Funkengroovin Wednesday - Around The Hood

MAADI

Reminder:

22nd of June, 2008
13th WORLD WIDE DAY OF THE VW BEETLE
or
DRIVE YOUR VW BEETLE TO WORK DAY

Today, VB includes a excerpt from a commentary by Garrison Keillor of A Prairie Home Companion fame.
The motor home fades into the sunset
"There's nothing like having the freedom of the road and the comforts of home. But $5 gas is pushing the fantasy of comfortable vagabondage to the wall."

"Nonetheless it's sad to see the motor home fade into the sunset. I used to despise them when I was a canoeist, of course. You paddle up to a campground at the end of a hard day and see a few R.V.s parked there, the air conditioners rumbling, the flickering blue light of the TVs in the windows, and as you set up your tent as far from them as possible, you feel a moral grandeur purer than you will ever feel again. A holy Christian pilgrim among the piggish heathen.

The fantasy of comfortable vagabondage lies deep within each one of us, though, and once, 30 years ago, driving a GMC motor home around western Minnesota, I fell under the spell. To have the freedom of the road and the comforts of home -- your own books on the shelf, your clothes in a drawer, your brand of beer in the fridge -- is an aristocratic privilege and I was happy to give up moral grandeur for a couple weeks and enjoy it."


And, if you are still on the road, regardless of gasoline prices, you just might bump into a truck stop that offers a place to pray: "To the Rev. Shannon Rust, a diesel-soaked lot alongside a truck stop in Pennsylvania is a parish ideal for preaching to the traveling masses about life’s ultimate arrival."


(Below): Yellow food delivery van, at nearby neighborhood (Maadi, Cairo) restaurant.



(Below): Caught this Bug while the owner was at the neighborhood McDonald's eating lunch. As the owner drove away, VB yelled out, "nice car!" - He then stalled, while waving "good-bye".




VB is still in Connecticut.


NEWS:
(Assume all links not only have full articles, but photos as well, since just about all of them do!)
Remember the question and answer section from the Freakonomics Blog at the New York Times, from last week's post? Well, more on why traffic safety measures aren't really that safe.
"Why stop signs and speed limits endanger Americans": Distracting Miss Daisy

(Mexico)
Mexico City putting green Beetles on endangered list
"Mexico City’s government has implemented new requirements for taxis that will force drivers to replace the VW taxis with four-door cars. Officials estimate that nearly two-thirds of all the city’s cabs are Beetles, but up to a third of those will be retired this year."

(USA)
‘Carbecue’ a hit at parties around county


Death Of The S.U.V. -- Why Now?
"Fuel prices are not killing the S.U.V. A reversal in mass social mood is, as described in detail by the July 2006 Elliott Wave Theorist’s special, two-part study titled “Social Mood and Automobile Stylings.” In this fascinating report, editor Mark Galasiewski drives home the following insights:

"Cars reflect the spirit of their times…During periods of rising social mood [as reflected by rising stock prices]” cars take on more “angular styles, boxier frames, wider windows. As the mood rises toward excess, consumers also demand more room, bigger engines, and more sophisticated stylings, prompting designers to push the limits of length, width and height."

Conversely: A falling mood will see cars built of "simpler styling and smaller capacities” and for “increasing efficiency.”
(S.U.V. + R.I.P. = B.E.A.R. In the June 4, 2008 Socio Times post, editor Pete Kendall reveals the historic link between a slump in S.U.V. sales and a bear market in stocks. Access to Pete’s analysis is available via a risk-free subscription to Elliott Wave Financial Forecast. Learn More.)"

"To reinforce his analysis, Mark surveyed the past 85 years of automotive history, covering almost three complete cycles in the stock market. The correlation between a rising mood and muscle cars, and falling mood and minis is unswerving. To wit:
(1921-1949)
1921-1929, Bull Market: Ever wonder where the phrase, “It’s a doozy” comes from? The “Duesenberg J.” Debuted 1928. The prototype for the large, boxy, high-performance vehicle.
1929-1949, Bear Market: “Flash and dash” no longer sold. Focus on simplicity and economy. The “Coupe” is born. 1938: Volkswagen Beetle began production as Hitler’s “People’s Car.”

(USA)
Volkswagen lovers show off their Bugs, (Photo gallery here)
"As some Ozarkers itch and scratch as the chiggers come out, people like Rick Hirsch are bitten by a different bug.

Or Bug, in Hirsch's case.

Hirsch's ride was among Volkswagens displayed around the VFW Post 639 on South Scenic Avenue for the 14th annual June Bug Jamboree put on by the General Registry of Ozarks Volkswagen Enthusiasts -- GROOVE."

(UK)
The Who Magic Bus to make a Special Appearance at CamperJam
"This year, van lovers visiting CamperJam will have the chance to see and buy tickets to win a special 1965 ‘split-screen’ Transporter known as The Who Magic Bus. CamperJam is a weekend event dedicated to owners and lovers of Volkswagen vans and will be held in the beautiful parkland of Weston Park, Staffordshire from 20-22 June."

