RE: Christmas Bonus?
Not unless the Prez sends me that $250 check he said I would get since we didn't get a COLA increase this year. :B
A COLA??
Because of the state of the economy and a projected decline in the Consumer Price Index, many California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) members, who normally get a Purchasing Power Protection Allowance (PPPA), instead of a COLA, will actually see a decrease in their monthly retirement allowance this year.
CalPERS PPPA Reduction Facts
A bonus? They get a kick in the teeth.
RE: Sears, we hardly knew ye...
I will be very surprised if there are any free standing Sears stores around in 2 years. Kmart, who owns sears is integrating the products into their stores very quickly and in many of the new Super Kmart's, they have an entire section now called Sears. We no longer shop Sears, after they screwed us big time with lies and hidden charges.
Big texan you are wrong kmart does not own sears sears bailed kmart out before they went into bankrupacy and they are both owned by what is know as sears holding conpany. i know this for fact because my wife and son both work for sears and my sister in law is part owner in a sears store with her brother.
You folks may want to read this post by glock35ipsc:
I was fairly easy, and in a way, brilliant. When Kmart was heading for bankruptcy, investors fled, and Eddie Lampert took the controlling stake in Kmart for about $900 million.
He then turned around and sold off 68 Kmart stores (less than 5% of Kmart's total stores, around 1500 at the time), low performers, for $850 million. Kmart was practically free to him now. He then used that cash to buy Sears Holdings and merged the two together.
He bought Kmart, and subsequently Sears Holdings primarily for their real estate assets. And he got a bargain too.
And there lies the reason for their poor customer service (in my opinion anyhow). Sears Holdings is primarily a real estate investment for it's controlling owner, not an investment into the business.
He seems to have pretty well hit the nail on the head. Additional details can be found here:
Wikipedia - Sears Holding Corporation
Wikipedia - Edward S. Lampert
RE: Checkbook system phased out in Britain. What about here ?
It doesn't cost a business anything to deposit a check. If you use your credit/debit card, then businesses have to pay a percentage to the processing company. It's no wonder many prefer checks. I know in my business, I do!
Julie
Aye...and therein lies the motivation for the banks to eliminate checks as a payment device.
It's a two edge sword. The banks often charge the merchants for the "privilege" of being able to accept electronic payments, and sometimes the purchaser as well.
The banks have to PAY proof operators to process their checks. While proof operators process other kinds of bank documents, also encoding and verifying bank transactions other than checks, like deposits, withdrawals and payments, the fewer checks they process the fewer operators and fewer mouths they have to feed.
As usual, looking for a way to get us coming and going.
...and I agree with those who use checks for charitable contributions or any other transaction for which they want positive proof of payment.
RE: Sears, we hardly knew ye...
I love Sears 'hard' goods. Kenmore and Craftsman stuff is always a decent price, it always comes with an exploded parts diagram and I can get nearly any part I need from the local Sears Service Center. Parts prices aren't always great and they often have to order them, but it sure beats buying a whole new tool or appliance!
Sadly few Americans have the skills to repair things anymore, so they buy disposable******at "Best Buy" or Home Depot instead. Supporting products with parts seems to be dying out fast. :(
At least Home Depot and Best Buy do not sell the******that is made to Sears specifications. The kind of stuff you can only get repair parts at Sears because nobody else would use that cheap part and put their name on it.
Addressing both of these:
Since Sears appliances, tools (except for Craftsman hand tools), and power equipment is all made by other manufacturers, and rebranded with the Sears logo, I can get any part for Sears products directly from the manufacturer or from parts distributors at a far better price than from a Sears Service Center.
Case in point, I just replaced the water distribution valve (four solenoid arrangement) for my Whirlpool manufactured Kenmore refrigerator for around $30.00....less than half the price wanted by the Sears Service Center. Same part number, same exact unit.
I disagree that Sears "hard good" products are different in manufacture or quality than the manufacturers "Brand" products as sold by any other retailers. Part for part, feature for feature, their Kenmore branded appliances are the same as any GE, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, or other branded product available from any other retailer.
Their lawn and garden equipment equates directly, part for part, to units marketed as Toro, Ariens, Poulan, Lawn Boy, or John Deere. The big difference is that while you used to be able to buy the Craftsman branded equivalent for less at Sears, you can now usually find the manufacturer branded product for less at store like Home Depot or Lowes.
