MattPie

So Luke Adam was picked 44th overall (I had no idea, I just looked it up). That's solidly in the less likely to make the NHL than not area of the draft. To me, that puts it into perspective: if he doesn't have a long NHL career it's not a surprise.

This one be barmy, better toss him over the side o'er the demons will haunt this ship.

With all the awesome new jobs for you and the missus, I'd just spring for one. :)

http://forums.sabrespace.com/user/1555-ghost-of-dwight-drane/ (that should be the post history, just look at the last few)

50-60 would put him in solid 2nd center, and top-3 3rd line center. I'm not saying it's not possible, I just don't want to hear about him being an underachiever when he strings together 45-point seasons. :)

I don't think he's saying Darcy is going to do something to make it happen, just that it will happen somehow because the fates hate us.

I think the chains eventually stretch and need adjustments more frequently. If not adjusted they throw off the valve timing (which would reduce performance, emissions, and possibly cause that catastrophic valve interference if they get too far out of whack). This video is pretty cool, it shows a partial cycle of the engine. Intake valve on the right, I think, then compression as the piston comes up from the bottom, power as the burning fuel expands, and exhaust on the left. Note how the valves appear to occupy the same space as the piston at times, which if left open would get smashed.

I helped my dad do a timing belt on a car a long time ago with a similar layout, it's a fairly big job. It's not one of the belts on the front of the engine, it's under a few covers and probably behind some other stuff under a modern hood. I'm kinda jealous of it being $500, I have one coming up in a few k on my Subaru and it's usually around $1000 because there's even more stuff than usual to remove to get at it. As for testing, I'm not sure there's really a way to test it but even if there was, by time you're in there you might as well replace it since the belt itself is fairly cheap. What'll happen if the belt breaks is (for many modern engines) the pistons will hit the valves and bend or break them. If you're really lucky it won't cause any damage to the heads or engine block. Even so, the repair bill from a shop will probably approach the value of the car. Sucks all around. Essentially you should either accept that the car may turn to non-running junker one day (or maybe never), or pay the shop and know that it'll probably keep running for years. It's a crappy decision either way. Complaint 2 for the day: I have to decide if I want to replace the timing belt in my Subaru, and if I do should I try it myself or pay a shop.

If you drive a Ford Festiva, you still can! http://www.tirerack....E&filterType=oe Tires have gone up in price like everything else. :( Oh, complaint: poison ivy. On the face.

People like to forget that part. The USA would have never come to be if not for the French.

I don't think alchemy helps with population statistics. ;)

He's talking about the remake. ;) (which I didn't see) So this is local to me but on-point: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140629/new-cmert-vehicle-may-look-intimidating-but-purpose-is-safety Yes, SAFETY: F' YEAH!

Fair enough. I'm going to stay neutral to mildly hopeful on him until I see him not showing anything on a "normal" 12-overall pick timeline. Next year is probably go-no go.

Somehow I was thinking mistaking Mississauga for St. Catherines. Never mind!

Polka Face?

Can't read my, Can't read my...

A couple choice posts from the Ennis thread.

I don't have much. Did shots with Maryalice Demler (SP?) in full TV make up one Friday in the late 90s. Bolded: actual Carrot Top was at the jewelry store my wife worked at in Vegas. She reports that it's not as funny looking and is really pumped in person.

Some of our Brit friends might find that too female-specific (it has a different meaning there).

The question I'd have is how far can we go into Ontario. Matt Moulson, for instance, is from (Mister and) Mississauga, which is possible. Toronto's players include London ON, which is a three hour drive from Toronto.

There's some discussion of this in the Tyler Ennis thread (since he was the center for Edmonton in the article).

I'll definitely second the recommendation of the High Line and Brooklyn Bridge walks. Great stuff. If I remember right, there are some pretty awesome food carts on the south end of the high line.

There's a company around here that builds towers (I assume like private windmills, radio, etc.) that has "We're proud of our erections" plastered on the side of their trucks. I couldn't decide if that was a positive or a negative. I applaud them for being a bit bold, but it might be a bit too juvenile to trust them.

There's a few places down on St Mark's (8th St) around 1st Ave (Bua[0] and Crif Dogs as examples). That's the only area I know in Manhattan (and even then I haven't been there in awhile). I don't really know much up in Midtown, but the subway is pleasant enough these days to hop a train. My friends live in Queens/Astoria now, so they tend to stay out there more. [0] Bua is the site of my only "rock star" moment, which I'll relate in the Awesome thread some time.

I see what you did there.