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Originally posted by JohnOAS

Doing a conversion based on the current exchange rate (0.7567) and the less variable liters to gallons in Sydney, Australia, we're paying an average of around US$3.37 per gallon. (Based on AUS$1.20 per liter, to use sensible units).

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Sent - 10/24/2006 : 05:44:59
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Mattins Wilson.
Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Dearest one ,

Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you. I got your name and contact from our country chambers of industry (internet department).
I prayed over it and selected your name among other names due to its esteeming nature and the recommendations given to me as a reputable and trust worthy person that I can do business with and by the recommendation , I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business .

I am Mattins Wilson the only son of late Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wilson. My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan , the economic capital of Ivory coast, my father was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings on a business trip .

My mother died when I was a baby and since then my father took me so special. Before the death of my father on october 2004 in a private hospital here in Abidjan he secretly called me on his bed side and told me that he has the sum of Ten million,five hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD ($10,500,000.00) left in fixed suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Abidjan ,that he used my name as his only Son for the next of Kin in depositing of the fund. He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that he was poisoned by his business associates.
That I should seek for a foreign partner in a country of my choice where i will transfer this money and use it for investment purpose.
Dear, I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
(1) To provide a bank account into which this money
would be transferred to.
(2) To serve as a guardian of this fund.
(3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your
country to further my education and to secure a resident permit in your country.

Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15%
of the total sum as compensation for your effort/
input after the successful transfer of this fund into
your nominated account overseas.

Furthermore, you indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within fourteen (14) days you signify interest to assist me. Anticipating to hear from you soon.

Thanks and God bless.

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Originally posted by JohnOAS

...we're paying an average of around US$3.37 per gallon.

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While fuel prices are high, I for some reason find the weekly hikes more annoying. We're expected to believe these price trends are anything but a chance to screw people too lazy/ignorant to fill up before the weekend. There's a regular-as-clockwork 10% premium for filling up on the weekend. I'm sure this phenomenon is widespread.



My weekly usage is typically a little more than a tankfull, so I fill the car and a 10 litre can on a Monday/Tuesday, whether I desperately need it or not. It probably only saves me $100 or so a year, but better in my pocket than theirs.

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Originally posted by filthy

I have a new walking cane.

At first blush, this is less than an earth-shattering event, but it has suddenly caused me a problem.

You see, I've walked with a cane off and on since the early ‘70s and as might be expected, I have a fair number of canes of several types. I have cheap canes that are not suitable -- too flimsy, T-handles that I dislike, a couple of homemade sticks that I like but are not as good as they could be, and a sword cane that is excellent for concealing the toad-stabber, but pure merde for a support cane. If fact, the best cane I have is one that was given me by the VA some 30 years ago. It has a shepherd's crook handle which I prefer in that I can hang it in a back pocket and free up both hands, and it is good and stout. This last is important because for the last eight or nine, or so years, I have come to lean very heavily on my stick. Thus, it is the stick that I use almost exclusively.

I consider metal canes to be garbage and don't have one.

Well, after some three decades of abuse, that loyal old cane is looking awfully funky. It is as beat and battered as it's owner and so, a couple of weeks ago, I started looking for a new one. And found a beauty!

It has a shaft that is about 1 1/8 inches in diameter and is made out of hickory. The crook is quite large and tapers sharply at the end. I ordered it from a place called Cane Masters, which turns out to be a martial arts outfit. They represented it as a “street” cane, which I thought was rather like my old VA stick, except a bit more rugged. Silly me -- it's a freakin' combat cane!

And a damned expensive one to be so close to the bottom of their line.

But what a lovely piece of wood it is. Then grain is smooth and distinct, and bi-colored from having some heart wood in it. It is worth every dime, and here's the problem: I can never seem to leave well enough alone. That stick is so pretty that I decided to give it a gunstock finish, no stain. A lot of work, hand-rubbed gunstock finishes….

It's coming along nicely. I've got the sealer coats on and am starting the finish coats, done literally by hand and not applied with a rag. It is really starting to show a deep and beautiful luster, and my hands smell pleasantly of tung oil.

And just this morning, it occurred to me: after a couple weeks of constant use, it will begin to take on the first appearances of a working cane and before the year is out, it too, will begin to look like it‘s been through a riot following use in a hockey game.

What to do? I can't stop the finish now; it's going too well. Is this to be a dress-up stick and a wall-hanger between times? That won't work -- I never dress up anymore.

Did I mention that it was quite expensive? It was, you know.

And yes, I fear I am an idiot….

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Please explain what makes that cane a "combat cane." Is a 12-gauge built in?

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Originally posted by HalfMooner

Ah, thanks. That does look like a formatable weapon. Have you considered putting a urethane finish on it? That's pretty tough stuff.

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Originally posted by Dave W.

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Originally posted by JohnOAS


My weekly usage is typically a little more than a tankfull, so I fill the car and a 10 litre can on a Monday/Tuesday, whether I desperately need it or not. It probably only saves me $100 or so a year, but better in my pocket than theirs.

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Huh. Well, my commute is such that I fill my tank every three days or so, but I hardly drive my car at all on the weekends.

Hey, doesn't that data show that you should have filled up every Tuesday, instead of Monday?

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Originally posted by filthy

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Please explain what makes that cane a "combat cane." Is a 12-gauge built in?

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It has to do with the diameter (strength) and the end of the crook. It comes to something of a point, useful for inflicting great pain upon those who offend you. Being a martial arts sort of thing, which I know next to nothing about, I assume there is some strenuous footwork and shouting involved. The Cane Masters link shows more detail.

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Originally posted by JohnOAS

Some bokken (wooden swords) are beautifully made, even if it is their destiny to become bruised and battered. They're also a formidable weapon even without a blade.

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Originally posted by JohnOAS

Different places play the game slightly differently I find.

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