Wednesday, March 18, 2026
A M Cassandre poster ad for Bugatti
Cassandre, pseudonym of Adolphe Jean-Marie Mouron, was a French painter, commercial poster artist, and typeface designer.
iconic
It's been too long since I just enjoyed myself looking at cool stuff, instead of trying to put up 10-12 posts in a day so you all have some interesting stuff to browse through during coffee breaks, or, whatever it is that causes you to make time to see what I've posted lately... so there aren't 10-12 posts today, there are half as many as that, but they are just pleasant to look at.
It requires twice as much time to come across stuff I want to post using this method, but it's usually more relaxed, less news, and more visually appealing
when on the topic of blowers, here's one brand that is never mentioned... Bowers. Bowers Blowers, was a prominent name in the racing industry before being acquired by The Blower Shop in 1984.
cap that with a magnesium Enderle bug catcher, and you're doing even better
While on the topic of blowers, the Roots Brothers invented this design, and why call it a blower?
The Roots brothers designed it as an air conveyor to supply blast furnaces and ventilate mine shafts. Hence, blowing air in
Patented in 1860 by Philander and Francis Marion Roots
loving this, and missing working with machine shop guys.
I have one Starrett product not in this display case... a steel ruler. Damn right I snapped that up at a swap meet. Might never use it, but after the zombiepocalypse, someone will find it and rebuild the world, perfectly square and measured exactly to the micron
By the way, I love displays of tools, and Starrett. I have a couple micrometers, a set of adjustable parallels, that steel ruler, a depth gauge, and a dial indicator
something I hadn't heard of until now... when breaking free a seized engine, consider the aluminum oxide. Lubricant type rust penetrators, they won’t dissolve aluminum oxides
Kroil, PB Blaster, and trans fluid will do nothing about aluminum oxide, and so, once you've soaked the cylinders in those, and it won't budge, try cleaning those out, and then giving white vinegar a try for the same amount of time
another new to me tip is to make a plate to fit over the cylinder and use a portapower to hydraulically push the piston, if all else fails
https://www.facebook.com/groups/496619540483459/permalink/4166880593457317
see https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/10/penetrating-oils-compared.html for a comparison of penetrating oils
I love well built things, interior decorating done right, wood panel accent trim, crown molding, etc etc so this diner interior is just the sort of place I'd like to be! Skee's Diner, Torrington, Connecticut.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=26768315062772173&set=pcb.4242448769329378
But the story is quite unique:
The Torrington Historic Preservation Trust is interested in offering the right "entrepreneurial spirited" person an opportunity to build, own and operate their own classic American Diner/Restaurant in downtown Torrington, CT.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
the under-21 truck driver pilot program was a complete failure. Only 80 even bothered to apply
“Large motor carriers have long peddled the thoroughly debunked myth of a driver shortage to promote policies allowing them to hire the cheapest labor possible in order to maximize their profits,” OOIDA wrote in comments signed by President Todd Spencer. “This includes efforts to lower the minimum age for driving interstate to 18 years old.”
Dolly Parton has announced a groundbreaking partnership to rebrand and expand the Tennessean Travel Stop network.
Parton, no stranger to life on the road after decades touring in her signature bus, emphasized the personal touch behind the project. “I have spent the bulk of my life on the road, and more specifically on a bus,” she said in the announcement. “I believe we will fill a void out there on the highways, all while bringing the heart and soul of Tennessee.”
The Cornersville site will remain operational during renovations, ensuring minimal disruption for drivers on Interstate 65. Looking ahead, this flagship serves as a proof of concept, with plans for additional locations rolling out across Tennessee and potentially nationwide throughout 2026. Features will include state-of-the-art facilities tailored to truckers’ needs, such as ample parking for semis, quick-service eateries with Southern-inspired menus, and retail showcasing local Tennessee products, from artisan crafts to snacks that evoke home.
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dolly-parton-launches-truck-stop-venture
the Hassan Brothers, tow truck company owners, were busted for defrauding workers’ compensation insurers of nearly $6 million in premiums.
The scheme involved underreporting payroll by over $13 million and using "shell companies" to hide employee wages and avoid tax withholdings.
a California Department of Insurance investigation revealed they reported only $3 million in payroll when the actual figure was over $16.7 million.
