TZUTC: -0600   
   MSGID: 916.fidonet-memories@1:19/33 2499154e   
   REPLY: 1:123/140 d7d15ef5   
   PID: Synchronet 3.18c-Win32  Nov 15 2020 MSC 1927   
   TID: SBBSecho 3.11-Win32 r3.179 Nov 15 2020 MSC 1927   
   CHRS: ASCII 1   
   Joe,   
      
    JM>   We haven't had any abandoned vehicles, rolling blackouts or lack of   
    JM> water.  At least in the urban areas.  And since I live and work in an   
    JM> urban environment I've been untouched by that.   
      
     Be grateful. I saw where folks who lost their 11 year old child due to   
   the winter weather and lack of power and heat, have filed a $100 million   
   lawsuit against the power companies. Nowadays, the prolific pun is "Attorney -   
   Have Law Suit With Lawsuit, Will Travel". You know there are folks chomping   
   at the bit on litigation.   
      
     If Geico doesn't offer me a good settlement after the wreck (which I can't   
   get until after the chiropractic care is done), I'll have to hire an attorney,   
   and take them to court to sue big time. The lawyer will then take 25 to 50% of   
   the damages. I would prefer to get a big settlement, then "take the money, and   
   run".   
      
     The second law of thermodynamics (entropy) means that sooner more than later,   
   everything in this life...flesh and blood or otherwise...is going to fail. In   
   the case of a vehicle, it loses 30 to 70% of its value the moment you drive it   
   off the dealership lot. Yet, you can expect to pay at least $20,000 for a new   
   car...likely more. And, with everything being electronically integrated, if   
   one thing fails, like a house of cards, the whole thing will crash.   
      
     The 2009 Volvo 2 door hardtop convertible ended up being exchanged for a 2013   
   Chevy Cruze 4 door sedan...because of a lack of parts. The thing is, the age    
   on both means that parts have worn out.    
      
     Repairs to the Volvo would eventually cost far more than the Chevrolet, but    
   with the issues they've found (plus replacing the tires, and getting a full   
   spare) is going to cost me $3500. I've got just enough in the bank to take care   
   of that, plus the rest of this month's bills. Another COVID-19 check would   
   elp,   
   but with all of the political boondoggling and under the table stuff that's   
   always going on in Washington, DC...I'm not optimistic. There's a bunch of crap   
   in the new bill that has no business being in there, IMO.   
      
    JM>   Drivers here go crazy when it snows.   
      
     That's the case everywhere.   
      
    JM>   I am reminded of an old Far Side cartoon.  You have read this before   
    JM> but its for the newbies.   
    JM>   Two panels.   
    JM>   First panel is a typical day on the highway with cars going about   
    JM> their business.   
    JM>   Second panel, "the first snow flake of the season" and there is one   
    JM> solitary snowflake falling and cars are running into each other,   
    JM> driving off the highway, etc.   
      
     Exactly. Folks think they can stop just as quick on a wet, snowy, or icy   
   pavement, as they can on dry...and most times, they're driving too fast for   
   conditions. That likely was the main cause of the 130 vehicle pile-up in   
   Fort Worth recently.   
      
   Daryl   
      
   ... Why's the man who invests all your money called a broker?   
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