Marc Marquez earns a comfortable pole position with blistering pace around the Aragon circuit. His brother qualified second, with Morbidelli 3rd, and Bagnaia a fairly good 4th. KTM riders made a good showing with 37 & 33 in 5th and 6th, Quartararo was unable to make another pole or front row down in 9th after serious grip issues coming on throttle during practice Friday put him behind pace despite coming through Q1.
The sprint race mostly went as expected minus Marc having wheel spin on launch, with no help from a tear-off as happened last season, and running behind Alex for a few laps until an easy overtake. He would then leave his brother over two seconds behind! Marc wins at a favorite track of his, Alex finishes second, and a late charge from Fermin Aldeguer makes for a Ducati podium sweep. Pedro Acosta had his highest sprint, I think, finish in 5th for this year. Where did Pecco go? He plummeted out of the points places to 12th! A disastrous result for him with 14 GPs to go and an already huge points gap to first in the championship.
In the race Marc Marquez had no wheelspin and sinply took off to a commanding lead which he managed to perfection. Alex Marquez, nothing if not consistent, came to a second place and fended off the surprise third place finisher. Pecco Bagnaia turned things around and managed to find feeling and speed - feeling better every lap - enough to secure bronze and buoy his hopes going into Mugello, a track at which he has a good record.
The rest of the runners - Acosta finished fourth and improved on his sprint placement. Fermin Aldeguer was unable to duplicate his results from the sprint but had a long back and forth battle with Morbidelli banging and pushing one another. Fermin called it quits presumably because it was more important to finish then continue fighting the utlra-aggressive Frankie. Joan Mir a) finished a race b) managed to be well inside the top 10 with a 7th. Bez, high on life after a surprise win thanks to Quartararo's mechanical issue, blew qualifying and started from 20th! He finished 8th in sprint and race. Quartararo's woes continue with a crash to take him out of the race.
Where, oh where, was Samkiat Chantra? Well, if you've been reading other reports your guess is correct. Last.
Moto2 continues to provide solid competition and I continue not to know enough about the riders to be truly invested.
Hello. My name is Chuck, and I am a recovering Rush fanatic. I own every album the band released except Caress of Steel (because no. Just no.), and many of them in multiple formats (vinyl, CD, hi-res digital download). I also have the deluxe anniversary versions of the seminal albums, and quite a few bootlegs. So it warms my heart to see you write about _A Show of Hands._
_A Show of Hands_ is a great live album because it provides the best from Rush's synth-heavy Peter Henderson / Peter Collins produced albums. It's the only post-Signals 80s Rush that anyone but the most hardcore fan needs. For years it was all I could listen to from that era.
That said, once I was firmly into middle age, I came to appreciate _Hold Your Fire_, and think it is among Rush's best albums (we will put aside "Tai Shan."). I'll even commit the ultimate heresy and say it is better than _2112_ (and I'll double down by saying side two of _2112_ is better than side one, and that "Something for Nothing" is one of the band's best tracks from the pre-Permanent Waves era.) It certainly is among its most under-rated albums. Lyrically, Neil Peart showed real growth as he wrote about getting older and settling down. It was introspective, and explored personal growth, emotional nuance, the complexities of interpersonal relations, and philosophical inquiry. His cynicism - always a big theme in earlier work - was tempered with optimism, and he seemed like a man who was content with his life. It is, to my mind, among his best albums from a thematic and lyrical standpoint. The music was also more lush than the band's earlier work, and it provided emotional and textural depth to suit the lyrics.
I've had a similar reassessment of "Entre Nous" from Permanent Waves. For years I thought it was Neil's weak attempt at a love song. But the longer I'm married, the more I've come to see it as a reflection on marriage, and how you can know someone but also, sometimes, not know them.
Presto is where the band lost me. I tried again with Roll the Bones but didn't buy another Rush album until after they'd hung it all up and, in a fit of nostalgia, I started exploring some of the albums I'd skipped. Presto has a couple of solid songs - the title track, The Pass, Superconductor (which seems so prescient) - but is, on the whole, skippable. "Dreamline" from Roll the Bones may be the best thing they recorded after Hold Your Fire, and Bravado is good but the rest is utterly forgettable.
I've never listened to an album released in the 90s more than a few times, though I've got a soft spot for "One Little Victory" because it marked the band's reunion after Neil's hiatus. I've listened to Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels once each.
Moot now, but a concert that would have done great fan service would be a playlist of only deep catalog stuff, with a rule of never having been played live. Not an easy feat, since they will pull one from the back for just about every show. In a small venue and high ticket price, it would still sell out.
I agree absolutely, but also can't see the band having ever done that. It definitely reached a point where it made a conscious decision to mine the rich vein of nostalgia and put away as much money as possible. You can really only do that playing the hits.
That said, I did appreciate that the R40 concert went backward through the catalog and played songs from every album.
Probably. I can only assume they got screwed on royalties and make their money on tours like most bands. Still....there are enough Rush nerds that would have paid more than Taylor Swift money to hear 'I think I'm going bald' in a ~1K person venue in maybe 10 cities.
Why does everyone hate Tai Shan so much? I mean it’s not their best, but it’s certainly not their worst. I can’t help but feel like a lot of people dislike this song because it’s about China. Tai Shan is not an endorsement of Chinese communism or the PRC, and is clearly about the history of an ancient civilization and the people that have suffered within it throughout the centuries. I find it sad and moving in it’s message, with melodies to support it.
Anyway, I agree with you that Hold Your Fire is one of Rush’s best. It’s well written both musically and lyrically, the song arrangement results in a pleasing flow without any “filler” songs (even Tai Shan is good!), and the production is top notch. To me at least, this is when Rush was at their zenith writing and performing. Everything after this was on a downward slide with a few blips showing flashes of the old genius.
my problem with Tai Shan is the lyrics lean heavily on tropes and stereotypes of Chinese mysticism and imagery (the first verse for example: High on the sacred mountain / Up the seven thousand stairs / In the golden light of autumn / There was magic in the air) and the song lacks any real emotional punch, and the music is uninspired.
that last point is probably due to the fact both Geddy and Alex have said they could not relate to the song because it spoke so specifically to Neil's journey through China. and that, ultimately, is the song's biggest problem: It's by and for Neil. it's essentially a journal entry set to music.
