GoSkins0721

Fan Wants Browns as Pallbearers "A lifelong Cleveland Browns fan has gone to his final rest, but not before making one last request from the team. Scott E. Entsminger, 55, of Mansfield, Ohio, died on July 4. Entsminger, a Columbus native, was a musician and a Browns season-ticket holder who wrote a song for the team each year and sent it in, along with his advice on how to run the team. According to his obituary in the Columbus Dispatch, Entsminger also: "respectfully requests six Cleveland Browns pallbearers so the Browns can let him down one last time." http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9459655/cleveland-browns-fan-takes-last-shot-team-obituary

I posted in the "Things we grew up with..." thread about seeing something like this when I was growing up. There used to be traveling carnivals that would come to Rockville every year. The old time carnival shows: freaks, tattooed lady, weird rides & games. One of things I remember was a pit like in this picture. Performers would ride motorcycles around going up and down the walls until they built up enough speed to go completely around the walls of this thing while everyone stood on the side looking down. When it was over, the people would toss money down to the performers. But, they never had a lion riding with a woman in a car

Had to. Ouch.

Uh, can I get those 28 seconds of my life back? I was owned because I played that...

Dude has mommy issues...

That's a reasonable price for that type of work. As I mentioned above, your rotors were probably scored and needed to be replaced or turned based on the grinding sound you heard. Replacing calipers is just grand theft auto. As KB mentioned above, replacing only the brake pads probably would have worked for you, too. Some cars have built in sensors to indicate when the pads are getting low. It's a wire inserted inside the pad. When exposed, the contact with the metal rotor turns on a dashboard light. Replacing brake pads is a pretty easy job for the DIY'er. Most of the time is spent jacking the car up/down and taking off the tires. Do this on a regular basis and you should never have to worry about replacing rotors. One last dealer brake story and then I'll shut up: My wife had a Volvo C70 convertible. A horrible, horrible car. I'll never buy a POS Volvo again! But I digress. So she takes the car to Moore's Volvo here in Richmond for a 30k mile checkup. The car was about 4 years old but only had 30k miles. The Service Manager tells her she needs new rotors all the way around. She calls me (I'm out of town). I told her to tell them not to do anything, get the keys and bring the car home. I traveled home that evening and called the Service Manager the next day to ask him what was wrong with the rotors. He told me the mechanic measured the thickness of the rotor and it was worn down below the minimum thickness. I told him there was no ****ing way a car with 30k miles could have worn down the rotors. No way. He stands by his claim, I tell him goodbye and that's the end of it. Or so I thought. Later that day, he calls back to tell me the mechanic misread the standard width for that model year car and that it was in fact good to go. Moral of the story: The mechanics at Moore's Volvo in Richmond are thieves.

So I took my 2002 Ford Explorer to the dealer yesterday. He told me that I needed my rear brake pads, calipers, and rotors replaced (Est. $699.00) and my front right wheel bearing assembly ($525.00). Any thoughts on whether this is reasonable from anyone out there? First off, I would heed Zoony's advice. Shop around. If you are a female, find a male friend to take your car to another shop. I don't mean to sound sexist, but these places WILL take advantage of females. I have a friend who took her car (2005 Lexus SUV) to Midas (might have been some other place). They told her she needed all 4 rotors, calipers & brake pads replaced to the tune of $1300. She's in her late 50's and single. She called and told her boyfriend (an ex-mechanic who knows a lot about cars) what they wanted to do. He told her to get out of there ASAP. When she told Midas, they told her she was driving an unsafe vehicle and needed to sign a waiver that she wouldn't hold them liable if something happened. Seriously. Tried to scare her into paying for the work. She left and had someone just replace the pads. Let's just say the boyfriend got it straightened out at Midas the next day. When was the last time the brake pads were replaced, where did you take it & how much were you charged? Rarely do calipers & rotors need to be replaced. Ask if your rotors are scored. Ask why the calipers & rotors need to be replaced. I can't speak to the wheel bearing assembly. But it sounds pretty high. I thought they just repacked the bearings on those, but I'm not a mechanic. I would check the web for similar costs/ problems with you car. thanks. BTW, i'm not a chick, but I feel like one when I'm dealing with mechanics. Not to sound sexist. When applying the brakes, I hear a grinding/scraping noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. Not sure when the pads were last replaced, my dad had the vehicle until about 2008 and don't know the maintenence history. Grinding/scraping is not good. It "usually" means the brake pads have worn down to the bare metal (i.e., there is no "pad" remaining only the metal that holds the pad). And that problem "usually" means the rotors are scored (i.e., the metal from the pad has made indents on the rotor. It's no longer flat.) If that's the case then you probably do need new rotors. But, they still might be able to be "turned". That's where they take the rotors off and shave down the rotor to make it flat/even across the rotor. Much cheaper then buying new rotors. BUT, to me that doesn't mean you need new calipers. Those things rarely ever need replacing. Go online to Advanced Auto to see what new rotors & pads cost for your SUV. And price out the expensive ones, not the cheap ones. Add 2 hours(?) total for both wheels at $80(?) per hour and that should give you a decent idea of what it should cost. You should be able to see if there are indents in your rotors. Or by running your finger across it (if you can reach/see them). Just be sure not to touch them for about 1hour after the car stops running. They get really freaking HOT and you'll burn your finger. Not that I've ever done any such thing. Just saying...

