Fiesta Groovement

We've Moved!

2011-04-04T12:41:00.000-04:00

Fiesta Groovement has packed up and moved to a new spot on the Web.
Come visit our new home: Go.Drive.Blog

Saab 9-5 BioPower XWD

2010-11-13T00:31:00.000-05:00

Went to the mall this week, and was totally surprised to see a manufacturer plate on a Saab. Upon closer inspection, I saw the BioPower XWD tag, which I've never heard of...'til now.

Honda CR-Z at night

2010-11-13T00:27:00.000-05:00

About a month ago, came home and spotted this guy catching a nap in the parking lot

Looks good from this angle, but not so crazy about the front

Mitsubishi Lancer Ralli Art

2010-11-12T22:17:00.005-05:00

Just another car hangin' out in our parking lot.

2011 Ford Focus

2010-11-12T22:04:00.001-05:00

The other day I was at the office just minding my business. I looked up to see this:

So I ran outside to ~~say thanks Ford for dropping off another car~~ grab a few more photos.

Ca you tell the blue one is my favorite?

Fiesta Rescues Kidnapped Puppy

2010-05-14T02:51:00.000-04:00

Hey! We made a commercial with Ford for the new Fiesta. Browdy (our dog) gets kidnapped!

US Fiesta Handling Video

2010-04-25T20:46:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Twitter and the re-tweeting of @azulejost, I came across this video from @HighMileage. It is a discussion of how the US Fiesta is set up for handling. Since the US Fiesta has all season tires, the suspension was dialed up for more control.

Brighter Days

2010-04-15T20:33:00.003-04:00

~A look back, according to Mandy~

I gotta say, being a part of the Fiesta Movement has been one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. I've met hundreds of talented, creative people, and just meeting these folks has fueled my own creativity in a way I never imagined.

At the end of April, we have to give our Fiesta back to Ford, and I'm trying to come to terms with our impending loss. I started compiling all the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences I've had in the past year for a "good-bye" post, and while reminiscing, I realized something lovely.

I live a pretty amazing life.

I also realized I have to remember that and reflect on it more often. I'm too apt to focus on bummer days instead of brighter days. Today, I'm focusing on brighter days.

Here are just a few of the awesome things I got to do these last 12 months (links to videos are in blue):

~ Searched for (and found) the largest waterfall in MI, and survived in the wilderness for 3 days, Survivorman style.

~ Did a short documentary/music video on setting my Honda Element free into the wild. (I had to. It was time to nudge 'er outta the nest. Let 'er stretch 'er wings.) This one'll make you laugh, make you cry... It's Waiting for Guffman set to the tunes of Hootie and the Blowfish. What's not to love? (Plus I pull out my Missouri accent, just for y'all.)

~ Turned recycling some old computer monitors into a rip-roaring adventure while giving a nod to my old school love of Tetris. And there were French fries.

~ Went to see Star Wars at an old drive-in. Realized my deep-rooted *love* of drive-ins.

~ Found out messing with the Fiesta's British accent voice control is hilarity at its best.

~ Hacked some Ikea parts to make a custom desk. This video got featured on Ikea Hacker and other custom design blogs, which was just awesome. Plus, 5-stars for doing the video MST3K style!

~ Got to invade Ford's safety labs, see two full-scale crash tests, and attempt to recreate a crash test of our own.

~ Got VIP access to a NASCAR race, interviewed most of the Ford Racing drivers, actually sat on top of the UPS Racing pit box, stood with Carl Edwards and his team on Pit Road during the National Anthem, got to sit in on the Driver's Meeting (Kid Rock was there!), and even showed up on ESPN and TNT. Got a ton of great footage and compiled a music video.

~ Helped our local library out for a day. Have you ever gone behind the library counter???

~ Searched for buried treasure on Beaver Island and did the video "History Detectives" style. Mormons, legends, buried treasure, murder, mystery, mayhem!

~ With so much free gas, I took a trip back home, revisited my high school with old pals, and went to my home town county fair. Then I made the day's footage into a kick-butt music video. Katy Perry and Wilco tunes both star in this action-packed thrill ride!

~ While home, I made another music video, starring one of the cutest babes around! A 1YO babe, that is. Watch as Ele trades in her plastic toy car for a *real* party vehicle.

~ And yet another home adventure: We brought the Fiesta to the local Farmer's Market where my Pa sells organic veg and his secret recipe BBQ!

~ Took the Fiesta auto crossing and made a music video with the hit band Parachute! Here's Will, Johnny, and Alex after the race. All smiles!

~ Were extras in a Food Network shoot for the show "Chefs vs. City." In the Chicago episode, you can actually catch a millisecond glimpse of us in the Fiesta! (Which we think is totally rad.)

~ Got an all expenses paid trip to L.A. for the auto show last December, and helped reveal the new US Fiestas to the world. Attended the Fiesta Celebration party at the Palladium, where the hubs and I got to get up on stage and introduce the band Parachute to the crowd. First time using a teleprompter. While there, we helped set the world record for the World's Largest Tweet-up!

~ And finally, last week, we got to star in a Fiesta webisode. It was a blast. Can't fill you in on any details yet, but I'll make sure to post a link to the webisode once it goes live.

I can say I have a huge respect for film crews and what they do behind the scenes to make what's on the screen look so effortless. These folks work hard. 12 hours in pouring rain and they never slowed down for a second.

I can also say I am soooo proud of my dog, Browdy. I used to train service dogs professionally and at one point, I planned on moving to L.A. to become an animal trainer for TV/films. My life has obviously taken a different route, but I had forgotten the thrill of putting a trained animal to the test. It was so amazing to direct Browdy for the video. He sat for almost an hour in the pouring rain, soaked and cold, while I stood 20 feet away telling him to "stay."

And the dog stayed! Even with another actor calling to him, patting her lap, offering treats -- the dog stayed right where I put him. A jogger ran past. A guy walking his dog went by. Production assistants came running up to make adjustments. Cameramen shifted and scuffed their feet behind him.

And Browdy stayed.

The crew said I was amazing. That I played Jedi mind tricks. And yes, I trained him well. The dog knows how to count for goodness sake.

But, dude. Browdy was the amazing one. Even the best service dogs I trained in the past would have had trouble staying for that long, especially soaked to the bone and shivering. I have tried getting Browdy to mind me on camera many times before, and he always, ALWAYS, gets bored and distracted. Not this time. He must have sensed how important it was to me. And that just blows my mind and makes me so proud to be his owner.

I wish with all my might I could communicate to him just how proud I am of him. Because of him, I got to experience one of my dream jobs, if only for a few hours.

And that, my friends, was one of the brightest of brighter days.

Short video of some US Fiestas

2010-04-04T11:20:00.005-04:00

Well spring is here...Happy Easter, too!

Last night we went out and came across some US Ford Fiestas in the wild. I happened to have my Flip with me, but since we were running late I just grabbed a few seconds of video.

Now, from what I was able to gather, this was Roush doing the test drives. I tried looking closely at the video, but I can't determine if there is anything special under the front grill. It does sound different from our European Fiesta.

Ford Fiesta Crash Test Update

2010-03-23T10:53:00.003-04:00

We know a lot of you find our site when searching for Ford Fiesta crash test videos. We'd like to clarify that as Ford Fiesta Agents, we're not qualified (or allowed) to perform a real crash test.

Our video serves to provide info on the new Fiesta safety features, to show why vehicles today have crush zones instead of being solid as a tank, and to, let's face it, have a bit of a laugh.

To our knowledge, there are no videos of a US Fiesta crash test currently available online. But we did find this Euro NCAP video of the 2008 European Ford Fiesta crash test. You can also see Euro NCAP's full starred rating here.

Hope this helps. If a US Fiesta crash test pops up, we'll be sure to post it here.

Diesel just doesn't add up...or does it?