Yeah, but I don’t mind the occasional journal entry from Neil, no matter how cheesy (and I admit Tai Shan is somewhat cheesy. It’s just that there’s good cheese and bad cheese, and I happen to like some of the good cheeses 😁). I just fucking wish we could get new journal entries from him.
Did automotive journalism ever tell "the truth about cars"? We like to think of the 70s and 80s as a golden age of automotive journalism, but here's a Chevy dealer training film featuring the editors of Road & Track creaming themselves over the 1972 Camaro. The gushing starts at 2:20:
TLDR; Jack, I’m shocked you didn’t say the real reason the Waymos burned: They are covered in cameras, and Waymo isn’t shy at all about selling/ providing the footage to law enforcement and whoever else is paying. Ergo, burn ‘Em. Take care, hope your issue gets cleared up.
Really enjoying the Seagull though. I should have bought the leather band. I’ll like it even better once I find the right cordovan for it. Meanwhile the green with red strap looks like I’m sending a signal, which I’m not.
Winds down a bit quicker than I expected, which is going around I guess.
I love my Seagull... it is so much more watch than the price would suggest.
As for bands, check out The Strap Tailor. British guy who makes absolutely beautiful bands. You can get 'off the shelf' bands or have him make something to order. I bought a blue ostrich shin leather band for my grandfather's 1963 Longines and it's stunning. He's a bit pricey (I paid $170 or so) but worth it.
If Seagull ever gets the 1963 Moonphase (with the green dial) back in stock, I'm gonna get a green ostrich shin band for it.
Still in love with my Citizen Ecodrive diver. Only time I have to think about it is at the end of months with less than 31 days and I have to adjust the date. Otherwise, fades into the background, ie is perfect.
"I’m not eager to discuss the Los Angeles situation here"
i dont know about anyone else here but when i saw mexicans hoisting the mexican flag in proud defiance of america law and order i realized they really hated america but not so much they wanted to return
the optics and memes have been interesting and finding out whos on the side of the hecking alieninos is illuminating at times
being in la right now is almost as hand as being jd vance watching his two dads fight publicly on twitter
"They gave it 1.5 stars. (This week, they gave Miley Cyrus four stars.)"
... he moves freely, unconstrained by borders or conventional opinions ... owing no loyalty to causes, -isms, or temporal, artificial lines on (what they call) maps ... he is ... what destiny calls him to be ... Speed ...
they don't hate America. they're proud of their heritage and angry about being targeted for the color of their skin and their ethnic background. I know and interact with a metric shit ton of Mexicans (I live in Oakland) and, to a person, they are hardworking, decent people. I haven't heard a single one of them disparage the United States. (Trump is another story, but Trump and United States are not synonymous.)
Are there some criminals among them? of course. Just as there among every other demographic in this country.
I'm not here to defend illegal. immigration, or say it isn't a problem. but you can't paint an entire population with the same brush.
It's a live show from early 1971 that was released as part of the 50th anniversary reissue of American Beauty. It's a notable show because about five songs had their public premieres but as I was listening to the Darkstar/Wharf Rat/Darkstar medley I thought, "No wonder why they picked this show."
Your comments about people being dependent on Waymo, and their ability to turn it off at a whim, reminded me exactly how I felt commuting by way of Chicagoland’s Metra train circa April 2020. Maybe it’s not such a hot idea to be solely dependent on transit as a service provided by others. Fortunately I had three cars to also rely on, but it forever cured me of the idea that I’d primarily depend on public transport.
I've flown to NYC a few times lately. The last two times my flight back home was seriously delayed. I'll admit that I felt mildly panicky at the idea that I had no way to, er, Escape From New York.
The home (stake in your community) and car (freedom of movement) are the twin pillars of not owning anything and being happy. Take away those and the rest is easy.
I purposely bought my house in DuPage County because it was 2 blocks from a Metra station. But it was so depressing after a long day of work when they would have problems on my line and Union Station would be a shit show.
And I have to say you are scaring me with all the bad health talk.
You best not die on me!
I NEED your prose in my life!
Your articles are one of the few joys I get from the outside world that does not involve me making myself happy through my own activities.
Your insight on so many varied topics brings me much joy. I am sooo very happy I discovered you on Substack and subscribed to your paywall content, it is pure gold!
I was lucky enough to see Rush live on Power Windows, Presto, Roll the Bones, and Test For Echo tours. You are so right about having a band write about things other than “Silly Little Love Songs”, I mean, holy crap(!), they created absolutely jamming rock songs about such diverse topics as: Escaping a Nazi concentration camp, a dystopian anti-auto future, living in the suburbs, the Manhattan Project, hero worship for people who are not really heroes, the Zen of living in the now, taking nothing on faith, and evil corporations running the planet, just to list a few.
I agree. I have followed Jack from way back in the good/bad old days and always enjoyed his work. His work is the best email that I get each week. Albeit a low bar for sure.
Not gonna comment too much on the LA protests here because I don’t feel like arguing with people who can’t sway my opinion and whose can’t be swayed by me.
Will say though that calling Waymos just to light them on fire is objectively funny as hell.
There's not really a coherent message... or definable ideology. It's not "pro-immigrant", or "anti-capitalist". It's simply the coordinated effort of societal subversion by the California government, and the willing participants of a state in its death throes...
There's no real fix to this, even from a leader Trump who - despite his faults - at least continually demonstrates a willingness to fix problems in good faith...
...but ask yourselves: other than those who live in the Los Angeles area, do you really care? Do you care that this is the 5th or 6th time LA has done this? Do you care that California voters chose the leadership that delivers this? Personally... I don't give a fuck.
I do care: the American people had the opportunity to choose between the Biden/Harris Open Border and the Trump border control policy, and resoundingly chose to send a strong mandate for the latter. And now when ICE does come to LA, apparently to investigate cartel money laundering and tax evasion, they face violent resistance.
This is not about regional accents, regional foods, or sports loyalties: It's a combination of an Invasion, Insurrection, and Civil War, and warrants great concern. It's bad enough that we share a long border with narco-state Mexico: allowing MS-13 and Tren de Aragua to maintain an operating base anywhere within our territory is a serious problem.