RE: locked keys in lesharo
one can conquer anything with a good dose of thought.
tried all the normies and nothing worked, all windows fully closed.
simple, just drifted the hinge pins from the coach door.
no damage at all to anything.
85 lesharo 2.2 diesel with 59k and i love it.
wonder how much this engine can take?
thinking about looking at boost,injection pressure, duration and timing.
don't know if there is a programmer for this.
researching i think the trouble people had with these aluminum engines is due to lugging thus over heating.
why did they vent crank case gasses into the turbo???????????
this coats the vains and cooler with oil sludge, bad thing.
why didn't they punch a hole in the middle of the hood for the turbo to pull cool air?????
why didn't they intercool behind the front bumper or any place not directly under the hood??????????
Why, oh why, oh why? Winnebago basically did nothing to alter the engine and I would guess that Renault never imagined these things would be operated under this type of load.
Why, when Winnebago first built them, did they route the positive 12V wire to the generator (on those equipped) in such a way that they got pinched under the service tray/mount, literally causing hundreds to burn to the ground? I can't begin to estimate how many burned carcasses I saw coming into the dealer where I worked at the time on flatbeds. We also did a lot of recall work on them.
As I recall, there were several configurations of outside compartments depending on whether or not the unit was equipped with a generator. On some, and if memory serves me correctly, you could squeeze through the rear compartment and come up underneath the dinette. Though most manufacturers now seal off the storage compartments, back then this was a common way to gain access to most RV's as the compartment keys were, and still are, very common.
RE: Sears, we hardly knew ye...
Personally, I never understood how K-Mart, which was coming out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the time, turned around and bought Sears...subsquently naming the new company "Sears Holdings". Somehow, I guess they managed to pay their creditors pennies on the dollar in Chapter 11, and then use the money they "saved" (stole) to buy Sears. It just doesn't seem right and left me with a bad taste for both stores.
As soon as the sale was complete, they began to methodically dismantle and remodel Sears stores, rebuilding them so they looked like K-Mart "schlock shops" inside, with payment kiosks scattered far and wide, and "cashiers" instead of customer service reps. With most Sears stores anchoring a mall, and with specialty stores in those malls doing a better job of selling the "soft goods", I see very little reason to patronize Sears anymore. Without a vast restructuring of their "product mix", and total reorganization, I don't see how they will survive.
In my rural community, where for decades we have had only an independently run "Sears Outlet Store", which sells only appliances, Craftsman tools, electronics, and outdoor equipment (mowers, tractors, etc.,), it almost put them out of business when the local K-Mart suddenly started competing by selling Craftsman tools and outdoor equipment. Their business declined by 80% almost immediately. For whatever reason, and probably because folks would rather buy their tools from someone who "actually knows something", The K-Mart has now reduced their stock of Craftsman tools to virtually nothing and that segment of the business is returning to the local contract store.
RE: Checkbook system phased out in Britain. What about here ?
The 2018 date in Britain is a "target date" and, if you read the entire article, there would be many obstacles to overcome and many people inconvenienced.
Personally, I don't think it will ever happen...in the UK or the US. As noted in the article many small businesses are not set up to take online payments, or can't afford the fees to do so, and there is still a segment of society who has not, and does not, trust or know how to use electronic payment/debit systems.
Though my use of checks/cheques for making regular monthly payments of utilities etc., is now almost nil, it was only this past month that my Community Service District/Water Company began an online payment system. The first time I used it, and found they charged a $1.95 "convenience fee" to do so, I decided it would be my last. They are only two blocks away and, if they are going to charge me an extra $1.95, I'd rather drop my CHECK into their deposit box while out running errands. While my CSD's fee was, ostensibly, because they use an outside processing company for their online payments, many financial institutions, utilities, and government agencies are still charging fees for what is basically an electronic transfer, which costs them less than processing a check.
I also frequent many festivals and outdoor events (usually astronomy related), some in very remote rural locations, where there is no means for vendors to process electronic payments as there is no means to establish internet/intranet connectivity. At these locations, and unless customers are willing to carry VERY large amounts of cash, there is no alternative to writing checks.
Check use has declined, and will continue to decline, but I don't see how they will ever eliminate it completely.
RE: Police Humor
#10 "Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor?"
