freethefly

http://articles.ky3.com/2011-01-07/mexican-trucks_27017004 A good indication of how the economy is doing is how many trucks you see on the road. A lot of big rigs is a good thing. I was talking to the guy who lives up on side on 7 acres of some of the best deer woods. You'll see 10 or more on any given day. Sadly, his wife Joyce won't allow me to hunt it. Well, Bob is a trucker. Long distance driver/owner. When I moved in to my place here in Mount Vernon,Mo., Bob owned 4 trucks that moved. Today he his down to the one truck that he drives. It hasn't moved in near two weeks. He lost the other 3 in 06-08 as companies began leaving Southern Mo.. He was doing regular maintenance when I pulled in on the bike. I could see him through the section of downed fence where a near 100mph straight line wind took it down. Bob is 65yo and has owned his own trucks for more than 20 years. He's had one heart attack that required two stints. Pays high insurance premiums. He also pay high premiums and taxes to keep his truck on the the road. Those payment are coming due. He cleared $159,000. last year. It cost him more than $90,000. to operate his truck last year. Maintenance and repairs are costly. Fuel cost is high. He said he is having to drive further out to pick up loads. Often running lite. If he ain't carrying weight he ain't making money. Fears that the Mexican driver will put most truckers around here out of business. A lot of the truckers around here run material to the borders and run finished products back up to the distribution centers such the Wal Mart warehouses. This is without doubt a bad idea for so many reasons. What's next? Foreign airlines dominating our skies? Cheap trucking thanks to GHW Bush and Clinton. Great for the corporations and Mexican truckers. Bad news for Bob. Him and Joyce, his wife, put the home up on the market 2 weeks ago. Nice place, wooded with plenty of deer coming through. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

When a skyscraper is built, it is the architect who gets reception. Not the the guy who was 50 stories up on a beam doing whatever his trade is. Fact is, most people get no recognition, or even noticed unless they fuck up big time. Then it cost them their job and everything they worked for. Unions, here in MO have typically assured good wages for welders, plumbers, pipe fitters, mill rights, electricians... Now their is a Republican push for the Right to Work Law.. Voted no on it in 1978, the year I turned 18. The article is dead on about on about down here in Southern Missouri. Jobs just up and left starting back around 2007. http://www.news-leader.com/article/20101226/NEWS01/12260355/Right-to-work-bill-again-on-Missouri-legislature-agenda The new threat is to American truckers, as soon Mexican truckers are given the green light to drive loads beyond the 25 mile zone. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I wonder what welders malpractice insurance runs annualy. Chicken/egg argument. If welders had the same assets to protect as surgeons, their liability insurance would be higher. Assets = Value last time I checked. Welders don't have as much valuable assets hence the risk is less and the fees associated are less. Not that hard to follow. That depends on the critical the job is. I had to run the rail test car that I ran over from the CSX in Kentucky up near Russel to 47 mile NE of Bluefield, W.VA. onto the Norfolk Southern. I'm to test south into the yard and test a portion of the yard. This was an emergency test and out of my general area. The concern the RR had was the butt-welds the Holland Welding truck just made in the last week were bad as they had several broken welds (broke 100%) and a tanker train did go off the rails and partially into the river. The first weld that I hit, I thought that my setting had to be wrong as the pen swings were wide and sharp. I ran it several lengths of rail before signaling the driver to stop. A typical rail length of rail is 39'ft, therefore there is a flash butt weld every 39'ft, each side. In the 47 miles I tested, I marked out over 90% of the welds that Holland made. We had to stop and verify, by hand test, each and every one of them as they indicated on the test tapes. We started testing at 5pm on a Saturday and finished up at near noon on Sunday. Holland Welding's insurance company paid out the nose for everything. The same went for us guys who were testing the rail and welds. The man on the tapes interpreting the indications can be charged with negligence if a rail break after a test and a person dies or there is property damage due to his failure to properly read the test indications. (In 1992. I ran the rail inspection ahead of George H.W. Bush's campaign train.I took over the test from another car in Michiana, MI and inspected the rail for Bush to Grand Rapids to assure that his train didn't derail due to a rail defect.. Another test car took over from there. Would had hated to miss a major defect on that test and derail Bush's train) "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