(UK)
VW camper owners rejoice! Vanfest and CamperJam are coming
"Fans of Volkswagens legendary campervans get ready: Vanfest, the worlds largest gathering of campervans, is near (if you happen to call Britain your home).

If you can't wait until September, another camper gathering called CamperJam will take place next weekend. In addition to the hundreds of expected campers, the smaller show will feature The Who's special edition 1965 'split-screen' camper that will be raffled for charity."

(UK)
Help find Worthing woman's beloved campervan
"Vicki, of Grand Avenue, was left with 70 per cent burns to her body after the gas cooker inside the campervan she was travelling around Australia in burst into flames in 1999.

The whole van was engulfed in flames while Vicki, who was 24 at the time, was inside.

Despite being left in intensive care, Vicki made an amazing recovery and went on to buy another campervan when she returned to England."

(UK)
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE
"The Crichton Estate is the spectacular setting for an outdoor performance by the touring company of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, which features a cast of eight, a VW camper van and minimal props."

(Egypt)
No matter what his mode of transport, Burgess finds Egypt a tricky place to navigate
"In fact, I almost didn’t make it to Cairo at all. After a nightmarish struggle to get a visa at the Taba border crossing, I was escorted to my Cairo ride. “Not an ordinary car, sir,” the agent assured me. “It’s a limo.”

Which translated as a VW wagon with Tweety Bird headrests. My driver’s name was, yes, Kamal."

(AU)
Kombi passion on show
"Hosted by Klub VW and The Kombi Club, and sponsored by Kombis in Paradise and The Bus Stop, the event attracted Kombi-lovers in their droves last year and organisers are not expecting any different this year.

John Kupsch from Kombis in Paradise said interest had only grown.

"It gets bigger each year and we could have anywhere between 1000 and 2000 cars at the show," he said.

Mr Kupsch said there had been a resurgence in interest in the humble Kombi.

"Within the last five years there has been a boom in people wanting Kombis," he said."

SHU's VIEWS by JIM CARROLL
"If you have attained midlife or better, you remember "Magic Bus" by the Who. A number of years ago, I bought my own. It wasn't magic when I bought it, of course. Magic is not purchased. "Bus Magic" is like a tattoo. My favorite tattoo artist once said "You don't buy a tattoo, you EARN it." I think he was referring to the discomfort.

Yes, in a very simple way, the bus IS magic. It works some of its magic on the people inside it, and some of it on the people outside it."

Do you know how Ben & Jerry's Ice Scream got started?
The food chain: How big business bought up the ethical market
"All of the brands mentioned above, for instance, are now owned by big business empires. Green & Black's, maker of gourmet high-cocoa bars, is owned by Cadbury, the makers of mass-market, low-cocoa bars. Ben & Jerry's groovy, often highly political, ice-creams belong to the Anglo-Dutch household-goods giant Unilever. Rachel's Organics, a big organic dairy brand, is owned by the US's largest dairy company, Dean Foods, which produces 2bn gallons of conventional milk a year.

In 2000, Unilever scooped up Ben & Jerry's, whose funky flavours include Cherry Garcia and Bohemian Raspberry, for £175m.

Greenfield, a 57-year-old millionaire social entrepreneur, is wondering whether he could have done anything to halt the sale of the hippie ice-cream empire he and his schoolfriend, Ben Cohen, started in 1977 after he had failed to get into medical school for the second time and his friend had been fired from a series of low-paid jobs.

They took a correspondence course in ice-cream making, bought a dilapidated shop and starting selling scoops of their ice-cream out of the back of a VW camper-van. Their company had ideals....

Food brands are divvied up between a handful of big players, who have economies of scale and negotiating power with the Big Four supermarket chains, who, in turn, between them control 76 per cent of grocery shopping."

(USA)
Local artists paint VW buses for beer
"Thirteen Seattle artists are among the creative crew contributing to Pacifico Beer's latest promotional campaign."

(USA)
On the Job Training: Chuck hires on as a farmhand
"Trust me when I say that the first day this summer to see the mercury hit 90 was the perfect time to visit Murray Hill Farm in Clarkfield Township and work for owners Chuck and Suzy Murray, who also raise Navajo-Churro sheep on their Huron County spread. Perfect, that is, if you like sweat and pain."

"Did I mention that the Murrays, who found each other a couple of years ago during a St. Patrick's Day celebration, are into organics? Oh, they use fertilizers and such, but these folks are old hippies. Especially Suzy, who once lived in the artist-rich community of Las Cruces, N.M. That's why when you visit the farmers market at Kamm's Corners this summer, you'll likely see their special delivery vehicle: a beautifully restored 1972 VW van, complete with flowers, Grateful Dead stickers and peace signs."

