How's the rest of the vehicle? In good shape or two tires on banana peels? How is son's ability to buy something else? Would whatever he buys for that money be any better off mechanically? Even if son thinks the car is worth three grand, it's all a matter of what the car is worth to someone else. If they don't want the doodads or whatever, he's out of luck no matter how much money he spent. I'm going to guess that a $500 engine is off the junkya -- er, auto recycler's lot, with no idea of its history or condition. Seems risky to me. If the rest of the vehicle (including the engine) is in good shape and son already has spent the money customizing it the way he wants it, then $500 to fix the leak is worth spending. Replacing that vehicle either will be a huge risk or much more expensive.

INTERESTING... Ford stock surges on report Ford Motor Co.s stock surged nearly 15% today after a Goldman Sachs analyst issued a report saying Ford could benefit from a Chrysler LLC or General Motors Corp. bankruptcy. Ford, according to Goldman Sachs analyst Patrick Archambault, is likely to survive without government aid, is in position to obtain any additional labor concessions that GM or Chrysler gets from the UAW and capture a larger percentage of U.S. new vehicle sales. "We see Ford as well positioned to capitalize on a more than 50% decline in Chrysler (market) share and the pruning of GMs product portfolio," Archambault said in a report today. "With GM and Chrysler likely to file for bankruptcy in the coming weeks we think the stage is set for a sea change in the structure of the U.S. auto industry." While Archambault put a buy rating on Ford with a $6 price target, he is more optimistic than others about Fords stock. On Friday, Credit Suisse equity analyst Chris Ceraso said that even while Ford is making progress, its stock price is over-valued, in part because the company isnt expected to be profitable until 2011, and because Ford has struggled to gain market share over the past 10 years. "We think the stock is worth about $3," Ceraso said. "Thus, with the stock trading closer to $4, we do not think investors should chase it." Fords shares were trading at $4.35 at noon today, up 55 cents, or 14.5% from its close at $3.80 on Tuesday. Contact BRENT SNAVELY: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com.

You have some nice passies. I just got a venusta maybe I can get that to root soon. Is your laurifolia the same as venusta? I think they are supposed to be different but I have heard some people use them interchangeably lol. I used to have Jeanette it did really well here. I will definitely be posting nigradenia pics when it opens up. I grow all kinds of sub/tropicals, tons of brugmansia, epiphyllums, antique and newer roses, and lots of vines in general. How do u keep the caterpillars from eating all your vines? I am gonna try and make lots of extra hardy types to move the caterpillars to this year to keep them off my 'good' varieties lol. About Ruby Glow...i grow that one in a little bit of shade here. What I do is put the pot in an area where the sun just hits so the pot is in the shade and the plant grows out into the sun part of the day. It likes it that way for some reason and it likes to dry out a little between waterings. I find it to be really tender and really needs to be in a heated greenhouse for the winter in my zone. It doesnt like a lot of water during the winter and does not like to be right next to the heat source. So ya its definitely a bit of a Diva but once u find a spot where she is happy, her flowers are so worth it. It will get 20 ft or so furing the summer. I usually cut it back before sticking it in the gh for our 3 mos or so of winter.

I do like a lot of touristy spots: ie, Las Vegas. We went to "Fly Away" & took a sky diving lesson. Toured the dam. Saw a couple of shows. Paid a helicopter to fly us over Lake Mead & around. Stayed in a room right above the erupting volcano. Caesars Fantasy Towers was awesome. People in costume handing you towels when you get out of the pool. ☺ Been 3 times. Florida, I'd go back. I'd like to dive w/ the manatees & there are a few ship wrecks to explore. Great Cuban food. Hell Grand Cayman, I'd skip next time. ☺ Yes, that's a real place. The local, bad/barrio part of St Maarten, I would pass on. The local guy selling BBQ chicken out his kitchen window wasn't as good as the locals bragged. Mine was raw in the middle! ☺ (that's the trip where we arrived and our hotel had burned down. ha ha We couldn't understand why the taxi driver left us @ the airport & took the next fare when we told him where we were going.) Exuma Bahamas, Georgetown, was nasty on land, but GREAT diving if you just moor your yacht at sea on a coral reef mooring line, like our captain did...had FANTASTIC cayes!