dirt bags of today's society

[K1JJ]

That's a story for Reader's Digest, Mike...


Back 15 years ago in a super mkt parking lot I gently tapped a shopping cart with my truck. As luck would have it, the wind picked up and blew it about 25' - and it rolled gently into a new car. The bitch in the car jumped out in a rage. We discovered a tiny scuff that a plastic part would make, barely noticable and easily taken out with wax. She demanded my license and ran inside to call the cops. I told her I'd be shopping inside and to find me later. I've had those types of scuffs done to me and always let people off.

About 15 minutes later she tracks me down and is all smiles. Seems the cops told her anything under $200 does not require them. Plus they said her own insurance should cover it. (no fault) I guess she realized how ridiculous her claim was and tried to undo her greediness act.

From that point on I watch every shopping cart including when I roll them to a stop, as they sometimes spring to life again.

T

[KB2WIG]

An old friend of mine liked to drive his ford comet ( with the 202 engin) behind shopping carts and see how far up a grass hill he could make them fly .......   fun times when beer fuled ... klc

[wa2zdy]

A good brewski can be a wonderful lubricant for the imagination.

[W2JBL]

YES!!! that would be "shopping cart polo" in these parts. i used to play it all the time using my trusty 68 Ford Fairlane. big heavy chrome bumpers. shopping carts can be launched airborne, or acellerated to high velocities while rolling and "released" by tapping the brakes. years back some stupid B@#%H dinged my old Ford's door with hers (real hard) getting out of her car. well back then i was a lot more out of control than now, and when i got to my car i proceeded to launch a nearby shopping cart ( using Ford V8 power) into her festering minivan at a good 5-10 MPH. hope she enjoyed her "new" fender...revenge is sweet!

[KB2WIG]

         "A good brewski can be a wonderful lubricant for the imagination"

Yes, this is true...They also make ex celent explosives; maybee in the tech forum??    klc

[k4kyv]

I but did pop it pretty good bumper to bumper.

I thought that was what bumpers were for.  I used to parallel park by gently backing up until I could feel contact with the  car behind, then pulling up until I tapped the bumper in front of me, then backing off enough to leave some space in between me and the car in front and the one to the rear.  Never caused any damage to my car or anyone else's.

But in recent years, I notice that cars don't have bumpers any more.  What sort of looks like a bumper is integrated into the body of the car, painted just like the rest of the body.  Even the slightest tap leaves a ding mark.  I have heard of  people backing a new car into a stationary object like a utility pole or a wall, at very low speed, something that wouldn't even leave a scratch on a real bumper, and causing over $1k damage.

Wonder what genius came up with the idea of designing cars without bumpers.

Is it called the autobody repairman's full employment act?

[N5RLR]

...But in recent years, I notice that cars don't have bumpers any more.  What sort of looks like a bumper is integrated into the body of the car, painted just like the rest of the body.  Even the slightest tap leaves a ding mark.  I have heard of  people backing a new car into a stationary object like a utility pole or a wall, at very low speed, something that wouldn't even leave a scratch on a real bumper, and causing over $1k damage.

Wonder what genius came up with the idea of designing cars without bumpers.

Is it called the autobody repairman's full employment act?

More like trying to increase fuel economy by improving aerodynamics and using lighter-weight materials.

The typical modern car will have an aluminum "reinforcement" ["rebar" in body-shop parlance] with a styrofoam impact pad, all covered by a polyurethane fascia.  Looks nice, goes together quickly at the factory...but dont even think about it escaping undamaged from anything other than a slight tap.

When "energy-absorbing" bumpers were mandated for the 1973 model year, the requirement was that the bumper withstand a 5-MPH impact [those bumpers also mounted to telescoping absorbers, somewhat similar to shock-absorbers].  Later the requirement was dropped to 2-1/2 MPH, IIRC.  Having had family in the body-shop business and having worked in it myself, I can testify to the old adage that "they don't make 'em like they used to." 

[Carl WA1KPD]

         "A good brewski can be a wonderful lubricant for the imagination"

Yes, this is true...They also make ex celent explosives; maybee in the tech forum??    klc

Sometimes too good

Explosion Kills 1 at Connecticut Party
7:37 AM EDT, October 23, 2006
By Associated Press
 
NEW MILFORD, Conn. -- Investigators were trying to determine who tossed a beer keg into a burning barrel at a party, causing a deadly explosion that sent metal shards slicing through a crowd of people.

The explosion early Sunday killed one and seven other people were taken to hospitals with burns and shrapnel wounds, police said.


Sgt. Lee Grabner said investigators interviewed witnesses Sunday to try to identify the person witnesses say threw a quarter-keg of beer into the flames, and to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.

Fires had been set in several barrels to keep people at the partygoers warm at the outdoors party in western Connecticut, said Police Captain Michael Mrazik.

"This is a certain tragedy," said Police Chief Colin McCormack. "However, nothing I have been apprised of to this point in this investigation, which I caution is at the very early states, indicates a deliberate act on anyone's part."

[WA1GFZ]

imagine the steam pressure in that keg what an idiot

[wa2zdy]

And I've no doubt that idiot's imagination was well oiled.  Hopefully the law figures out that a negligent act (what else could you call it?) resulted in death and injury and reckless disregard and whatever else they call it in Connecticut and take appropriate action.

[W3SLK]

Not too many people know the results of a BLEVE.

[WA1GFZ]

watch some bozo will sue the beer makers for explosive kegs and we will be drinking beer out of a plastic bag in a box.