Masks, Masks, Masks

My better half thinks she can talk her way out of tickets. She also drives too fast and doesn't pay attention to the speed she's driving - she's one of those who drives faster as emotions rise. The other day, I told her she can do something else to "talk her way out of a ticket" - when the officer comes to her windows, she can roll it down a crack and tell the officer she's going to the hospital to get tested and she doesn't want to infect him. Of course, coughing and sneezing as she tells him this!

I don't know what would happen? Could she get out of a ticket? Maybe, BUT I told her it's a pretty unethical thing to do. I told her to just be kind to the officer and be honest - "Yes officer, I know why you pulled me over, I didn't know how fast I was going, but when I saw you behind me with your lights on, I looked down at my speedometer it said I was doing 95 mph. I was talking to XXX and I got flustered and wasn't paying attention. She said YYY which got me upset - how could she say such a thing? She's my best friend, so I said ... You don't know XYZ, but she just went through a divorce and her ex-husband is trying to help pay for things, but he just doesn't have the money, so I told her ... Boy this corona virus is really scaring me. You see, one of the people at the office I worked at tested positive and my friend PDQ may have it, but she's afraid to get the test. I told her, listen here ... I'm so upset and I'm worried, because she has YZ kids and her husband doesn't make much money, so if she dies ... ZYX isn't going to the office and they threatened to fire her. She has a sister who had cancer three years ago, but she had a great doctor ... That makes me so sad, because my 21 year old dog died in February on Superbowl Sunday - we got him in 2009 and it's a really sad story ... I have to still go to the store to pick up some ... You know, I like shopping at Ralphs more than Whole Foods, because they make you wait in a long line ... 20 minutes later It would be really nice if you can you do me a favor and not write me a ticket. I promise to drive slower." If he gives you a ticket, you deserve it. If he lets you go, he'll do it because he finally pulled over a person who isn't lying to him and he may respect you and give you a break or he fell asleep while you were gossiping and he doesn't want to admit it or you'll go on for another 20 minutes!

we have a terrorist,... probably at a elementary school,... CODE RED!

mobilize EVERYBODY!

see what you did...

I love South Park. I never saw that episode, but my sick sense of humor thought it was funny!

Thanks for giving me something to laugh about today!

I have to retract what I said. I did have another very good laugh today. My friend called me to tell me about a used car for sale. I'm not going to give the seller's name, but they're not well respected in my profession. You'll see why as you scroll down. Here are the photos of the car. Take a guess what they're asking!

1. It looks like some parts may be missing.

2. A little bit of surface rust and beautiful patina.

3. Doors, hood, trunk can be held closed with string/rope.

4. Be the first on your block to have see thru rockers - you can see the beautiful workmanship of the frame!

5. On both sides!

6. No extra charge for hybrid drive technology.

7. Period correct rear bench seat.

8. Brand new trunk floor!

9. These extra parts are thrown in at no extra charge!

10. Ran when parked!

That was funny! Thanks for giving me another good laugh!

I guess there may be some impossible to find part in there that some other collector has been searching for....

But from the pictures the best part of that "car" is the wood.

Bravo! More laughing!!! Thank you!

If I said the car was selling for $3,000 what would you say?

How about if I give you the best laugh of the day?

Here's the ad. This is not a joke! Notice no mention of rust??? And we do have a question here about the radio?

1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider

This very desirable project 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider with matching numbers comes mostly in bare metal with hints of green paint. It comes equipped with triple Solex carburetors and includes the soft top frame. An excellent car with tremendous potential that has been sitting for many years waiting to be restored. For $19,950

U n b e l i e v a b l e. Most restorers would be better off with a hopper car load of iron ore.

I don't think anyone is going to restore that car. What I do think is that someone now has a clean title and some metal plates with VIN's. If someone "acquired" a clean car, they could dismantle some of it, take pictures of a restoration process (old rusty car and the new car in pieces). Strip and repaint. Then re-assemble with photos documenting the process. Let's say it's $20K to do the work. Add the amount paid and you now have a very desirable car - maybe get $130K - 150K for it. One sold at Sotheby's for $110K in 2014.

Could be. But it seems like there are lot more digital fingerprints these days.

Look at this:

"Greetings. I am selling a car that I bought in 2009 with the hope of restoring it. I got it for a good price, because the head was off and it needed some mechanical work, so I took a chance. The car is located in Amherst, MA.
Turns out the members of this forum have given me some terrific information regarding the VIN s and what to look for and what is proper, and it turns out the previous owner sold me something that was not 100% legit, and I did not have enough information at the time to know what was legitimate or not. My bad.
The car was last registered in CT (May 2009), and I have a plate return receipt from the State of CT, that's why I leaned on the car being legit. You do not need a title to register a car in CT or NH if you want to put it on the road in these states, maybe others.
However, for the majority of states, this car will have difficulty being titled because of numbers not matching up 100%.
Therefore, it is a parts car, although a pretty nice one.
Body is straight, 65K miles, rust free, decent paint job, replaced 2.0 liter engine with dual weber carbs, new clutch, ran decent when parked. Have spare block, pistons, couple of heads and crank shafts, oil pans etc.
Looking to get $2,000 for the lot. Let someone build something good out of my loss."