The rate and number of deportations; the continuation of 45 immigration policies that “the Left” deplored; and **especially** the terms and demise of the Lankford bill put this characterization in comedic light.
Versus how many the Biden (Harris) administration let in? I mean, maybe I'm misinformed here, but I do believe the US has absorbed a net gain of illegal immigrants...
1) From Day 1 of the Biden/Harris administration, there were unprecedented rivers of illegal migration that shocked even CBS mouthpieces when they came to Texas to observe it
2a) The Lankford bill would have dramatically increased the amount of "legal" immigration.
2b) If successful (which is doubtful without executive support), it would have rewarded Biden/Harris with a "win" on solving the crisis that they themselves created, and likely defused any public support for deporting the many millions who arrived during their administration. You are free to sit on your high horse and act like your party never did anything with political considerations in mind, but IMO this was an unwarranted political gift just months before the election. If the bill had been proposed in 2021 or 2022 (and if it were not, in fact, backdoor legalization, which I suspect it was), then I would agree that the R's should put country over political gain. But, given the timing, it would have been wrong to do so.
3) As of 2025, illegal entry at the southern border has almost entirely stopped. This demonstrates that the Lankford bill was unnecessary: all that was necessary was to have a President with the will to close the border.
The Lankford bill would be if a habitually tardy employee told his employer, "If I had a company Ferrari, I would be better at arriving on time." If his replacement was able to be punctual with the same car, it shows that the problem was the former employee, not the lack of a Ferrari.
"The $118.28 billion package’s immigration provisions were negotiated by Lankford, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona. It included $20.23 billion to strengthen border security and stop the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics through the border into the United States.
The package gave the secretary of Homeland Security the power to close the border if more than 4,000 encounters with migrants occurred during a period of seven consecutive days. The border would automatically be forced to close down if encounters with migrants reached 5,000 over seven consecutive days. A combined total of 8,500 migrant encounters would cause the border to be shut down within one day.
The immigration overhaul also included raising the bar for migrants claiming asylum; clarification of the White House’s use of parole authority to grant temporary protections to migrants; and no longer allowing migrants to live in the U.S. while waiting for their case to be heard by an immigration judge.
Source: Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce.
Making law is an expensive pain in the ass and executive orders far less so (at least the pain in the ass part!).
Yeah, it would give the DHS Secretary "the power." Do you honestly think that Alejandro Mayorkas would actually USE that power? No, he wouldn't, because doing so would be in conflict with his goal to have as many illegals as possible enter the US.
That's a great example of why the bill was bullshit, and that we didn't need ANOTHER LAW, we just needed a President with the WILL to ENFORCE existing law and the COMPETENCE to carry it out. Biden wanted more illegals and, even if he didn't, was known to frequently get lost in his own closet. And Kamala supports illegal immigration[1] and has always been a retard.
You’re right that Biden wasn’t about to fan out ICE patrols on the mean streets of MIT, or the Marines to LA. But that’s what you get when you’re trying to make laws through a Constitutional process, as distinguished from mobilizing troops via executive order: a compromised bill— that’d give Kristi Noem the power you reference.
My point is there are no good options here for Trump... there's a zero percent chance of a successful resolution. Deporting 30 mil illegal immigrants was never going to be a realistic outcome... it was always going to be a matter of picking and choosing battles...
Sending in the military will do nothing other than provide opportunities for instigators there specifically looking for a confrontation... the entirety of Trump's political opposition - including governor Newsom and Mayor Bass - are eagerly hoping for an incident that feeds directly into their "authoritarian" narrative...
The people of LA and California did this to themselves... many times, the forest is worth saving... but sometimes, the forest just needs to burn.
"Picking and choosing battles" is a reference to the realistic expectation of dealing with the fact that there are well over 30 mil illegal immigrants in the US... meaning, you can't deport all of them, you have to pick and choose who gets deported...
Not sure I follow... you're saying Trump is somehow going to personally get "9 figures" from his presidency?
Regarding the military, Trump listened to the Democrats and did not deploy the National Guard during the George Floyd Peaceful Protests of 2020, and offered to deploy the Guard on January 6, which Nancy Pelosi rejected. He learned from this mistake to ignore the Democrat politicians, who embrace riots and massive property destruction, and seems to have been able to restore order.
And regarding the 30 million, he started with MS-13 scum like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is probably the frontrunner for the Dem presidential nomination in 2028.
It occurs to me Trump only ever errs by “taking bad advice”— from the Federalists, from “only the best people” he chose for his Cabinet, from Nancy Pelosi.
January 6 was a fucking disgrace, and pretending there’s blame worth the pixels for *Nancy Pelosi* is quite pathetic.
My point (which you are too partisan to accept) is that the deployment of the National Guard is NOT what created the unrest; the President is deploying the guard in RESPONSE to an insurrection. The fact that he is doing it over the objection of incompetent state & local Democrats is not a reasonable objection, since they objected on J6, they objected in Minneapolis, they objected at all of the other Antifa-sponsored riots in 2020.
So the President has learned that, when rioting occurs, he must deploy the National Guard, even though the Democrats will predictably object.
This is NOT just for "tech;" it applies to ALL engineering (including automotive companies), increasingly in accounting, and spreading to other white-collar jobs at a time when "AI" hype is threatening employment.
While I could quibble about some of the details on its return, the Hemi announcement last week was the happiest I've been from automotive news in years.
The biggest thing it gives me is hope. First that a V8 ends up in the Charger and second that development will happen on a next gen eight cylinder.
Hercules and Banshee were to be the next gen mills in that arena, and both were badass on paper. Here's hoping they picked up where they left off...5 years ago.
What would be amazing if Dodge pulled a Henry Ford and offered the Hemi in the new Charger as the lowest cost V8, undercutting the Mustang GT, and then kept lowering the price every year as business allowed.
May seem implausible but this is the same company that did power dollars deals and initially sold a 707 hp car for $55K.
And to the great disappointment of my father in law, best friends, and probably my wife, the second unit would likely be MINE if they have the balls to give me a third pedal.
0-While I have not yet ridden in a Waymo, they are now in service in (in-town) Atlanta. I see them constantly.
