Thanks Ted- I think I'll start a What makes ya happy thread....

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

It's Christmastime and I'm glad to have someone I love to spend it with. I'm healthy, wealthier than I ever dreamed I would be (I had low expectations early in life), and reasonalbly wise, well-educated, at least.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Who knows, they probably think they stink.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

1. Personal Injury Lawyers and the legislation that allows them to flourish

2. Lack of universal healthcare in the "richest" country in the world

3. Loud Harley-Davidsons They are breaking Federal Law by modifying their exhaust system. (not that I am not with Euro lights and bumpers, but at least I am not rumbling the entire neighborhood with a loud POS)

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

gahhhhhhh

I have run straight pipes on my hog for years, and I love it. So does my neighbor. We are shaking in fear that some goody two shoes is going to report us.

If you want to see what allows them to flourish, look in the mirror if you are a US citizen. It is Citizen Joe that sides with them on the jury. Yes, there are a few cases that are ridiculous but the threat of going to trial and losing has people settling. Now, if the jury were to be sensible about it and not give them the awards they seek, they would go elsewhere to look for work. 33% of nothing is still nothing.

Seen it in other countries. Don't want it in this one. Govt can't even manage to spend within the budget and plays fast and loose with it, Medicare and Medicaid claims are a mess and you want universal health care managed by the same people? Isn't that kinda masochistic?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I'm not a goody two shoes, just someone who lives on the main street of my village and has to listen to all those loud Harleys. I am not the only one because the police have been ticketing people for being too loud. I had a GSXR and used to ride with a guy that had a Heritage Softail with aftermarket pipes with mufflers and it was still so loud I figure he must be going deaf. I am a believer in good engineering and technology, so the Harley V twin motor is a joke to me. My bike was faster, smoother, easier on your ass, and I thought it looked better but that is subjective. I could appreciate the look of his bike.

To those who say loud pipes save lives my response is: have you ever heard of the Doppler Effect? Ricer and Beemer owners don't seem to have to put on loud pipes, why Harleys?

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

1. I know it is against US freedoms, but get rid of the jury trial. Leave it to the experts. It does work in other countries.

2. If you are talking about Canada and England, I agree. Look at Holland and Germany, it is a sliding scale system depending upon income, but everyone gets healthcare, and the hospitals aren't going bankrupt because the emergency room is not the doctor for those who are uninsured, and doctors want to stay doctors because they don't have to worry about being sued for their actions. I have a friend who is a Pediatric Neurosurgeon who stopped practicing because he got sick of the insurance companies and lawyers telling him how to be a doctor. Doctors we need to live, lawyers I don't know about.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

I don't see what the Doppler effect has to do with any of this. And as for Japanese bikes and BMW's, you have a point with the Beemers. But that's probably because the riders are all against loud bikes, and says nothing of the relative safety. As for riders of Japanese pseudo-race bikes, well, I've heard some of them that would put any loud H-D to shame.

I had mufflers on a Shovel, and an old guy in a Caprice convinced me that I needed them gone. He didn't say a word; instead, he drifted aimlessly into my lane, expecting to occupy the same space as me. Fortunately the road ahead was clear and I could open it up and get in front of him.

The bike was pretty loud without the mufflers, but it wasn't really very bad if I kept off the gas. And I rode pretty slowly through residential neighborhoods. But boy, when I opened that thing up, you couldn't miss it. It would set car alarms off with ease.

Because they sound so much better.

How about the little "icons" at the bottom of the TV screen with the TV channel/station logo on it. Why is that there? I know what damned channel I am watching. Worse still are the advertising/reminders they flash on the bottom of the screen to hype the next show, special, etc. right in the middle of the program. Hey, I'm watching this you bloody morons! Run a commercial to promote things during commercial breaks so I can get up to use the can and ignore it like I used to! RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

YEAH! Totally agree!! One of the worst offenders is Spike TV and it's one of the reasons I don't watch that channel...

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Well done steak.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

i would be writing tickets to mufflerless anything.

harleys arent the only offenders, just the highest percentage of any marque.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.