One of your finest efforts. As one of the last of those born before the war ended, I seem to have a certain confidence that the world is getting better in many ways that you younger folks have trouble crediting. Probably just me, not really a generational thing. Buck up, everyone, and remember to vote!
Interesting thoughts that resonate with me. Timing is everything. Sadly, the theme of the mostly/sometimes conservative Jones tribe seems to be, "I got mine, screw everyone else" . No vision. No judgement. No moral compass or concern about social justice. No sense of adventure and what could be possible for the greater good with just a little focus and effort.
I'm in the demos but I could have gone with a sib to see Hendrix. I could have gone to Woodstock. Never had trouble getting a factory or service job and was self-employed while still in HS. I listened to early underground FM radio stations. Had a job, bought lids and acid and had been driving a couple years when the gas shortage odd/even days hit. Bought first Led Zep, Black Sabbath and BOC LPs and never even heard of Mac Davis until I had to play Adult Contemporary on the radio starting in 1981. Hell, I lived my year in NYC during the rise of Devo, B52s and the Plasmatics. I may not be typical but I don't believe it was as effed up a time if you knew how to "live mas". BTW, cars did *not* look alike in 1970. We're you even there?
In 2018, I wrote about the decline of car cullture. This was part of it:
The reason may be that while SUVs have been boring and pedestrian for about 10 years, sedans have been boring and downright ugly for 40 years.
Recently, I asked Facebook friends to name the most beautiful car they remembered. All but one were pre-1973.
Toronados, Mustangs, Corvettes, Chargers, GTOs, XKEs. That’s what they loved.
Meanwhile, few sedans, trucks or utility vehicles have been designed with much style since before most people were born.
That means millennials have grown up rarely seeing anything on the road that looks exciting. So of course they aren’t interested in cars.
Style isn’t dead. Open up your kitchen gadget drawer and you’ll see more design excellence in your little Oxo potato peeler than the enormous automobile crouching in your driveway.
From the end of World War II through the 1960s, automobile styling was at its apex. David Gartman, a sociologist specializing in car culture, has posited that people with unsatisfying jobs felt better about life when they bought cool cars — even though they were going into debt to do it.
But as emission reduction and mileage became important, the engineers got more say in what cars were like than the stylists. The design department budgets went way down.
Some auto historians say that in the 1970s, American car companies without their own design direction tried to make their cars look cool and clean like Mercedes. Instead, they wound up looking more like the boxes that a Mercedes might come in, if Mercedes came in boxes.
Just want to say that the SUV became the elite de rigueur transport in Marin SF starting in 1995-6. I was there...26 years ago! Time flies, yes but let's not just make up dates.
Did I mention I was a #LateBoomer ( <coined it ) and named for Christopher Robin so...yeah. Being highly intelligent probably fired up an early precociousness and I got out there and started tearing it up...life, that is. Self-employed during High School beginning frosh year, ok. But everyone (mostly) had the same opportunity. Props to my parents for (mostly) a solid foundation from which to grow. But you know? Not once did either tell me. "You can do anything you set your mind to" or anything like it. I found that out at 22 when a cool employer gave me his copy of TAGR by Nightingale.
One of your finest efforts. As one of the last of those born before the war ended, I seem to have a certain confidence that the world is getting better in many ways that you younger folks have trouble crediting. Probably just me, not really a generational thing. Buck up, everyone, and remember to vote!
Interesting thoughts that resonate with me. Timing is everything. Sadly, the theme of the mostly/sometimes conservative Jones tribe seems to be, "I got mine, screw everyone else" . No vision. No judgement. No moral compass or concern about social justice. No sense of adventure and what could be possible for the greater good with just a little focus and effort.
I'm in the demos but I could have gone with a sib to see Hendrix. I could have gone to Woodstock. Never had trouble getting a factory or service job and was self-employed while still in HS. I listened to early underground FM radio stations. Had a job, bought lids and acid and had been driving a couple years when the gas shortage odd/even days hit. Bought first Led Zep, Black Sabbath and BOC LPs and never even heard of Mac Davis until I had to play Adult Contemporary on the radio starting in 1981. Hell, I lived my year in NYC during the rise of Devo, B52s and the Plasmatics. I may not be typical but I don't believe it was as effed up a time if you knew how to "live mas". BTW, cars did *not* look alike in 1970. We're you even there?
I'm happy for you.
In 2018, I wrote about the decline of car cullture. This was part of it:
The reason may be that while SUVs have been boring and pedestrian for about 10 years, sedans have been boring and downright ugly for 40 years.
Recently, I asked Facebook friends to name the most beautiful car they remembered. All but one were pre-1973.
Toronados, Mustangs, Corvettes, Chargers, GTOs, XKEs. That’s what they loved.
Meanwhile, few sedans, trucks or utility vehicles have been designed with much style since before most people were born.
That means millennials have grown up rarely seeing anything on the road that looks exciting. So of course they aren’t interested in cars.
Style isn’t dead. Open up your kitchen gadget drawer and you’ll see more design excellence in your little Oxo potato peeler than the enormous automobile crouching in your driveway.
From the end of World War II through the 1960s, automobile styling was at its apex. David Gartman, a sociologist specializing in car culture, has posited that people with unsatisfying jobs felt better about life when they bought cool cars — even though they were going into debt to do it.
But as emission reduction and mileage became important, the engineers got more say in what cars were like than the stylists. The design department budgets went way down.
Some auto historians say that in the 1970s, American car companies without their own design direction tried to make their cars look cool and clean like Mercedes. Instead, they wound up looking more like the boxes that a Mercedes might come in, if Mercedes came in boxes.
Well, aero dynamics (and safety?) had everything to do with all cars looking the same.
Just want to say that the SUV became the elite de rigueur transport in Marin SF starting in 1995-6. I was there...26 years ago! Time flies, yes but let's not just make up dates.
BTW..a 1970 (?) lime green, Hemi 'Cuda. 5-6 mpg!
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Well said. I haven’t thought of all that you present so endearingly. Thank you.
Did I mention I was a #LateBoomer ( <coined it ) and named for Christopher Robin so...yeah. Being highly intelligent probably fired up an early precociousness and I got out there and started tearing it up...life, that is. Self-employed during High School beginning frosh year, ok. But everyone (mostly) had the same opportunity. Props to my parents for (mostly) a solid foundation from which to grow. But you know? Not once did either tell me. "You can do anything you set your mind to" or anything like it. I found that out at 22 when a cool employer gave me his copy of TAGR by Nightingale.