Ford c4 transmission kickdown linkage

2001 Ford F-750

2023.05.29 22:44 Individual_Lies 2001 Ford F-750

2001 Ford F750 No shift light Allison Transmission Check Trans light No blown fuses, getting fire but not to TCM. Wtf?
Alright so the customer has had no issues with this truck until this happened. Batteries were dead so he replaced them, and ever since the automatic shifter isn't lighting up and it won't start. He can jump the starter and it'll fire right up, but it won't start at the ignition.
I've traced wires and checked fuses but can't find anything obviously wrong. Anyone else run into this issue?
submitted by Individual_Lies to Diesel [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 20:21 brane-stormer ford fusion transmission

hi. driving a 2003 Ford fusion and since yesterday the gears feel kind of weird. they do switch and seem to lock properly but after around 3.000 rpm it seems like they don't transmit. like it is half in neutral. no strong strange sounds just the sound of engine building up without the force being transmitted. sorry if my description is poor..
submitted by brane-stormer to autorepair [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 19:36 drkrab2010 question regarding transmission

hi everyone, i have a 2017 ford explorer xlt. with around 75k miles . Sometimes when I drive the car slow (around 10-15 miles per hour) I hear a slight thud and the car shakes a bit. like a slight shudder.
This shudder hasn’t ever happened at high speeds ever, just when i am pulling up somewhere i slow down the car and sometimes feel the thud
is this a transmission problem? does anyone know what it is.
Thankyou
submitted by drkrab2010 to AskMechanics [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 17:58 Alejandro665 Ford Premium care - Extended warranty- is it worth it?

Ford Premium care - Extended warranty- is it worth it?
My wife and I bought a 2022 ER w/ 5900 miles on it. It was being driven by the owner of the dealership. We are going to pick it up on Wednesday and we’re given the option to add Ford Premium care for $2800.
We are leaning towards getting it due to the uncertainty around a early model year vehicle and potentially expensive components. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thoughts, opinions?
submitted by Alejandro665 to F150Lightning [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 17:38 SushuniTaco Worth it?

Worth it?
Is this worth $600 + whatever shipping is? Could I build it for cheaper?
submitted by SushuniTaco to crawling [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 16:59 theshaneler I bought brand new 23 Lariat ER at 7k UNDER MSRP (and 1% below advertised interest rate)

I bought brand new 23 Lariat ER at 7k UNDER MSRP (and 1% below advertised interest rate)
This was not my order, prior to building my own I checked what was available. Found this at Sun City Ford in the Medicine Hat Alberta, only an hour drive from me! It's not the colour we would have picked, and it's missing the max tow package, but we couldn't pass up the price. They still have 3 lariat SR trucks on the website listed under MSRP, call and ask for Leo, let him know Shane sent you!
submitted by theshaneler to F150Lightning [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 16:03 khoafraelich789 2023 Mazda CX-30 Review: Above-and-beyond the mainstream choices

2023 Mazda CX-30 Review: Above-and-beyond the mainstream choices
Mazda's midcompact crossover aims high and hits the mark
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https://preview.redd.it/qbto2p7rmq1b1.png?width=1062&format=png&auto=webp&s=d4fbc6b2cfab8968ba1c1eb4be4daaf88fa30806
Pros: Fun to drive; wonderful interior; standard all-wheel drive; class-leading turbo power
Cons: Average fuel economy from base engine; expensive relative to mainstream competitors; smartphone integration is only so-so
Mazda’s ongoing push to be an upscale brand is perhaps best exemplified by one of its least-expensive models. The 2023 CX-30 goes above and beyond the typical mainstream midcompact with a segment-busting turbocharged engine, standard all-wheel drive and an interior that belongs in a class above most of Mazda’s traditional competitors.
​
As impressive as it may be in that context, Mazda’s advantages come at a price — literally. It’s expensive for the segment and a bit shy when it comes to passenger and cargo space; a Kia Seltos or VW Taos would serve you better in that regard. And although it’s based on the traditionally athletic and nimble Mazda3, its AWD and taller profile add mass higher than where you’d ideally want it. Gone are the days of Mazda chasing lap times with its turbocharged Mazdaspeed models, but the CX-30 is nonetheless an excellent driving companion with near-luxury bona fides to boot.
​
What's new for 2023?
In short, not much. The standard 2.5-liter engine was massaged slightly, freeing up an additional 5 horsepower and simultaneously improving fuel economy, albeit slightly. Mazda also made some updates to the CX-30’s safety systems and crash structure that should improve performance for rear passengers. The only bad news is that Mazda quietly discontinued the base turbo trim, so you’ll have to spend a bit more to get that extra power for 2023.
​
What are the CX-30 interior and in-car technology like?
Like the Mazda3 with which it shares so much, the CX-30's cabin makes you go "wow" considering its price and the vehicles with which it competes. Whatever trim level you're considering, the key to this wow factor is how Mazda's current interior design scheme removes visual clutter by reducing switchgear and effectively hiding air vents and door handles. Lower trim levels are sadly no longer available with two-tone color treatments (we suppose most people just want plain-old black), but upper trims can still get white or black leather accented with reddish brown simulated leather trim. No matter the trim level, though, for a car in the $20,000-$35,000 range, CX-30 interior looks and feels special.
​
It's also of a high quality and quite functional. The steering wheel, which looks sensational, is an absolute treat to hold and has intelligently designed buttons/switches for the infotainment and cruise controls. There's considerable center console space, including a configurable under-armrest bin, and a decently sized forward bin for a smartphone.
​
Mazda's tech interface is a bit love-it-or-hate-it. The dashtop screen is large and easy to see. The knob that controls it is large, not unlike BMW's iDrive, and ergonomically placed on the center console. It's not a touchscreen, though, as Mazda engineers determined that hunting for touch-operating icons can be distracting. They're not wrong, and the higher-mounted screen is certainly easier to read at a glance. That said, there are a lot of people who don't not care for this setup and specifically prefer a touchscreen like the ones offered in all the Mazda's competitors. Specifically, the lack of a touchscreen can make it harder to select icons in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were designed to be controlled by touch. There's a reason the Mazda CX-50 now allows touch operation when using CarPlay and Android Auto, but that advancement unfortunately hasn't made it to the CX-30 yet.
​
How big is the CX-30?
Although it was originally an unusual size, the CX-30 now finds itself among a growing number of midcompact SUVs that slot in between subcompacts like the Hyundai Kona and compacts like Mazda's own CX-5. Others include the Ford Bronco Sport, Kia Seltos, and Volkswagen Taos. In terms of space, the CX-30 is the smallest of that group and is definitely the least family-friendly. Two tall passengers will be able to sit front-to-back on the passenger side, but not on the driver side. Fitting a rear-facing child seat in the middle will be a squeeze.
​
Cargo space with the rear seat raised is 20.2 cubic feet, which is only a bit better than subcompact models and considerably less than the midcompacts mentioned above. That number is virtually identical to the Mazda3 hatchback, but in our testing, we found the CX-30's extra height allowed it to swallow an additional suitcase (surprisingly, the Mazda3 sedan can carry more than them both). Although its suitcase count trailed its midcompact competitors, it was superior to a pair of small luxury models, the BMW X2 and Audi Q3. We could also fit a golf bag diagonally across the cargo area.
​
What are the CX-30 fuel economy and performance specs?
For 2023, every CX-30 comes with all-wheel drive, plus a six-speed automatic. There are then two choices of engine. Cars dubbed CX-30 2.5 S have a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four that produces 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. That's more than the base engines of most competitors, plus some of their engine upgrades. It now returns 26 miles per gallon city, 33 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined. Those figures remain low compared to other base engines, but again, the competition generally has less power.
​
As for the CX-30's upgrade engine, nothing in the segment can touch it. The turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four produces 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. It'll do 250 hp and 320 lb-ft if you feel like filling it with 93 octane. Fuel economy is basically the same as the base engine at 22/30/25 mpg.
​
What's the CX-30 like to drive?
If you want to feel what a car is doing through the steering wheel, throttle pedal and through the seat of your pants, the Mazda CX-30 is exactly the type of small crossover you're looking for. Its taller stature means it loses some of the agility provided by the lower Mazda3, but the primary control efforts and feedback are just as exceptional. When it comes to providing an engaging driving experience, no SUV comes remotely close in the CX-30's price range. There's even a case to be made that it provides more driving fun than a BMW X2.
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Along those lines, the available turbo engine is there to make the CX-30 feel luxurious and effortless, rather than burn rubber and set lap times like some turbocharged Mazdaspeed of old. On paper and in practice, none of its non-luxury competitors can touch it in a straight line – it obviously costs more, but it's the engine we'd certainly want.
​
Nevertheless, the base engine is still a peach. It's more powerful than most competitors, boasts terrific throttle response and is paired with one of the smartest transmissions around. It always knows exactly which of its six gears to select at any given time, and when Sport mode is selected, it quickly downshifts when braking into a corner like the sport-tuned transmissions of luxury brands do. It also doesn't clumsily hang onto revs when accelerating thereafter. As a bonus, the Premium trim adds paddle shifters then let you have some extra fun if you're so inclined.
​
What other Mazda CX-30 reviews can I read?
2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo First Drive A lifted, almost-hot hatch
The turbo engine was a new addition last year. It makes an already fun little SUV, even better, though certainly not to hot hatch levels.
​
2020 Mazda CX-30 Luggage Test Can it fit more than the Mazda3?
Taking an in-depth look at the CX-30's cargo capacity to see how much luggage it can fit inside and how that compares to the Mazda3 as well as other small crossovers. We also compared it to both the Mazda3 hatch and sedan with surprising results.
​
2020 Mazda CX-30 First Drive The middle way
Our first taste of the CX-30 features more in-depth information about its design and engineering.
​
What is the 2023 CX-30 price?
The base CX-30 2.5 S comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, adaptive cruise control, a full suite of accident avoidance tech (see Safety section below), cloth upholstery, two USB ports, an eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the Mazda Connect interface that includes an 8.8-inch display and center console controller.
​
From there, you have a choice of three "packages" that are pretty much what other brands refer to as trim levels. We think the Select is best place to start your CX-30 shopping as for an extra $2,300 you gain 18-inch wheels, blind-sport warning, proximity entry, dual-zone climate control, rear air vents, a rear armrest, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and leatherette upholstery versus the standard cloth. The Preferred, new Carbon Edition (pictured below) and Premium packages add further luxuries, most notably a heated power driver seat with memory (Preferred) and leather upholstery (Premium).
​
All new prices are below and include the $1,275 destination charge (add another $45 if you’re shopping in Alaska).
​
S: $24,225
S Select: $26,525
S Preferred: $29,495
S Carbon Edition: $30,565
S Premium: $32,775
Turbo Premium: $35,075
Turbo Premium Plus: $36,675
What are the CX-30 safety ratings and driver assistance features?
Every CX-30 comes with a comprehensive array of standard safety features beyond the usual airbags and stability aids. These include forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking (Smart Brake Support), lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver inattention warning system. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning are included on all but the base trim.
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Beyond their simple inclusion, these features are also among the best-executed on the market. Most appreciably, they aren't prone to false alarms or constantly beep at you like a scolding nanny.
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The government awarded the CX-30 a perfect five stars in every crash test even before the updates Mazda made for 2023. The Institute for Highway Safety named the CX-30 a Top Safety Pick. It received the best-possible ratings in all crash tests and for its front-crash prevention system (both for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents). Unusually, its base LED headlights got the best possible rating of "Good," while the curve-adaptive upgrade headlights found on the range-topping Premium (photographed above) actually got a "Poor" rating due to excessive glare. The CX-30 also received top marks for the ease of use of its child seat LATCH anchors.
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Source: Autoblog
submitted by khoafraelich789 to CarInformationNews [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 14:57 topless68 Looking for Some Carburetor Help

