UN Chevrolet Caprice

Realizing this doesn't look like much of a car, I must defend (and honor) this Caprice. Cheap high gloss black paint job, Police Interceptor badge from a Ford, ex-cop car with giant anti-sway bars, tinted windows, cop hub caps with stainless beauty rings and a UN sticker in the rear window. Hard to imagine a sticker could elevate a car so much but, there it was! A crackpot nut, a wanna-be diplomat, a prankster, completely random or all the above? I found it really inspiring.

Harbor Freight Contractor Series

I recovered an old bike saddle with a Kate Spade knock-off bag as a fabric donor. I must admit, I was capably assisted by my garage sale find Harbor Freight Central Pnuematic Contractor Series staple gun. However, that Contractor Series tag does give pause.

It may as well say, "I am an idiot."

Recovered Saddle

Blessed Tool Box

I am happy with how this turned out.

We Loan Tools on Coco's Variety

Apologies (and thanks) to those that read Coco's and D+R

Suspended Sonnet

Stopped by Chris and Jeremy's shop today and they were busy hanging a Saab Sonnet body from the ceiling. Chris pointed out the merits of anything that is that big and that orange. Good point.

The Literary Demands of eBay Sellers

You know the situation. Based on a picture on eBay, you find something that you would like to make room for in your life. Following a single incomplete descriptive sentence with four ellipses, the demands start.

I have enough rules in my life. Perhaps, if the conditions for sale were presented in 12 point type, I would be able to comply with their eBay Nation of Me. Instead, I think, "dammit, I have enough stuff. They can stick it in their ear."

Maker Faire 2010

This weekend! I will be there, will you? If you see me, please say hello! In addition to wandering around, I will be MCing the Center Stage.

Who else is going? D+R's own Mark Frauenfelder. D+R guest Garth Johnson will be and I think D+R guest Kevin Kidney will also be making the scene. And I wouldn't be surprised to see D+R guest Todd Lappin.

Ultradeluxe, Deluxe Version

Following my post on the ultradeluxe rattle can gold package, David of the Hemmings blog has taken to testing our patience by withholding full details about this 24K plated Austin Healey. We are waiting for further information with great anticipation.

1958 Austin Healey 100-6

Ultradeluxe

This is not one of my vehicles but does look like something I would do. That is not, necessarily, a compliment.

Searching and Replacing Jobs' Flash Statement

Steve Jobs wrote a well-reasoned argument for Apple's resistance to Flash. I thought it was articulate, clear and technical without being overly so. I found myself nodding along. He doesn't sweep Apple's propriety systems under the carpet, he acknowledges them right up front.

However, a big chunk of his criticism could be equally applied to Apple's own policies. For kicks I did some search and replacing:

• Replace Adobe with Apple
• Replace Flash with closed, as a catchall for Apple's myriad of closed technology

Of course, Job's statement is very specific to Flash technology so the search and replace is not seamless, but it does create some funny paragraphs.

Before:

Adobe’s Flash products are 100% proprietary. They are only available from Adobe, and Adobe has sole authority as to their future enhancement, pricing, etc. While Adobe’s Flash products are widely available, this does not mean they are open, since they are controlled entirely by Adobe and available only from Adobe. By almost any definition, Flash is a closed system.

After:

Apple’s closed products are 100% proprietary. They are only available from Apple, and Apple has sole authority as to their future enhancement, pricing, etc. While Apple’s closed products are widely available, this does not mean they are open, since they are controlled entirely by Apple and available only from Apple. By almost any definition, closed is a closed system.

I like that last sentence. Wish I came up with it.