Filed under: posts | Tags: apexi, cars, do-luck, Evo, rexpeed, stikiller, tanabe
[via STikiller.com]
If you know me, you know I love cars. Like any good owner, I love my evo. It’s a USDM 2005 GSR. Now that I’m actually employed (!!!), the range of possiblity on where the evo is going has expanded. The first thing that is going change is my GReddy counter-weighted shift knob. It has been great, but it is extremely scratched, the fitting is off and I want a different feel. But that’s a small fry detail.
Powerwise, I am going to be very gentle. ECU reflash, some tinkering with the boost psi (no annoying BOVs) and a turbo gauge are given. I am also liking GST’s open air solution sounds about right, but may be a bit on the ricey end. After all, I will NOT be making enough power to say my intake in my bottleneck. I will be going for a catback /w nothing touched from the catalytic converter up (I know this will restrict my possiblities). The Tanable Touring Medallion and the Apexi NOIR are strong contenders for being realtively quiet (under 90 decibels) as well as allowing for better breathing. However, I believe they both taper at some point so they are not true 3” exhausts.
With that said, I don’t want to make too much more power, but just enough to get an extra “kick.” The evo is fun stock, and I’m not trying to beat z06s in a straight line (hah).
Cosmetically, there’s some carbon fiber that is going on. I’m looking into a replica Do-Luck front lip. I love how this lip looks. I also love how the JDM rear looks, but it is around 700 dollar and requires mods to both the license plate holder and the rear low-speed crash beam. “Evo-dave” JDM lights front and JDM evo 7 lights in the rear. I don’t believe the crazy prices vendors charge for JDM lights when there’s a reputable evolutionm forum member who does them for a fraction of the price. Oh yeah, I’m definitely going to put a HID kit in there. Finally, I am debating whether or not to swap my huge wing for a rexpeed c-style wing.
Misc. stuff I need to do. Get that keying mark taken care of, so I need to find a reputable detailer in the Bay Area. I need to get my 30k service and get that 80 mph whine taken care of. (T-case of death?)
Eventually, going to slap some all black shoes on those Falkens. Yup. Obviously, this plan will not be carried out overnight, but this should be a fun ride.
‘Tis all.
Filed under: posts | Tags: cars, economics, Fang Datong, Fast and Furious, happiness, Nintends DS, Rhythm Heaven, Shanghai, sights & sounds
A few things going on right now, the most important of which is an agonizing wait for the results of of my final round interview with a leading economics consulting firm. I feel I did fine during the interview and case, but who knows? These things tend to have a way of surprising you.
(This next paragraph is for those who are interested in the otherwise boring on-goings of economics)
My thesis which is about the One Child Policy and its Effects of Women’s Education, is coming along daintily. I have found a newer, more trustworthy dataset, but it will limit my usage of certain statistical methods. I will have to check in with my advisor to make sure it’ll work. I am getting a nice self-led crash course introduction to SAS though. 
On the entertainment front, a few items of note.
Fast and Furious was good. It wasn’t deep, or intellectually stimulating, but from a auto-head POV, it was pretty sweet (minus that atrocious MY2009 STi). I really liked the beginning which paid homage to one of the forgotten greats in American muscle history – the Buick Grand National. These turbo’d Regals are in my mind, still the epitome of no frills American power.
Of course, this movie featured a lot of great cars, including a whole myriad of American classics as well as an awesome scene with an R32, R34 and GTR Nissan Skylines. Honestly, I even thought the fighting scenes weren’t half bad. If you can get over the cringe of a few typical F&F lines, then go watch it!
Rhythm Heaven (リズム天国ゴールド) for the Nintendo DS. With the release of the “new” Nintends DSi, recently released games have not been given the spotlight they deserve. I recently started playing this gem of a game and it is wonderful. It’s like a good mix of Warioware with Elite Beat Agents. It is a collection of rhythm-based mini-games that are all very original and clever. This is the kind of game the DS was made for. Hours of boredom assassination! Check the quick vid of the mini-games in action:
Khalil Fong, a.k.a. 方大同 (Fang Datong). Mr. Fong here (courtesy of my wonderful Serena) has answered my prayers for some different Chinese music. Born in Hawaii then moving to Shanghai (yes!) when he was 6, Khalil possess a less prototypical sound. He a stronger idea of bass and rhythm than his peers and I personally think he sounds Mraz-ish. An added bonus is that his English pronunciation is native, so when he adds that English phrase between the mandarin, it doesn’t add all that cheesiness.
Here are few songs of note:
(1) Love Song from the album Wonderland
(2) Singalongsong (English) from the album Orange Moon
(3) 三人游 (pinyin: san ren you) from the album Orange Moon
Whew. That was a good, long post.
‘Tis all.
