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  • A curious mind wants to know.

    Just a few quick questions, if you've got a moment . . .
    1. Does "LOL" as used on TBN mean "lotsa luck" or "lotsa laughs" and how does a person know which one it is? If I intend one meaning and you read it as having the other meaning, then what?
    2. Are NM wheels identical to the general-issue '02 wheels? Are they close?
    3. The gas pedal controls a computer, which in turn controls the fuel flow. Is this sequence ever reversed--that is, the computer reads something about the fuel flow & takes control of the gas pedal?
    4. The engineering I've described in #3 is called "drive by wire" & represents improved technology over the old accelerator set-up (i.e, a cable runs from the gas pedal to the engine compartment). The real improvement, however, is the introduction of the computer, not the wires to it. Shouldn't this new system be called "drive by computer"?
    5. On TBN, is there a difference between "Member Showcase" & "Gallery"?
    6. How many speakers in my '04 Retro? I find 3 pairs of grills, yet an article posted on TBN (one of those complainer articles) stated that the car has 8 speakers. What am I missing?
    7. Will the windshield frame support an overturned Retro?
    8. What's a fair donation from me to support TBN? How often?
    9. There is a small scattering of fine sand (?) on the "shelf" that divides my headlights from the amber lights below. Anyone else have this situation? Is it possible for me to remove the entire headlight unit so I can dump the stuff out? If not, I plan to remove the headlight bulb & vacuum with a small rubber tube.
    10. I've tried to remove the black plastic cover from the top of the engine. I've removed the push-pins from the front of the cover, but there is something holding it on along the back of the engine. Can't see or feel what it is. Don't want to break the plastic. Any advice?
    11. If I spend big bucks for Borlas & then drive in the forest but there's no one there to hear them . . .
    12. I have it, too--the squeak in the steering. It would be very, very, very difficult to convince me that it's coming from under the hood. I hear it as coming from where the steering column enters the dashboard. In the on-going & everlasting thread on this squeak, the author of entry #26 says WD40 does the trick. I'm hesitant to squirt some in at the point I've described, but if others have found relief by this method, I'll try it. Good idea or not?
    13. Why so shy, guy? I'm referring to the anomymity exhibited in some avatars. Hey, we're all friends, right? Pretty close to family, even. Loving, trusting, caring, whatever. Me? I let it all hang out--in my avatar, that is. I'm not sure who I'm supposed to hiding my identity from. True, I sometimes feel our society is filled with axe murderers, icepick torturers, acid bath kidnappers, butt-squeezing bus riders, & worse. But this is TBN. Or am I being too trusting, too naive?
    14. 5,269 members in TBN & they're all just like me? How odd. One of the first Retros I ever saw was turning south off E. Franklin St. into the campus. Red, beautiful, topless, side windows up, clean & shiny, a young couple in the car in their Sunday best . . . & African-American. My guess is that to be a member of TBN you have to: A) own a Retro & B) have at least some small degree of computer literacy. So why are we all so white? A & B are hardly excluding or precluding factors, given that they are distributed among 303 million Americans (& then toss in a few Canadians & the odd Dutchman). It's not a pressing issue with me--& I could be wrong in assuming that this particular aspect of my genetic code is uniformly shared by y'all--but if I'm correct in my assumption, it seems to beat the odds in a way that exceeds those of finding the Arizona Cardinals playing this coming Sunday.
    And that, very briefly, is what's on my mind this morning. Hope you have a good day. :sun: That's all! You're done! I'm Will.
    Last edited by Will; Jan 28, 2009, 12:26 PM.

  • #2
    Re: A curious mind wants to know.

    Originally posted by Will View Post
    14. 5,269 members in TBN & they're all just like me? How odd. One of the first Retros I ever saw was turning south off E. Franklin St. into the campus. Red, beautiful, topless, side windows up, clean & shiny, a young couple in the car in their Sunday best . . . & African-American. My guess is that to be a member of TBN you have to: A) own a Retro & B) have at least some small degree of computer literacy. So why are we all so white? A & B are hardly excluding or precluding factors, given that they are distributed among 303 million Americans (& then toss in a few Canadians & the odd Dutchman). It's not a pressing issue with me--& I could be wrong in assuming that this particular aspect of my genetic code is uniformly shared by y'all--but if I'm correct in my assumption, it seems to beat the odds in a way that exceeds those of finding the Arizona Cardinals playing this coming Sunday.
    Race, Color & Creed are such touchy sensitive subjects in today's society but less I jump into the fray anyway ...

    I have invited 3 African-Americans Over the Years to this forum ... The last being the 02 EB I was joking about earlier this month appearing in the underground garage and taking away my exclusitivity as the only EB in the garage.

    None of the folks I invited over the years have shown any interest in joining other than one individual a few years ago who told me "the forum was too white for her" when I mentioned it to her again so I dropped that topic.
    She subsequently traded her Merlot for a Vette so I suspect she was not a "committed enthusiast" but it was just another in a long line of toys for her. She now drives one of those BMW 3 Series that is a hardtop/convertible.

