Funkengroovin Wednesday - More Two-tone Madness

VB had a previous Two-Tone Madness post featuring...Two-toned VW's. Here's a few more for your enjoyment. Photos are pretty much self explanatory. VB apologizes for the non-explanations, but let's get real. This Presidential campaign has been maddening, and it's finally over. VB stayed up way past her bedtime to hear election night results and speeches.

As for her work as an "Unofficial Poll Watcher" - it was real. She sat next to her neighbor, a real live Republican, who is so Republican it's not funny, but not like Palin. We talked "Association" issues, such as a house in foreclosure that will be auctioned off by the bank. Sad news. Then we joked about the boarding school that bussed it's students in to vote at our address appointments (when you poll watch, you get assigned addresses, not names.) Then VB's neighbor was replaced by a woman, who's perfume finally made VB leave. VB had been there for three hours (one hour more than agreed upon. ) Besides the fact that this woman muttered, and shifted papers confusingly for her first ten minutes, while VB was trying to listen to the voters when they gave their addresses (as an "unofficial poll watcher" you are not allowed to have interactions with the voters), and then try to hear the voters' names (so VB could check them off the list), she (this woman) just made VB's interesting experience, very intense. VB went home and nursed her perfume laden headache with a gin and tonic. Even though the evening started out gloomy, today, Wednesday 5 November 2008, has been outstanding! Sorry for the late post, but VB warned you.

VB is just so happy the election is over, and she can refocus on her blog again.

All these photos were taken before VB left Cairo, last month. (Two Beetles and a Transporter.)












(Below): Another violation of the New Egyptian Traffic Law! (Actually, there's probably more than one but VB just felt this was too obvious.)




NEWS:
(Mostly presidential, and general. No specifically VW news this week - it's been kind of slow time for VW news anyway.)

Since this was election week, there have been numerous articles about Presidential Limos, and getting out the vote (GOTV.) For international comparison, and more information about Presidential cars, most loaded with photos, check out these links:
Presidential Cars of 20 Countries [PICS],
Presidential cars then and now,
Presidential Cars: Power, Prestige, and Style,
A Brief History Of Presdiential Cars (International),
Presidential hopefuls and first cars (No. None of them had a VW. These are all the candidates from the Presidential Primaries.)
Presidential cars of the United States of America
President Taft Drove an Electric Car

And now for something completely different (more in the "youbetcha, that, there; wink, wink" department): Top Presidential Drives, "Gov. Palin is proud of the many miles she’s put on her fire engine red VW Jetta diesel. (I was unable to confirm the model year, but it must be circa 1990s.) It seems she’s a car enthusiast because Gov. Palin could easily hire a driver. However, she again proudly drives herself, her hubby Todd Palin and her five kids around in a government-issued Chevy Suburban. I recently met a bunch of real Alaskans at an annual meeting of the Alaska Travel Industry Association where I found Alaskans have a strong penchant for the Chevrolet and Subaru brands. (Alaskans particularly love the versatile and reliable Subaru Forester.) So, if Palin and McCain win on Tuesday, I think Palin should consider upgrading her family’s ride to the more environmentally-friendly Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. The “rogue” Palin may also think about replacing her aging Jetta with ultra low emissions 2009 VW Jetta TDI, which has a super zippy 2.0-liter engine that gets 44 mpg highway and 38 mpg city."


Executive Privilege, All Stretched Out and Armored
"Since the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, presidential limousines have offered protection from attack amid the trappings of a luxury car."

"That innocent time ended in February 1933, after Giuseppe Zangara’s assassination attempt on Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was in an open Buick in Miami. (The attack killed Mayor Anton Cermak of Chicago.)

In response, the Secret Service put an armored automobile at the president’s disposal — a Cadillac that the Treasury Department had seized from Al Capone.

Roosevelt eventually received armored limos made just for him, beginning a tradition of specialized presidential cars."


Presidential Power on the Road
"The next president will likely travel in an armored, fortress-like Cadillac unlike any other."

"AFTER President McCain or Obama takes the oath of office in January, he may have a shiny new black limousine to go along with his not-so-new White House. General Motors is believed to be putting the final touches on a new First Car.

"An analysis of unauthorized photographs taken while the car was being tested last summer on public roads suggests that the presidential ride will be a truck-based Cadillac. It will presumably replace the Cadillac that President Bush has used since 2005."

