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A Mechanic's Life - Tales From Under the Hood
in General
This topic is for professional (or retired) techs who would like to share their experiences "in the trenches"-- the challenges of repairing modern automobiles, of running a shop, of interactions with the general public. Dedicated amateur mechanics might also want to jump in and discuss what it's like for the talented DIYer, and how they relate to both professionals and the aftermarket. Last of all, we'd like to invite any forums member who would like to know more about how technicians "think", how they run their businesses, and how to make having a car repaired easier and more cost effective.
Technicians, you've got bragging rights here, so it's not all about the downside!
Technicians, you've got bragging rights here, so it's not all about the downside!
I'm glad someone thought to start a thread for us. Though I'm not a professional mechanic, I am often called upon for advise on electrical problems in today's modern vehicles. It seems that the modern car has moved from a mechanical marvel to an electrical marvel in the past 20 or so years, leaving a lot of older master mechanics scratching our heads when we open the hood. I hope we can help each other, and close the gap between those who can only replace parts, and those who can actually repair parts.
Thanks, Karen, for inviting me in.
Dick Berger0
When someone writes in with a car question; the first things I need to know are; what brand of vehicle is this; what year model is it; what model engine does it have; what transmission type does it have; and how many miles are on it? Sometimes it feels like pulling teeth to move posters to provide this information; but without it, I am effectively working blind.
I think many owners feel intimidated when they are asked to provide technical information about their car; after all, if they knew about that kind of stuff; they wouldn't be writing in asking for help.
If you want to phone someone who lives far away, and don't know their area code; do you just leave out that part of the number when calling? Of course not; practically everyone knows that a long distance call cannot go through without an area code. So when people don't know an area code; they look it up in the front of their phone directory; or call the operator and ask for the area code.
But people regularly ask us car questions without telling us what model car they have, or its engine model. However, I now can be confident that everyone who reads this will not omit this info in the future; right?
There are actually many people out there who do not know the year model, engine size, or transmission type in their car. But such people usually realize that they don't know this information. The thing to do in this situation is to go to a garage, an auto parts store or a dealership, ask them to give you this information; and then write it down. Keep a copy in the car, and another copy in your wallet. You'll then be way ahead of those who don't know this vital information.
One fine point here is that the model year of a vehicle may not be the same as the year in which it was manufactured. They start building the next year's models in the fall of the preceding year; so a 2012 car may have been built as early as August 2011. This is why the label on the driver's door or door frame is not useful for model year identification (although it is VERY useful for parts ordering information).
There is an emission information label on the underside of the hood, or on the radiator support, or the inner fender. This label has a statement at the bottom that reads something like "This vehicle conforms to all US and EPA regulations pertaining to 2011 model year new motor vehicles." This is where you can find the model year of your car. This label can also tell you whether the car has California emission equipment, or 49 state emissions.
There is also an abbreviated note at the top of this label, which reads something like "engine family 3.5 VVT." This means that this particular car has a 3.5 liter engine with Variable Valve Timing.
Give all this information to the mechanic; and they will give you much better service and might even smile occasionally. Give the mechanic as much information as you know about the car's service and problem history; and they will think you're an exceptionally aware and considerate customer. They also may spot something you had no idea was an issue with this car; and which may clear up a mysterious problem that has plagued the car for ages.0
obyone Posts: 8,054Rant over? Sorry couldn't resist.0
Your comment echoes what I have heard for many years from mechanics; in response to new trends in engine design, emission control, electronics, fuel chemistry, and government regulations.
In about 1970, when I first saw a thermostatically controlled air cleaner, and the thermal and vacuum control valves which it used; my heart sank. This seemed outrageous and unacceptably complicated. I seriously considered finding another line of work. But I was just reacting to the contrast with the simplicity of past engines. Before long; I became more familiar with these systems; and realized that they really weren't so bad.
When EGR systems were first introduced in 1973; some old time mechanics swore they would quit this business; because routine servicing and tune ups were becoming unmanageably complicated and impractical. Indeed; the 1973 cars were very tricky to tune; and the 1974 models, with their further retarded ignition timing. were even worse. 1974 was clearly the worst year in modern history for running quality. But 1975 then brought us catalytic converters; which, despite their cost and vulnerabilities, also permitted manufacturers to use sensible ignition advance and fuel mixture calibrations; and the 1975 cars ran much better. Today, mechanics don't even blink an eye when they see an EGR valve. It has just become another standard part.
Granted; it is the ongoing refinement AND INTEGRATION of computerized fuel metering and ignition system controls, combustion chamber design, porting and camshaft profiles, intake and exhaust manifold design, exhaust flow and reversion dynamics, cooling system design, engine temperature regulation, spark plug design, and electronic spark timing controls; which have enabled each of the recent engine efficiency improvements to work as well as they now do. All of these systems now have to work together more closely and interdependently than ever before.
But human nature being what it is; we tend to resist change. So some mechanics drop out along the way; while new ones come along. Automotive evolution is an ongoing process; which ain't gonna stop. At each step; some people will decide they can't keep up; while others just crank up their steam.
One of the biggest shifts in this process has been the introduction of electronics into what previously was mainly done with mechanical systems. When I taught engine theory courses at MMI, students often told me that electricity was the most difficult part of the course for them to understand. but they later came to me and said that they learned more in those courses than they did anywhere else in the school. It is often a matter of how open a person is to new ideas; rather than how educated, experienced or smart they are; which determines their success in this process.
You wrote that you would like to "close the gap between those who can only replace parts, and those who can actually repair parts." I need to make a slight correction here: The most successful approach to servicing modern automobiles is not to be able to repair parts: Most electronic parts are not repairable (at least not in a practical sense). It is to be able to know which parts do not need to be replaced; and to only replace parts which actually are defective. Yeah; I've heard stories of Russian engineers at a high tech company where the computer broke down, and everybody was sitting around waiting for a replacement part to be shipped in; who went over to the computer, took it apart, and repaired it. But this is not something most of us can expect to do.
The greatest waste of money and time in auto repair is caused by misdiagnosis and replacement of unnecessary parts. This has gone on for as long as I've been in this business. During the 1950s and '60s; the typical scapegoat when a mechanic did not understand why a car did not run right was to replace the carburetor. If I had a dollar for every carburetor that was unnecessarily replaced due to misdiagnosis; I'd be a rich man today. In 85% of these mystery cases; the real problem turned out to be in the ignition system. But electricity is, of course, invisible; so those who are accustomed to thinking only about what they can see are at a disadvantage here.
Today; the usual scapegoat for misunderstanding a problem is to replace the computer. However; the computer actually is one of the most reliable parts on the car (and also one of the most expensive). But because modern engines are sensitive to surprisingly small changes in fuel mixture and ignition timing; the real cause of running problems is no longer as simple as replacing the ignition system. In a modern engine; it could be a broken or slipped timing chain or belt; it could be a restricted fuel filter, or a vacuum leak, or low compression, or the wrong spark plug heat range or gap, or bad plug wires, or a coil which is arcing internally; or it could be a defective engine control sensor or module. It also could be that someone messed up in a previous servicing.
Gaining a perspective on how the different systems in an engine interact; and which parts are prone to cause a given class of problem, is the most effective skill a mechanic can gain. But this education requires patience, trust, humility, the willingness to accept challenge and revise incorrect assumptions, and an open mind. Many of us are weak in one or more of those areas; and this limits our potential as a mechanic, as well as in other aspects of life.
This forum offers an opportunity for those of us who have certain skills to share them with those who would like to improve theirs. But that process can also lead to ego struggles and competition. I ended up quitting my teaching position at MMI, even though it was the most successful and fulfilling job I've ever had; because of the number of people in my classes who had bad attitudes, ego problems, rigid beliefs and were not really open to learning.
I sincerely hope that this forum will turn out to be more adult and cooperative.0
It is interesting that although car owners are beginning to realize the high level of intelligence and skill sets needed to repair a modern car, they still don't want to pay for that level of expertise. Is it because the dentist's hands are clean that a client forks over $700 for an hour's work, but because the mechanic's hands are dirty people often protest to pay $700 for a full days work?
Maybe the only answer will be mandatory licensing or an apprentice program--if that's what it takes to gain the respect of the public and to charge the fees necessary to stay in business.0
I never had a problem of lack of respect from my auto repair clients; and I know of other shops which nobody puts down or complains about. But many shops have shining buildings, spotless floors, TV in the air conditioned waiting room, and a yard long row of certifications on the wall; but are run mainly to create profit; and this attitude is apparent to the public. Greed and dishonesty is nearly impossible to conceal. The issue here is that the public is far more sensitive to the spirit in which they are treated than mechanics (and shop owners) often realize. Mechanics work all day with physical objects; which do not have feelings and are usually hard and strong. So it can be difficult to shift gears and be warm, caring, and compassionate when the car owner walks in (especially if you're feeling frustrated because you're mainly doing this work for the money, or if you feel at all uncomfortable about having marked up your cost of parts by hundreds of dollars; while the customer is on a small fixed income).
This poor economy is bringing out the worst side of some people; and it shows. And this leads to businesses failing; which in some cases is justified. There are a lot of unscrupulous people in the auto industry; and they don't deserve our compassion or sympathy. They really don't belong here; and the reputation and ill will which they create is making it tough for those of us who are not like them. But dentists also have the same problem; clean hands notwithstanding (just consider how much malpractice insurance costs these days).
There are two very different worlds out there: One is the world of fast track living, credit bubbles. new cars every year. expensive homes, and premium products. Mercedes, Harley, and Porsche buyers EXPECT to pay through the nose for the services on their vehicles; hell, they need those price tags to create and support the image they live in.
But the automotive industry also services the needs of poor people who buy old cars and just hope they can stay together. And those $70-$125 hourly shop labor rates inevitably end up impacting the lives of people who cannot afford those services.
It didn't used to be like that; cars used to be an affordable, practical appliance (back when people expected to have to drive a stick shift). People enjoyed maintaining their own cars. But then it was discovered that adding luxury accessories to cars would bring in lots more cash; so automatic transmissions, power everything, air conditioning, and soft, cushy suspensions became standard. Then came emission controls; and along with this evolution; labor rates skyrocketed. Now it is becoming more and more difficult to even find a stick shift car for sale. If you also want a car without power steering or air; it is nearly impossible in some brands.
Some countries in South America have just rich people and very poor people; with practically no middle class. America is evolving towards this type of society. And this is what is driving the distrust and resentment toward mechanics. Those of us who have resisted this trend are becoming rarer and rarer. But we each make our choices, and have to live with the consequences.1
Well greed is a subjective issue in many cases.
For instance, if you come to my shop, for which I pay a lot of $$$ + staff + tools + whatever, and you want to know what your check engine light means, am I really supposed to drop what I'm doing and scan your car for free? Or, do I charge you $60 and tell you what it all means and then suggest that we'll deduct that should you let us repair the vehicle?
To some people, this scenario suggests greed, but not to me.
As for certificates, as far as I know, you don't legally need any training whatsoever to hang out an "Auto Repair" shingle. Am I wrong about that?0
"Well greed is a subjective issue in many cases." But it is objective in others. My dentist charges a sliding fee scale; depending on the income level of a client. That seems like an objective, non greedy way of dealing with the 2 level economy in which we now live. The fees from higher income clients offset the low fees from poor people. I occasionally did that in my work; but it depended on how I felt about the client; their car, and what they claimed about their finances. I know I can't please everyone; but that is no reason to not try when it seems appropriate.
I don't need your shop to drop what they're doing in order to scan my computer. Auto Zone does it for free (or so I've been told). But if you give me a senior citizen price break if I bring the car in; I'd find that attractive. The shop where I last had my car smogged did that. They also gave me a printout of how to adjust my idle speed (no, I did not need it) so I could drive down the street and slow the idle down in order for the car to be testable. And they did not charge extra for the retest.
I'm not asking for people to suffer for poor people's sake; just to be kind once in a while (when and how is optional). Besides; it comes back multiplied...
I didn't mean to imply that certifications are required to do auto repair. I just meant that pricey shops often make a big point of posting certifications on the wall where clients can see them; because they impress some people.1
Well that's called "goodwill"--the opposite of goodwill is probably more accurately----selfishness.
Greed, to me, is blatant overcharging, not being stingy with your time.
As for a sliding scale, that becomes more difficult for a mechanic than a dentist, because you didn't just spend $30,000 on a new set of German teeth, but you might roll in with a brand new, or new-ish car---that sort of upsets the generosity equation for most mechanics.0
berri Posts: 10,140The dentist may get off easier too if people have insurance. Customers seem to get more upset at their dealer service department after the warranty expires. Unfortunately, I also think that too many dealers are putting in misplaced incentives that turn the service writers into commison based sleazebags. The mechanics aren't the problem!0
Exactly--being a line mechanic at a dealership is no picnic.0
isellhondas Issaquah WashingtonPosts: 20,225"Being a line mechanic at a dealership is no picnic"
No, it's not. A guy I know just retired from a busy domestic store at age 65. You won't see very many guys working the line that are past 50. It is hard, frustrating work and it is no longer easy to "beat the clock" like it was in the "old days".
His shop charged something like 110.00/hr and he got paid 20.00 per flat rate hour. On slow days, he was lucky to flag three hours. He no longer overhauled engines or even starters. These days, everything is replaced rather than rebuilt.
This friend of mine started in the 60's. When a car cam in running badly he knew it was one of maybe four things and he was quickly able to nail down the problem and fix the car. He was a excellent mechanic (notice I didn't say technician?").
Because of his skills he was often able to "flat rate" a job and complete a three hour job in two hours. Those days have, for the most part, ended.
Mechanics/Technicians buy their own tools and they don't buy them (usually) from Sears or Harbor Freight. They buy the good stuff that they know will hold up.
It is pretty common for a technician to have 40,000 or more invested in tools and new tools are always needed as the cars change.
My recently retired friend does his best to talk young guys out of joining the trade for the reasons I mentioned. Pretty sad.
Shop owners have it tough too! Overhead is staggering and the new equipment that is always required is beyond expensive!
All an all, it is a damm tough business anymore and I have nothing but respect for the guys who manage to stick with it and do an honest job!0
While I can't call myself an older master mechanic, I did learn from one of the best. I also started when I was about 5 years old helping out in his shop, so I guess my knowledge does go back quite a ways. I did work in a professional capacity for him, on and off, all through school. The most intensive were my summers home from college.
What I've found interesting, and possibly a bit distressing, over the past couple of decades is how, mostly due to cars becoming electrical marvels, as Dick pointed out, so many younger mechanics are completely deprived of "old fashioned" troubleshooting techniques. Essentially, if their computer doesn't tell them what is wrong, they are often at a loss. They can diagnose a new BMW, but show them a pre-OBD car with a vacuum leak and they are as useful as a Jiffy Lube Oil Change Monkey.
I fear that, at some point, older cars will die off more from the lack of ability to repair than anything else.
'10 Equinox LS; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '14 Town&Country Limited; '18 BMW X2. 49-car history and counting!0
so many younger mechanics are completely deprived of "old fashioned" troubleshooting techniques.
That was kinda my point about many of the modern mechanics, and the reason that the current philosophy seems to be, "keep replacing parts until it starts working again." I agree with zaken1 when he says the test of a good mechanic is to "know which parts do not need to be replaced; and to only replace parts which actually are defective.", but I know for a fact that, at least among GM dealers, it's hard to keep a mechanic that has those skills. Working at GM's Proving Ground, I met at least a half dozen excellent mechanics who had started their career at dealerships, and once they had proven their worth, had been hired (stolen from the dealership) by the Company. So we have excellent mechanics within the company, but out there in the public sector, where they can make an impression on the customer, we are left with the less-experienced diagnosticians. We need to re-think our philosophy if we want to keep our customers happy.
I had one more thought (well, OK, maybe 3 more thoughts) about auto repair, (looking at it from a do-it-yourself standpoint. Two basic things are necessary to repair a modern automobile.
1. The service manual for that particular vehicle.
2. An inexpensive diagnostic tool for reading trouble codes.
Without these tools, you're working blind.
Oh, I forgot... one more thing....
You must be able and willing to read!
Dick Berger0
1. The service manual for that particular vehicle.
2. An inexpensive diagnostic tool for reading trouble codes.
Yes, this is true ... to an extent. I just might substitute a couple of things. A manual is not absolutely necessary when you have the internet. I haven't referred to a manual in a couple of years now because I've found the info on the net to be more comprehensive.
As for the diagnostic tool ... an inexpensive one won't always get the job done, at least on late-model vehicles. Not a generic one, anyway. On my VW and bimmer, a generic code reader would have been less than useful. Fortunately, there are cheap aftermarket solutions that are car-specific in these 2 cases. Nowadays, the proprietary systems give you much more specific information than the generic readers do, and there are many cases where that proprietary system is only available at a dealer or a specialist who has invested the money.
'10 Equinox LS; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '14 Town&Country Limited; '18 BMW X2. 49-car history and counting!0
The mechanic purchased the part and installed it. He marked up the cost from his wholesale cost to retail price. The part failed soon & a replacement was needed. He charged for his labor again for R&R the defective part. I maintain he should not have charged for his labor in replacing the defective part because when he took a profit on it, he took responsibility for its effectiveness.0
There are several complicating factors in this situation. The shop does not warranty the part. The warranty is issued by the part manufacturer; who will provide a replacement part for free to the shop when they return the defective part to the distributor from which they purchased it.
The shop passes along their free replacement allowance when they replace the part. But shops still have to pay their mechanics to replace the second failed part; and their profit on the difference between wholesale and retail pricing often is not enough to cover their out of pocket cost in paying their mechanic to replace the part.
Shops often choose to buy parts from a manufacturer who does not make the highest quality parts; just so they can keep their parts prices competitive. Other shops just use the brands of parts which the store they buy from sells; and are not aware or concerned that some stores sell the best quality electrical parts; but may not sell the best quality engine parts or brakes. Such shops cannot afford to take responsibility for the effectiveness of the parts they sell; but instead depend on the attractiveness of their parts prices to continue to draw customers. This is sort of like the sales philosophy of discount stores, who know that the things they sell will often not last as long as premium quality merhandise; but betting that the low initial cost will have more appeal than the greater longevity and reliability of the more expensive parts brands.
People who do not like this type of reliability or service soon learn not to buy things from discount stores; and not to buy car brands which are known to have poor reliability. If they don't become aware of these differences; they typically end up believing they have very bad luck around cars.
But some consumers expect to receive premium quality service from shops which are selling mediocre quality parts; in addition to paying discounted (retail) prices for those parts. PRACTICALLY NOBODY SELLS PARTS AT THEIR WHOLESALE COST TO THE PUBLIC; so your claim that marking up the parts price to retail obliges the shop to cover the cost of labor for replacing defective parts just does not hold water.
There are shops which eat the labor cost of warranteeing parts; but those types of shops typically use only premium quality parts; which rarely fail; and also charge premium prices for their parts and labor; which gives them a comfortable margin to cover such events. Unfortunately; if consumers expected competitively priced shops to give them that level of service; the shop would soon go out of business if they did this with their warrantees.
Most shops mark up the price of the parts they sell from their cost to retail cost. (actually, some shops mark up their parts price to far above retail cost. Dealerships are a great example of this). But at the same time; some of these shops also set their labor charges on the low side; since the profit they make from parts adds to their income from labor charges.
I never marked up parts prices when I was repairing cars (which is almost unheard of in this industry); but I also used the highest quality parts, and took twice as long to do a job as the shops usually did; (because those flat rate time estimates are way too rushed to allow careful and thorough work; especially in electrical system repair). However; I also realized that charging the going hourly rate for my leisurely work would drive most people away; so I charged half the hourly rate of most shops. My clients then ended up paying a similar total amount as the shops usually charged for a given job; but they received far higher quality work. As a result; I never had to advertise. My clients largely came from referrals by friends.
As you can imagine; this is no way to make much money as a mechanic. I was able to do this because I only worked for people I liked and respected; because I felt it was more important to be of service to good people than to get rich; and because I worked alone, in low rent; plain looking surroundings. I also was very picky about what brands of cars I worked on; and what jobs I would and wuld not take on. So I created what I felt was as ideal a life as I could have as a mechanic; but the price of this luxury gave me a lower income than most other mechanics would accept.0
I just wanted to add that there is one exception to my response: If the part you're referring to is an alternator or a starter; then something else must be considered here: There is a widespread practice of auto parts stores selling "rebuilt" alternators and starters which are not properly repaired or tested. These parts are worked on in Mexico by semi skilled workers who do not have all the needed replacment parts, and also do not have proper test facilities. As a result; these substandard parts (which often come with a lifetime warranty) frequently are defective when purchased, or fail within a short time. If the mechanic you used buys alternators from O'reilly or a similar discount store; or even from some supposedly respectable stores; chances are they are buying junk alternators or starters. Shops can do this deliberately as a racket; or they may honestly be ignorant of the poor quality of the parts they are buying. The bottom line is that there is only one local source of consistently reliable alternators and starters; and that is NAPA Auto Parts stores. If you insist on the shop or mechanic buying these parts only from NAPA; there will be no comeback issue. If your mechanic refuses; do not have them do this repair, but take the car to a shop which will buy from NAPA.0
After reading your extensive replies: Who should be responsible for R&Ring a defective part? Because the shop took ownership of the part when it took a profit on it, the shop should make good without an additional charge to the customer who does not intend to finance the risks of being in business. The markup profit on parts that are not defective should cover the infrequent faulty part labor when necessary.0
If your idealized description of the way things "should" be was correct; shops would already be doing free warranty replacements. Carrying that logic further; the shop should also compensate you for your time and trouble in making a second trip there. But it doesn't work that way; regardless of your theories. Your theory that "the shop should make good without an additional charge to the customer who does not intend to finance the risks of being in business" is simply unrealistic. Happy, realistic car owners understand the risks of business, and expect the shop to charge for additional issues which were unanticipated.
The manufacturer's warranty is clearly spelled out in writing: They will replace the part if it turns out to be defective within the warranty period; but they will not cover the cost of its removal and replacement. The shop did not take ownership of the part when they marked the price up; they simply charged you a service fee for obtaining the part, in addition to charging for their labor to install it.
Paraphrasing what I already wrote; don't take your car to a competitively priced independent shop if you expect your every whim to be catered to and to be treated like a king. Royal treatment costs royal prices.
The only shop that takes ownership of a part they install is a dealership; as they are the agent of the manufacturer. If you want defective parts replaced at no labor charge; have all your work done by a dealership. But if you keep track of the relative costs; you'll find that paying the dealership's grossly inflated prices far exceeds the savings from their free warranty replacement policy. If it is more important to you to be given "freebies" while you pay through the nose; the dealership is the only place to go. There is no free lunch in the real world.0
andre1969 Posts: 23,552If your idealized description of the way things "should" be was correct; shops would already be doing free warranty replacements. Carrying that logic further; the shop should also compensate you for your time and trouble in maing a second trip there. But it doesn't work that way; regardless of your theories.
I've had mechanics replace defective parts for free in the past. Heck, in one instance I know they had to have lost money on me. I had an '89 Gran Fury that was an ex-police car, and it used a lightweight starter. First time the starter failed, I had them replace it and paid for it. But, the replacement failed soon after. I lost track of how many times the replacements failed, but I think it was FOUR! I remember it having to be towed from my condo twice, once from a restaurant, and once I got lucky and after a few tries it reluctantly fired up.
There was some shaft that kept breaking, and the shop was blaming it on the crappy rebuilds, but unfortunately, they said that was the only thing available for my car. Anyway, they replaced the starter each time, and never charged me beyond the first time.
I always wondered, since it was just a 318, if a full-size, regular, older-style starter could have just been swapped in instead?
I also remember, back in the late 90's, they did some brake work on my grandmother's '85 LeSabre. I forget what the issue was, but something ended up going bad and the back wheels started locking up too easily. So the fixed it, no charge.
I haven't had anything fail twice in a long time though, so I don't know if they still operate this way, or not.
**Edit: I had missed your earlier post about the alternators and starters. Guess my '89 Gran Fury fit that description to a tee!0
Sure; ethical mechanics sometimes do warranty work for free; but this is not a constant, rigid policy. Mechanics are responsive to the situation. If someone walks in dripping with a sense of entitlement; I usually invite them to leave. People like that do not deserve preferential, or even kind, treatment.
There was a wonderful sign in a garage I once visited: Prices will vary; according to the customer's attitude.
Mechanics are PEOPLE. We take risks, and have feelings. If we are disrespected; we respond in kind. It is unfortunate that some members of the public just don't get this.0
As you may be a standard quality of mechanic, stick with your day job and avoid going into the Sales field.0
Most shops I know will replace a defective part labor-free, but you know, if it's like a clutch disk 90 days out---that's a tough call, especially on cars like mine, with 12 hours R&R.0
As a historical note; the 318s ever since the 1970s were plagued with starter issues. I had a 1971 Dodge B100 van with a 3 speed manual transmission and 318 motor; which I bought in 1982 with 38,000 original miles on it (it was previously a navy paddy wagon; complete with expanded metal screen to shield the driver from the people in the rear). I kept this van for 28 years and 130,000 additional miles; drove it to Canada and across the U.S several times, and soon got fed up with the repeated starter failures. So I analyzed what really was going on when the starter refused to function; and found that there was a relay between the ignition switch and the starter solenoid, which is called the "starter cut-off relay." This relay was the part that was preventing the starter from functioning. Whenever I replaced it; the starter would magically work again. It would then be fine for a few months; and would again refuse to crank. And a new starter cut-off relay would get it going like new every time. I never had to change the starter.
It turned out that the stock relay was unable to switch the current drawn by the starter solenoid without its contacts burning out. I then replaced that stupid relay with a Filko constant duty 200 amp rated relay; and never had another starting problem for all the remaining years I owned that vehicle.
All 318s had a much lighter weight starter than other brands. It was made of aluminum, and was an offset reduction gear design. The older starters would interchange with the newer ones. I initially went to a much later model starter before I finally figured out the real problem.0
That is excellent advice! I never was a salesman; and have no interest in being one. This forum is for and about Mechanics.0
robr2 BostonPosts: 8,863The shop did not take ownership of the part when they marked the price up; they simply charged you a service fee for obtaining the part, in addition to charging for their labor to install it.
I will respectfully disagree. The shop got an invoice and paid for it. Technically they took ownership of the part. I had no part in the choice of part.
As a matter of fact, I'm taking my car back to the indpendent shop to replace a drive axle and boot for the 3rd time that is defective. The manufacturer offers a 3 year warranty on the part and the shop is more than willing to hold up their end of the bargain. He made money on the part and the labor to install and is standing behind his choice of manufacturer.
He's even willing to now go to the OEM part as I long as I pay the upcharge between his part and the OEM. He has now lost faith in that manufacturer and is letting his jobber know.0
Lots of problems with aftermarket axle kits. I'm not surprised to hear this. My buddy who owns an indie Subaru shop won't even use them anymore. Either you buy new OEM, or you let him source a used one from a wreck (which said part he disassembles and inspects, or course); otherwise, no dice, he's not doing it.
Burned too many times.0
The problem with this situation is that the parts manufacturers have passed the buck on warranty labor down the line to the mechanics who install the parts. But both mechanics and customers are trapped into buying parts of questionable reliability that they have little knowledge about and did not have a choice in selecting. We thus become pawns in the manufacturers power games.
The fair way this could have been done is for the parts manufacturer to cover the labor costs of replacing failed parts, as well as providing a free replacement part. Sure; this would create a potential nightmare of legal hassles; but even more significantly; it would force manufacturers to take greater responsibility for the reliability of the parts they produce. Right now; manufacturers can gamble that only a certain percentage of the thousands of parts they produce will fail; and their only liability in these failures is to provide a free replacment part. So they come out smelling like a rose. Meanwhile; the mechanics and customers are stuck with the labor costs which result from the manufacturers gambling.
Producing high quality, reliable parts costs more money and requires much greater time to test and evaluate the parts long term reliability. So manufacturers often CHOOSE to cut corners. Since the manufacturers do not bear the greatest liability of failed parts (which often is the labor cost of replacement) there is little downside to their actions.
Some years ago; GM was slapped with the largest class action lawsuit in the history of the automotive industry; for producing a coolant formula (DexCool) which turned out to attack the silicone intake manifold gaskets in the engines they used; and then filled the cooling system with brown, muddy sludge. GM forced owners to use only this coolant; under penalty of voiding warranties.
This caused enough damage that entire engines sometimes had to be replaced. After countless engines were damaged by this coolant, and the lawsuit was filed; GM still never admitted responsibility; but quietly agreed to a "settlement" which had a sliding scale of payments for repairs, that dropped with the age of the vehicle. Many people received less than $100 for their losses. And GM got out of even that responsibility when they declared bankruptcy.
This is an example of what parts manufacturers will do if the responsibility for their policies and quality becomes too expensive.0
Well the mechanic has no control over that except to be observant and stop using those products which don't work.0


