From Nate Silver's 538.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
My Seattle photos
I had a great time in Seattle. However, it rained during my entire stay so it was nice to come back to 78 degree, sunny weather. The food was definitely the highlight, and I will probably write an in depth article about it for Crasstalk.
This was a Filipino breakfast at Ludi's. The sausages are longanisas. Underneath is garlic fried rice.
Tom's Big Breakfast at Lola's, an upscale diner/bistro. It comes with octopus, squash, onions, bacon, cabbage, and a tangy harissa yogurt.
German bratwurst at Uli's Famous Sausage. This will take your breath away.
This huge statue of Lenin was salvaged from Slovakia and shipped to the Fremont District of Seattle. Fremont doesn't get many tourists but has lots of eateries, funky shops, and fun people. The Cuban roast pork sandwich at Paseo may be the best sandwich I have ever had.
That's a bona fide 1950s Cold War era rocket.
This was a Filipino breakfast at Ludi's. The sausages are longanisas. Underneath is garlic fried rice.
Tom's Big Breakfast at Lola's, an upscale diner/bistro. It comes with octopus, squash, onions, bacon, cabbage, and a tangy harissa yogurt.
German bratwurst at Uli's Famous Sausage. This will take your breath away.
This huge statue of Lenin was salvaged from Slovakia and shipped to the Fremont District of Seattle. Fremont doesn't get many tourists but has lots of eateries, funky shops, and fun people. The Cuban roast pork sandwich at Paseo may be the best sandwich I have ever had.
That's a bona fide 1950s Cold War era rocket.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Daft Punk Electroma- Entire movie
This art film has been out for a while now. You may have heard of it because the main characters, two sad robots, drive around California's Highway 395 in a Ferrari 412. The movie is actually pretty good.
I'll be posting again come Sunday. So please enjoy this in the meantime. As always, follow me on Twitter as I'll be posting there.
I'll be posting again come Sunday. So please enjoy this in the meantime. As always, follow me on Twitter as I'll be posting there.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Nissan Altima Australian V8 Supercar
NASCAR has Camrys, so why not Altimas for the antipodeans?
Via Bolly Blog.
A Separation movie trailer
Tremendous story and acting. All of the main characters are both right and wrong.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
North Korean labor camps in Siberia
Vice went deep into the Russian Far East to uncover this. Please note that the drunk dude on the train is the only reason I have not been to Russia yet.
Hat tip to Viva Chile.
Hat tip to Viva Chile.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Qaddafi lieutenants killed
The Libyan regime fell a year ago. This is an investigation by Human Rights Watch into what happened to the men who were with Qaddafi on his last day alive. Thanks gods for human rights groups, because nobody else gives a rat's ass.
Carspotting: Holden Piazza
Spotted in Monterey, California, by rchen. It had a Holden badge. Was it RHD?
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Interview with Kim Jong-Il's grandson
A Finnish journalist (and former UN undersecretary general) interviews 17 year old Kim Han-sol. His dad was the one caught trying to visit Tokyo Disneyland with a fake Dominican passport. The kid is smart, articulate, and thoughtful.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Liberty Mutual ad with Human League song
I can't decide if I want to dope slap the person for ruining this song by shilling for car insurance or shake her/his hand for introducing the song to a new generation.
Toyota 2000GT owner interview
Commenter Alan's blog, Auto Neurotic Fixation, is a must-read for passionate gearheads. Check out his piece on the 2000GT. Keep an eye out for Alan's name. He's definitely a rising star who is going places.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Who is the world's most interesting man?
It's not the Dos Equis guy. It's Pan-European, the Canadian moderator of VW Vortex's Phaeton forum. Not only does he have a W12 Phaeton, but he is also an aviator. Earlier this year, he had to deliver a DHC-6 Twin Otter to Papua New Guinea. But the fuel tank isn't big enough for a trans-oceanic flight, you say. Well, he did it by hopping from Victoria, British Columbia, to Alaska, across the Bering Strait, to Anadyr, to Magadan, to Vladivostok, to North Korea, to South Korea, to Taiwan, to the Philippines, to Darwin, to Cairns, and then to Port Moresby.
So far, in 2012,
- he has flown 80,000 miles delivering planes,
- he has flown 110,000 miles as a passenger with commercial airlines, and
- he has driven all of 215 miles in his Phaeton.
World War Z
Whoever recommended this sci-fi book to me, thank you. I have not been able to put it down. I'm not usually a fan of the zombie/vampire genre*, but World War Z is excellent. It's unique in that it focuses on the geopolitical consequences of a massive zombie attack.
*The only zombie story I dug is this one.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
VW Phaeton with manual transmission
It was only offered on FWD 2002 and 2003 European models with the V6 TDI.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Clean Phaeton in autumn
Now you've really done it. I bought a ton of car care products yesterday and cleaned my car. Almost. I spent two hours on the wash and a thorough cleaning/conditioning of the interior. I was too tired for the clay bar and wax so I quit. But this is what it looked like at dawn this morning on my friend's street.
Phaeton rabbit hole-- Spotted!