I've been through this one on several occasions.
Most memorable, on a dark snowy night wearing rain gear over my uniform, cloth badge with Sergeant's ribbon but no chevrons on the sleaves. Collar insignia clearly visible.
A "local" is trying to talk his way through a hard road closure. Informs me, "I'm a personal friend of your Sergeant. Call your Sergeant on the radio...I'd like to talk to him". I can't resist. Pull off the raincoat so he can more clearly see the chevrons and Gold Star w/Sergeants ribbon and exclaim, "OK, my Sergeant is here. What did you want to talk about?"
Without a word, he rolls up his window, slumps back into his seat, and hunkers down to wait out the storm. A few minutes later when an officer arrives to relieve me at the closure, I'm very animated and make it very obvious that I'm talking about my alleged "friend" before I go. The officer doesn't hear a peep out of him for several hours while manning the closure.
RE: Pismo sand is now considered "polution"
Question: I have never seen the sand being cleaned by machines such as what i have seen on the beaches in socal, do they or is it possible to groom the sand and or sift the top layer of debri?
I wasn't going to get into this but now feel I must to address the above question. One of the greatest reasons for the decline in the Snowy Plover population, and it's eventual listing as a threatened species, is the use such "grooming trucks" on many Southern California beaches. Due to high beach use, and the use of such trucks, for the most part the species is basically extinct in Southern California.
As a result, the central coast, from San Luis Obispo County through Ventura County, contains roughly 45 percent of the breeding birds in the US, with the greatest numbers in Morro Bay, Oceano, and parts of Vandenberg Air Force Base.
They do not use such "machines", or grooming trucks, on the dunes specifically for this reason.
Which brings us to the following.
Seriously though, it doesnt take a rocket scientist to read between the lines. Now that the Snowy Plover population is recovering Read: Snowy Plovers at 20 year high the so called Eco-nuts have found another cause to rally behind.
I let this one slide when I first read it but it's so ludicrous and irrelevant to the topic at hand I have to point it out.
For starters, did you actually read the full article in relation to the Snowy Plover before you concluded that the "population is recovering" and posted the link?
The linked article concerns the count of the Snowy Plover along the Oregon Coastline, and not the Central California Coast which, historically, was the site of the highest concentration of plovers and which has suffered the highest level of loss of plover habitat and the greatest decline in population.
The linked article states:
"After 20 years of recovery efforts, the population of western snowy plovers in Oregon is increasing, but the small shorebird is still vulnerable....
....According to data from a 2009 survey, approximately 208 individual plovers were counted along Oregon beaches between April and September, the highest number detected since monitoring began in 1990 when biologists estimated there were only 50 adult plovers in the same area.
WOW! An increase of 158 birds, along the entire Oregon coastline, in almost 20 years! That's a damned population explosion. We might as well open up hunting season.
According to the Audubon society, The U.S. Pacific breeding population is currently estimated to be approximately 2,100 adults (along the entire US Pacific Coast), based on the 2009 breeding season window survey. Though researchers had hoped the population would be 3,000 by now, the population has remained steady for the last three years as the mortality rate for Snowy Plover chicks remains at approximately 72%...in large part due to human interference and disruption of breeding habitat.
The outlook for the Plover is improving, but it is STILL listed as a threatened species and I would hardly call it a recovery...especially on the California Central Coast.
RE: Pismo sand is now considered "polution"
While I can agree with most of what you said, but as for following the money. Land developers have the most to gain in closures!! History has shown us, once the people are kicked of the land, houses soon pop up..
As for the 20%, everyone wants to get rid of the bad element, but that means, we are all under the same microscope! So, now the rules and follow them!!!!
I MIGHT agree that there MIGHT be some development INLAND were the use of OHVs at Oceano Dunes to be stopped as prospective developers and homowners perceive the current state, with OHVs, RV.s, crowds, dust, and noise to be an eyesore and an undesirable view.
Since the use of the dunes, beach, and tidal areas themselves is subject to the rules of the California Coastal Commission, and the legal battles to curtail the use of OHV's at the dunes is being championed by the Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity, I doubt there would EVER be any further development on the seaward side of Highway 1 in the area. The area is sprinkled with wildlife reserves, preserves, and protected areas of one sort or another and I think it would never pass CEQA (California Envirnomental Quality Act) muster.
