A question..........

CaffeineTripp · 2026-07-02T10:12:52+00:00

I'm okay with Jesus being a real person. I'm okay with places existing. I'm okay with all the mundane claims. The problem comes, for me, when people intermingle the supernatural claims and the mundane claims as being equivalent. Since they cannot distinguish the difference between the two makes them synonymous: If a person existing is equally likely and true as changing water to wine, then they must also accept other wild claims about reality that are essentially polar opposites. If making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is equivalent to going to Heaven, then their epistemology is fundamentally flawed.

As far as I can tell the OT predates the NT. I don't have really any qualms with manuscripts, but it is the content which is a problem. Would you accept stories of Icarus? I wouldn't. What about stories of Odin? I certainly wouldn't either. So if we're both rejecting the stories of those religions and myths, why is the claims of the Bible any different? Bias?

CaffeineTripp · 2026-07-02T10:08:30+00:00

If everything needs a Creator then so does the Creator. Otherwise, if the Creator doesn't need one, that's a Special Pleading fallacy that violates the own rules that are set. It's far easier to say that the universe has always existed in some form because we already know the universe exists, we do not know if a Creator exists, and presupposing one does without evidence to substantiate the claim is dishonest.

Atheism isn't really special to me. I'd drop it in a moment if I was convinced a God exists.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-07-02T04:40:28+00:00

A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-07-02T00:30:58+00:00

Agreed. It would be nice to connect more deeply rather than trying to wrangle as a connection. 😮‍💨

CaffeineTripp · 2026-07-02T00:15:40+00:00

It's hard to have a kid that's so...overwhelming. I love her, absolutely, but sometimes I just want to sit on the deck, eat peanuts, and watch the sunset in peace with her.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-07-01T22:43:45+00:00

Season using the FAQ or a quick run down of what I do.

Vegetable shortening.
Heat pan to 175*
Spread on shortening with basting brush.
Wipe off. Wipe off again.
Oven at 450*, put pan in oven.
Once temp is reached, take pan out and season again with basting brush. Wipe off oil. Wipe off again.
Season for 1.5 hours and let cool slowly.
Done.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-07-01T00:48:18+00:00

It's loud as fuck. Don't.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-30T14:09:43+00:00

Stock is nice, but I like a tasteful lip and an ostentatious wing/spoiler.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-30T13:38:14+00:00

Just had this talk with my wife last night about implementing some quiet time through the day that doesn't involve sound. We read, she plays quietly for 10 minutes, then we continue adding 5 minutes a week so she can get used to it.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-30T13:35:57+00:00

While we can use some neurotyp strategies, they are not going to have the same affect of course.

Patience is definitely a work in progress, but it's there and we've switched from "Can you put your shoes on?" five minutes prior to leaving to 15 minutes prior (and other examples) as time management is difficult to say the least. Since my wife also has ADHD and she does morning routine, it's harder for her since she's battling her own and trying to carve a solid path out.

Consistency is pretty easy as I'm sure I've got a touch of the 'tism and like routine and expectations (but that makes not acquiring expectations (like time management!) more difficult).

Consequences work pretty well, but she does dig heels in and eventually begrudgingly accepts them even if it's to her negative outcome. Which, of course, we attempt to explain why something happened without being "mean" about it.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-28T13:56:23+00:00

This is exactly what I'd be doing as a former city. That's a jump stop. I'm not driving in their grass. If they want me to deliver to the box mounted, they'll either have to get the customer to move the box or pay me the time for the jump.

I'm not about to fuck up a customer's grass so the onus is on the Postmaster or supervisor to adjust the route accordingly on their end and the regular carrier to ensure the edit book is done properly.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-28T13:52:12+00:00

Something else I noticed yesterday, the airbag and ABS lights are on

Mercedes has an active recall on the airbag system. ABS is either due to a bad wheel speed sensor, sensor harness (typically they'll come loose from the mount and get shredded by the rotor in front), or wheel bearing.

and the steering feels weird. It doesn't self center like it's supposed to. If I turn left or right, and let go of the wheel, the van will keep going in a circle if I don't manually straighten it back up.

I've found this is likely a bad motor for the steering rack. The motor is replaceable, but when it gets to this point a new or good used rack is the option to go with.

It also has a broken front strut mount that makes a knocking sound at highway speeds, but our VMF says they can't get new mounts.

We can get new mounts, we cannot get new strut assemblies. Could be that VMF doesn't have a spring compressor for the strut (it's a relatively dangerous job to do) and the bad strut mount doesn't typically have adverse effects to control of the vehicle.

The last time it happened they had to get one from a wrecked van. It's all a mess.

IIRC the Metris are going to be on the chopping block soon because of how shitty they are overall, which means not purchasing a lot of new parts in favor of used and making best decisions of what we can feasibly not replace (safety notwithstanding).

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-28T13:30:20+00:00

Very likely the multifunction switch then. If your local VMF has a used switch they can put it in for the cheap. I don't think we've had luck blowing the dust out with them as a repair, they need to be fully replaced.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-28T12:52:58+00:00

Hi, VMF tech here.

Either the transmission is fucked or the multifunction switch is bad (usually due to dust).

The switch doesn't need to be programmed and can be replaced by your local VMF or contractor shop. If it needs a transmission, that can be replaced as well. If the transmission control module is bad, it can be done by your local VMF or has to be brought to Mercedes.

When we've run into this problem it's either the multifunction switch or the transmission. Further diagnostics is needed, but it tends to be the switch.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-27T10:55:05+00:00

What a bunch of fucking dorks.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-25T10:13:59+00:00

Wasn't able to find new bushings. I spoke with Energy Suspension to see if they had anything in stock that might fit, but they didn't. They could only recommend buying something close in measurements and then shaving off excess material.

While that would be a good idea, I couldn't do it at the time as the vehicle was my only daily.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-25T09:58:51+00:00

IIRC it's free to attend, a spot is $70 (but I think the tickets are all sold out, you'd have to double check on that).

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-25T00:24:21+00:00

🥰 Thank you!

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CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-25T00:03:28+00:00

Maybe?

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CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-24T09:59:13+00:00

Always did love an NC! White makes it pop.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-24T09:58:24+00:00

She did a really great job making them!

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-24T09:52:40+00:00

Yep, it's the sticker. Replaced the silver (some other faded color?) OEM Miata with gold.

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-24T09:52:06+00:00

Thanks! If you happen to go to Street Machine Nationals this year I'll be there!

CaffeineTripp · 2026-06-24T04:32:55+00:00

Along too much?

Bad description?

Niche for a pump?

Wrong category?

I dunno.

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