so waht ya doin today?

[462]

Our microwave oven died. I suspect an unobtainium, specialty type internal fuse blew, but the back panel is not removable without a special Torx driver that has a hole in its center to accommodate the tit that is in the center of the screw.
Can't complain a lot, as it is close to 10 years old, has lived through numerous power outages and subsequent power surges, when the electricity is restored, but that it has become disposable is irksome.

 

[CZ93X62]

Toasters have been my problematic kitchen appliance. Until Marie came into my life in late 2000, I was lucky to get 2 years' service from a toaster. I didn't spend a king's ransom on some yuppie-designer-high-end toaster, but I didn't buy junky off-brands either. I use tools gently, whether in the garage or the kitchen......no luck with toasters.

We got a nice 4-slice unit as a wedding gift in 2001, and it lasted until 2014 when we moved to Imperial Beach. We gave it to charity, it worked fine. Marie got a set of red coffee-maker and toaster in 2014, and those have lasted over 5 years. I have had little to do with their usage, which may be the critical element here enabling their survival.

 

[fiver]

took the G-son fishing yesterday.
it didn't take him long to discern the difference between his new pole and my and his Mom's poles.
at first he wanted my pole I think because I had caught the first 2 fish and he got to reel one in on it, then Littlegirl got one.
I quickly realized he figured out the difference in reel quality after catching one on his pole tight after one on mine.
at one point me, Littlegirl, and him all had a fish on at the same time so he was kind of forced to hang on until I [or Mom] could get there to help him out.
I got my fish back in the water pretty quick, and was getting his wrangled up on shore to get the hook out. he picked up my pole and started running off with it, when I grabbed him he was not gonna give back my pole for nothing.
I ended up tossing it out in front of him with no bait on it and using his to catch another fish before he would trade me back.
I guess i'll get him a better reel for Christmas... LOL.

on another Note.
I picked up Littlegirls St. Croix I had bought for her when she got married and give it a go while she was dealing with another fish Barrett had caught.
I forgot what a well balanced rig it was. nice, light trim and balanced with a good feel and backbone for such a light rig.
I tossed it out like I do my Fenwick and threw it easily another 15yds past where I normally would have. [they are identical length, line weight [brand] and sinker weights]
a fish hit it about the time I had the line set, and I fought a 4 lb fish in almost like it was nothing.
the rod has a lot more backbone to it than you'd think for such a small diameter.
it would have been real easy to over do it and break the leader.
it also come with a lifetime warranty.
if I didn't have a dozen more rods than I need I'd buy myself one in a heart beat.

 

[waco]

Hello. My name is Walter. I cast Bullets and even shoot them from time to time. I’m still alive and kicking, just so you know.

 

[fiver]

I been wonderin what I did to run you off... LOL

 

[Bret4207]

I was an ultra light fanatic before it was cool. When everyone else was using #4's and 6's (perch hooks) on 12 lbs line with a pool cue for a rod, I was using #10's and 12's on 2 and 4lbs line and taking just as many or more fish. The old Zebco 44 underspin was the bomb back in the day. Figures since Zebco started out as "The Zero Bomb Company"!

My Dad was kind of a St Croix guy. I have a couple from back in the late 50's/early 60's I'd guess. They still work fine.

ITS, rocks like that are why God invented the skid steer!

462- those "security" Torx bits are available at places like TSC and Harbor Freight, plus I think Lowes carries them. I picked up a set a couple years back, they are cheapies but they come in handy.

Windy here, not bad temp-wise, but that darn breeze cuts through you. You need long johns and a turtle neck under the jeans and sweatshirt and the heavy coat, hats and mittens while in the wind. Step out of the wind and you figure out you're over dressed when you start sweating. Maybe it will warm up more after the sun comes up. Need to work on the furnace while it's not too cold, gonna be around 4F tonite! Also need to spend some time on the bull dozer and smooth out some ruts in the wagon road we made before it freezes hard.

 

[358156 hp]

Our microwave oven died. I suspect an unobtainium, specialty type internal fuse blew, but the back panel is not removable without a special Torx driver that has a hole in its center to accommodate the tit that is in the center of the screw.
Can't complain a lot, as it is close to 10 years old, has lived through numerous power outages and subsequent power surges, when the electricity is restored, but that it has become disposable is irksome.

