Recalls

What a week. Good news is I got my car running again. It's sure nice to have your own personal transportation. Something we tend to take for granted in my opinion. What I found out is that the problem I had with my car is a well known, documented condition that was the subject of a recall some years ago. I won't tell you who manufactured my car. It doesn't matter really, they've all had them. You might be surprised. Anyway, the $3 part that it took to solve the problem permanently was not installed from the factory, and in truth, I'm sure no one felt it was necessary to begin with. Luckily for me, or thanks at least in part to my good mechanical sense, I didn't ruin the engine in my car when it suddenly developed a massive oil leak. Got me to thinking about Toyota's current situation though.

What I've come to see about this sticking throttle problem is how overcomplicated the modern automobile is. For the uninitiated, present day Toyotas, among others, have what could be called a 'drive by wire' system. The throttle on the engine is controlled by an electric motor. The motor is in turn controlled by a computer which receives an electrical signal from a rheostat on the accelerator pedal that the driver pushes down on or releases to make the car go faster or slower. Kind of like the light dimmer on the wall of your house. In order to get the right 'feel' on this pedal, a clutch type arrangement was engineered into the pedal assembly. This is what is being blamed for the sticking throttle problem. Remember the boardgame "Mousetrap"? That's what's known as a Rube Goldberg machine. You release the squirrel from the cage, the dog with a string tied to its tail chases the squirrel, flipping on the switch that turns on the electric fan, blowing the toy boat across the kiddie pool............you get the idea. What ever happened to simple, effective cables? I'm a firm beleiver in the K.I.S.S. principle. Keep it simple, stupid. Now this problem is going to cost Toyota untold expense, let alone the lives that have already been lost to this problem. So much for building a better mousetrap.

Don't get me wrong, there's no doubt in my mind that modern automobiles are vastly more efficient, comfortable, and safer than all the old classics that I so fondly remember from the glory days of the auto industry. But come on, how complicated does it have to be? It really is an ill wind that blows no good, and now other manufacturers are going to capitalize on the newly tarnished image that Toyota has (rightfully) earned over the course of the last few decades. I've heard some dealers are adding or planning to add more help to deal with the additional workload. So there's some job creation for you.

The other thing is that people understandably panic when a machine gets a mind of its own. I was watching the news maybe a couple of years ago where someone had the throttle stick on their car out on the interstate somewhere. I don't remember what kind of car it was, again, it doesn't really matter. Point is, several highway patrol officers were chasing this runaway down the highway trying to communicate with the driver and slow the car. Unsuccessfully. I don't remember if anyone was seriously hurt or killed, but the driver eventually lost control of the car and crashed. It never occurred to him or her to just shift into nuetral (not 'Park') and/or turn the key to the off position. Even if they had, losing the power steering might have also come as a shock. If you've ever watched "Days of Thunder" you might remember the scene where the throttle sticks on Cole's car. Something you would think would be a good thing on a race car, but here again, driver control is essential even when you want to go fast. What did his crew chief tell him? "Just push the clutch and let it blow". Same idea.

I had a similar experience with the rental truck I used to move cross country. I came out of the Eisenhower Tunnel on the Great Divide at or below the recommended speed. I saw the sign making me aware of the 7% grade for the next few miles. I prepared myself to deal with it. Before I knew it, I was in a battle to keep the engine overspeed light from coming on and not burning up the brakes. For a while I wondered if I was going to make it to the next runaway truck ramp or not. If the engine had blown up, I would have lost the braking effect it was providing. If I had burned the brakes off of it trying to slow it down, I would've had even more problems. I don't think I've ever had a white knuckle experience like that before. It was a relief to pull of the road in Dillon, Colorado and have a little lunch and a rest while the thing cooled off. Could have been a bad day for more than just me and my family. Point is, it's important to know how things work and why, and what to do when things don't go according to plan.

Well, that's my rant for today. Have a good tomorrow everyone.

Perseverance

I said I'd be watching, and I have been. I realize we're not all that different. No one wants to turn around or back up. Yet that's often exactly what's needed and required.

This much I know. I'm done living with debt. I've learned a hard lesson even if I'm still paying the consequences. I can't control how others live their lives or try to convince me to live mine. But I still have the power to say "yes I will" or "no I won't". Which response I choose will be a dynamic process. I'm going to continue to help those I can and pray for those I can't. It's simplistic and predictable which makes it an easily exploitable character trait. If an enemy is determined to take me out I probably make an easy target. I have to learn to recognize friend and foe which isn't easy sometimes. So advance and be recognized.

