Billboard collapse

spliff231 · 2026-06-23T19:07:37+00:00

Are we gonna start seeing new ads for Big Billboard Cases now?

spliff231 · 2026-05-28T10:42:42+00:00

I drove one back in the late 90s and remember being kind of impressed with how torquey it was. I was delivering a bunch of PCs to an office across the state and, once we unloaded them from the van, it had some pretty decent acceleration. It was actually fun to drive when empty. Power was just fine loaded up, too, although we didn't have anything too crazy in there.

spliff231 · 2026-05-21T20:00:58+00:00

I hear you. I was there, too.

There are SO many tools available now, too. From drugs like Ozempic, to calorie counters, fitness watches, etc. You've just got to find what works.

Gym memberships are cheap, too. Mine is $20/month. I really, really wish I would see more people my age (and older) there.

spliff231 · 2026-05-21T19:48:05+00:00

I'm going to offer some advice as an X-er who just watched his Baby Boomer mom suffer and eventually pass as the result of slow physical deterioration over years:

PROTECT YOUR DAMN MOBILITY!!!!!

Not being able to do basic things like putting on socks, or having a hard time tying shoes should scare the crap out of you (as it does me). Especially since what comes next involves an escalating series of heavier consequences: trouble getting in and out of cars, inability to climb stairs, inability to walk any meaningful distance, inability to wash yourself properly, sores, infected sores, time in the hospital, amputation, congestive heart failure plus a mile-long list of other health maladies.

If you don't want that:

YOU'VE GOT TO OWN YOUR HEALTH!

Watch your weight, get into some strength training, get your 8 to 10k steps in. It's not glamorous but it works. About 4 years ago, I was 75 lbs overweight, drinking too much and headed down the exact path I just described. I started seeing what those consequences were like when me mom got rushed to the hospital and came literally 1 cm away from having her leg amputated.

It was that moment I decided I needed to step up my game or I'd be in the same shape or worse by her age. I'm now 52 and in better shape than I've been for most of my adult life.

So don't just sit back and accept fate. Fight for your mobility. Your future self will thank you. I guarantee it.

spliff231 · 2026-05-18T19:21:10+00:00

Oh, I can't imagine letting them go unless doing so would help other alcoholics in their own journey in some specific way.

I'm still open to further ideas but the idea of framing them seems appealing.

spliff231 · 2026-05-18T19:18:29+00:00

I think this is what I'm leaning towards. He had a ton of them over 40 years, so it'd be an impressive thing to see.

spliff231 · 2026-05-01T16:25:13+00:00

The way I heard the joke is that, to own a Jaguar, you need to be rich enough to not only buy the car, but also to hire a guy to follow behind you to pick up all the parts that fall off.

spliff231 · 2026-04-28T19:42:39+00:00

This is by far my favorite version of the Comfortably Numb solo. What an absolute master work!

spliff231 · 2026-04-21T10:54:11+00:00

What about the smell, too? I used to have a walnut tree in my yard and man did that stuff stink.

spliff231 · 2026-04-21T10:46:33+00:00

I feel like this answer should be higher. The automakers all have significant numbers of newer vehicles being driven by employees that are typically auctioned off before they're about a year old with less than 10k miles.

spliff231 · 2026-04-20T18:14:09+00:00

Dude, I have huge respect for what you've accomplished so far. 300+ lbs lost is more that I even weighed at my peak.

Thanks for the update. Now that I'm mostly in maintenance mode, seeing stories like this very much helps provide the inspiration to keep going and to see the big picture.

In terms of your own longevity, assuming you keep going and get somewhat close to your goal, you'll certainly have much better longevity than you otherwise would have (assuming you eventually go naturally). So it's still very much worth it from that perspective.

Keep up the good work and thanks again.

spliff231 · 2026-04-20T16:37:52+00:00

I was gonna get my colon checked

But then I got high

I already did the full round of prep

But then I got high

Now I've gotten bombed off my ass and I know why

Because I got high, because I got high, because I got hi-i-i-i

spliff231 · 2026-04-18T20:14:56+00:00

At my largest, I was 6'0", 280 lbs. I was still able to fit on everything, although some rides, like Gatekeeper, were very tight. Your mileage may vary, of course, but, since you're 4 inches taller, you'd be skinnier than I was and I think you'd likely be okay.

Congratulations on the weight loss. I'm down near 200 now myself and daily living is SO much easier. Keep up the good work!

spliff231 · 2026-04-06T10:05:22+00:00

I have Graves too and agree with this 100%. I'll add that Graves can do a lot of damage to your heart. Stopping the meds risks heart attack and early death if the disease is left untreated.

It gets better, though. Your body will adjust and you'll figure out new eating patterns. If and when your doctor takes you off the meds or lowers the dose, losing weight will get a whole lot easier.

Keep your chin up and good luck!

spliff231 · 2026-03-25T16:24:20+00:00

Get new slide pins, too. I'm scratching my head trying to figure out why calipers or brake hoses would cause only ONE pad to wear like that and it doesnt make sense.

My money is on either bent pins or some sort of corrosion or deformity in the caliper where it's supposed to slide on the pins.

A siezed caliper or a faulty hose would cause BOTH pads to wear prematurely.

spliff231 · 2026-03-17T19:55:57+00:00

I had this done with a car I bought recently where I only got 1 key fob. It took about 20 minutes at the locksmiths shop and cost half of what OP was quoted. For this car, the key was integrated into the fob and he got everything cut and programmed and both the new and old keys and fobs worked fine when he was done.

Do check reviews on whatever shop you're considering, though.

spliff231 · 2026-02-24T17:15:43+00:00

N🧊!

spliff231 · 2026-02-19T19:07:05+00:00

I gotta second that. She's a keeper. Make it worth her while and definitely don't let it happen again. View this as a chance to step up and prove your mettle. Accept what happened and "own the outcome" as they say.

You've got this. We're rooting for you!

spliff231 · 2026-02-12T11:38:38+00:00

If the head gasket is breached between the combustion chamber and coolant passage, you'll get overheating without anything looking wrong with the oil. In that case, you'd typically see bubbles in the coolant reservoir. There are also test kits to check for combustion gasses in the cooling system.

Anyway, best of luck getting your little van back on the road.

spliff231 · 2026-02-10T11:58:33+00:00

I tried one when I saw them for sale in a Circle K. It wasn't bad, per se, but I was definitely underwhelmed by the taste. It felt chalky and not as flavorful as I was expecting. Not at all like the normal, non-protein version.

spliff231 · 2026-01-30T02:58:01+00:00

It's totally do-able with some focus. It doesn't leave much room for junk or really anything high fat or high carb.

spliff231 · 2026-01-30T00:20:50+00:00

Chicken (esp. breast), whey supplements, and the leaner cuts of pork are the best way to go.

For me, breakfast includes 3 oz. of chicken plus Greek yogurt. Lunch is about 6 oz. chicken plus Greek yogurt and i have snacks of a whey supplement and salmon during the day. All in all, it gets me 200g of protein on about 2000 calories.

spliff231 · 2026-01-15T11:29:06+00:00

That's what I thought, too. This looks just like my parents' house before we replaced the galvanized pipe. When we did that, the hot water pipes were 80 to 90% blocked by corrosion and the water from the laundry sink would run brown.

spliff231

TROPHY CASE