Caroline

I've been trying to read about the gun laws, but if someone could clarify for me it would be great. Please only respond if you are SURE of your answer, not just making shi** up.

Anyways, I'm 18. I usually carry my .22 around in my car (in plain view) for when I want to go out and shoot at targets. I'm almost positive this is legal. However, I know it's illegal for me to carry a handgun without a license (which I can't get until I'm 21). But I read something about it being legal to transport a pistol (without a concealed carry license) in a private motor vehicle with the gun in a case and separated from ammunition. Does this mean I could keep an unloaded .32 cal in my center console or in the box on my backseat floorboard or somewhere? I like to go out and shoot it too when I shoot my .22. And I would like to have it around just in case. So, what are the laws on this? I know other kids around my age that carry around pistols in their cars. If this is illegal for us, what's the worst punishment we'd face if caught?

Thanks for the help.

Caroline

The other day, a got to see this guy's .22 magnum and fell in love with it. Only problem is that I forgot to ask what model it was! It was blued synthetic, bolt action, the forestock was almost a triangle shape and felt tacky with some of the fancy texturizing, and the barrel was the nearly the same diameter as a shotgun. It was a very compact gun, and the barrel was pretty short. The biggest thing I remember is how wide the barrel was. (Significantly larger than my 10/22 barrel). He said it cost about $500, but it came from a local gun shop that tends to jack up prices so it may not usually be that much.

Anybody know what this might be?

Thanks!

I usually just look up guitar chords for a song I want to play on my uke, then I play those chords on the uke. But when a song that's written for a guitar says to use a capo on the second fret, for example, does that translate into using a capo on the second fret of the uke? I'm thinking not. How do I know where to put the capo on the uke to get the song in the same key as it would be played on the guitar? (Or an octave higher, since I know uke's are higher pitched). Can anyone help me here?

I've recently realized that shooting things is fun. I "inherited" (stole) my granddad's old .22, which is good enough for shooting cans by myself but can't quite keep up with my friends' newer rifles. (One of them has a Ruger 10/22, which I know is a common gun, but is still tremendously better than mine). Anyways, I'd love to get a gun of my own. But my budget is limited (under $500, and under $300 would be preferable).

What caliber rifle should I get? I can only afford one, so I want the most all-around gun I can get. I'll mostly be shooting fairly close targets (annihilating watermelons is a blast), but if I had a gun that could shoot distances (200+ yards) I'd do it. I'm thinking about getting a better .22, but I feel like spending money on a better version of a gun that I already have is a waste. I'm not competing or anything, so I don't NEED a .22 that performs particularly well. I'd love to get into deer hunting, but I'm not buying a rifle specifically for that since it may never happen. I'm leaning towards a .223, but is that small enough to shoot at cans 100 feet away without being complete overkill? I know that's too small for deer, but I think a .243 would just be too powerful for what I'm doing. (I assume it's too loud and not well-suited for small targets, if that's what I was shooting on a certain day). How loud is a .223 compared to a .22? It's easy to socialize while target shooting with our .22's, but would a .223 be too loud to be practical in that situation?

In short, I think it would be fun to have a more powerful gun than a .22. I'm afraid that I'd regret buying another relatively "small" gun (.22) and not have a more powerful option if I decided to "upgrade" my targets. This will be a gun that I'll keep for a while. I'd use it for hunting small animals and various targets. (Turtles, squirrels, and snakes are on the list.) What are the largest and smallest targets that you could practically shoot with a .223? Is a .223 too big for the types of targets commonly used for .22's? Should I just invest in a better .22?

Sorry for rambling, and thanks for the help in advance.

I live in south Georgia in a small town and sometimes carry my .22 around in the back of my car. (When I haven't had time to bring it home, or want to bring it some where. Sometimes I just forget about it.) I'm 17, and I was wondering what the law says about this. Basically, how illegal is it? I feel like if a cop found out, they'd just tell me to bring it home. It's not a handgun, it's unloaded, and it's not concealed. Can anybody help me out?

Thanks!

Caroline

I know what all of the different parts of a tire size mean, but how do you, in normal conversation, say 235/70R16? Would "Two-thirty five seventy R-sixteens" be correct for vocally describing a tire? Or can you omit the "r"? Someone who is savvy with car talk, please help!