At this point, I think it's doubtful that the state's attempt to purchase the La Grande Tract, 584 acres of county owned land that was supposed to be a "buffer" between the ODSVRA and natural portions of the dunes, but on which the State has been allowing OHV's for over a decade, will pass CEQA muster either. There is too much documented evidence that the State itself has violated land use and environmental laws for years in it's administration of the ODSVRA and use of the La Grande Tract, and that it has been totally lax, and remiss, in it's failure to enforce the rules that are applicable to RV and OHV use in the area. The bottom line is that many users of the ODSVRA did not, and do not follow the rules, the state did not make them follow the rules, and the regional planners, regulatory agencies, and courts are unlikely to accept that the situation will be any better in the future or with ownership of the La Grande Tract transferred to the state.
If the ODSVRA loses the use of the La Grande tract, the available area will be reduced by another 584 acres, and changes in the number of users at the ODSVRA, at any given time, would seem to be inevitable.
Once again, and as others have alluded, if OHV users don't "police their own", and make a better effort at being better neighbors to the surrounding communities, they may just lose the entire ODSVRA. But, money talks, and right now the big money, the Cal Department of Parks and Recreation, and the SLO county supervisors, seem to be intent on preserving the status quo. The state wants to pay SLO county a big chunk of money for the La Grande Tract, SLO county would love that chunk of money, and will probably do anything it can to "stack the deck" to make the sale go forward. Only time will tell.
RE: Pismo sand is now considered "polution"
Since so many of the posts on this topic have addressed critics of OHV use on Oceano Dunes as "ignorant Easterners" or "outsiders" I, as a 6th generation native Californian, who vacations extensively on the Central Coast, can't help but chime in. BTW, I was dirt bike rider and motocross racer in my youth...and have the scars to prove it.
Generally, I don't venture into this forum section but waded in here today to see if I could find any comments about Dumont Dunes. My interest was piqued after I spent a weekend with a friend, and former colleague, who works the Dumont Dunes for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. I formerly believed the saying that the actions of 10% of OHV users made the other 90% look bad but, after spending a weekend observing the chaos, mayhem, and just plain stupidity at Dumont Dunes I now believe it's more like 40% making the other 60% look bad! But, that's another (hair raising) story.
All of that aside, I find that the the arrogance, and self-denial, contained in the bulk of the posts on this topic are astounding. Certainly, there can't be anyone who observes the plume of sand kicked up behind a bike, buggy, rail, or any other OHV at Oceano Dunes, who can honestly say they think that doesn't contribute to the amount of airborne particulates which make it onshore. Whether or not you believe a three year study, which compared the amount particulates on days of heavy dune use to those of light dune use, and which showed an undeniable correlation, doesn't matter as the evidence is just past the end of your nose.
Yes, the onshore flow of wind carries the finer particulates into Nipomo and surrounding communities, but except on the days of heaviest winds, it takes "something" to initially get those particles airborne. That "something" most certainly can be an OHV. How can anyone honestly doubt it? As an example, look at dirt road on a moderately windy day. You don't see a plume of dust rising from it UNTIL a vehicle drives on it and then there is a cloud of dust.
On a more personal note, I have been at Oceano Dunes (with friends with OHVs) on moderately windy days. It's rather obvious when an OHV drives by upwind and you get peppered by sand. Some of the finer particles that are kicked up most certainly rise into the atmosphere and are carried many miles away. Also, walk the dunes in the early morning after the nighttime dew has settled and formed a crust. See what it takes to get sand airborne and then and compare it to later in the day after vehicles have broken everything up.
I have also spent many extended stays, both in my RV and hotels, at points north of Oceano Dunes. Looking south, the brown murk rising above Oceano Dunes and moving onshore, during time of heavy use like weekends, is striking and it's more than obvious off-highway vehicles are a great part of the cause.
To address a few specific comments:
Follow the MONEY!!! Close Pismo, to build MULTI-MILLION dollar homes ???
WRONG!! "Following the money" is the very reason you are allowed to use Oceano Dunes as San Luis Obispo County makes large, some say inflated, claims as to how much money OHV use contributes to their economy. SLO County Supervisors are generally resistive to doing anything to curb OHV use at Oceano Dunes. The ODSVRA is also one of the biggest cash-cows for the California Department of Parks & Recreation. They don't want to lose it or the revenue it brings in.
