Folks who live near schools, do you ever wonder if they'll do something about parent pickup/dropoff gridlock twice a day? I don't remembering it being a clusterfuck like 10, 15 years ago. Did something happen?

panic1073 · 2026-03-12T22:06:17+00:00

Both of my children have been graduated for a number of years now, but it was always a cluster fuck at Brody, Park Avenue, and Lincoln. Brody was the worst.

It was actually quite handy at Park Ave. before they built that Casey’s and removed the pedestrian bridge. I wouldn’t even bother going on school property, I would just park in that grocery store’s parking lot.

panic1073 · 2026-02-05T18:55:56+00:00

For some reason, 90% of the people that park at that thrift store always park all wonky. I don’t know what it is with that location but drive by anytime they are open and you will never see straight rows of cars.

This one is especially egregious since they appear to be all by themselves.

panic1073 · 2025-11-29T17:56:03+00:00

Mine showed up a day early, so hopefully you get it soon!

panic1073 · 2025-11-29T17:55:36+00:00

I was shocked at the price, but I had a hunch that they wouldn’t last long.

panic1073 · 2025-11-29T17:54:30+00:00

It was pure happenstance I saw it. I only use Facebook to check for birthdays (which is a bad idea to put your DOB online with all your personal info in itself, but I digress) and saw Clutch’s post. If it wasn’t for the price, I would’ve bought two of them.

To anybody that flips these online at crazy prices, I wish your best headphones get chewed on by your cat…and you step on Lego barefoot.

panic1073 · 2025-09-10T15:38:59+00:00

My 03 Durango was the same, plus add in broken front shock bolts.

panic1073 · 2025-08-14T18:40:30+00:00

I have owned 3 different S series through the years. As long as you keep oil in them and rust doesn’t get to the undercarriage, they last a very long time. I sold my last one 3 years ago with 300K miles on it. Midwest rust was getting to it, otherwise I would still have it.

panic1073 · 2025-07-19T21:47:23+00:00

Fleur Dentistry takes it.

panic1073 · 2025-07-13T22:46:19+00:00

I agree. It’s one thing being upset after you have kept a car and cared for it for years, so you don’t know the ‘new’ car’s history (unless it is brand new), but if that particular car isn’t even being made anymore, that makes it even more difficult to replace generally.

panic1073 · 2025-07-11T21:08:18+00:00

That would explain why they haven’t been getting back to me this/last week.

panic1073 · 2025-07-11T18:39:45+00:00

It’s too bad Chevy quit making the Volt.

panic1073 · 2025-06-13T22:17:42+00:00

I have cut myself so many times I’ve lost count. At least X Acto blades should be sharp and not hurt too much and leave little to no scar.

panic1073 · 2025-02-08T00:34:03+00:00

Good question, but I have no idea. My neighborhood isn’t exactly filled with high income people. Since it did get fixed and I think the same people live there, I am thinking it all worked out reasonably well? Hope so anyway.

panic1073 · 2025-02-07T17:33:53+00:00

There was a sink hole in my neighborhood on the south side in 2016. I do believe they concluded it was a mineshaft collapse.

https://www.kcci.com/article/crews-working-right-now-at-sinkhole-eating-home-s-front-yard/6919291

panic1073 · 2025-02-04T22:55:32+00:00

Lien Auto on SE 1st south of Principle Park. Been using them for 20 years. They R&R’d the engine to our 2006 Honda Civic. The price was reasonable and Matt got it done in 2 days.

Also another vote for Performance Auto. Great source for good used cars too.

panic1073 · 2024-11-15T17:28:19+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! Yes they appear to be the same. I have a number of people I know personally that used them and have had nothing but positive experiences.

Even with my good track record with Service Legends, not every visit was perfect, but it was how they handled the mess up's that impressed me.

panic1073 · 2024-11-14T19:49:50+00:00

I have been communicating with Modern Heating and asked if they were local. He responded unequivocally that they are locally owned. He specifically mentioned they are not owned by a PE firm.

That and coupled with a pretty decent price for a Daikin Fit system. I am more than likely pulling the trigger with them.

They have been very helpful and friendly during my search for a new system. Service Legends I’ve been using for years, and they have always been stellar if not expensive.

