Tag Archives: cars

“Planes” Flying to Theaters in August

We can’t escape “Cars.”  The film, my least favorite of Pixar’s (well, technically “Cars 2” would win that dubious honor), continues to be so popular, mostly through merchandising, that Disney keeps putting it front and center.  The latest way in which the company is doing so is with a new movie, due out this August. The new film isn’t really a sequel or prequel to “Cars.”  It’s more of a related film in the same general universe.  The primary difference in “Planes” is evident in the title.  “Planes” will be about the world that goes on above that of the … Continue reading →

In Memoriam 2012 – Part 3

Not even halfway through 2012, and there’s already been a lot of celebrities we’ve lost this year.  Here’s some more: May 2012 2 – Patricia Medina – Natural Causes (92) Medina appeared in many films in the ‘40s and ‘50s including Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion, Plunder in the Sun, Fortunes of Captain Blood, and Phantom of the Rue Morgue. 2 – Junior Seau – Suicide (43) Seau was an NFL linebacker who played for the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots.  He was elected to the All-Pro ten times, the Pro Bowl … Continue reading →

Car Pet Restraints

Do you use a pet restraint when you take your dog or cat in the car with you? I’m wondering because a couple of weeks ago when I went with my friend Karen to the Nashville Humane Society (NHS) they had a variety of suggestions posted for taking care of your pet. One of them was to always make sure to restrain your pet while traveling in the car. I don’t restrain Murph at all when he’s in the car with us. I do put both Tabby and Mr. Meow in their kitty carriers when I take them to the … Continue reading →

Jay Leno to Lose Rare Car?

If you know anything about late night host Jay Leno, you know he loves to collect cars. He purchased a rare 1931 Duesenberg roadster formerly owned by Macy’s heir John W. Straus – or so he thought. (This image is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.) Today, a lawsuit was filed by Straus’ daughter Wendy Lubin saying that Leno was illegally sold the car in a sham auction that was held while Straus, who died in May of 2008, was suffering from dementia. The car, along with a 1930 Rolls Royce, was stored in a Manhattan garage. Straus had … Continue reading →

Move Over, Batmobile!

My dog Miko loved my old station wagon. It was a Ford Country Squire LTD — a huge island of car with wood paneling, pleather bench seating and lots of windows. Miko would stand on the armrests and stick his head out the open window and “surf” while I drove. The station wagon I have now (a Hyundai Elantra wagon) is somewhat smaller, but still has plenty of room for Moose and Lally to ride along. Moose often sprawls out on the back seat while Lally hops over the seat into the back of the car and makes a nest … Continue reading →

Fake Speed Bumps Coming Soon to a Road Near You

(Photo by AP news) What if you were driving along a quite road near your home or a busy street in an unfamiliar town when you suddenly noticed three pyramid-type structures or boxes sticking up in the road ahead. Chances are that you would immediately put on the brakes and slow down to avoid running hard over the objects. But, once you actually rolled over them, you would soon discover that these obstacles were actually fake speed bumps applied into the road. This newest technology of fake speed bumps consist of orange, blue and white plastic that sits flat and … Continue reading →

Save Money on Gas—Buy a New Car

I’m sure you’ve seen them by now… those new commercials from car companies offering cheap or free gas to anyone willing to buy a new vehicle. With a gallon of regular unleaded gas going for about $4 these days the ads got me thinking about whether the deal really could help save money. For those of you who don’t watch TV on a regular basis there are two major auto manufacturers who are currently offering gas incentives to anyone who purchases a new car in the next few weeks. For example, one commercial claims if you buy a Chrysler, Dodge … Continue reading →

Pixar: Where Math Meets Reality

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I remember being in high school algebra class and wondering: “how am I really going to use this in the real world?” I don’t think I was the first math student to wonder such a thing, nor was I the last. It seems that there are even more reasons to take those math classes today than there were in the 1980’s. On Thursday, April 3rd, a scientist from Walt Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios will talk to Hamilton College students about “Math in the Movies”. Tony DeRose heads the research group at Pixar. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics and … Continue reading →

Does “E” Really Mean Your Car is Empty?

With the price of gas hovering dangerously close to $4 a gallon around here I am tempted to see how just how much farther my car could go once the needle on the fuel gauge hits “E.” Of course, any car expert would give you a laundry list of reasons why this is not a good idea. Still, I must admit there were a number of times in college when I pushed my poor car to its limit and rolled into gas stations on fumes. Which begs the question: Just how far can you drive once you hit “E?” I … Continue reading →

How Old Are Your Favorite Disney Films?

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I have a special little cupboard where I keep all of our Walt Disney children’s classics. OK, it is a pretty big cupboard and it is loaded with both DVDs and VHS tapes. Truth be told, I started collecting Disney movies long before I ever had children. Heck, I was collecting them long before I ever met my husband! I love the Disney classics and even some of the more recent children’s movies made by Disney/Pixar and I love that my kids are enjoying them too. The funny thing about Disney movies is that I could probably tell you where … Continue reading →