Opponents of the ODSVRA don't want to build "multi-million dollar homes", rather, they want to prevent development and preserve the dunes and surrouding environs in a natural state.
To some its the land of the free "If" you do what I want.
Isn't this always the most convenient argument for some? "This is a free country. You're infringing on my rights". The fact of the matter is that the "privilege" of using public lands for your recreation does not grant you the "right" to infringe on the health of others. Their RIGHT to clean air most certainly trumps your "right" to recreation.
I'm not advocating shutting down the dunes entirely for OHV access, but there are many who are. Many of my close friends get great pleasure from RVing and using their OHVs there but, even they say the current state of affairs, crowding, littering, rampant DUI, unsanitary practices, can't be sustained. I do see a time when there WILL be some sort of mitigation measures there such as strict limits on the amount of vehicles allowed at any given time or shutting down OHV use during times of certain atmospheric conditions.
One thing everyone should remember is that the State Legislature specifically created Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA), to, and this is a specific quote from the state charter establishing the area, "contain a nuisance". That is, it was created to keep vehicles off other parts of the coastline. There are already many legal challenges, from many fronts and using many tacts, that are trying to shut down ODSVRA completely. If I was a regular user of the dunes, I would certainly "tread lightly", do whatever I could and graciously accept reasonable mitigation measures, lest you lose vehicle access completely.
RE: WalMart/overnignting
Why do people post stuff they do not understand? I have never found a WM where we could not park over night. If it is an all night store, and if police question you, you are shopping. If not an over night store, you always can ask. A Sams that closes at 10pm are the best for quiet parking. You naysayers, get a life and talk about something you know about.
I'll offer a few facts that YOU apparently don't understand. Just because you have "never found a WM where you could not park overnight", does not mean that is the case everywhere. Your personal experience, no matter how "vast" is not all inclusive.
I have personal knowledge of many of the Walmarts in California on the list. Many of these stores, because of strong public opposition to their construction, went through a very long, lengthy, and costly process in getting their Conditional Use Permits, Environmental Impact Reports, and mitigation measures approved by local and regional planning commissions county boards of supervisors and/or city councils. After initial approval, some were then subject to lawsuits, which went on for years, further challenging the completeness of their EIR's and means and methods of obtaining approval. This is especiallly true of the WalMart Supercenters which faced the strongest public opposition. This may come as a surprise to some of you but, except for those that patronize them, Walmarts are not very popular or welcome in many communities. Even those that do patronize them, may have a bit of the NIMBY attitude toward them. (NIMBY=Not In My Backyard)
Because government planners, the public in nearby neighborhoods, and/or environmental groups were aware of the phenomena of "Wallydocking", as part of their mitigation measures, many of these have a prohibition on overnight parking specifically written into the terms of their conditional use permits. Some are required to turn off their outside lighting after certain hours and even required to provide their own overnight security to prevent such parking. Many of these are in quiet, "upscale" suburban communities, which also have very stringent municipal codes and ordinances prohibiting trucks and RVs from overnighting on their public streets and private parking lots. I assure you that you will be harassed, harangued, and even cited if you attempt to overnight at most of these stores.
Walmart walked a very thin line in getting many of these stores approved, faces expensive fines if they violate the terms of their approvals, and they will do nothing to upset the government officials who oversee their continued operation.
RE: So many responses ....
Ah heck. Answer it anyhow. Around here it doesn't matter if your response is redundant, or if it's just plain wrong. No one else seems to care, why should you?
I find it especially telling when someone will ask a question, to which there is a definitively correct response, such as about the technical specifications of a product or a a point of law. People will post dozens of incorrect "opinions" till someone will post a passage from a technical manual, or quote directly from a Penal Code, Vehicle Code, or other resource, (and even provide the URL to the source). With the correct answer in front of them, and the source of the information provided, folks still feel the need, and justification, to chime in with incorrect information.
If you feel the urge to pile onto the "dogpile", go for it.
RE: News, Would you eat this 15 year old Cheese?
$50.00 per....I'll pass.
This works for me...
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/files/2009/09/velveeta1.jpg width=250
Velveeta?? I've always understood, since I was a child, that Velveeta was:
1.) Fish Bait
2.) For concealing medication when you give it to the dogs.
In fact, my kids officially refer to Velveeta as "dog cheese".
