tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440112787131804602024-02-19T03:29:19.402-08:00i drive like a girlKrystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-63261196721662119812012-10-26T12:26:00.002-07:002012-10-26T12:27:01.911-07:00www.drivelikeagirl.caThanks for visiting! It's time to move onward and upward - you'll find my shiny new blog at <a href="http://www.drivelikeagirl.ca/">www.drivelikeagirl.ca</a> Please take a moment to check it out.Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-64683883211761932642012-09-12T13:58:00.000-07:002012-09-13T19:19:20.716-07:00Dear Internal Combustion Engine: Our romance is on the rocks<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWc0bhcWIDDqyLD_IfG_wNkHr627ijipaBE1iHUhoo-ORnUbNuCIpRJ14qZVq2JRBO8Fiwxc_H8cSqz1S6LeS7QZwp62Rk1x7I2_ZBDdNEAE7YVfJC4K4zPjEI5eDNOQTHNbRgcAioYU/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWc0bhcWIDDqyLD_IfG_wNkHr627ijipaBE1iHUhoo-ORnUbNuCIpRJ14qZVq2JRBO8Fiwxc_H8cSqz1S6LeS7QZwp62Rk1x7I2_ZBDdNEAE7YVfJC4K4zPjEI5eDNOQTHNbRgcAioYU/s200/IMG_0708.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Dear Mr.
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) - did you really think our romance
could last? Did you notice it's $1.36/L for gas in Toronto now? As if gas was ever a swell price to begin with. No, Mr.
ICE, you’ll have to do better to win back our love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">And the
thing is, you’ve got competition.
Last Sunday we attended the <a href="http://www.evfest.ca/">2012 Electric Vehicle Fest </a>at Toronto’s
Evergreen Brickworks and our hearts were seriously swayed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">We liked a dark red
2011 Nissan Leaf, nicknamed “BEV” for Battery Electric Vehicle. Owner Renny adores BEV’s generous tush and sang her praises like a love-struck schoolboy. She even
talks to him as he drives, letting him know how efficiently he’s driving. Her
dashboard sprouts trees to encourage him. When Renny turns BEV on, she
welcomes him into the driver’s seat with his choice of sounds. Best of all, she
only costs about $1/day to run. And even though BEV cost $49,000 (minus
a government rebate of $8,500), Renny reckons he will have paid the difference between what he paid for BEV and a similar ICE vehicle in three short years. That’s great news, since he has a daily commute of 60k.
Renny loves to advertise how much he’s saving on gas – BEV’s licence plate
reads GAS LOL. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGw9DE0Mv1D67hLTOoSySR8wPlSrGQqQjgkLqe2NXxUxkqbht_W9pIJV2AEck_2kM5K0iSl915I2b5OkShouWg46ph7UmdT56oVFfyIcW0QtHzjhSB3C1zfl5MxtSoz_-dYAt6TZOeAY/s1600/IMG_0709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGw9DE0Mv1D67hLTOoSySR8wPlSrGQqQjgkLqe2NXxUxkqbht_W9pIJV2AEck_2kM5K0iSl915I2b5OkShouWg46ph7UmdT56oVFfyIcW0QtHzjhSB3C1zfl5MxtSoz_-dYAt6TZOeAY/s200/IMG_0709.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Renny doesn’t miss much about the Internal Combustion Engine. He says BEV rockets up
to speed with no sweat, since electric vehicles all have torque at the low end.
And he’s got<a href="http://ow.ly/i/VGc3"> a handy iPhone app</a> that not only lets him know how much battery
power is left, it allows him to cool or warm BEV’s interior remotely. Now THAT's magical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjAY1e6K8x83V_evTrDNGiI7mWnYEUqHAuwL3Ljcg8maeTHwjHYeSzalx1q_gjXg9dOcjKqqktKZPKQLo4xiugX2ub58xox_BhyETrKpfMQja3AKYyuf9gWbvlU4zRAqo95FXieN0iqI/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjAY1e6K8x83V_evTrDNGiI7mWnYEUqHAuwL3Ljcg8maeTHwjHYeSzalx1q_gjXg9dOcjKqqktKZPKQLo4xiugX2ub58xox_BhyETrKpfMQja3AKYyuf9gWbvlU4zRAqo95FXieN0iqI/s200/IMG_0714.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Mitsubishi’s
adorable 2011 i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) isn’t quite as
fancy, but that’s the whole point. It gets the gasoline equivalent of 248 mpg,
and owner Michael estimates it costs him about $1.25/150 k to operate. He had
been crushing on the i-MiEV since he saw it at the Green Living show – it set
him back some $30,000, after which he received an $8,200 government rebate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Another i-MiEV
owner, David, points out that <a href="http://ow.ly/i/VG6Q">the Mitsu dash</a> was deliberately designed to look more
like you, Mr. ICE, with a speedo, fuel gauge and heater, so that we won’t miss
you that much. (As if!) </span>The i-MiEV has no touch screens or butterflies on the dash, just a gauge that shows if you’re driving in eco mode. The Mitsu’s range is about 155 k’s – its battery is
only 16 kwh, compared to the Nissan’s 24 kwh, which makes it lighter. Note that
Mitsu makes its own battery!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8z_Zpjrpmv7LqDW_xhGTZxExckbMjeZNuQ7bLRzY1zwSn1NFz6kLctnY5vE1KCIjvSG-1YqvTo43Cf9A4MEk1HrmeptmurKGYGG-mruj99Wii4PMK_OZT4NZuZ8lJZr_g0Rpv5wapVY/s1600/imgres.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8z_Zpjrpmv7LqDW_xhGTZxExckbMjeZNuQ7bLRzY1zwSn1NFz6kLctnY5vE1KCIjvSG-1YqvTo43Cf9A4MEk1HrmeptmurKGYGG-mruj99Wii4PMK_OZT4NZuZ8lJZr_g0Rpv5wapVY/s1600/imgres.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">All of
which makes us wonder, where are all the charging stations? After all, if we’re
going to head out on the road in an EV, we’d like to know where we can fill up.
Here’s where it gets a little confusing. There are some websites like <a href="http://plugshare.com/">plugshare.com</a>
which show charging stations everywhere from public stations to private
residences in North America. But how up-to-date is it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Apparently
<a href="http://www.torontohydro.com/sites/electricsystem/electricityconservation/Pages/electricvehicles.aspx">Hydro</a> can’t develop their own charging stations – that’s been left to the
private sector. But although the private sector can, and has been building
these stations, they can’t charge for the hydro. And what about charging etiquette?
Can I reserve a spot at the charging station of my choice? Or is it like the
local wings‘n’ribs joint – first come, first serve?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyi8yWkx3jN_eGNbHUsS-LcGOoAkjvasA3261zrc2W5WBfATwJtpARN2zZOMJeV9xLB35DICtuXcewZudhfdrfro_Yx0DaRBwq30LTV5gfrw_-I_OemB0CqUJq3Hd41TlyDgqsVpYpps/s1600/IMG_0710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyi8yWkx3jN_eGNbHUsS-LcGOoAkjvasA3261zrc2W5WBfATwJtpARN2zZOMJeV9xLB35DICtuXcewZudhfdrfro_Yx0DaRBwq30LTV5gfrw_-I_OemB0CqUJq3Hd41TlyDgqsVpYpps/s200/IMG_0710.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Maybe
things were different in 1916 – that’s when the Rauch and Lang electric
carriage was built. Ladies and gents had separate doors, the engine started with
a crank, and a tiller controlled the steering. Another lever controlled the
speed. Brakes were a button on the floor, and a bell in the floor shooed horses
off the roadway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s
practically civilized. Which – is more than I can say for you, Mr. Gas Guzzling
ICE. Unless you clean up your act … our romance may be over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-60242939429699063042012-08-23T11:47:00.000-07:002012-08-23T13:47:09.278-07:00Mazda MX5 Miata follows La Contessa home<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9D3vgIF-rGQKuwjDpIOPpeI0F6BlQdqZrMde3V6cfgR-_nEGSndBTMnokkgtSDKg2jhaXu7NVrdZp5RPE4K-4uov9aETPrVlNODmIX1dpU1gb9AMK3PGEH75AU1NRI80C8mtoDmDmdk/s1600/IMG_6930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9D3vgIF-rGQKuwjDpIOPpeI0F6BlQdqZrMde3V6cfgR-_nEGSndBTMnokkgtSDKg2jhaXu7NVrdZp5RPE4K-4uov9aETPrVlNODmIX1dpU1gb9AMK3PGEH75AU1NRI80C8mtoDmDmdk/s320/IMG_6930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was just
after one of those steamy mid-summer downpours when <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincessJcourtdog?ref=ts">La Contessa</a> noticed
something following her. A magnificent 2012 red Mazda Miata MX5 SV, raindrops still
glistening on its black retractable hardtop roof, dogging my every step. It
practically sat up and begged me to take it home. How could I resist? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">It was exciting just to behold - this most current model of the classic Mazda roadster promised to be even more fun than its predecessors. The exterior was all hard muscular bulges,
a far cry from its coyly rounded jellybean origins. Inside, the cockpit and leather
seats were surprisingly roomy, and welcomed my tush like an old friend. I loved
the sand coloured stitching on the black leather – it perfectly complemented my
blonde colouring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">As I
fondled the six-speed gearshift, I thought back to my days in Devon, England
and dear Cousin Pip (yes, as in Great Expectations). She was the one who taught
this pup all about the stick shift, as we streaked along the twisty British cliffside
roads in a racing green MGB. The joy of the wind in our fur, as we peeled up the
slopes and down into the valleys, and then finally, always, triumphantly, to the
beach … our natural habitat in those heady summer days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfU4UOBbemA/UDZ4g1fFw9I/AAAAAAAAAtw/mb0WLWQdfN8/s1600/IMG_6963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfU4UOBbemA/UDZ4g1fFw9I/AAAAAAAAAtw/mb0WLWQdfN8/s200/IMG_6963.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Before speeding off to the beach, we slipped down the top on the MX5. A cinch! One flip of a lever here, a push of a button there, and the sky was unfurled above. Away we went, rowing happily through the six gears, revelling in the engine's throaty snarl - almost as gorgeous as my own. It was intoxicating to drive, like a good roll in the hot sand. Like an eager puppy, the roadster leapt forward and around curves, responding to the slightest whisper of a command.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w28aR2ENZ3w/UDZ6Ht_VLxI/AAAAAAAAAuM/X64-5lVHrU8/s1600/IMG_6947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w28aR2ENZ3w/UDZ6Ht_VLxI/AAAAAAAAAuM/X64-5lVHrU8/s200/IMG_6947.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">And oh how it made us want to misbehave, redlining at the traffic light, nipping in and around clumsy sedans, speeding into turns, just because - we could. With the wind blasting through our furry nape, snug in our cockpit, the spirited roadster took us further and faster into an exuberant ride - without even leaving the confines of the stuffy old GTA.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysKJKykWH4w/UDZ44bS1tfI/AAAAAAAAAt4/RQeMgb2L4lQ/s1600/IMG_6938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysKJKykWH4w/UDZ44bS1tfI/AAAAAAAAAt4/RQeMgb2L4lQ/s200/IMG_6938.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Finally, we arrived at our beach destination, and I took a few moments to explore the MX5's crevices and crannies - space was at a premium, and I wanted to know where to hide my stashables. Well! A good sized bin behind the seats provided enough room for a travelling bag of dog food, as well as holding the gas cap release. Treats to the Mazda engineers who dreamed up the hiding cup holders in the centre console! But the trunk, alas, was barely big enough for my overnight satchel.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oenRJz8m3Yg/UDZ5sOOzVLI/AAAAAAAAAuE/oBnP1I1rrwU/s1600/IMG_6986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oenRJz8m3Yg/UDZ5sOOzVLI/AAAAAAAAAuE/oBnP1I1rrwU/s320/IMG_6986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Then again, who needs practicality? Like myself, the MX5 is designed for sport and show. You can keep your clunky wagons and trucks, when it's time to snake down the road in pure fun and exhilaration, this spunky little machine easily takes best of show ... just like me.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-5375913694930442662012-07-27T12:20:00.000-07:002012-07-27T12:31:34.868-07:00La Contessa says, "Fiat accompli!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5QK8llDKAbH_v3JW4kguBVnhKltd7qQDE593ael5Q0MVNYRRc5yETqdwhVpbyQq0154XaYPr1nFFYSwu_d_Hrj8maYdT01Gb-2vPOe3Od5UTbXVF59KbGiCctRB8sSjPbaJlfNe-abU/s1600/IMG_6887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5QK8llDKAbH_v3JW4kguBVnhKltd7qQDE593ael5Q0MVNYRRc5yETqdwhVpbyQq0154XaYPr1nFFYSwu_d_Hrj8maYdT01Gb-2vPOe3Od5UTbXVF59KbGiCctRB8sSjPbaJlfNe-abU/s320/IMG_6887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Who would have dreamed that the car company
responsible for such machismo metal as <a href="http://ow.ly/i/NSIy">the Challenger </a>and the Barracuda would one
day be rescued by a little Italian? These days, FIAT definitely doesn’t stand
for Fix It Again Tony!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincessJcourtdog">La Contessa</a> knows that life – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vita mia</i> - is full of irony, and
relishes it. Almost as much as I adore the new Fiat 500, which in the old days
we called <i>Cinquecento</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ti adoro</i>! My
tail wags just to think of that August I spent with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=240927026028164&set=a.207212219399645.43799.195844707203063&type=1&theater">Cousin Giuseppe</a> in Cassino,
Frosinone. Giuseppe was the love child of a liaison between his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">maman</i> and the local firehall’s Dalmation,
and he has the lovely spots to prove it! A proud member of Italy’s Vigili del
Fuco (The Firewatchers), he lives
with a fireman who collects the Cinquecento in all its charming derivatives.