Looking for Some Carburetor Help
Hi, i'm doing some part replacement on my 68 Chevelle, one of them being the carburetor. I'm replacing a troublesome Holley double-pumper for a more streetable Edelbrock AVS2. I'm trying to figure out my linkages. I have a 700R4 automatic transmission. I'm looking at the manual but there isn't a clear diagram of how this should go. throttle cable, trans kickdown, return springs. I have purchased the edelbrock attachment for the 700r4 as well, but not sure if i actually need it with the cables i have...?
I've attached some photos to help.
edelbrock avs2 labelled. I'm sure throttle would go to B, trans to C maybe, but then no place for springs. current bolt on throttle cable doesn't fit in B
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old holley setup
https://preview.redd.it/vwsj97ma2u2b1.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0548582fce8add3fc8012c618d320c3c94b2371
throttle cable
trans cable
submitted by topless68 to musclecar [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 09:30 Brokestang197 S197 Transmission Help

Y'all,
I'm having an awful time sourcing a replacement transmission for my S197. I have an '07 GT with the 5-speed manual TR-3650. Trans blew up in September of last year and the car has sat in a friend's garage ever since, while we attempt to find a transmission. I blame the previous owner (naturally); so many red flags I should have caught.
Local junkyards have turned up nothing and I've struggled to find any rebuilt units online that aren't accompanied with a 1-star review. Ford obsoleted the transmission a few years ago. I can't be the only person who's needed a standard transmission for an '05-'09 in the past few years. Any suggestions?
I'd really appreciate any leads! I have to move across the country in a few months and I'm not sure what I'd do with a car that won't even go into gear.
submitted by Brokestang197 to Mustang [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 09:28 Seema-Jain John Deere 6120B 4WD Tractor Features & Specification