Now, that finely aged cheddar, I'd take a pound of that in a heartbeat.
RE: Using electric heater while in storage?
Hi AstroRig57,
1. Many RV storage sites do not provide AC power.
2. In northern climates a single 1500 watt heater may well still allow plumbing to freeze. Tonight (Dec 8, 2009) it is -32 C (-26 F). I get a delta T of about 17 C from a 1500 watt heater. A second 1500 watt heater, in theory, might give me another 17 degrees, leaving the inside of the RV at 2C. But I doubt that there would be enough air circulation to prevent plumbing from freezing. (We get to -40 here every year)
3. Cost where I live would be 30 cents per hour to run 3000 watts of heaters. $7.20 per day or $216.00 per month, exclusive of taxes.
4. The "pink stuff" can be salvaged and reused by blowing it out of the lines with an air compressor. I can usually save about 75% of it.
5. If a fitting is added before the water pump intake winterizing takes less than 15 minutes. Or thirty minutes if the lines are blown out first with an air compressor.
I do use my RV at extreme temperatures. I have boondocked at as low as -37C and have done so for five days in a row at a daily high temperature of -25 C (-13f).
Well Gee. It just goes to show that not everyone's circumstance is the same doesn't it?:S
I suppose it also shows that the term "extremes of temperature" is relative.
In reference to #1, I don't store my rig in storage site...I store it at home. The OP notes this as his circumstance as well.
While I can appreciate the extremes in temperature you are experiencing, I wouldn't equate it as being typical for most RV'ers herein.
The OP, (Remember the OP? We're addressing the questions of the OP) lives in Oregon or the "Northwest" as opposed to the "Great White North". Were supposed to be addressing the specific question of the OP...presumably in a context that addresses his situation and circumstance. The OP specifically refers to temperatures in the teens and single digits. Yes, while my method, and his method, may not work at 50* N Lat, somewhere north of Moose Jaw, and at temperatures of -32*F or less, it is more than adequate at 5000 feet in elevation, at 34* N Latitude, where our climate is remarkably similar to that experienced in much of Oregon.
I have never used the "Pink Stuff", as for longer term storage merely opening the low point drains, and blowing the system out with air, has proven to be more than adequate. Since starting to use the rig on a year round basis (on at least one, and often the two weekends closest to the new moon...and more) I have used the heater as noted above with great success. If I chose to use an antifreeze, I would not need to ad a fitting as the "Waterworks" system used by my manufacturer provides a built-in system for easy winterizing and sanitizing of water systems.
BTW, on the WORST (coldest) month experienced since starting to use a heater in lieu of draining the system, when we had perhaps a week of single digit nighttime temperatures, I saw an increase in electrical consumption of less than $40. Of course, not all of this can be attributed to the heater in the RV as some would be due to increased use of the forced air furnace in the house and increased cost of heating the spa in such "frigid" (gasp) air.
RE: Questions on Telescopes
I question your decision to recommend a scope on a German equatorial mount, Astrorig. The original poster asked: "want a telescope that I can look at the stars with, as well as look at birds or boats on the water."
How many birders have you seen using a German mount?
While a little 90mm Mak isn't a bad idea, the mount is the pits for anyone who wants to use it terrestrially. While a bit more expensive, Orion is selling their 102mm on a far more serviceable alt-az mount. Of, if the guy has a photo tripod, then just a tube assembly will suffice as well as being the least expensive option.
The 102 on an alt-az:
http://www.telescope.com/control/telescopes/cassegrain-telescopes/orion-versago-102mm-altazimuth-maksutov-cassegrain-telescope
There is absolutely nothing that precludes using a small GEM mount for terrestrial observing. Just manually move it, point it, and lock it on what you want to observe. When you want to use it for celestial observing, align it with north, find your object, and with slightest turn of the manual slow-motion control you can keep your object centered in the field of view. That's not nearly so easy with an Altazimuth mount. For a mere $72.95, an optional electronic drive can be installed for automatic tracking with the mount noted in my original post.
I totally disagree with the statement that the Altazimuth mount is "far more serviceable" as while it while it may be slightly more suitable for terrestrial observing, it is far less suitable for astronomy. There is a reason why the scope/mount package you note is called only a "spotter". Plus, the GEM is upgradable, whereas the Altazimuth is not. I recommended the 90mm to try to stay closer to the OP's noted price range. For the same price as your 102mm Altazimuth package, he could also get a 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain on a slightly more heavy duty equatorial mount....also upgradeable.
