gowestyoungman's recent activity
-
Comment on What are your predictions for 2025? in ~talk
-
Comment on Chrysler only sells a minivan. The iconic brand’s days could be numbered. in ~transport
gowestyoungman LinkId have to agree that Chrysler has lost its way in regards to pricing everything including the 'cheap utilitarian minivan' market. Ive had an older Caravan and it was a good vehicle for the cost,...Id have to agree that Chrysler has lost its way in regards to pricing everything including the 'cheap utilitarian minivan' market. Ive had an older Caravan and it was a good vehicle for the cost, very capable hauler for my family and relatively reliable (with the 3.3L engine). But that was when you could buy a used one for a few grand and still get ten years use out of it. Now where I live in Canada a new Pacifica is 59k and the hybrid is 74k which is insane pricing to me - that was luxury car pricing just a few years ago and we're still talking about a minivan here, not a new Lexus.
If we could go back to the era when a base minivan was 24,999 they might have a hope, but I really doubt Chrysler's going to be selling a lot of 60 to 75k minivans. The name doesn't haven't enough cache to justify that. -
Comment on What have you spent "too much time" trying to fix or streamline? in ~talk
gowestyoungman (edited )LinkMine's not a tech problem. I tried to convert my old diesel one ton to run on used veggie oil. Spent WAY too much time and money on it. It involved putting plastic tanks in the bed of the truck...Mine's not a tech problem. I tried to convert my old diesel one ton to run on used veggie oil. Spent WAY too much time and money on it.
It involved putting plastic tanks in the bed of the truck and then running new fuel lines to the injector pump of the engine. Which wouldn't be such a huge deal except that I wanted to have a system where the truck starts on regular diesel fuel til it warms up and then switches over to veggie when its warmed, as you cant inject cold veggie or it'll stall your engine.
Which means everything has to be insulated and heated, including the tank, the lines, and the filter that is positioned just before the injector. And I thought Id be the rocket scientist and do that all with heating elements run off the alternator. By this time Id already spent weeks working on it in my driveway with a lot of trial and error. Experimented and found that an old Cummins 12 valve will run on new veggie oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, diluted engine oil AND used veggie oil.
I actually got it working enough that I also decided to put extra tanks in the bed of the truck and then added a filtering system and a suction system - that allowed me to pull up behind a local convenience store where I had permission to suck the used veggie oil right out of their disposal tank, through my heavy duty sump pump and into my first tank. From there I filtered it into a second tank. And from there I mixed it with a bit of diesel to dilute it a bit (in winter) to a third tank.
The whole crazy project took me about 6 weeks of daily work to get it running half decently. But here's what no one who does this really mentions: Used veggie oil is a royal pain in the ass to handle. It not only drips on things, its sticky as hell. So pretty soon ALL my tools were covered and sticky, the truck bed was sticky, my driveway was sticky and the pump and lines were kept in a box that inevitably dripped and got sticky too. Its miserable stuff.
It did work. For awhile. The servos to switch over the lines from diesel to veggie were expensive, and the lines and pumps and other components probably cost about $2000 all tolled even though I scavenged a lot of components. In the end I ran it for a few months and then in the dead of a cold Canadian winter the heaters couldn't keep up and the lines gummed up and the engine stalled, leaving me with one very frustrated wife on the side of a barren highway. Cost savings vs expenses I think I ended up at about negative $1500.
I gave up, sold the truck for basically what I paid for it with all the veggie stuff still attached. I dont think the kid who bought cared that it could run on veggie oil and I no longer cared either.
-
Comment on Is the Cybertruck really that bad? in ~transport
gowestyoungman Link ParentThat's fair. The only thing I can say definitively is that Ive finally seen one in person after seeing a hundred pics online and reading dozens of comments. I tried to view it as objectively as...That's fair. The only thing I can say definitively is that Ive finally seen one in person after seeing a hundred pics online and reading dozens of comments.
I tried to view it as objectively as possible, being a long time car enthusiast and having a passion for design. And after 20 minutes of walking around it and viewing it from all angles, and peering inside, I can say definitively... I dont love it nor hate it. It's just different than anything else but it didn't move me or repulse me.