From Jalopnik, an interview with many photos: Algae Powered VW Van


Alice Cooper - School's out 1972

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Hillman Minx

Last week VB focused on Road 9 and all the VW's she spotted in just one afternoon. For awhile last year, a rare car was parked on Road 9 for months, probably waiting for hard to find parts. It was a Hillman Minx. As quoted again below, "In the early '50s, the Minx was the number one imported car in the US and Canada. But it was deposed by a strange, rear-engined, beetle-like machine from West Germany, called a Volkswagen."

(Looking at the layout here, you can tell VB wrote most of this last year.)

VW and Rootes

"In truth, history is seldom that clear cut but the circumstances of the Rootes/ Volkswagen connection is an interesting one and we'll worth recounting with hindsight '


Rootes first significant involvement with the Beetle came when its Humber company produced a report on the military version (the Kubelwagen) which was captured in North Africa, probably after it ran out of petrol in the wake of Montgomery's victorious campaign. This 1941 example (number 1339) was taken to the Rootes factory at Ryton on Dunsmore, Coventry in January 1943. It was completely dismantled and appraised to form the subject of a document Report on Examination of German Light Aid Detachment Vehicle Type V. W. 82 "Volkswagen", published later that year."




"With the benefit of hindsight, Rootes was probably the least qualified British car company to undertake such an investigation. Its contemporary cart-sprung Hillman Minx with front-mounted, side valve engine was about as traditional as the Volkswagen was unconventional, with its all-independent torsion bar suspension and rear-mounted air cooled flat-four, ohv engine. But Rootes involvement with the Beetle was destined, by chance, not to end there.

When the Volkswagen factory was operating under direct British control in 1945-1947 one of the officers who played a role in getting the car back into production was Wing Commander Richard Berryman....


Berryman told Rootes of the production problems that were being experienced at Wolfsburg but, despite this, having driven many miles in the Beetle, he was convinced that the car was a tough, durable product and virtually unbreakable. He was certain that Volkswagenwerke was a viable proposition and suggested that Rootes buy the plant.


But, it seems, Rootes was not interested. He told Berryman that his company had a Beetle to evaluation and his engineers did not believe that the noisy, rear-engined German car had much of a future. At the time Rootes had more orders, both on the home front and from overseas, than they could cope with... S Berryman departed after providing Rootes' Advertising Manager with the VW specifications he had brought with him from Germany."























The History of VW and the Wartime Kübelwagen

"Car production aside, the long running debate over who should actually own the factory and the facilities it offered continued throughout 1945. Technically, the Wolfsburg facility was on offer to the Allies as part of the war reparations, yet on repeated occasions no other country took up the offer. This was partly because a half-demolished factory and a few battle-scarred machines was hardly the most desirable of prizes, but also because the British motor Industry refused to see the value of Porsche's basic design, Because the military had found the little car so very effect during the war, one of the very first post war Beetles was sent to England for appraisal. The bastions of the British car industry did not share the Army's enthusiasm, finding the car too ugly, noisy and generally too odd, Compared with what was on offer in Britain In the immediate post war period, the Beetle was completely incongruous, so their reaction is understandable. Later that year, a delegation from the British Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) visited the factory and wrote a report, 'Investigation of the Developments in the German Automobile during the Post War Period'. This was followed by a further report, published In 1946. Entitled, 'Investigation into the Design and Performance of the Volkswagen or German People's Car', it contained a comparative road test between a Hillman Minx and the Volkswagen that had been sent to England some months No doubt on the say-so of the few engineers at the Humber car company evaluated the Volkswagen, the British eventually turned both car and factory down. And although this was proved very bad judgment, they can take comfort In the fact the they were by no means the only ones."


Wiki Overview

Isuzu Hillman Minx

From Hillman Minx-A Spotter's Guide

"In the early '50s, the Minx was the number one imported car in the US and Canada. But it was deposed by a strange, rear-engined, beetle-like machine from West Germany, called a Volkswagen. Technically backward compared to the Hillman, the Beetle scored with the novelty of day-in, day-out, rain or shine reliability. Being British, the Minx was about as reliable as the summer sun in Brighton. Which is why the Minx is forgotten, and the Beetle went on to become the most popular car the world has ever seen."


Battle for the Beetle

"Ludvigsen traces the Beetle's impact on the world of autos, from the Chevrolet Corvair and Hino Contessa to rear-engined Fiats, Skodas and Hillmans. We learn why the most startling decision made by VW chief Heinz Nordhoff was not to change his car's design. And we are brought right up to the 1998 launch of VW's New Beetle. For those who wish to comprehend its amazing impact on the auto market, Battle for the Beetle is the essential source." (First Chapter: Birth of a Menace accessible from main page.)



