A 454 is most definitely a rebuildable engine. Standard procedure is to bore the cylinders over and use larger pistons. You can bore a 454 (big block) up to .060" over. Therefore you should be able to get atleast two rebuilds before you need to find a new block. Don't take my word for it, Google 454 rebuild kit, or big block rebuild kit, or how to rebuild a 454... I find it hard to imagine a situation with a passenger vehicle where it would need more than 2 or 3 rebuilds during it's useful lifespan (taxi cab perhaps?), and I suspect that's why engines like this do not have easily removable sleeves. My understanding as to one reason large diesels have sleeves is that it becomes possible to service only one cylinder. As in you can replace one piston, rings and sleeve, while keeping all the cylinders the same size. It also makes it possible to do said repair without removing the engine from the truck (no machining necessary)

The biggest problem with this scheme is that given the choice most people wouldn't invest it. The entire reason for social security is to assure that everyone has some form of a safety net. We have no faith in the ability of the masses to plan for retirement, therefore we take the money from them and do it for them. As far as not giving them the option of spending the money, but letting them manage it however they seem fit... Hrmm... First off we have this program in effect because they are not smart enough to save. This sort of disqualifies them from managing their own 401k IMO. And it seems suspicious to me also. Safety nets are not something you gamble on, they are the sort of thing that should have a *guaranteed* return. A lot of people experienced extreme losses with 401k's during the whole Worldcom and Enron escapades. I don't call that a great safety net. On the other hand if I had a vested interest in the stock market, or heck even owned a company that sold stock I'm sure I'd be all for it.

While the big block wont EVER make it to a million, I've seen an awful AWFUL lot of diesels fail to make 500k. When it comes time to rebuild the engine the big block can be rebuilt several times over for what the Diesel will Cost. (atleast in parts and machining costs) Diesels commonly give twice the service life of their gas equivalents, anything more than that while not unheard of, is not to be expected either. (some gas engines go 400k too) Don't get me wrong, I would trade my Vortec 454 for a diesel in a heartbeat. But my motivation would be for the improved gas mileage. ESPECIALLY when Towing. The only reason I own Big block is for pulling a 10,000# trailer, and it does this VERY VERY well. But it get's about 10mpg when towing (15.5 when not) A Diesel would probably get 18mpg when towing and i could run homemade bio diesel. My tow vehicle with a big block is inexpensive, dependable, easy to work on, and gets pretty poor gas mileage....

An easy prediction. If they are wrong we are not having the wool pulled over our eyes by a conspiring govt. If they are right then said govt wouldn't dare release the incriminating evidence!

Because it shows them using this intelligence in the wild, in a natural setting, presumably without human prompting. It's probably not surprising at all to those who study them, but science tends to demand evidence....

So let me get this straight. While thousands of artists got ripped off, the vast majority only sold a single album or two. Therefore they are only getting screwed for a couple bucks eack, perhaps $10 at the most... And besides they were shitty bands and sucked. Therefore it's perfectly Ok???? nobody got hurt, nobody suffered more than the loss of a combo meal, so it's no problem??

Are you sure about that? It's my understanding that the transition from the harsh existence of subsistence farming to an industrial one isn't exactly *always* a step up. Sure the carrot on the end of the stick is a whole lot better, but *often* the average worker usually makes out worse. Some improve their life greatly and are held up as a shining example. They are not the norm though.

Good grief! As a U.S. citizen let me take a few moments of my valuable time to set you straight, you are most certainly confused. We have the finest healthcare system in the WORLD. And those of you so unfortunate to suffer with UCH Hate it. You hate the long lines, the refusal of service, and not having any say in who your doctor is. I pity the fact that you must regularly come to our country for lifesaving measures such as heart surgery. I truly feel sorry for the oppressive system you suffer under. Don't worry though, I am sure that American insurance companies are working hard to deliver you the freedom you so desperately need, perhaps some day you will be fortunate to enjoy the same level of care we do.

I wonder if he has anything to hide.... Err I mean, what are the chances he's doing something he shouldn't? I'm sure since he's the one promoting the concept he would be happy to waive his privacy at this very moment... What are his politics and associations? Does he have any unusual religious beleifs? The potential for irony is great here. Does he masturbate? There are things about all of us that are for the most part normal and common, but that we all choose to keep private, and that our enemies could use against us. Implicit in the statement "if you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear" is that the party doing to judging is trustworthy. I for my part do not wish to extend this sort of trust to a Govt or a Corporation EVER.

So either you don't cook much, or you are not from the U.S..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooking_weights_and_measures I just take it for granted having learned to cook from a recipe (from scratch) at a very early age. So yeah, of course a cup, it's practically the base measurement of everything in cooking!!! But now that I've got a kid on the way perhaps I ought to find metric versions of my cookbooks...

Also knowing several lawyers, I've been told that there is a pretty strong bias against those who would defend themselves (atleast around here, I'm assuming the legal "culture" extends elsewhere). And they say they would NEVER do it (even though they are competent enough to do it) The judges usually don't look favorably on it, and even if they did there is is a stigma attached to the notion. I believe it's seen as a sort of fringe/idiot/nutjob sort of move. In other words to win a case defending yourself you would have to do an outstanding job whereas the hired lawyer might be successful with average work.

Yes, but it's still a fairly common practice to have a "seal able" locker sealed upon entry. Many countries will allow arms to remain on a small boat(if locked up), so I suspect a large ship would have no problem. To put it another way, already many small boats do lug around boxes of weapons (and often the countries express their disdain too!) The logistics of arming ships and transporting those arms is not really the problem. Using those arms effectively is. To effectively defend against these pirates is going to take more than a few long arms in the hands of your average mariner. First of all the ships would need to be aware that they are being boarded... Many of them run small crews and maintain poor watches (boats have autopilot you know.) You want arms? Well then you will need additional employees trained and ready to use those arms effectively. I'm sure the bean counters have looked into it and said "it's more cost effective at the moment to appease the pirates"

They could but for many the cost and inconvenience would probably not be worth it. It's a very VERY highly traveled area, the vast majority of ships pass through just fine. So while the risk of pirates is real, from the point of view of a shipping company and insurance company it's acceptable. Slowing down to convoy, or taking a different route would reduce profits.

You are making and assumption that they would have been operating at a deficit. While this is the case for some companies I doubt it is for all. I was laid off from a company that had very good years the previous two years, and was looking at a slow ho-humm, yet still profitable year this year. Cuts were made because in the current climate, to do otherwise seemed "unthinkable" The remaining workers knowing that the economy is "really bad" don't gripe (while at work) and work REALLY hard. In many cases effectively doing the same work previously done by two workers. And none of them are really enjoying it either :) The recession gives some companies a nice excuse to purge some of their higher paid workers, and if it's necessary, replace them with similarly skilled workers willing to work for much less.

I think it's marked funny because many slashdotters thought it was a joke.... Whoosh....