BMW, in their infinite wisdom, positioned the E36’s power steering fluid reservoir under the engine. This means that, to service the power steering fluid, the engine must be cold, you need a long funnel, and you need a long arm. You also need paper towels to wipe your hands, as the cap will be covered in grime.

None of that is really a big deal, it’s just annoying. I successfully checked the fluid level (dipstick was dry), and topped it off with the help of a long funnel. Before screwing the cap back on the reservoir, I decided to wipe the grime off. That’s when I saw the letters “ATF” — which usually stands for “Automatic Transmission Fluid”. Crap: I just put the wrong fluid into my power steering.

Fortunately, there’s a happy ending here (”happy” meaning $0 spent). I stopped by the mechanic and was ready to have the power steering drained and refilled, when I was told that power steering fluid is ATF — just with a generic label and a higher price.

Apparently, the Hope and Change has even reached the Civilian Marksmanship Program:

ORDER BACKLOG

Normally, we average receiving 2,000 – 3,000 sales orders per month and ship an order in 2-3 weeks. However, these are not normal times. Since October, 2008 we have been receiving 5,000 – 10,000 orders per month, which is several times normal. As a result, we are very backlogged and running several weeks behind on processing orders. Our staff is working up to 12 hours per day 7 days a week, and only today finished the 4,000 orders we received on 1 December alone (except for those 1 Dec orders with credit card or other problems). Customers with outstanding orders should expect orders to ship approximately 100 days from the date the order was received by CMP. We expect to recover from this surge in another 3-4 months (assuming the number of orders being received drops somewhat).

I’m already making plans to get my hands on one of those nifty government Garands before our new President tries to shit-can the entire program. Obviously lots of other folks are thinking the same thing. Obama: the best salesman the firearms industry has ever had. Hope and Change!

That is all.

1. We don’t blow.
2. We know how to use our sticks.
3. It’s good to be right… always.
4. We don’t lick our wood or tongue our holes.
5. We have good hands.
6. It’s all about tempo control.
7. We like it loud, fast, and hard.
8. We can perform without lube.
9. We get head daily.
10. Our sticks come in pairs.

Update: By “park in a snow bank”, I really mean “leave in snow bank once car becomes stuck”.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – An Alexandria man was recovering after accidentally shooting himself while showing his girlfriend how to handle a pistol on Saturday in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.

Police said the 21-year-old man told investigators he forgot he had just reloaded the gun, and squeezed the trigger while putting the gun into the driver’s door panel. The bullet went through his inner left thigh.

Police said the man repeatedly told investigators he was ex-military and knows how to handle a gun, and was very embarrassed by the incident.

Umm, yeah. It just seems to me that “the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant” isn’t the most appropriate place to demonstrate how to handle a pistol. But then, that would require common sense, which — admittedly — we men tend to lose when there’s an attractive woman in the vicinity.

If you purchase that Vespa or Metropolitan, I would ask that you do the following:

• Get training. Check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation to find a class near you.
• Wear your gear. Helmet, gloves, riding jacket, riding pants, boots. Not like this person.
• Have fun! I harp on safety to everyone I can not to be a killjoy, but because many motorcycle injuries are preventable. Nothing spoils the ride more than a trip to the ER!

So, I asked the salesman, “What E46s do you have on the lot?”

He asked, “What are you looking for, a 335i?”

The 335i is an E90, dumbass, not an E46. Now, I don’t expect most of the snobs and yuppies who buy BMWs to know the difference between an E46 and an E90, but some of us actually care about driving rather than posing, and we know the difference between the two. Is it too much to ask for the dealer to know the difference?

Amazing Beliefs:

That 1 firearm owner in 10,000 will commit an act of violence in his or her lifetime, and this is far more frightening than the 25% of drivers who will cause a serious or fatal accident.

Heh. It’s a long comment, but definitely worth the read.

I took my first photos with the Sigma yesterday: around my house with the macro lens, and around Cal Poly with a wide-angle lens. Unfortunately, my Cal Poly trip was cut short by dead batteries, but I still managed to capture a few interesting shots. Lesson: carry spare batteries!

I’ve posted a new photo gallery on my pictures site. That gallery will be dedicated to photography for its own sake, rather than the more typical family or travel type of gallery.