A fistful of quarters
22.01.10
I never use salt at home. Like everyone else, I use it on the road.
That’s why my silver Honda Civic was nearly white last weekend. December and January driving had put a dusty film on the fenders, doors — even the lights. It was time for water and soap, and it was time for a trip to the drive-through car wash Saturday afternoon.
I don’t visit these places all that often. When I do, I avoid the mechanical car washes. I prefer to chuck quarters into a machine that lets me run the hose ... and soap, brush and rinse the car into a pristine position of perfect polish. Twenty-five cents buys something like 25 seconds, so I always bring a fistful of quarters and plan on $5 or $6 for six or seven minutes. It’s always a race against the clock; I try to time the wash so the last bit of soap is whisked off the hood just as the loud beeps cut off the power.
There were two vehicles in front of me on this sunny day, so I didn’t think I’d be waiting long. But this guy washing his car seemed to be taking forever. Ten minutes, 12 minutes. I started cleaning out the back of my car to kill time while the guy kept the soap gun setting on full stun. After about 15 minutes, he was on the road. And some guy in a white pick-up truck moved into the bay.
Source: Schenectady Gazette (blog)
Is your bike road ready?
23.01.10
T may not be as dramatic as a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock film, but the sound of birds pursuing your bike all over town could be an indicator of some horrifying problems to come.
“You are hearing this chirping sound,” says Robert LaBonte of R&M Cyclery in Springfield. “It sounds like you are being chased by birds. Look around you. If not, it’s probably your chain.”
Bicycle chains, which transfer the power of a rider’s legs to the wheels, have the distinction of housing more moving parts than any other component.
“But your chain is the least likely to get oiled,” he says.
LaBonte has been a bike-shop owner and mechanic for more than 25 years. He has worked at R&M since 2008.
Winter is downtime for many bicycle enthusiasts, and bike-shop owners and mechanics always encourage people to get their bikes in for tune-ups and maintenance when the weather keeps people off the streets.
Bikes that come in during the off-season can get a little extra TLC.
Source: The State Journal-Register
Haiti earthquake: How to help
20.01.10
CAR WASH: Anointed Auto Detailing, Window Tinting, Signs and Graphics will MC a car wash to raise money for local canon going to Haiti.
Landon Bennett, P, will accept all levels of donations, which will go to Southwest Florida Assuagement For Haiti, a local group collecting
cold hard cash and medical supplies including Neosporin, Aspirin, study towels to take to Haiti on its trip next month.
A caper house, food and drinks will be provided from noontime to 2 p.m.
When: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 2800 Fowler St. next to Supply Motors.
Information: Call 239-895-3875. For advice about Southwest Florida Relief for Haiti in Pastor Joseph Gabriel at 265-1750.
ROTARY Cosh OF BONITA SPRINGS: The club is accepting donations for covering boxes to be shipped to Haiti. In normal, typical box contents include thermal blankets and insulated foundation sheets, waterproof ponchos, cooking pans and other items. Each dwelling-place box costs $1,000. To donate, be comprised of c hatch checks payable to the Rotary Billy of Bonita Springs Noon Origination, and mail to PO Box 1989, Bonita Springs, FL 34133. Call Lori Nelson at 947-1393, or by bonitaspringsnoonrotary.org.
Source: The News-Press
