As I mark this memorable day, the last full one of my 30s that is, suddenly I feel myself in the presence of some decent company. Here’s to 40 things turning 40 this year. Let’s make that 41.
40 at 40, some in better shape than others of course.
Archives
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A Halt in My Step.
The sight of an impeccably restored and beautifully detailed– not to mention blindingly buffed– 1981 380 SLC proves more than enough to put a halt in the step of any true classic Mercedes-Benz aficionado. So it is for yours truly, as I clearly halt in good company– with a well-deserved nod to the responsible party.
The 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SLC: A stunning one-year rarity.
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The Green Tradition Continues…
The Chicago River flowed green once again, as per tradition for the city’s famous annual Irish revelry. From Saturday’s celebrations through today’s “real” date, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Courtesy: Lee Hogan/For Sun-Times Media (Click for more photos.)
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…But Yes, Gone.
The Ides of March this year came– and today is gone. Doom averted yet again, you might say. But then, one of my “oldest” friends did turn the big 4-0 yesterday, so perhaps I best think again?
Julius Caesar was told to “Beware the Ides of March” before being stabbed to death in 44 B.C.
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Sochi’s Last Laugh
Who says Russia doesn’t have a sense of humor?
(in addition to the final medal count, of course!)
From end to beginning, there’s ultimately humor in error–
encouraged perhaps by The Daily Currant.
(Click on images for full story.)
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“The Red Eye”
Good one, Matt, however scripted it might have been!
Click image to see video clip. Photo: perezhilton.com
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Hereby Un-Banished!
She joined a big list of celebrities in welcoming Jimmy Fallon to his new job. And with this quick cameo after so very many years, 80-year-old Joan Rivers has been publicly welcomed back to “The Tonight Show,” hereby un-banished!
Photo Courtesy: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Tonight Show
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From The Ground Up
Some Olympic blunders are horrifying, then sad in their downward aftermath. Others are horrifying, then spectacular in their upward recovery. So it is– the latter– for one American figure skater who suffered a severe wipe out on the ice, looking for a moment like he was finished for the night.
From here, his only way was up. (Photo: Reuters)
Au contraire! To the amazement of the audience– including yours truly in front of the television– he picked himself up to complete what was from then on a seemingly perfect performance, in the end trading the encouragement of onlookers for his own inspiration to us all. An indelible moment it was, and an even better comeback it became– literally from the ground up– for Team USA champion Jeremy Abbott.
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2 Too Many?
Past Meets Present: The 2 Series is here. (Photo: autoevolution.com)
The 2002 has returned, sort of. At least we can say a presumed successor, long-in-coming no less. The fact BMW is offering up the all-new 2 Series speaks to the past as well as the present, no doubt pleasing to all us Bavarian motor historians. Then on the other hand, it’s another similarly styled model yet, hereby completing the debatably long and crowded sequence from 1 to 7, while replacing numero uno here in the U.S. In this regard, is 2 too many? It certainly is hard to tell most BMWs apart these days, after all.
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My New Favorite…
Online discoveries often prove exciting, especially when they involve numerous vintage Mercedes-Benz automobiles in absolutely phenomenal condition. Simply put, my new favorite website has me spellbound!
Click on each car above to link to its showcase page. Photos courtesy MercedesMotoring.com.
- And set aside enough time to explore Mercedes Motoring’s extensive, awe-striking gallery!
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A True Classic Star
From a commendable cast to their colorful characters, the stunning storyline to its sinister setting, along with a steady stream of twists, surprises and laughs, I loved every minute of it. Then I walked away thinking foremost of one gorgeous and timeless automobile– a true classic star who elegantly carried her own weight throughout the film. The 1978 Eldorado Biarritz clearly adds to all things fabulous about American Hustle.
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And Another…
“At 92, she’s defying odds and even setting a couple records. She’s the oldest person to ever host SNL, she’s the oldest Emmy winner in history, and she’s even made it into the Guinness Book for the ‘Longest TV Career For A Female Entertainer.'” (HuffPost, 1/17/14)
Here’s to yet another remarkable birthday for one remarkable lady– and another to come next year no doubt. Happy 92nd, Betty White! You really are “the luckiest old broad on two feet.”
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The Duo Delivers (Again).
They rode their wave of last year’s big success to an encore performance at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards. With their well-scripted one-liners complementing their natural style, the Fey-Poehler duo delivers again!