NEWS:
Mostly general - no VW news this week (see below)

The following article makes VB wonder if traffic in Cairo is safer than in the USA. She knows for sure, that to get practically anywhere from her house, she has to go through numerous roundabouts. And street signs? Not so many.
How’s My Driving? A Q&A With the Author of Traffic

"Q: What’s a surprising thing that can make roads more dangerous?

A: Sometimes, it’s the appearance of safety that makes roads dangerous.

Take four-way signalized intersections versus roundabouts, for example. Most people in the U.S. prefer the former, which give clear, simple, precise instructions on how to proceed; whereas we still tend to view roundabouts as these weird, confusing European imports.

But four-way signalized intersections physically have many more potential points of “conflict” than roundabouts; also, roughly 1,000 people per year die in intersections because of red-light running. People tend to reduce their caution going through signalized intersections because they think they “have the light.” At a roundabout, you’re less sure of your right of way, and in any case, everyone has to slow to enter a roundabout, so by its very nature it prevents the dangerous t-bone collisions of a four-way signalized intersection."

"Q: How effective are road signs really?

A: Last week I just spoke to someone at the Chicago D.O.T. At a particularly curvy part of Lake Shore Drive, they’ve had trouble with crashes. They tried putting up signs, then tried larger signs, then tried larger flashing signs. Still people behave foolishly. Finally they tried putting markings on the pavement that trick drivers into thinking they’re going faster than they are (an example of the “choice architecture” discussed in Thaler and Sunstein’s Nudge). When we actually see signs to begin with, as we often don’t seem to when doing something like talking on a cell phone and driving, it is a further mystery how and if we decide to act on that information.

“Children at play” signs and the like are absolutely ineffective in changing a driver’s behavior, and studies of drivers through school zones show they were driving much faster than they remember. It’s been argued that signs allow us to basically stop thinking, and in certain places experiments have been done in which they’ve been removed, with no negative safety effects."



New York Times Book Reviews has a list of books for summer reading. Road Maps to Automotive Adventures
"Recent books about automobiles offer everything from an armchair tour of dream garages to a history of Henry Ford’s Model T." One of the books reviewed is "Peking To Paris," which is a companion to the TV series. It just finished it's run here in Cairo on the Star or Showtime (not sure which actually) Travel Channel. One of the cars on the trip was a Bathtub Nash, which the New York Times showcased in The Sportsman’s Life in a ‘Bathtub Nash’. "The Nash Airflyte, known as the "Bathtub Nash," was once the vacation vehicle of choice for outdoorsmen, with seats that turned into a bed."

Your Scene: Weird Wheels
"Here are some of the weirdest cars readers have found on the roads."

'Aware Car' Knows When You're Too Old to Drive -- and Tells You
"The car of tomorrow will make senior citizens better, safer drivers and let them know when they ought to hang up the keys for good. It also could tell the DMV.

Researchers at MIT's AgeLab are building the "Aware Car," a Volvo XC90 packed with cameras, monitors and sensors that keep tabs on drivers and their behavior to improve safety.

AgeLab studies the quality-of-life issues of an aging population, and the idea behind the Aware Car isn't getting older drivers off the road but allowing them to drive safely as long as possible. The $1.5-million vehicle also could help automakers design safer cars, and it's one of several ongoing efforts to build the ultimate "nanny car"....

Because Big Brother is providing a lot of the money Reimer and his colleagues are spending, the technology also could give the government the means to evaluate drivers' competency behind the wheel and determine whether it's time to yank their licenses."


June 6, 1933: A Car, a Movie, Some Popcorn and Thou "1933: The world's first drive-in movie theater opens in Camden, New Jersey.

Their popularity soared after World War II, when Americans started having kids in droves. (Can you say "Boom"?) The drive-in offered cheap family entertainment, a place where parents could take the kids without having to shell out for a baby sitter, or worry about them bothering other patrons.

Since drive-ins offered a certain amount of privacy, making out in the back seat of the car was a rite of passage for Teenus americanus, circa 1963. You could get it on in the front seat, too, if you had a column shift, or even a bench seat with four on the floor. But bucket seats? Forget it."

How to Change Your Own Oil in a Jiffy
"You don't need the Apple genius bar to swap out your RAM, so why waste $50 at Greasy Lube when you can swap out your own sludge?"

Motorcycles and emissions: The surprising facts
"Long story short: Motorcycles, even small ones, are more polluting than Hummers, but it's the best that can be done for now. If you want to make a difference, consider an electric two-wheeler for your next bike or a gas-powered model with fuel injection and a 3-way catalytic converter."

No Mortgage Needed for These Beauties , (Slide Show of "Low-Cost Collectible Cars, and more info, at the link.)
"Bargain collector cars start well below the price of a Ferrari tune-up, and the variety is wide-ranging.

FIRST, the good news. Unlike some investments, collector cars rarely become completely worthless, in the way that shares in a dot-com have been known to do. Barring floods and fires (at least you can insure against those losses), collector cars will rise and fall in value, but they will rarely hit zero."