Murphy's law

My car broke down today. Great. Well, worse things are happening all over. So, I'm going to fix it. Myself. I can't afford a new one, no matter how many months of "free" financing you're offering. Sorry. I appreciate the offer though. For a while there, I considered taking it somewhere to have it fixed. But........I really don't know where I would take it. I know I can fix it. Besides, what little emergency fund I do have saved I may need for an actual emergency. This is just an inconvenience.

Does it sound like I'm complaining? Well, I'm not. I'm just keepin' it real, dog. I'm grateful for friends who've offered to shuttle me around while I work this through. The rent's paid, I've still got power, food, clean water,.........not to mention a car to be fixed at all. Remember what I said about soldiering on? I think I hear the cadence now. Yo lef, yo lef, yo lef, right lef.......

Which kinda goes back to what I've been saying about competent help. Doctor's, lawyers, mechanics, customer service...........you get the point I think.

Its tough to keep a positive attitude sometimes. Not impossible, but tough. Well, goodnight John Boy.

Checks and balances

Dear diary: today I realized how our system of government works. I was thinking about my last 2 posts on the health care debate. I thought, wait a minute, government oversight of industry? What was I thinking? Then tonight I was thumbing through my kid's macroeconomics book and rediscovered Adam Smith. Remember, the guy who talked about the invisible hand, guiding the free enterprise system? Government oversight of industry? These are the two vampires I just accused of sucking the life right out of me. Then today I was reading an article about the supreme court's latest decision. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html We don't hear too much about the third leg of democracy and how it affects us. Its no wonder the legal system is such a slow moving machine. It really doesn't affect us much until someone has a problem and the lawyers get involved. Remember those guys? That other group of vampires we love to hate? Yea, them.

Is it really any wonder I take such an interest in psychology? Remember the id, ego, and superego? The primitive brain that regulates my biological functions, my everyday self, and the part that thinks I rule the world. I felt pretty stupid actually. Government oversight of industry. Please.

This blogging thing is pretty fun actually. I wonder if anybody reads this stuff. I'm sure glad I decided not to post my picture or tell where I really live. It could be really embarrassing. I guess if the free speech police start banging on my door I'll know someone was watching afterall. Well, I have to go to work tomorrow.

More health care debate

I'm not up to speed on all the details of the proposed legislation. I'm not sure anyone is, and my impression is that is part of hoopla. We citizens want some transparency, access, input, etc, etc....
Being a healthy adult, I haven't had to interact much with the medical industry. I understand and accept that the healthcare structure (whatever it might be) has to be supported financially and morally by every one of us. It has to start with the individual. Taking care of myself by getting and paying for regular checkups is a good start. I like that my insurance pays for this as part of the coverage. It makes it convenient for me to go do it. And if I had to pay for it myself, I would probably cut that corner by not going unless I had a problem. Then it might already be a problem I can't afford to treat. Hence insurance. Or national healthcare. And debate about who is going to pay for it all. Whatever becomes of all this, it will have to be a collaborative effort by patients, the industries of healthcare providers and insurance, government oversight of those industries, and charitable contributions by all parties toward research and chronic care.
People used to know their doctors. Their doctors knew them, and their personal and medical histories. Not so much anymore. In our mobile society, we tend to go to whoever we're sent to or whoever will see us. I can't see how this is a good thing, unless accurate medical history can be passed on to the next competent provider. That would make centralized information very valuable to all concerned. It always is. And how that information gets used, and by who and for what purpose. It gets complicated very quickly, doesn't it?