I know I want to get an M.E. degree, but I've had a hard time researching job opportunities that would allow me to work with engines. For instance, I'd love to develop and test components of engines in cars, boats, ATVs, etc. Car engines fascinate me. How large is this field, what's the average income, and what, in reality, could I actually do?

Thanks for the help. And please don't tell me to "google it"--I've tried. I'd love some firsthand knowledge.

I just got a mini dirt bike and got it all put together today. But it won't start. There's gas dripping off of the gas tank, and the little plastic collector thing (fuel filter?) on the fuel line is full of gas. I don't know if that's bad or good. I tried to check the spark, but I can't get the spark plug off. How do I check to see if there's gas going to the carb? Gas from the gas tank is dripping onto the air intake cover and running down, but as far as I can tell the carb itself is dry. No obvious signs of gas in it.) I've probably flooded the engine by now, but it's doing the same thing it was when I first started. At one point, after I'd gone rapid-fire with the pulling on the cord, haha, I got one or two pulls that were easier and smoother and I thought it was going to start then it became difficult again.

I need some suggestions, with DETAILS, please. I don't know a whole lot about dirt bike engines.

And yes, I did the basics. Fuel, oil, gas switch on, and I tried the choke in various positions.

Thanks!

Black, nickel, or brass? I mainly fish for carp and largemouth bass. What's best for what?

I've got a vague idea of what it is (strength of the line), but could someone please explain what else the term may apply to and how it is used? Why is it called test? Is the lb measurement of the line supposed to match the weight of the fish you're targeting or what?

Thanks!

How do you say the number part? Is it just "eleven hundred?" Or do people say it a different way?

Also, how is this shotgun regarded in terms of quality and how nice a gun it is? My granddad gave us his, and I'm just curious.

Thanks!

For the past few years I've worn a crappy pair of sunglasses. The lenses are so scratched and fogged up that I can't see out of them, and they hardly block the sun at all. Since I've never lost them or broken them and haven't spent much on glasses, I'm thinking about getting a $100+ pair of Costas.

So, is it worth it? I'm a lifeguard during the summer, and am in the direct sun for hours at a time staring at the water. I'd get a lot of use from the glasses, and need to be able to see in the sun-reflecting water. Is the UV protection and polarization you get in a nicer pair of glasses worth it? Not to mention that the cheapo glasses gave me a headache after a while. Are Costas significantly more comfortable? Also, I have a small head and most inexpensive glasses are too big. Does anybody have any suggestions for good brands/glasses that are cheaper and will still be good?

Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!

A month ago, I leapt off a staircase and swung off of a bar overhead and landed wrong on my foot. I chipped the talus bone and severely sprained the front/side part (it's my right ankle). The pain was never that bad (except for the moment that it happened), and after walking on it for a day I got x-rayed and was put in a cast for the broken bone and was told I had a severe sprain. I wore the cast for two weeks, and then was put in an air cast that I have been "sort of" wearing for the past two weeks. (The bone was well re-joined after I got the cast off, and there was no pain.) I think the doctors sort of forgot about the sprained part, but it's still bothering me. I *might* have started practicing basketball again, (don't get mad), and soccer starts in a month, and I need to be able to kick. My question is: Could I possibly make the sprain worse by playing sports on it, and will I be able to kick a soccer ball if it still hurts once the season roles around? I need some real advice please, and don't get pis*** that I'm playing sports again. My stupid decision, not yours.

My dad has a '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee with *cough* 227,000 miles on it. Lately it's had problems with the RPM's dropping really low when you come to a stop and idle. It usually keeps running, but I often have to hold the brake and keep the engine revved up to keep it from stalling.

My dad's been out of town, so I've had the car for a few days. I drove it two days ago without any problems, but I tried to start it yesterday morning and it was completely dead. Door locks didn't work, no movement on the dashboard when I turned the key, battery didn't even tick. It didn't seem to have any problems starting the day before, and I'm sure I didn't leave the interior lights or headlights on. The battery was replaced just a year ago, so it should be fine.

My granddad came over today and helped me jump it off. With the jumper cables on, the lights in the car came back on and the power door locks worked. The engine cranked extremely slowly and I had to give it some gas to get it running. (The first few times I didn't give it gas and it cranked, ran really rough, made some odd noises, and died.) When I kept my foot on the gas pedal the engine ran, but it stalled as soon as I let it off. We took the jumper cables off and the battery could barely turn the motor over. We gave up, and when I came back a few minutes later to lock the doors the battery was completely dead again. (No interior lights or power door locks.)