VB just arrived back home, in Connecticut, late yesterday afternoon, and apologizes for the late post.


Di-Gue-Ding-Ding by Michel Legrand

Cathouse Update - New Kitty On The Block

Just yesterday a new kitten showed up in VB's backyard. We knew his/her mom was nursing, and had him/her sometime in April. So let's welcome this little kitty, and see how he/she gets along. Does she/he look familiar? (Sorry for all the she/hes and him/hers, but VB has no idea of whether this is a boy or a girl.)
More photos of some of the newer cats we've seen at the house since VB's return in late January.
(As usual, click on the photos for enlargements.)
(Below): New Kitty


(Below): Mom and kitten in the yard.



(Below): "Little Boy"
New kitten's half brother. He's been here since last September, when he was just a tiny little thing too.




(Below): "Fuzzy Wuzzy"
Little Boy showed up one day with this young man trailing behind. He looked so much like Little Boy we called him Fuzzy Wuzzy. They bumped noses, and sometimes slept together. Shortly after several fights (not necessarily with him) on the front porch, and the "Blue Eyed Sex Maniac", this cute cat disappeared. Late January, Little Boy's sister jumped off the grill, where they slept together ever since abandoned by Mom, she drank some water, left, and never came back. VB noticed a small amount of bloody discharge, and The Boss Man had said, "she didn't look good." She disappeared the night of VB's arrival back from a three month stay in the States. So this is Little Boy's second loss in three months.


(Below): This young girl showed up suddenly, and started sleeping in the yard, until Lotus (the pup) scared the daylights out of her. She comes from somewhere across the street. She's very hesitant, sits on the wall, and waits until the porch clears out before coming to eat.

The young girl (above) resembles the cat below. Female, and from the house next door. A succession of people have cared for her. One family had her de-clawed, and would allow her in the house, on and off. According to the gardener, there's no way she's the mother of the young girl. She visits regularly, and had been here almost everyday (sometimes sleeping on the porch or air conditioner), while construction was going on at the villa next door. She rubs up against VB's legs, and lets VB pet her. She's one of the bigger cats, and she's sweet. In the photo below, she had just been awakened by a group of males chasing a female in season.



(Below): "Johnny Come Lately"
He used to be The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac's favorite target. On a daily basis, Blue Eyes would corner him, howling like crazy. Johnny would try to get away, or VB would go out with her walking stick, and bang it on the ground. Blue Eyes didn't like the walking stick, and would usually skedaddle. Johnny got his name by showing up, when a female was in season, and just missing all the action, always one step behind. He doesn't seem to be a trouble maker, so far.



(Below): "Bad Ass Cat's Bro"
Looks like The Bad Ass Cat, but isn't. Possibly a brother? Vicious looking, but hasn't started any trouble yet either.



(Below): A garbage bin cat, who has been visiting for a week or so. Photo below was taken at the garbage bin. VB thought this might be The Golden Boy, who disappeared last December, but no (it's a she).
Friendly with the Blue and Green Eyed Cat (and girlfriend, last photo below), these garbage bin cats seem to be a very cohesive, and affectionate group.


(Below): Dirty Nose
Another new cat. Female and looks like she's nursing. VB calls her Dirty Nose, although we're not sure that's actually dirt. Not the same cat as the one above, but they do look alike.




(Below): The Blue and Green Eyed Cat, and his female friend, who looks like she's nursing. (We saw them in last week's post, where he got neutered.) We have about five females that appear to be nursing, and so will probably have more kittens showing up as time goes by. VB doesn't have photos of the other moms, since some of them are pretty skittish.

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Road 9

Road 9, Maadi:
We eat, we drink, and we shop there. A trip to Road 9 usually results in a find of some sort. Plumbers, electrical shops, a Radio Shack, grocers (including organic), coffee shops (like four now - Costa, Cilantro, Beano's, and the most recent - The Second Cup,) restaurants, florists, butchers, gift / jewelry/ sheesha shops, and woodworkers who specialize in mashrabiya, all intermingle. But! Did you know you can also get your car fixed on Road 9? Just below The Golden Dragon's front (Road 9 facing) windows is a shop you may have walked by, without ever noticing. On both sides of the street, cars sit parked, some for weeks on end, some with raised hoods, waiting for the repairman.

A few weeks ago we drove through, and three men were blocking the road repairing a broke down VW Bus. VB had been tempted all week to walk down to see if the Bus was still on Road 9, but resisted. A week later, we went down, for a walk this time, to fetch some needed supplies (vinegar, cable from Radio Shack, and C Cell Alkaline Batteries.) On this day, VB got more than she wished for. All in one afternoon's work!

(Below): As usual, two kids asked to have their photo taken.



(Below): The aforementioned VW Van. VB wonders if that's the repairman.






