Funkengroovin Wednesday - Road Trips, Road Food, and TV #3

Jamie Oliver aka The Naked Chef

Gino was an Italian that went to Mexico. Jamie, in his Great Escape, is a Brit who went to Italy. Both drove classic VWs.

(Below): Photo from The Star Online (check out the article).


Jamie's show premiered two years ago in the UK, when VB was living, back in the States. It then showed in the States, 2007, when VB was in Egypt. Such is the luck of an expat's wife. This often happens, when you travel between international homes. You'll see an episode or two, leave country, and miss the rest of that series, or vice versa. That's where the Apple TV helps out - sometimes. But Apple TV does not offer BBC shows, UKTV shows, or any cooking shows of substance, unless you count the ("fuck me," "fuck all," "...fucking..." blah, blah, blah...) Gordon Ramsey shows, Hell's Kitchen, and Kitchen Nightmares (which VB loves, BTW.) VB does have Jamie's Italy book albeit, more has been written, on the Internet, about his actual road trip. All that's said about his VW Bus in his book, is a thank you to all the folks who helped soup it up, and built the trailer. VB loves Italian food, and one of her favorite TV chefs is Molto Mario Batali, although The Boss Man favors Giada De Laurentiis (most men do - what's not to like.) Jamie is fun to watch regardless, more so for his enthusiasm.

(Below): Photo from Jamie's Book.

VB was, again, quite impressed by Jamie's choice of transportation. And as she stated in her last post, Jamie did have a trailer full of cooking supplies, which he (literally) towed, from the back of his Bus (see photos and video.) Jamie's Bus, although ancient, had been renovated into a lean, mean lovin' machine (that's what it was actually built for.) But even then, VW Buses have a tendency to break down, at the worst times. It has been reported, that expletives were used (OMG!) by Jamie towards his beloved bus, during the filming. Apparently, this cursing chef syndrome has become quite popular.

(Below): Again, from the book. All broke down, and with a Porsche engine, no less! Just goes to show, that nothing you do to a VW Bus or Beetle, will guarantee that it will actually run when you want it to. It's a fucking curse! (But some of us, masochists, refuse to change.)


The article: Pukka set of wheels: Jamie Oliver's VW campervan has a short bio of Jamie's van, and how he came to acquire it.
"This van has had a chequered history. According to Campervan Crazy, the definitive work on these vehicles by David and Cee Eccles, it was discovered in a scrapyard in 1991 by Matt Keene, an enthusiast, who set about a four-year restoration. This involved sandblasting the shell and chassis and replacing all the metalwork, including parts fabricated specially if spares couldn't be found. Matt fitted front-opening "safari" windows, pop-out windows all round and an opening rear window for the ultimate in cool. The purple and white paint-job was Matt's as well."

"In 1999, it passed into the ownership of a London music-video producer. During this time, it was stolen by a woman who locked it in her garage and polished it every day. It was returned unharmed, and shinier. Oliver saw it while riding past on his scooter, knocked on the window and asked to buy it. More upgrades followed."


That passage is just an illustration of how, an infatuated Jamie, misunderstood man's relationship to an older VW. It's not a law, not in the manual, it's an attitude, like karma with your machine (and no one has that kind of karma.) As cool as Jamie is, it sounds like he expected a bit too much from his Bus - perfect performance, all the time (like a workhorse in a kitchen?) Here's the general rule for old VWs: They always break down at the worst times; They have their own idiosyncrasies, and don't even try to fuck with them!; And never, ever, rely on one to work when you need it most (they have a mind of their own!) It's not at all like the dreamy comment from Jamie's wife, Jools, "It's a campervan. Every boy's dream," she claimed, in the first video. They are temperamental, eccentric, and can be downright cantankerous! Hey! Number One Son is 19 years old, and he knew enough not to drive the van across country (USA) late March, on his way to Oregon! Yes, he loves the van (and the girls (some verbotten) who love him, for his van - it's not really his.) But he was practically born in it (literally.) He has a true understanding of how "awesome," or "sick" they can appear ( they're like a fucking drug), and of how frustrating they can be to the owners (like a dominatrix - she gives you pain, but way too much pleasure too, but not regularly, only when she feels like it.) That's what owning an old VW (not just a Bus) is like (and our family has two!)

Instead of VB going all around the Internet reinterpreting everyone else's assessment of Jamie's trip, and pretending she knows what she's talking about, and mucking it up, let's watch Jamie explain it himself. Below, Jamie's journey in his own words, plus views of his VW Bus, with trailer attached, and scenes from the trip.





From CTVNews
"Great escape to Italy afforded celeb chef the opportunity to shake off stresses

Oliver said his two-and-a-half month Volkswagen-bus road trip around Italy -- the subject matter for "Jamie's Great Italian Escape' -- served as a break from the chaos and an opportunity to leave the stresses behind.

It's certainly not a relaxed Jamie who curses at the van when it breaks down and leaves him stranded on a windy Italian road -- all on camera -- but he says the experience was good for his soul despite a few stressful moments along the way.

"It was my chance to escape. My chance to sort of fill up again, shake off any stresses. And to have a two-and-a-half month span in that country was just brilliant."

"The Italian people, if you're keen and you're polite and you've got a smile on your bloody face, they're just so open-minded, they really are."


(Below): Photo from Channel4.



about jamie, questions and answers
"Penguin: What inspires you to create new recipes?

Jamie: Books, people, stories, markets, locations, scenarios - you know, like coming up with the best hangover recipes when you're hungover, or coming up with great portable food recipes when you're living out of a tent or a VW camper."
(Jamie, where's the portable food recipes? Or maybe, the next article answers the question.)

(The engine description in the following two articles does not jibe with Jamie's claim in the Top Gear video below.)
The Good Oil: Jamie Oliver's mobile kitchen for sale
"Saturday May 26, 2007
British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is selling his Volkswagen Kombi, the van he used while filming his TV series on food in Italy. The 1959 model is being auctioned in London tomorrow and is expected to fetch upwards of $100,000. The van has had VIP treatment since Oliver bought it in 1999. It's fitted with satellite navigation, a Play-Station, TVs and a high-spec audio system. Driving the rear wheels is a 2.4-litre VW/Porsche 914 engine. A specially built trailer kitchen Oliver towed around Italy is part of the package."

