SALON

Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006 9:26 PM UTC

Penguins, bunnies and diesel engines

A Honda commercial blows sunshine up your tailpipe

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Topics: Globalization, How the World Works, Garrison Keillor,

I try to be timely here at How the World Works, but sometimes, when sledgehammer-wielding penguins and hopping diesel engines, in the key of “Yellow Submarine-style” animation, are suddenly thrust in your face, you feel compelled to pass the word on, even if the advertising propaganda in question is almost two years old.

Hate something? Change something! And don’t blame me if you can’t stop whistling after watching the advertisement that launched Honda’s first diesel car in Europe. I learned about it today from a posting to the Burnveggies mailing list, where all things diesel are appreciated with a mixture of veggie-oil worship and techno-geekish expertise. Described accurately by the poster as “blowing sunshine up your tailpipe,” it really has to be seen to be believed. Make sure you watch the film.

And c’mon, sing along with Garrison Keillor:

“We’d like to know… why it is so
That certain diesels must be slow and thwack and thrum
And pong and hum and clatter clat.

Andrew Leonard

Andrew Leonard is a staff writer at Salon. On Twitter, @koxinga21. More Andrew Leonard.

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