Re: [MBZ] Ticking noise in a diesel?
Clunking is definitely one indicator of bad half shafts. I was hearing a clunk from the rear -- like you, as I rolled to a stop. We jacked it up, and I had someone turn each rear wheel while I laid my hand on the inner can of the half shaft. Sure enough, I could feel the click through the can at a certain point in the turn, every time -- one dying half shaft. I shouldn't bitch, since that axle may have in excess of 400k on it, based on the P.O.'s habit of experimenting with different rear ends to maximize mileage and such. We just completed a two-day tech session here in NE Texas where one of the attendees demonstrated an Astoria Flexx Gun. Very cool tool. That will be in use around here shortly, going through all our cars before the boots fail and the joints are damaged. Hope it's better news for you -- Sunny Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:14:57 -0500 From: andrew strasfogel [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] (SPAM?) Re: Ticking noise in a diesel? To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 What about clunking from the the rear when downshifting as I roll to a stop? On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM, Rolf [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 2. Humming as well. Jim Cathey wrote: Thanks. What about my other questions? Also, what are the symptoms in a W123 turbodiesel of 1) a worn differential and 2) worn drive shaft? 1) Howling/groaning, sounds like an old bus. 2) clicking. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] Tech session GTG in NE Texas
November 15 and 16. Sorry for the late notice -- things have been a mite busy. http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=234196 It was a lot of fun last year -- http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=196837 and http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=203685 This one'll be even better. If you can come, post to the first thread above. Thanks -- Sunny ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] Patriot Politics
Um, I'm a little confused. Isee -- clearly -- how we have to give up all manner of personal information to cash a check, buy a home, drive a car, get a job. I see daily how intrusive our government is -- how the banking laws and traffic laws and property rights laws are being steadily amended and eroded to give more power to the government, to found new govenment agencies and grow the ones already in place. I know there are markers in our money that can be 'read' by law enforcement officials at a distance, and we can be stopped and interrogated -- and our cash confiscated -- if we're carrying too much. I agree that it's wrong, and very scary. So exactly WHO was it that came up with the Patriot Act? And who had the majority in the House and Senate to pass it? Who is it that's campaigned long and hard to extend the Act's reach even further into our personal lives and remove all vestige of a presumption of privacy?? That would be George Dubya. Last I heard, he was claimed by the Republicans. The labels are useless. There's not a dime's worth of difference between so-called liberals and so-called conservatives, and even at that, they're fighting over the 10 cents that won't buy any of us a cup of coffee or enough fuel to get us 'round the block Sunny ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] My excitement for the day....( snake
The coral snake is NOT a pit viper, but its bite will still kill you quite dead. Those of us growing up here in Texas learned these lessons early. Well, there were those who didn't...but they're mostly no longer in the gene pool. Think -- PIT viper. Wonder why? 'Cause it has pits on it's face! When you're lookin' at a picture like the one we've all consulted over, that's great, but the first rule of snake safety is don't be there! Mostly snakes don't want to have anything to do with us -- we're too big to eat -- but if we're threatening them, they're going to feel a need to do something about it. (This does not really account for water moccasins and copperheads, which, like some people, seem to wake up on the wrong side of the bed most mornings, and their day apparently goes downhill from there) Protecting your stock is another matter. Then you need a long reach -- a cane or something -- and a firearm of any convenient length. We live in the woods, and only bother with snakes -- or other predators -- when they come too near our home and/or our critters' homes, and baby snakes don't get a pass, either. With our free-ranging goats and livestock guard dog, we don't see them much in the settled area. When we go out in the woods, we remember to keep an eye out for them and give 'em room. A room without books is a body without a soul. Cicero ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] OT - neurpathy, CIDP, etc
Wilton [and others] -- Make that three -- been there, done that. I've had one sensory nerve surgically severed because it just wouldn't respond positively without a long series of major reconstructive work (injury-related, and being out-of-country at the time, it healed wrong), and I'm too impatient for that! Like many of us, I'm a walking example of that saying about, If I'd known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself! I've found something that helps a lot with pain, and has had no side effects for anyone I know who's used it. Called Phenocane, you can find it on the web. It's herbal, you can't overdose (unless you use it as your main source of nutrition!), and has produced surprising results. Because it's so unbelievable, our local health food store gives away samples of half a dozen capsules for people to try -- it almost always sells after folks use it. I'm well-educated in alternative