Tag: life

THE VIEW FROM ST. CHARLES

JUNE 21, 2025

VOLUME 65

POLITICALLY INCORRECT, CENTER-RIGHT VIEWPOINTS FROM AN UNAPOLOGETIC PATRIOT

CORPORATIONS CHASING DOLLARS IS NOT GOOD FOR EVERYONE. CHOICES ARE DIMINISHED.

I am writing this from a much different point of reference than my usual material. As my readers know, I have been fixated on national politics for a very long time. But my real passion is anything with wheels and an internal combustion engine. Aircraft have wheels so they also fall into my category of intense interest. I recently sold my 1943 Dodge Weapons Carrier. This vehicle had the original drivetrain, and it all worked like a Swiss watch after 82 years. (I guess nowadays you could also use Japanese watch) 

The basis of this article is that a truck or car manufactured in 2025 is probably unlikely to be operable 82 years from now. There are a lot of reasons for that, but basically, they are far too complex, with operating systems never intended to last 82 years. My Dodge had simple, analog ignition system, that would still work after the unlikely event of an E bomb attack. No digital components, all analog and purely mechanical. You could repair it with simple tools, in some remote location. 

I also own a 2007 Chevy Suburban, and there is a reason for owning an 18year old truck.  New Suburbans have a litany of issues, a number of them which render the vehicle inoperable. In an effort to make them more fuel efficient, Chevrolet installed direct fuel injection which requires very high fuel pressure. The fuel pump is very prone to failure. When it fails, the truck will not roll and has to be dragged onto the tow truck with special slide plates. But that’s not the end of the story. The fuel pump is buried below the intake manifold and is expensive to replace as you might imagine. Some of these failures are happening very early into ownership of a brand-new truck. Beware, this is happening to a lot of new GM products with V8 engines. 

Another issue with late model GM trucks is the cylinder deactivation system which automatically turns off four of the cylinders under light load to conserve fuel. My 2007 has this feature. Sounds like a great idea, and when working properly is seamless, you aren’t aware you’re only running on four cylinders at 70 mph on the level freeway.  Here’s the problem, it can cause valve lifter failure. GM has faced numerous class action lawsuits over this problem. Replacing valve lifters is expensive unless you’re a skilled mechanic with a large assortment of tools. I have the oil changed in my truck every 3,000 miles, keep the filters clean, and don’t abuse the engine. My truck has 153,000 miles on the clock and “knock on wood” have not experienced a problem. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly apprehensive.

Ford trucks and cars are experiencing problems of different types, but just as frustrating. The new F150 Hybrids are a nightmare of mechanical and electrical problems. They are on the list of 15 vehicles that will suffer significant mechanical failures within the first 40,000 miles. If you have a high end F150 and submerge the taillights while launching your boat, it could cost you $3,000.00 for new lights. They just happen to be part of computer system. Try dropping your laptop in the water and see how well if works afterwards. This begs the question; why would Ford put such an integral component to the vehicle’s operation in a totally vulnerable location? 

Virtually every Jeep product currently manufactured by Chrysler/Stellantis, is on the list of 15 Vehicles to avoid. This includes engine and transmission failures to suspension problems in the Jeep Rubicons. Despite the spin from the company managers, the quality of the Chrysler cars is terrible, and isn’t getting better fast. When you watch the video, they are betting big on EV’s which is suicidal. In my opinion, expecting European executives to understand the American market is a huge mistake. 

The geniuses in the auto industry keep chasing the so-called perfect vehicle that will satisfy every whim, and in my opinion, most car buyers want a car that gets reasonable fuel milage, is comfortable to drive while offering reasonable safety features. It also has to be reliable; few people can afford big repair bills while simultaneously making astronomical payments plus insurance. Make no mistake, insurance premiums are based on how costly it is to repair a complex machine. As for me personally, I prefer knobs and buttons over touch screens in the middle of the dash. Knobs and buttons are tactile; you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to adjust the heater or air conditioner. GPS is great but give me old school controls. 

Most of all, give Americans a choice of a good basic automobile, at a good price, that is not going to require a full-time mechanic to keep all of the do dabs and what nots operating. I don’t know a single person that is salivating over self-driving cars. I know several people that should actually own one, their driving is atrocious. But that’s another topic for another article. Likewise, most people I know don’t think electric cars are a good idea unless you’re on the golf course or living in Seizure World. 

Bottom line here. I watch a lot of car shows where guys search out old cars located in crazy locations, drag them out in the sunlight, and a few hours later they are running and driving after sitting for 35 years. That my friends is a testament to the quality and engineering that was present in the auto industry many years ago. They made cars that the common man could drive and maintain for years with simple tools and basic knowledge. I’m afraid those days will never come back. We are saddled with complex digitally controlled machines that sometime even the factory trained techs can’t repair. 

Look for Steel Pencil to start writing more diverse content and less political stuff. It’s hard to compete with Donald Trump dominating the daily news scene. He doesn’t leave much room for political opinion guys like me. With Mr. Trump at the helm, it’s non stop action and I love it. I have complete confidence in his decisions and actions. That makes it possible for me to pay more attention to Vice Grip Garage. 