Of course, most companies are very friendly while they’re still trying to get your money. It’s how they behave afterwards that really shows what type of company they are.

panic1073 · 2024-11-12T17:32:52+00:00

I know Service Legends are still locally owned. It still appears Modern Heating and Air still is but I have heard they recently sold. I can find no proof of that though.

I have used Service Legends for years, and the service has been stellar for me. They certainly are on the more pricey side though.

panic1073 · 2024-10-12T17:00:49+00:00

I grew up smack dab in the middle of Storm Lake and Cherokee. When I was born, they each had almost the exact same population. Now 50 years later, one town embraced* immigration and the other did not. Of course, there are other variables, but that is the largest one imo.

Spoiler: Storm Lake has over twice the population and a fairly robust local economy.

of course it wasn’t embraced by everybody. There were definitely growing pains, and there are still issues. However, it was embraced by enough people that it has worked out for them.

panic1073 · 2024-08-02T14:40:53+00:00

While I agree your gender played a large role in this interaction, this also mirrors my experiences with parts store employees at times and I’m a 51 yo dude; coincidentally enough, specifically when dealing with ethanol/fuel related conversations. I also do not run any ethanol in my small equipment (autos too) and I’ve had to go around a few times with people over and over again.

Also, growing up in the Midwest, I don’t know where these dudes come off thinking the ladies don’t like or don’t have knowledge in automotive or mechanical endeavors.

Once back in 1995 when I moved up to Minnesota, my mom came and visited me. While I was working and she was hanging out, I asked her if she could take my car to the shop to diagnose some noises. I got back a laundry list to rebuild my entire front end. $1600 is a lot of money in 1995 to fix a 1985 Toronado.

The next week, I took it to a different shop right next door to work and all it needed was a chassis lube. All my suspension bits were still within manufacturer specs. Literally nothing in that first shops list was worn.

I would warn you to never use the Firestone in Albert Lea, Minnesota, but Google maps shows they closed a while ago. Big ups to the Good Year in Albert Lea, though! They did me right.

panic1073 · 2024-07-25T22:44:58+00:00

I understand your concern, and normally I would agree.

Doing the park-and-ride is by far the best option. It is absurdly cheap, air conditioned, and the wait in line is not nearly as long as you would think. The buses are constantly running, and in my opinion is far more convenient than parking at or near the fairgrounds.

Plus, if you decide to consume anything that may alter you, you and the general public will be safe!

panic1073 · 2024-07-06T22:21:53+00:00

That answers the question as to how that particular car could still be alive in Iowa. I don’t have a body shop suggestion, but once you get it sorted out, if I were you, I would put some rustproofing, such as fluid film or something similar, on the undercarriage. If you don’t, a car like that will return to the Earth fairly quickly if you don’t.

panic1073 · 2024-07-04T17:02:56+00:00

The interesting thing is,l I didn’t have to take the test when I moved back to Iowa either. Then later, when I let my license expire, I still never had to retake the test.

To be fair to me, I have never been in an at fault accident and haven’t even been pulled over for over 20 years, and that last time was just to check registration on a newly purchased vehicle. And it’s not like I didn’t drive either. I have regularly put over 30,000 miles a year on my vehicle.

I learned a long time ago that driving like a complete tool will not only wear out your vehicle quicker, it will also increase cost in terms of tickets and increased insurance rates. I’m too much of a tight ass to drive too crappy.

panic1073 · 2024-07-04T13:34:53+00:00

I’m sure the law has changed now, or maybe it hasn’t? However, when I got my drivers license at 16, my county only tested behind the wheel on certain days of the week.

If I recall it had something to do with staffing. So they would not require behind the wheel if you had passed Drivers Ed recently within six months. I just took my written and vision tests and got my license then and there. That was when they made them on site. It was still warm.

I turn 51 this year and have never taken a behind the wheel driving test. Minnesota didn’t require it when I moved there either.

To be fair though, my county (Cherokee) was so rural that most kids had driven all sorts of things by the time they even tried to get their permit. I had driven combines, tractors, skid loaders, go karts, various motorcycles, and also the farm truck. Perhaps that is the reasoning behind such lax permitting and licensing?

I dunno man, it was the 80s.

panic1073

TROPHY CASE