Some random shots I took at a fireworks show in Xiamen, China. Feel free to post your opinions on the comments page. Enjoy (hopefully)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Introduction post...becareful on the roads
I have the privilege of co-authoring this blog, and I have few things on my mind for this blog.
It'll be random but I can voice out opinions and thoughts of different articles, items or just typical news...
...
Snow...some people may not experiance it...some do. I did, many many times. And if it looks like this beautiful picture, means you're really screwed.
(taken from http://www.freefoto.com/images/16/08/16_08_25---Snow-Scene_web.jpg)
But firstly...i'll go with the most basic things every American should know...since i'm in America and drivers around me don't know signal lights are standard on any car sold on American soil...
Why is not that most people here don't bother to use their signal? They only blip the signal after they have turned.
It's like looking into Lehman Brothers and AIG's CEOs after it's too late. USD 480 million for 1 person? God dammit, that's heck alot of money...and the AIG issue, our taxpayers money supposedly went on a 1 week vacation...approximately USD 440k was used...from the taxpayer-funded USD 85 billion used to keep them afloat...
Not that i make bad wishes upon those greedy people, who was blamed for the economy's downfall but i'm sure karma will not descriminate the wealthy, well, the rest of America wishes the same thing....because whatever they did, it's not mixing well with us.
They make millions off compensation for drilling the company to the ground, at the expense of alot of jobs and our money...my money, and the economy. They go away loaded, we struggle to pay bills here.
Whoever is leading the investigation, go ahead and punish those responsible...but who am I? Just a puny legal tax payer paying for other people's lavish lifestyles.
Their logic and state is just like Darth Vader filling up his water with a Brita jug
....
Now that winter is kicking in at full speed, first thing people should know about is tires.
No, your ultra uber sport tires for summers that cost 2 arms and 1 torso won't work in winter...why?
Simple...temperature goes down like the stock market overnight, freezes up and the tire compound in summer tires pretty much harden...mother nature wins...having those kinda of tires on an icy slope is like waiting to get kicked in the nuts by someone who told you you're gonna be kicked in the nuts hard...
So there you go, a car with AWD or 4WD on summer tires are catastrophic as well, 4 hockey pucks on ice don't show mercy to all electronic nannys your car has to offer...all-weather tires don't harden as much but still requires owners to be extra careful...grip is there, but it's as easy to lose control...
Best bet, winter tires...soft compound made for extreme low temeperatures....most vehicles with winter tires will laugh at Hummers stranded with their blinged-out 22" rimz yo...
Of course i couldn't go that route due to financial strain...maybe next winter...
I survived with my Pirelli Pzero Nero all seasons...they're not the best, but does the job just fine as long as I know the car's limits.
Enough Mazdaspeed6s faced their demise with stock summer tires last winter...needless to say the forums were filled with haters...but the problem is with the equipment, not the car.
In places that don't have climate change, any tires would do perhaps...which is a huge plus.
It's one of thoes times where speeding kills, cause you can't beat mother nature.
...
A fitting song for my first post...yes, the dude is a prune but the tune is good
Some partial lyric i found:
wa chia ah si kuey so si zai ho tit toh
wu lang ai speeding
wu lang ai ban ban so
wu lang jit chiu hua chia jit chiu ka girlfriend po
wu lang kua char bor eh long tio lao ar po
ang teng ci tin kua bei chin cho chiong guay jiu chut chia ho
lim jiu hua chio eh long tio lang xi li yi xim eh tua cho
It'll be random but I can voice out opinions and thoughts of different articles, items or just typical news...
...
Snow...some people may not experiance it...some do. I did, many many times. And if it looks like this beautiful picture, means you're really screwed.
(taken from http://www.freefoto.com/images/16/08/16_08_25---Snow-Scene_web.jpg)
But firstly...i'll go with the most basic things every American should know...since i'm in America and drivers around me don't know signal lights are standard on any car sold on American soil...
Why is not that most people here don't bother to use their signal? They only blip the signal after they have turned.
It's like looking into Lehman Brothers and AIG's CEOs after it's too late. USD 480 million for 1 person? God dammit, that's heck alot of money...and the AIG issue, our taxpayers money supposedly went on a 1 week vacation...approximately USD 440k was used...from the taxpayer-funded USD 85 billion used to keep them afloat...