Our favourite is the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/NSZ9">Ferves</a> Ranger, a 4WD Fiat used – yes - in fighting fires. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vM_lSunr7Lg/UBLj2Owia2I/AAAAAAAAAs4/IwRwaXBZfgw/s1600/IMG_6904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vM_lSunr7Lg/UBLj2Owia2I/AAAAAAAAAs4/IwRwaXBZfgw/s200/IMG_6904.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Enough reminiscing! Back to our new Fiat
500, which pays homage to its cherished ancestor in many styling cues, from the
wide-eyed headlights to the friendly silhouette. Inside, everything is compact
and thoughtfully placed – although it took us a bit to get used to the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/NT17">centre dial</a>, where speedometer, gas gauge, temperature gauge, clock, speed, odometer,
tachometer, radio station, gear and the outside temperature are contained in a six-inch diameter
readout. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anima mia</i>, a model of
efficiency.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-7cOBJHRRMXb9QorVoqilIcRorNa3wXBrGVcbxbRBejrHXRLFfVLCKl5IWvpGaZdf50yLyCmSydUviQNGFjQierM8gUjZgnEshIx11hLXjm6XVLnUEj8NgXcLtceMnQYdYNd_PYg9g4/s1600/IMG_6891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-7cOBJHRRMXb9QorVoqilIcRorNa3wXBrGVcbxbRBejrHXRLFfVLCKl5IWvpGaZdf50yLyCmSydUviQNGFjQierM8gUjZgnEshIx11hLXjm6XVLnUEj8NgXcLtceMnQYdYNd_PYg9g4/s200/IMG_6891.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Where <a href="http://ow.ly/cynnu">Fiat plans to install the espresso machine</a>, we can’t imagine. Not the trunk, which is too tiny to fit more than a
weekend’s luggage for a single pup like myself. Was that perhaps the
inspiration for <a href="http://ow.ly/cyoNn">JLo’s commercial</a>? Was there a hidden message equating JLo’s
ample booty to the teeny Fiat trunk? Oh wait, that whole commercial was a <a href="http://ow.ly/cyp9E">fake</a>, right ...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As we cruised along Little Italy, we slid
back the sunroof to breathe in the summer breeze, loving the screen that kept
our fur in place. We stopped for a <i>gelato</i>, and took a few minutes to check out
our little <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tesoro</i>. Red is our
favourite colour, and it sprang up in devilish little details, from the FIAT
badge to the calipers in the natty 15-inch wheels, and even inside the engine.
Tootling along busy College Street, we loved squeezing between the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/NT8a">506 College streetcar and a silly Purolator truck</a>, nipping in and out of traffic, and
pulling u-turns in front of Escalades. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Che
divertimento!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cQRay2xQf4k/UBLkgGGYqPI/AAAAAAAAAtM/469lVyA6Nxg/s1600/IMG_6872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cQRay2xQf4k/UBLkgGGYqPI/AAAAAAAAAtM/469lVyA6Nxg/s200/IMG_6872.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And we loved the 101 HP engine – how those
<a href="http://ow.ly/i/NTag">Italian engineers</a> must have sweated out that one extra HP. Perfecto for city
traffic and the urban lifestyle – that’s how La Contessa rolls. Call us a
chick, call us a girly girl, but don’t call before noon because we’re busy
being fabulous.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-18492464422491187612012-07-12T11:22:00.002-07:002012-07-19T07:19:08.909-07:00La Contessa gets bitten by a Bug<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8aJmddClJt8WWibm_rrq9vR4wsa88R8aDryidxDxbtnaAl73qrSM5OF2a2wNgK8Sp3xX1VJpktBjBk2f68uVCD5qe1vPekgfwArmVetsERPt_JLILYZKhLox6ZOqayLDERpHd_VUVpw/s1600/IMG_6813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8aJmddClJt8WWibm_rrq9vR4wsa88R8aDryidxDxbtnaAl73qrSM5OF2a2wNgK8Sp3xX1VJpktBjBk2f68uVCD5qe1vPekgfwArmVetsERPt_JLILYZKhLox6ZOqayLDERpHd_VUVpw/s320/IMG_6813.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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There were certain members of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincessJcourtdog?ref=ts">La Contessa’s family</a> who swore never to ride in a Volkswagen because they considered it
<a href="http://ow.ly/i/Lu6Z">Hitler’s little car</a>. But from Hitler to the hippies who made it a
counter-culture icon, the Beetle has always been one of the more controversial
and therefore beloved of my vehicles.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When we heard the new 2012 Beetle redesign
was out, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ach du lieber</i>! we were
thrilled. We loved the original reincarnation, especially since it was
immediately dubbed a “chick car.” Why this is a marketing kiss of death, we’ll
never understand. The 2012 version is truer to the original Beetle, with a less
rounded, flatter silhouette and sitting much lower. In fact, it’s more butch
and sporty than the first reincarnation, although the original Beetle never
was. Our model was aptly named Tornado Red, and indeed, with 170 hp - yes, I checked under the hood! it tornadoed
rather than beetled down the highway. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnlU5Hk0i3i2LZHDOgM5PBXs8jZm2cOKEOrtVEQiqpDmGKGgqGXHT8cYcejiCKj8hFxA5lj4JFNUSWhK4_R_mEWzejHbR4ZpPCOwMBEv5rc7ptIHxrTTlORYramP4H7Kc027BkRr1DcQ/s1600/IMG_6838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnlU5Hk0i3i2LZHDOgM5PBXs8jZm2cOKEOrtVEQiqpDmGKGgqGXHT8cYcejiCKj8hFxA5lj4JFNUSWhK4_R_mEWzejHbR4ZpPCOwMBEv5rc7ptIHxrTTlORYramP4H7Kc027BkRr1DcQ/s200/IMG_6838.jpg" width="190" /></a><span lang="EN-US">We decided to take a jaunt to Kitchener,
which as you know was once named Berlin, with a hefty number of Germanic people
and influences. As soon as we arrived at the Concordia Club and saw the German
flag waving at us, we thought of </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=235771236543743&set=a.207212219399645.43799.195844707203063&type=1&theater">Cousin Ute</a>, who was
born in the German town of Wolfsberg, home to the massive Volkswagen plant. She
lived with the groundskeeper of the castle that was appropriated from the Earl
of Schulenberg by Hitler to create this town. It’s rumoured that the
groundskeeper is a distant relative of the Earl, but who knows?</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Schätzchen </span></i><span lang="EN-US">Ute is a font of knowledge about all things VW, and despite being a glamorous
and modern Berliner now, always rides in a Beetle. She told me that it wasn’t necessarily
Ferdinand Porsche who designed the Beetle, but possibly a Czech designer named
Hans Ludwinka with whom Porsche apprenticed – <a href="http://idrivelikeagirl.blogspot.ca/2012/01/hitlers-jewish-car-connections.html">or even a Jewish engineer named Josef Ganz</a>. Really, Hitler wasn’t much of a car guy – he didn’t even have a
driver’s licence.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_50394451"><br /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; clear: left; color: black; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Furthermore, plans for the Beetle to go
into mass production were somewhat sidetracked by Hitler’s invasion of Poland. The Beetle as we came to know it owes much to to a little known British solider, <a href="http://ow.ly/i/Lu5n">Major Ivan Hirst</a>, who
stumbled across a couple of prototypes in the Wolfsberg factory – which was due
to be scrapped by the victorious Allies and used for war reparations. Hirst realized the factory could be better utilized for producing cars for the
British army and the assembly lines started beetling along.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWy0HZnm8AwB1RLIUqdUhu7zWUegancGAqyoHt_aUMJUJG8gfOtjbaG1AAUNGauw4n6Laf5sWjUUpv8N2VjF3s20HehVq7nQp5W8tEtDeR-srJ-8-a_iP9NsofFMhGRnZDzAb48d2ySg/s1600/IMG_6817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWy0HZnm8AwB1RLIUqdUhu7zWUegancGAqyoHt_aUMJUJG8gfOtjbaG1AAUNGauw4n6Laf5sWjUUpv8N2VjF3s20HehVq7nQp5W8tEtDeR-srJ-8-a_iP9NsofFMhGRnZDzAb48d2ySg/s200/IMG_6817.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjl8DZwRvn61KVW7Csx4k_-4ffP4lwXkgGF2aX0V8OlA9TFkd6Z_JTXxSxtktPQC7b12a1D8gFLaohNk87BTQmBfs6m1bkRjzXbc48abOG6ro6O-v8GMCjop2OqJnocpl7nDen2B_Meko/s1600/IMG_6826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjl8DZwRvn61KVW7Csx4k_-4ffP4lwXkgGF2aX0V8OlA9TFkd6Z_JTXxSxtktPQC7b12a1D8gFLaohNk87BTQmBfs6m1bkRjzXbc48abOG6ro6O-v8GMCjop2OqJnocpl7nDen2B_Meko/s200/IMG_6826.jpg" width="133" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Isn’t Ute a clever girl? I thought of her
as I examined the lovely red Beetle, with its black interior and snazzy red
accents. The dash was smaller, and can no longer accommodate a game of
solitaire, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gott sei dank! </i>But we
missed the bud vase, a fun, playful touch so absent in today’s car designs. The
tiny glove compartment must have been lifted out of an original Beetle, so teeny
it could barely accommodate my muzzle. Yet, the trunk was roomy enough to fit several
cases of beer and wurst. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We had a glorious time with the 2012
Beetle, and hope people realize the monicker “chick car” is actually a lofty
compliment – one that translates into style, affordability, and all the power
you need. And that truly is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wunderbar</i>!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-66776351110787291402012-07-04T13:15:00.000-07:002012-07-04T17:53:13.664-07:00Share and share alike<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7jxAE0P5f5BJieASM9-Ai8njVmhgFQGYxmiJb6Lr8BvTtoKBrF6qu9FzLObc-n9G1YHacqxpiVp8Q5pdsfdL6eiTN7p-VVsHjHdJe9bJf5gHd1z5BczPYvt8n_2ERrlskMbSdqKuVOA/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7jxAE0P5f5BJieASM9-Ai8njVmhgFQGYxmiJb6Lr8BvTtoKBrF6qu9FzLObc-n9G1YHacqxpiVp8Q5pdsfdL6eiTN7p-VVsHjHdJe9bJf5gHd1z5BczPYvt8n_2ERrlskMbSdqKuVOA/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Is it any
coincidence that a few days after <a href="http://www.car2go.com/toronto/en/concept/">car2go</a> launched its carsharing service in
Toronto, the T-Dot was named as the <a href="http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/379409--toronto-ranks-8th-on-list-of-world-s-most-livable-cities-survey">world’s eighth most livable city</a>? Toronto was the only city in North America to make the list – by no less an
authority than <a href="http://www.economist.com/">The Economist</a>.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Tipping the
scale in Hogtown’s favour was its greenery and clean air – not so much, the
urban sprawl and lack of cultural assets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImCxuO7tGBAtwu6-6bLDikj6OTI2CpVHGNwUdg9aoNf2l1unye3o5yH9WNCBHpb6vFiX2Bo8umobHBX4lFNUnotP6pBZuzbWpxLVG3JUgRguVfW0w521aSpVESW90WS6LLG5n_d_KglA/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImCxuO7tGBAtwu6-6bLDikj6OTI2CpVHGNwUdg9aoNf2l1unye3o5yH9WNCBHpb6vFiX2Bo8umobHBX4lFNUnotP6pBZuzbWpxLVG3JUgRguVfW0w521aSpVESW90WS6LLG5n_d_KglA/s200/images-1.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">Providing a
plethora of transportation alternatives is one way that Toronto has been
working on its status as a livable city – this keeps pollution down and
parks from becoming parking lots. And with car2go, there is now an ingenious way to
carshare, only paying for the time you use the car – even if it’s as little as
5 minutes. <a href="http://ow.ly/i/KiGO">Their blue and white smart fortwo</a> cars are easily found through a
free smartphone app, with no reservation necessary. All a subscriber needs is a
membership card and a reason to drive. It’s just ingenious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Other
carsharing programs in Toronto include the pioneering all-Canadian <a href="http://www.autoshare.com/">AutoShare</a>,
which launched waaay back in 1998, and the U.S.-based <a href="http://www.zipcar.com/">Zipcar</a>. The differences
between the organizations are less important than the fact that they offer
