The screen on the Kindle is bad enough, I can't imagine reading on the iPhone.
Inara: You don't have to die alone. Mal: Everybody dies alone.
'Out Of Gas'
Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."
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megan walker - Mar 04, 2009 8:33:38 am PST #9278 of 25501
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Jon B. - Mar 04, 2009 8:51:55 am PST #9279 of 25501
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
Car question:
I was an idiot. I left my car running all night long in the driveway, around 12 hours or so. This morning, I went out and it was STILL running (thank goodness), although the gas gauge reads as far below empty as I've ever seen it.
I need to use the car this evening. Is it safe to start it up (assuming it starts) and drive it straight to the gas station? Should I first fill it with a gallon from a gas can? Might I have done any damage? This would be a good excuse to call CarTalk, but as I need it this evening, there's no time.
Theodosia - Mar 04, 2009 9:01:35 am PST #9280 of 25501
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"
So far as I know, running out of gas doesn't hurt a car. At least, it seems a rite of passage with each car I've had. Rather than risk running out of gas in traffic, I'd walk over to the gas station on Highland and bring home a gallon/pint/liter/whatever.
dcp - Mar 04, 2009 9:05:24 am PST #9281 of 25501
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
So long as it didn't overheat, I don't expect any harm was done. A gallon of gas before heading to the gas station seems like a good precaution.
tommyrot - Mar 04, 2009 9:08:13 am PST #9282 of 25501
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Jon, does your car have a "low fuel" light? If so, and if the light isn't on, you probably can drive another 20-40 miles.
flea - Mar 04, 2009 9:22:50 am PST #9283 of 25501
information libertarian
People probably do drive for 12 hours in a row sometimes. Possibly wearing a diaper to assassinate their astronaut love rivals, but that's a digression.
I think you should call Car Talk retroactively, though. I mean, what a feather for your cap!
Kathy A - Mar 04, 2009 9:22:51 am PST #9284 of 25501
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
The gauge or other sensors are definitely not the most reliable way to judge if you have enough gas or not. This week's Top Gear ep had them driving from Basel, Switzerland to Blackpool on one tank of gas each, and all of them had run out (according to their gauges) an hour outside of Blackpool, but at least two of them made it to the illuminations with no problems.
Jon B. - Mar 04, 2009 9:33:14 am PST #9285 of 25501
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
Thanks guys. I sent an email to my friend David who works for Cartalk and he replied that I should be fine. The worst that could happen is it won't start. As long as I haven't been burning oil, which I'm pretty sure I haven't (the oil light wasn't on).
meara - Mar 04, 2009 9:41:55 am PST #9286 of 25501
...OK, am I the only one wondering HOW you did that??
...and how your car didn't get STOLEN?
tommyrot - Mar 04, 2009 9:45:38 am PST #9287 of 25501
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
On a very old car, the battery could go dead from leaving your car idle that long. "Very old" as in older than, say, 1963. Cars switched from generators to alternators around that time. Generators generally couldn't do any charging if the engine was idling. Alternators produce electricity at any engine speed.