Blog Plug: minicooperinfo.com

I'm happy to add Steve @ minicooperinfo.com to my list of "pre-screened", "Bushfinger-approved" MINI-related sites.
Steve's site features plenty of high quality, semi-official info on the "new"/BMW MINI, including, news, official photos and media clips- including the commercial that made me want a MINI! (pssst- he's a Motoring Advisor too!)

www.minicooperinfo.com



Do you have an independent, non-commercial MINI-related blog or website you'd like to link up with BushingferMINI? Click Here!

UFO Sighting in '07 MINI Ads...

The adverts for the 2007 (a.k.a. "R56") MINI Cooper are surfacing on the web (and on TVs if you're not in the U.S.)... I immediately noticed an Unidentified Flashing Object not seen in any photos in any official (or unofficial) photos...

From the "WooHoo" spot (crappy YouTube version):


A slightly better shot...


What is this shiny red thingy?!?!
See the spot...
cast your vote...

MINI Mileage Update

So I thought I'd take a couple minutes to update my MINI Mileage Chart. It'sa getting a bit harder to track this since gas prices finally went down and it's not as simple as putting 2 $20's into the bill reader to fill er up...

Flickr (Yahoo) Terms Of Service Update

I'm not necessarily a big fan of Flickr a.k.a. "Yahoo!" I believe their Terms of Service says "we own your photos". But who reads the fine print?



"...with respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on publicly accessible areas of the Service, you grant Yahoo! the following worldwide, royalty-free and non-exclusive license(s), as applicable:

• With respect to photos, graphics, audio or video you submit or make available for inclusion on publicly accessible areas of the Service other than Yahoo! Groups, the license to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publicly perform and publicly display such Content on the Service solely for the purpose for which such Content was submitted or made available. This license exists only for as long as you elect to continue to include such Content on the Service and will terminate at the time you remove or Yahoo! removes such Content from the Service.
  

• With respect to Content other than photos, graphics, audio or video you submit or make available for inclusion on publicly accessible areas of the Service other than Yahoo! Groups, the perpetual, irrevocable and fully sublicensable license to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform and publicly display such Content (in whole or in part) and to incorporate such Content into other works in any format or medium now known or later developed."

hmmm....

Flickr Gallery Update

See more photos-i-don't-necessarily-own-anymore on my Flickr Gallery

All hail "OctaneGuy"- Professional Auto Detailer/Restorer

One of my biggest real-life heroes, is auto detailer/restorer, OctaneGuy (shallow, I know).

"...if you want to learn how to take care of your paint, and keep it looking showroom shiny day in and day out, that's what you'll learn from my detailing session. Think of it as a combined class and interactive professional detailing session..." MINIniM.com

Mustangs, Vettes, SUVs, and his latest trick, a MINI!

before:

after:


http://www.showcargarage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447
www.showcardetailing.com

NAM Upgrade??

aaah... feeling frisky are we?

It appears North American Motoring.com is going through a software upgrade. Oh- the excitement! What ever could it be?! Web 2.0 wowness? A digg.com ish rating system? More better faster servers? Movie/video support? Chat rooms? Oh- the antici... pation!

Meanwhile, as the link says, buy stuff!

S.O.T.*: A Novel Mutation in Human PAX9 Causes Molar Oligodontia

*So off-topic! (nothing to see here... testing the go ogle b o t... )

A Novel Mutation in Human PAX9 Causes Molar Oligodontia

Abstract
Experimental and animal studies, as well as genetic mutations in man, have indicated that the development of dentition is under the control of several genes. So far, mutations in MSX1 and PAX9 have been associated with dominantly inherited forms of human tooth agenesis that mainly involve posterior teeth. We identified a large kindred with several individuals affected with molar oligodontia that was transmitted as an isolated autosomal-dominant trait. Two-point linkage analysis using DNA from the family and polymorphic marker D14S288 in chromosome 14q12 produced a maximum lod score of 2.29 at {Theta} = 0.1. Direct sequencing of exons 2 to 4 of PAX9revealed a cytosine insertion mutation at nucleotide 793, leading to a premature termination of translation at aa 315. Our results support the conclusion that molar oligodontia is due to allelic heterogeneity in PAX9, and these data further corroborate the role of PAX9 as an important regulator of molar development.
http://jdr.iadrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/81/2/129


(yeah, that's abstract alright! )

Not Just For Grills Anymore*...