Give yourself a gift of happiness behind the wheel, drive and old car. Better yet, buy one and travel back in time to a better place. The old cars are not fast, don’t stop well, but life moved at a much slower pace back then. They are the time machines for real. Happy trails. 

VERITAS VINCIT   ~   LIVE FREE OR DIE

 

 

THE VIEW FROM ST. CHARLES

APRIL 5, 2025

VOLUME 64

FEELING GRATEFUL TODAY

I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the past. I have a very active life in the present. I have a friend that literally lives in the past. When you sit and talk with him, he has dozens of pictures on his phone from his days as a young man working as a construction carpenter. I avoid getting into conversations with him, so I don’t have to see his pictures for the 50th time. He’s a nice enough guy but damn he’s boring. All old guys like to reminisce about how things used to be, but you have to find new people to tell your stories to. You’ve obviously heard the saying; “The older I get, the better I was”.

That said, sometimes something triggers my mind that takes me back. That happened this morning when I was reading a news article about Tina Louise. She was the glamour girl on the TV sitcom “Gilligan’s Island”. Wow, her life as a child was a sad story. By the way, not to make you feel really old, but she just celebrated her 91st birthday. 

It caused me to reflect on my own childhood, which by the way was unquestionably the best years of my life. That’s how it should be. Your childhood should be the best years of your life. Your body is brand new, everything works great, you can run as fast as you can for as far as you can, rest ten minutes and do it again. The best part is there is no residual pain for the next three days. You lay your tired little body down in bed, go to sleep immediately, and don’t wake up until sunrise. You didn’t have to get up and pee three times.

Every single day of my life while living in my parents’ home (with the rare exception of my mom being ill) I woke up to the smell of breakfast cooking and coffee brewing. How great is that. I got dressed went to the kitchen and mom had four or five menu items I could choose from. During the school year she would help me get ready, give me a hug and kiss, and send me on my way. She just made it impossible for me to have a bad attitude, while filling me with gratitude. I loved and adored my mom.

I rarely saw my dad in the mornings, he had already left for work. My special time with my dad came later in the day. I would walk up to the intersection about a block north of our house and wait for him. He would pull over and stop, I would climb onto the running board of the car, he would put his arm around me to keep me from falling off. When we got to the house, he would open his lunch box and give me a Hostess cupcake he saved for me. Just a simple little ritual that created a cherished memory.

My mom had an established dinner hour (called supper back then). It wasn’t optional. It happened the same time every day except Sunday. You were expected to be there, your face and hands washed. It as a serious event. Talking was kept to a minimum. Fun and laughter were reserved for after supper. If you acted out during supper, you were seriously reprimanded. 

Holidays were celebrated with vigor in the family home. My father was blue collar worker, with a modest income, and my mom was a homemaker. So, my parents obviously didn’t have a large disposable income. That didn’t stop them from creating really fun holiday events. We would get together with aunts, uncles, and cousins. the ladies would cook up some great food, the men made homemade ice cream, and we played until we were exhausted.

Summer vacations were always on a river or lake. My dad was an avid fisherman, and my mom would cook up his daily catch. Of course, the trips to and from in my dad’s 1930’s and 1940’s cars were always and adventure as well. One terribly stormy night coming home from the lake, our 1937 Plymouth quit running as we came into a small town. My dad nursed it to a garage and got it repaired. While it was being repaired, a tornado came very close to the town. The truck and auto repair shop was in a tin covered building. My mom got all of us kids and we sat under a semi-truck inside the garage until the storm passed. The wind, rain and hail pounding down on that tin building was terrifying.

Kids today have dozens of electronic devices available to them for entertainment. We had TV and radio. We didn’t have a TV until I was nine years old. The only thing on it that I wanted to see was the western movies on Sunday afternoon. We actually interacted as a family during the evening hours, talking and playing games. Working on hobby projects, doing jig saw puzzles. Simple stuff, but fun. Summertime on the front porch drinking iced tea and listening to my dad’s stories about his early years we heard countless times but somehow never got old.

Both of my parents have been gone for a long time now. I don’t think I conveyed the message very well of how much I appreciated what they did for me. As a matter of fact, I know I didn’t, and I regret that. If you’re fortunate enough to have a living parent or two, and they provided you with a happy childhood, and supported your endeavors no matter how crazy, let them know you appreciate it and love them for it.

VERITAS VINCIT   ~   LIVE FREE OR DIE

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER  

   

STEEL PENCIL NEWS REVIEW

MARCH 30, 2025

VOLUME 104

POLITICALLY INCORRECT, CENTER-RIGHT PERSPECTIVE ON CURRENT NEW EVENTS.

I’M NOT SURE DEMOCRATS HAVE MENTAL AUTONOMY REGARDING MUCH OF ANYTHING.

If you don’t have the mental strength to make your own personal decisions, the Democrat party is the place where you need to be. Over the years it has been obvious to me and others, these people operate as a monolith. Tucker Carlson once put together a montage of the legacy media talking heads all parroting identical phraseology to describe some event that involved the so-called right-wing folks. 

