Now I’m starting to see cool iPod hacks, like this screen color mod. A no brainer, but cool nonetheless. Found on ipodhacks.com...

MINI made of Legos!

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Check out this absolutely fascinating site about a girl that rides her motorcycle through the “Ghost Towns” of Chernobyl. No one has lived there for over 20 years since the melt down. Spooky.

Sorry it’s a day late, but the fabulous DJ Roo show just moved to Mondays 3-6pm on Drexel’s WKDU 91.7 FM. You can still tune in if you don’t have a radio handy or if you’re outside the listening area (like me) via one of two live MP3 web streams.

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Big event this past weekend in Cali... the great “can a MINI Cooper S beat a Subaru Impreza WRX STi” debate was contested on Willow Springs Raceway. What started out on canyon roads ending up in a accident took to the track to settle things once and for all. Alas, the MCS lost to the STI in time trials... but by only 4 tenths of second:

Mike (mrbadfish) STi - 1:42.317
Peter (m7mini) MCS - 1:42.787

Not too shabby when you consider the HP and setup differences... but of course, now the hindsight trash talking ensues... I’m sure this is not the last of this... in the meantime, I’ve rustled up some pics here and here.

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Any Glen will do, as long as it isn’t a blend. -Mikey
I’ve taken a liking to single malts, but I’m stil just as confused as you about whiskey, whisky, scotch, bourbon and what all that stuff means. Finally, a comprehensive guide...

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GO HAWKS!

Who wouldn’t want to own their own rally car?

craigslist is so cool... you can find a sofa, or a job, or four free dogs and a monkey...

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Global ring tone sales reached $3 billion last year... that far eclipses iTunes’ success. And with the emergence of ring “tunes” (actual song snippets replacing standard polyphonic rings), expect the market to grow even more in the coming year. And expect those phone calls in the middle of movies to be that much more annoying.

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So I’ve been toying with the idea of alternative means of transportation for a while now. By that, I mean an alternative to the MCS, but by no means a replacement... and, preferrably, something old. The itch began in the form of an old-skool VW, since I’ve always had interest in those, even as a wee tot, whose first ever toy car was a big blue plastic Dub much like this one. Then, somehow, it got bastardized into something like this... and then I got away from VW and just started getting interested in real rat rods. But then I started looking at early classic Minis, since they seemed a bit more practical and fun. But where can a guy park such wonders in the city, without a garage? So now, I’ve decided to follow in the footsteps of my 2-wheeling friends, act out all my rat-rodding desires, and save both money and space by searching for a motorcycle. Something cafe racer-like. If you know of any such item, or something that could be a candidate for one, or have leads on cheap, beat but running, 70’s era motorcycles, drop me a line...

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Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street has brokered an agreement between Bunim-Murray Productions and the City of Philadelphia to keep production of the fifteenth season of the hit reality series THE REAL WORLD in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell was actively involved in the successful outcome of the negotiations. Congressman Robert Brady and City Controller Jonathan Saidel were also instrumental to the process.

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Happy b-day Dad!

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Thanks to Eric at Helix and Yards Brewery for the great fun on Saturday... General Washington Tavern Porter and Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale are some darn good stuff... and a special thanks to Gabor at Skytop Mini for the demo of the '78 1000...I’m totally hooked, but I have no where to put it... but I’m looking...

DOcumentation and COnservation of buildings from the MOdern MOvement (docomomo) has a local chapter.

Who knew smacking penguins could be this fun?

Instructions on how to get inside an iPod, without damaging it.

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MINI Cup II - sponsored by Helix and Yards
Saturday, March 20th @10 AM (motor)

It's time for the second annual MINICup: a meet/road rally/BBQ (NOT A RACE OR TSD) starting at Helix Minisports and ending at fabulous Yards Brewery in Scenic Fishtown, Philadelphia for the BBQ and awards. Helix is a MINI tuner that is located directly across the street from Yard's Brewery.

The road rally will take about 2 hours, and follow some of the better driving roads around Philly. Several easy tasks will have to be completed. This isn’t one of those complicated Time/Speed/Distance jobs... just fun stuff! The first few cars to complete, win fabulous prize style items. The event is open to anybody, teams or individuals, in any kind of vehicle, although MINIs will of course be heavily favored. MINICup 2 is totally free & we observe all traffic laws.

K and I will be going... should be fun! I’ve already heard there will be some tasty vehicles there, STi’s, Bimmers, Veedubs, Porsches and more than a handful of MINIs... could be a cool thing! Perhaps bHogan could bring EL RANCHERO and show us all what some early iron can do!

Download directions (PDF)

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Hi Shawn!