RE: Using electric heater while in storage?
The pink stuff would have cost you maybe $15.00. No fire hazard and you do not have to worry about a power outage. :?:h
The "pink stuff" does not allow for short term storage of an RV that is used on a year round basis but which is based in an area with extremes of weather. Using the pink stuff under such circumstances would require frequent filling and flushing of the system prior to and after each trip, would waste product, and would extend and delay the prep times for each trip. Life is too short for such hassles.
We use our RV on an almost year round basis, with only brief periods of storage, yet we live 5,000 feet in elevation in an area that gets moderate snow and frequent winter temperatures in the teens and twenties...and occasional single digits. In order to protect the unit from freezing, while preserving it in a "trip ready state", I use an electric/oil filled radiator type heater set at the "antifreeze" setting of 45*. The unit also has tank pads which are turned on when we are expecting severe weather.
During such short term storage, the converter/charger is turned off and the house batteries are maintained with a Deltran Battery Tender Plus.
I think this is a practical solution for anyone who stores their unit, for less than an entire season, in an area with freezing temperatures.
RE: Questions on Telescopes
Awww come on...you all know darn well that a 8 inch catadioptric schmidt or maksutov cassegrain reflector with a correcting prism will let you see the end of the world terrestrially, AND more moons of Jupiter AND the Orion Nebulae...lol
They are a pain to carry though. A little hefty.
Finally, a post in this thread with at least a modicum of useful and accurate information.
I can't believe the number of "experts" who posted herein who, at least in regard to astronomy, left the OP hanging or who gave him facts and figures unnecessary for his purposes.
Then, there are those who used the opportunity to basically hijack the thread to use it just for the purpose of showing off their equipment and alleged expertise. Come on now, what good does it do be a "name dropper" and show off a C-9.25 with a bino viewer and two $600 Ethos eyepieces to a guy who is asking about a budget telescope? Come on now...what was the point??
I wish I'd seen this thread sooner, as I've been busy for a few days, but I wouldn't have hesitated for a moment to recommend any number of 90mm-120mm Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes to the OP. They combine many of the benefits of a refractor with those of a reflector. They are compact, mobile, with good light gathering capabilities and relatively long focal length. With a modest equatorial mount, some are within the OP's price range while others are slightly above. Most, with the proper adapters, can also be used as a long focal length telephoto lens. With an erecting prism, they make great spotting scopes as well. I probably would have had him start right about here:
Orion StarMax 90mm Equatorial Mak-Cass Telescope
BTW, for anyone who lives in the Southern California area, the Griffith Observatory, in conjunction with several astronomy clubs, dealers, and manufacturers, will be having a "Pre-Holiday Telescope Buyers Guide" event on Wednesday December 16, at 7:30 PM.
http://i49.tinypic.com/30w3zwz.jpg
RE: Roof rotted on a 2008 Coachmen 2600
It's beyond me why the OP, or anyone else in this thread, would think that Coachmen is in any way liable for this issue.
1.) The unit was bought used, beyond the normal "basic" warranty period or one year, and beyond the "Extended Structural Warranty Period" of two years OR 25,000 miles.
2.) Even if it had still been intact, this warranty specifically excludes damage caused by improper use, failure to maintain in accordance with the Owner’s Manual...Maintaining seals and seams is considered to be a maintenance item. We ALL know these must be inspected and resealed on a regular basis.
3.) As others have noted, use as a rental specifically excludes the unit from warranty coverage. The exact language of the warranty is: This Limited Warranty is void in the event that you use the vehicle other than for its customary purpose, fail to register and use the vehicle in one of the United States or Canada, and/or use the vehicle for rental or other commercial purposes.
4.) Water intrusion, and damage caused by same, is considered to be a maintenance issue and specifically excluded from warranty coverage. Note: mold or mildew can occur as a result of high humidity, condensation or water intrusion. prevention of mold and mildew is a maintenance issue and is the customer’s responsibility. therefore damages resulting from mold or mildew are not covered by the Coachmen® limited warranty.
