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(Every intention of resuming blogging in earnest, but not yet. Need time to recharge.)

Dzisiaj zajmiemy się dwoma filmami, które dosyć daleko stoją od takich klasyk jak "Czas Apokalipsy", "Znikający punkt", o "Pulp Fiction" i "Scarface" nawet nie wspominając. Jednak coś musi w nich być, że przyciągnęły rzesze maniaków przed ekrany kinowe, a także telewizory i monitory.. no właśnie co?

Na początek określmy jasno czego wymaga współczesna widownia? Otóż, nie będzie chyba dla nikogo zaskoczeniem informacja, iż przeciętny Polak odwiedza kino raz, dwa razy do roku. Tak wynika ze średniej, jednak nie ma co się dziwić, gdyż ze średniej może wyjść, iż pies ma 3 nogi.. ale ja nie o tym ;P Mam nadzieję, że skoro wszedłeś drogi czytelniku na Crazy Pumpkin's Nest, jesteś przynajmniej w małym stopniu zbulwersowany ww. informacją, gdyż zapach sali kinowej nie jest Ci obcy :) Wracając do tematu, imo widownia oczekuje teraz widowiskowości oraz szybkiej akcji i taką dostaje we współczesnych produkcjach. Jednak jak sami wiecie są filmy i filmy. Bardzo często widowiskowość i efekty nie idą w parze z jakością. Przykładów mógłbym mnożyć na pęczki, począwszy od "Resident Evil'a 2" po "Hancocka" (akurat te dwa mi przyszły aktualnie na myśl). Tak samo nie oczekiwałem wiele po tytułowych produkcjach.

Czemu w ogóle w 2008 roku wspominam "Szybkich i wściekłych :Tokio Drift"? Ano, to był pierwszy film jaki mi się skojarzył z ostatnio emitowanym w kinach "Death Race'em". Uważam, że o ile TD można nazwać najlepszym filmem ever o driftingu, tak Death Race jest imo najlepszym filmem o zabijaniu z udziałem samochodu. Autorzy tego ostatniego bankowo wzorowali się na takich ikonach elektronicznej rozrywki jak Carmageddon (szacun czytelniku jeżeli jeszcze pamiętasz ten tytuł), Burnout czy Full Auto. Co ciekawe pomimo ich, że tak się wyrażę, fabularnego dna, są one najpiękniejszą bajką dla dużych chłopców z jaką się spotkałem w życiu. Tak, zaraz mi ktoś wypomni "Matrixa", "Władcę Pierścieni" czy "SIn City", ale nie zapominajmy o jakiej lidze mówimy w tej chwili :) Otóż jak na swoje ograniczenia TD i DR są bardzo dobrymi filmami poruszającymi w nowatorski sposób raczej raczkującą tematykę, bo ile mi wymienicie filmów traktujących stricte o driftingu lub niemal Destruction Derby? Poprzedni "Szybcy i Wściekli" są raczej popłuczynami niż wartą uwagi produkcją. Tymczasem w "Tokio Drift" można się zakochać. Film ten jest kwintesencją tego wszystkiego co jara nas - samochodziarzy śniących nocami o Evo. To samo z "Death Race", który jest kwintesencją Road Rage. Do tego bardzo ładną kwintesencją. Menusy mi bezbłędnie przypominają te z Need for Speeda: Most Wanted.. no właśnie "menusy" - przecież to film, a nie gra powiecie! Otóż jeżeli podobał Wam się "Gladiator" z walkami w Colosseum i tłumem skandującym imię swojego ulubieńca, tak polubicie więzienie w jakim dzieje się akcja, będące właśnie takim entertainment center.

