And our classical gas for the week:
So on we go, in similar vein:
And speaking of mansplaining, here are a few who could use a good talking-to:
… Are you ready for bow hunting season?
Month: October 2025
Classic Beauty: Carole Landis (2)
We’ve looked at 40s-era actress Carole Landis before, but I think she’s worth further study:
As she approached 30, Carole started to despair that she was getting too old to get decent roles, so she committed suicide, at age 29. This pic is reputedly the last one ever taken of her, and I think it speaks for itself.
Tragic.
Men Who Know About Cars
Your task for today, should you accept it: listen to two very knowledgeable men talk about cars, the people who buy them, and the changing market.
Consider this homework for the next post, to be written next week.
(Those aren’t the actual cars under discussion, just representatives thereof.)
About That OTA Software Thing
Loyal Readers will remember this little rant of mine about stupid car manufacturers:
And while we’re on high-level fools in Big Auto, ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Stellantis.
And heeeeere’s the latest from this clown car maker:
A recent software update to the Jeep Wrangler 4xE plug-in hybrid has reportedly caused major malfunctions, leaving many owners stranded and some in potentially dangerous situations after their vehicles were “bricked” by the botched upgrade.
The Stack reports that on Friday, Stellantis released an over-the-air (OTA) software update for the uconnect system, which is installed in various Jeep Wrangler 4xE — the company’s plug-in hybrid model. However, the update contained bugs that caused vehicles to malfunction or become “bricked” if owners installed it. Bricking is technology slang for a device rendered completely useless by an upgrade or software change. The issue quickly became apparent as numerous Jeep owners across the United States reported problems with their vehicles following the update.
Loyal Readers will also recall that I have ranted frequently and angrily about this automotive software issue, so I’m not going to repeat that familiar theme. Suffice it to say:
No electronic / software doodads, powered by a modern VW engine (more powerful than the original Porsche one), stick shift; and all at a price that’s much less than any entry-level Porsche on the market today.
Okay, to be fair: I have never been a potential buyer of any Jeep Wrangler of any vintage, and if you add battery power / software to the equation, exponentially less so.
And this, the latest-but-by-no-means-last episode of stupidity, simply increases my hostility to the cars-as-software-platforms concept.
Fuck ’em.
Sad Trend
I read this article with a great sense of sadness:
Founded in 1759 by the pioneering Josiah Wedgwood, the housewares brand quickly rose to prominence, earning fans in high places. Its elegant, often hand-painted china was used in Buckingham Palace, the White House, the Vatican, and even the Kremlin.
But fast forward to today, and once-prized porcelain pieces that were lovingly gifted at weddings, and saved for anniversaries and Christmas dinners are gathering dust, or worse, going for pennies on online marketplaces.
The sparkle has well and truly faded for the formal dining crockery, pieces that once fetched hundreds of pounds are now struggling to sell at car boot sales, with some saying they can’t even ‘give the sets away’.
Why?
Expert and prolific author on ceramics and glass, John Sandon, who makes regular appearances on the BBC Antiques Roadshow, revealed the decline in demand for traditional porcelain is less about quality and more about shifting cultural attitudes. He told the Daily Mail: “Most people consider their best china and family inherited crockery is ‘old fashioned’, whatever that means. Most old sets are regarded as impractical for everyday use, and very, very few people want to use them.”
Reflecting on changing attitudes toward inherited tableware, John noted the growing disconnect between sustainability messages and modern family preferences. He added: “The much quoted ‘Antiques are Green’ message has tried to emphasise that old china sets are the ultimate recyclables. And Granny’s china sets should be used. But most modern families don’t want to.”
Highlighting the gap between appreciation and practicality, John pointed out that admiration for antique ceramics doesn’t always translate into everyday use.
“Not using your old china tea services and fruit sets is nothing to do with the reason people choose plain white from Ikea and The Range instead of very expensive Wedgwood.”
One of my abiding regrets about emigrating was that I couldn’t bring over my (inherited) dinnerware with me. What was it?
