Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
So... Corroded Battery Cables and the Metro Bus
Ahh where do I begin?
Well, a few weeks ago, upon leaving my apartment and getting into my car to leave for a study binge with my partners at the library, one key thing was missing in the quest to drive to the library....the car actually starting....and so the story begins.
I cranked my car that afternoon to the sound of the little engine that could...the engine never cranked, but instead gave a trying sound, a sound similar to that of goat choking on a fishbone. So my thoughts were that I needed a new battery. So I went to Sears and purchased a battery a few days later. Upon installing this battery, I noticed a cable completely separated from the alternator. This was odd I thought. So I ignored it, thinking maybe this was how the cable was supposed to be. Therefore, I began to start the car again, this time not to the sound of a fishbone choking goat, but instead to the sound of nothing. No crank, no sound of any kind. It was apparent that, upon installing the new battery, that the cables had been so corroded, that they had separated upon getting the old battery out of the car. My question here was whether I needed a new battery at all or if the corroded battery cable was the entire problem to begin with...I will never know.
So upon considering to tow the car to the mechanic, I called several towing companies to find out that towing in this town costs around 80-90 dollars. I then called my insurance company to find out that the cost would be covered, but I would have to pay up front and they then would reimburse me 4-6 weeks later. It seemed unreasonable to pay that much money, even if it was reimbursable, and to pay about the same in labor, for just a repair that I would later find out, only cost 11 dollars in parts.
So I use my favorite friend of all time...Craig. (and his list)
I post a classified for a mechanic that can come to my place and receive several responses. I asked in the ad to reply with labor quotes for the repair and received labor quotes ranging from $20-80 dollars. So naturally I choose the quote for $20. I email the guy to set up a date to come over. I then receive a call the next day from this mobile mechanic detailing how he lives in Virginia and that the quote of $20 dollars would not be adequate for the travel, but now a $40 quote would suffice, which isn't horrible, but still for a part that would only cost $11, I had to think about this. He then offered an intriguing offer....he could tell me how to perform the repair and I could try it myself....so naturally I had to do it, which leads to metro bus fun in DC!!
I begin to google part stores in Washington, DC and find one that is just a stone throw away at 1207 H St NE. On the map it shows the store being perfectly centered above the Metro Center Station. I say wow and woopie at the same time and board the bus to go downtown. I had to take a few movies back to Blockbuster, so I decide to take the 42 Bus that goes directly to Metro Center and stops by the Blockbuster.
Stop 1
The first stop is a success. The bus drops me off at Blockbuster and I drop off the movies. There were enough people boarding the bus that it gave me time to get back on after I dropped of the movies.
Stop 2
The bus then heads arrives at Metro Center, at which point I get off and begin to look for 1207 H St NE. To my grimace, I notice that, yes, 1207 H St is within walking distance, however, not 1207 H St NE.
Stop 3
So I am on H St and I need just to go from 1207 H St NW to 1207 H St NE. I figure the best way to get there is to catch a bus going that direction on H St! So I board the first bus that stops on H St.
Stop 4
No No No... The bus goes east on H St, good, but the bus then turns left, bad, then turns right, good, then turns left again, bad. The bus' ultimate destination, I learn, is the Rhode Island Ave Metro Station.. At this point, I was so lost from finding the Auto Zone I had googled, I was just set on getting off at the RI Metro Station and traveling back home when, out of the great blue yonder that is DC, the bus makes a stop right in front of an Auto Zone on Rhode Island Ave. I am fluffed with fluctuations of philanthropy...I was excited and relieved... I was in the middle of nowhere, in the ghetto perhaps, but hey there was an Auto Zone.
Stop 5
I return out of the Auto Zone, with part in hand, and cross the street and wait for the same bus I had taken, just in the opposite direction. Right? That makes sense. Noooooo, the bus goes to the VA Medical Center, which is, I don't know where the hell I was...when all of a sudden I notice a familiar bus, the H4 bus, which I sometimes take from 16th Street, and know that it goes back there, and bingo was his namo, I'm home. (after I take the S4 bus down 16th St)
Step 1 - Unhook the battery from the battery cables and set the battery down on the cement, AWAY from the car and any metal parts.
Step 2 - Cut off the battery connector from the battery cable.
Step 3 - Strip both wires of the battery cable about 1/4 inch.
Step 4 - Place both ends into the battery connector and then crimp.
Step 5 - Then reinsert the battery and connect the connector to it.
Well, a few weeks ago, upon leaving my apartment and getting into my car to leave for a study binge with my partners at the library, one key thing was missing in the quest to drive to the library....the car actually starting....and so the story begins.
I cranked my car that afternoon to the sound of the little engine that could...the engine never cranked, but instead gave a trying sound, a sound similar to that of goat choking on a fishbone. So my thoughts were that I needed a new battery. So I went to Sears and purchased a battery a few days later. Upon installing this battery, I noticed a cable completely separated from the alternator. This was odd I thought. So I ignored it, thinking maybe this was how the cable was supposed to be. Therefore, I began to start the car again, this time not to the sound of a fishbone choking goat, but instead to the sound of nothing. No crank, no sound of any kind. It was apparent that, upon installing the new battery, that the cables had been so corroded, that they had separated upon getting the old battery out of the car. My question here was whether I needed a new battery at all or if the corroded battery cable was the entire problem to begin with...I will never know.