My front passenger side window has a small problem. It will roll up, but not quite all the way. You can't really see the gap, but at highway speeds, you can hear the wind coming through. I've "fixed" the issue by manually pushing the window up by putting my left hand on the interior part of the window and my right hand on the exterior.
I will be bringing it into a dealer for service. I've never used these guys before. I've also contacted my extended warranty/service contract provider, whom I've never used before. They will cover all parts and up to $70/hour for labor. The dealer charges $152/hour.
Photo source.
I will be bringing it into a dealer for service. I've never used these guys before. I've also contacted my extended warranty/service contract provider, whom I've never used before. They will cover all parts and up to $70/hour for labor. The dealer charges $152/hour.
Photo source.
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Mystery car solved!
It's a DARE TG Sport. Thanks Ross K for the answer! Here is what Just A Car Geek wrote about the car. Incidentally, the Geek's site has not had any new posts since July. I hope he's okay.
More from official Dare UK site.
More from official Dare UK site.
Monday, October 08, 2012
Car wash supplies tips wanted
I finally fixed the outdoor spigot. I can wash our cars now! Any advice on what tools and brands to use? Plastic bucket, sponges, soap, special towels? What kind of wax should I get? Tell me what you use.
TIA.
Adrien Brody's 2005 VW Phaeton
I was looking up used Phaeton prices last night and saw this car, which was advertised as belonging to an Academy Award winning actor. I emailed the seller and was told it belonged/belongs to Adrien Brody. Wow! My Popemobile is the same model year and has the same rims and window tint treatment.
See listing here.
See listing here.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Thoughts on Kamui's first podium
Banzai!
I am so disappointed...that I was not in Japan to witness this in person. For most of this year, I was under the assumption that I would be at Suzuka with my father and my slot car loving (and F1 grid girl marrying) cousin. But the stars did not align and I was stuck in California. So disappointed.
This is a great achievement for Kobayashi. I don't know a single F1 fan who doesn't root for him. He's nice off the track but is a monster on it. With his teammate grabbing all the headlines (for the right reasons), this podium will mean a lot to Kamui, especially since he won it at home. His country must be proud.
I'm willing to bet 100 RMB that in retaliation, the People's Republic of China is hunting down five year olds in rural Shaanxi Province to develop the next Chinese F1 driver. Amirite?
That Vettel and Massa are on top also make a great story. Who could have thought that Vettel would be a triple world champion just a few short months ago? And Massa, without Perez breathing down his neck for his seat, may actually end up driving for Ferrari next season.
Plus, did you notice that all three drivers on the podium drove/drives for Sauber?
List of Japanese F1 drivers with podium finishes:
Kamui Kobayashi (3rd in 2012)
Takuma Sato (3rd in 2004)
Aguri Suzuki (3rd in 1990)
I am so disappointed...that I was not in Japan to witness this in person. For most of this year, I was under the assumption that I would be at Suzuka with my father and my slot car loving (and F1 grid girl marrying) cousin. But the stars did not align and I was stuck in California. So disappointed.
This is a great achievement for Kobayashi. I don't know a single F1 fan who doesn't root for him. He's nice off the track but is a monster on it. With his teammate grabbing all the headlines (for the right reasons), this podium will mean a lot to Kamui, especially since he won it at home. His country must be proud.
I'm willing to bet 100 RMB that in retaliation, the People's Republic of China is hunting down five year olds in rural Shaanxi Province to develop the next Chinese F1 driver. Amirite?
That Vettel and Massa are on top also make a great story. Who could have thought that Vettel would be a triple world champion just a few short months ago? And Massa, without Perez breathing down his neck for his seat, may actually end up driving for Ferrari next season.
Plus, did you notice that all three drivers on the podium drove/drives for Sauber?
List of Japanese F1 drivers with podium finishes:
Kamui Kobayashi (3rd in 2012)
Takuma Sato (3rd in 2004)
Aguri Suzuki (3rd in 1990)
Saturday, October 06, 2012
Incredible Cold War Taiwan photos
These were taken by an American GI in 1957 and 1958 at the height of the Cold War. They are fascinating on so many levels. The rural-ness and lack of development are incredible. Love or hate Chiang Kai-Shek's KMT dictatorship, he was responsible for sending the island straight to First World status. I cannot fathom that my mother, a boomer, grew up in such basic conditions. Finally, the old school cars, trucks, planes, and scooters are fun to look at as well.
Oakland Army Terminal:
DC-6B:
Tokyo:
Taipei airport:
Taipei:
Awesome people mover:
Ships used to ferry people who fled from China. My grandparents and mother took one like these in 1949.
The sign says "Happy New Year. Don't forget our suffering mainland compatriots.":
Funeral procession:
They rode scooters around Taiwan, for fun:
Asahi Shimbun plane:
Super Constellation:
The complete set of photos can be found here.
Oakland Army Terminal:
DC-6B:
Tokyo:
Taipei airport:
Taipei:
Awesome people mover:
Ships used to ferry people who fled from China. My grandparents and mother took one like these in 1949.
The sign says "Happy New Year. Don't forget our suffering mainland compatriots.":
Funeral procession:
They rode scooters around Taiwan, for fun:
Asahi Shimbun plane:
Super Constellation:
The complete set of photos can be found here.