Chit Chat Thread for the week of May 12th 2008

Last night I watched a program on National Geographic Channel that I highly recommend you watch, it is the story of a heard of buffaloes a pride of Lyons and a Crocodile, you will be amazed at twist and turns of nature that not even a Hollywood writer could come up with such ending.

The one hour Show is called Battle at Kruger and it will air again on HD on May 14 at 10PM, May 15 at 1AM, May 18 at 5PM and May 22 at 5PM

But if you are the type that can’t seat for a one hour show, or like to hear the ending of movies before watching them, then watch the 8 minutes UTube version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

We're awake in Tampa! I need more coffee... working on POI files.

I need help

I was discussing our forthcoming trip to Florida, with my daughter and I mentioned that we'd once hired a car in Canada that had 3 seats in the front (it was '98 Mercury Grand Marquis). My daughter's reaction was 'cool - can we have one this time as well' (she was only 1 year old in 98).

So - how might I go about finding such a beast? I've had a browse around a few of the Rental Car websites, but "3 front seats" is not really a selection criterion!

Do you still get cars with 3 seats in the front - and are they generally available to rent?

I haven't seen a bench seat in a long time. Just call the different rental agencies and ask.

Phil - The 2008 Chevy Impala does come with an optional front bench seat. See this link: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/2008-Chevro...

Of course, the trick would be to find a car rental company that buys and rents them with that configuration.

It is a good thing that those icons on your mantel are not items you actually have to lug around in real life or you would need a 4 seater

Miss POI

After a little checking, Avis rents the Chevy Impala. See here http://www.avis.com/AvisWeb/rentalsupport/ShowCarGroupDetail...

However, when you make a reservation, they won't guarantee a specific make/model/features. Best to call them and see what you can find out. Which airport are you flying in to - Miami, Orlando?

Enjoy Florida! We do! Its getting hot here, already.

I see a 4 seater is one short now.. Might I suggest just renting a mini van and be done with it, ya know, just in case Phil gets a POI Emmy icon?

So it's definitely a bench seat configuration I'm looking for then? The Mercury Grand Marquis had a kind of small 'bucket seat' in the middle, from what I remember. (Or are they both refered to as Bench seats?)

I'll see what Avis have to say for themselves - thanks.
We fly into Orlando ... on a very roundabout routing that takes us via Chicago!

Phil - if you scroll through the interior photos of this Chevy webpage, you'll see the difference in the styles of front seats with and without the floor console and floor shifter.

The center section isn't quite a bucket seat as you described.

http://www.chevrolet.com/impala/photogallery/

EDIT: Hertz rents the Mercury Grand Marquis and its interior looks like this http://www.mercuryvehicles.com/grandmarquis/interior.asp

Thought I'd ditto your plug. Saw most of the show and it was worth watching..

That was an amazing video by an amateur with a rinky dinky camera, how may professionals videographers with their expensive gear will kill for capturing something like that on camera, NG did a nice job of enhancing the video considering the equipment was not an HD camera.

After watching the program and seeing the end a few things came to mind.

“When things seem they can get any worse they do”

“Guess who ain’t coming to dinner”

I think the impala has the split bench seat where the arm rest folds up to be able to sit a passenger but would not be great for a long distance trip

You're right - I'd forgotten the details.

I showed my daughter this - but she's not impressed

She's refined her requirements - she reckons she saw a Convertible on "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (Disney Channel) ... that had 3 full size seats in the front. My mission is to find something similar... but not necessarily convertible .

yeah I finally got HD setup on my cable... amazing to get a cable hooked up on the tv cost 25$ lol... picture is great... wife cant tell. Says she wanted a big screen... we got a 46". lol

Just got home from southern utah and had snow on I 15 was only suppose to be rain. that May for you.

My wife's off in Montana this week visiting my bummed out daughter. Her fiancé finished his officer's training school with the Montana National Guard and they had planned a wedding for this coming weekend. He was supposed to get sent for his final duty training in the fall. Naturally, the Guard decided to send him NOW instead so he's in Georgia for 6 months. No wedding. Gotta love the military. I've got a wedding dress hanging in the spare room. My son sank $30k into landscaping his huge back yard that was all weeds because my daughter informed him she was getting married in his yard and he should fix it. (He's not real happy at the moment.) Bridesmaid dresses, shoes, etc. were ordered and can't be returned. GAH!!!!!!! The wine is NOT being saved!

Sooooooooo......... my wife already had the week off work to deal with the wedding so she's in Montana instead with my daughter who's lonely and unhappy. To make it even worse, he took her GPS with him to Georgia!

Sounds interesting. I will have to watch it. Thanks for the heads up.

I have a 1998 Lumina that used to belong to Avis. It has a seat belt for the front-center (-centre?) passenger, but I wouldn't qualify it as a seat. No back, no head rest, just a center arm rest that flips up.

Utterly useless.

I actually might be moving there this summer. I hope it's not too humid! Probably is.

Wife and I watched, P.S. I love you, this weekend. Total chick flick, but a really good movie, I highly recommend it.

Any other good movies watched this weekend?

Maybe it is not late for Arizona if you dislike humidity.
.

Hmmm, that's the second plug for P.S. I Love You in a single day.

Me, I watched "Sweeney Todd" and "Shaun of the Dead" this weekend. "Iron Man" last weekend. I'm still buzzing with excitement from that one!

Mio

Since I travel almost 100% for work and rent cars every week...I would think that for safety reasons they would not have many of these bench seat models since te airbags are only for two person coverage?