Presidential limos would have great appeal to collectors. But the Secret Service has shown no enthusiasm for letting recent White House cars fall into private hands. When the cars are retired, they often disappear, to be destroyed or used in Secret Service training."


It's Time for Drive-Thru Voting
"Chaos, that's what. Election officials worry about technology breakdowns, flawed voter lists and other problems. Early voting and absentee ballots help ease the crush, but it's time to seriously consider an idea that has emerged this year -- drive-through voting.

The idea has caught on in places like California's El Dorado and Sonoma counties and Douglas County, Oregon. It's cheap, it's easy and it should be replicated everywhere."


Campaigns Use Anything With Wheels to Get Out the Vote
"With Election Day upon us, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama have shifted their focus from tearing each other apart to getting out the vote. They want every one of their supporters to pull a lever, tap a touchscreen or punch a ballot, and they're doing everything they can to get them to the polls.

Convincing people to vote is different than actually getting them to vote, and the campaigns — and their armies of supporters — know it. So they're pulling out all the stops to get voters to the polls. "We have drivers and we have vans," Obama volunteer Val Scarborough told Wired.com. "We're doing everything in our power to get people out.""

"With so many ground workers transporting so many people to their polling place, it's hard to imagine that this kind of thing used to be illegal. According to a New York Times article from 1912, giving a fellow American a ride to the polls violated the Corrupt Practices Act."

"Turnout expected to break all records — some say as many as 80 percent of registered voters will cast a ballot today — and voters are going to great lengths to make their voices heard. But the most extreme example has to be the couple living in India who didn't receive their absentee ballots, so they spent 22 hours flying to New York to cast their votes. "We decided it was important to stand up and be counted," Susan Scott-Ker told The New York Times.

It's crazy, but it's awesome. And if they can do it, so can we. Whether you drive, bus, fly or walk, please make sure you hit the polls this year."

The Best and The Worst McCain Vs Obama Get-Out-The-Votemobiles, from Jalopnik.

Some Gas Stations Running on Empty
"Most of the gas stations in my neighborhood don’t sell gas anymore.

It happened gradually, but one by one they started roping off the pumps and putting up “no gas” signs. They do repairs, emissions testing and some sell candy, but they don’t pump gas."

VB can't remember how many times she has had to veer her car recently, due to roadkill. It seems to be all over the place right now - mostly squirrels.

Fatalities on the rise in vehicle-animal crashes
"The study found that insurance claims for crashes with animals is three times higher in November than it is from January to September.

"The months with the most crash deaths coincide with fall breeding season," said Anne McCartt, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's senior vice president for research."


"No full-size sedans come close to meeting the new fuel economy requirements for New York’s car services.
Fuel-Efficient Black Cars: A Taximoron?


Is It Real or a Replica? The Factory Knows All
"Manufacturers now offer verification services for collectors looking to avoid duplicates."

"“There’s a lot of shenanigans going on, with some people building duplicates or turning one car into another one that’s more valuable” said Adam Rowley, vice president for technical services at Ferrari North America. “Some people have built very good replicas and have been upfront about it. But others have not been so upfront.”"


Drive if You Dare: The World's Scariest Cars


VB may have played a different version of this song before, but this one is full of all the same bright colors seen in the VW photos above.

The Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today

I Voted Today!

Have you?

Wednesday

(Below): What VB will be doing (towards Canada? - That's debatable - Greece?) if the election does not go her way. Yes, this guy is carrying a bathtub in a three wheel bicycle, which he's walking. Must be mighty heavy (obviously not plastic.) More importantly, he is clogging up traffic!



VB is posting this on Monday night, 3 November 2008. She is working tomorrow at the polls (you know, the place we Yanks go to vote,) as an "Unofficial Poll Checker." That means VB has to stand (or maybe they will have a chair for her to sit. On the other hand, she lives in a HUGE Republican teeny weeny little farming community. We are not setting down any expectations.)

Note to self: Don't forget to vote, while you are there.

Okay, so tomorrow is The Day, and VB has to watch, and listen, and check off people on the voting list. Then someone comes along, and grabs that list from her hands, and hands her a clean list, with all the same names. The person who takes the list, goes off to start calling the people who (for some unknown reason) have not voted. Yes, VB is working for a political party. She is just an Ass, like the rest of them!

Wednesday is the day after. Regardless, VB will most likely have a hangover - one way or another, either celebratory, or in the early stages of a major depression. So, just plan on the Funkengroovin Wednesday to be a bit later in the day - this is just a warning - an FYI.