(Below): Fresh, pencil thin spring asparagus (okay, so some of it looks sketchy. That's the way everything is here - enticing yet...?)



(Below two photos): A parked Bug, not waiting for repair.




(Below): Another Bug parked on Road 9.




(Below): A Bug, looking for a parking space.





(Below): Another Bug parked by Metro Market.





(Below): Orange Juice Delivery.



NEWS:
My First Car, (More stories and photos at the link.)
"Americans love their cars, and for many, reminiscing about their first set of wheels evokes memories of freedom, fun, fast engines and first-time fender-benders.

When American Profile asked readers to tell us about their first cars, we received hundreds of stories—and photos—of broken-down jalopies rescued from Depression-era chicken coops, second-hand family cars that provided reliable rides to school, and shiny, brand-spanking-new vehicles bought off showroom floors.

Along with detailed descriptions of every make and model imaginable—from a rickety 1920 Model T Ford purchased for $5 to a shiny 1994 Toyota Corolla, bought by a 70-year-old first-time driver—were humorous and heartwarming stories about nerve-wracking drivers’ examinations, unforgettable drive-in movie dates, cheap gasoline and quirky mechanical malfunctions."

“My first car was a 1958 Volkswagen Beetle that only had the driver’s seat because a Wisconsin farmer had used the car to transport his pigs,” says Marcia Koshollek of Green Valley, Ariz. “My father bought the car for me when I was 16 years old and paid $100 cash. I scrubbed and scrubbed but never got rid of the ‘pig smell.’”

Porsche Marks 60th Anniversary
"STUTTGART, Germany — The Porsche and Piëch families quietly observed a milestone on Thursday: the laying of the cornerstone for the family-controlled sports-car business that today is one of the world's most profitable auto companies."

From Jalopnik, with loads of great photos: 1974 Volkswagen Thing

Mean Streets of Mexico City (More info and photo at the link)
"In a country with such extremes of wealth and poverty, foreigners are viewed by the criminal fraternity as little more than brogue-wearing cash machines. I've been robbed at gunpoint and chased down the street by a car full of youths intent on abducting me. Three of my friends have been hijacked in taxis. Two others, who went walking in the hills outside Mexico City one Sunday, were robbed by bandits brandishing toothy grins and machetes. Mugging is so common it's now referred to as "gringo tax".

One of the first things that strike you about the traffic in Mexico City is the prevalence of bright green Volkswagen Beetle taxis (nicknamed vochos). "Oh, aren't they cute," coo tourists when they see them. The cars are cute, but I never forget that Hitler loved VW Beetles too.

Vochos have no back passenger doors. This makes it hard for passengers to exit in a hurry, but easy for unwelcome visitors to jump in. This feature is one of the reasons why taxi-hijackings, or express kidnaps, have become so popular."

ON AND OFF THE BUSES (Full article and photo at the link)
"They were rarely glamorous, never very adventurous but our big days out were always special... particularly the ones involving Grandad’s Bus.

Another bank holiday having just passed, thoughts of big days out were bound to prompt a touch of nostalgia for a time before main roads to coast and country were turned into go-nowhere-fast car parks. Before trains ground to a halt right on schedule, because holidays now mean repair and cancellation opportunities – not big days out."

Broken van offers good lesson
"I also learned something else about cheap VW vans - you can kick-start them. Nick would wait in the driver's seat while I pushed the van up to speed."

"It was also a great personal lesson in physics."

(UK)
Is Your VW Camper One in a Hundred? "The chances of winning the lottery are around one in 14million. If you don't fancy those odds, here's some good news: the chances of winning a full refund on your VW Camper insurance are just one in a hundred, thanks to Just Kampers Insurance Services."

Britain's Got Talent winner's rare disease (Full article at the link)
"George, who busked on the street to get to the show's audition, says he will spend his winnings on paying his mum's mortgage off and an old VW camper van for himself to go busking around the country."


MUSIC MEMORIES
"It's no easy task commemorating the wild abandon of 450,000 people blissfully gyrating in the rain. But the new Museum at Bethel Woods, opening today at the concert site, attempts to do just that.

Psychedelic colors swirl over a life-size hippie bus and a VW Bug, while wall displays discuss everything from civil rights to LSD. In many ways, this ode to the 1960s mirrors the "Summer of Love" exhibition at the Whitney last year.

The museum is within the 2,000-acre Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a concert venue that this summer will host Steely Dan, Tony Bennett and, of course, Hippiefest 2008. With ongoing performances like these, it's easy to forget that Woodstock itself almost didn't happen."





Dean Martin - On The Street Where You Live

Me Cat Manor

Or No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
(as Awesome Daughter said after hearing the following story.)

VB has been in a funk lately. Last year she tried to get help catching a few of the feral cats eating on her porch. She was basically told to go bugger off. Well, anyone who's read VB's past posts will remember The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac. He showed up late last summer, and was still here when VB returned in late January after a three month absence.