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Let The Year Begin!
“About how many kilometers did you ride last year?”, I asked him just after our photo was taken. His answer comes out to about three times my amount– that is, what equates to around 310 miles per week to my 110, roughly 1350 miles per month to my 475, and more than 16,000 miles for the year to my less than 6,000. Altogether, it looks like my own dust settles at about 35 percent of his answer to my question: “about 26 thousand kilometers.” Naturally he’s the pro and he’s getting paid; I’m not and I’m not, as reality likes to remind me. Still, it feels good to be more than a third of the way there!
A privilege and a pleasure it was to meet cycling great Peter Sagan at Cannondale’s 2014 team launch party on January 7 at the Canyon Club in Agoura, California. For as exhausted as he and his teammates surely must have been by the end of the evening, together they put on one excellent show for all of us. You won’t find them spinning through the streets of Thousand Oaks for long however, as races are fast underway. We’ll see Peter back here in no time of course, ready to defend his green jersey in the Tour of California come May. For now– one week in– let the cycling year begin, for the pros and all of us somewhere behind them!
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Evolution, Nicely Stacked.
The Mercedes-Benz SL: Evolution proves especially attractive when all generations are nicely stacked together.
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Paying Their Respects.
President Obama, first lady Michelle, former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pay their respects at a wreath laying ceremony in honor of President John F. Kennedy today at his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. Friday marks the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. (Photo: IIP Digital)
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The Naked Sight of It…
Something’s missing, so I thought upon sight of one of the newest TV commercials— it just looks naked. Then upon personal investigation, I quickly assured myself that my sight is well intact.
Cadillac appears to be ushering in another change to its iconic and history-steeped emblem. Notice, the ad tags we’re now seeing show no wreath surrounding the coat of arms. I spotted this nakedness right away– and not to my delight. Apparently some call the discarded element outdated– old-fashioned– obsolete. Well, call me a traditionalist here. As the wreath gives way to a so-called “cutting-edge” image, I’m sorry to see it go.
Take a good look at the above prominent logo, and picture it sans wreath. A naked sight, no?
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Revealed.
The 2014 Amgen Tour of California is already taking shape, with the official route revealed this week. The peloton will once again be rolling through our familiar streets– and we can’t say we didn’t know it!
Click the image for more information.
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Classic, with Class.
Birthdays are typically marked with simple elegance– or if you prefer, elegant simplicity. The latest celebration– not my own this time– proved no exception. The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel remains the classic spot for a classy tribute, surrounded as always by the fascinating ghosts of Hollywood history.
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Avec British Spin…
As we’ve already known for a while now, it will begin in the United Kingdom. While not a first, it’s all the more fitting this time around, given a defending champion of the same nation of course.
Behold, the route for the 2014 Tour de France has hereby been unveiled, avec distinctly British spin.
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Not My Last…
When heading far enough north on I-55 out of New Orleans, you’ll inevitably encounter one historical– and perhaps more importantly, tasty– site that’s a must-stop. I speak of course of Middendorf’s, home of not just what’s been called “possibly the best fried fish in the world,” but also of what yours truly calls unique, delicious and downright worth the experience– the famous turtle soup! While this month marked my first visit to the spirited yet understated establishment, along with my first taste of such a well-known delicacy, at least now I can say it’s definitely not my last, of either. I have a feeling you’ll be saying the same.
Click for more photos.
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A Journey Well Worth It.
“The Nixon presidency is endlessly fascinating, and his taped conversations, even now, are shocking, revealing and addictive.” (7/31/13)
Two out of three’s not bad, so I contemplated in reaction to these words in The New York Times.
The “new” audio-visual elements are indeed revealing, launching any interested viewer onto a potentially addictive historical journey. Shocking, no. Still, despite its expected and obvious editorial slant coupled with some peculiar musical selections, “Our Nixon” is well worth the watch.
Then, what Ben Stein has to say seems well worth the read. After all, there’s of course more than one viewpoint to consider along the journey, whatever descriptive terms one might employ.
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6 Generations of 5
As I researched photos of various car models at work today, this one quickly grabbed and held my attention. It remains by far my favorite of the day, while speaking powerfully to the passage of time without saying a word. Here’s to the evolution of the BMW 5 Series through the years, represented by all six generations in one striking eyeshot. Remarkable, I say.
Ryan R. Sanderson 