individuals an affordable way to drive a car. As in other urban centres, it’s
increasingly expensive to own a car in Toronto – <a href="http://www.blogto.com/news_flash/2010/07/toronto_parking_rates_second_highest_in_canada/">in 2010, Toronto was the second most expensive place to park in Canada</a>, with an annual rate of $336.26.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1XkC6jFDHGlQqlNzqAQrbdhuGPotE_MswnMd-v8CBMz_QDbBFgW06jwl2NzbRllcFLCX1PKTOK0HnIb2W1TdFYi0x4Kn_kQlWGjbVITuhgVTn7Jg375J3FwSyIaaHKi6p0WnZDb-eqQ/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1XkC6jFDHGlQqlNzqAQrbdhuGPotE_MswnMd-v8CBMz_QDbBFgW06jwl2NzbRllcFLCX1PKTOK0HnIb2W1TdFYi0x4Kn_kQlWGjbVITuhgVTn7Jg375J3FwSyIaaHKi6p0WnZDb-eqQ/s200/images-2.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">But there’s
more good news. The Montreal-based bike-sharing <a href="https://toronto.bixi.com/">Bixi</a> program, proudly
marked its first anniversary in Toronto in May, and proclaimed its membership of
1,000 had taken over 550,000 rides. That’s a lot of people riding through rain,
sleet and snow as well as sunshine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">It’s all
part of the <a href="http://collaborativeconsumption.com/">collaborative economy</a>, which is based on sharing. That’s a welcome trend away from conspicuous
consumption, and takes an altruistic bent towards business. Naturally, its most
enthusiastic participants are young folk, who are concerned about the
environment, rabid social media users, and perhaps a little less than flush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYj5qh62TGUIUwjAWfhSuws6EHYHkp6t9t5YM3UvAsAvOTyQ8waWCVeOiyceeJXfThpscboI-IhV2-iYkdWIS5rGfqsO40ChIy9QHFM_OS_tTT4wFgkf4e4GFoTFO8Gk_GbSXQ8ES_ksc/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYj5qh62TGUIUwjAWfhSuws6EHYHkp6t9t5YM3UvAsAvOTyQ8waWCVeOiyceeJXfThpscboI-IhV2-iYkdWIS5rGfqsO40ChIy9QHFM_OS_tTT4wFgkf4e4GFoTFO8Gk_GbSXQ8ES_ksc/s200/images-3.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Possibly
they are also not so quietly rebelling against the excess and waste that they
grew up with – <a href="http://www.rentalic.com/first-visit">one study</a> found that the average household in the U.S. has $3,000 worth of items lying
around unused. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Do we need
to define ourselves by our possessions? Maybe - it’s better to define ourselves by who we share with...<o:p></o:p></span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-5445442025410104012012-06-21T12:07:00.001-07:002012-06-26T21:01:29.279-07:00Microcar North lights up La Contessa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOHJTebHWfIp1INa1-iGcWYRHTyw8brRt0OBFpF3gp62wRDCaxEnG2u_8zrhK7GNOAPzsJAEa-dzecy7aYvIYZ6dhoZn5j8-guwQLqk_hF9JWGnc2d4OjCk7ulUD5RvZyzqZ4Gj_4g18/s1600/IMG_6716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOHJTebHWfIp1INa1-iGcWYRHTyw8brRt0OBFpF3gp62wRDCaxEnG2u_8zrhK7GNOAPzsJAEa-dzecy7aYvIYZ6dhoZn5j8-guwQLqk_hF9JWGnc2d4OjCk7ulUD5RvZyzqZ4Gj_4g18/s320/IMG_6716.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Nothing
puts a happy grin on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincessJcourtdog">La Contessa’s</a> snout faster than a microcar, and when you
have a lush green lawn full of micros, well! I am in microcar ecstasy. This is
exactly what happened last weekend at <a href="http://www.microcar.org/micronorth/">Ralph and Wendy Hough’s MicroNorth</a>,
where the micros came from near and far.
Every year, Ralph and Wendy graciously open up their beautiful home in
Coldwater, Ontario, to microcar enthusiasts from all over North America. The
tiny cars dotted the expansive lawn like bright shiny gems on wheels – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">che belle!</i><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA">Most of
these were vintage vehicles, highly prized collector’s items, and their owners have coddled them like pedigreed pups. A micro, as you know, is any vehicle with an engine
under 500 cc. They were wildly popular in the 1950s, when gas was scarce. Many
of the little cars had only three wheels, which in England and Germany, meant their
owners paid half the road tax. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ingenious,
mais non?</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHZEneeO5Q7K5mhP8YbV7yKkuBC8YKcjcU-WvMN3QJ2nh13ZAUo8L-_qEVBRVpTsu-vJ-cxYruf8Upc5zYmpdlq47XwhcZ-eMmmOTT67l0BGr5IYEEHoE7WwoVxSESdSYASYbGbpd1jQ/s1600/IMG_6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHZEneeO5Q7K5mhP8YbV7yKkuBC8YKcjcU-WvMN3QJ2nh13ZAUo8L-_qEVBRVpTsu-vJ-cxYruf8Upc5zYmpdlq47XwhcZ-eMmmOTT67l0BGr5IYEEHoE7WwoVxSESdSYASYbGbpd1jQ/s200/IMG_6719.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-CA">Here in
North America, we must wait for invitations to events like MicroNorth to enjoy
these diminutive darlings. Ralph Hough himself, a strapping six-foot former
policeman, has a collection of Messerschmitts, many of which were displayed on
the lawn. He got his extremely rare 1955 KR175 red Schmitt in Montreal, where
its original owner had brought it from England – the poor car was literally a
basket case! Only 10,000 of the KR175 were built between 1953 and 1955, so parts
were scarce. Of course Ralph sleuthed out the necessary parts, including the
factory original option “suitcase,” custom built to fit in the tiny luggage
space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXviYUwnVS0/T-NzLy2nVmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/yOg1uf_eVpo/s1600/IMG_6738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXviYUwnVS0/T-NzLy2nVmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/yOg1uf_eVpo/s200/IMG_6738.jpg" width="133" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">We loved
the pale yellow 1957 Isetta, so much like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=229068377214029&set=a.207212219399645.43799.195844707203063&type=1&theater">dear cousin Rosalia</a>’s, who keeps
company with the town doctor in the southern Italian town of <a href="http://ow.ly/i/IiLi">Campobasso</a>. Oh, the hot summers we enjoyed, travelling along the Biferno river in
the mountains. This Isetta even
had a wicker basket on the back like Rosalia’s, perfect for picnics. What that
clever girl, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cucciune</i> as the
doctor would say, could do with a little <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prosciutto
</i>and provolone! Like all Isettas, this one had a one cylinder 300 cc Hemi
engine – yes, that’s right, a Hemi. Raise your hand if you know that any engine
with a hemispherical cylinder head is called a Hemi. The Isetta story is one of
my favourites – they were originally manufactured by an Italian company called
Iso, which made refrigerators. Isetta simply means “little Iso.” Sitting in the
little car, my nose thrilled to the scent of vintage leather and two-stroke –
and I could almost smell the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prosciutto</i>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEdmnVl0zEA/T-NztswYWFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/7gc6eMyCl4k/s1600/IMG_6691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEdmnVl0zEA/T-NztswYWFI/AAAAAAAAAq0/7gc6eMyCl4k/s200/IMG_6691.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">Then it was
on to a smart red 1957 Berkeley convertible, one of only 1,281 made in
Biggleswade, Bedforshire. Owner Jeff had been working on it for over 13 years,
with astounding results. The fibreglass shell had held up remarkably well! Who
knows, perhaps La Contessa was sitting in the same model that <a href="http://ow.ly/i/IiMO">famed racecar driver Stirling Moss</a> had once championed at Goodwood?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNBSB_Qhrls-z5NulLC_UvR9zJdL9abQVBbgUemnJ6Ap6k3t8MA4s_KwpHEBSCL8sSB3jqy38frBn2cuueiNfBTpbsKuiSqlXHA8Xp85BqqHoQ8NSAxUYh-AFnkLY9462s2cOE9J6BX0/s1600/IMG_6751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNBSB_Qhrls-z5NulLC_UvR9zJdL9abQVBbgUemnJ6Ap6k3t8MA4s_KwpHEBSCL8sSB3jqy38frBn2cuueiNfBTpbsKuiSqlXHA8Xp85BqqHoQ8NSAxUYh-AFnkLY9462s2cOE9J6BX0/s200/IMG_6751.JPG" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-CA">And then,
complete shock. A real, live beige 1981 Syrena from Poland. Owner Slawek had
brought it over five years ago. With its 850 cc engine, it perhaps exceeded the
microcar standards, but I didn’t care. I have not seen a Syrena since the days
in Krakow, visiting with cousin Agnieszka. We would smuggle contraband onto the
black market and then feast on forbidden delicacies like Baltic caviar?<i> Smacznego! </i>Who would suspect two pretty tail-wagging blondes? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">But it was
Kate and her thoroughly gorgeous red 1980 MGB that won our hearts. She
graciously invited us to tour the scenic roads around Coldwater in the
microcar convoy, and pointed out sights like an osprey nest. </span>Long, lean and tanned, Kate was a force of nature, getting ready to visit family in Scotland and Ireland, in the midst of renovating her house on Bass Lake, and dealing with her late husband’s estate. We laughed and talked, ate walnut pecan ice cream, visited a chocolate store, stopped by a wildlife sanctuary and marvelled at the peacocks and swans. What a splendid
afternoon, driving in the open air – feeling the balmy wind through my long fur
was a delight, as was listening to Kate's stories. She was quite a gal, and made our whirlwind
tour of Coldwater an absolute joy. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bravissima,</i>
Kate!</div>
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<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-74687626063608395712012-06-13T14:56:00.000-07:002012-06-13T15:44:47.333-07:00Smile when you say "chick car"<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvpJi2pVGosxW3FZPR2qPrk0a5KyhoiMZmsHgQhiZYCzBi7XHSEYSZYy3tp2z4N4nKGpfhy4uYC1DkTpwQFKJBgp1ZUGi-ZFsbkQNTJRnGiO4M0MrqOKcAUfNkekX51iqjV5yLqAyIb4/s1600/q12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvpJi2pVGosxW3FZPR2qPrk0a5KyhoiMZmsHgQhiZYCzBi7XHSEYSZYy3tp2z4N4nKGpfhy4uYC1DkTpwQFKJBgp1ZUGi-ZFsbkQNTJRnGiO4M0MrqOKcAUfNkekX51iqjV5yLqAyIb4/s200/q12.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Salut Amis 6!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Chick cars have been around ever since car
manufacturers decided that women were some kind of niche market. It didn’t take
consumers long to decide that if a car was marketed to women, there had to be
something wrong with it. And voila, a stigma was born.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q9pCo-4gXR0FXfp36uB39Rl3TNccLg6ltIZw9cfZDbE6igI2CBLRjRDRjrfAq39-5gcf6-dtFFBq7T5q3vWGG8YJUc5qF42n760Di-iYx78Ia1sme_tGoQiYb7u1FjITeaNxAO29JV0/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q9pCo-4gXR0FXfp36uB39Rl3TNccLg6ltIZw9cfZDbE6igI2CBLRjRDRjrfAq39-5gcf6-dtFFBq7T5q3vWGG8YJUc5qF42n760Di-iYx78Ia1sme_tGoQiYb7u1FjITeaNxAO29JV0/s1600/images-4.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">One of the most </span>cockeyed examples of the
chick car was the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/H6tO">Dodge La Femme</a>, manufactured in 1955 and
1956. It was based on a Chrysler Newport body, but came in two-tone pink and
white, with pink gold-flecked cloth inside, and was marketed to “Her Royal
Highness, the American Woman.” In all fairness, Dodge DID provide an item that
is sadly lacking in automobiles today – a special compartment for a purse. They
even provided <a href="http://ow.ly/i/H6Hu">the purse itself</a>. Although about 1,500 of these cars were built, women somehow managed not to
scoop them up.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Then, there was the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/H8ai">Citroen Ami 6,</a> launched
in 1961 as a vehicle for women: “Pour vous Madame.” Partially because it was
based on the venerable 2CV platform, and perhaps the French really are smarter
than the rest of us, the Ami 6 became the best selling car in the French market