Fabuła jest prosta jak kij od szczotki. Za kilka lat będzie brakować paliwa a ludzie znudzeni telewizją i różnymi dziwacznymi "Tańcami na lodzie" (jakkolwiek się to kojarzy), zapragną czegoś nowego. Szefowa pewnego więzienia, które można nazwać współczesnym Alcatraz, wpadnie na pomysł zorganizowania śmiertelnych wyścigów, w trakcie których 4 krotny zwycięzca dostanie możliwość opuszczenia posępnego przybytku. Takim kolesiem jest mistrz kierownicy - niejaki Frankenstein, który przekraczając trzeci raz metę, obrywa po zadku rakietą - na tyle skutecznie, iż potrzebny jest zastępca ukrywający się pod mroczną maską. Traf chciał, że do więzienia trafia ex kierowca wyścigowy z wyrokiem (już nie pamiętam czy dożywocia czy nie, mniejsza z tym) za zabicie żony. Grozi mu ponadto utrata córki, więc jak sami widzicie jest dosyć steranym przez życie obywatelem. Chyba nie muszę Wam mówić, że w owe zabójstwo został wrobiony, bo tego domyśliliście się za pewne sami ;) Dodam, iż jest to prawdą, czego domyślacie się dalej :] Ale nie fabułą ten film stoi. Idąc na niego nie oczekiwałem więcej niż samej rozrywki. Postanowiłem się postawić w roli zwykłego widza z popcornem w ręku (choć nie miałem nic, bo cena owego w kinach zawsze mnie skutecznie odstraszała) i po prostu się odprężyć po ciężkim dniu. Tym bardziej było mi to potrzebne, gdyż niemal cały przepracowałem przy moich szklarniowych pomidorkach, więc byłem wzorowym Kowalskim :) No i z takim nastawieniem ten film mi się szczerze spodobał. Został nakręcony w konwencji Reality Show, gdzie wszystko jest z góry ustalone przez organizatorów (w tym wypadku demoniczną i mściwą kierowniczkę zakładu), ale my oczywiście o niczym nie wiemy i co krok jesteśmy zaskakiwani. Dostajemy świeże mięsko, że się tak kolokwialnie wyrażę. Kamery są niemal wszędzie poustawiane, mamy zbliżenia, powtórki i szybki wgląd do losów wyścigu. Nawet trailer każdego z 3 zmagań jest fajnie zrobiony i pozytywnie nakręca. Ten film to gra i to zajebista gra! Podczas śledzenia wydarzeń na drodze można się psychicznie wyżyć i po wyjściu z kina już z całkowitym spokojem zasiąść za kierownicą auta. Dodatkowo czując satysfakcję i mając świadomość, że nasze kubki smakowe zostały wyłechtane do granic możliwości :tak: Wszystko jest w tym filmie skończone, nie to co w Tokio Drift, gdzie ostatnia scena w kanionie nijak się trzyma magicznej reszty filmu, ale mniejsza  z tym.

Co do postaci granych przez aktorów, to mamy jako głównego bohatera kolesia będącego bad guy'em w "Komórce" (ostatnio leciała chyba na tvn), a jego największy rywal to czarnoskóry pan z bodaj sequela filmu "Szybcy i Wściekli". Jak zobaczycie lub już wiecie znając ich wcześniejsze dokonania ich gra jest .. marna. No ale nie o to w tym filmie biega! Tutaj prawdziwymi aktorami są samochody - od starego Mustanga po... a zresztą co ja tam będę spojlował - po coś baaardzo dużego. Wypadki są efektowne i kolejne takedowny wywołują uśmiech radości na twarzy i o to właśnie chodzi. Niezłe chicks included :]

Dobra, z mojego opisu - film, pt. "Death Race", wygląda jak hicior no i tutaj dochodzimy do konkluzji. Jak za 16zł to obraz nie jest warty świeczki, gdyż należy do kategorii filmów maksymalnie prostych, ale jeżeli macie darmowy bilet to śmiało idźcie, bo film spełni Wasze w miarę stonowane aspiracje. Jak nie oczekiwałem po nim zbyt dużo, a dostałem to co chciałem a nawet więcej, tak jak po Tokio Drifcie, który o dziwo został tutaj potraktowany po macoszemu (lol co za określenie). A wiecie czemu? Jak nie wiecie, to przeczytajcie jeszcze raz ;P

pozdrawiam
pit

I'm looking forward to "The Royals" visit at Thanksgiving.  I'm really anxious for all political crap to be over!