medicine. Fortunately, Germany and Great Britain still consider -- and test! -- both herbs and homeopathy as sciences, and being certified in both countries means I still get all the reported research and monographs on new uses and information. Most pain medication in these two disciplines is low cetane -- great for a sinus headache or a banged finger, but next to useless for neuropathy, chronic pain, disk disease or damage, etc. Phenocane is different. It works remarkably well. No fuzziness and no stomach upset, but by being a very effective inflammation reducer with a few other goodies, it either eliminates the pain or ratchets it back far enough to allow you to function. Ibuprophen and acetominophen have their own drawbacks, some serious and irreversable, especially in higher dosages. Since we're all subject to the bumps, bruises, and banged knuckles of taking care of our cars (and, as Tiny Tim said, God bless us every one for doing it!), I thought this might be a useful resource. I have no financial interest in the stuff -- in fact, I'm dabbling with reverse-engineering it, since I use so much of it! BTW, ignore the bottle directions -- if the pain is enough to really slow you down, take two caps instead of one, and two more if you don't notice a difference in 30 to 45 minutes. Remyelinization, of course, is the optimum solution, and there are promising and partially sucessful treatments out there for that, too. But while we pursue that ultimate solution, reducing PAIN! to a background noise allows us to move and do the things we want to do -- to get on with our lives, without being defined by our disabilities. Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 20:30:06 -0500 From: wilton strickland [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [MBZ] OT - neurpathy, CIDP, etc To: mercedes mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=Windows-1252 LarryT, Acher, etc., small world, isn't it? This condition supposedly affects only about 1 in 100K, yet, here are TWO of us on this list and a third associated. My pain started 12 - 14 yrs ago as nail driven into lft heel, then on to toes, legs, hands, arms; fire, needles on bottoms of feet, etc. Began to have slight hand tremor abt 10 yrs ago. As my averall condition worsened, so did the tremor. By 4 - 5 yrs ago, had lost most feeling below knees. By abt 2 yrs ago, I was nearlly helpless because of the tremor. Trouble walking for several yrs, but I continued to put on good act - tried to make it look to others like I was walking normally, but I was having to think about every step. Started using stick/cane abt 5 yrs ago, went to 4-wheel walker nearly 3 yrs ago. Still use walker around house (one on each floor) and back and forth to car. I keep an elec. scooter in the car trunk for shopping, longer treks from car, etc. I charge the scooter in the car with Diesel, so I ride a Diesel-electric scooter; I even put a smaller, paper decal copy of a MB DIESEL decal on back of the scooter to so designate it. 'Haven't been bothered by really bad pain for several yrs. - just slight in feet/legs all the time. I've many times awakened with steady pain in feet and legs, especially knees. 'Took two 650 mg Tylenol/day coupla yrs; last year or so 1/day; sometimes none for 2-3 days. BTW, 'tried Lyrica; made me feel impaired. Also tried Prednasone, cyclosporine, methotrexate, celcept, imuran, bunch of others, some of which made me sick - all were ineffective; also plasma pheresis and retuxan treatments, but nothing has worked as well as IVIG, especially for last yr @ 2 weeks. Tremor is nearly (~97%) gone. Oh, I also went to MCV (is that UVA?); saw Dr. Phillips there abt 3 yrs ago; 'been going to Duke abt 6 yrs. Wilton, LTCOL, USAF, Ret. 91 350SDL (188 kmi) oil changed via $2 sucker 87 300D (107 kmi) oil changed via $2 sucker Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get
Re: [MBZ] Vacuum elements in a 85 300SD (126 chassis) - any one else been here?
Have a look at these wikkis from over at Mercedes Shop -- they may help, since the 126 back-of-dash is very similar to the 123, only roomier (really!). http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W123HVACVacuumActuators http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W123Evaporator That being said, I'll tell you the solution Dave Morrison (the author of those two articles) suggested to me. Unplug the vacuum element, stick a golf tee or whatever in the end of the tube, and use a small block of packing foam (not a peanut, the closed-cell type stuff) to block the louver door open. We have the ability to close it with the dash lever, which has nothing to do with the vacuum-controlled flap, so why do we need both? After hours of annoyance and frustration, THAT suggestion was a flat forehead moment. Especially here in Texas, we cool far more than we heat, so we tend to want the center vent open far more than closed. I've done it to four 123s and two 126s, and I love it. The center vent is open until I decide to shut it, and the vacuum system works fine. And the little pink vacuum pods stay where they are, unmolested, unneeded, and causing no problems. New elements are darned expensive, and replacing them with salvaged ones only delays the problem since that soft diaphragm is going to tear eventually, and the hard plastic is already very brittle. Just a suggestion -- it's sure easier than what you're doing. BTW, has anyone ever wondered, as I have, what posessed the Sindelfingen engineers to use pink plastic for these? The first time I pulled a dash at a boneyard and saw these little pink blobs tucked back there (I didn't know what they were yet!) I thought, WHAT the Sunny Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Vacuum elements in a 85 300SD (126 chassis) - anyone else been here?