John Deere Tractor is a renowned name in the agricultural machinery industry, recognized worldwide for its innovative tractors that have transformed farming practices. With a rich history dating back to the 19th century, John Deere has established itself as a leading manufacturer of reliable, high-quality tractors that empower farmers to cultivate their land more efficiently and sustainably. Today in this article we are going to see about the Features and Specifications of John Deere one of the most powerful tractors in India i.e. John Deere 6120B 4WD Tractor.
About John Deere 6120B 4WD
The John Deere 6120B 4WD is a powerful tractor created to handle the demanding needs of modern farming. This 4-wheel drive tractor offers great power and economy due to its advanced features and capabilities. The John Deere 6120B also comes with AC Cabin. The tractor price is between 29.2 Lakhs to 30.45 Lakhs.
Features: The John Deere 6120 B is a powerful and versatile tractor that offers a range of features designed to enhance performance and productivity in farming operations. Here are some notable features of the John Deere 6120 B:
  1. Gearbox: The tractor is equipped with a 12 Forward + 4 Reverse gearbox, providing flexibility and ease of operation in different working conditions.
  2. Speed: The John Deere 6120 B boasts an impressive forward speed, enabling efficient and timely completion of farming tasks.
  3. Brakes: With oil-immersed disc brakes, the tractor ensures reliable and responsive braking, enhancing safety during operation.
  4. Power Steering: The smooth power steering of the John Deere 6120 B ensures effortless maneuverability, reducing operator fatigue and improving overall efficiency.
  5. Fuel Tank Capacity: The tractor features a large 220-liter fuel tank capacity, allowing for extended working hours without frequent refueling, enhancing productivity in the field.
  6. Lifting Capacity: With a robust lifting capacity of 3650 Kgf, the John Deere 6120 B can handle heavy loads and accommodate various implements, facilitating efficient operations in diverse farming tasks.
Overall, the John Deere 6120 B combines power, performance, and durability, making it an ideal choice for farmers seeking a reliable and efficient tractor for their agricultural needs.
Specification: No. Of Cylinder - 4
HP Category - 120 HP
PTO HP - 102
Fuel Pump - Electronically controlled fuel injection unit
Transmission Type - Synchromesh Transmission
Clutch - Dual
Gear Box - 12 Forward + 4 Reverse
Battery - 12 V 135 Ah
Alternator - 12 V 90 Amp
Forward Speed - 3.1- 30.9 kmph
Reverse Speed - 6.0 - 31.9 kmph
Brakes - Oil immersed Disc Brakes
Steering Type - Power
PTO Type - Independent 6 Spline/ 21 Spline
Engine Rated RPM - Dual Speed 540 RPM/ 1000 RPM
Fuel Tank Capacity - 220 liter
Total Weight - 4500 KG
Wheel Base - 2560 MM
Overall Length - 4410 MM
Overall Width - 2300 MM
Ground Clearance - 470 MM
Lifting Capacity - 3650 Kg
3-point Linkage type - Category- II, Automatic Depth and Draft Control
Wheel drive - 4 WD
Front Wheel - 14.9 X 24
Rear Wheel - 18.4 X 38
Warranty - 5000 Hours/ 5 Year
Conclusion The John Deere tractor 6120B 4WD is a powerful and reliable machine with advanced features like a 12 Forward + 4 Reverse gearbox, impressive forward speed, oil-immersed disc brakes, and smooth power steering. It has a large fuel tank capacity, robust lifting capacity, and a versatile 3-point linkage system. This tractor is an ideal choice for farmers seeking enhanced performance and productivity in modern farming. For more additional information about Tractor Videos, JCB Price, and Sonalika Tractor visit Khetigaadi.com
submitted by Seema-Jain to u/Seema-Jain [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 03:43 ButterscotchRemote10 1969 javelin engine swap

Planning on buying my grandmothers ‘69 javelin that currently has the little I6 and was wondering if a Ford 360FE could fit into the engine bay. I’ve got one I harvested out of a ‘75 f100 and was curious about a swap. Would have to rework the transmission tunnel as the C6 is a behemoth of a tranny but the 360FE shares a block with the 390FE and AMC did put a 390 in the Javelins.
submitted by ButterscotchRemote10 to amc [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 03:27 pulpindacu 2014 does focus transmission

Hi all, I am here with a question about the above car. So my ex, who is a very good hearted and hard working woman and has been driving around in junked Hyundai for several years, she was rowdy to buy a new car, so she ended up working real hard for a new car and in the end she chose a 2014 ford focus from a used car dealer. She has had the car no less than three weeks, and has transmission issues with the car. Has anyone experienced a fix that I could do for her so she doesn’t feel deflated and like all her hard work was a waste? I looked the car up and have seen many concerns about the transmission and realize does will not do anything for the people owning these cars. What is the best way to fix this issue? Thanks much to all that reply.
submitted by pulpindacu to Cartalk [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 03:08 PhiI-me-up Transmission fluid cooler inlet tube - part needed

Transmission fluid cooler inlet tube - part needed
Have to replace a bent tubing but can’t find the right part number / source to buy. All online shops say “not compatible” or part looks not right size. It’s on a 2002 Ford Ranger 3.0L automatic. Item#13 on the schematics.
Assuming it’s (F87Z-7C410-LA https://www.carid.com/ford-oe/automatic-transmission-oil-cooler-tube-mpn-f87z7c410la.html) ?
Or will a universal tubing kit also work?
submitted by PhiI-me-up to fordranger [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 02:22 dragonagitator Bellingham-Area Mechanics Master Post

Since it seems that no one can be bothered to search the sub for the word "mechanic" before making a new post, I searched it for you and summarized two years' worth of posts below.
TL;DR the recommendation is almost always "Rising Sun Motors" unless you've got an unusual vehicle or situation. Also, apparently XSrcing has spent the past couple years quietly helping poor people fix their cars for free/cheap, so everyone be sure to buy that guy a beer next time you see him.
2023-05-23 Body shops that work on 90s Hondas
2023-05-17 Where's my Subaru Mechanic?!
2023-05-15 Mechanic for an 89 Trooper
2023-05-10 Volvo Mechanic
2023-05-09 Subaru Mechanic
2023-05-04 Chuck's Midtown Motors?
2023-04-29 Anyone know of a good mechanic around here?
2023-04-19 Local mechanics
2023-04-19 Classic Car Mechanic
2023-04-17 Bellingham Automotive is SLIMEY and will steal from you. They tampered with my car then gave me a nasty attitude about it.
2023-04-08 Looking for a diesel mechanic for 97 e350 short bus
2023-03-23 Classic car mechanic
2023-03-17 Pro/Amateur mobile mechanic?
2023-02-27 A trustworthy mechanic?
2023-02-21 ISO mechanic for classic Chevy pickup
2023-02-15 good mechanics?
2023-02-15 mechanics that do free / cheap diagnosis in town ? (not talking check engine lights btw)
2023-02-03 Mechanic Recommendation
2023-02-02 Car Problems
2023-01-30 22re yota mechanic?
2023-01-12 Seeking mechanic recommendations for 10 year old ford work truck. Computer is dying and it needs a junkyard transplant.
2023-01-12 Transmission Mechanic?
2022-12-30 Mechanic recommendations?
2022-12-05 Are there ANY decent auto shops in this town?
2022-11-25 Jurachic Auto
2022-11-11 Suzuki mechanic near bham
2022-10-22 How do I find a good mechanic?
2022-09-27 Garage/Mechanic Recommendation to fit a tall (9-10ish ft) camper van?
2022-09-19 Best Affordable Mechanic in Bellingham
2022-09-15 Is there a car repair shop that takes payment plans in or around Bellingham?
2022-08-29 Mechanic/someone who can diagnose a transmission sound for free, trying to get to a wedding.
2022-08-16 Mechanic shops
2022-08-06 Honest affordable mechanic?
2022-08-02 Oil change for prius
2022-07-20 Any recommendations for a good mechanic to replace a catalytic converter?
2022-06-13 Respectful/honest mechanic?
2022-05-30 Old Chevy Truck 88' best mechanic.
2022-05-30 Trustworthy/not scammy mechanics in the area?
2022-05-19 Anyone have a recommendation on a good mechanic to replace brake pads on an older Subaru? Thanks!
2022-05-04 Looking for a good mechanic!
2022-04-09 Motorcycle mechanic
2022-02-09 Prius mechanic
2022-02-02 Mechanic recommendation
2022-02-02 Auto Repair
2022-02-02 Any mobile mechanics/someone to check out a car tomorrow?
2022-01-22 Mechanic Recommendation
2022-01-20 Need help checking out a used car
2022-01-16 Diverter for exhaust
2022-01-14 Mechanic Recommendations?
2022-01-02 Does anyone here know a mechanic that can come to my place? My car won’t start.
2021-12-21 Car broke down - need advice
2021-11-30 In desperate need of a mechanic
2021-11-28 Car Mechanic Open on Sunday
2021-11-17 Looking for mechanic for '83 Ford ranger
2021-11-12 Subie Mech
2021-11-05 Looking for a Volvo mechanic
2021-10-15 Recommendations for experienced Element mechanics?
2021-10-04 FIAT Mechanic?
2021-09-30 Toyota Service Mechanic
2021-09-19 Subaru owners of Bellingham!
2021-09-13 Seeking car repair recommendations
2021-09-10 Keith Cox Autobahn? Mechanic recommendation?
2021-08-31 Anywhere in town work on Lexus vehicles?
2021-08-11 Looking for Subaru mechanic
2021-07-09 Car maintenance
2021-06-01 Local mechanic shops
submitted by dragonagitator to Bellingham [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 02:01 mrclark121 The Science Behind Nootropic - Peptides & Proteins...