1-“I wouldn’t be comfortable wearing a Rolex GMT-Master, it feels too much like a statement of wealth rather than a statement of enthusiasm.”
The most charitable remark I could make about the Seiko described above is that it is an “homage” to a Rolex GMT-Master. When was the last time Rolex created an homage to a Seiko?
No one in your town(ship) will know that your Seiko isn’t a Rolex, unless you tell them. They would probably expect a fancy, big city type of fella like you to own a Rolex, anyway!
The Crown, and it pains me to say this as someone who entered Rolex ownership at the top drawer and departed a few years later with a substantial gain on sale, leads.
'The most charitable remark I could make about the Seiko described above is that it is an “homage” to a Rolex GMT-Master. When was the last time Rolex created an homage to a Seiko?'
I understand your “joke,” if that’s what we’re calling it.
But answer the question seriously: When was the last time that Rolex copied Seiko versus the other way around (which is every day)?
Next you’ll be saying that the C8 Corvette is MORE of a performance car than [fill in the blank with any European exotic that commands multiples of a C8’s price] because it’s more accessible. Government Motors is copying what the Europeans did 10-15 years ago and selling the cars on the basis of magazine numbers, because most Corvette intenders have never been inside a 458 (Speciale) so they don’t have a frame of reference beyond on-paper stats. As discussed elsewhere today.
I observed a Waymo halt - cautiously - in the middle of an intersection (through which it had the right of way) today while a fire truck barreled past. Impressive.
There is a fella who works at my primary cigar joint who rides MARTA to and fro; Waymo was a topic of discussion today, and he asked why it was called “Waymo.” He was stunned to learn that a self-driving Uber costs “Way More” than the human in the loop variant.
The initial plan was to get a 997. Then wait a year or so and pick up a replacement for the A4. But then a Boxster emerged that was too good to pass up: 2007, 6-speed, PASM, complete service records, 49,000 miles, and a Fabspeed MaxFlo exhaust. Black on black, Carrera S Wheels, pretty much as well sorted as a 987 gets. I picked it up yesterday and love it. My 986 is great, but this one is a pretty nice upgrade. And I can replace the A4 in a few months, not a year.
Of course, now I have TWO Boxsters. So if anyone wants a 986 with under 80,000 miles, tires with less than 200 miles, and a brand new top, drop me a line. Asking $12,500, but I’ll throw in a pretty sweet ACF discount.
Great driving roads up there, and perfect for a Porsche. As someone who lives in a very flat state (Oklahoma), I envy Appalachian enthusiasts. I have to drive to NW Arkansas to get nice roads.
They have a few. SE Ohio roads are, on the balance, better maintained. WV roads would be amazing if whole lanes weren’t regularly occupied by 6-foot wide potholes.
That role is reserved for the rusty Frontier, which currently sits in my friend’s side yard after my mother evicted it from the driveway, probably for sticking out like a sore thumb in a neighborhood full of Navigators, GLS Benzes and Cayennes.
How do the Spanish spell Aragon? M-A-R-Q-U-E-Z!
Marc Marquez earns a comfortable pole position with blistering pace around the Aragon circuit. His brother qualified second, with Morbidelli 3rd, and Bagnaia a fairly good 4th. KTM riders made a good showing with 37 & 33 in 5th and 6th, Quartararo was unable to make another pole or front row down in 9th after serious grip issues coming on throttle during practice Friday put him behind pace despite coming through Q1.
The sprint race mostly went as expected minus Marc having wheel spin on launch, with no help from a tear-off as happened last season, and running behind Alex for a few laps until an easy overtake. He would then leave his brother over two seconds behind! Marc wins at a favorite track of his, Alex finishes second, and a late charge from Fermin Aldeguer makes for a Ducati podium sweep. Pedro Acosta had his highest sprint, I think, finish in 5th for this year. Where did Pecco go? He plummeted out of the points places to 12th! A disastrous result for him with 14 GPs to go and an already huge points gap to first in the championship.
In the race Marc Marquez had no wheelspin and sinply took off to a commanding lead which he managed to perfection. Alex Marquez, nothing if not consistent, came to a second place and fended off the surprise third place finisher. Pecco Bagnaia turned things around and managed to find feeling and speed - feeling better every lap - enough to secure bronze and buoy his hopes going into Mugello, a track at which he has a good record.
The rest of the runners - Acosta finished fourth and improved on his sprint placement. Fermin Aldeguer was unable to duplicate his results from the sprint but had a long back and forth battle with Morbidelli banging and pushing one another. Fermin called it quits presumably because it was more important to finish then continue fighting the utlra-aggressive Frankie. Joan Mir a) finished a race b) managed to be well inside the top 10 with a 7th. Bez, high on life after a surprise win thanks to Quartararo's mechanical issue, blew qualifying and started from 20th! He finished 8th in sprint and race. Quartararo's woes continue with a crash to take him out of the race.
Where, oh where, was Samkiat Chantra? Well, if you've been reading other reports your guess is correct. Last.
Moto2 continues to provide solid competition and I continue not to know enough about the riders to be truly invested.
WorldSBK is in Italy at Misano this weekend.
Hello. My name is Chuck, and I am a recovering Rush fanatic. I own every album the band released except Caress of Steel (because no. Just no.), and many of them in multiple formats (vinyl, CD, hi-res digital download). I also have the deluxe anniversary versions of the seminal albums, and quite a few bootlegs. So it warms my heart to see you write about _A Show of Hands._
_A Show of Hands_ is a great live album because it provides the best from Rush's synth-heavy Peter Henderson / Peter Collins produced albums. It's the only post-Signals 80s Rush that anyone but the most hardcore fan needs. For years it was all I could listen to from that era.
That said, once I was firmly into middle age, I came to appreciate _Hold Your Fire_, and think it is among Rush's best albums (we will put aside "Tai Shan."). I'll even commit the ultimate heresy and say it is better than _2112_ (and I'll double down by saying side two of _2112_ is better than side one, and that "Something for Nothing" is one of the band's best tracks from the pre-Permanent Waves era.) It certainly is among its most under-rated albums. Lyrically, Neil Peart showed real growth as he wrote about getting older and settling down. It was introspective, and explored personal growth, emotional nuance, the complexities of interpersonal relations, and philosophical inquiry. His cynicism - always a big theme in earlier work - was tempered with optimism, and he seemed like a man who was content with his life. It is, to my mind, among his best albums from a thematic and lyrical standpoint. The music was also more lush than the band's earlier work, and it provided emotional and textural depth to suit the lyrics.