I found some cool wheel photos to share.  Hope you like them

=Paul

I got to the Rochester, N.Y. airport at 8 a.m. and landed in Lima at 11:30 p.m. local time. TechnoServe arranged for a driver they use often to pick me up at the airport. He had a sign with my name on it and I lit up like I actually knew the guy I was so happy to see him! After stuffing my bags into his trunk, which took up literally the whole thing because it was teeny tiny by American standards (shocker, I know), we drove through Lima by night. Part of the ride took us by the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and it was breathtaking.

Today was my first day of the project and boy did I have the jitters. They were as bad as my first day at Text 100, or maybe even worse! The head of TechnoServe (TNS) South America picked me up and we had a coffee and breakfast together. It was a great way to start off the project. Every time I speak with Dave Williams I am energized and feel like I can really make a difference. As a small example, he went surfing in the Pacific Ocean this morning before a business meeting and then picking me up, all before 9:30 a.m.

I met the TNS team today and am sure that I am going to learn loads from them. They seem smart, passionate and very personable. NGOs in Lima generally rent out old houses and convert the rooms into shared offices. It reminds me of the old Text 100 London office. Only they aren't quite as crammed into the desks as Text 100 was. I am impressed by how much they've been able to get done in the few short months here in Peru since the competition started. And I know I have a lot to learn about the way the press work here.

p.s. the picture above is of a "combi" which are the buses they use here. The buses barely stop, so the passengers look like they are making running entries and exits. It is a talent for sure.

The roads and cars here are nuts. Lanes and speed limits are optional (or seem to be) and if you thought NYC cab drivers were bad, you don't want to get in with a Lima cabby. And cars have the right of way here, not pedestrians. To top it off, there are no crosswalk signs or really any rules about when to walk. The only advice is--run!

Reflecting back on my time living in the Mojave Desert, and then the country, I have noticed how there has been a steady increase of overall noise in the cities I have moved back too.

The noise around me comes from cars, buses, televisions, radios, fans, clocks, the air conditioner units clicking on and off, basically a lot of stuff in general.  I wonder and think to myself how many others might even notice this phenomenon; the phenomenon of noise. 

Rarely is this phenomenon noticed until there is no power.  When the power goes out, say from a hurricane or ice storm, do people really realize how much busy activity is surrounding them?  What do we miss along the way because we are deafened?

I take into consideration as I write this that there are a number of people out there who still do not believe in light pollution.  Yet, with satellite pictures, we know this happens. Where is the report about noise?

Taking a moment here - I love waking in the morning to silence.  The mornings are crisp and dew is lightly spread across the ground. The raging noise from the interstate has yet to begin.  I hear so many critters; those would be squirrels, starting to scurry about in the trees.  The wind is easier to hear, and I know it is wind because the mighty oaks leaves rustle about.  Again, where is the report about noise? What do we miss from being deafened by the hustle and bustle?

Doctors, not scientist, have identified over the years, that deafness, or partial deafness, is (continues too) increase.  The identifying cause – devices that plug right into the ears now, not just head phones or head sets. It is really remarkable that such devices continue to be developed and sold to the general population, knowing that is harmful.  Sure a warning may be on the package or in the directions, but people have grown numb to “warnings”. 

Being in the presence of a person who has a disability like deafness can be difficult to say the least.  Sometimes it is easy to forget that they do not hear you in the frequency that you are accustomed to speaking in.  Having to repeat yourself, does become annoying. That is only because you are not use to the volume in which you need to speak.  Keep that in mind the next time you go to crank up your iPod, MP3, or use your headset at the office, and ask yourself – do you want to be deaf and miss out on the things around you?