So I took my 2002 Ford Explorer to the dealer yesterday. He told me that I needed my rear brake pads, calipers, and rotors replaced (Est. $699.00) and my front right wheel bearing assembly ($525.00). Any thoughts on whether this is reasonable from anyone out there? First off, I would heed Zoony's advice. Shop around. If you are a female, find a male friend to take your car to another shop. I don't mean to sound sexist, but these places WILL take advantage of females. I have a friend who took her car (2005 Lexus SUV) to Midas (might have been some other place). They told her she needed all 4 rotors, calipers & brake pads replaced to the tune of $1300. She's in her late 50's and single. She called and told her boyfriend (an ex-mechanic who knows a lot about cars) what they wanted to do. He told her to get out of there ASAP. When she told Midas, they told her she was driving an unsafe vehicle and needed to sign a waiver that she wouldn't hold them liable if something happened. Seriously. Tried to scare her into paying for the work. She left and had someone just replace the pads. Let's just say the boyfriend got it straightened out at Midas the next day. When was the last time the brake pads were replaced, where did you take it & how much were you charged? Rarely do calipers & rotors need to be replaced. Ask if your rotors are scored. Ask why the calipers & rotors need to be replaced. I can't speak to the wheel bearing assembly. But it sounds pretty high. I thought they just repacked the bearings on those, but I'm not a mechanic. I would check the web for similar costs/ problems with you car.

The problem will be the edges of the plywood will suck up water real fast. Especially the edge near the ground. You could try & just paint it after taking off the siding. Use a bunch of clear paintable caulk along all of the seams to help prevent water from getting in. The other thing u could do is take of the siding. Then cover the plywood with T1-11 & paint it. Guess it depends on the size & how much money u want to spend.

Oh, it's pure CRAP. My house was built in '92 with the Masonite brand. Shortly after, there was a class action lawsuit filed & settled. But, as usual with most (all?) class action lawsuits, the amount eligible to the homeowner was next to nothing. Well, not enough to fix the problem. We were lucky. Our house wasn't too bad. I think because I kept good paint on it. Some of my neighbors spent $25-30k to put on vinyl siding. Others are still replacing boards. It's not cheap, either. Google "Masonite siding lawsuit" and look at the pictures. I hate companies that get away with selling ****ty products to people. Now, the Hardie-plank siding is good stuff. A bit expensive, but it will hold up to the elements and is rock solid. I replaced a bunch of boards on my garage with the Hardie plank.

Hmmm...it doesn't sound like Masonite siding since it's installed vertically. But, they do have siding that size, that is smooth (i.e., no lip or wood-like texture to it). I guess someone could (incorrectly) install it vertically without overlapping. Did you Google 'Masonites Siding' and look at the pictures? If it's something else, this is my cure all for anything wood outside that has rotted: pick/cut out the entire area that is no good. Make sure the area is DRY. If not, wait until it is or use a hair dryer on cold to dry it. Get a can of Bondo (yes, the stuff you use on a car), mix a small batch and apply it. I usually have a couple of disposable plastic putty knives handy to mold it into shape while it dries (which happens very fast). Sand & paint and it's as good as new. A big area requires several applications to the same area.

