WHY AMERICA 'S ECONOMY FELL OFF THE CLIFF

John Smith started the day early
having set his alarm clock
(MADE IN JAPAN ) for 6 am.

While his coffeepot
(MADE IN CHINA )
was perking, he shaved with his
electric razor
(MADE IN HONG KONG )


He put on a
dress shirt
(MADE IN SRI LANKA ),

designer jeans
(MADE IN SINGAPORE )
and
tennis shoes
(MADE IN KOREA)
After cooking his breakfast in his new
electric skillet
(MADE IN INDIA )
he sat down with his
calculator
(MADE IN MEXICO )
to see how much he could spend today. After setting his
watch
(MADE IN TAIWAN )
to the radio
(MADE IN INDIA )
he got in his car
(MADE IN GERMANY )
filled it with GAS
(from Saudi Arabia )
and continued his search
for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.
At the end of yet another discouraging
and fruitless day
checking his
Computer
(made in MALAYSIA ),
John decided to relax for a while.
He put on his sandals
(MADE IN BRAZIL ),
poured himself a glass of
wine
(MADE IN FRANCE )
and turned on his
TV
(MADE IN INDONESIA ),
and then wondered why he can't
find a good paying job
in AMERICA
AND NOW HE'S HOPING HE CAN GET HELP FROM A PRESIDENT MADE IN KENYA

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The wife and I are going to the Carolina Collector Auto Fest at the State Fairgrounds Raleigh, NC. We went to this show a few years ago and totally loved it. I believe we will have pretty good weather and there will be a huge turn out there. I will be posting an album when we get back home.

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Can anyone give me some insight as to how the seals are supposed to be installed in the '55 Chevy truck headlight bezels?

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I used to have an album featured on my page, but for that last several months, it has disappeared and I have tried several times to feature an album without success. If anyone out there can tell me why I can't feature an album, I would really appreciate it. I have posted a subject in the Help forum and have not heard from anyone there either.

Thanks for your assistance.

Bill

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I don't know how many folks are experiencing the same thing I am with the advertisements popping in on the album photos, but for me this is totally annoying as h%&#. Every time I bring up a new photo in an album that one of my friends sends out, if I accidently leave the mouse arrow on the photo too long, an advertisement comes either down from the top of up from the bottom. I do understand that this is a free sight and it relies on advertiesments to help with financing, but this is just too much. I posted an item in the Forums section about this and have had a couple of hits on that, but I have not heard anything from the gooroos who are over this site who can fix this. If anyone else is having this problem, it would be greatly appreciated if you would send something to the masterminds to see if that can be stopped.

Just blowing off steam.

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Il do it! If running low, just get your gas the day before on April 14 or the day after on April 16. Every little bit helps.
In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On April 15th 2011, all internet users are to not go to a gas station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over$4.00 a Gallon in most places.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companies pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on April 15th and let's try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

If you agree (which I can't see why you wouldn't) resend this to all your contact list. With it saying, "Don't pump gas on April 15th"

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This pic was taken last week at the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant. Apparently a heat lamp got too close to the work order and the whole thing went up in flames.

This is so sad. Apparently a heat lamp got too close to a work order, and the end result was that this unfortunate Challenger never got to do a single burnout.

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The last two photos show a panel that was in the trunk of the car when I bought it. I don't know what it is or where it goes on the car. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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I really don't want to ruin anyone's Holiday season, but I just had to get this out of me. They say it is always good to get your hurt out, that it will make it easier. I have already sent this to all my friends and it was suggested that I blog it. If you don't want to look through the album, I will understand. I have been told that this site is about People, their cars, their accomplishments, their failures and their losses.

We lost a friend, loyal companion, buddy and part of our family. Our loyal, loving pet dog Rusty passed away Christmas eve.