Another Real World Philly petition here... see below for the story...

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Happy Saint Pat’s!

Just in... MTV’s Real World pulls out of Philly for union dispute reasons. Jobs (even if for non-union workers) and invaluable demographic-driven publicity are better for this city as a whole than no jobs and another union-caused public relations black eye. Remember the Convention Center labor costs debacle? Wonder if we’ll ever recover from that. Now this?

Young Involved Philadelphians is organizing a rally to keep the show here, scheduled for tonight, 5-6pm, in front of the Seamen’s Church Institute at 3rd and Arch Streets (site of the proposed tapings).

If you can’t make it to tonight’s rally (or even if you can), the Daily News has posted an online petition here...

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Remember this?

Last night, I rented STOKED: The Rise and Fall of Gator... a documentary about one of my childhood heroes, Mark “Gator” Rogowski... excellent flick! Can’t stop talking about it... I had NO idea that all that went on... and what happened to not only to him, but also Christian Hosoi and Jeff Phillips, and others... I quit the skate “scene” in Philly well before LOVE park and the FDR ramps. The flood of imagery, logos, clothing, ads and photos I studied as a kid were all there in that movie and sent me right back to those times of bloody fingers and busted shins.

Rad.

For more old-skool skate stuff, here’s some linkage:
skateboardgraphics.com
skateboardcollector.com
oldschoolskateboards.net
skateboardman.com

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Happy bday bhogan!

Oldie but goodie - tour an abandoned missle silo...

Design inspiration comes in many forms... take, for example, the true story behind the MINI’s beer-can exhaust tips.

People at tokyoplastic are up to it again... (nods to Mo)

All you need to know about the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino... badass! You can even WIN one here...

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Rather intriguing talk about memes and mind-body dualism going on at the Straight Dope... things that make you go, “Hmmm...”

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Interesting interview with one of the classic icons of our time... the Pets.com Sock Puppet.

And I thought spelling mistakes on resumes were the worst things you could do... I was wrong...

Saw the Triplets last night... amazing...

Also amazing, but in a very different way: Triumph will help you find a site to poop on!

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Great meeting everyone in person at the first meeting of the Delaware Valey Modernists last night... interesting stuff.

iPod-jacking is an interesting new trend, and not nearly as bad as it sounds...

Apple GarageBand Demo Day at Delaware Computer Exchange!
Saturday, March 13th from 11am to 2pm
Garage Band demos with local jazz musician Bruce Anthony and members of local rock band Small Print.

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The first of what will become a regular meeting of the Delaware Valley Modernists has been scheduled for TONIGHT March 10th, 2004, 7:30pm at North Third. Open agenda, just getting together to discuss interest and direction for the group. More info here and forum discussion here.

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Got pulled over this morning. Total trap, but I didn’t lose my cool. Officer Gray was surprisingly amicable. Got out of it with no points. Fine isn't too bad either. Thank goodness I was in a good mood this morning...

Mr. Brian Hogan is looking for a roomate in NJ... email him for particulars here.

Engadget is a blog about desirable stuff.

I’m a metrosexual, damnit, and this quiz confirms that.

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Here’s something fun to try... while sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction and there's nothing you can do about it.

Call for artists (PDF) - Raid a HUGE Collection of OLD BIKES and BIKE PARTS and make ART. All shapes and sizes of bicycle materials for art use only – Your piece will be on exhibit at the ESTHER M.KLEIN GALLERY and sold to support NBW!

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We love the subs... even if they suck.

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Congrats to luminary artist Andrew Schulman for being accepted into the Philadelphia Furniture and Furnishings Show... looking forward to seeing the goods...

Wow... first there was the HP iPod, and now a G5 Xbox...

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International design competition for a new streetlight for the City of New York... I remember a few years back when Philly did the same for the Avenue of the Arts...

More stuff on the controversial Grey Album.

Tricks to keep your MINI’s engine bay clean.

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The first of what will become a regular meeting of Delaware Valley Modernists has been scheduled for March 10th, 2004, at 7:30pm at North Third. Open agenda, just getting together to discuss interest and direction for the group. More info here and forum discussion here.

Thanks to Julie for putting my MCS on the PhillyMINI Yahoo group home page once again... can you figure out the location?

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Thanks to everyone who came out to the party on Friday... it was a blast! I’m a lucky guy to have as many and as generous friends as the lot of you. I hope you all had a wonderful time - I certainly did!

Bugs! Watch out, they mulitply quickly.

Way cool pool.

Bridger.us/MINI is now Motoringfile.com.

Philly at her finest.

Some blokes have too much time on their hands.

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