Maintenance Scavenger

Ironic that this week's word should be 'maintenance' when I had Internet problems since Thursday. Our Internet gave out and having no recourse, we waited for Monday when I had the day off and could go to Time Warner location a million miles away. It was closed. For MLK Day. Nice timing. So, now I'm back to someone else's Internet and posting this picture that "maintains" my appearance of complying with Scavenger Shot regulations...


Typical driver pride to take a shot of the speedometer. My husband and I were both in his car at this moment (he pulled off the road to take the photo with his camera). We kissed and vowed to travel at least another 100,000 miles together. It was all very touching and adorable. What else would you expect? What does this have to do with maintenance, I hear you ask. What about this DOESN'T have to do with it? Once a car reaches 100,000 miles, you're looking at some pretty likely future maintenance work. so far, we're good (knock on foam), but he is bringing it in for an oil change soon.

Road Rage

Saw two men in a knock down drag out fist fight on my way to work this morning. Both of them in their business attire. I always have to assume that one or both are having a hard life somewhere else. Fist fights so rarely occur during morning rush hour.

Here is a transcription of my internal monologue:

"Wow, there's a lot of traffic onto the highway this morning. Darnit, I hope I'm not late. Hey, did that car just swerve violently in front of those cars up ahead? Crazy! WHOA, the guy behind him pulled out and around him and then slammed on his brakes. He's getting out of the car! He's opening the other guy's door!! He's dragging the other guy out of HIS CAR!!! This is nuts (laying on my horn as cars start to go around the fighters). They're obviously neither of them very good fighters, because they both still have their sunglasses on their faces (more honking). Oh, now they're just yelling and looking like asses. (speeding past) Stupid. Now I feel bad for my attitude on the road..."

Pimp My Van

Take a peep at what the Crazy Japanese are up to. And who said minivans had to be boring?

Ga$ FYI

If you are like me, you may have been tempted to sock in a few extra dollars for higher octane gasoline ready for the added benefits higher mpg it promises. Read the facts from the Federal Trade Commission.

*sigh* Now I have to wean my Volvo off the stuff. *grumble*

I'll take the Hybrid...

So, finally, concept cars with fuel cell capability are becoming less of a "concept" and more of a "car." I have been waiting for something realistic and approachable (although price-wise, I'm sure it is anything but approachable) to appear on the car and driver scene. Ford unveiled its Edge with HySeries Drive (registered trademark). I don't care what a car looks like so long as it can drive up to 400 miles with zero emissions! Don't act like you are not impressed! Just go ahead and wish you had one.

No doubt there are drawbacks, like running out of electricity on the side of the road, or ending up someplace where you have to plug it in for four hours before you can drive again (is that really true? how annoying!), but, still, gasoline is such a brutal taskmaster that I'd love to see the human race get out from under its thumb.

Mmmm, efficiency!

Car Wash

I washed my car today. But not like the Australian government. I took a less submersive approach.

I Now Have An Answer

You know those silly questionaires that get sent around the world and back where they ask you what your first car was?
I finally (finally) have a real answer:

(specs: 1995 Volvo 850 GLT, 48,000 miles,
leather seats, sunroof, great condition.
One very happy driver!)

Cherche la Femme

This near snuff film from French Director Claude Lelouch puts you in the driver's seat of a Ferrari 275 GTB hurtling through the streets of Paris in the early dawn. It's called Un Rendezvous, but I think they should call it "Cherche La Femme" which is French for "It's All Her Fault."

Safety Pile-Up

Mercedes piles up cars at a safety demonstration. Ouch!

(from Steve. Thanks, Bench!)

Maybach Feels Great

One of the most expensive cars available. On their website you can choose the option of hearing the 'symphony' over your tour of the car. I highly recommend you turn on the 'symphony'. I almost wept.

Also, for stunning amounts of information watch the Maybach Movie. It includes a very serious look at the Maybach history as well as a browser's guide to Maybach features.

One thing that stood out to me: Maybachs are made in one place in the world. That factory produces only 1,000 cars per year (or 'annum' as they say in the hoity film).

Advice Column:

Looking for something to do with those old cars?

Power Lunch

I took a digital camera and a fiver out on lunch today, inspired by El Fid's post and the website it rode in on to buy a toy car and photograph it on the streets of Cleveland looking like a real car. There's something pleasing about carrying a bright red car around town, believe me. The first shot you see (below) was taken near an appreciative panhandler. He pointed a finger at me and said, "You're cool! You're cool!" He also asked if I would take his picture, which I did. When his back was turned. I'm not sure that counts. Anyways, I didn't eat lunch, because I was too busy on this little mission. I submitted my photos to dubster.com and hopefully soon my photos will appear in their gallery and I will impress my friends. I can't wait.


Is the street wet?
No. That's a trash can lid.

Toy Car on Street.

I am very pleased with this particular website and its photography.


Blogger changed their rules for profile photos. The beautiful bubble I stole from some guy had to be replaced because it disappeared off the web. I tried to replace it with equally beautiful photos which were not accepted because Blogger has "size constraints." (Size constraints! Somebody's just getting greedy...) At any rate, a new smaller image of a frozen branch should appear sometime tomorrow.


If you have not seen these short films for BMW starring Clive Owens, take a look.


Random paperweights of the day.

Flamingo Road and Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines, FL is the most dangerous intersection in the country. Danger rating: 2568

Babies: so innocent, so trusting, so space-efficient.

Today's random hit.

On this day in 1946, Italy decided to become a republic, exiling King Umberto II de Savoia after 33 days as monarch.