From CamperVan Confessionals
Nice little earner for Jamie
"Fame, money but no longer with a camper van! Has Jamie Oliver lost his senses?!!" (Hmm, yes!!!!)
"CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver sold the Volkswagen camper van he drove around Italy for one of his TV cookery shows for £41,500 yesterday. It had attracted interest from all over the world.
The 1959 Samba had a 2.4litre engine and many gadgets. Nick Wiles, of car auctioneers COYS, said: "This was any Volkswagen camper van enthusiast's dream, coupled with a touch of fame."


And, for those of use who actually have a collection of stackable cookware for the road, all we need is something, you know, recognized (like the crap you can buy from Rachel Ray - gawd, does VB hate that girl.) Jamie, as with any celebrated chef has his own little empire now, including his own line of cookware for the road:
Jamie Oliver reinvents the collapsible kitchen
"It's called the Tefal Survival Kit and it is a set of cooking equipment that fits together into single, nice, neat stack. When taken apart it contains a wok, frying pan, sauce pan, two glass lids, and a universal handle so that you don't burn your fingers."

Take VB's word for it, you can buy these (at least in Europe) anywhere Tefal is sold. Below, pieces we bought in Baku. They reminded us of the camping cookware we had, and there were many separate covers, cooking pieces, and handles to choose from. VB's pretty sure, they're probably cheaper than the "Jamie Oliver" brand.

(Below) Two pieces we bought, with a detachable handle.



About the rise in VW Bus popularity:
The Big Spend: Camping it up...
"More recently, the iconic roadster has become a must-have accessory for the armies of post-war baby-boomers who hanker after former glories, as well as for younger drivers keen to buy into their aura of cool.

Popularity is driving up prices. Ten years ago, a decent second-hand van could fetch £21,000 on average; today, the figure stands at £29,000.

Celebrity is in on the act: chef Jamie Oliver recently sold his VW Camper for £45,000, while a yellow van was given a starring role last year in the hit US film Little Miss Sunshine."

Celebrities love caravans
"Even the rich and famous are getting into a lifestyle long snobbishly regarded as somewhat downmarket. Blazing the trail was Jamie Oliver, who is a member of the Caravan Club and spent thousands of pounds converting a 1950s VW bus into a modern mobile home complete, of course, with a cutting-edge kitchen. Last September Oliver shunned airports and limousines when touring the UK to promote a new book, choosing instead to travel with his wife in the Porsche-engined caravanette.
>
Others who have been spotted perusing the latest models at caravan and motor home shows include Tara Palmer-Tomkinson and comedian Peter Kay."

Ahhh, and also Terri Hatcher. (Photo from Celebrity Cars Blog.)



More on Jamie's Italian Adventure:
Jamie Oliver: Real Guts


From Top Gear - Don't try this at home! (so-to-speak)
Jamie Oliver cooking on circuit



It would have been nice to see Jamie's little adventure. Perhaps when they decide to repeat it, VB will actually be in the right place (geographically), so she can enjoy the trip too. (There are no DVDs available, anywhere in the world for this. They are all sold out, except maybe in China.)

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Road Trips, Road Food, and TV #2

Gino, Gino, Ginoooo! Gino D'Acampo! Fantastico!

Gino's show, An Italian Returns To Mexico, just finished it's play here on the BBC Food Channel a little over a week ago. It might have been a re-run (seems like everything here is). Gino crisscrosses Mexico in a brilliant red VW Beetle. He cooks, and has one of those smooth Italiano accents. He's young, good looking, and apparently likes Mexico. The food he cooks looks simple, appetizing, and in some instances, appears to be easily prepared outdoors. VB says "appears" as most of these traveling chefs have a trailer loaded with equipment trailing them. Although VB has not seen the full series, she was quite impressed with Gino's transportation.

VB found Gino, when she was down with a bad, bad cold a while back. And, while, watching TV is one of VB's favorite past times, it's hard to get all worked up about food, when all you've been able to eat (er, drink) is homemade chicken soup. Food shows are basically eye candy. VB would rather watch someone like Nigella cook all that fatty stuff, think about how delicious it is, and not have to deal with the consequences. That said, it has been reported that, Nigella probably couldn't fit her, "butt like a Budweiser horse" into a VW Beetle these days. VB's guess is: Nigella, will not be doing a road trip or road food show anytime soon. But, Gino is pretty much fun to watch (and yes, his little Italian ass fits quite nicely into that Beetle.)

Here's Gino D'acampo's website for more information.

Unfortunately, VB is not an expert at taking photos of TV shows. She did include a UKTV photo, with Gino and his Bug.





(Below): Photo from UKTV



What does Gino have to say about this? From In the glovebox - Gino D'Acampo

Worst driving experience?
Gino D'Acampo: It was when I was filming for my show 'An Italian in Mexico', three years ago, and I was with my best friend Marco in Mexico City. We were driving a bright red beetle but it had no air-con. It was 50 degrees plus and we just got totally stuck in traffic!


NEWS:
(The following article hogged up all the news outlets about VW Beetles and Bugs this week. So, Billy Joel bought a Beetle - woop-de-doo!)
Instead of Piano Man, how about Beetle Billy?
"Billy Joel now is the owner of a classic Volkswagen Bug. In Des Moines, Iowa, for a concert, Joel took a look around American Dream Machines, which specializes in vintage sports and muscle cars. The owner said Joel spotted a burgundy 1973 VW Beetle, adding that he thought Joel might have been attracted by the car's year. "He did mention that in 1973 he did the 'Piano Man,' " he said, referring to one of Joel's biggest hits. The owner wouldn't disclose what Joel paid but said, "It was the least expensive car in the shop."

(South Africa)
Volkswagen tells another moving story on the big screen with CineMARK
"Well, the latest Volkswagen Corporate ad is no exception. The ad, in which we see an old blind man being helped by a young Volkswagen driver through a long and eventful journey to find his son, reaffirms all the brand values of honesty, charm, integrity and most of all, people-centric compassion."

East Ridge: VW bugs get under your skin
"For many of those attending Bug-a-Palüza X, the 10th annual gathering of Volkswagen enthusiasts, having a VW offers membership in what is more like a tribe than a car club."

(Max is back)
VW Goes Old School
"The new advertising campaign began in stealth earlier this month, with black and white images of Max in newspapers, lacking company logo or name. The slogans all began with: “The people want…” The theme turns on the idea that the people’s car has become the voice of the people. And the values that people want, the campaign suggests, are green and populist."

(Photo and video at the link - it gets ugly!)
Yale art installation gets heat by New Haven Fire Department
"But every art has a critic. And, in this case, the New Haven Fire Department, who deemed a sawed-off VW Bug sitting on scaffolding, a safety hazard. So, what went up had to come down. "It's just really sad, this project brought so many people together," Mira Manickam said."

