Old Ironmaker

Art, you have to understand when your next door neighbour is the most powerful neighbor in the world you look over the fence with great interest. I know more people up here that are more interested in and are more involved in US politics and politicians than Canadian politics and politicians. Canadave is a great example. You have to be on the outside of the US looking in to understand that. The US farts and we get covered in crap. I do hold dual citizenship, I have recently found out that I am eligible to vote in this election. I do not think that is right and refuse to vote. Just because Mom was a US citizen when I was born shouldn't give me a say in US matters whatsoever other than concerning my property there. That Defcon site is suspect for sure. It says the Defcon rating is not set by the US government? Unless all those movies that I have seen where the President turns to the General covered in scrambled eggs and says "Go to Defcon 3!" have it all wrong. Rick, locker room talk is usually about the game and where you are going for a beer. Guys in any setting that brag about sexual exploits are usually the ones that go home to their PC's for sex.

I commandeered an lit exterior entrance sign from a pals old bar on Barton Street in Hamilton. It says "Ladies and Escorts Only".

Some of the programs you guys recommend we don't get on Bell Expressvu. I am band width challenged and wish I could get some of these shows. Most well done series now on HBO and Showtime are better produced than most motion pictures being shown in theatres now. Just look at some of the cast of West World for example, Evan Racheal Wood, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright. Those are some solid actors. Directed by Michael Creighton, Charles Yu and Lisa Joy. And you can't decide if the bad guys are the good guys or the good guys are the bad guys. Or there are no good guys.

Yes, Trump fishes with trouser trout. I didn't say that it is a quote from CNN. I am a left of centre voter, but I even think CNN is going beyond what is fair the way they are obvious Clintonites. It is actually blatantly bias now.

If we can keep it civil between us, no name calling, no calling each other out I think we can make our points and give opinions before Art locks the thread. When Trump announced his candidacy I thought it was a publicity stunt, then when he won the GOP party nomination I cringed. When he pulled even with Clinton I started to really be concerned about our future. I will only say this (yea right) I personally think he is a threat to the human civilization. I can't fathom 50% of the voters in the United States of America think he would make viable President and leader of the free world. Within the GOP major leaders think he is a menace and security risk as well. More citizens of this world and more than the entire population of the US feel the same way. If Donald Trump had a CEO of one of his own companies that said the things he does and acted the way that he is acting he would turn to him, point his finger and say "You're fired!". Simple as that. I don't think Hilary Clinton fits the bill either. She has baggage that weighs on her and she seems to be as trustworthy as Trump is. If Pence was running for President and he had someone other than Trump running as Vice I might cast my vote for him. He seems to be the only class act in this whole charade. His support of Trump makes me suspect of his mental stability though. Now Pence hasn't been vetted the way those two have so I really don't know him as well. But as I said he seems to be the only person there that may have the right stuff. The problem in this election "may have the right stuff" isn't the confidence I want before I go into a voting booth. Not much of a choice for our friends in the USA. Keep it civil please. Lets take the high road.

When my 2 brothers and I were kids growing up in the 60's we were always told money was tight and that's one reason we went on exactly 1 family vacation in all those years growing up. It was a 5 day trip to Ottawa and The 1000 Islands in the Centennial year. My brother put all the Super 8 movies on a DVD years ago, gave all family members a copy and I have to say he did an amazing job of it with the help of my niece that has a degree in Graphic Arts and Computer Sciences. It is professionally done complete with digital Dolby Surround Sound music, sub titles and credits at the end. So we put the movie in the DVD player that Christmas Eve. One of the kids asked my mother "Nani, how much would that fancy movie camera, projector, screen and lights cost back then?" Another nephew who owns a Bar commented " Nono in todays money that hi test you have on that table is all top shelf booze and would cost over $1000.00 today, that's $100.00 a bottle Courvoisier not Brandy." Now you serve Rye from the Rez bus. My father didn't get it Mom walked out of the room.

I was a summer student working for Canada Gunite out of Aldershot between grade 10 and 11, 17 years old. We sprayed the big pool at Marine Land in Niagara Falls that summer. Some how I was paid brick layers rate that summer. $10.00 an hour. I somehow was making almost as much money as my father that summer who was a Shift General Foreman at Stelco. I got spoiled. I bought a new TR 6 in 72'. Show me a high school kid that can buy a new car today at 18. We had it made for sure except for Bell Bottoms. But I was 3" taller with those Fat Albert platform shoes. (Getting back to the point of the thread.) The summer of 72' I got on as a summer student at Stelco shovelling red hot Sinter in Ironmaking. (It was strange 12 years latter most of my Foremen back then were reporting to me.) The CBA was up that August 1st and job class 1, lowest rate, went to 4 bucks an hour, I couldn't get back on at Canada Gunite. A case of 24 was around 7 bucks a case I think, less than 10 bucks for sure. So it is about the same in todays wages if the average hourly labourers rate is 20 bucks an hour. Big Cliff you post anything you want to, as long as we don't break the rules and get out of hand I think anyone's opinion is welcome. I don't always agree with you old buggers but I respect your opinions. I can't believe there isn't a The Donald thread yet with less than a month to go in the US election. But this thread might not be the place for political stuff unless you want to talk about Nixon and Trudeau Sr. I also pumped gas in the late 60's, 39.9 a gallon and an oil change with bulk oil and filter was around 5 bucks. These numbers I remember are as accurate as they can be after 47 years. 47 years holey shamokey.

