Pandy's First Christmas
16 years ago
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Utility Bike
While maybe not as cool as the Bakfiets, it's cheaper, and they're having a contest where I may win one if you click on the link below. So please, click!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Signature Editions
I saw this car, which is a Buick LeSabre, late '90's perhaps, while eating lunch. Except, from where I sat, I thought it said "Louis Vuitton." Not sure how I made that mistake, but at the time it was hilarious in its incongruity.update: the next day, I see that Infiniti will be offering matched Louis Vitton luggage for their 20th anniversary
Build it!
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/05/bmw-considering-five-possible-variants-of-next-1-series-turboch/
Sure hope it's either the 3 door pictured here, or a 5 door. Seriously, a 1-series Sports Activity Vehicle? Might as well just buy a kiddy Tonka truck.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wasn't it Obvious?
How did this make it out of the design studio? Overall, it's fine, but as the dad in "A Christmas Story" said about their Peking Duck, "It's...smiling at me."
This clearly takes cues from their Nagare design language, but it's poorly integrated into the rest of the car's design. Basically, they just shoved this absurd grill on it. It's too big, and being all black doesn't help.
I'm really not thrilled with it. I think if they simply took the top horizontal element and made it body color, or perhaps chrome, that might work. Or if the sides where slightly less angled, to take away some of the "smile." Whatever it is, they need to do, as my 2 and half year old would say, "sumpin'."
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Retrospective Review:1986 Lincoln Continental Mark VII LSC, part II
So Chris asked me to put in my 2¢ on driving the Mark VII, as I “inherited” it from him. He is pretty spot on when it comes to the description-with one tiny correction…it was maroon, not brown.
Bygones…
Since all the techno geekery has already been accounted for, I will just get to it.
I had mixed feelings when I was handed the keys to the Mark VII. On the one hand, I was 16 and I had a car. On the other hand, it was a Lincoln-a behemoth, and I, a girl. Not that its size didn’t come in handy. Since I was the only one of my friends who had a car, let alone could drive, I was able to really pack ‘em in (last count, 8 people, so I guess you could say it was roomy!). But imagine if you will, a girl of somewhat small stature (a diminutive 5’4”) behind the wheel. I looked rather out of place. I remember mom waving me off to school countless mornings (in her bathrobe no less) and erupting into fits of laughter-because all you could see inside this land yacht was my head through the window. In retrospect, it probably was pretty funny.
As for its engine, specs aside, the thing was a monster-and I had absolutely no business being behind its wheel. As a nascent 16-year-old driver, this Hot Rod Lincoln was a little, no, completely out of my league. The hot shot I was, I found myself racing (in my head at least) the car next to me at every light and every car driving next to me. It drove so smoothly and effortlessly that before I knew it I was rapidly exceeding the speed limit and really going faster than I had any business going. But it handled great and braked readily, I mean this car could stop on a dime.
I loved all of its stuff. I mean it had just about everything you needed and then some you didn’t. It had leather seats; although by the time I had the keys (c. 1993) the leather was spotty at best. So I had a white shag mess of a thing instead. It was imitation sheep fluff, if I remember correctly, but it was comfy and very posh! It kept the seats from burning my bum every time I got in the thing, all right? Can’t say it did much for the heated seat though. Made it a bit superfluous really, but then heated seats in Florida is pretty much academic anyway. The onboard computer was gadgetry at its finest. It had it all: automated mileage, trip, and fuel gauge + mileage (which came in handy planning pit stops let me tell you) just to name a few. The auto dimming rear view mirror was a nice addition. When those a-holes in trucks just couldn’t figure out how high beams worked, the mirror…well…well… it dimmed. I did appreciate the auto on/off lights. I mean how fabulous is it to turn off the car and not have to worry if you left the lights on or not? The car did it for you. Although, I did find many a dead battery in my next car. For weeks when I first got it, I was convinced this car would do it too. Yeah, it didn’t. All these gadgets really did make the car look like “the car of the future”. I had a friend who actually asked me if the car talked to me. Alas, no. Evidently this was one of the features dad opted not to get.
I only drove the car for about 4 months when, as mom puts it, “You did what your brother tried to do twice and failed”. Go me! Yes, my accident proved to be its Achilles Heal. Mom always hated the Mark VII, so she was pretty happy when the insurance people decided to put it down. Of course this did lead to the much-maligned Probe (more on this later).