(Below): Oh, BTW, Lotus says "hey!"



(Below): And we all know who she'd vote for (if she could.)

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Another Street

Here's a street in Maadi Gedida. The pink Bug was spotted as we passed by, so we looped around to get a better shot. Out of the corner, across the street, VB noticed the blue Beetle. We returned two weeks later, to check out the progress, only to find both cars gone.

A pomegranate cart.

(Below 2 Photos): Pink Beetle shell near a repair shop.

(Below 2 Photos): Shiny blue Beetle at a repair shop.

(Below): The shiny blue Beetle's engine.

(Below): Brazilian?

(Below): Dash and steering wheel.

(Below 2 Photos): Front end and rear interior close up shots.

(Below): Up the street, a Bus.

(Below 2 Photos): Up on a parking area, near a U-Turn sits the apparent dumping spot, for cars with serious injuries. Makes you wonder how and if, the drivers and passengers survived.

NEWS:
(Go to the link for full articles and photos.)

(Australia - Next Two Items)
They’ve got the bug
"Quin Latimore in a quest to recruit members for their newly formed club."

Perfect Kombi nation

Build Your Own 1960 Beetle - With Legos
"This box of bits will only cost you $120 and a successful build is probably not above your skill level."

VW Design Chief: 2010 Volkswagen Beetle Will be "Less Toyish" and "More Mature"

Will The U.S. Get A Beetle-Based Pickup?

Is Volkswagen Violating The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
"My neighbor "Pam" recently lost her husband and was surprised to have someone call her up and ask for him. She asked who was calling. The representative was from VW Credit agency. They get to chatting and the rep asks if she knows two people from across the street and gives their names and house number. Pam is very social and say yes of course. The representative then asks if Pam could leave a note on the front door and on their VW Bug asking if the neighbors could please contact VW Credit agency. At this point Pam said "No thank you" and terminates the call."

VW sculpture going to Sparks
"The Bug that has sat on top of the former Reno fire station on Morrill Avenue since 1992 has found a new home on top of Scudders VW Performance Specialists, 630 Victorian Ave."

Jay Leno on Paul Newman
"Paul had some great cars but the one that made me smile was the VW Bug he had with a Porsche 911 engine in the back. It blew the doors off people at the lights and they could never work out why. It was much cooler than the Ferraris that other stars might have had."

Duo gives up stable jobs to go around the world in a VW bus

Magic Bus: Peter Townshend Gets a New-Generation Camper Van

Tooling around Utah parks in a VW camper van
"As Nathan Williams, co-owner of the rental company, demonstrated the van's features, I could see that a VW camper is like a Swiss army knife on wheels, with surprising conveniences tucked and folded into every nook. Fold the small table out of the way, pull out the backbench seat, and you've got a bed big enough to sleep two. (Admittedly, not the most comfortable of beds; it felt like a sofa-sleeper.)" "I discovered, to my disappointment, what the term "Weekender" means: This model lacks the built-in stove, sink and refrigerator common to classic VW campers. Instead, it has a tiny refrigerated drawer that was cold enough to keep yogurt and vegetables from going bad, but not to chill beer."

From the "Good Grief" Department:
Actor Claus Theo Gaertner's Wedding
"...The couple, who have found their 35-year age difference to be no hindrance to their six-year romance, arrived at their wedding venue in a vintage vehicle-- a VW bus...."

Morecambe and Wize - vintage VW camper van hire in the north of England

Study Says Closing Roads Might Cut Congestion. Huh?

A 100-Year-Old Dream: A Road Just for Cars
"The Long Island Motor Parkway, built 100 years ago by William Kissam Vanderbilt II, was one of the first roads built specifically for the automobile."

EGYPT:
Why are Egyptian cabbies driven to talk so much?
"Even casual travelers to Cairo soon learn one thing about the city: Egyptian taxi drivers delight in gabbing about politics, religion, the weather, their family, your family, their income, your salary — whatever — while you are captive in their cabs. Khaled Al Khamissi, an Egyptian author, recounts dozens of conversations he's had with chatty drivers in a book called "Taxi," a rolling portrait of contemporary Cairo. For him, cabbies are the city's town criers." "First published in Arabic last year and now available in English, "Taxi" reconstructs from memory 58 conversations Al Khamissi had with various drivers."