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Winning Mega Millions numbers announced
Updated at 11:18 p.m. ET
(CBS/AP) ATLANTA - The drawing for what could be the single biggest lottery payout the world has ever seen is finally here.
The numbers drawn Friday night in Atlanta were 2-4-23-38-46, Mega Ball 23.
A $640 million jackpot is up for grabs. Taken as a lump sum, it would amount to $462 million or about $347 million after federal tax withholding. It will be a couple of hours for details on possible winners come out.
Before Friday night's drawing, lottery ticket lines swelled as the record Mega Millions jackpot grew to $640 million, thanks greatly to players who opened their wallets despite long odds of success. Across the country, Americans plunked down an estimated $1.5 billion on the longest of long shots: an infinitesimally small chance to win what could end up being the single biggest lottery payout the world has ever seen.
A cafe worker in Arizona reported selling $2,600 worth of tickets to one buyer, while a retired soldier in Wisconsin doubled his regular weekly ticket spending to $55. But each would have to put down millions more to guarantee winning what could be the biggest single lotto payout in the world.
"I feel like a fool throwing that kind of money away," said Jesse Carter, who spent the $55 and donated the last two tickets he bought at a Milwaukee store Friday to a charity. "But it's a chance you take in life, with anything you do."
Mega Millions: What to do if you win
Long odds for winning Mega Millions jackpot
When lottery pools go wrong
Laura Horsley, who does communications and marketing for a trade association, bought $20 worth of Quick Pick tickets at a downtown Washington, D.C., liquor store Friday. But Horsley, who said she won't buy a lottery ticket unless the jackpot tops $100 million, remained realistic.
"I don't actually think I'm going to win, and I don't believe in superstitions or numbers or anything like that," she said. "I just figured it's right around the corner. I'd be crazy not at least to give it a shot."
Thousands of players -- who converged on convenience stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C., where Mega Millions tickets are sold -- agreed.
Kelly Cripe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Lottery Commission, said that as of Tuesday, nationwide sales for the Mega Millions drawing totaled more than $839 million. Officials projected an additional $618.5 million in sales ahead of Friday's drawing, however, for a projected total sales figure of more than $1.46 billion.
"This is unprecedented," Cripe said Friday by e-mail.
Some Indiana players managed to get freebies, as Hoosier Lottery officials gave away one free Mega Millions ticket to each of the first 540 players at several outlets around the state Friday -- a plan announced before the jackpot grew by $100 million.
In Indianapolis, college student Chris Stewart said he showed up at the lottery's headquarters at 6:30 a.m. to be first in a line.
"I've never seen a jackpot like this before," said Stewart, who bought five additional tickets. "If I won -- I mean wow! I just don't know what I'd do. I'd really have to think what I could do with it."
The lines were out the door at Rosie's Den cafe in the rural northwestern Arizona community of White Hills, 72 miles southeast of Las Vegas and one of the closest points to Nevada -- which doesn't offer Mega Millions -- for buyers to get in the game.
Rosie's worker Christine Millim said it's been nonstop for four days.
"In one step I sold $2,600 worth so, that was one person," she said.
Mike Catalano, chairman of the mathematics department at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., concedes the math is clear: The more tickets you buy, the better chances you have of winning. Better long-shot chances, of course.
"You are about 50 times as likely to get struck by lightning as to win the lottery, based on the 90 people a year getting struck by lightning," Catalano said. "Of course, if you buy 50 tickets, you've equalized your chances of winning the jackpot with getting struck by lightning."
Based on other U.S. averages, you're about 8,000 times more likely to be murdered than to win the lottery, and about 20,000 times more likely to die in a car crash than hit the lucky numbers, Catalano said.
For David Kramer, a lawyer in Lincoln, Neb., buying his Mega Millions ticket wasn't about "the realistic opportunity to win."
"It's the fact that for three days, the daydreaming time about what I would do if I won is great entertainment and, frankly, a very nice release from a normal day," he said.
In Armen Keteyian's report for "CBS Evening News", the revenue from that jackpot pie is divided in three ways: About 60 percent goes to prize winners; 15 percent to retailers, marketing and operations; and 25 percent, or about $14 billion, goes back to the states for government services.
And while states earmark that money for education programs, state lotteries covered only a fraction of state education spending," according to a CBS News investigation.
Where does MegaMillions money go after the jackpot?
Is The Lottery Shortchanging Schools?
Everett Eahmer, 80, of St. Paul, Minn., said he's been playing the lottery "since the beginning."
"If I win, the first thing I'm going to do is buy a (Tim) Tebow football shirt, and I'm going to do the Tebow pose," said Eahmer, who bought five tickets Thursday. "I'm with him in honoring a higher power."
Lottery officials are happy to have Friday's record Mega Millions jackpot fueling ticket sales, but even they caution against overspending.
"When people ask me, I just tell them that the odds of a lottery game make it a game of fate," said Chuck Strutt, executive director of the Urbandale, Iowa-based Multi-State Lottery Association that oversees the Mega Millions, Powerball and other lotteries. "Just buy a ticket, sit back and see if fate points a finger at you for that day."
And what happens if you win? CBS MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger has some recommendations -- among them 1) Read the rules on the back of the lottery ticket and the lottery web site; 2) Assemble a team that would include interviewing attorneys and financial advisors; and 3) Allow yourself to spend a little money, but don't go crazy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Technology Management Inc. (TMI) in Cleveland has developed, prototyped and now is field-testing its compact, 1kW solid-oxide fuel cell system. This is one of the most exciting new energy innovations I can imagine. The merits of the TMI fuel cell are numerous and proven. While 1kW is enough power for an average U.S. home, the device's efficiency is comparable to that of large central power plants. Plus, it is clean and quiet, and can run indoors on virtually any fuel including natural gas, propane, kerosene, diesel and renewable fuels like ethanol, vegetable oil and biogas from anaerobic digesters. It is scalable, meaning that it can meet increased levels of demand simply by adding additional units. It can provide power almost anywhere on-site, independently of the grid. This is of great value in a wide range of applications where continuous power — not intermittent power from solar or wind — is the bedrock of economic development, for instance in rural areas or less developed countries where no grid connections are available. Its adoption within the United States also would lead in the direction of decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, lessening our gas and coal consumption, lowering our carbon footprint, and mitigating climate change. But while this technology is fascinating on its face, what is just as interesting to me is why it — along with other worthy, proven, new energy technologies — has as not been massively adopted in the economy. I spoke with Benson Lee, president of TMI, to find out about the obstacles faced by his firm and others in their commercialization efforts. First, efforts to commercialize distributed generation technologies like the TMI fuel cell, which do not require a grid, face a range of obstacles attributable to an entrenched market structure that has for decades made huge investments in wires. Commercialization of such technologies would not be profitable enough at first, would take scarce resources away from investments necessary to sustain the current market structure and, in the event of massive adoption by the public, would devalue or even strand the very assets upon which utilities' revenues are based. Second, all energy innovations need a leader/champion who is broadly knowledgeable across a range of business, public policy and engineering considerations. Such champions are difficult to find, at least in part because the American education system persists so tenaciously at insulating its various disciplines and fields. Engineering degrees, business degrees, law degrees and public policy degrees are still almost always widely separated by frustratingly rigid rules and practices within the American system of higher education. Third, energy innovations get successfully commercialized only when there is a clear alignment among the value of the technical innovation, a customer willing to purchase that value, and investors who are willing to make informed bets on management's ability to cross the goal-line. From the entrepreneur's point of view, the motivation to achieve this alignment is likely to include not only the possibility of profit, but also a desire to leave a mark on the world, to prove self- superiority, and to experience the joy of creating and getting things done. Individuals thus motivated are in a sense, leaders. They are of a different psychological type than are those who attempt to keep up by imitating the successes of leaders. They tend to know where they want their firms to go. There needs to be a great deal of thought given to how to better structure venture capital programs specifically to target such leaders. Finally, the distinctions between technological and organizational considerations, between capabilities and behavior, and between doing and choosing can be overdrawn. Overly simplistic notions that for instance do not distinguish between inventors, entrepreneurs, investors, managers, early adopters and late adopters of a new energy innovation readily lead to a widespread lack of recognition and partial (if not completely wrongheaded) understanding of the processes of technological change in energy markets. In his seminal book, "The Theory of Economic Development," Joseph Schumpeter argued that this sort of misunderstanding is as the heart of a great deal of resentment and antipathy throughout society, and that this creates significant psychological and political opposition not only to firms such as TMI in the energy business, but much more generally to entrepreneurial activity throughout society. The more I learn about energy policy, the more I become convinced that one of the central tasks for anyone who shares my interest in increasing the rates of adoption of energy innovation is to recognize the great institutional complexity of our economic system, and to develop frameworks with which to better understand and bring these complexities meaningfully within the purview of the human mind. If nothing else comes of efforts to accomplish this task, they will be made more than a little worthwhile if they can help to keep the institutional impediments faced by firms such as TMI to a minimum. The well-being of our future generations depends upon it.
William M. Bowen is professor of public administration and urban studies at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He's also associate editor of the International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy.


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"Japanese doctors said that those who had been killed by the blast itself died instantly. But presently, according to these doctors, those who had suffered only small burns found their appetite failing, their hair falling out, their gums bleeding. They developed temperatures of 104, vomited blood, and died. . . . Last week the Japanese announced that the count of Hiroshima's dead had risen to 125,000." — From "What Ended the War," LIFE magazine, Sept. 17, 1945
Four months after the American B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, killing roughly 70,000 men, women and children outright and dooming tens of thousands more to either a torturous recovery or a slow death by radiation poisoning, burns or other injuries and afflictions, Alfred Eisenstaedt made this portrait of a Japanese mother and her child amid the ruins of the city.
Beyond the eternal debate about the "morality" of the bombing of Hiroshima and, two days later, Nagasaki; beyond the political and scientific factors that led to the development of nuclear weapons in the first place; beyond the lingering shadow cast by the Atomic Age and the Cold War—beyond all of those considerations, Eisenstaedt's picture quietly commands us, at the very least, to pay attention.
This is not a political or philosophical or ideological photograph. It is a portrait of two human beings in extremis. By the time Eisenstaedt took this picture, the Japanese were no longer, in any official sense, America's enemy. Eight decades later, the U.S. and Japan are allies. Most of us can look at this mother and her child with eyes that only know of the Second World War and its aftermath from what we've read or seen in history books, novels, movies. The picture, in that sense, is not personal—even if it feels remarkably, and unsettlingly, immediate.
But for the questions that we read—or that we think we read—in their unblinking gaze, there are no ready answers. Even now, there are only more questions.
[See the gallery, "Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Photos From the Ruins"]
[See the gallery, "After Hiroshima: Portraits of Survivors"]


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The Dos and Don'ts of Tweeting Drunk
You had to do it, didn't you? You were drunk and couldn't wait for the morning, fearing the thought and the nerve would escape you by then. You opened up your Twitter client on your iPhone after one too many or you popped open your laptop after stumbling home and spilled out what felt like pure genius―misspellings and all―sharing your life-changing proclamations with the world. Then, of course, the next day you realized how stupid you actually were to divulge so much to your precious list of followers.
See, this Twitter thing is great; it's a cultural game-changer, one of the fastest growing networks of the history of our race. But this stuff ain't no MSN to your BFF or Yahoo! Chat to your ex. We're not talking BB Messenging your boss or a simple cellphone text to your mom. These can all put you in a bad position if done while intoxicated, but to tweet under the influence can end up like a straight-up middle finger to basically everyone. You're posting your Hello World to the universe, and very likely it will come out as "Wello Horld".
To help prevent you from making a big social networking boo-boo, I've put together the definite guideline for drunk tweeting. (Okay, it's more like a top ten list). Some might say you shouldn't tweet while drunk at all; I say go right ahead. Just play by these rules.
1. No emotionally-charged tweets while drunk. It's bad enough hearing about your broken heart or your lust for the President during working hours. Don't pollute my Twitter feed with sappy sentiments while drooling on your Stoli-O cosmo.
2. Yes, please tell us where you're partying, who you're with, and which celebrities you think you've seen. But make sure you ration it out. We don't need to know every 5 minutes. Sure, maybe your nightlife is way cooler than mine, but there's a fine line between sharing it with the world and blatantly rubbing it in (or just being a big-headed ass).
3. Some of my friends tend to forget what they've just said when they're drinking. So they end up telling me the same sentence 3 or 4 times. I've seen this happen with tweets. Before sending out that mind-blowing Twitter comment, be sure it's the first time you'll be doing so. Sometimes just once is too many; twice is certainly way overdoing it.
4. Watch your mouth, man! If you normally don't put nasty words in your tweets, don't use drunkenness as an excuse. You should use your same voice as always. Your followers don't want you to be one person in the day and another at night (unless that's your schtick, but I highly doubt it).
5. Tattle-tailing is for kindergarten. If you're old enough to be on Twitter and certainly if you've got a few drink in you, hopefully you've moved on from that. Don't throw your buddy under the bus by tweeting that he just bought a drink for some chick at the bar, when his fiancé's best friend is your follower. Keep your Twitter thoughts simple and clearly inoffensive, or the next time you'll be drunk-tweeting about why you think none of your friends will hang out with you.
6. Tell us funny, happy, and exciting things. Keep a positive attitude while tweeting and your comments might actually be worth reading. But if your mood is down, stay away from your Twitter client. Drunk-tweets can sometimes be hilarious, clever, or interestingly weird, but if you're a depressed drunk they'll likely be none of that and can be the direct cause of dropped followers.
7. Okay, what the hell am I supposed to be seeing here? Make sure if you're uploading party pics to Twitpic or some other Twitter photo site that they're worth looking at. And also that they're not too worth looking at. Or maybe having a picture of you dancing on the bar with your pants down posted all over the Internet is a major goal of yours.
8. Hey, save it. If what you need to say is not time dependent, take a note of it and tweet it later if it proves itself worthy. Go ahead and tell us what you're up to, whose name to use at the door, and all the other right-now need-to-knows, but when it comes to your thoughts about what happened last week or your screenplay idea, jot it down. Twitter is a mass messaging tool, not a notebook.
9. Put the damn phone in your pocket and hang out with your friends already! I know you need to be constantly connected, but don't forget there's a real world outside social networking that is actually a hell of a lot more fun. Spend some time with some living, breathing humans in the flesh for once. And if you're sending out a tweet from your laptop at home with a nearly empty bottle of Jack in your hand, well for-crying-out-loud get out once in a while, will you? (Just wait until you've slept it off this one time.)
10. And for-god's-sake, tell us what you're drinking. If you're going to put us through your drunk ramblings via Tweetie, you might as well let us know how you got in such a sorry place to begin with. Hopefully it's something half-way decent.
Yeah, I know. Some of these are common sense and basically go without saying. But you're drunk, aren't you? Common sense has gone out the window a few hours ago. Look, drunk-tweeting can be a mess. But hopefully now you can limit your clean-up. I can't guarantee your safety when tweeting during a late-night out, but follow these guidelines and you should be in better shape than if you didn't. Now get out there and enjoy a good cocktail.
Enjoyed my post? I'd appreciate if you tweeted it―whether you've been drinking or not. And BTW, follow me on Twitter at @sipSLOWLY to make sure I heed my own advice.
[Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam]


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Known to many as the "Breakfast Queen of Chicago," Ina Pinkney definitely knows her way around the kitchen and satisfying hungry morning appetites. "Because we pioneered 'good for you' cooking, adding avocados from Mexico, with their good fat, great taste and high satiety, was a natural for us."
Click here to view the avocado recipes.


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Huge Gallery of NMCA Wheels Up Fontana Fun Fest
The 3rd Annual Lucas Oil NMCA West Street Car Nationals at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana celebrates the return of quarter mile drag racing in SoCal. A huge turn out of street and strip hot rods brought lots of racing action and a busy pit area. What's amazing is that such a large number of cars exist in a region that's seen all of its quarter mile drag strips bulldozed with the exception of Pomona, which hosts limited meets.
The quality of cars was outstanding and the NMCA organization kept the action non-stop with a rigid schedule of separate classes of race cars. Check out the gallery below.
First round qualifying can be found at: nmcadigital.com/2014/03/28/fontana-first-round-qualifying-results/
For a gallery of action from the pits at Fontana go to: https://www.hotrod.com/eventcoverage/2014_nmca_west_pit_action_at_fontana/
The next NMCA West event is scheduled for Pomona, May 15-18. The next drag racing scheduled at Auto Club Dragway is the NHRA Street Legal Drags April 5.


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Use the power button to turn HoloLens on and off or put it in standby mode. Find out what the indicator lights mean.
If your device doesn't respond or won't start, see Restart, reset, or recover HoloLens.
Turn on HoloLens
Press the power button for 1 second to turn on your HoloLens when it's off or in standby. If it doesn't turn on, plug it in and charge it for at least 30 minutes.
To restart HoloLens, say "Hey Cortana, reboot the device."
Put HoloLens in standby
To put your HoloLens in standby, when it's turned on, press the power button once. The battery indicators will blink off. To wake it from standby, press the power button again.
HoloLens automatically goes into standby after 3 minutes of inactivity. Once it's in standby, it will automatically shut down after 4 hours, or after the battery level drops by 10 percent.
Shut down HoloLens
To turn off HoloLens, hold the power button down for 4 seconds. The battery indicators will go off one by one and the device will shut down.
HoloLens will shut down automatically when the battery level drops to 1 percent, even if it's plugged in. Once you've recharged the battery to 3 percent, you'll be able to turn HoloLens on again.


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[Helen Moore sitting at the base of a cliff in Frijoles Canyon, New Mexico]
Description: Photograph of Helen Moore, wearing a dress and a hat, sits on rocks near a road at the base of a cliff at Frijoles Canyon, New Mexico. On the back of the photograph is written: "Frijoles Canyon, N. M. June 1, 1959."
Date: June 1, 1959
Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library


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Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of energy policy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, with states increasingly seeing the value of pursuing energy efficiency as a least-cost resource that delivers a myriad of proven economic, environmental and social benefits. NEEP's Policy Outreach & Analysis team conducts research and analysis related to best practices in the efficient use of energy in buildings and industry. We serve as a resource to policymakers and program administrators, among others.
In our 2017 Regional Roundup: Next Generation Energy Efficiency, NEEP describes a number of trends we see as key to harnessing energy efficiency as an integral and integrated part of our clean energy future. At its most basic, we believe Next Generation Energy Efficiency includes:
- Deep and comprehensive cost-effective energy savings for all fuels.
- Controls and other intelligent efficiency technologies, and data analytics to maximize savings.
- Advanced building design and cutting-edge installation, operation and maintenance of energy systems.
- Integration of energy efficiency with demand side resources including renewable power, energy storage, combined heat and power and electric vehicles.
- Strategic electrification and geo-targeting to limit the need for further investments in distribution and transmission system.
- Engagement and animation of private markets to deliver high efficiency products and solutions.


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ATLANTA - President Barack Obama used a fundraiser in a swanky, downtown hotel Tuesday as an opportunity to blast Republican challenger Mitt Romney for moving jobs overseas when he headed Bain Capital.
Noting a recent Washington Post story highlighting Romney's firm's outsourcing of jobs, the president said, "We don't need someone in the White House who is a pioneer in offshoring."
He said Romney's plan included tax cuts for the rich and cuts in regulatory protections for polluters and cuts in vital government services.
On the other hand, the Obama approach, he said, includes having the rich "do more," increased spending on infrastructure and education and replacing oil-company incentives with ones for renewable-energy firms.
"I've got a vision that says the way we're going to grow our economy is to put people back to work," he said.
Obama may not be targeting Georgia as a potential vote source in November, but he has no hesitation tapping it as a cash source to fund ads in the states he could win. His campaign has acknowledged it plans to focus voter-persuasion efforts on other states like Ohio, Iowa and Virginia that began airing Tuesday.
Still, the president shows he values the state for what political donors can do for him. He pulled at least $250,000 from the 500 or so people attending.
With only one statewide candidate on the ballot and a record low number of contenders in down-ballot races, Georgia Democrats have few places to put their campaign donations this election.
The Democrats here aren't giving much to their state party so far this year. Disclosures filed with the state show expenses are more than income, and Georgia Republicans brought in three times as much with roughly the same outgo.
None of what Obama raised Tuesday for his own campaign goes to the state party, according to Eric Gray, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Georgia.
While he isn't enriching the local party, he did indulge his personal interests. He made a visit to the filming of a biography of Jackie Robinson, "42," on location in downtown Atlanta. The man who broke the political color barrier was curious about the man who broke the baseball - and in many senses, the cultural - color barrier.
Georgia Republicans said the side trip showed the president is out of touch with Georgians.
"Instead of focusing on his role as President of the United States of America, the campaigner-in-chief has opted time after time to rub elbows with Hollywood celebrities and deep-pocketed donors," said GOP Chairwoman Sue Everhart.
Romney's campaign pointed out that Obama's Atlanta sojourn came on the release of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price index that identified the city as the only one with a double-digit decline.
"While President Obama promised to solve the housing crisis, his policies simply have not worked, and that is why Georgians are looking for a new vision and a new direction," said Chris Walker, spokesman for the Romney campaign.


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Call it the case of the missing dwarfs.
Scientists have been searching the skies for dwarf galaxies – faint, ancient clumps of stars that merged early in the universe's history to form large galaxies such as the Milky Way.
Theory says lots of these dwarfs should still be around, like collections of spare parts, orbiting larger galaxies. But too few have appeared in astronomers' telescopes to match the theory.
Now, a team of astronomers reports that it has detected a dwarf galaxy orbiting an enormous elliptical galaxy some 10 billion light-years away.
This munchkin is the most distant dwarf galaxy yet discovered, and weighs in at an estimated 113 million times the mass of the sun – middling for a dwarf galaxy.
Researchers found it by detecting its gravitational influence on light from an even more-distant object – a result some astrophysicists call the first convincing evidence that this approach works for finding dwarf galaxies across such vast expanses of space.
The discovery, reported in the Jan. 19 issue of the journal Nature, shows that the process, known as gravitational lensing, "is going to be important as we try to flush this problem out," says James Bullock, an astrophysicist specializing in galaxy evolution at the University of California at Irvine.
At least two other groups have reported discovering dwarf galaxies using gravitational lensing, acknowledges Simona Vegetti, leader of the team that discovered the dwarf and physics fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.
The approach the others used allowed them to claim a detection, but the technique wasn't powerful enough to yield an estimate of the dwarf galaxy's mass or whether the system held more than one dwarf galaxy, Dr. Vegetti says.
Her team's approach allows estimates of both.
Dwarf galaxies don't have the eye-popping appearance of galaxies such as the Pinwheel or Andromeda galaxies.
Over the past several years, astronomers have found 25 newly identified dwarfs orbiting the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy. Most are dimmer than any previously known dwarfs. And a few are so dim they could be mistaken for globular clusters, typically collections of 1,000 or more stars whose mutual gravity keeps the group together.
Despite their lack of visual zip, dwarf galaxies have come to be recognized as fossils from the early epochs of galaxy formation.
Over the past decade or so, however, the hunt for these galactic no-seeums has gained momentum, explains Dr. Bullock, who was not part of the research team involved in the observation.
The reason: The currently favored picture of galaxy formation, known as the cold dark matter theory, predicts that far more dwarf galaxies should be present than astronomers have seen as they hunt for starlight from the objects.
Cold dark matter is thought to comprise 90 percent of all the matter in the universe. It emits no light; its presence is inferred from the influence its gravity exerts on galaxies and clusters of galaxies.
Each galaxy is thought to have formed within its own vast cocoon of dark matter, then to have grown as it merged or collided with others.
The theory itself is on firm footing, Bullock explains. But since the theory seems to be pretty robust, it's predictions relating the distribution of numbers and masses of dwarf galaxies should also be robust.
Essentially, the theory allows researchers to derive an estimate of the number of dwarf galaxies that should be present at different masses. Dwarfs with the lowest masses, hence the faintest galaxies, should be the most numerous, Vegetti says.
So far, this aspect of the theory is more bust than robust at visible wavelengths. The Milky Way, for instance, should host thousands of dwarfs, she says, but so far, astronomers have found 30.
Vegetti's team tried an approach that doesn't look directly for a dwarf galaxy's starlight. Instead it takes advantage of gravitational lensing – the gravity from a massive galaxy bending and magnifying light from another object behind it. The galaxy acting as the lens may be obscured by intervening dust or gas. But astronomers know it's there by a tell-tale ring of light that forms around its location.
The team associates its dwarf galaxy with a large elliptical "lens" galaxy known prosaically as JVAS B1938+666. The dwarf showed up as an "excess" lensing effect at a unique spot along the ring of light surrounding the main galaxy. The team's unique approach to processing the data, gathered at the Keck Observatory on Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano, allowed it to tease out the dwarf's mass.
Where galaxies like the Milky Way reside in vast halos of dark matter, dwarf galaxies are thought to exist within smaller "subhalos," like bubbles within bubbles. In some cases, the number of stars in a dwarf galaxy could be so few that the only way to detect it is through the gravitational influence of its dark-matter subhalo, some researchers suggest.
What if a more-exhaustive search fails to reconcile the gap in dwarf-galaxy numbers, especially for the smallest dwarfs?
"If they don't exist, then you have to change the properties of dark matter" to account for their absence, Vegetti says.


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Decotruss 3 Point Truss Silver 2m
The Decotruss elements can be screwed together with the connecting plates with three M8 screws. Through a variety of cross beams and corners you can create fantastic structures. Decotruss is suitable to create individual design-elements, such as shopfitting and trade show booths. Decotruss constructions can be used as design elements or for low weight installations.
- Decorative truss
- Easy installation
- Max. distributed section load: 35 kg
- Longitudinal tubes: 15 x 1 mm
- Crossbars: 5 mm
- Dimensions: 2000 x 150 x 130 mm
- Please respect the regulations in respect to trussing constructions
Further Information
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|200 cm
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The summer garden is largely finished and your fall crops are growing nicely, but there's still plenty to do: Winter is on its way and doing the right work now can really put you ahead next spring. The life in your garden may slow down during winter, but never absolutely ceases. So why not use your garden's downtime to your advantage? You can, with a range of fall gardening strategies.>> read "Fall Gardening Strategies" #Fall #Seeds #Winter
Three shrubs to beat the doldrums
Right now we are in the thick of it. Cold, dark and dreary days of winter are surrounding us with a blanket of plain white, brown, and gray. Depressing to a gardener that longs for shimmers of green and color, any color will do.
Typically we go to the catalogs, books, and internet to find treasures for the coming spring, but there are gems to be found in the winter garden if you plan for it. There are many shrubs, deciduous and evergreen, that fill corners of gardens throughout the year bringing yearlong interest. Here are three shrubs that keep working even when the world goes blah.
Winter gardening is the busy gardener's dream come true – bountiful harvests with little to no weeding, watering, or other tiresome work. However, you do need to provide a bit of protection for winter veggies. DIY cold frames can be both inexpensive and highly functional, and constructed using materials you may already have on hand.>> read "Do It Yourself Cold Frames" #How to #Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency #Winter
I don't wait for January to make resolutions for the New Year. While the memory of the successes and failures of the recent season is still fresh in my mind, I like to make a list of resolutions as soon as I've put my garden to bed for the winter.
Here are just a few of those resolutions I've made over the years that have resulted in more fun, less work and a better harvest.
Ever wonder why some herbs are popular in summer while others gain prominence in fall and winter? There are some very good reasons why we use mint, parsley, lavender and lemongrass in summer, and why sage, rosemary, thyme, hyssop and others are considered winter herbs.>> read "Warming Herbs for Winter" #Herbs #Recipes #Winter
Whether you are a veteran victory gardener or an eager beginner with a few pots, experts agree that a little advance scheming makes for a better garden, saving time, money and wear and tear on your own momentum. February, with its frigid air, freezing rain and slumbering garden, is a perfect time for planning.>> read "Winter Planning for the Spring Garden" #Design #Spring #Winter
A cold winter evening is just the right kind of weather to fire up the oven and bake the fruits of fall and winter, savory winter squash (and that includes pumpkins). The aroma that drifts through the house will make even the pickiest eater hungry. Best of all, because they store so well, you can usually purchase all types through the winter months.>> read "Versatile Winter Squash: Stuffed or Gratin" #Recipes #Vegetables #Winter
As the Director of the Allen Centennial Garden, a public garden on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I'm always on the lookout for plants that extend the season of interest for our visitors. Plants that are hardy, easy to grow and dependable rank high on this list of some of our favorites.>> read "11 Plants that Love the Cold" #Colorful #Feature #Winter
Upper Midwest gardeners know the preciousness of growing things. They typically have five to seven months to cram in as much green and growing things as they can. A well-planned landscape can ensure that beyond the prime growing season, landscapes are filled with beautiful flowers, leaves, bark and structure ...>> read "Plant for a Year Full of Beauty" #Fall #Spring #Summer #Winter
Winter can be a difficult time for our trees and shrubs. Cold weather, snow, wind and more threaten their health. I've seen too many trees and shrubs lost that could have been saved with the right care. By caring for the roots, stem and crown you can maintain healthy and attractive plants through the most trying season of the year.>> read "Tips for Winter Tree & Shrub Care" #Trees #Winter
Not all roses need winter protection, but for those that do, here's how to prepare them for a long winter nap.
Summer is just a memory now for gardeners as they clean and stow their tools and look forward to the holidays. But before you get sidetracked, have you thought about putting your roses to bed for the winter ...
Most of the harm from snow really comes from how we get rid of it. Time for a little rethink. Who doesn't love new snow? The white blanket softens the world and makes everything look new. And it's a good thing for the garden. Snow cover insulates the soil so it is less likely to thaw and then freeze again. Enveloping snow protects plant tissue from cold snaps and adds moisture when it melts in spring.>> read "Hold the Salt" #Environment #Winter
New from our Bloggers:
Renovate a Neglected Perennial Garden
Steps to renovate a perennial flower bed
Pumpkin Flower Vases
Get Your Cinderella On!
Featured Books for Michigan
Pamela Crawford
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A complete guide to simple container gardening designed for anyone who has ever killed a plant. It includes illustrated instructions to create gorgeous, fool-proof container gardens that even you can't kill!
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Dorie Byers
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Enhance your health naturally with herbs from your own garden. Even if you've never gardened before, you can care for yourself and your family using time-tested herbal remedies harvested from your own medicinal herb garden. Master Gardener Dorie Byers offers simple growing instructions for more than 20 versatile medicinal herbs such as garlic, chamomile, and echinacea. You'll also find recipes and tips for using the herbs for first-aid and preventive health care.
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Nyanga National Park
About Nyanga National Park
Nyanga National Park occupies 47 000 hectares. Altitudes between 1 800 and 2 593 meters provide cool weather and fresh mountain air, perfect for rest and relaxation. The park is located about 268 km from Harare along a well tarred highway.
Flora & Fauna
The mountainous terrain is home to a variety of animals including the mysterious waterbuck, wildebeest, kudu, zebra, impala, sables, eland to mention but a few .The sparkling fresh water rivers are an envelope of fresh water fish such as the Nyanga trout which is a delicacy to many visitors.
Cool temperatures are usual in Nyanga with summer temperature around 26 degrees celcius and winter cold temperatures of -3 degrees celcius .These are complimented by a wet summer.
The Rhodes Nyanga Hotel
The Rhodes Nyanga hotel has been operating since early 1900s and it consists of 24 rooms, bar, restaurant and conference facilities. Historically the hotel has the Rhodes-Nyanga museum with some of the furniture Cecil John Rhodes owned. The hotel is situated in the Nyanga National Park.
Other Accommodation Facilities in the National Park
There are three rest camps namely Rhodes, Udu and Mare. These Rest camps offer the visitor spacious thatched self catering two and one bed roomed lodges with a fully equipped kitchen. There are exciting camping and caravan sites which are well sheltered by acacia trees were cooking on wood fires draws the visitor to ancient memories of the history of mankind .
- Mount Nyangani - Zimbabwe's highest point at 2 593 metres offers a challenging climb and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
- Nyangombe Falls - a beautiful series of cascading waterfalls located on the western edge of the Park, a 15 minute walk from the carpark.
- Mutarazi Falls - Mutarazi Falls is the highest waterfall in Zimbabwe and the second highest on the Continent. Visitors may leave their vehicles at the carpark and take a short hike to the edge of the escarpment for spectacular views of the waterfalls and the Honde Valley, some 800 metres below.
- Pungwe Gorge & Falls - view the Pungwe Falls from the scenic Pungwe viewpoint or drive through the Pungwe Drift for a closer view of the river and lush forest areas around.
- Nyangwe & Chawomera Forts - massive stone work with lintelled entrances characterize these fine examples of Nyanga ruins built some 400 years ago. Pit structures are also located within the Park.
- Trout Hatchery - the trout hatchery near Purdon Dam provides an up-close view of the source of game fish stocked in many of the Park's rivers and dams.
- Nyamuziwa Falls - located just off the circular drive to Mt. Nyangani, Nyamuziwa Falls is a beautiful cascade waterfall with open highland scenery.
- Rhodes Museum - the Rhodes Museum is found at the Rhodes Hotel
- Fly fishing - the finest fly fishing in Zimbabwe can be found in many of the Park's well stocked rivers and lakes including Mare, Udu, Rhodes, Gulliver and Purdon Dams. Bream fishing is also available at Udu Dam.
- Boating - another favorite activity - rowing boats can be hired at each dam
- Swimming - visitors can swim at Nyangombe pool where the clear, crisp Nyangombe River spills over natural rock slides. Visitors can also relax on the sandy beaches.
- Hiking trails, birding & walks - numerous trails and paths provide lovely walks through both the forest areas and open highlands, many leading to beautiful waterfalls and scenic vistas.
- Game viewing –This activity is open to the public all year round. Gates are open for game viewing daily from 0600hrs until 1800hrs. All clients are only allowed to enter the park when driving. Walking and cycling are strictly prohibited unless with express authority and only in the company of a designated park officer. Clients are allowed to drive around the park on their own using designated roads only.
- The main and most sought out activity at the park; fishing is conducted all year round. There are 5 fishing and picnic sites in the park.
Recreational activities include yachting, boating, rowing, angling and canoeing.
Information on this page has been kindly contributed by www.zimparks.org


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Edelbrock is once again proud to present the 6th Annual Rev'ved Up 4 Kids Charity Car Show benefiting The Center For Learning Unlimited. The show will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at Vic's Garage in Torrance from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The Rev'ved Up 4 Kids Car Show began in 2006 under the leadership of Christi Edelbrock. Christi lead a group of five volunteers through the planning and "how to's" of the very first event that was attended by over a thousand people with more than 200 cars! The ultimate goal of the Rev'ved Up 4 Kids car show is to create greater awareness for Center For Learning Unlimited (CLU) and raise additional funds for future expansion nationally. The Center For Learning Unlimited combines a unique transdisciplinary approach to helping gifted kids with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, ADD and ADHD by healing both the children and their respective families.
Since the first event, the car show community has marked their calendars for this very special event that continues to support children with learning disabilities. In recent years the show has grown to include live music, great food and over 400+ show cars. This show is a great way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon and help a good cause. Check out the photos and videos to see what it's all about.
Here are some of the exciting events, people and food we have planned for this special day
* Vic's Garage open to the public for one day only!
* Come walk thru manufacturer's row to see what's NEW in the automotive industry.
* Visit the food court! Come hungry, we have support from the San Gabriel region Boy Scouts, local BBQ, Hugo's Taco's, cold beer and more!
* LIVE BANDS all day! Come see the…
– Hot Rod Trio www.thehotrodtrio.com
– Michelle Ross Band www.soundclick.com/themichellerossband
* Kids Corner with face painting, Kids Choo ChooTrain, Clown's, balloon art and more!
* Look for extra special cars at this years show, collections from Hot Wheels and StarCars.
* The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is back! Come watch as kids from local high school auto shops compete against the clock tearing down and rebuilding a small Chevy.
* Come see Vic's 600 HP E-Force Supercharged 57Chevy built by the students from Ohio Technical College.
* Come by the Edelbrock trailer, see Vic and Christi, get an autographed poster and hat, for a donation of course!
* SHOP! New clothing and gear from Edelbrock "The Shop"
* Alan Taylor LIVE! Motor Trend, Hot Rod and Street Rodder Radio.
* And more!


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Six Mile, South Carolina Collections Lawyers
Louisa Rice Lund
Anderson, SC 29621
Carole Marie Dennison
Greenville, SC 29601
Phillip Donnan
Greenville, SC 29615
Tara Elizabeth Trantham
Greenville, SC 29601
John Marshall L.S. (Chicago)
Earle McGee Rice
Anderson, SC 29621
Edward Scott Sanders
Greenville, SC 29601
Caleb J Farmer
Suite 2
Spartanburg, SC 29306
University of North Carolina School of Law
Justin M Lovely
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Appalachian School of Law
Eric Christopher Hale
Columbia, SC 29201
University of South Carolina School of Law and Florida Coastal School of Law
David Popowski
University of South Carolina School of Law
D. Nathan Davis
University of South Carolina School of Law
Robert Edward Culver
Charleston, SC 29403
Seattle University School of Law
G. Robin Alley
Columbia, SC 29201
Jennifer Lynn Lineback
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
John Marshall L.S. (Atlanta)
Dean Murphy
Charleston, SC 29407
Steven Griffis Mikell
Florence, SC 29501
Cumberland Law School, Samford
William McCarthy Jr
Columbia, SC 29201
Nelson Weston
Columbia, SC 29201
Andrea Ruth Hippely
Aiken, SC 29801
Widener Law School
Brian Scott McCoy
Rock Hill, SC 29730
Sheryl Sisk Schelin
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Earl Danny Scott
John Kevin Crout
Charleston, SC 29492
Daniel MacDonald
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Adam Tesh
Columbia, SC 29201
James Darrell Dotson
Lake City, SC 29560
Norton McGaughy Geddie
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Emory University
Cynthia Lowery
Charleston, SC 29401
Elizabeth Atkins
Charleston, SC 29407
David Haar
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Jennalyn Dalrymple
West Columbia, SC 29169
Collections Lawyers in Nearby Cities
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The Justia Lawyer Directory is a listing of lawyers, legal aid organizations, and pro bono legal service organizations. Whether you were injured, are accused of a crime, or are merely engaging in everyday affairs that affect your legal rights or property, an attorney can help you resolve problems or prevent new ones from arising.
Here are just a few situations where you might want to seek the advice of an attorney:
- You were injured in a car or truck accident
- You have been arrested and charged with a crime, such as DUI or shoplifting
- You are considering separating from your spouse
- You have been subjected to harassment or other discrimination at work
Use Justia to research and compare Six Mile attorneys so that you can make an informed decision when you hire your counsel.
It is important to research an attorney before hiring him or her. Be sure to evaluate an attorney's experience (types of cases handled, prior results obtained, etc.). Although prior results are not indicative of the likelihood of success in your case, they can help you make an informed decision.
Also worth serious consideration is the attorney's location, particularly if you will be traveling to visit him or her for consultations.
Finally, research an attorney to see whether he or she has ever been subject to discipline. Although disciplinary actions do not necessarily impact the attorney's competence to handle your case, they may affect your decision whether to hire.
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A soft pink with a yellowish throat. Large elegantly ruffled 6" flowers make this one of the best. Stunning in mixed perennial borders or mass plantings. Blooms mid: July. A Stout Medal Winner. Reblooms. Foliage is semi-evergreen.
Hemerocallis Barbara Mitchell, a diploid, will adapt to a wide range of growing conditions. Very drought tolerant. Hemerocallis are selected for their abundance of blossoms, vibrant colors, and hardiness in a variety of climates and soils.
Rugged and adaptable, Daylilies are quick to establish and require little care. Carefree, pest resistant and free of Hemerocallis rust disease. They even grow under Black Walnut trees and along salted driveways. Outstanding!
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Undergraduate Degrees, Majors and Concentrations
PSYC3755 - Clinical Psych: Sci, Prac, Eth
Summer 2019
This course provides an orientation to the professional practice and science of clinical psychology. History, major theoretical orientations, and scientific underpinnings of clinical psychology are explored as well as current developments in practice and research. Topics include the continued development of clinical psychology as a separate profession, clinically-related research, treatment efficacy, specialized training, and orientations to the major activities of clinical psychologists: psychotherapy, assessment, and clinical research. Ethical principles for psychologists are strongly emphasized.
Prerequisites: PSYC1010, PSYC2800, PSYC3550, PSYC3580, PSYC3700, 75 Credits, and Department Head Permission
3 Credits
Schedule Book for All Active and Available Future Terms, Course starting with PSYC3755
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Jabrill Peppers' grand announcement plan was undercut twice on Sunday.
But the result was the same, as predicted by the experts: The nation's No. 1 cornerback and No. 2 overall prospect committed to Michigan.
The elite cornerback had it all orchestrated, taping it at an ESPN studio and planning it to air early in the 5 p.m. ET hour on ESPNU.
Then the Oregon-Nebraska softball Super Regional ran long — 1½ hours long — so Peppers' announcement was on hold.
MORE: College football summer countdown
Until his high school, Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, broke the news on its official Twitter account at the expected time: "@JabrillPeppers chooses #Michigan."
After that, the air was out of the balloon, even for the highest-ranked recruit of the modern recruiting era for Michigan.
All Peppers could do was wait.
When the announcement finally aired, he declared in a rap he wrote for the occasion, saying he was a Michigan fan his whole life.
"It's no secret they were my favorite team since I was a young kid just watching the greats play in the Big House" he said during the ESPNU interview. "It was always my dream to play for Michigan. Being the recruit I am, I can't be biased and I tried really hard not to be by looking at all my options and taking the whole process slowly. But once I went out there to Ann Arbor, they just blew me away. It was just inevitable."
The rap ended with his declaration of "the winged helmet," which he held up and later put on.
Most of Michigan's fellow 2014 commitments — offensive lineman Mason Cole, wide receiver Drake Harris, quarterback Wilton Speight, linebacker Michael Ferns and receiver Moe Ways — all gave their congratulations and began their grand proclamations for the current 11-player class.
"We are going to run college football," Harris wrote.
MORE: Most impactful offseason player moves
Their confidence is backed by the rankings so far, with ESPN.com and 247Sports both listing Michigan as No. 1.
Peppers chose Michigan over Stanford, Penn State and Rutgers among his other finalists, but had offers from all of the major schools (Alabama, Ohio State, etc.) and eliminated them earlier in the process.
This is only a verbal commitment though, and Peppers, who joined his Paramus teammate, offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty in the Michigan class, cannot even sign the official letter-of-intent until February 2014.
Peppers is an elite defensive back at 6-1, 210 pounds, plus a star tailback, so he could potentially get some snaps on offense as well.
Last season he had 77 tackles and three interceptions on defense and rushed for 1,552 yards and 18 scores on offense, along with catching 20 passes for 337 yards and five touchdowns.
Michigan personnel are not allowed to directly name prospects under NCAA rules, but linebackers coach Roy Manning shared the staff's apparent excitement with his Sunday evening tweet: "It's getting scary out here... The#MichiganFootball Family keeps getting stronger. #Team135 #GoBlue #ThisIsMichigan #LoveThatBlockM"
Mark Snyder writes for the Detroit Free Press, a Gannett affiliate. Follow Mark on Twitter @Mark_Snyder.


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Played Like a Raven – Dominique Foxworth
Sure, Natty Joe was the easy choice. In setting career highs for QB rating and touchdown passes, he played like a Raven on Sunday, no doubt. However, I thought I'd go ahead and recognize Dom Fox here, considering how often this space has been used to skewer the guy during the 2009 season.
It was the first game in which Foxworth recorded an interception since Week 3 against Cleveland, and it was the first multi-pick game of his five year career.
Foxworth did a fine job against the Bears' less-than-mediocre receivers, a performance that will hopefully give him some confidence going in to this week's game against Pittsburgh's comparatively stellar WR corps. Especially without Lardarius Webb out there, Foxworth will absolutely need to continue to Play Like a Raven in Week 16 and beyond.
Did Not Play Like a Raven – Frank Walker
Like last week, the Ravens plastered their opponent, and pretty much everyone played well.
Like last week, the starters played SO well, that many of them got to take a seat and catch the end of the game as comfortable sideline spectators.
And like last week, a guy that doesn't usually get the chance to make many plays – made a play. And then proceeded to make an ass of himself.
Walker (who technically was in the game more because of Lardarius Webb's extremely unfortunate and disappointing injury than of starters being taken out due to the score) picked off his first pass since Week 8 of last season against Oakland. Then, with just over four minutes remaining in a game that his team was winning by a count of 31-7, Walker inexplicably launched the ball across the field. The Ravens were docked 5 yards for delay of game, but it easily could have been unsportsmanlike conduct and 15 yards.
Ten more yards made no difference in this game, but with Walker likely to see significantly increased playing time here in the very near future, his boneheaded penalties need to stop NOW. We all remember the "loogie eye" incident from the second Pittsburgh game last year, and you can be sure the Steelers do too. Cheap Shot will undoubtedly be taunting Frank early and often come Sunday, trying to goad him into a silly flag, and if he loses his composure it could severely cost the Ravens.
The coaching staff needs to beat the importance of this game, and the utter lack of any room for mental errors therein, into Walker's head non-stop this week. He must play like the 7-year veteran he is, and not like the loose cannon that he has proven himself to be again and again during his time in B'More.
Frank, this week is your chance to make up for the Vikings' game.
Dominique, great job against the Bears. Now, prove to us that you can string together some strong games, against tough competition.
If Frank Walker and Dominique Foxworth can play themselves into the top half of this feature for next Tuesday, chances are the Ravens will escape Pittsburgh with a win. If, on the other hand, they fall into the bottom half, again, victory in western Pennsylvania seems all the less likely.


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Safeflow SF20
Float and cone type oil flowmeter for controlling and measuring the flow rates of lubricants in circulating oil lubrication systems. The SKF Safeflow oil flowmeters can be banked (up to 6 units wide) to reduce piping and simplify installation. The base is made of durable aluminium and the flow tube is made of glass, therefore high temperatures and the use of mineral and synthetic oils should present no problems.
Technical features:
- Flow rate range: 0,6–10,6 l/min with 220 cSt
- Operation viscosity: 32-1000
- Number of flowmeters: 1,2,4 and 6
- Maximum operating temperature: 70 °C
Special features
Electrical alarms: common or individual
Flowmeter panels with plexiglass.
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Configure the product according your needs, download the CAD file