2010-02-18T18:33:00.009-05:00

So today I was driving around, aimlessly crunching numbers in my head as I so often do on a Thursday.

And an odd set of figures jumped into my head. If Europeans can get 63 Miles per Gallon in their cars using diesel, then why are we stuck with gasoline powered cars that only get 30 miles per gallon?

I mean its practically part of our Bill of Rights as Americans to get twice as much for half the price, right? How can we, as good upstanding citizens, pass up a 2 for 1 deal?

When I got home, I jumped on the Internet to fact check some of these numbers.

*** Warning: Math! ***

First of all, 63 mpg is actually Imperial Miles per Gallon, and not the same MPG that we use here in the US. In Us gallons, that works out to about 52 mpg

Ok, well that's still better than 30 mpg!

Now this is where it gets interesting. The make and model of the car plays a huge factor in the mpg rating. For example, the new US Ford Fiesta with Super Fuel Economy package gets 40 mpg. The new engine technology is amazing, and it boosts fuel economy to an industry leading 40 mpg among sub compacts.

It's hard to make an apple to apples comparison, but lets take a look at the VW Golf. The diesel version starts at $23,000. The base level Golf starts at $17,000. Which works out to about a $6,000 premium for the diesel engine. I've talked to several engineers and they all tell me that adding a diesel engine to a car is a $5,000 upgrade. That's pretty close to our real world scenario with VW.

Now if Ford was to offer the same Diesel that I looked up on this Fiesta in the UK, and we guesstimate that it would add $5000 to the price, the questions is: Does Diesel make sense?

Let's run the numbers
A US model Fiesta with the SFE package starts at about $17,000. If we presume that a Diesel model adds $5,000, that would make the vehicle $22,000. A thousand less than the VW Golf TDi. So why isn't Ford offering it?

According to the Federal Highway Association, the average person drives 15,000 miles per year. The Fiesta has a fuel capacity of 12 gallons, and can go 480 miles on one tank. That means 32 tanks of gas per year. Gas is about $3 per gallon, so that would run you $1,152 in fuel costs per year.

Now, if you go with the hypothetical diesel, you would get 52 mpg and could go 624 miles on one tank. That works out to 24 fill ups for the year, which at $3/gal for diesel means $864 per year in fuel costs.

Hmmm it's starting to look bad for Diesel. That's only $288 a year in savings. If the diesel model costs $5000 more, it would take you 17 years before you were saving money.

Seventeen years.

Even if you drive twice as much as the average at 30,000 miles per year, it will still take 8 years to break even.

To make matters worse, that diesel has 89 horsepower. No wonder Jeremy Clarkson called it a dirty word. So I don't know about you, but I'd rather keep the five grand and have 30 more horsepower!

For all the hoopla that surrounds diesels, it just doesn't add up for the US market. I don't hate diesel, I just don't think it's the right technology for this size car. Diesel has proven itself in the commercial truck market, but until the engineers figure out how to deliver higher MPG at comparable cost to gas, I'm sticking with what's proven in small cars. If you think I'm wrong, or maybe I missed something in my calculations, let me know in the comments below.

Here's some articles from around the web on the subject:
The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have
Ford’s ECOnetic Fiesta Gets 65 MPG. You Can’t Have One.

Notice the titles? I wonder if people are just reading the headline, and not the full article. Give me a diesel they say. I want 65 mpg, they say. But even the articles don't mention the fact that it is Imperial MPG, not US MPG. They also completely ignore the fact that the legislation is different and the UK assigns a tarriff based on how much C02 is emitted by the vehicle, plus a congestion tax. It's mind boggling, and it makes for a completely different set of rules for the car manufacturers to meet.

So for all of you clamoring for a Diesel, what makes it so attractive?

Auto Show Pics are up

2010-02-05T00:04:00.001-05:00

Posted photos from Detroit Auto Show on Flicker...

>>link<<<

NAIAS aka Detroit Auto Show

2010-01-09T23:39:00.002-05:00

Joel will be at the Detroit Auto Show on Saturday, Jan 16th with the Fiesta, weather permitting.

CES and Cars

2010-01-07T22:18:00.006-05:00

So yesterday or maybe it was the day before...I was rambling on about how cool it would be if carmakers put apps in your car. You could listen to Pandora, download UrbanSpoon, etc.

Well they've done it.

Ford built a dashboard that syncs with your phone, reads your tweets, and much more.

This is really, really, cool. Wonder if it will come on the Fiesta eventually?

Love Lost

2010-01-04T21:55:00.004-05:00

Recently @ScottMonty from Ford posted on his Twitter account:

Hey @FordFiesta agents, what do you think of this? http://bit.ly/6YatjE #fiestamovement cc @samdelag

The article basically says America no longer loves cars. I thought I loved cars. Then I drove a Ford Fiesta for 6 months, it completely changed my mind on what to expect from an inexpensive car. I should disclose Ford loaned it to me for free, paid for the gas and insurance, but most people already know that.

Here's my rambling reply to the article:

I think there are several issues at work here

First of all, what defines love? For some people it's the styling, for others it's the freedom that the car allows, and for others it's the utility. Look at Jeep...people love those things, because it represents the freedom of off roading and go anywhere ruggedness.

I completely agree with you that someone who just sees their car as a commuter box is NOT in love with their car.

Sadly, most Americans have been lulled into complancy by watered down cars. But I don't think that Americans have lost their love affair with cars, I think car companies have lost their passion.

As car companies strive to be the most reliable, they lose sight of design and creativity. Instead, the cars get analyzed, studied by focus groups, and assailed by engineers and accountants. Look at the most reliable brands sold in the US: Honda and Toyota. I can honestly say I have never done a double take of any (factory/default) vehicle sold by either of those brands. I bought a Honda Element because it was reliable, and it allowed me freedom to load up just about anything, tow my light boat, let the dog jump up on the seats, etc etc. I did not buy the Element b/c of how it looked. I loved the E for it's ability to let me go camping, boating, and enjoy the outdoors. I came to appreciate it's boxy looks, but in a "you can't tell a family member they're not good looking" kind of way. I loved it so much that I made a farewell video for it when I sold it.

I think the challenge car manufactures face is making extraordinary cars for normal people. Their is no shortage of extraordinary cars for people with lots of money, or people who are passionate about cars (Mustang, GT-R, Camero, etc).

Here's what needs to happen. Detroit needs to get the attention of their customers. Court them, if you will. Get the customer to notice them. Find out what the customer wants. Then deliver it in a customizable, affordable, reliable package. And when I say "customizable" I don't mean your choice of Tan leather or Beige cloth seats. Maybe offer LED lighting, or an App store for the in dash computer. Throw in a season of Top Gear on DVD, and let Clarkson and his gang do the educating.

In many cases people don't even know want they want in a car. All they know is how much it should cost, and quite frankly, that is the worst way to make any buying decision. In this case, Detroit needs to tell people what they want. Come up with new ways to get people to put their butt into a vehicle and try it. Have the sales guy stop talking about the financing and the weather. Maybe offer a driving class with the purchase of a vehicle, even if it's not a performance car.

Look at how Apple sells computers. They find out what you're into. Photos? Then they talk about iPhoto and how it can geotag and do facial recognition. Like to go online and facebook? Then they talk about fewer viruses and the speed of the Safari browser. See a pattern?

They're not talking about the computer, they're talking about furthering your passion.

Another part of the problem is the fact the most people finance their cars. They look at it from the perspective that the car only needs to last 3-5 years, or the term of their lease or whatever. Every 3-5 years they switch cars. Go to the dealership. Fill out stacks of paperwork. After doing this for 10 years, they're exhausted. They don't want to go back to the dealership. They just want a car, to put them out of their misery.

Imagine if you had to buy a dishwasher every 3 years. You would be so tired of going to Home Depot, you'd just say hey give me the new model and lets be done with it.

