<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>The car registration inspection here is a perfect example. What used to be government-regulated and operated business only used to cost less than 20 euros, however the stations weren't that numerous. Well now, we have plenty of private stations getting your vehicle registered and checked, and since it is mandatory procedure by law, people have to do it annually, but the price has at least doubled already.<p><hr></blockquote><p>Interesting you mention that, as here in MD emissions testing is done at government run MVA stations, while in PA where my parents live, it's done by private garages. The difference is astounding. I think my dad paid $50 for his last emissions test and had to drop his car at the garage all day. I paid $12, and was done in ten minutes while I watched them.<br><br>We don't have yearly inspections here in Maryland, only when the car is sold, but even then it's by a government inspector. In PA it's all by the private garage, and I'm amazed by the little crap they'll find and want to charge to fix. A coworker had a jeep with lights on the front that weren't entirely legal, they wanted to charge him $200 to unhook them!<br><br><br><br>Hey I'm an F'n Jerk!®

The mantra of individuality--individual responsibility, individual work ethic, individual blah blah blah--is part of the way that some people like to ignore the collective frameworks that enable their individual aspirations. It's pretty complicated to show how a social collectivity makes individual success possible, but it's so very easy to crow about individual virtue. When Ben Franklin did it in his Autobiography, at least it was clear that he had his tongue firmly in his cheek.<br><br>&#63743; &#63743; &#63743; &#63743;

Well so much for Matt's market supply and demand...<br><br>and the trader sold the lot at a small loss ?? whoa !<br><br>David (OFI)

we're going to hit into the 50s . . . in January . . . in Michigan. <br><br>incredible.<br><br><img src="http://homepage.mac.com/jayhawk/.Pictures/weather_early_08.jpg" width="284" height="196" alt="caliente" /><br><br>

It's that 'roller-coaster ride' that's the killer.<br>Remember my mention about the thaw/freeze cycle that heaves shrubs out of the soil?<br><br>Well, here's a few more 'goodie' for y'all...<br><br>When the temp goes up & down dramatically it has a number of effects... one of which is<br>Bud-Kill when the buds swell getting ready to sprout (leaves & flowers to pop) but when<br>the temp plunges again, the bud dies... no bud no leaves no flowers (could also mean crop-<br>loss resulting in higher prices) you can even lose the whole tree (or orchard) when the <br>sap begins to rise like it should in the spring, that then freezes solid, bursting branch, <br>limb or trunk, like a frozen water pipe. Even if the tree doesn't die outright, since the<br>bark and vascular system has been compromised making it subject to secondary fungal <br>infection as soon as spring DOES arrive. <br><br>Shall we go on to discuss "Degree Days" and how it effects crop development or both <br>beneficial & pest insects & disease? or how trees under stress give off a chemical signal<br>that alerts borers & other pests that the tree is weakened and an easy mark. The borers<br>then become the vectors of a whole plethora of secondary & tertiary diseases & viruses <br><br>IOW... <br>Matt can snigger all he pleases about climate change, 'but you can't fool Mother Nature' <br><br>**plz don't take my word for it<br>........do the research yourself.<br><br>[color:green]"...or am I a butterfly that's dreaming she's a woman?"</font color=green> [color:green]. . . _ _ _ . . .</font color=green><br>

Yeah we're headed back to the 60s in Jan !!<br><br>one thing I hate is no hard Freeze that last 2-3 weeks (we've had 3-4 nights). <br>Means the spring will bring hoards of "bugs" - skeeters, and "no see 'ems". <br>Get the OFF out now !! <br><br>David (OFI)

<br>Apart from the Blood Suckers<br>the ones described above that die on root, sap, leaf & <br>fruit are bad enough...but as for the blood suckers...<br>Booohahahaha BRAIN SWELLING FEVER!!!!<br>ok, kidding and not...<br>equine encephalitis is no joke<br>(otherwise known as "West Nile Fever".)<br>and even I've been exposed to Lyme Disease.<br>SUX because it was just before Christmas,<br>Ticks SHOULD HAVE already been dormant.<br><br><br><br>[color:green]"...or am I a butterfly that's dreaming she's a woman?"</font color=green> [color:green]. . . _ _ _ . . .</font color=green><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>we're going to hit into the 50s . . . in January . . . in Michigan. <br><br>incredible.<p><hr></blockquote><p><br><br><br><blockquote><br><br>MONDAYS HIGH OF 63 IS IN THE TOP 5 WARMEST TEMPERATURES EVER FOR THE<br>MONTH OF JANUARY IN GRAND RAPIDS. HERE ARE THE TOP 5...<br><br>[/i]1. 68 DEGREES 1/22/1894<br>2. 66 DEGREES 1/25/1950, 1/1/1895<br>4. 64 DEGREES 1/20/1906<br>5. 62 DEGREES 1/24/1967[/i]</blockquote><br><br>Oh my goodness! Global Warming all the way back to 1894?? Son of a ... <br><br>***********************<br>[color:red]Nice Try</font color=red>

you act like global warming is a myth because of some anomalies from the past. why would you even take that position? shouldn't the debate now be whether humans are the cause or not? hmmm.<br><br>here's a warming trend since the 1890s (which includes the dates from the years you've chosen):<br><br><br><br>from <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/earth_warm.html">http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/earth_warm.html</a> (one of the first links when i searched in Google -- there's much more)<br><br>honestly though, i think having this debate is the wrong strategy, Matt. you're smarter than to go down this road.<br><br>

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p> MONDAYS HIGH OF 63 IS IN THE TOP 5 WARMEST TEMPERATURES EVER FOR THE<br> MONTH OF JANUARY IN GRAND RAPIDS. HERE ARE THE TOP 5...<br><br> 1. 68 DEGREES 1/22/1894<br> 2. 66 DEGREES 1/25/1950, 1/1/1895<br> 4. 64 DEGREES 1/20/1906<br> 5. 62 DEGREES 1/24/1967<p><hr></blockquote><p>Please research the temperatures over the last 100 years for that area, then plot us graphs on average temperature, and the number of days 10 degrees over average per winter. <br><br>If there is no upswing in either graph then your post has merit. If there is an upswing, which I'm willing to bet cash there would be, or if you're too lazy to do so, then Dave and I are going to kick you square in the nuts.<br><br><br><br>Hey I'm an F'n Jerk!®