I've had a similar reassessment of "Entre Nous" from Permanent Waves. For years I thought it was Neil's weak attempt at a love song. But the longer I'm married, the more I've come to see it as a reflection on marriage, and how you can know someone but also, sometimes, not know them.
Presto is where the band lost me. I tried again with Roll the Bones but didn't buy another Rush album until after they'd hung it all up and, in a fit of nostalgia, I started exploring some of the albums I'd skipped. Presto has a couple of solid songs - the title track, The Pass, Superconductor (which seems so prescient) - but is, on the whole, skippable. "Dreamline" from Roll the Bones may be the best thing they recorded after Hold Your Fire, and Bravado is good but the rest is utterly forgettable.
I've never listened to an album released in the 90s more than a few times, though I've got a soft spot for "One Little Victory" because it marked the band's reunion after Neil's hiatus. I've listened to Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels once each.
Moot now, but a concert that would have done great fan service would be a playlist of only deep catalog stuff, with a rule of never having been played live. Not an easy feat, since they will pull one from the back for just about every show. In a small venue and high ticket price, it would still sell out.
I agree absolutely, but also can't see the band having ever done that. It definitely reached a point where it made a conscious decision to mine the rich vein of nostalgia and put away as much money as possible. You can really only do that playing the hits.
That said, I did appreciate that the R40 concert went backward through the catalog and played songs from every album.
Probably. I can only assume they got screwed on royalties and make their money on tours like most bands. Still....there are enough Rush nerds that would have paid more than Taylor Swift money to hear 'I think I'm going bald' in a ~1K person venue in maybe 10 cities.
R40 was an excellent show and a great swansong.
Why does everyone hate Tai Shan so much? I mean it’s not their best, but it’s certainly not their worst. I can’t help but feel like a lot of people dislike this song because it’s about China. Tai Shan is not an endorsement of Chinese communism or the PRC, and is clearly about the history of an ancient civilization and the people that have suffered within it throughout the centuries. I find it sad and moving in it’s message, with melodies to support it.
Anyway, I agree with you that Hold Your Fire is one of Rush’s best. It’s well written both musically and lyrically, the song arrangement results in a pleasing flow without any “filler” songs (even Tai Shan is good!), and the production is top notch. To me at least, this is when Rush was at their zenith writing and performing. Everything after this was on a downward slide with a few blips showing flashes of the old genius.
my problem with Tai Shan is the lyrics lean heavily on tropes and stereotypes of Chinese mysticism and imagery (the first verse for example: High on the sacred mountain / Up the seven thousand stairs / In the golden light of autumn / There was magic in the air) and the song lacks any real emotional punch, and the music is uninspired.
that last point is probably due to the fact both Geddy and Alex have said they could not relate to the song because it spoke so specifically to Neil's journey through China. and that, ultimately, is the song's biggest problem: It's by and for Neil. it's essentially a journal entry set to music.
Yeah, but I don’t mind the occasional journal entry from Neil, no matter how cheesy (and I admit Tai Shan is somewhat cheesy. It’s just that there’s good cheese and bad cheese, and I happen to like some of the good cheeses 😁). I just fucking wish we could get new journal entries from him.
RIP Neil. We miss ‘ya, buddy
https://americanmotorcyclist.com/rock-roller-rush-drummer-neil-peart-lives-for-motorcycles-hes-also-one-incredibly-thoughtful-guy/
Great article. Thank you!
If you haven’t already read them, his books are excellent
Oh that's nothing. The tropes and stereotypes about elvish mysticism on 'Rivendell'... Don't get me started. I'm triggered just thinking about it.
genuinely laughing.
Did automotive journalism ever tell "the truth about cars"? We like to think of the 70s and 80s as a golden age of automotive journalism, but here's a Chevy dealer training film featuring the editors of Road & Track creaming themselves over the 1972 Camaro. The gushing starts at 2:20:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__j5y50sdLY
This is absolutely off-topic, but isn't that what ORT is all about?
Back on topic, I drive a brilliant blue Barchetta from a better - but not yet vanished - time. It's up to us to make sure that time does not vanish.
R&T was always for sale. It was always advertising by another name. The Bond family loved their Newport Beach lifestyle.
TLDR; Jack, I’m shocked you didn’t say the real reason the Waymos burned: They are covered in cameras, and Waymo isn’t shy at all about selling/ providing the footage to law enforcement and whoever else is paying. Ergo, burn ‘Em. Take care, hope your issue gets cleared up.
PINNED this because I'm too stupid to have thought about that, and I'm glad you did!
But does that explain why people "hailed" them from outside the riot area for the sole purpose of burning them?
TBH, I read it somewhere. It’s DTLA, they could have just wandered through? Hell, shadow culture is so pervasive anymore, who knows what is real?
Before I scroll back to read this, I feel obliged to point out that Up yours Jack, I’m not buying another watch.
speak for yourself
the peer pressure is working on me
Thank God I never caught the watch bug.
I have the car bug but my finances don’t permit me to indulge. Also grateful for that. Else I’d be hoarding them.
i too enjoy the benefits of not having enough money
Have you tried hoarding extra parts for the vehicle you already own? 😀
Man, I daily drive a 2005 Honda S2000 and I’m tempted.
good news
a lot of great parts were made for that car so you can mod to your hearts content
I just want to keep it running as long as I can rn. When I’m rich enough maybe drop a 4 piston racing NA engine in it
SO NOTED.
Have I spoken to you about the Orient Bambino?
No, and here’s why: I am not listening to you.
Really enjoying the Seagull though. I should have bought the leather band. I’ll like it even better once I find the right cordovan for it. Meanwhile the green with red strap looks like I’m sending a signal, which I’m not.
Winds down a bit quicker than I expected, which is going around I guess.
We accept all Seagull with strap photos: avoidablecontact@substack.com!
I love my Seagull... it is so much more watch than the price would suggest.