-
Comment on How has your industry changed in the past decade? in ~life
gowestyoungman (edited )Link ParentYou're assuming two things, both of which are big oversights. One is that if I didnt own a home that the person Im renting to would be able to buy it. Highly unlikely. Homes have high prices...You're assuming two things, both of which are big oversights.
One is that if I didnt own a home that the person Im renting to would be able to buy it. Highly unlikely. Homes have high prices because it costs a heck of a lot to build them. There are a ton of people who all want to be paid and that makes them expensive whether I own them or not. At least where I live that's true - you cant build a house here for under $350/sq ft. So whether I own it or not that house is still going to be 350/sq ft because land, taxes, lawyers, realtors, contractors, tradesmen, utility installation and especially building supplies are all expensive. Add another 100k for the lot. And we're considered a 'reasonably affordable' place to live in Canada.
But the second one, and its a huge one, is that you're assuming that everyone WANTS to buy a home. No, they dont. Just a few examples of my many renters:
a) Newly separated who dont have any cash and wont be seeing money from their divorce for another three years
b) University students
c) Professionals on temporary job assignments for one or two years
d) "Snowbirds" who only live here in summer
e) Couples who only met less than a year ago and have no idea if they are long term or not
f) Handicapped individuals with no desire to do home maintenance
g) Young people who like moving frequently and just want to 'try out the city'
h) Seniors who are done with home ownership and are quite happy to let someone else deal with it
i) Contractors in town for a specified job who would rather be in a house than hotel or AirBnB
j) Newly employed young professionals not sure where they want to live once they build up their savings
k) Extremely highly paid individuals who much prefer buying more 'man toys' or investing than buying a homeSure all those people COULD rent from a big corporation that owns an apartment building, but as a landlord who only rents out houses I can tell you that most people much prefer a house with a yard and a place their dog or cat or kids have a place to roam.
And unlike Big Rental Corp. my renters pay for things that promote the local economy like the tradesmen I hire to fix plumbing, electrical, roofing, painting, landscaping instead of paying Big Rental Corp's CEO, accounting, PR department and most of all, their shareholders.
I have plenty of happy renters and I intend to keep them that way. I celebrate the ones who save up enough to buy their own houses and I keep the rest happy with safe, comfortable housing thats just under market value. Which is why I like being a landlord and they like having me as one.
Cheers.
ps I started with a rental nearly 40 years ago when there was no 'scarcity' issue. Just because the press decided its NOW a problem doesnt make it my responsibility. Someone forgot to build more houses and lessen our massive over immigration issue (at least in Canada) Just because the gov dropped the ball and failed on planning, oversight and put up a ton of hurdles to new builds doesnt make it MY problem now,
-
Comment on World’s oldest known man dies aged 112 in Merseyside in ~life
gowestyoungman Link ParentThere's a 'good age' to die. Too young and it's a tragedy and it leaves so many of your family with a heartbreak that never quite goes away. Too old and you grow so very lonely because much of...There's a 'good age' to die. Too young and it's a tragedy and it leaves so many of your family with a heartbreak that never quite goes away. Too old and you grow so very lonely because much of your family has passed on before you and you have no one left but professional medical personnel to keep you alive. But for what at that point?
Personally I think my mother and father got it right, both dying earlier this year in their mid 80s. That's my 'goal' if picking a good age to die can be considered a goal. -
Comment on How has your industry changed in the past decade? in ~life
gowestyoungman Link ParentThe social media presence is just a bonus, and usually confirms what's already been shown in the credit score, walkthrough interview and reference checks. But its definitely revealing when people...The social media presence is just a bonus, and usually confirms what's already been shown in the credit score, walkthrough interview and reference checks.
But its definitely revealing when people leave them open and dont restrict their privacy.
-
Comment on How has your industry changed in the past decade? in ~life
gowestyoungman LinkIm a landlord and there are a few notable changes, although the first one is location specific: I have houses in cities that experience boom and bust due to oil and gas money. So when the economy...Im a landlord and there are a few notable changes, although the first one is location specific: I have houses in cities that experience boom and bust due to oil and gas money. So when the economy is soft, rents are lowest and no one even mentions us or cares that we exist. But recently, in a boom time, rent prices have risen dramatically, along with house prices, taxes, insurance, maintenance and everything else related and suddenly we are being vilified in the press and online as if we created the boom and the massive influx of workers and immigrants who are flooding our province and crowding the market. That never used to happen in past boom cycles, probably because there was little social media and few places to vent.