(Below): (Center) The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac, lounging under the Palm Tree, with (L) Fuzzy Wuzzy and (R) Little Boy. This is one day of peacefulness around the yard.


As time went on, old Blue Eyes became somewhat of a menace. He was even meaner than The Bad Ass Cat. He sprayed on the food, and right into the water bowl. He fought with practically every other cat that came to feed, injuring some. He started sleeping on the grill, and terrified the younger cats, like Little Boy, who would shudder when Blue Eyes approached the porch.

The porch scene itself was getting out of hand. On a daily basis we could hear The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac howl at other cats, then screeching, then another attack. It certainly made great entertainment for Lotus, the pup, as she would scramble to go watch the fight through the dining room windows.

The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac and The Bad Ass Cat, plus a few others are all gold and white. It seemed as if VB's all night diner was turning into a gangland territorial spat, between the gold / white cats, and the non-gold / white cats, like these. Food was pulled inside after hours for a more peaceful sleep - nothing like being woken up at 3:00 AM by caterwauling cats. Little Boy's mama, who had just given birth to a new litter a couple of weeks earlier, was seen flying across the porch as The Blue Eyed Maniac pounced on her. She limped around for about a week. He had gone after the cat from next door, which someone had de-clawed, and could obviously not protect herself. He would chase cats out of the yard, into, and across the street, through mud, and traffic if he was pissed off enough. And he usually was.

Someone familiar with the local rescue community suggested VB call a certain shelter, who had transport services and "cat catchers". They said, if we had Blue Eyes neutered he'd have a much better temperament.

(Below): The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac's favorite target, Johnny Come Lately.



So, last week the "cat catcher" showed up twice. It would've only taken one visit had he shown up almost on time. Two hours late, is a bit too late, especially with these regimented felines. On the other hand, with the maid's help, VB could at least communicate with him, as he spoke no English. The "cat catcher" said they had a place to take cats like him, where they fought to the death. VB told him and the vet, she just wanted him neutered, returned, and then we would see if that works.

Well, The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac was trapped with in a cage (Below) - much like those no kill rat traps they sell here.



Then the cat catcher, feeling kind of full of himself, decides to trap the Blue and Green Eyed Cat. VB said she was sure this was a female, since the cat was extremely docile, and loving to other cats who came onto the porch. This was a new cat, who had only been around the porch for about a week or so. This cat even got along with The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac. The "cat catcher" said he was definitely a male. Hmm? How did VB get that wrong? As if it hasn't happened before!

(Below): The Blue and Green Eyed Cat caught in a net.



(Below): The Blue and Green Eyed Cat around the block sometime in March of this year. VB thought he was dead when she first saw him. He was apparently eating from the garbage bin, but looked emaciated. He also looked like one very old cat.



(Below): The Blue and Green Eyed Cat as a kitten. This photo was taken last July. VB searched through photos, knowing she had one of him previously, thinking he was the mom with a kitten. Instead he was actually the kitten. This would make him a little over a year old now.



Later that evening as VB was making dinner, the vet called to say the "cat catcher" would be dropping off the Blue and Green Eyed Cat, but not The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac. They were just operated on a few hours earlier, and VB thought they'd at least be kept overnight. Not so.

The vet explained that he had no room for them, they were too active, and that neutering the Blue Eyed Sex Maniac did nothing to his temperament. He told VB that he would drop him off somewhere else in Maadi, where he would not bother us anymore. For several days, VB was pretty upset. Did they drop him off in a deserted area of Maadi, that's still pretty much desert? Or did the vet allow the "cat catcher" to take The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac off to a back alley cat fighting ring? Both ideas seemed pretty dreadful to VB.

Question: Does VB have the word "chump" written on her forhead? Well, the good doctor did ask if we had any more cats we'd like to have "catched." Just asking.

It's been almost a week now and it's awfully quiet. It seems that peace has settled in for awhile. VB's sure one of the other males will try to take The Blue Eyed Sex Maniac's place, but who will it be? Who will reign as the cat king of Me Cat Manor? It had been peaceful once before, but that came to a screeching halt, and it probably will again.

As for the Blue and Green Eyed Cat, he seems to be recuperating. VB's concerned about his safety, but he seemed to be an awfully agreeable cat, considering some of the characters we get here at the feeding post. Another new cat, seen below, is a very good friend of his. When she arrives (she just had kittens, so VB's sure it's a she) he jumps off the chair, they bump heads, do a dance, wrap their tales around each other, rub up against each other, and then eat together out of the same bowl.





It's nice to know Blue and Green Eyed cat has such a wonderful friend. Sometimes good things can happen.

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Two-tone Madness

Blog subject today: Two-toned bugs. They seem to be the new rage here, and VB keeps bumping into them, wherever she goes. Photos should be self explanatory.

