I can't help but laugh about the irony of this thread and the one that worm started. Here we are talking about the results of not taking proper care of a car, and his thread is all about intentionally doing just that. There is no magic oil that can be run "forever". "Consumers" at large truly don't know what auto technicians are up against these days, and what the very near future holds. The sad part is, I don't believe a large number of them care about us at all. A few weeks ago I contributed to an article that was in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette written by Don Hammond. Even this article falls short of just what is going on. Yesterday a local bodyshop that buys a lot of totalled cars, and rebuilds them showed uphere with a 2006 Jeep Liberty. This thing had 69 miles on it. He had six things not working correctly. With all of the money I have spent through the years to have tools and equipment, there was nothing that I could do for him, yet. My Chrysler DRBIII (The factory tool, same one the dealers use) does not work on the CAN system. I have $9000 invested in just this one tool. I have to go buy a "Star Scan", or "Star Soft" to have the factory tool to work with this newer Chrysler product. That's another $5000 for just one Chrysler dedicated tool. Then I'd still have to pay for a temporary subscription to the Chrysler factory website for the service information, at $20. for three days. Multiply this situation by virtually every manufacturer out there, except for GM, and you have a good picture of whats going on. More than any other manufacturer, GM provides me with easy access to service information and tools, and parts to help me care for their customers. The $7000 that I have invested in GM specific tools, are the most reasonable expense I have to bear. Honda for instance, as mentioned in this article has their factory tool price around $9000, for less than 3% of the potential work that I can do, and continued subscription for the software is required ($1400/yr) or else the tool turns off! BTW GM is slated to switch to a new tool for the 2009's but will continue to support the Tech II at least until 2015. Toyota is slated to continue to share their platform with GM, at least that is the word that I heard last. Same base tool, just a different software cartridge. Here is a link that might be useful: Post Gazette Article

Please don't post to this thread, so that it stays on top until the dessert party. Thanks Please join in for a Cooking Forum Dessert Party on Monday April 14. I picked this date so that those who work can have the weekend to make something and because I don't want to run in to Passover. I'll start a new thread on Saturday for early birds to post on. If we max out the original thread to post on that I start on Saturday, we can start a new one. I 'm just trying to keep the posts organized. I know I'll want to save the whole thread... Here's the rules: I hate rules, but this is a little bit different than anything we've done before. #1 The recipe you make and post about must be from AnnT's Dessert Chapter. #2 Just for fun....Don't post about which recipe you are making....it will be way more fun to see what everyone picked after the fact. If you have a question, ask it in a general way in a new thread, without the recipe name. #3 I realize not everyone can post a picture, but if you can, please do, and don't worry about it looking (or not looking) like one of Ann's. #4 Please share your experience with the recipe that you made. Comments can be helpful to others who might make it in the future. #5 Have fun, I know I will! I already made a recipe over this past weekend that turned out to be way better than I thought it would. I swear there is magic in Ann's recipes. Everybody is welcome to join in! Including lurkers! That's it! But remember, don't post to this thread so that it stays up top. Nancy

That is a great idea! Except it may survive pets and kids better than my husband! That man can't come around a corner without tripping on invisible lint! I have a long thin table that my plants are set on. He can't walk past the length of it without dragging something off of it! And NO their leaves don't hang over any part of the table. It is just him! I laugh every time it happens. (Then I cry as I pick up my plant) Last night he walked into the living room (the entrance is 4 ft. wide!) and cut the corner so close he almost took out my pothos growing in a 16in pot up against the wall way out of his way! Gotta love him!--Rosie

OR, you can put these; http://www.neutrik.us/en-us/speakon/ Into this; https://www.amazon.com/Arlington-DBHR1W-1-Electrical-Weatherproof-Construction/dp/B004K1G0PE And use in-wall wire inside, and outdoor wire outside. A junction box at the exterior wall is how most wiring is handled in this situation. I don't know why people using low voltage think it should be any different ;) http://www.audiopile.net/Technical_Library/speakon_explained.htm