(She's kidding, right? Like driving an old VW isn't the symbol of C-O-O-L.)
What would Freud drive?
"I felt like I found a kindred spirit in whoever owned that orange Beetle, that there exists someone else in this great land of ours who rejects the albatross of suburban conformity, shrugs off the expectations of Jones and his ilk, refuses to gratify the ego by stroking the id."

(Remember Tattoo boy from last week? Well he's back too.)
Volkswagen fan Chris has beetles on his back
"A VW fanatic has turned himself into a "walking billboard"
for the cult car-maker - with camper vans and Beetles tattooed over his back and arms....
He has spent about £3,000 on the tattoos....
He is also planning more tattoos - including a new logo revealed recently by VW in Germany - and a pair of VW-branded wasps on his bottom.
His current collection of tattoos includes the number plates of all the VWs he has owned set in hearts, and the front of a giant winged Beetle between his shoulder blades.
He is now keen to get the back of the vehicle tattooed across his chest."


I had two different videos picked out for this week, but both were "Embedding disabled by request," which is totally frustrating! So, thanks to Awesome Daughter for the advice on this week's video.
(Do you like Spaghetti? Or a food fight?)
No Doubt - Sunday Morning

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Road Trips, Road Food, and TV #1

The Caravelle:

(VB knows it's not Wednesday.)

As usual, VB watches TV, so you don't have to.

This is the first in a series of posts on Road Trips, Road Food, and TV. VB will not only discuss VW's, but related TV shows, including cooking (since the word "food" is in the title) and as long as she can string along some sort of insignificant connection, VB will cover it. As a grand finale, VB will unveil her most recent electronic purchase, which almost puts the Apple TV to shame!

Check out the videos, comparing a California (actually a camped up Caravelle) to a new version of the old VW Camper, which will blow your mind (or well maybe just, sort of, impress you).

(Below): VW Caravelle.
This Caravelle is just a basic Transporter, not a camper van. You don't really need a camper van for road trips, or for camping out either. Check out the last photo and link, to learn how you can turn your car into a camper too.





If you don't have a camper van, with the pop up roof top, then you can get the Maggiolina roof top tent, as shown below on the Galloper (what a POS! We had the pleasure of riding in one several times, while we were in Baku. They were de rigueur for a certain oil company.)

The Maggiolina pops up for sleeping, resembles the pop top of a VW Bus, and comes in several sizes. These are fairly common here in Cairo, where many Westerners prefer 4WD vehicles, for their off road capabilities (which even includes some of the city roads), besides the fact, a car that big coming at you (say in a VW Bug) will definitely make you yield! Unless you're confronting the common blue and white city bus, where the drivers count their money, and pick their toes while driving. Then everyone yields!




(Below): The first half of a review / contest, by Fifth Gear, between the VW California (based on the Caravelle) and a VW Danbury Rio, which is a snazzy new version of the old time VW Bus. Part 2 is just below the first video.

You'll see why The Boss Man and VB did not choose a "full camper" (Vanagon with a cooker): (1) You can set your sleeping quarters on fire; and (2) No one wants to sleep encapsulated in stagnant, smoky, foul food smelling air.


Fifth Gear - VW California vs VW Danbury Rio Test [1/2]



(Below): Part two of Fifth Gear's evaluation.

Fifth Gear - VW California vs VW Danbury Rio Test [2/2]



More information and photos, from the Fifth Gear folks, regarding the VW California, and here at, Danbury Rio vs VW California.

In The Hood - Buick Super 8

Another car from VB's neighbor. (She knows it doesn't exactly fall into the category of a "Funkengroovin Wednesday" vehicle, but it's still pretty damn cool.) This 1940's Buick Super 8 is so special, he keeps it in his garage! It's a tight fit, as you can see from the photos. The car is a beauty. His other two cars VB has spotlighted are his 1930's Opel, and 1955 Dodge.
This is the last in this series of the neighbor's hobby cars, but there will be more "In The Hood" postings.

VB has had three electrical outages within a 24 hour period, since yesterday. Not sure if anyone else in Maadi or Cairo are having this problem, but it has become almost regular, with increasing frequency, and totally frustrating. This has been going on ever since the electrical pole fire, just outside VB's building, in late January / early February. It's just getting worse and the boab got stuck in the elevator yesterday during the two hour outage (he was somehow able to extricate himself from the cage-like contraption (VB is very happy to live on the ground floor.)

All photos should be self explanatory. Enjoy.






















NEWS:
(Too much, if you ask VB!)

As usual, full articles, photos, and (sometimes) videos, available at the link.

Why Should I Buy Seat Covers?
"I have a 1971 VW Bug; it originally had a white body paint job, but now it is Harley orange and black.

Pretty cool, but the multi-hued brown, tan, cream and beige vertically pinstriped seat upholstery—not so cool."


(See last paragraph - VB couldn't agree more.)
Thunder Valley Volks Rally Feeds Passion for Local Enthusiast
"BRISTOL, Tenn. -- For Kingsport resident Sam Manis, his passion for Volkswagens helps him look past their inevitable and unmistakable quirks and to see the enjoyment that comes from owning one…or six in his case. At least three of those will be on display during the April 12-13 Thunder Valley Volks Rally at Bristol Dragway.

For the past four years, Manis and his father have owned a small shop in East Carters Valley, Tenn., Valley Auto Volkswagen Service and Repair.

“There really isn’t anything about VWs that I don’t like,” he explains. “There isn’t a day that passes that I don’t hear a story from someone about the one they used to have, or the one their friend or relative had. Driving through town almost everyone that spots you gets a smile on their face and waves or throws up a peace sign. I’ve met some great people through these cars and I’ve made a lot of memories!”


A New View Every Day
"FOR some on-the-go second-home owners, maintaining their weekend getaways means checking the tire pressure and maybe changing the oil. Their second homes are recreational vehicles, a category that includes almost anything on wheels that has a bed, from half-million-dollar motor homes to pop-up trailers."

Does the second photo show a VW Van? Certainly looks like it to VB. Thanks, for the heads up from Awesome Daughter (she knows a slob (and a VW) when she sees one! Unlike those of us who have lived with and become accustomed to slobbery ourselves.) When your spouse is a slob


Battle of the retro cars
"Since Volkswagen released a modern version of the Beetle 10 years ago, manufacturers around the world have discovered there is money to be made by tugging at the heartstrings of car buyers.