The longer I've owned a vehicle, the more I've grown to love it. As I have more experiences with the car (road trips, seeing old friends, going new places), it takes hold. As long as the car is reliable, it's a recipe for success. When I start to get a little tired of the car, and it needs a freshening, hey I put better rims or tires on the car. Next up, what about a remote starter? At 75,000 miles? time for a stereo upgrade.

Here's an idea: offer periodical upgrades to the car as part of the purchase price. For free. It could be hardware (fog lights, new floor mats) or maybe even a software upgrade (helllooooo app store can you hear me? Do you realize people PAY to upgrade their Navigation systems?)

What's more expensive? To keep the current customer or get a new one? So why don't car companies try to keep people in the same car, longer? Yes I know they need to sell cars every month, but maybe they could become more profitable by adding long term value to the cars. In other words, sell fewer cars, but sell more add-ons. In turn, take the profits and build more creative and reliable cars. Invest in the cars, AND the customers. Give out freebies. Become awesome.

I agree with you that for the past 10 years or so Detroit has sucked at selling cars. Oh look another car commercial with some winding roads and a car and the announcer saying "just sign and drive terms and leasing $499 mumble mumble mumble".

I disagree that people have lost their love of cars, and I just think that their love is dormant.

Let the awakening begin!

Prove It.

2009-12-24T00:14:00.002-05:00

When I moved to Michigan in 2003, I was fascinated by all of the cars covered in black fabric driving around. Later, I learned that we were surrounded by test facilities and proving grounds. Here's a photo story of Detroit Area Test Tracks

quick update

2009-12-02T04:17:00.003-05:00

Photos from tonight's Fiesta unveiling are up on our Facebook page. Clicky the link to see facebook page

How to win a free car

2009-11-25T19:28:00.006-05:00

If you're in the market for a new car, I have to admit the best shopping experience is winning one. Or at least get to borrow one for 6 months.

Here are some ways to do this:
(Click the photos for the full story)

1. Your car gets run over. The entire event is captured on surveillence camera and posted to YouTube

2. Have your pregnant wife give birth in the back of your car. Then, name the baby after the car.

3. Solve a riddle. Whether you like vampires or Clive Owen, there is a riddle for you. Even if you don't win the car, you might end up with a BMW branded mountain bike.

4. Be at the Ford Fiesta Celebration Event in LA & be a Fiesta Agent. 3 lucky agents will win a car!
If you're not an agent, come to the Celebration anyway. It's free, you get to watch the band Parachute, and meet tons of other people who won a car for 6 months. Maybe their luck will rub off on you...

Secrets of Family Road Trip Bliss

2009-11-23T17:15:00.003-05:00

Many of you know that Mandy is the senior editor of online parenting magazine PluggedInParents.com. For her November column, she recently interviewed fellow Fiesta agent Seth Beck on his experience road tripping with the family, and asked him about his secrets to successful, meltdown-free travel.

Click on the photo below to read the full article:

It's here! Our Final Fiesta Movement Video

2009-11-18T18:14:00.002-05:00

The guys from Parachute take our Fiesta for a spin around the Michigan Sports Car Club's autocross track. Things get a little out of hand, but they keep it "Under Control."

Enjoy!

Looks Like We Got A Convoy...

2009-11-10T10:27:00.004-05:00

Fiestas all across the nation will be hitting the road after Thanksgiving and heading to Los Angeles. It's called the Fiesta Convoy. You in?

Get in the convoy spirit with this classic ditty:

December 1st and 2nd, Fiesta Agents will be attending the L.A. Auto Show to participate in the long-awaited reveal of the 2011 Ford Fiesta. Mass hilarity is sure to ensue. There will be photos. There will be tweets. There will be video. There will be excitement of immense proportions.

On our way there, we'll be stopping by Pops Soda Ranch, as well as Cadillac Ranch. Got any other suggestions for side-of-the-road photo opps?

So if you find yourself on any interstate in the American West, you're sure to spot one of us, cruising along. Honk if you love Fiestas.

Tally ho!

View Fiesta Road Trip in a larger map

Babes Love the Ford Fiesta

2009-10-20T19:36:00.001-04:00

Our latest video -- Enjoy!

1-year-old Ele can't stand her car. There's nothing under the hood, and it needs one of those ratty keys. So she trades it in for a new 2011 Ford Fiesta. We think she made the right choice. Don't you?

Babes Love The Ford Fiesta from joelandmandy on Vimeo.

Wanna See Something Sexy?

2009-10-15T13:02:00.005-04:00

Then check out our Fiesta Night Display photos:

Click here to view the entire set!

what the Fiesta needs

2009-10-13T23:16:00.004-04:00

I stumbled across a news article that Viper (the car alarm people) have released an iphone app that can start your car.

Now that is cool! Can you imagine going car shopping and the salesman being like, oh let me just warm up the car while we have a cup of coffee. What's next, an iphone app that can tap into the backup camera of a vehicle?

From Wired.com:

Remote starters are always a popular holiday gift in Northern climes, so particularly lazy shoppers will be heartened to learn one can be downloaded on iTunes.

The Viper SmartStart from Directed Electronics is an iPhone-compatible remote starter capable of warming up or cooling down a car. Even if you’re not a fan of letting your car idle in a parking lot, Viper says the SmartStart could come in handy for remotely locking or unlocking the doors, popping the trunk or even sounding the car alarm.

The case of the missing manual

2009-10-10T22:26:00.006-04:00

We like the Fiesta so much, we sold our regular car. I just couldn't go back to automatic and an SUV. I mean, the handling, the fun of driving a manual subcompact has forced me to rethink what I want in a car. The past few weeks looking at cars has yielded very few results in our price range. In fact, there isn't a manual hatchback that even comes close to the Fiesta in price and fit and finish.

Here's my shortlist to replace the Fiesta:

1. Focus SVT
Drove one and loved it. Problem...most have been destroyed with "upgrades" from Pep Boys or Auto Zone. No thank you.

craigslist.com

2. Mini Cooper
Waiting to test drive. Hard to find one in my price range, the ones that are have sold before I got to them!

3. Mazda Protege 5
Waiting to test drive. Same problem as the Mini...people keep buying them.

4. Honda Civic Hatch
I really wouldn't mind having another Honda. My first was a hand-me-down that served me well. My second was a brand new Element. Will there be a third? Hard to find the hatchback civic that doesn't have racing stickers all over it and gull wing doors:

AutoTrader.com

5. Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
I did a TON of research on these...liked that they were in the price range, even with the 6 speed manual GT version. But there are problems. First off, I read that the paint jobs on these wasn't good. Didn't know what that meant until we test drove one. It was only 5 years old, but the paint was cheap. Faded, thin, and felt horrible to touch. It didn't help that the one we test drove died in a cloud of stinky fumes. Not joking!

6. Abandon hope for an affordable hatchback. Go back to driving something like the Element. It may not be sporty, but at least I'm goin' down the road knowing I can fold my seats up and carry just about anything!

What would you buy with $5k?

Exciting Updates

2009-10-09T17:58:00.003-04:00

There are so many exciting things going on in the Fiesta world! For one, Ford announced that the 2011 Ford Fiesta will be unveiled at the LA Auto Show this December! We're crossing our fingers that we get to attend. Would be a great way to end the program. We've had a B L A S T.

Also, Joel and I will be hanging with the band Parachute this month for our final mission. We'll be making a music video, hanging VIP-style at their show, and we heard Kelly Clarkson will be lurking around there somewhere, too. How cool is that?

We've also truly said goodbye to our Honda Element. Herme was officially sold today. Now we've got cash burning a hole in our pocket. We're in search for a used manual hatchback. A Ford Festiva maybe? Ha!

