Sunday, August 30, 2015

Joe Biden bumper sticker


With Hillary's favorability rating plummeting, Democrats are clamoring for Uncle Joe to run for president. Here is a bumper sticker that just came out this weekend.

The image is based on this comedy sketch.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

3D printed jet engine

Dr. Dre's Keep Their Heads Ringing

Just watched Friday for the first time. Maybe 21 year old me would have found it entertaining. Have not heard this song in ages.

Bird's eye view of Costa Concordia


Geography: John Oliver makes fun of CNN

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Raphael Orlove visits Monterey Historics paddock

I love Orlove, in a Platonic way. He is definitely the winner of My Favorite Car Blogger, Oddball Category.

F1 jet canopy test

Well, in light of Justin Wilson's passing, I was going to post this in a happier time. Since that's not happening anytime soon, here is a video of some FIA testing. Will open wheeled racers finally have closed cockpits? I don't think it would have saved Bianchi, but it would probably have prevented Massa's head injury.

VW Phaeton Poltrona Frau edition


Who knew this existed? It is apparently a China-only special edition. Only 99 made. It's got a fancier interior and with the purchase, you get a free Poltrona Frau sofa thrown in.


World's most water stressed countries

The drought along the American West Coast is pretty bad. Wildfires are so out of control in Washington state that they are getting help from volunteers, the U.S. Army, and firefighters from Australia and New Zealand.

Because of the mild winter and lack of water now, fleas are out of control in my area. I have a huge ant problem in my house, and my neighbors are complaining about rats and mice everywhere.




Source

Monday, August 24, 2015

What car defines the pre-2015 boom?

I asked this on Twitter today:


Responses I got:
  • @TheSwagger: Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet.
  • Jalopnik's @Ballaban: Toyota Venza.
  • @TheSwagger again: BMW 435i Gran Coupe. The 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 4 door sedan.
  • Daily Kanban's @Tweetermeyer: Evoque, Mercedes GLA.
  • Me: Mercedes CLA (I believe this is the correct answer).
  • Me again: Maserati Ghibli.
  • Autoweek's @AWJayRamey: Hummer H2 again because they're back on the road.
  • Bozi aka @hooable: Infiniti QX80.
  • Hooniverse's @GregCKach: BMW X6.
  • Hooniverse's @PattyPat116: Mercedes G-Class 6x6.
What say you?

Joe Biden running for president?

Hillary Clinton lacks authenticity. Joe Biden oozes authenticity. With Clinton's trustworthiness numbers in the basement, Biden is strongly thinking of running. If he does run, I may consider removing my Bernie Sanders sticker on my car. Biden is by no means an extreme leftist like Sanders, but he is infinitely more electable.


American heroes in Paris rode in a Chevy Suburban

The three American boys who thwarted an ISIS train attack in France were awarded by Hollande today. They rode in the American ambassador's Chevy Suburban. The ambassador, by the way, got her job as a thank you for bundling $500,000 in donations to the Obama campaign.

Paro International Airport in Bhutan

Thanks to Ed K for this tip. Only eight pilots in the world are qualified to land here due to the difficult terrain.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Off-roading: What could go wrong?

It just gets worse and worse.

Writing a book

I stopped writing last November. But next week, I am meeting a book editor/coach. So I am back on the wagon. The goal is an hour a day of writing. Let's see how long I can keep it up. I have the counter up on the right hand column to keep me honest.


Rickshaw Run

m4ff3w, is this what you were referring to?

Pyramids from Cairo

Also from Reddit.


Saturday, August 22, 2015

Bhutan and India

Bhutan is on the left. Via Reddit.


Trump presidency

The scary thing is that he might actually win. Clinton is so feckless and dodgy.




Thursday, August 20, 2015

Tomica Hongqi

I had coffee with rchen yesterday and he brought a gift from the exotic Orient. A Chinese-market Tomica model of a Hongqi. Please excuse the quality of the photos, which were taken pre-coffee at five in the morning.







Shooting 2 double barreled pistols in slow motion

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Selling my salvage titled Volvo wagon

Around two months ago, my old Volvo ended up on Craigslist. Someone bought it from the junkyard, fixed the rear, and tried to make a few bucks. It was originally listed for $7,800. It was reduced to $7,300. Now, it's selling for $7,000.

That the new liftgate has a "2.4i" badge when it should have a "T5" badge does not inspire confidence. Attention to detail does not seem to be a virtue here. Good luck to the seller! I just don't see anyone paying more than $5,000-- $5,500 tops-- for a salvage titled manual Volvo wagon.


Monday, August 17, 2015

Rubber band machine gun

Jump to 2:45

Dave Attell, my favorite comic, retweeted my tweet

It's the little things that make me happy.


Sunday, August 16, 2015

Vice satire piece: The Search for El Chingon

This is pretty funny and spot on. Plus, Helen Mirren!

Paper V6 engine

Seattle Museum of Flight photos

Every time I fly over or drive by the museum, I think to myself-- I should go there. Last Monday, I finally got a chance.

It's a beautiful and well curated collection. The main room is this huge greenhouse.


This "thing" is the SR-71's starter. It's two Buick V8s working in tandem.



An actual flying car!



In a separate room, World War II planes. Upstairs from that is a room full of WWI planes. Here is a Flying Tigers plane. It is supposedly the least used combat plane from the entire war, logging just 60 hours.




Across the street is the Charles Simonyi space exhibit. Simonyi, as you may recall, was a wealthy Microsoft executive and space tourist. This mock-up of a space shuttle was imposing. I was able to walk in the cargo bay, but the cockpit was closed when I was there.



I believe this was the Soyuz lander Simonyi used.





This was the highlight, a real Concorde.





We had to wait in line to get in because the fire department considered the plane a building. So only a handful of people were allowed in at a time.



The lavatory is actually larger than what I'm used to in Southwest 737s.


The cabin in general, however, is cramped.


The windows are tiny, but there is a surprising amount of legroom.


Some photos of the Concorde's cockpit and galley area.





This is the first Air Force One, a Boeing 707. It was used by Eisenhower and Kennedy from 1959 to 1962.


This is the lavatory for everyone but the president.


Press area.






The president's throne.


Safes for nuclear codes.