Richard Cranium

Yes, get an opinion from your vet. They will probably at least want to do blood work to see what is going on. At that age though, sounds like he's just out of gas. I just went through this myself a couple months ago. I have watched both of my parents pass and this was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.

Family reunion this weekend.

http://www.thewertzone.blogspot.com/2012/06/filling-blanks-tying-prometheus-to.html Filling the blanks: tying PROMETHEUS to ALIEN Ridley Scott's new movie Prometheus has won a fair amount of critical acclaim (though a more mixed general reception) and an impressive opening week's worth of money, but it's also left a lot of people pondering over the precise relationship between the movie and Alien, to which it acts as a sort-of prequel. Through careful research (i.e. googling interviews) the following clarifications can be made: NOTE: MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR PROMETHEUS, ALIEN AND ALIENS. An Engineer ship crash-landing on the surface of LV-223 in 2093. Time and Date Prometheus opens in 2089 with the discovery of a cave painting in Scotland which points the way to the Engineer base. The ship arrives at this location in the final week of 2093, with the final moments of the film taking place on New Year's Day, 2094. No date is given in Alien for the action, save that it happens in the 22nd Century (due to the presence of a crew uniform patch that says, 'Flag of the United Americas 2104 to present'). In Aliens Carter Burke orders the colonists to investigate the crashed Engineer ship on 12 June '79. Assuming Aliens happens in 2179, then Alien takes place 57 years earlier, in 2122 (and this was later confirmed in featurettes in the Alien Legacy boxed set). From a computer display at the start of Alien, the movie starts on 3 June. Thus, Prometheus concludes 28 years, 5 months and 2 days before the start of Alien. The planet LV-426 orbits, along with several of its moons, in 2122. Location The planetary body that Prometheus flies to is called LV-223. The planetoid that the Nostromo crew land on in Alien (and is later colonised by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation prior to the events of Aliens) is called LV-426, informally known as 'Acheron'. The different designations seemingly confirm that these are different planetoids. Both planetoids are depicted as moons circling larger gas giants. LV-426 is one of at least four moons orbiting a red-hued gas giant. LV-223 is one of two moons orbiting a blue-coloured gas giant. Given that we physically see four moons in Alien (three moons and the gas giant are seen in LV-426's sky) and a comprehensive 3D starmap in Prometheus only shows two, the conclusion is that these are different gas giants (otherwise the gas giant changes colour and acquires two additional moons in thirty years, which seems implausible). In Alien, LV-426 is identified as being located in the Zeta II Reticuli star system. Zeta Reticuli is a real star system located 39.16 light-years from Earth in the constellation Reticulum, consisting of two stars in a binary orbit. However, the two stars are extremely far apart (dozens of times the distance between the Sun and Pluto), meaning that each star could hold an extensive solar system of its own without gravitationally interfering with the other. LV-223, along with its mother planet and another moon, as shown on the Prometheus's scanners in 2093. In Prometheus, the destination star system is not identified. A distance of 327,000,000,000,000 km is given, which translates as 34.56 light-years. Given that Zeta Reticuli's distance has been estimated with a strong degree of accuracy (the error margin is only 0.1 light-years), this would seem to confirm that LV-422 is not only a different planetoid to the one in Alien and Aliens, but is located in a totally different star system altogether. Some fans have postulated that LV-422 is located at Gliese 86, a star just under 35 light-years away in the constellation of Eridanus. This is especially popular as an extrasolar gas giant was discovered circling Gliese 86 in 2000. Gliese 86 and Zeta Reticuli are located in the same general neighbourhood, only being separated from one another by 10 light-years. This splendid theorising has been torpedoed by Ridley Scott saying straight-out that Prometheus takes place in the Zeta Reticuli II star system as well, however. Thus, the two planetoids in Prometheus and Alien - LV-223 and LV-426 - are different planetoids but they are located in the same star system. Based on the evidence above, I'd still suggest they are orbiting different gas giants. The USS Sulaco approaching LV-426 in 2179. Engineer bases and ships According to Prometheus, the Engineers built an extensive military installation on LV-223 more than two thousand years ago. This installation consists of approximately five large domed buildings, each huge in size. At least two of the buildings had large, horseshoe-shaped spacecraft located adjacent to them. The installation appeared to be a base for the creation of a biological weapon of mass destruction, apparently for use against Earth. This facility was overrun and its population almost completely wiped out by unknown forces (but likely a