Oh, and we've got tons of videos headed your way in the next few weeks. Every shred of film we've shot for the past 5 months will be uploaded for your viewing pleasure. Gotta end the Fiesta Movement in style!

Desk Hack Featured on Unplggd!

2009-10-06T09:48:00.004-04:00

Not only was our July mission featured on Ikea Hacker, we're also featured on Unplggd, too. Now our mission video has over 3,000 views! Yeah, our desk gets around.

Ikea Mission Featured on Ikea Hacker!

2009-10-03T16:20:00.003-04:00

Our July Mission is featured this week on ikeahacker.blogspot.com, the foremost collection of ikea hacks on the web! Thanks to Jules for posting it.

We forgot to post our third Ikea Hack blog which outlines why our desk is ergonomic, so we apologize. It's hard to focus on the blog when you're having way too much taking the Fiesta for a spin.

To make any desk ergonomic, the monitor must be at eye level or slightly below. It must also be 18-22 inches from the eyes. With our design, we can pull the monitor closer depending on the person, and push it back if we need to use the desk surface.

Your back must make full contact with the backrest, and you must sit all the way back in your chair. Your lower back must fit into the curved lumbar support. Tilting back is permitted, as it is better for your back to be fully rested on the back of the chair rather than hunched forward.

Thighs should be parallel to the floor and feet should be flat. My thighs could be a bit more parallel, so I could slip a footrest under to bring my knees up an inch or two. This desk and chair combo is customizable for Joel as well, and he's 6' 3".

When typing, forearms must be parallel to the floor. Keyboard must be at elbow height. Elbows and forearms rest comfortably on the arms of the chair.

And that's about it! You can get even more technical if you want, but these are the specs given to me by my physical therapist. Once I started using this desk, I have not had any back problems. That's worth all the extra effort!

Mission #5: The Search for Buried Treasure

2009-09-29T16:01:00.003-04:00

Did you know there was an American king in the 1850's? James Jesse Strang proclaimed himself "king" of his Mormon church when they inhabited Beaver Island, Michigan over 150 years ago. But Strang's rule didn't end with his church. He forced all of the original island inhabitants to submit to his sovereignty or leave. His dictatorship led to his assassination in 1856, leaving behind several rumors of buried treasure, since none of his amassed wealth was ever found.

We decided to head to Beaver Island to search for the buried treasure ourselves. What ensues is a spoof of PBS's popular television show: History Detectives.

http://www.hummhead.com

For more information on Beaver Island:
http://www.beaverbeacon.com

Today at Chili's

2009-09-19T22:17:00.004-04:00

So we were at Chili's today. Chillin', as it were, when the waiter came by and gave us crayons and a coloring sheet. Man it's been a long time since I've used crayons. They're so waxy and really horrible for trying to make definite lines. Anyway, the coloring sheet was a pepper you were supposed to color. For a $1 donation to St Jude's, Chili's will hang it on the wall. Here's my entry:

I think I surprised myself.
-Joel

Beaver Island Adventure Part #2

2009-09-16T19:33:00.003-04:00

More Beaver Island photos to check out: Beaver Island Adventure Pt. 2

Check out the Mormon Print House where America's only king published his newspaper:

Beaver Island's old jail cells:

...and the home of Protar, the local legend and saint:

Beaver Island Adventure Part #1

2009-09-11T14:14:00.003-04:00

Check out the first set of our Beaver Island photos! It is gorgeous there.

Fiesta Test Drive: Power-Shifting and Cornering

2009-09-03T12:54:00.001-04:00

Agent Mandy's brother was a bit skeptical about the magic of the Fiesta. He just couldn't take his little sister's word for it. So we gave him the keys and let him tear it up. His reaction is pretty priceless.

You'll also enjoy tasty nuggets from Mandy like, "Was it anything what you thought?" Yup. You can see why her brother thought none too highly of her opinion. But now? He just might be changing his tune.

Thanks, Ford Fiesta!

Mission #4: Fiesta Book Mobile

2009-08-30T13:02:00.001-04:00

Social Activism Month!

For our 4th Fiesta Movement Mission, we helped The Friends of the Brighton District Library move their donated books to off-site storage. While that might not sound like much, volunteering like this is a major help to libraries across the country.

Many libraries do not receive enough state funds to operate. They rely on donations and volunteers from the community. The Friends of the Brighton District Library raise more funds each year than The Library receives from the State of Michigan. Without them, The Library could not continue to fund all the wonderful programs and events they provide for local children.

If there is a local library in your heart, take the time to donate your used books, or even your time, to help keep them going strong.

The Ford Fiesta is NOT a Festiva!

2009-08-30T12:56:00.005-04:00

When we tell everyone about the new Ford Fiesta, they think we're talking about the Festiva. We don't want you to make the same mistake.

On the left you will find the stunning Ford Fiesta -- on the right is a ratty old Festiva. (Hood scoop gives it a few points.) No comparison!

Just wanted to make that clear.

Gearing up for Mission #4

2009-08-22T10:48:00.004-04:00

It's taken us a while to get back in the groove after vacation. Even after working non-stop, we still haven't put a dent in all the things we have to accomplish. And August is almost over! Where on earth did Summer go?

We usually take a trip to Lake Michigan at least once a year. Not so this year. We hope to make it in the next month or two, but time and $$ aren't on our side. This has definitely been a lean year for us -- probably for many of you too. It helps to have free gas for six months. Not to mention the added bonus of FUN on the road. (Seriously, we can't get out of this car without huge grins on our faces!) We hope September and October go by a little slower. We're not looking forward to saying goodbye to the Fiesta. How we wish we had the freedom to drive all over the US, but I guess that's a mission for other agents.

Tomorrow we hit our 4th mission for Social Activism month. We're lending our Fiesta to the Friends of the Brighton Library. We'll be hauling donated books and documenting our adventure. Should be lots of fun.

Haven't taken too many photos lately, but we have a ton of footage we need to edit from the past few weeks. Videos in the works: a few more NASCAR shorts, power-shifting the Fiesta, happy test drivers, fun at the country fair, and more.

We're Back!

2009-08-14T20:31:00.003-04:00

Wow, sorry we've been gone for a while. Vacation was great, thanks for asking!

We've got a few new videos up our sleeves, but won't be able to get them up until next week. In the meantime, enjoy a few photos from our jaunt to good ol' Missouri. (Just click the photo below)

Chefs vs. City is Coming

2009-07-31T21:29:00.004-04:00

Remember the Food Network taping we were part of back in April with our Fiesta? Well, the show is finally premiering August 7th. We'll let you know when the Chicago episode is on, looks like it's slated for September. Should be a good show!

Click here to find out more: Chefs vs. City

Ikea Hack Part 2 - Cables and Paint

2009-07-29T19:57:00.010-04:00

So now that we had our basic pieces, the details were starting to come together. The magazine file boxes have holes in them, which was perfect for running cables through to the devices inside. One magazine file has an external hard drive in it, and the other can be used as a charging station:

That was a pretty good start, but we really don't like having untidy cables running to and fro. We left the back off of our Vika Furusund drawer unit and side-mounted a power strip behind the drawers. Excess cable slack was wrapped around the support bracket we built into the unit. A power brick sits nicely behind the bottom drawer.

To accommodate the wires running from the top of the desk, Joel found an old crash bar from a commercial door in our garage. After he took out the push part, a nice 29" aluminum U channel remained. It even had a few places for screws that worked out great for securing it to the underside of the desk. (Just make sure any screws you use aren't too long so they don't poke through the table top!)

The channel had plenty of room to run all of the cables from the back of the computer, plus he was able to hide the slack inside as well. He cut a few notches to accommodate the cables coming from different angles. It worked perfectly:

You can use a number of different things as a U channel: U-shaped brackets, plastic tubing, etc. Just take a look around your hardware store and see what you can find.