The Science Behind Nootropic - Peptides & Proteins...
Post Sponsor: Nootropic - SwissChem - Buy Best Quality Peptides, PCT, SARMS Online.
Discount Code: CHEMSEX10
FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY
------
Innumerable organic mechanisms depend on polypeptides and amino acid chains, which are essential components of living things. Investigating their structures, functions, and connections is necessary in order to comprehend the scientific principles guiding polypeptides, amino acid chains, and their interaction with cognitive enhancers.
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https://preview.redd.it/cqgtk6ydtn2b1.jpg?width=1835&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3dbee6e5e97eea4db5a5a6fa4cbcf447fa03277a
Peptides are little chains of amino acids, typically made up of 2 to 50 amino acid monomers. Amino acids are fundamental organic chemicals that go into the construction of proteins. Peptides play a variety of biological roles, whether they are naturally occurring or created.
Alternatively, larger and more complex particles made of a single or several amino acid chains are known as macromolecules of amino acids, or proteins. Peptide bonds are used to join the amino acids to form them. In their physical shape, proteins provide a variety of functional and architectural functions, including cell communication, transportation, and immune response.
Peptides and proteins function at the molecular level and are crucial to life's complex processes. Peptides and proteins take on their basic shape depending on how the amino acids are arranged. When the protein is in its tertiary form, which is its overall three-dimensional shape, this elementary form contorts into a precise three-dimensional configuration that includes secondary structures like alpha spirals and beta sheets. Proteins can occasionally take on a quaternary structure known as an association of several protein subunits.
​
https://preview.redd.it/h6eesep4un2b1.jpg?width=1106&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2eb08024a365040e48e0816ec79b5912777dd886
Diverse linkages, including hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic ties, electrostatic interactions, and disulfide links, are used to hold the intricate structures in place. The distinctive form of a protein is essential to its function because it enables the protein to connect with other particles precisely and selectively.
Peptides/Proteins and mental boosters: Brain optimizers, sometimes known as intellectual amplifiers or clever medications, are substances that can improve cognitive function, including memory, focus, and creativity. A number of brain enhancers directly interact with the peptides and proteins in grey matter, altering their vitality and function.
Alternately, specific cognitive enhancers may affect neurotransmitters, the amino acids or protein chains involved in nerve cell transmission. They can control how neurotransmitters are released, produced, or absorbed, which has an effect on mental ability.
Alternative substances can influence specific proteins involved in the growth of nerve cells and the adaptability of their connections, promoting the formation of new connections between neurons and enhancing cognitive abilities.
Additionally, amino acid chains themselves can be intellectual stimulants. For instance, the potential for mind-enhancing effects of particular amino acid chains known as neuron peptides has been studied.
​
https://preview.redd.it/bbku2wzeun2b1.jpg?width=289&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b70819315eb2a18136fe1f28f4225a3eeed916cc
"However, one must acknowledge that the field of cognitive enhancers is still developing, and the ways in which various materials work and how effective they are can vary. It is always advisable to speak with a doctor before using any cognitive-enhancing substances in order to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of doing so."
submitted by mrclark121 to NootropicsHQ [link] [comments]

2023.05.29 01:55 t8er100 Fun to drive, cheap cars, with good performance

Looking for new car with $6k
$6000 is really my limit although I may be able to go a slight bit higher on spending. I currently drive a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria. It is a very fun car to drive and I really don’t want to get rid of it, but I would really like something better on gas. Like I said before, I would like to try and stay below or at $6000.
What I’m looking for in a new car is: - Something more fuel efficient that a Crown Victoria (mine is 16 mpg City, 24 mpg Highway) - Something smaller than a Crown Victoria (212in Long, 77in Wide) - 4 Door - Sporty/Luxury - Automatic Transmission - Fast or at least decent speed
I know all of these together make it more difficult to find something so I am willing to disregard one of these if I really like the car (for example, I would consider a Volvo S60R even though it’s not fuel efficient). What I’ve been looking at recently and finding myself liking are all from 1995-2010. To get a sense of what I like, I’ve been looking at: - BMW 3 and 5 series - Infiniti Qs and Gs - Volvo S40s and S60s - Mitsubishi Lancers - Subaru Impreza WRXs - Any Lexus car.
BMW 325, 328, and 330is are what I’ve been trying to find recently but I haven’t had much luck and am trying to find something else now. Any suggestions with most of my criteria are very welcome. If you do have any suggestions than I thank you for your help.
submitted by t8er100 to whatcarshouldIbuy [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 23:56 bigironbitch What kind of leaks are these?

What kind of leaks are these?
(2011 Ford Focus SES, 2.0L Duratech DOHC, 149k mi) I was changing my oil yesterday and noticed a sooty, oil grime around my oil pan gasket near the bottom of the drive belts, and a different grime covering my transmission. There is no oil dripping from either my engine or the transmission.
Looking at the outside of both, it didn't seem like anything had critically failed, as nothing is dripping. There's just that oily, sooty grime (which wiped out easily with shop towels). Do you think I might have some blown gaskets, or could this be something else?
I was planning on buying a newer used car sometime in the next year anyways, so if I need to get rid of my Focus now before it blows up, then tell it to me straight.
submitted by bigironbitch to MechanicAdvice [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 23:07 QuirkyCabbage Transmission suddenly stopped working

I own a 2014 Ford Escape and today my car stopped driving and a message stating “transmission fault. Service now” came on the dash. There were zero warning signs until yesterday. I am somewhat ignorant about cars so I am trying to get a general idea what to expect before going to the mechanic and financially getting taken advantage of.
Yesterday, when I was driving home, the car started sounding like a wind up toy car. I initially thought it was power steering, but it the PS fluid was good. It was also raining yesterday so I thought maybe the belts were wet so I went on a short drive today. At first, there were no problems and was convinced it was due to the rain. Then, I was about 3 miles from my house and went on the highway. That is where the problems began. The car made a loud wind up toy car noise and was jerky. I instantly pulled in a gas station to stop and turn around. Then that is when the message came on the screen about transmission. On the drive home, I couldn’t go past 35 mph and it would keep slowing down. Putting my foot on the gas wouldn’t made a difference. I had to keep pulling over to turn off and on the car to keep it driving. Which also is something I never experienced with transmission previously. There were also a few times the rpm would go past 7 even without my foot on the pedal. At one stop sign, the car made a sound I can only describe as a cartoon breaking down sound.
The car did not overheat. I will also stress again, there were no warning signs. No sounds, smells, check engine lights, issues with shifting or driving, or problems of any sort. I never heard of transmission going instantly out, but it is acting too severe to be transmission fluid. I haven’t checked the transmission fluid yet, but I doubt it is that. There is also a recall on the 2014 Ford Escape’s transmission shifter cable bushing, but that description doesn’t match the issues I am experiencing.
Any idea what it could be?
submitted by QuirkyCabbage to CarRepair [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 22:04 Honest-Credit-1297 Melinda and the Little Green Men

