I believe the Tacoma and the Mirage both still have rear drums in the US market. Definitely way more examples in developing countries, they’re still pretty common on really cheap small cars. 

They wouldn’t intentionally use an open top parade car in the rain. The Imperial Household has plenty of closed cars to choose from.

If rain is forecast, they'll use one of the older Century Royals in the fleet. If it happens suddenly, umbrella. 

That is a concern. Governments do have a tendency to become addicted to "sin tax" revenue, such that they panic when the tax works as intended and revenue falls with volume. 

The Century traditionally had a V8, the second generation model switched to the V12. 

Given the crazy cheap prices used Centuries go for, I'd say we can come somewhat close to experiencing that opulence. I mean, the standard cars aren't convertibles, but they are built with the same level of care and craftsmanship. 

According to Continental Baking Food Research Institute, enriched white bread contains more nutritional value, penny for penny, than any other food served at every meal; and may be a factor in the generally increased vigor and reduced incidences of poliomyelitis among our postwar young people. 

The fact is that nobody has any taste for war, Iran is banking on it, and they’re most assuredly right. They will get the equivalent of a slap on the wrist, and they’ve just put the world on notice as to what they can and are willing to do.

There isn’t going to be a war, there’s going to be a targeted strike of some kind and the matter will be ended there, as far as the Saudis and the West are concerned. Iran will get hit with additional sanctions, but there’s so much in place already, the additional damage will be negligible beyond what’s already…

Well, their back is to the wall now, since the sanctions have been devastating. Plus, they have Russia and China for support. Theyre both bolder and more desperate now.

Who cares? Iran feels that they planted at least a seed of doubt in enough minds to turn much of the world against helping the Saudis (as if European countries even needed that). Saudi Arabia is not going to start a major war, they just won’t, and no one else will do the heavy lifting for them. They can accuse Iran…

Because Saudi Arabia really doesn't want to fight Iran directly and will take an excuse not to. They'd be OK with the US doing it for them, but we are reluctant to do that, for obvious reasons, especially without the Saudis themselves taking the lead.

1) raise oil prices, since that’s literally the entire basis of their increasingly devastated economy

There's a school of thought that Iran did it for no other reason than to raise oil prices, because their economy is failing and most of their government retirement funds are deep in the red. 

Yes, but if you refuse and the other person doesn’t take no for an answer:

That is something alright, I'll give it that. It is a solid object that occupies space. 

I was expecting them to require that chirping noise from indoor forklifts, or the key in ignition chime. Maybe those will be options.

Yes, but Musk also bet someone an autographed dollar bill that the guy was a pedophile, and hired a private investigator to find evidence that he had had sex with children. So, that would seem to indicate that he was using the word to its full, original meaning, rather than as a lighter insult. 

No, but I sincerely regret not doing it one time. I was invited to an ex-boss’ going away party, and his boss, who is an a-hole and heavy drinker, got predictably wasted and drove himself home. It didn’t occur to me at the time, but I really should have called and gotten him pulled over.

I don't think it's anyone's preference, but I suppose it will do in a pinch.