Another good change is that there are far more resources available to landlords to vet potential tenants. This is a very good thing. It used to be that I could only go on a gut feeling which is difficult when you only have a few minutes conversation and a paper application to go by. I got conned more than once by a sweet talking but highly irresponsible or in some cases, downright criminal tenants. Now there's social media, which tells far more than most tenants imagine, and there are credit checks that search credit history and criminal history. And now, at least in Canada, there is an online database of court cases against delinquent tenants who have caused thousands in damages or are serial 'professional tenants' likely to move in and never pay rent again. Its getting easier to protect yourself from the grief of a malicious tenant.
-
Comment on A lesson un-learned: two "influencers" drown after refusing to wear life jackets so not to ruin their tans in ~tech
gowestyoungman (edited )LinkAh, the vanity of mankind. I watch drone youtubes of boaters going in and out of Haulover Inlet in Florida, a channel that is notorious for wickedly high waves and strong currents. Its also the...Ah, the vanity of mankind. I watch drone youtubes of boaters going in and out of Haulover Inlet in Florida, a channel that is notorious for wickedly high waves and strong currents. Its also the epitome of people flashing their excess lifestyle by partying on the foredeck of their big or small yachts, or 'bros' in cigarette boats going out for a run with other bros to show off. The universal rule in every video is that its extremely uncool to be seen in a lifejacket. And the 'credit card captains' often dont have great boating skills (which is exactly what makes the videos entertaining).
So its not hard to see the danger coming. The most entertaining, but most injury inducing ones are people sitting in the open bow as the captain, disregarding speed limits and common sense, guns the throttle and powers over a big wave. Of course he's ignoring the fact that after every big wave there's a big trough and his unfortunate passengers find themselves weightless and scrambling for handholds as the boat drops out from underneath them. Then just as they figure this shock was over, the boat leaps up again and smashes them into the seat if they're lucky, or into the railing or floor if they're not, knocking the breath out of them at best, or causing spine fractures at worst.
The party isn't over and if Mr. Throttle hasn't been mindful of his damaged passengers he's still full steam ahead only to hit an even bigger wave to launch his poor friends either into the air, or in some cases, right over the side of the boat. You often seen people going down to the deck but not coming back up as Mr Throttle speeds out of the inlet, hoping like mad that he can outrun the drone and the embarrassment.
Its quite the spectacle. But again, the good part is that NONE of these people would be caught dead wearing a lifejacket. Its just not cool. Im positive vanity has sent more than one to the ER with injuries and some near drownings.
(Here's an excellent example of a captain with far more money than brains absolutely destroying his passengers: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nwNB0aKzJRw)
-
Comment on Washington Post cancellations hit 250,000 – 10% of subscribers in ~society
gowestyoungman LinkIm confused. I dont understand how NOT endorsing a candidate is a bad thing. The media was never supposed to be biased, at least back in the day, it reported the news as best it could, from all...Im confused. I dont understand how NOT endorsing a candidate is a bad thing. The media was never supposed to be biased, at least back in the day, it reported the news as best it could, from all viewpoints and left the decision making up to the reader. So why is it a big deal to not endorse a candidate. Seems like a step in the right direction back to proper journalism.
-
Comment on What Facebook has done to us in ~tech
gowestyoungman LinkEven in hours of utter boredom, does anyone have the patience to watch a youtube that's over 3 hours long? A high budget, spectacularly directed Hollywood blockbuster rarely achieves that feat.Even in hours of utter boredom, does anyone have the patience to watch a youtube that's over 3 hours long? A high budget, spectacularly directed Hollywood blockbuster rarely achieves that feat.
-
Comment on The unlikelihood of being complimented as a man in ~life.men
gowestyoungman Link ParentThat was very kind of you. Thank you.That was very kind of you. Thank you.