Melinda and the Little Green Men
by Andrew Roller
Melinda and the Little Green Men
Table of Contents
Chapter One - A Sad End
Chapter Two - A Castle for a Queen
Chapter Three - Incommodious
Chapter Four - The Sewer Room
Chapter Five - The Teleport Threat
Chapter Six - Neverwhere
Chapter Seven - Permanent Perigee
Chapter Eight - Losers Welcome ( Especially )
Chapter Nine - Buried Alive
Chapter Ten - Gone Away
Chapter Eleven - Dead Broke
Chapter Twelve - Grave’s End
Chapter Thirteen - Audition
Chapter Fourteen - Heavenly Flush
Chapter Fifteen - Coffined
Chapter Sixteen - The Big Bang
Chapter Seventeen - A Sucky Day
Chapter Eighteen - Examination
Chapter Nineteen - Expelled
Chapter Twenty - Enslaved
Chapter Twenty-One - The Bugler
Chapter Twenty-Two - The Gates of Salvation
Chapter Twenty-Three - The Amateur Genius
Chapter Twenty-Four - Pooper’s Paradise
Chapter Twenty-Five - Eisegesis
Melinda and the Little Green Men
by Andrew Roller
Chapter One - A Sad End
It was their last day on earth. The two girls, playing in the field in their suburban neighborhood, didn’t know this. If Melinda and Emily were ever to return to earth, it wouldn’t be for a very long time.
Melinda was ten years old. I could say that she looked “striking”. Or I could use some other politically correct term. In fact, she was very lovely. Her lank, flaxen hair fell to her slim waist. A white string bikini clung to her svelte figure.
Emily was seven years old. Her short red hair fell to her shoulders. Stout, she resembled a girl version of Winnie-the-Pooh. Emily wore a one-piece floral print swimsuit. Both girls had on rubber flip-flops.
Emily was clever. Though she was only seven years old, she wore a red fireman’s hat with the number “21” printed on it. Emily hoped that her hat would fool people into believing that she was older, or even that she was a fireman.
On this bright sunny day, something flashed in the sky. Both girls saw the silvery disc as it caught the sunlight. Emily was quick to figure out what it was.
“It’s a flying saucer!” Emily said. Melinda, who was taller than Emily, watched it with her friend. The saucer sailed over the neighborhood. As it approached, the girls saw it clearly. It had a flat circular base, and a domed top. A line of porthole-like windows encircled the lower part of the dome. There was a front-facing windshield.
The saucer, and its shadow, skimmed over the field. The saucer’s shadow briefly engulfed the girls. Then the saucer passed over a treeline. It settled into tree-dotted scrubland. From that place came a sound of snapping tree limbs, and of brush being crushed. Silence followed.
“Let’s go!” Emily urged. Both girls wanted a closer look at the flying saucer. It was unimaginable that such an object could land in their neighborhood! The girls had no idea that they would soon be swept up in an ongoing galactic war. They rushed into the treeline. Then Melinda and Emily crept into the shady brush beyond.
The saucer was there. It stood on metal legs, hulking amid the surrounding trees. An electrical hum, like that put out by high tension wires, came softly from the saucer’s smooth hull.
An airlock opened in the side of the saucer. A stair-equipped gangplank descended. Then, as Melinda and Emily watched, a line of little green men came down the gangplank. The men were about as tall as the girls. They were carrying a pink worm. It was a big worm, as big as a little green man.
The men laid their worm down on the grass. The last men in the group had brought shovels. The shortest of the little green men was in charge of the men. Named Chirpley, he set several men to work digging a hole.
Emily crept forward. Melinda tried to stop her, but decided to accompany her. The little green men saw the girls. There was a mutual cry of surprise from both parties. The men stopped their digging. Emily asked what they were doing.
“We’re digging a grave,” Chirpley answered. He and the other men stood with solemn faces. Emily, who sometimes went fishing, said that it was odd to bury a worm. She only dug worms out of the earth.
Chirpley stood straighter. He, like his fellows, had a round head. Two green antennae stuck out of the top of his head. He was without clothing, except for a white loincloth that, being puffy and full, resembled diapers. Chirpley wore white gloves. On his small feet were big, rhinestone-studded cowboy boots.
“This is no ordinary worm!” Chirpley told the girls. “It’s our queen!”
“Except she’s dead now,” a second little green man said. He looked much like Chirpley, with a round head and antennae. He wore a loincloth, gloves, and cowboy boots.
“She was a very old queen,” a third little green man said.
“So, since she’s dead, we must bury her,” a fourth little green man said. There were, in all, a dozen of them.
“Stand aside!” Chirpley told the girls. It didn’t matter that the girls were already at a distance from the dead worm. Chirpley rarely missed a chance to look important. Even in front of little Earth girls.
The little green men dug their grave. Or, rather, a few of them did, while the others watched this with Melinda and Emily. Chirpley supervised.
The dead queen was buried. The little green men had just filled in her grave when someone, off in the trees, yelled,
“Attack!” Stones and handfuls of dirt flew from the treeline. Several little green men were hit by the stones. A stone banged off of Emily’s Fire hat. She and Melinda screamed. So did the little green men. The men ran back aboard their flying saucer and, as neighborhood boys whooped and hollered, and threw more dirt and stones, Melinda and Emily followed the men.
No sooner had the green men and the girls rushed into the saucer, than something came out of it. Two somethings, in fact. They were grotesque. Ghosts, they resembled white sheets torn by the wind from a clothesline.
The boys charged from the trees. They were attacking through the shady brush when the ghosts set upon them.
“OOOOOO!” the ghosts howled. The boys screamed in terror. They fled back into the trees, and into the field.
The saucer hummed more loudly. Its gangplank retracted. Just before the ship buttoned itself up, the ghosts zipped back inside of it. The saucer whisked into the sky. It disappeared beyond the clouds.
Within the saucer, Melinda and Emily cringed before the ghosts. These hung over them, looking horrid. The ghosts had blank, bulging eyes, and gaping mouths with fangs. They had scared the boys, and were now scaring the girls. To the little green men, they were damn annoying.
“Our spaceship’s haunted,” Gauss apologized. He was one of the men. He and several of his crewmates, though dressed like the others, also wore utility belts.
“But we got it at a discount,” a fellow crewman said. The green men stood with the girls on the saucer’s bridge. To one side was the closed airlock. To the right, and to the rear, the bridge opened onto other rooms.
The saucer was named “Regoob”. Compared to a military cruiser, it was a little ship. Yet Regoob was plenty roomy. Its many spaces held a number of unwanted passengers. But these occupants were mostly small, and furtive, unlike the two hovering ghosts.
One occupant was big. He was a worm, like the men’s dead queen. He slithered about in the saucer’s recesses. Except now. Curious about the girls, this worm peered from a shadowed corridor. Then, he did the one thing that he was known for, and named for. He farted.
“Farrrrrrrrt!” It was a big, smelly fart. Both girls clutched their little noses. The little green men did the same. The ghosts, who had been so hideously maleficent, fled. An embarrassed Fartley slipped away into the ship.
“Peeyou!” Emily cried. Melinda echoed her. The girls made for the airlock. That’s when they realized that Regoob was airborne. In fact, the little saucer was far beyond the Earth.
“We’d better go home,” Melinda said. Emily wasn’t so sure. The saucer’s pilot’s seat, before its dashboard and its windshield, struck her as inviting.
“Can I drive?” she asked. Since no one was, at the moment, controlling where the saucer went, she figured she might try.
That’s when Gauss saw the Moon approaching. It was approaching fast. He gave a cry of alarm. The other men, now seeing what he saw, gave panicked yells.
Emily jumped into the pilot’s chair. Grabbing the saucer’s yoke, she steered the ship clear of the Moon.
“Hooray!” the little green men yelled, with Melinda. Emily continued to fly the speeding saucer. Gauss gave her driving tips.
Soon, the ship was approaching Jupiter. As anyone who’s watched the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” knows, or even the film, “Starship Poopers”, Jupiter is no ordinary planet. It’s a gateway to other parts of the galaxy.
Emily couldn’t resist flying through a galactic gateway. Regoob sped toward Jupiter. The planet soon filled Regoob’s windshield.
Within Jupiter’s clouds was a bright oval. This wasn’t Jupiter’s red spot, but a metal doughnut. This doughnut, however, was slender. It was dotted by circular lights.
“Head for the center!” Gauss said to Emily. She did. Regoob shot through the slim doughnut and into hyperspace.
A kaleidoscope of colors streaked past Regoob. They were very pretty. The girls remarked upon them as Regoob tunneled through our galaxy.
The little saucer popped from hyperspace. It sailed among the ordinary stars again. Ahead was a ringed planet.
“That’s Quigley!” Zolna, one of the little green men, told the girls.
“We live there, in a castle.” Gauss said.
“A castle!” Melinda was impressed.
“Does your castle have a fireman?” Emily asked. The answer was “no”. So Emily, who was now Regoob’s pilot, asked to be the men’s fireman as well. The men agreed.
This left Melinda wondering what she could be. Before dinner, of course, since she still hoped to get home soon.
“You can be our queen!” Zolna told her.
“I’ll be the princess!” Emily said. She was still intent, too, on being the men’s fireman and pilot.
“I’m the king!” Chirpley said. This brought Fartley-like noises from the other men. So Chirpley settled on being what he already was, the men’s captain.
Somewhere in the ship, Fartley ensured his place in this little world, by farting.
Quigley loomed. Space traffic was flowing toward the purple planet. Quigley was belted by shimmering rings. But their colors clashed. Melinda remarked on this.