We had all our family over for our usual Christmas Eve celebration and the guys were in the den watching TV and talking about cars and stuff and the girls were all in the kitchen doing what the girls do. My wife came in the den and told me that something was wrong with Rusty. When I got in the kitchen, my granddaughter and a friend of hers were sitting by Rusty, He was laying on his rug in front of his food and water bowls. His front legs were twitching and jurking and his eyes were very glassy. My granddaughter was trying to get him up to give him a treat but he just layed there. I got down in front of him and rubbed him and talked to him but he did not respond right away. He finally halfway raised up and took the treat from my granddaughter but he did not chew it, he just held it in his mouth. We decided to take him to the Emergency Vet. Our son picked him up and carried him to the car. My wife got in the back seat with him and all the way to the Vet, he never opened his eyes, but he was still breathing. We got to the Vet and they brought out a gurney and we put him on it and they rolled him in while I parked the car. When I got inside the hospital, we were sent to an examining room where the doctor came in and started telling us that he was not doing well at all and was not responding to her either. She said they did some tests and his heart was beating strong but his liver was not in good condition. We told her that he had been having a lot of trouble getting around in the house and we almost had to carry him out every time he had to go to the bathroom. Rusty has been having a lot of problems with his back legs and we have been treating him and giving him vitamins to try to help with that. She told us that we really needed look at his quality of life situatiion and make a decision what we really wanted to do. Considering he was 13 years old, that is 91 in dog years. She left us alone to talk about it and both of started crying and holding each other because we knew what we had to do. The Vet came back in and we told her what we had decided. It was time to put Rusty to rest and ease. They rolled him in on a table and he was covered with a blanket and they had already put the IV in his front leg. She left us alone with him and we spent about half an hour talking to him and holding him. The Dr. came back in with the medication to put him to sleep. We waited for a few more minutes and told her it was time. She injected the medication and within a few minutes she put her stethascope on his little chest and said he was gone. Rusty was asleep. This was at 7:27 PM Christmas Eve. We said our goodbyes and went back home and everyone was still there and we had Christmas with the family, but it just wasn't the same without him laying on the living room floor with everyone around him. After everyone finally left, we just sat in silence holding each other and finally went to bed.

Christmas morning was very difficult. I usually get up and take him outside but he was not there. We got our coffee and went into the living room for our Christmas and we started crying again because his presents were still under the tree.

Us guys all think we are so tough and don't have feelings, but when you loose such a good pal like Rusty, it really show us just how much we really feel. Every morning that I get up, I start sobbing because my pal is not there to go outside with me.

This Christmas has been a very sad one to say the least but we have tried our best to make it Merry.

A lot of my friends here on Motortopia have already responded to my album. Everytime I read one of their replies, I start getting teary eyed again. I had no idea that this would make such an impact on all of them, but it did.

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Its no wonder that the gov would propose this........ever look at the lines at the ATMs with people paying fees AND all the Ky check cashing joints. People are already used to paying big fees.

1% tax on all bank transactions HR 4646







ANOTHER NEW OBAMA TAX SLIPPED IN WHILE WE WERE ASLEEP

Checked this on snopes, it's true!
Check out HR 4646

A one percent transaction fee (TAX), proposed by President Obama's finance team, is recommending a transaction tax. His plan is to sneak it in after the November elections to keep it under the radar. This is a 1% tax on all transactions at any financial institution. Banks, Credit Unions, Savings and Loans, etc..
Any deposit you make, or even a transfer within your account, will have a 1% tax charged. If your pay check or your social security or whatever is direct deposit, it will get a 1% tax charged for the transaction. If your paycheck is $1000 then you will pay Obama ten bucks just for the privilege of depositing your pay check in your bank. Even if you hand carry your paycheck or any check in to your bank for a deposit, 1% tax will be charged. You receive a $5,000 stock dividend from your broker, Obama takes 50 bucks just to allow you to deposit that check in the bank. If you take $1,000 cash in to deposit at your bank, 1% tax will be charged.
Mind you, this is from the man who promised that if you make under $250,000 per year, you will not see one penny of new tax. Keep your eyes and ears open, you will be amazed at what you learn about this guys under the table moves to increase the number of ways you are taxed. Oh, and by the way, you receive a refund from the IRS next year....and you have it direct deposited or else you walk in to deposit that check, you guessed it. You will pay a 1% charge of that money just for putting it in your bank.
Remember, any money, cash check or whatever no matter where it came from, you will pay a 1% fee if you put it in the bank.

Some will say, oh well, it's just 1%. Are you kidding me, it's a 1% tax increase across the board. Remember, once the tax is there, they can also raise it at will. And if anyone protests, they will just say oh,that's not really a tax, it's a user fee!
Think this is no big deal? Go back and look at the transactions from last years banking statements. When you add the total of all the transactions you did last year, then deduct 1%. Still think it's no big deal???


http://www.st...et/node/44797
www.statehouse.org

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MECHANICAL:
3.6L HFV6 DOHC VVT 252 HP
6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4-WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION
TAP SHIFT MANUAL SHIFT CONTROL
HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING ASSIST

