Current Cars That Interest Me

Added on November 13, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

I was surfing around the various auto manufacturers' websites looking at cars ... they're all so boring now, but I did find a few that interest me. I left out the Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc., which are all over-the-top. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)

Update: I've added a Bentley and a Porsche due to popular demand. I *do* prefer orange or yellow paint.

Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe

New York license plate would ruin that lovely front end. From $55,900. — New York license plate would ruin that lovely front end. From $55,900.

Bentley Continental GT Speed

In Orange Flame with 21" Sports 5 Spoke Directional - Painted wheels. 633 horsepower. From $239,400. — In Orange Flame with 21" Sports 5 Spoke Directional - Painted wheels. 633 horsepower. From $239,400.

BMW Z4 and BMW M4

Z4 is an expensive Miata? From $49,700. — Z4 is an expensive Miata? From $49,700.

M4 in a nice color. 425 horsepower. From $66,200. — M4 in a nice color. 425 horsepower. From $66,200.

Dodge Challenger

392 HEMI® Scat Pack SHAKER. 485 horsepower. From $43,795. — 392 HEMI® Scat Pack SHAKER. 485 horsepower. From $43,795.

Fiat 124 Spider

Mazda copied this for their Miata? (A fellow Twitterer tells me this is made at Mazda's plant in Hiroshima) From $24,995. — Mazda copied this for their Miata? (A fellow Twitterer tells me this is made at Mazda's plant in Hiroshima) From $24,995.

Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

I like it in this yellow with black roof and mirrors. 526 horsepower. From $61,000.

Hyundai Genesis and Hyundai Veloster

Looks like an old Toyota Celica maybe? From $34,645. — Looks like an old Toyota Celica maybe? From $34,645.

This thing is kind of ugly, but it appeals to me for some strange reason. From $23,950. — This thing is kind of ugly, but it appeals to me for some strange reason. From $23,950.

Infiniti Q60

400 horsepower and looks slick, yes boring, but slick ... chrome accents help. From $51,300.

Jaguar F Type

Not on a Ford Taurus frame, I hope ... hate that name badge on the side, a dealbreaker. From $61,400. — Not on a Ford Taurus frame, I hope ... hate that name badge on the side, a dealbreaker. From $61,400.

Lexus RC F

I do like that outrageous grille ... lovely blue paint ... 467 horsepower. From $64,165. — I do like that outrageous grille ... lovely blue paint ... 467 horsepower. From $64,165.

Over and under exhaust pipes nice, rest sort of dullsville

Little dull from the side, those wheels are nice though

Looks Beemerish in motion here ... love that orange

Mazda MX-5 Miata

This came out nearly 30 years ago, right? Timeless. Wiki P. says original release in May 1989. From $24,915. — This came out nearly 30 years ago, right? Timeless. Wiki P. says original release in May 1989. From $24,915.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GTS

Only Mercedes in the entire line that is interesting. 500 horsepower. Perfect for runs to the supermarket. From $111,200. — Only Mercedes in the entire line that is interesting. 500 horsepower. Perfect for runs to the supermarket. From $111,200.

Nissan 370Z and Nissan GT-R

Oldie now, but still near perfect ... those wheels are slick and I love yellow paint. 350 horsepower. From $29,990. — Oldie now, but still near perfect ... those wheels are slick and I love yellow paint. 350 horsepower. From $29,990.

Looks a bit funny from the side, but I like that paint color. 565 horsepower. From $109,990. — Looks a bit funny from the side, but I like that paint color. 565 horsepower. From $109,990.

Porsche 911 Turbo S

In Lava Orange with 20" 911 Turbo S wheels. 580 horsepower. From $188,100. — In Lava Orange with 20" 911 Turbo S wheels. 580 horsepower. From $188,100.

Subaru BRZ / Toyota 86

Subaru makes them, also branded as "Toyota 86." From $25,495.

Tweets for November 8, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

Live blog sidebar with market updates next to election map well done by Bloomberg: https://t.co/m1PYOmj1Am
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 9, 2016

Cast ballot 634 at my local polling place ... every Hillary voter got a free tube of hand cream: https://t.co/qkzafm8gbe
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 8, 2016

Tweets for November 7, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

“I wish I were homeward bound….” — the grammatically correct Simon & Garfunkel
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 8, 2016

MT @BrianGlucroft The King Horse Jack Tennessee Whiskey was tempting, but I passed. pic.twitter.com/GOTRo8UXiW | Chavis Ragel ... Billantane's
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 7, 2016

MT @george_chen Veteran China-focused writer and editor @weigu is joining Apple China comms team | Will she use her CFA there?
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 7, 2016

Tweets for November 6, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

"Enter the complete street address of where you're registered to find out where you can vote" ... Nice try, Google (remember Don't Be Evil?)
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 7, 2016

Tough times in Greenwich CT
4/9/08 Listed for sale $5,295K
5/19/14 Price change 4,495K
9/18/14 PC 4,295K
4/22/15 PC 3,995K
9/26/16 PC 3,895K
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 7, 2016