You know that number would be impossible to acquire, given the number of gun shows, where background checks are not required. I'm not sure how sales are handled in most States. Here in Missouri, anyone can walk into a gun show and walk out with an arsenal. Not one time being asked any questions. Sales are considered a private transaction. Just that simple to circumvent any restriction a person may have on them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_shows_in_the_United_States Edit for link "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I agreed that running an Arcmate is not difficult. However, the AWS feels their is a level of difficulty that they had to develop a certification class for running one. http://www.aws.org/certification/CRAW/ My certification came through the manufacturer of the machine I ran, Genesis and St. Louis Testing (as you can see on the AWS website, Genesis performs the cert for the AWS.) I will say that you do need a certain level of welding proficiency to know when the machine is making a good weld; uniform, no undercut, heat range, wire speed, penetration, gun angle, arm speed, stop and start point. start speed, burn back... Damn....I just scratch and burn! Scratch, burn and use 'farm rod'.... Farm rod and several car batteries "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I agreed that running an Arcmate is not difficult. However, the AWS feels their is a level of difficulty that they had to develop a certification class for running one. http://www.aws.org/certification/CRAW/ My certification came through the manufacturer of the machine I ran, Genesis and St. Louis Testing (as you can see on the AWS website, Genesis performs the cert for the AWS.) I will say that you do need a certain level of welding proficiency to know when the machine is making a good weld; uniform, no undercut, heat range, wire speed, penetration, gun angle, arm speed, stop and start point. start speed, burn back... "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

This issue is not even noteworthy. Not worth discussion, IMO. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Hard , hot , sweaty, smelly, and in factories, Boring as hell! You got that right. Welding pipe along the Missouri river was the hardest. Not so bad during the summer, but winter was extremely cold. Had to preheat the weld path before welding. We had zero bad welds. Not one defect. Not sure if that was luck or skill. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Found this by Googling "what was Douglas MacArthur's class standing at west point" It's well worth reading. Very interesting. http://sites.communitylink.org/mac/class1903.html "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

LOL... this coming from someone who put my past work down. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=4019715;page=2;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; I've done far more than run a robotic welder in the trade. I started welding in the 70's. Was a Navy C1 welder. I have held a 6G certification to weld pipe (NASCO shipyard in San Diego, Markham Boiler in St. Louis, and Trinity Metals and Pipe) as well as holding a UX/EMF level 2 examiner certification. I've tested near every rail weld on railroads from the New York subway to rail as far as the Mexican/Guatemala border. I have also taught others how to test rail. I have even taught others how to weld. Built hundreds of the sign posts that are in front of Quiktrips as well as other place. Did over 500 miles of pipe for a dredging operation with 3 other guys. I think that I am well worth $20.00 per hour and even more. Unfortunately, the economy in this area does not support that wage like it did elsewhere. I'm willing to work for less, for now. In the Plant, I started out building the trailers that house the refrigeration equipment used to cool the food cooler units inside the store. Building a trailer required MIG, TIG, and spot welding. Hand cuts were mostly down with a plasma cutter. When Ingersoll Rand moved the dept. to Georgia, I bid over to coil and tube to braze coil units. When they brought the Fanucs in, They were to replace about 60 welding jobs. Only ten bids were on the board. Over 100 people bid on the job. I was one of the ten who won place on a machine. I'll tell you that it was not a gravy job. Near 800 parts per shift as well as maintaining the machine to setting parameters. You are right that the basic operation is simple, but the job itself is not. You have the audacity to put that down, but defend your outrageous claim that you were going to take a grinder to a weld if the doctor did not pay you the rate he charges for medical service! First off, bullshit, never happened. I would think that a doctor would be smart enough to sue you. Second, I highly doubt that your welds are worth what a doctor makes. Third, you can take a bum off of the street and teach him or her to pass a 6G in less than a month. Be honest, it is not that hard to learn how to weld or fabricate. What it is, is hard work. I personally believe that welders earn every penny due to the nature (hazards) of the job. The old joke was "Welders are like whores. Always screaming for more rod and bitching about the heat and money. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Loved that show, when I was a kid. A bro and I built this last winter. It's a '73 XLCH. He picked up a basket case for $1000.00. The original cases were shot, but another set of cases came with the bike. Easy swap over as we had to rebuild the engine anyways. The old Irons were notorious for running hot which contributed to poor performance. We coated the combustion chambers with a polymer coating that was supposedly developed by NASA. It did lower the temperature by about 10*f. The top of the pistons were also coated. Coating is baked on. After honing the cylinders, we coated them with a dry film metal bonding lubricant to reduce friction between the wall and the ring, thus lowering the cylinder temperature. Moped Ed wanted to paint it the basic black, but I had Bronson in mind. I also wanted to put the Bronson triangle and eye on the tank. He didn't want to go that far, but did agree with going with a red. We call him Moped Ed cuz he also rides a souped-up Puch with the Moped Army. Check out some of their videos on Youtube. Some wild shit. These guys party hard and ride these things hard. They swarm cities with up to 1000 mopeds. Ed's father is a retired Vagos out of Riverside county from back in the '60's. I asked Ed what is old man said about him finally getting a real bike. Told him that he laughed and said the only real bike is an Indian. His bike of choice. Anyways, just thought I'd share this beautiful piece of American machinery. Even though AMF had H-D spit these bikes out by the 1000s, you don't see so many around anymore. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Honestly, I have never gone to restaurant's website, until today. That one being in Australia, at that. I usually know what I want beforehand and know where to get it. If I go to an unfamiliar restaurant and their menu is different than what I am use to, I do not make a scene and just order from what is listed on the menu. I have never been there. How would I know? You don't know. Why would you ask just a ridiculous question? You should know, as well as I know, that certain items may or may not be on menus across the country. Sonic is often that way as some items sell better in one region over another. I consider your last statement to be an insult and a personal attack. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I did not go to another website. The quote that I posted came from the very same website that you provided a link to on page one of this thread. Here, I'll post for you the link to the page that the quote came from: http://www.kfc.com.au/terms-and-conditions/index.asp How did the KFC in question lie to the man? Did they have listed on their menu that they do sell bacon? I can only think that bacon was not on their menu. Why would it be if they do not sell it. If they did sell it, it would go against good business sense to deny customers a product that would only increase profit and make customers happy. On your McDonald's question? If the store that is listed in the ad say they are giving a product away for free and does not honor their word would most likely be facing charges of fraud by bait and switch. Their would be consumer outrage and lawsuits may and probably would came at them. The owner would lose his franchise and his wealth. Not likely would a McDonald's store owner put himself in such jeopardy. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Again, he could had just Googled it, as I did. Took me five seconds. Not my fault, nor the restaurants fault that the guy is an idiot. He should had just ordered what was on the menu or gone elsewhere. Show me on the restaurant website where it states halal ANYTHING - ANYWHERE? I posted it up thread if you have trouble finding it. From the website you posted: "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