The formula is simple: design a cute car that looks like something from the 1960s and reminds people of happier times. Equip it with modern features, reliability and the latest safety systems, so buying it is a rational, as well as an emotional, decision.

In addition to adding polish to a brand's image, retro cars have also taught makers about the appeal of good design."

Anyone read the Huffington Post? If you do, then you've noticed "Max" hanging around at the top of the page.
VW Ditches Multi-Message Tack
"Crispin's new work features a 1964 black classic Beetle named Max that will appear in all the communications and will become "the new, lovable brand icon" and "the glue of the campaign," Mr. Ellis told Advertising Age. The campaign adopts the global ad tag "Das Auto," which first broke in VW's home market of Germany last fall, but the marketer has added "What the People Want" for U.S. ads to make the brand more consumer-centric."

Lippert's Critique: Crispin Catches Talk Show Bug
"New 'Das Auto' campaign for VW puts an old model in the driver's seat

Porter + Resurrecting the iconic 1964 model, this new campaign for the "people's car" (the Volkswagen Beetle), from CrispinBogusky, features the tagline "It's what the people want." Very much in line with Crispin's past work for the carmaker, it's odd and surprising and will no doubt generate talk."


(Photo at the link)
Spindle could be yours for just $150,000
"BERWYN | Spindle -- art made famous in 'Wayne's World' -- now for sale on eBay

Berwyn's Spindle -- the west suburban skewer of cars made famous in the movie "Wayne's World" -- is for sale

"The concrete isn't included. Just the cars and pole,'' said Flight. "If someone wants to buy it and give it a home, we're willing to sell it to them. Otherwise, we're planning on probably taking it down sometime this year."

On eBay -- search Spindle Art Work -- the pileup is touted for its appearance in the 1992 film chronicling the adventures of Wayne and Garth. The piece is also, the site notes, "an internationally known roadside monument.''

But in an interview Friday, Flight warned the Spindle is in "really bad shape.'' The eight cars -- from the crowning 1967 red VW Beetle on down -- are pockmarked with rust and pigeon poop. Even if the Walgreens doesn't go through, "We had to take it down.''


Local owners will rev up their vintage VWs and Beetles on Saturday in Ventura
"Thursday, April 10, 2008

The 2008 Southern California Bug-In took place Sunday in Fontana, kicking off a week of Volkswagen revelry that includes a cruise up Highway 101 (it departed Monday from Ventura; people from around the country participated) and ends Saturday with the VW Treffen X at Ventura Harbor Village.

The 10th annual vintage Volkswagen event — "treffen" is the German word for "gathering" — is sponsored by Airhead Parts, a Ventura dealer of VW parts and accessories.

Vintage Bugs are still sputtering around, of course, some lovingly restored and others lovingly left rusted and banged up. When The Star asked readers to send us stories of their VWs, we got all kinds of owners...."

"They would probably all agree with the sentiment in one of the final Beetle ads that aired in 2003 to lament the end of the Bug's production. The Mexican commercial, with soaring music in the background, shows an empty parking space sandwiched between two cars on a street. Several large cars attempt to maneuver themselves into the spot, to no avail.

The final words on the screen are "Porque tu lugar nadie lo podrá ocupar."

Or in English, "Because nobody can take your place."

(Portugal)
LISBON: Classic cars on show this weekend
"Lisbon will be celebrating 70 years of the illustrious VW Beetle at the three day car show, culminating in a rally through the streets of the capital on Saturday, April 12."


(Photo and video available at the link)
My blaze heartbreak
"A MAN who was restoring a car for his son is devastated after it was destroyed in a blaze which gutted his three workshops.

Steve Kemp, 49, from Hovefields Drive, Wickford, is counting the cost of the fire, which ruined the outhouses in his garden.

He estimates the cost of replacing a VW Beetle, another vehicle, a go-cart and tools could be up to £6,000, on top of the loss of the buildings."


(VB tries to avoid mixing politics with her Funkengroovin Wednesday, but sometimes it's unavoidable.)
This week in fascism
"Maybe it really is springtime for Hitler. In the last few weeks, Nazi and fascism references have been everywhere, flying from the right, the left and landing on everything in between, from the Olympics and the Dalai Lama to pasta and Puget Sound. Let's take a quick tour of jackboot country.

In addition to references to fascism in the "War on Terror," the Nazi influence is felt elsewhere in politics. The Olympic Torch relay is in trouble because protesters have been using it to highlight human rights problems in China and Tibet. One factoid that's come to light: the torch ceremony was created by propagandists for the 1936 Berlin Oympics. In other words, it was invented by the Nazis. A dead giveaway should have been that the torch is carried in Hitler's favorite car, a VW bug."


Why Detroit Should Build a Plug-in Car With Generators Onboard
"In his biweekly Mechanic's Diary, PM's senior automotive editor takes a hint from his hippie days in a VW Microbus to imagine a mass-market electric vehicle that can get you can get where you need to be, gas-free.

Every PHEV engineer I've talked to is planning an engine far bigger than the 1200 cc, 40-hp one in my old VW hippie bus. I've heard them say, "We want our customers to be able to drive their vehicle anyplace or anywhere regardless of the state of charge of the batteries." Hey, that microbus was my major means of transportation when I was in college. And let me assure you, performance was measured along a different space-time continuum. When you drive a Microbus, you get there—eventually."


(Photos at the link.)
Peace, Man! Meets The Cowboy
" He let the kids get on the bus and take pictures and they all just had a great time and it was a fun day."

Underground Moving
"If you're stuck in the city underground moving or trucking might help you earn your way out too. All it takes is a second-hand truck or bus, a stable telephone number, strong arms and a broad back. Here's how two people worked day and night for a year and bought a farm.

Student Movers was a child of desperation born when my man and I returned to New York in September of 1970 with barely enough money to take our tired VW bus across the George Washington Bridge. By spring, our moving company had grown from a struggling one-truck outfit into a full-scale, full-time enterprise. That homey little underground operation footed our rent, kept us well-fed, paid a year's college tuition and took us out of the city and onto the land the following June with $8,000 in our pockets." (Hmm, isn't that what the current monthly average mortgage payment is? Just goes to show what a dollar buys these days - pretty much nothin'!)

Mexico Travel Tips
"We did our traveling in a '59 VW van. Naturally, you'll use whatever you have... but I would plug a little for the VW. Our doesn't have windows, which turned out to be a real blessing. There are times when you'll find yourself a curiousity—especially in tiny vilages where they haven't seen many gringos, much less "heepies"—and, in a windowless bus, you can get away from the stares when you get really desperate."