And the worse news is that for the first time since getting laid off Oct. 2, I did not send out a single résumé today. I’d like to tell you that it was because I was treating myself to frozen drinks at a waterside bar. Sadly, the effort was consistent, but the results were nil.

I still think I’m doing a good job keeping my spirits up, but cracks are starting to appear.

Monday was also Canadian Thanksgiving and I was invited to celebrate by a Canadian/Egyptian couple. I was relaly excited because

A) I've never experienced Canadian Thanksgiving (Although I have experienced Canada Day)

B) When else am I going to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving IN Egypt

C) Dinner included pumpkin pie, turkey, stuffing, and sweet potatoes with marshmellows on top...

It was really fun to celebrate Canada and thankfulness with my friends over here. I went home the normal way (taxi to metro) but then I got a taxi from the metro station to my friend's flat. I called Heather and handed the phone to my driver so she could give him directions. She then told me what she had told him so I at least vaguely knew where I was going. Traffic was pretty bad that day so I ended up having quite a bit of time in the taxi. I forget how, but my driver and I ended up having a lengthy conversation. He tried to teach me some new words and was helpful enough...until I realized he didn't know where I needed to go. Ok seriously? It was ok if you didn't know when I first got in the car, but then I had someone tell you specifically where I need to go. It wasn't like we got near the area and then it was a bit fuzzy, he kept having to ask people where to go when we were still right in the middle of Heliopolis. Anyways, so he took me to the actual "Hotel Sheraton" but I just needed to be near the area. Heather had told him this but somehow he didn't follow the directions. So I called Heather and she told me to just get out and she would come and get me. I told my driver this was fine and got out. I think he was really sad because he knew he had failed me.

So Heather came and got me and then we got back just in time to eat. The meal felt like nourishment to my pumpkin deprived soul. I absolutely love anything pumpkin, bread, pie, ice cream. I had to head out at around 7:30 pm though due to the fact that I needed to study for my exam. I went home and locked myself in my room and began the arduous task of reviewing grammar, verb conjugations, and vocabulary.

Tuesday came extremely early. I've been looking into flats and trying to find people who need a roommate in Mohandeseen or Zamalek. On the class break I went over to a flat near ILI to check it out. It was really pricey. I pay about $100 a month right now for a nice flat in Heliopolis...but it takes 1.5 hours to get to school from there. So I want to move closer, but I know its going to cost more...and this flat that I saw yesterday cost a lot more...around $500 a month. And the rooms kinda smelled funny, but it was within walking distance of ILI.

After school I headed back home. Which involved an interesting taxi ride. I was on my way home from the metro and was just about at the medan. I had my ipod on and I had been studying most of the ride. But I looked up to check how close we were to my flat. It was then that I realized there was a hand gun chilling on the dash. Really, really? TIA ok it might have been a toy gun, but it looked real and I didn't want to take my chances. I made sure to pay him enough so he wouldn't argue and I hopped out of that taxi.

When I got into my flat, I unwinded for a bit and then began studying more Arabic for my test. I made notecards and tried to memorize all the verb conjugation exceptions. At about 8 pm I decided to get out and go down to the Cilantro coffee shop near my flat. I love studying in public places like coffee shops. If I'm left alone in my room or in a study carol in the library I get bored and end up distracting myself. The thing is, if there is a lot going on around me I can focus. True story. So I made friends with my waiter (basically anytime you speak Arabic you make friends) and got situated for a study session. While in Cilantro I heard an extremely diverse range of music including "If you like pina coladas" which meant I had to take my ipod out and listen to it. I made myself go to bed rather early (around 11pm) so I could try and at least catch up on one hour of sleep.

My test today went ok. I say ok because I think it went poorly but my other three classmates said they also felt they failed it. So general census of failing means it wasn't just me. It was eight pages long and lasted for about two hours. The first page of the exam was a paragraph with 10 blanks and we were given 10 words that we needed to figure out which blank they went in. I think I guessed on 9 blanks. I knew which part of speech should go where, but there were adverbs which we hadn't studied yet, just to give you an example. e did however finish class an hour early.

