Were you a consultant on Oliver Stone's movie "JFK?"

Here is the scoop, I have nothing to hide [and people take note, please edit your pics to reduce the posting size, at least]:

1. Hell yes, I edit my pics. Straight from the cell phone they look like crap. The main problem is that my Blackberry Curve has a $12 camera in it [that is what it cost RIM for the camera.] Not much you can expect from a $12 digital camera.

There is evidence of edits in most pics, not the least of which is to notice that I edit out the license plate numbers, so that tells you I have an editor. [I am trying to respect others' privacy.]

2. On the best of days, bright sunlight, for example, the pics are still washed out, so they at least need a saturation adjustment.

3. In low light, such as indoors, overcast, or near dark, the camera is not even borderline decent. Most pics turn out horrible and it takes me maybe three minutes instead of one to edit. But the finished product still looks like I am the one who consulted with Oliver Stone or work for the National Enquirer.

4. The $12 camera is also lousy at taking action shots. Any motion and the shots come out blurry [and many unusable.]

I was debating taking one of my many digital cameras along, but that would be a) pathetic; b) a huge inconvenience; c) a waste of time as I have other things to do; and d) too time consuming [as it was, my ride last night was extended about 20 minutes because I stopped to take all those pics.]

Bonus Defense: Notwithstanding your attempt to "frame" me, that shot of the S by the water was the least edited of the bunch. Cool effect though.

 

Is the MINI not that popular in Dallas? I was under the impression it was.

Maybe not having space for a shotgun rack is the problem? [Not my joke, I heard that from Letterman or Leno, can't remember who.]

 

Two so far, stuck in major traffic headed to Nags Heads/Kitty Hawk area in North Carolina. We were headed that way for a nice day ride to the Outer Banks in the Hubby's Shelby GT500. We ended up making a U turn and now we're back home. Poor tourist headed that way are going to start their vacations out just a bit stressed.

 

Edited.

 

Sheesh... what does a GT500 get miles per gallon? That's a 500++ bhp car?

Even if it is a modern GT500, isn't it like 50 cents in fuel cost stoplight to stoplight?

I used to have a 1970 Dodge Challenger 440 Six Pack. It got six miles to the gallon, on a good day, but ran in the mid to high 12s on the 1/4 mile. But your hubby's car would have beat my ***, doesn't it run in the high 11s? Mine was an economy car in comparison, with 400 bhp or thereabouts.

 

Probably truer than you think.

I see about 3 MINIs a day depeneding on what area I visit, if that's any indication of their popularity. I think they're getting more popular, but everytime I go to the dealership near me there are SO MANY MINIs just sitting there. Lots full of them. People really do love their trucks around here and it kind of scares me.

 

We took a trip to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia from New York Wednesday til we got home Saturday, we were on a hunt for MINI's and we even made a sign that said "NICE MINI" (my 7 year old daughter made it).. We tracked the specific colors and bonnet stripes and roof color! What else was I gonna do on a 8 hour trip? Anyway... we counted 28 MINI's and 1 Clubby...The Chili Red/White won out of all the colors on the road! Needless to say we never used the sign, as they were all going the opposite direction ...But it sure made the trip go faster!!

 

Another NAMer (Paleo) has a 6yr old who gets a quarter for every MINI she spots. I love it - she's VERY circumspect and honest about it, too. And a GREAT spotter!! Except Paleo forgot to lay out one particular rule ahead of time -- only SHE gets the money. She came back from a school field trip and told dad, "I get fifty cents -- I saw two MINIs (and then described them); and you owe Tommy twenty five cents since he saw the (described) MINI."

 

What a wonderful account.

 

Today was a big scoring day for my road bike ride count. Set a record on MINI sightings and I doubt I will be able to beat it while on my rides. I hate records because now that another stupid goal to have, beating this record. Despite appearances, I already have enough to do. My days [and nights] total about 19 hours.

Anyway, the big number is:

32 [that's a lot for a less-than-two-hour, short distance bike ride]

Sunday, August 24, 2008

About 23 mile road bike ride, *** Hill to AT & T Park to Golden Gate Bridge and back to *** Hill.

Lots of interesting sightings.

 

.........Um.... "kids?" We "taller" people can't play that game, too? I think the sign is cool....but unfortunately, I do a lot of the driving, and my husband will wave FOR me (probably to shut me up!), but probably wouldn't do the sign thing... He's no fun sometimes.

I LOVE your pics, MichaelSF! If it keeps you pedalling and healthy, and keeps me amused, keep it up! Your pics are either edited much better, or they're better in general.

 

On Sunday we went to Rhode Island to visit our daughter and I counted 21 MINIs. The wife thought I was nuts when I made hash marks on a piece of paper propped on my leg. Of course, it didn't help that I'd broken down the count by state - NJ NY CT RI.