Wonder if there are any stats on how many people directly pay a $10,000 buy-in (like WSOP main event) vs people who won seat in smaller game
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 6, 2016

Tweets for November 5, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

"We were done having kids, but I still wanted to be pregnant," said no one ever. https://t.co/oOouhOlUnt | Int'l surrogacy not illegal in US
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 5, 2016

Is there a list somewhere of the 34 foreign movies that China has allowed to be released domestically every year?
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 5, 2016

Tweets for November 4, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

Thrilled to learn that @Concept2 still prints log books and is happy to send one to an old customer like me (my erg will turn 20 soon!)
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 4, 2016

Since nearly every Volvo sets off the Valentine One’s laser detector, I had to create a custom profile using the app 2remove laser detection
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 4, 2016

"Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." A diffrnt verse from John for Peter Paul #tv pic.twitter.com/7D4VerQuFY
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 4, 2016

MT @michetravi Interesting piece detailing end of local expat magazine City Weekend Beijing, w/ insight on biz model https://t.co/BNWnPQX8RL
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 4, 2016

MT @michaelbatnick Found in an old book, the help wanted ads from the WSJ from May, 1931. pic.twitter.com/pvLBvL7LVC | "Clean-cut Christian"
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 4, 2016

Tweets for November 3, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

Young Katie Benedetto, or maybe, Bruttodetto? from ep. 5 of The Fall S03 #tv pic.twitter.com/9A7z7todrb
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 4, 2016

The magic phrase when you want to bump up your credit line is, "I need to increase my financial flexibility." 2 words, 8 syllables the trick
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

America's Craft Beer Capitals: https://t.co/LaCmdfS4ZR | Something about cities named Portland! via The Daily Shot email newsletter
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

$EWW, the unfortunately tickered iShares MSCI Mexico ETF, has been unusually active of late, has to do with The Donald's possibly winning.
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

如果你想：♥ 认识朋友圈之外的优质女生 ... they're assuming there are already some high quality women in my circle of friends, no? Top quality! (All married)
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

.@TraderMike kind enough to send me an invite to Gmail on 23 June 2004 ... never used Yahoo mail again after that day.
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

"At Vanguard, my voice is my password."
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

Tweets for November 2, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

Assistant Chief Constable Burns making it through the days thanks to a healthy supply of airplane-bottle booze #tv pic.twitter.com/STYIju4Mij
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

This week's music selection (been awhile) ... a breathless Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds (a great band name): https://t.co/TPvfaZoPhQ
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 3, 2016

"[Glaxo] set up a special 'crisis management' team in China and began offering money and gifts to regulators." https://t.co/GurdC5JxTX
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 2, 2016

Tweets for November 1, 2016

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

Sally Ann Goebbels from the third episode of The Fall S03 ... doesn't get any darker than this: #tv pic.twitter.com/SDvGdkttHt
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 2, 2016

$YUM spun off their China business, now trading under $YUMC. S-1 is interesting reading if you missed it: https://t.co/5oPqmFKbnb
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 2, 2016

"After November 18th, you will no longer be able to receive The Daily Shot" ... Sweet, I thought y'day was last day for freeloaders like me.
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 1, 2016

Monthly production for October for our solar panels on garage roof: 411.042 kWh
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 1, 2016

There’s probably a German word to describe the kind of people who put a bowl of Halloween candy out even though they’re at home.
— C. Maoxian (@maoxian) November 1, 2016

Movies Watched -- Timbuktu

Added on November 10, 2016 by C. Maoxian.

In Arabic, French, and a bunch of tribal languages (Bambara, Songhai, Tamasheq, etc.).

97 minutes so the right length (under the sacred 100 minute mark), but I still fast forwarded from the midpoint to the end. It's about Timbuktu, which is a city on the southern edge of the Sahara desert, in Mali, above the Niger river (get out a map). Anyway, some Islamic fundamentalists, extremists I guess, have taken over the place and are terrorizing the populace with their dumb rules (women must cover up, even their hands; soccer balls are confiscated; music of any kind is verboten, etc.).

There are two beautiful scenes: a group of kids are playing a game of soccer, but without a soccer ball ... they're choreographed perfectly, it's really wonderful. The second great scene is a group of young people playing some stringed instruments, and some percussion thing, and a woman is singing some tribal song ... beautiful stuff until they're busted by the jihadists and the woman receives 40 lashes, which they do show, unfortunately. Another two people are buried to their necks and stoned to death -- nasty stuff. Not sure if they were part of the music group or arrested for some other offense like smoking or yacking on a cell phone. Nevertheless, two perfect scenes do not a great movie make.

There's another story line with a Bedouin guy who accidentally kills someone and gets the death penalty from the jihadists as a result ... anyway, it's not a feel-good movie, it's a bummer. But I don't think we need any more convincing that Islamic extremist crazies are bad dudes. Yellow rating (consider), definitely not the coveted green ... no idea why the critics were so wild about this one.

Bedouin girl thinking about the goat, GPS