-
Comment on The unlikelihood of being complimented as a man in ~life.men
gowestyoungman Link ParentThe sports gear thing is real. I am totally a non-sports guy, but during a trip to the US I found and bought a hat that had a Longhorns logo on it. I was quite surprised when a guy in a line up...The sports gear thing is real. I am totally a non-sports guy, but during a trip to the US I found and bought a hat that had a Longhorns logo on it. I was quite surprised when a guy in a line up out of the blue started making comments to me about something and I was scrambling to figure out what he was referring to. I must've looked puzzled, Finally he pointed to my hat and asked if I was a Longhorns fan. He didnt know what to say when I replied. "Nope, I have a big head and this was the only hat I liked that fit" lol. I didnt even know the Longhorns were a team.
-
Comment on The unlikelihood of being complimented as a man in ~life.men
gowestyoungman Link ParentYeah, we obviously live very different lives in very different places. I live where the standard daytime 'mens wear' is a pair of insulated coveralls with reflective tape for work, with a hoodie...Yeah, we obviously live very different lives in very different places. I live where the standard daytime 'mens wear' is a pair of insulated coveralls with reflective tape for work, with a hoodie underneath, and after work its boots, jeans and a insulated flannel shirt jacket. Might go all out and put on their 'fancy' sweatshirt with a team logo on it if the wife/gf insists they look better. I honestly haven't seen any of my male friends or acquaintances here ever dressed up in more than a buttoned shirt and that was probably at a funeral. Im sure you live somewhere with a lot more class - which probably isn't the boonies of northern Canada :)
-
Comment on The unlikelihood of being complimented as a man in ~life.men
gowestyoungman Link ParentCant speak for all men obviously, but I couldn't care less about being complimented on my clothes. To me thats pretty superficial and meaningless. Now I WOULD be impressed if someone complimented...Cant speak for all men obviously, but I couldn't care less about being complimented on my clothes. To me thats pretty superficial and meaningless.
Now I WOULD be impressed if someone complimented me on what I built. Or what I produced in writing or my art. Or something I invented. Or even something one of my kids accomplished. Heck, just about anything OTHER than what Im wearing. -
Comment on The unlikelihood of being complimented as a man in ~life.men
gowestyoungman Link ParentInteresting, I never thought about it being a rural/urban thing but there's probably something to that. When I lived in the city I had to wear a suit and tie every day, it was policy. Now that I...Interesting, I never thought about it being a rural/urban thing but there's probably something to that. When I lived in the city I had to wear a suit and tie every day, it was policy. Now that I live rural, and retired from professional life, my only concern is that my clothes aren't TOO ripped or stained but I often joke about looking "only slightly homeless today." The good part is that no one cares, we live in near a blue collar town and thats pretty much how everyone dresses.
But on the original comments, what I read was that men dont get complimented much on anything - not just looks. There was a common thought that they felt they were there to provide money or resources, or to be the physically strong one in a hard job but few people saw to compliment them on anything.
-
The unlikelihood of being complimented as a man
I read through hundreds of comments on reddit (I know, Ive digressed) on the question 'What would women dislike most if they became men?' The one that hit me square in the face were the thousands...
I read through hundreds of comments on reddit (I know, Ive digressed) on the question 'What would women dislike most if they became men?' The one that hit me square in the face were the thousands of men who agreed that they hadn't been complimented for anything in years.
One commenter said the last time he was complimented was ten years ago and he can still remember the time and the place because it was so unusual. One gut punch even said, "Many men are laying in their casket before many good things are ever said about them" and at first I thought, well that's gotta be hyperbole. But then I thought more about it and realized that while I have had a couple of compliments from my wife over the last year, I dont recall a single other person saying anything complimentary in probably over a year... And I never really thought about it, but its just not something we expect to hear.
It's not like I was waiting for compliments, but I think the statement true - men just rarely get compliments. And I'm not sure why.
I definitely don't compliment my friends very often. Occasionally do compliment my adult son but I'm sure, like most guys, that's pretty infrequent coming from any other male in his life.
It's just a bit odd when I think about how often my wife gets compliments. Or my daughters. Not sure why we men get so little affirmation that way. It really struck me as odd.