Every now and then I see a Mark VII tooling around the Denver Metro Area and every time I point it out to my fiancé-who, by the way, is by no means a “car guy”. (BTW: his dream car is a Toyota Tacoma). He pretty much brushes it off with a simple and clear cut “cool”. Whether it is or not, I don’t know, but I sure did have some great times in it and great memories of it (most of which I probably shouldn’t share either). You know, I think I even still have the Mark VII emblem from the trunk hanging around somewhere. And no Chris, you can’t have it!
for those whose interest has been piqued by our Lincoln Posts, check out http://thelincolnmarkviiclub.org/ - chris
Here's the photo of the Mark VII after I killed it!
Bygones…
Since all the techno geekery has already been accounted for, I will just get to it.
I had mixed feelings when I was handed the keys to the Mark VII. On the one hand, I was 16 and I had a car. On the other hand, it was a Lincoln-a behemoth, and I, a girl. Not that its size didn’t come in handy. Since I was the only one of my friends who had a car, let alone could drive, I was able to really pack ‘em in (last count, 8 people, so I guess you could say it was roomy!). But imagine if you will, a girl of somewhat small stature (a diminutive 5’4”) behind the wheel. I looked rather out of place. I remember mom waving me off to school countless mornings (in her bathrobe no less) and erupting into fits of laughter-because all you could see inside this land yacht was my head through the window. In retrospect, it probably was pretty funny.
As for its engine, specs aside, the thing was a monster-and I had absolutely no business being behind its wheel. As a nascent 16-year-old driver, this Hot Rod Lincoln was a little, no, completely out of my league. The hot shot I was, I found myself racing (in my head at least) the car next to me at every light and every car driving next to me. It drove so smoothly and effortlessly that before I knew it I was rapidly exceeding the speed limit and really going faster than I had any business going. But it handled great and braked readily, I mean this car could stop on a dime.
I loved all of its stuff. I mean it had just about everything you needed and then some you didn’t. It had leather seats; although by the time I had the keys (c. 1993) the leather was spotty at best. So I had a white shag mess of a thing instead. It was imitation sheep fluff, if I remember correctly, but it was comfy and very posh! It kept the seats from burning my bum every time I got in the thing, all right? Can’t say it did much for the heated seat though. Made it a bit superfluous really, but then heated seats in Florida is pretty much academic anyway. The onboard computer was gadgetry at its finest. It had it all: automated mileage, trip, and fuel gauge + mileage (which came in handy planning pit stops let me tell you) just to name a few. The auto dimming rear view mirror was a nice addition. When those a-holes in trucks just couldn’t figure out how high beams worked, the mirror…well…well… it dimmed. I did appreciate the auto on/off lights. I mean how fabulous is it to turn off the car and not have to worry if you left the lights on or not? The car did it for you. Although, I did find many a dead battery in my next car. For weeks when I first got it, I was convinced this car would do it too. Yeah, it didn’t. All these gadgets really did make the car look like “the car of the future”. I had a friend who actually asked me if the car talked to me. Alas, no. Evidently this was one of the features dad opted not to get.
I only drove the car for about 4 months when, as mom puts it, “You did what your brother tried to do twice and failed”. Go me! Yes, my accident proved to be its Achilles Heal. Mom always hated the Mark VII, so she was pretty happy when the insurance people decided to put it down. Of course this did lead to the much-maligned Probe (more on this later).
Every now and then I see a Mark VII tooling around the Denver Metro Area and every time I point it out to my fiancé-who, by the way, is by no means a “car guy”. (BTW: his dream car is a Toyota Tacoma). He pretty much brushes it off with a simple and clear cut “cool”. Whether it is or not, I don’t know, but I sure did have some great times in it and great memories of it (most of which I probably shouldn’t share either). You know, I think I even still have the Mark VII emblem from the trunk hanging around somewhere. And no Chris, you can’t have it!
for those whose interest has been piqued by our Lincoln Posts, check out http://thelincolnmarkviiclub.org/ - chris
Here's the photo of the Mark VII after I killed it!
Post Partisan
I'll be honest, I've never really been sure what the hell "post partisan" is supposed to mean, but a commenter at the Washington Monthly gave what I thought was a great description:
It is worth stating here that no one is completely conservative or completely progressive. Even the most gun-loving, gay-bashing conservative will have an issue or two where he or she is moderate to liberal. Take Dick Cheney (please...HA! Sorry, couldn't resist!) for example. No sane person would call him moderate or liberal, but because of his daughter's sexual orientation, he leans to the center-left on gay rights.
THIS is what Obama means when he uses the term "post partisan." It isn't some kumbaya love-in mentality. It is the recognition that, for virtually everyone, there is something on which they can agree. Fostering good will now makes it more likely that when that special issue comes up for each member of Congress, the President will be able to draw on those legislators who agree.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)