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I am done with this blog.  Blogging is over for me; three years was enough.  Bye.

Motoring on July 4

I post merely to drop the Elizabeth Edwards story off the top of this blog.  I'm on the Cape, enjoying vacation.  I'm running every day, driving every day, drinking every day (that comes after the driving), and trying to figure out if there's some way I can paid for this behavior.

I just took my BMW out of storage.  It's a '94 325ic with all the options (except auto tranny), a Supersprint exhaust (great note) and a Vortech supercharger.  Dyno'd at 299, it's a fun car.  You can hang with M3's that think they're about to wave goodbye.  Still....

Having driven my Carrera all spring, I now think of the BMW as my sporty little beach car.  The Carrera eats it for lunch.  As in: I thought I was fast, but I wasn't.  I imagine this is what Carrera Turbo owners experience after they upgrade.

My son calls our three cars the "sports car," the "sporty car," and the "family car."  He's dead-on.

I'll be driving the Porsche to the July 4 parade, my children in back, coffee in one hand and wheel in the other (sacrilege, I know, but it's a Tip and we're in no hurry).

Happy birthday to America.  (Yes, the "y" is white.)  The current tyrant notwithstanding, this is a wonderful place to live.  If you live in America, you should be thankful.

I am.

Elizabeth Edwards Supports Gay Marriage

ABCnews.com had that headline.  In other shocking developments, "Bill Clinton Supports Voting Rights For Blacks," and "Michelle Obama says Jews Should Be Allowed to Own Property."

The Democrats should be clear and united on gay marriage: it's a civil right.

Of course they're not clear and united.  They'll screw up the 2008 election just like everything else.

Lewis Hamilton Won the U.S. GP at Indy

As foretold here, Lewis Hamilton won the 2007 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  That was a good prediction on my part and, as I also said last week, "Having seen him race, I say he's the next world champion.  I doubt anyone can catch him."

I stand by that.  Hamilton is Formula One's next World Champion.  Simply awesome.

Gay Marriage in Massachusetts

151-45.  That seems a little weak, but I'll take it.  Those 45 state reps were in favor of letting the people vote on someone's civil rights.  Civil rights should not be put to a popular vote.  Still, the right side won, so I guess I'm quibbling.

I hate this state sometimes.  I hate the taxes.  I hate the Mass Pike.  I hate the corruption.

But I love the fact that we told the "family values" people, and especially Ronald Crews, to go fuck themselves.

UPDATE: if you want to see bigotry revealed, read Howie Carr's Herald column today.  What a complete asshole he is; I never quite realized.  (BTW, Howie, that was democracy in action - representative democracy.)

Carpundit At the Canadian Grand Prix

Let's get one thing out of the way: it's incredible that Robert Kubica survived the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.  His accident, about halfway through the race, took the wind out of the crowds' sails - at least out of the sails of the sober, which included me.  I wish F1 had announced something; the uncertainty was the worst.  I hope he's back soon.  Now to the actual race.

It was clear, from Lap 1 -when Alonso went off course in a desperate bid for first- that Lewis Hamilton was going to win.  His speed through Turn One (Senna Corner), where I sat, was noticeably and significantly faster than anyone else's.  He had the car and the course mastered, and his driving was amazing.  Simply amazing.  Having seen him race, I say he's the next world champion.  I doubt anyone can catch him.

At left is Lap One, Turn One.  Click for larger, as always.  That's Alonso going off, overdriving the corner as he would three or four times in the race.  Hamilton is the lead car (from pole) of the pack properly on course.

At right is Alonso's second or third agricultural excursion.  He simply couldn't drive that turn as fast as Hamilton.  He may have psyched himself out, or pushed too hard trying to catch his team's number two.  It must be tough to be reigning world champ and have your own teammate showing you up.  So far in 2007, Hamilton's a better driver.

Let's see what happens at Indy.  I predict Hamilton wins.  He's had a taste, and he's that good.

Carpundit at the Canadian Grand Prix of 2007

The McLarens rounding the first turn on a gorgeous Saturday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in practice for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.  Later in the day, they qualified in spots one and two for the race.  In this photo, Alonso is ahead, but that's not how the qualification turned out.  Race day tomorrow, with perfect weather forecast.  Hamilton's on the pole.

Boston From the Sky

Fenway Park and the Charles River Esplanade on a hazy day.  Click for larger.

Hiatus

This blog will be silent for a while for a Carpundit sabbatical.  I'll drop the occasional post, but not daily.  Check back every now and then, or add me to your aggregator.  Thanks for reading, and happy motoring.