Well, I bought it a while ago now, but seems like it's a bike day today.

It's a Trek Marlin 6. The gearing fell into the sweet spot for me, because it will be used for both trail and pavement.
(Plus, I love that blue.)

Right now, I'm only riding pavement to try and get back into shape, but I'm excited to get back on the single tracks. My old Marin often felt a little unstable and hard to slow down, so this big boy will definitely help.

Ya know, I think I'll try for a ride this afternoon.

I'm wanting to start a little side hustle, making custom shift knobs from pool balls. But before I open an Etsy store, I thought I'd offer a first run here at an Oppo discount.

Piston knob in my '84 Mustang

Pool balls make great shift knobs, though just a little too large to comfortably fit in my hand. The solution should have been obvious: Make them smaller!

Small Diamond knob in a 2011 Prius (Please excuse the dust)

Since I have access to CAD (and spent way too much time working on designs), here are 9 styles that should work well and I know I can make.

Please note the diameters! The small ones are quite small. (My favorite so far is the Jumbo Type R, but I have big hands.)

Plus, I'm adding a brass insert for the threads (stronger threads than the pool ball resin), and I'll tap them to fit whichever application you want. (I haven't tried an unthreaded install yet, but I'd be willing to try).

I've used a few for prototypes, so these numbers are still available:
2 @HoustonRunner
3 @Poor_sh
5 @t0ast
6 @CivicWagonEngineer
7 @flatisflat
8 @SmugAardvark
9 @Miss-Mercedes
10 @jminer
12 @just-a-scratch
13 @way2blu
15 @davesaddiction
(I'll cross them out as they get claimed)

I'm asking $35 (including shipping in the US, I'll have to do some calcs for international) for your choice of number, cut to your choice of shape, threaded to fit to your car.

EDIT: For the "ordering", I think it's a good idea to reply here to claim the number you want, and then we can use chat (or email) to fill in the rest. I usually use Paypal, but let me know if that wouldn't work.

You can get a fairly cheap custom knob, I'll get some practice to iron out my method. Win win!

Please ask if you have any questions! (I have a couple more prototypes I could show, but one is best chalked up as a "learning experience").

@snakesm13 said in Got this text from a friend:

This would be a bad idea right? RIGHT???

Horrible idea. DO IT!

(And please let me have a ride)

@fintail It is extremely weird. Today, in the information era, where video exists of a significant portion of every major politician's public statements... That someone can just say "No, I didn't say that", and people will believe them.

Completed knobs!

@Poor_sh @t0ast @CivicWagonEngineer @just-a-scratch - PMs sent (I couldn't attach pics in the chat, so I posted them here.)

Taken from some Ford dealer's website:

The FX4 package on the 2019 F-150 includes:
31 Electronic-locking rear-axle with 5.0L V8 engine, 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine, or 3.0L V6 PowerStroke Diesel engine
55 Electronic-locking rear-axle with 2.7L V6 EcoBoost engine
4×4 “FX4 Off-Road” bodyside decal
Hill Descent Control
Off-road tuned front shock absorbers
Skid plates: fuel tank, transfer case, and front differential
Floor Liners – Tray Style

Locking rear axle and an Ecoboost or 5.0 sounds like a great option for a street performance truck. Skid plates aren't horrible for a lowered thing either.

I've looked into lowering my 4x4 Titan many times, but I'm not wanting to cut the travel down by 2in, or spend $800 on custom drop knuckles, so I'm stuck at stock height for now. Trucks don't need to be this damn high.

I'll be that guy:

It's only 17 years old now...

I'm personally wanting to look hard at the Challenger, it's the only V8 RWD manual in recent production with a back seat big enough for humans. (Well, only one within reach of my price range. SSs, CTS-Vs, and GXPs are silly expensive.)

@dogisbadob I think it'll take solid judicial punishment before I take any solace.

There has to be consequences.

@just-jeepin It's a Smith Flyer. Basically, a bit of lumber with four wheels stuck on, powered by a Briggs and Stratton motor wheel.

That Motor wheel was a pretty clever thing, a way to add power to otherwise unpowered vehicles, starting in 1914.

I've even seen pictures in old books of ways to mount the motor wheel to the ceiling of a workshop and using it to power tools like lathes.

Edited to add: I think the "clutch" was simply lifting the wheel off the ground.

@dipodomysdeserti I don't really think that most "anti-cop" people were really "anti-cop". Instead, I think they are "anti-letting people get away with crime just because they are a cop".

The truth is always harder to chant.

