[Nords]

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Originally Posted by RustyShackleford You really got me thinking about getting a front-loader, but I looked at Sears' site on the basic $599 EnergyStar 3.1 cu-ft front-loader, and the reviews were just atrocious. And this on Sears' site no less.

Yep, we went through several cycles of attraction/repulsion before we found a good used one on our local Craigslist. If it helps, it's a Kenmore Energy-Star 417.43042300. It probably has crappy reviews too but it's worked flawlessly for us.

I guess the best approach is to avoid buying bleeding-edge technology, and perhaps to consider buying used from someone who's had theirs in storage or who is upgrading to bleeding-edge. Or maybe buy a clearance as they're bringing in the latest bleeding-edge models.

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Originally Posted by RustyShackleford Speaking of which, I been thinking about subs a lot, reading this book "Shadow Divers", and a NOVA on the same subject called "Hitler's Lost Sub". Fascinating stuff. Scary as hell.

Hey, thanks, I just added that to my library list. I'd read about those guys but I didn't realize the whole story had been put together. Totally believable. And I'm qualified SCUBA, but those mixed-gas cold-water guys are totally nuts.

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Originally Posted by RustyShackleford Although I guess a modern US submarine feels a lot safer than in WWII.

Wouldn't know about that. When I look at the equipment on the USS BOWFIN (commissioned 1943) I'm always surprised by how much of it is still in use today. The LOS ANGELES class actually has fewer watertight compartments and a smaller percentage of reserve buoyancy than most of its predecessors, despite being able to go twice as deep as a WWII boat. In the "old" days you used to combat flooding and try to stop it. Now you just emergency blow to the surface and worry about it there. If you don't make it to the surface then you can stop worrying.

I guess the design philosophy is that if the systems are reliable enough (and if the crew reacts fast enough) then there's no need for all this "excess" margin of safety. I think those design philosophers should be given an opportunity to sit onboard during shock testing (depth charging), and then we'll see how they feel about the meaning of the word "excess"...