The Lounge

[Standingstones]

We just went through this and the traditional dealership model is dead, or at least diseased. Take the Subaru place we just dealt with.

I can see the need for authorized, standardized dealership service for warranty, etc for any vehicle. They all need something, gas electric or hybrid. Machines wear out and break. Roswell, right ? Can't even call for a tow on that one but the US Army supposedly provides flatbed service free of charge. But I digress .....

The service writers, mechanics, vehicle detailers, parts counter and drivers. All necessary. But virtually the entire Sales Dept we saw was quite literally doing nothing, and when they did do anything it was slow and sloppy. You could hit the chrome handle and replace the lot of them with a kiosk.

Elon Musk has a different, refreshing approach

The Tesla Approach to Distributing and Servicing Cars

When we bought our Subaru Forester we received their sales treatment. The sales guy gave us a quickie run down on how everything works. We were then told to call into a video session where new car owners would be taught the finer details. We didn’t bother with the video chat. You are right, the sales staff were just sitting around when we went to the dealership. There was someone at the door to greet us and guide us to the right person or department.

I guess that the car sales staff have virtually no inventory so they sit on their hands most of the day. Hopefully for them, someone is looking for a pre owned car to buy.

 

[pigfarmer]

At one time a dealer was a value added service. Some of the coolest factory muscle cars came from places like Yenko who really added service. Even the ones I used to get my service trucks from arranged to have all the cages and tool boxes and shelves installed before I picked it up. Wasn't unusual for a good dealer to put aftermarket goodies on like mud flaps and mirrors to make the vehicle more attractive. I remember this came up in a discussion of the McMinnville UFO pic and truck mirrors - even the factory loses track of the crap they put in vehicles after years go by.

In this case it was at the very pinnacle of Ed's ability to swap the plates to the new car. Seems there were two types of fasteners on them. Jesus, hold the phone and call NASA and have them send over a rocket scientist. He wasn't even aware of the car we bought until we asked for it by stock #. If we had missed Ed and gone directly to the silly crazy inflatable straw guy flapping out front nothing much would have changed.

 

[Standingstones]

At one time a dealer was a value added service. Some of the coolest factory muscle cars came from places like Yenko who really added service. Even the ones I used to get my service trucks from arranged to have all the cages and tool boxes and shelves installed before I picked it up. Wasn't unusual for a good dealer to put aftermarket goodies on like mud flaps and mirrors to make the vehicle more attractive. I remember this came up in a discussion of the McMinnville UFO pic and truck mirrors - even the factory loses track of the crap they put in vehicles after years go by.

In this case it was at the very pinnacle of Ed's ability to swap the plates to the new car. Seems there were two types of fasteners on them. Jesus, hold the phone and call NASA and have them send over a rocket scientist. He wasn't even aware of the car we bought until we asked for it by stock #. If we had missed Ed and gone directly to the silly crazy inflatable straw guy flapping out front nothing much would have changed.

This reminds me of when we were Hyundai owners. The mesh netting in the trunk was an additional cost. However, the sales guy was willing to throw it in for “free” because we were good customers. Gee thanks. We were buying a 30k vehicle and they threw in a $50 netting that actually costs a buck to make !

 

[Kchoo]

I am enjoying learning to play the guitar... and now and then I stumble into something... "Well hmmm there is a good sound..." and I start experimenting and then find myself rocking out on some tangent that has nothing to do with the topic I am studying. I get can't help getting carried away and find myself totally rocking it out.

And for a little while, I feel 18 again.

Doing some lessons on music theory for guitar and sight reading.

I can't just pick up a piece of sheet music and rock it out yet. It will take some time and lots more practice to be fluent and fluid, but I am enjoying the journey.

I can now usually play a song recognizably from the sheet music after about an hour of piddling with it, and I know I have it when the wife stops in to listen- saying, "THAT one sounded good."

I now have several tunes memorized so I need to keep finding new sheet music to keep the reading fresh.

Here are some that I play well enough from memory that I am not afraid to play for friends:
Pink Panther,
Adams Family,
Spider Man,
Love Me Tender,
House of the Rising Sun,
Oh Susanna,
Juanita,
Happy Birthday,
Christmas Time is Here,
Jingle Bells,
What Child is This,
Silent Night,
Rudolph The Red Nosed REINDEER.

I am dabbling with writing songs and trying to apply the new things I learn to try and make them album worthy. I have about 6 different songs I am writing and

It gets easier, and less tiring the more I do it. I try to play quietly on the accoustic until I get the confidence up, then I play a little louder.

I have developed a love for it.
The guitar is an amazing instrument.
And it is starting to feel like an extension of me. I guess that means I am getting used to it.

 

[wwkirk]

Decided to walk on the dark side for Halloween. Check my AV.

 

[nivek]

Decided to walk on the dark side for Halloween. Check my AV.

Same here, just changed my AV....

