Beijing Olympics Free Tibet Banners Protest

CKY

One World One Dream

The 2008 Beijing Olympics. This picture says it all.

CKY

Doves Over Kashgar

In light of yesterday's Uyghur attack on policemen in Kashgar and the soon-to-follow brutal crackdown by the Han-controlled security apparatus, I just have one thing to say: Can't we all just get along?


CKY

Brilliant Acura TSX/Honda Accord Euro Ad

I sat in the new TSX yesterday. Aside from more body cladding outside and more buttons inside, it is just an excuse to charge an extra $2,000 for an otherwise perfectly competent first generation TSX. Here is a brilliant ad for the original car, which is an homage to The Way Things Go.

CKY

Rides of Heads of State (Final Edition)

196. Thanks to the good people at The Kaselehlie Press, we have confirmed that President Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia rides in a black Hyundai Tucson.

When I started this series, I did not think I'd get past 75 to 100 cars/countries. But thanks to the power of the internet, and the help of a few tipsters from abroad, I have compiled the most comprehensive list of presidential/prime ministerial/royal rides anywhere.

Here is the final tally:
S-class: 61
Land Cruiser: 22
7 series: 16
A8: 11
Caddy: 7
Maybach: 6
Suburban/Yukon/Escalade: 6
Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero: 4
Phaeton: 4
G-wagen: 4
Holden-Chevy-Opel: 4
H2: 3
Toyota Crown: 3
Lincoln: 3
Jag: 2
ZIL: 2
Volvo: 2
Touareg: 2
Merc E-class: 2
Lancia: 2

One of each of the following: Hyundai, Skoda, A6, Peugeot, Renault, VW van, London taxi, Daimler, Toyota Century, Hongqi, Bentley, Rolls, Ford Fairlane, Aston Martin, SEAT, Ford Expedition, Nissan Patrol, Stutz, Suzuki, Camry, Toyota Sequoia, Proton, Land Rover, Ford F150, Mitsubishi Galant, Hummer H1, Chrysler Imperial, Mitsu L200 pick-up, Mazda truck, Hyundai Tucson.

Well, the Mercedes S-class trounced the competition, beating the second place Toyota Land Cruiser by a margin of nearly 3:1.

Ratio of cars versus trucks/SUVs: 143:53

Vehicle nationality:
German: 109
Japanese: 37
Other: 27
American: 23

Most surprising: Tonga's London taxi, Malta's Cadillac CTS, Chile's Peugeot 607 (tied)
Most undignified: Thailand's VW van
Ugliest: China's Hongqi


Fastest: Mauritius' Aston Martin DB9
Most pimp: Peru's 1972 Chrysler Imperial


Most in need of bullet-proofing: East Timor's Land Cruiser


Biggest gas guzzler: Zimbabwe's S600 Pullman

CKY

Update 8/5/08: I did a reconcile. Here are the official stats:
Ratio of cars versus trucks/SUVs: 144:52

Vehicle nationality:
German: 108
Japanese: 37
Other: 28
American: 23

Sebastian Bourdais: Public Enemy Number One

Le jerk-off extraordinaire Sebastian Bourdais of STR blocked our man Nick Heidfeld just as he was running his hot lap. Because of Le Bour, Heidfeld did not make it out of Q1. Bourdais was penalized five spots, but that doesn't really help Heidfeld, who, had it not been for the idiot Frenchman, should have qualified in the the top seven. With the narrow and windy track at the Hungaroring, passing will be especially difficult Sunday. Merci beau coup, Merde-face.

The M stands for Mickey Mouse.

CKY

Nothing Happened In Beijing In 1989

Welcome, Beijing Olympics visitors! Please to enjoy our honorable sights, culture, and traditions. Beijing very old city with lots of history. Visit Tiananmen Square, where nothing happen in 1989.


CKY

Rides of Heads of State (Penultimate Edition)

Let's get right to it.

192. Guinea-Bissau. Nino Vieira rides in this Land Cruiser. I found this on a Brazilian blog.


193. Mauritania. Merc S-class for the president.

194. Niger. President Tandja's white Land Cruiser can be seen in the background.

195. Kiribati. Black Toyota Crown. This is more of an educated guess than anything else. There is mention on Virtual Tourist of the president riding in a "black limousine". With so many Japanese imports and with the last ambassador of China riding in a white Crown, I strongly suspect that Anote Tong rides in a Toyota Crown as well.

196. Federated States of Micronesia. Alas, we come to our last country, Micronesia. The picture below was as close as I could get to Manny Mori's ride. It is his (and his VP's) carport. I'm doing my best to track down his ride, even making a long distance telephone call to the country's Public Information Officer ("I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service."). I suspect that it is an American or Japanese sedan. But we shall see. The answer will be posted in the next, and final, part of this long running, and popular, series.



Updated tally:
S-class: 61
Land Cruiser: 22
7 series: 16
A8: 11
Caddy: 7
Maybach: 6
Suburban/Yukon/Escalade: 6
Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero: 4
Phaeton: 4
G-wagen: 4
Holden-Chevy-Opel: 4
H2: 3
Toyota Crown: 3
Jag: 2
ZIL: 2
Volvo: 2
Touareg: 2
Lincoln: 2
Merc E-class: 2
Lancia: 2

One of each of the following: Hyundai, Skoda, A6, Peugeot, Renault, Lincoln, VW van, London taxi, Daimler, Toyota Century, Hongqi, Bentley, Rolls, Ford Fairlane, Aston Martin, SEAT, Ford Expedition, Nissan Patrol, Stutz, Suzuki, Camry, Toyota Sequoia, Proton, Land Rover, Ford F150, Mitsubishi Galant, Hummer H1, Chrysler Imperial, Mitsu L200 pick-up, Mazda truck.

Well, the Mercedes S-class trounced the competition, beating the second place Toyota Land Cruiser by a margin of nearly 3:1.

Ratio of cars versus trucks/SUVs: 143:52

Vehicle nationality:
German: 109
Japanese: 37
Other: 26
American: 23

CKY

Heidfeld Pwns the Hungaroring!

Nick Heidfeld is arguably the hottest driver in F1 right now, racking up 21 points in the last four races (more than anyone else). I continue to believe (and hope) that he will place first sometime this season. He should finish in the top five this weekend at the Hungary GP.

CKY

Tank Man, Welcome to the Beijing Olympics

Deep down inside, we all have a little "Tank Man" in us. It is the strength to resist injustice peacefully. If Tank Man is still alive, I wonder what he's thinking and doing about the Olympics.


CKY