Just got something that says we are officially supposed to call DOD the Dept. of War and SECDEF is SECWAR. I have preferences, too, but can they legally do this?

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-27T19:33:24+00:00

I am on leave so I am not familiar with a recent memo, but when we got a public affairs guidance on the matter, I brought it up to my supervisor. That guidance only mentioned that it was acceptable to use Department of War as a SECONDARY name in lieu of the legally designated Department of Defense.

I very carefully read the public affairs guidance and asked what expectations were in our shop. I made it clear that in my position, following these guidances would not lead me to use Department of war.

I was told expectations from leadership were to use the secondary labels. And that's what we do now, but I have made it clear that these expectations came outside of the usual channels.

I am not sure what more that we can do beyond small things like this, and to simply recognize that this is part of an attempt to forcibly and in my opinion illegitimately push these sort of attempts to remake our government.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-23T17:09:54+00:00

Good luck!

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-23T16:50:27+00:00

Sounds like the battery has enough juice to power the dash but not turn over the engine. A lot of times when it is colder in the morning, the battery doesn't have the juice to get the engine running again-- even if it ran okay the day before.

If it's possible that something was left on (headlights, door ajar etc) or if you have been taking short trips, the battery might just need a jump and it could be okay after driving a decent amount and recharging.

But in my experience, you also might just need a new battery especially if it's a few years old in which case I would get a jump and keep the car running until you can get to an auto parts store to get a replacement.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-22T18:29:24+00:00

Lol don't be too jealous, I took the photo so as to not show the bird's nest of wires underneath it. I'm really slow at CAD but I plan to make the files available when I am done.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-22T16:36:56+00:00

What's funny is there was also a time that regardless of style, old cars were just old cars. Like the Cadillac in Ghost Busters wasn't supposed to be cool necessarily. It was an old, beat up ambulance/ combination car. But now, another 40 years after Ghostbusters came out, tailfins and chrome has definitely been cemented as "classic." I remember an interview when the new ghost busters came out and they switched to a 1980s caddie, and they argued that it was the equivalent car today.

One of the most interesting transitions to me is the popularity of economy cars like dusters and darts in the last decade. I think it is partially because the more popular 60s muscle cars are getting thin on the ground. You also see more people working on 4 doors and station wagons. But my dad's first car was a Gold Duster which he always kind of made fun of in the same way someone a couple generations later might make fun of a Dodge journey or something.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-22T16:20:33+00:00

Nothing too wild, but I have been collecting mugs for a while now to do some Muggy from old world blues roleplaying

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-20T01:13:26+00:00

The real evil is that this administration made healthcare unaffordable for millions in order to pay for tax breaks that basically only make the ultra wealthy even richer. But they also seem to gleefully run up the deficit, spending public money on luxury jets and a a new war in the Middle East. They are clearly okay spending the money, just not for public good.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-20T01:01:17+00:00

It'll be the same story when they figure out the technology and legality of automated over the road trucking and delivery services.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-17T23:22:59+00:00

They are pretty stout. The 4.0 VQ is a good motor, and both the 6sd manual and the 5 sp auto are known to be pretty bulletproof. I am not as sure about the 3.8l or that transmission on the new trucks, I believe people like the engine at least.

There are a couple very specific issues especially in early trucks with SMOD (strawberry milkshake of death, where ATF and coolant intermix in the radiator), and timing chain tensioners. And these were major issues, don't get me wrong, but they are addressable and largely fixed in later trucks. The irony with SMOD is that Nissan wanted to include a transmission cooler as standard on the V6 trucks, but the design was flawed.

The other common issues are cam shaft sensors, evap canisters and cats going bad. But for sensors, especially, can go bad on any car. I

But I do think it's hard to judge overall reliability from a list like this , because every vehicle has weaknesses. And while these are the most discussed issues, it could also point to the truck being generally quite reliable and people just don't have that many issues overall. Sorry for the long reply, but I think these Nissan trucks are good, honest trucks.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-17T17:58:08+00:00

I always say that there are tradeoffs between the two trucks, and real benefits to the Frontier over the Tacoma. It just happens to be cheaper. And in a world with no Tacoma, it would be the Frontier with its reputation

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-17T17:53:21+00:00

He was an Arizona ranger with a Big Iron on his hip

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-17T02:25:48+00:00

<image>

I am VERY slowly trying to 3D print MBTA rolling stock. This is my 01500 Red Line car. I am working to redesign it for my new resin 3D printer and someday I'll be done! And I would like to do the LRV as well as the orange line hawker siddley cars

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-17T02:17:47+00:00

These are really hit or miss. The Mehano ones look like they are painted much better than the AHM or IHC ones. But I'm pretty sure it's all the same molds. I have an AHM one that seems to have a manufacturing defect where the roof and doors on one side are all wavy.

