Despite an extremely sunny and warm winter, the growths on this old Econoline van haven’t all succumbed to the dry air, although there is a noticeable lack of moss. And the RUST bumper sticker?
Jerry Rust was a five-term county commissioner. Who knows for which of his many campaigns that sticker was put on for, but it got a lot of mileage. Ok, so that was the easy one. Now how about the Latin on that license plate protector? I took Latin at Loyola, but my mind was perpetually elsewhere. Well, it didn’t take much to figure out that it says “He cannot read the Craecum”. But what exactly is a/the Craecum? Finding a simple definition is hard to come by on the web, but it’s perhaps a compendium of sorts. Anybody out there that can give us a better explanation of what this license plate frame is trying to tell us?
From the ’05 license plate registration sticker, tis van has been immobile here for some time. And hence the organic exterior decor.
This side is in better shape, undoubtedly because it’s exposed to the bright western sun, the enemy of lichens and such. These gen2 Econolines are getting a bit scarce on the streets, and have taken to hiding in the driveways. Here’s Jim Cavanaugh’s CC on this generation.
A good pressure washing would clean that van up nicely.
…and would probably remove most of the top layer of paint at the same time.
I am taking a guess of “I can’t read your mind” or something like that, but its been a long time since any latin classes for me as well.
I didn’t think I like the color of this one that well, but it grows on you.
“Graecum est, non potest legi”. Meaning “It’s Greek; it can not be read”. It’s all Greek to me.
Thanks I was just going to post same!
Aha! I was too fixated on reading it from top to bottom. Sometimes the obvious is too obvious. 🙂
Latin isn’t dead; some of it is commonly abbreviated. A list:
ad infinitum,ad misericoridiam,ad nauseam,ad populum,addendum,agenda,alibi,alma mater,alumnus,Anno Domini,ante merdiem,appendix,bona fide,caveat emptor,circa,confer,corpus delicti,cum laude,curriculum,e pluribus unum,errata,et alibi,et alii,et cetera,ex post facto,exempli gratia,habeas corpus,ibidem,id est,in absentia,in extremis,in loco citato,in loco parentis,in memoriam,in situ,in toto,ipso facto,Magna Carta,modus operandi,modus vivendi,nolo contendere,non sequitur,novus ordo seclorum,numero,opere citato,opus,per capita,per se,persona non grata,Philosophiae Doctor,post merdiem,post mortem,postscript,quid pro quo,quod erat demonstratum,quod vide,quorum,quota [pars],semper fidelis,sine qua non,status quo,terra firma,ultimatum,verbatim,versus,vice versa,casus belli,posse comitatus
And lots of medical jargon is Latin.
Speaking of Latin isn’t dead…
I lichen fungi very moss.
Winner of the horribilis iocus award of the day!
Excellent!!
Or shall I say “Multo Praestantis!!”
That pun is terrible! Go to your shroom!
No need to punish Karl. He knows a rolling piece of shitake when he sees it. Even without the moss it’s still a truffle bit rusty.
Yeah, you all are fungi!
Geez that joke was bad.
Wow. And I thought Scotland was damp.
The stickers would point to a preference for Eco-Cars … and this Eco-Car truly deserves the term. It’s an entire ecosystem!
All it needs is “Free Candy” spray painted on the side for maximum creepy van effect.
Dulcissum Gratis.
I wouldn’t be surprised if mushrooms are growing inside of it. Maybe right out of the shag carpet.
Congratulations Paul! You have found the über desirable and rare Ford Econoline Greenhouse/Conservatory edition! It is so environmentally friendly, it has its own self-contained ecosystem!