Nov 13 2006

And another weekend comes to a close

Yet again a weekend has come and gone. As usual, it flew by without me even knowing. This week is going to be somewhat challenging because of the amount of assignments that are due. On Wednesday, my SPSS worksheet for stats is due. On Thursday, my philosophy of education is due. On Friday, I have to give a presentation in adolescent psychology on the book Monster by Walter Dean Myers and take a stats test on the z-test and various t-tests.

Not only are all those things due this week, but I have a bunch of other assignments that need to be started and worked on this week. My original book for children’s literature is coming due soon, as is my report on the book The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Aside from all the academic stuff, I have to get my car back to the shop for various finishing touches, get it inspected and emissions approved, and get my new plates. I also need to finish up a computer I’m building for my Uncle, and get over to fix someone else’s computer.

Blarg!

|:| Zach |:|

Nov 12 2006

The Z-Ride has been put to the test

I have been driving the new K20a ITR Civic around for a few days now. It definitely has ups and downs. Firstly, I’ll list the things that are wrong or that I don’t like:

  • It really needs to be dyno tuned. Overall, the base ITR map worked pretty nicely, but when I cruise on the highway at around 100kmh (@ approximately 3000rpm), my a/f ratio is lean (around 15.8 to 16.2). When I slam the car all the way up to 8000rpm, though, it runs at a beautiful 12.0 to 13.0.
  • The car rattles something fierce while idling. I’m thinking that it will simmer down eventually. When driving, though, it doesn’t shake nearly at all.
  • My battery box in the trunk rattles and the sound is obnoxious. I’m thinking that it is just two pieces of metal rubbing against one another, and that should be a fairly easy fix.
  • I’m worried about the vibrations damaging my head unit by knocking the laser out of place. I’ll have to ask Tim.
  • My GPS is really screwy right now and I can’t figure out why. I think it is one of two reasons:
    • After having the battery disconnected for over a week, it fell out of calibration and needs to be recalibrated.
    • The vibration of the car will not allow my receiver to stay syncronized with the GPS satellites.
  • I have a Cherry Coke bottle for a radiator runoff container right now. The new one, which is essentially just a milk carton, will be coming in this week.
  • My immobiliser light is contstantly on, but there is an easy fix for it.
  • I’m still throwing a CEL, but that is because the dash harness of the car is made for an automatic.
  • The gears are incredibly close together, so it is sometimes difficult to shift into 5th and 6th without accidentally shifting into 3rd and 4th, respectively.
  • The gears are quite short, so low rpms are really not possible. Even when I’m in 6th on the highway doing 100kmh, I’m still revving around 3000rpm. That will take some getting used to.

Many of those problems can (and will) be fixed in the near future. While I’m experiencing a couple problems, I think that the good things outweigh them:

  • The car accelerates like nothing else I’ve ever been in.
  • The helical limited slip differential (LSD) is incredible and really helps at high rpms.
  • The sound of the VTEC switch is completely unique and I love it.
  • It is definitely a car that will attract attention.
  • Once I get the lexan plate put in under the hood (to serve as a rain catch), people will be able to look directly in and see the beautiful red “DOHC i-VTEC” without having to even lift the hood.

Overall, I’m happy with it, but I expected (illogically) for it to be perfect the first time. I should know by now that any time custom work is done on a car, it is a process. I’m thinking that this was a really good decision as the possibilities are endless now. The next goals are all related to dampening the vibrations.

|:| Zach |:|

Nov 10 2006

No way / Norway

Here’s a link to a really heartwarming video. View the video FIRST, before reading my comments below. Oh yeah, and it is much better with sound, so turn on your speakers. 🙂

If you liked this video and wish to watch it again, please download it instead of clicking “play” again (help me keep my costs down). First, click on the “FLV Player” link under “Tools” in the right-side bar. Next, hit “save as” and install it on your computer. Then click the download link below.

Downloadable copy (please hit “save as” instead of “open with”)

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I recently received an email with a link to this video clip. This particular clip is of a commercial that airs on standard television channels in Norway. My initial reaction to the clip was one of two-fold awe. Firstly, the clip depicts a beautiful scene of one boy admiring another and having the courage to approach him, even in a world that doesn’t tolerate homosexuality. Secondly, I have respect for the country of Norway for allowing it to receive air-time. In more fascist conservative nations, the Pope-loving Catholics and other religious fundamentalists, political Neo-Nazis, overbearing moralists, and the simply asinine, narrow-minded jerks would have torn this commercial to pieces.

At the end of the clip, it says:

Du trenger ikke å være så tøff

Which roughly translates to “We don’t need to hurt one another” or “You don’t need to be so mean.” I think the video sends the perfect message; we can’t just ‘tolerate’ other people, but rather, we need to love them and their differences. I hope you’re as moved by this freedom of expression as I was (and still am). Stunningly beautiful.

|:| Zach |:|

P.S. Thanks to RIVA for creating the wonderful FLV Player. If you want to know more about the player or its creators, please visit www.rivavx.com