As for bands, check out The Strap Tailor. British guy who makes absolutely beautiful bands. You can get 'off the shelf' bands or have him make something to order. I bought a blue ostrich shin leather band for my grandfather's 1963 Longines and it's stunning. He's a bit pricey (I paid $170 or so) but worth it.
If Seagull ever gets the 1963 Moonphase (with the green dial) back in stock, I'm gonna get a green ostrich shin band for it.
Thanks for the tip!
Still in love with my Citizen Ecodrive diver. Only time I have to think about it is at the end of months with less than 31 days and I have to adjust the date. Otherwise, fades into the background, ie is perfect.
Jack set my heart aflutter for a blue Tudor Black Bay Ceramic, but I am resisting.
For now, anyway.
"I’m not eager to discuss the Los Angeles situation here"
i dont know about anyone else here but when i saw mexicans hoisting the mexican flag in proud defiance of america law and order i realized they really hated america but not so much they wanted to return
the optics and memes have been interesting and finding out whos on the side of the hecking alieninos is illuminating at times
being in la right now is almost as hand as being jd vance watching his two dads fight publicly on twitter
"They gave it 1.5 stars. (This week, they gave Miley Cyrus four stars.)"
but what if she is better
"but what if she is better"
Good god, man, are you really Canadian?
im an online agitator first and foremost
and one of my favorites ...
... he moves freely, unconstrained by borders or conventional opinions ... owing no loyalty to causes, -isms, or temporal, artificial lines on (what they call) maps ... he is ... what destiny calls him to be ... Speed ...
yup thats me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_BdT0DB-0Q
I hope they paid you well to steal your biography like that.
they don't hate America. they're proud of their heritage and angry about being targeted for the color of their skin and their ethnic background. I know and interact with a metric shit ton of Mexicans (I live in Oakland) and, to a person, they are hardworking, decent people. I haven't heard a single one of them disparage the United States. (Trump is another story, but Trump and United States are not synonymous.)
Are there some criminals among them? of course. Just as there among every other demographic in this country.
I'm not here to defend illegal. immigration, or say it isn't a problem. but you can't paint an entire population with the same brush.
I love Rush. I also love both Presto and Roll the Bones. :::shrug:::
Sir, all that means is that you're a true fan!
And this is why I like the Grateful Dead: https://youtu.be/MUobR1J7-WM?list=RDMUobR1J7-WM&t=930
Grateful Dead are a band I couldn't understand for just about forever; then one day, a switch was flipped, and I couldn't get enough.
Truly curious, is this combo or performance known as one of the best ...?
It's a live show from early 1971 that was released as part of the 50th anniversary reissue of American Beauty. It's a notable show because about five songs had their public premieres but as I was listening to the Darkstar/Wharf Rat/Darkstar medley I thought, "No wonder why they picked this show."
When was the last time the Rolling Stone was right about anything?
Your comments about people being dependent on Waymo, and their ability to turn it off at a whim, reminded me exactly how I felt commuting by way of Chicagoland’s Metra train circa April 2020. Maybe it’s not such a hot idea to be solely dependent on transit as a service provided by others. Fortunately I had three cars to also rely on, but it forever cured me of the idea that I’d primarily depend on public transport.
I've flown to NYC a few times lately. The last two times my flight back home was seriously delayed. I'll admit that I felt mildly panicky at the idea that I had no way to, er, Escape From New York.
first, you get a glider ... which are found ALL OVER in the city ... then ....
Authentic LOL.
Call me Snake...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AShPXGlbvbE
SNAAAAAAAKE
The home (stake in your community) and car (freedom of movement) are the twin pillars of not owning anything and being happy. Take away those and the rest is easy.
You're exactly right, I fear.
thats a good one and im going to copy it
I purposely bought my house in DuPage County because it was 2 blocks from a Metra station. But it was so depressing after a long day of work when they would have problems on my line and Union Station would be a shit show.
And I have to say you are scaring me with all the bad health talk.
You best not die on me!
I NEED your prose in my life!
Your articles are one of the few joys I get from the outside world that does not involve me making myself happy through my own activities.
Your insight on so many varied topics brings me much joy. I am sooo very happy I discovered you on Substack and subscribed to your paywall content, it is pure gold!
I was lucky enough to see Rush live on Power Windows, Presto, Roll the Bones, and Test For Echo tours. You are so right about having a band write about things other than “Silly Little Love Songs”, I mean, holy crap(!), they created absolutely jamming rock songs about such diverse topics as: Escaping a Nazi concentration camp, a dystopian anti-auto future, living in the suburbs, the Manhattan Project, hero worship for people who are not really heroes, the Zen of living in the now, taking nothing on faith, and evil corporations running the planet, just to list a few.
Rush is THE greatest band in history.
And keep the watch talk coming.
Oh, I'm likely to stick around. Small chance I won't. Just hedging my bets.
This sounds concerning, have there been any recent health scares?
I do hope you manage to keep all systems functional for a long time yet, my good sir!
I agree. I have followed Jack from way back in the good/bad old days and always enjoyed his work. His work is the best email that I get each week. Albeit a low bar for sure.
Not gonna comment too much on the LA protests here because I don’t feel like arguing with people who can’t sway my opinion and whose can’t be swayed by me.
Will say though that calling Waymos just to light them on fire is objectively funny as hell.
Re: LA Riots version... uh... 5.0? 6.0?
There's not really a coherent message... or definable ideology. It's not "pro-immigrant", or "anti-capitalist". It's simply the coordinated effort of societal subversion by the California government, and the willing participants of a state in its death throes...
There's no real fix to this, even from a leader Trump who - despite his faults - at least continually demonstrates a willingness to fix problems in good faith...
...but ask yourselves: other than those who live in the Los Angeles area, do you really care? Do you care that this is the 5th or 6th time LA has done this? Do you care that California voters chose the leadership that delivers this? Personally... I don't give a fuck.
I was thinking of this also; we should start using "Riotiads" like "Olympiad."
I do care: the American people had the opportunity to choose between the Biden/Harris Open Border and the Trump border control policy, and resoundingly chose to send a strong mandate for the latter. And now when ICE does come to LA, apparently to investigate cartel money laundering and tax evasion, they face violent resistance.