Not that i make bad wishes upon those greedy people, who was blamed for the economy's downfall but i'm sure karma will not descriminate the wealthy, well, the rest of America wishes the same thing....because whatever they did, it's not mixing well with us.
They make millions off compensation for drilling the company to the ground, at the expense of alot of jobs and our money...my money, and the economy. They go away loaded, we struggle to pay bills here.
Whoever is leading the investigation, go ahead and punish those responsible...but who am I? Just a puny legal tax payer paying for other people's lavish lifestyles.
Their logic and state is just like Darth Vader filling up his water with a Brita jug
....
Now that winter is kicking in at full speed, first thing people should know about is tires.
No, your ultra uber sport tires for summers that cost 2 arms and 1 torso won't work in winter...why?
Simple...temperature goes down like the stock market overnight, freezes up and the tire compound in summer tires pretty much harden...mother nature wins...having those kinda of tires on an icy slope is like waiting to get kicked in the nuts by someone who told you you're gonna be kicked in the nuts hard...
So there you go, a car with AWD or 4WD on summer tires are catastrophic as well, 4 hockey pucks on ice don't show mercy to all electronic nannys your car has to offer...all-weather tires don't harden as much but still requires owners to be extra careful...grip is there, but it's as easy to lose control...
Best bet, winter tires...soft compound made for extreme low temeperatures....most vehicles with winter tires will laugh at Hummers stranded with their blinged-out 22" rimz yo...
Of course i couldn't go that route due to financial strain...maybe next winter...
I survived with my Pirelli Pzero Nero all seasons...they're not the best, but does the job just fine as long as I know the car's limits.
Enough Mazdaspeed6s faced their demise with stock summer tires last winter...needless to say the forums were filled with haters...but the problem is with the equipment, not the car.
In places that don't have climate change, any tires would do perhaps...which is a huge plus.
It's one of thoes times where speeding kills, cause you can't beat mother nature.
...
A fitting song for my first post...yes, the dude is a prune but the tune is good
Some partial lyric i found:
wa chia ah si kuey so si zai ho tit toh
wu lang ai speeding
wu lang ai ban ban so
wu lang jit chiu hua chia jit chiu ka girlfriend po
wu lang kua char bor eh long tio lao ar po
ang teng ci tin kua bei chin cho chiong guay jiu chut chia ho
lim jiu hua chio eh long tio lang xi li yi xim eh tua cho
Spied: Nissan GTR V-Spec
Spy shots show that the V-spec would have a slightly redesigned front lip, a new wheel design, carbon fibre body parts, and most probably an uprated exhaust system.
The new V-Spec would be lighter than the regular GT-R with the use of carbon fibre construction for body panels, and is expected to output about 100hp more with a retuned ECU and exhaust system. Handling and grip is also expected to be improved with revisions to the suspension and chassis.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Nintendo Reveals DS Lite Successor
As hoped, Nintendo have announced the replacement for their DS Lite in Tokyo during their Fall Press Conference, officially named the DSi.
The DSi will also feature its own online store similar to the Wii. Users will be able to use the internal browsers to purchase and download DSiWare onto their DSi, where downloadable games and apps would be priced on a system similar to the Wii online shop.
However, the DSi is not without its flaws. The battery life is significantly shorter when compared to the DS Lite (DSi 3-4hrs vs DS Lite 5-8hrs; highest brightness setting), and a major complaint is the removal of the GBA cartridge slot and its backwards compatibility.
Nintendo have announced that they will release the DSi in Japan in November, but will only arrive in other markets next year. Slight disappointment as Nintendo did not incorporate dual touchscreens into the replacement as many were hoping, but since sales figures show that the current DS Lite is indeed a success, maybe the small upgrades that Nintendo have brought to the table will truly establish the DSi as a true winner.
Would DS Lite owners be enticed to upgrading to the new DSi? One exciting aspect that we can take away from the new handheld is how long it will take before the homebrew community finds a way to exploit the SD slot and bring new DSi owners big smiles on their faces.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Suzuki reveals the new GSX-R1000 K9
It's that time of the year once again when Suzuki pulls off the covers to its new GSX-R1000, always better than the already superb model before it. The new K9 is obviously no different, but is it good enough to dethrone the current king of the superbikes; Honda's Fireblade?