at the time, with over a million sold in 1966. The reverse-raked rear window
was quite chic, and the Ami’s seats were - bonus - easily removable. Early sales pitches
showed them being used for picnic chairs. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pE6VLZTbg-vgrQ0OU3KBhh_TUmsWhqb9JvelBqBVsn6LtpWEpkmySE4A60KbK1ADvnDzePUNu9aZZ0IGnc4WhSmePUFVBvTLDkccQV-iQQwDdKlPGaujyr2bBsYwkWq7ZeMorY-SLO0/s1600/minitwiggy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pE6VLZTbg-vgrQ0OU3KBhh_TUmsWhqb9JvelBqBVsn6LtpWEpkmySE4A60KbK1ADvnDzePUNu9aZZ0IGnc4WhSmePUFVBvTLDkccQV-iQQwDdKlPGaujyr2bBsYwkWq7ZeMorY-SLO0/s320/minitwiggy2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Meanwhile, over in England, a debonair car designer
named <a href="http://ow.ly/i/H8gN">Alec Issigonis</a> was charged with the task of creating a small, inexpensive
vehicle for the British housewife. The diminutive gem he whipped up was called
a Mini, and it certainly was. The wheels were a petite eight inches, and the
engine was mounted sideways to allow maximum passenger room. One thing led to
another, and the British Mini became an icon of the 1960s – no longer just a
housewife’s car, but a fashion accessory, a rally car and even <a href="http://ow.ly/i/H8hz">a movie star</a>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">These days, the term chick car is bestowed
upon cars like the Mazda Miata, pretty much any Volkswagen convertible (the
Beetle qualifies with or without a ragtop), the Fiat 500, the erstwhile Saturn,
Toyota Yaris – anything that’s small and stylish. Or, perceived to be
underpowered. And usually, it’s a guy who’s making the decision about the
monicker. In other words, if you’re a manly man, you wouldn’t be caught dead in
this car.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And that’s a shame. Because most so-called
chick cars are good-looking, fuel-efficient and affordable vehicles. Isn’t that
what today’s consumer is all about? Shouldn’t the term “chick car” be a badge
of honour instead of a slur? It should be as highly prized as a Consumers
Reports “best buy.” </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Perhaps our society will one day be evolved
enough to appreciate that cars don’t come with a gender bias. After all, a chick car can’t
tell whether it’s a macho man or a girly woman driving, can it? </span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-23196495057835891252012-06-04T12:40:00.002-07:002012-06-07T11:48:52.916-07:00Another day, another Ford Focus<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlXpaW2eTzdTo5rhSmIfPpKf-9W2Klv_1gHblje3dIkS_uP04jepx9sePN3xaXDDZDC4H6hJ92tWkJVrPzxfyV57sc1iMhLt2zagENZtk-uYWntMY80bFoEiigJ49UrNeJHQLSIKPlXA/s1600/ford-focus-electric-car-1728_610x407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlXpaW2eTzdTo5rhSmIfPpKf-9W2Klv_1gHblje3dIkS_uP04jepx9sePN3xaXDDZDC4H6hJ92tWkJVrPzxfyV57sc1iMhLt2zagENZtk-uYWntMY80bFoEiigJ49UrNeJHQLSIKPlXA/s320/ford-focus-electric-car-1728_610x407.jpg" width="320" /></a>When Ford invited us to be among the first
to drive an electric Ford Focus, how could we resist? Especially when it was so
hot on the heels of <a href="http://idrivelikeagirl.blogspot.ca/2012/05/la-contessa-and-ford-focus.html">our adventures with a gas-powered Focus</a>. We arrived a
little late, having experienced spectacle problems – the famous cat’s eye specs
were cobbled together with a safety pin.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">These ride ‘n’ drives are always a lovely
way to spend an afternoon, even if there were no dogs allowed – even <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincessJcourtdog?ref=ts">La Contessa</a>. As
expected, the conference room at the Allstream Centre was full of green
products and cues, like the soy foam and recyclables used in making hybrid and
electric vehicles. Lunch was saladicious and healthy, with some decadent
brownies to keep us from feeling too smug. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But it was the guests at the event that
demonstrated how the auto world is changing. Instead of just a gang of auto writers
talking about gear ratios, chain drives and paddle shifters, there were mommy
bloggers, social media mavens, and digital dynamos. There was more discussion
about tweeting than there was about torque. And - there were even a couple of
incredibly well-behaved babies bundled into knapsacks! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Following a power point presentation about
Ford’s green philosophy, we were escorted down to the cars. Each car came with
a driving instructor, to explain the controls and functions. And good heavens,
there was lots of ‘splaining necessary! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">My charming instructor was named Jeff, and
we took along two passengers. To begin with, the electric Focus was darn quiet. When
you press the ignition, you can’t even tell it’s on – <a href="http://ow.ly/i/FMaU">the ignition light signals that the car is indeed powered up and ready to go</a>. Great for spying
on people and sneaking up on them, and maybe even reducing some noise pollution.
Bicyclists, however, may not
appreciate this.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It was hard to believe the seats were made
of recycled water bottles – while we have sat on water bottles before, it was
mostly by accident and quite uncomfortable. But this time, our tush was quite
happy.<a href="http://ow.ly/i/FM79"> Jeff showed us where a butterfly would appear on the dash if we drove economically</a> – that is, no sudden acceleration or braking. Try as we might, no
butterfly appeared. Oh, well. Still, we like this trend with green cars – why not
incorporate it into gas-powered vehicles? Getting drivers to operate more fuel-efficiently
shouldn’t be limited to electric vehicles.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And at the end of our drive, <a href="http://www.chch.com/index.php/home/item/8432-ford-shows-off-electric-car">we were tickled to be interviewed by CHCH TV</a>. And they didn’t seem to care that our glasses
were being held together with a safety pin. </span></div>
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<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-38394491840508946392012-05-24T20:22:00.000-07:002012-05-24T21:22:41.493-07:00La Contessa gets her Citroen on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At dusk, the last glimpse of day before
nightfall, life truly begins for <i>bon vivants</i> such as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincessJcourtdog?ref=ts">La Contessa</a>. For it is
then that the Citroens come out to play.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">How delighted we were to come across an
impromptu meeting of the<a href="http://www.citroenvie.com/Citroen_Autoclub_Canada/Home.html"> Citroen Autoclub Canada</a> </span>and their remarkable cars. Ah, the
memories! Has there ever been a car as enchanting and practical as the Deux
Chevaux? As a young pup in <i>Montmartre</i>, it was my daily driver. If cars could
talk, that set of wheels could spill volumes.<br />
<br />
Peering out of the flip-up window, my whiskers quivered at the marvel of design and engineering at my paws. From the outside, the Bauhaus-inspired curves appear at once utilitarian and stylish. Yet, they conceal an interior which can accommodate a French farmer with a top hat, on his way to market with a dozen eggs on his lap, driving across a freshly ploughed field. Oh, and it can also accommodate a Princess Johanna's Court Dog and her entourage after a wicked afternoon on the <i>Champs d'Elysee</i> ...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGl7suO-rBY/T775zHygJcI/AAAAAAAAAn8/7eaDWrKQQ3U/s1600/IMG_6669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGl7suO-rBY/T775zHygJcI/AAAAAAAAAn8/7eaDWrKQQ3U/s200/IMG_6669.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
The 2CV is minimalism at its most chic, with a
thousand other innovations to make it affordable, fuel efficient and easy to
maintain. What else would you expect from the country that gave us moving pictures, the little black dress and the bikini?!</div>
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Later, we hung out with the Citroen Autoclub, who own a fleet of the French lovelies between them. These fellows know their vehicles, and we swapped stories late into the night. The adventures we have had with our beloved Citroens! Then there is <a href="http://ow.ly/b8Img">Cousin Madeleine</a>, who makes her deliveries in a pastel blue <a href="http://ow.ly/i/EhTP">Fourgonette</a> in <i>Aix en Provence. </i>I have been sworn to secrecy about her precious cargo and what goes on after the drop-offs. <i>Mon dieux</i>, others might think her quite bohemian but Madeleine is simply an artiste, <i>mais oui</i>?</div>
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Of course Citroen is a beloved French brand, and no less than <a href="http://ow.ly/i/EicU">General Charles de Gaulle himself credited a DS 19 </a> for saving his life - when would-be assassins killed two bodyguards and shot out the tires, the chauffeur was able to drive to safety, thanks to the ingenious DS hydropneumatic suspension system. These cars were even able to drive on three wheels! </div>
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And so I was not surprised that the latest French president, Francoise Holland, recently chose the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/Eia3">Citroen </a>DS5 Hybrid 4 to launch his term. He follows in the footsteps of predecessors Georges Pompidou, who rode in the marvellous <a href="http://ow.ly/i/Elzs">Citroen SM</a>, which was also used in parades by Giscard d'Estaing, Mitterand and Chirac. In 1995, Chirac opted for the CX Prestige and then later, the C6.<br />
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For centuries, the French have led the way in living and loving with style and grace. Let others be subverted and seduced by noisy engines that can devour distance in minutes... and for what? How <i>bourgeois</i> and <i>arriviste</i>. La Contessa knows that time is precious, but a grand entrance is worth its weight in horsepower.<br />
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<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-27528810461214773172012-05-10T15:21:00.000-07:002012-05-11T07:48:56.244-07:00La Contessa and the Ford Focus<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB5C1AorEq2z1_SBt3ZAo-fd4k3yryNmfv_H5chlvVTFBb_FQ12um_MwXOdneoQPz0oNIzqJ4g6gNU6-XRUdcBZW3KX3IDVSTJotSOcoiPrb0EDAq9BGbD-iV3tirBktg8O9TqT9Q2JQ/s1600/IMG_6381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDB5C1AorEq2z1_SBt3ZAo-fd4k3yryNmfv_H5chlvVTFBb_FQ12um_MwXOdneoQPz0oNIzqJ4g6gNU6-XRUdcBZW3KX3IDVSTJotSOcoiPrb0EDAq9BGbD-iV3tirBktg8O9TqT9Q2JQ/s320/IMG_6381.JPG" width="320" /></a><i>Mon dieu</i>,
the things they expect from a simple <i>chien</i>. Just because I have a pedigree as lofty as the <i>tour Eiffel</i>, I am an expert in all things mechanical?</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Let me
introduce myself.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrincessJcourtdog"> I am La Contessa, a very rare Princess Johanna's Court Dog</a>. In
the old country, I am indulged and flattered for my blue-blooded link to the
crowned heads of yore. But on this common continent, I must work
like, well, a dog, to earn my keep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">And so it
is that I have been dubbed the Designated Dog, and schlepped around in a 2012
Ford Focus SEL for a full week. As I was thrust into the comfy leather seat, I
was mesmerized by the centre control panel – it could rival the cockpit of <a href="http://ow.ly/i/Cpr0">La Concorde</a>, where my cousin Olga often criss-crossed the pond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Such a luxe
European ride, it took me back to the old days in Gstaad. I was almost lulled
into a sleep, when – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ach du lieber</i>!
