The trailer looks good.

Two Saturdays ago we picked up lumber from the yard, drove it home, and then it would not start. The starter solenoid would not even click. Lights worked, so I ruled out the battery. I replaced the solenoid the next day, and it started. yay!

But then the next morning it would not start again, it would not even click.

So I bought a rebuilt starter, and decided to swap it out this past Saturday.

But, the headers were in the way, and even if I could get the starter out, or take off the headers, I could not get to the third bolt on the starter. I have no idea how you get to it. And then we noticed that the lights were not working. So I tried to jump the battery, and nothing. Tried to charge it, nothing. The battery was purchased a year ago in January 2011.

Two days of trying to return the battery back to Autozone later, I have a new battery. The first store said “yeah, it’s f’d up, we’ll replace it…oh you didn’t buy it? tough shit, the warranty is not transferable.” On a one year old battery. Huh. So I get the info from the guy I bought the truck from, and go to a second store. They think the battery just needs a charge, so 1.5 hours later I leave the store with a charged battery, that is dead by the next morning. So I go back to the first store (it’s closer) and give them the previous owner’s info as if it is mine and they swap it out. Although it’s a red one and not a gold one. Whatever. At least I have a new battery. Get back home, install it, still get no click.

So I get it towed to the mechanic.

They replaced the ignition, and messed around with the wiring, and now it works.

But they didn’t replace the starter like I asked them to, and they didn’t inspect it, like I asked them to do. So I’m happy, but annoyed.

Instead of moving the oil in a safe way and being processed in US refineries operating under EPA regulations, the oil will now be transported across the (Canadian) Rockies where it will be loaded onto giant tankers and shipped across the Pacific where it will be refined in China which has basically no environmental regulations in place.

Please let me know how the Chinese alternative is better for the Earth. ‘Cause the Canadian PM said if the pipeline is not built to the US, it’ll be built to the Pacific and they’ll load it up on tankers heading to China. It’s going to be sold no matter what, why not let it be refined here?

Google has a nice .pdf on SOPA and PIPA, too.

45-70 caliber. No idea how much it’ll cost. I imagine quite a bit. But damn, it does look pretty.

It’d be nice if they came out with .38/.357 and .22 calibers, for cheaper shooting. Although I guess if you can afford the gun you can afford the ammo. But 45-70 goes for >$1.50 a round!