Most people - even book-lovers, a group I count myself part of - should actually consider getting rid of books. As much as we like to elevate them into some rarefied category, they are just objects like anything else, and I bet most of us have a tonne of books we’ve idly picked up or been given over the years that…

Real enthusiasts aren’t butthurt fanboys and are just happy there’s another sportscar on the market.

I didn’t mean to imply that I was a GOOD engineer. 

You’re clearly doing it wrong. Engineers are supposed to say, “I cannae do it, it’s impossible.” And then you do it anyway in half the time.

I don’t really understand why the engineer would say something so counter to what reality appears to be

AWD Sportwagens are not the easiest to find and only the base model is AWD. Alltracks are standard AWD and you can get all the fancy stuff if you want.

I find it a bit unlikely that the back seat is really too cramped for a preschooler, but it’s quite possible the kid finds it annoying to have to deal moving the seat to get in. I’d imagine any four-door would solve the problem for a decade, if not permanently.

If it’s just a city car, or you have another vehicle, I’d vote for a CPO BMW i3.  You can get one with all the toys for right around $20K.  Electric or with the kicker engine, and ride around in a carbon tub and cutting edge sauerkraut flavored tech.  Plus if there isn’t another vehicle, you still have about $12K to…

If she wants AWD and some style in a relatively compact package, the Mazda CX-3 or CX-5 would be good options.

She said “pre-school age”, which I interpret as 3-5.  

Maybe I’m just uptight, but no way in hell I’m driving my freakishly large pre-school aged son around in an old VW notchback. I’m happy to risk my own life in the name of looking cool*, but c’mon, won’t somebody please think of the children?

Subaru Crosstrek might fit the bill (since she doesn’t need performance).

GTI all the Golfs.

Lately the answer to most of these has been some variation of VW Golf.

So...
Uhh, yeah.  Golf.

I’m a frequent flier for work and I’d support this.  All the Graham Wellingtons in line with me would lose it. 

Hot take: (flame suit on):

I agree with everything but #2. The Democrats weren’t in charge when Congress authorized building the wall, but they still offered to give Trump the $1.3 billion that was promisted anyway.

The shutdown made TSA employees likeable.

“It can’t have been THAT good!!!”

I was mostly watching Federer last night and between that, the Tiafoe and Fritz matches, there was some wonderful tennis going on, especially for the young Americans.