Oh my god, he's GORGEOUS! I want one! I can't have one, but I want one! We just don't have the proper lifestyle for a dog. We both work, and we're out a lot evenings and weekends. It just wouldn't be fair to a dog to leave him like that. That's why we have cats in multiples - they've got company when we're out, and when we're home they have their humans to worship them. But he is just the most beautiful boy.
Bob's car broke down last night and I had to stop painting the sewing room in order to go get him. Grmph. That car is a piece of crap, and I really wish he'd get off his butt and get a new one. Maybe this will inspire him. I just hope that said inspiration isn't too expensive. I'm not feeling optimistic though - it's transmission related. He's only got third gear. I guess that's bad. I drive an automatic, so I've got no clue. All I know is that transmission stuff is expensive. So the car is at the shop, and he has my car. The practical result of this, given that we work 40 or so miles from each other is that my 8-5 work day with an hour for lunch is a 7:30 to 5:30 with lunch at my desk. Oh, and three guesses about who is going to get to walk to the mechanic's and back to pay the bill when the car is done? I guess I should be glad that it's close enough to do that.
Do some serious research on hybrids before you get into one. There are some issues that they don't like to hype. Battery disposal, for one thing. I've heard of people running into this as a problem - the batteries are only good for four (?) or so years, and when they have to be replaced they hit you with a $300 or $400 disposal fee for each one. I don't know what happens to them then - I hope they don't go to a land fill. Also, the gas milage on them isn't anywhere near what is advertised if you drive like most of us do. They figure that when the new estimates start coming out that reflect actual driving usage that the milage of the hybrids is going to get about 30% worse. The other issue I've heard of is less likely, but more scary. If you're ever in a serious accident, emergency personel may not be able to get you out. Hybrid engines are equipped with a voltage booster, and the line for it runs along the frame. Different manufacturers run the lines in different places. There is *supposed* to be an automatic cutoff to the line in case of an accident. But if something goes wrong with the cutoff, and emergency services cuts through it with the jaws of life, there is excellent probability that the person doing the cutting will be electrocuted. Because of that possibility, I've heard apocryphal stories of first responders refusing to cut people out of wrecked hybrids because they won't risk the lives of their crew. They'll get them out - but it takes that much longer. Don't know if it's true or not.
Now what *I'm* excited about is bio-diesel. That's really cool. Fuel you can grow!
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Date: 2007-01-05 02:11 pm (UTC)Bob's car broke down last night and I had to stop painting the sewing room in order to go get him. Grmph. That car is a piece of crap, and I really wish he'd get off his butt and get a new one. Maybe this will inspire him. I just hope that said inspiration isn't too expensive. I'm not feeling optimistic though - it's transmission related. He's only got third gear. I guess that's bad. I drive an automatic, so I've got no clue. All I know is that transmission stuff is expensive. So the car is at the shop, and he has my car. The practical result of this, given that we work 40 or so miles from each other is that my 8-5 work day with an hour for lunch is a 7:30 to 5:30 with lunch at my desk. Oh, and three guesses about who is going to get to walk to the mechanic's and back to pay the bill when the car is done? I guess I should be glad that it's close enough to do that.
Do some serious research on hybrids before you get into one. There are some issues that they don't like to hype. Battery disposal, for one thing. I've heard of people running into this as a problem - the batteries are only good for four (?) or so years, and when they have to be replaced they hit you with a $300 or $400 disposal fee for each one. I don't know what happens to them then - I hope they don't go to a land fill. Also, the gas milage on them isn't anywhere near what is advertised if you drive like most of us do. They figure that when the new estimates start coming out that reflect actual driving usage that the milage of the hybrids is going to get about 30% worse. The other issue I've heard of is less likely, but more scary. If you're ever in a serious accident, emergency personel may not be able to get you out. Hybrid engines are equipped with a voltage booster, and the line for it runs along the frame. Different manufacturers run the lines in different places. There is *supposed* to be an automatic cutoff to the line in case of an accident. But if something goes wrong with the cutoff, and emergency services cuts through it with the jaws of life, there is excellent probability that the person doing the cutting will be electrocuted. Because of that possibility, I've heard apocryphal stories of first responders refusing to cut people out of wrecked hybrids because they won't risk the lives of their crew. They'll get them out - but it takes that much longer. Don't know if it's true or not.
Now what *I'm* excited about is bio-diesel. That's really cool. Fuel you can grow!
Kris