Ignorance is bliss

There is a phrase that when I first heard it, I had no idea what it meant. the phrase is "Ignorance Is Bliss." I have come to find what it really means is you can remain happy not knowing about certain things in your life. Now I used to take this phrase too far. When I first became a mechanic, I wanted nothing to do with anything that was foreign, or modern. It could've been because I had heard others gripe about fuel injection at the time and how complicated it was or it could've been my Great Grandfather, a World War II vet talk about the Japanese. ( I won't say the word he used. not because I think it's bad because it's not, it's just an abbreviation, but I don't want to get in trouble in the future. sad.) But for whatever reason I was dead set against having anything to do with anything modern or foreign.

I had a late night realization when I was about 14. To be a good mechanic, you have to work on everything old or new. To be a good mechanic, you have to be just as willing to work when somebody comes to you with a Mercedes Benz as you would a 57 Chevy. this prompted me at a young age to want to be a "Foreign Car Specialist". I laugh at that term now because when I first heard it, I literally thought that meant all you knew how to work on was foreign cars, and that you were either German or Japanese. Not true, it just means you might be more accustomed to one brand and are able to do flat rate work in a shorter time than most.

That's an example of when ignorance is not bliss, it's just ignorance. However, there are some things I could be happier not knowing. As I've grown older, I keep finding out things about people I knew weather at school, at church, or in the community. Some of these people I grew up thinking were the nicest, kind, loving people I knew. at least they were to me. Then, I will hear about some scandal and have a completely different image and it's not really an image I want. I want the old one. I don't want to know that a teacher I had was accused of having an affair and then married the counselor. I don't want to know that my Great Grandmother played favorites. I want the old images I had growing up.

One of the latest things that has come to mind is a study about genetic identifiers for Autism from Seattle Childrens http://pulse.seattlechildrens.org/seattle-childrens-researcher-finds-genetic-identifier-for-autism/ . In this study there things about Autism discussed that disturbed me. the one that really bothered me was when they talked about physical features of Autism. They claimed a prominent forehead, wide set eyes, trouble sleeping and constipation were features they could see in older children with autism as well as when they genetically modified zebrafish. As if there aren't enough things in this world  for a human to be physically self conscious about! Not only that, they're working on trying to identify autism in utero by identifying these physical traits. AS IF WE NEED ANOTHER REASON FOR PEOPLE TO DECIDE THEY NEED AN ABORTION! I would've been a lot happier never reading this article. but even further than that, I would be a lot happier if it didn't exist because I would eventually hear it from somebody because Autism in my opinion is the new ADD.

There you have it. Ignorance truly can be bliss.

It seems when it comes to auto technology, no one can seem to agree. between the designer, the engineer, the builder, the consumer, and most of all, the government. One thing people seem to never agree on is older technology vs new technology. I remember when I was college in 2009, there was a new student in class who older than I was and very stubborn. the first thing I heard come out of his mouth was, "I don't want to wok on anything older than the late 80s. This remark particularly bugged me because when I had first started school in 2005 I had the same opinion. except it was more like 70s for me. Anytime new technology was brought up in class (which was what were there to learn) he either shook his head or shared his verbal discust.

As I've learned and worked on more newer and older technology I have come to see the advantages and disadvantages of both. case in point, see photo below

This is poster is in  the bathroom at my work. it is for the oldest vehicle I've ever worked on a 1930 Model A. Each one of the letters on the car and the engine on this poster represents either a place that needs greased, oiled, checked, or tightened. There are over 40 or them between the car and engine and the service intervals are either every 20 miles, 50 miles, 100 miles, 500 miles, or as much as 5000 miles. that's just servicing. that is not even including what it takes to start, drive, and maintain. mind you, it's a fun car to drive it is not what I would choose to drive on a daily basis.

even older fuel injected vehicles I would rather not deal with as much as a  1996 and newer OBDII vehicle. see photo below.

this is one of the ways you can find how a vehicle is running. with the right equipment which is  starting to become more available to the public at affordable prices, you can look at exactly how the engine is running. for instance if your car is running rich and hard starting, you can look at your engine data and see that quite possibly. your coolant temperature sensor could be reading that it's 35 degrees when it's actually 80 degress which would cause the computer to inject way to much fuel into the cylinders. or if it's reading to hot, not enough fuel.