I jhad talked with two of my classmates earlier that day who were looking to rent a flat in Zamalek. It's a three bedroom so they are looking for other roommates. The rent is about $430 a month, but its again closer to ILI. After class we went to have a look at it. We ended up getting a bit turned around in the neighborhood, which includes a variety of embassies including the Lebanonese and the Brazilian. We eventually found the man who was supposed to show us the flat. He took us to the correct building and then up to the 12th floor.

I didn't quite know what to expect as I haven't seen that many flats. You could tell they had just redone most of it. The kitchen wasn't quite put together but the countertops were new. The living space was decorated in the traditional gold gaudy type of furniture so characteristic of Egypt. There were multiple chandeliers and tons of accent lighting. So much so that it seemed like a disco. There was even a dome in one of the hallways that had tiny lights in it, like a mini plantarium. The balcony has a great view as well. The two bedrooms that I would have a choice of were as follows: a scary looking room meant possibly for a child or a room with two twin beds and new furniture. You can guess which one I would get dibs on. Overall I liked the flat and I could see moving in there, as long as they clean up all the renovation mess.

We thanked the man and then decided to go get a drink. We couldn't find a coffee shop so we ended up going to a restaurant called La Taverna. They filled me in a bit on their story and how they ended up in Cairo. Both of them are from England and they met at uni. It was about four when we decided to head out, which meant it was about 5:30pm when I got back to my flat.

I went to a prayer meeting at 7:30pm over at my friends' house that had the Canadian Thanksgiving. I was so excited to see they had pumpkin and apple pie left over. They offered for me to take a slice home, which was great because I wanted to give Jessy a piece of pie. We ended up trying to fit 7 people in a car meant for 5 on the way home, mind you while I'm holding a pie slice in my napkin. We couldn't stop laughing as we crammed into the car and hoped no one could tell how overloaded we were. Five of us got out at Medan Triumph, but we had Heather pull up before our building so our bowab wouldn't see us get out of the car. And I am happy to say that the pie slice was in tact when I handed it off to Jessy!

Billy Apple™ 2008

Toyota iQ.

My first encounter with the Chevy Aveo was a strange one. It was the last rental car available and the lady at Enterprise seemed adamant about keeping it away from me . She kept insisting they didn't have any cars left, except she "sort of did and it's really half a car." Half a car? SOLD! I was really enthusiastic and persistent about taking this half a car and finally, she reluctantly gave me the keys.  It had absolutely nothing. No power windows, power lock, no CD player and whatever else sort of things cars come with. And although it was a pain in the ass having to roll up and roll down the windows and it was tiny and didn't have much power, I fucking loved it. It was the most fun I've had driving a car. It was shitty, yes but that meant less pain if I got a scratch or dent or whatever else. I was able to make U-turns while staying in one lane and I was reintroduced to the joys of making 360's. It was a car. It did what it had to do and most importantly, it was completely guilt-free. The small engine didn't require much gas or put out too much emission, and I could park it whereever I wanted, do whatever I wanted to do and not have to worry about wrecking it's exterior beauty or whatever it is people who are responsible and love their cars worry about. Crap, I'm getting a boner just thinking about it. Ha- joking. I don't have a penis.

Anywho... I saw the Toyota iQ on Wired and my heart stopped. What a beautiful little beast of a car. It reminds me of the Chevy Aveo, but more stylish and modern and not such a piece of shit. I love the interior, it's gorgeous, 56 MPG and there's a hybrid version coming out.

What to expect from this tuned Evo X:

• Around 400 Hp
• A new turbocharger
• Exhaust manifold and fuel system
• A reworked ECU to make use of the extra boost and fuel.
• A top speed of 170 mph
• A 0-60 time of around 3.5 seconds

Σχεδιασμένη από τον Nuccio Bertone το 1967, η Lamborghini Miura Spider δημιουργήθηκε με σκοπό να διατηρήσει το παγκόσμιο ενδιαφέρον για το ιταλικό supercar.