Such bumps! Was I in the backlanes of the Red District? No, it was merely
Dufferin Street, which was recently <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/05/02/toronto-worst-roads681.html">voted by the CAA as one of the worst roads in Canada</a>. We slalomed our way around the potholes, rather than <i>schussing</i> through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">As luck
would have it, the torture test continued. There are cobblestone streets in
Amsterdam that are smoother than Lawrence Avenue, another title-holder in the
CAA worst roads listing. I feared we would disappear into one of the potholes,
but our luck held. Actually, it was not so much luck as the well-heeled chassis
and suspension on the Focus, which has been tested for its durability on a<a href="http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=34305"> Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium and Michigan Proving Ground in the U.S.</a> </span>Anyone who
has driven in Brussels (dear cousin Sasha and I romped there regularly) can
attest to the brutality of the roads.</div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Then it was
on to my favourite park at Cherry Beach. Here I could examine the Focus from
every angle, as was my job. A clever set of wheels, it was, stylish and roomy –
I could accommodate a whole litter of puppies in the hatch! But <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mamma mia</i>, the beeping back-up system
hurt my sensitive ears – they really must change the tonality to something less
aurally invasive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29U7PVwlSuI/T6w7xifpVgI/AAAAAAAAAmg/6ix0xmHtDfY/s1600/IMG_6399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29U7PVwlSuI/T6w7xifpVgI/AAAAAAAAAmg/6ix0xmHtDfY/s200/IMG_6399.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">And then - </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">какого хрена</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">! </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;">Where was the gas cap? I
sniffed high and low but couldn’t find a knob or switch for the life of me. But my aristocratic snout (which can discern a fine merlot from 100 metres)
led me to success! There it was, cunningly hidden behind a rear quarter panel. </span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-CA">Bravo,
Ford engineers, you almost had La Contessa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">A light
rain fell on our way home, but the rain sensing wipers – moving inwardly – kept
our windscreen clean. It made me misty for cousin Manuel’s Benz, which featured
the same wiper <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pas de deux</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">It’s late
now. The Focus is gone and I need to count my names. I remember there being 16,
but I’m not sure about the last one. Now that I’m in America, perhaps I should
cut down?<o:p></o:p></span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-66834665415781221202012-05-03T11:32:00.001-07:002012-05-03T12:25:04.774-07:00Commuting kills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKr5j22h4lN2ZAreeUeXDjFoYtBTBuiiVC88Mh8_vYOI81tyYx5_hnkYwhw-vTRmmOpq0-OjTFu2UNY6N_l_vuMg1BYCMtC1gJjf212cRwx90bMzd1ETRuJjhJOgmZQahYxow1TGXcEU/s1600/traffic-jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKr5j22h4lN2ZAreeUeXDjFoYtBTBuiiVC88Mh8_vYOI81tyYx5_hnkYwhw-vTRmmOpq0-OjTFu2UNY6N_l_vuMg1BYCMtC1gJjf212cRwx90bMzd1ETRuJjhJOgmZQahYxow1TGXcEU/s320/traffic-jam.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
Even a
wheezy old beater can be fun to drive on the open road, under a gorgeous blue
sunshiney day. But when driving becomes commuting, life behind the wheel
becomes hellish and downright deadly.<br />
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<span lang="EN-CA">Oh, not
because you’re going to ram another car or mow down a pedestrian (or be the
mowee), but because of the stress and strain of too many drivers behind you,
beside you and especially in front of you. <a href="http://cgdailydrive.com/long-commutes-make-you-stressed-tired-fat-angry-and-much-more-likely-to-have-a-heart-attack/">This charming infographic</a> which takes nine pages to print out, claims that if you commute, your risk of a
heart attack triples and in fact, 96,000 heart attacks in the U.S. are
attributed to traffic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/142142/Wellbeing-Lower-Among-Workers-Long-Commutes.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=Wellbeing">This Gallup poll </a>shows that the longer your commute, the more you suffer back pain, high
cholesterol and obesity. If you spend 90 to 120 minutes commuting, you’ve got a 30 percent chance of
being obese. Nice to know you can’t blame it all on Sara Lee, unless that’s
what you’re snacking on in the car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">According
to Statistics Canada, the average Toronto driver has a time-sucking commute of
27 minutes. And - apparently <a href="http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110824/dq110824b-eng.htm">82 percent of Canadians drive to work</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">This state
of affairs is likely to get worse before it gets better. It has less to do with
infrastructure, the price of housing or the price of eggs than it does with
human nature. We think we’re invincible. We’ll keep going until we keel over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Perhaps the
best solution is to have pop-up medical units along our highways and biways.
<a href="http://ow.ly/i/BtM4">Sort of like the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M.A.S.H.)</a> popularized in the
film and tv series of the same </span>name. That way, there’s no need to call an
ambulance when drivers inevitably collapse in their cars. We could call them
M.E.S.H. – Mobile Expressway Surgical Hospitals, or M.U.S.H. if they’re located
by an Underpass.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj1dJ4N4R36c17Nip6Eph075QEKe59XHwp3sF5PLvN5p2RW_gNR2E2YGpYdHnYMroyE4eLbFiPZMxQ8vM3yGm9AZllPbw1tKDccJ4dNYXN77XJTw1eZscW9B5phz8Hh4Zc0JUltNuLRI/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj1dJ4N4R36c17Nip6Eph075QEKe59XHwp3sF5PLvN5p2RW_gNR2E2YGpYdHnYMroyE4eLbFiPZMxQ8vM3yGm9AZllPbw1tKDccJ4dNYXN77XJTw1eZscW9B5phz8Hh4Zc0JUltNuLRI/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Doctors
could make a killing. All those medical students that have been vamoosing to the
U.S. would be flocking to sign up for front-line duty at a pop-up unit
which of course, would be privately billed. OHIP wo</span>uld be loath to endorse this
manner of facility – and what government wants to encourage deadly traffic? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Some of us
would finally be able to get a family doctor. We’d just have to learn to drive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-59702933772294509922012-04-25T19:29:00.001-07:002012-04-27T08:17:00.584-07:00To speed or not to speed<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wVzGCfV8kGjyOSxMYCk1X7-MxaAt5YInwep0l_KsttpVNACuHlVtFhW5G58FPQpf8bRKaqYdTcBKbr-WwZUWYKHaXEr7KF4DLlw2fe7KJqnnYxioa5xQTOYSMsF3ok_BtUBzYv8VviQ/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wVzGCfV8kGjyOSxMYCk1X7-MxaAt5YInwep0l_KsttpVNACuHlVtFhW5G58FPQpf8bRKaqYdTcBKbr-WwZUWYKHaXEr7KF4DLlw2fe7KJqnnYxioa5xQTOYSMsF3ok_BtUBzYv8VviQ/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In less than a week, the local
transportation community has spawned two proposals for a change in speed
limits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The first, from Ontario-based <a href="http://www.stop100.ca/">www.stop100.ca</a>, wants the provincial highway speed limit RAISED to 120 - 140 km/h. And the other – from Toronto chief medical officer, Dr. David McKeown, is to CUT Toronto municipal speed limits to 30 km/h.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ironically, both are citing safety as a
factor. Stop100.ca says that drivers travelling under 130 km/h, which they
claim is the average highway flow of traffic, are a hazard. The reason
is, this causes “<a href="http://stop100.ca/ResponsetoMTO.pdf">other motorists to brake rapidly, tailgate or frantically attempt to pass</a>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">McKeown cites in his report “<a href="http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-46483.pdf">Road to Health: Improving Walking and Cycling in Toronto</a>”, that pedestrians were less likely to be killed for every 10 km/h reduction
below 60 km/h. Standard Toronto speed limits are 40 to 50 km/h.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This drew guffaws from Toronto’s venerable
Sun newspaper, which plastered <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2012/04/23/lowering-toronto-speed-limits-means-were-going-back-to-the-future">a photo of a horse and buggy on its cover with the headline “Slow and Stupid.” </a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The real reason for the Chief Medical
Officer’s report is to encourage walking and bicycling, which would generate
health benefits and reduce health care spending in Toronto by $110 to $160 million.
Additionally, costs associated with pedestrian-vehicle collisions cost Toronto over
$53 million, and cyclist-vehicle collisions over $9 million. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Could our police department keep up with
any of it? When to ticket, when not to ticket? Would we lose revenue or gain
it? Which war is being fought here – the war on the car or the war on the
cyclist and pedestrian? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Neither proposal has <a href="http://ow.ly/i/Au7h">a snowman’s chance in Hades</a> to get the green light. But we need to hear about
them, if only to keep the conversation going. Road safety belongs not only in
the headlines but in our heads. Let’s keep talking. </span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-4452431807160944842012-04-18T20:33:00.002-07:002012-04-23T08:08:49.105-07:00The trouble with young people today<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWZuNLdfZUOSh_kcD6a01uSfI-taHYfglQenlaY9En9tkPMqb_WX8ee3qraGp-G29oXiGDvUt-3WKWLrmvBTv0hbTr2MfDd2tecqQ-57qQX4fLTtokBfzf2WZSnhDjw8ysjjgS8m1Hm0/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWZuNLdfZUOSh_kcD6a01uSfI-taHYfglQenlaY9En9tkPMqb_WX8ee3qraGp-G29oXiGDvUt-3WKWLrmvBTv0hbTr2MfDd2tecqQ-57qQX4fLTtokBfzf2WZSnhDjw8ysjjgS8m1Hm0/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember counting down the days to your 16<sup>th</sup>
birthday? Some of us even skipped school to run down to the government office
to sweat through the test that would bestow upon us that coveted, sacred rite
of passage into adulthood – <a href="http://ow.ly/i/zDN6">the driver’s licence</a>. It was a heady symbol of
freedom ... autonomy ... and independence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But these days, that sacred rite could be
on the threatened species list.