Then again, we could consider recognizing that Sindelfingen is a good number of lattitudes north of Dallas, Texas, and their understanding in the 1970s and 1980s of Texas' needs in terms of climate control was seriously lacking. This I know for a fact, having been to dinner more than once with some of those engineers between 1975 and 1980. I can't vouch for their level of understanding after that. Or we could assume (and you know what they say about ass-u-me) that a car's condition is poor because an owner wants to choose whether the vents are open or closed, rather than leave it to the dictates of a long-gone German engineering team that was designing for an environment not remotely similar to North Texas.. The other option, one I consider the best, is to recognize that someone asked a question, and folks will offer different ways of addressing the problem posed. As long as safety is not an issue, we can write off differences of opinion without sniping, and allow the guy with the problem to choose his path from the options provided. -- Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:07:05 -0500 From: Trampas Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vacuum elements in a 85 300SD (126 chassis) - any oneelse been here? To: 'Mercedes Discussion List' Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I know that I have called Rusty and replaced a the vacuum pods before. I find that it is the best way to fix the problem as that everything works like the manual says. Of course if the car is not work fixing, then just patching might be the best option. However I have found that it takes the same amount of work to patch a car as it does to fix one, thus it is often better to start with a better car, and when your done you have a nice car. Trampas -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sunny Letot Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 7:41 AM To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Vacuum elements in a 85 300SD (126 chassis) - any oneelse been here? Have a look at these wikkis from over at Mercedes Shop -- they may help, since the 126 back-of-dash is very similar to the 123, only roomier (really!). http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W123HVACVacuumActuators http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W123Evaporator That being said, I'll tell you the solution Dave Morrison (the author of those two articles) suggested to me. Unplug the vacuum element, stick a golf tee or whatever in the end of the tube, and use a small block of packing foam (not a peanut, the closed-cell type stuff) to block the louver door open. We have the ability to close it with the dash lever, which has nothing to do with the vacuum-controlled flap, so why do we need both? After hours of annoyance and frustration, THAT suggestion was a flat forehead moment. Especially here in Texas, we cool far more than we heat, so we tend to want the center vent open far more than closed. I've done it to four 123s and two 126s, and I love it. The center vent is open until I decide to shut it, and the vacuum system works fine. And the little pink vacuum pods stay where they are, unmolested, unneeded, and causing no problems. New elements are darned expensive, and replacing them with salvaged ones only delays the problem since that soft diaphragm is going to tear eventually, and the hard plastic is already very brittle. Just a suggestion -- it's sure easier than what you're doing. BTW, has anyone ever wondered, as I have, what posessed the Sindelfingen engineers to use pink plastic for these? The first time I pulled a dash at a boneyard and saw these little pink blobs tucked back there (I didn't know what they were yet!) I thought, WHAT the Sunny Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- Message: 5 Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:14:19 -0600 From: Tom Hargrave Subject: Re: [MBZ] W108 hydropneumatic compensator - useless trivia To: 'Mercedes Discussion List' Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I chased an air bag solution for 123 body Mercedes a while ago and at least back then, one did not exist. Thanks, Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com 256-656-1924 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fmiser Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 9:04 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] W108 hydropneumatic compensator - useless trivia It seems than at Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:16:14 -0600, Loren wrote: I have never seen one other than the pictures in the manual. I always
[MBZ] Mercedes Discussion List: coffee is hot, milkshakes are cold, and it's all about profit
