The Better Half got this photo of an exceptionally clean 1959 Chevrolet that passed us in traffic this morning. I normally pixelize the license tags on vehicles shown here, but I didn’t think that this one would reveal any secrets we don’t already know. Clickable image - check out the little scale model of this very car displayed in the back window.
The Better Half snapped this as we passed the classic Packard. It’s not as pristine as some of the old classics we see around town and could use a little TLC. It’s in good enough condition that it would clean up really nice.
This car reminds me of the 1937 Packard I remember my folks driving when I was a small child. Theirs was an old car by the time I was riding in it. Clickable image.
A restaurant in the downtown area of our city procured a vintage Chevrolet fire truck and fixed it up. The better half took this picture last year before the decals and detailing were done at a local restoration shop. The name of the restaurant is Buffalo Fire Department.
Clickable image: BFD Fire Truck
I couldn’t find a good shot of the post-restoration truck in the archives, but the inset should give you an idea of how the decals look. The restaurant is behind the red façade across the street.
If I were these guys, I’d be wearing ear and eye protection. If I were the guy in front, I’d need gloves to prevent blistering from holding the hot barrel.
Saturday, February 6, 2010 marks the 99th birthday of President Ronald Wilson Reagan, one of three great presidents whose birth is celebrated this month. Washington and Lincoln were born in February and it’s fitting that Presidents Day is also celebrated on the fifteenth of the month.
Image - President Reagan fielding questions from the White House press
Rather than trying to describe this great man to you on this anniversary, I’ll let him speak for himself by offering some of his most famous and endearing quotations.
On the second amendment . . .
“You won’t get gun control by disarming law-abiding citizens. There’s only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and the criminals, lock them up, and if you don’t actually throw away the key, at least lose it for a long time… It’s a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun controllers. I happen to know this from personal experience.”
On entitlements and Government control . . .
“I would suggest that no one should have a vested interest in poverty or dependency, that these tragedies must never be looked at as a source of votes for politicians or paychecks for bureaucrats. They are blights on our society that we must work to eliminate, not institutionalize.”
“It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work - work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.”
On conservatism in politics . . .
“Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors, which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?”
On American Pride . . .
“We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.”
“Why should we be frightened? No people who have ever lived on this earth have fought harder, paid a higher price for freedom, or done more to advance the dignity of man than the living Americans, those Americans living in this land today.”
And then there was always his sense of humor . . .
“Republicans think that every day is the 4th of July, while Democrats think it is April 15th.”
“You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”
“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
“Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born.”
“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I’m in a cabinet meeting.”
“Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.”
“Détente is what a farmer has with his turkey until Thanksgiving Day.”
From the 1992 Republican Convention . . .
“And whatever else history may say about me when I’m gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty’s lamp guiding your steps and opportunity’s arm steadying your way. My fondest hope for each one of you — and especially for young people — is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill.”
And Finally,
“I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to every life.” — Epitaph, Tomb of Ronald Reagan
UPDATE: Linoge points out that the expression “damn sight” is perhaps a bit too anachronistic for younger readers (see his comment below). In the context above, it means there is a significant effort remaining.
I got this poster today in an email from a former colleague, who correctly observes:
These were [created by] our parents. What in God’s name have we let happen?
I guess we are the last generation to see, or even remember anything like these [posters]? Whatever happened? Political correctness (or “re-education”) happened, lack of God’s name happened, lack of personal responsibility happened, lack of personal integrity and honesty happened, lack of respect and loyalty to our country happened, lack of being an American happened.
The Obamination and many in power in both houses of Congress seem to want the “Fight for America” and “Fight the Enemy” spirit to disappear. They demonstrate this by reading Miranda to terrorists, prosecuting men and women in the armed forces for “crimes,” and staging massive terror “circus trials” in order to demean the War on Terror.
Much of the WWII “get behind the troops” spirit seems to be gone.
(As an aside, note the venerable 1911 pistol the soldier in the poster is holding.)
Seen at the supermarket today. A 1959 Edsel Ranger, four door, powder blue with white trim. For a fifty year old car, it looked like new to me.
I remember when the Edsel first came out. I was visiting with my uncle in Colorado and he took me and my cousins to a tented showroom grand unveiling - or something like that. I remember that they were giving stuff away to us kids and little else except for the funny toilet seat-looking grill.
Clickable image credit - the Better Half.