...

 

[nivek]

Same here, just changed my AV....

...

Changed it once more...

I also turned on our Halloween theme...

...

 

[nivek]

I also turned on our Halloween theme...

When I scroll down the page faster I notice the bats stay in location, they do not scroll with the pages...

...

 

[wwkirk]

Changed it once more...

I also turned on our Halloween theme...

...

Just noticed the hats!

 

[nivek]

Just noticed the hats!

Those are the default hats for the addon, I'll create some better ones for next year...There's supposed to be some cobwebs somewhere on the tops of the pages but I cannot find it lol...

...

 

[wwkirk]

Just caught on to the discrepancy between my networked and non-networked timekeeping devices.

 

[pigfarmer]

Just caught on to the discrepancy between my networked and non-networked timekeeping devices.

now spend the rest of the day trying to get the stove and the microwave clocks to match

 

[nivek]

Just caught on to the discrepancy between my networked and non-networked timekeeping devices.

The only non-networked time piece I have is my pocket watch on my dresser...Haven't changed its time yet lol...

...

 

[pigfarmer]

DST clock changes are also the day I test my fire and CO alarms

 

[nivek]

The current holiday theme is for Thanksgiving...Its not too impressive, first time using it...

...

 

[pepe]

Hello world and my old friend nivek a special hello and best wishes. I've caught up with my old working crew and am scribbling on the roads like always, how we have aged, some so fat they can't bend over and a few are lost in the wind, I might be one, no way of telling.

New love came and went thank goodness. Just an ache in my nuts to remind me where I belong. Billingsgate market on a Friday afternoon jogs an unpleasant memory which haunts me.

Gave up weed a while back and had a spate of dreams that could stop a heart, good to be clear of it and not to have the want to go back.

Still waiting for the return of the farmer as I know they watch us.

 

[nivek]

Hello world and my old friend nivek a special hello and best wishes. I've caught up with my old working crew and am scribbling on the roads like always, how we have aged, some so fat they can't bend over and a few are lost in the wind, I might be one, no way of telling.

New love came and went thank goodness. Just an ache in my nuts to remind me where I belong. Billingsgate market on a Friday afternoon jogs an unpleasant memory which haunts me.

Gave up weed a while back and had a spate of dreams that could stop a heart, good to be clear of it and not to have the want to go back.

Still waiting for the return of the farmer as I know they watch us.

Hey there pepe, great to see you again my old friend, I've been involved in a new love, met her at work and next thing you know she's spending half her weeks with me...Its going well for now, no complaints, sounds like things are going well with you...You sound good, I didn't get the farmer reference, went over my head a bit lol...

Great to hear from you mate!

...

 

[nivek]

I'm spending the Thanksgiving holiday out of town with some friends in South Carolina out in the middle of nowhere, so nice a peaceful here too...

https://alienexpanse.com/index.php?threads/thisnthat.4873/post-142169

.

 

[pepe]

Hey there pepe, great to see you again my old friend, I've been involved in a new love, met her at work and next thing you know she's spending half her weeks with me...Its going well for now, no complaints, sounds like things are going well with you...You sound good, I didn't get the farmer reference, went over my head a bit lol...

Great to hear from you mate!

...

This is good news nivek and you know you have all the best from me, you deserve no less.

Thanks man, life is still dealing me some curved ones but with a clearer head in think more linear than circular these days, bit late to make a success of it but is nice to see over the garden hedge than to have my head stuck in it.

Must say I have suprised myself with what I've given up over the years, amphet, booze and weed and working on tobacco as we speak but I'm cleaner now than I've been since I was 13.

She's a lucky lady but don't let her know that.

The farmer is the reason we even met all those years ago nivek, I had only just learned how to navigate the Web the day I got on AU and told my story. It has if anything helped me to give some reason as to our existence, rightly or wrongly matters not.

 

[pepe]

Currently having a tussle with a Russian developer who tried to kid me from the outset. These people have trouble with truth and it's now costing him big. I'm going to turn down any settlement he proposes and let it run through the courts. Fucking wise guy thinks he is above it all and is know answering to the courts and all his twisting of words and meanings have caught him out. I've played it cool for over a year, I know he'd want me to lose it and stick one on him but no, I've kept it in check and time has run out. He can't sell until he does it my way now which means he could face deconstruction on his project and it's great to see him over the barrel.

He'd have me anyway and he had ages to row back and follow procedure but he didn't respect me as he has only ever answered to himself. He just kept walking through it all thinking I would give in, ring any bells as the timing was ironic. Was leaving site and leaving his radio on a timer till the early hours to break me but a visit from the asbo department soon nipped it in the bud. Nothing left apart from sticking one on me and I welcome it as he would.

Ten grand maybe more and I don't want his money. Giving it to my cousin Charlotte who is flat broke and a good heart.



By the way if Putin goes, what comes is far worse.