Starting with the powerplant, the K9's 999cc inline-four is now lighter and more compact, with a slew of uprated internals including titanium valves and forged pistons just to name a few. Suzuki claims the new setup is able to produce more power and torque throughout the rev range while also reducing emissions and providing better fuel economy. A torque-limiting clutch should provide better feel for the clutch and the S-DMS (Suzuki Drive Mode Selector) with 3 different levels of performance should make it more user-friendly and improve its usability off the track.
The 2009 model will also have improved high-speed handling with its shortened wheelbase and lengthened swingarm. Fully adjustable front forks and rear shock will allow the bike to provide race-like handling coupled when requested, and its uprated brakes should bring the 203kg bike to a halt almost instantly.
Styling wise, the new bike sports a more angular design, comes with 17" cast aluminium wheels and a pair of titanium mufflers to complete the package. Overall, the new bike looks quicker and more aggressive than before.
It seems that the K9 will once again be a real winner from Suzuki, but the question that still begs to be answered is who will win the Gixxer vs Blade shootout?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
VW Golf GTI MkVI preview
Attendees of the upcoming Paris motor show would be able to view the highly anticipated MkVI GTI in the metal, but we can give a big thanks to evo UK for bringing us some preview pics for us to enjoy.
Fresh off the success VW have tasted with the MkV GTI, the new MkVI will have big shoes to fill. Sitting under the bonnet of this next-gen GTI will be a 207-hp TFSI engine, with a 10-hp boost over the previous model. New owners will also find a new electronic limited-slip differential between the front wheels, a first for a Golf GTI. The highly praised & proven DSG transmission will also be available as an option.
At first glance, the MkVI exudes inspiration from the Golf W12 concept, with its new front bumper design with the integrated fog lights shifted outwards and the 1-piece lower grille giving the new GTI a wide & aggressive stance. The red highlights on the upper grille would definitely shout out to the older crowd as they reminisce of the first generation GTIs.
Towards the back, the sleek redesigned taillights reduce the chubby look of the MkV GTI while matching the refreshed design of the front headlights, and a refreshed rear bumper with integrated rear diffuser and twin exhausts also pushed outwards further enhance the low-slung, squat look of the new MkVI.
Inside, the changes are minimal with a steering wheel similar to the fifth-gen but with more integrated control buttons. Overall, the results are good and the new hot Golf looks ever-ready to carve corners in the mountains while still looking posh enough to look pretty in front of the newest posh club.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Aprilia Readies Its WSB Contender
Feel free to feast your eyes on the all-new 2009 Aprilia RSV4 which would be the Italian manufacturer's new entry into the World Superbike Championship for 2009. Initial production is planned in 2008, and fans will wave farewell to its predecessor the RSV1000R.
Powered by Aprilia's first four cylinder engine, the RSV4 should have about 180hp in street trim from its 999c V-4, designed specifically with racing intentions. The new engine features complete electronic management and will feature a ride-by-wire system with several interchangeable engine mappings to suit the rider for every situation.
Its racing intentions are loudly echoed throughout the rest of the bike. A six-speed gearbox coupled to a slipper clutch would definitely ease and quicken downshifts for less-experienced riders while enabling expert riders to fully push the bike to its maximum capabilities. Its unique aluminium frame and swingarm will allow a very wide range of parameter adjustments to suit every rider, even as far as to allowing tuning of the swingarm and engine positions.
As you would expect of a bike at this level, the fork, rear shock & steering damper are all sourced from Ohlins, with monoblock calipers from Brembo and forged aluminium wheels. With a claimed wet weight of only 190kgs, we can expect this new Italian litre bike to be properly fast on and off the track.
In race spec, the RSV4 would be making close to 210-hp to make it at least up to par with Ducati's 1098R and the Japanese litre bikes. With years of GP racing experience, it will be interesting to see how much of that experience and race technology would have trickled down to the new RSV4 and its V-4 engine. Would it become the benchmark for V-4 superbikes to come?
Needless to say, 2009 sounds like a great year for WSB. Keep a look out for new & updated bikes, including the possibly revolutionary BMW S1000RR.
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