   Mine is just fine after more than 10 years. 

I adjusted the OLED so it's not near it's maximum brightness and color balance.  I'll guess it will last a while, based on 'normal' use, 10 years or more is the prediction now.  I don't use that TV nowhere near as much as we use the plasma.  Time will tell...   The OLED may out live me.  I guess I'll find out.  

Plasma evolved over the years. Early plasmas did have burn-in issues.  Panasonic and a few others greatly reduced that with pixel shifting technology that would shift images (especially when paused) back and forth between adjacent pixels, too fast for the eye to see.

Early Pioneer sets (Pioneer was possibly the one manufacturer better than Panasonic, but you paid dearly for it and they exited the scene quicker) showed those burn-in effects.

As for the OLED, it isn't burn-in that's an issue, but OLED once had an issue where colors would fade or darken over time. It's definitely less so than it used to be though.  Things have improved, much like plasmas improved. I don't use my television enough to justify the budget good OLED models that start around $1,400-1,500 though; not until my plasma fails at any rate.

11 minutes ago, Philander Seabury said:

My 89 was an RS.  But it did have AC!

It was optional on the RS. Almost everything else wasn't even an option.

Looking back, my RS would have been the perfect project go-fast car; the curb weight was like, 2600lbs.

38 minutes ago, Philander Seabury said:

My neighbor had an Acura Vision in that color that I really liked.

I loved my 89 Integra too.

I also had a `91 Integra RS 2door. I joked that RS stood for "Really Stripped"; it came with nearly nothing stock. The dealer put in an aftermarket pop-up sunroof to sell it to the first buyer, because it didn't even have AC (thank goodness it was white in color). No airbags (it did have those crazy decapitate-you-automatic seatbelts), no ABS, nothing.  I put in a stereo and speakers myself to give me a good one, and then later had an aftermarket alarm installed when some crackhead (my first apartment was in a mediocre neighborhood) ripped the first one off. That and the proper solenoid kit gave it power doorlocks (it did not have power windows or mirrors).

That said, the lack of AC and features made it lightweight, and meant one less thing was driven by the engine. It was fun to drive, and it was reliable (nothing to break). It was the car I learned stick on, and it taught me the joys of a good driving experience beyond just straight line acceleration.

2 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

I still have my 50" Panasonic plasma screen.  I used a setup DVD to adjust the colors, etc... and it's still working just fine.  It's the model that's just the monitor, with no speakers, or tuner.  Its part of our home theater (50" was big 10 years ago) with surround sound, etc...   

When we built our home, we needed a TV for the living room.   A 55" LG OLED TV was the only TV that has blacks as dark as the plasma.  And the viewing angle is just as good, possibly better than the plasma.

From what I remember... Panasonic gave up on plasma because the technology had limitations for resolution.  They can't make a 4K plasma. 

While it's not impossible to make a 4k plasma (it was extremely difficult at one time), it's expensive -and it's impossible to make one Energy Star compliant, which is important for the US market. Plasma definitely sucks down more juice from the wall.

I'm waiting for OLED technology that gets even better lifespans than now (one of its weaknesses), and while I'd like to see the price come down, if panel life goes up, I could consider it at some point in the current price range. Until I see significant advancement though (or my current TV dies), I'm very happy with what I have.

1 minute ago, Further said:

This is what I have. Bought it new a long time ago. Was talking about a "smart tv" with my kid, who is very tech savvy, the way he asked 'why' made me wonder if the tv would be smarter than me. 

The smarts is in my TiVo.  The 2012-2013 Panasonic plasmas were the best of their time, and very little has surpassed them other than OLED. Their only weaknesses are power consumption, and a little more heat.

I have the mid-2012 GT30, upper middle of the line. totally worth it at 1/6th what it cost new. I'm still sad Panasonic TVs are no longer around in the US, some of the most reliable sets made.

I really did love my 1994 Acura Integra GS-R. Upgraded suspension (front strut tower bar, upgraded rear swaybar, aftermarket adjustable shocks and springs) and 17" wheels. 8,000rpm redline with peak power around 7,200-7,600 (revving her was fun).

But I'm still cool. The 2019 Elantra GT N-Line has a number of goodies on the way for it. 

4k is most noticeable at 10' or closer.