Everyone knows what is hidden behind the stash, a smile.

Congratulations Lew to the both of you, 50 years of anything let alone Marriage is an accomplishment in todays world. Mom and Dad just celebrated 63. I'm not saying another word.

I have been following this thread for a while. I need a book called " NHL for Dummies". I can name a few players in the league and maybe 1 Leaf. Cadri ? Other than a few super stars I don't recognize these guys you are talking about. I want to be able to join in the conversation because it seems no one on this board follow NFL or CFL Football as closely as MLB and the NHL. How does it look for T.O.? Is this the year they might make a playoff run? What teams are favored to take it all this year? Is this #1 draft pick for the Leafs going to make a difference like some other #1's have recently? Mc David was last year, right?

When I was working shifts or a shut down my work clothes weren't even brought into the mud room until time to throw them in the wash. More chemical smells than body odor. Then the company agreed to do all the outer wear laundry at the plant for guys in our department. Many families reported that rashes and all manner of ailments and allergies of family members suddenly stopped. That was something that was a good that management begrudgingly agreed to. We wore 100% wool underwear winter and summer for both the severe cold and severe heat. How does this new stuff hold up to the heat? It should work both ways. If you younger guys are still working and are exposed to chemicals and designated substances, including diesel fuel Rick, especially with young children, think about an old second machine for your work clothes. I know it sounds silly at first but think about it. I have been out of the loop so long some companies may launder work wear for you guys.

Rick, stay away from those squats and leg presses, I wish I did 30 years ago. 500 and 720, yep 8 plates, look at me now, me strong like Bull smart like Cow, now me no walk so good, me no walk some days at all. I would kill to go stream or river fishing with you guys. Leg curls and leg extensions where you know your motion is controlled and secure. Light weight and high reps. No need for squats and leg presses. Most teams won't let their players do them anymore. 1 wrong move laterally and that ACL will snap like a tight rubber band, especially with a suspect ligament. With that stretched ACL the MCL is at risk, I'm surprised it\s OK, usually the MCL goes first. Working out will do you good right now. It's the best thing you can do actually. Get those endorphins pumping. We are going to the Pumpkin Festival In Waterford tomorrow, I'll take the phone with me. The kids play the HS school game during the fair, neat time to play. Your kids would love that Festival. something for every age. Bouncy castle to Rock and Roll bands, plus fall football!!!!!!

As long as you deliver it to them they will take it, maybe. The Diabetes folks wanted me to take pics of certain items and email them, you want it or you don't, we were cleaning out 62 years worth of stuff during one of the worse winters in years, kinda busy. We filled a huge dumpster with many thousands of dollars of stuff and paid to dump it. Some gifts we gave them were still in sealed boxes unopened. Found no less than 5 VCR rewinders, 5! 1 for each VCR. 3 Filter Queen Vacuum cleaners that went for 700 bucks way back in the 70's. They weighed 75 pounds each at least, no one wants those old beasts. Many relatives and friends wanted stuff but wanted it delivered too. Uncle Johnny has a truck, Uncle Johnny is old and uses a cane sometimes honey. If I had have known then what I know now I would have put the house up for sale in spring and left it sit that winter. Then I know we could have helped many families in need, what a waste, it still weighs on me.

Thanks guys, now I know. I know there is a big difference between commercial and residential. My younger brother started his apprenticeship at 17 with his then future father in law. They did mostly new residential during the booms then repair calls in between. I called him "tin whacker" drove him nuts. That guy can still take a piece of tin, left and right snips a 2X4 and a hammer and turn it into Art. A pal still is working and he is the guy that climbs onto the roof of a Shoppers Drug Mart. You guys probably know him, lives on 56 HWY south of Binbrook and has a cottage near me.