“It’s better than having no rings at all, like Earth,” Chirpley riposted. He did not mention that planet Quigley lacked a moon.
Emily followed the space traffic into Quigley’s atmosphere. There, the ships scattered to their destinations. Emily, directed by Gauss, flew over a city. Its buildings, compared to those on Earth, were outlandishly shaped. Beyond the city lay a beach community. And then, shining to the sunlit horizon, was a lavender sea.
“Land there,” Gauss told Emily. He meant the far side of the beach community, near the seashore. Emily put the saucer down in a patch of sand.
Regoob stood upon its metal legs amid other parked spaceships. Makeshift buildings were also neighbors to to Regoob. No castle was in sight. The sea lay near.
Chapter Two - A Castle for a Queen
Zolna opened the airlock. Its gangplank lowered, and the men and the girls disembarked. The hour was noon. It was hot. There was a salt tang in the air and, in the distance, the waves could be heard as they broke along the shore.
Chirpley led the party along a sandy trail. It wound between the spaceships and the homes. Hofsted, the fattest of the little green men, waddled at the file’s rear. He complained about leaving the ship.
“We’ll be at our castle soon,” Chirpley said.
The beach community slumbered in the seaside air. There were odd odors. These smells, of cooking food, caused Hofsted to say he was hungry. The men ignored him. A seagull sailed overhead.
Creatures gazed here and there from the spaceships and from the homes. Their alien faces startled Melinda and Emily. It was as if they’d wandered into a back lot on Star Wars, full of extras in outlandish costumes! Some of the aliens were surprised to see the girls.
“What are Earthlings doing here?!” an alien asked.
“There goes the neighborhood,” an alien, observing the girls, lamented.
Chirpley heard this.
“Commoners!” he riposted, to his alien neighbors. “Show some respect for royalty!” Melinda realized that Chirpley meant her, and Emily. She blushed. As for Emily, she trotted along with a self-confident look. She’d piloted a flying saucer, and now she was the inheritor of Luke Skywalker’s realm. Plus she was a fireman, and a princess. This was a fine day!
The trail led onto the beach. It was mostly vacant on this weekday, with a few bathers and seagulls. Chirpley indicated a large sculpted heap of sand on the shore. It stood just above where the inrolling sea boiled.
“There it is!” he said. He and his crewmates beamed at Melinda and Emily.
The men had built a big sand castle. It had some attractive towers, a wall and a moat. Several small flags, in various colors, decorated the edifice. An old door lay across the moat. It gave access to a hole in the ground, that the castle enclosed.
Emily was entranced. When the men invited her to come inside, meaning down into the hole, she agreed. Melinda cautiously accompanied them. As she did, she seemed to hear her name on the wind. But she saw nothing unusual, besides the bathing aliens and the seagulls.
Zolna led the group into the hole. He did so with a flashlight. Several other men lit flashlights too, as the group entered the hole.
The hole had a stone staircase. It had been carved by time, and by an intelligent hand. Sand dusted or clung to some of the steps. So did seaweed and seashells. These also cluttered the floor of the cave that the stairs led down into. An old stove sat in the cave.
“This is Mr. Lehman’s cave,” Zolna told Melinda and Emily.
“We used to be his gardeners,” Hofsted said proudly.
“Gardners?” Melinda asked. She saw only stone, and the oceans’s detritus.
“It was an easy job,” Hofsted admitted.
“He’s a sailor,” Chirpley said.
“But he’s disappeared,” Gauss added. “We don’t see him anymore.”
“That’s too bad,” Melinda said.
An apparition appeared on the stairs, near the lowest step. Melinda yelped. Emily gave a gasp of surprise, and the men gave startled cries.
“Melinda,” the ghostly figure said. It resolved itself as a tall, slender boy.
“You’re human!” Emily gasped. The boy’s image remained streaked with transmission lines, as if it were being beamed into the cave from far away.
“Quiet!” the boy snapped at Emily. She gasped anew. So did Melinda, and the others
“You’re my bride,” the boy told Melinda. The bikini-clad girl shrieked.
“I’m King Kleigowski,” the boy said. “From Earth, of course. My galactic fleet will arrive in a moment. Stay here as it attacks. Then, I will land, and we’ll be married,” the boy said to Melinda.
Seawater spilled down the stairs. The boy’s image vanished.
“My God!” Melinda gasped.
“She’s not marrying you!” Emily, finding her courage, told the place on the stairs where the boy’s image had been.
More seawater came down the stairs.
“We’d better go,” Zolna said. “The cave floods at high tide.”
Emily scrambled up the stairs with Melinda. The men followed. The tide was boiling about the castle. In the clear sky above, thunder sounded. Then sirens began to wail in the distance. Kevin Kleigowski, who had been terrorizing the galaxy’s far side for some time, was now attacking Planet Quigley!
Melinda and Emily ran with the men from the beach. They headed back to Regoob. All about them, the beach community was coming alive to the danger that thundered above. A battle was underway in the sky.
Melinda and Emily ran up the gangplank into Regoob. As the crew came in after them, a seagull flew into the ship. Emily reclaimed her place in the pilot’s seat.
Regoob took off. Other spaceships were beginning to rise from the land too. Suddenly, a transmission forced itself onto a television screen on Regoob’s dashboard. A man in a military uniform issued a warning. His insignia showed that he was a Quiglian general.
“Attention all civilians!” the general warned. “We’re under attack! Do not leave Planet Quigley! All civilian spaceships are grounded!”
“We’d better land,” Hofsted said.
“Ignore that!” Chirpley shouted.
“But—“ Melinda gasped. Emily flew stolidly higher.
“We’re soldiers!” Chirpley said.
“We’re volunteer lifeguards,” Zolna said.
“Good enough!” Chirpley retorted.
The saucer was now climbing at an eye-popping speed. It cleared the clouds, and the sunlit sky. The starry cosmos opened before it. The ship sped toward the nearest ship in the Quiglian fleet. The Quiglians were locked in a battle with King Kleigowski’s ships.
As Regoob closed on the big Quiglian cruiser, the general reappeared on the saucer’s dashboard T.V.
“Stop!” the general ordered.
Chirpley drew himself up to his full, diminutive height.
“Sir!” he told the general, with an irked look. “I am Chirpley Superlapee.” To Emily, Chirpley said, “Full speed ahead!” Then, for effect, he added, “Don’t shoot ‘till you see the whites of the their eyes.” Since he was sounding very important, Chirpley added, “Your money or your life!”
The saucer rushed at the cruiser. As it loomed, Emily began to think that going full speed ahead might not be a good idea.
Then she realized that they were too close to the cruiser to stop! As a collision became obvious, she leapt from the pilot’s seat.
“Duck!” Emily called to Melinda. Samuel, the seagull who’d flown into the ship, drew himself up to his full, diminutive height. He did so on the floor, where he’d settled by Melinda’s feet.
“I, Miss, am not a duck! I’m a sea-“ Samuel began.
Melinda felt a sudden tingling wash over her. She was standing somewhere else, if still beside Samuel, as the bird finished giving his species.
“-gull,” Samuel said.
They were all someplace else. That is, the girls, the men, and whatever else that had been on the saucer’s bridge, was now in a jail cell. The jail’s front wall and it’s door consisted of iron bars. A heavy white mist clung to the jail’s ceiling.
The saucer was nowhere to be seen. But there was a low hum, that is common to spaceships.
A tall boy came to the cell’s door. Melinda gasped. So did Emily, as cries came from the men.
“It’s that boy!” Melinda yelped, alarmed, to cries of alarm from her cellmates. She cringed. So did Emily, and the others.
“Call me Kevin,” the boy said. He grinned at Melinda. “You’re lucky I’m around. Your little friend ( he meant Emily ) crashed your saucer into a Quiglian cruiser.”
“I’m not marrying you!” Melinda said.
“Me neither!” Emily said.
“Me neither!” Hofsted said.
Kevin laughed.
“You’d better let me do the thinking,” he told Melinda. “My teleport ray couldn’t reach you on planet Quigley. You were too far away. So I told you to stay. And what did you do?” He grinned, and not pleasantly. “You fled, of course, directly toward me!”
As Kevin spoke, the mist coalesced. Suddenly, it was no longer a mist, but a pair of fanged, bulging-eyed ghosts!
“OOOOOO!” the ghosts howled, at Kevin. The boy ran shrieking out of the jail cell. A moment later, tingling engulfed Melinda. Everyone else in the cell was caught in the same sensation. Then, as suddenly as they’d arrived, the captives all disappeared from the jail cell.
Chapter Three - Incommodious
Melinda sat on the floor. Her head rested against a tiled wall. A sink was above it. Around her, in disorder, lay a number of little green men. Emily sat nearby. Samuel, lying near Emily, righted himself. He flew up and about in a mist that floated along the bathroom ceiling.
They’d been teleported again.
“Where are we now?!” Emily asked.
“I’m in a toilet!” Chirpley shouted, from a bathroom stall. “Help!”
The men and the girls gathered themselves. Some of the men, being teleported to the bathroom, had landed in toilet stalls. Chirpley hadn’t just wound up in a stall. He’d been planted with such force into a toilet that his bottom was stuck in the hole at its base. Toilet water surrounded his semi-submerged figure. He gazed helplessly from the commode.
“Don’t flush it!” Chirpley cried, of his toilet, as the girls and some crewmen piled into his stall. The group couldn’t help laughing. Chirpley, however, didn’t laugh. Being stuck in a toilet was not his idea of a good time,
Emily and the crew pulled Chirpley out of the toilet. He was unhurt. His body was wet in places. His diaper-like loincloth was soaked.
A woman screamed. Shouts came from the men who hadn’t crammed themselves into Chirpley’s stall.
Kevin had teleported his captives from his spaceship to a Quiglian one. Specifically, he’d teleported his captives into a ladies’ bathroom aboard the Quiglian ship.