(More information and a Photo at the link.)
Did you know? Porsche built a VW T3 Vanagon-based B32
"While there are countless aftermarket engine, transmission, and brake upgrades for the Volkswagen Vanagon, what could be better than a factory conversion... from Porsche?"

(Ever have a problem with your car mechanic? ) (UK-Photo and article at the link.)
VW owner's not a happy camper after string of disasters
"LIKE many 21-year-olds, "Ruby" had big plans for a summer of music festivals and holiday fun.
But the bright maroon VW camper van is just lucky to be in one piece today following a terrible spell of luck for owner Stan Blackley...."

(Italy)
VW Transporter Sportline Kombi makes official debut at CV Show
"A new Transporter Sportline kombi model is on sale from 15 April 2008, the same day it makes its official debut at the CV Show."

(UK - Photos at the link.)
VW fan puts his back into hobby
"A Volkswagen fan who is covered in tattoos of cars, camper vans and logos says he is a 'walking billboard' for the car manufacturer.
Chris Redford, who runs Funkmaster Red in Cavendish Place, says his obsession started at a young age."


Shout! - The Isley Brothers

What Is It?

Mostly Beshmalla and a Little Bit Of Teen

Whenever you go to a different country, there's always food that's new to you. In this case, it's growing in VB's yard. The gardener calls it "Beshmalla". Actually, some Egyptians are unfamiliar with it too. This past week, several young boys have been stopping to pick the fruit hanging over the fence that separates our yard from the street. The Beshmalla Tree is a few feet from VB's bedroom window. The boys were climbing up, to the point of practically breaking branches. You could hear the cracking. It was so disturbing our puppy, Lotus, growled and barked for the first time ever! Finally, yesterday the boab caught them in the act, and threatened to call the police. Their jaws dropped, their faces saddened, they dropped their cache of fruit, and then ran like the dickens.

After picking a few, washing them off, and tasting, VB has decided that the fruit is lovely. It tastes like a peach, with the texture of a plum. No wonder the boys kept coming back for more. But, if they weren't scared enough by the boab, Lotus will finish the job, should they dare set foot on my side of the fence!

Question: What the hell is it?

The next morning VB woke up, and the word kumquat was on her tongue. Nope, close but no cigar. Wiki had a link for Loquat, and that was it.

Confirming VB's guess is as follows (the bold type):

"Etymology

(Hungarian), "The name loquat derives from lou4 gwat1, the Cantonese pronunciation of its old classical Chinese name (simplified Chinese: 芦橘; traditional Chinese: 蘆橘; pinyin: lújú, literally "reed orange"). In modern Chinese, it is more commonly known as pipa (Chinese: 枇杷; pinyin: pípá), from the resemblance of its shape to that of the Chinese musical instrument pipa (琵琶). Likewise, in Japanese it is called biwa, similarly named from the corresponding musical instrument, biwa. It is also known as the "Japanese medlar", an appellation used in many languages: nêspera or magnório (Portuguese), níspero (Spanish), lokaat (Hindi), mušmula ili mešpula (Croatian nespola (Italian), náspolyanespra (Catalan), nèfle du Japon or bibasse (French). Other names include: sheseq (Hebrew), Askidinya, Akkidinya, Igadinya or Bashmala (Arabic), Akkadeneh or Akka Dhuniya (Lebanese), zger or Nor Ashkhar (Armenian), mushmala (Georgian), mousmoula or mespilia (Greek), muşmula, yeni dünya, or Malta Eriği in Turkish. The Armenian name Nor Ashkhar and the Turkish name yeni dünya literally mean "new world", while the everyday Turkish name for the fruit, Malta eriği, means 'Maltese plum', indicating perhaps confusion over the fruit's origin."

VB will have to keep a close eye on Lotus when she's in the yard as: "Like most related plants, the seeds (pips) and young leaves of the plant are slightly poisonous, containing small amounts of cyanogenetic glycocides which release cyanide when digested, though the low concentration and bitter flavour normally prevents enough being eaten to cause harm."

All quotes are from Wikipedia.



(Below - On the tree in VB's yard): "Loquat fruits, growing in clusters, are oval, rounded or pear-shaped, 3-5 cm long, with a smooth or downy, yellow or orange, sometimes red-blushed skin. The succulent, tangy flesh is white, yellow or orange and sweet to subacid or acid, depending on the cultivar."


(Below - The Beshmalla Tree): "It is an evergreen large shrub or small tree, with a rounded crown, short trunk and woolly new twigs. The tree can grow to 5-10 m tall, but is often smaller, about 3-4 m."



(Below - Picked and washed): "The loquat is comparable to the apple in many aspects, with a high sugar, acid and pectin content. It is eaten as a fresh fruit and mixes well with other fruits in fresh fruit salads or fruit cups. Firm, slightly immature fruits are best for making pies or tarts. The fruits are also commonly used to make jam, jelly, and chutney, and are delicious poached in light syrup.

A type of loquat syrup is used in Chinese medicine for soothing the throat like a cough drop. Combined with other ingredients and known as pipa gao (枇杷膏; pinyin: pípágāo; literally "loquat paste"), it acts as a demulcent and an expectorant, as well as to soothe the digestive and respiratory systems. Loquats can also be used to make wine."


VB's not sure she's seen any at the vegetable stands, but for anyone who is in an area where they are sold, try them - they are delicious!

(Below - A halved Loquat):

Next question!
(Answered by the boab next door - he's got a huge tree hanging over the fence, and onto the road.)

TEEN:

(Below): Some rampant figs (teen in Arabic) that seem to be flying, and plopping all over the yard! On the left, still hard, and on the right, reddish semi-ripe. Fully ripe they tend to look deep red - purple. (VB hasn't tried any yet, since the ripe ones usually splatter upon landing.) VB thought the figs looked different from the figs she usually sees in shops here and in the US, and thought they looked interesting enough to share. She's not sure if these are for eating fresh, best for drying, or for as use in jams.



(Below - halved not quite ripe fig):




Now, if you see any of these, you'll know what they are.

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Karmann Ghia

Here's a nice 1960, 1200cc engine, Karmann Ghia we bumped into one day, quite by accident (as usual). The owner was helping two other men who were working on Range Rover.