    I suspect there are other folks of color who would appreciate membership here but they as of yet have not been offered invitation or stumbled upon us on the web. I have no clue as to who is of what race, creed or color the membership may be: Maybe we do have some folks of color as members? Does it matter?

    JMHO & Experience ...
    Last edited by My Raven; Jan 28, 2009, 01:15 PM.
    sigpicSoaring with My Raven Under Carolina Blue Skies ...

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: A curious mind wants to know.

      Soooooooo, that's whats on your mind this morning? No wonder it took til 1 pm to post it, LOL. (PS: thats "Laughing Out Loud") 1 down 13 to go. 2. No, they are the same as the Deluxe wheels. Just Chromed. 3. Simple answer is no. 4. Drive by wire, was new, and is a pain, and is what causes your hesitation. the message that is sent from your accelerator to the computer,, then to the engine components that actually accellerate the engine speed. 5. Member showcase is a thread, where you can flaunt it. The Gallery is where you store your pictures. 6. Not a clue. 7. No, it will crush like all other convertibles. Wear your seatbelt and duck if you go upsidedown. 8. What ever you feel is affordable for you, is appreciated to help support the site, whenever you can. No donation is ever to small. 9 & 10. Yes it does slide out. Not an easy task but it does. Best just pull up the post, and lossen. then use a cloth to slide under it while loose to remove debris. 11. Borla's are always heard, even when no one is there. A must add. 12. Rot's of Ruck. Many posts on this. Luckily for me, not yet an issue, on any of my three I have had. 13. Although a private site, it is viewed by the general public. Just keep it family oriented, and I'd advise not too personal. 14. WRONG my friend. Our Birds carry no distinction of ownership regarding race color or creed. We have MANY members, and there are probably many more out there, that fit into various categories. EVERYONE Loves our Thunderbirds. Just look at all the smiles you get as you drive yours around.

      That is All. Carry-on.
      DaveR (as seen on survelance TV)

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: A curious mind wants to know.

        Dang Joe. You type fast!!!!
        DaveR (as seen on survelance TV)

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: A curious mind wants to know.

          Just a few quick questions, if you've got a moment . . .
          1. Does "LOL" as used on TBN mean "lotsa luck" or "lotsa laughs" and how does a person know which one it is? If I intend one meaning and you read it as having the other meaning, then what?

          Response: LOL is generally referred to as “lots of laughs”.

          2. Are NM wheels identical to the general-issue '02 wheels? Are they close?

          Response: Nope. NM wheels (and 007) are chrome and the standard issues are painted. The NM (and 007) also has a slightly different design on the larger spoke of each of the 3 spoke arrays.

          3. The gas pedal controls a computer, which in turn controls the fuel flow. Is this sequence ever reversed--that is, the computer reads something about the fuel flow & takes control of the gas pedal?

          Response: No. BTW, the gas pedal does not control the computer. The gas pedal is basically a rheostat that sends a signal to the ECM & the ECM in turn sends a signal to the throttle control module.

          4. The engineering I've described in #3 is called "drive by wire" & represents improved technology over the old accelerator set-up (i.e, a cable runs from the gas pedal to the engine compartment). The real improvement, however, is the introduction of the computer, not the wires to it. Shouldn't this new system be called "drive by computer"?

          Response: Do not know but the accurate term for this would be wireless since the mechanical mechanism (wires or a series of rods) were eliminated.

          5. On TBN, is there a difference between "Member Showcase" & "Gallery"?

          Response: Pass on this one.

          6. How many speakers in my '04 Retro? I find 3 pairs of grills, yet an article posted on TBN (one of those complainer articles) stated that the car has 8 speakers. What am I missing?

          Response: 2 imaging speakers (console), 2 2.5” mid range in the shelf, 2 4” mid range in the doors, 2 1” tweeters in the doors, and 2 6”X8” sub-wolfers in the soft top cavity. That equals 10.


          7. Will the windshield frame support an overturned Retro?

          Response: not based on pics of roll overs that have been posted on TBN.

          8. What's a fair donation from me to support TBN? How often?

          Response: $37,500.00 annually

          9. There is a small scattering of fine sand (?) on the "shelf" that divides my headlights from the amber lights below. Anyone else have this situation? Is it possible for me to remove the entire headlight unit so I can dump the stuff out? If not, I plan to remove the headlight bulb & vacuum with a small rubber tube.

          Response: Humm, good idea.

          10. I've tried to remove the black plastic cover from the top of the engine. I've removed the push-pins from the front of the cover, but there is something holding it on along the back of the engine. Can't see or feel what it is. Don't want to break the plastic. Any advice?

          Response: Pull harder & straight up.

          11. If I spend big bucks for Borlas & then drive in the forest but there's no one there to hear them . . .

          Response: You will hear them unless you have equipped your car to be controlled remotely.

          12. I have it, too--the squeak in the steering. It would be very, very, very difficult to convince me that it's coming from under the hood. I hear it as coming from where the steering column enters the dashboard. In the on-going & everlasting thread on this squeak, the author of entry #26 says WD40 does the trick. I'm hesitant to squirt some in at the point I've described, but if others have found relief by this method, I'll try it. Good idea or not?