Hey, guys, has anyone noticed how long ago the McDonald's lawsuit took place? It was over and done with in August of 1994! McDonald's made whatever changes they felt necessary in their coffee temps within no more than 12 months (at that time, they updated their protocols and master handbooks twice a year). IF they changed them at all -- they weren't legally obligated to do so. Does anyone remember what McDonald's coffee tasted like pre-1994 and post-1995? Did you get a cup of coffee back around Thanksgiving of 1995 and think, What the heck? Why's my coffee cold?? It's business, and it's all about the money. McDonald's, like anyone else, in in business to make money. If they can reduce costs without losing customers, they'll do it -- that's their job, and what their shareholders expect of them. If you want a real milkshake, go to to an ice cream shop like Braum's or Ashburn's -- the general fast food industry has been using mellorine (think DQ) for decades. Go to the grocery store and price dairy products -- butter, cream, and milk are FAR more expensive that margarine and non-dairy coffee creamer. Same deal with real ice cream v. the fake stuff, until you get into the special diet stuff, i.e. Atkins, Sount Beach, etc. Also, milk products have a limited shelf life, which means you've got to throw it away if you don't use it all before the due date. That non-dairy stuff has a longer life than a 617 diesel, so you can buy 6 months supply at once! That's a better deal -- less spoilage loss, less base cost, and a discount for bulk purchase. Oh, and the french fries? No one made McDonald's give up the beef tallow. (And yes, the fries were crisper and tastier fried in 93% tallow and 7% cottonseed oil!) The reason they used the tallow mixture is that it had an indefinite shelf life, and was, back in the day, much cheaper than any other fat they could use for frying. However, when they began to expand into other countries and run into Hindu objections regarding beef consumption (don't ask me why a hamburger joint would try to market to Hindus -- that one's beyond me!), along with the Surgeon General's long-standing warning about saturated fat, they changed to vegetable oil. There are no trans fats in their fries -- trans fats are a product of hydrogenation (to make the oil solid at room temp), and McDonald's uses liquid shortening in their fryers and has since they stopped using tallow -- it's easier and faster, i.e. saves time and money. Does anyone remember how bottled Coke tasted 30 years ago? No?? It was different -- cane sugar costs more to produce than corn syrup (which was, for many years, just a waste by-product of corn processing), and Coca Cola saw the cost benefits. They cut their costs, while leaving our cost the same and steadily escalating it -- a better profit margin for their stockholders. You can taste the original Coke in Mexico -- labor being cheaper there, and the diet being far moe dependent on whole corn than ours, they still use cane sugar in Coca Cola. There are a number of stores serving the Hispanic community in the U.S. that import real Coke. And there's one plant in Dublin, Texas that still produces Dr Pepper with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, and gets a premium price for it. Like I said, it's just business, and it's all about the money. Most corporations are amoral -- they go where the profits lead them. Those of us on this list enjoy the products of a corporation (Daimler Benz) that was able to produce a quality product at a profit, and continues to support what it produced. It's a niche market, and one I'm glad to be part of. We're also lucky to have access to folks like Rusty and others, who are NOT corporations, and while they need to make a profit, they make it by providing excellent products and great customer service. Don't look to an international corporation for that kind of service! ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] coffee is hot, milkshakes are cold, and it's all about profit
Message: 2 Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:23:21 -0500 From: Allan Streib [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Mercedes Discussion List: coffee is hot, milkshakes are cold, and it's all about profit To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Your account does not correlate to my knowledge. Have you worked in a McDonalds? Allan -- 1983 300D 1966 230 = No, I've never worked in a McDonald's. During the 1980s and early 1990s, McDonald's contracted with my firm to write, maintain, and update all their handbooks, training manuals, food prep protocols, regional supply source order forms, ingredient disclosure forms, and franchise packets, as well as all bulletins (info that needed to be distributed to company stores and franchises before the next full update). Since then, I've never had any doubt whatsoever about what I was putting in my mouth when I ate at McDonald's. And it's not where I go for coffee, or for a milkshake! Sunny Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT heirloom seeds
Dave -- You're right. Agribusiness really wants to get rid of open-polinated (OP) seeds. That way, everyone will have to buy seeds every year, instead of saving some from this year's crop to plant next year, like our grandparents (or perhaps great-grandparents!) did. To that end, Delta Pine Land Company, in cooperation with the USDA, developed the terminator gene, which renders crops grown from their terminator-altered seed sterile. http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cses/chagedor/terminator.html Many lawsuits are pending related to the out-crossing of genetically-modified (GM) crops with open-polinated (OP) crops -- the seed companies maintain that the end result belongs to them, because their patented DNA is contained in the resulting seeds. These are be interesting to watch for a number of reasons. First, the U.S. has legislation