The "security" type Torx bits are pretty commonly available, I think even Harbour Freight has them. I've always felt that their commonality was pretty ironic, under the circumstances.

ETA- how the heck did I miss Brets reply? Geeeezzzzz.....

 

[Gary]

Brother came down from Kansas City to reload and shoot on my backyard 100yd range yesterday. I got (3) rifles scoped and bore sighted AND on paper and he shot 6 groups of five at 100 with his RPR 5.56. All his were shoulder bump sized (.002) and weighed/trimmed; all pwd charges individually weighed; and all bullets weighed so with the exception of pwd choice(Varget, BL-C2 or 4064) and bullet weight (62gr and 75gr) everything was the same. He shot some really good groups.
Speaking of KC; where's Pistolero?

 

[Ian]

Tamper-resistant Torx fasteners first appeared in the auto industry, specifically computer module covers and ignition switch mounting screws. It worked for a while since only mechanics could buy them and the only place available were through the dealership's special tool program or off of the tool trucks. That worked for about a week until the car thieves got their own. First ignition switch I had to replace got the pins broken out with a punch and the screws removed in the usual manner. You may get the screws out of the microwave but good luck finding any replacement parts.

 

[popper]

Haven't heard much from Pistolero lately. 462 - you really don't want to open up the MW, extreme shock danger! Usually the cap or diode are blown. They are fixable (parts are available) if the mag hasn't blown but usually not worth the trouble. The magnets on the maggie are neat though.

 

[smokeywolf]

462, our 16 year old microwave went out about 2 years ago. I spent at least one month studying the consumer and commercial microwave offerings. If you use a router for your home networking needs, a few of the microwaves (Panasonic in particular) have insufiscient shielding and may interfere with your router to internet device (computer, cell phone, "smart TV") communication.
Also, the microwave manufacturers have wised up and no longer make microwaves that last well over 10 years. Now they make them to last well under 10 years.

 

[Bret4207]

Haven't heard much from Pistolero lately.
/QUOTE]

I was going to post about the same thing. I know Bill got his nose bent pretty bad over some comments about bicyclists and he said he'd be gone for a while. I certainly hope he comes back soon as I really miss his posts.

 

[462]

Bill took some of those bicyclists posts very personally.
I miss his forum input, and the interesting and informative PM conversations we had.

Bill,
If you read this without signing in, sign in, send me a PM and I'll reply with my e-mail address.

 

[fiver]

he did,, I know he rides a Bike an awful lot.
I used to ride a bike all over the place and the one place I was most afraid of riding also happens to be the one place I'm most 'aggravated' as a motorist when coming up on a group of riders.
you have to work together.

 

[KeithB]

I sent a message to Bill a couple weeks ago with no response. I hope he is OK.

 

[462]

I don't know anything about how a forum's backroom works, but if a moderator has access to Bill's e-mail address perhaps he/she can get in touch with him and express our concerns about his well being, etc.

 

[Rick]

I don't have access to an email for him, it's not listed on his profile and that's all I have, same as any member.

 

[smokeywolf]

Been in the new place about 6 weeks now. As a result of waiting for winter weather to send the chiggers and ticks into hiding, I had yet to explore the northern 10 acres or so of the property. Still haven't walked all the acreage north of the house, but took a walk today around maybe 7 of those acres. Very dense trees; maybe 60% evergreen and 40% oak. Wish it was the other way around. A long way from flat, but still not impossible to traverse even for a stove-up old fart like me.

Electrical contractor came yesterday and cut the driveway for a sleeve for the propane line (tank on one side of the driveway and generator on the other) and poured the pad for the stand-by generator.

 

[CZ93X62]

I would like to see Pistolero/Bill return as well. I probably torqued his jaws a bit with my comments about cyclists and their roadway arrogance vis-a-vis their utter shock at being hit by motorists, but I don't care WHAT you drive or ride--insisting upon right-of-way is a great way to be involved in a collision. Cyclists really hate hearing that--they did 40 years ago when I worked collisions in Palm Desert, and little has changed over the years. Fiver expressed the right idea, but it happens far too seldom IME.

 

[uncle jimbo]

Sitting here listening to the fighter wing stationed at Hill AFB start their night training maneuvers for the fourth night in a row. They are doing them along the mountain front instead of out at the training range in the west desert. These maneuvers go on all night. And OMG these F35 fighters are fricking noisy. Ok, I'm done complaining for now.