A little recap

Saturday, July 11th, is the cruise-in at Southpark Mall in Moline, Ill. It is hosted by the Quad Cities Cruisers, runs from 6-9:30 pm, and is free for spectators. If you want to look at some neat cars they’ll be by JC Penny.

We ended up with water in the basement after the last storm but it didn’t knock out the water heater. I’m thinking about putting the water heater in the kitchen and just using the basement for a swimming pool.
Of course if this global warming doesn’t kick in soon we wouldn’t be able to use it.

There will be some things coming up I’ll post about next week after I catch my breath. I feel like the guy who used to make the doughnuts
in that I’m catching myself coming and going lately. Since the patrol
is done for tonight I believe a nap is order.
Comments are always welcome.

Worth a thought

A couple things happened this week got me thinking. The first was when I recieved an email from a friend. The subject line had A MUST WATCH VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!! in it. The email claims the speaker
is the new Thomas Paine. The video has gotten close to 4 million hits since it was put on U-tube March 16th. President Obama even called him and invited him to the White House. I have to admit this video is the most informative 6 minutes I’ve spent watching the computer in quite a while.
If you watch it turn the sound up because the volumn seems low.
This clip has a lot of things in it that I’ve been saying for a while now and I agree with almost everything the guy has to say. It definitely got me thinking.

Then yesterday, Bruce Braley had his meeting at Genesis East. After reading the articles in the QC Times and RI Argus it becomes clear that the topic above is relative. When asked if he would give up his insurance plan for the new one he wouldn’t answer. He didn’t bring up the hundreds of billions of dollars illegal aliens cost us each year. He also didn’t mention anything about lowering doctors malpractice insurance. The government created this mess and once again we taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill.

How is it going to be paid for? “The plan’s cost would be supported by an adjustment to Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement system payments, with the savings estimated at $700billion.” How does one take that statement? I’ve got my take on it. Once again,
Medicare/Medicaid is a government program and part of what Braley calls the most expensive in the world. Well then, if it’s the costliest, why isn’t it the best?

The rumors are heating up about plans for another stimulus package. Instead of pushing the junk science behind global warming and spending more money than anyone in the history of world; why not fix the real problems? Like our crumbling infrastructure, setting term
limits, campaign reform, keeping us out of war and other more pressing matters.
Comments are always welcome.

Police and Pontiac

Recently I did a post about what happened over the weekend. I didn’t go into everything that happened so I’ll add one more item to that list. Sometime last Saturday there was break-in at Dixon Auto Sales on West 3rd. street. Several sets of keys and two cars were taken. It makes me wonder when the three arrested were 12, 13, and 15 years old with the youngest two being brothers and known to police. And yet we’re told our juvenille justice system is working. For what these
kids did to Jim I hope they get the maximum sentence.

Since the police were really busy over the weekend and handled a diverse load of calls; why not a little police history? When the Declaration of Indenpence was signed there was one benefit not many think of. Policing as we know it today never existed in the history of the world before 1776. American police officers police with a system of checks and balances which insure that the policing in this country is a shining example of the freedom that our forefathers declared in that
document and American servicemen secured with blood in every American War fought since. So some of the seeds of freedom that were planted on that July 4th in 1776 are still blossoming and growing today.

Then we have our President who claims he isn’t in the automobile business. I seem to remember GMs first shot at restructuring. Then GM CEO Rick Wagoner submitted a restructuring plan that included saving the Pontiac division. The White House flatly refused this proposal as indecisive and saw to it that Mr. Wagoner was no longer employed by GM. So new GM CEO Fritz Henderson will be known as the man who killed Pontiac and saved GM. What does our President have against Pontiacs?
Comments are always welcome.

On Tuesday

I’ll probably be in the minority today, but our TV won’t be on for the
Michael Jackson Memorial today. I honestly don’t get why he getting
the royal treatment and that’s probably because of my age. So don’t
expect any coverage of the event here.

Happy Birthday to my lovely wife who is celebrating her 29th again.
I won’t give her age away because the doghouse isn’t ready yet. We
did have a nice meal with her parents Sunday at Azteca and even saw
a blimp hovering over Davenport on our way home.

At the jobber’s yesterday the talk was about the two stabbings over
the weekend. One was outside a bar and I believe the other was a
domestic dispute but I am correctable. I haven’t been following the
crime locally as much as I used to.

Today I’m going to finish what I should have gotten done over the weekend. If I keep going at this rate I’ll be all caught up by October.
I have to get the ‘40 going by then because it doesn’t have a heater
in it.

In the QC Times today an article mentioned Ian Frink wasn’t running
for re-election and that Robbie Ortiz filed to run for Alderman-At-Large. I can’t help but wonder if I know this person. It appears that
everyone is keeping quiet about their intentions in this election.
Comments are always welcome.