NEW TRAFFIC LAW IN EFFECT

Road Safety In Egypt Still At A Low Even After New Law Introduction
"Minibuses - which officials said transport about 2.7 million people each day - can be seen careering around the streets of Cairo with little respect for other cars and pedestrians and are the cause of a high number of collisions. Their low-paid drivers - immortalised in the hit 1996 movie Demons of Asphalt - are known to take drugs to stay awake on long shifts. "Taking the minibus is a daily adventure," said Amal Hamed, 25, who works in a clothes shop, as she waited for a minibus to take her home to the teeming neighbourhood of Shoubra. "When I arrive home safely, I pray to thank God I'm still alive."

Anyone remember seatbelts?
"A car with no licence plates is double parked, blocking the way for another parked car. The driver waits impatiently, asking the car attendant why he "allowed" it. Then he tries to push the car but fails because of the hand brakes. He resorts to using his horn, in the hope the driver will miraculously hear the noise and be reminded of his wrongly parked vehicle. Finally a man wearing a police uniform gets into the car without a glance and speedily drives off. The car attendant remains silent. He does not ask the policeman for the usual tips. The waiting man speaks only when the policeman has left. "So, the traffic law is really in force," he says to no one in particular."

Contemplating parking
"Cairo is a place of surprises. You go into the coffee shop to meet a friend, and by the time you come out the licence plate on the back of your car has disappeared. Not the licence, not the car – but the licence plate. What on earth could be more absurd?"

BAN ON COMMERCIAL USE OF GPS IN EGYPT HAS CONSUMERS FRUSTRATED
"Telecoms Law 10/2003 outlaws the import of GPS-equipped mobile phones, and retailers found selling them could lead to the confiscation of their entire stock. The same applies to any kind of commercial use of GPS technology, which includes cars equipped with GPS devices."

After VB's rant a few posts back, she decided to try to actually get her act together and add some news, as she did in the past. She figured she could go without mentioning politics, because she doesn't like to mix it with car talk, and prefers to just do a straight Funkengroovin post.
But, noooooo!
To quote Sopranos character Silvio (Little Stevie), who always quoted Michael Corleone in The Godfather: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again."

Claudia Sternbach: BamaBus continues Santa Cruz girl's political journey
"Sisters Annie and Samantha Woods had to split up after their wildly successful trip to the Democratic National Convention in their Volvo Obama Mobile. Once back in Santa Cruz, it was time for Samantha to return to work, and the sticker-covered Volvo went along for the ride. Annie, a filmmaker, didn't feel ready to abandon the grand political adventure. So she and Gadi Rouachean, an artist friend from New York City, decided they would tackle traveling to every battleground state in the country. This time using a 1985 VW bus."
You can go to Obamamobile for lots more information, and a video where you can actually see the Bamabus.


BTW, have you checked out your 401k lately?
We did, "And I kissed America, when she was fleecing me..."
David Byrne - Miss America

Mind Games

(Above): Montaza Palace at night.


VB is in Alexandria for Eid, so the Funkengroovin post will be a day or two late, that is, if VB survives another taxi ride through town. The drivers here apparently think we Americans are suicidal fools. Well, we did take their taxi now didn't we? It's been a blood curdling / harrowing frolic through a wonderful city.

On the more positive side (after last week), VB did discover a way to get through the rest of the election cycle, without going out of her mind. Vanity Fair is presenting numerous libations, to drink yourself through this damn ordeal!

Some interesting drinks thus far:

Lipstick on a Pig
A Drink to Nowhere (Gravina Island Iced Tea)
On the Baracks
Cuppa Joe Biden
Pom Pom Palin
McCandy Cane
Obama Mama
Baked Alaska
Cosmo-Politician
Swing Voter
Dirty Delegate
Ward Eight
The Economic Boost

According to Vanity Fair: "Put the party into politics with VF Daily’s Capital Cocktails. Come November, we’re all going to need a stiff drink!"

Go to the 5 O'CLOCK BEAT for your daily dose of recipes.

And, if the election alone isn't enough to drive you to drink, for us American Expats there's more. According to Esquire's, The American Diaspora:

"Nobody knows how many Americans live permanently abroad...The U. S. is the only advanced country that makes no formal attempt to count its emigrant citizens."

"On top of what Americans living and working abroad owe their adopted countries, they also have to pay U. S. taxes. As a result, Sundberg says that both American and foreign companies often have to pay overseas Americans 30 to 40 percent more to compensate. (The U. S. is the only major trading nation that double-taxes its nonresident citizens.)"

