So much to see in this world of ours . . .

The Sunsphere - 1982, Knoxville, United States - 1982 World's Fair result.

" as fleet as the wind and as graceful as swans"

They are the stars of the sea. Star Clipper and Star Flyer are as fleet as the wind and as graceful as swans.

Inspired by the tall ship Preussen, the Royal Clipper has the proud distinction of being the largest and only five-masted full-rigged sailing ship built since her predecessor was launched at the beginning of the last century. With her complement of 42 sails, Royal Clipper is a splendid sight to behold.

You might think she was an apparition from the grand age of sail, but Royal Clipper is as new as tomorrow, boasting state-of-the-art navigation systems and every comfort and luxury one could wish for. For connoisseurs of sail cruising, the 439 foot Royal Clipper offers the ultimate sea-going experience, balancing the grandeur, adventure and tradition of sailing with the superb service, amenities and accommodations of the finest modern yacht. Royal Clipper carries just 227 guests in luxurious style. A full 19,000 square feet of open deck and three swimming

pools create a wonderfully spacious and expansive outdoor environment.

 

http://www.starclipperholidays.co.uk/SHIPS/STAR-FLYER/Overview.aspx

Western Scrub Jay

Myanmar (Burma)

 

Looks like a new Las Vegas casino but with class.

The Huracán

The Lamborghini Gallardo has soldiered valiantly for the last several years of its decade-long run, with special edition upon special edition making the very most out of its now aged platform. But the Gallardo's time has come. A new Lamborghini has arrived. The Huracán.

To be precise, it's the Huracán LP 610-4. As you suspect, the 610 references the car's horsepower, though as usual, it's metric, so the American horsepower figure is closer to 600. Nevertheless, the 5.2-liter V-10 that produces the power, which arrives at a screaming 8,250 rpm, now benefits from direct fuel injection and also generates 480 pound-feet of torque.

In the Huracán's 3,140-pound chassis, that 600-horsepower V-10 is, as predicted, matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and capable of accelerating you to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds--a figure that's likely to brush against the 3.0-second mark in the real world when the measure is 60 mph. Keeping your foot to the floor, 124 mph arrives in 9.9 seconds, and, if you have the nerves--and the nearly limitless closed course--for it, the Huracán will carry on to a top speed of more than 202 mph.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/12/20/lamborghini-huracan-lp-610-4-storms-in/

"an underwater observatory"

Eilat is a city in the most southern part of Israel. 65,000 people live in Eilat (as of 2007).
Eilat is at the southern end of the Negev Desert and the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. It is an important port for Israel. Ships bring many products to Israel from the Far East and other places here.

Many tourists from Israel and other countries visit Eilat to enjoy the desert views, beaches and all-year warm weather. The temperature can easily reach more than 40 °C (104 °F) in summer and 21 °C (70 °F) in winter. The sea water is between 20 and 26 °C (68 and 79 °F). Coral reefs grow in the sea near Eilat and people can see them by scuba diving or from an underwater observatory.

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilat

2013 BMW i8 Concept

The BMW i8 specifications sheet reveals an equally impressive and innovative technology.  Acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) comes in under five seconds while offering a fuel in the European cycle of under three liters per 100 kilometers (approx. 94 mpg imp). These figures are currently beyond the capability of any vehicle powered by a combustion engine. Thanks to its large lithium-ion battery which can be charged from a domestic power supply, the BMW i8 Concept can travel up to 35 kilometers (approx. 20 miles) on electric power alone. Passengers� high comfort levels remain a priority for BMW and the 2+2-seater offers enough space for four people, giving it a high level of everyday practicality.

BMW i8, with its innovative plug-in hybrid concept, combines the modified electric drive system from the BMW i3 Concept � fitted over its front axle � with a high-performance three-cylinder combustion engine producing 164 kW/220 hp and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) at the rear. Working in tandem, they allow the two drive systems to display their respective talents to the fullest, delivering the performance of a sports car, but with the fuel consumption of a small car. 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=bmw+18+concept&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=aVH&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=i1GZUtDdIZLvoATpmYKwDw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1120&bih=702#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=J5t7vLJqr9lAlM%3A%3B5ZDDt5w39ClPOM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F4.bp.blogspot.com%252F-qGI31w-8QqI%252FTjM5nq-k1WI%252FAAAAAAAACr0%252FPCv-Is6ZwGs%252Fs1600%252F2013-BMW-i8-Concept%252B%252525284%25252529.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fautoforcar2013.blogspot.com%252F2011%252F07%252F2013-bmw-i8-concept.html%3B1600%3B1077

