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Time-lapse parking lot problem solving

Aaron Richardson — Sat, 14 May 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Humor

Parking lot problem solving - Click above to watch video after the jump

We aren't sure what country this is, but parking-lot etiquette is clearly a foreign concept. Even without the the guy who thinks it's just peachy-keen to block everyone else in, this lot is a circus.

When faced with adversity, however, those affected by their fellow motorist's lack of consideration respond with aplomb. While we'd have just hopped the curb and driven across the grass to avoid the melee, the drivers in the video embedded after the jump above took it upon themselves to do a little rearranging.

With some careful pushing and shoving, a little guidance and a healthy dose of skill, these guys manage to weasel their way out of what an infuriating situation. In the end, they even returned one of the cars they moved to its rightful spot. When life gives you lemons...

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Time-lapse parking lot problem solving originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 May 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: The Parking Lot Movie

Zach Bowman — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Humor

The Parking Lot Movie - Click above to watch video after the jump

The minimum-wage job is a rite of passage. If you've earned your stripes manning a deep fryer, selling women's shoes or digging ditches, you likely know that level of degradation and suffering that invariably provides a boundless well of inspiration and perspective for the rest of your employed life. A creative new independent film has attempted to capture the life and times of a group of parking lot attendees in Charlottesville, Virginia muddling through their own private low-rent job hell. Sound about as thrilling as watching paint dry? You'd be surprised.

Any job that forces workers to interact with various strata of humanity on a routine basis is bound to make for good story telling, and judging by the trailer and the host of clips that have been posted to YouTube, The Parking Lot Movie looks to be about as hilarious as can be. The attendees range from grad students to indie rockers and even "middle-aged slackers," and they all seem have their own take on the goings and comings of the world around the parking lot booth. Hit the jump to check out the trailer as well as a few clips.

[Source: The Parking Lot Movie]

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Video: The Parking Lot Movie originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Full Boat: Dormant ships being used as lots for unsold vehicles

Michael Harley — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing

Looking for a place to stash tens of thousands of unsold new vehicles, automakers are turning unused car carrier ships into floating parking holds. It's an unusual development, especially in a shipping industry that is used to having boats filled to capacity and running full steam across the seas. As shippers face sharp declines in traffic, the world's fleet of 640 floating car carriers have been forced to make serious adjustments to cut costs and determine ways to absorb extra capacity. With distribution ports filled with excess inventory and dealers unwilling to accept additional stock, automakers are running out of places to stash cars and parking space is at a premium. All of which has helped to make unused cargo holds look mighty attractive.

Toyota has reportedly signed a deal with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a large Scandinavian joint venture car-carrier fleet operator, to store up to 2,500 new vehicles in a port in southern Sweden. According to Oslo-based Höegh Autoliners, several other auto manufacturers are negotiating similar deals right now.

[Source: Financial Times, free sub. req'd]

Full Boat: Dormant ships being used as lots for unsold vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parking stripe ads assault the senses from beneath your feet

John Neff — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising

My father used to stripe parking lots as a side business, and while still with us, he will nonetheless find a grave, hop in it, and roll over after learning that his beloved lines are now being taped over with advertisements. Parking Stripe Advertising, a three years young agency from Colorado, is responsible for this scheme that covers those long yellow and white lines with a heavy-duty tape bearing promotional ads. The advertisements themselves cost about $40 per stripe and are made using a heavy-duty tape that's recyclable with adhesive that breaks down over time.

A current promotion advertising the return of ABC's Desperate Housewives is running concurrently in California and New York, and it appears to be a hit with the parking crowd, though store owners have reported a few complaints. Otherwise, consumers and advertising analysts alike think the idea is brilliant for the way it captures one's attention in a new and unique way.

[Source: Daily News via Kickingtires.com]

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Parking stripe ads assault the senses from beneath your feet originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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