I’m a volunteer youth leader, which means I chaperon on Tuesday nights and teach Sunday School once a month.

Two weeks ago, a couple of leaders and I took the lads to the rec center to play racquetball. Afterwards, one of the freshman boys riding in my car rolled down the shotgun window to cat call a girl he knew.

“You realize you’re riding in a station wagon,” I told him. “Yeah, that might not be a good idea,” his passenger friend added.

The window was quickly rolled up.

Appropriately making its debut during halftime of the USA-England World Cup game last Saturday, I love this commercial. Freedom aside, I also love all three American muscle car reboots: Challenger, Mustang, and Camaro very much included. Would probably buy the Mustang though.

In preparation for a bigger car, Lindsey and I sold our beloved Jeep this weekend. As a replacement, we’re planning to buy a 2007 Ford Freestyle, which seats 6-7, but handles like car instead of a splashy SUV or van. After seeing the above commercial, I’m officially calling our anticipated new ride the Swagger Wagon. Only better because it’ll look like a Volvo instead of a paddy wagon.

Although I think BMWs handle better, this Audi commercial entitled “Breaking the spell” is brilliant from a branding perspective. Love it. The black cars are pretty hot too.

They can take away my representation, but that can’t take away my purchasing power.

I’ve said it before, but it’s been frustrating to watch the ballooning growth of our national debt, after eight years of unprecedented ballooning. For a long time, it seemed as if I was powerlessness to what was going on—like I couldn’t fight back.

Not anymore.

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It’s a little difficult to read, but that posh, Geo Prism promises you can make $20k a month while working from home. Now I understand a lot of millionaires drive run-down cars, because cars are a lousy investment. But something tells me this guy isn’t a millionaire (hint: it’s the tasteless ad written in long hand).

[Photo by Mark Ormond, while driving even]

Dear Big Oil (Exxon Mobil, Chevron, you know who you are):

I’ve grown weary of seeing your good-will commercials where you now refer to yourselves as “energy companies.” Sorry fellas, but your record profits this year didn’t come from any alternative energy. It came from oil.

But that will soon change. As clever and courageous scientist develop cheaper, sustainable fuels that you don’t control, I’ll smile as you scramble to adapt and suddenly drop your prices. Competition can be such a drag, I know — especially after going uncontested for 100 years.

So… good luck with your rebranding efforts (snickers).

Love,

Smooth Harold

Friggin’ sweat! Located in Columbus, Ohio.

I arrived at church on Sunday only to find the second to last parking spot double occupied by a similar BMW X5 (not pictured). Heaven forbid mere mortal cars like my ‘99 Jeep Cherokee meddle with such fine German engineering in a car park. I only wish I had the guts and lack of a moral compass to do this: (more…)

I’ve never liked Pontiacs. At all. On the contrary, I’ve always loved BMWs, and still do. So its a powerful thing when a clever, photo still, and fresh commercial makes an American automobile look somewhat compelling when compared to German engineering. Very nice form.