67 votes -
Comment on The collapse of self-worth in the digital age in ~health.mental
gowestyoungman LinkI must confess, I was interested in this article but too impatient to read something so long right now. So I got AI to summarize it: The article explores the impact of the digital age on...I must confess, I was interested in this article but too impatient to read something so long right now. So I got AI to summarize it:
The article explores the impact of the digital age on self-worth, examining how algorithms and social media have transformed how we measure value. It discusses how personal experiences, art, and even friendships are now commodified, with self-worth increasingly determined by external metrics like likes, followers, and engagement stats. The constant drive for validation through digital means creates a never-ending loop of dissatisfaction, alienating individuals from their intrinsic sense of value and self. The piece highlights the challenges of finding meaning in a data-driven, hyper-commercialized world.
-
Comment on EV discussion thread in ~transport
gowestyoungman (edited )Link ParentI dont own a Miata but Ive rented one and gone 'canyon carving' for a day so I get the appeal of small, lightweight sports car with responsive steering, great handling and braking in an affordable...I dont own a Miata but Ive rented one and gone 'canyon carving' for a day so I get the appeal of small, lightweight sports car with responsive steering, great handling and braking in an affordable package. I also drive an 81 Vette which definitely isnt small or light but still has that great handling that puts a smile on your face.
Which is exactly why I bought a 2015 Fiat 500e six years ago. And absolutely love it.
Out of all the cars Ive owned (a LOT) the Fiat is right at the top of the list for smiles per mile. It accelerates like a gokart for the first 0-30 mph and loses some oomph after that, but still whips briskly enough up to its governed limit of 88 mph (very Back to the Future-ish)
But what I love even more is that its extremely planted even at top end, mostly because its small, aerodynamic, but all that weight is below the floorboards, making it rock solid. On any pavement at that speed, just a flick of the wrist gets you into another lane but without sway, without any hint of losing traction. Its the closest thing to running a legal gokart on the highway.
And the brakes are phenomenal too. Its mostly regenerative braking at speed til you get down to the last few mph, but its highly effective, giving you great confidence that should a radar gun appear on the horizon, you can safely and very quickly be back to locally approved speeds.
And the fun thing is that it looks, and is, totally innocuous. Ive rolled up to more than one stop light, and seeing a bro in his new engine revving monster motioned that I wanted to drag to the next light. Ive always been met by laughter and when the light turns green I can hear their engines roar as they PLAN to leave me in the dust. Its more than a little fun to watch them disappear behind me as the little Fiat bests them in the 0-30 drag - and of course they start to gain on me after that, but the damage is already done to their egos. I usually just wave as they eventually blow by me a block and a half later, girlfriends staring at their bros and wondering how the hell they picked such a wimp for a boyfriend LOL.
Get a 500e. All the fun you can muster for 5 to 8k or less (in the US). And if you feel the need to stroke your ego you can always give it the 'hot hatch' treatment so it looks as fun as it is: https://i.imgur.com/VeV0cS1.jpeg (an ICE version but the bodies are identical)
-
Comment on EV discussion thread in ~transport
gowestyoungman Link ParentDont quite understand the resale plunge on the EV6. Reviews seem to be good, owners are quite happy. Its definitely one of the better looking EVs out there. Yet they sell for 60k brand new here...Dont quite understand the resale plunge on the EV6. Reviews seem to be good, owners are quite happy. Its definitely one of the better looking EVs out there. Yet they sell for 60k brand new here (Canada) and two years later they're 40k. Why?
Agreed, although the January resignation is only because they are breaking for the holidays today, and Justin and Telford need to line up their next gig before announcing his departure, otherwise it would be sooner.
More specifically, I predict the Conservatives will win a landslide majority victory relegating both the Liberals and the NDP to a tier similar to the Bloc and the Greens will chuckle. Pierre Poilievre will enjoy a tumultuous three day victory lap before the press and the bitter Liberals begins to slice and dice him for not instantly fixing the deficit, providing cheap homes and cutting immigration to a couple of families from the Philippines every year.
Trump's gonna bluster and moan about tariffs, but at the end of the day, we'll agree to spend a bit more on defense (read: give American arms makers money) and post a couple more cops at the border and the tariffs won't amount to much. But it doesnt help that we currently have a dishevelled government so hopefully nothing happens til we have a new gov installed.
2025 is going to be an interesting year in Canada.