I still have a 50" Panasonic 1080p plasma I bought used probably 4 years back, because the blacks and colors are some of the best. I paid $250 for it in perfect shape, and it still looks beautiful (and you can't get plasma TVs any more). Most of my source material isn't higher than 1080p, and the colors are still amazing. I'll eventually buy something down the road when it dies, probably a 55" OLED of some sort.

Now, car dash cams? I'm thinking about one, and 4k there seems like a big deal to me for the ability to read license plates.

3 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

On my 18 yrs. old bike, I'm certain I've spent well over $500.00 for parts replacement, maintenance, tubes, etc. The end is result is a reasonably healthy...person, nearly 62 yrs.   Either that, or certain possible other health costs.

And I bought the bike new at the time for just over $850.00.  It's just hard for me find bike that fits unless I get a custom fit which I'm not quite willing since I leave my bike locked up and go shopping. I would get paranoid for brand name cool and efficient bike...   

My second bike is a bit like that. It's a 1994 Trek light tourer I got for like $200 on Craigslist; at the odd size of 23.5", it's an okay fit for my 6'4" frame. And when I upgraded my primary's components, it got the 9spd older-but-functional Ultegra STI gear (though I had to get triple derailleurs) and various other bits and pieces.

That's a bike that can go nearly anywhere, and yet I could easily ride it at RAGBRAI if I ever go again.

2 hours ago, Kzoo said:

IHOP on the Beltline?  I had to go to the bank (Macatawa) and drove through their parking lot around noon.  I was surprised to see that they were still in business let alone open.

 

The very same.  They actually seem to do reasonably well, at least on a weekend, when they've been open. I mean, they're not the Real Food Cafe five minutes from my house, but they're passable food and the online order system makes it easy.

I had to go to LMCU; we probably passed each other in the parking lot and didn't even know it.

9 minutes ago, shootingstar said:

Since I've never been a car owner and gave up car license nearly 35 yrs. ago, I was surprised a pair of good/tough bike tires (Schwable with near non-flat liners) cost just as much or more than 1 all-season car tire. No doubt, alot of car owners would think cyclists are nuts.

I justify the cost over 'n over as my key means of transportation and I've never bought a fitness club membership yet...

I'm sure. My bike cost $2,000 back in 2003.  I'm sure I put a few more grand in since on its custom paint job and a complete component revamp, and someday, I'd consider a custom (probably semi-custom) made to fit me.

Putting less in on the car also allowed me to justify a second set of wheels with winter tires for it, and a few gussied up extras that still cost me a lot less. I was more speaking of me, and for me, I've never been (not that I could afford to be, but even if I could) a "spare no expense" guy, more a "Can I have enjoyment at a reasonable cost" guy? I just find that if I go past a certain amount, sometimes the enjoyment factor goes down for me in the face of having to worry too much about the thing I enjoy. That may not be everyone; it just is for me.

I am eating an IHOP omelette I picked up while running some errands, and maybe I'll watch some Netflix because it's wet and cold outside.

I only know what it's not - it's not morning wood. Because I know what that looks like.

On 12/8/2020 at 10:12 AM, Razors Edge said:

Not a bad price

It is interesting, though, many folks will discuss ad nauseum folks spending habits on Starbucks or eating out or toys like electronic gadgets, but the two elephants in the room are homes and autos/trucks/SUVs.  Folks will "justify" a $50,000 or $75,000 vehicle (times replacing every few years), yet talk about a $5 latte as an "extravagance".  Yeah, that's the ticket   "But I need a car..."!  Well, seems a great car can be gotten for $6k instead of $60k, eh? 

I understand trucks....but what I don't understand are luxury trucks.

I don't get the idea of buying what I would think is a vehicle meant for function (hauling stuff) then adding things you'd find on a Cadillac Escalade. It seems to me like trucks were meant to possibly gotten muddy or dusty, etc. by moving stuff places, and one is taking the complete opposite turn by getting a leather interior that could get completely gukked up by doing what a truck is meant to do.

Then again,  I never understood a $50-75,000 vehicle either.  It's probably economy of scale; example - If I got a Porsche Cayman ($60-80,000) I know I'd get more annoyed by people who have crappy reflexes, fall asleep at stoplights, hang out in the left-hand lane going 65 in a 70 zone. I'd be worried about parking lot carelessness from people who don't give a crap and sneak off, or errant shopping carts. And insurance costs. and repair costs. There's so many intangibles that when I think about it, there's maybe xx amount of fun I want and no more, and I'd have to be considerably wealthier to not consider or be concerned about all the things I just listed.