I was sportin' the Motoringfile.com Badge at the Sept. 9 BMWCCA Auto-cross...

(crappy cellphone pic)

*"motoringbadges.com magnetic grille badges are specifically produced and recommended for use with official MINI grille badge holders only and are not warranted, expressly or implicitly, for application on any other automotive surface, including but not limited to exterior paint or applied graphics, vinyl or otherwise." (Emphasis added)

What's White and Black and Holds 21 People?

Yep! You guess it!

MCS "User Review"

Not every MINI owner is a "MINIac"...



(Watch Now)

MINIs at the Auto-X!!

Yeah- my first Auto-X. (Spectator of course!) 100-car limit, the MINIs were well represented! Too bad my camera died after the first three photos.* :(





*If I find a gallery to other photos from this auto-x cross i'll link them here.

Top ten vehicle depreciation list

"Edmunds has released lists of the top ten [2006] cars most likely to hold their residual value and the top ten most likely to lose it. The ratings are done over five years and an annual mileage of 15,000.

The 10 best are:

1. 2006 Honda S2000 — 51.7%
2. 2006 Mini Cooper — 51.5%
3. 2006 Acura TSX — 47.7%
4. 2006 BMW M3 — 47.6%
5. 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class — 47.0% (tie)
6. 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG — 47.0% (tie)
7. 2006 Infiniti G35 — 46.9%
8. 2006 Acura RSX — 46.5
9. 2006 Lexus SC 430 — 46.5%
10. 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI — 46.4%

..."
source (and the ten worst): motorauthority.com

You Know What The Best Part Is?

(lifted from the forum)...


I was on a cruise for the past week in Hawaii, and of course I brought all my MINI t-shirts with me. One day this elderly guy walks up to me, "You work for MINI?"

I say "Nope, just an obsessed enthusiast"

He says "I just got a MINI Cooper --pauses for effect and says "S" with a smile--Convertible. You know the best part about it?"

I say "Hmm, no?"

"I got it for FREE! My son bought it for me"
"You know I can get more than 200 HP with that JCW thing???"

I say "Yep! Congratulations! Are you on NAM---or any MINI forums?"

"Naww, I don't have time for that crap, I just love to drive. I don't want to talk about my car. I have better things to do with my time!"

He walks me over to his wife and smiles to her, "Meet Richard, he owns a MINI."

"Oooh that's nice! Did you know WE have a MINI Cooper Convertible??"
She leans close to me and gives me this sly smile
"It's an S"
Expecting me to be wowed, I say "Yes, that's a nice car"
She says "Do you know what the best thing about it is??"
"Uhm, that you got it for free???
"Yep!"

LOL, I was cracking up.



(i did not write this. i was not on a cruise. i just thought it was funny enough to share. i'm pretty sure "richard" doesn't mind.)

Giant Bat Terrorizes MINI Rally

I took this photo w/ my cellphone. My friend- an expert photographer, noticed something "odd" with the photo. He did some post-processing. Could this explain the incredible police presence in Old Town Temecula? CALL THE ENQUIRER!!!

Like The Bubble Boy, Only Cooler

carcapsule.com





runner up... (only because i can't get the link (megamini.il) to work)

MINI Run: San Marcos to Old Town Temecula

I didn't even know there was an "Old Town Temecula" ...


one from the Rebel...


one from the phone...

(I was too busy "motoring" to take more!)


About 20 MINIs on this run- not too shabby!