Next, we decided to paint our desk. If you're going to paint, make sure you allow plenty of time for each coat to dry. This is very important if you want your desk to look and feel good. For example, this project took about a week to complete with adequate dry time.

If your desk is already the color/finish you want, skip to Part 3, otherwise, read on!

Start by painting with a good primer. For this project we used Kilz 2. Painting with a primer ensures that all of your pieces will look the same color when you're done. Don't worry if the primer is a little uneven. Just make sure there are no drips at the edges or runs. Let dry overnight.

Next, sand the primer with a fine grit sandpaper. Use a damp cloth to remove any dust, and apply a thin first coat of paint. Let dry overnight.

You'll probably want at least one more coat, and possibly a third depending on how things are looking. Make sure to lightly sand in between coats and use a damp cloth to remove dust. (Ikea furniture tends to need several sandings.)

There's no race here, so remember to apply thin coats of paint since it's easier to control drips and runs. To let the pieces dry, set up a drying station in a dust free, cat free, and friends-who-can't-resist-touching-and-asking-is-it-dry-yet free zone.

Once you are satisfied with the paint job, allow at least 48 hours for the final coat to fully dry and harden before assembling the desk or setting anything on it. Don't let any of the painted pieces touch each other (drawers, doors, etc) since they might be slightly tacky and the paint will bond them together. Our desk took about 3 days before it was no longer tacky!

If you really want to go that extra step, You can apply a clear coat to protect against water marks and spills. I like Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish. It's water based and fast drying.

So now that our wires are taken care of, and the pieces are all painted and dried, it's time to put the desk together. Check back for Part 3 on how to make your desk ergonomic.

Attack of the Ikea Hack! (MST3K Style)

2009-07-27T19:46:00.003-04:00

Our latest video: a time-lapse-esque escapade of Ikea Hackery, with a little Mystery Science Theater 3000 flair. Laugh, cry, poke fun... whatever flips your switch!

Ikea Hack Part 1 - Designing the Desk

2009-07-25T18:34:00.008-04:00

For our style and design mission, we decided to fashicate a new desk that would meet our needs. Mandy does a lot of work at the computer, and the lack of ergonomics is starting to take a toll. Here's the first part of our guide to hack several pieces of Ikea furniture.

1. Evaluate what your current desk is lacking. Is it ergonomic? Do you have accessible storage? Is it sturdy? We found our existing desk inadequate in several areas:

- after one year, it was rickety and unstable
- it was not even close to ergonomic
- there was very little workspace
- and while the doors were great at covering up the mess, there wasn't any accessible storage while seated at the desk

Here's a photo of our old desk (complete with cat accessory).

We looked at many desks at Ikea, but couldn't find one that met all of our requirements. We decided to come up with our own design.

2. The basic pieces in this hack are still used for their intended purposes (desktop, legs, drawer unit), but we added several details to make the desk our own.

First, I noticed that the keyboard trays that Ikea sells were kind of flimsy. You can make a much better one yourself. All you need is a piece of wood and a sturdy pair of keyboard slides (both available at your local hardware store). Mandy wrapped the wood with leather like vinyl, using a staple gun to tack the material to the underside of the keyboard tray. This turned out great! The texture is so smooth and soft that we don't even need a mouse pad anymore.

The next detail we added was a second tier on the desktop. I really wanted quick access to several items like my firewire drive, and at the same time liked how the raised level looked. Mandy found solid wood magazine file boxes at Ikea (Knuff) that worked out perfectly. The curved edges match the curves of the desk legs.

Check back for Part 2 tomorrow and learn about exciting cable management and how to paint your desk. In Part 3, we'll explore the proper setup for an ergonomic desk. A fun filled time for all ages!

Carl Edwards - Full Length Interview

2009-07-22T10:24:00.003-04:00

Those of you who saw our first NASCAR video might like to see our full interview with Carl Edwards. He talks about his first car, why he thinks the Fiesta is a great everyday vehicle, and what kind of race he'd love to do with Matt Kenseth and David Ragan.

NASCAR Video #1

2009-07-12T11:34:00.005-04:00

Well, folks, it's finally here, the first NASCAR video in our series. We took our Mac to the Mac store for diagnosis (one great thing about buying a Mac -- tech support is FREE!) and found that the problem was not with our external hard drive. It was a corrupted iPhoto library. Anyone using a Mac knows that the default for importing clips from a digital video camera like a Webbie or Flip is to dump them into iPhoto. You can bypass this, but we didn't since we were using iMovie. Unfortunately, this was where all the hang-ups occurred. We simply pointed iMovie to a new (and empty) iPhoto library and we were off a running. A free solution!

The Film Fund will be an ongoing thing for us personally, since we realize we'll reach the glass ceiling of iMovie eventually. But for now, the crisis has been averted. Thanks to everyone who helped us out: friends, family, social media acquaintances, and Fiesta Movement agents. You all are awesome!

So without further ado, sit back and enjoy our feature presentation:

More videos to come -- full length driver interviews and a tribute to the NASCAR experience.

On Our Way

2009-07-09T16:41:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the few of you who have generously donated your time, advice, and a few bucks to our Film Fund so far. We can't thank you enough. We've never asked for help before, and we felt uncomfortable doing so, but it's nice to know there are those out there who will lend a hand when we're struggling.

We're on our way to finding a solution, but no luck yet. Joel no longer thinks our external drive is the problem since it meets all the requirements of Final Cut Express and iMovie. He thinks the problem is our iMac itself, so we'll be taking it to the Mac store tomorrow for diagnosis.

Meanwhile, Mandy's job requires a lot of photo-editing, and she's reduced to working on our 5-year-old laptop. The small screen doesn't yield very professional results. And video editing? Forget about it. We can't even watch YouTube videos on this slug. We're short on money and time, but we've got an abundance of stress. Anyone want some free stress?

Hope to have some good news for you next week. Perhaps even a video or two, and some new photos.

The Film Fund

2009-07-07T11:07:00.004-04:00

As you can see, we still haven't posted any videos from our NASCAR event last month. We're really bummed about it, but there is good reason. Or bad reason. However you want to look at it.

First, we had to finish our June mission, which was our trip to Ford Safety Labs. Once that was hammered out, Mandy got to work on the first NASCAR video. After 5 hours of sound and film editing, she decided to take a break. When she came back to iMovie, all editing had been lost. Why? No particular reason. iMovie's "automatic save" feature must have decided to take a break too, resulting in a colossal automatic fail. Mandy took to the couch and drowned her sorrows with repeat showings of The Next Food Network Star, Ruffles, ranch dip, and Mountain Dew.

Fast forward two days later when Mandy gives it another go. Remembering all the fancy editing she did earlier that week, she gives her computer an old fashioned restart, just for good measure, and she's off. The video is looking better than ever. 4 hours into the project, she closes and reopens iMovie to make sure the automatic save is working properly. Glory, glory, it is! So another 4 hours go by and editing is coming to an end. The video is almost finished. She closes and reopens iMovie again because the program is starting to bog down. This is where the hair-pulling begins.

When iMovie restarts, the project has unbelievably and undeniably reverted back to the day before. Even though Mandy made sure the program was saving mid-edit, iMovie went the extra mile and did something miraculous: un-saving what it had previously saved. How is that even possible?

With two full days of work wasted, Mandy tries not to give in to madness. 4th of July weekend was a nice diversion, even though there was much more Food Network Star, Ruffles, ranch dip, and Mountain Dew, but now we're back to the work week. Film editing must be accomplished this month. Mission #3 is fast approaching, besides all the wonderful NASCAR footage waiting to be shown to the world.

We know that Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere are the answers, but where do we find an extra grand lying around the house? We've checked the sofa cushions and under the seats in the Fiesta. No luck. Joel's grandparents used to sew cash into their drapes, but they haven't blessed our curtains.