Mark Hassan, who operated numerous towing businesses across Los Angeles—including Hadley Tow, Courtesy Tow, and California Coach Towing—held active contracts with several Southern California law enforcement agencies at the time of his arrest.
For three years straight, lag bolts have been the most common thing left behind by Burning Man attendees who are too lazy or stoned to remove the tent stakes.
Volunteers found 2,304 lag bolts, tent stakes and pieces of rebar embedded in the hardened mud this year, an increase from 1,508 in 2024.
That's 52 percent more.
The BLM inspects 120 sites on the festival’s grounds. If 12 or more of those sites fail the agency’s requirements, Burning Man risks losing its privileges to use the desert for future events.
Just seven of the 120 sites inspected failed to meet BLM’s standards.
70,000 people attended Burning Man last year
You're about to hear a lot of groans, moans, and bellyaching from New Yorkers... the mayor just decided that 24/7, 365, the speed limit in New York school zones - is 15 MPH.
“If this were really about protecting the children, why would it be 24 hours a day?”
His new push will lower 20 mph speed limits in roughly 700 school zones, and establish 100 new 15-mph zones by the end of this year.
Altogether, 15 mph speed limits will come to 800 more school zones – or 1,300 citywide – by the end of 2026, officials said.
The new limits will become official after a 60-day public comment period, officials said.
City Department of Transportation officials will eventually expand the lower speed limits to all 2,300 public and private school locations across the city when Mamdani’s first term ends, the mayor said.
city officials going back decades have supported lowering speed limits to 15 mph, including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1999.
https://nypost.com/2026/03/16/us-news/mayor-zohran-mamdani-will-lower-speed-limits-to-15-mph-in-school-zones-sources/
an organized diesel fuel theft scheme in Northwest Florida knew how to use super magnets to get the fuel pump to dispense without counting the gallons
5 arrested, on felony tampering with a fuel pump.
The guys were caught on surveillance footage filling up multiple semi trucks with diesel fuel.
How the hell did the engineers who designed the pump, not notice that they had ferrous materials, (which are needed to create sparks, and are magnetic) in a part of the pump system where someone could use a super magnet to get free fuel?
A driver in Los Angeles was ticketed for using a jacket carefully wrapped around the front seat with the seatbelt fastened across it to resemble a person to cheat carpool lane laws
Congrats and happy 30th anniversary to King Shocks!
Every component sold by King Shocks is manufactured in their California workshop, and it's a privately owned company - there is no corporation cutting corners so shareholders get rich, and customers get screwed
Monday, March 16, 2026
Linda Vaughn was discharged last wed, from the hospital after a heart attack in Feb, at Daytona following Darrell Gwynn‘s celebrity fishing tournament.
She underwent surgery on February 14 at Halifax Hospital
She remained under medical supervision for several weeks before being discharged on March 11 and continuing her recovery outside of the hospital.
ordinary vehicles can be far more interesting when a great artist draws them
The white accents really makes the 3d affect pop
I wonder how many cars Ford has given away? This 64 was given to Nelson Rockefeller at the '64 New York World's Fair
1984 Ford F-250 XLT Dually With 28K Arizona miles heading to Mecum, featuring an eight-foot bed, overhead lights, tool boxes, new Firestone tires, and a gooseneck hitch/receiver setup.
powered by a International 6.9L V8 diesel engine, mated to a four-speed manual transmission. It feeds off dual fuel tanks, and there are dual batteries as well. Otherwise, the seller has added a new brake booster and master cylinder, and both batteries are brand new, too.
How did this make 42 years old without getting any more miles than this?
Sunday, March 15, 2026
there will be better banners!
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But the number of great ones is less than a quarter of all the ones I post. That's why at the end of the year I do a best of.
interesting 31 Cadillac that was one person's pride and joy, but will a buyer on Bring a Trailer think it's worth more than 10k? Thank you Doug!
I was at my rental garage, about to change my oil, and Nick drove up with his families 71 Nova... first cool old car to drive up the alley I have a rented garage in, in years.
It's the first time he's driven it over here to where he lives, and he's going to look for a garage for rent to get it off the street
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