8-Ball Corner Pocket...

Once again I was kinda not impressed with what everyone did for their randomness assignment. More than half the class didn't even attempt anything. Now, look, mine was fucking lame... I won't lie, I did it right before class. I had no idea what to do with "pocket" and "apple." Other than put an apple in my pocket, which is stupid. So I printed out a bunch of different typefaces and fonts in different colors of the word "pocket" and glued them to an apple. I know, uninspired and trite, but building a tank is a long and arduous endeavor! Doing all sorts of work to a vehicle takes up a lot of time (especially if you enjoy it) - like time that you should devote to other things! So anyway, I had that stupid "Pocket Apple" and I brought a bag of apples to share with the class - but I didn't have enough money that I can spend $10+ on apples that I'm going to just give away! So I just brought one bag figuring that not everybody would want one anyway... but then I didn't speak up so I didn't get to explain myself, so I just looked insane saying "It's a Pocket Apple." (which amused me.)

So even though I didn't get to use the apples for my randomness assignment - they ended up being put to good use! Pat and I convinced a ((n) on duty!) police officer to drive over the apples with his lights and sirens going, haha! I said "I know, it's bizzare..." and he replied: "Yeah, sure, I'll do it" (followed by a chuckle). The best part of the whole thing was that he was on the sidewalk guarding the burnt down condos and people were walking by when he did this - and we had him do it twice!

I have to remember to make Pat upload the video to the web. When I do, I'll post a link right here.

P.S. : I have received more Tank pictures. I will post them and subsequent explanations soon, including a good story involving fire, gas tanks, and a crispy hand!

Why This? Why Now?

So, what if I DIDN'T HAVE TO REBUILD THE JEEP FROM THE FUCKING GROUND UP??? We'll never know because that's exactly what needs to be done - since pretty much the entire floor is rusted through!!!! In a word: AWESOME. So we start working on the Jeep and decide that in order to truly build an indestructible killing machine, structural integrity is key - so we start taking up the carpet in order to weld a nice steel bar internal roll cage - and discover that the carpet is the only thing holding the floor together in several places, on both sides of the front seats - further exploration yields the same results. "Fucking rednecks are laughing about this," I keep thinking to myself. Sheet metal is expensive as hell, about $20 for a 2x2ft piece. At that rate it'll cost about $100 just for the front floor... Not happening.




This is what most of the "floor" looked like right after the carpet was pulled up.





After a lot of hammering, cutting and grinding, we found that the only solid metal on the fucking thing was the frame - after cleaning up and removing all the rusted, frail metal - there was more ground visible than floor by far! In the end I said "Fuck it!" and stripped the entire interior, including the side molding. After all, tanks don't have carpet!

WHAT IF THE IRS DIDN'T LOSE MY REFUND CHECK?

Well, I'll never know - because they did.

So... not only did that happen - but I also had some minor hang-ups on the Jeep-Tank conversion project itself. I took a bunch of pictures before the project got really underway about a week and a half ago, and wouldn't you know it! - that damn camera walked out on me until last night when it magically reappeared! So here finally are the pictures I've been talking about for a few blogs now:















So this is my blank canvas, so to speak... A 1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport, 4x4, 2 door, Automatic Transmission, 4.0 High Output Inline 6 Cylinder Engine, Power Nothing, over 203,000 miles. While it has clearly seen better days - it is a very reliable daily driver, the body and paint are decent for being 13 years old and having the miles, the 4 wheel drive works well and I paid $650 cash for this thing. By the way, the steel wheels are of course not factory - I purchased them @ Goodwill for $40, the paint is brand new and high quality. The tires that came with the truck when I bought it were dry-rotted and pretty much bald, I bought new Off-Road A/T Goodyear Wranglers with road hazard package ~$400, ouch! I know, but they are very nice and will be replaced for free in the event of any flats. The interior is dank, dusty, dirty, decaying, decrepit, and in places downright disgusting. It smells like musty rednecks and gasoline (the latter of which being because the gas tank has a hole in it at about 3/4 up the side of the tank! Thanks for letting me know rednecks!). So this is my canvas and I will address some of the things that have been done/are going to be to it in the next blog.