We did, however, install Final Cut Express. More failure there. Seems both FCE and iMovie have problems using our external hard drive. This week we'll be trying to find time to move photos and music onto the external so our film editing software can use the internal drive. Lots of folks seem to think this should clear up a lot of bugs. Here's hoping.

In the meantime, we've decided to create a Film Fund. We'll be pestering friends and family to donate a few bucks to the cause as we try to scrimp and save for a new Mac and possibly even some professional editing software. Whether or not this Film Fund will succeed, we have no idea. But we do know that our current set up is hindering our creative aspirations. If you'd like to donate, or give any sage advice, please email us: joelandmandy at mac.com

Thanks in advance!

2009 Ford Fiesta Crash Test

2009-06-29T20:25:00.002-04:00

Here it is, the long-awaited Mission #2 video!

Notice: This is a Fiesta Movement Mission video, not an actual crash test. To see an actual Ford Fiesta crash test, click HERE.

Ford Safety Labs

2009-06-25T16:33:00.004-04:00

Last week, Joel and I got to visit Ford HQ for a personal tour of the crash test facilities. It was an awesome experience. We had no idea the lengths Ford technicians go through to keep us safe. We often find ourselves taking the auto makers for granted, never wondering what goes on behind the scenes, content to purchase a vehicle because it looks pretty, then vowing to never buy a Ford/Honda/Chevy/etc. ever again when something goes wrong. (Which is usually because of something we did, though we'd never admit that, right?)

I know there's no such thing as the perfect car. I know things go wrong: breaks fail (my '88 Ford Taurus), transmissions die (my '87 Ford Escort), and interiors fall to pieces (my '97 Saturn). But we live in a time of mass consumerism -- when something breaks, we don't fix it, we go out and buy a new one. And even if we do try to fix something, many of us choose to save some coin and use a bit of duct tape. We're also inherently stupid beings. Some of us get behind the wheel intoxicated. Some of us eat with both hands, talk on our cell phones, and even text while driving. Others think it's okay to place kids on our laps while we drive... *cough* Britney *cough*

There's not much auto makers can do about these things, but they can try to make their vehicles safe for everyone, not just those of us obeying traffic laws. And that's precisely what Ford is doing. Their restraint technology has gone from "reactive" to "predictive," where vehicle sensors can detect whether or not you're going to be in an accident. We thought that was pretty amazing, and look forward to seeing other auto makers follow suit.

If you'd like to read more about our trip to Ford HQ, check out my blog post on PluggedInParents.com: Ford Motor Company: A Leader in Safety

And take a look at all our photos from the tour: Crash Test Lab Photos

Behind The Scenes

2009-06-17T17:07:00.004-04:00

Here are a few photos from behind the scenes at the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at MIS last weekend. To view all the photos, check out our Behind The Scenes at MIS Flickr album.

We got to sit in on the driver/crew chief meeting. Very few people get to do this. Here you can see David Ragan, Greg Biffle, Jack Roush, and Carl Edwards.

Kid Rock was the Grand Marshal.

We even got to sit on top of the UPS Racing pit box.

The National Anthem on Pit Road

2009-06-16T18:45:00.003-04:00

Joel and I had the honor of standing on pit road with the drivers and crews during the National Anthem at the MIS Lifelock 400 Sprint Cup race. We stood behind Jeff Gordan and in front of Carl Edwards. Check it out!

NASCAR Photos

2009-06-16T18:09:00.004-04:00

Our weekend at the Michigan International Speedway with Ford Racing was amazing. We got to meet all the Roush-Fenway drivers and interview them about the Ford Fiesta, hang out in the garage and pit areas, sit on top of the UPS Racing pit box, and even sit in on the driver/crew chief meeting--things that most lifetime fans will never get the chance to do.

Ford had a win on Saturday with Colin Braun in the NASCAR Truck Series, and had two drivers place in the top 5 during the Sprint Cup race on Sunday.

Currently, our computer is filled with great footage and photographs. We hope to get quite a few videos out of the content and post them within a week or so. We have to work on our Mission #2 video first, but rest assured, you'll get a front row seat to our NASCAR experience.

For photos of all the drivers, check out our Flickr photostream.

With Tim D. from Ford Racing who made it all possible:

Mandy and her mom at the Ford Racing trailer:

Colin Braun Pit Stop

2009-06-13T18:50:00.001-04:00

We were hanging out beside Colin Braun's pit crew -- here's a short video of one of his pit stops. He went on to win his first NASCAR Truck Series race. Go Ford Racing!

The Fiesta -- Roomy for the Big Man

2009-06-11T13:14:00.002-04:00

Check out what a couple of our friends thought of the Fiesta's voice control.

2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

2009-06-08T18:28:00.002-04:00

Spotted this beauty in our parking lot over the weekend. Enjoy our semi-spy photos! Click on the image to see the entire photo gallery.

2008 Lotus and 1980s Ferrari

2009-06-04T16:57:00.002-04:00

Spotted both of these on the same day.

Our backup camera that we keep in the work truck is kind of slow to respond, so that's why we call this photo: Almost 2008 Lotus Elise

1980s Ferrari

Spotted!

2009-05-30T15:10:00.003-04:00

While in the U.P. filming our first Fiesta Movement mission, we were spotted by a Ford Fiesta fan! Check out his reaction to the car, it's awesome!

Car Sighting - Fiat 500 Abarth

2009-05-29T23:20:00.006-04:00

Thanks to the commenter who enlightened me about this car. Now the only thing I'm wondering -- what's it doing here in the US?

Love the styling, but not so hot on the Dodge Neon-like headlights...

So last month I spotted this car in a parking lot. I took the photos with a different camera and completely forgot I had them. Now, I can't remember what kind of car this is. Help! It definitely is foreign, and by that I mean NOT imported to the US.

First Mission Down

2009-05-26T15:22:00.004-04:00

For our first Fiesta Movement mission, we were sent to find the largest waterfall in Michigan. That was just too simple. Joel and I decided to take it a bit further -- 3 days of waterfall hunting in the U.P. surviving only on the items Ford gave us. That meant no food, no water, no matches. You won't believe what we put in our mouths...

Let me tell ya, when you spend 3 days in the rugged wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, you don't come back unchanged.

Please navigate to the video's youtube page and post a comment and a rating. It makes eating muskrat droppings a bit bearable.

Stardate: Fiesta 2009

2009-05-24T10:33:00.003-04:00

Our Fiesta came with space-age technology. Aren't you jealous?

Please direct your browser to the main youtube page for this video and leave a comment/rating. Every comment/rating/view gets us in the running for fabulous prizes, ones we can keep for more than 6 months!

Reactions to the Ford Fiesta - Live!

2009-05-23T07:35:00.007-04:00

So I woke up this morning and decided to stick a camera in the Fiesta to capture the reaction of people walking by. Our little downtown will be buzzing with people this memorial day weekend, and it will make for some great candid moments. The cam and chat are live and broadcasting below!

Live Cam

The U.P. in Pictures

2009-05-20T12:43:00.004-04:00

While we frantically edit our first mission video, preparing it for Mission Control approval, click through some of our photos from the Upper Peninsula. Pepper looked great up there amidst sand, birch, and hemlock. See for yourself:

We also saw some truly majestic waterfalls:

And some gorgeous Lake Superior landscapes:

Check out all 76 photos here: Fiesta Mission #1

Mission Secrets Revealed

2009-05-18T13:31:00.004-04:00

We didn't disclose much about our first Fiesta Movement mission except that we would be hunting waterfalls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We had good reason for keeping our intentions quiet. If anyone knew what we were really up to, they would have told us we were stupid.

Turns out they would've been right.

Our brilliant idea? Survive in the UP for three days solely on the items Ford gave us. That means no food, water, or matches, just 2 pairs of sneakers, 2 pairs of sunglasses with cases, a training manual, and the Fiesta.