Old car oil

Recently in a post I mentioned that oil companies have changed the formula used to refine oil and that change was harmful to vehicles with flat tappet cams. I recieved an email shortly after the post from someone who stated thier company still makes oil with higher levels of zinc and phosphorus which are critical to protect against wear.

The American Refining Group, Inc., which was formally known as the Kendall Refinery. Located in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest continuously running lube refinery in the world. In addition to producing a wide range of lubricants, we manufacture Brad Penn (truly, the last MADE IN THE U.S.A. brand), Penn Grade 1 High Performance Oil and break-in oil. Our High Performance Oil, “The Green Oil”, is being heavily requested by all automotive segments including Studebakers, Classic, Historic, Vintage, Oval & Drag, Restoration/Muscle cars; especially engines that utilize flat tappet cams. With our High Performance Oil, we did not reduce the level of ZDDP (zinc, anti-wear additive); in addition, we obtain a unique cut from our tower that causes our High Performance Oil to tenaciously cling to engine parts, especially to flat tappet, roller cams, valve springs under heavy load and other critical engine parts, minimizing wear in the engine. Also, our product stays put in the cam/valve train area reducing “dry starts” and minimizing wear during start up. In addition, Crane Cams, Crower Cams, Schneider Cams, ISKY cams, Howards Cams, and Bullet/Ultra dyne all reco mm end our High Performance Oil. Ed you may obtain additional information on our company and High Performance Oil by visiting www.bradpennracing.com or www. amref.com

So at least we can still get oil for our antique vehicles. I haven’t used this brand but an looking into getting some to try in our ‘40 and ‘48.
Comments are always welcome.

A little update

Yesterday probably didn’t turn out so good for the Blues Fest. I know we left around 4 pm and it was still drizzling a bit. The tent shows were going strong but the main stage wasn’t anywhere close to being dry enough to use. I hope it cleared off enough later for the show to go on.

I didn’t work the Blues Fest Thursday, but Friday and Saturday had a good turnout of Guardian Angels. We even had a member from the newly formed Urban Angels volunteer. I was keeping one eye out for a hearing aid but didn’t see any in travels downtown. The VIP gate was an interesting post since I didn’t know any VIPs and had to ask to see the VIP cards. Everyone seem to humor this old redneck and stayed in a good mood.

I didn’t make the Blue Grass cruise-in Friday because of other commitments. But I’m sure with the mild weather there was a good turnout. I also heard later of a show car display down by the RME Friday night but didn’t see any advertising for it. Did anybody else hear about it?

The wife went along Saturday and was a good sport. After we got completely soaked she never complained. We stayed soaked for three and a half hours while enjoying the music and the lovely soaking our lawns got. I think if you asked,the whole group would volunteer to do again with no complaints.

The cookout turned out good and the rain stopped by the time we got there. Plenty of brats, hotdogs, baked beans and all the usual goodies. There were cakes and desserts that looked good but I had to pass on them because I had too much of everything else. So far we have survived the holiday.

Ilcantar told us that Bard and his lovely wife had a 4th of July baby.
Congratulations to the proud parents.

Comments are always welcome.

Enjoy the 4th

Today is Independence Day when we celebrate the birthday of our nation. It was on July 4, 1776 that we became independant from Britain and declared our freedom. Please enjoy the holiday.

I’d like to end with a few words from the Declaration Of Independence-

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Comments are always welcome.

A few things

For years this would be the weekend we’d be in Des Moines for the Good-Guys Car Show. That hasn’t happened for a while due to other commitments and this year will be no different. I’ll be down at the Blues Fest today and tomorrow and have some odds and ends to wrap up Sunday so I can spend Monday getting caught up on things I should have gotten done this weekend.

A friend emailed me that a hearing aid has gone missing. They don’t remember where they were when they lost it so it could be anywhere. If you happen to see one while you’re out and about in Davenport please turn it in and let us know.

It should be a noisy weekend with the 4th being Saturday. I actually think it has been kind of quiet up our way. Perhaps fireworks have become a luxury with the economy. If so I’m not complaining.

Since the 4th is tomorrow, here are some facts about the holiday:

When the Declaration of Independence was signed our population was 2.5 million. When we celebrate this year our population will be 304 million.

Odds are better than 1 in 4 that the hot dogs we eat this weekend originated in Iowa regardless of where in the country we live.

Odds are about 4 in 10 if you have beans with your cookout they came from North Dakota. They produced 42 percent of dry beans last year. Odds are 6 in 10 or better that if we have corn on the cob it came from Florida, California, Georgia or New York.

If you have potato salad or potato chips with your cookout odds are pretty good the taters came from Idaho.

Odds are 3 in 4 that if you’re having lettuce it came from California, and if you’re adding tomatoes the same odds apply for them coming from California or Florida.

In 2007 we bought $4.7 million worth of imported American Flags. $4.3 million went for U.S. flags made in China. Don’t let those figures get you down. We shipped $349.2 million worth of flags, banners and patriotic emblems the same year.

