Here is Mercedes's factory replica:
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Bernie Oakland rally line
We waited for two hours and fifteen minutes. It went two blocks past the end of this video.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Seychelles carspotting (Annotated)
My friend sent me these photos.
What are these?
1. Kia minivan and Ford Ranger?
Sanchez: Kia Carnival/Sedona and Ford Ranger.
2. ? CUV and Kia Sportage.
Sanchez: Nissan Elgrand, Nissan Qashqai and Daihatsu Terios.
Charles: Nissan NV200, not Elgrand.
3. Some kind of Hyundai.
Sanchez: Hyundai i20.
4. What is the cop car and that white pickup truck?
Sanchez: Pickup - Chevrolet Utility Bakke.
Charles: Not a cop car but is a Toyota Yaris.
Ed (Belgium): Dacia Duster with Renault badges. BTW, what is the black sedan on the right side, Toyota, Nissan, Chinese Emgrand?
Lukas: Black sedan - Hyundai i45?
What are these?
1. Kia minivan and Ford Ranger?
Sanchez: Kia Carnival/Sedona and Ford Ranger.
2. ? CUV and Kia Sportage.
Sanchez: Nissan Elgrand, Nissan Qashqai and Daihatsu Terios.
Charles: Nissan NV200, not Elgrand.
3. Some kind of Hyundai.
Sanchez: Hyundai i20.
4. What is the cop car and that white pickup truck?
Sanchez: Pickup - Chevrolet Utility Bakke.
Charles: Not a cop car but is a Toyota Yaris.
Ed (Belgium): Dacia Duster with Renault badges. BTW, what is the black sedan on the right side, Toyota, Nissan, Chinese Emgrand?
Lukas: Black sedan - Hyundai i45?
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Zenvo
I passed this truck yesterday and didn't recognize the car painted on the back. I am told that it's a Zenvo, which infamously caught on fire on Top Gear.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Heidfeld angrily drives Monaco
Monaco will be exciting this weekend. And, it's going to rain. Any predictions?
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Francisco's 3000GT finally sold!
What a roller coaster ride. The 3000GT was first listed on BAT but the deal fell through. It was then listed on eBay and covered by Jalopnik. Now, it appears someone bought it for the BIN price. Fingers crossed for you, F!
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Eating the Globe: Guatemala
This was a mini-adventure.
I convinced my friend K to come with me on a Saturday morning to eat Guatemalan next to Fruitvale Station. The area is still rough around the edges but is quite vibrant, even at 10 in the morning. There are also quite a few Chinese places, including a boba joint.
We walked about four blocks, only to find that our destination had just shut its doors forever. We did a quick Yelp search and found a Guatemalan/Salvadoran eatery a block away.
This is what I got: the Desayuno (breakfast) Guatemalteco (Guatemalan). Counterclockwise, the eggs were just eggs. They were fine with a little hot sauce. The beans were mild in flavor and may have contained cacao. The hard cheese was also mild. That cream sauce was kind of funky and was cold. Not sure if it's supposed to be that way. That sausage was way funky. It was cold. I'll know in a day or two if I should have swallowed that bite. The plantains were great. And finally, the tortillas were perfect.
K's chicken stew was much better.
Countries tried so far:
Africa: Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa
Asia: Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia,
Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe: Bosnia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuainia, Sweden
North America: Canada, El Savador, Guatemala, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
Oceania: Tonga
Friday, May 20, 2016
Eating the Globe: Projected Map
Since I'm making maps, blue shows all the countries I can eat at locally.
Eating the Globe: Updated Map
Assuming I have Guatemalan for breakfast tomorrow, blue shows the "countries" I've eaten.
My Bernie-Hillary prediction map
After June 7, this is what the map will look like. Blue is Bernie; Red is Hillary.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Eating the Globe: Laos
Another disappointing meal. I rushed between two appointments to squeeze in this Laotian lunch. It's lad na, which Wikipedia describes as a gravy covered noodle dish popular among Chinese people in Laos. My verdict: Too sweet.
Countries tried so far:
Africa: Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa
Asia: Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia,
Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe: Bosnia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuainia, Sweden
North America: Canada, El Savador, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
Oceania: Tonga
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
Sunday, May 15, 2016
A Saturday of unexpected cars
I saw a bunch of cool cars without even planning on it.
On my way to the post office, I passed by a local car show. It consisted mostly of American hot rods and muscle cars, but this Fairlady caught my eye.
The current owner's uncle was a part of the Flying Tigers and bought this car in Japan. He brought it back to California. He would drive it cross country every year to visit his kids. The current owner had a specialty shop in Chico restore it from the ground up. It took three years.
