oh Chicago!

Who would have thought...

The Bulls is playing great basketball. The best Bulls since Michael Jordan and company. This year's Bulls is last year's Hornets.

Now that's a great compliment.

up-to-date swine flu map

Alright, while we don't have to panic yet, this Google map is a good way to keep track of where the flu is confirmed and suspected worldwide.


View 2009 Swine Flu Outbreak Map in a larger map

or


View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

the beginning of end of religion

...is being triggered by/on the Internet.

The wealth of information on the Net is creating a new generation of non-believers. Traditionally the lack of information and general knowledge has been an essential ingredient for getting people into believing.

It is still going to take a few decades for the real beginning, since those born with a religion have a hard time wrapping their heads around reasoning with metaphysics. Even really brilliant people can't outsmart prejudices. Their children will pick up the slacks.

my observation on different types of believers:
1) the gullible/sheeple
2) the preconditioned
3) the manipulative
4) the lazy
5) the bitter
6) the dimwitted
7) the weak kneed
8) the happy-go-lucky
9) the voice-in-head crazy
10) the genius

That is not to say religious people are insane. Half of them are charming and intelligent, which only adds to the problem. As long as there are humans, there will be religion, but this is the beginning of end.

pika pika

0) garden hose
1) bodywork shampoo
2) 1000yen sponge
3) clay (dirt remover)
3) microfiber cloth
4) microfiber cloth (more the merrier)
5) 100% cotton edgeless cloth
6) polisher/cleaner/easy-on wax
7) carnauba wax (paste)





(2 hours later!)

pika pika






meticulous




Everything I need is right here in the last picture taken in our driveway/yard. You can see a basketball goal in the back. I get all my exercise there.

living with, and waxing it

Now that I have driven the new car for a while, I can tell you a few things that the average car report won't and can't tell you. The followings are not necessarily good solutions but would do if you're serious enough to drive an S2000 for your daily commute.

Problem:
S2000 is crammed. Not that it's actually physically crammed, unless you're well over 6 feet tall. The buttons and knobs are very extremely within reach it gives a sense of closeness. Another reason the interior feels snug is that there is little storage space. It doesn't have a glove box*. A glove box!

*It's got a better secured hideaway lock box between the space behind the seats.

Problem solved:
open the soft top. Bring a hat if you don't want to mess up your hair. The dash design shows how single-minded the engineers were. The entire purpose of the car is for driving. What's not to admire?

Problem:
They all say the ride is backbreakingly firm. I test drove one and without fail the springs didn't give much wiggle room on bumpy road surface. But living with it is a different story. It does get a little annoying when there is a bump in the road. I don't think you'll ever get used to it. That the price you pay. In return you get uncompromising cornering performance.

Problem solved:
I suppose you can work out. I heard body builders don't ever get a sore back.

Problem:
See the lights on the gasoline indicator disappear as you right foot gets heavier. It's a high performance car. The VTEC zone shows little mercy in galloping consumption of petrol. I'm beginning to think it's no better fuel efficient than an RX8.

Problem solved:
Pace yourself. One day there is your open air slow-going music-listening self. The next day you can step on it more to pass granny doing 10kmph below posted limit, or the punk ass whose turn without signaling.

Problem:
This is the first time a car in my possession is in need of proper bodywork preservation. These are the seven steps of car wash and detailing.
1) shampoo
2) dry (surprisingly important)
3) remove fine scratches and contaminants
4) polish
5) apply wax
6) buff
7) others (wheels, interior, leather, etc.)
A car wash used to take 20 min hand-wash and 2 min drive-thru. Now it's 2 hours.

Problem solved:
It's actually becoming a lot of fun to wax a car if you're a little bit of a perfectionist. You'll become absolutely obsessed with a perfect mirror finish. There is a lot to be learned about car detailing. S2000 has few actual panels to work on. It's a joy to see the paint job achieve a showroom shine.

Problem:
There are always guys who take a look and decide they'd pick up the pace because you drive a quick car. It's almost like a challenge. Well I guess that's not unexpected. The worst is they won't give way even though their cars are, indeed, slower. I didn't get a fast car to go slow. So move out of the way!

baby in sports car

My baby riding in her first sports car. She doesn't seem too thrilled. To her it's just a big chair that makes her a little uncomfortable. She was smiling between shots. A little camera shy is she?

For those alarmed, I didn't actually take her out for a ride. We just took a few pictures. I reckon it will be hers if she wants it 17 years later. Ha.....