Here are some photos of someone's Cherokee that originally served as an initial source of inspiration. As you can see it's definitely been built to go off-roading, that piping all around it is an external roll cage which is designed to keep the vehicle from being crushed and body panels being destroyed in the event of a roll-over. I really want one for my Jeep, we are kicking around the idea of doing both an internal and an external roll cage - which would make this thing damn near indestructible. I also really like his custom spare tire placement, mine is currently located inside the vehicle and obscures my rearview on the driver's side.

There is a

Pocket on my mirror.

The Word Is...

"Pocket"

What if I built a Tank?

Well, dude... we just don't know. But we will soon.

WHAT IF's:

What if I get a grant to build this stupid thing?

What if I get more money back on my tax return than I expect (to dump into this project)?

What if I end up driving through the post-apocalyptic desert world fighting people for fuel? (And more importantly: Where will I find football shoulder pads for armor?)

What if I end up designing some new vehicle armor that ends up getting me contracted to build for the US Army (or, a foreign army)?

What if I blasted political propaganda through the loudspeakers and showed subsequent visuals on the TV screens mounted in the windows and as a result I ended up creating a new political party? (WARNING: YOU DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.)

What if I build this thing and get harassed by the police more than I already do? (I bet I will!)

What if I go a rampage through the city upon completion of the project? (Or were you already thinking this!??!)

What if you help me build this? (Donations/workers and accepted/appreciated!)

What if I asked you what else a tank could benefit from having? (Suggestions welcome!)

What if someone gave me a shitload of money for a really nice, powerful winch so I could tear down trees and buildings? (You know you want to! ~$800'll do it!)

What if I painted it something ridiculous like: neon pink, purple, yellow and pink polka dots, or like some HELLO KITTY (ies) on all the sides? - next to the gun ports, of course.

What if this tank (which is built on a '95 Jeep Cherokee, which is owned by Chrysler - for those who don't know) design was so awesome that it saved Chrysler or GM liked it so much they bought it out from under them - and I got rich in the process?

What if I traveled around the country in the tank?

What if I traveled around the world in it?

What if I was thrown in prison because they thought I was doing something terrorist-related?

What if I go to sleep now and try to finish this tomorrow?

7 By 7 - They Came from the Sky...

7th Class meeting response:

Yeah, so I got there late (sorry!) and I walked in hear the class discussing Plato's Republic. Which was interesting - but I might have come in just a minute or two too late because I could tell there were two points being made and they were not reiterated - so I was somewhat lost to what the points from the original argument(s) were pertaining.

After we discussed Plato we went on to talk about class projects. Once again, I am disappointed in the creativity of this class - Beth said no one seems enthusiastic about doing their final projects. This is not entirely true - I for one cannot wait to begin mine. I would have already started if it weren't for two factors: weather, and money. Firstly, I can't get any painting done when it's freezing (or close to it outside) - I have a few friends who can attest to this. Secondly, I am waiting for my goddamn tax return for the small amount of capital I'm going to need - which was supposed to already be here by now! Now, this also wouldn't be a big deal - but I'm broke as a joke because of bills and rent - lame. I actually just got off the phone with the friend of mine who's going to be a major source of inspiration and motivation for this project: he just informed me that he has just acquired a light bar, lights and more scrap metal. So, quite the contrary - I can't wait to get this show on the road!

Pictures forthcoming.

"Plato's Republic"

A response:

Dear Glaucon, what say we stand here all day and use circular logic to confuse and mislead each other, then drag out the explainations and details until we both agree on each others points, yes?

True.
Very True.
Yes.

I am all for classic literature, I swear it! I like the cave analogy, it works and it's "very true." I agree with their many points about the governors and the State and find their subtle sarcastic comments about politicians' intelligence, "true," and amusing.

However... I also find many of their arguments boring, circular, unreasonable and almost pointless. Don't misunderstand, I think philosophy is important and I would like it gain more of a foothold in today's stupid fucking society. I know this won't happen because people are trained to be "L-moding" (using their left brain - the authoritative and puntual side; i.e.; the boring side) all day long. It's not their fault, necessairly, blame major corporations and media mogels who try to brainwash and control people with advertising and dead-end jobs.

Actually, now that I write this - I see it - we need philosophy, every once and a while we have to stop and think, to smell the roses, if you will. We need to ponder what we are, where we came from, what the future holds, what more can be done, etc... - this is what makes us human: if we can't do this... I think we'll die.