David Hingtgen

AFAIK that was identified long ago. I believe it came about from the US cars having slightly wider tires than the Australian ones. Pontiac/GM didn't check the clearance well enough--it SEEMED to fit, but I think using the the wheel/tire sizes it was designed for would have been a better option. GM rant: There's never anything wrong with GM cars, much like how the kind I have isn't prone to catching on fire due to injector O-ring problems, despite me personally witnessing it happen to another. (as have many other people). You see, they're not *fires*. That could cause a recall. They are merely: "UNCONTROLLED THERMAL EVENTS OF HIGH MAGNITUDE". According to GM. So, GTO's probably never have *tire failures*, heavens no. Probably just "unexpected rapid shearing of rubber compound". More about the GTO issue from the LS1 forum: "The 2004-2005 Pontiac GTO is an imported version of the Australia Holden Monaro. The Holden Manaro comes from the factory with 235/45R17 tires, tires that are generally 235mm (9.25") wide. However, when Pontiac spec'd the GTO for the US, they finally decided on a 10mm wider tire, a 245/45R17 BF Goodrich G-Force KDWS tire" That, combined with: "One thing that is loosely related to this is the fact that many of these cars are out of alignment on the showroom floor, and simply getting them aligned may or may not be enough because about half (by one trustworthy dealer's estimate) have the rear cradle (subframes) misaligned to the body. What is less clear is exactly how many cars have the front cradle misaligned to the body, because GM NA doesn't recognize the tool or procedure (against Holden's spec---you know, the people who designed the car). An Australian aftermarket company obtained one of the last tools for this job and used it as a template to create more to sell to their dealers in the US. Thank goodness, since Pontiac decided to ignore the problem. One car had the front cradle 1/4 in. out--might as well be a mile in terms of an alignment." In summary: GM thinks it can change things, or not follow the Australian designer's requirements, and not have any problems.

::edit:: Displays weird in any editing program I try, can't mess with it.

I've heard of something like that, but not that it was implemented. And it was more along the lines of lights mounted everywhere on the underside facing the ground---since a plane is almost always spotted as a "dark spot against the bright sky"---if you could make it as bright as the sky when viewed from below, it'd be invisible.

It was red yesterday, now it's grey. I liked the red much better, it stood out in my giant list of bookmarks. Also, there's still an uneven border of white around it---I keep my PC with an entirely grey/blue scheme, which reveals a lot of graphical "flaws" that people who use white won't notice.

Hmmn, reading about the 360 Elite, it seems that its new quiet DVD drive has been in regular 360's produced since December. I *will* have one of those new drives, I'm just trying to decide how. Basically two options: 1. Trade in/sell current 360, buy new one. 2. Trade in/sell current 360, buy new Elite version. What's the going trade-in rate for a 360 Premium at EB? Or maybe I should try selling it here. It doesn't have that many hours on it, I only own 2 games...

HP--beware of any OS reinstalls, or changing the hard drive, motherboard, or CPU. If you do, it will know, and it won't like it. (Has to do with OEM license of Windows, and HP's recovery system) Same for Compaq. There's work-arounds, but it's a lot easier to not have to deal with it in the first place. (One of many reasons I'm building my own PC next time, and will be buying a "full" version of Windows for its OS, not an update/upgrade package from a previous version) From what I've read, Dells don't have that issue.

Warmaker---arcade style, not a sim. Dozens of missiles, and stall speed is a single absolute number, regardless of alpha/bank/G's.

Found best pics so far at: http://www.acecombat.jp/ace6/feature.html And we finally have F-15E's, that actually have bomb racks! http://www.acecombat.jp/ace6/feature/images/ace6_image23.jpg (most of the pics show Type 1 CFT's with AMRAAM-C's, this is the only pic I could find that clearly showed a Type 4 CFT) Wonder if they'll finally get the F-14 back to accurate AC2-style control surfaces...

I've got everything ready to try, but I can't until I get the replacement plug.

You see a lot more Super Hornet shockwave photos, but the F-14 just has far more impressive ones:

I'll just give you the link to it: http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/3858/saucexq2.gif

Back to the actual movie, I'm surprised I've only seen like 3 avatars/sigs so far on the net. Here's a great sig I just saw today: ::edit:: Ok, I'll upload it as soon as MW lets me attach .gifs....

A350 fuselage is only about 10 inches wider than the other Airbus widebodies (excluding the A380), so it SHOULD fit inside the A300-600ST. Little-known fact: The A300, 310, 330, and 340, all have the exact same nose and fuselage. Only the tail/wings/length varies between them (and there's a lot of sharing amongst that, too). I still wonder why Boeing went with a swinging-tail design on the 747LCA.

Wolf squadron? Go with Wolfpack, both the USAF and USN have one (or had one). Zero G---never picked it up.

Don't know how long it's been like this, but NBC now has EVERY episode up, in its entirety. You could start watching now, and be completely caught up in time for the next episode. Or catch anything you missed. http://www.nbc.com/Video/rewind/full_episo...heroes_01.shtml

Nope, no different than say, mirrored sunglasses. It's an anti-IR coating. It's very similar to the stuff on F-16's, it just seems to "glint gold" from a wider range of angles. F-18's have a less obvious version (you need the perfect lighting angle to see it, and it's only on the later C/D's, and Supers).

If we can get 12, we'll have an entire squadron. Or if we just have 4 (or even 5), we can be Razgriz.

It'd be cheap and easy for Japan to buy their own F-22's, but have almost all maintenance done by the US at Kadena. Some neat F-22/18/15 formation pics here: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=115701

If you want to go with the separate/swappable piece idea, I figured that'd be included with the FP version, as it's only needed when the YF-19 is in a 2-seat configuration, post-ejection.

You expect the rear canopy to be both hinged, and ejectable? And to have retractable telescoping shrouds stored behind the rear canopy hinge? Size/durability is a huge issue, not to mention the retracted shroud would occupy the space currently used by the canards to pivot.

Saw a little blurb that Japan is considering the Eurofighter, but it was immediately pointed out that could likely just be a "bluff" to try to get Congress to approve sales of the F-22 to Japan.

Ah, I figured the earlier pics of Movie Prime's toy had mis-transformed (more like un-transformed) feet. Looks better now.

Many people have devoted a lot of time and effort to figure out exactly what parts from what kits are on all the SW filming models--they've been quite successful. I think by now, nearly everything on the Millenium Falcon is identified. IIRC, there's a lot of Lamborghini Countach parts on it...

Problem is, the time difference between them tightening it, and me trying to loosen it, is too great. Seriously doubt they'd admit/fix anything.

Sounds like a repeat of SED, which was the "plasma and LCD killer" a couple years ago. And even if it does come out for 2008, it'll probably cost $10,000 for the first sets. Just now are plasma/LCD becoming "mainstream affordable" and they've been out a long time.