The VIN is from 1971, but the VIN is stamped on the firewall. The person who changed the VIN used an engraver - it's obvious it's not stamped.

The VIN plate is on the A Pillar - the one that's on the car uses the wrong font and it's stamped too deep. It also is missing a digit - doesn't match the engraved VIN.

The model is suppose to be stamped onto a plate, which is riveted to the firewall about 8 inches to the right of the VIN stamp. This car has a plate located below the etched VIN. The model stamp says this car is a 1972 - 1976 model.

Someone took an original model plate and stamped a VIN in place of the model number. Then riveted it to the right door jamb.

The car has door panels and window cranks from a 1979-82.

The motor is from a 1972-1979 car.

The gas tank cover is from a 1977-1981.

The console is from a 1972-1979 car.

The tachometer is from a 1979 - 1982 car.

The steering wheel is from a 1972-1982 car.

The battery is in the trunk, which they did from 1977 - 1982

The coolant overflow is from a 1972-1979 car.

The wheels are from a 1974 - 1981 car.

The fuel vapor tank is placed where a 1977-1981 car would be.

The rear bumper isn't from an Alfa Romeo.

Based on the look and parts, the guys on the forum believe this is a 1979. If so, the model number is wrong, the VIN is wrong and it shouldn't have a model plate - the model was stamped on the firewall beginning 1977.

So, the seller has a car that seems to have been stolen at one point. The interesting thing is that his state kicked his registration request, but it didn't flag the VIN as a stolen car. Currently, all stolen cars are put on a nationwide FBI database, where each and every police station has access and receives reports - this is the database that LoJack ties to. So, when the funny title stuff happened to this car, the FBI may not have been the central source for stolen cars. And all it would tell us is that the 1971 VIN he's using is from a stolen car. We have no idea if the 1979 (original car) was stolen or what happened to it.

I'm tempted to buy the car for parts, but I'm worried I won't be able to get rid of the shell when I'm done. And because I'm in the business, I don't want any red flags near me!

Crazy stuff. Good thing I don't have a hobby like restoring cars.

My advice - keep away from classic cars. They're a money pit and they take so much of your time!

Just stick to engineering and work on your retirement!

Getting closer.

We were talking about retirement today. She told me we're close enough (financially), so why not do it soon. It actually sounded pretty good, but then I told her that I'd need to do something.

My mind started thinking about opening a small classic car restoration business. I'd buy the cars, restore and sell them. I'd stick to a certain brand and maybe a specific model - where I could become an expert on the car. I could stock parts, buy parts cars and dismantle them, set up a paint shop and rotisserie, engine/transmission rebuild section, hot tank, chrome plating area ... I got very excited.

Or, I told her I could go into the fine watch and jewelry business, but do it as a low profit, but with high customer service. Keep my client base to a set number - something I could keep up with, but not have to work like crazy. And to put a few pennies in my pocket every month.

I told her that I don't think I can sit still, so I'd need to do something. She told me that it doesn't sound like retirement, so it would be better to continue what I'm doing now.

It was nice to daydream

I wanted to use the scene where the state department had the SWAT Team raided (HUT, HUT, HUT) and took a Cuban child and returned him.... but this came up first

My wife’s son from her previous marriage was home on leave from Iraq. And he wanted to binge watch SouthPark. (He just wanted to be around us) that’s where I pick up on South Park...

I must have a sick sense of humor, because I thought that was funny!

The best research says covid19 is airborne in exhaled droplets unlike the flu which is contact only. The masks are for the protection of others as asymptomatic cases are just as contagious as symptomatic cases. The problem is the infected "typhoid Mary" has no clue they are contagious.
A surgical mask captures the exhaled droplets and keeps them for circulating in the air for others to contact. As with any virus entry into your body is through any mucous membrane or break in the skin including eyes and nose. This is why you see first responders wearing face shields along with the N95's.

Again, the purpose of the mask is to protect others.

It was until yesterday. The "experts" admit they made a mistake. They should've told everyone to wear a mask. It would of course be for the protection of others, but in addition, it would protect the wearer - the experts feel that wearing a mask keeps him/her from touching his/her face.

That's what was talked about in the news yesterday.

When you have a minute, read this. It comes from a very highly regarded source. Aerosol isn't very contagious, but when droplets land, that's where it can be transmitted to other people - so wash your hands and don't touch your face if you've been in a public place.

https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-can-become-aerosol-doesnt-mean-doomed/