So upon considering to tow the car to the mechanic, I called several towing companies to find out that towing in this town costs around 80-90 dollars. I then called my insurance company to find out that the cost would be covered, but I would have to pay up front and they then would reimburse me 4-6 weeks later. It seemed unreasonable to pay that much money, even if it was reimbursable, and to pay about the same in labor, for just a repair that I would later find out, only cost 11 dollars in parts.
So I use my favorite friend of all time...Craig. (and his list)
I post a classified for a mechanic that can come to my place and receive several responses. I asked in the ad to reply with labor quotes for the repair and received labor quotes ranging from $20-80 dollars. So naturally I choose the quote for $20. I email the guy to set up a date to come over. I then receive a call the next day from this mobile mechanic detailing how he lives in Virginia and that the quote of $20 dollars would not be adequate for the travel, but now a $40 quote would suffice, which isn't horrible, but still for a part that would only cost $11, I had to think about this. He then offered an intriguing offer....he could tell me how to perform the repair and I could try it myself....so naturally I had to do it, which leads to metro bus fun in DC!!
METRO BUS FUN IN DC
I begin to google part stores in Washington, DC and find one that is just a stone throw away at 1207 H St NE. On the map it shows the store being perfectly centered above the Metro Center Station. I say wow and woopie at the same time and board the bus to go downtown. I had to take a few movies back to Blockbuster, so I decide to take the 42 Bus that goes directly to Metro Center and stops by the Blockbuster.
Stop 1
The first stop is a success. The bus drops me off at Blockbuster and I drop off the movies. There were enough people boarding the bus that it gave me time to get back on after I dropped of the movies.
Stop 2
The bus then heads arrives at Metro Center, at which point I get off and begin to look for 1207 H St NE. To my grimace, I notice that, yes, 1207 H St is within walking distance, however, not 1207 H St NE.
Stop 3
So I am on H St and I need just to go from 1207 H St NW to 1207 H St NE. I figure the best way to get there is to catch a bus going that direction on H St! So I board the first bus that stops on H St.
Stop 4
No No No... The bus goes east on H St, good, but the bus then turns left, bad, then turns right, good, then turns left again, bad. The bus' ultimate destination, I learn, is the Rhode Island Ave Metro Station.. At this point, I was so lost from finding the Auto Zone I had googled, I was just set on getting off at the RI Metro Station and traveling back home when, out of the great blue yonder that is DC, the bus makes a stop right in front of an Auto Zone on Rhode Island Ave. I am fluffed with fluctuations of philanthropy...I was excited and relieved... I was in the middle of nowhere, in the ghetto perhaps, but hey there was an Auto Zone.
Stop 5
I return out of the Auto Zone, with part in hand, and cross the street and wait for the same bus I had taken, just in the opposite direction. Right? That makes sense. Noooooo, the bus goes to the VA Medical Center, which is, I don't know where the hell I was...when all of a sudden I notice a familiar bus, the H4 bus, which I sometimes take from 16th Street, and know that it goes back there, and bingo was his namo, I'm home. (after I take the S4 bus down 16th St)
(the purple indicates my route)
How to Fix a Corroded Battery Cable...
Which brings me to my next point...
How to Fix a Corroded Battery Cable...
Step 1 - Unhook the battery from the battery cables and set the battery down on the cement, AWAY from the car and any metal parts.
Step 2 - Cut off the battery connector from the battery cable.
Step 3 - Strip both wires of the battery cable about 1/4 inch.
Step 4 - Place both ends into the battery connector and then crimp.
Step 5 - Then reinsert the battery and connect the connector to it.
Voila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Mr. All Inclusive
What is all-inclusive? Apparently, this is a bundled package of meals, entertainment, and lodging, all for one low price. During our marketing class this evening, Sandals hotels was mentioned as the number one rated all-inclusive hotel in the world. I had no idea what all-inclusive meant, so I raised my hand to find out that this is quite a common phenomenon.
What do you get?
A Habitat
Food
Scuba and Water Sports
Golf
Butler
UNLIMITED DRINKS
I think I may have found my spring break destination. Mr. All Inclusive, here i come?
What do you get?
A Habitat
Food
Scuba and Water Sports
Golf
Butler
UNLIMITED DRINKS
I think I may have found my spring break destination. Mr. All Inclusive, here i come?
Monday, December 3, 2007
I Love New York 2 Final Four...
It has come down to four lucky gents to win New York's heart in tonight's episode of I Love New York 2. I have decided to take it upon myself to analyze each contestant.
The Entertainer - What the hell is wrong with this guy? He seems mental and really is coocoo for cocoa puffs if you know what I mean. He seems to think there are sprits in the house and Sister Patterson thinks that he is a petifiler (not sure how that's spelled) and/or freak. He is clearly the odd man out in this group and in the latest Currie standings, is #4.
