Random and not so Random thoughts

You don't have to have an iPhone to listen to podcasts.  You don't even need an iPod.

All you need is a way to download them (I use iTunes of course), and a way to listen. 

Driving back to Pullman from Moscow today, I found myself on a gravel road with the iPhone set to random play.

And it nearly made me cry. 

It was in the year 2010, 3 and a half years after I purchased the reliable little Outback Sport that I finally reached the first major service.  I've been slacking on my updates, so here's 3 months of work.

• 5 January 2010 (30626) 30000 mile service.  Replace spark plugs, air filter, oil change, replace brake fluid, replace coolant.  Services performed by Imported Car Services
• 19 March 2010 (32081) Swapped winter tires for summer all-seasons.  Services performed by Heritage Wheel and Tire
• 8 April 2010 (33744) Oil Change.  Services performed by Imported Car Services
• 16 July 2010 (37370) Tire change. Replaced OE Bridgestones with Yokohama AVID All season rubber.
• 16 July 2010 (37373) Oil Change.  Self service, Mobile 1 synthetic
• 14 Sep 2010 (40326) Replaced windshield wipers, replaced the little clip that was no longer holding the seal retainer behind the driver's side rear door against the rear window weather seal.  The clip had been failing since the car was 6 months old, I should have spent the $2 to replace it long ago.
• 22 Nov 2010 (41492) Switch to winter tires, replace failing OEM battery (4 years, not bad for OEM) 

My iPhone is not unlike most, suited to me and my personal inclinations.  I've downloaded a few apps, some that I've found, some that were recommended to me

In 2008, the continual stream of little things stopped in May, when the car went off to paint.

In 2009, the car eventually came back, but the work was essentially "get the car back together before winter."

It's now 2010.  A new year begins. 

• 16 January 2010 (83476): Replaced rear boot lid and bumper emblems with new copies; the originals were scratched and looked grotty.  Installed bulbs in reverse lamps, tested and verified to work.  I still don't know why the DPO had to remove them.  Replaced top-to-body clip that holds the corner of the roof to the body behind the door; previous one had broken due to metal fatigue.
• 18 January 2010 (83500): Drove by ICS and thought perhaps my gearbox noise was due to low oil levels.  Carl put her on the lift and checked, sure enough, low.  We ended up putting nearly a quart in, so now I know I need to be more vigilant about that.  I suspect it's a steady leak; the last time I checked the oil was nearly three years ago, though much of that time was spent sitting during the painting process.
• 25 February 2010 (83636): Replaced shifter knob. This was something I had planned on doing "eventually," but I had to bring up the timeline when somebody stole the badge out of the original.
• 8 May 2010 (83100): Replace front hub bearings, front wheel nut studs, front wheel nuts.
• 16 May 2010 (84131): Replaced windshield piller seals (again).  Hopefully these will last longer than 6 months.
• 21 May 2010 (84133): Renew rear hubs, replace rear wheel studs and nuts (service performed by ICS)
• 24 May 2010: transport spare engine from Elma to Pullman for prep to install in car.  Replacement seals and gaskets for engine and gearbox ordered.
• 31 May 2010: swap engine.  Alternator, distributor, thermostat elbow, carburetors transfered from old engine.  Renew side cover gaskets, oil pan gasket.  Replace transmission front and rear oil seals.  New spark plugs, new oil, new oil filter.
• 11 May 2010: Replace damaged wheel
• 17 Jun 2010: remove SU carbs, ship to Brooklands British to diagnose and repair high idle problems.  Problem turned out to be a botched throttle shaft bushing.
• 26 Jun 2010: reinstall SU carbs, give rough tune.
• 28 Jun 2010: Proper tune, performed by Dave Tharp, former owner and operator of ICS.
• 31 July 2010 (85179): adjust tappets.  Doing so involves turning engine by hand.  Discovered #4 spark plug wire has a rusty connector to the plug.  Replaced plug wires.  new NGK plugs installed in engine when installed at end of May look good.