Δίνοντας το παρόν σε πλήθος διεθνών εκθέσεων ανάμεσα στο 1968 και στο 1967, η πρωτότυπη Lamborghini κατέληξε το 1981 στο μουσείο μεταφορικών μέσων της Βοστόνης,  χ$ωρίς ωστόσο να περάσει ποτέ από τις γραμμές παραγωγής της ιταλικής φίρμας.

Το 1989 η μοναδική Miura Spider πέρασε στην ιδιοκτησία του Portman Group, γεγονός που την έφερε στην Ιαπωνία, όπου και παρέμεινε μέχρι το 2002.

Η επιστροφή της στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες της Αμερικής αποδείχθηκε προσωρινή, καθώς σε σύντομο χρονικό διάστημα πάτησε ξανά επί ευρωπαϊκού εδάφους.

Τέλος, το 2006 η Miura Spider αποκτήθηκε από συλλέκτη της Νέας Υόρκης, ο οποίος επανάφερε το αμάξωμα στην αρχική του κατάσταση.

Well, now you can whip out a list of shotgun rules and put those friends/family in their place (the back seat or trunk).  My son asked me to print two copies and put one in each of our vehicles - again, he's the only one in our family who has ever actually called shotgun.  My habit is to yell, "Last one to the car has to drive" - Hey, it works for me!

Here are The Shotgun Rules:

(These are found at TDY Shotgun Rules, compiled by the Airborne Early Warning Association on their Library Page)

THE SHOTGUN RULES
version 1.1

The rules listed below apply to the calling of Shotgun (the front passenger seat) in an automobile. These rules are definitive and binding.

Section I - The Basic Rules

1. In order to call Shotgun, the caller must pronounce the word "Shotgun" in a clear voice. This call must be heard and acknowledged by the driver. The other occupants of the vehicle need not hear the call as long as the driver verifies the call.
2. Shotgun may only be called if all occupants of the vehicle are outside and on the way to said vehicle.
3. Early calls are strictly prohibited. Shotgun may only be called while walking toward the vehicle and only applies to the drive immediately forthcoming. Shotgun can never be called while inside a vehicle or still technically on the way to the first location. For example, one can not get out of a vehicle and call Shotgun for the return journey.
4. The driver has final say in all ties and disputes. The driver has the right to suspend or remove all shotgun privileges from one or more persons.

Section II - Special Cases
These special exceptions to the rules above should be considered in the order presented; the case listed first will take precedence over any of the cases beneath it, when applicable:

1. In the instance that the normal driver of a vehicle is drunk or otherwise unable to perform their duties as driver, then he/she is automatically given Shotgun.
2. If the instance that the person who actually owns the vehicle is not driving, then he/she is automatically given Shotgun, unless they decline.
3. In the instance the the driver's spouse, lover, partner, or date for the evening is going to accompany the group, he/she is automatically given Shotgun, unless they decline.
4. In the instance that one of the passengers may become so ill during the course of the journey that the other occupants feel he/she will toss their cookies, then the ill person should be given Shotgun to make appropriate use of the window.
5. In the instance that only one person knows how to get to a given location and this person is not the driver, then as the designated navigator for the group they automatically get Shotgun, unless they decline.
6. In the instance that one of the occupants is too wide or tall to fit comfortably in the back seat, then the driver may show mercy and award Shotgun to the genetic misfit. Alternatively, the driver and other passengers may continually taunt the poor fellow as they make a three hour trip with him crammed in the back.