Punk - Is this guy the biggest pussy (excuse my language ladies) or what? For a guy that is a Harvard Law graduate and can bench press yo mamma 974 times, he is the biggest excuse for an eligible bachelor that I can recall. Get some man juice buddy. You would be number one right now if you were a little bit more aggressive (B-E-AGGRESSIVE). In the latest Currie standings, Mr. Punk is #3.
Buddha - Does this guy have rooster in him, b/c he sure is getting cocky, and in the process losing more points that he thinks. I don't like the strategy he is playing. Trying to get New York to come to him instead of the opposite is very risky. But with high risk, there is also the possibility of high reward. One key thing that he had going for him was that he had Sister Patterson on his side, however, that has even eroded to the dust. All these factors has pushed Mr. Buddha to #2 in the Currie rankings.
Tailor Made - The most ruthless person in the house is also in the best shape going in to the last couple of weeks of the show. The fans' most hated contestant ironically has New York salivating at this "do anything for your woman" kind of guy. If New York wanted Tailor Made to shower her using his tongue, he would do it. Buddha has taken him for granted and now Tailor Made has found himself suprisingly toe for toe with the once favorite. Watch out, this could get interesting...This is why Tailor Made is #1 in the latest Currie rankings.
The Entertainer - What the hell is wrong with this guy? He seems mental and really is coocoo for cocoa puffs if you know what I mean. He seems to think there are sprits in the house and Sister Patterson thinks that he is a petifiler (not sure how that's spelled) and/or freak. He is clearly the odd man out in this group and in the latest Currie standings, is #4.
Punk - Is this guy the biggest pussy (excuse my language ladies) or what? For a guy that is a Harvard Law graduate and can bench press yo mamma 974 times, he is the biggest excuse for an eligible bachelor that I can recall. Get some man juice buddy. You would be number one right now if you were a little bit more aggressive (B-E-AGGRESSIVE). In the latest Currie standings, Mr. Punk is #3.
Buddha - Does this guy have rooster in him, b/c he sure is getting cocky, and in the process losing more points that he thinks. I don't like the strategy he is playing. Trying to get New York to come to him instead of the opposite is very risky. But with high risk, there is also the possibility of high reward. One key thing that he had going for him was that he had Sister Patterson on his side, however, that has even eroded to the dust. All these factors has pushed Mr. Buddha to #2 in the Currie rankings.
Tailor Made - The most ruthless person in the house is also in the best shape going in to the last couple of weeks of the show. The fans' most hated contestant ironically has New York salivating at this "do anything for your woman" kind of guy. If New York wanted Tailor Made to shower her using his tongue, he would do it. Buddha has taken him for granted and now Tailor Made has found himself suprisingly toe for toe with the once favorite. Watch out, this could get interesting...This is why Tailor Made is #1 in the latest Currie rankings.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Weekly Flavor of the Town - Love Cafe
Time and time again, I have found the love cafe on 15th and U to be the most accomodating and underated place to sit down, relax, study, and/or use the ole laptop. The people at this quaint little establishement are very nice and do not force you out if you haven't ordered something in an hour. Everybody who comes there realizes that the other people are there for relaxation and quite time and are respectful of that with a great subdued atmosphere. I recommend the vanilla latte with peanut butter and jelly. If you are there next time, tell them Chris sent you (although they probably will not know who I am), and they'll serve you right up. The only downside to this cafe is that it does tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to arrive early for the better seats.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Car in Crisis and Tila Tequila
Recently, my vehicle has decided to not start. So, I decide to wake up early this morning and see if I can jump start it and take it to the shop, with the idea that the battery is probably the problem. So, I go out to my car, open the hood, and proceed to place the jumper cables on the battery and wait for strangers to come by so I could ask for a jump. The first person I happen to see was somewhat suspicious when I walked toward their vehicle, but it was me who was scared shitless. When I walked up to their van, they opened the window and to my suprise, there were about 5 dogs in the back venomously growling at me. I shat myself (not literally), but pulled it together and got the young woman to help me out. However, one jump, one no-start. I then proceed to ask another young lady to help me out...again, another jump, another no-start. I then asked her if it would be ok to haul a battery on the metro, to which she replied, "uhhhh no."
Oh, just a side not from last night...
If anyone has every seen the reality dating show with Tila Tequila, you will notice that the title of the show is, "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila." However, I had never seen the opening of the show with the fancy little intro. So, when the intro came on, I saw a glass and the title of the show. Immediately, I realized why they call it a "shot" at love. Ha, it's Tila "Tequila." Get it? "Tequila," "Shot?"----A shot of tequila! Oh, by the way, this show sucks. For more substance, try, "I Love New York 2."
Oh, just a side not from last night...
If anyone has every seen the reality dating show with Tila Tequila, you will notice that the title of the show is, "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila." However, I had never seen the opening of the show with the fancy little intro. So, when the intro came on, I saw a glass and the title of the show. Immediately, I realized why they call it a "shot" at love. Ha, it's Tila "Tequila." Get it? "Tequila," "Shot?"----A shot of tequila! Oh, by the way, this show sucks. For more substance, try, "I Love New York 2."
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