Are you sure this is wood & not Masonite siding?

http://www.foodmanufacturing.com/news/2013/05/rat-meat-sold-lamb-china%E2%80%99s-latest-food-scandal?et_cid=3232769&et_rid=556170706&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.foodmanufacturing.com%2fnews%2f2013%2f05%2frat-meat-sold-lamb-china%25E2%2580%2599s-latest-food-scandal "BEIJING (AP) — Chinese police have broken up a criminal ring accused of taking meat from rats and foxes and selling it as lamb in the country's latest food safety scandal. The Ministry of Public Security released results of a three-month crackdown on food safety violators, saying in a statement that authorities investigated more than 380 cases and arrested 904 suspects. Among those arrested were 63 people who allegedly ran an operation in Shanghai and the coastal city of Wuxi that bought fox, mink, rat and other meat that had not been tested for quality and safety, processed it with additives like gelatin and passed it off as lamb. The meat was sold to farmers' markets in Jiangsu province and Shanghai, it said." Anyone been to Jiangsu province or Shanghai lately?

Of course he ate a salad. He brought with him.

Hipsters get pwned

It's a comedy skit: "From now on, I'm not going to tell you when I'm going to strike." "Wait. Starting NOW. I'm not going to tell you when I'm going to strike." "Wait, strike that. I'm not going to tell you when I'm going to strike. Starting NOW."

And when he runs away he trips over the curb

Chickens in Richmond are badass... ...they have paws

I wish I was there to witness this!

Okay, dammit...beat to the punch by the Evil one

That dude should be permanently speaking in a high pitched voice after that girl gets through with him. What a douche.

Using super-futuristic tech to grant you "magical" power over computers, smartphones, and other nerd machines, MYO's an armband that measures the shifting electricity in forearm muscles, and can be programmed to translate movements like a flick of the wrist or a finger snap into everything from volume control, to page scrolling, to any other task that'd require much less energy to complete using a regular old mouse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CprHRsa1OTo

Yep, new venting requirements for all new gas equipment (hot water heater, furnace). Not sure what year it went into effect and I don't know the details. But I had my water heater & furnace replaced about 2 years ago (house built in the early 90's) and they ran the vent out the back of the garage wall instead of up through the roof. Both the water heater & furnace are in the garage. They capped off the old vent that goes up through the roof.

I know! And the effort to try and extort $75 makes it even more hilarious! It's going into my email Hall of Fame folder...

Ok, I know this isn't really an "Own3d" thing, but I found it pretty damn funny. We've all received our share of emails from afar requesting money & personal information, but I've never received anything like this. For your reading pleasure, title of the email "Instruction from FBI": Attention Beneficiary: We have been watching every single transaction you made since last year until this 2013 and you have to know that we are also working to make sure your funds which are suppose To be delivered to you, and also bear in mind what ever you emailing us will be forward to the court. Also we are hereby to notify by the federal bureau of investigation Cotonou department of the insult you imposed on them by failing to comply by their requirements. Your full residential address has been forwarded to us for your immediate arrest to face your charge but I deemed it fit to give you one more chance to save yourself from this mess. We have been told that you have failed to dance by the rule of the FBI which will warrant 2 years jail sentence. Now I Mr.Hackett John Alvin the special agentin charge of the FBI Albany department I am giving you 24 working hours to effect the payment of the $75.00 usd. To the FBI in republic of Benin(fbisecurity) with the information written below: RCEIVER NAME....NZE CHINAKA Country: Benin Republic City: Cotonou Test: In God? Answer: We Trust Amount: $75.dollars Mtcn number......... You have to try as much as you can and make this payment so that your funds will be delivered immediately to your destination.You have to stop every transaction you are communicating with other organization to avoid delay on the processing of your funds. Note that you? If you fail to stick with my advice or any delay will lead to us coming directly to your home address at any time, so try and dance by the rule and get back tome with good understanding ASAP. Special Agent in Charge; Mr.Hackett John Alvin INSTRUCTION FROM FBI" I guess I need to "dance by the rule and get back tome with good understanding". That is, once i figure out WTF that means :ols: