happenings

Testing out Flock

new web browser for the mac with a bunch of built in cool tech goodies. open source is pretty amazing.

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More on the Test Drive!

The issue of a steering wheel wobbling while applying the brakes is attributed to the front brake rotors being warped. The best fix is to replace the rotors with new premium rotors of a reputable manufacture. I offer the customer this as the best repair.  I suggest this because experience has taught me that the normal repair of turning the rotor only makes it thinner and it will warp as soon as it is under extreme stress. In time I have learned it is easier to sell this repair now then try to justify doing the job again in a short period of time.
    The other problem I hear often is "I hear a squeaking noise at slow speed or when I first start out in morning.  The noise usually goes away when I apply the brakes for the first couple of stops."  I can usually solve this problem by having the rotors turned only to remove a crusty buildup around the edge of the friction area and to make the rotor flat.  Many times the problem solves itself by making a estimate.  This is not a safety hazard and is sometimes not worth the expense.  I mentioned that the car is usually warm when I road test and most times will not make the noise. Inspection will show if this is the problem.
    When I accelerate I am listening for a clunk or a click.  A clunk can be a motor mount or exhaust pipe mount.  On hard accelerating, a broken or worn motor mount will allow the motor and transmission to shift and move to the extreme, hitting the body or frame.  Exhaust pipes usually rattle more then clunk.  I am also listening for clicking in the front area of the car.  I turn sharply to the left and right while accelerating to put pressure on the CV (constant velocity) joints.  Theses joints are found on all front wheel- drive cars.  A clicking noise means the joint is warn and needs replacing.  There are two CV joints on the drive shaft that drives the front wheel on each side of the car.  If the left and right drive shafts are the same or interchangeable - I switch them, left to right.  Why? CV joints wear in one direction and by changing the left to right, I am changing their direction and they are now pulling in a new direction and will last almost as long as a new joint.
    As I write I realize that I should talk about the different ways that power is applied to the drive wheels and the reason that some drives shafts have to be able to bend or flex. The automotive world changed when front wheel drive cars became the norm.  Some all wheel drive cars have CV joints in the rear but they last a long time because they only have to transmit power and do not have to bend to flex due to the turning of the wheel for steering purpose.  Also on all wheel-drive cars more power is transmitted to the front wheels due to the weight for traction purposes. This is called a power split and it is as little as 10 percent to the rear.  They do flex or bend a little because of the movement of the suspension up and down.  Before the CV joint came into use, the front drive shaft on four-wheel vehicles used universal joints and some still do. They have very little problems but when the do it is more expensive to repair.
    Well, now you know why I accelerated fast and applied the brakes, then went in circles left to right. The mystery is solved. Next time I will do some testing, open the hood and make a visual inspection, raise the car and inspect the undercarriage.

Yet - More Free Money

Mr.David  Makalle
Email:davidmakalle@hotmail.com
Johannesburg
Republic of South Africa

Attention: Chairman/C.E.O

                      MY FAMLIY MATTER

My name is Mr. David Makalle, the step- son of Mr. Terry ford of Zimbabwe.
It might be a surprise to you where I got your contact address; I got it
from the internet. Don?t be worried because I am contacting you in good
faith.

During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters
of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our
country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his
party members and their followers.

My Father was one of the best farmers in the country and knowing that he did
not support the President political ideology, the president supporters
invaded my father's farm and burnt down everything, killed him and
confiscated all his investments.

After the death of my father, my mother and I with my younger sister decided
to move out of Zimbabwe for the safety of our lives. We took along with us
the money my
father kept in the safe in my mother's house which amounted to the sum of
US$15.5M (FIFTEEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) to
the Republic of South Africa where we have deposited it as personal
valuables in a private Security Company for safekeeping. Because of our
present status (Political Refugees), my mother and I are seriously looking
forward to having an overseas partner that will assist us with the
convenient and legal transfer of the funds out of South Africa.

If my proposition is considered, for assisting us to transfer this money to
your country, we will offer you 20% of the total fund, and 5% of the total
will be set aside to cover any expenses incurred during this transaction.
75% will be for my family to invest in your country under your supervision.
For detailed information, you can contact me on my
E-mail:davidmakalle@hotmail.com

I would appreciate confidentiality and honesty in our correspondence. Your
immediate response will be highly welcomed.

Best Regards,

David Makalle

Free Money

FROM: MR.CHEN GUANGYUAN
Bank of China (Hongkong)
Eastern Commercial Centre,
393-407 Hennessy Road,
Wan Chai,Hong Kong.
(chen8707guangyuan@yahoo.com.hk )

Good Day,

It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because you
do not know me but I have a lucrative business proposal of mutual interest
to share with you.

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Chen Guangyuan operations
manager of the Bank of China (Hongkong), Eastern Commercial Centre,Wan Chai
Branch. I have an obscure business suggestion for you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Manal SaadAllah Matti who was with
the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered fixed deposit for 24
calendar months, with a value of Seventeen million three Hundred Thousand
United State Dollars (US$17,300,000.00) only in my branch. Upon maturity
several notice was sent to him, even during the war early last year. Again
after the war another notification was sent and still no response came from
him. We later find out that Manal SaadAllah Matti and his family had been
killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their home at Mukaradeeb where
his personal oil well was.

http://www.iraqmemorialwall.org/iraqicasualties.html

http://www.iraqbodycount.net/names.htm

After further investigation it was also discovered that Manal SaadAllah
Matti did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the
paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he
was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So,
seventeen million three Hundred Thousand United State Dollars  is still
lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers
me most is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration six{6}
years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if
nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to
you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to
Manal SaadAllah Matti so that you will be able to receive his funds.

MODALITIES:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I have an attorney that will prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to Manal SaadAllah Matti,
all that is required from you is to provide me with your Full Names and
Address so that the attorney can commence his job. After you have been made
the next of kin, the attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf
and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for
the movement of the funds to an account that will be provided by you. We are
going adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the
necessary documents in your favour.There is a reward for this project and it
is a task well worth undertaking.There is no risk involved at all in the
matter,I have evaluated the risks and the only risk I have here is for you
refusing to work with me and alerting my bank. I am the only one who knows
of this situation, good fortune has blessed you with a name that has planted
you into the center of relevance in my life.

Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this
issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account
we shall share in the ratio of 70% for me, 30% for you. I send you this mail
not without a measure of fear as to what the consequences, but I know within
me that nothing ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never
come easy or on a platter of gold. Please observe this instruction
religiously.

Should you be interested please send me your,

1,Full names,
2,private phone number,
3,current residential address,

And I will prefer you reach me on my private email address below:
(chen8707guangyuan@yahoo.com.hk )

and finally after that I shall furnish you with more informations about this
operation.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards
Mr.Chen Guangyuan