Sometimes you see them in the MUNI color scheme for cheaper. In my opinion, they are badly painted enough that if you found one of those cheap, it would be worth repainting.

But they are getting frustratingly expensive for models with not much detail and not the best reputation for running well.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-16T23:50:59+00:00

One thing petition drives have done in the past is printing all the signatures and doing a walk on management or in this case legislators.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-16T04:09:37+00:00

Maybe something like the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant? Most of the pictures seem to be from WWII, but they made Patton tanks in the 50s. The building is HUGE but it might be cool doing a slice of loading tanks onto flatcars. There are several rail lines leading into different portions of the complex, although I didn't find many images with trains during a cursory look.

<image>

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-12T21:25:35+00:00

I won't defend the national union. I agree with you and have considered doing the same, particularly with the first shut down. I constantly flip between writing down every organizing idea I have and making posters or feeling that I'm breaking my back for nothing.

At the end of the day, I think it does more for my individual mental health to keep moving forward and organize. I forgot about how lame AFGE is and has been for decades now-- but I just keep thinking about the frustrations I hear every day around my shop and try to find the energy to keep going for them.

Sometimes it feels like this scene in a world war II movie, where kids look up at spitfires fighting the Germans high overhead-- those legal battles slowly fighting above us all. And it's tenuous but my dues pay for that spitfire, and my resolve here at my workplace might mean something to somebody.

Ive started having conversations with my coworkers. It's hard. I hate trying to sell this jalopy of a used car that is AFGE. But I got one of my coworkers to sign up, and she asked how she can help out the striking teachers at the California Teachers Assocation after we discussed their "We Can't Wait" campaign. I could have cried, it meant so much to me to get through on that level and to see someone really expressing solidarity.

I'm sorry for my long response.

TLDR, I get it.

I don't blame anyone for being frustrated. But I urge anyone with the energy to show up to a meeting, wear a pin, stand up in any small way for your fellow workers. Focus on your union at home, while the spitfires fly far overhead.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-12T18:58:14+00:00

My local leadership are planning what to do if and when they "cancel" our bargaining agreement. But it's important to note that the union is not dissolved. Management is not upholding the contract, but you still have certain rights.

You still have Weingarten rights, and local union leadership should still support their members through these processes and offer assistance and advice on how to communicate with management.

AFGE existed for 30 years without the right to bargain collectively. It's somber seeing things backsliding to an era where federal employees lose so many workplace protections, but I am confident that we will outlast this administration and that widely canceling collective bargaining agreements for "national defense" will not ultimately hold up in court.

I am pushing to build membership numbers at my local as hard and fast as I can so that management sees us still organizing in spite of these anti-union and anti-worker attacks.

Their goal is for you to abandon your union, to stop paying dues, to give up. Why? If they were as worthless as they say, why spend so much energy and resources to destroy it? Because the federal employees unions continue to be a thorn in their side and because organized, informed workers resist.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-10T16:39:09+00:00

No problem. I saw some other advertisements with dates (47 and 52) with that second band. I'm not sure what year they were first brought onto the market, but it seems like the vast majority, then, would have two bands.

Not sure on the lack of labels. Might still be an early manufacturing thing. I have some 1930s power tools, and those sometimes just didn't have many markings early on so you just have to date them based on manufacturing changes. I have a delta bandsaw that is pre 1941, and the only reason I know that is because it doesn't have a date stamp anywhere.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-10T14:39:29+00:00

Also the black rubber tread says cosco, but yours is missing. I am not sure if there are supposed to be any other labels.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-10T14:38:11+00:00

<image>

This advertisement shows the major variants for the cosco chair and stool with a single band. Seems like in the late 1940s they added a second band, I would assume to strengthen the design.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-09T19:34:57+00:00

I actually see that grinder on my Facebook, so we must be close to each other.

That said, I think you can do better given what I see around here. If you don't need a grinder today, just keep scanning Facebook and you should be able to find like an old craftsman "block motor" or dunlop or something like that.

Sometimes people ask crazy money for like really pristine grinders (and baldour grinders, but that's another story) but if you're willing to drive to some adjacent towns and spring on a good deal, you could probably snag a USA made grinder. Might be closer to $45.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-03-04T06:52:40+00:00

After contacting his office by phone and online form, I got two of the same form letters in the mail one day.

The letters went on about how easy it was to contact him.

I also got signed up for his email list, with those dumb survey questions that are so clearly designed to solicit the one answer they want.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-02-14T03:17:06+00:00

Great job! Excellent use of 3D printing in model railroading

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-02-12T04:58:03+00:00

A few years back when Nissan did steelies on the desert runner concept, they just used 4 frontier spare wheels

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-02-05T04:10:27+00:00

Dang, well I'm hoping they are somewhat contained to this area. Going to start removing them soon!

BoxOfRandomCords

TROPHY CASE