"Jaws of Life" I've seen seem to work both ways, as scissors and as spreaders. Hydraulic ram used for both opening and closing.

“I’m telling you, with this guy, everything was right.” sez Mayor Schulte. Indeed. The hair cropped short was good, but what really fooled 'em was the black T shirt that read POLICE.

Friggin' rubes...

I went to college with Jindal, and this reputation did seem to follow him. I might add that he was especially effective at flicking the lights while looking in the bathroom mirror repeating, "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary..."

That's a spicy meatball!

Top that one, lady.

#35

And yet after riding all my 41 year life on a mix of road/sidewalk/wherever, I have never, ever run over a pedestrian, pet, of suffer any significant injury on the sidewalk. I'll repeat, bicycle riders should rider wherever it's safest. If that turns out to be a road, or sidewalk, or somebody's lawn, so be it.

Cost of ownership isn't much of an issue. My main bike cost essentially nothing. Well, that is, unless you count the time putting it together, maintaining it, etc. In which case, the cost would be notable. This is exactly what bike nerds don't get. Folks like jwz aren't looking for a reason to turn a wrench (which is partly what bike nerds exist for). They're looking for an easier way to commute or shop other than walking.

The least expensive bikes to maintain are very common and desirable around here. The lowly beach cruiser. One speed, coaster brake, non intimidating, as reliable as bicycles get.

But then you tip your cards. There's no arguing with the sanctimonious fixie rider. You guys view yourselves as the apex of the bicycle cult, deserving of utmost reverence for mastering the art of riding one gear, no coasting. The very antithesis of jwz, bringing bikes to the masses, not gating them for the elite.

I bike every day on Los Angeles. The cold hard truth is jwz is more right than any bike nerd will admit. Yeah, changing a tire is something everyone should know how to do.

But bicycle riders should rider wherever it's safest. If that turns out to be a road, or sidewalk, or somebody's lawn, and it sometimes does, so be it. Sure, it's not ideal and has its risks. But if you have enough sense to successfully ride on the street, then you have enough sense to ride on a sidewalk.

All bicycles are junk and disposable. Repeat that phrase until it's stuck in your head. Even the lowest maintenance bike needs more upkeep than a typical auto. Observe actual bike riders in the average city, not the bike enthusiast, but the actual average joe and you'll see. Cheap, disposable bikes to be ridden until broken or stolen are the rule. Save the fancy road bike for the spandex weekend toy.

A dress like that, and she didn't even get to kiss Captain Kirk. I'd want my money back, too.

Is Klein an economist? For an economist, her critiques of economic issues are so off base as to be, as electronics guru Don Lancaster might say, not even wrong.

I'd like to see a cat tease the dog by running out the door and turning around to see the dog skid to a stop.

The gal in the middle should have checked the mirror and wiped the drool from her chin.

If you lasted more than 30 seconds, you might say that wasn't drool.

Girl on the right in black,

I'd hit it. I'd hit the Mom on the left, too.

You obviously haven't worked in the real estate industry. The moral responsibility belongs squarely with the homebuyers. You know, those people who stared out the window looking bored while I tried to explain the purchase contract to them. The ones that wanted a 110% loan so that they could buy an RV as part of their home purchase. The ones with the 500 FICO score and a foreclosure.

The chumps who lent these dupes money are just as guilty. And should suffer just as much. They're in the business to asses risk. When the climate changes assuming that even high risk loans could be acceptable, they lose, too. And it's all their fault.

Poor decision making, both by buyers, and by their lenders, are a formula for bad times. Everyone was reckless and the chickens are coming home to roost.

Looks like the rest of us will be paying for this mess in one way or another. In the mean time, the (nonexistent) free market gets the blame.

Pity. The video reminded me a Speed Racer cartoon, where massive destruction and even were par for the course in some of the races.

Just out of curiosity, could anyone find the photo tutorial or article mentioned here "I HAVE DONE A PHOTO TUTORIAL FOR THE ARTICLE ON PAINTING AN ETHNIC BABY!" ?

For doggsakes! No! I'm scared to see what this turns up.

Yaron Brook seems like a nut case attention seeker. If he hadn't glommed onto Rand, he'd be Fred Phelps or Ward Churchill.

Why can't I get any credit for shooting my wad that fast?

At 44 calories, how nutritious could they be? That's kind of like eating a plain rice cake. No wonder Mom didn't like buying them. One could easily eat a dozen and still be hungry.

I concur with the soft Tootsie Roll comparison.

I gave up after five minutes. I realized the last time I watched MTV was about 1983, and stopped because they played that same Night Ranger video about three times an hour.

What a bad flashback.

#32

You're absolutely correct. Imo's is proof positive that truly bad pizza not only exists, but is inexplicably loved by the locals.

Pizza chain here in So CA, Shakey's, used to make a Mexican chorizo pizza that was surprisingly good. I've since seen it offered as a topping from some smaller mom and pop shops.

C0NSUMER:

I took photos, and they are here if you are interested.

Ewww...

Grandma's got some pretty good moves. And she's stacked, too.

Granpa's pantload step is something else, though. An would it have killed him to find some clean tennis shoes?

Mexico? ISTR she did a sort of variety show around '70 with some dance numbers that were actually filmed in Mexico.

I have one of the FM3 boxes from a couple years ago. Interesting project. Just a few days ago I got one of the chant boxes with the lighted animated display. After taking it apart to get the motor running, it works fine. Cheap as you might imagine, but pretty unusual all the same. With the volume turned down, and an AC adapter, it might make a small eye catching decoration for the living room.

I'll bet the Thanksgiving turkey can at least feel grateful. Things could have been much worse.

I remember when I was about ten years old, my fantasy was to hang on to Joy Harmon's bikini and ride her boobs.

Actually, it's still my fantasy.

They totally ripped off Barminski.

Which canyon?

Saturn totally ripped off the Wogglebug.