This is not about regional accents, regional foods, or sports loyalties: It's a combination of an Invasion, Insurrection, and Civil War, and warrants great concern. It's bad enough that we share a long border with narco-state Mexico: allowing MS-13 and Tren de Aragua to maintain an operating base anywhere within our territory is a serious problem.
>>Biden/Harris Open Border
The rate and number of deportations; the continuation of 45 immigration policies that “the Left” deplored; and **especially** the terms and demise of the Lankford bill put this characterization in comedic light.
Versus how many the Biden (Harris) administration let in? I mean, maybe I'm misinformed here, but I do believe the US has absorbed a net gain of illegal immigrants...
My understanding is:
1) From Day 1 of the Biden/Harris administration, there were unprecedented rivers of illegal migration that shocked even CBS mouthpieces when they came to Texas to observe it
2a) The Lankford bill would have dramatically increased the amount of "legal" immigration.
2b) If successful (which is doubtful without executive support), it would have rewarded Biden/Harris with a "win" on solving the crisis that they themselves created, and likely defused any public support for deporting the many millions who arrived during their administration. You are free to sit on your high horse and act like your party never did anything with political considerations in mind, but IMO this was an unwarranted political gift just months before the election. If the bill had been proposed in 2021 or 2022 (and if it were not, in fact, backdoor legalization, which I suspect it was), then I would agree that the R's should put country over political gain. But, given the timing, it would have been wrong to do so.
3) As of 2025, illegal entry at the southern border has almost entirely stopped. This demonstrates that the Lankford bill was unnecessary: all that was necessary was to have a President with the will to close the border.
The Lankford bill would be if a habitually tardy employee told his employer, "If I had a company Ferrari, I would be better at arriving on time." If his replacement was able to be punctual with the same car, it shows that the problem was the former employee, not the lack of a Ferrari.
"The $118.28 billion package’s immigration provisions were negotiated by Lankford, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona. It included $20.23 billion to strengthen border security and stop the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics through the border into the United States.
The package gave the secretary of Homeland Security the power to close the border if more than 4,000 encounters with migrants occurred during a period of seven consecutive days. The border would automatically be forced to close down if encounters with migrants reached 5,000 over seven consecutive days. A combined total of 8,500 migrant encounters would cause the border to be shut down within one day.
The immigration overhaul also included raising the bar for migrants claiming asylum; clarification of the White House’s use of parole authority to grant temporary protections to migrants; and no longer allowing migrants to live in the U.S. while waiting for their case to be heard by an immigration judge.
Source: Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce.
Making law is an expensive pain in the ass and executive orders far less so (at least the pain in the ass part!).
Yeah, it would give the DHS Secretary "the power." Do you honestly think that Alejandro Mayorkas would actually USE that power? No, he wouldn't, because doing so would be in conflict with his goal to have as many illegals as possible enter the US.
That's a great example of why the bill was bullshit, and that we didn't need ANOTHER LAW, we just needed a President with the WILL to ENFORCE existing law and the COMPETENCE to carry it out. Biden wanted more illegals and, even if he didn't, was known to frequently get lost in his own closet. And Kamala supports illegal immigration[1] and has always been a retard.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FfPJM2DQhd4
You’re right that Biden wasn’t about to fan out ICE patrols on the mean streets of MIT, or the Marines to LA. But that’s what you get when you’re trying to make laws through a Constitutional process, as distinguished from mobilizing troops via executive order: a compromised bill— that’d give Kristi Noem the power you reference.
My point is there are no good options here for Trump... there's a zero percent chance of a successful resolution. Deporting 30 mil illegal immigrants was never going to be a realistic outcome... it was always going to be a matter of picking and choosing battles...
Sending in the military will do nothing other than provide opportunities for instigators there specifically looking for a confrontation... the entirety of Trump's political opposition - including governor Newsom and Mayor Bass - are eagerly hoping for an incident that feeds directly into their "authoritarian" narrative...
The people of LA and California did this to themselves... many times, the forest is worth saving... but sometimes, the forest just needs to burn.
>> it was always going to be a matter of picking and choosing battles…
It was *never* going to be a “matter of picking and choosing” battles. That’s time-consuming, and expensive, and lousy television.
Harvard and LA both meeting the new boss is all. It’ll take about a year and make him 9 figures easy.
"Picking and choosing battles" is a reference to the realistic expectation of dealing with the fact that there are well over 30 mil illegal immigrants in the US... meaning, you can't deport all of them, you have to pick and choose who gets deported...
Not sure I follow... you're saying Trump is somehow going to personally get "9 figures" from his presidency?
Very likely so, from the family's various memecoins, at least.
Regarding the military, Trump listened to the Democrats and did not deploy the National Guard during the George Floyd Peaceful Protests of 2020, and offered to deploy the Guard on January 6, which Nancy Pelosi rejected. He learned from this mistake to ignore the Democrat politicians, who embrace riots and massive property destruction, and seems to have been able to restore order.
And regarding the 30 million, he started with MS-13 scum like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is probably the frontrunner for the Dem presidential nomination in 2028.
It occurs to me Trump only ever errs by “taking bad advice”— from the Federalists, from “only the best people” he chose for his Cabinet, from Nancy Pelosi.
January 6 was a fucking disgrace, and pretending there’s blame worth the pixels for *Nancy Pelosi* is quite pathetic.
Pelosi herself accepted responsibility for refusing to deploy the National Guard on January 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6gE-0t4e_E
My point (which you are too partisan to accept) is that the deployment of the National Guard is NOT what created the unrest; the President is deploying the guard in RESPONSE to an insurrection. The fact that he is doing it over the objection of incompetent state & local Democrats is not a reasonable objection, since they objected on J6, they objected in Minneapolis, they objected at all of the other Antifa-sponsored riots in 2020.
So the President has learned that, when rioting occurs, he must deploy the National Guard, even though the Democrats will predictably object.
I have a fair amount of hard information about that day. I’m no fan of hers, but she’s way down my January 6 list.
and it was false flag as well.
Exactly.
They’re going after the people with demonstrated criminal records and people on “watch lists.”
Yes, I care. A lot. I don’t want to see anarchy spread. Especially to where I live.
