Cafe Einstein: LPTP Triskaidekaphenia

Illinois still had leaded Regular until at least 1989. We still sold it when I started working at a Thornton's station in June 89. Didn't last much longer, though.

Scott and I are about the same age, so he wasn't driving anything in the 70s, at least legally. I got my license in June of 83.

I'm not really a "car guy." The first one I owned was a 1969 Buick LeSabre rustbucket. I think it had a 350. Took it up to 100 once, just to see if I could.

After owning a Chevy Monza wagon with a V6, I have insisted on an 8 in everything else I've owned. Had a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was a real lemon. I would have turned it in for Cash for Clunkers if I could've afforded a new car at the time. It started to shimmy at about 80.

Currently I have a 2008 Chevy Trailblazer with a small V8 in it (those are fairly rare; usually, TBs have either the straight 6 or the big V8). Fastest I've gone with it is 90, but I'd rather not. Don't know what its top end is. This one was something of a lemon too, but I got an extended warranty with it and that has definitely paid for itself. It was using a LOT of oil and the warranty paid for it to be stripped down and new rings and a bunch of other parts put in. Much better on oil and also fuel now. Warranty also paid for a broken valve spring. The manual says to use regular 87 octane, so I do.

Note: the thread has suddenly spurted and may hit its target in the next day or two. I have a jury summons for tomorrow. I have to call after 5pm to see if I have to go in. The first time I got one, I didn't have to go. The second time, I went in and sat all day without ever going into a courtroom for possible selection. Who knows what will happen this time. However, my juror number seems to be fairly high, so I'm thinking I won't have to go. If I do, I can take a computer with me to the juror's lounge (they have lockers if I get called into a courtroom). Just sayin'.

Yes, I had to go in for jury duty.

No, I didn't get on a jury. Nobody did. In the morning, they said two courtrooms anticipated needing juries. At 2:20, they said both cases were settled by other means and you're dismissed. "Sometimes, just knowing there are jurors ready to be seated can influence the outcome of a case." Yeah, yeah, whatever. Thanks for the paid day off from work.

And the question you're really wondering about: no, we're not at the target number yet.