Artful: a day’s drive.
There’s an art to driving. People notice.
Psychologists will probably decide what a person drives impacts self-image as well as others’ opinions of an individual. So we’ll all end up with identical cars just to level life’s driving lanes?
Meanwhile, people are just being horribly inconsiderate of others and artfully choosing the most outrageous vehicles.
Makes a daily commute so much more fun? (2015.Houston Art Car Parade/screenshot/YouTube/Carpe Diem Hacks)
Hilary has voted for her campaign vehicle.
It’s a special Chevrolet Express conversion van. (GM, of course. Subtle details pull votes.) People are ridiculing the mileage, but considering all the bullet proof glass and heavy armor, you would expect it to be a bit toady. Better a stodgy drive than the elitist limo that she normally travels around in according to her “people”
Here’s “Scooby”. Does the name lighten up the dark image? A little bit like mafia-ish, or Central American dictator in tone, or Middle Eastern oil sheik style. No one thought to borrow a rock and roll tour bus? (www.autoblog.com)
Shortly everyone else running for President will be rolling out their choices.
Like Rick Perry, who reminds many of that rowdy, gun-toting, rich oil man/Senator/Texas cowboy (really from Connecticut) in the Simpsons, he’ll want something flashy and distinctive. Maybe this:
Golden rules. Perfect, right? (Longhorn Art Car/Houston Art Car Parade, 2015. screenshot/YouTube/Carpe Diem Hacks)
What if all U.S. Congressmen and women were assigned cars from a motor pool during their lucrative life long careers terms of office as public servants? As a perk. Being full of patriotism and verve, the obvious choice would be something like this:
Legislators: our heroes, right? This would make them easy to spot and approach to talk about issues and concerns.(2015 Houston Art Car Parade screenshot/khou.com)
Something more practical? How’s this?
First, it has a roof and would be better for the weather caused by climate change. Also it would be easier to manage a crisp neat appearance if spotted along the way by irritated taxpayers throwing rotten fruit out of frustration of being unable to get the “ordinary folks'” message across to Congress. No embarrassing marks or blemishes left to bear witness people were upset with them. And there’s protective roof and windows…and door locks.
Not hard to miss? (2015 Houston Art Car Parade screenshot/khou.com)
Even better, let each legislators’ constituents choose monthly which vehicle design their legislators/elected officials should get to drive each month.
Suspect the motor pool would need a bunch of this model.
Would elected representatives and appointees would think and act more cautiously if this was a potential ride?
Call it a compact. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/ Screenshot.khou.com)
There’s an art to driving through life.
A car worthy of being called “Scooby” (Milagros Graciano/ Art Car Parade FB screenshot)
Last weekend was the 28th Annual Houston Art Car Parade.
Now an international event with over 250 cars this year, it’s one of the biggest collection party of Art Cars around. Normally it hits the road in May, but this year it was decided to move the event to April in hopes of better/mild weather. April is usually gorgeous, but it’s been a rainy year. Still the clouds held off for the show. (Not that it rain has ever made a difference for participants or crowds.)
Being a bit under the weather and having so little voice that any attempt at cheering or expressing delight would have done me in totally. (Promise to not talk? Impossible. Who could not chortle with joy over art cars? Sigh.) Luckily there’s plenty of TV and on-line coverage of one of Houston’s favorite events.
Sweet. Car entirely covered with candy Peeps.(2015 Houston Art Car Parade/screenshot.KHOU.com)
Watch the parade on YouTube. You will not want to miss the Jet car, the Trojan Horse car, some old favorites like one covered by Singing Fish (and they do!) and all the new ones. Great videos with lists of entries:
- 28th Annual Houston Art Car Parade. (Part 1) 2015. (GoPro/Carpe Diem Hack video)
- 28th Annual Houston Art Car Parade. (Part 2) 2015. (GoPro/Carpe Diem Hack video)
- GoPro: Lowrider Car Show (Pitbull Music) @ 28th Annual Houston Art Car Parade (GoPro/Carpe Diem Hack video
Cars are created by individuals, groups, companies, schools, kids and adults. Anything with wheels is qualified including cycles, motorbikes, skates, and even Barbie cars.