Section III - The Survival of the Fittest Rule

1. If the driver so wishes, he/she may institute the Survival of the Fittest Rule on the process of calling Shotgun. In this case all rules, excepting Section I - #4, are suspended and the passenger seat is occupied by whoever can take it by force.
2. The driver must announce the institution of the Survival of the Fittest Rule with reasonable warning to all passengers. This clause reduces the amount of blood lost by passengers and the damage done to the vehicle.

Please follow the above rules to the best of your ability. If there are any arguments or exceptions not covered in these rules, please refer to rule Section I - #4.

Enjoy!

Pictures taken by G.A.T. FEAST from the GTROC forum

What do you get when you have an M3 together with M5 engine, twin turbo's and a crazy wheel setup? I can't wait to see this car finished, follow the owners build up thread here.

Το μονοθέσιο D-Type του 21^ου αιώνα επιχείρησε να δημιουργήσει μια ομάδα Τσέχων σχεδιαστών, επαναφέροντας στην επικαιρότητα τα θρυλικά Auto Union του 1930.

Ανάμεσα στα σύγχρονα χαρακτηριστικά του Auto Union συμπεριλαμβάνονται τα φωτιστικά σώματα τεχνολογίας LED και οι καλοσχεδιασμένοι τροχοί με τα ελαστικά χαμηλού προφίλ.

Some say the era started in the '50s, and there were some pretty fast cars then, but they were pricey and heavy. Most of us feel the muscle era was from 1964 to 1971. The GTO and Mustang showed up in 1964 to get things started, and by 1972 government regulations choked the heart out of the musclecar.

A muscle car should be a 4-seater, have a steel body, affordable, and look, sound and be fast. Factory drag cars, 2-seaters, supercars, and imports won't be a part of this series.

Some cars in the catagory were; AMX, Barracuda, Boss Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Charger, Chevelle SS, Cobra Jet Mustang, Demon, Duster, Fairlane, Firebird, Galaxie, GNX, GSX, GTX, Impala SS, Nova, Road Runner, Shelby, Super Bee, and Trans Am. If we missed your favorite car, it was by oversight not bias. We're talking a few years ago here.
We also feel that musclecars could be part of regular car line. A Boss 429 was a muscle car, a 6 cylinder Mustang was not. An SS 396 Camaro was a muscle car, a 6 cylinder base model was not.

The death of the musclecar era was caused by escalating smog and safety laws passed by government, car insurance prices rising for performance cars, Ralph Nadar, gas prices doubling to more than 53 cents a gallon, and unleaded lower octane gas, anomg other things. If you were around when it was happening, you know it was one hell of a ride.

Our next post in this series will feature the Mustang. We'll probably do several in this series, one a week. If you have a suggestion for a post in this series let us know. Comments on this, or any subject are welcome.

先週末はフォーミュラーＤの最終戦でした。場所はアーウィンデール・スピードウェー。ＩＤ　Ａｇｅｎｃｙの方々にメディアクルーの一人としての参加チャンスを頂いた事を感謝します。アザーッス。協賛してる所がどこも写真送ってくれないので…自分で撮りに行くしか無いっしょ…笑。いやいや怒ってないッスよ！忙しいの重々承知の助の上です。まぁ、誰とは言いませんが… :) ｗ。でもまぁ写真色々と必要だったので。新しいプレスリリースやらなんやらで。それに写真の練習には持って来いでしたね。若葉マーク付きのクゥワメラマンには最高っした（笑。

came out good yea? like i said, for a nooby boobymang... hahha i took over 1500 shots that day. spending time at the venue for 15 hours... just chill'n at the AIC (www.autoimportcraze.com) booth and chasing around chick's t&a shooting cars and etc. yea it was fun. next up is the Red Bull thingy. anyone going? i dont think i can make it... if i have a chance, i will probably swing by. but not far as this schedule with me right now... :( gotta square off some stuffs around me.