"Having the overseas constituency formally counted could help lead to political influence and even representation in Congress. Then expats could start solving the list of problems they face: heavy taxation, U. S. and foreign banks' aversion to overseas clientele; Social Security payment without Medicare benefits; convoluted voter-registration rules. "Most other countries put a premium on encouraging their citizens to live and work abroad," says Sundberg. "They see it as an asset rather than a liability."'

Cheers!



(Below): Taxi driver thinks he can fool us into thinking his Lada is really a VW.


(Below): Alexandria taxi drivers use smoke and mirrors into trying to make you think you're "safer" in their cab. Here's the mirror effect.

Funkengroovin Wednesday - Mind Games

(Below): The view from Logan International, Lufthansa Departures area, 18 September, 2008.


(Below two photos): Silver Beetle for sale. (Maadi) Cairo, Egypt.





(Below): Black Van. (Maadi) Cairo, Egypt.


(Below): How's that new Traffic Law working for you Egypt? (People, just quit trying to drive into us!)


NEWS:

No news this week.

VB does not like to mix politics with Funkengroovin stuff, but she's Flipping Out, via Apple TV, but, also from what VB hears about McCain - he is actually, in reality, flipping out! We were watching Flipping Out, when Numer One Son called with the "longest Hail Mary pass in the history of football, and in the history of Hail Marys" - Barney Frank). McCain's poll numbers are down, he's the deregulation guy who has no clue (let's not go into details here), and he wants to "bomb, bomb, bomb,....bomb, bomb Iran." (This is a simplistic view of someone who should be as far away from the red button, and economic decisions as....(fill in the blank yourself.) Perhaps, he and Sarah Palin would be happier traipsing around with dinosaurs.

VB has a confession to make: Number One Son has taken three semesters off from university to work for The Man - Barack Obama. VB was not an Obama (nor Hillary) supporter originally. VB actually thought Obama would run in the primaries, and get trashed by Hillary. VB thought everyone would get trashed by Hillary! She never thought Number One Son would take three semesters off from school. It didn't help this summer, when his high school teacher, quoted Mark Twain saying, "Why let school get in the way of your education?" (Who asked you?) VB has spent much less time with her son this past year, than she would have liked (he works seven days a week, twelve - 24 hours a day) , and she will be very happy when this is over, particularly if the result is to her satisfaction, but more so because she can spend some time (perhaps not all -or any- "quality time") with her son. We are not dysfunctional, we're Greek! Quality is not an issue!

Number One Son has advanced to "Regional Organizer" and has been getting paid for some time now. He is located far, far away from VB's home on the east coast. The older union dudes who have worked with him call him "the baby." Yes, he is that young. One year of college, and he was off campaigning (not even old enough to drink)! Needless to say, we are a house of extremely liberal democrats (well, VB is actually an extreme within the extreme. No Volvos or Prius' here, but Latte drinking? Actually, VB prefers a Frappe.)

So VB has decided to do the news portion of Funkengroovin Wednesdays (until November 4th, 2008) when she pleases. Let's just say, today is not a good day. Not a good day, at all. You readers are not like McCain, who invented the Blackberry, but can't use a computer, and are quite capable of not only using a computer (that "series of tubes,") but doing a Google search (some folks call it "googling") yourselves. So, VB is suspending the spoon fed news portion of this blog, until further notice.



If you like all of this shit then you'll love... Mind Games - (John Lennon)

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

Weekend News Round-Up

Weekend News Round-Up is back, and a bit smaller than usual right now. VB has links to two interesting articles about Cairo. The Internet here seems to be getting better - Inshallah. So, VB will try to get a couple of Funkengroovin posts together this week.

Below, a photo of an electrical pole, near VB's apartment, on fire, the other night. She was sure that she was going to lose electricity (the electrical box across the street was popping), but the authorities were able to put it out before any major damage was done. As usual, a policeman crept up behind VB to say, "no pictures." Yeah, we all know how dangerous it could be if photos of an electrical pole on fire got out to the public.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST:
36 Hours in Cairo
Cairo is third world and first world, Islamic world and pharaonic world, a teeming city that jars all the senses, all at once.

IN CAIRO, HORDES OF STREET KIDS, BUT NO LONGER IGNORED
The Egyptian government and nonprofit groups are stepping up efforts to help street children.