We hope you get a chance to enjoy the holiday.
Comments are always welcome.

Different mini-rant

I was all set to post a scathing rant on the American Clean Energy and Security Act but thought it would be like putting the cart before the horse. I’ve decided there is still time for those in Congress to at least read it before they vote. If it passes I will post it.

Since GM became Government Motors and Chrysler became a non-issue, let’s talk a little about cars. Next year the Mustang will be the only rear-wheel-drive car in the Ford lineup. Yes, Ford has announced the end of the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car trio. Say goodbye to another old friend.

First quarter profit/loss numbers are out and they don’t look good. Toyota lost $6.9 billion, GM lost $5.9 billion, Honday lost $2.9 billion, Nissan lost $2.8 billion, Daimler AG lost $1.7 billion, Ford lost $1.4 billion. You get the idea. The experts tried to soften the blow by saying these figures are for global operations. I’m sure that makes these companies feel much better.

The new CAFE standards are in. Automakers will have to average 35.5 mpg accross their fleets in less than seven years. The goal of the EPA is to cut greenhouse gasses by 30 percent in the same time frame. Give me strength.

In my latest SEMA SAN newsletter the group was patting themselves on the back. While I usually agree with everything the group does we are at odds over the clunker bill. SEMA claimed victory by getting cars older than 25 years old (1984) excempt from the bill. They call it a compromise, I call it a sell out. They also said ok to not being able to buy a motor out of the scrapped vehicles, but being allowed to buy the rest of the drivetrain. Even then we would have to buy the transmission, driveshaft, and rearend separately.

Am I the only one who is getting really tired hearing one side of the global warming issue. It wouldn’t be so bad if they would let experts who disagree debate the issue. If these people really care about the environment and not their bottom line, why not have an intelligent debate?

I also don’t understand Obama’s “my way or the highway” stand on this issue. We know he doesn’t like coal-fired power plants but there are alternatives. In an age when we have CO2 scrubbers, the technology to reburn the CO2 or even turn it into baking soda; why shut them down?

I heard about a 220 mph bullet train being proposed for the midwest somewhere. It got me thinking. If we’re going to end up in underpowered, undersized, Obama Electricmobiles; do we really want these trains crossing our roadways?

And lastly, I’ve noticed something going on with my coffee. I’m old enough to remember when you bought a can of coffee that weighed 3 pounds (48 ounces). The last one we bought weighed 2 pounds 2.5 ounces (34.5 ounces). This new can seems to take up the same amount of cupboard space as the old one. So are lighter fillers added, less coffee, or is there more air in the can? I don’t like my coffee being messed with.
Comments are always welcome.

A few things

What a differnce a few days make. Seems like only yesterday were were getting broiled in sub-tropic temperatures and yesterday we almost needed a jacket. I’m going to start this post on some local news that caught my eye and end with a warning from Iraq.

In the Argus I learned about a car accident on Interstate 39 near Oglesby, Illinois. The driver was from Moline, and a passenger from Moline was killed in the wreck. The accident is still under investigation, but the reason the article caught my attention was because the accident involved a 1962 Studebaker and a 2003 VW. The Studebaker was driven by David J. Kahn of Moline and the dead woman is Julia M. Hogan also of Moline.

Both our local newspapers covered a shooting in the 1100 block of Tremont. We now know one of the victims died. It’s getting pretty bad when someone walks up to a parked car at around 8 pm, and shoots both occupants. It was reported that the shooter then jumped into a waiting vehicle and took off.

Las Bananas has made the news again with another brawl. One person got charged with two counts of willful injury causing serious injury and several counts of assault with a weapon (knife). It all supposedly got started by one guy dancing with somebody else’s
girlfriend. Why not just close this “club” down? It has had more police calls than any other bar I can think of. Here’s a question; if the business owner is renting could the nuisance abatement come into play?

The last local item is from the “just when you thought you heard everything” file, Two guys are accused of beating the snot out of another guy to steal his cigarettes! Yes at around 7:30 pm on the Centenial bridge these two morons asked another man for
a cigarette. He said no even though they could see the pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket. So one guy pulls a knive and threatens to stab the man. Instead he punched the guy and knocked him down where after they took his cigarettes then kicked him when he was down. The two accused are being held in Scott County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

And lastly, the warning-
This morning, from a cave somewhere in Pakistan , Taliban Minister of Migration Mohammed Omar, warned the United States that if military actions against Iraq continues, Taliban authorities intend to cut off America’s supply of Convenience Store Managers and possibly Motel 6 Managers. And, if this action does not yield sufficient results, Cab drivers will be next, followed by DELL and AOL customer Service Reps. Finally, if all else fails, they have threatened to send us no more candidates for President of the United States!
It’s gonna get ugly!!!

Comments are always welcome.