According to VB's little book, Volkswagens of the World, by Simon Glen:
"In July 1955 Karmann launched its own version of the VW Beetle with a sleek, two-door coupe' version styled by Luigi Segre of the Carrozzeria Ghia vehicle design company of Turin, Italy...However the floorplan for this Type 1 VW Karmann Ghia was wider than that used on the Beetle. This same wider floorplan was later also used for the Wesfalia-produced Fridolin van and for the VW 181 off-road vehicle. The floorplans, with engines, running gear and wheels, were made at the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg and then sent by rail to Osnabruck. Wilhelm Karmann GmbH made the Karmann Ghia bodies and then assembled and finished the product. These steel bodies made by Karmann were unique for their time in that, despite being on a production-line assembled vehicle, many sections were hand welded from many smaller pieces, even on the last of the model in 1974.

...Like the Beetle Cabriolet, production of the Type 1 Karmann Ghia could have gone on for longer. However, its production line was needed to make the new front-whell drive Volkswagen Scirocco sports coupe'."




More from the book: "Wilhelm Karmann GmbH of Osnabruck has a subsidiary company in Brazil called Karmann Ghia do Brasil SA, and has a factory at Sao Bernardo do Campo near Sao Paulo.

From 1962 to early 1972, Karmann Ghia do Brasil manufactured the same Type 14 Karmann Ghia Coupe' that was made in Germany. "

(Below): Photo from the book of a Brazilian model.





(Below): Another book photo:


(Below): Interior upholstery - The Boss Man wants this for his '65 VW Beetle convertible when he restores it. (He's thinkin' red with white piping.)





NEWS:


ON THE ROAD – FROM GERMANY TO CAMBODIA – IN A COMMUNIST JALOPY

"Towed by camels and laughed at by pedestrians, the lowly Trabant is a modern-day Marco Polo for a good cause.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Move over, Herbie; here come the new stars of overachieving motorized underdogs. Hear them roar! OK, cough, wheeze, and sputter.

Meet Ziggy, Fez, and Dante – intrepid globetrotters, all three. Well, strictly speaking, only two remain: Dante gave up the ghost in Laos.

The decrepit champs are Trabants – "the worst car of all time" as autophiles label the infamous Soviet-era rattletrap; or "a piece of junk," as disgruntled owners used to put it across the former Soviet bloc, where the vehicle was once ubiquitous.

Yet a half century after its unveiling and two decades after its production ceased, the much-maligned car has finally proved its mettle."


The Thing is . . . it's so fun to drive
"VW buggie has safety issues, but it's a blast on trails."


Classic cars shine in the Havasu sun
"Car lovers will have another chance to see more classic vehicles on display next weekend when the Over the Hill Gang hosts a car and motorcycle show at Havasu 95 Speedway on Saturday."

(Video)
German Engineering is Sexy
"In this VW spot, Heidi Klum is interviewed by a classic Beetle."

Do you know where your car comes from
"A vehicle's country of origin could affect its quality

But just how German is Volkswagen?
Although the Volkswagen brand itself is German, not all of its cars are made in Germany. The company has 24 factories around the world. Its New Beetle and Jetta models are actually made in factories in Mexico, and the Touareg is made in Slovakia.
The boundaries in nationality aren¡¯t just becoming blurry for Volkswagen."

Storied Vehicles
"Meckler towed the 1959 Volkswagen Canadian Standard home in July of 1996. While he planned to drive it that summer, he realized it needed too much work first. When the snow started falling he and his dad, Vince, went to work.

"It's meaningful," he said. "It was my first car and something my dad and I did together, so it means a lot."

It was also an achievement Meckler will never forget.

"How many 19-year-olds can say they did this?" he said. "It's different from just getting a car to be able to get a car and totally gut it, strip it, and rebuild the thing ground up. It's pretty cool. A lot of work, but it was worth it."

(Check out the photos)
VW giving away a The Who-themed "Magic Bus" for charity
"This year, the Who are holding a concert to kick off a lottery to win a 1965 split-windscreen bus provided by VW Commercial Vehicles and carrying a paint scheme designed by the band's art director, Richard Evans. Of course, the imagery of band members on the bus appears to be from a time when Roger Daltrey could sing "hope I die before I get old" with conviction. The van will be on display outside London's Royal Albert Hall until the 13th of April, and £5 will get you a ticket for a chance to win the bus, as well as a free download of an unreleased live version of "Magic Bus."

Column: California couple slides into town, with police escort
"It took us four days to make it from California. VW buses are really fun. They go about 45 mph up a mountain. This is not fun."

Hot Wheels and Gallery 1988 Present Pop Surrealist Exhibit Showcasing Artwork Inspired by Classic Toy Brands
"More than 40 of the most notable artists, including Greg Simkins, Jon Burgerman and Bwana Spoons, were given white, 1:18 scale die-cast Hot Wheels® Volkswagen buses to customize for the exhibit. Each Volkswagen bus will be individually displayed and priced between $300 and $5,500."

VB was hoping to see some of these funky designs and more information was supposed to be available at the link below, but it doesn't seem to be up and running, yet. (www.hotwheels.com/40th.) Two photos are available at Edminds: Pop Surrealist Artists Use Hot Wheels Volkswagen Buses as Canvas.

TOWN VAN FIRE DRAMA - VIDEO
(It's actually a truck.)




Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

I've Been Tagged

Strangers, Lyrics by the Kinks (Video below):
Where are you going I don't mind
I've killed my world and I've killed my time
So where do I go what do I see
I see many people coming after me
So where are you going to I don't mind
If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
So I will follow you wherever you go
If your offered hand is still open to me
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

VB's been tagged, by "Here, there, and everywhere" aka Cairogal, and am responding very late

So, here's the deal:
*Post 10 random things about yourself
*Choose 5 people to tag and a reason you chose each person
*Leave them each a comment directing them to your blog so they know they are it
*You can’t tag the person who tagged you (you’ll have to make new friends)
*As a courtesy to the person who tagged you, please let them know when you have posted so they can have the sheer delight and extra work load of reading your answers)

For a little fun, VB has inserted some song lyrics and a video. She hopes it's not against the "rules". Besides it took VB so long to get around to doing it, she felt guilty and thought perhaps more entertainment was needed.