          Response: Can not help you here.

          13. Why so shy, guy? I'm referring to the anomymity exhibited in some avatars. Hey, we're all friends, right? Pretty close to family, even. Loving, trusting, caring, whatever. Me? I let it all hang out--in my avatar, that is. I'm not sure who I'm supposed to hiding my identity from. True, I sometimes feel our society is filled with axe murderers, icepick torturers, acid bath kidnappers, butt-squeezing bus riders, & worse. But this is TBN. Or am I being too trusting, too naive?

          Response: We have axe murderers, ice pick torturers, acid bath kidnappers, butt-squeezing bus riders, & worse but thet do not get out much.

          14. 5,269 members in TBN & they're all just like me? How odd. One of the first Retros I ever saw was turning south off E. Franklin St. into the campus. Red, beautiful, topless, side windows up, clean & shiny, a young couple in the car in their Sunday best . . . & African-American. My guess is that to be a member of TBN you have to: A) own a Retro & B) have at least some small degree of computer literacy. So why are we all so white? A & B are hardly excluding or precluding factors, given that they are distributed among 303 million Americans (& then toss in a few Canadians & the odd Dutchman). It's not a pressing issue with me--& I could be wrong in assuming that this particular aspect of my genetic code is uniformly shared by y'all--but if I'm correct in my assumption, it seems to beat the odds in a way that exceeds those of finding the Arizona Cardinals playing this coming Sunday.
          And that, very briefly, is what's on my mind this morning. Hope you have a good day. That's all! You're done! I'm Will.

          Response: Everyone is welcomed – I guess not as many AMs purchased 02-05 Thunderbirds as honkies did… on the other hand, I can not tell from names and avatars the race, creed, or color of TBN individuals. Now, you can tell something about others if you hang on the political thread for a while. But, regardless of politics, we all have a common thread – the car.
          Last edited by Lonestar; Jan 28, 2009, 01:46 PM.
          Lonestar
          It was a smile in every mile
          Gotta love that American Ride

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: A curious mind wants to know.

            Originally posted by Will View Post
            Just a few quick questions, if you've got a moment . . .
            7. Will the windshield frame support an overturned Retro?

            Pictures posted in some of the "Broken Wings" threads say "No!" Drive carefully.

            James
            sigpic

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: A curious mind wants to know.

              Wow....Will, you've obviously had a lot of time to think about this stuff! You did leave off one very important question, however: What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow (your choice - African or European)??! Hope you're a Monty Python fan....!


              -bobby

              PS: If you really want to know the answer, someone else has given a lot of time and thought to this question, and the answer/analysis can be found at: http://www.style.org/unladenswallow/

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                Originally posted by Ol'Dave View Post
                Dang Joe. You type fast!!!!
                A skill developed over the years in the Bill Draft Room adjunct the chamber from legislators tapping their foots waiting and tempers growing shorter in the House or Senate chamber waiting for amendments, resolutions or bill drafts ....

                Even now in the electronic age you gotta have it on paper when distributed and when Introduced to the body on the Floor ...
                Last edited by My Raven; Jan 28, 2009, 01:22 PM.
                sigpicSoaring with My Raven Under Carolina Blue Skies ...

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                  Lonestar did a pretty good job of answering them all so I'll answer the one he didn't.

                  5. On TBN, is there a difference between "Member Showcase" & "Gallery"?

                  Member's Showcase - For you to post pictures of your car whether you use attachements, gallery url or off-site urls - and talk about them. They tend to "drift" out of view of the masses here after a week or so on the "air" and never looked at again unless someone stumbles across them.

                  Gallery - not related to attachments; an easy spot to store some of your photos that members can find by looking for your handle on the gallery or clicking the camera icon below your name if you've loaded them there.
                  Last edited by 5bird7; Jan 28, 2009, 01:22 PM.
                  Limited Edition databases for 007 msg..#26 , PCR sticky, and Cashmere msg.#64
                  ......

                  Porthole Authority


                  .

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                    hmm - updte later -
                    Last edited by 5bird7; Jan 28, 2009, 01:33 PM.
                    Limited Edition databases for 007 msg..#26 , PCR sticky, and Cashmere msg.#64
                    ......

                    Porthole Authority


                    .

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                      Number one correct answer is LOL = Laugh-Out-Loud. Leroy

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                        42

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                        • #13
                          Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                          Will, check this list out.

                          http://www.namastecafe.com/computer/abbreviation.htm

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                            #### 12 , I used a Teflon spray and it cured the Squeak, If you decide to use WD 40 use it lightly as you don't want to cause a short in the wires.
                            This is what worked for me... Bud

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                            • #15
                              Re: A curious mind wants to know.

                              Two Words Will.....LESS CAFINE!
                              Mike & Jana
                              Med. Steel Blue/Med. Steel Blue/Partial Blue
                              1 of 253
                              Built 8/25/04

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