It is a proven fact that the deep state actors give the media folks their marching orders when it comes to reporting their version of the news. Hence, they all use the same words, the same phrases. That came to light when Twitter was owned by Jack Dorsey. Parag Agawal was, and likely still is a total left-wing hack. FBI and CIA actors were deeply embedded in Twitter. That fact was exposed by Matt Taibbi.

This sad mindset is being spoon fed to youngsters as early as elementary school. Teachers are a super high percentage of lefties, freshly indoctrinated by colleges and university professors. So, when you enroll your child in public schools, they are teaching them a lot more that reading, writing and arithmetic. This is exactly where the monolithic mindset begins.

CLIMATE CHANGE, THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE

The favorite “psyops” tools in the left’s toolbox are those “things” that are impossible to verify. They cite works by climate scientists that you never heard of, telling us that we are certainly doomed if we don’t toe the line to avert this certainty. They start teaching this to kids that think everything that comes out of the teacher’s mouth is pure gospel. By the time the kid graduates from high school they are certified climate nuts. Now you have a double-edged sword, you have youngsters that are totally indoctrinated climate believers and because they are young, are willing to defend that position with violence if deemed necessary, like destroying property and hurting innocent people. Because they have been indoctrinated, they feel whatever action they take is reasonable and acceptable. 

This is actually brilliant planning on the part of the left. This indoctrinated group of people are willing to hand over their hard-earned dollars, and their freedom to support a cause that is sketchy at best. 

The climate change issue is a very useful tool for taxation, taking away your freedom of choice regarding how you manage your businesses, your homes, and what vehicles you choose to own. It is just another form of ammunition to destroy the Constitution and empower the socialist movement.  

HIDING SCHOOL ACTIONS FROM PARENTS REGARDING THEIR CHILDREN

Another important psyop tool public schools use, is convincing young students that parents are their common enemy. This is pretty easy because parents represent authority, and the school is able to put forth the idea that maybe that authority is misdirected or out of date. The goal of the public schools is put a wedge between the student and their parents, so they create a “follower”. They are in essence creating a future Democrat voter. The government under the Joe Biden openly directed the DOJ and FBI to intimidate the parents that dared to question what the schools were doing. Do you need any more proof than that? That however was a huge tactical mistake by the left, it got them thrown out of power. (among other dumbass ideas)

THE PERFECT MAN AND WOMAN

The left seems to know what the perfect man and woman are supposed to be yet can’t tell you what a woman is. They have no problem telling you what the perfect man should be and how he should act. Apparently, the left thinks a man should be more like the woman that they aren’t able to describe. So, one can only assume that the left’s idea is that both men and women should have one testicle each. What else can you surmise? The leftist women are getting more masculine and leftist men are getting more feminine. 

Through DEI they are trying to create women that do things that require body strength only a man can possess. If I am passed out in my burning house, I sure as hell don’t want a 120 lb firefighter trying to carry me out. Likewise, thinking that a 150 lb. female cop can arrest a 230 lb. male that is high on meth is really stupid. Even stun guns don’t phase those guys. All your going to accomplish is getting another seriously injured or dead cop.

The left has been engaged in social engineering for as long as I can remember, and it ain’t working. They have trying to convince us that really fat people are fine, it’s OK that the person is eating themselves to death, they are beautiful. No, they’re not, they’re pitiful. They need medical intervention to save their lives. 

They are trying to tell you Trans people are great, you should celebrate them. No, trans people have a mental illness and can be very dangerous to themselves and others. Trans women can be very dangerous around biological women. If you don’t believe me, you ain’t paying attention.

The left seems to think they know how to fix all of the social ills. Even though they were a major contributor to most of them, they don’t know jack shit, and need to shut up, and stop practicing identity politics. They only make things worse and everybody is catching on. 

DRIVING THE POINT HOME

2008 Elon Musk unveiled his first electric car. It was unbelievably innovative. It was what the climate nuts had been praying for. Zero emissions and long-range batteries. All of that and it was very high quality. It didn’t look wonky, and it was fast. Really fast. Elon was the climate savior. 

Then he starts Space X and does more incredible things, like launching his own satellites and creating Starlink so you can have internet most anywhere. The left thinks they found Superman. 

Then the unthinkable happened, he revealed that he is a die hard patriot and loves the USA a lot. Buys Twitter and kicks out all of the lefty lunatics to restore free speech. Another arrow to the heart of the left. But the absolute worst happened when the made a pact with the devil, Donald Trump, and started dismantling the magic money machine the left had been building for years. 

Now the left is desperately looking for a big chunk of kryptonite to kill their once upon a time Superman. So, you see, it never was about climate, it was always about power. Trump and Musk are stripping away their power and it’s “makinemcrazy”.

Thank you so much for reading Steel Pencil. I appreciate all of you. Stay vigil, keep searching out the truth, and speaking out about the lies.

VERITAS VINCIT ~ LIVE FREE OR DIE