Here's the 10 random "things you don't know about VB" list:

1) VB has lived in: Cincinnati, Columbus, Findlay, and Cleveland Ohio; Sioux City, Iowa; Anchorage, Alaska; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Baku, Azerbaijan; Suffield, Connecticut; Cairo, Egypt; Garrison, New York.
2) VB has been to: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, D.C., Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Indiana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, California, Maryland; Ontario; Greece; U.K; Austria; Germany; Czech Republic; Slovakia; Oman; Azerbaijan; the island of Guernsey; United Arab Emirates; and Egypt.
3) VB worked as a "social worker" for 7.5 years, which is probably why she relates so much to #4. Last position held: Child Abuse and Neglect Investigator.
4) VB's favorite movies are about dysfunctional families: Little Miss Sunshine; The Darjeeling Express - they make VB's family look normal!
5) VB likes gin. Okay, that's not true - VB loves gin!

So you've been where I've just come
From the land that brings losers on
So we will share this road we walk
And mind our mouths and beware our talk
'Till peace we find tell you what I'll do
All the things I own I will share with you
If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
We'll take what we want and give the rest away
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

6) Even though VB blogs about VW's, her favorite car to drive is her 2005 Mini Cooper S, which is back in the States. It is such a fucking hot car! She's going to get herself killed in it, one of these days (most likely, by air bag smothering.)
7) VB does not have a high school diploma, but she does have a Bachelors in Arts Degree, with a major in Political Science, from a university (yes, it's the real thing).
8) VB is a dog person, but she feeds the feral cats who visit her house in Cairo.
9) VB has a congenital cataract in her right eye, which is farsighted, but she's nearsighted in her left eye.
10) VB is just a rider on this train. She has actually enjoyed the trip, and all the company too.

Holy man and holy priest
This love of life makes me weak at my knees
And when we get there make your play
'Cos soon I feel you're gonna carry us away
In a promised lie you made us believe
For many men there is so much grief
And my mind is proud but it aches with rage
And if I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

VB's interested in finding out more about these folks, so she's tagging:
Lynda at Lulu's Bay in Cairo
Kaya at abudhabicalling
he and she
Peter at The Road To The Horizon
Elle at C'est la vie

I would've tagged Zeinobia at Egyptian Chronicles and buj from Buj Al Arab, but I think they've already been tagged on this one.

And for a video
The Darjeeling Limited: Strangers, by The Kinks (Lyrics interspersed with VB's list.)

Recognition - Finally!

Yessss! Finally, VB is acknowledged for something (leadership qualities)?!?!?!

Though she's not sure they're talking about the same "sneakers" she wears. VB thinks the poll was taken with Type A personalities who participate in physical activity more often than they really should. She's bought four pairs this past year, and below is a sampling. Obviously, hers are not your oft seen tennis, power walking, cross trainers, cycling, yoga, blah, blah, blah, (hideously fugly) shoes. Still, she thinks it's a good thing. On the other hand, who really gives a shit anyway? It just kind of makes her feel good about herself. And that's what counts.






Always buying sneakers? It's the sign of a leader: poll

"NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Got a passion for buying sneakers? It could be a good sign, with a poll finding that people who buy three pairs of sneakers or more a year are far more likely to be a leadership type that other people.

Mindset Media, a media company that examines personality traits of different consumers, found that people who buy more than three pairs of sneakers a year are 61 percent more likely to have the qualities of a modern leader.

These qualities were defined as having ideas and vision, and a style with others that is both inclusive and decisive....

Lauren Arvonio, a spokeswoman for Mindset Media, said sneaker buyers were more likely to fly by the seat of their pants.

"It is often said you can tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear, and now we have some hard data to back that up," Arvonio told Reuters.

"What is interesting is that these personality traits held true across the board, regardless of age, income, or gender.'"

(There's more at the link.)

Funkengroovin Wednesday - April Fools and Roadtrips

Number One Son is on his way to Oregon continuing his work (and yes, he does get paid.) He has been in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Ohio, and now the final leg of his work will be in Oregon. He took our Ford Ranger, and not the Westy. The Ford has special mud and snow tires, plus a scruffy teen driving a Westy just draws all the wrong (police / highway patrol) attention ("pot smokin' hippies".) So, we thought it best he take the truck.

Unfortunately for Number One Son the joke's on him. March went out like a lion, and he was stuck along the I-80 Wyoming highway for two days. The first evening he was lucky enough to find a hotel, after the Highway Patrol closed off the highway to all traffic. He barely got back on the road before, according to news reports,
"CHEYENNE - An intense spring storm continues to bring snow, blowing snow and limited visibility to portions of Wyoming, causing some road closures due to motor vehicle crashes according to a release issued at 2:39 p.m. from the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were dispatched to a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near the Saratoga Interchange just east of Walcott about 10:23 a.m. Monday. Troopers asked the Wyoming Department of Transportation to close I-80 between Laramie and Sinclair in both directions.

One tractor trailer combination loaded with electronics caught fire and the heat damaged the roadway surface on the westbound lanes of the interstate. WYDOT personnel are assessing the damage to the roadway at this time.

Another tractor trailer flatbed lost its load of pipe. The spilled load must be removed from the highway prior to opening.

Troopers on scene reported that at least 25 vehicles have been involved in multiple or separate crashes on both the west- and eastbound sides of the interstate between mile post No. 236 and No. 237.

There have been no reports of injuries from the crashes on I-80. One man, however, suffered a heart attack.

It is unknown how long the interstate will remain closed in this area."

"Troopers on scene reported near white-out conditions due to snow and blowing snow."

"Troopers on scene of both multi-vehicle events are currently evacuating motorists as needed and are assisting victims.

Motorists are asked to avoid the areas if at all possible, as long delays are expected."


As a result, since all hotels were full, he had to spend the night in a town rec center Monday night, which he described as a Thorton Park (Shaker Heights, Ohio) with squash courts (sounds nice). This, after being stuck in the same spot, on the highway, for over nine hours! Many others who were out of luck also spent the night there. Fortunately, he had his sleeping bag, and pad with him (guess those Boy Scout sessions worked,) and a Blackberry, which he used to chat with us. Number One son said, "I'm never getting out of here. I'm fucking stuck here!" All of this causing VB to loose quite a bit of sleep worrying (shades of Brokeback Mountain).

As of Tuesday, wearing a plaid shirt to blend in, Number One Son was able to hightail it out of Wyoming before the next storm set in. He was, coincidentally, stuck around The Continental Divide, in a small town where the first two Grey Wolves were killed, since being taken off the endangered species list by Bush (VB's sure, Wyoming's home boy, Dick "can't shoot straight" Cheney, will be after one of these hides.)