It was Wedgwood Signet Platinum, and it was the classiest, most elegant dinnerware ever.
At dinner parties, even my rowdy, uncouth friends would comment on how lovely it looked, and how it set off the meal perfectly.
It’s profoundly sad, but not altogether surprising, that people nowadays would rather use cheap shit from Ikea or Walmart than bother to put out a decent table setting for their guests. I guess that utility wins over style and grace.
I think I’ll go and eat some worms. Off a paper plate.
Breaking Down The “Decline”
We’ve all seen the nonstop headlines claiming “Las Vegas is in Freefall” “Vegas is Dying” and “Vegas is Finished and Will Never Recover.”
All of which is a gross exaggeration.
First of all, Vegas is plenty busy- just like always. Just a little less busy than last year. Revenues are down single digits from last year- which was one of greatest years in the history of Vegas.
Well, to accountant types, all growth must continue and in fact increase, regardless of circumstance. Which is a decent reason to beat accountants to death with clubs.
But compared to last year (the best year in history) business is down this year, and Vegas casinos are laying off employees. That part is true.
So, what exactly is happening? Why is business down this year? The mainstream media would never understand this, but this is another classic case of Republican success versus Democrat failure.
Not all of Vegas is down. Only the Vegas Strip is down. The off-Strip and suburban casinos and hotels in Vegas are booming. Why? What’s the difference?
The reason why is simple. All the major resorts on the world-famous Vegas Strip are owned and operated by Democrats — mostly Ivy League-educated Democrats from Wall Street, who know nothing about gambling or tourism.
And here’s the good part:
MGM is run by Democrats. Caesars is run by Democrats. Harrahs is run by Democrats. Wynn is run by Democrats (since they ran brilliant Republican billionaire Steve Wynn out of town). Even Venetian sold out to Apollo Global Management based in New York, since the death of brilliant Republican billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
Not only are the Strip casinos run by dumb, clueless Ivy League Democrats, but most of them sold the land under their casino-resorts to Blackstone- Wall Street firm that now charges them obscene annual $100 million to $300 million land lease charges.
But the off-Strip casinos and resorts are almost all owned and operated by Republicans.
Station Casinos is booming- the Republican Fertitta family owns them. The downtown Golden Nugget is booming- it is owned and operated by Tillman Fertitta- a Trump Republican who is now President Trump’s Ambassador to Italy. Boyd Casinos are booming. They are run by the Boyd family- who gives mostly to Republican candidates and PACS. South Point Casino is booming- it is run by the Republican Trump supporter Michael Gaughan.
And the details:
The Vegas Strip resorts run by dumb, clueless Democrats from New York are all charging rip-off rates. Parking your car is now $50 at any Strip hotel. Two martinis cost $80. A nice meal costs $500. Resort fees will run you up to $100 extra a day on top of room charges. At MGM properties a bottle of water in your minibar might cost you $25. And here’s the craziest rip-off of all: MGM (run by a bunch of dumb Democrats) now charges $25 extra for room service if you want knives, forks and napkins.
Putting Manhattan cost structures into a Western desert town.
On the other hand, at any of these off-Strip and suburban resorts owned and run by Republicans, the parking is free, the meals are reasonable, the room rates are inexpensive, and they have movie theatres, bowling alleys, food courts and babysitting. Anyone can afford a fun night out on the town! It’s still like “old Vegas.”
I have to stipulate at this point that I cannot stand Las Vegas: Strip, off-Strip, suburban, whatever. Every time I go there — once because I’d never been there before, the other times on business or to attend a conference — I couldn’t wait to leave, couldn’t wait to get on the plane, get in the car, whatever. Nothing about the place attracts me, and just about everything in the place repels me. In my own parlance: I’d rather watch an F1 Grand Prix race at Spa Francorchamps, in the chilly rain, than the one in Las Vegas.
But as a case study in how to screw up a good thing, modern-day Vegas is surely an excellent example. As Wayne Root memorably puts it:
Personally, I preferred the Mafia. They knew how to treat customers.