It’s true. Young people are shunning the driver’s licence for – shudder
– <a href="http://ow.ly/i/zDNB">a SIM card</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.umtri.umich.edu/news.php">A study by the University of Michigan Research Institute </a>shows a steady decline in the number of licensed drivers in the United States
under the age of 30. There has been 22 percent drop in the number of licensed
drivers since 1983. Furthermore, that decline is echoed across countries such
as Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Norway, South Korea and – yes –
Canada.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Used to be, young folks needed a car to go
to the mall and hang out with friends. Now all they have to do is visit their
Facebook page or text them. You get to meet more people with an iPhone than
you do with a <a href="http://ow.ly/i/zDOI">Corvette</a>. Sad but true. You may even get to impress some chicks if
you have an <a href="http://ow.ly/i/zDPc">iPhone 4S with Siri</a> and some waycool apps. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The U of M’s study found that those
countries where folks like to spend lots of time surfing the internet, young people had fewer driver’s licences rates. Could that translate into virtual contact being more important than actual contact? That's more than a little bit disturbing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Maybe it's be the money. It does cost a lot
to buy and maintain a car, and the insurance for a 16-year old male driver is
stratospheric. There are much more reasonable – and green – alternatives, like
car sharing, taking transit, walking or bicycling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Possibly. But as <a href="http://adage.com/">Advertising Age</a> noted,
just as <a href="http://ow.ly/i/zDQA">the automobile shaped a generation like the Baby Boomers</a>, the internet
seems to be shaping the Millennials. Perhaps they’re just smarter than we are –
texting while driving is deadly. There are no WIFI highways. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Perhaps that’s a lesson that Baby Boomers
could take to heart. We might live longer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-5038570156006864952012-04-11T20:36:00.000-07:002012-04-11T20:38:22.552-07:00A woman walks into a bicycle shop ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvUfvtMB1_Y2QvWThvAOhVfPE5-lqcpyb5jCubOk2kAGIB-OvbPePhIzBOodd6DRR-wugV2y9uOkSDOWlvK6k_87XEmZIoE8qN3GJRhJMYkZMMbJW1SxHnjLFQr-L0NKnxa_o6V4e3Nc/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvUfvtMB1_Y2QvWThvAOhVfPE5-lqcpyb5jCubOk2kAGIB-OvbPePhIzBOodd6DRR-wugV2y9uOkSDOWlvK6k_87XEmZIoE8qN3GJRhJMYkZMMbJW1SxHnjLFQr-L0NKnxa_o6V4e3Nc/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">… and asks for a bicycle made for a woman.
The kind of bike, she says, that would be good for riding around her
neighbourhood, maybe some local trails, something that’s affordable and oh yes,
very light. She doesn’t need 76 gears or heavy-duty suspension, won’t be
participating in any triathlons or mountain climbing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So the salesguy checks her out, and brings
her a <a href="http://ow.ly/i/yOMT">white ladies’ touring bicycle</a>. The cables and fenders are white. It’s
whiter than the china at Buckingham Palace. It’s so white, it hurts my eyes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yes, I’m the woman in question. Taking the
white-on-white bicycle for a spin, I was
nervous – not so much about the belligerent cab driver behind me but
getting grease on the pretty white cables. Nah.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Next bike shop, same story. This time I
know to ask for a step-through bicycle, and explain that I need something
functional, affordable, built for a woman like me. This salesguy nods and
brings me <a href="http://ow.ly/i/yOqq">a pastel blue bicycle with a wicker basket on the handlebars, which by the way, have curlicues on them</a>. I point at a low-slung
grey number which is more my style, and take it out for a spin. Alas, the price
point is a bit too high and I trudge on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">At last I find a bike shop with <a href="http://ow.ly/i/yOos">women selling bicycles</a>. </span>Unfortunately, they didn’t have anything
in my price range. I tried – I really wanted to buy a bike from them. But I’m a
freelance writer and as such, on a permanent austerity plan. It doesn’t help
when they tell me I need a lock that would cost exactly a third of what their
cheapest bike is selling for!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Finally, I did find the bicycle of my
dreams. <a href="http://ow.ly/i/yOpF">It’s a pale metallic blue Genesis with seven gears</a> that takes me back to my childhood in a good way. It’s not too girly, not too
technical, nice and light and drives like a dream. Bonus – it was on sale! And the cats approve. The
straight-talking salesguy reminded me of my veterinarian, who has a somewhat
abrupt bedside manner and shoots from the hip. Like my vet, whose main concern
is the animal, this guy was focused on the bicycle. “Solid aluminum frame,
lightweight, good value for the price,” he said in heavily accented English.
I’m not sure where he was from, but the bicycle is from heaven.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s going to be a great summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-83470860766147206952012-03-28T15:25:00.000-07:002012-03-30T08:35:05.521-07:00Volvo pedestrian airbags - just in time for April Fool's?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c1O6zV9jCvB9LFWQURUXa8ohFth156fwt-OkP5Yr4wlaeaey2SV7UCx_pRaCm5wasx_tO_Shmu_ZvyoXQ5vzvTmDyPOzfExuWCHO36KijvWlck93ny2oUQbT6rjZDWQxNIbP4DVPw68/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c1O6zV9jCvB9LFWQURUXa8ohFth156fwt-OkP5Yr4wlaeaey2SV7UCx_pRaCm5wasx_tO_Shmu_ZvyoXQ5vzvTmDyPOzfExuWCHO36KijvWlck93ny2oUQbT6rjZDWQxNIbP4DVPw68/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It began back in 1958 when Volvo engineer
<a href="http://ow.ly/i/xdy2">Nils Bolhin </a>invented the three-way seat belt, which made Volvo the automotive
guardian angel of safe driving. In the 1990s, Volvo went airbag-happy, with the
big dusty pillows erupting from every automotive orifice imaginable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Volvo has riffed on its safety brand for decades, and this year, topped itself with the introduction of a pedestrian
airbag. When I first spotted this, I was tempted to think – isn’t it early for
April Fool's? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The concept is simple – if a pedestrian
happens to foolishly wander into the front of your Volvo, SCHLING! An airbag
pops up over the windshield and cushions the blow to both pedestrian and
vehicle. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tyvWhJhLL6g">There’s even a video demonstrating the methodology with a crash test dummy</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The problem here is that this strategy
flies in the face of driver legislation as well as driver training, which puts the responsibility for avoiding pedestrian collisions squarely on the driver. Drivers are meant to operate their vehicle to give pedestrians as wide a berth as possible - to expect the unexpected. This is drilled into every student driver all over the planet. Never mind that Volvo also has a pedestrian
safety system, which in <a href="http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-news/volvo-crash-test-goes-wrong-20100925-15rak.html">a recent Australian demo</a>, went horribly wrong.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It begs the question – should pedestrians
feel safer if they’re around Volvos? And even more to the point – should
drivers feel entitled to slack off if they’re driving a Volvo? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Perhaps this is why “Volvo” has become <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=volvo%20driver">another word for “bad driver.”</a> Theories and anecdotes abound in all parts of the world about <a href="http://mistyhorizon2003.hubpages.com/hub/Volvo-Drivers-and-Why-They-are-Dangerous">negligent and dangerous Volvo drivers</a> – eerily related to SUV drivers who don’t care about
others on the road because in a collision, their vehicle and its occupants will
survive. </span>In fact, the image of the bad Volvo driver
has become so prevalent that an Australian ad agency created <a href="http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_100390/newsarticle.html">a campaign</a> to
combat it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">While Volvo is to be commended for putting
safety first, the reality is that too many drivers depend on passive safety
technology. In other words, they assume the car is factory-equipped to avoid
collisions and this gives them license to be bad drivers. Not true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So while we have yet to see if pedestrians
will be the beneficiaries of Volvo’s latest safety advances, one thing seems
likely – <a href="http://ow.ly/i/xdEs">the deer of the world</a> finally stand a fighting chance of not becoming
roadkill. </span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-55782804412375695792012-03-21T13:31:00.000-07:002012-03-21T13:33:11.173-07:00When a woman's fancy turns to bicycles<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsAL73qQFGTaAmFTeARBK6m6CglOIV6cuAPTmn9Uc_TCqr4lmZbMC1FDVOVjB7l8F_pWu8svpMs0TdeHveF762gfA4CDWU5aH5ta8yq0HqvtUt_b_YbQozbuKNLWBN-LDkl5Y9yS8X8k/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsAL73qQFGTaAmFTeARBK6m6CglOIV6cuAPTmn9Uc_TCqr4lmZbMC1FDVOVjB7l8F_pWu8svpMs0TdeHveF762gfA4CDWU5aH5ta8yq0HqvtUt_b_YbQozbuKNLWBN-LDkl5Y9yS8X8k/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Toronto is stuck solidly in March and yet, it
feels like we have already sprung into May. When the temps are this warm and
sublime, it’s hard not to think about … bicycling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As a kid, the first warm day of the year meant
freedom - the joy of climbing onto a bicycle and tearing down the street,
sucking in great gulps of sweet spring air. In those days, my ride was a <a href="http://ow.ly/i/wq7u">baby-blue CCM bicycle</a> that my father had bought me at the Canadian Tire at Queensway and
Islington. It sat in the veranda of our house at 34 Morgan Avenue in Etobicoke.
Nobody worried about squirreling it away in the garage or locking it up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was on that blue CCM that I first tasted
the heady independence of mobility, free to go wherever I wanted – as long as I
didn’t go past Norseman Street and made it home in time for supper. There was
something so magical about riding through the neighbourhood – everything
looked, sounded and smelled different from my perch on the bicycle. The
dandelions pouted at me with their bright yellow faces, my wheels ground away
at the asphalt, and the light, musky smell of young grass tickled my nose. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea7sQCILCyk">“Where is the wonder that I used to know?”</a>
That’s a line from one of my favourite songs by Dion McGregor and Mike Barr. </span>These days, bicycling is a serious matter
that is debated in government halls, not the carefree harbinger of spring of my
youth. It’s a controversial subject, not kid stuff. Who has the right of way on
the road? Do bicycles belong on sidewalks? What kind of lock works best?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But I don’t care. I’ve been cruising the
bicycle shops because the itch is in me. I want to rekindle the deep joy of powering
along the road on just two wheels instead of four, riding under my own steam, pedalling
by a creek where the flowers are just starting to wake up from a winter
slumber. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Today, bikes sure cost a lot more than they
used to, but the technology has improved by leaps and bounds. I was tickled to
see that there are touring bicycles now for women like me that <a href="http://ow.ly/i/wq3R">look a LOT like my old CCM</a>. It was hard not to buy the first one I leapt on, it felt so
exhilarating to pedal along Queen Street! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Somewhere, there’s a bicycle with my name
on it. And even though it’s been a long time since I lived at 34 Morgan Avenue,
I know I’ll still relish the delight, the delicious feeling of abandoning
myself to two wheels … instead of four …</span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-19772222067234571602012-03-14T19:42:00.001-07:002012-03-14T19:51:27.428-07:00Dart Girl stole my act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud4MxYfP5Bwm8g1c0bKgvsNFOASh7Vwtf5Rz4ABXtapMv07viwpxnXNPXpQYPs7y7YXpwzez0M5snf4tZHXFKltD5VtaT9onTvyeKDiAF0fxNWfg0nhCv5cmCAmUxSKA5-lEs6oD-948/s1600/IMG_0489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud4MxYfP5Bwm8g1c0bKgvsNFOASh7Vwtf5Rz4ABXtapMv07viwpxnXNPXpQYPs7y7YXpwzez0M5snf4tZHXFKltD5VtaT9onTvyeKDiAF0fxNWfg0nhCv5cmCAmUxSKA5-lEs6oD-948/s320/IMG_0489.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Way back in 1992, when Chrysler introduced
the flamboyant <a href="http://ow.ly/i/vFzV">Dodge Viper</a> at the Toronto auto show (as
it was then called), they had a correspondingly bootylicous Viper Girl. She
matched the machine curve for curve, and strutted her blonde buxom stuff all
around the Viper podium. It was full-on sex, sizzle and damn the torpedoes.<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">What fun, I told my friends, with a tinge
of jealousy. The only car I could ever hope to represent was my <a href="http://ow.ly/i/vFss">1973 Dodge Dart Swinger</a> – practical,
comfortable, unpretentious and reliable – just like me. If ever there was a
casting call for females to schill a sensible vehicle, that would be right up
my alley. I could be the Dodge Dart Girl. I was only kinda joking.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Fast forward to the Canadian International
Auto Show, 2012. One of the vehicles generating major buzz was the 2013 Dodge
Dart. Yes, Chrysler had resurrected the Dart name for its latest model entry,
its first compact sedan in seven years, and one that would battle the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/vFue">Ford Focus</a> and <a href="http://ow.ly/i/vFuC">Chevy Cruz</a>e.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Standing next to the Dart was a curvaceous
young lady clad in tight black pleather, tossing her hair, turning this way and
that, working her statuesque charms on a phalanx of photographers (see above
left). She was no less than … a Dart Girl! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And the new Dart? Hardly my simple, honest
and unpretentious model of 1973. It took its styling cues from other
resurrected names like Charger and Challenger, and drew more on the muscle
variants of the Dart. Which would explain the presence of the shapely Dart Girl,
and her multiple “booth babe” counterparts. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I mean, they never even called me for an audition!