Using every legal means to identify the people in this riot is absolutely in line with the "anti-letting people get a way with crime just because they are _____" type of thinking.

@krustywantout said in This makes me mad:

How can people still be this ignorant? I'm all for social policies and reversing wealth inequality. But come on! There has to be some personal responsibility to seek help if you need it. Sorry for the rant.

I'm not sure I'd chalk it all up to ignorance. Some of those assistance programs can be a pain in the rump to get signed up for.

I was lucky because my parents were good at it. My mom signed me up for FASFA every year I was in college, on paper. Since their primary income wasn't taxed and the farm was basically losing money, I got a lot of financial help for college.

Knowing it's there is one thing, knowing how to sign up and how to get that help is another thing.

Ya know, I can't decide. I'm going to have to test drive them both.

@davesaddiction said in And this is (one reason) why I don't read Jalopnik:

The accelerator can be just as much of a safety device as the brakes, depending on the situation.

This right here is the important part.

If you can come up with one or two reasonable scenarios where going even slightly faster than 85mph would prevent an accident, then you should not put an 85mph speed limiter on cars.

Besides, no two cars will have the limiter cut in at exactly the same speed.

@beefchips said in Help me Oppo! help me with cast iron pans.:

with it getting fouled where food sticks as it's cooking.

Everyone else has all the good cast iron info, so I'll chip in here.

We have a couple Green Pan non stick pans, and we found out that the fouled up baked on stuff can be cleaned off with a melamine sponge (magic eraser). It might not be "like new" but it will be a whole lot better.

But also, we've also found that cooking spray tends to foul it sooner than a thin smear of olive oil or butter.

Few things beat a well seasoned cast iron pan, but our big nonstick still gets a lot of use.

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

Bacteria don't go dormant for a season, they can go dormant for entire climactic periods. They can just sit and wait it out by forming endospores. Not sure why you think this is a horrible evolutionary trait. Survival is the name of the game.

Bacteria seem to benefit from evolution, from changing from generation to generation. Merely surviving for long periods while not creating new generations really slows that process down, and leaves the possibility of drastic climactic changes or other dangers that cannot be reacted to quickly enough (Viruses, extreme climate change, environmental disasters, etc).

That's why I'm suggesting that staying active is potentially a better species survival trait, at the cost of additional resources and potentially more "ordinary" dangers.

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

They literally reach out and exchange genetic information with nearby individuals, usually when facing and environmental stressor.

This is interesting, and something I didn't know. However, it is still a reactive response, not a proactive. (as far as I understand), they are transmitting data of "This is how my ancestors survived", not "this might be a better option to help you survive".

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

This is true, but I don't think this gives us an evolutionary advantage in the long term. We've mostly been using these abilities to make our own environments less inhabitable, hence our search for another home.

This is a very valid point, but it also glosses over the fact that we are still a growing population, mostly in places where we have already settled for hundreds or thousands of years. Even with our poor stewardship of the planet, there are only a handful of places where we have destroyed the surroundings to a point where we cannot live long and healthy lives.

It is quite rare that an organism can use up all the resources in an area, and continue to thrive in that area without evolving to require different resources.

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

Nearly every environment? 71% of our planet is covered in water. We don't thrive too well when submerged. We do seem to plan things better than other species, but I'm not sure how good we are at that, or if it's an evolutionary advantage. Simpler organisms don't have to plan anything in order to survive. We definitely have the ability to alter the world more than any other species currently (as far as we know), but we mostly use this skill to make money, which has no biological value whatsoever.

Humans already have floating cities in the form of cruise ships, container ships, and naval boats. Granted, they are not self sufficient, but few land based cities are either. Even so, there are plans and ideas for self sufficient water based and under water based cities, even when there is no current need for more living space.

But, we haven't made those self sufficient floating cities because there isn't any money in it yet.

How evolutionarily amazing is that concept? We have created a system that puts a high value on a person's needs, and have succeeded on it so well that food and housing is affordable to nearly anyone willing to put in some effort to help support the society, and now we put a higher value on comforts and luxuries instead. It's even approaching the point where we're putting a high value on ways to reduce the damage to "the planet" (even if we are only worried about ultimately hurting ourselves.)

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

However, I teach nine classes a day, and am in grad school, so I don't really have the time or energy to cite every specific species of organism I'm referring to, along with their evolutionary history. However, I do really enjoy the discussion we're having. I don't view this as an argument, more of a volleying of ideas.

I know I am favoring the "complex human" side of the discussion, but perhaps you are favoring the "simple single celled" side of the discussion?