A little advice if I may...If you are traveling around in a convertible make sure all your personal belongings go into the Trunk when you park your car...Not sure in Florida so much but thieves recognize rental cars and target them for theft of loose items in the car..so maybe rent the convertible for a couple of days and then trade up/down for another model if it gets to be too much of a hassle to more items back and forth to the trunk...

Have fun and Say Hi to Mickey for me!!

I went to Key West about a week ago. Used the GPS on the way down from Miami. Not because I was concerned about getting lost, after all its just a single road going down there, but I used it to see the names of all of the little islands just off the highway. It was interesting to see them.

Also stopped on Big Pine key and drove around until we saw some Key Deer. Saw about a dozen.

just looking and hard to belive, CONGRATS to JM and Miss POI. Good work on having a terrific site for all of us to hang out on.

I haven't noticed any comments on the price of gas for a while.

We have been paying 4 bucks for a gallon of unleaded for a few days now in NYC. Hope it does not go all the way to 5 bucks anytime soon.

Why do we have to go through so many hoops to get some poi's for our gps.
GoD!

I get enough vacation that we are thinking about taking the camper, the dogs, nuvi and heading to Alaska.
We are thinking about going through Winnipeg, Regina, Galgary, Banff, Grande Prairie, Ft Nelson, Tok, Fairbanks and Anchorage.

Got lot's of questions...
1. Do cell phones work on that trip?
2. Road conditions?
3. Do I need to speak French?
and many, many more quesions.

Any help - suggestions - tips or contributions for gas... would be appreciated.

You forgot:
4. Get second mortgage on the house
5. Bring boat load of money for the trip

A friend and I are leaving in two weeks on a camper for a trip accross the USA, thru Canada and on to Fairbanks Alaska, a total of 10,000 miles round trip from Tampa, since we started planning the trip, the cost of fuel has added another $600 just for fuel alone.

Thanks to everyone who has added pois this is sweet.

I've done the drive a few times, albeit years ago. I expect the gas prices are going to be killer. However, the Al-Can is now completely paved, road conditions are good but *do* expect to get a cracked windshield, be trapped behind the land yachts (RVs, etc.) and be grateful for your GPS. Your cell phone will only work intermittently. Oh, and definitely watch out for the moose!

Mio

I'm back, been gone for awhile....
Yea I know, joemac who!!!!!!!!!!

Joe

Where do you want them to go?

I've been a bit preoccupied with a family emergency.

Short version: my Dad was rushed to the hospital a few weeks ago. Diagnosed with coronary heart disease, coronary cirrhosis of the liver, and renal failure. Given one week or so to live. My brother from TX and other brother from CA and their families flew out stayed with me since April 16th. My Dad is now at home, and after some intense dietary changes (we were on him like a SWAT team on a mission), he is doing great. Luckily, the doctor was wrong. No doubt you are what you eat.
We are taking the last of the family members to the Manchester, NH airport today.
Ahh to have my house back, and my Dad!

glad to hear the your father is okay!

I am so happy to hear that your dad is ok;)

Miss POI

I too am glad to hear your father is home and doing better... I had to make changes to my "diet" or it would have been "curtains" for me! Anyway, take care of dad and let him cheat a little but keep him on track.

I am glad to hear your father is doing better, I myself went to the Doctor thinking I had the flu, the next day I had triple bypass surgery. So I know how quickly lives can change. Keep him on a diet and get him up and moving. being Physical and a diet is the best for your body. Give him the support and kick his butt to get him up and moving.

Your lucky to have him, I sure miss mine.

Bob

I would imagine by July 4th it will be above $5.00 a gallon. And continue to rise till we can free ourselves of oil, and corn isn't the answer either only driving the price of produce though the roof.
What's taking fuels cells so long to develop? It's not like they haven't been around for years (NASA).

Yay!!!!

I'm so glad that your dad's better.

And I'm so glad to see your "go-cart-driving cat" icon.

Has anybody seen the recent CPI increase?? The government is finally understanding there is an infalation in the primary consumer products. This will certianly help the SSN for the coming year as well as the military retirement checks!!!

People who have to drive will drive no matter what the price is. I have memories of .29 a gallon and big engine cars, those days are gone.

The ones that have disposable income will continue as you stated, those on minimum or close to minimum wage will have to chose an alternative.

Here in Tampa mass transportation is not the best, not even close to the northern major cities where busses run 24-7 in Tampa there is a gap between 12am and 4am weekdays, Sat & Sun buses only run between 6am to 6pm and no public transportation can be found outside those hours.

Because public transit is so bad until very recently the buses were running empty or near empty, not anymore, now those who can't afford gas are migrating to public transportation as bad as it is.

I hate my mount, the darn thing always falls off the windsheild when the temp rises. It stayed on just fine during the winter but now when it heats up in the car the mount just falls off.

If your unit is still under warranty, send Garmin an e-mail and they will make it good. They sent me a new mount....no questions asked. Works better than the original too.

Hahaaha only us old folks remember those prices.

Oh gawd I remember .32 a gallon! but I'm ready to start boarding the BUS, and sticking my gps to the window. I have to do my part to stick it to big oil & the cartels.

Where in there heck is the hydrogen fuel cell? Has big oil squelched it?

Bob

Garmin has a new program called project bob cat for mac and garmin units

Having a garage sale this week end. It was 101 yesterday. Too Hot! Suppose to be 98 today, 3 degrees is not an improvement from the heat. One customer so far - 50 cents richer - what a great life. I'm getting paid 50 cents an hour - actually 25 cents since my wife is out here too.