Any car you think should be suggested to the Washington, DC motor pool for our elected officials?
Basic black is so yesterday.
Coloring outside the lines, but staying in the lanes,
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Oh, sent an agent to cover the parade in my place, but turned out this one was too busy mousing around to relay any content.
Not remotely interested in writing a blog post – it’s party time! (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/screenshot.khou.com)
Photos of a few of the entries just to intrigue you:
Peacock. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/ screenshot.khou.com)
Now that’s a big catch. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/Screenshot.YouTube.Carpe diem Hacks)
Something fishy. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/screenshot.You tube.Carpe Diem Hacks)
Endangered species? (Turtle Art Car 2015 Houston Art Car Parade/ screenshot.khou.com)
A couple of toaster cars popped up this year. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/screenshot.khou.com)
Possible vehicle for I45 morning commutes? (2015Houston Art Car Parade/screenshot.khou.com)
Let’s not forget the bicycles.(2015 Houston Art Car Parade/Screenshot.YouTube.Carpe Diem Hacks)
Or the scooter a giving black widow spider a lift.(2015 Houston Art Car Parade/Screenshot/YouTube/Carpe Diem Hacks)
Art cars come in all sizes. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/YouTube screenshot.Carpe Diem Hacks)
And styles. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/Screenshot/khou.com)
Seriously, Hillary could at least update up her Scooby with elbows. Great for keeping reporters at a distance, too. (2015 Houston Art Car Parade/ screenshot.YouTube/Carpe Diem Hacks)
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32 Comments
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
I think they should get a Tardis to travel around in. That way, the most obnoxious campaigners can travel to another century. 😉
Great pics!
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Great idea! A Tardis would be perfect (Can we program in a leash somehow so they have to jump ahead and live with any mess they make?)
Getting my little bubbling fountain all primed for lots of soothing use shortly.
Bet your boys could come up with a great art car. Thanks for diving by with a comment
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I’m so out of touch. I had to Google Tardis, Carrie!
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Carrie keeps us up to date. (She has no choice…kids!)(and Dr Who is totally cool throughout the ages…)
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I am such a loser! I had no idea all this stuff was going on until I started blogging and various bloggers would make these incredibly obscure (to me) references. Sheesh.
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Don’t feel all alone out there – it’s one wacky blogging world and most blog neighborhoods are really friendly. It does give you some interesting conversation pieces for your real life friends. Waves and grins cheerily sent.
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That’s for sure. I love my blogging friends even if I have no idea what they’re talking about! 😃😃
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Haha, well, if it wasn’t for my 15-year-old son, I wouldn’t know about it either.
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Awesome Phil. I see your mouse on the roam seemed to be having a good time. I really like the peacock car.
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With your knowledge of vehicles, no doubt you could design/create the biggest wildest art car ever.
Most of the art cars are around the city for a week or so. They go to schools and all sorts of events in the city parks and places. What if everyone was given a solid colored car and told they had a week to customize it. The roads would be so much more interesting. Maybe people would smile more and have less road rage….although there might be an increase of car peacock feathers being stolen/broken?
Thanks for watching the circus with me.
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How bout we give the politicos rolling outhouses, only fair considering all the B***S*** they sling?
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Good choice. (gotta get that Change.org petition going on this….) It’s going to be a loooong campaign period. Thanks for parking a comment
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Love seeing all these colorful cars. If I were a Hillary advisor, I’d have suggested something less stodgy than black.
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In college years, cars painted like these were sure to be stopped and searched, now everyone laughs, applauds, and cheers. The early parades were promoted by the art, theater, cycling, and Urban Animals rollerblading group that drove cops mad in the 80’s skating all over downtown at night/weekends. Change happens eventually.
Rock and roll bus (one that doesn’t catch on fire). Or better yet, just stay home and tell everyone she’s concerned about global warming. She’s not exactly an unknown. It’s going to be a loooong campaign season.
National Parks Week! Free! Everyone outside. Boy do they need funds for repairs…billionaires? Worthy cause. Gov/Congress is considering a Centennial Challenge where they will match donated funds. Need to do something – it’s a real shame to let these places fall into ruin. (Denver got more ice and snow? Big storms here every day.)
