Robbie Maddison's 2008 New Year's Eve jump
I am stupefied.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Ghost Car
World's only remaining 'Ghost Car' headed for auction... incredible images of the Plexiglas Pontiac expected to fetch almost $500,000.00.
An extraordinary transparent car is set to fetch as much as $475,000 when it goes up for auction.
The motor, dubbed the 'Ghost Car', is a Pontiac Deluxe Six which, bizarrely, has been covered in the see-through material Plexiglas.
Built in 1939 by General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas at a cost of $25,000, it was the first transparent full-sized car to be made in America .
One of a kind: The 1939 motor is a Pontiac Deluxe Six which has been covered in Plexiglas, developed just a few years earlier in 1933
Innovative: General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas built the vehicle for $25,000 - an astronomical price during the 1930s
Billed as a vision of the future, it was made for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, where it became a sensation at General Motors' 'Highways and Horizons' pavilion; and it continues to cause a stir today.
Just two were ever made and this model, which has a three-speed manual transmission, and is thought to be the last of its kind.
It has clocked up just 86 miles in its lifetime; and now its set to go on sale for the first time since the early 1980s. It last sold for an undisclosed amount.
American auctioneers RM expect it to sell for between $275,000 and $475,000 when it goes under the hammer on July 30.
Seventy-two years of wear: The Plexiglas does have some chips and cracks but is mostly in good condition, according to auction notes
Not for touring: The collectible is unlikely to be seen on the road
Transparent: Wires and a spare wheel can be seen through the trunk of the car
A spokesman for RM Auctions said: 'The car is in a remarkable state of preservation.
'It's a testament to the longevity of Plexiglas in an era when automotive plastics tended to self-destruct within a few years.
'Although it has acquired a few chips and cracks, it is structurally sound and cosmetically clear, showing off the Ghost Car's innards as it did in 1939.
'This motor still turns heads as much as it ever did. It is not, obviously, suited for touring but as a unique artifact from automotive and cultural history.'
Mechanics: The model has an L-head six-cylinder engine, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
Turning back the clock: The dial on the 1939 car shows the wear of its 72 years
At the wheel: The steering wheel features rings of chrome-plated hardware, and Pontiac 's insignia in red
Artifact: The car has clocked up just 86 miles in its lifetime; and will to go on sale for the first time since the early 1980s
The car was the result of a collaboration between General Motors and Rohm & Haas, who developed the ground-breaking material Plexiglas in 1933.
The material went on to be used in military planes during World War II and then expanded in to signs, lighting, fixtures, trains and other cars.
Rohm & Haas used drawings for the Pontiac four-door Touring Sedan to create an exact replica body out of the transparent acrylic.
It was completed with structural metal underneath, which was given a copper wash, and chrome-plated hardware.
Sensation: Billed as a vision of the future, the car was made for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair in San Francisco , pictured here
Vintage: The Transparent Car, on display at General Motors' 'Highways and Horizons' pavilion in 1939, has continued to cause a stir since its debut
A BRIEF HISTORY ON THE PIONEERING THE PLEXIGLAS PONTIAC :
The collaboration between GM and Rohm & Haas was made for the 1930-1940 World's Fair in San Francisco
At a cost of $25,000, it was the first transparent full-sized car to be made in America
Two Ghost Cars were made but the 1939-1940 Pontiac Deluxe Six is the only one known to survive
It toured the nation's dealerships and went on display at the Smithsonian until 1947, and was subsequently owned by a series of Pennsylvania Pontiac dealers
This model has a three-speed transmission, a six-cylinder engine, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
Rubber moldings were made in white, as were the car’s tires. The only recent mechanical work has been replacement of the fuel lines.
The model also boasts an L-head six-cylinder engine, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.
According to the GM Heritage Center, a second car, on a Torpedo Eight chassis, was hurriedly constructed for the 1940 Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island, a man-made island in San Francisco Bay .
