I think depending on the model, peak is somewhere about 2005 (I’d consider your 2004 right in there) to about 2015. The inclusion of CarPlay was a big plus.
My next car will likely be a mid-teens Golf GTI. It may not be the best in any one category (efficiency, practicality, depreciation, safety, fun, repairability, etc) but it scores high in all of them.
I guess what I’m trying to say is there is a difference simplifying in an acceptable manner (perhaps backup cameras don’t need to be mandated) and doing so in an unsafe manner; I don’t think making seatbelts, airbags, or anti-lock brakes optional in the name of “simplicity” is a good idea.
Depending on how long ago you define as the period we had “good” cars, it might be an order of magnitude less safe. It’s hard to separate the unnecessary tech with things that have made cars exponentially safer over the past few decades.
I too wish for vehicles that are more simple, but let’s not toss the “safety” baby out with the “upgrades” bathwater.
I’m certain airbags are a legal requirement.
Allow me to be the first.
I drive an EV now. It’s super convenient not having to fuel up once a week. It’s nice just charging at home overnight. Long distance trips are not so convenient, but doable. The money savings on gas is significant, but tire usage seems to be higher, and depreciation is higher than any vehicle I’ve owned. There’s the looming thought of having to replace the battery someday.
More than anything, I’m tired of cars feeling like spaceships, and EVs are among the most space shippy.
My next car will likely be an efficient but fun four door ICE hatchback (think European sensibility) from six or seven years ago if I can find one with low miles.
No shade on those loving EVs, I think it’s great that the majority of people are moving or would like to move away from ICE vehicles. But so long as they feel like spaceships to me and depreciate like room temperature milk, there’s room in my garage for an efficient gasoline car.
In my world, no. A government building flys the flags associated with it. While it’s easy to be on the side of a federal building flying the flag of Ukraine, or one state flying the flag of another going through a tragic event, supporting that would also allow government buildings to fly the Israeli flag, or the confederate flag or a MAGA flag. You don’t think that confederate sympathizers in the south would claim to be marginalized and the confederate flag flying at the Mississippi statehouse would make them feel welcome? It’s a knife that cuts both ways.
I want marginalized people to feel welcome in their communities, but I don’t believe the flagpole of a government building is where to do it. The floor of the government building is.
I know I’m probably bucking the hive mind here, but I would actually support legislation that government owned building can fly only city, state, and country flags. I’m completely in on making sure that government policies are inclusive and protective of those needing them, but flags just seem performative. In fact, they could be counter productive; flying them “in support” while policies do not.
I kinda like Ray-Ban (their luxotica ties notwithstanding) and my current eyeglasses and sunglasses are RB. But the partnership with Meta is what really turns me off, and may actually persuade me to make sure my next pair are not RB.
I think it was alluding to it, but stopped short of explicitly saying it. I felt it was worth explicitly saying.
Calling it two football field would still work. Americans would think brown oblong ball field, everyone else would think black and white orb game. In in all cases they’d be thinking of essentially the same measurement.
I don’t see the difference between 1 and 4, but I like the way 4 is phrased so I’m saying you should do that. That’s what I’d do for a nice guilt free flight.
I also wouldn’t judge you for 2. While I can see who a cashier might have to cover a cash drawer that’s short, I don’t see how they’d have instant enough inventory controls to know “what’s missing.”
Meanwhile, Pete Rose is still not in the Hall of Fame.
I like a good band tshirt or local art graphic tshirt under a nice flannel short aleeve.
Me too!
that might be my whole wardrobe
We’ll disagree here
Like all other clothing, they have their place.
But I too agree that graphic tees shouldn’t be someone’s main clothing the way that too often it is.
Full size Dodge Ram too. The official vehicle of douchebags, wifebeaters, and drunk drivers.
If it were a mid-size import pickup I wouldn’t judge the choice of vehicle too harshly.
I know everyone has different learning styles
Proceeds to say there’s only one way to learn.
deleted by creator
I guess the remaining 1% is YouTube?
Wonder what the city and state of New York would say to that.