So there you have it, that is why although I love older vehicles and enjoy working on them now and then, on a constant basis I would rather work on a newer vehicle. you can't be afraid of  new technology when you are going into this industry. it's good to know where we come from but it's also good to recognize what we have.

Accept, BMW, and Gordon Lightfoot

I don't know how many of you know Heavy Metal very well, but I have come to really love a band that is still playing today. Mind you there are very few original members. I picked up a copy of Accept: Restless and Wild and really love it. http://youtu.be/SKml8LwF_0M This song Fast As A Shark inspired so much thrash metal bands such as Slayer, and Pantera. You might know Accept from their hit Balls To The Walls. probably their biggest hit in the U.S. Love it.

As I've said, cars are something I always change my mind on what I want. Originally it was only classics, but after going to school and learning about how much easier it is to work on, and maintain newer vehicles, I tend to look more at the newer vehicles. lately, it's been luxury cars. there are two I like in particular. the Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas
preferable the XJ6 with the gigantic legendary inline. the other one I'm looking at really shocks me because I normally hate this maker. a 2001 BMW 740il
There are a few reasons I am looking at this model. I recently had the opportunity to drive a BMW 540i with  a 6 speed transmission. I loved it and hated it. I loved it because it had a ton of acceleration. it had a 4.4 litre DOHC V8 and it amazed me how much acceleration it had without even having a turbo or a supercharger. The thing I hated about it was due to the fact that I am a bigger, taller guy, it wasn't a car I could comfortably drive very long distances. The 740il has the same engine as the 540i but in a much larger car. However, they very rarely if ever have a 6 speed manual transmission. they do have a 5 speed auto with a manual mode. I've driven other BMWs with automatics with manual mode and it was ok. but with shifting software, I am told you can get a better manual feel. a 750il would be fun because they have a v12.

At work I set up a turntable where I can play my records. my favorite one I've played at work is Gordon Lightfoot's Gord's Gold. his songs have such a calm mellow mood to them. "Song for a winter's night", "Old Man's Records", and "If you could read my mind" are my favorites. But it is packed with so much great songs. I can honestly recommend that one to anybody.

you gotta start somewhere

well, I avoided this for a long time and I guess it's time I gave in. The name is Beau and I always have a lot on my mind. I wouldn't know what to do if my brain never stopped thinking. I don't believe anyone would be able to survive with my brain but me. there are very very few things I am good at or that I know. Except mechanics. Since I was a small boy I always found my haven either under the hood or behind the wheel of a car. running or not. I love movies and records. my interest in movies is almost as diverse as my interest in music. Comedy is my mainstay in movies just as Heavy Metal is my main stay in music. I go though a lot of phases but I always come back to 80s hair metal. I've come to the conclusion that I am never happy unless a listen to a Heavy Metal album everyday. Album, not song.

my dream vehicles change constantly as well. for instance one week I could be wanting a boat, within half way in the week I change my obsession to a 73 pinto or filling my garage with arcade games. I remember when I was 18 I decided I HAD to get a CED video disc player.
 

for about 3 months I was totally into it. I found one of these players at Aladdin's Antiques and bought the discs that they had. I had to get a new belt for it as the one I had stretched with age and didn't play right. I then didn't think my player was good enough and I found a site where someone who was just as weird as I was restored these things and even had a HUGE supply of discs to buy. some unopened. I got a fully restored STEREO player with RCA outlets (I was very insistent on that) and some good shows to watch. the first time I watched GIGI and the M.A.S.H. farwell episode was on video disc. the end result was the technology was terrible. it skipped a lot, video was subpar, sound was excellent due to the fact that it's record. but I had to experience this once temporary technology breakthrough for myself. I sold it all for a small fraction of the cost I had paid right before I got married.

That is a glimpse into some of the things you may experience by reading my blog. Typically pretty clean but not normal.