And now for some VERY IMPORTANT research! 😉
At various times over my last several acting gigs, I’ve been told I resemble these actors. What do you think? Click on the image to get a better look and vote below!
I’m not talking about mufflers and rear-views.
It’s hard to imagine where we’d be today if not for the invention of the automobile. The car is truly a marvel of technology and innovation, and it’s hard to underestimate the contribution it’s made to civilization.
The bumper is held onto the vehicle by eight of these push-on clips on top and eight more on bottom, plus 2 bolts.
I’m certainly not a mechanic, and I’m sure that the drivetrain and chassis of a modern vehicle is solid and safe. Yet whenever I do minor repairs or install something new, I’m amazed by just how little material is actually holding the whole thing together. Even auto brands that are known for safety and quality give us vehicles that are surprisingly reliant on plastic pieces that snap into place and are held together by more plastic clips.
To wit, today I replaced the headlamps on our 2005 Honda Odyssey…not the light bulbs, but the entire front headlight assemblies. This job wasn’t difficult, but it was eye-opening. To start, I had to remove the front bumper – which seems like a big, heavy project in itself, right?
Not exactly.
The bumper itself is a hollow, single piece of molded soft plastic which covers a steel beam attached to the chassis. To remove the bumper, you simply pop out eight plastic clips on top, eight more on bottom, and one bolt on each side. That’s it. The whole bumper then peels off the front of the vehicle effortlessly.
Then, to remove each headlight, you only need to disconnect 4 bulb wire attachments, and unscrew three bolts. The assembly comes right out, and the new one fits easily in its place.
Putting the bumper back on the car is as easy as it was to remove, simply reversing the steps.
As if looking out for the other guy wasn’t enough to worry about on the road.
So just be careful out there, friends. And remember that luxury vehicle you’re riding in might just be held together by 10-cent plastic clips.
Happy observations, profound thoughts, minor annoyances, pleasant surprises…
Happy observations, profound thoughts, minor annoyances, pleasant surprises…
I enjoy traveling. And I like living the suburban life. But when I travel, I don’t want to visit suburbia.
Recently we traveled to New York City, and while visiting the borough of Queens, I was struck by how suburbia is encroaching on the character of places like this. Next to the row housing and tenaments is a brand new CVS store (with parking!). Alongside the subway tracks, street-front delis, and bagel shops are Home Depot and Best Buy.
Is it just me, or is it getting harder and harder to find places with pure character and original vintage? What’s next – Starbucks in Philly’s Independence Hall? Walmart at the bottom of Niagara Falls? A mall next to the Alamo? Oh wait, that already exists…
While modern outfits like these are sometimes convenient to have, they drain the appeal of visiting a place that’s supposed to be a getaway – different from home.
After all, I could save a lot of time and money by going to the Target down the road instead of the one on the volcano of Hawaii’s Big Island.
Happy observations, profound thoughts, minor annoyances, pleasant surprises…