Gringo Kraptastrophe!

It has come to my attention that a Brazilian Web site called News Errado has republished one of my previous blog entries! Check it out:

News Errado

Either Google's translation tool leaves something to be desired, or they're calling me a gringo!

Which is fine. You can pretty much call me anything you want as long as you include a link to my blog.

;-)

Badge Engineering

Recently spied in San Francisco:
















At first glance, this Scion XB in BMW clothes would appear to be the epitome of rice: A cheap, Japanese car festooned with badges and styling elements from a much more prestigious, better-performing make and/or model.

However, I have to give this car's owner some credit, because it appears to be more of a rolling sight gag than an attempt to disingenuously elevate the status of the vehicle or its driver. In fact, it is a rather well-executed gag. Any fool can glue a BMW badge to a Scion, but who takes the time, or has the skill, to retrofit the twin-kidney BMW grille, or to acquire genuine BMW rims and make sure they fit properly?

I do find it curious that this car's front end wears a Mini emblem, whereas the rear carries the badge of an entirely different model, the 2.5ix.

The Mini badge is interesting in that Mini is actually a separate marque owned by BMW, as opposed to being simply a BMW model. But never mind. The overall effect is rather whimsical. Unlike so many of the customized look-at-me cars out there, here's one that doesn't take itself too seriously. I like that.

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Recently spied at Target. Click to enlarge.

Is Hasbro innocently keeping up with the times, or are they colluding with the Antichrist to indoctrinate your children into the use of a paperless money system?

Remember, the road to Hell is paved with easy credit terms.

Life in the Fast Lane

I saw this monstrosity earlier today, in Daly City, California:



There is sooooo much wrong here...



But I find this little detail to be the most amusing:



Just so you'll have some frame of reference, this is what the car, a Mazda MX-6, would have looked like prior to falling into the hands of the aesthete who "upgraded" it:

What's wrong with this picture?

Recently found on a wall at San Francisco General Hospital. Click to enlarge.

You will be paid $15 for one hour of...?

Don't worry if you can't read. You'll fit right in!

Shouldn't this be a given?

Recently found on the floor at San Francisco General Hospital.

Practice, practice, practice!