I tried to look it up online, and it sounds like the alternator. But the car didn't have any problems with dimming headlights or weak radio or anything like that. Only the stalling problem. Does it still sound like the alternator?

I need a thorough, explanatory answer on this. Best anwer will be one that answers my question.

I know how to read which note is which on the sheet music, and I know the notes on the fretboard. My question: How do you know WHICH "A" to play? I can identify an A on the staff, but how do I know which A that is on the guitar? (There are multiples all down the fretboard.) I've heard something about determining which key the music is in (key of G, etc.) but what is each key on the guitar? Is it a certain set of frets that you use? And how do you know whether to play the note on the 1st or 6th string, since they're the same?

I hope this makes sense, and I hope somebody can me make sense of it! Thanks everyone!

My dad's '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee (which I drive too, and will soon inherit) has started up with some engine issues again. (Bear with me here--I'm no engine expert!) There are a few main things going on, and they could all be the same problem or they could be completely different things, I'm not sure. The main issue is that it tries to stall when you reach idle speeds, and it has to be held at a high idle. (Most of the time it will keep running, but usually I just shift into neutral as I come to a stop and have had to hit the gas a few times to keep it from choking.) My dad thought the idle speed was too low, but could a misfire be a more likely cause? Or what? (What exactly does a misfire feel/sound like?)

The engine also makes a metallic clanking/tapping noise. I can't describe it very well (haven't listened for it lately) but I've definitely noticed it before and it's louder as you accelerate. I was reading up on this, and it sounded like mean bearing failure could cause both of these problems. I also heard that low oil pressure can accompany it, and the car has low oil pressure that fluctuates (goes down as the rpm's slow). Does this sound like a reasonable explanation?

I don't know if this would have anything to do with it, but other annoying things that it does include: Getting stuck in 2nd gear and revving up to 4,000 rpms regularly (I think the red zone starts at 5,000--can't remember for sure.) Maybe this stress on the engine has something to do with it. There is a strong exhaust smell all around the car if you sit still for any amount of time. I don't think it's pure gas, but it gives me a headache! haha. My dad guessed it was incomplete combustion, but what could cause this and how might it tie into the other problems?

We've done a lot of work on this car lately. (New computer, new exhaust manifold, new muffler, new a/c compressor, and other things that I can't remember.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated! We usually don't take the car in for service until absolutely necessary, but being a 16 year old driver I'm kind of tired of having to keep the idle speed up and get it unstuck from 2nd gear and what all.

Thanks everyone!

I finally accepted the fact that pocket bikes are illegal on the street, and decided instead to get a dirt bike that I could at least ride in my yard or at the barn where I board my horse. (There are trails.) However, I have a very low price range (nothing over $500 total---including shipping) and need a dirt bike small enough that I can throw it in the back of the car or pick it up and carry it if need be. I'm 5'6" and weight 105 lbs. and would like to get either a "mini" dirt bike, or something made for kids. (Like a 50cc engine, bigger if I can get it) I may look dumb on it, but it's just for fun! And if it's too big I won't be able to take it anywhere. But everything I find online looks like such crap that it would break in the first five minutes. Does anybody have any good suggestions? I'd get a used one off eBay, but I'm having trouble finding anything. Links or specific names would be great. Thanks!

By the way, I'm 16. So no, this would not be an adult riding. :P

Odd question, but please give me some feedback on this. Anybody can answer it. I'm thinking about getting a pocket bike (been wanting one for years!) or a mini dirt bike. I'm not riding motorcycles or anything, but they can be included in this question. Coming from the view of other girls, guys, or adults, what do you think of girls riding pocket bike or motorcycles? Not butch girls, either, haha! Normal girls. This isn't about me, just in general. Do guys think girls on bikes are freaks? Do all adults frown on pocket bikes? I've always been curious about this. Give me some insight, please!

Thanks everyone!

I was watching a Top Gear episode (http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/topgear/video.jsp?... and when the guys revved their cars' engines it set off the alarms on the nearby cars. I looked online but couldn't find a definitive answer on this. Why does that happen, and what part of the alarm is being set off by this?

If you haven't heard of Top Gear, it's a car-based show that comes on BBC. It's pretty dang hilarious though.

Thanks everyone!