10 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

Sure you can do a wipe...    But my method relieves stress too.

 

I mean yes, hard disks can be great for skeet shooting if you can find a device that can yeet them hard enough, but I think he's going for the whole "reduce, reuse" thing.

19 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

I still remember when(back in 99) WoBG told the Land Rover sales guy.... "I'm not going to sit on a dead animal."  We had our Land Rover for 11 years, with cloth seats.  If you can't afford the repairs (don't ask) you can't afford a LR. 

I could have purchased a 2010 Mercedes SUV, but we went with a 2010 Subaru Forester.  I still think it was a good decision.  I'm still not going to replace the Subaru.

I've told WoBG, you should buy a new Toyota Supra. She tells me, NO.  She still loves her 97 Honda Prelude, and it still corners like it's on rails.  She tells me she'd be afraid to get a new car hit in a parking lot, etc... 

So am I just frugal... or not frivolous?  (at least about cars)

Oh, Land Rovers and Range Rovers are complete money pits. They're not the bottom of my list...that would probably belong to someone like Suzuki, or Fiat.

The Honda Prelude, especially the Prelude V-TEC, was and is a great car. And if you want a Supra, do not shame us all and buy a freaking BMW and tell us you got a Supra.  When I bought my Hyundai, I walked into that showroom and was so tempted by this....

A first-year 1986.5 Toyota Supra, owned by the dealer's wife, Florida driven, 65,000 miles. Naturally aspirated. The first year Toyota made a Supra that wasn't a Celica Supra, and the last year they made the Celica Supra at all. Half of my brain told me to buy it and keep the Subaru for winter, but my mind bet on the possibility that it might just have its original belts and hoses and need all of the  "You have to do this for the first time..." work. 

Get an early 90s Supra Turbo or an MR2 final generation if you really want the fun of the Honda but want something "new" -or if you want new new, a Subaru BRZ, also a driver's car. Just don't get a BMW wearing Toyota badges; it's just wrong.

1 hour ago, Razors Edge said:

Seagal's flicks have become a little more approachable as he has aged.  He's surely willing to go middle or low class once in a while.

Pardon me while I suspend my complete sense of reality and belief and go for "Yes, this Native American made tea just coincidentally happens to cure a deadly virus".

20 minutes ago, maddmaxx said:

Do you remember the old platter drives.  They had magnets so strong that they would kill your watch if you kept it on while working on them.  Those were the magnets that threw the heads back and forth at the speed of awsome.

They were a speshul kind of magnet.

8 minutes ago, roadsue said:

Your most recent auto purchase seems to lean toward necessary instead of toward frivolous.

We are watching A Christmas Carol. At one point Scrooge says, “...spending the mortgage money on frivolities.” 
 

We keep a close eye on our frivolity spending.  

Less than some would think, more than others.

I definitely didn't need heated and ventilated leather seats with red stitching, or wireless cell-phone charging, nor control of many of its features remotely by same smartphone, nor for it to go fast, or corner like it's on rails. In truth, I didn't need to buy it. I had two reasonably reliable, some might say even more practical cars which I could have kept one of and sold the other.

At the same time, I also owned a sporty car once and I learned that it's not the purchase of the car that gets you; it's the insurance, the premium gasoline, the worry it will be stolen or scratched. If you have to worry about it too much, it isn't fun any more. I mean, who really feels secure parking their Porsche Cayman at the corner grocery store next to a 1987 Toyota Tercel?

That's why I learned the happy medium is great. Something you can have fun with and take a little pride in. Not something that seems fun until you realize you have to worry about it.

1. Don't use steel wool. Very abrasive.

2. Get a USB key and make a bootable copy of DBAN (Derek's Boot & Nuke) which is free. Do the three-pass DoD wipe; it might take 1-2 days, but nobody's getting anything back when you're done.

https://dban.org/

I don't really put any into my willy nilly; I never found much satisfaction in having to pay for it. 

But I do enjoy having a car that's a bit of fun to drive (not over the top, just a bit; I've never had a car that cost me $30k or higher, maybe not even $25k), and having some nice techie toys here and there. And a multi-game package to minor league baseball.

The house is modest, but plenty enough. If I can afford to meet all my needs, and just a few of my wants here and there, I'm good.