in place that's stood for nearly 100 years prohibiting the patenting of seeds, but we're allowing DNA to be patented left and right -- oops. Also, it's proven very difficult for the government (or anyone else) to regulate individual bees, moths, and the wind, which accounts for the out-crossing by providing pollination between the GM and OP crops. These issues are tracked in a number of publications, but one of the best across the board is Acres U.S.A. Fortunately, there's always an alternative movement. In addition to Andrew's list, try Johnny's Seeds www.johnnyseeds.com or Google heirloom seeds for a broad list of seed suppliers that specialize in heirloom and other OP seeds. To engage in something even more subversive, Google seed savers. There are tens of thousands of people out there who save seeds and have them to trade, sell cheap, or give away for the price of a stamp. There are listings of such people not just in the Google results, but also in magazines like Countryside Small Stock Journal, Grit, Back Home, Backwoods Home (yes, it's two different magazines), and Rodale's Organic Gardening. Check out homesteading forums on the web -- most are a great communities (not unlike this one), and there are many seed-sharing sub-forums. One of my favorites is at http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/ By all means, go plant something!! Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 16:07:35 -0500 From: andrew strasfogel [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Coffee is hot To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Dave, I have a stack of catalogs at home - too many to list. Try Shumways, Pinetree Gardens (superseeds.com), Jung seeds in Wisconsin, even Burpee. They all sell heirloom as well as organic seeds. There is also an organization called seed savers that collects old varieties before they go extinct, and the greatest magazine on earth, Mother Earth News, which is full of great ideas and stories (published 6 times/year). On Jan 4, 2008 12:33 PM, Dave H... [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Where do you get the seeds for these vegetables? My understanding, very limited, was that the conglomerate farms were putting the seed business out of business so that they could monopolize the market with genetically altered non seeding plants Dave H... Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Robert A. Heinlein ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] re. Stella Awards and McDonald's Coffee
Let me start with saying I learn a great deal from all of you that helps me to keep my cars on the road, for which I am always grateful. Thank you, one and all. I rarely say much because I have little to offer that you don't already know. However..off-topic, sometimes, I may have some helpful insight. At least, I hope so. I'm not ranting, but the McDonald's coffee case and the Stella Awards issues are frequently misstated, so as someone with a little personal knowledge, I'd like to set the record straight. The cases listed as this year's Stella Awards are: 1) The same cases that have been listed since 2001 or so; 2) Not all the cases that have been listed since 2001 (there are 3 or 4 more); and 2) Not actual cases. One of the best sites to check for this and other urban legends is www.snopes.com, and this particular instance re. the Stella Awards is at http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp They list some fabulously silly lawsuits that have been filed, but few are successful. I'm NOT a lawyer (heaven forfend!) but I work with a number of judges and attorneys in an advisory capacity. For the last several years, a couple of our judges have assigned all their new legal interns with finding the citations for these cases, [which doesn't happen because they don't exist] and with finding cases that provide similar examples of egregious abuse of the legal system. The interns spend a lot of time reading a lot of cases, and learn a lot about how to use the research systems, but they find very little. As for the McDonald's case, Bill R is correct that the circumstances are not all fully disclosed -- they're actually too gory, and frankly, it makes too good a story to support the need for sweeping tort reform when you tell it simply. Some idiot woman spilled coffee on herself while driving and blamed the fast food joint for getting burned -- what a dummy she was, what a dishonest so-and-so her lawyer must've been, and how stupid was that judge and that jury to give her almost $3 mil? Obviously, the wheels have come off our legal system and it needs to be fixed. Once upon a time, I told that story myself. Then I met the lady's grandson, who was at the wheel of the car when the coffee spilled. That made me do my homework, and I learned that no matter who tells me something, I'd better check it out before repeating it as the truth. 