Trying to watch the Jays and the Cats at the same time while talking on the phone with my buddy doing the same. I have the cottage to myself as my lady is working a late shift. So here I sit eating a piece of Bday cake all by my lonesome. Poor me, I have it made really. I just posted on a thread how much I paid for insurance on a year old Vette before I was married and buddy and myself stated talking about the price of potatoes in 79'. Thinking back this was the cost of stuff then. Remember Big Cliff? A brand new 3 bedroom, single garage, finished basement, all clay brick on a 60X120 foot lot was $52,900.00 in Caledonia. interest rate was 11.9% A 1976 L-88 Vette was $7200.00 A 1975 Chrysler Cordoba with pure Corinthian leather was $3200.00 Insurance for the Vette and Chrysler was $1000.00, the Vette was $850.00 alone A movie was 3 bucks to get in T bone was $1.99 a pound 2 1/4 Chicken all white meat dinners at Swiss Chalet was less than 10 bucks A bacon, ham and egg, homefries and toast/coffee was 99 cents at the plant canteen A fancy steak dinner at the Aquarium or Martins Steak House in Hamilton, Wine and Cognac included was 30 bucks for 2 A good expensive Italian wool 3 piece suit from Marvin Caplin's was $125.00 If you went to a Hotel for a beer that didn't sell food and didn't have a date you sat on the Mens side If you wanted to eat something it was a pickled Egg or a Horse (you know what) and they were 15 cents each pulled out of the jar by hand from a guy named Branko a beer there was 15 cents a glass or $1.25 a bottle rent before I bought the house was $299.00 a month in a new highrise, indoor pool, gym, tennis court, sundeck and underground parking. Rock Lobster by The B-52's was a big hit Double knit Safari suits were the rage Disco was dying (thank God) I went from Accounting to training as an Operations front line Foreman that year and my salary went up from 12 grand a year to 22Ka year. I thought I won the Lottario of which 1st prize was an entire $100,000.00, enough to retire for life. I have no idea why I posted this other than I'm feeling older.

To put things in perspective I just turned 23 and bought a 1977 L-88 Corvette Stingray in 1978. I paid $850.00 a year for insurance. I was only making around $1000.00 a month though. And that was good deal then as I wasn't yet 25 but back then I think the pre 25 year old higher premiums only applied to women drivers.

Hi Tom, what's the "R" stand for in HVACR. I'm out of the HVAC® loop. I hear you when you talk about getting parts. I bought a pricy gas fireplace 16 years back from Majestic. Of course as soon as I needed the first replacement part after the warranty was up I'm told Majestic is out of business. Prices of the fan kit nearly doubled. Knock on wood the fan (twice) was the only issue ever with the unit other than things you would expect like thermocouples. Changed 1 in 16 years, not bad.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. What do pay per kid? I use my nieces and nephews but they want more $$, little bas@!^^*)'s.

Yep. if it has wheels or an engine on it insurance has become ridiculous. Especially off road toys. A buddy was just talking about 700 a year for a brand new snow machine.

Exactly Dan. Come to think about it a tenant broke the latch for a furnace because he didn't know how to properly remove a filter and I had to repair it on my dime. I had a service contract with an HVAC guy, if my tenant authorized 100 bucks or anything for a service call I would have a problem with it.

Crappieperchhunter, man if you wear the same underwear unwashed for months how would you know if it smelled?

I was a landlord, I don't want my tenants calling in any service people on my behalf. It is the landlords responsibility not yours Huzz. If something like a furnace didn't function, and that's important in the winter for sure, I left a list of service providers if for some reason the tenants couldn't reach me. Not everyone had cell phones back then. So call the landlord now and ask him for a list of service people to call if you can't get a hold of him/her during an emergency only. With todays Hi-Efficiency gas furnaces there are so many safety interlocks someone without technical experience is just guessing. It can be anything from a plugged vent to a dirty thermopile. Yea Lucas, an easy fix for you HVAC guys. I don't want my tenants touching anything they don't own, especially a gas appliance.

I expect better. We can't be the atypical Canuck and just shrug our shoulders and wait for the next election. I know the MPP from London had pressure put on him by the group of Aylmer District Stakeholders as the article states as well as pressure from individual Lake Erie anglers from the Long Point area to do something. Because I read about this info on another site weeks ago and it was suggested to call your MPP. This forum has more than enough members to lobby too. Call your local MPP and ask the same question, where's my 70 million? I did and so can you.

I think Taro is more of a Pike/Walleye/Bass guy. I didn't even know he guided for Musky, I shopped around for a few months as it was a 60th B Day gift from my wife. I must have reviewed every Musky charter in Ont. I would spend my money on the best Musky guy in Ontario and some argue in Canada and in my opinion that's Columby. I caught 3 that day and he was disappointed because there wasn't anything big, big to me was anything around 40 and that's all I cared about. You get what you pay for.

Call me when you have a chance Rick and I will call you back on the free LD line. When you are ready to talk. I have been where you are unfortunately.Times like this put the real important things in life into perspective.