That bar's only purpose is to hold the seat belts. The current owner is very tall and this is the only configuration that works for him.
On my way to get an REI gift card for my graduating godson, I saw my Saab again.
And at the REI parking lot, I spotted this old International Scout.
After picking up the card, I headed to Moss Beach for a friend's housewarming BBQ. There was a car show at the local high school in Pacifica. Again, mostly hot rods and muscle cars, but there was also this Studebaker. The weather was beautiful.
And this Abarth.
On the way back to my car, I noticed this Pontiac G6 convertible parked in front of a G8 (Holden). I had no idea the G6 came in a convertible version. I also didn't realize that the G6 was related to the Saab 9-3.
On my way to the post office, I passed by a local car show. It consisted mostly of American hot rods and muscle cars, but this Fairlady caught my eye.
The current owner's uncle was a part of the Flying Tigers and bought this car in Japan. He brought it back to California. He would drive it cross country every year to visit his kids. The current owner had a specialty shop in Chico restore it from the ground up. It took three years.
That bar's only purpose is to hold the seat belts. The current owner is very tall and this is the only configuration that works for him.
On my way to get an REI gift card for my graduating godson, I saw my Saab again.
And at the REI parking lot, I spotted this old International Scout.
After picking up the card, I headed to Moss Beach for a friend's housewarming BBQ. There was a car show at the local high school in Pacifica. Again, mostly hot rods and muscle cars, but there was also this Studebaker. The weather was beautiful.
And this Abarth.
On the way back to my car, I noticed this Pontiac G6 convertible parked in front of a G8 (Holden). I had no idea the G6 came in a convertible version. I also didn't realize that the G6 was related to the Saab 9-3.
Working 24 hours straight at Chik Fil A
There's a restaurant nearby but I'm not a big fan. However, I didn't realize they served breakfast.
When I was in school, I worked overnight security shifts. My keys to not falling asleep? Continue walking all night. Do not sit down, especially in a warm room or car. But every single time, around dusk, I would get a second wind and feel semi-euphoric.
Eating the Globe: Colombia
Disappointing.
This is the bandeja paisa I had in Orange County last October.
This is what I had yesterday.
It's not just the presentation or portion size. It simply did not taste good. When I entered the restaurant at 1:30, there were dirty plates on all but two tables. There was only one person working there, presumably the owner. Everything tasted either microwaved or reheated. The restaurant had a 3.5 star Yelp rating, but upon closer inspection, there were many 4 and 5 star reviews a few years ago and almost all the recent reviews have 1 or 2 stars.
Better luck next time.
Countries tried so far:
Africa: Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa
Asia: Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia,
Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe: Bosnia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuainia, Sweden
North America: Canada, El Savador, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
Oceania: Tonga
This is the bandeja paisa I had in Orange County last October.
This is what I had yesterday.
It's not just the presentation or portion size. It simply did not taste good. When I entered the restaurant at 1:30, there were dirty plates on all but two tables. There was only one person working there, presumably the owner. Everything tasted either microwaved or reheated. The restaurant had a 3.5 star Yelp rating, but upon closer inspection, there were many 4 and 5 star reviews a few years ago and almost all the recent reviews have 1 or 2 stars.
Better luck next time.
Countries tried so far:
Africa: Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa
Asia: Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia,
Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Yemen
Europe: Bosnia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuainia, Sweden
North America: Canada, El Savador, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, USA
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
Oceania: Tonga
PKK shoots down Turkish helicopter
It's kind of refreshing* to not hear shouts of Allahu Akbar after the downing.
*This comment is by no means making light of the fact that people died.
Jump to 4:40.
*This comment is by no means making light of the fact that people died.
Jump to 4:40.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Eating the Globe update
42 countries down.
Best meal so far: Eritrea
Worst meal so far: Great Britain
Note: The best and worst refer to the actual meals I had, and are not a reflection of the merits of the country's cuisine overall.
Just looking at the UN member state list and piecing together what I've found on Yelp, the Bay Area still has plenty of countries left. I can go to restaurants representing:
- Algeria
- Austria
- Cambodia
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Czechia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Iran
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Laos
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Somalia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Uzbekistan
Bidding on an IROC-Z on BAT
We'll see what happens. Despite the stigma, I flove 3rd gen Camaros.
BTW, I'll be visiting Bring A Trailer HQ on Monday and having dinner with Alan, who works for the site. Can't wait!
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Chinese cops in Milan and Rome
This is a two-week experiment. Chinese cops will patrol Milan and Rome to help Chinese tourists. Incredible.
