Things of questionable taste

I think we can all agree
This truck's paint job is...
questionable at best.

Here in Saratoga Springs, it's finally looking a little bit like spring. Most of the snow is gone, it's been warm enough to head outside sans jacket, the grass is slowly turning greener, restaurants on Broadway are setting up their outdoor patios, there are dozens of birds chirping in the trees, leather-clad motorcyclists have been revving their engines while rolling around town, Becky and I peeled the plastic sheeting off our leaky windows, and limousines ferry wealthy revelers to Caroline Street, I've put my sweaters and warm spandex into storage, and, in what is the ultimate sign of spring, the fancy cars have come out to play.

I walked out of the office today to go to the police station for the daily press briefing and saw, at a red light, a man in a deep-blue BMW convertible with the top down. He wore gray slacks and a crisp white oxford. He glanced at me through dark sunglasses, then glanced back down at his tachometer. It felt for a moment like he should have been listening to blarring hip hop, but he was clearly more interested in hearing the tune of his V6. When the light turned, he dropped the clutch, tires squealing, and shot off to the next red light.

All around town, fancy cars that had been in hibernation all winter, are coming out to show off. Like heavy winter clothes going back into the closet, and the spring wardrobe coming back out, these brightly colored cars just as much a sign of spring as flowers blooming and long lines at Ben & Jerry's. In the past few days, I've seen Beamers, Mercs, 'Vettes, Porches, and even a Lotus driving around town. Some were very slick and appealing. Others were ostentatious. Some were garish.

Such is the case with this Honda Ridgeline. I spotted it on Sunday, parked on Caroline Street across from the parking lot at work. I'm very curious to meet the owner, as I'm convinced that he (or she) walks with a swagger stick, is partial to white velor suits with leopard fur lapels and a purple hats with a wide brims, and I'm dying to know if I'm right.

The funny thing is, the Ridgeline is a pick up truck, intended for use carrying large loads of sand, and towing boats, or horse trailers, and that sort of thing. Of course, in this world, where a Cadillac Escalade can be a powerful status symbol, it's certainly no surprise that a Ridgeline ca be used for the same purpose, but what is the owner trying to say with the custom coloring? Your guess is as good as mine, but my suspicion is that the owner is either a) color blind, and the victim of a prank at the auto body shop, or b) looking to get attention in any way he or she can. You decide.

Oh, also, the rims on the truck are large enough to render the truck useless for off-road work.

That color is certainly not factory
nor are the rims
I didn't photograph the rear, to protect the innocent.

So, while we're on the topic of things of questionable taste, here's a nugget from the New York Times. Yesterday, the state senate killed the Mayor's proposed congestion pricing scheme. Good move, it's not like New York City has a major problem with congestion, both on the streets, and on public transit.