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Journal Xerithane's Journal: Well, damn. 22

Journal by Xerithane

I like to think I know a lot of things in life. Don't confuse saying that with knowing everything, or even just knowing a lot. I know a lot of things. I know, for instance, what the cause of a malfunctioning adrenal cortex is. Not for any particular reason, I just do.

Sometimes, something will just sneak up on me that I didn't know and smack me in the face. Much like the way a big, prison going fellow would smack Michael Jackson in a few weeks. Today, I had one of those smacks. It came after a wonderful morning. We woke up this morning, opened the window to reveal a winter wonderland. A great snow-fall coming down, coating the ground with a whiteness like cocaine. Not that I know what cocaine looks like.

I insisted on driving my girlfriend to school, because as we all know she is asian and asian females shouldn't drive. I mean that in the most non-bigotted way possible, but it's just the way life goes. Fun drive, got to play in the snow a little bit. On the way back, I got stuck. Who would have thought a Lexus SC300 didn't do well in the snow. Luckily, I could rock it out... good thing the light turned red on me during this experience.

I'm still in a great mood. It's a great day, the snow is beautiful, work is going well and I got a side job that was a bit of fun. I got the IMAK SmartGloves, and these things kick ass. My wrists still hurt, but nothing like they were. I would suggest spending the $30 for a pair, if you have anything that resembles pain in your hands or wrists.

Now that I've been long-winded, here is what I learned. If your car is under snow, in freezing temperatures, and you have a really good heater in your car, do not do this. Do not get it going nice and hot, then switch it to the forward defrost vents.

You know what happens? Your fucking windshield cracks. I have this nice little arch going 4" above each vent, from one end to the other. I knew that this would happen with glasses, like if you pull one out of the freezer and pour boiling water in it. A car windshield is a whole different story, and I'm sure I just had some crack that I couldn't see before that caused it. At least I hope that is it, because otherwise I will lose faith in Toyota Motors for a long time. Lowest estimate for repair is $355, so far. Good thing I lost my job, otherwise I could pay for this with these pieces of paper called money. I'm not going to Japan this winter, I'm still pissed about that. And now this.

I mean, damn.

On a side note, pointing out that something is broken doesn't constitute complaining. This is for you SlashChick. If you have ever wondered why I don't use your hosting service and recommend others, let me answer this for you. Because most of the time I read one of your posts, I can't help but think that you are just a touch immature and a touch too emotional to manage my servers. Maybe Slashdot is a personal thing for you, but when trying to whore your business out, act professional.

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Well, damn. More

Well, damn.

Comments Filter:

  • Snow (Score:2)

    by Otter ( 3800 )
    You know, I've seen a lot of snow in my life but there's never a single snowfall when I don't go for a walk and marvel at how beautiful it is. Even when it's the third dump of the week and I just shoveled the second.

    Sucks about your windshield, though.

  • Idea (Score:2, Funny)

    by bethanie ( 675210 )
    Hey! Maybe you could have a fundraiser -- set up a webcam on yourself and sit in front of your computer wearing undies playing videogames (snacking on the random bowl of cereal from time to time), and we can be inspired to make contributions to your windshield replacement fund!!

    Every little bit helps! :-)

    ....Bethanie....
  • Let me guess, you called the insurance company and told them you heat cracked your windshield and they said, "Pack Sand." Because if you didn't say anything about the fact that you heat cracked the windshield and you took the car to one of those scummy glass places... they would probably dupe the insurance company for you and say that it was a rock from a gravel tender. You could get a free windshield out of the deal and have plausable deny-ability. This only works if you have one of those insurance compani
    • Let me guess, you called the insurance company and told them you heat cracked your windshield and they said, "Pack Sand."

      Shit no, besides that, I have a private insurance company that is remarkably cool about these things. They are not a for-profit company, and return whatever profits to the customers. Kicks much ass.

      I would get new cars and the cars would get cracked windshields... or came with them... when it's 60 below you either go without heat or you get a cracked windshield.
      That's just fucked
    • Still, you're honest. That's good. Personally, I drove with a cracked windshield the whole time I lived in Alaska. I would get new cars and the cars would get cracked windshields... or came with them... when it's 60 below you either go without heat or you get a cracked windshield.

      Two things can help prevent windshields from cracking from temprature differentials between the inside and outside of the car, if not in Alaska, at least in the lower 48 outside the Dakotas.

      1) Clean the windshield of all snow an
  • Sorry, not to laugh at you when a shitty circumstance befalls ya, but I could just imagine myself doing the same thing. Simple physics sometimes slip by unnoticed or unheeded in day to day life.

    **CRACK**
    Initial response :WTF?!?!?
    Secondary Response: Smacks head, comment to self "nice one dipshit...."
    Hope you can get some reimbursment from insurance, good luck!

  • Learned the hard way about cold glass and hot water while at university. I blame the really cold weather - claiming the -15F temp impaired my judgment. I was going to be late for a pChem test... Oh, the irony.

    Being a native to some colder climates, one of the things that works well is the windshield washer fluid that has a lower freezing temperature. Worth the extra buck a gallon, as it does not frost over as quickly as the standard stuff.
  • I know, for instance, what the cause of a malfunctioning adrenal cortex is.

    And the cause(s) would be...?

    Cracked glass means its time to move south. Bolivia is looking nice this time of year...
  • at least your wrists don't hurt as much. every once in a while after being very strict with myself on smartglove use, my wrists quit hurting. then i become stupid and quit using them. for a supposed genius i sure can be stupid.
  • The $355 quote might be for the benefit of the insurance company. Call a couple of windshield companies and tell them you're paying yourself, you might get a lower price from one of them. I did this a couple of years ago and got it done for about $125.

    Oh, I was fixing a BMW 325 (which I accidentally shot with a bb gun), so your car may be more, but it's worth a try. My quotes before I mentioned the lack of insurance were all well over $400.

  • Cocaine (Score:2)

    by TPFH ( 92944 )
    A great snow-fall coming down, coating the ground with a whiteness like cocaine. Not that I know what cocaine looks like.

    I think it is a white powdery substance.
    Probably looks a lot like Anthrax.

    I wonder what the Anthrax paranoia in 2001 was like for cocaine addicts.

    I've lived on the west coast my entire life. We do occationally get snow in Portland. We had what I would call snow on Wednesday I think. Not much, but it was still on the grass and the car when I went out to run arrands in the late aftern
    • I've lived on the west coast my entire life. We do occationally get snow in Portland. We had what I would call snow on Wednesday I think.

      I'm up in Vancouver, we had quite a bit up here. From what I heard it was a good show, but didn't stick as much as it did up here. Even over by I5 there wasn't much snow on the ground, but off 205 there was about 3".

  • ...so that's how I cracked my husband's windshield. I feel so stupid...

    White girls shouldn't drive either.
    • Well damn, I feel so much better now. Although I should know this, I'm known as a "car guy." Just because I can drive well, doesn't mean I know shit about windshields... or glass.. or physics!
      • If it's any comfort, I'm responsible for maintaining the cars in our household. I deal with the mechanic, make sure the maintenance gets done, etc., he just drives 'em.

        You'd think I would have learned, I ran cold water into a glass pan that I had just taken out of the oven a few days ago, shattered it all over myself. I'm not sure if this is some subliminal thing or if I am just going through a glass-stupid period. At leasts it's glass and not hard drives...

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