bioweapon they lost control of) approximately 2,000 years before the events of Alien. In Alien and Aliens, an Engineer starship of similar design to those seen in Prometheus is found on the surface of LV-426. Initial assumptions were that it had crashed, but more recent interviews (at the 18-minute mark) have suggested it landed or was parked deliberately there. According to Ridley Scott, this ship originated at the LV-223 facility and was on its way somewhere else (presumably not Earth) with its cargo of facehuggers when its cargo got out of control. The pilot landed on LV-426 and was killed, within a couple of hundred years of the destruction of the LV-223 facility (so between 1,800 and 2,200 years before the events of Alien). The fact that the facehugger eggs could survive and remain viable for that time period is impressive. A mural in the Engineer base on LV-223, suggesting that the xenomorphs were extant more than 2,000 years ago. The bioweapons and the xenomorph On LV-223 a black liquid stored in vase-like containers serves as a destructive bioweapon. It can animate corpses, turning them into monstrous killers, and transform little worms into large, snake-like monsters. Rather more bizarrely, it can convert human sperm into a parasite-like creature that, when given a female human body to gestate in, transforms into a squid-like creature which can grow to colossal (some might indeed say, totally fricking preposterous) size and then impregnate another type of creature into another host, a creature which more closely resembles the traditional xenomorphs. On LV-426, the cargo of the crashed Engineer ship consisted of eggs which, when hatched, produced parasitic 'facehuggers'. These creatures would attach themselves to a human or animal host and place an embryo in their chest. After a period of gestation (typically several hours, or several days for a queen creature capable of laying further eggs en masse) this 'chestburster' erupts through the host's ribcage and grows to large size within a matter of hours. This creature is the traditional xenomorph. Unlike the black goo things on LV-223, the xenomorph's life cycle appears fairly stable and predictable. Note that, based on both the information provided by Scott in interviews and the mural in the LV-223 facility depicting the traditional xenomorph, the traditional xeno appears to have already been in existence for some time when the base on LV-223 was wiped out. This would then seem to contradict the popular (and perhaps obvious) theory that the black goo stuff in Prometheus is some type of prototype that would lead to the familiar xeno in future films (though the appearance of a proto-xeno in the final seconds of Prometheus would seem to suggest that this was the direction things were heading in). Based on all of this I would argue that the standard xenomorph was already in existence and the Prometheus bioweapon was an attempt to replicate it. Given the inefficency of the Prometheus creatures, with a confusing and bizarre life-cycle, it can be concluded that the Prometheus bioweapon was a miserable failure. Perhaps all of their 'normal' xenomorph eggs had been put on the LV-426 ship and they were forced to develop a secondary weapon when their main one was put beyond their reach (which seems extremely unlikely, but there doesn't seem to be too many other conclusions that can be reached)? Conclusion (speculation) The Engineers are an intelligent alien race who may have had a hand in the appearance of life on Earth. If not, they certainly visited our stone age ancestors around 35,000 years ago. 2,000 years ago a group of Engineers, possibly military in origin, established a base on LV-223, a moon in the Zeta II Reticuli system, 39 light-years from Earth. They created a bioweapon, apparently taking inspiration from an already-existing alien lifeform known as the xenomorph. They apparently decided to wipe out life on Earth for reasons unknown (possibly ranging from fear that their creations were getting out of control to one of their emissaries being nailed to a cross - this latter idea is extremely idiotic, so hopefully that's not the direction they are going in). A ship took of from the LV-223 base carrying a cargo hold full of xenomorph eggs. The pilot ended up getting infected. He made an emergency landing on LV-426, a moon circling a neighbouring gas giant in the same system, but was killed. He activated a warning beacon telling his fellows to stay away. They respected that and did not go after him. Instead, they decided to use their own bioweapon (perhaps thinking they could control it better than the xenos themselves, or perhaps they had put all of their xeno eggs on the ship and lost them in the crash) against Earth, but it got out of control and wiped out most of the facility. The last surviving Engineer managed to seal himself in stasis in a ship away from the threat of the bioweapon but ended up oversleeping by 2,000 years, until he was awoken by the crew of the Prometheus and was then infected by the bioweapon and killed. There are still plot holes you can drive a power loader through in this scenario, but this does seem to be a fairly likely chain of events given the information we have so far. Posted by Adam Whitehead at 19:52

