rpenmanparker 

Just your own. The fakes were too valuable for getting into bars. And if you had your own, you didn't need a fake. Only a fool would burn his pass into the bars. Of course, if you lived where the drinking age was 21, it would be all moot. But why would you do that?

Dan333SP

You're a generation behind now, they ditched the V8s in 2014 in favor of 1.6L turbo V6s with hybrid systems. They don't even call them engines any more, they are "power units" composed of parts like the MGU-H and MGU-K. They have crazy amounts of torque, but they sound worse than a Civic with a trashcan tailpipe. It's such a shame because the impression of speed from the old engines dating back to the V12s in the mid 90s is what got me hooked.

I get the feeling that if I didn't know anything about these cars and saw one live today, I'd say "meh" and go back to watching MotoGP.

topslop1

$550 thrown at the student loan this month. #progress . Job jump and moving back in with family soon. Time to slay the dragon.

Unite millennials, only thing we have to lose is decent housing, a safe and reliable vehicle, and all expendable income (it's not forever).

Who knew I was actually a practicing Christian:

Matthew 6:20:
"but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."

BillyD

I thought the same thing about the desert before my first trip to Phoenix. There are a surprisingly large number of plants that thrive in the arid climate, and a matching number of birds to populate them. I visit the botanical garden on every Phoenix visit.

Dan333SP

Hey Billy, you'll be happy to know I picked up a used camera recently with a huge zoom range, this thing-

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho...=canon+sx50+hs

It's no SLR, but it'll probably take some nice photos of birds from far away if the opportunity presents itself.

Edited to add the range- It's got the equivalent of a 24-1200 mm lens, which is a little crazy. Sensor is absolutely tiny and the aperture range really narrows once you zoom, but so far in normal outdoor lighting the photos are really excellent. I got it to bring to the F1 race next month, we'll see how it does with fast subjects. Probably not so great, but it was cheap.

BillyD

Aw quit the youthful whining. Every adult who wasn't born with a privileged silver spoon in his mouth has faced and overcome the same routine hurdles. Builds character. Makes you a mature adult.

WalksOn2Wheels

Ok, this targeted advertising is getting just downright creepy.

I was on instagram on my phone checking out the Velo Orange account and happened to look at a picture of a shoe/sandal thing I had never ever seen in my life. Then on my work computer, I suddenly see a banner ad on BF for the exact shoes. Two devices ganged up on me somehow. I don't even know how they made that connection. Maybe because I am logged in on BF on my phone as well?

I'd like to think it was a coincidence, but that post was months old. What the hell, man.

BillyD

Good luck with it. That's a great way to get your feet wet in nature photography and to see if the discipline is right for you.

rjones28 

It does?

BillyD

A good place to get your feet wet is photographing ducks. They're plentiful, of good size, and can be quite accustomed to human presence. Mallard s are probably the most common of ducks.

topslop1

If you look at anything, it will follow you in any and every kind of adspace for like weeks on end in pretty much every medium.

topslop1

Makes me want to act out and splurge on a sports car etc etc to be honest.

Dan333SP

If it clears up a little today (steady rain at the moment) I'm going to take the dog for a walk with the camera by the James River this afternoon. Usually plenty of ducks/geese/herons/ospreys and sometimes a few bald eagles. We'll see how it does without bright sunshine, if I get anything worthwhile I'll further clutter addiction with my pictures.

topslop1

Bunch of geese that have their young out now. They like to hang out right on the side of the road next to where I cycle through. They start to hiss and run at me if I'm not in the middle of the road. Dumb birds, I'd like to shoot a few and then eat them. Does anyone have hands-on with how they taste?

Dan333SP

I watched one peck at a slowly passing SUV yesterday as it tried to cross a busy road with its goslings. Smart animals.

The little ones are fuzzy and cute, though.

Trsnrtr

So true.

Trsnrtr

I just finished ~3 hrs. of Giro watching on my tablet at the coffe shop.

Did I miss anything here?

datlas 

I just finished 3 hours of work and had to watch the 3 minute highlights reel.

Early retirement is looking better and better. Especially considering that I am working harder than ever and had a 10% income drop from 2014 to 2015 and probably 20% drop for this year. I am not crying poverty by any means but working harder and seeing my income shrink yearly is a bit depressing.

Dan333SP

Thanks Obama.

****.

BillyD

They have an interesting article in today's NYTimes about the declining income of the Middle Class relative to the Upper and Lower class income groups in selected cities. Overall conclusion is that the Middle Class is in decline.

What most shocked me was the definition of Upper Class = $125K or more for a family of three.

WalksOn2Wheels

Yep, it's twisted. Because of the stagnant wages the definition of middle class, and therefore upper class, slides ever downwards. It's nutty but when my wife goes back to work we'll be at near that, but with 2 kids. We live in Texas, so cost of living is relatively low and we're happy with our income potential, but I don't think I'd ever call us upper class. Mostly because I have no class.

WhyFi

That's because that's what it takes to repay student loans, these days.

jtaylor996

You think that's creepy? Someone left peanut butter M&Ms in the breakroom yesterday, and so I had some and them put them in MyFitnessPal. 30 seconds later they send me an email with some crap about "10 ways to get over a food addiction"...

Trsnrtr

My doctor gave me heck when I retired because he was afraid I would rot away in an easy chair but he couldn't have been any further from the truth. I'm busy all of the time.

Anyway, fast-forward10 years or so and he told me, "Dennis, you had the right idea. I never thought I would retire but recent changes in medical services (re. bookwork and administration) has made me decide to retire and experience every thing I've missed over the years."

And he did retire for the same reasons that you stated.

Trsnrtr

Though my income has changed little the last 5 years, I've noticed that my wife and I have been climbing up the scale of high earners according to the WSJ and government statistics. The only way that could happen is if the earners in the bottom are getting larger.