Overall, it's extremely difficult to judge pros and cons for such vastly different types of life. Simple, reactive, and evolving, or complex, proactive, and adaptable? The two might be too intertwined to be able to separate by any reasonable metrics.

Though, I wonder how long it will be before humans start engineering single celled organisms to perform specific tasks? We already have harnessed some for alcohol, bread, yogurt, and cheese, but those were wild strains that we happened across and bred through trial and error.

It is an interesting discussion, though I freely admit I'm only an amateur biology/philosopher.

@boredalways Yeah, my only guess is that they put out an offer but didn't hear a response before contacting me.

Still though, I would have appreciated an upfront "We put out an offer, but you can interview in case that falls through."

Getting ghosted after being contacted for an interview is pretty damn shady.

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

You illustrate perfectly here the short sighted view of "success" that people struggle with. The ability to wait out climatic change without the need for anything is a huge evolutionary advantage.

Is it though? Going dormant and waiting out cold seasons is an amazing survival mechanism, but a horrible evolutionary strategy for climate change.

If the dormant season goes on too long, there is no knowing whether the ideal climate will ever return, what competition or dangers will be there if it does, or if the dormant organism will even survive until it can be revived. Being active the whole time exposes the organism to more danger, but allows for continual evolution and continual adaptation to the changing environment.

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

Bacteria and can literally reach out and exchange DNA with already living bacteria when the environment changes. No need to build anything.

Let me get this straight, can all bacteria exchange DNA, or only certain strains? You are using a term that encompasses an extremely wide ranging group of living things.

One specific species of bacteria can survive hard vacuum and radiation of space for years, but it's not the same one that survives frozen in the artic, or the same one that will survive desert droughts.

That shows a very successful divergent evolution, but not individual adaptability.

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

Also, keep in mind that humans have managed to degrade many of their environments to the point that they, or other organisms (except single celled organisms) can no longer live in them.

That is true for many organisms.

Introduce a new animal or plant in an environment, and it can dominate and decimate the native populations. The only check to that kind of explosive growth is a lack of resources, and it can take an extremely long time to reach an equilibrium.

Humans on the other hand, are smart enough to predict the eventual lack of resources or excess of pollution. We still need to work on improving efficiency and cleanliness, but there have been significant positive changes while the population still grows.

@dipodomysdeserti said in G/O Slides Further into the Abyss:

From a scientific standpoint, it's always a bad look to start a thought with "there's no arguing". It shows that you aren't thinking about something, but instead trying to reinforce your own POV. I don't think anyone will be surprised if we find remnants or even living single celled organisms on Mars. Meaning they colonized it first, just like they did Earth. Like I said, many have a very human-centric view of what "success" means, and it isn't congruent with the realities of evolutionary succession.

I guess I need to better phrase my point here: Looking at individual species, the complexity of Humans gives them advantages and abilities that are not seen in any other singular species.

I think that's where the major point of disagreement is happening between us. Humans are a specific species of animal, but single cellular organisms are an extremely wide ranging form of life.

That's why I won't argue that humans are the "most successful life form" on Earth (a term that includes large groups of different species), but they are one of the few singular species of life that thrive in nearly every environment on Earth, and is the only one planning a possible exploration and colonization of other planets.

@haveacarortwoorthree I had a similar experience, got an email that sounded very interested, suggested a time for the next week. Next week came, no contact, no confirmation, no meeting place mentioned. Bugged them again, and they said the week after. After that week came, they eventually came out and said they hired someone before they contacted me the first time.

@spacekraken Out here, small and nimble cars with good handling translates into a cramped and buzzy car that jiggles the passengers too much over bumps (and there are many bumps).

I think the magazines driving people into more "european" type cars that are better for handling over comfort is part of the reason for the huge popularity of "passenger trucks".

There are large parts of the US where a bigger vehicle with more comfort is far more desirable than a small and nimble car.

@spacekraken said in HOW MANY cars are on C&D's Editors' Choice list?!:

THE. OUTBACK. IS. NOT. A. WAGON.

We had a 2012 Outback. The title clearly identified it as a station wagon.

I know, not "exactly" a wagon, but it's far closer than any other CUV.

@hammerheadfistpunch Though, for as long as I can remember, they would favor Euro cars over American cars, no matter the comparison.

The Vette vs Porsche 911 comparos always ended with the Porsche winning, even though it was often double the price.

Took me too long to realize that cornering and "refinement" aren't critical to me here in the Great Plains. Corners don't exist, and refinement is too damn expensive.