79-year-old Stella Liebeck -- who was NOT, by the way, driving the car, nor was the car moving when she spilled the coffee -- spent 8 days in a hospital and had several skin grafts in very delicate areas. Think of gravity and what gets wet when you spill your drink in your lap.anyone with the imagination of a peanut should be cringing and crossing their legs about now..This was the result of spilling 180-190 degree coffee on herself while wearing sweatpants (nice and absorbent, the fleece held the hot liquid against her skin.) The $20,000 she initially asked McDonald's for is cheap, by most standards, just for the hospital stay, leaving aside any treatment. McDonalds refused, so suit was filed. How many of us remember that we may be charged with child endangerment in most states if children in our households have access to a hot water faucet and the water heater is set at more than 140 degrees becuase of the possibility of debilitating burns? The jury decided that Ms. Liebeck was 20% responsible for the mishap, something very few storytellers mention. McDonald's admitted having already settled more than 700 suits and medical claims filed by both employees and customers for injuries related to McDonald's' published standard of 180 to 190 degrees for their coffee (boiling is 212 degrees), and also stated that despite settling so many claims, they had never allowed their stores to reduce the holding temperature for coffee. The jury decided that McDonald's knew the risk and had made no effort to reduce the risk or to warn consumers of it. The question the jury sent out when they were deliberating tells the story -- they asked McDonald's for the figure that would reflect a one-day profit on coffee sales for the corporation, and the jury's punitive damage award of $2.7 mil was 2 days of coffee profits. The court (judge) did not honor the jury's award, and ordered the punitive damages reduced to $480K. Later, McDonald's and Ms. Liebeck entered a secret settlement, so no one will ever know the actual damages paid by McDonald's. More details for those who are interested can be found at http://www.caoc.com/CA/index.cfm?event=showPagepg=facts Crazy cases are filed a hundred times every day, but when it's all said and done, judges and jurys are just not that stupid -- if the case has no merit or is completely outrageous, they generally toss it out. Lawyers who consistently file frivolous cases eventually go broke -- they lose all credibility with
Re: [MBZ] Get Together and Tech Sessionin NE Texas!!!
OFFICIAL 1st Annual MercedesShop/FastLane Get Together and Tech Session!!! - OFFICIAL 1st Annual MercedesShop/FastLane Get Together and Tech Session!!! In Winnsboro Mt. Vernon, Texas on October 27 and 28 Who: MercedesShop, FastLane, Roy Hunter Forum tech experts What: Get Together, Tech Sessions, and Swap Meet, Free Dinner provided Saturday night When: Saturday October 27th and Sunday October 28th, 2007 Where: Winnsboro and Mt. Vernon, Texas. Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result.php?...TXq3=q4=q5= B is Winnsboro. Mt. Vernon is on the interstate, right next to the I-30 symbol where the yellow highway crosses the interstate, and is about 15 miles north of Winnsboro. Were having a GTG and a series of Tech Sessions with our Super Moderator and Mercedes Shop guru, Roy Hunter (whunter), along with several other folks from the Forum weve come to depend on for guidance. MercedesShop and FastLane are supporting our event, and buying us dinner Saturday night!! Some folks will be bringing parts for a swap meet, as well. This October weekend is the last of Winnsboros month-long Autumn Trails celebration, and includes their Antique Car Parade and Rally. (You can see a little about the event and its history at http://www.texashighways.com/current...re.php?rid=298 http://www.easttexasguide.com/2007/pages/00/04/55.html http://www.winnsborotoday.com/City/atrevprev.htm Attendees usually include the Shelby Cobra Association of Texas (Carroll Shelby hails from nearby Leesburg), the Model T and Model A Associations, and a number of newer, classic car groups. Mercedes Benz is SERIOUSLY underrepresented!!! You may choose to participate in the Parade and/or Rally, or just the MBZ GTG and Tech sessions its your option. For our purposes, you don't need an antique or a classic, you just need a Mercedes (or at least parts)!! My indy is letting us use of part of his shop two double bays and two lifts! where we can do all the fun (and not-so-fun) things we love doing, and learn from each other hands-on, which for some of us, is SO much better than printing off a thread and carrying out to the garage .! The shop is 15 miles north of Winnsboro, right on the interstate in Mt. Vernon. We currently plan to spend the morning at the parade in Winnsboro, then caravan and leaf-peep our way to the shop in Mt. Vernon for tech sessions after lunch. To fuel the evening session, well have good ol Texas barbeque with all the fixins, lemonade, and iced tea available for dinner on-site courtesy of Mercedes Shop and Fast Lane (higher octane/cetane beverages are strictly BYOB). Well continue tech sessions Sunday morning for us die-hards, and everyone will scatter for home after Sunday lunch. Winnsboro is about halfway between Dallas and Texarkana, about 15 miles south of I-30, deep in the piney woods of East Texas. Its convenient to Dallas and Fort Worth, and easily accessible to folks in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana as well. We have invited the Texas MBCA clubs, as well as those in adjacent states. If the weather cooperates, by the end of October, Winnsboro has autumn color like you rarely see outside of New England, with native sweet gums, maples, persimmons, and other