Health care debate

I'm glad Scott Brown won in Massachusetts. I happen to be one of those independent voters and yes, I'm sick and tired of business as usual. What some of these politicians don't seem to understand is that they are breaking our backs. I suppose if I had to re-apply for my job every 2 or 4 years I'd be more concerned about keeping it than doing it also. In a way, I do have to keep applying for my job, everyday. If I'm not doing it, I won't have one for long and right now I'm very grateful to have one. Some commentators on some networks are arguing that we should just throw them all out and start over. While I understand the sentiment I disagree with the premise. I think there are good people in government trying to do good things. Those people I'd like to keep. But none of them seem to be interested in working together. It seems to be more about gaining the upper hand and calling the shots.
These insurance companies should know that I'm also tired of their crap. I buy insurance because things happen that can't be predicted or controlled. So in a sense, I'm prepaying for services I might need. I understand that. By maintaining good health, I enjoy good health. It takes discipline and diligence to maintain that health, which is why I get regular check-ups. Others aren't as fortunate, for various reasons, some of which are beyond their control. Those are the people I want to help and support. But if someone needs an MRI for an accurate diagnosis and treatment, then for Pete's sake, get them an MRI. Capital equipment I think its called. You can't or at least shouldn't place a value on a human life based on cost/benefit. That is a tall order and I understand that as well. But if I can't afford to pay the premium, then I guess I'll just have to find a medical service provider that will accept what I'm willing and able to pay. This is called being self insured.
I got injured at work some time ago. It wasn't catastrophic, but I did need stitches. It wasn't any one's fault really, but stuff happens you know? I was driven to the ER, got my stitches, and went home for the day. The accident was analysed and corrective measures taken. So far, so good. The problem came when it was time to remove the stitches. My regular doctor turned me away because it was a workman's comp issue. The doctor who put them in wouldn't see me because it was no longer and emergency and he wouldn't get paid. I called our company's insurer and asked them who they would pay for me to go see. "We'll get back to you". They never did. Since the stitches needed to come out before they caused more problems, I finally just had my wife snip them and pull them out, since they were in my neck and I couldn't reach them myself. This was just a couple of stitches mind you. No big deal. What would it have been like if it was something really serious? I suppose I would have made a lot more noise about it, and gotten some results. My point is that it seems to me the debate is all about the money and who gets it. My money, as represented by my labor. Whether its government or private business, I'm going to spend my labor on services that I'm actually getting, or causes I support and beleive in and my labor is a limited resourse. Because I only have so many hours I can work in a day and the rest of it I need to live my life. I would like to have one too.
This is all very heavy, emotional, serious stuff. Its going to be hard work to solve these problems, health care being just one of them. Democracy is hard work and takes involvement by all of us. Those of us who can and do work, whatever work that might be, need to share the burden for those who can't work (not those who won't). That is our strength and there's nothing wrong with employing that strength for the common good. I don't think we can or should rely on government to solve all our problems. But there are no kings without subjects and no markets without buyers. I'm only one person and maybe no one would miss my vote or my contribution but I do have a voice and I do have valuable skills. That makes me part of a larger whole. I'll be watching, and working, and voting. For what its worth. Peace out, dude.

Old Guys

I discovered this clothing line some time ago through a friend of mine. I was helping him work on one of his cars one day and after we were done, he let me clean up at his place so we could go out for some lunch and a cold one. He gave me the shirt on the left and its been one of my favorites ever since.

I've often worn it when I go for a hike and sometimes I've gotten a few comments on it. Mostly from older guys like me who just 'get it'. Once it was a couple who happened to be out hiking the same trail that day. They both smiled and he just said "I love that shirt!" Another time it was a couple of 'old guys' like me who happened to be guiding a bunch of their youngsters that day. I don't remember exactly what they said but it was something to the effect of "age equals wisdom". I've seen others out and about with them on too.

There's something about it that resonates with me and a lot of others too apparently. It's not about dominance or control (in my opinion). It's about being seasoned. Tried and tested. Bruised and battered but still fully serviceable and still dependable. Its about being over all the stuff you worried about as a younger man. Look at that guy. You think he reads GQ? I doubt it. Do you think he wants to? Again, probably not.

I work with one of these younger 20-somethings. His comment on the subject one day was "no they don't". See, he doesn't 'get it'. Not yet anyway. I can relate. I was 20 once too.

Seems I remember back in the 60's the catchphrase was "don't trust anyone over 30". In my 20's and 30's I always heard about the 'midlife crisis'. You can still see guys (and gals) going through this. Making bad choices and trying to stay young or recapture the glory days of youth. I don't see myself going through a crisis. Its definitely a time of adjustment and reassessment, but not crisis. Life sucks sometimes. It hurts sometimes. Other times, I can tell when great memories are being made and life is good. I can't really control either circumstance but I can control how I react and respond to it. When it sucks, I plan to soldier on. When its great, I plan to savor it. I'm learning to be content with what I have and not complain about what I don't have. That's how I see it.

I am now a blogger!

For better or for worse, I have now thrown my 2 cents into the tray. From some of the blogs I've browsed lately, some are declaring the end to be near for blogging as whole. This doesn't surprise me. Seems I'm always (or at least regularly) getting in on the tail end of trends. Cell phones, Internet savvy, the housing market......For crying out loud, I'm the last of the baby boomers.

Why start a blog anyway? Why now? And what for? First and foremost, I just hope to have some fun with it. Maybe meet some new friends. Expand my horizons. Blow off some steam about things. Comment on what's happening in and around the world. Because it's Wednesday. Whatever.

I'm really hoping that maybe some of the things I find important and worth talking about will be of some interest to others as well. Especially men of a certain age like myself. Whatever race, color, or creed we may be, seems that men in general have been marginalized and even demonized in our society these days. Some may argue that's true and for good reason. I of course, will argue for our significance and continued relevance. More on this later. I think I have some hate mail coming in already.

Anyway, let the blogging begin. Now I just have to figure out how all this works. I think maybe I'll ask my teenagers for help.