OT: Friday Afternoon "Whatcha Doing?" Open Posbang Thread

Submitted by profitgoblue on

Its that time again, time for the weekly "Whatcha Doing" open thread.  Let us all know what you're up to this afternoon and this weekend.  Anything exciting going on out there?

Me, I'm actually getting some real work done today, earning my below-market-value salary.  That and trying to buy a new car because we've outgrown our old one. 

I love negotiating with car dealerships but I feel bad for the salespeople because they clearly have absolutely no say in the sale/purchase.  Everything goes up the ladder through the sales manager and the salesperson has to deal with all the upsetment when I hear their bullsh-t counteroffer price.  Buying a new car is one of the most ridiculous processes.  Just give me a price that you cannot go below and I'll take it.  Stop trying to outsmart me because I negotiate for a f-ing living.

Anyone purchased a new Honda Pilot recently?  If so, what did you pay for it?

So that's my afternoon.  Pretty exciting, eh?  To spicen things up, posbang me.  <bending over>

 

JeepinBen

May 18th, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^

it's really not that simple anymore. auto manufacturing is really global. I have yet to find a good site that breaks down what dollars go where, but for example the Buick Regal. that's a gm car designed and built in germany. where do those dollars go? is that "better" than a car designed in germany, built in the us by a german company? like the new vw passat? I really don't know the answer.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

May 18th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^

True.  Everyone employs people all over and (as I'm learning in this internship) purchases third-party services and has operations in places all over.  Literally all over.  However, I look at it like this.  If one of the Big 3 went under, regardless of what they spend in other countries, it would not be Germany's or Japan's economy that suffers.  And if Honda went under, it would not be Detroit's economy that suffers.

JeepinBen

May 18th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^

Again, you're right, but to a matter of degrees. Right now according to their site, Toyota employs 365,000 people in the US between plants, engineering and design studios, dealerships, etc.

http://www.toyota.com/about/our_business/our_numbers/?srchid=K18873_p3139224383

I can't find a number for GM (probably much, much bigger) but to say it wouldn't affect us if they went under is an understatement.

Keep in mind I work for an auto supplier in Illinois and 2 of the 3 clients I deal with are 2 of the big 3. All 3 are making great vehicles right now, and any buyer who doesn't think they're quality is wrong. I'm just saying that it's not as simple as it was 30 years ago.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

May 18th, 2012 at 3:27 PM ^

Not saying it wouldn't affect us.  In fact if for some cataclysmic reason Toyota disappeared overnight, the short-term would be bad news for the whole industry.  It's too interconnected not to have a major ripple effect.  But those 365,000 jobs are spread around the country.  Everyone would feel it a little bit.  If it were a Big 3 automaker cataclysmically going under instead, there would be the same type of effect everywhere they employ people, but it would be a nuclear disaster for Detroit and the region.  So - and this is where my own biased opinion comes in - I have a lot more loyalty to the jobs and economy and state of being of Detroit than I do to a Toyota plant in California or a Honda engineering facility in Indiana.

I have had people give me funny looks when I explain this attitude, but they start to get it when I ask if they've ever been to Atlanta and tried to order a Pepsi.

Big_H

May 18th, 2012 at 1:35 PM ^

Just got done drinking a liter of chocolate milk and read Friday Recruitin' now all I need is a good Posbang and half of my day will be complete

GOD I LOVE FRIDAY

Nosce Te Ipsum

May 18th, 2012 at 1:41 PM ^

Hiking at 5 today followed by going out to dinner then the bars. Denver Zoo tomorrow and Watercourse for dinner. Sunday i'm spending the day in Rocky Mountain National Park. My life is better than your vacation.

profitgoblue

May 18th, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^

Oh man, Rocky Mountain National Park is tremendous.  My sister lives out there in the foothills west of Denver and got married up in Estes Park.  It is so beautiful there.  I did a little fly fishing while we were there and the streams were cleaner than my drinking water.  Woke up one morning with a heard of Elk outside our cabin.  Pretty darn cool.

 

bacon1431

May 18th, 2012 at 1:54 PM ^

Reading articles on the new series "Before Watchmen" coming out and comtemplating if I will read them. Moore wanted nothing to do with them, and I totally agree. But I am a sucker for origin/prequel stories, so my curiousity might get the better of me.

Also going to start reading "The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro" by Joe McGinniss when I get home from work tonight.

gopoohgo

May 18th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^

Meh blow it off.

I hear that there are wonderful opportunities to practice medicine in Southeast Asia.  Some guy named Tim Tebow performed a circumcision without a medical license!

Oaktown Wolverine

May 18th, 2012 at 1:40 PM ^

I am writing a diary on how the Freep screwed over Rich Rodriguez, and how iconic former Michigan players are wrong to question the direction of the team from 2008 - 2010.

Hope you read it!

Section 1

Kermits Blue Key

May 18th, 2012 at 1:41 PM ^

Office til 4, then celebrating my friend's birthday on the rooftop of the Lynnwood Grill (Raleigh).  The rest of the weekend will be wedding planning with my fiancee.  Good luck to you all of you doctors-in-the-making.

Voodlezang

May 18th, 2012 at 1:41 PM ^

I took a half-day vacation to drink beer, eat fish (actual fish, perverts), and eat more fish (for the perverts). I have to prep for a friend's bachelor party in Columbus tomorrow, can't wait to reasonably discuss why Michigan is better than Ohio to the locals.

ScruffyTheJanitor

May 18th, 2012 at 1:42 PM ^

Reading MGOBLOG, getting ready to work out,  Trying to figure out how to get out of the meeting I am currently in with out getting any work that needs to be done this afternoon.

Bombadil

May 18th, 2012 at 1:44 PM ^

Trying to design phosphourus removal in some aerated lagoons and going to pick up the mgodog from the sitter.

Maybe listen to "Shutdown Fullback" on the drive home.

Nick Sparks

May 18th, 2012 at 1:44 PM ^

This thread reminds me of the days when the point system actually used to mean something!

And I'm just trying to work as little as possible, looking forward to a friend's spring bbq later... thank you for pretending you care

hvsiii

May 18th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^

I just finished up developing a bunch of instructor reference sheets and slides for a class I am helping create for a government agency.  Ahhh, the life of a consultant.

WMUgoblue

May 18th, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^

Waiting to get off work at 5 then heading to the Town Pump for drinks and the Tigers game. A much needed friday night of baseball and beer.

Flying Dutchman

May 18th, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^

Got my boy alone for the evening while his mama is off at a baby shower.  Gonna have some beers/milks on the porch and do stuff that's fun for a 1 year old.

Hemlock Philosopher

May 18th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^

I taught both my kids to do that at about one. Now they're three and five and do it all the time. It's awesome, but I believe in taking a drink every time someone cheers you, so it's a quick way to finish a few beers. I bet they're just thinking, "wanna see daddy get tanked?" 

Benoit Balls

May 18th, 2012 at 1:56 PM ^

a sick 10 month old, while nursing a upper respiratory infection of my own. I think the fever has me hallucinating. And of course, I am supposed to be escaping to my lakeside retreat tomorrow for some debauchery with old friends. Im hoping the TheraFlu/DayQuil speedball I've mixed up does the job