colorful foliage against the backdrop of pine and cedar. Gentle hills, winding country roads, abundant wildlife, and around 10 area lakes complete the beautiful scenery. For our patient significant others, there is ample antique shopping, and that weekend also features Winnsboros annual massive sidewalk sales, flea market and swap meet. Theres also evening entertainment available in the form of a coffeehouse with live music and Winnsboros own winery outlet (with a great lunch and dinner menu) that also has live jazz and other great music. Ill be listing lodging options before the week is out Winnsboro is a small town, so well be scattered around, but there are three or four bed breakfasts, a small hotel, and area lakes have cabins (which were checking into reserving), and there is additional lodging in Sulphur Springs (23 miles west), Mt. Vernon (15 miles north), Quitman (17 miles south), and Mt. Pleasant (24 miles east). Some folks may want to be here bright and early Saturday morning to start the day with the pancake breakfast the local Masonic lodge puts on, and then either join or watch the parade at 10:30 before we drag Roy off and start throwing questions at him!! Bring your cars, your extra parts to swap or sell to fellow Benzers, your cameras, and your tools for a great weekend. And MARK YOUR TOOLS sorting out whose sockets are whose is beyond annoying, and we want to spend our time learning and doing, not wrangling over a wrench! Besides, no one can afford the shipping to bring Roys tool-box or even the contents of his trunk (since it includes the crew of the USS Missouri!), so he needs us to provide as much as we can,
Re: [MBZ] Front Loading Washers (was Re: Tools and Quality)
I also did a bunch of research about three years ago and chose the top Kenmore front loader. To answer your question about getting clothes clean, it does so quite well. It tosses your clothes throught the soapy water, which is more like hand washing. Clothes get quite clean, they last longer (not as much wear and tear from the agitator), and as has already been noted, you use a LOT less detergent. You'll also save energy, since the clothes are drier coming out of the washer (the spin is FAR more efficient) so you don't need the dryer to run as long. We've had no problem with leaking except once when a visitor didn't believe me about the detergent and poured in more than she would've for a top loading machine! That WILL run a small amount of water out on the floor through an overflow, which is not actually a leak. It was amazing how much soap remained in our clothes from the top load we used to have -- and we weren't soap fiends by any means -- we found that the first few loads of clothes after we changed washers had enough soap in them to clean without adding more! The only down-side is that the cycle takes longer, but we've adjusted to that. On some washers, once you start the cycle, you can't open the door to add forgotten items, but look around for ones that don't limit you in that way -- they're out there. Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions. John Randolph ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] killing weeds
I have goats -- they work well, as long as you confine them, which is not as easy as it sounds! I'd also note that if the area is too large, the goat (or any other critter) will pick and choose and it will take forever to clear the area. The best way, if you don't want a herd of goats or a flock of geese is to confine them to a small area then move them to the next small area to be cleared, rather than leaving a couple of animals to roam a larger area where they will clear selectively. Just like us, they have their preferences, and won't clear an area unless you make it necessary -- i.e. there's a limited amount of total forage, so they eat it all. Keep in mind that goats are hard on trees -- they will graze off the lower limbs and strip the bark, if given the opportunity. Geese are another option -- they're herbivores and excellent watch critters (they raise all manner of he!! when strangers come around, and their bite can be very discouraging -- sort of a pinch on steroids, and they have the reach to make their point). As with any other critter, confine them to the area you want cleared. They won't hurt your trees, if thats an issue. Another couple of very effective, critter-free, non-toxic options -- 20% vinegar -- this is horticultural vinegar. The grocery store kind is only 5% acid, which won't help. Thsi stuff will kill whatever you spray with it as long as the weather is warm-to-hot, and as long as it doesn't rain for a couple of days. propane torch -- a little wand torch (about $20 or less most places, incl. Northern Tools) that connects to a propane tank. Where I am, it's been raining like the original flood, so there's no chance of starting a wildfire if I wanted to. It's a particularly effective solution for weeds growing in cracks, or for selective weeding around valuable plants, but is also good in your application -- clearing an area. If your property drains into a creek or water feature with fish or ducks, DO NOT use Round-Up -- it is extremely toxic to fish and fowl. Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions. John Randolph ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