Once their respective showcases had closed, both 'Plexiglas Pontiacs ,' or 'Ghost Cars' as they were sometimes known, toured the nation’s dealerships. The 1939-40 Deluxe Six is the only one known to survive.
Following the dealership tour, it went on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington , D.C. and was reportedly there until 1947.
It was later owned by a succession of Pennsylvania Pontiac dealers. It appeared at the first annual meet of the new Pontiac-Oakland Club International in 1973 and was purchased by Don Barlup of New Cumberland , Pennsylvania . Barlup commissioned a partial restoration from S&H Pontiac of Harrisburg and sold it to collector Leo Gephart in 1979.
The current owner’s father purchased it from Gephart in the early 1980s, and it has remained in the same family ever since.
Not surprisingly, it has no conventional vehicle identification number; even the machined boss for the engine number is blank.
A collection of period photos and other memorabilia accompanies the car, which still turns heads as much as it ever did.
An extraordinary transparent car is set to fetch as much as $475,000 when it goes up for auction.
The motor, dubbed the 'Ghost Car', is a Pontiac Deluxe Six which, bizarrely, has been covered in the see-through material Plexiglas.
Built in 1939 by General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas at a cost of $25,000, it was the first transparent full-sized car to be made in America .
One of a kind: The 1939 motor is a Pontiac Deluxe Six which has been covered in Plexiglas, developed just a few years earlier in 1933
Innovative: General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas built the vehicle for $25,000 - an astronomical price during the 1930s
Billed as a vision of the future, it was made for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair, where it became a sensation at General Motors' 'Highways and Horizons' pavilion; and it continues to cause a stir today.
Just two were ever made and this model, which has a three-speed manual transmission, and is thought to be the last of its kind.
It has clocked up just 86 miles in its lifetime; and now its set to go on sale for the first time since the early 1980s. It last sold for an undisclosed amount.
American auctioneers RM expect it to sell for between $275,000 and $475,000 when it goes under the hammer on July 30.
Seventy-two years of wear: The Plexiglas does have some chips and cracks but is mostly in good condition, according to auction notes
Not for touring: The collectible is unlikely to be seen on the road
Transparent: Wires and a spare wheel can be seen through the trunk of the car
A spokesman for RM Auctions said: 'The car is in a remarkable state of preservation.
'It's a testament to the longevity of Plexiglas in an era when automotive plastics tended to self-destruct within a few years.
'Although it has acquired a few chips and cracks, it is structurally sound and cosmetically clear, showing off the Ghost Car's innards as it did in 1939.
'This motor still turns heads as much as it ever did. It is not, obviously, suited for touring but as a unique artifact from automotive and cultural history.'
Mechanics: The model has an L-head six-cylinder engine, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
Turning back the clock: The dial on the 1939 car shows the wear of its 72 years
At the wheel: The steering wheel features rings of chrome-plated hardware, and Pontiac 's insignia in red
Artifact: The car has clocked up just 86 miles in its lifetime; and will to go on sale for the first time since the early 1980s
The car was the result of a collaboration between General Motors and Rohm & Haas, who developed the ground-breaking material Plexiglas in 1933.
The material went on to be used in military planes during World War II and then expanded in to signs, lighting, fixtures, trains and other cars.
Rohm & Haas used drawings for the Pontiac four-door Touring Sedan to create an exact replica body out of the transparent acrylic.
It was completed with structural metal underneath, which was given a copper wash, and chrome-plated hardware.