Below: Maadi



Below: The Khan (Souk, Market, Bazaar)



Below: Car chase in Maadi


Below: Maadi







A Somewhat Perverse(?) Assortment of
NEWS:

VB says, "keep these creeps away from my baby!" ('65 VW Beetle Convertible)
VIDEO: Man Who Makes Love With Cars

Article from JAVNO:
"A man who claimed he had a sexual intercourse with over 1,000 automobiles, now defends his romantic feelings towards cars, the Telegraph reports.

Edward Smith, who lives with his current “girlfriend” – a white Volkswagen beetle he calls Vanilla – is persistent in his belief that he is not mentally sick, and he does not show any wish of changing his lifestyle."
There's more: Documentary Of The Week My Car Is My Lover Wednesday, 5, 10pm
"We also meet Jordan, a 20-year-old who lives nearly 2,000 miles away, in Missouri and also expresses his feelings through music.
Like Edward, he also caught the love bug when he fell for a classic VW Beetle."
And more: Man who's had sex with 1000 cars gives new meaning to auto-erotic, and more, The man who has sex with cars, and possibly the original article all others refer to: Man admits having sex with 1,000 cars, "My Car Is My Lover is on Five on Wednesday, May 28."

Sorry Beck's, but Saying 'Different by CHOICE!' Doesn't Make it So (Video and more information.)
"To draw attention away from its absence of a sound position in the beer market (unless "favorited beer of the band 'Black Label Society'" counts), Beck's tries wearing the message "Different by Choice."

This new spot -- produced by Anonymous for agency Lowe Worldwide & Partners -- compares the mediocre green beer to avant-garde painters, punk rockers and the VW bug, among other subversive cultural icons."


Two pals start their own ‘Meals On Wheels’
"...Jeff’s wife, Elizabeth, owned a ‘71 Volkswagen Super Beetle when they married in 1986. Jeff had told her he would restore the car. “Taking it apart is the easy part,” he says. “Getting it back to brand-new is the really long and hard and arduous part.” Over the years, there were a lot of distractions...."

"In 2004, Jeff, 53, bought a huge homemade grill — a converted 275-gallon recycled fuel oil tank — to indulge in one of his other passions: barbecuing. He was pondering how to move the grill when his eye landed on the new chassis he had bought for the Volkswagen. Once he had installed the grill in the Beetle shell, he had not only saved himself from “the humiliating defeat of junking the car I couldn’t finish,” he also had a proposal for a new business with a catchy name: Carbecue...." (More information at the link, but sadly, no photos.)

Vroom to spare
"TILTON – For hot rod and custom car enthusiasts, the sixth annual Laconia Custom Nationals, which has drawn more than 600 entries to Gunstock Ski Area in Gilford, is a chance to share their passion with like-minded people and swap shop notes on what's happening in their retro world."

"Moe Camire, 70, of Chelmsford, Mass., brought along a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle he spent hundreds of hours restoring over the past 15 years." (Photo and more info at the link.)

Volkswagen Cuts Karmann from 2010 Golf Convertible product

Plug 'er in and drive away
"FOR the sake of the environment Ric Smith is using his 20 years of mechanical experience to change his red VW into an electric car."

Volkswagen Bus; It was as loveable as it was slow and it set the tone for all the minivans that would follow
"Chrysler's minivan might have struck with more ferocity in 1984, but Volkswagen got the wheels rolling decades earlier and for different reasons." (Full article at the link.)

Business in Maidenhead, Connexions Berkshire
"Connexions Berkshire has recently taken delivery of its first branded vehicle, a mini replica of an original VW Camper. Based on the Subaru Samba, the van is branded in the Connexions colours and logo." (Photo at the link.)

Festivals and children – It doesn’t have to be torture
“Every year more and more people are taking our vans to festivals because they’re a really civilised way of coping where facilities are often pretty basic. Festival rentals have trebled since 2004 and Glastonbury weekend was fully booked six months ago, so it really has been a huge growth area for us.” (More info and a photo at the link.)


The music video is somewhat of a lucky find for VB, and coincidental at that. Last week VB, and The Boss Man, watched an excellent movie about the 1980's skinhead movement in the UK, This Is England. As VB was looking for an appropriate music video, she plugged in "two tone" for a search. She then came up with, among other things (like two-toned painted fingernails,) a music movement called 2 Tone, which became popular with UK skinheads during the 1980's.
From Wiki: "The music term 2 Tone was coined by Jerry Dammers of The Specials, who has said he came up with the idea because he liked the black-and-white check pattern on his scooter when he was a young mod.[citation needed]However, many people think the name refers to black-and-white outfits worn by rude boys and skinheads — and to unity between black people and whites."

Evolucion Reggae - 2Tone The Special & Madness

More Road Trips, Road Food, and TV coming (VB has been procrastinating.)