Honda FCEV Concept teases 2015

Inside the HONDA FCEV there’s space for five, thanks to a more power-dense fuel-cell stack that, despite being a third smaller than before, now has a 60-percent higher power density. The whole powertrain can now fit under the hood, rather than being spread out through the car.
Honda is keen to point out that the FCEV Concept is, just as its name suggests, a concept and not exactly what the eventual production car in 2015 will necessarily look like. Still, that road-going version will take cues from the concept.

https://www.google.com/search?q=honda+fcev&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=nvb&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=402ZUq6pAYPioATM_oGwDQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1120&bih=702#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=OOGySUFWhMtONM%3A%3BLZ5pb9WGhOcUkM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcdn.slashgear.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F11%252FHonda_FCEV_Concept_04.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.slashgear.com%252Fhonda-fcev-concept-teases-2015-fuel-cell-car-21306488%252F%3B1280%3B839

Not Just Your Typical Fairs And Festivals in Mexico

Fairs and festivals celebrating everything from saint's days, to animals, to death are a daily fact of life in Mexico. US travelers are familiar with many of them, from Cinco de Mayo to Day of the Dead to seemingly endless Christmas celebrations. But many of Mexico's events are either not well known or are simply unlike anything you'll find in the rest of the world.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=11976254#editor/target=post;postID=7824271451530373568

History Abounds . . .

The photo above shows the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. William the Conqueror built the original White tower in 1078. The tower began as a royal residence and was converted to a prison around 1100. The tower was expanded numerous times throughout the 12th and 13th century to become what we see today, a massive fortress looming over the river Thames. The Tower of London is haunted by some of the most famous names in England’s history including Thomas Becket, Henry VI, the Two Princes and Queen Anne Boleyn.

http://www.medievalarchives.com/2010/10/31/medieval-archives-podcast-episode-10-the-tower-of-london/

Could you ask for more ???

Steven Harris Architects designed the Surfside Residence on Montauk Point peninsula in New York. The home has private access to a beach, heated swimming pool, spa and best of all an amazing view looking out over the ocean. Talk about a dream home.

"the fairy tale castle“

Neuschwanstein castle is perched above Hohenschwangau, near Füssen in Southern Bavaria. Its construction started in 1869 on orders of king Ludwig II of Bavaria, who idealized a Middle-Ages chivalry castle.

To this day, it is one of Germany's most renowned monuments, attracting over a million tourists every year. Often described as "the fairy tale castle“, Neuschwanstein opened for visitors just 7 weeks after the king's death. It still amazes today by what were technological exploits of the times: it featured a central hot air heating system, hot running water, a meal elevator, as well as the telephone.

http://www.baviere-quebec.org/archives/wsd/00275/index.php.en

Style Counts

Takashi Kobayashi built this tree-house tea house worthy of Dwell magazine at the Niki Club in Nasu, Japan. 

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-lh-the-tree-houses-of-takashi-kobayashi-20130221,0,642630.photogallery

2014 Mercedes-Benz S550

The last word in luxury limos hasn't been spoken until Mercedes-Benz has had the floor. Herr Dr. Benz’s firm was making the preferred shipping containers for the mostly unelected elite when Audi was merely a business plan, when BMW was in the bubble-car business, and when the word “lexus” was just badly butchered Latin. No company in this market has more experience catering to finicky buyers.

Thus does Mercedes now deliver its latest take on the executive-level sedan after just about everybody else, from Hyundai to Hongqi, has taken a shot. Over the years, Benz and its closest competitors have reduced power, handling, and comfort to commodities. Supplying them in overabundance is the table ante now, so the strategy with the new S, code-named W222 and initially available in the U.S. as the S550 and S550 4MATIC, has been to think of what else the rich desire even before the rich think of it themselves. 

For example, absolutely nobody knows he needs two reverse gear ratios or stereo-speaker mood lights in seven driver-selectable colors. At least, not yet. Or seat coolers that suck (air) for four minutes before they blow, which does indeed chill your sweaty backside more quickly. The “hot-stone massage” feature, also optional, feels as if somebody were poking you with warm snooker balls. And the softer pillows on the headrests of the two optional, electrically reclining “executive” rear chairs are like dunking your head into clotted cream. Americans even get special maxi air conditioning that can channel a nor’easter at your chest, something Europeans hate, apparently. 