Sensation: Billed as a vision of the future, the car was made for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair in San Francisco , pictured here
Vintage: The Transparent Car, on display at General Motors' 'Highways and Horizons' pavilion in 1939, has continued to cause a stir since its debut
A BRIEF HISTORY ON THE PIONEERING THE PLEXIGLAS PONTIAC :
The collaboration between GM and Rohm & Haas was made for the 1930-1940 World's Fair in San Francisco
At a cost of $25,000, it was the first transparent full-sized car to be made in America
Two Ghost Cars were made but the 1939-1940 Pontiac Deluxe Six is the only one known to survive
It toured the nation's dealerships and went on display at the Smithsonian until 1947, and was subsequently owned by a series of Pennsylvania Pontiac dealers
This model has a three-speed transmission, a six-cylinder engine, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
Rubber moldings were made in white, as were the car’s tires. The only recent mechanical work has been replacement of the fuel lines.
The model also boasts an L-head six-cylinder engine, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.
According to the GM Heritage Center, a second car, on a Torpedo Eight chassis, was hurriedly constructed for the 1940 Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island, a man-made island in San Francisco Bay .
Once their respective showcases had closed, both 'Plexiglas Pontiacs ,' or 'Ghost Cars' as they were sometimes known, toured the nation’s dealerships. The 1939-40 Deluxe Six is the only one known to survive.
Following the dealership tour, it went on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington , D.C. and was reportedly there until 1947.
It was later owned by a succession of Pennsylvania Pontiac dealers. It appeared at the first annual meet of the new Pontiac-Oakland Club International in 1973 and was purchased by Don Barlup of New Cumberland , Pennsylvania . Barlup commissioned a partial restoration from S&H Pontiac of Harrisburg and sold it to collector Leo Gephart in 1979.
The current owner’s father purchased it from Gephart in the early 1980s, and it has remained in the same family ever since.
Not surprisingly, it has no conventional vehicle identification number; even the machined boss for the engine number is blank.
A collection of period photos and other memorabilia accompanies the car, which still turns heads as much as it ever did.
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Invisible Man
He uses no trick photography;
He just paints himself.
The last picture is amazing!
Here's a hint:
Look by the front tire.
Four for Fridays
Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after a sunny week of overtime...Wish I could say TGIF, but I've got more of the same tomorrow...Anyways, here are some random questions.
1) Who was your celebrity idol when you were a kid?
2) What was the most interesting vanity license plate you have seen?
3) How do you like your steak done?
4) Have you ever gone canoeing, kayaking or tubing down a river or lake?
Enjoy your weekend!
1) Who was your celebrity idol when you were a kid?
2) What was the most interesting vanity license plate you have seen?
3) How do you like your steak done?
4) Have you ever gone canoeing, kayaking or tubing down a river or lake?
Enjoy your weekend!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
This is not for the faint of heart!!!!
Horror in Iran
I can honestly say, I never want to see images like these again.
If they don't bring tears to your eyes you have no soul.
Their cruelty has no limit !!! Some of them were 12 years old, some 15; Some not even that...
I can honestly say, I never want to see images like these again.
If they don't bring tears to your eyes you have no soul.
Their cruelty has no limit !!! Some of them were 12 years old, some 15; Some not even that...
Public Service Announcement
As Ben Franklin said:
In wine there is wisdom, in vodka there is freedom, In water there is bacteria.
In a number of carefully controlled trials, Scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop..
However,
We do NOT run that risk when drinking vodka & wine (or tequila, rum, whiskey, beer or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.
Remember:
Water = Poop,
Vodka = Health.
Therefore,
it's better to drink vodka and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information:
I'm doing it as a public service!
Dear Madame Zoltar
Hello, my comely cucumbers! How are you? Have you been enjoying our splendid summer weather? Savor this, let every moment sink in, so that you may recall it in January. I have harvested my first tomato this year and look forward to many more. My plants come from seed handed down by great-great-grandma Gabriela Zoltar, the Romanian gypsy queen, noted for her literally green thumbs, and teal toes. These seed produce the best tasting tomatoes I have ever encountered. Yum-yum-yummy time is here. 
