Roger Moore “A touch of class”

Rog I recognize The Saint, The Persuaders, Bond, ffolkes, and The Sea Wolves. Props to the artist!

On April 3, the Passat broke the 30-million-model mark for production in the Volkswagen plant at Emden. VW claim that no other mid-range model globally has been sold more than the Passat . The 30,000,000th vehicle was a Passat GTE Variant with a plug-in hybrid drive finished in Pyrite Silver Metallic. Volkswagen launched production of the first Passat models in its Wolfsburg plant on May 14 1973 

Thirty million Volkswagen is probably right with that claim. Most mid-size ranges have had name changes during their run, even if they are part of a single lineage (e.g. Ascona–Vectra–Insignia; Taunus–Sierra–Mondeo), and very few have been built on as many continents for as long. Even Toyota and Nissan cut short the lives of their mid-range cars, the Carina, Corona and Bluebird.

Why Methodology Matters

In 1936, Literary Digest magazine polled 10 million people using the telephone and its mailing list to try to predict the outcome of the United States presidential election, more people than in any previous presidential election survey. Their results indicated that Alf Landon, the Republican candidate, would defeat Franklin Roosevelt, the Democratic candidate, by a margin of 370 electoral votes to 161; however, in the election, Landon was trounced by Roosevelt by a margin of 523 electoral votes to 8, at the time the largest landslide in a contested presidential election.

Where did Literary Digest go wrong? Well, it was conducting its survey during the Great Depression, a time when telephones and magazine subscriptions (like the Literary Digest) were luxuries for many if not most Americans. Those who could afford such luxuries leaned Republican. But they made up a small proportion of the US population, which overall leaned Democrat.

Getting the result you want Sounds like a Dominion Post or Newstalk ZB poll.

CHRYSLER BUILDING, Art Deco Skyscraper, New York City, 1930

Chrysler Building Remember when Chrysler was a force to be reckoned with?

Pontiac G6, 2010. The final one-hundred 2010 Pontiac G6 sedans moved down the line on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 in Orion Township, Michigan. These were the last Pontiac vehicles GM produced. (production line photos by Steve Fecht for General Motors)

We built excitement Rather undistinguished styling, in my book, but it was a sad day when this brand came to an end. People my age have positive impressions of Pontiac thanks to its placements in TV and film culture of the 1970s (CHiPs, The Rockford Files, Smokey and the Bandit, The Hunter) and 1980s (Knight Rider).

As Justin Trudeau’s government has used anti-worker ‘back to work legislation’ today to end Canada Post’s strike (where workers were striking for improved safety, better work-life balance and wage-equity), lets remember that if it wasn’t for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and their workers at Canada Post, none of us would have Maternity Leave today.

Workers Rights are rarely given. They are hard fought for.

Workers’ rights A reminder.

Ford Thunderbird & Thunderbird NASCAR, 1983

T’bird’s the word The Aero ’Bird looked so futuristic when I saw it for the first time. And to think that underneath was the same platform as the Box ’Bird. When will car makers give us efficiency and aerodynamics again?

Marilyn Monroe photographed by Douglas Kirkland for Look magazine on November 17, 1961.

Douglas Kirkland: “She had a robe on, and she took that robe off and got in under the white silk sheets. I just want to tell you, I was 27, but I was mentally 17. As I say, I’d had a very small town background and here, the superstar of all superstars was five feet away from me; I could reach out and touch her, and as she slipped into the bed I saw parts of her body that I couldn’t believe I’d ever see.

Marilyn was so sexual, very sensual. At one point she suggested that we should do something more than just talk, in other words, embrace each other. This is where my small town boy came in, I acted like I didn’t understand, I was embarrassed. I looked down into my camera and just kept shooting pictures, over and over, as quickly as I could. I think that’s why the pictures are so strong, because that sexual desire was channeled into the camera instead of into action.”

Marilyn Legendary and sexy.

Rolls Royce 1701 ‘Experimental Speed Car”, 1911. The first Rolls Royce to exceed 100mph was based on the Silver Ghost. The 1701 was driven from London to Edinburgh and back using top gear only and averaging fuel consumption of more than 24mpg. The car was then driven at Brooklands, achieving over 78mph. Later, when fitted with a ‘wind-cheating’ single-seat body, the 1701 recorded a speed of 101mph over the flying half-mile at Brooklands driven by E.W. Hives, eventually destined to become Chairman of the Rolls-Royce company.

Lower and longer Even in 1911 they figured out that going low helped performance. Which makes me wonder about SUV buyers.

Yes, Increased profits Will Create More Jobs and Higher Wages!

Bullshit!  Not in A Republican Universe!

Phroyd

Increased profits actually DO CREATE JOBS!

WHEN THERE IS 75% TAX ON BUSINESSES!

Because if they invest in factories, jobs training, new materials, etc they get to write off said income and pay lower marginal tax rates.

Aka what happened in america between 1940-1985

NEVER LET THESE FUCKERS TELL YOU ITS SOCIALIST PROPEGANDA; ITS THE ECONOMICS THAT BUILT MODERN AMERICA!

Tax A reminder of how it worked (even here in modified form, before the monetarists got their way totally).

Like I don’t know what else you people need

White men to not be the political power majority.

Where was this when all the white boys on my fb were offended that I said I was more likely to die at the hands of a white boy than anyone else

Bleak It’s like whites causing so many car accidents here (and white tourists lead the tables as well), yet the media go on about ‘Asians’, and the stereotype remains to this day. Great way for some to avoid responsibility.

Mercedes-Benz C 111/II, 1970. One of a series of experimental C111 prototypes that were used by Mercedes to evaluate different possible future drivetrains. The C 111/II had a 4-rotor Wankel engine. It helped to convince Mercedes not to switch to rotary engines

C111 One of my favourites from long ago. I still have a lovely toy model of one.

i have a deep respect for scotland because i was at an ireland vs scotland football match and their chant was “we hate england more than you”

one time at a germany vs scotland game some german fans started the “stand up if you hate england” chant and the whole stadium stood up

WHAT DID WE DO?!

When old people in England complain about all of the immigrants, I always reply:

“Well then perhaps England shouldn’t have run around the planet sticking its dick in every bloody country. Inviting them over for tea is the least England can do.”

Britain, Britain, Britain This is something certain Brexiteers do not seem to get. But then, based on first-hand experience, and as a British subject, Britain has practised apartheid for ages.

Tweet 1:

Things not looking good for Millennials. A chart shows that the average income for people between the ages of 25 and 34 have made only $34,000/per year from 1977 until present day.

Tweet 2:

The price of a loaf of bread in 1977 was 32 cents. The price of a loaf of bread in 2016 was $1.96. But sure. Let’s keep paying people to write articles about how out generation is at fault for society’s problems.

The 1970s are still with us Even those of us who are older aren’t seeing meaningful rises in income. The system is broken and millennials are not to blame.

Pablo Picasso’s postcard to Jean Cocteau, 1919 (via here)

On the back of a postcard Almost a shame we don’t really send postcards much these days.

Quantum Europe: Europe redrawn using the longest-lasting borders between 1000 and 2000 AD.

Quantum Europe What an interesting concept for a map.