Tibetan self-immolating nuns and monks

Smog check

California requires that cars pass emissions testing before they can be registered.  Smog Center in Walnut Creek was wonderful.  I was out of there in 15 minutes and it only cost $39.  The Popemobile (that's what I'm calling it) passed.

Hand-powered ferry, U.S.-Mexico border

New York Times article.

Two Vee Dubs

Getting rock chips repaired

With a 9 1/2 hour drive home tomorrow, I decided to get a couple of rock chips I sustained yesterday in the Sonoran Desert repaired.  Safelite sent a friendly car nut to repair them within an hour.  He said he has seen only one other Phaeton in Vegas-- a 110,000+ mile example that's been treated roughly by its owner.

Repair cost: $155.23 (the Safelite guy said a new windshield costs around $1,300).
Less: $50 reimbursement for being a AAA Premier Member.
Less: $178 I won at Red Rock Casino's slot machines.
Equals: Not a bad day.

Incidentally, I saw Pawn Stars' star Rick Harrison at the casino.  He was much smaller in real life.

Oh, and Alan, the interior color is "anthracite".

Why U.S. unemployment will never drop below 8%

GMC Syclone beats Ferrari

This is a Car & Driver classic comparo.  And look, the Italian can barely hold a pony keg!

Double rainbow

Auspicious sign.  

The tuxedoed beast that is the Phaeton was made for the autobahn.  The solidity.  The quiet stature.  It would be a cop out to just ascribe one superlative after another.  It's got its quirks.  There's still a lot more to learn.  We're still strangers to each other.

Wide Open Road- History of Australian cars

Lukas from Down Under shared this 3-part series on the evolution of cars in Australia.  It's definitely worth watching.

Signed, sealed, and delivered!