“Eeeeek!” the woman visitor screamed. “There are men in the bathroom! In the ladies’ bathroom!” Soldiers arrived. When they learned that the men in the women’s bathroom had also crashed their saucer into the Quiglian ship, they arrested them. Chirpley and his crew were brought before General Grouchley. They were accompanied by Melinda and Emily.
General Grouchley commanded the Quiglian fleet. His flagship was called The Drut. It was this that Regoob had crashed into.
George Grouchley was big, fat and green. His uniform strained to contain him. It was he who had grounded all of Quigley’s civilian ships, and who’d ordered Regoob to stop. It was he whom Chirpley had disobeyed.
Chirpley stood to attention before General Grouchley. He did so with wet pants, from the toilet. Gathered behind Chirpley was his crew, and the girls. The volunteer lifeguard saluted the general. This did not improve George’s mood.
“I understand you were in the ladies’ bathroom,” George said to Chirpley.
“Yes, sir,” Chirpley answered. “I was stuck in a toilet.”
“Your saucer crashed into my ship!” George told Chirpley.
“Yes, Sir,” the volunteer lifeguard replied. Emily slipped partly behind Melinda, to escape the general’s eyes.
“We’ll need a new ship,” Chirpley told George. “To continue our noble fight against King Kleigowski.”
“Kleigowski’s fleet is in full retreat!” George told Chirpley. “I’m not sure what happened. One minute they were attacking, the next — they were fleeing!”
“I may know why - “ Chirpley said.
“Obviously, I’m an even better general than I knew,” George concluded. He eyed Chirpley. “Get your stinky saucer out of my ship! And stay out of the ladies’ bathroom!”
“Yes, Sir,” Chirpley replied.
Several women came screaming into the general’s presence.
“Help!” the women shouted. “Our bathroom is haunted!”
Chapter Four - The Sewer Room
Regoob had smashed through a large glass panel in the hull of The Drut, near its stern. Doing so, Regoob had plunged itself into a big cesspool. Much of the cesspool’s contents had emptied into outer space. This left the saucer at the bottom of the big cesspool, in such sludge as remained. The cesspool stank.
Repair ships had plugged the hole in The Drut’s hull. The big, open cesspool was in The Drut’s sewer room. This was a big, high-ceilinged room, with a crane. As Regoob’s crew arrived, along with the girls, the crane lifted Regoob out of the cesspool. It plopped the saucer, with a clang, onto the sewer room’s floor. A work crew gathered about the stinky craft.
Chirpley strode up to the work crew.
“I am the captain of this august ship,” he said, in a tone that he hoped sounded important. Chirpley had a high voice. But now, his voice was mouse-squeaky, for he was holding his nose. So was his whole crew, and the girls.
The work crew was wearing disposable masks. One of them regarded Chirpley, who remained in wet pants.
“You own this piece of shit?” the workman asked Chirpley. “It’s going to need a lot of cleaning.”
“We’ll wait until you’re done with it,” Chirpley said.
“You’ll clean it now,” a workman told Chirpley. “General Grouchley wants you, and your saucer, off of his ship!”
“Oh!” Chirpley said. “We must have important duties awaiting us.”
“The general just wants you to go!” a workman said.
Meanwhile, back at the ladies’ bathroom, a priest had been called. He was exorcising the bathroom of its two ghosts. Ladies waited with rising anxiety as this holy procedure proceeded.
“Hurry up!” a woman complained.
“I have to go!” another woman said.
The priest paused in his incantations. He assured the ladies that they wouldn’t have to wait long. There was no need to go elsewhere. The priest was a speedy priest. But, if he were to rush, in an unholy way, the ghosts might not be exorcised. So the priest proceeded with due reverence for the divine. And the ladies waited. With rising anxiety.
Chapter Five - The Teleport Threat
Regoob left The Drut. That ship, and its fleet, were now returning to planet Quigley. Emily was piloting Regoob. She was doing so with the purpose of learning to fly it better.
Melinda was aboard Regoob. So was everyone in Regoob’s crew. Samuel, the seagull, had again invited himself aboard. The ghosts, exorcised from the ladies’ bathroom, were aboard Regoob too.
On the saucer’s bridge, teleportation was being discussed.
“People teleport all the time on Star Trek,” Emily said. Chirpley had seen the show.
“We call it ‘Apes in Space’”, he said. Emily scowled at him.
“Who knew an ape - I mean, a human - would invent teleportation?” Gauss asked. Melinda asked what he meant.
“No one in the galaxy can teleport,” Gauss said. “Except, now, Kevin Kleigowski can.” Everyone on the bridge considered this.
“We need to stop him,” Melinda said.
“Yes!” Emily agreed. “He could attack Earth!”
Chirpley saw a chance to be important. Standing straight, though he was still short, he said,
“Men! We must go after King Kleigowski! We must climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, and go where only apes in space have gone before!”
Gauss hastened to a computer.
“I’ll see if I can find the king’s fleet,” he said.
“Maybe we should ask for help from General Grouchley,” Melinda said. Chirpley bristled.
“I’ll be in command of this mission,” he said. “Since it was my idea!”
“General Grouchley didn’t do anything to defeat the king,” Zolna said. “It was our ghosts who scared him off.”
“I found him!” Gauss said. He meant the king’s fleet. Gauss told Emily what direction to fly in. She did so. Chirpley, pleased, began to practice a victory speech.
“I came,” he intoned. “I saw - “
“And I got stuck in the toilet,” a crewman said.
Chapter Six - Neverwhere
Kevin Kleigowski was angry. The panicked retreat of his fleet had put his ships into disarray. The fault was his own. His fleet was crewed by robots. Their purpose was to obey.
Kevin stood on the bridge of his flagship, Teliot. He spoke with his robot admiral, Dolt 0001.
“Take the fleet through a hypergate,” Kevin ordered his admiral. “We’ll reorganize ourselves on its far side.”
“Yes, Sir,” Admiral Dolt answered. Kevin’s fleet was soon flying toward a distant gas giant. There, it would pass through the planet’s hypergate.
Unknown to Kevin, a little saucer, flown by a seven-year-old girl, was hot on his trail.
Kevin’s fleet neared the gas giant. As Regoob closed on the fleet, Gauss told Emily,
“Hurry! They might go anywhere in hyperspace!”
Regoob snaked among the disordered vessels.
“Land on Teliot,” Gauss told Emily. “That’s the king’s flagship.”
Teliot was a big cruiser. Emily zipped above it. She put the small saucer down amid the outbuildings that topped Teliot’s hull.
The cruiser, and its accompanying fleet, passed into the gas giant’s hypergate.
Emily yawned. She was in a flying saucer in hyperspace, atop a galactic cruiser, but she was also a sleepy seven-year-old. Melinda shared her sense of exhaustion. She said so.
“And I need a bath,” Melinda said.
“I don’t need a bath!” Emily said.
“Emily Fortley, we will both take a bath!” Melinda said. The little green men escorted the girls to a bathroom. The area included a laundry room. When the girls were bathing, they found that they weren’t alone.
“Hey! Quit looking!” Emily said, spying the ghosts in their bathroom.
“Shoo!” Melinda scolded.
The ghosts, sniggering, slipped away.
Melinda and Emily bedded down in a bedroom aboard Regoob.
“Good night, Emily,” Melinda said.
“Good night, Melinda,” Emily said. Neither girl could guess what the hour was back on earth. Then both got a rude reminder of where they were. Fartley trumpeted a loud goodnight in the near distance. The girls escaped the ensuing smell by falling asleep.
As for the little green men, they were concluding their day. They soon bedded down in the room with the sleeping girls. The saucer, atop Teliot, was still passing through hyperspace.
“I don’t know where the king is going, but he’s going a long way,” Gauss said.
“He could be going in circles,” a crewman said. “To throw off pursuers.”
“We’ll board Teliot tomorrow,” Zolna said.
“We can’t do that until we’re out of hyperspace,” Gauss said.
“When we are, I’ll lead the way,” Chirpley said. “Hofsted?”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Bring a trumpet. I’ll need you to blow it.”
“Sir?” Hofsted asked.
“Huh?” Zolna asked.
“It will be a great heroic deed to capture King Kleigowski,” Chirpley said. “When we charge him, Hofsted can blow the trumpet.”
“What about all of his robots?” a crewman asked.
“We’ll charge them too,” Chirpley said. “Zolna!”
“Yes?”
“You bring a trumpet too.”
“Maybe we should just bring Fartley along,” someone said.
“Yes!” Chirpley said. “We’ll have loud farts, and loud trumpeting, and then I’ll say ‘Charge!’. Very loudly.”
“After we leave hyperspace,” Gauss said.
With this, the little green men went to sleep.
“Melinda.”
The 10-year-old sat upright. She’d gone to bed wrapped in a dry bath towel, but now she was in her bikini again.
She wasn’t aboard Regoob. She sat in a field of pale mushrooms. These grew suddenly taller, on long stalks. They became a forest of mushrooms. The mushrooms shaded Melinda from the high sun. Through sprouted undergrowth, a path trailed off into the tall mushrooms.
Then an old man appeared. Using a gnarled branch for a cane, he followed the path. He saw Melinda and spoke.
“Melinda.” He said this at a distance. However, Melinda heard it as if he were beside her. She even smelled his breath. It had an odor of onions.
Melinda stood.
Suddenly, the man was before her. His stooped figure was tall and commanding.
“I want you,” he rasped to Melinda.
The blonde frowned. At least, she told herself, she was face-to-face with the person they’d been pursuing. She did not call him king.
“Kevin. You look awful,” Melinda said.
The man scowled.
“I’m done with Kevin,” he said. “Kevin’s attack on Planet Quigley failed. I don’t like failure.”
The man smiled at Melinda.
“Kevin bores me,” he said. “You don’t.” The man took Melinda’s arm. She found herself walking with him, despite not wanting to.
“We’ll rule the universe,” the man told her.
Due to Reddit’s character limit, I can only post part of my book here.
A free copy of “Melinda and the Little Green Men” is at:
http://andrewroller.com
Copyright 2023 by Andrew L. Roller. Melinda and the Little Green Men is a trademark of Andrew L. Roller.
submitted by Honest-Credit-1297 to sciencefiction [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 21:42 austnme Choice between two 2019 Ford Fiestas, Manual