Here is the full text of the 2008 Coachmen Recreational Vehicles Warranty Guide
Information regarding warranty issues, and how to obtain parts and warranty service on Coachmen RV's originally sold before the December 26 of 2008 purchase by Forest River can be found here:
Do Not Despair - an explanation of how parts and warranty is handled for units purchased before December 26, 2008.
If anyone is liable beyond the purchaser, it would be Giant RV and then ONLY if the water intrusion and damage had occurred before the unit was purchased or if there was some sort of implied warranty. As is the case with used cars that were a rental, lease return, "program" or "executive" car, the seller has no legal obligation to disclose this unless the buyer specifically asked. Rather, the buyer should have run a CarFax report on the VIN to determine the vehicle history.
Very few RV dealerships sell anything resembling a "Certified Used Car" and most sell their used vehicles "as is" unless a portion of the manufacturer's warranty remains.
Sorry, but buyer beware. It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that a used unit is sound before purchase, and/or get documentation of merchantability before purchase. A unit sold "as is" has no such implied warranty. This unit may have even been damaged, and improperly repaired, in the course of it's rental usage.
Sorry I can't be more supportive and sympathetic, and though it's an expensive lesson to learn, but the buyer should have either inspected the roof, sidewalls, windows and all seams before purchase, and had repair/maintenance of them made a requirement of the sale, or he should have done it himself immediately after the sale and before use.
Let me say this to those who, instead of addressing the specific issues of this case, use it as as a forum to bash the manufacturer. In virtually each and every case noted the individual(s) are speaking about water intrusion and damage on an "older unit". Once again, in MOST cases water intrusion, and the maintenance issues that lead to it, are the responsibility of the owner. In others, their claims are so vague we have no way to make any kind of judgment as to their validity.
I worked in the RV industry many years ago and have seen the type of damage, delamination, and rot described by some herein. I have seen it in units of all makes and models. No manufacturer is immune but, once again, and with rare exceptions, it was usually caused by lack of attention to seams and seals. Some of this damage does not occur overnight, and you must ignore and neglect the issue for sometime before it causes structural damage.
...and BTW, for anyone that thinks Coachmen, under their former owner's Coachmen Industries (now All American Group), didn't care, as of 2008 they had paid over $19 million in extended warranty claims for defective laminates sold to them by Crane Composites. This is one of the factors that led to several years of unprofitability and the decision to sell the RV Group to Forest River. They continue to pay on these claims and, eventually prevailed in a case against Crane and are receiving some reimbursement for these undue warranty expenses.
RE: tankless air compressor with 3/8 fittings
Went to Harbor Freight to look at air compressors. All the tankless models are not using the standard 3/8 fittings that my normal compressor uses. Anyone find a tankless that uses 3/8 hose or is there a way around this.
Why do you specify tankless? To save space and weight? Are you looking for 110V AC powered or 12V powered?
Having never seen a 12V unit that could efficiently blow up a paper bag, yet alone a fill a fairly depleted tire, I opted for a 110V compressor with a small tank as, with a generator, the 110V power is always available.
I at first opted for a Husky Air Scout compressor with a 1.5 gallon tank. Husky 1.5 gallon Air Scout Compressor
When I purchased it it was on sale for considerably less than the list price of $99.00 and I thought it was a good deal. On the second trip out, within weeks of purchase, the regulator failed and I exhanged it, under warranty, for another. A little over a year later, and after perhaps six uses between the two, the regulator on the second failed as well. I disassemble the unit and decided that it was not worth fixing. Upon inspection I had determined that the manifold and regulator, which must be replaced as a unit, was the weak point. While shopping for a replacement, I determined that most of the smaller Husky and Campbell Hausfeld compressors (who makes the Husky) used this same manifold and determined I would not buy either brand or any brand made by Campbell Hausfeld. BTW, Campbell Hausfeld makes most, if not all, of the small compressors sold at Harbor Freight.
In the end, I decided cheap was not better and I purchased a quality Senco compressor with a 1 gallon tank. It is quiet, efficient (pulling only 4 amps), is much lighter and has a smaller footprint than the previous model. Senco 1/2 HP 1 Gallon Compressor.
In regard to the OP's primary question, both of these units have 3/8 fittings although I don't see how it matters. With a couple of wrenches, the fittings on virtually any air compressor can easily be changed to 3/8". The fittings are usually readily available at most home improvement/hardware stores.