Not to thread jack, but what is involved in swapping in a drive. I know I can physically replace the drive, but what about the OS? I was thinking about swapping in a solid state drive on mine.

Overall I enjoyed it. I will have to watch it a few more times I'm sure before I get a real handle on everything going on. Something tells me when the directors cut comes out it will be much more clear with an extra 30 minutes of footage. That the "engineers" were human is based on the DNA scan and comparison. Their DNA had been modified in the opening sequence to create what we now look at as human. But I guess what it boils down to is how you define human. While we all have similar DNA there is a large variance in color, height, weight, etc... That the "engineers" would be a genetic match, but look a little different doesn't bother me that much. On a side note, Noomi Rapace is incredible. I'm not normally into foreign films, but if you want to see her really cut loose check out the original "Girl with the dragon tatoo" trilogy.

I've missed the last few myself, looking forward to getting back out. Edit: Shit, I'm on the schedule to administer the ACT at school tomorrow morning. Looks like I'm back out again.

I'm going to agree with Steve. Sounds like you would rather do the 3rd gen, but know the 4th gen will be easier and cheaper. It's a tough call because you could go after what you want and risk never having enough money or time to finish it. Or you could could go the easy/cheaper route and know you will get a running car but not have what you really wanted. I really love the 3rd gen chassis. When I was in high school the IROC cars were the object of my lust and I never lost that. I've considered trying to find one to do the same kind of swap you are talking about. The 3rd gen would obviously be my choice.

What kind of budget are they looking at?

It could be "Nemesis"? In the future, chaos is rampant as 'information terrorists' threaten to destroy order in society. Alex is a part-man-part-machine LAPD cop who is the best at what he does. When one of the terrorists calls him a machine, Alex questions his humanity and decides to leave the force. His final assignment is to apprehend an old colleague who has stolen some data. However, there is more than meets the eye and Alex must question his allegiance.

Yeah, I think the prices are a little high also, but it's up to the person what they are willing to do and pay. I take care of the oil changes on most of our vehicles, but the dd honda gets VIOC (I have a former student who works there). $20 for a rotation also seems high when you're talking about how simple it is on a rack. But a business needs to pay for the rack, impact, air compressor, etc... If I was the average person working with my shitty jack that came with the car, $20 for a tire rotation would probably be a bargain.

Wow, you were not kidding. It really does look like the dude chewed the hole in the hood for the intake.

Slightly off topic, but can you see any real difference in the dash pad between the 93 and the 02? The dash pad in my 95 shattered and I'm looking for a replacement. I understand there are different part numbers for the early and late forth gens. If they are interchangeable I'm interested in it.

Gonna miss this one. I'll be out at Buckeye Lake brewery learning how to brew from all grains. Looks like the demonstration will be an IPA.

I get my kegorator bottles filled at a shop called "Gear Gas". Probably not the cheapest though, but they are conveniently located next to the distributor where I used to buy my kegs.

Were you out at the track day on 4/20?

Out of curiosity, where are people mounting the PC in the car? I read an article years ago about a guy building a PC as an MP3 player using a 1U server case mounted under the drivers seat. I would think the trunk would be an okay option too. Any issues with the cold in the winter from turning it on while it is around freezing?

Count me in.

What kind of mileage does it get?

Well, that shoots my other piece of advice straight in the ass. When my dad taught me to drive a standard I learned to shift and work the clutch based on the sound of the engine. Not being able to hear the engine would be a problem for me driving a standard.

When I was in high school I had been taught to drive my dad's car with a stick, but I mainly drove my moms automatic car. One day my folks were out and I needed to run an errand so I had to take dad's car. It was pretty ugly, and I don't know how many times I stalled it, but by the time I got home I was addicted. From that point on any time I needed to go anywhere I took my dad's car. I actually feel pretty bad because he lost his car that day and I never gave it back. Just drive it, you will improve over time with practice.

Looks like they are calling for rain around 3:00 now. I'm looking forward to finally making it back. It's been 3 weeks since I've been out to one of these. If anyone is interested in tagging along, this is also National Home Brew day. There will be a home brewers event going on at Columbus Brewing company starting at 9:30. I'll be heading down there when I leave C&C.

There was a company that made a conversion kit, and would modify your factory console for the shifter. But, they went out of business years ago. I'm just not any where near comfortable with my fabrication skills to think I can do it myself and do a good job of it. My goal with the mods of the car were to keep the stock appearance. I want it to look like it came from the factory that way.

To the right person though, it would be worth any amount of money. The fact that it was originally the property of Neil Armstrong is the key. I don't care who you are, you know the name of the first man on the moon. He was a god among gods.

I should be out, but I'll have to scoot early.

The only vehicle I own that is not a manual is my Impala, and it never had a manual option. In fact, I even debated on converting it to a manual using the T56 out of my Camaro.