10,390 i’m wary of because it originated in MD and it has 18 on service history. the $12,000 looks like a much better deal. Besides that these two cars seem identical. Which car should i buy?
submitted by austnme to whatcarshouldIbuy [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 20:46 YordleLife Is this a reasonable maintenance cost? [Corolla LE]

Is this a reasonable maintenance cost? [Corolla LE]
2020 Corolla LE, current odometer 7700 miles.
I received estimated cost of 30K service or 36 months, whichever comes sooner, is $775. Dealer says this will take a full day to perform. I've attached the photo pulled from my corolla manual.
I can replace engine/cabin filters myself. But should I also get quotes from independent shops? Am I getting ripoff?
Gosh I didn't realize 30K service can get this expensive.
https://preview.redd.it/qowc1970tn2b1.png?width=1263&format=png&auto=webp&s=ef5236bb7ad5420e4d984bc1dccffc2829213a07
submitted by YordleLife to Toyota [link] [comments]

2023.05.28 18:03 Select_Performer_876 Manual Ford Focus Problems

So about a month ago my cv axle snapped on my ford focus trying to figure things out i had a suspicion that either my clutch or my transmission went out so i replaced both the only parts of the clutch that were not replaced are the fly wheel and the master cylinder after putting everything back together the driveshafts will not move at all anytime we put the clutch on it acts like it is engaged at all times like it won’t let us let off the clutch i tried bleeding the clutch and it changed nothing does anyone know what this could be?
submitted by Select_Performer_876 to FordFocus [link] [comments]