A sad, constant bid for attention

[Mr Malcontent]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Curiosity on my part, but have the slapstick automatics reduced the enthusiast's need for a manual, or are they merely a gimmick for middle-aged old fucks like me who are too lazy to mess with a clutch and prefer to just let the car do the work in traffic jams?

The wife's car has one of those "manumatic" transmissions -- it's better than a poke in the eye, but not as entertaining as a real MT. Why the MT? Habit (always had them) and a vague sense of superiority over the rest of the automotive lemmings who can't/won't shift for themselves. Come to think of it, it's probably mostly that last part. They'll get my MY when they pry the shifter from my cold, dead fingers.

If I had to deal with the freeways regularly, I think I would sacrifice my principles on this issue.

[Fugee]

Originally posted by Pretty Little Flower
I am actually quite humble. In fact, I am the humblest motherfucker you know. I fucking invented humility. I am a God among the humble. I piss on the arrogant and shit on the cocky, but I do so in a quiet and unassuming manner, never gloating nor taking credit. Women are so aroused by humble ways, the mere thought of my refusing to brag about my remarkable accomplishments gets them so wet that their sopping pantyhose hang limply around their ankles as they frantically rub up against light poles and parking meters while imagining riding my cock, which may or may not be enormous in both length and girth -- I'm not saying because that's not how I roll.

Your amazing humility must be the reason you were dissed by Mpls St.Paul magazine this month.

They have an article titled "101 Twin Citians Who Define Beauty: The faces that make our city better -- and better looking." I was certain PLF would be there but they obviously discriminated against the pretty and little. There is one woman lawyer but it's not ABBA either.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Mr Malcontent
The wife's car has one of those "manumatic" transmissions -- it's better than a poke in the eye, but not as entertaining as a real MT. Why the MT? Habit (always had them) and a vague sense of superiority over the rest of the automotive lemmings who can't/won't shift for themselves. Come to think of it, it's probably mostly that last part. They'll get my MY when they pry the shifter from my cold, dead fingers.

If I had to deal with the freeways regularly, I think I would sacrifice my principles on this issue.

Manual transmissions are stupid.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Spanky
I use to commute on the 91. Actually, I would have commuted on it but took the side roads during rush hour because it was a parking lot. Or maybe it was the 90. Whatever took me to Marina Del Rey from the 405.

If you're not from SoCal, so you haven't picked up the the 405 affectation, is it still proper to describe SoCal highways using the "the"? Like going to Paris, and calling it Par-ee?

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by nononono
Have we discussed this yet? I need costume suggestions. Think I'm going as half a couple to an adult-type party. Unsatisfied with such generic staples as peanut butter and jelly or pimp and ho, I'm looking for ideas, ideally something that suits me in a more specific way. Since few of you know me or what I look like*, this may be fruitless, but ideas are welcome.


*contra Hank's implication, no facial stubble.

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head was an inspired idea I saw a couple of years ago.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Curiosity on my part, but have the slapstick automatics reduced the enthusiast's need for a manual, or are they merely a gimmick for middle-aged old fucks like me who are too lazy to mess with a clutch and prefer to just let the car do the work in traffic jams?

The latter. And I'll try to beat NFH to the punch by explaining that this is a different answer than if asked about an SMG/SSG/etc. clutchpedal-less manual.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head was an inspired idea I saw a couple of years ago.

Did anybody else get it?

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Fugee
Not really -- right now it's more like I'm only watching because there is a central character who is a Christian and I am interested in how they will write her.

So far they haven't written "must see TV." So I might stop watching, despite the character, if the show doesn't interest me. Or I might stop watching if they resort to negative stereotypes for Harriet's character. Or I might continue watching even if I hate what they do with Harriet if the show gets really good (though the first two episodes don't bode well for the likelihood of this).

This will surprise no one, but I'm sorry I asked.

TM

[Oliver_Wendell_Ramone]

You'd think that Posh Spice could afford one of the good boob jobs. She looks like her husband stuffed a couple of soccer balls in there.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Oliver_Wendell_Ramone
You'd think that Posh Spice could afford one of the good boob jobs. She looks like her husband stuffed a couple of soccer balls in there.

Her frame is so tiny that the best she could do is use the big ones she has now to stretch out her skin and then insert slightly smaller ones to try to achieve some kind of tear drop shape. But yeah, she looks ridiculous.

TM

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
The latter. And I'll try to beat NFH to the punch by explaining that this is a different answer than if asked about an SMG/SSG/etc. clutchpedal-less manual.

Some manufacturers get it, others don't. Most car manufacturers are trying to jump on the paddle shifting alternative. Some do it right, others suck at it.
The Masserati paddle shifting was much much better than their automatic, but still incredibly jerky. The Mercedes SLK 55 and CLK 63 paddle shifting is also much better than full automatic. BMW has just lost their minds, but are slowly finding sanity on the SMG POS they were so fond of. The new Z4 roadster is manual.
Corvette hasn't sold a manual in years, and this year's Porsche Turbo is faster in the tiptronic - bringing some cred to the tiptronic they've been trying to force down people's throats for years.

[Mr Malcontent]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
If you're not from SoCal, so you haven't picked up the the 405 affectation, is it still proper to describe SoCal highways using the "the"? Like going to Paris, and calling it Par-ee?

I think the actual proper reference to "the 405" is something like: "the &^$%#@!!!! 405".

If you don't use the "the 405" lingo around here, people get confused. So, when in Rome...

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally posted by Mr Malcontent
I think the actual proper reference to "the 405" is something like: "the &^$%#@!!!! 405".

If you don't use the "the 405" lingo around here, people get confused. So, when in Rome...

Where I come from, we call the trans-Canada highway "the 401". I never thought of it as an affectation. It's just its name. The other highways are all "Highway __" like Highway 27 or something like that.

[dtb]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Spoken like a true W Republican. Of course, revolutions have popular support. I think you have more of a coup in mind. Fortunately, now that she has her gold-plated vibrator, RT can't be bought that easily.

Can someone explain to me the purpose of the gold plating?

I think I just want an excuse to talk about sex, so maybe the gold-plating discussion can be a kick-start.

Anyone?

[Fugee]

Originally posted by ThurgreedMarshall
This will surprise no one, but I'm sorry I asked.

TM

I'm not sure why you are sorry for asking.

Let me come at this from a different perspective. Don't you suppose that a lot of black people watched the first TV shows that had major black characters and wanted to see how a bunch of white writers and producers would portray them? Were they crazy?

It's not that different for me. I can't recall watching another major character in a TV show who is meant to be a blatantly evangelical Christian and not a nun or minister. Most of the time I see one-note characters like a saintly helper of the poor or a Fred Phelps-like bigot. So I'm interested and hopeful that the writers will create a character that represents Christians fairly. Sue me.