CROC 411

 

I wish I had someone to handle the signs, then I'd have one [the sign.]

Yes, this thread has turned into a sort of workout diary for me, so I'm not stopping. Come on people, keep posting and take pics too, if you are able.

Bonus Confession: On allegations of conspiracy and cover up [digital] I have decided to attach a small camera case to the bike "handlebar." Yesterday was the first day with the Casio digital camera. So that explains the better pics.

What is cool is that it is easier to take pics than to pull out the cell phone, go to the camera program, snap a pic and then replace the cell phone in my backpack.

 

We gotta have some kind of backup story. I dunno, maybe "I am measuring gallons of fuel used per blocks of mileage that is supposedly better with this new synthetic oil that reduces friction on the cylinder walls, but only at certain speeds and if the oxygen sensor is in full monitoring mode."

They will go "huh?" and leave us to our amusements.

 

Over the weekend Husband and I drove out to Sacramento to visit some friends (who have a CR/W R53) and see what CarMax would offer us for our VW (not a lot, as it turns out). On the way there, a 2 1/2 hour drive, we only saw I think 3 MINIs, all near Sac, and none in the city or going over the Bay Bridge.

I won't count the ones we saw at Niello MINI (where we stopped to get some bling for the new arrival, due any day now, we think).

It was even worse on the way home - not a single MINI the whole trip!

 

I think that ouside San Francisco on the way up to Sacto and Stockton, that's all farm country still. People love their trucks and SUVs.

One time I was staying at a friend's house in Folsom. When I left early in the morning, about 5:00 a.m., the whole way back to San Francisco I saw mostly all trucks, with a few SUVs and pretty much nothing else. When I got to the Bay Bridge I started to see way, way fewer trucks.

Sidenote: Good fortune on getting your MINI when the MA says it will be arriving. I bet you get it on Aug 26.

 

We gotta have some kind of backup story. I dunno, maybe "I am measuring gallons of fuel used per blocks of mileage that is supposedly better with this new synthetic oil that reduces friction on the cylinder walls, but only at certain speeds and if the oxygen sensor is in full monitoring mode."

They will go "huh?" and leave us to our amusements. -- MichaelSF

Good idea! I'll use that one the next time, thanks. Though to be fair, the Wife says "You're nuts" or "You're weird" and then leaves me to my MINIverse amusements with much head shaking.

CROC 411

 

Only saw one MINI today. An Astro Black MC.

 

I saw seven MINIs today.
1. Pepper White/White MC heading up I-35 north as I was heading to San Antonio
2. Mellow Yellow/White MC getting off 410-S
3. Another Mellow Yellow/White MCS (belongs to a doctor that works for the clinic I work at) that is my MINI parked by it
4. Astro Black MC- by the post office in san marcos
5. Astro Black MCs- parked by a Verizon store
6. Oxygen Blue w black bonnet stripes- parked at walmart
7. Lightning Blue MC turning into Walmart parking lot as I was leaving, I waved and they looked at me like I was crazy

Only got pics of three, the other ones I could not get my phone out in time

 

Great post. Pics too.

Yeah, getting the phone out in time is a hassle.

 

I see one every day in the parking lot across from work. Mellow Yellow with a black top. Not many around Harrisburg.
On Sunday, I counted 7 from Breezy Point, NY to Harrisburg. Not too bad.

 

OK, forgot to post my ride to teaching yesterday, which is all I did.

13 on the way down, nothing on the way back [it was dark.]

Again, pepper white seems to be the color of choice. Saw some silver too.

 

Seriously though, decided to post the half day results for today, August 26, 2008.

Was on my scooter, so no camera shots. [Will take my camera on my road bike ride that I will be going on in a few.]

Saw 14 MINIs so far.

Financial District over to the Marina area and back home.

Two Pepper White convertibles, one with the top up, the other with the top down. Was a beautiful day, so not sure why the one had the top up.

Most MINIs parked. Some silver, a yellow, blues.

About four Pepper Whites, so they were in the majority, again.

 

Went 5 whole days without seeing a MINI in the wild (i.e., not the usual two I see in the parking lot at work). Then today, in a residential side street, a DS MCS! And less than a minute later, after I turned onto another side street, a BRG MC with checkered flag side mirror caps!! Gave both my best rodeo queen wave (I didn't grow up in Texas for nothin'), blank stares in return. Well, I was in my SUV. But still, come on!

 

Today: none.
Yesterday: none.
The day before yesterday: none.
The seven days prior to that: none.
The eighth day prior: one. No, wait. That was me driving by a building with reflective windows.
I'm living in a MINI-deprived area...

Oh, and Michael: I think the green shirt clashes with the Chili Red. Yeah, that's it. It's gotta be the shirt.