SAFETY & SECURITY:
AIR BAGS, DUAL FRONTAL, PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM
HEAD CURTAIN SIDE AIR BAGS, FRONTAL/OUTBOARD REAR
SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS, DRIVER AND FRONTAL PASSENGER
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, 4-WHEEL DISC
STABILITRAK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM W/TRACTION CONTROL
1-YEAR ONSTAR DIRECTIONS W/AUTOMATIC CRASH RESPONSE AND
TURN- BY-TURN GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

EXTERIOR:
18” WHEELS BRIGHT ALUMINUM
GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TOURING TIRES, P225/50R 18
POWER HEATED OUTSIDE MIRRORS, FOLDING, BODY COLOR W/DRIVER –SIDE AUTO DIMMING
FOG LAMPS
CHROME EXHAUST TIPS
CHROME DOOR HANDLES
LED TAIL LAMPS
SUNROOF POWER TILT AND SLIDE

INTERIOR:
AIR CONDITIONING, AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
READING LAMPS, REAR
POWER DOOR LOCKS
POWER WINDOWS, DRIVER EXPRESS DOWN AND UP
POWER TRUNK RELEASE
AM/FM, CD PLAYER W/USB PORT W/XM SATELITE RADIO
BOSE PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM
BLUETOOTH FOR PHONE
POWER SEAT ADJUST-DRIVER, 8-WAY
POWER SEAT ADJUST-PASSENGER, 6-WAY
POWER LUMBAR, DRIVER SEAT
HEATED FRONT SEATS
SEATS, LEATHER APPOINTED
FLOOR MATS, PREMIUM
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
REAR WINDOW SHADE, MANUAL
SEAT, REAR SPLIT FOLDING
DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER
TILT AND TELESCOPIC LEATHER WRAPPED STEERING WHEEL W/CRUISE CONTROL
STEERING WHEEL AUDIO CONTROLS
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY
REMOTE VEHICLE START
UNIVERSAL HOME REMOTE
INSIDE, REARVIEW MIRROR, AUTO DIMMING WITH COMPASS

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I sure hope eveyone enjoys this video. I think everybody needs to see this.

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I finally finished the brakes a couple of weeks ago. Test drive was amazing. Still have a spongy pedal but a little more bleeding will cure that. This thing stops straight as an arrow with no bouncing in the rear now. I would like to thanks everyone who contributed to the knowledge base. Greatly appreciated.

Bill

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I have been toying with the idea of adding a frenced antenna where I am filling the gas filler hole behind the drivers door. I think this would look pretty cool, plus I wouldn't have to be so perfect making the angles correct just filling the hole.

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I have been having problems with the brakes on my 79 Chevy truck. The right front brake almost locks up after I have driven it for a couple of miles. I have been told that it is water in the brake lines causing this. I was told to remove the master cylinder cap and open all bleed ports and let it gravity bleed as I add new fluid. I took the master cylinder cap off and removed the seal and it did have a lot of moisture under it. I bought a new seal and a gallon of brake fluid and have not had time to start the process. I would like to hear from the experts here on Motortopia to see if anyone has ever heard of this. Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Bill

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It’s the rebirth and new interpretation of one of the most legendary muscle cars, the Plymouth Road Runner, and it's up for auction on eBay.
This stunning concept was created by independent designer Michael Leonhard and gained attention through several magazines like Hot Rod, and numerous auto blogs. The concept has cues drawn from the Road Runners of ´71 and ´72, albeit interpreted in a modern key.

It's truly a unique opportunity to get this fabulous muscle car concept in working and driving condition. The car will be built as a one-off in cooperation with a world leading and renowned company specializing in coach building and concept car manufacturing.

The car will be built on a Dodge Challenger 6.1L HEMI platform and drivetrain but with an all new body. The fully working and running prototype will be a one-off and the finish of the vehicle will be high end show quality. Project duration is about 30-40 weeks.

The build cost is $ 950.000 - and that's also the auction price.

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Turning Camaros into Pontiacs is not today's only trick. In Moparland, Heide Performance Products (HPP) has re-created another muscle legend. HPP is a relatively new player on the OE performance scene but is led by two Motor City veterans: Gordon Heidacker, who spent several decades in Chrysler's racing and performance programs, including Viper and Prowler; and Jack Pennington, ex-Saleen and ASC lead designer. Though built on the ponycar-flavored Challenger platform, the HPP Daytona is styled to evoke the wild aerodynamic look of the winged Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird B-Bodies that terrorized NASCAR four decades ago. The premise might not be as far-fetched as it seems. The Challenger's wheelbase is 116 inches-the same as the '70 Superbird.
The transformation, if you will, from contemporary ponycar to NASCAR retro racer is achieved via radically redesigned front and rear fasciae, rocker panels, an aluminum hood, and, of course, a skyscraper rear wing just like the one on Chrysler's original aero warriors, the first NASCAR racers to exceed 200 mph. HPP added a Vortech supercharger to bump the 5.7L Hemi up to an estimated 600 hp, while a KW suspension package with adjustable coilovers dumps the ride height a full 3.5 inches to complete the look.