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-mercedes-benz-s-class-s550-first-drive-review 

Proposed San Diego Luxury Highrise

This is a very large, impactful project for Downtown San Diego.  The lead architects on the project, Kohn Pederson Fox have a worldwide portfolio of landmark buildings.  The proposed San Diego tower, as shown above is that kind of iconic 21st century architecture in San Diego.

The mixed use Bosa proposed San Diego Tower will be built on just under one and a half acres.  It is proposed to be 450 feet high, and will include 232 condos ranging from 956 sf one bedrooms to three bedroom homes of over 2,000 sf.

http://www.welcometosandiego.com/2012/05/41-story-san-diego-condo/

" Best in Class for the Post War category"

It wasn't the world-record speed Norman Dewis was traveling at in 1953 that gave him pause, or that the Lucite canopy on the custom-built Jaguar XK 120 had no clearance for a helmet, or that his engine was spinning above the safe limit.
It was that his two timed 172-mph runs on a clear October day in Jabbeke, Belgium, attracted so many onlookers that they walked right up to the edge of the pavement along the two-lane stretch of highway to get a better look.

"I thought, hooo, this is dangerous," recalled Dewis of his record-setting run.

Now a spry 93 years old, Dewis was on hand in Carmel with a restored version of the Jaguar he drove back in 1953. The car was shown at Quail Motorsports Gathering, where it won Best in Class for the Post War category.

It is now being offered for sale privately.

Built in 1953 to set the world record for fastest vehicle over a full mile of driving, the car was a heavily modified XK 120.

Flat panels were bolted to the underside of the car and over the passenger seat to reduce drag, and the canopy was pulled off a glider plane and bolted to the car. The life-long Jaguar test driver also had to remove the car's seat to fit inside the cockpit, and instead drove the car while sitting on pads.
To set the world record, Dewis and his team had to run the car on a five-mile stretch of road in Belgium. Two miles were used to get the car up to speed, one full mile was needed for the car's actual timed run, and another two miles were used to slow the car.

As is the case with record-setting runs today, Dewis and the Jaguar team had to make a pass in both directions. The two times were then averaged.

Though Dewis' official speed was 172.412 mph, such a high speed wasn't the team's goal that October. Just several weeks earlier, a Spanish Pegaso had set a record of 155 mph. Beating that time was the only goal for Dewis and Jaguar.

Curiously, Dewis' car didn't have a speedometer and he had no idea how fast he was going during both passes.

His only goal was not to blow the engine, which his mechanic had told him would likely happen if he ran the car above 5,800 RPM. Yet during the run, Dewis said the car was at top speed closer to 6,300 RPM. Nevertheless, he kept pushing.

It wasn't until he pulled over at the end of both passes that he was told just how much faster his speed had been, Dewis recalled.

Pulling back the clean canopy and popping out of the stifling hot cockpit, Dewis was greeted by his ecstatic crew chief.

"Norman, you bugger, you know what you've done?" he said as he bear-hugged Dewis.

After this pass, the Jabbeke course was shut down for timed world record runs, citing safety concerns. The car was returned to its original specifications, and sold to a private owner.

Over the years, it changed hands several times before ending up with its current owners. They then had the car's body completely recreated, though the chassis remains original.

The work took about 18 months and over 6,000 hours, according to Los Angeles-based co-owner Jeff Lotman. He's entertaining any offer above $3 million for the car.

For Dewis, the Monterey Classic Car Week was a reunion for him and the restored XK 120, as it's the first time he's seen the car in decades.

"I can't believe it's so representative of the original," Dewis said, shaking his head as he looked at the car. "It is perfect."

And much easier to stare at when it's not moving.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-520e94d1/turbine/la-jaguar-xk120-speed-record-1953-pictures-201-007/582

T K O !!!

Justin Timberlake released a new single, "TKO," from his album "The 20/20 Experience -- 2 of 2," due out Sept. 30. (RCA Records)

Paul Conrad

Honoring Bob Meistrell

Hundreds gathered in the water south of the Redondo Beach pier Sunday for a memorial paddle out and scattering of ashes to honor the late Bob Meistrell.

http://tbrnews.com/news/redondo_beach/the-long-goodbye-community-pays-tribute-to-bob-meistrell/article_a2681620-20b9-11e3-bff2-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=image&photo=

"compact crossover"

The Nissan Juke is a compact crossover with one of the most bizarre, distinctive designs in this decade. It comes with available four-wheel drive for those who deal with inclement weather, and it really doesn’t look like anything else on the road.


http://www.thecarconnection.com/cars/nissan_juke