Neanderpundit

I mean, the fucktard comes here, and whines, and gets his ass handed to him, and then runs away. Usually trolls are good for at least three go-arounds. So far nothing. Damn, the trolls are getting awful pussified.

I feel safest of all

Kim had a post the other day that mentioned cars, and of course it all went back to the American vs everyone else car debate.

First of all, esthetics is the item most touted- “europeans simply make prettier cars than Americans. ”

That’s a matter of taste. Alfa makes some nice looking cars. So does BMW (now). There were some old mercedes cars that were gorgeous. But that’s my opinion. I am not an artist. However, plenty of artists DO love american cars, and some notable artists helped create them. BMW, VW, Volvo, all WISH they had Harley Earl. Styling is a matter of taste, and for everyone who swoons over a 70’s vintage MG, there are thousands who love the lines of the Buick Wildcat. So, I’ll discount taste- the idea that one car looks better than another? You’re welcome to it. People buy Honda Elements, futhuchrissakes, even though the “Element” in question is clearly “Butt Uglium”. Hell, I myself owned a Land Rover. No, not one of those cushymobiles they sell these days, but a REAL land rover with a tire on the hood. OK, a “Tyre on the Bonnet”.

While esthetics can be a matter of some opinion, what isn’t open to discussion is function. Euro cars function in a way suited best to their environment, which consists of predominantly narrow, twisty roads. American cars are suited to their function, which consists predominantly of long straight stretches of highway. Since little cornering is required, the suspensions are made to provide the best possible ride for the commonest conditions.

if America was full of twisty little roads, the car manufacturers would have made cars that were suited to that, but it isn’t, and they don’t. Does this make american cars worse? No. It makes them what the market wants and asks for. And for the purpose for which they were designed, they are perfectly designed.

As far as quality is concerned, there is no contest. The sheer numbers of cars manufactured in the united states, on either a car for car basis or a percentage basis, American cars are more reliable, on the whole.
Continue Reading »

Good to be back to the grind. No good on my own, actually.

Saturday I mowed, as I’ve posted, and the work harmed me badly, then monday we went to the Mu Sci Ind in Chicago, and had a nice time. I love museums, the big spaces, the hushed echoes, the laughter of children. Nice to see the old stuff, trains, planes, automobiles. The Spirit- Breedlove’s car- the mystery planes.

Lots of exhibits which were new when I was a youngun are still there, showing signs of the passing years. Lots of new exhibits which are now old in and of themselves- computer quizzes written for old Texas Instruments computers. Which you can still see under the glass. And a couple of new things, like turning cow poop into fuel.

Lunch for three still cost $40.

I remember the school-sponsored trips back in the day, the peanut butter sandwiches, dry and crusty, the tiny wormy apples. Wishing I had $5 to buy a gen-yoo-wine MuSciInd pizza puff.

The more things change, the more they suck. Still: Nice to place a palm flat on the side of the old Pioneer Zephyr, feel the cool stainless under my hand. Nice to walk around the museum, though my knee today feels like the dogs breakfast.

And finally, nice to be back to the grind.