rrrrr

What happened? Why aren't you posting? Alright, I hear ya. I'm still here... there's just not much worth talking about.

Going Downhill Fast

Okay, so I've driven the car several times since my last entry, including to work today, and I've driven the motorcycle zero times. But I really think I'm going to change my ways soon, like it or not! The car is getting much harder to start, and starts with a puff of white smoke--indications of water or antifreeze in the cylinders from the blown head gasket. I expect one of these tries it's not going to turn over at all. That'll show me.

Bye Bye Car

1994 Ford Probe 

1994 Ford Probe 
Here are some pictures of my car, my 1994 Ford Probe. I've blogged about it before.

I took these pictures shortly before taking it to the shop. I thought I might not get another chance, as I feared it might not be coming back--ever. Well, it is back, but probably not for much longer. A week or so ago I began having some idling problems again. This is not unusual, as it's been a recurring problem for the past five years at least. Last night on the way home from work, however, the problem got worse. Either the oil pressure guage had an intermittent connection problem, or, there was no oil in the engine. I was close to home when it started, so I made it the rest of the way. I had problems reading the dip stick--the whole thing from top to bottom was coated in dirty oil, I would wipe it off and get the same result. So, this morning I checked the oil the other way, by draining the oil and seeing how much there was. 1.5 quarts. So, not completely empty. Oh, wait, I failed to mention that after I got home last night I added 1.5 quarts to the engine to see if that would change the dipstick measurement at all. It didn't, but that accounts for the oil I drained this morning. So, yep, completely dry after driving home yesterday.

I filled it up with oil this afternoon and took it in to have the leak diagnosed. They found the leak, alright. Actually, they probably had more trouble finding where it wasn't leaking. They said it was leaking from the front engine seal, the oil pan gasket, the head gasket, valve cover, and rear main seal. Also, as a bonus, the engine has significant blow-by which means the cylinders and pistons are leaking exhaust into the crank case. So, I need a new engine or engine rebuild, which will cost several thousand at least. That's more than my car is worth, and since it looks like crap inside and out anyway, it's time to give it up. It was fine as long as it got me from here to there reliably, but that doesn't seem likely anymore. I had considered getting a new car last summer, but just couldn't let go. Now that I know it has a bad engine, it will be much easier!

Actually, on the way to and from the shop it drove okay, so it may be marginally usable until I get a new car. But I think I'll be on my motorcycle for the most part, in this lovely 100 degree weather.

Leave Him Alone (obligatory MJ song title pun)

Apparently no one in Austin had a visible reaction to the Jacko verdict, as the print version of today's local newspaper featured reaction pictures from Times Square and Racine, WI of all places. Oddly enough, I found myself standing in Times Square watching the jumbotron when the verdict for the "Trial of the Century" (20th century, that is) was read. People cheered, booed, and honked their horns no matter what side they were on. In other words, normal NYC behavior. A sharp contrast this time, as I found myself sitting at my work computer, trying in vain to refresh a news web page for the verdict before someone in a nearby cube inevitably and excitedly blurted out "he's innocent!" You win, guy. Now lets all waste the rest of the work day talking about it.

Older and Wiser

Just when I think things are getting back to normal, I show up for my normal trivia competition and find that my teammates have been put in charge of writing the questions for the next couple of weeks. That's what I get for missing two times in a row! Apparently the owner has other business to take care of, and has put my team in charge. Since I didn't contribute any questions, I joined the youngster group (all less that 24 years old) we sometimes team up with when one of our teams is small. Perhaps I am older *and* wiser afterall, as the majority of the questions we missed I had the right answer to (but didn't push as I was a guest on their team). For instance:

Decade Picasso died: 70's
Birth country of Mel Gibson: USA
Belmont Stakes state: New York

The final proof of my wealth of useless knowledge came on a tie-breaker that determined which of three teams would get a barely respectable third place. "Name the Walton children" My team was so young they've never even heard of the show, and told me to write down "Sam Jr." to start. Ignoring them, I was able to come up with only four under pressure: John Boy (of course), Mary Ellen, Elizabeth, Ben. Jim Bob came to me shortly after turning in out answer. I didn't think we had enough, but we did and walked away with a cool $10.

I plan on contributing some good questions for next week. If you don't plan on going and have some good ones, I'm all ears.

Wingo

Back by request, it's the periodic entry where I mention a song I heard on the stereo at a wings place I frequent. Tonight, the theme seemed to be "songs that sound like other songs." Picking a song tonight was rather difficult, first because we were all busy playing Wingo (I-29 dammit! I-29!!! close, but no win), and second because I couldn't quite make out the words to the imitation hits I was hearing. There was a song that sounded much like "Needles and Pins" by the Searchers, one that sounded like "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate, and what I think was a Madonna song that sounded much like another (or any other) Madonna song. I think we all realize that all Madonna does is sing and probably doesn't have much other musical talent, and that there must be someone else who synthesized and sequenced all of her songs--probably the same guy for all of her earlier hits. I wonder how rich that guy is? He probably deserves as much riches as she does, if not more.

So, some songs are similar. It might be fun to try and combine them. It's been done for awhile, and I imagine they play these types of mixes at dance clubs alot. I wouldn't know, since I don't go to those places anymore. But I did get exposed to it via radio recently, when they played this mix featuring Green Day and Oasis, and a few others. They call it mashing. This one is particularly good since the songs are in the same key, same tempo, same chords, and one song features vocals mainly so the instruments don't clash with eachother when mixed. It reminds me of when I came up with this same idea ten or fifteen years ago (sigh). My first project would've been combining the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" and the Dave Clark Five's "Can't You See That She's Mine," but the technology for it wasn't cheap or easy to use then. Maybe I'll give it a shot now?

Coincidentally enough, the song that I was able to identify tonight was "Mashed Potato" by Dee Dee Sharp (I think--I got that name off a google search), which sounds just like "Mr. Postman" (not just chords mind you, that could be any number of songs--instrumentation too).