Sometime after May 20th, Number One Son's work will be done, and then he's off to Montreal, Canada to meet up with some friends. Inshallah. VB is still worried as he has not yet reached his destination in Oregon, yet. Although, he has been keeping in touch regularly, by phone to have us check on highway and weather conditions in addition to any news of importance (the Democratic Primary.)


Since yesterday was April Fool's Day, and Number One Son is driving out west, it seemed appropriate to post a few foolish photos from past road trips, of what some merry little pranksters do with a Westy. (VB actually loaded these photos for another post, but they seemed appropriate for April Fools.)


(Below): Photo was taken in a campground, somewhere along Route 5 at Evangola State Park, New York, the first summer (1987) we had the van. We used the photo for Awesome Daughter's High School graduation congratulations advertisement, with the heading, "All packed up and ready to go!"





(Below 3 Photos): Taken at a family reunion picnic outside of Cincinnati, Ohio the summer of 1999. We traveled back from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to get our van out of storage in Cleveland, so we could move it to a storage spot near relatives in Cincinnati (where it sat until 2002).














(Below): Cooper, Awesome Daughter's Springer, does not take well to back seat drivers.




NEWS:
(As usual more information and photos available at the links.)

I hope we don’t ruin Top Gear, by Jay Leno
"So someone calls me from the network and is clearly not a car person. He says: “You like cars, right?” I say yes. “Like, all kinds of cars?” Well, yes. I like all kinds of cars. Why? “Well, the network has bought the TV show . . . um . . . High Gear? Top Gear? Top Gear! Top Gear, yes. We know you like to build cars.”




April Fool’s pranksters in corporate America
"Legend has it that April Fool’s day started back in the 14th century when people moved from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Back in that era, New Year’s day was observed on April 1st and those who celebrated on the wrong date we considered April Fool’s.

Google’s current CEO Eric Schmidt was a VP of product development at Sun in 1986 when the company pranksters reassembled a VW Beetle inside his office."


April 1: When Sun Microsystems has fun"Two years earlier, Eric Schmidt, Sun's product development chief and now chief executive of Google, discovered that a Volkswagen Beetle had replaced all the furniture in his work space.

"The VW bug was purchased for $600 from an employee and registered in my name, so I owned it," Schmidt said in an e-mail message. "For a day or two, I conducted meetings in the car."

(Check out the photo at the link):
A Short List of Famous San Francisco Pranks
"On Feb 5, 2001, Bay Area commuters were confronted with a massive traffic snarl on the Golden Gate Bridge. Engineering students from the University of British Columbia, who have a history of pulling pranks,suspended an intact VW Beetle beneath the bridge using a cable. The prank not only wrecked havoc on the morning commute, it stopped ships from traveling under the bridge. Authorities cut the car down, which sunk into the bay. According to the Chronicle article about the incident, the Golden Gate Bridge wasn’t even the students’ preferred target. They tried to dangle the Beetle off the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, but tripped a silent alarm."

VW's 'Max' Coming To A TV Screen Near You
"Volkswagen America's latest television ad campaign featuring spokesman Max, the German accented talking VW Beetle, is set to debut this Saturday evening during the NCAA Final Four college basketball games."

Ad Track: Introducing Max the Love Bug
"The campaign's star is "Max," a pristinely restored 1964 black Bug."

Auto restorers max out effort to bring Max in front of cameras by deadline
"After Volkswagen marketers settled on the 1964 model as best representing a classic Beetle, admakers had three weeks, Dec. 24 to Jan. 13, to have the first Max ready for his close-up, says Brian Schultz, a producer with VW agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky.Teams began a mad search for a restoration expert and restorable Beetles. Within days they found John Bickel, a VW restoration expert who runs State of Mind Customs in Oxford, Mich. Meanwhile, those scrounging for cars and parts found enough for eight to 10 finished cars.

The hardest part to find in mint condition: steering wheels."


Worse than B movies: Oregon group pokes fun with bad film fest
"ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) - There are Hollywood flicks, independent films put on at Sundance and Cannes and B movies. Then there is the stuff the Bad Film Society puts on.

At the top of the bill is "The Giant Spider Invasion," a 1975 effort about aliens from another dimension invading Wisconsin.

Special effects include a fur-covered VW Bug driven in reverse so that the red tail lights serve as the monster's glowing eyes."


(Toronto):r>The Year My Parents Went on Vacation (***)
"Cao Hamburger’s The Year My Parents Went on Vacation deals with the primary subject (next, perhaps, to adultery) of foreign films that reach English audiences: coming of age. No one with the slightest interest in seeing the film should be surprised, then, by its positioning of a defining moment in a child’s life against a backdrop of political upheaval. Here, Mauro (Michel Joelsas), a young Brazilian soccer fanatic eagerly anticipating a Pelé-led victory at the 1970 World Cup, is dropped off at his grandfather’s apartment building by his parents. They tell him they’re going on vacation, but they are really trying to escape persecution from the country’s mounting military dictatorship.

Mauro’s life without them is, again unsurprisingly, one of great change. When he arrives he discovers that his grandfather, who lives in São Paulo’s Jewish enclave, has died; Mauro’s relationship with the neighbour who takes him under his wing (and renames him Moishele, after his religion’s most-lauded foundling) forces him to confront his heritage. Mauro forges friendships with other ragtag kids in the building, develops crushes on pretty women, and yearns to return to the way things were (his parents drive a blue VW bug, and Mauro gets his hopes up every time he sees one drive by)....

The Year My Parents Went on Vacation is now playing at the Cumberland (159 Cumberland St.)."


Reed KD: 'Empty Bottles'
"NPR.org, March 27, 2008 - Reed KD is a perfectly orchestrated hybrid of Elliott Smith's soft, introspective voice and Simon & Garfunkel's narrative songwriting. Frontman Reed Dahlmeier's songs are mainly stripped-down, art-folk pieces with intricate guitar melodies and spare, rhythmic riffs. Recorded in closets, bedrooms and living rooms, Reed KD's latest album The Ashes Bloom, is minimalist with a hint of bluegrass, some pop textures and touches of electronic experimentation.

Dahlmeier is getting ready for his first national tour without The Armchair Aviators. "A friend and I put the whole thing together," he says. "We'll be packing five or six of us in my little VW van for 2-3 months." Besides touring, he is working on a new album that he hopes to release in August."

Lastly, check out Jon's Foreign Auto & Supply, Inc. site, particularly the Research & Development page for numerous interesting updates.



I know Number One Son's not going to like this, but his trip and VB's pictures reminded her of this song.
TOM COCHRANE - Life Is A Highway