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Ode To The New Year
'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvellous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese And the way I'd never said, 'No thank you, please.'
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt And prepared once again to do battle with dirt - I said to myself, as I only can 'You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!'
So - away with the last of the sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished 'Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie - not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

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PINKS All Out
Friday, April 23 - Saturday, April 24, 2010
SPEED TV Series
The popular SPEED TV show PINKS All Out returns to zMAX Dragway in 2010 on April 23 and 24. PINKS All Out combines a live production environment with the sights, sounds and excitement of a large-scale drag racing event. The event offers two days of on-track activity; two time trial sessions, exciting exhibition passes and a side-by-side shootout starting at dusk hosted by Rich Christensen and his now famous ‘arm drop' starts. Every PINKS All Out event also includes a family friendly environment complete with a merchant's midway, games, activities and an appearance by the SPEED Mobile Theatre. Friday will be a test and tune session for competitors, with spectator gates opening at 1 p.m. Racing action will be on Saturday with spectator gates opening at 8 a.m.

Competitor Registration is now closed
We're sorry, but driver registration is now closed. If you were unable to sign up, a limited number of additional spots will be distributed through a competition lottery on January 4, 2010.

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This is the new "Twas The Night Before Christmas" story as released by the new administration.

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This is a pretty cool Budweiser commercial I saw. You may have already seen it, but I hope you enjoy.

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This is the first run with the new headers. Not a lot to it, but it does sound pretty good.

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We went out to Lowes's Motor Speedway on Saturday and the weather was not all that good. Overcast and a little cold to start. But as the day went on, the sun almost came out and it warmed up a little. Hope you enjoy the pics.

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These are the new headers I bought this past weekend at the Good Guys show at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

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Well I finally got the parts that I ordered. Actually they came in last week, but I had to finish the garage doors. The floor will have to wait until next year when the weather gets warmer.

But for now, I have started a new project call "Dash Replacement"

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This is a photo that a co-worker took at Z-Max when they ran 4 wide. I really wished everyone could have been there to see this.

Bill

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This weekend at zMAX Dragway the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Sept. 17 - 20! The best drag racers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series return to the Bellagio of drag strips to kick off the series' Countdown to 1 and go head-to-head to compete for a chance at the title. On Sunday, history will be made at zMAX Dragway when modern NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and NHRA Funny Cars race four wide at more than 300 mph in special exhibition races before the final round of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals!

Eight lucky drag racing fans will take part in a history-making event when they get the opportunity to stand behind the starter as Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars race four wide at zMAX Dragway on Sunday, Sept. 20, during the NHRA Carolinas Nationals.
Earlier this month zMAX Dragway and NHRA officials announced that for the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will race four lanes, four wide and unleash 32,000 horsepower on the Bellagio of drag strips. Eight fans will get to feel the force of all that horsepower and smell the nitro as they stand behind the starter on both sets of lanes when the cars launch from the starting line.

"Fans are the backbone of this sport and we felt they needed to be a part of this history-making exhibition," said Marcus Smith, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. president. "Those eight lucky fans will definitely have the experience of a lifetime Sunday as they feel 32,000 horsepower at point-blank range at zMAX Dragway."
Fans will have a chance to be up front and center as history is made by signing up at specially marked booths on Friday and Saturday. Names will be randomly selected and the eight lucky fans in attendance will be announced Sunday morning during pre-race activities.
The drivers for each of the four-wide exhibition races will be determined that day among those who lose in the first round of eliminations. Drivers who have the higher standing in the NHRA championship points order will be given the first opportunity to participate in the unique exhibition

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I have checked around for a smooth firewall for my '55. They were too expensive for my blood, so I just decided to fill the unnecessary holes myself.

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Finally got it undercoated. The big hole in the top is where the transmission cover plate goes. I also go that undercoated, ordered the gasket kit for it, ordered the cab mounting kit and smooth dash panel this weekend. Making slow progress, but at least there is some progress.

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I finally got some work done to the bottom of my cab this past weekend. Got the seam seal applied and the POR15 painted on it. I still need to spray the undercoating to the bottom. After that, I am going to put a smooth firewall panel on and put a smooth dash panel to replace the original dash. Still a lot of work to be done before I can put the cab back on the frame.

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