The Fiesta makes a really great shelter from rain, snow, and 35mph winds. We felt entirely secure, even while sleeping amidst a thick black bear population.

But I must say, as a food source, the Fiesta is lacking. Just wait until you see the kinds of things we put into our mouths...

Mission video #1 coming soon!

Night At The Drive-In

2009-05-16T14:36:00.001-04:00

Joel and I met up with @BrooklynHilary, @seanGT95, and @KitKatBar2008 for a Fiesta tweetup at the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In in Dearborn, MI. The place is a relic, but I often feel at home in places like this. There's something beautiful and poetic about how time ages man-made things...

We had some laughs, shot some photos, took the Fiesta for a spin, and saw Star Trek on the mega screen. A fun night, but we kind of regret staying out so late before starting our mission bright and early the following day.

Click on the photo below to see all the photos from the drive-in:

Fiesta Tetris

2009-05-14T00:20:00.002-04:00

New video! Recycling your old electronics has never been so much fun.

Thanks to Laughtech.
Thanks also to Gameboy. Ah, the memories we've shared.

Potato Patch Falls -- Another Hidden Gem

2009-05-14T00:10:00.003-04:00

Just found another waterfall off the beaten path. Sharpen the machete! We're going bushwhacking!

That was fun to type.

So here it is: Potato Patch Falls

photo by mandj98

We're packing the tripod, and it looks like Saturday will be overcast. A perfect combination for optimal waterfall photography. Not that we've ever been good at it, but there's a first time for everything. Flickr needs more waterfall pics. There aren't nearly enough.

Our ideas for this waterfall mission have soared, crashed, burned, skipped joyfully, and careened into an oblivion of insanity. Perhaps out of all the options, we'll pick the one that will entertain the most. Wish us luck!

Fiestamercial

2009-05-11T09:39:00.004-04:00

While gassing up one afternoon, Joel was approached by a rep from Fast Wax. He beguiled us with his product savvy, and you can't deny great results. Pepper's front right fender never looked so shiny!

With every infomercial, you've got to have the patented Call Now! screen at the end. We designed one for Fast Wax, then decided the Fiesta needed one too.

Waterfall Mayhem

2009-05-07T11:05:00.005-04:00

Not only are we going to find the largest waterfall in Michigan, we're going to find the most hidden waterfall in Michigan! Little Miners Falls:

Or perhaps the Northernmost waterfall, Spray Falls:

Got any other ideas for us? Let us know. We plan on having one adventure-packed weekend in the U.P.

Our First Mission

2009-05-05T10:10:00.005-04:00

Mission Control posted a great list of missions for us to choose from. It was a first come first serve sort of deal, so you had to make your selection fast. The one we chose? "Find and visit the largest waterfall in your state. Get wet, but don't get hurt."

Sounds pretty cool, right?

We thought so too until we went online to do some research. What did we discover? Oh! The largest waterfall in Michigan is the Tahquamenon Falls. And...we've already been there. Here's proof:

Our first reaction was to slump our shoulders and pout. We were hoping to experience something we'd never seen before. However, Joel pointed out that we only visited Tahquamenon's Lower Falls. (And they weren't that pretty, as you can see.) It's the Upper Falls that are the largest in Michigan.

So, our Fiesta will take us back north to black bear country. Maybe we'll find some extra time to explore other waterfalls in the area. Maybe take a different route this time. Maybe hack our iPhone and broadcast a live video stream from the Upper Peninsula. Wait, did I type that out loud?

Whatever the mission brings, we hope to make it memorable. Can't wait to share it with you.

fiestamovement
#fiestamovement

We're on Food Network!

2009-04-30T16:26:00.013-04:00

After Mission Control let us loose in Chicago with our new car, we decided to take a quick jaunt up to Superdawg to give Pepper the drive-in experience. Many a car buff has been known to hang there, so we thought we would show off our shiny new toy.

When we pulled into the parking lot, a man asked us if we were dining inside or out. When we told him outside, he grinned and said, "Right this way! If you back in to this spot, you'll be in some of the shots!" That was when we noticed about a dozen people laden with various camera and audio gear strategically placed around the parking lot. A flag bearing the Food Network logo flapped in the wind, and we knew at once we had struck gold.

As soon as we parked, a swarm of people hovered around the Fiesta, asking questions, snapping photos, sitting inside, and oohing and ahhing over the leather interior and Pepper's other luxurious features. "This is a Ford?" they asked, astounded. "How did you win it?" "Do you have to give it back?" "When will they go on sale?" "Will you have to pay taxes on it?"

It seemed Pepper was the main attraction for quite a while, even though Food Network stars Chris Cosentino and Aaron Sanchez were there. If you watch Iron Chef America, you might remember them from last season's The Next Iron Chef. They were at Superdawg that day filming an episode of a new show, Chefs vs. City, which airs in July. No one from Food Network seemed to notice the third star on the lot, but they're foodies, not gear heads, so we forgive them for the snub.

Soon everyone hopped in their vehicles and the cameras started to roll. Pepper should be in a few passing shots, and her bright red bod shouldn't be too hard to spot. It was a fun experience, the entire shoot only took about an hour. Food Network must really know how to churn it out. Let's just hope all the shots with our Fiesta aren't left on the cutting room floor.

Afterwards we each enjoyed a Superdawg, and Mandy proceeded to drop various hotdog-related goo on Pepper's leather seat. With a little elbow grease, however, it's as good as new. It seems the swanky Fiesta can do the drive-in thing up right.

So the next time you're in Chicago, head up to the north side for a treat. They'll be glad you came.

Click here to see all of our Superdawg/Food Network photos: Chefs vs. City
Thanks for stopping!

fiestamovement
#fiestamovement

The Fiesta is Ours!

2009-04-29T12:42:00.009-04:00

That's right, folks, we are now the temporary owners of a brand new Ford Fiesta, one of the first to ever set foot, er, tire, in the US. Ford flew us to Chicago for a training event, where they showered us with food, swag, and contagious enthusiasm. Then they gave us the keys to our car and sent us on our way.

We're still wiped out from the trip, and haven't quite figured out how to import our video clips from the Sony Webbie cam yet, but we did get a few photos up on Flickr: Chicago Training Event

Here we are after first meeting Pepper.

Much more to come soon -- our secret missions start this Sunday!

fiestamovement

Fiyacrackah!

2009-04-20T13:34:00.004-04:00

There aren't too many red Fiestas in the Movement, so we've been eagerly anticipating what Pepper is going to look like. Here's one of her twin siblings for comparison. Can you say hot rod? Pepper's gonna be smokin! (sans black dots)

4 days until we pick her up!

Goodbye Element, Hello Fiesta

2009-04-14T22:48:00.003-04:00

Now that we've won a Ford Fiesta for six months, we decided to release our Honda Element into the wild. Let her stretch her wings... make something of herself. Here's our story of goodbye. Enjoy!

The Smokies

2009-04-10T12:53:00.008-04:00

On our way back from Atlanta, we decided to cruise through the Smoky Mountains. As we drove through a cloud along the Appalachian Highway, the road suddenly dead ended into a fireworks playground. It was strange, but magical. Then, little did we know that once we arrived to the Smokies, there would be vomit-inducing tourist traps on either sides of the mountain expressway. On the southern side, we saw the exploitation of Cherokee culture. Maybe exploitation is the wrong word... They are, in fact, there by their own will. But the carnival-like barrage was sort of unsettling to us. The street signs were kind of cool, though.

So then we set off into the mountains, where the rain poured and the wickedly cold wind roared. There were some gorgeous views. Mandy tried to do a "no rain" dance to make the experience less frigid. It didn't work.

