Welcome to Ye Olde Colde Furye Blogge’s shiny new open-comments thread, where y’all can have at it as you wish, on any topic you like. Do note that the official CF comments policy remains in effect here, as enumerated in the left sidebar. All new posts will appear below this one. There will be blood…
Rocket ships.
A couple weeks ago I put the finishing touches on my search for a new vehicle. I had never considered the GMC Yukon or Cadillac for the big SUV I desire to drive because they were equipped with AWD (all wheel drive) only, and AWD doesn’t play so well in the deep sand we get on the Hatteras Island beaches. I discovered that GMC dropped that some time ago, so the Yukon XL with the Denali option got on my list. In fact it became the one I wanted since it had the larger engine and in 2018, a 10 speed tranny. Yes, you read that correctly a Ten Speed Transmission*.
With the Suburban at 320K and 19 years, and the Avalanche at 300K and 17 years I had decided I’d go for something much newer and less miles than my norm. Stunned everyone.
So I now have a black as night 2018 Yukon Denali with the 6.2 engine and ten speed transmission. All the bells and whistles and 460 ft/lbs of torque…
At 55mph I put my foot in it to pass a too slow line of 4 cars and a box truck and very shortly after the heads up display reported 110 and climbing, at which point I eased off the velocity pedal to avoid a ticket. Smooth, silky smooth in fact. At almost 6000 pounds it’s quite amazing.
I’m an old car guy, having gotten my DL at the age of 14, and a new 69 Camaro Z-28 at the age of 16. Started racing cars at age 20. I’ve built cars, built and highly modified engines, owned 3 Suburbans plus the Avalanche, and assorted high performance vehicles over the last 56 years and this thing is stunning. Drove it to the coast the day after the purchase and home yesterday. A rocket ship it may be but it is the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned. This partly due to the space GM carved out and partly due to the luxury items of power steering wheel adjustment. Both telescoping and up / down is infinitely positionable within the limits My older and long body appreciates the legroom and ability to adjust positions while driving.
Of course this all comes at a cost. Since 2008 I have bought 3 cars including my wife’s car. Take the total price of all three and multiply by two and you get the bill for this one. And that is still very near 1/3 of the new price. I’ve done pretty well with cars and I hope I don’t regret spending that much.
At 75-80mph on the interstate I was getting 20-21mpg.
My wife thinks it looks like a hearse.
*GM and Ford co-developed the 10 speed for high performance applications if I understand it correctly. It’s a damn marvel IMO.
Watching Carlson a bit tonight and there was a segment on a retired Marine and retired dog. An organization exists to help these retired dogs that give everything, and then get zero support from the US government (spit) after their active service is done.
US War Dogs Association
https://www.uswardogs.org/
I donated. You should too.
The importance of voting:
Do not underestimate the extreme importance of this in NC. It’s huge.
Vote local
Avoid Globalists.
I don’t know the date we lost Iron Bear (Sherman Barnes), but it was early February one year ago.
If anyone would like you can leave a comment on his obit:
https://www.gordonfh.com/memorials/sherman-barnes/4848228/index.php
We miss you Sherman.
I just realized the epicenter of the 7.8 earthquake in Turkey is named after the last town I was in and is very close by, Kahramanmaras.
Haven’t heard from any of my Turkish friends just yet, Some are in the town which has suffered major devastation.
Hoping for the best.
Heard from my friend in Kahramanmaras, he and family are OK. They are leaving the area – no power, no water, and no gasoline. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever come back given the level of destruction. He said half the town is destroyed and the other half may have unseen damage.
Picture he sent, upper half is before, and the bottom is after the earthquake.
A man tells the truth and everyone shits their pants. Wait till someone tells them that without black males, the USA would be one of the safest countries in the world.
Gun Lobbyist Says Child Shooting Death Stats Would Be Lower ‘If You Remove Black Males’ (msn.com)
Your comment rings a bell:
“Wall Street now stands as an increasingly lonely voice arguing for more engagement with China.”
If your not opposed to the Wall St agenda, you are opposed to freedom in America.
Hat Tip – Instapundit
Someday you’ll grow up and learn to pay attention:
“David McIntosh the president of the Club for Growth lobbying group that represents the interests of U.S. multinationals and Wall Street finance players, has organized another “donor retreat” session; where ‘donor retreat’ is the assembly of the Republican big club operatives who manipulate and control the Republican big club candidates, aka the establishment.”
“WASHINGTON DC – […] On Monday, David McIntosh, the president of the conservative Club for Growth, told reporters that the group had invited DeSantis to its annual donor retreat and was hoping to feature him as a keynote speaker.”
It’s in your face, the Government Man, Yale, Harvard, Jag, Prosecutor, and now we can officially ad the anti-American “Club for China Growth” to the list.
Glenn Greenwald stands up for Seymour Hersh:
Doesn’t mean that the Hersh story is accurate, but a good reminder that Hersh doesn’t play nice with the assholes in our government.
I’m taking it with a grain of salt as it confirms what I already think but his anonymous source worries me.
Still. I see very little explanation except We Blew It Up that makes sense.
Yes, “we blew it up” makes sense. And no one would ever have thought “if we blow it up we can blame the Americans” because it’s never been done before…
Not saying someone blew it to blame it on us, but the range of reasons is greatly restricted by people whose only interest is to be proven correct in their assessment.
Recall, the Russians already shut it down. There was no gas flowing at the rime. It was being used as blackmail proposition.
Anyway, I don’t know, but if we did it, we could have done it without it being so damn obvious. At a depth of approximately 300 ft it’s not a terribly difficult feat for a small team of well equipped divers.
Or a submersible…
Th “Voice of the Pirates” has left us for what comes after life on this earth.
Jeff Charles, the longtime (30+ years) Pirates announcer, traveling with the East Carolina BB team, passed away Friday in New Orleans.
Sad time for the ECU faithful. He will be missed.
Wait till they find out what a bolt action 30.06 will do to their frail little bodies!