For all you Funkengroovin Deadheads (VB knows, she said she wouldn't combine Funkengroovin with politics, but this isn't Funkengroovin Wednesday - it's the Weekend Round-Up, that's different):

Dead to hold concert for Obama
Three surviving members of the Grateful Dead - Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir - will reunite at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Warfield in San Francisco for "Deadheads for Obama," a concert to support Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Tickets for $35 sold out almost immediately after the show was announced on Friday afternoon, but those who missed out can view a live simulcast at www.iclips.net.

Puppy Lotus, encounters the feral cats. More on the cat situation later.

I Voted Today

Vagabondblogger went up to the local Town Hall and voted by Absentee Ballot Today, even though she had to deal with the clerk with an attitude. It's horrible to interrupt the daydreams of a tax leech. Isn't it enough she gets to take off at 1:00 PM every Friday? VB and The Boss Man are paying for this. And believe VB, taxes around here are not cheap! But, it was more than worth the trouble - I made sure to hold my ballot up high, and turn it over several times to show her who I was voting for. Since it was well known that she was a Lieberman supporter, when I was for Lamont, it's a good guess she's a fan of Hill too.

FOR THIS MAN:

Democratic Primary

Vagabondblogger has been obsessed by the Democratic Primary Season this year (one reason why she's been so neglectful with her own blog.) She also loves the movie, Election, with Reese Witherspoon. So, for something fun and unusual, here's:

"Hillary's Inner Tracy Flick
Don't you just hate when some upstart comes along and threatens your best-laid plans? We were struck by how well one of Reese Witherspoon's monologues from the film Election fits the narrative of Campaign 2008."

Day Tripping

The Boss Man, Awesome Daughter, VB and the two doggies took a day trip to New Hampshire, in two cars - the Ford Pick-Up, and the Mini Cooper S, on Friday. Number One Son has been working up there since September and needed to switch cars, among other things. Don't ask why we took two cars!

One the way up we passed the Caspian Rug Gallery, which we visited on our return trip. It's a rustic, small carpet shop run by an Iranian man, Shahram (you can call him "Sean"), somewhere on Route 13, Brookline, New Hampshire. (See below) If you're in the area, you should stop by and buy a carpet. VB has too many carpets already and is not allowed to buy anymore. Boohoo....

Here's what we saw (the really important stuff.)

(As usual, click on photos to enlarge them.)


Decisions, decisions! (Isn't that what New Hampshire's all about these days?) Which way to go?



Thankfully, no decision needed. We get to take a pass on Purgatory - at least for now.



Purgatory Road might have been easier to maneuver through than this (below). Apparently, Number One Son is somewhere out in the boondocks of New Hampshire - something he neglected to tell us.




Due to his upcoming job duties, Number One Son needed the family TomTom to find his way around New Hampshire. The TomTom is great. VB never cared for GPS systems, since the one we received from a car rental company back in 2002 helped get us lost somewhere in western Connecticut. But the TomTom is worth the money, if you take a lot of trips, or need to go into back-country areas, or have the bad luck to always get lost. It's satellite based, and can correct your directions regardless of what you do to screw them up. It's also a hands-free for your phone, and The Boss Man even downloaded John Cleese's voice for his vocal directional instructions (not as funny as you'd think.)

The engine check light came on in the Audi, which Number One Son was driving around, so we decided to trade cars with him. He took the Ford Pick-Up as he has to tote around lots of materials, plus all the snacks we brought for him, and his co-workers. As luck would have it, VB's Mini was too small, and she's very reluctant to let it out of her sight. Covered with dirt and salt residue, in the photo, it's her favorite car. Below, three of the six cars we own. (Sorry but due to the sensitive nature of Number One Son's job, we had to wipe out the license plates. It's "top secret" don't you know.)




Below, scene from the garage window of the house where he was stationed on Friday. A moose was said to have been seen earlier in the day.





Fortunately, his work (12-14 hour days / 7 days a week) pretty much comes to an end Tuesday night, except for a few loose ends he will need to tie up later. Among other things we all hope for is to celebrate The New Year together - something we missed as a result of his intensive work schedule. We have several bottles of unopened champagne we're saving for a celebration (we might even open one up Tuesday night.)

Whatever your thoughts - keep them to yourself - or as Francis Urquhart said in, House of Cards: "You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment."

Obama Goes To Bollywood

The song is from the movie, The Guru.   

Barack OBollywood