📡🚨 ACTION ALERT 🚨📡
Please take a second to sign the petition here:
https://instituteforsoundpublicpolicy.org/petition/
If you don't want to share your email, you can get a free, private Proton account: https://account.proton.me/mail/signup
This is NOT just for "tech;" it applies to ALL engineering (including automotive companies), increasingly in accounting, and spreading to other white-collar jobs at a time when "AI" hype is threatening employment.
Background on OPT: https://x.com/USTechWorkers/status/1931084357944426746
Background on PERM: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-immigration-h1b-visas-perm-tech-jobs-recruitment
Is there a counter-petition to sign?
It would be enjoyable to see you get what you deserve:
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=%2Fprelim%40title18%2Fpart1%2Fchapter115&edition=prelim
Let's all try to get along here.
Sir, I am a direct descendant of a signatory of the Declaration of Independence. I am far from treasonous!
Please bear with us on the immigration front: We need cheap human labor until we hit AGI, which is about 18 months out.
A 108 page petition?
There's a Executive Summary.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/technology/ai-mechanize-jobs.html
Read this!
The New York Slimes? No thanks!
While I could quibble about some of the details on its return, the Hemi announcement last week was the happiest I've been from automotive news in years.
The biggest thing it gives me is hope. First that a V8 ends up in the Charger and second that development will happen on a next gen eight cylinder.
I think the former is virtually assured, and the latter is likely.
Thank God.
Hell, can we hope that Honda puts an up-power choice back in the Accord, and that maybe even Toyota puts an uplevel choice in the Camry again?!
Let us hope it's the first domino of anti-downsizing.
Hercules and Banshee were to be the next gen mills in that arena, and both were badass on paper. Here's hoping they picked up where they left off...5 years ago.
What would be amazing if Dodge pulled a Henry Ford and offered the Hemi in the new Charger as the lowest cost V8, undercutting the Mustang GT, and then kept lowering the price every year as business allowed.
May seem implausible but this is the same company that did power dollars deals and initially sold a 707 hp car for $55K.
I want Dodge to put the Hemi in a new Magnum/Cordoba design as slavishly retro as the Chally……it will sell in the dozens!
Selling by the dozens is the current charger EV business plan
I know where they will sell ONE.
To me.
And to the great disappointment of my father in law, best friends, and probably my wife, the second unit would likely be MINE if they have the balls to give me a third pedal.
(OR, maybe she just company leases one?)
0-While I have not yet ridden in a Waymo, they are now in service in (in-town) Atlanta. I see them constantly.
1-“I wouldn’t be comfortable wearing a Rolex GMT-Master, it feels too much like a statement of wealth rather than a statement of enthusiasm.”
The most charitable remark I could make about the Seiko described above is that it is an “homage” to a Rolex GMT-Master. When was the last time Rolex created an homage to a Seiko?
No one in your town(ship) will know that your Seiko isn’t a Rolex, unless you tell them. They would probably expect a fancy, big city type of fella like you to own a Rolex, anyway!
The Crown, and it pains me to say this as someone who entered Rolex ownership at the top drawer and departed a few years later with a substantial gain on sale, leads.
'The most charitable remark I could make about the Seiko described above is that it is an “homage” to a Rolex GMT-Master. When was the last time Rolex created an homage to a Seiko?'
Oh, that's easy.
Daytona 16520, Rolex's first Hi-Beat.
Oh, so:
0-Before I was born AND
1-A Zenith movement
The joke here is that Zenith copied Seiko. They didn't, it's just that making "El Primero" took longer for the Swiss than it did for the Japanese.
I understand your “joke,” if that’s what we’re calling it.
But answer the question seriously: When was the last time that Rolex copied Seiko versus the other way around (which is every day)?
Next you’ll be saying that the C8 Corvette is MORE of a performance car than [fill in the blank with any European exotic that commands multiples of a C8’s price] because it’s more accessible. Government Motors is copying what the Europeans did 10-15 years ago and selling the cars on the basis of magazine numbers, because most Corvette intenders have never been inside a 458 (Speciale) so they don’t have a frame of reference beyond on-paper stats. As discussed elsewhere today.
But will waymo move you rapidly through Atlanta?
I observed a Waymo halt - cautiously - in the middle of an intersection (through which it had the right of way) today while a fire truck barreled past. Impressive.
There is a fella who works at my primary cigar joint who rides MARTA to and fro; Waymo was a topic of discussion today, and he asked why it was called “Waymo.” He was stunned to learn that a self-driving Uber costs “Way More” than the human in the loop variant.
Fleet update: I have purchased….another Boxster.
The initial plan was to get a 997. Then wait a year or so and pick up a replacement for the A4. But then a Boxster emerged that was too good to pass up: 2007, 6-speed, PASM, complete service records, 49,000 miles, and a Fabspeed MaxFlo exhaust. Black on black, Carrera S Wheels, pretty much as well sorted as a 987 gets. I picked it up yesterday and love it. My 986 is great, but this one is a pretty nice upgrade. And I can replace the A4 in a few months, not a year.
Of course, now I have TWO Boxsters. So if anyone wants a 986 with under 80,000 miles, tires with less than 200 miles, and a brand new top, drop me a line. Asking $12,500, but I’ll throw in a pretty sweet ACF discount.
Clearly the move here is to get a THIRD Boxster. I once had three Porsches, it did me no harm!
He's in WV. The third really needs to be capable of only sitting out in the creek bed.
Great driving roads up there, and perfect for a Porsche. As someone who lives in a very flat state (Oklahoma), I envy Appalachian enthusiasts. I have to drive to NW Arkansas to get nice roads.
They have a few. SE Ohio roads are, on the balance, better maintained. WV roads would be amazing if whole lanes weren’t regularly occupied by 6-foot wide potholes.
gotta figure out how to mount one on a squarebody chassis
That role is reserved for the rusty Frontier, which currently sits in my friend’s side yard after my mother evicted it from the driveway, probably for sticking out like a sore thumb in a neighborhood full of Navigators, GLS Benzes and Cayennes.
about to become the latest draftee to the "i have three of the same car" club
Correction: you had two Porsches and a 944.
hey-oh!
I had one Porsche, one Valmet, and one Audi!
genuine laughter