Well, that’s okay. Would I be comfortable poured into black pleather? More likely, I'd trip over something and do a face plant in the hood. That's the only time anyone would be game to take my photo. And it's pretty unlikely anyone would be buying what I'd be hawking. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But if they ever bring back the <a href="http://ow.ly/i/vFxU">Valiant</a> … ! </span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-6090418785169707942012-03-07T20:14:00.001-08:002012-03-07T21:21:24.247-08:00What's Vladimir Putin made of?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkf79lvtz2L1IHzXidKPmyNlkxiPg66FG8ngulY1UI0GE0rmMfse9JWqFVZ9EwlL7JMr14FjYavyvv1mkKCO8f9ueMeXacymd2MhtftzseWWMJEkF_hKv3YboX9ROZTnovCI2Sp7dxFQ/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkf79lvtz2L1IHzXidKPmyNlkxiPg66FG8ngulY1UI0GE0rmMfse9JWqFVZ9EwlL7JMr14FjYavyvv1mkKCO8f9ueMeXacymd2MhtftzseWWMJEkF_hKv3YboX9ROZTnovCI2Sp7dxFQ/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Vladimir Putin may be the most colourful
and scary Russian leader since the cold war. The current prime minister and
alleged president-elect, Vlad has come under criticism for rigging elections,
strafing small post-Soviet republics and <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/putin_poison_pill_ZBch3sm2UEU1fUvfg6aNoN">even poisoning journalists. </a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">That’s just the tip of the iceberg. A former
KGB agent, Putin is a self-styled badass. He’ll tackle forest fires head-on,
flying a jet into the flames and beating them into submission. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/2658077/Vladimir-Putin-the-hero-saves-TV-crew-from-tiger-attack.html">He’s shot a rampaging tiger – and then measured its teeth for good measure</a>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Is there anything this crazy Russkie won’t
do for macho kicks?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Take a look at what Vlad drives. For
starters, he took a<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8116178/Macho-man-Vladimir-Putin-races-a-Formula-One-car.html"> bright yellow Renault Formula One racecar out for a spin</a>,
apparently reaching speeds of up to 240 clicks. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A testosterone-stoked <a href="http://jalopnik.com/5260818/vladimir-putins-lada-niva-is-totally-bad+ass">Lada Niva</a> 4 x 4 is his
daily driver – Vlad’s has a grille guard, winch and snorkel, for off-roading in
Siberia. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In fact, Vlad is such a slamming alpha dog
that he drives a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8730799/Vladimir-Putin-rides-a-Harley-Davidson-with-a-biker-gang-in-Russia.html">Harley trike and hangs out with biker gangs</a>. </span>They’re probably afraid to say “nyet” to
the gun-toting black belt karate master.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But sometimes the ride is less than smooth
for Russia’s number one son. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6NRM1P6Fno">A Lada Granta sedan refused to co-operate with Vlad</a> in a not-so-carefully staged publicity video. </span>Those Lada engineers were probably sweating with every crank of the key! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Alpha male Vlad is a prime example of “you
are what you drive.” The powerful vehicles he chooses to drive match his bare
chest for sheer muscle. They’re as much a part of his image as any political
rhetoric and campaigning. Vlad’s brawn and cast-iron biceps have to be reflected
in everything he does to maintain his cast-iron leadership. You’ll never see
this guy in a Yaris. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Too bad.</span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-34464857573527009702012-02-29T20:31:00.002-08:002012-03-01T06:07:15.805-08:00Chicks and sticks<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitkh9Y9ZXPPj5OjTrURf7hKoBpUcZG_AL6v068pYVChokt9TcVe5iMnmU4r9Um_O10TlO96L1MOe2aSP9OUqLJi0YT_5shyphenhyphenGosrytld4i3X80rFOy_TuIC_PONrUlWozfzi6mTP6dsQw/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitkh9Y9ZXPPj5OjTrURf7hKoBpUcZG_AL6v068pYVChokt9TcVe5iMnmU4r9Um_O10TlO96L1MOe2aSP9OUqLJi0YT_5shyphenhyphenGosrytld4i3X80rFOy_TuIC_PONrUlWozfzi6mTP6dsQw/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
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This year marks the Queen of England’s
Diamond Jubilee – the old girl has been at the helm of England for six decades,
maintaining implacable reserve through turbulent social and political change.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And yet, she drives a stick.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC8YFYh-jnI"> In this video</a>,
she’s seen on her way to the kennel in her trusty Range Rover, shifting gears. With her left hand, yet. You’d think after sixty years, she’d prefer to drive
an automatic. But no, the Queen prefers a manual.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But what’s good enough for royalty isn’t
good enough for the rest of us. Only about five per cent of cars sold in the U.S. have
standard transmissions, and the death of the manual transmission has been predicted
for years now. <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1997-03-09/business/fi-36382_1_manual-transmission">Is it really an endangered species?</a> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Using a manual can contribute to better
fuel economy, if it’s used properly. In Europe, where fuel is only a little
less expensive than pink diamonds, most cars have a manual transmission. Also,
cars with a manual gearshift generally cost less, and are easier to repair.
Those are the practical aspects.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Driving with a gearshift is more
complicated – at first. That’s what usually scares people away. While it does require more concentration and focus, after a while it becomes second nature. Still, a
driver can’t drive a stick and use a cellphone at the same time, since both
hands have to be engaged or the car simply stalls. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.news10.net/greathangup/article/173814/356/Great-Hang-Up--Stick-shift-cars-for-teens">That’s why this Sacramento tv station touted the stick as a great way to combat distracted driving.</a></span> Although their study was hardly
scientific, the news report (is that Ellen Degeneres’ girly sister?) showed
that their Facebook page was positively buzzing with stick-friendly posts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And the multi-tasking nature of driving
stick means that women are in fact better suited to it. <a href="http://cars.lovetoknow.com/Learning_to_Drive_a_Manual_Transmission_Car">A UK study in 2005</a> </span>showed that estrogen affects the brain’s
frontal lobes, increasing mental flexibility and the ability to switch from one
task to another. This, in turn, would indicate that women would be better with
manual transmissions than men!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Still, articles touting <a href="http://ca.askmen.com/top_10/cars/top10-reasons-real-men-drive-stick.html">the masculine nature </a>of driving standard abound on the internet.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To that, we can only ask – where is the vid
of Prince Philip driving stick? </span></div>
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<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-30292169345600945842012-02-22T14:45:00.000-08:002012-02-22T18:36:57.833-08:00Prius C - game changer?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2pzvzh5azR27m1kDNSoE7sxByfaC1PDa0DscFE7k2uOkvBM_EAFBI3hs29afFGRu5IIAeIZ1REr7Hw7j0E0qvthOGjeB3SmTVXq8-OktSaG5hToXYMZoW5bjwlpJwQx0nFpIbCUJU4I/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2pzvzh5azR27m1kDNSoE7sxByfaC1PDa0DscFE7k2uOkvBM_EAFBI3hs29afFGRu5IIAeIZ1REr7Hw7j0E0qvthOGjeB3SmTVXq8-OktSaG5hToXYMZoW5bjwlpJwQx0nFpIbCUJU4I/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
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It may be premature to call the 2012 Toyota Prius
C the best thing since pre-sliced bagels, but it may just be The Little Car
That Could.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">For starters, priced at about $20,000.00,
it’s the lowest-priced and first truly affordable gas-electric hybrid. Its official
mileage in the city is 2.8L/100 K, or 53 mpg to those who still don’t get
metric. Since <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1943014835">the Honda Civic hybrid lawsuit in </a></span><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/02/california-woman-wins-civic-hybrid-lawsuit-again/">the U.S.</a>, we’re skittish on official
mileage figures, but this seems promising.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Is Toyota the only car-maker who has figured out something that
others are missing? There’s a whole generation of car buyers out there who are
not exactly in love with the traditional internal combustion engine – they’re
not romantically attached to muscle cars or overpowered Italian designer buggies.
The charmingly named Generation Y cut their teeth on the three “R’s” – reduce,
reuse, recycle. To a lot of them, the internal combustion engine is a planet
killer.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">For the first time in generations, rites of
manhood do not include a driver’s license – but rather, an iPhone. <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-18/gen-y-consumers-favor-hybrids-connected-vehicles-survey-shows.html">According to a Deloitte LLP survey</a> </span>“the smartphone has replaced the car as the
ultimate mobile device.” So Gen Y wants 1. an affordable car 2. that doesn’t
pollute and 3. they can plug their phone into.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Enter the Prius C. The base model comes
standard with a 3.5 inch information screen, Bluetooth, automatic climate
control plus USB and iPod connectivity, features that you don’t usually find in
a $20,000 car. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Sold in Japan as the Aqua, <a href="http://www.hybridcars.com/news/toyota-drowns-orders-prius-c-36024.html">Toyota allegedly received about 120,000 orders for it between the December 26 release date and January 31, or about 10 times its monthly sales target</a>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Not everyone is impressed with the Prius C.