Senor Zanza and I went to the Starving Artists Fair last Sunday. It was lovely. Unfortunately, it rained some in the morning and again late in the afternoon, but we were there mid-afternoon. There were many beautiful objets d'art to view, admire, and purchase. There did not seem to be as many fairgoers as in previous years. I suppose the economy has hurt the art fairs as much as everything else. Darn the economy! I’d like to punch it in the nose:
Oh my. Violence is not the answer. Madame Zoltar is: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
Now, what was the question? Oh yes, are you enjoying the summer? I hope you are. I heard my first cicada this morning. They come with the August heat.
Thank you all so much for reading my blog today. I love you, I love you, I love you. You are my regular irregular family, and I do so enjoy our visits. Be gentle with each other and with yourselves. Wear a hat, stay hydrated, and protect your skin and eyes. Have fun, my dear friends. Turbellarian!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Political Flow Chart
The Political Flow Chart
When top level guys look down, they see only shitheads;
When bottom level guys look up, they see only assholes.
Never seen a Flow Chart depicted so clearly.
"Sgt Reckless - Korean War Horse Hero"
http://www.sgtreckless.com/Reckless/Welcome.html
I didn't know about Reckless until a friend emailed me this video. Today, a lawyer would sue on her behalf to get money instead of oats.
Old Goats
A group of Americans was traveling by tour bus through Holland. As they stopped at a cheese farm, a young guide led them through a process of cheese making, explaining that goats' milk was used.
She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing. These, she explained, were the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produced.
She then asked, "What do you do in America with your old goats?"
Fred answered, "They send us on bus tours, or make us go play Bingo."
Coffee
Do you drink coffee in the morning? How do you like yours? Just a little survey. I made some this morning and I believe I made Espresso verse coffee, I think you can stand a spoon up in the middle of the cup!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Where's the Octopus?
Many of my friends have shared this on facebook (and the Science Friday Video podcast is part of my iTunes feed!)
I can tell you from personal experience, it is just as amazing as the video. When I lived on St. Croix, I saw several octopii while snorkeling. They would be totally invisible until I was right on top of them. Suddenly, they would spring into view and swim away. I was lucky enough that I never go inked!
I can tell you from personal experience, it is just as amazing as the video. When I lived on St. Croix, I saw several octopii while snorkeling. They would be totally invisible until I was right on top of them. Suddenly, they would spring into view and swim away. I was lucky enough that I never go inked!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Chivalry can't die!!!!!!
I think this comes from many places for me. I think we've all noticed the rudeness level of people has really sky rocketed. I think I now understand why kids go running out in the road with no clue of the danger - my sister and I went to the State Fair Friday. People with strollers more than not, are some of the rudest. We were almost run over by a guy with a stroller, and this is how kids learn? wow... and the majority of the adults there were also unbelievably rude, we just shook our heads in shock on the way home.Chivalry needs to come back in full force. Sure, there are a few guys out there that still are very sweet and gentlemanly, but it's becoming a lost art. Maybe I'm just growing up in the wrong era, I don't know. I was out on errands, in no hurry at all. I was heading to Kohl's, and saw a guy standing on an island in the parking lot. I stopped to let him cross. He got mad at me and angrily waved me on. Seriously? How can people get mad at you for being nice? My faith in humanity was restored as I was going into the store. A lady was on her way out with her hands full and I held the door for her, like the average human being should, at least those with a heart. She was shocked and so thankful, that is surprised me. I finished shopping smiling, even after the ogre.
My daughter is dating. Is it odd of me to have told her not to stop him from being a gentleman and let him open doors for her? As far as I'm concerned, that should be an automatic response to his interest in her, showing and 'honoring' her by doing simple, polite things. I watched him walk her to the car, wondering what a freak chance it would be that he would even open her car door for her. Nope. That's ok tho, he's a good kid, that just would have been an amazing sign that chivalry really does still exist. He's on the right track, I guess I just have seen too many knight in shining armour movies... one day her prince will come, maybe this one, maybe not.
Be kind to one another, and you can leave the heavy armour suit at home as long as it's always in the heart :)