Happy Creepy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s some BBC nature pr0n to honour the day and take Catt’s mind off his temporary woes.

P.S. No greenscreens were harmed making this film (watch out for the boy on the rope).

Even I know the kid giving out these Valentines isn’t going to get many (or any) dates later in life… and no, that kid wasn’t me. Even I had enough sense to stay away from those.

TJ/ I so want to hurt my car dealer. Those idiots put Automatic transmission fluid into my MANUAL transmission when I got my fluids changed two months ago. I almost went over there yesterday with a baseball bat, but thought better of that idea. I’m going over in a few minutes to talk to them and if they refuse to do what I expect them to (replace transmission and pay for rental car free of charge) then I’m going to go all legal batshit on them.

Slightly uplifty but still very good and touching. Richard Cohen in the Times.

@Benedick:
Richard? For a brief moment my head nearly exploded with wonderment as lumpen coward Dicky finally got a thought in his skull and grew a pair. Different Cohen.

TJ/got back from the dealer. They’re going to look at it. I didn’t scream or rant or yell. I explained my issues and what I found and spoke with the service rep and left my car. That may come later.

@Benedick: I first saw – and tasted – treacle on the Teardrop Isle last year. Surprised that it was pronounced “TREE-kel“, at least by the colonials. I think Cohen drips with it.

@ManchuCandidate: Oh, shit. What happens when they do that? I have manual transmission, and it could some day happen to me!

@karen marie has her eyes tight shut:
Basically they need to do a transmission overhaul or replace it as you can’t have any automatic transmission fluid in a manual or visa versa (contamination and different viscosities–manual requires a thicker oil while automatic is a lighter fluid.)

The only reason I lasted 2 1/2 months is because I don’t do much city driving except on weekends.

what could be more perfect for the new century than stalker valentines.

I prefer the classics

speaking of creepy.
did it miss stinque coverage of this?

‘Correct. Weapons of mass effect,’ said Mr Hallor.

The interview was then interrupted and cut short by a public relations official before Mr Hallor was able to answer the question.

@Capt Howdy: I’m not touching that.

As the actress said to the bishop.

@ManchuCandidate:
Good thing I didn’t yell. According to the dealer, the WO had the wrong fluid, but the correct one is in the car. Instead it’s the transmission bearing. Cost 2K. FUCK.

Appropos of absolutely nothing I just do have to share this gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1Uuq4F9X0

It appears to be a tribute “video” put together by a fan, its just precious and hilarious, though, and charmingly borderline NSFW

@Prommie: That is hilarious.

Note to self: get a perm.

@ManchuCandidate: Good God, man!

@Prommie: I wonder if those guys could perform today, looking at those hairstyles. The gals’, I mean.

@Benedick: The dramatic entrance of the masked man at 2:06, that is transcendent awfulness.

@Dodgerblue: In the days of my youth, that hair, that was it, man.

@Prommie: Have you seen The Fighter? If not, you should.

@ManchuCandidate: Price out rebuilt and straight-from-wrecker transmissions with an independent mechanic. Dealerships aren’t known for having the best prices, and it sounds like you’re outside warranty land in any case. There may also be independent transmission shops around you that can do the rebuild for a lot less.

@IanJ:
You’re right, but I don’t know any mechanic I can trust.

And yeah, I’m 3K km outside of warranty!

I don’t know if Canada City listeners have responded, but Car Talk maintains a database of mechanic reviews. See if there’s anyone listed near you on cartalk.com. I’ve done that before and been pretty happy with the result. Similarly, Yelp and other rating services may have user reviews of local mechanics. Google (at least near me) has been pretty good about linking to reviews if I look up a specific mechanic in the maps/local service. You might also check in with coworkers — pretty much everyone has a car, so logically some of them must have had some mechanic experiences.

Also: 3K km? Augh!

@ManchuCandidate: Check the Car Talk site.

@ManchuCandidate: Wait wait wait. They poured the wrong glop in the hole. They are the ones who need to fix it. You shouldn’t have to pay a dime. Or whatever kind of funny-money you use there. Would you like me to come there to explain it to the mechanics? I can be had for a few bagels from that shop in Montreal.

@Benedick:
It’s the right slop and it’s a mechanical issue so I’m footing the bill.

@Benedick: Isn’t there a law that expressly states that if a doctor or mechanic fucks something up the patient or owner must pay for the re-do? There must be, because that’s just the way it’s done.

@ManchuCandidate: I’d get someone else to check the fluid to be sure the dealer isn’t lying.

@ManchuCandidate: I thought the issue was that the mechanics put auto fluid in a manual transmission.

@Benedick: Apparently the shafts were properly lubricated. It may be that one of the little balls got damaged. Sometimes sand or grit can get in there, with unfortunate results for everyone.

@ManchuCandidate: So but what are the symptoms the car exhibits?

@ManchuCandidate: You’re going to take their word for it? How can they tell that the paperwork is wrong but the fluid is right? Did they taste it?

@karen marie has her eyes tight shut:
I’ve dealt with these guys before and they haven’t jerked me around (yet.)

The car is fine when it is cold. After I drive it in the city for a while then 2nd gear gets stiff and I have to apply gas and ride the clutch to get it into 2nd. Then 3rd gear clunks after I let go of the clutch. 4th and 5th I have no issues.

@Benedick:
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Good thing I didn’t overreact the way I wanted to.

@Dodgerblue:
dear god, are you talking about fucking on the beach?