It’s been derisively referred to as a hybrid Yaris, underpowered and sluggish, and
plasticky inside. Some kvetch that the base model doesn’t come with heated
seats. Others complain that it doesn’t look enough like a Prius! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The fact is, the same Deloitte LLP study
found that 57 percent of Gen Y prefer a hybrid-gasoline car. There are
currently 80 million Gen Y in the U.S. – the biggest consumer group since the
Baby Boomers. The Boomers fell in love with horsepower happy cars like Mustangs,
Hummers and exotic rocketcars. If the auto industry wants to survive, they
better start pandering to Gen Y – they’re going to be the game-changers.</span></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-23492867515698014712012-02-15T14:53:00.000-08:002012-02-17T16:53:52.775-08:00I drive like a tour bus driver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw5jTg1sLfFjP5c7BWeBbPIouNjWFH5ynq9WLddax-PFe799y2hob1PR7586lCztQEydSFdILWmB17J5pcrY2dcE54uE4zJVNla2OUL68JvFGVR-m7d9fWHrCEVD_FAM1UuEjDTk6hSI/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw5jTg1sLfFjP5c7BWeBbPIouNjWFH5ynq9WLddax-PFe799y2hob1PR7586lCztQEydSFdILWmB17J5pcrY2dcE54uE4zJVNla2OUL68JvFGVR-m7d9fWHrCEVD_FAM1UuEjDTk6hSI/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Boston is 60 per cent landfill, and its 50-acre
green space, the Boston Common, was the first park in the United States. The
hallowed ground of Fenway Park, its baseball stadium, is the oldest Major
League baseball stadium still in use. And the term "hooker" originated in Boston, after a general who liked to make sure his soldiers were really looked after.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US">This and other fascinating facts about
Boston are relayed on a daily basis by Ed, the<a href="http://www.bostonsupertours.com/upper-deck-trolley-tours/"> Boston tour bus </a>driver, while he
is simultaneously driving and dodging Boston traffic, bicyclists and
pedestrians as well as carrying on conversations with the passengers. Boston is
not exactly the easiest town for driving, let alone driving a honking big bus,
conducting a tour, chatting with passengers and occasionally filling out tour tickets. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US">There are 21 stops on this tour that
traverse Boston’s famously tangled streets, where intersections have no right
angles, and traffic lights operate with whimsy. It is a glorious city for
walking, as the scenery is picturesque and peppered with quaint buildings. Walkers can take in the country’s first
walking tour, the <a href="http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/">Freedom Trail</a>, and discover 16 historical sites over
two or three hours, covering about 150 years of American history. Of course,
this is best done in the spring and not in February, when cold and snow can
hamper your enjoyment of Americana.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US">But traffic could be worse. Before the
aptly named <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/engineering/boston/interactive/interactive.html">“Big Dig”</a>, which cost about $22 billion, there was an elevated
central artery that was hastily constructed as a way to ease congestion. After
all, when Boston was built in the 1700s, the roads were designed for livestock, not four-wheeled vehicles. In the 1960s, plans began for an underground expressway to be built under the elevated
highway – while the highway was still in business. Traffic now moves over a
bridge and through four underground lanes. It only took four
decades.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US">But back to Ed. He stops the bus abruptly
for a jaywalker, and shares his theories on pesky pedestrians. He doesn't think
that Boston's one dollar fine for jaywalking is enough, and believes that instead of being
ticketed, police should confiscate jaywalkers' shoes for at least an hour. While in
police custody, the shoes would be coded – so that at the next offence, police
would know to hang on to the shoes for TWO hours. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s almost as delicious as the clam
chowder at <a href="http://www.legalseafoods.com/">Legal Seafood</a>s.</span></div>
<br />Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-9798098916777267682012-02-02T07:04:00.000-08:002012-02-02T07:48:30.534-08:00Just in time for Valentine's Day<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-v1wbZVKBb5ZW2T0_zP_rtAulwyzIHvwYCjrFnt8NDSXqyBZMuNXVjE0yqkiG4fktyEBHCULAc5hFkcuhQ4LJdWMPk9f7AjqVxbFcSB_F737tXjj6QmEmJEk3zvPaiBJDok5Iux0_5c/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-v1wbZVKBb5ZW2T0_zP_rtAulwyzIHvwYCjrFnt8NDSXqyBZMuNXVjE0yqkiG4fktyEBHCULAc5hFkcuhQ4LJdWMPk9f7AjqVxbFcSB_F737tXjj6QmEmJEk3zvPaiBJDok5Iux0_5c/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Starting this month, Cupid himself is livening up
the commute on Boston’s T subway system. That’s right - if a sexy straphanger
catches the eye of a lovelorn passenger, they can just snap a pic with their
smartphone and post it to the <a href="http://bostontcrush.com/">BostonTcrush</a> website. And maybe eventually
connect with the object of their affection for future adventures.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Brought to Boston by the folks behind London’s
<a href="http://tubecrush.net/">TubeCrush</a> and New York’s <a href="http://subwaycrush.net/">SubwayCrush</a>, the pics are shared on the website
complete with date, name of the route, and a snappy write-up. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Naturally this one was dreamed up by the
Brits, who always seem to have the good ideas first. Once you start surfing the
site, it’s hard to stop. We like <a href="http://subwaycrush.net/?paged=3">this entry:</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #434343;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Every inch of this guy is
hot – look at him! Tall, dark, and handsome is personified in its best
form before our very eyes. From his preppy, fluffy hair down to his penny
loafers, this guy is perfection."</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #434343;">Anyone can go in and rate
the dreamboats with a thumbs up or thumbs down. It started when a bunch of
friends were watching a British TV show where women rated men based on their
looks. One of the women whipped out her smartphone with a pic of a hottie she’d
spied on the London tube – and TubeCrush was born. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #434343;">So far, only men are being
targeted with Cupid’s smartphone, which is fine by us. If anyone wants to have their
photo removed, they just need to ask. There are very strict rules on privacy
included in the <a href="http://mbta.com/uploadedfiles/About_the_T/Police/Photo%20Policy%201.pdf">FAQ </a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #434343;">The next steps are to eventually
post women’s photos and also develop a means for the photographers and the
photographees to connect.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #434343;">Folks can interact with the
site using Twitter or Facebook -- which just goes to show there are all kinds of
ways transit and social media can co-exist in a happy partnership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #434343;">This is just a marvelous way
of making commuting a little more fun and upping the happy quotient for taking
the subway. People might even want to take the subterranean way, regardless of how crowded and noisy it is. We just hope this concept doesn't fall into the hands of that devillish Mayor Ford, who might use it to push his own questionable subway agenda. But then - wouldn’t it be lovely if this came to Toronto? Can you imagine?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-7223423464043178992012-01-26T09:13:00.000-08:002012-01-26T09:16:32.318-08:00It takes a woman ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzJr8qWxceqwmfP8WV6uSCWx7daOZdsEhnvxkVLCnC4WZs3aW_bOAw6tMQ_az42PF_Y0GBgBYArnJWB0EnAX12SymzlKT5xTjPIJxjs_zJauCLaelISCJ7CHjhV5Kk2scytInPGpLZ_Y/s1600/Mary_Anderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzJr8qWxceqwmfP8WV6uSCWx7daOZdsEhnvxkVLCnC4WZs3aW_bOAw6tMQ_az42PF_Y0GBgBYArnJWB0EnAX12SymzlKT5xTjPIJxjs_zJauCLaelISCJ7CHjhV5Kk2scytInPGpLZ_Y/s320/Mary_Anderson.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
A cold hard rain pounded Mary Anderson (pictured, left) and a blustery gale whipped her skirt as she boarded a New York streetcar on a bitter, sleety day in November, 1903. She shook her overcoat and settled into her seat, but an icy breeze wrapped itself around her ankles. Mary looked to the front of the car and saw the shivering driver had his window open. In fact, he was looking out the window as he drove, since the pelting rain had completely obscured his windshield.<br />
<br />
It only took Mary a couple of months to invent a contraption that consisted of a lever with a rubber blade, that could move across the windshield to clean it. And that was the forerunner of today’s windshield wiper.<br />
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But women weren’t just finding solutions to dirty windshields. In 1923, the U.S. Women’s Bureau Bulletin No. 28 listed 345 inventions by women – and half were related to automobiles. Another 25 related to traffic signals, turn indicators, a carburetor, clutch mechanism, electric engine starter and starting mechanism.<br />
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So how did the car industry develop a reputation for being male-dominated? In the early 1900s, women seemed to be all over it. In 1917, <a href="http://ow.ly/i/qLlM">Charlotte Bridgwood</a> refined the windshield wiper into an electrically driven system that used rollers instead of blades. This eventually evolved into the automatic windshield wipers that are standard equipment on cars all over the world.<br />
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Charlotte’s daughter, <a href="http://ow.ly/i/qLn5">Florence Lawrence</a> went on to become a film star and an auto enthusiast who once said, “A car to me is something that is almost human, something that responds to kindness, understanding and care, just as people do.”<br />
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Florence carried on her mother’s work, since the automobile could stand some improvements. She placed an arm on the rear fender which could be activated to ascend or descend by push-buttons located by the driver’s seat – so drivers could signal their intention to turn right or left. Florence also created a mechanism that indicated a full stop, activated by stepping on the footbrake.<br />
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As early as 1916, the Girl Scouts had an “<a href="http://ow.ly/i/qLnC">automobiling badge</a>” for which girls had to demonstrate driving skill, auto mechanics and first aid skills.<br />
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Have we been going backwards? <a href="http://ow.ly/i/qLom">Helene Rother</a> was a French jewellery designer who fled the Nazis in 1942 and came to America. She was the first woman to work as an automotive designer, as a staff member of the interior styling team of General Motors in Detroit. In 1947, Helene opened her own design studio, specializing in design for automotive interiors.<br />
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So when were the terms “chick car” and “lady driver” coined, and how did they come by their derogatory meaning? Why are women deemed to be outsiders in the car world? Even <a href="http://ow.ly/i/qLoY">Henry Ford</a> – although he did not approve of married women working outside the home – considered his female employees on a par with their male counterparts, and made a point of paying them the same as men. How rare is that these days?<br />
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Sadly, these days, woman auto mechanics are still a novelty. And that would not be welcome knowledge to <a href="http://ow.ly/i/qLpq">Wilma Russey</a>, who in 1915, became the first woman to work as a taxi driver in New York – and was known to be an expert mechanic.Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1344011278713180460.post-81756833590690108302012-01-18T16:31:00.000-08:002012-01-25T13:24:30.814-08:00Let's play "Car Dealer"!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qllWRtA2aFissQMBaKO8zyOo3nxSIidMz4dY4NarMCm0r4b2QFHHlQe_lgo3VRpFXSj3_J49yAuMMrYChjMqogYyTc0jvdv0XJmyMaxw6FPcAzQQQVboGHWEH0mezocxV3q1f5u1WUY/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qllWRtA2aFissQMBaKO8zyOo3nxSIidMz4dY4NarMCm0r4b2QFHHlQe_lgo3VRpFXSj3_J49yAuMMrYChjMqogYyTc0jvdv0XJmyMaxw6FPcAzQQQVboGHWEH0mezocxV3q1f5u1WUY/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Cue music –</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3wGsVdAlnc">theme from Jaw</a>s</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Fade in to scene:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A large and
airy car showroom. The floors and walls are blindingly white. Brightly
coloured, shiny cars are scattered around like gleaming candy. Seth Rogen,
complete with geeky spectacles, stumbles in and looks around him in wonder.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">On the
side, a shadow fills a doorway and Charlie Sheen steps into view. He is wearing
a loud checkered suit and has slicked back hair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sheen (in a
booming voice): Can I help you!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Rogen (timidly):
I’d like to buy a car? I need something practical – my wife just told me she’s
pregnant. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sheen wraps
his arm around Rogen’s shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sheen: It’s
your lucky day! Just got in a brand new Ferrari – you can drive it away for
only $100,000! </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Yes, we
exaggerate, but this is the picture painted by many car consumers. Dealers are
portrayed as “sharks”, who want to make a quick sale – and will do anything to sell
a car. Car buyers say it’s like stepping into a boxing ring. But what do the
car dealers have to say about it? After all, there are two sides to every
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Cue music –</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-6q50aY4ZI">theme from Psych</a>o</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Fade in to scene:</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A small and
tidy car showroom. The floors and walls are clean but could use a little paint.
Cars in all colours of the rainbow
are neatly arranged by size and shape to make best use of the space. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">At the
front entrance, a shadow fills the doorway. John Malkovich strides in, looking
at his watch.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Malkovich (impatiently):
Hey! Anyone home? I’m looking for some service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Ryan
Reynolds runs in, wearing a shabby shirt and tie, and towelling off his hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Reynolds:
Yes, sir. I was just cleaning up the garage. How can I help you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Malkovich:
I want a car. It has to be sexy and reliable. I have three kids and they all
have to sit separately. Plus a dog and a mother-in-law. And it has to be good
on gas with new tires and a set of snows. Oh, and I can only spend $1,500. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Far-fetched?
Well, car consumers can be guilty of expecting the impossible – and they don’t
do their homework. Before anyone sets foot in a dealership, they should do a
reality check on their budget and research some viable options. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Really,
there’s no need for the car buying process to be adversarial. Ontario (and
other provinces) has a <a href="http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/Motor_Vehicles_Rights.aspx">Motor Vehicle Dealer Ac</a>t </span><span lang="EN-CA">that sets
out the rules for car dealers. The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council
<a href="http://www.omvic.on.ca/">(OMVIC)</a> </span><span lang="EN-CA"> administers the Act and ensures compliance. Car buyers can find protection, assistance and information through resources like <a href="http://www.carhelpcanada.com/">Car Help Canada</a> as well as <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/">Consumer Reports</a>, the
<a href="http://www.lemonaidcars.com/">Lemon-Aid</a> books, and a host of weekly car sections in all of Canada’s major
media.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">And you
might even be able to find <a href="http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Ferrari/308/TORONTO/Ontario/5_10823465_20110322123622682/">a Ferrari for under $20,000 </a></span>if you look
around the internet. It’s the car consumer’s best friend. Both Sir Frances
Bacon and <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/11/knowledge-is-power.html">the official Google blog</a> say,
“Knowledge is power.” Use it … wisely.</div>
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<br /></div>Krystyna Lagowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05239030256940858556noreply@blogger.com0