Thanks for speeding over to chat
Thanks
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Lots of sloppy snow/rain mix yesterday and today, and in the forecast for another 3 days or so. Love getting the moisture here and the mountains are getting feet of snow, so needed for our snowpack.
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It’s only April. We’ve seen snow in Estes town during end of May. OUght to be a great year for streams and waterfalls…I ‘d better start looking for places that take dogs and dog allowed hiking trails…wishes wishes.
Enjoy all the views and last of winter warm and snug in house.
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great car parade. I love the red crapper car… it could be the solution when you use french highways… the “pee-stops” there are horrible :o)
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People should have more fun with their cars! (Road side stops are always an issue everywhere – not even a bush to be seen in some places!) Thanks for barking along
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I suggest that they all drive VW Beetles aka a Bug… because everyone in Washington bugs me. No exceptions.
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Great choice. ALL of them. And maybe with an “X” painted on it saying “Upset? Squash here.” Might see some responsive/defensive voting then (and read the darn bills before voting. Adults always yell at kids, “Read the instructions and listen to make sure you understand it” but do they follow their own directions?)Thanks for shifting gears to stop by and comment
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Just my cup of automotive tea. I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite as I seem to be swayed less by the artistic endeavors and more by your captions!
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Could there be anything better than driving around in works of art? These actually do drive to the festival week – and to schools and parks while here. Makes commuting much more interesting.
Thanks for giving a comment a lift over this way and thanks for the kind words.
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What fun! You have the best festivals.
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And the sand castle contest isn’t too far away. Molly kept barking at the sand dragon last year. You are always welcomed at the parties here. Thanks for parking a comment
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One of these years we will have a proper tour of Amercia, and I will make sure this event is on the list. By the way – for yourself and anyone else reading – the dollar and the euro are almost parity so NOW is the time to take your European vacation!
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The Art Car Parade started out as a small event during one of the street art festival – but it soon grew to be the biggest item in the lineup. Now they limit it to 250 cars or so….and what ever rollerskaters, cyclists, strollers, kiddie cars and… well you get the idea. It is quite a party week with cars grouped here and there. Let me know when you are coming and we’ll try to get a parade car lined up.
It is a good year to travel – here they are even telling people to purchase train passes, museum/entrance fees paid – all while dollar is strong….Molly is scowling, though. She only wants to ride first class…RC says a dog in first class is waaay out of consideration. Thanks for traveling this way to chat.
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These are absolutely fantastic! So much better than the average art car you see rolling around Austin on any given day (the weather takes its toll when it’s an every-day-use vehicle). A good friend of mine had a googly eyed car – spent hours gluing googly eyes all over it. When we’d exit a movie and stand by her car to chat all of the eye puns would come out as people passed by. “Eye see what you did there!” I’ll have to see if we can make next years parade (as bystanders, sadly the googly eyes went to a friend’s teen in Oklahoma never to grace the streets of our town again).
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Googly eyes – Did she ever come here? I’ve seen a googly-eyed car. Would be a delightful improv prop/conversation starter – same difference…I know there’s a couple that live up there.
During editing, I cut a line about “Keeping Houston weirder than Austin – we just don’t flaunt it as much” I think you need a video of art car creation….puppet driven? (No doubt we could come up with a good one)…it’s really one of my favorite events…maybe I could put googly eyes on my knee and ankle rollerblade protectors…and a feathered show girl hat…well, I’ve got a year to plan. Thanks for zooming a comment this way
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Maybe we could bring back the Gremlins for politicians? That seems a fitting car for the trouble they can cause…. 😉
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How did Gremlins get overlooked. Perfect choice. (and there was a movie so those who don’t read will still get the message.) Glad you painted up a comment for the parade.
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Those are some fun cars! I love the peacock one the most, but it sure would be distracting seeing that on the morning commute 🙂
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The peacock is beautiful. Do they worry about wind ruffling those feathers? Wonder if there’s some teenage girl is just distraught because her parents created an art car and insist on driving her to school in it? Now there’s a sit com plot! Thanks for steering a comment this way
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