On the other side, relieved to be headed home, we were hit with another shock. Dollywood?! Oh, yes. We had no idea this Branson-wanna-be was in such close proximation to a national treasure like the Smokies. And Gatlinburg! We thought it was a historic town. Whoever told us that needs a swift boot to the rear. Why is it the American way to destroy everything we have right up to our National Park borders? Obviously, we drove through as quickly as we could, marveling at all the pancake houses. Do you really need hundreds of them?

The coolest thing we got to see was the Olympic Slalom trainers on the Nantahala River, outside the Smokies.

We also saw a big rig stuck in the ditch, a suped-up dune buggie, a motorcycle for giants, and a car eaten by kudzu.

All in all, it was a pretty good trip! Click here to see full-size photos: The Smokies

Mandy's 2 Cents

2009-04-10T12:45:00.005-04:00

Mandy came across a heated debate about the ethics of the Ford Fiesta Movement. Of course she had to put in her two cents. Read her comments here:

The Name Game

2009-04-09T16:21:00.004-04:00

Well, we have a winner! The name chosen by popular vote is Pepper. As in, hot chili. Perhaps her full name could be Pepper Weasley, to please everyone. The third child of Hermione and Ron? Okay, we won't go there. But we will post this Ron and Hermione fan vid. Check it out for a chuckle!

Thanks for voting and keep coming back to check on Pepper. You never know where she's going to take us!

Audio S5 2009 Coupe

2009-04-07T19:05:00.007-04:00

More car pictures...just practicing for when we get our Fiesta! This appears to be either a 2009 or 2010 Audi S5 coupe. It had manufacturer tags on it, so maybe it's a loaner out for review. Since I haven't seen one of these up close yet, I couldn't resist grabbing a few photos.
-Joel

Name Our Fiesta!

2009-04-05T20:24:00.009-04:00

As you know, we've been assigned a Red Fiesta for our missions. Now it's time to name him/her. Feel free to add your own suggestions, or vote for one of ours. Let's do this thing!

~~Pippin~~
~~Mary Jane (from Spiderman cuz of the red hair)~~
Pepper (like a red hot chili pepper)
~~Paprika (also red and spicy)~~
~~Lola or Lolita~~
~~Chi Chi~~
Weasley (as in Ron Weasley, also red hair)
~~Das Rojo~~
~~Captain Speed~~
Trixie (Speed Racer)
~~Spritle (Speed Racer)~~

Road Trip!

2009-04-05T19:30:00.003-04:00

On our way to Atlanta to visit Joel's brother, we stopped in Cincinnati to hang with a few friends and attend their CD release party. We were greeted by the Butter Jesus as we entered Cincy.

We headed over to the Redmoor to catch the show.

It rocked! Got to see Mike Mangione before Artists & Authors took the stage. Joel coined the genre as "alt hobo." It was great!

Then came our friends, Tye and Andrea with tight jams and vocal riffs. We had a blast. The Redmoor is a sweet venue--classy and hip with really great pizza and beer. A great start to the road trip.

You can check out their music here: myspace.com/artistsandauthors

The Making of 100 Ford Fiesta Movement Cars

2009-03-30T21:28:00.004-04:00

Check out this "making of" video, featuring the 100 Fiestas built exclusively for the Fiesta Movement. Can you spot ours? It's that red beauty that causes the hair on the back of your neck to prick up like a bobcat. Ow!

We Won!

2009-03-30T20:53:00.007-04:00

Thanks to everyone that viewed/rated/commented on our video--we're extremely grateful. We're excited to start catering videos to YOU and not just the Ford application folks. (Even though we really enjoyed doing that too!) Looking forward to celebrating with the other 99 agents!

Enjoy our application entry one last time.

Afternoon in Ann Arbor

2009-03-22T20:50:00.007-04:00

Our day started out with a viewing of Slumdog Millionaire (the best film of 2008, hands down), lunch at Palio's (flatbread pizza), then Joel spotted a tiny door in the wall...


Is it for fairies? Gnomes? Fancy rats? Perhaps we'll never know.

Next came dessert at Eastern Accents (a whole cake and lattes), then Joel took us for a drive through a ghost subdivision in Hamburg. It was eerie. Abandoned new homes scattered here and there across flat, dead prairie land. Among them was this rusty jalopy. Couldn't figure out the make or model... Perhaps you know?

Joel wanted to drive.



Then it was back home, where our good neighbor had a treat waiting for us, like always. The 2010 Mercedes MLK 350 4matic. Not the most jaw-dropping crossover, but the interior looked inviting... *drool*



All in all, it was a great afternoon. How was yours?

Cars Are Finally In Season

2009-03-19T10:36:00.007-04:00

So the sun has finally graced the northern states. It's still in the 50's, but we're all frolicking without jackets like it's 80. Some have even donned shorts. Vitamin D tends to do that to us.

Excitement about the sun isn't limited to the exposure of bare arms and legs. It's also a green flag, coaxing all the fun cars out of hiding. They slink around town, hang out by the mill pond, wink at us suggestively and say, "How 'bout a ride, eh?"

(In case you didn't know, the cars here have Canadian accents.)

A typical cruise on I96 often shakes out a few interesting automobiles. Here's the 2010 Buick Lacrosse, still covered in tape. I don't know about you, but it's got nothin' on the Fiesta.

Later that day we took a stroll around our tiny downtown area and found a pair of Porsches sunbathing.

And just a block further, we found the only true gem of the day -- a Jaguar E-Type. Niiiiice.

On the other side of the pond (Lake Michigan of course), Joel's mom had a coming out party for her new smart fortwo. Sorry, Ford. Wish we would have had a Fiesta a couple months ago -- could have done a marketing pitch! (Note: The young lady in the photo is not Joel's mom. That would just be weird.)

Abandoned Rail Cars

2009-03-14T21:48:00.003-04:00

We took a drive today with the dog--it was actually sunny and somewhat warm. Didn't see any interesting cars, but we did find some abandoned Metra rail cars and had some fun... does that count?

Joel's Spider Man impersonation...

Guess we need Doc Oc now, eh?

Fiesta Movement Outtakes

2009-03-13T13:25:00.005-04:00

So here's what we're like when we're not acting like secret agents...

Our Video Featured!

2009-03-13T13:22:00.009-04:00

Thanks to laughtech, who gave smule (makers of the Ocarina) the heads up about our application video. They posted our vid on their blog! So did BrooklynHilary--we're one of her faves. Alright!

The Mule Chronicles

Hilary's Hideaway

Woot!

GMC's Topkick Transformer's Ironhide

2009-03-12T15:50:00.003-04:00

Another fun photo shoot in our parking lot, thanks to our neighbor from Motor Trend. After doing some inspection online, this is not the official Ironhide poster child, but I'm sure it was used in the film at some point. It's a reawy big twuck...

Watch out, Joel!

Misc. Car Sightings

2009-03-12T15:46:00.005-04:00

Here's a few fun photos for your viewing pleasure. Just a few things we've seen around town lately.

The Thing - Oh Yeah! -- Howell

Lamborghini -- I96 and Wixom Road

smart fortwo -- Dairy Queen, Brighton

Don't try this one at home... -- Woodland Lake, Brighton

Sighting! Cadillac Test Vehicle

2009-03-12T14:06:00.007-04:00

This one parked right in front of our store. It says SLS, but we assume it's being tested for the new STS model. There's also a few labels in Chinese. Joel snapped these pics while chatting on the phone with a customer. He's become quite the multi-tasking protege...

Hey, look at that smokin' Stingray flying by!

Sighting! Nissan Cube

2009-03-12T13:33:00.004-04:00

Our good neighbor who works for Motor Trend brought home another interesting find: The Nissan Cube. Of course we took a few photos...

And here it is in comparison to our 2005 Honda Element:

Definitely curvier than the Element, with an urban feel. What are your thoughts?

Our Application Video

2009-03-11T20:26:00.003-04:00

Check out our application video for the Ford Fiesta Movement. We'll find out at the end of the month if we made the cut!