California DMV banner car

Why does the Department of Motor Vehicle's website banner have a Volvo C30?

U.S. Out of Grenada bumper sticker

Saw this today at Urban Ore.

It reminded me of this sticker from one of Murilee Martin's posts.

Nuclear powered Cold War bombers

If you enjoy Hooniverse, you will probably like Atomic Toasters.  It's brought to you by the same crew, and it's about classic pieces of technology.  Today, they have stories about Soviet nuclear powered bombers and American nuclear powered bombers.  Prepare to drop your jaws.

Cal Stanfurd Big Game The Play

The greatest play in the history of mankind.

California Dreamin' movie trailer

A train full of U.S. Marines carrying radar equipment to Kosovo gets stuck in a remote village in Romania.  Subtle hilarity ensues.  It's a bit long (2 1/2 hours) but it's well worth it.

007 Villain Swatch watch collection

Collect all 22!  Here are some of the highlights and lowlights.  They came out a couple of years ago.

See all of them here.

Richard "Jaws" Kiel ads

1980s Shredded Wheat ad:

2007 real estate informercial:

Psst, don't mention Craigslist to his customers.

James Bond watch

This was 007's watch in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).  Imagine what would happen if this is how modern day teens text messaged.  The world would run out of tin within two days.

Mercedes W111 / 560SEC engine swap

Here is an insane engine swap project featured in the German car site Chromjuwelen.

Using Babefish, I was about to gather that:

• They started with a 1965 Mercedes W111 and a 1989 W126 560SEC.
• The project took 1,000 man hours.
• Donor parts from a 300SEL 6.3: Rear axle, front brakes.

Complete photo gallery here.

Acetazolamide Diamox altitude sickness medication

Picked up the altitude sickness medication today.  Without it, I become quite miserable.

In 2004, I went up to Karakul Lake in Xinjiang, along the Karakoram Highway.  It was about 3,600 meters (11,811 feet) above sea level.  That was as high as I had ever been.  Despite the spectacular scenery and setting, I couldn't fully enjoy it.  I suffered shortness of breath; a constant, pounding headache; and difficulty concentrating.  Here are some pics I took:

Shadows at Karakul Lake

Mother and calf

Lots of sheep

I learned my lesson and took Acetazolamide next time.  These shots were taken at the Mauna Loa observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2007.  It's 3,397 meters (11,141 feet) above sea level.  Aside from a few extra trips to the loo, I was fine.  Pics from my trip:

Shadow at summit

Above the clouds

My next high-altitude destination will be Chungara Lake in Chile's Lauca National Park.  4,517 meters (14,820 feet).  Takes my breath away.  

Here is a Wikipedia picture of the lake and Parinacota Volcano in the background.