9/11 would had occurred no matter who was in office at the time as this too would had occurred no matter who is in office. It is good to see someone change their life for the better. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

How did the President help him? The guy helped himself. Hats off to him. By the way, he does have an amazing voice. I wish him luck. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Again, he could had just Googled it, as I did. Took me five seconds. Not my fault, nor the restaurants fault that the guy is an idiot. He should had just ordered what was on the menu or gone elsewhere. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I Googled this and found that the chicken must be slaughtered in a certain fashion to be Halal. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Principal of the matter? They simply do not serve pork. That has nothing at all to do with principals. That would be a violation of my rights, here in America and has nothing to do with ordering pork in a restaurant in Australia that does not serve pork. If I were to enter an establishment here in America and was told they do not serve pork, I would either order something else or go elsewhere. Now that is just fucking stupid. Being that a gas station's business is gas, I am 100% positive that I would not be denied gas. The KFC in question does not serve pork, therefore the customer was not denied anything. I stand up for my rights. The guy who wanted bacon was not standing up for any such rights. He does not have the right to be served bacon in a restaurant that does not serve pork. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I would think the reason would be that it is a chicken joint. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

http://www.halal.com.au/listings/searchresults_name.php?letter=K It took me less than 5 seconds to find this information. It appears that the KFC (Punchbowl) in question is Halal. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4031926#4031926 Well, then just order something else off of the menu, instead of wasting the rest of your lunch break arguing for something you're not going to get in the first place. It is just that fucking simple. Personally, I would had called the police on the guy who started the shit and then fired the employee who carried it onward. People should just get it into their stupid fucking mashed brains that you can't always get what you want. Besides, you can barely taste the bacon they put on burgers anyways. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

http://www.halal.com.au/listings/searchresults_name.php?letter=K It took me less than 5 seconds to find this information. It appears that the KFC (Punchbowl) in question is Halal. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I believe that corporate power over the consumer should be added to your statement. You believe wrong Are there some IMO? Yes But those few are the least of our worries There are far more than just a few that abuse the consumer. Small example is the electric company that I have to use. 12% rate increase along with two new items; service availability fee for $20.00 and a Power Cost Adjustment. My bill would had been$67.31 for last month, but the new fees that they added brings my bill to $92.27! When I called to ask about the new fees, they say it is so they can provide better service. That is nothing more than bullshit. It is nothing more than gouging the consumer because they have what you need. If you don't want to live in the dark, you'll pay their outrages fees. It amounts to corporate power over the consumer. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

Then I stand corrected. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young

I believe that corporate power over the consumer should be added to your statement. "...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young