中々の出来栄えじゃない？さっきも言った様に、若葉マーク付きのクゥワメラマンにしたらね…笑。この日は総枚数１５００枚以上を撮影したッス。会場に１５時間も居て…ＡＩＣ(www.autoimportcraze.com) のブースでダラダラして遊んでチャンネーのツーけーやらパイオツを追い掛け回し車やらなんやら撮ってました。楽しかったよねマジ。次がＲｅｄ　Ｂｕｌｌ主催のイベントがありますねぇ。皆行くのかな？俺は行けるかわかりません…行けるんだったら顔出しには行くけど。でも今んとこのスケジュール上は無理クサイな… :( 色々と片付けなきゃならん事あるし。

i will be posting some more night shots of the event later on today or tomorrow. gotta make some packages for my dealers to ship out!! and you know, gotta work lol hahaha

夜の写真もおいおい更新します。今日中には。それか明日になるかな。ディーラーのために出荷の荷物作らないと！！後ほら、働かなきゃ（笑。ヒャヒャヒャ

- sykaxxl @ YouTube

profund marcat ..... si eu am o obisnuinta sa bag mai tare picioru in acc, dar dupa ce am vazut secventele astea o sa ma gandesc de vreo 10 ori inainte....:((

- zelgadisHUN @ YouTube

This vid should be shown on TV in ALL countries!

Uitati-va la acest clip, uitati-va chiar daca l-ati mai vazut, trimiteti-l via IM, e-mail, scrieti pe tweeter daca va uitati la el, faceti un post pe blogul vostru sau raspanditi-l oricum puteti. Tot ce as putea spune cred ca s-au spus deja de foarte multi inaintea mea, asa ca tot ce mai ramane...

Numai bine,
- MAD

Every year around this time, the Americana Manhasset, a high end strip of shops an boutiques, holds a fantastic Concours D'elegance. With it's snobbery and general air of haughtiness, I tend to avoid the Americana ( they get mad when you don't say the Americana, this is the caliber of people we're dealing with ) for most of the year, but this one day in the fall is the exception.

All the local exotic car dealerships come out and make their presence known, as they come and feature the best of their collections, while the local car community comes out in their finest to do the same. The result is a breathtaking combination of new and old dream cars lined up for all to see and enjoy. It is window shopping for the dream garage, and probably the only time men are dragging their wives and girlfriends to "the AM", and not the other way around.

What is also fantastic about this event is the parking lot in the back, which sort of becomes an unofficial suppliment to the show itself. Like I've said before, the car community here is vast, and those who didn't enter usually show up in a wide variety of exotics and mix together in the back with all the other cars. There's usually a concentrated center, where the most intriguing and wild rides convoke themselves away from the main party, and you kind of discover it like Baby wandering away from the aristocratic function and finding an automotive Patrick Swayze and his crew rocking out with all the "regular" cars.

Here are the highlights:

[caption id="attachment_231" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Uncle George would be proud"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_233" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Guy Frost's Dino"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_234" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Oh! here comes my dream angel baby..."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_235" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="...and there she goes. one day, I promise..."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_236" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="no naked James May in sight this time"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_237" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Bugatti boombatti"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_238" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Still don't know if the "s" in DBS stands for sport, spy, or sexy"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_239" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="''back in my day, we didn't have roll cages...""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_240" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Tommy brought this up from Vice City"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_241" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="*sigh* I just...really want one"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_243" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Dad hints that the SLR 722 would make a fine Christmas gift"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_244" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="I had to put a Porsche in here, otherwise V throws a fit"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_245" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="It doesn't get much better than this"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_246" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="don't worry, Sunbeam, it happens"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_247" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="288 GTO. how do you like me now, Magnum?"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_248" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Alright, Dad, we'll get you a Testarossa too"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_249" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="GT-R in the wild"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_252" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="The court finds you bad-ass, and sentences you to a lifetime of smoking bitches"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_254" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="Number one..."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_253" align="aligncenter" width="340" caption="...with a Bullitt."][/caption]

Check out all 300+ pics at my Picassa album : http://picasaweb.google.com/Alex.Kal...i/Americana08#

-Alex-